Vitius trudged his way down the stairs, each step causing the wood to screech concerningly. An annoyed expression marred his otherwise pristine face, and a low rumble rose within his throat as he strode over to the bar and took a seat.

"Blood," he said simply when the maid came by. "From a goat or cow preferably."

She gave him an odd look, confused as to why he would request such a thing, but one very pointed glare from the twin flames that were his eyes was more than enough to get her moving. After a while the maid returned, mug of freshly drawn goat's blood in hand. Taking it from her without so much as a word of thanks, Vitius drained the cup in one go, slamming it against the counter once he was finished. His mood was foul this morning for a reason, that being his noticeable lack of sustenance from the night before. For despite his inquiry the innkeeper had not provided him with a suitable source of blood, thus forcing him to ignore the veritable buffet at rest around him.

It was quite the test really, one the old vampire did not wish to repeat.

Selestra awoke to the sounds of bustling from outside that travelled through the walls of her room, the noises a signal that the day had begun. It did not take much for her to look presentable, it hardly ever did, and after a quick washup and some grooming, she was ready to make her way downstairs. She took a seat between the two who were already present, engaging in a short conversation with the barmaid which included a laugh or two as the latter prepared her order. After she was served, she first glanced over to the nervous wreck of the stranger who had come in late the night before, and then to the immensely-frustrated vampire she had sat with by the fire.

"I'd say 'good morning', but this morning appears to be far from it for you gentlemen," she began, and started to strum her wooden instrument to produce a gentle and lighthearted tune. "Perhaps a little song shall lift your spirits."

@Eviledd1984 @ZAVAZggg

@Raptra@ZAVAZggg



Micah turned his head towards the pale man that had come over towards the bar corner. Hearing the man’s order; scooting in his chair so as to distance himself a little bit away from the other man. He had done some pretty crazy things, but drinking animal blood was not something too insane even for him. Noticing the fae male coming down the stairs, nodding his head towards him acknowledging his presence. The thought of hearing a song could lift his spirits; “We would love to hear some music; isn’t that right mister?” He turned his head addressing the vampire.

Turning his body while holding his glass of water in his hand; lifting up his mask above his mouth taking a few sips from his glass.

@Raptra @Eviledd1984

"Sure, why not?"

Despite this minor concession, Vitius continued to stare directly ahead, his eyes boring into the wall before him.

"It's not as if a song could make my day any worse after all."

She was slightly surprised by the politeness of the masked stranger, but raised an eyebrow in curiosity when he turned away to drink, clearly not wanting to reveal his face. She continued to strum her lyre as she observed it all. She figured that it might be beneficial to learn more about her current companions if they were going to travel together to the ruins down south. Perhaps she could get a little more out of their conversation this morning. She then let out a chuckle at the vampire's complaint.

"What is it that troubles you, love? I'm certain that some venting would be healthy."

@Eviledd1984 @ZAVAZggg

“Oh, Kit! This looks wonderfully cozy!” Rosaria spoke gleefully to her lynx companion who sniffed cautiously on the ground toward the door, something inside made the large cat salivate. “You know the rules, not sure if you’d be allowed inside. Remember the children you scared in the last inn? There’s plenty of forest around here for you, go on.” The wood elf patted the lynx’s head.

Staring at the door momentarily, Kit huffed and ran off toward the brush.

Pulling a rogue twig out of her ash brown hair and throwing it aside, Rosaria swung open the doors with a large smile and plopped herself down on a table close to the other patrons, putting aside her trusted bow, which looked as though it’d seen better days.

“I could sure go for a warm plate of potatoes and eggs! Maybe even a cheeky morning ale!” She grinned toward the keep.

@Raptra

Vitius glanced over at the girl, his eyes narrowing somewhat as he weighed the worth of venting to two complete strangers. Eventually he seemed to relent, hunching forward with the slightest of sighs.

"My problem has to do with the inn keep," he explained, his gauntleted fingers drumming heavily against the table's weathered grain. "I asked for, requested actually, some manner of animal blood last night. I did this so no one here would be harmed as a result of my thirst, yet I was ignored and refused."

The old vampire picked at his scalp with his free hand lazily.

"So I had to spend the entire night resisting the urge to feed on the other patrons. It's not my first time doing so of course, but it's also not something I find particularly enjoyable either, hence my dour mood this fine morning."

@Raptra@ZAVAZggg



Micah waited for the woman to start singing a melody; the glass of water in his hand his eyes looking over to the woman and then the blood hunger male. He wondered if he was a vampire, and if he was correct he would have to be weary in case he wants to wake up without any blood. His answer was questioned when he mentioned that he drunk animal blood; scooting a bit more away more from the vampire.

"Looks to be your all awake," Harlund made his way over to the adventurers "So have you all considered my offer?" the old man asked sitting at a dining table looking a little tired.

A slight look of sympathy crossed Selestra's face at the vampire's explanation. "I see. The man does seem rather scatterbrained."

She let out another laugh at her own comment, and then noticed that the masked stranger appeared to be rather expectant of something. Was he waiting for words to begin accompanying the tune coming from her lyre? Well, she could do that instead of just playing music. The current melody she was producing slowly transitioned to another, and she was just about to start singing when a chirpy newcomer entered the place and sat with them. Selestra smiled pleasantly at the archer elf, gladly welcoming the presence of another positive individual. The innkeeper then appeared right after, addressing the three of them who had arrived the night before. Referring to her comment to the vampire earlier, she was unsure if all the elderly man had said about the ruins down south was true, but decided that the area might be interesting to explore regardless.

"I, for one, am intrigued. I am unsure about how the gentlemen feel, however."

@Blackmist16 @Eviledd1984 @IronPhinx @ZAVAZggg

@Blackmist16 @Eviledd1984 @IronPhinx @ZAVAZggg

Vitius shrugged upon hearing the songstress' words.

"Seems as though that's the only lead we have, so it's probably best we take it. Besides..."

He tilted his head from left to right and back again, working out the knots and cramps.

"It wouldn't be my first time traipsing through some abandoned brickwork."

@Raptra@ZAVAZggg@Blackmist16

Rosaria was thrilled to hear a melody within the Inn, there is a certain charm to hearing a being play throughout the Inn’s walls, the only thing missing was an old dog sitting by the fire. She looked toward the musician with a warm smile. She was about to compliment the musician, however her ears had caught something very interesting.

An offer?
Intrigue?

..an Adventure perhaps? She couldn’t resist.

“Pardon me if you would.” The archer spoke up in a polite manner, she looked toward the rest of the party. “I couldn’t of helped overhearing that perhaps you’re all on some sort of adventure? Perhaps I can help! I’ve travelled across the land and sea, maybe I could be some sort of assistance?”

[@Blackmist16]@Raptra@ZAVAZggg



Micah while listening to the woman singing was tapping his hand on his leg; enjoying the song that was being sung by the musician. Obviously thrilled while listening to the song; swaying his head back and forth to the melody. His concentration on the music was broken by hearing the strange man who was talking about some sort of quest. He was hesitant about going on another quest; considering what he had gone through in his last quest he was weary.

“We are not sure if another adventure is in our future” He turned to speak to the man.

@Eviledd1984

Vitius gave the necromancer a sideways glance followed by a small shrug.

"Suit yourself," he said simply. "But keep in mind that, other than sitting here in this tavern, the ruins are the only choice we've got."

Despite his attempt at persuasion, Vitius considered simply leaving the man here. Although he hadn't said anything at the time, he had seen just how jittery and nervous the poor bastard was when he first walked in. Nerves like that could get you killed on the battlefield, as he himself knew, and throw your allies into disarray. And the last thing he wanted was to be fighting off some beast in some dark and dank ruin somewhere, only to have his shaky friend their balk when he was needed the most. Of course that wasn't even the end of his problems either. In truth Vitius took issue with the composition of the entire party as it currently stood. Not only did he not know most of their skills, though the newest arrival had the look of a hunter so that was something at least, but those he was aware of were all useless in a combat scenario. Sure the lass seated next to him could play a pretty tune, but could she hold her own in a fight? As for the ragged man, he was far too jumpy for Vitius to even think of relying on, let alone fighting alongside.

As for the fae, while he had seen one during his time in the Hoods, he hadn't had the chance to work alongside her for any considerable amount of time and thus wasn't too sure about how useful the one that had joined them the night before would be. Still, his small size made him a hard target to hit, so perhaps that counted for something. Not much, but something. In the end, however, it seemed that the huntress—assuming she was a competent one—was the only individual here he could possibly see making a kill, although hunting an animal was very different from hunting a man or beast. Two things he felt would be patrolling the ruins to the south in abundance, be it together or apart. All in all it was quite the piss-poor group he had as far as battle readiness went, but perhaps they'd get lucky and find nothing there but crumbling stone and rotting plants.

Personally though, Vitius doubted it'd be that easy.

Things never are...

Selestra took note of the archer elf returning her acknowledgement. Considering her warm first impression, it was no surprise that she had decided to join in on their discussion about the innkeeper's offer. The music coming from Selestra's lyre faded to silence as the conversation started to pick up, and she turned to the other female with a nod.

"Your enthusiasm is refreshing, Miss Huntress. We have been informed by our lovely innkeeper of some ruins down south that might be worth exploring. If the rest are willing to have you on board, then so am I."

What the masked stranger said in response to the offer caused Selestra to be even more curious about him, and she decided to ask him a question. "If I may, my dear, what do you mean by 'we'?"

She then chuckled, observing how deep in thought the vampire seemed to be. Like herself, he had also confirmed his intention of going to the location in question, but it was normal to have some concerns, as they did not exactly know what to expect upon arrival. She wondered what else was running in that pretty little head. She had to admit to herself that, bloodthirsty tendencies and intimidating armor aside, that face of his was rather easy on the eyes.

She finished up her breakfast and put her lyre away, expecting the team to set off as soon as all were in agreement and any current worries were voiced.

@Blackmist16 @Eviledd1984 @IronPhinx @ZAVAZggg

@Dark Cloud, @Eviledd1984, @IronPhinx

Vitius rose from his seat with a sigh, his mind still stuck on all the ways in which this expedition could go wrong, and strode over to the entrance of the tavern. Pulling his hood down until half of his face was cloaked in shadow, the old vampire opened the door and stepped outside, where he waited for the rest of the group to catch up. If they wanted too, that is. Should no one join him within the next few minutes or so he would simply explore the ruins by himself.

@Raptra @Dark Cloud



Micah thought for a moment how he could answer the question; "We see things others cannot; we can see the seems underneath the fabric of reality" His words were cryptic but it was the best explanation he could give to her. Although now he was becoming more curious about the kind of knowledge he could learn. He turned to the man who wanted to give them their quest; "We are curious what the details of our quest would be?".

"Ruins near here," a small soft voice spoke from a spot under the stairs up to the bedrooms.

"Shouldn't be, haven't any on my maps and my maps are the best in the land...unless maybe...hmmm."

A small plain but pleasant Halfling gets up from where she had been quietly sitting, writing in a notebook and referencing a fold out map she now folded back up and tucked into a simple drawstring backpack. Standing at her full height she is still rather short, perhaps half the height of a normal human. That is likely where the term Halfling came from. Her hair is brownish red, roughly shoulder length, roughly cut, and quite messy. Poorly held back in a ponytail. She is dressed as most Halflings usually are in simple browns and greens and has the standard symbol of Yondalla necklace hanging around her neck. A cornucopia against a green shield.

"I'll go along then yes," she phrased it as a question but meant it as a statement, "Won't hardly notice I'm here, few do."

She trotted up to the bar and placed her bag up atop it for the bartender to keep safe. Precious drawings, maps, studies, naughty little limericks that might get her a meal or a mate in whatever town she found herself in next.

"I'm Malva," she introduced herself walking up amid the group, "I'm quite small, as you may have noticed, so I'm not all that much good in a tiff but I'm pretty quick on my feet and I'm a fast thinker. Don't survive out in the wilds at my size if you aint. Alls I want to do is tag along with you all. Write about what we see, work on my maps, come back here and have a drink and a meal with you fine folks and be on my way. You can keep the gold I just want the experience."

Micah Aarseth

Micah was rubbing his chin of his mask, thinking about his options. On the one hand if he went into the forest, there could be endless amounts of knowledge for him to learn. However, there was a high chance that he would be mauled by some creature in a horrific manner. But the thought of being gifted knowing everything about the universe and magic, was enough to sway his decision. “We would be interested in exploring what the forest has to offer, as long we protect each other from the nasty out there.” The goat man wondered if the others would be included to join him, he assumed they would be enticed by the potential of gold and treasure. “We know much of the supernatural and esoteric magic, so we can be useful warding off bad spirits.” The many years of being in the cult and practising his particular kind of magic, could be useful in dealing with the undead and other eldritch beings that roam the forest.