Cascade, at first, had put her trident away to keep herself from attacking the imp. But then he started crying out again for another deal. She noticed that the imp was looking at the gift she carved for Rala with greedy eyes.
She unsheathes her trident again and she angrily booms at the imp, "By Deep Sashelas, Are you deaf?! Let me try speaking louder for you: We! Said! NO! NOW! GET! LOST!"
It's clear that Cascade's patience with this imp is wearing thin. The fact that he is trying to use his cheap tricks to get his grubby claws on the gift she carved for Rala in payment for their assistance, is definitely irritating for Cascade. Cascade had carved that specifically for Rala in mind, and Deep Sashelas had seen fit to bless it during her carving of that gift!
...And she can't deny that a part of her is scared that Rala would give that gift to that imp and to this Nanna May....
Aura's senses went back to her own and she slid off the wagon and back onto the ground. She walked back toward the imp, passed Cascade, putting a hand on the water genasi's shoulder and squeezing a little before moving closer to the imp and leaning down.
"Little buddy does appear to have some hearing issues, perhaps he only hears what he wants to hear, don't you know making deals with genie and genie kin is just as bad as making deals with devils?" There was a sickly sweet tone to her voice that she only used when Aura was annoyed but hiding it, or when she was up to something. (Think customer service voice) "Perhaps we like the challenge and don't want an easy way out. But please, do tell what is the supposed deal, what on this and every other plan do you think we would trade our souls for? Hmm?" It was at this point that most of the party would realize that Aura was simply playing with this Imp now. He wanted to be a bother, she would get her entertainment out of this one way or another. After all the travel here had been quite boring, why not make things interesting now? "And remember dear imp, tread lightly, I am well versed in making deals and bargains with otherworldly beings." A partial truth to be sure but one that might make the imp rethink at least how it approached this situation.
Jørmund halts the cart and let's out an exasperated sigh. This imp would not get the hint. The cleric went to the back of the cart and grabbed his shovel and rope from where he set his pack. He checked one of the barrels of ale to see how much was left in there before starting to dig a hole by the side of the road. Periodically he paused to drink from the barrel in an attempt to make sure it was mostly emptied. While the others continued to talk with the imp, Jørmund dug until the hole was deep enough to hold the barrel and could be covered with at least a foot of dirt.
"Anyone who wants any more of this ale better get some now." Was all he said while he dug.
When the imp called out to the group once more, Flicker looked equally ready to round on the small fiend alongside Cascade, the hair on their head slowly starting to resemble flames. However, they didn't get a chance before Aura stepped in, causing Flicker's rage to freeze for a moment. They raised an eyebrow as Aura stepped forward, starting to talk about deals with geniekin and the like. She was up to something, though Flicker had no idea what.
The fire genasi let out a sigh to calm themself before placing a hang on Cascade's shoulder, hoping this would stop her from lunging at the creature and allow Aura to do... whatever it was she was trying to do. They had to trust that there was a point to whatever-this-was.
Jørmund seemed to take this pause in their journey to open a barrel of liquer, even offering some to the rest of the group. Flicker gave their teammate a look. "Surprisingly, Jørmund, my stance on drinking has not changed since the last time you asked me," the fire genasi responded drily. They were attempting to sound joking in their tone, but given how tense they were at this moment, it probably came off sharper than they meant.
"By Deep Sashelas, Are you deaf?! Let me try speaking louder for you: We! Said! NO! NOW! GET! LOST!" Came Cascade's angry answer.
"My my... so quick to decline an offer so generous?" Mar'a'gan mused in response. "At least hear the terms first."
"Little buddy does appear to have some hearing issues, perhaps he only hears what he wants to hear, don't you know making deals with genie and genie kin is just as bad as making deals with devils?" An annoyed Aura spoke up then. "Perhaps we like the challenge and don't want an easy way out. But please, do tell what is the supposed deal, what on this and every other plan do you think we would trade our souls for? Hmm? And remember dear imp, tread lightly, I am well versed in making deals and bargains with otherworldly beings."
"You think I'm the one that will make this deal?" Mar'a'gan asked in confusion before chuckling to himself and shaking his head. "Of course you do. I have never been all that good at explaining these things. You will not be making this deal with me. It is my master you will bargain with."
"Anyone who wants any more of this ale better get some now."
"Surprisingly, Jørmund, my stance on drinking has not changed since the last time you asked me,"
"A master I should get to summoning." Mar'a'gan said, the implications of Jørmund's words and actions finally unnerving the imp. The tiny fiend clapped his hands twice then, causing a scroll to appear floating mid air in front of him in a whoosh of flame. The scroll unfurled with a gesture from the imp. Six seconds of infernal chanting later, a fiery portal sparked into being five feet away from the stump upon which Mar'a'gan stood.
Through this portal stepped a woman. The woman appeared human but possessed a preternatural beauty with ivory skin, long flowing light-brown hair, and golden eyes. She was clad in an elegant red dress and a held a dainty red parasol with her left hand. The woman's eyes swept across the party, pausing briefly over each member, before finally coming to rest on Rala. "An impressive find, Mar'a'gan." The woman spoke then to the imp though her eyes never left Rala, or more specifically the bracer that Rala possessed. "You will be well rewarded for this."
"Thank you, master." Mar'a'gan said with a deep bow.
The woman then took a single step forward towards the party and curtseyed like a courtly noble. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintances, Adventurers." She said. "Madam Souise. That is my name. And I would like to offer you so much in exchange for so little." Madam Souise righted herself from her curtsey before continuing. "I understand that a vast raiding expedition from the Northlands will soon descend upon the Southern Coast. You go now to defend a small port town from this threat. I however could do so for you with a swiftness and efficiency far grater than any mortal efforts may endeavor to achieve. All I ask for in return is that finely crafted wooden bracer that rests upon your companion's wrist."
With Zephyr only a crested hill away, Cascade was close enough to the ocean to hear the sound of the waves as a distant hiss. But then that hiss didn't seem so distant anymore. As Madam Souise introduced herself and made her offer, the hiss became like a quiet whisper in Cascade's ear, accompanied by the far off sound of dolphin calls. Cascade knew this as Deep Sashelas's preferred way of communicating with her in the waking world. It seemed that her prayer had been heard after all. But something was off. Cascade only received a handful of barely audible words rather than a short yet complete and coherent message like she usually did.
"Mar'a'gan Sdrawkcab... Madame Souise... She's called Master..."
