[Story] It's a Steampunk Revolution: Darix

[LuEngel]

Despite the late arrival to town, the party finds it easy to see as they approach. The cobblestone streets are lit with lamps, some power by steam, some by magic and a few seem to glow brighter with the use of both.

Near the city entrance, jaunty music can be heard pouring from an inn and tavern. The sign above the doorway says simply "Guess What".

[AllytheOutcast]

"Guess What," Rina reads the sign.
She wonders if it is a riddle.

[QueerSpaceWitch]

"I'm guessing there is at least a place for us to sit and rest, maybe I could even clean the rocks out of my wings." Zuri couldn't even lift her wings for emphasis, she was so exhausted.

[Mallen]

Elara nods. "I can't say the name doesn't make me curious. We should at least sit inside for a while."

[LuEngel]

The inside of the building seems to be a tavern on the first floor with the inns rooms being upstairs on the second and third floors. The tavern has a stage for performers: currently there is someone singing. The faintest strains of the song can be heard from outside.

There's a land of fog and shadow,
way down below,
where every door is sinking
'neath cold, white snow,
and the lake is frozen over,
and nothing ever grows.
Where the wind weeps Eleanor,
'tis there I go.

[Incendia]

As the song flows throughout the room, the melancholy tone of the story catches Astrid's interest. She decides to find a seat tucked in a corner of the tavern and listen more closely.

[Achylleus]

Bartholomew seems hesitant to enter, but eventually goes in.

[QueerSpaceWitch]

Zuri slumps into a chair across from Astrid, undignified and exhausted. She tries to pick some of the rocks and dirt out of her wings and started making a small pile on the table along with bent feathers.

[LuEngel]

The song continues to tell a story: the narrator went down into hell to retrieve his love, Eleanor. He played a song so sweet and well on his banjo that even the devil himself wept and agreed to let Eleanor go. However, the man was told not to look behind or there would be consequences. Worried that Eleanor wasn't really there, he turned and she turned to ice before his very eyes. Afterwards, the man chased the devil down, carved enchantments into his bullets, and shot the devil.

The singer wears a corset and dress, but has shorn hair and a beard. His voice holds a whiskey-steeped saddness in it.

The bar is manned by a woman in a suit. Periodically, she stops just to watch teh man on stage sing.

[LuEngel]

Don't Worry Roll

Dice Roll:

d20

2

[LuEngel]

As the song closes, the man on stage bows his head. The last whisper of "'tis there I go" hangs heavy in the air like smoke drifting in a windless night. The room is silent for a beat before most of the patrons applaud the singer. The man grins and bows.

"Thank you all for listening to this old nut's song! I hope the applause is because of my skill and not because you are hoping for free beer."

He steps down from stage and heads to the bar, where he kisses the bartender.

[Gecko]

Fëanor, having listened to the song from close to the entrance with Bartholomew, applauds with the other patrons of the inn. When the applause begins to die down, he makes his way to the corner where Zuri and Astrid sit.
"Are you two feeling alright after our confrontation with those little spirits?"

[Incendia]

Astrid looks up, letting a small smile pass her lips as she nods appreciably. She starts to apologize for not participating completely in the battle, but stops and looks away as the guilt sets in because of how badly Zuri was injured. She doesn't want the others to know how scared she actually was of the spirits of death.

"Zuri, is there anything we can do to help your wings?" she asks.

[LuEngel]

Meanwhile, the bartender greets Bartholomew: "Hey there, big fella, what can I do for ya?"

[QueerSpaceWitch]

Zuri stops plucking at her feathers, feeling it to be a lost cause. "No, no. Thank you but I'm just going to see if the barkeep has a washing basin and cloth I could borrow to at least get some of the dirt off of them." She tries to stand up, but her legs begin to quake terribly and she slumps back into her seat harshly. Embarrassed she looks away from the two, "Perhaps I could use some assistance after all."