"Just listen to me, droning on and on. My curiosity has me talking more tonight than I have in the last month. You are both right, of course." Tarton replies.
Another laugh, and a wink. "I do my best darling boy. Let's have that last round, then I'd like to speak to the beauty who has been serving them to us. Perhaps she'll see fit to guide me to to my room." As they say this, Artifex looks in the direction Myrine went once more, a smile dancing on the edge of it's lips.
Myrine shortly arrives with a tray of sinsir metheglyn and a wink for Artifex. "Oh, the garden rooms are very difficult to find. So many intricate passages and all, I'll have to guide all of you. And yours is the very last one we come to, so I'm afrraid you'll have the most ... exercise ... of all ahead of you before you finally get to sleep tonight. Let me know when you all want to retire." She giggles and scampers off with her remaining cargo to one of the few other occupied tables in the rooftop garden, where a group of four half-elves seem to have been playing 'rotating couples' since you came up; the female half-elf with purple eyes and silver hair is currently passionately in love with the androgynous one with green hair, eyes, skin, and you presume internal membranes; and passionately hates the black-haired males she was kissing with equal passion five minutes ago, and who are now kissing each other with an abandon that is completely oblivious to her hatred.
The metheglyn is, quite simply, honey mixed with the nectar of peach blossoms and then distilled into midsummer noonday sunlight fire. And then kicked up a notch or twenty with enough ginger to perfectly balance the liquor's heat. Only in Tarton's glass is the taste of pure undistilled honey and nectar, and for him nutmeg, cinnamon and clove join with the ginger to give a respectable imitation of the kick without the alcohol.
"My my that does look fun" Artifex says with a smirk, gazing at the passionate foursome for a moment as they savor this new drink.
"The beverages here are quite delightful" it says as they turn back towards the group. "Complex, layered, each sip a story unto itself. This has been a most fortunate meeting." It raises their glass in a toast. "To new allies, and stories yet to be told"
The Black Rose raised his glass and nodded approvingly "May we protect the innocent, while embracing the exhilaration that only true adventurers know."
You all notice Tarton start fidgeting and after a while he stands up and walks over to The Black Rose. He then ask, "So you were born blind, and learned how to perceive the world though other senses and mentioned echolo... something. Is that something you could teach me? I'd love to be able to move freely in the dark. Does that let you hear and feel what is around you? What if there is a lot of noise, does that interfere with you detecting things around you? Have you ever tested out your ability within a silence spell area? Can you hear more subtle things farther away but not know exactly where they are, but get the general direction?" You can see that once again Tarton's curiosity has gotten the better of him, and though he looked like he was done talking for the rest of the evening, he is a fountain of questions once again.
The Black Rose chuckled a little before finally responding, "I believe I was forced to find my way in the dark. If you want to learn to navigate in darkness, you must first learn to navigate without the aid of your eyes." He then looked directly into Tarton's eyes with his blank gaze. "I will try to teach you on our journey, but I believe you will find it more challenging than I did." Then he added, "For now, I will give you a simple task to get you started. Try to navigate your room with your eyes closed."
——————————————————————————————
Out of character, my character will try to teach you in character, but to get it, you must obtain the Blind Fighting style from the Fighter class at level 1, the Ranger class at level 2, or the Fighting Style feat. I also believe you can get it at level 14 as a Rogue.
While The Black Rose is responding, Tarton starts to take a drink but his foot slips on the stool he is standing on, and he spills some on The Black Rose and the table and leans on him to help catch his balance before he falls off.
While he is curious and wants to know everything he asked about, Tarton feels the need to test his slight of hand against an ability he has not encountered before so he knows what to expect in the future and decided now is the best time to do it, instead of on the road when everyone will be more tense. He has decided doing this without warning will give a more accurate assessment of his skill vs the ability, even if it upsets the group if he is caught. So he is going to try to steal a coin or small item from The Black Rose while distracting the group with his questions and 'accidentally' spilling some of his drink on The Black Rose.
Erolith turns from the parchment to see what the disturbance is. “We okay, Tarton?”
Tarton replies to Erolith, "I am alright." then turns to The Black Rose and says, "I'm sorry, I had to see how well I could perform versus an ability I have not encountered yet. If I had warned you ahead of time, I feel it wouldn't be an accurate test." He hands the gold coin back to The Black Rose looking guilty and does his best to help dry the drink off of him.
The Black Rose smiled at Tarton. "I guess I did not pass your test," he chuckled. "The ability I possess might be a useful one, but it does not make me detect all. Perhaps one day, with enough training..." He stopped himself from continuing. "I think we all could use a good night's sleep," he yawned.
The Black Rose smiled at Tarton. "I guess I did not pass your test," he chuckled. "The ability I possess might be a useful one, but it does not make me detect all. Perhaps one day, with enough training..." He stopped himself from continuing. "I think we all could use a good night's sleep," he yawned.
“Agreed. I feel tomorrow will need us at our best as we begin our adventure together.”
Erolith continues to study the parchment a little longer before collecting his belongings to retire.
"Wait!" Tarton says suddenly as everyone is getting ready to retire. "I was testing my self, not you. I needed to know what I am capable of. And... I need to tell... warn you..." He has an internal struggle trying to force himself to continue but ends up looking at each person in turn, with an almost fearful look. As you watch him, you notice what was a small shiver in his hands becomes stronger and his whole body is now visibly shaking. His almost fearful look has now gone past fear and he now looks terrified.
After a minute he finally blurts out, "I'm a danger to you all!" He sits there for another minute before saying quietly and reluctantly, "We need to go somewhere no-one else will see. You can tie me up now and take me there, or tie me up when we get there. You need to know..." You feel there was more to that sentence but he does not finish it. Instead he adds, "If one of you still has some of your ale, bring it." At the word 'ale' his face winces.
A distinct look of fascination crosses Artifex's face, as they lean forward, gazing at Tarton. "Interesting. I've met all manner of creatures who have uncontrolled transformations, what manner might you be? Suffering from lycanthropy, exposure to experimental tech or chemicals, maybe even a genetic mutation! The possibilities for my research are end-"
It stops, looking at the people around them for a moment before settling back into its seat. "My apologies, I suppose now wouldn't be the proper time for such questions. I have some difficulty observing the norms of social interaction at times"
Nodding to Tarton, they say "I hope my questions were not too intrusive. Please accept the remainder of my drink as recompense." They slide what's left of its drink over to him.
"Just listen to me, droning on and on. My curiosity has me talking more tonight than I have in the last month. You are both right, of course." Tarton replies.
Another laugh, and a wink. "I do my best darling boy. Let's have that last round, then I'd like to speak to the beauty who has been serving them to us. Perhaps she'll see fit to guide me to to my room." As they say this, Artifex looks in the direction Myrine went once more, a smile dancing on the edge of it's lips.
Erolith also tells the staff, "I'll have a round of sinsir metheglyn as well plus a room for the night facing the garden"
”Travelers, would you mind if I inspected the scroll?”
Torton moves aside to give Erolith more room to look at the scroll.
Myrine shortly arrives with a tray of sinsir metheglyn and a wink for Artifex. "Oh, the garden rooms are very difficult to find. So many intricate passages and all, I'll have to guide all of you. And yours is the very last one we come to, so I'm afrraid you'll have the most ... exercise ... of all ahead of you before you finally get to sleep tonight. Let me know when you all want to retire." She giggles and scampers off with her remaining cargo to one of the few other occupied tables in the rooftop garden, where a group of four half-elves seem to have been playing 'rotating couples' since you came up; the female half-elf with purple eyes and silver hair is currently passionately in love with the androgynous one with green hair, eyes, skin, and you presume internal membranes; and passionately hates the black-haired males she was kissing with equal passion five minutes ago, and who are now kissing each other with an abandon that is completely oblivious to her hatred.
The metheglyn is, quite simply, honey mixed with the nectar of peach blossoms and then distilled into midsummer noonday sunlight fire. And then kicked up a notch or twenty with enough ginger to perfectly balance the liquor's heat. Only in Tarton's glass is the taste of pure undistilled honey and nectar, and for him nutmeg, cinnamon and clove join with the ginger to give a respectable imitation of the kick without the alcohol.
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
“Thank you, Tarton.” Erolith studies the scroll, lettering, and script carefully to try to discern anything.
"My my that does look fun" Artifex says with a smirk, gazing at the passionate foursome for a moment as they savor this new drink.
"The beverages here are quite delightful" it says as they turn back towards the group. "Complex, layered, each sip a story unto itself. This has been a most fortunate meeting." It raises their glass in a toast. "To new allies, and stories yet to be told"
The Black Rose raised his glass and nodded approvingly "May we protect the innocent, while embracing the exhilaration that only true adventurers know."
Tarton raises his glass and nods, but doesn't say anything.
You all notice Tarton start fidgeting and after a while he stands up and walks over to The Black Rose. He then ask, "So you were born blind, and learned how to perceive the world though other senses and mentioned echolo... something. Is that something you could teach me? I'd love to be able to move freely in the dark. Does that let you hear and feel what is around you? What if there is a lot of noise, does that interfere with you detecting things around you? Have you ever tested out your ability within a silence spell area? Can you hear more subtle things farther away but not know exactly where they are, but get the general direction?" You can see that once again Tarton's curiosity has gotten the better of him, and though he looked like he was done talking for the rest of the evening, he is a fountain of questions once again.
The Black Rose chuckled a little before finally responding, "I believe I was forced to find my way in the dark. If you want to learn to navigate in darkness, you must first learn to navigate without the aid of your eyes." He then looked directly into Tarton's eyes with his blank gaze. "I will try to teach you on our journey, but I believe you will find it more challenging than I did." Then he added, "For now, I will give you a simple task to get you started. Try to navigate your room with your eyes closed."
——————————————————————————————
Out of character, my character will try to teach you in character, but to get it, you must obtain the Blind Fighting style from the Fighter class at level 1, the Ranger class at level 2, or the Fighting Style feat. I also believe you can get it at level 14 as a Rogue.
While The Black Rose is responding, Tarton starts to take a drink but his foot slips on the stool he is standing on, and he spills some on The Black Rose and the table and leans on him to help catch his balance before he falls off.
While he is curious and wants to know everything he asked about, Tarton feels the need to test his slight of hand against an ability he has not encountered before so he knows what to expect in the future and decided now is the best time to do it, instead of on the road when everyone will be more tense. He has decided doing this without warning will give a more accurate assessment of his skill vs the ability, even if it upsets the group if he is caught. So he is going to try to steal a coin or small item from The Black Rose while distracting the group with his questions and 'accidentally' spilling some of his drink on The Black Rose.
Erolith turns from the parchment to see what the disturbance is. “We okay, Tarton?”
Tarton replies to Erolith, "I am alright." then turns to The Black Rose and says, "I'm sorry, I had to see how well I could perform versus an ability I have not encountered yet. If I had warned you ahead of time, I feel it wouldn't be an accurate test." He hands the gold coin back to The Black Rose looking guilty and does his best to help dry the drink off of him.
The Black Rose smiled at Tarton. "I guess I did not pass your test," he chuckled. "The ability I possess might be a useful one, but it does not make me detect all. Perhaps one day, with enough training..." He stopped himself from continuing. "I think we all could use a good night's sleep," he yawned.
“Agreed. I feel tomorrow will need us at our best as we begin our adventure together.”
Erolith continues to study the parchment a little longer before collecting his belongings to retire.
Artifex nods, finishing off their drink. "Agreed. Tomorrow our story begins in earnest. May pleasant dreams find you all."
"Wait!" Tarton says suddenly as everyone is getting ready to retire. "I was testing my self, not you. I needed to know what I am capable of. And... I need to tell... warn you..." He has an internal struggle trying to force himself to continue but ends up looking at each person in turn, with an almost fearful look. As you watch him, you notice what was a small shiver in his hands becomes stronger and his whole body is now visibly shaking. His almost fearful look has now gone past fear and he now looks terrified.
After a minute he finally blurts out, "I'm a danger to you all!" He sits there for another minute before saying quietly and reluctantly, "We need to go somewhere no-one else will see. You can tie me up now and take me there, or tie me up when we get there. You need to know..." You feel there was more to that sentence but he does not finish it. Instead he adds, "If one of you still has some of your ale, bring it." At the word 'ale' his face winces.
A distinct look of fascination crosses Artifex's face, as they lean forward, gazing at Tarton. "Interesting. I've met all manner of creatures who have uncontrolled transformations, what manner might you be? Suffering from lycanthropy, exposure to experimental tech or chemicals, maybe even a genetic mutation! The possibilities for my research are end-"
It stops, looking at the people around them for a moment before settling back into its seat. "My apologies, I suppose now wouldn't be the proper time for such questions. I have some difficulty observing the norms of social interaction at times"
Nodding to Tarton, they say "I hope my questions were not too intrusive. Please accept the remainder of my drink as recompense." They slide what's left of its drink over to him.
“It appears we will face dangers both internally and externally on this adventure. Best we learn as much about the known dangers as possible.”
Erolith orders a stout ale for Tarton.