The tall tales & tragedies of the Chattering Scroll Inn

[AurianaValoria1]

Rhaine nodded to Kalin, then entered the room, closing the door behind her. She approached the man slowly, and she watched as his small form shrank from her in fear, his pale blue eyes wide as saucers. She held up her hands, "I mean you no harm...for now. Answer my questions and you will have nothing to fear."

 

That did nothing to cease his rapid breathing. Rhaine saw where Kalin had bandaged the man's severed limb, cut clean at the elbow. The bandages were horribly saturated, and some blood had even leaked upon the bedclothes. She reached towards his stump and he pulled back, whimpering - but he froze when he saw the mighty sword strapped to her side. He trembled as she removed the bandages and whispered a healing incantation. The skin stitched itself together neatly and the blood was cleared from the wound, but she could do nothing to bring back his lost forearm. That type of injury was permanent.

 

He gaped at her handiwork, and he felt of the clean stump gingerly. "T-t-thank you," he managed to stutter.

 

She tossed the old bandages aside and sat on the edge of the bed, holding one hand in the air. "The same hands that healed you can end your life. Keep that in mind," she warned before adding, "I am Rhaine Alcinea, the 'freakish one with the wings' if I remember correctly. And you are?"

 

"I-I-I didn't mean nothin' by...."

 

"Don't lie to me," Rhaine interrupted him sharply, causing him to recoil, "just answer my question."

 

"Brax," he replied, "name's Brax."

 

"Very well Brax," she continued, "Why were you and your friends contracted to kill my allies and I?"

 

His eyes grew even wider, "W-w-we're just mercs! Honest! We j-j-just do what we're p-p-paid to! Boss g-gets orders from everybody...we're the B-b-black Troll B-b-boys..."

 

"Who gave you the contract?"

 

"I don't know! The guy never said his name. Hell, he just appeared! S-s-said he'd pay us ten thousand s-s-septims a head...everyone at the C-c-c-chattering Scroll. But especially y-y-you and your friends."

 

Rhaine raised her eyebrows, "Did the man wear any distinctive clothing? Did he mention any affiliates?"

 

"G-g-guy dressed in black...hooded...c-c-couldn't see his face. Smelled like s-s-something rotten...s-s-something dead. V-v-vanished after he gave us the contract. No signature...."

 

"And where is your company headquartered?" Rhaine asked.

 

"Redrock Cave, almost straight southeast of here...big entrance with three huge p-p-poplars...can't miss it."

 

Rhaine rose, turning from him, "Well, Brax, since you're my friend's captive, I'll let him decide what to do with you. Thank you for your information...it may have saved your life."

 

She heard him whimper loudly as she exited the room and shut the door. Kalin was waiting just outside, leaning against the casement. From next door, she could still hear Reona and Ellundil snoring.

 

"Well, I found out location of their headquarters, but that's about it. I still don't know who hired them, but I have a hunch. He said they smelled 'rotten.' I suspect they're necromancers...and something tells me they're the ones we're after," Rhaine explained, "You decide what to do with him, but do it quickly. I don't think the proprietors would appreciate the prolonged uninvited company of a marauder."

Edited October 17, 2011 by AurianaValoria1

[GrueMaster]

 

Rhaine nodded to Kalin, then entered the room, closing the door behind her. She approached the man slowly, and she watched as his small form shrank from her in fear, his pale blue eyes wide as saucers. She held up her hands, "I mean you no harm...for now. Answer my questions and you will have nothing to fear."

 

That did nothing to cease his rapid breathing. Rhaine saw where Kalin had bandaged the man's severed limb, cut clean at the elbow. The bandages were horribly saturated, and some blood had even leaked upon the bedclothes. She reached towards his stump and he pulled back, whimpering - but he froze when he saw the mighty sword strapped to her side. He trembled as she removed the bandages and whispered a healing incantation. The skin stitched itself together neatly and the blood was cleared from the wound, but she could do nothing to bring back his lost forearm. That type of injury was permanent.

 

He gaped at her handiwork, and he felt of the clean stump gingerly. "T-t-thank you," he managed to stutter.

 

She tossed the old bandages aside and sat on the edge of the bed, holding one hand in the air. "The same hands that healed you can end your life. Keep that in mind," she warned before adding, "I am Rhaine Alcinea, the 'freakish one with the wings' if I remember correctly. And you are?"

 

"I-I-I didn't mean nothin' by...."

 

"Don't lie to me," Rhaine interrupted him sharply, causing him to recoil, "just answer my question."

 

"Brax," he replied, "name's Brax."

 

"Very well Brax," she continued, "Why were you and your friends contracted to kill my allies and I?"

 

His eyes grew even wider, "W-w-we're just mercs! Honest! We j-j-just do what we're p-p-paid to! Boss g-gets orders from everybody...we're the B-b-black Troll B-b-boys..."

 

"Who gave you the contract?"

 

"I don't know! The guy never said his name. Hell, he just appeared! S-s-said he'd pay us ten thousand s-s-septims a head...everyone at the C-c-c-chattering Scroll. But especially y-y-you and your friends."

 

Rhaine raised her eyebrows, "Did the man wear any distinctive clothing? Did he mention any affiliates?"

 

"G-g-guy dressed in black...hooded...c-c-couldn't see his face. Smelled like s-s-something rotten...s-s-something dead. V-v-vanished after he gave us the contract. No signature...."

 

"And where is your company headquartered?" Rhaine asked.

 

"Redrock Cave, almost straight southeast of here...big entrance with three huge p-p-poplars...can't miss it."

 

Rhaine rose, turning from him, "Well, Brax, since you're my friend's captive, I'll let him decide what to do with you. Thank you for your information...it may have saved your life."

 

She heard him whimper loudly as she exited the room and shut the door. Kalin was waiting just outside, leaning against the casement. From next door, she could still hear Reona and Ellundil snoring.

 

"Well, I found out location of their headquarters, but that's about it. I still don't know who hired them, but I have a hunch. He said they smelled 'rotten.' I suspect they're necromancers...and something tells me they're the ones we're after," Rhaine explained, "You decide what to do with him, but do it quickly. I don't think the proprietors would appreciate the prolonged uninvited company of a marauder."

 

 

Kalin nodded, then walked into the bedroom. Brax gave a choked cry of fear and shrunk into the bed. Poor sod, he thought, but he kept his face free of any emotion.

 

"It seems your fate is in my hands," he said icily.

 

"P-p-please don't kill me," Brax sobbed, "I didn't mean anything! It was just a job! I-"

 

"Quiet," Kalin said firmly in a commanding voice. The man fell silent, and was wracked by sobs. "Listen, since you gave Rhaine the information she needed, I'll be lenient."

 

"Oh, thank you! I-"

 

"I WASN"T finished," the elan said angrily, causing the merc to cower. "As I was saying, I'll be lenient. I believe in second chances, so this is what I'll do: I will let you leave, and you can go anywhere you want and do anything that takes your fancy. I don't care."

 

Brax started to leave, but stopped when he heard Kalin's voice again. "Remember this though: If I find out if you ever harm others from now on, or that you give our plans away to your buddies, I'll won't be so merciful. In fact, I'll personally roast you alive. As a start. Do you understand me?"

 

Brax shook with fear. "Good," Kalin nodded, "here's a thousand gold. Go make yourself a new life. And remember my promise. Now get out of my sight before I change my mind." The man ran out of the room, terrified for his life.

 

The elan sighed. I hate doing this crap. "I'm glad that's over with," he said to Rhaine, "now let's go find a drink. I'd almost give a hand for some wine right now."

Edited October 17, 2011 by GrueMaster

[AurianaValoria1]

 

 

Rhaine nodded to Kalin, then entered the room, closing the door behind her. She approached the man slowly, and she watched as his small form shrank from her in fear, his pale blue eyes wide as saucers. She held up her hands, "I mean you no harm...for now. Answer my questions and you will have nothing to fear."

 

That did nothing to cease his rapid breathing. Rhaine saw where Kalin had bandaged the man's severed limb, cut clean at the elbow. The bandages were horribly saturated, and some blood had even leaked upon the bedclothes. She reached towards his stump and he pulled back, whimpering - but he froze when he saw the mighty sword strapped to her side. He trembled as she removed the bandages and whispered a healing incantation. The skin stitched itself together neatly and the blood was cleared from the wound, but she could do nothing to bring back his lost forearm. That type of injury was permanent.

 

He gaped at her handiwork, and he felt of the clean stump gingerly. "T-t-thank you," he managed to stutter.

 

She tossed the old bandages aside and sat on the edge of the bed, holding one hand in the air. "The same hands that healed you can end your life. Keep that in mind," she warned before adding, "I am Rhaine Alcinea, the 'freakish one with the wings' if I remember correctly. And you are?"

 

"I-I-I didn't mean nothin' by...."

 

"Don't lie to me," Rhaine interrupted him sharply, causing him to recoil, "just answer my question."

 

"Brax," he replied, "name's Brax."

 

"Very well Brax," she continued, "Why were you and your friends contracted to kill my allies and I?"

 

His eyes grew even wider, "W-w-we're just mercs! Honest! We j-j-just do what we're p-p-paid to! Boss g-gets orders from everybody...we're the B-b-black Troll B-b-boys..."

 

"Who gave you the contract?"

 

"I don't know! The guy never said his name. Hell, he just appeared! S-s-said he'd pay us ten thousand s-s-septims a head...everyone at the C-c-c-chattering Scroll. But especially y-y-you and your friends."

 

Rhaine raised her eyebrows, "Did the man wear any distinctive clothing? Did he mention any affiliates?"

 

"G-g-guy dressed in black...hooded...c-c-couldn't see his face. Smelled like s-s-something rotten...s-s-something dead. V-v-vanished after he gave us the contract. No signature...."

 

"And where is your company headquartered?" Rhaine asked.

 

"Redrock Cave, almost straight southeast of here...big entrance with three huge p-p-poplars...can't miss it."

 

Rhaine rose, turning from him, "Well, Brax, since you're my friend's captive, I'll let him decide what to do with you. Thank you for your information...it may have saved your life."

 

She heard him whimper loudly as she exited the room and shut the door. Kalin was waiting just outside, leaning against the casement. From next door, she could still hear Reona and Ellundil snoring.

 

"Well, I found out location of their headquarters, but that's about it. I still don't know who hired them, but I have a hunch. He said they smelled 'rotten.' I suspect they're necromancers...and something tells me they're the ones we're after," Rhaine explained, "You decide what to do with him, but do it quickly. I don't think the proprietors would appreciate the prolonged uninvited company of a marauder."

 

 

Kalin nodded, then walked into the bedroom. Brax gave a choked cry of fear and shrunk into the bed. Poor sod, he thought, but he kept his face free of any emotion.

 

"It seems your fate is in my hands," he said icily.

 

"P-p-please don't kill me," Brax sobbed, "I didn't mean anything! It was just a job! I-"

 

"Quiet," Kalin said firmly in a commanding voice. The man fell silent, and was wracked by sobs. "Listen, since you gave Rhaine the information she needed, I'll be lenient."

 

"Oh, thank you! I-"

 

"I WASN"T finished," the elan said angrily, causing the merc to cower. "As I was saying, I'll be lenient. I believe in second chances, so this is what I'll do: I will let you leave, and you can go anywhere you want and do anything that takes your fancy. I don't care."

 

Brax started to leave, but stopped when he heard Kalin's voice again. "Remember this though: If I find out if you ever harm others from now on, or that you give our plans away to your buddies, I'll won't be so merciful. In fact, I'll personally roast you alive. As a start. Do you understand me?"

 

Brax shook with fear. "Good," Kalin nodded, "here's a thousand gold. Go make yourself a new life. And remember my promise. Now get out of my sight before I change my mind." The man ran out of the room, terrified for his life.

 

The elan sighed. I hate doing this crap. "I'm glad that's over with," he said to Rhaine, "now let's go find a drink. I'd almost give a hand for some wine right now."

 

 

"A drink wouldn't be amiss," Rhaine replied. Her stomach suddenly growled loudly, and she added with a grin, "and some breakfast, too. Although, I do hope our friends can join us."

[tokyobiohazard]

Reona jolted awake, her long hair frizzed into a knotted black nimbus around her face. She scratched her left eyebrow before rubbing her eyes, remembering where she was. Blinking, she tucked her unruly mane behind a pointed ear and yawned, suddenly realizing something was missing. Rapidly flicking her eyes around the room with elven speed, she saw the gleaming silver circlet lying on the floor by the bed.

 

You should keep up with that better, Arva scolded as she picked it up. He must have been waiting for her to wake up since around sunrise. He always had been an early riser.

 

She jumped, Don't scare me like that!

 

You touched the circlet, you should have expected it. Stay sharp and the like, he said, appearing in her mind's eye with the slightly bored look he gave her when he was giving advice.

 

Shrugging, she looked down at Ellundil and saw that he was still fast asleep. He had exerted a lot of energy in the past day, so she wasn't surprised. Gently stepping over his lanky form, she placed the circlet on her head and put on her dress, not bothering to fumble with the lacing in the back on her own. She crossed her arms and frowned, thinking for a moment before picking up Arva and the room's key before struggling with the lock.

 

"Need some help with that?" The voice was so sudden and unexpected that Reona jumped into the air, ready to attack, and threw the key, before a smirking Ellundil caught both her and the key. She clutched her heart and he put her down, laughing.

 

"You were supposed to be sleeping!" she exclaimed, her heart still racing from shock.

 

He turned her around and began to pull the laces on the back of her dress tighter together, "With a fair repose, I recover quite swiftly. Using such copious amounts of magic yesterday exhausted me much more than usual, for some reason, but I've observed that a little bit of rest speeds up my process of recovery. I've been up since a few minutes before you first stirred, and I must ask, why do you feel the urge to be so quiet and undetected this morning?"

 

"I felt something strange was all," Reona laughed, "I was trying not to wake you. Are you sure you know what you're doing with the lacing on my dress?"

 

"I can't say I've ever laced up the back of a dress before, but the lacing is much like that of hunting boots, although on a larger scale," he said, before tying the ends of the laces into a bow, and then crossing his arms, "What did you feel?"

 

"Just a bit of stress that occurred in Kalin and Rhaine earlier, but it seems to have passed for the most part. Shall we join them and see what happened?" Reona took the key and slid it into the keyhole, frustrated with its refusal to unlock the door without a fight.

 

Ellundil picked up the gold that Kalin had given him the night before, then belted on his sword, put on his cloak, and tied the dark strip around his forehead. He produced a small comb from his pack and threw it to Reona, "Forgive me for being so outright with such a statement, but it seems you are in dire need of one of those. You can keep that one if you wish."

 

Reona combed through her tangled hair until it lay flat again, tucking the comb into her pocket along with the key, and made her way to the front room of the inn, Ellundil behind her. Rhaine and Kalin were sitting at a table and eating breakfast cheerily together. Reona greeted them with a smile; Ellundil with a smile and a nod of his head in their direction.

 

"Good morning, friends," she said happily.

 

A pleasure to meet you all. I am Arva, and good morning. I forgot to introduce myself last night, it seems, Arva said, projecting the image of himself into their minds, and bowing with a hand over his chest, If any of you would like to speak with me from here on, you can simply think what you'd like to say and I will hear it through Reona.

[AurianaValoria1]

Rhaine smiled warmly at Reona and Ellundil, "Good morning to you as well. I feared you would sleep the day away." She gestured to the table, "Please, have a seat and dine with us."

 

Then, telepathically, she added, A pleasure to meet you, Arva. I hope you are well. I am Rhaine Alcinea, at your service. Although, you probably already know that.

 

She then returned to her half-eaten omelet, making a mental note to complement the barkeep on his cooking skills.

[GrueMaster]

Kalin looked at Ellundil and Reona and gave a hearty laugh while he stood up. "Good morning, indeed, sleeping beauties! If you two had slept any longer, my imagination would've run amok." He laughed at the expressions on their faces. "I'm just teasing, you two. Yes, please, join us. Looking at the way Rhaine has eaten her meal, I'd say the chef is on a roll this morning. And," he added,"he's opened up a fine bottle of wine, too."

 

Smiling, Kalin then sat back down and returned to his glass of wine, noting that he should ask the bartender where he'd found such a fine vintage.

 

Nice to meet you as well, Arva, he added telepathically. I'm Kalin, if you remember. You're a fine sword, I think. It's rare to find such a master's work in my experience.

Edited October 21, 2011 by GrueMaster

[tokyobiohazard]

Ellundil recovered from his momentary embarrassment and chuckled, giving Kalin a pat on the back as he took a seat at the table, "I suppose since Rhaine is enjoying her omelet so much, I shall have to try one for myself!" He called over the waitress and told her to bring him an omelet like Rhaine's before placing the small pouch from the night before by Kalin's plate and explaining that he didn't get anything else to eat or drink, but didn't have a chance to return the money.

 

Reona took her seat, then smiled at the waitress and said, "I'll have an egg, some milk, and a small piece of bread, ma'am."

 

Arva beamed at Rhaine and Kalin, The pleasure is mine, truly! Lady Rhaine, I cannot thank you enough for what your god has done for all of us. You have my undying support and loyalty in the upcoming battle, and you truly have been a blessing to me. And Kalin, I thank you for your compliment. I say a sword is most beautiful when it performs well, and not when it is made purely for aesthetic or ornamental purposes... But I suppose that you probably share the same sentiments, eh?

 

"You seem to have gotten him to talk, guys," Reona laughed, then added jokingly, "Good luck getting him to stop!"

[AurianaValoria1]

Ellundil recovered from his momentary embarrassment and chuckled, giving Kalin a pat on the back as he took a seat at the table, "I suppose since Rhaine is enjoying her omelet so much, I shall have to try one for myself!" He called over the waitress and told her to bring him an omelet like Rhaine's before placing the small pouch from the night before by Kalin's plate and explaining that he didn't get anything else to eat or drink, but didn't have a chance to return the money.

 

Reona took her seat, then smiled at the waitress and said, "I'll have an egg, some milk, and a small piece of bread, ma'am."

 

Arva beamed at Rhaine and Kalin, The pleasure is mine, truly! Lady Rhaine, I cannot thank you enough for what your god has done for all of us. You have my undying support and loyalty in the upcoming battle, and you truly have been a blessing to me. And Kalin, I thank you for your compliment. I say a sword is most beautiful when it performs well, and not when it is made purely for aesthetic or ornamental purposes... But I suppose that you probably share the same sentiments, eh?

 

"You seem to have gotten him to talk, guys," Reona laughed, then added jokingly, "Good luck getting him to stop!"

 

Rhaine grinned, Oddly enough, Arva, my god knows what it is like to live as a soul trapped in a sword. Perhaps he sympathizes to some extent...but that is a tale for another time. Maybe it is one I can get him to tell himself, someday.

 

She pushed back her finished plate, took a sip from the glass of water beside it, then leaned back casually in her chair. "Well, you missed quite a bit of activity this morning. Perhaps Kalin would like to tell you about it, since he's the one who started it." She elbowed Kalin in the ribs playfully, casting a wink his way.

 

"Anyways, listen well, as I believe it has everything to do with our mission."

[GrueMaster]

"Always blaming the man," Kalin muttered under his breathe, smirking. "Yeah, I guess you could say I started it." As Ellundil and Reona ate, he shared his morning events.

 

"I was...restless earlier this morning, so I went out for a walk. After a few hours, I was returning to the inn and I heard voices, so I went to investigate. I came across a group of bandits, who happened to be discussing plans of our demise." Kalin chuckled darkly. "Needless to say, we had a disagreement of sorts." He explained what had happened, the fight, bringing home "Stumpy," and ticking off Rhaine.

 

"Rhaine wasn't happy about the state I was in and how I left everything. If you had seen her, you'd think I ticked off a girlfriend or something," Kalin said, smirking then yelping as Rhaine elbowed him, sharply this time. Wincing, he continued. "So we went back, I buried the bodies and washed up afterwards, and then we returned and asked my friend Brax One-Hand some questions. He was very cooperative, wasn't he, Rhaine? Anyway, we know where the bandits came from, so we figured we'd go visiting them and ask for some more info on their contractors, who may be our portal jumpers."

 

Kalin paused, and then added, excitement tinting his voice, "So, what do you say we go adventuring after you two are done?"

Edited October 23, 2011 by GrueMaster

[tokyobiohazard]

Ellundil swallowed a bite of his omelet and nodded his head, "I am always up for an adventure, I think. I doubt any of us are comfortable with sitting leisurely by the fire during times such as these."

 

Reona smirked and took a sip of her milk, then stared into the opaque liquid pensively, "Perhaps in the past I would have been, but no more. I've got to get stronger, to make myself a better fighter. A bit of adventuring would be welcome, Kalin."