Wayward Son

[Desmus Marrudius]

Summer Day 5 512AV

Desmus sat quietly at a table in the back of the tavern. He blew out the candle before removing the hood of his cloak. He legs were sore, his back ached, and his head burned like hell. He had been traveling for so long and here h was fiannaly at the border to his home. He would spend one last night amongst these outlanders before he was graced by that beauty of the rolling plains. He was so close the he could smell the reeds as the wind blew towards the town. He reached down to his side and opened his satchel then pulling out a pipe. He took some tobbaco and pAcked the pipe then lit it. He took a long winded drag from it then let the smoke funnel out through his nose and lips. There was only one thing that relaxed him more than a long drag from his pipe, and there were no women close by at the time. He had often thought of buying a slave for his travels had been long and lonely but he could barley watch after himself at his age a young naive slave girl would be to much. He took another puff before he searched the room with his eyes. There wasn't much of interest really, just tippicle drunks and boozers.

Desmus began to think of all the men he had killed on his journey to satisfy his need for revenge. There was the Isurian that nearly crushed his chest in with that smithing hammer. He had broke three of Desmus' ribs with one blow, it was a close one but Desmus was able to end it by pushing into a smithing furnace. There were the three Zith women that attacked him before he even left the Sea of Grass. Desmus had do ride as fast as he could to outrun them it was only by pure luck that a ferocious south wind came and knocked them out of the sky, then it was easy to clip there wings. There was Natalia the Suvan woman that used Him then tried to finish him off, he could not allow her to live. Then..... There was him. He who tried to pose as a Syrillian knight, he who took all from Desmus. He finally caught up to him in Sunberth. They clashed blades for an eternity. Desmus came out on top for one reason. His rage fueled his body past the breaking point. He brought his sword down upon the man as hard as he could breaking through his sword and splitting his head in half.

Desmus thought about all the death and destruction he caused. He chukled as he thought that he must be Diras favorite mortal and smoke rolled out of his mouth. His father had once told him that he who seeks revenge need dig two graves one for his enemy and one for himself. Desmus believed this still. He angere many people it was only a matter of time before someone followed his path and ended his life.

"But I won't go easy" Demus said in Pavi taking Another long drag from his pipe

[Syrah Steele]

OOCYou didn't specify a location, soo Ima put us at the Blue Bull. A notorious tavern according to the link map. Unfortunately that is all that it is described as, so we will make it up as we go along.
Also, good sir, we have changed seasons and your season does not match. Your gonna have to change it to Summer if you want this thread to continue.

So maybe the Blue Bull wasn't the right choice for a pretty girl like Syrah to be hanging out this late at night. But at the moment she really couldn't give a damn. She had a bad day and all she wanted was a drink. She had decided that she knew enough of fighting to block an attacker and that there were always more big blue men around, she had a pretty loud voice when she wanted it.

So now she sat at the bar, her blonde hair spilling across the wood surface as she worked on her second drink. She was getting a little tipsy, but her bad mood had dulled down on her fun, flirty drunken personality. Right now she felt like crap, the only good thing being her little glass of red wine that she clasped in her hand.

She had a headache before she came in and the robust talking going on in the Tavern just made it worse. Made everything worse really, her mood, her headache, her night. She wanted it to end and she wondered what she was doing here. Why couldn't she just go home and go to sleep, or go and find Lewis, watch him do something stupid. You know, what she always did here.

Maybe that was it. today had been a change to the normal happy, carefree life in Riverfall, the only thing ever needing her worry being the status of the grapes. But today it just seemed as if the universe hated her, her letter from her father being the first. Whatever she did, he was always proud of her, but the words in this letter dripped with disappointment. For a moment she wondered if her mother wrote it, trying to discourage her, but she could recognize her father handwriting from a mile away, his tone as well, written or not. This was defiantly from her father and she just...she just didn't want to think about it.

She wanted to forget her problems, maybe find someone else's. But this tavern seemed like nothing was happening besides that God-awful talking. The many men, both blue and other shades where scattered around, the only one near her being a dark haired man sitting with her back to her smoking a pipe quietly. She stared at the back of his head, thinking about other things when she heard a mutter come from the man. A small mutter that she could barley hear, and barley understand as it was spoken in Pavi. But Syrah had a little skill in the Pavi language and she understood a few words. "... I ... go easy."

Syrah snorted, ho ever said anything was easy. Her father apparently even though her whole life he had said the opposite... "Nothing is ever easy," She muttered back to him in Common, just loud enough for him to hear. She took a chug of her wine, not caring about her too be drunkenness. Not caring about much of anything really.

[Desmus Marrudius]

"Nothing is ever easy" Desmus heard a feminine voice say from behind him. He clasped his lips down upon his pipe and slowly turned to put a face with the voice. His knee popped making it slightly more difficult to turn then he anticipated, the old warriors feebleness was starting to show, but it was nothing serious. As he turned he first caught glimpse of her from the corner of his eye, and when she came completely into focus Desmus was barely able to hid the awe and anticipation on his face. She had long flowing blonde hair the reached down to the bar, though he could only see the side of her face he could see that she had deep almost hypnotic eyes. She smelled like a mixture of fresh soil and newly processed grapes. Then as she drank from her glass her perfect soft pink lips kissed the glass they drank from. She was a natural beauty.

Desmus had managed to put a face with the voice, now he wanted to put a name to the face. Considering the slight redness in her cheeks and the rate she was consuming that wine it shouldn't prove to difficult a task. Desmus griped his pipe, removed it from his mouth and began to speak. " Nothing is easy you say. I must say I cannot agree with that. There are many things that prove easy if one knows how to perform the task. Take smoking this pipe. It's fairly easy to do once it lit. Or drinking your wine. Whence your glass is full you can easily consume it. Or making love to your bedmate, very easy for one with experience. So no I must disagree many things are easy, it's how you do them that make them difficult."

Desmus turned back to face his own table then place the pipe back to his lips. He took a long hard drag then let the smoke escape his mouth, it seemed as if he was engulfed by a cloud so much smoke filled the air around him.

[Syrah Steele]

After what she had said the man turned to look at her. If she wasn't dwelling in her own misery and wine she would have seen the awe in his face as he looked upon her. But she didn't, nor did she care at this moment. Actually that would be the last thing she wanted out of this day, someone to try and coax her into another bed. She had enough and was quite unwilling at the moment.

But she had disagreed with the man as he disagreed with her. "I have never smoked a pipe and never made love, but for me this wine is quite hard to consume. For I know the effects it will have on me, and I know I don't prefer those effects over my own personality. Except I do it anyway, gulping down one hard ball of wine after another and feeling as it drips down my throat and how it starts to change who I am. Yet I do it anyway. So no, this is not easy, nothing is ever easy." She replied, repeating her last statement.

As she said this she may have revealed some truth to herself. She dwelled upon it as the man turned back to his own table, continuing to produce smoke form his mouth and nostrils. But in the end she swallowed another rock of wine and winced as it trveled roughly down her sore throat.

[Night Blade]

It was sometime in the Summer, perhaps morning, but no one really cared. Whether day or night, it seemed that the drunken idiots would always be found gulping down a pint and savoring the sweet taste of booze. Here was a place that would find a very unexpected visitor.

With a swift kick, the door to the bar would suddenly swing open as a man with jet black hair and brown eyes that had a hint of orange within. His expression was one of obvious displeasure, his nose wrinkling as the smell of liquor drifted in. It was only made worth because of his heightened sense of smell.

It was curious to see someone who didn't like booze in a place like this. The only reason he entered in the first place was because he was bored with village life. He'd leave Riverfall soon, but he wanted to sample the bar life first. Being such a peaceful place, the man expected an old fashioned bar with people chatting it up and drinking responsibly. However, this place was just like any other...filled with booze & stained with stuff that made the man especially irritable.

This man's name was Night Blade, and he was no ordinary person. Walking farther into the bar, Night decided to try to order something that wasn't booze. However, he'd stop when he caught the scent of something worse than booze. It smelled like smoke. Now who would be smoking around here? Looking around, his eyes would stop on a well built man with long brown hair & a goatee. He was smoking a pipe besides a female with blond hair that reeked of booze.

"Hey!" Night shouted angrily. "You're killing my nose with your horrible smoke. Would you mind putting it out? It's bad enough I have to deal with these drunken idiots. Speaking of which...you should lay off the booze lady." Though he said this in an angry tone, he wasn't really as angry as usual. This was just how he said hello.

[Desmus Marrudius]

The womans face lit up lightly, but her words were cryiptic and full of displeasure. Desmus could sense the scorn and distaste towards him from the woman, maybe he offended her by his words. "I can see your upset, I offer my sincere apologies. It is not a habit a mine to make smilies with those I acutualy get a chance to talk to. Allow me to make up for it please, I'll buy you a drink and we can talk if you'll have my company. Just to show you that my intentions are pure of course. Desmus let an impish smile crawl across his rugged face. This woman was engaging, and Desmus was in dire need of an intelegemt conversation.

Before the woman had time to respond a boy burst into the bar. He was obviously new or he would know people are killed for less around here. He strut across the floorwith an unwavering confidence of someone who has yet been forced to eat a Bar room floor. The boy then singled out Desmus and in great coincidence his argumental temporary companion. He demanded that the woman stop drinkin and Desmus put out his pipe. Desmus turned his gaze towards the boy and met him with a glare "Listen here boy. I sugest you learn to respect people. I will not yield this pipe for any man, especially some mangy pup." with that Desmus let out another large clouds of smoke.

[Syrah Steele]

It wasn't the man who made her upset, it was everything. She would have told him that if she was a kinder woman and not in such a bad mood, and he then offered to pay for more drinks which she was more than willing to oblige on that account. The man was much older than her, and acted and looked even older than he was. Sore joints, she picked out when his knee popped and the scars running down his face. It was easy to tell he had been through things Syrah would never see.

He seemed more than happy to apologize for something he did not do and more than happy to make up for it. She was about to accept his offer in as happily manner as she could put forth when some young man strode, rather rudley, into the bar acting as if he owned the place. Maybe storde is the wrong word. He literally kicked the door open, immediately bringing unwanted attention to himself. He was clearly a new person, even Syrah, her first time being in the Blue Bull knew that there were people here that wouldn't hesitate to put her in her place.

This man was a male, meaning the big Akalaks and other rough race that were strewn about the bar, would not give him as much leniency as they would Syrah, a female, who according to the law is to be respected. There was no law protecting this man, in a bar like this. She almost chuckled at the way the man entered. As if he was the boss, he probably damaged the door, the owner wouldn't like that. But her almost chuckle was cut short when the newcomer directed some angry words toward Syrah and her friend. Should she say friend? Well, he was going to buy her a drink wan't he? That was good enough for her.

Anyway, he demanded that her friend put out his pipe and that Syrah stop drinking. Now, Syrah had a lot to say to that. First of all, this man could do whatever he wanted. Sure, Syrah didn't really like the smoke either, but it was his pipe and his business, who cares? Second of all, no one tells Syrah to stop drinking. She loves wine and she can drink as much as she can afford, no one has control over her drinking habits and she was already in a terrible mood. Telling her to stop doing something just made her mad. Thats another thing, there were many things Syrah hated, but the only thing that made her want to punch someone right in the face, is if they told her what to do. If they had the place to do so, then she would suck it up. But this boy here had absolutely no place, and she got furious.

She looked up at the man and carefully put her drink down safely on the counter. She put a seductive smile on her face and got up off her stool. She slowly walked up to the man, passing her new friend and trailing her fingers on his shoulder as she passed. As she got up o the man she put her small hand on his shoulder and smiled up into his face. She put her other hand in her hair, running her fingers through. Then she said, "You must be new here, yes? Well, let me tell you something." She looked around. Almost everyone in the bar had angry eyes trained on the young man, "The folk in here don't like much what you are doing. And to be honest, neither do I. In fact I really hate it." She paused for only a short second, catching her breath. She was talking fast, trying to get her words out before he had any time to suspect anything. Then she continued, "Let me show you exactly how much." And there she whipped her hand out of her hair and slapped the man right across his face, earning herself a tingling hand and she paused to look down as it started to turn red. Then she looked back at the man. "No one ever tells me what to do."

With that she strode back to her bar, picked up her wine glass, took a large gulp and sat next to her friend at his table in an empty chair.

"I would just love that drink." She said to the man beside her, smiling, feeling quite proud of herself.

[Night Blade]

Night's irritation grew into anger when the man before him refused to put out his pipe. He could see that there were a few around him that didn't seem to like him right off the bat, but he didn't really care. As far as he was concerned, each and every person in the room was a bunch of drunken idiots anyway. If anyone made a move, they'd be too drunk to do anything...maybe. Even if he was wrong, Night could hold his own as good as anyone else.

Training his orange eyes on the man, Night's would glare at him with his dark canine eyes. However, before he could do anything, he saw the booze covered girl approaching. Did she want a fight too...or was she just trying to be peacful? It was most likely the latter, considering how she spoke. Letting his guard down for a moment, he felt his cheek turn red as the woman actually slapped him.

Night stood their for a moment, looking away in shock. However, this was short lived as his lips would now draw back in a snarl. That was about the worse thing she could have done. "Now you've done it," he growled. At that moment, he'd actually take off his clothes so that everyone could now see his manly parts. Most of his items were also removed except for a green neclace which was strangely wide for his size. "You die now!" he shouted...or rather barked as he got down on all fours.

At that moment, a light would begin to envelope Night as his form began to change. Hair began to grow and his teeth became sharper, while his hands became paws and nose became a snout. It was all happening to fast for most to follow, but at that moment, a black wolf would be standing in Night's place. This Kelvic had just made his transformation. Growling at the booze smelling girl and the pipe smoking man, Night would let out a low growl as he glared at them with his keen eyes...as if he was analyzing them. All the while, his green necklace, which was now close to his neck yet far enough away so that it wouldn't choke him, would swing from side to side. There was something special about it...

[Gossamer]

It was foolish to make assumptions that The Blue Bull was filled with drunks. It wasn't. The owner, Kevlar, especially wasn't. And he was renowned for his brawling. The tavern was in the 'rough' part of town and bad news in itself, but the people there that drank weren't necessarily drunk. Nor did they mind smoking. A great deal of them did at one time or another. What they did resent was a petchin' pet walking into the place - his kelvicness was written all over his orange eyes - and pushing a female around plus another human. Humans might not be of any higher social standing in Riverfall than Kuvan, but Kuvan were still one of the group and everyone could tell that Desmus was a warrior enough to fit right into their ranks of combat veterans himself. And while Desmus, might have been talking to Syrah to get a rise out of her and potentially get himself a piece of tail, they'd all watched amused because the vintar had a reputation for being pure sour grapes (wrinkling fast into raisins) when it came to any sort of physical intimacy. Oh, she was a cock-tease to be sure, flirting here and there thinking her lovely looks would get her further. But the truth was ugly in the Akalak eyes. If a woman wasn't willing and able to reproduce, she was worthless. And while she might have a bad attitude, as long as her body was good she had value and the potential to owe a debt. It was clearly obvious she was instigating the kelvic, even if the kelvic kicked the door in like he had a bad attitude the size of a male prime glassbeak on his shoulder. Oh well. The Kelvic's life had little to absolutely no value in the Blue Bull. Filthy animals, kelvics were, unless they were female and then they had use as bedwarmers and breeders. But the wolf was damned by his sex, which meant no one cared if he lived or died. But, in intervening for Syrah, finishing something she'd started, then Kevlar would be owed a debt. Possibly... a big enough debt to land Syrah in a Nakivak bracelet and in his bed. Wouldn't that be fun? The Akalak smiled. Half the bar was willing to help him see to it that the pretty little human tease would end up in a bracelet over the incident. So, Kevlar grabbed the billyclub he had stashed behind the bar, jumped it in one smooth slide-over-the-top motion, and was at the kelvic even as he began to shift. He slammed the billyclub down on the wolf's skull even as the brilliant kelvic change transformed man to beast. Wood met skull violently in a loud thunk that was designed to take the beast down fast. And once the blow was struck, Kevlar waited to see if the mongrel beast would go down or come up fighting.

[Desmus Marrudius]

Desmus had already decided that he would take the boy down if he did incite a fight but before he himself could act, Intriguing makeshift companion rose and walked past him. She seductively walked past him and ran her fingers across his shoulder as she passed. She seemed like she was showing off her body to the boy at first. Moving her body and running her fingers through her hair, but that changed very quickly. She brought her hand across the boys face with incredible force, leaving a beating red handprint. She then turned without a care, walked over to Desmus' table and accepted his offer to buy her a drink. "Of course young lady" Desmus said as he loudly chuckled "an that's a hell of a hook"

Desmus turned to order the drink for his new friend, but when he did he saw the boy now in a fit of rage. "Kelvic" Desmus said in Pavi. Even before the boy started to turn Desmus thought that he may be one of the man-beasts. His primal qualities rolled off the boy, an he did little to hide them. The boy began to change into his beast form. Desmus rose from the table quickly, making the table and his chair push in opposite directions. He drew his sword from it's sheath and groped it firmly with his right hand. "Prepare your soul for the gods beast!" Desmus said as he stared down the Kelvic boy.

Desmus took one step towards the boy, ready to collect a trophy, when suddenly a Akala suddenly jumped from behind the bar, club in hand. Before the Kelvic even had time to gain his senses he brought the club down heavily upon the Kelvics head. Desmus stopped sword still in hand. The blow would have easily knocked out any normal man, but Kelvic were a degree stronger in their beast form. Desmus was sure the man knew that but what were his intentions. They natives did have an unusual way of treating woman. Desmus however had no plan or desire to dode over the woman, but he couldn't in good conscience leave her unprotected for now. Desmus then Sao to her without removing his eyes from the two men"Are you alright back there darling?"