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Kerem , having just retrieved the Key to Freedom from the other worlds, is practicing using it on various chained pets and virulently addicted hobos, so as to become good enough at it to help Chim and Tez. He is also trying to figure out what Chim's doing this weekend so as to have more drama in his life.
Kerem: *
Chimrea has paid the easy part of her debt to Old Man Spider, she hopes, and now has to figure out what the rest of it means. She has an obligation to Agnes' body, and wants to get a look at the High King, but hasn't figured out yet how to leave her family behind. She is a drama FACTORY, thank you Kerem.
Chimrea: *
Agnes: For Agnes, everything is different. The things that were once so important feel kind of fuzzy. She remembers wanting her body to go to her father and to use her position of new-found power to watch out for her friends, but things seem less important somehow from this new perspective. One thing is sure, Green Lake must be protected.
Agnes: *
Tez wanders around aimlessly for the most part, eating prodigious amounts of meat on sticks, and curling up in corners wondering what she'll do with the baby of a god, now that Agnes is gone. She is rather like a wounded tiger in disposition, if said tiger were also insane.
Tez: *
Holmes: Meanwhile, the Demonic Goblin High King prepares for his invasions to strike out across the continent, including taking control of Green Lake, so near to his headquarters. Forces of an evil continent-spanning cabal plot to create new religions and use magic drug-deals to finance everything.
Holmes: The Lankan Empire sacrifices more and more people to their dark gods including Akalatan, son of Klysus - will it bring the sun again tomorrow, or the end of time.
Holmes: And dragons fly again where once they had laid dormant for so long.
Holmes: Comets destroy cities.
Holmes: And magic, itself, is turned on it's head.
Holmes: Can the sages and prophets be right, that an end-time approaches?

Holmes: The group shuffles Agnes' wrapped body through the back door of the inn, the course to Tez's room seeming to be clear. That perception is inaccurate, however, as Cassio walks to the innkeeper, addressing him, who then comes to him as well. They meet, almost blocking the progress of the team carrying the body.
Holmes: "And..." says the short, squint-eyed innkeeper.
Holmes: "What is that?"
Tez eyes the innkeeper with a crooked grin. "Wool."
Kerem: "A present."
Kerem: "...of wool."
Cassio looks over the incoming group casually
Cassio smiles softly, asking to no one in particular, "Is this city a place where wool trade is well met?"
Kerem: "We're going to find out, aren't we?"
Kerem: "Scuse me, you guys are actually kind of in the way, and this thing is really heavy."
Kerem: "This thing of wool, I mean."
Cassio: "Since when has wool strained the arms?"
Tez: "It got wet."
Kerem: "Since it's a LOT of wool."
Kerem: "A lot of wet wool."
Kerem: "Now why don't you try saying that five times fast while we get to our room."
Tez nods in agreement.
Chimrea is doing her best to fade into the wall behind them.
Cassio shrugs and backs slightly out of the way, "No matter of mine I guess. But I'd dry that fast lest mildew set in."
Kerem: "Thanks. Thanks a...thanks."
Holmes: The innkeeper's mouth moves, trying to say something, but no words come out. His finger is raised to indicate something, but the meaning never becomes clear.
Kerem glances over his shoulder at the new guy as they stumble towards the room.
Cassio perks up a bit, "Oh, and is there any work to be found for would-be heroes in these parts? You fine ladies and distinguished fellows seem just he people to ask."
Tez squints intently at the inkeeper.
Kerem: "Heroes."
Cassio kind of follows them for a short jaunt if they keep moving
Tez: "Sure, stop the Goblin King. Good luck."
Kerem: "I promise I will talk to you more about this just as soon as I put this down."
Cassio: 'Would that truly be the deed of one man? I mean I'm no deathless god. This sounds like an affair for a party of known warriors with untold skill."
Tez whines, "My back hurts." and pouts.
Chimrea: "Why don't you tell me what kind of heroing experience you have while they finish unloading their wool?" Chimrea says to Cassio, finally stepping up bravely.
Kerem seizes the moment and starts moving as fast as he can towards the room.
Cassio laughs and his golden laced brown hair falls all about before answering somewhat solemnly, "Well, in truth none. Everything has a beginning though."
Chimrea: She's a little on the short and slim side, a teenaged girl in a somber mud-soaked dress. She smiles up at Cassio and looks genuinely curious.
Chimrea: "Beginnings are important," Chimrea says with a nod. "You aren't from around here, are you?"
Cassio: "Not that I make any attempt to blend, but yes I guess I must stand out a bit. I've just recently arrived."
Chimrea: "Well, here's the thing," Chimrea says, perching on a bar stool as she gets into the story. "A goblin invasion is threatening the city, because of a big spirit they've got pushing them on who calls himself the High King. We need to go take a look at him, but it'll be dangerous because of all the goblins."
Chimrea shoots a look at Cassio to see how he takes this idea, shooting a reassuring smile at the bartender in case he's listening too close.
Holmes: The inn is less than 20 years old, like most of Green Lake... but already it has that quality of air that many inns have where stories beg to be told to strangers from afar.
Cassio: "This sounds like matters of a serious nature. Just who is leading this expedition?"
Cassio is intrigued, his faces lights up a bit at the details and he sits on the stool next to Chimrea
Chimrea frowns at the reasonable but unexpected question. "Well, we... I suppose we all step forward when the situation calls. It's sort of a partnership."
Kerem emerges from the room in time to hear this. "It is? I thought you were in charge."
Cassio looks over Kerem while continuing, "Are you recruiting?"
Chimrea: A curious expression flits across Chimrea's face, a look of panic chased by a wince. Cassio sees it, since she's facing him, but she's wiped it off with a smile before she turns back to Kerem. "That would be ridiculous. It would have been Agnes, but..."
Kerem casually gives Cassio the once-over.
Kerem: "Agnes in charge?" Kerem shudders slightly for a moment. "Agnes in charge."
Kerem: "Okay, it's a partnership."
Tez wanders down a bit after, chewing on something that might be food.
Cassio is a tall waspish kind of younger man, with almost a starved look but finely crafted suede jacket and pants.
Kerem: "Tez, you're not eating the...wool...are you?"
Tez grimaces. "No... don't think so."
Holmes: The innkeeper washes some pottery in a basin, while watching the conversation.
Cassio looks a bit shocked, "Eating wool?"
Chimrea: "To answer your question," Chimrea says to Cassio while elbowing Kerem, "we could probably use an escort to the mountains."
Tez: "I think it's jerky. Something jerky."
Kerem: "Can you fight?"
Cassio: "Well this whole partnership thing throws me. I mean, without some kind of functional arrangement in the matters of authority, nothing can be easily achieved."
Cassio kind of stares, like he is thinking or remembering
Tez laughs
Kerem: "Well, listen. We'll be all be in charge of YOU. That way we'll have a functional power structure so far as you're concerned."
Cassio: "Oh no no, that sounds far too much like a council. Councils are good in politics, but bad for just about everything else."
Cassio: "Actually, they aren't that good for politics either."
Chimrea: "It's sort of like this: Kerem is sort of shifty and doesn't take orders reliably, Tez is a little crazy sometimes, and I'm sixteen. It sounds like disaster, but it works surprisingly well. If you'd like, I could be in charge of you, because I'm probably the most sensible one of us."
Kerem: "What do you mean I don't take orders reliably?"
Kerem: "I'm VERY reliable!"
Chimrea rolls her eyes. "Do we have to talk about the coin thing now, in front of company?"
Kerem: "Oh, that."
Kerem shrugs a little helplessly.
Chimrea: "Yeah."
Cassio: "Well I guess I'm getting a bit carried away anyway *hearty laugh*, I mean it happens to us scholars sometimes. Theory above practice and all."
Kerem: "Oh, you're a scholar?"
Kerem: "So you can't fight, then."
Cassio: "Was."
Cassio: "That remains to be seen. I do uh, have a weapon, a sword."
Cassio looks a bit shifty at the last comment
Tez eyes Cassio. "I could teach you to fight."
Kerem blinks a couple of times.
Chimrea: "What did you study?" Chimrea asks.
Tez: "Lessee your sword."
Kerem: "Can I see it?"
Cassio: "Well its not here, I didn't think I'd go waving it about the general populace and all that. That isn't common here right?"
Kerem pauses.
Cassio: "A little of this, a little of that."
Kerem: "Where did you say you were from again?"
Tez looks at him oddly
Cassio: "Kaitaine."
Kerem: "...ah."
Kerem: "What PART of Kaitaine?"
Chimrea coughs. "Guys? Did I miss the secret hand signal that there's something wrong with this guy, or are you just naturally suspicious of anyone who wants to help people?"
Tez: "Something's wrong with everyone."
Kerem: "Chim, he doesn't carry a WEAPON."
Cassio: "Well I was a top student of the Great Scholar Antonio. Perhaps you've heard of him?"
Chimrea: "Neither do I, really. So?"
Kerem: "You...you're...you bring...other things to the group."
Kerem: "I haven't, actually, but okay, I can get an idea of what part of Kaitaine you must've spent your time in."
Cassio: "What does she bring in particular?"
Kerem: "Okay. Sure. Scholar. That's useful. We need scholars."
Chimrea: "He means I'm hard to get rid of, and most of this mess is my idea," Chimrea explains to Cassio.
Cassio: "ah."
Cassio settles in a bit and looks for the innkeeper to order a drink
Kerem: "That's NOT what I mean. I mean we need you, and you're a shaman, AND the next chieftain of Green Lake."
Tez: "It's tradition to order brandy for your friends."
Tez: "you want to be friends, don't you?"
Kerem: "And for a long time you were the not cursed one."
Kerem: "That was helpful."
Chimrea: "He's deluded about that last part," Chimrea clarifies for Cassio's sake, "but I do know something about spirits. What does Antonio study?"
Cassio: "Philosophy, science, and history mostly."
Kerem: "That's great. History is really...I mean, philosophy is always...well, anyway, glad to have you aboard."
Kerem: "I'm Kerem."
Tez perches precariously on a chair next to Cassio.
Cassio: "Kerem, its a pleasure."
Cassio nods his head curtly
Chimrea: "Yes, thank you for your help. I'm Chimrea," she says, smiling at Cassio and looking like he's already helped, just by asking to come along.
Agnes: ~~Kerem, why are you so angry?~~
Kerem takes a step back and sits down at a nearby table, wondering why he feels so antagonistic.
Kerem: ~~What the--~~
Kerem sits bolt upright.
Cassio: "I look forward to being able to assist, lady."
Kerem: ~~Agnes? I thought you were dead.~~
Cassio gives the same curt nod to Chimrea
Agnes: ~~You seem exceptionally antagonistic toward the kid...~~
Cassio turns and looks at Tez, "So... brandy you say?"
Agnes: ~~You didn't know that I was moving forward? I'm not dead -- just that lump of flesh is.~~
Holmes: "Cassio!" shouts a beleaguered voice. Fazeris enters the inn looking quite hung over. "They told me that Cassio would be here. Cassio?
Holmes: "
Chimrea throws a curious look at Kerem, but knows from experience that talking to him now might not help.
Kerem: ~~I guess I just...do you think Chim likes him?~~
Agnes: ~~She seems to. Ask her.~~
Cassio speaks to Tez, "Lucio, my cousin, makes a great Pear Brandy. I wonder what the quality..."
Tez nods solemnly. "Did you bring some? Also, can I have some of your blood please?"
Cassio looks past her and towards the shout
Kerem: ~~Can't you...mind-talk her or something and find out for me?~~
Kerem: ~~Aren't you supposed to be dead?~~
Kerem: ~~What's it like?~~
Cassio: "I didn't persay bring any, but uh, I'm sure I can easily have some brought soon."
Cassio: "But, we can partake of whatever this fine establishment offers."
Agnes: ~~It's interesting. But I'm not dead.~~
Chimrea: "Um," Chimrea says, nudging Cassio, "is he looking for you?" She nods in the direction of Fazeris, at the door.
Agnes: ~~Chimrea, Kerem is worried that you have an unwholesome appreciation of this new lad. You should stroke his ego.~~
Tez helpfully takes out a dagger.
Cassio: "Uh, my blood?"
Kerem: ~~So what's it like being flesh-dead?~~
Holmes: "Cassio... I need a drink!" shouts Fazeris, who then regrets it, and holds his head.
Chimrea: ~~Agnes? Is it, well, urgent? It's just that I've kind of got a lot on my mind right this second.~~
Cassio turns to Chimrea, "Yes, I think he is looking for me. Thats my uncle you see."
Holmes: His greying beard makes him look even older than he is.
Cassio stands and shouts to Fazeris, "Yes, uncle I'd wager you could use a libration or two yet. You are still capable of standing I see."
Tez: "Yes, just a little. It won't hurt much."
Chimrea: "Oh! He was a friend of my mother's, too." She looks Fazeris over, only vaguely disapproving of his state. "I think they did a lot of drinking and fighting people together."
Tez looks at Chim funny, but doesn't say anything.
Kerem: "Really?"
Kerem: "Maybe we should bring HIM with us."
Holmes: Fazeris is neither too old, nor too slow to miss the insult from his nephew. "You're still taking Lucio's money, right? Do your duty for your ailing uncle."
Holmes: "Chimrea?"
Holmes: Fazeris notes the daughter of his once love Isadora.
Tez waves to Fazeris
Cassio orders Fazeris another drink, telling the innkeeper to water it down more than a bit
Chimrea: "Hello," Chimrea says to Fazeris with a smile that's only slightly strained. "I hope your visit to Green Lake has been agreeable."
Holmes: Fazeris notes Tez's greeting, and backs away from her and puts the others between him and her.
Holmes: "My visit has been miserable, and only acceptable, given that the alternative is a city in chaos."
Holmes: He bows in mock politeness to Chimrea.
Holmes: Then the maneuver goes bad, and he falls.
Kerem notes the various interactions, glancing at Tez with an eyebrow raised and indicating Faz with a finger.
Tez takes Cassio's hand while he's busy talking, and turns it palm up. He hadn't said no, after all. She moves the dagger to slice his hand a little.
Chimrea: "Oh dear," she says, sliding off her stool to go help Fazeris up. "Green Lake is a little provincial compared to Kaitaine, I know, but surely it's not that bad?"
Kerem gets to his feet as Faz falls, moving to assist him, then faltering as Chim gets their first.
Cassio is sliced by the dagger just so, "Hey!"
Cassio stares at her dumbfounded
Kerem: "It's okay, she's a blood goddess. It's a blood goddess thing." Kerem waves a hand abstractedly.
Tez: "Thanks!" She pulls out a bandage (she's been carrying them around for such occasions, and wraps it around his hand neatly.
Cassio: "The history of blood rites is rather interesting, from a vulgar perspective."
Cassio moves to also help his uncle regain a vertical stature
Holmes: Fazeris, humiliated, but still trying to keep what little dignity he has left, gratefully accepts Chimrea's aid.
Holmes: Cassio's, on the other hand, he tries to eschew.
Tez starts to draw her divination on the table, before frowning at it, and licking the knife off sadly. Agnes doesn't need her help anymore.
Cassio gives up rather quickly, ignoring the rebuffed attempt
Kerem: "You must tell us all about that history sometime."
Tez: "Stupid elves" she mutters blackly.
Kerem: "Hey, so why were you so curious about our wool?"
Agnes: ~~Kerem, 'flesh-dead' is nice. I don't really expect you to believe this, but the body is just an anchor.~~
Chimrea shoots a quick, apologetic look at Cassio--she hadn't meant to step on his family business. "Anyway, I'm sure if you give Green Lake a chance you'll get to like it," she says to Fazeris as she guides him to a stool.
Agnes: ~~Chimrea, only as urgent as you make it.~~
Kerem: ~~So, what, now you're drifting? You can go anywhere?~~
Agnes: ~~Tez, it's not their fault. I'm still here for you.~~
Chimrea: ~~What's that supposed to mean?~~
Holmes: "You'll recall," says Fazeris, as he tries to steady himself on a seat, "that I've been giving this place chances for two decades."
Tez: ~~I hate elves~~
Holmes: Fazeris looks at Chimrea, then, and immediately a look of regret comes over his face.
Cassio: "Well, I was just wondering. I don't know much about this area, and uh, I can sometimes be a bit too curious for my own good."
Cassio scratches his head and smiles apologetically
Kerem: "That, at least, I can sympathize with." Kerem smiles broadly.
Agnes: ~~K: There is a connection between each pair of minds. Where there are many of these connections, they intersect and form a tight weave, like a spiderweb, but messier. I live there, now.~~
Holmes: "I..." Fazeris tries to say something to Chimrea to make amends, but he does no better than the innkeeper did when everyone entered.
Kerem: "Well, we'll tell you all about that when we head out, I guess."
Agnes: ~~C: I only mean that it's for you to prioritize. I'm sure he'll live without our incesant coddling.~~
Agnes: ~~T: I hope you can forgive me.~~
Chimrea: "It's all right," Chimrea says to Fazeris, covering the sting with a smile. "I guess I forget that not everyone sees the place the way I do."
Tez: ~~You left me.~~
Agnes: ~~T: I'm closer to you now than I could have been before. I'm inside your head.~~
Cassio smiles just a bit, "Well how about a round of whatever quality spirits this inn has, on me?"
Holmes: Kerem notes that a merchant enters the establishment, and comes over to get a drink. He's a cagey customer, but Kerem can sense that he's paying attention to their discussion. To anyone else in the inn, he's just a typical customer, in from the long road to the coast.
Tez: ~~*sullen silence**~~
Agnes: ~~T:I love you, even when you're angry.~~
Kerem walks idly over to the merchant, under the guise of ordering a drink.
Kerem: "So, uh. Come here often?"
Chimrea: "I think we might be taking your nephew on an adventure," Chimrea says to Fazeris. "I hope you don't need him right now."
Holmes: "Huh?" says the Ikaiti, taken off-guard.
Holmes: Fazeris says, "I don't 'need' anyone, much less him."
Holmes: Then he recalls something, "On the other hand, you'll be leaving the money, right?"
Tez sighs and finishes the divination, or at least makes pretty patterns on the table.
Kerem: "Uh. What's a nice guy like you doing in a place like this?"
Cassio scowls a bit at his uncle, "Obviously"
Chimrea looks down and studies her hands, not wanting to snoop on money business between Cassio and his uncle.
Holmes: The merchant puts down his hood and says, "What... are you hitting on me?"
Kerem: "Well, you just seemed so INTERESTED in our conversation."
Tez: ~~If you loved me,~~ she answers finally ~~ you wouldn't have left. Just like the others.~
Kerem: "So tell me about yourself."
Kerem sizes him up.
Agnes: ~~T: I haven't left.~~
Holmes: The merchant grabs his drink, and, retreating says, "You have an overactive imagination."
Tez carves arcane symbols into the table
Agnes: ~~T: Also, once you get my body back to Father, I think it'll be like old times again, sometimes.~~
Kerem: As the merchant takes a step back, he becomes aware of Kerem's other hand, holding his knife at a low angle, below the table.
Holmes: The innkeeper notes Tez, and, at first being used to people grafitiing his tables ignores it. But then he sees what she's putting in the table, and comes over, "You people... you know I have other customers..."
Holmes: He gestures at the merchant.
Kerem: "Gosh, I really hope for your sake that you're not right, because if I'm just totally crazy, that's going to be really awkward and unpleasant for you."
Tez looks up blackly at the innkeeper.
Holmes: "I don't want people to not come because you've put a curse on my tables!"
Tez: "It's not a curse."
Holmes: The merchant pays no attention, suddenly worried about Kerem.
Chimrea hunches her shoulders a bit, trying to nerve herself up to intercede between Tez and the innkeeper.
Cassio tries to cut in between Tez and the innkeeper, "Kind sir, could we just have a bottle of brandy perhaps?"
Holmes: Chimrea and Cassio bump into each other in a quite intimate way.
Tez returns to carving the symbols into the table. It is, in fact, a doodle surrounding a warding glyph to keep away bad luck.
Chimrea: "Oh! Sorry," Chimrea says to Cassio, blushing. "Tez, um, she has this thing about blood. I hope she didn't cut you badly."
Cassio just shoots Chimrea a soft smile, gazing at her with his peircing blue eyes, continues on towards the innkeeper.
Chimrea: ~~Agnes? Can you, you know, tell what I'm thinking?~~
Agnes: ~~C: I can if you want me to -- like when you addressed me, I noticed. But I think I could also be away, and not notice. Did you want to set something up?~~
Chimrea: ~~No, nothing like that. I just, well... never mind. You said Kerem's worried about the new guy?~~
Agnes: ~~C: Oh! I see. I won't tell him.~~
Chimrea: ~~Wait. What? You didn't hear anything, you said!~~
Holmes: "What... you're going to gut me or something right here?" says the merchant, trying to show bravado, but failing miserably. His nervousness shows, a weakness that Kerem can exploit.
Kerem: "Ideally, I won't HAVE to. It would be kind of a mess, after all. That's why I gave you the second chance to come clean."
Kerem: "How's that going, by the way?"
Agnes: ~~C: Well, one can put two and two together. In any case, your secret attraction is safe with me.~~
Chimrea: ~~It's nothing like that. Forget I said anything.~~
Holmes: It's obvious that Kerem has convinced the merchant that he means business. "Look, I... I shouldn't have meddled in your business... I'll just be leaving, if that's OK with you. Come on, we don't need to resort to violence here, right?"
Chimrea: ~~Hey, will you be able to talk to us all the way to the mountains?~~
Kerem: "You. Didn't. Answer. My. Question."
Agnes: ~~C: I have no concept of my limitations yet. I think so. I hope that's OK -- I'm really not trying to make you uncomfortable with this.~~
Cassio addresses the innkeeper, tying to smooth things over, "How much is a bottle of your finest spirit?"
Chimrea: ~~No, it's fine. If it's hard for me to get used to, I can't imagine what it's like for you.~~
Holmes: "Look, look," says the merchant, really on his heels now. "I didn't want to even take this job. A guy came to me, and gave me the descriptions of some of you people, and says, that I should find you, and then come back to him and tell him what you are up to. I was even supposed to follow you..."
Holmes: "He said you were just kids," he continues.
Holmes: "I figured it wouldn't be too hard. And, anyway... like... these guys are really scary."
Kerem smiles a little, and taps his key with his other hand. For just a moment, A'taal's dark red glare looks out from behind his eyes.
Agnes: ~~C: Actually, it's strange -- it feels natural. The best part, so far, is that I can monitor so much more than I could before. But...Tez is angry with me. Look out for her, would you?~~
Kerem: "Scary, huh?"
Holmes: The innkeeper, trying to ignore the "negotiation" going on with Kerem and the merchant, brightens up at the offer of commerce from Cassio.
Kerem: "Listen, I'll make you a deal."
Chimrea: ~~I'm not sure I know how, but I'll try.~~
Holmes: "It just so happens, sir, that I have some Danarchan vintage on hand," he says. "I can open it up for five silvers per bottle."
Holmes: The merchant looks at Kerem with trepidation.
Kerem: "You tell me all about this guy, and I'll tell you what you should tell him. You're going to tell him we're just a bunch of disorganized, incapable kids, and we're off to bury our dead friend."
Cassio figures in his head a moment, spends a great deal of the money Lucio gave him for the month so Ferazi can't.
Kerem: "You won't have to follow us, because you insinuated yourself into the conversation, and we hired you to handle our pack mules."
Cassio pats the innkeeper on the shoulder after giving him a stack of silver from his pouch, "Open two at the table, and I'll take two to with me later."
Kerem: "Then you can come back, and stick with us, while we save Green Lake from the horrors beyond imagining that await it, and I promise I'll do what I can to keep you safe from those 'scary' guys."
Kerem: ~~Agnes, can you blow something up or something? Maybe levitate a glass?~~
Agnes: ~~K: Why?~~
Kerem: ~~I want to make a point to this merchant.~~
Kerem: ~~I'm turning him.~~
Holmes: The merchant gulps, thinking about it.
Agnes: ~~K: I can affect minds. Do you want someone screaming? Or something done in his head?~~
Kerem: ~~Sure, freak him out a little bit. Nothing permanent, he's going to be on our side.~~
Agnes: ~~M: Hello sir. I'm the devil that good Sir Kerem has placed in your soul through his arcane mastery. I'll be your guide for the next forty or so years...if you do what you should. Any questions?~~
Kerem smiles as he sees the merchant's reaction.
Kerem: "We may be a bunch of kids, but we're pretty scary ourselves. And right now, for you, we're the only game in town."
Kerem: "Now why don't you tell me all about these guys who hired you? Bartender! Gimme one of whatever he's having. And put it on his tab."
Holmes: The merchant scrambles about, still trying to listen to Kerem, but also trying to figure out who is talking and where they're talking from. He looks up into the rafters and everywhere. After a moment, his eyes stop and settle on Kerem. "OK," he says, "OK."
Holmes: He settles down a second, "You promise to protect me?"
Kerem: "Oh yes. As best I can."
Kerem smiles. "This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
Holmes: He continues, "They made a mistake, hiring me, see... I lost my family when the fire came down on Kaitaine. I have nothing holding me down there. So I might as well work for you. I really don't like these guys. I..."
Holmes: He hesitates, uncertain of what he's about to say.
Tez wanders over to Kerem and the merchant.
Holmes: The merchant makes his mind up to contiune, "I think that the people who hired me are in league with the church of Zanar."
Holmes: "Worse, I think that they're in league with demons."
Tez: "Demons?
Kerem wrinkles his nose. "Zanar, huh? That's weird."
Kerem glances at Tez, then looks around for Chim.
Holmes: The merchant nods.
Kerem: "What makes you think they're in league with demons?"
Holmes: "Well..." he hesitates again. "The man who met with me, he had a 'friend' with him, a huge... person... in a cloak. This guy never spoke, and I could swear he smelled of brimstone. I even think I saw a clawed hand."
Cassio returns to Chimrea's side, waiting for the drinks, sees the others with the stranger, "Whats going on?"
Holmes: "Oh," he continues. "I think that they're Zanarians because he used a phrase that they use, 'purifying fire.'"
Tez curls her fingers into claws experimentally
Chimrea: Chimrea, who looked sunk deep in unhappy thoughts, looks up startled at Cassio's question and follows his glance. "I'm not sure. Kerem knows lots of people--it's how he hears things."
Kerem catches Chim's eye and beckons her over with his chin.
Chimrea shrugs at Cassio and slides off the stool to go and see what Kerem wants.
Cassio stays put, but watches casually
Kerem: "Hey, Chim, this guy was sent by some Zanarians to spy on us, but I've convinced him that it'd be safer for him to work with us against them instead." Kerem fills her in on what the merchant's said so far in low tones.
Chimrea blinks several times. "Oh." Pause. "OH." She leans in, putting her face just an inch from the merchant's. "Who else did you follow in Kaitaine?"
Holmes: The innkeeper, still trying not to hear anything, delivers the bottles that Cassio ordered to him.
Cassio: "Thanks."
Cassio opens one pours a generous draft, followed by a large gulp
Kerem: "Actually, uh, shouldn't the new guy come over here too? He probably knows about this stuff."
Holmes: "Huh?" replies the merchant, "Uh, no, I.. I only got the order from these guys just before I left. I've never done anything else for them before. I swear.... but I'm sure they've hired other folks like me. I get the feeling it's how they operate."
Kerem: "Uh, Chim, do you want to...uh, I mean." Kerem gestures for Casso to come on over too.
Tez: "Can I have some of your blood?" she asks the new new guy
Agnes: ~~K: maybe you could return to our customary table and bring him along.~~
Kerem: "Oh, hold on, Agnes thinks we should go sit down."
Kerem: "Then we can order some food, too."
Kerem leads the merchant and whoever else's coming over to the dining area, and settles himself calmly in his usual chair.
Chimrea: "My parents were followed and attacked by demons in Kaitaine," Chimrea says quietly. "I don't understand why the same people are interested in us, if it's them."
Tez follows closely behind the merchant looking vaguely hopeful.
Kerem: "Huh."
Holmes: The merchant is adjusting mentally to his new allegiance, Kerem can see. Once at the table, he reaches out his hand to Kerem. "Uh, my name is Tallister."
Kerem: "That IS a concern."
Kerem: "Oh, yeah, names!"
Kerem shakes the merchant's hand all friendly-like. "Hey, I'm Kerem. This is Tez and Chimrea."
Chimrea doesn't try to smile for this one.
Kerem: "So they didn't say why they were interested in us?"
Kerem: "And...where's the new guy?"
Holmes: Tallister replies, "They didn't say, but they said to pay particular attention to somebody named Agnes, specifically, and... well, you, Tez. Is Agnes another friend of yours?"
Cassio comes over, struggling to hold the bottles and glasses
Tez: "She was."
Holmes: Tallister frowns, not understanding, "Did she leave your faction, then?"
Agnes: ~~T: :( ~~
Tez: "She's gone. But here."
Cassio sets them down at the table, nodding to the stranger
Tez: "Invisible." She laughs a little. "You should watch her."
Tez: ~~ ... :( ~~
Holmes: Tallister smiles nervously, still not understanding, but knowing that he'll probably learn with time.
Chimrea: "Thank you," Chimrea says to Cassio as he brings the drinks. "That should calm down Tez, at least for the first few."
Agnes: ~~T: I'll always be your friend. I'll always be here watching over you.~~
Cassio smiles at Chimrea, "Good."
Cassio sits and turns to the merchant, "Hello, I'm Cassio. Its a pleasure."
Tez: ~~A: But I need you to hold me. I... I don't know.~~
Holmes: Chimrea catches Fazeris, still on his stool, looking in the direction of the table.
Chimrea pours herself some of the brandy Cassio brought and then slips away from the table to take it to Fazeris. Setting it next to him on the bar, she says quietly, "I hope you find whatever you're looking for."
Holmes: "Hunh?" grunts Fazeris. But he takes the drink with a grateful look, and gestures his thanks.
Chimrea smiles, squeezes his arm briefly, and says, "I hope you're still around when we get back from the mountains. I'd like to ask you about my mother sometime." Then she heads back to the table with her friends.
Kerem looks up and smiles a little worriedly as Chim comes back to the table.

Shadow World

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