Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="BoldItalic" data-source="post: 7150693" data-attributes="member: 6777052">After disgorging the Ranger, Gobblet had retreated to a corner under the bar, disguised herself as a beer barrel and sat there feeling unhappy. She was accustomed to the goblins and they didn't taste too bad even when they set themselves on fire, but she wasn't used to all these other people who were a bit like her former master but not the same and kept doing strange things that she didn't understand yet. Being awakened was horrible. Now she knew she didn't understand things and that was worse than blissful ignorance. One of the strange people was making singing noises and twanging something that made her ears hurt. She knew that one. It was the one who stole her rings. Hunger washed over her in waves. EAT she thought. EAT, EAT.Gobblet re-arranged herself to look like an accordion and sidled up to Balustrade, looking for all the world as if she was smiling. "Aw, she wants you to play with her, isn't that sweet?" murmured Book."Zis is somezing like eet," exclaimed Gucci through a haze of smoke, "la musique de l'accordéon eez tres, 'ow you say, good." All the other goblins stamped their feet, waved their cigars and applauded, encouraging the Bard to play the instrument. Which, of course, he did, because who can resist an appreciative audience?And while he was playing a jolly jig and everyone was dancing wildly, no-one noticed that Gobblet had extruded a tiny hand and carefully taken the Bard's pouch from his belt. EAT, EAT."For my next trick," announced Balustrade while he has the audience's attention, "I shall require the assistance of a young lady with a handherchief." So, of course, Keyes stepped up and provided The Handkerchief, which was currently folding itself into the shape of an origami rabbit. "Watch very carefully," said the Bard, making flourishes with the handkerchief that might have been Somatic but you weren't sure, and Keyes vanished, so they probably were. There was a round of applause, he made another flourish with what had now become an origami elephant, and Keyes re-appeared looking worried. She might well look worried, because Balustrade was now wearing the Girdle of Giant Strength and she wasn't."Drinks all round for everyone," called Balustrade, "I'm just stepping outside for a moment," whereupon he did a runner and headed for the next town before anyone caught up with him, taking the Girdle and Handkerchief with him.[sup]1[/sup]SMUG thought Gobblet, savouring the taste of gold and the ring-iness of the rings she was digesting. SMUG, SMUG. EAT. As she gradually relaxed into something like a table but not quite, she noticed one of the people-things staring at her fixedly but in a comforting sort of way. She sidled over to Moss and looked hopeful. FRIEND? she asked.Meanwhile, Foghorn and Book were having a lovers' tiff. "I saw you," shouted Book furiously, "staring at that other woman with your mouth open! Well, she can have you! I'm finished with men!" "But, honey, ..." protested Foghorn. "Don't honey me, you loudmouthed apology for a worm!" she retorted, then cast a Minor Illusion on him to give him a false beard and a bright orange nose, before flouncing out of the tavern screeching "Mother was right!" and flying off into the distance."Ah, mon ami, you 'andle zat like a man," nodded Gucci approvingly, "'Ere, zis is yours, I believe," and he handed over the platinum piece that Foghorn had earlier given to Book but which had subsequently changed hands several times. "Ze next time, you keep ze monnaie, hunh?" Then, gathering up the ozzer goblins he declared "Viens, mon frères, ze entairtainmente iz over, let us return to our forêt!"Cleric (Sister Jericho) 18gpDruid (Moss The Mystic) 16gpFighter (Foghorn) 51gp, 1pp and Mr Choppy-Chop the Magic BattleaxeRogue (Ronni) 9gp 3ppPala-Tavern Keeper-Din (Roland Butter) 20gpMimic (Gobblet) 65gp and the juices of FIVE—GOLD—RINGS!Thief (Keyes) 30 gp, and a Secret Map[sup]1[/sup] Balustrade prospered as a circus performer, going under the name of Stombolini the Singing Strongman. In later years bought his own tavern which he called the Girdle and Handkerchief but he would never explain to anyone why he chose that name for it. We know, though, don't we?</blockquote>

Verification