Subject: Part 1: Ningjorns rest 2,394 views

[coyotelaughs]

At a signal from his aia, Nu starts to join her and the other two. Moving with the grace of a wild jungle cat hunting prey, I weave my way through the crowd. Even the jostling of the Dwarfs as they follow the bout come nowhere near my lithe form. I see from the corner of my eye that there is one much like my aia and I but who is from the dark places. I quicken my pace and move up behind Bael placing my left hand on her shoulder possesively to let the Dwarf and strangely dressed man know she is my aia.

(In Sylvan). "Aia, one of Salmaradim's get has entered the room, I do not like where this is going."

(In Sylvan) "Strangers, I am..." (in common) "Sorry, common language strange. I be Lan'Nuiatnal and this my aia Baelevdulvanna." After I have struggled speaking that much I press closer to Bale and close my mouth scanning the room, but keeping a close eye on the Dark Elf moving towards us in strange skittish movements. My hand goes the the hilt of my Sickle comfortingly and my body tenses though none would notice but Bael who is in front of me.

(In Sylvan) "Tae.. I wish to leave this foul smelling place for the forest"

[Weasel]

"Well met, Lan'Nuintal." he says with a friendly nod, "You as well, Baelvdlvana." he adds stumbling over her name. When he sees Lan'Nuintal's nervous behavior he continues, "Relax, Lan'Nuintal. You're in good company. Take a seat'n have a drink with us!"

His eyes glance in the same direction the newcomer just looked, and spots the dark skinned elf. Looking back to Lan' he wonders if this night will be even more interesting than originally thought. A smile slowly creeps across his lips.

He watches with interest as the dark elf makes his way over.

.oO(Of course he's coming over here. Why wouldnt he? Suprised we hadn't been kicked outta here. Yeah, come on over night elf! Come join our band of strangeness!)

"Whu-Whut?" he says man speaks, "You suppose to be Zvordjien? Not exactly hasty if ya ask me.."

[Racer Xonclar]

"No," Itrav says plainly, "I am not Zvordjien, though it seems I was correct in my guess that you were waiting for him as well. Greetings to you, dwarf...and you two as well," he says as he looks over the two other elves. Like a cat identifying what caused a strange noise, he looks over them both with apparently no regard that staring is generally considered rude, until a passing barmaid steals his overalert gaze. "A sickle. Seems he is as prepared and uncomfortable here as I. It would be a shame to be forced to break his neck," he thought quietly.

Turning his back towards the nearest wall, placing as many people and movements in front of him as possible, Itrav's hand slips into one of the belt pouches on his hip and retrieves a tobacco pipe and a tinderstick. His eyes jump to the sounds now instead of his head, unless the sound is far enough beside him or behind him. Packing the tobacco down in the pipe, he strikes the tinderstick on the edge of the bar and begins to light the pipe, rich smelling smoke rolling up around his nose and over his face. "Do any of you know when he will arrive?"

[Black_Hawk]

Rashid at the other sylvan as he approaches and puts his hand upon the others shoulder. An imperceivable frown flickers over his face as the lithe stranger whispers in some language that does not understand. Probably sylvan... Well, at least it fits. Barely jostled a dwarf on his way over as well... a bit more than i could accomplish. I'm almost jealous. As the sylvan introduces himself he concludes he is a rather possessive sort from his actions... Seems he cares deeply about the other.

"Well met ser." Rashids eyes follow the trail left by those of the sylvan, directly onto the dark elf that approaches. At the dwarfs words he nods and says before the elf is in earshot, "Worry not ser, you are among friends." My feelings tell me that this odd fellow will be another member in our mission... Amon's duality will be put to the test it seems.

As the elf approaches and the dwarf questions him, he listens closely to the elf as he speaks, also looking him over. He hides not his examination, though he does not look menacing or anything of the sort... he simply observes. Back to the wall... Someone is worried about daggers that would be placed there. Seems about right for the Sunless. As the Sunless elf lights his pipe and takes a couple draws on it, he frowns. An odd habit... perhaps such things are less a social occasion here Rashid quirks his head to teh side, his white headwrap shifting a bit as he does do, making strands of sand colored hair poke out slightly. Bah, i shall have to fix that. It seems a pin came out.

"I believe we know not when he should arrive ser." He gestures to the table, "Feel free to sit, though I can not blame you for not, as these stools were not made for our proportions." Rashid raises an eyebrow as the elf declines. "Fair enough. It seems you have not bestowed your name upon us. I am Rashid."

[coyotelaughs]

"Dwarf army just call us Nu and Bael and make easier. You (Sylvan) may call...(common) us by those names. Is easier." As the dark elf sits at wall and packs his pipe, I relax and let go my sickle. "Hello Salmaradim what (Sylvan) brings you...(common) here? Cause trouble last tavern. Tender upset we purify food and drink before eat."
I pull a stool over for Bael to sit on, but stay standing at her side and leave my hand upon her shoulder. Absently I stroke Lanna's chest as she sleeps having nothing else to keep me from fidgeting. As I pet her I keep watch on the Dwarves around me. Keeping my self in the way to redirect crowd away from our group and Bael especially.

[rainbowpalmcakes]

Bael is comforted by Nu's presence beside her and as he talks and introduces them she nods in acknowledgement. her face though still neutral even upon hearing of the dark elf but a bit bothered how the dwarf butchered their names as it slipped out of his alcohol smelling drink pit.
She sits as Nu offers her a seat, crossing her left leg over the right the bear paw tattoo peeking from under her thigh. She brushes her cheek on Nu's hand on her shoulder calming him.
she nods at the Salmaradim as her lip curls slightly as she inhales some smoke from what he smokes...thinking bout certain plants she have passed by before and their scents..
she remains calm even with him there. observing how everyone talked and listening.

[Weasel]

"Since we're introducin' ourselves, the name's Bnor. Well met all." he says as he takes a hard pull of his spiced mead.

"Well behaved bird ya have there, Nu. Figured such an animal'd get a bit skiddish in here." he says with a shrug.

As if on que, another dwarf is sent airborn and lands near our group with a loud thud.


"Who-AH!" Bnor cries along with most of the other dwarves in the tavern. He half raises from his stool to get a look at the tosser. Bnor's excitement is easily seen. "They're in rare form tonight." he continues talking about the combatants.

"This Zvordjien best hurry... I'm wantin' t'get in there meself!"

[Shiv]

As if in response to Bnors words the door to the inn opens to admit another group of dwarves, most certainly revelers. But at the back of the arriving cluster two figures can be seen that certainly stand out of the norm.

The first is a dwarf, built like a brick wall, heavy and solid as a rock. His skin is bronzed and he's wearing only a large tartan kilt, checkered red and yellow, to keep the winters chill away. His chest hair is blonde and very fluffy, most certainly groomed for the occasion, though now slightly wet from traveling through the light snowfall. His most striking feature though is the hairstyle adorning his head. Standing a full foot tall, his auburn locks have been dyed and styled into flames, snaking upwards, held in place by god-knows-what. Several of the patrons notice his grand entrance and cheer, to which he respons with a nod, before spotting your group and starts making his way over.

He is closely trailed by the second newcomer, only slightly less ostentatious. Standing roughly 170cm tall, the person is too tall~ -but also stocky enough- to be a dwarf. As much as the oxymoron sounds strange most of you think "giant-dwarf" to yourselves at the sight of him. The tall one is dressed in a long, green cloak with a hood, blonde locks spilling out around a youthful face full of excitement. The young dwarf is wearing a green tunic ,embroided with silver thread, and bright red trousers, both of which probably cost more than the total of the drinks served tonight at the inn.

The odd pair are slowly making their way across the floor towards you.

[Black_Hawk]

Rashid watches the dwarf as he arcs gracefully through the air and crashes into a table. "I believe that is the... 3rd one since i have entered." He looks toward Bnor, "Is dwarf chucking the whole purpose of this competition? Where I am from such competitions normally took the form of skill at arms over ability to loft others."

As the new group of people enter, Rashid looks at the door. Once again... these people wear the smallest amounts of clothing in this weather... And Amon is not even casting his gaze upon them! Rashid smirks and shakes his head slightly. I'll not understand it. As the overlarge dwarf and his odd-haired companion stomp over to the table, he stands, knocking the stool over by accident, and takes a slight bow. "Greetings sers, I would presume that one of you are this..." He searches for the name again "Zvordjien we are supposed to be meeting here?"

As he bows, he remembers the mead he ordered. I ought to drink that before we are out of here... Shame to let such go to waste.

[Weasel]

Bnor, being quite impressed with the two dwarves entrance, smiles broadly.

"HAha! Now that is how you get ready for Eldasbyggnad!" he comments as soon as the two enter.

As the two makes their way towards the group, the smile remains but he makes no further movement When Rashid stands to speak, Bnor simply leans back against the bar and takes another quick look to the fighting pits but quickly gives the newcomers his attention again..

[Racer Xonclar]

Itrav takes another long puff on the pipe, smoke billowing over his face before he answers Rashid's question. "I am known as Itrav. And it seems we are to w--." His words are cut short by the tossed dwarf, his free hand stiffening at his side as his eyes snap to the movement. "Damn dwarves. They should be either killing each other or saving the energy, not this wasteful tossing about." "...wait," he finishes as the recently slung dwarf scrambles to his feet and presses back towards the fighting pit.

Itrav's eyes jump to Nu, Bael, and Bnor as they introduce themselves and after a moment's pause, responds, "Well met."

With the entrance of new revelers, his eyes meet every one of them as they enter the room, watching their movements for a brief moment before watching the next. His eyes settle on the unusual two, especially the least dressed one. "Seems he would have enjoyed Sehk's test..." Another puff of the pipe accompanies his silence as he waits for the pair's response to Rashid.

[coyotelaughs]

"Lanna is companion, she safe on shoulder so sleep. Later wake as we sleep." I turn suddenly to the door as crowd stops to cheer. Then hand to sickle when Dwarf sails too close to our party. I relax again after he lands too far away to do damage. Thinking these Dwarfs waste a lot of energy in battle. The quick kill is so much more efficient.
I look at the strange dressed man as he stands and bows to the newcomers thinking he must know them to perform this custom to them. I watch the crowd as I do making sure my aia is safe in her seat.I squeeze her shoulder in a comforting way. (In Sylvan) "Tae it seems we may have important company the strange dressed one knows as he bows to them."

[rainbowpalmcakes]

Bael hated the brawl inside the tavern, she didn't quite understand why and for what the fights were for. She was sure though that Nya was calling on to her....wanting to join 'the fun'.

She tilts her head to the side as she hears Bnor's comment that included Nu's name...she didn't really know what it meant.
The first thing that came in her mind was maybe he was describing the bird feathers that decorate her hair; thinking Bnor must like birds...

As the dwarves come through the door the firt thing that came in her mind was

"The Barber's Guild"

Her thought came out of her mouth.

[Shiv]

In response to Rashids querry the flame-haired dwarf rises his hand. "Right you are my boy!" he exclaims loudly to overcome the racket behind him. "Name's Zvordjien Gaddashaim, and this here is my aide Glorgar Grimmnor", he gestures to the large man behind him, who is busily picking up Rashids tumbled down chair and holding it out for Zvordjien to sit in. The older dwarf obliges.

"I'll won't beat like a cat around the bush since I'm sure you all want to join in the festivities as soon as possible", he says with a grin. Ignoring the gazes he recieves for his assumptions. "I am the leader of the barbers guild here in Ningjorns rest, and Glorgar here is possibly the finest craftsman we've had walking through our doors in the last fifty years or more. He's positively brilliant!" Zvordien exclaims and gestures to his companion, who blushes lightly and looks at his boots. The senior dwarfs gaze travels back to your group.

"Lately though he has got it in his head that he want to study the sylvan way of haircraft. I mean the things that you do with beads and feathers is quite astounding", the dwarf intones with a nod to Bael. "But the things is, we're not sending him away from the mountains, there is just no way we'd allow him to get lost in Kathil-binas, but instead we're hoping of finding some of the sylvan tribes who live in the Karandian mountain range. More specifically around Valans Haven. With the reopening of the Valecian mines there, we feel that the area should be a safe enough place for Glorgar to set up shop for a few years while he learns more."

Zvordjien pauses breifly and smacks his lips. Glorgar, picking up on the cue, moves over to the main portion of the bar at fetches an ale. Rashid is about to speak up, but he is silenced with a hand by the older dwarf. Glorgar returns and Zvordjien drinks, slowly, heavily, large gulps that send small rivulets of alcohol snaking into his hairy chest. Once done, he takes a deep breath and wipes his mouth before continuing.

"And that's why you are here. The best mercenaries currently in town. Valans haven lies in a valley two weeks travel from here, and with winter approaching travelers are hard pressed to make it before the snows pile in. The other problem is that the orcs have begun moving in the mountains, and Glorgar here is far to precious to the guild to be left with a weak escort."

"There, now you all know. Bring on the questions", the barber says with finality.

[coyotelaughs]

(In Sylvan)"Aia there are northern elven tribes perhaps we could join them or find a peaceful home for ourselves. How do you know of this Barbers Guild? I look at the two new comers and stand with Bael not saying anything more. Absently I stroke Lanna's chest while we stand there keeping my eyes peeled for any trouble from the revelers around us.