[Nexus] Yet Another Tavern (and perhaps more)

[Greenflame]

Yet Another Tavern: Another Tavern in Nexus, albeit unnamed and rather unimposing. Located on the frayed ends of the Nexus, where the insane is less "in" and more sane. It is a little place that is somewhere between the Outside and the Inside, not quite Trog's, not like the Den, but something between. But not so different that it is strange.

Currently: Members are meeting and introducing each other.

___

The bright sun gleamed down out of an endless azure sky, illuminating the streets where the young swordsman was seated. The sun was warm and the sidewalk tables were busy with a lively crowd of people enjoying the weather of spring. Taverns and smithies, alchemy shops and brothers all lined the streets, while luminescent windowpanes stood open to the avenue giving insight to the wonders inside. In front of the tavern sat our young man, nonchalantly sipping on a mug of ale, studiously engrossed in the spell book in his other hand. His arms lay rested on the table as he became lost, his glistening emerald eyes staring as if unraveling the very mysteries of the book from a mere glance. A heavy red great cloak lie on his body, decorated with gold embroideries, and the great hood sheltered his head from the burning sun.

Aramil rotated the mug in his hand, causing the remnants of the brackish liquid to dance among the bottom before he finished the rest in a single mouthful. Placing the mug down, while simultaneously tossing a gold coin into the centre of the mug before glancing away from his spell book. Resting his chin his on his right hand, he strummed his metal fingers on the tabletop. "I need some new material," he mumbled, while scratching his chin, letting out a wide yawn. He rocked anxiously in his chair for a moment, and then stood quietly, his feet in his heavy brown leather boots, solidly planted on the ground. The youth turned towards the large wooden doors of the tavern, and entered through the main entrance. The large common hall of the building was decorated with a multitude of chairs and tables, a row of keys hanging from behind the bar, with a rather overweight barkeep with a stained shirt serving customers. The far side of the wall house a large fireplace, with a semi-circle of chairs lined around it, with a large oaken bookshelf against the wall.

His clear green eyes surveyed the area, where he noticed the rather large bookshelf. Taking a heavy iron and leather bound book from the shelf, he took a seat at an empty table - his red great cloak hanging just above the floor. Glancing over at the bar, with the lines of bottled beverages reflected back into the room off the large mirror in behind, he signaled to the barkeep for another drink. Leaning back, he kicked his feet up on the small table, his heavy iron plates leaving a dull thud. The barkeep tossed a few dried logs of wood into the fireplace and prodded it with a poker several times before giving Aramil his drink. He downed the drink as if it were simply water, and became engrossed in the new book, Intricacies of Engineering and Science.

Quick note about the topic:

Yet another tavern, perhaps if we have some interested folks, we can have an event happen to spur our characters into grouping up and going off somewhere to adventure. Feel free to make up things as you go.

A quick note about my character, he looks rather unimposing, perhaps the most striking feature is his metallic left arm. It is a warforged arm (see: Self Forged class in D&D 4E). His other arm is simply unadorned.

Aramil Greenflame (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=14595503&postcount=809)

My only rule is to not control the other people's character's speech and actions, but it's a fairly general common sense rule.

Enjoy

[Hattish Thing]

A man walks in! He certainly seems to be enjoying this new area. Better than Trog's, people didn't like him there. Captain Clegg walks in, he walks with a crutch that used to be composed of sleek ebony wood. Now, there's a piece chipped off, the handle is slightly dented, and the crutch has odd brownish, rust-colored stains. He wears a long navy and gold coat, now ripped up at the bottom, several bullet holes in the back of the long coat. He wears his wide-brimmed, ripped hat. He has a brown-grey messy beard, that matches his long grey hair. His left leg is wooden, and clunks as he walks. He wears ripped up gloves, and black trousers. He has some kind of leather armor underneath the coat. He takes yet another swig from the hip flask at his belt before moving over to the door.

He knocks with a fist and looks about. The man smells of alcohol, gunpowder, and...oddly enough a corpse. His eyes flash around with evident paranoia, and hidden in his coat are about ten different pistols and one rifle, hidden in his boot are two magical knives, and up his sleeve is a special gun, strapped to his arm, covered by the coat cuff. He smells of...alcohol, and...a corpse. Rather odd. He moves over to Aramil. Oy, wot be thi' place? M'names Captain Markus. Er...Captain Clegg.

[Greenflame]

"Clegg, is it? My name is Aramil Greenflame" Aramil spoke quietly as he placed the book on the table. The man had a certain musk to him that spoke just as loudly as the strange garments upon his person. A dangerous person, it seemed. "This seems to be another tavern in the area. Where this area is, I'm not sure. Went to sleep in my own bed one day, and woke up here. Been here for a few days now, and while it's strange, I prefer it to my home."

"How about you Captain," Aramil continued on. "What's your story?"

[Hattish Thing]

"Clegg, is it? My name is Aramil Greenflame" Aramil spoke quietly as he placed the book on the table. The man had a certain musk to him that spoke just as loudly as the strange garments upon his person. A dangerous person, it seemed. "This seems to be another tavern in the area. Where this area is, I'm not sure. Went to sleep in my own bed one day, and woke up here. Been here for a few days now, and while it's strange, I prefer it to my home."

"How about you Captain," Aramil continued on. "What's your story?"

Clegg just smiles. Ah, tha' 'appens a lot. People go t' sleep, an' wake up 'ere. Personally, I 'ate thi' place. Bloody people, bloody immortals, an' bloody villains. No' tha' they don't bother me. I's the good ones tha' annoy th' 'ell ou'' 'o' me. Pardon th' accent. Me? Nothing ye be needin' t' know. Wot exactly d' ye plan on doin' 'ere?

[PurityIcekiller]

The tavern was spotted by a certain mage. "Another one? Hopefully it will be better than the last two." After the dealings with random encounters in one inn and Ashtrek's violent firing in the other, a bit of normality was much looked forward to.

Thus, a blue-robed person with long copper hair and glasses stepped into the new tavern. "Hmm. Seems quiet enough in here... The usual unusual company. I think I'll survive." The mage took a seat and nodded to the others here. "Uh... Hello..."

Then the mention of "falling to sleep and waking up here" started to ring alarm bells. Confound it, why is it impossible to get a simple cup of tea or the like without reality breaking?

[Greenflame]

"What do I plan on doing here?" Aramil spoke as he half-turned his head as the mage entered, looking to the newcomer with his warm green eyes. "I'm a scholar of sorts, among other things."

Looking back to Clegg, he continued. "When I am in a strange new world, I find it in my best interest to learn what I can. What that entails of course..." he spoke as he shifted the handle of his bastard sword into view, showing that he was armed, while being non-threatening about it, "...really depends on who is asking."

With a wry grin to Clegg, he looked sideways toward the one clad in blue. "And who might you be, if you don't mind me asking?" he asked casually with a half-cocked grin.

[Rebonack]

A newcomer approaches!

There sure have been lots of those lately.

This one is... interesting. To say the least. But then most people who walk into this tavern are interesting. Especially the ones that don't seem very interesting. Because it is the inconspicuous that so often have something truly extraordinary to hide!

But now we're getting off on a tangent.

The newcomer in question is clad in a suit of powered armor of dark grey, bronze sheen, and electric blue lines. It doesn't actually appear to be made of metal, but rather plastics and ceramics. It has an extremely streamlined shape to it, clearly designed to make flight easier. And the head of the wearer is hidden behind a flat face panel with several senors built into its surface.

Oh.

And the wearer is a quadruped. Probably a griffin if his general shape is any indication. He's also rather big. Like... liger big. Big enough that a full grown human could ride on his back with no problem if one is willing to overlook the whole 'he'll eat your legs for trying to ride him' part.

So there's a griffon in the tavern. Wearing power armor. At the moment he's standing just inside the door and kind of gawking at the vast range of species here. Not that one can tell he's gawking due to his helmet. It doesn't take too long for him to get over his initial awe of the situation. Nor does it take too long for him to amble over to the bar and take a seat between two stools.

Stools aren't exactly built with him in mind. Thought the omnipresence of furniture built for bipeds is a subject of fascination to him.

Gerra (for that happens to be his name) locks his talons under his helmet and pulls it away resulting in a hiss as the pressure seal is broken. Under the headgear the griffon sports dusky grey plumage, wide yellow eyes, and a cruelly hooked beak as black as coal. A pair of feathered ears sit jauntily atop his head.

"Lamb, if you have it, would be wonderful," the griffin requests of the waiter behind the counter.

[Hattish Thing]

"What do I plan on doing here?" Aramil spoke as he half-turned his head as the mage entered, looking to the newcomer with his warm green eyes. "I'm a scholar of sorts, among other things."

Looking back to Clegg, he continued. "When I am in a strange new world, I find it in my best interest to learn what I can. What that entails of course..." he spoke as he shifted the handle of his bastard sword into view, showing that he was armed, while being non-threatening about it, "...really depends on who is asking."

With a wry grin to Clegg, he looked sideways toward the one clad in blue. "And who might you be, if you don't mind me asking?" he asked casually with a half-cocked grin.

Clegg liked this man. A scholar? Bi' bookish fer one so armed if I may poin' ou'. Bu', ye go' talent. I can see tha'. Watch ou' 'ere. Ye jus' migh' find somethin' ye'll regret findin' later. Don't delve too deep inter th' past. Things ge'....crazy. So, wot exactly be ye lookin' fer 'ere? Taverns aren't exactly th' great wilderness, aye? He nods and speaks out. He seems to just give glares at the newcomers. He does that.

[PurityIcekiller]

The mage smiled. "Oh, I'm a magical researcher myself. I work with spells, and I can make wands and such. My name is Xalicus Laffingstock. For obvious reasons, I go by my first name."

He flinched a bit at the sight of the griffon. Creatures like that made him nervous (as pretty much everything did, but some more than others), and the armour didn't help. "So, anyway, that's a... nice sword. Where did you get it?"

[Greenflame]

"Oh this?" The swordsman asked as he unsheathed the blade, laying it on the table; the mithril blade reflecting the fire, looking as if the blade itself was fanning the flames. "It's called Ar'cor'kerym - the King's Blade, in the tongue of my father's people. It's customary to pass the sword to the prince when they come of age, but my two older brothers took to the path of wizardry, while I was trained as a swordmage."

Aramil stopped his explanation momentarily as the innkeeper brushed by with a large helping of lamb to deliver to, what it looked like, a Griffon. Noting the strange material of the armor, and the equally odd headgear the creature wore, Aramil decided he would speak with the creature before the day was out, to perhaps learn a little about the equipment it bore.

"I have another sword as well, but he seemed to have got lost on the way here. I'm sure he'll turn up after a little while, he is pretty bad when it comes to directions, and this place does seem a little different compared to where I am from."

"As for what I want?" Aramil shifted to Clegg's question. "A way home - eventually, anyway. In the mean time, I will just see what this place as to offer. Perhaps Xalicus can show me a thing or two some time."

[Hattish Thing]

Clegg nods. Lookin' fer adventure? He grins now, exposing his rotting, jagged, and sharp teeth.

[Greenflame]

Aramil matched the grin, albeit with healthier, straight and shiny teeth. "I've never been one to shy away from adventure," Aramil replied as he sheathed the sword. "I've slayed an orc or two in my day."

[Rebonack]

"Thank you sir, peace on you and your business," the griffin says with a slight incline of the head. He then holds out one armored talon, causing an intricate array of electric blue to briefly appear before what is presumably money flashes into existence. They... aren't coins. But rather thin sheets of some silvery metal laminated in clear plastic. Gerra frowns at the bills. "I'm afraid I'm not altogether sure what the exchange rate for shekels is here."

Well.

At least he's polite about it.

And one needn't fear the griffin to be some savage beast. He seems well spoken and quite civilized. Despite this he carries himself with the pride and poise of a trained and seasoned warrior. While he may be contemplative and intelligent woe betide any that might draw his ire.

[Mr. Moon]

There's another person here, too, and she's been here for a while now. Seated cross-legged at a stool is an older teen-aged girl. Her black hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail, hanging from the nape of her neck and running down her neck to end in a thin curl a hand's breadth below her shoulder-blades. The rich brown tan shade of her skin and the purple kimono she's wearing suggest an oriental heritage. As does the handleless mug of green tea she's sipping from. She is at least eating a plate of poutine, so she's saved from being a total walking stereotype. Well. Sitting stereotype.

And currently, this green eyed oriental teenager has her attention turned on the griffon who walked into the tavern. She peers at him for a moment, chewing a bite of fries, gravy and cheese curds, before swallowing and leaning closer. "So how do you get that power armour on without... y'know. Thumbs."

[PurityIcekiller]

"You're a prince?" Xalicus was startled briefly, but then remembered that royalty was still a lot more normal than a lot of things he'd run into. "Wow. That's nice. Sounds a bit too exciting for my tastes, though.

"Anyway, I don't think I could get you home; I'm not that great a wizard. But I'll help you out in any way I can."

[Rebonack]

No one wants to be completely stereotypical. That draws too much negative attention after all. But by the same token utterly breaking the mold makes it difficult to know what to expect from someone.

At the question Gerra's ear twitches toward the youth, his attention caught. The griffin looks down at his own talons and wiggles his opposing claw a bit. He's pretty sure these strange bipeds have a bit more range of motion than his race does, but that hasn't ever stopped he or his people from accomplishing marvels of engineering that put to shame most every other work he has yet to witness in his as yet brief stay in the Nexus.

And, well. The question was a bit rude too.

So he decides to answer it with a question.

"How do you manage to walk around without falling over when you're missing two legs?"

He doesn't wait for a reply. But he does wait long enough for the question to be contemplated.

"We all have our limitations. The wise peoples exalt their strengths and make tools to buttress their weaknesses."

[Greenflame]

"Prince by title only, really. I have no claim to anything unless my brothers die, and seeing as they aren't half-breeds, I'll be long gone before them." Aramil chuckled softly. "I've mostly spent my time travelling and learning of my world; joined a mercenary outfit, traveled various places, met many strange and exciting races, and sometimes killed them." The swordsman grinned a little at that, hinting that a little of it was exaggeration.

"Being a swordmage," Aramil continued on, after a short pause."I do have some experience with magic, although I found out very early that I was a natural at fire magic, and pretty much focused solely on that. There wasn't much to do as a spoiled prince, so I read a lot, and tutored under many teachers: mostly for enchanting, sword crafting and alchemy. I think now I should have studied more about planar transportation, teleportation, and the like."

[Mr. Moon]

The teenage girl pauses, considering this over a mouthful of poutine. "You know," she says after washing it down with a mouthful of tea, "you sound just like my father."

Munch munch.
"I don't think I've seen you around before. I mean sure, new place, new food - great poutine, by the way - means new people, but I'm sure I'd remember someone as..." she waves a french fry to encompass Gerra's mass "... griffony as you. I'm Mori Layla, what's your name?"

[Rebonack]

The griffin has been eating some lamb. Doesn't do much in the way of chewing. Which probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise since he doesn't have any teeth. Just rip off bits of meat and swallow them whole. Isn't that an interesting way to nom things! Wonder if griffins swallow rocks to help grind the food in their stomach...

"I'll take that as a compliment, intended or not."

That's gracious of him. He fixes Layla with that intense bird-like gaze of his, studying her intently. Probably doesn't mean for it to be so piercing. But its is kind of hard to avoid piercing stares when you have literal eagle eyes.

"Sadly my people are few here. To my knowledge I'm the only one of my kind in this place. There are... creatures... that are similar. But they aren't griffins. Not griffins as I know them, at least," he replies with a morose shake of his head. Then offers a formal bow.

Or at least what a formal bow looks like for a griffin.

He lifts one set of talons off the floor, bows his head, and partly unfurls his wings. "I am Gerra, Primary of Ugallu Wing, servant of the grand sanctuary fortress Bethanu."

[PurityIcekiller]

"No claim? I wouldn't count on it. There are so many stories about youngest sons who ended up inheriting everything, and given that a lot of said stories come true in this place, I'd say you've got decent chances."

Xalicus nodded. "I don't really have a lot of focus myself. The closest thing I have to a speciality is... Well, magic-magic. Energy shields, magic bolts, arcane fire... You get the idea. The raw magical stuff. I do study some from all kinds of magic, but I'm not as good at any of it as a true specialist is. Still, by knowing about techniques for multiple types of magic, you can combine them in useful ways."

[Mr. Moon]

Layla doesn't remark on Gerra's rather odd eating method, although she does watch with some amusement. She's still watching him with something of a smile as he turns his gaze on her, and to her credit Layla even holds his gaze for a while. But holding a staring contest with an eagle proves to be quite difficult and soon the girl is forced to take a great interest in her meal. She pokes at it with a fork, occasionally glancing back up to see if Gerra was still looking at her.
Which he was.
Guh. Creepy. Made her feel like a rabbit in a field.

Whoop! Bowing time now, evidently. Her father would be furious if he found out she didn't return a bow to a proper warrior. Quick and agile, Layla hops off her stool and faces Gerra, bowing at the waist with her arms straight at her side.
"So how long have you been in the Nexus, then? You can't be too new, or else you'd be asking a bunch of questions."

[Time for Never]

It seems that every time a new tavern opens it will immediately be swarmed by bored, wandering adventurers. That would be normal though seeing as how it's pretty effective at bringing insanely powerful heroes together to form those glorious adventuring parties of theirs.

Why fix what's not broken and all that. What harm will another person do then?

Coming over from the streets walks an adult man (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=14336893&postcount=793) over to one of the empty tables in yet another tavern. Those types of tables are always the best to be as inconspicuous as possible, right? Except that it's generally difficult to be subtle when you're wearing elegantly chiseled plate armor and have a large greatsword sheathed on your back. While he for all intents and purposes appears to be a human, a closer examination would actually reveal him to be of the Shadar Kai race as evident by the light grey skin tone, strikingly dark eyes and midnight black hair. He wears clawed gauntlets and boots that end in sharp points. An armored mask covers his mouth, hiding his expression.

Grabbing the attention of the nearest waiter, he orders roasted emu meat.

...Oh, they didn't have that? Well then, what do they have?

In that case he requests for an order of trout. He loved seafood. The shadar kai then looks around to observe the patrons at this seemingly normal establishment.

A blue-robed sorcerer looking person, a decaying pirate type, an oriental individual, and what appeared to be a half-elf warrior of sorts.

And a griffon.

He's a bit surprised he didn't immediately notice it sitting there to be honest.

[Rebonack]

Griffin griffon gryphon.

A griffin large enough that when sitting on his haunches he would be eye to eye with quite a few humans. Wearing power armor. Yeah... missing him would be kind of hard.

With the formal introduction done he sits once again

"I've asked questions when I've needed to. I would like to avoid robbing myself the joy of discovery if possible," Gerra replies as he returns to his meal once again. Oddly enough he seems to be able to talk with his mouth full without any real issue. Must have something to do with weird bird lungs. "Days. At most. The movements of the heavens here are... difficult to track. The sky is unfamiliar to me. Certainly not one of Anu's mighty works."

Probably a god from his world?

"And what of you, Mori Layla? Are you likewise a sojourner in this strange land or do you call it your home?"

One ear twitches toward the most recent newcomer and Gerra turns his head at an angle that would be impossible for a human to regard him with that intense yellow gaze.

[Time for Never]

Griffin griffon gryphon.

A griffin large enough that when sitting on his haunches he would be eye to eye with quite a few humans. Wearing power armor. Yeah... missing him would be kind of hard.

With the formal introduction done he sits once again

"I've asked questions when I've needed to. I would like to avoid robbing myself the joy of discovery if possible," Gerra replies as he returns to his meal once again. Oddly enough he seems to be able to talk with his mouth full without any real issue. Must have something to do with weird bird lungs. "Days. At most. The movements of the heavens here are... difficult to track. The sky is unfamiliar to me. Certainly not one of Anu's mighty works."

Probably a god from his world?

"And what of you, Mori Layla? Are you likewise a sojourner in this strange land or do you call it your home?"

One ear twitches toward the most recent newcomer and Gerra turns his head at an angle that would be impossible for a human to regard him with that intense yellow gaze.

The trout arrives to which Vordenar removes his face piece and begins to slowly cut up the fish into small bits. As he finishes dividing up the fish into little pieces, Vordenar looks up and to his surprise meets the gaze of the griffon in power armor.

That... that gaze.

It was piercing indeed, even enough to make the Shadar Kai to momentarily break contact with the mythical bird. He gives another attempt to match it in a staring contest as he eats the trout, never breaking eye contact.

This was very odd.

[Mr. Moon]

((Hey Time For Never, can you not quote the post just before yours? I appreciate the sentiment, but it's a tad unnecessary to remind people of a post literally just above yours. :smalltongue: If you really want to, throw the quote in a spoiler tag. It's not a huge deal, more of a pet peeve of mine. :smallsmile:))

"Oh, I was born here," Layla hops back up onto her stool and returns to her half-finished poutine. Mm, poutine. "Second generation Nexus local. Well. Sort of. My Mum's parents were pulled in her while they were preggers with her, she grew up, met my Dad after he got spat in, they fell in love, and somewhere along the line I popped in." She looks away to take a few more bites of her poutine, and glances up just in time to see Gerra twist his neck into that incredibly odd angle. "You might like my... fa... What are you... looking at?"
Man, her neck hurt just looking at him.

[Rebonack]

Gerra doesn't remain staring for very long. All these asmeer or whatever they're called look more or less the same to him. Like trying to pick out individual geese in a flock before they decide to lay nibbling goosy vengeance upon you.

They just don't have any of the features that the griffin is used to using to help distinguish between other griffins. The closest thing would be the poof of hair on top of their heads.

But unfortunately the range of colors is pretty limited. So that doesn't help much.

"Just another wayfarer," Gerra replies before turning his attention back to Layla. "So you've spent your whole life here then? Have you ever heard of someone returning to their home from here before?"

[Time for Never]

((Moon_Called, I apologize that it annoys you and I'll try to cut it down if it's a problem. However, I don't quote a person to remind everybody of the previous post as if they have faulty memory. I do it because it helps me to better address all of the points in said post so that I don't accidentally forget to respond to something. I suppose I could open another tab and switch between the two, but it's much easier this way. Cheers!))

Vordenar shrugs and goes back to observing the rest of the patrons once the griffon turns away from him. He finishes his trout and orders a plate of carp this time with a glass of liquor to wash it down.

It didn't appear that there was anything important enough to need reporting back to NO for the time being.

[Aric Kale]

Another adventurer enters the tavern. No, it is not Zane...

This new addition to The Nexus is wearing simple medieval-style clothing, with a stylized round-shield across his back, a sheathed dagger at his side and a spear being used as a staff. This man looks to be in his late twenties or early thirties. He carries himself as one of nobility. His eyes are green and care-worn, his shoulder length hair is not groomed, but is still kept well. He walks up to the bar and asks for a steak and fries...clearly used to modern food.
the only thing of note about him is the color of his weapons, they are not of ordinary steel, but are of a pearlescent coloring...

[Mr. Moon]

((That's fine. Maybe delete the quote from your post when you're done writing or something? Like I said, it's not a huge deal. :smallsmile:))

Goosy vengeance is the worst kind of vengeance.

Layla peers at the ceiling, munching on a mouthful of gravy and cheese curds as she tries to remember if she knows anyone who's ever left the Nexus. "Weell. Noone that I've heard of, but this is the Nexus. Anything's possible. If you can find someone with the right sort of magic you might be able to convince them. But inter-dimensional travel is pretty tricky. And dangerous." There are things between dimensions. Dangerous things. Layla could still remember the week when Cthuluian monsters nearly ate the whole of the Nexus.

...

Although she had gotten out of school that week.
So it wasn't all bad.

[Greenflame]

OOC: Sorry, been without power.

Aramil nodded to the mage, taking note that his knowledge of travel spells might not increase here. Then it caught his attention, the phrase 'inter-dimensional magic' and turned his attention toward the Asian girl.

"Excuse me," he called out towards the girl. "Do you happen to know where anyone who knows this so-called magic could be located?"

[Rebonack]

One should never wholly trust creatures that hail from the space between a moment and eternity.

The griffin frowns. Again, it's an expression of the eyes mostly. His beak isn't exactly flexible. At all. In a lot of ways it is akin to reading the facial expressions of a cat. No real mouth movement, so one must rely on the eyes and ears.

"That is most unfortunate. Though worth looking into if nothing else. Barring a return home it may be wise to make the best of my situation..." Gerra muses. And how would he do that?

Well.

Learning more about this strange place is certainly a worth while endeavor.

And what's this? Someone else speaking up? The griffin is pretty sure the existence of such a 'magic-user' was purely hypothetical. But he can't speak for the... girl? He's pretty sure she's female at least.

[ThirdEmperor]

Does this tavern have any employees? Does it even serve drinks, by any chance? It's these questions that the latest arrival will try to answer, brushing past the conversing congregation without a glance and heading right for the bar. Taking a seat, the stranger sets three silver coins down on the counter, trying to call over the (possibly non-existant) bartender.

[Mr. Moon]

Layla frowns, thinking hard. Then, unable to think of anyone capable or providing such a service, she shakes her head and shrugs helplessly to Amaril. "I'm sorry, but I don't. I'm sure you could find someone, though. Just... Finding him is the hard part."

A bartender will swoop over towards the newest arrival, happily scooping up his coin. She's a pretty young teifling, with crimson skin and thin black horns that curl up from her hairline, to the back of her head, and then back down around her ears to end just at her jawline. Silver rings hang from the curves of her horns, soft against her snow-white hair. She smiles sweetly at him. "What can I get ya, hun?"

[ThirdEmperor]

((Yeash. Was waiting for someone else to post, but it seems things have slowed down here.))

"Not sure yet." In contrast, the man is not especially pretty. Nor especially ugly for that matter. In a world of such things as tieflings, talking griffons, handsome adventurers and smexy evil lesbians, somehow, this fellow has escaped looking entirely normal, perhaps slightly on the unattractive side. "Does the house have any specialty drinks?"

He's maybe nineteen, still young enough to be awkwardly lanky and undefined, like a clay statue that has yet to be fired. Wearing taped-together wireframes and a baggy hoodie over a faded t-shirt from an ancient rock group, he's a classic variety of hipster. All he needs is the fedora, maybe an 'ironic' knit scarf.

[Mr. Moon]

((Yeah. :smallfrown: It's a shame, I have vaguely-defined plans for this thread.))

"Yeah, but its gonna cost ya more than three silv." The tiefling leans forward, placing her elbows on the bar. She's wearing a black tank top and skinny jeans, and from this angle the young semi-hipster can just barely see a hint of a tattoo poking out onto her chest. "Gonna need ta see some ID, too."

[ThirdEmperor]

Yeah. It's the tattoo he's looking at. Sure. :smalltongue:

"You're kidding? Right?" Hipster-kid tilts his head to one side, giving the bartender a look like she'd just claimed to be a Martian invader from Pluto.

In fact, considering this is the Nexus, he'd probably find her being a Martian-Plutonian far more believable. "I don't even know where you would get an ID, I don't know anyone who has one and I sure as heck don't know of anywhere else that wants them." Yeesh. Get with the program already.

[Mr. Moon]

The teifling sighs, as if this was a problem she regularly encountered. "Look, kid, it ain't me who sets the rules. If I let ya drink without a card, I get fired. Ya sure ya ain't got anything? No credit card, school ID, signed release from yer doctor?" She shrugs helplessly.

((Then she pauses and peers up. "Hey, how come I don't get a text colour? Zee does!" What how are yo- "There, that's better." Hey!))

[Aric Kale]

Aric sits patiently, waiting for his food. He hums some melody that sounds like its a couple centuries old.

)(interaction wanted)(

[Time for Never]

Another adventurer enters the tavern. No, it is not Zane...

This new addition to The Nexus is wearing simple medieval-style clothing, with a stylized round-shield across his back, a sheathed dagger at his side and a spear being used as a staff. This man looks to be in his late twenties or early thirties. He carries himself as one of nobility. His eyes are green and care-worn, his shoulder length hair is not groomed, but is still kept well. He walks up to the bar and asks for a steak and fries...clearly used to modern food.
the only thing of note about him is the color of his weapons, they are not of ordinary steel, but are of a pearlescent coloring...


Aric sits patiently, waiting for his food. He hums some melody that sounds like its a couple centuries old.

)(interaction wanted)(

Pearlescent colored weapons, huh? That's interesting. Vordenar hadn't ever come across such bright items before and was now intrigued in the owner of said weapons. His liquor and carp arrive to his table to which he directs the waiter to instead place the food over by Aric. He then gets up and moves over to where he is.

Without asking permission to have a seat by him, Vordenar pulls out a chair and sits down. He puts an elbow on the table and his other arm in his lap.

"Tell me what sort of weapons you have there."

Couldn't you at least ask kindly, Vordenar? No? Ok then.

[Aric Kale]

Pearlescent colored weapons, huh? That's interesting. Vordenar hadn't ever come across such bright items before and was now intrigued in the owner of said weapons. His liquor and carp arrive to his table to which he directs the waiter to instead place the food over by Aric. He then gets up and moves over to where he is.

Without asking permission to have a seat by him, Vordenar pulls out a chair and sits down. He puts an elbow on the table and his other arm in his lap.

"Tell me what sort of weapons you have there."

Couldn't you at least ask kindly, Vordenar? No? Ok then.

Aric looks up, slightly surprised, when he sees the food brought to him. He was about to tell him that he didn't order carp when he is suddenly asked a question...
S'ok Vordy ol' boy, Aric has felt with worse. Aric gives a polite smile, These are Murynstil, it's a good bit tougher than steel and has unique properties. I think I'm holding the last weapons of there kind.

[Time for Never]

Aric looks up, slightly surprised, when he sees the food brought to him. He was about to tell him that he didn't order carp when he is suddenly asked a question...
S'ok Vordy ol' boy, Aric has felt with worse. Aric gives a polite smile, These are Murynstil, it's a good bit tougher than steel and has unique properties. I think I'm holding the last weapons of there kind.

"Murynstil? I've never heard of it."

Removing his clawed gauntlets, Vordenar begins to cut up the fish into pieces with his fork and takes a drink of his liquor.

"Where are you from?"

[Aric Kale]

"Murynstil? I've never heard of it."

Removing his clawed gauntlets, Vordenar begins to cut up the fish into pieces with his fork and takes a drink of his liquor.

"Where are you from?"

I would've been surprised if you had. It's native to my homeland, Alleble. Aric is intrigued by the person sitting beside him, Vordenar seems to have a straight-to-the-point attitude...

May I ask where you hail from?

[Time for Never]

I would've been surprised if you had. It's native to my homeland, Alleble. Aric is intrigued by the person sitting beside him, Vordenar seems to have a straight-to-the-point attitude...

May I ask where you hail from?

Vordenar takes a bite of the carp and stares at his plate.

"You may."

[Aric Kale]

Vordenar takes a bite of the carp and stares at his plate.

"You may."

Aric chuckles, The real question is if I'll get an answer...anyways, where are you from? He's still waiting for his food, unsure if there's an PC waiter(ess)

[ThirdEmperor]

"Fine." Rolling his eyes, hipster-kid pulls a bookbag out of hammerspace and plops it down on the counter. Unzipping the side pocket, he pulls out a stack of cards and papers and shuffles through them. "Will a book club membership do? 'cause that's the only ID I got."

[Time for Never]

Aric chuckles, The real question is if I'll get an answer...anyways, where are you from? He's still waiting for his food, unsure if there's an PC waiter(ess)

Vordenar sets the fork down on the plate, looks back up to Aric, and takes another sip of that strong liquor. He stares at him while thinking things over for a minute.

"Why'd you like to know?"

[Aric Kale]

Vordenar sets the fork down on the plate, looks back up to Aric, and takes another sip of that strong liquor. He stares at him while thinking things over for a minute.

"Why'd you like to know?"

Aric stares back while Voldy thinks things over, it might be observed that despite Aric's easy attitude, his eyes betray a hidden sadness.
I'm curious, maybe I've heard of it.

[Time for Never]

Aric stares back while Voldy thinks things over, it might be observed that despite Aric's easy attitude, his eyes betray a hidden sadness.
I'm curious, maybe I've heard of it.

The Shadar Kai continues to stare Aric in the eyes in much the same way he did with the Griffon a few minutes prior. He gives a faint nod that is hardly detectable.

"The Shadowfell. It's where I lived most of my youth."

Vordenar leans back in his chair with one arm now resting on the back of it. He gives off a slight frown. Rather, it's more of a frown than usual.

"Why are you troubled?"

[Aric Kale]

The Shadar Kai continues to stare Aric in the eyes in much the same way he did with the Griffon a few minutes prior. He gives a faint nod that is hardly detectable.

"The Shadowfell. It's where I lived most of my youth."

Vordenar leans back in his chair with one arm now resting on the back of it. He gives off a slight frown. Rather, it's more of a frown than usual.

"Why are you troubled?"

Hmm, I've never heard of that, I should research it sometime, could prove interesting. He was about to ask a question when...
Troubled? Ah, my eyes betray me. It's not the first time. My land is gone, there is nothing left to return to...it weighs heavily on my heart, however much my head strives to distract me.

[Time for Never]

Hmm, I've never heard of that, I should research it sometime, could prove interesting. He was about to ask a question when...
Troubled? Ah, my eyes betray me. It's not the first time. My land is gone, there is nothing left to return to...it weighs heavily on my heart, however much my head strives to distract me.

"How can land simply disappear? And why does it bother you so? There's plenty more land in this world and others. One should never be left wanting for more."

[Aric Kale]

"How can land simply disappear? And why does it bother you so? There's plenty more land in this world and others. One should never be left wanting for more."

The knight chuckles quietly, That's not quite what I meant. My homeland is destroyed...and my people are all dead and buried. Now his grin is gone. A sage once told me that I will always bear a mark of my past. I suppose that's why if one stops to look, you can see into my true feelings.
Aric takes a breath and steels himself, he's not one to break down and he won't start now...

[Time for Never]

The knight chuckles quietly, That's not quite what I meant. My homeland is destroyed...and my people are all dead and buried. Now his grin is gone. A sage once told me that I will always bear a mark of my past. I suppose that's why if one stops to look, you can see into my true feelings.
Aric takes a breath and steels himself, he's not one to break down and he won't start now...

"I see. That is unfortunate to have happened. If you ask me though, these supposed 'sages' are usually full of nonsense."

Another drink and bite of food.

"What destroyed this homeland of yours?"

[Mr. Moon]

"Yeah," says the tiefling girl with a shrug. "I guess it'll have ta. Look, I got other customers. Find yer card an' I'll be back ta get yer order."

And with that she swoops off to where Aric and Vordenar are seated. "Sorry 'bout the wait. What can I get ya?"

[Aric Kale]

"I see. That is unfortunate to have happened. If you ask me though, these supposed 'sages' are usually full of nonsense."

Another drink and bite of food.

"What destroyed this homeland of yours?"

Aric is silent for a bit. Then he responds with malice practically dripping from his words.
Paragory. We had always been at odds...but what they did...unforgivable. However, they are wherever, and I'm in the Nexus...

[Aric Kale]

"Yeah," says the tiefling girl with a shrug. "I guess it'll have ta. Look, I got other customers. Find yer card an' I'll be back ta get yer order."

And with that she swoops off to where Aric and Vordenar are seated. "Sorry 'bout the wait. What can I get ya?"

oops, didn't see this.


Aric looks up and smiles. I'll take a steak and fries. with a glass of water please.

[Time for Never]

"Yeah," says the tiefling girl with a shrug. "I guess it'll have ta. Look, I got other customers. Find yer card an' I'll be back ta get yer order."

And with that she swoops off to where Aric and Vordenar are seated. "Sorry 'bout the wait. What can I get ya?"


Aric is silent for a bit. Then he responds with malice practically dripping from his words.
Paragory. We had always been at odds...but what they did...unforgivable. However, they are wherever, and I'm in the Nexus...

"An enemy nation, huh? And you can't go back there and take revenge?"

Vordenar goes to take another drink of his liquor when he realizes he's all out. He frowns. Oh but what good fortune, a waitress has appeared just in time. Without turning to her he gives a blunt "Vodka."

It sounds more like a command than a polite request. He's not very good at being courteous to others. Directing his attention at Aric once more, he says:

"Is there anything you plan on doing while you're in the Nexus?"

[Aric Kale]

"An enemy nation, huh? And you can't go back there and take revenge?"

Vordenar goes to take another drink of his liquor when he realizes he's all out. He frowns. Oh but what good fortune, a waitress has appeared just in time. Without turning to her he gives a blunt "Vodka."

It sounds more like a command than a polite request. He's not very good at being courteous to others. Directing his attention at Aric once more, he says:

"Is there anything you plan on doing while you're in the Nexus?"

No, I'm stuck in the Nexus.
And now bossing around waitresses...
well, I've been an adventurer the past two years, so I'll keep doing that...I suppose

[Time for Never]

No, I'm stuck in the Nexus.
And now bossing around waitresses...
well, I've been an adventurer the past two years, so I'll keep doing that...I suppose

"Nobody is ever permanently stuck here. If you cared enough to find a person skilled enough to send you back, you could."

He places his hands on the back on the back of his head and leans back to stretch.

"Why do you adventure?"

[Aric Kale]

"Nobody is ever permanently stuck here. If you cared enough to find a person skilled enough to send you back, you could."

He places his hands on the back on the back of his hand and leans back to stretch.

"Why do you adventure?"

That's good to know, thank you. Why I adventure...well, I was considered an accomplished warrior back in Alleble, and adventuring has given me much experience in the world.

[Time for Never]

That's good to know, thank you. Why I adventure...well, I was considered an accomplished warrior back in Alleble, and adventuring has given me much experience in the world.

Vordenar furrows his eyebrows in thought.

"So you don't do it for money or fame? You do it... just because?"

That was an odd concept for the Shadar Kai. What's the point of doing something unless you're getting paid of praised by all of the other wannabe warriors?

[ThirdEmperor]

Sorting out the right scrap of paper and shoving the rest back into his bookbag, hipster-kid sets it on the table, waiting impatiently for the barkeep to get back to him.


Anthony Roe
Demonology Enthusiasts Book Club
[Inside, Blue Zone Address]
[Phone Number]

[Mr. Moon]

The teifling girl frowns lightly as Vordenar barks out an order. One of those customers, great. Tessa - for that was her name - bet he wouldn't even tip. At least his friend seemed nice. "Vodka, steak, fries and water. Comin' right up, hun." she returns Aric's smile, and sashays back behind the bar with a rapid clickclickclick from her high-heeled shoes. Leaning towards a window along the wall, she calls the order to the kitchen staff and sets about retrieving the vodka and water.

As she does so, she peers down at hipster-kid's card. "Eh, it'll do. Try'n bring somethin' with a birthdate next time, hey?" she smiles helplessly as she stacks a glass of vodka and a glass of water back onto her tray and returns to Vordenar and Aric. "Your drinks," she says. "Steak'n fries'll be a tad longer."

That done, it's back to her original customer! Leaning against the counter, Tessa gives the hipster-kid a smile. "Now then, Mr. Tony, you decided what'cha want?"

[ThirdEmperor]

Ant makes a disbelieving noise through his teeth, somewhere between a brief laugh and a grunt. "Yeah, right. When it stops changing around on me." Stowing the membership card, hipster-kid retrieves a slim, red-bound book, before making the bag vanish with a wave of his hand. "So, guess I'll have a beer? Or some weird offworlder drink, if there's any cheap."

[Mr. Moon]

Tessa leans her chin on one fist, leaning forward. "Hmmm," she says, giving him a scrutinizing up-and-down look. "Somethin' off-world, eh? Weeeell, I think I got somethin' ya might fancy."

The teifling vanishes as she ducks down below the counter, and Anthony will be able to make out the clinking and clanking of someone sorting through glass bottles. "'S 'round here somewhere... Ah-hah!" she comes back into sight, a bottle of some murky brown liquid in her crimson fingers. "Ya might like this. It's from a planet of ant people."

Fishing a short, round glass from a cabinet, Tessa fills it about half-way up and drops a pair of maraschino cherries into it. The drink fizzes slightly.

[ThirdEmperor]

"Ant people, huh?" Wouldn't have figured ant people for big drinkers. At least it isn't probably wasn't a crack at his nickname. Taking the glass and turning it in his fingers, hipster-kid eyes the fizzing concoction sloshing around inside questioningly, giving it a cautious sniff.

Well. Nothing ventured...

"Cheers." Clinking the glass against an imaginary second, Ant tilts it back and chugs down a large measure of the drink in one swallow- Perhaps a bit too much. Unless the brownish liquor has no burn to it at all, the kid's more than likely to spend the next minutes spluttering and gasping, transparently trying to play it off as a simple coughing fit.

[Aric Kale]

Vordenar furrows his eyebrows in thought.

"So you don't do it for money or fame? You do it... just because?"

That was an odd concept for the Shadar Kai. What's the point of doing something unless you're getting paid of praised by all of the other wannabe warriors?

The former knight nods, It was my position in alleble to promote peace and kindness, only fighting when needed, I have found my services needed, AMD I will not dissapoint. Many an adventure had been a quest to aid someone or other.
Ooh! Water! he takes the drink and thanks the waitress, taking a sip of the refreshing, if simple, beverage.
So, what about you, what do you do?

[Time for Never]

The former knight nods, It was my position in alleble to promote peace and kindness, only fighting when needed, I have found my services needed, AMD I will not dissapoint. Many an adventure had been a quest to aid someone or other.
Ooh! Water! he takes the drink and thanks the waitress, taking a sip of the refreshing, if simple, beverage.
So, what about you, what do you do?


The teifling girl frowns lightly as Vordenar barks out an order. One of those customers, great. Tessa - for that was her name - bet he wouldn't even tip. At least his friend seemed nice. "Vodka, steak, fries and water. Comin' right up, hun." she returns Aric's smile, and sashays back behind the bar with a rapid clickclickclick from her high-heeled shoes. Leaning towards a window along the wall, she calls the order to the kitchen staff and sets about retrieving the vodka and water.

As she does so, she peers down at hipster-kid's card. "Eh, it'll do. Try'n bring somethin' with a birthdate next time, hey?" she smiles helplessly as she stacks a glass of vodka and a glass of water back onto her tray and returns to Vordenar and Aric. "Your drinks," she says. "Steak'n fries'll be a tad longer."

That done, it's back to her original customer! Leaning against the counter, Tessa gives the hipster-kid a smile. "Now then, Mr. Tony, you decided what'cha want?"

Vordenar gives a brief and disinterested wave of the hand to the waitress. That's his way of saying thanks. Or something. Maybe he'll still tip well at least!

Don't your breath though.

"I do this and that. Usually hunting down and killing whomever happens to be unlucky enough to earn a bounty or hit. Sometimes I retrieve people who are lost or in hiding. Depends on the client really.

...Apparently obtaining information is another one of my duties now as well."

Vordenar drinks a fourth of his vodka in a single gulp.

"I prefer fighting though."

[Aric Kale]

Vordenar gives a brief and disinterested wave of the hand to the waitress. That's his way of saying thanks. Or something. Maybe he'll still tip well at least!

Don't your breath though.

"I do this and that. Usually hunting down and killing whomever happens to be unlucky enough to earn a bounty or hit. Sometimes I retrieve people who are lost or in hiding. Depends on the client really.

...Apparently obtaining information is another one of my duties now as well."

Vordenar drinks a fourth of his vodka in a single gulp.

"I prefer fighting though."

So you're a bounty hunter. Aric does not say this in a condemning tone, merely interested.

[Time for Never]

So you're a bounty hunter. Aric does not say this in a condemning tone, merely interested.

Vordenar nods.

"Bounty hunter, contract killer, hit man, mercenary, sell-sword, whatever you like. It's sustainable and I enjoy it."

Simple enough!

[Aric Kale]

Vordenar nods.

"Bounty hunter, contract killer, hit man, mercenary, sell-sword, whatever you like. It's sustainable and I enjoy it."

Simple enough!

Simple indeed! You have good fortune, not everyone has a career they truly enjoy, and many who do can't keep food on the table. Aric takes another sip of his water. Do you work under any of the organizations?

[Time for Never]

Simple indeed! You have good fortune, not everyone has a career they truly enjoy, and many who do can't keep food on the table. Aric takes another sip of his water. Do you work under any of the organizations?

"I do for the Neutralist Organization."

He gives a shrug.

"I just joined recently though. I'm trying to keep myself entertained at the moment."

[Aric Kale]

"I do for the Neutralist Organization."

He gives a shrug.

"I just joined recently though. I'm trying to keep myself entertained at the moment."

Ah, I've heard of NO. Does one have to be a true neutral to join?
entertainment can be easy or difficult to find, depending on your tastes

[Time for Never]

Ah, I've heard of NO. Does one have to be a true neutral to join?
entertainment can be easy or difficult to find, depending on your tastes

"As long as the person doesn't have any ties to the other organizations they should be fine. That and they also need to have an asset valuable to to NO."

Vordenar gives Aric a slight smirk.

"Why, do you plan on joining?"

[Aric Kale]

"As long as the person doesn't have any ties to the other organizations they should be fine. That and they also need to have an asset valuable to to NO."

Vordenar gives Aric a slight smirk.

"Why, do you plan on joining?"

Aric looks thoughtful...I don't have any ties...hmm
I might join, I'll look into it...

[Mr. Moon]

Unfortunately for dear Anthony, the drink does have something of a burn to it. It also tastes sweet, in a way he probably can't quite put a name too. Kind of like burnt sugar and mint, but covered in soil.

Tessa can't help but giggle when Ant breaks out coughing, hiding her laughter behind her left hand. "Yer s'posed to drink it slowly."

[Time for Never]

Aric looks thoughtful...I don't have any ties...hmm
I might join, I'll look into it...

"It wouldn't be a bad idea. You'll be bound to get more work than you do now."

Vordenar finishes the rest of his liquor in a single go. He gives off a slightly bored sigh. Looking around the inn, he decides that nothing here was important enough to warrant further scouting.

"I'm heading out now. I wouldn't want to return to the base empty handed, so I'll probably end up travelling around for a bit."

[Aric Kale]

"It wouldn't be a bad idea. You'll be bound to get more work than you do now."

Vordenar finishes the rest of his liquor in a single go. He gives off a slightly bored sigh. Looking around the inn, he decides that nothing here was important enough to warrant further scouting.

"I'm heading out now. I wouldn't want to return to the base empty handed, so I'll probably end up travelling around for a bit."

Aric agrees, Aye, considering I currently have none.
Take care, and may you be victorious in all your pursuits.

[Time for Never]

Aric agrees, Aye, considering I currently have none.
Take care, and may you be victorious in all your pursuits.

Vordenar gives off a smile uncommon for him. He then pulls out several valuable platinum coins and places them by the empty vodka glass.

"Don't worry friend. I will be."

Getting up and briefly stretching, the Shadar Kai goes to leave unless stopped.

[Aric Kale]

Vordenar gives off a smile uncommon for him. He then pulls out several valuable platinum coins and places them by the empty vodka glass.

"Don't worry friend. I will be."

Getting up and briefly stretching, the Shadar Kai goes to leave unless stopped.

Aric smiles, the Shadar Kai seemed highly capable. He saw no cause for worry.

[ThirdEmperor]

"Yeah.. Anthony coughs into his fist, giving up on pretense that his fit was entirely unrelated to trying to drink half the glass in one go. "Yeah, I think I figured that out myself, thanks... He sets the drink down on the counter, eying it dubiously... An acquired taste to be sure. "What's in this anyway?"

[Mr. Moon]

"Buncha stuff ya prob'ly need a mandible to pronounce," Tessa shrugs, still grinning. "It's mostly some sorta fermented tubur with some spices and nectar mixed in." She doesn't comment when he pushes the last half of the drink aside, instead leaning forward to give him a brief inspection. "So. Demonology Enthusiast, huh?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

[ThirdEmperor]

Wait, how did she know about that-

Oh. "Oh, yeah. Yeah, it's a hobby." Ant shrugs right back, dog-earing his page and passing the little red book he was reading over to Tessa- A Manual of Lesser Forms and Varieties of Demon, by Dr. Barney Dewatt, which contains numerous illustrations of imps, hobs and drudges, coupled with summaries of their powers and vulnerabilities.

"It's got it's risks for sure, but I know what I'm doing." Cautiously fishing one of the cherries out from the fizzing drink, Ant pops it in his mouth and chews. "And it's not really the age of Faustus, is it? There's demons working in bars, for example."

[Mr. Moon]

"Yeah?" Taking the book Tessa flips through it a bit, idly looking at the pictures as she talks. "Nah, we tieflings ain't actually demons. My granddaddy made a pact with a devil and that's how come I look so pretty, but 'snot like I get any cool powers from it. Man, if I could spit fire I sure wouldn't be workin' at a joint like this." She closes the book and slides it back to Ant. Glancing around, Tessa grins and conspiratorially leans in. "So ya ever tried ta summon somethin'?"

[ThirdEmperor]

"I've done a summoning or three, yeah. Imps mostly, but.. Ant also pauses to check that the coast's clear, sizing up the other two customers. They don't look like demon hunters. But he still lowers his voice to a whisper before continuing.

"Two days ago, I called the real deal. Umb'Malocculis, Eye in the Shadows." He's pretty obscure, doesn't really appear in any of the 'mainstream' demonology books, you probably havn't heard of him. "Did the whole thing. Made a pact." Tugging down the sleeve of his hoodie, Anthony proudly the demon's mark upon his forearm with a conspiratorial grin. It's not a brand or a tattoo, but a pattern of raised lines cut across his flesh, forming a stylized depiction of an eye with an inverted dawn below it.

[Mr. Moon]

Tessa, having never really had more than a passing interest in her heritage, definitely hasn't heard of any Um'Malicom or whatever, so when Ant shows off his fancy new brand she looks suitably impressed. "Woah," she says in that same hushed conspiratorial voice, leaning in to get a closer look. "That is wicked. Did it hurt?"

[ThirdEmperor]

"Little bit." And that's a 'little bit' of an understatement. Even after two days the skin around the scarred lines is still an irritated, angry pink. "But it was totes worth it. I've got this awesome shadow magic now." Okay. So maybe he shouldn't be telling this all to some chick he just met. But she was obviously cool with the occult, not to mention hawt. And hell, what's the point of being a kickin' rad demon summoner if you can't show off once in a while?

[Mr. Moon]

Tessa totally isn't buying that "little bit" comment, but she lets Ant get away with it anyway."Aw yeah? What's it do? Can ya, like, jump between shadows like Nightcrawler or somethin'?" Because that would be totally awesome. Tessa leans forward, propping her head up on her fists.

[ThirdEmperor]

"That's one. But that's not the really good bit. Here." Holding his marked hand out over the counter, Ant closes his eyes and tries to find the right state of mind. It takes a second. For another second it doesn't seem like anything's happening, except that, looked at from the right angle, the scars almost seem to wriggle slightly on his skin.

Then, slowly, with a sound like tearing canvas, the shadow of his hand peels away from the countertop and reaches into the air, still connected from the elbow down. Anthony wiggles his fingers and it follows suit. Manipulating it like a puppeteer he moves the shadow over the glass he'd set aside before and makes it reach in, plucking out the remaining maraschino.

And then the shadow flickers. It's paper-thin fingers shake and twist around in impossible ways, a two dimensional thing suddenly forced to contend with an extra axis. The cherry drops and bounces off the bar, onto the floor, and suddenly Ant's shadow is normal again. "Yeah... Still working on that one. It's neat though. And there's more too." Letting out an exhausted sigh, Ant decides to give the ant-liquor another shot, taking a much small sip this time.

[Mr. Moon]

Ant might be a bit too occupied with his new tricks to notice that the intrigued curiosity is slipping from Tessa's face. By the time he looks back up, resigned to his drink, the tiefling's smile has returned. But now it's as much a "cute boy" smile as a "smile so the customer tips you well because this job's pay sucks" smile. "Yeah. Hardcore." Nod nod. "Hey, um, listen, I gotta go help my other customers. Enjoy yer drink."
... What other customers?

[Sonzai]

((Here's one! :smallsmile:))

The sound of a motorcycle can be heard outside, speeding down the street, with a rather short girl riding it, wearing no protective equipment whatsoever*. The motorcycle comes to a stop, as the driver locks up the bike, and walks into the tavern.

Upon entering, one may notice that she appears about 5 ft/1.5 m tall, and rather ghostly (http://monster.wikia.com/wiki/Onryo). She is wearing a single-piece flowing white robe, and has long, stringy black hair, partially obscuring her face and dark grey eyes. However, despite her pale complexion, she still appears somewhat together, her skin intact and hair halfway-combed.

She walks over, taking a seat at the bar, and says, "give me one of the strongest stuff you have." Then, looking around some more, she says, "actually, what do you have here - because I might just want to get some cleaning solution if it's too weak."

*Professional driver on closed course. Do not attempt.

[Mr. Moon]

Oh good, a distraction. Now Tessa had other things to focus on than cute boys who were totally hardcore but in a cute nerdy way, and the way that his interests made her all worried.

Tessa puts on a forced smile and nods. "Well, there's the house special. Two parts orcish grog, one part romulan ale and red bull." She leans down to get a shot glass from below the counter.

[Sonzai]

"Okay... interesting combination, but sure, why not, I'll try one," the ghost-looking girl says.

((Does it have any special effects - mundane or magical, or is it just really strong alcohol?))

[Aric Kale]

Aric finishes his meal and relaxes back in his chair, humming a tune.

Interaction Wanted

[Mr. Moon]

"Cool." Tessa nods. She fishes a few bottles of suspiciously colourled liquor from behind the counter, and pours them into the shot glass. The result is a vaguely red-brown, strong-smelling concoction. The tiefling slides it over to her ghostly patron. "Enjoy."

[Sonzai]

The ghost-girl picks up the shot glass, and downs the entire contents in one go.

"Unusual... but not really that strong," she says, apparently virtually unaffected.

"Still though, it's not bad... maybe a couple more ingredients might do the trick, let's see... have any hydrochloric acid or maybe some benzene?"

((Aric can feel free to strike up a conversation with her, if he wants to, but I don't think I can really work her saying something to him first until this drink conversation is concluded...))

[Mr. Moon]

Tessa quirks an eyebrow, surprised that the Berserker Charge didn't phase her at all. It was the kind of drink tough guys dared each other to order. Or something. Tessa's player can't into booze. "Er. No," she says. Those were certainly odd orders. "You might have better luck at a hardware store?"

[ThirdEmperor]

If motorcycle-girl had wandered in a minute earlier, it might've saved Ant some face. Or more likely, it would have just dragged out the awkward, sinking moment it takes him to realize he's crashed and burned. One or the other.

Bleh. Just... Bleh. Was it him screwing up the shadow trick? She'd seemed real interested until then, especially in the magic stuff. Or, was he reading that wrong? Great. Good going. Now he probably qualified as one of those creeps who always thinks the waiters are 'totally into him'.

Sighing, Ant brushes the hair out of his eyes and rubs his temples, staring down into the glass. The adventuring party he'd heard about was either gone already or deadtimed, so it wasn't like he had any reason to stick around. But... It was stupid, but, leaving now would make it worse. Like he was slinking out with his tail between his legs. Screw that. He was going to finish his drink first.

[Sonzai]

"Yeah, probably..." the ghost-girl says, sounding slightly disappointed, "but those kind of places usually suck for conversation."

"This is just one of those 'advantages' of being a ghost..." she says, with a hint of sarcasm, looking at the empty glass.

"Speaking of conversation - I'm Sakuko, nice to meet you. Anything interesting going on around here I should know about?"

[Aric Kale]

Aric leaves his table and sits at the bar, somewhere between Ant and Sakuko. He looks at Ant and chuckles, Better luck next time, kid. Here's some advice I've gleaned from wiser men than I, Find out what she likes before talking about yourself. None of this is meant or delivered in an intentionally offense manner.

[Mr. Moon]

"That does make things rather difficult," Tessa acknowledges sympathetically. She spares a glance over at Ant and Aric, before turning her attention back to the ghostly woman. "Hi Sakuko, I'm Tessa," the pretty young tiefling offers a handshake and a somewhat more genuine smile. "I'm not sure if anything special is going on right now. It looked like there was going to be an adventuring party going on earlier but they've gone kind of quiet."

[ThirdEmperor]

"Dude, bug off." Ant shakes his head, biting back several more profane comments that spring readily to mind. Not cool, random bar guy, not cool at all. "And you're, what, late twenty-something? Don't call me 'kid'."

[Sonzai]

"Hmm... one of those space-time anomaly things, eh?" Sakuko says, returning Tessa's handshake, "these interdimensional places sure do seem to get those a lot."

"I'd try to offer something, but I just got here myself."

((Do you want someone to show up to stir up some trouble?))

[Aric Kale]

Aric raises a hand placatingly, My apologies, I meant no offense. It would seem Ant is in a bad mood. Aric catches a glance at the beverage which Sakuko is drinking. It's been far too long since I've embarrassed myself. Ms. Barkeep, can I get a shot of what she's having? He chuckles, his friendly smile never leaving his face.

)(Yay! trouble is fun!)(

[Miles Ashbrook]

Once again, completely lost and headed in nowhere in particular, Lenn stumbled through the doors of the tavern and landed on her stomach before those inside. With a nervous smile, she forced herself to her feet and continued towards the counter before stopping a good yard from it.

"Another tavern? I think I've seen a million of these within the last week!"

Frustrated beyond her usual anger, Lenn scribbles down a large 'X' over the building on her crudely drawn map.

[Mr. Moon]

((Go for it, Sonzai!))

"Yup. Least most of 'em payed before they poofed," Tessa gives a shrugging smile. "Hey. You said you were dead, didn't ya?"

"Er... are ya sure 'bout that?" Tessa gives Aric a cautious look. "'S gotta kick like a pissed-off minotaur." She'll reach under the counter for another wide shotglass anyway.

And oh look, another customer! Hopefully she wouldn't sue Tessa for tripping on the door or whatever. "Yet Another Tavern, in fact. Getcha anything?"

Man, Tessa sure was getting her wish. All these customers and not a chance to go clean up from her earlier ones. There could be a big juicy tip sitting there, and she wouldn't even know it!

[Miles Ashbrook]

Lenn hobbled over to the counter and struggled to hop in a seat, during this struggle her staff clattered to the ground and forced her to repeat until she finally sat without any problems.

"Well I could use some, help, nothing big, but some help. Apparently a tavern is the place to go because I keep ending up in them."

[Deathkeeper]

The zaniness levels in the tavern might suddenly jump as a seven-foot dinosaur enters the tavern. In appearence, he's closest to an Allosaurus but with larger arms and hands with thumbs. His only article of clothing is a bulky wrist computer on his left arm. He steps toward the bar carefully enough that his claws don't leave any marks on the floorboards.
There are far less conspicuous ways to grab a bite, but they're not as fun.
The dinosaur moves any stools or chairs out of the way as he takes a spot at the bar somewhat separate from everyone else. He's not isolated, but he clearly understands that being in close proximity to a seven foot carnivore isn't always a comfortable experience for some.
"Hey, can I get a steak? Or anything you have that can count as meat? I'm not picky, just hungry. "
His speech might sound vaguely familiar to anyone listening since he's talking in True Speech.

[Sonzai]

"Yep," Sakuko says to Tessa, "well, not dead dead, ghosts are somewhat in-between."

Then, to Aric she says, "It's your funeral - if I can taste it, then it's probably pretty powerful."

~~~~~~~~

((I'm assuming this tavern exists in some sort of smallish town Outside, due to the description in the first post - with its own thread at least for now.))

But it looks like the casual conversation may have to wait!

Another figure confidently strides through the doors, wearing what can be best described as mildly ludicrious attire - dramatic bright blue wizard robes, where instead of runes, mathematical equations are inscribed along its edges, with his hood off, showing his short, spiky black hair and blue eyes, as he stands about 1.8m/6ft tall. He is also carrying a large metal staff with the greek letter beta (β) at its tip, and a small hebrew letter aleph (א) at the bottom.

He walks to the center of the room, and tamps down the metal staff loudly three times.

Pulling out a scroll, he then reads, "Attention all: I, Bernhard Beta of the Uncountable Empire, am here to announce that, effective immediately, this town and tavern are under our control. Resistance is hopeless - so if you could be so kind as to provide your undying loyalty and a reasonable tribute, then we will let you continue your insignificant lives unharmed."

He then takes a look around, waiting for a reaction.

((This can be a plot if people want it to be... or not, either way is good. :smallsmile: Also, despite whatever he says, next to nothing has happened outside the tavern yet.))

[Aric Kale]

Aric laughs! As long as it doesn't kick like a Minotaur's piss. I'm game...I think that's the terminology.
It's alright, I like a challenge, my liver has had worse.
ooh! Dinosaurs! Aric grabs his stool and walks over to Big Al. Hello there, friend. Mind if I sit by you? This adventurer is absurdly friendly...hmm...
Yes, Aric is ignoring the newest newcomer.

[Deathkeeper]

The dinosaur turns his head to Aric.
"Not at all. And call me Lex. Or Lexington, if you're one of those folks who like using full names."
I'd say his tone is unusually friendly for what you'd expect from a reptile, but the expectations in the Nexus are a bit screwy.

[ThirdEmperor]

I think Ant's 'bad mood' might have something to do with the complete stranger walking up and commenting on him getting the cold shoulder. Just a wild guess. "Yeah, well, good luck with that, guy I don't know." He says as Aric moves on to bug someone else, returning his attention to the glass of liquor he's been working on. Or was. It's empty now.

But wouldn't you know it, just when he's looking for his wallet and getting ready to leave, some wizard wanders through the door and starts proclaiming dominion over the Nexus. Typical. "Dude, you realize how dumb this is, right? You're gonna get splattered against the curb." He calls to Mr Beta, clearly not taking this seriously at all.

((Spontaneous alteration to text color because the old one was almost invisible, GO!))

[Mr. Moon]

"There are worse places t' wind up in," Tessa will offer Lenn a stool at the bar. ""Ya never know what ye'll find inna tavern."

And as if to underline that statement, a dinosaur walks into the tavern!
...
I think I've heard this one before.

Tessa will mix up Aric's Berserker Charge and slide the drink over to him, before turning her attention to Lexington. "Uh, sure. Lemme see if we have anything allosaur sized."

But before she can turn to the window into the kitchen, a wizard walks into the tavern!
...
I've definitely heard this one before.

Tessa frowns, turning a gold-eyed glare on Beta. "I don't think so. Either order somethin' or get outta my tavern."
Out of sight, Tessa's right hand reaches down to the thin drawer in the bar and quietly retrieve a wand from it.

[Sonzai]

Sakuko just rolls her eyes at Bernhard's comments, and watches Aric to see if he dies trying to drink the Berserker Charge.

"Hmph. I did order your complete and total subservience - that doesn't count?" Bernhard says.

Then, obviously displeased at the lukewarm reaction, Bernhard will lower his staff, pointing it at the bar, and say, "I don't think you realize who you are dealing with here - × Ø"

A brief flash of energy will then emit from the staff, and if successful will hit and vaporize the bar (but nothing else).

(If this works...)

"Hey, I was using that!" Sakuko says as glasses fall, no longer suspended by the bartop.

[Deathkeeper]

Lex doesn't do anything to shield the bar, so its continued existence will rely on someone else. He sighs.
Speaking aloud, "Would you excuse me for just one second?"
He slowly trots to Bernhard, standing directly in front of him about six feet away unless stopped. He talks formally this time.
"Greetings and Defiance, Sir, and be warned. I am on business of the Powers That Be, and by Their power vested in me, unless you dispense to your own place forthwith, his right hand seemingly vanishes as he reaches into a small, vaguely visible hole in the air which appeared somewhere during the start of his speech. I will abolish you. Which is to say, he withdraws his hand, which is now holding something black and high-tech looking but is unmistakably a shotgun. He pumps it with a soft ch-chunk! as he straightens to his full seven-and-then-some feet of height.
GET. OUT."

Just a thought, but I think Lex is trying to intimidate him.

[Mr. Moon]

The bar is destroyed. Sure, it had plenty of wards on it, but that was to protect against thieves and unruly patrons. Not disintegration. Beta's spell sees to it that where there was a bar, there is no longer.
...
You know, there was a lot of stock being stored down there.

Tessa's expression shifts to a scowl as she looks onto the wizard.
"Ya ****in' son offa hagraven! D'you have any idea how much damage y'just cost us? Ya disgusting little snakelover, that's all goinna come outta MY BLOODY PAYCHECK!"

Fortunately, before the bar was evaporated, Tessa had time to retrieve one small item from it. A small, smooth stick of willow, with copper bands wrapped around it and a unicorn's mane-hair running through the centre.
She points the wand at Beta's staff, and as she does so she cries out "RELASHIO!"
Barring any wards Beta has cast on his staff, sparks will start to fly from it. Hot, burning red sparks. He might want to let go of it.

[ThirdEmperor]

How do you tell someone who's been in the Nexus for a while from a new arrival? Well, when a silly-looking man in ridiculous clothes points their way and starts spouting gibberish, the wise Nexusian dives for cover.

Bernhard has barely leveled his staff at the bar before Ant's gone for ground, leaving his seat spinning in place. He hits the ground with his weight on his shoulder and scrambles to right himself, coming up on his knees with a cheap ten millimeter pistol locked in a white-knuckled grip.

"**** you! Get out, get out right now or we'll ******* kill you!" Odds are the poncy mage wouldn't even be getting that warning if Ant didn't need a second to pop the safety off, bracing his right hand over the opposite arm to hold it steady.

[Aric Kale]

Aric watches Beta's staff point towards the bar, as the spell is released Aric rolls backwards off of the stool and comes up facing the wizard. He shrugs his shield off of his shoulder and onto his left arm and crouched slightly. With his spear pointed forward, Aric will walk towards the mage.
Oh, and with all these bursts of light going around, every time one flashes, the white blade of Kale's spear glows, making it difficult to look directly at the knight.

[Miles Ashbrook]

Lenn remained sitting on the stool, hugging her staff tightly and trying to tune out the clamour within the tavern. She kept her eyes shut and shivered slightly, attempting to create her little 'happy place.'

"It'll be over soon, I've just got to be invisible. Yeah invisible."

[Sonzai]

((Doesn't the bar have insurance for this sort of thing? If not, I could always have someone else who can fix the place show up after this is done...))

"I'd like to see you try," Bernhard says to Lex, looking up at him.

Sakuko, getting tired of this baloney, steps off her stool as well, and makes a martial-arts-style punch towards Bernhard.

However, Tessa fires - and while Bernhard does, in fact, have quite a few magical defences in place... none of them will block Tessa's wand's effect. Sparks start shooting from his staff, but as soon as Bernhard says "E, B = 0" nearly immediately afterwards, they stop.

"Hah! Counterspell'd! Let's see you - oof" Bernhard says, as he's knocked back a short distance by a force-punch from Sakuko.

He's still standing (for the moment) but is a bit dazed, and an easy target, if, you know, anyone else actually wants to attack him. :smalltongue:

((Don't worry about going all out, feel free to try to blow him up. Also, now that he has everyone's attention, he won't attack anyone else if you want to stay out of this.))

[Aric Kale]

Sounds fun, Aric will drop the cautions approach and charge Bernhard, thrusting forward with his spear, attempting to skewer his chest.

[Deathkeeper]

"So be it."

Lex levels the gun at Bernhard and fires while muttering a few words. The shot is aimed at his legs, and might pierce the man's magic defenses (if he has any) just a bit better than regular bullets.
And if that doesn't work, there's two more shots on the way after a pump for each.

[Mr. Moon]

((@Sonzai: It probably does, but big red yelling-text seemed like more fun at the time.

@Everyone: Bluh. Sorry for taking so long to post. Been having energy troubles lately.))

Tessa doesn't bother throwing her own spell into the kill stroke. None of the spells she was good at were all that good for... killing. Kind of frowned upon back at Boarboils. Besides, she'd been hoping to pick him up heels over head and bounce him about the walls until he reversed the spell he cast at her bar.

Man, today sucks.

Should Aric and Lex strike true and slay the impetious wizard, Tessa will grumble, "levicorpus, waving her wand at Beta's corpse to pick it up as described above and carry it out the door.
...
And if he's not dead, well, she does the same thing.

[ThirdEmperor]

They warned him. They gave him more warning than you could really expect, walking into the Nexus and declaring it yours.

So, Ant starts firing. The first shot's fairly well aimed, on course to intersect violently with Bernhard's lower torso. The second one is less so, thanks to the dynamics of recoil, and might well miss even if Bernie doesn't manage to dodge. The third shot should go right over his head, and there is no fourth, because by the time Ant can re-aim the others have already charged into melee.

And he's not gonna be the idiot who ends up shooting one of the good guys by accident and doing more damage than the actual villain. :smalltongue:

[Miles Ashbrook]

Lenn carefully attempted to evacuate, however the fued was in front of her. She kept an eye on everyone within her line of sight and slowly made her way for the door, making sure she does not interrupt anything.

Due to her terrible sense of direction, Lenn found herself nearly walking right into everything.

[Sonzai]

((@Moon_Called: No problem. :smallcool:))

Ant's shots hit an invisible shield in front of Bernhard, the bullets disintigrating into light.

Lex fares somewhat better, some of the shotgun pellets breaking through, hitting Bernhard, causing him to briefly yelp in pain.

However, Aric's spear hits dead-on, and while strangely failing to penetrate Bernhard's clothing whatsoever, the strike successfully knocks him over and into the air a bit, causing him to tumble out the door. ((Yes, even if this wasn't where Aric was aiming, there's another effect at work here too.))

Bernhard rolls along the ground a bit, kicking up some dirt, until coming to a stop a few feet from the tavern entrance.

He gets up uncertainly, but is immediately accosted by another - some sort of scantily-clad flying girl hovering nearby him, dressed in green.

"Hey Beta, quit screwing around - we're blowing this popsicle stand and going to conquer a part of a different (and hopefully less dumpy) universe," she says.

"Very well," Bernhard says, dusting himself off.

If not interrupted, they'll both disappear a moment later.

~~~~~~~~

((The offer still stands to have someone else come in and fix the place if you want.))

"Well, it looks like they took care of that," Sakuko will say, sitting back down.

[Aric Kale]

Aric shrugs, all in a day's work. Then he remembers! Damn, my drink was exploded...Ah well, probably better for me in the long run.

[Mr. Moon]

"H-hey!" protests Tessa furtively as the wizard flees. She brandishes her wand at the place he had been. "Get back here and fix my bar!"

But he doesn't. The young bartender sighs, turning to face the damage. Slumping, wand lowered and loose in her fingers, she closes her eyes and runs her free hand through her white hair. "Gods dammit. Stan is going to kill me." Or worse. He might fire her.

[Deathkeeper]

Lex's personal space-hole appears in the air again as he tosses his shotgun in. It then vanishes soundlessly.
He shoots Tessa a sympathetic looks as he turns (if you can read reptilian facial expressions.)
"Terribly sorry about that. I'm not very good at all at repairing things. I'm more of a 'blow bad guys up' sort of wizard. Anything else I can do, though?"

[ThirdEmperor]

Well that was... Highly anticlimatic and a little silly.

And now he felt silly. Everyone else just seemed so damn calm about it. A villain wanders in and declares ownership of the Nexus, disintegrates the bar and starts a huge fight, but, hey, no big deal?

Well, it is no big deal. This is the Nexus Happens all the time.

Which is why he feels silly- Everyone else is calm, and here's him, his pulse going like a drumbeat and the edges of the pistol's grip biting into his fingers hard enough to turn them white. And everyone else is just going about their business like nothing happened.

Carefully, he stows the gun away in hammerspace, brushes the dust off his clothes and pulls up a chair, flexing and unflexing his fingers to try and work the blood back into them. Just pretend like everything's fine. Heck, that's probably what everyone else is doing.

[Miles Ashbrook]

Well that was... Highly anticlimatic and a little silly.

And now he felt silly. Everyone else just seemed so damn calm about it. A villain wanders in and declares ownership of the Nexus, disintegrates the bar and starts a huge fight, but, hey, no big deal?

Well, it is no big deal. This is the Nexus Happens all the time.

Which is why he feels silly- Everyone else is calm, and here's him, his pulse going like a drumbeat and the edges of the pistol's grip biting into his fingers hard enough to turn them white. And everyone else is just going about their business like nothing happened.

Carefully, he stows the gun away in hammerspace, brushes the dust off his clothes and pulls up a chair, flexing and unflexing his fingers to try and work the blood back into them. Just pretend like everything's fine. Heck, that's probably what everyone else is doing.

Fortunately, he is not alone, for Lenn was also in a state of adrenaline, although out of fear and complete confusion. She shuddered and gripped her staff tightly, fearing that in some way another fight may break out if she even so much as took a step forward. Frozen in place and unable to exhale the breath she had taken seemingly hours ago, Lenn tried to speak before carefully backing up.

"What- What in the world was just- what?"

[Sonzai]

"Yeah..." Sakuko says, realizing the bar is still vaporized, "I don't really have anything that could help here either, at least not permanently."

((@ThirdEmperor: Just for the record, Bernhard Beta only declared ownership of this small town. :smalltongue:))

[ThirdEmperor]

Ant glances over at Lenn. Huh. Hadn't even noticed she was there until now. "Just a barfight." A barfight with wizards and gunfire and dinosaurs, and one that's left the tavern entirely lacking a bar. "It happens, 's all. You're new here, right?"

((@Sonzai: Hyperbole is not a crime! :smalltongue:))

[Miles Ashbrook]

"Yes... I just, sort of, walked in hoping for directions."

Lenn kept her grip on the staff tight and nearly toppled over a stool or two. She kept on her feet and finally stopped walking backwards and tried to get a hold on herself.

[Mr. Moon]

Tessa shrugs. "Eh. Not yer fault. I mean, s'better he destroy the bar'n one'o the people here." She opens her eyes, and waves her wand feebly at the space where her workpost had been. "Reparo?" asks the tiefling tentatively, but is only met with a vague rustling of dust on the floor. "Bleh. 'Less someone magically walks through th' door who can fix this, I better go'n tell my boss about this."

She tries not to look too hopefully at the door as she says this.

[ThirdEmperor]

Lenn's just a walking stumble, ain't she? From Ant's perspective it's almost comical, in a dumb kinda way, except he can sympathize a little too well to be laughing. "Well, that stuff, it.. It happens. A lot." And that's all there is to be said about. "And directions are, tricky-ish. Uh, usually, people just walk until they're where they want. And that works, usually."

[Aric Kale]

Aric pulls out a decent sized money bag, Miss, if I can help pay for expenses at all, I will.

[Sonzai]

Tessa shrugs. "Eh. Not yer fault. I mean, s'better he destroy the bar'n one'o the people here." She opens her eyes, and waves her wand feebly at the space where her workpost had been. "Reparo?" asks the tiefling tentatively, but is only met with a vague rustling of dust on the floor. "Bleh. 'Less someone magically walks through th' door who can fix this, I better go'n tell my boss about this."

She tries not to look too hopefully at the door as she says this.

Almost on cue, a shoof noise can be heard outside as someone appears out of thin air outside the Tavern. He looks around, checking some sort of small computerized device, before putting it away.

He then walks into the Tavern slowly, surveying the situation. He looks probably in his early 30's, and is dressed in slightly anachronistic, but still fashionable, classic semi-formal attire, reminiscent of the 1920's.

"Looks like you've had a bit of trouble here... anything I can do to help?" he says.

((@ThirdEmperor: Well, I'll let you off with a warning this time... :smalltongue:))

[Morcleon]

A ghost walks into a bar, before realizing that this sounds like the beginning of a really bad joke.:smalltongue:

This ghost is dressed in a simple white gown, with fluffy white hair, hints of blue and green highlights trailing down the strands. She also appears to be very young, perhaps 12 or so.

Cerise Mendar blinks once at the wreckage and hesitates. Her voice sounds small and hesitant. "...ah, what happened here? I had only just heard of this place too..."

"Is there anything I can help to fix...?"

[Deathkeeper]

Lex turns to the two newcomers.
"That depends, either one of you got something for stuff that's been disintegrated?"

[Morcleon]

Slumping slightly in disappointment, Cerise shakes her head slowly. "...no, I don't..." But in another moment, she perks up slightly. "I do have telekinesis though, if you guys need anything lifted."

She gives Lex a shyly hopeful look.:smallredface:

[Deathkeeper]

Well, being a seven foot tall dinosaur means that Lex is usually capable of lifting things himself, but he's sure not going to hurt her feelings by saying that.
"Not me, but feel free to ask around."

[Sonzai]

"Well, I can certainly try," the man says, walking up to the scattered wreckage where the bar was before.

"Mind if I?"

[Morcleon]

With a thankful nod, Cerise gazes around the tavern, eventually approaching the wand-waving Tessa. The ghost gives the tiefling a small smile. "Hey~! Is there anything here that's not disintegrated that I could help fix...?"

[Mr. Moon]

Tessa returns Cerize's smile with a weak and insincere one of her own. "I don't think so. The kitchen's still open if anyone wants to order some food, but..."

And then an offer from a mysterious stranger! Tessa shrugs at the unnamed man, shoving her wand into her jeans pocket. "If you think you can do something, be my guest."

[Sonzai]

"Alright, let's see what we have here..." the man, James, says.

He looks over the scattered glass and dust, and reaches down, touching the wreckage lightly.

An invisible wave spreads out from his touch, as the bar rematerializes from the dust, the broken fragments of glass leaping back onto the bartop and fusing into whole again, the liquid unspilling and neatly settling into each reformed container, as if a video of the previous destruction was simply played in reverse.

Everything about the bar and drinks now appearing as it did before, he says, "better?"

Looking slightly impressed, Sakuko says, "neat trick."

"Um, thanks?"

[Aric Kale]

Aric laughs! Would ya look at that! My drink is back! Aric slides the pouch of money across the bar and in front of James, he should find 15 gold coins in there. That's a neat bit of magic, have a few rounds on me while you're here.

[Miles Ashbrook]

(I apologise, Spring Break reered its ugly head, it took a week to destroy)

"I noticed, I keep seeing a few taverns around nearly every streetcorner."

Lenn figured she sounded crazy, but then again half the people in the tavern were likely just as insane.

[Deathkeeper]

Lex nods approvingly at the restoration, tapping the bar with a finger.
"Very nice.
He pauses. Although I still haven't eaten all day. So, um...about that steak..."

[Zefir]

The door of the Tavern ajar a little before it closes again. Most people may not have noticed the small green stuff animal in his golen armor who entered the Tavern. Some may even not notice it while walking right next to it. The little creature makes his way to the bar. And as he reaches it he just walks up the bar toget on top of it. Searching for a bartender he walks the bar up and down, something that may need hours.^^
If he can find someone he will ask with a clear voice. so that people around can hear it.

"I seek for adventure. Do you maybe know something?"

[Hattish Thing]

There's a flash and a sound of metal boots hitting the wooden floor. A figure dressed in dark robes lands upon the ground, a red glowing energy weapon right hand, with a black spiked hilt. A lightsaber. He is clad in full robes, dark hood, and dark cloak. However, his robes appear to be a little ripped up, so he must have sustained battle damage from something. He appears to have been losing some kind of duel.

As soon as he lands, he rolls back, before bouncing onto his feet. He appears to be human, and rather young. He does not have the lightsaber disappear, but stands in fighting stance, looking at the opponent that should appear with him. Kubo, what have you done. All of you, peasants, stand aside.

[Aric Kale]

A second man comes leaping through in much the same manner as the first, only this man has two beams of raw, light energy set in a metal handle. One of these blades is yellow, but his right hand wields purple. I'm sure color isn't as concerning to the darkly clad man. Indeed, he seems to have an almost supernatural jump, attempting to clear his opponent's head while turning around to face him. Once he lands he'll address the other as such, Trucido! I am bringing you back to The Capitol Planet if it is my last action for humanity. You have been the cause of despair for too long.
Perhaps I should take a bit of time to describe Garn Kubo...
He's about 5'5", short haired and lacking more facial hair than a goatee. Broad shoulders are covered by a loose-fitting tunic, tan in coloring. Sturdy boots don his feet. Everything about him seems to be in a state of disrepair, other than his two laser swords. Those two works of art are based in silver casing with gold filigree and long, slender handles.
Garn Kubo will be the one to bring Darth Trucido to justice. This is how it must be.

[Hattish Thing]

A second man comes leaping through in much the same manner as the first, only this man has two beams of raw, light energy set in a metal handle. One of these blades is yellow, but his right hand wields purple. I'm sure color isn't as concerning to the darkly clad man. Indeed, he seems to have an almost supernatural jump, attempting to clear his opponent's head while turning around to face him. Once he lands he'll address the other as such, Trucido! I am bringing you back to The Capitol Planet if it is my last action for humanity. You have been the cause of despair for too long.
Perhaps I should take a bit of time to describe Garn Kubo...
He's about 5'5", short haired and lacking more facial hair than a goatee. Broad shoulders are covered by a loose-fitting tunic, tan in coloring. Sturdy boots don his feet. Everything about him seems to be in a state of disrepair, other than his two laser swords. Those two works of art are based in silver casing with gold filigree and long, slender handles.
Garn Kubo will be the one to bring Darth Trucido to justice. This is how it must be.


Darth Trucido Calamity was never very good with the lightsaber, preferring instead to make use of the potent powers of the Dark Side of the Force. His dark handled spiked saber is held in front of him, his left hand free. As soon as his enemy lands down, Trucido moves backwards, knowing that Garn would take any possible chance to catch the Sith unarmed or unready. He spits out at Garn, as soon as he's away from those frighteningly fatal lightsabers. What's this, a Jedi attacking a man who hadn't attacked? Where's your supposed "honor". Honestly, learn manners.

As soon as Darth Trucido finishes, he squeezes his left hand, and a rather heavy chair will begin to fly at Garn Kubo's head from behind, doing so silently, at the same time Trucido lunges forward with his saber, aiming for Garn's hands. Damage those and he can't fight.

[Aric Kale]

Garn laughs, jumping into the air with an attempt to kick the chairs aside. It's a difficult maneuver, especially since he's deflecting Trucido's attack while sideways. It's worked in the past, but something about this area seems heavier than the planet where they had previously been dueling. Ha! You accuse me of attacking first. How like you, Darth Calamity. You know there's nothing in the codes about making first strike against an armed opponent.

[Hattish Thing]

Garn laughs, jumping into the air with an attempt to kick the chairs aside. It's a difficult maneuver, especially since he's deflecting Trucido's attack while sideways. It's worked in the past, but something about this area seems heavier than the planet where they had previously been dueling. Ha! You accuse me of attacking first. How like you, Darth Calamity. You know there's nothing in the codes about making first strike against an armed opponent.


Oh, well then the chair is effectively kicked aside. It seems Darth Calamity has no desire to actually kill off Garn yet. He's more testing the waters. He holds his saber in front of him again, in defensive stance. And how very like you to have memorized such silly rules and codes. Boundaries. You've just chained yourself in, and built a wall of silly codes and morals around you. I, however, am free! He doesn't attack, but across the room, several knives on a tray slowly raise up, attempting to be stealthy.

[Aric Kale]

Duking it Out.

Master Kubo can tell something is going on, he's just not willing (for obvious reasons) to turn around and check. Instead, he lunges forward, blades starting behind him and swiftly swinging forward, the left blade striking first. It's not meant to kill, simply to keep Trucido on his toes. Aye, free to kill your master. Our...master.
I can feel the madness, creeping inside your mind Trucido. I miss laughing together...we were as brothers.

[Hattish Thing]

Duking it Out.

Master Kubo can tell something is going on, he's just not willing (for obvious reasons) to turn around and check. Instead, he lunges forward, blades starting behind him and swiftly swinging forward, the left blade striking first. It's not meant to kill, simply to keep Trucido on his toes. Aye, free to kill your master. Our...master.
I can feel the madness, creeping inside your mind Trucido. I miss laughing together...we were as brothers.

Darth Calamity just grins. He... doesn't appear to have normal teeth. Instead, his teeth are metal and sharpened like shark teeth. Many years ago, a sonic grenade had destroyed his teeth, and he had some surgery to repair his missing teeth. His grin is intimidating, and his dark blue eyes glare out from under his hood. Trucido blocks the first shot with his own saber, and as for the second, he attempts to dodge away, but he leaves his side open, so despite his speed he may get a cut there.

As soon as he dodges, the knives come forward, all six. Two go for the back of Garn's neck, one per back of the knee, and the others target his hands. As soon as Garn notices there's knives flying behind him, Trucido sticks his left hand out, and attempts to fry Garn with Sith Lightning. You're messing with the wrong guy. I'm a messed up man with with a bent mind, as you'd say. So run away, little man. I killed the only man you ever had as a friend, your family shot, your friends, SHOT. I let my heart grow dark, yours turned to mush. Now, FRY.

[Aric Kale]

Kubo glares, momentarily forgetting about his augmented teeth. As I said earlier, Garn was only trying to keep him on his toes before capturing him, therefore, he stops his blade just short of slicing the Sith. Instead, he practically flies upward, probably sustaining a few cuts to the legs. However, Calamity may find his own knives aiming for him...

[Hattish Thing]

Kubo glares, momentarily forgetting about his augmented teeth. As I said earlier, Garn was only trying to keep him on his toes before capturing him, therefore, he stops his blade just short of slicing the Sith. Instead, he practically flies upward, probably sustaining a few cuts to the legs. However, Calamity may find his own knives aiming for him...


His teeth served no real purpose apart from looking intimidating, making his shark like grin all the creepier. Darth Calamity realizes that Garn Kubo had missed him on purpose. He realizes that Garn wouldn't kill him. Probably another weird code. Maybe. As Garn jumps, he'll get a few nasty jagged cuts to the back of his legs, but Calamity receives most of the damage, seeing as the knives seem to all miss him, however, one little knife slices straight into Trucido's lightsaber hand, and the dark metal hilt drops to the floor. Calamity lets out a shout as blood spurts to the ground. He rips the knife out of his hand and drops it, before he attempts to force choke Garn midair, and pull him back down into the floor. Bastard! Quit running, coward!

[Aric Kale]

Trucido successfully force chokes Garn! Instead of feebly kicking his feet and clawing at his throat, he throws the yellow blade at Calamity. Making no response to the "coward" comment...as he can't.
Blood drips from his legs.

[Hattish Thing]

Trucido successfully force chokes Garn! Instead of feebly kicking his feet and clawing at his throat, he throws the yellow blade at Calamity. Making no response to the "coward" comment...as he can't.
Blood drips from his legs.

Calamity grins his horrid smile as he tightens his fist, the force also beginning to crush Garn's windpipe. Well, look... I wonder how many colors your face will turn before you stop moving... Let's see how much of a constitution you Jedi ha-****! Lightsaber. The saber flies down and enters Calamities side, the side of Trucido's waist impaled. [COLOR="DarkRed"]Aaah! Gods![/COOR] He winces in great pain, and attempts to throw Garn into the wall, head first. His plan was to knock Garn out and run.

[Aric Kale]

Well, first it'll turn purple, then Kubo will hit the ground. It's unlikely that Darth Trucido can put much concentration behind his force throw, considering he was just stabbed, and Garn uses his free hand to resist it. However, his legs won't support him; he can't give chase.

[Hattish Thing]

Well, first it'll turn purple, then Kubo will hit the ground. It's unlikely that Darth Trucido can put much concentration behind his force throw, considering he was just stabbed, and Garn uses his free hand to resist it. However, his legs won't support him; he can't give chase.


Darth Calamity let's Garn simply drop to the floor, more stressed about the hole in his side then the Jedi on the floor in front of him. Trucido gets up, and winces, growling and groaning in pain. He grabs his saber and puts it at his belt, and also grabs the yellow saber that impaled him, and sticks it in his belt by his own. He can't grab the other saber, seeing as at the moment bending down is very difficult. Trucido begins to run out, his side burnt and his insides almost visible. That wound could possibly be fatal. As he moves out though, he has the ill-will to cause two of the knives to rise again, and attempts to send them through Garn's ankles, pinning him to the floor, before Darth Trucido runs out, seeking a hospital.

[Aric Kale]

Garn attempts to call out, but his throat is in too bad a state of disrepair. As such, he can only use his purple saber to knock the knives aside.
The Jedi Master is utterly dissatisfied with the results of this battle, and lets himself fall into unconsciousness.