Lovely 006 Meeting Blub

Zubaidah, 8:24 PM

Morning dawns! … not much else to say about that. It looks like it's going to be a nice day outside, very warm and sunny.

Zubaidah, 8:25 PM

Should you happen to be in your living room, Ulisse is there, wearing his own clothes again and reading a bundle of papers.

Ann, 8:27 PM

Ann Nesia is there as well feeding the rat  some fruit

Zubaidah, 8:27 PM

Ulisse: What sort of puppy do you think Chance would prefer?

Ann, 8:29 PM

You think chance is a dog person?

Pharolvir, 8:30 PM

Pharolvir enters, dressed, hair now the magenta color cause magic hair pin. "...why are you still here?"

Ann, 8:30 PM

He stayed the night, we have comfy couches

Zubaidah, 8:31 PM

Ulisse: It seemed simpler. I'll go if  you prefer.

Ann, 8:31 PM

Something small and yappy probably for chance

Pharolvir, 8:32 PM

"You think Chance wants a dog?"

Zubaidah, 8:32 PM

Ulisse: He claimed he did.

Zubaidah, 8:32 PM

Ulisse: ...and keep in mind, you're living with him, you'll have to live with whatever it is, too.

Ann, 8:33 PM

I would prefer to stay away from larger canines for right now

Pharolvir, 8:34 PM

"I think small would be ideal right now."

Zubaidah, 8:34 PM

Ulisse: It's less the "small" and more the "yappy" element that I was questioning.

Zubaidah, 8:35 PM

He refolds the paper and sets it on the coffee table. It's got Elenion Tribune written in bold serif letters on it.

Pharolvir, 8:36 PM

"Are there small quiet dogs?"

Zubaidah, 8:38 PM

Ulisse: I believe so. I've never tried keeping a pet.

Pharolvir, 8:38 PM

"Dogs aren't really a thing in the underdark."

Zubaidah, 8:39 PM

Ulisse: Maybe one of those very small, fluffy white dogs.

Pharolvir, 8:40 PM

"...any chance you can not get Chance this dog until we've had a talk about it?"

Pharolvir, 8:41 PM

"Just cause Chance mentioned wanting a dog doesn't mean he's ready to care for it."

Pharolvir, 8:41 PM

"Which means I'll be the one picking up after it."

Zubaidah, 8:41 PM

Ulisse: Of course I can wait.

Zubaidah, 8:41 PM

Ulisse: I would also suggest a small grown dog rather than a puppy.

Pharolvir, 8:42 PM

"Makes sense to me."

Zubaidah, 8:43 PM

Ulisse: I brought up some fruit for breakfast. And there's tea.

Pharolvir, 8:43 PM

"...thank you.  That's very nice."

Ann, 8:43 PM

Ann Nesia will look at the newspaper

Ann, 8:44 PM

Thank you

Pharolvir, 8:45 PM

Pharolvir will grab some fruit and tea.

Ann, 8:45 PM

Ann Nesia will also grab a cup of tea and some fruit

Zubaidah, 8:45 PM

Apparently there's a blizzard expected in a few days, and there's a new art exhibit downtown.

Zubaidah, 8:46 PM

Ulisse: … this is all very strange.

Ann, 8:46 PM

What is?

Zubaidah, 8:47 PM

Ulisse: Not having to be somebody else.

Zubaidah, 8:48 PM

The last section of the paper is sports news.

Pharolvir, 8:49 PM

"Understandable.  The expectations of family can be...unobtainable."

Ann, 8:50 PM

Ann Nesia looks at the last section of the paper quizzically then folds it and puts it down

Zubaidah, 8:51 PM

There's a knock at the door.

Pharolvir, 8:51 PM

"...what's wrong with the paper?"

Ann, 8:52 PM

Ann Nesia goes and opens the door “just some weird sport”

Zubaidah, 8:53 PM

It's Tython! He's not wearing his big leather apron.

Zubaidah, 8:53 PM

Just the wizard's robes.

Ann, 8:53 PM

Ann Nesia pets the rat to make sure it stays calm

Zubaidah, 8:54 PM

The rat glares.

Pharolvir, 8:54 PM

Pharolvir stands up immediately and bows. "Mr. Tython, hello."

Zubaidah, 8:54 PM

Tython: Oh, there he is! Wow, he's looking happier already, isn't he?

Zubaidah, 8:55 PM

Tython waggles a finger at the rat, and then looks at Pharolvir. "Oh, hi! No need for the mister, that just sounds... strange."

Ann, 8:55 PM

He is doing well, he likes having a lot of space

Pharolvir, 8:55 PM

"Right.  Sorry."

Ann, 8:55 PM

You want some tea or fruit?

Zubaidah, 8:56 PM

Tython then notices Ulisse. "Uh, no, thanks, is he staying here now?"

Ann, 8:56 PM

There was an incident last night, all good now though

Pharolvir, 8:57 PM

"Indeed."

Zubaidah, 8:58 PM

Ulisse: … I'm not planning on causing any trouble.

Zubaidah, 8:58 PM

Tython: Uh, sure. Well, anyway.

Zubaidah, 8:59 PM

He turns his attention to Pharol and Ann. "I need to pick up some supplies, so I was wondering if you guys wanted to come with, since you're new in town and all."

Pharolvir, 9:00 PM

"Yeah!  That'd be great!"

Ann, 9:00 PM

Sounds good to me

Pharolvir, 9:01 PM

"I can look into some ingredients.  I thought I could establish more of a proper alchemy lab."

Zubaidah, 9:02 PM

Tython: Now we're talking. All right. Do you need time to get ready or should we just head over now?

Pharolvir, 9:02 PM

"I just need to grab my bag."

Pharolvir, 9:03 PM

Pharolvir does so and comes back with a large shoulder bag.

Zubaidah, 9:05 PM

Tython: Right, good call. All right. Have you seen much of the city yet?

Pharolvir, 9:06 PM

"Not so much."

Ann, 9:06 PM

I have literally seen none of the city

Zubaidah, 9:07 PM

Tython: Oh, wow, okay. Well. There's a lot of it.

Zubaidah, 9:09 PM

Tython: There are magic shops all over the place, of course, but probably the easiest place to find weird stuff--at least according to Shihan--is near the University.

Zubaidah, 9:09 PM

Tython: The University's mostly a mundane organization but there's a college of magic, of course, and a college of alchemy and... well, there are probably about um. 40,000 students? It's like a city within a city, almost.

Zubaidah, 9:10 PM

You guys head out, passing Verandis at the bar on the way out. It looks like there's only a small crowd for breakfast, mostly people who stayed overnight, possibly including staff.

Zubaidah, 9:11 PM

He waves at you as you go by, and so does Lola, who is dressed in normal clothes... well, above-ground normal clothes... this morning.

Pharolvir, 9:12 PM

Pharolvir waves at them both, giving a softer wave to Lola.

Ann, 9:14 PM

Ann Nesia waves back at  Verandis with a shorter wave to Lola

Zubaidah, 9:14 PM

Tython waves too. "Lola's studying at the university but I'm not sure what she's studying. I keep meaning to ask but then I always forget."

Pharolvir, 9:14 PM

"...should we ask now?"

Zubaidah, 9:15 PM

Tython: Nah, nah. It's just hard to have a conversation with someone when they're wearing not much of anything, you know? Well, I think it is.

Zubaidah, 9:15 PM

Tython: And you don't like to get chatty while they're at work, either.

Pharolvir, 9:16 PM

"...I would largely agree...except that I have been to several parties where men were expected to dress...not the same but similarly."

Pharolvir, 9:16 PM

"But it is interesting seeing it the other way."

Zubaidah, 9:16 PM

Tython: Seriously? … it was bad enough when I was a tiger, honestly.

Pharolvir, 9:17 PM

"To be fair, it is a lot warmer in the Underdark.  ...but I do appreciate that I can cover up up here and not be called a prude."

Zubaidah, 9:18 PM

He leads you out the door of the inn and you start walking somewhere with purpose. It's a nice day, so it's fairly crowded with pedestrians and carriages on the road, but people here are mostly polite and careful not to run into anyone or make a nuisance of themselves.

Zubaidah, 9:19 PM

Pharolvir gets some looks, but most of them seem to be of the "huh, neat outfit" variety, and there are a few other Drow in the crowd as well, so he's not incredibly obtrusive.

Zubaidah, 9:21 PM

Most of the people are in fact elves of various kinds and humans, but there are substantial numbers of orcs, half-orcs, dragonborn, changelings, dwarves, and some more monstrous people too, like gnolls and goblins and various planar people. There aren't a LOT of the smaller races, but there are a few.

Pharolvir, 9:22 PM

Pharolvir is looking around, kind of awestruck.

Zubaidah, 9:22 PM

Tython: Most of the halflings and gnomes live in Dinkytown--stuff is sized better for 'em there. If you ever want to feel giant and powerful, try ordering tea down there some time. I felt like a bullette in a china shop.

Zubaidah, 9:22 PM

Tython: … the tea was great though, and they had these tiny little egg salad sandwiches with dill, too.

Pharolvir, 9:24 PM

"I feel like I'd be terrified of breaking the tavern."

Zubaidah, 9:24 PM

After a couple blocks, Tython stops under a sign that says, in big letters, "TRAM STOP" with a schedule underneath.

Zubaidah, 9:25 PM

Tython: … yeah, I dug out an old magic item so I could be a little less dangerous at least. It worked out OK. I tried to tip a little extra.

Pharolvir, 9:25 PM

"How'd it work?"

Zubaidah, 9:27 PM

Tython: It helped, but not as much as I was hoping.

Zubaidah, 9:29 PM

The tram shows up! It's at street level, and in size it's somewhere between a bus and the people mover at Disneyland, with a metallic exterior. There are other people at the stop, and they hop into the tram. Inside, it's... well, it's public transportation. The seats are covered with red upholstery, which looks mostly clean, and the thing is metal, with bars to hold onto for those who aren't sitting.

Zubaidah, 9:30 PM

Tython gets in behind most of the rest of the people waiting, and doesn't sit down once he's inside, deferring to a family of kobolds who all pile into the same seat. The adult kobold looks tired.

Pharolvir, 9:31 PM

Pharolvir will grab the same pole and look about, attempting to determine the means by which the tram moves.

Zubaidah, 9:31 PM

This is probably at least partially because two of the smaller kobolds are having an argument that consists entirely of "am not!" and "are too!"

Ann, 9:31 PM

Ann Nesia stands as well

Zubaidah, 9:32 PM

It's definitely magical. There doesn't seem to be a pilot, and you DID see tracks outside, though I forgot to mention them like a big doofus.

Zubaidah, 9:33 PM

Most of the people who are sitting look older, including a grey-furred gnoll wearing a pair of reading glasses and a pink dress, and an elderly human man reading a paper.

Zubaidah, 9:34 PM

There's a hugely pregnant half-orc woman sitting down  too, fanning herself with a book and looking almost as exhausted as the adult kobold.

Zubaidah, 9:35 PM

As you look out the window you can see that you're passing various parts of the city as you go; the tram stops in a business district and the few people in suits get out, and the buildings start looking a bit more eclectic.

Zubaidah, 9:36 PM

Tython: This is the Bells. The Opera House is here, and there are a bunch of theaters if you're into that kind of thing. Probably Taggett could give you a better recommendation for what's good here.

Zubaidah, 9:37 PM

Tython: There are always a FEW buskers but almost all of them come out at the end of the week, so you can just walk around and hear and see all kinds of performances. Um, but make sure to watch your wallet.

Ann, 9:37 PM

I will ask him next time I run into him

Zubaidah, 9:38 PM

Tython: He comes down here sometimes even though he has paying gigs. Says he likes to look for inspiration. I don't really get it, but I'm not a musician, so.

Zubaidah, 9:38 PM

Eventually the tram stops, and the family of kobolds gets out, and so does Tython. "All right, follow me."

Zubaidah, 9:40 PM

You get out on a crowded street. A couple blocks over you can see some very large buildings looming--one looks like an upside down pyramid floating in the air, and a little ways from that, there's something entirely made of metal, with the sun reflecting off it in a fairly painful way (even for the NONDrow people in the group).

Pharolvir, 9:41 PM

"...what is that?"

Pharolvir, 9:41 PM

Pharolvir points at the pyramid.

Zubaidah, 9:43 PM

Tython: Oh, that's one of the university buildings. I can't remember which one, though.

Zubaidah, 9:43 PM

Tython: That shiny one's the College of Arms.

Pharolvir, 9:44 PM

"A college devoted to weaponry?"

Zubaidah, 9:44 PM

Tython: Yeah. Well, and armor. I guess the exterior's entirely made out of old armor.

Ann, 9:45 PM

It’s really shiny for old armor

Zubaidah, 9:45 PM

Tython: I'm pretty sure they melted it down and recladded the building with it. I think. I think they do tours if you're interested.

Pharolvir, 9:46 PM

Did you go to this university?

Zubaidah, 9:47 PM

You're standing at the side of a bustling street filled with people. You do notice that a lot of them are youngish on average, with only a scant few old people, and the racial mix here is even more mixed up than before. There are more gnomes and halflings, but also a lot more planar people too.

Zubaidah, 9:47 PM

Tython: I did. Their college of alchemy is pretty highly rated nationally, I thought it'd give me an edge if I wanted to get a more um, corporate kind of job. But I didn't end up doing that.

Zubaidah, 9:48 PM

Tython picks a direction and heads that way.

Pharolvir, 9:48 PM

"...was it an effective learning environment?"

Ann, 9:49 PM

Ann Nesia looks at what buildings or things we are passing as she follows

Zubaidah, 9:50 PM

Shops, mostly. Magic book shops. Magic scroll shops. Reagent shops. A lot of coffee shops and tea rooms too, places that look like good places to study.

Zubaidah, 9:53 PM

Finally he turns into one of the shops.

Zubaidah, 9:55 PM

It looks like a little hole-in-the-wall from the outside, but inside it's actually quite a spacious shop, with shelves upon shelves of glassware on one side of the place and jars of reagents on the other side.

Zubaidah, 9:56 PM

Displayed between are various little setups of alchemical items for sale, including fancier containers, implements, and raw materials.

Zubaidah, 9:57 PM

Tython immediately starts nosing around the ingredients, peering at the labels.

Pharolvir, 9:58 PM

Pharolvir will examine the glassware for flasks, tubes, things he can run chemicals through.

Zubaidah, 10:00 PM

There's bits of glass in basically every shape he could ever want, including some novelty shapes that are either whimsical or frankly, dirty. I mean, let's all be honest with ourselves, students shop here.

Ann, 10:00 PM

Ann Nesia will wander over to the raw material area and look at what’s there

Pharolvir, 10:01 PM

"...charming."

Zubaidah, 10:02 PM

All kinds of things. She probably recognizes a lot of the plants and herb names, but there's also some exotic stuff like powdered dragon's blood (ETHICALLY SOURCED proclaims the sign) and "essence of aboleth," whatever that is.

Zubaidah, 10:02 PM

Tython: Hm?

Pharolvir, 10:03 PM

Pharolvir picks up a long volumetric flask shaped like a penis. "Can't say I've ever seen one quite so long.  Goliath, maybe?"

Pharolvir, 10:04 PM

Pharolvir shakes his head and puts it back.

Zubaidah, 10:04 PM

Tython blushes sort of a blotchy dark green. "Uh, I have no idea."

Pharolvir, 10:05 PM

Pharolvir would like to look into ingredients he could use to make healing potions.

Zubaidah, 10:06 PM

Plenty of that kind of thing there--he can see at least three or four different combinations that would be great for that.

Zubaidah, 10:06 PM

A chubby older human man with an elaborate mustache steps forward. "May I help you?"

Zubaidah, 10:08 PM

Tython has gone back to hunting for ingredients. "No, I'm good. Thanks, though."

Zubaidah, 10:08 PM

Roll perception!

Pharolvir, 10:08 PM

((Wow, 19. High for Pharol))

Ann, 10:09 PM

((20 not natural))

Zubaidah, 10:10 PM

Nice! Both of you hear a weird sloshy noise coming from the back room of the shop; then there's a sound of glass breaking back there.

Pharolvir, 10:11 PM

"...do you have a lab set up in the back?"

Zubaidah, 10:11 PM

The older man appeared not to hear it. "... no, why?"

Ann, 10:11 PM

Ann Nesia heads in that direction trying to get a look

Pharolvir, 10:12 PM

"Cause it sounds like something in the not lab just broke.  Excuse us."

Pharolvir, 10:12 PM

Pharolvir follows Ann.

Zubaidah, 10:12 PM

He looks alarmed, and follows but not too close.

Zubaidah, 10:13 PM

You head past a curtain into the back area of the shop, which is probably employees-only normally. It's darker back here, and it's basically a narrow corridor. There are shelves and shelves of supplies in boxes on either side. and more narrow corridors between the shelves to make the boxes easier to access.

Zubaidah, 10:14 PM

There's another weird sloshy sound; it seems to be coming from the far back left of the storage area.

Ann, 10:14 PM

Ann Nesia heads that way

Zubaidah, 10:15 PM

You get to the very end of the corridor; there are two branches, to the left, where the sound came from and to the right. You can't see anything down either side.

Pharolvir, 10:16 PM

"Left."

Ann, 10:16 PM

Ann Nesia goes to the left

Zubaidah, 10:16 PM

Ann first?

Pharolvir, 10:17 PM

Pharolvir is following Ann.

Pharolvir, 10:17 PM

Pharolvir is much squishier.

Zubaidah, 10:17 PM

Right.

Zubaidah, 10:17 PM

You walk slowly down the aisle. Perception check!

Ann, 10:17 PM

Ann Nesia will set the rat on a shelf

Pharolvir, 10:17 PM

((!0))

Zubaidah, 10:17 PM

The rat looks wary!

Ann, 10:18 PM

((9))

Zubaidah, 10:18 PM

Both of you see something small moving on the ground! Initiative!

Pharolvir, 10:19 PM

((11))

Ann, 10:20 PM

((13))

Zubaidah, 10:20 PM

Round 1: ???, Ann, Pharolvir.

Zubaidah, 10:21 PM

** ??? **

Zubaidah, 10:22 PM

Both of you spot a small squarish thing on the ground, slowly squishing its way away from you, leaving a one-foot wide slime trail on the ground. It appears to have a sort of iridescent outer coating.

Zubaidah, 10:22 PM

It seems to notice you and squishes away a little quicker!

Zubaidah, 10:22 PM

** Ann **

Ann, 10:26 PM

Ann Nesia casts shiilleagh and trys to hit the slime with the staff

Zubaidah, 10:27 PM

Roll attack!

Ann, 10:28 PM

((13 to hit))

Zubaidah, 10:28 PM

It's a miss!

Zubaidah, 10:28 PM

** Pharolvir **

Pharolvir, 10:29 PM

((...I have a couple of questions. One, would Pharolvir recognize a gelatinous cube when he saw one? Two...would he know of a substance to catch it in that it couldn't eat through?))

Zubaidah, 10:30 PM

((Yes, and judging from the size, glass would probably work.))

Pharolvir, 10:30 PM

Pharolvir will try and find a decently sized flask to catch it in.

Pharolvir, 10:30 PM

"Ann!  Don't hurt it!"

Zubaidah, 10:31 PM

There are a lot of them around.

Pharolvir, 10:31 PM

Pharolvir grabs one (please let it be another novelty penis flask) and tries to corral it in.

Zubaidah, 10:32 PM

It is not; this one looks like boobs, which is good because that means it'd have enough room to fit the foot-on-each-side cube.

Zubaidah, 10:32 PM

I'm gonna end iniatitive here.

Zubaidah, 10:32 PM

The little cube tries to squish its way away, but Pharol manages to put the boobs over it pretty easily.

Pharolvir, 10:33 PM

"Aw, look at the little guy.  Very useful at this size, if you can control them.  They eat up debris and vermin like roaches.  Keep many spaces very clean."

Zubaidah, 10:33 PM

When it reaches the glass it bubbles frantically and turns a lavender color, and then starts sliming its way around the glass, trying to escape.

Zubaidah, 10:34 PM

Tython calls in from the front. "Hey, where'd you guys go? What's going on?"

Pharolvir, 10:34 PM

"Oh...oh dear...um...it seems very unhappy."

Pharolvir, 10:35 PM

"Maybe it's hungry.  Anyone have some meat or something.  Just a little bit will likely do good."

Zubaidah, 10:35 PM

The rat eyes Pharolvir suspiciously.

Ann, 10:35 PM

Ann Nesia will pick the rat up protectively

Zubaidah, 10:35 PM

(Also, roll Perception when you get a chance.)

Pharolvir, 10:35 PM

"Not you, obviously."

Pharolvir, 10:36 PM

((11))

Ann, 10:36 PM

((15))

Zubaidah, 10:39 PM

The little cube stops bubbling, but still seems to be more or less pacing the boobs. (Phrases I thought I'd never say.)

Ann, 10:39 PM

Ann Nesia will go over and grab a canister from an upper shelf

Zubaidah, 10:39 PM

It is totally empty.

Zubaidah, 10:40 PM

And it has a big slightly smoking hole in the bottom.

Ann, 10:40 PM

Ann Nesia will look at that the canisters below it say

Zubaidah, 10:40 PM

One says "PIXIE DUST."

Zubaidah, 10:40 PM

And the one on the bottom shelf says "NEUTRALIZER."

Zubaidah, 10:40 PM

All of them are smoking a bit.

Pharolvir, 10:41 PM

"........................oh.......oh that's......oh.  Oh this guy's eaten some things he shouldn't've."

Zubaidah, 10:41 PM

Tython peeks down the aisle. "Hey, are you guys OK?"

Pharolvir, 10:41 PM

"Yes...but also maybe not.  Or, we might not be."

Pharolvir, 10:42 PM

"We caught this gelatinous cube and I worry he's gotten into somethings and is having a chemical reaction within himself."

Zubaidah, 10:42 PM

The cube turns a pale, sparkly blue.

Zubaidah, 10:42 PM

Tython: … aren't those usually bigger?

Pharolvir, 10:43 PM

"It is my understanding that they grow.  I assumed it to be a young one."

Ann, 10:44 PM

Ann Nesia will look around for the shopkeeper

Zubaidah, 10:44 PM

Tython: Wow, that's neat.

Zubaidah, 10:44 PM

The shopkeeper is behind Tython, staying well away.

Pharolvir, 10:44 PM

Pharolvir would like to look at all the smoking items and see if he can determine the chain reaction happening.

Zubaidah, 10:44 PM

The cube turns a bright pink color.

Pharolvir, 10:47 PM

Ok, so the neutralizer it fell into should've killed it, so the fairy dust is the key agent here. Likely an equivalent to chaos magic. Which can mean a lot of things. ...right now, it seems to be making the cube fabulous."

Zubaidah, 10:48 PM

It develops an interior glittery look, and then turns green.

Zubaidah, 10:48 PM

Tython: … how much for your gelatinous cube?

Zubaidah, 10:49 PM

Shopkeeper: Uh, I didn't think I had one. I'll tell you what, you can take it if you can get it out of here.

Zubaidah, 10:49 PM

The cube shifts into a sort of coppery color.

Pharolvir, 10:49 PM

"Because you initially had it in "parts" and then put all those parts in a single flask.  ...your layout is very distressing."

Zubaidah, 10:50 PM

Shopkeeper: I didn't. Some of this stuff's been around since my father's era.

Zubaidah, 10:51 PM

The cube goes purple, and then the deep pink again.

Pharolvir, 10:51 PM

"Ok...there has to be something to help it.  It seems to be in pain."

Pharolvir, 10:52 PM

"Maybe a basic dispel magic.  Might remove the effect entirely."

Zubaidah, 10:52 PM

Int or Wis check, whichever is higher!

Zubaidah, 10:52 PM

Tython: … couldn't that kill it?

Ann, 10:53 PM

Ann Nesia will see how the rat is reacting to the cube

Pharolvir, 10:54 PM

((Yikes! 7. :)

Pharolvir, 10:55 PM

"...there's something very much off about this cube.  Is there someone here who's an expert on oozes?"

Zubaidah, 10:55 PM

The rat seems curious more than anything. It actually comes right up to the glass boob and sniffs at it.

Zubaidah, 10:56 PM

((Ann, Int/wis check?))

Ann, 10:56 PM

((22))

Ann, 10:58 PM

It’s matching our colors

Zubaidah, 10:59 PM

The slime turns grayish-brown as the rat taps the glass with one claw.

Pharolvir, 10:59 PM

"...it should not have this level of sentience."

Ann, 10:59 PM

Ann Nesia goes over “No ones going to hurt you”

Zubaidah, 10:59 PM

Tython: It really shouldn't. That's fascinating.

Zubaidah, 11:00 PM

The cube has stopped going around and around in its little boob-pen.

Pharolvir, 11:01 PM

"...I am starting to wish I had grabbed a different flask."

Zubaidah, 11:02 PM

Tython: Why, I don't g... ohhhh.

Zubaidah, 11:02 PM

The slime turns brown again, the color of Ann's clothes.

Ann, 11:02 PM

Ann Nesia will lift the flask up a bit to see what it does

Zubaidah, 11:03 PM

The slime stays where it is, but the rat squeezes underneath the glass and the slime, and immediately gets engulfed!

Ann, 11:03 PM

Ann Nesia tries to pull the rat out

Zubaidah, 11:04 PM

Are you putting your hands inside the slime?

Pharolvir, 11:04 PM

Pharolvir will cast mage hand and pull the rat out

Ann, 11:04 PM

Ann Nesia is

Zubaidah, 11:04 PM

Too late, Ann stuck here hands in there.

Zubaidah, 11:05 PM

She  pulls the rat out. It looks fine, if a bit slimy.

Pharolvir, 11:05 PM

"...it should not have been able to eat through the flask."

Zubaidah, 11:05 PM

It didn't, Ann lifted the flask up a little bit and the rat went under it.

Ann, 11:05 PM

Ann Nesia casts talk with animals

Zubaidah, 11:06 PM

Tython: This is all really weird.

Ann, 11:06 PM

Ann Nesia starts chittering at the rat

Zubaidah, 11:06 PM

The slime turns magenta again.

Pharolvir, 11:07 PM

Pharolvir will lift the flask and offer up a friendly hand to lift it.

Zubaidah, 11:08 PM

The slime squishes into Pharol's hands. It doesn't seem to have a burning effect at all.

Pharolvir, 11:09 PM

"...I wish there was a way to communicate with it."

Zubaidah, 11:09 PM

It bubbles, with little gold sparkles inside.

Zubaidah, 11:09 PM

Tython: Well, we could ask Bastion.

Pharolvir, 11:10 PM

"Why would Bastion know?"

Zubaidah, 11:11 PM

Tython: Well, it's not common knowledge but he used to be one of those things, so.

Pharolvir, 11:11 PM

"...............wait, what?"

Zubaidah, 11:11 PM

Tython: Dad rescued him from a mad wizard scientist.

Pharolvir, 11:13 PM

"...we need to meet this Bastion.  (to the Shopkeep), I'll be taking this cube.  I will be coming back to talk to you about the red amantia mushrooms, and your mandrake root."

Zubaidah, 11:14 PM

Shopkeeper: All right. … you don't think there's any more of them in here, do you?

Pharolvir, 11:15 PM

"I have no idea.  You need to restructure your inventory layout and keep better stock of your materials."

Zubaidah, 11:15 PM

Shopkeeper: … you're not wrong. After my own father passed, I just couldn't change it.

Pharolvir, 11:16 PM

"I am most sorry for your loss."

Zubaidah, 11:16 PM

Shopkeeper: Thank you. … it's been long enough now, though. You're right.

Ann, 11:16 PM

Nothing else moving around right now according to the rat

Zubaidah, 11:17 PM

The cube turns purple, retaining the gold sparkles.

Pharolvir, 11:17 PM

"...how much would you be willing to pay for a part time assistant?"

Zubaidah, 11:18 PM

Shopkeeper: … I'd have to think about that, but I could certainly use some assistance with this back room.

Zubaidah, 11:18 PM

Tython: If it can't dissolve things, does that mean it can't eat?

Ann, 11:19 PM

Ann Nesia pulls out a small piece of fruit and puts it into the cube

Pharolvir, 11:20 PM

Pharolvir slips the cube into the flask. "I will be borrowing this for the return trip.  I'll bring it back when I come for the ingredients."

Zubaidah, 11:20 PM

The fruit immediately starts to look frayed as it begins to dissolve into the cube.

Zubaidah, 11:20 PM

Shopkeeper: Er. Are you sure you want that one?

Pharolvir, 11:21 PM

"........do you perhaps a more...subtle one?"

Ann, 11:21 PM

We don’t need the jar

Zubaidah, 11:21 PM

The cube bubbles happily.

Zubaidah, 11:22 PM

Shopkeeper: It's all right, you can borrow a jar. Tython's in here all the time, I'm sure I could find you if I had to.

Zubaidah, 11:23 PM

The shopkeeper brings you a normal, jar-shaped glass jar, with a lid.

Pharolvir, 11:23 PM

"Thank you, very much."

Zubaidah, 11:23 PM

The cube shifts to the color of the blue shirt the shopkeeper's wearing.

Pharolvir, 11:24 PM

"Tython, can you lead us back to the inn?"

Zubaidah, 11:24 PM

Tython: Oh, sure. Here.

Zubaidah, 11:24 PM

He pays the shopkeeper for the stuff he presumably bought earlier, and you guys head home.

Zubaidah, 11:25 PM

On the way, the cube gets some curious stares, but not as many as you'd probably think. This is a weird town.

Zubaidah, 11:25 PM

Of note is a little kid who makes silly faces at the cube, which the cube responds to by changing colors, bubbling and turning iridescent and sparkly by turns.

Zubaidah, 11:26 PM

The toddler waves and says "bye!" as you get off the tram near one of the city entrances toward home.

Pharolvir, 11:26 PM

Pharolvir waves friendily at the boy.

Zubaidah, 11:27 PM

He waves bye to you too! People are friendly here, it seems.

Zubaidah, 11:27 PM

Verandis is still at the bar when you return, but it's getting nearer to lunchtime.

Pharolvir, 11:27 PM

"Hello, Verandis."

Pharolvir, 11:28 PM

"This may be awkward to ask at this time, but could we speak to Bastion?"

Zubaidah, 11:28 PM

Verandis: … well, the lunch rush is coming, but you can go back into the kitchen and see if you can get a word out of him.

Pharolvir, 11:29 PM

Pharolvir will do so.

Zubaidah, 11:30 PM

I'll just assume Ann does too for now. Tython does not.

Ann, 11:30 PM

Ann Nesia heads back as well

Zubaidah, 11:30 PM

((Oh, sorry! I thought you were dadded again.))

Zubaidah, 11:34 PM

You find a very expansive kitchen in the back, with plenty of bells and whistles. It seems designed so that just one person could accomplish restaurant-level cooking alone, with a lot of magical dials and knobs and buttons. There's just one person back there--a tallish dwarf with long, golden-blond hair in little braids pulled into a ponytail, a barely-there gold beard and blue eyes. He seems to be frying something.

Zubaidah, 11:34 PM

Bastion, presumably: Now what?

Zubaidah, 11:35 PM

(He also has bushy eyebrows. And he's wearing a black apron.)

Ann, 11:36 PM

Tython told us to talk to you

Pharolvir, 11:36 PM

"Hello.  Um...this may be awkward to discuss...but...Tython may have told use you were once...uh...an ooze?"

Zubaidah, 11:37 PM

Bastion: … and you came back here to look? Were you wondering if I leave a slime trail behind me, or what?

Ann, 11:37 PM

We found this cube in the back of a supply shop and it got into some other supplies

Zubaidah, 11:37 PM

Bastion: I was first in my class at ch--what?

Ann, 11:37 PM

Ann Nesia indicates the jar

Zubaidah, 11:38 PM

He finally looks up from the frypan and blinks.

Pharolvir, 11:38 PM

Pharolvir holds it up.

Pharolvir, 11:38 PM

"It appears to have sentience also."

Zubaidah, 11:38 PM

He sets the pan aside, wipes his hands off and examines the jar, curiously.

Ann, 11:38 PM

It doesn’t burn living things but it did dissolve a piece of fruit

Zubaidah, 11:39 PM

Bastion: Where did you find this? You're not creating these things, are you?

Ann, 11:39 PM

Bad storage in the back of a supply shop

Pharolvir, 11:39 PM

"Never put anything acidic on a high shelf."

Zubaidah, 11:39 PM

Bastion: Or eggs, right.

Zubaidah, 11:40 PM

The slime turns gold suddenly.

Zubaidah, 11:40 PM

Bastion: … well, they don't normally do that.

Pharolvir, 11:40 PM

"This seems to be its primary form of communication.  It mimics colors it sees."

Pharolvir, 11:40 PM

"I think this may be from your beard."

Zubaidah, 11:41 PM

Bastion: Huh. Normally eating is involuntary. They're not intelligent.

Pharolvir, 11:41 PM

"This one either is choosing or can only dissolve plant matter."

Zubaidah, 11:42 PM

Bastion takes a bit of meat from the frying pan and drops it into the jar.

Zubaidah, 11:43 PM

It starts to dissolve.

Zubaidah, 11:43 PM

Bastion: Hm.

Pharolvir, 11:43 PM

"...so, its sentience extends to control of its consumption?"

Zubaidah, 11:43 PM

Bastion: Which is not normal for slimes and oozes, I can tell you that.

Zubaidah, 11:44 PM

He sticks his finger into the cube and waits for a moment.

Zubaidah, 11:44 PM

Bastion: … nothing.

Zubaidah, 11:45 PM

The cube bubbles at him. He takes a breath, blinks, and then just waves at the cube. It bubbles again.

Zubaidah, 11:46 PM

Bastion: … I think it's happy. I think?

Pharolvir, 11:46 PM

"Well, that's good, at least."

Zubaidah, 11:48 PM

Bastion: … the only reason I was sentient was that somebody else's soul got ripped out, mashed up and stuffed into me, and then it still took... well, I've read the notes. It wasn't pretty.

Pharolvir, 11:48 PM

"I am so sorry."

Zubaidah, 11:48 PM

Bastion: And before that I wasn't as smart as this thing is.

Zubaidah, 11:48 PM

Bastion: Better off this way. Gelatinous cubes don't generally get cheesecake.

Zubaidah, 11:49 PM

The slime turns magenta again.

Zubaidah, 11:49 PM

Bastion: What are you going to call it?

Pharolvir, 11:49 PM

"Oh...uh...I hadn't thought that far ahead, really."

Pharolvir, 11:50 PM

"...what about Blub?  Like the bubbles it makes when it's happy."

Zubaidah, 11:51 PM

Bastion: That works.

Zubaidah, 11:52 PM

Bastion: You can probably feed it scraps off your plate, but if you want me to make it anything special, let me know. I don't remember a lot from … well, before I got this body, but it does seem to like the actual food. And it doesn't seem to want to eat people.

Zubaidah, 11:53 PM

Blub turns purple again.

Zubaidah, 11:53 PM

Bastion: Normally they're just transparent. And not so... sparkly.

Pharolvir, 11:53 PM

"It has come into contact with fey dust.  The effects are usually unpredictable but flashy."

Pharolvir, 11:54 PM

"...could you make me a cheesecake.  A small one."

Zubaidah, 11:55 PM

Bastion: … sure. For you or for Blub? Or both?

Pharolvir, 11:55 PM

"Both.  I figure it'd be easier for me and my friends to share a cheesecake and I give some to Blub than asking you to make a tiny cheesecake."

Zubaidah, 11:57 PM

Bastion: Right. I'll get started on that.

Pharolvir, 11:58 PM

"Thank you."

Zubaidah, 11:59 PM

Bastion: I'll get someone to bring it up when it's done.

Pharolvir, 11:59 PM

Pharolvir bows and exits.