[Planescape] Squaring the Circle Redux - IC

[Ashy]

Claw snuffles Burrow's hair affectionately and seems very, very glad to see you, virtually knocking you down in with his welcome. The cure light takes care of his minor wounds and the two of you set off towards the gate not too far away.

The gate towers nearly three stories and is carved into the likeness of a giant, snarling face, with the gaping mouth serving as the opening. It is guarded by a band of grubby bugbears in patchwork armor and equipment, backed by a large, floating eye. Currently, they're amusing themselves by tormenting and bullying a small kobold. When you approach, the largest of them, a scarred, mangy-looking fellow with hideous dental hygiene flicks a bored eye at you and grunts out, "5 jiinx" in badly-accented Common.

Gate to Upper Torch​

Burrow opens his hand and shows the gathered guards ten times the amount asked. "This should cover th' fee....for meself and th' kobold." Burrow meets their gazes with a smile on his lips, but steel in his eyes. "Don'cha agree?"

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

For a moment, Flaust considers spinning a yarn to see if she could bob this newcomer, but thinks better of it. With a polite pointy finger, she gestures to the door and offers, She hasn't been 'ere since I've been about. But then that 'asn't been long. Get ye gone Clueless, I got business to get on with. And with that, she looks to call over a server to get her a glass of milk and the whereabouts of that Genasi so she could find out where her friends were and why they were taking so long - all the while being wary of the man and his mangy bird, hand sliding under the table to her sword's grip to be ready for danger at a second's notice.

The man makes a gentlemanly nod. "Ah. Thank you for your time, miss," he says cordially and moves on. You watch him suspiciously for a few minutes, and see him approach other tables, making the same gestures, asking the same question, and getting rebuffed with varying degrees of civility. Nonetheless, he keeps at it with a careful, dogged, and diplomatic persistence. [Flaust rolled Sense Motive 11+9=20] Satisfied that he meant no harm and had simply been a chance encounter, you turn to hail a serving wench, you order another glass of milk and ask after Ivth's whereabouts at the same time.

The waitress points you towards one of the side halls, where you find him overseeing the setup for a lavish banquet this time. He briefly massages the bridge of his nose when he sees you coming, but his voice is reasonably civil when he grates out, "Yes? What do you want now?"

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

Burrow opens his hand and shows the gathered guards ten times the amount asked. "This should cover th' fee....for meself and th' kobold." Burrow meets their gazes with a smile on his lips, but steel in his eyes. "Don'cha agree?"

The bugbear leader's eyes widen in astonishment and greed, and then he bursts out laughing in deep guffaws. "Aye..." he says, snatching the jink from Burrow's hands. "...tho' not even his muth'er would pay a green for the little worthless rat! Ho! You boys, lay off 'here!" He smacks his comrades roughly, getting them to release the kobold, who merely wobbles in place all battered and dazed. The bugbear makes a lazy swipe that sends him sprawling towards you. "Get gone, ya sad bag 'o meat, be'fores I change my mind!"

As you leave, the bugbears are too busy gloating over the easy jink to pay any more mind to you, but you notice the beholder following your progress up the street thoughtfully.

Away from the gate, the kobold is pathetically grateful, groveling in the dust and kissing your feet without reserve. "Ooooooo! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou! *yip* I thought I's wuz bugbear dinner fer sure! *yip* I owes you my life, yes I do! (smack!) Grateful I am! Yes, yes! *yip* Thankyouthankyouthankyou! (smack!)" He continues in this vein for several minutes....

 

[Ashy]

The bugbear leader's eyes widen in astonishment and greed, and then he bursts out laughing in deep guffaws. "Aye..." he says, snatching the jink from Burrow's hands. "...tho' not even his muth'er would pay a green for the little worthless rat! Ho! You boys, lay off 'here!" He smacks his comrades roughly, getting them to release the kobold, who merely wobbles in place all battered and dazed. The bugbear makes a lazy swipe that sends him sprawling towards you. "Get gone, ya sad bag 'o meat, be'fores I change my mind!"

As you leave, the bugbears are too busy gloating over the easy jink to pay any more mind to you, but you notice the beholder following your progress up the street thoughtfully.

Away from the gate, the kobold is pathetically grateful, groveling in the dust and kissing your feet without reserve. "Ooooooo! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou! *yip* I thought I's wuz bugbear dinner fer sure! *yip* I owes you my life, yes I do! (smack!) Grateful I am! Yes, yes! *yip* Thankyouthankyouthankyou! (smack!)" He continues in this vein for several minutes....

Burrow nods to the bugbears and beholder, and remains silent until he is well out of their ear shot. Then, he responds to the kobold. "You do indeed owe me your life, lad, and now you must repay me in the following ways. First, you must learn to do good to others and then do so daily, regardless of the personal cost. Secondly, you must dedicate your life to gaining knowledge and become a student of gaining knowledge in every manner. Do you understand? If so, then you may go on your way and may the light of Knowledge and Learning shine 'pon you and make clear your path..." Burrow smiles at the kobold.

 

[deadestdai]

The waitress points you towards one of the side halls, where you find him overseeing the setup for a lavish banquet this time. He briefly massages the bridge of his nose when he sees you coming, but his voice is reasonably civil when he grates out, "Yes? What do you want now?"

Adopting the pose and expression of the cutest little girl she could think of, Flaust looked about *supposedly* innocently, We-elllll... I was wonderin' like, if'n a loverly blue-skinned fellar such as yerself would be so kind as ta show me th' way to where m' friends went? I've been ever so lonely out 'ere and none of these bashers are particularly interestin' to talk to. Would ya help li'l me? she looks him straight in the eye with her own inky blacks.

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

Ivth gives Flaust a suspicious look down the length of his beaky nose, then sighs gustily. "Very well," he says tersely, "Come along then." Waving for her to follow him, he leads her up a grand staircase, down anonymous but opulent hallways, to a baroque door made of dark wood. He raps sharply once, twice on it before opening it and stepping inside without waiting for a reply from the other side of the door.

Meanwhile, Badurth has just finished telling the rest of the group about Daubei's Obscure Woe and was asking if they preferred a map or a guide to the estate. Vlad volunteered his preference for a map but there was pregnant pause as everyone realized that Flaust was still in possession of the map... and that she was not there.

However, at that moment, there came a loud knocking and seconds later, Ivth walks in with Flaust in tow. Badurth looks irritably at his majordomo, eyes narrowed in distemper. "I thought I told you--" he starts to hiss, but Ivth interrupts him.

"Forgive the intrusion, master," he answers coolly. "But your niece is with this group, so I thought her presence here would not be remiss. And now, if you will all excuse me... I've got other duties to attend to." He nods politely to everyone and departs with a smart flap to his robes, leaving Badurth to glower after him.

"Impertinent little scamp...." he mutters under his breath. The old drow shifts his glare to Flaust. "I have no nieces," he croaks testily. "None that I permit in my presence alive, anyhow...."

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

"She's rather barmy in the head sir. Wouldn't hurt a fly that didn't hurt her first, but still speaks whatever catches her fancy without thinking about it," Blade quickly explains. "But on the original subject, I would like a map as well."

 

[deadestdai]

As Flaust was about to reply, Blade intervened. Thankfully.

The tiefling saw the Drow for what he was and was rightfully afraid.

And strangely....... silent and well behaved.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Niece? That's interesting. Vlad cocks a quizzical eyebrow at Flaust.

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

Burrow nods to the bugbears and beholder, and remains silent until he is well out of their ear shot. Then, he responds to the kobold. "You do indeed owe me your life, lad, and now you must repay me in the following ways. First, you must learn to do good to others and then do so daily, regardless of the personal cost. Secondly, you must dedicate your life to gaining knowledge and become a student of gaining knowledge in every manner. Do you understand? If so, then you may go on your way and may the light of Knowledge and Learning shine 'pon you and make clear your path..." Burrow smiles at the kobold.

The kobold stops his groveling and cocks his head, an expression of confusion stealing over his face. "Uhm.... yous want me to do... good deeds? *yip* Likes not secretly pee in Ironsnout's stew after he beats me up? Or not bob jink from the bubbers lying' in the gutter? *yip* Stuffs like that? I'm susposed ta learn from 'em instead?" He makes a disgusted face and looks very dubious but then his expression brightens momentarily. "I learn lots, already! Yes! *yip* Like ta stay upwind from Rotgut when he farts and nots to drink the Head Banger ale at the Drunken Sow! *yip* And ter stay quiet and hidden when the big ones git mad.... yes?" he looks up pleadingly at you from the ground, eager to please.