Seaside Tavern {IC}

[Fallenreaper]

Tom’s eyes looked over Cait, she at first looked like he would yell at her but it soon turned into disapproval the moment his door banged the wall. He didn’t mean it. It was accident and now she looked at him like a bad little kid, he felt like he was facing his mother again in the hay fields when he sold the cow for foolish sack of beans. He was gullible to believe that they were magic even at eight when the notion should have faded, they still ate well enough. Though it seems another boy, Jack, had been swindled by the same fellow so Tom didn’t feel so bad. He knew these memories didn’t help him now but this situation brought that to mind.

He was grateful, managed even a wider smile at her addition of coffee to breakfast. Right now he could eat a horse, carriage and all. Tom couldn’t help but notice how she walked away. Hunched over, trying to disappear from the embarrassment he caused her. At least unlike Red, she didn’t hurt him while his hand paused over his chest and then moved over arms. Thankful he was covered. These burns were his shame and if anyone saw them, then he wasn’t sure how he would react.

It took several moments to locate his hatchets. Maybe, maybe if Jorn wasn’t mad they could duel like the old days. He missed it and even now, longed to do it but uncertain of how to request hoping his friend would ask first. Soon Tom was down the stairs and closing in on Cait’s table, shrouded in shadows and hidden mostly form sight. Her question about if he was good or bad made him think that maybe it was hers that needed to be questioned and not his. He ran his hand though his thick hair, clutching it nervously in a grip before releasing it. Quickly as well as silently as he could, Tom slipped into his chair. There was breakfast fit for many set before the table’s surface as well as coffee steaming from the wooden pitcher, his hands reached for it first. Without thinking he poured himself some before his eyes looked at her and realized it was impolite.

“Sorry. I didn’t sleep too well last night and…umm. Coffee?” his hand held it out to her waiting to pour before tucking in and telling her everything of what he witness, save for Jorn’s slitting of Pious’s throat. The last thing he wanted was Cait judging his friend too harshly, besides it wasn’t his place to tell it.

Angel to Thelus, Alder, and 'Unknown' (Tobias) voice, by tavern bar.

Angel had been so distracted by Alder’s excitement, his childish glees and wild hand gesture caught her attention. The red head waved her eyes to follow them. Over, out, jerk and turn, over and over until she was going to become dizzy from her head being moved three ways to Sunday. Angel was happy he was going to go blue berry picking with her and with the baskets behind the counter, it would be a breeze. A tap on her shoulder made Angel twist her body abrupt around to face the man, the knight traveling with the demon and Drow.

She turned to look at him. Of course she knew him, how could she forget?

“Yeah, I remember you. The knight that I was supposed to lead to Ben’s hut. I am sorry I couldn’t get you there, sort of got an arrow in my throat. Not the worst thing to happen to me, there was the sword though my middle…and sewing myself at eight years old. I guess that's pretty bad,” Her lips pouted as she let herself sink in to a child’s imitation of thinking,”… there’s more but I can’t think of them at this moment.”

Her lips widened into a grin at the tragic taste of her past, nothing too major. Grism looked edgy at her mention of her past, his form turned spiky. Then a shout out raised over the clatter of mugs and serving trays, a request to where the blue berries were. Angel once more moved her head to weave though the people in the bar, nearly sliding from her stool right into Thelus. Who was that? Another person that wanted to go berry picking maybe? The more, the merrier.

“WELL IF YOU WANT TO KNOW! I’LL SHOW YOU, AFTER I GATHER THE REST,” her voice carried over the tavern well enough but she wanted to be sure he heard while her voice became softer but firm. Dead serious towards the end that likely Tobias couldn’t hear her,” It’s just some walk from here, in a place with some strange rocks. Oh, almost forgot. Alder, Don’t, I repeat, Do Not stay in the berry patch after dark. It’s not safe after sunset, believe me tried sleeping out there before Harry got into me. It took a fight with Grism to force him out of me. I will give more dos and don'ts when we get there if I remember. Well, Thelus if you and your friend want to come then I am more then happy to let you but until then, I got to gather the rest before and ask Elanor for a picnic lunch. Anything else? ”

Once she got answer, Angel was likely to head off for the rest before rushing back to ask Elanor for an odd picnic. Snatching her bowl from the counter and slurping a rather long tentacle into her mouth surprisingly easy until the very tip disappeared. Ummm, delicious though the girl.

[Zedar]

Akagalcia puffed at her joint, staring at the dwarf intently and picking away at his features with her eyes. She liked beards. All old dwarves were sculpted, and most of them gruff... but few of them so direct. That came with age, she expected. And he smoked and smelled like pipe weed and had a beard. He was also asking her a question.

"I expect you know my answer." The woman puffed at the last of her joint, and then cupped her hands in front of her. Her flame kindled into life, and she let the bud fall, watching as it turned to ash on the way into her palms. The flame winked out and she dusted the ash into her robes, looking back up to smile. That beard again...

...and then there was the serving boy watching them and whispering. Akagalcia watched the two, waiting with interest to see what was in the little sack.

[tirgesfu]

Tobias siting at his table

Blueberry picking? Tobias didn’t think so. He wasn’t the foraging type. Well, at least not from little bushes and not fruit. He took a swig of his laced coffee and savored the taste. He did have some time until the ships docked and a look around might be easily hidden in a stole with blueberry pickers. He snickered and shook his head before another snip was taken. Tobias fought the urge to take out the tattered skin from his deep purple pocket. He knew the marketing, why look again? But for the first time he thought of the swiggles over the top of the beat-up leather map and wondered maybe they were blueberries. He snickered to himself again. Blueberries.

Gnap with Akagalcia and Phynastre

If his mouth and eyes were wide before they were canyons now: holes that wonders could fill and anything else if he wasn’t careful. He eagerly took the bag. He held it out looking all over it, bending his head and raising his arm to make sure he saw the whole outside of the bag. He glanced to Angel hearing her yak away. He would go blueberry picking if he was allowed. But she would know that already and right now his attention was filled by the smoke and the bag he held.

He looked through the puffs of burning spices and finally closed his mouth and smiled. “Can I open it here?” His voice still squeaked with quiet marvel. “I mean I don’t want to make a mess or set something loose that might frightens anyone.” Gnap leaned closer to the man so he could see how serious the young boy was.

“I only just wiggled in here and I don’t want them to kick me out just yet.”

[Aydan Tenaebra]

She had been up for hours, the fiend knew. He could hear her soft steps pacing the room steadily since before sunrise. He, meanwhile, had stayed put in his station outside the door until now. Returning Thelus' nod, Alucian rose to his feet and pressed his hand to the door. When it did not budge, he simply phased through it. He scanned the room. The little Drow's things were already packed and gone, she was dressed, and all that remained was a ward on the door. She had been thorough in her musings, at least. Her hair was still damp from her morning bath and all traces of the blood of the night before were gone. The pause in her steps not long before, he was sure. "Do you intend to stay in here pacing all day? You should eat."

Her darker gaze met his from behind her curtain of damp black hair. She did not seem tired any longer, but her magic had taken it's strain. She'd perform no prodigies, like sending him back to hell, just yet. She knew he could tell. She folded her arms beneath her chest, tapping her fingers lightly on her archer's bracer. Her stance was relaxed and contemplative, not at all irritated at the intrusion. Her bow sat comfortably across her back and her sword and quiver were settled at her hips. Aleria had also, since her wakening, apparently taken the time to repair her corset-boned jerkin. Where she had gotten the bone to fix the inside of it and not just the leather, was a question better left unasked. Even after a grueling battle, it was clear she left nothing undone. She eyed Alucian, whose wounds were gone without a trace, before speaking, "I suppose, you may be right. You should eat something to, but you'll have to live with mortal's food. I'm afraid that's likely all that's here."

The obsidian skinned beast nodded, and reached back to brush the ward from the door before opening it and bowing her out. She slipped through the doorway before heading for the steps that lead down to the main floor of the bar. The fiend followed on her heels. Seeing how crowded the bar it was, and not feeling particularly like encroaching on ongoing conversations Aleria sat down at an empty table and ordered her and Alucian's breakfast. The hellborn sat down to her immediate right, scaley wings folded in tightly.

Kollista to Angel, Grism, Alder, and Thelus, coming downstairs to the bar.

Pulling on her over-large witch's hat with a tired yawn, the form of a little gnomeling in black robes highlighted with a vivid, neon green and carrying a little black leather bag, can be seen sluggishly toddling down the hallway and then down the stairs to the main floor of the tavern. A loud growling sound from somewhere around her tummy area jolting her more awake. She spotted Angel and Grism and Alder and a man she didn't recognize at the bar and scurried over.
"Good morning Angel and Alder and Grism! Hello person I don't know! I'm Kollista Nightbane, you can calls me Kolli. Angel, did I hears you say somethings about blueberry picking?!"

[Hale]

Thelus listened to the girl banter on with a humorous grin, apparently learning that she was quite accustomed to pain and injury. He himself could not boast such gifts; soreness and stiff joints still lingered and he would probably be hobbling for a couple days if he made a quick recovery. Still, the girl had been shot in the throat and had lived to see another day, let alone be able to talk about it in such a casual manner. He gave a courteous nod, his ears picking out footsteps to turn and find Aleria and Alucian walking down from the inn upstairs. So much for not waking his companion up, he chortled inside and decided he would inform her of what he intended to do. Before leaving he turned to Angel and spoke softly...

"I wish you good luck with berry picking, miss, and pray no stray arrows find their way to you!" He laughed and then left, heading in the direction of where Aleria was seated at a table. He stopped short, cocked a brow and then smiled warmly; the Drow looked like she had been awake for some time now. Maybe she was more of a morning person then he was, getting out of bed for him seemed like a battle he would always lose. He took hold of the back of a chair and pulled it away from the table, seating himself across from her before speaking.

"How are you, my friend? You seem well rested!" He beamed and stretched an arm across the back of his chair, it reminded him of the first night they had met but then it was under more formal circumstances. Now, he acted as though he had known the Drow for years, strange once again how time seemed so long when it was indeed the contrary. Thelus felt good not wearing the heavy attire, he turned his body slightly so the sword hung across his back would not press against him. He turned his neck to Alucian, nodding once again... funny how little they spoke to each other. Maybe it was the fact he was a demon; in that respect Thelus couldn't think of much to say. Demons were demons, probably from hell... summoned to the mortal plain; that was about it.

[Fallenreaper]

“I am taking everyone to a secret berry patch I know very well, I hope you will come along. I think I better help Gnap if he’s going to go berry picking anytime soon," Angel asked, her voice chimed with delight and eagerness then to Thelus,” Oh I will. No arrows in the berry patch so I don’t have to worry about that.”

The knight moved away to return to his companion, her eyes noticed Alucian to wave her hand at him before turning to Kolli. She looked like she had just woken up to Angel as Grism wrapped his form, a thin rug with wiggling string edges that made him look like a germ, about Kolli resting what Angel could only guess was the head of his new shape around the rim of the gnomeling’s hat. She knew about the drawf and her friend Akagalica from the other day, both smoking and looking like a deal had been struck between. Angel knew nothing about that sort of stuffs. Too complicated and it made people mad when they believed it wasn’t fair, best to avoid it.

Toward the door, she spied Lannah and Nasha walking in ready for work. Though Angel found it amusing at how they how they pointed at Alder then smiled, Nasha balled up her arm to show her bicep while Lannah just smiled before both moved off to serve the customers. Angel’s eyebrow rose at the sight before shrugging it off as nothing and leapt up. Her legs jerked forward and slapped on the wooden blood stained floor, her body pulled up to meet it up in posture of triumph. She then pulled her body up against the bar, swinging her legs over it while avoiding hitting any glasses to now stand behind it.

Turning to Kolli and Alder,” So what will you have? Alder since you are an eagle and I doubt you got any money on you, how about I take your meal out of my share of killed palms? You can make it up by picking about three baskets of strawberries, I think we are running short of them in the tavern but I got to check before we leave. Nasha could you get those at table, the one with Thelus and his friends please?”

Once they order, their meal would be placed at reach of their fingers in no time.

[Hale]

He didn't want to say anything, maybe it was their funny accents he was mishearing but they accentuated his name ever so slightly that was unmistakable. Alder, not Adler as it should be, A-D-L-E-R, he spelled his name with a quirky grin. It couldn't be that hard, if they could say toddler he was certain his name was no exception. It could be that it was just so exotic; but he didn't say their names funny... well, Angel was Engel and Kollista was... Kollista. He was a pretty accommodating eagle, he was tolerant to small things such as mispronounced words but somewhere in the back of his mind he felt it's oral fingers clawing... scratching away at his sanity; a tickle in his throat that no matter how much water he drank it would not go away.

"Alder, don’t, I repeat, do not stay in the berry patch after dark. It’s not safe after sunset..." Angel warned.

Oooh, zare it is again! His eye twitched slightly but he half-smiled and nodded to Angel as she continued on, his mind completely focused on the 'al-der' instead of what she was actually saying. Just two syllables; two tiny syllables so easy and fluid in speech that he began to repeat it in his head at least several dozen times. He was Adlerklaue von Sturmsänger, a highborn eagle of the Adlerberg and the Haast Roost; the greatest of all the Adlervolk!

"Good morning Angel and Alder and Grism!" Kollista announced upon reaching them.

Good morning, ALDER! He parroted in his head, heh... parroted! As if I vere a parrot! Ha! Humor faded back to a cold stare, though a slight smile remained on his lips his eyes were beginning to darken; pupils constricting into fine, demonic slits of yellowy hate. He listened to them converse in silence, not even the promise of blueberry treatzen would break him away from the terrible fact that his name was being bludgeoned to death by these two oblivious humans. Whatever gods existed, he prayed for divine patience to stay his hand from striking the two down in a great fury unlike anything the known world had ever witnessed.

"...Alder since you are an eagle and I doubt you got any money on you, how about I take your meal out of my share of killed palms?" Angel looked to him sweetly.

Alder...

Thump-thump!

Alllllderrrrr...

Thump-thump!

(Background music: you must listen to this!)

ALLLLLLDERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

His face twisted and contorted in extreme agony; eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets; several veins seemed on the verge of bursting straight from his forehead. Neither of them would notice nor would they see the terrible hell that was about to descend down onto them; their sweet ignorance would soon rue the very day their mothers shat them from their wombs! The whole world would be plunged into chaos, a new age of death would swoop over their lands and all would perish under the hate that he harbored in the pits of his burning soul. His fists bunched together, stretching his knuckles white and he gritted his teeth tight. Any moment he would strike, any moment he would unleash-

"Actually it's Ad-ler, fraulein, und I vould love to help vith zee strawberries!" Adler replied kindly to Angel, not a trace of anger on his face as he spoke.

[Lillian Thorne]

Cait tucked into the meal like she hadn’t had a decent one in weeks, truth was she hadn’t. For all that she was a woods woman she could catch all the game she desired but she’d never managed the art of cooking it. So when she wasn’t running for her life (far more frequently than not) she was suffering her own cooking which at best was barely edible at worst, enough to give her the stomach flux. Trying to outrun scent hounds when you were bent over with cramps wasn’t something she liked to repeat more than the three times she’d already done so. After inhaling a good half of what was in front of her she paused, realizing that Tom had spoken. She blushed at her own piggishness and put her fork down. Her Ma’d be ashamed if she could see her girl eating like a savage. She quickly swallowed her last mouthful and answered, her words coming out in an awkward rush after her long silence.

“Yeah, Coffee would be great. Sorry you didn’t sleep well. I slept like a rock, but then I haven’t had a bed in almost a month. Night before last I slept under an overhang that seemed like a great idea because it had been raining except it was on a ridge a bear liked to frequent and when he made his morning rounds I barely missed a second shower if you know what I mean. Held still, didn’t even breathe until he was done with his piss and wandered off. I musta been out of it to have missed those signs.”

Then she stopped and realized she’d been talking about being nearly pissed on with a perfect stranger. Her blush returned and she looked down at her lap.

“Sorry, that was pretty crude of me. I’m not… well I forget myself sometimes.” She trailed off awkwardly

[MightyBrodin]

A rare and mighty grin stretched wide, so wide in fact that it nearly grew beyond the ends of his face, which was followed shortly after with a roar of hearty laughter. He patted the boys head and roughed his hair up a touch, "you have not heard of this special bag living in these lands, have you?" Phynastre suddenly became serious, and looked with his bright golden eyes at the young boy as if staring past the doorway of his own eyes and into the open soul that lie just beyond. He spoke in a low tone, his hand falling firmly to Gnap's left shoulder, "I will show you the constellation when night falls once more, and you will remember it, for it is this formation of the cosmos that will allow you to open the gateway and transport to this world a friend and guardian from one very far away."
-------
Phynastre to Akagalcia, in the tavern
-------

The dwarf smiled to the boy and quickly shifted his attention back to the pressing business matters at hand. "I suspect that I do," he said in response to her, "The only question remaining is what have you to offer for these things? Do not worry yourself trying to figure a price value of these items, currency in my trade does not spend from one place to the next. Instead choose the items you feel best represent the region of origin." He then spent a moment searching through his bag, ruffling through each little extra-dimensional pocket. Typically, Phynastre never had a problem finding any item in his bag, he was very tedious in packing it and had to have everything in its specific place; but on this occasion it took him some time to locate what he was looking for and at long last he let out a cheer of success, pulling out a small bag and sliding it across the bar counter to the woman. "Take this as a gift, it is a high quality herb hailing from the high plateau kingdom of Silastriavanna, home of the great and ancient Kukumin race. It took a great deal of bartering among the twelve kings of the region, but at long last I procured a sample of their potent plant. Be wary of how much you intake, however, for it has many strong mind-altering effects." The dwarf took a pinch from the sack and stuffed it gently into his long pipe and then struck a tinder-twig and lit the top of the bowl, inhaling a touch more than his lungs could take in. Between bits of coughing he spoke, "The Kukumin use this among their wisest elders to help them speak with their dead, it enhances their link with the spirits of nature." He passed the pipe to Akagalcia and awaited her response.

[Zedar]

Akagalcia took the pipe, taking a moment to waft its smoke with her free hand and sniffing at the burn to judge if she'd ever experienced its kind before. She clearly hadn't, and when she took her puff it was a small one--this was not a day to put herself out of her own element. She held in the fumes for a time and then breathed out slow, the fumes smoking thick from her nostrils. Another puff just the same. Akagalcia was intent on the substance, and unsure of just how strong it might be or how soon it would take hold. She did not venture for a third puff, instead offering the pipe back to Phynastre.

"I believe I can make good use of this... alas, my master does not barter in trinkets such as those toys, and while Alastrian waters are useful to many, my master makes trade in greater goods."

As if sitting beside a shelf, Akagalcia reached out to her side, and a black form appeared in her hand... a black door in the exact shape of a catch pole appeared, letting a weapon of the same shape pass through into Akagalcia's hand. It looked to be made of solid steel or some other precious alloy... save the catch blade, which was made of some other substance entirely. It was solid black... absorbing all possible light and reflecting nothing. The staff was a little over six feet tall, with the reach of the catch blade extending almost another seven inches past the staff.

"Zedar wishes I would carry this at all times so that people might more readily ask about his work. He crafted this for me a couple of days after we started traveling together. This is not for trade and it is one of his least ornate artifacts... but is proof of his craft."

She offered him the staff, taking that moment to have another mouthful of ale.

"Be careful not to touch any part of the blade."