"At most six, small enough to not attract attention but large enough to make others reconsider...crossing the group." he answers
Naru starts counting in his mind: Drunk, Mind-Speaker, Floating Hair, Volcano, and beautiful me. "So one more then. If the next one is green, I think we got a rainbow!"
The human stands 6’2, with broad shoulders and athletic build. When he steps into the inn, it is easy to draw other patrons’ eyes. He wears a thick and dense fur coat draped over him like wearing a shadow, made his broad shoulders broader. Trophy from a hunt, you would assume. The fur coat left the front of his well-toned body uncovered, showing sculpted chest and abs. While he moves, it is with an fluid and graceful motion, at odds with his broad build.
Alabaster stops at the door, nods as the halfing server passes by. It is not hard to spot his group without direction - already gathering around the table where the half-orc sits. Twin swords trapped to his back, he approaches the table. Contrary to his feral physique, his face is fair and handsome; deep eyes with a captivating brown color; the soft arch of eyebrows, straight nose. His tan skin and carelessly sweptbacked light brown hair all adds to the subtle elegance. All, expect for the sharp eyes that reveal the undercurrent of untamable ferality, and when he opens his mouth, you could catch glimpse of the white flash of his filed canines, sharp to a point.
He sets his flyer on the table - a little crumpled, but overall still readable, and pulls out the remaining chair to sit. He cocks an interested brow at Naru, coming in just hearing his last prediction. “Disappointed?”
“Alabaster.” He says to Vertheg, with an easy smile. Though the filed teeth make him seem unpredictable and dangerous. “I’m here to help.”
Naru beams at the Dragonborn. He is about to reply about his hat when he is cut short by a huge human. Not green at all.
"Disappointed?" the human asks.
Naru takes a moment to look at the newcomer and says in a soft voice and more to himself than anything:
"Well, yes, actually, a little bit..." Then his voice picks up to its normal exuberant level. "But your fur coat is beautiful in its own right, no doubt! Very fearsome! With a bit of arrangement, we could give it a je-ne-sais-quoi that would turn heads. Of course, I can help you with that, I know much about fashion."
Barkas Reedfellow’s eyes go up when Vertheg mentions Lord Aubreck and gathering at the manor. “Oho… Guess I’ll need to tidy up…”. He spits on his hand and rubs it through his hair, trying to pat it down and get it to conform into some sort of control. But even more exciting to him is the gathering of people at the table, usually folks sit away from him, he is excited that he has a live audience nearby. When Vertheg mentions that the tab for the table is covered by Lord Aubreck, his arm goes up like a shot, saying to any passing waiter “Bring a mug of your best stout over and any stew and bread that you might have back there behind the bar. My stomach is rumbling. Thankee kindly!” As everyone is seated, he says to himself, as he spreads his star map out on the table, “Three warriors join the group, yes, yes, yes. Right here, all foretold right here….” He is using his fingers as a protractor, pointing to various stars portrayed on the map. You can make no sense of it. He seems to be pointing to random spots on the map.
Craice takes a seat in a chair he believes could best support his weight, and gives a small, respectful nod to the newcomer, acknowledging their strength and ferocity, before turning to the dwarf sitting next to him, watching as the Druid studies his map.
”Fascinating, you say you can read portents with this? How does that work, If you don’t mind my asking?”
He asks, partially being polite, partially genuinely interested, but fully listening to the response.
“Fashion,” Alabaster repeats the word as he takes a look at Naru and his extravagant feather hat, “like yours?” He humms softly with a smile, one arm resting on the back of the chair, the luxuriant fur gleaming in the tavern’s light. “Yeah, I could be interested.”
He raises a finger at the passing waiter. “I’ll have the same, thanks. The stout, and whatever food you’ve got.” Before leaning forward with Craice, trying and failing to study the drunken dwarf’s map.
Barkas looks up at the perceived interest in his star map. “You want to know? Really? We’ll pull up a chair and get something to drink, let me tell you all about it. You see here, the sign of the stars and their coordination over this spot? The gathering of the warrior, the archer and the bunny rabbit? There is a convergence with the moon pattern and the kraken. Now right over here you will see a different accumulation over the area known as Chult. That’s where I’m eventually headed you see? But there is a great gathering of power, star power you would say, centered around this area, leading me up, over, around and through to ….” He points his finger down and pointedly to the table, “here. Do you see? Do you have the gift, good sir? Do you see?” And he continues rambling on….
“Alabaster.” He says to Vertheg, with an easy smile. Though the filed teeth make him seem unpredictable and dangerous. “I’m here to help.”
Vertheg looks a bit deflated as Alabaster comes in, muttering something under his breath. Then he takes a deep breath and introduces himself once more,
"Hello, I am Vertheg. And with that, I believe we have enough to meet my master's criteria. If you all would like to talk among yourselves first and have a lite lunch as well, please feel free to. I shall escort you all to the estate at your word."
He gives a well practiced bow as the staff comes with a platter, holding a few bowls of stew and a basket of bread accompanied by two mugs of stout.
Naru looks at the star map with everyone else for a short while before deciding that however he looks at it, it's just a bunch of white dots on a dark background. He gets none of it.
"Hello, I am Vertheg. And with that, I believe we have enough to meet my master's criteria. If you all would like to talk among yourselves first and have a lite lunch as well, please feel free to. I shall escort you all to the estate at your word."
Naru is about to say that he's fine, that they could just go right now, as he knows that asking for food has never been a proper thing to do, but then he sees the platter of aromatic dishes land on the table and his stomache growls. You can somewhat see in his face a hunger that he has been suppressing for who knows how long. "Well, it would be rude to refuse food that is already on the table, right? I guess I'll have a bite, as it is proper manners."
He then starts eating, still looking at everyone around the table and paying attention, but in silence.
“Now gentlemen, there’s no need to rush, the day is far too young to waste on such a frantic pace, and Vertheg here was given instructions for at least six, by my count we are exactly six. I never excelled in math but if he has only gathered the barest minimum perhaps his master would be grateful in knowing he had done everything he could to gather as many as he could rather than taking leave the second he had the chance. If we’re all in agreement that a free meal is better than an empty stomach, and that empty stomachs are never good for negotiations, then let us make some polite small talk and get to know each other better before we place our trust and safety in one another, no?”
Alabaster gives a little smile at the server who brought the drink and food, takes a generous sip from the stein and sets it down. He props one elbow on the table as he listens to Barkas’ increasingly confusing explanation of his star chart.
“Some of my people study that, too.” He starts, when there’s a lull in the conversation, “The location of stars, the migration of birds, the direction of winds. We would move when the weather changes, follow the pattern. Everything that is given to us is given by the earth… She protects us, guides us.” His voice grows softer as he goes on, and he laughs quietly. His eyes still sharp and bright. “The greatest warriors of our tribe are able to manifest Earth’s power and form blades of wind and ice. These,” He jerks his thumb at the twin swords at his back, curved, shining, carefully crafted. Taking another sip of the stout, Alabaster finishes. “would be no comparison.”
A slight look of surprise crosses Craice’s reptilian face as he hears Shafir’s voice resounding in his mind, startled but fascinated he looks towards the Triton, but also listening to Alabaster and gesturing towards the smiling warrior, saying aloud to Shafir
”Things like these, tales of home and days past, the things that have led us to the path we are on. The culmination of things that have made us who we are, tell me Triton, what has made you who you are? What has given you your unique gift that you can connect directly to minds?”
"It was an encounter I would never forget. I was foraging deep under the waves when I encountered a shark with old scars. We did not talk aloud, but more of a empathic connection. I traveled for days with the shark. You see it was at the end of its life and was looking for place to die. Eventually we found the perfect place and with its last breath the shark gave me these telepathic gifts."says Shafir in a wistful tone. "I do miss home." he shakes his head slightly "I am here to earn coin for my home. I rather proceed."
Barkas smiles at Alabaster, saying “I see, you are aware of the power of patterns. The power of the earth. It feeds us. It cares for us and gives us strength.” He smiles a broad grin. “The stars give me my power. I can feel them smile and twinkle when I use my power. Maybe you’ll see, and then you’ll know. Hah!” He finishes his stout. “So when’s this here job gonna get started? Unless we are getting paid to stay here and sample beers. I’m fine with that.” *belch*
Naru looks around him. Everyone is talking about stars. He can join in that! Finishing his last bite of bread, he jumps in the conversation joyfully.
"Stars! I know stars! I can name so many just from the top of my head! You have Elina Goldrun, from Nimpeth; beautiful figure. She dances like a fairy, astonishing to see. Then we have Nuuma Treckfjord, from Ompre; I swear she can bewitch people with her lute. She's an aspiration. Oh, and there's Gorlak Hammerfist, of course, the famous choreographer from Sundabar. He's the one who made the military formations in the play Silver Marches. You know the one. And there are so many more great stars; Haldi Holttergast, Jovi Bulkwalker, Rendel Claphtella, Princess Heart, though I'm pretty sure that's not her real name... So many. And of course, yours truly; Naru Silvertongue. But most of you probably already knew that. Brightest rising star in Waterdeep, if I say so myself. I assume you have kept your calm around me as to not attract attention. Remarkably done, beautiful!"
“Uhhhh. What the hell are you talking about sonny? I don’t know any stars by the names you just said.” Barkas looks down at his map like he is questioning himself, leaning in close to his map. What the hell is he talking about? He scratches his head and some dandruff falls on the table and his map.
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"At most six, small enough to not attract attention but large enough to make others reconsider...crossing the group." he answers
Naru looks at the new arrival and again looks astonished at the physical appearance.
"You are red! So fiery! Beautiful!"
Naru starts counting in his mind: Drunk, Mind-Speaker, Floating Hair, Volcano, and beautiful me.
"So one more then. If the next one is green, I think we got a rainbow!"
“And you.. have such an interesting hat, where may I ask did you find such an extravagant oddity?”
Farewell.
The human stands 6’2, with broad shoulders and athletic build. When he steps into the inn, it is easy to draw other patrons’ eyes. He wears a thick and dense fur coat draped over him like wearing a shadow, made his broad shoulders broader. Trophy from a hunt, you would assume. The fur coat left the front of his well-toned body uncovered, showing sculpted chest and abs. While he moves, it is with an fluid and graceful motion, at odds with his broad build.
Alabaster stops at the door, nods as the halfing server passes by. It is not hard to spot his group without direction - already gathering around the table where the half-orc sits. Twin swords trapped to his back, he approaches the table. Contrary to his feral physique, his face is fair and handsome; deep eyes with a captivating brown color; the soft arch of eyebrows, straight nose. His tan skin and carelessly sweptbacked light brown hair all adds to the subtle elegance. All, expect for the sharp eyes that reveal the undercurrent of untamable ferality, and when he opens his mouth, you could catch glimpse of the white flash of his filed canines, sharp to a point.
He sets his flyer on the table - a little crumpled, but overall still readable, and pulls out the remaining chair to sit. He cocks an interested brow at Naru, coming in just hearing his last prediction. “Disappointed?”
“Alabaster.” He says to Vertheg, with an easy smile. Though the filed teeth make him seem unpredictable and dangerous. “I’m here to help.”
Naru beams at the Dragonborn. He is about to reply about his hat when he is cut short by a huge human. Not green at all.
"Disappointed?" the human asks.
Naru takes a moment to look at the newcomer and says in a soft voice and more to himself than anything:
"Well, yes, actually, a little bit..." Then his voice picks up to its normal exuberant level. "But your fur coat is beautiful in its own right, no doubt! Very fearsome! With a bit of arrangement, we could give it a je-ne-sais-quoi that would turn heads. Of course, I can help you with that, I know much about fashion."
Barkas Reedfellow’s eyes go up when Vertheg mentions Lord Aubreck and gathering at the manor. “Oho… Guess I’ll need to tidy up…”. He spits on his hand and rubs it through his hair, trying to pat it down and get it to conform into some sort of control. But even more exciting to him is the gathering of people at the table, usually folks sit away from him, he is excited that he has a live audience nearby. When Vertheg mentions that the tab for the table is covered by Lord Aubreck, his arm goes up like a shot, saying to any passing waiter “Bring a mug of your best stout over and any stew and bread that you might have back there behind the bar. My stomach is rumbling. Thankee kindly!” As everyone is seated, he says to himself, as he spreads his star map out on the table, “Three warriors join the group, yes, yes, yes. Right here, all foretold right here….” He is using his fingers as a protractor, pointing to various stars portrayed on the map. You can make no sense of it. He seems to be pointing to random spots on the map.
Craice takes a seat in a chair he believes could best support his weight, and gives a small, respectful nod to the newcomer, acknowledging their strength and ferocity, before turning to the dwarf sitting next to him, watching as the Druid studies his map.
”Fascinating, you say you can read portents with this? How does that work, If you don’t mind my asking?”
He asks, partially being polite, partially genuinely interested, but fully listening to the response.
Farewell.
“Fashion,” Alabaster repeats the word as he takes a look at Naru and his extravagant feather hat, “like yours?” He humms softly with a smile, one arm resting on the back of the chair, the luxuriant fur gleaming in the tavern’s light. “Yeah, I could be interested.”
He raises a finger at the passing waiter. “I’ll have the same, thanks. The stout, and whatever food you’ve got.” Before leaning forward with Craice, trying and failing to study the drunken dwarf’s map.
Barkas looks up at the perceived interest in his star map. “You want to know? Really? We’ll pull up a chair and get something to drink, let me tell you all about it. You see here, the sign of the stars and their coordination over this spot? The gathering of the warrior, the archer and the bunny rabbit? There is a convergence with the moon pattern and the kraken. Now right over here you will see a different accumulation over the area known as Chult. That’s where I’m eventually headed you see? But there is a great gathering of power, star power you would say, centered around this area, leading me up, over, around and through to ….” He points his finger down and pointedly to the table, “here. Do you see? Do you have the gift, good sir? Do you see?” And he continues rambling on….
Vertheg looks a bit deflated as Alabaster comes in, muttering something under his breath. Then he takes a deep breath and introduces himself once more,
"Hello, I am Vertheg. And with that, I believe we have enough to meet my master's criteria. If you all would like to talk among yourselves first and have a lite lunch as well, please feel free to. I shall escort you all to the estate at your word."
He gives a well practiced bow as the staff comes with a platter, holding a few bowls of stew and a basket of bread accompanied by two mugs of stout.
Naru looks at the star map with everyone else for a short while before deciding that however he looks at it, it's just a bunch of white dots on a dark background. He gets none of it.
Naru is about to say that he's fine, that they could just go right now, as he knows that asking for food has never been a proper thing to do, but then he sees the platter of aromatic dishes land on the table and his stomache growls. You can somewhat see in his face a hunger that he has been suppressing for who knows how long.
"Well, it would be rude to refuse food that is already on the table, right? I guess I'll have a bite, as it is proper manners."
He then starts eating, still looking at everyone around the table and paying attention, but in silence.
Shafir was not hungry, but felt it impolite to refuse the food. He quickly finishes the meal and says "I am ready to proceed"
“Now gentlemen, there’s no need to rush, the day is far too young to waste on such a frantic pace, and Vertheg here was given instructions for at least six, by my count we are exactly six. I never excelled in math but if he has only gathered the barest minimum perhaps his master would be grateful in knowing he had done everything he could to gather as many as he could rather than taking leave the second he had the chance. If we’re all in agreement that a free meal is better than an empty stomach, and that empty stomachs are never good for negotiations, then let us make some polite small talk and get to know each other better before we place our trust and safety in one another, no?”
Farewell.
Alabaster gives a little smile at the server who brought the drink and food, takes a generous sip from the stein and sets it down. He props one elbow on the table as he listens to Barkas’ increasingly confusing explanation of his star chart.
“Some of my people study that, too.” He starts, when there’s a lull in the conversation, “The location of stars, the migration of birds, the direction of winds. We would move when the weather changes, follow the pattern. Everything that is given to us is given by the earth… She protects us, guides us.” His voice grows softer as he goes on, and he laughs quietly. His eyes still sharp and bright. “The greatest warriors of our tribe are able to manifest Earth’s power and form blades of wind and ice. These,” He jerks his thumb at the twin swords at his back, curved, shining, carefully crafted. Taking another sip of the stout, Alabaster finishes. “would be no comparison.”
Shafir looks to Craice and speaks to him telepathically "What would we talk about?"
A slight look of surprise crosses Craice’s reptilian face as he hears Shafir’s voice resounding in his mind, startled but fascinated he looks towards the Triton, but also listening to Alabaster and gesturing towards the smiling warrior, saying aloud to Shafir
”Things like these, tales of home and days past, the things that have led us to the path we are on. The culmination of things that have made us who we are, tell me Triton, what has made you who you are? What has given you your unique gift that you can connect directly to minds?”
Farewell.
"It was an encounter I would never forget. I was foraging deep under the waves when I encountered a shark with old scars. We did not talk aloud, but more of a empathic connection. I traveled for days with the shark. You see it was at the end of its life and was looking for place to die. Eventually we found the perfect place and with its last breath the shark gave me these telepathic gifts." says Shafir in a wistful tone. "I do miss home." he shakes his head slightly "I am here to earn coin for my home. I rather proceed."
Barkas smiles at Alabaster, saying “I see, you are aware of the power of patterns. The power of the earth. It feeds us. It cares for us and gives us strength.” He smiles a broad grin. “The stars give me my power. I can feel them smile and twinkle when I use my power. Maybe you’ll see, and then you’ll know. Hah!” He finishes his stout. “So when’s this here job gonna get started? Unless we are getting paid to stay here and sample beers. I’m fine with that.” *belch*
Naru looks around him. Everyone is talking about stars. He can join in that! Finishing his last bite of bread, he jumps in the conversation joyfully.
"Stars! I know stars! I can name so many just from the top of my head!
You have Elina Goldrun, from Nimpeth; beautiful figure. She dances like a fairy, astonishing to see. Then we have Nuuma Treckfjord, from Ompre; I swear she can bewitch people with her lute. She's an aspiration. Oh, and there's Gorlak Hammerfist, of course, the famous choreographer from Sundabar. He's the one who made the military formations in the play Silver Marches. You know the one. And there are so many more great stars; Haldi Holttergast, Jovi Bulkwalker, Rendel Claphtella, Princess Heart, though I'm pretty sure that's not her real name... So many.
And of course, yours truly; Naru Silvertongue. But most of you probably already knew that. Brightest rising star in Waterdeep, if I say so myself. I assume you have kept your calm around me as to not attract attention. Remarkably done, beautiful!"
Naru looks at everyone else expectantly.
“Uhhhh. What the hell are you talking about sonny? I don’t know any stars by the names you just said.” Barkas looks down at his map like he is questioning himself, leaning in close to his map. What the hell is he talking about? He scratches his head and some dandruff falls on the table and his map.