The Forgotten Wish

Charisma save: 23

(Rick's name is currently forgotten. People will still recognize him, but be unable to recall his name- Even if they seem to recall he used to say it a LOT.)

The tabaxi formerly known as...? Stutters to a stop, mouth moving and nothing coming out.

"..."

After a few false, flustered starts the tabaxi grunts out,

"This... one... has questions?"

He is surprised he managed to get that out. Taking a long shuddering breath,

"This...one... wonders what just happened? Why can't... this...one... remember this one's name?"

There is more than a hint of desperation and he is unable to process the questions put to him by the masked deer jester.

"Suffering? Yes... I think I am?" Asimi responds to Pallen with a rapidly familiar confused expression. It felt correct to say yet wrong at the same time. Eyes narrowing, she looks down to the floor for a moment before looking back up to him. Forcing herself to brush whatever thoughts she may be having aside the elf opened her mouth to speak again before an all too familiar laugh cut her off.

"That would be who else is here," She answers Sylvera, "And I would be loathe to keep him waiting further," With that Asimi begins to move for the other room, giving the group before her a decent enough berth in a continued effort to appear as unthreatening as possible.

Upon hearing the very loud, odd laughter, Oren glances at the door heading towards the other room where...the catman went.   Seeing this new elf doesn't seem a threat at this time, he begins running over to the other room.

Breldo will take a less headlong pace, crossbow loaded and at the ready, though he keeps the bolt pointed at the floor. He shares a brief eye contact with Nuria and gives the girl an encouraging nod.

(I'll go under the presumption that everyone at least will be looking into entering the room. If anyone would do otherwise, or perform additional actions, feel free to add.)

The group rushes toward the other room, some cautiously, others with weapon at the ready. There, they find the same strange figure, looming over... What was the Tabaxi's name again? He said it so often, didn't he? But whenever anyone tries to think of it, only an empty space greets them. Whatever it is, the Tabaxi seems confused, while... It's hard to draw emotion from a mask, but one can only presume the creature is smiling, as the unnamed Tabaxi asks his question.

"Now now, I'm afraid I'm not here to answer all these questions for free, at least, not for a price! To sit here all night, forced to exposit? How dreadfully boring that would be! But I suppose I would be amiss to generously accept your gift, and then at least not return one in kind, so one answer you shall have."

"I simply took your name. I asked if I could have it, and then you spoke it to me. Is that not an implicit approval?"

His question answered, the creature's attention shifts away from him, and toward the group entering. There is no shift in its posture, even if some come prepared with arms, though neither does it move from its spot.

"Ah, and there are our glorious guests! Please do gather around. To all of you, I've an offer to make. A simple trade! I ask but one question, and if you answer me to the best you can, you may in turn ask me any question which I shall answer as best I can. A question to a titan. One would have to be a fool like me to refuse!"

"...Ah, but first," it says, its attention now falling on Pallen stumbling through the door. As well as to Sylvera, and Asimi, should they be present.

"To you lot I am promise sworn. Should you rest your weary forms within these halls, where you may rest eternal, I shall ferry your very being to the promised land upon the divine melody, if it lies within my power."

"...Sadly for you, you're just a week or so too late for that! But ah, don't worry. It's only been five thousand years or so since I've had this much fun!"

Again, the beast laughs, a sound that reverberates through the halls. Still, as it's calming down again, it's evident that for the time being its completely ignoring Pallens plight who is left slackjawed, and has its attention back onto the group to see what they figure from its "deal".

Sylvera gives Asimi a slightly shocked look due to the other elf's rather curt response. She doesn't seem at all intimidated by this new elf, rather she seems offended by the way she just spoke to her. The nerve... 

Sylvera follows the group, glaring at the back of Asimi's head as they go only to pull up short upon seeing the strange figure talking to them. ... and ~~~ can't remember his name? Wait... why can't she remember his name either? Whatever, it slipped her mind because it wasn't important... but hasn't he been saying it constantly? Why would she forget something that was repeated over and over again? 

Her eyes turn to the towering creature. What is that thing? ~~~ gave it his name? The idiot. Though... whatever its not important right now. What's important is what he said to her and her fellow elves. He's promise sworn to them? But they are just a week too late for... ferry to the promised land?  What is he talking about? 

"This, is who you were looking for?" she hisses to Asimi. "Who and what is he?" She doesn't trust this individual, not one bit. Especially since he seems to have deleted that tabaxi's name from everyone's memory. He hasn't had so much fun in five thousand years? How is he still alive? Why hasn't he become a statue? In spite of her distrust and hesitance to engage in this conversation... this seems to be the strongest lead she has for her personal quest. So she can't afford to pass it up. 

"What do you mean we are a week too late? Too late for what exactly? Is this about the wasting?" She gestures to the statues sitting about the room, and struggles not to look at Pallen too. 

Once running into the room and seeing whatever the masked subject is...he slows and then stops.  He puts his hands to his weapon, but then stops, too.  "Umm,  Tabaxi, are you all right?"  How can he not remember the name, he has been traveling with him for about a week or so.  But then it registers what the subject said.

"You took his name you say.   That isnot a thing."

Oren takes a long look at the subject and tries to figure out what race it is, even though it has a mask on.

Perception: 15

The tabaxi looks even more confused from the answer to his question,

"This one doesn't understand? How can Clown deer have taken this one's name?"

Seeing the creature move on despite the low quality answer the tabaxi looks helplessly to Oren,

"Friend Oren, this one is not okay. This one has lost something dear to this one."

"Lost...  Your name?  That's something out of fairytales, some of which I myself have played narrator or performer.  The creatures involved are never to be trusted, always treacherous fiends and manipulators."

Upon stepping into the room Asimi seems less bothered by the being's presence than the others. Looking at the Tabaxi she could tell something happened between the two even before the truth was revealed, the look on his face was close to becoming all too normal to the elf in the last few hours. Not that she had much sympathy for him.

"Indeed," Glancing over her shoulder at Sylvera she nodded her head, "Comedy, he calls himself. He's the one who sent me here."

Although her voice was devoid of much emotion one could see her grip tighten on her halberd upon hearing his rather flippant response to the elves before it slackened again. Stepping further into the room she paused halfway between the door and the stage, "I've done as you've asked," She calls up to him but doesn't speak beyond that. Seemingly awaiting a further response.

"This creature is clearly insane, wearing a get up like that, and talking nonsense. He must have drugged... the tabaxi... Greasy Steve? But crazy doesn't mean he's not dangerous, be on the lookout.", Breldo mutters unnecessarily to Nuria, glossing over the strangeness of not being able to recall the cat man's name himself.

"...Greasy Greg?"

The tabaxi suggests quietly back but doesn't like it. Not quite right.

"Ah! Don't sneak up on a fellow like that... ummm... Oily Billy?"

((Was mostly for comedy effect rather than actual proximity.))

"Slimy Steve..."

"Lubed Larry?"

The tabaxi nods appreciatively and ventures,

"Oily Olle...?"

No...

The creature stands there mostly silently, occasionally chuckling as the party seems confused by the strange happenings. Which... Is a fair response, for something as insane as it is. This time around, he seems to pointedly ignore both the Tabaxi and Oren, apparently his one "free" question already answered- Or maybe it's because around that time, Khond leaves his comment on what he believes this figure to be, its tone remaining more jovial than upset.

"Ah, is that how the legends have degraded my kind in this day age? You act as if I'm some sort of fiend, or a hag! Ah, but I suppose every story needs to be dramatized. All that black and white leaves no room for some harmless fun!" it exclaims, though some cat people nearby may disagree with home "harmless" said fun was. The mask turns toward the Tabaxi and Breldo for a moment, as if CLEARLY it wanted to join in on the process of "guessing"... But then turns to face toward Sylvera and Asimi next, as the high elf asks questions to her fellow elf, and Asimi answers. Something that causes the so called "Comedy" to immediately speak up, with perhaps just the slightest hint of anger.

"Ah, but where are my manners! I have carried and been given many names throughout the ages. The king of fools, The First, Rick, The Smiling demon... But you may all call me..."

"Comedy."

"...Bah! That is not nearly as good with the name already spoiled!"

The creature gives a few exaggerated stomps with one of its hooves, while gloved hands reach up to pull on its own ears, before it very quickly calms down when Sylvera asks her question, and Asimi makes her statement.

"Yes, yes, I've not forgotten. As for your question... As I am promise sworn to help when it comes to such matters, and I suppose I can tie it in nicely to the one thing I do have to explain! A freebie, if you will."

"So, do grant me a moment to start from the top, and to then propose my trade. A promise that if you answer my question, I will answer whatever question you may have! And if you do not answer, I shall simply not respond in kind. Fair is fair?"

(Can everyone give me a quick perception check too, actually?)

Perception: 11

The tabaxi reacts to one of the names Comedy took,

"Was...was this one The First?"

He asks hopefully.