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 Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:36 pm
Zywynran found his gleeful dance interrupted by a shout from the barkeep. Well, he was certainly not one to be rude. So with a twirl and a leap Zywynran ended his impromptu little dance and made his way to the bar, cloak now draped over one arm. He jingled as he moved, countless tiny bells having been woven into his hair with bright green, red and blue ribbons. His outfit picked up those same colors, of course. "You would speak with me?" Zywynran said to the Dwarf with a serene smile as though he had not only a moment ago been dancing with wild abandon.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:28 pm
The Dwarf gave Zywynran a jolly smile. "That I did, Darren McFlaust at your service good Half-Elf. And, by your appearance, I would say that you may have many a good story to tell? I do so love me a story. Would you be so kind?" He pointed at the hearth, next to wich stood a chair, designed to sit its seated up above the crowd, giving the person sitting in it view of the whole room. "And I would be willing to trade a good hot meal in exchange. Just until the good Captain Havicson can see all of his guests, Mr . . . ?"
~
As Zywynran walked toward Darren, the man in the hood looked up, again scanning the Room. This time, his eyes obviously came to rest on Hope, his eyes glimmering under his hood. He made no movement when the waitress came to take his order, only asked for an ale, his eyes never wavering. When the Waitress returned with the ale, he lowered his eyes again.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:53 pm
"No one calls me mister, good sir. Please, my name is Zywynran and I do most graciously accept your offer of hearth and hospitality.” Zywynran gives a deep bow to his host, the smile on his face growing wider. “Allow me but a moment to retrieve my harp and I will oblige you.” Even when reciting a story, Zywynran did love a bit of music. He could absolutely do without it, but why do a thing at all if one was not willing to do a thing to its fullest extent?
Straightening from his bow, Zywynran put on his cloak and once more braved the cold, but at least only for a short time. He retrieved his chest and brought it into the still very welcome warmth of the inn. As much as even the brief jaunt into the snow made him want to simply soak up the heat and do naught else for a few moments, he had promised a performance! Zywynran opened the chest and retrieved a lap harp. He closed the chest once more and tossed his cloak onto it before going to the hearth and settling himself in the chair there.
“Fellow patrons, gathered here in good company, a bastion of light and warmth on this most chill night. Lend me your ear that I might spin a tale of a far off land.” Zynwynran lightly plucks at the strings of the harp, the melody only a pleasant background to his words. As he customarily did, Zywynran paused for a moment, waiting for curiosity, or even boredom, to turn faces his way.
“And a merry band of far off fools who I’ve had the great fortune to know. A party of three, brothers all and bound to find adventure should it kill them to do it! I came upon them in such a place as this after one adventure very nearly was the end of them.” Zywynran picked up the pace of the music a bit, easing it into a playful tune. McFluast seemed a man prone to laughter, unless he missed his guess, and this promised to be an amusing tale. “They’d heard a tale from the friend of the daughter of a midwife who heard it on her own honor from the lips of a clergyman, though which no one seems to know. A tale of treasure and a damsel in distress, for there is no better sort of tale to draw the likes of these young fellows.”
“A golden horn lies hidden in the mountains, a treasure with the power to grant a man’s greatest desire. It was kept by a maiden who all claimed to be beautiful and pure, though none could remember a soul who had seen her face. A maiden and a treasure were all well and good, but what really put these boys on their horses was, in a word… dragon!” Zywnran played a dramatic trill and discreetly cast an illusion spell. A silver dragon, obviously smaller than a real one at the size of a large dog, appeared to fly through the room and wind between tables. “Breath of fire and claws of steel! And tales to tell for a lifetime, if they could best it. The brothers hardly took time to rest from their journey before they rode north into the mountains, dreaming of treasure and glory.”
((OOC: More later. Must go to bed. I'll edit the rest into this post if no one else posts before I get back on.))
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:02 am
A man who up until this point had more interest in his ale, rather than the story, looked up as the illusionary dragon swung above the table. With a squeal he swung his mug at it, drunkenly, and toppled back out of his chair. Laughs went up at this, including Mcflaust's. The majority of the room was now paying attention to Zywynran.
The man in the corner was not however. Staring down his mug, the man still sat silently in the corner.
~
As the room settled in to listening again, the door again opened and closed as another joined the room. This man though silent, immediately began paying attention to Zywynran. He sidled along the wall toward the bard, and leaned against it, crossing his arms and chuckling along with the rest of the room.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:19 pm
Therion had his hood pulled up against the sharp bitting wind. Therion searched left and right for the sign that would signify the inn he would be staying in. Therion looked up the street and saw a carved wooden sign saying Green Dragon Inn. "Oh, finally! I cant wait to get out of this acursed wind!" Therion thought to himself.
Therion entered the warm and packed inn. Therion could feel the cold rushing from him, he was so glad be out of the wind and snow. He surveyed the packed inn "At least the people dont reflect the weather.." Therion chuckled to himself at his own joke. He brushed the snow off of himself and stomped his boots. Therion walked up to the bar and pulled a small foreign looking carved wooden bottle. He took a large swig of the dark purple liquid. Therion felt extemely refreshed from the strange liquid. He looked around the large room. Therion yawned, he was very tired from walking all day since before sun-up. Therion called to the bartender "Excuse me neighbor, do you happen to have any food. Warm preferably." Therion chuckled.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:08 pm
The bartender, Mcflaust, seemed to ignore Therion for a moment, before looking over to catch a glimpse of the man. He smiled, nodded, and pulled hank of meat from the almost charred corpse of some creature behind him. All without removing his eyes from the bard, as if he had some experience with this he tossed the hank on a plate, with a hunk of cheese, and a half loaf of bread. While the charred beast behind the bartender doesn't look overly appealing, the smell is unbelievably appetizing. He slid it across the counter to stop right in front of Therion. He flashed Therion three fingers. "Just three coppers," he said quietly, to not interrupt the story.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:27 pm
A wide and mischievous grin spread over Zywynran's face. He gave a wink to the fellow who had been startled by his illusion; he just could not help himself. He almost felt sorry for the poor fellow, but the entertainment value of the man's foible had been priceless.
The dragon flew over Zywynran's head and as the bard strummed the harp in a quick and energetic tune, the illusion changed to show three riders on horses. "It was a farther journey than they had expected and eager as they were, these brothers three could not ride all night and day. Not that they did not try, mind you. They rode for so long, the youngest one toppled from his horse, fast asleep!" The illusion faded away as the music's pace slowed once more, but the magic was still there, should Zywynran need to call upon it again. In his opinion, it did not do to rely to heavily on flashy tricks. "They'd not yet cleared the wood at the foot of the nearest mountain and his two brothers were greatly vexed. Try as they might, they could not wake him. They called to him, time and again, but he did not budge. 'Fetch me some water to splash upon his face', said the eldest, "And we will yet wake him and be on our way.'"
"And so the middle brother searched for a spot to fill his water skin. He saw a trickle here and there on the leaves of trees, but these were far too tepid, he thought. Surely colder water would work the best. He searched further and found a small stream. This was better, but still he was not yet satisfied... perhaps if he followed the stream a ways? Downstream he went and the further he walked, the cooler the water and even the air became. As he stepped into denser trees it became so chill that his teeth began to chatter. Finally he found a clear, still pool in a clearing so cold it made his body numb! Well, any colder than this and the water will be ice, the brother thought to himself and approached the pond."
"He knelt to fill the skin but was given pause by a form beneath the water. It moved with such grace, its silhouette sinuous and sleek... he was entranced with it." As Zywynran described the form, he called upon his illusion again. It faded into view above him; a dark, almost serpentine shape. And yet it was also feminine; curvaceous. The form was incomplete, purposefully murky as once more Zywynran sent it about the room trailing tendrils of shadow. "He was drawn to this thing that lurked beneath the still surface. He leaned closer and swore he heard a small voice warning him 'No! Turn away!' But it was already too late. He leaned closer still and then... SPLASH!" The illusion lunges at the closest patron and dissipates into so much nothing as it crashes into him.
"He was taken." The story was not yet over, but Zywynran stilled his fingers on the strings. He looked out among the crowd discreetly beneath pale lashes. He did so love a dramatic pause.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:36 pm
As the illusion crashed into the patron, he made a a grumbling chuckle, and mumbled drunkenly to his friend. A roar came out of the group. When it quieted down the crowd grew anxious. "Well, come on then! What happened?" A less patient patron yelled.
The man in the hood became even more still, if at all possible.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:25 pm
Somehow Zywynran managed to not grin like a small child with treats. This was exactly the reaction he had hoped for. He began to pluck at the harp again. "A very good question, and as time passed his eldest brother began to wonder the very same. Day became night and he could wait no longer. He finally woke the youngest and they set of in search of their kin. Neither was much of a tracker or really knew which way he might have gone and so much time had passed by the time they finally came upon the clearing. 'Surely he could not have come here' the youngest complained as he tried to stamp the feeling back into his feet. 'It is freezing cold; let us turn back and look the other way.'"
"They were agreed and stopped only to fill their skins in the pool much as their brother had done. The youngest knelt and saw the very same form and he too was drawn to it." Zywynran strummed more quickly, building the suspense. "He leaned forward and again there was a vice that cried out 'No, turn back!' It was almost too late for this one as well, but the eldest also heard this voice and with a great heave he pulled his brother away from a creature like none he head ever seen!"
Ah, and now for the big reveal. He was tempted to give another illusion, but some things were truly best left to the imagination. "From the depth emerged a head of algae that dripped and clung to blue scaled skin. Her eyes burned red as burning coals and her mouth was a gaping, toothless blackness that threatened to swallow a man whole! Despite the horror of her visage, her torso was that of a nude and shapely woman above where it joined with the long, swollen reptilian blue tail of a snake! They drew their swords and thrust with all their might... and made not a dent in her hide."
"Well, they ran." Zywynran said simply. "But worry not; they found their courage before they got too far. And a lucky thing for their poor brother who'd already been swallowed whole by the beast. 'What will we do, brother?' The young one asked. ' We cannot simply leave this thing to devour who it will.' Even as they watched the creature returned to the cold depths. If their swords could not harm her, how would they defeat her?"
"Well they thought and they thought and more they thought until finally the eldest drew his sword once more. 'You know that won't work!' his brother warned, but foward he went anyway with sword held up high. "You just get the horses; I'll be out shortly'. And before the poor youth could imagine what that meant, his brother was swallowed whole!"
Zywynran stopped playing the harp at this point. "That really ought to have been the end of him, and so his brother thought. But to his surprise he saw the gleam of metal, the tip of his brothers sword, puncture the beast through from inside! It would seem she was not quite so armored there. With a hack and a slash and a flick of the wrist, he'd cut himself free. With him their brother. And the source of that warning voice... but hers is a story for another time."
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:51 am
Hope saw the stranger stare from the corner of her eye. She did not like this at all. She decided to play it cool for a bit and see what 'sort' he was. She leaned back against the bar and pretended to enjoy the bard's story while scanning the crowd and making observations with her peripheral vision. She was used to this game, having been a bouncer on many occasions.
She was not however, used to mead, and tried not to make a face as she drank it. But the barkeep had been such a friendly guy, that she hadn't wanted to seem unappreciative of his kindness, so she had just thanked him and made the best of it.
By the time the bard got to his dramatic pause, Hope had decided that the hooded man was not trouble, but a soldier or warrior such as herself. As the bard continued his tale she considered introducing herself, but decided she really didn't want the company tonight, just being around people was enough. She had never been good in social situations anyway.
She turned to the barkeep, "Would you mind letting me know when Sir Gerard Havicson arrives? I have no idea what he looks like. In the meantime, I'd like a healthy portion of whatever meat you have tonight with some bread and another beer." The last was added with some relief as the mead was finally gone and she could get rid of that sickening sweet taste. Though the beer would have to be nursed, as she did not want more tonight.
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:39 pm
Therion handed the money over to the bartender, apoligizing for the interuption. Therion began to devour his meat, wondering who else was here on the Captains request. "I wonder when he will arrive?" Therion thought to himself. Therion finished his meal and wiped his lips clean. Therion pulled out his flask and drank some more of the strange liquid.
((OOC: Sorry, I'm a little shaky. Haven't been RPing in awhile.))
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:19 pm
The Bartender took the money from Therion, and Slid a plate of the aromatic meat, with a hunk of cheese and bread toward Hope in what seemed like the same movement. He then slid a beer to her as well. "Four coppers," he said, "three for the meal, and one for the beer."
While this happened, the bard's story came to its end, and the hooded man walked past where Hope was sitting, lightly "brushing against Hope, and muttering a barely audible apology. Finding a seat closer to the bard.
Mcflaust yelled at Zywynran, "Well done, good bard!"
The man who entered late joined in as the room began to applaud. "Yes, most fortunate that you would come on this night, I fear that the room would have become impatient had you not showed up when you did." Laughter came from the crowd as the man walked toward Zywynran. "Now, if you don't mind, Good sir, if I may take the stage for a moment?" He stands next to Zywynran and turns to address the room.
"I thank you all for coming, those who are not regulars." A section of the room cheered, and the man nodded to them. "For those of you who do not know me, I am Captain Gerard Havicson. It is I who called you to this frozen north, and I who asked for your services. Allow me to fill you in on why I called. As of late, many of the civilians under my protection in this province have gone missing. I intend to find the reason for this, however, my garrison has been understaffed as of late. I have lost many men to the recent rash of harsh weather. My posts have not even been left outside, for on some nights, they freeze to death within the hour. Many of you had to brave such cold to be here, and I am certain that many more embarked upon the journey here, but never arrived. That stands testament to every man here!" The room cheered again, and he looked around until the room quieted, he nodded at Hope when it did. "My apologies, and women." The room laughed.
"I wish to begin my investigation as soon as possible, as such, I would like to take the time to get everyone's name who wishes to help, be it for good, or for riches and glory, and seperate them into groups, best to cover as much ground as possible. I am sure that more shall arrive after you, so I can be found at the garrison later, and I will also staff a booth here all day and night to take any late comers." He waited a moment. "Any questions before we begin?"
[[OOC: No worries]]
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:41 pm
When the dark man brushed past Hope, she mentally shrugged. Maybe he was a trouble maker after all. Oh well, she couldn't expect to always be right. She put him out of her mind as the tall soldier took center stage.
She liked this knight right away. She sensed that he was an honest man and truly cared about his men. Now if only he was a good leader this job would be just about perfect. Well, except that it was definitely more dangerous than most. There's always something.
When he finished speaking she waited for the questions to be over. She had already decided to sign up, but she really wanted to just get it over with so she could go to bed. It had been a long day and fighting that weather had been something else. Almost like some unseen force had been trying to hold her back. She shuddered.
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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:23 pm
Therion continued in his mental search around the room. He saw a man sitting in a corner, his hood pulled up, "Yet another person trying to escape the ways of the world, most likely." He continued, and spotted a woman sitting not to far away from her. She wore a large claymore on her back. "Hmm, I wonder if she also was here on the Captains request?" thought Therion. Therion moved over towards the woman. "Excuse me neighbor," He asked to the woman. "do you happen to be here on request of Captain Gerard Havicson?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:46 am
Hope turned to the ponytailed warrior, "No, I'm just a traveler, earning my bread with my sword. It is pure chance that I happened here tonight, unless you believe in fate or the gods.
In his need, I can see that he would send out requests for warriors and soldiers, but you must be very good indeed to get one at your age."
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