Two horsemen ride up to a tavern...

Kou turns and smiles at the Firbolg and says "Only if you feel you have the winning hand or think you can bully the rest out of the hand." Seeing the Firbolg shrug and throw his chips in with a smile, Kou takes a look at his cards, annoyed that the river ruined his straight. Seeing the likelihood that someone has a better flush, he pushes his cards in and folds. "Well at least it was enough to bully me out of the hand, good luck Cal" He looks over at the cloud of smoke billowing from the pipe and says "Thrandimir I believe that pipe would be best used outdoors, or with something a bit less fragrant" 

"Why, yes! Of course!" Thrandimir chuckles into his pipe as he continues to toke on the little wooden bowl. "As many times as you like!" So do I, the wizard thinks back to Ash, does he have any wyrms or wyverns?"

Maybe, he thinks with an affectation that could only be described as a mental shrug. Don't think so, but didn't get a good enough look. Odds are in your favor, though.  He bites distractedly at a cuticle, frowning at the hangnail that results. But you already knew that.

Callahan stacks another five silver in front of him and Thrandimir smirks when he sees Kou fold. Leaning forwards, the wizard places a single gold piece on the table. He doesn't say a word, instead watching the Firbolg and the Dragonborn for their reactions.

The dragonborn watches the gold from the moment it leaves Thrandimir's pouch to the point where the wizard sets it down on the table. He looks at the river, looks at the wizard, looks at his cards, back to the river, and then smiles, and draws his own gold piece, the glint of the metal matching the glint of his scales. "I'll match that," he says, and checks his cards again.

“Huh,”  Callahan looked at the extra gold in the pot, “Well admittedly that breaks the nice little pattern we’d wrangled together there, but fair is fair, yea?” Matching the bet, he holds up his cards before him, “So I gather now’s about the time to show these, right? I gotta tell you fellas I think I have a heck-of-a good hand here.” Laying all his cards out in a small, fanned spread in front of him, he rubs the back of his head and gives a bashful smile. Six of helms, wyrm of swords, nine of gauntlets... wyrm of helms.

The dragonborn casts his cards down in defeat. Ascian was correct, he did indeed have a flush -- but nowhere near as high as Callahan's. With the highest card in his hand being a nine of helms, he seems to have overplayed his hand, as it were.

Katrin breaks off a piece of bread. There's a particular way the Ironstones eat bread, passed that down through generations. Bread is always eaten with beer. You take your bread, dunk it in the beer, and then eat it. Just like milk and cookies.  Katrin smiles, warm with the memories of cold nights spent with warm beer and bread in front of the forge fire with her family.  She hasn't been paying much attention to the table across the tavern. It's shrouded in pipe smoke, so, difficult to make out as it is. From years at the forge, pipe smoke had acquired an acrid and bitter smell in her mind. There was nothing quite like good, clean smoke from the fire of a forge. She can hear chuckling and muted conversation, but she's focusing her mind on her food and drink. She takes a long swig and lets out a sigh as she sets the empty mug on the counter. She shifts in her seat, and leans back over the bar. "I'll have another round, thanks," she calls to Na'arik, munching on the last of her bread.  

Na'arik fills the tankard and hands it back. He waits across the bar from Katrin -- not for the money, he knows she's good for it. He takes the five copper she plunks down and pockets it. He looks at Erika, and looks back at Katrin.  "You know," he says, his voice still retaining its customary scratchiness even as it grows softer. "If you're looking for an excuse to stick around, you could sign on with Erika over there." He gestures to the elf standing near the poker table. "She's looking to do something about the orcs. We'll put some money behind it. Well," he glances up at where Marianne stands, "Gotta check with Mari first. But odds are good she'll be on board." At that moment, one of the kitchen staff steps out with a plate piled with what looks to be thick strips of meat and several small baked potatoes. "Hey Erika!" Na'arik shouts. "Food's ready." He looks back to Katrin. "Just a suggestion. I know you're probably looking for an excuse to stick around, what with Rose here and all." He gestures to the door that the woman had departed through a few minutes ago.

Thrandimir beams and twirls two cards in his fingers. The wyrm of helms... and the wyvern of helms. "Tough luck, newcomer," he retorts with an apologetic pout through his beard. "A wyvern beats a six." Leaning forwards, the wizard goes to scrape the pot of coins across the table towards himself.

The golden dragonborn stands up from the table and brushes down his brown tabard. "Well, I think you've taken enough of my money for today," he says, picking up his mug and draining it. "Name's Audar, by the way. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to bring the goats in from grazing before it gets any darker." He sets his mug on the bar, pays his tab, and hurries out the door.

Callahan looks from the wizard’s cards to his own, then back again. His wide smile slowly drops from his face as he strokes his chin. His gaze repeatedly shifts from his cards to the river to the old man’s and back again, before he suddenly slaps the table before him. ”Well wouldntcha know it!” He lets out a booming laugh and looks back to Thrandimir, smile returned to his face, “The stars were with you afterall Mr. Thrandimir. I don’t know the game too well but I really thought I had ya for a minute there, I tell ya!” Reclining back in his seat, he happily starts packing his coin pouch away before taking a big final swig of his milkmead. 

“Congratulations, Thrandimir,” he intones, reaching across the table to collect the various cards and snapping them back into the deck. Grey eyes listless, he holds his hand out for the ones still in Thrandimir’s fingers, sleeve rising as he does so to reveal dark black ink twining up the pale skin of his forearm. “Callahan must be right. Quite some lucky star.”

"Thank you."  Erika walked over, relieving the kitchen staff of the plate as she walked back to the card table. She set the plate in front of Ascian, a reserved smile on her face. "Don't worry about paying me back. You look like you need it." She would step away and use her trident to hook a nearby chair, dragging it over and taking a seat. "Greetings fellow travelers. I have a proposition for you. One that would make you some cash and get a good deed under your belt in case you're all about being a hero. This village is plagued by orc raids. Once a week, every week. I intend to put a stop to that, but not alone. At minimum I'm putting together a scouting party to figure out where the orcs are at and how many there are. From there we can plan a raid to drive them off, and hopefully make sure that they don't come back to this village." Erika looked to all of those present at the table, hoping that they all seemed interested. "How does that sound to all of you?"

Katrin regards the very colorful woman waltzing across the tavern floor. What a strange woman. Hair seems a bit too bright. Too bubbly. For the love of Tempus. She takes her second mug of fireblade. "Hmmmm, I'll consider it." More out of curiosity than interest at this point, Katrin walks over to the table, hanging back far enough to not be noticed, but close enough to hear the conversation. It does give me an excuse to stay with Rose a little longer. Family can wait. Not like they couldn't handle anything without me. She steps a little closer, and coughs slightly on the smoke still swirling around the table. The orc raids she was familiar with. Two weeks in this place would do that. Thinking back over those days, she does recall seeing many of these people at some point, but was too preoccupied to make acquaintances. Besides, she could use some excitement. Other than the obvious. She smiles to herself. She's going to miss these blissful days.  She thinks as she listen's to the colorful woman's pitch, who she now knew to be Erika. Hadn't really paid much attention to names before. Stopping the orc raids would mean that Rose would be safe. That was all the motivation she needed. 

Kou is a bit surprised by the Elf with the colorful hair, as she boldly joins the table. He listens raptly to her her pitch and gives a single nod. This is something he can do, without the guidance of the Citadel he had struggled with the best way he could help the world with only himself as a resource. He holds out his hand to her and says "My name is Kou, I will gladly lend my talents to the mission. Though I believe introductions are in order, it is hard to follow someone into danger when you do not know their name." Saying the last bit with a friendly smile as he looks at the Elf.

Moving over towards the fairly tall dwarf Kaed leans a little closer and quietly says "We should find out exactly what they plan to pay us. Personally I was offered, not quite a fortune, although that is a fairly broad range." Kaed smiles as if he has been very helpful and stands straighter, waiting for the responses from the rest of the card players.

No sooner had Callahan finished putting his coins away had the rainbow-maned elf pulled up a chair beside him. Sure enough he quickly found himself hanging on her every word. Orcs. Raids. Scouting parties. Here he'd thought this card game was his reason for coming to this quaint-little tavern in the middle of the countryside; afterall, why else would the stars have guided him here if not to enjoy some good company and friendly competition? Now it seemed there was perhaps a greater meaning to it all - as he realized he should have expected. Of course,  he thought to himself,  I wanted a nice drink because it meant I would meet these fine fellows. And because I met these fine fellows, I would be invited to aid this village! And from there... Oh dear, what did this other woman say?  Lost in thought, he didn't even notice this new, petite dwarven woman approach as well.  Maybe I shouldn't call her petite, she seems somewhat tall compared to most dwarvenfolk I've- Oh no now Mr. Kou said something too- oh and now that man from the bar and- "My name is Callahan Stardust ma'am," he blurted out suddenly,  "and I believe you may be exactly the reason I have come here!" 

"Payment,"  a silky voice says from the stairs,  "Will come from two different avenues." Marianne, the matron of the Fireblade Tavern, descends the stairs and moves gracefully to stand next to the table.  "Whatever  loot , as my braindead partner would call it-" She is interrupted by a voice from behind the bar.  "Hey, not nice,"  Na'arik says. "Hush, you."  She continues.  "The  loot  is yours to do with as you see fit -- with the exception of whatever foodstuffs you find. That will have to be returned to the rightful owners. Additionally, the Fireblade Tavern will pay you each a sum of 30 gold pieces for finding their encampment and reporting back, plus another 40 if you're able to put a stop to the raiding. Does that sound amenable?"

"It does indeed, not quite a fortune but enough to enjoy for a time. My blade is yours. And have no fear I will make sure I spend some of the coin on your tavern in exchange for enough mead to fully celebrate our triumph upon our return." Kaed bows at the waist to Marianne and turns to Erika his youthful face full of anticipation and energy. "I take it we are finishing out drinks first, it's my round though and I owe you." He drains the mead in one long pull, some of the liquid running down his chin. He turns to Na'arik and raises two fingers then points at the mead in his hand. "Anyone else wishing to join our heroic band, if you want a drink, I am buying. Cowards, look to your own purses!"

Thrandimir sighs as the Dragonborn's words pluck at what remains of his conscience. "Audar," he calls after the goat farmer, flipping a silver coin through the air back at him. "Thanks for the game. If you ever need a wizard's help, I owe you one." Flashing a sly wink at Callahan, Thrandimir deftly mixes the cards from his hand into the deck that Ash is holding. "What can I say? Some nights lady luck just shines brightly on you, doesn't she?" The wizard grows quiet when Erika approaches their table, listening carefully to what the Elf has to say. He does, however, smirk when Ash is handed a steaming plate of food. Looks like your order is taken care of! Thrandimir mentally tells his new Kalashtar friend. "Good evening, Marianne," the wizard remarks aloud. "Good evening, Katrin. It seems that many of my friends have gathered around this table tonight. With you two, I've yet to have the pleasure," he continues, nodding to Erika and Kaed. "Perhaps you should introduce yourselves, before soliciting the aid of a great and powerful wizard." Thrandimir's tone is friendly, but firm and assertive. It's clear that he's quite confident of his abilities.

Relieved of the cards, Ascian has returned to picking at his fingernail when he finds a plate of food slid in front of him and he glances up, surprised. The implication isn't new - he is, if nothing else, fully aware of how he appears - but it doesn't make it less disarming to have it addressed. Yet pity meal or no, it's still free, so he nods stiltedly at the elven woman and pulls the plate towards himself regardless. Pride was a luxury of the wealthy.  "I - er - thanks. You didn't need to do that. I'm not as bad as I look." And he wasn't, was he? Right? He looks down to the food with disquiet before shoving the sentiment away, opting instead to shamelessly dig in.  Deal was to split the pot,  he reminds Thrandimir.  Dinner was a convenience fee. "I'll take you up on that," he shrugs toward Kaed, gesturing vaguely with his fork.  "If the cost is joining, then I suppose I'm joining."  A free drink is a free drink, after all, and he's long since learned his comfort is a lower price to pay than gold. "I'm Ascian. When do we leave."

" Old one, you have already joined us in your heart I am sure. I am Kaed, a great and powerful warrior, so we have a little in common it seems. Let us see if we have anything else in common with a drink or two, as we plan our heroic undertaking" . Kaed turns to Ascian, raising his empty cup in salute, " Excellent, a few more plates of that and you will feel much better, and together we will do great deeds!"

Thrandimir chuckles at Kaed's address. "Perhaps. Do you see to the heart of me, young man? What does the vigour of youth find beneath what time has wrought upon one such as I?"

" My tribe teach us to respect our elders, so I should probably watch my words. I see a man I don't want to play cards against though, even if I cannot see your heart. I see you have a little luck, which is good and therefore you should ride with me, luck is always a good companion. So what will you have to drink? " Kaed is revelling in the banter, his smile threatening to take his ears off.

Thrandimir arches an eyebrow, but accepts the offering. "We are here, tonight. Let us drink fireblades," he declares, nodding to his companions.

Na'arik already has a row of seven fireblades on the bar. "Drinks and a place to stay tonight for those that would go after those raiders."

Katrin looks down at her nearly empty second mug of fireblade. Another drink wouldn't hurt. She passes Kaed on her way back to the bar, clapping him on the back with an exaggerated smile. "Like to see how a great and powerful warrior like yourself handles his liquor. I'll be at the bar."  As she walks away, Katrin smiles smugly to herself. Wonder how fancy he'll talk a few beers in. At the bar, she drains her second mug, picking up one of the seven Na'arik had set out. She turns around, leaning against the bar, waiting patiently, beer in hand. 

" Where you lead I follow, let us drink our fill and that of anyone too slow to keep up. " Kaed answers in perfect dwarven. He then follows Katrin to the bar taking his own fire blade, and making a start on it.

Thrandimir gratefully accepts his fireblade and pulls up a stool at the end of the bar, slowly sipping it as he watches the others socialise.

Grabbing one of the fireblades, he says  "In such dark times it is heartening to see so many people willing to risk their lives to better the world." He raises his glass and says "To adventure, glory, and a better world" He then knocks back the fireblade and sits watching the drinking competition.

"I do believe introductions are in order. I'm Erika. I apologize for not immediately introducing myself, I'm still adjusting to being outside of Estar." Erika caught a length of pink hair between her fingers, playing with it and curling it. "Callahan, Kaed, your enthusiasm is certainly appreciated. And Kaed, you don't have to really repay me, I'll be unable to do anything tomorrow if I have any more." She let out a nervous chuckle.  Erika walked over to the bar, gesturing for her fireblade to be taken back. "Your generosity appears to know no depths, Na'arik. But I'm very serious, I can't afford to wake up tomorrow with a headache and vomiting  my guts out." She takes a seat at the bar near Thrandimir, setting her trident against it.  "I've given you my name, I'd love to hear yours. It's rare to find a wizard, especially a powerful wizard, around these parts. And I must admit, I've lagged a bit on my own arcane studies. Are you taking students?"

Ascian finishes his food and abruptly abandons it, winding his way toward the bar to swipe one of the tankards. Noting several of the others seem to be halfway towards drinking themselves to unconsciousness, he drifts up the stairs to hang over the balcony at its top, savouring the taste of a free drink while watching the scene unfold below. 

As she reaches the bar, Katrin finishes the drink in her hand. She sets the mug down, and takes another from the row set out on the bar. She turns to Kaed, raising her cup. "Cheers, mate. And may the best win. " she proceeds to down her drink. A memory springs to her mind. Dark, cozy winter nights in front of the forge fire, and Katrin and her brothers attempting to out-drink each other before midnight. She'd only been beaten once. Didn't mean she couldn't be beaten again, but she felt she had a good chance of drinking this one under the table.  She finishes her fourth, watching with mild amusement as Kaed begins to sway a bit from the string drink. Fifth fireblade in hand, Katrin smiles, and proceeds to down the drink. Her head is a little fuzzy, but she shakes off the fog. Dwarves don't go down easy.

Damn it, when would he learn. Kaed stared at the area where one of the dwarven women was standing, the other one kept appearing and disappearing at odd intervals. Why challenge the little buggers to drinking games, they never lose. He could have picked anyone else in the tavern and probably won but no, that'd be too easy.  Nevertheless she was a friendly enough soul and it seemed that she was willing to join their group so it never hurt to make a new friend. If only the room would stop spinning. Kaed looked down at the glass in his hand, these fireblades were dangerous and he didn't know how many more he could take. He looked at Katrin again, or at least he hoped this was the real one and smiled raising his glass. "I am going to admit defeat, you have beshted me in this challenge and I bow to your shuperior consti, consti... drinking abilities." Turning to the others Kaed gestures at Katrin before calling out " Ladies and gentlemen I am beaten. All hail to Karin, no Katrin, mistress of the fireblades !" 

Katrin snorts quietly into her 6th drink, which she had just begun to sip. He was a funny man. His eyes were a bit unfocused, and he was staggering around like he was on the deck of a ship in a storm. She winced as he narrowly missed the leg of a chair with one foot. She sets down her drink, grabbing his wildly swinging arm that was clutching his partially drunk beer. "Why don't you sit down." She leads him to a stool at the bar, sitting him in it and relieving him of his drink. "You'll kill yourself with all that staggering about." His unfocused eyes are staring past her. She looks at Na'arik. "Can I have a glass of water?"

After volunteering himself for this mission, Callahan watched as the others in the room drifted off as quickly as they'd come together, the emaciated one, Ascian, heading up to the second floor with a drink in hand. The dwarven woman and the big one took to drinking into a stupor, downing steins with almost reckless abandon. In a way the friendly competition was comforting to see for him; many a night on the  Dawn  had been spent watching the crew challenge each other to a variety of drinking games and games of chance. He'd always favored the latter - leaving things in the hands of fate seemed a more rewarding methodology. Less room for personal error or skill, sure, but it also meant if you win, it is because you were meant to. Skill waxes and wanes with the passage of time, but the universe endures, and thus so does its will.  "Hello," h e made his way over to the colorful elven woman, who had introduced herself as Erika, and tapped her shoulder gently, "I was wondering when we would be setting out on this noble endeavor, Ms. Erika."

"Call me Thrandimir," the wizard rumbles into his drink, "and I wasn't planning on it. Stick around, Rainbow Dash , and you might learn a thing or two..." The moniker is added with more than a drop of condescension, but Thrandimir's tone is overall friendly. He watches the drinking contest across the bar with amusement. "Lesson one," he adds. "Never try to outdrink a dwarf."

Taking the remainder of Kaed's drink, she pours it into her own partially drunk mug. "I'll take this," she gestures with the mug. She slides the glass of water that was placed on the bar in front of him. "Drink up!" Katrin turns to the stairs. Catching the wizard's twinkling eyes, she gives a faint smile, and nods her head, slightly raising her mug. She sits down at the bar a few seats down from the swaying barbarian to finish her drink. 

Erika was almost offended by the nickname.  "I...you know what, that's fair." Almost. She stared as the Katrin downed drink after drink, basically running circles around Kaed until he admitted defeat. "I don't know why anyone would try to out-drink a dwarf in the first place." She was a little mesmerized by the amount of drink going around when Callahan jolted her out of it. "Oh, right! I believe we were going to set out in the morning. I'm of the opinion that scouting is harder to do when you've go enough alcohol to kill a horse in your system. And please, don't be so formal with me."

With free drinks in their blood and food in their bellies, the group retires to their rooms -- also free of charge. Most sleep well, in anticipation of the coming adventure.  However, as Ascian closes his eyes, he awakes in a similar room. He descends down into the tap room of a shadowy reflection of the Fireblade Tavern. The ring that was fit snugly on his hand before he fell asleep is not present as he begins to drift throughout the place. He does all these things without doing them, unconscious of the effort given as he walks out the door of the tavern and down the hill. Under the pale grey sky, his pace is slow, and his boots make muted crunching noises as he paces on the gravel road. He doesn't go far, but he heads west along the road for a few hours, and the temperature begins to grow cooler and cooler. The crunch under his feet is no longer gravel. It's snow.  Without doing it, Ascian trudges through the snow for half an hour, until the temperature grows cold enough that -- again, without doing it -- he turns back toward the Fireblade Tavern. He arrives and drifts up to his room, where he falls into bed to sleep the sleep of the exhausted. He closes his eyes... ...and opens them, blinking, as daylight streams through the window.  As the newly formed party find themselves in the tap room, the smells of breakfast fill their nostrils -- smoked meats, eggs, and warm bread. A meal fit for those who plan soon to do battle...or at the very least, do some scouting. The taproom is largely empty of guests, as most of the farmers have already eaten and left for the fields and pastures.

Callahan made his way down rather early, rising with the fall of the stars to meet the morning sun. Eager to embark, he set about having his breakfast with an unusual haste. Nonetheless he was pleasantly surprised by the hearty smorgasbord of meats and eggs. 

Ascian had been alongside the first few patrons to rise and sits at a table picking at his food with malaise, the fork in his left hand to keep the ring on his right in permanent view. It hadn't been cool to the touch when he'd awoken, already reaching for it, but he had half-expected it to be. He can still feel the crunch of snow beneath his boots; the chill of frozen air in his lungs. The tension in his shoulders speaks of someone who never went to bed, and in daylight it's easier to see the imprint of dark crescents etched beneath his eyes. Looking up at Callahan's entrance, he nods shortly. "Morning."

"Morning young Mister Ascian," He notes the boys tense posture and darkened circles beneath his eyes, "Sleep well?"  Callahan gestures towards the platters of food set out for them. "It would seem our hosts are rather gracious for our promised assistance. Have you had any yet? It's quite filling."

Katrin rolls over sleepily, and sighs contentedly. It's only a few moments later that she remembers Rose isn't there, and she's lying in a bed that feels too big. Too lonely. Sighing heavily, she sets about preparing for her day. No hangover, which was to be expected.  She washes her hair thoroughly, combing through it, and braiding it up with practiced fingers. Once dressed, she sheaths her sword at her side, sliding her hammer into place, and buckling her shield onto her arm. Katrin looks at herself in the mirror. Her mother would be proud of the warrior she had become. She kneels down, closing her eyes, saying a quick prayer to Tempus. Then she heads down for breakfast.  It smells heavenly. Her stomach growls, a testament to the lack of food and the copious amounts of alcohol she had consumed. With the tavern emptier and her heart emptier still, she plops herself down on a bench next to the firbolg she saw last night. Without saying a word, she begins her breakfast, feeling content to listen to whatever conversation is about to be made rather than participate.   

Kaed wakes to a furry tongue and a sore head but with the promise of adventure ahead of him he still cannot help himself from smiling as he lays in his bed. As he opens his eyes however the stabbing pain of the light reminds him that he needs to be a little smarter when getting involved in drinking contests.  He groans as he gets up and washes himself in the bowl of fresh water provided then heads downstairs for breakfast. Seeing the others assembling he calls put, slightly too loudly for his own headache. "Good morning to you all, I hope you are ready to go and be heroes today, also can someone point me on the direction of breakfast please ?" He spies the food himself though and heaps as much food as he can reasonably manage on the plate before demolishing it without another word. Belching and apologising shortly afterwards he sits back, looking for all the world as if he hadn't drunk himself into a stupor the previous evening.

"I never sleep well,"  Ascian replies dully, rubbing his eye hard enough to leave a brief red imprint against pale skin. At the mention of the generous breakfast, he nudges his plate away toward Callahan as the dwarven woman sits down too.  "Tried, but haven't had much of an appetite. You can have mine." Looking over at the lively Kaed with something akin to envy, he's silent for a moment before asking whoever might be listening,  "Where are we supposed to be heading to track these orcs, exactly? No one ever said."

Feeling the first rays of sunshine warming his face, Kou springs from his bed. Quickly performing a series of stretches and breathing exercises, he marvels at the difference conviction and purpose can bring. After being expelled, he had felt sluggish and aimless. He never realized how much he relied on the Citadel for his since of self and purpose. But after agreeing to help these people, Kou feels like he has lightning in his veins. He grabs a simple tunic and pants, strapping his steel gauntlets on to each hand. He then slings a curved short sword with an intricate hilt and sheath on his back. He heads quickly outside and finds an secluded spot and practices his forms. Frequently repeating the same punches and kicks into he believes they are flawless. After some time he stops and sits outside of the tavern meditating, focusing on slowing his breathing and once he is centered says a brief prayer to Tempus to aid his new companions in their endeavor. As hears the rest of the party moving around, he jumps up and joins the group. Grabbing a hearty breakfast focusing mostly on breads and smoked meats. He sits next to Katrin and points to her holy symbol as he says "We were not able to speak last night, my name is Kou. It is always nice to find a follower of Tempus, the Storm God guides my path as well. What brought you here?"