[Mercy Merchant]

Glinda looks over at you as she puts the car in gear.  "Yes, she did surprise me.  The woman is a sorceress for sure but hides it well, allowing only a bit of her power to be revealed.  Her familiar is something else............something very powerful.  She is well protected.  The one with the swords is almost dead from the 'ware she has, but I suspect that she knows how to use what she has."

>>Sure.  You can use the side entrance as long as you vouch for them.  When are you dropping by?<<

"Coffee, eh?  Letting you in that secret is worth it to be able to move in with you.  Let's go."

. 

[Ennui]

I assumed it was an ally spirit.  I'm thinking of doing that myself soon-ish.

Yeah I'll vouch for em.  We should be there in a few hours or so.

Good News Jessies They will let you in the side door as long as you promise to behave yourself.  I can meet you there in a few hours, I have a couple of errands to run, but I'll let you know when I'm heading that way.

Drive away you are the one who knows where this place is, after all.

[Mercy Merchant]

Glinda drives a good distance, out to the edge of the sprawl to a small parking lot.  Exiting the car, she points to a wooden arch near one end of the lot.  "Cajun Town.  Ever been here.  A bunch of people moved here about five years ago from New Orleans, CAS, and settled here, creating their own little community.  It is a bit odd, almost as it they are living in a different time and place.  There is a sign at the entrance asking that visitors please respect the privacy of the residents and guests and refrain from assensing or casting spells while they are in the community.  There is a rumor that there is at least one very strong mage living here that works really hard to protect the place and that it does not pay to get on his bad side.  There is also a voodoo priestess here that can tell your fortune and cast hexes for you..............if you can pay her."

[Ennui]

Nope.  Never even heard of the place.  I'll mind my manners.  Mambo's are the priestesses but they don't typically sell their services or deal in hexes, those would be the bocor the sorcerers, course some might take offense to being called a bocor too.

Anything else interesting here besides coffee and magic?

[Mercy Merchant]

Glinda laughs as the two of you walk towards the arch.  "Sounds like you know something about voodoo.  Maybe you should talk to this Mama Lini, that is the priestess I was talking about.  As for other things, there is a very good restaurant here if you like Cajun cooking.  A bit spicy, I hear, but what do I know, right?  There is a path along the river that is something to see.  I think there is an illusion of some sort at work, but the magic is foreign to me."

There is a man in rough clothing at the arch, wearing some sort of large metal star on his vest.  He politely doffs a hat to you and motions to the sign at the entrance that indicates exactly what Glinda had said it does.  The man bids you a nice day and waves you in.  As soon as you step through the arch, you feel a bit odd, as if you have just stepped into a foreign land.  The weather seems to change to clear but hot and muggy.  The locals are easy to tell from the tourists due to their way-out-of-style clothing.  You see huge trees just beyond the buildings lining both sides of the single dirt road.  Glinda points out a shop where you can find Mama Lini as she leads you to the restaurant, which bears a weather-beaten sign indicating this is Sophie's Kitchen.

[Ennui]

I dont really get restaraunts.  I mean you can only prepare mycoprotein and krill so many ways.  Sure maybe their seasoning is better I suppose and I havent eaten lately so I guess we can try it.  We can check out the view too.  Id like to check this place out astrally, I love illusions.

I open my mind to the astral to see whats there.  I wont assense anyone as requested.

[Mercy Merchant]

Glinda shakes her head.  "No krill, soy, or microprotein here, dear.  I am pretty sure that everything they cook is real.  Don't know how they do it, given that they look poor as dirt, but try the food and see for yourself.  Of course, it could be that this Sophie is a real stove wizard and can just do it better then most."

The astral here is amazing.  You have never really seen it quite like this.  It is a confusing mass of swirling colors and the overall effect is almost hypnotic.  It looks like one of those old-fashioned kaleidoscope toys you have heard about and you have a vague but unsettling notion that you could easily get lost in the maelstrom of color and movement if you stay in the astral here for too long.

[Ennui]

Real food? Oh my, why am I just now hearing of this place.  Let's go have lunch then.  This place is...intriguing..  I will limit myself to checking the astral every once in a while instead of constant monitoring.  So many things, so few hours...

Remind me to buy coffee before we leave,  I say as I wander into the Kitchen.

[Mercy Merchant]

The restaurant looks a bit ramshackle from the outside.  A wide wooden porch stretches across the front and three old men are sitting in rocking chairs and smoking long pipes.  They will all tip their hats to you as you climb the rickety stairs.  Even from out here the aroma of food cooking is making your mouth water.  Inside are eight tables that can seat four people each and all but two are occupied; four with groups of tourists and the others with locals, at least you can assume that based on their clothes.  A young girl who appears to be maybe ten comes to you and motions to one of the empty tables.  "Hello and welcome to our restaurant.  Would this table be suitable?"

[Ennui]

I smile and nod at the men as I pass and glance around the interior in the astral for a moment.

Hi.  Thank you this will be lovely.

[Mercy Merchant]

The swirling colors make it very difficult to read anything in the astral here.

The girl shows you to the table and provides you with a paper menu.  "Our special right now is crawfish stew, but we also have a very good gumbo.  Please ask if you have any questions.  May I get you something to drink?"

The menu is pretty basic and lists several varieties of gumbo and jambalaya, as well as something called a poboy. 

[Ennui]

Both sound great.  What do you think Glinda should we order both and we can share them between us.  I'll have an iced tea please.

Real crawfish, shrimp and sausage?  Where do you get your ingredients, if I may be so bold as to ask?  With all this astral energy I attempt to determine what kind of background count exists here.

[Mercy Merchant]

Glinda smiles and nods at your suggestion and orders iced tea as well and the girl takes an old-style lead pencil, licks the end, writing your orders down on a small order pad she takes from a pocket of the apron she is wearing.  "'Ol Jeb, he brings the crawfish in and the taters and herbs come from the gardens hear about.  Big Daddy brings the shrimp in on his boats........................"

She is interrupted by a woman probably still in her late twenties who speaks with a French accent.  "Why don't you get their order in Jeanette, please?"

The girl smiles at you and heads off to the counter as the woman places two tall glasses of an iced amber beverage on your table.  She nods to Glinda then to you.  "Hello.  I remember you from a couple of earlier visits....Glinda, oui?  And this time you bring a good friend?  Hello, I am Sophie.  Is this your first time here?"

You think that the BGC is at least five here.

[Ennui]

Thank you Jeanette, I call after her, as she leaves.

Hello Sophie.  I go by Lizzie.  It is indeed my first time here but I hope I will be a frequent visitor if the food here is as good as they say.  This place is quite charming.

[Mercy Merchant]

Sophie smiles at you.  "You have made good choices for your meal.  You should let me know how spicy you like your food and I would recommend saving some room for spice bread for dessert.  And I, too, hope that you become a regular."

Glinda says, "And we will need a couple of pounds of that spiced rum coffee."

"We were fixing up a new batch of that this morning.  I will bring some with the dinner so you can taste it and decide if it is to your liking."