Could I tempt you with some '63 Howling Blood instead? - Elderi was thrilled to hear the tavern supplied such a rare concoction, the howlers he was used to were much younger, but still - the sound was just as thrilling as the taste.

"The bottle it is then, and your special too!" He reminded the keeper.

As Elderi looked over the bar at the many dusty bottles, scratched canisters and battered boxes of drinks - he spotted a large round shield, with chillingly familiar symbols etched neatly into its front. Reaching out, his arms extending, he tapped on the shield and felt a small surge of old magic ripple through him. Staring strongly and in a quizzical fashion at the shield he spoke out to the half-troll.

"Now where did you get this...?"

@SimplyJohn

As Elderi stared at the shield, he felt a prickling on his left side. Turning, he saw a rather short...thing(@HHShetland). It sat, with a feather sticking precariously out of its mouth, and its teal eyes were fixed on Elderi. Awkwardly Elderi smiled, taking his right hand from the shield and bringing it around to his left shoulder - he bowed slightly to the being.

" Elderi " he said, always start with your name.

Noting the creatures off worldly looks, the four protruding mounds from its head in particular, Elderi tried to remember the way he had been taught to form a Neuro-synapses joining by his changling friend Mika. May she rest in peace.

It could come in handy for creating a dialogue with the creature.

Realising that he was staring rudely at the four mounds, he moved his gaze over the beings staff, no, spear? Magic wand perhaps? No matter what it was - it was a work of art, intricate markings and beautiful care taken into its formation. Elderi respected a weapon that was just as good for looking at as killing with.

Elderi smiled once more at the creature, who still stared, just to be as friendly as possible.

Without lifting her head Astrape blindly waved her hand back and forth across the bar before finally finding her second tankard of Battery Blitzer. Slowly her fingers crept up the side, taking hold of the sparkling swizzlers and lifting them pout of the acid, electricity rippling over her hand and soaking into her skin as she did. Bringing her hand down, she wriggled it through her hair until she finally found her face.

Sucking hard on the swizzlers, feeling the last of the electrical charge dissipating over her tongue, Astrape quickly bit down on the metal rods, chewing them happily as she slowly began to feel herself again. Once she had finished with her little treat AStrape found the strength she needed to push herself up in her seat, swaying gently as she looked at her fellow patrons, her hair standing out as a tangled mess around her face.

Pretending that everything was normal, and that things like this happened to her everyday, which in a way was true, Astrape reached for her tankard of acid and carefully lifted it to her mouth. Holding the handle steadily, with her pinkie pointing outwards just as her mother had always taught her, the lightning goddess took a careful sip before lowering the mug once more.

@User

Clark nodded to his companion as he had agreed with the man about the fact that the world had changed, in many more ways then one. As he had remembered from his childhood that there had been days when he ran around the neighbourhood without fear, but sadly such days didn't exist anymore.

He then heard the man speak about some race? and some place? Both of which he had heard about before.

"What are the Icarus and what is the Western Wastes like?", he asked curiously.

@SimplyJohn he noticed a lady with glasses balanced on a serving tray ask him a question. He smiled broadly as she was quite pretty. "I'll have one glass of red wine please." He answered promptly, still with the smile on his face, and hoping he wasn't blushing.

@Genni Elderi spotted a rather pretty young lady, who was obviously pretty damn tipsy ( okay, she was pissed ). Her hair hung over her face and she drank carefully, reaching over with his extending arm ,his soft hands moved her long hair from her face.

"Take your time, there is no rush" he said with a blush-inducing smile. He would always help a good maiden.

This particular maiden was due respect, she seemed to be able to take care of herself - so Elderi would not flirt or be rude as many men would. Unless of course that is what she desired.

@Pripovednik

"El'dri?!" Tongzka repeated in bewilderment, eyes widened, at the robot's sudden utterance of such an unexpected 'taboo' word. He and the rest of his race were rather prudish like that. Usually Tongzka wasn't particularly surprised when off-worlders would come and start parading around what should remain behind closed doors, but it was particularly surprising hearing that sort of stuff come from an android. But on the plus side, the fact that it knew that word in the first place only served to strengthen his 'reality show' theory.

Trying his best to forget what just happened, he chose to make his queries to the robot, as you do with them, as clear and unambiguous as possible, with clarity and with an unemotional yet authoritative voice.

"Ar-tu." He addressed the liquid robot bluntly, looking it in its visual receptors.

"Ta'ruv-n'bek-intu'nuuvezk. Vrist, luk'nasa-miz? Zekst, yuz'n Porz'l-maka? Vrid, huv'n maz luk'extee?"

It was only after he finished his queries that he noticed the robot was eyeing his Thermic Lance, prompting him to hover one hand over one of his chest pockets, just in case it tried anything. Of course, as it soon turned out, this was not necessary, as the robot abruptly turned to another creature, a vaguely humanoid female, and started talking to her in an intimate tone.

Tongzka internally cringed, going 'blegh'. This robot couldn't be one of those robots he'd sometimes heard of, could it?

Thasseldar took up the second serving of his drink. Knowing what to expect, he was able to absorb the drink as it went down without much trouble, although he most likely had shimmered a bit.

When he put his cup down a dart whizzed behind him - and struck his shoulder.

"Oi!" He yelled, pulling the dart out of his shoulder a little painfully and tossing it to the dartboard, hitting one of the outer rings. " If you're going to play darts, shoot at the right spot..." he muttered, returning his gaze to the drink while ignoring the small amount of glistening, multi-colored blood on his shoulder. He had taken worse wounds; this was more of an annoyance than anything else.

"I think I'll have one more," he said in the direction of the barkeep (@SimplyJohn) while pulling a couple more gold coins out of his pocket. He was almost out, but this one he decided he would make last a bit before moving on...

Bulgon the dwarf hated places like this, well he hated almost everything except his own home. He was often made fun of for not being able to take a drink and for being very anti-social. He didn't want to stay long and he intended not to. He only came to get what he needed and go, but the second he had a drink everything got weird. He was like a new person, he was happy, charismatic, and he turned into exactly what he hated. An obnoxious brute.

Domaku finished his drink and was now feeling the effects. He smiled a bit as he got up. "I am in the mood to dance!" He said at this point he started to do one of the more destructive dances of the gorons. All the while danceing to the music in his head. Domaku started to roll around like any Goron would as well as he continued his dance. Alot of the music came from his crashing into things and was surprisingly catchy as he danced. Every now and then he would knock into a person as well.

@HHShetland

It was most certainly necessary to remember how to make the neuro-synapses joining. He couldn't understand the words this being was saying. Although he did think 'Vrist' may be first, 'Zekst' second and 'Vrid' thirdly. Elderi was sure that it called him Ar tu.

As Elderi couldn't communicate well with the creature he turned and presented his index finger. Showing the creature what to do, he grabbed his finger. Prompting it to do the same.

Closing his eyes he began to delve back into past memories. As slaughter, romance and loss fluttered by him he plucked the instructions from his crowded mind. He would need to channel his ability for a minute to complete the process but he knew how.

He waited for the being to grab his finger, smiling slightly and saying 'Vrist' pointing to his hand.

Making his free hand a sharp point he wrote his name on the bar top lightly.
" E L D E R I , not Ar tu." shaking his head as he said not and Ar tu, just to clarify the matter.

...reaching over with his extending arm ,his soft hands moved her long hair from her face.

"Take your time, there is no rush" he said with a blush-inducing smile. He would always help a good maiden.

Astrape's eyes darted sideways as the stranger's fingers grazed her cheek and a smooth smile settled over her lips. It had been quite some time since she had been properly 'worshipped' by a mortal man and one look at Elderi's well-toned physique was enough to have her current flowing in all the right places.

Taking another careful sip from her Battery Blitzer the lightning goddess let her gaze wander down to the stranger's metallic hands, which she'd seen a few moments before shifting shape into a large hammer. She began to wonder what other parts of his body Elderi could make change shape, and how they would feel being pressed into her...

Just then the obnoxious little creature behind the muscled would-be worshipper began to screech out in its insane way and with a sigh Astrape watched as her suitor turned his attentions to the monster instead. Lifting her tankard to her mouth Astrape drained the last of the acid down her throat and felt it reacting with the metals already in her belly.

As the lightning began to fill her once more Astrape slipped off of her stool and stepped around between the two men, or at least she assumed Tongzka was a male based on his behaviour. With her hair sparkling and electricity arching around her face she lowered herself down to the alien's level before screeching loudly, "Do you mind!?! We were in the middle of something when you rudely interrupted!"

With that done Astrape composed herself once more and turned back to Elderi, running her fingers through her hair to straighten it out a little and sending a wave of sparks pouring down over Tongzka as she did.

"Now, I believe you were about to tell me something?" The Lightning goddess purred, her body brimming with barely contained energy as she leaned closer to the muscular hunk.

@Genni

The fair maiden who Elderi had taking a shine to suddenly stepped between himself and the creature. Her commanding voice boomed Do you mind!?! We were in the middle of something when you rudely interrupted!

Feeling rather sorry for the being, this guilt soon turned (as the maiden did) to affection, as the magnificent figure before him - sparkling with energy - ran its fingers through its long dark hair. Her bright white eyes were intoxicating, she reminded him much of the Amazoness Champion Vefri. Perhaps less of the cannibalistic urges though.

Her entire body seemed to pulse with a magical charge, though her outfit was not the most flattering - Elderi was not one to look upon the body without looking within it first. Her promiscuous lips parted as she began to speak, more softly this time.

Now, I believe you were about to tell me something?

While many words to describe such beauty sped through Elderis mind, he could say nought but stare. While he had experienced women, he had never known such exotic beauty as hers. After a life time 10 seconds of staring at her, he finally spoke up.

"May I have the pleasure of knowing your name, fair maiden?"

With this his left hand took hers in a soft gesture of greetings, lifting it to his dark lips with a kiss. While his right hand once again became a long spike of metal, morphing and altering pigment, melting back to reveal a rose made of metals of many colours, a dark rouge gem sat in its centre. It shone in the light, and he presented it to her with a smile.
"For you."

"May I have the pleasure of knowing your name, fair maiden?"

With this his left hand took hers in a soft gesture of greetings, lifting it to his dark lips with a kiss. While his right hand once again became a long spike of metal, morphing and altering pigment, melting back to reveal a rose made of metals of many colours, a dark rouge gem sat in its centre. It shone in the light, and he presented it to her with a smile.


"For you."

For a moment Astrape felt her powers churning inside her once more. What sort of barbaric realm is this? She thought, filled with indignation, That none of its denizens know my name?

She was just about to lose control of herself once more and melt this upstart to a puddle of molten metal when suddenly he presented her with a gift both beautiful and incredibly well-crafted. At once her heart began to melt, calming her temper once more as she reached out her fingers and plucked the delicate flower from her suitor's grasp. At once the blood-red ruby at its centre began to glow, powered by the dissipating charge of her divine energies.

"I am known as Astrape, Goddess of thunder, handmaiden of Zeus, Odinsdottir, sister of Thor and Aldrif," leaning a little closer Astrape fluttered her eyelashes at Elderi coyly, "but you may call me Asti."

@Pripovednik "The bottle it is then, and your special too! Now where did you get this...?"

@ArenaSnow "I think I'll have one more,"

Noticing his customers' 'comradely' behaviour Geoff decided it mightn't be the best time to explain the origins of the battered old shield, or its bloody history, so instead made to turn away from the bar and head for the kitchens, which were separated from the rest of the bar by a service hatch set in the wall behind the counter.

Just as he did the shrouded stranger called over for another Battery Blitzer, his third within half-an-hour. Shaking his head at the poor man's bravery Geoff quickly refilled his cup and produced another set of metallic swizzle sticks to help in flow down the customer's gullet smoothly. "Here you go, Sir." He said chirpily as he quickly snatched the coins from the bar top and vanished them into his pocket. "I hope you know what you're doing, drinking so much of that stuff in one go? I've heard it tends to sneak up on you a little if you aren't too careful."

Having given his little pearl of wisdom Geoff turned back to the kitchen hatch, pulling it open to reveal a sucking black void beyond. In the far distance stars could be seen shining merrily in the deep, endless expanse and a vast, dust-filled nebula glowed from the reflected light of some unknown galaxy. "One special," The barman called into the darkness and waited a moment, tapping his foot impatiently, "Hurry up, we don't have all day."

Suddenly a cold grey tentacle reached around the edge of the hatch, it's sharp, chitinous claws scratching deep troughs out of the already heavily scarred wood before setting a white china plate down on the small ledge below. As it pulled back the tentacle jerked upward pointedly, much in the way a middle digit would've been if the tentacle had had hands. Slamming the hatch shut with a growl Geoff lifted the plate with one hand while plucking a set of cutlery from a nearby tray. "_{That's what I get for employing immigrants...}" He mumbled to himself stepped back over towards Elderi.

Laying the plate down carefully in front of the muscular man Geoff tried not to stare at the way the young woman was practically draping herself over him, clutching a small glowing metal flower to her bosom as she did. Clearing his throat with a cough Geoff pushed the plate forwards, "He's your special, Sir."

@Gareth "I'll have one glass of red wine please."

Across the room Hilda smiled sweetly at the purse guest sitting at the corner table before heading back over to the bar. At once her eyes locked onto the platinum coin still sitting unclaimed on the counter, her fingers itching as she drew closer.

As she moved up close to the bar, sliding her tray of empty glasses onto the counter with practiced ease, Hilda suddenly found herself losing her balance and tumbling over Elderi. "I'm terribly sorry about that, Sir," She said with a cheery smile, slipping the coin into her pocket as she quickly stepped away to fetch a glass of the cheapest red wine the house had to offer.

Moving quickly, not wanting to be anywhere close when Geoff spotted the coin missing, Hilda dumped most of the last bottle of '82 Falmer's Special Reserve into the first mug she could find and quickly scurried back to the coin purse's customer's table to deliver his drink. "Here's you go, Sir, the finest red we have. That'll be two gold, if it be pleasing you."

"I am known as Astrape, Goddess of thunder, handmaiden of Zeus, Odinsdottir, sister of Thor and Aldrif," leaning a little closer Astrape fluttered her eyelashes at Elderi coyly, "but you may call me Asti."

@Genni
His face glowing in the red of the rose, Elderi listened intently, like a child. "Asti...May I buy you a drink? In fact may I purchase you anything, from this fine establishment? " Lifting a small pouch from his waist he placed a Druvian Dime onto the table. Also known as a dragons dime, as it is worth as much as most dragon hoards. Whispering now, Elderi spoke softly to her.

"Anything you wish to have. I will give it to you"

Elderi was not a man of religion, nor had he had the opportunity to study it, but did recognise 'Zeus' as an Atheniax god. Many of the Arenas ancient champions sworn their blood to Atheniax gods. She was definitely a Goddess, if not of thunder then of sexuality, for she seemed to be filled with it.

Elderi thanked the keeper with a slight glance and smile, too preoccupied with the veiw maiden that stood before him.

He was not however, blind.

After releasing Astrapes hand from his soft kiss, its fore and index fingers extended into two very thin metal wire, sweeping around the bar and into the halflings pocket, taking back the platinum coin with a pincer-snap of the wires, lifting them back and placing the coin into the keepers pocket. If the halfing were only to ask for a tip, he would happily give her many more coins, he was a generous man.

"Keeper, your coin."

Elderi turned back to the Thunder Goddess. Eager to show her his little tricks he knew about Elekctrice through shape shifting.

@SimplyJohn

Gareth looked at the glass of wine Hilda offered him speculatively. But after several long moments he decided that it was indeed what it seemed, but it didn't have the right color like the other red wines he had drunk before.

So he smiled at Hilda and said, "That wine looks off colour, so I will give you a silver dime, which in his currency is equivalent to 1/10th of one gold.

@Gareth'What are the Icarus and what is the Western Wastes like?' contemplating that word that he said. "What man in his right mind has never heard of the Icarus? The small airship was the first ship the breach the western wastes. However, lets remember that ships had been trying for years, HUNDREDS of men went to the slaughter all to see what was on the other-side, turns out. All it was is a huge barrage of guns. Captain Harold Star-watcher led his fleet of 16 ships into the teeth of the beast." He paused and re adjusted his glasses "I should know, I was there." he took a deep breath and sat back in his chair. "Look, in my life I did some bad things. Seen some terrible catastrophes. But nothing, NOTHING! Worse than what happened on that day. In ten minutes, our small fleet of 16 was decimated into 6. Jolly Flyer, The Elephant, Ol' Bessie, Whale Oil, Sagitarius and my ship the Dead Man. Those guns cut us to pieces and we were powerless." he sighed and looked down "So I ran. When the jolly flyer went down we turned tail. We made it out but that western wastes are not the best to be." he sat back and looked at him "But that's a story for another time. Whats your story?"

Gareth turned back to his companion at his table assuming that his silver dime would be enough to satisfy Hilda. He leaned forward to listen attentively as the guy explained about this airship that apparently was able to get to the Western Wastes which was an unprecedented event.

Also it seemed the Western Wastes was an area that was filled with guns and this startled Clark, as his companion went on in great detail explaining how their airship arrived there and how he had only just escaped death from the Western Wastes clutches.

"Wow, that is an incredible tale my friend and not one I envy much, as I try to avoid near death situations as much as possible," he commented with a slight smile.

Then he was asked about his own story, he didn't think it could compare with his companions and so he kept it brief, "I worked under a mercenary, fighting for money until I became a competent mercenary and swordsmen myself. When I became a competent mercenary then I began to earn money on my own as an independent fighter and I had various missions, but they probably aren't as exciting to hear about as your stories." he said slightly embarrassed.

@Gareth The adventurer sighed "The story's a adventurer can tell you, it will send chills down your spine. Twenty years back it was normal, bizarrely that year lots of undertakers got rich on a up rise of dead body's. Thousands of us ran head long saying 'We want to matter'" Sipping his drink silently "Its not as good as things used to be. We now don't do it for fun. We do it for money and glory. Every war that happens, it doesn't matter over what it is, a army of adventurers will bolster the ranks of whatever army they feel is right. You kill enough people at war and you will become famous, you will kiss the girl and get married." Chuckerlng to himself "And that's if you survive the first hour. There is fun to be had. Running at the guns knowing that you are doing the right thing, making freinds with locals. I even met a guy who after claring a damn they made him a god!" Pausing for a moment "A fucking god" He sat is silence and laughed "Unfortunatly the ate him after they made him a god. Wanted to see if he could survive the flames. But no. A mercinary is good, good pay and many secrets you can find. Say, are you still hireable?"