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Post by Ancelas on Jul 28, 2022 8:37:28 GMT -5
"Maybe if they were in a good mood. From what I recall of the fey, they're very performative - intentions don't matter as much as actions. Speaking their language incorrectly could be seen as more insulting than simply not speaking at all. Not that I have experience with such things. I don't think..."
She continued to hold the feather out to Taliesin.
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jul 28, 2022 9:19:12 GMT -5
Taliesin shrugged at the caution and gently reached out to take the feather from Mirrai's waiting hand. "I've not met a fey of any kind outside of those that come when I call and Alain's shadow companion." As he grasped the feather his hand brushed hers.
"I-would think that outside of the Fey Realms they would just look down on my switching language as a lacking education thing. If I was ever in the Fey Realms I might opt to only speak common and not let on that I know Sylvan. Might be safer that way."
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 28, 2022 10:03:03 GMT -5
Mirrai's eyes flicked toward Taliesin's hand then back to his face, and her hand lingered in the air before she withdrew it to pick up her meat pie.
"How devious," she observed as she bit a piece off. She chewed and looked back at the kitchens. "Hm... do you think they would allow seconds...?"
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jul 28, 2022 10:57:31 GMT -5
Taliesin smirked at the devious comment and looked over his shoulders."I've never tried. But they do align with a trickster god of sorts if I remember what I've been told."
He looked back to Mirrai. "You could always try putting on a bad disguise and try your luck." He pulled up his bag. "Let's see ... I have a Marini hood you could borrow ... Some charcoal to make a mustache ..."
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 28, 2022 12:28:46 GMT -5
"Oh no, I will have none of that," Mirrai said with a smile as she stood up. "I've had much more luck being straightforward. Granted, that was with a giant, but... I doubt this would be much harder. I'll see what they have left, in case you decide to sneak your way over."
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jul 28, 2022 13:15:32 GMT -5
Taliesin shrugged and closed up his bag. He took a moment to take the feather and set the quill into his braid "Giving up a chance to try mischief with the one group of people that might actually love and appreciate it. But that is your choice." He stayed at the table while Mirrai moved on, waiting for her to be distracted.
Once she was back to the line and distracted Taliesin took the chance to slip away from the table. The people at The Refuge had seen him and his particular Dire Wolf shape when he was last there, and this was likely the best place for absurdity at the moment.
He maneuvered behind the line and wild shaped into the White Dire Wolf form with green coming from its eyes, a strange pattern almost like a browned feather going from above his right brow to behind his ear and a light hint of green along the fur as well. He attempted to move quietly and sneak up on Mirrai without actually getting into a stalking position. (Stealth rolled 15+2=17)
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 28, 2022 14:32:35 GMT -5
Several of the people they rescued from the mines made surprised cries as Taliesin shifted and began prowling through the cafeteria, while the Travelers appeared to take the novel turn of events in stride. Mirrai, intent as she was on securing some more food at the kitchen table, was oblivious to the events behind her.
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jul 28, 2022 15:00:47 GMT -5
Taliesin closed the distance. He pondered on how she didn't turn to recognize him following the sounds. Perhaps food had blinded her?
Now practically a bite away and at the table he let out a small boof sound and pawed the floor once. ((Performance 19-2=17))
It was a long shot coming up for seconds. Even more so trying to do so as a dire wolf and attempting rudimentary body language. It was worth a shot and would make for a story one way or other. This would be one of the only places he might get away with such an absurd interaction outside of his own party members.
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 28, 2022 15:20:42 GMT -5
Mirrai glanced over her shoulder and jumped at the sight of the dire wolf right behind her. The Traveler she had been speaking paused and regarded the wolf with surprise.
Mirrai blinked, her eyes darting past Taliesin... then back to him. Then her eyes narrowed and she leaned forward, nose tilted up, as though catching a scent. Then she made a face.
"How will anyone else get seconds if you turn into something with a stomach five times larger than anyone else?"
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jul 28, 2022 15:34:48 GMT -5
Taliesin made soft wolf sounds to reply. "I just wanted to see if someone would toss a meat pie at me. Also wanted to see how you'd react."
He sat down and yawned."Plus, changing doesn't make me need more food after eating. But if I started eating in this form ... maybe." All spoken in boofs, groans, squeaks, and soft howls.
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 28, 2022 19:16:35 GMT -5
Mirrai narrowed her eyes briefly, huffed, and murmured the words needed to cast the spell that let her understand him.
"You may look like a wolf, but there's still a man in there. Why would anyone feed-"
She was cut off as one of the kitchen staff brought out a chain of sausages to offer to Taliesin. Mirrai just sighed and retrieved the meat pie another Traveler offered her.
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jul 28, 2022 19:25:22 GMT -5
Taliesin tilted his head at Mirrai as she spoke back. Then there was the chain of sausages. It was only 5 sausages, but it was more than enough and a welcome sight.
His tail swished on the ground as he leaned forward and opened his mouth to allow the sausages to be safely dropped over his teeth. Once the sausages were acquired he simply responded in small sounds. "You never know what's possible until you try. And in spite of how long I might live it is too short to avoid absurdity and miss out on simple joys."
He bowed his head and shoulders with closed eyes to those serving the food. Rising from the bow he carefully moved back to the table Mirrai had been sitting at earlier and dropped the small sausage chain there while he waited her to presumably follow.
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 28, 2022 19:27:54 GMT -5
Mirrai rolled her eyes as she went back to the table to enjoy her meal.
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Jul 29, 2022 8:47:58 GMT -5
Taliesin dropped shape and shrugged. "The last couple months have been really rough. The fighting for dinner tradition came out of meeting Felix and was something we sorely needed." He offered without any prompting. While Mirrai still ate he continued.
"The group as a whole was on the verge of breaking, and as a bit of a hazing tactic someone alleged that we fight for dinner the first night off the road we could get. Felix bit - hook, line, and sinker and actually did it without question."
He chuckled and shook his head. "It give a much needed bit of levity that we as a group had not had for some time. And Felix has been a regular agent of chaos since then. Though, to be fair, I think that is just Felix on any day."
He looked down at the chain of sausage and sighed. "Without that levity we ... or at least Sae and I ... are consumed by the need to keep moving and pressing forward in this war. If we rest more than we need everyone who dies is on our heads. We know the enemy is here and is reinforcing and pushing forward to hold land and move on. We know points to hit to stop them from reinforcing and hopefully remove a magical blockade."
"I'm sorry if I was being pushy in trying to recover your memories. But it is one thing I can do to help you, and is best done while my stronger abilities aren't needed for protecting others. Part of that consuming need that is hard to shut off." Feeling like he overstayed his welcome he looked down to the sausage and folded the chain together.
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 29, 2022 9:48:44 GMT -5
Mirrai was going to comment on the importance of levity, but the conversation turned back to her memories and she sighed, setting down her meat pie.
"Why are you so invested?" She asked, studying Taliesin. "Granted, I want your help, but... I haven't had a good night's sleep in weeks, I was captured by... evil dwarves and forced into hard labor, and we just completed a hard hike into the mountains. This place might be safe, but I don't know what this place is or where it is, I don't know anyone here, and I don't know you - not really. I have to take everything on faith, which is... difficult, given what I've just been through.
"You're saying it's for my benefit, but... it seems like you're more invested in what I might know rather than my wellbeing. Is that true? Why are you pushing me so hard for this?"
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