[Nexus] Trog's Tavern CCXLIII

[C'nor]

And Talina goes to carry Nycca.

[Dark Elf Bard]

And they'll supposedly head back to the Motel, with the dog!

[Beans]

And out they go! ((And I posted in that thread last, so it's your or C'nor's post.))

[Morty]

Originally Posted by Artemis97

The drow nods glumly. "It is a difficulty, yes. However, not all are comfortable with their station. Not all wish for things to stay as they are. From them, the cause will grow."

"I do like the way you think," Dipsnig says. "A position lower in the ranks is better for this, sometimes. You get a clearer view and you're not as invested in the current system. I wish you luck in whatever you undertake," he adds.

[Artemis97]

"I thank you, for that." Sornnolu says, thinking any male in drow society counted as lower ranked, even one as powerful as himself.

[Morty]

"You're welcome." Dipsnig knows that drow are matriarchal. He does have two drow on his payroll. He just assumed it went without saying. "I presume taking advice from a goblin wouldn't sit well with most of drow society either," he adds sardonically.

[Artemis97]

That elicits another chuckle from Sonnolu. "Indeed it would not. I am afraid, where I come from, your people are much as they were in your legend. Opressed, enslaved, feared as monsters and primitives."

[Me.]

Samuel nods at the lady he's "chatting" with and says slightly "Yes, from what I understand a lot of healing techniques involve that sort of thing. My sister does know some similar techniques, though I'm not sure on the preciseness. But, as I said, if you so desire than go ask her, she's friendly enough."

Meanwhile, Samantha looks with gazing eyes at the wizard as he describes the history of his people. She listens deeply and nods attentively. When he is finished, Samantha smirks a little and asks "So, this is just for your people, yes? Does everyone here share similar cultures, or no?"

[KerfuffleMach2]

Originally Posted by Hipho

Gird's eyes light up Is to practice together? he grabs one of the short spears out of the floor and lightly tosses it into the air, catching it.

Krystal thinks for a moment, then shrugs.

Sure. Why not? We should go outside, though, instead of doing it in here.

[McBish]

Angie smiles at Samuel.

"I would hate to interrupt her conversation, though I do hope to talk to her in the future. Not to mention I would leave you all alone if I left to talk to her. Unless you just want to be left alone?"

[Me.]

Samuel shrugs slightly and gives an inaudible sigh. Always the gentleman,
"No ma'am, I find your company quite...intriguing." He says with a polite, well-placed smile.

[Hipho]

Gird puts all his carvings in his pack and rips the spears out of the floor. Then, looking at a loose floorboard he rips it out and tosses it in his pack. If Krystal allows him to Gird will pick her up and carry her on his shoulder out the door.

((to Inside?))

[KerfuffleMach2]

Krystal doesn't question the taking of the floorboard. She just hopes Cosmo won't berate them too much for it.

Gird picking her up comes as a surprise, but she finds it amusing and doesn't fight it.

((To Inside!))

[McBish]

"More intriguing then your book? What is it you are reading anyways?"

She leans in trying to take a peak at the book he had been reading.

[Chas the mage]

Chas sits, along with Aether, buying rounds of drinks and puffing on their cigars as they do, wasting their days away. They seem rather happy today, for whatever reason, as they smoke their skunky smelling cigars.

[ThirdEmperor]

"Uhm.. No. Not entirely. We worship many gods with Kazk merely one among them, although he does have the honor of many ceremonies. The Winter Rites and the Slaying of the Drake among others.

As for me... I'm only a provincial, born in a small town in a small territory. I've never seen the Valleys much less set foot upon them. You have to born there for that privilege." The Wizard explains, sounding almost apologetic for having to correct Levi's assumption. "I cannot say what other lands would think of my story, but, it seems that they could hardly have missed the world being divided by the sea."

[Mahonri Violist]

Levi's pretty good at making incorrect assumptions. If you ever need someone to make an incorrect assumption, then he's your man.

He nods and continues to listen.

Oh, wait. He's not done with his [probably water with a lime]. He drinks more, and lets the Healer make the next big question.

[Surtr]

Two guys enter and take a seat in the tavern. They are discussing something in a very audible voice. If one hears they will be able to make out the conversation as about magical artifacts and ruins. They continue to chat about magic for some time.

[Reinholdt]

Reinholdt shows up here. He's not going to stay for very long. Just order a glass of rum and kinda lean against the wall, looking around for someone in particular. Won't find them too.

Hmm...
After a while of seemingly being lost he does overhear something about ruins and artifacts though. He perks up a little and heads over to the two guys. "Excuse me. Hi. I'm Reinholdt, Treasure Hunter Extraordinaire."
Reinholdt performs his flourish.

Spoiler

Merely a man. A really, really amazing man. He has slightly pointed ears, pale, almost luminous skin, big, red-pink eyes, lacking pupils, and a wiry, muscular physique, that screams effortlessness. And he's flaming hawt. Of course, anyone who was in the Waves plot might recognize the form of Prince Kaelaroth Maschin of Magtok-Armennia. He's paler than usual lately due to a recent vampire problem.

He's wearing jeans, boots, a white shimmering scarf, a furry vest, a leather jacket on top of that, and a blue shirt underneath, largely chosen as his dress of choice to protect against unexpected zombie attacks. A pretty, if nondescript necklace hangs around his neck. Attached to his belt is a wicked looking dragon tooth knife, ammo for his rifle, and a pouch holding the lock pick set he wants people to find when they search him, the secret set hidden in his boots. Slung over his back is his ever present sniper rifle, looking shinier than usual. Painted on the butt of the rifle is an elder sign symbol. He has fashioned to his vest an orb that has five rotating 'moons' as it were around it that constantly warp and metamorphose as they move.

[Surtr]

........Prince Kaelaroth Maschin of Magtok-Armennia?I don't think I've been here long enough to know that... anyway...

Alistair was the first to reply. "Hello Reinholdt, my name is Alistair The Wandering Summoner and this is Tamashi The Soul Collector, we met on the road. Did you happen to overhear our conversation? Why don't you take a seat?"

Tamashi merely grunts. His pale complexion, gray eyes, silver hair and white clothing almost made him look like a ghost as well. His thin and shirt physique did not help in that regard.

((Alistair's description is in my sig's link))

[Reinholdt]

It's a very old reference. I cut out most of the other references.

Reinholdt looks a bit more nervous now actually.
"I prefer to stay standing thanks. Soul collector? Unusual job..." Reinholdt says, looking at Tamashi. Also a very dangerous job for those people who have souls that a soul collector might want.

Who on earth just randomly meets up on the road with a soul collector and decide to go have drinks with them?

[Surtr]

Alistair scratched the back of his head. Tamashi spoke "To be more precise its something like collecting the essence. The essences of those who have lived long lives. Like those of ancient guardians of tombs and temples." He looked ReinHoldt in the eyes as if asking: Did you think I would try and take your soul?

Alistair spoke after. "Anyway Tamashi's a nice guy from what I've seen. He said he'd even help me explore an underground ruin I found. Hmmm..." Alistair thought. "Since you're a treasure hunter why don't you go with us?" He said casually with a smile. If something can be said of Alistair is that he is very young and naive. That is the type of guy who would fearlessly and randomly have a drink with a soul collector he met on the road.

[Reinholdt]

"Uh-huh..." In truth, Rein has no soul (though he's still uncertain about that) and he'd be better described as one of those ancient guardians that refuse to die.

"I suppose I can go with you. Is there any reason you didn't explore it upon initial discovery?"

[Surtr]

Alistair sighed. "Yeah, I did. I was low on blood already. If I went there and fought something, I probably be dead. I told you I was a summoner right? Well my kind of summoning uses blood." Despite talking about how he might have died he had a casual idiotic happy face all the while. Ah youth.

[Reinholdt]

Reinholdt closes his eyes a bit. Blood/Body and Soul. Now if Rein was just a psychic, the trio could terrorize the lands.

"So here drinking orange juice or do you buy from the blood bank?"

[Surtr]

Alistair gets the feeling he was the butt of a joke now.
"Nah, that was about a week ago. My blood's full now. I was about to go to the ruins when I met Tamashi on the road and the this tavern just popped out of nowhere. So Here I am."

[Reinholdt]

Nope. Rein was just trying to determine if it was the summoner's own blood or other people's blood that he used. This all smelled like a trap to him to get him isolated, drained of all his blood, and have his soul yanked out.

Of course... there is the possibility of treasure, so no way he's turning it down.
"Ah, alright. What do we know about these ruins so far? Anything?"

[Surtr]

Alistair nods
"Well to get there we have to go though a dense forest, then in that forest is a cave of sorts but it looks like it was a building of some kind before. In there are a couple of levels down. Down in the deepest area iare markings on the ground. The marks act as a teleporter of sorts. There lies the ruins. Anyhow I didn't go there myself, I had a summon do it." He cuts his palm on a sharp blade on his sleeve. He then takes a card and lets hit blood coat it. The card shines and a floating eye appears. The eye projects what it saw depicting just what Alistair said. The cut on his hand is healed.

[Reinholdt]

"Teleporters are notoriously risky." Who knows where they might lead?

"Notice any dwellers in the cave levels or is it relatively clear?"

[Surtr]

Alistair ponders, meanwhile Tamashi seems to have ordered food.
"Well my eye didn't see anything. Doubtless the dense forest will have inhabitants and the cave may have dwellers but my eye was intangible during that time so maybe it just didn't wake them. As for the portal, it can't be that bad. Nothing ventured, Nothing gained!" Food arrives for three and Alistair digs out gold from his pocket without even looking and pays the waitress. Looks like someone's rich.