038.1 Aaeru

[Corwin]

[19:07] <Kozzz> The Old City bustles this afternoon in August. As the sun beats down you head up the hill to Seira's inn. Passing by fine shops with the shadow of ship's masts on the horizon Aaeru heads inside, finding her way to Rubri'Granit's room. He admits you in on knocking, going back to sitting at a table by the window. It provides a spectacular view of the green bay, a bottle of spirits open nearby.
[19:07] <Kozzz> "Care for some?"
[19:09] <Aaeru> "Okay," she says, to be polite.
[19:16] <Kotono> IT's a small shot glass of something that smells strong enough to melt paint, yet it also has a distinctly earthy aroma. Once poured, "Those scrolls you returned to me, you found them in the maze or somewhere else?"
[19:17] <Aaeru> "In that room where you had all those drawings?" Aaeru responds, snapping her fingers. "Ooh, and the notes, too! We left a message there in case you got back."
[19:23] <Kotono> "Mmmm. I have little intention of going back," Rubri'Granit shakes his head, "I remember buying the scrolls, dimly. I think I was trying to understand the cube, but my will was too submerged to do much besides that."
[19:25] <Aaeru> "We used the teleport scroll to get back when you never appeared after a few hours," Aaeru dutifully reports. "But I'm pretty sure there wasn't anything else to go back for."
[19:27] <Kotono> Rubri'Granit nods his agreement to that, "The cube did strange things - it helped me create the creatures there and helped stock the 'treasure' rooms." He knocks back a shot, looking out. "To what purpose it was meant to serve is beyond me."
[19:29] <Aaeru> "But probably a bad one!" Aaeru voices, taking the time to drink the strongest alcohol she was ever served. "Did you visit your friend already? He was really worried about you."
[19:33] <Kotono> It sears like fire going down, Aaeru's eyes watering terribly! It tastes strong, like paint thinner stripping off her tastebuds! "I did. Urian's pleased it all worked out, though I haven't told him the darker details."
[19:34] * Aaeru coughs to get her breathing under control!
[19:38] <Kotono> This gets a grin, "Hah! Dwarven drink's made for dwarves. It's too strong for most humans to appreciate." Nonetheless he refills Aaeru's glass, "But by Moradin's brewers, it doesn't mean you can't try."
[19:40] <Aaeru> "I can try," Aaeru repeats in agreement. She eyes the glass warily, and asks, "If you're not going back, are you just gonna stay here in town for a bit?"
[19:41] <Kotono> "I'm not going back right away." He knocks back a little more, "I'm taking a self enforced vacation after that entire wretched affair, not a long one, but a chance to rest."
[19:44] <Aaeru> "Ah. Vacations are nice!" Aaeru says in approval. "Because you need to rest sometimes, since your mind can get tired too, not just your hands and stuff. If I knew you would, I probably wouldn't come until later." She doesn't delay, doing her best to appreciate dwarven brew, as promised.
[19:45] <Kotono> It's vile-strong stuff, burning a little less the second time down. "Of that, you came for a reason, I presume?"
[19:46] <Aaeru> "Two," Aaeru agrees. "To see if you were alright, and if you talked to your friend, and to ask you something." She tilts her head. "No, that's not right. Three reasons it is!"
[19:51] <Kotono> "Three," Rubri'Granit agrees with the barest hint of a smile, "Always three...what is your third reason?"
[19:55] <Aaeru> "It's a bit long, so please listen to it all," Aaeru requests, gathering her wits. "So a month ago, I asked Sylvie how we can get donations for the orphanage. And two weeks later, she had this plan, where we should take a little orphan girl and make it look so she seems hungry and ask people to donate. But I don't really like that. What if she needs to miss breakfast? That's really bad for a young girl! And the money would be for new children, not because those there are starving, so it feels like we're tricking people. Do you think that? Because I think that. But I still want people to help."
[20:03] <Kotono> Rubri'Granit holds a hand up, "If it's a donation you want, I can donate, for the Gods and Tymora have been favorable to me. I need not a hard sell."
[20:07] * Aaeru pauses as she takes a breath, goes over Rubri'Granit's last words, and then beams at him. "That's great! Could you show the children how to make a gargoyle? Or give them one to play with them and protect them? They'll have lots of fun, then!" Adopting an aid of authority, Aaeru quotes, "A happy child is a healthy child!"
[20:09] <Kotono> This gets a momentary chuckle from the dwarf, "Moradin's hammer, that wasn't quite what I expected! But why not, a guardian gargolye isn't hard to make. Despite being released from payment, I had planned to make one for Whimisical Sweets as well.""
[20:11] <Aaeru> "I get told that a lot," Aaeru informs him. "Thank you! Everyone will be very, very happy!"
[20:15] <Kotono> Refilling Aaeru's glass again and looking out tothe waves, "You're welcome. It will be some time, at least a month and probably longer. You may not get them until the autum or winter if things are not hasteful."
[20:16] * Aaeru drinks this shot without delay. "It takes time to make things," she says in complete agrement.
[20:28] <Kotono> This one goes down even easier, Aaeru starting to feel good. She's not drunk, just tipsy. Right? "Moradin's own wisdom," he agrees.
[20:28] <Aaeru> "I'm understanding it a lot better now!"
[20:35] <Kotono> With another drink in her and good greetings given, Aaeru at last heads home. Her cove is quiet, the sun starting to set as she arrives. Nothing is wrong from the outside - indeed, it's home sweet home?
[20:39] <Aaeru> "I'm back!" Aaeru announces, even if it would be for her own benefit alone.
[20:48] <Kotono> Coming in you see her emerge from the ocean. Neveril blinks once before her face lights up with joy, "Aaeru, you're home!" She hurries over, sweeping her into an embrace!
[20:50] <Aaeru> "Miss me?" Aaeru asks, her face lighting up.
[20:53] <Kotono> "Yes!" She exclaims, holding Aaeru close, "You were gone over a week!"
[20:57] <Aaeru> "It took us really long to find the others," Aaeru says by way of explanation. "But we just got back! Old man Croger told me I'd die but I didn't!"
[20:57] <Kotono> "He did..." A frown, "It doesn't matter, you came home safely. Tell me all about it!"
[20:59] <Aaeru> "He insisted that I should, but he was wrong," Aaeru responds. "Oh, what to say... you'd really hate Hell! It's very hot and dry and people there try to kill you when you meet them."
[21:00] <Kotono> "That sounds like Hell," Neverl says solemnly.
[21:01] <Aaeru> "Oh yes," Aaeru solemnly agrees. "Some people pretend to be nice but they just want your things or your soul. And when you sleep, you have bad dreams, or things try to bite you all over."
[21:03] <Kotono> This gets a terrible shiver from Neveril, "That sounds like a nightmare."
[21:04] * Aaeru nods. "Andrea had them all the time, and they tried to trick her and make her see dead people."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Like a prophet's visions, but only wrong and horrible?" That she asks with an even more repulsed face, "I think I've heard enough of Hell."
[21:06] <Aaeru> "I don't think I'll go back."
[21:08] <Kotono> Neveril holds Aaeru yet closer, whispering, "Well, you're back home and you're not going back. Promised."
[21:11] <Aaeru> "I'm staying with you," Aaeru whispers back. "Promise."