Mirrors (Episode 1)

Natrix follows Keltos' lead and departs from the forge. Outside, she comments, "I have never felt the need for heavy armorss, ssswords, or firearmss. They only weigh you down at the wrong time and are lesss efficient than magic." She unfolds the map again and notes places and details along their path to the docks.

Keltos allows Natrix to take comfort in her belief, He nods contemplatively as they continue "Not far now".

Scene 8: The Sound of Music

Guided through the halls of the great palace, Tajuri and her companion, Jael, find themselves back at the point they entered Lord Orb's stronghold the previous evening. The sky is still dark, but now there does seem to be movement about the city of T'Lorn, as Chamberlin promised.

Not far into their walk, Tajuri glances through an opening of an overpass bridge and spots a sign hanging on the outer wall of a building, which depicts a black sword. Moving a little closer, she notes that is appears to be a sign for a tavern called The Runeblade. Curious, the two approach the stone structure and find open steps leading down.

From somewhere below they can hear the faint sound of music...

Taking Jael's hand, Tajuri glides casually down the steps, eager to find the source of the music and investigate a place named The Runeblade. She stops at the bottom of the steps, upon seeing the figure seated behind a deck. "Hello? It this the tavern? Are you open for business?" She calls out.

On hearing Taj's voice, a freckle-faced young eldren female looks up from the table and waves them forward.



"Oh..morning. Yes. Uh..hi. I'm Peri. You two must be some of Lord Orb's special guests who arrived late last night? Welcome. This IS the Runeblade." She stands up, obviously excited to see fresh new faces. "Let me show you around." She quickly vanishes through a hallway behind the front desk and reappears at the top of a second set of steps to the right.

"Yes. We did arrive late yesterday by our recollection of time." Tajuri confirms. "This is our first excursion beyond the walls of the palace. So, everything in this city is new to us. Thank you, Peri. A pleasant guide through your establishment sounds perfect." She follows along with Jael at her side. "Everything was so dark through the streets when we arrived. We are glad to see there are places and people here after all."

The spritely Peri leads her guests beyond the second steps and across a torchlit opening to their left. Within, in a short distance, Tajuri and Jael can see a bar and tables. Several shadowy, and almost hazy, patrons can be glimpsed inside. From this distance they seem not have many features, including faces.







"Oh, don't mind the locals." Peri tells her guests. "They're not important. They will grow on you if you're around them long enough."

Taj gives the odd appearance of the locals a side glance, but stays on Peri's lead, following the decidedly cute eldren up the long steps to whatever awaits in the upstairs lounge. "I do hope you don't mean that literally. I mean—about the locals. I take much pride in maintaining my personal appearance and unsightly growths are not to be desired."

Leaning in, Jael whispers, "Do not be concerned, my Princess. Your girl will never let the strange ones mar your beautiful body. I promise this." She kisses Tajuri lightly on the cheek and squeezes her hand.

The freckle-faced young Eldren laughs a girlish giggle and turns at the top of the landing. "Oh. No. I didn't mean it that way. Most of the local denizens will appear to newcomers as vague shadows of real beings. Its one of the curious features of this demiplane of T'lorn. Most of the locals are relatively harmless."

Visibly relieved by her demon lover's promise and Peri's assurances, Tajuri glides on behind the latter's lead. "I know its early, or at least early for us, but I feel the sudden desire for a drink." She announces to their guide. "I trust one can be had up here in the lounge, Yes?"

The hallway widens up on the next level. The floor in laid in hard wood with patterns and the walls are more refined and richly decorated. At the far northern end can be seen a small bald male with medium brown skin and a large salt-and-pepper mustache seated behind a desk and pouring over stacks of papers.



Behind him and to his left stands a large blue-skinned male demon, with arms crossed. The sound of the music, a violin it seems, is growing in volume the closer the three of them come to the north end of the upstairs hallway.




Peri smiles and nods. "Of course you can find a drink up here and so much more. The Runeblade has many options for your pleasure."

The small fellow at the desk looks up and does a double take upon seeing the two exotic beautiful guests approaching with Peri. He scrambles and pulls himself up to stand in the seat of the chair; beckoning wildly with both his chubby little hands. "Whoooah! Peri, dear girl! Who have you found wandering about early this day?!" His voice is an odd gravelly falsetto. "Come! Come in, lovely ladies! Welcome! Welcome to The Runeblade! Call me Tom..."


The big demon behind him gives an amused chuckle at this.


"Please—if you two lovelies have need of anything, let Tom know. Alright? I handle procurements and the exchange of coin for the establishment. Your first drink is on me!"

The doors to the right at partially open. Through these, is where the music is coming from.

"Thank you, Tom." Tajuri acknowledges the short man's name and his offers. "Most kind of you. We will keep your offer in mind should we require anything more." She says with a smile and a nod.

Hearing the music still, Taj turns toward the sound and looks to Peri. "Let us find those drinks to be had, Peri and enjoy the music, shall we?"

"Right this way." Peri announces and set off again. She opens the slightly opened doors at the end of the short corridor to the right and enters a larger area filled with tables and chairs. She points to the far left and says, "Over there are the balcony seats to watch the pit fights. Its yet too early for combatants to be training down there and matching don't start until the late evening."



Across the way sits a young Human female playing a violin. She has pale skin and jet black hair, except for a couple long white streaks in her forelocks.

💀



Peri turns to her right and proceeds through the empty dining area. Ahead of her, both Tajuri and Jael can see a man wiping down the counter of a large L-shaped bar. "Master Logan!" She calls out. "We have guests. Smal—Tom says their first is on the house."

"Pit fights? You have blood sports here in the tavern? What do they consist of?" Tajuri wonders aloud, before visually taking in the young woman playing the violin. "She plays beautifully. Is the violinist available for private performances? We do so love music." She questions, looking over at Jael and squeezing the desire demoness' hand.

Spying the bartender, Tajuri keeps moving along with their guide, Peri, toward the bar.

"Oh, yes! The Runeblade hosts varied types of Pit Fights for the entertainment of its patrons. Armed and unarmed. Wagers on each can be made with Tom." Peri informs Tajuri and Jael. "The bard is quite talented, isn't she? She's been with us for a while now. You'd have to ask her about command performances. She plays three sets here four nights a week."

Arriving at the bar, Peri steps up to the bar and props her elbows on the edge.






"Now what can I get for you ladies?" The Human male behind the bar, with the greying temples asks. "Name's Logan. I'm one of the partners of this establishment. Welcome to The Runeblade and welcome to T'Lorn!"

"Thanks, Logan." Tajuri replies and glides to the bar. "Two ales, please, if you have it? Having never been to T'Lorn outside of the castle so far, I am unsure what is available."

"Two ales coming right up." The barman assures them and sets about filling two glasses. "We do have a small stock of many varieties, but it is true that nearly everything has to be imported in or obtained through special arrangements."

After a couple minutes, Logan slides the two glasses of ale over to Tajuri and Jael. "There you go, ladies. Enjoy."

"Thanks, Logan." Taj offers the man, as she picks up the glass and brings it to her lips. She takes a swallow and nods. "Yes. Just what I needed."

Placing a hand on Jael's shoulder, she comments, "Many a thing may be had through special arrangements. I get that."