______________________________ / \ \ |@/____________________________/ | | | Meeting with Huckster | | | | _ | | | | | |-| | | | | \ | | |_|_| | | |_| | |_/ | | | | | | | | Feastday, day 27 | | of the month Eoantos | | in the year 5110 | | | | | /@| | \_/___________________________/ Feastday, day 27 of the month Eoantos in the year 5110 A pulsating emerald light comes from within Bremerial's case. You wake up from your daydream, and begin paying attention again. You blink. [Adventurers' Rest, Deck] The deck is bordered by neatly trimmed evergreen hedges, a miniature forest even in the midst of town. There are some chairs set in cozy groupings, and baskets of flowers swaying from the eaves of the Rest. Tall iron posts on either side of some swinging doors support glowing lanterns. You also see the Bremerial disk and an ivy-covered iron barrel. Obvious paths: none You remove a discolored battered case with a crude warrior guild symbol shrouding a rusty lock from in your ancient pack. You grin. You remove a blackened bone key fashioned from a gnarled kobold femur from in your sage green bodice. You hear a click as it unlocks. You put a blackened bone key fashioned from a gnarled kobold femur in your sage green bodice. You open a discolored battered case with a crude warrior guild symbol shrouding a rusty lock. You remove a cloud-etched emerald from in your battered case. Looking closely at the emerald, you barely notice what appears to be a tiny halfling waving back at you from atop the cloud. The emerald pulsates briefly once again. You wave your emerald around. You put a discolored battered case with a crude warrior guild symbol shrouding a rusty lock in your ancient pack. [I move from the Adventurer's Rest to the Mud Pool] You sink down into the warm mud and breathe a sigh of contentment. You lie down into the mud and feel its gooey warmth surround you. You pucker up and blow a kiss at the emerald in your hand. You say, "Good morning Whuid." You smile. You feel something press back upon your lips as you kiss the emerald. Speaking to your emerald, you say, "Long time no see." The wind picks up around the mud bath. You say, "Hope you are well." Speaking to your emerald, you say, "And thriving - thanks for the wind - needed that to wake me up." As the emerald pulsates once again a strong breeze blows through carrying with it the faint sound of giggling. You say, "That giggle - will have me in stitches." You try hard not to grin. Suddenly, a gust of wind blows through carrying with it Whuid. Whuid giggles. Whuid bounces around happily. You grin at Whuid. Whuid exclaims, "Ellos!" Whuid beams! You say, "Hello dear." You turn to Whuid and cheer! You ask, "How are you doing?" Whuid exclaims, "Whuid says he comes visits!" You grin. Whuid giggles. You say, "And ye did." You turn to Whuid and cheer! Whuid asks, "I am doins goods, how yuu beens?" Whuid ducks under the mud for a moment and then surfaces like some ancient monster with a scary look on his face. You say, "I am great thanks." Whuid giggles. You say, "Chasing dogs." You say, "Kicking bandits." You say, "You know how we warriors are." You grin at Whuid. You ask, "What about yeself?" You ask, "You keeping well?" You raise an eyebrow in Whuid's direction. Whuid growls and roars in an attempt to act like an ancient monster but just busts out giggling madly as he plays in the mud. You grin at Whuid. You chuckle. Whuid says, "I herds bout dat doggy tingy." Whuid says, "I was bouts here other nights." You say, "That dog is mean - but I mean to tame it if I can." You nod to Whuid. Whuid giggles. You chuckle. Whuid exclaims, "Whuid protects friends!" You beam happily at Whuid! Whuid puffs up his little chest. You say, "Am sure you do a better job than me." Whuid giggles. Whuid shakes his head. Whuid exclaims, "Yuus a warriors!" You say, "Have seen ye gust of wind knock folk over afore - wind trumps sword." You exclaim, "Ye a force of nature!" You grin at Whuid. Whuid giggles. You giggle. Whuid says, "I just friends wit da elements is alls." Whuid blushes a nice shade of dark red. You say, "Hey with friends like that who needs weapons." You say, "Oh oh." Whuid giggles. You ask, "Have ye seen my more scarey side?" The air around you briefly shimmers, and you feel as if something about you has changed. Whuid rubs his chin thoughtfully. Whuid asks, "Noes?" Whuid squints at you. Whuid asks, "Yuu scaries?" You say, "This is the only elemental force I can conjure - just an illusion of course." Whuid giggles. You grin at Whuid. Your illusionary hair whips around in front of you, buffeted by a violent storm that you cannot feel but are able to see as growing more intense. Quite suddenly, the flame-red hair ceases its writhing, and the illusion around you abruptly flickers out of sight. Whuid's jaw drops. You say, "Ye should see me first thing in the morning." You say, "No THAT is scarey." You grin at Whuid. Whuid exclaims, "Yuu know magicks!" Whuid beams! Whuid bounces around happily. You say, "Only know what the gods have allowed me to know." You nod. Whuid giggles. Whuid nods. Whuid nods. You grin. Whuid gazes in wonder at his surroundings. Whuid says, "Dis place is fun, dey didnt show dis to me." You say, "Love my emerald still by the way." Whuid beams happily at you! You exclaim, "Hey it really is fun here!" You say, "Not enough people use it alas." You say, "Which is a mixed blessing." You say, "But its great for the skin." You grin. Whuid says, "Wells, dey no noes hows ta has funs." You agree with Whuid. You exclaim, "Indeed!" Your self-confidence rises. Whuid struggles to stay above the mud. You grin. Whuid exclaims, "Whoa!" Whuid sinks below the mud and out of sight. You say, "Don't worry - you sink in, I pull you out." You say, "Whoa." Muddly bubbles come up from where Whuid sank. You get the feeling he may not be coming up. You say, "Hope the elementals are keeping ye safe Whuid." You say, "I don't wanna have to explain this later." More bubbles come up from where Whuid sank below the mud. You say, "Bremerial - the person that killed Whuid." A large muddy bubble makes it's way to the top and then you hear a sudden, *POP*, as Whuid leaps out. Whuid gasps. Whuid's face turns slightly pale. You glance over at Whuid and wince. You ask, "You ok?" Whuid coughs. You take a quick appraisal of Whuid and find that he has no apparent injuries. You rub Whuid. Whuid coughs out some mud as he gasps for breath. Whuid takes a deep breath. Whuid says, "Whoa, dat was not goods." Whuid giggles. Speaking to Whuid, you say, "Stay on the edges." (Bremerial points to the edges.) Whuid scoots over towards the edge of the pool. You say, "Its deep in the center even for me." Whuid sniffs. You say, "And ye shorter than me." Speaking to some gooey mud, Whuid exclaims, "Yuu tried to eats Whuids!" You say, "Mud should know better than to mess with you." You grin at Whuid. Whuid giggles. Whuid nods. You giggle. Whuid exclaims, "I gets it backs when it leasts expects, yup!" You chuckle. You say, "Preferably when I am not in it." You grin. You smirk. Whuid wipes mud away from his face and shoulders. Whuid giggles. Whuid nods. You grin. Whuid exclaims, "I wouldnts hurts friends!" You beam happily at Whuid! You say, "I know that..." You smile at Whuid. Whuid smiles. Whuid beams! Whuid bounces around happily. You ask, "So not sure ye answered - how are you doing? You ok?" You turn over your emerald. Whuid says, "I be doins fines, Whuids been travelings a bit. I saws dat resty place not to long ago, interesting folks." Whuid rubs his chin thoughtfully. You nod to Whuid. Whuid says, "Dat resty place by da rivers." Whuid nods. You ask, "How long since ye been here?" Whuid says, "Few days." The tingling sensation and sense of security leaves Whuid. You nod. Whuid says, "Saws Fleurs and peeples other night." Whuid giggles. You grin. Whuid exclaims, "We went ta da beaches!" Whuid bounces around happily. Whuid bounces around happily. You say, "Fleurs could track ye down in a thunderstorm with a blindfold." You grin. Whuid giggles. Whuid nods. Whuid nods. You grin. Whuid says, "She has one da specials gems tuu." You say, "She a dedicated Whuid devotee for sure - even more than I." Whuid glances around, looking a bit less confident. You nod to Whuid. Whuid blushes a nice shade of dark red. You say, "And an idol." Whuid says, "Whuid just Whuids." Whuid says, "Nothing specials, sillies peeples." You say, "Nay Whuid - you make us smile - and that's important gift." You wink at Whuid. Whuid exclaims, "Wells, yuu all nice to Whuids!" Whuid says, "Dats importants." Whuid nods. Speaking to Whuid, you say, "Ye receive what ye give." Whuid nods. You nod to Whuid. Whuid giggles. You agree with Whuid. You grin. Whuid says, "Yuu da smartest warriors types I have mets in a whiles." Whuid says, "I likes yuu." Whuid nods. Whuid nods. You beam happily at Whuid! You say, "Well THAT is a great compliment." You turn to Whuid and cheer! Whuid giggles. Whuid says, "Wells its trus." Whuid nods. You grin. Whuid says, "Yuu not try squishy Whuids like dem other metals peeples do." Whuid nods. You ask, "So you are always doing things for others - let me turn things around - Is there anything I can do for you?" You raise an eyebrow in Whuid's direction. Whuid rubs his chin thoughtfully. You say, "And I not the halfling squishing type." You grin. Whuid says, "Ummms..." You say, "Never met a halfling I never liked." Whuid giggles. You say, "Can't say that about any other race." Whuid exclaims, "We goot peeples!" You grin. You agree with Whuid. Whuid says, "Just be Whuids friends, dats all Whuids wants." Whuid smiles. Speaking to Whuid, you say, "Well that's a given." You nod to Whuid. Speaking to Whuid, you say, "Love it when ye give me easy tasks." You grin at Whuid. Whuid exclaims, "Wells, we could play find da Whuids if ya wants!" Whuid giggles. You grin. Whuid says, "Since yuu goods at dat." You let out a cheer! Whuid winks. Whuid giggles. You snicker. Whuid bounces around happily. You say, "I am rubbish at that... but that sounds excellent." You grin. Whuid giggles. You say, "Will keep me outta mischief." Whuid says, "But yuu know da secrets words ta makes Whuid appears." Whuid touches one finger to his lips. Whuid giggles. You chuckle. You ask, "Do I?" You grin. You rub your chin thoughtfully. Whuid says, "Dat was funs dat day." Whuid asks, "Yuu know members?" Whuid tickles you. You rub your chin thoughtfully. Whuid bounces around in circles. You grin. You say, "Will come to me." Whuid exclaims, "Tart sillies, dat person mades it ups!" You say, "Oh gosh." You say, "Yes." You giggle. Whuid laughs! Whuid giggles. Whuid nods. Whuid nods. You say, "How in the name of all that's holy did I forget that." You giggle. You say, "Walking into a room and calling everyone a tart it seemed." You chuckle to yourself. Whuid asks, "Maybe ya gots hitted on da heads?" You chuckle at Whuid. You say, "I did this morning." You grin. Whuid glances over you worriedly. You say, "Could be that." You say, "Am recovered." Whuid wipes the sweat from his brow. You say, "A hit in the head is mother's milk to me." Whuid exclaims, "Goot!" You grin. Whuid gazes heavenward. You grin. You say, "I was born with a hard head." Whuid says, "Times fer Whuids ta goes, but I be backs in a few days." Whuid hugs you. Whuid hugs you. You say, "Ok." Whuid hugs you. Whuid no longer bristles with energy. Whuid beams! You say, "Hope to see ye again." You turn to Whuid and cheer! Whuid seems a bit less imposing. Whuid says, "Yuu wills, I always close." You say, "You take care of yeself." Whuid appears somehow different. Whuid points at your emerald. You say, "See ye as the wind blows." You pucker up and blow a kiss at the emerald in your hand. Whuid giggles. You grin. You snicker. You agree with Whuid. You wave your emerald around. Whuid snaps his fingers causting a gust of wind to blow over the pool, plucking him up out of the mud as it does so. Bremerial smiles happily The sound of giggling can be heard trailing off into the distance. You chuckle. An old memory bubbles up from your past, and causes you to reflect a moment. With a flash of insight, you realize you understand yourself a bit better than you did a moment ago. The sudden feeling of self-knowledge is a pleasant one. You belt out, "Gonna think of something special for ye!" You smile. You pucker up and blow a kiss at the emerald in your hand. You pucker up and blow a kiss at the emerald in your hand. A soft voice comes from the image in your emerald, "Tanks yuu for beings a friends!" Then all goes silent once again. You say, "Always." You burst out in a resounding cheer! You say, "Definitely gonna be a good day."