Jasper extends his hand opened offering the moonstone to Rel. “This was one of my mothers prayer stones. I want you to take it. As long as you have it and your intentions are true, I will help you with all I can.”

“We have food at the inn. The others are waiting. Please come.” Jasper walks away slowly while gesturing to Rel. 

Jasper walks into the inn and addresses Echo and Khessa. “Look who I found!” Pointing to Rel. “Come and have some food and drink.”

Khessa squints, delighted, at the contact of the caress with which Jasper takes his leave: "Yes," she murmurs "come back soon".

'What would it be like to be caressed like this for longer?' the blonde arcane warrior finds herself thinking 'Maybe a few minutes... Or, why not, an hour... Or... Oh, I don't know, there are certain moments when even the duration of eternity might seem too short...'

However, the elf does not actually stay away for long and when, on his return, he points to Rel, the bat that was eating berries on the same table that the girls of the Moon and the Sun were sitting at, looks up, curious; but seeing the half-drow he immediately flies over Khessa's shoulder, apparently frightened.

"Oh, did you make the same mistake as me too, brother?" the blonde arcane warrior smiles at the pet, stroking it to soothe it "Our friend Rel Serafin is not a drow. Yes, I know, the tone of the skin is similar, but look closely, can't you see that the build is different? she is only half drow. And in her heart she is not at all! Do you know that she too, like me, ran away from the drow? Only that she was not forced to live with them for only a short period of time ... she was forced to raise us! Can you imagine, what could it have meant?"

The bat's gaze, exceptionally expressive for being that of an animal, visibly softens and the animal flies hesitantly towards the half-drow, while the tall warrior-mage speaks to her: "Rel Serafin, my friend, this is my brother Anator. During the sad events that I have already told you, he had been killed. But now, thanks to the magic ritual I performed, he came back to me, albeit in this new form. He was a person of exceptional good heart. A spirit that not even death could change, nor, as you see, keep away from me indefinitely. He will surely be a great new friend to you and to us all!"

Slowly Anator tries to land on the half-drow's shoulder and, if she doesn't object, he rubs his fur on her cheek before returning to the table to deal with the berries.

"Anyway," Khessa changes the subject "we were talking about our next trip, the one to the gnomes..." and he explains that she thinks an encounter with the orcs is likely and that, consequently, she would like to test against them Tookrashk's effective collaboration capability.

(OOC: Long story short: she explains to Rel all that she, Echo and Jasper discussed on this subject in the last posts. Yes, I could copy-and-paste it but I think it might be a little boring and, all in all, pointless).

“After we finish eating, I would like to head over to Barthens Provisions to purchase a few things. Just some ink and parchment.” Jasper continues to eat.

After the meal, Jasper asks if any would like to go with him. Upon arriving at Barthens, he asks about the items. “Hello? Good day to you. Would you have any ink and parchment? Oh and an ink pen as well.”

The proprietor, Elmar Barthen, is a lean and balding human man of fifty years. He greets Jasper warmly. "Good day to you, sir," says Barthen. "Let me show you what I have."

He lays out an assortment of fine parchments and quill pens along with bottles of ink in all different shades. "That'll come to 1 silver and 2 copper pieces for the parchment and pen. Ink is a little pricier at 10 gold pieces a vial, but I heard how you helped out Miss Adabra. That was a fine thing to do, warnin' her about the dragon. I'll cut you a deal and let you have one vial of ink on the house, any color you like!"

“Thank you good sir! Black ink will be just fine.” Jasper graciously nods. “Actually, do you have nine more sheets of that parchment. I apologize I wasn’t clear.” Looking a little embarrassed asking. “I’m also looking for a book. Something about the uses of the magic. Do you have anything like that?”

Jasper pulls his coin pouch out to pay. 2 gold pieces to start. 

Khessa is quite happy to accompany Jasper and, as he show such interest in inks, books and magic, she asks him,  curious: "Hey Jasper, are you trying to put a spellbook together you also? Are you planning to study arcane magic in the next days?"

Hearing Khessa’s excitement in her voice asking about my interests is wonderful and at the same time brings up memories of home. Jasper smiles and answers, “Not a spell book really. My studies were never completed when it came to arcana and its practical uses. People in my tribe spent days upon days making scrolls and channeling their energies through spells into them. I want to know how they did that. If I can figure out how to do the same, I could make scrolls that heal wounds or more.”  Jasper looks at the parchment and ink. “I need to practice a bit. I’m a little rusty in my writing. And a arcane book may help in my studies.” Jasper looks at Khessa’s armor where she tucked the moonstone. “Were you able to get what you needed?”

Rel stands respectfully as the surface elf finishes his prayers to the goddesses of the Moon and of Luck.  Growing up, the I never saw the moon and thought it was a thing of legend.  It took Roywyn to show me, sitting on a rocky outcropping with only the mountains all around us as witness...

She comes out of her reverie with a start as Jasper offers her one of her mother's moonstones.  She does not know what to say to a gift of such import but senses it would be rude not to accept.  Are my intentions true?  And if so, is the truth one I wish to face?  She starts to weave the moonstone into her silver hair but stops short, remembering.  She knows so little of romance, whether among drow or surface-dwellers, but even she sensed the spark between Jasper and Khessa.  Honored and not wishing to give offense, she humbly accepts the gift and puts it away in a less visible place among her belongings, giving Jasper a close but sisterly hug after she does so.

Following Jasper then to meet with Khessa and Echo, she lets the blond arcane warrior's words wash over her and is delighted to meet her bat familiar, despite its initial fear of her.  She is of course well familiar with bats, though the Underdark proper is deeper than most bats venture.

Naming it after her brother fits for Khessa.  Roywyn's familiar was an owl, with huge, beautiful eyes that dawned full ike Selune's moon...

Rel trails along behind Khessa and Jasper to Barthen's Provisions, talking shop with Echo, trading funny gestures with her Mage Hand, and generally in a far better mood than she had been.  Content enough that she lets her misgivings about involving the manticore slide for the moment...

Quote from Sam1am96 >>

Hearing Khessa’s excitement in her voice asking about my interests is wonderful and at the same time brings up memories of home. Jasper smiles and answers, “Not a spell book really. My studies were never completed when it came to arcana and its practical uses. People in my tribe spent days upon days making scrolls and channeling their energies through spells into them. I want to know how they did that. If I can figure out how to do the same, I could make scrolls that heal wounds or more.”  Jasper looks at the parchment and ink. “I need to practice a bit. I’m a little rusty in my writing. And a arcane book may help in my studies.” Jasper looks at Khessa’s armor where she tucked the moonstone. “Were you able to get what you needed?”

"Oh, I must admit that I was hoping I could already afford a real spellbook! Instead, for a little while longer, I'll have to settle for scattered sheets" Khessa smiles at the elf. "But at least I was able to buy the components for the ritual that returned Anator to me! And... you know what?" with the fingers of her right hand she begins to gently scratch Anator (perched on her shoulder) under his fur, while she passes her left arm around Jasper's shoulders, gently drawing him to her "I think what I most need is the closeness of those who I love. So it looks like yes, I was 'able to get what I needed' ".

While the blue eyes of the arcane warrior are lost in those of the elf, her voice, excited, continues: "Channeling magical energies through spells into scrolls, you say? It is very interesting! Do you know what we should do? Let's study together! Maybe your studies have been incomplete... but mine were even non-existent! I had to try to learn everything by myself... Your knowledge, no matter how incomplete, would help me for sure, while I'd be delighted to help you with the writing. It would be great to combine our arcane knowledge and compare our conclusions! After all, knowledge is already so magical in itself, that by sharing it, you don't diminish it, but on the contrary you increase it!"

"Plus..." (is it an impression, or is her gaze more... spicy now?) "now that you have shown me the beauty of the night... why not use the night (well, or at least part of it) to do something very enjoyable?"

"Like studying magic together, of course" she concludes, after a considerable delay.

Barthen digs around in the back of shop for a while, but he finally returns with a dusty book on the theory of magic.

"Sorry for the wait," he says. "The book is 25 gold. Ink is expensive you know, and books are hard to come by out here, especially ones on magic." He shrugs his shoulders.

"Oh, it is really a pity books are so hard to come by..." mutters Khessa, maybe more to herself than to someone in particular.

But all of a sudden the blue-eyed arcane warrior smiles confidently: "This is going to change! In the future, there will be a library here, where knowledge will be easily shared... Especially knowledge of magic!"

And she seems lost in some idea of hers, more interested in elaborating it than in explaining  it in more detail right now.

“That’s too bad Khessa. How much is the spell book?” Not knowing if he could help, he offers to. “If you want, I have some gold left. Would fifteen gold pieces help?” Jasper smiles back at Khessa. “I don’t want a little gold to hold you back. Plus, bringing your brother back. That’s amazing!”

Getting pulled in close to Khessa is welcome. Still very nervous but Khessa’s eyes comfort him. ”I’m very happy we are this close. It has been a long time…”

“I would love to study with you!” Jasper excitedly tells her. “We could definitely help each other! We’ll be swimming in magic scrolls in no time.” Jasper laughs a little awkwardly.

”Maybe we can begin tonight?”  Jasper feels that long pause. And is excited to start.

Jasper hears Barthen returning. ”Thank you again! This will be very helpful.” Jasper takes 27 gold pieces and gives them Mr. Barthen.

“We should get the others and head out so we can get to the mill before nightfall.” Suggests Jasper. Jasper walks out of the shop with Khessa(and Anator) and meets with Rel and Echo. “Are we ready to head out?“ Jasper asks everyone.

Rel is distractedly musing what it would be like to draw magic from pages of a book or from the goddesses of the Moon or of Luck, rather than from inside herself as she and Echo do.  Or from... the other source, always beckoning, never far, inescapable as...

She shakes herself hastily.  "Yes, Jasper Mooncrest, I am ready to go."

She tries to bury the hope of every finding Roywyn deep within her to reduce the pain.  These are not the same gnomes, I do not think.

Khessa is flattered by the elf's generosity: "Jasper ..." she opens her eyes wide, incredulous "Fifteen gold coins is a lot of money! Are you sure? That would be exactly the amount I need to buy the spellbook! But you are by no means obliged to lend them to me, I can also wait for the payment of the next quest... "

"And studying together, of course we start tonight!" Is incredibly excited the blonde arcane warrior "You are..." she just can't seem to be able (or willing) to take her eyes off him "You are truly unique Jasper".

Finally: "Yes, let's just visit Tom the butcher, on our way, then I'd say to go!"

During this time, Echo had run to the post to let them know to secure and deliver those wood and nails her dads wanted for that new shed, paying for all of it with her shiny new gold rewards. Winding back to where they said they would meet, she catches the tail of the conversation, "ready to go as well!"

(ooc: where ever the post may be... Echo would know haha lmk how much she'd need to pay for enough wood material and steel and components for a shed lol)

Jasper takes Khessa’s hand and gives the pouch of gold to her.   “We help each other and today we help you.“ Jaspers eyes are fixed deeply on her. ”Yes let’s head to the butcher.”  Jasper’s hand stays close to Khessa’s as they walk to the butcher. Not quite holding but more of a playful dance as they never stop touching. 

"Oh, Jasper, then thank you!" and she kisses him on the cheek again. But it's not like the first time, when it had been an impulse gesture, dictated by her natural exuberance; this time Khessa seems to want to savor the moment... and she makes it last much longer.

The blonde arcane warrior finally buys a real spellbook and smiles brightly at the elf: "It seems that my debts and towards you are increasing day by day, Jasper..." and winks at him "I will have to continue to be close to you long, ready to take every opportunity to reciprocate!"

As they make their way to the butcher, their fingers never stop touching and the tall warrior-mage, delighted, finds herself thinking: 'What skilled, delicate, tapered fingers... The fingers of a true healer. Who knows what it would be like to be healed by fingers like this?'

And as she gets lost behind these thoughts, the hips occasionally begin to make contact as well...

At Tom the butcher's shop, Khessa forces herself to focus again on the subject of Phandalin's rescue and therefore on the common lunch to better involve Tookrashk. The blonde arcane warrior then buys an extra meal for Tookrashk plus some meat for the others as well.

She allows herself a few more moments to think one last time about how special the night that awaits her will be, studying magic, a theme that fascinates her a lot, together with that elf... that fascinates her a lot too!

Then with a sigh she forces himself to focus on the possible threats (after all, it was just going to Adabra the first time, that they met Cryovain!) And leads the way with her greatsword unsheathed, attentive to the surrounding environment (and to the sky above!), ready for anything.

Quote from Painted_Beyond>>

"Oh, Jasper, then thank you!" and she kisses him on the cheek again. But it's not like the first time, when it had been an impulse gesture, dictated by her natural exuberance; this time Khessa seems to want to savor the moment... and she makes it last much longer.

Jasper try’s to say “you’re wel…” when Khessa kisses him on the cheek again. He catches her scent when her hair sweeps forward. Instinctively, Jasper slowly turns and his lips touch her cheek as she pulls away.  “…welcome!” A moment passes as Jasper opens his eyes. Smiling he says, “Let’s get that spell book.”