Curiosity did what, now?

[lurkingkobold]

The kobold's research cave is coming along nicely, after her previous adventure - the floor carefully flattened (by teleporting stone out) and softened (by teleporting sand in); the permanent portals to Deva and the cavern's exit, currently closed to anyone who doesn't know the passwords, but marked off, with spaces set aside for several more portals; her experimenting supplies tucked away behind further portals in her workspace; a small cache set up for her new translation necklace and any other magical items she might happen to find in her travels.

And, now, another portal, leading to another new world. She double-checks that she has her traveling gear - translation necklace, teleporting ring, twine - completes the spell, and peers through.

Comments

[lurkingkobold]

This gets Elarron a look from Dusk - confused and curious and concerned.

"Even aside from that, I mean. I think I mentioned we've had some trouble with the tigerfolk, recently? That has us all a little upset right now."

[last_one_out]

"Yeah, I remember. I'm just saying, I don't think my specific problem is going to be solved by anything to do with tigerfolk. It still seems much likelier to me that whatever trap-or-something I ran into was from my world, and I might have to wait to go home until someone from my world figures it out and comes to get me, unless someone here independently figures out how to put me back first."

[lurkingkobold]

River nods. "Well, you'll probably be welcome to stay regardless." And with that, she sets the soup to simmering. "Double batch of the cornbread, Dusk, and you can take the rest with you tonight?"

"Yes please." It's hard to tell, but she might be a bit pensive now.

[last_one_out]

Dusk is reminding Elarron very much of his brother Inlaith. He smiles quietly to himself.

[lurkingkobold]

River allows the conversation to peter out while she finishes making dinner, and then passes out the food - strawberry cornbread and a small bowl of chowder to dip it in for Dusk; a larger bowl of chowder with cornbread on the side for Elarron; just chowder for herself - and joins them at the table to eat in companionable silence.

[last_one_out]

Elarron appreciates the food very much but doesn't see a need to say so out loud, just smiles and eats.

[lurkingkobold]

It is pretty tasty.

Dusk finishes eating first, and takes River and Elarron's dishes to wash when they're done. While she's doing that, River asks, "what supplies do you want, for tonight?"

[last_one_out]

"Not sure," he says contemplatively. "If this were home I'd know just what to take along and I'd have most of it already, but I don't know what the normal dangers or the normal resources are in your forests."

[lurkingkobold]

"Waterskin," interjects Dusk. "Weapon - knife? - hand light, fire bowl. Travel light."

[last_one_out]

"Seems like a reasonable list, if I understand some of those right. Hand light and fire bowl, are those magic things?"

[lurkingkobold]

Dusk nods, and River explains, "A hand light makes a beam of light when you activate it, they're good for finding your way around in the dark -"

"Signaling," interrupts Dusk. "Scare monsters. Fire bowl, warmth, easier signal if lost."

[last_one_out]

"Yeah." He nods.

[lurkingkobold]

"All right. Dusk should be able to get you all of those things - " Dusk nods " - so it sounds like you're all set."

[last_one_out]

"Well, that was easy."

[lurkingkobold]

Dusk nods; Rain grins wanly. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."

[last_one_out]

Elarron smiles and nods.

[lurkingkobold]

And Dusk leads him out.

The sky is distinctly pink behind the trees as Dusk leads the way back to her house. When they get there, she considers for a moment, looks around - it's a quiet bit of the village to begin with, and nobody is around at the moment - says, "wait," and then heads inside.

[last_one_out]

Elarron waits. He looks up at the sky; the change is colour is interesting, very unlike home.

[lurkingkobold]

She's back after a few minutes, carrying a basket and with a cloth trap rolled up under one arm. She holds out the basket for Elarron to take its contents: a waterskin, a plain iron knife, a small ceramic bowl, and what appears to be a short, thick wooden stick with a stripe painted down the length of it.

[last_one_out]

"Thanks," says Elarron. "How do the magic things work...?"

[lurkingkobold]

The ceramic bowl produces a small flame, contained entirely within it, when held by the base for a few consecutive seconds; tapping near the rim makes the flame disappear. Dusk carefully points the stick at the ground before activating it: touching the painted stripe makes it emit a beam of light from one end, and she demonstrates how it can be held with the stripe in one's palm for a constant effect, or with the stripe next to one's thumb for controlled flashes of light.

[last_one_out]

Simple enough. Okay, now Elarron is equipped for his night out. He smiles.

"...And, uh, what's that?" he asks with a gesture at the cloth trap.

[lurkingkobold]

Dusk considers for a moment, looks around, glances at the sky where the pinkness is deepening, and declares "wait."

Then she heads off toward the stables, gesturing for him to follow.

[last_one_out]

He follows along, glancing frequently at the sky.

[lurkingkobold]

A few minutes spent saddling Dusk's lynx, and she's ready to go.

(That sure is a giant tiger over there. It's asleep right now, but the giant crows aren't, and they watch Elarron curiously from their perches.)