Silver Linings - 05/07/2022 - Mendel Recounts
Jul 9, 2022 23:25:05 GMT
Toothy, Velania Kalugina, and 4 more like this
Post by Andy D on Jul 9, 2022 23:25:05 GMT
Scene:
The Uncleared Tables and Chairs Opposite the Newly Constructed Dwarven Quarter Performance Stage in Daring Heights
Mendal and Kavel have met up after the invasion to spend time together. Mendal has offered his condolences to Kavel about Tim, Sampson and Silvia.
Scene:
Half downed pint of ale is placed back on the table
Scene:
Back at the table. Content of plates are half eaten
Scene:
Back at the table, desserts have been served with a new round of drinks
Scene:
Back at the table, Mendal and Kavel pulling their chairs out to sit down again
The Uncleared Tables and Chairs Opposite the Newly Constructed Dwarven Quarter Performance Stage in Daring Heights
Mendal and Kavel have met up after the invasion to spend time together. Mendal has offered his condolences to Kavel about Tim, Sampson and Silvia.
MENDAL
So, remember when you told me about that hag business that started with missing spoons?
KAVEL
Yes. We had to visit a wealthy lady’s estate.
MENDAL
Yes. I went there the other day. Lady Jeziah Miller’s estate with a bunch of adventurers you told me about; Lord Jaezred, one of your thicc-bois, Toothy, your library pal and honorary thicc-boi, Kelne, and there was a new girl, Glade, an earth-genasi druid type.
By the way, Lady Miller and Toothy, heh, did you know?
KAVEL
Know what?
MENDAL
Mother and son!
KAVEL
Oh. No, I had no idea.
MENDAL
I got the feeling they were estranged, and have only recently been brought together.
KAVEL
Hmmm. Toothy’s mum is fit.
MENDAL
Yes!
KAVEL
So, what were you doing at Toothy’s mum’s house?
MENDAL
Ah! Well, she would be attending a do in the Dwarven Quarter later that same day. Dwarven Quarter - as you can see…
Mendal gestures with one hand out and upwards pointing around the Dwarven Quarter
… we got a little bit walloped here.
Well. Lady Miller wanted us to assist any of the merchants in Castleside bring their goods down to the Dwarven Quarter.
So, remember when you told me about that hag business that started with missing spoons?
KAVEL
Yes. We had to visit a wealthy lady’s estate.
MENDAL
Yes. I went there the other day. Lady Jeziah Miller’s estate with a bunch of adventurers you told me about; Lord Jaezred, one of your thicc-bois, Toothy, your library pal and honorary thicc-boi, Kelne, and there was a new girl, Glade, an earth-genasi druid type.
By the way, Lady Miller and Toothy, heh, did you know?
KAVEL
Know what?
MENDAL
Mother and son!
KAVEL
Oh. No, I had no idea.
MENDAL
I got the feeling they were estranged, and have only recently been brought together.
KAVEL
Hmmm. Toothy’s mum is fit.
MENDAL
Yes!
KAVEL
So, what were you doing at Toothy’s mum’s house?
MENDAL
Ah! Well, she would be attending a do in the Dwarven Quarter later that same day. Dwarven Quarter - as you can see…
Mendal gestures with one hand out and upwards pointing around the Dwarven Quarter
… we got a little bit walloped here.
Well. Lady Miller wanted us to assist any of the merchants in Castleside bring their goods down to the Dwarven Quarter.
Fade to black as a drinks order arrives at the table.
Scene:
Half downed pint of ale is placed back on the table
MENDAL
Loud burp!
Jaezred had a magical carriage - brilliant it was - and it took us to Castleside. Have you seen Castleside? Absolute shithole right now. Got fire blasted to smithereens. I said to the others - ‘are we sure the Dwarven Quarter’s the most in need of funding?’ Lord Jaezred correctly pointed out that the people in Castleside are more likely going to be able to take care of renovations themselves than the civilians elsewhere in the city.
KAVEL
Yes. That sounds correct.
MENDAL
Fort Daring - probably the most fire ruined place in Castleside. Although, Fiore Popolaire - totally shagged by fire.
KAVEL
Oh no.
MENDAL
Lots of devastation up in Castleside. Fortunately, some businesses were operational. There were carts full of goods from certain shops heading off in the direction of the Dwarven Quarter. But, in front of a bakery shop called Paradise Frost, there was an empty cart. It seemed the owners have a recognised branding of icing for their goods in either black or white. But they couldn’t decide if black was offensive right now because of all the charcoal rendered timber around. Or was white offensive, as if it represented no acknowledgement of the devastation that occurred? Lord Jaezred, who seemed like a frequent customer of the place offered them some counsel; stick to the branding - people will recognise it and not be offended.
KAVEL
Yeah. Sounds right to me. Also, I think it would be a misplaced concern to worry about inadvertent offence due to cake colour from both the cake makers’ part and the potentially offended.
MENDAL
Your library chum with the mimic backpack tried to solve another of the owners’ cake dilemmas by summoning a cake-baking planetar.
KAVEL
Oh yes! Tabby!
MENDAL
Didn’t happen though.
KAVEL
Oh. Why not?
MENDAL
Cleric stuff. It’s not easy to establish a very strong connection with your god in order to manifest a divine intervention on the scale of teleporting a planetar to the Dawnlands. I definitely can’t do it. Anyway, we stayed for an hour or so while Paradise Frost finished preparing everything, and then we accompanied them down to the Dwarven Quarter.
Loud burp!
Jaezred had a magical carriage - brilliant it was - and it took us to Castleside. Have you seen Castleside? Absolute shithole right now. Got fire blasted to smithereens. I said to the others - ‘are we sure the Dwarven Quarter’s the most in need of funding?’ Lord Jaezred correctly pointed out that the people in Castleside are more likely going to be able to take care of renovations themselves than the civilians elsewhere in the city.
KAVEL
Yes. That sounds correct.
MENDAL
Fort Daring - probably the most fire ruined place in Castleside. Although, Fiore Popolaire - totally shagged by fire.
KAVEL
Oh no.
MENDAL
Lots of devastation up in Castleside. Fortunately, some businesses were operational. There were carts full of goods from certain shops heading off in the direction of the Dwarven Quarter. But, in front of a bakery shop called Paradise Frost, there was an empty cart. It seemed the owners have a recognised branding of icing for their goods in either black or white. But they couldn’t decide if black was offensive right now because of all the charcoal rendered timber around. Or was white offensive, as if it represented no acknowledgement of the devastation that occurred? Lord Jaezred, who seemed like a frequent customer of the place offered them some counsel; stick to the branding - people will recognise it and not be offended.
KAVEL
Yeah. Sounds right to me. Also, I think it would be a misplaced concern to worry about inadvertent offence due to cake colour from both the cake makers’ part and the potentially offended.
MENDAL
Your library chum with the mimic backpack tried to solve another of the owners’ cake dilemmas by summoning a cake-baking planetar.
KAVEL
Oh yes! Tabby!
MENDAL
Didn’t happen though.
KAVEL
Oh. Why not?
MENDAL
Cleric stuff. It’s not easy to establish a very strong connection with your god in order to manifest a divine intervention on the scale of teleporting a planetar to the Dawnlands. I definitely can’t do it. Anyway, we stayed for an hour or so while Paradise Frost finished preparing everything, and then we accompanied them down to the Dwarven Quarter.
Food arrives at the table as the scene fades to black.
Scene:
Back at the table. Content of plates are half eaten
MENDAL
Loud burp!
So, get this.
Mendal points to the stage.
That spot - had a building missing a wall on it. Arden and Warren, local lads I know, said they needed to bring the building down and construct a stage in its place. But, they were very behind schedule.
KAVEL
Oh. Sorry I wasn’t around. At this point, I don’t even need my maul to demolish buildings, I could probably do it with my hands and feet in no time.
MENDAL
Yes, well, speaking of thicc-boi solutions to problems. Your b…
KAVEL
Oh yes. Toothy! Someone gave him a sledgehammer heh?
MENDAL
No. The honorary one.
KAVEL
Oh, Kelne. They polymorphed into a giant ape?
MENDAL
Bigger!
KAVEL
Ermm. I’ve seen them turn into a whale before? But it was and wasn’t very useful.
MENDAL
Remind me how your Sky High Elbow Drop works again?
KAVEL
Oh shit!
But, you didn’t have a sorcerer to do the sorcerer-assist. Unless, can you teleport someone into the air?
MENDAL
Well… this is where your boi Toothy came in. Just like you he gets all excited at the prospect of hurling one of his smaller companions.
KAVEL
Smiling
Throwing your smaller comrades is clever and efficient, and a very useful application of strength to get them where they need to be. . I commend comrade Toothy’s strength based solution.
MENDAL
Yes. Of course you do.
Goran, the earth genasi in charge of the site, was assured by our ‘demolition duo’ that as long as his team cleared the area; everything would be safe. So, the area was cleared. Toothy began warming up his shoulders, and it reminded me very much of you.
KAVEL
Smiling
Yey Toothy!
MENDAL
Young Glade offered Chauntea’s guidance to Kelne. I offered Moradin’s guidance to Toothy. Me and Glade then promptly buggered off to join Jaezred at a safe distance away from the demolition zone. Then for fun, I instigated a two gold bet with Jaezred about how high Toothy could throw Kelne. It surprised me, but Glade wanted in on the bet too. So, six gold to be won.
KAVEL
U-huh. Okay, how high?
MENDAL
About 240ft! Glade won. I didn’t count on Chomp helping matters by extending a limb and giving Toothy a lever from which to hammer throw Kelne into the air! Right in front of Hammerfall Smithy - poetic I guess.
KAVEL
Ha! Nice.
MENDAL
Yeeeeees. Bet guess who hadn’t cleared the demolition zone enough?
KAVEL
Oh no. Why didn’t you?
MENDAL
None of us did!
We all thought we were far enough away. But, we misjudged how bloody big a whale is!
Kelne came crashing down on us, and they’re tale smashed into us. I was almost knocked unconscious from the impact. An impact I’ll add that successfully turned the building in the demolition zone to smithereens!
KAVEL
Oh shit. Fortunately you are a cleric.
MENDAL
Fortunately Kelne is a cleric and was feeling a little guilty. And, Goran, when he saw the results, was pleased with our work.
KAVEL
Good. I think the main takeaway here is that strength based solutions do provide solid results.
MENDAL
Well you can go fuck yourself.
KAVEL
Ha, ha, ha!
Loud burp!
So, get this.
Mendal points to the stage.
That spot - had a building missing a wall on it. Arden and Warren, local lads I know, said they needed to bring the building down and construct a stage in its place. But, they were very behind schedule.
KAVEL
Oh. Sorry I wasn’t around. At this point, I don’t even need my maul to demolish buildings, I could probably do it with my hands and feet in no time.
MENDAL
Yes, well, speaking of thicc-boi solutions to problems. Your b…
KAVEL
Oh yes. Toothy! Someone gave him a sledgehammer heh?
MENDAL
No. The honorary one.
KAVEL
Oh, Kelne. They polymorphed into a giant ape?
MENDAL
Bigger!
KAVEL
Ermm. I’ve seen them turn into a whale before? But it was and wasn’t very useful.
MENDAL
Remind me how your Sky High Elbow Drop works again?
KAVEL
Oh shit!
But, you didn’t have a sorcerer to do the sorcerer-assist. Unless, can you teleport someone into the air?
MENDAL
Well… this is where your boi Toothy came in. Just like you he gets all excited at the prospect of hurling one of his smaller companions.
KAVEL
Smiling
Throwing your smaller comrades is clever and efficient, and a very useful application of strength to get them where they need to be. . I commend comrade Toothy’s strength based solution.
MENDAL
Yes. Of course you do.
Goran, the earth genasi in charge of the site, was assured by our ‘demolition duo’ that as long as his team cleared the area; everything would be safe. So, the area was cleared. Toothy began warming up his shoulders, and it reminded me very much of you.
KAVEL
Smiling
Yey Toothy!
MENDAL
Young Glade offered Chauntea’s guidance to Kelne. I offered Moradin’s guidance to Toothy. Me and Glade then promptly buggered off to join Jaezred at a safe distance away from the demolition zone. Then for fun, I instigated a two gold bet with Jaezred about how high Toothy could throw Kelne. It surprised me, but Glade wanted in on the bet too. So, six gold to be won.
KAVEL
U-huh. Okay, how high?
MENDAL
About 240ft! Glade won. I didn’t count on Chomp helping matters by extending a limb and giving Toothy a lever from which to hammer throw Kelne into the air! Right in front of Hammerfall Smithy - poetic I guess.
KAVEL
Ha! Nice.
MENDAL
Yeeeeees. Bet guess who hadn’t cleared the demolition zone enough?
KAVEL
Oh no. Why didn’t you?
MENDAL
None of us did!
We all thought we were far enough away. But, we misjudged how bloody big a whale is!
Kelne came crashing down on us, and they’re tale smashed into us. I was almost knocked unconscious from the impact. An impact I’ll add that successfully turned the building in the demolition zone to smithereens!
KAVEL
Oh shit. Fortunately you are a cleric.
MENDAL
Fortunately Kelne is a cleric and was feeling a little guilty. And, Goran, when he saw the results, was pleased with our work.
KAVEL
Good. I think the main takeaway here is that strength based solutions do provide solid results.
MENDAL
Well you can go fuck yourself.
KAVEL
Ha, ha, ha!
Meal finished. Fade to black.
Scene:
Back at the table, desserts have been served with a new round of drinks
MENDAL
Loud burp!
We acquired a little companion. Little girl named Nira. Nira Rosewalker. She said it was just her and her mum in the city. They used to live in Port Ffirst, but that’s been flattened.
KAVEL
Ah yeah. I’ve come from there. It’s worse than Castleside.
MENDAL
Little Nira said her daddy still worked on a trading ship, regardless of the devastation, but they - her and her mum - had to move to the city. Sadly, we found out later in the evening that that’s just what her mum told her. Her dad had perished in the Port’s invasion defence aboard his ship.
KAVEL
Shit.
MENDAL
The mum reckons we adventurers are nothing but trouble. Blames us for the invasion, really.
KAVEL
… whilst it is entirely the fault of the gith for choosing to invade. We are not completely clear of culpability, I suppose. But, I guess it wasn’t the right time to tell the mother that point of view.
MENDAL
Yes. Exactly. Anyway, Nira, new around town, didn't have any friends, so Kelne offered for her to join us, and Toothy offered her his shoulders, and she ran right up there.
Arden and Warren wanted my help as a Smith and Tinkering Clan Crafter in erecting a stage. They were after something eye-catching. I can make wonderful things, but I knew nothing of stage work. Toothy suggested a platform that rotated. I thought that was interesting, and thought how would I do that? Then I thought of a wagon’s wheel on its side - and got to work!
Standing up
Come on! Leave the drinks, let me show you the stage’s features!
Loud burp!
We acquired a little companion. Little girl named Nira. Nira Rosewalker. She said it was just her and her mum in the city. They used to live in Port Ffirst, but that’s been flattened.
KAVEL
Ah yeah. I’ve come from there. It’s worse than Castleside.
MENDAL
Little Nira said her daddy still worked on a trading ship, regardless of the devastation, but they - her and her mum - had to move to the city. Sadly, we found out later in the evening that that’s just what her mum told her. Her dad had perished in the Port’s invasion defence aboard his ship.
KAVEL
Shit.
MENDAL
The mum reckons we adventurers are nothing but trouble. Blames us for the invasion, really.
KAVEL
… whilst it is entirely the fault of the gith for choosing to invade. We are not completely clear of culpability, I suppose. But, I guess it wasn’t the right time to tell the mother that point of view.
MENDAL
Yes. Exactly. Anyway, Nira, new around town, didn't have any friends, so Kelne offered for her to join us, and Toothy offered her his shoulders, and she ran right up there.
Arden and Warren wanted my help as a Smith and Tinkering Clan Crafter in erecting a stage. They were after something eye-catching. I can make wonderful things, but I knew nothing of stage work. Toothy suggested a platform that rotated. I thought that was interesting, and thought how would I do that? Then I thought of a wagon’s wheel on its side - and got to work!
Standing up
Come on! Leave the drinks, let me show you the stage’s features!
Mendal and Kavel go to the stage. Fade to black.
Scene:
Back at the table, Mendal and Kavel pulling their chairs out to sit down again
KAVEL
That’s really great Mendal! And you say the owner of the Gilded Mirror wants their stage updated with your rotating platform?
MENDAL
Yeeees! You see, word will get around eventually and I will be sought after, and someone will hire me to seek out and work with adamantine and mithril, and the wonderful items I will make! Clan Crafter - the reputation for quality is well earned, you know.
KAVEL
I’d love an adamantine breastplate!
MENDAL
Ho, ho! You would, would you? Join the queue! I’ll make one for me first before I make one for you. Anyway, surely your goliath stone-like skin and your excessive conditioning drills makes adamantine armour a superfluous addition for you?
KAVEL
… not entirely…
MENDAL
Well. I’m holding ticket number one in that queue, I’m afraid.
KAVEL
Okay. Fair enough. Did you do anything else before Lady Miller arrived?
MENDAL
Oh yes! Turns out Toothy is quite artistic, and Glade too. They both decorated my stage. Kelne polymorphed into - something more sensible - a giant ape and helped with construction. Jaezred summoned some beastly looking cousin of his to also help with construction, but he himself helped with food prep.
Once people started sitting at the tables we had moved into the square, we relaxed at our own table, and were met by a talking rat.
KAVEL
I’ve met talking squirrels before, so I’m not entirely surprised. Also, I can speak with animals anyway.
MENDAL
Oh yes! My strength based boi has some magical talents of his own!
KAVEL
Yeah. I guess. What did this talking rat want?
MENDAL
The rat, Thelma, a servant of Silvanus said that a lot of the wildlife outside of the city that would tuck in to the crops were starving right now - on account of the fields being scorched.
So, we travelled outside of the city to help the critters. Lord Jaezred stayed though. Wasn’t one to get grubby on a farm. Young Glade made some goodberries, which Toothy, Kelne - and Nira! - used to endear themselves with the critters, and feed them. But, Glade, with a little bit of Moradin’s guidance, was the real superstar here - she could be the breadbasket of the Dawnlands! It took a while, and she had to stay to complete the spell, but she had an ashen pumpkin crop growing anew, and massive pumpkins, squashes and all sorts. There'll be no food shortages now!
KAVEL
Nice! Can’t wait to meet this one.
MENDAL
So, we left her to it. She insisted, since she had seven more hours of casting left to do. We got back to the city, and back to our table. This is when Nira’s mum, Delphina, arrived - she asked us to stay away from her daughter, and then carted her daughter away. Jaezred said there was no surer way of ensuring her daughter would grow up to be an adventurer. I laughed! And of course the owner of the Gilded Mirror made enquiries about my stage.
KAVEL
Very good Mendal! You did really well here.
MENDAL
Oh thank you! How about you, what did you get up to before coming to see me?
KAVEL
I built a wooden shack in Port Ffirst definitely not worthy of Clan Crafter status, and prevented some well intentioned singing frogs from kidnapping the locals.
MENDAL
Do tell…
That’s really great Mendal! And you say the owner of the Gilded Mirror wants their stage updated with your rotating platform?
MENDAL
Yeeees! You see, word will get around eventually and I will be sought after, and someone will hire me to seek out and work with adamantine and mithril, and the wonderful items I will make! Clan Crafter - the reputation for quality is well earned, you know.
KAVEL
I’d love an adamantine breastplate!
MENDAL
Ho, ho! You would, would you? Join the queue! I’ll make one for me first before I make one for you. Anyway, surely your goliath stone-like skin and your excessive conditioning drills makes adamantine armour a superfluous addition for you?
KAVEL
… not entirely…
MENDAL
Well. I’m holding ticket number one in that queue, I’m afraid.
KAVEL
Okay. Fair enough. Did you do anything else before Lady Miller arrived?
MENDAL
Oh yes! Turns out Toothy is quite artistic, and Glade too. They both decorated my stage. Kelne polymorphed into - something more sensible - a giant ape and helped with construction. Jaezred summoned some beastly looking cousin of his to also help with construction, but he himself helped with food prep.
Once people started sitting at the tables we had moved into the square, we relaxed at our own table, and were met by a talking rat.
KAVEL
I’ve met talking squirrels before, so I’m not entirely surprised. Also, I can speak with animals anyway.
MENDAL
Oh yes! My strength based boi has some magical talents of his own!
KAVEL
Yeah. I guess. What did this talking rat want?
MENDAL
The rat, Thelma, a servant of Silvanus said that a lot of the wildlife outside of the city that would tuck in to the crops were starving right now - on account of the fields being scorched.
So, we travelled outside of the city to help the critters. Lord Jaezred stayed though. Wasn’t one to get grubby on a farm. Young Glade made some goodberries, which Toothy, Kelne - and Nira! - used to endear themselves with the critters, and feed them. But, Glade, with a little bit of Moradin’s guidance, was the real superstar here - she could be the breadbasket of the Dawnlands! It took a while, and she had to stay to complete the spell, but she had an ashen pumpkin crop growing anew, and massive pumpkins, squashes and all sorts. There'll be no food shortages now!
KAVEL
Nice! Can’t wait to meet this one.
MENDAL
So, we left her to it. She insisted, since she had seven more hours of casting left to do. We got back to the city, and back to our table. This is when Nira’s mum, Delphina, arrived - she asked us to stay away from her daughter, and then carted her daughter away. Jaezred said there was no surer way of ensuring her daughter would grow up to be an adventurer. I laughed! And of course the owner of the Gilded Mirror made enquiries about my stage.
KAVEL
Very good Mendal! You did really well here.
MENDAL
Oh thank you! How about you, what did you get up to before coming to see me?
KAVEL
I built a wooden shack in Port Ffirst definitely not worthy of Clan Crafter status, and prevented some well intentioned singing frogs from kidnapping the locals.
MENDAL
Do tell…
Fade to black
