Belkas wakes up refreshed. He has a vague memory of running from flying demons through vast underground caverns, but the warmth of the morning sun soon clears away the last vestiges of the nightmare.
Strangely enough, he is looking forward to arriving in Waterdeep. The crowds will be there, of course, but this time they will have their own house to stay in, away from prying eyes and enough funds that he won't have to worry about where the next meal will come from. Perhaps they will learn what is happening with the giants from those who know more about these things.
The half-elf gathers his things together and smiles at the rest of the party. He is ready for Waterdeep.
Zyllith wakes up in her usual lackadaisical style after everyone else and begins gathering her belongings for the next leg of the trip. She's clearly excited to arrive in Waterdeep soon. Particularly so she can pickup a replacement weapon as soon as they arrive.
Arisa is excited to see waterdeep again, and learn what she can of the things the group has discovered. She mentions she wants to find a temple to Mystra to see if she can get any advice from the clergy.
Emerging from the brush, you climb out of the shallow dell where you spent the night and begin traversing a southwesterly course across these rolling grasslands. The morning is clear, and by mid morning, the temperature has begun, and indication that the usual midsummer heat will return for another day.
You see a number of birds and the occasional deer as you make your way, and at one point, you see a murder of crows flock over the cleanly picked remains of some large animal, larger than a deer. It's perhaps the size of a cow or bull, but you have not passed any farms in this area, nor have you see any other signs of livestock.
By noon, you crest over a small rise and finally reach the Northfurrow Trail. Your pace increases slightly on the smooth, wide, relatively flat path, and you plod along through the afternoon, passing the occasional merchant and trader who is headed to Goldenfields. By late afternoon, you begin to pass the numerous farms that lie on the outskirts of the city, and then a couple hours later, you merge with the High Road, turn south and look up to see the magnificent City of Splendors as it comes into view. A short while later, you arrive at the North Gate and pass into Waterdeep amidst the collection of other travelers who are also entering the city.
Elion seems quite relieved to have reached the city. He seems quite a bit different from the pale skinned troubadour who you met outside of the city gate barely a week ago. The experiences he's logged in your company have definitely changed him, and he seems a bit less innocent and cocky and more confident. During the journey back, he and Shalvus obviously became even closer friends, and when you enter the city, Elion looks at him and says,
"Shalvus, my friend, let me take you to my favorite hang out in Waterdeep, The Blue Ewe. They're in for a treat tonight, because I've got a poem unlike any that I've ever recited before!"
"Oy, yea! That sounds bloody grand, mind if'n I join ye?" Zyllith calls back to Elion with a laugh, she's clearly just as happy to be back in the big city as well. Turning to the rest of the party she adds, "We got lots ta' do 'ere, but nae much point doin' any o' it at this time o' day. 'Specially bein' tha' road weary lot we are, ye? A good drink n' night's rest be the way ta' go, 'fore we wake up early morn' ta' handle our business."
Elion answers Zyllith with a jovial smile. "Of course you can join us!!! I can see that the Ewe made an impression on you. I told you it has the best entertainment in the city, and it's about to get even better tonight! I've been working on an epic poem ever since we left Goldenfields... it's by far my best ever!"
With that, the pale skinned elf leads you into Waterdeep. Being late in the day, and just before dinnertime, the streets are filled with people. Continuing down the The High Road through the residential North Ward and past the Castle Ward and into the heart of the city, until you reach the intersection of the High Road and Waterdeep Way, and you spot the familiar sign that's painted with a funny outline of an indigo colored sheep.
(Assuming that Vernon dismisses his warhorse and split up the weight of all the coin between you, you enter the tavern. Even though it's relatively early, the place is beginning to fill up, but you're able to find an open spot at one of the long tables, and the seven of you drop off of your weary feet and sit down for the first time all day.
Belkas glances around the tavern. Although food and drinks sound tempting, Belkas looks at their sacks of coins.
"Perhaps we should get a room and leave our things there. I won't feel too comfortable with so many eyes on us. I am happy to watch the room if you send up some food. I am still a little tired anyway after the fight and the night in the nettles."
Siobhan has been silent throughout their arrival in Waterdeep. The firbolg’s eyes are wide and her hand is gripping her staff tightly; her breathing is not fast only because of how carefully it is being controlled. The largest place she has been before was a village on the cusp of calling itself a proper town; even where she met her new companions she did not venture far in to Goldenfields.
“I will come with you,” she gets out and immediately makes for whatever spot looks to lead to the inn rooms.
"Aye, suit yerselves as ye like. I'll go on an' get tha' rooms settled wit' tha' leftover coins. Be back wit' tha' room keys fer ye!" Zyllith would give the two of them a wink before heading towards the Innkeeper to get a couple of rooms for everyone for the night. She would return right after to provide Belkas and Siobhan a key as promised (assuming there was no issue getting rooms) before rejoining the others, eager to enjoy the night's revelry with the others.
Belkas grabs the keys out of the air that Zyllith tosses at him. He grins at her. "Enjoy yourselves, but keep an eye open for trouble. Remember that the worst monsters aren't out in the wild."
He gives one of the keys to Siobhan as they walk up the stairs. "I get a little anxious with all these people around. I start to imagine enemies everywhere. It's a little better in the day, for whatever that's worth."
Someone starts playing an instrument below, and a resounding cheer rises up.
"We probably won't be getting much more sleep here than we did in the nettles, but at least it should be more comfortable. If you need anything or want to talk, just knock on the wall. I won't be sleeping until this all quiets down."
After Zyllith procures a single 6 bed common room for you, (lodging is 8 sp per person for the room), she helps Belkas and Siobhan cart the heavy packs up there for safe keeping, before returning to the common room, leaving the other two up there. Once back down, she begins to enjoy the evening with Arisa, Shalvus, Elion and Vernon, while the first of the performers is just getting underway. The barmaid seems to remember Vernon from your last visit and she gives him a wink and a smile when she comes to take your order.
As with your last visit to the Ewe, the fare includes: Berduskan Dark, a strong, heavy, sweet wine, for 4 sp for the pitcher, and Manycherries wine, a popular staple in Waterdeep, for 2 sp, and for beers, either a light summer wheat ale for 4 cp/mug & 2 sp/gallon, Wind and Wolf Farmhouse ale, a light yellow, foamy yeasty beer with a floral aroma for 5 cp/mug, and Siren Stout, a black, thick, creamy ale with its a rich, tan colored head for 6 cp mug, or 5 sp/gallon.
The food fare for the evening is roast chicken with herbs and plenty of black pepper, served with bread and goat cheese all for 1 gp per person.
As soon as she completes the necessary tasks of storing their gear in the room, Siobhan takes off almost all her equipment and transforms into a small wolf. She pulls a blanket off one bed and crawls under it, bringing the bedding along to make herself a cozy nest. Once done she curls up, nose to tail, and finally finds some relief from the chaos of this city-thing. Siobhan has spent too long feeling safer with fur and claws to be able to relax as her firbolg self in such an alien environment. She will rest for as long as she can maintain the form, just as she did in Barovia.
Zillith would gladly order a pitcher of Berduskan Dark for everyone, as well as order a meal for herself. Gladly cheering laughing, singing and generally enjoying herself among the patrons. Including no small amount of shameless flirting all around!
Vernon will nod at the barmaid as he orders the light summer wheat ale to go with the chicken. He will attempt to reach back to the recent adventurous moments to get in the mood, past the new-found worries of what to do with a horse when it provides such a nice view, but makes crowd navigation so much more difficult...
Belkas looks the room over to make sure it is safe, the window shutters are secured, and the door is locked. He wedges a chair under the door handle to give them extra time in case someone else has a key and tries to sneak in. He carefully places ball-bearings under the window where someone would need to place their feet if they were to sneak in from there.
He thinks to Crowley, 'Keep your eyes open and stay invisible. Too many people saw us come into the city and the tavern with our coins.'
Having done all he can think of, he sits down with his back against the wall. The wolf in the corner is either sleeping or doing a good job of pretending. If he found the city difficult, it must be a hundred times more difficult for her.
Fortunately, The Blue Ewe is an establishment that caters more to artist and poets than adventurers and ruffians, so you don't feel quite as nervous in here about eyes on your heavily stuffed packs than you probably would in other crowded, big city taverns. Despite their discomfort, and in Belkas's case, paranoia, neither Belkas and Siobhan experience anything in the room during the course of the evening that would cause alarm.
Meanwhile, down in the common room, the festivities are well underway, with a variety of entertainment. When you first arrived you saw the same female halfling/half elf duo that you saw last time, up on the stage, playing and singing their songs with those pleasing lyrics and harmonies that you remember. After that, the MC comes up onto the stage and formally begins the poetry section of the evening.
The first is a tall, rather good looking human teenage male who rambles a narrative of love and loss in free verse. (You remember him from last time.) The next, an young dwarfish lad recites a verse of hammers, stone and glittering gemstones. The third, a youngish woman in her 20s who has waist-long blonde hair recites a sonnet of love with a very exacting rhyme scheme, (she was also here last time as well), and the fourth, a thin young human man with thick blonde hair, closes with an ode to trees.
Then Elion takes the stage. After a brief applause from those who know him and a long pause, he recites fantastic narrative he wrote called "Against the Giants", in which he recounts the epic battle with the goblins, ogres and hill giants in Goldenfields, and the valiant efforts of the Dragon Aces who led the town to victory during a dark night and the following morning. He even recounts a chance meeting with a real-life dragon who actually knew of the deeds of the Dragon Aces. He uses a variety of rhyme schemes and a mix of symbolism and vivid details to paint the story of a mighty effort against a horde of monsters who terrorized the town with clubs, arrows and spiked-helmeted goblin who were sent flying over the wall by ogre-wielding catapults or "Goblin huckers."
Very little is embellished, and it's told from a first person perspective, although Elion doesn't exactly let on that the first person is himself. Nor does he specifically say who the Dragon Aces are. And unlike his previous work, it's not about death, it's about struggle, determination, heart and victory, although at the price of much pain, blood and a continued threat that purveys, since there are alwasy more giants in the world.
It's much different than the style of his previous work, and overall, it's a rousing epic, that has the crowd on the edge of their seats. When he's finished, he gets a rousing applause, and Elion's poet rival Berio rushes up the stage to give the pale skinned half elf a hearty handshake of admiration. When the crowd settles down, Elion returns to the table, and a trio of gnomes takes the stage to sing a selection of jigs, mostly themed around their love of beer, ale and whisky.
Belkas looks around the room. He's not being paranoid, just cautiously realistic in a cruel and dangerous world. Right.
To distract himself as he waits for the night's entertainment to end, he considers what he will do with his money. He needs a gem worth 300 gold for a spell of his. That will take up most of the gold. He would like to get his leather armor studded and maybe a suit of armor for Crowley, too - assuming that the imp wants some and that the armorer wouldn't panic on seeing a smallish devil in his shop. It would be wise to obtain extra casting supplies so he can resummon Crowley if something should happen to him. And if there is anything left over, healing potions might be useful, or flasks of poison, or some sort of exploding vials. Ah, and rations. Eating is always helpful.
He weaves an illusion of a dragon in the center of the room and then lets it dissipate into the air.
What if there was already an invisible thief in the room before they arrived... How would he detect her? Strings with bells? Caltrops? A bag of flour? No. No one knew they would be staying the night here, but it was definitely something to keep in mind for the future. You can never be too prepared.
(Hi all- dust finally settling from my relocation, getting back into the swing of things in game)
Arisa watches the performance with pleasure, also contemplating how to spend the newly acquired wealth. She looks down at her scale mail, with numerous patched up holes and gashes, still bloodstained a bit in spots, brown stains over the blueing. ‘Probably need new armor’ she thinks. She eats her meal slowly and savors the wine. The future is always uncertain. Best to enjoy this evening.
Siobhan returns to her firbolg form after a few hours pass. Somehow even as her sense of sound and scent fade in acuity, she finds herself become overwhelmed with the noise and odors again. For the wolf, all is simply information. For the firbolg, it is a sharp reminder that she is farther from home than she has ever been.
She shifts her position to a more comfortable cross legged seat for meditation. The blanket is still draped over her shoulders, though far less encompassing on her taller frame. Siobhan observes Belkas and sees his tension is not unlike hers. He would not have been out of place in Barovia. That cursed land demanded suspicion as the price of survival. And his unnatural companion - that too was like Barovia. She had met more than one survivor who knew the weight of a bad bargain. Oddly, that reassures her. Even in this far more chaotic place what she has learned about people remains true.
Siobhan settles herself and retreats into the rhythm of her breath, running through her spells and choosing what she should have at ready for the next dawn.
Belkas wakes up refreshed. He has a vague memory of running from flying demons through vast underground caverns, but the warmth of the morning sun soon clears away the last vestiges of the nightmare.
Strangely enough, he is looking forward to arriving in Waterdeep. The crowds will be there, of course, but this time they will have their own house to stay in, away from prying eyes and enough funds that he won't have to worry about where the next meal will come from. Perhaps they will learn what is happening with the giants from those who know more about these things.
The half-elf gathers his things together and smiles at the rest of the party. He is ready for Waterdeep.
Zyllith wakes up in her usual lackadaisical style after everyone else and begins gathering her belongings for the next leg of the trip. She's clearly excited to arrive in Waterdeep soon. Particularly so she can pickup a replacement weapon as soon as they arrive.
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Arisa is excited to see waterdeep again, and learn what she can of the things the group has discovered. She mentions she wants to find a temple to Mystra to see if she can get any advice from the clergy.
Emerging from the brush, you climb out of the shallow dell where you spent the night and begin traversing a southwesterly course across these rolling grasslands. The morning is clear, and by mid morning, the temperature has begun, and indication that the usual midsummer heat will return for another day.
You see a number of birds and the occasional deer as you make your way, and at one point, you see a murder of crows flock over the cleanly picked remains of some large animal, larger than a deer. It's perhaps the size of a cow or bull, but you have not passed any farms in this area, nor have you see any other signs of livestock.
By noon, you crest over a small rise and finally reach the Northfurrow Trail. Your pace increases slightly on the smooth, wide, relatively flat path, and you plod along through the afternoon, passing the occasional merchant and trader who is headed to Goldenfields. By late afternoon, you begin to pass the numerous farms that lie on the outskirts of the city, and then a couple hours later, you merge with the High Road, turn south and look up to see the magnificent City of Splendors as it comes into view. A short while later, you arrive at the North Gate and pass into Waterdeep amidst the collection of other travelers who are also entering the city.
Elion seems quite relieved to have reached the city. He seems quite a bit different from the pale skinned troubadour who you met outside of the city gate barely a week ago. The experiences he's logged in your company have definitely changed him, and he seems a bit less innocent and cocky and more confident. During the journey back, he and Shalvus obviously became even closer friends, and when you enter the city, Elion looks at him and says,
"Shalvus, my friend, let me take you to my favorite hang out in Waterdeep, The Blue Ewe. They're in for a treat tonight, because I've got a poem unlike any that I've ever recited before!"
"Oy, yea! That sounds bloody grand, mind if'n I join ye?" Zyllith calls back to Elion with a laugh, she's clearly just as happy to be back in the big city as well. Turning to the rest of the party she adds, "We got lots ta' do 'ere, but nae much point doin' any o' it at this time o' day. 'Specially bein' tha' road weary lot we are, ye? A good drink n' night's rest be the way ta' go, 'fore we wake up early morn' ta' handle our business."
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Elion answers Zyllith with a jovial smile. "Of course you can join us!!! I can see that the Ewe made an impression on you. I told you it has the best entertainment in the city, and it's about to get even better tonight! I've been working on an epic poem ever since we left Goldenfields... it's by far my best ever!"
With that, the pale skinned elf leads you into Waterdeep. Being late in the day, and just before dinnertime, the streets are filled with people. Continuing down the The High Road through the residential North Ward and past the Castle Ward and into the heart of the city, until you reach the intersection of the High Road and Waterdeep Way, and you spot the familiar sign that's painted with a funny outline of an indigo colored sheep.
(Assuming that Vernon dismisses his warhorse and split up the weight of all the coin between you, you enter the tavern. Even though it's relatively early, the place is beginning to fill up, but you're able to find an open spot at one of the long tables, and the seven of you drop off of your weary feet and sit down for the first time all day.
Belkas glances around the tavern. Although food and drinks sound tempting, Belkas looks at their sacks of coins.
"Perhaps we should get a room and leave our things there. I won't feel too comfortable with so many eyes on us. I am happy to watch the room if you send up some food. I am still a little tired anyway after the fight and the night in the nettles."
Siobhan has been silent throughout their arrival in Waterdeep. The firbolg’s eyes are wide and her hand is gripping her staff tightly; her breathing is not fast only because of how carefully it is being controlled. The largest place she has been before was a village on the cusp of calling itself a proper town; even where she met her new companions she did not venture far in to Goldenfields.
“I will come with you,” she gets out and immediately makes for whatever spot looks to lead to the inn rooms.
"Aye, suit yerselves as ye like. I'll go on an' get tha' rooms settled wit' tha' leftover coins. Be back wit' tha' room keys fer ye!" Zyllith would give the two of them a wink before heading towards the Innkeeper to get a couple of rooms for everyone for the night. She would return right after to provide Belkas and Siobhan a key as promised (assuming there was no issue getting rooms) before rejoining the others, eager to enjoy the night's revelry with the others.
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Belkas grabs the keys out of the air that Zyllith tosses at him. He grins at her. "Enjoy yourselves, but keep an eye open for trouble. Remember that the worst monsters aren't out in the wild."
He gives one of the keys to Siobhan as they walk up the stairs. "I get a little anxious with all these people around. I start to imagine enemies everywhere. It's a little better in the day, for whatever that's worth."
Someone starts playing an instrument below, and a resounding cheer rises up.
"We probably won't be getting much more sleep here than we did in the nettles, but at least it should be more comfortable. If you need anything or want to talk, just knock on the wall. I won't be sleeping until this all quiets down."
After Zyllith procures a single 6 bed common room for you, (lodging is 8 sp per person for the room), she helps Belkas and Siobhan cart the heavy packs up there for safe keeping, before returning to the common room, leaving the other two up there. Once back down, she begins to enjoy the evening with Arisa, Shalvus, Elion and Vernon, while the first of the performers is just getting underway. The barmaid seems to remember Vernon from your last visit and she gives him a wink and a smile when she comes to take your order.
As with your last visit to the Ewe, the fare includes: Berduskan Dark, a strong, heavy, sweet wine, for 4 sp for the pitcher, and Manycherries wine, a popular staple in Waterdeep, for 2 sp, and for beers, either a light summer wheat ale for 4 cp/mug & 2 sp/gallon, Wind and Wolf Farmhouse ale, a light yellow, foamy yeasty beer with a floral aroma for 5 cp/mug, and Siren Stout, a black, thick, creamy ale with its a rich, tan colored head for 6 cp mug, or 5 sp/gallon.
The food fare for the evening is roast chicken with herbs and plenty of black pepper, served with bread and goat cheese all for 1 gp per person.
As soon as she completes the necessary tasks of storing their gear in the room, Siobhan takes off almost all her equipment and transforms into a small wolf. She pulls a blanket off one bed and crawls under it, bringing the bedding along to make herself a cozy nest. Once done she curls up, nose to tail, and finally finds some relief from the chaos of this city-thing. Siobhan has spent too long feeling safer with fur and claws to be able to relax as her firbolg self in such an alien environment. She will rest for as long as she can maintain the form, just as she did in Barovia.
Zillith would gladly order a pitcher of Berduskan Dark for everyone, as well as order a meal for herself. Gladly cheering laughing, singing and generally enjoying herself among the patrons. Including no small amount of shameless flirting all around!
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Vernon will nod at the barmaid as he orders the light summer wheat ale to go with the chicken. He will attempt to reach back to the recent adventurous moments to get in the mood, past the new-found worries of what to do with a horse when it provides such a nice view, but makes crowd navigation so much more difficult...
Belkas looks the room over to make sure it is safe, the window shutters are secured, and the door is locked. He wedges a chair under the door handle to give them extra time in case someone else has a key and tries to sneak in. He carefully places ball-bearings under the window where someone would need to place their feet if they were to sneak in from there.
He thinks to Crowley, 'Keep your eyes open and stay invisible. Too many people saw us come into the city and the tavern with our coins.'
Having done all he can think of, he sits down with his back against the wall. The wolf in the corner is either sleeping or doing a good job of pretending. If he found the city difficult, it must be a hundred times more difficult for her.
Fortunately, The Blue Ewe is an establishment that caters more to artist and poets than adventurers and ruffians, so you don't feel quite as nervous in here about eyes on your heavily stuffed packs than you probably would in other crowded, big city taverns. Despite their discomfort, and in Belkas's case, paranoia, neither Belkas and Siobhan experience anything in the room during the course of the evening that would cause alarm.
Meanwhile, down in the common room, the festivities are well underway, with a variety of entertainment. When you first arrived you saw the same female halfling/half elf duo that you saw last time, up on the stage, playing and singing their songs with those pleasing lyrics and harmonies that you remember. After that, the MC comes up onto the stage and formally begins the poetry section of the evening.
The first is a tall, rather good looking human teenage male who rambles a narrative of love and loss in free verse. (You remember him from last time.) The next, an young dwarfish lad recites a verse of hammers, stone and glittering gemstones. The third, a youngish woman in her 20s who has waist-long blonde hair recites a sonnet of love with a very exacting rhyme scheme, (she was also here last time as well), and the fourth, a thin young human man with thick blonde hair, closes with an ode to trees.
Then Elion takes the stage. After a brief applause from those who know him and a long pause, he recites fantastic narrative he wrote called "Against the Giants", in which he recounts the epic battle with the goblins, ogres and hill giants in Goldenfields, and the valiant efforts of the Dragon Aces who led the town to victory during a dark night and the following morning. He even recounts a chance meeting with a real-life dragon who actually knew of the deeds of the Dragon Aces. He uses a variety of rhyme schemes and a mix of symbolism and vivid details to paint the story of a mighty effort against a horde of monsters who terrorized the town with clubs, arrows and spiked-helmeted goblin who were sent flying over the wall by ogre-wielding catapults or "Goblin huckers."
Very little is embellished, and it's told from a first person perspective, although Elion doesn't exactly let on that the first person is himself. Nor does he specifically say who the Dragon Aces are. And unlike his previous work, it's not about death, it's about struggle, determination, heart and victory, although at the price of much pain, blood and a continued threat that purveys, since there are alwasy more giants in the world.
It's much different than the style of his previous work, and overall, it's a rousing epic, that has the crowd on the edge of their seats. When he's finished, he gets a rousing applause, and Elion's poet rival Berio rushes up the stage to give the pale skinned half elf a hearty handshake of admiration. When the crowd settles down, Elion returns to the table, and a trio of gnomes takes the stage to sing a selection of jigs, mostly themed around their love of beer, ale and whisky.
Belkas looks around the room. He's not being paranoid, just cautiously realistic in a cruel and dangerous world. Right.
To distract himself as he waits for the night's entertainment to end, he considers what he will do with his money. He needs a gem worth 300 gold for a spell of his. That will take up most of the gold. He would like to get his leather armor studded and maybe a suit of armor for Crowley, too - assuming that the imp wants some and that the armorer wouldn't panic on seeing a smallish devil in his shop. It would be wise to obtain extra casting supplies so he can resummon Crowley if something should happen to him. And if there is anything left over, healing potions might be useful, or flasks of poison, or some sort of exploding vials. Ah, and rations. Eating is always helpful.
He weaves an illusion of a dragon in the center of the room and then lets it dissipate into the air.
What if there was already an invisible thief in the room before they arrived... How would he detect her? Strings with bells? Caltrops? A bag of flour? No. No one knew they would be staying the night here, but it was definitely something to keep in mind for the future. You can never be too prepared.
(Hi all- dust finally settling from my relocation, getting back into the swing of things in game)
Arisa watches the performance with pleasure, also contemplating how to spend the newly acquired wealth. She looks down at her scale mail, with numerous patched up holes and gashes, still bloodstained a bit in spots, brown stains over the blueing. ‘Probably need new armor’ she thinks. She eats her meal slowly and savors the wine. The future is always uncertain. Best to enjoy this evening.
Siobhan returns to her firbolg form after a few hours pass. Somehow even as her sense of sound and scent fade in acuity, she finds herself become overwhelmed with the noise and odors again. For the wolf, all is simply information. For the firbolg, it is a sharp reminder that she is farther from home than she has ever been.
She shifts her position to a more comfortable cross legged seat for meditation. The blanket is still draped over her shoulders, though far less encompassing on her taller frame. Siobhan observes Belkas and sees his tension is not unlike hers. He would not have been out of place in Barovia. That cursed land demanded suspicion as the price of survival. And his unnatural companion - that too was like Barovia. She had met more than one survivor who knew the weight of a bad bargain. Oddly, that reassures her. Even in this far more chaotic place what she has learned about people remains true.
Siobhan settles herself and retreats into the rhythm of her breath, running through her spells and choosing what she should have at ready for the next dawn.
Vernon enjoys the reminder that cheese exists. When Elion comes back, he will congratulate him. "You really had a full hand of aces this time!"