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Post by li on May 8, 2019 20:03:03 GMT
Grekko woke up to warm sun and humid air. Despite having slept in this area, shaded only by trees and hills, for almost a month, the balmy weather had been pleasantly surprising him pretty much every morning. However, this day was different. The grey lizardfolk was already close enough to find his way to Waterdeep until the dusk. Avoiding main roads and traveling through woods, meadows and hills, while checking the nature around him and looking for herbs, he ended up at the city's gates in the afternoon. "So this is it," he thought, "the crown of the North, the largest city I'll ever see..." He entered the gate and looked around while still going forward. Somewhat dirty streets bounded by many almost identical buildings and filled with such diverse groups of strangers, some of them looking directly at Grekko. He, however, had learned to appreciate this kind of attention and was answering their looks with nods and smiles. After a while, though, he returned to his inner monologue. "Look around, taste their beer, maybe obtain some gold and try not to get killed - just passing through. Like always" Like always, for real. He's been living like this for almost ten years. That's more than half of his short lizard life. Now, walking through the city of splendors, looking for an inn or a tavern, he was trying to remember what life choices led to the origin of his nomadic lifestyle. Was it thievery? Was it his love for discovering new things? Fear of permanence? He wasn't used to philosophical thoughts like these. And he definitely didn't enjoy them. To stop thinking about his past, he tuned his mind back to the future. "I'll stay here for few days and then head further to the south- Or maybe... go east," Grekko thought to himself. He didn't even like the ocean, why was he even planning to go along the coast? Having almost decided for going east, he remembered the new dice set he bought. He wanted to try them for something useful. And so, he chose to let the dice decide. After a while, he finally spotted a tavern. A wooden building with just a few windows and a couple of stairs leading into it. He opened the door and stepping inside, he was surprised by how empty the tavern was. Of course, not for long, as he then realized what time of day it was. Grekko approached the bar and ordered his drink. "Okay, gimme ale, please. Your local one," said the reptile with his croaky voice. After getting his local ale, he took it to an empty table in the corner. There, he grabbed a pipe from his pouch and filled it with a herbal mixture. Holding it in his left hand, he mumbled some words, made a strange gesture with his right hand and touched the herbs with his index finger. A dark smoke began to rise from the wooden pipe that he then put in his mouth. Grekko was indeed a druid. After that, a dice set was taken out of his other pouch. He laid it in on the table, and put one die in his palm, thinking, "Even number - east, odd number - south." The scaly hand rolled the six-sided die gently and confidently. Grekko's black soapstone die landed on the wooden table, showing the number
SsH7fs2f1-6
on the top. He did not regret. 1-6
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Post by enchilada on May 8, 2019 20:34:24 GMT
Dhaunmyr, the traveller, they called him. Dhaunmyr, the great wanderer, pilferer of hearts, light as the breeze. Dhaunmyr, the ever-moving merchant.
He’d been in Waterdeep for almost a season, now. To call himself anything but a local salesman was more or less a joke. But, he could always try, he supposed, to find reason to leave. But he suddenly found that he had two friends who seemed settled in Waterdeep, and a very kind companion who’d found herself an audience to perform for. Brennip was probably anxious to go, but Faerveren, and he knew this, didn’t. To separate those two would be a tragedy, and likely end in blood, tears, maybe even poison.
This in mind, Dhaunmyr had decided to try to get to know the city a little better. Realistically, this was his home. But he couldn’t find his way around if he had a map. The market, his room, Kara’s room, and where they trained. That was about everything he knew, and all of necessity. He, for sure, did not know where his other friend lived, even though he’d been there. That day was too much of a blur, and his all-caring memory had likely elected to wipe it of some kind of disastrous mercy to his wellbeing.
“We letting the dice decide?”
Dhaunmyr had big ears. He was an elf. And, much like his mentor, he could do nothing but poke them wherever they were supposed to not be. Luckily, his absolute confidence (as false as it was) enabled him to gladly point out absolutely everything he found amusing, and had observed.
The stone was more architectural than self-ornamental. Still a nice die. But absolutely not his thing. Perhaps Brennip’s, he’d ask her about more... useful stone. Not that jewellery wasn’t a use. He was covered in rings, studs, necklaces, with no care for how much he obviously did not fit in. He was already a dark elf, he was already set aside more than most people would ever dream to be, or, perhaps dread to be.
“Waterdeep makes things...” Dhaunmyr gestured, his hand that wasn’t around a mug of alcohol tracing circles in the air. “Tricky, no?” His smile was full of himself. Dhaunmyr knew something Grekko didn’t, probably. He was also cocky. He also knew he was better than anyone else he’d brushed against in the entire ward that morning. Why had his shiny red stiletto boots brought him here today? Perhaps the answer was at the bottom of the mug of mead.
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Post by li on May 10, 2019 8:57:35 GMT
"Yeah, I guess," Grekko said unenthusiastically, "I'm just deciding where to go... after ma stay in Waterdeep." Then he realized that, if he wants to complete his tasks and "not get killed", he should probably share his personal information more carefully. Especially with someone as shady and eccentric as Dhaunmyr, who was just looking at Grekko's die. And so, to avoid any questions, he suddenly uttered, "Nice dice, aren't they? Wanna try rolling? It's more satisfying than it look." The lizardfolk didn't talk very fast but also didn't allow anyone to interrupt him. "How 'baht- lower roll buys next drinks?"
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Post by enchilada on May 10, 2019 17:23:01 GMT
Dhaunmyr laughed, and then he nodded. He put on a kind of sparkly and bubbly air, of gentle excitement. He did his best to be coy, but he always was just a little too playful. Then again, Waterdeep was full of idiots who couldn’t pick up on subtle behaviour. He knew that well enough.
Where to go, after Waterdeep? Well. Dhaunmyr had some bad news, then. Waterdeep was a trap, it grabbed you and it didn’t let you leave. It made you do things you never thought you would. While it was a glittering jewel in relative dirt and squalor, the city was still far from a rough diamond — far more like something easily found. Perhaps amethyst, jasper. Pyrite.
Well, that was an invitation, alright. His red-painted lips did nothing but give away a smirking smile, and his hair curtained at least half his face. He sat, pulling the chair under himself. One stiletto found its way onto the seat, the other stretched below him. A manicured hand rested on the high knee, and the other, on the table, where he placed his drink.
“Do go on. Show me a roll.”
He was more than happy to purchase another drink for this man. Even people who were passing through were part of the culture. In fact, passing through was one of the more Waterdhavian qualities a person could have, he thought, and perhaps returning just once in a blue moon.
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Post by li on May 10, 2019 20:55:03 GMT
Big amber eyes moved towards Dhaunmyr and slit-like pupils widened a bit. Grekko could finally get a fine look of him. He's probably really rich, he thought, one of those rings could be of some serious value. But not now. Now we're rolling dice. "Aight. So me first." Grekko took the die he rolled a while ago and reached to the set for two other dice. The set itself was made from leather, just like almost everything Grekko possessed. It looked almost like a small wallet made exclusively for preserving dice. Having all three of those black cubes that slightly varied in their size and shade in his palm, he said: "Let's roll three of em and count the sum" After that, he made a smooth wrist movement towards the center of the table. Before releasing the dice, he looked at Dhaunmyr and told him: "Name's Grekko, by the way" Clank! Three dice fell on the wooden table at the same time rolling in three different directions. Grekko grinned and looked at Dhaumyr, almost expectantly. "Now you." 9vrS|1OV
((I don't actually know how to play the dice. I hope 3d6 without modifiers is fine?))
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Post by li on May 10, 2019 20:56:29 GMT
xBNf9zjH3d63d6
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Post by enchilada on May 10, 2019 23:16:39 GMT
Dhaunmyr drank as Grekko rolled. It wasn’t something he’d usually drink, but, again, he was trying to be as Waterdhavian as possible. Expensive wine, expensive cocktails, they just didn’t crop up in the average drinking diet of a true citizen of Waterdeep.
Then again, Dhaunmyr wasn’t particularly average. He knew for a fact he was beautiful, and well dressed, carefully pampered and prepared before presenting himself to his public.
“Lovely to meet you, Grekko, darling, I’m Dhaunmyr Vivacity. I’m a merchant, specialising in all things pretty. Unfortunately, I’m not wares, before you even think about asking—“ Dhaunmyr broke into a fit of laughter. Apparently, his joke was incredibly funny. Or, it was to him. Dhaunmyr felt that, among even his friends, he didn’t share a sense of humour. Then again, his humour was either wildly inappropriate due to grizzly contents, as he would have seen growing up in the Underdark, or, it was wildly inappropriate as it referred to something else entirely. It didn’t seem to matter to him. It was all part of being Dhaunmyr Vivacity, and there was nobody on all the Realms Above that he’d rather be.
He carefully counted the numbers on the dice, made a quick mental note of Grekko’s total. Then, he gently scooped the dice up in his drink hand, once the mug was down, and rolled for himself.
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Post by enchilada on May 10, 2019 23:17:32 GMT
u288dkf23d63d6
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Post by li on May 11, 2019 15:44:30 GMT
Grekko counted on his fingers for circa three seconds, then chuckled and accepted his defeat. He looked at Dhaunmyr and inhaled smoke.
"Aight, aight, I am buying em"
He put his now empty pipe down, gazed towards the bar and proceeded to stand up. Almost headed to the bar, planning to buy a pair of ales, he turned back at Dhaunmyr, peered at his empty mug, and asked, "You know the city, don't you? Is there a drink you'd recommend? Like ah- pure... kickass... Waterdhavian beverage? A must-try?"
Grekko wasn't used to ordering anything other than beer or occasional wine. This time, though, he was in the city of splendors. He wanted to get something fancier. And who else than this fancy-looking guy could give him a piece of advice?
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Post by enchilada on May 11, 2019 16:11:25 GMT
Dhaunmyr thought for a second, then shrugged. “Oh you are a dear! Perhaps they might have Manycherries wine. If not, whatever mead they have is surprisingly acceptable. I even drank my whole mug.” He suggested, still bubbly and warm.
Although Grekko didn’t know, Dhaunmyr would drink absolutely anything, as long as it was alcoholic. He really didn’t care what it tasted like, he preferred to just get drunk and get it over with, although, he imagined it was a little bit early to do so... he wasn’t sure how Kara would take him showing up to training blind drunk.
Probably? Not well.
He shifted position, swapping legs. The patent leather was smooth, it was calming. Dhaunmyr hated to let anyone but perhaps his closest friends know how he struggled with staying calm. The simplest thing could make him panic, he wouldn’t even see it coming. He counted, he felt smooth, or soft things, and he tried to breathe properly — those were the only things he could do, if he was lucky enough to spot the signs.
No signs yet.
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Post by li on May 12, 2019 12:33:34 GMT
Grekko nodded, turned around and slowly walked to the bar. He could have probably just shouted at the barkeep from the table, but Grekko never liked shouting. His vocal cords weren't even capable of making too loud sounds, except hissing, which was only good for scaring animals away. "You got that- manacherry wine?" Barkeep eyed him a little, inhaled deeply, and answered monotonously, " Manycherries wine, you mean. Yes, we have that. Of course. Where do you think you ar-" "I'll have two glasses, please" Grekko interrupted him, hoping he wasn't being sarcastic. He wasn't. Manycherries wine was poured into two pretty glasses right at the counter in front of Grekko. He paid, thanked the annoyed barkeep, grabbed each glass in one hand, and headed back over to the table. While walking, he stuck his tongue inside one of the glasses and tasted the drink. Good shit, he thought, but I couldn't drink this too often.
He made sure to remember which of those wines he put his tongue in so he could give Dhaunmyr the other. Grekko wouldn't mind a drink containing someone else's saliva. It's natural. But he understood that big city folks may be pickier. "Here y'are, Dhaunmyr. Manycherries wine."
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Post by enchilada on May 12, 2019 19:45:21 GMT
Dhaunmyr chuckled, quite happily taking his glass.
“How very sweet of you, thank you, Grekko.”
There was a slight glint in his eye, playful, but not harmful. Only Kara knew what it meant, bless her soul, and Dhaunmyr rarely noticed he was even letting his intentions come across so obviously to her. He took a sip from his wine, then tilted his head back to shake his hair from his face. When he looked back over to Grekko, it only stayed away for so long.
“I do adore wine, rather a lot, to be honest. But with certain drinking pals, I’ve had to start trying to genuinely enjoy, what I consider to be, lesser beverages. ‘Tis not a problem, of course, but more like an interesting situation. Before you ask, yes, I’m native to the Underdark. There, it’s really either wine or stale water, and wine, at least in my family, was not for the boys. Oh, of course, I run my mouth towards the place without first checking your understanding of the culture! Are you yet aware of the place? Big spider matriarchy? It’s fun, if you like being constantly afraid of being turned inside out by a priestess, with her shirt off.”
Dhaunmyr had managed to find a way to talk about the Underdark in a light way, recently. It was difficult, still, but not terribly so. His rather odd night out with a rather odd fellow had proven he could make a few jokes about it. As long as he didn’t get into detail, that was. He hoped Grekko had some basic understanding of the way life was beneath one’s feet, otherwise it might get a little harder to keep smiling.
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Post by li on May 13, 2019 16:51:58 GMT
While Dhaunmyr was talking, Grekko was sipping the wine and indulging its taste. He was paying attention, yes, but not perfectly, so he needed a couple of seconds to make sense of Dhaunmyr's questions. "Wha- yes. I've heard about this Underdark. I am not that ignorant, of course." A chuckle followed. Then, looking into Dhaunmyr's eyes, he sipped from his glass again, scratched his head and tapped on one of his fin-like frills. He was trying to remember, what exactly he heard about this underground world. After a brief pause, Grekko continued. "Caves, monsters, demons, and other creepy things, is that right? You really come from down there, ye? I mean, you look adapted. Is it really what people say it is? The demons and shit?" In all those taverns and bars Grekko visited, and among all those drunkards he talked with, some mentioned that place. He didn't take it very seriously, though. A dark underground world with scary creatures and fiends sounded too poetic for him. And even if it really was filled by scary creatures and fiends, why should he even care? It's not like he will ever get there in his life. It's not like he wants to get there. But here he was. In front of a suspicious man who claims he's from there. Will he elaborate all those ghost stories Grekko heard or even change his opinions?
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Post by enchilada on May 13, 2019 21:29:03 GMT
“Well. I’ve never been terribly far in the Underdark. To understand why, you must understand the top demon dog down there. Her name was once Araushnee, and she was once the partner of Corellon, the head of the Elvish Seldarine. Now, long story short, she now rules the Demonweb Pits and controls the drow in the Underdark. Personally, I don’t consider myself to be a drow, a dark elf, instead, as I associate, as many do, drow with the Spider Queen Of The Demonweb Pits, and vice versa. Well, allow us to consider the dark caves, the horrors that await. There are grey dwarves, and the fish people, and purple worms, and all manner of creepy crawlie, however, we both know the true monsters that dwell down below.”
Dhaunmyr took a steady drink, half the glass. He closed his eyes, for a second longer than a blink, and then nodded. He could do this.
“The drow. The slavers. The monsters. The most horrible, evil beasts to exist, possibly ever, in the history of time itself. But, do we blame them, or the Queen who beats them to submission? But the thing there is, if you are beaten to submission, must you then beat others? Sacrifice, murder, maim and torture them? That doesn’t quite add up, does it? Through selective, animalistic breeding, the drow have become a race of angry, hurtful and sadistic beauties, and as much as I owe them for my very existence, the goddess Eilistraee has opened my eyes to the truth. Yes, the Underdark is full of demons, horrid creatures, and baby stealers, and, yes, the drow really are a terrible matriarchy based on fear and terror.”
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Post by li on May 15, 2019 14:16:28 GMT
"Oh. Well, that's..." Grekko was searching for the right adjective for a while. He was bad at empathizing and determining people's feelings, but he didn't want to seem careless. After no more than 3 seconds, he finished his sentence with just simple "...sad". Although he didn't understand all of what Dhaunmyr said, he found it quite interesting. To avoid any awkwardness caused by his first "statement", he attempted to point out, what he thought was the most positive thing Dhaunmyr just talked about. "Tell me more 'baht this - correct if I say it wrong - Eil-iss-tray-yee? Is she, like, against the Spider Queen? Are they rivals? Are there any other followers of her in Underdark, or were you a chosen one?"
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