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Salia picks through the second-rate beads, seeing every one as a treasure despite the artisan’s comments to the contrary. She puts together a small collection and then fishes some coins out of her purse. “How much?” she asks. The merchant makes noises about not accepting payment for failed work, but eventually agrees to accept a single copper coin in exchange for stringing the beads.

Out on the street again, Bastian spots a familiar figure in the market square. Maughus is sitting on a crate outside a food stand, his attention focused entirely on the plate in his left hand as he struggles with obvious effort to take small bites. He does not even look up as his three companions approach. On the plate is half of what was clearly a large piece of layer cake, with candied fruit between each layer, and a large lump of whipped cream on the side. The man looks like he is in paradise.

"Greetings." Angel says with a half smile, appearing behind Bastian Liri in tow. She is dressed once again in her armor, her clothes cleaned where they could be. "We have found a guide willing to show us around." she smiles at Maghus, "I was never one for such sweet things myself."

------
Jerrard.
Eldon waits as directed, a group was a group, still there was a story. "Darting back into the bar a moment he looks for Coil.

"Those two, what did they have to say?" he asks producing a silver from his pouch. "I'm curious."

Bastian's stomach turns at the sight of so much sugar and candy layered between cake. In reply to Angel he exclaims, "Excellent! Where might they be?" He looks around her, thinking that the guide may be close by.

Maughus tears his attention away from the plate with obvious effort and looks up, pausing for a sip from his mug before speaking. "Ever see anyone bake a cake over a campfire? Or whip cream in the field? This is as close to Paradise as a man can get. And on a plate, no less.
"Had a productive day, today. Saw some friends here, old soldiers. They say the area's been fairly quiet lately. Even the bandits have been well-behaved. Saw a medicus friend of mine, also. I told him what we saw, and he suggests drugs were involved, or madness - that we saw elves and uruks and ogres as things more exotic and monstrous.
"But my mind is sound as ever, and I know what I saw."
He pauses for another bite, a small one, this time, and continues speaking, around the cake. "Spotted Elias with an old acquaintance of mine, I think. A leathery woman with dyed hair and a dark blue chiton? That's the one. Camp follower, she was, decades ago. She'd steal your eyeballs and return for the sockets, given time and opportunity.
"When is the mage's funeral?"






[OOC] The funeral's tomorrow night. You have a full night and day in town to accomplish any errands necessary before then. I only mention this because someone (Liri, I think) mentioned having a funeral tonight.[/OOC]

[OOC] Jerrard - you can go back into the Merc Bar thread, please. [/OOC]

"The Funeral is tomorrow, we have some time before then. Where is Master Fraso?" She asks, glancing at Bastian. "And our Guide, is waiting at the Bar, he is rather headstrong, looking to prove himself, he might prove a useful addition."

"I would think we would know if drugs were involved, I know what I saw, and it was real, these wounds are real, I did not imagine them." She stands stubbornly, grasping Liri's hand a brief moment before remembering her place. "And yes, Elias, our guide mentioned something about you being 'harassed' by a Lady, he said he tried to help."

“Boom,” says Maughus. “That’s what I told the medicus. I think we would have been well aware of being drugged. None of us took anything. Besides, how could we all have been given some sort of drug?
“No, it was real. As real as – “ he breaks of suddenly and focuses his attention solidly on his plate. He says no more on the subject, instead looking around the market square. “I saw Hiric earlier, coming from the bathhouse. Said Fraso needed to see a guildmage. There is no chapterhouse here, but the legatus has an assistant – a combat wizard named Vonae, who got pretty good during the northern raids. Hiric said that Fraso said that that’d do, and I gave Hiric directions to the legatus’ office. I expect he’s there now. Don’t know where Fraso is.”

Liri stands within the group, holding Angel's hand for a while, listening but not taking part in the conversation.

"I expect Master Fraso will be safe enough here, as long as he stays out of trouble." Angel muses, rubbing her chin, "And I am sure Hiric will find what he needs."

"Yes Maghus, it was real, you did not imagine it, neither did any of us."

(Assuming Salia is still with them)

"Salia, we plan to take a little tour, our Guide seems... acceptable, and so I wondered if you wanted to join us, perhaps we can buy some clothes?" Angel taps her money pouch it was getting dangerously low, she had come on this job to get paid.... so far all she had gained were bruises..

"You are welcome too Bastian." She smiles at the Cleric, squeezing Liri's hand hard.

"I have no money to spare for clothes. And these ones are new - well, new to me, anyway, as of this spring." She indicates her clothes - a simple dress and a simpler underdress.
Seeing her now, after having seen her at the bathhouse, it is obvious that what had appeared to be a slight chubbiness was really just extra fabric, as both of her dresses are a good bit oversized. Either she has lost weight recently, or the clothing was tailored for someone a bit larger. "I would like a hat, though. I lost mine with the wagon."

"Shopping," Maughus grunts. "HA! Give 'em swords and armor and put 'em on warhorses, but women are still women. I think shopping might be elemental to their very substance. Am I right?"

Liri laughs, a happy and melodious sound. "You may be right, Maughus" she ackowledges. "Women tend to buy things more often than would be strictly necessary. But it has happened that men were very grateful they could use something I had bought and they had forgotten."

"I was thinking something 'normal' might help make things seem a little better." Angel says with a glance to Salia, "your dress may be new, but perhaps it could do with some slight.. Alterations, to make movement easier." Her gaze still fixed on the girl

*Sigh* "Yes, I agree that a bit of normalcy could probably help us a bit." Looking at their guide, Bastian continues. "For you, Muggy, a piece of cake may be enough to unwind but what happened to us out there isn't exactly a daily occurrence for most of us. It may take a bit more to get us to relax." Bastian ponders this a moment and then quickly passes his eyes over the assembled group. "I need to part company for the afternoon. Enjoy yourselves, and I will meet up with you tonight. I have obligations that I have been neglecting." With that, he bows to Salia, sticks his tongue out at Angel, and waves to the rest.

Bastian meanders down the streets looking for the closest temple that would have a place to write. He needed to deliver a correspondence to his superiors. For himself, he needed a bit of council and where better to get it than the gods?

"Very well Bastian, we will look for you at the Inn later." With that she takes Liri's hand and turns to the direction of the Merc Bar. "Salia? I will pay, do not worry."

"We will pay" Liri points out, smiling. "You don't have to take it all upon you, Angel."

"Of course, I simply did not wish to assume." Angel responds quietly.