A brown-shelled Vykarin – a creature that looks like a strange cross between wolf, armadillo, lobster, kangaroo and horse – wag-wags his tail, as he trots up on his long hindlegs to the entrance. "Ree reef!" he barks, pant-panting happily.

Hanging by leather straps from his shoulders are a pair of small "bongo" drums, along with assorted multi-colored trappings.

Envoy trots alongside, her 'loaner' dulcimer tucked carefully under one arm. She seems to find everything she sees interesting!

Inside the main room, most of the tables are filled with patrons in various states of inebriation, though none are passed out on the floor. (The bouncer must be vigilant here.)

There are sounds of many conversations and an occasional "Hullo!" as someone walks in, but no music. Yet.

The door swings open, as the grumpy gryphon boots a dishevelled-looking little fox out the front door. "And STAY out!" the Vartan growls, as the ragged vulpine scampers away, his lute in hand.

Envoy blinks at the bouncer, and whispers to Rawrii, "Was he a bard?"

The Vykarin looks, and does his equivalent of a shrug, accompanied by an "I dunno" whine. He returns to pant-panting again, and marches on in.

The hippogryphon, back behind the counter, snorts as the Vykarin enters, muttering, "No coinpouch on HIM… "

Envoy follows Rawrii, sticking close to his side and examining all the patrons.

The winged alien is greeted with a few cat calls and wolf whistles… and some fox whistles and raccoon whistles and bat calls, too.

Envoy smiles. If this is how poorly they all sing, they must be anxious for a bard!

"Nice HAT," a wolf slurs. "Why dontcha take it OFF so I can see yer purty face better?"

Rawrii sniff-sniffs at the wolf's flammable breath, and returns a low growl. "Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr."

Envoy smiles, "Okay!" and doffs her large pink and yellow sombrero (with matching green dingle-balls and a hole for her horn). "Where should I set it down?"

"Hey – no pets allowed in here!" calls a calico cat. He points at the growling Vykarin.

Rawrii stops growling, and whines, "Rrrr?"

Envoy blinks at the cat. "I can't pet him?"

The cat gives Envoy a look, then bursts out laughing.

Envoy looks around for the stage.

Rawrii snatches up Envoy's hat in his mouth – a habit of his, even when he has two available hands – and trots over to an open space near the fireplace.

Envoy ahs, and follows the Vykarin.

The hippogryph grunts again, and returns to polishing glasses, only occasionally glancing toward the newcomer.

Rawrii sets down the hat, upside down, and waddles down to a sitting position near the fireplace, leaving Envoy a better seat up on the stone foot that rises from the wooden floor.

"If that hard-head howls, I swear, I'm gonna deck him," growls another one of the cats.

Envoy swings her dulcimer around and sits on the stone, laying the instrument in her lap. She takes out the two small hammers, and turns to Rawrii, "What should we play first?"

Rawrii's tongue lolls. He doesn't usually get asked what he wants to hear! "Riro Riro, Rirul Rar!"

Envoy nods, and starts to tap out the familiar tune. The chiming sounds go well with the piece…

Rawrii enthusiastically accompanies on the drums. Bumabumabumabumabuma!

Envoy sings in a contralto voice, "Twinkle twinkle, little star… "

A number of the more sober faces look at Envoy and Rawrii in sheer disbelief.

Envoy sings along to the tempo Rawrii sets with the bongos, and adds her second, soprano voice as she starts the first stanza again.

"Ooooo!" Envoy DEFINITELY has the attention of the patrons now. One mutters to the other something about a "shooting star".

Even the hippogryph behind the counter, after an initial snort, sets down the glass, listening to Envoy's … solo duet.

Envoy lets the song fade out, holding the final note for a few breaths.

Envoy smiles. It's much easier to sing in a quiet room than out in that noisy bazaar…

Rawrii, despite his enthusiasm, drops the percussion, letting Envoy's note end the song.

Envoy asks the crowd, "Any requests?"

The room remains quiet for a while longer … the only sound being if you could hear eyes going "piku piku", blinking back at Envoy. A couple of shekels land in the hat. "Yah," drawls one. "That … uh … what's that song? You know … uhm … that really good one … ah… " *WHAP!* He gets clobbered by the guy beside him.

A black snake slithers up – about 3 feet in length, and most of that is on the floor. He wears a purple vest, and has a couple of little arms, one of which holds a mug that should be far too large for him. "Yah. Can you sssssing 'Red Rover'?" He smiles, his forked tongue flitting about.

There is a chorus of groans from the nearest table. "Not THAT one!" "Awwww!"

The Garter frowns, and slinks off again, but not before dropping another shekel in the hat.

Envoy whispers to Rawrii a bit…

Rawrii smiles. "Reh Roro!"

Envoy nods and waits for the Vykarin to set the tempo.

*Thumpathumpathumpathumpa-thumpity-thumpthump-thumpa!* Rawrii really gets into this stuff.

Envoy starts hammering on the dulcimer to keep pace, and launches into the song. Her voice might be a bit high for it, but she does manage to sing the chorus in a deeper voice at the same time.

The crowd begins to pick up and sing along. (They shouldn't quit their day jobs.) What they lack for in quality, they make up for in enthusiasm, despite the initial protests. The more inebriated the singer, the more enthusiastic.

Envoy grins and stands up to sing louder over the din, abandoning her instrument to let Rawrii's drums carry the song.

Some of the patrons keep repeating the first verse while a few go onto the second or mangle up things in general, but they're still having a hoot of a time.

Envoy has to stop singing, since the strain of keeping up the volume for so long has dried her throat out.

Rawrii wag-wags his tail happily, knocking over an empty stool. He whines, looking at it, but doesn't miss a beat.

The patrons are carrying on so loudly that they don't seem to notice.

Envoy takes the opportunity to fish a few coins out of the hat and head for the bar. "Can I have something to drink please?" she asks the hippogryph.

The hippogryph takes a look at Envoy, at the patrons, at the coins, and grunts. A glass of water is put on the counter. "On the house," the hippogryph grumbles.

Envoy smiles, "Thank you!" and gulps down the water in a single swallow! She leaves the glass at the bar and returns to the fireplace, then takes up the song again.

The Vartan blinks briefly at this display, then starts cleaning the glass out of habit.

Envoy checks on Rawrii to see if he's tiring yet. She's surprised at how popular this song is!

Crista walks into the room, looking around carefully.

Rawrii is pant-pant-panting, determined not to let the beat slip. All of the verses have been gone through, and they're still going. Some of the patrons drop out, but others keep going … and then the others, after a bit of a breath and a swig of ale, join back in again. Tag-team singing?

Envoy picks up the hat and circulates around the tables, still singing…

Crista chuckles softly at the singing and seats herself at the bar.

A wolf starts to howl, but two cats on each side of him grab his mug and pour ale down his throat. He falls backward, leaving them to yowl along.

The Vartan – who is most definitely NOT singing along – scowls at Crista. "What'll it be?"

Crista says, "Whatever wine you have."

Shekel after shekel drops into the hat. Hmm. Was that … an iron piece? That one must be REALLY drunk. A couple of corks get thrown in, too, and a few toothpicks.

Envoy finishes the circuit of the room back at Rawrii's side.

Rawrii pokes his nose into the hat, and sniff-sniffs. His tail starts wagging again, fiercely – WHAPWHAPWHAP – against the wall.

The hippogryph says, "Three shekels."

Envoy motions for her partner to bring the beat to an end, worried that some of the patrons are going to hurt themselves if they keep singing.

Rawrii drifts off, pant-panting, relieved to have a chance to rest.

Crista turns a little in her seat to look around the bar.

Envoy says, "Do you want something to drink, Rawrii?"

The chorus eventually dies down, a few backs are slapped, and several patrons guffaw noisily.

Rawrii's tongue lolls. His head shakes rapidly up and down.

"Rayr!" barks Rawrii.

Envoy goes back to the bar, "Could I have some… err… rayr?… for my partner?"

The Vartan snorts, and fills a mug of ale, putting it on the counter. "One half-shekel."

Envoy holds out a handful of coins, "Which one of these is a half shekel?"

The hippogryph looks at the iron piece. "I'll settle for that one."

Envoy hands over the iron coin.

Crista tilts her head… "That's not a half-sheckel."

The hippogryph snorts. "It'll do."

Envoy blinks, and turns to Crista. "Oh? I want to pay the correct price… how many more are needed to make a half-shekel?"

Crista raises an eyebrow… "For one ale?" She smiles to Envoy… "Not more… less."

Envoy looks at her coins (and toothpicks and corks). "Does that mean I get change?"

Crista nods, looking at the Vartan. "Yes, you do."

The hippogryph glowers at Crista, and hands back the iron piece. Instead, the Vartan fishes out a ceramic coin that reads "One-Half Shekel", along with the emblem of the Star-and-Anchor. "This'll do, too," the bird-horse-lion grunts.

Envoy smiles, "Thank you!" She takes the ale over to Rawrii.

Crista nods in satisfaction, paying for her own drink and sliding the money over the bar.

Envoy sniffs the drink. What IS this stuff?

Rawrii whines happily, thwapping his tail against the wall as Envoy returns.

The ale smells pungent. To some folks, the vapors alone might invite a head-rush.

Envoy blinks to clear her eyes, and hands the mug over to the Vykarin.

The Vykarin sets the mug down, leans over, and laplaplapSLURPlaplaps it up.

Rawrii sits back on his haunches, looking up, urps, then barks, "Ran roo!"

Envoy thinks of something to sing while Rawrii takes his break. Getting a sudden inspiration, she undoes the sash from her waist and shakes it out back to its original shape.

Rawrii rrrs?

Crista sips her drink, turning to look around the bar again.

Envoy grins to Rawrii as she takes off her tunic and gets into the flimsy blue 'dress'. "I'm going to sing Vielanika's flute song."

Rawrii covers his eyes with his paws. "Rrrr?"

Several hoots and cat calls echo around the room! The Vartan squawks loudly. A few occupied chairs fall over.

Crista flicks an ear at the hoots, her eyes expressionless.

Envoy stands up on the stone lip of the fireplace, the backlighting showing just HOW gauzy her circus costume is, and begins to sing. The song is wordless, two ethereal voices weaving together like twined serpents.

Rawrii reluctantly plays along, his ears drooped, his whole body posed like a whipped dog.

Envoy adds a few embellishments, trilling some of the parts and tapping out bell tones on the dulcimer.

A pepper-furred poodle in bright magenta and brighter yellow-green robes strolls in, accompanied by a foursome of wolf guards. The Zelaks wait outside.

Crista thinks. o O ( She is very good… very good ).

Crista tenses ever so slightly as the newcomers enter the bar.

Envoy picks up the pace a bit so Rawrii can play faster, and moves through the room.

The poodle raises an eyebrow at the sight at the fireplace, stopping in midstride – It appeared that he was about to initially march straight for the hippogryph. He stands for a moment, regarding the unusual bard.

The hippogryph balks. "This is a RESPECTABLE establishment!"

Crista slips off to one side of the bar, into a seat with less light and more shadows.

The poodle looks back to the hippogryph with a "SURE it is… " look.

One of the wolves walks up and says, "Hey, is there dirt on this – URK!" He stops, as the poodle grabs him by the collar. "We can skip that part," the poodle growls into the wolf's ear.

Envoy works back to the fireplace, and hops onto Rawrii's back before letting the song wind down.

Rawrii lets out another "Rrrrr?" as he suddenly has a passenger on his back.

"For shame!" the poodle cries out. "Such a travesty here in our good Rephidim! And so many perpetrators! Why … we haven't enough shackles to arrest them all!"

Envoy whews, that wasn't as easy a piece as Veilanika made it sound on her double-flute. She rubs behind Rawrii's ears, and looks at the group dressed in Temple garb.

A few mugs clatter to the floor. A couple of patrons dive under tables. One calls out, "Check!" Others look about, sizing up the windows.

Crista stays very still, listening.

Rawrii rumbles, "Ruh-roh… "

Envoy blinks, thinking the reactions must have been to her singing…

Envoy says, "I guess they like songs they can sing along to better… "

Rawrii rumbles, "Ref ro!"

Envoy slides off the Vykarin's back and picks up her tunic. She just puts it on over the blue wrap though.

"Apprehend that bard," the poodle commands one of the wolf Templars. "I wish to speak with her."

Rawrii grrrrrrRRRRRRS!

Crista watches, setting her cup soundlessly on the bar.

"Oh yeah?" mumbles one of the drunk wolves. "Well we'll just see abou – *KLUNK*" He passes out.

Envoy blinks at Rawrii, and pats his side. "Don't worry, if he offers me a gig I'll bring you along."

Rawrii gulps, and whines loudly!

Envoy walks over to poodle, "Hello!" She offers her hand, "I am Envoy."

The Vykarin tips his drums over, grabs the hat in his mouth, and shakes the coins in the hat – and some corks and toothpicks – into the hollows in the undersides of the drums. He slings the straps – drums upside down – about his neck in a practiced and rapid motion. Hat in mouth, he gallopgallops toward Envoy from behind…

A smile slithers across the poodle's face. "And I am Arch Inquisitor Majoris Caesar Moffat. Now, I think you might be breaking some laws here, but … you don't seem the type. How about if we talk this over, and I explain a few things to you? Just a warning, you see, for a first offender… "

Envoy blinks. "I broke a rule??"

Crista frowns a little, but otherwise does not move.

Rawrii's head ducks as he scoops underneath Envoy, then lifts up again, popping underneath the "Aeolun". "Ref RO!"

"By the Stars!" cries out the poodle, as he steps back to get out of the way of the rampant horse-wolf-armadillo-lobster-kangaroo-thing.

Envoy squeaks, and grabs ahold of Rawrii's shoulders to keep from getting tossed off…

The wolf Templars reach for their swords, but too late – The Vykarin is charging out the door at full pace, and galloping out to the street.

The Vartan grumbles. "Just when I was hoping she'd be back for tomorrow night. Bah."

Envoy's dulcimer whaps against her side as she calls for Rawrii to please slow down and give her the hat…

The poodle spins around toward the Vartan. "And pets! You know the regulations – No wild animals are allowed in eating and drinking establishments!"

The hippogryph grumbles, and reaches underneath the counter, pulling up a sack. The Vartan jingles the sack, then hands it over to the poodle, grunting.

The poodle tosses the little pouch in his hand once, catching it, then tucks it away. "Hmm. Well … unfortunately, there's no proof – and it WOULD require so much paperwork. Hardly worth the hassle. Consider this a warning."

The poodle and his guards march out of the main room, rejoining the Zelaks. "Let me guess," he chides a Zelak, "I didn't specifically ask you to catch any winged Aeonians on the backs of Vykarins, so you didn't intervene, right?"

Crista chuckles quietly, shaking her head.

Back in the Three Thieves, the atmosphere returns to normal, as soon as the poodle, Jupani and Zelaks are a good distance away. And, of course, the Vartan is grumbling and grunting and polishing glasses with just as much determination.

Crista relaxes, picking up her drink.

Crista finishes her drink, setting the cup down on the counter. "You… Vartan… you'd better be more careful who you cheat in the future… like that poodle, for instance." She nods once and strolls out the door, wings fluttering softly.