Upstairs Wapun shoved open the wooden door of the room when it stuck, making it bang against the wall, ''oops,'' she whimpered, already hearing Chogan's rough voice lecturing her.
 A small and comfortable bed was tucked in the corner, filled with furs and blankets.
Once Serendipity was laid out, the well-dressed man rolled up his sleeves and began removing all the clothing from her upper body in a very mechanical manner.
Her battered torso displayed a myriad of welts, scrapes and bruises, but no sign of the suspected internal bleeding.
Wapun soaked a rag in the cold water and began cleaning the blood from the woman's head, checking to see where it was from.
Meanwhile, an intense blue light glowed from the apparent healer's hand, his well-defined eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he hovered over all her organs.
''Oh, here,'' the Minotaur chirped, pulling back a section of Serendipity's hair to reveal a nasty, but not deadly gash on the side of the woman's head, proceeding to clean the area.
''I don't know what happened to this girl but she's damn lucky,'' stated the elegant Human, feeling her limbs for breaks one last time, then inspecting her head.
''Get me a clean needle and sinew...and hot water. I'll stitch her head and the spot on her arm, you clean her up,'' he directed Wapun, she turned and trotted back carefully as she could.
The man sighed happily, sitting on the bed and laying the Elfess' head on his lap so it was easier to fix the gash once the barmaid came back.
It was suddenly quiet, the Human looked up at the brightly coloured Birdman and smiled disarmingly, ''I'm Askook, you are?''
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:01, Thu 30 Sept 2021.

"Mm? Oh, Istvan. Istvan Vanoson. Swift tribe. So, uh, is she gonna be all right, d'you think...?"

''Pleased to meet,'' he replied bowing as well as one can when sitting.
''She'll be fine, need to rest a few days, but she'll be good. Funny girl, came outta the fireplace just before you came in,'' commented Askook.
Wapun came bounding back in at that moment, nearly dropping the steaming water on Istvan when she tripped on air, then the pair set into a flurry of work and before long, the Elf was redressed and nearly smothered with all the blankets Wapun was putting on her.
As the healer was drying his lithe hands he turned to Istvan, ''I noticed you eyeing that poster. Let me buy your supper, and we can discuss things, Eh?''
Before the Aarakocra could answer a noise coming from next door startled the trio, well quad, but the fourth member wasn't exactly all there.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Thu 30 Sept 2021.

Istvan looks as if this may be some sort of joke he isn't getting. "The... fireplace. The... hearth. She's... dressed kinda funny for a chimneysweep, isn't she?"



(...What did the noise sound like...?)

Askook laughed, ''that's 'cause she's no sweep. I mean she came right out of the fire itself. Must be a sorcerer. ''The grating screech of rusty hinges next room over pierced the air with a comforting sound of nails on a chalkboard, effectively halting the conversation, ''gotta fix that,'' Wapun grimaced, pulling her long ears down to block the noise atrocity.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:10, Thu 30 Sept 2021.

"Ohh. Magic. Sure, right."



"...You... must not use that door often," said Istvan.

Wapun nodded, ''yeah, nobody from here will rent it 'cause that's where old man Kemi beat his wife to death. He never was right after his horse kicked him in the face,'' the Minotaur seemed lost in thought for a moment, her tail idly swishing, ''plus we got a bunch of damp, it doesn't help. I better get back to work, I'll have supper for you boys in a minute,'' she smiled at the two men,  waving at the very short Tiefling who had caused the screeching and scurrying to the stairs.

  "Hey what's all the ruckus. Can't a guy get a bath without all this noise." Standing in the door way is a wet short man. A sword about the size of him is in one hand and the other is holding a towel around his waist. He's well build and the water on his skin adds to the bronze sheen of his skin. His feet have tufts of hair on them and he has slightly pointed ears that should reveal him a halfling but though short he stands a head taller than most halflings. The fact that you can see a tail sticking out the towel and he has a ebony colored four inch long horns protruding form his forehead add to the mystery of his ancestry.
 The odd looking halfling walks towards the bed eyeing the woman as he does. He doesn't really wait for the birdman or human to speak as he lays his sword down on the bed and tucks the towel in. "The lady elf looks like she's been through it and back. I can help some with that gash." He raises his hands to the wound and bows his head and a light green glow emits from his hands. The wound starts to close, the glow fades and a slight sigh emits from the halfling as he steps back and shakes his head. "That's all I got for now. 'Fraid i'm not as good at that as my Mam was."

Istvan blinked. Well that seems useful, I guess, he thought.

Serendipity felt a warmth course through her person, followed by voices. Opening her eyes she looked about. She had been moved to a bed and covered with upwards of 10 blankets. Thankest Thee for Thy kindness.

''Pleased to make your acquaintance, I'm Askook and this is Istvan,'' Askook bowed with a flourish and gestured to his companion.
''Thank you for helping my friend, that'll hold much better than my stitches. Come down and eat with us...ah, what is your name?''
Before the Teifling answered the talkative man a small stirring and whisper came from the blanket heap.
''Oh your awake,'' Askook knelt at Serendipity's side and cleared the hair out of her face, ''I'll get Wapun to bring you some stew. Istvan, can you bring him down once he's dressed? Thanks,'' he glanced at the odd trio before taking the steps two at a time and abandoning them without allowing for a simple yeah or neigh.

Downstairs the high energy man was filling his plate with a couple steaks, brightly coloured squash, and thick bread, other kinds of food also occupied the table. The pair barely sat down when Askook launched into what he had been itching to speak of between mouthfuls of supper.
''As I'm sure you've heard Naapi, bless his name, has been stolen by filthy Koutous! Sweet Queen Hurit did her best to fend them off, but they used their dirty tricks as usual, knocked her out with fumes.
Another thing I'm sure you've heard is that we Peta may be going to war with the Koutou. It's a wonder it hasn't broken out with the kidnapping of Naapi, but how do you think the Koutou will feel if a Peta army one day marches into that damned desert of theirs, searching everywhere? Not happy right?
That's why my Queen entrusted me with the affair, she knows where I like to relax and figured I would know someone who can do the job quietly. Who are the Peta without Naapi? Dead that's what. But all regular guys won't touch it, they are either afraid of the war or they don't want to work in the winter. So, this is where you guys come in. You've already read the poster Istvan, ''Lifetime provision of shelter, food, mates, and riches for whom can recover our beloved God Naapi. Speak to Askook the Royal Cortesan.'' Well here I am and I'm offering you a job, maybe that Elf could be useful too. What do you boys say?'' Askook finally paused for breath, his black eyes darting between either face, did the man even need air?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:32, Sat 02 Oct 2021.

"Huh? Oh, the big halfling? Uh, yeah, sure." ...Why does he need me to bring him down? Istvan wondered, but maybe it was a social custom he wasn't aware of.




Istvan blinked. "All right, here's what I got out of that: Naapi has been Naapi-napped by Koutous. Queen Hurit tried to stop it, but Koutous fight dirty. And... you guys, the Peta, may be going to war with the Koutous. In the desert. So... to avoid that... You guys want us to rescue Naapi. I... didn't actually get a chance to read that poster... But... Naapi... is a god?"

Wapun snirked in the background at 'Naapi-napped' while Askook looked shocked.
''You've never heard of the great Naapi? You really are from away, but yes, he is our head God, provider and sustainer of all Peta lives. And we want him back because, first of all, he is our God, and because we need him to defeat the Koutou! I hate to say it but we aren't strong enough on our own, but with Naapi! Oh ho! Those Koutou would turn into puddles of rotten flesh just looking at him,'' Askook's eyes glimmer at the thought.
''Plus he might curse us if we don't'' added Wapun, earning a dirty look from Askook, ''oh! And Serendipity is doing much better. You can go talk to her if you want,'' the barmaid chirped, ''such a pretty name,'' she contemplated out loud, now it was Chogan's turn to give her a look.

"But... but... if he's a god... how'd they steal 'im, exactly? And why can't he get away?" I need to understand what our rescue-ee is capable of... thought Istvan. "...Oh, also-- is Naapi the god of anything in particular? Or just of the, uh, Peta people in general?"

''He is the creator, provider, and protector of our people, he likes to play tricks occasionally but there is low mortality rates when he does, so we can't complain. He used to be all around,'' Askook waved his spoon around for emphasise, ''but twenty years ago was bound into his totem by his wife, so he couldn't sleep around with the other Goddess' anymore.
She's still mad at him and we've trying to free him so he can help us, but it hasn't worked so far, poor Hurit has worked her ass off for fifteen of 'em.
And now, to make matters worse he's been stolen leaving us wide open to Thunder Bird attacks!
His powers are limited with him being entrapped but Naapi likes to drink, and uh...the helper boy forgot to bring his beer the night he was stolen. And there was no puddles of rotten meat to show he put up a fight, we think the Koutou bribed him. Cheating bastards, but we got rid of that kid so he'll be happy again when you get him back,'' Askook appealed, open his long hands.

"I... see." Oh dear, thought Istvan.




"And... what might Thunder Birds be?" Istvan said (a little defensively, perhaps)...





Note to self: don't let the trickster god out of his totem if you can possibly avoid it, thought Istvan.



Istvan looked (imploringly?) at the big halfling, to see what he thought about all this...

''Thunder Birds have got these big leather wings that are twenty feet in span, and this big ugly faces with a giant horn on the top! They eat our kids and animals mostly but occasionally an elder. Not to mention they wreck our house when they land on them, their screeches are horrible! Your lucky not to have met one.''

Serendipity afforded the pretty man an appreciative smile and again thanked him for his kindness. As the group slipped from the room she snuggled into the warm bundle of blankets, and tried to recall what happened, what was she doing, where she was, if she wasn't this Serendipity then who she really was if or anything.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Sun 03 Oct 2021.

Istvan nods, his countenance solemn. "Leather wings..." he muses... "...So... you're saying... they don't have feathers. Sound a little more like bats. Or dragons maybe."

In reply to Istvan Vanoson (msg # 39):
''Kind of but much more ugly,'' Askook shivered.

"...Did the what's-their-names steal Naapi so he would protect them from these Thunder Bats?"

Lulled by the sounds, emanating from the various occupants of the Tavern, Serendipity drifted off to sleep.

In reply to Istvan Vanoson (msg # 41):
''Yes, but it's more as shown he is easily bribed so if Naapi will easily switch sides, and it weakens us. Perfect for takeover,'' Askook grumbled.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:59, Mon 04 Oct 2021.

Downstairs there was a dull murmur and the crackle of the fire, much quieter than before. Wapun was scrubbing the bar down, ''Oh, Seren! Can I call you that? you look better, hope the bed was warm enough. Do you need anything? Breakfast?'' How the barmaid is still able to ask so many questions despite the black bags under her eyes and obvious exhaustion, only Naapi knows.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:34, Fri 08 Oct 2021.

It was well after sunset when Serendipity woke. She peered about attempting to determine where she was. Frustration was beginning to bother her; perhaps asking someone she'd be able to work out what to do. Rising she swept out of the room, making her way to the common area. Pleased to see the Tavern Waitress Wapun was present. Affording the Chatty Minotaur an appreciatively grateful smile. Thank you yes, Provided you join me and partake of a momentary repose and refreshments. Serendipity offered
This message was last edited by the player at 19:10, Fri 08 Oct 2021.