At the Beginning(Closed/See Signup)

[Ashwyn]

Jerin looked at Darrius in confusion, "A bard? No, I'm not. My mother taught me to play the harp, at least a little bit, but I'm no minstrel. At his words, Darrius' face seemed to cloud up, and the big man growled low in his throat. "I said a Bard, not some flee-biten, lack-wit minstrel!" He nearly shouted before regaining his composure. "I apologize. I should have made myself clear. No, you are not a Bard, yet at least. What you are is Bard-born." Darrius sat down by the fire and started cooking the strips of pork he had cut while he talked. "Being Bard-born is like being Mage-born. It means that you were born with the ability to summon and manipulate certain energies. But where a Mage compells by force of will, a Bard asks."

Jerin pulled his stare away from the cooking meat to look at Darrius again. "I don't understand. What do you mean that a Bard asks? Asks what of who?" He ask while scratching at the bandages on his chest.

"There are... forces in this world, forces of nature and the elements. These forces are not alive as we would define the word, but they still exist. It is these forces which Mages and Bards both call upon to work what most people would call magic. A Mage commands the power as a master commands a slave, and just like a slave, the power desires to consume its master. Because of this, Mages can be very powerful, and can expect a fairly constant effect from their spells. A Bard on the other hand asks permission to use the power. It is like if I came to you and ask if I could borrow something, you have the choice of allowing me or not. Thus do the forces of the elements decide whether to lend us their strength. Sometimes when a Bard calls for power it does not come, but at least we don't have to worry about the power trying to kill us.

The long speach left Jerin even more confused, sending thoughts swirling maddly about his brain. Darrius, seeing the boys bewilderment, chuckled. "I get ahead of myself. Here, take some meat, and eat while I think on how best to explain." He said, spearing a peice of pork on his knife and offering it to Jerin.

[Nell]

The room had a musty smell. It wasn't too offensive but sufficiently noticeable for Nell's nose to wrinkle as they went in. The serving girl lit a number of candles that were set in various places and then before she left, dropped a quick curtsey, waiting momentarily for what Nell could only assume was a tip. She would be waiting for a long time before Nell tipped her. From what she could tell the coverings on the five small beds were unchanged from the previous inhabitants, the fire in the hearth would not last an hour and when she went to check the water in the large pitcher on a side dresser, it seemed to have a stale smell.

"And where is our companion meant to sleep? He can't use these as a bed?" Refering to Stromdus, her voice was sharp as she questioned the serving girl whose response was to shrug in a disaffected manner. "Sorry miss, but this is all we 'ave. You could put two of them beds together, I suppose." Her manner smacked of insolence which irritated Nell. "Well, bring some fresh water up, and get the fire built. We need clean water at least." Nell turned away, dismissing the girl and not seeing the scowl that crossed her face before she left.

Beginning to shiver from the damp clothes she still wore, Nell smiled in gratitude as Stromdus brought in the last of their belongings. Quickly she opened the chest and took out dry clothing. Seeing Dorek attend to Clyde, who lay in the bed closest to the fire, she took the fresh clothing and went to the corner of the room. She may be a modest person but she wasn't going to stand on ceremony and request everyone to leave the room just because she wanted to change. Keeping her back to the others, she swiftly changed her clothes, trembling as the air touched her body, but ignoring the shivers. This was no time to come down with a chill. On turning around, she was faced with the sight of Stromdus attending to his own infected wounds. They truely did look ghastly, but he seemed to not want their aid as he left the room quickly.

She finished buttoning her shirt and went to join Dorek and Clyde. Worried, she rested her hand against Clyde's forehead but there did not appear to be any fever. Following Dorek's instructions she helped to redress Clyde's wounds, using a poultice that Dorek had made up. She took comfort from the fact that Dorek did not seem unduly worried for the young man and instead nodded in what appeared to be approval.

When Stromdus entered the room again, carrying food, she smiled. "Good man. We could all eat!" He was closely followed by the same serving girl from before who brought the rest of the meal on a tray. Rather sullenly she set it out on the only table in the room. "Yer water's on the way.. " With a flounce, the serving girl left the room again. Yeah.. very likely we won't see that for another hour.... Not trusting the girl to stick to her word, Nell stood up. "I'm going to get that water myself. I won't be a few minutes. The stew smells good, I could eat it all." With a grin, she ran her fingers through her hair to make herself a little more presentable, then left the room.

[Nell]

Much as she had expected, when Nell entered the tavern below she saw the serving-girl leaning against the bar top chatting idly to another patron. Thinking uncharitable thoughts, Nell went to the end of the bar and waited to catch the attention of the innkeeper. As she had noted before the place was busy and she had to squeeze between others who gave space grudgingly at first, but on realising she was a young woman, seemed to be more agreeable to the situation. She smiled politely in thanks, not wishing to engage in conversation and leaned slightly against the dark wood of the bar.

Her eyes wandered around the faces of those drinking and conversing, taking in the ruddy complexions of those who had been there for some time. This was not her natural environment but she attempted to disguise the slight discomfort she felt. Smoke rising from the pipes was stinging her eyes slightly so she had to blink to stop them watering. The man to her left noticed."Are you all right, miss?"

Turning slightly towards him, she nodded,"Aye, just some dirt in my eyes, I think, thank you." As she spoke she felt the slightest touch on her right hip, barely noticeable but there all the same. Moving sharply, she looked to her right but the man there was engaged in finishing his mug of ale. She frowned and returned to the facing the bar, wondering if someone had just attempted to pick the pockets of her breeches. Her attention was distracted however by the innkeeper who made his way to her end of the bar. Nodding at her in a manner, not unfriendly, but only edging on politeness, he asked what she would like. Keeping her own expression neutral Nell explained the situation with the room and the poor service of the serving-girl.

It happened again. This time she knew she wasn't imagining it. A definite touch on her hip followed by a hand drawing itself around to feel, in a rather ungentlemanly manner, the curve of her backside. Outraged, she bristled and stared at the man to her right. This time he did not try to hide his actions but grinned at her. Her cold returning glare did little to stop his leer and she was thankful when the innkeeper reassured her that the water would be sent up soon. Thanking him, she withdrew from the bar, ignoring the discourteous man and heading back to the stairs. As she left, she heard laughter which only hastened her steps.

[Stromdus]

double post

[Stromdus]

Leaving the room to help Nell with the water, Stromdus encountered her by the stairs. She looked somewhat angry as she pushed her way past him, and he heard the laughter from the people in the tavern below. Looking down the stairs, he sees a somwhat drunk man coming up the stairs. Walking down the stairs he stops by the man, who was slowly moving up the stairs.

He gives the man a Hearty smile. You need help?

Looking up, the man grins. Yeah, you can tell me where that girl is staying.

Stromdus' smile went away then. You bothering her?

The man grins even wider. Yeah, and I'll bother even more once I find her.

Grabbing his throat, Stromdus drags him down the stairs. Moving into the tavern, Stromdus lifts the man high, knocking a dagger out of his hand as he does so.

Any of you bother my friends, this happen to you. At that Stromdus squeezes the mans throat untill his esophagus is nearly crushed, then drops him.
If anyone bother us again, I wont stop until they are dead.

turning to the barkeeper, he orders a couple pitchers of ale, tosses a coin in the barmaids hand, and tells her to bring a couple pitchers of water up ahead of him. Following her up he enters the room after her, and sets the ale down by the water on the table. Giving the barmaid a coin, she leaves the room.

"These ones ale" he says as he points to the water, "And these ones water" he says as he points to the ale.

[Stromdus]

Leaving the room to help Nell with the water, Stromdus encountered her by the stairs. She looked somewhat angry as she pushed her way past him, and he heard the laughter from the people in the tavern below. Looking down the stairs, he sees a somwhat drunk man coming up the stairs. Walking down the stairs he stops by the man, who was slowly moving up the stairs.

He gives the man a Hearty smile. You need help?

Looking up, the man grins. Yeah, you can tell me where that girl is staying.

Stromdus' smile went away then. You bothering her?

The man grins even wider. Yeah, and I'll bother even more once I find her.

Grabbing his throat, Stromdus drags him down the stairs. Moving into the tavern, Stromdus lifts the man high, knocking a dagger out of his hand as he does so.

Any of you bother my friends, this happen to you. At that Stromdus squeezes the mans throat untill his esophagus is nearly crushed, then drops him.
If anyone bother us again, I wont stop until they are dead.

turning to the barkeeper, he orders a couple pitchers of ale, tosses a coin in the barmaids hand, and tells her to bring a couple pitchers of water up ahead of him. Following her up he enters the room after her, and sets the ale down by the water on the table. Giving the barmaid a coin, she leaves the room.

"These ones ale" he says as he points to the water, "And these ones water" he says as he points to the ale.

[Stromdus]

Leaving the room to help Nell with the water, Stromdus encountered her by the stairs. She looked somewhat angry as she pushed her way past him, and he heard the laughter from the people in the tavern below. Looking down the stairs, he sees a somwhat drunk man coming up the stairs. Walking down the stairs he stops by the man, who was slowly moving up the stairs.

He gives the man a Hearty smile. You need help?

Looking up, the man grins. Yeah, you can tell me where that girl is staying.

Stromdus' smile went away then. You bothering her?

The man grins even wider. Yeah, and I'll bother even more once I find her.

Grabbing his throat, Stromdus drags him down the stairs. Moving into the tavern, Stromdus lifts the man high, knocking a dagger out of his hand as he does so.

Any of you bother my friends, this happen to you. At that Stromdus squeezes the mans throat untill his esophagus is nearly crushed, then drops him.
If anyone bother us again, I wont stop until they are dead.

turning to the barkeeper, he orders a couple pitchers of ale, tosses a coin in the barmaids hand, and tells her to bring a couple pitchers of water up ahead of him. Following her up he enters the room after her, and sets the ale down by the water on the table. Giving the barmaid a coin, she leaves the room.

"These ones ale" he says as he points to the water, "And these ones water" he says as he points to the ale.