The Black Water tavern was bustling with the usuals and new comers. Most of those who were new to the town were stopping at the tavern to get rations for their journey to the Spine. Yet, they knew that the tavern would be closing in a few minutes. It was arranged with the owner so that the tavern would be cleared by nine o'clock at night. As soon as the church bells rung nine times, the owner called out "Closing time, pay your bills and get out. If you have a room, go to it now." The myriad of muttered curses and cries of diappointment were all that answered the owner's request. It took a few minutes for the crowd to clear out except for one man. Rather, if anybody had looked closely at him, dwarf. It was obvious that the dwarf was old though no person in the building would have been capable of guessing his age.

The lines on the dwarf's face told of unlimited smiles and frowns that it had seen. His hands told a story of their own. The roughness of the hands told the wandering eye that they had been used in many arduous tasks. The tan of his skin was surprising for a dwarf who had the look of a miner. A closer look at the dwarf revealed a silver chain hiding just under the collar of his jacket. The chain led to a small pendant which held a brillant blue sapphire surronded by a lightly collored emerald. The owner of the tavern looked over at the dwarf. A pitcher of beer was placed at the dwarf's table a few minutes after the owner had finished cleaning a glass. "Your crew better get here quickly master dwarf. I don't think we want anybody listening in on this. If we do, then you are likely to expect a rude meeting with them." the owner told the dwarf. All the dwarf did was smile back, he knew what it would mean if people listened in. But, he was indeed hoping that people would show up tonight.

Osla had arrived in the small village of Toruka early in the morning. She had scouted out the area just as everyone began to work and was dismayed to see that the village that was practically only on the map for being near to the spire and having been used by just about every adventurer to gather more rations or armour for their journey. She at least expected to see some vendor hacking off low budget, inaccurate maps of the spire or some sort of fake merchandise to add to the mystique of said Spire.

But alas, it was just like any other village Osla had seen on her journeys. She had spent the majority of the day selling off her furs and meats before talking to a few of the village folk and finally entering the 'Black Water Tavern' at an early 5pm. Well, early for anyone else, but Olsa. She paced herself up until 8, then she began to drink normally, she wouldn't get drunk, but she would possibly get a bit tipsy. Getting tipsy was a job enough, she could drink just about any of the best strong stomached town drunks under the table in most cases. Her hair was tied back as per usual, the only time it really came out of that style was when she got too drunk to care about practicality or during battle if something snagged on it and ripped the holder out.

Soon enough, the bar was closed and just about everyone was sent out. She surveyed the bar until she spotted the Dwarf that remained seated chatting with the tavernkeep. She wandered over to the table he sat it with a tankard full of ale in hand. She took a seat on the right of the table before beginning to speak.
"Are you the one who gathered me here for the spire?"

The rune mage stood over two bodies that were smoldering on the ground as sparks of lightning jumped from one hand to the other before he put his gloves on to fend off the cold and hide the runic symbols on his palms. He pulled his scarf up over his nose and mouth to fend off the smell of burned flesh that was starting to fill the air as he started to walk through the forest toward the town of Toruka. Vidic wasn't impressed with the village at all since it seemed like the only reason why it was busy was because there were groups of adventurers stocking up for their travels into the Spire, but who was he to judge as he was just another one of those adventurers at the moment. He was happy that he was able to find a buyer for the weapons and other possessions that he had taken off of the two assassins that had some how been able to track him down all the way in Toruka.

Vidic finally found his way to the Black Water Tavern at eight o'clock and picked out a seat in the back of the room with his back to the wall and ordered a watered down beer so that he wouldn't end up drunk. When the Bar owner called out last call and everyone started to clear out he didn't move from his seat until the rest of the place was cleared out besides a few which seemed to be the rest of his group. He pulled his scarf back up over his face so that no one may recognize him before pulling his jacket back on and heading over to the table where the dwarf and woman were sitting. "Well Master Dwarf, I think it is almost time that you explain why we are all here."

It was with a frown and a brow furrowed with exasperation that Ernst nibbled on the only food he had left: dried river fish. Now, he wasn’t a picky fellow when it came to cuisine, being a peasant and all, but what in the hell possessed that fisherman to put so much salt in it? He found himself reaching for his waterskin often as he sat miserably against the wall of an abandoned house in the night and ate his meager dinner, watching with some contempt a group of youthful adventurers discussing their next travels in undoubtedly newly-forged plate armor. Nobles’ children, no doubt. Enduring much hardship and taking part in the Exodus of the Impoverished has given Ernst a small hatred for the people who lorded over his class. They had it so awfully easy.

But, like he said to himself before, Gods and Kings do what they will, and people like him do as they must. There’s nothing he can change about that.

He had spent most of the day sleeping after checking out the message board in the morning. In the nearby forest, of course, to avoid looters stealing whatever meager value there was left on his person. His skill as a woodsman allowed him to sleep on a thick tree branch without falling, and he woke up only at night, at which point he went back to Toruka to gawk at anything interesting until it was time to meet with his potential employer and/or captain.

But even as an experienced woodsman, sleeping on a tree branch of all places was understandably uncomfortable for Ernst. Gladly would he take the soft cushioning of a warm inn’s bed over hard, cold and scaly bark, but he did not have the money for that: but a lone silver coin lay sewn in the underside of his gambeson, and he was very reluctant to spend it.

Just as he tossed aside the bony remains of his most unwelcoming meal, the distant bells of the local church tolled nine times. He looked in the direction of the sound, and, after a scratch of the head and a weary sigh, his unmotivated muscles managed to win the uphill struggle to get him to stand. He then made his way to the Black Water Tavern: a comely little establishment that offered much comfort for adventurers like him -- if they had the coin, of course.

The glowing hearthfires of the inside contrasted with the cold of the outside night, and he welcomed this new heat as it caressed his face and hands: the only skin left exposed by his bulky, reaching outfit. Meekly closing the door behind him, he approached the only seeming patrons, namely, a dwarf, a sword sister -- wearing plate and mail! She must be a noble's daughter -- and a boy who seemed to like his clothes sporting overreaching, all-encompassing fabric.

“Strange to see such a place having so few patrons,” he said in his approach, by way of greeting. “At this time of night, I expected to see a whole bunch of lads having a good time. But here we are, just being solemn, eh?”

"Look, it'll be an hour, tops," Kat whispered to the unusually large snow leopard. Hel gave a snort. He didn't like it when she went into towns without him. He butted her head with his snout and Kat rolled her eyes. "I can take care of myself, okay? Just stay here. If I run into something I can't handle, I'll give a yell." Honestly, for a giant man-killing carnivore, Hel was worse than a mother hen.

Turning away from his watchful stare, Kat left her companion hidden in the forest outside of the small village of Toruka. As far as villages went, it looked fairly normal: small buildings that had fallen into varying states of disrepair, beggars littering the streets, an eerie quiet that spoke of distrust and suspicion… just another village that had suffered in the depression. As her steps cut through the night's silence, she couldn't help but think of what would've happened had Hel accompanied her like he wanted to. She couldn't imagine the villagers would appreciate a giant snow leopard parading through their streets.

Kat ignored the few people she passed on her way to the tavern – though they certainly didn't ignore her. Even without Hel by her side, she attracted attention. The one-armed girl with dark skin and silver hair… she was used to the stares she received, and thanked her luck that no one actually tried to talk to her. The tavern finally coming into view, Kat heard an old church bell ring, and counted out nine ringing notes. She was right on time, then.

Raising her hand, she pushed open the old tavern's door and walked inside, head held high. She knew what she would look like, signing up for a job like this. If she didn't at least walk with purpose, she'd never be taken seriously. Glancing around, she saw the one occupied table in the room and made her way over to it. She stood above the various people sitting down and leaned her right side against the wall, putting her hand on her hip. Kat ignored the boy who had spoken – he looked like one of the beggars she had passed on her way in – and glanced around at the other patrons. After evaluating everyone, she turned to who she assumed was the one who had put out the offer.

"You've got a job for us, then?" she asked the dwarf.

The moon shown brightly on this crisp night, it's rays dancing through the streets. The booming sound of the bells echoed into the air, catching the attention of numerous adventurers. A lot of the focus was centered around one area, The Black Water Tavern. People shoved themselves through the doors, a few throwing hissy fits about the current situation. That's where Ehluria had to be. She walked along the side of the road, small buildings lining the streets. Merchants and craftsman took post in this city, each of them hoping to make money from the recent boom in activity due to the Tales. After weaving through the end of the crowd bursting through the tavern doors, Ehluria eventually reach her destination. As she approached, a very peculiar stranger walked through ahead of her.

The heat overwhelmed her the moment she had stepped through. It took a moment, but Ehluria regained her composure and slowly walked further in. She caught the last few words spoken by the one from before, All she wanted was to listen in. She approached the table without saying a word, making herself known with the ruffling of her footsteps. She glanced at each person taking notes in her head. She could tell she wasn't the only determined one.

The moon shown brightly on this crisp night, it's rays dancing through the streets. The booming sound of the bells echoed into the air, catching the attention of numerous adventurers. A lot of the focus was centered around one area, The Black Water Tavern. People shoved themselves through the doors, a few throwing hissy fits about the current situation. That's where Ehluria had to be. She walked along the side of the road, small buildings lining the streets. Merchants and craftsman took post in this city, each of them hoping to make money from the recent boom in activity due to the Tales. After weaving through the end of the crowd bursting through the tavern doors, Ehluria eventually reach her destination. As she approached, a very peculiar stranger walked through ahead of her.

The heat overwhelmed her the moment she had stepped through. It took a moment, but Ehluria regained her composure and slowly walked further in. She caught the last few words spoken by the one from before, All she wanted was to listen in. She approached the table without saying a word, making herself known with the ruffling of her footsteps. She glanced at each person taking notes in her head. She could tell she wasn't the only determined one.

Adding to Ernst’s relative lack of motivation was his growing sense of being out of place. A dwarf, noble girl, and shady-looking character with red irises and clad in reaching garments were fine enough for him, but the addition of a woman with skin as dark as midnight and hair like the chilly snowflakes at the onset of winter -- and who also lacked an arm, mind you -- as well as yet another woman, but one who bore her midriff in a display of a great lack of shame, made him think that, perhaps, he was biting out more than he could chew.

For these strange characters seemed to be warriors elite, as he deduced simply from their looks. Veteran mercenaries who sure as hell didn’t care if they showed their navel in public, whereas he was but a mere woodsman in an armsman's clothing. The difference in equipment was also stark: sure, he may have had bodkin arrows and an arming sword, but a pair of decorated hilts betrayed master-crafted blades on Ehluria, and it was impossible not to notice the winking of reflected light off the small bits of exposed steel from Katelia’s person: an arsenal of daggers. The noble-looking girl, Osla, also sported plate-and-mail, and she either stole it or bought it at no small price.

That sense of being out of place was replaced with fear, incredulousness, shock and revulsion as Ernst witnessed the otherworldly spectacle of a walking, talking dog. In utter disbelief, he rubbed his eyes with quivering hands to dispel the illusion before him, but the smell of fur soon made him realize that the… demon, was actually real.

“Gods above,” Ernst cursed, stepping back and gripping the handle of his sword. “What the hell is this dog?!”

According to many an elderly drunkard, horses are such noble and proud animals that they will actually refuse to be ridden by a goblin. The truth of the matter, as you might have guessed, is much more rational. Goblins are too small for most breeds of horse to make an effective mount. It due to I the need for small, fast mounts that their tribes first began to domesticate dire wolves en masse, leading to the species known today as vargwolves.

Ekindu rode such a mount into the town of Toruka and tied his reigns outside of the Black Water Tavern. He went inside to find that he was merely the latest arrival in a rather eclectic group of treasure hunters. He also couldn't help but notice that he was in the presence of a few beautiful ladies, and a part of him began to feel as though he'd already struck gold.

Feeling ever more certain that he'd made the right decision, the goblin approached the center of the room and proudly announced in his raspy alto voice "Ekindu, of the Zebul Tribe, looking to join the expedition to The Spine. The one that's going to succeed where others have failed."

Osla watched the situation unfold, frankly she'd never seen a bipedal dog waltz into a bar and join an adventuring party either, but she wasn't nearly as shocked as Ernst was. He practically unsheathed his blade there and then and made the new ally into a fur coat for the winter. She quickly stood up after 'Marcopolo' as he liked to be called began dishing out insults."Whoah, calm down, fellas." She quickly put down her tankard and got in the middle of the two."Now isn't the time to be fighting, especially not with swords, otherwise you would have to take it outside, not a bar fight otherwise." She looked to them both."Now as for no one being able to stop you, Fido, I'm pretty certain if I couldn't jam my sword in between your ribcage before you murder this lad then the other fine blokes and lassies who I guarantee are just as skilled as me in their respective fields of weaponry would be more than able to take you down individually or as a group" Her expression had turned from a jovial one to a serious one very quickly. She had just used quite a few complex and longish words in that threat, well complex for a barbarian anyway.

Let no one say that Kat hadn't mastered her poker face. She certainly had a need for it when a talking dog and a goblin, of all things walked into the tavern. Kat was beginning to rethink her decision of leaving Hel in the woods. Sure, she was proficient enough with her daggers, but she'd certainly be outclassed in a fight if the other participants were the people gathered here.

But of course, it wouldn't do to have everyone else know that.

"Yeah yeah, we're all very deadly and noble and all that," she drawled, rolling her eyes. "If you're done with your pissing contest, could we pretty please get back to business?" Gods above, was this who she'd have to travel with? Kat wasn't sure they'd make it through the night without killing each other, let alone go on a quest to the Spine together.

It was growing dark. Elora looked around cautiously before sliding her golden locket back down into the neck of her blouse. She had only taken a moment to look at her parent's image inside and she would not risk another second. Gold was a precious thing now and people would kill for it. That much she knew from experience - all too well. Elora pushed herself off of the wooden wall that had been supporting her and again looked around. A young woman alone at nightfall would be an easy target. It would be best if she moved now before being spotted by danger.

One could say that Elora was simply paranoid, but she knew better. She was not paranoid. No, never. She only knew the risk she was taking and she knew that not all people had the best intentions. No, she was not paranoid. Her long, pale fingers reached back behind her head and pulled up the hood that would cover her features. Then with a quick caress of the bracelet that she wore on her right wrist, she reminded herself of what she was doing so far from home.

The tavern wasn't far, which was a relief to her after finding herself walking in circles. It was small and, surprisingly seemed empty. There were barely any shadows she could see inside, but once she got closer to the tavern's door the loud, angry voices told her otherwise. Her stomach jumped to her throat. Were these barbarians? Were these the sort she would make her journey with? If so, she had better show no cowardice. But what if they weren't? Nonsense. She was at the right place and at the right time. These people could be none other than her companions. With a quick swallow of her fear, Elora managed to push open the door of the tavern and step inside.

If Elora was richer, she would have bounded out of the tavern that second. A beast, who she deduced was the one she had heard outside, was a part of the group. Unfortunately, she was not rich and she had to do what could be done. She managed to clear her throat and keep her head down, silently stepping toward the group and coming to a comfortable place on the wall. With all of the tension, perhaps she was not seen. That would be for the best, in her opinion but even she knew that she wasn't invisible.

"'Back to business?'" Ernst echoed Kat, whilst shifting his gaze from the amputee to Osla and thinking of whether or not to actually draw his sword to ready himself for a conflictual retreat at the cost of further antagonization. Preoccupied as he was, he did not notice Elora meekly entering the tavern and settling herself inside inconspicuously; and his voice had inflections of clear alarm and outrage. "How can you all be so calm, when this demon just threatened me with either death or enslavement? Hell, do you not even baulk at the size of its fangs? I dare say that it is an immediate threat to us all!"

Brow furrowed and teeth bared in a grimace, he tried to stare the demon down. Ernst had never seen a Kunite before, and Marco looked like something out of a woodsman's horror story for him. Failing to think of anything else to say, Ernst demanded: "Explain yourself, beast!"

Well well, the beggar had a vocabulary. Acutely aware of the growing tension in the room, Kat kept her face calm and raised an eyebrow at Ernst.

"It won't be the only threat you have to worry about if you don't shut up and sit down." Her voice was emotionless and smooth, never betraying her nerves. "Whatever it is, it's here for a job just like the rest of us." Kat glanced back over to the dog… warrior… thing. She thanked the gods for Hel if only because his company had desensitized her to razor-fangs and abnormal beasts. "Welcome to our merry band," she deadpanned, eyes catching the cloaked newcomer who had snuck into their ranks.

Vidic had been watching everything silently from underneath his clothes and was shocked like everyone else when the walking beast came in but the main thing he wondered was if their species was hard to kill as the creature claimed. He settled on his training to take in the situation it seemed that there might be a full blown fight and even started to raise out of his seat with his hand on the hunting knife he kept strapped to his chest just under the folds of his jacket. He didn't want to reveal to early that he was a taboo mage who had broken the rules of runic mages and had tattooed his body with elemental runes but he would resort to his magic if he had to. He was glad to see that the woman in the plate armor stood up to intervene before he had to act and settled back into his seat hoping that everything would start to settle down now.

His eyes caught a glimpse of movement on the wall and ignored it as he thought his eyes were playing tricks on his but still kept on high alert just encase it appeared to be something as he nodded at the comment about getting back to business. "Settle down farmer. Even if that creature killed you or enslaved you that would just mean one less person to share our treasure with. We are all here for one reason only and I don't see anything that would get in our ways." Vidic told Ernst as he completely settled back into his seat and rested both of his hands back onto the table. "Now if we can all be civilized for once than we can discuss why our host here has gathered up this night."

One person admonishing him was bad enough, yet another was simply too much. Vidic’s words, cold and dark like ice, reminded Ernst that, yes, he was around people who were completely out of his league. His mind came to a stammering halt the moment Vidic expressed his relief at the thought of him dying as there would be one less person to share the gold with.

“These people are not the killers I’m used to,” was Ernst’s biggest thought, one that loomed over his mind which was ablaze with an ocean of ideas, responses and counter-arguments he could shoot the rune mage back with, and yet halted by sheer intimidation and indecision.

“But…,” was as far as his jaw went, till being met with a loss for words. Eyes still widened and focused much of the time on Marco, Ernst was now silent.

According to many an elderly drunkard, horses are such noble and proud animals that they will actually refuse to be ridden by a goblin. The truth of the matter, as you might have guessed, is much more rational. Goblins are too small for most breeds of horse to make an effective mount. It due to I the need for small, fast mounts that their tribes first began to domesticate dire wolves en masse, leading to the species known today as vargwolves.

Ekindu rode such a mount into the town of Toruka and tied his reigns outside of the Black Water Tavern. He went inside to find that he was merely the latest arrival in a rather eclectic group of treasure hunters. He also couldn't help but notice that he was in the presence of a few beautiful ladies, and a part of him began to feel as though he'd already struck gold.

Feeling ever more certain that he'd made the right decision, the goblin approached the center of the room and proudly announced in his raspy alto voice "Ekindu, of the Zebul Tribe, looking to join the expedition to The Spine. The one that's going to succeed where others have failed."