https://www.posetteforever.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2188&p=31916#p31916 ----------------------------------- Visitor Monday, 03 July 2006, 12:29 AM ----------------------------------- NPC: Thor, a man, and a second unamed burly man [color=indigo][i]Tired, weary and hungry, Erelin sat on the palomino colored horse called Lorindol. From the shadows of a small cluster of trees, she observed, without being unnoticed, the ugly building whose tattered sign declared it to be a pub, with a promise food and drink within. She had searched for days for the ellon she had met at the Talan. He had spoke of a quest ... a quest she desired to a part of for personal reasons. But she had been too slow in deciding to follow the one who had introduced himself as Pangor, and had only caught a glimpse of him as he disappeared into the woods. She had trailed him on horseback for several days, but she could never quite catch up with him. After two weeks, she admitted defeat, and had decided to return to, but found that she had wandered in so many different directions, she was no longer sure of her way back. She was not overly concerned, for she had spent many years alone and living off the land. But Erelin was not familiar with this land, the hunting had not been good, and the fruits which were generally abundant were not yet ripe. Now her supplies were very low, and she wished to save as much of them as she could. The dark, hostile looking pub that was before her seemed to be the only establishment for miles that offered food. Erelin shuddered at the thought of going in, but if she were to have any supplies left when she truly needed them, then in she must go in. She could hear the brawling and fighting going on inside, and every now and then, a vile looking patron would land unceremoniously outside on the ground. In front of Erelin, sitting in a small basket lashed to the front of the saddle, was a cat, who complained rather loudly of her empty stomach.[/i] "Hush, [i]Little Cat, you will give us away." she whispered. She reached into her bag and pulled off a small piece of dried deer meat from her last chunk, and gave it to the cat. [/i]"Stay with Lorinar while I go in."[i] She dismounted, and rubbed the cat on her head, and patted Lorinar. Erelin smiled at them, the only two friends she had in this life. She started to leave, when the ring on her left forefinger glowed faintly and she heard the thought in her head, [/i]"Are you sure it wise to go into that place?"[i] It was the thought of the horse Lorinar. [/i]"Perhaps not wise my friend, but because of my own foolishness, necessary."[i] Erelin answered. [/i]"Don't worry, I'll be OK."[i] As she said that, another fell patron flew out the door. She promptly decided she would take her father's sword with her. She did not like using the long sword, it was heavy and cumbersome in her way of thinking. Her father had insisted she learned to use a sword, now she was glad of it. As Erelin buckled the sword and scabbard under her elven cloak, she was also glad of her father's mithril shirt that she wore under an oversized cotton shirt and brown tunic. She wished he could be there with her, and for a moment, grief overwhelmed her. But she shook it off, allowing the familiar hatred for those who took her father's life to fuel a flame of anger. That was what brought her in the first place, the desire to protect others from those who would destroy. She checked the two knives that were sheathed at her hips and the dagger sheathed in her right boot. She extracted just two gold coins from her pack on Lorindol, for she had no wish to be robbed of all her money. Pulling her cloak around her and the hood over her dark brown braided hair and down over her face, and with one last pat for Lorindol, Erelin started for the pub. As she entered, the stench nearly overwhelmed her. Bodies slumped over tables, some lay in a drunken stupor on the filthy floor, others were drinking and carousing without restraint. As Erelin gazed at the mass of unsavory beings in front of her, she began to have doubts about whether she should stay or turn and leave while she still could. But she must eat and presently she spotted a small table pushed aside in a corner with a single empty chair. A partially open window was near it, which though small, she was sure she could get through it, should a quick escape became necessary. She had to make her way past a large table where four burly looking men sat drinking and another table where two vile looking men were harrasing a barmaid. She steeled herself mentally and pushed through the narrow path to the corner table. Barely brushing one of the four drinking men brought a round of curses directed at her as he shoved her away from. Erelin ignored him and moved on, hoping he was too interested in his drink to take further interest in her. Reaching the table in the corner, Erelin sat so that the corner was to her back and she could observe anyone who tried to approach her. As she waited for someone to serve her, she noticed a cloaked figure across the room facing her, and she had the very uncomfortable feeling that he was watching her every move. She let her gaze continue around the room, for she had no wish to indicate that she had taken any particular notice of the cloaked figure. She pulled her hood down further so she would appear to be looking at the menu on the table. As Erelin watched the cesspool of humanity, self-reproach for getting herself into this mess started to assail her. What had she been thinking, racing off after an ellon she just met and knew nothing about, just to join him on a quest she knew very little about, with little food supply ... what kind fool was she? She sighed inwardly. A fool with a passion to keep others from suffering the same barbaric end her family had. Her musings were cut short as she noticed the man she had bumped into earlier glance her way a couple of times, and she became uneasy. She slowly edged the chair a little closer to the window, and pulled her cloak over her arms. Under the cover of her cloak, she withdrew her knives from their sheaths. Every fiber of her went on alert when the man at the table got up and starting walking toward her, with his chair in his hands. Erelin mentally pictured where she would move if he decided to use it against her. But he did not direct the chair at her but instead crashed it into the table in front of her. As she stood up, he growled at her,[/i] Hey, little man! You never ‘pologized for hittin' me![i] He smacked his fist into the palm of his other hand meaningfully. Her grey-blue eyes blazed defiantly under her hood, but she maintained a low even tone to her voice as she replied calmly,[/i] Forgive me for my oversight, I apologize now for my clumsiness. [i]She didn't really think this barbarous man would accept her apology, but she did not wish to draw his anger further by bestowing upon him an appropriate cutting remark. . His laugh was almost a cackle, and he spoke to the three other men behind him, still seated at the table.[/i] Dijja ya hear that boys? The little man ‘pologized ta me. Maybe I oughta let ‘im live after all![i] The three men at the table seemed to think his comment very funny and all laughed. Erelin tried to edge just a little closer to the window so she could leap through it with a single leap, but the man realized what she was doing and stepped in front of the window. [/i]Thinkin'of leavin' us so soon, little man? Not quite yet, I dunna think.[i] He took a step towards her and his fist flew towards her face. Erelin anticipated this, and ducked, and brought one of her knives up to his chest. She had only meant to graze him as a warning, but he could not stop the forward motion of his body as he missed his mark and he fell into her knife. He slumped to the floor, dead. Erelin withdrew her knife in horror as she realized what had happened and, for a moment, she stood frozen, dumbly looking at the body at her feet. The three men at the table turned to see what had happened to the little man and upon seeing their companion's body at her feet, they rushed her at once, each drawing a wicked looking dagger. Erelin came to from her stupor and dropped the knife in her right hand, and drew her father's sword. At the sight of the sword, the three men halted, just inches out of the reach. Growling curses at her, they paced in front of her, like wolves before cornered prey. Fear spread through heart as they blocked all paths of escape. Erelin tried to control her fear, but she knew she had little chance against all three of them, and she was pretty sure she would not gain any help from anyone in this crowd. She was dimly aware that the crowd was gathering in anticipation of a bloody show, but her whole being was tuned to the threat she faced. The man on the right lunged at her with his knife and she parried it with the sword, keeping her knife ready to block another attack from the other two. In the process, her hood fell back revealing the fact she was an elleth. After several curses, the man directly in front of her yelled.[/i] It was a she-elf what killed Thor. Let's make ‘er pay for this, boys! A nice, slow death me thinks![i] Laughing wickedly, and as though by a signal, all three attacked Erelin at the same time.[/i][/color]