Courage mirrors much the same motion as Yvan to the dragon, before following him and others back to shore... eventually. That, and with much help from Souperb temporarily forming a make shift arm for him to utilize for the journey. Exhausted however by the end, the tiefling just lands along the edge. He didn't even have the energy to show much concern for Kasha's situation; but then, she did had the others fortunately looking out for her. Even so, one could only ignore what sounded initially like childish flailing before a curiosity fueled flopping over got him position to look past waterlogged hair.

"You truly aight there, butte-....*cough*... Ms. Kasha? Ain't realize you had such a fear of the water? I take it ya'll had a, uh, traumatizing experience with the water plane or over the ocean or something?" He asked, looking to everyone in turn.

Kasha grabbed Courage by the face, pulled him in, and spoke into his ear like she was talking into a magic conch shell. Her soft voice sounded like she was telling him the secret of the century. She spoke in a very loud hushed whisper, so it was like she wasn't really whispering at all.

"I'm fine. It's just my elven senses. When it comes to water, they're a little warped. Water weighs me down, I feel like i'm wearing a wet fur coat. Yeah. It's kinda like that. I can "feel" it. It's heavy. I can smell the chemicals in water, too. It's not a pleasant smell. I'm used to dryer landscapes. Contrary to popular belief, I didn't grow up in a forest - even though i'm half from it. Plus I don't feel like I have control in water. And, most importantly, I have a fear of drowning. Oh. And I like being........................................................................................dirty."

"Yeah..."

She lets go of your head and continues to do whatever she was doing before you spoke to her - like you're not even there.

Courage puts up no resistance to being pulled in, though did groan a little in mild discomfort from the motion. Nevertheless, he listened with rapt attention; and after all is said, he lets head hit the ground again after being let go, having not the willpower to try and keep it up. As he laid there contemplating the story, and consider whether to believe all of it or just the last part as truth, what with the other elf of the party having swam with grace..... he clicks his tongue, closed his eyes, and ultimately decided to just drop the matter as a 'best not to think about it too hard' sort of subject.

Though this did not stop him from idly considering creating some type of floaties for the hydrophobic half-elf. After laying there for at least a few moments or so, he eventually grumbled out, "Hey Vastra... You got that, uh.. thing ready to go for our teleport back?" 

"I can. Everybody grab hands and I'll Teleport us all there. Probably."

87

It works! Once again you all appear outside the palace and are led into the king's chambers. He eagerly welcomes you in upon seeing that you have the Sunstone. His subordinates bring in 45,000gp for the six of you. 

"Excellent. Now I won't be able to teleport us back home until tomorrow, but with the money we just made, we shouldn't have issue finding a place to stay the night."

Kasha was doing some sort of rain dance on the ground, chanting, in a rhythmic way: "I hate water! I hate water! I hate water!"

Vastra thinks that perhaps it might be good to take Kasha to a psychologist or someone else who can help her get over her hydrophobia.

You're able to find a hotel to sleep in for the night. The next morning, you all eat breakfast and gather round as Vastra attempts to Teleport back home.

85

And succeeds. You all successfully warp back home. 

"Alys." Vastra asks. "I have to go into Cerellia to pick up a few things and I could use your help with the Bag of Holding. Would you mind coming along with me?"

"Hmm?" Alys' attention would turn to Vastra, caught munching on some chocolate covered peanuts. "Of course!" She'd beam. "I was... uh. Just making room in the bag?" The elf would pop another treat into her mouth. She'd offer some up.

"GIMME that." Kasha snatched the bag out of your hand, as if it was hers to begin with. She scowls at you before helping herself, but she then smiles while she eats so you can tell she's not actually mad or anything.

Alys would blink. She had been munching on the stragglers that fell loose in her bag of holding from way back when. They've since got Kasha her own dedicated bag of peanuts, which she might be mistaking Alys had. The wizard would giggle, smirking to herself while Kasha snatched it as if it was hers. Alys would wiggle her fingers, using her telekinesis to pluck Kasha's bag of infinite peanuts from her person, floating it behind the druid. She'd lift it up over the druids head, waiting to see if she would start searching through Alys' bag for nuts, instead perhaps finding other things. The elf would stifle some snickers, eventually opening and tilting Kasha's bag over her head so chocolate peanuts would begin to trickle over her.

If not the night before, then definitely that morning, Courage requests for some time to for some last minute purchases; promising to be back within an hour or two. His grinning from ear to ear upon his return.

"You two heading out already?" He asked of Alys and Vastra. "Well, before you do. There's something very, very important I, uh.. I wanted to do before you go. You see I've had some time to think about it, and realized that I'm getting pretty up there in age. And we live such a dangerous life style that I... I just couldn't wait any longer." He then looks glances to Yvan, assuming he hadn't wandered off by then and says, "And son... I'm sorry but there comes a time in which you just have to man up, boldly make a declaration,  and come what may follow through with the heart's desire." 

He's quick to hold up a 'wait a moment' finger in case Yvan looks about ready to interject, and turns back to Alys, Vastra, Stella, and Kasha. "I just want you four to know that you are truly special women to me. And only a fool would pass up the opportunity to be in the presence of such radiance for the rest of their lives. So, I got this-..." He takes a knee and pulls out a fairly large sized ring box to hold aloft before them. "Will you four marry me?" He finally asked, and really hamming up the genuiety as he popped open the box to reveal a set of four identical rings with a leafy sort of motif to them.

The Ruse: 10.(for funsies, and feel free to ignore the roll)

Assuming he's not assaulted immediately for the jest, Courage undoes his own ploy laughing so hard as to nearly drop the box. "Ah shoot. Hahah.. ahaha... aaahh -- I'm just messing with ya. Here. These I hope will help ease communication when butte--er, Kasha here decides to assume more bestial forms. Or in your case, Kasha, allow you to commune with any animal friends you might have without needing to waste your own energy first."

Previous Purchase before the ride home:

Courage takes a knee and pulls out a fairly large sized ring box to hold aloft before them. "Will you four marry me?" 

Kasha coughed so suddenly and loudly, she pounded her chest with her fist in trying to clear an obstruction at the surprise of Courages' joke. Obsidian spooked at this. Kasha regains her composure and clears her throat.

"My name is not "Butter Kasha." she remarks, looking at you skeptically. You get the feeling she still doesn't completely trust you or your living soup friend. "It's just Kasha."

Alys would drop everything in shock, placing a hand over her heart. Her mouth would hang open. From the beginning of Courage's speech, all the way to the end, Alys felt like she was riding a roller coaster. At first she found herself fretting in preparation as if the tiefling might be breaking up with them! But no, it completely flipped in the opposite direction, to proposal!? She'd almost stumble back from the shock, glancing around. It took until Courage began laughing himself that the elf would begin to clue in to the ruse. Alys would allow herself to fall back slightly, plopping herself down on the ground to take a moment. She'd let out a breath, then begin chuckling.

"I would hate to discourage you." She’d jest along. Alys would accept the communication device with a timid smile. "Thank you."

(accepting the device, not the proposal...)

Kasha and Obsidian look at the camera in unison.

Vastra accepts the gift with a little smile. "Bold of you, but from what I've been able to gather from my brief time in this country, polygamy is quite illegal."

At first, Yvan was ready to bid the two adieu and safe travels until Courage had begun making some sort of an announcement. The goliath watches the tiefling with the cocked brow at first, then tilts his head when he speaks directly to him about manning up and boldly making declarations. Had he known magic, illusionary question marks would appear around his head, confused as to just what he meant by that. 

Lips would part then clamp shut when the tiefling lifted a finger to him, continuing to watch the events unfold with confusion clear on his face, and it wouldn't fade even at the proposal itself. 

Eventually though, when it came to light that it had been a joke, it falls, and there's a small upturn at his lip. He truly only understood Kasha's brand of humor, so Courage's was something new. Though the devices were interesting and useful, and he was in hopes that they did make it easier to communicate with Kasha when she was in her other forms. 

"Nearly had me fooled," He would admit to the tiefling, going over to help Alys back up on her feet. "Almost had you too, hm?" He asks the elf followed by a light chuckle. "Be safe on your way to Cerellia, okay?"

"We will!" Vastra slaps the Helm of Teleportation, aiming for Cerellia.

22

Vastra is able to successfully Teleport herself and Alys to the city. She takes Alys to Dio's shop, collecting the Staff of Power she ordered before heading to Mahajarin. Then she heads to a butcher's shop and plops down 400gp. "I need every steak you have, no questions asked." The bewildered butcher complies with Vastra's order, giving the wizard steak after steak. "Could you help me load these into the bag, Alys?"

Alys would look up, accepting Yvan’s hand to bring her back up to her feet. Almost had you too, hm? Alys’ own chuckle would follow his with slightly reddened cheeks. “Courage sure surprised me.” But could not have me. The elf would rock forward on the balls of her feet and nod up at the goliath. “Vastra will keep me safe!” She’d reassure with a smile.

Vastra would sweep her away via teleport to the city. She’d happily follow her mentor to Dio’s shop. Her eyes would widen in awe as the wizard would pick up her new staff. “I remember you requesting this!” She’d beam, excited to have tagged along.

Next stop, the butcher shop. Alys would chuckle when Vastra would place her hefty order of steaks. Without skipping a beat when asked, the elf would use her magic to quickly and efficiently prepare and load the bag of holding with Kashasaurus treats.

Both Souperb and Courage, the former of which had been watching off to the side, deflates at a little after Kasha's remark. But both just as quickly perked up at the others response. "Discourage... heh... I have to step up my game." He chuckled, before turning his attention back on Kasha. "I didn't... mn... No. No, its no excuse. Sorry if I, uhm, twerked a nerve there. Didn't mean to if I had. Used to have this gnomish friend who we called-..." Courage catches himself, and smiles weakly. "Anyways... Sorry. I'm gonna, uh.. go to the kitchen now and find a place for this cauldron I bought." He said while shuffling on out of the room.

Only to return a second later to, if not offering again a ring to those still around, then at least to pass along to Yvan as well a 5th one he had secured elsewhere. Beyond that point the tiefling was content to spend the rest of the day working in the kitchen.

(Those that accept the rings may add one Ring of Animal Influence to their inventory.)

Stella smiles and takes the ring. "Thank you, Courage." She slips the ring on with a grin.