(Tavern) City of Orussus, The Red Dragon Inn VII

[Animus]

"Alexa Kelspire is the only parent that I know, and that is good enough for me. I plan on returning to visit my mother and Rincewood during my quest," he says, " but not for now. I must find evil to vanquish, for that is why I am here I believe.

"The Sun God obviously had plans for me, otherwise I wouldn't have been raised by one of his servants. 'To give life and destroy unlife, protect good and defeat evil,' that is Hyrag's creed. I have no head for the intellectual pursuits, so I serve as a paladin, because swinging a sword is what I am good at, and you would do well to remember that," he says with a smile on his face. "You are full of questions little one. It is hard for me to keep up with you. Very...inquisitive...yes, very inquisitive." He takes another sip from his mug. "And now my turn. What is your story, little one?"

 

[Tassadar]

"Wait...my story. You want to hear my story? I don't have a story. I'm just a wondering wizard, no more, no less. I also love reading. Reading anything I can get my hands on. Stories, history, it's all good as long as it's interesting. But for my story, it is not interesting. It's boring even. It involves a little town with us smaller people. And my boredom and lack of books...and leaving...yes, that's about it. So, I travel and read, and read and travel. That's my life." Jasper finishes his little cup of ale and orders another one. "One more of these is my limit, I believe."

 

[Tassadar]

"So, what do you normally do to pass the time?" Jasper looks towards you in hopes of having something to do in the near future.

 

[Enkhidu]

The Red Dragon's doors burst wide as a dwarf stumbles into the common room headfirst. He is inexplicably drenched, and droplet of water fly as his flails his arms. After a brief and successful struggle against gravity, he rights himself and trudges across the floor straight toward the bar, leaving a wide wet trail behind him.

Not even the normally astute wait staff seems to notice, carrying on with their business as if he didn't exist.

The dwarf, wiping his scarred and blotchy head, arrives at the bar, says, "I need three ales, one for me, one for me, and one for my friend. And a bowl. I need a bowl." He slaps a pair of coins on the counter, grabs the three beverages and bowl, and moves toward the busiest table on the floor, which is already full. He sits down without a word, drains one flagon full of ale in a single breath, and belches. He then takes the bowl, pours it full of ale and begins on the third.

He has yet to make eye contact with a single person.

 

[Animus]

"Well, not much really," he says, taking a final sip from his mug. "I did a lot of muscle work back at the temple, and when I had spare time, I practiced my fighting, or tried to learn more teachings of Hyrag. I didn't have much free time though. If mother couldn't find something for me to do, I would come up with something." He thinks and smiles, recalling a fond memory. "I swim and wrestle, rarely, when I felt like I could afford the time to do so. There was this one time--." He pauses as the dwarf makes a ruckus upon entering the inn. "I see we have some interesting company coming our way."

 

[Tassadar]

"Hmm...I see. Interesting indeed." After looking up at the drenched dwarf, Jasper continues his conversation with the half-orc at the table. "He looks like an unsavory fellow. He doesn't say hi, introduce himself, what he does for a trade. Maybe he's got something to hide. You'd help me if he tried to start something, right?"

 

[Animus]

"I don't anticipate any trouble helping, but if the need arises, I'd see to your safety. That's what I do after all," he says.

 

[Tassadar]

Jasper turns his attention to the dwarf. "...hi...buddy. Wha...wha...what's your name?" Jasper has a concerned look on his face, feeling like the dwarf might snap at any time. "Wha...what'cha doing in town?"

 

[Enkhidu]

"Name's Malen," replies the dwarf without looking up. He pauses for a moment, and drags the bowl full of ale toward him until it touches his unkempt whiskers. From the bushy beard, a tiny nose pokes out, sniffing, followed by the furry head of a rat, who dips his head in the bowl and greedily slurps at the frothty brew. "And I'm here for the same reason everyone else is. You?"

 

[Cryndo]

Cryndo, Level 1 Human Cleric of Hyrag

The door to the Red Dragon Inn slowly opens and in peeks a rather large human man. After surveying the situation, the man takes off his cloak revealing a shiny obviously unteseted Chain Shirt and a Mace at his side. The human makes his way to the bar pulls a couple coins out of his pouch and orders a cold ale. He thanks the bartender heartily and looks to the tables to find a place to sit.

Upon viewing the table with three individuals at it, the human quickly moves to the Half-Orc and exclaims "Garrit! I was hoping I'd find you here! I finished the first stage of my apprenticeship under Alexa. I asked for and received a commission to fight undead, protect the weak, and fight evil. Alexa told me you'd be here and thought we should work together to bring glory to Hyrag. Oh, I almost forgot, she wanted me to give you this." The human hands Garrit a rolled parchment and says, "She misses you, but she knows it was time for you to go out to the world."

"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Cryndo, priest of Hyrag. And you are?" said Cryndo as he offers his hand first to the halfling and then to the dwarf.