"It seems a fine option to me. My companion seems pleased you answered her. She seems to have never encountered a half-orc before"
Sanriel mentions as he moves to the bar the monkey clambering about his person as he moves.
"I have no great desire for sustenance, I lost such portions of my humanity long ago. I have simply come to rest for a time, with no need for sleep, food or water such journeys are uniquely monotonous. Breaking that pattern means I am less likely to be surprised on the roads and more versed in the local culture where I travel."
Picking a stool at the bar the undead gingerly seats himself, his companion looking at the near by human with the same half tilted look of curiosity.
"As to my companion being non-violent I doubt that is the case, She was a gift from an employer after indicating a desire to travel with me. She is closer to what is called a Skeletal champion than a normal undead. She is not currently violent as she is curious and I requested she not do anything to deny me my few moments of peace."
Aebin snorts. "Well my kind doesn't flood the streets, but we're not exactly rare either." He raises his brow. "So you're undead too? Well as long as you don't cause trouble I have no stigma with that."
Cyrielle comes in, her arms filled with the fruits of her shopping trip. She looks at the newcomers, her eyes widening, and she quickly retreats down the staff hall to her room. A few minutes later she returns, dressed in a new smock and apron, and looks untrustingly at Sanriel. "Unc'' Aebin, what is that? Why is it here? And do I need to...do I need to get it a drink?"
Jaduf looks at the dead creature with bones made of stone, and looks him up and down carefully, idle thoughts running through his mind, and glances at Aebin as well...
"Is the crowd always..." He gently stops the waitress as she passes, "Hot tea and bread and cheese, if you would be so kind." He looks around again, hesitating slightly, "What was I saying? Oh yes, Is the crowd always so... thin? Is this place always empty or is this just the dilatory period?"
Sanriel nods "I simply interpret what my companion says when she asks it, while I could have told her you were a Half-orc many times reality is not so simple. Perhaps you were a kobold who died and was reincarnated as a human with moss growing under your skin. Were I to simply give her my view of it she would learn nothing more." The skeleton counters as he makes a circling gesture.
"My nature is not so simple, I underwent a ritual long ago to serve as a defender of ancient lands. I react to things similar to undead though, so many do not grasp the difference. Were I a simple undead I would not have retained the power of the land I wield."
With this the skeleton taps one hand on the bar and looks at the newcomer "I am Sanriel, I require no drinks but I appreciate your asking. My companion is requesting an orange if you happen to have any." the antlered humanoid states opal eyes glinting from the fire. A skeletal monkey perched on his shoulder casting a gaze in her direction as well.
"Only need to get him what he asks for Cyrielle." Aebin nods, putting things together in his mind. "Alright. Well I hope you enjoy your stay here." He turns to Jaduf. "It's early yet, things get busier when the sun goes down."
Davi walks out of the servant quarters. She's wearing her standard waitress outfit of a dress and apron, but she's belted her rapier on over it. She saunters over to the kitchen window and leans against it. Her eyes scan the new patrons. "Interesting crowd"
"Hot tea, bread, and cheese. Of course, sir. It'll be just a moment." Cyrielle hustles off to the bar, arriving just in time to hear Davi.
"Sure is! Listen, you take an orange to that creepy skel'ton guy. He wants it for his...monkey. I gotta get some stuff for the guy talkin' to Unc' Aebin."
Jaduf looks confused for just a moment as he realizes the waitress is barely a teenager, and drawls "Well, I can't see why you don't have the early birds banging down the doors...What type of crowds do you usually bring in? Do you have the brawlers, or the quiet drinkers? or maybe you get the drunkards and party horses... Jaduf doesn't seem to have any preference, but seems content to just make idle conversation.
"Can't put just one label on 'em. We get all sorts of types."
"Sure thing little one" Davi grabs an orange and heads for the druid. And I have a new 'weirdest request'; getting an orange for an undead monkey. I love my job.
Davi saunters up Sanriel and holds the orange out to the druid's companion. "One orange as requested" She grins at the druid. "I bet you lead an interesting life"
Jaduf gives Davi a long look as she walks away, his eyes wandering in the way that barmaids are subjected to all the time, and his mouth pulls up at the corners as his mind starts the mental mathematics that years of being a thief and being a suave male without a permanent home really have taught him. His grin grows as the totals begin adding up, and he begins to lean slightly to get a better view.
"Oh, I bet" Jaduf says offhandedly, "I expect that it gets very busy as the day goes on... maybe even more as the night starts." His thoughts begin to wander and he starts to focus less on what his table companions are saying, and more on what Davi is doing….
Aebin rolls his eyes. Great. Hal has competition.
the monkey in question sweeps down the skeletal druids arm looking quite excited in body language over the fruit. Well for a skeleton with no real body to language with that is.
the druid nods to his companion before turning back to the barmaid. "Only some days. Though many who inquire are set aback when I begin speaking on the Herds of spiders I occasionally use to accomplish tasks. I will be interested to see what my companion intends to do with that fruit though." Sanriel states with a lazy air as the monkey in question freezes for a moment and looks at the orange in consideration.
"You didn't think that far ahead did you? the skeleton asks, swiftly answered by a rather rude gesture from the simian.
"Well I don't need to eat either, perhaps you could see if anyone here would like some of it?"
the monkey seems to consider this for a moment looking at the orange and then back to the people in the bar. The skeletal chimp peeling some of it and offering slices to those in the immediate area.
Davi takes the offered slice from the monkey. She looks at it, shrugs, and pops it into her mouth. As she chews she thinks Today just gets more interesting.
"Sooo, herds of spiders huh?" she raises an eyebrow and grins at Sanriel "I hope you left them at home"
Jaduf takes a slice as well when offered, but doesn't eat it. The spider talk makes him raise an eyebrow, and then he full body shivers as it is very disgusting and even his want to be manlyness cannot hide it...
Cyrielle delivers the tea, bread, and cheese to Jaduf's table, watching his eye follow Davi. "Good luck! Hal's been trying to become her special friend for weeks! Say, you're an adventurer, right? Got any fancy trinkets from your adventures?"
Looking at the girl who came to stand almost literally right next to the other waitress, and then starts to call him out on his debauchery. he cannot help but begins to crack up.
"I am an adventurer its true, but I don't really have any fancy trinkets sadly, I mostly go for the practical aspect..." he says between guffaws.
Davi turns around, a wide smile on her face. "Don't ever change Cyrielle" she says fondly. "And as for you sir, well.." Gliding over to Aebin she plops down on the arm of his chair, then drapes herself over him. "..I'm rather full up on 'special friends.' The jealous kind with big muscles" Davi winds a finger through Aebins hair and gives him a simpering look before focusing back on Sanriel. "Now where were we...herds of spiders yes?"
It wasn't the first time Davi used him as a warning to scare off some covetous men, it certainly won't be the last. He rather enjoyed the little game it presented, and when Davi drapes herself across him he puts a hand around her, giving a glance filled with fire to the rogue. Not a threat by any means, but a simple warning to act like a gentleman.
Jaduf raising his eyebrow at this, and drawling a sarcastic apology I am so sorry my friend, I never would have been so forward had I known... Please forgive me...
Looking at Cyrielle, "I blame you for this" he chuckles, "Making such an innocent girl lie...
While the Half-Orc glares evilly at Jaduf, he doesn't get much of a reaction, but the point does get through
Davi puts her face by Aebin's ear and whispers "Did you know I'm very innocent? I'll have to add it to my resume. 'Simple, innocent barmaid' She chuckles softly
"Yes, indeed. I bet you could even get away with it."
"Oh. That's too bad. I've got a whole collection of things in my room. Most of them are things I got from adventurers when they stopped here, but some of them are from my own. I have a bunch of pens, some gold, a ripped-up pants-leg, and a really neat glowing stone! What kinds of adventures have you been on? I bet you fight dragons and orcs and rescue princesses that are much more pretty than Davi!" Cyrielle looks at Davi and sticks her tongue out.
Reib keeps snickering, "Fighting dragons and rescuing princesses huh..." he glances over at Sanriel and smirks, amused...
"Yes I am, I am a mighty hero who faces all of the evils of the world with mighty sword and shield, mounted upon my mighty steed!" he boasts as he cuts a few slices of bread from the loaf,
Davi laughs. "So if someone was keeping me captive, I'm not pretty enough for rescue?" She sighs dramatically. "Alas, no strong rescuers to whisk me off to safety. I guess I'd just have to rescue myself."
Davi laughs. "So if someone was keeping me captive, I'm not pretty enough for rescue?" She sighs dramatically. "Alas, no strong rescuers to whisk me off to safety. I guess I'd just have to rescue myself."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that... Code requires you to at least be a princess." Jaduf simply cannot keep a straight face at all throughout this exchange... I'm sorry about that... My hands are tied, nothing I can do...
Cyrielle rolls her eyes at Jaduf. "Nuh-uh, you've probably never even seen a dragon. Not a big one, anyways. Don't worry, Davi. I'd save you. Oh! I went shopping today and bought some things. You'll like 'em, I promise!" Cyrielle scurries away before Davi can inquire as to the items, looking for another table to wait on.
Jaduf rolls his eyes as she disappears like a shot, and pours himself some tea...
Why in the gods name did they have a waitress like that?
Sanriel looks to the barmaid on his left wearing her meancing coat of orc flesh.
" Yes spiders, herds of them. I did a favor a while back that has made most of them consider me a favored ally. I have yet to give them reason to change their mind. It also permits me to know where they happen to be if they are near. It is quite useful as it permits me to ask them what they know, while the analogy might be a fly on the wall I assure you spider are quite excellent listeners as well. I wonder what the ones on your property might tell me." the stone priest says with a teasing air to his voice
" As to Jaduf's resume I can only make guesses but reversing the verbs might get closer to fact."
"Sure thing little one" Davi grabs an orange and heads for the druid. And I have a new 'weirdest request'; getting an orange for an undead monkey. I love my job.
Davi saunters up Sanriel and holds the orange out to the druid's companion. "One orange as requested" She grins at the druid. "I bet you lead an interesting life"
Interesting would be if they all left without ordering food. Today will hopefully be better then the last. I won't try any more crazy food for awhile at least. he says with a low chuckle.
At the mention of a skeleton, he whips his head around, and sees the newcomer to the bar. His instincts tell him to go grab his sword, as all the tales he heard as a child growing up. He looks closer, and sees that none of his staff or other patrons are in danger. Besides, if Aebin didn't crush him into dust, then he must not be a threat. He keep an eye on the situation. He will never admit it, but Cyrielle and Davi are like the kids he never had.
Sanriel looks to the barmaid on his left wearing her meancing coat of orc flesh.
" Yes spiders, herds of them. I did a favor a while back that has made most of them consider me a favored ally. I have yet to give them reason to change their mind. It also permits me to know where they happen to be if they are near. It is quite useful as it permits me to ask them what they know, while the analogy might be a fly on the wall I assure you spider are quite excellent listeners as well. I wonder what the ones on your property might tell me." the stone priest says with a teasing air to his voice
" As to Jaduf's resume I can only make guesses but reversing the verbs might get closer to fact."
Jaduf jumps up and exclaims "He's caught me! Its true, I befriend the dragons and kidnap princesses! How did you know?" after making this over the top exclamation he sits down, makes and starts eating a sandwich.
A woman enters the tavern. She is wearing an expensive looking winter dress in a northern style, much too warm for this region. She carries several large sacks that seem to be filled with treasure and adventuring gear.
She is sweaty and exhausted.
She stands in the doorway, sets down the sacks she has been hefting and starts glancing around, searching for a waitress or receptionist.
"Hello? I'm looking for a room."
Those icy parts are always the worst. "We've got plenty. You should have a drink, it warms the belly after a long journey in the cold."
"Perfect!"
A relieved smile appears on her face. She hands her backpack to Aebin (either she doesn't understand the difference between a bouncer and a page, or she doesn't care).
She continues talking to the half-orc as she turns her back to him and moves to an empty table, next to the table where the adventuring party sits. "But believe it or not, I don't need to warm my belly. Quite the opposite, in fact. The heat in these clothes is killing me. I'll have the coldest drink you have, with extra ice. And I'll need different clothes. Is there a tailor nearby? Oh, that reminds me," she turns around with an apologetic grimace, "I don't have much money with me. Can I pay with this instead?"
She removes a silver bracelet from her wrist and offers it to Aebin.
Glancing over Jaduf grins,
"It surely is worth it. At least 10 plats." he says with a smile as she slights Aebin. "I agree, those clothes look much to heavy. You should lose those and find something light and airy. Though if you don't accept silver jewelry, I'll buy it off of her and she can pay you with cold hard cash."
The scoundrel spins around with a cup of tea in one hand and a sandwich in the other, and he cannot help but bow his head as a minor introduction of himself
The stone boned horned skeleton sitting at the bar next to the half orc makes little noise but the skeletal chimp on the counter next to him with half a peeled orange looks at the antlered man expectantly.
"well what do you expect me to do"
the monkey in question gestures at the orange, to the man and then to the newly arrived woman splitting the orange into pieces and using the excess skin as an impromptu plate to hold them in
"Fine. With a lazy air the skeleton casts a spell and the recently split orange freezes solid from the pale glow on his hand
The monkey skeleton quickly takes the newly frozen orange slices and motions to the newly arrived spellcaster.
The woman returns the scoundrel's nod and seats herself next to him "I sure should. Hello, I am princess Anastasiya Elvanna, but you may call me Ana. May I ask the name of the man who is so kindly offering to help me out of my monetary shortage?"
Anastasiya takes the frozen frozen slice of orange from the monkey's hand. "Thank you." She smiles politely and starts sucking on the frozen fruit, as she studies the animal and ponders whether she should pet it or not.
"Jaduf Reib" he grins, "Though you might not want to sit next to me, according to this wonderful man right here" indicating Sanriel and his monkey "I kidnap princesses and befriend dragons, so you may be in intrinsic danger from my mere presence Ana.
Jaduf is quite charming, but to trust him is probably a bad idea, and he makes no indication that it would be any different.
The monkey in question being an animated skeleton and not in fact possessing fur would require a bit of a different technique to pet then most creatures. It does however seem to have well polished bones that gleam slightly in the firelight, so there would be little risk of jabbing yourself on something sharp. The self satisfied motions said monkey seems to be making and the creature not shying away from you seem to indicate that an action such as petting it would be appreciated.
"Yes, and defeated by barmaids in casual conversation if that is any indicator to his level of danger to you." The skeleton replies in a cool tone with a degree of amusement to it. The firelight reflecting in the massive opals occupying his eye sockets.
Ana pats the monkey on its skeletal skull.
"Don't worry, I don't judge people for befriending dragons. As long as your dragon friends didn't give you any contagious diseases, we should get along nicely."
"Yes, and defeated by barmaids in casual conversation if that is any indicator to his level of danger to you." The skeleton replies in a cool tone with a degree of amusement to it. The firelight reflecting in the massive opals occupying his eye sockets.
Ana pats the monkey on its skeletal skull.
"Don't worry, I don't judge people for befriending dragons. As long as your dragon friends didn't give you any contagious diseases, we should get along nicely."
"Thwarted and vexed, but never defeated" he argues with the sparkling eyed skeleton.
Ah ah ah... he says with a smile, reaching for his belt pouch. "Lets start with that bracelet. What do you want for it?"
"You mentioned ten platinum coins. That sounds like a fair price to me."
Taking the coins from his belt, he begins to stack them up on the table next to his cheese. "Do you have any idea where the bracelet comes from?" he chats idly as he holds out his hand for the armlet.
"I bought it from a traveling merchant in the linnorm lands, close to the Irrisenian border." She says casually. She hands over the bracelet and points out an engraving on the inside "See that bare-chested Ulfen wrestling a yeti there? Almost pornographic, if you ask me. Easy to overlook between all the decorative patterns. They are full of surprises, those Ulfen people."
Turning the bracelet to examine the engraving, Jaduf's eyebrow raises slightly. "So it is...I admire their culture. Remind me to go visit them sometime. So what exactly is a Princess doing here?"
Sliding the money to her and slipping the jewelry into his pouch he takes a long draught of his tea and turns to face Sanriel, He winks before turning back to Ana
Ana counts the coins and puts them in one of her coat's pockets as she replies:
"Now that is a very good question, Jaduf. I had to tie up a few loose ends from my past." She sucks on her frozen orange slice some more. "You don't know all that much about royalty, do you? Take some notes, for the next time you want to kidnap a princess. My last name is 'Elvanna', as in: princess of the house of Elvanna, witch queen of Irrisen, daughter of Baba Yaga herself. I left Irrisen when I was a child. Needless to say I wasn't on the best terms with most of my family. I wanted to take revenge on them. So I joined the army of this Ulfen ex-adventurer who wanted to re-claim his ancestral home from them. With some luck, me and a couple of other recruits ended up as his 'speakers', so we go on diplomatic missions and crazy behind-enemy-lines-missions to find his heirloom keepsakes, while he and his army wage a full blown war against Irrisen. It was quite an experience, but after all this cold I'm glad to be back in Absalom."
"My last name is Reib" Jaduf retorts, "as in wastrel and waif, homeless and unwanted, poor me.
Grinning in response to the tales of her adventures, he rests his elbow on the table and leans on his hand. "I think that you and your adventures beat mine, I have only ever emptied dens of thieves and goblins, I stay away from wars and diplomacy if I can help it."
This type of man is the one who would slice open the diplomat and wage a war on his own if he thought that it was profitable. He has done more than empty dens of thieves, and he is quite confident in his abilities he is trying to play down his own abilities to flatter you
"You forgot about the dragon befriending and princess stealing. But seriously, staying away from war and diplomacy is a healthy attitude. You should tell that to the younger me, if you ever meet her."
"I'm certain I never will meet the younger you. I know this because you have yet to slap me."