milliways, the lurking thereof

[andaisq]

A few years ago, Deekin would have been very cavalier about this weird demiplane that just inserted itself into the Underdark, much as he was about basically everything. Times have changed, though; now Tynan is a factor, so instead of skipping merrily towards the bar, Deekin keeps his crossbow high and his stance low, even as the baby pokes his head out of his rucksack and babbles merrily.

...This place doesn't seem to be dangerous in any way.

This is intensely suspicious.

But after a quick casting of See Invisibility, a nip of Barkskin potion for Tynan, and a nice loud Curse Song in case someone's still hiding somewhere, Deekin feels comfortable enough to sit at the very polite bar and get free drinks. (Tynan gets some kind of strange black milk, which he obviously enjoys. Deekin gets something he thinks might be apple cider with a shot of cow blood, which is very nice even if it does kind of remind him of Tymofarrar.)

Comments

[light_another_life]

"I see. And you'd go... where?"

[andaisq]

"Somewhere less people try to shoot Deekin and steal baby be nice," Deekin suggests drily. "Deekin mention Underdark not very nice place? Underdark not very nice place. Very low-rent neighborhood of Prime Material. Deekin go to Sigil and find portal to nicer part of Prime Material, maybe first visit outsider baby doctor to find out why Tynan not aging, find way to free ghost from sword so he can be golem instead, sidequest stuff."

[light_another_life]

Somehow she suspects Dromund Kaas is not going to be a better place for Deekin and his baby.

"There's a ghost in a sword?" she asks, because what.

[andaisq]

Deekin retrieves a sword from his pack, displacing several more objects which really should not fit in a bag that size.

"Ah, once again my services as a party trick are called for," the sword(?) says. "How very dignified. Who is that woman and what in the world is she doing to her life force?"

[light_another_life]

"What I do with my life force is entirely my business, thank you," she sniffs, without even a surprised pause, even though internally she's wondering what. "Is it hurting you in any way?"

[andaisq]

"No," the sword sniffs back. "I'm just making conversation, I'm sure."

"Human lady is nice, don't be mean," Deekin chides. "Taste in armor may be questionable and Drowy but otherwise totally not evil."

[light_another_life]

"Thank you," says the human lady who is apparently nice. ... She probably shouldn't break it to him that she's a sith. "I apologize for accidentally summoning you as a - party trick. Deekin mentioned a ghost, I was curious."

[andaisq]

"I'm not a ghost," sighs the sword. "Well, sort of. I'm the soul of a human, Enserric the Grey, contained in the blade that killed me. Ghosts aren't people; they don't grow, they hardly ever even remember anything beyond what's relevant to their haunting. I, on the other hand, form memories, opinions, and have even been known to occasionally change my mind. As far as I can tell, I'm as much of a person as you or the nanny here."

[light_another_life]

"... I apologize for calling you a ghost, too, then." She glances at Deekin, then at Enserric. "I'm Callida. It's a pleasure to meet you both."

She'll leave off the 'Lord' for now. She's trying not to be scary.

[andaisq]

Deekin grins toothily. "Deekin Scalesinger. Pleasure acquaintance meet etcetera."

"I didn't know you had a surname," Enserric says, nonplussed.

"Deekin made up surname few weeks ago," Deekin says. "'Scalesinger' sound cool."

[light_another_life]

"I've definitely heard people sincerely call themselves much worse names."

[andaisq]

"Demon boy name 'Valen Shadowbreath,' also chose himself. Lots of bad names in world."

[light_another_life]

"... Shadowbreath?" she repeats, amused. "Well. It doesn't beat Kallous. ... Spelled incorrectly, of course, because how else do you prove that you are scary and tough."

[andaisq]

Deekin nods. "Calluses very tough. Notable feature of callus. Not so scary, though."

[light_another_life]

"I think it was more in line with callous, for uncaring, but - yes. Not very scary."

[andaisq]

"A man who wants an intimidating name should check for homophones beforehand," Enserric drawls. "And ideally, he should also check that it doesn't make him sound like an idiot."

[light_another_life]

"Quite."

[andaisq]

"So," Enserric continues, "what do you do that brings you into contact with men with stupid names and calls for black armor? Are you an adventurer, or is that more of a local phenomenon?"

[light_another_life]

"I believe that's more of a local phenomenon, though - what do adventurers do? Maybe there's a comparison point."

[andaisq]

"Descend into tombs, dungeons, ruins, et cetera. Retrieve treasure. Slay monsters who have made themselves inconvenient to nearby populations. Dodge questions about their line of work."

[light_another_life]

"Sounds like a profession that comes with a questionable lifespan," says Callida. "No wonder we don't have them where I come from."

Her? Dodge questions? Never.

[andaisq]

"Mm."

Never has a sword looked quite so unimpressed. It's a mystery how he manages to convey body language without anything even resembling a face or, for that matter, body.

[light_another_life]

Callida just smiles innocently.

[andaisq]

"Deekin, would you give some musical accompaniment to this awkward silence? A 7-chord on the Ganadon Lyre would be much appreciated."

Deekin rolls his eyes at the sword, but begins rummaging through his bag. "Always wanting specifics."

[light_another_life]

Callida looks at Enserric, assessingly. ... Then at Deekin, when she realizes that judging the body language of a sword is not happening. That sounded suspicious, but - a musical instrument?

She shifts a bit, ready to bolt. And grab her lightsaber, of course, but she would like to dodge an attack first. Being able to block it is not guaranteed.