Character - Marcel

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  Marcel with his brother Till

  Marcel Swiftbarrel-Lindemann
• Halfling Barbarian 3
• Neutral Good

The halfling walked through Runedar, scuffing his feet along the ground as he went. The shield on his back and the weapons hanging from his belt signaled those he encountered to step aside and let him pass, despite the fact that he was smaller than most of them.

It was a bad-mood day, a day when it felt like the gods frowned on him. It should have been a great-mood day. He had just gotten home from an adventure with his foster brother and his friends. They had found and saved the three dwarves they were looking for, ran off the bad guy, gotten information about some danger to the people at risk, and earned a pretty good reward for doing so. 

See No Evil, Speak No Evil

One of the 'bonus entertainments' offered at the Jolly Pecker is a small bookshelf over near the fireplace. There's something nice about settling down in an armchair with a nice book for the evening, and travelers appreciate the chance to so. 

But there's one book on the shelf that isn't for entertaining the customers as much as it is for entertaining the staff. It's called Torments & Tribulations, and it's a book with a small compulsion on it to make the reader read a random page and cast a curse on themselves. 

One Distraction After Another

Most the time, I sit at my end of the bar, and watch things. And you know, sometimes you see somebody and think what's about to happen. I got a pretty good track record of being right. Last night was not one of those times, though. I could not have expected all the things that did happen. And it warn't just one thing; it was a bunch of 'em.

So to start with, the special adventurers were back, several of 'em. But they didn't come in alone, this time. Two of 'em came in with some of the locals - one of 'em the rock gnome that always seems to end up in that group. Now, these locals, I thought had finished their drinking for the night and gone home, but here they come back in, bookending an adventurer, and settling down with him for some more drinks. I guess they'd met outside and b'come friends that quick, because the adventurer was doing the buying for each trio. Of course, by the end of the evening, almost all of those locals had lost some change to some kind of pickpocket, so that makes me suspicious about just how friendly they'd all got.

The Double-Headed Yeti

I had told you somethin' was stirrin', and it sure was. The crowd was mighty rowdy last night, and I thought for sure we'd end up with someone in the pantry under under the stairs. 

The special adventurers came back, just like I told ya they would. A bunch of 'em, last night; came in, one after another. Before you know it, some of them was talking to each other, and the rest was chattin' up the staff. Which is just what adventurers do, right? Sometimes the whole party comes in and finds some company. Other nights there's not a bit of flirtin' happening, and it's all business.

So on those nights where romance seems to be in the air, it's more often than not the magic-folks that start flirtin' and teasin', and they'll usually target one of the wenches, if they lean that way, or else Pip, if they lean th'other way. And all four of them pick and choose which ones they want to encourage. But not this time.

Fuck Me Like You Mean It

Content Labels: Sexual Content 

Fuck me like I'm your sweetheart -

...Tell me I'm pretty and you love me.

Fuck me like I'm your dirty little secret -

...Cover up the shame and guilt with whispers and hurry.

Kink Me - Condition Me

Content Labels: Dubious Consent, Drug Use, Sexual Content

He held out his hand, one small orange pill on his palm. A bottle of water was in his other hand; he wouldn't give it to me until the pill was in my mouth. This morning's bottle lay empty in the trash bin, I had drained it hours ago. I kept trying to make the water last, but the pills made my mouth dry, and I couldn't help but drain them quickly. 

"I don't need the pills. I'll be good, I promise. I'll do what you want." The truth is, the things he did to me when I was drugged... I enjoyed them. I wanted to do them. I wanted to be able to participate, to do those things on purpose. I would show him. I knelt in front of him, reaching for the button of his pants eagerly. But he stepped back, out of my reach, denying me. "Please, let me..." I crawled forward on my knees, hating how pitiful I sounded, but he just stepped back again.

Something's Stirring

I feel like something's stirring. You know, we've had a quiet several years since all that mess at Juniper got settled out. Shame the town's nothing but rubble now; it never picked back up after those blighted treant creatures killed 'most all the population. 

No More Problems in Juniper

It appears we can put the close on the troubles in Juniper, because that group of adventurers finally made good on their plans to solve the problem. Hmm... not sure 'finally' is the right thing to say there, but I'll leave it; it feels right anyway.

Character - Bowser

Bowser

small Tortle
Earthspur Miner
Bard 1 - Druid 1
Neutral Good

I didn't mean to become a druid. I didn't mean to become a bard, either, for that matter. All I wanted was a small place of my own and to do my job; a nice quiet life. 

Horse Shit and Hijinks

You know, every adventuring party needs a rogue. Someone to slink around and handle traps, or climb up to fetch some'at out of reach. A backstabber's real effective in a fight. The problem being that they might do some backstabbing when they's not in a fight too. But what do you do when you don't have a rogue at hand? Well, apparently, you make do with the mage. 

Characters - A Familiar Friend

Belly full of veggie-kabobs, Hun-Ho waddled along with his friends back to the the Trollskull Tavern. As they approached, he could see a few careful patrons nearing the door. One group was obviously adventurers; they were all armed, and strode up to the door the same as they would any other taproom, talking loudly among themselves. Following more timidly behind them was a trio of locals. They were unarmed, dressed much more poorly than the heroes, and they looked questioningly at the building, unsure whether they really wanted to go in. After all, rumor was the place was haunted. And what if it's one of those places that cater exclusively to adventurers? But with all the renovation work being done recently, everyone in the quarter knew the Trollskull was newly open for business. And one of the locals had done some of the work inside; he wanted to show off the job he'd done to his friends. They headed inside, and as each one touched the doorknob as they went in, there was a tiny flash of magical light. It wasn't a reflection; it was the piece of cleansing stone worked into the doorknob. Both adventurers and locals were instantly cleaned up. The worker who'd installed the knob smiled hugely as he pointed this out to his friends, proud of his work and the effect it would have on his community.

Character - Hun-Ho Leafeater

Awakened Red Panda (Tabaxi re-skin)
Custom Background: Awakened Pet
Alignment: Neutral
Warlock: Archfey Patron (Ailura, the Lady of the Green)

Back Again For the First Time

Well, it finally happened. Some of the special ones came back.

I'm sure I've mentioned 'em to you - a handful of special travelers that always show up here on the same nights, and end up leaving together the next morning, headed for Juniper. Except every time is the first time. The first time they've met each each other, the first time they've been to the Jolly Pecker, the first time they've gathered up into a party. It don't make sense, but I tell you it's happened before. Even when it's happening for the first time.

Restroom Encounter

Content Labels: Transphobia

"Excuse me?"

I turn around, realizing that's the second time I heard the voice, and it might be directed at me. I make eye contact, and realize the moment is finally here. It's her, the inevitable one I've been expecting, sooner or later.

"Excuse me, but you're in the wrong restroom," she says.

Hoping to end it quickly, I just give her the raised eyebrow and say, "Am I? I don't think so." 

I try to step around her, but there's not enough room, and she closes the aisle in front of me. "Yes. You see, the men's room is over that way." She points back the way I came.

"You're right, it is," I answer her. "But I'm not a man." Please, lady, just let me use the bathroom. I mean, I am a little pleased that she thinks I'm a man and not a woman. I'm not even wearing a binder today, and I'm passing masc? At least to her, anyway.

She looks puzzled. How could her gender radar be so far off? "Oh, I'm sorry. You're a woman?" she asks, as if she needs me to verify the answer for her.

Pity I'm not interested in helping her out. "No, I'm nonbinary," I answer. "And I'd like to use the bathroom. Would you move out of my way, please?"

"But do you have a... a penis or... or boobs?" she asks. Because vulva or vagina are certainly not words in her vocabulary. 

Of course, I know several people with both a penis and boobs, but that's not what she's really asking. And it's not her business. "The only people that need to know what's under my clothes are my doctors and my sexual partners," I give her. "Are you hitting on me? In the bathroom?"

That got the panicked reaction I was ready for. "Oh, no, you see..."

Okay, I'm done. "I'm going to go to the bathroom. In a stall. On a toilet. Move out of my way. Now." I step forward, not exactly threateningly, but not like a friend, either. Thank goodness, she backs off and lets me pass.

I go to the bathroom, giving it plenty of time for her to either wander off and leave me alone, or to go find Security or someone to yell at me for using the wrong bathroom. I finish up, wash my hands, and cautiously open the door. Ah, no one's there. 

This time.

Character - Emallion (Em) Varalei

Emallion Varalei 

Moon Elf
Sage (Librarian)
Rogue - Soulknife
Lawful Neutral 

Libraries are usually welcoming places, filled with knowledge, riddled with spaces to curl up with a book or a scroll. Some are quiet dens of learning, while others are open, well-lit caverns. The Library of Lumena is one of the latter. Spindly columns reach for the ceiling high above, and it's more glass than not, letting in as much natural light as possible. The columns are painted with figures from beloved stories and well-known histories - mighty warriors, noble poets, influential statesmen. Some sit on thrones, others upon the backs of dragons. Weaving between the columns, curved shelves snake their way across the space. Those closest to the front of the Library hold books of modern make, leather-bound and waiting to be picked up and treasured. Further back, however, one can find older volumes, with wear and tear showing. Boxes of scrolls sit beside them, tags indicating what sorts of things might be unrolled. The deeper one goes, the more degraded the materials are.

Kink Me - Teach Me (or... Erotikata)

Content Labels: Violence, Nudity, Bondage, Explicit Sexual Content

She stepped into the room, still pulling her ponytail taut, hair damp from the shower. Her bare feet stepped onto the tatami mats covering the floor, and the cuffs of her white canvas pants brushed against her ankles as she bowed into the room. The heavy white material hung gently, and was matched by a white jacket above. The uniform was crisp, new. But the black belt that tightly cinched it showed some wear. It was a bit faded and hung loose. It had once been as dark as the black eyes that looked back at the door, eyes that shone now with anticipation.

She shut the door behind her, a small click marking her movement to lock the handle. Turning to face the room, she took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she looked over the practice space. She noted that all her equipment lay where she had placed it. But though she looked all around, her true focus was on the figure in the center of the room.

Love Hurts, Even As It Ends

"You don't love me anymore," she said.

"But I do," he countered. "I love you very much and want you to be happy and safe and everything..."

"Fine. But you aren't in love with me anymore. You know you aren't." She knew the truth, but needed him to admit it. As much as it hurt to say it.

"No... but I'd like to be." He took a deep breath and looked around before asking the question he didn't really want the answer to. "And you aren't in love with me, anymore, either?"

"I'm trying not to be," she said. And that's when the tears started rolling down her face.

Someone to Tell Me No

I want someone to take care of me.

Not like, fix me dinner and take care of me,

But like, tell me 'no' take care of me.

Not because I'll ask a question or want something,

But because I'm doing a bad-for-me something.

I want to do the self-destructive behavior,

And I want someone to notice and care and stop me.

I want someone to take care of me.

Into the Closet

So here's the thing. If there's anybody at The Jolly Pecker you don't want to get on the bad side of, it's the staff. They are, collectively and individually, more dangerous than you'd ever imagine. And last night, a fellow did exactly that, and he's lucky to have survived the event.

Character - Billi

"Billi!"

"Over here, Billi!"

"I'm ready, Billi!"

"Billi - me!"

The eager cries of children were music to Billi's tapered ears as he tossed an assortment of berries and copper coins in the air. The heavier coins mixed with the round berries challenged his juggling skills, but it was worth it when he plucked a berry from the air and tossed it into the open mouth of one of the children. Watching the little one grin from ear to ear as he munched on the juicy morsel made the juggler smile just as wide. Repeating the trick to toss a few more berries into eager mouths, he let the copper coins instead fall into the hat on the ground at his feet, finishing his act.