ryryguy
First Post
The evening passes with the two groups sizing each other up. Jynxx and Devin swap stories and engage in light verbal sparring, each trying to get the other to give out information about what the respective chefs have planned. But Devin seems too clever to give anything away, and Jynxx doesn't really know what Castofle is cooking up, anyway. The Bacarte mercenaries strut around a bit, but quickly back down when Kaeysari and Chaku give them intense stares.
Bwarli pulls Azryah aside for a private word. "I am happy that your reptilian friend invited this other chef," he says. "It gives us a better chance of pleasing Hulgrimi and maybe snapping him out of his madness. But let me assure you, no matter what the outcome is tomorrow, I will be sure that you receive your zocalti. In fact, should things go well, I hope that you may be rewarded beyond that. In his rare lucid moments, the Honored Ancestor has expressed a desire to acquire a number of different items and commodities that can be found in Daunton. Assuming the one you represent is interested in further supplies of zocalti, I think we may be able to establish a strong formal partnership..." He discusses the details with the deva at length.
Eventually, Balsamae grows impatient and demands to be shown the kitchen. Bwarli shows him in accompanied by Devin, and the two chefs come face to face. "Hello, student," says the master. "I have heard that you are calling yourself 'Castofle' these days, is that right? I've also heard word of your restaurant in Daunton. I hope to be able to visit there one day myself. Some of the dishes I understand that you've created, they sound somewhat interesting, though maybe chasing after that chimera of 'fusionism' I personally find distasteful... but interesting, nonetheless."
Castofle, having just received a rather frenetic pep talk from Papolstaanas manages to keep up a brave front. (apparently the kobold managed to harmonize nervous wavelengths with him or something.) "Good to see you too, master Balsamae," he says with only a slight quaver to his voice. "Yes, please stop by M. Medusa if you're in town. I think you'll find I've put your teaching to good use." He looks down and coughs, then back up. "And some other things I've learned since." Balsamae raises an eyebrow; there is a hint of a haughty smile on his face. The younger chef coughs again. "Well then, I'll leave you to it."
He turns to leave. As he reaches the doorway, Balsamae says casually, "I look forward to seeing what you've learned tomorrow morning. And I look forward to showing you what I've been able to do with this wonderful zocalti..." Castofle freezes for a moment, then leaves without saying anything. Papolstaanas and Azryah find him shaking and hyperventilating outside the inn and hustle him off to try to calm him down.
Once Balsamae has had a chance to settle in, Jynxx and Papolstaanas put their plan in motion. Jynxx enters the inn on the pretense of having just remembered the punchline to a joke he was telling Devin earlier. He soon makes a nuisance of himself poking around and asking questions, allowing the warden to slip in undetected. After the bard has left, Papolstaanas is able to watch Balsamae work. Unfortunately, most of what he is doing is lost on the kobold. He can tell that what the chef is making is not a Bacarte stew... and that's about it.
But he does see one thing that seems significant. Balsamae has the jars which you spotted the mercenaries carrying earlier, and is carefully measuring out their contents to add to his cooking. At an opportune moment, while the chef is in another room, Papolstaanas is able to dart out and grab a small pouchful of the stuff. He takes it to Castofle, who gives it a quick look and then breaks into a wide smile. "Aha! Sugar! I was planning on trying this eventually, back in Daunton, but it's hard to get way out here. Hmmm... yes! I think this could be the key to getting a solid form of zocalti to come together. This could really be great! Thanks, Papol!"
Papolstaanas smiles back - then freezes. He spots a small patch of shadows moving away from the side of the inn towards where the Bacarte mercs are camped. Hurrying over, he is in time to see the shadows melt away to reveal Kanneelas. She is carrying a small bucket in which can be seen a small quantity of milk. She spots her brother watching from across the square and grins at him, then blows him a kiss.
Luckily, a quick check shows that she did not get all the milk - Castofle had put some aside. But now both chefs have each others' secret ingredients...
(continuing shortly)
Bwarli pulls Azryah aside for a private word. "I am happy that your reptilian friend invited this other chef," he says. "It gives us a better chance of pleasing Hulgrimi and maybe snapping him out of his madness. But let me assure you, no matter what the outcome is tomorrow, I will be sure that you receive your zocalti. In fact, should things go well, I hope that you may be rewarded beyond that. In his rare lucid moments, the Honored Ancestor has expressed a desire to acquire a number of different items and commodities that can be found in Daunton. Assuming the one you represent is interested in further supplies of zocalti, I think we may be able to establish a strong formal partnership..." He discusses the details with the deva at length.
Eventually, Balsamae grows impatient and demands to be shown the kitchen. Bwarli shows him in accompanied by Devin, and the two chefs come face to face. "Hello, student," says the master. "I have heard that you are calling yourself 'Castofle' these days, is that right? I've also heard word of your restaurant in Daunton. I hope to be able to visit there one day myself. Some of the dishes I understand that you've created, they sound somewhat interesting, though maybe chasing after that chimera of 'fusionism' I personally find distasteful... but interesting, nonetheless."
Castofle, having just received a rather frenetic pep talk from Papolstaanas manages to keep up a brave front. (apparently the kobold managed to harmonize nervous wavelengths with him or something.) "Good to see you too, master Balsamae," he says with only a slight quaver to his voice. "Yes, please stop by M. Medusa if you're in town. I think you'll find I've put your teaching to good use." He looks down and coughs, then back up. "And some other things I've learned since." Balsamae raises an eyebrow; there is a hint of a haughty smile on his face. The younger chef coughs again. "Well then, I'll leave you to it."
He turns to leave. As he reaches the doorway, Balsamae says casually, "I look forward to seeing what you've learned tomorrow morning. And I look forward to showing you what I've been able to do with this wonderful zocalti..." Castofle freezes for a moment, then leaves without saying anything. Papolstaanas and Azryah find him shaking and hyperventilating outside the inn and hustle him off to try to calm him down.
Once Balsamae has had a chance to settle in, Jynxx and Papolstaanas put their plan in motion. Jynxx enters the inn on the pretense of having just remembered the punchline to a joke he was telling Devin earlier. He soon makes a nuisance of himself poking around and asking questions, allowing the warden to slip in undetected. After the bard has left, Papolstaanas is able to watch Balsamae work. Unfortunately, most of what he is doing is lost on the kobold. He can tell that what the chef is making is not a Bacarte stew... and that's about it.
But he does see one thing that seems significant. Balsamae has the jars which you spotted the mercenaries carrying earlier, and is carefully measuring out their contents to add to his cooking. At an opportune moment, while the chef is in another room, Papolstaanas is able to dart out and grab a small pouchful of the stuff. He takes it to Castofle, who gives it a quick look and then breaks into a wide smile. "Aha! Sugar! I was planning on trying this eventually, back in Daunton, but it's hard to get way out here. Hmmm... yes! I think this could be the key to getting a solid form of zocalti to come together. This could really be great! Thanks, Papol!"
Papolstaanas smiles back - then freezes. He spots a small patch of shadows moving away from the side of the inn towards where the Bacarte mercs are camped. Hurrying over, he is in time to see the shadows melt away to reveal Kanneelas. She is carrying a small bucket in which can be seen a small quantity of milk. She spots her brother watching from across the square and grins at him, then blows him a kiss.
Luckily, a quick check shows that she did not get all the milk - Castofle had put some aside. But now both chefs have each others' secret ingredients...
(continuing shortly)
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