Tavern - City of Orussus, The Red Dragon Inn '08

[Rae ArdGaoth]

A loud voice can be heard outside, accompanied by annoyed whinnying. "Nah, nah, Ah'm not goin' but ten feet away! Ye've got yer trough, and Ah've got me own, eh? Ah'll be righ' back, g'el, don't ye fret." The gruff voice is suddenly given a face as a dwarf barges into the tavern.

Dressed in a cotton shirt and a red-and-grey plaid kilt, he is protected by what might have once been a fabulous piece of armor but is now a dull, unpolished breastplate with an unfamiliar emblem etched on the chest. His gauntlets are of similar make and similar age. On his back is a fine spiked shield; the sleeping visage of a square-faced dwarf is engraved behind the spikes. At his hips are two fine axes, one a simple but well-crafted handaxe, the other a waraxe looking rather magnificent with ornate engravings and reddish hue. About his barrel-like chest is a bandoleer, studded with empty vials, except the one which he takes into his hand now.

Downing the contents with a grimace, he shouts, "Call me favored o' nobles, dethroner o' deities, an' ruiner o' relics! Ah've slayed goblins, fought five men at once, an' outrun an eruptin' volcano! Ah've battled dragons, brought down kings and queens, and wrestled a crocodile wit' me bare 'ands! Ah call friends o' the Mutt me mates, an' Ah call monstrous bugs me enemies! Me name is Rasereit, last o' the Vundinn Clan, an' Ah'm about ready for a mug o' Dragonsbreath!"

A barmaid brings him a pewter mug filled with some kind of dark bubbling liquid that seems to be melting its container, judging by the hissing sound coming from the grey metal. Rasereit sniffs deeply and then exhales, and a serene grin grows across his red-bearded face. "Now that's somethin' Ah kin drink to." He finishes the whole thing in one gulp, saving the mug, and slams it on the table. A dark vapor wafts up out of the stein as Rasereit wipes his now-slightly-singed beard. "They jes' don' serve it like that on th' road, ye know?"

He looks around for a lively crowd. "Any o' you blokes feel like swappin' tales? Ah've 'ad nothin' but an 'orse t'talk to for days." That comment is met by loud whinnying and hoof tramping from outside.

 

[covaithe]

Corvinus looks over the dwarf's beautiful weapons and battered armor and sighs quietly. He lowers his head back to his drink, lifting it with the exaggerated care of the slightly intoxicated.

 

[SlagMortar]

Nars eyes Rasereit with respect and a bit of awe. A true dwarven warrior, just like I remember from back home, though perhaps a bit less refined. He uncomfortably scratches his thin beard, fully unappreciative of the fact that Nars himself would measure up quite favorably to any but the hardiest warriors from his clanhome.

Nars extends his hand, "Nars, er, Blackbeard. My stories are, ah, not so im-impressive, but, er, Percy, Ridik, and, ah, I did free the gnome, ah, home land of, ah, our friend from some, ah, goblins. We even, er, found some of the gnomes alive."

 

[orsal]

Sir Nurlan turns toward the proud dwarf with a look of recognition. "Razh, it's been a day for reunions! You just missed Eanos, and Tenebrynn, Rinaldo and Ashnar were here earlier. It sounds like you've had quite some exploits since we foiled the dragonkin usurper."

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

"Nurlan, ye dog-voiced minstrel, 'ow are ye? Aye, s'been a busy spot o' time since we sailed away from that burnin' isle. 'Ow's the ol' theater-thingie treatin' ye? Eanos still runnin' letters up 'n down th'coast?"

Razh claps Nars on the back after shaking hands. "Blackbeard, eh? Clan's from the east? Ah kinnit say Ah've 'ad th'pleasure o' meetin' any o' your fine brethren. But freein' a gnomish homeland, that's impressive enough for me. Worth two "im"'s and a drink between dwarves, methinks. Oi, two stouts over 'ere!" He sloppily clinks mugs with Nars and drinks deeply, though not the whole thing this time.

"Tell me more about this gnomeland ye rescued. Are these others here wit' ye?" Razh looks around the bar for a "Percival" or a "Ridik". "Where, why, how?"

 

[orsal]

"Nurlan, ye dog-voiced minstrel, 'ow are ye? Aye, s'been a busy spot o' time since we sailed away from that burnin' isle. 'Ow's the ol' theater-thingie treatin' ye?

"The theatre's going well, at least when I'm home. I've never been one to have a home, you know, I'm still wandering the world, trying to learn more songs. But it's also a good to have a base where I can always organize performances myself. I should be going back there soon. I only recently returned to the Central Lands from a trip around the Lands of Air."

Eanos still runnin' letters up 'n down th'coast?"

"He is. Although when he just left, I don't think it was with a message he was carrying anywhere."

 

[SlagMortar]

"Tell me more about this gnomeland ye rescued. Are these others here wit' ye?" Razh looks around the bar for a "Percival" or a "Ridik". "Where, why, how?"

Nars clanks his mug against Raseriet's and take a long pull. Clearing his throat, Nars turns to the magnificient Lady next to him, "Well, er, Percy or, ah, Ridik, you could, ah, tell our story better than, ah, me.". The two he indicates are Percy and Ridik could hardly be more different. Percy is an incredibly beautiful woman who clearly radiates confidence and power. It was only natural that Raseriet would assume Percy must be someone else for why would such a goddess be associated with a dwarf like Nars. Ridik, on the other hand, is a small unassuming mountain goblin in a heavy cloak suitable for becoming even more unassuming.

 

[Manzanita]

"Ah, Mr. Vundinn." Percy extends her delicate hand to dwarf, though whether it is to be shaken or kissed is hard to say. "Nice to meet you. If you're even half the dwarf Nars Blackbeard is, then I am at your service. You know Sir Nurlan then, eh? Have you been to Monemvassia too? That's where I'm from. And I don't suppose you've met my brother on your travels, have you? His name is Julian Jara. He's a very nice young man with a fancy sword."

Percy is a bit put off by Rasereit's talk. She doesn't even fancy hearing stories about giant bugs, goblins, or wrestling crocodiles. "Taken down kings and queens, have you, sir? Which ones, may I ask?"

 

[SlagMortar]

Nars blushes a bit at Percy's compliment but has learned enough to know his protestations would do no good. He turns a expectant eye toward Rasereit, awaiting his response to Percy's question about kings.

 

[Phoenix8008]

Kurghaz takes another gulp of his drink and enjoys the relative peace and quiet of the Inn at the moment.