Those already crowded into the tavern raise their drinks in a bawdy "Here here!". Of course, some of the residents say "I'll drink to that.", but they are the sort that will take any excuse to drink. Ameiko's staff grins at the cleric, and Ameiko goes so far as to personally get him a drink, tapping a keg and bringing the frothy beverage to the table.
Once there, she winks at Herri, "I'll see you get the first cut, good sir, if for no other reason that to spite this one." She jerks her thumb in Bellamy's direction, wide grin on her face.
Nover keeps a keen mind choosing not to let the ale get the best of him. That being said he still has a few drinks, a bit of boar, and several sides. He raises his mug to Ameiko, but not for another drink.
"A toast to the chef for this lovely meal. We may have felled the beast, but who else could cook it so well? Ms. Ameiko, we thank you for this lovely meal."
Elaina gracelessly raises her glass, spilling some of its contents. It probably wasn't her first glass. "Hear hea-whoops! Ameiko, Ameiko! Did our boar win any prizes? Most stabbed boar ever? I think everyone got a hit in 'cept miss Zelladanyia. She stopped it with her abs of steel."
Zella looks over to Elaina. "Though dancing does keep one toned, I would exactly say that may abs are of steel. That boar would surely have hurt less if they were."
After a few glasses of wine and a bit of boar, Zella decides it is time for some entertainment. "I believe I promised to sing tonight if we caught a boar, so, I should get to work on fulfilling that."
Zella sings a rousing song that celebrates a group of successful and mighty hunters.
Herri smiles at Ameiko as he accepts the drink and then displays a awkward grin faintly at Bellamy before dinner.
Herri doesn't talk much more this evening but eats and fills his belly before leaving the table,
"It has been a wonderful evening and I thank you all. Now off to take a look at our fortunes and to a good nights sleep. Good night all."
Elaina jumps up and grabs both Herri's hands, spinning around him. "Stay Herri! You always go off on your own don't you love us anymore? Dance with me!"
Herri hesitates... grabs Elaina's hand and heads back toward the party.
"Ok OK It's just my studying."
Elaina convinces Herri to spin across the floor a few times with her, and makes a reasonable accounting of himself. He is not at all like the fumble-footed clerics that one always heard about.
Ameiko is in the back, helping and directing the kitchen staff, while the semi-party gets rolling. Everyone enjoys some ale and boar, and the Rusty Dragon is loud and festive as the doors bang open. An older Minkai man enters the Inn, dressed in finely-made grey robes. His eyes sweep the room as he slowly walks forward, as though he is looking for someone. As he nears your table, he does a double-take, then narrows his eyes at your group.
He levels a finger at you all and says loudly, in a thick Minkaian accent, "You fools endangered the town with your antics against the goblins, and now you celebrate the killing of a pig. You should leave the defense of the town to the trained professionals. Perhaps you should even leave altogether!"
Seeing the angry man and no Ameiko around to save them, Elaina staggers into action. She continues to dance as she approaches him but miscalculates her velocity and ends up leaning her back against the well-dressed man, craning her neck back to look up at him.
"He-eey buddy, I'm Ameiko and this is my inn! Don't talk to my customers like that they've paid five years in advanced they can't leave! Where would they live?"
Rolling his eyes the dwarf steps forward.
"Ignore her sir, and I can assure you that at least I am a trained professional. Nover Romux, 3rd infantry in the service to the Five Kings Mountains. Before I left it was my job to kill goblins. I have been trained to do so in the tunnels of my homeland, fighting them on the surface is different and challenging. However I've gotten a bit rusty since settling down in this sleepy town. I almost forgot how to swing a hammer."
Nover laughs a bit trying to keep Elaina from making a fool of herself.
Gesturing to the man to take a seat at the table where he had been sitting the dwarf makes an offer.
"How about I buy you a drink sir? If you don't mind sitting with a few rabble rousers."
The man's eyes narrow as the spirited dancer runs into him. He ignores her and responds to Nover with a harsh barking laugh. "Yes, just what this town needs. A washed-up dwarf babysitting a bunch of drunks. No wonder this town is going downhill."
At this point, Ameiko comes out from the back, a dripping soup ladle in her hand. She surveys the situation quickly and confronts the man, jabbering at him in Minkai. The man quickly retorts, pointing a finger at her and sweeping it around at all the patrons.
Herri stops all actions and stares at the visitor.
"Sir, may I ask who you are and why a man so far from home speaks so disfavorably of our actions and accomplishments."
Herri thinks, What skin does this guy have in the landscape here and where has he come from? Does anyone know him?
Nover sighs, this man is not very friendly at all. He cracks his knuckles and interjects between the two arguing people.
"'Scuse me boss. Good sir, I have one other job here and that is to deal with rude and obnoxious people. I ask you to apologize to my drunken friends, have a drink on me, smile a bit and be friendly or the next time you do smile you'll be missing some teeth. Insult me all you like I could care less, insult my friends and you deal with me, and I have a reputation around here for being one of the toughest sonnovaliches around."
He cracks his neck.
"So what do you choose?"
Rather annoyed that the stranger has interupted her rather fine singing, Zella watches as Ameiko and Nover deal with the troublesome hater of music.
Ameiko pauses long enough to hold up her hand to Nover, indicating she will handle this troublesome customer. She and the man continue to jabber back and forth, the conversation turning more heated. The man reaches forward, attempting to grab Ameiko's hair. Ameiko pulls out of his grasp and whacks him across the face with the ladle, sending it flying.
The man stands there in stunned silence, then says in a low, menacing voice, "You are as dead to me as your mother." He then turns and swiftly out the door.
Ameiko stands there for a moment, tears welling in her eyes. She then stoops down, picks up the ladle, and shrugs, forcing a grin. "I'll have to go wash this, since jackass stew wasn't on the menu for tonight." A loud cheer sounds at this proclamation.
Elaina puts an arm around Ameiko's waist, unaware of the implications or seriousness of the conversation between the two Tian. "Good job Elaina, we showed him. Nover, you're fired! She's my new bouncer."
Herri shocked and surprised gave Ameiko a wink and a nod of accomplishment before responding,
"Wow, nice job... I think. There is no way he is your father, right?"
Ameiko snorts in amusement at Elaina's proclamation, turning a sad smile upon the dancer. She then looks to Herri, shrugging in what is supposed to be nonchalance. "He was, I suppose. Oh well, I wasn't interested in running the Glassworks, anyway." This sounds quite sincere, as it is well known that Ameiko loves running the Rusty Dragon.
Elaina has obviously had too much to drink, she needs to be cut off. He stays silent throughout the ordeal of Ameiko hitting her once father with the ladle.
"Elaina, I think you seem to be forgetting to read the room. Next thing you drink better be a glass of water. Regardless I should probably be the one to walk you home again so you don't stumble into an alley somewhere."
Glassworks huh? Might have to check that out sometime.
Moments after Ameiko's father storms out of the inn, a young female dwarf enters the establishment. Dressed in clothes long warn from the weary road she cuts what some would call a distinguished figure, not pretty but also no so homely as to be pitied. For but a moment she stands in the door, resting on an old gnarled staff, before slowly approaching a table and sitting.
Elaina leaves Ameiko's side to press a finger to Nover's lips. "Shh. You have no power here anymore." She laughs, spinning and dancing around the grouchy dwarf, before noticing the newcomer. "Looook Nover, it's another dwarf!" She dances to the dwarfs' table, snatching up a cup on her way and gently setting it on the table in front of the new girl. "You're SO much nicer than the last person that came in! I'm Ameiko, this is my inn. We're having a party, there's bacon. You can have some."
Zella remarks to Nover: "I think Elaina has had more than enough to drink tonight. I'd suggest not serving her anything else but water tonight."
Ameiko looks very amused at Elaina's antics, and does nothing to correct her. She just takes her ladle and retreats to the back.
Enna stares at the small human and breathes deeply for a second and shakes her head. Speaking in a tone that only Elaina can make out through the normal tavern noises, "I'm sorry dear, but you will have to try harder than that. I met Ameiko out at the fair this day, and saw you as well. You may be a band of hero's that fought off a minor goblin incursion, but don't you waste such a good deed by deciding to make a fool of yourself as well. Now, if you will be so kind as to sit with me and let the alcohol that fairly sails forth with every breath you take subside, you may start again with the introduction when you are sober." Enna motions for the young lady to pull up a seat and then begins looking around for a proper barmaid.
Herri thinks no more of Ameiko's family troubles but begins to concentrate on Elaina. He laughs at Elaina as she has obviously lost her calm in the drink. I am glad she convinced me to stay
"Well all what a night. What else could possibly happen?"
Elaina plops down next to the sorceress, looks around slyly, then leans in to whisper to her "I'm her body double. She's hiding from the gray man he's trying to take her away. Don't tell anyone." She leans back and gives dwarf a very self-satisfied grin, obviously immensely pleased with herself.
Bowing slightly to the dwarf woman Nover introduces himself.
"Ah, good evening Ma'am, I am Nover the bartender can I get you anything to drink? And I apologize but our drinking friend here is not staying at this establishment. She is spending her nights at the White Deer. I live not too far from there so I've been guiding her home every night. Although tonight she might want a bed here instead, I'm not sure if Ameiko has a wheelbarrow I can borrow."
Enna nods to Nover. "She keeps up and she will be sleeping on the floor instead of a bed." She shoots a disapproving glance in Elaina's direction. "Little matter for you to apologize for though, a fool who knows not when to stop drinking will find less joy in their sober moments. You on the other hand seem to be a man of honor and taste, hard worker as well I would imagine. You will make some lady a fine life companion some day, I am sure your matron is swamped with requests." No hint of secondary meaning is apparent in Enna's voice, she seems to only mean an honest compliment of Nover's character. "I will be content to have a tankard of good ale and a bowl of stew, and if you can see your way to a good chunk of bread as well it would be appreciated."
Nodding quickly Nover fetches the items.
"Ah, if only life were so simple. My parents had their clan name stripped from them for marrying for love instead of position. I've tried to make a name for myself in the military but lost my cool in the heat of the moment and left. Supposedly I've been blessed by Trudd as I am one of the lucky few battleragers."
He chuckles for a moment before continuting. "Technically I'm in exile, but that means I can live freely in a small town like this. Surrounded by friends, good people, and good food. I've also had some time to practice the ancient craft of brewing, unfortunately my latest brew is all gone due to the festival."
"A tale of woe then, it will take a while to carve out a new name. Steady toil and determination are a much needed trait. I am sure you will find a way to bring redemption to your name." Enna places a gold coin upon the table to the right of her tankard. "I am called Enna, Daughter of the Line of Haron, late of the City of Magnimar. I am a wandering scholar and healer by trade, here to study the ruins of the grand empire of ancient Thassilon. Any help you can provide with local information would be well rewarded" A second gold coin joins its brother upon the table.
"Why are dwarves so grouchy and serious all the time?" She lays her head on the table and pouts while the dwarves talk until Enna mentions Magnimar, to which she responds by sitting bolt upright, slamming a tiny fist against the table and exclaiming "That harlot so-called dancer went to Magnimar and ruined everything! Now I don't have a job!" She stares angrily off into space, then gasps at a profound realization. "I don't have a job, I could help you! I know lots of stuff, ask me somethin'. What's 'Thassilon'?"
Nover smiles at the woman.
"Then I am glad to have met you Lady Enna. My tale is not of woe, why should one dwell for too long on the past? We look to the past so we do not repeat past mistakes correct? As for information I'm not too keen on it, my head isn't full of rocks but I haven't spent much time reading dusty old tomes."
Patting Elaina on the head he offers an idea.
"Perhaps you could sing and dance with Zella for coin? That should be able to tide you over for a bit. Perhaps our adventure with the goblins is far from over and we could all go on an adventure?"
"No no no. Zella has a much better..." she cups her hands a few inches from her chest and flexes her fingers a few times. "Uhh...personality than I do. No one would like me next to her. Thas why she won the dance contest. I would just drag her down."
Enna does not share Nover's smile, her stoic expression seems to have been chiseled in to her features. She stills slides both coins over to Nover for her meal. "If you hear of anyone else searching out ruins of Thassilon, or remember something that may aid in my studies, I would be most appreciative. Thank you very much for the service Nover, and may your arm be strong and your mind dutiful."
Herri listening by the whole time gathers up another drink and interrupts the conversation,
"Enna there is no need for trade of gold for information. I hear you have come from my home city of Magnimar. I would be glad to share my knowledge of Sandpoint and I am sure my friends here will as well."
Herri looks around excitedly and continues on endlessly about their adventures with goblins, Mr. Foxglove, skeletons, and the boar. He finishes and then we met you, what a great few days.
"Wait, what? I won based on skill, not the size of my chest."
Picking up the coins, the smile still on his face he places them in the till and returns with the change. Recalling the small adventures they have had Nover chuckles.
"Hah, these last few days will make fine memories. And Elaina "personality" as you call it doesn't always win. I'm sure that Zella won with more than that. A well planned routine and hard work will always beat talent if talent doesn't work hard. You both have talent and you both work very hard at your craft, the audience just favored a more local dance during the festival. In other lands your dance would have surely won out."
Enna sits and listens to Herri's story politely, allowing him to ramble on as he will.
Elaina blushes and looks down sheepishly. "It's not... I didn't mean.... I'm tired, aren't you guys tired? What time is it? I'm gonna...go to bed. It was nice to meet you, Enna." She stands, nearly topples over, then sits back down. " I think I ate too much."
Holding his hands up in case he had to catch the bard Nover, once she's stable he puts his hands down.
"Whoa there Ms. Elaina, would you like to return to the White Deer or would you like to spend the night here? If you need to return to the White Deer I can escort you home."
"I wanna stay here I've never stayed here before." She rises to her unsteady feet and leans heavily on Nover. "Can we send a messenger bird to Mister Viskalai? He's worries about me."
After Nover gets Elaina settled down in the Rusty Dragon, everyone goes to their rooms and gets a sound night's sleep after the busy events of the day. Again the party is awakened by the smells of breakfast cooking in the kitchen and coffee brewing. To those descending, it appears that today's breakfast consists of ham steaks, omelets, and toast.
Zella wakes up, once again to the lovely smell of breakfast. After cleaning up and fixing her hair, Zella skips down the stairs and makes her way to the common room to eat.
To whomever is working behind the counter this morning, Zella asks for a plate with a bit of everything upon it.
Enna seems to have beat everyone downstairs... even the wait staff. It is almost as if she had stayed downstairs all night, awake and reading a small book. She nods as Zella makes her way downstairs and points to a seat a crossed from her. The plate of toast and egg in front of her seems to have been well nibbled upon already. "Come, sit, we did not speak much last night with Herri's storytelling and I wish to rectify that oversight. You are the dancer yes?"
Zella sits down beside the lady dwarf and sets her plate upon the table.
"I do not call myself a dancer. I call myself an entertainer and dancing is just one of my talents. Perhaps you missed my singing last night, I do not think I noticed when you came in. I may have had a bit too much too drink myself."
Elaina wakes feeling terrible and confused. She's not entirely sure what happened last night, but this doesn't feel like her bed. She tries to sit up to ascertain her location but decides she doesn't care when her headache gets much worse very quickly. She snuggles up to a pillow and buries her head under the rest seeking sleep.
Like every morning Nover started his day with a small prayer to the protector, an apple, some bread, some cheese, and an apple to spare. Grabbing the scrap of paper with his recipe on it he's out the door. The air is fresh, the sun is shining, it's going to be a good day. Getting in the door his smile stays on his face.
"Morning everybody, and how are you lovely ladies today? You seem to be short one, but I can imagine she's going to have a massive headache. Morning to you as well Herri."