Fantasy Lamed: You All Meet in a Tavern (still open and still accepting)

[ThePerpetualShadow]

“Oh no” The Amazon shook her head in response to his Idam’s question. “I’m no adventurer. I’m just collecting stories and thought yours might be interesting”

Idam bit back a snort at her response. So it was stories she was after. While he would say without a doubt that the stories he could tell were ‘interesting’, He doubted that they fit the woman’s definition of the word.

Of course, being a Necromancer didn’t exactly come with regular wages. But it wasn’t hard to coax frightened travellers to provide him with a small ‘donation for arcane research’. The sight of a group of undead appearing out of the trees led by a dark mage in robes was usually enough to knock any possible resistance out of his victims. If it didn’t, well……survival of the fittest and all that.

He was broken out of his thoughts when a loud voice bellowed a greeting to the Dwarf at the bar. It drowned out the other patrons, which was a grand feat, considering the noise level. Idam had made sure his voice carried over to the Amazon with a simple amplify voice spell. He had always found this one useful. He hated raising his voice.

The owner of the voice was a Dwarf. Judging by the staff and robes adorned with the skins of various animals, he was a druid. And a lively one at that. His eyes scanned the room, falling on Idam and the Amazon for a brief moment before turning away again.

The Amazon spoke again after glancing at the Dwarf and Idam broke out of his thoughts to listen.

“Are you interesting?”

This time, Idam couldn’t hold back his snort. “Interesting. You could say that”

In truth, he was torn between wanting to know more and wanting to be left alone. The Amazon was young, probably slightly younger than him. She was likely on her pilgrimage, which also explained her excited behaviour. She was out in the world for the first time, so such a reaction was expected. Surprisingly however, she was different from the few Amazons that Idam had met. The first two were twins and had attempted to attack him, spouting their short sighted philosophy as they did so.

They hadn’t lasted very long. The more cautious one was disarmed and strangled to death by several of his undead minions while the other was distracted by her sister’s plight long enough for Idam to cast an Acid Bolt at her back. As she lay withering on the ground, the Necromancer had calmly sent a Black Arrow into the back of her head. Their corpses now guarded one of his old hideouts. If it hadn’t been discovered, that is.

 

[Trompe lOeil]

Alright, maybe Nethali had left that too open to interpretation. 'Interesting' might not be the best adjective to ask people. She made a note of that.

Well, when in doubt, barrel ahead. "You'd be surprised by the things I find interesting," she told him, hoping that his reticence was temporary. Some people took a while to warm up to other people, apparently. Nethali didn't know what that was like, but she'd seen it in other people. "Just the other day I was talking to this woman who told me about the history of fishing in her village. Did you know that they'd been fishing in that exact spot for hundreds of years? And their techniques hadn't even changed that much. They still made nets the same way, even after all that time. The boats were pretty different - new technology and generations of experimentation and all that. But the fish were still there, same type and everything. She made me this dish that her great-great-grandmother had made." She paused to look at him. Had she lost him at this point? That happened sometimes.

Just in case, better circle back to him. People liked talking about themselves, especially humans. "Anyway, as you can see, 'interesting,' is kind of a broad word. So, if you don't my asking, what brings you to the No Man's Land?" And why was it called that, if there were so many men here? She'd have to ask the owner.

ThePerpetualShadow

 

[ThePerpetualShadow]

You’d be surprised by the things that I find interesting”

‘She was right’ Idam thought with some slight irritation as the woman, no girl, rambled on about the history of some insignificant village. ‘I am surprised at what she finds interesting’.

He knew history was important. Knowledge of past mistakes helped to better prepare for the future. Yet, village nets and fish were not any near something he would consider important. In fact, he would say they were downright useless.

Still, he decided to humour her, for now.

“….what brings you to No Man’s Land?” She asked, finally coming to the end of her ‘story’.

In truth…..Idam did not know why he chose to enter the tavern. It was just one of the many such establishments scattered around the city. Add to the fact that he did not drink, there was no real reason for him to be there. Yet he had gone inside. Why? He tapped his chin with his middle finger while deep in thought.

 

[Kylesar1]

Sylvia Eskridge
Tavern​

Sylvia walked into the tavern, looking to fill up her flask with alcohol and get some food. She didn't drink much, preferring water over all, so a single flask could last her about 3-4 days even on a stress streak. Looking in though, the tavern life seemed dull at best. The only interesting conversation she could pick up was one about some village fishing. It was mostly very much boring.........almost a put a blade to your own throat boring...........mostly. The fishing part was fairly interesting, considering that heavy fishing an area for generations and never having to change spots suggested a powerful magic or a powerful being at work in the waters. However, she shook off the thoughts. Unless they were planning to go and find the source at work, it was just another boring conversation. She was itching for a nice fight. She needed something to give her some thrill, make her think a bit

 

[Malanta]

Denkum was surprised by the gesture, he just kind of stares at the money.
"N-no I can't, It wouldn't feel right, besides I don't think you're suppose to pay someone for that kind of thing"
He laughs.
"However, if you can't accept that.
You see I haven't had a friendly conversation in awhile, so thank you for that... I guess that could count as your payment."
He gives her a small genuine smile.


BackSet

 

[Simply]

"Argh my fucking head" grunted the young Orc as he began to rub his head to ease the throbbing headache that had been cursed on his brain. "Should really start asking for up front payments from now on. Sleazily little bastard tricked me. If I see that man again I swear I'll make him regret crossing me." The Orc said devising a way to somehow track down the man who had tricked him for free protection. It was also at this time Bazor realized that he would need to make up for his lost of time and resources by taking yet another job. Bazor sighed heavily after this realization concluding that taking another job would most definitely be of great use right now. He had not brought much coin with him on this escort as the promised payment was quite bountiful to the point where it would have paid for his trip back and then some. Of course this became a learning experience as well. The young Orc would "attempt" to avoid drinking at all cost until the job has been completed and would ask for an up front payment should be offered to him. His large intimidating figure alone gave off a mercenary like vibe, and with his weaponry and heavy armor he should be flooded with offerings in no time. Hopefully that is.

 

[BackSet]

"Oh." Karry said. "I guess we're even then. Is that how that expression goes? I havnt had a friendly conversation in quite a while either so, your welcome, I guess." Karry didn't touch her gold piece. She figured she'd leave it there for so,some else to find. It wasn't doing much good sitting in her pocket. Especially if she couldn't get out of this city.

Malanta

 

[Trompe lOeil]

"Are you an adventurer yourself?" Nethali was hoping that was his answer, personally. Adventurers saw more of the world than your average person. And they had done more fascinating things. "Maybe you're meeting someone? Other than me, obviously." She laughed at her joke.

The human did seem deep in thought. And he clearly wasn't excited about talking to her. Which, again, Nethali didn't understand. How could sitting in silence be preferable to conversation? Nethali hated being alone. Even when traveling, she tried to find caravans to join or groups headed in the same direction. She was terribly at entertaining herself. Was she bothering him?

Nethali's expression shifted from amused to disappointed. "You're probably just wanting to be alone with your thoughts, huh." She'd pestered this person long enough. "Look, if you change your mind, I'll be over at that table." She pointed to her two new friends, Denkum and Karry. Well, maybe friends was a strong word. She had abandoned them for this maybe-priest, maybe-mage. Nethali smiled at him one last time for good measure, then turned and walked back to the table.

"Sorry about that," she said brightly, already turning her attention away from her failed attempt. She took a seat. "What have I missed? Any more talk of adventure? Because I have to say, the best way to hear a story is to experience it firsthand. I'd just love to go on an adventure of my own." There was a gold coin sitting on the table. She picked it up and turned it in her fingers, watching the way it caught the light. "I've never seen one of these," she said, examining the patterns stamped into its two sides. "They didn't give me nearly this much when I left." Nethali put the coin back on the table, wondering if maybe they'd been planning to order a bunch of food.

ThePerpetualShadow Malanta BackSet

 

[BackSet]

Karry sighed as Nethali picked up the gold coin. If only she could be as fascinated by things as Nethali was. "They aren't worth nearly as much as one might expect." Karry said. Gold coins were a rather common currency. Elven minted gold coins being even more common. Each gold coin, while minted with different symbols depending on who made them, was worth the same amount. You had to be really poor not to have at least one. Platinum coins, on the other hand, were common only among some of the highest up in the class heiarchy. You definitely weren't going to see an ordinary person carrying one.

Malanta Trompe lOeil

 

[Malanta]

"Not really, just pleasantries." He said answering Nethali, although Denkum was craving for some sort of adventure to happen, to achieve such a thing seemed far away to Denkum, besides he knew he wouldn't earn a contract. However he found himself wanting to bring the subject more.
"Although, an adventure wouldn't sound too bad right now." He waited for some sort of positive response, but expected a negative response.
He realizes he just indirectly asked them to adventure with him, these people he had just met.
Yet, he allowed the question to linger in the air.

Trompe lOeil BackSet

 

[ThePerpetualShadow]

…Had the girl said something? Idam looked up just in time to see her leave with a disappointed look on her face. She most likely had, but he had been lost in his own thoughts. No matter, he would probably have exited the conversation had she not left just then. He watched as she re-joined her blond companion, and…someone else. The Kitsune he had noticed earlier now stood with the two, looking somewhat awkward. He sighed as the Amazon girl picked up a gold coin that lay on the table, staring at it with a look of awe that only a child could possess. She was a child really, one in a slightly older body.

Standing up, he reached for his staff. To much time had been wasted in this establishment. After all, corpses don't just turn up at his doorstep.Turning, he collided with someone almost immediately. A young woman with blond hair and a rapier in her belt.
“Ah, pardon me” He muttered in slight irritation, fixing his hood as it had slipped back a little.

Kylesar1

 

[BackSet]

An adventure did sound nice. Well, actually an adventure sounded dangerous and deadly but it would probably get Karry out of the city. Most adventures happened out in forests and old ruins and stuff, right? "If it gets me out of Sebtack I might be up for it." She said. She might be able to get out of the city if they pretended she was their pet or something. Either way an adventure would be the perfect excuse to convince them to help her get pit of Sebtack.

Malanta Trompe lOeil

 

[Trompe lOeil]

"Oh, they're not? I'd assumed they were worth more than Amazon gold coins." Nethali shrugged and sipped her wine. Ah well, at least she was still learning.

Nethali sighed wistfully at Denkum's talk of adventure. "Me neither. Can you imagine being in an adventure instead of just hearing about one? Maybe they'd tell stories about me!" Carefully edited later, of course. "Nethali Echysis, wise and deadly. To cross her path in anger is to die."

"Aha!" a female voice sounded from behind her. "I knew you were adventurers!" The Elven barmaid from earlier had returned to collect their empty glasses. She eyed the three of them, sizing them up. "On second thought, hold it right there. Don't move, you hear me?"

The barmaid wove through the crowd, hunting for the people she'd seen earlier. She stopped first at the Dwarf who'd recently entered. "Excuse me, do you have a moment to hear me out? I could use your help, and there's money in it for you. I think. Just join those folks over there if you're interested." She pointed at the table where Karry, Denkum, and Nethali were sitting.

She swept past the Dwarf and stopped next at the heavily-armed Orc who'd just arrived. Now there's someone who really looks useful, she thought, smiling to herself. "Sir? If you have a moment, I'm in need of people to help me with a problem. There's money to be made, if you're interested. Just meet me over there." She pointed to the same table, flashed him a smile, and swept off.

She paused in front of a black-robed human and a blonde woman, considering. Best not, she thought. They look dangerous.

Having - hopefully - collected some adventurers who would at least hear her out, the Elf made her way back to the table, hoping that these folks might actually help.

BackSet Malanta Kenjinx Simply

 

[Kylesar1]

Sylvia Eskridge
Tavern​

Who was this? She had no idea, but he had just run into her and bumped her head. "Sorry sir," she said. "I don't suppose there's anything good on the billboard, is there?" The billboard........Put in every respectable tavern. It was basically a help wanted board, where Mercenaries had the chance to show their stuff for a bit of coin. Nothing was really off limits except for assassination lists, but that tended to vary from bar to bar. Others didn't care, but this place here was one of the finest taverns for cities around. They planned to keep it that way, and it was hard to do so with a bunch of bloodthirsty assassins waiting around for someone to ask them to kill someone.

Looking at this guy, he obviously needed to be on his own business. She wasn't about to bog him down with small talk. Either something was on the board or it wasn't

ThePerpetualShadow

 

[Malanta]

Denkum was shocked when the Elven Bar Maiden said "I knew you were adventurers!" He jumped in his seat, startled and eyes widened.
"Oh ga-" Grasping a hand near his heart.
"Where did- I didn't even notice her" He said to both of them, trying to calm himself down.
He stares at her, as she goes to greet the Dwarf and the Orc.
"I wonder what she wants us to do..."

Trompe lOeil BackSet

 

[ThePerpetualShadow]

"I apologise, but I haven't looked at them" Idam replied. He noted that the woman was yet another stranger, just like the Amazon and her friends. Come to think of it, there were two more odd people within the tavern. The Druid that had entered a few minutes before, and a young orc. A Idam turned to note their positions, he saw a young elven barmaid rush around speaking quickly to the other strangers. He couldn't help but smirk when she paused near him and the rapier-wielding girl. She seemed to want to talk to them as well but clearly thought better of it and rushed off.

His interest in the strangers grew somewhat as they were all practically dragged by the power of speech towards the Amazon's table. five strangers. Plus himself and the woman in front of him. That made seven powerful strangers in the same tavern.

He sighed.

"Excuse me" He said to the woman before turning away from the door to the tavern and gliding in the direction of the group's table. He appeared behind the blond human, slamming the but of his staff on the wooden floor as he did so.

"Good afternoon, my friends" He smiled. His ice cold aura seemed to extend to every occupant at the table. A direct contrast his friendly smile.

Something else was at work here and he was annoyed that he hadn't the slightest clue as to what it could be.

Kylesar1 Malanta Trompe lOeil BackSet

 

[BackSet]

"Good afternoon, my friends."

The Appearence of the man in black robes startled Karry. His Appearence had been punctuated by a slam of his staff. Karry looked him up and down. He seemed friendly enough apart from his attire. Of course, you couldn't judge a person by what they wore but someone who wore that much black was kind of terrifying. There was something else about the man. Something that scared Karry more than his attire. The man seemed to radiate an aura of darkness and the cold. It wasn't quite a "chill you to the bones cold" but it was definitely well below freezing. Figuring that such a terrifying man was not one you didn't want to respond to Karry did.

"H-hello." She said, quite clearly nervous.

ThePerpetualShadow Malanta Trompe lOeil

 

[Malanta]

Denkum gave the hooded man a slight nod, although seeing him up close like this made him tense up.
"Hey..." Which wavered in the air
He recomposes himself,
"It would be nice to know my... friend's name."
Smiling towards the hooded man, but this time it wasn't genuine, something the man's atmosphere made him cautious.
He sat there waiting for a response, but was hoping for the elven barmaid to interrupt.

ThePerpetualShadow Trompe lOeil BackSet

 

[Kylesar1]

Sylvia Eskridge
Tavern​

"An adventure? Sounds like my blade wants to interject." Sylvia walked over to the group. She's been itching for a good fight or two. She didn't typically work in groups, but hey. First time for everything, right? "I'm Sylvia Eskridge, the Emerald Blade. Nice to meet you all." This was quite a crew that gathered. She had no idea why, but she'd be damned if she wasn't in this. The emerald Blade was a well-known title, but not some name known far and wide. These people could know, but she wouldn't be surprised if they didn't

Simply
BackSet
Malanta
Trompe lOeil
ThePerpetualShadow

 

[Trompe lOeil]

Nethali was enrapt by the scene unfolding around her, perfectly content to watch her little group of friends rapidly grow. Whatever the barmaid had to say, she was ready to hear it.

The barmaid bustled up to the table, dusting off her hands on her apron. "Well, this is a wonderful turnout," she said, looking at each of them in turn. "Thank you so much for your time. No-one here will help me." She sighed and shook her head, blonde hair swaying around her shoulders. "Right, I'd better start at the beginning. We do a good business here at the No Man's Land. We brew a lot of our own spirits, and we're popular outside the city. So Drale here," she nodded to the Dwarf at the bar, "thought we could sell to other taverns, make a tidy profit. It worked like a charm. Every three months, we receive a shipment of gold. Our earnings from the sale. Except the last shipment was due to arrive six days ago, and there's no sign of it."

The Elf sighed again and pulled up a chair to sit in. "Everyone says that our wagon driver must have run away with it, but I know Tristan. He's engaged to be married. There's no way he would have just run off. That, or it's bandits. But the wagon's heavily guarded! These were no ordinary bandits." She looked around the table again. "Please, you've got to help us. That shipment pays a lot of wages around here. Drale would never admit it, but he's struggling. Without this shipment, he's not sure he's going to be able to keep the No Man's Land. Bring back that shipment, and there's a portion of it for each of you."

Nethali's eyes went wide during the elf lady's story, trying to memorize every detail for the stories she'd tell later. Now that the Elf was looking at her imploringly, she wasn't sure what to do. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to influence the events of the adventure all that much. Surely it would be better to hang back and see what happened? Talking to people was one thing; agreeing to help someone find their missing gold was quite another.

BackSet Malanta Kenjinx Simply Kylesar1

 

[BackSet]

Karry stat up a little straighter, all the while watching the hooded man in black out of the corner of her eye. "Er, if I may interject." She said. "How are we supposed to find the stolen shipment of we don't know where to start? "Assuming that is a we and we do take you up on this offer." Karry did want to help. This Tavern was possibly the only safe place in all of Sebtack. She'd hate to see it go under. But there was no way she could take on such a task alone so if nobody decided to take this quest she certainly wasn't. She fidgeted with the ring she had gotten from the Gnome who had broken her out of the pet shop. It was a nervous habit of hers.

Malanta Kylesar1 Simply Kenjinx Trompe lOeil

 

[ThePerpetualShadow]

If the tavern had lost a shipment, then they should have hired more guards. However, Idam was interested at the chance for something to do. While his experiments never got boring, he would appreciate the change. Perhaps he would have the chance to test out a new spell of his.

"Can you tell us the normal route of your driver? It would provide us with a suitible place to begin the search" He asked the barmaid after the Kitsune had spoken.

Trompe lOeil

 

[Malanta]

Denkum slams his fist on the table, this thought of a quest, regardless of how small it was, excited him to the core.
Letting his impulsiveness take over, he exclaimed
"Regardless of how much we know about what happened, I'm in!"
His eyes beamed with energy, and with a large grin on his face, knowing that coming to Sebtack was the right decision.

ThePerpetualShadow Trompe lOeil BackSet Kylesar1

 

[Trompe lOeil]

The barmaid beamed at them, relief written all over her face. She looked at Karry first. "Sorry, I hadn't thought that far ahead."

She perked back up at Idam's question. "Well, we know that he made it as far as the village of Maylee, and that's only a day and a half from here. The main road out of town leads right from there to here, so it must have happened somewhere along there. The city guards watch the roads for the first bit, but after that I think they stop caring. The woods shouldn't be very dangerous, but you could start there."

She startled a bit at the loud sound that Denkum's fist made on the table, but smiled at him. "That's the spirit! Who knows? Maybe you'll have the gold back in time for dinner." The way her fingers drummed on the table seemed to imply that she thought it unlikely, however.

Nethali tilted her head, trying to think back to the stories she knew. What had the adventurers always asked the quest giver? "Oh!" The barmaid turned to Nethali expectantly. "Do you know of anyone who would have it out for your tavern? Or Drale? And what's your name, anyway?" No good story had a nameless barmaid in it.

"My name's Mera," she said with a smile. Mera tapped the table again, thinking. "Hmm. Well, competitors, I suppose. All's fair in love and business. But apart from that... well, there was this group in here last month. Real shady, seemed to be planning something." She shook her head. "That's all I remember. But nothing happened. We served them as usual, and they left. It just... stuck with me, I guess." Mera looked at the rest of the group. "Any other questions? I'm happy to answer, this is- well, I'm already feeling better about this."

BackSet ThePerpetualShadow Malanta

 

[ThePerpetualShadow]

Idam remained silent as he thought for a few moments. There were many shady groups present within the tavern. In fact, there were more in the No Man's Land than in any other tavern. This was because of the taverns one rule. No fighting whatsoever. No matter who or what you are. One more such group wasn't suspicious in itself.

Yet he supposed there was no harm in gathering further information. Knowledge is power, after all.

"Is there anything else you can tell us about this group? Perhaps a logo or something else that would stand out?"

Trompe lOeil