Heavenfall

They would soon go on a long and arduous trip. But there was still some time left to do the little small things that would make it just a tiny bit more bearable. Packing tightly some delicacy to be kept in a secret stash in prevision for the worst days. Fixing, polishing, sharpening armor and weapons. Dusting his Jurojin's statue, just in case.

And, of course, the laundry.

His spare clothes have been drying up all day in whatever space of open air he could have found near his current accommodation. Which, with the tightness of their accommodations, means they were probably in full display to most other guests.

And time has now come for the dreaded flattening with the not exactly easy to manipulate hot pan: (image source: http://www.oldandinteresting.com/antiqu ... ngles.aspx)

The objective was simple: find more supplies for the expedition. If man-things were just going to leave them lying around in rooms, then clearly they weren't important!

It was a simple plan... one that was too simple. He swung open the door to find a human pressing a pan against his clothing.

"Oh! Greetings, man-thing!" he stammered.

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D1 Event Roll #2: Stealth (Sneaking)/Agility TN 25, 1 CR, VP for +1k1: 7d10o10k4 22

Okay, this was definitely new. Not human with a slightly different from the norm build or eye color new, but another world experience new.

"Greetings... How should I call you?"

Ik'tch'krit blinked. "Have you met Nezumi before? We are like rat-rat but have brain like man-things."

"You're the first of your people I've ever met indeed. I take it that I'm not the first human you've met however."

"I have met many man-things. Would be big surprise if I had not met-met any before in man-thing village." The Nezumi shrugged. "I met-met man-things before here too. Is not new to me-me now."

"I have like a billion questions for you. Do you mind if I ask them? Of course, if you also have questions for me, I'll be happy to answer them to the best of my knowledge, and if there is any other way I can help you, just ask and I'll try to provide."

A bronze pan filled with charcoal taken from the brazier is not exactly a lightweight object, and its pressure on Ayumu's wrist reminds him of its presence.

"Also, do you mind if I continue prepping my stuff while we talk? It's a monotonous task, I only require a small fragment of my concentration for it."

"Man-things have so many questions for me-me." The Nezumi shrugged. "Make sense to me-me. I am new-new to most man-things."

He looked at the pan and then scratched his neck. Did he have ticks? That would be bad. "Does your tribe cook-cook off clothing?"

"Uh? Oh, the pan. No. I'm not using it for its prime function at the moment. It's a trick to make it look like clothes are brand new. The heath help smoothing all of their wrinkles.

I do cook plants regularly though, but never after they've been processed to become clothes. What do Nezumi eat by the way?"

Why would humans undertake such lengths to pretend their clothing is in mint condition? Why propagate such a needless falsehood?

But the Nezumi did not feel the need to translate his thoughts into the human tongue. "The Nezumi can eat-eat almost anything. We are tough-tough in our bellies."

"Any favorites though? I have a fondness for fruit-based dishes myself.

Do you live here by the way?"

"I am only visiting," Ik'tch'krit answered, "As for food-food, man-things cook the fishy-fish into good-good." He patted his own belly, now thinking about eating more food.

"Then, if I may ask, where are you from, and what made you come to this rocky city?"

"I come from south-south, where Nezumi rule-rule," Ik'tch'krit explained, "I come to help-aid man-things in journey!"

"That's quite nice of you. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

What do the southern lands look like? You're also the first person to have actually been there that I met."

"Was-was mighty and pretty, much like shiny-shines," he mused, his tail now tapping uncontrollably to pleasant memories. But then he frowned. "Everything change-changed when Heavenfall happen. Now is not good-good."

"How bad? Did you walk from there to here all by yourself?"