MASKTOURN

The tavern is called the Gray Goat, and opens in the evenings. It serves a decent variety of dive-bar standard drinks, as well as typical, greasy food. On most nights, live music is offered, and most of the town gathers to enjoy dancing, revelry, and drink. It’s a pretty lively place, all things considered!

Asha walked for a while.. There were only a few places she hadn't been by already, and even less that were open right now. .. But this tavern seemed lively. And maybe some drinks would soothe her nerves. Tradition said no drinking while you're breastfeeding, but.. She was dead, so that didn't matter, right? She hadn't had to pump since she got here, so that can't really matter. .. And she needed this. She sighed and headed up to the door, feeling a little guilty about it regardless of her extenuating circumstances. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

There were only a few people in the tavern, including the bartender, and only the bartender looked up as Asha entered. "'Evening. You new in town?" She asked. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Oh good, a female bartender. That made her a bit more comfortable. "Mmm, maybe." Asha said and stepped right up to the bar. "Would you believe me if I said I came all the way here just to try your drinks?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The bartender laughed. "Didn't think I was that well known. What can I get ya?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Got anything local?" Asha smiled and sat up at the nearest seat. "I do like to broaden my tastes when I'm traveling." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Are you a whiskey drinker? My brother and I brew our own moonshine, can't get much more local than that." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Moonshine?" Asha repeated. "Hah, yeah sure, why not." "Also, guess I should ask before I start racking up a tab- I don't carry cash. Will you take jewelry?" Asha smiled and twirled one of her gold rings. In Mlipuko, people would be happy to give her free drinks, but she knew that would not apply here.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The bartender glanced towards Asha's rings. "I guess so- could take it to an appraiser or something. But how do I know it's not fake?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Hm. Good question. She didn't really carry around letters of authenticity with her... "I suppose you'll just have to trust me. I promise you they're real gold and emerald, straight from Ninjago. I'll give you the whole thing for a down-payment tonight, and you can go bring it to the appraiser some other time. It's worth way more than a few drinks here, so you could either pay it back next time I'm here, or you'll gain a loyal customer for a while while I drink it off." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm...." The bartender thought for a moment. "Y'know, fair enough. I'll take you up on that offer. How'd you like that moonshine?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Got any coke?" Asha asked. Wait, they knew what soda was here, right? They wouldn't think she was asking for cocaine with the moonshine? ".. The carbonated drink, coke. That usually goes well with it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We've got Schwaaps, that's kinda similar." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Huh. Random. Not her first choice, but it was a ninjago brand! "Uh, got the Schwaaps Cherry Cola?" Asha asked. Wait.. a ninjago brand! "Where do you get it imported from? I thought all the factories were in Ninjago." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We get it important from Ninjago, I'm pretty sure. My brother handles all the business. Some purple-haired guy comes and delivers it every week or so..." She hummed. "And yeah, we've got a case or so of the cherry cola." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"When's the next shipment coming in?" Asha asked casually. "I'll take that with the moonshine, thank you." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We just got a shipment in the day before yesterday, so it'll be a few days." The bartender hummed, then nodded. "I'll get that coming right up for you." She began making Asha's drink. "So, if you don't mind my asking, where do'ya come from? We don't get a lot of tourists or travellers all the way out here." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Damn, it would be a few days.. But what would she even achieve if she did meet him? He wouldn't take her back to Ninjago, be for real.. "Would you believe me if I said Ninjago? That's why that caught my attention." Asha chuckled. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The bartende finished up Asha's drink, and set it down before her. "Ninjago, huh? Wow. That's pretty far out." She hummed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha slid it over to herself and twirled it around by the rim. "Mhm, very.." Asha nodded. She grinned before taking a small sip. "Just visiting." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That so?" The bartender asked. She seemed less concered about Asha being so far from home than most of the other townspeople had. "You liking it around here?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"It's been alright, but if I'm honest, I'm excited to get home. Did you hear about the rockslide?" Asha laughed a little and took another sip, this one much bigger than the last. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Rockslide?" The bartender repeated, a furrow in her brow. "No, I haven't heard- is anyone hurt?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Nope, me and Saul were on the way out of town, and a rockslide cut us off." Asha said. "Sooooo, looks like I might be stuck here for a little while." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, wow.... yeah, it'll probably take at least a few days for them to clear all that out, if not longer...." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yepppp.." Asha said and took another big sip of her drink, finishing off about half of it. "Sooo.. Dunno what I'm doing here really. I don't have much money left, obviously, since I'm pawning off my stuff.." This was beneath her, it was SO beneath her.. But she had to ask. "Do you know if there's any like.. People looking for some part time help? Until the rockslide can get cleared out? I'd rather keep some of my things than have to pawn off everything.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeesh. That's rough." The bartender frowned. "I know old man Marren is looking for farmhands, though.... no offense, you don't seem like the type. Do you have any any... marketable skills?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Hmm. Government? She wasn't even sure this town had one. Babysitting? Who would trust her to watch their kids when everyone thinks she's insane? Making explosives? Best to not even bring that up.. Why couldn't her income just come from taxes like it should! "Mmm.." Asha hummed as she sipped. "Nothing of interest here, probably.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm.... guess you're kinda out of luck...." The bartender frowned. "We don't really get enough business here to justify me taking you on... can you sew? Maybe you could pick up some work at the local tailor?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I usually have people who sew for me, so, no.." Asha sighed. "Maybe being a homeless bum is my new calling in life. Can't say I've tried that before." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm." This bartender was struggling to find work for a woman who apparently had no practical skills at all. "Hopefully not. Doesn't seem like too promising of a career path, if you ask me." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mm, don't got many other options.." Asha shrugged and gulped down the rest of her drink. She slid the glass back toward the bartender. "Could ya pour me another, please? I haven't really felt anything yet." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Coming right up." The bartender nodded, and took Asha's glass. A few minutes later, another was placed right before her. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Thanks, miss." Asha said and swirled this one around as well for a moment before taking a small sip. "What's the alcohol percent in this, if you don't mind me asking? Usually I'd feel moonshine by now.." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We distill ours to about 40% abv." The bartender's brow furrowed. "Really? I gave you a standard pour. That's weird." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yeah, really weird. Especially since I haven't drank in like ten months, you'd think I'd have lost some tolerance or something." Asha said with a slightly irritated tone. Of course she knew why this was happening. Albanes. The fun police. First you can't get drunk, then what? Can't get high? Can't orgasm? Fuck Albanes, this place was dumb. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm..." Seems like the town weirdness did not phase this bartender lady at all. "Well, if your ring is as valuable as you said it is, you can afford a few more of those." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Might be better to cash out the extra after you can get it appraised, if I really am going to be stuck here for the next few days." Asha said, going back to taking small sips. "You can keep a cut of course, for your trust in me." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm... we don't have an apprasier in town, so I'd have to go over to the next town... which might be tough because of the rockslide." The bartender frowned. "Hm." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Isi quietly opened the door to the tavern and stepped in, hoovesteps mostly unheard due to the general tavern noise. She looked as if she was trying to make herself smaller, hunched in and arms folded. It wasn't terribly successful given her height and her antlers. She seemed like she knew she looked out of place. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Yeah.. I don't really know what I'm going to do." Asha sighed and took another sip. She glanced back at the door just to see who was coming in, and quite literally spit out her drink. "Deer girl!" Asha said and wiped off her mouth. "Did you just d- get here?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

2:20 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Isi's head jerked up, ears going downturned at the fact that she was called out immediately as her eyes landed on the one familiar person in the room. She just looked more hopeless for a moment before trotting over quicker to her, clearly recognizing her to some capacity and seemingly glad of it. "I know you" She got out, not answering. She looked out of it in general, her voice was very weak and rough sounding and she swallowed hard, it was the first time she'd spoken since arriving. She looked at Asha, expression betraying the thought process of 'if you're here too, that mean's I'm actually dead.'

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (forgot to ping mb)

"Oh, uh-" the bartender seemed pretty confused, and kept glancing between Asha and Isi. @sketti | Isi 🦌 @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Did you just get here? How long has it been since I- since I got here?" Asha asked and stood up from her seat. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi didn't seem to register the bartender, just looking down at Asha. Isi startled backwards a bit when she stood up. "oh, uh-" she started to mumble, blinking hard. "I just- yeah I think so, in the forest" She replied, voice a little stronger. "Since you-?" she trailed off, brow furrowing before her eyes widened as she seemed to register the question. "Two- two days. Its been two days since you..." She grimaced at the memory. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Two days.." Asha repeated.. That was as much milk as she had had prepared for Kaisa.. But surely someone had been proactive and taken over for her, either another mother or someone gave some formula.. "w-was everyone okay after I.. y'know?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

(yall can continue on until someone directly addresses the barkeep

)

2

Isi lowered her head a little as Asha took in the information, slowly lowering herself onto one of the bar stools. She nodded. "Yes- I mean, not okay okay but-" Isi looked up at Asha, eye's going watery. "God I'm so sorry, that was awful, all of it, to happen to you" She broke a bit on the last statement, starting to furiously rub at her eyes. It didn't help when she pictured what had happened after the fight, the hug Seki gave her- she didn't want to break again, she was so tired of crying and hopefully too dehydrated now to do so much, but that meant she couldn't afford to think of- anyone else right now, if she could help it. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha slid one of her rings off of her hand and left it on the counter. She stepped over to Isi so they could have a more private conversation about this... "It's not alright, but I'm going to get out of here and make things even. For everyone that deserves it. I haven't given up yet." Asha said. "I'm sure you're mad too, I hope your opponent was as much of an ass as mine." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi stayed on her bar stool for now if only because she could look Asha in the eye easier that way. She quit rubbing at her eyes and was now just hugging her arms around herself. She shook her head. "I wish I could be mad right now, but- she wasn't- she really wasn't, Kyrie was nice, I- we had to grab this gold thing and there was this cliff and she could just fly up it and I couldn't keep up, I just- I couldn't keep up" She spilled out, hands going tighter around herself. She heaved a sigh that must have been centering. "I'm glad she's not here, she doesn't deserve that, but neither do I" her voice got firmer near the end. "You're going to get out of here? You found a way?" She seemed to perk up once she registered that statement, focusing more fully on Asha. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Asha gently rubbed her hand on Isi's back in an attempt to help comfort her. ".. Yeah, seems like the hosts love to rig it for people. I mean, there were so many stairs in my arena. How was I supposed to keep up with Kal when I was already injured?" Asha shook her head. "And no, I haven't found a way.. And basically everyone in town thinks I'm insane. It's not been great." "You can't just drive out of here, I tried. And no one here knows they're dead but us." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi blinked, brow furrowing at Asha's first statement. This- was the first time it even crossed her mind that it could be rigged, funnily enough. Naiyta was absolutely the type though, especially judging by the other fights like Asha's. Something heavy curled in her gut. Why rig it for Kyrie, though? It was so obvious that it was now. "So I never- even had a chance did I" She asked hesitantly. Her voice sounded small and cracked again. Everything her and Darcy had talked about during her last night alive started playing through her mind before she could stop it, all the promises, all their hopes. That they could get out of here if they only tried hard enough, fought for long enough. Would he even fight for himself if she wasn't there like she'd promised she would be? What about Yuga? What if Darcy never made it out to tell him? Her last night alive, and she'd wasted it on useless hope and promises she was never going to be able to keep. She wanted so badly to believe that she and Asha could find some way out of here, she should, its what she usually did, its what got her through everything, just believing that there always had to be a light at the end of the tunnel. She couldn't see it this time. Isi opened her mouth like she wanted to respond again, but her jaw clicked shut and her face scrunched up and she felt a giant lump in her throat. She tried to focus on Asha's hand on her back. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hey hey- it's alright. I'm not giving up until we find a way out, I'm getting home back to my family and village, no one here is stopping me." Asha tried to assure her. "Do you want a hug, kid..?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

By way of an answer, Isi accepted the offer by turning and leaning in to hug Asha, trying to be careful of her antlers as she did so. She still couldn't seem to cry, biting the inside of her cheek instead. Her shoulders still shook a bit with silent, dry sobs. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Well, she had never hugged anyone with antlers before. That was new. Was this better than hugging Ariana with the gills? Hmmm. The antlers weren't wet and slimy, but these could also poke her. Ariana was also so tall that she hardly ever touched the top of her head to begin with. "Shh, shh... It's alright, it's.. Going to work out." Asha said. Was this weird? Neither of them really knew each other, all they knew were each other's circumstances.. Regardless of what she thought about it, Asha's hug was warm and soft. Maybe even loving. Definitely a mother's hug. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi seemed conscious of the threat her antlers posed, trying to keep her head above Asha's. She couldn't say she'd had a hug like Asha's before, this soft and warm. Here she was not entirely certain if she even had her name right, or if Asha knew hers, only that they were both unfairly dead. She seemed to calm down a bit. "It's going to work out" She repeated quietly, voice a bit hollow now, even if maybe still an improvement from how it sounded before. She pulled away in time, face set a bit more steadily now. "Thank you," she said, apologetically? She looked apologetic. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mhm, it's not an issue, baby. I think we need to stick together here.. I'm getting absolutely nowhere on my own.." Asha sighed. "Do you want a drink or anything? It doesn't have to be alcoholic- they have soda here.. Apparently only the Schwaaps brand though, take that as you will." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded gratefully and in agreement, looking a bit more comfortable with Asha already. "Yeah- yeah. Better not to go it alone" She swallowed hard, trying to dispell the last of her emotions for now. She pondered the second question, then nodded again. "Do they have- juice? Just any sorta fruit juice. Or even water" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I'll ask." Asha turned back toward the barista, and spoke up again. "Ya got juice here, for the deer girl?" @sketti | Isi 🦌 @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We've got orange juice." The bartender replied. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱 @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi smiled a little at the bartender. "That sounds great, I'll just- have that" She told them. She looked to Asha again. "Sorry- I'm Isi, by the way. You're Asha, right?" she frowned, hoping she got it right. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"One orange juice then." Asha nodded to the bartender, before looking back to Isi. "Yep, I'm Asha, sorry if calling you deer girl is um.. Offensive." Asha apologized. "I'm surprised you remember at all, if my fight was two days ago.. Seems like time moves the same here as it does out there still." @sketti | Isi 🦌

The bartender poured Isi's juice, and set it out for her. "Here you go." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi shrugged. "Well you were -" she cringed briefly. "- sorta unforgettable. It was only two days" She replied. Isi looked at the bartender, picking up the glass. "Thank you" she said as she did so. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hah, usually people say my explosive personality is unforgettable, yeah." Asha chuckled and grabbed her own drink again. "Who else has fought? I haven't met anyone else here yet, besides Aarni.. Who fought, anyway. Just lots of people Albanes knew, I think..." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi paused, trying to focus. "My friend Enya and Levi, Enya won, and then Eremurus and Armand, Eremurus won, I think that's it" She Had tried to pay attention to how things went on the island, however unpleasant. She took a small sip of orange juice, frowning at the mention of Aarni- she hadn't gotten to meet him at all either. "People Albanes knew? like who?"

Enya, Levi, Eremurus, Armand.. Yeah, none of that rung a bell. Man, she needed to pay more attention. "I haven't met any of those other losers yet, but I'm sure I just haven't run in to them." Asha sighed. "And people like Albanes' family, who all forgot that she exists here. So far I think everyone in this town is just people Albanes knew in life, but uh.. There's apparently a soda brand mascot guy here, so I'm not sure how that supports my theory.." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"They've all forgotten- Albanes exists??" Isi sounded so puzzled. "Why?" Then, another thought occurred to her, a thought that made her face sour. "Is- all of Albanes family here?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I don't know why they've forgotten. It's eerie. She's in pictures here, but the people act like they don't even notice her." Asha shook her head. "And um.. I would guess they're all here, I don't exactly know Albanes' family tree. Her mom, dad, brothers.. There's another guy here, Persis, who has a picture in his house with her in it.. She seems to be friends with one of his kids." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi listened with a frown. She wished any part of this would just make sense and be helpful. "Okay- that's weird, really weird. Why would-" Isi folded her arms. "If everyone here is dead, and they've all forgotten, then- are we gonna forget too? We know right now but, if we don't get out in time- what if our memories get messed with too?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Yeah, I've been wondering why Albanes hasn't already wiped our memories. I'm sure she'll get to it eventually, maybe there's a little pity in her heart for us." Asha rolled her eyes. "My friend is also here, Juno.. Uh, but everyone else seems to know him as Yeonaixho. Do you know him too?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi shifted back a bit and looked genuinely surprised, affronted even. "Your friend?" She asked incredulously. She knew that if anything Albanes told her in the beginning was true, Yeonaixho was not the same Yeonaixho she'd met, he couldn't be, but she was still caught off guard. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Ah, you're one of those people.. Who met the evil one, aren't you..?" Asha sighed, and leaned back from Isi. "The one I met was not evil, at all. I don't.. I don't know if this is my one or not, I don't think he is. He could be mine, or yours, or someone else's.. He has no memories." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi's affronted-ness leveled out to resignation as Asha mentioned all that. Her brow furrowed. "If he was nice to you- if yours was, that's great. Mine- ran a tournament that nearly got me killed" She replied, deciding to simplify it. "So memories or not, I'd rather be out of here before I have to see him" Isi stated, somewhat apologetically. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yeah that's.. about what I heard from Darcy and Kal." Asha sighed. "It's alright, me and this Juno aren't on good terms anyway anymore, you probably won't see him around." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi perked up a bit at the mention of Darcy. "You talked to Darcy? Before you got here? He's my friend" Isi sounded very fond, a bit sad again though. She looked at the ground. "Why aren't you and this Juno on good terms anymore?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh! Yes, Darcy is very nice.. I helped him tie up his shirt, but it's been two days, so I hope he's taken it off to shower or something since then. I gave him one of my sparklers, but I don't have a way of knowing if they're used or not here." Asha said. ".. We got in to a bit of an argument here. I don't really care to go see him again." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"He's the best" Isi affirmed. "We promised we'd make it out of here together the night before-" She grimaced, and shook her head a bit, deciding she'd rather move on. "Oh, I'm sorry, that sounds rough" She replied with a nose wrinkle and an understanding nod. "Let's hope we don't, then" She took a bigger gulp of her largely forgotten orange juice. Now that she wasn't completely overwhelmed, she was so thirsty. It was- so weird that being dead felt so alive like this. she sorta didn't like it. If she didn't have Asha here she might think she was going insane, especially with the townspeople having forgotten everything. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"And you two will still make it out. Because I'm not going to give up either." Asha said. She took a sip of her drink as well. "It seems like we don't really have physical needs here anymore, but if you want a place to sleep at, there's a guy in town who let me and Aarni stay with him. He has some extra rooms open." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi shook her head. "If you say you're not giving up, and we can get out, then I want to try for that before I ever have to sleep a night here" She replied firmly. She tried to hold onto Asha's words. At the very least, she could focus on this and chase it, even if she couldn't handle fully believing it until it actually did or didn't happen anymore. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"We don't really have any lights to take with us to explore tonight, unless we can get a flashlight off someone. We'd just be wandering in the dark." Asha shook her head. "Unless you only want to explore the village, I don't think we'll be getting far." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi wilted a bit, weighing Asha's words. She herself could see decently well in the dark, but that didn't mean wandering around in it was any smarter for the two of them, really. "Maybe I'll explore the village then, yeah." She replied, figuring sleeping tonight would be a rough endeavour. "Where is the guy who's letting you and Aarni stay with him?" she tilted her head a bit as she asked. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"He's kinda out there, not in the main part of the village.. I'd probably have to lead you over there, actually- they might still be over at the temple if we go soon. They were there not too long ago." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"The temple?" Isi asked. She hadn't exactly been paying attention while she made her way into the town. "If they're there, then- I'd definitely like to ask before just showing up at his house. What's his name?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Persis... landcasting or something like that." Asha said. "Tall, dark skin, very very handsome, wears some armor for some reason... He looks nothing like anyone else here, you can't miss him." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Persis. Okay, okay. good to know." She paused, contemplating for a bit and her arms squeezed to her sides again as she did. "What- or who is the temple for?" Isi asked, despite her guesses she wanted to be sure. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"The Lifebringer." Asha rolled her eyes and took another sip of her drink. "And if you believe in something else, best keep it to yourself here. I heard that the first night." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Of course its the lifebringer" Isi sighed. Worshipping the lifebringer in death town. Cool. She took another long sip of her juice, then looked at it, frowning, then at the bar. "I don't- have any money for this. They do still want that here, right?" She frowned, looking a bit anxious at the prospect of drinking and dashing. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yeah, they have money here, but don't worry about it. I'm paying- waaaaay overpaying, actually. Drink as much as you'd like." Asha shrugged. "I don't really have typical 'job skills', so I've just been paying for things with my jewelry, which will run out sooner than later." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Oh right. A job. Actually, Isi could just do what she usually did and run off into the forest. That always seemed to work out great. Except for the one time that it didn't, but that wasn't even a real forest! that was an arena! "Thank you, then" She nodded, then paused to look at Asha. "For everything, actually. I'm messed up with all this and you've been so kind" Granted, most of Isi's messed-up-ness took place before she even entered town, but she still considered Asha's behaviour to be so very kind, and was glad not to be alone. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Finally, someone thought she was nice again! Everyone here thought she was a crazy insane asshole.. "It's no problem." Asha smiled. "I know I'll need all the help I can get to find a way out. Albanes definitely made it an uphill battle.." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi smiled back up until Albanes was brought up. "So she- really controls this place?" Isi folded her arms. "All of it?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yep. All of it. There's a big light barrier around the outside that knocks you out if you touch it, but to everyone but me, they recall it as a rockslide." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi exhaled unhappily. "So that's why we can't leave." She folded her arms. "And- that doesn't bother any of them? That if you try and leave town theres just a- what, a rockslide? Always?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well, I assume Albanes is just gonna keep up the 'rocks', uh, indefinitely. The bartender said it'd probably take a few days if not longer to clear out the rocks. Whatever that means." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi huffed. "Why is she trying so hard to make it seem like we're not dead?" her brow furrowed. She could've believed she herself wasn't dead, but she- watched Asha die, like definitely. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. I honestly don't know why she didn't wipe our memories after we died. I think she kind of gets a sick kick out of watching us make fools of ourselves, but that offends some people here.. Mainly Aarni, who is her friend, somehow.. I don't understand how, it's not even a different universe situation, I think. He's just deluded in to thinking she still cares about him." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"Well I'm glad she didn't, it means we have a chance no matter the reason" Isi frowned. "I'd like to meet Aarni. If we're gonna get out of here, I want us all to, yknow?" Her shoulders dropped. "I wanna find them and Persis." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mm." Asha nodded, though she personally didn't care to see Aarni or Persis again. Even if Persis was drop dead gorgeous. "I can take you over to the temple. But I'm.. not sure I'm going to stay with them again." @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi frowned. "I'd really appreciate that, but- why? Did something happen?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Me and Persis got in to a bit of an argument, and I don't think he's the type to hold a grudge, but I'll just feel awkward. And Aarni is obsessed with how good of a person he's convinced Albanes is." @sketti | Isi 🦌

"That's fair, I think" Isi nodded, though looked regretful of the fact even so. "If you're still okay to take me to them I'll appreicate it but I get it" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I'll take you." Asha said and quickly chugged down the rest of her drink, seeing as there would be zero consequences. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi followed suit, chugging the rest of her juice and then hopping off her barstool. She looked down at Asha. "Thank you" she stated again. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"No problem, I gotta work off my positive tab somehow." Asha laughed and stood up. "You ready?" @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi nodded, and had to keep her head a little bowed so her antlers didn't hit the light fixtures in the room. "You bet!" She replied. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Alright, let's get going.." Asha said and headed out of the tavern, leaving her ring on the counter. @sketti | Isi 🦌

Isi followed Asha out of the tavern, still trying to avoid hitting anything or anyone in the head. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

sorry asha you can't get wasted in the fold

deer in the bar