Gameplay - The Dragon That Opposed an Empress

"Well...I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. For the people." Ruby still has shades of apprehension, but is committed to this drastic plan.

Mavis beams.
Well if it’s only skin, an’ flesh, an’ bones, an’ organs, an’ stuff then what we waitin’ for?
She had been afraid he’d say that she would stop being a dwarf!

The following day you fly to Great Delta, arriving in the early afternoon. You make great time the winds and updrafts work in your favor.

Mordenth sends you ahead, to go to the Pointed Slipper. As a giant dragon he'll draw every eye, and he prefers to not make a spectacle, will make his way separately. He veers inland before you get too close.

Great Delta is much as you left it, just less sandstormy and demon-infestedy. The city bustles both in the poor sections in the old river needs and within the walls on the island.

You find the Pointed Slipper easily enough, not far from the inn you stayed at last time.

I guess we should get rooms and a good meal. It may be a while before we have either again.

Mavis shouts through the blast of the wind as they ride the Hippogriffs.
Garth! We best warn stable lads it'll be 'obgoblins collecting us mounts - mebbe get receipt or summat. Probably best we get some robes with 'oods to cover faces an'all if we ent to stand out when mekin' way back to inn.

Mavis thinks it might be a good idea to invest the last of her gold in a disguise kit. If the need arises, she might be able to disguise herself as herself (as at least cover the red hobgoblin skin).

I am hoping our new friend has enough pull to smooth those kind of things over.

Mavis nods,
Aye, an' ahm 'oping ah don't get slotted - dunt stop me wearin' armour though.
That counts as wisdom for a dwarf.

"Hah! Armor. That's funny." Hehsh will wait for his father to make himself known, enjoying a good meal with whoever will join him while he waits. He idly wonders if his skin will still be as hard as his scales when he is a hobgoblin. He does not like this plan.

"I hoe not, armor is way tooo uncomfortable for me. I wonder what hobgobs wear casually anyway, it's hard to know when every one we've run across is in a military outfit." Ruby comments as she hops onto a seat with a full tray of food. "Guess wel'll find out. I just hope the 'changing' doesn't hurt, or feel...weird. "

You stable your mounts. Do you tell them anything about how you're going to pick them back up?

Mavis whispers to them whilst winking conspiratorially,
If it's 'obhoblins that picks 'em up, then dunna be frit. It's all cushty.

Just want to know what you're telling the stable keeper, heh.

"But not just any hobgoblins! They have to...uh, be us? Look we'll call them by name. That one is Beaky" Hehsh points to his mount. "If a hobgoblin comes along and doesn't ask for Beaky, it's not us." Hehsh realizes that didn't make anything clearer.

The stablepeople accept your instructions.

You go to the Pointed Slipper. It's an unusual sorry of tavern, full of gauzy curtains and unusually spicy smoke. Instead of tables, you find sitting areas filled with pillows that look remarkably clean for the atmosphere. Scantily dressed purple in thin, light, exotic fabrics lounge about smoking from strange kettles (hookahs) and sipping tea from small filigreed glass demitasses. The gauzy curtains lend an otherworldly and somewhat anonymous experience.

Walking through you ascertain the Illianstar isn't there yet, so you find a table. The staff brings you a selection of small rocks for the hookah, a tray of honeyed dates and small vine leaf wrapped delicacies, and a pitcher of cool, milky tea, with cups and plates for all of you.

Mavis sniffs the tea suspiciously. She hasn’t had a decent brew since coming above ground.
Eee Ruby. Tea’s clap cold. Does tha’ think we ought tell um?

But the hookah is much more to her liking. Mavis takes long drags whilst people watching, creating stories in her head about these people and their lives.

Garth enjoys the food, but stays away from the smoke.

No thanks, never acquired a taste for it.