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Message: <blockquote data-quote="simmo" data-source="post: 1426829" data-attributes="member: 9744">Part 17 Anakharim, Ride!chapter 1 The Return of the CalebAndrew watched the people in the tavern going about their business and Littleby spent some time studying one of his tomes. When the barmaid finally came around to their table the dwarven scholar ordered a cauldron of shlock with a good helping of curtain dumplings. The barmaid grimaced at the request and went to the kitchen. Littleby put his ion stone back in to his pocket, glad that he did not have to rely on it for sustenance.In the kitchen the barmaid told the barkeep about the unusual order and the two got in to their usual argument about who was going to prepare the food.“I think that we can whip something up,” the barkeep stated confidently."We, don't have a chef.” The barmaid crossed her arms to indicate that she had no desire to get involved with the cooking.“Shut up woman.” The barkeep snapped angrily. He motioned for her to bring him some ingredients from the bottom shelf and the surly woman complied.“We never have a chef,” she complained as she handed him a jar full of congealed matter that defied classification.“Exactly,” the barkeep replied smugly. He flipped open the pages of the cookery book that he used for all his recipes and chose one that sounded similar to the order given by the dwarven scholar. By pure coincidence the Ogg cookery book actually contained the food that the dwarf was referring to and the barmaid left her husband to his food experimentation.“Littleby," Serena said as she got up from the table. "I'm going for a walk.”“Okay,” the dwarf replied. He was busy concentrating on his tome, his stomach rumbling in anticipation of the culinary delights due to be served in the near future.“I'm going to have a look around town.” Serena left the tavern, crossed the green field and entered town.Whilst Serena was exploring the town of Ecstasy and Littleby was enjoying his bowls of shlock with extra helpings of curtain dumplings, the mephits were busy on the look out for Caleb's friends. “Diving in to rubbish is a great adventure," the mineral mephit was amazed at all the things that were thrown away by the residents of the town. "There are many interesting things here and we could even make some money.” The earth mephit had not got very far in his search of the rubbish heap outside one of the tavern. Their master's instructions had been quite explicit. Pretend to take out the rubbish, whilst looking for Caleb's friends (who were possibly inside the rubbish).“Oh yes, where I come from looking in to rubbish is a favourite past-time," the ooze mephit agreed excitedly. "It's almost a science of looking in to useless things that may still have some value. You would not believe how often people throw away the secret pass phrases that they've written down on scraps of parchment. The only trick is to find out what the pass phrases relate to.”Unfortunately for the mephits the tavern whose rubbish they had chosen to go search through happened to be the one that Caleb and Cade were going to for a drink. Caleb happened to spot one of the mephits flying off with something shiny through the window of the tavern and he did not look pleased.“COME HERE,” the earth genasi commanded after exiting the tavern. The ooze mephit tried to hide the cutlery which it had salvaged behind its back. Caleb waited until the ooze mephit was eagerly floating in front of him and then with a quick jabbing motion punched it straight in the face.The ooze mephit's nose flattened and it tumbled back through the air. The small creatures slimy wings beat furiously trying to keep it airborne and dirty cutlery scattered in all directions. The other two mephits quickly backed away from the rubbish heap and dropped everything that they were carrying.“Ooh, he touched me.” The ooze mephit spoke in an even more annoying whining and nasal voice that normal. With its nose flattened the creature's voice sounded like the air escaping from an inflated pig's bladder. “The Master blessed me with his touch.”“STOP LOOKING IN THE RUBBISH AND START LOOKING FOR MY FRIENDS.” The earth genasi glared at his helpers and they covered from his wrath. Turning his back on them Caleb walked back to the tavern and joined Cade for another drink.“Aha!” Cade called out from across the bar when Caleb walked in. He'd gone across the tavern to order some more drinks and as he got chatting with the barkeep and some of the locals, he heard the tale of the folks that had arrived in a flying ship. He confirmed that their description matched that of Caleb's friends and he eagerly marched back to where the earth genasi was sitting.“I've found them, your friends. At least I've found where they are.” The halfling spoke rapidly and excitedly. “HOW DO YOU KNOW MY FRIENDS?” Caleb had been resting his eyes after downing a pint of the local brew and was a little taken aback by Cade's sudden reappearance.“The ones that you described to me, I found out where they are.” Cade quickly told his new friend about the gossip going around relating to some people arriving by flying ship. The halfling spoke quickly and Caleb just about managed to keep up.“OH.” Caleb's chair gave way beneath his weight as he lent back on the chair and the earth genasi suddenly found himself staring across at the ceiling from the ruins of his chair. None of the splinters had got past his thick armour and several of the other patrons were amused to see the tall man lying on his back.“Their in the Cricketers, a pub called the Cricketers. What Cricket might be I have no idea, but it sounds very stupid name to me.” Cade stood over Caleb, watching the earth genasi slowly get to his feet. “ISN'T IT A SMALL CHIRPING INSECT?” Caleb asked, having stood up and kicked aside the ruins of the wooden chair.“Possibly.” Cade was eager to be off and he smiled excitedly at the prospect at further adventure. This Caleb figure was certainly interesting and he was sure to have interesting companions. “Well then shall we go. Come on then lets go.” The halfling was already across the tavern floor and out of the door by the time that Caleb had retrieved his hammer and located the exit.</blockquote>

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