"I'm a scholar of magic," said Tara.  "Well.  Y'all know.  A wizard.  Witch.  Whatever you want to call it.  I know some useful spells.  I'm trying to learn more.  And... well, the dark doesn't really bother me that much.  Acid, though..."

It was perhaps odd that someone who looked as human as she wasn't worried by the dark, but then, wizards had many tricks...

Tempest looked at the bard with an even, cold glare, but nodded. "I have to concede....the fool can talk, and whoever it's aimed at tends to get, at the very least,  distracted."

She took a drink. 'I know whenever he talks I want to punch him in the face." She turned to look at him...he had no idea if she was joking.

She looked at the group. "Given its attack, I'm guessing it's lacking its wounds. While it was still strong, I'm guessing that it didn't realise we would hurt it that bad."

"While ordinarily I would press the advantage, this beast is strong and it hurt us in its surprise. We need to rest and prepare."

When the bard again looked at her, she sighed, whispering to her sister. "Can I.....please?"

Grog shook his head and held up a halting hand, "No. I used be a cow-boy. Then I get big. Now, minotaur! Minotaur is word. No cow-man."

Having caught Tempest's attention, he motioned with his horned head toward a large glaive standing near the entrance, "I'm Grog. I hit stuff." He then pointed out the runes adorning his armor, "Giant's runes, to burn and to bind. Or I make me grow big. Big, big." The minotaur pulled back his shoulders and puffed out his chest, then lifted his arms out to his sides a bit to indicate he was growing larger, "Is more big. Big, big."

"Unfortunately, the opposite Lenelle. Murky...Connie...damn it all...the hag in the jail believes that Irma and the dragon used a tunnel to move from one lair to the other. I would hazard that is how it got so close to town without being seen in the sky."

"That, Mister Stuart is the best that I could hope to hear."

The warlock finished his dinner, surprised at how fast he had wolfed it down.

"To be clear...Tempest," again Simon had to confirm which twin had spoken, "Grog is an extraordinary minotaur warrior. His command of rune magicks and his battle prowess was key to our victory over the hags' guards.

As to the other point, I agree completely!"

The warlock then stood, and addressed the group sitting around the Council table. "I have some information that I would like to share in private. I propose, with Mercion's permission, that we move to the Temple . We can also plan our tactics for tomorrow, with less distraction than here in the tavern."

Jennet walks into the tavern, carrying a large basket. "What are we doing at the Temple tomorrow?" As the good folk of the town stare at him blankly, he stares blankly at them in return. "Is it a surprise? Am I not invited? I brought muffins!"

He sets the basket on the Council table.

It is, indeed, full of muffins.

They smell delicious.

Tempest looked at Grog, then Simon. "I am sorry,  have not heard of...min-a-tar?" She furrowed her brow, then looked at Grog. "I don't doubt your prowess....you are big and look like you could lift an orca! I have lived underwater most of my life - this is my first night in this - imm?"

She looked at Sprinkle for confirmation, then back at Grog. "Your skill in fighting may match mine  though I have no skills in these 'runes', but I do have certain techniques I can use."

She took a bite of the food, her obvious surprise in the food.

Tara considered.

"The tunnel may be our best place to fight the dragon," she said.  "It's going to force us to stay close, and more vulnerable to the acid, but the dragon won't be able to fly-- and that's even worse than the acid."

Telric starts handing out anti acid paste to the entire group. Except for the two sisters already resistant to acid. "Try to use these just before facing the dragon. They should last a good while, but it's most effective after just applying it. You dont need to cover your whole body for it to protect you, just rub into any large section of skin like your neck or arms."

Of course, then he takes a muffin. He takes another one when he thinks no one is looking. "Thank you." He says  to Jennet between bites.

Cela takes a muffin.  "We're killing a dragon." she says.

She takes a bite.  "These are really good."

Cela looks at the salve.  "Is this going to get stuck in my fur?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:19, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

In reply to Cela (msg # 27):

"Ummm...a little? It soaks right in. You just need to insure its absorbed into your body so you get full skin coverage against the acid. Not as convenient as a potion, but it does work." Telric admitted.

"I see.  That does make a great amount of sense."  Lenelle eyed the muffins dubiously.

"Perhaps silence spells would be helpful, in the approach, if anyone is able?"  She glanced at Sprinkle, recollecting that one was usually attributed to clergy and priestesses.   And glanced at the muffins again.

"Thank you so much," she said when handed the anti acid paste. "I think many of us would be goners without this."     She reached tentatively for a muffin.   Ceased. And then completed the gesture.

Not because they didn't smell good.  But because she didn't have what centuries hence would be known as a 'high burning metabolism.'   At had to work a bit at keeping her weight where she liked it.  Be that as it may:

"Mm, so good!  Thank you Jennet!"

Grog's chest swelled again, with pride this time, and he gave a grunt and a nod to Simon in acknowledgement.



"Is not problem. Learns new words is good. I can lift many okras. I was farmer, then was warrior. Okra is good for make poops, then is good for make fires. Is good vegable."



Normally, the only exposed skin that existed on Grog's body was the palms of his hands themselves. Thanks to the dragon's acid however, he now had a great deal of exposed skin, which also exposed some of the tattooing that was normally not visible at all beneath his fur. Runes not unlike those on his armor were tattooed onto the exposed parts of his arms, neck, and torso. "This very good, Teric. With this, we kill a dragon."

Sprinkle slightly shook her head at her sister's whisper, and whispered back.

Keep your strength for the dragon, now is not the time to antagonize anyone... we just arrived, remember?

She smiled when Grog described what he could do then could not suppress a laugh when he confused one of the most feared predator of the sea... with a vegetable.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make fun of you. An Orca is a big predatory whale that could cut you in half with one bite.

Looking around the big room, she added.

In fact, I'm not sure if we could fit two in this room... maybe small ones.

Those muffins that the greenish skin person had brought did smell good, so she took one and examined the pastry as Lenelle looked at her and talked about a silence spell. Putting the muffin on the table, she said.

I am still not sure how my spells come to me but I will try to find the effect you ask for.

Only then did she take a bite, eyes widening as she tasted the unknown treat.

"There's a dragon in the Temple?" replied Jennet, turning a paler shade of green. "We should chain the doors shut and burn it down, and then pray to the gods for forgiveness."



Despite the looming threat of the dragon in the Temple, Jennet beams. "I made them myself!" His expression grows sober again. "Dragon in the Temple, right. The salve will wash right out of your fur, but the longer you wear it, the more it'll dry it out and thin it out. If we survive, I can make a cream that'll make it better, and keep it lustrous and shiny."

"Dragon, right. Dragon. What are we going to do about the dragon? How did it get stuck in the Temple, anyway?"

"No, not the temple.  And... aren't dragon's fireproof?"

Cela listens about making her fur more lustrous and just says "I probably need to just stop trudging through swamps."

“We have no time for your foolishness,” Sheila hissed, as she gave Jennet’s back a light swat while she walked past. “Take the cotton from your ears and stick it in your mouth! Listen before you speak!”
This message was last edited by the player at 21:00, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

In her head, Lenelle was beginning to accumulate a small list of questions she wanted to ask these sisters.  More so this one, as she was the spell worker.  She knew tiny little about the planes beyond this one, and the beings that inhabited them. But believed that the way they evoked magic was more similar to herself, if she had heard right.

This wasn't the time or place, but she responded to Sprinkle:

"It is like that for me as well, though I cannot find an effect.  I must work with what I know how to do.   Most of my spells, I heard the words whispered in dreams before I was able to cast them."   

Tempest looks at Grog and him talking about okra, some vegetable that helped make him poop. She was confused how the mix up occurred - such analogies at home were common.

When sprinkle explained, she was satisfied, and when the muffins were placed on the table, she took one, sniffed and took a bite. Her eyes wide, she nodded, speaking with her mouth full. “These moofins are great…so tasty.”

She continued eating, taking the shine from her seriousness as she ate the muffin lie a child eating a sweet

[The Sulphur’s Spit]

While a few enjoyed muffins and talked spell work, the townsfolk grumbled when Simon suggested moving the meeting. “Why do you need a private meeting? What will you talk about that you cannot say here?” Simon saw the speaker, but several added their voices in protest before he could reply. The tavern soon filled with worried and angry shouts.

Then, Laredon called the meeting to order. “Quiet, now! QUIET!” The large man bellowed over the complaining people, who soon quieted again to a soft murmur. “I said I would arrest any who disrupted this meeting, and I MEAN it! Be quiet or you’ll do your whining in a cell! I’ll brook no more foolish distractions, this is grave business here!” The Sheriff glanced pointedly at Jennet when he said the last part, then continued addressing the assembly.

“Simon and his companions have protected you all three times now.  The last happened this very night! In Pelor’s name, surely we trust them by now? We ask for a smaller meeting to plan the best course of action to protect Deadwater.” A few grumbles, but most of the crowd nodded in acknowledgement of truth spoken.

Sundos stood. “Brothers & Sisters, whatever we decide, I will make haste in sharing with you. I will remain behind to organize a defense of the town.” He hesitated as he glanced at Mercion, then added, “I trust that I will remain with a few good men and women to protect you all.” Mercion frowned, but kept her thoughts to herself. “Yes. We will not leave the town vulnerable to another attack. If you find this agreeable, Lord-lieutenant, perhaps now would be a good time to reconvene in the Temple? Of course, you are most welcome to join us.”

Soon, the assembly dispersed. Mercion directed those who would be in attendance uphill, gathering a far smaller group in the main chapel. Before the trek uphill, Laredon stopped Jennet. “If you mean to be of use and do more than warm a bed at the Spit, I would advise you to take this matter seriously! Stop walking around with your head in a fog, and offer more substantial help than…a basket of muffins!”

"Better some salve in your fur that to have it all burned off by acid," said Tara, "And the skin beneath it, too.  We must take utmost care with this."

Sskith didn't know what a muffin was, and so he remained focused on the discussion of tactics.

"The Vutha usually roost in the sssswamp, under the water. Any tunnel they ussssed would be ssssubmerged. An even worse place to face them than the ssssky."

He looked about at Lenelle and the others.

"We sssshould leave at firssst light."

“The Wonduh Twins here breathe underwatuh, right?” Pockets asked as he finished off a mug he’d snuck from the Tavern, “Sorry, Mercion. It’s been that kinda day.”

After listening to Seth, Sprinkle turned to Tempest.

Then I guess it is going to be our job to bring him to the surface, where you can attack him.

If the genasi was nervous at the prospect it didnt show in her voice.

But her hand slightly shook when she reached for another muffin...

"I know that a spell to let folks breathe underwater exists," said Tara.  "I haven't been able to figure out how it works.  Yet."

"They're only immune to what they breathe. I've been treating acid burns all day, and someone's handing out acid salves... fire should be juuust fine--" Jennet's eyes gleam in the firelight "-- unless our dragon has another little dragon friend."



"Gee, Sheriff, I'm sorry my healing isn't substantial enough for the good people of Deadwater." Is he being sarcastic? Jennet isn't smart enough for sarcasm, is he? Is he? "If I'm not pulling my own weight, I hope going into the swamp and burning that dragon down for you makes up for it. Especially since nobody's even asked me to warm their bed for them. Do you think maybe I should start asking people who needs their bed warmed for them? No, no. We need to take care of the dragon first, Sheriff. Deadwater's cold and empty beds shall have to wait for our return!"