The Long Road - Game Thread

Quillary turns to Gramgram. "Oh, this?" She pulls the hat off, revealing the the cat skull is actually woven into her hair... or something. Quillary carefully keeps the hat closed (she has to activate it, anyway, but she doesn't want anything untoward coming out). "We got this on an adventure, clearing creatures from the Shadowfell out of a riverside town north of here. Hildi was quite instrumental in getting all that figured out, I believe he spent all night reading the tomes, and then led us in the cleansing ritual..."

She realizes Gramgram was asking after the skull, and falls silent a moment. "The skull, it is a totem of a past life, one that gives me pause and comfort, both. I keep her close. I saw her... cross the veil."

OOC: Thanks for catching that Quasi; I fixed it.

Forte shrugs at Drusk's brushoff and forks another big bite into his mouth.

Popsy smiles at the half-orc in Hori's stead (as he has left the table). "We halflings like to eat. Some households have as many as seven meals a day. We don't usually sit down at the table together that many times a day, but on holidays such as today, we do enjoy a few big meals to celebrate the occasion. Second breakfast and dinner tend to be the biggest, with a lighter meal — but still at the table — for luncheon and supper. That's what's planned for today. At least ... that was what was planned for today." He glances at the door to the kitchen before continuing. "Of course, we still enjoy snacking throughout the day. If you keep the stomach going, you're less likely to feel full," he says informationally. "What does your family do to celebrate the new year? Did you say you came from an elven abbey?"

Despite her first referring to the hat, Quillary notices that the old halfling doesn't take her eyes off the cat skull. But by the time the druid finishes explaining about both objects, their eyes have met, and Gramgram's worry has deepened. "Oh my," she almost whispers. She swallows and tries to rearrange her face into one that is more cordial, but the worry lines are still visible. "When Hildi said he was going to be an adventurer, I guess I really didn't know what that meant. I didn't even know he knew how to ... lead a cleansing ritual." She smiles at Quillary. "Does he take care of himself? I mean, is he careful when he's ... fighting things and cleansing things?"

"Well," Quillary says, "He's the smartest of us, no doubt. Learned in ways I don't hope to be. He's a little distracted when he's on the scent of something new or interesting, but he's no fool, ma'am, you can be sure. The most important thing for you to know is that he's helped people. Adventuring is not about treasure or trophies for him, no, he's learning about the world and making it better for all of us. Sometimes that's dangerous, but you should be proud. It's a brief time between our passes of the veil, and he'll make the most of his time, I'm sure."

Pascal is in the process of swallowing a whole turkey. He is refraining from pulling a death roll.

Drusk thanks Popsy for that information (because of course Drusk can't talk to Hori who left to check on Mileen). "I did say elven. I have no family, as I was an orphan. The elves in the village said they would take care of me, although sometimes they said that caringly and sometimes angrily."

While Popsy is busy digesting that conversation stopper, Drusk speaks to Gramgram. "You don't have to worry about Hildigrim doing a cleansing ritual. It is not what you are worried about. Instead of putting berries up his bum to cleanse his bowels, he was cleansing locations of evil magic. He was helping others."

Drusk settles back in his chair, happy that his casual conversation skills have improved lately.

"Drusk and I are of a kind, so to speak.  I too spent most of my time away from my own.  I trained at the forges of Mithril Hall with Dwarves.  I know how it can feel to be on the outside.  Has Luci had a similar experience?"

Jorin takes a few more bites of everything in arms reach as he says that then adds, "The idea of multiple breakfasts is really fantastic."

Without noticing, some of Quillary's spores have drifted out and settled on her food, growing small caps and lichens. She continues to nibble at it, unaware, perhaps troubled by something, glad of Drusk engaging Gramgram past her.

OOC > She does have the Haunted One background!

Quote from Mingofaust >>

OOC > She does have the Haunted One background!

(OOC: A bit odd what the D&D Beyond sheets will reveal to other players.

Players can see their own sheets, and DM can see everyone in the campaign. And I can understand what I shouldn't be able to see Quillary's background or alignment or faith. But I also can't check info like her height or eye color, even though I have full access to her equipment and spell lists.)

Gramgram appears a little comforted by Quillary words, and little distracted by Drusk's.

When Jorin asks about Luci, Popsy pauses. "Luci probably does feel a little on the outside," he says a bit thoughtfully. "It hasn't been our intent to make her feel that way. Growing up, she was just as much a part of the family as Hori. She and Hori are almost the same age," he explains. "We had a lot of trouble having kids, so by the time Hori was born, Goldy had been married and was having her own kids." The old halfling sighs. "I'm afraid her outburst has more to do with how I feel about her now."

The door to the kitchen opens, and Hori comes walking through holding a couple more dishes and smiling widely. "Who wants some dessert?" he asks. Mileen comes walking through behind her husband, her face a little flushed, but sporting a small smile. She is carrying a third dish.

Hildigrim jumps up and hurries to that end of the table. As Hori hands the desserts off to the male halfling sitting beside Goldy, Hildigrim takes the dessert from his mother, their eyes locking for a second. He puts the dish down on the table, and the two embrace briefly. Hori squeezes Hildi's shoulder and then walks down to his seat. Hildi sits down in the chair across from his mother as the two begin talking.

As Gramgram is handing Quillary the first dessert, she down at the druid's plate and says, "Oh my! Mileen, these tubers are rotten!"

Completely unrelated to what is happening to Quillary's plate... Drusk offers to help out if the Goodbody's would like a hand with any of the preparations or cleaning. (He is a guest, but many hands make a task light and joyful.) He can't help with the cooking, but he has been taking lessons with a brewmaster in Waterdeep.

And he has the spells Purify Food and Drink and Create or Destroy Water already prepared.

Can Pascal discern why the strange tiny lady (Mileen) has blood rushing to her cheeks? 

"Oh!" Quillary starts. "No, ma'am, that's not rotten, but rather life beginning anew. I've just, well, my aspect... um, it's just been accelerated. It's no trouble, and certainly no fault of the cooking, but just my... peculiarity." She reins her spores in and tries to cover the bowl with her napkin.

Pascal, you aren't sure, but it seems when you've witnessed this strange phenomenon in the past, it indicated the fleshy ones are experiencing some kind of strong emotion. Perhaps she is flushed with excitement that you ate the whole turkey yourself.

Gramgram continues to look confused at Quillary, but ends up giving the druid a small, polite smile before continuing to enjoy her small portion of dessert.

Drusk, when it looks like it's time to leave the table, your offer to help clean up is halfheartedly dismissed, but it doesn't take much for the Goodbody family to graciously welcome your assistance. Popsy is the only Goodbody who doesn't help; he is directed to go sit down and rest his back in the other room.

What is everyone else doing during cleanup?

Pascal will consume any uneaten scraps. Waste not, want not, as they say.

Quillary will actually disengage and drift off with Popsy, content to sit in silence with the old man.

As Popsy and Quillary retire to the room full of comfortable furniture, the rest begin cleaning up. At first, it's appreciated when Pascal begins finishing off the little bits left on plates and platters and in bowls. Then it becomes wearing. But, in the end, it's amusing.

The kitchen, which is in fact through the door at the end of the room, is large, bright, and very warm. Drusk is put to work at the sink as the room bustles with activity surrounding cleaning up from cooking, washing all the dishes, putting everything away, and even the beginnings of preparations for the next meal. Hildigrim slides in beside his half-orc friend, drying as Drusk washes and then handing the dishes to Fortegren to put away. The twins are tag-teaming a story of when Hildi fell out of one of the second-story windows. "You pushed me," Hildi accuses Forte. "I tripped over one of your books, and you know it," Forte laughs.

Though she had picked a seat not too close to Popsy, the old halfling moves over to sit beside the half-elf. Somehow, the topic of fishing comes up, and Popsy begins regaling Quillary with everything should could hope to know and more about the family business.

About 30 minutes later, everyone rejoins Popsy and Quillary.

"Time for cards," Hori announces.

"We just sat down," Gramgram replies, putting her feet up.

"I'll play," Hildigrim responds. He looks at the others. "Who wants to play?"

“I have... never played. Cards.” Quillary says. “Elves play games that are more consequen... um, long.”  

Pascal’s head instantly snaps back 180 degrees, “Y’ALL SAY CARDS!?”

Pascal scrambles through the house like an iguana on a hardwood floor before landing in a seat, “C’mon then! Get dealin’! What’s y’all’s game? Faerun Hold Em? Bottom Barrel? Go Fish?”

OoC - An iguana on a hardwood flour, lol!  

Has Luci returned?  If not, Jorin will excuse himself from cards and go see if he can find her.

OOC: Luci has not returned.

Hori smiles at Pascal. "I'm not real familiar with those. We Goodbody's generally play one of three games: Avandra's Favor, Primus's Gavel, or Gambit of Ord. Know any of those?"

"What are we playing with?" Forte asks, following the group back to the table.

"Well?" Hori pauses, thinking. "There's not any leftovers," he says, playfully glaring at Pascal. "Hildi, head into the kitchen and see what you can find."

As Hildi heads to the kitchen, Jorin heads out the front door.

Jorin, it's almost midday. The sun is out. It's a cloudless, bright, and very cold day. You don't see any children at the moment, but you think you catch snippets of laughter or playful screaming or other childish noises not too far away. The neighborhood street is empty.

"Who else is going to play?" Forte calls into the other room.