Ringo took a seat and placed his tankard of ale in front of him. His face still held a slight grin. "Well perhaps we can start with getting to know each other a bit..." Before he could say more a voice spoke over him and the voice was to the point. The grin left his face as he turned his head to meet the gaze of the young woman who had been playing dice. Those at the table with him could her a low moan, almost a growl, as he let out a breath. "No miss, I do not believe that, I refuse to belive that. As long as my heart still pumps blood I will search till we find what caused this. I will search till I shove my blade up the ass of whoever or whatever is doing this and for what they did to my family. Perhaps that is as it is meant to be."

"Believing doesn't make it so. And wanting it to be different doesn't make it so, either."  There was a still an edge of steel to her voice, but there was also a hint of something more behind the steel.  "As someone I knew was fond of telling me..."


If wishes were kisses
And kisses were songs,
I'd sing for you melodies
Vibrant  and long.
Through crashing crescendos
And moments of grace...
Composing such music
I see in your face.

Magical, mystical
Harmonies sweet...
Possessing, expressing
Our souls' tender need.
Time would stand still
For our chorus again.
Beautiful notes
In a song without end.

"But the song has ended - all of them.  How would you even begin to look for them?  Where would you begin?  They were, until they weren't."  Her brown eyes seemed to darken as she waited to hear what this foolish man's plan might be.

 Matching her gaze with his Ringo listened to her words. He waited a few moments to let it sink in and catch his breath. "Tommorrow never knows"

"Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream
It is not dying, it is not dying

Lay down all thoughts, surrender to the void
It is shining, it is shining

That you may see the meaning of within
It is being, it is being

That love is all and love is everyone
It is knowing, it is knowing

That ignorance and hate may mourn the dead
It is believing, it is believing

But listen to the colour of your dreams
It is not living, it is not living

Or play the game "Existence" to the end
Of the beginning, of the beginning"

Ringo's grin returned yet his eyes still held his gaze. "Just a little diddy my Mum use to sing to me as a child when I was down. I'm still trying to figure it out but at the end, when we think it's the end, it's really just another beginning." He took his tankard and raised it to his lips. "The song remains the same we just have to find a place to start. I'm going to begin by listening to Moonlight and what she has in her book and to Judas's wisdom of his path with his God and to Moondale's insights and knowledge. Perhaps we'll find a place to start. I do know I'm not going to find it in this tankard of ale nor in a game of dice." He took a long drink of the ale and belched. "Good luck to ya Miss." Nodding to her he finally looked away and turned back to his new comrades. "So... where were we?"

There was so much they didn't know. It was true, the music was there until it wasn't. It started with an obvious question, but what did they have to go on. It seemed such a daunting task. Sonata looked at Melody, "Where would you begin?" she asked with honest curiosity.

I  believe we should start by gathering resources. Doing an odd job here and there to make sure we can afford to travel the land as a group, then we will start looking around and seeing what we can find. Who knows, maybe a lead will stumble right into our lap along the way?

Melody looked at the other woman and pondered her question.  In truth it had been something she had asked herself innumerable times since the day.  That was how she thought of it ... the day.  Before she could formulate a reply, though, the priestly looking man spoke.  When he finished, she laughed.  It wasn't a happy, joyous laugh, rather more like a "I can't believe you just said that" type of laugh.  Melody shook her head at him and frowned.

"Wander around and hope that something of note falls into your lap?  That has to be the most uninspiring plan I've ever heard!" Melody shook her head sadly at him, before turning towards the woman who had asked a question.  "In my opinion, there should be ripples, much like a pebble being dropped in water.  The further from the centre, the less pronounced the ripples.  I'd start looking for those ripples.  Once you find a ripple, just work your way outwards from there - you'll either see the ripples getting larger or smaller.  You want to head to the larger ripples."

Her gaze was steady as she gave her answer to Moonlight.  Then she shrugged.  "But what do I know?"

 A looming figure covered in furs and accompanied by a large Ghostly white dog enters the tavern and and immediately seeks the Bartender for a drink. It was unclear what he actually ordered, but it seemed he was not one to waste many words. The Dog remained at his heels, obediently following, but it looked resistant at times, perhaps suffering some kind of injury at the moment, which hindered it.

This man was clearly not from around here, a Stranger in a Strange land.

Judas replied to Melody, trying not to feel offended by her words.

I was going for something more practical than original or inspiring. If you have a more elegant solution to finding out what happened to the music and what we can do about it, I would certainly love to hear it...

His eyes soon were drawn to the new arrival in the winter furs.

...Although, it might help to have a guide

Terias sat at the table watching the numerous interactions that were occurring.  his ears perked up at the comment from Melody



"I am not sure if what you said is correct. If you can figure out the direction of the ripple, would you not want to head towards the center in order to find out what caused the disruption?" Terias

"If we use what happened at the Archive as a benchmark to work from, we have altered physical objects." She indicated the book, "there are fairly weak spells which could cause similar changes. We want to look for something more severe.." She trailed off, not wanting to finish the thought. She thought that some at the table might have a personal experience, but she wanted to let them come forward on their own.

Melody looked at the blonde-haired man that spoke.

"I don't know if my description is apt, but, yes, heading towards the centre is what I was trying to imply.  It's just that, sometimes, when your in the middle of a ripple, or wave if you prefer, it is hard to determine from which side it started."

She then turned her attention back to Judas and sighed.  "Follow the ripples was my only idea.  How practical or sensible or easy or hard it might be to do, is another question I haven't even begun to consider."

Melody considered Moonlight's words, and shrugged.  "If there is a physical place where there have been physical changes, it might be a place to start because whilst they might be small changes, there would be many of them in a concentrated area which could be significant."

Moondale had listened to the others talking drinking his ale.
He turned to Melody and said in dry voice.
Your argument to give up is pointless when it comes to me.  You may not know this but in an elven marriage vowels.  There is no line to death us do part.  In death elves are rejoin to their soul mate.  Mine like the music has Vanish.  Even in death l will find no peace.  So I must spend eternity looking for my love or drowning in my own sorrow.

He turns to the others.
Maybe we should start with two questions.  Was the music taken form us or was it an accident or a natural event.  Second and possibly earlier to answer.  Has this happened in the past or is this something new?

OOC:
Had to laugh when I realised the answer to the last question is this is the second time it happen to Moondale as he and me was in the first run of this game but that sort of braking the 4th wall if he knew what.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:47, Sun 10 Mar.

Does Sonata remember anything like this in her history research?

19:59, Today: Moonlight Sonata rolled 20 using 1d20+8.  history. – 20

Melody seemed to bristle at Moondale's words, but then shrugged it off with a crooked smile.

"I've found that if you keep trying to do something that is impossible to accomplish, that it can make you bitter, morose and throw you into deep despair.  Which is no way to live, in my opinion.  Finding something different to focus on, to take your thoughts away from that thing that is impossible is an option for survival."  She glanced at the others and shrugged.

"Again, I would say that, if you're asking my opinion on this then what you wish to achieve may be that impossible task.  However, I wish you well."

With a nod of her head, Melody moved towards the bar to get something slightly stronger than ale to drink.

 To the best of Sonata's Knowledge, which is extensive, something like this has never happened before.

Natural Event? I wouldn't say so. As I had mentioned before, my communion with my Goddesses, had revealed that whatever happened to the music, it involved a Demonic presence, which hardly seems natural to me.

Eavesdropping on a group chatting at a table, the large menacing man hears something that piques his interest. He gets up from the bar and approaches them. He had no love of music in particular, but he had a burning hatred for something else...

Did I hear you mention Demons?!

Moondale watches the young lady go to the bar.
He puts his elbows down on the table and places his face on his hands.  He looks at the others a mischievous smirk comes to his face.
I have learned the human skill and understanding of irony.  Now if I have got myself court up in one of my great stories which I am beginning to beleve.   That lady that just left us is important to us.  She would have had a great loss.  On the scale of my own.  She will inspite of herself join us on our great quest.  At one point she will be the only one of us that could solve or overcome a situation.  She will be a valuable asset.
He smirk grows.
She will also become the love interest of someone in the group.  It cannot be me as I know who my soul mate is.  So which of you wishes to volunteer for that role?

Moondale looks at each of the others in turn.  Moondale shows how good he can weave a tale.  Anybody not careful may find themselves volunteering with out realising it as he looks at them.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Thu 21 Mar.

 Ringo enjoyed the ale as he listened to the others, taking in what they were saying but showing no real emotion til Moondale finished.Uhm, I wasn't sure there was a scale that measured loss. I've no idea of the lady's loss so I'll take your word for it. As for you and I which weighs more, the loss of a soulmate or the loss of a sister? The question didn't really need an answer and Ringo did not wait for one from Moondale. The elf seemed to have some sort of insight to people and he liked that, Penny had a way of reading people that Ringo never understood. He chuckled lightly and continued on. "After a good night of ales and debauchery I've been known to fall in love a time or two but I don't think the lady likes me." Taking another drink from his tankard he begins to say something else when once again words are spoken over him.



 Looking up at the big man Ringo grinned. "Our friend Judas did mention such... or was you talking about Moondale 'cause he's just an Elf." He set his now empty tankard down and waved over at the serving girl. "Might as well give us a piture and a bottle of fine wine and add whatever the lady wants. I think we may be here awhile." He then looked back at the big man. "Nice looking pup. Pull up a chair and see if this interest you."

SnowDog and I HATE Demons!

 The words were simple and direct from the large man, yet burned with intensity. Being closer to him, the two axes hanging at his sides were a lot more obvious.

Then if my divine sources are correct, then discovering the reason the music vanished and finding a way to bring it back will ruin at least one demon's plans. I'd assume you'd be interested in screwing fiends over?

Judas was looking for an "angry wall of meat", and although Ringo will do, this fellow certainly fit the bill as well.

Sonata said to Moondale, "I don't know of anything quite like this from my history books."

When the big man came over his dog drew her attention, "Oh! what a cute dog!, Can I pet them?"

SnowDog attacks at my command, I don't want you dead, SnowDog won't attack...

 Bytor shrugs at the question about petting his Dog.

Terias nodded his head in agreement. "It is always a good day to ruin a demons plan!" he said. "We just got to get moving and not spend all day filling our bellies." he added with a smirk.

Sonata proceeded to lavish SnowDog with affection.