She was startled out of her reverie by someone else approaching the fire. She bowed slightly and stepped a little to the side.
"Please forgive me. I did not mean to be hogging the fire. I am still not accustomed to the cold," she added apologetically.
"Hmm? Oh - no problem at all. It seems like a large enough fire to accomodate several people. You look like you could use the heat too, so please - no need to move on my account."
"Actually, I was coming over to ask you a question, if you'll pardon the brazenness," the stranger says with a smile. "I noticed that you've brought your work with you, pointing at the grease on the coveralls, and was hoping you might be a vehicle mechanic. I'm new here, and could use a friendly pointer to a place to get a reliable ride to get around on."
He looks to be human, dressed in a duster, underneath which appears to be a dark gray, form-fitting outfit. The outline of it is broken up by a large belt at his waist, with lots of seemingly mechanical objects stored in it.
She was startled out of her reverie by someone else approaching the fire. She bowed slightly and stepped a little to the side.
"Please forgive me. I did not mean to be hogging the fire. I am still not accustomed to the cold," she added apologetically."Hmm? Oh - no problem at all. It seems like a large enough fire to accomodate several people. You look like you could use the heat too, so please no need to move."
"Actually, I was coming over to ask you a question, if you'll pardon the brazenness," the stranger says with a smile. "I noticed that you've brought your work with you, pointing at the grease on the coveralls, and was hoping you might be a vehicle mechanic. I'm new here, and could use a friendly pointer to a place to get a reliable ride to get around on."
She blushed a little as she realized how dirty her clothing was. "Heh. Guess I forgot to wash up. I'm new in town myself. I only got here this morning. But I have a job as a mechanic next door. My boss is a dwarf named Thorg. He might know where you can buy a vehicle. He's not really the talkative type, but he seems pretty decent. You can ask him in the morning. If you find something old I can fix it up for you. Heck, I can build you a skimmer out of spare parts if you have enough of them," she added with a grin. "My name is Aananda," she added holding out a hand.
She is a petite human girl in her late teens, obviously of asian descent. Her clothing is clearly too lightweight for this climate. She wears her dark hair pulled up into a loose ponytail, presumably to keep it out of her face while she works.
Finding the place easily, Ryo walks in and takes a look around. He spots Tamrin over by the fire talking to a women, and decides not to disturb him. He finds an empty booth, and orders a large bowl of soup and a drink that would make a white dragon breath steam.
She blushed a little as she realized how dirty her clothing was. "Heh. Guess I forgot to wash up. I'm new in town myself. I only got here this morning. But I have a job as a mechanic next door. My boss is a dwarf named Thorg. He might know where you can buy a vehicle. He's not really the talkative type, but he seems pretty decent. You can ask him in the morning. If you find something old I can fix it up for you. Heck, I can build you a skimmer out of spare parts if you have enough of them," she added with a grin. "My name is Aananda," she added holding out a hand.
He smiles back and takes her hand, giving it a friendly shake.
"I'd be grateful for the help. I 've got no problems with finding a a fixer-upper, if your offer's good. My name's Tamrin - please to meet you Aananda."
He looks over at his table, noting that some of his food is starting to show up.
"Oh that looks good...you're welcome to sit a spell with me when you get your bones warmed up. Eating alone is horrible for the digestion, from what I'm told. Unless you've already eaten, of course..."
She blushed a little as she realized how dirty her clothing was. "Heh. Guess I forgot to wash up. I'm new in town myself. I only got here this morning. But I have a job as a mechanic next door. My boss is a dwarf named Thorg. He might know where you can buy a vehicle. He's not really the talkative type, but he seems pretty decent. You can ask him in the morning. If you find something old I can fix it up for you. Heck, I can build you a skimmer out of spare parts if you have enough of them," she added with a grin. "My name is Aananda," she added holding out a hand.He smiles back and takes her hand, giving it a friendly shake.
"I'd be grateful for the help. I 've got no problems with finding a a fixer-upper, if your offer's good. My name's Tamrin - please to meet you Aananda."
He looks over at his table, noting that some of his food is starting to show up.
"Oh that looks good...you're welcome to sit a spell with me when you get your bones warmed up. Eating alone is horrible for the digestion, from what I'm told. Unless you've already eaten, of course..."
"No, I was just waiting for my food. Looks like the waitress likes you better," she added with a wink. "And the offer is definitely good. No point in being a mechanic if you can't do the work. And since my other plans didn't work out..." she trailed off with a grimace. "Well, never mind. That's not important now."
"No, I was just waiting for my food. Looks like the waitress likes you better," she added with a wink. "And the offer is definitely good. No point in being a mechanic if you can't do the work. And since my other plans didn't work out..." she trailed off with a grimace. "Well, never mind. That's not important now."
"I think it's just because I paid for a room before coming in here, but I could be wrong," he says with a shrug as he looks at the bar. He turns back around and notes her grimace.
"Well, looks like we may have both had a rough day, if that looks is any indicator. If you're warm enough now, why don't we sit down and fight off a cold windy night with some hot food and good conversation."
He pulls out a chair for her, then makes sure the dinners get relocated appropriately, and in a timely manner.
"No, I was just waiting for my food. Looks like the waitress likes you better," she added with a wink. "And the offer is definitely good. No point in being a mechanic if you can't do the work. And since my other plans didn't work out..." she trailed off with a grimace. "Well, never mind. That's not important now.""I think it's just because I paid for a room before coming in here, but I could be wrong," he says with a shrug as he looks at the bar. He turns back around and notes her grimace.
"Well, looks like we may have both had a rough day, if that looks is any indicator. If you're warm enough now, why don't we sit down and fight off a cold windy night with some hot food and good conversation."
He pulls out a chair for her, then makes sure the dinners get relocated appropriately, and in a timely manner.
"mmmm." She sounded happy as she started eating her soup. She ate with the speed and enthusiasm of someone who hadn't seen food in a while. Once her plate is clean she looks a little disappointed and glances up and blushes at the amused look on Tamrin's face.
"I- uh - well, I didn't really have much in the way of supplies and it took me a week to get here. I came from someplace pretty far to the south," she said by way of explanation. "What about you? It sounded like you were new in town too. Did you come from very far away?"
"mmmm." She sounded happy as she started eating her soup. She ate with the speed and enthusiasm of someone who hadn't seen food in a while. Once her plate is clean she looks a little disappointed and glances up and blushes at the amused look on Tamrin's face.
"I- uh - well, I didn't really have much in the way of supplies and it took me a week to get here. I came from someplace pretty far to the south," she said by way of explanation. "What about you? It sounded like you were new in town too. Did you come from very far away?"
"No problem, it'll wash off," he jokes as he pretends to wipe soup-spatter off of his face. "Sounds like yours was an unscheduled trip. Believe me I understand that - it's kind of how I got here myself..." as his voice trails off for a few seconds.
"But the least I can do if I'm contracting your repair skills is buy a second round of soup. It gives me an excuse to get some too," as he gets their waitress to bring two more big bowls.
"I evidently came from very far up," he says with a lopsided grin, coming back to her question. "I was...losing an argument with a large group of rather unpleasant folks, and thought it would be a great idea to jump through a magic portal that was about to destroy itself. Since I wake up every morning thinking 'I should throw myself through the next 'wonky' gate I find,' I leapt at the opportunity - literally. And I ended up here. Well, a few thousand feed above here, to be accurate, but who's counting..."
"Well, a few thousand feed above here, to be accurate, but who's counting..."
A light chuckle comes from Tamrin's left.
"The flying creatures you almost hit on the way down?"Having finished his soup and drink(and in a better mood because of it), Ryo has walked over to meet him. He is holding a very old looking book in his arms tightly.
"Hello mi'lady." He hands Aananda a small paper square. It reads "Ryo, the Card Seer." "If you ever need a Seer's help, rip the card and I'll know to require my services. Tamrin, there is a hotel up the street, if you need a place to stay. I'm going to see if I can stay with a friend. Good day to you both."
He turns to leave, weaving slightly.
"Well, a few thousand feed above here, to be accurate, but who's counting..."A light chuckle comes from Tamrin's left.
"The flying creatures you almost hit on the way down?"
Having finished his soup and drink(and in a better mood because of it), Ryo has walked over to meet him. He is holding a very old looking book in his arms tightly."Hello mi'lady." He hands Aananda a small paper square. It reads "Ryo, the Card Seer." "If you ever need a Seer's help, rip the card and I'll know to require my services. Tamrin, there is a hotel up the street, if you need a place to stay. I'm going to see if I can stay with a friend. Good day to you both."
He turns to leave, weaving slightly.
Aananda quickly blocks his way. "Please do not take this in the wrong way. I do not usually bother strange people I have just met. But you do not look to be in any condition to be walking the streets alone." She sighed as she thought of the cold. "I suppose I should go anyways. I'm sure Thorg won't mind if I sleep in the shed by my hoverbike. I can walk with you wherever you are going."
"It's okay, I am more than capable of handling any threat, and I wouldn't want you to face the cold on my acount. Don't worry, really."
He seems to consider something for a moment.
"Though I guess I do not want to be caught off-guard, what with the attacks I heard about. I can't believe he's doing this.." He trails off.
"Um...this place has rooms. Wouldn't it make more sense just to stay here? We're already inside, it's warm, they have good food..." as Tam gets up to steady Ryo.
"If creds are an issue, this place isn't overly expensive. I can spring for a night for both of you. Besides - didn't you tell me there were all kinds of animal attacks going on at night around here, Ryo? Doesn't seem like the brightest idea to go wandering off drunk..."
"Um...this place has rooms. Wouldn't it make more sense just to stay here? We're already inside, it's warm, they have good food..." as Tam gets up to steady Ryo.
"If creds are an issue, this place isn't overly expensive. I can spring for a night for both of you. Besides - didn't you tell me there were all kinds of animal attacks going on at night around here, Ryo? Doesn't seem like the brightest idea to go wandering off drunk..."
She frowned. "Animal attacks? Perhaps I will take you up on that offer. I can pay you back tomorrow. It's just that I need to conserve money tonight so I can buy some warmer clothes in the morning."
In between bites and long pulls from his tankard, Kannic watches the 'longlegs' for a while. The girl is pretty enough, by human standards, but the two men don't even have short beards.
"Soup? What kind of dinner is that?", he calls to the trio.
"Here. Join me for some meat. You're all too skinny for decent folk." He sits alone at a table piled with food and drink. Far too much for one man, even by dwarven standards.
The hint of a mithral shirt peeks out from his leather shirt, but the only weapon visible is a small hammer at his belt.
In between bites and long pulls from his tankard, Kannic watches the 'longlegs' for a while. The girl is pretty enough, by human standards, but the two men don't even have short beards.
"Soup? What kind of dinner is that?", he calls to the trio.
"Here. Join me for some meat. You're all too skinny for decent folk." He sits alone at a table piled with food and drink. Far too much for one man, even by dwarven standards.
The hint of a mithral shirt peeks out from his leather shirt, but the only weapon visible is a small hammer at his belt.
Aananda looks hungrily at the food. The soup was good, but she was still hungry. She glanced uncertainly at her new companions before taking hold of the redheaded one's arm and steering him towards the dwarf's table.
"That sounds like an excellent idea. I'm sure you will feel much better with a bit more solid food in you. I know I will. Thank you, sir," she says to the dwarf, with a cheerful smile.
She frowned. "Animal attacks? Perhaps I will take you up on that offer. I can pay you back tomorrow. It's just that I need to conserve money tonight so I can buy some warmer clothes in the morning."
"No need to pay me back - we'll just consider it a downpayment for your referral tonight and whatever mechanical advice you can give me tomorrow. That way you don't have to worry about not getting affording the proper clothes you need for this place. Sound fair?" he asks with a smile and a small nod.
In between bites and long pulls from his tankard, Kannic watches the 'longlegs' for a while. The girl is pretty enough, by human standards, but the two men don't even have short beards.
"Soup? What kind of dinner is that?", he calls to the trio.
"Here. Join me for some meat. You're all too skinny for decent folk." He sits alone at a table piled with food and drink. Far too much for one man, even by dwarven standards.
The hint of a mithral shirt peeks out from his leather shirt, but the only weapon visible is a small hammer at his belt.
"Well it was only the appetizer," Tam says with some confusion as he follows the others over to the dwarf's table. He once again flags down their waitress to relocate the rest of their meal, slipping her a few extra coins for her trouble.
"We appreciate the hospitality nonetheless, sir!"
She frowned. "Animal attacks? Perhaps I will take you up on that offer. I can pay you back tomorrow. It's just that I need to conserve money tonight so I can buy some warmer clothes in the morning.""No need to pay me back - we'll just consider it a downpayment for your referral tonight and whatever mechanical advice you can give me tomorrow. That way you don't have to worry about not getting affording the proper clothes you need for this place. Sound fair?" he asks with a smile and a small nod.
"No. It sounds like you're being nice. Thanks," she added with a grin.
"No. It sounds like you're being nice. Thanks," she added with a grin.
"Yeah - that usually gets me into heaps of trouble. I'm not in trouble, am I?" he says, grinning back innocently.
"No. It sounds like you're being nice. Thanks," she added with a grin."Yeah - that usually gets me into heaps of trouble. I'm not in trouble, am I?" he says, grinning back innocently.
She laughed. "Not with me you're not."
She turned back to the dwarf who had invited them to his table. "Hi. I'm Aananda. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Pleased to meet you, young lady. And you, sirs." His eyes sparkle, perhaps from the drink.
"The name's Kannic, Finder by trade."
"Sit. Eat. Nobody leaves this table hungry or thirsty."
"Pleased to meet you, young lady. And you, sirs." His eyes sparkle, perhaps from the drink.
"The name's Kannic, Finder by trade."
"Sit. Eat. Nobody leaves this table hungry or thirsty."
"I'm Tamrin, tourist at the moment and this is Ryo - he sees things. Pleased to meet you," he says in a friendly tone as he pulls out chairs for the three of them to sit.
"Pleased to meet you, young lady. And you, sirs." His eyes sparkle, perhaps from the drink.
"The name's Kannic, Finder by trade."
"Sit. Eat. Nobody leaves this table hungry or thirsty."
"I'm Tamrin, tourist at the moment and this is Ryo - he sees things. Pleased to meet you," he says in a friendly tone as he pulls out chairs for the three of them to sit.
The dwarf laughs deeply, forcing up a belch in the process.
"Tourist?"
"I like it."
"I suppose we're all tourists at some point or another ."
Aananda tilts her head, looking puzzled.
"What is a 'tourist'?"
Aananda tilts her head, looking puzzled.
"What is a 'tourist'?"
"Either someone who's lost, or a traveller."
"Here, try some meat. The mutton is slow roasted, and the chicken is well seasoned."
Aananda tilts her head, looking puzzled.
"What is a 'tourist'?"
"Somebody who travels someplace they haven't been before, usually for personal enjoyment rather than any real need to do so. I like to think I usually qualify for that definition, but my little 'vacation' here was somewhat forced on me."
He pauses for a second, realizing how that might sound.
"Not that I'm not enjoying the company, of course," he says with a small bow of his head and a smile.
Aananda tilts her head, looking puzzled.
"What is a 'tourist'?"
"Either someone who's lost, or a traveller."
"Here, try some meat. The mutton is slow roasted, and the chicken is well seasoned."
She pulls a set of chopsticks out of her pocket and starts to eat at a rapid pace. "mmph. fanks. 'sgood," she mumbles with her mouth full.
Aananda tilts her head, looking puzzled.
"What is a 'tourist'?"
"Somebody who travels someplace they haven't been before, usually for personal enjoyment rather than any real need to do so. I like to think I usually qualify for that definition, but my little 'vacation' here was somewhat forced on me."
He pauses for a second, realizing how that might sound.
"Not that I'm not enjoying the company, of course," he says with a small bow of his head and a smile.
She paused her eating for a moment. "I did not wish to travel either. I was sent away." She shrugged. "I was just looking for somewhere to be." And with that she returned her attention once more to the food in front of her.
The dwarf smiles
"We'll fatten you in no time."
Tam nods at Aananda's words, partially distracted by the speed with which Aananda is inhaling the food. He carefully tries to get some of the chicken without getting stabbed by a chopstick. ;)
"Well, then I think we can all raise a....food item to being in a better place than we were a day ago, and to that trend continuing," as he raises a chicken leg without making a mess.
Huitzilopochtli pauses at the tavern's entrance. He has traveled far, collecting information, and he can see that many things have changed in Agartha since the last time the Mystics of Chac Mool have sent forth a scout. He spies a likely group of strangers eating at a table and approaches.
The folks at the table see a tall thin man with slightly pointed ears and elaborate facial tattoos walk in. He wears crimson robes and carries a gnarled staff with a large reddish crystal embedded at its peak. He is carrying a backpack and has the look of someone who has been on the road a while.
"Excuse me, do you have room at your table for a weary traveler?"
Tamrin looks up at the tattooed man, nodding a friendly greeting.
"Ummm...well, it certainly looks like we have enough food on the table for one more person. But that's up to our host here," he says, nodding toward the dwarf at the table with them.
"He seems to be quite the friendly sort, though, so I wouldn't think there'd be a problem. Here - take a load off," as he kicks a chair out for the stranger to sit down in.
The dwarf's eyes sparkle as he takes in the newcomer.
"Certainly! Feasting is a fine way to meet new people."
"I'm Kannic, of the Three Stones Clan."
"Sit. Sit."
The dwarf signals the waitress to bring more food.
"So what exactly are you a Finder of, Kannic?" Tamrin asks as he has a sip of hot cider.
She paused her eating for a moment. "I did not wish to travel either. I was sent away." She shrugged. "I was just looking for somewhere to be." And with that she returned her attention once more to the food in front of her.
"Ha. You could say I was dealt bad cards and my hand was forced. It's not by my own will I'm here either."
Ryo eats slowly, savoring the tastes and smells of the food.
"So what exactly are you a Finder of, Kannic?" Tamrin asks as he has a sip of hot cider.
His eyes take on the gleam of a hunter, "Well, all sorts of things. I search out mineral deposits for my people, places, things, or sometimes people themselves. Here, on the surface, it's mainly places, people, and things."
He takes a pull from his tankard. "Depends on what the customer wants."
His eyes take on the gleam of a hunter, "Well, all sorts of things. I search out mineral deposits for my people, places, things, or sometimes people themselves. Here, on the surface, it's mainly places, people, and things."
He takes a pull from his tankard. "Depends on what the customer wants."
Tam nods slowly as Kannic talks.
"Well then - you must have done well on your last job, since you seem to be in a such a celebratory mood tonight." he says, raising his mug to the dwarf.
"Either that, or you have a most lavish way of enticing new clients in," he says with a grin and a tip of his head.
Tam nods slowly as Kannic talks."Well then - you must have done well on your last job, since you seem to be in a such a celebratory mood tonight." [he says, raising his mug to the dwarf.[/i]
"Either that, or you have a most lavish way of enticing new clients in," he says with a grin and a tip of his head.
The dwarf laughs, "Nah, neither actually. Just been underground and mostly alone for the last spell. I'm a bit of an oddity amongst my clan. And it's good to be amongst a variety of people again. Miners tend to be a smelly lot."
"And best of all, a good meal always brightens me mood."
The dwarf laughs, "Nah, neither actually. Just been underground and mostly alone for the last spell. I'm a bit of an oddity amongst my clan. And it's good to be amongst a variety of people again."
"That's a fine reason too, no argument there!"
"And best of all, a good meal always brightens me mood."
"Good company helps too."
And indeed, Ryo seems to be slightly more cheerful than before.
"And best of all, a good meal always brightens me mood.""Good company helps too."
And indeed, Ryo seems to be slightly more cheerful than before.
"The simple truths of life, absolutely," Tam agrees as he takes another swig of his cider.
Kannic smiles at the zest the skinny young woman shows while devouring her meal.
"So much better than traveling rations, eh?"
Kannic smiles at the zest the skinny young woman shows while devouring her meal.
"So much better than traveling rations, eh?"
"Whu travewwin wations?" she says with her mouth full. She pauses to swallow. "Sorry about that. I usually have better table manners. I only had enough food for a couple of days. My master expected me to be able to forage I supppose. Or perhaps he thought I would go to one of the villages in the jungle that were much closer to the Temple." She shrugged. "I wanted to go somewhere far enough away that my failures wouldn't be constantly held over my head. I just didn't realize how cold it was this far north. Well, you can understand, right?" she said to the newcomer. "I mean, you look like you come from the south too unless I'm totally mistaken."
The dwarf's eyes sparkle as he takes in the newcomer.
"Certainly! Feasting is a fine way to meet new people."
"I'm Kannic, of the Three Stones Clan."
"Sit. Sit."
The dwarf signals the waitress to bring more food.
The slender man nods
"Thank you. Three Stones Clan? That is an interesting name. Where does your clan come from?
Or perhaps he thought I would go to one of the villages in the jungle that were much closer to the Temple." She shrugged.
The mysterious man's pointed ears perk up at this
"If you don't mind me asking, Lady ...?"
"Lady Aananda, what temple are you from? I come from the Great Temple of the Elements in Chac Mool, within the Southern Jungle of Klesh."
Or perhaps he thought I would go to one of the villages in the jungle that were much closer to the Temple." She shrugged.The mysterious man's pointed ears perk up at this
"If you don't mind me asking, Lady ...?"
"Lady Aananda, what temple are you from? I come from the Great Temple of the Elements in Chac Mool, within the Southern Jungle of Klesh."
"I'm from the Temple of Falling Water. So that's just a bit northwest of the Great Temple of the Elements if I'm remembering my lessons right. Geography was never my strong suit," she added apologetically.
Sips some more cider :)
The dwarf's eyes sparkle as he takes in the newcomer.
"Certainly! Feasting is a fine way to meet new people."
"I'm Kannic, of the Three Stones Clan."
"Sit. Sit."
The dwarf signals the waitress to bring more food.
The slender man nods
"Thank you. Three Stones Clan? That is an interesting name. Where does your clan come from?
"In the bosom of the western mountains. I'm a long way from home, but I tend to travel more than my brethren. Been to the jungles a time or two." Noting the staff's crystal, "Fire Priest, eh?"
"Interesting place for us all to land, wouldn't you say?"
Tam nods, hiding a slight smirk behind his mug at the personal irony of that last comment.