A Spanish looking man walks into the bar. He eyes the room with his squinty eyes. His hands holding his Trumpet and his wallet, he walks to the bar. He says to the Barmaid "Greetings. My name is Juan Guadalupe Hidalgo San Martinez Diego Del Fuego La Rosa Bein Rodriguez The Fifth. I would like a drink." He says to her.
After receiving his drink, he compliments her hair and calls her beautiful. Then he tips her graciously. He begins viewing the bar room for other people.
A pale looking woman with stark red hair walks into the bar shortly after. She wears a pair of what look like sunglasses as she scans the bar. She is wearing a breast plate and a black cloak. From what you can see on her shoulder the holy symbol of Phrasma can be seen as a birthmark. A heavy repeating is slung across her back. She eyes the Spanish man at the bar as she sits on one of the tables taking off her glasses. Her yellow eyes continue to scan the room. It is obvious after looking at her that she is a vampire hunter and more than likely a darn good one.
"Oh my goodness gracious, are you a vampire hunter? I could tell by your birthmark that looks like Pharasma, your yellow squinty eyes, your large breastplate and black cloak, and your ever-so-heavy crossbow on your back! Tell me, how many have you slain of the foul beasts of thine kinship?" Juan the Fifth asks Talmira, totally ignoring the previously mentioned barmaid that Juan the Fifth struck a conversation with.
"Oh, I do apologize, my name is Juan Guadalupe Hidalgo San Martinez Diego Del Fuego La Rosa Bein Rodriguez The Fifth. What is your name?" Juan the Fifth asks.
Edric is sitting at the bar when the others arrive, sitting on the stool like a crouching monkey, his feet on the chair. His hair and face are unkempt, his armor travel stained, but otherwise he looks clean, if a little underfed. He clasps his bowl of soup, drinking sparingly from it while he watches two men scam money with obviously loaded dice. He looks up as the vampiric woman enters the room, and jumps from his chair and slides to a more defensible table, never turning his back on this new creature. He also manages to do this without spilling a single drop of soup. Excuse me miss, but if you don't mind, what are you?
"Dear lad, are you blind? She's quite obviously some sort of Dhampir or perhaps a Tiefling. That is quite literally a holy birthmark of Pharasma, and you my good man, look to be something along the lines of a human, but something seems off. Tell me, what is your name? Mine is Juan Guadalupe Hidalgo San Martinez Diego Del Fuego La Rosa Bein Rodriguez The Fifth."
I am Edric. You have a long name. What's a Dhampir?
"Think of it like a Half Vampire, Edric."
Oh, ok. What's a vampire?
"... What kind of rock have you been living under?"
Sandstone, mostly. At least, that's what the roof of the coliseum was made of
Talmira looks over to the two men that have approached her. I have lost count of the many I have slain. It appears more show up no matter how many I slay. I go by Talmira. I suppose that someone that has not seen such a creature of the night would not know that even a half bastard child like myself still lusts for blood of others although I have trained in controlling that urge. The Dhampire replies as a smirk of amusement crosses her face as they banter on about what a vampire is.
Edrics hands clench on the...unusual weapons at his sides. Blood-lust... He smiles, eerily childishly. Those are the fun ones. He lets go of his grip...on one weapon, to extend his hand to the slayer. Edric. Trainers and the pit master called me Axehand.
"Axehand? What a fitting name! But is that all your name is? What of your family? Your father and mother? Do they not have a name? And what of you, Talmira? What of your family? Are you disgraced by them and only go by one name?"
Natashia enters the bar and has a look around. She sees the Dhampir and does not look too please to see the woman. She also see the short human man chatting with a taller man.
"Excuse me gentleman? Might I inquire as to what the "thing" is doing in here? Natashia says gesturing to the Dhampir.
"Apparently, he's climbed out of a sandstone whole in the ground to... I don't know... fight? Eat? Make love to a beautiful Orc? By the way, my name is Juan Guadalupe Hidalgo San Martinez Diego Del Fuego La Rosa Bein Rodriguez The Fifth, what is yours?"
The Dhampiric woman looks over to the elf that has entered the bar. A small look of disgust crosses her eyes. My now I did not realize that there was still people that were disgusted in ones like me that keep them from getting sucked into a bone dry husk. She leans back in her chair with a slight chuckle. Also if we go by sterotypes I am evil, the Spaniard is a manwhore, and you are a prude.
Edric, a mild looks of confusion on his face as he sips his soup, asks Whats a Manwhore? And what's a spaniard? And a prude? Prude sounds like prune, which are tasty. Are they food? Do they taste good too?
Talmira can not help but burst out laughing at Edric's remark holding her gut. Oh my lord...someone must teach this boy. For I was probably about 102 when he was born.
"Oh Well if you must know I am Nastashia Geneviere. My father spent his life riding the world of evil and those created by evil. Seeing one of your kind not trying to harm an innocent took me back. I apologize if I offended you. As for the simpleton over here. I'm the prude as most elves apparently are prudish. Oh and Spaniard, keep it in your pants. I'm not interested in you in the slightest.Nastashia says as she takes a seat.
"I never expected for such a lady-like elf to be so brash and brazen! Why, I'm willing to bet that our friend Edric doesn't like being called a simpleton!"
Keep what in his pants? The prunes? That's disgusting!Edric stammers as he slides away from Juan. And Juan is right. My name is Edric, not simpleton. Just because I have lived in fighting pits until last week doesn't mean that I am stupid. I just don't know these words you people use.
"It's Juan the Fifth. My Great-Great-Grandfather was Juan."
At this point Talmira is laughing so hard she begins to cry wiping her eyes. Oh by Phrasma this is the funniest thing I have hears in ages.
Natashia waves at the barmaiden in hopes to order some food and beverage. She is not competely sure about the companions she will be traveling along side. Being sent here to meet up with them against her will had not set well with Natashia. He parents insisted she hone her skills and the best way was in the company of others. However, with in the last few days the hilt she had been given by her father to play with as a small child had suddenly come to life in her hand. She could hear it in her thoughts and some how Natashia was able to will the hilt to become a scimitar.
The hilt was from a crypt her father had help clear of the undead over 100 yrs ago. He thought it nothing more than a piece of junk when he put it in his bag to bring home for his children to play with on cold days. When Natashia was sent off to the academy to master her arcane powers she took the hilt with her as to have a piece of home no matter where life took her.
"Well then, drinks all around? I think that would be a idea."
So thus, Juan the Fifth orders alcoholic drinks for everyone at the table except for Natashia.
"Thank you, my dear." Juan the Fifth says to the barmaid.
Talmira will take the drink and down it in small sips. As she does not want to get to much in her system. As she watches the party she thinks back to what life was like before she became a vampire hunter.
She used to be a daughter to a wealthy woman that had loved a vampire. Her father would visit on nights when the high council was in meetings and not watching over his clan. One night he was found out and the vampires killed both her mother and her father as punishment. They knew nothing of her as she had been out with some school mates. When she came home she had vowed she would cut down as many vampires as she could in her lifetime if it meant saving families from dealing with the pain she dealt with.
She finishes her drink as she stops reflecting to watch her new companions now sure why they have been brought together.
Thank you Juan. I can't thank you enough, as I doubt I could afford my own with what little provisions I have left
"Do you not have any provisions? Perhaps we should buy you dinner as well..." Juan the Fifth says as he trails of at the end.
Well, the only things I have are my gear I stole from the arena when they let me go. That, and a few gifts from some mages I guarded on the road into town. When it comes to food and water, most of the time I forage or go hungry. In between sentences he quaffs his ale like its the last he'll ever have.
"Arena? Mages? This sounds like an interesting story that I would love to hear some time. Tell me, what are your thoughts on the undead?" Juan asks the whole table.
As in zombies and skeletons? Some of the popular fighters were brought back like that for more entertainment...disgusting. Kill 'em all, I say. Hell, get some cleric or something to turn them on each other, save us the work
Depends on what you mean. Being half myself, the ones that are evil and kill others for sport I despise. Others that mind their own I could careless for. She mutters.
My father has dedicated his life to slaying undead. I have no issues with slaying them where they stand. Natashia says quietly.
Uh... well then... That's nice to know." Juan the Fifth says while laughing sheepishly.
Juan the 5th, why do you inquire about our feeling on the undead? Is there some bit of information you have for us all? Natashia asks in a soft voice.
"Nothing special. Long story short, I have... like... 5 skeletons that think I'm a good guy and are willing to be pulled from their separate plane of existence to serve me for a few minutes. Like I said, nothing special." Juan the Fifth says as though the ability to summon the undead isn't a feat in and of itself.
Interesting indeed, a summoner or at least you can perform some basic summoning feats.
"Ah, the subtle nuances that allow me to bring forth whatever I so desire. You must admit, it is quite enjoyable." Says Juan the Fifth.
would not know. I have a very small amount of magic to draw upon.
"Ah, that is a shame. You should pick up a book or something. Maybe it'll do you some good."
I have never had a natrual knack for it. Most of the spells I know I learned from my trainers that taught me everything I know about magical arts and the best ways to kill and torture vampires.
Try being sent off to an academy to learn your craft and be forced to study day in and day out. Not only was I sent to learn the arcane arts but I also had to master how to use my weapon to deliver my spells to my target. Natashia says as she looks around the room taking in the other patrons.
She wonders who else will be joining this little party and exactly what her purpose is on the adventure. This was Natashia's first time being truly alone since she had left the academy only a few short months ago.
"Ah, so you are trained in the arts of the Magus, eh Natashia? You don't see those everyday. And Talmira, what do you mean by "Torture Vampires?" Don't you ususally "shoot first, ask questions while shooting" style of interrogation?"
Usually yes, however when myself and the Inquisition need to find a big shot we have to do certain things to get them to talk. Do not want to kill the only link we had to catching big shots that kidnap girls and eat em or make them into Asmodeun whores.
"Ah, yes. Asmodeus. Not many people like him." Juan comments.
Yes Juan I am a magus and have spent years honing my powers and skills. Perhaps I could show you sometime exactly how shilled I am. I'm sure there's a training yard some place near by. she replies politely.
Natashia is still not sure about the damphir that sits at the table with her but she's certain that Juan and Edric are safe enough.
You all are using several words unfamiliar to me, but I think I understand most of it. It seems that all of us, in clouding myself, are at some level are able...think things and make them real