The dark laughter chilled the air. I could see no malevolent spirits around me but I felt it even in my advanced drunken state. Jurak reached for his massive sword, clearly alarmed. Many of the mercenary-type customers looked for an enemy to kill.
Nothing was seen, nothing to fight or kill. I felt it almost pass by me and look at my very soul. As quickly as it came it disappeared. A moment of stunned silence, almost worse than the laughter fell around us. The murmur of hushed conversation returned slowly but something was different. There was fear in those voices now. Was there something hunting us?
This night seemed to have drawn together a rather odd crowd for some reason. There were more than the usual suspects here, an orc, a paladin, an elven healer and my drunken self. There was also the odd man at the bar talking to himself, a man who resembled a wizard and a shy man alone at the end of the bar. Something about him seemed to give the impression he was more than he seemed to be. Before I could analyse him further he left. I felt we'd see him again.
Looking around further, another stranger sat with a loaded crossbow. He did not look edgy, just prepared. Something was going to happen. I just had no idea what.
Then it hit me. There were no spirits around in the bar anymore. The maniacal laughter had even driven them away. What would frighten the dead?
“Something evil this way cometh,” I thought to myself. Half-sobering up.
“We have to check out that village tomorrow Jolie,” I said without really realizing it. Was I a glutton for punishment? Or had life finally dragged out a destiny for me to follow?
“As is my duty.” Jolie solemnly replied.
“Will you accompany us Jurak? We could use a good strong arm.” I asked the orc. He still had a furrowed brow. He was angry that there was nothing to squish.
“Nobody laughs at me and gets away with it!” He growled.
“But I did!”
“Huh? When?”
“You made that joke about the monk and the goblin and told it wrong. I had to correct you. The mistake was funnier than the actual joke though.”
“Hmmmm…. You’ll get away with that for now. You’re Jurak’s buddy! I’ll not kill you unless you really annoy me!”
Wondering what would ‘really annoy’ a race that seemed permanently annoyed I left the conversation there. I noticed Carrie had entered the inn. She was visibly distressed. She was drinking elven wine which was unusual for her. She was also within 100 feet of me. Which was even more unusual. Her elven beauty was even more apparent up close. Sitting almost opposite me she glaced up. Her eyes burned into mine for a seconed. Blue within blue. Powerful, strong and resolute. She almost put the next question I asked into my mouth.
“What about you my lady? Healers are always welcome with a party of adventurers. Especially ones as beautiful as yourself.”
I felt myself grimace. Why did I say that last bit? She had no interest in me. Her reply was equally surprising though.
“I will come. Tonight I felt a magical disturbance I have not seen the like of for many years. It worries me greatly.”
That was all she said. She returned to her quiet contemplation and the odd elven wine. She wanted to come, that was why she came to the inn. Whether I asked or not she would have ended up with us.
“So that’s settled then!” Jolie seemed to come alive again. There was evil to find and destroy I guess. What else did a paladin live for? It must be hard even with all that self-discipline fighting human ‘urges’. Not for me, I knew that much about myself.
“Meet here in the morning when I’ve got rid of my hangover” I replied. I gave in to my protesting liver and drank up the last of my mead.
Bed was calling, time to sleep.
