dereken

Empire of Bones

Stealing furtive glances to the bar, Caractacus regretted not having any coin. His stomach grumbled with hunger, and his throat was parched from the long march to the tavern. He certainly couldn't play card games for money like the clown. Unless someone needed a pair of skeletons in the middle of the bar, he was out of luck. With a sigh, Caractacus took a seat at an empty table, and rested his staff against it.

Caractacus swung his gaze over the room, skating over the jester and his crowd, and latching onto an armored figure storming down the stairs. Could this be the knight he was to meet? He stared at the warrior as she took a table close to the staircase, across the living half of the room from him. Caractacus grabbed his staff, and stood. He slowly crossed the room and stopped, standing across the table from her. He spoke with his usual elocution and confidence.. "Uh...hi."

He stood there, letting the greeting stand in the air.

Empire of Bones

I'm ready to proceed whenever, so, you know, I'm game.

Empire of Bones

Caractacus scowled as the jester went inside. He was hardly pissing himself. He just had some trouble formulating words was all. Anyone would after so long in isolation, really. He would have to think of a few choice words for the jester next time he saw him. Which would most likely be soon, as they were working the same job.

Caractacus then looked to the slith, she seemed at least a little more at ease, which was decent news. She took a look back at the forest before approaching him. Or the door. Definitely the door. Caractacus watched her approach, but didn't speak. He instead waited for a response to the question he posed. Whether or not the jester answered for her, it would be better to hear it from the slith herself. She was about to head in when she stopped, and spoke.

"If that is your true reason for wanting to fight the Lich, then that is commendable. But it will be dangerous..." She locked him with a gaze that shot through to his core, and continued. "So you must be strong enough, or it could be fatal for all of us. You understand?"

"I u-under-- The door slammed shut, cutting short his response. Caractacus sighed; he understood what it would take to succeed. It was all planned out, and as long as he followed the plan, nothing, not even the pit of fear sitting low in his stomach, would stop him from achieving his goals. Reassured, Caractacus pulled open the door, and slipped inside. He took a place close to, but not quite on, the undead side.

Empire of Bones

Welcome home! Party time! Woo!

Empire of Bones

Caractacus takes a step back. Coward? Is that the impression he gave? It certainly wasn't a flattering description, but it was better than outright hostility and lynching. He shook his head. "I am t-taking this job because it's the right th-thing to do. W-we have to stop the lich and his uh, undead. And all the other bad stuff." He nodded. That would be a sufficient explanation, right? Something a hero would say, surely.

Caractacus leans down to pick up his staff. "Besides, I d-don't need to be physically strong wh-when I have my mind and my m-magic. It will p-protect me." He once again tried a smile. He's not very confident looking. "I underst-st-stand I don't make a good first impression, h-heh, but I am truly quite capable."

Caractacus was about to turn to go inside, when a thought struck him. "W-wait. You never answered my question. What are y-you here for?"

Empire of Bones

Peering closer at the man of the rooftop, Caractacus was surprised by his face, and his state of dress. The man looked like a clown, costume and all. It was almost comical were it not for the poisonous edge to the man's words. Caractacus once again found himself having to formulate unexpected answers for unexpected questions. It was very tiring. He supposed he could use something similar to his original plan.

"Well, I'm-I'm here for a job. Like you. He looks at the slith. "And you, maybe, if you are here for that, that is. Maybe. S-so why not we all just go inside, and get food, and drink, and wait for the guy who's hiring? No tr-troubles. Heh." He tried another smile, this one seemed more genuine. Caractacus gestured at the doorway. By now it was only very early in the morning, someone was bound to be awake, and a witness, in there.

Empire of Bones

Caractacus didn't even notice the shadow, he was too focus on studying the Slith. He hadn't met any in person, and perhaps now was the only time to take mental notes on her anatomy and physiology. She had taken an odd stance. Was it defensive? Of course! He had been all on his own outside the tavern, he must seem like some sort of creep. 'Of course, I kind of am a creeper...' he thinks, as he prepares to take a step forward, further into the light.

Caractacus was interrupted when the Slith spoke up. "Don't try anything, I'll plant an arrow in your chest before you can draw your weapon." He froze. His mind started racing; should he go on the attack, with magic missiles? Or try to talk things out? If things didn't work out right here right now, it would mean back to a life of exile, something he couldn't stand. No violence then. He would formulate a response that would be both charming and disarming.

As he worked out what he would say to the Stranger, she cut him off as he was about to speak. "What business is it of yours?"

"Um--I--" He starts to stammer out a response, but she continued.

"If you are so interested in what I am here for, you could do me the courtesy of telling me why you're lurking in the shadows at this ungodly time." She nodded upward, at something else. "And the same goes for you."

Caractacus looks up. He didn't even notice the man on the roof. He couldn't have, from his original position leaned against the tavern. Perhaps he was what set her off. Caractacus sets down his staff, and raises his hands. "I-I assure you, miss, or uh, madam, or...anyways, I assure you that me and him aren't--that is, I don't kn-know who he is. I was just w-waiting here because I arrived quite early in the morning, and I, aheh, didn't want to seem r-rude by barging in to demand a room." He lets out a nervous laugh.

Empire of Bones

Caractacus whiled away the time, planning and rehearsing what he would say. It'd been a while since he had to have a proper conversation with someone, and he didn't want to mess things up. 'Greetings' would be a good start. Or maybe just 'Hello'. He didn't want to seem to formal. Or maybe he did, and it would help his image as a wizard. Caractacus's thoughts chased through his head in much the same manner, and as time went on, his eyelids lowered, and he started to doze.

Jumping suddenly, Caractacus was snapped awake by a voice calling out. "Hello, who's there?" He looked around quickly for the source of the voice, and saw it right in front of him. A slith, approaching the tavern. Staring, he was stunned for a moment. He hadn't anticipated being approached from the outside. Caractacus threw his hand up in a clumsy wave, and tried to make a smile, but it looked more like a grimace. "G-greetings! Or, uh...hello! I'm C-Caractacus, w-wizard, and uh..." He trails off. He had no idea who this was or what she might want. Better not to say too much. "Wh-what brings you here?"

Empire of Bones

Thanks a ton. I was all excited to play a necromancer I forgot about general magical stuff.

Bam, edited.

Empire of Bones

Would it be alright if I gave Caractacus another power? Nothing special, just like, a magic missile spell.