Uncomfortably Numb

[Sierra]

<Kotono> It's viciously cold here. Even with Nikkolai's warding, you can't help but feel a chill here. The waxen-white man awaits inside, sitting atop the frozen statue of what appears to be a half-elf. "You are?" The man asks, "Nicholus Ford, myself."
<Mari> "Mari Farrunner. Is it really okay for you to be sitting on your merchandise?"
<Kotono> "It won't melt," He runs a hand over the leg of the dress clad half-elf woman statue, slowly caressing it, "It's one of my works...such craft, one could imagine her waking up at a moment's notice, hm?"
<Mari> "Yeah. It's a little creepy. ...I mean, in a good way! They really look real."
<Kotono> "Mmm-hmm...." The man gets up and starts walking deeper into the gallery, "Come with me..."
<Mari> "Oookay. I dunno why we can't just talk here, but..." Mari follows him. "Hey, so whaddya know about this dagger mage bint, anyway?"
<Kotono> The man heads back. Here other statues reside - including one of Korovana. It's made of pure white ice, transparent as polished, unflawed crystal. He goes to run a hand over the statue's face, "She was one of my models a few weeks ago. I learned aaaallll about her and what a dagger mage is."
<Mari> "Oh yeah? So what is it? And do people, like, just come in here and volunteer to be models, or what?" This seems a little weird to Mari, but it's hard to articulate why.
<Kotono> "Oh no, of course not. I pay good money for it." The man goes to caress the neck of the statue, lettingo ut a profound sigh. "I suffer from a curse, Ms. Farrunner, one no cleric can resolve! To others, I am creepy and unsettling! But I protest, I am nothing but an artist!"
<Mari> "Creepy, huh? You don't say! Sooo, tell me all about this curse," she says with resignation, assuming there won't be any getting around it.
<Kotono> "I just did. It is a metaphor,  Ms. Farrunner." Now Nicholus sighs again, even more profound and despairing, "Were it a just world, people would offer to be models for my art!"
<Mari> "Well, most people are in the habit of expecting money for doing a job. I know, it's crazy! Be an uphill battle to convince everyone otherwise, though."
<Kotono> "It is a hard, barren world," The man sighs dramatically, "Full of persecution." He comes forward slowly, rubbing his hands together, "But bet hat as it may, perhaps we can find a unison that will please both of us, Ms. Farrunner."
* Mari fights the urge to back away at speed. "I dunno. It's really just some basic information that I'm asking for here. The price can't be all that steep."
<Kotono> "It's not. I daresay it will be a pleasure for both of us!" He looks Mari over, up and down, pacing around her. "Yes, yes, you're quite lovely. Suitable."
<Mari> Mari keeps a close eye on the man as he circles he. There's gonna be trouble if he touches her without permission! "I'm not sure about that. Feels like you're eyeing up a piece of meat here. Look, just tell me what you want already?"
<Kotono> "Oh no, heavens forbid!" Stopping there, "Ms Farrunner, you would make a superb model! Imagine your likeness, captured in ice for all eternity! Why, a critic of art would think your soul stayed in the statue, it is so lifelike and profound."
<Mari> "You...don't...say..." Mari manages, looking at the surrounding statues with growing unease. It's suddenly impossible not to imagine the subjects trapped inside them, screaming to get out.
<Kotono> "It would be...transcendant!" Clapping his hands together, "I'll gladly tell you all about Korovana while you model for me."
<Mari> "Um...look, tell me what modeling involves? I mean, do I just stand here? What do you do, anyway? Just carve a statue out of a block of ice, right? Nothing magic or supernatural about it all?"
<Kotono> "It's all my own talent. You lie down and I measure you tip to toe," He goes around Mari, positioning an imaginary measuring tape around her, "Then I take molds of your arms, legs, torso and face for the statue." He pauses, looking Mari in the eye, "Such haunting, airy eyes...I love them so. Oh yes, your statue will have magnificent eyes!"
<Mari> "Molds? You're not gonna freeze me in ice for that or something, are you? How long is this gooing to take? Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, I didn't say yes! In fact, let's go back to the part where people said you were cursed or something."
<Kotono> "It takes-?" A pause as he stares into Mari's eyes, his own gaze cold and sparkling, like freshfallen snow. "Ah, that curse. A mere metaphor, a bit of eladorabe wordplay to show my burden. I assure you, Ms. Farrunner, that I have no 'true' curse as magic would reckon it."
<Mari> "Uh-uh. And your burden is...?"
<Kotono> He slides up right next to Mari, staring into her eyes deeply, "Ms. Farrunner, do you find me..offputting." His breathi s like ice, smelling like peppermint and coppery blood. "Perhaps even creepy?"
<Mari> "Yes," she admits.
<Kotono> "Thus is my curse." He doesn't even blink, "Ms. Farunner, will you model for me?"
<Mari> roll 1d20+12 you know I'm sense bullshitting on this bit
* Hatbot --> "Mari rolls 1d20+12 you know I'm sense bullshitting on this bit and gets 13."12 [1d20=1]
<Mari> "...Maybe," she says eventually. "I'm a little pressed for a time, so it's got to be worth my while. Out of curiosity, what do you usually pay people to do this?"
<Kotono> "500 gold," He answers, "It's very good work..mmmm." He looks Mari over again, "Ms. Farrunner, I must say...may I see your hands? They're absolutely enthralling! Oh, such beauty in them...the callouses of a warrior. Of a cold killer, perchance?"
<Mari> "You take that back! There's nothing cold about me--I only kill people when I have to."
<Kotono> "Oh, of course," Smiling as he just stares at Mari's hands, "Though the cold suits you. The form of ice will suit you...and that tail, how unique!  Yes, I must have you!"
* Mari backs away *quickly*, putting a good ten feet between the two of them. "Whoa, okay. You stop talking like that right now or nothing's happening here."
<Kotono> "Ah, I'm sorry. Forgive me," Bowing his head down, "But I must have you as a model! 500 gold coins, right now. Would that be sufficient?"
<Mari> Well, she's done worse things for money than just stand there looking pretty... "I--look, five hundred and you tell me what I came in here asking about. How long is this going to take?"
<Kotono> "An hour, perhaps two," He says, stroking his chin, "Yes, an expensive woman, but well worth every coin and word."
<Mari> "That can't help but sound really dirty." Mari sighs. "Alright, let's get on with it."
<Kotono> "Ah, outstanding!" Rubbing his hands together again, "This way, this way!" Heheads to the back, where a door awaits. He leads you into a dark, ice lined room. Your breath mists all around you as you enter. A soft bed awaits here, covers of fine linen or perhaps even silk. A dresser is by the bed. "I'll be back in a few moments to get my tools. In the meantime, proper model's clothes are in the dresser. Please change into them while I'm gone."
<Kotono> proper model's clothes are in the dresser. Please change into them while I'm gone."
<Mari> Oh, sure she will--after giving the room a good thorough search. The dresser drawers, under the bed--if there's anything in here that doesn't seem strictly necessary for the job, she might have to book it. And there better not be any peepholes in the walls! Not that Mari's modest, but you can only take so much creepiness, you know?
<Kotono> OOC: Make a search check.
<Mari> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Mari rolls 1d20+10 and gets 29."12 [1d20=19]
<Kotono> The dresser is normal enough, nothing awry. She does see what modeling clothes are - undergarments, modest enough for them, but leaving a lot of skin bare. No peepholes or anything like that, but..hm? There's a false panel in the wall, like it can be pulled out.
<Mari> Then that's what Mari's going to do!
<Kotono> Inside the pullout drawer is a thick, pale white powder. Lots of it, enough for dozens and dozens of handfuls.
<Mari> Mari wonders what the heck this stuff is. She sniffs, curiously--does it smell of anything in particular? If not, she'll rub a pinch of it between her fingers, she if it feels like any commonplace substance.
<Mari> *see
<Kotono> OOC: Do you have any ranks in Knowledge: Nature?
<Mari> OOC: Nope.
<Kotono> OOC: Make a fort save.
<Mari> roll 1d20+8 oh god why do I do these things
* Hatbot --> "Mari rolls 1d20+8 oh god why do I do these things and gets 20."12 [1d20=12]
<Kotono> The powder is cold to the touch. As is Mari...she feels cold course through her body! Numbness overtakes her as her body falls into a gangly heap, collapsing face down! Her body is sensationless, numb all over! She can't move or do anything!
* Mari would be swearing up a storm right now if only she could move at all! It's not remotely comforting to know something like this would've happened anyway if she'd just let the sculptor do what he wanted.
<Kotono> There's a knocking after a few minutes, "Ms. Farrunner? Ms. Farrunner?" The door then opens, heard if not seen. "Oh no...oh my!" you can hear his voice, "You got nosy! Tsk-tsk!"
<Mari> "Mmmf," is the closest Mari can currently manage to the desired "Do you really expect me to not look around while in a strange room?" At least she can still breathe.
<Kotono> The man comes up to Mari, lifting her face up by the chin. He smiles as he gazes into her paralyzed eyes, "There's a penalty for being nosy," he tsk-tsks again right after, "You have to serve your penalty."
<Mari> Why didn't she tell anyone she was coming here again? Why the hells did she come alone? Why why why.
<Kotono> Slowly he uses his fingers to open Mari's mouth! He reaches into his pocket as he does. He looks into her eyes and smiles quite broadly now, "But don't worry, the taste will slide right down your throat after a little bit.
<Kotono> OOC: Gah, premature enter.
<Kotono> Slowly he uses his fingers to open Mari's mouth! He reaches into his pocket as he does. He looks into her eyes and smiles quite broadly now, "But don't worry, the taste will slide right down your throat after a little bit." Out of his pocket comes a small silver flask, a few drops of liquid poured onto Mari's tongue! It tastes awful - like fish oil and rotten eggs! But warmth spreads through her body, muscles returning to life and movement reg
<Kotono> But warmth spreads through her body, muscles returning to life and movement regained!
* Mari coughs, squirming into life again, sitting up quickly and moving away from the man. "What--ugh--what was that stuff?"
<Kotono> "It's a paralytic powder," He answers, going to close the hidden drawer, "It's used in the casts in a very tiny quantity, to retard limb shaking and other things that might disturb the molds. Before I kept it in a glass jar by the bed, but telling others what it was tended to be received...poorly. So I had that hidden drawer made so it wouldn't be found."
<Mari> "Okay...right, sorry." It's suddenly hard to hold it against him since, well, if he wanted to do something horrible, he could've done it while she was paralyzed. "Snooping around is kind of second nature. Give me another minute and I'll get changed."
<Kotono> "Of course. Please don't poke around again." He exits without further comment, giving Mari time to change.
* Mari changes without any further delay this time, tossing her things in a heap in the corner.
<Kotono> Now Nicholus returns, carrying a small bucket and large brush with him. "Lie on your back and wait. It won't take long to mix up the mold. Would you like me to start with your face and work down, or with your legs and work up?"
* Mari isn't sure which method sounds less disturbing. she lies down on the bed as instructed, anyway--lying on her back is a tad uncomfortable these days on account of the tail, of course, but she manages. "Feet first, I guess."
<Kotono> While Mari does that he goes to the hidden drawer, using a pair of tweesers to get a bit of the powder into the bucket. He then returns, taking the brush and starting to paint Mari's feet with a cool, faintly numbing white mold. As he works, "Ah yes, Korovana came to me a few weeks ago, looking to make quick money by modeling."
<Mari> "Does she live here?" Mari asks, trying not to mumble too much--the faint numbness makes talking a little more difficult than usual. "Or is she just passing through, like us?"
<Kotono> "A traveler from the Prime Material." Answering that as he slowly, painstakingly strokes Mari's calves and then brushes them numb, "She calls herself a dagger mage. It's an interesting art, using magic so that her daggers can always strike a weak point for maximum harm."
<Mari> "Oh yeah? That's kind of where we're trying to get. Wonder how she came here. Any idea? How do you learn magic like that, anyway?"
<Kotono> "It's native to her homeland." Mari's knees are now numbing, working up past her legs. "Now, she fights by feints and using magic to send daggers out from nowhere at her foes. In the meantime she'll focus on mobility and whittling her enemies down."
<Mari> "So, is she tough? Got into fights around here before? What do people around here think of her?"
<Kotono> "She's a pretty good fighter," He finishes halfway up her upper leg, going to her arms now, brushing quickly. One arm and then another, working them over and placing them down. "She and her husband aren't to be trifled with lightly."
<Mari> "Her husband's the big hairy guy, I guess?"
<Kotono> "Yes." As her arms go numb, Nicolus smiles ear to ear, "Well then, are you ready to get your face molded? Close your eyes now...!"
<Mari> "Yeah, I guess." Mari closes her eyes.
* IPlayMagicalGirls is now known as Knight
<Kotono> Mari's face goes pleasantly numb, her eyes crusting shut! His voice is dim as she feels his brush over her face and ears, "Now what else do you want to know about her?"
<Mari> "Does she have any weaknesses that you know about? Even if it's just something she doesn't like, that talking about would make her upset. Is she popular around here? Made any enemies?"
<Kotono> "Oh yes, there was this slaad she didn't get along with," Answering, "But that's almost it's own story, with a slime cube and other nasty things. As for weaknesses, I hear she's quite frail, especially without an amulet she always wears."
<Mari> "Oh really? Does she always wear it? Or...hm, I wonder where she's staying. You wouldn't know that, would you? I want that slaad story too if you've got time."
<Kotono> "Yes, she wouldn't even take it off for the molds." Tsk-tsking, "I think she's staying at the Hoarfrost. As for the slaad, apparently they got into a fight with a slaad over something. I'm not so clear on the details, but apparently things snowballed and got worse."
* Mari would frown if she could, and if it wouldn't mess up the mold even more than talking does. "Yeah, we met that slime cube outside of town. It was looking for the slaad. The whole situation is just weird beyond anything I've heard of before, and I've been to the Abyss and back."
<Kotono> "Yes, yes it is." He stops now, "All finishes, now it just has to sit for a little while! Anything else you'd like to ask me?"
<Mari> "Well, there' sone thing I might need to know. If someone was a gambler, say, and wanted to place bets on a fight, is there a crowd for that sort of thing in Shivra?"
<Kotono> "Oh sure," Answering that lightly, "Go check out the Hoarfrost or the Silver Ice Monkey Eatery. Those types are there a lot."
<Mari> "Thanks. I guess that's all I've got, really, unless there are any secrets about Korovana's magic that you've forgotten to mention."
<Kotono> "That's it!" OOC: Ready to skip along a bit?
<Mari> OOC: yep.
<Kotono> An hour passes. The molds are taken off, Mari able to get back to her normal gear. Once done her hand is shaken, a bag full of little silver bars. "There you go. It was a divine pleasure! It was so good to get new inspiration for a new scupture!"
<Mari> "Sure. When will it be done?"
<Kotono> "A week."
<Mari> "I'll check back if we're still in town. Later!"
<Mari> ~
<Knight> Mari has been out gathering information for far too long without reporting back, and Knight will not stand for that! She emerges from the Zephyr's Guster, intent on searching for her potentially-imperiled partner- oh, there she is.
<Mari> "Knight! Hey, beat you hangover yet?"
<Mari> *your
<Knight> "Mari. Yes, it no longer weakens my faculties. I can scarcely believe my conduct earlier, you know? But a duel is a duel, and I'll not have it said I back down from a challenge, especially when I make it myself." Knight rubs her forehead, looking ever-so-slightly pained.
* Ayane (~eb@95.146.3.9) Quit (Quit: bedtime)
<Mari> "Well. If it were me, I'd be looking for ways to get out of it. Possibly by leaving town. But I guess you can't really do that yet. She's a snooty bitch anyway, she'd probably follow you. So you're just going to have to beat the crap out of her. I asked around a little though, and at least we know something about her. That' sone advantage she won't have over you."
<Knight> "We do have business here, and I won't have it said I'm a coward, either," replies Knight. "Did you? Excellent. Knowing is half the battle, as the druids like to say."
<Mari> "Sure. Let's sit down and get lunch--or whatever meal is right for this time, these timless planes always get me--I'll tell you all about it."
<Knight> "It is my first meal today, so it would be breakfast," suggests Knight, ambling back inside the inn. "She did not like a strong woman. I feared she was some kind of spellcaster- those prim types often are, when found adventuring. That would be the worst kind of opponent..."
* Mari finds a table and sits down. "Apparently she's a 'dagger mage.' I haven't heard of this before, but I'm told you can expect a lot of feinting and magical daggers out of nowhere. She's really precise, supposedly."
<Knight> "It is lucky, I suppose, that I do not rely on my reflexes to defend myself," replies Knight, tapping her breastplate and taking a seat across from Mari. "It is her defenses that most worry me."
<Mari> "Well, she's really good at finding someone's weak points, I hear. Anyway, she's not all that tough herself. Or at least, not without this magical amulet she wears. She's always got the thing on, though. I thought about stealing it, but it sounds like it doesn't come off even when she bathes. So I dunno what we can do about that."
<Knight> "It sounds rather like yours," notes Knight, glancing speculatively at Mari's neck.
<Mari> "Maybe so. I figure I'd be dead plenty of times over without it."
<Knight> "Well, I have a trump card against whatever defensive magic she might use, and I'm certain I can outmatch her if it comes to a straight fight. It may come down to taking apart her equipment on the field," replies Knight, seeming to come into good spirits. "As long as I can get to her."
<Mari> "Well, I don't know how fast she is. It's not all that hard to be faster than someone in full armor though. Sorry."
<Knight> "It's different in this plane," notes Knight, glancing around. "I'm not as hindered due to the subjective gravity. This may well be settled by falling on her at a high speed."
* Mari nods. "Hey, it worked when Kam did it. Sort of."
<Knight> "I will try to avoid the sudden stop at the end. This may call for some practice, I admit."
<Mari> "Right. Let's see, what else did I turn up...oh, her name's Korovana. Did I mention that? She's from the prime material, and that hairy brute is her husband. She also got into a fight with that slaad. She probably coulda told us something useful if we hadn't got into a fight with her."
<Knight> "It may be possible to get it out of her during the duel. Tempers running high, and all of that." Knight frowns. "Although perhaps we could have formed a bond due to our common hatreds."
<Mari> "Yeah, well, too late now. Why'd you guys have to pick a fight with each other, anyway? We were totally fine being loud drunks. That's what bars are for!"
<Knight> "I don't know... I was irritated," replies Knight, uncomfortably shifting in her seat. "There's no reason to do such a thing, and it is an unecessary risk... so I don't know why I did that. The alcohol must be partly to blame."
<Mari> "I guess there's nothing to do about it but win. Show her you're the most dangerous drunk in town!"
<Knight> "That is my plan. Since I've gotten into this situation, we might as well seek to profit from it, as well."
<Mari> "Yeah, I asked about that too. Apparently the Hoarfrost and the Silver Ice Monkey Eatery are where the local gamblers like to hang out. Hoarfrost is where Korovana's staying, though, so I dunno if that's safe. What did you have in mind?"
<Knight> "She can hardly assault us before the duel begins without a loss of face, and that is clearly quite important to her, or she'd never have risen to the incident just before," remarks Knight. "The simplest way would be to head to either venue, buy a round for the patrons, and outright state you'll be taking bets on the fight tomorrow. Perhaps place one with Korovana herself, if she is present?" (more)
<Knight> "She must be a known fighter about these parts if you found out something around here, so I'd imagine the crowd would be on her side, as I am an unknown. So I'd imagine most bets would go to her, regardless of what odds we publish..."
<Mari> "So everyone bets against you, you win, we make a lot of money?" Mari summarizes.
<Knight> "Yes, that is roughly it. Even if you say the odds are in my favour, the home advantage would tilt it towards her," replies Knight. "I'm sure there will be those who bet on me, as well- our potential losses should not outweight our potential gains."
<Mari> "Alright. Just, you know, you should probably watch yourself until it's time for the fight if we do this. Some gamblers aren't satisfied with a safe bet, you know? Better to have a sure thing, even if it calls for a little sabotage. Just saying, you probably shouldn't go anywhere alone before the fight."
<Knight> "Alright. I had no particular plans, so I'll stay in the inn until it's time," replies Knight, nodding.
<Mari> ~