Montolio

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(Note: Give Lionfish and Malachite)

Personality:
- Dislikes rude patrons, but kind to all others
- Slightly forgetful
- Enjoys gossip
- Experimental

Minor trivia:
- Adopted an old building as his Charge, and remodeled it into a tavern
- Because he started bartending young, he was unable to serve alcohol. Still avoids alcohol even after coming of age
- If you don't have enough treasure to purchase a drink, you can instead pay him in gossip
- Favorite drink is a mixture of juices of Aether Cherries, Cater Fruits, Figs, and a garnish of Delta Orchid

Lore:
You walk past a rustic building with a sign reading Montolio's Tavern. Feeling thirsty, you push open the swinging doors. The tables and stools patterned throughout the room are illuminated by dim lights overhead. A small rat stares at you, its dark red eyes gleaming, before scurrying away. Behind a large counter area stands a Guardian, wiping out a flask. You think he must be Montolio. His head lifts as he notices you.
"Oh, hello there weary traveler! Come on in."
You sit at one of the stools in front of the counter, taking note of the lack of customers. You express this observation to Montolio.
"Oh yeah. This is a new place. Just built it yesterday. Care for a drink?" He gestures to the flasks behind him. Upon closer inspection, you can see bits of fruit pulp and mint leaves floating within. "These aren't alcoholic. None of them are. Can't serve alcohol just yet."
You ask about the current drinks. Montolio responds by eagerly listing off the contents of his concoctions. After some consideration, you finally order.
Montolio begins pouring some of the drinks together into a strange cup, before shaking it up. As he does, he says, "Why so quiet? You know, I can tell you some interesting gossip I've heard while you wait."
You perk up and nod. The tavern feels empty without the presence of idle chatter, so some gossip is more than welcome.
"Okay then. I've heard talk about this sudden magic storm. Well, it's less the storm itself and more what-or who- was found afterwards. A bunch of hunters saw an Aether fall from the sky, and she didn't seem to recognize the area."
At first, you almost brush this off as a Wind dragon who got lost or blown off course. However, it's what Montolio mentions next that recaptures your interest.
"The group that found her was ambushed by a band of Beastclans, and the Aether-" Montolio paused, then leaned closer and continued in an incredulous whisper. "She used four elements to fend the Beastclan ambushers off."
You return his look of awe. The most elements you've heard of a single dragon wielding was two. Even then, it wasn't exactly common. But four? Basically unheard of.
Montolio continues in the same hushed tone. "From what I heard, she used lightning to paralyze the Beastclans, then sent out ribbons of fire and small earthquakes to damage them, followed by gusts of icy wind to push back the last of them. When she didn't use her elemental prowess, her slashing claws were almost to the beat of an unheard melody as she exacted her... unfounded revenge against the ambushers."
Before either of you could continue, the rat from before crept out from behind the booth. You watched in awe as its body lengthed, its fur turning cream-colored with gold spots, swirled brown wings sprouting from its back alongside gold spikes. It finished its stride as an Aether, the only thing remaining unchanged were its dark red eyes, still gleaming in the dim light.
The new Aether strides up to the counter, a slight unsteadiness in his footfalls as if accounting for a long-lasting injury only recently healed. "Fire, ice, lightning, and earth, you say? And she wielded them all with equal prowess?"
Montolio looked startled. "H-How did you figure that out? How did you even get in here?"
The Aether shrugged. "I have the mind of a thief. Now, I have a question for you: What did she call these elemental abilities?"
Still on guard, Montolio replied, "She called them Fire, Freeze, Thunder, and Ground. I think you can use your 'mind of a thief' to figure out which one's which."
The Aether's eyes narrowed in recognition. "Interesting. Did she, perhaps, call each ability... PSI?"
Montolio nodded.
"And what was her name? What did she look like?" the Aether asked.
"Blue fur, with white markings and pink wings. As for her name, she called herself-"
"Kumatora?" the Aether interrupted. His tone had changed, as if he had figured something out.
"Exactly." Montolio said.
"Well," the Aether said, "I'm done here. I've gotten all the information I need. However... I need a favor from you two."
You were a bit startled by the Aether suddenly talking to you. "Yes?"
"If that Aether comes around... Tell her Duster was here. Tell her she's not the only one who fell into this strange city. She'll know what you mean."
With that, the Aether begins a running start to the door. As he does, you catch a glimpse of his eyes turning a lighter red, though you dismiss it as a trick of the light. "Sorry for the trouble, mister!" the Aether calls back to Montolio, before leaping into the air.
Confused by the exchange, you turn back to face Montolio. A slight look of realization crosses his face, and he shakes your drink before pouring it into a small glass. You lift it to your mouth and sip. It tastes sweet, cool, and refreshing.