The Druid City

SARALE:(sigh)

"We're here."

KARMA:

"This place is... nuts."

AKTLASS:(bites fruit)

"pretty."

Vajor adjusts his glasses in his nose as he looks around in awe of the architecture.

VAJOR:

"This is gorgeous."

Lendral shifts in his saddle uncomfortably, he seems apprehensive at best. Sarale smiles at him reassuringly.

SARALE:

"Worry not Lendral. I'll speak with Sardan and the high priestess on your behalf."

LENDRAL:(looks at Sarale)

"I hate when you call her that."

SARALE:(chuckle)

"I know."

Sarale slides from her horse and stretches.

SARALE:

"Would you like to go sightseeing first or go straight to the temple?"

LENDRAL:

"sightseeing… I'm not eager to see my judgment happen so soon."

Vajor nods enthusiastically climbing from his horse.

VAJOR:

"I'd like ta see tha place ya grew up dove."

SARALE:

"well, there's several places I liked to frequent. The aquarium, the library, and the botanical garden. If you want good food I'd recommend Hrongar's."

LENDRAL:(Sighs)

"mm~ I could go for the pastries Ms Rise makes. Best I've ever had."

Karma raises their fist in the air in excitement.

KARMA:

"Awesome! A double date with a guided tour! this is gonna be sweet!"

SARALE:(chuckles)

"So where would you like to go first?"

AKTLASS/KARMA:

"Food."

VAJOR:

"I can't disagree."

LENDRAL:(*bounce on toes*)

"Hrongar it is."

SARALE:

"All of you think of nothing, but your stomachs."

Vajor tilts his head, his ears perking up.

VAJOR:

"'at's not all I think about, Dove."

She huffs, her face flushing. Lendral glances at her and smirks.

LENDRAL:

"race you there?"

She blinks at him, her brow furrowing.

SARALE:

"we're not children anymore, Lendral."

::

"Mind if I join you lot?"

a familiar and unsettling voice calls to the group. Sarale stiffens, turning towards the voice and narrowing her eyes. Karma and Aktlass look in the direction of the voice. Karma's excitement turns into worry and Aktlass pulls Karma close to him ready to draw his ax as Tunda makes his way to the party. Tunda raises his hands lazily over his head and stops a good ten feet from the party.

TUNDA:

"Simmer down, lummox. it's a guarded neutral zone. Can't really do much here by myself, now can I?"

Aktlass keeps his guard up while keeping Karma close.

KARMA:

"...Tunda?'

TUNDA:

"... hey baby brother."

Sarale walks forward positioning herself between the two.

SARALE:

"Aktlass I know you don't like him, but getting agitated here isn't the answer. He's right. It's a neutral zone, plus if he tries anything, (look at Tunda) I'll make sure the guard locks him away for a very long time. Is that clear?"

Vajor and Lendral exchange confused looks before Vajor steps forward.

VAJOR:

"tha goliath from before, right?"

TUNDA:

"That's right."

Tunda's hands drop to his sides and hang on his belt.

TUNDA:

"I ain't here for trouble none. I may got a job to do, but I ain't doin' it in a true neutral territory."

SARALE:(to Aktlass)

"Aktlass, you don't have to like him. At least be cordial for now. If anything, do it for Karma. You being arrested would only upset them."

Tunda shifts slightly at the mention of Karma getting upset for Aktlass.

TUNDA:

"as soft as ever..."

LENDRAL:(sighs)

"there's always gotta be something, doesn't there?"

VAJOR:

"nothin' wrong wit bein' sweet on someone."

TUNDA:(snicker)

"Couldn't agree more. don't let me keep you all waitin'."

Two guards stand nearby, eyeing the group as they start to approach. Sarale holds her hand up and shakes her head.

SARALE:

"Karma, I'll leave the decision of him joining to you. You know him better. I may not trust him, but I trust you."

Karma looks at Sarale then back to Tunda who shifts again from making eye contact with them.

KARMA:

"... Come on. we got some catching up to do."

TUNDA:

"... yeah, we do."

Tunda approaches the group and keeps his distance. Sarale eyes him suspiciously and then looks at the guards and nods.

SARALE:

"gentleman."

They nod back and sigh in relief.

GUARDS:

"Ms. Filyn."

LENDRAL:(sigh)

"Can we go get pastries now? I'm tired of stew and fruit."

Vajor waits for Sarale to walk past him and places a hand on her back looking over at Tunda.

VAJOR:

"you coming?"

Tunda follows the group keeping his distance next to them while watching Karma and Aktlass. Sarale and Lendral lead the party to a large tree with a spiral staircase rising along its trunk. The smell coming from the building was mouthwatering. Vines hang from the ancient looking tree's branches and thick moss clings to the trunk. The roots grow into a natural creek at its root. Sarale turns to Tunda.

SARALE:

"I have to apologize for injuring you and your cat. It wasn't my intention to truly harm you. Just slow you down long enough for us to escape."

TUNDA:

"Oh yeah? I thought you'd be more worried about the mounts than me. considering your oath."

SARALE:

"you're a friend of Karma's. That doesn't mean you're a friend of mine, but it does mean I'll try not to kill you. (shrug) Plus I know how important a person can be to their animal companions. Killing you would only hurt them. And Karma."

Her brows furrowed in confusion as something he said struck her.

SARALE:

"And how do you know what my Oath is? I don't remember telling you."

TUNDA:

"You're not that hard to spot, miss. Any vass villain can tell that much of you."

Sarale takes note of Aktlass change and sighs.

SARALE:

"vass villain? I don't see you as a villain Tunda. You're only doing your job after all."

VAJOR:

"'at's very practical a you, dove."

LENDRAL:

"Considering everything we've been through she needs to be practical. She'd go insane if she wasn't."

Lendral climbs the stairs ahead of everyone.

TUNDA:

"Practical don't account for calm. (glance around the room) I'm sure many people know that."

Tunda glances around the room while following Lendral. Aktlass does the same as he glares around the room and moves Karma to his other side before heading up.

TUNDA:

"if nothin' else, You could be the craziest fucker in the underdark and still be considered practical."

Sarale feels her stomach drop as her footing falters.

SARALE:

"hah I'm gonna have to tell Hrongar to fix that step. It's a bit slick. I'm grateful you're not hurt Tunda. Thank you."

Vajor places his hand on her back and wraps around her shoulder and pulls her close to his side. His tail swishing behind him. Tunda glances at her blunder and rolls his eyes.

TUNDA:

"Don't thank me for nothin'. it's a witches ass to be worrying about that ridiculous fuckery."

SARALE:

"Nevertheless I'm grateful."

Lendral holds the door open for the party and the smell of fresh baked bread, pastries, and various other foods floods out as they enter. Sarale takes a deep breath and smiles.

SARALE:

"I'm buying, even for you Tunda, order whatever you like."

::

"We'll I'll be if it isn't Sarale Filyn and Lendral Varanthia!"

SARALE:

"Hrongar! It's good to see you again, my friend."

Sarale says as a goblin approaches with outstretched arms. She stoops down to hug him and he steps back.

HJONGAR:

"what'sit been? Four months? I've missed your smiling face."

SARALE:(chuckles)

"I've missed you too, Hrongar."

Vajor's eyes widen.

LENDRAL:(smiles)

"It's good to see you, Hrongar."

HRONGAR:

"And you too. Keeping out of trouble, I hope."

LENDRAL:

"Eh~. You know me."

HRONGAR:

"I do. It's good to see you and the miss have made up though. So who're your friends?"

Karma was too enthralled at the sight of Hrongar as they hold their cheeks in their hands squealing like a girl.

KARMA:

"oh my gosh you so stinking adorable..."

HRONGAR:

"Thank you. I try my best. And who might you be?"

Karma wiggles in glee as their tail sweeps behind them gently.

KARMA:

"I'm Karma. May I hug you too?"

Hrongar opens his arms in an inviting manner.

HRONGAR:

"Of course! Any friend of these two's a friend of mine. Get in here."

Sarale steps aside and smiles at Karma crossing her arms and chuckling. Karma jumps into the hug and picks him up with a happy squeeze.

LENDRAL:(smirk)

"Wait till they see Rise."

HRONGAR:(Laughs)

"you're a strong one aren't ya?"

Karma simply nuzzles against Hrongar's cheek before setting him down again, blissfully satisfied.

TUNDA:(snicker)

"Well, they always did have this weird love for the feisty ones."

KARMA:

"you shut up! I lost one time!"

TUNDA:

"You still lost to a scared goblin."

KARMA:

"but he was so stinking cute I just couldn't do it!!"

HRONGAR:

"And who are you, my tall friend?"

Tunga looks at him with a soft expression.

TUNDA:(offers hand)

"Tunda Laughcry. A pleasure."

Hrongar takes Tunga's hand for a shake, his grip is surprisingly strong.

HRONGAR:

"Welcome Tunga. So your surname, feels like there's a story behind that."

TUNDA:(smiles)

"All us goliaths earn our last names."

HRONGAR:(grin)

"Fair enough, you'll have to tell me it sometime."

Hrongar lets go of Tunda's hand and looks at Aktlass.

HRONGAR:

"And you are, my fine scaly friend?"

AKTLASS:(bows)

"I am Aktlass to friends."

HRONGAR:(bows)

"It's a pleasure. (stands straight) please come, I'll set you guys up in the private dining room."

KARMA:

"Do you have Tropa-mang blender with pineapple?"

AKTLASS:

"... Cold brew and citrus."

TUNDA:

"I'll have a citrus ale."

Tunda raising his hand.

Hrongar grins at Karma, "we do! I'll bring you one out right away. You must be from the islands."

Sarale takes a seat next to Karma and Vajor takes the seat on her other side. Lendra sits on the other side of Aktlass.

LENDRAL:

"I'll have tea."

SARALE:

"the usual."

VAJOR:

"what's the usual?"

SARALE:

"It's a hot chocolate type drink with cream on top."

VAJOR:

"That sounds delicious! I'll have one of those!"

HRONGAR:(laughs)

"Coming right up."

He leaves to grab the drinks leaving the group alone for a moment. Karma's tail starts wagging behind them sweeping the ground in a circular motion. Their eyes suddenly light up with excitement.

KARMA:

"... he is so freaking Adorable!!"

TUNDA:

"You think every goblin is adorable."

KARMA:

"hush you!"

SARALE:(chuckles)

"I have to agree with Karma. Hrongar is adorable. Rise is too. She's his daughter."

TUNDA:

"Must be pretty charmin' then."

LENDRAL:

"Rise??"

TUNDA:

"Yeah, why? Who else would I mean? She brought her up."

LENDRAL:(shrugs)

"No reason, she is though."

SARALE:

"And she has a massive crush on Lendral."

LENDRAL:

"Hush."

Aktlass suddenly interrupts with a strange statement.

AKTLASS:

"witch ass. you said then like some coward trying to blight some bastard into trouble."

Tunda looked at Aktlass and his soft demeanor became somewhat lazy, almost as if he was already drunk.

TUNDA:

"Coward be right. fuckers trying to get fat lots in shit they don't belong."

AKTLASS:

"You should make a ways through the cracks if that's the case." Aktlass hisses.

Tunda points to a mark on his neck as he stated his claim and it soon fell quiet.

TUNDA:

"can't... I got a settlement to deal with before I hurt someone I shouldn't. In any case, I want to say that I did what I wanted but this ain't everything yet. I just thought I'd give you some friendly head start."

AKTLASS:

"why so?"

Tunda looks at Karma who notices his glance and meets his gaze with confusion.

TUNDA:

"... not much to be done but to make ways and take hands, Ootashi. I may be your enemy, but I certainly don't want to be losing my friend for this."

AKTLASS:

"... fine."

Sarale looks between the two.

SARALE:

"uh~ Anybody understand that? Or am I the only one confused?"

LENDRA:(shrugs)

"you're guess is as good as mine."

Vajor's ear twitches as his arm drapes over the back of Sarale's chair. He plays with the end of her hair absentmindedly. Aktlass looks at Vajor and leans against Karma with a sigh of content.

VAJOR:

"This have anything to do with the comment from earlier?"

TUNDA:

"He'll tell you when you're near deaf ears."

Karma flinches at his last words and looks at him in worry but doesn't say anything.

TUNDA:

"It's all I can do for now while we're here. After a drink, I'm heading out. I've been sober way too damn long."

AKTLASS:

"I think you should cut down on the booze, clown. Could get you in more trouble."

TUNDA:(eerie grins)

"... little trouble is what I live to play with."

Aktlass and Karma shiver in their seats as if a storm had struck behind them. Vajor's ears droop to his shoulders and he leans against Sarale who smiles up at him reassuringly.

Lendral frowns and crosses his arms.

LENDRAL:

"sounds like everyone in this group."

SARALE:

"Tunda, if there's anything we can do to help, just ask. I'm no stranger to trouble myself."

TUNDA:

"I know."

Tunda gives Sarale a knowing glance that almost seemed apologetic.

She smiles and looks down at the table as the door opens and a young woman, about the same height as Karma, enters. She resembles Hrongar, but taller and a pale shade of green. She carries a tray in one hand with their drinks and a basket of bread, in her other hand she holds a stack of menus.

WOMAN:

"Sorry for the delay folks. My dad got caught up with a customer so he asked me to bring you the drinks."

She passes the drinks out and hands the table their menus, as she gets to Lendral she smiles shyly.

WOMAN:

"hi, Lendral."

Lendral takes his drink.

LENDRAL:(smiles)

"Hi Rise."

She tucks a few stray hairs behind her ear.

RISE:

"I'll give you folks a minute to look over the menu."

Tunda:

"Well, ain't you a lovely lady. Len here hasn't taken you yet, has he?"

Lendral glares at Tunda.

Rise:(giggle and blush)

"No, sir."

TUNDA:(scoffs)

"You sure? He's given me daggers here?"

Sarale hides her laughter behind her hand and Vajor turns towards her, both of their shoulders shaking with laughter.

Lendral glares at them in response.

LENDRAL:

"And what's so funny."

SARALE:

"nothing."

Rise holds the tray in front of her with both hands and smiles kindly.

RISE:

"Not officially anyways."

TUNDA:(Sarcastic*snaps fingers*)

"damn. missed my chance."

KARMA:

"Oh my gosh! so pretty~!!!"

RISE:

"Thank you~. That's so sweet."

KARMA:

"Can I hug you too!?"

Rise giggles at Tunda's comment as she offers a hug to Karma.

RISE:(smiles)

"Well yeah! I love hugs."

Lendral gives Rise a lazy smile as he blushes.

LENDRAL:

"Rise gives the best hugs. She also makes the best pastries I've ever had."

Tunda starts chugging his drink down, tracing his stomach. by half the drink he whistles and belches loudly with a hand over his mouth.

TUNDA:

"Whoo! that hit the spot!"

Rise giggles as she hugs Karma.

RISE:

"Would you like me to get you another?"

Lendral watches them hug and pouts quietly. Vajor grins at Lendral's reaction, his ears perking up and Sarale chuckles as she leans over to whisper in Vajor's ear. Tunda glances at Lendral and notices him staring at them.

TUNDA:

"... what? never seen two beauties cuddle before?"

LENDRAL:(glares)

"Actually I have, Thank you. It's just… I want a hug too."

looks down at his drink and takes a sip. Rise's giggle is matched by Sarale's. Vajor schools his expression as he hides his laughter. Aktlass spits out his drink dumbfounded by Lendrals words.

RISE:

"aww~ I can give you a hug too!"

TUNDA:

"aye, when you're done being cute, I'd like a one for the road, please."

Tunda says as he finishes his first pint.

RISE:

"Absolutely."

She pulls away from Karma and gives Lendral a hug. He grins, snuggling into the crook of her neck and taking a calming breath. When she pulls away his face is a sweet shade of pink and she excuses herself from the dining room to fetch Tunda's refill and to go drink.

TUNDA:

"Imma get ready to head off now."

Tunda says as he stands and stretches out with another belch before making his way to the door.

TUNDA:

"You peeps have a good venture. you got Good Karma on your side."

Karma hears their name and quickly follows Tunda, grabbing his hand before he steps out the door. Karma holds their arms out to him and waits patiently. Tunda takes a moment to examine Karma's sad expression before lifting them off the ground into a bear hug.

Tunda whispers into Karma's ear.

TUNDA:

'A sister is a witch. Leave by tomorrow night.'

KARMA:

"... Vinxa."

[translation](thank you)

Karma tells him. They peck each other on the cheek and say their goodbyes as Tunda leaves, grabbing his drink on the way. Sarale turns in her seat and looks out over the balcony at the scenery. Her mind mulled over Tunda's words. Aktlass starts to hiss quietly as he watches Karma's display of affection towards Tunda his tongue flicks aggressively in the moment. Karma returns to the table and sits by Aktlass with a sigh of melancholy. Vajor watches Aktlass and Karma curiously, a knowing smile on his face.

Rise returns shortly after Tunda leaves.

RISE:

"Have you guys decided what you want to eat?"

Karma looks at Rise then back at the menu and sees something they would only find in their homeland. Aktlass sees what they were looking at.

AKTLASS:

"Karma and I will have this. An extra large for me."

Rise nods and looks to the others.

LENDRAL:

"I don't know why I'm looking when I always get the same thing."

RISE:(chuckles)

"So you'll have the apple cinnamon turnover?"

LENDRAL:(smiles)

"Mhmm."

Rise blushes looking away and towards Sarale and Vajor. Vajor's ear perk up.

VAJOR:

"I'll have two meat pies."

Sarale turns back around in her seat and shakes her head.

SARALE:

"I'm not really hungry, so I'll just have the beignets to share with the table."

Rise:(smiles)

"I'll have those right out!"

Rise scampers off. Karma looks at Aktlass then leans on him and stays quiet. They seemed content.

Rise arrives moments later with everyone's meals.

RISE:

If you need anything else just let me know. (looks at Lendral) I'll be happy to help."