In reply to Breya (msg # 80):

Well that worked out in a strange and fascinating way

She Nibbles presses forward and is soon out of sight of that damnable turtle.  Hopefully the briny deep will take it.

The rest of the trip is uneventful, but soon you are within sight of land.  A small port, larger than Salt Lick's true...not that that's saying much, greets you just as the sun is starting to brighten up the horizon.

Smythers is more of a proper town.  Map of Smythers Town has been posted in Adventurer's Almanac if you wish to peruse.  At least for the Red Tide Coast.

The bay is full of the usual fishing boats.  But there's also larger transport ships loaded with lumber and what looks like pottery.  By the time She Nibbles docks, a dwarven woman in a military uniform is standing there, waiting for you all to disembark.

She watches you grumpily.  And then says, "Welcome to Smythers.  Whaddya want here?"

Friendly, these Smythers Folk

Bellinha thanked Getsby for the ride and then strode down the gangway to the dock like she owned the place.  She wanted this curse removed and was not going to waste any more time with foolishness.  Especially if that foolishness ended up causing her to make a fool of herself.  The last thing that she needed was everyone thinking that she was falling apart because to the thought of turning into a humanoid boar.  It was pretty much true but showing such weakness, especially in front of Breya, was just....ugh.

"Hullo." Bellinha said to the Dwarf in the uniform as she stepped onto the dock.  She needed to take control of the situation and get this curse cured.  Then they could all go back to Salt Lick and...deal with pirates.  Besmara's Bloody Bones, is this what passes for normal now?  "Right to the point.  Understandable.  My name is Bellinha.  My companions and I have some business with a fellow named Tottenhat.  I don't suppose that you would know where he is now, Miss....."

Breya didn't add anything to the introduction.  Seriously this whole mess was already annoying, the sooner it was done and over with the better.

Though her mind was wandering, what if they couldn't all be cured at once?  What if they had to harvest turtles?  If she turned into a wereboar would she still be redheaded?

Kozibi hadn't liked the way Breya had stared at him. The look in her eyes had been...disconcerting. He had stopped singing once they were far enough away from the turtles. And then stayed away from Breya as much as he could trapped on the small boat.

He blinked at the...blunt...some might say rude...upfront question about their business when they arrived at Smythers. Bellinha jumped right in, so Kozibi was content to let her speak for the moment.

 Cassandre did little with the rest of the trip, though she offered anyone willing a reading of their future. She warned them they wouldn't necessarily like what she had to say, but it would be an enlightening experience nonetheless.

 As they reached sight of Smyhters, the little wizard brightened up a bit. Or whatever passes for brightening up for a three-foot tiefling.

 She was quick to disembark, and curtseyed to the port authorities.
  "Well hello... yes Doctor Tottenhat, as my friend said, but also what are the local specialities? And is there a wizard in town?"

 

---

 Whilst on board, have we been able to transcript some spells from Alfie's book?

As Zekk had been grabbed, his gaze was calm and he glanced down in interest,

"I mean... buy me a drink first, but then sure..." he clearly didn't mind, and it was immediately obvious that he hadn't succumbed to his rage, he'd just been enthusiastic about participating. Teamwork and all that.

Letting it go, as he saw Breya get control, he shrugged,

"I just wanted her to know somebody had her back." he left it at that.

As they arrived in port, he was fairly mediocre at disembarking, not in any particular hurry, and hoping that he wasn't going to be arrested... he'd seen worse setups in his past. Nothing happened immediately, and he was quite satisfied with that.

In reply to Zekk (msg # 86):

Cass, you may say you transcribed a spell of your choice.  Every "rest" period you take, you may transcribe one spell.  If you guys rest up for a full day, you can do up to four spells.  Clear as mud?

The dwarven woman studies you up and down Bellinha.  "Oh.  You're one a' them polite ones, huh?

"Well I'm Arabelle KittenKisses.  And I'm the one who tells ya if you can or you can't get off the fuckin' boat here, see?"  She pauses but before anyone can say anything, she continues.  "And it's perfectly fine if you do get off tha boat here.  Not like I care a constipated gnome's fart if you get on or off the boat.  What?  You the type who wants someone ta do their thinkin' for 'em?

"If you want Paster Tottenhat, he lives at the Temple Ta Wyatt up on the shore there.  But he's more like to be at The Grumpy Gus there, havin' a toot.  Or maybe up at his Lordship's house, suckin' on the rich guy's tit.  Not that I'm judgin' anyone for suckin' on a rich guy's tit.  I'd suck away on it myself if I thought I could get a coin or two outta it."

She blinks.

"Welcome to Smythers."

"Arabelle!  By all that's holy!  Stop!".  A thin half orc in a threadbare set of sage's clothes rushes down the dock.  He grabs Arabelle by the shoulder.  She grimaces and stares at her toes.

The half orc smiles nervously at you all.  "I'm sorry.  Arabelle isn't allowed to talk to strangers due to a court order.  She musta wandered away from her keep-er...her 'friend'.  Arabelle?  Why don't you toddle on back to your...'friend'?  And don't talk to anyone else?  Okay? Stop glaring at me and go."

Arabelle looks over her shoulder at you all as she shuffles away.  She stops once and whispers back, "They all smell wrong..." and then rushes away.

The half orc sighs and looks back at you all.  "I'm sorry.  I'm Bixley.  Port Official.  Welcome to Smythers.  Anything to declare?  No?  That's fine.  That's fine.

"Tottenhat?  He's our paster.  Preaches an' lives up at the Temple to Wyatt there.  Though he's probably having a drink at the Grumpy Gus.  Or talking to his lordship Lord Gulber."

He points out the buildings as he names them.

See the updated Smythers Map in Adventurer's Almanac!  Now with words!

"And that's when I knew!  Just Knew! That I'd never love anyone else.  Now my cousin..."

Kamatar, you are sitting at a table at The Grumpy Gus, finishing breakfast.  The rather...chatty...owner of the place, a gnome named Felix, is wiping up the bar and talking about...well.  You probably tuned him out a few subjects ago.  You think he's going on about how he met his wife.  Maybe.  He talks a lot.

The journey here had worn you out.  You slept deeper than you usually do. So you haven't had much of a chance to look around town yet.

There aren't many in the inn right now.  A man in a priest's robes is sipping on some tea.  A couple of burly men are finishing up breakfast.  They have logging axes set by their feet.  Apparently there's a logging trade on this island.

The priest takes a pouch out of his pocket.  A coin drops and rolls along the ground, coming to a stop halfway between you and the priest.  Just a copper coin.  The priest doesn't seem to have heard it fall.  Felix has quite a lot of volume to his voice.

Bellinha took a moment to watch Arabelle walk away before turning back to Bixley.  "Thank you.  I think that The Grumpy Gus would be a good place to start.  And...is there anything about Smythers that we, as visitors, need to know about?"

She paused for a moment, seemingly deep in thought, before she addressed Bixley again.  "Lord Gulber.  What can you tell me about him?"

Breya screwed down her eyebrows and wondered if these people were inbred or drank too much soap or both.  Bixley seemed like he hadn't swallowed quite as much at least.  Arabelle, well Breya was about to see if she would constipate a gnome if fed to one.

But, Breya realized, that wasn't fair to the gnome.  So she'd have to keep an eye out for a gnome who deserved it.

She really wasn't mute, but, well they were in a hurry.  She didn't wish to delay this with unnecessary questions.

In reply to Breya (msg # 90):

Bixley's smile seems to get a little frozen.  "Lord Gulber?  Well. He's..."

He pauses.  Blinks.

"Yeah.  So...enjoy your stay."

He starts down the dock.

The Grumpy Gus is a tidy little shanty.  Larger than your Salt Lick digs, though it seems most of the inn is the front room.

At this time, the front room is mostly empty.

There are a couple of men finishing a breakfast plate.  You have them pegged as lumber jacks from the axes and outfits.

There's a gnome behind the bar, standing on a stool and talking.  A lot.  You can already tell he's a talker, this gnome.

A half orc is sitting near the bar Kamatar, I'll let you describe yourself

A man in priestly robes is seated at the bar, apparently about to pay for the breakfast he just had.

Bellinha watched Bixley move down the dock.  "That was an odd reply." she said.  "I would have expected at least something along the lines of 'Don't steal the fish' or 'Lord Gulber looks after the town' but nothing?  Odd."

The moment that Bellinha walked in to the Grumpy Gus, she realized one thing.  She had no idea what Tottenhat looked like, other than he was a he.  He was supposed to be a Cleric so maybe it was that priestly guy sitting at the bar.  She turned to Kozibi and indicated the priestly looking figure.  Kozibi was probably more well travelled than she was so maybe he had some better insight.  "What do you think?  Could that be Tottenhat?"

Kozibi frowned a little. He thought about what had been said. What hadn't been said. What had...been stopped from being said? He wasn't sure. But maybe.

He nodded slowly at Bellinha without actually looking at her. "Yes, this place is odd. And I think something strange is going on, but we have pressing concerns regarding three of you, so we shouldn't dally too much, yes?"

Breya shrugged, walked over to the priest and asked unceremoniously.  "Hey bro, are you Tottenhat?"

She could be more couth, but Kozibi was dead on the money here.  Plus if he was going to pull a knife and shank someone, better her than Bell.

Cassandre followed along from the harbour to the inn, wondering all the way what the deal was with the dwarf lass they had first seen. It wasn’t like the second fellow gave them that much more information. Oh well, with more time she would ask about it, but for the time being they were on a clock.

She walked in and grabbed a seat in a corner, perusing from the background, pondering on whatever fresh mayhem was surely to come. Eying the half-orc, she nudged a chin towards him and said:
  “You look like someone with a story. Do you want to know where it goes?”

This half orc was quite tall, with the tusks, pointed ears, and greenish skin typical of orc kindred. However, his build was more athletic than bulky, and his wide chocolate-colored eyes were slanted by epicanthic folds. His medium length black hair was gathered into a main ponytail and into four long braids, two on each side of his head that draped down behind his ears, giving him a hairstyle similar to elven archers. His right forearm is covered in tattoos of  runes woven around small blue and white butterflies.

The half-orc stood up and took a half step away from his table. Picking up the wandering copper piece, he stared at it for a moment, then palmed it into his fist as three large steps carried him from his table to the table with the priest.

Finding himself arriving at the same time as the red harried woman who wore her attitude like she wore her rough beauty, he stood beside the priest and offered his coarse and scarred fist to his face. "This is yours or your gods.", he said in a calm rough voice while fluidly turning over and opening his fist to reveal the copper coin resting in his open palm. “I give it back only asking that it or its kindred's worth be given to someone in need,” he concluded. With a slight bow from his waist, he carefully placed the coin on the table in front of the priest then stood upright.

Giving an appreciative glance and a slight smile to the red haired woman, he left as quickly and smoothly as he arrived.

Quickly reaching his table, he noted the arrival of the newcomer, taking note of her horns, tusks, and striking purple eyes. Paused briefly by her gaze and her question, he looked at her curiously before attaching a cord to the more robust of the two unique bows at the table and his left wrist. He briefly ran his free hand over the large backpack attached to the back of his chair before taking his seat.

His expression gained a quiet serenity, like that of a mountain peak, before he replied, “Everyone and everything has a story. Time will reveal its course as it unfolds. What do you want in exchange for revealing mine in advance?”
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Mon 09 Jan 2023.

In reply to Kamatar Yu Pan (msg # 96):

The man in robes smiles brightly at you Kamatar when you return the coin.  "As it should be.  Thank you Sir.  May Wyatt always keep you in salt."

---

Just a moment later, that same man in robes is blinking and staring up at you Breya.  "My beans and biscuits!  Aren't you one wall of beautiful lass!  But there I go being frisky.  Your pardon.  No I am afraid I am not Tottenhat.  I'm the vice pastor of the shrine to Wyatt.  Bilmoth.  Pleased to meet you.

"Are you looking for Pastor Tottenhat?  I'm afraid he's not with us at the moment.  He's been kidnapped again.  But maybe I can help you with something until he's released?"

Well, he wasn't a bad guy.  Maybe.  But his news did not thrill her.  Breya groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Why.  Does it Always.  Have to Be.  So Damn Complicated."

She took in a deep breath, several actually, to calm herself.

"Maybe you can Bilmoth but I doubt it.  I'm Breya."  She didn't add "Just Breya".  She tried not to call attention to the fact she didn't give out a last name.  "We needed a curative spell cast on us, and I'm doubtful anyone else around here but your pastor can do so.  Which-"  She sighed.  "Probably means this is about to get even more complicated."

In reply to Breya (msg # 98):

"Well I'm crap with the healing spells.  So yes, sounds like it's going to get complicated.  Is it urgent?  None of you are in labor are you?  I can deliver the baby if someone's in labor.  I've read all the books about it.

"But if it's not too urgent, then...Good News!..I imagine the Pastor will be back by the end of the week.  They never keep him that long.  It's the Fae you see.  They kidnap him every so often because they think it's funny.  I can't really explain why they think it's funny.  But there it is.

"So if it's something that can wait about a week, I'm sure it'll be fine.  But if one of you is having a baby, well we can just take care of that right now."

He gives you a friendly smile.  "I've read a book on that you see. And it had pictures."

 Cassandre was glad that the tall man had taken a seat, she did not enjoy conversations where she had to change her head up to the skies to maintain eye contact.
  “I suppose they do, don’t they… the lowliest worm lives a life full of satisfactions and disappointments in turn… at least to them, that makes a story. Yet somehow, only some of these stories become worth reading about. Did you know this is what legendary means? Something that ought to be read.”
 “I get a sense that your story ought to be read.”

Her purple eyes fell on his big hands, she eyed the tattoos, noticed the archery kit, the adventuring backpack.
  “I read palms, if you’re interested. A single gold coin for insights into your life story. I can’t promise I’ll tell you how or when you die, but I guarantee you’ll have something to think about.”

Tagging along quietly, Zekk laughed softly to himself at a few of the antics going on. This group of people he was inexorably tied to had some funny traits, but he didn't judge. He'd worked with plenty of mercs before, each of them with their own quirks.

At the vice pastor's response, Zekk shrugged,

"No hurry at all, my good friend! We're happy to relax in your little city until the end of the week, and whatever happens: happens." he smiled in a friendly manner, tipping his head.

The vice pastor would obviously have no understanding as to what was going to happen, but Zekk looked forward to a bit of chaos.

In reply to Cassandre Lagrene (msg # 100):

A cryptic smile spread across his face as he listened to the last of her words. “So you read palms? But you say you read more, more about me than I know about myself. How would my palms tell you more about me than I know?” He paused for a moment, regarding her with a curious expression. “Also, why is your knowing and telling worth more than a single copper or silver? What has true value to you?” The half-orc peered at her closely before leaning back and motioning for the attention of a server.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Sun 08 Jan 2023.

Bellinha, who had been listening to the conversation with Bilmoth at a respectable distance, quickly stepped forward.  "No!" She said quickly and loudly in response to Zekks response.  Maybe a little too loudly but it was too late to do anything about that.  Wait around for a week and see what happens?  By all that's golden not a chance.  However Zekk felt about the curse, Bellinha needed to get it cured right away.

"I mean...no we can't wait around for a week...we should go and see if we can help out Tottenhat with his fairy problem."  She continued, lowering her voice to something more conversational and less desperate sounding.  "So...uhm...what can you tell us about the fairies?  Where are they?  Why do they think that kidnapping a Cleric is fun?  Anything that can help us help him."

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 103):

The talkative gnome steps around the bar at your signal Kamatar.

"Oh my goodness!  Them Fae.  They are the dickens," he says before Bilmoth can say anything.

"What can I get you Mr. Kamatar?

"Oh and those Fae!  I swear.  This is the...what?...fourth time they kidnapped our dear pastor!  It's just a shock everytime it happens.  Just a shockeroo.

"Scuttlebutt is..." The gnome leans in close to you Bellinha and acts likes he's whispering something conspiratorially.  But he continues to speak in his can-you-hear-me-in-the-back? tone.

"Them Fae.  They found some kinda religion.  They say they've become "enlightened".  But even though they say that, they don't shine at all.  Still the same ol' dull colors they always were.

"You know what you want Mr. Kamatar?  Or you need a moment to decide?

"Anyway," He quickly turns back to you Bellinha, "They kidnap him an' take 'em out to their glen an' debate stuff with him.  They liquor him up.  So he doesn't mind much.  But does seem like they keep him longer each time.

"Well Mr. Kamatar?  What can I get ya?"

Bilmoth smiles weakly.  "Pretty much what he said."

While awaiting Cassandre's answer he replies to the repeated question.
"I would like another ginger beer and whatever she wants to drink and eat that isn't more than 10 silver." he says evenly while indicating Cassandre.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:45, Mon 09 Jan 2023.