The Sudden Approach of Unexplainable Power: IC

[unleashed]

Chuckling and shaking his head in disbelief at the tale his would be muggers have told, Aekalos replies, “Well, most tales have some basis in reality, but I imagine there’s quite a bit of exaggeration in the tale those two men are telling. Not that such a creature couldn’t be real of course, as there are many strange creatures in our world, but I have a feeling there’s nothing like that stalking the streets here... more likely the men are trying to cover their embarrassment at being terrified and thrashed by someone, rather than by some fantastical creature.” Deftly changing the subject back to his stay here, he asks, “So shall we settle accounts before I seek my breakfast, good sir?”

 

[Nonlethal Force]

"Well, if nothing else the men who told the tale were dragged in by the city guard until they sobered up. So if they are stretching the truth a good bit, it only earned them a free night on a concrete slab. And yes, sir, if you are prepared to settle your account. Were you given the details last evening?"

 

[unleashed]

“Indeed, your lovely hostess last night provided me with the details... a nights stay with an evening meal and breakfast was 3 gold pieces, if I remember correctly,” Aekalos declares, a hand delving into his pouch, before he brings forth some of his winnings from the previous evening. Looking at the coins in his hand, he smiles and hands three gold coins to the innkeeper, “There’s the three for the lodgings and meals in your fine inn,” before adding another, “and that’s for the wonderful service provided by your staff.”

 

[Nonlethal Force]

The innkeeper smiles. "Thank you, sir. I'm glad my staff pleased you."

He turns and gestures to a door. "If you would be so kind as to pass through the door and take any seat you would like in our dinning hall, my wife will be sure to serve you breakfast. I believe eggs, oatmeal, toast and bacon are on the menu today."

 

[unleashed]

Nodding at the innkeeper’s words, Aekalos grins as he says, “That sounds like the perfect beginning to what I imagine will be a long day afoot, so I’ll not keep you a moment longer, good sir,” before heading into the dining hall and looking for a table. One near a group that looks like it will be travelling this morning, if any other people are about.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

There are two groups in the dining area and to be honest it would be difficult to not sit closely to either group. Both groups are quite likely travelers, seeming to have gotten up with the sun as Aekalos did.

The group farthest from him is made up of two individuals. They are both dressed in dark traveling clothes. The man has his back to Aekalos, but as he talks Aekalos can occasionally get a glimpse of a goatee on his face and a few battle scars. He doesn't seem to be heavily armed or armored, however. In fact, he doesn't particulairly look to be all that strong from the back. The woman he is with carries her sword sheathed in its scabbard - and she carries it quite openly as both ends poke out from under folds in the cloak. She sits with her traveling cloak open enough to reveal a hint of chain underneath. She has long hair that has been pulled up and twisted into a bundle at the back of her head.

The second group - closest to Aekalos - is made up of three people. Like the first group, it is a man and a woman. But there also seems to be what one could assume as their teenage son with them. The boy is clothed as a farmhand and doesn't seem particularily interested in the adults sitting with him. The man is dressed in typical earthtones and carries two small daggers, one attached to his leg and the other resting on the table in front of him. He seems to be using it to help eat his breakfast. The woman sitting across from him has a simple sickle resting on the table in front of her and she is dressed in a very plain green robe. She has a bit of dirt under her fingernails and doesn't seem all that concerned about her dirty hands.

A woman comes in from another door - presumably leading to the kitchen - and says, "Go ahead and sit where you'd like, hun. There're only three tables left and unfortunately we don't offer too much privacy here. But the food can't be beat!" She sets a plate of bacon, toast, and eggs in from of the twosome and collects their bowls from the oatmeal.

 

[unleashed]

“So I’ve heard,” Aekalos remarks with a smile, as he catches a glimpse of mail beneath the woman’s cloak. Deciding to leave the question of travelling companions until after he has breakfast, as both groups look interesting, he finds a table situated between the two groups... hoping he might pick up a snatch of conversation from their tables as he eats. Keeping his rapier clear of the chair by placing a hand on the hilt as he sits, he quietly waits for breakfast and listens...

 

[Nonlethal Force]

The woman wearing the mail watches Aekalos intently as his hand finds the hilt of his sword. She smiles at him if he dares make eye contact. She whispers, allowing Aekalos to hear only bits and pieces - more by reading her lips than anything. "... bladesman at least ... looks saavy ... alone ... definately mildly interested." The man turns just enough to get a glimpse of Aekalos out of the corner of his eye and nods only slightly if Aekalos is looking in his direction.

The other table doesn't seem to pay much attention to Aekalos unless he is quite intentional about making eye contact with the man (and not the woman because Aekalos is sitting behind her). Before making eye contact Aekalos overhears the man and woman conversing - starting with the man. "Even by way of the road it's a good week to Bacrothen. And there isn't always a good place to stay where the water draws close to the land." "Do we have enough to get there?" "I don't know." "Well, we'll find work along the way. We did here." "True, but we can always count on farms needing help." "We can depend on people hiring cheap labor, though. We don't need much each day. We can forage for most of our food."

[Sblock=If Aekalos looks the man directly in the eye] "Looks like a nice day for traveling, sir."[/Sblock]

The woman returns to Aekalos with a glass of water and what looks like a drink made of fresh squeezed citrus. "Oatmeal first then the rest, sir?"

 

[unleashed]

Aekalos looks towards both tables as he waits, nodding and smiling as he catches the eye of the mailed woman and nodding in return to the man with her. He doesn’t try too hard to meet the eye of anyone not looking his way though, so doesn’t make eye contact with anyone at the other table.

When the woman returns with the water and fruit juice, Aekalos stops glancing around and looks her way instead, smiling as she asks about breakfast. “Thank you. Yes, that will suit me well, ma’am.”

 

[Nonlethal Force]

"Very well, I'll be right back. We have the oatmeal already made snd merely simmering in the back. After all, you can't hurt oatmeal!" The woman is gone for only enough time to grab a bowl, scoop some oatmeal into the bowl, and bring it back.

The male part of the twosome begins to do the majority of the talking and he does it in a very low tone that Aekalos cannot hear. Apparently he is speaking so softly that the woman not only leans in but focuses hard upon the man's face and stops looking in Aekalos' direction.

The other table continues their conversation the whole while - again starting with the man. "Sure, we can forage. Assuming that we don't run into any feral creatures in the land." "I know, Demitri, but we'll cross that path when we get there. we were lucky enough to afford one good night here. We could be lucky again. And this meal alone will nourish us for the day." "I understand all that. But the number of cities and towns between Partuss and Bacrothen are few." The boy adds, showing that he was paying more attntion than it looked, "Why not head towards Eberdeen? A big city like that should have much work and places to stay safely." The man responds, "Too much time spend headed south. Unless we are forced there we cannot afford the time."