And I Have to Start It in a Bar...

[Risada]

<<What do you mean "sent to Dal Quor"?>>

Novihrek did not expect this kind of .... declaration.

<<...I don't know how much you know about this, but this shouldn't be possible in this day and age, because the connection this world had with Dal Quor was severed long ago by the ancient giants from Xen'Drik. The only connection that remains exists within the minds of each living creature that dreams. Or......>>

The kalashtar pauses, choosing his words carefully.

<<...If you are one of the Inspired.>>

[Scout89]

Since they seemed to calm down, Bathra puts his homunculus back on the table and resumes its maintenance. But he keeps alert to any sign of trouble.

[ksbsnowowl]

Thokram gives his head one abrupt nod as the flames die out.  He grabs the last remaining chair at the table and pulls it out about four feet, into the small open space between the nearby clusters of tables and this one.  Keeping the chair faced toward the table of interesting folk, he steps behind it and perches his rear on the top of the chair's back, using it as a prop to take some weight off his feet.  He is faced away from the interesting people, and scans the room in front of him, but keeps listening to those around the table from which he stole the chair, and notes them from the corner of his eye each time his looks around the room swing his head to the side.

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I can't find an image to easily display what I'm talking about.  He's basically just perching on the back of the chair, as if it were a stool, keeping his feet on the ground.

[phaedrusxy]

Mentally the boy replies to Novihrek <I am not an Inspired. My father was a Karnathi binder who had heard of the Quori spirits and those they possess, and wanted to try and bind one of them to harness its powers for his own use. He tried and failed several times using traditional methods, and so decided to send me to Dal Quor as... bait... to try and lure and trap one of the Quori, and pull it into our own world.

I have only learned most of these things after the fact, from my own investigations. At the time, I was just a boy.>

[Risada]

Novihrek drinks his ale in a single gulp and calls for the changeling serving customers.

"Could you please bring me the strongest drink your house can offer?"

While waiting for the drink, the kalashtar continues.

<I don't know what a binder can do... Does a binder know how to manipulate the connections with the planes? Or a binder is capable of manipulating extraplanar creatures?>

<<Perhaps this man's unique origins might act as a bait for them, should they hear of him.>> Interjects Galkhad to Novihrek.

<<Now you are being the hasty one. Let's hear more from him before deciding on anything. Besides, he's just a victim, like....>> Replies Novihrek to his psicrystal, but stops midway...

[geniussavant]

The changeling, her hair now a bright and rosey pink, smiles and nods, acknowledging the order. With a wink, she says,

"That stuff's not cheap, but sometimes it's just what's needed. Give me a sec and I'll get something special for you."

[Risada]

"And while you are at it, bring another round of the drink the girl and the warforged here are drinking too. Thank you." Novihrek smiles stiffly to the changeling, then speaks with the two other people on the table while talking with Grey mentally.

"Hope you two don't mind another round on me. My name is Novihrek."

[Scout89]

As Novihrek mentions a warforged, Bathra raises his head and realizes he's talking about him. Nice meeting you, Novihrek. I'm Bathra. I'm not drinking anything, but thank you for the offer.

[VennDygrem]

The girl's attention snaps to the Kalashtar.

"Oh! Thank you! I sincerely apologize for the display; it really was unintentional. It is nice to meet you, Novihrek. My name is Serafina, though most just call me Fina, for short. Oh! And apologies to you as well, sir." Fina turns to the grey man as she says the last bit, humility crawling across her face.

[Risada]

The kalashtar notices the girl's attire and symbols and decides to get some talk going.

"I see you are a follower of the Silver Flame, Fina, but you don't look like a priest. Are you perhaps an adept of the arcane arts?"

[phaedrusxy]

A cracking voice escapes from the mask saying "No problem... Call me Grey."

[VennDygrem]

Fina's eyes light up again and the warmth returns to her face. Replying to the Kalashtar, she says, "Well, you could say that. I suppose most would call me a 'natural talent.' I'm not certain where my magical abilities originate from, though I have a... complicated history, to say the least. The Church was there to give me a home and a family when I needed it, and later, a job and a purpose. I know better than some what it is like to be judged and persecuted, and so I'm truly ashamed of my reaction just now. It's beneath me."

The girl glances at Grey, then down at her tea.

"I am aware that the Church of the Silver Flame has a mixed reputation. I try to do my best to live up to the good points, and act in contrast to the bad ones. I strive to make sure no one will need ever to huddle in the cold, afraid of the things that haunt their dreams and prey upon them while awake. I don't want to set the world on fire... I just want to kindle a spark of the Silver Flame in the hearts of those who live in a world of fear."

[Risada]

As soon as Fina finished, the kalashtar started mumbling.

"Complicated history... huh. I guess everyone have something heavy on their past..." With this, Novihrek's eyes are staring at something far away.

<<Hey now, you were doing a good job talking so far, even though you were suspecting the masked man called Grey of being an agent of the Inspired. Don't let your past drag you down like this every time you are reminded of it.>> Galkhad points out to his original self.

<<....>> No word is thought, but the meaning is obvious: Stop it. Leave me alone. And the psicrystal silently complies.

[Scout89]

The warforged sighs. <Fleshlings! So complicated...>

[Risada]

Bathra's sigh brings Novihrek back.

"Huh? Oh... Sorry. Did you say something?"

At the same time, <<You didn't lose anything. Don't worry.>> the psicrystal reassures his original self.

In an attempt to defuse this awkward situation, Novihrek decides to talk with the warforged.

"Bathra, right? Would you happen to be some sort of marksman? Which of the Five Nations did you fight for in the War?"

[geniussavant]

A teenage boy walks into the tavern. Shaking the snow from his dark hair, he looks around the room. Spotting the group he is looking for, he proceeds over with swift strides, at ease with maneuvering through the crowd. When he gets over to your table, he pulls out a sealed envelope from within his House Orien coat. Placing it on the center of the table, he stands expectantly waiting with a smile.

[Risada]

"Hey lad... Who is the one you want to deliver this?"

[Scout89]

"Bathra, right? Would you happen to be some sort of marksman? Which of the Five Nations did you fight for in the War?"

Four of them! Didn't have the pleasure to serve Aundair...Marskman? No, but my friend here is. Say hi, Arba!

The small arbalester moves its crossbow up and down.

To the boy, Bathra says I think you're mistaken, kid.

[ksbsnowowl]

Thokram notes the boy with the letter, and stops his feigned scanning of the rest of the room.  He stands and turns so the table is to his left, and watches the letter intently from the corner of his eye.  Such an intriguing group of people.  I wonder what this messenger is here about, he thinks to himself.

[VennDygrem]

Fina observes the boy as he waits. She smiles, and says, "Thank you kindly for your service, sir, but we can't provide a tip for a job well-done until you tell us who this letter is for. Would you please be a sweetheart and indicate who the intended recipient is?"

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Bump!