Storms and Scales, the Reptile Tales

[Cowpies77]

Therren

I'll be doing so tonight. Friday and Saturday are very tough days for me to get posts in. 8 hour closing shifts and all >.<

It's okay. I love you anyway.  

[Verne the Vaudevillian]

Gazjik Ssertuus
Lv 1 Lizardfolk Cleric

Cowpies77

DO YOU SPEAKA ANY COMMON? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT ARE COMIN' OUT OF MY MOUTH!?

Gazjik's lips curled into a toothy snarl when the guard started speaking down to him. True, there may have been justification behind it, but just because he couldn't speak common didn't mean he wasn't able to understand it. Or some of it at least, and though he didn't fully comprehend every single word he understood enough to know that this soft-skin was thoroughly displeased with Gazjik's inability to properly speak in his native tongue.

"Pamon shilta kampiun wer lexri confnir de dout narod," he hissed as the guard shoved him along in the direction of the inn. The largest building in town, primarily due to the fact that it also contained a rather large tavern on its ground floor, this particular inn looked as though it did away with some of the senseless finery that those in the cities favored. Sturdy and functional, the mostly wood structure reminded him in some ways of the Temple of the Cudgel, though it certainly wasn't as imposing. What was the words the soft-skins used to describe things like that? Quaint?

Well, whatever it was, its interior did not match. When Gazjik entered, the guard following right behind, he almost felt as if the tension in the room slapped him across the face. Strange thing was that, this time, he wasn't the root source. Instead it was the grey goliath he spotted earlier. He towered over another soft-skin, an ample chested female dressed in clothing that would have been considered to be both fine and provocative by the standards of her kin. It was an aspect of "civilized" life that the scaly humanoid still didn't have a strong understanding of. Back in the ancestral marsh most of his kind wore clothing much more minimal, if any at all. Furs and leathers, usually in the form of loincloths or, at most, vests and skirts, were as far as it went. There was no sense of finery above the adornments worn by spiritual advisers and clan leaders, it simply couldn't be that way. Life was difficult enough there without the threat of greed tearing his people apart from the inside.

"-a mouse who can go unnoticed! We are both set to this task and you act as if I do not exist! Do you dare think me below you, human!?"

Once more he found his language barrier troublesome. He couldn't fully understand what the goliath said, but based on his demeanor, and the thunderous volume with which he spoke, Gazjik assumed the woman had somehow slighted his pride. She remained calm, though, and spoke with an accent that made her native tongue, which he already had trouble with, impossible for him to grasp. But her reaction wasn't of concern to him, the guard's was, and with this titanic man causing such a stir he suddenly found himself with a more pressing issue than that of a lizardman whom he couldn't have words with.

"Oy, dumb a**!" the guard began, and with that Gazjik took his chance. By now leery eyes had fallen upon him as well, and many of the people had cleared away from the entrance just so they wouldn't have to be near what they saw as two monsters. He stepped away from the spear toting human and seated himself at an empty table, where he would wait until the situation was resolved and his work could finally begin. With luck the guard would find someone who understood his own language or, at the very least, that of the orcs. But it appeared that wouldn't be necessary.

Shortly after he'd taken his seat, the human woman rose and approached him. A reflexive snarl started to form. He didn't trust much of their kind, just the same as they often distrusted him. However, she didn't appear to be hostile. Quite the contrary, her demeanor was one of curiosity. Then she did something that truly took him by surprise: she spoke his language. What's more, she spoke it fluently.

DM Draco Moondragon

"Fekiikiri. Sia ominak ui Serena. Svabol dronilnric wux tenpiswo, thurirl?"

Quickly back to his feet, Gazjik bowed his head in a gesture of politeness to this woman, one who not only showed him a small degree of respect by choosing not to treat him as if he were afflicted by some virulent plague but also understood his native tongue. The luck of Olidammara was smiling upon him, a strange occurrence considering the god of rogues and thieves wasn't exactly loved by his own patron.

"Seveleth, munthrek Ssserena," he said as he rose, taking a bit of extra time with her name to make sure he got the pronunciation mostly correct. "Wer ithquenti quo'quegl acht ve ekess majak mishun unef. Sia ominak ui Gazjik Ssertuus. Si confn persvek wer ominak di...Saint...Cuthbert."

((1st Translation: No one can understand the words coming from your mouth. huzzah Rush Hour references ^-^))
((2nd Tranlation: Well met, human Serena. The gods smile upon me to give such fortune. My name is Gazjik Ssertuus. I come in the name of St. Cuthbert.))  

[DM Draco Moondragon]

Serena gave the unusual creature a smile that would likely make the hearts of some human men melt. Her tone was soft and kind, and her speaking of the Draconic tongue was nearly flawless. "Petranaswin ekess tafiaf wux, Gazjik. Onelka nomenes hofibai, ihk astahii vucot ti wer vraktor di wer darastrixi, thur asta ooble." She then nodded at his familiar garb. "Vi flohl di wer Saint? Svanoa bvecko. Wux re khruvi weyotipre de throdenilti di wer tilsin xiekivi si tepoha urcaxa zahae."

((Translations: "Pleasure to meet you, Gazjik. Forgive those fools, for they know not the children of the dragons, nor their tongue."

"A follower of the Saint? How strange. You are certainly different from most of the lizard people I have read about."))  

[Cowpies77]

Therren

He towered over another soft-skin, an ample chested female dressed in clothing that would have been considered to be both fine and provocative by the standards of her kin.

Dirty lizard. razz Looking up our maiden-folk like that!

The Innkeeper, shrugging, says "Well, is miss Serena will be paying for it, then fine." Pulling out a large mug, Tobias fills it with some opaque yellow liquid, saying "Here, then. Honey mead for the big guy."
The guard meanwhile goes over to still frightened Irma in the corner and calms her down a bit, leading her outside. Before he leaves the inn, he adds "Don't make me come back in here for any of you all, got it? Have a nice day."  

[Kuyote the Fool]

Cowpies77

A smile stretched across Scar-Hide's lips as the innkeeper poured the mead, his mouth watered with anticipation. Soon as it was placed before him he guzzled down half the mug with excitement. The sweet flavor calmed his nerves slightly, though the alcohol would take a while to have any effect. Given his size and alcohol tolerance, it usually took a lot to get him drunk.

He almost thought about trying to talk to the frightened woman, but it might just make her condition worse. The guard already had spoken to her and said his little insignificant threat as he left. Scar-Hide scoffed at such a weak threat, that puny man would need at least three more to have a chance of being a challenge.

Gulping down the rest of his drink, Scar-Hide felt his body relax a bit, which was good. His energy was returning to him quickly now that he was able to relax without being on-edge and alert, the drink also helped.
He stood up and approached where Serena was, sitting with the lizardman from earlier.

"Serena. We should get to our task and not waste any time, this poor woman's daughter is still missing", he said nodding to Irma, even though she probably still feared him. He was kind at heart, but did not hold my feeling for the humans unless given a good reason. Coin was a good enough reason, because coin meant alcohol and food. Which reminded him, he needed to get some fresh meat in his stomach.  

[Cowpies77]

Kuyote the Fool

Which reminded him, he needed to get some fresh meat in his stomach.

And so, he ate a baby. Nom nom nom.  

[Verne the Vaudevillian]

Gazjik Ssertuus
Lv 1 Lizardfolk Cleric

DM Draco Moondragon

Serena gave the unusual creature a smile that would likely make the hearts of some human men melt. Her tone was soft and kind, and her speaking of the Draconic tongue was nearly flawless. "Petranaswin ekess tafiaf wux, Gazjik. Onelka nomenes hofibai, ihk astahii vucot ti wer vraktor di wer darastrixi, thur asta ooble." She then nodded at his familiar garb. "Vi flohl di wer Saint? Svanoa bvecko. Wux re khruvi weyotipre de throdenilti di wer tilsin xiekivi si tepoha urcaxa zahae."

When Serena smiled, Gazjik gave a wary look. Was she attempting to charm him? He'd seen many "civilized" women present such smiles to men back in the city. Often times the men would coddle and praise them after doing so. Some even bestowed gifts to them in the form of rings, necklaces, and other shiny trinkets. The behavior confused the lizardman when he first saw it, his people did not have such unusual rituals when it came to courtship. In all honesty, he found it quite pathetic that the men would allow themselves to be so easily deceived by their women, and also that the women would stoop to such a level just for material gain. But, with the help of the clergy, he managed to learn how to discern the deceptive from the genuine. Or, at least, he thought so, until now.

Gazjik pushed the thoughts aside, turning his attention instead to her words. She spoke of the children of dragonkind, referencing his people, their speech, and books she had read about his kind. A scholar, perhaps? It would explain her knowledge of draconic. Of course, it didn't make her initial assumptions any less wrong. He crossed his arms and leaned forward in his seat, resting his elbows on the table.

"Astahii vucot moxt tagoa astahii doege moxt," he hissed. "Seltur moliki re qeelak ekess rechan ekik nomenes svaust tir ti soyol persvek asta waphic. Yth re ti fueryoni thur re yth malsvir ini gemuth. Yth tuor ergriff ekess waph. Yth tepohada thric tuor ekess slathalin mrith sthyri vur vaecaesini. Astahii dronilnra aryte shafaer udoka."

The goliath approached as he spoke, saying something to Serena. He did not know what the titanic humanoid spoke of, but he nodded in the direction of another woman. He did, however, recognize one word: daughter. An issue with the woman's child? He looked to Serena. "Tepohaic creolnali shinalta mrith wer vrak di batobot aesthyr?"

((Translation: "They know little because they care little. Soft skins are quick to throw out those who do not fit in their lives. We aren't beasts nor are we evil by nature. We want only to live. We had no want to fight with men and elves. They brought war on us."

"Has something happened with the child of that woman?"))

((Sorry for the wait guys, I started having internet troubles a couple nights ago and finally got them resolved. Modem was acting all weird cuz one of the cables was starting to fray >.<))  

[DM Draco Moondragon]

Serena nodded in agreement with Scar-Hide's words. "You're right, Scar-Hide. We got some serious work to do." She then looked back to the intriguing lizard man, Gazjik. "Wux re zlonzic. Ti throden tir kampiun wer idol di nomenes batobot re weyotipre." She then pulled up her robe sleeve to reveal developing bronze scales on her forearm, but only so Gazjik could see them. "Jaka wux vucot svanoa vucoti zyak kiarf zahae vraktor di wer darastrixi. Si mi ir di astahi, shar ergriff ekess vi sart bekietni." She pulled the sleeve down to keep it hidden once more. "Geou wux letoclo udoka persvek nomeno cep? Wer hianag di batobot aesthyr ui gethrisja, vur yth tepoha coanwor tora ekess ehtah jacioniv. Dout letoclo ornla qe kashora."

((Translations:

1. you are correct. not many do understand the way of those that are different
2. now you know how I know so much about children of the dragons. i am one of them, but only to a small degree.
3. will you help us in this task? the daughter of that woman is gone, and we have been asked to find her. your help would be appreciated.))  

[Kuyote the Fool]

DM Draco Moondragon

serena spoke in agreement she continued to speak to the lizard in his tongue. Confused, Scar-Hide wondered if she was asking for his help or still holding a casual conversation. Not understanding the nature of their conversation, he turned and exited the inn with a huff.

Exiting the door and coming into the outside where people were still cautious of his presence. He wasn't sure where to start, the guards were obviously not going to be any help. For the time being he just took a deep breath of the fresh air and calmed his nerves.  

[Cowpies77]

Therren

((Sorry for the wait guys, I started having internet troubles a couple nights ago and finally got them resolved. Modem was acting all weird cuz one of the cables was starting to fray >.<))

 

[Cowpies77]

Kuyote the Fool

Exiting the door and coming into the outside where people were still cautious of his presence. He wasn't sure where to start, the guards were obviously not going to be any help. For the time being he just took a deep breath of the fresh air and calmed his nerves.

The guard, Alvrin, can be seen a little ways down the road at the first house on Scar-Hide's right.
Looking up, he can see that the clouds are still rather dark gray. The place looks more-or-less empty as the few residents go about their business, which for the majority of them is heading out to go tend to some flocks and farming.

To Scar-Hide's right is the Guard Station and Chapel, with a short, rotund man sweeping out the front steps of the latter building.
Birdsong can still be heard as the morning is still quiet. The smithy apparently not having started up the day's activities yet.  

[Cowpies77]

DM Draco Moondragon

Interjecting, Tobias says "Excuse me Serena, but it looks like your charge is rather finished. Is there anything else you'd like, or shall I tally up the bill now while you talk to your... uh... friend here?"  

[DM Draco Moondragon]

Serena turned to the innkeeper and smiled. "Y'know, now that ya mention it, a bottle of Elven wine for the road would be mighty appreciated. I heard from someone on the way into town that y'all have some amazin' wine here, and I figured I'd pick some up. After that, I can close out the tab. What'll I owe ya, hon?"  

[Kuyote the Fool]

Looking to the sky, Scar-Hide enjoyed the overcast morning as the cool air brushed against his skin. Looking down the road he saw a short man sweeping the steps of a somewhat fancy building. The portly man either hadn't noticed Scar-Hide or he was actually not afraid of him, either way it was of no matter.

Approaching the man, Scar-Hide put on a somewhat friendly face and greeted him with a wave.

"Beautiful morning, is it not?"  

[Cowpies77]

DM Draco Moondragon

After that, I can close out the tab. What'll I owe ya, hon?"

The innkeeper adds up the bill and says "... with a bottle of Elven wine? That'll come out to 10 gold, 5 silver, miss."