"It was certainly more peaceful," Zeph muses. "Of course, we still had monsters about, but it was easier to maintain peace. The necromancers brought a shadow of fear we have yet to lift."
Harakhty thought a moment. "What kinds of monsters? Any lycanthropes?"
As Arista looks at all the food her eyes get pretty wide, she blushes and laughs a little, "Wow, that was more than I thought it would be. Would anyone like to share?"
"I would." Alethiro answers as he walks into the Fish.
Zeph looks at Harakhty. "Yes, I had heard of them. The Beasts of Greenwood, they were called. Though not all of them were "beasts" but rather civil and peace-seeking people. By the virtue of their nature, people gave them no end of trouble, of course. But I refer to the standard type of monster; goblins, orcs and the like."
"I suppose I'll take some."
Arista smiles warmly at him as he walks in, "Whew, that's a relief. I'm hungry, but I'm not that hungry. How bout you Esme? Would you like some of this? I'm sure there's plenty." She asks Ieyasu if she can have a couple more plates and some extra utensils.
She pushes all the food to about the middle of the table and then hands the extra plates to Esme and Alethiro. She takes a little of the fish, rice, and vegetables, but leaves the fruit for now. She drinks her ale in between bites of food.
She looks at Alethiro and asks, "So, how was your afternoon? Did you get done what you needed to do?"
Cyna walks arm in arm with her partner as they follow Ylrhea to Hadrinn's. "How did Corda take the news?" she asks the gnome.
"I didn't talk to Corda," Ylrhea admits. "So I have no idea."
"She's not still in the dark is she?"
The gnome shrugs. "I haven't seen her around."
"Let's eat first...it's not going to change anything and I hate giving bad news on an empty stomach," Sienna sighs.
The two tieflings and the gnome walk into Hadrinn's and see Harakhty talking with Zeph from Malwen. Umina, the Anizari, sits at a table by herself.
Cyna walks over to Umina's table. "Eating alone?" she asks.
"Yeah," Umina says to the three. "I'm unfamiliar with your town and the others are getting ready for bed. Except for Zeph over there, he'll talk your ear off if you let him."
She sighs heavily. "So is Sādhanā around?"
She smiles as she watches Alethiro put a decent amount of food on his plate, glad to see him eating well for once. She looks at him as she waits to find out how the rest of his day went.
"I think she decided on a different venue for her meal tonight." Cyna answers pulling back a chair to sit down.
"I guess she's about the only person you know here?"
"Well, I know your group...sort of," Umina says with a short chuckle. "But I only talked to her at length."
"We don't bite," Sienna says with a grin that reveals her fangs. "I'm Sienna and this is Ylrhea, our resident lockpicker and gargoyle-stabber."
The gnome blushes slightly. "Nice to meet you. What's your name?"
"Umina," the Anizari says.
"Most of us don't bite anyway. I'm Cyna and we're from the Green Circle." she says.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Not all orcs are monsters. One is part the group of us who came here. He's gone missing recently though." He probably hasn't seen anything, but if Skaar did come back, he shouldn't have to deal with a wronged verdict from this man.
"Everyone is capable of good or evil or even something in-between," Zeph says. "My limited experience with orcs hasn't taught me of their virtues."
***
Umina shakes her head. "I ate a little earlier. I was waiting on Zeph but I don't think he's going anywhere."
She turns to her companions and says. "Who want's to get something tasty for us? and desert for Umina since she's gonna be here awhile?"
Turning back to Umina Cyna asks. "Are you a warrior like Sadhana? Or do you have other talents?"
"I'll get the food," Ylrhea offers.
"I guess you could call me a warrior," Umina replies. "I just work as a blacksmith now. I just try to live as normal a life as possible."
Sādhanā grins," I'll try the fish stew as well, it comes highly recommended."
Ieyasu comes back with plates, utensils and two bowls of fish stew. "Please enjoy."
Arista nods at him, "Thank you Ieyasu, it's all very good."
Cyna nods to Ylrhea as she leaves to order food. "Sounds like Hadrinn. Spends his time cooking and gardening nowadays. Nothing wrong with that though I'd imagine there aren't too many places where you can find lasting normality these days."
"Wonderful, thank you Ieyasu,"
"So, you're the happy couple?" Esmerelda asks Clara and Sādhanā. "It's nice to meet you without the misunderstandings."
Umina nods. "Malwen's been a good place to get my bearings. I know that someday I'll have to pick up my sword, but, in the meantime, I'm just happy to fight off a wandering troll."
She pushes all the food to about the middle of the table and then hands the extra plates to Esme and Alethiro. She takes a little of the fish, rice, and vegetables, but leaves the fruit for now. She drinks her ale in between bites of food.
She looks at Alethiro and asks, "So, how was your afternoon? Did you get done what you needed to do?"
"Yes I did. It's all ready for tomorrow."
As the Elf began eating, he listened to everyone talking at the table.
"I've always preferred the bow myself, less cleanup." Cyna says with a grin.
Drago and Elena enter the Old Fish. While it would be nice to sit with he companions, the Dhampir suggested something else. "Perhaps we could sit at our own table, I'd like to get to know you a little better." Finding a table and ordering some food, he asked, "Soo, tell me about yourself. Prior to meeting me, what was your life like?"
"You've been making love to me all this time and now you decide to get to know me?" Elena asks with a laugh. "Fine, I'll indulge you. My life was one of servitude to the goddess, Amanurata. From the moment I could walk and carry a candle, all I did, I did in the goddess' name. I don't remember having thoughts or wants of my own when I was younger, it was simply not allowed. My mother bred that into me as it was bred into her by her mother. I served, I ate and I slept. That was my life, honestly. It did not change until the Eyes of Shiva came. Some viewed that as the destruction of our way of life, but I think that it gave us the opportunity to see who we really were and who we could become."
Umina laughs. "I am a Sword Sister, so it's pretty much given that I'll use a blade."
"Doesn't mean you can't use both, what happens when your next monster has wings?" Cyna teases.
"I can fly if I need to," Umina replies with a coy grin.
"Alright, three chickens and one chocolate tart," Ylrhea says, carrying the tray of food. "Hadrinn's been a bit busy, so I brought the food for us. What does everyone want to drink?"
"Water, please," Sienna says.
Umina shakes her head. "Nothing for me, thanks. That tart looks good."
The gnome hands the Anizari the dessert. "Smells good too. Hadrinn's going to make me fat unless you keep taking me out on missions, Captain."
"I guess, with all that has happened of late, I realized that I've been a little selfish in my desires. And...and I want more out of this than just...carnal pleasure." Taking her hand, Drago held back the emotion in his throat and continued, "And who do you see yourself becoming?"
"Well I guess that works too." Cyna replies resisting the urge to pout.
"Thank you Ylrhea and umm tea please. With the Gargoyle and the door today I don't think I can afford not to have you around." Cyna praises.
Elena sighs. "I don't know. My youth has been misspent and all I feel is the fear of being pushed out into the wider world. I want to be someone, but I can't see who that someone is yet."
Ylrhea goes and returns with the drinks. "I'm glad I'm useful, Captain."