Himiko claps in appreciation.
Grimkell does not seem to notice the clapping. His voice and strokes on the instrument more and more enthusiastic.
Again, the music changes. This time, it becomes chaotic, like a see or the wind.
"Duo of desires, deem worthy to come,
Gypsy, gust of wind, gadding Kyliki,
Wander white and blue, warmly dressed,
Show us sure pathway, skillful traveler,
Point our path north."
Llyr cocks an eyebrow at the bard's fancy way of saying we're all strangers that want to be important. Though he says nothing, it's clear the gears are working in his mind.
Kyliki swayed and moved a smile on her face to the music. When the bard finished the lyric, she wore that toothy grin of hers. With pets and scratches on Opal, "You are fun."
Just as the last lyric fills the ears of the patrons of the tavern, the booming sound of a door slammed open ruins whatever mood they had been in. At the opened door stands a tall man with a still raised foot, at first he has a blank look on his face but when he sees the people within, he greets them with a wicked grin. Placing his foot down, he leaves the cold weather behind with confident steps and shuts the door with a swift back kick.
"What's a man got to do to get some service around here eh?" Said Enzo, his voice loud and filled with the touch of mockery, after that he begins looking at the people that surround him more closely "So many pretty ladies out tonight...Ahhh looks like my luck is finally changing" Continues the blond man as he gives each girl a leering glance before making his way to an empty table.
As soon as he sat down and it appeared that the storm of noise this man has brought with him has died down, he begins banging on the table "Hey! I wasn't kidding when I talked about service!" Shouts Enzo, his tone of speech carrying just a bit more seriousness than before.
In his enthusiasm, Grimkell does not immediately stops playing. He goes on and starts singing while the stranger is being loud.
Rythm change, unsure notes played, swaying between soft almost inaudible high pitches and loud deep noises coming from Grimkell's throat.
"Merry maidens three, make ears for a plea,
Willing, wishing ...
As the obnoxious man speaks up again, Grimkell stops and stares. Then speaks, curiosity filling his voice.
"Har Skurken i historien kommer? Eller hans utsending kanskje?"
He goes on staring, waiting to see what will happen.
Filius walks up to Enzo with a smile.
"Friend why in such a rush? The ale will come when it does. Why sour the air when you could be listening to wonderful songs instead? Our skald friend over there is master with song. Why don't we listen for a while?"
As he speaks Filius pulls out some trail rations he has, and offers it to Enzo while they wait.
The sound of a foreign tongue grips his attention and steals it away from the words of the man that now stood near his table, Enzo's dark green eyes focus on Grimkell, while the same wicked smile he had before he sat down revisits his face "Well, well...I have to say your pretty easy on the eye--" Enzo Cuts himself short as his hand moves to his chin and begins stroking his stubble, the smile that inhabited the spot above it melted into a straight line that evoked no emotion, and his eyes focus even more intently on the...person that addressed him.
Suddenly and without warning the sounds of a creaking chair being pushed backwards fills the ears of everyone close to Enzo. The blond man makes his way to Grimkell and stops when there was but two steps between them, then his smile returns to his face "I am used to people talking in a language I don't understand, but this...this is a first, tell me are you someone I want the company of or someone I should just ignore?" Asked Enzo in an uncivil but genuinely inquisitive tone of speech.
Wow, 0/2 so far on making friends. I think I'll just go back to the dwarf for a drink.... I need to get it before this place becomes a battlefield.
Filius walks back and places the trail rations back into his pack. He sits down next to the dwarf once again.
"So friend do you want to drink until we can't see strait, and we think that jumping off of the roof is a good idea?"
Kyliki noticed the newcomer leering at her, and let the gears of her mind start to whirl. She proceeded to stealth her hand into one of her pockets where some twine was hidden. She glanced around room, letting her idea build. Still petting on Opal.
Outside, in the cold winds a woman with black hair walks around town, getting to know the place but the citizens are just not out in the weather. What the hell is wrong with this place? Has no one told the skies we are in the summer!?! She doesn't wear a hood, letting the wind blow her hair. She looks the buildings, the empty streets and the woods farther out of town. Suddenly a booming sound draws her attention to the other side, and she sees a blond man still with a leg up in front of him, making a show of some kind. Light emanates from inside the door he had just kicked, and a faint sound of a melody denounces where the citizens are probably at.
Once the man get is, she approaches the tavern and slowly opens the door, hearing the chanting and the melody, feeling the warm mood from the inside. Still half outside, holding the door open, she looks to both sides of the desert desert town for a second, before entering.
She scans the place, counting about 20 people, and most of them are carrying heavy coats and using dirty clothes. Seeing the blond man facing someone, she keeps her hands free, ready to draw if needed, but moves toward the opposite side of the tavern. All of the tables have been taken, but most chairs are empty. She speaks with someone close to the wall, without much taking her eyes of the blond thug.
Do you mind if I join you?
The barmaid comes out with a mug of ale in her hand. Without looking at the blond man, she puts it on his table, where he was sitting before.
Llyr bursts out laughing as Enzo comments on the beauty of Grimkell, clearly not having noticed the man's telltale Adam's apple.
Llyr bursts out laughing as Enzo comments on the beauty of Grimkell, clearly not having noticed the man's telltale Adam's apple. ** spoiler omitted ** Saying a few words in Skald, he goes back to nursing his drink as the barkeep has run off. This should be interesting, it's always amusing when the blowhards make their arrival.
Actually, upon looking more closely, Llyr does not see any adam apple. It is either small or absent.
Grimkell stares intently into the eyes of the blond stranger. His eyes oversized blue iris giving him an unnatural intensity. He waits for tension to build up than says: What man would want to be ignored by one who can immortalize his victories in songs? If there is such a man who exists, than truly he deserves to die forgotten. So says Grimkell son of Ogmundr.
A smile appears on the corner of his lips, waiting to see the brute's reaction.
"I'll worry about that, after I get some worthwhile victories" Replied Enzo, his eyes still giving Grimkell a studious look "Till then, I think I'll keep an eye on you" Continued the man with the grey eyes, before he slapped the right shoulder of the sylph twice, and laughed out loudly.
Making his way back to the table Enzo notices that someone has finally gave him what he wanted from beginning Service! Thought the thug as he sat down and stared at his drink.
Filius roars out a welcome to the newcomer.
"Of course friend, Friend Dwarf here, and I were just about to engage in a bout of drinking. We would love to have someone sit with us."
Still with her eyes focusing the blond, she sees the discussion did not progress into something worst, relaxes, takes her greatsword and sheath from her back and puts it against the wall, close to her hand. She looks to the polite Ulfen man and his compannion dwarf sitting at the table, grabs the chair and sits down. You can see that she has a beautiful face, but one light green eye and another one a light purple.
Thank you. My name is Elxurian. I see a lot of movement for such a small town, but these people don't look like ordinary citizen... Do you know what's going on around here?
As laughter fills the air, so do the giggles of several ladies who enter the room. They smile at all of the men and each choose one to walk up to, whispering in their ears. Some men come out a few moments later, dressed in barely anything, yet still exotic.
Filius shakes his head. As you see him look back you can only see pure white for his eyes.
"That is one thing I'd like to know myself. I came down here because the winters told me they were coming early here. I don't know why though. Usually they just stay up till after Autumn."
She is still Jadwiga and part of her is still very used to certain treatments, so she places her hand gently in his, palm down, as if she expecting him to kiss her hand like a proper gentleman, which she knows his name indicates, even if he is considered a black sheep of sorts. She was very understanding on the idea of being a family outsider, even if she was always looking at it from within. "A pleasure. Maryne Korosov Jadwiga Yelizaveta." If he has any knowledge of the Jadwiga Yelizaveta, then he would have heard the name, but would have expected her to be a crone at this point, since she is the grandchild of Yelizaveta herself. This woman barely looks to be in her early to mid twenties.
EDIT: regarding the prostitute solicitation:
Nev lowers the mask so his face can be clearly seen. His flesh looks rotted and decayed, and he strongly resembles one of the undead. "I'm sorry, were you addressing me?" he says in an irritated (but not hostile) tone. Clearly he doesn't want to be bothered by streetwalkers.
With the grace only a noble could bear, she swallows hard and elegantly steps back a bit. "Oh, darling. With a face like that, you certainly have not gotten certain, needs met..." Its clear in her posture and speech that she is of noble decent.
Filius flushes from his head to his neck. He seems to stammer for a bit before finally being able to speak.
"Ah... well..... You see.... I... Have some...... Ale! Yes I have some Ale I need to drink, and I can't leave my drinking friends alone. Not that I'm not interested, but I'm here to make friends tonight...... Not that kind of friend!"
Elurian makes a annoyed face, replying instantly to the handsome half-naked man in front of her.
"תודה על המחמאה, אבל זה לא הולך לקרות, אני מצטער. אולי ביום אחר"
She winks to him and start scanning what the others are doing.
"Poor boy, you are young enough to be my great-grandson. While I might like it hot, I would burn you like you have never been before. Please...the only thing to warm my bed this night will be the whiskey I drink warming my very own flesh," she says with a wry smile nodding towards him.
Leaning in closer addressing him, "Απλά θα πρέπει να ασχοληθούν με ένα μικρό πράγμα." Playfully she grinned and her tongue caressed her canine. "Στη συνέχεια, θα σας αφήσω να δείτε τα τατουάζ μου."
Turning from him for a moment, she proceeded to take care of her little plan.
Kyliki is picking up a spoonful of soup and taking aim at Enzo.
Kyliki turned back to the man and gave him a wink.
Lex was mildly disappointed that her own verse was cut short, scowling at the rather rude and possibly drunk lecher that barreled in. She would have stood up and introduce him to her staff if the situation had tensed up further.
Then things just got weird. As apparently a whole group of Calistrians filed into the tavern, wandering up to everyone in kind - including her. "WOAH! Ah, time out please!" She tells the undine, pushing back in her seat as it scrapes against the floorboards, holding her staff defensively in front her. She's blushing furiously, unused to such blatant attention.
"Not that I'm not flattered, you know, but really, this is all a bit sudden, and I think that I'm going to go over to the corner there and just...sit by myself and try to figure out why this day is getting weirder by the second," She tells him apologetically, standing up and making a hasty retreat.
"I didn't even think there was a Calistrian sect in this sleepy place," She mutters to herself, stepping to the table in the corner and sitting back down.
At first, Himiko gives the forward man a dubious eye. Little seduction here. One line of flattery? What have they taught him in his temple? I received an entire verse from that poet. Where are the gifts that I should receive to even entertain favoring him?
The tall Tian woman gives the inept prostitute a small smile. It is perfect, gracious, and utterly cutting. "You are correct. My beauty is too great to waste. I save it for the goddess, or perhaps Kofusachi were he here."
"Ach, Lass, I don' know yer words, but I know yer trade." Carl stands and proffers a hand to the maiden. Hardly he thinks to himself. He whispers into her ear in Dwarven, "Lass, ya should 'nae dishonor yourself in this way, return to Hearth and Home if ya 'ave one." He then swats her on the backside and sends her on her way. Grinning the whole way. His thoughts however are not lascivious. [/I]Ah, to still be a Clansdwarf and have my time with the maid... tis not ta be. Mah fate is more fire than dalliance.[/I]
"Well, they're forward." Lharsa muttered to himself. Before him a procession bathed in black and yellow filed into a local tavern. The snow crushed evenly under his boots as he walked, surveying his surroundings. He was not alone in the street, but he might as well had been.
If they were good Calistrians, perhaps they would allow him to shelter with them for the night. It had been a good long while since he'd slept in a temple, and he wondered how one in this region might operate. Were they private? Were they open? He could imagine all of the priests and patrons sleeping together in a heap to keep warm in the wintry nights and the thought excited him. Or maybe they slept in smaller groups of two or three, burying themselves under layers of blankets. It had been a while since he'd slept with another person, and the prospect of embracing someone was a sweet thought that offset the bitter cold tonight.
He entered the tavern after them and watched bemused as they split up and approached the various patrons. Their successes and failures amused him and soon he found a table to sit at near a Tian woman and listened. He felt her sharp words and veneration of her god. Waiting until the prostitute was out of ear shot he spoke, "Such a strange thing to say..." he says almost whispering, nodding toward the leaving prostitute, "Your beauty is your own. Though I would not hold it against Calistria to use it." he paused for a moment, licking his lips, searching for conversation. "Who is this Kofusachi? A patron not of the Inner Sea I'd imagine."
I'd heard Heldren was supposed to be a sleepy little town,
Dron gently removes her hand from his leg, Smiling warmly at the courtesan so as not to hurt her feelings. "I wasn't planning on any worship tonight priestess, and my devotions are for Desna, not the Sacred Sting, but why not stay a while anyway. There's wine and song, and the company is most interesting. My name is Dron."
Llyr smiles at the innuendo offered by the woman, "I am always interested in a broader understanding of my fellow man" he replies. Makes it easier to manipulate them! he thinks without saying. "Perhaps we should discuss things before see about this evenings entertainment. I'm all ears."
Taking a swig from the mug before him, Enzo began scanning the tavern once more, wondering who he should approach next, after all what's the use of stepping into a tavern and not getting into a conversation or shouting match? The thug's grey eyes paused at Lex She looks feisty He notes the staff next to her Maybe a bit too feisty He smiled at his own mental comment.
Without warning the room was invaded, but this was the kind of invasion the blond man wouldn't mind defending against at all Oh yes, yes you are a lucky man Enzo Brooks, a very lucky man Enzo watched each new girl that stepped into the tavern, his intent far, far from anything remotely decent, and just as he was about to get up and to grab the attention of one of them, one of them stopped in front of him.
The second she was done speaking, he got up nearly knocking his chair down and nearly doing the same to the table. Enzo's eyes mirrored the lust within him, but before he could do or say anything, he felt something wet and slightly warm hit his face. The smell of soup filled his nostrils and suddenly he remembered another kind of base desire that he hadn't tended to in a while...hunger.
"I'll be right back" Said Enzo to the beauty that stood next to him "Grab another chair, we've got lots of things to discuss" Continued the blond man before letting out a lecherous chuckle and moving towards the bar. He considered shouting his order, but with all this commotion he doubted he'd be noticed.
"Hey! I'll have whatever soup was thrown at me" Said Enzo, a lecherous smile still on his face, he wished he knew who threw the soup at him but he saw just too distracted by the atmosphere, to even make a decent guess Childish, but the timing was great, wish I could return the favor the thug began rapping his fingers on the counter as he waited for a reply from a waitress.
Awkwardly holding the two mugs of hot cider and bowl of vegetables, Martin stammers a bit as he tries to find the proper words for an occassion such as this.
"Umm... I am quite... comfortable. Though if you..umm.. would perchance be cold, I can... I... could I hot cider you a buy? Err..." says a very flustered Martin. Swallowing hard in a failed attempt to regain some conrol of his voice, he quickly says almost in a shout, "I mean... can I buy you a hot cider!?" He offers, almost shoving, one of the two mugs to the lady. He begins to slowly make his way back to the table with Kyliki to give her the second mug.
Averting her eyes from the handsome male for a second, Elxurian sees that even the dwarf has a matching pair! To know who was here before coming in... And so many, so far from their temple... Witchery? The left side of her face begins to itch and she puts a comforting hand over her left eye and cheek
The aasimar scans the area for anything that could explain to her how they would know who was inside, , but her scar is drawing her attention and also there's a angel-like marvelous specimen in front of her, and she have a difficult time scanning the surroundings one-eyed. Maybe it is not a big deal, he may answer me. So, she speaks with the Aasimar again.
"במחשבה שנייה, תגיד לי, מלאך קטן, איך אתה יודע שהיינו כאן?"
Kyliki gave Martin a grin as he came back to the table, "Isn't this place great?"
Still very flustered, Martin says, "Quite a bit warmer in here than I intended. Here you both go." Martin hands Kyliki the hot cider and places the bowl on the table for Opal to eat.
The barmaiden who has replaced the bartender get you some soup, making sure it is piping hot.
Llyr smiles a knowing smile, ”I’m sure that it is.” he says, leaning in close, ”But tell me, how much is this going to cost me? I’m a lowly caravaner with very little gold to keep myself warm at night. Don’t play coy with me, I know your type, and while I can’t say I wouldn’t enjoy pumping you for information, I’d like to know how much it’s going to cost me up front, so there’s no… issues… once we’re done.”
With his free hand, Llyr double checks the presence of his multiple small coin purses, and that his sword is still at his hip.
She giggles as the talk of money comes up. "I do this for my Goddess. If you wish to make a donation, you may, but I do what I do to please Calistria. And it does please her." As she says please, she squeezes your thigh.
Terrance was having trouble keeping track of everything going on in the tavern. One moment he was talking to the hooded woman about names and their weight and the next the tavern was full to bursting. He watched quietly when a young girl pressed herself against him. He leaned back in his chair to accommodate her out of reflex more than a desire for her company. With a nervous voice he answered her question ”Yes that is my horse. His name is Galiban. One of the finest horses in all of Taldor.”
Terrance blushed a deep crimson and avoided answering the lass’ next question preferring instead to engage the girl in polite conversation as a knight should. ”Might I have your name mi’lady?” he said trying to keep his voice free of fear.