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01:38, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

Posted by The RaconteurFor group 0
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2477 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 2 Jul 2015
at 12:26
  • msg #29

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

"The least important people sometimes have the most important information, Orik," assured the gnome.  Then she crossed her arms and her face dropped into frown of the deepest concentration.  "Well, if that isn't sex then I just simply do not understand how it is that you humans do it.  There are so many of you.  You must have sex at every opportunity.  And Kellan does seem very much taken with Shayliss.  And Shayliss seems to very much like Kellan.  And anyone can see what's between Lysa and Kerr Mollin."

"Or ... maybe there's something fundamentally wrong with the state of mathematics.  Something that makes counting come out ... wrong.

"No.  That's silly.  Anyway, where was I?"  Pisca shook off the temporarily unanswerable questions in favor of those more likely to bear fruit.  "Important information.  Right.  Anyway, you've already told us something that we didn't know before.  Nualia didn't trust the One Eyed Mask at first.  And, from what I gather, she only ever met with one of them.  Now, here's another question that you can probably answer as well.  How many months back?  Exactly?  And, where did they first meet?  It wasn't Thistletop, was it?  That would tell us a lot.  And, if it wasn't, when did you and Nualia move into Thistletop?"

"Yes ... "  The gnome nodded.  Her violet eyes stared into the middle distance as though examining her questions and finding them sufficient.  "You may not be able to see something directly, but you can tell a lot about something by the shape of its shadow."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1073 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 3 Jul 2015
at 02:29
  • msg #30

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

Cato listened to Orik, then shook his head.  "Hmm...well, I'm sure the masked man's superiors are glad he and Nualia's attempts at security and secrecy were successful.  Tell me one more thing, though: did you happen to notice if he had any kind of accent or regional dialect?  Something that might let us narrow down anything about where he might have come from?"

Secretly, Cato hoped that the two outsiders they had encountered might be one and the same.  Which would mean the interested onlooker at the mayor's speech had in fact been after the whole party and that Cato's secret might yet be safe for a little while longer.  The wizard found himself holding his breath awaiting the reply.
Orik Vancaskerkin
NPC, 3 posts
Mon 6 Jul 2015
at 09:37
  • msg #31

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

"Accents... accents..." Orik paused and thought about this for a while. "He sounded Varisian to me. Maybe from Magnimar. I'm not really all that sure though. I wouldn't go betting the farm on it."

He flicked a finger across the blade and then continued to whisk away at it on the whetstone. "He showed up somewhere between 2 and 3 months ago. I'd say 10 weeks or so is accurate. One week among goblins is about like any other week. Makes keeping exact track of them hard. They aren't great conversationalists and their entertainments tended to be simple; eat something or light it on fire."

Orik raised an eyebrow at Pisca's thoughts on human reproduction. "I'm going to leave explaining courtship and sex to him." He jabbed a thumb at Cato. "Not sure I'm up to explaining that kind of stuff to a girl gnome."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2482 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 6 Jul 2015
at 13:27
  • msg #32

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

The gnome's face brightened by several measurable degrees as it turned in the direction indicated by Riddleport's thumb:  Cato!

"Perfect!" Pisca agreed.  "Who better than a scholar to explain something as complex.  Right?" she added, coming back to the Ex-Bodyguard of the Left Hand of Lamashtu for rhetorical confirmation.

"Oh, and don't let me forget to ask you, Cato.  I'd like to learn Thassilonian too, if you don't mind."

"But at any rate, that does tell us a lot."  The gnome stood on the bed and began pacing about, her stride altered by the yielding mattress.  "Or, rather, it confirms one set of suspicions.  It was the One-Eyed Mask that sought Nualia out.  And it seems that they did it at a fair degree of risk.  One does not lightly approach a goblin stronghold.  Especially one guarded by a Nettle Maze."

"But what was the interest?  And why now?  I think that the answer might be in Thistletop itself.  I mean, we've seen enough of Thistletop to know that the place is an ancient Thassilonian place of great power.  But why now?  I bet Nualia woke something up in all her digging around.  Something that the One-Eyed Mask felt all the way in ... "

The gnome hopped three times across the landscape of the mattress before giving both Cato and Riddleport a significant look.  " ... Magnimar.  So they sent an expendable emissary to find out what was going on.  And, finding Nualia, they decided to let her do all the hard work and to simply watch how things fall out.  Of course, it took a while to gain her trust, right.  Crazy and evil.  That only makes sense, right?  So I don't think they quite got what they were after there.  If they even knew exactly what it was that they were after."

"And if they're interested in ancient Thassilonian things, I wonder how long they've had their eye on this area?"  Pisca stared into a middle distance, her eyes focused on things only they could see.

"Oh, by the way, Orik," she asked, in what might have been mistaken for a distracted and off-hand manner, "Have you ever seen anything like this before?"  And, without really looking, the gnome produced the black card upon which was embossed the mysterious number seven in metallic gold.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1076 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Thu 9 Jul 2015
at 20:37
  • msg #33

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

"Hmmm...Magnimar."  Cato tried to hide a grimace, risking a brief look to Pisca.  It still could be the same person, but if you could deliberately affect an accent, why make it a distinguishable one?  Why not just pass for rural Varisian, where someone from Sandpoint couldn't pick it out?  Cato suddenly realized the conversation had veered back to him.

"Huh?  You want me to explain that to you?"  The scholar blushed.  "Ah, sure.  We can do that."  After I've had a lot more to drink...  "And Thassilonian as well?  Why not?  Actually, that's not a bad idea.  Brodert and I could certainly use the assistance."

Cato quieted as Pisca put forth her final question to Orik, interested in more information about the mysterious stranger.
Orik Vancaskerkin
NPC, 4 posts
Fri 10 Jul 2015
at 06:06
  • msg #34

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

Orik peered at the card for a second or two. "No. Can't say as I have. What is it?"

He finally seemed satisfied with his knife and slipped it back into his sheath and put the whetstone away. He grinned at Cato as he leaned back against the wall and relaxed a bit. "You mind if I'm a fly on the wall for that conversation? If it's going to be as entertaining as it sounds you might consider charging admission."

The big fighter sighed in contentment. "You know, the day you folks showed up and prematurely terminated my last contract was a good day. Wouldn't have thought so before but it was. Thanks for that. It's nice to be working at something worthwhile again."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1078 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 10 Jul 2015
at 13:38
  • msg #35

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

Cato filed away Orik's responses.  Another dead-end.  The scholar mentally sighed.  Maybe I should pay more attention to divination magic?  He searched through his mind, but didn't come to anything immediately that would help.  There's a divine spell, though.  Maybe Liseth could find that...

Cato looked up in interest at Orik's last comment.  "Oh?  What sort of agreement did you and Father Zantus come to?  Are you going to be helping out Sandpoint?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2484 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 10 Jul 2015
at 14:24
  • msg #36

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

"We're glad we terminated your last contract toooo!" said the gnome as she leapt on his back and flung her arms around Riddleport's neck.  "Yeah us!"

Then, still hanging on Riddleport's back and with her chin resting on the shoulder of the big Fighting-Augmented human, Pisca held up the card for both of them to see.  "We're not entirely sure what it is, Orik," she replied.  "But One-Eye took pains to hide it pretty well.  In a special pocket sewn into his clothing.  So, whatever it is, there's value in it."

"My guess is that it's a pass card of some kind.  Proof of membership or identity.  Show it and gain trust or acceptance.  That's the only reason that I can think of to keep it but still hide it."

"And we think it has something to do with the ancient Thassilonian Rune Lords too.  But that's a guess based on not much more than One-Eye's apparent interest in Thassilonian ruins and the fact that there were reputed to be seven Rune Lords."

Pisca turned her head to give a quick kiss to the stubbled jaw of Orik Riddleport before slipping down from his back and strolling across the spongy mattress in deep contemplation of the card.

"Say ... Cato?  Do you recall any one-eyed person or god associated with the Rune Lords?  Because it occurs to me that what we might have here is two groups and not one.  First, there's the group associated with, or interested in the Rune Lords and their ancient Archanology.  And second, there's the One-Eyed Mask group, who, maybe, work for the Rune Lord group.  That's why they need the cards for identification.  What do you think?"

Pisca hopped off the bed, taking up the impact of landing easily in her legs.  She eyed the card with great suspicion, as though it might have been withholding critical information from her in an attempt to deceive.

"WAIT!"  The gnome suddenly froze.  Her gaze turned upward, presenting an unasked question to first the face of her friend Cato Crispin and then to that of the Mercenary Orik Riddleport.

"Did you just say ... " she said, " ... charge admission?"

To recall any one-eyed deity or personage associated with the Thassilonian Rune Lords.  All Taking 10 with Lore Master with a +2 Bonus for Archaeologist's Luck.:

Knowledge Arcana 23
Knowledge History 20
Knowledge Religion 20

Remaining Use of Archaeologist's Luck: 7/8

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2265 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Sat 11 Jul 2015
at 13:43
  • msg #37

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

"Was that Pisca?"  Liseth had not taken long to stow her things in the girls' acolyte quarters once she and Kerr reached the Cathedral.  Even though she was still trying to avoid Elsbet and Daena, Kerr being with her made her feel better about a possible confrontation.  He kept reassuring her that nobody hated her and what had happened with Elsbet wasn't Liseth's fault.

Still, the small blonde didn't relish th idea of being alone with the other girls again.  Not that anything had happened with Daena; but Liseth was certain Elsbet had already told the third girl acolyte what Liseth had said to her.

"That is Pisca!  And Cato and...oh, hello Mr Vancaskerkin."  Kerr had had a few things to prepare of his own before they went to the Rusty Dragon later, and Liseth followed him to his own quarters within the Cathedral.  She hadn't expetd Pisca and cato to be there!  Talking with Mr Vancaskerkin, who as it turned out really was an old friend of Father Zantus and Father Garrick.

Just wait until she told Father Garrick!  He might even come and visit Sandpoint; she should really send another letter home...

But first, "I didn't expect to see you two here!  You almost never visit the Cathedral."  She glanced up at the big former mercenary, "Did you come to see how Mr Vancaskerkin was doing?"

"Oh!"  Liseth remembered the Rusty Dragon, "You were going to be at the Rusty Dragon later, right?  I made something special and everyone has to be there so you can tell me what you think."  She turned and covered Kerr's mouth with a small hand; whether or not he wa actually about to say something is a different story, "No hints Kerr; it has to be a surprise!"

"Wait, Pisca were you saying something about charging admission?  Charging admission for what?"
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2486 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sat 11 Jul 2015
at 15:16
  • msg #38

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

"LYSA!"  From a confusion that sparred briefly with a suspicious wariness, Pisca sprang into an effusive greeting.  "What are you doing here?  Wait, you live here.  We're here to find out what Orik knows about Mister One-Eyed Maskee and solve the riddle of the Mysterious Golden Seven," said the gnome in a single steady stream which accompanied a hug delivered to her friend's waist.

"Um ... er ... "  Returning again to confused, suspicious wariness, the young gnome then assayed to explain the particulars behind the question she had herself just asked.  "I think ... that we were just suggesting that we should charge admission to a lecture that Cato is going to give on human sex and mating rituals."

Her eyebrows raised in question as she looked to both Cato and then to Riddleport for confirmation.

"That's a good thing, right?  Right, Lysa?  Right?"
Orik Vancaskerkin
NPC, 5 posts
Wed 15 Jul 2015
at 00:27
  • msg #39

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)




“That’s an interesting topic, scholar.”  Orik pointed at Cato as if he’d posed a particularly-good question.  “Zantus and I have talked about it, and it sounds like the church might have need of someone who knows one end of a sword from another.”  He shrugged, grinning as he accepted Pisca’s hug.  “You know, accompanying priests on their oh-so-dangerous missions and such.”  The big man stretched.  “I’m pretty sure I’ve had harder duty.  And the church’s coin spends like anyone else’s.  Plus,” he looked at the holy symbol in the corner of the room as he took the card from Pisca, “I’ve got a lot to atone for.  Maybe this . . . well, maybe this is a start.”

“Hmmm, I’m sorry to say I don’t know anything about this,” Orik apologized as he flipped it to take a look at the back, then returned it to the gnome.  “I think your guess might be a good one, but I can’t add much to it aside from a guess of my own.”  He smiled as he accepted the gnome’s kiss.  “But if for some reason I run across anything about it, you all will be the first to know.”




Kerr Mollin
NPC, 146 posts
Acolyte of Desna
Chosen of Iomedae
Wed 15 Jul 2015
at 01:02
  • msg #40

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)




Kerr gave Orik a friendly nod, even though his feelings toward the man were decidedly more ambivalent.  After all, the big man had knocked Pisca cold, and nearly done a number on more than one of his friends.

Of course, he hadn’t.  Thus the ambivalence.  Although Kerr was happy to see the man seemed to be working his way toward redemption, it was going to take a little longer for Orik to earn his trust.  The man was still a mercenary.

“But I mhph murph miff.”  Suddenly Liseth’s hand was over his mouth.  He gently removed it.  “But I don’t think they’ll like that surprise, Lise,” he said plaintively, Orik-related suspicions temporarily shelved in response to the prospect of everyone eating his strawberry cake.  “I think we should keep it all to ourselves!”

Kerr’s eyes widened at Pisca’s comment.  “Wait, Cato’s giving a talk on . . . has he even . . . ?”  The paladin-in-training suddenly blushed.  “Um, never mind.”




This message was last edited by the player at 01:13, Wed 15 July 2015.
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1082 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Wed 15 Jul 2015
at 14:47
  • msg #41

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

The introduction of Liseth in the room as Orik and Pisca were discussing his hypothetical lecture on sex and mating sent the mage into a near-panic.  His cheeks quickly colored red, and he spluttered: "No, wait, I'm not actually going to..."  He looked around, taking in the characters, and seeing Kerr's response only made it worse.  Oh, did some people make me feel like a blushing teenager again?

Finally, the mage managed to regain his composure.  Or what little composure he had, at any rate.  "Um, Pisca, if you have questions about things like that, I'm more than happy to answer them.  But.  But," he added for emphasis, pointing at the gnome, "I'd prefer it were in private.  I'm definitely not going to be charging admission for it.  Orik, if you'd like that, perhaps you'd like to be the one explaining things?"  Cato glared at the mercenary, at this point merely wanting to get out of the situation without having to discuss anything actually private in front of his current crowd, let alone any more people who might happen by.  Including (and why did this just pop into his head?) Elsbet.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2488 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 15 Jul 2015
at 19:52
  • msg #42

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

"But ... But ... "  Somewhere along the way, certain ideas had fallen off the cart and gone missing, and the look on Pisca's face said that she had no idea just where it was that they might have made their escape.  "But ... he said ... "

Her slim gnomish shoulders rose in a shrug.  "That's alright," she said.  Then, "I'll find out someday."  And her lips curved quietly up at each end as in response to some secret thought.

"Well, I'll be off.  I have an appointment with the Mayor.  And I have to stop by the House of Blue Stones before that.  Dropping off some very dangerous books to ... to a person who seems to take her job very seriously."

"Oh, right!"  Though half way to the door, the gnome turned and rushed her friend Liseth, grabbing her arm and tugging her close enough to whisper into the shell of her round human ear.  "Don't tell anyone," she said in the voice of Very Secret Things, "but I think Cato has taken a liking to your friend Elsbet."

"Alright, then.  I'll see all of you this evening at the Rusty Dragon.  Right?  We get to try whatever it is that Lysa made, right?  Um ... Blueberry Pancakes, right?  No.  Oliphant Ears!  No."

"Hmmm ... "
Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2271 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Fri 17 Jul 2015
at 21:36
  • msg #43

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

"Of course they'll like it."  Liseth huffed lightly at Kerr.  He just wanted all of the cake for himself!  Well, at least that meant he really liked it.

That became less important when Liseth returned Pisca's hug.  She giggled at the gnome's confusion as to why she was there; but the mood quickly changed when Cato's lecture was announced.

"What?"  The girl looked up at the mage and blushed furiously before looking away.  "Oh..."  Cato's own intense reaction didn't help all that much either.  It seemed that intense embarrassment was contagious!  "Um..."

Liseth cleared her throat lightly as Pisca started to leave, "Goodbye Pisca, I'll see you tonight..."  Startled, the acolyte leaned down to hear what Pisca had to say as her small friend tugged on her.  The blonde girl had a blush return to her cheek with the mention of Elsbet.  And Pisca's take on Cato's feelings.

"Oh, um...Elsbet?  Really?"  She couldn't stop from glancing once more at Cato, "I don't know...well...I mean..."  Then Pisca was already on her way again, guessing at what Liseth might have made for everyone.  What would Liseth have said about Elsbet?  I don't think she's my friend?  That's what went through her head, anyway.

"Well, um..."  Liseth turned her attention back to Orik Vancaskerkin, "I'm glad to see you're happy at the Cathedral, Mr Vancaskerkin."  She tugged on Kerr's sleeve, "Let's go."  Before something else highly embarrassing happens.
Sabyl Sorn
NPC, 1 post
Tue 21 Jul 2015
at 15:45
  • msg #44

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)




Once the party said their goodbyes, promising to meet up again that evening at the Rusty Dragon, Pisca made her way across town to the imposing edifice of the House of Blue Stones to meet its even more imposing caretaker, Sabyl Sorn.  The gnome ran through Northchurch Square to Tower Street, giving Savah Bevaniky a jaunty wave as she passed the large woman’s shop and receiving a good-natured one in return.  From there she took a left on Main Street, darting between City Hall and the Garrison to Rat Alley, which deposited her almost directly in front of the House of Blue Stones.

The House, stately as ever, sat comfortably next to the Glassworks, whose active chimneys testified to its return to production after Lonjiku Kaijitsu’s untimely death.  Smiling at this reminder of her victory over the goblins, Pisca moved up onto the House of Blue Stones, noticing for the first time a large bell-pull to the right of the door.  Sadly, the bell-pull was sized for humans, not gnomes, but after an acrobatic leap using the house’s front wall as an assist, Pisca found herself hanging from the rope of the bell-pull, bobbing up and down as melodic chimes sounded deep within the structure.

Almost immediately the door opened to reveal the sought-after Sabyl Sorn, who seemed dressed as unostentatiously as possible in a serviceable gray robe.  Sabyl hardly seemed surprised to find the town’s most-famous gnome dangling from her bell-pull rope—she merely sighed and crossed her arms.  “Miss Freemish,” said the House of Blue Stones’ always-proper proprietor, “to what do I owe this,” she looked significantly at the rope, then back at Pisca, “honor?”




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2499 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 22 Jul 2015
at 01:00
  • msg #45

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

"Hullo again."  The gnome flashed a broad grin before releasing the bell pull and dropping back down to the ground.  "That was pretty high," she said, turning a thumb up in the direction from which she had just come down.  "Must not be very many gnomes around here.  Or halflings.  Or kobolds.  Or gob ... "

At that thought Pisca's face lit up in a silent AH! of understanding, and she nodded in a knowing way, as though having stumbled upon something very wise and worthy.  "That was very clever of you, Sabyl Sorn," she said, without explaining her compliment.

"I have come to you with some evil and potentially dangerous books.  After recalling the very serious manner in which you seemed to take the charge of your library, I thought that the best place for such things as these would be with you."

As she spoke the gnome swung her new rucksack off her back and began pulling books from it.  The prayer book of Lamashtu and the many tomes from the goblin war room - many more than one would think should fit into a gnome-sized rucksack - went from the mouth of the pack to form ragged towers upon the stoop of the House of Blue Stones.

"There," she said, adding the last book to one of the less precarious piles, "are you willing to take these in and keep them safe from evil and idle hands?"
Sabyl Sorn
NPC, 2 posts
Sat 25 Jul 2015
at 03:30
  • msg #46

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)




Sabyl Sorn’s right eyebrow reached skyward at Pisca’s compliment, only to quickly crash down; the woman’s brow furrowed upon Pisca’s presentation of the tomes she’d liberated from various Lamashtu worshippers.  Sabyl knelt, performing a quick triage of the volumes as Pisca placed them in their various piles.  The Prayer Book of Lamashtu drew special attention—the ascetic human kept it in her hands, as if allowing it to roam free might somehow infect Sandpoint’s populace with its evil theology.

“You found these all at Thistletop?”  Sabyl Sorn’s voice was clinical as she paged through a book from the war room.  “No wonder the goblins there behaved so unusually.  Lamashtu’s influence is pernicious, and these works,” she tapped a pile of tomes she had created, “do nothing but spread that influence.”

Sabyl was still examining the volumes, the Prayer Book secure in one arm.  “You did well to bring these to me, Miss Freemish.  Several of these volumes, this,” she indicated the book under her arm, “chief among them, need to be kept secure.  It does not take much for the evil gods to find purchase in a community.  This would prove more than enough, should a weak-willed reader stumble upon it.  Lamashtu’s promises can be beguiling to the gulible.”

Sabyl Sorn straightened up, nodding to Pisca.  “I accept responsibility for these volumes, Miss Freemish,” she announced seriously.  “I will ensure that they are secured in area safe from all but the most-discerning potential readers.”




This message was last edited by the player at 03:35, Sat 25 July 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2508 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sat 25 Jul 2015
at 23:53
  • msg #47

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

"Yeah!"  The gnome seemed to visibly glow with the praise.  There was something about this that felt well-founded - heroic - even though it was little more than delivering books to their safe-keeping.

"Yeah, us!  Against Evil!"  She grinned with even, white teeth and raised a hand with her palm outward as though waving to the keeper of the House of Blue Stones.  Instead of waving though, she held the hand high.

"High five!"

Pisca herself wasn't sure where the gesture came from.  It seemed right.  But, at the same time, it felt like a very foreign thing.  From far far away.

"Um ... we're supposed to slap palms," she said, the explanation taking some of the exuberance out of the thing.
Sabyl Sorn
NPC, 3 posts
Sun 26 Jul 2015
at 03:07
  • msg #48

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)




“Ah, I see.”  Sabyl hesitantly touched her palm to Pisca’s.  “Yes, us against evil.”  She did not seem to be sharing Pisca’s exuberance—if anything, she was more reserved and serious than she had been earlier.  “There are too many who will stand by and let evil infect their community without even lifting a hand to prevent it.  The fact that you are concerned about such things speaks well of you, Miss Freemish.”

“But," she continued, "for now I need to ensure these volumes are secured.  Bannin!”  She called over her shoulder.  Within the space of twenty seconds, a youngish-looking man with a shaven head stood at her shoulder, wearing a simple black cassock.  “Bannin, this is Miss Freemish.”  The man bowed politely as Sabyl introduced him.  “She has brought us books for safekeeping.  If you would assist me?”

“Of course, Miss Sorn.”  Bannin agreed, kneeling to take up two stacks of books into his arms.  “It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Freemish,” he said as he departed.

“Bannin is my assistant here,” Sabyl informed Pisca, as if she might have come to any other conclusion after his assistant-like activities.  “He is also a follower of Irori, and one of the most trustworthy men I have ever had the pleasure to meet.  Your tomes are safe in his hands.”

Sabyl Sorn and Pisca stood on the House of Blue Stones’ doorstep as Bannin returned to retrieve the rest of the books, giving Pisca a surreptitious wink from his warm brown eyes as he did so.  “So,” Sabyl said, completely missing the wink while looking slightly uncomfortable and very eager to get on to cataloging or reviewing or whatever she was planning to do whenever Pisca left.  “If there is nothing else . . . ?”




This message was last edited by the player at 03:08, Sun 26 July 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2510 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 26 Jul 2015
at 12:59
  • msg #49

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

"No."  Pisca bathed the front of the House of Blue Stones in the light of her broad gnomish grin.  "Nothing else.  Thank you, Sabyl Sorn," she said.  "And it was nice meeting you too, Bannin," she called.  Hand waving in the air, she was already backing down the street in the direction of the Town Hall.  "Thank you," she called again, picking up speed until she finally turned to face forward, her gnomish feet flying on the wings of success.  She leaned into the turn around the corner of a house before taking a final leap, the rushing air mirroring the rush of her enthusiasm.  Then, with the Town Hall in sight - just across Main Street from the Sandpoint Garrison - she slowed to a trot, which then slowed to a very thoughtful walk.

If only all problems could be solved with the delivery of books.  The appointment with the Mayor would be difficult.  But, then again, if it weren't, she wouldn't need Mayor Deverin's help to resolve it.

Pisca entered the well appointed foyer of the Sandpoint Town Hall and climbed the stairs to the second floor.  "Hi, Rose," said the gnome, her greeting to the Mayor's secretary somewhat lost within the tangle of her thoughts.  "Um ... is the Mayor ready to seem me?"
Kendra Deverin
NPC, 11 posts
Mayor of Sandpoint
Tue 4 Aug 2015
at 01:58
  • msg #50

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)




“Pisca Neep Freemish.”  Rose Kritchett looked speculatively over the edge of her spectacles at the gnomish visitor.  “Yes, Mayor Deverin is in her office and is expecting you.”  The secretary’s voice sounded vaguely disapproving.  “Remember that the Mayor is very busy,” she admonished protectively, “so try not to take up too much of her time.”  She shuffled some papers on her desk.  “You may go in.”

The door to Mayor Deverin’s office opened easily--even for a gnome--and shortly Pisca found herself standing in front of the Mayor’s mahogany desk.  Someone—perhaps the Mayor herself!—had placed a small box next to a well-wrought wooden chair that sat directly in front of the desk, providing an easy step up for a gnome.  Pisca used the opportunity to bound up onto the chair where she could look over the desk and into the Mayor’s warm green eyes.

“Hello, Pisca,” Mayor Deverin put down a parchment she had been reading, greeting Sandpoint’s smallest Savior with just a hint of a smile.  “What can I do for you?”




This message was last edited by the player at 01:59, Tue 04 Aug 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2514 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 4 Aug 2015
at 14:14
  • msg #51

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

Crouched on the seat of the chair, the gnome crouches behind the back, hiding from whatever lay beyond the door thorough which she had just come.  After a cautious peek over the back of the chair she said in a fearful voice, "That's an awful fierce guard you have on the door, Mayor Deverin."  Then she turned back, flashing a grin at her joke before settling onto the expansive seat of the hummie-sized chair, kneeling primly in lieu of sitting.

"I've come for advice," began the gnome.  And out came the face of a very Thoughtful-Pisca, full of care, concern and consideration.  This had been a very difficult problem from the beginning, made even more so by the fact that ...

"I think I've been going about this the wrong way," Pisca admitted.  "You see, I have this friend of whom I'm very fond.  You know, Lunk?  He's a giant!  But ... but despite being a giant - and being a hero after saving the orphans during the attack on the festival - he's really quite gentle, you see?  And that Gorvi is always picking on him.  Gorvi's disagreeable and mean and a half-orc and he takes all of this out on Lunk."

At this point, it came to Pisca that her arms had crossed themselves and a frown had come into her face.  After taking a deep breath, she relaxed into a more calm demeanor, folding her hands properly in her lap.

"At first, I thought I could help Lunk by giving him another job.  Assistant to a librarian.  That sounded like a highly pleasant job.  And Lunk so very much likes Mister Haladan.  But building a library is proving to be more difficult than I'd first thought.  This, despite how much Sandpoint could really do with a lending library with a nice tea house attached.  And it's occurred to me, that, as nice a man as Chask Haladan is, that he may not be too interested in being my librarian."

All of the confession and self-doubt brought a heavy sigh to the gnome.

"So, I've given up on that idea.  Instead, I'll have to attack the problem more directly.  I think I need to go directly to the source of the problem: Gorvi.  I've thought of eliminating him entirely.  Maybe, driving him out of Sandpoint.  Or, in necessary, killing him after challenging him to a duel.  But, maybe, all I need to do is to threaten him.  Make him promise never to be mean to Lunk again or risk the Wrath of Pisca."

"But, it's occurred to me that this course of action could possibly have an affect on the Sandpoint garage service.  So, I thought it would be best to consult with you before taking any action."  The gnome tipped an inquiring head to one side, and looked up at the human woman who represents the governing mechanism of the town.  "What do you think would be the best way to solve this problem?"
Kendra Deverin
NPC, 12 posts
Mayor of Sandpoint
Wed 12 Aug 2015
at 22:06
  • msg #52

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)




“Yes, Rose is quite protective of my time,” Mayor Deverin indulged the door through which Miss Kritchett sat with an affectionate smile.  She looked back at Pisca, then sighed.  “I’m aware of Lunk and his situation, Miss Freemish.  I am also aware of your friendship with him, and let me just say that I’m glad of it.  That young man deserves to have friends he can trust, and I think that both you and Chask are very good for him.”

The corner of her mouth turned slightly upward.  “And yes, I think you might have some difficulty convincing Chask to run your proposed library.  He is a man of . . . many interests.  Although given the persistence you have displayed to this point, perhaps nothing is impossible.”

She shuffled some papers on her desk, looking slightly uncomfortable.  “And I am not blind to Gorvi’s faults.”  She locked eyes with Pisca.  “You are right—our junkmaster is both mean and disagreeable.  But you are also right that his . . . incapacitation . . . would cause troubles for Sandpoint, since we would no longer have a reliable garbage service.”

The Mayor tapped her nails on the desk as she talked.  “You were not around in the pre-Gorvi era, so I cannot fault you for failing to know of our problems during that time.  Suffice to say that we found it very difficult to keep a junkmaster—it is a thankless job, and not one that is particularly well-compensated.  So as soon as a junkmaster was able to find something better to do, he left.  We were left with long stretches where no one was in charge of the junkmen, or where the person who was in charge was incompetent.  Poor garbage service was one of the townsfolks’ major complaints for a long while.  So finding Gorvi was something of a godsend for us.  He seems to find the work agreeable, he does it well, and for all his faults he is very reliable when it comes to his work.”

“So you’ll forgive me if the junkmen’s work environment is not my top priority.”  She gave Pisca a level stare.  “That said, if you can find a more-amenable junkmaster—one who has all of Gorvi’s positive attributes, and fewer of his negative ones—I would support a petition to the Council for a change in leadership.  But you would have to convince me that this new person, whoever it was, was committed to junkgathering, and wouldn’t leave the position a few weeks after obtaining it.  Are we understood?”

She shrugged.  “Alternatively, if you can put the fear of Desna into Gorvi in a manner that causes him to change how he treats his junkmen, then I have no problem with that.  But I would be very displeased,” she paused to repeat the phrase, emphasizing both words, “VERY displeased if your methods caused Sandpoint to lose its junkmaster.  So keep that in mind when you are choosing your course of action.”

The Mayor folded her hands on top of her desk, arching one thin eyebrow.  “Does that answer your question?”




Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2521 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 13 Aug 2015
at 13:54
  • msg #53

Re: A Gnome's Intermission (Pisca)

There was a point during the mayor's speech-like advice during which Pisca found that her arms had crossed themselves again, and her face had drawn itself back into a decidedly frownish look of deep concentration.  It was a look that might almost have been mistaken for a slumpish sort of pout.  The gnome drew in a breath and then puffed it back out as the mayor wound to a conclusion and ended with her question.

"No."  Or, at least, that was the first part of Pisca's answer.  "Or," the gnome continued, "not in so much as you didn't provide an answer that would easily solve the problem and be fun too.  But, then again ... "  And here Pisca straightened her posture, almost as though gathering bits herself and building herself back up.  "I don't suppose that I really expected such a thing was possible from the start.  And you have said all of the things that I thought you might say.  Which is nice to know, because it means that things are as you think they are.  Even if they're not as though you might wish them to be."

"So, I suppose, in that respect, you have very well answered my question, Madam Mayor.  Thank you very much."  Pisca unfolded her legs and scooted to the edge of the seat, pushing off to land neatly on the floor.  "You're a very wise person, if not perfectly delightful," Pisca said as she came around the desk.  "And I suppose that's probably best in a good leader."  Arriving at the side of the mayor's chair, with the mayor seated within it, the gnome raised up on her toes and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you for giving me a good answer," Pisca said.  "Rather than a fun answer or a delightful answer or an exciting answer.  I'll keep trying to find a solution to this problem.  It's just not going to be as easy as I had wished it was going to be."

"In the meantime, we're supposed to meet Liseth at the Rusty Dragon."  A hidden lever loosed the flood-gates of enthusiasm, and the gnome rushed back around the desk and to the door of the mayor's office.  "She said something about strawberry cake."

"Hope I didn't take up too much of your time."  Pisca waved at the door and flashed a big bright gnomish grin.  Then she was gone.
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