Tally... HO!

[rassafraggin]

It is early afternoon and the water around the Deep Menagerie is touched with light. The entry is starting to be crowded as people start to throng to the Menagerie. There is a Dilwen contingent outside the gate stopping any who will listen to their tale. They pass stones with runes on them to any who will accept them. Some do, some don't. The carnies keep an eye on the Dilwens, but as long as they don't cause any trouble, they are left alone. Maggie, Mercier and Quinlan are floating sort of off to one side. Through guile and misdirection, Mercier acquired several of the stones.

People swirl by unheeding or uncaring, heading for a variety of attractions. Battletoads will be starting soon and the line for the Elephant Koi ride is already starting to stretch along one side of the clearing. The stage is currently abandoned, but there is a sign with the next show times posted nearby.

Mercier has finished handing off the stones to Quinlan and Maggie, before glancing back into the circus, "Alright, now we go and look around places we shouldn't, if I'm understanding our plan correctly?" he asks. He's dressed in a pair of lighter colored trousers, of a lighter material, standard leather shoes and socks, and a shirt covered with a burgandy waistcoat, pocketwatch securely buttoned in, hooked with a chain. He still wears a tie, secured inside the vest, but has done away with a coat and hat, in the nature of practicality.

Quinlan takes his stone, weighing it in his hand, sniffing it carefully. Finally he smiles. "They've done their work well," he says. "These stones should be a huge help to us, Mercier. They do protect against curses, and curses are what is affecting these people. Strong, unique, curses. Don't lose those stones."

Merrisol, Liyandra, Meijanri, and Miriam had been on a night mission yesterday, slipping into the gallery of fantastic beasts while the bulk of the workers and visitors had been distracted by the Last Kelpie stage act. Staying away well past midnight, they have had some good results covertly engaging with the critters, whom, with the exception of the Elephant Koi and the Kelpie "Oshan", have been discovered to be just as twisted from their original forms as many of the workers have been. All are compelled to be part of the Deep Menagerie. Eventually, Merrisol and Miriam make a reappearance by day, catching up with Maggie's group as they go to check out the fairgrounds by day. After greeting them, Merri glances to Miriam at his side, giving her a tired go-ahead nod.

Miriam has made an effort to be a little less obvious this visit. She's ducked her guards, who will no doubt have some choice words for her when she returns to them. She's also hidden her silver hair under dark blue netting and chosen matching blue trunks instead of her silver ones. She also wears a sheathed knife that is strapped to her calf. She looks a little tired too as she offers greetings, then says quietly to the gathering "I spoke with th'Kelpie last night, in't's dreams."

Maggie takes the stone offered to her and, like Quinlan, sniffs it. She frowns slightly, glancing sidelong to Quinlan. Sniffing it again, she shrugs and tucks the stone into her pocket, "Nice. Thanks for getting them, Mr. Templeton." When Merrisol and Miriam join them, Maggie smiles at them, "Hey, you two." She draws a stone from her pocket and offers it to Miriam. The smile fades and she looks from Merrisol to Miriam then nods, "Go on?"

While the public areas are bustling with Rebmanity and the manity from other deep sea areas, the areas set aside for the workers is quieter. Still, a couple of the actors are speaking to the Ringmaster off near the stage. While the sound does not carry, there is a faint sense of trouble brewing.

"They've got plenty. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to get more if you flash some tin and give them the impression Martin is doing more direct action then he's been on about." Mercier coughs, "Anyhow, since you two are far better... swimmers then me in the circumstances, you may want to lead the way here. Things are likley to get worse for us before they get better."

Quinlan gives Maggie a puzzled look. "You don't agree?" he asks. Then turns his attention to Miriam. "Oh? What did it have to say?" And a nod to Mercier. "I hope you can fight. Because if a fight breaks out I am *so* hiding under a rock until it stops. Just sayin'."

Merrisol has his familiar carryall strapped across his back, weighted by contents which click and shift quietly while he step-drifts to one side, closer to Maggie. The stones are given some cursory study, and there are obviously questions to ask to get both sides up to speed. He too looks towards Miriam, waiting.

Miriam looks at the stone, curious, but accepts it from Maggie with a nod of thanks. The words of the others have her attention briefly, but then she returns to the subject of the Kelpie. "I found out another reason it's so angry. Not that its need t'keep th'hippocampus from waking isn't enough. There's six kelpie eggs in Itr'la. It thinks they're dead, but't still guards them because't isn't sure. We have t'send warriors t'Itr'la immeditely t'guard'm against being destroyed. If they haven't already been. And Meijanri, t'oversee them. It asked for her specifically."

Maggie tilts her head toward Quinlan, "Honestly? This is the first time I've smelled a spell with any idea what it does. So, it's... Odd. Yeah, I do agree. Just... never put the way it makes me feel into a description of function. It's... a little hard to wrap my head around it." She nods to Mercier, a half smile touching her expression, "Yeah, I'll go get a few more." She snickers at Quinlan, "I can fight. Don't worry about it." Cocky? Maybe a little. Focusing on Miriam then, she listens, her expression going grave, "That... Wow. Yeah, that's got to happen yesterday. Poor thing. Did someone send for Meijanri already?"

A gaggle of school-age kids flutter by talking in high-pitched excitement about going on the Elephant Koi ride. As they pass the stage, the Ringmaster throws up his hands and turns to stalk away from the actors. Weaving through the children, he angles toward the entrance.

"I'm not a swordsman or a soldier, milord." Mercier responds to Quinlan, "I might look to hide with you." He looks to the others curiously, frowning, "Dead eggs? Thats a shame."

Quinlan is distracted, though. "Guys. Ringmaster." He nods in the man's stalking direction. "People need to have these runestones. The Dilwens have a good lead here. These stones can probably prevent any new victims while we're working on finding and fixing the existing damage. Is the ringmaster going to go stop them from being handed out?"

By the brow-lifty way Merrisol reacts to the statements from Miriam, this is his first time hearing the report, as well. "Meijanri is laying low during the daylight hours.. she fears capture by the Menagerie." Perhaps somewhat irrationally, given the deceptive nature of many of the current offerings. With a glance to follow Quinlan's nod towards Tallymander, he continues, "I will inform her of this development. It must be that she knows of It'rla's location. We could give her one of our trump cards, and once she gets there, troops can be sent through." Again his attention diverts to the stones. "What needs to be done.. can I help?"

Miriam looks towards the Ringmaster, as attention is directed towards him. She nods then, to Merrisol. Th'Ringmaster knows where't is. He lead th'Manager and Nicola there. Want me t'try t'find't in his dreams? Or maybe'f he overhears that there's something else interesting there he'd go'n we could follow?"

Maggie nods to Merrisol, "Okay. I don't blame her at all." She looks around, spotting Tallymander as he nears the exit, "I don't think everything here is a cheat. But, I don't know, really. Maybe we can get him to talk to us. I hate to ask you to go into dreams again so soon, Princess Miriam." She points her toes, pressing into the ground a little to gain a bit of height, "I don't mind going to get more of the stones while you all see if you can get him to talk to you. I can rejoin you once I talk to the Dilwen contingent."

Tallymander is moving faster at this point. His focus seems to be the entrance to the enclosure. There is a bit of a knot at the gate, for tickets must be purchased and wristbands distributed. Blue for the young people, green for midddle children and red for older kids. A young woman pays, gathers her wristbands and starts trying to herd her charges through the gate. Children dart hither and thither, a bustling bevy of beatific babes bound for bedlam. Tallymander storms closer. The woman does not see him as one of her charges bounds up and over the gait, intent on claiming a squid on a stick.

Quinlan murmurs to Maggie, "see if you can get them to pass them out as free good luck charms or something. They're clearly not scaring anyone off, so a better bet is to convince as many people as possible to take one of the stones. And not getting cursed *is* good luck."

Merrisol looks at Miriam as she volunteers more dream-spying. The idea of just up and asking the Ringmaster for directions to It'rla strikes him as equally odd. "Let's see first if Meijanri already knows where to go," he suggests. "She seems to be well-versed in the secrets of the Sea, and the ways to travel between distant bodies of water without hardship or great delay. And if she doesn't happen to know, I could just ask Oshan. Better than betraying her to the fellow who forces a ride out of her every nightly showing."

Miriam thinks about that as she watches the Ringmaster, then nods. "It's true. I could also go back and just ask th'Kelpie how t'get there. We'll manage't. One way're the other. I doubt we want t'ask th'Ringmaster, and risk him going to th'others about't."

Mercier nods to Maggie, "I've already gone down there, going again would cause some inconsistencies in my story, but his ideas a good one. If they can conceal their purpose, it'll keep them out of the spotlight. That being said, its likley useless now. If the people running this thing didn't know what they were doing, they're certain to know now. I don't think they can conceal anything of the sort. So, we get awareness from them saying what they're saying out there. That'll be important later on."

So casual, wrapped in a colorful pareo picturing a happy catfish. He thought he would finally get to the Elephant Koi ride anonymously. Just out of the gates, he looks to his ticket. He looks yonder at the Koi's enclosure. But oh! Just before Shao's eye, at arm's reach, he can see the woman and Tallymander collide head against head, just as his mouth opens to say something... too late. The poor woman is knocked unconscious and Tallymander diverted onto Shao. Bam! Another head to head collision. Shao holds onto his nose, is letting a trail of red. All around them, the kids are fleeing.

Maggie nods to Quinlan, "Right. That is a good idea." She is about to pop up and head back to the Dilwen's group when Merrisol and Miriam speak up, "Oh. Well, that is true. Though I did not mean about where It'rla is, really. I meant distract Tallymander from giving the Dilwen's grief while I go talk to them. Sorry."

Tallymander staggers back from the young woman, crashes into Shao, whirls to stare at the Penglai man, then back to the woman. He draws a shell from an inner pocket and places it to his lips. Blowing through it, he sends a buuuaaaaa through the waters. The sound calls the Menagerie's medical team. Guards begin to converge on the area.

Quinlan hmmms. "Possibly...." he wiggles his fingers in Tallymander's direction, and a small and illusory school of koi-sized mermaids swirl right in front of his nose. Buxom, koi-sized mermaids.

Merrisol takes to watching the stalking one-eyed showman, at least until Mercier says things to Maggie that he personally cannot make heads nor tails of. He accordingly almost misses the series of collisions, ending with Shao's nosebleed, and followed-up by the undersea equivalent of cartoon tweety-birds dancing about the injured target. Merrisol's gaze then swivels between the members of the other team, now utterly bemused by their words and actions. "Why are the Dilwens in trouble with One-Eye..?" Maybe he'll just be quiet now and observe from the side until he gets more scoop on what all has transpired today. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Miriam looks at all the distractions, and apparently chooses to stay away from all the things going on near the Ringmaster. She might be a little confused by all the activity, and just watches and listens.

Maggie pauses in astonishment at the multiple collisions. She frowns a little and murmers, "I think because they were encouraging people not to come in. Telling them stories about their cousin who vanished fifty years ago."

Several carnies move in to carry the young woman off to a medical tent while others scatter to try and catch the children with her. Tallymander fades back toward Merrisol. He is speaking to Shao, "Are you alright, sir? Come to the medical tent and get that looked at." Looking around to see if the blood attracted attention, he spots the small cluster with Quinlan, Maggie and Merrisol, "You all. I'll need to take statements. Will you come with us, please?"

"There were children," Shao tries to explain to Tallymander, while someone holds him to look at his nose. A flurry of miniature mermaids shoot between him and the ringmaster. "There were children with the woman..." Shao tries again. When he points to the woman, she is already rushed to the infirmary. He looks to 'you all' and recognizes Maggie and the group. Shao is so surprised, he can't find words.

Mercier frowns as the man approaches them, and still others are brought into the medical tent, "I'm not sure I like the look of that infirmary..." Mercier mumbles, as before the Tallymander examined the group, "About that thing that just happened? Oh dear, is everyone alright?" He turns towards the man and cocks his head.

Merrisol appears startled when his group is selected to be escorted elsewhere for.. "Statements.. is that necessary, really?" he asks with a frown. Truth be told, the look he lays on Tallymander is one of undisguised dislike. He glances at Shao being urged away to the medical station, and starts over towards his comrade. "That needs to be staunched before the local predators get a whiff. Were those kids with the lady? Why did they scatter?" He pivots in a slow circle, scanning the area for children.

Miriam looks puzzled. "Weird." she says, then asks quietly of those still nearby her "Do y'think he wants t'talk to us, and needed an excuse? Or do y'think this's how they get people away from others, t'curse?"

(Ed Note: The group is summarily rescued from having to go with Tallymander, when the theatre troupe intervenes and spirits them away in the confusion.)


---___----____-----_____------_____-----____----___---


Merrisol swims around looking for Meijanri, checking in the shadows of large rocks and such.

As he rounds a corner he gets the sensation that he's being watched.

His pace slows gently until he loses altitude and sets down on seabed, walking and turning his head side to side slowly. His gaze tends to cut sidelong in the opposite direction, perhaps instinctively looking for a hint of movement in his periphery rather than head-on. "Come out," he sighs. "It's safe.."

From out of a large hole in a coral mass, the sort of place a large eel might call home, Meijanri emerges. If their recent progress has improved her mood any, it does not show. She wordlessly gives him an inquisitive look.

Turning to the complicated network of calcified growths, he looks distracted for a moment, glancing over her appearance, then the dimensions of the hole. Huh.. sinuous! Anyone else trying that would get all scratched to heck. "Uh.. here." Drift-walking closer, he opens his hand to reveal a smooth flat stone upon his palm, bound firmly in a black ribbon tether, which is about the right size to be tied around one's wrist. "A runestone concocted by House Dilwen. Quinlan has checked it, and he confirms it wards against curses, the powerful types that have been laid on the workers and creatures in the Menagerie."

Meijanri takes the stone gingerly and looks it over, one side and then the other. She does not seem terribly impressed, but offers it back and holds out her wrist for him to fasten it on. "Dare I ask how many more steps are needed before we can finally take action?"

Merrisol bends slightly to the task, looping the ribbon closely enough that her hand cannot sleight its way out. His gaze doesn't lift right away. "It is up to the Mage who will be taking on the Manager, whether Brand or Quinlan. Whether they are ready to go. It could happen as early as tonight, Mei." He doubles the knot and tugs the ends. "There's something else, though.. Princess Miriam learned it when she was able to find Oshan through dreams. Oshan told her at the time of capture she had been guarding a clutch of six eggs, Mei.. Kelpie eggs."

Meijanri blinks widely, tilting her head. "Truly? Can they be saved?" Lifting her wrist, she examines her new piece of jewelry curiously, turning it this way and that. Not her usual style, to be sure, though much more practical given the circumstances.

He considers his next words slowly. "Oshan herself does not know if they are viable, but she was protecting them in hopes they would hatch. She wants Rebma to send warriors to It'rla to guard them until her return.. and she referred specifically to you to lead and oversee them." He settles back, watching Meijanri with a curious headtilt. "Mei, have you been to It'rla?"

Meijanri puts a hand to her chest, startled. "Me? I, um... no. I can't say I have. I'll go. Of course I'll go. If there's any chance... Who will be coming with me? I could bring some of my sisters if needed. Surely they would be honored to take part in such an important task." Her fins tread a little more quickly, holding her almost motionless just off the sandy sea bed.

Merri mulls that over, clearly considering the political ramifications, then nods agreement. "More Undine joining the cause can't go amiss in Oshan's eyes. And if there are any from Rebma you would recruit to the task, it would appear to be your prerogative. You will still need to be able to get there though. I had wondered if your ability to travel the Sea, unhindered by boundaries, would serve you here. Otherwise, Miriam or I could try to talk to Oshan again."

Meijanri nods once, with resolve, "I wouldn't mind you coming along, though I imagine you'll be otherwise occupied. I am sure I can find my way to It'rla... but it's a big place. Am I to search the entire shadow for a single nest?"

Merrisol is quiet a few moments. "You'll be leaving immediately, and I'll be seeing to the critters as the enchantments lift. If the Kelpie requires assistance going back to It'rla, Maggie and I could make our way there with her then," he muses. "The eggs would be in the abandoned city.. as Oshan has had to guard both them and the slumber of the Hippocampus.. the Great Mother of the Kelpies. She sleeps beneath It'rla."

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In the confusion of ad-lib tumbles and rubber fish-slapping antics, Merrisol tells the others he's going to go find Meijanri, give her a runestone, and impart the details of Miriam's dream-inquiry to the Undine. After a while, he trumps Maggie to find out where to meet next, informing her that Meijanri has accepted to undertake Oshan's request, but she doesn't know where It'rla is.

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It is early afternoon and the water around the Deep Menagerie is touched with light. The entry is starting to be crowded as people start to throng to the Menagerie. There is a Dilwen contingent outside the gate stopping any who will listen to their tale. They pass stones with runes on them to any who will accept them. Some do, some don't. The carnies keep an eye on the Dilwens, but as long as they don't cause any trouble, they are left alone. Maggie, Mercier and Quinlan are floating sort of off to one side. Through guile and misdirection, Mercier acquired several of the stones.

People swirl by unheeding or uncaring, heading for a variety of attractions. Battletoads will be starting soon and the line for the Elephant Koi ride is already starting to stretch along one side of the clearing. The stage is currently abandoned, but there is a sign with the next show times posted nearby.

Mercier has finished handing off the stones to Quinlan and Maggie, before glancing back into the circus, "Alright, now we go and look around places we shouldn't, if I'm understanding our plan correctly?" he asks. He's dressed in a pair of lighter colored trousers, of a lighter material, standard leather shoes and socks, and a shirt covered with a burgandy waistcoat, pocketwatch securely buttoned in, hooked with a chain. He still wears a tie, secured inside the vest, but has done away with a coat and hat, in the nature of practicality.

Quinlan takes his stone, weighing it in his hand, sniffing it carefully. Finally he smiles. "They've done their work well," he says. "These stones should be a huge help to us, Mercier. They do protect against curses, and curses are what is affecting these people. Strong, unique, curses. Don't lose those stones."

Merrisol, Liyandra, Meijanri, and Miriam had been on a night mission yesterday, slipping into the gallery of fantastic beasts while the bulk of the workers and visitors had been distracted by the Last Kelpie stage act. Staying away well past midnight, they have had some good results covertly engaging with the critters, whom, with the exception of the Elephant Koi and the Kelpie "Oshan", have been discovered to be just as twisted from their original forms as many of the workers have been. All are compelled to be part of the Deep Menagerie. Eventually, Merrisol and Miriam make a reappearance by day, catching up with Maggie's group as they go to check out the fairgrounds by day. After greeting them, Merri glances to Miriam at his side, giving her a tired go-ahead nod.

Miriam has made an effort to be a little less obvious this visit. She's ducked her guards, who will no doubt have some choice words for her when she returns to them. She's also hidden her silver hair under dark blue netting and chosen matching blue trunks instead of her silver ones. She also wears a sheathed knife that is strapped to her calf. She looks a little tired too as she offers greetings, then says quietly to the gathering "I spoke with th'Kelpie last night, in't's dreams."

Maggie takes the stone offered to her and, like Quinlan, sniffs it. She frowns slightly, glancing sidelong to Quinlan. Sniffing it again, she shrugs and tucks the stone into her pocket, "Nice. Thanks for getting them, Mr. Templeton." When Merrisol and Miriam join them, Maggie smiles at them, "Hey, you two." She draws a stone from her pocket and offers it to Miriam. The smile fades and she looks from Merrisol to Miriam then nods, "Go on?"

While the public areas are bustling with Rebmanity and the manity from other deep sea areas, the areas set aside for the workers is quieter. Still, a couple of the actors are speaking to the Ringmaster off near the stage. While the sound does not carry, there is a faint sense of trouble brewing.

"They've got plenty. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to get more if you flash some tin and give them the impression Martin is doing more direct action then he's been on about." Mercier coughs, "Anyhow, since you two are far better... swimmers then me in the circumstances, you may want to lead the way here. Things are likley to get worse for us before they get better."

Quinlan gives Maggie a puzzled look. "You don't agree?" he asks. Then turns his attention to Miriam. "Oh? What did it have to say?" And a nod to Mercier. "I hope you can fight. Because if a fight breaks out I am *so* hiding under a rock until it stops. Just sayin'."

Merrisol has his familiar carryall strapped across his back, weighted by contents which click and shift quietly while he step-drifts to one side, closer to Maggie. The stones are given some cursory study, and there are obviously questions to ask to get both sides up to speed. He too looks towards Miriam, waiting.

Miriam looks at the stone, curious, but accepts it from Maggie with a nod of thanks. The words of the others have her attention briefly, but then she returns to the subject of the Kelpie. "I found out another reason it's so angry. Not that its need t'keep th'hippocampus from waking isn't enough. There's six kelpie eggs in Itr'la. It thinks they're dead, but't still guards them because't isn't sure. We have t'send warriors t'Itr'la immeditely t'guard'm against being destroyed. If they haven't already been. And Meijanri, t'oversee them. It asked for her specifically."

Maggie tilts her head toward Quinlan, "Honestly? This is the first time I've smelled a spell with any idea what it does. So, it's... Odd. Yeah, I do agree. Just... never put the way it makes me feel into a description of function. It's... a little hard to wrap my head around it." She nods to Mercier, a half smile touching her expression, "Yeah, I'll go get a few more." She snickers at Quinlan, "I can fight. Don't worry about it." Cocky? Maybe a little. Focusing on Miriam then, she listens, her expression going grave, "That... Wow. Yeah, that's got to happen yesterday. Poor thing. Did someone send for Meijanri already?"

A gaggle of school-age kids flutter by talking in high-pitched excitement about going on the Elephant Koi ride. As they pass the stage, the Ringmaster throws up his hands and turns to stalk away from the actors. Weaving through the children, he angles toward the entrance.

"I'm not a swordsman or a soldier, milord." Mercier responds to Quinlan, "I might look to hide with you." He looks to the others curiously, frowning, "Dead eggs? Thats a shame."

Quinlan is distracted, though. "Guys. Ringmaster." He nods in the man's stalking direction. "People need to have these runestones. The Dilwens have a good lead here. These stones can probably prevent any new victims while we're working on finding and fixing the existing damage. Is the ringmaster going to go stop them from being handed out?"

By the brow-lifty way Merrisol reacts to the statements from Miriam, this is his first time hearing the report, as well. "Meijanri is laying low during the daylight hours.. she fears capture by the Menagerie." Perhaps somewhat irrationally, given the deceptive nature of many of the current offerings. With a glance to follow Quinlan's nod towards Tallymander, he continues, "I will inform her of this development. It must be that she knows of It'rla's location. We could give her one of our trump cards, and once she gets there, troops can be sent through." Again his attention diverts to the stones. "What needs to be done.. can I help?"

Miriam looks towards the Ringmaster, as attention is directed towards him. She nods then, to Merrisol. Th'Ringmaster knows where't is. He lead th'Manager and Nicola there. Want me t'try t'find't in his dreams? Or maybe'f he overhears that there's something else interesting there he'd go'n we could follow?"

Maggie nods to Merrisol, "Okay. I don't blame her at all." She looks around, spotting Tallymander as he nears the exit, "I don't think everything here is a cheat. But, I don't know, really. Maybe we can get him to talk to us. I hate to ask you to go into dreams again so soon, Princess Miriam." She points her toes, pressing into the ground a little to gain a bit of height, "I don't mind going to get more of the stones while you all see if you can get him to talk to you. I can rejoin you once I talk to the Dilwen contingent."

Tallymander is moving faster at this point. His focus seems to be the entrance to the enclosure. There is a bit of a knot at the gate, for tickets must be purchased and wristbands distributed. Blue for the young people, green for midddle children and red for older kids. A young woman pays, gathers her wristbands and starts trying to herd her charges through the gate. Children dart hither and thither, a bustling bevy of beatific babes bound for bedlam. Tallymander storms closer. The woman does not see him as one of her charges bounds up and over the gait, intent on claiming a squid on a stick.

Quinlan murmurs to Maggie, "see if you can get them to pass them out as free good luck charms or something. They're clearly not scaring anyone off, so a better bet is to convince as many people as possible to take one of the stones. And not getting cursed *is* good luck."

Merrisol looks at Miriam as she volunteers more dream-spying. The idea of just up and asking the Ringmaster for directions to It'rla strikes him as equally odd. "Let's see first if Meijanri already knows where to go," he suggests. "She seems to be well-versed in the secrets of the Sea, and the ways to travel between distant bodies of water without hardship or great delay. And if she doesn't happen to know, I could just ask Oshan. Better than betraying her to the fellow who forces a ride out of her every nightly showing."

Miriam thinks about that as she watches the Ringmaster, then nods. "It's true. I could also go back and just ask th'Kelpie how t'get there. We'll manage't. One way're the other. I doubt we want t'ask th'Ringmaster, and risk him going to th'others about't."

Mercier nods to Maggie, "I've already gone down there, going again would cause some inconsistencies in my story, but his ideas a good one. If they can conceal their purpose, it'll keep them out of the spotlight. That being said, its likley useless now. If the people running this thing didn't know what they were doing, they're certain to know now. I don't think they can conceal anything of the sort. So, we get awareness from them saying what they're saying out there. That'll be important later on."

So casual, wrapped in a colorful pareo picturing a happy catfish. He thought he would finally get to the Elephant Koi ride anonymously. Just out of the gates, he looks to his ticket. He looks yonder at the Koi's enclosure. But oh! Just before Shao's eye, at arm's reach, he can see the woman and Tallymander collide head against head, just as his mouth opens to say something... too late. The poor woman is knocked unconscious and Tallymander diverted onto Shao. Bam! Another head to head collision. Shao holds onto his nose, is letting a trail of red. All around them, the kids are fleeing.

Maggie nods to Quinlan, "Right. That is a good idea." She is about to pop up and head back to the Dilwen's group when Merrisol and Miriam speak up, "Oh. Well, that is true. Though I did not mean about where It'rla is, really. I meant distract Tallymander from giving the Dilwen's grief while I go talk to them. Sorry."

Tallymander staggers back from the young woman, crashes into Shao, whirls to stare at the Penglai man, then back to the woman. He draws a shell from an inner pocket and places it to his lips. Blowing through it, he sends a buuuaaaaa through the waters. The sound calls the Menagerie's medical team. Guards begin to converge on the area.

Quinlan hmmms. "Possibly...." he wiggles his fingers in Tallymander's direction, and a small and illusory school of koi-sized mermaids swirl right in front of his nose. Buxom, koi-sized mermaids.

Merrisol takes to watching the stalking one-eyed showman, at least until Mercier says things to Maggie that he personally cannot make heads nor tails of. He accordingly almost misses the series of collisions, ending with Shao's nosebleed, and followed-up by the undersea equivalent of cartoon tweety-birds dancing about the injured target. Merrisol's gaze then swivels between the members of the other team, now utterly bemused by their words and actions. "Why are the Dilwens in trouble with One-Eye..?" Maybe he'll just be quiet now and observe from the side until he gets more scoop on what all has transpired today. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Miriam looks at all the distractions, and apparently chooses to stay away from all the things going on near the Ringmaster. She might be a little confused by all the activity, and just watches and listens.

Maggie pauses in astonishment at the multiple collisions. She frowns a little and murmers, "I think because they were encouraging people not to come in. Telling them stories about their cousin who vanished fifty years ago."

Several carnies move in to carry the young woman off to a medical tent while others scatter to try and catch the children with her. Tallymander fades back toward Merrisol. He is speaking to Shao, "Are you alright, sir? Come to the medical tent and get that looked at." Looking around to see if the blood attracted attention, he spots the small cluster with Quinlan, Maggie and Merrisol, "You all. I'll need to take statements. Will you come with us, please?"

"There were children," Shao tries to explain to Tallymander, while someone holds him to look at his nose. A flurry of miniature mermaids shoot between him and the ringmaster. "There were children with the woman..." Shao tries again. When he points to the woman, she is already rushed to the infirmary. He looks to 'you all' and recognizes Maggie and the group. Shao is so surprised, he can't find words.

Mercier frowns as the man approaches them, and still others are brought into the medical tent, "I'm not sure I like the look of that infirmary..." Mercier mumbles, as before the Tallymander examined the group, "About that thing that just happened? Oh dear, is everyone alright?" He turns towards the man and cocks his head.

Merrisol appears startled when his group is selected to be escorted elsewhere for.. "Statements.. is that necessary, really?" he asks with a frown. Truth be told, the look he lays on Tallymander is one of undisguised dislike. He glances at Shao being urged away to the medical station, and starts over towards his comrade. "That needs to be staunched before the local predators get a whiff. Were those kids with the lady? Why did they scatter?" He pivots in a slow circle, scanning the area for children.

Miriam looks puzzled. "Weird." she says, then asks quietly of those still nearby her "Do y'think he wants t'talk to us, and needed an excuse? Or do y'think this's how they get people away from others, t'curse?"

(Ed Note: The group is summarily rescued from having to go with Tallymander, when the theatre troupe intervenes and spirits them away in the confusion.)


---___----____-----_____------_____-----____----___---


Merrisol swims around looking for Meijanri, checking in the shadows of large rocks and such.

As he rounds a corner he gets the sensation that he's being watched.

His pace slows gently until he loses altitude and sets down on seabed, walking and turning his head side to side slowly. His gaze tends to cut sidelong in the opposite direction, perhaps instinctively looking for a hint of movement in his periphery rather than head-on. "Come out," he sighs. "It's safe.."

From out of a large hole in a coral mass, the sort of place a large eel might call home, Meijanri emerges. If their recent progress has improved her mood any, it does not show. She wordlessly gives him an inquisitive look.

Turning to the complicated network of calcified growths, he looks distracted for a moment, glancing over her appearance, then the dimensions of the hole. Huh.. sinuous! Anyone else trying that would get all scratched to heck. "Uh.. here." Drift-walking closer, he opens his hand to reveal a smooth flat stone upon his palm, bound firmly in a black ribbon tether, which is about the right size to be tied around one's wrist. "A runestone concocted by House Dilwen. Quinlan has checked it, and he confirms it wards against curses, the powerful types that have been laid on the workers and creatures in the Menagerie."

Meijanri takes the stone gingerly and looks it over, one side and then the other. She does not seem terribly impressed, but offers it back and holds out her wrist for him to fasten it on. "Dare I ask how many more steps are needed before we can finally take action?"

Merrisol bends slightly to the task, looping the ribbon closely enough that her hand cannot sleight its way out. His gaze doesn't lift right away. "It is up to the Mage who will be taking on the Manager, whether Brand or Quinlan. Whether they are ready to go. It could happen as early as tonight, Mei." He doubles the knot and tugs the ends. "There's something else, though.. Princess Miriam learned it when she was able to find Oshan through dreams. Oshan told her at the time of capture she had been guarding a clutch of six eggs, Mei.. Kelpie eggs."

Meijanri blinks widely, tilting her head. "Truly? Can they be saved?" Lifting her wrist, she examines her new piece of jewelry curiously, turning it this way and that. Not her usual style, to be sure, though much more practical given the circumstances.

He considers his next words slowly. "Oshan herself does not know if they are viable, but she was protecting them in hopes they would hatch. She wants Rebma to send warriors to It'rla to guard them until her return.. and she referred specifically to you to lead and oversee them." He settles back, watching Meijanri with a curious headtilt. "Mei, have you been to It'rla?"

Meijanri puts a hand to her chest, startled. "Me? I, um... no. I can't say I have. I'll go. Of course I'll go. If there's any chance... Who will be coming with me? I could bring some of my sisters if needed. Surely they would be honored to take part in such an important task." Her fins tread a little more quickly, holding her almost motionless just off the sandy sea bed.

Merri mulls that over, clearly considering the political ramifications, then nods agreement. "More Undine joining the cause can't go amiss in Oshan's eyes. And if there are any from Rebma you would recruit to the task, it would appear to be your prerogative. You will still need to be able to get there though. I had wondered if your ability to travel the Sea, unhindered by boundaries, would serve you here. Otherwise, Miriam or I could try to talk to Oshan again."

Meijanri nods once, with resolve, "I wouldn't mind you coming along, though I imagine you'll be otherwise occupied. I am sure I can find my way to It'rla... but it's a big place. Am I to search the entire shadow for a single nest?"

Merrisol is quiet a few moments. "You'll be leaving immediately, and I'll be seeing to the critters as the enchantments lift. If the Kelpie requires assistance going back to It'rla, Maggie and I could make our way there with her then," he muses. "The eggs would be in the abandoned city.. as Oshan has had to guard both them and the slumber of the Hippocampus.. the Great Mother of the Kelpies. She sleeps beneath It'rla."

---___----____-----_____------_____-----____----___---

In the confusion of ad-lib tumbles and rubber fish-slapping antics, Merrisol tells the others he's going to go find Meijanri, give her a runestone, and impart the details of Miriam's dream-inquiry to the Undine. After a while, he trumps Maggie to find out where to meet next, informing her that Meijanri has accepted to undertake Oshan's request, but she doesn't know where It'rla is. <insert part="part" where="where" they="they" determine="determine" that="that" oshan="Oshan" can't="can&#39;t" help="help" them="them" there="there">

The Clown Actor Troup has successfully managed to assist you all again. It appears they are certainly standing by their original statements that they want this curse to end and to be free again. Ai is waiting with Frill and another one of the actors who calls himself by his nickname Jeri, a jolly fellow that looks a bit like a jellyfish with a tendril like beard. Their tent area is a place where the pcs can go if they need to hide. The hubub from earlier has settled down.

Ai specifically high-tails it towards Merrisol as soon as he sees the man.

Maggie accepts the trump from Merri and offers to pull him back through to their hiding place. She looks grim at the news that Meijanri does not know where It'lra is. Once Merri is back, Maggie spots the incoming Ai and sideslips to give the fishman room. Folding her arms in front of her, she drifts over to Miriam and Liya to pass the word.

Miriam has found a shady spot, and rested a little. Somewhere along the way, a message arrived for her. The bird marks it as from Martin. She, too, heads towards Merrisol when he re-appears.

Merrisol scans the living quarters of the troupe, counting heads and asking for a rundown on those team members absent. Shao? Patched up and following a lead elsewhere. Mercier? Grabbing more runestones, presumably. Those missing kids, rounded-up and restored to the other collision vic? Excellent. He looks expectantly at Ai, barely smiling as he fashions a dual slipknot out of black ribbon to snugly fit another runestone, making a bracelet out of it. Noting Miriam's approach, he nods to her but indicates with a brief gesture that he'll be free in a moment.

Strangely, Nicola has been seen but she avoids contact with visitors, or at least avoids Miriam entirely. Ai has to take several gasps as he'd given a lot of effort to his mad dash towards the hunky blonde. He grabs the other's arm and holds it tight if allowed. "Mr Merrisol." His face is full to overflowing with anxiety. "The Twin's caravan... The Ringmaster. Trying to get information from them! I think..." He babbles. By twins he of course means the Siamese twins that saw the pcs previously. Maybe the Voices of Tir are listening.

Maggie lifts a brow very slightly at something indefinite or undefined. Her arms remain at her chest and she backs up until she can have her back to a wall. From there she can watch the growing cluster around Merrisol and keep an eye on the approach to their spot. The news about the twins is heard and her grave expression turns grim.

Miriam tilts her head, listening and then frowning. Her face shows her concern. "Where're they?" she asks Ai as she nears him. To Merrisol, she says "We have t'help'm. We can't let'm be hurt, for us."

Merrisol takes the opportunity to loop the ribbon around Ai's other wrist, and tie it close about the blue scaled skin. Listening, he presently lifts his gaze to Ai's beseeching face, then glances towards Miriam, nodding agreement. His regard slides over to Maggie last, looking to see that she is ready to spring into first responder mode. He'll be right behind her. "Seems we do have a reason to speak to Mr. One-Eye, after all.. so we don't have to be subtle about this," he tells her, reassures Ai with a hand to the bony shoulder, then looks back at Miriam. "Was there something else you were going to say, Princess..?"

Ai looks quite relieved and gestures forward so he can proceed ... then he eyes the ribbon and shakes it slightly. "What...?" He peers at Merrisol as though trying to decide whether or not he was just propositioned or this means something else. His fish eyes rather bug out a bit. Evidently he realizes Merrisol isn't flirting with him. This proceeds to cast a darker shade across his skin, presumably a flush... and he starts to head toward one of the Caravans. As you get further you can tell its currently occupied. And...Hm. There's rather a lot of moaning coming from that particular Caravan. "See. He's torturing them!" Ai insists.

Maggie pushes from the wall, one hand lowering to the pommel of her sword. The other flexes a little then relaxes. She nods to Merrisol, drifting toward the door, "No... we can't have the twins come to harm. Or anyone else here." Once she is sure that the sword is loose enough to be drawn quickly, Maggie shifts a bit and the drift starts to pick up speed. Angling out after Ai, Maggie comes up short when she hears the moaning. Tilting her head to one side, she frowns, "Um... How old are you, Ai?"

Miriam looks at Merrisol as they all head towards the twins, then says "I heard from Martin. He agrees we can send out people with Meijanri, once we know where." She thinks, then asks "Is that what y'meant?"

Merrisol for his part remains clueless to the notion that he might now be officially engaged to Ai and they will be picking out Penglai patterns soon. He drags the strap of his carryall until the main compartment is conveniently situated by his right arm. That Martin has gotten back in contact interests him immediately, but they can't afford to lose momentum now that they are on the move towards another housing. "I.. think so.." he murmurs to Miriam, puzzled. His gaze drops, searching. "Are you protected?" He starts to tap the super-curse warding runestone affixed to one of his kelp armbands, then looks forward abruptly as he almost bumps into the others as they pause outside the twins' trailer. What.. is..? Whatever that is, and however old Ai turns out to be, Merrisol is inclined to barge right in there, and does so if nobody else is moving.

Ai looks over at Maggie and the fish-man's lips open up about to answer. "Huh? Don't know." He admits with a little shrug. But off goes Merrisol and his head swivels following the other man.

The Caravan door is not locked. This particular shell is rather on the colorful side but of seductive shades. The shell-shaped Caravan door is a little bit deformed as far as doors go and you have to kind of angle yourself through it since you are entering the interior of a shell and it's a bit smaller than the bigger Troup Caravans since it's for individuals. The inside is indeed a large shell, like the others and has been set out with a bedroom a living area and primping area. On the bed, the Ringmaster is tied up whilst the twins are entertaining him while dressed in peculiar outfits. Someone should probably not let Ai see. One-eye is enjoying himself immensely and conveniently ... already tied up. The twins turn their heads to stare at Merrisol in surprise and they certainly hadn't expected to see him. The trussed up wound up Ringmaster hasn't quite registered until one of them says slyly. "Oh, and we were /just/ getting to the good part." The other has a little pout. "Did you want to be next? Or are you here for some other reason?" snaps a little cat-o-nine into the water and it ripples about.

Maggie sighs as Merrisol heads on in. She turns to Ai and nods, "Um. Look. Would you please escourt Miriam back to ... Back there?" She gestures back the way they came, "I'll help Merrisol with the... torture." Or something. Flitting forward, she looks back once and shakes her head again. Ai? Young enough not to know the difference between sexually provoked moaning and moaning caused by torture. Another sigh and she ducks into the caravan after Merrisol. Once inside, she looks around Merrisol and catches sight of the actual situation. Rather than being surprised, she lifts a brow and nods, "Right." Not entirely what she expected, but clearly close enough.

And not what Merrisol had been envisioning as his rationale for entering a private home without permission, from which carnal noises were issuing. Right then.. the twins are -not- in dire peril.. but the Ringmaster -is- a lech. One out of two ain't bad, especially with his track record lately. Hearing Maggie wisely sending Ai and Miriam into retreat, he considers the peculiar conjoined dominatricksy outfit for but a moment before opting, "..Other. You can have him after -we- are done." We, being he and Maggie, two peak specimens as ever there were. "Fair?" he headtilts. This is really getting kinkier than it ought to be. Perhaps Mercier can diffuse the budding misconceptions with his stunning normalness.

It hadn't been easy to obtain some extra stones. It was hard enough to blend and finding someone who wouldn't remember him was a challenge, but, Mercier had ended up with enough to make the trip worth it. Swimming his way about the menagerie, he rejoins the group by slipping around the corner, appearing quite out of nowhere, or as much as he can muster anyway, holding out of the few of the rocks, "Here, it was as much as I...." He perks his ears up, and raises his eyebrows, "And here I thought they laid eggs, like a salmon."

The twins have odd accents, "I am Aileen"... "And I am Lina." Their lips curl with delight as yet another potential customer has entered. "As you can see." One says, "We're occupied." The other continues. They are joined at the hip, these Siamese twins. One has a mermaid's tail, the other does not. They both have fully functioning arms and are eerily beautiful despite the deformities. "With our customer." One sister tsks. "Oh... I see who you are." Says one. "Me too." The other agrees. "Tallymander." Lina leans down to whisper in One-eye's year. "We have some extra entertainment tonight." The Ringmaster can't really move to look at who it is as he can't turn around to see. "Be a good boy, now." One sister nods. "We'll be watching." The other agrees.

Ai has done exactly as told.

They back away to let Merrisol have his...way. Wouldn't they just both love to have Merrisol all to himself. Oh ho, but there's another juicy male who has just arrived. Mercier gets similar appraisal. Maggie's bum gets a pat as the sisters exit the carvan. Clearly, they're part of the Adult Tent.

What must it look like to Tallymander and the Twins? Well, not what it apparenly does look like. Maggie successfully avoids fluttering when the twins assume that Merrisol is here to entertain Tallymander. She does not blush when Mercier is given a once over. She flames crimson when her bum is patted. Glancing over her shoulder, she lifts a hand to fingerwave the sisters out the door. That does for waving to Mercier in greeting as well. Once the door closes, she turns to glide toward the Ringmaster. "Well, well. What do we have here?" Her voice is silken soft and strangely menacing in the confines of the caravan.

One of the sisters hands Merrisol the Cat-o-nine

Merrisol shakes his head to Mercier's egg quip, whether it was meant seriously or not. It's only once he's successful in making the twins give over the one-eyed Ringmaster, that Merri kind of realizes what they are expected to do, given the situation. Maggie getting all purring with claws defines matters further, as does the sexy implement of Hurts So Good now in one hand. He looks at it..... and hey wow, now Mercier has it, and Merrisol is hanging the Do Not Disturb sign and closing the door, like the fine Lookout he is.

Mercier doesn't blush, but he does provide a wide, winning, charming-looking smile to the twins as they pass by, nodding politely, "Ladies." He says to their once over as they pass by, before hrming to himself, "Reminds me of two island girls." He muses to himself, as he steps inside the caravan, providing a smaller smile to Maggie's blush, before peering at the Tallymander, "I believe the word is entertainment. Whos... thats to be seen, isn't it?" He glances to Merrisol, glancing at the whip, and shrugging, "I don't know if thats the way we'll go, but, you may want to have the opportunity to return it."

"Who are you!" The Ringmaster sputters, "How are you... Where are the sisters?" He stares at Maggie in confusion. "I did not order a redhead." At the sound of Merceir's voice. "Or a male." He croaks a bit hoarsely. They have been over amusing theirselves with him, after all. The rest of this description falls into the use your imagination category. At any rate, he can't get out of the thing he's in without assistance. Conveniently, however, there's a gag nearby.

Maggie glances up to see the whip change hands and Merri sliding the Do Not Disturb sign into place. She does not slump, but does sigh and drop the purr with claws act. Moving over to the double hammock, she twitches a cover from the webbing and brings it to drape over Tallymander's nethers. Ahem. Once what shreds of dignity he has left are preserved, she steps back a little, "No. You did not 'order' a redhead. Nor did you 'order' a male. Or even two." Settling against a counter, she perches, "We have some questions for you. And since you clearly prefer women to men, I am going to let my associates do the asking. Me? I will report on your 'behavior' to the ladies and let them exact whatever punishment they deam mose appropriate from you. Do you understand?"

Tallymander can't quite do much more than nod as he's clearly in a situation where calling for help would be -really- embarrassing. He stares at Maggie for a long time, and nods possibly looking gleeful at the idea of punishments. Maybe he'll be a little difficult just to get what he wants.

The caravan is too big to be entirely intimate and too small to be spacious. Tallymander is tied tightly to a chair with silken ropes. Maggie is perched on the counter opposite the chair, her eyes settled on Tallymander. The Ringmaster looks both concerned and expectant. Mercier, who was holding a whip, has stepped out of the immediate vacinity for the moment. Maggie turns to glance at Merrisol who is standing guard. Clearing her throat once, she taptaps her fingers lightly. Tallymander looks after Mercier, then looks back to Maggie, "Um. Look, lady, if he isn't going to do the job, bring the sisters back."

While Miriam isn't all that sure she wants to know what's going on, eventually curiosity does get the better of her and she joins the others there. She's quiet though, looking a little out of her depth as she watches the others.

Upon getting the gist of the story, Liya too heads for the particular caravan in question, pausing to look over the lech briefly. She arches a brow, glancing over at Maggie, and then nodding her head briefly. While Liya is generally not expected to know - many things, she /is/ an island girl, and well, there are a lot of different strokes for different folks. "What's the matter, is the anticipation too much for you?" she asks softly. "Maybe we'll just have to make you wait longer then."

Mercier rolls his neck one way, then the other, which would generally emit a nice pop-sound above the water. Down here, well, who knows. Mercier doesn't seem to mind. He casually swims towards the ringmaster, and lets himself settle towards the ground, snapping one hand out to undoes the buttons on one sleeve, neatly rolling it, "Hmm. Alright, I suppose we need to establish a few things." he says, before manuvering so he's at about face level of the gentleman, making a show of undoeing the buttons on his other sleeve, "Here's where we start. I am not here to help you. I am here to hurt you. In the basest possible way. Physically, socially, emotionally, mentally. I am not here to be your friend. Now, I have a lot of ways to.... well, complicate your life at the moment. Tell me, barker, do you like having a /complex/ life?"

Merrisol is stationed beside what passes for a door in the undersea caravan, and gazing out the filmy layers of curtain stretched over what passes for a window. He listens to the preliminary taunts, frowning studiously and not overall approving of these circumstances, but certainly able to stay mum about it, unlike those other moments in recent history when he stood up... and pretty well screwed things up.

Tallymander eyes the newcomers though it is more of an up and down appraisal rather than a furtive thing. With two lovely ladies coming in, things are looking up. Perhaps it is a good thing that Maggie draped the man earlier with a blanket. "Well," says he. "Hello, there. I wouldn't mind if you two took over for the sisters. Though I don't like your choices of clothing. I'll be wanting a refund for that." As Mercier moves in, his eye moves to follow the man's approach. How, exactly, does a one-eyed man frown? Well, by drawing the cornerd of his mouth downward, and Tallymander's dip south, "Uh. Wait. You are going to be putting on the hurt? No...no. That is not the deal. At all." He struggles a bit more, though this time in earnest.

Maggie glances over toward Merrisol, her gaze holding there a moment before turning back. Shaking her head, she speaks quietly, "We are not actually part of a game or a show or offering a service. We want information. If we get it, we'll tell the sisters you earned your punishement. If we don't, we won't."

Miriam's eyebrows lift some, as she listens to Mercier. She doesn't look all that disturbed by it, exactly. Well, somewhat disturbed, but also curious. She whispers towards Merrisol "Is... he really going to hurt him...?"

Liya simply drifts back, letting Mercier take over. She watches, staying alert as she can, just in case there are any unexpected events. Like you know, someone coming to the rescue. Their rescue even, instead of tallymanders - wouldn't that be frightening.

"A good as any place to start." Mercier notes to Maggie, shaking his head at the tallymander. "Sorry, I should've been clearer. You didn't order us. We're not here for you. We're for information, like the lady says. You cooperate, then there are no reason to have any consequences. You don't..." Mercier looks outside, "Well, I suppose we start with what the woman says. Then we move on to... other consequences." Mercier looks at the man with an unconcerned, nearly bored expression, "So. Lets start with how long you've been here."

Tallymander frowns at Maggie, then turns to follow Liya with his gaze as she drifts back again. His expression crumples into disappointment, then lifts a bit in indignation, "Wait. If you are not here because I ordered you, I am under no obligation to answer." He clamps his mouth shut when Mercier speaks, anger rising to sparkle in his eyes. Or is that anticipation?

A sinuous, eel-like creature slithers through the water in silence as she weaves her way up beside Maggie, resting a hand on her shoulder and glaring at Tallymander. She looks angry. Or is that anticipation?

"May I try?," asks Meijanri Kell.

Liya looks for anything that is 'unnatural,' given her own temperament, just to see if she can find anything useful. She moves over towards Maggie to whisper something softly, not wanting to be heard by Tallymander at all.

Mercier takes a split second before providing the man a winning smile, "Ah. I was hoping she'd swim on by. First consequense, barker. Just let me know when we're on polite terms, and I'll stop going down the list." Mercier swims himself back, "By all means." Mercier says, calmly. Inwardly, this is... a gamble, but leverage on the man is, acutally, quite sparse. So far. While Meijanri gets to work, he takes a glance around the trailer, looking for peices of life that might be exploited. Evidence of his current relationship being infidel would be nice.

Maggie nods a greeting to Meijanri as she moves on into the caravan as well. "Oh, hey." Nodding to Mercier, Maggie adds, "Fine with me if he is okay wi..." Mercier gives Meijanri the 'go ahead' so Maggie offers the Undine a smile and a wink, "Green light."

Tallymander has stopped looking outraged as people and creatures just keep coming in without being invited. The Undine is given a once over, though the man's look of interest begins to fade, "Wait... wait. She should not be here." That sounds more like a general statement than a comment on the living quarters.

Merrisol simply tells Miriam, "Yes," although he doesn't know Mercier well enough to say, really. But when the prisoner might be listening, it just wouldn't do to say 'no'.

Miriam nods slowly to Merrisol, and continues to watch.

Meijanri moves by Maggie and settles herself down in front of Tallymander, looking quite unamused. She has learned a new limit to her own patience through this ordeal; each passing moment is a sign of true growth, at a person. She is done bettering herself. She does not even offer a question. There's a faint sound of rushing water as she inhales deeply. Those who know her well might think to cover their ears right about now. When her lips part, she issues forth an intense and inhuman shriek directly at Tallymander, one that is both heard and felt as it pulses through the water, but nowhere so strongly as at the "barker." The shriek is kept brief and quiet, relatively speaking on both accounts, so that they need not direct their questions at a corpse.

RPG: Mercier challenges a difficulty of 6. Mercier chooses Wits. Mercier succeeds.
RPG: Liyandra challenges a difficulty of 6. Liyandra chooses Grace. Liyandra succeeds.
RPG: Meijanri challenges a difficulty of 6. Meijanri chooses Wits and the gift SIR-BS. Meijanri overwhelmingly succeeds.

Miriam seems content to just watch and listen, her eyes staying a little wide over it all.

Merrisol takes a glance over his shoulder to source that deep inhale, eye-widens, and just ducks his head down to brace against the piercing screech, as short-lived as it is. Since Miriam is nearby, he moves on instinct to shelter her from the reverb and muffle her ears.. hopefully in time to be helpful. He turns and straightens as the soundwaves bounce from the walls and diminish. Damn it, Mei.. Still. Effective. 5 Points.

Maggie catches Liyandra's movement and lifts her own hands to try and catch her ears with her palms. She is only marginally successful and her eyes focus on the back of Meijanri's head. She blinks twice, swallowing against the effects of the pain-song's reverb.

Tallymander's expression transforms as the fellow gives way to the Undine. He licks his lips in anticipation as she moves in closer. The look on his face becomes suffused with excitement and arousal as Meijanri's song begins. However, as the song continues, that expression dies away slowly through ecstasy to pain. The reality of the pain is a shock as it goes beyond the fun-time pain he pays for. Before the song is finished, he is muttering, "Palm tree. Palm tree." The mutter turns to a whimper and he looks up at the Undine.

Miriam doesn't get the idea to cover her ears in time, and has to fight a bit of a shriek of surprise and discomfort. Fortunately, it isn't long and then she's just staring at Meijanri for a few.

Mercier hrms, and picks up a tablet on one end of the room, and hrms, plucking it up and turning it about, examining it. He's a bit... well, shocked by the Undine's shriek and winces, stepping away and covering his ears. Having /not/ been warned however, he's a little late, and left with some serous ringing." He yelps, frowning, before shaking his head, "Can I call consequences or can't I?" He mumbles, stepping up, saying in a raised voice, "How did we like consequence number one?"

Meijanri turns to leave again, waving a hand dismissively, "You guys figure out what that means. Call me if he needs his tongue loosened again." She looks like she's feeling a bit better now, at the very least. As she passes Miriam she gently touches the woman's shoulder with an apologetic look, "You really ought to try that sometime. Very liberating."

Liya at least doesn't get her ears too badly owwied. She does move to the door, slipping out.

Miriam's eyes widen a bit, to Meijanri's comment. "Screaming, y'mean? I'm not much've a screamer." Ehem. She probably didn't mean that the way it came out.

Tallymander stares wide-eyed at Meijanri, then looks back to Mercier, "Okay! Okay. I... What do you want to know? You haven't even asked me anything yet!" He struggles weakly against this bonds, this time with more honest intent to escape.

Maggie sidles a nod to Liya, her attention flickering from Meijanri to Tallymander. Her expression is schooled into the quiet neutrality she wears when something distasteful is going on.

The tip of Meijanri's tail vanishes back out into the waters beyond these walls. The horrible shrieking monster lady is gone... for now.

"I did, if you recall. I imagine how that can be sometimes difficult. I asked how long you'd been here." Mercier says, resumeing his spot next to the man's face. "I'm looking for a good number."

Merrisol looks around briefly as Liyandra slips out, followed by Meijanri. He resumes his vigil by the door.

The ringmaster jerks one arm up as though trying to break free. He keeps his eyes focused on Mercier, "Uh. Uh... About sixty... no. Sixty-five years." Touches of panic start to fade as the Undine slips out into the grounds. But, that takes his gaze to Merrisol and speculation touches his gaze. "Why? Why does it matter?"

Maggie remains perched on the counter where she can glance out the gauze bedecked window to see the side of the caravan farther from the door.

Mercier says, ""I can call her back to remind you how this works?" Mercier says, cocking his head innocently, "Whats relevent is our business. Youre business is to answer. I'll start with the easiest question, because there are a lot of them. Do you know what the Rebman's outside are doing? Why they're doing it?""

Tallymander blinks, his eyes opening wider. Looking toward the door, then back, he clears his throat. "What Rebmans? There are a lot of Rebmans out there." He fidgets again, then pales, "Oh. You mean the Rebmanity outside the gates? They are disrupting the flow of customers into the show. Can't be allowed." He seems initially content with that answer, then looks back and forth between Mercier and Merri, sort of bypassing Maggie, "Uh. Unless you mean their stones?"

Merrisol presently shifts his attention towards Mercier and the Ringmaster, as though feeling those instances of focus from Tallymander. He meets the trussed-up man's gaze for a moment, but has no answer to give him. This is Mercier's play.

"You must be an educated man. You've got a gift for critical thinking. Yes, them. See, I have an idea. And I think, given you've been here for six or so decades, that you you have an idea too. Something about the last time you were in the city. Am I ringing any bells? Or do you do these things so often you can't quite remember?" Mercier reaches into a pocket and produces a set of leather gloves. Sleeves rolled up, he starts tugging them on, like a technician might.

Maggie remains quiet and still where she is perched on the counter. Following Tallymander's gaze, she focuses on Merrisol, then Miriam and Tallymander.

Tallymander's gaze settles on Mercier, eyes widening as the Flatlander pulls on a pair of gloves, "Uh. Right... Right. The stones ward off curses. The... The beastmaster. Nikola. She curses people. Uh... Fifty years ago?" He rolls a glance back to Merrisol and Miriam as though silently asking for help, "Do what things? We are on a circuit. We stop in lots of places. All the time. What are you asking me?"

When Tallymander looks at her, Miriam shrugs at him. No help there, no.

Merrisol ought to have just stayed in place with his back to the room, since his face is one to be easily read. And apparently he's getting impatient with the roundabout interview.

"Because you /know/, barker. You've been here 60 years, you haven't figured out whats going on here? Theres lies and there's insults." Mercier notes floating over to the wall, "Three girls were taken from this city fifty years ago. Just as this caravan was in town. We already most of your little secrets, so, no use hiding the minor ones. Where are these women?"

Tallymander shivers and his eyes widen again. He bites his lower lip, but does not stop shivering. "Oh. The girls. It was fifty years ago. Those poor girls." He seems to be sincere in the reaction. "It was her idea. Well. Their's. They wanted out of Rebma. Violad Dilwen and her friends. The Dilwen girl? She wanted the Regent. Though I don't think he was Regent then. But, she wasn't suitable for him." He leans forward to whisper, "She was ruined, you see." His gaze flickers to Maggie, then to Miriam as though the women in the group will understand what that means. Then he turns back to Mercier, "There was another girl." His voice hushes, "Elisa Bauquemare.... She... was seen with the Regent a fair bit and thought she had a chance with him. When she found Violed trying to seduce the Prince she decided to destroy the Dilwen woman. She... came to the Menagerie." His voice lowers again into a whisper, "She... ate her. After killing her. Um. Elisa was infected by the illness that plagued our former manager. She took over and using dark magic from her mother's people, created Nikola to trap the Dilwen girl and her friends. She turned them into dolls. They are with her collection in her tent. She... Elisa... is going to consume power until she can break away from the illness that consumes her. We are all her slaves but she is recovering. Faster now that she has Oshan. When she recovers, she means to destroy Rebma."

Miriam just stares, as the Ringmaster explains it all.

Mercier listens to the story, and emotion drains from his faced. Its not replaced with dread. Or horror. Simply a gray slate, "Alright. These little games are over." He says. His tone is even, and its lost any of his playful menacing. "I'll skip that you could've stopped this. Where's the manager?"

Tallymander is still tied to the chair, though his calm has been shattered. He is not weeping as far as anyone can tell, but he might as well be. What good are salt tears in the salt sea? He would wring his hands were they not still tied to the chair's arms. He looks only at Mercier now, "Uh. I couldn't have stopped it. How could I know what Baquemare woman intended? She cursed us. We were helpless to resist her. You've gotta understand. She can compele us to do things we don't want to do. She's..." His voice lowers and a shudder finally races down his spine, "She's evil."

Merrisol is still and silent, absorbing the fabulous tale with an expression of tired disbelief. He shakes his head slightly as though clearing up some cobwebs, and takes a deep breath, waiting for Mercier to get through the rest of the interrogation.

Liya slips quietly back in, keeping to the edges and out of the view of Tallymander, as she returns. Her gaze goes around as she takes in the place.

"We know she keeps slaves, eats people, and has placed others in horrific, solitary bondage for neigh fifty years. Her left of intractable and intangible moral depravity is not a surprising revelation." Mercier even, even politely, snarls. "You know now. You're talking to us /now/. Nows the time to make it right. Tell us where she is, tell us everything you know about what /hurts/ her, and we will /stop/ this abomination. Or don't, and cement yourself apart of it. She's evil, what're you?"

Tallymander blinks at Mercier's line of reasoning and pales at his line of questioning, "Well. She... Uh. I don't know. No one has seen her in... in fifty years. We hear her. We don't see her. I... I don't know."

Finally, Maggie leans forward and touches Mercier's shoulder, "Ask him about It'lra. Is it from there? Is the story in the Kelpie Show true? Where is it?" She refocuses on Tallymander, the one-eyed Ringmaster, then sits back up again.

Miriam nods, when Maggie nudges Mercier towards Itr'la. So to speak.

Liya frowns a bit, listening. She drifts over to where Kerf is, if she can, or Maggie. There is a look of concentration on her face now, and a couple small bruises on arms and shoulders, even one on a leg.

Mercier frowns, pausing, and looking down for a moment, "You heard her. What do you know about the city, It'lra? Where is it? How true is the story you told on stage?" Mercier asks.

Merrisol is right by the door, looking.. bemused. He glances over at Liyandra, and his head tilts a bit as he notices a bit of difference in her since she had taken her leave a little while ago. "What's the matter, Liya?"

Liya leans over to Kerf, murmuring softly.

Privately, to Merrisol, Liyandra says, "Two things. First, I think I saw Nicola headed for the Clown Troupe, which worries me a bit. And secondly, there are tunnels under the city, six eggs, and they didn't look healthy when they were locked up for safekeeping."

Tallymander looks up at Maggie when she nudges Mercier. He slides his gaze over to Merrisol and Miriam. Out of the corner of his eyes he spots movement that might be Liyandra, but might be something menacing instead. Whipping his gaze back to Mercier, he nods, "It's all true. All of it." His face crumples a little more and he looks up and off toward where the Kelpie's cage might be, "All true. Oshan is the last Kelpie. The last. And I helped end Oshan's freedom. I am so... So ashamed." He pauses and shakes his head, then whispers, "And the Hippocampus lies in It'lra, dormant." Looking up as Merrisol speaks to Liyandra, Tallymander begins giving detailed instructions on where It'lra can be found. Detailed, exact instructions. Finally, he adds, "Do... do you think you can set this right? I would help if I could. This? This place... is wrong."

Merrisol leans his head down, listening, and after pausing to catch some of the Ringmaster's words, whispers back to Liyandra.

Privately, to Liyandra, Merrisol says, "I'm not sure what you mean. Tunnels under It'rla, or under this city? And the eggs are locked up here in the carnival?"

Liya looks a bit chagrinned, but she stays quiet for a bit, listening to Tallymander's words. She does lean back to whisper to Kerf, only after Tallyrandyer has finished his sob story.

Privately, to Merrisol, Liyandra says, "Under it'rla. I saw it - there are tunnels and six kelpie eggs were hidden away, locked up. But they weren't looking very healthy, and will probably need some serious love and care. If they are still viable.""

Merrisol stares at Liyandra, wonderingly. "How did you..?" He stops, dismissing the query for now, and leans in again.

Miriam looks satisfied as they get the information they need, to find Itr'la. "Thank you. I hope you're being sincere'n wanting to stop her." she says towards the Ringmaster. "It'd be a shame'f I had to hunt you down in your dreams for lying t'us. And not'n th'good way." There's something a little... dark in her voice as she says that. "Poor Osham's suffering a lot."

"There are some things you don't set right. But we'll try." Mercier straightens up, "We do what we must." He shakes his head, and kicks off the ground, floating a bit away, and lookign to the new entrants, and an unconcerned sort of emotion flows back into his face from the gray nothing that existed before. He smiles towards Miriam, "Just know, if you've lied to us..... well.... you will not have a pleasent life. If you haven't then we get to leave friendly. Someone will come by to help you at some point, I'm sure."

Privately, to Liyandra, Merrisol says, "Meijanri will be on her way there now that he's given up the location. If you have seen the tunnel they are in, she'll definitely need you to come along.... and it's not in shadow. So I can take you in the Solar Flare."

Maggie lifts one hand to press her thumb and forefinger at the bridge of her nose. "Right." Lowering her hand, she motions toward the exit. "Thank you, Tallymander. We have what we came for. And we have a lot still to do." Floating from the counter, she hovers, ready to take up the rear, "We will ask the twins to step back in." Eventually. Maybe. She smiles at Liya and Miriam, though her eyes do not echo that expression, "Let's go. We have planning to do."

---___----____-----_____------_____-----____----___---

After the odd interview with the Ringmaster, the group left the caravan, then left the Menagerie's grounds. For her part, Maggie did not wish to see the Kelpie show again. And she certainly did not want to see Tallymander again. The notion that it would be a good idea to compare notes occurs to her, but it seems more important to get rip-roaring drunk. The siren song of rum promises to wipe out the memories of Meijanri's battle song. Which is why Maggie heads for the Grotto. And also why, once within, she orders a non-alcoholic seaweed green tea. Memories. Gotta hold onto them until this is over.

Liya is perfectly good with following along to the grotto. She actually gets the electric blue drink, cause it matches her bikini and she likes it. But only one. And she is sitting quietly, at the moment.

Merrisol is quiet and deep in troubled thought while he ties up loose ends with the troupe and departs with the rest for the familiarity of the city. Once he gets through the long black passage and into the Grotto's stunning environment, he moves off to one side, ducking mirrors, to run a quick, though flabbergasted, update to Ryika, their pocket diplomat. Ending with a summation of the Ringmaster's tale, that actually seems to help him with the terribly dodgy claims. When he shuts down the contact and rejoins the group, he looks a bit more copacetic. "Liyandra, have you told the others what you.." he trails off, his gaze slipped to the minor but recent injuries evident on Liyandra's shoulders. "..Uh. About the eggs?"

Mercier is nursing whatever drink he managed to get recommended as survivable by surfacers, hunched over a bit in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table, counting something or another in his head, before leaning back, pondering. He snorts to himself a bit, before looking towards the rest of the group assembled, "I could certainly use the full brief."

Rather than sitting, Maggie hovers near the table, a loop of leather hooked to her belt to keep her close enough to belong to the table's group. Floating, she sips her tea from one of the ingenious glass bottles with the bubbles in the neck to keep the liquid within safely seperated from the salt water of the ocean's depths. Trouble is difficult to hold onto in the lovely room, but she manages. Looking up when Merrisol returns to them, she smiles his way before turning to Liyandra and Mercier. Liya's injuries are given startled attention before her gaze focuses on her friend's face, "Are you okay?"

Liya blinks, at the attention to the bruises, glancing at her shoulders ruefully. "Oh, yes. I'm fine. It's just a few bruises, and they'll be gone before you know it. The caravan is full of stuff - just floating every where. Like our friend is a collector, but most of it is just odd bits, broken things and other bits that don't make sense to me. And since they're just floating, little currents cause them to sometimes go flying through the water. Also, his caravan had about 8 translucent creatures rather like moray eels about, but they just watched me."

That Liya had been poking through someone's, probably Tallymander's, trailer in his absence is something Merrisol had apparently missed on the first run-through via whispers. He starts to say something, possibly about the importance of the buddy system when swimming through unknown waters, but stops himself and just nods. He glances at Mercier a moment. "Thank you for getting the coordinates out of One-Eye, Mr. Templeton. I would estimate that location to be far south, but still within Rebma's waters. Morfilod's lands are in the same latitudinal section, I believe," he remarks quietly with his eyes settled on Maggie now.

Maggie nods slowly as Liya explains where the bruises came from. The see-through companions seem somewhat fishy to her, but she dismisses that as merely another cod in the machine. Nodding, she claims a sip of tea. Mercier is offered a quick smile and a nod of thanks for his part in that adventure. Looking up again, she meets Merrisol's gaze. She nods once, though the query that is in answer to is left unspoken. "So... Good. Would it be possible to get maps of the general area? It would be nice to know what the terrain looks like. Is there an advantage to splitting into two groups?"

Liya says slowly, "There are tunnels, under Itr'la, and the eggs were locked up in the tunnels, I think." She concentrates, and then adds, "Well, there was a mirror, and it was out of place, but when I went to look, I saw - " Her words stop there, and her shoulders stiffen, expression darkening.

Mercier nods to Merrisol, "I think he mighta been ready to tell someone a long time." Mercier notes, "I only know academically of the city proper, I haven't done much study of uninhabitated ancient cities, so yeah, a map would be good." He cocks his head, "Someones's going to have to explain the eggs to me." He looks at Liya as her expression darkens, and stays silent, waiting to see what she found.

Merrisol considers Mercier's insight with a slow nod, but he looks blank as maps are requested. "As far as I know, the vast majority of the undersea is unmapped.. and a portion of that is likely unknowable, what with the depths and the strength of currents. At best, there are rudimentary trail maps made by settlements in that locality, and if there is a lost city in the region, there would be treasure hunters who have more descriptive diagrams.. I can see what House Bauquemare has collected for that region. In any case, the Solar Flare can get close to those coordinates even without maps..." he trails off and quiets down to let Liyandra continue her recount. Still.. maps! So useful.

Maggie nods to Merrisol, "Ah, okay. Well, if we can get a hold of a map, that might be useful. But, clearly not necessary." She lowers the bottle in her hand toward the table, then releases it so it clicks into place as the magnets take hold. Turning to Liya, she listens, then blinks when the other woman stops. "Tunnels. Eggs. A mirror?" She is less familiar with mirror magic than others might be so it means little to her. Studying Liya for a moment, Maggie's concern tickles her expression, "Is... everything okay, there, Liya?"

Liya frowns, and then she takes a long sip of her drink. "The mirror image was cloudy first, and then it was ghostly, but I could see. It was long after the city was destroyed, and there were a lot of tunnels beneath the city, all joined to a volcano, which I think was ready to erupt at any time. A sleeping volcano about to awaken. There were runes on the tunnel walls, giving directions. I could follow them, making my way out to the calmer and cooler stables."

"A underwater volcano... in Itr'la?" Mercier says with a frown, tapping his fingers against the table, "And here I thought she'd use the Kelpie..." He mumbles to himself, before looking to Merrisol, "Well.... there might be maps at the Menagerie, should we turn the entire place up. It'd make sense, but I suppose it won't hurt to bring a cartographer."

Merrisol leans forward a touch, focusing attentively and with growing concern as Liyandra's viewing of the city and its catacombs seems couched within a dark manner of viewfinder.. by the way she talks as if she had really been there, in a sense? "Possibly, but probably not a metaphor for the Hippocampus," he says softly to Mercier, and could go on, but is unwilling to say much more while Liyandra still has to impart further experiences through the looking glass.

A volcano. Of course it would be a volcano. Maggie's expression darkens and she nods to Liyandra even as her gaze resettles on Merrisol. The glance clearly states that she has had enough of volcanos. Letting Liyandra continue, she releases Merrisol from her gaze and turns back to watch Liyandra. Concern edges her expression though she does not comment at pressent. Stables. Interesting. She leaves the bottle of tea where it is, no longer interested in the liquid it contains.

Liya looks over at Maggie. It's not that she didn't hear the question really. "Sorry, Maggie, I just need to get this out, to make sure I remember it," she says. She takes a breath, and sets her drink down, without taking a sip this time. "The stables had clusters of kelpie eggs, lots of them. Rows and rows. It was a moment of sheer joy followed by outrageous terror. The Kelpies were fighting against something - I'm not sure what, but it used ice as a weapon. And the Kelpies were losing. I watched them fight, die, and the eggs being snatched out of their baskets and eaten." There is horror on Liya's face, and her words quaver a bit. First person shooter perspective, that's what she got, though she'd never phrase it so.

Mercier nods a bit, "Of course it can't /just/ be a volcano." Mercier notes with a hint of a tone, before nodding to Liya's story, "I see. Thats horrible... so a point in history, then?"

Merri looks to meet Maggie's gaze a moment too late, after feeling hers upon him. It may be that her sentiment was left hanging in the water, for he looks at her with significance nonetheless. Then he too resumes watching Liyandra, stunned by her words, while the visuals they invoke give him cause to just about mirror the high emotions showing clearly on her features. He nods preoccupiedly - some point in history. But how long ago, really? City already in ruins and long deserted. Narrows down the timeframe... a bit.

Maggie's drink is abandoned in thought as well as deed as Liyandra continues. The horror that rises within is clear to see in her eyes though she clamps her lips together to keep her urge to tear off to try and rescue the eggs from a historical fate in check. This awefulness happened in the past. It is not happening now. Easing around the table, she takes up a spot between Liyandra and Merrisol. One hand rests supportively on Liyandra's shoulder while the other slips off to rest on Merri's arm. Support given and received. Mercier's question is relevant and Maggie nods toward him before refocusing on Liya.

Liya's hands clench into fists, but she finishes her tale. "I still don't quite know how it ended, but there were six eggs left. They were - not really healthy any more, but they were still there. And they were hidden away, protected. There's a log and a key that needs to be turned the right way. Which I think I uhm - liberated, since it was with the mirror." Pause. "And then it was like I got pulled back through the tunnels and into the volcano's heart and the mirror went dark." Liya is shaking, Maggie can certainly feel that. "I am not sure how it fits in if at all, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one to know. "Also, I think - if we're going after those eggs, I better go. Because I want to do everything I can to make them survive."

Mercier just observes. For as angry as the others are, he's mostly contemplative, steepling his fingers while listening carefully. Perhaps the magic itself is an experience unfamilier to him. Perhaps he doesn't know enough about the people to understand the horror. Whatever the reason, he gives a gray look of contemploation, "Sounds like we're going to have to, but we can't forget our goal here. I'd like to save a species just as much as anyone else, but we can't solve that problem at the expense of saving Rebma, if it is truely in danger."

Merrisol reaches over his other hand to settle over and cover Maggie's, curling around into a reassuring squeeze. He nods again, more decisively. "You are also needed for your familiarity of those tunnels, Liyandra, just a glimpse of the twists and turns perhaps, but a good deal better than any of the rest of us. You said you could read the runes.. I wonder if that was a result of looking through Tallymander's mirror, as he does claim to be a former citizen of It'rla and therefore would be able to read those markings." He considers Mercier's practical reasoning, but says, "If we don't save those eggs, Oshan will do the Manager's work for her. If the Last Kelpie does not return to It'rla to guard the Great Mother's slumber, there will be one mother of a reckoning in Rebma if She is awoken again."

Maggie darts Merrisol a brief smile for his reassuring squeeze. The look is heartfelt if brief. Weighing Mercier's concern with Merrisol's assertion and Liya's tale, she lowers her gaze to the table's surface but only for a moment. "We go to It'lra, I think. If we can save the eggs, then Oshan can be released without fear for Rebma from that quarter. If we can release Oshan, then Elisa's magic starts to unravel. Elisa? Or Elsa?" Shaking her head, she leaves the question of pronounciation for later. "Oshan can return to guarding the Hippocampus. If any of the eggs ultimately hatch, then... There can be another Kelpie to help with the vigil. Though... six eggs plus one adult does not give enough for a stable population. We should see if we can find others in the deeper, wilder waters. Later. I think that either Kerf or I should tell Martin about who the Manager used to be." Looking at the others, she nods once more, "So, we pick up Meijanri and go? Or did she head out already?"

"It sounds like the most palitable of our two options with the Kelpie, ties other objectives into a neat little bow. Sounds like a bully plan, at the table, anyway." Mercier says, cocking his head, "The sharp one? She swam away before the barker gave up the cities location. Unless someone's been keeping her appreaised, I don't see how she could've gotten started. Theres some trade to be done in preperation for an expidition, anyway."

Merrisol nods once, then just listens for a spell. "Alright, we can both try him, he'll have to sit still for us then." Wherever Martin is.. to think this could have all been figured out a week ago had he not jaunted right out of Rebma on some handy quest or other. "The Solar Flare is an expedition vessel," he informs Mercier, head tilting as he seems to observe a subtle shift in the man's demeanor. "She's equipped with gear for the sort of undersea spelunking we're looking at here. So let's aim for a departure no later than the next sunrise. Meijanri may not even wait that long, once she knows."

Maggie nods, though whether that is to Liya, Mercier or Merrisol is left up in the air initially. "Okay. Right. Kerf's sub is stocked, Mr. Templeton but ordinarily you would be right." She squeezes Liya's shoulder lightly, "Which means that we can leave first thing in the morning." Looking up at Merrisol, she searches his gaze, seeking acceptance for the plan. It is his sub, afterall. Looking over to Mercier, she adds, "I suggest that if you have anything to finish up prior to leaving, it be completed soon?" Almost as an afterthought, she adds, "If we can't find Martin, Kerf, we can catch him up after we leave via trump... Personally? I want to get on board and get to bed early."

Privately, to Merrisol, Maggie's gaze flashes to you on that last.

Privately, to Maggie, Merrisol's pulse goes KABUMP. Everybody hears it. Just kidding, they have to be real close for that.
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