RP and show off your character's personality!
A Kobold strolls into the meeting hall. He has a surprisingly confident stance, very uncommon to his race. He hops up onto a barstool and orders a mug of the establishment's finest mead.
Standing outside of the Meeting Hall, an enormous stoic humanoid stands an extremely tall thirteen feet baring heavy blue and grey armour, a tower shield nearly as tall he was and an ornate sword large enough to guillotine a half a dozen men. Whatever this giant was doing, he was content to simply stand and watch as people go in and out of the public house through the narrow eye-slits of his helm, not moving, almost a living imitation of iron-clad guardian.
The behemoth in front of the tavern is a welcome sight to Garmack as he walks into the tavern. He has come to appreciate the great warrior as much for his strength in combat as his quiet demeanor. He proceeds to enter at his ease after nodding in Odak's direction, taking in the rich smells of cooking mutton and the lighter after tone of sweat, filth and alcohol that follows in most taverns. Despite his preference for the freshness of dew filled forest air, he still enjoys spending time bilge drinking and harboured fond memories of drunken brawls with his mentor after having celebrated some occasion or other.
He wanders over to the bar, his keen eyes picking up the sights to be seen before ordering 2 pints of ale and a leg of lamb and returning outside with a stool to seat himself near Odak.
"Would you share a drink with me Big One? he says, proffering one of the mugs to Odak
Olrune walks into the meeting hall, glancing around. He is a tall half-orc with knotted muscles and neatly combed back strait hair. He has a red tattoo around his right eye that depicts a set of claws, and a red cape of the same color billows behind him. He seems to keep himself meticulously clean.
Well, I have returned. Let's see how I'm accepted. Perhaps I should have tore my cape and stuck some twigs into my hair first. He meets the gaze of many of his old brothers, seeing if any of them recognize the man he was before he left. He becomes distinctly aware of his well crafted metal armor making him stand out amongst the other orcs. Would have happened anyways, and this way I got something to protect me if this goes south.
Olrune finds a chair, sitting down in it carefully. Somewhat more organized since the last time I've been here, perhaps this can happen yet...
He glances at the iron giant. "Well, it appears I'm not the only one who has taken a liking to a bit more armor than a scrap of hide. By Gorum's rusted codpiece where did you get a set of armor that big?"
As he looks around the tavern and gulps down mug after mug of his mead, Lantik's keen yellow eyes spot the huge figure standing outside the huger still iron doors as two Orcs are 'taking it outside.' He slips off the stool, studded leather clattering and tail scraping, and walks outside. He kicks the towering giant's armor with his iron-toed leather boot to get his attention. "Hey, why are you just standing here?" he yells in a clear voice.
Garmack looks distastefully at the impudent reptilian but holds his tongue, letting Odak deal with this situation
He glances at the iron giant. "Well, it appears I'm not the only one who has taken a liking to a bit more armor than a scrap of hide. By Gorum's rusted codpiece where did you get a set of armor that big?"
He slips off the stool, studded leather clattering and tail scraping, and walks outside. He kicks the giant's armor with his iron-toed leather boot to get his attention.
With a gesture that seemed almost robotic at first, the giant turns his head with a light grinding of metal as he leans over to look at Olrune talking to him. The kick from the Kobold was laughably minor against the giant's boot which must have measured at least five feet around.
"", the man spoke, a deep rumble further muffled under his mouthguard, in a way it was hard to tell whether this man was a construct!
Realizing he's not making a very good impression on these people, Lantik sighs and drags a barstool out to sit near Odak. "It's a lot more comfortable inside, Giant! What's your name, by the way?"
Turns his gaze waaay down towards the Kobold and remains quiet for a moment.
"I can only imagine. Just don't see our types walking into a blacksmith and paying for custom armor. Bet that was a pretty funny scene." Olrune says with a grin.
"", he turns his head up as Karol arrives onto the scene and greets him.
"I can only imagine. Just don't see our types walking into a blacksmith and paying for custom armor. Bet that was a pretty funny scene." Olrune says with a grin.
A wirery half orc moves to the bar, a drum hangs by his side, an axe on the other. He is wearing a chain shirt and a dark cloak over well worn traveling leathers. On his head is a broad rimmed hat. He orders a drink, takes a swig and looks around. On seeing the tall Odak he gives a toothy grin.
ho odak, it is I Karol. I haven't seen you since the war. How goes it, iron mountain. He walks over to the giant. the way you single handed held the line at the battle of bonfire hill, ha! I'm told bearclaw cubs are frightened into obedience by stories of you.
Karol looks up at the quiet one. I don't suppose you done anything similar lately?
Pretty much everyone knows each other, either through postwar stories or being in combat together. Lantik, however, is not well-known except by the Chieftain.
, he responds, however he finally shifts his weight around to face the others face on, the ground rumbles and quakes as each foot plants itself back into place, leaving light impressions on the ground.
Garmak lets out a short bark of laughter at Olrune's comment before turning his attention back to the unfortunate Kobold who had given rise to his anger.
"He is Odak, great raging warrior of these parts and a friend to me and my adopted clan. Who are you to strike him with such impudence?"
Trying to save face, some of that trademark Kobold nervousness shows through as Lantik says, "You all have the look of Clan War veterans about you." His tail madly twitches.
many battles, many stories little one. And yourself little dragon?
Karol looked at the kobold with interest.
Olrune scratches his neck. "I got a little involved. From the invitation I assume we all did. Although originally I thought you were the simple minded servant here." He gives a grin, looking down at the little Kobold.
Lantik relaxes slightly at the nickname. He obviously likes it. "I am Lantik Kinslayer. I killed off my Nestmates in the name of clan Wolftooth and our old ideals."
"No, half-orc, I was summoned by the Chieftain, same as you, apparently." Lantik is obviously as confident as he was when he first walked into the meeting hall - though whether that is the conversation's changing tone or the mead is anyone's guess.
Begins to lean over with a casting shadow as the ironclad goliath ponderously bends down to sit with his comrades, even while sitting or kneeling, he's still taller than the rest of them by a whole head high!
, the briefly-worded giant added.
Kinslayer. There's a story behind that epitaph. Who were your nestmates? Karol asked, his eyes light up and curious.
Olrune frowns, his eyes narrowing at the Kobold. "Not many boast that kind of name. Shows you're willing to betray those closest to you."
almost immediately, the Kobold responds, "Call me Deadeye." He doesn't obviously respond beyond that, besides his tail drooping behind him. You can tell he doesn't want to share that story with just anyone.
He adds, almost as an afterthought, "I hate that name. I never chose it for myself."
Garmack's eyebrow twitches slightly, the only sign of his surprise at the claim that Lantik is the strongest of his brood.
"I too was summoned, but please litte one answer Karol's question. I wish to hear this story."
Despite his intimidating exterior, he displays a strange curiosity as he glances down at the Kobold's dragging tail. Metal plates scrape as the giant reaches over with his five foot diameter hand and starts to tug and lift the tail up. Something so child-like didn't fit the image of a hulking armoured warrior, but when you're this big, it doesn't matter.
Olrune keeps his gaze steady. "It's his story to tell, if he doesn't want to talk we won't make him." He almost says this as if he has authority over the others. "But that also means he won't be able to explain himself."
Lantik sighs, seeing that no one will back down from the story. "I... I helped clan Wolftooth because you fought - still fight - for your own survival, just like my Nest, the Orangescales, used to." He points to his own dulled orange scales as he speaks.
"What happened to make them change so much that you murdered your kinsmen
Lantik barely notices the giant playing with his tail as he tells his story, fighting back the terrifying memories of that day. "My clan leader was... convinced... by clan Bearclaw that to survive, they had to take what wasn't theirs. It wasn't our way. We only fought for our own survival, since our heritage includes both the noble Gold Dragons and the terrifying Red Dragons. Kobolds, we focus a lot on our draconic heritage. We simply stayed neutral. But not that day."
"I don't know what made my kinsmen change so much. All of them except me seemed to be obsessed with the idea of taking more territory. I questioned it, and I was ridiculed and sent on the hunting party, while my kinsmen went to flank clan Wolftooth during the Battle of Broken Hill."
Garmack nods in approval of his explanation "Then it would seem you are not the traitor I mistook you for"
Olrune's gaze doesn't lighten. "So why not simply leave?"
Finished playing with the Kobold's tail by now, watching silently over him. Odak was not known for being a big talker, aside from the volume of his voice when he DID speak of course. One of his better qualities was that he was always good at listening to people, even when his mind seems to wander at every turn.
@Garmack wasn't planning to, heh. G'nite.
Lantik turns his head to Olrune. "As I said before, I sympathized with clan Wolftooth and felt that my Nest was going to destroy itself with greed. Unfortunately, I could not stop them peacefully."
Swung his hand around and attempted to console the Kobold with hand on the back, however it only ended up becoming a 180lbs weight of the giant's fingers burdening the Kobold's back and head, a little too big to pet someone gently.
"Didn't want them to destroy themselves, so you killed them all. I suppose that's one way to solve the problem."
Lantik's tail wraps itself around him as he gets angry. "Yes, but they would have destroyed this clan in the process if I had let them be! I was limiting the destruction!"
Olrune shakes his head. "Than disown them openly and join the opposing side. If you're going to betray somebody at least have the stones to do it before you slit their throat."
Reaches around the Kobold and grasps him against the thick, rough leather material of the giant's gauntlets, picking him off the ground to look at him more closely, seeming to have no regard for manners of picking up smaller folk.
Lantik squirms out of Odak's hand and hops down, too focused on this debate to notice much.
"What do you think would have happened if I had gone to your war leaders just before my Nestmates fired upon them, hmm? I had to save myself as well. Sometimes, I feel this Orcish concept of 'honor' goes too far."
And I also have a huge player/character separation. It always gets me angry when I realize my feeling are bleeding over into my character.
"They'd either kill you for being a spy or would accept you as a turn cloak. You'd have to be convincing."
"Has nothing to do with my orc blood. You'll find plenty of orcs who would kill under cover of darkness. It's a sign of respect to your fellow warrior to fight them openly on fair ground."
"Kobolds have no concept of 'respect.' They were going to shoot you all down from the bushes. I shot them first."
Olrune gives a knowing smile. "And now you know why I don't like you."
Realising too late that the conversation at hand did not need the intervention of a giant, Odak heaves his great frame up to stand, thudding about as he resumes his stance, standing outside of the door watching over the entrance, gripping back to his tower shield he has leaning nearby.
Lantik spits in Olrune's general direction and turns to Odak. "I've heard many great things about you, Giant. Why are you so interested in me?"
Olrune laughs. "There's a difference between not liking you and cutting your head off. You'd do well to keep that in mind."
"You think a threat like that would faze me?"