Session 4: The Streets of Gug-Oeja Report

General Summary

Before the party, the door to Gug-Oeja opens. Within the walls of cobbled together stone and wood lies a vast city that stretches as far as the eye can see. Structures four stories high, made as chaotically as the wall surrounding the city, tower above. Long billowing flabs drape out of smoke stacks, and entire ships seemed to have been re-constructed atop buildings in structurally worrisome, though beautiful and outlandish design.
This design philosophy seems to permeate every section of the city that you can see, with metal poles for lighting being placed streetside, yet the light itself is tied at the top with rope, and a strange glowing ball that looks somewhat naturally formed as only one of many examples of strange construction.
Though night has fallen, the city is as bustling as ever with a wide variety of people, goblins, dark elves, dragonborn, dwarves, kobolds, and even a few humans go about their business. Many a street performer can be seen galivanting wide arrays of magic, slight of hand, or acrobatics, share street corners alongside food vendors. The exotic food sold for pennies to the passerby construction workers, carrying or carting stacks of mixed materials from building to building.
Naomi holds her stave close to her body as the group walks onwards, honestly a bit worried this haphazardly put together city is one bad earthquake away from disappearing.
Ayame looks around amazed at the sites, running between vendors to look at the exotic goods on display, my fox tail swishing excitedly, "I've never seen something like this before!~"
Eleanor seems to have been distracted in thought for a moment before she takes a proper look at Gug-Oeja before she gets distracted by the sights, pushing forward excitedly. "Ooh gosh, nightlife like this is the best!"
Ragia smirks at eleanor and ayame's reaction, patting naomi's thigh to reasure her. "That kind of place might look unsound, but i've already been to that sort of town, you get the hang of which floors are going to collapse pretty quick"
Eleanor turns on her heel to look back at the group, walking backwards as though she's too impatient to stop moving towards the fun, "I don't know if the rest of ya were planning on sticking together or whatever, but I just GOTTA look around this place tonight some before finding somewhere to sleep!" she crosses her arms, "Last city I was in had such a boring nightlife"
"Ah...well I was hoping to stick with you, Apparently its what I'm meant to do, to stay with the three of you." Ayame says.
"we can meet back at an inn, I also want to check some 'speciality' shops, plus it's more fun to eat with friends" Ragia offers.
Naomi looks at the random ruffians just walkin' the streets... "U-uh, is it fine with I follow you today Eleanor?" Taking her chances with Eleanor rather than wandering around herself.
Eleanor looks over to Naomi and the rest of the group, "Hn.. I had no idea we were plannin on sticking together just cause some bones told us so" she puts her hand palm up on her chin and leans down in it in thought, "I guess I've got nothing better to do right now." she turns her head to Naomi, "Sure lets go"
The party scatters its way throughout the city, mostly desiring to look at the exotic food. The foods that the party sees are both exotic and cheap. Filling up any single party member for only 5 copper from their travels throughout the city. More often than not, these carts are selling alcohol, but a few notable carts carry live food such as rodents or squid, fresh meats from just about anthing local, mostly fish, and an intelligent zombie selling "The words best slop." which upon tasting, is absolutely true.
Ayame walkes up to the zombie, leaning in and asking quietly, "Undead are allowed here?"
The zombie nods. "If ya pay taxes" he says, the sound of some sort of liquid bubbling from his lungs taking up the majority of his speech.
Eleanor starts asking around for where she can find the best alcohol, and cooked meats in the city. She is told that she can easilly find the best booze in the city along the docks, at a place called The Red Lounge. If sweets and cooked food are her priority, its neighbor, The Bittern Inn would be more her taste.
Eleanor seems to think real hard on this and then snap-turns to Naomi with a new kind of excitement in her eyes, "You choose!"
"U-uh! T-the Bitter Inn please...."grabs Naomi's hand and nods, "Alrightio!". Eleanor uses her other hand to cup around her mouth a little and shouts towards the first person she sees, which is probably Ayame in the distance, "Bitter Inn!!!!" to which Ayame acknowledges Eleanor, while she drags Naomi to the docks.
Finally, with a sense of serenity, the docks appear to be somewhat normal compared to the rest of the city, with wooden buildings, and a few small fishing vessels, unloading their cargo after their time fishing. Unusually, there are quite a few lizardfolk going about the fishing vessels, and unlike most other lizardfolk, they have blue scales in various colors.
Several buildings line the docks, mostly warehouses, but a small smattering of lean-to taverns. The most stable looking of which are a pair of taverns next to one another, The Red Lounge, and The Bittern Inn. Both taverns are two stories, but even at this time of night, The Red Lounge looks like the center of attention throughout the docks, with lights and music playing as loud as it can. Some of the instruments being played, even from outside, sound unrecognizable.
"Well...Looks like we probably wouldn't be able to sleep had I chose that place anyways." Naomi says, a little pep in her step as she gets closer and closer to the Bitter Inn, however!
Upon entering the modest tavern, Eleanor and Naomi can feel the place moving from the music from next door. The tavern has this air of softness to it, as if someone had painted the interior with feathers instead of brushes. The wood grain is smooth and well maintained, the dining chairs are cushioned and sturdy, and the smells of ginger and clove fill the air with a relaxed aroma.
The hostess approaches the party, a soft spoken human woman, wearing a witches hat and robes. Her long hair covers the left side of her face, which she slightly brushes as she greets the party, the slightest spec of a burn scar showing beneath her hair. "Welcome to the Bittern Inn! Will you be needing food or rest?"
Eleanor is practically drooling at the sweet scents in the tavern and shakes her head upon being approached, "Both! I mean! Food first!"
"B-both please! I've heard you serve sweets here? Would it be fine for me to purchase some...?" says Naomi.
Eleanor hums and gasps in thought, "Oh my gosh right, yes, do you also have drinks??"
The hostess chuckles softly, taking out two pieces of stiff parchment, "Table for two than?"
"Yes please!" says Naomi.
Eleanor counts on her fingers for a second, "Uh.. We were four right?"
"O-oh. Yeah, right! Sorry I was just so excited I forgot..." says Naomi sheepishly.
The hostess chuckles again, and brings the two of them to a table, handing them the parchments. A full on menu, one page long with various (Sue me, im writing this down still) entres and drinks. "Our special of the month is a one hour gold piece special. It includes a meals worth of pastries, and a tankard of ale, cider, or a glass of wine. For two gold pieces, We also have our sleeping potions, not included with the purchase of a nights stay."
Both of party members instantly order the special, handing her a gold piece each. She takes the gold pieces happilly, and runs back into the kitchen. The party notice that there is only an elf sitting nearby, enjoying a wine, and some cookies.
Ayame was not too far behind the party, and by the time she reaches the tavern, Eleanor and Naomi are given their drinks, and a small plate of the cookies that the elf was eating, as well as a slice of apple pie each, and small bits of other assorted pastries.
The two at the table start slamming down drinks and sweets at breakneck speeds while the hostess bows to Ayame, "Not every day that I get a trader in my tavern. Anything I could get for you?"
Ayame smiles a bit and nod to her respectfully "A room and food please" I then gesture to a very tall cloaked man "For me and my attendent here."
Eleanor spots Ayame and waves excitedly at her, "Heeyyy! We got two seats here!" she says before shoving another cookie into her mouth.
"Its 2 gold for the night, and we offer a sleeping potion for one gold piece." The hostess motions to the noisy neighbors. "They are open till dawn." she says before explaining the special.
"Ah...yes ill take two sleeping potions and the room," says Ayame.
The hostess nods, motioning to the table, and going to grab Eleanor some Ale with a fresh cup, and another plate of sweets completely different from the last.
Eleanor happily accepts her refill and continues, though slowing down a little finally just a little after Ayame arrives at the table, "Uh, Ayame" she says with her mouth partially full, then holding out a hand and pointing to the cloaked figure, "Friend?"
Ragia shows up, and also sees Ayames companion, standing still next to their table.
Ragia rejoins the group, having been unsuccessful in her attempt to find a joke or prank shop in the city as everything is closed. She approaches the hostess as they speak to Ayame, who hands her two vials of silvery liquid and a key. "Three gold pieces please." to which Ayame hands her the gold.
"Do you have anything strong enough to make me breathe fire?" Ragia says, stopping in her tracks as they notice the additional member, sitting in her place.
The hostess shakes her head to Ragia, "Im afraid I don't have anything like that... you might get better luck next door however..." she says with a sigh.
"I'll go with something sweet then, it's no problem, i'm here wiith my companions anyways... even if it look like they didn't keep a seat for me"
"No, he doesn't need to sit, come on! sit with us!" Ayame says with a smile, her cloaked friend standing to her side.
Ragia goes to the table, giving a weird look at the shadowy figure just standing here that they've never seen before, to which the figure ignores the look.
After taking a few moments to study the mysterious figure, Naomi's entire body tenses up but she slowly relaxes, deciding she'll need to talk with Ayame later.
Ayame hands the key to mystery man, "Go wait in the room if you aren't going to eat." to which the mystery man walks off to their room.
"Who were they?" asks Ragia.
Naomi leans in, whisper yelling to Ayame, "W-what did you do?!"
Ayame blinks, "Eh? I got lots of food!" she says gesturing to the piles of street vendor food."I'm happy to share!"
Naomi pouts. "It's bad luck to lie to a cleric y-know? Especially one that knows Certify."
"Well cast it then!" says Ayame.
Naomi leans in to whisper even more "Why did you charm that guy Ayame? Such magics are immoral!"
The hostess returns with another plate of sweets for Ragia, "One gold piece, and will you all be sharing a room?" she looks at them quizzicly, before looking to Ragia. "Will Cider be allright?"
"Oh! Uhm...well I caught him stealing from a pregnant lady so this was the best way to stop him!" Ayame says to Naomi, nodding very seriously.
Naomi stares at Ayame before shrugging, and going back to finishing off her sweets.
Ragia looks at the plate of food before them. "Ah, I was hoping for a drink more than food, the stalls in town have filled me up for the evening."
The Hostess nods, "Well, we have cider, wine, Ale, for the special, and a bottomless dwarven brandy for two gold."
Ayame continues to eat her food, but leans over to Naomi, "Oh and also kitsunes eat people, its how we stay alive" she says casually.
"WAIT WHAT?! Ayame!! You're such a dork, even I know that's a lie!" Naomi shouts to her companion. Ayame tries not to laugh, but it is easily clear that she is biting her cheeks to hold it in.
Ragia perks up at the mention of the bottomless brandy, "do i get to keep the bottomless brandy or is it just for the evening?"
The hostess smirks, kneeling down to get eye to eye with Ragia. "That depends on if you want to try for the challenge or not."
Eleanor finally takes note of the bottomless brandy being mentioned and perks up, "Challenge???"
"A challenge ay ? well why not, even if I lose at least I won't have to worry about a sleep potion. I'm in!" says Ragia.
"I have a full barrel of brandy." she says standing up. "If you can drink the entire thing in an hour, free drinks for the rest of your life. If you can't, I get all the money on your person. No spells, only your own endurance. Nobody has passed my challenge. Even dwarves."
Ragia and eleanor both look nervous at the prospect. Ragia herself looks like she just took a cold shower at the "all the money" part, gripping her purse nervously. "I'll.. pass today, I'd be better off buying the barrel itself for training in my position"
Ayame looks down at the very smol ragia "Ah....no offense but....you will loose that challenge"
Ragia turns to Ayame with a firey gaze, "Do not underestimate a dragon's belly!"
"That's a ton of alcohol..." says Naomi.
"75 galons worth," says the hostess. "Otherwise, the bottomless brandy lasts until dawn."
Ragia turns back to the hostess. "i'll take the normal bottomless brandy, no challenge needed." she says before handing over 2 gold coins.
The hostess smiles, taking the gold coins and going to grab Ragia a drink. "Also, the hour of sweets is up."
Naomi pouts, "Awwwe! They were so good!! It reminded me of being back home!"
Eleanor lets out a sigh and does a big stretch with a loud yawn, "Gosh those were delicious."
As the hostess returns with the brandy, Ragia pipes up to her again, "Can i rent a room in advance? In case someone else need to bring me to bed."
"Two gold" the hostess says, handing Ragia the brandy.
Ragia takes the brandy and gives 2 more gold coins. "i'm not doing the challenge, but I do want to see how far I could have gone."
The hostess smiles and nods to Ragia. "As many before you always do."
Not long later, Ragia has her room key, and a new customer enters, a half-blue dragon takes a seat near the door, holding his head. "The usual Reo?" says the hostess. The half dragon nods and the hostess dissapears into the back again. The half dragon reeks of booze to everyone inside.
Eleanor relaxes back in her seat, not really minding the half dragon, and looks across the table, "While you two need to eat, we've not really talked much since we got together." she leans on her arm and smirks, "Yknow.. drinkin is the best time for such things!"
Ragia looks up to Eleanor as she registers what her companion just said. "Oh, I've already eaten at the stalls in the streets, I'm good."
Naomi is rather turned off at the whole drinkin' thing, so is just enjoying her new companions company for now.
Eleanor crosses her arm and lets out a whine, "No drinking games or anything??" she looks to Naomi, "Nobody??"
"oh, drinking games ? sure, what do you have in mind?" happy for the distraction as her mind was going in circles, as she keeps eyeing the half-dragon.
The hostess comes out and hands the half dragon a vile of pink liquid, to which the dragon chugs it instantly, giving her a silver. "Thanks, ill sit for a bit." he says before continuing to cradle his head. The hostess pats him on the back before moving away.
Ayame looks to Eleanor, "What game?"
Eleanor goes into deep thought, a sort of look of shock washing across her face, "Oh no! I don't know any drinking games! My friends at the guild always made them up!!"
Ayame blinks. "Oooh."
Eleanor whines, "the most I know are like truth or dare and stuff or two truths and one lie, but you take a shot if you get found out, or everyone else takes a shot if they lose."
"Uuuuhm....well how about we just talk and learn about each other! Since we will be sticking together...I hope." says Ayame.
Eleanor holds her hand up and points to a slight scar on one of her fingers, "Oooh and we did this one thing with knives once!" Her head kind of tilts in thought, "Though I was really drunk for that one and don't remember the rules, we might've just been swinging knives at each other"
Ragia winces at the prospect. "I'll pass on the knife game."
"O-Oh...yeah im good without knives," says Ayame.
Eleanor giggles, "That's good, I don't carry around knives, all my weapons are too big for that game." She hums, "What about... Never have I ever or somethin?"
Eleanor groans at the thought and her head collapses forward with a sigh, "I dunno, just wanted somethin fun"
"Sure!" says Ayame.
Eleanor perks back up, "OH?"
Naomi giggles "Wow you're rather energetic. Especially uhm...Well considering how late it is...And how much ale you drank..."
Eleanor puffs her chest out proudly, "Ellie here is a creature of the night after all!" she pauses. "Usually"
Ragia returns to her task of drinking brandy while the discussion unfolds.
Ayame leans in, peering at Eleanor, starting to smoke from her pipe.
"Hnn so if I remember right, its like.. one of us goes 'Never have I ever' and then says something ridiculous, if someone here's done it, then they drink. If no one here's done it, the person who said it drinks!" says Eleanor.
"Ooh I like that one." replies Ayame.
"I think that's how it works.. I'unno I'm a little buzzed, two ales in"
Ayame turns to Naomi, "Wanna join?"
Eleanor raises her hand, "I can start if no one else wants to!"
"U-uhm...I'm not sure if I should." Says Naomi, nervously. "I can't handle my liquor very well. Just the one glass I drank this evening has me all flushed."
Eleanor nudges up to Naomi, "Oh come ooonn, we can stop if you feel you've gone too deep!"
"...I...I guess...Maybe for a drink or two..." says Naomi, twiddling her empty glass slightly. Eleanor giggles, "Alright!!" she looks to Ragia, "could we.. use that cup ya got as our tool for the game?"
"No sharing!" calls out the hostess.
Eleanor pouts, "can I get a bottle of somethin strong..ish then with some shot glasses?"
Ragia hicups, and slithers out of her chair, to go check out the half dragon, climbing up to a seat next to them with brandy still in hand.
"Oh, Ragia's opted out..." says Eleanor.
The half blue dragon looks up to Ragia, looking better. "Can I help you?" he says as the hostess comes over with a bottle of unlabeled liquid, and three shotglasses. "Five gold for the bottle."
Eleanor blinks, "oh thanks" and pockets out the gold for it, looking to Naomi and Ayame "Alright well Ragia not included, I'll start!~"
"Never have I ever... " Eleanor thinks real hard for a moment to try to find something that'll make the other two drink "met my aunt."
Naomi drinks, but Ayame doesn't.
Eleanor gasps, "darnit, I shoulda guessed with your dad being a spirit and such!" She pouts, "you're next Ayame."
"Ummm.... Never have I ever... Drank Sake." she says blinking as she says it. "Wait... I have drank it..." she sighs and drinks, "I-I didn't understand! but now I do!"
Naomi giggles, "Its ok Ayame." she says without drinking. Eleanor thinks for a while, "Whats Sake?"
"A kind of alcohol made of rice"
"weird.. uh.. Oh, Naomi! You're Next!"
During all of the commotion with the rest of the party, Ragia is talking to Reo. "Oh uh, just wanted to check up on things, it's been a while since I last saw an esteemed member of the dragon family."
The half dragon chuckles at her statement. "Esteemed member. Thats good. I haven't been esteemed since I was rescued from Anguish."
"U-uhm! Never have I ever kissed someone!" says Naomi, who doesn't drink, but Ayame does.
Eleanor pauses for a second in thought and lets out a sigh, "No drinks for Ellie.."
Naomi raises an eyebrow at this but says nothing.
Eleanor looks dejected and a bit sad, like, sadder than she should be about this. But her mood quickly perks up again, "Oh my turn! Never have I ever prayed!"
Naomi frowns as she drinks.
Eleanor giggles, smugly looking to ayame, "What do you say miss shrine lady?~"
Ayame blinks, and drinks, "I-Im a shrine maiden of course I pray!"
"Y-you should be praying Eleanor!!!" Naomi says, swaying slightly.
Ragia smiles at the half dragon's chuckle, fading as she recalls the name, trying to change the subject. "So uh, how's it going around here? me and my companions are from a recent wreck, but you seems like a regular here"
Reo nods to Ragia, "Been here for almost twenty years now after the rescue ship was lost in an attack. Things are fine, people are wild and chaotic, but we get by and want for little. I'm Reo by the way." he says with a nod to Ragia.
Eleanor whines, "I don't even know who my parents gods were if any, not my fault!" she looks to Ayame, "your turn foxy"
"Uuuuhm...never have I ever....traveled to a foreign country"
Eleanor hums, "I'm not sure.. but I've not drank yet so I'll say yeah I have." she says downing a shot, alongside Naomi.
"I couldn't help but notice the glass of pink stuff you got when you came here, is it something to help with next day headache or something?" Asks Ragia.
Reo nods. "I'm a day drinker." he says with a sigh.
Eleanor points to Naomi, shaking her head a bit from the burn of the drink, "Your turn!" she says while Ayame seems perfectly unfazed by her tipsy companions.
"Uhm...N-never have I ever drank this much at once?" Naomi says nervously.
Eleanor pouts and takes another shot. Ayame thinks about it before also drinking.
"Well nobody's perfect, could I ask why?" says Ragia.
Reo looks glumly at the table. "You never... never really forget those that are lost when you fight beside them. Neither do you forget the horrors you face." he says, taking Ragias brandy and finishing it off, before handing it back to them. The hostess sighing, and bringing Ragia another brandy.
Eleanor hums, "OH! Shit its my turn! Never have I ever... had a hometown" she nods to herself, "proud wanderer from the very beginning here!"
Naomi drinks, but Ayame doesn't. Eleanor gasps, "That place we were at isn't your hometown???"
Eleanor hums, "lets say last round for the night, Ragia's gettin real comfy with someone over there. Ayame, your turn!"
Ragia nods to the hostess and sips on her drink a little, leaving it unguarded. "That sounds rough, do you have plans for the future?"
Reo shrugs, before shaking his head. "Why talk about such depressing thoughts? My life is here, and I can't afford to leave."
"Well.. thats fair," says Ragia. "Sorry for bumming you out, if there's anything I can do to lift up your mood, feel free to ask me, I've got a room here if you'd prefer a little privacy for it."
"UUUUHM, Never have I ever killed someone" says Ayame. Eleanor groans as she downs a drink, wincing, and pouring herself a second shot, downing that too.
Naomi stares as Eleanor places down her shotglass, now enjoying the feeling of a stiff drink behind her, as ayame also takes a single drink.
Eleanor snaps her head towards Ayame, "Buts, you said that!" She says, crossing her arms and pouting. "Self sabotage."
"Never have I ever uhm... H-had sex?" Naomi stutters out. and none of them drinks.
"Aheh," says ayame.
Eleanor looks pretty past just tipsy. "Oof," she says sitting straight up and whining. "Nowj that's gettin kinda sad~" she says lookoing down, "Oh right, I also didn't drink." she says before giggling. "Are we calling it quits now then?"
"Yes!" Naomi says before sighing and drinking herself.
Eleanor giggles, "You're pretty sober lookin, no fair."
"I've inherited my mothers tolerance to alcohol it seems..." Naomi sighs, disappointed.
Eleanor hums, "Lets go another round then! Never have I ever known my parents names!" she sorta half drunkingly blurts that one out, going for a for-sure-make-others-drink round.
Ayame pouts, but drinks up alongside Naomi. "M-Maybe you should take a break Eleanor." Ayame says to Eleanor.
Eleanor turns to Ayame, "Huhhh??? Why? I mean it's gettin late and Ragia's nowhere here that I can see so.. maybe.."
"You are kinda...a lil drunk" says Ayame.
"Drunk Ellie is only a LIL different than sober Ellie though!" Says Eleanor, "Ellie.. Ella? Which one sounds better? Ooh Elen kinda works too. Gods I have so many potential nicknames!"
"Well Ella, I'm going to go to sleep now I think" Ayame says, standing up while Eleanor waves down the hostess again.
"Heeyyy~ What is this stuff anyways??"
"Its firecider, made from fermented apples." she says before taking the empty shotglasses away.
Naomi grabs Ella's hand. "L-look Eleanor. We should probably go to bed now, okay? We don't want to cause trouble for our fine hostess."
Eleanor gasps, "I would NEVER cause trouble to someone who gave me drinks and sweets!" She lifts her head to hold her nose up, holding her free hand to her chest like a promise, "I only fuck with big wig douchebags!"
"C-cmon." Naomi says, tugging on Eleanor to get her up, "we can talk about it in the room. Don't uhm, be too loud! We're gonna have a hard time getting rest from next door's music anyways."
Eleanor whines, "Fiiiine. I was gonna arm wrestle that big blue guy but he's gone anyways, so I guess bed works."
Naomi gives the hostess a nod, which is returned as she guides eleanor to the bedchambers. Ayame giggles, watching this happen before retiring to her own room for the night.
Eleanor continues complaining as she's dragged around the inn, "Ohh come on, you're such a viiiiirgin Naomiii, like, I've seen drunk peeps do SO MUCH worse than bein kinda loud!" she begins listing things "Smacking someone with a stool, tossing a mug out the window, pissing on a guard, breaking a table in half with their face, playing a weird knife drinking game, stealing some noble's underwear" and she keeps going until she just passes out in her drunken state.
"W-well of course I'm a virgin! And it's not t-that, I just don't want to get kicked out -- wait wha-" as she gets cut off my Eleanor's listing. The pair of them go upstairs, the kobold already having long dissapeared out of sight with Reo, and the party sleeps until morning.

Rewards Granted

Ragia Raflesia found an ally in the form of Reo, the half blue dragon of Gug-oeja.

Character(s) interacted with

Reo, Half Blue Dragon.