City of Orussus, The Red Dragon Inn IX

[jkason]

Eanos, human monk

"No, her son was a human... at least partially, he wasn't a pure dragon, and he was trying to escape on the boat. Him and a few of his guards, goblinoids. We had to fight them, not an easy task, seeing we had only the equipement of some hobgoblin we fought a bit earlier. He had our stock in a chest on the boat. But I speak a lot, maybe Eanos would like to add some details, he was one of my companion at that time."

Eanos smiles and nods to Rinaldo, bringing over his food and sitting with the group at the table.

"Too bad Nurlan's stayed in Monemvassia," he says, then turns to Quarion. "He was a bard who accompanied us. Probably the best to tell such a tale. I'm not much of one for words, myself.

"It was, as Rinaldo says, harrowing to say the least. Two of our number died along the way." The monk seems to tense at the thought. "They've since been returned to the living via priestly miracles, but even those miracles can't remove all the scars; both have much to do before they fully return to the strength they had before they faced death."

 

[IamTheTest]

That is an amazing story. Says Dae as he sleeps gracefully into an empty seat at the table. Dae wonders whether he will one day have a tale so exciting.


So Rinaldo, you operate the local magic shop? I will need to speak with you before taking any work as I seem to be out of a few essentials.

 

[Velmont]

"No it's not... that is one thing green adventurer have a tendency to think. Adventure are amazing, they want to be heroes. But hey don't understand what it really mean... Can I ask you a question Dae? Have you ever kill a creature? Have you ever kill a man? Have you ever pass so near death that you were convinced that you would never see the sun again?" asks Rinaldo to Daeualas

 

[IamTheTest]

Dae can be seen contemplating the question at hand. After a moment he responds.

Forgive me my friend. I did not mean to cheapen the tragic events that you may have bore witness too. It is only my understanding that all experiences are relevant. Good experiences mean very little without heartache. While I may not be hardened by years of adventure I look foward to not only the good but the bad things I may see. Is it not better to have triumphed through adversity than to have never lived? Again, I mean no disrespect, I only wish to learn from the tales of others so that I may not enjoy the same mistakes.

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

Quarion Holimion, Elven Druid

Quarion nods at Rinaldo's somewhat harsh words. When Dae is finished, the elf adds, "We have all known great hardship, some greater than others, but we must not allow our painful experiences to consume us, rather we must embrace them and learn from them. Rinaldo here seems to have learned very well from his experiences." A slight smirk appears at Quarion's lips as he takes another sip. "Just recently I joined a group in fighting what we thought was a dragon but turned out to be nothing other than a were-beast. Both are abominations to nature and should be destroyed, but I cannot claim to have slain a dragon, or even a dragonspawn, as you have Rinaldo. In spite of what you had to go through, I agree with Dae, that is quite the story."

 

[Velmont]

"I didn't see any disrespect, but people want to go into adventure, see teh world, vanquish the evil and come back rich and famous... I just want to tell you that's a minority. Most of the people you'll see pass here will have the same dreams, but after a few years, you'll understand that you'll have found many thing you never wanted to search, but you might still be far from your original goal." Rinaldo answer to Dae.

He turns his attention to Quarion. "That history sounds familiar. Salvador tell it to me. Let me guess, you were with Opale, my cousin. A fine illusionist, but as all illusionist, hard to trust. She like to play in your back. By she is a girl of convinction."

Coming back to Dae. "I remember my first adventure. I was going to a Vinyard not far from here. The man miss his monthly meeting with a friend here, so the friend send a small group to see if everything was fine. It wasn't, so kind of savage orc had attack the vinyard, kill the master, but we arrive in time to save his kids. One of those orc almost kill me. I had been pretty lame at that time, my martial skill being almost empty. But I continue adventuring, and I fought freak show monsters, undeads, goblin, sahuagin... nothing that could affected my moral, but then I have gone a raid against some bandit who were attacking teh merchant near Orussus. Being a merchant myself, I didn't want to meet them alone, better to surprise them.

Under an invisibility spell, I infiltrate the camp and climb a watch tower. The guard open teh trap, hearing me, but he never saw my dagger. A flick of the wrist and the man was dead. A bandit you will tell me. But that guy had only stolen, and I killed him. That guy had never the chance to defend itself. I still see today, in my dreams, his face, his eyes fixing the emptyness. I feel my hand dirty, and nothing can wash them...

So, thnk twice before going on an adventure. Think about the consequence of your act. I've enter the business of advnturing because I needed money to fund my shop. My shop have started, it is still small, but I'll never go simply for an adventure just for the money. There is only two things that worth to fight for, my family and my friends."

As Rinaldo tells that last words, he raise his glass of wine, and look Eanos in the yes, than Hogarth, before taking a sip.

"You talk about you needed something?" he ask Dae, having not miss his interest for his shop.

 

[IamTheTest]

Thank you for your wisdom my friend. I promise it will not be wasted on me. As for buisness I would like to pick up somethings. I know that I need a new spell component pouch but after that I am unsure. Perhaps I should pick up some work before parting with all of my coin.

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

Quarion Holimion, Elven Druid

"Yes, adventuring is dangerous, but I believe it is truly the best way to completely experience life. Like Dae says, we need pain so that true joy can be felt. If you only see one color of the spectrum, you can hardly say you are enlightened. No, we must explore the world and discover new ideas and insights into our own souls, and spread the ideals we care about to other people. Life is not life without death. I am not afraid of death. My body will become one with nature again, and I will be as the trees, taking in the light of the sun and the energy of Verdante directly. There will be time enough for resting then. Until that time, I plan on seeing as much of Nature's glory as I can and attuning my own spirit to that of the Green Lord."

"But enough of philosophy. Tell us Dae, where are you from? And Eanos, was it? How about yourself?"

 

[jkason]

Eanos, human monk

"But enough of philosophy. Tell us Dae, where are you from? And Eanos, was it? How about yourself?"

Eanos shrugs. "I was raised in the Silverwood, but where I'm really from is the mystery which set me on this truthseeking path to begin with. My caregiver found me wandering the wood as a toddler, and the only clue to my parentage was this..."

Nodding for any interested to take a look over the edge to the table, the monk doffs off his right boot and pulls up his legging to reveal his calf, upon which is a small tattoo: a bird of prey on a field of fire.

"I've no idea of its significance," he says as he puts his boot back on.

"I suppose the flames of the tattoo were part of what inspired me to the worship of Ayratha, but I couldn't say if they're truly meant to represent one of her fiery tests. So I wander in search of truths, hoping eventually to come across the truth of my own birth."

 

[IamTheTest]

I am from a small village in the central lands. I am gone from there now though.