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(I don't mind her taking the spot. )

Celestina simply stood on the stairs, staying out of view and trying to remain unseens. She did not wish for the attention to be drawn to her as well.

(short post)

(Short post is short. And awesome )

(Slightly less short post is slightly less short than awesome short post )

The Sibling followed also, standing one step behind the 'rain woman'. Unlike her, he did not care if he was seen or not - he just didn't want to look like he cared about the results of the Ranger's little show. Even though he certainly did.

For long moments, not a single soul spoke in the Tavern. Perhaps they were too frightened of the strange man asking for such outrageous and particular qualities in a man, or perhaps there were literally no mages to be had. Some of the men grumbled and spoke under their breaths "I'm sure one will just LOVE to join YOU.." and others sipped their ale while slipping glances at the boisterous ranger. Regardless, no on in the room seemed to be interested in the least.

On the far end of the tavern, a door slowly creaked open after what sounded like a few short knocks, but it was hard to tell over the pour of the rain. Barley managing to push the heavy tavern door open, a small figure entered into the room. The little figure practically went by unnoticed to most due to her short stature, but there was something about her that caused many eyes to give a double take of her person.

If one looked just at the right angle, they could see a strange energy circling around her. Once inside, she pushed the heavy door closed with what appeared to be all of her weight and ceased the shield circling her, causing the lingering black rain drops to roll off onto the floor in small sizzles.

Straightening out her vest and brushing the wisp of bangs from her face, she made a hasty move towards the bar, nearly having to climb onto one of the stools that sat before it. When she was finally settled, after a few moments of wobbly climbing and fighting with the stool to not fall over, she waved over the barkeep with her scrawny arm and spoke:

"Hey! HEY!! you know there's something wrong with your rain outside?" Her earth-toned eyes looked over the big man's expression. "Yeah, it's pretty bad. Anyway, you think I could get a glass of water...hehe since you can't really drink what's outside? thanks. OH! and make it two please! Sunflower is thirsty too." Holding out an arm, a blur of white and black fur came sputtering from the collar of her shirt and across her arm to sit on the bar top before her. With it's tail held high in excitement, the ferret sat down on it's stubby hind legs, exchanging glances at the barkeep and it's master.

Dadj's attention swept to the tiny woman with the intensity of a hunting hawk. He forgot the man he had been heckling previously and sauntered to this new, interesting person. He could feel the pulse of magic coursing through her diminutive body and he was attracted to it like a moth to a flame. If she was indeed a powerful enough magic user, she could get them through the rain without difficulty. He settled himself next to her on a stool and took the glasses of water from the Barkeep before he could place them down. Instead, Dadj handed one to Owaja with a grin and offered the other to the ferret. The weasel-like creature slithered toward the water and bobbed its head with thanks before partaking of the liquid.

"What brings you here, my good gnome? You are a far way from your homeland. Perhaps, you are an adventurer? Interested in conquest, intrigue and glory? Or perhaps you are the roving type who lends her services to those in need?" He waited for her to respond, but she was mid drink. "Or, perhaps, you are a powerful sorceress who would love to accompany me as well as a few others on a quest to end this death rain?"

Celestina was one of the few who had her eyes on the female the moment she stepped in the doors. She slowly decended the stairs and went over to the girl, sitting down on the other side. "Did you get through the rain without being hurt?" she asked quietly.

"How? Are you a mage? You feel different. Can you keep away the rain? Did you make a shield?" Yes, she was bombarding the woman with questions. But this was just what they needed!

If the small gnome had heard either of the two people speak it was unclear. She made no hint of a response during the entire time her lips were to the glass she was drinking from. Finally, when the glass was empty, she placed it down on the countertop and turned her tiny body to face the two strangers who had showered her in question.

"Oh, hi! Nice to meet you. My name's Owaja. You can call me Janna if you like." the gnome extended a tiny hand for Dadj to shake while her ferret friend inched closer to Celestia, sniffing the air with curiosity. "Hey, do you know what's going on with the weather here? I've had to use a barrier spell all day since I arrived here from the East. Kind of a sad place to live, don't you think?"

The reply came from Sitta, of all people. The content, however, was as expected.

"Enough words." He coldly said, descending the stairs as well, his inexpressive eyes locked on the gnome. Looking down on her in many ways, yet knowing too much was depending on her. Again the elf spoke.

"We have limited time. You will join us in our quest. We depart immediately. Prepare your magical barriers, magician."

Celestina stared at the ferret. In all honesty she'd never met such a creature. "The weather? Oh...yes.." She was interrupted by Sitta. "P-please, we.." She cleared her throat and looked at the woman. "We need your help. To stop this rain, we need a way to get safely where we need to go. But we cannot travel through this rain. Could you accompany us and protect us with your barriers? It will be four people, including you." She smiled slightly.

"Please. We have to stop the rain or it will eat through the houses and then no one is safe."

She was much more polite than Sitta.

The Ranger's charm slipped momentarily and he fixed Owaja with a withering glare. He caught himself before he said something snide. He remembered that she was crucial to their quest and let the others do the talking, lest he offend her.

Owaja pulled her legs up to her body and hugged her arms around them, resting her chin on her knees as if in deep thought. Truth be told, the sudden swarm of strangers bombarding her with requests was making her a bit uncomfortable. Never the less, the adventurous side of her was starting to consider the benefits of taking on such a noble quest.

The whole scenario began to play out in her mind the more she thought about it. She would be the hero of this sketchy town and they might even g so far as to make a monument in her honor. "Owaja Sirslip saves town from evil rains!" A yearly celebration would be held in her honor! And it would be all because of her decision this very moment. Curling her toes, the little gnome fought back a smile as the scene repeated itself in her mind over and over. Mind you, only ten seconds had gone by since Celestia had muttered her last word.

"I'LL DO IT!!" The gnome's tiny body leapt off the bar chair she was sitting on and landed lightly on the bar counter top before her. Spinning on her bare heels she turned to face the trio of strangers she would soon call comrades and began her hasty heroine speech, all while Sunflower hung his head low as if he was too embarrassed to meet anyone's gaze.

"--And I promise you, my heroic efforts will be celebrated for centuries to come!"

Celestina watched, waiting. She shot an apprehensive glance towards Dadj, confused at his sudden hostility. When Owaja jumped to her feet she jumped in surprise, almost falling out of her seat. A smile of relief rushed over her features. "Wonderful! Thank you so much..." Maybe the situation wasn't so helpless after all!

The ranger put his palms down on the bar, scaring the ferret. He pushed himsle away from the counter and to his feet. With a mock flourish he waved the path to the stairs for the ladies.

"Well if we are done with words, how about we get to the action." He let go the visage of the charming man he had used to stir the room and went back to his normal sour self. He left the bar and stalked up the stairs for his things.

Taking a final once over of the little group she had just became a part of, the little gnome brushed a lock of hair behind her pointed ear and made a dramatic leap off the bar counter; Sunflower right behind her. One on the ground (and ferret on her shoulders), Owaja turned to face her friends and let a broad smile grow across her face.

"All right!" She began, hands on her hips. "Which way are we going?"

Celestina watched Dadj with a bit of confusion, then looked at Owaja. "We have to pack first. It should only take a few minutes, but then we head north." She gave a little nod to Owaja and went to pack them some food and pack her own clothes. She made sure there was enough food for all of them, hopefully.

Were he a person of instincts, were he stupid... were he not a Sibling, a certain gnome and a certain ferret would be the proud owners of a couple dozen stab wounds. Luckily for everyone in the building, Sitta was no animal. Because he sure felt like shutting the blabbermouth up. Soon he would be deeply regretting such thoughts. Hatred and violent urges were not becoming of a Sibling. Distracted, he mentally scolded himself for a long while, as everyone else did their stuff.

Dadj, surprisingly was in the same mind as Sitta; he wanted very much to shut the gnome up. He was not a fan of chattery people but he put up with long-lived races like gnomes just because he could actually stand being friends with them. It wsa hard making human friends... They died so soon. He was soon packed and standing ready at the door with a leather cloak strapped over him, the hood shading his face.

Owaja found a lone table by the door and sat with Sunflower, talking to him quietly while she waited. She was well aware of both Dadj and Sitta's sour feelings towards her; the vibe was strong enough to be felt across the room. Never the less, she regarded them with a wide smile when they returned; she wasn't one to be influenced by what others thought anyway.

"That was fast, you guys must be in one heck of a hurry." She said as she kicked her legs off the chair and stood on the tavern's wooden floor before them. "All right, well you guys just hold still while I get the spell ready.

With a single wave of her little hand, the gnome created a spark above the party's heads. It barley made a noise, but before they knew it they were surrounded by a transparent shield of magic that pulsed every now and again with a bluish energy; reassuring them it was indeed there.

Tilting her head back to make sure it covered all that it needed to cover, Owaja gave a single nod of satisfaction while Sunflower made a quick scamper up her side and on to her shoulder.

"Okidokie. Just be sure to stay inside the shield. Since there's more than two of you in here you might fall out if you fall too far behind."

Celestina wasn't oblivious to the mens scowling either. She watched as Owaja created the shield and she stared in amazement. "Wow...Amazing!" She smiled at the woman and nodded. "Let's go. We have to hurry before the rain starts soaking through the buildings..." She started walking then, leading the way because she was the one who knew where they were going. She made sure to stay in the shield. That would be bad otherwise.

The Ranger fell into step with Celestina. He was silent the majority of the journey as the gnome undoubtedly took up most of the talking time. He was sure to hunch just a little so as not to disturb the shield. He wasn't opposed to magic, but he was also unsure of how it worked and he didn't need any more repercussions damaging his life.