Pub Freeze

Log Info

• Title: Pub Freeze
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Braelnoir, Merek, Nels, Morgan
• Place: A07: Fernwood Pub, A05: Ox-Strength Tavern, A18: Port Alexandria, The Steelbelter
• Time: Friday, July 17, 2020, 10:20 PM, Monday, July 20, 2020, 4:35 PM
• Summary: Cryosanthia is recharging the ice-box in the Fernwood when she runs into Braelnoir. The two get to talking and the sith invites her friend along for the rest of their route. It becomes a not-drunken drunken pub crawl as the two head through town and talk about the recent difficulties and changes they've gone through. Braelnoir is returned to human, but experience odd things, like spontaneous enchantments. Cryo is still troubled by what she lost and what it cost her to defeat Salina, and is trying to cure herself of suggested elitism by doing glamorless jobs for the regular folk of Alexandria and helping out around Mictlan. The two arrive at the Ox-Strength, and are joined by Merek and Nels, who are also both changed although in Nels case it is back to being a goblin. Merek discusses, but not really, his recent experiences in the Pale Realm and with the Demon Duke, buys several rounds of drinks for the Ox-Strength without noticing and doesn't provide any details, exactly, on how to kill a lich. Cryo finishes in the kitchen and the group leaves, to be joined by Morgan, and while the sith tries to convince everyone she's got a few tasks left and it would be better if she met them when she was done, they all come along to watch her work. Morgan wants to help, and does a better job at freezing the ice-box than Cryo while explaining she did these sorts of things as a child to learn magic and enchanted her own to freeze itself. Brael, meanwhile, tries to get through to Merek even as she's disturbed by memories of the last time she was in the SteelBelter. Cryo begs the group to stay while she goes and takes care of the fishermen's freezers, and this time they stay to work on the second meal of the night.

A07: Fernwood Pub

The common room of the Fernwood Pub dominates the inn, spacious and airy because of the high, vaulted ceiling. Ornately carved beams of dark, polished wood form a lattice overhead, supporting the arched roof two storeys above the floor. To the right of the double-door entry is a spiral staircase, winding upwards to a balcony that rings and overlooks the main area. Large windows at this level grant an excellent view of the river to the west and colorful market stalls to the north and east. An air of coziness is salvaged by keeping the pub dimly lit; parchment-shrouded mana lanterns hang at intervals from the base of the balcony, nestled amongst lush, magically propagated ivy and ferns that grow over this false demi-ceiling and the struts that support it.

The bar is sleek and simple, comprised of meticulously polished black lacquer. Tables are set under the darker niches formed by the balcony floor as well as on the balcony itself. A few are deliberately sized to accommodate halflings and gnomes, but the majority are meant for human-sized individuals. A large common table is on the main floor, set before a semi-circular stage situated against the western wall. Beside it, with pipes mounted upon the wall and running up past the balcony and almost to the ceiling, is a refurbished pipe organ made to look like the one lost when the Fernwood was destroyed during the Merkabah Siege.

---

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Braelnoir    5'11"    146 Lb     Human             Female    A tall, pale Acanian woman, branded in silver.
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Merek        5'10"    215 Lb     Human             Male      A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.
Nels         3'7"     42 Lb      Goblin            Male      Tall, for a goblin, and athletic. Close-cut black hair.
Morgan       4'10"    79 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short pixy like half elf with fair skin
=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

It's early evening. The night is warm and sultry, with dark clouds hiding the stars, making patches in the sky. On the ground, dew collects in the shadows and on metal posts. The windows and shutters of the Fernwood Pub are open to let some of the air circulate, and the week-ending crowd is enjoying meals and a drink.

Both servers are out, the human and the half-sil are out, and are kept on their toes. The bartender is busy and the kitchen is hot. Several conversations mix into a constant drone.

Braelnoir steps down from the upstairs, clad in her one shouldered leather corselet with the short kilt, paired with overknee boots, and a braided leather circlet holding her hair back from her face. She gives the place the usual once over and rubs at her shoulder for a moment, then starts to drift toward the bar, leaning against it to await the bartender's notice.

Bill, the bartender gives a two finger salute to Braelnoir, fills a glass and pushes it in her direction, then goes back to pouring and mixing drinks for the rest of the patrons on the rail and the servers when they swing by.

The door opens and Cryo enters. She is wearing, somewhat unusually, her old leather armour. It's been repaired, and some panels added, the new additions obvious because they are cream coloured chamois instead of the start white of the original. She has on her white-scale gloves, but the AnyGarment sleeves, her boots, are stowed in her haversack. She gives a brief look around, heading directly for the kitchen when she notices Braelnoir.

"Peace on your Nest, sis, how are you?"

The merc gives an upnod and a, "THanks, luv!" and takes a swig before she turns to lean back against the bar, "Jumpin' t'night, huh?" The door's opening draws her eye and, the arrival of her sister brings her off the bar like a prod. She saunters on over, spreading her arms with a big smile, "Hey, sis, I'm doin' alright, how're you?"

"This one is all right," the whitescale sith says, slipping into the embrace and holding firmly. Her temperature today is close to warm, and her tail coils back and forth. "Serene has returned, I think this makes all. I'm in town for errands, Mictlan has been keeping me busy."

Braelnoir gives her a firm squeeze and nods, drawing back to look her over, "Well, the climate's done ya some good, luv." she says, reaching out to gently touch her sister's face, "Glad they could do fer everybody run that mission." She arches an eyebrow, "Got time fer a drink'r anything I can help ya with?"

Cryosanthia leans into the touch, closing her eyes, nodding slowly. "It is a closure, and it was good to see Serene awaken. She had been lying healed but dormant for some time."

She looks at the bar, "This one could have a quick drink. Let me show you the task, I have a few more stops tonight."

She rubs at Brael's arms as she slips out of the hug, and past her, leading into the kitchen. With a nod to the chef she goes over to the icebox opens the top section, exposing a metal tank. She pops the lid, inspects the water for odd things, then steps back and flexes her fingers. "I've been recharging the ice at a few places in Alexandria."

Braelnoir smiles fondly at the touch, but she turns to follow the sith to the Kitchen. She watches the affair with the icebox and nods, "Long run fer that, ain't it?" she wonders. She leans back to wave at the bartender, calling, "One fer Cryo, Bill?" then holds the kitchen door open for her sister to come back to the main room, "Guess I ain't gonna be too much use with that..." Suddenly she snaps her fingers, "Oh! Got somethin' for ya. Be right back."

Cryo nods, watching at Braelnoir leaves. She starts casting, first prestidigitation which causes her gloves to glow, and then follows with her cantrips. Rays of Frost, over and over. Left, right, the scales on her chest glow and then light trickles first down one arm, then the other, like snow falling. The rays strike the metal, and she moves them along in a pattern. Inside, the water starts freezing from the edges in. It's a process and she sways in a little dance as she does it. This continues while she waits for her sister to return.

Braelnoir spends a few upstairs gatehring her... whatever it is. The merc swings by the bar to retrieve her drink, spends a moment killing it, then grabs Cryo's with a wink. There's a little bit of her standing by, watching Cryo work with her arms folded, something cloth held in her dominant hand, her sister's glass held on top till she's done, "Awful pretty lights, luv." she chimes in. It's a little bit of a dance, a little bit target practice, and she has to put a certain number of rays into the metal somewht spaced out. After she places both hands on the side, and seems to be concentrating, looking at the ice. "There, that's got it, and thanks. I try to make it fun."

She closes the lid then shuts the ice-box, looks over at the cloth wrapped item, "What's that?"

A little smile, thoughtful, some color to her cheeks, then, Brae carefully unfolds her arms and holds the little cloth bndle out to her, "Ain't much... but I wanned you t'ave it." Cryo's drink, she keeps on standby, to decide if she's going to unwrap the present now, or later.

Cryo steps closer, taking the cloth bundle and looking at it. Her drink gets a glance, but the curiosity comes first for her. She sniffs, in case that tells her something, then starts unwrapping the bundle. "Is... well I'll see what it is before this one adds the questions."

The bundle smells like Braelnoir, like she did some time ago, before the magics and her body became truly, properly intergrated. There's also the smell of silver and... ivory? Once onwrapped, there is a humble silver fitting, adorned with tiny ivory chips at the corners, framing a diamond of silver scales that have been polished wtih something like Cryosanthia's own gift from that time.

Meanwhile, the siilver tressed Merc remains observing, shifting slightly to await her sister's response. "Oh wow! Your scales from before? This is amazingly beautiful." Cryo brings it closer, examining it carefully, inhaling the scent again. "It is arranged so well! Wow."

Her head turns towards Braelnoir, and then she hugs her tightly, "This one shall keep it close, I am honoured. Why are you nervous?" Braelnoir manages to spill only a little of Cryo's drink as she's suddenly hugged. Her arms come up around her sister as she rubs her cheek against her neck, 'Wasn't sure I did't right.... had to pay someone ta put't together pretty like...' Ahem, 'But... silver... an' Ivory.' As she says the last she looks into her sister's eyes with a fond smile, "Like sisters." <draconic>

The white sith stares back, her eyes glittering saphire, and she smiles widely with her nose dipped, "It is wonderful. The silver and ivory look amazing, it is beautiful. This one is very flattered, thank you." She nuzzles, scale against cheek, then steps back.

"It is a necklace piece, or a fitting for an armour?" She continues to examine it, turning to see how the light catches. Braelnoir smiles a little and rubs the back of her neck with her empty hand, "Well... I ain't sure it'd hold up to the sorta beating armour'd hafta put up with. I'm sure someone out there'd have a magic solution t'that, but..." a soft chuckle, "Next time, maybe. However ya wanna keep it, Cryo. I wasn't sure if you did a lotta jewelry, but..." she trails off with a shrug.

"This one will find something appropriate, a magic amulet is a wonderful idea. The jewelry so far has all been fake, what the AnyGarment sleeves would make, and the ring." Cryo holds up her hand, still gloved, under which there's the bulge of a ring she's been wearing for a long time. She stares at it, exhaling, "It needs to be returned. I shall have to find something, the finger needs a ring there."

Braelnoir nods and looks down to the glass that she raises to offer to Cryo at last, "I'll see what I can dig up." she offers. The ring on her own finger comes to mind for an instant, but no... there's too much wierd, too much divine, and too much blood to give that one over. She nods, though, "I need to swing by the outskirts a'Merkabah... gotta give this back, though hell if it ain't neat!" she says, wiggling the fingers of the spiked gauntlet.

Cryo takes the glass, after carefully transferring the amulet to hold it in her hand. She takes the glass, and takes a big swig from it, then swirls it a little. "That is a neat gauntlet. Isn't it Firestarter's? She is over at the Ox-Strength tavern, this one goes there next, for the Ice Box."

Braelnoir cants her head, "You been keepin' in touch?" she wonders with some surprise, a bit of relief, but surprise, "DIdn't get th'feel ya's too fond of each other." she notes, "Wish I coulda smoothed things over a little better at the time, but, mebbe now's as good as any, yeah?"

Cryo shakes her head, "This one hasn't spoken, just has seen her. The ice-boxes are all around." She exhales, finishes the drink. "This one has been finding things to do in Mictlan, here... be less of an adventurer. The ice is a part of that, a community function."

She shrugs a little, then nods, "You will have a much easier time smoothing over things now."

"Voice helps, yeah." Brae returns with a smirk, "Suppose I could still use the handtalk now that I ain't doublin up on limbs or dealin' with webbed fingers." she laughs, then, nods. "Should show ya Stormgarde, sometime. Wanna go back up an'... see the ol' place, yanno?"

"Stormgarde? Yes. This one would see, although not yet." Cryosanthia carefully folds up the amulet in the cloth, then slips it into her haversack. She finishes her drink, and rests the empty glass against her hip, "This one would love to show you Am'shere. You have changed back to yourself, the bugs would love you."

Braelnoir shrugs a little, seeming, just for a glimmer, maybe a little disappointed, but she nods, "Yeah... imagine th'little bastards'll have some time ta make up for, too." she remarks with a wry smirk. She turns some, and wonders, "Whatcha wanna do now?"

Cryo examines Braelnoir carefully, then gently brushes at her shoulder, "This one did not mean to disappoint. It's been... " She exhales, looks around the kitchen, then guides the merc out of the kitchen to the corner of the bar.

"The aftermath is difficult. Since she is gone, what does this one do with her life? To even think outside the Tower is hard, so many days and years. The other Sith-makar tell this one I am wrong. What Zeke said."

Braelnoir blinks at first, 'What? No, no, it ain't-!' then twitches slightly at the touch to her shoulder, but allows herself to be led out to a quieter(less populous) section of the bar. She listens to what Cryo has to say, weighing things with a subtle(increasingly less so) bristling. Finally, she reaches out to touch her face again, 'Other Sith-Makar ain't you, ain't been through what you have.' There's a shake of her head, and, 'Kor's grindin' heel!' she grumbles, 'Years always grind things inta yer thinkin'... ya know how hard it is fer me ta even think ta try'n take somethin' alive?' She sets her hand on Cryo's shoulder, 'I'm... tryin' ta be better, cuz a'you... you an' Ezee an' the others. I ain't never disappointed in you,'"Cryosanthia," saying her name in the Sith's mother tongue because it feels right in that moment to do so, 'Yer differen't from th'others, fine, don't make you wrong, makes ya differ'nt. Fuck anyone tells ya otherwise.' She pokes the white leather breastplate with her forefinger, 'Only you decide what kinda person you wanna be.' <draconic>

The white sith nods, lowering her head, "this one can imagine the struggle, it's hard for me to remember to think. That is it, the patterns are so deep. This one can't ignore their words..."

She tugs at her leather armour, "This is sith made. Sith repaired. The mithril too, but wearing the mithril when this one is preparing food, Cryo is thinking she is the Silver Empress now. The old armour is fine if Cryo fixes it herself. Fine for chores..."

"And that is a thought out of the Tower, that this one is only good for washing floors. I know it is wrong Braelnoir, it's just..."

She shrugs again, looks down at a corner, exhales slowly. "This one needs to be out of the city, around the people for a while, figure out what she is doing with the rest of her years."

There isn't a response at first as Brae considers her sister, but soon, her arms encircle the larger female in an embrace, "If that's yer decision, then that's whatcha need ta do." she whispers into her ear, "You never disappointed me, luv. Never, ever."

Cryo holds the embrace, then slips back, letting her hand stroke along her forearm to take her wrist, "Come with me to the next place. We can talk on the way."

She shrugs a little, "This one is glad not to disappoint. I know my thoughts are wrong. There are things bothering this one, that are hard to voice."

She puts her empty drink down on the bar, glances around the busy put with an unreadable expression and looks back at the silver-haired warrior. For some reason the hair draws a smile, and she entwines her fingers through it to pull on some strands.

Braelnoir mm's softly and she kind of leans into the combing before making a playful smirk, "Keep that up an' I'm gonna start followin' you around." with an intentionally overstated huskiness in her voice. A drinker close at hand, ends up shooting whiskey through his nose. Brae's free hand comes up and gently traces one of Cryo's facial markings and nods, "A'ight, let's go." she says more normally, glancing with mischief at the fellow trying to clean himself up.

The sith looks at the man and snorts a short exhale at him, her server sensibilities offended by the waste of alcohol. With a passive, happy sort of growl she rubs her cheek against the touch then leads the other warrior outside to the streets. Another exhale, this time a longer, heavier sigh. She looks up at the patchy sky of stars, the mana lights.

"I spent so many years wondering how this would change, and it was exactly the same, and then we went through hell and it feels like something should have changed, but it's the same still. I'm different."

Cryo looks over, "You too, it would be the same feeling for you, if you ran into someone that hadn't seen you since before your transformation. Your hair, would be a clue, but they might think you simply dyed it."

"They don't see, and I'm not sure how to relate to that. This one is not sure which is easier, or worse, strangers who have no idea what we've been through, or friends that don't understand."

"Well, mebbe the brand, too, but there weren't a lotta adventurers tha'ever seen it before I turned," Brae remarks, "but you are differen't, luv. Ya were in fer a campaign longer'n I'll ever know, more than anyone born ta die ever will, an' ya come through it." She slips an arm around the Sith's shoulders, "It leaves marks on us, in us, an' sometimes, the end o'the day... the war wasn't ta change anything, just ta keep it from bein' changed." The silver hair writhes in a breeze, then, "Friends no understandin' be my guess.... but I ain't had... 'friends' long. Reckon it's worse.... you probably had ltsa friends fer a long time, gotta a way with folk."

Cryo leans into the shoulder embrace, sliding her arm across Braelnoir's back to hook it around her hip, and walk with her the way drunks do, supporting each other with matching steps and matching sways. Although both are cold and sober, it's still a crawl towards the next Tavern, the Ox, which is a ways and a journey under mana lights.

"Thanks Brae, this one is glad you know what I mean. And... it's the friends... that's..." That's why she's spending her time in Mictlan, and visits to Alexandria are to do things for strangers or visit comatose friends. Rarely dropping in on the hale ones. "... it's hard to put it all together."

It's a shame Brae's back to normal, the synchronized tail swaying might have completed the sisters' image, but alas. Brae considers Cryo's words for a few moments, "Yer welcome, luv." Since they're talking about being changed by their respective campaigns, Brae wonders, "You gonna keep them marks?" gently.

"Keep them?" Cryo stretches out her arms, she runs her right hand along her left forearm, then slips off her glove. Her left hand has nothing on the back, no pale blue scales, "This is me, Braelnoir, has been for decades. She took out what Charnath put in, restored my hide, her way. Remade me as her thing, but my magic flows freely now and is much stronger and the lights don't make me feel sick when they glow. I'm happy with this, even was with her mark until it caused so much trouble. Losing them would just be loss."

She slips her glove back on, and they wind through the streets towards the Ox Strength. The white sith watches the mana lights as she walks past, her head following them until they drop behind her. She grins a little, "So tell this one what you've been up to since we've been apart?"

Merek is making a way along through the streets of Alexandria, while he wears the white-black attire he often does, a scarf on with a little shift of his gaze to the city. The man looks like he's been through a lot, what with the way he still seems a bit bedraggled, although he's trying the best he can. He is likely to come upon the path of Cryo and Brael.

Nels is exiting the Adventurers' Guild after completing another small-time job. It may onl pay a few silvers, but it keeps him fed, and rent isn't free. He considers spending some of his new cooin at the tavern, but would normally not consider the Ox. It's a bit too tough for him, or how he thinks of himself. But seeing Cryo and Braelnoir headed there, well, with friends, the Ox is probably safe enough as long as he's not directly antagonistic towards anyone. So he'll approach and wave, calling, "Hello!"

"Like the emblem seared into my scales, property of my enemy. I made it my own, also. Your thoughts are good, sister." Brae hisses and growls in somewhat olden Draconic, firming her embrace of Cryo's shoulders as they walk. She's effectively in a one shouldered black leather dress and high boots, with a braided leather circlet keeping her silver hair out of her face, 'Spendin' some time with Morgan... lookin' inta trackin' down Ghisha, though... I'unno, if she's still dead an' acting from beyond I ain't sure how I'm gonna stop her.' A little shrug, then, 'An'.... I think I made m'cythe magic... I think there's more t'whatever I am, now than I got all sussed out...' The silver haired human turns at the hail from, 'Nels!' a big grin apearing on... reskinned features, as her earring does a jig in her ear, 'How ya been, luv, still got th'right face on, huh?' only to catch sight of, 'Merek, hey!' in the doing. She gives her brother a wave, but turns her eyes to Nels for the answer to her query. <draconic>

"This one knows Morgan, she should be able to come up with a solution. Wait, you enchanted your scythe, just like that? This one thought... it's more involved?" The white sith stares at her in wonder.

Then there are hails and introductions, "Nels! This one is glad to see you again, and you are yourself. Merek, Hello also, this one did not expect to see you out on the streets at night. It seems we are going into the Ox Strength. Ha! Now we shall have to stay for a drink."

Cryo looks around with a nervous swish of her tail, then holds the door open. She's wearing her old leather armour, an oddly recognizeable piece of gear, even with the previous, badly repaired panels replaced by newer ones. It fits now, because some of the replacements were made wider or taller, and definitely still looks solid and rough.

"Yes, you take back what they took from you. You own what they owned, that is the way." The white sith growls quietly at Braelnoir, then straightens, standing tall. <draconic>

Merek is just two halflings up in a trenchcoat, he still has a thin look to his frame, though his build looks to be back a bit. He then offers a light hug to Brael and to Cryo, while he does the best he can to offer a scale-sith greeting to the two. He then smiles to Nels with a nod, "You all look like you're doing well," he says with that husky voice of his, taking the time to ask, "You all have a little space for another in the tavern?"

Nels is kind of basically a merc, and he recognizes people by their gear as much as their faces. When there's helmets on and a chaotic fight, it's the 'tall human with the warhammer and greatsword', or the 'white sith with this armor' more than specific facial features. It's also better for recognizing people from a greater distance. So he's recognized his friends, or those he takes for his friends, and as he gets closer, it seems he's not wrong. He will hurry over and follow them into the Ox, nodding to Braelnoir, "Yes, yes, I haven't been turned into anything strange. Life's been good!" He smirks, nods to Merek. "It's the Ox, if you need room, just stab someone."

Braelnoir nods and shrugs, "Mebbe. WIll have ta see what she thinks... her an' Merek got common hobbies, I think." she replies. She smiles to Merek, slipping free enough of Cryo to hug Mere carefully, mindful of any still mending wounds she isn't seeing, "How ya doin, luv..?" she asks softly, then looks to Nels on his remark, "Ha! That's the Ax I remember! Lookin' good, Nels."

A05: Ox-Strength Tavern

The worst sailors, mercenaries, thugs and dock-workers frequent this place, making it one of the most dangerous bars in the city. Its wooden floors and sturdy furniture are scarred from brawls, and the plaster on the walls is broken away in places from the brick underneath. Tucked against the large, steel diamond-pained windows are a few narrow booths providing a view of the street and all its traffic while letting smoky sunlight stream in and preventing patrons being thrown out through them. Little lamps hang from the ceiling beams to provide light when the sun goes down.

At the back is a long bar of pitted, much-polished oak sitting beneath a bay of cuboards. Its here that the owner of the bar can usually be found operating the taps and fiddling with the large copper samovar on one end against the wall when she isn't out serving drinks and basically running the whole bar. There's even a few potted violets behind the bar in the open case where bottles are stored. There's a sign in chalk listing the house specialities, along with whatever will be being served for dinner that night.

The food and drink here is good, despite the clientele's rough and frankly undesirable nature and the smell of pipe tobacco and beer that never seems to come out of the wood; the most popular thing being the curries redolent with spices and the hard ciders, both of which she makes herself in the kitchen. Part of the bar itself, it should be noted, bears the marks of electric damage, with spidery black burn marks radiating out from a charred spot right near the inner edge, where the 'tender stool is located.

Over against one wall is a pot-bellied wood stove, with two much-abused leather chairs facing it. Near to that is a locked door that appears to lead to the owner's apartment above the Ox, while a pair of swinging doors at the end of the bar leads to the kitchen.

---

"Well, hopefully we won't need to stab someone..." Cryo says, as she opens the door on a roaring tavern scene. The Ox-Strength, a bar for those built like an Ox, or who enjoy punching them. Or worse. It's crowded, and loud, and everyone seems on the large size or on a chair that lets them look down. The first step up is a big one, a not-subtle reminder that one is stepping up and better be ready to defend themselves.

Some attention is thrown the white sith's way, and nothing stronger. She moves out of the way for the others to follow, looking over and across the crowd at the bartender, who gives her a nod and then glances at a couple tables before looking back at her.

"Looks like they're ready for us, c'mon in. Find a spot I guess. Not there or there." She noses lightly towards a few.

Nels smiles to Braelnoir, and says, "I'm doing well, thanks! I've got a new thunderbelcher on order, it should let me fight even more effectively." Not that he isn't pretty effective, but .... "I had a bunch of ideas, and they're basically rolling them all in to a new, bigger weapon. And then on top of that, I'm getting it enchanted." Because what's better than guns? Big guns! Better than big guns? Big magic guns! He follows Cryo into the Ox, and that's a good thing, most of the attention goes to the big sith and the goblin, who's big for a goblin but still child-sized to a human, is generally overlooked. Partly because with the crowd, he can't be seen except for close up.

Merek looks between the people in the tavern when he comes up into it with the trio, and nods a bit to the three in thought. The nice hug from Braelnoir of course would be fine, it looks like he is managing better in any case. The man looks a little bit thoughtful, "What have you all been up to?" he asks, lifting a brow in thought.

Braelnoir follows her sister in, eyes glittering in interest as, even on a social occaision, the Ox keys her readiness to fight, and, finally back in her own skin, she comes back to the Ox. This should be fun, she figures. Her attention returns to Nels, "Oh? Make any progress on that feed system ya's working on?" Clad in her leather under dress and high boots, she's drawing a few eyes as well. Ahem, "Just tellin' Cryo.. 'fore you guys caught up with's... I think I made m'scythe magic."

Morgan comes walking in with a mage from the arcanist guild "Oh come on no one here will care your a magic user, I come here all the time." The guy with her seems a bit timid and might pass out with a wrong smirk. She walks to the counter and the guy leaves a package "Its for your boss, but tell him do not mix that for any Orcs it will make them very sick." she gets a reply and she says "I know he knows I am just covering my back side." the item is taken she walks away "Oh go back to the guild and learn not to wory about every thing." the man does not reply and just bolts out of the place.

A table is found. It's not entirely empty. There is an Arvek Nar sitting at it, back to the wall with a half finished drink, one hand on the mug, the other out of sight. He glowers as Cryo approaches, the expression does not change with her friendly greeting. "Hi, hey, my friends are going to sit with you, I've got some work in the back. I see you've got a drink, so... I'll have them send out a meal for you? I'm a friend of the bartender, it's to pay you off so you don't shoot any of them and watch their backs, 'kay?"

The white sith doesn't really wait for an answer, turns and grins at Braelnoir, "Should be cool. I won't be long." She pushes a tall chair over for Nels, and moves a regular one close enough to Merek for him to grab.

Nels nods eagerly to Braelnoir, "Oh, yeah, I did some stuff with that. I'm preparing the charges differently now, too, in a way that'll make them faster to load." He can go on for hours about the gun, but he's distracted by the Ox, which is to him like a minefield of bad that he's got to be pretty careful in. He does look impressed about a magic scythe. "That ought to be pretty effective?" he guesses. He peers at Morgan and her companion, bolting out of the ox, and considers he may be the smartest of us all. He'll climb up onto the chair Cryo offers him, literally, since he's small, and he stands on the chair and nods diffidently to the Arvek. "Howdy?"

"Magic weapons can be pretty useful," Merek admits, while he takes a moment to begin settling up into the seat which Cryo brings to him, nodding in thanks. The man looks about in thought, seeming to consider what he wants, while he sighs, taking the time to pat something upon the hip, then he watches the tavern.

Braelnoir arches an eyebrow at the hob as the group is led up to his table and she listens to the negotiations with that same expression on her face. She appraises the fella as Cryo bargains their 'safety' with food, asiding, "Ain't tried it, yet. Have ta watch ya go at it again one'a these days, Nels." She glances at Merek at his observation, his postures, movements and she idly rolls her shoulder, sweeping the place with her gaze.

The Arvek Nar gives Nels a look, with an expression usually considered friendly between goblinoids, acknowledging the cousin. "Kacper," he growls as an introduction, and makes something that might once have been a military salute or a wave.

Cryo meanwhile, says "Awesome," and ducks backwards through the crowd. Her ability to sidle around tables and keep her tail out of the way hasn't faded, despite the decades. She threads her way back to the kitchen, and then inside.

Meanwhile, the bartender takes Morgan's package, nods at the warning, and slides payment towards her as well as a drink. He looks over at the Arvek's table, peers for a moment, then calls out loudly, "Heeeeeeey, it's the Black and White Angel! Back to buy everyone a drink Angel Man?"

That has the whole bar looking towards the table, Kacper, is not pleased with the sudden attention.

Nels is quite wary as well, though it hasn't erupted yet. He nods to Merek, and nods to Braelnoir. "I'm eager to try it out as well. We will have to find some mission to test ourselves against." He replies with a friendly sort of comment to Kacper, and then ducks as the whole bar looks this way. He is not fighting the entire Ox, noway. He eyes possible exits.

Merek does not know what to think at the moment, blinking a bit to the side, while he nods, "Ah, who's serving? I will take a... Honey mead, if you have any." There's a shift while he takes a moment to open his tome on the table, picking up what looks like an artifice pen to write in it with. "I went on a mission, after returning, for exploring. We learned it was a Temple of Thul, we walked in the Pale World." Well, this guy can't seem to really get a little break.

Ever helpful, still grinning, Brae cocks her head toward Merek, "Think'e means you." That something may come of it, however, does cause a slight tension in her limbs, and the lamplight glimmers some as her shoulder muscles ripple under the almost mirrored surface of her scaled over brand. "Wonder if Kor's down fer a drink...." she comments under her breath. She looks to Merek again as he starts to explain his recent doings and, "Wait, ya went -where-?"

"Honey Mead? Well ain'chyoo sweet. Honeymead for all y'all, courtesy the Black and White Angel over there." The Bartender calls out loudly. At least it's not milk, or water, but probably not the drink of choice. There are several eyes on the table, and a few ears. Words like 'Magic', 'Firearms' and 'Pale World', draw attention.

Cryo is still out of sight. If she's on her task, recharging ice-boxes, it will take a little while from what Braelnoir remembers of the procedure.

Kacper seems interested in listening, and not talking. He takes a very slow sip of his drink without taking his eyes off anyone.

Nels boggles at Merek also, and says, "I think that's quite a tale." Better than what he's got to brag about, perhaps? Well, the goblin prefers low-key, really. Particularly here in the Ox, where not-low key sometimes means fights with orcs with names like Deathcrush Spleenspearer. The important part of 'live and let live' is the living part. Like the Arvek, he will choose listening as the less likely path to getting knifed in the back.

Merek looks to the people in the place, nodding a bit, while he takes a moment to consider. Whenever that drink is called for, he nods a bit. "Well, I was able to protect people from some of that with my magic. It was filled with puzzles, not to mention the shade of a lich," he mentions while he takes a few notes on that tome.

Braelnoir calls back to the bartender, "An' a shot of fireball whiskey, luv!" then settles into a sort of 'stand by' ready to go upside heads should that become necessary, asiding, "Liches is the bony ones, right?"

Honey Meads start arriving at tables, delivered by Orc wenches who look like they take wandering hands home for dinner. Mugs thump down, to grumblings or moans and only a few cheery noises. One is placed in front of Merek, Nels and Kacper. Braelnoir gets her fireball whiskey, and it is on fire. Kacper pushes his across the table towards the mage. He uses the hand holding his glass, and says, "For you, Honey."

One drink seems enough for him, he takes another sip, and watches Braelnoir tensing up. Finally he splits his attention between Merek and the Kitchen, where promised food is going to emerge. He asks, "Liches?"

Nels acks at liches, and he says to Braelnoir, "Liches are the really nasty ones." That's as much of undead lore as he knows, really. He says to Merek, "I'll come to you if I find one, then!" The honey mead is sampled. It's a bit sweet for him, but free is has a quality all it's own, so he'll nurse it as he listens about liches.

Merek looks to the mead, with a nod of thanks, then he lifts that up to chug from it. He sighs eventually, then he places the drink on the table, while he looks to people. "Not a true lich, that'd be... Well," he muses, nodding a bit to those along the nice table while he looks to the place, "Anyway."

Braelnoir thumbs a coin to one of the waitresses, "Thanks, luvvie!" and takes her shot, and her own round of mead. She blows the fireball out, dumps it into the mead and pounds it.

Kacper watches the silver haired warrior down her drink. His attention returns to Merek, he gets straight to the point, "How did you kill it?"

Around this time, Cryo emerges from the kitchen, makes a thumbs-up gesture at the bartender and heads over to the group. She has a tray, with food, that she maneuvers one-handed above the crowd. There are some slapping sounds, people hitting her more than her hitting them, but she doesn't drop the tray. It's spun and placed down. She looks for a seat, and finally decides to wiggle in between Braelnoir and Kacper, allowing her to look across at Merek and leave whatever energy exists between the goblinoids alone. "So, what'd I miss?"

"Killing a Lich." Kacper says, his stare intensifying.

Nels peers at Merek. "Wait, not 'anyway', was it a lich or not? That's important." It's a critical factor in how impressed Nels is going to be with the tale. A guy in spooky robes that stinks of alchemy is /like/ a lich, but can be shot in the face like anyone. Anyone that Nels can shoot in the face is not nearly as impressive. He smiles as Cryo returns with food, and he says, "Welcome back!" And he ogles the food.

Merek looks over to Cryo when she settles up into the table, with a nod offered to the woman, "Ah... Well first mission back, we went to a Thul Temple, and we fought a shade of a lich, while the Pale World was all about. It basically was the remaining... Well, shade like people have, only of a lich, I think is the best way to place it." The man nods to Nels, then to Brae, while he listens to Kacper and anyone else with his drink lifted up. Those that know what the man's been through would know what it's like to travel through the influence of the Plane like that.

The food is mostly meat, some fried, some seared, some a few days old, shredded and treated with spices. There's also some chips and salsa, which look on the rough and hot side. Some raw vegetables, little in the way of breads. It's very carnivore, popular with the regular clientel and sith-makars in general.

"Thanks!" Cryo grins at Nels, lots of teeth, "Easy eats! Have some."

She sits closer to Braelnoir, glancing around then taking a strip of meat and pulling it apart in her mouth by biting and tearing at it. A little chewing, more swallowing.

The Arvek Nar, having only just met Merek, does not know what the man has been through or the influence of the plane, although Kacper does seem interested in finding out. He asks again, "So, not a lich. How did you kill the shade of a lich?" It seems he shares his fellow goblinoid's interest in knowing whether it is a thing that can be easily shot, or requires more esoteric means.

Since he doesn't seem to be taking any of the food, Cryo nudges a plate of shredded beef a little closer. "Take some, everyone take some."

Nels gives Merek a puzzled look. "A shade? Like a ghost?" he is not the expert in undead by a longshot. He will try some of the eats, and then some more. Turns out it's good stuff. He gives Cryo a thumbs-up since his mouth is full, seems he approves.

Braelnoir settles in as the food shows, and reaches in for a hunk of spicy beef and some of that salsa and so begins her contented munching, listening to the story, even as she keeps a lookout on the population at large., "Mmm, thanks, luv!"

GAME: Merek rolls will: (18)+18: 36

The chips and salsa are made with ghost peppers, the rest of the food the white sith brought out isn't as hot.

Merek looks to the food, while he takes a moment to inhale. Then he picks up one of the pieces of meat, taking a bite from it, then he nods a bit. "Would you mind if I..." he motions to the server, "A blackberry vodka," he then adds. A look from the man to the table, "It was not that pleasant an experience. It was a kind of undead ghost of that lich. We fought it," he mentions.

The man takes a drink from the mead, finishing that, while he voices the story, "We don't know a lot about what he was, we only know it a Temple of Thul. We fought with all that we had, we used magic, even weapons. I finished it along with Iskandar and Morgan by using the Searing Light that was provided by Eluna. The puzzles were ancient, it was built by the ancient Mul'Neissa, in Draconic they writ the magic."

Braelnoir happily munches spicy foods.

Nels nods at Merek's observation that the shade of a lich is not a nice thing to fight. "I see. Well, bravely done in any event," he opines, and munches the munchies happily.

"Why would they do that? Mynsandril is typically used for ancient Sildanyri magics." Cryo asks, straightening and giving Merek a confused look.

Kacper is more direct, "Enchanted, Cold-Iron, Adamantine, Alchemically Silvered weapons or normal weapons? God-Magic or Man-Magic? Searing Light, that's the Dreaming Goddess'. Any firearms? Artifice that you used?" It's the unflinching grilling of someone with a professional interest.

A blackberry vodka arrives, for Merek, and one for everyone else too it seems, delivered with the angry disinterest of the oruch servers.

Cryo takes a few more strips of meat, and a sweet pepper, and goes to work eating those. "Thul..." Her eyes widen, "I wouldn't, no."

GAME: Nels rolls stealth: (6)+8: 14

Nels turns, spots someone, and whispers, "Crap. I owe that guy money. Don't say anything, I don't think he's seen me yet." He will scoot out of his seat to the ground, and use his small size to slip out as quietly as he can. He's no master of sneaking, but he's small and quick, and he makes his getaway cleanly.

Braelnoir blinks after Nels as he takes off, then shrugs and shakes her head, "Mebbe they were usin some kinda dragon magic?" she muses. It makes sense to her, at any rate.

"Draconic is one of the oldest languages, used often for magic by those that don't use the new Eldritch," Merek mentions, while he nods a bit to the two. "The place merged with the whole Pale World, emotions were shifted, a lot of the negative energy was on the party. It was like being in a land with..." He inhales, then he nods a bit thankfully for vodka, taking a drink from it. He does try to smile, he doesn't want to show it upset the man.

Cryo watches as Nels ducks down and scoots out, then quickly looks away, as paying attention might draw more attention. She waits until she hears the Ox's door slam, signifying the goblin has made it. She scoops some more of the salsa up with the hot chips, crunches and swallows them. So Draconic is like magic, also taken and used by people who pretend to have invented it. "Oh. I guess that makes sense. I've got to get on to the next place. You take care okay."

She glances at the Arvek Nar as she says the last thing, tapping the table and standing.

He turns his stare on her, "What's your game? You're leaving? He hasn't finished his story or answered any of my questions. Are you making a joke of me?"

"Oh hon," Cryo says, crouching a little and leaning in, her tail swaying, "This was a double date, Me and You, and Brael and Merek, with Nels as the chaperon, and the chaperon is gone so we have to also or it will be improprite. Clearly we aren't compatible, but it's nice meeting you and I've covered the meal. Have a nice night."

The white sith slips past Braelnoir, heading for the door as the Arvek stares at her in disbelief.

Braelnoir hmmm's softly, "Wonder if that's why...." she whispers to herself, but, as Cryo ups to leave, the merc gives Merek a little encouraging nudge nefore using a couple of chips to hold a scoop of the shredded beef, and she rises, "Nice meetin' ya luv, C'mon Mer, got a few more places ta hit." and starts to head out with her.

Merek blinks a bit as Brae offers for him to come with, when Cryo speaks about needing to visit places. The man nods a bit, lifting up while he begins to follow with the two when he's finished up with the drink.

Kacper stares as everyone gets up and leaves, watching them head towards the door. He has a table full of food, and depending on how picky one is, a couple extra untouched drinks or a bunch of extra drinks. This would be wonderful, if he wanted more than one drink. He reaches out, lets go of his glass, picks up one of the Blackberry Vodkas and moves it closer. Then he takes a hot chip, and crunches it slowly, continuing to glare at the door. At least he's alone now, that's how he wanted things.

Right?

Outside Cryo holds open the door as Braelnoir and Merek exit, then gives it a push closed. "Normally I'm in and out, but you can't bring a whole pack in the Ox and not buy anything or it'll start a fight. Especially looking all adventury, someone is going to want to see how hard you are. Anyhow, Steelbelter is next, then a few of the fish-mongers. They take longer."

Morgan comes back in as she sides steps Cryo "hey there." she says nicely as she enters the pub to get a drink at the bar.

Braelnoir hmm's softly as she follows Cryo out, brushing her fingers along Morgan's shoulder with a, "Hey, luv!" as they pass and she looks back to see her progrss for a moment, then continues after for the next leg of their errands, "Didn't see Firestarter'n there.... wonder if she's doing th'crawl, too."

Merek looks to the two, then blinks a bit to Brae, "Firestarters?" The man nods a bit, then looks to Cryo, "Ah, you are doing a lot of work today, I apologize if I'm... You know, being a bother, coming with. Just been a lot to think about," he admits, while he looks to the city, his scarf shifting along in little waves.

"Peace on your nest, Morgan, good to see you. Breal was saying you and Merek had a hobby in common? There's an arvek in there with a table full of food we just bailed on, so we can't go back in, but maybe he wants company." Cryosanthia says, as the short half-elf slips by her.

She looks at Braelnoir, and Merek, mostly Merek. "I know you've got a lot going on Merek, and you need someone to sit with, and drink, and listen. I'd love to but I've got these places to hit tonight. It's a boring and simple job for people I don't care about, there's not a lot to see. I mean... well it can't be here, like I said, do you want to drink at a nicer place and I'll meet you back when I'm done? So I'm no dragging you around into places when you want to stillness?"

Morgan gets a bottle of mead as she approaches Brae "No I am sorry I dont know what you are talking about." she then looks to Merek and wonders what they are up to do. She then asks the dragon "What do you need to do I can help you and we can let Brae drink up the silver in my pouch here and talk to Merek."

Braelnoir nods some and, "Firestarter's a merc. She lent me a gauntlet while I's outta sorts, but it's tine ta return it." She explains for Merek. As Morgan approaches, she smiles and reaches out to touch the half-elf's hair, "Sounds nice, Luv, but.. I'm taggin with Cry fer now." She looks between the lot, then back to the population at large in case anyone does something silly then, "Mebbe we get done we can all have some chow someplace nice."

Merek looks to the trio and nods a bit, "Well that'd work, although that looks like Brae will be staying along with Cryo. I can wait about if you prefer, I wouldn't mind being a little useful," he mentions, taking a moment to inhale while he sighs, nodding to Morgan, "Anyway, it is nice to see you about, I'm about finished with the potion mixing."

"I'm freezing ice-boxes, it's a job I do for the taverns in Alexandria and a couple of the fish-market people. It's something I can do that's simple and no one complains about me trying to be Salina. I do it every week, it's nothing special Morgan. It's washing dishes, except not washing dishes. I'd feel it'd be demeaning to you." The white sith says, looking everyone over. She shrugs. "And you Merek. I've got to go do it. Everyone can come along. It's boring and I'm sorry. If you want to help that's fine, it's just... nothing important."

Morgan gives a soft hmm when Braelnoir touches her "I can make us something at my house I still have a ton of celestial dire boar meat at my house... so much meat." the later said with a bit of dred. A look to Merek and smiles "Blessings be, and you know the potions we used I owned for two years, but potions are always needed when you dont have them." She looks to Cyro "I grew up on a farm, and I help from time to time with other farms here, there is no job beneath me."

Braelnoir smiles a touch, then nods, "A'ight then, we're burning daylight." she replies, glancing at everyone as it sees everyone's down to help/accompany Cryo on ber chore, "You ain't a mouser, sis, y'ain't never gonna be like Salina." She grins at Morgan, "Could kill fer some good boar chops." She does edge closer to Merek, uncertain of his stamina after his... stay with the Bad Nasty, and opts to be close to hand should he need the support.

Merek moves up to Brae, then he takes a moment to offer his arm if she will take it, for support, nodding a bit to Cryo and Morgan, "You think it is so useless, it's not. All work is important, and... You aren't the only one to feel like all you'll be is what people think." He inhales, then nods to the woman, looking to Morgan, "It was great you had it with ya." The man nods a bit, "Anyway, I'll follow and not get in your way." He does seem to make himself a little bit withdrawn, perhaps to look to the city while they walk along.

Merek moves up to Brae, then he takes a moment to offer his arm if she will take it, for support, nodding a bit to Cryo and Morgan, "You think it is so useless, it's not. All work is important, and... You aren't the only one to feel like all you'll be is what people think." He inhales, then nods to the woman, looking to Morgan, "It was great you had it with ya." The man nods a bit, "Anyway, I'll follow and not get in your way." He does seem to make himself a little bit withdrawn, perhaps to look to the city while they walk along in the place.

GAME: Merek rolls fort: (8)+12: 20

Cryo looks between everyone, "Celestial boar sounds nice, and thanks Brael, I know. It's just like I said, something to do. Well, come on, maybe Firestarter is there. Let's go."

It's not far from the Ox-Strength to the Steel-Belter. It's closer to the docks, frequented by the dock-workers, fishermen and merchants that deal with them. Not fancy. The white sith leads the way, again watching the lamps as she passes them.

Morgan smiles as she looks longly to Brae and says to her "well you can come over and cook what ever food I have, and the unseen servents will clean your mess." she then says to Merek "When I am done with the project I am working on lets make a healing wand for you to use." She follows Cryo "its ok to put me to work, and I will cook for us later."

Braelnoir accepts Merek's arm and leans in to him to offer him what support he needs, while making it look more like she's just his companion to anyone outside the group. She nods to Cryo's words, meeting her eyes, "Yeah... maybe sh'is." Morgan gets her attention, next and she wonders, "What wouldja serve that with, anyway?" thinking back to the mass of extraplanar hogs they ended up butchering and, for just a moment, in her mind's eye, she's doing it with silvered paws.

Merek looks between the three, and blinks a bit at the talk of cooking, "Well, I like to make food, it can be pretty all in all relaxing," he offers, while he looks to Morgan, then to Brae, then to Cryo. He doesn't mind all of the support, while he nods to the woman next to him thoughtfully, "What have you been up to?" He then nods to Morgan, "I appreciate it, thanks!"

A18: Port Alexandria, The Steelbelter

Sailors, ship-builders, fishermen and dock-workers frequent this place, making it a working bar for working people. Its wooden floors are frequently cleaned but still have an invisible crust of salt from dried seawater. It smells strongly of fish and tar. The windows are yellowed oil-paper, the kind fish are wrapped in. They're shuttered in bad weather, but as every one who has worked the sea says, weather isn't bad in Alexandria. The ceiling is low, a familiar condition for those used to ducking under decks or working the docks. The tables are long, communal affairs with benches on either side. People take their meal, eat, drink and leave.

The food and drink here is fish, and if you absolutely must, it can come with chips. The drinks, while not made from fish, still tend to have a salty tang and the occasional scale stuck to the side of the glass. It's beers and ales, none of those fancy drinks, unless someone netted a bottle of something interesting that fell off the back of a boat.

---

Cryo leads and listens to the converstations, and the group arrives at the Steelbelter. With this bar, she has to duck, the doorway is a little low. Slipping through low doors seems very familiar for her and once inside she holds it open.

It smells like the docks, a fishy, salt-water scent coming off the clothes of the workers. The floors are clean but still have a little crunch when one walks across them, dried seawater turning to salt and leaving an invisible crust.

"So, yeah, sit anywhere?" Cryo smiles, raising her hands hopefully. There aren't any empty tables, but they're more communal looking, like long picnic benches people sit down, have their drink and meal, then get up and go. If they're staying, they cluster in a group. Otherwise, strangers are sitting down beside strangers.

Morgan hmms and says "well my dear I do not know I am a lazy cook, all the fancy dishes I made for you I had help." she grins as Merek offers to cook "Well ladys we have our cook today." looks toward a area the three of them can sit "if you want help Cryo just ask."

Braelnoir looks a little thoughtful as they enter the Steelbelt, her eyes half lidded, but not quite downcast as she thinks of the last time she was here. She looks to Merek, then, giving his arm a little squeeze, her eyes growing concerned as it was also the last time, she knows that -he- was in here.... She looks about at the place as Cryo goes to arrange things, the floor, the spot Kaelyn blew out of the ceiling... She stops entirely at one spot and stares down at an old spot of the floor. The scuffmarks at the base of the stairs.... claw and hoof...

GAME: Merek rolls will: (3)+18: 21

Merek does look about the place, then he finds a bench that people are using to settle into. He settles with the ones that are, watching Cryo work while he blinks a bit, "Ya, if you need anything." The man looks to Brae, then to Morgan, while he shifts the hand of his to her wrist, leaning in a little bit, something about the whole place bringing back memories. The man inhales a bit, barely able to keep up while he looks like he's someplace else within.

"Sure Morgan, I guess. It's just casting cold spells on the box of water until it's frozen." Cryo says, nodding at the bartender and heading for the kitchen, waiting for Morgan to come along.

She also remembers the last time she was in here. A meaningful glance towards Braelnoir, watching her look at the floor in that spot. "Hey, call louder if, you know..."

"I'll be back in a little bit Merek. Anything you want from the kitchen? It's fish, and we just ate, so... I'm guessing not, but let me know if you want fish."

She waves for Morgan to head in.

Morgan jumps up as she has never been here before, and is some times hard to pick up on other peoples emtions. "We wont be long." said as she goes back to help freeze some water.

Braelnoir doesn't look to Cryo, to anyone, at first as she stares faraway into that spot on the floor. She feels the shifting grip on her arm and it brings her back. She nods a little and looks to Merek's eyes, trying to guage where he is, in this place, and she lightly pats his arm then, her hand kept as discretely between the pair as she can manage, signs, "waggle waggle left right thumb" a question in her expression, though her handspeech is ever so much better for having her proper manual dexterity restored. And all the practice. <unknown>

"Fish with chips," Merek mentions then to Cryo when she asks what he might want, smiling a bit. Then Brael speaks to him while he nods, "I'm fine," he says, taking a moment to settle back, nodding to Morgan. While the two are doing that, he kind of contents to watch the place, looking to Brae a little on occasion. "We never came back," he offers simply.

Some Fish and Chips with a small bowl of vinegar comes out quickly from the kitchen for Merek. The server also seems to be the cook, and it's set down and she returns.

Inside the kitchen, Cryo makes a little 'ta-da' curtsey and points at the Icebox. It's large, reaches to the ceiling, and takes up one wall. It's large enough to walk in, for small people.

The whitescale sith-makar opens a top panel, and gets a step-stool and climbs up. "Okay, so I check the water for bugs and if it's low. It doesn't matter really if it's dirty, but sometimes they drip so it's best to make sure the tank is clean. Top off the water to the line, then start hitting it with freezing spells along the bottom and work up to the top until it's solid. Then close everything up."

She steps down off the ladder, "So do you want to try?"

"Cryo had t'grab my shit after that.." Brae says with a little shrug, while the girls take care of the icebox, she settles in with Merek and gives his hand a little squeeze, then releases it so he can eat.

Morgan nods "I did this for the farms near my parents farm when I was first learning magic. I dont mind cleaning the water first and that will be healthy for the ones here." but she floats up in the air and sends some cold rays in the water from both hands. "keep a eye on the tempature for me please."

Merek nods a bit thankfully to Brae, while he takes a moment to lift up the food, taking a bite from it while he begins to smooth a little bit of that vinegar onto it. "Sometimes, I think that the Iron Hells were kinder," he mentions, thinking to something.

Cryosanthia nods, watching the water and the temperature. "Oh that makes sense. I never saw the smaller ones until here. In Am'shere it's a big underground room that we freeze the ice in. The temperature is fine."

The cook comes back in, watches the procedure as well. After a moment she says, "Giv yer meal ta yer friend, hope yeh aren't 'spectin' more."

The white-scale shakes her head without looking away from watching the tank.

Morgan is focusing on what she is doing "I could speed this up but I dont want to over do it and have to repair stuff I do not know how to."

Braelnoir cants her head, "Makes ya say that, Mer...?" she asks softly, glancing around atanyone that may be the wrong kind of interested in them. "That still wasn't yer ill. That fool coulda backed off any time a'fore that all happened."

"Because, I come back to see... My friends all being hurt, to see..." Merek inhales, then he takes a moment to sigh, "I miss the days when all were friends, laughing. We didn't even really win." The man takes a bite of the food, while he thinks about it, "I don't fancy the knowledge, of the truth." Then he sighs, "I might buy new plants to garden with."

"You don't want to freeze it too fast. If you shoot around the edges and the metal it freezes into the centre and then it pushes the water up. It's pretty solid, although bursting a seam is bad." Cryo explains, watching as the temperature drops and ice forms, "This one is big, so it takes a while. Keep going, it looks fine."

Morgan nods "I know, my ice box is smaller so I just enchanted it to freeze it on its own. I taken 5 trys to get that right." she moves around as she is hovering in the air to keep things equl when freezing things.

A sigh and a nods, and Brae speaks anew, "Love ta get us all back t'gether sometime an' just... fuckin' eat or toss back some brew or something." There's a little shake of her head, and for a moment, she idly wonders how the freezing is going, then, "Maybe we can do yer water thing sometime, huh, Mer?"

"Oh. Yeah. I never thought about that. I guess you could enchant theirs. That sounds like something a lot of people would like, an icebox that freezes itself. Really popular. They could save on deliveries of ice or freezers coming around." Cryosanthia muses aloud.

"Yeh, that'd be great. Freeze on it's own." The chef agrees, throwing in her two cents.

She steps up on the ladder, taking a look, "It's mostly done now."

"That would be pretty nice," Merek mentions, while he nods a bit to Brae, then takes a moment to watch the place. "Maybe, there's an island I was told about by Morgan, where I might be able to vacation," he admits.

Morgan nods as she says to the cheff back here "For me to do that here it would take 20,000 gold to do that for something like this. And I would not want to take a job away from my friend here." she then nods to Cyro "tell me when."

Braelnoir nods, "An island, huh? Sounds like it could neat... what's it like?" she wonders, trying to find the fine line between 'keep Merek from dwelling' and 'let the man eat his fish'.

"It's finished, now, thanks, you can close it up." Cryo says, stepping away and folding up the ladder since it's also unnecessary. She slides it back into its storage place, nods at the cook, and heads back to the main room.

"Hey Brael, Merek. So we're done here, how's the fish? Why don't you wait while I go around the fish merchants, I won't be long." She looks back at the kitchen door, expecting Morgan right behind and nudging a guy to move so she'll have a spot across from the warrior and the mage.

Morgan comes in when she is called over and the job is done "will you want help with the market?"

"I don't know, it probably has a spring," Merek mentions, while he nods to the two finishing up. He then inhales, with a sigh, "That's fine with me," he says, taking the time to offer a wave, "We should still be about, we can talk in the meanwhile and into the night."

Braelnoir looks up as Cryo states her intentions and she gives a nod, "Sure thing Luv, take care, now an' we'll see ya soon." There's a look to Merek, "Like one o'those hot springs?"

"It's fine Morgan, everyone just wait here, I'll be quick." Cryo says, brushing at a scale on her armour and wiping it away. A fish scale, a job hazard in a place like this. She makes a small, ducking bow towards Braelnoir and Merek, "We'll talk when I get back. Keep a spot cool for me."

The white sith turns and winds through the table, outside to continue the route.

Morgan takes a seat down and gives a wave to Cryo as she leaves. "I know of some hot springs but never been to one."

Merek looks between the two still about while he waves then to Cryo, and nods. "Well, I imagine it would be like that," he mentions. The man takes a moment to think about it, taking a bite from the fish with chips, "I usually fish for the Temple of Eluna," the man admits.

Braelnoir nods, "Really? Thought ya did it fer a hobby'r something, luv." Brae gives a shrug, "Think I got whammied by Kae's gadget the next night after we had that talk by the river, honestly.."

Morgan listens to the two talk but she is listing.

Merek nods a bit to the two, while he thinks about it, "It's been quite a while," he then notes, while he finishes up with the food, taking time to order a basic tea, then he begins to relax, "I think it would be pretty nice to adventure and explore and fish."

"Almost bled t'death the last time I went swimin'." Brae notes with a shrug, "After we took that dip in the river an I changed?" A roll of her eyes and, "Yeah.... that's a story." She smiles over to Morgan an, "Welcome back, luv!"

Morgan smiles to being greated but says to Merek "When I want a vaction I tend to take a job being a guard on a caravan or on a ship/ Sure there is work to be done but its peacefull and fun work."

Merek nods a bit to Brae, "I remember that," he mentions, then he smiles a bit along with that thought. He does look to his tea when it arrives, taking a nice little sip from it, then looking to Morgan, "I like ships. I wonder... What's the size of the world."

"More'n too small, less'n too big." Brae replies with a smirk, "Imagine it ain't impossible ta see most of it in a lifetime." she muses.

Morgan states a large number in miles "Thats what mages like me figured out with math and what we know of the world."

Merek nods a bit to the two, while he thinks about it, "I think it would be wonderful if we could explore the Planes."

Braelnoir goes quiet at that, looking curiously between the two mages as she's just a swordswinger, what she knows about the world is a fair amount of strength of arms, or tactics, less the vastness or fauna of creation.

Morgan nods as she stands up next to Brae "Well Merek if you want to go to a outer plane I can get us there, I know the spell to get to them." she floats up a little and places a arm around the taller woman and says "I think I need to go home and do some work on my project." she tryes to give a soft kiss on the lips if Brae does not shoot her down.

Merek looks to the two, blinking a bit at that, though he doesn't offer a lot, he doesn't seem that bothered, all the same he nods to Morgan, "I can use that spell, I think it's the preperation that's important," he mentions.

Braelnoir returns the kiss, hugging Morgan for the duration, then, "Alright, luv, seeya soon, alright?" She looks to Merek then, "Yeah, said I'd go with you, first." she says, "Have ta adjust fer cold again, too. Don't have that since I lost m'scales."

Morgan nods to Merek and smiles to Brae "I know a lot about the planes and there are a lot of them that I would love to visit to." but she gives a nod and then walks out side then flys home.