The ropes unfurled, almost at the same pace as the glowing orbs appeared to light them. This caused Hana to wonder, but she did not hesitate. Her bronzeclad digits clenched around the hempen weave as she took a moment to turn back, arm outstretching in a gesture for the kobold to join her up the rope. The gesture was met with only air, as Hana glanced up to see Askia mid-flight above her head. After what could've only been a shrug, as her shoulderplates glided over each other, she turned back to the ship and hoisted herself up the side and over the edge onto the deck.

A few moments of clanking and clunking followed as she clumsily dragged her sheathed weapons and heavily armored frame aboard. "Y'know, scaleytits," Hana said with the barest hint of strain in her voice as a heavy boot thunked onto the deck. The same thud followed after as she loungingly sat at the starboard edge of the vessel. "If yoo keep at the act, folks just might believe yoo." Her gloves clasped around her seat, reactively relieving her grip when she felt the wood bend a little underneath her grasp.

"Hana, if yoo cared. Yerself?"

A thinly veiled threat was leveled in her and Askia's direction. Or, by the sounds of it, a pirate's promise. "Yoo've been 'round a while, 'aven't yoo?" She didn't seem the least bit fazed by the gunslinger's gesture. "Might wanna try harder, mate, assuming that was to have me shakin' in my boots."

"Jill Orion, at your service," the aasimar captain replied as the two newcomers boarded. She in turn introduced the others on deck, being careful to not divulge more than she knew they would say themselves. With introductions over, she turned her attention back to the Theullai. "I apologize for my allies' attention spans. I assure you they are quite focused when the need arises. In the meantime, we shall find your Marid."

With time wasting away, I called Eliza back to the deck to cast her water-breathing spell on us all before we headed into the deeps. It would only last a few hours, but I had faith that the aforementioned town would supply us with whatever else was required. If not, we could return to the ship in failure. Come to think of it, I doubt the theullai would have appreciated such a failure, and neither would I. The marid was as good as dead with us on his trail!

For those who are unaware, the Elemental Plane of Water in which we currently resided is an infinite expanse of water in all directions. There are intermittent pockets of air and land or debris that exist for people to live on or in, such as the massive bubble of air our ship now drifted in. Our journey into the deeps, without a guide, would be sure to result in our becoming lost without some sort of landmark along the journey. Thankfully, the theullai had offered one of his scouts.

As we waited for the wizard's ritual, the terms were set. We were entitled to whatever we found, either in the marid's lair or in the road along the way. We would then return with some proof of the marid's demise. As proof of our deputization, the theullai handed me a crystal of ice in the shape of a wolf's head which I then hung around my neck. At that, we bid farewell to the Gatekeeper and dove into the water, following one of the drakes deeper and deeper, hoping we were being led in the correct direction. After an hour of swimming, we approached a city carved into what appeared to be a large formation of coral. As we approached, the drake we followed turned around and darted away as several of the merfolk guards approached bearing tridents.

"State your purpose!" called one of the guards, brandishing his trident towards the group. The guards behind him stood at the ready as if they expected the group to turn on them at any second. "Be quick about it, or feel the wrath of Poseidon!"

An hour worth of breast strokes lingered with nothing new for the recently approved swimmer of Zendikar. The jester, whether disguised as a forgettable warrior-climber or a Dyn imposter, nevertheless, enjoyed the sublime influence the sea wreaked upon itself. The salty rollers always endured her perpetual flapping and much more. From unassuming whitecaps to destructive tsunamis, the ocean survived, both as sadist and masochist, obliged by geographic and weathered forces, but also adapting and paying them forward to any who would grace her topmost shell. Still, this realm did not forfeit any visual constraint of its unceasing ripples, propagating to no demonstrable end, merely now to be disturbed by a dotted islandic mass in Koan’s approaching horizon.

The Merish village.

Mentioned by the ginormous wolf, the marine hamlet existed as a sprinkled intersection the pirates of the SS Lady Slipper would have to cross on their trek to find the Marid.

Why is everyone slowing down all of the sudden?

The blanche warrior braked her splashing momentarily, as her friends hesitated in their individual strides. Their drake guide quickly curdled beneath an underwater tide, dropping off the inconspicuous heroes before a sentry of many looming guards, posted outside the outskirts of the civilization. Raising her chin, ever so slightly, above her bobbing possé, the clown’s pupils engorged with ocular excitement.

This architecture is beautiful! Ooh! Ooh! Look at those buildings made out of coral! And that’s pre…

Her chromatic thoughts were soon interrupted by an incoming announcement.

“State your purpose. Be quick about it, or feel the wrath of Poseidon.”

Unfortunately, the masked geisha believed that whenever she was jolted away from her eccentric meditation, the universe was only speaking to her, demanding a response. Sinking her head slightly, the comic elevated her arms towards the absent sky in complete surrender.

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Our gang, here, means no harm, compadrés.”

Projecting her limbs upward, she gradually approached the trident bearing infantry. Tempted to conjure an illusionary white flag, the comic braved a more subtle use of magic. Each step soon riddled with snowflakes from various angles, icy fractals emitting from every heel pressed upon the submerged currents passing them by.

“All of us were sent by…” She paused awkwardly, probing for the name, Bledig, but discontinued her search for the sake of fluent conversation, “the Steward of the Gate. He directed us here, as we are in search of the Verdant Stream.”

The pale joker mentally applauded herself for listening to the Theullai earlier. Once her boots finally settled on a partitioned reef supporting a portion of their post, the harlequin halted her aquatic promenade and motioned to the frigid medallion noosed around her captain’s neck, in hopes the filmic evidence would prevent a forthcoming jihad.

The disillusioned diamond studded tongue, however, tactlessly bubbled on its esplanade of negotiations.

“See that’s proof! Now. My name is Kor…” The glossy muscle reflexively could not escape the subsequent fibrillation. “an. It's Koran. Let’s say it together. Good. So, if you all would lower your weapons, we can all be friends.”

Askia followed the group through the ocean, the water breathing spell not having any true effect on her due to hr mind already allowing that. As well she seemed to be adept at swimming, constantly having to slow herself down or else she would accidentally began passing the others, no one’s fault except for her and her destined mind. She continued to hide her true powers behind her perky smile and happy yellow eyes, neither were false, happy to be out of the damned dingy. Yet, she seemed to be thinking as well, always thinking and comprehending things, things that not many normal people would understand, only other psionics would.

Yet, her concentration would not last as a coral city came into view, plus many mermen guards who demanded that they state their case or die. Luckily, she was not the first to answer, instead it was “Koran” who seemed to be doing another exaggerated performance, one Askia happily clapped to yet again. However, that did not stop her from looking over at the guards, judging them for how they acted to a group who did not even remotely look harmful. Then again, wandering around with a beholder would throw people off the deep end… pun intended. Although that would not stop her from speaking her peace, ”Hey, hey, hey. Don’t go pointing that thing at people,” gesturing to the trident, ”You might hurt someone!”

Askia paused for a moment, not thinking of what she was going to say but thinking of a way out of the situation, ”Also, don’t you think it’s a bit rude to threaten someone with death just by showing up? Not a very good business practice for tourism, if I say so myself.” With that, the tall kobold crossed her arms and stuck her snout in the air, showing obvious signs of annoyance over the rudeness of the guards.

Dyn turned a bit to the side, so two of his eyes could see the tabaxi that had asked him the questions. It was commendable that she showed interest in his thoughts, as well as a healthy amount of suspicion towards the new arrivals. "Hrrrrmmmm... I do not know what you have spoken of with the gatekeeper and that does not settle in well with me. In addition to this, cap'n Jill has also neglected to ask for any sort of a reward for this. Our skills cannot be allowed to go to waste like that... I am not here to 'set the world right', nor to solve the problems of other beings out of the good of my heart."

As for her question about the contingency plans about the new arrivals, Dyn raised a few of his tentacles in an expression that would have been a shrug with more conventional body shape. "I don't have much better to offer yet. I'll keep an... I will gauge their abilities more thoroughly and form a better plan in due time. You are welcome to aid me in that endeavour." But past that, the newcomers were already on the deck and Dyn decided they should know what to call him so they knew how to properly address him.

The kobold seemed to think highly of itself. If it was like the rest of its brethren, she might turn out to be a valuable minion one day. But the way she carried herself suggested otherwise. There was something different about her and that something suggested her to be a much hardier case than most. "I am called Dyn'yer'zhead", the Beholder introduced himself to the newcomers. "Do not cross me or my minions, do not complain about the food, work to earn your keep and do not forget who your superiors are... and we'll get along." If things went as they usually did from there, these people would talk back at him, something he could do nothing about with the captain still there. But it would not be the first time he had made somebody's life miserable on this vessel for doing so.

Soon after the introductions were done, it was chosen that they would be diving into the water, aided by Eliza's spells. She was one of the few Dyn trusted enough to place a spell on him, but even then he didn't really need it. But since the trust had already been established, there was no bad side to having a separate survival measure available. Once they were preparing to hop into the water, the Beholder pulled up the hood to his cloak and floated down, joining the rest of the crew in the depths.

The Cloak of the Manta Ray allowed Dyn to move faster in water than he could muster on land, easily outpacing those of the group with no such item in their disposal. The many eyed ball darted about in the formation, making use of his greater speed by ensuring that nobody got lost or left behind. Minions that got separated from the band couldn't help with anything. Especially close eye was kept on the newcomers and it didn't exactly take long for the being of eldritch knowledge to notice that the kobold was holding back from reaching her true speed. She was hiding something. Not a good sign.

When the guards approached, Dyn tactfully remained a healthy distance behind the rest, making it possible for the guards to mistake him for something not quite of his nature as to not make their hostile disposition even more so. Due to this, even if he wanted from his whole unnatural heart to slap Koan out of the speaker's spot, he couldn't he was forced to simply watch the situation unfold.

@Zverda - I finally got around to replying. Sorry for taking ages.

The water breathing was redundant thanks to the coat Reemes had. It allowed him to swim like a fish and breath like one too. He was glad to see the beholder had something just like his and was using that mobility to make sure no one got lost. That was a good thing to do. Meant The old ghost didn't have to. Instead, he used his speed to swim ahead of everyone and make sure the way was clear as they were being led into the deep. The water around them was wrong. Sure, it pretended to be his horrible love, but, he knew it was nothing like his love. This water was different somehow and it made Calico Reemes uneasy. The good news was the swim did not take too long. An hour of swimming might be hard on most folks but he had a magic coat and it made the whole trip a breeze. Well, a dip maybe.

The best part of the trip though was the end. Right at the end of the swim was a group of fish-men who just didn't know better. They thrust three pronged spear forth and demanded information from them. The strangest thing was they asked for their purpose and not names, where-comes, or how'd-ya'get-heres. Well, that did just make the whole exchange much easier to deal with. Only one question was easier to dodge and disregard than a mess of them. Even better, Koran had started the negotiations. He always liked it when the mad woman started talking to people. He paired her pleasant madness with his own profoundly unfriendly kind to great effect.

Reemes moved up next to the jester and an excited bounce in everything he was doing. The hood of his coat was still up and shading the top part of his already dark face in shadow made ever darker by the scattered light of the oceans. The bottom half of his face was a closed bear trap of white grinning teeth. The smile did not touch the eyes of the pirate as he stood next to his companion. He didn't bother speaking either. He just stood, stared, and grinned like a lunatic. He wanted them to strike out. He wanted them to say more threats. He thought these men needed a good thrashing and he was in a great mood. He always gave the best mouth-full-of-my-gun goodbyes when he was in such a state.

The guards kept their weapons at the ready even as "Koran" and Askia explained their mission. "You show up with a kobold and a Beholder of all things in your group, led by one of those thieving drakes, and then you claim to come as a messenger of our self-proclaimed 'steward.' After all this, you claim your intentions are peaceful?" The head guard shook his head. "I find that difficult to believe."

One of the female guards stepped forward, placing her hand on the shoulder of the trident-bearing guard. "Come now, Lucian, they do not appear to be threatening us. Their weapons are not brandished at us, and they appear more surprised than anything else at your hostility. My guess is they are unaccustomed to these parts."

Lucian shrugged her hand off his shoulder, still pointing his trident toward the group. After a moment, he sighed and lowered his weapon. "I have little trust for any who bear that monster's brand," he added, gesturing towards Jill. "Some of those in this area agree with me. Some do not. I would be careful about who you show that to."

The female guard nodded, swimming forward a few feet to place herself ahead of Lucian. "You may call me Cythia. We would be pleased if you would allow me to accompany you while you are in this city. Apologies, but you are not the first newcomers that Bledig has deceived into aiding him on one inane task or another. Please, allow me to show you around."

Askia snapped her jaw in slight anger at the first guard singling her out, wanting to silence him immediately and show him his true fears. However, she reserved herself though kept her stern gaze on Lucien once his name had been revealed for them all to know. It was a good thing that the female guard had stepped forwards, diffusing the situation by siding with the group of newcomers. Luckily for them, they wouldn't have to explore the town themselves, a bonus that was not as fun as exploring a new land by themselves, but the Kobold would live. Clearing her throat, Askia looked at the female guard before crossing her arms as she thought of a question that might be important for them all.

”Tell me Cythia, why would that brand-” Askia flicked her tail towards Jill, ”-not be a very accepted mark around here?” The Kobold continued to examine the female guard, before swimming up to her and looking the female in the eye. ”Also if you could point me to the nearest bar, that’d be great. Maybe I'll even buy ya a drink, sweetheart,” she flirted, giving off a light giggle before her eyes turned back to her group. However, her gaze did turn back to Cythia. Askia was a rather flirtatious little Kobold, confident and radiant, as was the byproduct of her normal upbeat attitude.

As soon as Dyn heard the mention of a Beholder being a part of the arriving group, he began making his way to the others. No use hanging in the back if they already were on full alert thanks to him. He stared back at the guard who had seen his presence as a threat and pondered on raising his cutlass to meet the guard's spear. In the end, he chose against it. Sometimes he wondered why he bothered with the whole diplomatic act, especially when they were greeted with hostility. He stared at the guard with about half of his eyes, his dislike towards the merman evident in the way he carried himself.

Another creature of the sea attempted to calm the guardsman apparently known as Lucian down, but he was having none of it. Dyn's grip around the handle of his cutlass got ever so slightly more forceful over time, but that came to an end once the guard finally lowered his weapon. Not that Dyn would have loosened his grip, he just stopped preparing for an immediate fight. The lady merfolk introduced herself as Cythia, the Beholder making a nodding motion at her in response.

Before he could return the greetings, the kobold that called herself Askia interjected, her words filled with obvious intent to woo the member of the guard. Oh for the love of... that's not how you act the moment somebody shows the slightest bit of understanding. Just disrespectful. He would have to hand it to the kobold though: They sure were brave for one of their kind.

As the kobold turned back to the group, Dyn graced it with a passing gaze of three of his eyes. She seemed happy about the situation. However, somebody should perhaps get in a few more meaningful words in, and who better to do that than the mastermind himself? "I, in turn, am Dyn'yer'zhead. I would not mind a guide, especially one that seems to understand how to behave in civilised company. And be warned, many of this crew may try and make moves on you... as you may have already seen. Or enjoy the attention, whichever it is for you."

With those words spoken, Dyn 'floated' to his usual spot on Jill's left side, if a bit higher up than regular and looked at the captain. Dyn had carefully crafted the situation to paint himself as the authority among this group, but of course that all could be ruined by just about anyone spilling the beans. Which it wouldn't be the first time of.

The tabaxi was rather pleased with the idea of going into the ocean, she enjoyed the rare occasion that they got to swim, especially when she could utilize her own Cloak of the Manta Ray. The swim itself had been rather enjoyable, she would even occasionally mess with Reemes by reaching out and grabbing his ankle, pulling him back and behind her. It was small things like this that gave her pleasure in the mundane task of the day, and yes, she even considered swimming to be mundane though highly enjoyable. However, all too soon to the saber they arrived at their destination and she was faced with something rather pointy being thrust in their general direction. 'Hmph... how rude, it seems that they lack the proper manners when arrivals show up to their city,' she thought to herself as the others began to talk. In truth, she did not have much to say to these beings, but she also knew that remaining silent could paint just as large of a target on her back.

"Oh shush Dyn," she told the Beholder when he mentioned people trying to seduce the woman, "I am sure that they wouldn't mind Reemes trying to get cozy, I know I would enjoy the show. The man has an interesting way of saying things. I can't say anything about the Kobold though..." Nemiea's eyes darted over to one of the new arrivals whom she simply hadn't spoken to yet. It wasn't that she had no desire to, it was more like she rather observe them before even considering being friendly as the last things she wanted was to befriend someone who may intend her friends harm. "On the other hand, Ms. Cynthia, I would say that your partner here needs to learn some manners. Now... what exactly do you mean by deceived into helping?"

As the Saber spoke, she grabbed onto the Kobold's tail and pulled her away from the guard, a displeased look on her face though it was hidden by the shadow of her hooded cloak. "You just joined us, don't start making trouble," she told the female, her clawed hand firm around Askia's tail, "Behave for a little while and maybe we can go to the bar later." She paused to lean into where she assumed the Kobold's ear was and whispered, "Maybe I can show you how to incite a brawl or two over some drinks."

After Dyn's introduction, Jill patted the Beholder lightly on the side, indicating that she understood his gambit. "I am Jill Orion," the captain spoke up. "Mage and songstress. My job is to keep this crew in good spirits. I think I can speak for all of us when I say a tour would be greatly appreciated, and if it concludes in a tavern, we should be even more grateful."

Cynthia gave a small bow to each of the crew who introduced themselves. "Then a tour you shall receive! Let us be off!" The merfolk seemed completely unphased by the advances from the kobold, nearly as unphased as she appeared when addressed by the beholder. Once they had traveled a short distance away from the outpost, she spoke up again. "I apologize for Lucian's behavior. It's just that we have all been on edge since the last time those drakes showed up. They ransacked the town and drove off the marid that kept us safe. They are the worst of the worst, and Lucian hates almost anyone who associates with them. I could tell that you were caught unawares by this revelation, however."

They soon reached the outskirts of the town, denoted by a simple sign with foreign writing etched upon it. Instead of the familiar buildings springing up from the ground, each home or business had a small opening in the ground covered by a doorway made from driftwood or a shell. A sign was next to each opening, either made from similar materials, or directly carved into the coral itself. The signs and doorways were adorned with a myriad of beautiful artwork of nearly every sort describing in imagery the inhabitants or purpose of the establishment. Thus, despite not knowing the language, any in the party could easily determine where any entrance promised to lead.

Cynthia for her part was a wonderful tour guide, even if the initial tour was fairly short. Most of the businesses in town could be seen at a glance from the top of the coral, or were a short walk or swim away. With no buildings in the way, there was little need for streets, and the few people they saw above the surface of the coral spent a minimal amount of time passing from one opening to another, some giving a wave to Cynthia and others ignoring the group altogether. Cynthia pointed out the commerce center, the administrative area, and the militia district, as well as points of interest such as the marid's former manse, the entertainment district, and their food production centers where fish and other seafood was processed. Despite her (somewhat detailed yet generic) descriptions, the only thing the group saw was the coral and the signs bearing testimony to each area.

"I could take you into the coral," Cynthia suggested, "but if you want for privacy, the surface is your best option. Space is a commodity down below, and we are all packed in rather tightly. Why don't you tell me why you're really here, now that a dozen tridents aren't pointing at you. Don't worry, I don't bite." Cynthia glanced over towards Askia and winked. "Much."

Dyn made another approving nod gesture in the direction of Nemiea as she took to handling the kobold. It was probably for the best to not let the new blood dictate how the whole group would be viewed, especially if it was something he, the great Dyn'yer'zhead, wanted to do on his own. What the Beholder did not appreciate was someone talking back at him, and he was sure to strike back with his own verbal blade: "I simply trust it to be fair for them to be prepared for what is to come, and since I know you lot, you wouldn't be able to resist. I believe this to be the end of this argument, yes?"

As luck would have it, nobody seemed to be interested in destroying Dyn's ruse, as even Jill herself neglected to mention her real status as the captain of this band of misfits. So, for the time being, the Beholder could enjoy the respect he thought he well deserved. After the brief introductions, the merfolk lady began escorting them around their city, Dyn doing his best to memorise where the locations he would need to visit were. The bar was obviously where they would meet afterwards, but marketplaces were of special interest to him.

"Hmmmm, drove off the marid that protected this place?" Dyn did his best to whisper to the captain. It didn't sound good and he sure as hell would not be the one to tell the purpose of their arrival to the merfolk now that it had come to light who the one that they were hunting was and how the wolf thing had apparently sacked this place before. No wonder Lucian did not like the symbol. On the other hand, having taken the position of their leader, he would need to say something and lying to a whole city might not be advisable. And it did seem as if she understood they had been roped into this without real knowledge.

In the end, Dyn decided to share the partial truth: "We came looking for supplies and further knowledge of the area. The success of our task depends on that..." Glancing at the frozen wolf head on Jill's neck, he added a little bit more: "But I am not sure what our elemental speaking sorceress has actually promised to the creature."

“And be warned, many of this crew may try and make moves on you.”

The conversive tango between members struck a chord of exhilaration within the malleable comedian. Introductions galore, all spewed with the seamen. The ghost pirate grinning feverishly, trigger fingers readied at the jester’s side. Askia ultimately became the first and the last to mince frisky words with their new aquatic Sherpa, while coquettish signals rippled from the unicorn-saber Tabaxi, flirty currents swimming past the clown in convoluted glee. Everyone appeared to be so horny, even Lucian who bore the three-pronged phallic javelin, thrusting and relaxing at the suggestive whim of this Cynthia. The merfolk orgy, parading behind him, followed suit, ceasing their branched stances of pugnacious martial masturbation, clearing any ill smegma that eroded from the waters before them.

The ocular-extravagant Beholder expressed leadership as the soggy chaperone waded the crowd through the glittered coral, ravaged with artistry and talent depicting visual testaments to the happenings and deeds following each portal’s façade. No doubt the clown imagined the denizens within each establishment, mostly coexisting in tight quarters, packed like canned sardines.

“Don’t worry. I don’t bite.” A dramatic pause eloped to entice a slight tension. “Much.”

A furnace smelted inside the beautiful tour guide. Buoyancy and coy appeared natural gifts to the marine escort. However, the fool’s eyes scanned the novel, talkative addition to the company; the Kobold was a perfect match and more. Her remarks were volatile, unpredictable, lax, and hard, providing much deserved praise to her laudable antics.

But also soft again.
Yet, stronger than she announced.
Her scales would be an amorous keepsake of love to Koan’s empty cavity.

If only the shapeshifting comic could con the draconic seducer, as this blanche fraud, impersonating a meager, but eager Kor whore. Ignoring the sketchy inconsistencies between ‘steward’ of the Gate and ‘pillager’ of Merish Village, the camouflaged geisha flopped away from Calico, inching closer, and finally penetrating the circle of the female threesome, Nemiea already grabbing tail, hinting all was fair play.

“Reciprocity pimps out bitches, right, dahling? So… Which came first? The beloved Marid or the dodgy wolf? When we screw evil, luck seems to always fuck us back. And forth. And... Back and forth.”

Horror overtook the pale face, as she orgasmed the physical anaphora, motioning the oscillation with her bare hands.

“Eliza’s batteries are not included, unfortunately. Oh no... I am not even sure if any of her toys would work down here. Oh well. I guess there's always the old fashioned way.”

Askia had seemed content with staying close to Cynthia, eager to continue with her aggressive flirtatious attitude. However, there were always those who seemed to be out to ruin all the fun, sadly it was something she would have to get along with. First, it was the beholder and the Kobold could ignore him easily enough for he was truly nothing but a big ball of putrid eyes, but the Tabaxi was a different story. The woman had pulled the mystic aside and, with rather persuasive words, had told Askia, “You just joined us, don't start making trouble.”

It was annoying but she couldn't help but agree with the Tabaxi, and so a response came ”Fine, fine. Just trying to have a little fun.” There was no lie, no hint of dishonesty in that statement, just the nonchalant voice of the Kobold. She followed, continuing to restrain her abilities to the best that she could manage, however it was hard and that took effort. It was a mental drain, but it wasn't something that bothered her as she had drained herself for more than what she was doing. Yet, she also focused lightly on paying attention to where everything was, but not before catching Cynthia’s little flirt. To that Askia responded in the only non-disruptive way she knew how, making finger guns towards the merwoman and winking.

Then that strange and flamboyant woman came around after that vastly creature spoke again, Askia turned to acknowledge Koan but did not do much listening to whatever she wished to discuss. Since the Kobold was new, she doubted that the question was meant for her because she simply had not much of a say in the matter. However, Askia seemed much more content with inching closer to Cynthia, the seductive smile planted straight on that small frame. ”I'm new here so I really don't quite know much of the context behind why we are here. But what I know is that I can play my lute for you any day!,” the Kobold chimed, bringing out her lute and began strumming the chords. To her dismay, her fingers did not seem to be wanting to play their most excellent but instead their average.

Eliza wasn't often pleased to be awoken when she struggled to sleep and found herself even less pleased to be summoned before the people she was recently humiliated in front of. Appearing before the deck, there were three unfamiliar faces. A petite yet oddly confidently postured Kobold of typically nondescript gender. A thickly armored woman, either too tall to be a Dwarf or too gruff-of-speech to be Human, interrogating the crew about Eliza's tentacled colleague. And an athletic, scantily leather-bound Kor woman with a distinctly embarrassing demeanor. Eliza had no doubt that the latter was another of Koan's disguises. The others were new, but instead of being polite and introducing herself, Eliza proceeded to concentrate on the incantation. She was thoroughly done with the whole affair by now and simply wished to retire for the evening as soon as Jill dismissed her.

- -

Iomedae wouldn't be happy with this, Hana knew it. The cleric already started reciting her reasoning and excuses for tomorrow's prayer. Mostly things about how she had to help them in return for saving her and Askia, and how they've found good in more unscrupulous characters than Beholders before. Debatably. But, what's the worst thing that could happen? If their quest took a turn for the worst and she became their unwitting tool, then Askia and her could just stop it. If Iomedae wants her to strangle evil at its root, then what better way to get there than helping its allies for a time? Hana knew that 'the end justifies the means' didn't always make her goddess happy, but she'd gotten away with it more than she didn't.

As a result of this inner argument about the company she currently kept, Hana remained reticent during the recent exchanges. She was vigilant enough to spring to the Kobold's defense should the guard turn hostile, but the situation calmed soon enough. The Beholder captain seemed to have things handled, and rather diplomatically for one of his kind. She did wonder what a Beholder's purpose in cavorting with and even leading obvious pirates was. The other one wasn't so pragmatic, opting instead to amass an undersea horde comprised of sunken vessels and their treasures. The memory had her clench her fists, wrapped in bronze-gilded gauntlets that she had won during the same encounter. Whatever its motives were, the greeting was certainly much more cordial than the last.

As we treaded water above the coral city, our guide explained to us their side of the tale. Much of it had already been alluded to: the marid protected this city for as long as memory held sway. The theullai, on the other hand, was a relatively recent gatekeeper, having defeated the previous gatekeeper in single combat a few decades before. Since then, trade between the city and the Material Plane had fallen greatly as the theullai imposed harsher and more numerous restrictions crafted solely for his own benefit, including a tariff that went to his own pocket.

Eventually, the marid stood up and challenged the theullai, despite knowing the latter had the martial advantage. When the marid was on the ropes, he used his trump card, the wish spell, to destroy the theullai's power over the gate and send the marid to safety. As is often the case with such a spell, nothing quite happened the way the caster intended. The marid was whisked away to the Verdant Stream, a current of green ichor flowing through the Water Plane. This current flowed from a labyrinthine collection of mechanical objects and structures located far from the gate.

The only question left was whose version of events was true?

Cynthia's story came to a close, only interrupted once or twice by passersby. At the end, she opened a hatch into the shopping district. "I am sure you will find plenty of wares to aid you on... whatever your goal might be," she said with a smile. "We welcome new traders with open arms. Although, I might suggest holding off on the music, kobold. Not only do those in this city distrust your kind, they also have a very particular ear for music."

The hatch led into a winding tunnel deep into the coral. From the sharp corners and muffled noises overheard, one could surmise this tunnel was constructed to weave around existing hollows. Despite its unpredictable turns, the tunnel was well-lit with a bioluminescent strand along the right wall, and the passage was wide enough for two or three to pass comfortably. Cynthia explained the dual purpose of the lighting: it not only provided visual aid to those without darkvision, but also served as a guide when the pitch of the tunnels was unclear: right was down, and left was up. The marid had proclaimed this measure after a family had gotten lost for days, nearly starving to death deep inside the more complicated residential districts.

Eventually, they swam into a wide open space in the coral. If they hadn't known better, they likely would not realize they were still inside due to the cavernous room they had entered. Hundreds of merfolk and a spattering of other races filled the room from top to bottom, and nearly every inch of coral was occupied with a stall or shop selling their wares. Much of it was mundane trinketry, but several shops appeared to sell valuable gear and weaponry. Cynthia grinned widely and gestured before them. "Welcome to the Coral City!"

With being shown a more commercial district, it was easy for the kobold’s curiosity begin to wander and even easier for her body to begin to move away from the group. Askia quickly swam away from her allies and began to search for something that would seem all too familiar to her liking, a jeweler. She stopped in front of shop set in the coral, an amazing display of jewelry in front of her, it brought both the good and bad memories. The small reptilian seemed to stop, eyes frozen in a sort of trance as she seemed to recollect her past life, a life before taking to the seas. Her hand went to touch the gold and crimson circlet wrapped around her head, a single purple jewel resting just above the start of her snout.

For a few moments, Askia remained like this before muttering a phrase to no one but herself, ”Damn the tradition.” With a sigh the Kobold began to move towards the entrance of the shop, not paying any mind to the armed guard outside of the fine establishment.

The guard stepped forward in front of Askia’s way as she approached, his hand on the sword, still sheathed in his hilt. “Do you have an appointment?” he asked, an eyebrow raised as he looked over the kobold. “I’m going to guess not. I haven’t seen one of your kind around here in quite some time.” The sword moved ever so slightly as the guard’s grip tightened on the hilt.

The Kobold eyed the guard up and down, her moment thoroughly ruined, crossing her arms in a rather annoyed fashion as the guard spoke. ”Last I checked, a person did not an appointment to browse,” Askia began, a matter-of-factly tone coming over her as her eyes met with the guards, ”Besides, not seeing a Kobold for a while means nothing in the grand scheme of the world.”

>Askia used persuasion and got a nine


The arched eyebrow on the guard raised even higher. “Plucky, ain’t ya?” he said. “Well, you seem harmless. I can get you an appointment to talk to the owner if you wish, or you can ‘browse’ and waste everyone’s time. You better bet I’ll be searching your bags on the way out, though. Your choice.”

”And how long would it take to get an appointment, exactly?” Askia inquired, giving a raised eyebrow look towards the guard.

“Depends,” the guard replied, a hand gently patting his coin purse.

”I journey between oceans, I come to a place I have never been before, and you have the audacity to try and extort money from me? Trust me, where I come from not even us Kobolds do that kind of highway robbery,” the Kobold stated, her eyes glowing ever so lightly. Her mind began to resonate an aura, slowly attempting invoking awe within the nameless guard. Immediately, she began to see the results as the guard became flustered upon looking at the Kobold. ”Good, now get me that appointment. Then, please give me the money you extorted. I don't think it’s safe in your hands.”

>Askia uses Invoke Awe

The guard nodded, unbuckling the coin pouch from his belt and slowly counting out coins into the kobold’s hand. “I may need to give you the rest once I get off my shift,” the guard added.

Koan’s vantage of the interaction between guard and draconic brood, were limited at best. The mannerisms of the sentry grasping his hilt, then relaxing to eventually pat his purse, suggested to the dastardly mime that bribing appeared as a mandate for entry. The clown swam furiously to catch up, but soon realized that the male merfolk sentinel became agitated and rattled, offering up his earnings to the unbeknownst Mystic. This kobold definitely materialized swagger in a very subtle custom, haphazardly working her charm nonchalantly, while simultaneously succeeding without baring any cleavage or coin. What was her trick? Slowly, the blanche geisha sneaked upon the reptile.

“Whatcha doin’?”

”Nothing much. Just… making friends,” Askia commented, her eyes flicking over to Koan for a split moment before looking back at her new friend.

“Friends! I love making friends. What’s your name?” her diamond stud flashed as her mouth widened. Her gestures, sultry and salty, tantalized a cocked hip and a tattooed, but bald scalp, the straight-edge labyrinthine graffiti sparkling in the deep. “I also love to just… love.” Her lashes batted feverishly with a smirk growing like cancer on her cheeks.

”I don't know his name, frankly don't need to right now. Right bud?,” The guard nodded in agreement with the Kobold. ”Didn’t I ask you to get me that appointment?,” Askia questioned before the guard gave another flustered look before retreating into the store to get the appointment that the Kobold so desperately wanted. With a cheeky smile and eyes lightly aglow, the mystic followed the man into the store.

“Ooh! Can I come with, dahlin’?” With a wave of an arm, they penetrated through the portal of the jewelry store. Koan whispered in Askia’s native tongue of Draconic, “How did you do that?”

Askia blinked several times as she formulated a response in her head about the subject, more in shock that Koan could actually speak Askia’s born language. She had seen that the jester could write it but never would she have thought that the woman would have mastered the tongue. ”I have my ways,” were the only draconic words to come out of her mouth, nervous laughter following.

“You sure do!” The apprehensive mirth escaping from her new found companion slightly excited Koan. Such a mysterious personality, able to dissect social encounters with minimal effort, would electrify the SS Lady Slipper, even more. The faux Kor warrior hoped that this celebrity, that swayed heads with words, would entertain us further on their future escapades. She chuckled, in lieu of the bellowed hilarity, also, but slightly louder, and more awkwardly, in Draconic, slapping her left knee to beckon more gratuitous attention, “You’re fun!”

”I try my best.”

“I don’t appreciate you charming my hirelings,” a female voice called out as a merfolk woman swam through a beaded curtain. Closely behind her was the guard that Askia had sent in, his weapon drawn and an angry scowl across his face. “You have one chance to convince me to give you my ear, or I shall send my guard to deal justice the way I prefer.” The door behind them slammed closed and shimmered with arcane energy. “Please, start talking.”

“Me? A lowly Kobold, charm someone? Impossible, you must have me confused with someone else, or perhaps your guard just has something for Kobolds,” Askia stated in a sarcastic way, craning her neck backwards as it made an obnoxious popping sound. With a light chuckle Askia’s gaze went down to the female shopkeeper, ”I wouldn't have charmed him if he didn't try to extort money from my pockets. Not a very profitable way to keep customers coming if you ask me.” She went over to a wall and inspected the jewelry, tracing it over with her eyes and not really paying anymore mind to the guard.

“Yeah. Yeah. What she said.” Koan, forgetting she was still speaking of the original language of the apparent charmer, knew how to play along. Sort of. “We would like to make your time worth your while. We are interested in jewelry. The more bizarre and sparkly. The more enticing and welcome.” The disguised jester referred a hand, in the form of an outstretched arm, signifying a cultural agreement if the merfolk woman were willing to shake on it. “Does that sound fair?”

The woman crossed her arms. “My goal is to have paying customers. Strangers who likely will not return anyways do not intrigue me unless their pockets are deep. My guard’s job is to assess the depth of your pockets. Instead, you told him to go against direct orders.” The woman patted the guard’s shoulder, and he sheathed his sword. “My name is Madame Bodot, and you have wandered into Bodot’s Boutique. Show me something valuable, or I will have my guard complete the job he failed.”

The elongated extremity met no mutual agreement. The inundated clown shrugged her shoulders, but slowly supinated her forearm and flicking her wrist, demonstrating the dorsal portion of her hand, showcasing her sentimental keepsake. “Step right up, Madame Bodot,” displaying the ring an austere fashion. “This trinket of mine allows the wearer to defy buoyancy and walk on water. Imagine being on the surface, taking in the sun and other outward elements, whenever and wherever the whim tickles your fancy.” She unsheathed the loop from her ring finger, slithering the dazzling circle into her palm, with the finesse of an illusionist’s sleight. “So, whaddya say? Would you be willing to trade?”

”Sounds pretty damned biased if you ask me. You got something against the poor Madame? Funny considering they tend to make up a lot more of the population than the rich folk,” the folk hero stated, narrowing her eyes and not looking at the woman who dared to threaten her. A necklace on the countertop floated up and into the kobold’s hands where she inspected it like all the other jewelry; it was good stuff. A small smile came across her face as she allowed the necklace to float back to where it had rested before. ”I’ll admit, a lot of the stuff here is good. But none of it seems to be calling for me, none of them speak for…,” Askia took off her backpack and opened the top to reveal a large pile of glittering gold, ”... this.”

“I do not dabble, madam kobold,” the shopkeeper responded. “The destitute do naught but waste my time. I create works of art for the highest members of our society. However...” Bodot approached Koan, muttering a phrase in a language the makeshift Kor did not know. “This trinket contains magic, but of what use? We prefer to remain below the surface of the waters. Perhaps it would suffice as a mere bauble for travelers. Hardly worth the standard fare due to how long it would adorn my shelves. But we now get to the more interesting question.” She swam forward so that her face was mere inches from Askia’s and smiled a wide toothy grin that suggested a shark may have been in the jeweler’s lineage. “What are you looking to buy?”

Askia returned the smile in full, closing her backpack before replying to the jeweler, ”Simple. I want something that tells a story, a great story.” She swam around Bodot, giving a light and sinister chuckle, ”If your jewelry tells a story as good as it looks and the cost is within my range, then I'll see if buying it will be in our, mutual interest.” The Kobold doubted there there would be anything that would suffice for one of the only jewelry pieces in here that told a great story was the circlet around her head. The piece had been crafted by Askia herself, it had been with her for as long as her short life could remember.

The owner’s answer sprung forth as curt but concise, explaining that her magical charm would not be worth the value of its shelf-life. The clown understood and nodded with a sadistic smile.

Then Koan was suddenly caught off-guard by the snarky shark-lady brushing by, obsessing over Askia.

The disregard stung worse than simple disgust. Her cold-blooded partner’s drum of dazzling dough, no doubt, prompted the abrupt negligence of her existence. This novel form of social abandonment was infrequently experienced by the white joker. She hated this tactic, as she enjoyed always being the center of consideration. Hence, shopping alone remained the typological ideal for the attention-whore despite her history as a guild merchant. However, a spark ignored soon kindles into a fire. Moreover, the blithe shapeshifter hesitated between the vacillating extremes of either basking in the beauty of this crafty Kobold, or establishing again her whacky dominion over the encounter.

For once, the bleached buffoon decided to be submissive and silent, allowing the exchange between merfolk and mammon monger to transpire.

“Every piece of art tells a story, or else it is not truly art,” Bodot replied with a dismissive wave of her hand as she returned to her guard’s side. “I have told many stories. If you cannot see the story in a piece of art, it is not the artist’s fault. The true question is what story do you wish to own?”

”Depends on the story,” Askia shrugged, before looking over at the Kor warrior for a moment. With a sigh the Kobold’s eyes flicked to the shopkeeper before stating, ”I want a piece, a magical piece that may catalog my own adventures. One that would never allow memories to grow dull, every step, every waking second, must be accounted for.” She stated in a way that would allow her to emphasize the importance of memories, having lost crucial details of even her most life changing events from when she was young and still with her clan. It weighed heavily upon her at times and she did not want to lose anything else.

The little draconic did not herald the crease of age on her scales, but spoke with longevity, glancing back with wisdom to harness the remembrance of events to come. Why? For someone so intellectually inclined, the Kobold appeared no older than a couple decades, by Koan’s reckoning. Such a desire to harbor recollections suggested a previous fugue that must have plagued her new found reptilian amiga, likely before pubescence.

”So… Askia. I can be your bauble for as long as you remain a crew member. I just love to recount adventures for everyone else. I even flavor it with dance and song. Except maybe for Dyn. He’s sometimes too much.”

She snaked the ring of water walking back onto her rightful phalange, as she announced her forefront thoughts. ”You’re not thinking of leaving us, soon. Are you?”

”Of course not! However, there are some moments that I’d like to recollect in private,” Askia stated, crossing her arms and giving a small laugh. She looked back to the shopkeep, her expression turning neutral once more, ”So, you got anything like that?”

“Art that collects memories...” Bodot darted away onto a back room, and the sound of rummaging and obvious curses in a foreign language could be overheard. A moment passed, and the merfolk returned with a small box. “This may be what you are looking for, to some degree. Even magic cannot capture all moments of every day, but...” She opened the lid of the box, revealing a silver brooch set with a large glassy pearl. She pressed down lightly on the pearl, and an image appeared amidst the stone. A merfolk man and woman held hands, walking down an empty corridor. The woman turned to the man, clasped his other hand, then pressed him into the wall before treating him with a long, passionate kiss. Bodot pressed the pearl again and the image dissipated.

“This piece can capture up to an hour of your memories and store them for safekeeping. Whether it is time with a lover or proof of a liar, this artwork remembers precisely what happened. It cannot tell a story it has not seen, however.” She closed the lid of the box, gripping the item tightly. “This brooch... it contains a piece of my very soul. It has power and use. It is beautiful. It is, in essence, priceless. However, it contains memories I should like gone and yet cannot part with. What price do you offer? Aim low, and you shall leave my store empty handed.”

Askia thought to herself for a long moment, evaluating what a good starting price may be. ”I’ll offer 600 gold pieces for that brooch,” the Kobold stated, flicking her tail from side to side as the bartering began.

”“Dang, girl, you’re filthy rich!”” The jester’s shrill sailed throughout the parlor, while her arms did most of the talking. With upper extremities flailing, she pondered out loud a troublesome thought, interrupting the sell, ”“I would have never imagined memories could be stored, sold and bought.”” The clown wondered if the shopkeep possessed anything that would induce amnesia or fodder seduction. ”“So. Do you have anything in your possession that makes minds feeble and/or knees weak?”” Her left wink hinted to an emphasis on the latter.

Madame Bodot clutched the box to her chest. “To part with this for such a low price... but perhaps if you add your friend’s ring, I could be persuaded.” She turned back to the kor and smiled. “I do have items that would aid in that, but if you find a few hundred gold to be ‘filthy rich,’ I doubt you have the means to afford such an exquisite item. However, I am certain that my shop has many pieces of jewelry to enhance your inherent beauty and make any suitor fawn over you.” She motioned generally to the more mundane items around, gesturing specifically towards a heart-shaped pendant set with a large ruby. “This piece in particular might be of interest. The man of your dreams will hardly be able to resist!”

The clown dreamt what would a sedate Beholder be like. In bed. “What if the man in question did not possess any legs below the belt? Can you demonstrate its power as well? I don’t want my friend and I to get shammed.” She leaned in, panting heavily. “Let’s see if your guard can succumb to such whims.”

The guard raised his hands defensively, shaking his head. “I got a wife and kid,” he replied, his voice nearly pleading. “Don’t get me in trouble with her. She’ll serve my head for supper on a platter.”

Bodot chuckled. “Its potency is limited by its price, to be sure. This charm will not force one to act against their will, but simply make them more... malleable for a short time. However, should they realize the charm’s effect, I doubt they will appreciate it. The trick is to extricate yourself before its spell is over.” She held the pendant out towards Koan, the ruby gently floating in the water. “I fear if I demonstrated its power on either you or my guard, it would be an unfair trade. I could, for example, convince you to give me double its value. But that would be unfair of me, would it not?”

Askia had remained silent as Koan spoke, her Kobold greed unwilling to wager any more money from her hoard, yet it was an artifact she wished to have. ”What price would you say to be fair, for the brooch that is? After all, my Kobold heart is much like the dragon I served, greedy and unwilling to part with anything. I have the gold, you have my word on that, but to part with over half of my current amount, I don't think my heart could take it.”

“You have my lowest price,” Bodot replied simply. “The brooch required an extensive amount of magic to be poured into its construction, and the jewels alone are worth nearly the monetary value you proposed. In contrast, the spell upon the item your friend has for trade is relatively simple to procure, and that ring was not crafted by the finest of jewelers.” She looked down her nose at the ring that Koan bore on her finger. “Yes, I could do much to enhance its beauty. But it requires me to spend time and effort to do so, neither of which are cheap. If you wish to pay in gold alone, you would need to offer nearly double the six hundred from before.”

Askia looked over at the ring for a brief moment, narrowing her eyes for a moment before looking back at the shopkeeper with those same narrowed eyes. It was hard to tell with this one, normally she was good at reading people but Bodot seemed a lot more unpredictable with what Askia had gathered. ”If you don't mind, could I inspect this brooch more closely?”

“Do as you wish,” the shopkeeper replied dismissively. “Just keep it in the store. Not like you can leave without me lifting the barrier anyways.” With that, she turned her attention back to Koan. “As for you, my dear Kor, do you have more questions? Or should we try out the mysterious magical properties on some unsuspecting citizen walking by outside?”

”How about you try it out on me, Madam?” The former sex slave, cringed as the inquiry slithered off her diamond-studded tongue ring. Usually, she enjoyed being on top.

Of the situation and the focus of an audience.

Yet, there a was time when senses were dulled and memories purged, to protect a portion of innocence that spewed with every frolic or chant the masked masquerader would issue, in an effort to salvage an exuberance she never was allowed.

“I want to experience it for myself, before I consider pawning my ring.”

“If you insist,” Madame Bodot replied. “But do not say I didn’t warn you.” Bodot lightly tapped the pendant, and Koan instantly began to see her in a new light. Bodot was a hard-working woman whose life had been full of missed opportunities and unrequited lovers who cared naught for her passions. She had spent years in the shop slaving over a single item for the one she loved the most, and the day Bodot was to present it to him, he informed her that he was betrothed to another. Koan saw a story float before her eyes, and immediately, she felt as if she could better understand her, as if they could have, in another set of circumstances, become best of friends. Everything Bodot would ask, everything Koan could grant her... nothing was too much. Bodot smiled once more, the emotion evident on her face, the jewels sparkling in her grasp. “I think 100 gold is a far price,” she said, and Koan’s hand immediately moved towards her coin purse.

The pale warrior, loosed the string to her mobile bank of sorts, allowing the pirated currency to swim along the faint currents within the store. Koan, or was it, Koran became mesmerized. The jester didn’t need the gold, just the pendant is all that mattered. “Here. I’ll take it. Sir, you missed out; that was orgasmic.” The guard quickly collected the price offered by his employer as the Kobold, distracted by her potential purchased, honed in, disregarding her other senses.

As Askia concentrated on the brooch she held, the visions of its own immediate past flooded her memory. The feeling of a well-made and expensive piece of art flooded Askia’s mind. Its worth was far more than what the woman was requesting if used correctly, but Bodot was quite obviously the creator. An image of the shopkeeper holding the item, looking longingly into its replayed story. The guard rushing into the storage room to find her. A spell cast, dispelling the charm that had been cast. Further back, and Bodot appeared to take the item from its shelf, her hand hovering over the gem... until she placed the brooch back, shaking her head.

Why can’t people ever be wrong? Askia internally sighed, slowly coming out of the trance she had put herself in. It was all stupid, nothing could be this perfect or this true. However, she could not buy this item, not because it was too expensive, but because she could feel the weight of this item on the woman’s heart. The Kobold pressed down on the pearl and watched the memory once more, it was all too good to be true.

”I can't buy this, I can tell it means alot to you,” Askia said, handing the item back with a bit of a defeated tone coming to her.

”Why not?” The still charmed comic erupted, suddenly siding with the loanshark’s previous proposal, after depositing one hundred shiny shingles to the accompanying sentry. “Don’t you want a keepsake to remind on remembering memories?” The clown frollicked, around Askia, attempting to garner further attention to listen to her sabotaging ploy, ignoring the potential sentimental value and emotional tapestry wrought in the brooch.

Askia let out a light chuckle at the jester’s words before giving a face of questionable motive, ”Oh but dear Koran did you not say that you would do the very same for me?” A wink from her left eye went to the faux kor, implying many things in on gesture before forcing herself back to reality. ”As much as I would like the artifact, I have seen that it clearly means much to you, Bodot, the same way my circlet means much to me. I thank you for indulging in my interests nonetheless.”

Madame Bodot motioned the guard closer, then retrieved the gold that the kor had given him. With a snap of her fingers, the enchantment was dispelled. As if a curtain was withdrawn from Koan’s eyes, she could see the manipulation and deception for what it was. Had Bodot not warned her of this very thing, she may have thought it an intrusion into her very soul, punishable by any means necessary. Bodot held the coin pouch forward. “As I said, that was not a fair purchase. Should you truly wish to buy the item after having tasted its power, I will now give you the opportunity.”

She then turned towards the kobold, her expression an odd sense of sadness or longing. “You are more than you seem. Your strength lies in your mind, but in a different way than I. It appears you know something I did not intend to share. However, you may have also noticed the great pain this piece brings me. I have finally allowed myself to let go. Please, take the brooch off my hands. It deserves to be useful, not hold an old crone’s desperate memories.”

”So desperate to get rid of something that has brought pain to you, eh? From one old girl to another, then? You have my word that it’ll be put to good use for however long a Kobold should have left,” the mystic craned her neck backwards one more time, another audible pop and a sigh of relief following before she continued, ”How about 700 gold and a promise you shall never see the brooch again?”



Madam Bodot shook her head. “You drive a hard bargain. I cannot let it go for so little, but perhaps 800 gold? That is my final offer.” She held her other hand out towards the kobold, gesturing towards the brooch. “And please, overwrite that embarrassing memory before someone important sees it.”

”How about 750 and I definitely won't show it to anybody important?,” Askia chuckled before getting out her backpack once more and counting out the necessary amount. She sat on the ground, flicking her tail back and forth as more of a defensive instinct as most of her money would be gone after this transaction. It hurt her tiny heart to be counting out so much money, but this was the price that must be payed for someone to be content with their lives once more, a price she was more than willing to pay, one she already had and more on a different occasion.

“If your friend buys the pendant, then I can let it go for 750. Otherwise, I shall have to insist on 800. I’m sure there’s a nice gentleman up the road who would pay double that... but I don’t want him to see these memories.” Bodot turned towards Koan. “So, what about it? Do you doubt the power the pendant has? Or do you wish to use it for yourself?”

”Whoa! I think I’m already sold! It was strange, Askia.” She used her first name for the first time. The pronunciation was slightly histrionic but not awkward nor stuttered. Turning her attention further to the crouched Kobold, she licked her already wet lips, fathoming the potential exploits, such a trinket could produce, in the right hands. “My body was happier than a jack rabbit at a fish parry, but also angrier than a beaver in a petrified forest. The mixture of emotions would be perfect for bondage of a willing individual. I’m not sure if it’s the best way to make friends.”

“But what the hell! It’s a deal!”

The exchange agreed upon, the goods were exchanged and Bodot dropped the enchantment on the door. “Now please, take that thing away from me before I change my mind,” she said, gesturing towards Askia and her new purchase.

The Kobold gave a light chuckle towards her Kor friend before jumping, or rather swimming, to her feet. ”Bondage? More like funtage if you ask me,” Askia stated, her normal flirtatious tone coming back to reality now that the exchange was over. With a final bow to Madame Bodot, the old girl turned and swam out of the shop, not bothering to conceal her rather natural movement through the water.

>Brooch of memories gained for Askia, -750 GP
>Amulet of Friends gained for Koan, -100 GP

To be continued on the next episode on Dragon Ball Z

After her draconic amiga made a dramatic exit, stage left out of the spree, the Kor woman calmly cooed another offer. “If you ever are feeling lonely, please do seek me out. We don’t even half to use a brooch or any other magical bauble. We can just have fun, just the two of us.” Her grin widened as sharky as the feminine merfolk had initially when the previous parley commenced. She waved to the married guard. “I doubt he and his spouse would venture down that slippery road with us, though.”

More teeth began to emerge, performing a dance of a can-can as the faux Kor rapidly changed the subject, ignoring social tact and frontal lobe inhibitions.

“Speaking of alleys. Rumors say we can find explosives nearby. Uh… and any needed permits. My friends and I want to go mining after we leave this wonderful village of yours.”

Madame Bodot shook her head vehemently. “I have nothing to do with explosives,” she replied. “I create art; I do not destroy needlessly. You shall have to search elsewhere.” With that response, she ushered them onward, closing the door behind them.

“Okay. Okay. Jeez. I promise to work out the kinks better, next time, if we meet again.” Sampling her surrounding, the dastardly mime witnessed Askia, flopping, gracefully, away from the boutique. “Hey, wait up!” The women had become a pair, in the clown’s mind. Girls had to stick together, ya know. Or each other. Whichever the moment spurred. The jester had always aspired that the latter would manifest between another crew member. This Kobold was freaking hot, despite the lack of steam following the shadows her beautiful tail would cast as it snaked through the coral city.

“Hey. I’m yelling at you!” Pleading with her faster friend, the white warrior attempted any means to catch up. “Why do you need memories?”

Askia stopped her movements upon realizing that she had left Koan behind, plus the question that had been asked of her. She shook her head lightly, before her wisdom was shown once more to the jester, ”I have lost too many good memories to the bad ones, I am trying my best to conserve the memories I make in the future. No more shall be lost, I hope.” With that her normal smile came back to her, craning her neck in the direction she had blindly been going in. A few blinks came to her as she had figured out she had no clue what she was doing, probably subconsciously going to find Hana, though she had to stay with her new gal pal in a foreign land.

”Now, since I took up most of your time, I'll allow you to take up mine. Any clue on what you want to do?” The Kobold asked before a mischievous grin riddled her face, ”Is it naughty?”

“Uh... Yes. I want to blow things up. Don’t you?” Sound effects and a simultaneous gesture combined with each hand. “Boom!” She spewed half serious and half mockingly. “I’m not sure who’s telling the truth. Wolfy or this Marid. But I love to be prepared.” After the volcanic charade, the clown hesitated. Where would they be able to find such a venue? Moreover, how could they guarantee the product would work and even underwater? She scoffed such agonizing reflections. “Wanna help me look? I believe it’s down there.” The floundering white blob bolted, leading the duo into darker waters via tunnel.

Askia had little choice but to tag along, not wanting to be rude and just abandon her new friend to the will of these dastardly tunnels. ”Not the kind of naughty I had in mind, but it’ll still be fun!” The Kobold began to aid in the search of this fabled explosives store, wanting to encourage Koan’s strange desire and overall just have a fun time with the whole ridiculousness of the situation.

“Let me know if you see anything while we go down further into sketchyville.” The blanche geisha trekked frantically through the tunnels, randomly selecting a burrow whenever a fork appeared. The channels delved further and further below, dancing lights erupted ahead of the pair with white light, illuminating the path.

The duo wandered throughout the unknown tunnels, seemingly not really knowing where they were going as they delved deeper. An hour passed before they arrived anywhere remotely resembling what they were searching for. An elderly water genasi sat on what could only be described as the merfolk version of a veranda, a dozen rifles lined up on the porch next to him. As Koan and Askia swam into view, the man picked up one of the rifles and pointed it in their general direction. “Hey, now! Who dun taught ye ta sneak up on an ol’ fish? State yer bizniss, ya hear?!”

The jester harvested the totality of the sight before her, allowing her vision to accommodate for the arsenal jousted directly in their vicinity. “Didn’t mean to sneak up on ya. Well, mister, we are a huntin’ for some help. We are not sure if we’re lost or not, but we heard word that this is the place to be for munitions, ya know, for excavating some mines.” Her diamond tongue stud sparkled pirouetting lights. “Can you help us?”

Askia swam up to the jester’s height and leaned so that she could whisper into her ear, ”I don't like the sound of this guy, nor the guns, especially not the guns.” The Kobold stayed close to Koan for a few seconds before returning to her original position next to her companion, tail flicking back and forth as Askia attempted to analyze the situation.

“Hold up!” the old merfolk called out before swimming up to Koan, one eye protruding out further than one would expect feasible as he searched into her very soul. “Didja say you were blowin’ up some mines, eh? Why you done come to the right place! Unless yer a filthy copper. If ye are, then GIT OFF MAH LAWN!!” The barrel of the gun found itself directly under Koan’s chin as the eye searched over the kor-like clown, waiting for her next move.

“Lawn? I thought that was just seaweed. Where are my manners? And do I look like the police with this vibrant skin? If was going to be inconspicuous I wouldn’t be wearing the colors of a great white.” She gently raised her left palm attempting to maneuver both chambers away from her money maker, the face riddled with grids and labyrinthine graffiti. “And, to answer your question, yes, we’re looking for some ‘splosives. Shoveling always becomes a lot easier with dynamite.”

“Hrmm... yeh look like yer on the straight ‘n narrow... Come along this away.” The geezer headed back towards the hole in the wall he called a home and tossed the rifle haphazardly on the porch, at which time a loud explosion could be heard as the gun fired, its bullet ricocheting around the small cavern they were in. The man seemed to either not hear or not care about the danger as he simply swam through his doorway before the bullet finally embedded itself into the wall about seven inches from Askia’s head. “So? What are ye waitin’ fer?” he called back to them.

Askia let out a shrill cry as she ducked to avoid being hit by the ricocheting bullet only to have it land right next to her. Needless to say, the Kobold was little more than scared for her life and she was about to make herself heard on that notion. ”Asshole! You almost killed me!” the little dragonic being roared, her fist firmly clenched in front of her as anger filled every fiber of her being.

“Don’t get you knickers in a twist, Askia!” The shapeshifting comedian yelled. “This fine gentleman is hosting us in his home.” Her scarlet eyes scoured the interior of the small cavern, to note the idiosyncrasies of the elder, ingesting the mannerisms of his gait, his strewn out belongings and the nature of his abode’s layout. The Feng-shui of this whole crevice spoke volumes that this decrepit underwater arms dealer, odds were, was likely to aid in Koan’s endeavor in securing at least some gunpowder. “Now, sirree, what are we gonna be lookin’ at?” The clown blindly followed the almost deaf, senior citizen, of what appeared to be the outskirts of Merish village.

As they entered the abode, the pair began to understand why the merfolk preferred to spend his time outside his house. The interior was full of a muddy substance, making it hard to see or even breathe despite their amphibious abilities. Various half-complete works of mechanical prowess lined the walls, surrounded by clear containers packed to the brim with a black substance. One of these containers was half-empty, and the lid lay on the side of the barrel, but a pocket of air had formed over the top of the container, keeping the contents dry. “Now...” the old man said, turning to face them and squinting through the darkness in the water, “what are ye lookin’ fer? I’m sure I can accommodate.”

“Ummm…. Things that go.” The dramatic pause awkwardly occurred, due to filth her lungs were battling with intermittent coughs and gasps. The filmic gravel obstructed her voice for a moment, only to rebound in a crescendo of hacks. “POW! Cough. The more powerful, the better. However, size does matter.” She cleared her throat as she eyed down the ancient silhouette, to discern if pleasure still mattered in this man's grand scheme of bargains. “So…. What are in those barrels?” She pointed, more out of curiosity, allowing her innocence to overcome her tact, as she swam a short distance towards it.

A twinkle shone in the merfolk’s eye as he replied. “Things... that go POW,” he replied, grinning and showing his three teeth. “Blackpowder, it is! All the powder I could snap up! Been storin’ this for nigh on a year now! So, I’ve got the boom, but what are ye tradin’?”

“Whatever your lub-dub desires!” The apparition-like customer swayed away from the drums adorned with the pockets of air, slowly swinging her hips, eventually breaching the bubble of personal space that subconsciously surrounded the edentulous solicitor. “Or can handle!” She caressed the scalp of the senior, tracing her fingers behind his ear, finally squeezing his left shoulder, playfully. A giggle erupted, teasing the peddler with her suggestive services.

Askia watched the exchange for the most part with mild indifference before watching her hips sway towards the seller, jealousy coming over the small creature. The Kobold grit her teeth before looking away, seeing another one of those barrels of powder. Using her mind, the barrel began to subtly move back and forth before it tipped over and hit the ground with a loud thunk, blackened contents spilling onto the ground in a mystic's slight jealous rage. ”Oh, do things constantly tip over in here?,” she asked in a rather snarky tone, her eyes flicking to the two for a moment.

The powder spilled out, filling the entire room with a thick oily cloud. Even without being able to see, Askia could feel the ire boiling from the old man. “Out! Git on outta here! That barrel cost me a thousand gold, ya numbnuts!” From the black cloud came a swat from a broom, barely missing Askia. “OUUUUT!” he howled.

Askia’s look of indifference did not falter nor would it cease in the incoming moments, not really caring about what the old man thought about her. ”Old man, you are barking at a being that could choke hold you without touching you. I’ll respect your shop for the time being, but if I hear anything… suggestive, then you can imagine I'll be knocking over more than a few barrels,” the mystic threatened before turning and exiting the shop in a nonchalant fashion.

Once out, the sultry geisha gawked at the kobold. She was jealous. “Perfect,” she whispered audibly to herself. The tables had finally turned. Askia initially appeared to be the one who plays-hard-to-get kind of girl, but now, it was evident that she was in the palm of the clown’s hand; her emotions to be tugged and juggled soon, by the towering white Kor woman. This was much better than purchasing the now abandoned volatile residue. More profitable than discovering a gold mine strapped to a lizard. The jester would have to be very careful, though, so as not to spite nor hurt, despite her masochistic adoration for bondage mixed in with some spirited asphyxiation. This draconic mystic may be more dangerous than Dyn’s tentacles. “So… that codger was pretty mean, huh? He didn’t even want to play with us.”

Before the duo got far, Koan noticed a thin wire stretching vertically from the floor to ceiling in the middle of the lawn. Before she could say anything, Askia had stumbled right into it, setting off an explosion and knocking her into the ceiling, dealing 17 fire damage. Before either could react, the “codger” burst from the home and picked up one of his guns. “Ye knock over me powder, trip up one of me mines, and still have the gall to insult me?” The first bullet flew past, landing only mere inches from the ricocheted bullet from before, but the second found its mark (for 12 damage). “Git back here an fight like ya mean it!”

“OH SHIT!!!” The gears of war began to churn as the horrified Koan sprouted healing lactation from her blanche bosom, not exactly a milky potion in motion, but able to cure some ills, with her skills (for 16 HP). “Sir, please, we didn’t mean anything by it. JK. This is all a big misunderstanding.” The comical climber issued this apology as she deftly dodged and dashed between two trip wires, quickly sweeping to the side of the house, as far as she could muster from the angry merbilly’s line of sight.

Askia reeled from the shock of the explosion and the feeling of an explosion going through her shoulder, a mixed face of anger and pain coming to her. Instinctively, she turned and raised her hands to grasp the merfolk with the power of her mind and to her satisfaction it worked. ”Congratulations, you earned yourself a one way trip to death. Hope you’re proud of yourself, fool,” the Kobold growled, threatening to close her fist and crush the old fool.

“Yah gotta kill me first!” the old codger replied. “And then you'll hafta git away from my house when it explodes! Never thought a that, did ye?!” The codger tossed aside the rifle he held and picked up another gun at random. This particular weapon was smaller, but looked like it was brand new compared to the others. Summoning the old man grit from within, the codger pulled the trigger three times, aiming for Askia’s torso. The impact of the first two sent her staggering backwards until she was pressed against a wall, and the third shot impaled her arm (for a total of 25 damage). Askia tripped directly into another one of the wires as a plume of fire exploded from beneath her (dealing an additional 25 damage).

The nightmarish blasts reminded the clown of historic lavish fireworks from her past; her old king would demand such booms to ring out a new party or slave. Such darkness she longed to forget, but oblivion remained ever poignant on the tip of her tongue. As she witnessed the finesse and dependence of the gun slinger, barreling shots at her friend. Obscurity vented from her diamond stud engulfing the geezer, as she demanded a farce before risking an illusory ploy. “Oh no! What’s wrong with your eyes?” She snickered. The elder still took deadly aim in the magical smoke, ignoring the clown’s ruse. Koan acted quickly, imploring a minor illusion, to mimic the Theullai’s roar emanating between the codger and Askia. Leaving her mouth agape, she hoped the ebon waters would buy time for the Kobold to work her telepathic mischief without much further disarray.

Askia hissed and recoiled in pain as her hand went to cover the bullet wound in an attempt to keep herself from bleeding out. The old geezer was a good shot, she had to admit, but at the same time it infuriated her with how she was getting her ass handed to her by some old cook who probably couldn't even remember what yesterday was. The kobold’s hand clenched and the old fool would feel a crushing force overcome his body (22 damage). It brought her great satisfaction to deal pain to the fart, made her deal better actually (7 HP healed) but she knew she had to leave. In fact, she turned and swam as fast as her little Kobold body would allow her, quickly ducking around a corner before the old man could take another shot at her.

“Gah, ya witch!” the old geezer called out, writhing in pain from the mystic’s grasp. “Didn’t I tell ya to stay off my lawn? And now ye go and blind me in my own doorway!” Koan, through the aid of her eldritch vision, could see the merfolk wriggle and struggle against the invisible grasp, seemingly to no avail.

“We could have had a lot of fun, old man.” Another whispered Minor Illusion from his left shoulder provided the necessary distraction for the white clown to ferry away with the Kobold, farther away from the rural suburbs of Merish village. The Kor female grabbing the injured draconic telepath, guiding her into the tunnels from whence they originated.

Or so she hoped.

The two took off down the tunnels, bolting as fast as they could swim away from the grumbling old man. The good news was that it was fairly unlikely that any of the guardsmen were going to implicate them in the explosion. The bad news was that after a few minutes of darting through the tunnels, everything ended up looking the same... or unfamiliar... or both? Finally, it seemed a good idea to slow down and try to figure out whether they were. In front of them was an intersection. On one side was a tunnel that looked like it led downwards with lights along the right side, and the other option held a tunnel moving to the left and upwards with lights along the left side.

”We need to go up, it will help us get out of here,” Askia stated between breaths, remembering the words Cynthia had given the group.

“Then up, we shall go!” Koan exclaimed allowing the tunnels to host echoes of her shrill voice. She hoped Askia’s suggestion proved true, but only time would determine if their ascent would be voraciously fruitful.

The path continued upwards before it crested a rise and began to head downhill. Another 500 feet passed before another fork appeared. The current path headed downwards while the other path had a sharp corner upwards, lights adorning its right-hand side. The pair took the tunnel heading upwards, following it for several minutes as it looped and wound through the coral. Several homes seemed to adorn this passage, and the path seemed to wind around the construction of the homes rather than following a set straight vector. It dipped upwards and downwards constantly before another fork was presented. One path traveled to the left and the other to the right. Neither path seemed to go decidedly up or down, but both had lights on the right side.

The duo put their heads together, as neither path presented a clear choice. They remembered something that Cynthia had said: the lighting in the tunnel would be their guide regardless of the flow of the passages. With this knowledge in mind, they turned around and began following the lighting, keeping it on their left. Eventually, they found themselves on the outside of the coral and back to more familiar space.

The Kobold let out a sigh, having time to think about the actions that she had done, managing to almost get herself killed. Looking upon the Kor jester, Askia couldn't help wiggle away from the grasp of Koan and retreat away from her, allowing her mind to block out the pain and rid her of some of the scars that the battle would leave. She was humiliated, almost killed by some junkie and his stupid inventions. ”Damnit Askia, you’re losing your edge. First so much money wasted on a stupid trinket, then just about dying,” the Kobold retold herself, ”Feelings are of the heart not the mind. Get a grip, woman.”

With that said, Askia unleashed her lute and began to play. She played a sonnet filled with her frustrations and feelings, one that she couldn't help but cry along the notes, the rises and the drops that filled the song. Soon, a soldier came along and stopped to listen to the piece, entranced by its beauty and soon he began to cry and sob along with the Kobold, purely due to the nature and quality of the sonnet. After a minute of this, he gave of one-hundred gold pieces, thanking Askia for the wondrous song, though she attempted to reject the kind offer, it was insisted and thrust upon the wounded reptilian. Before she could object, the soldier left humming her song to the best of his ability.

The trekked distance and melody conjured a jovial sense of peace as Koan wormed apart from her musical compatriot. This brief adventure that the clown shared with this Mystic was a foretaste of further antics to come. And Koan was engorged with excitement.

Dyn listened to the local share the rest to their side of the story of the combat between the theullai and the marid. The theullai was painted in quite the bad light here, something he had no trouble in believing with the extremely hostile first reception they had received, but in the end he could not be sure. While calling his inherent paranoia a positive quality was rarely that accurate, now might be one of those times. You never knew which side had the most truth behind their words, but he had to admit these people were making a better case for themselves. While they had almost attacked them, they at least had the merit of not actually doing that to their name. The wolf had introduced themselves by lashing out without warning.

“Hmmm… this place seems interesting...”, the Beholder murmured, swimming forward a bit further before turning back to the rest of the group. “We will need to go looking for supplies, as well as some generally useful trinkets. And a map of this place. Who is coming with me?” he asked, some of his eyes taking a quizzical look to them. The new kobold and the unbearable trickster did not seem to have much interest in joining him, but he had profiled them as such a good while ago. By his guess, the tabaxi and the actual captain would be joining him with a strong maybe on the ghost’s part. They seemed to get along well with Koan, yet they also seemed more reasonable than her. He’d have to see.

“I would like to see their wares,” Jill replied with a smile, “and perhaps talk to our guide along the way, if that is alright with you, Cynthia?” She looked about at the commotion in the room they encountered, wondering how anything functioned in this much chaos. “I have a feeling a local will be useful in finding what we are looking for.”

“I am inclined to believe you,” Nemiea said as she walked up to the beholder, “I believe I may join you Dyn, can't exactly pass up a chance to spend time with my favorite beholder now can I?” The Tabaxi flashed the other creature a smile before her eyes fell on Cynthia. “I also don't think I could pass up the chance to spend some time with the beautiful Cynthia either.”

“If you know more than one beholder, I daresay this town will be less than adventurous to you,” Cynthia replied as she swam forward. “Come. Where would you like to go first? I shall lead the way to my favorite locations. Anything I can do for a captain and her crew.” The merfolk shot a knowing glance to Dyn and Jill as she waited for further instructions.

Dyn’s facial features slowly warped into a grimace, and while that was nothing new to be seen from the Beholder, those that had spent some time with him knew that the speed of the change was… worrisome. Usually he had no trouble turning between happy and angry at a moment’s notice, but when came the moments in which he took his time… well, let’s just say that a spectacular explosion of rage would soon follow. If there was something Dyn could not take well, that was being spoken of like an underling of someone.

“Aye, no need for that now,” Nemiea said cheerily as she gently patted one of Dyn’s many tentacles, “Dyn here prefers that people think him the captain to keep Jill out of harm's way. Stabs like that aren't really needed when one is simply doing his job to protect someone. I would have said I was the captain but I'm far too young and honestly? I wouldn't want that responsibility… too much work. I prefer zapping things now and thinking about it either later or never.” The Tabaxi looked up at Dyn and gave him a look that told him now was not the time nor place for one of his episodes. The two had become what she would consider friends over this span of traveling and sincerely hoped he would catch the hint.

The grimace partially withdrew itself as the sorcerer tried to calm the tentacled aberration down with her touch… and words. While the latter were actually aimed at Cynthia, the mighty Dyn’yer’zhead could read from in between the lines that he really should not be making a scene here… something he agreed with. A sour face remained, but when he opened his mouth it was not shouting that followed, but a slightly sharper than need be request. “First thing we need is a knowledgeable cartographer. Must find our way around”, he spat out.

“Of course, ‘Captain.’ I know an excellent mapmaker, but his maps may be difficult for you to interpret,” Cynthia replied as she swam forward with a purpose. “That is not meant as an insult. Underwater currents travel in three dimensions, whereas those on the surface or on land travel only in two. We have charted several major currents, myself on some of these expeditions as protection.”

“How do you draw a map in three dimensions?” Jill asked with some puzzlement. “Paper is flat, and I’m sure an accurate map would require much more detail than a piece of paper could provide.”

“Quite right! I will let the cartographer explain his process though, if you would follow.” Cynthia led the group forward and upwards until they reached a hole in the ceiling marked solely by an X. “After you.”

To be fair, Dyn had heard of and even dealt with things far more outlandish than three dimensional maps in the past, but he had to admit the concept intrigued him. He rubbed his chin with the tentacle that held Tradewind as he tried to imagine how that would look. No concept managed to elude his mind, and soon he had an image in his head. Happy with that, he followed the guide to the X and ended up being slightly befuddled as she gestured for them to go first. What sort of a guide does that? Nonetheless, he did as suggested and swam further on.

The entrance led to a very brief tunnel that quickly opened into a wide storefront. Inside the store was an elderly elf who sat upon a chair in the corner reading a book that seemed as if it were deteriorating before their very eyes. As the beholder entered, the elf became startled until he saw Cynthia swim up behind. “A new friend of yours?” the elf asked, clutching his chest as it heaved with heavy breaths. “Scare an old relic like me half to death.”

“Don't worry, Abba. Captain Dyn’yer’zhead is here on business.” Cynthia turned to Dyn and smiled. “Please say hello to Abbathon Galamiel. He is the finest mapmaker in this city. I trust he can get you almost anywhere in this Plane.”

A few of Dyn’s eyes glared at their guide from the side, suspecting that she had wanted to use him for a practical joke to be played on her friend. He smacked his while the two were still having their little exchange, but once the introductions were out of the way he began slowly moving forward. “Yes… what we need is indeed a map of our surroundings, the area around this city. Something that would show further would not be a burden either…”

“Dyn, I believe she said to please say hello to the man before requesting services of him,” Nemiea said, stepping beside the Beholder and offering the Map maker a small bow as a polite gesture, ”Hello Mister Galamiel, it is a pleasure to meet you. Please excuse my Captains abruptness, he is not one to waste time when he knows what he and his crew needs.” She offered the elderly elf a kind smile before glancing over at Dyn, hoping he would understand that she was not undermining him, but hoping to keep tensions from spilling over.

The elf returned Nemiea’s smile with one of his own. “Please, call me Abba. No harm has been done. I can appreciate a man who knows what he wants.” Abba lifted himself from his chair slowly and floated over to what appeared to be a display case with several small black discs sitting on the shelves. “A map of the city is fairly commonplace, despite the constant changes and work being performed. Accuracy in these new areas may be wanting, but for the majority of the city, this map should be completely accurate.”

Abba held the disc out towards Cynthia who demonstrated its use by laying the disc flat, then flicking a switch on the side. Immediately, an illusion of the entire coral popped into view, translucent enough to see thousands of tunnels crisscrossing each other. In a large opening towards the upper center shone a bright red dot. “The dot represents the map’s current location. There are options to magnify the image and manipulate it, as one would do with a surface map. These maps are, of course, magical and require years of study, and so they are somewhat expensive. Fifty gold for this model.”

The right edge of Dyn’s mouth dipped when Nemiea believed it to be her business to salvage a situation that did not exactly need salvaging. Introductions had already been made and he was here to do business, not to make friends. He ground his teeth together for a moment and swam closer to the display the shopkeep was setting up Once the illusion sprang to life, he could not help but reach at it with his tentacles, trying to manipulate it as had been suggested to be possible by this elf they apparently called Abba.

Jill stepped in, poking her head around one of Dyn’s tentacles. “Impressive quality,” she said simply. “And although I’m sure a map of the local area will be extremely helpful to us, we are also looking for a wider view. Perhaps something that would help us reach the Verdant Stream?”

“Interesting”, the Beholder mused, withdrawing from the map after a while. This particular map was not of any interest to him though, but before he had the chance to say it out loud, Jill had taken the opportunity, brushing through his tentacles to get herself in the discussion. She just could not keep her own captain act down, could she?

Abba blinked at Jill’s request. “The Verdant Stream is a bit dangerous, even for seasoned adventurers like you. None of our scouts that have gone inside have ever returned, and so, we have no actual data of the Stream itself. But I’m sure I have something...” He rummaged through the display case, flipping over several of the discs to read labels etched on the bottom. “Ah, here. This should do it. It’s a wide view of this sector of the Endless Sea.” He turned on the disc, and the image appeared, showing the Coral City superimposed by a red dot, then a vast expanse filled with a variety of floating islands and obstacles, each with a label describing them. “Here. This should get you to the Verdant Stream, about two days away. These larger maps are, of course, less precise than the smaller scales, but require significantly more work to create. This map should get you to the Verdant Stream in one piece, but I can promise little more than that. It costs two hundred gold pieces.”

Now that the item in question was of interest to Dyn however, he got back to trying to get the map obey his commands. His multiple eyes scanned the projection before him, his tentacles idly probing at it to both mark locations of interest and attempting to figure out how the manipulation of this item happened. There was no question about it: These things were magical and the proposed price of 200 gold could well be worth the investment. But the one to ask is not the fool, but the one who gives. “Yes…”, he gurgled, “this is interesting. We could use this one for sure… But just how accurate do you think it has remained? Is it old? How often does this realm shift? One would believe this world to be as fluid as water… I propose we could find settlement in, say, 150 pieces of gold?” The offer, naturally, was not even close to serious, but nothing in the Beholder’s visage would hint at anything as such. When haggling, do as the hagglers do.

Persuasion: roleplayerguild.com/rolls/4027 (20)

“Our maps are created with calculations for drift, and should be accurate for another century or so, at least within my criteria of accuracy,” Abba replied. “I understand the concern, but we have made hundreds of these maps. The only thing we cannot account for is sentient or intentional manipulation, or large and living obstacles.” The elf gently retrieved the disc from Dyn’s grasp. “I am sorry, but 150 gold does not cover the cost of my adventurers who helped me map this area. But perhaps we could attain a different sort of agreement?”

This person either had no concept of haggling or deliberately tried to not get roped into the game with the many eyed creature of sheer wit and cunning. The lack of any price offered back to him left him little but to probe at potential weaknesses from another angle. “Should be? Yes, the effort those calculations must have taken does explain the workload you spoke of… yet something like a Wish spell could well have messed with them. It would be such a shame, but so it has been that I’ve heard of one such magical feat having been performed not too long ago… But with the knowledge of these calculations made to further attempt to keep it up-to date, perhaps we can meet at 170?”

“Hmm, a Wish spell might have made some alterations, of course, but I cannot see a reason why anyone would choose to affect my maps. Despite its renown, that particular spell is very limited in scope for each casting.” The elf thought for a moment before responding with a proposal of his own. “I could allow this map to go at your original asking price if you agree to aid me. If you were to survey the Verdant Stream, I would pay handsomely for such information.”

Cynthia’s eyes grew wide. “Abba! You cannot ask something like this of these travelers! They certainly would not survive such a trip on their own.”

“It seems they intend to travel there whether they aid me or not. Why not be paid for their troubles? 50 gold off the price of this map, then 200 gold when they return. Is it a deal?” The elf extended his hand to the beholder for a handshake.

Dyn snapped his tongue, a few more of his more idle eyes focusing on the two members of the crew in this very room for a while before returning to their usual surveying of the area. The task he was sending them on seemed… well, depending on what it would actually consist of, it could be an acceptable offer, if only because it was where they would be heading nonetheless. However, there was still a few more things to discuss about it. “The description of what you really want me and my crew to perform is… insufficient as it stands. With no knowledge of what this surveying actually is, I am afraid I cannot make a decision yet. Would you mind elaborating?”

“If you have never surveyed before, Captain, I doubt you would be able to pick it up to Abba’s satisfaction,” Cynthia replied. “That is not intended as an insult. It is simply-”

“Surveying between surface worlds and underwater currents may differ. I need an accurate description to know if there is something we need to specifically take into account”, Dyn interrupted her, letting the merfolk lady know that this was not his first rodeo. But once he had got that out of his mouth, he waved a tentacle as a sign for her to go on.

“As I was saying, Captain, it is simply fact. You must be able to recreate accurately in three dimensions all factors of your environment,” Cynthia replied. “However, I have been on several survey missions before. I could accompany you, if you wished.”

Nemiea didn’t seem bothered by Dyn’s apparent disapproval, mostly because she cared very little for how touchy he could be. As far as the exchange between him, the map maker and Cynthia, it held very little interest to her so she simply took to looking around, hoping this wasn’t the only place they went to, as she wanted to actually go shopping for some things. As helpful as a map would be, she wouldn’t be the one reading it, wasn’t usually her job even though she could read maps well enough. ”I say we take her with us,” the Tabaxi said when Cynthia offered her assistance, “It would make the most sense and assure that we will not get lost or caught up in anything… with or without a map.”

“Well well well”, the Beholder thought, ”wasn’t she interested in helping them out allofasudden.” Why was it that she suddenly showed such an interest in where they were going? Perhaps she wanted to spy on them? Few would offer to head to such dangerous locations out of their free will, at least if the earlier talk of the area’s nondescript dangers was to be believed. But then again, if she would do it for free, so be it. And if it turned out she was only there to spy… there were a lot of people in the crew and only one merwoman. “I’ll choose to respect the wishes of my crew. Besides, more hands on deck is always more”, he confirmed Nemiea’s idea of letting Cynthia join them before turning his attention back to the elf and slithering one of his tentacles forward. “150 for the map and you will pay us 200 in gold when we return. This we can work with.”

“I would like to see her join us too,” Jill added in. “An extra hand might be helpful if the Stream is as dangerous as everyone claims. Plus, we don’t know much about the history here.” Jill turned to Cynthia and smiled. “Welcome to the team. And thank you for your help finding the map!”

The elf handed over the disc and shook Dyn’s tentacle, no sign of disdain making it to his face. “A pleasure doing business with you,” he said with a smile. “And now the payment?”

The Beholder turned to face Jill and ‘gave her the order’ to step forth and procure the currency needed in this exchange. “Jill, would you hand over the payment to our good mapmaker?” This turn of events would undoubtedly cause wonder in those who were used to the head figure carrying the cash as well, but Dyn had spun a tale about it long time ago: “Few expect the money to be on someone other than the captain. Cutpurses find themselves rather bemused when the pouch they nicked contains but few pieces of iron”, he quipped with a short laugh to accompany the mental image.

Jill raised an eyebrow towards Dyn, shooting him a look that promised further communication on the topic, but handed the shopkeeper the money, which was then counted out procedurally. Jill said goodbye to the elf before leaving the shop. “Where to next?” she asked.

”I would prefer someplace where I can take a look at weapons that may be of use to me other than my focus,” Nemiea murmured. ”I’d even settle for a trinket or two.” Nemiea did not say much about the price promised to them upon return, she didn’t really see it as a deal in the least as they were really only making about 50gp off of the work they would have to do. She didn’t feel like that would be enough, especially split among those of the crew that would be partaking in the particularly difficult even. However, she had a feeling if she had spoken up Dyn would more than likely train one too many eyes on the feline and she really didn’t want to have to deal with it. Even more so since it was agreed upon while she wasn’t exactly paying attention.

The faux-captain lingered for a while, also relaying his goodbyes to the merchant before following the rest outside, still making it a point to get out before Cynthia. He caught the discussion of their next destination and added his two cents: “I have no problems with seeking weapons. We should be well armed, for our destination rewards those who prepare adequately. We will also need to visit an alchemist or some other worker of magic and chemicals prior to leaving, but it can, for now, wait.”

“I want to take a look at some staffs,” Nemiea stated, “And maybe an amulet or ring if I can find one that tickles my fancy. Maybe I can even do some dancing for extra gold.” Nemiea smiled a bit, excited to get going so she could stock up on some things she would need. Probably get a health potion or six as well if Dyn wanted to go to an Apothecary.

Cynthia nodded at Nemiea’s suggestion and began leading them to another shop. “I’m sure I can help you find something you would like,” she added as the group re-entered the fray in the shopping area.

Cynthia led the group through the center of the opening, weaving around some of the pillars and pathways that spanned the cavernous clearing. She then turned sharply towards a section of the market that seemed less populated, but those who gathered seemed to be financially better off than the average merfolk. As Cynthia pointed out her destination, a chubby gnome burst from the storefront, grumbling loudly. “Ridiculous, I say! Anyone who would spend that much on a magic stick must be out of their minds!” Upon noticing the party and their destination, he pointed a stubby finger towards them. “Don't even bother! The merchants here sell cheap trinkets for thousands more than their worth!”

Nemiea raised a brow at the the words of the Gnome, “Now I’m simply curious to see what it is that man is talking about,” she murmured before looking at Cynthia, ”Do you know the person who owns that shop or shall we just go in and I’ll test a magical item or two?” Though she could easily breath under water thanks to the spell cast upon her, she was still wearing her Cloak, mostly because she wasn’t about to be a slow swimmer. For now though, she doubted it really mattered so she pulled the fabric down and looked around with interest. Thankfully, her cloak held down most of her hair, the color currently a violet tone.

“Personally? Not like I know Abba,” Cynthia replied as the gnome swam off, grumbling the whole way. “I don't have much use for what is sold here. But I've been told by trustworthy sources that they are the best.” The merfolk studied the retreating gnome for a moment. “Either I have been lied to about the quality here, or he is simply an unhappy customer,” she mused.

“I assure you the latter,” came a reply from the door. The group turned to see a feminine figure floating inside the tunnel, her arms crossed. Her skin was blue, and her white hair faded into clear strands that made her seem as if she drew energy directly from the water. “I am Pari, and I welcome you to my magical sundries shop. Please forgive the previous customer. He is upset because I refused to sell an extremely rare item for a thousand gold.” Pari gave a short bow and motioned for the group to enter.

As they swam forward, Jill cast Message towards Nemiea. ”If you keep her busy, I will Identify some items to check their value. I feel like she is legitimate, however.” The bard punctuated her silent message with a smile, then turned to Pari. “Sadly, our Captain had me spend most of my funds on a map, but I would love to see the items you have for a few hundred gold, rather than a few thousand.”

The feline looked over at Jill for a moment, while she was capable of testing the arcane abilities of objects she could always double check on things that may not show themselves to Jill. With a slight nod to the female, she spoke to Pari as if her nod was simply to agree with what the Bard had just said. ”I am looking for a new staff,” she told the blue female, her head tilted to the side as she tried to figure out what she was. A part of her thought Undine, she had met one once and she had looked surprisingly similar to the woman in front of her. Only… her hair was blue as well, not the white that faded into the water. ”Got anything that might be useful to a Lightning Dragon Sorceress?”

While Nemiea had taken the spectator role at the cartographer’s, now it was time for Dyn to do so. While magical trinkets and baubles were of special interest to him, as was clearly portrayed by him having slipped multiple magical rings to his tentacles, he didn’t quite have the spending cash right now. The inks needed for scribing his spells were unfortunately rather costly to manufacture, but he couldn’t trust anyone else to do it. Who knows, they might sell him vanishing or, even worse, replicating ink! All he could think of was to ask for a pearl, but he knew it was beyond his haggling capabilities for now. He’d have to see if he could sneak it in as a side purchase and gain a discount that way.

However, with the captain’s mantle currently on his shoulders, Dyn’yer’zhead couldn’t just stand idly by doing absolutely nothing. “An unhappy haggler or someone sent in by another business to give negative publicity”, he commented on the gnome that had recently left the premises, “but I hope my lookout can find what she is looking for here. I might take a look myself on the side, perhaps I’ll see something that catches my eye…” The promise of additional business often made shopkeepers more willing to bargain.

The shopkeeper seemed somewhat saddened by the prospect of customers only looking for the less expensive wares, but nonetheless, she showed them around the place. There were several staves of high quality and magic, one of which Jill immediately began to cast her Identify spell on. However, Pari led Nemiea past the more expensive items, ushering her into the more cramped bargain bin area. “I fear that much of what you are looking for is above the price range you have offered, and of course I cannot sell items for less than others would buy them for. However, there are a few wands and staves I have for sale here...”

She led Nemiea to a wand that had what appeared to be a rubber ball on the end. “You appear to be familiar with metamagic from what I can tell,” she added, motioning towards the tabaxi’s draconic scales. “This wand allows access to a special kind of metamagic. Should a spell that you cast not affect your intended target, you may immediately target someone else, bouncing the spell off the first target. This can save you some embarrassment or, in a worse case scenario, a friend’s life.”

Nemiea blinked, then looked back at the staffs they had walked by. She only had about 1400 gold, but she didn't think that meant an immediate toss into the bargain section. ”I am looking for a staff, not a wand,” she murmured as she looked up at the shop keep, ”And while i may not be rich I am not entirely broke… well, I guess the only wands I would really budge on are ones with lightning based properties.” while the Wand of Bouncing Spells wasn't bad, she did at least want to see what else was around.

“Ah, well then,” Pari replied with a smile, placing the wand carefully back where it was originally stored. “This wand only costs about five hundred gold. I can take you to the truly interesting staves, but those often run thousands of gold in cost. Do you have anything worth trading?” Pari began to lead the group back towards where Jill stood, just as Jill finished casting her identify spell.

“I think this might be what you’re looking for, Nemmy,” Jill said as the shopkeeper approached. “A Staff of Thunder and Lightning. It would definitely be useful, but I don’t think we could afford it if we put all our money together at once. I don’t suppose you offer test runs, do you?”

Pari chuckled before shaking her head no. “My apologies, but a piece like this is liable to be sold any day. Normal price on this staff is ten thousand gold. What do you have to offer?”

Nemiea was silent for a moment, a frown on her face as she thought about the things she had to offer the Undine(?) before her. “I am sorry to say I do not have much to offer past my skills as a Dragon Sorceress and a Dancer,” the Tabaxi admitted, “Though both could be used to your advantage if you choose to utilize either skill. Usually I can pull in a fair bit of gold at a tavern and I’m pretty good at Monster extermination and item retrieval. Perhaps I can trade you my services up until the amount due is paid off while I am here. We already have a couple things we must do, if my Captain and shipmates are ok with it, I am sure they would not mind me doing a few odds and ends.”

Pari smiled warmly. “I am not accustomed to taking on indentured servants,” she replied politely. “Once you have enough items of value to trade, let me know. We can renegotiate from there.” The undine gently removed the staff from Jill’s grasp and placed it back in its place. “Any items you could retrieve would either be worth far more than the staff, or not enough for me to let you take it without any collateral, and I have no enemies I wish taken out. It is a lot of gold to let walk out from under my sight, of course. I hope you understand.”

The tabaxi was silent for a moment as she thought, she could understand where Pari was coming from, the only thing she had to offer the shopkeeper was herself, but since she was not in the need for any of those such services she would have to resort to what she was usually good at. ”I understand completely,” the feline replied, ”I will either have to hope I find something worth trading in for the staff, or hope that I can make enough before it disappears.” A soft hum left her before she tapped the underside of her jaw in a thoughtful silence. While the wand was not what she was looking for, it was something that would be beneficial to her arsenal, bouncing spells was really nothing to turn your nose up at.

As Nemeia looked over the items, Jill quietly hummed a tune behind her, just loud enough for the tabaxi to hear, weaving her inspirational magic into the song. She gave her friend a wink. “Go get em, Tiger,” she whispered.

>Jill grants a bardic inspiration (d10)

“Since it is very clear that the person who left here in a huff clearly just didn’t understand the value of the items here, I think I’ll spite them,” the woman said with a smile on her face, ”I rather like the wand that you initially showed me, and I will admit to it being rather useful… I shall offer 300 gold pieces for it.”

Pari took a moment to think over her options. “And you plan to return once you have the funds to buy the staff?” she asked as she pondered. A glance was tossed towards the aasimar who simply smiled in response before Pari’s attention was drawn back to the matter at hand. “300 gold is acceptable. I hope you can find enough for the staff as well when you return. I have a feeling you would make a good home for it.”

Nemiea smiled, [color-c0c0c0] “The moment my funds allow, I will be here for that staff I assure you,”[/color] she told Pari before offering her hand to shake as a sign to seal the deal on the agreed upon price, “It was a pleasure to shop with you Ms. Pari and I am eager to do business with you once more.”

“And I as well,” the undine responded. “Is there anything else I can help you with?” She looked questioningly towards Jill, who shook her head in the negative, and Dyn, who took up half of her shop.

Dyn was roused from his nearly catatonic state of idly browsing in the store by the shopkeeper asking if he would need anything specifically. Since he had not seen any spell components or advertisements of such being available here, he would have to disappoint her. “No, anything I saw around here was not something I could currently be investing our money in. It either would leave us without rations and maybe even require the sale of a few cannons or I could not think of use for it. I am glad to see she found something she liked however.” The faux captain did not have more to add while they remained in the store and removed himself from the business premises.

Once the crew was outside, he would then turn to their guide for the final thing on his list. “Cynthia, where would one go about finding an alchemist?” he asked, not going further to explain what he was going for. There was also something he would like to ask of Jill, but since he couldn’t think of any ways to discreetly do it, he let it be. It could be solved later.

Cynthia had waited outside the shop this time, as the interior was somewhat too cramped for more than a handful of customers. When the group exited, she immediately swam up to them and offered a smile. “I hope you found what you were looking for,” she replied before nodding towards a store just a few doors down. “That place should sell most basic alchemical supplies. I haven’t been there much myself, but I’ve heard good things about it.”

Dyn would not bother much with the alchemist’s, simply taking the recommendation. He headed inside, calmed the shopkeep down and soon exited 50 pieces of gold poorer and a flask of Alchemist’s Fire in one of his tentacles. “I do believe we are done here”, he concluded. “We should regroup and consider our next move back at SS Ladyslipper.”

Nemiea, pleased with the purchase of her wand and not needing much else, agreed.