DTC. Mountain Path and Tavern. Starscream, Catscan, and Lizzie

[dens_extra_pups]

Catherine: *laughing at something Elizabeth just said and shaking her head* Yeah, that'll happen when hogs sprout wings and take flight!

Elizabeth: Hey! It could happen. I got you those books, didn't I?

Catherine: Fair enough. *slight shrug*

Elizabeth: *looking around from where she's climbed up on top of a boulder* Wonder where that tavern place is supposed to be...

gale-force wind: *suddenly howls in out of nowhere and knocks Elizabeth right off the rock*

Catherine: *awks and hurries to her sister's side*

Elizabeth: *luckily landed on her butt* What the *NOPE*?!

Catherine: I don't know, but we need to get to safety!

Elizabeth: When you're right, you're right! *will get to her feet and pull her older sister to a rocky overhang a little further down the path*

Catherine: *a little bit spooked, but she'll do her best not to let it show as she looks out from the shelter provided by the overhang* Guess the old one was right... Storms can appear out of nowhere up here.

Elizabeth: Shhh! *listening to the wind howl*

Catherine: ... Lizzie? What-

Elizabeth: SHHH! Listen!

Catherine: ... *raised brow, will listen*

wind: *is SHRIEKING in a very clear and distinct tone of rage!*

someone: *is CUSSING right back at it!*

clouds: *suddenly spread out black from an epicentre up ahead, and then let out hail and lightning*

Catherine: ... Those are voices.

Elizabeth: *rolls her eyes* No, really? Wonder who's fighting?

Catherine: No, you're not going out to look.

Elizabeth: Wanna bet?

Catherine: *and then she and Elizabeth are trying to shove one another back into the shelter of the overhang, while simultaneously trying to get a closer look at the epicenter of the clouds*

Elizabeth: *all the while, she's snickering at the string of insults she can hear in the wind and storm*

Catherine: *one last shove gets Elizabeth situated near a boulder. Then the older girl is scooting a little farther up the trail to get a good look at what is going on, the epicenter of the storm just overhead*

shaggy pony: *comes galloping through the hail and electricity, shoulder slams Catherine back under the rock, and then crams him self in after her and her sister. He is wet. And he smells like a wet horse*

Catherine: Awk!!!

Elizabeth: Good grief! Where did you come from? *reaching to see if the pony will let her pet him*

pony: *impatiently shudders his coat, and then puts one hard little hoof down forcefully*

Catherine: ... Okay then. *not sure what to make of the foot stomping*

Elizabeth: Poor thing probably doesn't like the storm.

pony: *squish the girls as the cussing voice hollers for "THING"*

wind: *positively SQUALLS in response to that last earth shaking boom of thunder!*

Catherine: *trying to keep from getting too terribly squished*

Elizabeth: Thing?

world: *suddenly goes blindingly bright as three skeletons flash into sight under the rock, which flips and hurtles thirty foot up the mountain*

pony: *piddled himself*

Catherine: *CUSS!*

Elizabeth: *echoes that cuss!*

wind: *screams past them, sobbing in fury. They can ALMOST hear it after the boom and the electrical shock*

Catherine: *trying to stay upright, has to hold onto the pony to stay on her feet*

Elizabeth: *muttering words that she knows Catherine and her mother would scold her for using*

pony: *suddenly drops and crouches like a quail chick!*

Catherine: Awk!

wind: *oh, there was NO trouble hearing THAT*

Elizabeth: *to the wind* And you're another!

Catherine: *facepalms*

lightning: *BABAOOM!*

wind: *SHREIIIIIIIIK!*

pony: ... *might have just wet himself again*

Catherine: ... *moving away from the puddle*

Elizabeth: *laughing at the wind getting zapped* Serves you right, *bleeeeeep*!

wind: *busts Elizabeth aft over dishonesty!*

Elizabeth: *SO MUCH CUSS*

Catherine: ... You deserved that, Lizzie.

Elizabeth: *bleep* you, Cat. *bruised and battered now*

wind: *suddenly just gone*

hail: *stops beating the sisters on the head*

Catherine: *watching the sky warily now, just in case it decides to go for round two* It's stopped...

woman's voice: Thing! Get your *highly uncomplimentary* *bleepity* over here! NOW!

pony: *pins his ears back, but pushes to his feet, squishes the sisters well in doing so, and then walks toward the shouting, whinnying as he comes*

Catherine: *moves to help her sister back up to the trail, then the two are following the pony*

pony: *picks his way for quite a distance over storm shattered scree and boulders, then stops next to a slender, white-haired woman in a long blue robe and cloak, who holds a staff with a glowing stone at the tip*

Catherine: Er... Hello?

woman: *blue-eyed glower from eyes that glow slightly* What do you want?

Catherine: Er... *just noticed the woman isn't wet or rumpled at all*

Elizabeth: What kinda name is "Thing" for a pony?

woman: You have a problem with it *beep* for brains?

Catherine: *one with her facepalm* Lizzie, be nice.

Elizabeth: *slight frown* I was just asking.

woman: *snorts at her, and then directs a tiny lightning from her staff to dry the puddle out of the pony's saddle*

Catherine: Would you happen to know which part of the trail leads to the Dragon Tavern?

woman: *dark scowl while turning to study the redhead* Who wants to know?

Elizabeth: Us. I'm Elizabeth. *grin* I got labeled as "Lizzie the Sneak" when I left home.

Catherine: *dearly wants to facepalm* My name is Catherine, though I've also been called CatScan.

woman: *eyes them both* Steel kingdom. Dragon Tavern's that way. *points toward the North*

Elizabeth: *snort* Not anymore, we're not.

Catherine: *small nod* Thank you.

woman: *snorts again herself, and then swings aboard the pony and heads up the nearest mountainside*

Catherine: *will move to drag Lizzie along the path to the North.*

Elizabeth: *trying to point out that she thinks they're going the wrong way*


A few hours later, just outside the tavern's grounds


Old Mira: *feeding babies, her own and Ridgeback*

Kriti: *feeding Sharpshot a mix of oats and freshly cooked wyvren meat*

Sharpshot: Nom nom nom nom. *stop to snap a fly and chew it with a thoughtful frown*

Kriti: *amused snort, then she's looking up as the breeze starts to shift* *frowns*

Sharpshot: *sniffsniffsniff* *bitty growl as she spits the bug out*

Kriti: *low growl of her own, will get to her feet and begin cleaning up lunch* Aunty, bring Ridgeback inside... And check for Mama?

Old Mira: *looks up from baby feeding, small frown* Alright. *looks to Ridgeback's mother* Sharpshot, do you want to come inside and sit by the hearth so we can bug someone for a story?

Sharpshot: *shakes head, and then jumps off the bench and tugs Mama's clothes, urging her to come away from the strangers she can smell*

Kriti: *once she's got lunch packed up, she'll pick Sharpshot up and then she's herding Old Mira and the babies into the tavern* *looking around and checking scents, looking for Ironhide*

Ironhide: *looks over from the hearth, where she's trying to wipe Snarl's face*

Thorin: *cramming food into his mouth with both hands*

Snarl: *grumping and trying to get Mama to stop wiping his face! Much protesting!*

Sludge: *stuffing food into Thorin's mouth with one hand*

Kriti: *beeline for Ironhide* *quietly* Two Steelies are coming.

Old Mira: *follows after Kriti, and parks her butt on one of the benches near the hearth*

Ironhide: *quietly* Ah know. *lets go of Snarl, and then tries to redirect Sludge's feeding hand to feed Sludge*

Kriti: *small nod, moves to sit next to Old Mira, will set the interrupted lunch on the table and offer to feed more of it to Sharpshot*

Ironhide: *soothingly* Y'ur daddeh's out th're. *cracks a crab open and offers the warm and oozy treat*

Kriti: *another small nod as she accepts the treat, though it's clear the young woman is still worried*


down the trail, a quick jog from the village


Nemo: *standing quietly next to Old Lumen and WakeJumper as the they look down the trail* You heard Ironhide's voice inside your head?

Old Lumen: *nods, expression serious* I did.

WakeJumper: ... If I didn't know you're in perfect health, I'd be worried.

Nemo: *looks worried as he thinks of how the dragon Warmaster's been grinning at him lately*

Kup II: *sympathy sound for master as his eyebrows move*

Old Lumen: Worry about Ironhide and me later. They're coming. *watching down the trail more intently now*

Catherine: *can be heard a few moments later* Yes, you were right, Lizzie. Now would you stop gloating about it?

Elizabeth: It's not like you could stop me, sis. *so smug*

Kup II: *low growl*

Nemo: *gentle hand on the old mastiff's collar as he watches for the owners of the voices*

Catherine: *while her hair color is not as vivid as Ironhide's, she's still a redhead proper, and she's currently being lead on a merry chase by Lizzie* Lizzie! Get back here!

Lizzie: *is cheerfully laughing as she avoids capture, her brown hair shining in the sunlight* Never gonna happen, sis!

WakeJumper: ... I don't get why everyone is so worried about these two.

Old Lumen: *quietly* They're newcomers from the Steel Empire. Could be trouble, or they could be like your family.

WakeJumper: Ah... HEY! *trying to smack a Dwarven Berzerker now!*

Old Lumen: *bootshop to an Acolyte rear!*

Kup II: *makes the mountains echo and ring with his deep voice as he lets those strangers know they've been spotted!*

Nemo: Guys...

Elizabeth: *freezes in place a moment* DOGGY!!!!

Catherine: *facepalm* Good grief.

Nemo: *unconsciously stands straighter and emotes kindly command* Hail, travellers from the Steel Empire.

Kup II: *grrrrrr, watching you two*

Catherine: *seriously* Refugees from the Steel Empire.

Elizabeth: *clearly wants to mug the doggy and give all the pettings and cuddles!*

Nemo: *collars WakeJumper as the Acolyte staggers past, then turns him toward the two women* Refugees, you say?

Kup II: *sniffs WakeJumper's leg and grumbles comments about wyvern grease scent, but doesn't take his eyes off the strangers*

Elizabeth: Yeah. Who's asking? *gonna protect her sister* *or yelp as her foot gets stomped*

Catherine: *not so subtle stomp on her sister's foot and a muttered "Be nice, Lizzie."* *to Nemo* Because I dared to pursue forbidden medical knowledge, and my sister enabled me to do so.

Old Lumen: *frowning as he approaches, watching the pair for their reaction* Is that so?

Catherine: It's the truth. *deep breath, lets it out slowly* I've got the lashing scars to prove it.

Nemo: *quiet frankness* So did the spy we just captured.

Elizabeth: *snort* Must really suck as a spy if he got caught.

Catherine: Lizzie. Stop.

Nemo: *looks at the brunette* Dragons can read minds. And even the best trained Agent loses control of their thoughts sooner or later.

Elizabeth: ... That is so cool. *grinning now*

Catherine: *one with her facepalm now* Lizzie swears she was born in the wrong kingdom, because she finds beings that most would label as "monsters" interesting...

Lizzie: Yeah, because they are! All the forbidden books have a lot of good information on them.

Old Lumen: *snorts at the two women, thinking how cheesy their lines sound*

Eruiste: *stops her plant monster just behind and to one side of the two strangers, a well grown lightning dragon whelp laying at her feet* Sup, Lu?

Old Lumen: *to Eruiste* Newcomers. Say they're refugees from the Steel Empire. *not that he believes that*

Elizabeth: *turns, blink* Okay... I don't think any of my books cover plant monsters. *moves to approach so she can start asking the rider questions about the creature*

Catherine: ... *facepalm* Lizzie, don't be a pest.

Eruiste: *soft, shrill, trill warns the plant against striking out against the stranger, and then a shift of her weight has it moving backward* I'll let the others know. *and away she goes*

Elizabeth: Aww, man... *pout*

Catherine: *shakes her head and sighs* Honestly, Lizzie...

Nemo: *frowns at the women, and then looks up as Kup II does, his ears straining to pick up the sound that's alerted his dog*

WakeJumper: *looking around to see who is coming. Knows that if Kup II isn't barking or growling, they're someone known by the mastiff. Also wonders if it's one of the dragons, because the big dog isn't wagging his tail*

Old Lumen: *looking skyward now. Picked up on the presence of the being who is coming*

Nemo: *looks at the Dwarf* Is Blackout coming?

Old Lumen: *nods* Aye.

WakeJumper: Alright, then. *relaxing a bit. Knows that if Blackout has a problem with the two newcomers, then they'll soon be gone*

Elizabeth: You know, Dragon Tavern's supposed to be neutral ground that welcomes everyone. *looks up as a huge shadow falls over her*

Old Lumen: *soft rumble* We've learned to be more cautious in recent times.

Catherine: *also looks up, confusion clear on her face*

WakeJumper: *calmly watching the women react to Blackout arriving*

Catherine: *soft gasp as she sees the massive beast flying overhead*

Elizabeth: *has such a gleeful grin on her face, because this dragon looks nothing like the one that she and Cat fended off earlier in their journey!* Look at the dragon's wings!

Blackout: *turns that massive, otherworldly head to study the strangers below, and then she's suddenly obscured in a flash of bright light*

Nemo: *already had his hand up just in case*

Kup II: Yurp! *she got him again!*

Catherine: *startles badly at the flash of bright light, hand up over her eyes*

Elizabeth: *ditto on the hand over her eyes*

WakeJumper: *looks away at the flash of light*

Old Lumen: *squinting a bit, but otherwise unaffected* 'Lo, Blackout.

Blackout: *hits the ground on her feet and one fist, and then stands upright to look at her people and let Kup II smell her hand before looking at the strangers with those dark eyes with fire in their depths*

Elizabeth: *much grin once she can see past the dancing dots in her field of vision* That was so cool.

Catherine: *will rub at her eyes to clear them* Lizzie, don't be a pest. *suddenly picks up on the newcomer's menacing aura* *quietly* We mean no harm.

Elizabeth: Unless it's to stuff that tries to hurt us, first.

Blackout: *skewers the younger sister with a glance that seems to look right inside her*

Elizabeth: *bit of a squeak at the glance. She's trying to put on a tough front so Catherine isn't scared, but it's clear the younger of the sisters is frightened*

Blackout: *turns her attention to Catherine*

Catherine: *a bit pale now. She's trying to be brave, for Lizzie's sake, but the redhead is actually scared of the dark woman looking at her*

Blackout: *turns away and looks from the Dwarf to the Warmaster* They're harmless. *another flash of light, and the sound of huge wings is fading*

Old Lumen: *nods* Then it's settled. *and now he'll get WakeJumper in a headlock and drag the Acolyte back toward the tavern*

WakeJumper: Awk! Old Lumen, lemme go! *flailing*

Nemo: *deep sigh, and then looks at the newcomers* Nemo, Warmaster of the mountain kingdom fiftieth level.

Elizabeth: Lizzie the Sneak, former Agent of the idiotic Steel Empire, fifth level.

Catherine: CatScan the Medic. Former Sanctioned Alchemist of the Steel Empire, sixth level.

Nemo: *doesn't look around as a massive mechanical thing thunders past belching steam and laughter as it races an immense construct of bones* Welcome. The tavern's this way. There might even still be some lunch around.

Catherine: Lunch would be good...

Lizzie: *watching the constructs race, curiosity clear on her face. Will go where led*

Ironhide: *standing in the courtyard as Nemo and the sisters enter it, legs are braced as she shakes the newly set up flag pole, and the strange banner that it holds* Y'u honestleh think we'd letchu go? Y'u ain't goin' anywhere. Evah.

Nemo: *automatically winces and reaches back to adjust the waistband of his buttwrap*

Catherine: *looks up, dots at the fact that the "banner" is actually an Agent in his underthings strung up the flagpole and dangling helplessly* *to Nemo* I'm guessing that's the Agent you mentioned earlier?

Lizzie: *snickerfitdie* Stinks to be him.

Nemo: *hides waistband of buttwrap down inside waistband of his pants* Yes, that's him.

Sludge: *from where she, Rose, and Yau have run to meet Nemo* Him Starscream baaaad.

Catherine: *disapproving headshake* Shame on him, then. *blinks at the children who come to meet Nemo*

Lizzie: *blink blink* Awwww! *grin* Cute kids.

Nemo: *down on his knees and offering his arms to the little girls as Kup II wags and whimpers happily*

Sludge: *demurely tucks the younger children into Nemo's arms before snuggling close*

Yau: *snuggaUncle!* Yau!

Rose: *hugs Nemo and Sludge and Yau* *she's getting pretty strong for her size*

Nemo: *rises to his feet with his armful, and then turns a shoulder toward the excited chirping that flies over from where it'd been clinging to the swaying flagpole*

Swoop: *happy cheeping and all the snuggles. Will also try and crawl into your helmet again, Nemo*

Nemo: *laughs and flinches ticklishly as he turns toward the newcomers* This is Sludge, Rose, Swoop, and Kae Yau. *more seriously* None of them are human.

Lizzie: They're still cute. *grin*

Catherine: *soft chuckle* For once, Lizzie and I agree on something.

Nemo: *laughter returns to his face, but then he sobers and turns as he hears the soft, argumentative growling of Denthe's newest zombie*

Denthe: *arguing cheerfully with her latest zombie, which happens to be her own corpse*

zombieDenthe: *argue, growl, argue*

Catherine: ... *raised brow*

Lizzie: Whoah... Coooool.

Nemo: *quietly* And that's Den the Snarky and her pet zombie.

Lizzie: *careful whap of Cat's arm* Told ya, the Deadlanders get the really cool pets.

Catherine: *facepalm* Lizzie...

Ironhide: *calls toward the tavern door* She's 'eah. Tahm f'r th' sentencin'.

Nemo: *feels a little sad for the man hanging by his silk underpants from the pole as he thinks of the fate that awaits the agent*

Catherine: *frown* Sentencing?

Nemo: *nods* Yes. *quietly* He's doomed. *watches his family and friends pour out into the courtyard*

Ironhide: Oy! Denth', c'mere! 'N Ah don' mean th' dead 'un.

Catherine: Oh. *a bit uneasy now*

Denthe: *argues with her zombie pet, even as she moves to approach*

Ironhide: *unties the rope that's fastened to the back of Starscream's underpants, and then slowly lowers him* Bah th' powah invested in me bah 'Rion, king 'o th' mountain kingdom, Ah 'eabah condemn y'u, Stahscream, ta undeath at th' 'and 'o th' Pale Necromancer.

Denthe: *dryly* For all the good it'd do me.

Nemo: *shoots her a questioning look*

Denthe: He's a putz. I have lots of those.

Heatwave: *as he walks over* He's a sneaky putz.

Sludge: Bad sneaky. *hand over Yau's mouth in preparation for Bad Words*

Yau: *gonna lick your hand, Sludge!*

Sludge: .>.0 *keeps hand there, just in case!*

Rose: *leans over and licks Yau*

Yau: *muffled squawk!*

Nemo: *has to scoot to somewhere where he can mediate in an argument*

Lizzie: *awed explicative as she looks around at the company*

Piryasha: *leans over from her daddy's shoulders and busts Lizzie upside the head with her fist*

Lizzie: *squawks!*

Piryasha: King Rion not cussword. *hssssss*

Perceptor: *fussing quietly now and reminding Piryasha not to be unkind to newcomers*

Piryasha: *huffs* You told Pirry not to cuss with King Rion. The Steeler can't either!

Perceptor: *quietly* Indeed, but she has not had time to learn the rules yet.

Piryasha: *wrinkles her sturdy muzzle like she does when she's thinking deeply, then turns and holds out her arms toward the stranger*

Lizzie: *blinks and cautiously reaches for the little one*

Perceptor: *a bit surprised by the brunette's reaction, will guide her hands so Piryasha is safely held*

Piryasha: *settles her bum on Lizzie's arm and curls her tail around it slightly. And then, doing her best impression of her papa's teaching style, she starts listing off the rules of the tavern*

Catherine: *kind of looking a bit spooked now. Seems culture shock is setting in*

half the Company: *wincing as a shriek of pure, unadulterated terror heralds Flashpoint's return*

Jazz: Whoa. *hands over ears*

Perceptor: *wince wince wince*

Starscream: *savage in an instant* What did you do to her? Don't you barbarians understand mercy??

Ironhide: ... *lifts him off his feet by the scruff, and then turns to look at her sister quizzically as the shriek comes again*

Flashpoint: *landing with incredible gentleness, so as not to jostle the poor woman she's holding. Will rumble softly, before looking to Ironhide*

Ironhide: *sniffs and frowns* Whut ch'u got?

Starscream: *making throttled sounds of rage as he tries to break free*

Flashpoint: *quietly* Half-elf. She's scared spitless, 'Hahd.

Ironhide: *walks over to study the small blonde more closely, then blinks as Starscream squirms to snatch the woman away from Flashpoint* ...Y'ur gonna hang y'ur fool self.

Starscream: *doesn't seem to care that he's turning blue in the face. He's stroking the blonde's hair and holding her protectively*

Flashpoint: *raised brow ridge, looks to Ironhide with a "Now what?" expression*

Denthe: *so much frown as she watches*

Ironhide: *quietly* 'E wasn' lahyin'. *looks at Denthe for the pale necromancer's opinion*

Denthe: *quietly I wonder if there's a way to put his soul in a gem or something that the woman could wear and keep him with her...

Ratchet: *shoves to the front of the crowd* He wouldn't be able to take care of her that way. Ironhide, let him breathe.

Ironhide: *blows smoke from her nose and lowers Starscream so that his feet are on the ground*

Starscream: *deep breath, and then looks up* Give me my blue poison, and I'll take care of both of us.

Denthe: *black scowl on her face now*

Ironhide: *ditto scowl* Y'u wanna kill y'ur wahf?

Starscream: *sucks in breath involuntarily, but lifts his chin proudly* She'll be safe then.

Flashpoint: Safe fr'm who? *no, she hasn't shifted back to her natural form*

Starscream: *turns that proud and haughty look toward the gold dragon* All of you.

Ratchet: *conversationally* What are you doing with an elf, anyway? I bet your emperor doesn't know about that.

Starscream: *the flinch only shows in the darkening of his eyes. Makes no reply to the bearded man*

Company: *murmurs rustle through the crowd*

zombieDenthe: *pokes her master*

Denthe: *looks to see who poked her* Huh?

zombieDenthe: *grumble*

Ratchet: Denthe, do you really need more zombies?

Denthe: Not really. This brat *jerks her thumb at her zombie self* keeps me plenty busy.

zombieDenthe: Thrrrrrppppt.

Thrrpt: *sniggerfitdie*

Denthe: *light bap on zombieDenthe's arm* Hush, you.

Starscream: *is now ignoring everyone as he uses the hem of the blonde's gold lace trimmed robe to wipe the tears from her eyes*

Ironhide: *softly, to Flashpoint* C'n y'u see th't bond?

Flashpoint: *small nod* *softly* Ah c'n.

Ironhide: *glances toward Kriti and Chromia, her eyes asking them the same question*

Chromia: *frowning a bit as she nods*

Kriti: *small nod*

Fizz: *tiny talkings of affirmation to the alpha*

Ironhide: *frowwwwwn*

Bluestreak: We could take care of her. I came from one of the temples and used to wear the gold lace, but we sold it, and I've never looked back, there are really nice people here and- *squeaks and looks questioningly at her husband* Why'd you poke me, 'Jack?

Wheeljack: You were starting to ramble. *snuzzle*

Starscream: *actually glances at the little blonde Ranger* You're not like her.

Ironhide: 'E's rahght, babeh. She ain't got aneh fahr 'n 'er 'eart.

Bluestreak: *big eyes get bigger and fill with tears as she hunkers down to hug Slag*

Wheeljack: *hunkers down and hugs his wife muchly*

Ratchet: Well, if Denthe doesn't want him, I have a suggestion.

Ironhide: 'E'd git outta jail.

Ratchet: I've heard of one in the Backwater that no one can escape from. I'll bring them to the people that can take them there.

Ironhide: *frowns and once more looks at the other dragons*

Flashpoint: 'F th'y'd both be safe th're.

Chromia: 'T'd git 'im outta our 'aiuh.

Kriti: *quietly* They'd both be safe, and he couldn't hurt anyone that way.

Jazz: *soberly* 'Sides, he'd probably be as bad as Heat-zombies.

Heatwave: *growls at her*

Carlita and Telaria: *gigglers!*

RedRum: *bitty growl of his own*

Nemo: *quietly but clearly from the back of the crowd, where he's standing with a little girl on each shoulder and one sitting demurely on his foot* Give them to Ratchet.

Ironhide: *all the argument vanishes from her body language* Fahn. *shoves the couple toward the bearded Inquisitor*

Flashpoint: *shrinking back down to her normal form* Now th't th't's settled...

Kriti: *small snort*

Thrrpt: *razzes and waves a stein at Flashpoint*

Tracks: *goes over to offer his wife his arm*

Ironhide: *herding people back inside, including the newcomers* Les' gitch'u s'methin' t' eat.

dagger: *whistles past Lizzie's head as she enters the tavern with the lecturing Piryasha in her arms*

Lizzie: *ducks and uses her body to shield the little one in her arms* Hey! It's rude to throw daggers at people holding kids!

Eruiste: *looks at her like she's speaking gobbledygook* I was giving it back to Ironhide, you yahoo.

Ironhide: *is the sound of booting sniggering husband behind Lizzie*

Piryasha: *never lost the thread of her lecture*

Lizzie: *thrrrrrrrrpts at Eruiste*

Eruiste: *rude hand gesture as she turns back to the creature on the spit over the fire, which is just starting to crisp on the edges as it begins to cook*

Chromia: 'Eah. Lookit th's. *pulls something out of her latest loot, and then turns her face to the wall to change into the highly ornate body armour right there in the common room* *turns back to show that her bustline is now considerably higher, and considerably exposed!*

Ironhide: *stares, and then joins the general roar of laughter*

Catherine: ... *quietly excuses herself to try and ask the bartender about a safe place to store belongings*

Anna: *looks up from arguing with her belly about the laughter* You can rent a box for the usual rate.

half digested wyvern: *peeps at Catherine from his basket on the bar*

Catherine: What is the usual rate? *attention going to the wyvern. Surprised blinking is a go* Er...

Anna: He's harmless unless you feed him pickles. One gold a thirty-day.

Catherine: Er, alright... *will get out the gold*

wyvern: *cheep chatter yawwwn. Vanish down into his basket*

Anna: *glances over at Chromia as the Company laughs again. Sniggers and spanks her belly*

Catherine: *storing her satchel of books for the time being. Will glance over to where the laughter is, one brow starting to climb up toward her hairline*

Chromia: *wearing the armour and her buttwrap, and has brushed her hair into her eyes. Is standing with her chest stuck out and making the most ridiculous face*

Wheeljill: *hurries over to offer the brunette Warmaster a pair of knee high boots with spike heels*

WakeJumper: *headshake, moves to get lunch*

Lizzie: *laughing at Chromia's expression* Careful, your face'll stick like that!

Chromia: *simpers and elicits more laughter, then plunks her butt down on the table to pull on the boots*

stein: *hurtles past Catherine's head*

Catherine: *awks and ducks*

Anna: *catches it and refills it* Relax. If they'd been aiming at you, you'd be getting to know the n00b bucket.

something: *explodes over in the far corner*

Lizzie: *startles and looks to that corner*

Catherine: *just a bit pale now, will quietly excuse herself and find someplace to sit*

Thorin: *over by the fire with the other kids, has one of his unworn boots in his hand* BOOT TO THE HEAD! *flings it at Snarl*

Snarl: *flips a hand gesture he learned from watching the bigs*

Lizzie: *catches that out of the corner of her eye, snickerfit* Noooo idea what that one means.

Bumblebee: *wipes laughter tears out of her eyes* What which one means?

Piryasha: Please put me down. Lesson resumed later. *wants to go school those two streakers over there!*

Lizzie: Alright. *will set Piryasha down* *looks to Bumblebee* What the naked lizard kid just signed.

Bumblebee: *looks over there* Sheesh, he and Thorin are full moon again. What'd he do?

Lizzie: Some hand gesture... *will try and imitate it as best as she can... gets pretty close, actually*

Wheeljill: *in passing* You're another.

Bumblebee: Ohhhh. *explains very rude meaning of the gesture*

Lizzie: *amused snerk* Alright. Got it. *does have it, will likely do that gesture sometime in the future*

Thorin: BOOT TO THE HEAD!

Piryasha: *bellow of rage*

Chomper: *squeal of delighted terror as he grabs Acorn by the head*

Chromia: *has gotten hold of an ax nearly as big as Ratchet's, and is now posing in her ridiculous outfit, to the vast amusement of everyone who is paying attention*

Blue-haired elf: *to judge by the fact that she just fell out of the rafters into Lizzie's lap... she may not have been paying attention*

Lizzie: *startled squawk*

Showtime: *three sheets to the wind? Try five. She found somebody's stash of alcohol... and decided to deal with it by drinking it herself*

Bumblebee: *soft snerk* Oh no. WakeJumper! I found your disinfectant!

WakeJumper: ... *one with his facepalm*

Showtime: *gonna try to get up and make her tipsy way over to where Sunstreaker is*

Lizzie: Sheesh. What'd she get into? *amused*

Sunstreaker: *has put Mira down and is coming to get his wife, snerking all the way*

WakeJumper: A batch of rye-alcohol disinfectant. Now I have to start all over making a fresh batch.

Bumblebee: Xp

Showtime: *gonna try and kiss her husband now*

Sunstreaker: Wow. *tips his head back* Smell your breath. Flash isn't that bad after she eats Denthe's dead things. *turns to carry wife back to the hearth*

Showtime: *mumbles something in reply as she's brought to the hearth*

Flashpoint: Ah don' eat Denthe's dead th'n's, Sunneh, 'n y'u know 't!

Sunstreaker: Sure, Flash. *lays wife in the corner by the hearth, and then sits down and reaches for Mira again*

Catherine: *watching the shenanigans from a somewhat quiet corner of the tavern. She's glad that Lizzie seems to be fitting right in, but currently, she, herself, is feeling a bit overwhelmed*

bundle of clothes next to her: *stirs*

Catherine: *startles and looks that way* Er... Hello?

Moonracer: *emerges from the cloaks and blankets* Hrrrrm? *blinks around through half-closed eyes*

Torque: *groggy mumbling*

Catherine: Er... *not sure what to say or do now*

Moonracer: Oh. *muzzy grin* You're new. Hi. *rubs face on the very fluffy orange kitten in her arms*

kitten: *no comment*

Catherine: Er, yes. *small nod* My sister and I are both new here.

Moonracer: *cheek against the kitten's head* What's your name? Torky, stop pulling.

Catherine: *quietly* My given name is Catherine... But I've also been called CatScan.

Torque: *more gentle tug. Thinks you need more snuggles, Moonracer!*

Moonracer: M' Moonracer, 'n this is Torque the Dwarven Earth Sage... but I don't remember what level he is. *hides face and groans softly, then turns her head and sneezes on Torque* Ugh.

kitten: *doesn't even twitch, even though the sneeze scared a rat out of the corner by Torque's head and sent it fleeing in terror*

Acorn: Oh! My rat! *runs to grab the animal and hug it*

Catherine: *small nod* I see... *startles when the rat flees* Eeep!

Moonracer: *bleary blink blink* What'sammatter?

Catherine: There was a rat...

Moonracer: *more muzzy grin* He was snuggling.

Catherine: ...Oh.

Moonracer: *sniffles and then squints* ...You okay?

Catherine: ... *quietly* I'm not even sure anymore.

Moonracer: *more squint* XP debt?

Catherine: *headshake* No. This is just so different...

Moonracer: *blink. Blink* Oh. Are you a n00b?

Catherine: No... I've reached fifth level.

Moonracer: You're a n00b. *calls to the nearest child to bring a big one of hot stuff*

Piryasha: *drops Thorin and his boot and runs for the bar* *soon returns with two big, steaming steins*

Catherine: *attention going to the steins, brow up* Er...

Moonracer: *more grin* Giiiant's Bloooood! *takes hers and tips it up to happy glugging sounds*

Piryasha: *tilts her head at Catherine in a way that seems to be a quizzical scowl* *you gonna take this drink, strange big?*

Catherine: Er... Thank you. *will reach for the remaining stein*

Piryasha: *gives!* *and then turns her head as that gentle and scholarly looking guy in the spectacles calls for Piryasha. Happily* Coming, Papa! *zoom!*

Catherine: *blinks and dots a bit at seeing the rough and tumble child answer to a scholarly looking guy* *attention goes to the drink in hand, will give it a cautious taste test*

beer: *burns its pleasant, mulled tasting way right down her throat*

Ironhide: *wearing her underclothes, and dancing with prettily dressed Sludge while calling her "Mama's big girl"*

Catherine: *sputters a bit at seeing a lady wearing what is clearly NOT armor* *then knocks back her drink because she's not sure she's not seeing things*

Ironhide: *still dancing in wraps and undershirt when the beer is gone. ...Both of her are*

Catherine: ... *squints and tries to see just one of everything*

tavern: *NOPE! Two of everything! Except that pale dame with the dark blonde hair. There's FOUR of her*

Catherine: ... *bleep*

Moonracer: *cheerful laughter* Nice! Ratchet says that sometimes. *looks in her stein and then calls to Snarl as he dances past* Bring me two more drinks, Snarly?

Snarl: *will go get drinks for Aunty*

Moonracer: *happily throws her stein at Sunstreaker and laughs*

Sunstreaker: *startled awk, which gets muffled by Showtime grabbing him for a snog*

Moonracer: *dances while sitting down*

Snarl: *coming back with two delicate flute glasses of silvery liquid*

Catherine: *still trying to see just one of everything. She's still got her stein in hand, too*

Moonracer: *frowns slightly and pulls on the stein* That's no good, it's empty.

Catherine: *blink blink* ... *looks* Huh. It is empty.

Snarl: Brought drinks! *will offer one of the glasses to Aunty*

Moonracer: Awwww! Moonwater! You're the sweetest little guy ever. *takes the glass with one hand. Still tugging on the stein with the other* Remember when you used to fit in the beer mugs?

Snarl: *snort* Only when empty.

Catherine: *blinks a bit more, then relinquishes the stein, only to have said stein replaced with a flute glass of silvery liquid* ...Pretty.

Moonracer: Bottoms up, and the last one sitting wins! *swig!*

Catherine: *mimicking Moonracer now* *pleased sound at the pleasant, berry flavor, but then she's wobbling as the drink kicks back. It's not even a few moments later that she's tipping over backwards, down for the count*

Moonracer: I win! *sunny grin at Snarl*

Snarl: *snort* New lady is n00b.

Moonracer: Yup! But she's warm. *laughs and fixes the blankets and cloaks so that Catherine is included, then tucks herself in between the n00b and Torque* Ahhh. Here, buy yourself a goodie. *sticks out hand and gold*

Snarl: *will give hugs, and take the gold*

Moonracer: *cuddles down with a sigh, then shuts her eyes and drifts off to sleep to the sound of the dancing and cheery riot that's going on in the common room*