Episode 0: The Arcadian Rose

The water genasi leans forward. "The only thing you will clean," she says, a stern yet amused tone in her voice, "is your plate. I'll brook no protest on this, Master Coda, and then it's straight to bed."

With that she rises from the island and steps towards the large stove, setting a small pot upon a hot plate. The tiny serpentine creature uncoils and launches itself through the air to alight upon the genasi's shoulder, after which it burrows into the sling and settles itself within the bundle. The genasi begins to hum quietly, a rolling and lithe tune akin to a nursury rhyme, while she works.

"Very well, I shall sit here and wait patiently. Only protest from me is the master part, it is not fitting of me." Coda holds his index finger up to his mouth and winks to Morena. Still holding up his index, he starts swirling it around in motion with the water genasi's humming and starts a low hum himself.

Morena takes a last bite of the fish, then departs the island for the larder. She gathers a few crocks and takes them back to the island, where she begins to take out their contents onto a clean plate: pepper, garlic, coriander, paprika, and oregano. Morena grinds up the herbs and spices in a mortar and adds the mix to the pot of water on the stove.

"Well, it is getting late and we have much to do in the morning, so I'm going to get some sleep. Have a good night everyone, and I'll see you tomorrow," Kalis says, placing a hand over his mouth to stifle a yawn, then heading up the stairs and to his room.

"It looks and smells delicious." smiles Coda as the food is placed in front of him. After finishing, Coda give out a stretch and a sigh of satisfaction, "Thank you to the both of you, that really hit the spot and as promised my plate is clean." Coda lets out a soft hum and waves his finger around the bowl. "With that, I suppose I should head off to sleep." with a bow and another low hum, Coda stands up looking like a female halfling a foot taller than before. Putting his fingers to his lips, in a shushing motion, barely able to hold back his laughter, he says "They are going to be so confused."

Walking out of the kitchen, "she" makes "her" way to the table, stopping only briefly to say "Well, mother said it is straight to bed after my supper, so I'll see you all on the morrow." and runs off upstairs, trying to stifle his laughter.

Maenor looks at the female halfling, puzzled. Then he smiles to himself, saying nothing, wishes his new team a good night, and proceeds upstairs.

Geno excuses himself from the table, wiping his mouth a bit and complimenting Rhiann on the service of her establishment and the taste at her table. He swallows dryly as he goes up the stairs, wondering what he got himself into. What with the suddenly-female-Halflings and all.