These Boots are made for Ghosts

Log Info

• Title: These Boots are made for Ghosts
• Emitter: Ashes
• Characters: Ashes, Edinaz, Merek, Selia
• Place: A03: The TarRaCe
• Time: Thursday, September 17, 2020, 12:56 AM
• Summary: Ash has stayed late at the TarRaCe. A recent adventuring companion, Edinaz arrives and inquires about her boots. At the same time, Merek drifts in and a bunch of oruchs leaving the baths proposition her. Ash informs that she's been going barefoot since she gave her boots to the gnome collector. Edinaz leaves, and Ash turns the conversation towards Ghost Stories. Merek met some elven ones, that's his story. Selia's is more detailed, involving a strange old man on a roadway at night, and a much needed coat, which swiftly fell apart. Ashlee declares both to be good and that she has to return to her Temple, and the evening ends.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A03: The TarRaCe *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Inside, this two-story structure has been almost completely opened up. Generous windows on both stories allow daytime sunlight and cooling night breezes to flow in as needed, while the brick walls have been whitewashed - contrasting with the dark-stained beams and supports, and the rich polish on the wooden floor. A broad strip of stone runs from the entrance to a framed doorway set into the opposite wall, with a sign above the lintel declaring that the baths are to be found that way.

The ground floor is sprinkled with tables and chairs of assorted sizes, offering welcome to guests both large and small. One whole corner of the building - into which guests are not permitted entry - has been given over to the kitchen, which serves as the domain of the famed monster chef Ligum Serforus. Mundane meals are available, but the chef delights in offering up obscure dishes made from the freshest of monster ingredients.

Opposite the kitchen a small bar runs in front of an array of shelves, displaying a broad selection of beverages (most of them alcoholic). The bar-top has been fashioned from what looks to have been old pieces of armor, fused and welded together before being polished to provide a near-smooth finish. Set above it, three human-sized statues have been built into an alcove in the wall: Tarien, Rada and Ceinara jointly keep benevolent watch over the room and its occupants.

To the right of the entrance, a small stage offers a platform for a handful of performers at a time. To the left of the door, a spiral staircase of wrought iron winds its way up to a balcony dining area, that is chiefly reserved for special events and parties.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ashes        5'11"    177 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face
Edinaz       6'10"    296 Lb     Half-Orc          Male      Grey-skinned half-oruch, extensive black ink.
Merek        5'10"    215 Lb     Human             Male      A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.
Selia        2'10"    35 Lb      Halfling          Female    A sleek halfling lass, quick and nimble.
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The TarRaCe is heading into the late evening. A lot of the guests have departed but there is open performance on the stage, for anyone that might chance it. The kitchen has settled down, the earlier prank by the proprietors, as well as the constant attacks by one of them on the lucht siuil chefs, has brought them in line.

Near the bar, tucked out of the way in the shadows, sits an Arvek Nar. She has a skull for a face, and glass of wine with one-quarter left. She's faced so she can see all the tables, and mostly is staring at them.

Everyone else seems normal. Servers circulate, taking orders.

Edinaz strides in late, hair damp. He's relatively cleaned up, though, and takes a moment to look around. He looks like he's never been here, the way he looks at the space itself. Taking a good moment, he scans the tables now, looking for a clear space to sit.

Merek walks to the place, seeming to be wanting to have a meal, before he's on the way back to his place. He is wearing the usual attire, with the beltcape along with the hood pulled up about his features, then nodding to people he knows while he takes a moment to order a whiskey along with a steak.

A small gaggle of hobs exit the bathhouse, freshly scrubbed, relaxed, and perhaps slightly intoxicated. Dock workers, one might guess by the look of them. One of the larger of the guys pauses a moment, elbows his buddies, and starts towards the lone Ashes. He stops as a high voice calls from behind him.

"Oy, Bruno, you goona 'ead 'ome and talk ta ya wife, or am -I- gonna go talk ta ya wife?"

Selia peers out from the gaggle, easily missed in the far taller crowd. The little lutch absently towles at her still damp hair, peering at the suddenly bashful orc with curious eyes.

"Ah... I, ah... I think I'll go home and sleep it off, ya know? Um... later Cousin."

With a round of light teaseing, the guys head out, while Selia makes her way towards the bar proper.

Edinaz snags a table -- here's also here for food, for sure. He orders a goblet of wine, then looks over towards Ashes. "You get good new boots?" Wut? He just asks it without context.

Ash watches. She turns her head so the group has her focus. She doesn't say anything, as one approaches and they joke amongst themselves. As he is talked out of his advance her attention drifts to the halfling that was in their midst. She follows her progress to the bar, then returns to watching the rest of the establishment.

Merek's entrance is noted, and his drink order. Edinaz's as well. That he is seeking a table to sit at is obvious.

The ashen Arvec redoubles her eerie aura, to no avail. Company is approaching. She shakes her head, "No. I've been going barefoot since. I'll be ordering boots soon."

Merek notes the people he knows, then nods a bit to people, while he greets the halfling with a nod as well. A look to Ashlee, then he moves to settle in at that table, "May I?" When things arrive, he takes a sip from that drink.

Selia hops up on a stool, waiting for the server to wrap up whatever they're busy with, perking an ear at the overheard tidbit. "Nuthin wrong wit goin barefoot. Lotta bloke wot prefer it."

Edinaz sits back, nodding towards Merek as he does. He wraps his hands about the goblet, twists his mouth a little.. "You've got admirable self-control for that, 'specially in the city."

"Of course Merek," Ashlee says with a slight nod. She looks over at Selia, "It depends what you step in."

Which proves Edinaz's comment. "There is a lot to avoid."

Then she remembers! She's supposed to ask people things, that's what normal people do. "Did you get new boots?"

Merek smiles a bit to Ashlee, and nods while he begins to think about it. "Well, didn't you get that one pair fixed up," he mentions, then he seems to content with that drink.

Selia nods in agreement with Ash's comment. "Or step on. Still be a mess either way." The halfer's head tilts, curious. "Ya'll 'ave sum sorta footwear problem, wot with needin new?"

Edinaz nods. "I did -- it seemed best." He seems to understand a certain level of social... discomfort, goes along with it. "Yes." Ash looks at Merek, then she looks at Selia, "Yes."

"We traded our boots to the gnome that lives in the lake for a gem that purifies water." The ashen Arvec glances at Merek's whiskey, "and alcohol."

Merek nods a bit to Ashlee, while he seems to think about it, "That makes sense," he states, then he takes the whiskey to sip from it, "I probably have a pair of nice boots someplace."

Selia snorts, but smiles, nodding. "Been on adventures like dat. Awkward, but reckon better than fightin ta sort stuff out."

Edinaz sips his wine. "Pain in the sole, it was." He shakes his head, "There was fighting enjoy to keep y patron happy."

"And now I am ordering boots," Ash tells Edinaz, copying him and taking a sip of wine also. Her glass is getting very low. The arvek looks over at Merek, "What sort do you have someplace? Are they regular or magical?"

Merek seems to be drinking that whiskey while he speaks to Ashlee, "I have normal and magical, probably a lot of wardrobe, really." The man nods a bit to the party.

Selia frowns thoughfully. "Brindelgear makes good magic boots, but ain't seen 'im 'round fer a while. Reckon mighta retired or sumthin."

The ashen Arvec looks over at Selia, "I will see what happened to him." She takes another sip of wine, then sets it down. She looks over at Merek, then back at the table, finally Edinaz, "I hope you got a nice pair. I might get ones that let me walk on water."

Edinaz nods, staring at the surface of his wine. "Seems fitting, don'tcha think?" He pauses. "I might get ones that let me jump higher."

Merek nods a bit, "Mine let me walk through winter like it was spring," he mentions.

Selia waves vaugely. "Ain't a mystery or sumthin, I just dan't na fer meself. Reckon won't be too 'ard ta find, sorta famous an all." Ashlee nods again. She's run out of things to say about boots. Mentally she lists other topics that might interest people. "Anyone know any ghost stories?"

It's the skull tattooed on her face, that's what really does it.

Edinaz just looks at Ashlee. "I thought that was your expertise?" He says it with a smile, though.

Merek nods a bit, "I don't know any myself," he mentions, while he thinks about it.

Selia considers. "Met sum ghosts, but weren't rilly good stories to 'em. Just dead blokes needin things set right. Buried, usually." Ashlee waves as Edinaz heds out. "They aren't about real ghosts. They're about strange men with hook hands."

Another glance in Merek's direction, "Sorry."

The ashen Arvec looks at Selia. She stares.

Merek nods a bit to the two, while he thinks about it, "That makes sense, I'd be interested in listening to a few stories."

Selia shrugs. "Adventure long enough, ya meet weird folks. Sum of 'em are dead. Know a couple guys wit 'ook 'ands, but reckon dey ain't da sort in yer stories."

Ashlee shakes her head, "No. You, one of you has to tell a story. It sounds like it's you Merek."

"Ah, well I once met the ghosts of ancient elves traveling from their form to seek sustenance, then I trailed along to assist them with keeping where they might be," Merek mentions, not a lot of story in that.

Ashlee finishes her glass of wine. In monotone she declares, "That's a fine story."

She glances at Selia, Merek, "It's time for me to go back to the Temple."

Selia sits quietly for a few moments, then starts into her tales without much warning. "Was years ago, in a bad spot, on da run in Charn. Nasty place, but ain't all bad blokes livin der. Were out in da farm lands wot weren't ruined, 'bout dis time o year, come ta think o' it. Still warm, but cold cold rains when dey came. And I were caught out in da rain, no supplies, mostly lost.

Stopped at a crossrods ta figure where I least wanted nay ta be, old farmer comes along. Nice nuff sort, but canna say trusted 'im at first. Got ta talkin a bit, agreed ta 'ead toward 'is village, try fer sum work. We walked tagether a ways, rain kicked up, cold as knives. Old man takes off 'is coat, plops in on me shoulders. Can't say I took it well, but 'e insisted and it were warm. Ran outta stuff ta talk ;bout, just walked into da village in silence. Git ta da inn, and go ta 'and 'im back 'is coat, blokes gone. Disappeared. 'ead inside, barkeep aks where i got da coat. says da old man it beloneged to 'ad been buried in it da year 'afore."

A bit rushed, but that's the gist of the tale.

Merek nods a bit, listening to the two, "Thank you," he says, filing that tale away to think back on, "I need to be back to my own place also."

"That is more active than they usually are." Ashlee says, listening intently. Various thoughts rise to her mind, which she doesn't share. Arvek Nar and Vardama mourners are a little on the paranoid side when it comes to undead. She tilts her head, "Did you keep the coat?"

Merek nods a bit to the two, "You guys be well, I need to be about my way."

"That's... no unexpected." Ashlee says, standing. She looms well, makes a small bow, then drifts quietly out of the room. Before she leaves the table she sets a drink counter down in front of Selia, "A free one, if you like."

Then she's gone, silent on soft bare feet.