Seaside Tavern {IC}

[Unlit]

In the sky above the tavern, stars were just beginning to emerge as the sun finally eased its way fully beneath the line of the earth. But in the distant horizon over the Sea of Gales, a darkness blacker than approaching night built. A cool, salty breeze full of ominous promise began to pick up and stir off the rolling waves of the sea, and the sound of the crashing surf drifted far in the twilight landscape above the shoreline. Far away over the roiling waters, the sky lit with the brilliant flash of forked lightning, casting the clouded heavens in momentary white flame and scattering shimmering reflection off the whitecaps and surf. Many seconds later, the rumbling boom of thunder rattled off the timbers that comprised the Seaside Tavern.

A squall looked to be moving in, and moving in fast.

[Beta]

Time went by as Oliefr drank his wine and ate his meal. More time than he had thought, to be honest. Upon absentmindedly looking to the window nearby, he realized it was growing dark outside. "Huh. Imagine that. Seems I will need to rest here tonight. That's rather unexpected." He gestured to Gnap for a refill of the pricy spirit and looked around once more at the present patrons. "I suppose the company could be worse. Could be surrounded by Brusali swine." He said with a chuckle.

But alas, the night was young. At least for the adults. "Young man." Said Oliefr to Gnap. "I've a question if you will indulge an old man." That trademark smile crossed his lips again as he spoke. "How does one so young end up working in such a place? I expected the server to be a fair amount older than yourself. Also... I expected h... nevermind. But I AM rather curious. You needn't answer if you do not wish to." His question asked Oliefr sipped the last of the wine from his glass.

[tirgesfu]

Gnap smiled at the Knight not used to having any sort attention. Too often he had stayed hidden and away from any ones notice. At first he could not help but be pleasantly pleased that anyone thought to ask about him at all. And it showed as he stood there beaming. But as he thought he began to worry that he might say something wrong. He wasn’t really sure he was doing anything right. What if they would kick him out? He glanced to the pile of coins in the tankard not even sure if they would help make his case to stay.

Gnap looked across the bar area to the windows and saw the black clouds heading their direction. With a bit of a sigh he stood on his toes and leaned on the counter to get closer to the fighter. “Well, sir,” He spoke soft as if to share a secret. “You are not so old, are you? And I was caught in the kitchen and told to work. If I have done anything to displease you, please can you wait until after the storm to toss me out?”

[Beta]

Oliefr chuckled and ran a hand through his graying hair. "I'd say given my line of work, forty-six is pretty old." He then listened to Gnap's little tale and shook his head a few times. "My dear boy..." his voice thick with his Holmgardian accent "... for one, I wouldn't throw you out even had you offended me. I don't take out frustrations on the young. And for two, I can't say it's my right to throw you out in the first place, seeing as I don't own the place."

The big man stood up to stretch his muscles a bit. Sitting for so long had made them ache. "Now to warm these old bones." He said with a hearty laugh before making his way toward the fireplace. He passed by the other patrons as he walked, and gave each of them a friendly greeting and a nod or pat on the shoulder. Only major problem Oliefr had... was that sometimes he was TOO friendly and personable. Sometimes he didn't pay attention and ran afoul of those who wished to be left alone.

[THEChanger]

Mortemir to Anna and Jackrom, the forest outside the Seaside Tavern

As it should be. The black clouds always follow me. The gods, it seems, have a cruel sense of humor. Mortemir drew his black cloak tighter around his thin frame, and hurried forward through the forest. He had been running for many days now, and hoped he had put enough distance between him and the Hunter. Now he needed to find a place to rest for the evening. There was supposedly a tavern around here somewhere.

Behind him, Dog barked and yipped as he pulled the cart behind his master. They had hid in a log for a day, unable to move, and Dog had grown restless. He was very happy to be able to run now. But then Mortemir turned around and fixed Dog with his bright green eyes. "Quiet, Dog. We're not quite safe yet. The Hunter needs no clues they don't have already." Dog, as though he truly understood the words from his master's mouth, stopped barking.

The pale man emerged into a small clearing, with a stream running through it. Sitting by the stream were two people, a man and a woman it looked like. Mortemir froze. They seemed innocent enough-as innocent as two young people alone in a secluded grove could seem, anyway. They might know where the tavern was. "Excuse me. Hello. Would either of you happen to know if there is a tavern nearby where a traveller might buy a room? With the storm coming, I'd hate to be caught outside."

[halfury]

Jackrom to Anna and Mortemir

"Ah yes there is!" Jackrom said in answer to Mortemir, "We were just headed back in that direction if you'd like to tag along." Jack threw on with a smile as he put his shirt back on and hobbled a bit. "I'm sorry if I'm a little slow though, my ankles a bit busted up, ah but where are my manners. My name is Jackrom." he finishes, extending a hand.

"We'll have to continue our fun discussions later." Jackrom said with a smile to Anna, trying to show that he was a genuine good person, well as much as he could that is.

"And what's the adorable little guy behind you's name." Jackrom said with a smile indicating Mortemir's dog. He had always had a soft spot for animals and whistled a happy little tune that always seemed to put his old pets in a good mood.

[Twisted Fate]

Orick to Thorgills, at Orick's table.
Orick finally settled down, and with a swig of whiskey and a stroke of his beard, began to speak.
"A long time ago, there lived a beautiful woman. Her beauty was so great, that even gods would fall from the skies in an attempt to win her heart." He coughed quietly. "Well, I'm not much for backstories, so I'll just say that one such god did woo her? And after a process I'm sure you're familiar with, she fell pregnant, eventually giving birth to a child. The child was half god, and so was... Not entirely normal. He had the body of a boy, but the head of a dragon. Long story short, he grew up and massacred everyone in that town. Moving on..." he took another swig of whiskey. "He went to live in the forests, left alone by all but the bravest of adventurers. Who he burnt, and probably ate. I don't know, I wasn't around at that point. Anyway, one day I was called to deal with the abomination, being a dwarf of such martial prowess and good looks. So I set off, hammer in hand, on the journey of a lifetime."
Orick paused, waiting for some sign of approval, or a gesture to continue.

[Hale]

For a moment he was drawn away from her as another bright light appeared followed by the low rumbling of thunder in the distance, feeling relieved that this time the cause was an approaching storm and not some dark, foreboding memory that was lurking deep within himself. Thelus returned to listening to Aleria with great interest as she told her story about her home, briefly he sensed bitter feelings in her voice until she had finished. He understood the feeling well, remembering how anxious he was to leave the sleepy village where he was born and go serve in the king's legions. Much had changed since he was that young man of only sixteen years, ascending from the ranks as a squire to the fabled title of champion. Back then he would have gone to the ends of the world and that's just what he did... until he reached the barren deserts of Azae-am-Dir which translated in it's native tongue meant 'Sea of Dust'. Even hearing her say the word 'desert' brought back cold thoughts that he had repressed for a long time, he drowned it out by taking another gulp of his ale.

"I know much in regards to the sea, unfortunately I can't say that it has always been with... warm thoughts. Still, I hope that one day when I finally do come to the end of my travels that I may find a home near it." For the first time in a long time, Thelus felt at ease speaking about his inner feelings. As of late, he found himself suspicious of strangers and kept as much distance between them as he could tolerate. But tonight was different, he really wanted to take her into confidence and while that pleased him it also made him question himself. She was beautiful, that was for certain, and she did not hide behind a wall of courtesies. If she truly did not want his company she could have just as easily told him to leave her alone, maybe it was because she was a wanderer like him and they shared that common bond... or he was just reading too far into this.

"I wanted to be honest with you and say that I am glad we have met, Aleria." The smile that he gave her was from somewhere inside of him that yearned companionship, he wanted to believe that despite all of his journeying that in one sense he had found something, even if it was for a brief moment, that had given him joy in a sea of sorrow. His eyes met hers again and he gazed into them, hoping to find a mutual feeling in her.

[Aydan Tenaebra]

Red eyes blinked at the flash of the lightening and the roll of thunder. She turned her head to look out a window, ears twitching ever so slightly, once more. She looked forward to the rain, if not so much the lightening and thunder. She finished off her slice of bread and meat and chased it with the last of her whiskey.

Again, as Aleria listened to him mention his familiarity with the sea, her ears twitched a bit again and her eyes watched him, clearly interested in what he had to say. The elf was unsure exactly why she had taken interest in the human. It was certain that the man was attractive in a rugged sort of way, which that in itself baffled her, but it was the pure fact that he was human. Something she was raised to believe was a lower life form, despite a distant history of supposed common ancestry. Perhaps she had just been wandering alone for too long, but there was no denying her interest in him and his company.

She smiled back at him sincerely, "I can scarcely believe I am saying this, as it goes against most of what I was raised to think, but I am also glad to have met you, Thelus."

[THEChanger]

Mortemir to Jackrom and Anna, the Clearing

"Mortemir. Mortemir Croítine." Mortemir gently took Jackrom's hand, and gave a short shake. "A pleasure to meet you." As Jackrom started whistling, Dog's tail began to wag furiously, and bounced up and down. Mortemir chuckled dryly. "And this is Dog. We've been together for awhile now. He's proven rather helpful." Mortemir scratched Dog's head affenctionately. "And I think I will take you up on that offer. It will be nice to sleep in an actual bed for once."