In reply to Narrator (msg # 197):

"Please do. Berry and I would be glad to make your acquaintance. I believe our friends can enjoy their showers they so desperately desire while we discuss this."

Burke follows his new potential employer to the inn willingly and in short order it becomes apparent that the whole menagerie is to wash, change clothes and then wander about the town to make business transactions.  Burke scrunches up his face confused.  ”But I already had a bath this month.”  Its more of a question than a statement.  However with little argument Burke heads for the showers.


OOC:
Burke is primarily interested in finding gainful employment and as such is willing to follow the crowd so long as the expected behavior isn't too crazy.  While Burke isn't used to showering to impress people he will not resist.  He will bathe and pay for rented clothing and follow along in the shopping trip.

Shroud is an easier story as he wants to go shopping (for weapons) and get the best possible price.

In reply to Bechazruhk Burke (msg # 200):

Once everyone has made their way through the baths  (in what is essentially a lap pool) except for Gareth, who immolates himself instead, (occ, make a pair of rolls for that) and donned suitable attire, the servants bring in trays of bread, salt, dates, fruit, and assorted lamb and rice dishes.

(All of this goes under CoL)

Hakim will not take food with you at first, but as Rethus permits the plate to pass, he breaks bread with you, having first washed his hands in a basin.

Haveron watches how Hakim does things, and follows suit.  He will specifically be careful to eat with his right hand, under the expectation that the local custom dictates it.

He'll also indicate for Amelia and Omar to do the same (although he doubts Omar needs the reminder).

Haveron makes a mental note to get more information on the local customs from Omar, when he can do so discretely.

The Adept wades in and splashes around , enjoying the water for a few moments before exiting and dressing.
He eats with great moderation, despite being hungry, figuring he can buy 5 or 6 kilos of meat in the market to whet his appetite.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 201):

Gareth uses a flame cloud to get most of the dirt off, then a flame jet for those hard to reach places...before coming out and having some food. He does not notice local customs, and even uses his left hand to offer food to others.

[Private to GM: Rolled 12 under, then 9 under, respectively.]

In reply to Gareth (msg # 204):

I needed a roll for Resist Fire!

In reply to Narrator (msg # 205):

But he has DR 5 vs fire! He is naturally resistant...what is the roll for?

[Private to GM: Rolled 7, not sure what he is rolling against though.]

Haveron will watch Gareth as he bathes in fire and make a note that something is most definitely off with the man.  He already new that of course, and Gareth was not a potential employee for that very reason.  Still, they were working together at the moment, and Haveron was in the habit of knowing his people as well as possible.  It was part of being a good leader, and a good manager.

[Private to GM: Just asking...  Does it really matter WHY you asked for a resist fire roll?  Sometimes I think the player can be a bit difficult.  I appreciate the knowledge, but there also seems to be a certain entitlement to know what's going on when that isn't necessarily the case. ]

Ryojin follows the group, he bathes methodically, as he always does, everything is training of the mind or body. Once done he puts his own clothing back on, politely refusing other clothing. Seeing Gareth bathe in flames made Ryojin wonder what type of training that was, and if he could do that one day.

When it came time to eat, he was selective. Everyday he made sure he gave his body what it needed for his Chi to flow properly.

In reply to Gareth (msg # 206):

The spells you selected have variable damage that is larger than your DR. Things can fail, and critically, and you are still able to burn yourself with 0pt spells.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 209):

Bunch of perverts, watching a man wash himself!

Gareth removes all of his clothes and places them well aside, before he first creates a small cloud of fire, which lasts for about 10 seconds. He then creates a jet of fire for those hard to reach places. Perhaps it was the audience, but it was extra hot today, and he yells as the burning sensation in his rear was a little more than desired...swearing in an odd fashion as he checks his hindquarters.

[Private to GM: Ah, OK. Rolled all. Fire cloud, 1 point, radius 1. Flame Jet, 7 under skill to cast, maximum damage! Rolled 6, so 1 point of damage to his arse! Minor healing, rolled 10 under skill, so he heals himself, but probably amusing for all.]
This message was last edited by the player at 10:32, Thu 05 Sept 2019.

Berry will indulge in the food!

Burke follows along quietly with the crowd trusting that this party of odd men and women will lead to gainful employment.  The dirty hippy (before bathing and changing clothes) eyes the fire curiously and wonders if he treats all of his cleaning like that, but Burke makes no comment.

He is glad to eat something for he is old enough to know when tagging along under a new employer meal times are uncertain.  Burke makes several quiet prayers to himself mentioning phrases like 'bountiful nature' and 'glorious sun, wind and rains' before taking any food.

The cleaner rural man samples most of the offered food and comments how delicious the dates are.  But he snubs his nose at the lamb quite disappovingly.


OOC:
Burke and Shroud will continue to follow along where the group needs to go.  Burke is just along for the ride.

The man known only as Shroud sits at the meal and attempts, moderately successfully, to ignore these intolerable town folks with their high attitudes of themselves and such trivial matters as who wears the prettiest clothes and who's house has the most windows.


OOC:
Shroud has business at the weapons vendor and likewise follows along willingly where the group needs to go.

In reply to Shroud (msg # 213):

Once clean, Gareth has a hurried meal before asking Berry about meeting with her friend.

[OOC: should not this meeting be a private affair? Not sure all would agree.]

In reply to Gareth (msg # 210):

I may have missed it during chargen, but there are no healing spells for non clerics. The variant that heals golems and constructs does not work on people!

In reply to Narrator (msg # 215):

Ok, this was a prerequisite for some of his...other spells. But he can take time to heal if that will not work normally...of a successful first aid roll should heal 1 hp...
This message was last edited by the player at 05:31, Fri 06 Sept 2019.

In reply to Gareth (msg # 216):

What you have are two perks :alternate path for both lend vitality and minor healing.

Haveron observes the peculiar bathing process performed by Gareth.  The man did not seem like a demon, but he certainly behaved outside of the human norms sometimes.  Haveron had to shake his head at the strange people he found himself allied with.  Still, they needed Gareth for the upcoming challenges, so he held his tongue and didn't say anything.

Haveron was fascinated by the way dinner was handled.  Some were careful to follow tradition and custom by eating with their left hand (etc), as he was.  Others were oblivious, or had quirks about the way they ate that provided hints to their character.

Omar in particular seemed at home in the environment, which was good to see.  Haveron cared for ability more than anything else.  However, having people who could relate to different cultures was important to forming a company.  They might do business in different areas and towns.  Knowing the cultural norms and traditions of the different area would allow them to put  their customers at ease, and facilitate good communications.

In particular Haveron noted the disciplined manner that Ryojin ate his dinner.  The man obviously had ability, but his manner was completely foreign to him.  Seeing this sort of discipline and care around something as simple as eating instilled a bit more confidence in someone whose path in life was alien to him.  If Ryojin was this disciplined with his eating, he was potentially this disciplined in other areas as well.

And then there was Burke.  Haveron had to smile at the very disciplined Ryojin eating next to a very country-bumpkin type like Burke.  The man mumbled to himself and seemed easy to read when it came to his intentions.  Where Ryojin was clean and organized, Burke was dirty and rather oblivious to his appearance.  The two were certainly an odd couple to take aboard, and Haveron made a mental note on the spot.  He wanted to see the two work together down the road a bit.  They seemed almost like opposed opposites in the way they approached life.  Sseeing the two of them interact would tell him much about their character.  He already had a good feel for the rest of their little group, and the two new additions seemed like they could add to the greater whole.

Once the meal finished, Haveron noted that Gareth hung back to have a side conversation.  In his opinion, the man needed to be watched and managed, so leaving for the shops didn't seem like a great decision in that moment.  Instead of ushering the group along, Haveron decides to give them a few minutes leisure.

"Gareth, I can see you need a few minutes.  The rest of us will take a few minutes to organize our things while you complete your business.  While you're doing that, we can check on the appraisal of that sword.  Please return to us quickly, so we can make the bazaar while the vendors are still available."

OOC We can pause here briefly while Gareth takes care of his business.  That way, the group stays together.  I don't care if it's done offscreen, but Haveron feels it necessary to track Gareth's movements after seeing more of how he works.  And, Berry is on his radar as well, after bringing that strange ...man?... into their presence.

Burke had been the last to bathe, and left the water dark with leaves floating in it. When he came out, with dirt still under his nails, and his hair in tangled elflocks, he managed to get the edge of his rented garment in the dirty water, and while eating, managed to spill both coffee and baba ganoosh on his clothing.

While the serving folk glare at him, and call for a caster to purify the bath, Rethus, Berry, Var, and The somewhat tender Gareth step into the anteroom to examine some of the items he retrieved.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 217):

OK, will note that in.

Gareth and Berry will go to a private room for a discussion with Berries friend.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:41, Sat 07 Sept 2019.

In reply to Gareth (msg # 220):

"Now how may I be of service to you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Sun 08 Sept 2019.

In reply to Rethus (msg # 221):

"I was told you had been watching me and had an offer for me?"

In reply to Gareth (msg # 222):

"You are likely to become ours simply because of your behavior, but why leave it to chance? There are powers you cannot reach with your current progression, but with a modest diversion, can be yours. Now, I thought you wanted to know about the things you took from the man you consigned to the flames?"


[Private to Gareth: if you want access to demonic powers, you can invest 10 points, or accelerate it by taking on excommunicated and start off with demonic attunement1]