Thirsty Work 2: The Beverage's Revenge

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Rithaleya met up with Merrake and returned to the Tipsy Darkling as soon as they'd been to their markets to offload the heftier parts of their haul. Though it might have been nice to save some of the meat they'd brought in for their meal, she was sure it would arrive on the tavern's tables soon enough, and she'd done enough haggling for one day. Fyrra had wanted a bath already, Rithaleya recalled, but she was willing to delay that a bit longer. Food and drink were what she was after, and as much as she didn't want to attract the notice of robbers, she wasn't going to leave her victory entirely uncelebrated.

Aside from having found more kit to wear with her hunting outfit--gloves and a headband--she'd also obtained a rather elaborate suit of salamander scale armour she'd just had fitted. It wasn't ideal for the day's heat, but it had its advantages, not the least of which was that it made her look like she knew how to fight, even though she didn't. The fancy new magic sword, axe, bow, and quiver she was wearing added to the effect. Fortunately, she hadn't come by a mirror or thought of seeking one out, so the new wardrobe hadn't had a chance to go to her head. The loot she didn't have on display was another matter.

She'd collected a book and a diamond, both items that held great potential to shape her destiny, if she could just forget about them until a more appropriate time. So far, she'd had an easy time doing that. There were many other things on her mind. Right now, she was looking forward to paying for the Tipsy Darkling's full services, though wary of drinking as much as she'd had yesterday. "I'm back, and here to stay one more night! Then, I'd better find something more scary than a few lizards and ghosts, shouldn't I?"

She tossed a few silvers down onto the counter, and requested, "Another sandwich, please. And some juice this time. I'll have another bath later, and a pilsner. And how about a blueberry muffin? That should do it. Shame we don't have more glorious stories to tell..." Rithaleya figured the second battle she'd fought in during the adventure might have been worth repeating, with sufficient embellishment, though it'd mostly describe Merrake rescuing her. She took off her helmet and took a look at the other patrons, to see who might have moved on or was still staying from the day before.

[Fyrra Na'Limndra]

Merrake had met up with Rithaleya after pawing off the meat and bones of the salamanders they had killed and proceeded off to the Tipsy Darkling, mainly because she expected Fyrra to be there. She arrived in time to see Fyrra head off towards the bath. The bodyguard reached the bar counter and put eight cor onto the countertop.

"For the Kalimbra's bath. As well as one juice and some chips."

Merrake wasn't too fond of Rithaleya, but she had been a good enough adventuring companion to warrant cordial behavior and general friendliness in the mercenary's eyes.

"How did it go at Kable's, Rithaleya? The hunters market gave me at decent amount for the meat and bones. They're selling that stuff for a huge mark up though. Fifteen Ritz a unit for salamander beef cuts. They gave me a duc a cut."

Fyrra reached the bath on her own and stripped down, putting her clothes in Ina basket and setting them on a shelf. Then she dipped herself slowly in the warm waters of the bath. The soak would be slow.

[Azuloth]

"Orders up!"

Both of the patrons orders came up at the same time. Juice, chips, pilsner, muffin, sandwich. A card for a nights stay. A total of one duc, five cor was collected from Rithaleya, and eight cor from Merrake.

[Deleted]

Rithaleya sat down at the bar once more, happy to be off of her feet. She decided to reply to Merrake before digging in. "I ended up with a hundred and ten Ritz more than I started with, so it must have been some good deals. Mostly the teeth, they must be useful for something. I expected the meat to fetch a bit more, but the price here is fine?" On that note, she took a bite out of her sandwich, possibly finding it a better reward at the end of the adventure than all the loot had been.

[Fyrra Na'Limndra]

"Hmm. I got about sixteen Ritz for what I sold off. Eight of which are yours if you want them. I think Kable might have had the better deals."

Merrake stuffed some chips into her gob and chewed them. The fried dragonfruit chips were delicious. She was immediately in love with their salty and mildly sweet combination. The seeds that had been sprinkled on were crunchy and nutty.

"Theshe chipsh are fantashtic. Want one?"


She said mouth half full. She started to lean back in her chair and picked up her juice. It was refreshing and sweet. A good way to cool off from the day.

[Deleted]

"Nah. I could share some of this, since we hunted together..." Rithaleya took one of the chips to chew on, and approved. "Mm, not bad." She washed it down with a sip of juice, before starting her sandwich. "It was good to visit this town, but I think I'll move on soon. It's that or start trying to make friends, and that sounds like a lot of work. Dangerous, too."

It was a bit of a joke, that trying to ingratiate herself to the alliance seemed more hazardous than facing monsters alone, but she wasn't unserious. Anyone who wanted her help badly enough to put up with her for more than a few days at a time was probably going to get her in some very deep trouble, in Rithaleya's experience.

[Fyrra Na'Limndra]

"Mm, well. Keep things safe. If you're ever in need of help, I'm sure the Kalimbra will make me."

It was also a soft joke, but not really. Merrake didn't like to do things for people that tended to stay on the fringes of civilization. The Kalimbra on the other hand, well, that seemed to be her purpose. Feeding the homeless, poor, and starving. Attempting to buy clothes for those same people. Doing her best to make the lives of others less fortunate better. Merrake would be forced to help in a heartbeat. Whether the bodyguard wanted to help or not.

"It'll be a long way anywhere without a horse to carry you. I know this town doesn't have any, but another nearby might. Kel'Alee is down the western road, not a days ride I'd say. Might want to try there."

[Deleted]

"Hmm... Sure." Rithaleya wasn't unfamiliar with Kel'Alee, it seemed to be the go-to place to talk about whenever anyone wanted to spread nasty rumours about someone's mating habits and other preferences. Some of which were even true. She had plenty of reasons to go shopping there, and only one reason to avoid it... the road there was where the scouts from the empire she was with had been last. That wasn't so bad, the worst that could happen was that they'd take everything she owned, right? And she owned a lot, now, maybe they'd let her keep some of it.

It had been a long day, though, and she wasn't eager to leave immediately. Not until after she'd stuffed her face, at least. "Maybe I'll try it." She toasted to that, and downed her beer.

Vit+Carousing+5 (from Juice): 20.
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[Fyrra Na'Limndra]

"I am not sure what the Kalimbra's plans are for now. I would like to get her back to Korasus. Safe and sound. But I have a feeling she will not allow it. She has become dangerous with her magic, I think it might go to her head."

Merrake said matter-of-factly.

"Speaking from one non-mage to another. Those powers of hers are scary. The way she blew up that animal. Boom."

She put her juice down and shoved a handful of chips in her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully for a bit, wondering about the extent of the Kalimbra's powers.

"I knew she could breathe fire and change her colors but damn. Blowing up a body is past what I thought she could do."

[Deleted]

"Is it that difficult? I thought they just blew up on their own, sometimes." Being from the Bone Wastes might have given Rithaleya a skewed perspective on this sort of thing. "It's scary, I guess." She mentally added 'for someone who isn't a high elf'. "Good luck. 'Overconfidence is more deadly than a thousand assassins', and all that."

[Fyrra Na'Limndra]

"There's all kind of science about it from what I understand. It's beyond me. Hopefully she won't decide to enter into a crusade like the rest of these Initiative types. I've had enough adventure for the year. I'd like to get back home."

Merrake drained her cup and shook it above her head, signaling the bartender for another one. She stuffed a few more chips into her mouth. What was there to do about all of this? She had no control over the Kalimbra. All of it was beyond her. She stared into the bottom of her empty glass, willing it to fill. That was just as pointless as trying to direct her charge. Being a bodyguard sucked right now.

It was in that moment that the Kalimbra decided to return from the bath. She had wrapped herself in her sarong, from chest to knees and was attempting to dry as she joined the table.

"It's still hot as blazes, but at least I feel clean. How are things?"

[Azuloth]

Tasha Gayle, one of the barmaids, twelve and wide eyed, came by with a tray. On it was another cup of Dragonfruit Juice. She placed it in front of Merrake and took the empty cup and put it on her tray. She waited for Fyrra to sit down before speaking.

"Salutations, can I get anyone anything?"

[Deleted]

"The sales went fine. Those teeth are worth a lot. We brought in more than a hundred Ritz." Rithaleya didn't have much else to say about it. She nodded to Merrake. "I'd go home, too, but I'm not that good at disguises. Haha." The thought of ordering another drink didn't even cross her mind, maybe she wasn't a complete lush.

[Fyrra Na'Limndra]

"No thank you, miss. I think we're all good."

Fyrra's ears pricked up a tad when she heard Rithaleya's last comment relating to returning home. Fyrra was torn over he subject. She shifted in her seat and rewrapped the cover around herself. Then she gave Merrake a serious and stern look.

"I too want to go home, Merrake. But there is so much we can do to help the alliance. The government is trying to kill us all. We have to help those trying to correct that injustice."

"I'm not arguing about that. Safety is an issue. This town has no defenses."

"You want me to hide behind a wall? A wall won't stop their hate."

[Deleted]

"Their hate won't kill you, but their arrows might," Rithaleya points out. "I'm still here because boots are less lethal than arrows, and more popular. More to the point, though, your charge wouldn't need a bodyguard if she didn't enjoy being in danger." She felt she needed a drink after a line like that. It kept any more observations from spilling out of her mouth, at least.