Sunday 14th of Muvay, 1024

Hangover. Want nothing more than to lie in bed and wait for it to go away. I drank more than I intended. Which is basically anything, really. It’s a poison. It was necessary. I think we made a small breakthrough. Or I hope.

I got up and drank as much water as I could stomach. Went on a run to sweat it out. Hardly stopped myself from throwing up the whole while. World swimming, head pounding. Hard to shake. Whatever we had was something fierce. As the sun was cresting I was feeling like a shadow of myself which is better than naught at all.

Went to go to lunch. Head still throbbing a bit, and stomach not feeling the best. The food in this town is so ostentatious. Why not just a plain loaf of bread? Pelor’s piss. At least the tea is soothing. We talked a bit about the jobs we have lined up. Aggma asked me if I knew anything of interest for the scavenger hunt. Nothing comes to mind except the flying fish that jump up the falls. Not quite as impressive as a chimera’s egg, though.

Oris keeps suggesting different methods of cheating. Finding and hiding something for later, asking the witches to make something for us that guarantees a win if we find it, gathering information before. So on. I asked we don’t do anything yet until we find the rules. Immediately he said we find loopholes in the rules. So much for the bonding. I’m wondering why this rabbit is with us and why I tolerate it. It’s like he doesn’t understand the concept of ‘no’.

Decided to go see about Pippa to ask after what she might know about the duke’s daughter running off. She was hanging around with Patrick Singalong. Hurray. Oris said it was “my turn” to go talk to her. I just don’t care to argue. I walk up to her and immediately freeze. How do I talk to someone, even? Just... start a conversation? There’s no purpose, no common thread. I’m not doing a job, taking one, there’s no business involved or any relation between us. What do you say?

Not “I liked your fluting it was very flutey”, but that’s what I said. She immediately wanted to be anywhere but near me. Aggma took over and laid it all out on the table. Why we were there, who sent us. I was trying to avoid saying it upfront, but I messed up already so what’s it matter.

Pippa told us she hasn’t talked to her friend in years, saw her last at a parade. She got a letter saying that they don’t need to give up on their dreams and some other nonsense. Nothing helpful. She doesn’t know anything. Warned us to be careful if we’re working for the duke – said that he loves his daughter but it can blind him. That he might be shielding her too much.

(OOC: Ratyn doesn’t know this because Oris intentionally made sure to do this without her knowledge. He asked a murder of crows to investigate if there is anything to find on the hunt. Crow said that there’s a pond where you can pull a plate of moonlight from it. Also went on a tangent about metallic dragon eggs but there probably aren’t any nearby. He also gave us a plot to commit domestic terrorism, for some reason, by creating Elemental Molotov cocktails.)

Immediately when we met back up with Sett and Oris, the harengon asked if we tortured Pippa because she looked sad. My patience is about none, today. I made an offhand comment because his plans for the hunt were still on my mind. He got defensive about it, and I realize I was acting childish.

Oris said that because it was never specified when to report back, so he’d rather put it off. Indefinitely. As little as I agree... with Christopher not feeling well, today, we can’t exactly. And now we have to go to a cat basement or something? I lost my temper.

I was a bit one sided saying that we were being forced to dance to Oris’ tune, that he was leading us by the noise. He explained some of it was a joke, things slipped his mind. Reasons and explanations for all. My head’s been throbbing all day. I can’t tell if they’re excuses or not. Was I being the jerk?

Well. Whatever. We’re off to herd cats.

(OOC, Break)

We went to the house of whoever hired Oris. Apparently our payment is in cheese or whiskey, which interests me not. Man was high on something. He led us to a warehouse and, yup, it’s full of cats. Oris spoke to them, and relayed to us. Said that they just appeared there. No way in or out. As they were talking I saw a blip of light and a cat appear. Teleporting in.

Apparently where they were before that had catnip and a cauldron. Witches, Aggma and Oris say. They’re being lured in with catnip and teleported here for some reason.

Why am I still in this ridiculous town.

The cats led us to the Bells, and inside we saw the cats dipping their paws into the cauldron then disappearing after a moment. Oris knocked on the door, insisting that if Martha was there someone else do the talking. He knocked on the door and someone who isn’t Martha opened the door asking who it was. He used my name, so I stepped back into the shadows.

We went through. Turns out the clerk was disposing of residue from conjuration lessons that cats were getting into and eating. He was embarrassed, and asked us to keep it quiet in return for hush money. Oris tried to get him to put it into the forest as something for the hunt. I cut it off immediately. We were given earrings that have 5 charges of message, Oris offered me one with a barb about disappearing without a word. I should take up meditation. I’m clearly irritable, today.

Immediately when asked what the cause was, Oris told upfront. I laughed it off awkwardly and said that there was a fairy ring outside of town, which be believed. Oris said he was ‘just joking’ but I’m beginning to think he uses that as an excuse when I’m upset. Not everything is a joke if you just say it is. That’s... a problem for another time.

I decided to head off to get some sleep. I feel better but the last fix would be a good night’s rest. As I went someone was yelling about a fortune teller. Not of interest to me. A bed is.