The dark elf sits at a table in the Shady Corner tavern, facing the scenery and people watching. Some faces familiar, some not. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. And time and again the question case risen as to why doesn't he? He pours himself a mug of his favorite spiced mead and continues to observe and study the social interactions.
The dark elf upon his scanning the area from time to time feels the gaze of another glancing over at him. He looks around to alert himself to whether it's someone threatening or not, and then locks on to an ixifar with a scarlet head of hair. Unsure if she's actually looking his way, he pretends not to notice, but from his periphery... yes, now he's sure. His head can't help but tilt slightly to think what she's plotting at, if anything at all. With this town you never know. Especially when new folks roll in.
But the dark elf has been gone so long that making sure that he doesn't come off as threatening to new faces seems like a decent idea, especially when you've earned yourself a mantle and most of the people aware of that resent you for it as it is. Since she does not seem to be moving, though... he scoots his bench back and stands to his feet, gathering his mug and taking it with him. Maneuvering through the crowd he eventually makes it to the table of the ixifar and takes an empty seat across her. Not knowing exactly what to say, he starts to speak, but catches himself not wanting to come off as his usual level of hostile. Then starts again, "'Ello. Jou seem to be playin at da same game dat I am?"
The ixifar jumps slightly at the sudden intrusion at her table, blinking rapidly as she tries to follow along the strangely accented words of the elf, raising a hand to swipe one stray lock from her eyes. Stammering slightly, she speaks. "G-game?" She blinks again, green eyes fixing upon the elf. "I-I'm not..." shaking her head, she takes a deep breath and starts again. "I'm not playing at any games. I simply...noticed that you seemed to be searching the room." A small smile graces her lips as she continues. "You seem a bit," a shrug, "lonely, I suppose. I'm not very good with strangers. Worse in crowds," she gestures in a small wave to encompass the commonroom. "But, I usually know when someone is searching for...I don't know. Belonging?" Now she shrugs in an apologetic manner. "If I am wrong, I do apologize, and hope I had not intruded where I should not."
As the scarlet ixifar continues to explain herself, the dark elf cannot help but to feel slightly amused at her reaction. He puts a hand up as if to ease her to relax and replies, "Dat is a lot to answer to at one time. So I will staht seemple. I am observin' da crowd. You can most of da time tell by facial expression whedah or not one can be trusted. And since dis is my town, I am learnin da demeanor of da townsfolk." He utters this all the while looking around for a possible example, but decides against it and instead takes a sip of his mead. "Nevah dull moment since arrivin here for you eidah, is eet?"
"Now this is more like it." A sorcerer appears and a fresh tankard of mead lands with a thud at tables edge. "No worries, Althena, your words were not out of place." Marloff settles down and gives a nod of acknowledgement and acceptance to the elf's presence. "Belonging is the universal treasure we all seek." He pulls another gulp and wipes the mead from his whiskers. "Tell me dark friend, what is it you seek?"
Poppy flutters into the tavern making a quick scan of the room to pick up any faces she recognizes. Seeing the dark elf she makes her way over to the table weaving her way though people. "Hello, Corellus terrorizing town folks again?" she asked a smirk on her face.
The dark elf opens his mouth to address the presence of the other person he doesn't recognize. He must be one of the docents, he's wearing spellcaster robes, and the white hair suggests that his lineage is touched of the astral. But his attempt at conversation is interrupted by a familier peep. He sighs complete with an eye roll, and turns his head in that direction, "I do not terrorize town folks, Poppy. Don' chu 'ave a glaciuh named conclusion to go jump to wit jour friends somewheah?" He turns his head back to his table companions, "My apologies. I would not say I am seekin anyt'ing in particulah, jyet."
Althena gives the dark elf, whose name apparently is 'Corellus', a simple nod. "Indeed. Although you do not seem to be searching for anything in particular, someone has found you."
The ixifar turns toward the fae creature, answering the fae's smirk with a small smile. "Greetings, good fae. My name is Althena Andropolis, hierophant of Istansia, newly to this town." The healer extends a cautious, slightly trembling hand toward the dark fae-like creature even as she inches closer to the mage. She glances over at the dark elf, hopefully conveying that her introduction was to include him as well.
She laughs lightly at the comment about glaciers. "Surely I would, but the heat of Jastery would not allow it."
Her nose crinkles lightly at the name of Istansia before answering the Ixifar. "I am Poppy, of Glesmyr. As I am sure you may have predicted that from the talk of glaciers. Oh and a Druid" She said giggling giving her hand a light shake. "No, need to be timid. I mean no harm" she said picking up on the Ixifar nervous demeanor. "but if you don't trust that I surely wouldn't do anything if front of our wonderful paladin friend." She said giving Corellus a very cheeky grin.
The dark elf scoffs at the fae, "Ees dat all I am to you, some paladin to condescend to? You flatter me, Poppy." He turns back to Althena, "Forgive me, not to be rude. My name 'as already been given, but not as introduction." He gives a gesture with his wrist and states, "I am of many name known far and wide, but my chosen name upon my ascension to adult'ood is Corellus Willowreath. As to where I am from, I can no give answer to a place dat no longer exists." He turns toward the empyrean and inquires, "May I ask what I should call you as well?"
"Well if dere is any place for da lost and wayward, I assure you da town of Jastrey is one you may find solace in, though safety is anudah ting." The dark elf smirks as if he made an amusing joke. "One ting for sure is you nevah be wit'out tings to do." He takes the last sip of his mead. "If I may inquire, who's shadow do you intend to escape? I believe I am unfamiliar, Marloff."
"Baam's shadow, yes..., I simply refer to the air of misfortune that has been following us on our travels." Marloff mirrors the elf's grin "To think yourself safe anywhere would be foolish." He closes his eyes and falls still. A few moments pass before he speaks again. "I am currently going through a difficult transition period called life." sighs deeply "This is where I belong. Now to find me a purpose."
Althena chuckles lightly at Poppy's words as she gently gives the fae's extended hand a slight squeeze, glancing sidelongs to the dark elf - Corellus - to see his reaction. it seems as though the pair is well acquainted, and the ixifar relaxes even more, settling more comfortably in her seat, as Marloff and Corellus speak. She lifts the spoon to her lips, grimacing that her meal has gone cold. Scowling at the plate, she pushes it back with an air of disappointment.
The dark elf lets out a sound that is not well known to much anyone. His laughter. After a few seconds he wipes a small tear and speaks, "A difficult transition period called life, aren't we all? Well, may da mistress of lesser fortune be blind to your stay here."
Reaching over, Althena brings her wine goblet to her lips, grimacing at the bitter flavor. Shaking her head, she sets it down, frowning at the cup.
Taking a breath, she says, "We have heard of the unrest that seems to settle within Jastrey," she raises her eyes to her companions. "I have come to offer the Radiant Maiden's mercies." She sighs. "I do wish there was a temple or shrine to Istansia within Jastrey. But, alas, I have not found any who even revere her as do I."
She glances at Marloff, a small, affectionate smile crossing her features, replacing the melancholy that had found its way upon her face. "Marloff tends to look for more...secular entertainments."
A shrug lifts her shoulders. "And, of course, this town promises adventure and coin. And while I could happily do without the adventure part," she glances once more at the empyrean mage, "the coin is required in order for continued survival."
"No of course I do not!" Se said Corellus a big grin painted across her face. "But to strangers that information may offer some comfort."
Turing to Athena she begins to speak of Isetina a little bit of sour look creeps across her face. "While she is not my favorite, I do know of a few other her chose to worship her within Jastery" "On of the gnomes do actually, Thimble" she said her tone perking back up.
"Ah yes, though I have only been within Jaster for a little over a year I can promise you there is a lot of adventure. Coin can a be a bit harder to find, have to know the right places to look." She said cheerfully.
"But secular enteraiments?" She asked the Ixifar a puzzled look on her face.
Althena smiles at Poppy, relief plain upon her face. "I hope that I meet this Thimble then." She replies, obviously more at ease with the fae than she was at first. "As to Marloff's more...secular entertainments." She pauses, tapping a fingertip against her chin. "As a healer in service of Istensia, it is my duty to heal those weak of mind and body. Marloff is a mage of no small water, who enjoys scholarly pursuits. However, he cannot subsist solely upon his research, debates and other experiments. So he usually finds other entertainment within the halls of taverns such as this one." She glances at her white haired companion before leaning over toward the fae to whisper. "He likes to play cards and other games of chance."
The dark elf glances at Poppy, before tracing his eyes back to Althena. "Dere may be more followuhs of Istensia dan you tink. I don' ask uddahs about who they consult in times of need," he states, clutching his raven's skull pendant. "But I'm sure any reciprocal of Etejeril would not be faulted around 'ere." He then turns to Marloff, "As for your penchant for games. Dere are wanderin' gamblers that come t'rough tha roads on almost every mestrun suhchin' for victims to trick outta 'dere coin. You may wan' ta be wary of your greed."
A short light laugh emerges from Marloff. "There is a good chance they learned that trickery from leaving my game without a shirt and nary a coin." He extends his hand toward the elf and lowers it to the table, palm up. Then points directly at Corellus. "Your coin, my friend, is safe from me. I do not relieve a paladin from his wares." Marloff scans the room. "But surely someone here deserves their load to be lightened."
The dark elf sort of sneers at pale haired mage's statement. "I know you not mean to offend, but I rathuh you not take me for my mantle. Da "special treatment" de uddahs here claim I 'ave is vast enough to make me ill. Jou are to take me at face value an' not address me as a superiuh, but as an equal. Capisce?" His glare is piercing like the gaze of a grackle. He then extends his hand out above Marloff's pointed finger as if for a hand shake.
Marloff quickly grasps the elf's extended hand firmly as a smile parts his mustache. "Those words demand respect. I will forever call you friend. Count on me to stand at your side through adversity. To be considered an equal to such as yourself is truly an honor." Marloff releases his hand, rises from his seat, and gives Corellus's shoulder an exuberant punch. "Now I get us more mead." Marloff walks away in air of cheerful satisfaction, a condition that is far too rare for the empyrean.
Althena watches Marloff walk away from the table, a smile upon her lips. "'It's good to see him cheerful once more," she turns to her companions, obviously more at ease than she had been when first they approached her table. "These past few years have been difficult, to say the least." She makes to reach for her wine goblet again, then pulls her hand back as she recalls how absolutely awful the concoction in that goblet was. Sighing, she settles back in her seat, eyes once more roving toward the empyrean mage as he gathered his drinks. "Despite the lawless reputation of Jastrey," she now turns back to her companions. "I think that this would be a good place to settle down for a while." She now grins at the pair. "Afterall, we have already met some very...interesting folk in such a short span of time."
The dark elf's mood lightens with Marloffs response as he walks away, then he turns to the ixifar and spies her reaction of disdain to her wine, then reaches for his pouch. "Jou know, if jou are impartial to da taste, dere is no one 'olding pistol to jour 'ead tellin you ta drink eet. Here." He takes out a small case about the size of his hand and pulls a tag and string bringing a bag of herb and spice with it. "Dis is a tea dat I 'ave saved from my old days at sea. I would stock up on it whenever I spotted da chance. Jeest nevah purchase from back alley in Rica from man name Demarko." He hands it to her. "For wheneva you get 'ot watuh."
"As for da town's lawlessness, I often wander what pros and cons come wit' it. I t'ink to an extent dere should be a change. If anyt'ing, guidelines to follow. I'm workin on eet but an enforcer of laws should not be one to make dem, dat would be too much power een one's 'ands." All while seeing this, he takes a second bag out and stows the rest back into his pouch.
Althena reaches out and gently takes the bag of tea offered by the dark elf. Her face immediately brightens as she cradles it gently in her hand. "You have no idea how long I've suffered back-water wine and weak tea." She lifts her eyes the elf. "My thanks Corellus. I have not had a decent cup of wine since leaving the temple in Nectrum, and it's been even longer since I've had a drinkable cup of tea." The Ixifar turns, seeking out a barmaid to request a cup of hot water.
Feeling searching eyes grace over the area, the small ixifar healer looks up from her meal, turning to seek out the searcher. Dark eyes skim over the tables filled with other patrons, some laughing, enjoying the comradery of their companions; others quiet, alone. One lonely figure, that of a dark elf, catches her eyes, and she pauses her search. She has seen this elf before, although in what capacity or when, she cannot recall. She glances briefly at her companion, and then turns back, looking up and around the commonroom to see if any of the other patrons have seen or sensed the dark elf's questing eyes. The desire to rise, to greet the other comes over her - briefly. Never one to approach first, the shy ixifar settles back down, shaking her red head, admonishing herself. Why would a dark elf seek the companionship - even briefly - of an ixifar hierophant?