Valorian sat on the steps of the Tavern as night encircled the world around him. Unless one wasreally close to him, there would only appear to be a large shape, motionless, blocking the way.
Valorian stared into the ever expanding forest surrounding the wooden building muttering curses as he did so. Picking up his mug from beside him, he drained the last of the contents and set it down again wishing he had some of his mother's Hot mint tea on this chilly night. He hear the call of an owl in the trees on the edge of the clearing followed by a loud, but short screech.
He looked up with a puzzled look on his face as he flicked the black hood from around his shoulders giving him a chance to hear more clearly. The same screech ripped through the night again as a black shape flew in between the trees directly towards Valorian.
He stood up and drew one of his daggers from his baldric, readying himself for attack if need be, but as the figure flew closer, it became clear that it was a great horned owl.
"What the hell," Valorian spewed aloud. Just then the bird pulled up just short of him and landed on the ground directly to his front. The owl looked up with huge golden eyes, unblinking, and seemingly unafraid.
Valorian looked the bird over and saw a parcel attached to it's leg. A thought hit him and he stuck out his arm, as a branch of a tree, and the owl then flew up to it and landed on the outstretched appendige. The bird was amazingly light for its large size, but leaving that thought alone Valorian opened the tied package to reveal a letter inside written in the hand of his friend Cail.
Valorian finished his letter, rather short to answer all of Cail's questions, went back outside and looked to find the owl still perched on the apex of the tavern roof. He stuck out his arm again as before and the owl flew down, landing, but cutting deep into his forarm with it's sharp talons.
Putting the letter back in the owls pouch and secruring it, Valorian sent the bird on its way.
"I really hope Cail returns soon, otherwise i'll have to leave this place and find him instead." The cuts on his arm started paining him, so he said, "May the night mother be blessed." [heal 5].
Valorian then turned and returned to the tavern to have a drink.
Rivens wanders up the road towards the tavern, desperate for a drink to stay the sinking cold. He wanders up to Valorian, holds open the Tavern door for him, and asks
"Did you hear that awful screeching? Sounds like something dangerous is on its way".
As he states this, a single huge feather falls on his shoulder as he slips his way into the Tavern after Valorian.
Introducing himself, Rivens holds out his gloved hand, and says "Hi, I am Rivens, and who are you my friend?"
He notices the feather, and puts it into his pouch, and before Valorian could introduce himself, he spurts out
"and what is your poison, while we are at it? Its terribly cold out there, choose something strong." He says as he pulls off his fur cloak, staring and studying Valorian as he waits for the stranger's answer.
"Oh twas just an owl," said Valorian as he stepped into the doorway and into the tavern. He head the man behind him say, "Hi, I am Rivens, and who are you my friend," and before he could reply asked what he wanted to drink.
Whatever would get his mind off of the events on hand would be wonderful. "Give me the strongest drink here, sir and my name is Valorian. It is a Pleasure to meet you Sir Rivens."
Valorian watched as the man took off his fur cloak, taking off his own hood at the same time.
"I am fairly new to town and was thrust into the midst of conflict before I could properly introduce myself to the townsfolk. So not many people know me here, rather, they probably know my friend Cail who happens to be out of touch at the moment. Do you know him Sir?"
"The pleasure is mine friend" Rivens replies as he grabs a stout from the tavern keeper. He orders another and a whiskey and slides them over to Valorian while dropping a few silver onto the table for the keep.
"You say that animal was an owl?" he asks, pulling the feather from his pouch "That must have been some owl" he says, staring at the feather, turning it betwixt his fingers.
"I am new also, so I cannot say I have met the man Cail you speak of, but what I have heard has been good." He states, washing his words down with a swig of his stout. "I was thrust into conflict as I entered town as well, and since then I have simply stayed to myself, avoiding people as best I can, but the nights have become cold in the woods, so I wandered in for a drink to warm my stomach"
Rivens then pulls a small blade from his back and starts slicing the nail off his finger, whittling each finger into small points. He stops for a second, and looks at Valorian and says "Tell me about this Cail you speak off, and tell me of yourself." He takes one last peircing glance around the tavern at the others sitting nearby before leaning in to listen.
As the drink slides to a stop in front of him, Valorian thinks to himself, 'Rivens sure is wary. He'd make a decent rouge,' as well as noticing the now sharpened points on his fingernails.
"Yes. It was in fact a Great Horned Owl from up high in the mountains. And speaking of Cail, I received a letter from him on that same owl. He is my life long friend and I am in Jastrey in his stead learning what I can on... a few particular subjects dealing in his area of expertice; magic. He's back in our old town in the mountains dealing with a minor undead situation and he should be back in the spring. Although knowing him, he could be back sooner. He's an Empyrean if you must know. You may have at least seen him before. He stands over 6 feet in height."
Shaking his arm a bit, the bird then flew to the roof of the tavern and stood there as if waiting for something. Valorian then opened the letter and read the heavily stained parchment.
My friend,
I first wish to tell you that your mother and father are kind as always and have opened up their home to me here for my lengthy stay. Annabell is still one of the best cooks I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Rodger has told me that he has taken over command of the militia here in town against all of the invaders and has named me third in command just after my fellow Wizard Nargrim.
Nargrim is a very adept spellcaster if I do say so myself, and has taught me much since I first arrived. Speaking of the battles that still rage on just above my head, for I am in the underground command center just outside of the undead fort, the enemy is... how shall I say... very adept at combat. If I didn't know better, I would say that these beasts had a mind of their own instead of the empty shells they appear to be. I wish we had ten more wizards like Nargrim here. His spells are so powerful, that the unfortunate victim which falls in front of him is forever reduced to a pile of ashes. I am in awe of him.
But enough of this morbid talk. How is everyone in Jastrey? What has happened with Akon and Wyndfere? Is Ohren still the Captain of the "Lady Dice"? Oh I still laugh at that one, but most importantly, what have you learned of... You know who?
Cail
Valorian folded the parchment slowly and placed it back in it's envelope. He then stood with a small frown on his face and turned to head up the steps of the tavern. He walked in, sat at a nearby table, pulled out his own piece of parchment and began to write with a vacant quill laying in front of him.