Balasar acknowledges the greeting: Thank you; it's good to be back. Whatever allures the open road may hold, there's nothing quite like the flavors and aromas of home. Speaking of, I take it that you have a new masterpiece, Fergus?
Fergus beams and shoots a superior look to Rufus, "I would be honored, Master Balasar. Please, this way."
Leading you further into the kitchen, he raises a covered dish to reveal a grey, wrinkly round thing. The mass is covered in a fine network of red lines, interspersed with larger, darker ones. The thing smells strongly of iron. It appears to be an almost exact copy of a living brain.
"This is still an early version yet, Master. If I may say, I think the caul-fat and sandalwood as a vein substitute was particularly inspired."
Rufus looks both ill and embarassed, "You can er-see my objections, Master."
Lisette moves about the creation, examining it from every available angle without actually touching it. Her expression is one of delighted curiosity as she mumbles quietly to... herself?
"Look here, he's enlarged all of the cerebral anatomy."
After a brief pause, she shakes her head and continues, "Of course, you might be right, but from where would he have learned?"
Another short pause as her brow creases in thought. "No, no - all the areas of higher learning are expanded. Perhaps greater intellect was the goal, do you think? Such an elusive charactetistic... Even so, again, the question becomes where? Where? Where?"
Looking up, she eyes Fergus curiously as she remarks, "Fergus, the skill and detail of your creation are INCREDIBLE. But where did you acquire the knowledge to create this- this- artificial brain? I would have sworn that no healer in High Hills has the requisite medical knowledge, crafting ability, and inclination to guide such an undertaking."
Fergus swells with pride, "Why, it came to me of course! You work long enough in the kitchens and you just... let your stomach and your eyes guide you. It all comes down to what feels right. Only..." He sags, and adopts an odd expression, "Only I still can't get it to taste right. There's something it's missing that I can't quite place, like a smell you can't quite recall."
Leaning in close to the creation, Lisette inhales long and slow through her nose.
Perception: 22
Were it not for Fergus's earlier boast about caul fat, you would be hard pressed to find any indication that this is anything other than a freshly extracted brain. Even given Lisette's history, this is almost indistinguishable from living tissue, down to the temperature. In fact her ONLY major clue to this not being a real and living brain is the lack of any movement in the "veins".
Lisette mutters to herself - though loudly enough for the party to follow - as she takes notes to the effect of her above observations. She also mutters/notes down: "the Cerebrum is unusually large, almost tumescent. Broca's region and Wernicke's area are similarly enlarged. Every area of the brain that has been catalogued as dealing with higher thinking has been subtly or extraordinarily expanded. Furthermore, the execution is too perfect, the exaggerations too specific to be accidental."
She ends with another mutter/note, "How could Fergus has achieved such a feat?"
Looking up from her notetaking, Lisette faces Fergus directly and smiles blindingly. "You say this came to you, but the level of understanding displayed is not something that could just occur to a person. You must have a very detailed understanding of the brain to accomplish this. What book, person, or dream brought on this bout of creative genius? Actually, there's another question: just when did the idea to create this first present in you mind? How long did it take you? Would you be willing to consult on a related project in my lab?"
Though her rate of speech had been increasing with each question, Lisette suddenly appears notice the expressions of her companions and staff. She clamps her mouth tightly shut with a sheepish smile and waits for Fergus' answers to catch up.
Fergus's proud smile grows wider as Lisette talks, glad to have finally found someone who appreciates his vision, "It was a gradual thing. All the usual stuff didn't taste right, y'know? I wanted something a bit more like," He gestures to the mass, "Don't get me wrong, brain's easy enough to get, and we've used it enough in other dishes but it needed to taste fresher than fresh"
The odd look comes back into his face and Rufus shudders. Fergus keeps talking, "Though taste isn't really the right word, it needed to feel right. Whatever it is, I've still not got it down, but I feel like I'm getting closer. The first few I made were just shaped sausages that looked like exact copies, but the copies didn't do the good parts justice-"
"There are no good parts, you daft fool!" Rufus shouts suddenly. Fergus fixes him with a look that brings the other man up cold. After a long moment, Fergus turns back to Lisette with a smile. Speaking in the exact same tone as when he left off, Fergus continues, "So over time I made the good parts bigger. It must have been a little over a tenday ago, when I first started feeling my muse pulling me along. I rather think Lord Kriv will fancy this, once I find what I'm missing. I'm very close now."
Has Lord Kriv said anything about this, or will it be a surprise for him once you get it just right? And what have you done with the others that you've made?
Has Lord Kriv said anything about this, or will it be a surprise for him once you get it just right? And what have you done with the others that you've made?
"Oh, this will be a surprise. Nothing but the best for the Lord, after all, nothing but the best. Archibald and Tansy have taken over most of my duties while I perfect this. As to the others, well, I've always been a great believer in no waste. 'Eat your shame' is my motto. Why I doubt I've had much else in the last few days."
You've clearly been pouring all of your substantial talent into this. Do you have any plans for a follow-up project once this is complete?
"One thing at at time, Master, one thing at a time. But..." he grown pensive, "Why, you're right! A whole new world of flavors opened up to us. All the experience of eating as wild things might, but without pain and without risk of sickness!"
Fergus pauses for a moment before proceeding, "Well Master Balasar, I'm sure that in your travels you have heard of those who get sick eating uncooked food, yes? What if you could eat a thing as if it were raw, even so fresh as to still be alive, but not cause a living creature pain or open yourself to disease?"
Glowering at the casual mention of such a grisly topic, the cleric of Pelor suddenly speaks. "And what devilry would you pursue to do this? I suggest you choose your words wisely," he rumbles.
Fergus takes a step back, going a little pale, "I-I've not... I haven't tried to eat anything alive, I assure you! I haven't!"
He looks a little confused, "I haven't... so how do I know..."
One of the other assistants has paused in her onion chopping to eavesdrop and now speaks up, "He hasn't. How could he? Everyone on site has still been accounted for, and we've not been allowed to go anywhere since Lord Kriv locked the place down."
Fergus turns gratefully to her.
"Plus... Archie's been keeping track of him," She admits, a little embarrassed.
The cook's expression turns scandalized.
"Look, Mister Fergus, even you have to admit you've been acting a little... different lately. Archie's just been worried about you is all."
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Balasar acknowledges the greeting: Thank you; it's good to be back. Whatever allures the open road may hold, there's nothing quite like the flavors and aromas of home. Speaking of, I take it that you have a new masterpiece, Fergus?
Fergus beams and shoots a superior look to Rufus, "I would be honored, Master Balasar. Please, this way."
Leading you further into the kitchen, he raises a covered dish to reveal a grey, wrinkly round thing. The mass is covered in a fine network of red lines, interspersed with larger, darker ones. The thing smells strongly of iron. It appears to be an almost exact copy of a living brain.
"This is still an early version yet, Master. If I may say, I think the caul-fat and sandalwood as a vein substitute was particularly inspired."
Rufus looks both ill and embarassed, "You can er-see my objections, Master."
Lisette attempts to determine just what Fergus has made.
Per FB PM, Medicine check: 23
PMing results
Lisette moves about the creation, examining it from every available angle without actually touching it. Her expression is one of delighted curiosity as she mumbles quietly to... herself?
"Look here, he's enlarged all of the cerebral anatomy."
After a brief pause, she shakes her head and continues, "Of course, you might be right, but from where would he have learned?"
Another short pause as her brow creases in thought. "No, no - all the areas of higher learning are expanded. Perhaps greater intellect was the goal, do you think? Such an elusive charactetistic... Even so, again, the question becomes where? Where? Where?"
Looking up, she eyes Fergus curiously as she remarks, "Fergus, the skill and detail of your creation are INCREDIBLE. But where did you acquire the knowledge to create this- this- artificial brain? I would have sworn that no healer in High Hills has the requisite medical knowledge, crafting ability, and inclination to guide such an undertaking."
Fergus swells with pride, "Why, it came to me of course! You work long enough in the kitchens and you just... let your stomach and your eyes guide you. It all comes down to what feels right. Only..." He sags, and adopts an odd expression, "Only I still can't get it to taste right. There's something it's missing that I can't quite place, like a smell you can't quite recall."
Rolling Knowledge: History: 12
Leaning in close to the creation, Lisette inhales long and slow through her nose.
Perception: 12
Were it not for Fergus's earlier boast about caul fat, you would be hard pressed to find any indication that this is anything other than a freshly extracted brain. Even given Lisette's history, this is almost indistinguishable from living tissue, down to the temperature. In fact her ONLY major clue to this not being a real and living brain is the lack of any movement in the "veins".
Lisette mutters to herself - though loudly enough for the party to follow - as she takes notes to the effect of her above observations. She also mutters/notes down: "the Cerebrum is unusually large, almost tumescent. Broca's region and Wernicke's area are similarly enlarged. Every area of the brain that has been catalogued as dealing with higher thinking has been subtly or extraordinarily expanded. Furthermore, the execution is too perfect, the exaggerations too specific to be accidental."
She ends with another mutter/note, "How could Fergus has achieved such a feat?"
Looking up from her notetaking, Lisette faces Fergus directly and smiles blindingly. "You say this came to you, but the level of understanding displayed is not something that could just occur to a person. You must have a very detailed understanding of the brain to accomplish this. What book, person, or dream brought on this bout of creative genius? Actually, there's another question: just when did the idea to create this first present in you mind? How long did it take you? Would you be willing to consult on a related project in my lab?"
Though her rate of speech had been increasing with each question, Lisette suddenly appears notice the expressions of her companions and staff. She clamps her mouth tightly shut with a sheepish smile and waits for Fergus' answers to catch up.
Fergus's proud smile grows wider as Lisette talks, glad to have finally found someone who appreciates his vision, "It was a gradual thing. All the usual stuff didn't taste right, y'know? I wanted something a bit more like," He gestures to the mass, "Don't get me wrong, brain's easy enough to get, and we've used it enough in other dishes but it needed to taste fresher than fresh"
The odd look comes back into his face and Rufus shudders. Fergus keeps talking, "Though taste isn't really the right word, it needed to feel right. Whatever it is, I've still not got it down, but I feel like I'm getting closer. The first few I made were just shaped sausages that looked like exact copies, but the copies didn't do the good parts justice-"
"There are no good parts, you daft fool!" Rufus shouts suddenly. Fergus fixes him with a look that brings the other man up cold. After a long moment, Fergus turns back to Lisette with a smile. Speaking in the exact same tone as when he left off, Fergus continues, "So over time I made the good parts bigger. It must have been a little over a tenday ago, when I first started feeling my muse pulling me along. I rather think Lord Kriv will fancy this, once I find what I'm missing. I'm very close now."
Has Lord Kriv said anything about this, or will it be a surprise for him once you get it just right? And what have you done with the others that you've made?
"Oh, this will be a surprise. Nothing but the best for the Lord, after all, nothing but the best. Archibald and Tansy have taken over most of my duties while I perfect this. As to the others, well, I've always been a great believer in no waste. 'Eat your shame' is my motto. Why I doubt I've had much else in the last few days."
You've clearly been pouring all of your substantial talent into this. Do you have any plans for a follow-up project once this is complete?
"One thing at at time, Master, one thing at a time. But..." he grown pensive, "Why, you're right! A whole new world of flavors opened up to us. All the experience of eating as wild things might, but without pain and without risk of sickness!"
He beams with a mixture of excitement and relief.
Balasar cocks his head with a puzzled expression. I'm not sure I understand what you mean; could you please elaborate on that?
Fergus pauses for a moment before proceeding, "Well Master Balasar, I'm sure that in your travels you have heard of those who get sick eating uncooked food, yes? What if you could eat a thing as if it were raw, even so fresh as to still be alive, but not cause a living creature pain or open yourself to disease?"
Glowering at the casual mention of such a grisly topic, the cleric of Pelor suddenly speaks. "And what devilry would you pursue to do this? I suggest you choose your words wisely," he rumbles.
Fergus takes a step back, going a little pale, "I-I've not... I haven't tried to eat anything alive, I assure you! I haven't!"
He looks a little confused, "I haven't... so how do I know..."
One of the other assistants has paused in her onion chopping to eavesdrop and now speaks up, "He hasn't. How could he? Everyone on site has still been accounted for, and we've not been allowed to go anywhere since Lord Kriv locked the place down."
Fergus turns gratefully to her.
"Plus... Archie's been keeping track of him," She admits, a little embarrassed.
The cook's expression turns scandalized.
"Look, Mister Fergus, even you have to admit you've been acting a little... different lately. Archie's just been worried about you is all."