Chama became tense. He was mid sip of his mug and felt someone approaching him from behind. One wrong step and whoever it was would get a mug to the face at the least. He placed the mug gently on the bar, not a hint of nervousness visible.
He then heard,
"Triple Rum if you wouldn't mind." Chama watched a familiar claw toss 10 coppers on the bar towards the bar keep.
Dali is such a drunk Chama thought as he glanced over in Dali's direction with an arched brow.
"Keep the change." Chama watched as the bard sat next to him.
Unwarranted closeness, check. Chama adjusted his elbow as a gesture of 'get out of my space'. Then almost in response to Chama's thought and motion, Dali actually started to speak anyway.
"Ssso you got a coin, too, huh?"Chama's eyes flared as he began to speak out of surprise,
"You of all people got a..." Chama was interrupted with a single drunken finger
"Hold that thought.". Chama looked over and realized the stage was empty. Dali must be performing next and nothing got in the way of his performances.
But a claw finger to the face, especially that one... Chama bit his bottom lip holding his tongue as Dali dashed to his table and acquired his gutiar. As he slung it over his head he spoke to the white haired man briefly and came back to finish his drink as if he had never spoken to Chama in the first place.
One track mind Chama was reading Dali like a book, Or so he thought.
As Dali stepped on stage, Chama turned back to the bar and his drink. He had heard some of Dali's stories when he was younger. All full of horrible playing a little parlor tricks that made you see cute little fuzzy animals and the like. Chama had no interest in childish stories.
An A-minor chord played in Chama's background, Dali began
"The Eye of the Cssyclopsss. The Watchful Eye." The red headed wizard began to turn his head, but before he could, a coin just like the one in his pocket began to bounce off the bar in front of him and landed, eye looking up. It disappeared no faster then it arrived. With a single blink, vanishing from sight like a..
Hallucination Chama knew he had now been enthralled by minor magic. Dali's voice, his music, like whispers. Chama's gaze turned to the stage intently.
Dali's story told of a madman and his invitation by coin. Chama watched as the coin seemingly came to life. Looking at the crowd as if scanning for truth. This was nothing like what Chama remembered as a child. The luminous fish seemed to dim, their light changing and casting otherworldly shapes. Dali spoke of the man in black. Chama saw a tall black figure in his peripheral vision. He turned to see nothing but a damp mossy wall.
I could have sworn...No it isn't... Chama's mind was confounded. Dali's story continued with a menacing crescendo. The stage rose, the fish continued to warp, the shadows stretched, the air heavy with a chlorinated smell. Dali spoke of dangers in accepting such an invitation as the coin.
Chama watched as Dali contiued while simultaneously rolling a
certain herb within a leaf dripping in his siliva. A match was struck sending a death like light over Dali's face as he reached the pinnacle of his story.
”Ye who have found thyself beneath the gaze of the Watchful Eye, make thine way unto the Ceaseless Feast. Thou wilst uncover a conspiracy of Gods and Demons. There is a Painted lady and a fatherless son. Thou wilst hear the voices of three faces that will speak in unison upon a hill, and the babbling old Gods will choose their champion.” The room went dark again as Dali’s cigar lit, and the match blew out. Dali’s face was obscured in smoke and darkness, nothing more than a little glowing red eye in the fog, as the music faded away to become one with the whispering.
Chama was frozen solid.
The fatherless son...The fatherless son Chama kept repeating the phrase in his head knowing it was about him. He knew now he must approach Dali. That Lizard knew something and Chama planned to spueeze the liquor out of his scales to get answers.
As the bard's magic waned, Chama stood and headed directly for Dali. As big as Chama is, and as sudden as his hair returned to its bright luminescence under the fish that are now glowing again, he looked like a flaming giant weaving threw the tables with no steps missing their marks. He stopped just short of the stage.
Careful Chama knew of Dali's power now and thought it wise not to take his stage. Chama looked up at Dali, his lack of patience bursting from the seams,
"The Ceaseless Feast, The fatherless son... Tell me.. Chama's desperation was apparent, although semi masked by a forceful tone, as he pulled his coin from his pocket and flashed it in plain sight. He had been convinced that this was his destiny. Maybe now he can avenge his father as he has wished for so many years.
Chama continued,
"Why do you know so much? Who are those two you are traveling with? Do you know the way to Erstwhile's Castle?!?!" Chama's patience was at its boiling point. His eyes glowed a low ebbing orange, his mouth leaked a dark cloud like substance from its edges that lightly coiled through his glowing follicles. Each word growled from his vocal cords like a dragon lying in wait. He was losing his cool quickly as he tore his gaze from Dali and glared at the two seated at Dali's table.
"I only ask for answers once..." The intended threat was very real. Chama was beginning to frenzy. A voice whispered in Chama's head and he spoke it in unison
"I will not ask again!" The winery rumbled with a roar. The barkeep grabbed a tray and ducked under the bar shielding himself. He knew too well the temperament of a Red Wheel Magician from knowledge of Chama's father. This does not bode well for anyone close enough to feel the heat of his flames.