Vivi nods solemnly as some soup drips from her chin. "They only woke me up to do... To do bad things. But they made me sleep in that stupid tube."

"Now that ain't good." Luthok gathers the bowls and puts them with the other dishes in the corner. It doesn't look like has done any dishes in a long time. He sits down at the edge of his cot.  "Well.. Now I make you sleep on some stupid mushrooms. Don't wake me unless you have to." He turns his back to Vivi and faces the wall, closing his tired eyes. 

 "Exciting! This will be fun," says Merrick happily. He leads Sir Garamon, and anyone else who will follow him (OOC: Muireach?) , to his Nana's house. It's a tiny entrance, but it appears that the knight may just fit in if he keeps his head bowed.

"Nana, I'm home! I know it's not sunday yet but I'm early. I hope you don't mind I brought a friend. His name is Garamon."

Merrick opens the door, taking Garamon and Muireach by the hand.

Muireach puts up no fight, he’s too tired. He looks longingly at his quiet inn off in the distance.

(I'm assuming DK stays on Urich's lawn.)

The Ricks and Sir Garamon travel to Nana Wilhelmina's home. She lives in a cozy cottage. Everything about this home screams kithkin! The thatched roof, bleached white brick walls, and a circular, wooden front door.

Merrick brings his friends through the door without knocking. Immediately they can smell the aroma of freshly baked cookies and spicy tea! The inside of the home looks warm and inviting. There are plenty of cushy seats, and portraits of Merrick and other folks all over the walls. The seats are arranged to allow everyone to look at the hearth. 

"What a delightful scent!" Sir Garamon compliments. "I simply must ask this Nana where she buys her candles!"

"Oh my, if it isn't my sweet little Ricky," coos the voice of an elderly woman. She enters the room from, what Merrick knows to be, the kitchen. She has glasses on that make her eyes look like giant saucers with small, black pinpricks for pupils. She is a bit hunched over and slowly approaches Merrick and his friends. "Friends! How lovely... I see there are two friends here, Merrick. I'm afraid I forgot this young man's name." Nana looks at Muireach with a small smile. "Forgive me, young man... Nana is forgetful these days."

Muireach gently bows, “I am Muireach Maon, King of Heroes. It is an honor to meet you, Elder of the... Merrick clan? Thank you for your hospitality.”

"Nana, you would not BELIEVE how well this guy plays the pipes!" says Merrick excitedly, almost interrupting the elf. "You should have seen it! We had the whole town watching as we both played, everyone was dancing! And then the bird bards told me about a sky sovereign, so I can learn to play well too. And Garamon here knows how to get there, we just have to find a pegasus which is a unicorn without a horn and with wings. Garamon lives with a statue that plays music out of its belly, it's super creepy. Also he's a knight and he fought the others but it was just practice so I was bored and found a magic jug. Look it has dandelion ale in it. Do you have any cookies? I love the nut and oat ones."

Nana smiles and nods along to Merrick's report. Surprisingly to Muireach, she doesn't reply with a 'that's nice dear,' and instead gestures to the kitchen with a, "Oh yes, of course. I have just that sort of cookie too! Take care not to eat too many, Merrick, because they are for poor Rose's daughter. That little tyke just turned 4 you know, such a sweet little thing. She's quite ill. Rose told me she thinks it's just a cold, but I've been alive a lot longer than Rose! I know the pox when I see it. Poor little girl, she's got the pox and soon she'll be covered in polka dots. I've made them cookies, and tomorrow I'll head over with some honied tea. Do you remember, Merrick? When you were just a wee lad and got sick, Nana would always visit you and feed you cookies and tea. Always made you feel better didn't it?"

At some point, Nana has taken a seat on the sofa. Somehow, Muireach, Garamon, and Merrick find themselves sitting with her. Merrick is more than welcome to have grabbed a cookie or two before he sat down. But if he took a third, he knows Nana will tsk at him.

"You look like such kind fellows. I hope Merrick has been good and kind to you! That is the Meadowgrain way."

Merrick listens, nodding politely. "Yes, Nana," he says, when asked about Rose.

To Muireach, something is off. He can't quite put his finger on it. He thinks, and it bugs him in the back of his mind, until he finally realizes something: Merrick has been sitting still and shutting up for minutes on end!

Shocked and a little frightened at Merrick’s silence, Muireach eyes the grandmother concernedly, “Yes... he’s been a perfect gentleman. A... downright joy?” Muireach’s eyes keep glancing from Nana to Merrick.

"Oh, that's so lovely to hear. I'm so happy to hear Merrick has more friends. Yes, he is such a good boy." The way Nana stresses 'good' sends a shiver down Merrick's spine. Nana Willie still looks as pleasant as ever, but Merrick feels it coming. With Garamon and Muireach as witnesses, of course, she next asks, "I do hope you have been a good boy, Merrick. You were always a good boy, but my, you could be naughty. Fighting in the streets, taking shiny things that aren't yours - tell me," Nana looks over at Muireach and Garamon, "has my dear Merrick been fighting again? I do hope he's been an upstanding citizen..."

“Actually, he helped rescue a young girl from a group of ruffians. He certainly has been a help to me, the King of Heroes.”

A dark cloud hangs over for a moment but clears up as Nana says, "Merrick saved someone? Hmm, that is fighting, but I suppose for a good reason. Merrick's a hero, how lovely! I knew it, of course, it runs in the blood. Oh my, forgive me, would you like some tea, dear?" Nana asks Merrick and Garamon.

Garamon shakes his head, his helmet clanging against his metal collar. "No thank you, Nana! I am afraid I left my bag at home."

"That's fine dear. And you?" Nana ignores Sir Garamon's comment entirely. "A bit of tea before bed helps soothe the soul, that's what I always say."

"I would love some tea please, Nana," responds Merrick politely. When he is served, he adds. "Thank you very much."

Dyoken slips into his sack, and falls a sleep in an instant. He dreams that he encounters a black lioness in a dense forest. He cracks his whip and the lioness reacts favorably. In moments she appears to be within his control. He reaches out to brush her coat when a second lion appears. A powerful adult male, old and wise, its black coat accented with a white mane. It pounces, and as it rips out his throat the lioness watches, standing there in that dress, unfazed as the life drains from his severed arteries, she smiles a beautiful and welcoming smile.

Dyoken sits up in his tent. Now he'll never get back to sleep. He lies down and falls asleep in an instant. He wakes early the next day refreshed and ready for a new adventure.

The night winds down and people go to bed. In the morning, Merrick, bright and chipper, opens Muireach's door.

Some Bonus EXPs you gained prior to bedtime in case you may have leveled up overnight!

Muireach receives 100 EXP for winning the performance contest!

Merrick receives 75 EXP for suggesting it.

Merrick receives 50 EXP for discovering Hel/One.

DK receives 50 EXP for learning about the Archeological Society.

DK and Luthok receive 25 EXP each for partnering with the Archeological Society.

As Merrick goes to open the door, the door swings open, practically flying off of its hinges. A deeper voiced Muireach bellows in laughter, “TRULY! This door was no match for the strength of the king of heroes! I am too, king of doors!” From inside, Muireach has kicked the door open apparently. He gazes down upon Merrick, almost intimidatingly, but laughs once more, “Merrick! Be careful, my friend! My strength is not so easily contained by woodcraft!” It would appear Muireach has changed once more. He whole body seems made of pure gold, as if he was a walking statue. His long hair is tied tight behind his head, and his eyes burn bright with confidence. He almost has an intense heat and pressure to his presence.

"Engarde!" Sir Garamon jumps out of his own room and points a chair generally at Muireach. Merrick and Muireach can hear a hamster wheel spin as Garamon slowly lowers the chair. "S-sire?! What happened to you! Don't tell me Urich painted you gold in your sleep. He enjoys playing mean pranks! Especially on the sleeping!"

Now that he mentions it, there seem to be black smudges all on Garamon's helm that makes him look like a mustachioed villain with a forever arching brow.

Luthok wakes in the grey hours of morning, preparing himself for the expedition at hand, changing up his arcane arsenal, making a breakfast omelette with mushrooms for himself and Vivi and packing his backpack. "Mornin' lass, time to rise with the sun." Luthok prods her carefully with his boot. "Any idea what we're doin', except from going for a hell of a stroll?"