In reply to Zoccola (msg # 17):

"Perhaps not, but with my father's money behind them, he may well be able to hire men and guides. We should not take any chances, nor tarry once we're in the wilderness. I am so, so sorry that I've put you in this danger, Zoccola. If I were not here, he would have no cause to pursue you."

Though unseen as ever, there was no mistaking the reassuring squeeze of Zoccola's hand.  "Now you put that sort of nonsense out of your head right now.  Don't go blaming yourself for your dad's stupidity, especially not when you're a victim of it." She could certainly understand the feelings of guilt and responsibility - her thoughts flashed back to her time with her old gang, on that awful day she'd inherited her treasured spellbook.  "Besides, it's not like I'd be safe otherwise.  Seems Cuba's the vengeful type and I pissed him off, so he'd be making this sort of trouble for me even without your dad getting involved.  We'd both just be dealing with being hunted individually rather than together.

I'm much happier to have you, and to be there to help you deal with your troubles.  This isn't the sort of thing anyone should have to go through alone."

Elodie nodded.

"Thank you for your kind words, and let's hope you're not too right about our enemies all being in league. Now, let's find the boys and bunker up for the night."

For Zoccola and Elodie to spend some time together in the guest house.

I recorded the number of posts so I can keep track for levelling.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:43, Thu 09 Dec 2021.

Elodie glared at Booth for a moment as he went off, but finally sighed and looked back to Zoccola.

"Of course, Zozo. What should we do? Just chat, enjoy some of the local libations?"

The manner of parting between Elodie and Booth wasn't overlooked, though it did go without overt remark for the moment.  Zoccola simply shook her head a little and blew a sigh out her ring-pierced nose.  That boy seemed intent on learning everything the hard way...

"It's a bit late for dinner, but there's no harm in having a stroll around and maybe find some refreshments while we talk.  I'd like to get an idea of what sort of place this is." Whether any businesses were still open depended entirely on the intensity of night life, but there was no harm in at least getting familiar with the area.

Whether they were set to trek into the streets with a chaperone at their heels or just settle in for a sit by the fireplace, the same question that had been lingering since Nalisha's return came regardless as Zoccola spared her friend a look.  "So... you wanna talk about it, or...?"

"Ah, I couldn't deal with all the ducking." She said, then sourly plopped down in one of the thickly padded armchairs in the guesthouse, near the crackling fire. There was a long moment of silence, and then...

"I just...sweet cheeks?! In front of everyone?"

Zoccola pushed her chair a ways closer next to Elodie's for the sake of a more comfortable conversation.  The Hound, meanwhile, turned about several times over before he plopped himself down in front of the bright hearth for a bit of a rest of his own.

"Are you really that surprised?  Longshanks thinks he's the gods' gift to women." she crossed her arms over the side of her seat to rest her chin on.  "Knowing him, he's probably convinced himself that you're head-over-heels infatuated and find everything he does utterly charming."

"Well, I'll need to set him straight." She scowled, then shook her head. "He's not like this in private, you know? He's so eager and teachable. He-he's so sweet, Zozo, but he has to turn everything into a bloody brag once we step out the doors!"

Suddenly Elodie stopped and peered over, then leaned back and lowered her voice.

"Don't let him know I told you this, as I'm sure he'd take it the wrong way. But he's not the gods' gift to any woman but me. Never has been. So I think it's my duty to every woman he's with after me to make sure he knows how to treat them around others."

"He's scared." the Goblin heaved a pitying sigh.  "Hiding insecurity and inexperience behind bravado, 'cause it's easier to distract himself with an act than it is to face introspection.  Lots of big talk and bluster in front of everyone else.  Only able to see things from his own perspective.  Honestly, at first, he sort of reminded me of my ex from my old gang."

Zoccola's gaze drifted over to the flames for a moment of consideration.  She always had to weigh how much of her observations were genuine verse how much might've been old wounds making her project.  It went against the nature of a scholar like herself to give into unfair biases.  "Longshanks is a much better person, by comparison, but it's a common shortcoming for men fall into." she canted a look back over Elodie's way once more.  "I don't want this to sound like I'm trying to bash the guy, because I'm not, but what do you see in him, anyway?  From the way you're talking it doesn't sound like you consider this to be anything more serious than a fling.  What changed your mind from the days of spitting acid at his boots?"

Elodie shrugged and sighed, slumping back.

"Oh, I don't know. It's been so long since I've had a man. The patriarch at the old temple turned most of them against me before I left, and I was something of a pariah. Then, we've had just months on the trail, in close proximity. Your standards change, you know?"

Elodie crossed her legs in the chair, burrowing back into it.

"I suppose I like him, now. I find so much of what used to annoy me charming. I've trusted him with my life more times than I remember, and he's never failed me...well, aside from that time in the brothel, the stupid bastard. I suppose that desire to convey my changing feelings, with my own frustration, it just formed a kind of alchemy in me. It can't possibly be serious, not in the long term. My body belongs to my family. I am the heir, no matter what my father says, so someday I must marry a man who'll bring us tangible benefits. But that's years from now. And until then, is it so strange I should want someone I trust? Someone who doesn't give a damn about my bloodline?"

"I think you should do whatever you want, heritage and societal expectations be damned.  It's your life and your choices; the only sort of standards you adhere to should be the ones you set for yourself." It was perhaps easy for Zoccola to think that way.  As a Goblin, she'd clawed her way up from low origins.  As a mage, her entire goal was to basically force society to change by improving through her innovations and distributing magic to the masses.  Existing hierarchies, nobility structures, established powers... none of that meant anything to her at all, and to tether oneself to another group's rules just seemed limiting in her view.

"Is it so strange I should want someone I trust? Someone who doesn't give a damn about my bloodline?"

The Goblin sighed and shook her head.  "No... makes all the sense in the world, to me.  Especially given the sort of danger we live with on a daily basis.  That's why I was attracted to Krak.  I mean, besides the obvious reasons." Oh, Half-Orcs.  "He made me feel safe.  He might've had his own hang-ups, but I never felt like he thought any less of me for what I am.

It's only natural to want to be with someone you can just... y'know, be with.  No expectations, no demands, no worries about showing vulnerability." she scoffed a little.  "Honestly, getting closer to Longshanks is harder than pulling teeth.  I dragged a few tidbits out of him and I'm pretty sure he only told me just to shut me up... probably would've started swinging if I'd kept at it."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:01, Fri 10 Dec 2021.

Elodie smiled warmly at Zoccola as she expressed similar frustrations.

"You're right on that front. I had to slice past his defenses by essentially throwing myself at him, and only then did I find the rather sweet, eager young man beneath. I'll keep working on him...and meanwhile, we should see about finding you a man to spend some time with, as well." She let her gaze drift upwards, to an engraving on the upper wall of a brawny dwarf swinging a pickaxe.

"What about one of the locals? Those arms! Those hands! The deep, rumbling voice! The beards are a dealbreaker for me, honestly, but if you can get over that..."

Even though Elodie very much had a proverbial horse in the race, Zoccola didn't know how much would be proper to divulge of what she'd learned of Booth's history.  She'd dredged up some bad old wounds... it explained a lot about his behavior, but it wasn't something to be spread around either.  Just because he'd caved and told her didn't mean it was alright for her to tell anyone else.  "Just... I dunno, be careful with him.  He's got... hmn... I guess I'd call it trouble with misplaced guilt and trust." Being both delicate and informative proved difficult for her.  "He wants to make this work though.  With all of us, together, I mean.  He's just got a messed up idea of what that means and doesn't listen if you speak contrary to how he's decided things are.  For better or worse."

The shift in topic to more lighthearted matters had the Goblin quirk a brow, though she smiled absently as she followed Elodie's gaze to the artistic relief.  "And here I thought you had good taste." she teased on the matter of beards.  "A well-kept beard is a sign of refinement and attentiveness.  Plus it feels nice scritching on the cheek, all coarse and prickly."  Goblins did tend to have rather polarizing tastes, after all.  Though her smile shifted as a thought rose... it didn't vanish, but merely became wistful as she stroked her fingertips across the brass-bound spine of her spellbook.  "Maybe an Elf would be more your style, then?  Someone taut, toned, smooth, and chiseled?  No beards to worry about there... hell, barely any hair at all, really."

"Ah," Elodie said, smiling dreamily, "I think that women who sneer at elven men haven't met them much. They're so beautiful, Zozo. And svelte, too. No less strong, either. Or less...endowed."

She stuck out her tongue and stretched out her legs langorously.

"Everything about them is beautiful. Their language, their culture, their faces, their bodies. Other races have more one or the other...but the elves, they're just on a whole 'nother level."

"I think that women who sneer at elven men haven't met them much."

"Or have spent too much time around them.  I've got a day job back in Maltain's Tower, y'know." Zoccola interjected with her usual fanged smirk.  Elodie's further admiration of classic Elvish beauty got a snicker out of the Goblin and she hoisted herself up to hop the short distance between their chairs.  She landed in a deft seat atop the arm of Elodie's seat, legs crossed daintily knee-over-knee and one hand lifted to pop a few buttons open from her high collar.

"Elves lose a lot of their mystique when you see them most often road-weary and half-drunk.  You realize they're just like anyone else.  Though, I do admit, there is something to be said about men that pretty sweaty and dusty from the road.  Guess we've all got our types, huh?"  With her collar loosened, Zoccola gave a slow roll of her head side to side - with the motion, her whole frame began to shift and change.  Her short-bobbed hair surged down along increasingly broader shoulders, her features paled and grew finely carved, while her ears actually shrank down into more delicate points.  Feminine curves melted away to a more lean and sleek build, thankfully not risking bursting her coat's seams for once.

"Call me funny, but I'm not really interested in a man who's more beautiful than I am."  There sat a handsome Elvish gentleman, though there was no mistaking the sharpness of Zoccola's lopsided smirk even if there weren't any fangs in the grin.  "See, this sort of thing?  Doesn't do it for me; give me someone brawny and bearded any day.  Now, there was this Satyr I met back before Thorfen though... whoo!  Now there was a guy worth chasing.  You haven't lived until you've spent a week with Satyrs and Fauns in one of their Fae glades."

Seems the only time Zoccola actually casts "Alter Self" is while playing around in downtime, but I'm okay with that.  ^^
This message was last edited by the player at 05:38, Sat 11 Dec 2021.

"Ooh!" Elodie said, then jumped up and scurried over, cupping the "elven" man's cheeks in her hands. "So pretty! And you know what? I think we should take it out for a spin! See what kind of reaction we can get. What do you say?"

She stood up and held out her arm for Zoccola to take.

Those keen Elvish eyes rolled playfully and, with a soft laugh, chiseled features promptly reverted to leave Elodie smooshing up Zoccola's once-more-Goblin cheeks against her palms.  "I say people would think I was making fun of them, which isn't really the impression I want to give.  We need these folk to like us, y'know." she snickered as she returned to her original form.

For all she knew, Zoccola might've been The Root's first real encounter with a Goblin, or perhaps just a civil one, so she didn't want any sort of misunderstandings.  "Still... no harm in a bit of people-watching, I'd think?  Even without shapeshifting we're both still a novelty around here." That offered arm was taken with a reach and a curl, giving Elodie the leading hold.  As soon as the two women rose to go, The Hound likewise bounded right back up to his feet and took to Zoccola's opposite side.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Sat 11 Dec 2021.

"Ah, I cannot wait until we make our fortune, Zozo! We'll head to the big city, and I'll take you to all the finest places. I haven't been since I was a little girl, you know, and I dearly wish to return. But for now, let's go observe the smallfolk!"

Elodie patted Zoccola's arm in hers, then sauntered off with her out of the room, pausing only to latch the door on the way out.

The two of you enjoy a walk on this crisp evening. It isn't horribly cold and with some light attire quite comfortable. There seems to be a heat about The Root that defies the coming winter.

Two Dwarvish soldiers walk discreetly behind causing no interference. The leisurely pace the two of you take makes it quite easy for them to remain at a comfortable distance as to not intrude except for the knowledge of their presence.

The fascinating architecture provides for much to observe and make comments on as do some of the unique varieties of flowers still in bloom in the advanced of fall. As you pass by a tall narrow dwelling and are enjoying some beautifully crafted railings on a decorative staircase a voice calls out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:12, Sun 12 Dec 2021.

"Evening ladies. Out for a stroll this evening?"

Nalisha sits on a small balcony looking out into the street. She has a small table beside her with a steaming cup of something resting on it.

"Care to join me for a coffee?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 18:09, Sun 12 Dec 2021.

That there was an escort was to be expected; Zoccola clocked the two guards with an immediate eye, though their respectful distance was just given a consenting nod of acknowledgment.  If anything, it was reassuring since it surely meant nobody in town who might object to outsiders would dare start anything.

"Sounds like a good time to me.  At least for a decade or two.  However long it takes for me to build up a nice foundation before I start rocking the boat and making enemies amid the nobility." she actually sounded like she looked forward to such a trial.  "Lots of moneyed folk don't like it when someone upsets the status quo.  But you and me together?  I'd say we've got a bright future waiting for us."

The Hound was busy in his usual guard duty as the two strolled along, ears perked and nose close to the ground to sniff about.  He perked at some unseen deviation in the path and Zoccola cast her gaze the way her canine companion was directed, unknowingly in the area of the tavern their companions had eventually found.  Following the scent of Booth and the others was very easy in a new place where their trail stood out plainly, so it wouldn't be hard to track them down one way or another.  But attention was further drawn upward when Nalisha called out from above.

"Hmm." the Goblin hummed thoughtfully.  An inquiring look was cast up Elodie's way.  "What do you say, El?  She wouldn't be calling us up if she didn't have something to say." Given that Nalisha and Elodie had terse words before, Zoccola was content with following the young noble's tastes whether or not they stayed.

Elodie gave Nalisha a baleful look, then finally made a great show of sighing and throwing up her hands before nodding her consent.

"Oh, very well! Our only other company is like to be yon gentlemen behind us, and I don't think they'll be much for conversation. We'll be with you anon, Nalisha!" Elodie called up, then bent low to enter the coffeehouse where Nalisha was dining.

Zoccola chuckled knowingly under her breath and patted the small of Elodie's back as they headed into the building together.  "Think of it as practice for later.  You don't have to like her, but Buymarks are too useful to write off." the Goblin advised.  Doubly so, in Nalisha's case, if the party had any hopes of establishing a business relationship with The Root and the rest of civilization.  There was a lot of money on the table if they could manage things right.

You enter the small building and see it's part private residence and part coffee house. The owner, a slender elvish woman, smiles at you and welcomes you in.

[Language unknown: "Mefipl iveng m. T powh arthisnti minono. Ur Heus I sta il. Redei plas ncetedard."]

She ushers you to an empty table but Nalisha's voice can be heard from the upstairs loft.

[Language unknown: "Wil di Acivatre. Thicomted icei os we t et tiplsi."]

Selrilla smiles and nods waving you upward. As you arrive Nalisha is seated at a small round table large enough for four to sit around. She smiles greeting and bids you sit down.

[Language unknown: "Enro tha our menli us ha ousanytio ilse sheartsti le ncfo esscomhat."]

[Language unknown: "Butredconres Vervirone, riusen evil."]

"Zoccola, Elodie please sit, join me for a cup."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:07, Tue 14 Dec 2021.