009. "Not even a little fire?"

[Corwin]

[18:55] <Kotono> The not so scruffy man gives Aaeru a longsuffering look, "Uh huh. All of you really want to take a fire mephit on a tour of the city? Really?"
[18:56] <Aaeru> "I'm sure that with the Guard on the case, a brief tour of a few selected spots can't possibly be a bad idea," Aaeru affirms.
[18:57] <Janson> "He seems like a nice little guy. What could the harm be?" Janson offers with a shrug, not really minding.
[18:58] <Wayland> "Actually, I was planning on locating the noblewoman who stopped me today. If you lot want to babysit a fire mephit, that's fine. I'll just go do my own thing." Wayland says.
[18:58] <Aaeru> "The benefits do seem to outweigh the risks," Aaeru points out once more. "Unless you would like to have more and more mephits try to reach the city based on their misconceptions?"
[18:58] <Kotono> The mephit grins as he listens, "See, they got taste and style, even if they're not on fire!"
[18:59] <Kotono> Running a hand over his face and through his hair, "Eh, if something happens I'm out a job and all of you will probably end up in the stockade."
[19:00] <Andria> "I don't think he means any harm, really, so we can keep him out of trouble. That said, if you don't have the authority for such a decision, we could talk to the captain and ask for permission there, maybe?" Andrea suggests.
[19:01] <Aaeru> "Say that you were going to take him back," Aaeru says, trying a different tack, "then surely it would not be through the drains, once more? You still have to go through the city towards your eventual destination with him?"
[19:04] <Kotono> Giving the party a long look, "You mentioned Waukeen's temple? Go ahead and take him there and bring him back. I can get away with that much of a delay. No point talking to them, formal delays aren't happening. They take safety and segregation of the fires below seriously."
[19:06] <Aaeru> "I'll do my utmost best to ensure that you won't regret this!" Aaeru promises him, smiling.
[19:06] <Janson> "They don't mistreat you down there or anything, do they, Falis?" Janson asks the little guy worriedly, hoping this isn't going to turn out like the giants and goblins back home.
[19:06] <Andria> "Hrm...well, your tour is going to be a little short, but you'll at least get to see Waukeen's temple, it looks like, Falis."
[19:06] * Aaeru shrugs, and gestures ahead. "From what I've seen so far, it's the shiniest part of the city above. Let's go?"

[Corwin]

[19:09] <Kotono> "It's not so bad," Falis settles into fly along, "There's lots of fire down there and lava flows lower down! It's not hot lava, but thin enough that you can move around in it. Who'd think someone made something so homey when it's so cold up here?"
[19:10] <Aaeru> "It does sound very interesting," Aaeru agrees, nodding as she listens. "Do you accept visitors from above, or is there a Guard just like here, ready to send them back?"
[19:12] <Kotono> "It's always the same people, so no." Falis says as you walk along. The flying little mephit gets a few glances as you go down the block. "Normal people don't do so well below, or so I've heard."
[19:13] <Janson> "We're very flammable," Janson agrees earnestly.
[19:14] <Aaeru> "I hope to fix that one day," Aaeru says seriously, though she frowns afterwards. "Not really sure what to do about my clothes, though, I have to say."
[19:16] <Kotono> As you walk through the Old City Falis looks about, "Stone. Lots of stone. Do earth-kin live here?" Sniffling, "But it smells airy here more than earthy."
[19:17] <Aaeru> "They sometimes come to trade, but that's about it," Aaeru responds, glancing at Andrea for confirmation.
[19:19] <Andria> Andrea nods. "We get all sorts here from time to time. Kind of hard not to given our location. Genasi like Wayland are a bit rare, we do occassionally see dwarves though, if you consider those earth-kin? Not sure. I mean, they live in the mountains right?"
[19:20] <Aaeru> "I was thinking about the earth elementals, really."
[19:20] <Andria> "I don't think I've ever really seen a fire genasi though I've heard of them. I actually thought for a second you might have been one bcause of the red skin, until someone said you were a...mephit, was it?" Andrea admits with a bitof a blush.
[19:22] <Kotono> As you walk south Falis stops, eyeing the faraway Highwatch Fortress. It looms above the Commerce Quarter, pennants flapping in the wind. "Oooooh," Whistling as he eyes that, "Yeah, a mephit. Man, if you were a real hot girl I'd show you how to have some fun, too!"
[19:23] <Aaeru> "Since we've had enough misunderstanding for the day, just what would fun translate to?" Aaeru inquires.
[19:23] <Janson> "Aren't there any hot girls underground where you're from?" Janson asks curiously. It'd be strange if they were all male, surely? But how much gender applies to an animated flame...
[19:25] <Kotono> "Elementals aren't quite like that. They CAN be, but most..." Wavering a hand back and forth, "You know. I mean, that blue guy who wandered off's an Air Genasi, right? So some of them do."
[19:33] <Janson> "I guess it gets even weirder when you mix in shapechanging magic," Janson muses. "Probably best not to think too deeply about it, though," he decides.
[19:34] <Kotono> The three head back to the Commerce Quarter. Before them is the Second Temple to the Goldess Mistress! It's spires rise high, the mechanical clock atop it keeping perfect time. It's currently 2:14 according to it. Falis looks and whistles, "Tall. Really tall!" He points at that, "Oh, oh, that's from the land of metal and precision! Mechanus, right?"
[19:34] <Aaeru> "Could well be," Aaeru agrees. "You sure know a lot for only being interested in fire!"
[19:35] <Janson> "Yeah, I have a hard enough time just keeping this world straight," Janson seconds.
[19:37] <Kotono> "The humans down there talk a lot, and specially one of them. She talks about Mechanus a whole lot whenever she's there." Nodding to itself as it stares up, starting to fly up as well, "Apparently she gets along with them well."
[19:37] <Aaeru> "Who would that be?" Aaeru asks with renewed interest.
[19:40] <Kotono> "Her name's Abagail," Falis continues to fly up and up and up, "I:'m gonna go see that clock close up!"
[19:41] <Janson> "Oh, you shouldn't fly up," Janson tries to keep him from flying away. "The, uh... the Mythal's up there and it might hurt you."
[19:44] <Aaeru> "Plus you might melt the clock and then this Abagail would get mad at you?" Aaeru adds.
[19:46] <Kotono> Pausing about 10 feet up, "Oh come on, I wanna see up top!" Falis hmphs, "When will I get another chance?"
[19:46] <Aaeru> "Did you try asking someone to let you come up here before you just snuck in?"
[19:47] * Janson can't resist those eyes! "Oh, alright, but be careful and come right back down again!" he grumbles.
[19:47] <Andria> Andrea just watches in silent amusement as Aaeru and Janson do all the babysitting work.
[19:48] <Kotono> "Oh yeah, more reaso to go!" Bantering back to Aaeru and then smiling at Janson, Falis takes up and off towards the top spire!
[19:48] <Aaeru> "You encourage him too much," Aaeru scolds Janson quietly once the mephit takes off.
[19:49] <Janson> "Come on, when's he ever going to get another chance?" Janson asks, abashedly looking down at his feet.
[19:49] <Andria> "I don't know, I find him oddly amusing now that I know he's not trying to hurt anybody..." Andrea replies in regards to Janson's encouragement of Falis.
[19:50] <Janson> "Yeah," Janson smiles at Andrea's support. "I mean, he's got wings, why can't he stretch them instead of being cooped up underground all the time?"
[19:50] <Aaeru> "You'll notice he didn't say he actually tried asking first," Aaeru points out with a huff. "Some beings acts like children despite being nothing of the sort. We really should serve as proper examples to them."
[20:01] <Janson> "Isn't it better to ask forgiveness than seek permission?" Janson asks innocently. "Anyway, you can't really set an example for someone who's forced to live in a lava-filled cave, the lives we lead are nothing alike... except he probably has less possessions than even you do."
[20:02] <Aaeru> "Now I want to visit even more," Aaeru muses, quickly shaking her head. "And yes, that's right! It is, in fact, easier. But that doesn't make it right."
[20:03] <Kotono> Falis flies up, becomign a little dot against the clock tower's face! After a few moments he seems to vanish entirely and out of sight.
[20:03] * Aaeru sighs.
[20:03] <Janson> "Uh..." Janson squints and tries to track how he vanished...
[20:05] <Andria> "Well...anybody think he ran away, or did the church blow him up or what? We don't have little chunks of fire mephit raining down on us, so..." Andrea asks, as she also tries to find where Falis vanished to...
[20:05] <Kotono> OOC: Make a spot check, Janson.
[20:06] <Janson> roll 1d20+6
[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d20+6 and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[20:06] <Aaeru> "If I had money, it would be on him climbing inside. Somehow."
[20:06] <Andria> If he vanished, thi would not leave a very good track record for their company with the guards, even after the case with the sharran cultist!
[20:06] * Aaeru frowns. "Clocks from Mechanus are expensive, aren't they?"
[20:07] <Andria> "They probably really are, so as long as he doesn't try to blow up the clocktower, we're good..." Andrea says with a bit of nervousness.
[20:07] <Janson> "There's a trapdoor, he climbed inside," Janson points it out. "We should probably go in ourselves and try to find him before he scares anyone," he suggests before hurrying inside!
[20:08] <Andria> Andrea sighs and nods, following after Janson. "Well, better than him exploding into little bits, I guess...still have to worry about him exploding the clock tower now."
[20:08] <Aaeru> Muttering to herself, Aaeru swiftly follows.
[20:15] <Kotono> Thus the party hurries into Waukeen's temple! A familiar tall, limping man in golden robes approaches. "Ah," With a warm smile, "You've returned! Have you come to partake of the Merchant's Friend's teachings to prosperity?"
[20:16] <Aaeru> "Ah, no. To save time, what if I told you that a fire mephit flew into the trapdoor at the clock atop the temple?"
[20:16] <Andria> "Heh, to save time..." Andrea mutters under her breath, snickering.
[20:18] * Aaeru coughs. "You must understand, the mephit is not quite right in the head. I worry over him hurting himself."
[20:20] <Janson> "He was very impressed with your clock and recognised it as being from Mechanus, it's surely a scholarly interest," Janson offers reassuringly, before looking around and lowering his voice. "All the same, I think we need to get him out quickly."
[20:21] <Kotono> "Oh my yes!" With widening eyes, "Stay right here!" He says, hurrying off!
[20:21] <Aaeru> "I feel a deep sense of regret towards the officer that took a chance on us."
[20:23] <Janson> "We were tricked," Janson insists. "He took advantage of our better natures."
[20:23] * Aaeru gives Janson and Andrea a pointed look. "Oh yes, he had us fooled, the crafty bugger."
[20:24] <Andria> "I'm sure it will be alright! I still think he doesn't mean any harm, he just has no respect for civilized law!"
[20:24] <Aaeru> "And you're fine with that?"
[20:25] <Janson> "Well, to be fair, that law insists he stays cooped up underground," Janson restates. "Can you blame him?"
[20:25] <Andria> "I think I'm just going to wait to see if that priest comes back with his clothes on fire or what..." Andrea decides outloud, as she focuses on watching the direction the priest vanished towards.
[20:26] <Aaeru> "It is difficult to judge without knowing the entire circumstances and the law in question. But if it is as I presume? Yes. Just as I would support a law that prevent Silver from raising an army of candy soldiers to attack citizens for the fun of it."
[20:26] <Kotono> As the party watches, "Oh, there you are," Falis comes flying in from the front gates to the temple, "Why'd you go off into here?"
[20:26] * Aaeru palms her face. "Just... take him back. I'll settle things here with the priests. No detours, please."
[20:27] <Janson> "Because we saw you going inside!" Janson tells Falis right back.
[20:27] <Kotono> "I just wanted to see whatw as inside," Falis grumps, "It was all metal shapes and clicking and whirrling sounds," With a long suffering sigh, "It might be interesting if it lit on fire, but...oh well."
[20:28] <Janson> "Then it would stop working, so it'd surely be less interesting as a bunch of samey melted lumps," Janson tries to argue. "Anyway, we've tested poor Aaeru's patience enough, so we'd best get back to those nice guards now."
[20:30] <Kotono> "MElted metal lumps have lots of variety," Falis insists, "You just have to appreciate them!"
[20:31] <Janson> "It's better when they're melted into nice shapes and then cooled. It takes a lot of hard work to do," Janson explains, gesturing for Falis to head out the door and going that way himself.
[20:32] * Aaeru waves tiredly at them as they leave, before deciding to approach another helpful priest and try to resolve things before they spiral too far.
[20:36] <Kotono> While Janson and Andrea head out, Aaeru remains. The next priest is a younger woman with a scowl, "Ah, welcome to Waukeen's temple," she sniffs, "What profit are you looking for today?"
[20:38] <Aaeru> "I would very much appreciate it if I could talk to your colleague," Aaeru says, describing the man briefly. "At the very least, I would like to pass on a message to him. The mephit that my friends and I saw enter left the same way he came, and if he left any damages in place, I shall do my utmost best to recompense the temple for them. Could you please ensure that he learns of this before he wastes much of today searching for the mephit in question?"
[20:39] <Kotono> "Ah?" With a funny look, "Oh, alright." With a stretch up, "A mephit...?" Nonetheless she hurries off.
[20:40] * Aaeru resolves to wait some more. If there actually are any damages, she would not be leaving quite yet....
[20:44] <Kotono> After about twenty minutes the limping greeter returns. He has a distinctly unhappy look on his face, "That was a wild goose chase!" His bluster is strong, "By Waukeen's pocketbook, are you trying to to interfere with our productivity?"
[20:45] <Aaeru> "Not intentionally," Aaeru responds honestly. She bows for good measure. "If my sincere apology would not be enough, what can I do to make up for this entire affair?"
[20:47] <Kotono> "Well, a donation to Waukeen's purse is always a good sign of well meaning faith," The man says, looking at Aaeru anew.
[20:48] <Aaeru> "I'm afraid I have forsaken material possessions," Aaeru responds, gesturing at herself. "This really is by choice. Oh! But if there is anything the temple wishes to do but its priests considers below themselves, as long as it doesn't cross my code of ethics, I could help with that?"
[20:53] <Kotono> This gets a long, frosty look from the priest. "You have...forsaken material possessions?" He stakes a step back, "Just...just go," he gestures, "You really don't belong here, do you?"
[20:56] <Aaeru> "It's... not like I spread my views by contact," Aaeru says, taken aback. "Umm. Well. Once again, I apologize for this entire unfortunate incident. And if at some later point in time you change your mind, please allow me to make up for it then." She purses her lips, bowing once more. "Good day." There doesn't seem to be anything more she can say, and Aaeru leaves the temple awkwardly.
[21:00] <Kotono> Outside the party meets again, heading back to the bathhouse. Here the messy magiciant awaits, arms crossed, "Well, did you have fun," he asks as the group approaches.
[21:00] <Aaeru> "I have to say no, but it is Falis that counts."
[21:02] <Janson> "He's a hard guy to please," Janson observes.
[21:03] <Kotono> "I had fun!" Falis comes over to the magiciant, "It wasn't burning enough, it makes me homesick."
[21:03] <Kotono> "Eh, good," The messy one says, "Let's see about that. Thanks again for making sure nothing bad happened with him."
[21:03] <Andria> "Right, sure, no problem!" Andrea says cheerfully and quickly.
[21:04] <Aaeru> "Please don't mention it," Aaeru insists. "Ah, before you go, though, where might I learn more about the laws governing the mephits below the city?"
[21:06] <Kotono> "Eh?" With a curious cock of his head at Aaeru, "Well, if you're really curious you could join up and try and get into the Inferno division? Got a question about them?"
[21:07] <Aaeru> "This experience got me interested, but not enough to actually join any organization," Aaeru admits. "That takes a level of consideration and committment I simply cannot justify simply for a whim."
[21:08] <Janson> "We're mostly just curious about where they come from and why they can't leave," Janson puts in, stepping forward.
[21:08] <Aaeru> "Well, I'm interested in more than that, but it would be a good start," Aaeru allows.
[21:10] <Kotono> "Oh. See, they're brought over from the elemental realm of Fire to help out running downstairs," With a glance downward, "Since creatures of fire tend to be, well, fiery, it's best they don't mix on the surface. A fire elemental, even if not meaning any harm, could set much of the city ablaze."
[21:11] <Janson> "So are they hired like anyone else or summoned and bound?" Janson probes further, with a glance at Falis.
[21:14] <Kotono> "Varies," The mage says as Falis comes on over to him. "I really do need to be getting him back now, so," With a nod to them, he starts to walk away, the two guards following.
[21:15] <Janson> "Huh... that wasn't much of an answer," Janson remarks, but decides it's probably best not to push it.
[21:15] <Aaeru> "Oh! Even though it's rather late, I'm Aaeru," she calls after the mage.
[21:17] <Kotono> "Blythe," He calls back, the two going down the street and away.
[21:24] <Kotono> ---

[Corwin]

[19:09] <Kotono> ------------
[19:09] <Kotono> Okay Wayland, what's your plan here? GIing? Visiting something in particular? Something else?
[19:09] <Wayland> GIing first
[19:09] <Kotono> Okay, declare what you're GIing exactly and then roll.
[19:10] <Wayland> GIing for nobles known to be passing through Balmuria today.
[19:11] <Wayland> roll 1d20
[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20 and gets 17." [1d20=17]
[19:15] <Kotono> Wayland ends up near the front gates of the city. As a few other guardsmen check over a caravan from the south entering the city, a guardsman drinking from a waterskin nods. "Oh yeah, noblemen? Well, woman in this case. Big looker," Taking a long drink, "Could probably spend a week lost in her valley, eh?" He elbows Wayland, grinning.
[19:15] * Wayland nods.
[19:16] <Wayland> "Any idea where she was headed?"
[19:18] <Kotono> "Yeah, I got to question her on entering." With a lopsided smile, "Wow. Wish I was her type..." Swallowing more water, "But I'm a few thousand marks short. Her name's Moongal, Elestra Moongal. She's from way south in the old empire, money so old it probably has mold growing on it. Said she was in town to visit a relative in the New City."
[19:25] <Wayland> "Very good. My thanks, good man." Wayland hands the guard some silver coins. "Have an ale on me after your shift, won't you? While you're at it, please know that I am part of an adventuring troupe, Whimsical Sweets and Troubleshooting. We work out of the new candy shop that opened earlier this week. If you or your fellows have need of us, let me know. I'm sure we can come to an arrangement."
[19:27] <Kotono> The guardsman shakes his head back and forth, "Can't take the coins. I'll catch hell and they'll call it a possible bribe. But Whimisical Sweets and Troubleshooting? Candy Shop? Sounds fun. Better than guarding a gate."
[19:28] <Wayland> Replacing the coins into his pouch, Wayland nods. "It's definitely interesting. I've got to get going though. Thanks again."
[19:30] <Kotono> OOC: Now what, Wayland?
[19:31] <Wayland> OOC: GIing in New Town!
[19:32] <Wayland> OOC: Same thing, just looking for the woman with a description and a name, now!
[19:32] <Wayland> roll 1d20
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20 and gets 4." [1d20=4]
[19:34] <Kotono> Wayland spends an hour or two wandering, but no luck. OOC: You can try again on GI, it just takes time.
[19:35] <Wayland> roll 1d20
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20 and gets 7." [1d20=7]
[19:35] <Kotono> The afternoon is wearing on, evening an hour or two away. Still no luck - Wayland just can't find any breaks! OOC: You can try again or do something else as you please.
[19:37] <Wayland> OOC: One more time!
[19:37] <Wayland> roll 1d20
[19:37] * Hatbot --> "Wayland rolls 1d20 and gets 17." [1d20=17]
[19:39] <Kotono> It's nearly evening-fall when Wayland finally finds success! It's not success in the traditional way, but dogged persistence. In the southern part of the New City Wayland stumbles on the carriage! It sits outside of a large shop. A sign written in silver ink proclaims 'SILVER STAR BOOKS'. It's a large, well made building, with few windows.
[19:41] <Wayland> Sighing after spending so long on this, Wayland steps into the shop, a little wearily.
[19:45] <Kotono> Inside the shop great bookshelves and towers of books loom! It is high ceilinged, shelves twenty feet high looming up! Rolling ladders are dotted about, as well as tables and chairs. Amid this chaos sits one person. He's scrawny and short, slightly pointed ears as he reads a book. As Wayland enters a pleasant chime sounds, making him look up. "Feel free to look 'round. Most books are just
[19:45] <Kotono> a couple gold if there's not a price on them. If you're selling, bring in whatever books you like and we'll price them."
[19:47] * Wayland nods. "Actually, I was looking for someone. A Lady Moongal?"
[19:49] <Kotono> "HEY DACOTE!" Raising his voice to a shout, "SOME BLUE GUY'S HERE LOOKING FOR YOUR MOTHER."
[20:01] <Kotono> There's no immediate reply. Instead a man comes out in due time from amid the shelves, walking towards you. He is tall and with black hair peppered with gray, a walking cane of black used to help him along. His ears are pointed and he has slightly almond shaped eyes, not quite human styled. They are green, like forest shrubbery. "I heard you," he says in a quiet voice, "Ah," Coming forward
[20:01] <Kotono> and offering his hand out, "Dacote Anband."
[20:03] <Wayland> Taking his hand, Wayland Shakes it firmly. "Wayland Revellia. A pleasure."
[20:05] <Kotono> "You're looking for Lady Moongal?" He asks right after, "May I inquire what for?"
[20:08] <Wayland> "Well, I believe she stopped me and a companion as we walked through the Commerce Quarter, and I became concerned that she may need some help. She left immediately after I gave my name, you see."
[20:13] <Kotono> "Oh, you have to excuse her. She's a touch..." Lowering his voice politely, "Eccentric. Money and too much idle time can do that to a person, you see, and she has both in spades."
[20:16] <Wayland> "Ah, I see." says Wayland, his stance relaxing. "She's not in any trouble, then? No need for assistance?"
[20:20] <Kotono> "AS the facts have it," Her voice is lusturious as Lady Moongal walks out from amid a hall of bookshelves, "Perchance I am."
[20:20] <Kotono> Dacote glances her way with a tightening of his lips into a scowl, "I do believe you were enjoying your dinner last I checked?"
[20:23] <Wayland> Briefly looking back and forth between the two, Wayland addresses Lady Moongal. "What is it that I can assist you with?"
[20:25] <Kotono> "I am looking for a friend. His name is Gweonryn. He came to Balmuria not long ago, but has not sent word or been heard of. Does the name mean anything to you, perchance?"
[20:28] <Wayland> Frowning thoughtfully, Wayland shakes his head. "No, I'm afraid I haven't. Do you know where he might have been staying?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "No," Lady Moongal says, "From all I gathered, he has not been seen in some time."
[20:32] <Wayland> "Can you describe him for me?"
[20:34] <Kotono> "Oh, he's very tall and in good shape," Lady Moongal says, "Quite on the hairy side - dark brown hair all over. He's quite the athelete!"
[20:36] * Wayland nods. "He's human, then?"
[20:36] <Kotono> "Yes," Lady Moongal says, "Human stock."
[20:39] <Wayland> "Very good. I'll see if I can locate him. Anything else that you know of his visit to Balmuria that could help? What business he had here, if he was meeting any friends?"
[20:40] <Kotono> "I'm afraid I don't know," she admits, "Ah, you'll look for him?"
[20:42] <Wayland> "Yes, I will do what I can to find him for you." Wayland nods firmly.
[20:43] <Kotono> "Ah, such a dear! Such refinement, better than the humans here," She clasps her hands together, "If you bring him back to me, I'll see you're rewarded.""
[20:44] <Wayland> "My thanks. If that is all, I'll leave you to enjoy your evening."

[Corwin]

[21:24] <Kotono> ---
[21:25] <Kotono> The next day the four meet up together upstairs. Josa isn't around right now, though Sylvie is working downstairs.
[21:26] * Aaeru is perusing a book on fire mephits to learn more about the creatures.
[21:26] <Janson> "Josa's not here?" Janson looks around after coming up the stairs. "What about Silver?"
[21:26] <Andria> "Wouldn't she be with Josa? She is his familiar, right?" Andrea answers.
[21:27] * Wayland sidles up to Andrea. "So I found out who that noblewoman was."
[21:28] <Andria> "Oh, you did? Good for you. Findout what that whole moment was about?"
[21:29] <Janson> "Never really struck me as the joined at the hip type, though," Janson shrugs, pacing around the room.
[21:29] <Wayland> "Yeah, it turns out that she's a bit eccentric, but she actually needed some help with something. She's been unable to track down a friend of hers, Gweonryn I think, and hasn't been able to find him. She offered a reward if I found him, and I figured that if we all worked on it, we could split the reward."
[21:30] <Andria> "Well, that's true, but I still thought familiars had to stay a certain distance near their master or something. I'll admit it'snot really my area of expertise, though..." Andrea says.
[21:30] <Aaeru> "No, that's not true," Aaeru comments. "We can stay as far apart as we like, it just feels awkward."
[21:30] <Andria> Andrea blinks at Wayland. "Okay, I don't really see how that connects to you being a blue man and stopping out of the blue to ask you your name, but hey, a job's a job!"
[21:31] <Janson> "Why don't we make a start on it now?" Janson suggests. "Nothing else going on today, looks like."
[21:31] <Wayland> "Like I said, she's supposedly eccentric." Wayland shrugs.
[21:32] <Wayland> "How'd your babysitting job go, all?"
[21:32] * Aaeru buries her nose in the book.
[21:32] <Janson> "Nothing got burnt or melted."
[21:32] <Andria> "As far as we know, anyway!" Andrea adds.
[21:33] <Andria> "But we haven't received a bill yet, so it's hopefully okay!"
[21:33] <Aaeru> "Nothing got burnt or melted," Aaeru confirms.
[21:34] <Wayland> "Well, that's good." Wayland nods. "Oh hey, Aeeru. I was in a bookstore in New Town yesterday, if you're looking for more books. They may have whatever it is you're looking for."
[21:35] <Aaeru> "Oh. Right. Books that are for sale." Aaeru pauses, peering at Wayland over the edge of the book she's reading. "I do appreciate the thought, but I'm afraid it can't come to be."
[21:37] <Kotono> "Hi," Sylvie pokes her head up, coming just enough upstairs to see all of you. "There's a customer here and Josa's out. Do you think one of you can come talk to him?"
[21:38] <Aaeru> "Let's all take this one?" Aaeru proposes, closing the book and bringing it with her as she head down.
[21:38] <Wayland> "Oh, right...sorry about that. That was rather thoughtless of me." Wayland apologizes to Aaeru.
[21:39] <Andria> Andrea follows after Aaeru, curious to see what customer they've got.
[21:39] <Janson> "Nothing else to do," Janson agrees, heading down.
[21:40] * Wayland stands and heads down as well.
[21:40] <Kotono> Downstairs you find your customer. He is a lean, slender man dressed in slightly patched up black hose and green tunic. His eyes have deep bags underneath them, looking tired as his shoulders slump.
[21:41] <Aaeru> "Welcome!" Aaeru greets the man, gesturing towards a handy chair. "I am Aaeru. How may we be of service?"
[21:41] <Janson> "Welcome to Whimsical Sweets!" Janson greets him, before glancing at Sylvie, "But I guess Sylvie already said that? You need help?"
[21:41] <Kotono> Sylvie comes down, hanging back. The man goes to sit like a pile of bricks in the chair, "I do...my life has turned into a nightmare! I just want my life and my wife back! Everything's gone wrong over some stupid misunderstanding!"
[21:42] <Aaeru> Oh, please. Coincidences like those can't possibly exist on their own! Aaeru adopts a thoughtful expression, gesturing for the man to continue.
[21:42] <Andria> "Wait, wait, slow down...start from the beginning..." Andrea says, trying to calm the man down.
[21:43] <Janson> "Relationship advice?" Janson raises an eyebrow. "Well... I guess we have some experience with that, even if it's not really the business we've set up."
[21:44] <Kotono> The man takes a desperate breath, rubbing his temple. "I had a childhood friend come visit for the first time in over ten years." He rubs his temple again, "She's from the country and her clothes were all muddy. So I told her that I'd let her borrow some of my wife's clothes to wear while hers were cleaned. She was resting underneath the blankets of the bed while I went into the closet to get
[21:44] <Kotono> some but that's when she got home...and she drew the wrong conclusion! She wouldn't listen to anything! She called me a whoremonger, went out, ame back drunk and threw me out!"
[21:46] <Aaeru> "I'm afraid we can't help with a dispute like this," Aaeru informs him. "But if you want some free advice, waiting for your wife's anger to abate and then approaching a temple to vouch for the truthfulness of your words before talking to her again might help."
[21:46] <Janson> "That sounds pretty fishy to me..." Janson mutters awkwardly. "But, uh... why are you here instead of trying to make things up to your wife in that case?"
[21:47] <Kotono> "I've tried, but she won't listen." He looks to Aaeru with a long, drawn face, "I don't hav ethe money for a truth spell anyway. The entire thing is one stupid misunderstanding! For Tymora's sake, Wistanda is like a sister to me! I need help to get her to listen."
[21:49] <Janson> "A sister who lies naked in your marital bed with you in the room as well?" Janson asks dubiously. "I dunno about this... if you really want to save your marriage you've got to take full responsibility, not hire strangers to speak for you."
[21:49] <Aaeru> "And you came to a sweets shop for that help? Or because you believed you required mercenaries?" Aaeru sighs. "The proprietor would charge you more than you'd pay otherwise, in any case. Just appeal to a holy servant of a deity you follow, or a deity of love. Sufficiently dedicated paladins can manage this magic, and might do it for you in exchange for a symbolic service you can perform for them."
[21:50] * Aaeru coughs. "And that service does not require slipping naked under the covers to change clothes, yes."
[21:50] <Kotono> The man's shoulders slump down, "I see...then if you won't take it..." He stands up and goes to exit, head hung low.
[21:51] * Aaeru turns towards Janson. "This can't possibly be a coincidence, can it?"
[21:52] * Wayland looks over and whispers, "Do you know what this is about?"
[21:52] <Andria> "...I'm still a little bit lost," Andrea says, not connecting the dots from what she recalls Aaeru/Janson saying of their own love-handling case.
[21:52] <Kotono> "So am I,"Sylive murmurs once the man's left the shop. "What was all that about? I mean, doesn't Josa want you guys to get advertising and take cases?"
[21:52] <Janson> "Stories match up," Janson shrugs. "But Lisanne seemed really happy when we saw her the other day. I don't think he was a very good husband, anyway."
[21:53] <Wayland> "Wait...you two caused this?" he whispers.
[21:54] <Aaeru> "I find his story doubtful, his explanation for why exactly he came to us lacking, and the other methods available to him far more plausible," Aaeru agrees. "I will allow the possibility of being wrong, but in that unlikely case we have already intervened in a romantic situation to make it worse, and meddling in it further can't possibly lead to good results."
[21:54] <Wayland> "And not intervening makes it better? This is a travesty."
[21:54] <Janson> "We helped Lisanne stand up for herself and do something instead of drinking herself into despair," Janson asserts, drawing himself up proudly. "Besides, what would he want from us? He wasn't here to buy sweets for an apology gift, and if he can't even explain himself to his own wife then what hope is there anyway?"
[21:55] <Andria> "I...suppose that makes sense. And it'd be awkward if you later met with both husband and wife at the same time. They might think we orchestrated things to make money or advertise the name of our work..."
[21:55] <Aaeru> "We believed her and intervened. If we were wrong, then we are poor judges of character or situation, and as such shouldn't intervene in romance."
[21:56] <Janson> "And if we were right, then he deserves what he gets," Janson nods emphatically.
[21:56] * Aaeru frowns. "And if we weren't wrong, as I continue to believe, yes...."
[21:57] <Wayland> "And you did not interview the husband first before directing a drunk and enraged woman back home? There is no justice in this. None. If you do not choose to help him, I will." says Wayland, his eyes narrowed.
[21:57] * Aaeru shakes her head. "No, this is just implausible. Do remember that while his justifiably distraught wife drowned her sorrow at an inn, he admittedly remained home with that other woman."
[21:58] * Aaeru gestures towards the door. "By all means. But if you do, please do be just rather than merely contrarian."
[21:58] <Andria> "I still think that if we screwed things up, we probably shouldn't get involved any more, especially if we're charging people for work now. And it'd be strange to offer him a freebie all of a sudden..." Andrea says, feeling uncomfortable, even if she does think Wayland might have a bit of a point in regards to being fair. "We'd just make things worse more than likely, Wayland, and that's not really fair."
[21:59] <Janson> "Either he's a lying adulterer, or an uncaring leech. Either way Lisanne's well rid of him," Janson says sternly.
[22:00] <Aaeru> "My own opinion is that he was wrong in this case. How much wrong, I cannot say, but I still believe that this is a good lesson for him. If he is innocent of the greater crime, and did not truly break the important marital vows, he must overcome this and win his wife back on his own."
[22:01] * Wayland glares a bit before sighing. "I suppose you are right. There is no way to save face here, and the problem is ultimately of his own making."
[22:01] <Andria> "I don't think he needs to do it on his own if he's innocent, but we are certainly the wrong people to be helping if we have past involvement in the matter," Andrea says.
[22:02] <Wayland> "We cannot, in good faith, work both sides of the job and then charge for it. There is even less justice in that."
[22:03] <Aaeru> "If you truly cause such grief to your spouse, your first order of business should be to chase after her and ensure she is alright! If he is chased out of the house, he should camp on the front lawn and beg for forgiveness and to plead his case! Running away and seeking out troubleshooters is not the way! Plus, whatever happened to his dear friend, like a sister to him? He mentioned her not one bit in the entire sad tale."
[22:06] <Andria> "Well, he did say her name, and not his wife's," Andrea chips in.
[22:06] <Aaeru> "Before the incident, and not after. She was not at home when we arrived and he was chased out," Aaeru points out. "So she was precious enough to wear his wife's clothing, yet not worth a mention after, or allowed to remain and wait for the wife to explain the misunderstanding together? Oh please, I'm not that naive."