You join in with Omo, adding your harp to her violin, and it isn't long before you've launched off on a song. Tonight's tale is
Ustost Bleachedeyes and the Pen of Destiny, in which the titular necromancer stole the titular pen from Unnos, the dwarven god of revelry. Unnos was also the hunting god, so devilish hounds pursued Ustost, and he escaped them time and time again by drawing things with the pen that came to life, only to upset the necromancer in various ways. The version you sing is a more comical telling of the tale, in whih Ustost is depicted as a bumbling fat dwarf after whores, ale and pies whose moronic plans keep coming back to bite him in the arse.
As opposed to the horror that laid low the town of Meadplenty and all its surrounding hamlets eight generations ago, using inky dragons drawn by the pen. This was a song about Bleachedeyes' early years.
Supper and ale is provided by the patrons (you leave the supper and drink the ale), and later that night you manage to catch Nym on her own in your room while Omo is busy eating. You sit down on your bed and sit her down on the bed opposite.
"Nym, I'm in trouble.""Oh no, you didn't borrow money again, did you?"
"No, worse than that. By a pretty long way. Listen, don't panic, okay? This is a little... weird."
"Oh gods, you picked up a venereal disease, didn't you?""No. I'm a vampire."Nym stares at you for a few moments before breaking into laughter. You hold her gaze until her laughter falters and the grin drops from her face. You see her move her hand towards the knife on her belt.
"I'm not going to kill you, Nym.""Well I can't help but notice you manoeuvred me into this private location. That said, if you move a muscle I'm screaming."
"At least you believe me, there's that. I don't want to drink your blood. I mean, I do want to drink blood, but not yours. Or anyone's!"
"Have you... drunk any blood today?""Yes."Nym inhales.
"A chicken! I bought a chicken and ate it! Drank it. Please don't scream."
Nym exhales.
"Hold on, I saw you in the daytime today. When did this happen, in the last hour or so?"
"Last night. Also, the sunlight thing looks like a myth. Um. You know that bender we went on last night?"
"Yeah?""I kind of got so plastered I desecrated the Terror of Law's shrine. By pissing on it."Nym stares at you.
"And you're sure this isn't a joke.""Pretty sure."
"And you're not just going to leap on me with super-speed and drink my blood at any moment.""No, like I said, I've drank. When I'm thirsty I find myself wanting to, but after drinking it's fine. Also, no super speed. As far as I can tell it's just occasionally maddening blood thirst.""Right.""Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this is that I need your help. Not to kill people! Just to... figure out a way to get by. Even if it just means helping me buy chickens. Speaking of which, this one prick charged me seven shillings for -""Not important, Khala.""Right, sorry."Nym closes her eyes and rubs her fingers against her temple. You wait for about a minute before she speaks again.
"Well we can't tell Omo.""Why not?""For one thing, she had friends in Meadplenty.""That was a necromancer!""She's not going to draw the distinction, Khala. Seriously, how has this never come up between you two?"You frown. You think you remember her mentioning it once? Maybe a few times? You're pretty sure you were drunk at the time.
"And in any case, elves aren't exactly friendly with the undead anyway. If you are undead? I have no idea. Is there a special way to kill you? Not that I'm planning anything.""Pretty sure I die the same way as anyone else. Excessive stabbing. I guess I can maybe starve to death if I don't drink any blood? Haven't tested it.""Well, fine. We'll... we'll work something out. I don't suppose you could just drink blood from the butcher's?""First thing I tried. It doesn't really fill me up. Like drinking water to fill an empty stomach when you've got no food to eat. I think it needs to be fresh. Ideally right out of the vein fresh.""Artery," says Nym absentmindedly, head in her hands.
"Hm?""If it's spurting out into your mouth instead of slowly gushing, it's an artery, not a vein.""Thanks.""Don't mention it. Okay, so, chickens. I guess we can work with that. Get a night's sleep, we'll set out in the morning. I reckon there's a good couple of days of fair left to play, but I'd rather not have you around lots of people, just in case. Sorry.""Hell, no, I feel the same way. Um, I might need you to go buy me another chicken in the morning, though. The farmer I bought it off charged me pretty much my whole cut for one.""Seven shillings? Seriously?""Yeah.""Well fuck it, we'll slip into his coop before dawn and steal some instead. No son-of-a-bitch screwing over one of my girls.""Hah. Thanks, Nym.""Don't mention it. Get some sleep, aye? We'll deal with this in the morning." Nym kicks off her boots and settles down in her bed, pulling the covers over herself. You reach to pinch out the candle.
"Nym? It's still me, you know.""...I know. Goodnight, Khala."The candle goes out. You try and settle into bed, and a good hour passes of tossing and turning before Omo slips in and falls into a heavy snore on her own cot. You try pulling the covers over your head. No luck. You weren't tired before, and you aren't now. You haven't been tired since you drank from that chicken, actually. You sit up, resigned to not getting (or needing) any sleep.
Do you want to do anything during the night, or wait for the morning? Got any plans for then?
Vitality: 8/8
Thirst: Thirsty
XP: 2/10
Inventory: Shabby clothes, wineskin w/ cheap wine, 3 silver pieces, 2 copper, boxwood harp, copper dagger, empty clay jug.
Skills: Competent Singer, Competent Harper, Adequate Poet, Adquate Dancer