The Closed Eye, part II (DM: covaithe, Judge: garyh)

[Atriden]

This was not what Atreus expected to see, but none the less, strangers just appeared out of nowhere. At first glance, Atreus does not see them as any threat but the gnomes cool reaction tips him off that they might not just simple folk. Taking a defensive position in front of Tanders body, making it clear for the newcomers that no one is getting close to Tander " We have been through hell, so forgive me for my lack of manners when I ask... " he quickly exchanges a puzzled look with Woe " Who are you and what are you doing here!? "

 

[KenHood]

By the time Atreus completes his query, the gnome has already finished the cigarette. The gnome lights another one off the ashes of the first.

Drawling in his ponderous baritone, the gnome says, "I am Hacker ***** Brass, pardner, the roughest, toughest, meanest, most interestin' gnome in the whole gawds-***** Transitive Isles. I have been slave and king, lover and fighter, god and mortal, and I am currently following this young lady in pursuit of victuals for my gusta-*****-tory satisfaction, for she has a fine ***** sensibility when it comes to fungus (exceptin' that one time when it gave me projectile diarrhea for two days (but Hacker Brass is always one to let bygones be by-*****-gones))."

"Now, your name is Atreus. That other fellow who thinks so highly of himself that he has own gawds-***** picture on his shield is Woe. And that dead fella is Tander."

"You may ask yourself, 'How in the ***** did that horrifyingly scarred, yet exceptionally handsome gnome know that?' Well, son, like I said, I used to be a god, and on occasion, I can manifest a little touch of divinity"

 

[nerdytenor]

Accompanying the gnome is a short, preternaturally pale young elf woman. She carries a small wooden staff festooned with various bits of shrubs, mushrooms, leaves and gods-know what else.

" We have been through hell, so forgive me for my lack of manners when I ask... " he quickly exchanges a puzzled look with Woe " Who are you and what are you doing here!? "

"Oh, goodness me," she giggles. She has the speaking voice of a girl half her age, and her expression betrays a certain lack of... presence. "Don't tell me you don't know Hacker?" She pauses, expecting a reaction. "Hacker Brass? He's only the most amazing gnome the world has ever seen." She sighs, and gazes longingly at Hacker for an uncomfortably long amount of time before speaking again.

"I am Kathalia," she says, curtsying, "servant of the earth, lover of nature and seeker of the light and truth of the moon and stars and all of her many bounteuos gifts and smells and sights..." Kathalia drones on in a vacant-eyed naturalistic reverie for what seems like an hour before reality mercifully returns her to the here-and-now. She looks upon the body of Tander.

"You poor, poor people! It looks like something very naughty caught up with you!" Kathalia cautiously steps towards Tander's body and shakes her head. "Oh deary me, my powers are not enough to help this poor man. I am sorry." The elf quickly scans around the immediate area.

"What did this to him? We're not in any danger, are we?"

[sblock=Perception DC 15]
Danger is not necessarily something Kathalia is trying to avoid...
[/sblock]

 

[nerdytenor]

"You may ask yourself, 'How in the ***** did that horrifyingly scarred, yet exceptionally handsome gnome know that?' Well, son, like I said, I used to be a god, and on occasion, I can manifest a little touch of divinity"

Kathalia sighs again.

"Isn't he dreamy?"

 

[Dunamin]

With a puzzled look, Woe peers down on the two fey while scratching his chin. It has the inadvertent and slightly unsettling effect of barely making bits of his stubble beard stick out through the hole in his hand.

"I am Hacker ***** Brass, pardner, the roughest, toughest, meanest, most interestin' gnome in the whole gawds-***** Transitive Isles. I have been slave and king, lover and fighter, god and mortal, and I am currently following this young lady in pursuit of victuals for my gusta-*****-tory satisfaction, for she has a fine ***** sensibility when it comes to fungus (exceptin' that one time when it gave me projectile diarrhea for two days (but Hacker Brass is always one to let bygones be by-*****-gones))."

"Now, your name is Atreus. That other fellow who thinks so highly of himself that he has own gawds-***** picture on his shield is Woe."

Woe proudly leans on his shield, his self-portrayed emblem-face looking just as pleased with itself.

“I know you too, Hacker ***** Brass. Having been to every single last bar worth a damn on these isles, I can’t help but notice recurring peers who can actually drink. Guess this is probably the first time you’ve caught me sober, though – congrats and well met!”

Woe leans in slightly and considers the scent.

“Ooo, you’ve had White Lightning recently and a nicely aged selection, too. Not bad.”

"Well, son, like I said, I used to be a god, and on occasion, I can manifest a little touch of divinity"

“I know that feeling. Occasionally it ends with hangovers.”

"I am Kathalia," she says, curtsying, "servant of the earth, lover of nature and seeker of the light and truth of the moon and stars and all of her many bounteuos gifts and smells and sights..." Kathalia drones on in a vacant-eyed naturalistic reverie for what seems like an hour before reality mercifully returns her to the here-and-now. She looks upon the body of Tander.

"You poor, poor people! It looks like something very naughty caught up with you!" Kathalia cautiously steps towards Tander's body and shakes her head. "Oh deary me, my powers are not enough to help this poor man. I am sorry."

Though Woe is watchful of her approach of Tander, he doesn’t stop her in her tracks.

“Sorry does not begin to describe the tragedy his death is, missy. Losing too many great friends over the years takes its toll. ”

“Your intentions to help are appreciated, though, be it fungus-cooking related or not.”

"What did this to him? We're not in any danger, are we?"

“Honey, danger follows us like it’s in heat.” Woe looks her up and down while making a silent evaluation in his head. “Stick around and you may find yourself in a whole different class of danger, as well.”

Giving a welcoming nod to both of them, Woe puts his spear away.

“Woe Chinua in full, gent and lady. Outstanding warrior, undaunting daring doer, occasional ne're-do-well, and so gifted in all aspects of life that it’s my birthday every friggin’ day. Brilliant bloody bastard, at your service.”

He polishes bits of blood spatter off his shield, leaving it just short of dazzling.

“Hell, if beauty was in the eye of the beholder, I’d be shooting those eye rays with a wink and a smile.”

 

[Atriden]

Atreus is not utterly impressed with the gnome but as soon as he mentions his and Woe's name, alarm clocks explode in his mind. Waiting for Woe’s respond he listens to the elf girl and is shocked to find out that she pretends to be so caring and good hearted. Atreus has never known a good elf nor one that cares for others, so why should she be one, he thinks, but still there was no indication to confirm his suspicion about these two strangers.

Listening to Woe, Atreus relaxes a bit but is not convinced. Seeing that Woe put’s away his spear, Atreus stops him. “ Are you sure we can trust these creatures of fey? “ he says loud enough for the others to hear and inspects their expression.


Still focusing his eyes on Hacker and Kathalia he whispers to Woe “ They could easily be a third party hired by Arnest. I know I have not met nor seen this gnome before, so how does he know who I am. Think about it Woe“

Atreus takes a step forward as Kathalia takes hers, still with the dagger at the ready. Addressing Hacker he says " Or…You could be a well informed enemy " he says coldly while checking his surroundings " As we speak, we know of certain individuals that might be looking for us here, perhaps hire people such as yourself to look for us and kill us " and he further inspects their facial expressions “ How do you know my name Hacker!? I know we have not met before this very day and I refuse to believe that you once were some kind of divinity “ he demands and turns to the elf “ and I have never met an elf that is so cheerful “ he clearly accuses her mood as being something bad. “ So forgive me for asking once more, what are you doing here ?“

 

[covaithe]

[sblock=ooc]Just checking in so you know I'm still paying attention, waiting for my cue to move on. [/sblock]

 

[Atriden]

[sblock= OOC]
Covaithe: Great! Hopefully this won't take too long!
[/sblock]

 

[nerdytenor]

...
“ and I have never met an elf that is so cheerful “

"Well look at the angry-mangry little man, Hacker." Kathalia makes a tsk-tsk noise and wags her finger, oblivious to the enormous inappropriateness of her words and demeanor.

"But I guess I'd be grumpy too if I just lost a friend. Not that it's never happened before..."

“ So forgive me for asking once more, what are you doing here ?“

"Can't a girl and her man get a bite to eat? Mother Earth provides for those that know how to look."

"Or those that have a good nose," Kathalia adds, winking conspicuously at Hacker.

" As we speak, we know of certain individuals that might be looking for us here, perhaps hire people such as yourself to look for us and kill us "

"Ooooh... how exicting! Kathalia could use some excitement, yes yes. But know this, my dear, angry little man, if we were here to kill you, surely we would have done so already. Hacker and I have some... talents, and in your weakened state I'm guessing you wouldn't last long." A strange noise is heard from Kathalia's throat - sort of a half-strangled gurgle. Or growl.

[sblock=Kathalia Stat Block]
Kathalia, Elf Druid 3
Passive Perception 22, Passive Insight 15
AC 19, Fort 14, Reflex 17, Will 17
HP 36/36 Bloodied 18, Surge Value 9, Surges 9/9
Speed 8, Initiative +5
Action Points: 1

Current Effects
Humanoid form

Encounter Resources
Darting Bite
Predator's Flurry
Elven Accuracy (+ feat)
Screaming Hide Armor
Second Wind
Use Action Point

Daily Resources
Healing Word
Amulet of Resolution
Fleet Persuit
Fires of Life
[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

She sighs, and gazes longingly at Hacker for an uncomfortably long amount of time before speaking again.

Hacker gives Kathalia an uneasy look, then subtly starts stepping away from her.

Kathalia sighs again.

"Isn't he dreamy?"

Hacker winces.

“I know you too, Hacker ***** Brass. Having been to every single last bar worth a damn on these isles, I can’t help but notice recurring peers who can actually drink. Guess this is probably the first time you’ve caught me sober, though – congrats and well met!”

"*****-a, pardner!"

“Ooo, you’ve had White Lightning recently and a nicely aged selection, too. Not bad.”

Hacker pauses in surprise. He pulls up the neck of his cloth and sniffs. "Gawds-***** dumb-***** strumpet-***** meat-*****-headed apprentice wizards can even get a ***** stain out of a gnome's clothes," he mutters.

“Hell, if beauty was in the eye of the beholder, I’d be shooting those eye rays with a wink and a smile.”

Hacker performs a long, loud, braying belly laugh. Slapping his knee with one hand, pointing with the cigarette in the other, the gnome says, "I like the cut of your jib, Chinua!"

“ Are you sure we can trust these creatures of fey? “

"Absooooolutely!" says Hacker with cheer.

“ They could easily be a third party hired by Arnest. I know I have not met nor seen this gnome before, so how does he know who I am.“

If Hacker had an eyebrow, it would be raised. He looks at Woe, then at Kathalia, then back at Atreus. "You don't listen very well, son. Here. Let me explaina again in riddle form: What has two ***** thumbs and used to be a god?"

Hacker points both his thumbs at himself.

"This guy right here."

“ How do you know my name Hacker!?

"Helloooooo?! Former god!"

“I know we have not met before this very day and I refuse to believe that you once were some kind of divinity “

Hacker chuckles and lights yet another cigarette. "You are the fourth son of Creston D'torian, a wealthy officer in the Jade Kingdom. Your mother was Electra. (Though hopefully not the actual Electra, because then your dad would be your grandfather.) Your mentor was Kalach."

Hacker makes a ghostly sound. "Whoooooooo! Scaaaaaaary!"

"Yep. Former god."

"Can't a girl and her man get a bite to eat? Mother Earth provides for those that know how to look."

"**** yeah!"

"Wait."

"What?!"

"You did not just use the possessive article when referring to me."

"Hacker Brass is a marri--"

He sighs and throws up his hands. "And she's not listening again."

He sucks a cigarette down to ash, lighting another from its stub, and rubs his forehead. He leans forward and whispers. "Boys, let me tell you: Kathalia is a sweet little girl (if a little...)" He spins a finger around one ear and makes a cuckoo noise. "...but set the boundaries EARLY and OFTEN."

Hacker straightens up and faces Atreus. "Now, look, son. I ain't askin' ya to worship me or nothin'. *****, you can't even do that since I got bounced out of the afterlife and that starfish sodomizer, Netari, subsumed my sphere of influence as part of his divine ***** portfolio. (I mean, really, how the ***** do you get from god of the oceans to god of mules? By way of the ***** seahorse?! It's not even a gawds-***** mammal!) But I am going to ask you to man up and demonstrate some appropriate ***** respect. Otherwise, we're gonna have to dispense the obligatory *****-kickin'--and I think your buddy is going to be on MY team!"

"So how 'bout we just set aside all this foolishness and cement our friendship in the time honored tradition of all adventures, by murderin' some hapless evil-doer and ransackin' his belongings?"