"Balaran? That's a great name," Lokilia says. She smiles, chuckling softly. "I mean, close second to Dev. And yea, you did fall out of the tree. But I don't think anyone cared. And I think his easel was fine." She listens quietly to what Dev says, nodding her head now and then. When he finally pauses she says, "Sounds like it went very well. I'm afraid I didn't get a great look at his painting, but from a glance it seemed like it might be interesting. But I knew you wouldn't need me around." She waves her hand aimlessly in the direction the Ashari had wandered off to. "Ran into someone I knew from Zephrah. Well, sort of knew. Family friend really." She shrugs, not sure what else to really say.
"So, this Balaran is staying at the Lilac Inn. Once Normont finds us we should see what he thinks about staying there too. Certainly has a nice name, lilacs are quite lovely!"
Normont leads Quinn through the streets as they chat about what they can do whilst in Whitestone, eventually coming upon the Sun Tree.
"It's amazing, right? Apparently it was planted by The Dawnfather way back during the Calamity", he says, before spotting Dev and Lokilia and veering in their direction. Just as they get within earshot of the pair, he adds, "When I first came here it didn't look like this at all, it barely had any leaves in fact, but the people of Whitestone were so happy. They thought it had died during the time they were in charge. But look at it now!".
"Hey, you two. What do you think of the Sun tree? I'm all done with my report, but I still need to go and see someone else", he says before whispering, "in the eastern ruins". "I got my back pay as well, so we can stay at an inn instead of the barracks or squishing into my grandfather's place".
(OOC: DM: What time of day is it? How dark? Will the lights come on soon? Normont is excited for that. Does Normont know that the Raven Tree in Zephrah is an offshoot of the Sun Tree? Lokilia might know, but good trivia if not)
( OOC- Late afternoon......probably an hour or so before the lights are on. Normont might know......Pale Guard double as tourist information so somewhat likely.)
"I haven't left the art of creating, one helps with the other, like with Amber", Normont replies to Quinn. "Lord de Rolo uses his inventions to make us all safe, that is what I aspire to do as well".
"What made you join the watch, back in Drynna? In fact, I am not sure I ever asked, are you from Drynna or did you move there?".
"I understand the idea of being inspired into action. As for me I just saw people who needed help so I offered my services and this led me to being a guard in Drynna for a short while. As for where I am from, I would rather not say." Normont will notice Quinn is uncomfortable talking about his past and seems guarded but not aggressive.
"Balaran? That's a great name," Lokilia says. She smiles, chuckling softly. "I mean, close second to Dev. And yea, you did fall out of the tree. But I don't think anyone cared. And I think his easel was fine." She listens quietly to what Dev says, nodding her head now and then. When he finally pauses she says, "Sounds like it went very well. I'm afraid I didn't get a great look at his painting, but from a glance it seemed like it might be interesting. But I knew you wouldn't need me around." She waves her hand aimlessly in the direction the Ashari had wandered off to. "Ran into someone I knew from Zephrah. Well, sort of knew. Family friend really." She shrugs, not sure what else to really say.
"So, this Balaran is staying at the Lilac Inn. Once Normont finds us we should see what he thinks about staying there too. Certainly has a nice name, lilacs are quite lovely!"
"Lilac. Yeah, I guess I like it a lot too. And violet. Anything but...," red, he thinks but doesn't say. "It's amazing that you ran into someone you knew here. Isn't it? I can't imagine seeing someone I know in Drynna, here." The teenager trails off and is silent for a moment as he spots Normont and Quinn waving before taking up a question that he'd been meaning to ask her since they arrived in the city.
"Lokilia, isn't it... I mean, is it... I guess... wait." He gathers his thoughts, then tries again. "I've never spoken with another tiefling before. I almost can't believe it happened," he admits, with wonderment. "And I'm... not sure how to describe it. It seems like, for you... I mean, I've never seen you with another Ashari in all the weeks I've known you, which, I guess, isn't that long, but... do you miss being around people who are... not the same as you, cuz there's only one you, but, people who are like you? Other Ashari?"
Normont: "Hey, you two. What do you think of the Sun tree? I'm all done with my report, but I still need to go and see someone else", he says before whispering, "in the eastern ruins". "I got my back pay as well, so we can stay at an inn instead of the barracks or squishing into my grandfather's place".
Dev, around Normont, whom he respects so much, but in a different way from Lokilia, downplays the emotional bungee-cord of meeting Balaran, and answers with forced calm, smiling lightly, "It was great. And I... spoke with another tiefling I met. An artist, a very fine one."
"Ruins?," he echoes, faltering a bit. They'd lost a friend in ruins only a fortnight ago, and he wasn't quite ready to think of seeing more ruins before taking some time to live his life. At least a day or two. His thoughts seem written in his expression as a note of sadness pools in his eyes. But when Normont shares the good news about finances and lodgings, Dev perks up instantly.
"Oh, we can stay at an inn? Balaran said... um, the artist I met?, said that he is staying at the Lilac Inn, not far from here in the North Ward. Can we stay there too?"
"Very noble thing to want to do, and you do it well", Normont replies to Quinn about his wish to help folk. When the genasi refuses to speak of his past, he looks up at him for a few moments before speaking again. "That is ok, Quinn. It is no-one's business but yours. But if you ever want to talk about it with someone, I'm your gnome. No pressure".
(OOC: I jumped the gun a bit, will move the rest of this post after Lokilia's)
"Anything but?" Lokilia asks, wondering why the tiefling had stopped himself short there. As he continues though she kind of forgets about the remark. She slowly nods her head as Dev asks his question. It takes her a moment of reflection before she speaks. "I do miss being around people like me at times. But I've always been happy to be mostly alone and just have a few people around I can count on." She smiles softly, not really looking up. "Like you Dev. But it's not really Ashari that I miss. More like Air Ashsari. Well, really Air Ashari that I know well." She shakes her head, "This Bunter Kooloi I ran into, she's really an acquaintance of my parents. It's not like I really even knew her. And Quinn. He's Ashari. But I just don't really have much connection with him." She hastily adds, "Though he's been a great companion on our journey."
As Normont and Quinn arrive she drops the conversation with Dev, focusing on what Normont asked. "I absolutely love the Sun Tree. We climbed up into the branches. But then Dev spotted his new tiefling artist friend." She conveniently omits any mention of him almost falling from the branch. "And I agree with Dev that we should stay at this Lilac Inn." She too didn't look all that thrilled about ruins. Although it did sound like perhaps a way to get out of the city. "These ruins are outside the city? Perhaps we go there tomorrow?"
When Dev explains his meeting with the tiefling artist, Normont smiles at him, "I'm pleased for you, Dev".
Seeing the tielfing's reaction to the ruins, he clarifies, "Nothing like the...you know...where...Just some homes built for the refugees like myself, not long ago, not ancient or anything. They had to be abandoned because of unrest and some incursions...", he rambles, not making it any better. "They are joined to the city, but outside the wall. We can go in the morning when it is nice and bright, good idea Lokilia. And you don't have to come, if you don't want to. But it would be nice if you did. The Lilac Inn he said!", he ends by changing the subject quite emphatically. "Yes, of course we can stay there".
He turns to Lokilia and chuckles as she says they climbed the Sun Tree, "They say the Voice of the Tempest took a shoot from the Sun Tree and planted it in Zephrah decades ago, and the two trees are somehow linked. Bet it makes you feel more at home".
The others can tell Normont is chuffed to be home, and super proud of his city.
"Keyleth planted a tree from this one?" Lokilia asks. She turns to take in the immense tree once again. "Hmm, yea, I do recall a tree. It was some sort of memorial too, right? I guess I didn't realize it was this tree." She then looks back to Normont. "Well, if there's nothing else, lead the way to the Liliac Inn. Time to get settled in!"
Her attitude seems to have shifted somewhat. She's certainly not showing as much concern about being in the city. Perhaps the Sun Tree has actually made her feel a bit more connected here. And perhaps it helps that she's focused on Dev's excitement over the tiefling artist he met.
The sun is a little lower in the sky now and the day seems to be beginning to wind down on the streets while the companions converse and make plans....
"Right-o", Normont replies after a quick shrug to indicate he doesn't know more about the tree in Zephrah. "Let's go to the Lilac Inn".
With that, after a brief glance back to the southern ward he leads the way in the opposite direction to the northern ward.
"The Commissioner will pass on details of the events surrounding Magnus to the Cobalt Soul representative in the city. So tomorrow, after that last chore I mentioned, the day is ours. You can come to visit my grandfather with me, he has a tinkering shop in the southern ward".
“Oh,” Dev says, recovering a bit, when Normont elaborates regarding the ruins. “Oh, that’s different. Okay, and tomorrow mornong it is.”
The teenager stifles the urge to bob up and down on his toes when Normont and Quinn agree to stay at the Lilac Inn. Whatever else it might bring, a night in a comfortable bed would be heaven. And if it did bring fairer returns than a good night’s sleep, even better.
He continues to gawk and stare at buildings and shops and whatever else but follows Normont’s lead to the inn.
Normont led the way towards the Lilac Inn located about halfway down Westwall Street its top floors overlooked Sir Trinkets Public parks, the building itself was built of very low-grade whitestone and granite and the wooden sections were fashioned of vermaloc wood giving the inn its name.
Normont was a little hesitant entering as The Lilac was usually a little out of his price range but currently flush as they were.........the recption hall was central and led up to a small desk next to a spiral staircase, to the left was a small bar and to the right the dining area.
A fairly severe looking halfling man stood atop a ladder/stool behind the desk, " Good Afternoon, Sirs and Madam. How may The Lilac Inn be of assistance?"
Lokilia moves along with the group briskly. She watches the way Dev bobs around, pleased to see him so happy. "What sort of rooms do they have at this Lilac Inn? Do you know Normont?" While others seem to be looking around at the buildings, she seems to be distinctly not looking about much. "Perhaps there is a garden! Think we could afford fancy rooms near the gardens?"
Normont strokes his rather unkempt beard before replying, "I am not entirely sure. I haven't been inside for many years, when my grandfather and I helped restore the place. It is a little pricey, and I've not had the need to stay in an inn in Whitestone before".
"I expect the rooms are very luxurious though", he adds, realising that they must look quite the state after so long on the road. "We can ask for a room overlooking the park. That is right next door", he suggests.
When they reach the inn and enter the reception hall, he is even more aware of how out of place he is. But his friends deserve some luxury.
"Good afternoon. We are weary from the road, and are looking to acquire rooms overlooking the park for a night or two, a bath each and plenty of hot food and cold drinks", he says confidently before asking a little less certainly, "How much do you think that will be?".
His mind casts back to something his grandfather used to say to him. If you need to ask how much it costs, you likely can't afford it.
Quinn is amazed at how Normont so adeptly handles the fancy conversations. He also likes the idea of a room with a view but would not make a fuss either way.
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( Normont and Quinn feel free to catch up now......wibbly wobbly-timey wimey.)
"Balaran? That's a great name," Lokilia says. She smiles, chuckling softly. "I mean, close second to Dev. And yea, you did fall out of the tree. But I don't think anyone cared. And I think his easel was fine." She listens quietly to what Dev says, nodding her head now and then. When he finally pauses she says, "Sounds like it went very well. I'm afraid I didn't get a great look at his painting, but from a glance it seemed like it might be interesting. But I knew you wouldn't need me around." She waves her hand aimlessly in the direction the Ashari had wandered off to. "Ran into someone I knew from Zephrah. Well, sort of knew. Family friend really." She shrugs, not sure what else to really say.
"So, this Balaran is staying at the Lilac Inn. Once Normont finds us we should see what he thinks about staying there too. Certainly has a nice name, lilacs are quite lovely!"
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 || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
Normont leads Quinn through the streets as they chat about what they can do whilst in Whitestone, eventually coming upon the Sun Tree.
"It's amazing, right? Apparently it was planted by The Dawnfather way back during the Calamity", he says, before spotting Dev and Lokilia and veering in their direction. Just as they get within earshot of the pair, he adds, "When I first came here it didn't look like this at all, it barely had any leaves in fact, but the people of Whitestone were so happy. They thought it had died during the time they were in charge. But look at it now!".
"Hey, you two. What do you think of the Sun tree? I'm all done with my report, but I still need to go and see someone else", he says before whispering, "in the eastern ruins". "I got my back pay as well, so we can stay at an inn instead of the barracks or squishing into my grandfather's place".
(OOC: DM: What time of day is it? How dark? Will the lights come on soon? Normont is excited for that. Does Normont know that the Raven Tree in Zephrah is an offshoot of the Sun Tree? Lokilia might know, but good trivia if not)
( OOC- Late afternoon......probably an hour or so before the lights are on. Normont might know......Pale Guard double as tourist information so somewhat likely.)
Quinn looks at the history and says, "What made you want to serve the city and leave the art of creating?"
"I haven't left the art of creating, one helps with the other, like with Amber", Normont replies to Quinn. "Lord de Rolo uses his inventions to make us all safe, that is what I aspire to do as well".
"What made you join the watch, back in Drynna? In fact, I am not sure I ever asked, are you from Drynna or did you move there?".
"I understand the idea of being inspired into action. As for me I just saw people who needed help so I offered my services and this led me to being a guard in Drynna for a short while. As for where I am from, I would rather not say." Normont will notice Quinn is uncomfortable talking about his past and seems guarded but not aggressive.
"Lilac. Yeah, I guess I like it a lot too. And violet. Anything but...," red, he thinks but doesn't say. "It's amazing that you ran into someone you knew here. Isn't it? I can't imagine seeing someone I know in Drynna, here." The teenager trails off and is silent for a moment as he spots Normont and Quinn waving before taking up a question that he'd been meaning to ask her since they arrived in the city.
"Lokilia, isn't it... I mean, is it... I guess... wait." He gathers his thoughts, then tries again. "I've never spoken with another tiefling before. I almost can't believe it happened," he admits, with wonderment. "And I'm... not sure how to describe it. It seems like, for you... I mean, I've never seen you with another Ashari in all the weeks I've known you, which, I guess, isn't that long, but... do you miss being around people who are... not the same as you, cuz there's only one you, but, people who are like you? Other Ashari?"
Dev, around Normont, whom he respects so much, but in a different way from Lokilia, downplays the emotional bungee-cord of meeting Balaran, and answers with forced calm, smiling lightly, "It was great. And I... spoke with another tiefling I met. An artist, a very fine one."
"Ruins?," he echoes, faltering a bit. They'd lost a friend in ruins only a fortnight ago, and he wasn't quite ready to think of seeing more ruins before taking some time to live his life. At least a day or two. His thoughts seem written in his expression as a note of sadness pools in his eyes. But when Normont shares the good news about finances and lodgings, Dev perks up instantly.
"Oh, we can stay at an inn? Balaran said... um, the artist I met?, said that he is staying at the Lilac Inn, not far from here in the North Ward. Can we stay there too?"
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
"Very noble thing to want to do, and you do it well", Normont replies to Quinn about his wish to help folk. When the genasi refuses to speak of his past, he looks up at him for a few moments before speaking again. "That is ok, Quinn. It is no-one's business but yours. But if you ever want to talk about it with someone, I'm your gnome. No pressure".
(OOC: I jumped the gun a bit, will move the rest of this post after Lokilia's)
"Anything but?" Lokilia asks, wondering why the tiefling had stopped himself short there. As he continues though she kind of forgets about the remark. She slowly nods her head as Dev asks his question. It takes her a moment of reflection before she speaks. "I do miss being around people like me at times. But I've always been happy to be mostly alone and just have a few people around I can count on." She smiles softly, not really looking up. "Like you Dev. But it's not really Ashari that I miss. More like Air Ashsari. Well, really Air Ashari that I know well." She shakes her head, "This Bunter Kooloi I ran into, she's really an acquaintance of my parents. It's not like I really even knew her. And Quinn. He's Ashari. But I just don't really have much connection with him." She hastily adds, "Though he's been a great companion on our journey."
As Normont and Quinn arrive she drops the conversation with Dev, focusing on what Normont asked. "I absolutely love the Sun Tree. We climbed up into the branches. But then Dev spotted his new tiefling artist friend." She conveniently omits any mention of him almost falling from the branch. "And I agree with Dev that we should stay at this Lilac Inn." She too didn't look all that thrilled about ruins. Although it did sound like perhaps a way to get out of the city. "These ruins are outside the city? Perhaps we go there tomorrow?"
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 || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
When Dev explains his meeting with the tiefling artist, Normont smiles at him, "I'm pleased for you, Dev".
Seeing the tielfing's reaction to the ruins, he clarifies, "Nothing like the...you know...where...Just some homes built for the refugees like myself, not long ago, not ancient or anything. They had to be abandoned because of unrest and some incursions...", he rambles, not making it any better. "They are joined to the city, but outside the wall. We can go in the morning when it is nice and bright, good idea Lokilia. And you don't have to come, if you don't want to. But it would be nice if you did. The Lilac Inn he said!", he ends by changing the subject quite emphatically. "Yes, of course we can stay there".
He turns to Lokilia and chuckles as she says they climbed the Sun Tree, "They say the Voice of the Tempest took a shoot from the Sun Tree and planted it in Zephrah decades ago, and the two trees are somehow linked. Bet it makes you feel more at home".
The others can tell Normont is chuffed to be home, and super proud of his city.
"Keyleth planted a tree from this one?" Lokilia asks. She turns to take in the immense tree once again. "Hmm, yea, I do recall a tree. It was some sort of memorial too, right? I guess I didn't realize it was this tree." She then looks back to Normont. "Well, if there's nothing else, lead the way to the Liliac Inn. Time to get settled in!"
Her attitude seems to have shifted somewhat. She's certainly not showing as much concern about being in the city. Perhaps the Sun Tree has actually made her feel a bit more connected here. And perhaps it helps that she's focused on Dev's excitement over the tiefling artist he met.
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 || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
The sun is a little lower in the sky now and the day seems to be beginning to wind down on the streets while the companions converse and make plans....
"Right-o", Normont replies after a quick shrug to indicate he doesn't know more about the tree in Zephrah. "Let's go to the Lilac Inn".
With that, after a brief glance back to the southern ward he leads the way in the opposite direction to the northern ward.
"The Commissioner will pass on details of the events surrounding Magnus to the Cobalt Soul representative in the city. So tomorrow, after that last chore I mentioned, the day is ours. You can come to visit my grandfather with me, he has a tinkering shop in the southern ward".
Quinn will nod along with this plan.
“Oh,” Dev says, recovering a bit, when Normont elaborates regarding the ruins. “Oh, that’s different. Okay, and tomorrow mornong it is.”
The teenager stifles the urge to bob up and down on his toes when Normont and Quinn agree to stay at the Lilac Inn. Whatever else it might bring, a night in a comfortable bed would be heaven. And if it did bring fairer returns than a good night’s sleep, even better.
He continues to gawk and stare at buildings and shops and whatever else but follows Normont’s lead to the inn.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Normont led the way towards the Lilac Inn located about halfway down Westwall Street its top floors overlooked Sir Trinkets Public parks, the building itself was built of very low-grade whitestone and granite and the wooden sections were fashioned of vermaloc wood giving the inn its name.
Normont was a little hesitant entering as The Lilac was usually a little out of his price range but currently flush as they were.........the recption hall was central and led up to a small desk next to a spiral staircase, to the left was a small bar and to the right the dining area.
A fairly severe looking halfling man stood atop a ladder/stool behind the desk, " Good Afternoon, Sirs and Madam. How may The Lilac Inn be of assistance?"
Lokilia moves along with the group briskly. She watches the way Dev bobs around, pleased to see him so happy. "What sort of rooms do they have at this Lilac Inn? Do you know Normont?" While others seem to be looking around at the buildings, she seems to be distinctly not looking about much. "Perhaps there is a garden! Think we could afford fancy rooms near the gardens?"
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 || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
Normont strokes his rather unkempt beard before replying, "I am not entirely sure. I haven't been inside for many years, when my grandfather and I helped restore the place. It is a little pricey, and I've not had the need to stay in an inn in Whitestone before".
"I expect the rooms are very luxurious though", he adds, realising that they must look quite the state after so long on the road. "We can ask for a room overlooking the park. That is right next door", he suggests.
When they reach the inn and enter the reception hall, he is even more aware of how out of place he is. But his friends deserve some luxury.
"Good afternoon. We are weary from the road, and are looking to acquire rooms overlooking the park for a night or two, a bath each and plenty of hot food and cold drinks", he says confidently before asking a little less certainly, "How much do you think that will be?".
His mind casts back to something his grandfather used to say to him. If you need to ask how much it costs, you likely can't afford it.
Quinn is amazed at how Normont so adeptly handles the fancy conversations. He also likes the idea of a room with a view but would not make a fuss either way.