[ic]A dimly-lit quarterhouse that would normally not merit another glance, this shabby tavern has become infamous for its barfights, its barmaids, and its bartender. The walls are lined with countless fabulous insignias, heraldry, and works of art; the memorabelia of countless famous guests from countless worlds. As Trelin, the eyepatch-bearing, grizzled war-veteran-turned-barkeep would say, "Around these parts, the strangest things happen to the strangest people." The continuous downpour from the outside ensures that whatever storm the traveler seeks respite from, he is unlikely to retreat back into the darkness soon.
The bartenderâ,¬,,¢s name is Zalaex, a large man with thick black dreadlocks for hair. He claims to have traveled the planes before settling down and founding the Inn. He has many claims: that he was wed to a warrior queen, battled a god, that he has saved Creation on more than one occasion, that he was a member of something known as Hidra-Onis, and more. They are likely complete fabrications, but the way he tells them makes some patrons wonderâ,¬Â¦Regardless of the truth of his tales, he has endless ones, and will pour them into the ears of anyone who listens â,¬' and many do, since Zalaex will offer a hefty discount to anyone who can stay conscious through his stories.[/ic]
[spoiler][ooc]The ground rules can be found in This thread (http://www.thecbg.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?15255.last) Direct all comments there, please. Also, when Iâ,¬,,¢m not online, drinks will be served by Thead, a warforged. Donâ,¬,,¢t make Thead do any actions other than serving drinks.[/ooc][/spoiler]
[ic=Zationi M'sklyn]Zation, appearing as a tall human male wearing a long red cloak, walks into the bar and settles down onto one of the stools. "I'd like to order a drink, preferably something strong," he says. As he waits for his drink, he glances around the room, looking to see who, or what, else is there.[/ic]
[ic=Zalaex]
One of the barmaids, an elven woman walks over to the man and pours him a drink.
"It's called a vanilla blood. House specialty. It'll put hair on a half-dragon, so I think it'll be strong enough for you, stranger."
The drink has a sweet, warm flavor, but also is extremely potent, and its affects can be felt rapidly.
[/ic]
[ic=Zationi M'sklyn] Zation takes a drink and, seeing how strong it is, decides to drink in sips from now on. "Thanks," he says to the maid, "any chance I could get something to eat as well?" he asks hopefully. As he speaks, his ears grow slightly more pointed and his frame becomes thinner and more graceful.[/ic]
[ic]She raises an eyebrow, but doesn't comment on his change in apperance. She gives off the impression of having seen much stranger things.
"Sure thing. What d'ye what by way of food?"[/ic]
[ic=Zation M'sklyn] "Oh, I don't know," he says, "whatever you'd recommend. You chose the drink well." he winks at her, playfully.
[spoiler=OOC]Should we roll checks against the NPCs? Like Diplomacy, as Zation is trying to do, or an Intimidate, or whatever? Or just let you take care of it?[/spoiler][/ic]
Quote from: Darkxarth[ic=Zation M'sklyn] "Oh, I don't know," he says, "whatever you'd recommend. You chose the drink well." he winks at her, playfully.
[spoiler=OOC]Should we roll checks against the NPCs? Like Diplomacy, as Zation is trying to do, or an Intimidate, or whatever? Or just let you take care of it?[/spoiler][/ic]
[ic]The barmaid gives him a small smile, before turning and walking over to Zalaex. They confer, he walks into the kitchen, and hands her a plate. She comes back and puts it before him. It's a chicken dish, cooked in a cream sauce with mushrooms and small, black spheres that have a meaty flavor.
"Hope this is to ye likings."
[ooc]I'm not going to have checks for interaction, only for fights, unless it's really needed. I don't like dice rolls determining stuff like this.[/ooc][/ic]
[ic=Volixis Ehrjak] Volixis steps through the door. After a quick glance around the room, he starts examining the wall-borne paraphernalia, occasionally scribing notes.
The pet weasel that Volixis keeps on a chain leash, tired from a long journey, promptly jumps up onto the bundle of chains that Volixis carries on his back and falls asleep.[/ic]
[spoiler= ooc]I just hope the bar is pet-friendly...
Rooba Rooba!
[/spoiler]
[ic]After a while, a different barmaid, this one a dark haired human, walks over to Volixis.
"Is there anything I can help you with, sir?"
[/ic]
[ic= Volixis Ehrjak] 'Ah...indeed, madam. Tell me, in what year was this establishment founded? These artifacts must date back hundreds of years. Some of these insignias and sigils are also new to me.' Volixis keeps on sketching the artifacts into a thick, worn notebook while talking. [/ic]
[ic]She smiles. She speaks with authority on the subject, as if well versed in the inn's history, or perhaps history in general.
"This inn was founded with the city, making it roughly 1800 years old. It was purchased by the current owner about ten years ago. If you'll believe it, most of these items were in storage in the back. The more recent ones were brought by travellers from across the planes, and many have not yet been dated."[/ic]
[ic= Volixis Ehrjak ]
'I see. Thank you.' He turns back to finish looking at the peices on the walls.
A few minutes later, he goes to sit at the bar. 'A glass of your strongest ale, please,' he says to the nearest bartender.
While waiting for his drink, Volixis rifles through the various books he keeps chained to him. The weasel notices the elven figure sitting a few seats away, and stares. [/ic]
[spoiler = ooc] This will probably be my last post here tonight. [/spoiler]
[ic=Garuheech]Through the rain-splattered door comes a figure. A humanoid lizard enters the room and scans the bar with a slitted eye. He wears a black robe and after a short period of observation, the Liriss scratches his tan chin with a clawed hand and walks slowly to the bar. "What an... interesting... establishment." The reptile slowly shifts under his robe and quietly murmers "I guess it's on par with the entire day."[/ic]
[ooc]I'm putting the Inn in Thead mode, since I am tired and can't keep up. Interact amongst yourselves. :)[/ooc]
[ic=Garuheech]Surprisingly, the scaled one simply leans forward, slouching on the counter top. His reptilian eyes trace the wood but he doesn't order anything.[/ic]
[ic=Zation M'sklyn] "Yes, thank you," he replies to the maid, taking a bite, "it is quite delicious." A strange man taking notes sits at the bar near Zation. His pet (was that a weasel?) looks over at Zation. He changes his face to resemble that of the weasel's owner, and sticks out his tongue at it. He then turns back to his food, quickly shifting back to his previous form.[/ic]
[ic=Another Liriss]A tall creature alike to Garuheech enters the inn - another Liriss. She wanders up to the bar and speaks fluently in Formerian - "A drink - something... strong."
She looks to the side and notices Garuheech, but doesn't say anything except for admiring his scale pattern for a moment. [/ic]
[ic]Thaed serves the Liriss a mug of Vanilia Blood[/ic]
[ooc]Rather busy ATM, so drinks and food are being automatically served by Thaed - you don't need to wait for me to post. Anyone wanting "something strong" gets a Vanilla Blood, which is unnaturally strong but goes down very smoothly.[/ooc]
[ic=Zation M'sklyn]Noticing the influx of Lizardoids, Zation decides to have some fun. He shifts until he resmebles a mix of both recently arrived Lizards. He continues to eat his meal, taking slow sips of his drink. He looks over to the newest arrival and says, "I recommend Vanilla Blood. It's delicioussss." he puts a hiss on the last sound, extending his tongue to vibrate outside his lips like a snake's.[/ic]
[ic]The Liriss downs it in one gulp, hissing slightly as it settles.
"What's that, creature? And what ARE you, anyway?"
[/ic]
[ic=Daann]An adolescent female wearing a fur cloak hauls herself through the door. She stops to catch her breath for a moment, then shakes the snow of her cloak. She looks around for a fire, noting that this mountain lodge has more people in it than she would expect. And few of them were dressed for a snowstorm. Becoming suspicous but not wanting to go back out into a storm, she takes a seat in a far corner and watches.[/ic]
[ic=Zation M'sklyn] "Who me?" he says, shifting into a handsome Human male, "I am Zation M'sklyn, an Umady Taer. You might call me a 'Changling'." He extends his hand towards the Lizard, asking, "and who, and what, are you?"
Zation immediately notices the entrance of the female, and makes a mental note to introduce himself soon.[/ic]
[ic=Garuheech]At the sound of the conversation behind him, Garuheech looks up from his slouch and watches the two sleepily. The changling's last question causes Garuheech's brow to furrow.
"Who are you, warmblood, to ask such a question inside the empire? Even a fool would know his place."[/ic]
[ic]"Indeed. A warmblood such as you should not ask such questions within the domain of Emperor Sharach."
It dusts an infitesmal speck of dust from its scales, and continues.
"What, pray, is a CHANGELING?"[/ic]
[ic=Zalaex]
Zalaex looks up from behind the bar, catching part of the convesation.
Liriss, eh? I haven't seen any of them in a while...what in the Nine makes them think they are in part of the Empire? They musta wandered through a portal by accident, or something. They aren't even on the right plane anymore.
I'll let it slide for now. Could be a fight, and those are always good for buisness.[/ic]
[ooc]I'm still working out the details of where the ODI is located, but it's not in the Jade Stage, unless ElDo said so and I wasn't paying attention. It's not, for the moment, in any existing world. However, people often end up in this city by random portals, without realizing they've left their native world.[/ooc]
[ic=Zation M'sklyn] "Whoa there boys," Zation says, raising his hands, "no offense meant. I was just curious, I've never seen one of your kind before. And exactly what Empire are you talking about? I didn't think we were in any sort of empire. I think you gentlemen might be a little lost." He then turns to the second, as yet unnamed Lizard and says, "I am a Changling, or Umady Taer, actually. This is what makes us special," he says, as he shifts into a 6'6" Half-Orc. "We have the ability to change size and shape," he shifts back into his original Human form.
Although he is attempting to defuse the two angry Lizards, he also begins drawing power from within himself, preparing to defend himself in case things get rough.[/ic]
[ic=Daann]Daann glances up at the sounds of conversation. She notices that the one creature can change its form, but that is not so unusual to her. The two scaly beings are a bit more of interest, and she wonders whether they have some relation to dragons, the way they look.[/ic]
[ic=Zation M'skyln]Noticing the lady looking his way, he spares her a wink before going back to his Lizard "friends".[/ic]
[ic=Volixis Ehrjak ] Volixis overhears the conversation, and begins to further think about the nature of how the wall-borne relics got there. Stealing occasional glances at the others, he finally notices that some of them are lizardfolk, scaled like his Kobold self. [/ic]
[spoiler= ooc ] Oh man, there should be an NPC - one of the regulars, if not a server - named Callahan. [/spoiler]
[ooc]
Quote from: Realm WeaverOh man, there should be an NPC - one of the regulars, if not a server - named Callahan.
Callahan's Crosstime Saloon[/ooc]
[ic]"Empire? We are in the great Empire of Formeria, and you should not forget it!"
She scowls.
"And I am a SHE, not a HE."[/ic]
[ic=Zation M'sklyn]"I'm sure your Empire of Formeria is great and all," he says, attempting to calm the angry Lizardess, "but I don't think that's where you are anymore. And you have my deepest apologies on the mistake, I am not familiar with your race's anatomy."
"This is beginning to look less than good, maybe that other Lizard was convinced and can convince this one." he thinks. "But if not, I'll be ready," he continues to internally prepare his magic should things get out of hand.[/ic]
[ic=Garuheech]Garuheeches eyes widen momentarily as he watches the "changling" transform. After a pause, he returns to his sleepy state and bows. "I see that you are some kind of mage. I have heard of your kind. If you insist on this bizzare construct, I do not care. I simply recomend you keep your ideas on the imperial expansion to yourself, there are those who would take offense at your denial, even considering you position." Still bent, the reptile quietly continues "I am sir Garuheech of Lezhas. It is an honor to meet someone of such power."[/ic]
[ic=Zation M'sklyn]Thankful that at least one of the Lizards has become less hostile, Zation responds, "And it is quite an honor to meet you, Sir Garuheech of Lezhas. My name is Zation M'sklyn, I am indeed a mage, though of only respectable power. And may I ask your name?" he turns to the female Lizard.[/ic]
[ic=Stareth]"I am Stareth, a Liriss once of the Empire."[/ic]
[ic=Daann]"Formerian Empire? Liriss?" Daann was starting to get nervous. Her ears dropped, though it would be hard to see with her hood on. The only empire she knew of was her homeland. And the tone of those reptilians made them sound as the self-important nobles her mentors had told her were more dangerous than any rampaging wyrm.
She shifted a little to make sure she had room to move.[/ic]
[ic]Stareth looks over to Daann.
"You look somewhat like one of those warmblood creatures... what do they call themselves?" *to Garuheech* [/ic]
[ic]Garuheech lazily glances over to Daann and replies openly "Lady Stareth, it would be rude of me to presume. Her bloodline is her business for the time being." With a slow motion, the quiet Liriss sits, once again, on his stool, watching with mild interest.[/ic]
[ic=Zation M'sklyn] "Ah," Zation replies, "a pleasure to meet you, Lady Stareth. May I ask what brings you here? Or would that be too presumptuous of me?" he asks politely, quickly glancing over again at the lady he'd spotted earlier.[/ic]
[ic]She picks at a scale.
"I was looking for a certain... friend... of mine, who said he would meet me in this tavern..."[/ic]
[ic]Daann started look closer at the patrons of the lodge. None of it was right, these people, the items on the wall, the language, they weren't from Horun, and they weren't like any of the mountain people. This placeâ,¬Â¦Ã¢,¬Â¦Ã¢,¬Â¦Ã¢,¬Â¦Ã¢,¬Â¦was not her world.
Before anything could happen to her, she dashed out the door, deciding it was better to brave a blizzard than the unknown.[/ic]
[spoiler][ooc]Since it's preferred that I not break the rules, and I already have, I've leaving this thread. This is not the game for me.[/ooc][/spoiler]
[ic=Garuheech]Eying the elf's retreat. Garuheech returns to looking at the bar.
The actions of warmbloods always were strange. I suppose I'll never know her bloodline. Pity.[/ic]
[ic=Volixis Ehrjak] Volixis suddenly looks up from his notes, and stares off into space for a moment. He blinks, then signals for the nearest bartender. 'Do you happen to serve food in this establishment? I have been journeying for a long while, and though tasty, those drinks will not settle the stomach...oh, and if you could prepare a smaller portion for my little friend here, that would be greatly appreciated. I don't mind paying for it.'[/ic]
[ic=Zation M'sklyn]Seeing the lady leave, Zation sighs, "so much for that. I was really interested in meeting her. Ah well." As the door closes on the inn, Zation finishes up his meal, and sips some more of his Vanilla Blood.[/ic]
[ic]The bartender smiles at him.
"Of course we serve food here. What could I be getting you?[/ic]
[ic= Volixis Ehrjak] 'Ah, thank you sir. I'll have the tastiest meat you have available, preferably of a grazing animal.'
When he gets his meal, Volixis remarks 'Much better than back in Stratton.' Then, he gives his weasel a taste of it.[/ic]
[ic=Zation M'sklyn]"So," Zation says, "may I ask who you're waiting for, Lady Stareth?"[/ic]