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The sun begins to set over the port side city of Daralon. The buzzing of the market seems to die off as patrons return to their homes, or to the nearest inn, for the evening. Through the silence of the evening, a commotion can be heard from the edge of town. Following the noise leads you to a large wooden gate, that you can suspect leads out into the wilds of Angor. Two large, well armored Spirehorn Angori block the exit. In front of them appears to be a small ixifar with purple green and yellow plumage. He wears a simple gray suit, with a red bow tie. His round gold rimmed spectacles seem to have fallen toward the tip of his hawk-like nose. He looks out of breath, as if he had just gotten done shouting at the pair of guards. ((Those of you who met him, recognize Mr. Ibis, the Librarian from Exima.))
As Thimble went about looking for a good place for everyone to take a rest, she came upon an interesting mix, a fae, ixifar, and two angori guards. Her curiosity taking the better of her, she went over, clinking away, to investigate. "Excuse me, I don't believe I know either of you, are you guys from Jastery, too?" The female gnome blinked and tilted her head slightly to one side as almost a bad habbit. She then noticed how flustered the ixifar looked. "Oh dear, are you alright? Here, you look like you could use some water..." She said with a friendly smile as she reached around into her bag and unclasped her glass bottle that was filled with drinking water, now attempting to hand it to the ixifar.
Thimble eyed the fae and quickly remembered. "Oh! Yes now I remember. You were a human warrior if I remember correctly... In anycase, I doubt it's over some book, and if it is, it must be a very imporant book, to him at least." She said while still attempting to offer the ixifar water.
The guards don't seem to react at the pair's approach. Though Mr. Ibis does turn at the mention of his name. He wears a confused and exhausted expression. At the mention of books he shakes his head and let's out a sigh.
"No, no, no, no, no." He says with a ruffle of his feathers. "Nothing like that." He pauses before eagerly accepting the water offered to him by the Gnome. "No, I'm not from Jastrey. I'm from Rica, well, not originally." His voice trails off and shakes his head again. "But no this has nothing to do with books, well," he pauses again. "This has nothing to do with books." He repeats.
"See?" Thimble turned to the fae, taking back her bottle and reclasping it. "Told you it didn't have to do with books. Though I am curious, what does 'this' have to do with?" She asked, turning back to the ixifar, and putting emphasis on the word this, since there was obviously some implyed situation happening.
Binx had set out to explore one of the more civilized bits of Angor and the commotion had caught her attention. She had been expecting clashes of horns between Angori, but was surprised to find an Ixifar in the midst of the situation. The Uordeq had been too...preoccupied in Rica to visit the library and did not recognize the man. She did, however, recognize the fae and a gnome she recalled seeing a few times in Jastrey. As the other two made their inquiries, she settled her back against the nearest booth corner and crossed her arms to watch. The mention of books here was enough to spark an interest.
This upsets the fae, "You mean because he is small he can't leave town? Your telling me I'm going to be stuck here as well because I don't meet your standards. I'm sure he is well informed as to what awaits him and if he feels he can do it allow him. As for me I hope we won't be having this same conversation."
The group hears a loud bellow from the tavern. The words are muffled but a gruff voice screaming something about Githal can be heard just befre a large dwarf flies through the front door of the tavern.
Keg stands up on shaky legs and says. "I see yer point, Arimir is strong too." He then sees the group standing by the gate and stumbles over.
The dwarf smells of old cheese, sweat, and strong liquor. He looks at the group then at the guards and promptly falls face first onto the ground and starts snoreing.
Matilda sees some individuals heading out to the gate. She sighs and rests her weapon against her shoulder. She comes across the sleeping dwarf, a mischievous fae, a female gnome, and an Uordeq all infront of Angori guards. Knowing her body was still weak from the fight with the giants, Matilda stands back in case a conflict were to break out. She recognized the Uordeq from the fight with the giants and gave her a quick nod. The clockwork homunculus sat at the base of a tree and lit a cigarette with a zipo and watched as everything played out
The angori's brow furrow's at the Fae's onslaught of questions.
"There is a war out there. This chicken wants to walk right into the middle of it. He has no weapons, or guard-"
"I am not defenseless, sir." Mr. Ibis interrupts the guard. He turns toward the gathered party. "I am trying to reach Perish, an old Empyrean Monastery." He begins to explain.
"Perish is under control of the Dregoth." One of the guards interects. "And traveling to Perish means, not only crossing the wilds, but being within bone's throw of Snerg and Saito."
Binx's eyes roamed to the prone dwarf on the ground, a handful of different ideas crossing her mind involving various weapons. She let him be, however, continuing to listen to the bird and beasts.
An amused and somewhat dainty snort slipped from behind the Uordeq's mask at the Ixifar's explanation. Of course he wanted to trek through some of the more dangerous tribe territories, defenseless or not. She remained silent, however, letting them continue. She had little doubt that the good natured Jastreyans would want to help him for whatever reason that continuously drove them to going out of their way to be helpful.
Unable tofocus on the guards and ixifar due to the snoring which was only second worse to the smell, the fae goes around the area picking all the flowers he can find even some that didn't look to be flowers but smelled better than the dwarf did currently.
He then begins laying them on top the dwarf hoping to mask the smell even being so bold to attempt to braid some into the snoring dwarfs beard figuring he wouldn't wake anyhow.
Mr. Ibis just watches Cormac with a disconcerting oggle. He opens his mouth a few times to comment but shuts it before he can get the words out.
"So you can see why we can't allow him to trek through the wilds unguarded and unarmed." The guard finally says.
"Unguarded." Mr Ibis repeats the word. "So if I can find a group of able bodied fighters you'll let me out into Perish?"
The guard only sighs.
Pleased with himself even though he had not stopped the smell or the snoring he refocuses his attention to the party believing he has made a difference.
At the mention of help the fae quickly asks, "So if I help I will get a reward?" Upon realizing his words he quickly changes his initial attitude. "Err, uhm I mean as one who aspires to be become a paladin I will help if you have a noble reason for venturing out. Unfortunately I can't speak for anyone else so they might be wondering what kind of compensation you might be offering in return."
"Hmm..." While listening, Thimble decided to take a step back and really look into the sincerity of the guards and this Mr. Ibis by their body language and tone of voice and any other hints that might tell her if the ixifar's intentions are generally in a good nature and the guards aren't just being particular, but know that Mr. Ibis would most likely die if he went out there alone. (Insight)
((Mr. Ibis is good natured, though mildly annoyed currently. He seems like an honest man and a seeker of knew knowledge.))
((The guards seem over protective, and untrusting of the Ixifar. Their intentions are pure, and their motives valid, but excessive.))
Mr. Ibis spins on his heels, and turns to face the gathered party. "Yes I'm sure you all knew this was coming." He says. "Perhaps if I can get you folks to escort me to Perish, these, these, these, neandertals," He throws the word over his shoulder, "Will let me pass. You will of course be compincated, and whatever you find on the way is yours." He pauses, and holds up one finger. "Save one item. I seek a stone tablet last known to be in the possession of the Empyrean monks that once inhabitted Perish."
Immediatly recognizing the Ixifar the fae calls out to the familiar face. "Mr. Ibis look i found a drum!" Upon further examination of the surroundings the fae asks,. Did someone steal one of you books again?"