Wayward Squirrel 6--The Hidden Library
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Prologue
"She still down?" Izzy McGuiness asked of Nancy as they both watched Larianne start down the tunnel toward the Wayward Squirrel.
"Very much so. She knows she brought it on herself, but that's making her feel even worse."
"Ah, I've had even worse breakups with Lucien, but we always mend them. What caused this?"
Nancy sighed. "Combination of things, but mostly Tan's penchant for taking off to risk life and limb for the good of all, and expecting her to wait it out calmly."
Izzy chuckled. "So of course you told her that Tanaka is just like Jack and Lucien, and there's no asking someone to change his nature."
"True, but then she told him she wouldn't take any more. He fired off something about her not thinking of the greater good, and so it escalated. She said she never wanted to speak to him again, so he left last night with Jack, Lucien, Junu, Djoni, and even Thorson, left without saying one word and headed out to Ellak City."
"Lucien told me," said Izzy. It's all about that star diagram Winton found wrapped in that antique scroll. It appears to be a part of the answer to all the questions of about what's really going on and what whoever is behind this is seeking."
"Yes," agreed Nancy, "but right now, Lari could care less about any diagram and more about Tan."
Halfway down the Clockwork Corridor passage, the object of their conversation slumped in tears against her favorite section of the wall. It was rougher than the surrounding smoother panels, and had bumps and depressions suitable for hands to fit. She rubbed an almost straight outcropping and complained again.
"How could he just go like that? I know what I said, but I didn't mean it literally! I just can't take any more of the going off when I don't know if he'll end up dead, or maimed, or..." She broke off and sobbed.
"He'll be back," said a soft and decidedly gravelly voice. "Especially since they're going the wrong way."
Larianne gasped, forgot crying and stared at the wall section. "Did you just speak to me?"
"I did. I quite like you. You always pet me, and it does get lonely being a wall after a few centuries. You're quite pretty, too. I like pretty women; old fashioned, I know, but what can I do? I'm a stone wall, after all, one that doesn't need a key, but opens with a lever."
Larianne took in this detail of possible wall anatomy with a gulp, but regained her composure.
"Well, thank you for the compliments, Sir Wall, and you are my favorite section, but what did you mean about going the wrong way?"
"I've been here longer than that diagram or the scroll it was in. It's an adventure waiting, of course, but not outside. The door is behind me, but you'd have to figure out how to get past, and it would be perilous if you did."
"But we have to go," Larianne exclaimed. "The Squirrel, Crystania, Falcor, Sinhae--we all depend on it."
"Then I suggest you bring friends to meet these challenges. You will surely need them..."
(OOC) This is an introduction and preview to Wayward Squirrel 6: The Hidden Library. Over the next few days, the files you need to introduce or reacquaint yourself with the world of the Squirrel will appear. Hopefully, is still with us, and will do the wonderful job of organizing the references again.
Please sign up on the OOC page for that purpose, but feel free to post in character and react to the story here. We will start our adventure on July 10th, if possible.
WOOHOOHOO! We're on! Thank you so much and much love to your Goblins!
Ladies, we're on!
Formerly known as Habeebi
Willow stares at a delivery she received just recently and almost wished she hadn't received it. How was she to interpret something that said a talking wall wants her to come? Hoping she could interpret the signature was impossible since it was blurred with water as if someone wrote in the rain.. or maybe someone crying? Nodding and pushing her glasses back on her face with a sigh, Willow decides to pack and hope to meet someone from the team on the way. Whistling for Ginger to follow, and placing the lyre on her shoulder, the adventure begins.
( , interested? Let me know in the ooc section )
Teislyn picked up the glass of elven wine while making up schedules for the instructors who worked in the music department. Classes would be starting soon and she had to be prepared. Sighing, she sorted through their personal schedules and a loose piece of parchment floated to the ground. She picked it up and noticed it was summons back to the Squirrel and a talking wall... what in the world? "Jianni!", she yelled out. "Did this just get here and who sent it and have you seen it?" She looked over at Lini who was lounging on a chaise and told her to send a message to Doom about the news.
"A very important lesson, my daughter. Language changes, forms of address and tenses become obsolete, war, cultural melding," the half elven Bard began
The Drow female snorted. "You savashi! You set me up! I should have known, Father." It had amused the tall Drow that her mentor, who was over 200 years her junior, chose to address her as daughter
"A little bit, perhaps, Tolandara. To be honest I've been waiting for the opportunity to do that to a student since Ravel Raventree pulled it on me when I studied under her, like you, I was very sure of myself as a master of Lore and languages, the Head Mistress felt I needed humility, she was partly successful at least," he laughs.
A yellow-sashed novice stuck his head through the heavy brocaded curtain "A thousand pardons, Professor-"
"He means you, Jianni" she murmurs helpfully
"Yes, Lad?"
"Professor, there's a party of Adventurers below insisting on consulting with a Linguist and Lorespeaker, shall I summons Oghma's Shield to see them off?"
"No, show them to the consulting room and I shall be down shortly."
"Be welcomed to the Hall of Lore, Seekers. You wished a consultation?" he asks, whisking into the room and taking a chair at the round table.
A tall dark-haired woman in field plate took the seat opposite him and raised an inquiring eyebrow "You are a Lorespeaker?"
He sighed inwardly. He knew by human standards he looked like a high school Sophomore despite his 32 Summers on Subeta. He nodded, "I am, You may call me Jianni. How may I help you?"
She inclines her head "I am Kiara. Mouse, show him the stone."
A slight woman with cropped blonde hair held out a fragment of stone scored with intricate runes.
"I will not take it from you, Cousin. But if I am to help you, I will need to examine it a bit more closely, I will be using magic and if it is warded, you may not wish to be holding it when those spells activate."
She set the fragment on the table and backed away from it like it was an adder coiled to strike.
For several moments, he studied the fragment of clay. There was no active spells upon it but there was residual aura of powerful alteration, he noted as his slender fingers traced the runes. The language had not been spoken or heard in 600 years. the scholar within wanted to immediately take this fragment to the laboratory to confirm its age, but he was certain that Cousin Mouse would insist on remaining with it, like a mother with a sick child "How came you upon this?" he asks careful to keep the excitement from his voice
"Found it," came the expected reply. Kiara's strangled gasp confirmed his suspician
"Master Lorespeaker, what is it?" the Dame Knight asks
"It is a key, my Lady. It gives very explicit instructions as to how to open a portal in the Sacred Lands' City of the Dead," he motioned them closer and traced a curl of glyphs 'On the dark of the moon seek thee out the Lost King Hem-tap's cenotaph. Beware the spectres howl. Rotten verse, but Hem-tap the Paladin King rode out with his army to challenge the might of the Ghoul King Rhaz, but never returned. A tomb was raised but the sarcophagus is empty, thus the reference to his cenotaph. If you go to Hi'shat, you will meet much worse than specters."
Kiara licked her lips nervously "Master Lorespeaker...would you be willing to accompany us? I can offer you a flat fee of 100 Royals just to see us into Hi'shet, but if there are signposts written in those glyphs, we will need a translator and guide. i can offer you 1/7th of the treasure...please."
Let's see exclusive rights to an epic among epics at the risk of a few thousand undead. Why not? " ye-" The psychic call for the Defenders to Assemble struck like a runaway wagon, he stiffened, felt his friend's urgency and slumped forward. "I cannot. I'm sorry, the-"
Kiara smiled, albeit sadly, "No need to apologize, I understand what it is to be Called by something larger than oneself. Could you perhaps recommend someone?"
His lips were already moving his mind's eye seeing his protege, relaying the message to Tolandara. "My student may be able to assist you."
"Will your student be able to translate? We went to two sages before you and neither was able to come close to what you interpreted."
"My Tolandara only needs to write her Epic to be considered a Journeyman Bard, she is very good with languages, almost as good as her Papa."
"Thank you, Father," she purrs, taking the seat to his right. "What's the plan?"
"May I?" he says politely before recapping the proposal and watching as caution warred with excitement and lost. Once the two adventurers left, Jianni removed an amulet from his neck and put it over her head "This is an amulet of Recall, press the sapphire and it will take you here, grab whoever you can. Do not come back to me as a Vampire. If things look bad use the amulet, my daughter," he says thickly, pulling her into a rough embrace
"We're summonsed-" he and Teislyn announced when they saw one another. He laughs and adds "Why don't I help you pack, my Dearest?"
"Oh dear..."
"Hmm?"
"Oh, good, thank you," she amends quickly.
Moments later "Jianni, I love that gown. Its perfect to perform with a symphony or to dine with Royalty. Its coming with me, Dear."
"But my Teislyn, the color is so blah...I have something you like better!" he rushes off to the Big Trunk of Jianni Suggestions and held out a gown in glaring turquoise "Yes?"
"Its certainly...different,"
"Scintillating...it hurts your eyes?"
"In a word, yes."
"Why don't I get us a few tankards of cider so you can finish packing."
After Jianni had left for some drinks, Teislyn looked at the gown that Jianni had tried to shove into her bag. Shaking her head, she folded it up and set it aside for now. She packed up a few pair of pants, shirts, under garments, a few books from her office and some of Lini's items. Deciding to just go along with it, she picked up the folded gown and placed it underneath the two she had in the bag already. She went back into her closet and found some traveling clothes that would fit Jianni perfectly. Teislyn laid them out on the bed just as he came into the room. "Here is some hard cider and I brought some Rosebud tea for Lini. He handed Teislyn one and set down the teacup on the tray for Lini. Lini sniffed the cup for a bit before giving him a hard look. She didn't quite trust him fully yet, even though he had been staying with them for a year now. She shot her human a look and Teislyn just shook her head and told Lini to drink her tea, it was alright and she'd be fine.
"This is good Jianni. I laid out some clothes for you while we head to the Squirrel. Oh! Also, I heard from Freida, or well, Lini heard from Doom and she told me Frieda and Weldon are on the way to pick us up." Teislyn held out the clothes for him. He took them from her and gave her a look that told her he wouldn't like wearing them, but would because it was more practical for traveling.
After he changed and came back to the room, Teislyn asked if he had everything ready to leave. Freida would be here soon according to Lini. "Lets go to the clearing where they will be meeting us. I'm ready for this next adventure and a hidden library! Maybe I can get a chance to look around and bring back some new information for the music department and hone these new spells that I have. Jianni put his hand around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. "You'll be fine darling." He gave her a kiss on the cheek and they headed out to where they'd be picked up.
Katatrina was born in a kingdom at constant war. She had always been fighting as a warrior from her first memories. At the present moment she was knee deep in a battle with blood and body parts all amiss at her feet. "Onward!" she called to her fellow warriors. This fight was to be won if not the war.
Soon this fight had concluded and she looked upon the bodies sloon across the battlefield. Plenty of her own command but even more of the enemy. She sighed wiping the blood from her blades. Would it ever end? Would she ever have a higher calling. More than just blood shed after blood shed. She sheathed her swords and walked along.
As she surveyed the carnage, she saw a parchment rustling partially covered under the corpse of one of her enemy. It mentioning something about a squirrel. She pondered over it for a long while. Something about helping people. Was this her higher calling? There was also a key. She picked it up and was instantly transported.
Webby had been holed up in her Laboratory tinkering and rethinking all the things she had seen during her last adventure. Questions like how best to get explosion stains out of outfits, Subeta outfit specifically. So far she had only succecced in making her work outfits look sparkly instead of a solid color. Maybe she could add a few new whiz bangs to her gear, like making her Adventureing Whizbange Hammer-Catchall expand or shink to fit in a purse. Webby began a new page in her Attempt to Remove Explosion Stains Journal. Avonlady began to meow at her incessatnly and batted her relay indicator across the floor, which caught Webby's attention. Webby picked it up, opened it and read the only message she had received in a long time. "The Proctector's are summoned to the Wayward Squirrel on the double" the message flashed in loud letters.
Webby hurriedly stuffed all her notes into her expanda bag along with a few changes of clothes. She had a way to go to get to the Wayward Squirrel and she wondered if she would encounter any of the crew she ran with last year. She definitely hoped to see Frieda again, to share what she had learned and to exchange ideas. Time was wasting though. So with a quick look around her laboratory she set out with Avonlady on her heels..
Sequoyah stumbled out of the thick vegetation and viewed the meadow before her with a sigh of initial relief. This had been a hard year for her. After her last adventure she could think of only one thing, going home. But to her dismay, home wasn't there anymore. What had been left of the tribe apparently had disbanded, merged with other local tribes, left the area she had always known to be home and left it a war zone. Her family were gone, how many had been lost? Had any of those she loved survived such carnage?
It only took a couple days to track down her brother, now remarried after losing his wife. He had married well this time, not for love but to a chieftains daughter, he would become the next chief of the neighboring tribe. When she approached him, the sadness in his eyes revealed it all. She didn't even need words to know, he was the only survivor of her family. Finally, feeling her exhaustion, she crumbled into his arms, her uncontrolable sobbing lasting through the night.
She stayed with him and his newly found tribe for the remainder of her year, learning all she could about what had happened, tracking down those responsible, taking them down one by one, in turn, Sequoyah heart had turned cold.
Then a glorious day came, one that she would thank the Gods for from now til the end of days. A messenger came from beyond the mountain, word of her friends gathering had been sent to her, it was time to go back to them. Suddenly her dark world wasn't so dark anymore, she still felt numb, it would take more than merely word from her friends to snap her out of that, but for the first time in a long time, hope started to brighten her soul.
Sequoyah realized if she was going to save her soul from becoming truly black she had to go. She quickly gathered her things, it wasnt a short journey and she knew they would all be together by the time she arrived. She went to her brother and new sister (who was heavy in pregnancy) told them she would be back in a couple moons. Blessing their new child, she knew she may not be back in time to see it born, oh how she hoped it was a boy, then onward to find her friends.
Now she is overlooking this meadow that stands between her and them, stuffing down the numbness and sorrow inside Sequoyah would great her friends with a smile and hugs all around. Now was not the time to tell them the full story of her family's murder, how empty it had left her, she would open up later, right now it was time to celebrate having them all close again.
Lady Frieda sprawled “sans apparel ” on the floor and tapped languidly on her tablet device. Her eyes were half shut, the outside heat had roared into her home, everything but the cool stone floor was hot. Her mate, Lieutenant Colonel Weldon George of the Watchers looked just as wilted and felt just as miserable in the heat as his Queen, but he at least kept his underpants on, he was an officer and a gentelweasel after all. He had poured water on his fur and sat in his leather chair fanning himself. The air was smoky from distant grassfires and there wasn't even a hint of a breeze. Temperature above 90 degrees in the dry Sierra Nevada Foothills was unbearable. That it was 104 degrees had brought all life to a standstill. Even the crows had shut up.
Suddenly, Frieda got off the floor, picked up her tablet and scampered over to her soggy mate, “Look, Dace sent me a message that the Protectors are assembling!” She showed Weldon the message from her cousin about the gathering at the Wayward Squirrel. “We have to go pick Dace up.” She tap-tapped on her tablet and sent a message to her friend Merril on Subeta, “Happy Wanderer is fueled, right?”
By the end of the morning, the two young weasels were ready for the first leg of their journey, to pick up Dace on their way to their Subetan home on Omen Island. Frieda had made arrangements for Brenda Wheezle, a Journey-Level III Healer, to assume the administrative duties of Healer's Hall. Weldon requested his Brigadier General, Mitch Leastweasel, for a leave of absence from his duties at the military academy of the Watcher Corps.
Traveling to the Sacramento river and then to Subeta required the use of a strange device Frieda had been given as a young adolescent. It was a single point Einstein-Rosen Bridge generator conveniently disguised as a cell phone. Frieda called it her "lurking device". Dressed in a cool little dress (for it was also summer on Oman), she held Weldon's paw and pressed the correct sequence of icons on her 'lurking device" and vanished into thin air.
They arrived on a nondescript dock on the Sacramento River in Northern California. Moored at the dock was a medium-sized merchant river barge who’s hatches had all been battened down. Standing near the wheelhouse was Dace and sitting on Dace’s shoulder was her alcoholic faerie companion Buttercup. After hugs and greetings, Dace held out her paw. “Let’s get going, I can’t take this heat and humidity anymore. Faerie-butt here has practically melted.” Buttercup just burped.
Paw in paw, the three friends (and Buttercup) poofed off of Terra and into the etherial realm of Interspace.
They were all expected on Oman, Merril Starchild, the Galactic Terracoon and administrator of Frieda's compound on Oman, had received Frieda's message and had prepared everything for the next leg of the journey. Frieda, Weldon, Dace and Buttercup materialized just outside the converted shipping warehouse that was Frieda's Subetan home. Merril stood on the tarmac, shoved a tankard of ale into the paws of each traveler and gave Buttercup a thimble of whiskey. "Gulp it down quick like. Ye gotta replace them fluids and proteins what were lost in inte
Atrueheart bursts through the door of Squirrely's OffTime Saloon and rushes up to the bar were Squirrely is patiently polishing mugs. Reaching across the bar she grabs Squirrely's face and plants a big kiss on his happy face. 'Honey, I'm home!' she exclaims when she comes up for air! Squirrely reaches over and lifts her over the bar and hugs her tight. 'Well it's about time girlie!' he growls as he swoops in for another kiss. Looking her over closely he sees the tiredness and worry lines on her face. Her body all but drooping with exhaustion, Atrueheart smiles tiredly and breathes a sigh of contentment. Slinging an arm over her shoulders, Squirrely guides her over to a table and signals a barmaid to bring something fortifying. 'Oh sweetie! It's so good to finally be home after such a long time. ' she murmurs sadly as she clings to his arm. After spending months at her family home after receiving word that her sister was gravely ill and then the passing of said sister Atrueheart was tired and sad. Dropping her head on Squirrely's ample chest, she closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep. Squirrely gently tucks her in closer knowing that his girl has had a hard time of it. He whispers softly in her ear 'Missed you something fierce True' as Ingrid brings the drinks to the table. Waving her off Squirrely lifts Atrueheart gently and heads for the stairs to put her to bed. Ingrid whispers 'Ven vere you going to tell her about the call for help from Larianne?' Squirrely just shakes his head and whispers 'time enough tomorrow for all that. Send out a message to her Fallen Angels to convene and maybe this will be just what she needs to overcome her grief at losing her sister. ' Tucking a strand of hair back from her face, he then carries her up to his room and places her gently in the bed.
Early the next morning Atrueheart, refreshed a bit from her journey, dresses quickly and heads downstairs to look for Squirrely. Sitting at her usual table she looks around and notices that the bar is filling up with all kinds of characters and then she realizes that they are fellow protectors. She'd recognize that weasel sneaking cookies anywhere! Ingrid brings her some breakfast as she notices more trickling in. Placing a hand on Ingrid's arm she murmurs 'What are all these Protectors lurking about for?' Ingrid looks around seeing that it's getting crowded for so early in the morning and then talks quietly out of the side of her mouth 'Larianne has put out the call for all Protectors Miss True, Somving about a Vall?' Standing up quickly with a determined look on her face she asks Ingrid 'Has anyone sent word yet to my Fallen Angels?' Squirrely walks up to the table at that time and gives her a hug. 'Word went out last night True darlin' he said quietly. 'Just waiting to hear back.' Sitting her back at the table he grouses 'Time enough for breakfast with your favorite squirrel before rushing off again.' Leaning forward, Atrueheart places her hand on his cheek and smiles 'But you know I always do come back and this time will be no different.' Leaning his forehead against hers he smiles 'Aye girlie... that you do.'
Life is short... Count your Blessings, Love your family and friends and lend a helping hand whenever you can!
R.I.P. Karen Garvin, beloved sister. Tom Garvin, beloved father. Jo Garvin, beloved mother., Donna Honeycutt, baby sister
floating on a raft at sea
"I can't believe YOU pushed us ALL overboard off the GIGANTIC!" TerrenaAnimula glares at Lovecraft.
"If it had just been Tea_Roll, I would have gotten it," Paisleyann agrees, wringing water from her hair.
"I am standing right here!" Tea_Roll pouts. "She pushed me first!"
"I saved the booze from drowning," Reaper pipes in.
"WAIT!" Springjoy yells, "You were still with us on the ship the whole time?!" She looks at Reaper.
"What matters is we are all together," Lovecraft grabs a drink from Reaper. "It was either go down with the ship or save the booze!"
"The ship wasn't going down," Terrena points out.
"But our team was going down...and going down fast," Lovecraft admits. "We had to abandon ship."
"Ahem!" Witchy pops in perfectly dry with rainbow in her hand. "The squirrel needs us. I will just pop us all over there..."
"NOooooooo!" They all yell, but to late a puff of smoke later and they are standing outside the Wayward Squirrel.
"Everyone who they suppose to be?" Tea_Roll asks.
"That went better then I thought," Witchy smiles and poofs away.
"Why do I sense that DIDN'T go perfectly?" Paisleyann questions.
"Only time will tell," Terrena nods.
"This won't end well," Lovecraft admits.
"Well, lets get in there and get going," Springjoy says.
The Return of the Dazed Denizens of Crazy Delusional Chopped Jalapeno Legends ride again.
I'm dying with laughter from our RP! <3 <3 <3
OOC: Galactic Thylacines are attempting to have all our characters meet each other...
Aerynna meets Galaxia and Nicsy
Galaxia walks into the the Wayward Squirrel with confident and powerful strides, only looking down at a crumpled and stained paper (an older menu from the Wayward Squirrel, it looks like) in her hand for a moment before looking around as if trying to find someone. Her step slows for just a second, and her expression for a moment has a hint of shame, relief, and disappointment as no one seems to match. She goes up to the bar and orders something 'strong', digging through a pocket in her leather tunic and occasionally coming up with weird coins and strange currency (a few eliciting hints of that ashamed expression around her mouth and eyebrows) before finding something the bartender will accept. One of those other bits, a marble-sized wire spiral with a connector at the end and a glowing number in the middle of the silvery metal, Galaxia slips into a tip jar as if she doesn't want it on her person any longer. She takes her tankard to a table in the perimeter and sits down, staring into the liquid she ordered.
Videnicse, in elf form, sat at the bar in the Wayward Squirrel, gingerly sipping a mug of something green. It fizzed softly. She looked around, trying to spot someone she knew in the crowd - or someone interesting to meet, if no one she already knew was there. A lock of her curly black hair strayed into the green fizz, and a red streak crept up from the drink toward her scalp.
"What is this stuff?" she muttered, pushing the mug away. "I'm not that thirsty."
Nicsy thought she saw someone she knew - Galaxia - sitting at a table at the edge of the room. She wasn't sure, though. She often had trouble recognizing individual elves and other similar creatures by sight alone, because they changed clothing and different ones wore essentially the same clothing and it made them harder to tell them apart. She would have to hear her voice or smell her to be sure it was the same person she'd spent several days with on the cruise ship Gigantic.
Aerynna wanders into the Wayward Squirrel with her crossbow, arrows, long gun, and bullet bag in tow. Looking around, she thinks she recognizes the girl with the tankard, but dismisses it as deja vu. She approaches the bar and asks the bartender for water. After getting a glare from the bartender because of her request for water, she changes her mind and asks for a beer. Sipping her beer at the bar, she turns and looks at the girl with the tankard of liquid again. Was she really experiencing deja vu or did she cross paths with her in the past? Unfortunately, due to her recent concussion, which occurred because she tripped over a huge rock while coming down a hill path, she couldn't really be sure. She continued sitting at the bar, nursing her beer and trying to figure out her thoughts.
While she was occasionally glancing over at Galaxia to try to figure out if she was the person she thought or not - she noticed someone else giving her a similar look of 'do I recognize you? not sure' that she was doing. She didn't recognize the person at all, though. Having noticed the heavily armed figure, Nicsy felt intimidated; what if this person, bristling with crossbow, gun, arrows and so on, thought Nicsy was someone she didn't like? It could be bad. It could be very bad. With a worried glance back at Aerynna, the elf-form shapeshifter left her green beer behind and headed toward the perimeter table where Galaxia sat.
Galaxia looked up sharply as someone approached her table, jolting back to the present and flexing her shoulders as she realized she was being watched. Dark circles under her eyes and the tight fist she had closed around the old menu might make an approach otherwise less welcoming, but the smile she gave Videnicse was full of warmth and Galaxia got to her feet with alacrity to extend a hand. "Oh! I didn't know you'd be here, please, join me!" Galaxia maneuvered to pull out a chair, 'coincidentally' getting into a better position to examine Aerynna while not quite snaring glances; the paper in her fingers crinkled.
Nicsy sat gratefully down by Galaxia, relieved to have recognized the right person and been recognized in turn. "It's great to see someone familiar," she said. "I think maybe I met that hunter at the bar before? She was looking at me. See, she's looking at me now." Nicsy wasn't actually sure Aerynna was looking at her now, because she was carefully not looking at Aerynna, but her fox instincts were telling her she was prey and had to keep a low profile from predators. She knew better than to get under the table, though it was tempting. Would just attract more attention. Her feet twitched inside the uncomfortable boots she was wearing. What had made her think it was a good idea to wear those? Although they did keep her from getting her foot soaked when stepping in spilled drinks.
Dhara meets Gish and Mercury
Dhareissa Verenke had never been in the Wayward Squirrel before, but she was curious.
And also tired.
Probably more tired than curious, she decided, as she sat down at a table, then tried to figure out what to do with all her books. Her kits were done nursing, now she could go back to school, and if this was the first day of the rest of her life, why was she so exhausted?
She leaned over to scratch behind the ears of the thylacine who followed her everywhere. "You look tired too, Kaz," she said, gently. Did they go up to the bar to order, or would somebody serve them? Was it safe to leave her books out?
After a few minutes off her feet, Dhara finally caught her second wind, and her ears pricked up. There weren't very many interesting conversations going on though--probably most other people were also tired. Nobody was watching her, so she closed her eyes for a moment and opened her mouth slightly, tasting the air. Humans always thought she was making a disgusted face at them when she did that, but humans couldn't smell worth a damn no matter how hard they tried.
There were definitely people from all sorts of places here, but no other Talassani. Kassiri wasn't feeling too comfortable, though; a thylacine's faint musk gets stronger when she's nervous.
"It's okay, Kaz." She patted the animal's head.
Kassiri snuffled at her.
Well-armed people were usually polite, but there was no sense taking risks. "Watch my books, will you Kaz? I'll get you something too."
She had just dropped a small fortune on them, after all.
The thylacine protested softly, but half-heartedly, and stayed with the bag of books.
Dhara walked up to the bar. "Got any bone broth, and something good to spike it with? I'll have two, one spiked and one not, thank you kindly. And whatever meat you've got on a spit in the back. If there's fresh raw offal, my companion would probably appreciate a dish of it as well," she told the server. "If not, just bring more meat. We both like it bloody but hot."
Gish sat in the rafters looking down at the tables. One had books on it, guarded by a thylacine who looked, to the galah, as though he were grumpy. She was curious about the books, but wary of their guard. She considered carefully before flying down to the table, perching herself on a candelabra that held unlit candles. Someone must have put it there to aid if the book owner needed more light to read by, Gish speculated. It was a tall, sturdy example of its kind, and well able to support four candles and a rather large bird.
She watched the thylacine carefully, ready to fly up out of its reach if it made a hostile move.
Kassiri looked up at the bird, but she was curious, not hostile. It didn't occur to the thylacine--being an animal, and not particularly devious--that the bird might be a distraction, but she knew she wasn't supposed to go and chase birds indoors, or anywhere but the park. And why bother with chasing a bird when Dhara was going to bring her food? They had been traipsing through city streets all day buying books, and without the kits slowing them down.
When Dhara came back with a cup of broth for each of them, fresh water and a plate of fresh organ meats for Kassiri, the thylacine dug right in--the cup was too narrow for Kaz to open her long mouth in, but Dhara poured the broth over the food for her to lap up.
Dhara then moved to light one of the candles and smiled at the bird. "Can you actually read?" she inquired. "You are certainly curious enough about my books. Are you interested in the construction of artifices or the creation of golems? I don't mind if you read along with me, but please don't poop on my books. They were expensive and I'm going to need them all year, maybe the rest of my life. You can sit on my shoulder, and if you don't try to steal my food, I'll give you a tidbit or two. But I read kinda fast!"
Kassiri snuffled. From what she understood of the language, yes, she did miss the joeys, and also the kits, though together two toddling, climbing kits and three thylacine joeys too big for the pouch could get up to a great lot of mischief. But it was nice to be out on their own. And now Dhara was talking to the bird! Had it really been that long since they'd been out of the house for more than a couple of hours?
And they had food. Food made everything better. Warm broth, cool fresh water, bits of roast meat and the internal organs thylacines love best.
While Galaxia may not be as forthcoming to other denizens of the bar, though, sitting down again, her companion had other ideas. A small silvery-blue diamond with a glowing pink pearl in the middle materialized next to her knee, and then an angelic Kanis with a glowing gold moon symbol on her forehead solidified in turn around the shape. The long-eared creature pawed at Galaxia's leg worriedly and didn't seem reassured by an absent-minded pat to the head. Instead, trying to meet Aerynna's gaze, the Kanis headed in that direction (also giving the bartender a cute head tilt, although unneeded as anyone handling the taps at the Wayward Squirrel has probably seen weirder).
On the way past Dhara's table, to meet Aerynna, the Kanis gave the books a thoughtful look. While she didn't actually stop, another diamond formed in the air where she passed, a lake-blue one this time with an icy pearl at the core, and eventually a Glacier Serpenth with a lake-blue horned symbol slithered excitedly towards the bag of books being guarded by Dhara's thylacine.
Dhara looked up when she heard Kassiri make a warning noise in the direction of the Serpenth. Why was there a flying snake coming toward her table, and what did it want with her books?
Could everyone else's pets actually read? Or were there shifters about?
"Hello...?"
The serpenth paused mid-slither at the warning hiss, wings holding at a rakish and probably uncomfortable angle as it acknowledged the owners of the volumes. It opened its mouth silently for a moment, forked tongue flicking out but slowly, and the blue symbol sparkled. Then there was a voice from the long creature, a young and female one saying with an uncertain note to the words, "Sorry! I love books, and knowledge. Echo Sailor Moon thought I might like these." The serpenth nodded to the Kanis that had just passed and then seemed to take up a bit of confidence, readjusting her wings as she spoke a little bit more loudly (although the words were still a shy volume). "I...hope I'm not intruding? You must be smart people to like and defend books."
Gish blinked warily at the sudden appearance of a pale blue serpenth. Who spoke up and seemed nice, even if too snake-like for the bird's comfort. "Hello," she said, nodding to the serpenth, and then looked toward Dhara and said again, "hello," in a friendly tone, and asked curiously, "What are all these books about?"
The serpenth spread her wings and bowed her head at the acknowledge. "Hello! I call myself Echo Sailor Mercury. But you can call me Mercury."
(OOC: So then they all end up at a table together, and that's how the team formed! The other team members will meet up with us soon.... more of this roleplay is to come!)
Lounging on a beach, Sky takes in the afternoon breeze. After that 'relaxing cruise' she needed a small vacation.
As she goes to take a sip of her drink, she notices a worker from the nearby hotel walking up with a paper. Curious, she stands as he approaches. "What's this?," she asks holding out her hand. Handing it to her he replies, "A telegram arrived for you. They said it needed a quick response." He stands expectantly as Sky reads the letter. With a more serious look in her eye, she looks up to say, "Send a reply, please, that I shall come soon. With companions too, hopefully. I have a few letters to write..." She starts gathering her things as he returns to the hotel.
Looking at the now setting sun, Sky wonders what her friends have been up to.
(((ooc: , I thought I would try to write a little 'how I got there'. :) I just saw she posted chapter 1.)))
