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 Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:48 pm
Rüd laughed softly at the boy's comment. As if the Abwehran had any gear to "take it out of." Besides, the boy was nothing. Rude, abrasive, and weak, he piggybacked on the power and presence of the paladin to get through his problems. He was of no interest.
What was interesting was the bar before which they stood. The sign could say anything it liked, but the smells would always tell the truth. Alcohol could be found here in quantities, and served with a steak if you had the... coin? Rüd would have to adjust to this physical currency business.
Once within, he sought a table large enough for the band of misfits and sat. Disappointment left a small frown on his face when he realized the chair was not wide enough to fully support his frame.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:22 pm
Alana pondered what he had said. How in the world would she be able to get gold and silver? Did it actually come by that easily? She would have to ask Traveler later. Slightly embarressed by her stomach's outburt, she stepped out of the shadows and followed closely behind the Taveler, keeping her eye on the stranger. As of now, she trusted Traveler more than anyone.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:53 pm
A moment passed before Jim decided to go with them. He prefered not to rely on others if he could help it, and he wasn't even sure the invitation included himself. Either way, there was more he needed to know before he could move on, so he caught up with a few quick, long strides. He meant to ask some more questions, but was quickly distracted by the scenery, the people, and the sounds of the environment. His eyes followed a pair of anthropomorphic squirrels chittering to each other idly.
"So... English get you anywhere around here?" He asked as he turned his gaze to a group of children nearby singing songs in an almost equally foreign language.
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:07 am
More rich mahogany made up the inside giving the place a dark sort of class, an old world mystique. The bar was well polished but scarred in places from years of use and a few fights. The mirrored wall behind it was well stocked with hundreds of colorful glass bottles and the cabinet suspended over the bar dangled stemware like crystal chandeliers. The musk of pipe smoke hung in the air but not so thick as to cause a haze and a few belt driven ceiling fans stirred the air so it wasn't stale. The right side wall was a wide staircase that lead presumably to the rented rooms which allowed the bar to call itself an inn.
The soft murmur of idle conversation paused when the knight walked in with the four armed giant, futuristic warrior woman, and [I'm assuming he followed] young mage's apprentice. The small group of what looked like children at the table next to which Rüd elected to sit down gave the big man nervous looks then got up and shied away, leaving a few gold coins to the table as they left. In the shadows of a corner booth a pair of shady characters eyed the group then went back to their hushed conversation over large mugs of frothy ale. Against the back wall was a sort of bulletin, a large cork board covered with papers, between two doors to back rooms. A handful of varied patrons stood chatting at the board or checking it, all of them looking the adventurous sort.
Alex tromped immediately to the long bar against the left wall of the tavern and knocked a gauntleted knuckle against the wood which got a glare from the keep but no reprimand. Alex just grinned wide and ordered a round of specials with tall meads and waited while the barkeep filled four glasses.
Of course Linda saw none of this. She was much too distracted by the smells and now sight of the food. It littered tables, piled high on mismatched plates, speared on forks and knives, ladled in spoons and poured into hungry mouths. So much food. So much diversity. She hadn't the words to describe it so different were these dishes from her protein pastes. These foods had form and color, texture, body, aroma. The children left behind half eaten plates of it, just left carelessly as if it wasn't a temptuous wonder of this strange world.
And then there was a cold cup of a pungent amber liquid shoved in her hands by the strange knight. Alex gave her a wide grin, "Got food comin. You'll like it, special's always good here," he pulled out a chair next to the Abwehran and motioned for Linda to sit in it.
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:33 am
This place was much less clean than the station square but still a collage of cultures, like the poor street markets of a hundred cultures had been pushed together. There was nothing rich on sale but the modest wares still held a certain wonder in their strangeness. Small livestock of alien worlds, produce and spice from far off places, textiles and pottery of unknown cultures, it was a menagerie of simple things.
The street was crowded with little space between stalls and people brushing shoulders, pushing even to pass but around Traveler was a space. No one looked, there were no wary glances or awed notice, no scrambling fear or bowing respect but no one got too close to the little trio. The crowd parted before them as if the people simply chose to move on their own with no consideration as to why - they just did.
Traveler tilted his hooded head slightly at the inspector's question and breathed smoke slowly with a smile and slight nod, "With some. Most here have the means to understand it at least. Though not really speak it. More common than some but not so much as others." He slowed his pace to stop between a few stalls selling various foods. "Take your pick," he waved a bandaged hand idly at the selection, mostly what looked to be fried items and meats on sticks, a few breads and sugary baked goods. Nothing healthy.
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:41 pm
It took him a second to get it, but Quintus puzzled out the intent - drink, don't eat. Thus the slurping. That was probably what that meant. That could also just be "be warned, this fruit is highly juicy," but Quintus didn't think so. It'd been treated more like a flask than a fruit, so Quintus figured he'd do the same.
He took the fruit, with surprising self-control (in that he did not grab it), and obeyed the pantomimed instructions, twisting the stem off and drinking. Oh, it tasted good, but Quintus showed the same surprising self-control to give little more than a satisfied sigh after downing a mouthful. He'd need to drink it slowly, just so it wouldn't lead to sickness, which would be even worse than the thirst.
He looked down as the man spoke again, and with some trepidation took the stone, examining it briefly. It seemed little more than an engraved stone, so he imagined it jewelry or a tag or something of the sort. Something that marked... citizens? Slaves? It didn't matter. When in Rome. He slid the rock into position, adjusting his hat ever so slightly to allow it, and turned himself into a sitting position, taking the weight off his knees. Then he went back to the fruit, taking another mouthful, savoring it a moment, and swallowing. Gods it was good to have water again.
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:35 pm
Alana fear squeezing through the crowds of the filthy market. The thought of touching people or things that she didn't know frightened her, but luckily it seemed that the crowed parted. Not quite in reaction to them, it just seemed to come naturally. She looked around at all the sights, small animals such as pink elephants being paraded around, perhaps owned as pets. The stalls lined up, selling all kinds of wares. Things she hadn't seen before and things that scared her to even look at. She found herself constantly falling behind, distracted by the items in the carts and stands.
Eventually they stopped in front of a cart filled with food, meat on sticks, and a few pastries. She felt a bit guilty for making the man buy her something, but she was hungry. Lifting up a shaky hand, she point to what seemed to be a glazed cinnamon bun. "Um, can I get that?" she asked softly.
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:00 pm
Sam just smiled his same smile at the man, for the traveler had decided upon the stranger's gender a bit ago, and brought his hands to his chest where he twiddled his thumbs as he waited for the stranger to go through his actions.
"Can hear me now better, yes?" the stone's translation was literal; it was not a gag stone but it was one of the earlier ones that an apprentice magus had practiced on.
"Believe are dead. Problem it will not be, come from stranger?" If the merchant had not used slang the translation would be miles better, alas Sam had no idea.
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:44 pm
Quintus' eyebrows drew up as he found himself understanding the words the stranger was speaking. Well, for a set definition of understand, really. The words were there, but the syntax was... confusing, in many ways. "Yeah, I'm hearin' you. And... not quite sure I understand you. You're saying we're not dead, or you're saying you believe you're dead?"
Of course, this newfound ability to understand foreign languages most certainly came from the stone; it was the only variable. Obviously, then, it wasn't just a stone. Probably intended to appear and feel the stone part, but some kinda... well, thing. Whatever it was, it was pretty clearly translating, though it wasn't doing so in audio. He just kinda understood it. Very interesting. The rules around here were different, then. Definitely not back home.
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:12 pm
Sam realised his mistake, so he went to dig out another stone. As he did so he spoke properly.
"I believe we are dead. I have not a problem with this information," the merchant stopped when he realised he was going to the wrong pocket and changed course to the other.
The merchant found what he was searching for and held it out to the man.
"This one should be better." Another stone.
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:44 pm
Sweet spice smells mingled with less pleasant scents in the open market making some of the foods slightly difficult to identify but the vendor didn't question the selection, only gave a slight nod and held out a hand to demand "Six buds," for the pastry.
Traveler pulled out a single gold coin from his cloak and dropped it in the extended hand with a slight nod then told the woman, "For two," in a cold tone. The vendor gave him a sour look and inspected the coin suspiciously, scratching at the delicate etchings of a rose on one side. Then she gave him a slow nod and pocketed the coin before wrapping up two of the buns in waxed paper and handing them over to the girl.
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:25 am
Jim couldn't help but notice the strange, even inexplicable behavior of the crowd. This stranger grew ever more mysterious by the moment. To the jaded inspector, this was at once unnerving and intriguing. He was allured by the foodstuffs on the cart- they all looked good to him- but he had a feeling this was not someone he wanted to be indebted to. He had accepted a cigarette in trade for the bandages, but most of Jim's cigarettes were ruined, and for the moment he had higher priorities than food.
"Look," he said brusquely, trying to focus his attention on the task at hand. "I just need some new clothes and some place to pick up a quick job. I can eat later," he said impatiently, though his tone was to those who knew him only a sign that he was anxious.
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:58 am
"I believe we passed several places where you may do one or the other of those on the way here," Traveler answered the inspector coolly as he turned to face him again, a dark little smile on pale lips half hidden in the shadow of his hood. "Eat first. Jumping the breach takes energy you may not yet feel. Besides, you never know when you'll have the opportunity again. We can discuss what sort of job you are looking for over a meal." He paused briefly before pulling out a small handful of those golden coins, "If it makes you feel better I will buy more of your tobacco so you may purchase your own food and clothing."
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:17 pm
Quintus calmly accepted the new stone, swapping them out. Dead, eh? No problem? Well, Quintus did have a problem with that, as much as he didn't want to admit it. Not much he could do to change it at this point, though. And he only thought it. Not definitive proof.
Quintus shrugged. "I'd prefer to think I'm not dead, but hey, I'm no expert. Any idea where this is?" he asked, gesturing to the desert. "I've been wandering for... a while. I wouldn't mind being entirely out." An understatement, to be sure, and not entirely accurate just yet. A closer look at the skeleton might be nice too. Might reveal how it got here. What it was doing here. What could be done to leave, too.
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:22 pm
Sam's smile grew wider, if that was possible for the already beaming man.
"This is where you go when you die." The merchant said jovially. He still had not had any inclination to get up, it was comfortable on the soft sand. The sky was new too. The traveler's face began to change when he realised he doubted himself because dead people often did not require drinks and Sam was feeling a bit thirsty himself.
He begrudgingly sat up and then stood, surveying the lackluster landscape through his keenest appraisal mindset. Dirt. Sand. Bones. Cathedral bones.
Maybe this was not the land of the dead as Sam first thought, of course, maybe this was not Aelzwyr. Maybe this was some new world and they were both unfortunate enough to be dumped in the middle of that planet's nowhere. Sam's face had sunk into sullen when he turned back to the man.
"I do not know this place, if it is not Aelzwyr. Even if it was, it is no place in Aelzwyr I have been." He sighed and looked over the bones once more. "Where ever we might be we are for at least a little while well, I have supplies enough to last us two days, after that," the merchant shrugged, "we meet our fates."
His voice folded out grim and his next utterance even more-so, "I was happier when we were dead."
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