It had been some time since Esgir actually sat in the tavern, retelling tales of adventure with his companions. He made fairly frequent trips back to Jastrey, but was never around long; typically just long enough to help keep his old comrades well supplied. But tonight there was no revelry, there was no boasting, there were no companions. The dwarf sat alone, an ale before him, looking into the depths of the dark liquid as if it would reveal some great truth if he but knew how to see it...
Shrayvar shrugged. "Mostly. I've gotten quite a few cuts and bruises recently. That necklace you gave me has really come in handy though. Just the other day I got charged by some angori. I turned his sword to slag before he even reached me." Shrayvar sat down opposite Esgir, chuckling slightly. "Oh man, the look on his face was just priceless, and that was before I lopped his head off." Shrayvar smiled at the trip down memory lane before turning his attention back to the present. "So, what's got ya down anyhow?"
The tavern is unusually quiet as she enters, hoping to see a friend or two to share a tea with. She spies a dwarf she has only done business with - either purchasing or selling goods. He is seldom in Jastrey, and this is the first time she has seen him at the Shady Corner. He is speaking with Shrayvar, a mau she has been out on an adventure or two during her own time in the area. The dwarf has a heavy, drawn look to him, while the mau seems his usual, carefree self. Glancing about, she moves to step past the table, unsure she would be welcome during such a heavy conversation. However, she does pause at the dwarf's words, recalling the previous tensions between the dwarves and uordeq of Jastrey just recently. Taking a breath, she speaks.
"I certainly hope that, unlike some of your brethren, you do not consider all of the uordeq within Jastrey to be your foe. There are those who fought against their kin during that battle."
"From where aye was I did'nae see er hear the main assault meself. I know there were Uordeq, and giants, apparently a dragon... Aye... Aye've heard they claimed te have the very heart of Espidrel..."
*Esgir balling his hands into fists.*
"The.. The heart of Espidrel... an they dare te defile it... Aye dunnae know what dark magicks can corrupt te heart o' an immortal Shrayvar... But this bodes ill fer all o' Orn..."
Shrayvarg smiled when he saw Althena, though he quickly turned his attention back to Esgir. "For serious? They had giants, a dragon, and the heart of the Espidrel? I can get giants being talked into smashing things, but I can't wrap my head around getting a dragon, let alone a freakin' immortal. I thought Espidrel was supposed to have vanished after the shattering."
Althena frowns slightly before placing a hand upon the distraught dwarf's shoulder. Giving it a squeeze, she quickly releases it. "The dwarves of Forgehome are hurt, homeless, frightened and angry," she says, stepping back from the table, glancing quickly about. "But, they are strong still. The whole of Jastrey should come together, now more than ever. I only hope that it does so, before it is too late."
Feeling she has intruded long enough, the Ixifar healer bows her head slightly, and then steps back, seeking out a barmaid for some tea.
*Esgir looks to Althena as she turns to leave.*
"Althena, wait!"
*Clearing his throat, recomposing himself.*
"Sorry... Aye've dealt with many peoples in many areas fer business- just this evening I met a Garen Veniir, from some group called the Blood Bears? If you have word or tale of what happened in Forgehome I would beg ye speak Althena."
*The dwarf gesturing for a barmaid to come to the table.*
Taking a breath, Althena steps back to the table, offering Esgir a smile. Taking a seat, she nods slightly. "Mind you, I was not present at that battle," she said, frowning slightly as she folds her hands before her. "I was in the town when word reached us, followed soon thereafter by waves of the injured and dying." She glanced up. "Shortly thereafter, Keg, too, followed, along with many of his kin. So, mind you, much of what I say is second hand." Taking a breath, she then says, "all I know for certain, was that an army of uordeq and giants decended upon Forgehome. Led by Keg's own son, who not only betrayed his own kin, but killed your king as well."
Here her frown deepens, and she turns as the barmaid delivers her tea to the table. Nodding her thanks, the Ixifar then says. "One thing I do know for certain: Not all uordeq are Forgehome's foe. There were those - many who dwell within Jastrey - who sided against their kin." She then smiles a bit broader. "This Garen you met earlier, of the Blood Bears? He and his kin in the Bears are honorable sorts. To be trusted, so long as you give them no indication you are not to be trusted."
*Nodding solemnly.*
"Aye, I knew of the king's passing... I was in Forgeholm during the attack, but was cut off from the main battle..."
*Perking a bit.*
"If you say he and his kin are te be trusted, then it must be so Althena; ye choose yer comrades very carefully- I know ye would'nae vouch fer them unless it were so."
"Ooh! Ooh! I vouch for the Blood Bears too!" Shrayvar said, holding up his hand. "We tried to get Althena to join, but she didn't, so now we consider her to be an honorary friend of the Blood Bears. But you should totally join us, Esgir! "We're always looking to expand our family."
"Thank you for your vote of confidence," she answered. "Marloff and I have both had quite a few dealings with them, both in business and upon the battlefield. I have yet to see any commit what I would consider a dishonorable act." She grins slightly. "They are a little more...rambunctious than those I normally would abide time with. But then, Marloff is always saying I must give folks more of an opportunity - both for me to get to know them, and for them to get to know me."
*The dwarf smiled a bit again at the Mau.*
"Aye could ne'er leave me kin in the Stormbringers Shrayvar, but it seems aye've been arming the Blood bears without knowin' it."
*Turning his attentions to Althena.*
"Marloff? Ye'll have te fergive me, all these new faces and names, along with me only bein' in Jastrey now and again."
[OOC: I can't recall if Esgir has met Marloff yet :P ]
Shrayvar leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Hmmm, I'll have to ask Kresh if it's possible to be a Blood Bear and something else. But I get it though, you've already got a family. I'd ask you to visit, but our meeting place is a secret, which makes visiting it kind of hard."
*From across the room where he sat with Althena, Esgir takes a long, scrutinizing look at Thalenir.*
[Cross posted to Justice in Jastrey]
*Still looking at Thalenir as he adressed Althena again.*
"Aye know aye've been gone some time, but not long enough fer an Elf te go grey haired..."
"Ah...I think he got into a potion, my friend," the Ixifar smirks at the paladin, then turns back to the dwarf. "And, yes, Goose is, indeed, a member of the Blood Bears."
[OOC: will post regarding what Thalenir is working on in Justice in Jastrey]
Althena rises, walking with determination toward the Paladin.
"I'm good," Shrayvar replied to Goose."In fact, I—" Shrayvar paused as he took notice the small crowd forming around Thalenir. "—Oh hey, what going on over there?" Shrayvar approuched the crowd and looked over Peleus's shoulder. "Oh," he said, visibly disapointed. "It's just a piece of parchment. I thought maybe it was something cool."
[OOC: Cross post with "Justice in Jastrey"]
*cross posted*
Noticing that conversations have fallen to a soft murmur around the Tavern. Marloff puts away his books and wanders out from the shadows and begins to look for a place at the bar.
His mind slightly weary from the intense concentration over the past hours, his thoughts turn toward a pot of hot tea.
Seeing that the bar area was elbow to elbow with patrons already, he stops short at a table with an open seat and conjures up a steaming brew.
Marloff speaks out loud to no one in particular, "Ah, I can feel the good in this room. The passion warms my heart as does this tea."
*Esgir had resumed his quiet, solemn contemplation, shutting out the droning and mutterings of the crowd that had gathered around Thalenir, when movement nearby caught his attention. Looking up he saw a silver haired stranger in a black robe.*
"Ye're either a very old man, 'r an Empyrean- which would still make ye a very old man."
*The dwarf's words had a slight undertone to them.*
Startled that he had not noticed anyone sitting across the table, Marloff snaps his head up from his cup in surprise. "I am not sure I ascertain the meaning hidden in your words friend, but it is true I have been watching the heavens dance for many ages." Marloff sits waiting to see the aggression that he has come to expect from a dwarf and for matter, respect in a dwarf.
*As you mentioned "watching the heavens dance" the dwarf noticibly tensed, his hands starting to ball into fists as he took a deep breath.*
"Oh, ye cannae as'ertain me meaning? Aye s'pose that's te be expected- the heavens dance is an meaningful te ye as te a blind man... either tha' or ye're no friend o' mine..."
"Future happenings are not set in stone nor dictated by the dance. The dance does however offer hints, suggestions, if you will, that come to me more as feelings and intuition rather than a script of what is to come." Marloff settles back and rests against the wall behind his chair. "One must always supplement these things with wisdom."
*The dwarf offers something between a scoff and a snort of disapproval.*
"Hints? Suggestions?"
*Slamming a fist down on the table.*
"An what o' Forgehome? All aye've e'er heard was tha' Empyreans 'ad insight in'tae te future; ye're tellin' me tha' not a single, solitary one of ye e'en got a- a- SUGGESTION o' what was gonnae 'appen?"
*The dwarf is obviously agitated and distraught.*
*The dwarf rises to his feet, face reddened.*
"MORE HARM THAN GOOD?!"
*His cry drowning out any normal conversation going on in the room at the moment.*
"Near' an entire city is laid dead an' razed, an' you dare te speak of more harm than good? What would it take te get her white haired heads out o' yer arses? A whole shard dying? A continent? Why not te whole of Orn? Or perhaps ye save yer precious knowledge fer savin' the heavens! 'Cause they've done us so much good haven't they?!"
"I fell your loss, Sir, I truly do. But, as you say nearly the whole city. Do you not realize it could have been even worse?" Marloff hangs his head as he feels the pain emanate from the dwarf. "It is hard to understand that through all this hurt, some good can grow. A seed must die before new grain can grow and become a rich ale."
*Tears of frustration, anger, and sorrow form at the edges of the dwarf's eyes, quickly disappearing into his beard, as he grit his teeth, trembling a bit as his fists grew white knuckled, raising them over his head.*
"aaaaarrrrrRRRRRRRGGHHHHHHH!"
*Slamming his fists down on the table, bringing his arms across the tabletop sideways, sending the long unattended ale spilling to the floor, the tankard clattering as it bounced and rolled, the conjured teapot was sent flying as well, shattering as it hit the floor, but fading into naught but the magic it was made of after.*
"How? How can it grow Empyrean? If ye've seen som'thin' aye beg of ye- tell me what must be done!"
"There is nothing I can reveal at this time. Often pain as great as you and yours are feeling now, cloud the things that are to come." Marloff, with great apprehension, lays a hand to one shoulder of the grieving dwarf. "This hurt will pass. Own the pain, stew in it, you will emerge with a stronger soul."
Poppy taking a deep breath picks up the the tossed silverware placing in back upon the table. "He has a point, stranger." The fae said with a tired look in her eyes. "Whether he could of prevented it or not at this point is moot, it has happened... and some actions though that may seem rational at the time may not be later on. " "Soooooo, keep calm please, I understand your aggressions toward his people but acting on those aggressions does not always end well. Trust me on both accounts" She spoke back to him softly in a tone that seemed sincere enough. She patted the crying dwarf in a very awkward manner trying to comfort it making it clear consoling people was not her strong point.
Having observed the tavern for long enough, Goose finally moves to the table the loud and seemingly unstable Dwarf occupied. He took a strong swig from the flask and, having already watched the Dwarf knock his own drink from the table, set his own flask down in front of the Dwarf and took a seat.
"I have not had the opportunity to meet you before, but I could not help but overhear your...conversation. I feel for the Dwarves and sympathize with their loss." He hesitated for a moment, fearing the the Dwarf's mood would continue to shift dramatially, then turned to Marloff.
"I also have not had the pleasure to meet Marloff, but I konw of him from my conversations with Althena. He meant no ill will with his words. This is a trying time for all of those who were involved in that battle. The betrayal of a son is not unlike the waters of a sea, caustic and sickening to swallow. While I do not believe in the reading of the stars, arts such as that can only see various possibilities because we all have free wills to make our own decisions.
"And now, you and yours have a sizeable decision to make. Will you take a tragedy that brought such pain to you and lash out at those who helped save what was left of your city, furthering spreading the poison of hate brought by the attackers, or will you allow those who fought alongside the defenders of great Forgeholm, among them my Uordeq Brother, to help you heal and grow.
"That, dear Dwarf, will be the true test of whether good can come of the tragety that has befallen your great city."
*Taking another deep breath.*
"It has always been my way te judge folk by their actions an deeds, rather than the deeds o' their kin. Aye'll admit, I saw Marloff, an Emyrean, and was angered taht his kind did'nae think te try an' warn us o' Stein's betrayal... fer that- aye am sorry. I allowed meself to be overcome by it all..."
*Looking to the green haired Elf? who sat before him now.*
"Ye talk with all the finery aye'd expect from an Elf, but yer appearance is strange te me stranger."
[Cross posted with Justice in Jastrey]
Althena had been startled by the dwarf's enraged scream, causing her to take an involuntary step backwards, bumping into the table. She moves to step toward where the dwarf - with whom she had been sharing a cup of tea with just moments before - threatening the love of her life. She pauses, however, as it appears that both Marloff and a fae she has only seen a few times appear to calm the grief stricken dwarf. Satisfied her presence is unnecessary, she turns back toward the table, taking in the voices surrounding the current events.
"For a dwarf, you're taking in that ale at a very slow rate," remarked Shrayvar wryly as he approuched Esgir's table, a glass of ale in his hand. "You're not ill, I hope."