Chapter 1: Coins for everyone

Lilian Rosepepper is a gnomish gypsy. While he knows quite a few people, he seems to have taken to some of the lower of the lowlifes at the bazaar. He's spent most of the morning looking for someone rough enough who'll listen to him; "I've got a promise for coin for any of you looking for work!" He called out to those he thought looked the toughest and the more desperate. Half the time he got spat on once he told his tale, while others just walked away.

Finally two unlikely candidates stuck to take Rosepepper's offer, or perhaps they were still listening to his long winded narrative. A tall and lanky haunt of a lizard person clothed in a rough spun cowl, and a filthy youth in rags with a dim and vicious look on her face. They stood towering over the gnome has he prattled his plea at them when the event occurred.

"Whuinna fuggin' piss is happenin'?!" The filthy young girl grunts amidst the eruption of earth and sky. The lizard man hisses disagreeably.

"You see?!" Lilian cries to Fingers and Murt, his high piping voice cutting over the screams of commoners as the plummet to their death. "It's just what I was telling you! My life is at risk!! Stick with me, and you'll have the coin from those you slay but just keep me alive!"

((Per aaronschmidt's request I took some liberties with everyone's relationships, I hope no one minds!))

Mr. Pretzel, part of Stearvall's travelling band of gypsies, shouts in anger at one of the other gypsies, Lilian Rosepepper. He appears to be fairly typical as far as goblins go. He stands roughly three feet tall with floppy ears that stick straight out from the sides of his face. His large, orange eyes constantly dart to and fro for threats or an easy target for his tradecraft. He has a small patch of reddish-orange hair he keeps slicked straight back. His clothes are not too terribly dirty or torn, a high accomplishment for one such as Mr. Pretzel, although all he has to keep his baggy green pants from falling down is a bit of rope tied in a knot and his red sleeveless vest is held closed with bits of wire and string.

His high, tinny voice carries over the din of the bazaar. "Nyeh! Those were my marks... I mean customers! You have no right!" He begins waddling over to Lilian, waving his hex doll he uses to "curse" the enemies of his customers for coppers. It is a poor excuse, little more than a small, tattered bundle of scraps with two broken buttons for eyes.

Before he can reach his gnomish rival, the ruptures appear. Mr. Pretzel nearly has a heart attack from fright, and he begins darting all throughout the bazaar looking for an exit. Failing to find one he ends up behind Thagr Arnsbeodi who seems to be the most well-equipped. Keeping the armed dwarf between himself and the endless serpent monster, Mr. Pretzel quickly stuffs his hex doll into his right pocket and from his left he pulls a small sling. Reaching down to pick up some of the small stones that crumbled from the erupting street, he eyes the spilled coin, wondering if he could sneak over there and fill the remainder of his pocket space...

---

Flaudette Sniresnap was content pleading for coppers for the Beggar's Guild all day today. She could make some coin, get some food in her belly (despite the quality, gruel was gruel), and rest easy among the other beggars. They looked out for each other. Well, except for the new elf and dwarf vagrants who showed up recently ((Naatkinsons' dwarf vagrant and Siva)). Those two definitely did not belong to the Guild. Scooching away from them and towards Ol' Elderberry as he liked to be called, Flaudette was about to engage in some beggar gossip when the hells literally broke loose!

Springing from her perch, the crutches she used to feign "feebleness" forgotten on the cobblestones, Flaudette immediately shoots for the pile of coin to the west. With her lithe form carrying her easily through the throng of people running for their lives, her black hair done up in dreadlocks flings wildly behind her. She keeps the dirt of the streets purposefully arranged on her face to look like makeup, and her strapless leather top, black skirt, and leg wraps are spotted with holes and tears.

Seeing the halfling samdu herder Agobard with the same idea as her, Flaudette simply nods to her fellow short statured survivor and continues to stuff coin into her upturned skirt.

---

Lavender Goombs *finally* had a decent score this morning. With the human priest ((Naatkinson's human priest)) cornered in a small alleyway and his shiv against the poor man's throat, Lavender grinned devilishy at the holy man. I'm sure to come away with something for the boss this morning! That is, until fate decided NOW was the proper time to unleash another rupture... "Bullocks! This ain't over, priesty." Dropping the man's robes, Lavender rushed out into the common area to survey the carnage.

Lavender Goombs stands tall, just over six feet with a shaved head and a thick, unkempt beard. His leather jerkin flaps open at the chest and a short cloth cape is clasped at his neck with the symbol of his street gang; the Hawks. Strapped leather sandals wrap up his legs and leather armbands cover his forearms with strips of cloth wrapped around his fists.

Lavender eyes the endless serpent to the south and the spillage of coins to the west, now with a growing group of people looking to cash in on the random effect of the rupture. Curse that snake beast and curse the coin! No easy way out... Guess I could take my chances with that singing. With a grimace he carefully approaches the wall of smoke and singing to the North looking for a way through, his small shiv held in front of him.

Stearvall was an average height, overweight and dirty man, but no one that met his noticed any of that the tattoos where all they saw, a ‘gift’ from some wizard who thought to use him as a part of some elaborate ritual a dzen years ago. He looked around the bazaar with a smile the Gypsy folk had taken to him, they were an odd lot with their prideful instance that one name was not enough, it was hard to tell what they wanted but each one had brought him customers, and enough info to sell the fortune, Had he really told that Samdu look towards the setting sun for "The reward he was due"? He ticks through the cards eyes closed naming them by feel when the sound of the coins comes from the east.

Siva was enjoying a shady nap under the parked Gypsy waggon, Gypsies are good luck they are the only thing the guards hate worse than a vagrant and for a copper ol’ Elias had promised that he would whistle if the watch showed. His mind wandered as he enjoyed the shade. Siva worked hard at two things, hiding his heritage and not working. He wore lose tattered clothing and he kept his hair long enough to cover his ears, but it would soon be time for a trim, the barber near the docks was good for a free cut for a good story of it chairs where free. His eyes snap open at the sound of the coins, and the blinding pain hits him as he sits up into the bottom of the waggon. He rolls out and his hand lands on a well smoothed hardwood cudgel that some watchman had left behind. The snake thing fills his view. "No. No. No!"

Narder Folcey, should be working, he should be shilling for the Fortune Teller like Mr. Pretzel said, but that begger girl with her strange hair was very pretty, he had never seen a lizard man before, and an actual dwarf with a sword. He was young and stick thin but he had a knack for being missed, and for being distracted. ’did that pretty girl just grow a leg, where is she heading with that sling of hers’ Narder jumped up to follow a stone in his own sling before he even noticed the earth monster.

Flaudette takes what coins she can grab off the ground while keeping a wary eye on the monkey. Once everything within reach seems to have been picked over she begins to back away, motioning for Abogard to follow. "I dunno about that creature. Usually those that got that much coin to fritter away are doin’ it with some other notion in mind ‘sides generosity... I say we stick to the group on the other side o’ the bazaar. That snake thing seems to’ve solidified into some kinda structure. Maybe it’s a way outta here?" With that she continues to back away towards the snake-turned-tower while keeping an eye on the monkey.

By contrast, Mr. Pretzel instead moves closer to the new entity with a cautious smile on his face. "Hehe... What’s your name smokey monkey? You and The Bountiful One have more coin for Mr. Pretzel? Maybe we can... be friends?" He seems to have dropped some of his guard, letting his sling hang from his left hand he stuffs his pockets with the found coppers in his right and walks forward, holding his now empty hand out to accept the gift being offered.

Stearvall pulls his dagger, holding at along the back of his arm, he moves towards the smoke creature. "Greetings, Most Generous One, I am Stearvall I see the weave of fate, how can I serve you?" he bows to the thing, never taking his eyes from it.

Siva looks back at Thagr, "what now Gonnhirrim?" he grips the club thinking of his youth and the life he left behind. The new wall blocking him and the smoking fiend, the elf looks for an escape route.


Narder moves over to Flaudette, "pardon my forwardness, I am Narder would you have any interest in fleeing with me?" He gives a slight bow and an indication to the way "free" to the north before rushing headlong into the smoke.

Flaudette seems startled by the gypsy at first, but despite all the chaos she manages a small smile. Well, he is young and handsome... and he has manners! Plus who knows what's in that tower-thingy. She makes a beeline for the wall of smoke before stopping to find Abogard in the madness. "Hey! Samdu Herder! This singing smoke seems to be the way out with the least risk. If'n you're willing then let's get outta here!" She turns and hesitantly steps into the smoke, perking her ears to try and make out the song along the way.

"Oh mighty cat, herald of gods and coins and mysteries and other things! Heed not this foul goblin!" Shouts Lilian Rosepepper as regally as he can manage while standing behind the kneeling lizard man named Fingers. "I beg thee thy wisdom! Why for thow should thee bring before thus such Bountiful and Generous Beings? I beseech thee most urgently, speak thine truth!"

"Why inna fuggin' hell is you talkin' like-" Murt grumbles before Lilian kicks her shin to silence her. This of course starts a kicking match back and forth, with Lilian trying to maintain composure while Murt is trying to give more than a few bruises.

Daniel
Daniel sees someone disappearing into the mist and shrugs, following behind at a safe distance, Maybe they know a way out?" he thinks to himself, wanting to be far away from here.

Grog
Grog greedily scoops up the coins, taking as many as he can fit into his pouch. He mostly ignores the monkey until he hears the word 'generous', then he looks at the simian, "Generous, ya say? How generous?"

Joshua
The novice priest grips his club tighter, not moving in any direction. He waits to see what else comes their way before committing to any one course of action. He keeps a close eye on Lavender until he disappears into the mist, allowing Joshua to breathe a bit easier.

"Aha, uh huh, no no no!" Shouts Lilian rudely at (WalkerOfSorrow?) moving toward the small group, and angrily gesturing for Murt and Fingers to follow after noticing they were reluctantly watching.

"I very much strongly recommend against poking around that door, you three!" The gnome says once he gets close enough to properly admonish a group of strangers, his high voice at a vibrato that is almost not intolerable. "You see, I had a waking dream that this would happen, and for me dreams are prophecy, and in this prophecy there is CALAMITY! I MIGHT DIE!"

"I'm a gypsy, you know, and as well I am nephew to a powerful illusionist! Because of my heritage I have developed profound mystical clarity so powerful that my predictions are so uncanny that they seem like they're just happening, but I assure you that I am very much an authority at saying when there is quite a lot of doom!!"

Despite his high velocity run-on sentences, Lilian Rosepepper is quite effectively coming across as a paranoid lunatic. However it can be said the cataclysmic ruptures in the cobbled streets are a point in his favor. Another driving point, his speech has been enough to win over the reasoning powers of Murt and Fingers to leave their street lives behind to join his cause.

"That fuggin' cat say milk was gunna run?" Murt pontificated aloud.

Fingers hisses to no one in particular.

Mr. Pretzel smiles openly now at the monkey and accepts the 5 silver. After glaring towards Lilian and sticking his tongue out he bows low, a clumsy attempt at elegance but heartfelt nonetheless. "Oh... ah yes of course, my Lord! Mr. Pretzel is only too happy to show his loyalty to the great and powerful Ro Ar, whose generosity knows no bounds!." After the much-exaggerated but genuine display of gratitude, Mr. Pretzel struts down the avenue of homes & shops, looking for the aforementioned temple.

Lavender Goombs stops suddenly when presented with this snake-woman. Startled, he looks her up and down, and then back to the temple. He seems to be having difficulty incorporating the intense pull of the temple and the singing with his former bluster and bravado."Hell's bells, woman are you a sight! I was just curious what lies in the temple beyond? And the singing? It's quite interesting is all..."

After breaking through the smoke and laying eyes on the strange scene before her, Flaudette is stunned for a few moments as she tries to process everything. Finally looking towards Narder, "I got no idea what's happenin', but half-snake women aren't really my thing." She begins to edge along the side of the pond opposite from the creature, keeping her eyes peeled for any other movement in the water.

Lavender glances towards the temple before swallowing hard and attempting to flatter to the snake-woman. "Well ah... I can say without a doubt you are the most beautiful reptilian woman I have ever laid eyes on. And speaking of eyes, may I say that yours absolutely sparkle!" Lavender takes one more hop to the next stone towards the temple while he is speaking and tries to do it under the guise of settling into a more comfortable position for conversation. "And this temple whose pristine lake you have the good fortune of inhabiting, please do tell who it may belong to?"

When he comes upon the green creatures Mr. Pretzel immediately halts and retreats back around the corner. He silently observes them. Hmm... What are these new greenies? They aren't gobbies like me. Are they part of the welcoming committee for this Bountiful Ro Ar I must meet? I really hate that scheming Lilian but if these things turn hostile I'll need help.

Stearvall bows and accepts his silver, "Thanks be to Ro Ar" he waits a moment then moves to follow his Goblin Friend. He sees Mr. Pretzal’s obvious caution and carefully moves behind him. "What do you see?"


Siva moves to follow Thagr, the mountain folk are good friends to have in times of trouble. With a glance into the temple. "I would scout ahead if you think it is a good plan"

Narder looks at the snake woman and tries to think of a compliment but once violet begins to speak he takes the moments distraction to follow after Flaudette, "This is not how I assumed today would go, but it is better than getting chased off by rocks or getting yelled at by an angry goblin." Once past the woman he moves next to her and matches pase on the way to the temple doors.

Mr. Pretzel jumps a bit, letting out a small squeak and turns to see who is behind him, speaking softly in his high-pitched, gravelly voice. "Eep! Ah, Stearvall sir! You are too kind staying by Mr. Pretzel's side. There seems to be some small demonic creatures about to desecrate poor Malotoch's shrine just ahead. We could try and sneak past them I suppose but Malotoch has been kind to this poor goblin; I always seem to find an animal carcass when I'm starving and I always give thanks to the Carrion Crow. I'd be the first to admit my own cowardice but I wouldn't feel right letting this shrine suffer demons. I don't know what to do! You're the bossman Stearvall sir, I'll follow your lead." Mr. Pretzel peers behind Stearvall back into the bazaar square. As he does so he makes sure his sling is at the ready with a handful of cobblestones to defend himself if need be. "Perchance is Lilian following you? I despise that smooth-skinned charlatan but he seemed to charm those to rubes into protecting him, might be nice to have a bit of muscle right about now."

Daniel
Daniel continues following Lavendar, wanting to see what's going on with the snake woman.

Grog
Grog reaches out and takes the coins from the ape, "Ro Ar, ya say?" he muses, "That be a goddess I don't mind worshiping, I think!"

Joshua
Joshua cringes as Elias is brutally killed, "May he rest in peace," he says, whispering a little prayer as he follows the others into the tower.

Mr. Pretzel begins hopping from foot to foot looking up at Stearvall, obviously distraught that Malotoch's shrine is under attack, but at the same time unwilling or unable to take the first shot.

Flaudette tiptoes up to one of the side windows and motions to Narder to keep quiet with a finger to her lips. She peeks inside, trying to locate the source of the singing.

When the snake-lady turns her attention on Daniel, Lavender grimaces and curses under his breath. Bullocks! Just when I was about to get some answers. He turns back to the temple and, seeing Flaudette & Narder already ascending the steps he jumps at the chance to bypass the snake-lady's mysterious attention. Leaping across the final stepping stones and taking the temple stairs two at a time he throws any remaining caution to the wind. "Oh no you two don't! I saw this temple first and I'll be the first to reap the rewards inside!" He flings the doors open and quick-walks inside, attempting to retain a modicum of decency towards whomever may inhabit it.

Stearvall leans down next to Mr. Pretzel, "Lets see if we can draw one of them back around the corner and," He holds up his knife, "Put it down. Toss that stone at the one in the rear, if he comes alone we jump it, if it brings friends we run over behind the herald." he indicates the smoking creature.

Siva leans in to look at the skull, "Do any of you have any idea what these symbols are? They remind me of the snake bird at the top of the stair. Do they represent a god, or gods?" He leans down to take in a breath of the incense.

Narder nods at Flaudette and his resolve lasts nearly 3 heart beats before he moves quietly to the opposite window and peeks into the temple.

With Stearvall's approval Mr. Pretzel responds with an evil smirk. Mr. Pretzel likes violence from the shadows! And by "toss" Stearvall-sir surely means "sling"... He takes a step out from around the corner, whirls his small leather sling above his head and releases a stone aimed at the back of the rear demon's head. Mr. Pretzel quickly jumps back behind the corner, listening to see if he hit his target and what the response might be...

In the Tower
Rosepepper and his crew follow the others doggedly as they descend into the tower. When faced with the mysterious key and locks, Lillian gives a piping 'hurumph'.

"Yes.. yes I have seen this once before!" He exclaims. "It's just as I suspected - this is some sort of monolithic transverbial hieroglyph that has been transcribed into a primitive pictorial form! Oh hooo, my aunt is clever but not so clever as to misunderestimate my ability to twist the the ethers of my dream state sub-mind!"

Lilian squints with great concentration as he focuses on the symbols of the locks.

Mr. Pretzel squees in delight when he sees the demon keel over, but then his smile immediately drops when the other two hiss in his direction. He loads another stone into his sling, preparing to defend himself but looks to Stearvall for direction. "Uh oh... Umm, Stearvall-sir? I got one, but the others... What do we do?"

Lavender stands stock still, stunned by the strange sight of the temple and the singing pigs before him. The snake-lady's angry screaming breaks him out of his reverie, though, and he & Flaudette turns to see Daniel getting coiled up in her body. Poor bastard...

Well, better him than me. 'Least I got away from that crazy snake-lady-thing... Lavender Goombs shakes his head and turns back to the temple interior. He glances to each side with the curtain-covered entryways, but can't help himself from approaching the singing pigs. He stops a few steps behind them and listens to the song for a moment.Meanwhile, Flaudette watches Narder creep into the temple and follows behind shortly after, peeking into the same curtained doorway from behind Narder's hip.

Mr. Pretzel nods and gives a grunt of acknowledgement, staying where he is as Stearvall moves to intercept. He begins twirling another stone while looking back towards the bazaar and shouting. "If anyone is still back there, 'specially any other gypsies, Stearvall-sir and I could use some assistance!" He lets the stone fly at one of the advancing demons with a loud "Nyah!"

Grog
Grog waits just another moment to see if there are any more coins forthcoming, and then moves on with the others...

Grog
Grog looks at the flimsy club on his hip, back to the demons, and then ducks back around the nearest corner, afraid for his life, What in the hell is going on in this place today? he wonders to himself.

"YOU THICK HEADED HARLET!" Lillian shrieks, his voice cracking with distress. "YOU.. YOU.. THE KEY.." but his thoughts betray him, as the alternate versions emerge.

"Murt! Fingers! Earn your keep, and protect me!!"

Fingers hisses angrily at shadow version of himself.

Murt seems perplexed by the existential dilemma of fighting a double of herself. "DA FUG IS THIS STUPID?" She slides brass knuckles over her bruised and bloody fist.

Joshua
Joshua recoils from the sight of his shadow-double and readies his club...

Joshua
Having reacted just an instant quicker than his double, Joshua shouts and swings his club at 'himself', "Die, you unholy beast!"

Daniel
Daniel panics and tries to break free from the snake-lady's grasp as he is suddenly plunged underwater. As he pulls free from her grasp, he begins swimming for the surface and tries to get out of the water completely.

Mr. Pretzel is unprepared for the speed of the demon's approach and the cloud of bodily gas that erupts in his face and he shrieks in disgust. "BLEEEEECH!" He inhales the gas into his wide open mouth and can barely utter a "Stear--" before his eyes roll back in his head and he falls to the ground.

Flaudette gasps at the roasting humanoids and allows Narder to drag her away from the grisly scene. She looks like she is about to be sick.

Lavender stares out towards the heavenly scene before him in awe. He mutters to the the singing pigs next to him. "You sing the language of the gods? And this... what are you showing me? What in the blazes is happening here?!"

Hearing Lavender speak Narder will turn that direction. "Hey Mister, you do not want to be here!!"

Lavender barely registers Narder's words but he does eventually break from his far-away stare into the heavens. "You don't understand... I think they *want* me for something. They brought me here, showed me all this for a reason! There's something I'm meant to do!" Just then he sees the piglets running out of the side room and furrows his brow in confusion.

"If Ro Ar needs blood he can have yours!" Stearvall lunges at the daemon filled with Rage.

'You have done it again, three more deaths to add to the tally, the councle was right about you. And that gnome was the only one who seemed to have any idea what was going on' Siva lashes out at the bearded copy of himself fuled by self hatred.

Narder rushes past the pond and calls out. "Lovely lady we bring you an offering of food." Once at the far end of the pool he spins on his heal and gets his sling ready.

Flaudette follows Narder and readies her sling as well. Along the way she will pick up a handful of rocks for her sling and toss one into the pond near where she saw the snake lady to help get her attention when the piglets come near. "I sure hope this is a good idea... Either they will engage each other or we just angered another other-worldly beast and drew its attention!"

Meanwhile, Lavender immediately ignores the tribulations of the fleeing Narder & Flaudette as he has a breakthrough. "I... I can understand your words! Your godly language has been gifted to me!" Then, he will actually begin speaking in celestial to the singing pigs. "Am I one of you now? What would you have me do?"

Murt swings a heavy punch at her alternative self. "FFFUG OFF STUPID." She bellows!

Fingers swings his shovel with a wide arc hoping to catch his alternative self in the ribs, hissing viciously.

Lilian Rosepepper gurgles his death rattle, "J..just as I..dreamed.." before dying on the floor.

Fingers lunges at his shadow self, harnessing the famous strength of lizards everywhere to swing his shovel as hard as he can.

Murt circles around to attack the Shadow Fingers. "YEAH YEAH FUG 'EM UP!" She advises, showing herself as a clear front runner for leadership. Her brass knuckles crash into the back of the shadow fingers' skull! Knocking him down, the teenage thug jumps onto the back of the shadow while pummeling it, her brutish grunts matching each wet punch.

As the mountain and the statue(?) gets within shouting distance Lavender will fall to his knees in reverence, his former masculine bravado forgotten for the moment. With tears streaming down his face he cries out in celestial, "I have answered the call! Your chosen one is here oh mighty one! What is thy bidding?" And then he will begin singing along the best he can with the pigs.

Steaevall looks to the crows then to his fallen friend. "All I have given you today is death, Mr Pretzel gave you his life. By boon is that you take him as a saint" he bends down and tosses Mr. Pretzel's doll to the crows. He scoops up some of the emeralds, walks over to put his back against a wall and slides down, his tears cutting lines through the blood on his face.
"Malotoch, if I make it through today I dedicate myself to you!"

It was the all to human squeel of fear from the piglet, the sling stopped spinning in his hand and Narder looked in horror at is handiwork, He was out of clever, brave and impulsive for today. It seemed like tired was all that was left

Siva's arm went numb with the blow, he could remember when Master Amon taught him that counter, he steps in again with more blows all blocked or dodged and he remembered something else Amon had said, 'You are your own worst enemy Siva.'

Daniel
"Of course not!" Daniel replies to the snake-lady, relieved that she's not trying to kill him, "I saw the pigs and just knew you'd love them to bits! Would you like it if I got you some more presents?"

Grog
Grog steps out from behind cover, "Good job, fellas!" he says, clapping Stearvall on the back, "I knew we could do it!"

Daniel glances back at the snake-lady and then raises his sword, "For beauty!" he shouts, slashing at the mama pig with his sword.

Starvall takes a few more moments to grieve his friend. Before heading back to where everything started.


"not today piggy" Narder dances back and lets a sling stone fly

Flaudette shrieks as she narrowly misses getting cleaved. She flees back behind Narder and barely gets a shot off with her sling. The stone goes wide. "The Guild definitely did NOT prepare me for this!"Lavender Goombs continues to weep openly as the Goddess comes into view. "Please, Almighty One! I have led a life of sin up until now. I've stolen and caused violence against innocents. If you can find it in your benevolent wisdom to forgive me I swear I'll devote the rest of my life to doing your bidding. Command me, Opulent One!"

Murt rises from kneeling upon the ground, her rags disheveled in a most unlady like fashion. She strides over to Siva's corpse to loudly spit on his face. "STUPID," She bellows at the dead boy, "NOW HOW I GUNNA GET GOLD?"

Fingers squats over Lilian Rosepepper's body to loot him of all valuables, including the Gnome's fingers, which he snaps off one by one.

"Awright ya dumb idiots, I'm the boss now." Murt says, taking control of the situation. She stands before the surviving group with her hands on her hips, the set of brass knuckles still coated with dark blood.

"Ya see this?" The youth holds up a tiny satchel for everyone to see, shaking it lightly to produce a clinking sound like a bag of broken teeth. "This a bag of broken teeth," she expounds, "An' I punch 'em outta stupids who not good at listenin' me. Got it!?"

Fingers hisses with a bloody finger of his former employer now crunching between his sharp reptilian teeth.

Lavender will continue alternating between singing, weeping, and pleading to Ro Ar in celestial to adopt him into her church until she responds or something disrupts him.

Daniel slashes at Mama pig.

if that is the case...

"Grog, come with me"

Stearvall turns and heads back to where the daemons where to explore that direction.

if that is the case...

"Grog, come with me"

Stearvall turns and heads back to where the daemons where to explore that direction.

Grog hesitates for a moment before following along with Stearvall.

Lavender stands stock still, in shock as Ro Ar destroys the temple ceiling and he finally gets a sense of her size now that they are in the same room. He falls to his knees in the milk and begins lapping it up to appease her, stopping to ask in between swallows. *gulp, gulp* "Is this what you want?" *gulp, gulp* "Have I earned your favor yet?" *gulp, gulp"

Fully into the fight now with no way out, Daniel continues attacking the pig.

Grog groans, "This isn't what I wanted to do today!" as he raises his club and charges the pig.

"Malotoch guide my aim"

Stearvall slashes at the momma pig

Lavender rises to his feet, now frantic that he has been given a command. "Ye- Yes my Queen! Offerings. Right away!" He sprints out of the temple and needs a moment to take in the insane battle currently taking place between the survivors of the bazaar, the giant snake woman, and now a large pig with a cleaver. Upon seeing the pig, a light bulb goes off in his head. The snake... Eating its own tail... Of course! "The Glorious and Generous Ro Ar deserves offerings, for she is hungry!" With that, Lavender pulls out his shiv and leaps upon the prone mamma pig.

Seeing the pig woman fall, Daniel leaps forward, stabbing his blade hard at her.

Grog raises his club high and tries to smack the pig with it

After the finishing blows and Lavender has a chance to look around he glances nervously towards the snake woman. Seeing she is not paying attention to him at the moment he immediately starts dragging the mamma pig back up towards the temple, shouting to the others. "Come, my friends. The Bountiful Ro Ar is emerging into our plane of existence and she is hungry! We must appease her with gifts of sustenance!"

Upon seeing the imps dragging live humans, Lavender shouts to them as well. "Hey! You little impish creatures! How dare you serve live people to Glorious Ro Ar. Don't you know they would be much better served as her loyal subjects, to go forth and claim more bounty for her Majesty?! Let those poor souls go and gather up some of these dead bodies you nincompoops!"

Daniel smiles at the snake lady and tenderly rubs her scaly body, "We will have time for that later, my love. For now, it may be best to appease the goddess that has entered our world. She may well take me as a snack if she isn't properly taken care of," he says.

Grog, wanting to get away from the giant snake woman, joins Lavender in dragging the pig.

Stearvall rollls the pig over, grabs her Cleaver and guts her with it, he then takes the entrails and drags them to follow the green deamons, Cleaver in his bloody hand.

Fingers hisses loudly at the emergence of wings upon his back.

"Whainna fuggin heck is this?!" Murt angrily tries to turn and look at her own back.

"THISSSS ISSS THE COMING OF THE GREATEST OF LIZARDSSS." Fingers bellows, sweeping his wings through the air to take flight.

"Hey! C'mback here, I'm boss now!" Murt shouts as everyone begins to fly away from her. She clumsily spreads her wings and takes to the air as the duo joins the exploration of the upper tower.

When Lavender makes his way into the temple he starts moving towards the imp holding the woman's husband, that is until he notices the chaos around him. Upon seeing the goblin offer the human to Ro Ar and watching her devour him, Lavender winces and gives up the chase. Turning back to the soon-to-be-widow he gives an apologetic look. "My apologies, it appears your husband is destined to be one of the many graced to fill Ro Ar's belly. Be thankful he was chosen, the best way to honor his memory now is to devote yourself to her will." He gestures to the dead goblin who was knifed by the other. "There are offerings abound, pick one and gain the Queen's favor that she might smile upon you!"

Lavender will try to force his way to the front of the crowd and get Ro Ar's attention, waving the large piece of mamma pig. "You see? Do you see my Queen? You asked me to bring offerings and look at the near-endless bounty I have brought to you!" He is pointing to the entire crowd, attempting to take credit for bringing everyone here to her. "Please, Goddess! Accept my offering and let me do your will as your disciple!"

"THISSS SSSWORD IS MY DESSSTINY!" Roars Fingers.

Murt leaps away from the grave digger. "Dun even think 'bout it you stupid lizzerd! Yer supposed to be my BOYFRIEND, but I'll kill you dead if you think you can kill me!" If Murt feels an ounce of sentiment to this possible betrayal it doesn't seem at all apparent.

The two stand waiting for the other to move. But after a heart beat or two, they slowly turn to look at the others, glowering with murderous, boiling rage. It is a grim sight.

When Lavender gets knocked to the ground he looks up at Ro Ar with shock and pain in his eyes at the casual dismissal. "But... but I thought I was your chosen?" He gets to his feet, picking up the gold coin and staring at it. As he is jostled and pushed out of the way with more beings forcing their way forward to make offerings he looks up at Ro Ar once more, this time there are tears of anger in his eyes. He cocks his arm as if to whip the coin at the pig-goddess but stops mid-throw. He gives one final glare and turns to stomp away.

Standing near the entrance to the temple away from the chaos he looks down at his hands; gold coin from an absentee goddess in one and his shiv from his old life as a gang member in the other. My former life seems so long ago already, but this new-found piety doesn't seem quite right either. How in the blazes did I come to this crossroads?

After a moment he pockets both items. Looking around, he curiously moves to peek his head behind the curtain on the left.

Fingers hisses viciously as he lunges at the man, his spade in two hands ready to swing.

Murt looks unsure, and seems to be waiting for an opportunity.

Finger's, having the lightning reflexes of a reptile, takes the initiative! He rushes at Thangar, swinging his Spade with both hands.

Murt sizes up the scene, and decides that the best course of action is to make a grab for the sword! She rushes to it, and grabs the hilt to arm herself against the victor of the battle!

stearvall fights his way forward. He tosses the entrails to the god Will this sate you?

Murt grips the sword tightly. "YOU. STUPID. GUY!" She bellows charging down upon the Dwarf, swinging with all her might, tears steaming down her muddy, orphan face.

Murt hacks down Thagr with the magic sword, each blow inexpertly wielded like a butcher's cleaver grunting with furious rage upon each impact. "YOU. DIE." Each word a chop into the Dwarf's body, even after he hit the floor. "FUG. YOU. DEAD." She continues blow after blow until the corpse is a red, wet ruin.

Satisfied, or exhausted by her savagery, the thug stands again, her rags a blood stained mess. She stares down the snake, her beady eyes tear streaked and brimming with rage as a youth who has come to learn treachery from reptiles. "Whainna fug is ya lookin' at you STINKIN SNAKE?"

Murt spits towards the Snake as it flies away. She spends her time rooting about, taking valuables off the deceased and looking for any treasures. Specifically, she'll knock out a tooth from the Dwarf, and also take one of Finger's largest fangs. The Lizardman's fang will be made into a simple necklace, the Dwarf's will be added to the bag with the rest.

Once she's had a look around, she'll slink out of the tower the way she came in.

Lavender will pull his head out of the curtain and take a look around the central chamber. Seeing the chaos of the crowds rushing to appease Ro Ar he shakes his head and casually strolls up to the parakeet-headed man. Craning his head he looks at the pile of papers on the desk and then around the room at the various instruments, trying to keep a low-profile while searching for anything that looks important or valuable.

Keeping an eye on the strange man, Lavender swipes the goblet and one bottle of wine. One the way out he quickly looks back and takes a well-made flute as well that is laying on a table by the exit.

Stearvall digs into his pockets and quickly tosses the coins aside. He's hand touches the emerald, the last bit if his goblin friend, and he holds it out to the crow. "May I keep this bit of Mr. Pickles?"

Lavender stands straight and makes sure the hand holding the goblet and wine is out of sight behind his back. Donning a sickeningly polite but hopefully still believable smile and an air of snobbishness he speaks, "Ah, of course I am! One thousand apologies for my tardiness, let me adjourn to the main chamber and assume my position at once. I cannot wait to hear what you have prepared!"

He will back out of the room and attempt to disappear into the crowd, exiting the temple.

Daniel debates ducking out, but sighs and calls to the snake-lady who he's grown oddly fond of, "Over here," he calls, smiling.

"Oh there you are!" She winds her coils around Daniel in firm but gentle way. She looks at the crowd and screams "Get outta tha way!" The crowd scrambles to get out of the way. She then leads Daniel back to the water. I wanted to show you my home and she slips into the water and disappears. Daniel sees that there seems to be a small door under the water. If he held his breathe he might be able to get through and see where she went.

Daniel swims through the small doorway. It is dark for a moment and he feels like his lungs may burst but he makes it to light and air. All around him is blue sky. The ground is green with copse of trees around. A small river runs through this land. In fact Daniel just came from the river. "Welcome! This is our secret place." She smiles sneakily. She coils around Daniel. Ro Ar doesn't know I kept a tunnel back to Celestia! It'll be our little secret." She then takes Daniel over to another part of the river bank. You see quite a few skeletal remains bleached by the sun. "These were my old boyfriends... they just didn't have what it takes...sigh" She turns one over revealing a beautiful breastplate with a sun insignia on it. "Try this on! It would make you look so dashing. And take his sword! He doesn't need it!" She laughs.

Daniel feels his stomach twist into knots as he sees the bones on the river bank, but becomes distracted by the shiny equipment. With a smile, he takes it and puts it all on, "How does it look?" he asks, then spins slowly to allow his 'love' to see what it looks like,

"Dazzling!" She then leads Daniel to the shore. "Now go forth and prove thy worth my knight." And she gives Daniel the gentlest sweetest kiss on the cheek. "Bring me a worthy gift!" and she pushes Daniel into the water towards the secret doorway.

With one last smile, Daniel heads back out of the secret place and back into the normal world.