[AU] Stone Bones

[Corinthi]

*Darthallys turns slowly to peer up at Atlas, the cast of his canine features somewhat thoughtful.*

"Well, assume you're implying that I said that, but frankly I can't remember. Between the hours of pointless chitchat, the concern that at any moment some sorceror will invade my mind with a vision of a blasted cave, and the omnipresent stench of self righteousness, I'm lucky I can still string together a coherent thought. Furthermore, it's obvious that we're not going to actually /do/ anything tonight, as such, I'm free to drink myself half to death tonight, so long as I'm conscious and alert in the morn. Assuming, of course, my oversized and lackwitted nursemaid doesn't have too strong an objection."

"My suggestion is that we all attempt to enjoy one of our last nights in civilizations, for tomorrow we should set out for Ra-Toqu and begin exploring these caves. I've a hunch that the answers we seek will be resting in the earth itself. Call it faith in the information Phaern has provided."

 

[Rybaer]

*Leesea listens carefully to every word of Phaern's findings...to the point that she would be able to recall neary any detail verbatim should the need arise. She is particularly intrigued by the grayfolk. A race that lives exclusively underground may have information that could help lead her to Dorth Manor and eventually the Grythsm Focus, aside from the more pressing matter of the Bones of the Earth.*

"Well, this all sounds fine," she says to the group. "You can definitely count me in for this journey into the cave. If you would excuse me for a few minutes, I'm going to see if I can't find a little bit more information in the akashic memory. Phaern has given us a few clues that can help me focus my search."

*Leesea will fly up into the rafters of the tavern and find a somewhat out of the way spot in which to meditate. Through mental exercise, she tunes out the background noise and begins to focus on the 'Spine of the World' as she delves into the akashic memory.*

 

[Erekose13]

Phaern, spryte magister

"Alright so tomorrow it is then. I have more notes that we can discuss tomorrow on our journey out if you like or any of you who want to can take a look at them."

"So to the success of our new expedition together!" Phaern says raising his glass to those around offering his toast. After clinking mugs, he will order another. Provided there are no more questions about his research, he will try to out drink Darthallys getting completely wasted and utterly defeated in the mean time.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*Darthallys, the human at the bar seemed even farther along in his cups than you, and didn't seem to hear your otherwise inexcusable comment. Freed from your duties as listener to strange lore for the moment, the tavern wench you've been eyeing all night plumps herself down on your lap after putting another mug of ale on the table.*

*Leesea, you ponder long and hard, the sounds of revelry below you falling away and you look deep into memories not your own. You realize that spoiler

Spoiler

the Spine of the World is a place of profound power, perhaps even to the point of being the foundation of the Green! If the "bones" of the Spine must be returned, perhaps it is not a physical object, but rather the bones must be set in their proper place.*

*From the vision you realize that the pillars you saw are far too large to be moved by less than thousands of mortal hands. There must be some other way to return them to their place, though such a way would require a great sacrifice to restore the place of the Green to balance...

spoiler*

*Phaern, despite the fact that Darthallys is already one and a half sheets to the wind, you quickly surpass him on the Star Cross's excellent mead. You're going to have a wicked head in the morning, that's for certain.*

 

[dead_radish]

*Kelthet tries to join in the conversation and the carousing, but he is clearly out of his element. After perhaps half an hour, he excuses himself, and asks Phaern for a copy of the information, that he might study it for a while. He finds a time to meet in the morning, and then heads upstairs. He'll study the book carefully, then go to bed. If there is a stone floor, or a hearth, he will bed down there. If not, he'll sleep on the bed as normal, but not sleep well.*

 

[Rybaer]

*As Leesea's consciousness returns to the room, she shakes her head in amazement. It has been rare in her experience to view memories of something so profound. She is both humbled and daunted; very much wondering at her role in what may come.*

*She flies back down to the table and finds that things have already broken up for the night. She has little interest in drinking herself under the table on the night before beginning a potentially long journey. She flies briefly past Kelthet.*

"I'll meet you all back here in the morning," she says. "I want to sleep another night in my own bed and will need to gather up the rest of my travel gear anyway. Good night."

*Leesea flies off to her apartment and will do exactly as she told Kelthet she would.*

 

[rangerjohn]

*Darthallys, the human at the bar seemed even farther along in his cups than you, and didn't seem to hear your otherwise inexcusable comment. Freed from your duties as listener to strange lore for the moment, the tavern wench you've been eyeing all night plumps herself down on your lap after putting another mug of ale on the table.*

*Atlas tries to do as Darthallys suggested and keep him out of trouble. Once he drinks himself under the table, Atlas secures a room and takes him upstairs. *

OOC: Unless the barmaid has other plans. After all Atlas does realize that there is no life without sex.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

OOC: The barmaid does have other plans. Let's just say she "goes to get him cleaned up." In her room of course. And we'll just fade to black on the rest of that. Though Darthally's purse will be lighter by a gold or two in the morning.

 

[Corinthi]

*Darthallys awakens the next morning, slightly before dawn. The sounds from the kitchen's morning preparations rouse the lightly sleeping Sibeccai. He stretches slowly, lanky form sprawling across the entirety of the bed. Noting the lack of another form in the bed, his lips curl upwards slightly, content. He rests there for a moment, silently contemplating the relationship between bar wenches and the ale they serve. It seems to him that the more watered down the beer, the more friendly the wench.*

*Moving slowly, as not to disturb the sediment flowing about the bottom of his skull, Darthallys unpacks a small gilded water bowl and fills it from a clay pitcher by the window. He kneels before the bowl, his morning absolutions resembling more of a prayer than anything else. He carefully washes his face, his ears, his teeth, and his hands, before rising and tossing the soiled water out into the street below. Oddly enough, his fur is carefully groomed and spotless, with non of the ghastly stench of sweat that follows a hard night of drinking and wenching.*

*Similiar attention is given to his rainment and boots. Then he checks his purse. A few coins short of what he remembers spending, but well within the bounds of a night of wenching. Finally, he turns to his Athame. Hanging from a peg on the wall, the vicious looking blade hangs in it's scabbard, looking vaguely decorative in the sparce room. Darthallys crosses the room, reaching to pluck the blade from it's roost. The fur along his forearm tingles as his palm nears the hilt before actually standing on end as he actually draws forth the Kopesh from it's leather prison. Here, alone in his room, Darthallys allows himself to tremble faintly at the power coursing between him as his Athame. He slowly walks back into the center of the room, estimating the space he has to work within.*

*After a series of deep, focusing breathes, Darthallys begins his dance. A medative and martial kata, designed to hone not his body, but his spirit. The exercise is slow and graceful. One might almost call it sensual, were the focus of the Sibeccai's devotion not a hefty piece of steel forged for the simple purpose of destroying life in a vicious, fleshrending manner.*

*Nearly an hour later, Darthallys resheathes his weapon, focused and refreshed for the day ahead. He swiftly dresses, and checks his appearance in a small handheld mirror. Perhaps were he distastefully nude, like most bipedal races, one might note dark rings around his eyes, or a slight pallor to his complexion. However, fur conceals a multitude of sins. With a respectable appearance, and a headache that's merely a dull roar, he gathers his belongings and heads downstairs, intending to eat a hearty breakfast before setting out on some fool's errand.*

*As he heads out into the commons, he considers what he heard the night before about subterranean people. If they mine, maybe they have riches and will pay handsomely for setting a few bones. Sufficive to say, Darthallys' smile is genuine as he arrives for breakfast.*

 

[Jaws]

Wil

*As he heads out into the commons, he considers what he heard the night before about subterranean people. If they mine, maybe they have riches and will pay handsomely for setting a few bones. Sufficive to say, Darthallys' smile is genuine as he arrives for breakfast.*

*Wil has breakfast waiting for the party. He already ate and is now enjoying an exotic beverage that supposedly hails all the way from the Jungles of Naveradel. It looks like he is ready to travel.*

"Good Morning Darthallys. Did you have another successful venture between the sheets? Sit. Eat. You need to replenish your energy for I believe we will be on the move once more. I hope Leesea was able to squeeze some more info out of the akashic memory. How that works is beyond my comprehension. I hope the others get the move on. Otherwise their food will get cold. Ji-Hecma was always getting on my case about how you can always get the most done in the early hours of the sun."

*Wil continues sipping his drink and seems to be lost in thought as he unknowningly watches Darthallys eat.*