Atasatch opens the dorr to the tavern dropping his hood. his black headband stained red where the tips of his ears would be, his long coat lightly dusting the floor at his feet. Atasatch looks for an familiar faces that might harbor the information he desires. Slightly down hearted Atasatch makes his way to a small table and orders an ale. He waits patiently.
taklinn enters the tavern and promptly sits down at a table with his back to the wall and a view of both doors. "A holy water barkeep, an' none o' that watered down stuff ye be sellin' to the shortbeards!" upon receiveing his ale he takes a long draw, and shrugs. "It aint tha holiest thing I drank, but its gettin' closer. get it darker an' thicker an we'll be talkin! A good effort though fer a shortbeard"
Seeing the elf he picks up his mug and walks over to him. "Whats singed yer fur elf, ye look like someone stole yer axe." He reaches behind him and starts scratching his back. He then walks over to a door jamb and rubs against it. grunting loudly he grabs his axe and continues scratching his back harder while saying "Next time yer fer becomin a durned mutt ye best be stayin away from me! I can't be rid o' these fleas fer all the stone in tha world!"
During the hopping and dancing tirade a small stone falls out of his pouch and he promptly reaches out to get it. Winking at the elf he smiles says "Could be worse elf, at least this shard seems to have a bit o' use. Guess me wanderin' days be at an end."
Ripper crawls out of her nest of blankets and pillows, stretching and giving her head a quick shake which sends her long red and blonde hair out into a massive pouf. Both arms go back 'round her hair, smoothing it down once and then separating it into two crooked pigtails.
She digs out her personal candy stash (well as personal as any belongings were between the twins) setting it on the floor between her legs and starting in on a breakfast of pure sugar.
"Told ya Tackie-tack! Strays got fleas." Hopping up anyway the Pix toddles over to put a package of candies into the dwarf's hand, tossing a second from across the room to land in the elf's drink.
"Your ears are leaking."
Atasatch feels the tips of his ears. He notices that the once black cloth was now a darker shade of red. He then proceeds to take out another dark strip of cloth from his pouch while removing the other strip. Once removed Atasatch then ties the other strip of cloth to his ears and smiles at the two, noticing his ale was now bubbling and smoking lightly. He pushes it aside. "No one stole my axe good dwarf, and the fleas can be removed with a short bath in spring water. What has me eged is this shard. I've heard so many dark things about it. But for some odd reason that I am not sure of...it beackons to me, it calls to me in my dreams. Along with the screams of my past family in the Red Meadow. Something tells me that once I find this shard, I can free them." Atasatch trails off silently remenicing of his family and the strangly always autum coloured leaves and the trees that seemed to spane towards the heavens and could shield an entire city underneath its silent branches, the streams of crisp water flowing through his mind. and the ever lonesome yet powerful howls of the wolves reverberated through his troubled mind. Atasatch shook these lonesome memories from his mind and gave Ripper an odd look. "Ripper um....what did that candy do to my drink?"
The pixie cocks her head to one side at the long quiet moment from the elf as he thinks. During this process she leans over to the dwarf, putting her self well past the generally accepted "comfort zone" of a non-fae and stage whispering,
"Did it break?"
With the question regarding his drink she jumps like a startled cat, leaning toward her sword and then stopping when she realizes it was just the mutt-druid. A few bounces over and she climbs onto the table to inspect the fizzing ale. One hand scritches at her head, swirling the liquid in the glass. She tips it back, downing the rest and drops the empty mug onto the table.
"....Ale and the fizzy ones don' mix..."
The pixie sticks out her tongue, now a vibrant shade of lavender, crossing her eyes to look at it.
"Noth, not ath all."
Atasatch watches as his friend leavees the tavern and ponders his words of quartz and diamonds. No Atasatch is left with the challenge of not only finding the shard but what to do with it. "Ripper? Is there anyone I can talk to that may be able to help me find the shard?"
The pix shrugs, rocking from one side to the other as she hums.
"I dunno, I never really worry 'bout shards or planes or magic. Jus' how to swing my sword harder an' faster."
As if reminded, she tugs one of the manuals from the library out of her things, propping it open on her lap. She also puls out a cylinder of red wax, using the 'crayon' to make notes where there's room and draw little pictures. Drawing it back the fae chews at the thing, then makes an awful face at the taste of it.
"Maybe ask one of the spell people like Astrum. Or maybe Thally-near."
"The Shady Corners calls me home."
Thalenir's voice echoes out of midair throughout the tavern, followed by a bright flash of blue light from the rafters. Thalenir appears standing upside down on the roof in seeming defiance of gravity.
He opens his eyes and grins. "It worked…!" he says before quickly realizing the state of his arrival. He curses loudly as the magic fades and he plummets to the floor, landing with a resounding thud.
Thalenir groans and rises, brushing himself off. "Ivelis ease my burdens," he incants, healing a bruise on his forehead. "Still needs a bit of work, but it's coming along," he says to nobody in particular as he takes a seat. He rubs his shoulder and grimaces in pain.
Ariekins scampers into the tavern just in time to hear the crash. She bounces over to Thalenir and cocks her head. "You look bad. Didju fall outta bed?" She reaches out a hand and lays it on his arm, sing-songing her incant. "Your wounds are light, rejoin the fight!" <Heal 5>
"Don feel bad, I fall outta bed all the time. 's why we don't sleep in da trees aaaanymooore."
Atasatch was only a few feet out of the tavern when he heard a loud crash from his back. Atasatch slowly made his way back to the tavern and opened the door with an odd, questioning look on his face and asked. "Is everything okay in here I heard a rather large crash?"
Thalenir rotates his shoulder. "Thank you, Arie. That's much better." He looks up at Atasatch and waves a hand dismissively. "No no, everything's fine. Just a misadventure in long-distance teleportation. What with the odds of surviving the training regimen of an adept, I think I'm starting to understand why there aren't more archmages around."
Stiers see's atasatch from the distance walk out and turn around very quickly (with a concerned efforet walks to the traven and see's ever one..) Soo the fat red guy is gone now ..... what a pitty .... any one for some ale its on me for the death of the red fat guy!
"I am," Thalenir says to Atasatch. "And, if that startled you, you'd do well to gird yourself. Magical catastrophes seem to be my penchant of late."
He narrows his gaze at Stiers. "And you'd do well to show some respect. That 'fat red guy' was a proud defender of this town and a good man. Kirell stood with the rest of us against Scorch the Shard Eater and saved my life more times than I can count. I'll not have him spoken of so disrespectfully in my presence, leastwise not by a one-armed warlock who's on thin ice as it is." The faintest flicker of azure light shines menacingly from Thalenir's eyes.
His tone softens and he turns his attention back to Arienna. "Threats are still legal, correct?"
Emerging from the shadows behind Stiers, an evil grin begins to form on Wreynn's face as he turns to Thalenir and winks slyly. "It's alright Thalenir, it doesn't matter to me if threats are illegal or not, I've got this one."
Quickly closing the gap between himself and Stiers, Wreynn grabs the warlock by the neckline of his backplate with his left hand and pulls fiercely downward while unsheathing an ornate dagger with his right.
"Now Stiers, let me put this to you in a way that you can understand, and I'll use nice... small... words." Placing the dagger delicately against Stier's throat Wreynn whispers menacingly into the warlocks ear. "I may not be a rogue anymore, but any Uordeq worth their salt never forgets how to hide in the shadows. That 'fat red man' was my friend, one of the only people I could trust in Jastrey. He was one of a small handful who have stood up for me, and didn't try to run me out." Slowly, Wreynn turns the blade sidways, pressing the flat of the blade into the warlock's chin, "My brother's dagger is thirsty," Wreynn continues, "and it's steel never tastes the air without a drink. Say another ill word about Kirell, and I'll have to compare masterpieces with Rizzik. Do you understand me?"
Keeping the blade tight to Stiers' chin, Wreynn waits patiently for a response.
Atasatch looks on at the confrontation before him and slowly turns to Thalenir. "Thalenir, I'm in need of assistance. I am looking for a shard, of a werewolf's tooth. perhaps you may know information that could aid me in location this tooth?" Atasatch's eyes shine deep with interest and longing as he looks into the azul eyes of the "star touched one before him.
Ripper turned her head back and forth, watching each member of the gathering in turn, leastwise till Wryenn started threatening Stiers good and hard. The pix leans back, eyes big and lets out a low whistle.
"Wow, never saw him like ~that~ even with me or Ariekins. He must really really like Big Red. ...Wait..."
The pix turns to look at her sister, one brow raised.
"Mister Big Red went off into his final cocoon? We better keep our eyes open, an' give him some sugar water. He'll need a lot, he's gunna make a ~big~ butterfly. Like Uncle Snort-toad."
Thalenir walks up behind Wreynn and places a hand on the uordeq's shoulder, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on Stiers. "I think he gets the point. Surely he's wise enough to bite his tongue, lest more Jastrien blood be spilled needlessly."
Thalenir turns back to Atasatch. "Werewolf's tooth? I'm afraid I don't know anything about it. Even if I did, though, why on earth would you seek such a thing? Not to become one, I hope. If you wish to know what it is to be a beast, you're on the right path as it is. Walking in the cursed footsteps of the werewolf will only make a monster out of you."
Atasatch looks dead at Thalenir. "In this world there is hope for everything, hope for life, hope for cleanising. I believe that this shard, this tooth that in the right hands can be used for a greater, higher purpose. I was banned from the Red Meadow, not because I rescued two prisoners but because the newly appointed elder has destroyed the Red Meadow and what it was and made it his own personal hell. I believe that if this shard could be used for good I could harness its powers to willingly take the form of a werewolf and cleanse the Red Meadow and purge if of its unholyness and free my people from his reign and rebuild the Red Meadow to what it once was." Atasatch's voice trails off silently, his memories of the Red Meadows two hundred foot autumn trees, and cooly running streams emotion flaring through his eyes.
Thalenir raises an eyebrow. The look on his face is one of disapproval. "I'm afraid the end does not always justify the means. Take that one over there, for example." He points at Stiers. "He's attempted to harness corrupt power to his own ends, and look what it's gotten him. Surely he has his reasons, but consider the cost."
Thalenir shakes his head slowly. "This Red Meadow you speak of... you obviously care for it deeply. But the curse of lycanthropy can overcome even the strongest soul. Seek this tooth if you must, but think carefully on what it might do to you, or else this elder you speak of might pale in comparison to the havoc you'll wreak."
Atasatch looks at Stiers and then back to Thalenir. "That one is also a dark spirit he wanted to harness the shard for power I assume. But something tells me that there is a way and if I am wrong and the shard does overtake me, when and if I come to I will leave and take the shard with me and you'll never have to deal with it again. I just pray that it works" Atasatch weighs the options if if works he will leave for the Red Meadow and cleanse it if not he shall kill those close to him. "Im worried that it won't work but there is no other way, the form of a druid is not strong enough to complete the task that I have in mind."
A loud explosion erupts from the rear of the tavern and a scream is heard. “Dang bombs! I’ll have to make the fuse a little longer next time.” With that Garith can be seen stumbling out of a billowing cloud of thick, black smoke that is quickly sucked out of the brand new large hole in the rear of the tavern. Garith whispers under his breath, “Hmmmmm I’ll have to figure out how to fix that at some point.” Dusting the soot from his apron and extinguishing the small flames that lick at his robes he sees Thalenir at the other end of the tavern. He quickly sweeps over and says, “Thalenir, I have been looking for you. Astrum and I seek your council. Would you kindly come with us so that we can discuss these matters in private?” He motions to Astrum, who is seated at one of the tables to come over.
Unphased by Thalenir's words, Wreynn continues pressing the flat of the dagger into Stier's chin. "I don't plan to kill him Thalenir, no, that would be far to kind. Jasterian blood needs not to be spilled this evening, however a point needs to be made."
Wreynn whispers faintly into the warlock's ear, "I wouldn't kill you, no. I'd torture you, flay your flesh with small nicks and scrapes until you cry out for mercy, and then I'd heal you and do it again. I'd teach you the meaning of betrayal, and show you things that you'd never dream of accomplishing with your dark arts. Cross me again, and I WILL break you."
Satisfied, he removes the knife from Stier's throat and gives him a push toward the bar. "If you want to drink to Kirell's death, then we toast in his honor." Raising a hand in celebration, and in a much lighter and far more jovial tone, Wreynn continues.
"To the slayer of scorch, and stout defender of Jastrey!"
"To the Angori who always knew the right thing to say to drive us into battle, but never the right way to say it!"
"To a bard who would never die, but would always live on to tell our tale long after we passed away! "
"To a friend who was grossly lacking in tact and social graces!"
"To Kirell, may you sing your songs in the hereafter and tell them all of our coming. Pave the way friend, no doubt we'll all see you again soon! We toast to you in the old ways, and remember you as you were."
"To Kirell!"
Glancing toward Stiers, Wreynn winces as he slowly slides the dagger across his palm and mutters something to himself before returning the dagger to its sheath. "And to Stiers, for being the gracious host and buying the first round in his honor! To Kirell, and to Stiers!"
Appearing particularly distracted by Garith's explosive entrance (perhaps voluntarily so), Thalenir seems not to notice Wreynn's torturous threats to Stiers. He does, however, turn toward Wreynn as he gives the toast. "Here here!" he cries, grabbing a nearby mug and raising it in salute to Kirell, then sets it back down where he found it.
He turns to Garith. "It seems I'm a popular man these days. Surely. Let's have a seat." He then takes a seat in the corner along with Garith and Astrum. As he walks back, he can be heard saying, "I hope this isn't more nonsense about teleporting towers…"
"Perhaps Thalenir I shall take my leave and leave you to your business, but I must ask. What can you tell me about finding this fang, believe me I am well aware of the risks but I have to do something I need to harness the power of the werewolf and cleanse my home. What must I do?" Atasatch asked calmly stepping from side to side his coat dusting the floor.
Wreynn U have miss understood i ment in memory of him, Now Wreynn, Remove that dagger now befor u hurt your self. Kirell will be missed trust me he will be! Stiers pushes the dagger from his chin ..
*With a loud Yell * NOW LETS GET DRUNK IN HONOR OF HIM !!! three cheers for Kirell
(OOP sorry i been busy this is for when the dagger is at my chin )
Taklinn shakes his head and grumbles, "Tell ye what elf, ye may be the most serious o elves I've ever come across, and im not thinkin it too bad a thing. There be ore hidden in ye or im a orc. A small bit o advice fer ye then: always remember that no matter how hard ye try, ye wont ever be able to turn quartz inta a diamond. Some things just canna be changed. ye just have ta find a use fer yer quartz."
After a short pause the dwarf shrugs and says "Thats me thoughts at least, but words aint never lifted a stone." with that he finishes his mug in one gulp, wipes the foam off his beard with his sleeve and exits the tavern with a loud belch; tossing the small stone up in the air and catching it as he walks down the street and out of town.