Solo [The Silver Sliver Tavern] Choose Your Poison

[Tallis Ishtari]

It had been a long time since the last time he had grace the Silver Sliver Tavern but here he was sitting on a stool at the bar. The mug of ale sat in front of him just tempting him to drink. On a normal night he would be home with Marx without a shred of clothes on. Kelvics and their casualness about nudity had opened his mind to their way of life. It would not erase the twenty-five years he had of Ravokian culture in him however, but it gave him an alternative every time he went home.

The reason for him being in the tavern to begin with was to gain a little courage with alcohol. Instead of drinking he sat staring at his ale and listened to conversations. Most were hardly worth listening to but on occasion someone would drop a word or two about what they knew of what was going on in the city. It was curious to hear that there was a possible split in the leadership of the Ebonstryfe. It was a rumor worth noting considering what he was going to attempt on this night. Maybe.

He was only a few days removed from his contact with a strange man in the Temple of The Black Sun. Gaining information on the elite of the city was not hard. Rumors flew throughout the city about them, but gaining anything notable about the Ebonstryfe or The Black Sun was about impossible. It seemed the only way he could know anything of substance was to infiltrate their ranks.

In some ways he was a follower of The Black Sun. He practically worshiped the ground that The Voice walked on, but who in the city didn’t. Knowing anything beyond the average person’s knowledge of them would take some effort but not impossible for him.

The Ebonstryfe presented another more daunting problem. Everyone in the city knew and feared to an extent the secret police of The Black Sun. How did one go about getting numbers on them? The only way Tallis knew was to break into the Headquarters. He was going to need courage and lots of it. The alternative was to not show up and disappear into the shadows of another city. Could the man he met find him if he ran? Did the man have that kind of influence?

Tallis breathed a heavy breath as he tossed a casual glance around the room he looked at the people to take his mind off his decision. Some were completely happy in their alcoholic bliss. Their cares and worries for the day were over and would only be resumed when the sun rose. Others were absorbed in their thoughts much like he was. All were looking for something beyond their current situation in their own way.

He turned his attention back to his ale and heaved a sigh again. When he raised his mug someone bumped him from behind almost causing him to spill his drink all over the front of him. It would do him no good reeking of alcohol before stealing his way into The Temple, and going home to change was not an option either. Marx would want to know what he was up to. Even though nothing spilled upon him, he turned to see who it was that had run into him. When he turned though, the person had melted into the crowd.

He was slightly irritated with this. The person had not even excused themselves. Being on edge as he was he wanted to rail at the person, but he had no one to vent on! With a serious face and a growl he drank his ale in one lifting of his glass. He slammed the mug on the counter and tossed the four copper mizos onto the counter. It was time to go to work. That was his decision. When he turned it was his turn to run into someone. He stood partly stunned and stared at the person unsure what to say.

[Tallis Ishtari]

Tallis could see the surprise in the waitress’ dark eyes that were looking for an apology for being bumped into. There were onlookers as well that were anxiously waiting for the outcome of a minor collusion between two people in a dark tavern.

“Sorry…” He said with a halfhearted attempt a smile that he did not feel. Had it been any other night he might have been more gracious in his attempt to make amends but on this night it was not in him. His mind was tied up in knots over what he was going to attempt on his own. If was not focused upon entering The Temple at night he could easily lose his life.

That same feeling of fear also stuck in his mind when it came to the man he had met in a corridor of the same temple. There seemed to have a certain aura about him that said that no one should cross him. Only implied movements of the mysterious man gave hits that he was more than he appeared. Tallis felt relieved when he had left the presence of the man, a feeling of being released from some sort of mind fog. That fog had not entirely lifted as it took part of the next day to remember what had happened.

He was certain that the same haunted look was in his eyes when get gave a finally nod to the waitress that he was sorry. Whatever tension there might have been in the tavern was soon gone. Tallis missed the shadowy figure in a corner booth as he turned to leave. Had he saw him he might have sat back down and had another drink, or better yet he would have headed home.

Upon pushing the door and entering into the streets the cool summer air hit him. He filled his lungs with air and looked out at the docks. It was hard to believe that in a few weeks he would be leaving the only city he had ever known. All he had to do was complete this one job and he was home free. In the back of his mind though, he wondered if it were true, if he would truly be free. He had never been free from the grip of the organized crime thugs. Would it be the same with this mysterious man?

Turning on his heel he set off down the docks toward the first bridge he needed to cross to start his journey toward the city center and The Temple. The night seemed in contrast to the turmoil of thoughts in his head. He took in a breath of air to let the sound of the water sooth his nerves. For moment he closed his eyes to focus on the water sloshing against the wood of the dock. When he heard a splash he opened his eyes and turned his head in the direction of the noise. "Who’s there?” He cried out.