Normont chuckles at Dev's wonderings, finding his thought process fascinating.
"Your curiosity does you credit, Dev. It may be unlikely that she can talk to trees, but that does not mean it is not so. I confess that I have no experience of her kind, nor of the cat folk. Perhaps once we have finished our food, we should go and ask your questions? I would be interested in finding out from whence they came as well".
He nods to Magnus as he reminds them that they have early start, but he does not seem ready to call it a night before he spoken to the exotic trio and also the merchants from Whitestone.
Normont chuckles at Dev's wonderings, finding his thought process fascinating…
"Perhaps once we have finished our food, we should go and ask your questions? I would be interested in finding out from whence they came as well".
“I’d like to!” Dev responds. “But… would it be better if we don’t, like, talk to people here? So we don’t draw attention?” It’s obvious that the tiefling hopes Normont disagrees.
Lokilia starts to nod at Dev's answer. But seeing his reaction, she realizes his embarrassment. "I guess that could make sense Dev," she says, trying to be reassuring.
She glances over to Normont after Dev's comment. "I kinda agree we probably shouldn't bother them. Does seem like it might make for unwanted attention."
The rest of the meal passes uneventfully and the group are left with their after dinner drinks to contemplate retiring for the evening or chatting with the other residents of the bar or perhaps taking a constitutional walk before bed.
"It is a valid point you both make", Normont says with a little disappointment, obviously running through options in his mind as to why they should talk to them.
"But you know, if any of these folk are leaving in the same direction as us tomorrow", he starts being clear not to openly say where they are going, "Then we could travel together. That way if anyone is on the lookout for us, we won't quite match the description".
He takes a little sip of mead, and wiggles his eyebrows at the others, "What do you think?".
Dev’s eyes light up at Normont’s idea. “Oh yes! That makes sense.” He joins Normont if the gnome approaches those seated at the other table, and allows his diminutive but much older companion to take the lead.
The barkeep calls last drinks and begins packing things up, but only some of the local tables take that as a sign to leave. Most tables stay where they are and the staff seem in little rush to move anyone on.....
With Quinn and Dev amenable to his reasons for approaching some other patrons before they retire to their rooms, Normont jumps down off his chair as last orders are called.
"Well, I guess it's now or never", he says, and then looks at the lack of movement of the other patrons and shrugs. "Well, maybe not, but may as well be now anyway".
He wanders over to the table in the corner with the exotic trio, and gives them a bow.
"Greetings fellow travellers. I will confess that my curiosity, and that of my companions, has been piqued by your presence here. Might we share a drink before the bar shuts for the evening?".
Dev stands just beside Normont, his eyes bugging out a little bit, a goofy smile barely hidden, fascinated by small details of the trio’s appearance now that he is closer.
With Quinn and Dev amenable to his reasons for approaching some other patrons before they retire to their rooms, Normont jumps down off his chair as last orders are called.
"Well, I guess it's now or never", he says, and then looks at the lack of movement of the other patrons and shrugs. "Well, maybe not, but may as well be now anyway".
He wanders over to the table in the corner with the exotic trio, and gives them a bow.
"Greetings fellow travellers. I will confess that my curiosity, and that of my companions, has been piqued by your presence here. Might we share a drink before the bar shuts for the evening?".
The Uniya turned to regard the gnomish man and the larger tiefling attempting to hide behind him.
" Fellow Travellers? This phrase..it is good...makes it feel like we are already aquainted, Yes?"
" We are old friends, sharing the road.", she said lightly in an unusually rounded but still notably Marquesian accent.
The two cat-folk let their lower jaws hang open for a moment as they took in rumbling breaths, their eyes meeting first Normonts then Devs then ranging afield to regard the table they had just come from. The left most, a slightly smaller individual closed its jaw and an iridescent beetle climbed out of its belt pouch to fly clumsily onto the table.
The Uniya woman shook her head slightly at her two companions and they reluctantly relaxed back into their chairs, though the beetle stayed at the edge of the table regarding them with golden compound eyes.
" But we are not....friends.", the Uniya said carefully.
" At least not yet!", as a lightness came back into her voice.
" You are paying for these drinks, yes.", it was very clearly not a question.
Dev stands just beside Normont, his eyes bugging out a little bit, a goofy smile barely hidden, fascinated by small details of the trio’s appearance now that he is closer.
Both of the catfolk, under their thick padded travelling cloaks wore little else but a number of bandoliers of pouches, sheathes and pockets and light gray-green linen blouses and kilts.....the beetle seemed really interested in Dev....
Lokilia admittedly remains fascinated by the foreign looking trio, but she decides to stay seated at their table. She watches closely as Normont and Dev approach them. She tries to listen from the distance.
“No, not friends yet, but perhaps we can be more than strangers. My name is Normont, and of course the drinks are on me”, Normont replies before dragging over a free chair and jumping up. He turns to signal one of the servers.
”What a delightful beetle. I have a little companion myself. I made her in fact”, he then adds, calling Amber over in gnomish to land on his shoulder.
He looks back at Dev and motions with his eyes at another chair, hoping his friend joins them and introduces himself too.
Suddenly Dev’s shyness overwhelms his curiosity, but recent events have given him courage.
It’s just like a play. But you make up the words. And act a part,’ he tries to encourage himself.
”Hi. I’m Dev Hornd,” comes the tiefling’s eerie and poignant tenor as he removes his hood.
“Woooaaa!, What is that little guy?,” he moons at the beetle, and when Amber perches on Normont’s shoulder, Dev catches the Uniya’s eye furtively and jokes softly, “Well I didn’t get the message about bringing a tiny creature to dinner. I’m glad I’m not the only one.”
“No, not friends yet, but perhaps we can be more than strangers. My name is Normont, and of course the drinks are on me”, Normont replies before dragging over a free chair and jumping up. He turns to signal one of the servers.
”What a delightful beetle. I have a little companion myself. I made her in fact”, he then adds, calling Amber over in gnomish to land on his shoulder.
He looks back at Dev and motions with his eyes at another chair, hoping his friend joins them and introduces himself too.
The two cat-folk tense when Amber flies over, but the Uniya says something in what you presume is Marquesian, making a hand movement like someone tightening a screw and they relax once more.
" Ah, yes. Normont. I am sometimes known as Mahendra Upali. My associates are Stones-Skip-on-Pond and Warm-Arterial-Spray."
Suddenly Dev’s shyness overwhelms his curiosity, but recent events have given him courage.
It’s just like a play. But you make up the words. And act a part,’ he tries to encourage himself.
”Hi. I’m Dev Hornd,” comes the tiefling’s eerie and poignant tenor as he removes his hood.
“Woooaaa!, What is that little guy?,” he moons at the beetle, and when Amber perches on Normont’s shoulder, Dev catches the Uniya’s eye furtively and jokes softly, “Well I didn’t get the message about bringing a tiny creature to dinner. I’m glad I’m not the only one.”
" But you did?", said Mahendra flatly with a wink at Normont.
The slighter....female?...cat-folk leaned over and retrieved the beetle onto one extended claw, " Is Bone-Polisher. I think she like your horns....some time she is eating horns, and fingernails and things like that."
Is Bone-Polisher. I think she like your horns....some time she is eating horns, and fingernails and things like that."
" But not yours. I not allow. For the moment."
Dev disappears from the conversation for a moment, his imagination fully involved in imagining the beetle eating away his horns to nothing, leaving him looking like a regular person. It is a pleasant thought. He shakes it off with a deep breath. Only a second has passed.
"Thank you. Does she... does she polish your claws? What about teeth? Does it feel weird when she does? Do many umm... do you call yourselves Tabaxi, or Cat-folk, or...? Do many of your people keep them, the bone-polishers?"
While Dev's questions are perhaps naive, the tone of his voice, and even some chuckles and 'Ahhs' of delight, continues to float almost intoxicatingly in the air, and although he is focused on the tabaxi, his eyes drift repeatedly to the uniya who calls herself, sometimes, Mahendra Upali.
Normont looks confused for a moment, never having considered for a moment that he was a tiny creature, and then his mouth drops open as he realises that was exactly what Mahendra had implied.
"Well, I guess we must be closer to friends than strangers, because it would be easy to take offence at that joke otherwise", he says to her more cautiously.
Is Bone-Polisher. I think she like your horns....some time she is eating horns, and fingernails and things like that."
" But not yours. I not allow. For the moment."
Dev disappears from the conversation for a moment, his imagination fully involved in imagining the beetle eating away his horns to nothing, leaving him looking like a regular person. It is a pleasant thought. He shakes it off with a deep breath. Only a second has passed.
"Thank you. Does she... does she polish your claws? What about teeth? Does it feel weird when she does? Do many umm... do you call yourselves Tabaxi, or Cat-folk, or...? Do many of your people keep them, the bone-polishers?"
While Dev's questions are perhaps naive, the tone of his voice, and even some chuckles and 'Ahhs' of delight, continues to float almost intoxicatingly in the air, and although he is focused on the tabaxi, his eyes drift repeatedly to the uniya who calls herself, sometimes, Mahendra Upali.
The cat woman narrowed her eyes at Dev, " Claws polish selves. Teeths have charcoal and chewed stick. "
" Sometimes Katari we are called. Many hunters keep bone polishers to clean trophys."
Normont looks confused for a moment, never having considered for a moment that he was a tiny creature, and then his mouth drops open as he realises that was exactly what Mahendra had implied.
"Well, I guess we must be closer to friends than strangers, because it would be easy to take offence at that joke otherwise", he says to her more cautiously.
Mahendra spread her hands and stepped back from the table folding her tall lanky silk wrapped body down until it lay almost flat upon the floor.
" May you tread upon this unworthy grassy green hummock."
" A jest made as one would in their homeland may draw blood in other climes."
She remains prostrate upon the floor unmoving, the two cat-folk flick their eyes from companion to companion.
Normont just gawps at Mahendra for a few moments, totally surprised at her actions. He looks about to see if anyone else had noticed as he urges to get up.
"Hey, no need for that, we are all friends here. I get it, just a joke. Please get up. Please", he rambles, jumping down and acting a bit awkward, both wanting to help her up and not wanting to get close enough to concern her Katari guards.
"The odd cultural faux pas is to be expected, after all. It is intriguing to see to tell the truth", he rambles on.
Dev gawks too, but for different reasons. How confident and self-possessed is the uniya to respond to Normont with such complete -- what would you even call it? -- commitment? Integrity? Many of the people Dev has dealt with in Drynna would have doubled down, sneered and forced Normont into submission, whatever their initial intent. Dev hadn't thought her comment insulting to begin with, since he had been referring to Amber and the beetle, but she had quickly understood that Normont had taken the remark badly, while Dev's mind rushed to keep up.
"It was... my fault. I was joking but maybe I should have been more um direct. Sorry, Normont and Mahendra Upali."
If the situation rights itself, he will answer the Katari woman's question.
"We are heading north on business. Actually, I was wondering if you came that way? It's always nice to know what's in one's path. We can tell you about the road to Drynna, if you're going in that direction."
Normont chuckles at Dev's wonderings, finding his thought process fascinating.
"Your curiosity does you credit, Dev. It may be unlikely that she can talk to trees, but that does not mean it is not so. I confess that I have no experience of her kind, nor of the cat folk. Perhaps once we have finished our food, we should go and ask your questions? I would be interested in finding out from whence they came as well".
He nods to Magnus as he reminds them that they have early start, but he does not seem ready to call it a night before he spoken to the exotic trio and also the merchants from Whitestone.
“I’d like to!” Dev responds. “But… would it be better if we don’t, like, talk to people here? So we don’t draw attention?” It’s obvious that the tiefling hopes Normont disagrees.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Lokilia starts to nod at Dev's answer. But seeing his reaction, she realizes his embarrassment. "I guess that could make sense Dev," she says, trying to be reassuring.
She glances over to Normont after Dev's comment. "I kinda agree we probably shouldn't bother them. Does seem like it might make for unwanted attention."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The rest of the meal passes uneventfully and the group are left with their after dinner drinks to contemplate retiring for the evening or chatting with the other residents of the bar or perhaps taking a constitutional walk before bed.
"It is a valid point you both make", Normont says with a little disappointment, obviously running through options in his mind as to why they should talk to them.
"But you know, if any of these folk are leaving in the same direction as us tomorrow", he starts being clear not to openly say where they are going, "Then we could travel together. That way if anyone is on the lookout for us, we won't quite match the description".
He takes a little sip of mead, and wiggles his eyebrows at the others, "What do you think?".
Quinn will finish his mead, "I agree, it is safer to move in numbers, but it may slow down our travel."
Dev’s eyes light up at Normont’s idea. “Oh yes! That makes sense.” He joins Normont if the gnome approaches those seated at the other table, and allows his diminutive but much older companion to take the lead.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
The barkeep calls last drinks and begins packing things up, but only some of the local tables take that as a sign to leave. Most tables stay where they are and the staff seem in little rush to move anyone on.....
With Quinn and Dev amenable to his reasons for approaching some other patrons before they retire to their rooms, Normont jumps down off his chair as last orders are called.
"Well, I guess it's now or never", he says, and then looks at the lack of movement of the other patrons and shrugs. "Well, maybe not, but may as well be now anyway".
He wanders over to the table in the corner with the exotic trio, and gives them a bow.
"Greetings fellow travellers. I will confess that my curiosity, and that of my companions, has been piqued by your presence here. Might we share a drink before the bar shuts for the evening?".
Dev stands just beside Normont, his eyes bugging out a little bit, a goofy smile barely hidden, fascinated by small details of the trio’s appearance now that he is closer.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
The Uniya turned to regard the gnomish man and the larger tiefling attempting to hide behind him.
" Fellow Travellers? This phrase..it is good...makes it feel like we are already aquainted, Yes?"
" We are old friends, sharing the road.", she said lightly in an unusually rounded but still notably Marquesian accent.
The two cat-folk let their lower jaws hang open for a moment as they took in rumbling breaths, their eyes meeting first Normonts then Devs then ranging afield to regard the table they had just come from. The left most, a slightly smaller individual closed its jaw and an iridescent beetle climbed out of its belt pouch to fly clumsily onto the table.
The Uniya woman shook her head slightly at her two companions and they reluctantly relaxed back into their chairs, though the beetle stayed at the edge of the table regarding them with golden compound eyes.
" But we are not....friends.", the Uniya said carefully.
" At least not yet!", as a lightness came back into her voice.
" You are paying for these drinks, yes.", it was very clearly not a question.
Both of the catfolk, under their thick padded travelling cloaks wore little else but a number of bandoliers of pouches, sheathes and pockets and light gray-green linen blouses and kilts.....the beetle seemed really interested in Dev....
Lokilia admittedly remains fascinated by the foreign looking trio, but she decides to stay seated at their table. She watches closely as Normont and Dev approach them. She tries to listen from the distance.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
“No, not friends yet, but perhaps we can be more than strangers. My name is Normont, and of course the drinks are on me”, Normont replies before dragging over a free chair and jumping up. He turns to signal one of the servers.
”What a delightful beetle. I have a little companion myself. I made her in fact”, he then adds, calling Amber over in gnomish to land on his shoulder.
He looks back at Dev and motions with his eyes at another chair, hoping his friend joins them and introduces himself too.
Suddenly Dev’s shyness overwhelms his curiosity, but recent events have given him courage.
It’s just like a play. But you make up the words. And act a part,’ he tries to encourage himself.
”Hi. I’m Dev Hornd,” comes the tiefling’s eerie and poignant tenor as he removes his hood.
“Woooaaa!, What is that little guy?,” he moons at the beetle, and when Amber perches on Normont’s shoulder, Dev catches the Uniya’s eye furtively and jokes softly, “Well I didn’t get the message about bringing a tiny creature to dinner. I’m glad I’m not the only one.”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
The two cat-folk tense when Amber flies over, but the Uniya says something in what you presume is Marquesian, making a hand movement like someone tightening a screw and they relax once more.
" Ah, yes. Normont. I am sometimes known as Mahendra Upali. My associates are Stones-Skip-on-Pond and Warm-Arterial-Spray."
" But you did?", said Mahendra flatly with a wink at Normont.
The slighter....female?...cat-folk leaned over and retrieved the beetle onto one extended claw, " Is Bone-Polisher. I think she like your horns....some time she is eating horns, and fingernails and things like that."
" But not yours. I not allow. For the moment."
Dev disappears from the conversation for a moment, his imagination fully involved in imagining the beetle eating away his horns to nothing, leaving him looking like a regular person. It is a pleasant thought. He shakes it off with a deep breath. Only a second has passed.
"Thank you. Does she... does she polish your claws? What about teeth? Does it feel weird when she does? Do many umm... do you call yourselves Tabaxi, or Cat-folk, or...? Do many of your people keep them, the bone-polishers?"
While Dev's questions are perhaps naive, the tone of his voice, and even some chuckles and 'Ahhs' of delight, continues to float almost intoxicatingly in the air, and although he is focused on the tabaxi, his eyes drift repeatedly to the uniya who calls herself, sometimes, Mahendra Upali.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Normont looks confused for a moment, never having considered for a moment that he was a tiny creature, and then his mouth drops open as he realises that was exactly what Mahendra had implied.
"Well, I guess we must be closer to friends than strangers, because it would be easy to take offence at that joke otherwise", he says to her more cautiously.
The cat woman narrowed her eyes at Dev, " Claws polish selves. Teeths have charcoal and chewed stick. "
" Sometimes Katari we are called. Many hunters keep bone polishers to clean trophys."
" Where you walk to?"
Mahendra spread her hands and stepped back from the table folding her tall lanky silk wrapped body down until it lay almost flat upon the floor.
" May you tread upon this unworthy grassy green hummock."
" A jest made as one would in their homeland may draw blood in other climes."
She remains prostrate upon the floor unmoving, the two cat-folk flick their eyes from companion to companion.
Normont just gawps at Mahendra for a few moments, totally surprised at her actions. He looks about to see if anyone else had noticed as he urges to get up.
"Hey, no need for that, we are all friends here. I get it, just a joke. Please get up. Please", he rambles, jumping down and acting a bit awkward, both wanting to help her up and not wanting to get close enough to concern her Katari guards.
"The odd cultural faux pas is to be expected, after all. It is intriguing to see to tell the truth", he rambles on.
Dev gawks too, but for different reasons. How confident and self-possessed is the uniya to respond to Normont with such complete -- what would you even call it? -- commitment? Integrity? Many of the people Dev has dealt with in Drynna would have doubled down, sneered and forced Normont into submission, whatever their initial intent. Dev hadn't thought her comment insulting to begin with, since he had been referring to Amber and the beetle, but she had quickly understood that Normont had taken the remark badly, while Dev's mind rushed to keep up.
"It was... my fault. I was joking but maybe I should have been more um direct. Sorry, Normont and Mahendra Upali."
If the situation rights itself, he will answer the Katari woman's question.
"We are heading north on business. Actually, I was wondering if you came that way? It's always nice to know what's in one's path. We can tell you about the road to Drynna, if you're going in that direction."
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer