042.2 "Hey Josa, we need, like, a thousand marks!"

[Corwin]

[19:35] <Kotono> A month seems to fly by. A month of peace, recovery and family. But at last, like all good things, it comes to an end. Your family is just outside your childhood home, as...
[19:38] <Aaeru> "Don't forget to, like, come and visit!" Aaeru bids her family. "Mom, you know where the cove is, right? And, like, you could just come to Whimsical Sweets or the House of Suffering, and I'm sure they'll know where to find us! Or even ask Captain Wedge at the guard's fortress? We're friends!"
[19:38] <Kotono> "Okay dear," Mother says, as meanwhile Amuria takes Aaeru's hands, "Be safe. Your stories sound so dangerous!"
[19:39] <Aaeru> "I'll try!" Aaeru promises. "Like, I learned these new spells and I'm sure they'll protect me!"
[19:41] <Kotono> "I'll try as well," Neve bows to them, "We'll do our best!"
[19:42] * Aaeru hugs Amuria for good measure!
[19:44] <Kotono> Hugs are given, "Good luck," Mother calls once more, as Neveril smiles, nods and begins to walk towards home, the first steps in a long journey.
[19:47] <Aaeru> With a happy wave at the remainder of her family, Aaeru skips over to Neve to walk back to Balmuria by her side!
[19:52] <Kotono> With that, the party returns homeward! After a good night's rest at the cove, Aaeru and Neveril head into Balmuria! The leaves on the trees are starting to turn gold and red, a cooling breeze from the bay. Summer's fury is at last spent, Whimsical Sweets awaiting you no matter the weather. Indeed, it's a dreary, rainy, cool fall day. Once inside you find Josa laughing away with several
[19:52] <Kotono> children and adults, all around what looks to be a gingerbread house. Silve awaits by the door, "Oh hey, Aaeru'n'Neveril. Josa's off entertaining his intellectual peers as you can see."
[19:53] <Aaeru> "Hi, Silver," Aaeru greets her, no longer shunning the evil fairy as she had been last. "I don't want to punch you anymore. Isn't that nice?"
[19:57] <Kotono> "Great." Silver gets Aaeru a thumbs up, "You aren't the type of person to assault a helpless little fairy! Good for you!"
[19:58] * Aaeru returns the gesture with a grin. "Isn't it? And that helpless bit just made my day!" Waving at Silver, Aaeru proceeds further into the store and towards Josa.
[20:00] <Kotono> "Speaking of helpless little fairies," Silver calls as Aaeru goes, "Be nice to Josa! The rest of the team's busy with jobs! Don't want him to get all emotional!" Meanwhile you head towards Josa! "...and with that apex of sugary bliss, I must bid you a temporary leave, for stalward friends have arrived!" Josa gently works his way out of the group, towards Aaeru! "AAaah! Aaeru and fair Neveril!
[20:00] <Kotono> I welcome you back with open arms and succor, for it is good to see you again!"
[20:01] <Aaeru> "It's nice to see you too!" Aaeru is all too happy to greet Josa. That's surely what he meant, in his own way.
[20:02] <Kotono> "Hello!" Neveril says! To this Josa leads you all upstairs and away from the public. Once there, "Ah, your timing is good and better. But first I must and shall enquire, how was your sabbatical?"
[20:03] <Aaeru> "It was very relaxing!" Aaeru responds. "And I trained a lot. Don't I look any different? At all?"
[20:06] <Kotono> "Ah, as certain as Lathander rises in his eternal dance with the nightmaiden Selune; as surely as Oghma pens the great tomes of knowledge beyond any other; as resolute as the Elf Father striking down those who would do his children harm, yes, yes you do, for doubless you radiate a healthy aura of energy; I find that merely being in your presence is as if the rays of hope have come from the
[20:06] <Kotono> high heavens above and settled into our fair shop!"
[20:06] <Aaeru> "Did he call me radiant?" Aaeru whispers to Neve, smiling politely at Josa through his tirade.
[20:07] <Kotono> "I do reckon he did," Neveril murmurs back.
[20:07] <Aaeru> "Thanks, that's so nice!" Aaeru chirps.
[20:09] <Kotono> "Yes." Josa smiles a moment, "To be brief and summarize the daring exploits that you have missed? Let us begin with new life and new friends, for a pair of dwarf brothers have joined Whimsical Sweets; through the prophecy of fair Selune and in staunch opposition to those who would do our estwhile ally Balyss undue and unfathomable harm have they joined our merry band; further, Yuria of
[20:09] <Kotono> Malmuth has also become entangled in our destiny, she said she knows you; indeed, for I find there is much in common with the two of you in tandem."
[20:11] * Aaeru needs just a few moments longer to take that all in and parse it. "Yuria? This very pretty blonde that likes clean things and Malmuth and carries a huge scythe? I think that's, like, the only Yuria I know. And, uh, Balyss sent two of her Lunatics over to help, too? I didn't know they had dwarves!"
[20:14] <Kotono> "Ah! Allow me to clarify!" Josa takes up immediately, gesturing, "Whurric and Orval are not of the Silver Maiden's service, nor are they affiliated or sworn to her in any way that I can deduce, instead in the ecclesiary of dwarven powers; but it matters little, for the Yuria you spoke of is one and the same; indeed, oh cruel fate and fair Tymora, she seems bound to us as surely as Simmer or
[20:14] <Kotono> Sylvie now."
[20:15] <Kotono> "Right," Neveril smiles politely, "So there's three new people. What about events? Has anything else happened?"
[20:15] <Aaeru> Momentarily alarmed by the link to Simmer, Aaeru relaxes as Sylvie's name is brought up to counteract that. "Yeah, like, everyone's alright? I guess nothing really happened since you didn't come and call us?"
[20:17] <Kotono> "No, nothing deadly or dangerous." Josa pauses to clear his throat, "We studied the Infinite Codex retrieved from Senaril's lair, we got to know each other and now have begun a new tiding of jobs. Orval, WHurric and Janson are in the Barbarian Lands of the east, leading a scholar of Azuth's service in natural study and observation; meanwhile, Sylvie and Yuria have investigated a false and
[20:17] <Kotono> baseless claim of stalking pegasi and now strive to decode a strange cypher in the hands of Dacote Anband."
[20:18] <Aaeru> "Winged horses!"
[20:19] <Kotono> For some reason this seems to strike Josa, causing him to laugh. "Aahahahhaa. Indeed, that was almost such as Yuria's exact reaction. It turns out to have been the job of a delusional fool, lost in a maze of his own paranoia."
[20:19] * Aaeru looks sad. "I'm sure we'll, like, come across real ones! Like, totally!"
[20:21] <Kotono> "Certainly so, for Yuria and Sylvie visited the pegasi breeding and training farms in the Western Reaches after," Josa says, "Thus I shall ask you, do you desire to go join up with Yuria and Sylvie? If not, there is a single job left, one requiring tact, poise, skill and above all diplomacy."
[20:22] <Aaeru> "I can do that!" This time, it surely would be exactly what it sounds like and not some sneaky attempt to buy things from people or lead to a massive confrontation against homicidal fey! Aaeru glances at Neve, since her decision about employment should be made by now, asking, "How about you? What do you want to do from now on?"
[20:25] <Kotono> "I'll come along," Neveril says quietly, "I promised I'd watch out for you."
[20:25] <Aaeru> "So that's four new people!"
[20:26] <Kotono> "Ah, our ranks further swell!" Josa claps his hands together, "No matter what monetary and fiduciary splits this causes, I welcome you with open arms and a glad heart!"
[20:27] * Aaeru doesn't really understand half of what he said there, but if it's a money problem it can't be that important. She nods, then, and asks, "So where's this other job at?"
[20:28] <Kotono> As you talk, you hear footsteps coming up. Her scythe is on her back and she's whistling, suckling on a lollypop. Yuria comes up on, "Hey Josa, we need, like, a thousand marks!"
[20:29] <Kotono> "It is at-" A pause as Josa double takes, "A  thousand marks?! What manner of financial ruin have you courted, did you somehow set Silver Star Books ablaze in a horrible catastrophy!"
[20:29] * Aaeru smiles at Yuria brightly. "Hiya! It's been, like, ages!"
[20:29] <Kotono> "Oh no, you see, Sylvie...oh hi, Aaeru!" Smiling back, "LIke, you look great! I was wondering when you'd get back!"
[20:31] <Aaeru> "Oh, thanks! So do you!" Stepping aside and gesturing to her left, Aaeru says, "Did you ever meet Neve? Neve, this is Yuria!"
[20:34] <Kotono> "Hi, I'm Yuria!" Yuria grins to Neveril, "Oh, are you Aaeru's..." she curls two fingers around, "Silver told me all about that!" She pauses, "So you two really like to dive for clams and lick pearls out by the bay! I guess that means you two are really good at, like, catching seafood?"
[20:35] <Aaeru> "I think it means it's, like, bad to listen to Silver."
[20:35] <Kotono> "Um...yes, that," Neveril nearly chokes coughing, pounding her chest. "Very much that! Silver's special."
[20:36] <Aaeru> "She looks cute but then she'd, like, laugh at it if you die miserably and then she's not cute at all anymore."
[20:36] <Kotono> "Oh, okay," Yuria says, "Can we talk later? I came to get money from Josa! See, Sylvie cracked the code on that weird paper, and it turns out it's some sort of legendary treasure map maker thing! Now Dacote as a treasure map instead of a weird cypher, and he's offering to sell it to us!"
[20:37] <Aaeru> "Okay," Aaeru readily agrees. "So, like, where are we going, Josa? If you tell us you can get right to paying them or whatever."
[20:38] <Kotono> Josa twitches thrice, "Dear Yuria, we will need to discuss this at length." Clearing his throat, "For now Aaeru, head to the Temple of Waukeen and ask for Holycoin Mia and explain why you're there."
[20:38] <Aaeru> "Okays! Good luck, Yuria! Tell Sylvie I said hi!"
[20:46] <Kotono> With that the two head to the Temple of the Golden Mistress. Even under a rainy day it's still resplundent in it's wealth, people coming and going. A famiilar, limping, tall man approaches. He sniffs the air before a sigh, "Ah, Aaeru. I remember you. I presume you aren't here to embrace the Golden Lady?"
[20:51] <Aaeru> "Well, no," Aaeru allows, "but Holycoin Mia wanted to see us! I think we could help her and stuff!"
[21:01] <Kotono> "Oh, you're here for the mercenary contracts?" He questions back.
[21:02] <Aaeru> "We're from Whimsical Sweets, and it's a job, yes!" Aaeru is happy to agree.
[21:03] <Kotono> "This way," He leads you back and into a pleasant enough sitting room. No refreshments, though there are books of what look sto be Waukeen's dogma about. "Wait here," he says.
[21:05] <Aaeru> "Okay!" Aaeru agrees, choosing to open the nearest book. She might as well know more about those she is supposed to help, and her only concern is that it would be in Common.
[21:09] <Kotono> It is. It's a lot of big words about complex things, like money, wealth, interest, banks, credit and more!
[21:10] * Aaeru sighs, and waves Neve over. In cases like this, she would probably be best served to focus on one single thing and try to understand it. "Can you tell what's, like, the most important thing about the dogma here?"
[21:16] <Kotono> "Oh, that's so complicated!" Neveril gasps, "All these human terms aboutmoney!" Meanwhile, the door opens. She's in her middle age, a long ponytail shot with gray. She strides in, wearing rich robes of gold and platinum colors. She walks with an ornate staff, "You're Whimsical Sweets?" she enquires politely.
[21:18] <Aaeru> "Hello," Aaeru greets the woman, placing the book back on the table and standing up. A polite bow seems appropriate in situations like this, and she is smiling at her upon straightening back up. "We are, yes. I'm Aaeru and this is Neveril. We really want to help you!"
[21:23] <Kotono> "Holy Coin Mia Golddswar. So we can profit one another?" She sits gracefully, a hint of a smile on her face. "Tell me more."
[21:28] <Aaeru> "Well, honestly, in my case it would really be, like, a donation to an orphanage. But I'm sure you can profit, or others at Whimsical Sweets," Aaeru elaborates. "What I really want to do is be useful to people. Sometimes, there is all this conflict, and it just goes out of hand. Instead, maybe, if people talked some more, it wouldn't happen? I like negotiations like this. And I also want to prove that I can do it! Because people, like, underestimate me a lot since I don't wear all these expensive clothes. But I can be sneaky, too! I learned about tact, too, so you won't be disappointed!"
[21:34] <Kotono> "Mmmm." Holycoin Mia listens to all of this, smiling jus a little bit. "Could you tell me more?"
[21:36] <Aaeru> "I could," Aaeru muses. "But I'm sure it would be boring if I just kept on talking on my own. Do you, like, have something you want me to talk about?"
[21:36] <Kotono> Pausing to look at Aaeru, "Tell me about some of the work Whimsical Sweets has done. Who are your clientele?"
[21:41] * Aaeru nods, settling down into a seat opposite the Holycoin. "Of course! We do work with the Guard a lot. We sometimes find these opportunities, I guess, and there are Sharrans or all sorts of evil people who want to destroy Balmuria or steal money from merchants and trick them, so even if the Guard doesn't hire us, we still end up working with them in the end those times. But we do normal work, too! There is this bookstore, Silver Star Books, and we've worked for them a lot. One of those times we even got sent to Ysgard for them!" That was actually an unpleasant experience, Aaeru recalls too late. "There are also jobs where we provide entertainment, like in a theater or a play. Neve is actually very good at that! And we have some bodyguarding work, like that time for a very nice couple at Seira's temple? That one worked so well they asked for us again. This actually happens a lot."
[21:42] <Kotono> OOC: Diplo check, +1?
[21:42] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+26
[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+26 and gets 28." [1d20=2]
[21:45] <Kotono> Listening toa ll of that, "Ah yes, I heard of you from Seke and Gustival." Holycoin Mia's smile stays in place, "What about your capacities? What sort of employees does your organization have? Do you have access to different types of magic? Do you possess warriors? Sneakthieves?"
[21:52] <Aaeru> "A lot of us have all sorts of magic," Aaeru responds, deciding to start with that before moving on to more uncertain territory. "I'm a sorceress, and I can fight, too! Neve is really great at support magic, and she can heal, too!" Of course, Neve also has some last resort options, but this isn't the right time to go into them. "Janson has fey magic and he's very fast. We also have this fey who is really sneaky and can find anyone, even if they were, like, sent to Hell! Then there's Yuria, who is a bit like me but she uses a scythe and her magic's different. Next is Josa, and he's the world's first Candymancer! He can make candy that you can use in a fight or to heal from a fight, and he can make animated candy soldiers, and he knows all sorts of other magic too." Aaeru takes a brief moment to go over the rest of her list. "Sylvie is sneaky, too, and she pretty much knows everything about everything. Even about magic and fighting. And we also have a fire dryad who's at the plane of Fire right now, but she's still with us, and two dwarves who are, like, dwarven priests, but I don't know them much myself."
[21:55] <Kotono> OOC: Another diplo check, even?
[21:55] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+25
[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+25 and gets 29." [1d20=4]
[21:56] <Kotono> To this the holycoin smiles again as she thinks, "You sound capable. In a few days we're going to have a grand meeting fo rall the possible contractees. You're cordially invited to come and mingle, and we'll see from there."
[21:59] <Aaeru> "That's great!" Aaeru responds, quite happy herself. "Can you just, well, tell us more first? I don't know about other contracts, but we really do want to help others. It's the most important thing for us! I bet we can do it lots better if we knew what you needed, and then the right sort of people came over!"
[22:00] <Kotono> Snapping her fingers, a small book appears before Aaeru! "It's a guide to the possible contract types." Going on from that, "At the meeting, it's traditional to bring gifts to honor Waukeen. Keep that in mind."
[22:03] * Aaeru doesn't blink cluelessly at that, since Sylvie would probably know just what they need. "Thanks!" Aaeru repeats, taking the book. She can bring it back to Whimsical Sweets for everyone to read! "I'll return it when I come back, then?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "Thank you," Neveril rises and bows, "For what it's worth, human ways are still ne wto me, but I know the ways of the fey well. Remember that, please?"
[22:09] * Aaeru can only rise and bow herself. "We'll do our best!" she vows.
[22:10] <Kotono> "Keep the book," Holycoin Mia smiles a moment, "You can go now. I'll see you in a few nights."
[22:11] <Aaeru> The Holycoin is really nice! Happy with how things went, Aaeru does her best to display the proper behavior she learned for such formal situations as she bids her goodbye for the time being.

[Corwin]

[22:20] <Kotono> Soon enough Aaeru meets with a Guardsman. Her and Neveril are escorted into the waiting room of the book, past the dizzying entrance and the endless, sunlit halls. Here it awaits, hanging by chains. Neveril whistles at it, "That book is certainly gigantic!"
[22:21] <Aaeru> "I remember it!" Aaeru agrees. "It's very big, isn't it?"
[22:21] <Kotono> "Yes, we're supposed to read it for 8 hours, I believe," Neveril says.
[22:22] <Aaeru> "I never read a book that long!" Aaeru says in awe. "I wonder how it feels... wanna go first?"
[22:31] <Kotono> "You go," Neveril prods after a moment's thought, "With all you've been reading I bet you can do it."
[22:31] <Aaeru> "I'll try!" Aaeru agrees, firming her resolve. "And... and then you can! Maybe it's all about human ways or money or all that stuff, and you'll know it better!"
[22:32] <Kotono> "Okay," Neveril agrees with a long breath, "We can do this!"
[22:33] * Aaeru thus approaches the book, hoping once again that it is in Common!
[22:35] <Kotono> It is, as Aaeru begins to read! OOC: Int check, you qualify for a +4 bonus.
[22:37] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+3
[22:37] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+3 and gets 10." [1d20=7]
[22:38] <Kotono> Aaeru reads and reads and reads! It's a mystery! Confusion rocks her world, numbness filling her! Oh she chases the words and languages as best she can, but it' slike trying to hug smoke! 'round and round and 'round she goes, until at last...
[22:38] <Kotono> roll 2d4 int and wis damage, ow
[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4 int and wis damage, ow and gets 3." [2d4=2, 1]
[22:38] <Kotono> Aaeru at last jerks away from the book, a massive headache forming from her studies!
[22:39] <Aaeru> "Your turn," she tells Neve, feeling utterly lethargic. "I'll nap."
[22:41] <Kotono> Neveril doe sjust that, as exhausted sleep comes to Aaeru!
[22:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 24." [1d20=20]
[22:41] <Kotono> roll 1d11
[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d11 and gets 8." [1d11=8]
[22:43] <Kotono> When Aaeru awakens, it's to Neveril! She's dancing about with a look of studied intensity on her face! Her motions are beyond merely fluid, being pure grace contained! "Aaeru, I figured it out! That's what I was doing wrong with my dances!"
[22:44] <Aaeru> "Wrong? You? Dance?" Somehow, Aaeru can't comprehend the words, when strung together like that.
[22:45] <Kotono> Neveril laughs and holds you, dancing away!
[22:46] <Aaeru> Dancing with Neve is something she can do, no matter her state!
[22:50] <Kotono> A week's time lets the damage be undone, rest and recovery happening. Once again you return to the book, Neveril with you. "Are you ready to try again," she asks.
[22:52] * Aaeru shrugs. "I guess. I don't, I mean, I don't really know what I should do. I don't think it's bad to read it once in a while, and persistence is a good thing? Maybe? I don't remember anything about dancing, so let's try again and then we can, dunno, ask someone else what they think?"
[22:52] <Kotono> "Right," Neveril says, "Good luck, Aaeru!"
[22:52] * Aaeru gives her a thumbs up, and then approaches the book anew!
[22:53] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+3
[22:53] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+3 and gets 16." [1d20=13]

[Corwin]

[19:31] <Kotono> Study Aaeru does! This time pure will drives her, analyzing the book and learning! Oh, it's hard...hours slip by in chasing information, assorted tongues deciphered to tell her more! In the end her overloaded mind comes away with one thing - the knowledge of disguise! AT last Aaeru looks up, having it in her mind!
[19:32] <Aaeru> "I'm... sneaky," Aaeru says in awe. She doesn't notice when she stopped being absorbed in the book, yet there it is. "--er. Sneakier. Huh."
[19:38] <Kotono> "Did you find something?" Neveril is there, peering over at the book.
[19:40] <Aaeru> "New ways to be sneaky!" Aaeru declares. "Watch!" And with an invocation of magic, she matches Neve perfectly, down to her dress and mannerisms. "Like, talking is still on me, but I can totally do the rest of it!" she says proudly.
[19:43] <Kotono> "Oh, that's wonderful!" Never says, eyes widening, "...can you turn back? That's rather unsettling."
[19:44] <Aaeru> "Sorry," Aaeru apologizes, turning back into herself, except clad just like the Holycoin. "I'll start practicing right away, okay? We're totally getting that job!"
[19:44] <Kotono> "Okay!" Taking a long nod Neveril steps up, "My turn now?"
[19:45] <Aaeru> "Good luck!" Aaeru wishes her. "Maybe you'll learn about the human customs this time!"
[19:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 11." [1d20=7]
[19:45] <Kotono> roll 2d4
[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4 and gets 6." [2d4=3, 3]
[19:46] <Kotono> Oh does Neveril study! When it's all said and done hours later she stumbles back, groaning and holding her head! "Argh!" Rubbing her temple, "I...like...owwww!"
[19:47] * Aaeru abandones her lengthy attempts at mimic pompous Waukeeneers she had interacted with in the past, instantly moving to Neve's side! "Too much? Was it too much? Wanna lie down?"
[19:49] <Kotono> "Y-yes," Neveril says, lettting Aaeru help her off and away.