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i looked up as some more people came in, waving and talking to jessica. i didn't recognize them, but i hadn't been working here all that long. i brought the dwarf and the kid some more beer. jess had the other customers under control, and me feet felt as if i'd been flogged from fore ta aft eight times over. i sat down with me potential big tippers. dwarves usually carry a lot of gold, perhaps i could lighten his load.

"what storm washed you two up in a dump like this, mateys?"

that wasn't nice, the inn was actually one of the finer establishments in town, but i'd been working and i was crabby. i leaned over slightly to increase me tip, and heaved a sigh.

"Here you go my lovely" I said, flipping another gold coin into Faile's cleavage. I was never usually such a sucker for women but she had a gift. JVB's eyes were like saucers, I'd swear he hadn't blinked in the last five minutes.
"Where did you get all this equipment Jurak?" I asked, astounded.
"I talked to the blacksmith, he say 'take all you want' and ran away!" Jurak said with a grin on his face.
"good greif, we're here to trade with these people! Not scare them witless!" Jurak looked at his boots and blushed blue. "Sorry." He said.
"That's fine," I sighed, "but we have to give these kind people their dues for their hard work, otherwise Jolie will never forgive us!"
"Jurak count out gold.." He mumbled.
"I'll help." I said throwing in some extra pieces. Everyone else did the same.

We sent Jurak on a short erand to find the blacksmith and cleared the air in the tavern. "Another beer Faile me darlin'" I cried.

Jurak trundled as quickly as he could back over to the smithy's shop,
(after all he had forgotten why they had come here,and didn't want to cause any undue excitement) he found the poor fellow white as a sheet,and trembling...
Saying nothing and expecting no reply he set the coins on the counter and hastily headed back to the tavern for more ale and laffs. (OK, maybe no more ale,.........whiskey instead......scotch whiskey!

blimey, i'd ne'er seen a couple o' landlubbers drink so much grog. ah well, i'm makin' good offa it. what odd company was gathered in the inn. people, dwarves, orcs, and if'n i no be mistaken, a few magic users. my finger's itched for purses, but i'll bide me time.
me corset was gettin' heavy, i went in ta the kitchen ta empty it and get the beer. on me way i sang me favorite ol' shanty.
"My name was William Kidd, when I sailed, when I sailed
My name was William Kidd, when I sailed
My name was William Kidd
God's law I did forbid,
And so wickedly I did, when I sailed

My parents taught me well, when I sailed, when I sailed
My parents taught me well, when I sailed
to shun the gates of hell
But 'gainst them I rebelled, when I sailed"

i yelled ta the cook ta expect orders. these people piqued me curiosity. mayhap they were me passage back ta the sea, flyin' the good ol' jolly roger 'gain.
"I murdered William Moore, as I sailed, as I sailed
I murdered William Moore, as I sailed
I murdered William Moore,
And laid him in his gore,
Not many leagues from shore, as I sailed

I was sick and nigh to death, when I sailed, when I sailed
I was sick and nigh to death, when I sailed
I was sick and nigh to death
And I vowed at every breath
To walk in wisdom's ways, as I sailed"

I painted some warts on my face, put on an eye-lap and threw a dirty cloak over me body that I've found somewhere. This kind of ugly pirate look might just work.
I flew up high in the sky with the cloak in my hands to see if I couldn't get in the village without passing those nasty guards.

I saw a little place behind the stables to land where nobody would see me, so off I went. I quickly put on the cloak to hide my wings and head into town. My eyes immediately fell on Inn "Aaaah, some nice pints of beer would do me well" So I went over to the bar. I saw Womble and jvb staring at the pretty waitress and I must say, her beauty isn't much less than DQueene's. I hope DQueene won't get jaleous "Hey Womble, jvb... SNAP out of it !!"
"Heeeeeeeeey Viper" they said, "Bring another beer will ya love, the biggest you've got"
I sat down and whispered "I flew into town, didn't feel like passing those damn guards" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
"Pretty waitress isn't she? nice cleavage" I whispered to them, they both nodded very intensely
"any word of the others being in town already?"

Jurak sat down at a table next to the others for a moment to make a list of everything he acquired from the blacksmith Floyd, all the while hoping jolie would not be too stern about his "mistake", the barkeep had gone to empty her "tips" and the three companions at the bar leaned in on each other, snickered and gestured towards the back,while viper got another round.
[color:"#33cc33"]Jurak has made list of items from scared blacksmith.... oh...hello viper, nice to see you!your up very late, here look at list[/color]
and contributed it to their awaiting hands.......

• rampart crossbow+2racks of bolts-draugh(if/when he shows
  viper's- hickory blackhawk-vapor bow and whistling broad-arrows
  thor's hammer charm
  dungeon leg irons
  prisoner's heavy rope
  kestral dagger
  talon dirk
  one rhinelander sword with one charm slot, i already got a sword
  hammered mail hauberk-
  nocturnal dial pendant
  2 runes 1-elhaz rune(protection) 1-sigel rune(success)
  few rough pieces of quenched steel
  teardrop pendant

there was a few furrowed brows whilst they scoured the list...

Jurak entered the inn and told about his 'encounter' with our smith Floyd 'heavyhand'. Womble wanted to see him too. They went out and i secretly followed them, just in case.

At the smithy i found poor Floyd shivering with fear. I arrived too.
"Hiy Floyd. How it going?"
"Jolie! Am i glad to see you, there was an orc here, he stole everything!"
I couldnt help myself but laughing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />. "Dont worry, these are my friends. They wont hurt you. Help them in any way you can ok?"

I returned to the bar. And only then i saw the waitress.
"Hey Jessica, who is this lovely lady working here?" I could tell Carrie was abit jaleous. I smiled at her <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
"Thats Faile, she works here only for about a month."
"Hey JVB, dont let your eyes fall out,k? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> Give me another drink and one for my lovely companion Carrie too."
I finished my drink.
"Hey buddies, i off for a good night rest. I'll speak with the mayor in the morning. Dont go rampaging around town will you and please behave yourselfs <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />. Goodnight." And i went upstairs for a good night sleep.

when Jolie left, I ordered a round of the biggest beers for the rest of us who remained: Carrie, Jurak, Womble and jvb.
No sign of the others so far. "Can you take a beer carrie, tell us if you're getting too drunk, no need to have a bad hangover tomorrow"

"thanks vipey, next round is on me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
But the next one will be my last, because I have bad memories of the last time i was drunk <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> "

We ate and drank like kings that night. The lovely barmaids providing our every need. Finishing up a leg of lamb and washing it down with the rest of my ale I decided to have a look at some of the equipment Jurak had gotten us. The Thor's hammer charm facinated me. I picked it up and put it in my pocket. I could've sworn I head the clanging sound of hammers on anvils as I did so. I yearned to see the dwarven halls again, to be with my fellow dwarves. I'd have to regrow my beard though....

"Right! Big axe it is!" I thought to myself and grabbed some of the raw iron from the pile. For human iron it was tempered remarkably well. Maybe these people weren't total barbarians after all. I wandered down to the forge.
"Hello Floyd!" I said cheerfully. "Mind if I give your anvil a try?"
"If you were anyone but a friend of Jolie I'd tell you to bugger off, but since you are be my guest." I nodded my thanks. Jolie was loved by these people. Paladins gained such respect wherever they went, such was their strength.

I looked at the anvil. "Bugger, human size. Hey Floyd, can you get me a box to stand on?" Floyd grinned and brought out a small block of wood. "I use this when my boy wants to hammer something," he said.
His grin dissapeared as he saw me work. I was like a dwarf posessed! Having shaped the blade in record time I felt invigorated. Beer was good for you! Or was it... I took the charm out of my pocket, it seemed to be glowing. I knew what to do with it. I made a hollow in the blade and slotted it in. There was a flash of light and then just smooth steel. "That's what that thing was for eh?" Floyd gasped. "Careful with that axe!" He added, "the gods give their gifts sparingly."
"They do indeed." I whispered.
The rest of the night I worked away on my axe. I was unsure what it was capable of....

The moon was high now. I laid my work down and went back to the inn to get some rest....

BeeGee waited at Double Raven Castle. He did nothing special. Just waited and waited. Then, he waited some more. He turned blue from boredom, but no one noticed, because he was hiding out of sight. Waiting and watching and waiting.

I smacked Nero lightly on top of his head for his 'joke' and told him to watch his tongue. "Mother-in-law" indeed! I shot him an evil grin, "Watch out, you never know when you might have to pay for saying things like."

"I think it's better if we go into town, one at a time. Hopefully the other's have the sense to not let everyone know that we're all together."

"See you there," I waved and faded into the woods silently and made my way to the gates of the town.

I walked up to the gates and knocked lightly. I heard grumbling from the other side of the door. "What's th' world coming ta? Has somebody kicked everbody out and they're all coming here?" More grumbling and then a peephole opened at about chest level and a querilous voice spoke up, "Who goes there?"

I spoke softly, "Just a lonely pilgrim, wanting a place to rest that's not the hard ground." I paused and laughed, "And mayhap, a bite to eat that isn't ten day old journey bread."

The eye looked me up and down, "Aye, ye look harmless enough, lass." With that the gate opened with a creak of it's rusty hinges.

"Thank you, kind sir. Can you tell me what inns are here that would let me sleep and have a decent meal at a reasonable price?" Given that I didn't have any money, it would have to be very reasonable.

He pointed down the way at a brightly lit building, "Ever'one else has gone to th'only inn in town, lass. Ye could try there for a brew and some food. Don't know if'n you'll get a room and a bed, unless yer willin ta share." I must have looked like I felt, share my bed with strangers? Yuck! "If'n yer not, ye can probly throw yer blanket down in front of th'fire."

I smiled at him and I saw a dazed look come into his eyes. "What a sweet man." I thought as I headed down the road to the inn. I glanced back and he was still watching me with a silly smile on his face. I waved again just before I opened the door to a lot of laughter and the smell of fresh stew and bread.

"Hmmm," I sniffed appreciatively. Just then my stomach grumbled loud enough to be heard at the nearest table. The old man sitting there chuckled and pointed to the bar.

BeeGee got tired of waiting, so he quit waiting. Instead, he fidgetted and moped.

"Okay, DQueene, how do you get money?" I walked slowly to the bar, thinking furiously. I pulled my backpack out and pulled out one of the many 'pens' I had always carried. This one wrote in a bright vibrant [color:"#a0d0ff"] color [/color] and a small piece of paper from one of my notepads.

"Barkeep, do you happen to trade for magical items?"

[color:"#ffa0d0"] "Depends on whatcha got and whatcha askin for it. Why dontcha show me?"[/color]

He didn't fool me, I could see the avarice gleaming in his eyes. I put the piece of paper on his bar and was shocked to see his eyes start glowing when he saw it. "What?" I thought, "it's only paper." And then I realized it wasn't, it was [color:"yellow"]brgiht yellow [/color] and sticky at the top, something totally unheard of in this world.

I smiled at him and we started bargaining, getting the price up quite high before asking, "Do you have any weapons you'd be willing to trade for? I have something else that I'll throw in if you have the right things." I smiled at him with a gleam in my eye that told him he would really like whatever I was holding back.

Rubbing his hands together gleefully (he didn't let go of the paper - he somehow managed to be gleeful AND careful of the paper at the same time) he led me back to a locked room and opened the door. Waving me inside, he said [color:"#ffa0d0"] Look at what I've got and let me know if any of it appeals to you. I get all kinds of things from warriors and clerics and wizards who'r down on their luck.[/color]

My eyes adjusted to the gloom of the room and I think it was good that the room was so gloomy because I could see that certain items 'gleamed' when others didn't, even some that looked a bit shoddy. "Hmmm," I walked over and picked up a long bow that I seemed to be getting a 'double' vision of. In one vision, the one the barkeep saw, it was banged up and needed a new string and in the 'other' vision it gleamed brightly with a beautiful light. The same thing went for the armor and a dagger(they were rusty and chipped to him, but to me they glowed with an irridescent light). Then I glanced in the corner and saw the most beautiful sword I had ever seen. I knew I would have to bargain hard for it, because it declared its beauty to both mortal and magical sight. I walked over and picked it up and it named itself to me, [color:"yellow"]~Wizards Bane~ [/color]. I knew in the instant it spoke that that was all it would ever say - just its name.

I glanced back at the barkeep, He seemed astonished that I could pick up the sword with my bare hands.

The early sunlight, that shined through the window, woke me up. I got out of bed and prepared to meet the mayor.
I went downstairs and saw that DQueen had arrived. I walked past her and said politly "Hello Lady." And i walked on.

I was standing outside of the mayors house, abit nervous What does he want??
I grabbed all my guts together and entered.
It hadnt changed abit since i left here.... "The mayor awaits you, go on in." it was Lindsay the mayors secratary/wife. I walked on and opened the next door.
"Welcome Jolie. Have a seat."
"No thank you, What do you want from me?"
"Strait to the point hey. Well ever since you left, your former home has been haunted."
"Haunted?!"
"Yep, it seems like your wife's spirit cant find any rest. We've tried everything. We're almost out of options. Ectually, your our last hope."
"Ok, i'll see what i can do."

I left the office. My house haunted? Whats going on? Why has my wifes spirit discided to haunt the place?? I knew i had to find out and solve it.

But fist things first. I headed back to the tavern went to the others, who apparently had quite a party last night. I told them what was going on.
"This is something i have to do. I dont know if you'll be able to help, but we'll see. First i'll go to the house and find out whats going on there ok?"

Good Idea DQueen Ill wait a bit and follow after you... After a half an hour I threw the cloak over my head and walked slowly toward the gate. Fred seemed irritable seems he was working more than usual tonight.[color:"red"] "What do you want stranger" [/color] just supplies and a bed...and most likely a drink or two I said. [color:"red"] well then c'mon in sir" [/color] I walked through the gate and her some boisterous noises from down the street...gee I wonder where everyone is I laughed to myself. Walking down the street I saw a shop with no sign and aa certain glimmer about it...something inside of me made me want to walk in. On entering the store an old crone appeared behind a stack of books that served as a counter. What are you doing in here hanyoa(word for a halfbreed like me half demon) "I want no trouble woman just to browse..." she seemed suspicious but willing to let me look. Wandering in and out of the piles of random goods I came upon a small box. suddenly as I picked it up I heard a faint noise in the back of my head....Kiya's song. Opening the box I found a jewel that was apparently sibling to the half of Kiya's that I wore around my neck. Where Kiya's had been crescent shaped this was a small pyramid more tall than wide almost a cone shape. Engraved on it were several small runes and a picture of a creature with horns and claws....a demon. This I need to have I thought to myself. Holding on to the jewel and box I continued to wander and saw some scrolls with strange runes. I picked them up to take a look and underneath found a small box of daggers...I could use these I said and grabbed them. Walking back to the front of the store the woman looked at me and said "the daggers will be 20 gp" what about the jewel I asked "It belongs to one such as you I dont want it." thanking and paying the woman I left the store and started walking away...I turned to look at the store but it had vanished. I opened my pack and only saw the jewel no daggers they had vanished too. "Bitch", I muttered under my breath...I walked down to the tavern and sat down next to womble who was to the point of drunkeness where he was singing...way out of tune. Miss (faile) gimme a double of something hard and an ale I said through my cloaked head....

Drunk as a wacko I went outside to get some fresh air. I'll look at jurak's treasures later, can't judge them clearly enough now
When I sobered up a bit I went inside to get some sleep.
I woke up, hearing the birds sing. All in all I must've slept 3-4 hours which is more than enough for me. I walked down and ordered something to eat and drink. Then I decided to head into town to check some things out when I saw DQueene coming in. Her beauty kept dazzling me.

After 5 minutes I felt 'better' and decided to find Jurak and his stuff, time to get me some new ecquipment

It ended up being a really rough and rowdy night....man my head hurt I walked down to the main floor of the inn and ordered a shortstack and some water...man I wish I had some aspirin...(what in the hell is aspirin...)

At some point throught the night Jurak had wandered outside the gate, pulled up a tree to curl around, and started sawing logs........zzzzzzzz. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sleepey.gif" alt="" />
At the crack of dawn, Jurak opened his stinging, bloodshot eyes and rubbed them a few times..........for he could not believe that there was now a rat harnessed to his sled, where there once had been a mighty chimera!!!
[color:"#33cc33"] What the........i've got to get my head examined!! i must be seeing things[/color]
and he ran to the gates and shouted for fred to let him in quickly! Arriving at the tav'rn , he'd noticed other members of his group enjoying a hearty breakfast......so he sat down and relayed his unbelievable story of the chimera turned rat, to the rest......

Fidgeting and moping were great fun, but they took a large emotional toll on BeeGee. He had to take several breaks to catch his emotional breath before he could continue waiting for his lost comrades.

"I hope they are gathering a huge army with scores of hyper-powerful weapons and machines of war. When Venificus releases the chimeras in the dungeon, all heck will break loose. Not to mention several hundred orcs, humans, and some nasty looking frogs."

Then BeeGee caught a random thought. It seemed like his own, but he had not thought it. Or had he? It was a thought about comfort, sanity, congeniality, and security. It contained references to Hypatia, Polgara, Kiya, Wolfy and Lynn. But everything was somehow bigger than life.

His nose itched. It pointed him toward the fleeting thought, so, as he always does, he followed it. Double Raven Castle was left far, far behind.