As swiftly as Varus had stabbed his dagger into the table, Varus was just as swift as to draw his short sword and turn around to face the little goblin as soon as he had caught sight of the small little... thing that wore what seemed to be the scales of a baby dragon. "Dear god!" Varus said in a louder than usual voice. "A drow, a man with anger issues, a marksman who is cocky, a short dwarf, and a useless elf?" Varus placed emphasis on the last two words. "I think I speak for the dwarf when I say we're not going to allow a damn goblin into our... party!"

"You are such a cutie with your dragon costume on," Varus heard the useless elf say.

"... Or maybe we will..." Varus said with a tone of defeat before walking over to the dwarf with his short sword in hand, almost as if he was partying himself with a dwarf -- who he knew would hate the goblin (or thought so, at the very least).

The barmaid took notice of Sana and sauntered over to the table quickly. She was your typical bar maid; young, buxom and looking far older than she should have. Too many nights in a tavern having to deal with drunk and nondrunken idiots alike. "What can I get for you doll?" she asked in an all too forced cheery voice. Sana sighed and leaned in slightly, motioning the barmaid to come closer. She did.

"Listen, I don't care what mood you have to play with these fools but do me a favor and drop the act," she said quietly. The barmaid looked at her quizzically for a moment before a genuine smile came across her lips.

"Oh God, thank you," she said as she drew a long breath. "What can I get for you?" she repeated in a much more exhausted voice.

"What ever is fastest and some water."

"No ale or the like?"

"Have you seen the group I am with?" she asked quickly and with perfect timing as the other human in the group managed to turn the stool into kindling. The barmaid quickly stifled a laugh and nodded.

"Right," she quipped before turning quickly to take care of the order.

As Sana waited for her food she rocked back and forth in her chair slowly, watching each member of the group in turn. When her eyes fell on the newest arrive she froze. He thinks he's a dragon? You've got to be kidding me. Reaching down She made sure to tighten the knots on her money pouch. This was not gearing up to a hopeful mission.

The barmaid quickly came back over and dropped off Sanas food and drink. Sana nodded and handed the girl some silver coins, shaking her head as the girl tried to tell her it was too much and going about eating her meal. She had seen what tavern life could do to a girl, sometimes you have to give someone a break.

Hearing the comment made by Virus, Sana stopped eating and wiped her mouth before shouting over in that direction. "One, I ain't cocky. Two, you haven't exactly proved you're useful yet. Three, we'll have who ever in the party that's willing to deal with your attitude." Sana rolled her eyes slightly and signed. She wasn't one that was normally so vocal but she just couldn't stand cockiness, ego, or demoralizing nature in people.

She rubbed her temples for a moment before she went back to eating. She has seen orc crap fights that were more organised than this group was adding up to be.

Bjoric resisted the urge to hurl more insults in the direction of the archer, but his weariness from the boat ride prevented him from coming up with anything. He settled for letting out a grunt before returning to his drink as he waited for his food to arrive.

Before the food arrived, the large man from the table sat beside him. He let out a chuckle at his greating. "I may be older lad, but that dunee make me old." He held out a large callous hand. "Bjoric, order yourself something, it's on the stick." he finished by gesturing to the archer.

The informant dropped to his knees then keeled over to one side, part of his skull missing from the strength of the sword's blow, and Barrats's gaze went straight to the compound entrance to see if the man's squeal had been heard.

No, was the answer. Instead, the rabble at the gate had turned their attention on Fels and his ten-man command, drawn their spears and bows and began to shout at them: "Clear off!"

Barrats's men loitered, just as he'd told them. He could see their hands itching to draw their own weapons, but they bided their time. Good men, waiting for me to take the first shot.

The time was now. He drew a bead on one of the men, whom he'd took for the ringleader. He freed the arrow, heard a scream, and saw blood spray from the back of the target's neck before he lurched back, motionless. This time, someone's agony was heard, but it didn't matter: at the same moment, the rest of the expedition drew their blades and struck, a sizable portion of the bandits keeled over with blood fountaining from their head wounds. The gate was in disarray and the battle began in earnest. Barrats managed to pick off two more of the outlaws before abandoning his bow, drawing his sword and running forward, leaping into the fray with an endurance reserved only for the most adept of combatants. He enjoyed fighting with his companions, and felled three of the thugs, who died screaming even as their compatriots made for the gates and barricaded themselves inside.

In no time at all, the only men left standing were Barrats, Fel, and Roals, all three of them breathing hard and flicking the blood from their steel. Although the men assigned to them were considered to be Hochschule's finest, they were no match for such a sizable array of opponents and instead laid beside their leaders, either writhing in pain or spewing blood from their wounds. Barrats regarded Roals with a new respect: he'd acquitted himself well, with a speed and skill that bellied his interracial looks. Fel, too, was looking at him, though with rather more distaste, as though the boy's proficiency in battle had annoyed him. Now they had a new problem, though: they'd taken the outside of the compound, but the door had been blocked by those retreating in. It was Roals who suggested we light it on fire - another good idea from the man Barrats had previously dismissed as a drunk - so he did, finding a nearby torch and making sure to avoid damaging the sandstone frame.

They promptly poured in through the hole in the wall, stepping over the torn and ragged corpses littering the hallway on the other side. Thick, deep carpets and rugs were on the floor, while exquisite tapestries had been hung at the windows. The whole place was in semi-darkness. There was screaming, male and female, and running feet as they made their way through quickly, slaying any man in the way. Roals had looted a candlestick, and he used it to cave in the head of a half-orc, wiping brains and blood from his face just as Fel reminded them why they were there: to gain insight into the location of the Fahran. He went on to describe the city as the trio raced along more gloomy corridors, finding less resistance now. Either the bandits were staying clear of them or were marshaling themselves into a more cohesive force. Not that it mattered what they were doing: they needed to find something along the lines of a map.

Elis, being one to stalk around town, had noticed the odd group of travelers gathering in the Oasis and decided to check it out. He sneaked in and watched everything go down, 'Well this is getting interesting.' Elis saw that it off all of them the elf seemed to be getting the most shit. He sneaked over to the lass making sure nobody noticed him and attempted to tap her on the shoulder but couldn't reach and settled on poking her in the side and then pointed at her harp, "Do you know how to play that thing?"

Hugh gave a hearty laugh, "I'm still much older than just a lad." Hugh gave the dwarf's hand a spirited and tight shake. "I'm Hugh and I don't mind if I do oblige myself on someone else's coin." He said.

Hugh waved to the archer and gave a thumbs up, before hearing her exchange to what the young elf had to say. After hearing her, he gave a charismatic grin. "Why not join us? You're paying for the grub!" He wished to be on good terms with the only other human in the group. She seemed amiable enough.

He hadn't caught what the elf had said but he doubted he would have liked it. Nonetheless, he would welcome him to the group. Had nothing better to do anyways. A thousand gold coins was on the line with this group, and he intended to make good on the coin.

They soon came upon their objective, nestled in the back of a boudoir that stank of ale and sex and was seemingly full of people: scantily clad elven women who grabbed clothes and ran screaming, and several thieves arming themselves with bottles and brooms. A boot smacked into the wood of the doorway besides Barrats's head and the trio took cover as another man, this one naked, raised a throwing knife. Fel returned fire around the frame of the door, and the naked man crashed to the carpet with an untidy red hole and arrow at his chest, grabbing a fistful of bedclothes as he went. Another shoe gouged the frame, and they once again ducked back. Roals drew his sword as two more bandits came hurtling down the corridor towards them, Fel joining in.

"Lay down your weapons," called one of the remaining outlaws from inside the room, "and I'll consider letting you live."

"I make you the same offer," Barrats said from behind the door. "We have no quarrel; I only wish to return that map of yours to its rightful owner."

There was a sneer in his voice. "Nothing rightful about your red-eyed kind."

"I won't ask again."

"Agreed."

He heard a movement nearby and flitted across the doorway. The other man had been trying to creep up on them, but Barrats sent a strike from his sword between his eyes and he flopped to the floor, his weapon, a board of wood, skittering away from him. The remaining bandit threw yet another article of footwear, this time a slipper, and made a dive for his companion's plank, but Barrats had already drawn back his sword and anticipated his move, slicing the top of his head off as he stretched for it. Like a wounded animal he jackknifed back tot he bed, landing in a wet mess of blood and bedclothes and staring up at Barrats as he entered cautiously, sword at the ready. The men exchanged baleful looks. This wasn't how they'd planned for their nights to end.

"Your kind has no need for maps, especially for those of a religious site," Barrats said, indicating the naked man's chest wound. "Who put you up to this?"

"Didn't go looking to make trouble with it," he wheezed, shaking his head. "Just so happened to come upon it during a job."

Throughout his time in the military, Barrats had met a plethora of men like the bandit who would do anything, it seemed - anything for a bit of coin. It was men like him who had invaded his village and ransacked his home. Men like him who set him on the path he walks today. Just so happened to come upon it during a job. Somehow, through a veil of disgust, he managed to resist the urge to kill him.

"Well, those days are done. Tell your masters I said as much."

He raised himself slightly, perhaps realizing he planned to let him life. "Who do I say you are?"

"You don't. They'll know," he said. And let him go.

Roals began grabbing more loot while Fel took hold of the map, and they made their way out of the compound. Retreating was easier, most of the bandits having decided that dissection was the better part of valor and staying out of their way, and they made it outside to their horses and galloped away.

Vivian began to massage her brow at all the words being thrown about and then the dagger hitting the table did not help her disappoint. She did smirk at how people thought the elf useless. "Don't worry, they don't know how dangerous a bard can be." She said. Vivian knew how dangerous mind magic was, the others didn't because they never lived in the underdark. Even the bards of her kin were some of the best assassins she knew. Too bad she had to kill a few in order to escape the hell hole. She then noticed the archer moved to sit some where else it looked and she looked back to her surface cousin and sighed. Then a creature joined them that she didn't expect. A goblin who seemed to think he was a dragon. She dealt with goblins before, well not in a game of death and blood though. Most goblins where stupid and easy to mind control into doing the biding of the dark elves. Then a halfling showed up and she wasn't all that distraught about him. Halflings where quite useful in so many situations. Especially if this halfling was one of those kind of halflings. She smirked and nodded towards him. "I welcome you both to the party, I am Vivian." She spoke to the halfling and the goblin. She then looked to the elf.

"You are kind of odd for a elf though, I mean there are elf bards ,but not many elves take a fancy to ale... I find my fancy leading mostly towards wine." She said as she rose her goblet and took a sip of the red liquid within it. "It's not the best in the region either ,but if you drink it with some control you don't act like an idiot." She said. "The drow wine I had from my home land was very pleasing. Which is odd really because we don't really have much to work on. Not many berry bushes grow in the underdark where there is no sunlight." She added. She felt she needed to make the elf feel like she was welcome and not useless. She already decided that if she had to kill a member of this group it would be the half-elf. The dwarf was understandable, he was a dwarf afterall. They act that way, but are could fighters. The tall human was also very useful and only blew a casket because of the half-elf. She would could teach him a lesson in manners any day. The dance of death with her swords was something to awe at. However, that wasn't the only trick she could do. Wonder how he would feel if all he saw was pitch darkness that not even the sun could punch through. A darkness that only the most talented can see through. Or the idea of bursting into flames with out warning. The goblin looked as if he was well equiped for that as well.

She looked to the goblin and leaned forward taking another sip of her wine. "I think it is time we all tell each other our names. First names will do, again my name is Vivian." She kept her eyes on the goblin. He was infact the oddest goblin she ever saw. He looked as if what would happen if a goblin was a witch doctor. The goblin carried with him some manners though and respect. Which is more then what she could say about the half elf.

She eventually looked to Vivian and smiled at her, not actually wanting to say her name yet in-case the dwarf and everyone else made a mock out of her. But she looked to the one who asked her if she could play the harp and nodded, answering with such enthusiasm: 'Oh yes, I love the harp. It is such a beautiful instrument, but can be used for such dangerous things... I know how everyone hates me at this moment... but right now I could perform fascinate and everyone will be falling head over heels over me... if they weren't distracting of course, but I can't do that... they would kill me'

In the end she decided to be deep in thought once again, finally deciding to say her name.

'My name is Ellyn, nice to meet you all by the way, not that you can all hear me...' she sighed as she looked over to the bar where the dwarf was 'hmm...'

This is stupid, Varis said inside of that head with his in that same little pompous tone he always spoke with. Slowly, Varis placed his short sword back into its scabbard that was situated on Varis' left on his hip before taking a seat on the stool behind him, not minding the "ally" he sat next to, staring at the rather unusual party, his eyes wandering over the various characters that were soon to become his "ally." When his eyes found themselves on the drow, his eyes lingered on her as he began to assess her -- as he did with various other people he had met before. I've found myself allied with a useless elf, a morally-screwed drow, a human who has anger issues, a short dwarf, a cocky archer, a goblin who thinks he's a dragon, and a halfling...

Varis turned around to face the counter top, balling up his right hand in a fist as he laid his head to rest on it. ... And I'm doing this to get a bearing of my surroundings... Varis' eyes darted over to the corner, looking over at the dwarf for a short while before they returned to continue gazing at the wooden counter. ... Buying a map means I wouldn't have to deal with this crap. His eyes then darted over to the corner of his eye socket once more, this time only to gaze at the cocky marksman for a few seconds before returning back to gaze at the wooden counter top once more. And a few people in this group likely wants to kill me...

"Water," Varis shot out at the bartender who took a few steps over to the half-elf. The sudden and quickly reply that came out of Varis, which didn't even warrant a look or a glare at the bartender from him, merely caused the bartender to shrug once more before bringing a cup of water and a pitcher of the same, clear fluid to him. Now, instead of gazing at the wooden counter top -- which Varis had found to be boring -- he now glared at the clear fluid as it sat in its cup that was made out of some sort of clay.

Varis' gaze remained on the clear fluid for a few more seconds before his eyes once again darted over to the corner, only to find its place on the tall human this time -- the one who had clear anger problems. His eyes then shifted back once more to where it once was originally as he stared into the cup of water, deep in thought. Varis wasn't thinking about his mission on hand, nor was he thinking about the job that he and his... "allies" were now to undertake and complete. He was now thinking about the group.

Varis, even though he had been brutally trained from childbirth by some assassin who had killed his parents -- which he still has yet to forgiv the man for that posthumously -- in the art of stealth and steel, was unsure if he could take some of the people on in this fight. Sure, his "father" may have taught him how to fight with various weapons which varied from the sword to the dagger, but his training mostly focused on stealth and the art of silent killing -- which couldn't really be called an art. Varis had no advantage with some of these people here one-on-one, but what advantage he did have against these so-called allies of his would be when nightfall would come and sleep would overtake them. Of course, Varis was merely thinking ahead for himself. Clearly, with such a group full of... different races, there were bound to be problems ahead, problems that he could easily avoid if he just up and left the group.

But for some odd reason, he didn't want to.

For some odd reason, instead of leaving this horrible group that were full of equally horrible people -- at least in Varis' eyes -- he wanted to stay. Varis raised his eyebrow at his cup of water as weirdly intrusive thoughts entered his head, but began to preoccupy himself as he began to make a list. It was a list that held a bit of importance inside of Varis' head, a list that he had made to list his allies from order of greatest to least in one subject.

Elis listened intently to the explanation of the bard's powers and stared in awe, "Well I don't know about all that and I certainly don't hate you. Do you think you could play something that won't control me? I could use a good song after what I've been through, and many others here may enjoy it."

'oh... sure...!' she smiled and looked at him as she picked up her harp from the table, and started playing. The music was cheery and most of the customers and visitors stopped to listen to this music as it made them all feel warm inside. While looking at the halfling she started to speak some poetry to him. Finally showing him her true smile, meaning she actually does love doing what she does.

'Filled with sharp dart-like pens
Limber tipped and firm, newly trimmed
Paper cushioned under my hand
Percolating upon the smooth slope
The leaf a fine and uniform script
A book of verse in ennobling Goidelic.

I learnt the roots of each tale, branch
Of valour and the fair knowledge,
That I may recite in learned lays
Of clear kindred stock and each person's
Family tree, exploits of wonder
Travel and musical branch
Soft voiced, sweet and slumberous
A lullaby to the heart.

Grant me the gladsome gyre, loud
Brilliant, passionate and polished
Rushing in swift frenzy, like a blue edged
Bright, sharp-pointed spear
In a sheath tightly corded;
The cause itself worthy to contain'

She finished playing after a while and everyone just clapped, she didn't really know what to do from there on.

Bjoric joined in on the clapping. Despite what he'd seen of her so far, he had to admit, the elf had a talent for song.

Turning to Hugh, he said "At least we'll have some entertainment on the journey." He took another drink from the almost empty tankard before returning to his meal.

Drizzak

---

The red-garbed goblin to the compliments and the banter as if he were a child being inducted into the world of diplomacy. His beady, luminous eyes stared on in bewilderment as the warm-bloods and tree-folk chattered of matters far above his current attention spans allowance. Drizzak wasn't exactly the most educated of smallfolk, but that didn't mean he wasn't smart in his own way. It just so happens that it was not this way.

The music from the string-lady's instrument started and his ears rung. What was this? Where were the drums, to make the heart race on the eve of war? Where were the Shriekers to call his name and revere him for the mighty beast he was? What was this twanging, plucking racket? The finer arts lost to him, Drizzak groaned and yapped.

"Too slow. Too soft. Need loud! Need fast!" He stood upon his stool, balancing perilously as he waggled a bony claw. "String-lady! You know 'Blood In Mouth Make Happy'? Maybe know 'See Me Teeth'? They fast and loud. Very fast and loud. Make chest go thumpa."

One of the goblin's ears twitched as he sat back down on the stool. "We sit too long. When we go fight? Drizzak teeth itch." The goblin tapped his claw on his chin, below his maw of razor-sharp fangs. He fidgeted and shifted awkwardly, looking around at his company. The hood of his dragon-skin had fallen back to reveal a short crop of bright orange hair some few minutes ago. Overall he couldn't have been much taller than 4 feet, but his stature was diminutive. He was quite the sight, to put it in plain terms. And rightfully so. Not everyday you see a dragon in the flesh.

Sana perked a brow slightly as she glanced in the direction of Hugh, seeing his reaction and hearing his words. She thought for a moment and then decided it would be better if she did not go back over to them. The dwarf had rubbed her the wrong way and she knew she would not be pleasant company if she was forced into conversation with him just as of yet.

Shaking her head slightly to Hugh before she chose to speak. "Thank you, but no. Enjoy the meal though," she said kindly before returning to her meal. Hugh seemed well meaning enough but the way this group was shaping up, she thought it best to keep her distance for the evening. Insults were already flying and at this rate she could see arrow and dagger following suit.

As she finished her meal she push back her plate, tossing her silverware on the plate. As she leaded in her chair she let her head fall back, staring blankly at the ceiling. Apon hearing the Elfs song begin her head slowly turned to look over to her, smiling slightly at the music.

Righting herself in her chair she took note that the group had settled somewhat during the song and chuckled to herself. Her eyes darting around until they fell on Varis, she rose from her place and walked over. Leaning against the bar, her arms resting on it she looked straight ahead as she spoke.

"Not so useless after all. She's the first to be able to get anyone to stop bickering, even if it is only for a moment," she said in a soft tone as she motioned over to the bard. Turning she walked off and over to Hugh, looking him over for a minute.

"Name's Sana," she said as she turned and continued to watch the bard. Thinking to herself, perhaps this group may just work after all.

Ellyn looked at the goblin smiling in awe, thinking he was just plain adorable. Placing her harp on the table quickly she just picked him up and cuddled him, all the while Ellyn kept aweing and fussing him in total adoration. She may be quiet but she does like things that look cute to her! (in her opinion)

She softly let him down afterwards, sighing and looked at her harp on the table and scratched her hair lightly 'I can't make noisy music, sorry you little cute thing!' and just picked up her harp again, glad that she made everyone quiet and enjoy some peace around, even the barmaid that shown she was exhausted to Sana seemed to be more calmer now that the others seemed to be more peaceful.

Hugh felt a strange small amount of sadness as his offer was turned down. He had a very charismatic personality, and when he was in a friendlier mood, he would always make sure to take care of people. "No problem." He sullenly replied to her.

He turned and took up the large cup of lager the bartender set before him, and turned himself all the way around to hear the bard's song. He adored music. It brought him out of his own head and made him happy. He began to clap his knee with his free hand and stomp his foot to the music, going along with the dwarf.

"Indeed, it can't be all that bad of a journey." He happily replied to the dwarf. "I say we make merry of what we can!" With that he stood and drank a large amount of his cup and gave a hearty laugh after getting it down. He sat back down and continued to enjoy the music, before the archer surprised him with her company.

"The name is Hugh." He happily replied. His voice was gruff, as he was an older man, but his face and tone still gave away his cheerful mood. Lacking conversation material, Hugh asked "Would you like a bit a lager from my cup?" He offered the cup to her. The contents fizzled and came bubbling up to the brim. It was an impressive lager to say the least, but Hugh hadn't had anything to drink other than water for a very long time, so it would be enjoyable no matter what.

As the song played on, Elis made his way over to Hugh. Once the music stopped, Elis overheard his name and stifled a laugh, "Hugh, more like Huge. Sorry, I had to but you've probably heard that a thousand times. I'm Elis... and this is your coinpurse," Elis states as he holds up the man's money bag.

Sana smiled gently at Hugh as he introduced himself, nodding slightly as she did and taking a seat next to him at the bar. As he offered her a bit of his drink she looked at it and thought for a moment. With the present company and day ahead she hadn't wanted to partake on any drink, preferring a clear head around these folk. Though, he was being kind, hadn't insulted anyone as of yet and despite his little incident he seemed to be the least likely to cause issue in the group.

"Thank you," she said kindly before taking a sip of the lager. It was indeed a fine brew but she kept herself from indulging anymore than a simple sip. Resting it back on the bar top she glanced around and perked a brow to what Elis had said and more over what he was holding.

"This could get interesting," she muttered.

Hugh was glad to see Sana partake in his offer. Simple gestures always meant the world in human relations. Before Hugh could continue with his drinking a halfling snuck up on him. The little one had surprised him, but he was more than obliged to participate in a friendly conversation.

However, it turned quite sour rather quickly as the halfling introduced himself and Hugh's coin purse, to his chagrin. Hugh felt a little anger, but more embarrassed as he plucked the coin purse from the little one's hand. "Well, now I know you are an astute burglar." He shook his head defeatedly. Of course if any creature was going to get the drop on Hugh, it had to be a halfling. Still a rare find, as most halflings stayed away from other races, sticking to their quaint and peaceful lands. "I would offer you food or drink, but it appears you are very capable of apprehending that yourself."

Hugh stood up and pulled a stool over, positioning it adjacent to where he was seated. "Have yourself a seat, Elis." With that he offered his hand to help the halfling up. "So, burglar, what brings you into the Oasis?"