seedga-07a

[Hotel and Bar, "The Watering Hole" ]
The day after the encounter with the spectral Sabre Three.
The sun has risen, and with no miasmic haze to bar its rays, bathes the windows in a soft, yellow glow.
Plenty of noise prevents you from catching much sleep- already, construction is afoot for damaged buildings and streets, and some of the local militia have been tying several off at the first floor bar, celebrating the disappearance of the undead threat.
Ridwan has been out and about in the town during some morning inspections - best to make sure nothing's lingering - but makes his way back to the bar as the others are starting to wake and decending from their rooms.
Alida stayed up too late with the partiers and very groggily makes her way back into the bar again in the morning.
The bar itself is a haphazard mess of 'high dollar' and 'durable'- a well-laquored, starkly brown counter is easily the eyedrawn centerpiece, but it's surrounded by mismatching stools, military-overstock tables, and a jukebox that's playing this new thing called 'rock and roll…?'
There's familiar Hundred-faces there, some didn't sleep, some are finishing up a shift-
And then there's the Minstrel, at the corner of the counter. He smiles at the returning Ridwan and Alida, giving them a wave to come over.
Claret has, well, whatever breakfast can be gotten. He's wearing his coat off his shoulders, arms out of the sleeves.
Issa blinks at the Minstrel as they walk in after a not-TOO-late night…and their eyes narrow.
Eidolon wanders in- looks like something's bothering him, but maybe it's just recovering from the wounds he took in that fight. Maybe. He notices the Minstrel, of course, nods in his direction. Of course he's here.
Ridwan: "Ah, what a surprise!" Ridwan makes his way over.
Alida goes to give Claret a hug (to disguise her stealing a bite of his breakfast) before pulling him over to the Minstrel with her upon being beckoned.
"Good morning to the brave and daring exorcists!" the Minstrel calls, double-necked lute strung across his back, his hands otherwise occupied with a beer and open gladhand.
Claret strolls over to the minstrel as he's dragged - "(Someone you know?)"
Ridwan: "You just missed all the excitement, friend."
Alida: "(A songster from the other bar, but it's serendipitous for him to be here I think. Or maybe ominous.)"
"Hah! The monsters, maybe, but the excitement still buzzes about the city," the Minstrel responds, taking a sip from his glass. "Is it about what you expected?"
Zephyr nods to the Minstrel before taking a seat themselves. "You not be expecting to get our tale for free, this one hopes. Or was this one watching despite claiming other business?"
Eidolon: "There was a story to be seen, after all."
Issa looks slightly sour. "One wonders how you got here so fast."
Ridwan: "It was league beyond what I was expecting, hah."
The Minstrel pouts at Zephyr. "Ever the mercenary! But have no fear- at the least I would fill your stomachs." He leans over the bar just as the bartender (a short-snouted, wide-as-he-is-short Boar-Hundred) comes by, and puts in an order for some fresh food.
Eidolon looks thoughtful at the Minstrel. "I've a habit of not having expectations; they get in the way of proper observation. It was an experience, and I am glad that we were here."
Ridwan: "I *was* just getting hungry."
The Minstrel tilts his head and looks to Issa, slightly confused. "I came here by vehicle. What madperson would dare stalk across the fields even during the day?"
Alida: "Well, it was a new kind of job for me, but interesting. This one hopes the town is more lively from now on. Heh"
Issa looks increasingly sour. "Oh, by vehicle. Yes, I suppose one could manage that. Now."
Eidolon can't help a quiet amused look.
Zephyr chuckles quietly to himself before partaking in a drink.
"Temporal and locational details aside, you seem none the worse for wear," muses the Minstrel.
Eidolon: "The benefits of a good night's sleep. Should have seen us yesterday night."
Ridwan: "I've good at my job, and had some extremely talented assistants this time around. Hate to think of what would have happened if they weren't around."
"Was it a matter of muscle?" asks The Minstrel.
Ridwan: "Much, much more than it usually is, certainly."
Alida takes an exaggerated bow "Muscle and magic. Needed both it seemed."
Ridwan: "Issa did a nice job of talking the town down, as well."
Zephyr: "What does smoothskin do if muscle is required, then? More than one can handle, yes?"
"Oh? Were they high on something?" quips the Minstrel.
Eidolon: "The scent of blood and dreams of glory."
The Minstrel looks up and away, and taps a finger to his chin, before returning a look to Zephyr. "Run away, usually! Or evade. Or talk my way out of it!"
Ridwan: "Well… as I alluded to last night, generally a haunting is… well, one of those little flaming head spirits from last night. Maybe two, tops. This was the most out of control haunting there's ever been a recording of."
"There's a number of ways to resolve conflicts. But a resolution is not always a ticket to rest," he nods.
Ridwan: "And they're usually not even violent, just irritating!"
Issa: "There'll be little enough rest around here, until the rebuilding's done."
Eidolon tilts his head interestedly at Ridwan. "Ever recorded, huh? That's interesting."
Alida: "I think the rebuilding may be more restful than the alternative they were looking at, yea Issa? Or at least more restful sleep in the evenings."
Zephyr sips at their drink before nodding back. "This one got paid. Must go back to searching now. More work to be had and trails to follow." He stares at the Minstrel for a moment. "You has more stories for Zephyr Thirteen?"
Issa smiles a little at Alida. "Well, one tries."
The Minstrel begins with, "As a matter of fact-" but he's interrupted by a new group that's entered the bar- a group of nearly twenty Hundred, among them is Rivers. He spots the group and breaks out into a big grin, and hurredly tromps over.
Ridwan nods towards Eidolon.
"Everyone!" His fur wrinkles at the broadness of his smile. "I figured you wouldn't have gone so far so fast, but I was worried anyway, and- eh, nevermind that!"
"First of all- a reward." He unshoulders a backpack, and from it, retrieves two unlabeled bags. [This is the payment y'all got at the end of last session.]
Ridwan: "Ah - thank you."
"Some of it was saved away, some of it was donated, but it's all in thanks of coming to help." Rivers nods, and it's at this point you've noticed the din of the tavern quiet, as each assemebled Hundred raises a glass to you.
Alida pockets her share and raises her own glass back "Pleasure working with you'
Claret: "I appreciate it."
Issa just smiles and bows.
Ridwan raises his glass towards the bar.
A word is barked in toast, respect of the assemebled party- and each Hundred drinks, exhaling into a whoop and cheer. Soon, it settles back into conversation and energy.
Rivers keeps his attention on the group. "If you're in the area and need anything, please let us know. Manfred has already called a council meeting, kind of a draw-down thing between who were once the Deserters and the city."
"But don't think we're too occupied to not help you as you once helped us."
Eidolon: "Hopefully that meeting's a bit less high-energy." He smiles.
"Ahahaha, yeah." Rivers looks about, trying to find the right description. "It's a weird… subdued, feeling? Defeated isn't quite the word for the atmosphere there."
Alida: "Reconciled?"
Issa: "Chagrined?"
"It's like trying to juggle… potential energy, while not having an out-of-the-box plan for it in place just yet," attempts Rivers.
Claret adjusts his glasses, looks between Rivers and Issa.
"I'm sure it'll be fine- now, at least," Rivers gives up on the feeling, and shrugs. "Myself, I'll be moving back into town, after being away too long."
Alida: "Not going to help with the rebuild here? I thought this was your town too."
"Oh- I mean moving back here, I had gone afar for a while, trying to… well, sort out my own thoughts on what Salvation should have done." Rivers looks about, somewhat uneasy. "It… could have gone either way, I felt, so I got away from it all."
"But I couldn't refuse a call from my old comrade, so I was on my way back, and-" He opens his hands toward the group.
"Random question here, but does anyone have any opinions on what should be done with the manor? I know a drunken Casey mentioned 'kindling' last night, but."
Eidolon: "Glad you came back when you did. Might do well to stick around for a while. Town could use the outside perspective, don't you think?"
Eidolon: "Hm." He glances to Ridwan. "Haunted beyond use, or?"
Alida: "Wait no- I think Casey may be on to something"
Ridwan: "I… think it should be fine? The event seemed largely focused on the painting, and we've properly exorcised eveything from it and the other relics. They should be fine now."
Ridwan: "As for a non-professional opinion… I suppose that's really up to you and how much you want to have a reminder of that part of the town's history standing."
"That's a good enough opinion as any," nods Rivers.
Alida: "I'd say the last word would come from Manfred, considering it's his house"
Issa: "I would say…" Issa hesitates, then forges on. "Keep it standing if you can make it a memorial to what the town stands for, and what was nearly lost in this…conflict." They shrug. "Otherwise, it's, uh. Architecturally unpleasant."
Eidolon: "Ceremonially burn it down, give everyone some closure. Or make it into a hospital, or a house of refuge-" -he nods, to Issa. "Manfred should get to make that choice."
Ridwan does his best not to laugh at Issa's comment.
Rivers laughs at Issa's comment. "I mean… is it that bad…?"
Issa grins a little. "At the very least, trim the damned topiary."
Rivers nods. "Well, I was just curious on what everyone thought."
Claret: "…Seemed fine to me."
"Anyway- drink, eat, stay as long as you'd like-" At this point the food has well arrived, a number of spiced meat skewers, fried bananas, a bowl of unsalted cashews to go with the drink…
The Minstrel laughs, and with his laugh is a trill of a strummed lute, which he now has across his lap
Ridwan digs in.
Alida gestures to the Minstrel, "What brings you here into the settling dust anyway? I recall you said the how you got here, but not the why"
"I am a wanderer, Alida, and I go wherever my feet- or the road- or where a vehicle- or where simply I intuit is where I should be," responds the bard.
Eidolon digs in, but he's positioned so that he can look at the Minstrel- and at the door.
"If I were to find the city besiged by horrors and set ablaze, well- I would simply have returned to where we met."
"And surely, we would have met again, yes?" There's a mischevious grin on his face, and another strum.
Zephyr nods to the Minstrel before speaking up again. "Smoothskin speak of news earlier?"
"Ah yes…" He rests a hand on the body, and his other grips one of the necks.
"It's a hero's victory, from what I can tell. Villains razed and all is well."
"You ride high, but don't you know- a new expedition is ready to go."
"So bundle up tight, and keep your feet dry-"
"-lest the mountain claim you, and leave you to die."
…
..
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