**This is an in character role-play thread.**
Set in a somewhat central location to the newly founded Kingdom of Nova Regnus, The Wayward Minstrel Tavern is a place for travelers to sit by the fire and enjoy ale and stories from others who travel the harsh roads of Osterra. Recently there have been more visitors who come from far off places, talking of portals and magics hitherto unknown to the simple people in the hills and farmland surrounding the tavern. The inn-keep, a man by the name of Bartimus, has been keeping an eye out for these strange folk, hoping to determine whether they are either mad, dangerous, or both. So far there has been little to cause him worry, and he hopes to keep it that way.
On this particular evening the tavern is nearly empty, with only a two or three of the regular patrons sitting at the bar
drinking and talking of crops and horses, and the occasional tall tale of having to fight of orcs or were-beasts from their farms with pitchforks. The rest of the large and friendly, if sparsely decorated, room is empty, and the large fire on the far wall is lower than it would normally be. It seems as if it will be just another quiet night. Until the door swings open and the cool spring breeze it lets in brushes past both the patrons and barkeep.
A man stands in the door, wearing a chainmail shirt and carrying a rucksack in one hand and what looks to be the head of some sort of weapon attached to a small piece of splintered wood. Normally this sort of thing happened every now and then in these parts, with the occasional mercenary or adventurer stopping by to eat and rest. The the thing that made Bartimus reach for the cudgel on the shelf below the bar was all the blood. It seemed to be mostly dry, though a few spots dripped on
to the floor as the man took a step forward, and the weathered barkeep frowned. The man hesitated, then looked down at the mess he was making. With a sigh his gaze returned to the bar and he made eye contact with the now tense little group of people.
"Hail friends! I apologize for the state of my attire, I was waylaid by some rather nasty trolls a few miles back. It seems I made a wrong turn in the wood and we disagreed over whether my presence there was a nuisance to the meal they had been sharing."
This greeting was met with silence, and the warrior continued.
"My name is Kailos, a traveler and friend to the council of the King. I have spent the past few weeks traveling the northern stretch of the kingdom to find..." the speaker paused awkwardly for a moment, "To find resources and allies to help the cause of the King. If its not to much trouble I was hoping to find food
and possibly a room for the night. I wish no trouble on any here, and hope that this grizzly state in which I arrived has not so thrown you that I must return to the wood for shelter this night."
There was another long pause as Bartimus sized the stranger up. Sensing no threat from him, he relaxed his grip on the still hidden cudgel.
"The inn has a few room
s available upstairs. You'll be the only one staying tonight possibly, as it has been a quiet night. Put your pack there by the door and go out back. There is a water barrel next to the stable you can use to clean yourself up. I'll have your things taken to your room and once you are done you we can discuss payment and if you'll be needing food."
A wide smile spread across Kailos face and, after thanking the innkeeper graciously, he followed the given instructions. Less than twenty minutes later he sat by the warmth of the fire, a half finished bowl of stew sitting in his lap and a crust of bread on the trencher next to him. Bartimus came over with a second tankard of ale and grinned.
"You have spent
a while in the wood haven't you." He nodded toward the bowl.
"Aye," replied the warrior through a mouthful of stew. Swallowing he reached into his coin purse and produced another coin for the ale. "It has been about a month on the wild, and while I have learned much and enjoyed my journey, it is still nice to return to the civilized world."
Bartimus laughed. "Civilized. If you say so friend." He walked back to the bar and returned to his earlier discussions with his regular patrons, though he occasionally threw glances towards the newcomer.
Kailos finished the stew and bread, and then sat in thought staring into the fire.
Kailos nodded at the man's mention of others from the council.
"Aye, tis a small world to be sure. I hope you found them as good of company as I did. I am glad you are willing to journey with me! While I do enjoy a good fight, I prefer ones I can win and it helps to have company in that regard."
Pausing a moment, the warrior mulled over his next response.
"Stories for me are fewer than you might think. I, like many of the council, do not come from this world. I come from another, far less magical realm. That being said, I have little memory of my time there. Over the past few months I have been trying different methods of recalling my past, some magical, some less so. All have been met with failure, and it has been a frustrating journey. Perhaps that will change, as there are healers who will be present at the tourney who may be of help in my quest."
Kailos looked into the fire, seeming thoughtful and a little disheartened. Shaking himself, he turned again the Grisson, this time with a smile on his face.
"I do have a few tales of my time in the northlands though! It is a wild place full of dangerous beasts and far more dangerous mountain tribes. The latter however are only a danger if you cause them trouble, and are great fun to spend time with. My time with the Ka-Nar-Sey tribe was particularly entertaining. I stumbled across one of their hunters who had caught her leg in a crevice near a dangerous area of the wood. I helped her dislodge her leg and together we continued the hunt for a stag which had been her original mark before getting stuck. We stalked the beast for 2 days before finally bringing it down and it took us another 3 days to bring it back to her village. They threw a feast in our honor, and I learned much of their people's ways over the next few weeks."
Grinning at the memories now running through his mind, Kailos glanced back at Grisson to see his reaction.
"If this sort of adventure interests you at all that is. I am not one to waste another's time with tales they may not be interested in. What I find entertaining can oft be mistook for rather mundane experiences, so by all means I can stop boring you."
He took another draft from his tankard.
"Remarkable..." Grisson listened with rapt attention, leaning back in his chair and pushing his soaked boots near the warm hearth.
"Well Kailos, I would be overjoyed to journey with such a warrior as yourself. Our weapons and battle cries can be united in harmony if we encounter danger on the road." He scratched his chin thoughtful, recalling past events.
"As I recall, those individuals I refereed to mentioned something of a counsel they were a part of many weeks ago. Likely they are one and the same! What a small world we live in!" Grisson exclaimed cheerfully. He leaned forward in his set, sizing up Kailos.
"You seem to have traveled and seen many a place my good friend. Perhaps you would engross my interest with a story! It can be on whatever you decide. I am somewhat of a gatherer and reciter of stories."
Listening to Grisson attentively, Kailos took note of the strange moment that passed across the man's face, but said nothing.
"Think nothing of it friend. As I said I have my own motivations so to speak, for if you travel to the tourney as I do, then it would benefit me to keep in your company. Only this afternoon I was attacked by some rather vicious creatures and barely escaped with my life. A warrior such as yourself would prove a useful addition to my travels, if the fancy takes you. While I have bought you a drink you owe me know allegiance to the decision is up to you."
Taking a long draw from his tankard, Kailos used the moment to gather his thoughts for the ensuing conversation. Leaving half the ale remaining, he wiped the foam from beneath his nose and continued.
"As for my knowledge of the tourney and the orbs, I actually have some involvement in that. A few weeks ago I was privy to a council held by others like me, individuals who came to this world from others through portals of various types. I know this may sound mad, but often times the truth is like that. In either case, it was proposed to hold a tournament in order to determine the worth of warriors from all casts and creeds. Those who show valor and honor themselves through the glory of battle will be the first to be offered a place in the court of this newly founded kingdom of Nova Regnus."
After this impassioned speech the warrior paused and then, realizing he had missed a key question asked of him, smiled sheepishly,
"As per your first question, my name is Kailos. I am a warrior from a land far from here, a wanderer of the Northern Barrens, and a member of the Council to the King of Nova Regnus."
The young man watched Bartimus collect the coin with triumph in his eyes.
"You see? Chivalry is not yet dead!" He remarked mirthfully, retrieving his newly bought drink and taking a sit by the fire.
"All excellent questions my fine sir! But allow me to first gratefully thank you for your unselfish deed. I do believe the inn-keeper may have forcefully thrown me out if I had not payed him. I would have offered a story or song in substitute but it appears he would not have received either of those tasks as currency. His loss I suppose." He sipped his drink gratefully and let out a contentful sigh.
"I am Gris-" In the middle of his introduction, the stranger stopped. His eyes were locked fire, mirth and content all gone. After a moment, his features relaxed and he continued as if ignorant of what occurred.
"I am Grisson, son of Artus of House Irlosh! I am very new to these lands. My arrival was somewhat in a haze and I still don't have my exact bearings about me. However, I came into the company of several capable individuals who seemed to know their way about this place. They told me of these orbs of power and some tournament. I felt I might as well be obliged to pursue these interesting tidings." Grisson enjoyed his beverage for a moment before speaking.
"I believe I have the same questions for you my generous patron, founder of my feast! What are you called? What brings you to this tournament?"
Grinning at the enigmatic newcomer's bravado, Kailos called over to Bartimus.
"I'll pay for this man's use of the fire sir. It happens we are both headed to the same place, and after my dealings today I can't help but think the fates have smiled kindly on me."
To emphasis the seriousness of his intent, the warrior pulled from his coin purse another few coins and placed them on the table next to the empty plate and tankard.
"If you'd be so kind as to bring a pitcher of ale for me and this confident fighter, I'd be most grateful."
Still glaring at the stranger Bartimus eyed the coin, torn between making a point of throwing this hooligan back into the cold rain and the new beer barrels he so desperately needed. The battle between this two opposing wishes was short fought however, as he stomped over to the table and swept up the coins and empty plates deftly. Mumbling about travelers and their strange habits under his breath, he headed back to the bar to fulfill the order. The smile on Kailos' face did not wane, but his eyes were calculating as he looked back at the newcomer.
"What is your name sir? And pray tell, how did you come to learn about the tourney?" He gestured to the chair next to his own, encouraging the man to sit.
A young man briskly entered through the doorway, almost knocking his head against the low doorframe. He grimaced and attempted to shake off the blunder by beaming a brilliant smile at the patrons of the inn. Composing himself, he approached the inn-keep.
"Greetings! As you can see from my garments, I am drenched by a recent downpour. Might I sit by your fire for a while to dry off?" To emphasis his point, the stranger gingerly pulled his gloves from his hands and wrung them. Droplets of water spilled from the gloves and onto the counter. Bartimus scowled at the stranger and the miniature pool he was creating in front of him. He quickly wiped the droplets away with a rag.
"Do you have any coin? I only let paying customers stay here."
The stranger's smile disappeared at the mention of payment.
"Dear sir, unfortunately I have come under difficult times. While I certainly would have been able to pay you in the past for the use of your fire, the present has left much lighter in coin. However, the future holds much possibility! I can promise you this, I will pay you double for your trouble when I win a handsome amount of gold at the rites of spring tournament! You have my word!" The young man beamed confidently at the inn-keep.
"Your word? Do words feed my family? Get out of here you charlatan! You can stay at my inn when you have the coin!" Bartimus angrily retorted.