With all of the hostilities in the air, Quintus had stepped back alongside the guards, but between the Lady and helmeted one. Instinctively Quintus let his hand fall and rest on his empty scabbard. Only a few days ago, there had been a sword of command in there, now he just stood there wishing it had not been his first impulse. Quintus nodded to the barmaid, when the elf called out for drinks. He just didn't want to leave the room just yet, and felt the barmaid could get this round.
     Watching as sharply as he could, Quintus tried to stay between the Lady and the elf without interrupting the guards positions. The elf's antics of acrobatics had Quintus spinning mentally, but there was never a hint or gleam of a weapon so he had stayed hos place. Not sure what the safe people were Quintus felt that any minute now he would feel the need to step in front of anyone of them. As this thought occurred to him it strengthened his heart. He was no longer thinking like a gladiator, no longer like a soldier. He no longer thought of things as them or me, now he was looking out and after others. This was sanctuary and suddenly he felt the need to defend that. Peace, at all costs is stagnant, but violence will not bring peace, just an understanding of personal sacrifice so that it can be maintained. Now he understood what this place meant to him and why he felt he was given the opportunity to be here among the mighty.
      So many of them built their strength by breaking the laws, Quintus understood that, he had survived by breaking a few himself. "My Lady Alexis, these men are fresh from the fields and rough spots of the outside, some understanding should be afforded them. Each is from a different culture, think of this as a tournament mixer hosting several countries. A truce called during the tournament, and the representatives are all soldiers from their respective battlefields. I wish I could offer the manners of my home in Spain, but we have adopted the Roman forum behaviors and I find myself appalled at times as well."
     Turning so the elf and Boone know that he is speaking to them Quintus adds, "Where I come from, you think before you speak for fear of being enslaved for your thoughts, though a horrible punishment, the idea I find, has merit. We should all spend a few more seconds considering how others will take our words, especially when we have little or no understanding of the world the other lives in, much less the history and troubles the other has dealt with. Parker, I have no idea what a dragon is, other than sharing some aspects with lizards, I notice that you share the slit eyes of felines from my home. Is this true for all dragons?"

The Eldar was confused. He came from a world where a new genocide takes place everyday in some part of the galaxy. If the great foe isn't mutating entire worlds, then the Zerg is trying to consume them or the humans eliminate billions of their own without a second thought.

He called a thinking being a lizard.

He had been on his most aristocratic behavior. The hostility he read from the others was something he didn't understand. He began wishing he had kept his helmet on, only so the confusion wouldn't show on his face.

He figured the royal mammal would understand, caste systems always follow their kind. A throw back to his own ancestors required respect, not tact. Lower species were either to be treated as servants or children, and Deriel could never bare to treat someone like a servant.

None the less, and as interesting as this place was he knew he had to get back to his men. Maybe he will tell the Alatoic Warlocks of his discovery; they would come here in droves to learn of universes beyond their own. His people were natural learners, and in their own stars they have learned all there was.

He stayed long enough to see a waitress carrying out his request and asking the other guests what they wanted to drink. He stepped aside the mammal barbarian and gave a deep bow while standing, his body unable to go much lower.

"In other words my dear Gentry, your customs and caste systems have little impact here as.... ...do my own. I can only assume you would... ...find better company in a parlor for your at the... ...end of the map and Monsters be here." He smiled, stood up and walked towards the waitress. He handed her several small metal trinkets he uses for currency and decided to make his way to the room he purchased earlier.

<<Exit to Tavern...Exit to Upstairs>>

Please pardon me, folks. It occurs to me that I need to find a room before they are all gone. I'll be back , though.


-------------------> To upstairs

 Looks at Quintus Maxximus and nods her head. She waves her guards to go up stairs and get her a room. She smiles

" Care to join me for drink Sir."

"No good Quintus.  Dragons are as diverse as humans.  They come in all different colors, shapes and sizes.  There are some that breath fire, some that breath ice, acid, lightning, shadow, even toxic gas."

Parker jumps down from the table, the wings slowing his decent.  As he lands, his right hand is raised and he brings his hand down, a staff appearing in his hand during the decent.  The staff slams into the wooden floor and Parker grows to the height of 5 foot.

"I can join you for a drink Lady Alexis."

The last is delivered with a courtly bow.

" I was actually asking This nice sir here  to join me for drink. I meen I not trying to be rude. i still trying to get use to this."


 She smiles at him

"I know what you meant fair lady...  I was offering you additional company.  If my appearance is such a barrier that you can not get past.  You have my sympathies.  I have many humans for friends and I never judge your kind solely by your fragile pink skins.  This is likely the only chance you will have to sit and talk to a Dragon Borne.  If you wish to pass it up..."

With that Parker gives another bow and moves to the main bar.

<<<to the Tavern>>>

 She sighs and looks down and yells  so he could here her.

" just give me some time.. please"

     With a gracious smile Quintus offers his arm to the lady, "To hinder your opinion of me, I must admit, that since Rome stole my lands, title, and culture, I have gone from lower nobility to slave, to gladiator, to soldier and now freeman dishboy. It has been a wild run. Do you still wish my company?" Quintus holds his breath in anticipation of the discourse. The only reason Quintus believed he had a chance was the fact that the opportune company was a dragon, a pixie, and the boorish Boone.

" You look like no slave to me. You are solider. more knight in my realm as it were."

 She smiles sweetly

" you seem to have better understanding in what is going on. And you seem more comfortable to be around. I do believe in Holy Roman church. and I am very faithful to the lord. I do not understand why he puts me in these trails. does he wish  to shaken my faith"

     Quintus feels frustrated to find that his beloved homeland may never have recovered. Now the faiths of his oppressors have stretched through the ages. A dark cloud crosses the soldier's brow. Though now that he thought about it, he had seen the Roman war machine, he had fought in the southern reaches of Angland, and they had rolled across the Germanic forests like wildfire. No, it was not surprising at all, just disappointing.
     "That which does not kill us only makes us stronger, your faith is not being shaken, it is being confirmed. You are being shown how strong a person you are, and how your faith is true and unshakable. to even think of it instead of discarding it shows the conviction you hold. You are a testament to the pious. I hate to ask about information that apparently comes from my lands future, but know you anything of Spain from your time? My family ran vinyards for Spanish wine, but any news would be greatful."

" let us talk over drinks"

she smiles at him

" I will be happy to answer anything you wish to ask of  me sir"

     Allowing for the continued suggestion of drinks, Quintus leads Alexis, to a side table. Waving the barmaid in, Quintus calls for a Fine Scarpelli wine. The barmaid is not long and Quintus lays his salt pouch on the tray as payment, this would be worth spending the last of his home wages on.
     As the wine is delivered, Quintus pours out offering the mugs to air a moment and allowing the wine to breath in the bottle for a bit longer. "While we allow the wine to air, what is the Spain of your time known for?"

 Smiles and looks at him  and looks at the wine her glass and raise to the air in same gesture. She brings it to parted lips and sips at it. She closed her eyes to enjoy the taste..


" it is over run by moors. And has good steal there and  place of education. i do not know more. "

     Quintus' brow furrows with loss, "It seems we are destined to play host to everyone before we can have our homes back. I see that England has arisen from the barbaric peoples that I fought when Caesar's legions rolled across the island. A place of refined talent and grace. Royal lines of culture seem to sound the loudest. I met Meriwether here, he is from England also. Perhaps the two of you will have much to talk about, if he is still about.<yellow>" The thought of Meriwether brought a thought, "<yellow>Are you as accustomed to tea as he was, he seemed to thrive on a dark Earl Grey I think." Raising the wineglass to his lips Quintus enjoyed the scent as he drank possibly one of the last bottles from his families vinyards.

" Wine is very good and no i not from england. France i believe. I live in Castle. One of the ladies in waiting."

She smiles and sips at the wine

///From:????

Gallus walked into the game room refreshed and relaxed. His power armor and jetpack had been deposited upstairs and was stowed. His frame was still large, but sturdy and leaner than before. His streaks of grey were less noticeable without the red armor, but not gone. His power sword and bolter still hung at his hip. He rubs his hands as he enters. "It seems that changing has cost me a game."

     Looking up at the goliath's appearance Quintus says, "Boone had to step upstairs. Captain Gallus of the Space Marines, I would like to introduce Lady Alexis Con De Leon, she is French."

 Looks at the being that walked in and  looks almost frighten and  looks away  quickly.

Gallus chuckled at the woman's reaction. "I know that my age as taken its toll, but my scars are not that disturbing I didn't think. If you think these are bad," he said as he pointed to several different scars," you should see the ones that are not obvious."

 She drinks some more. She was in medevil like dress very elegant and regal.

" I am sorry sir. i do not meen to be rude. but this all new to me. Your not from my time . i do not know how I have gotten here"

     With a smile that is comforting instead of condescending, Quintus lays his hand on Alexis' hand. "It shook the big guy here pretty hard when he first got here, he wasn't sure he would be able to get to his men. Once he left and returned he had not only made it back to his men, he had fought alongside them for a score of years and returned a Captain, having left a Sergeant. There is hope, and chances are, you will go back to your time when you choose to leave, but as for now, think of it as a pleasant jaunt away from sanity. Enjoy, talk with the lizards like you did as a child, believe in monsters and heroes, races of dark skinned men and the underworld. Or the gods on Olympos high looking down and meddling in our affairs.`
     This will help you cope to start, then after, remember that each person you spoke with was real, and take into account their life as they have shared it. This will make you royalty, courteous and just even among the horrid and gruesome, contemplative and able to see all sides of the issue. Not only willing to see things from the other point of view, but unable to consider that there is only one side to any story. That will open options for your maid. Did you say you were with your handmaidens, or that you were a handmaiden of higher ranked nobility? If you are the handmaiden, then give your experiences here as a dream of sorts with a thousand tales. It can be used to open your Lady's eyes as well. No man rules upon high alone, and  the best men, have greater women behind them. My wife was such, though they killed her as they took our lands. Remember, no land comes free, all conquest is done on the backs of the "barbarians" who have lived there previously. And the only thing that makes a man a barbarian is that he does not share the conquering people's beliefs."
     Noticing how wordy he had become talking with the lovely young woman, Quintus releases her hand, thinking how his daughter may have grown to be like her. Lifting the pitcher of wine he fills the two wine goblets and his own belt mug. Offering the mug to Gallus, Quintus redirects,"I ramble on as a whitebeard near the fire, Gallus please join us for a drink, and I will continue this conversation and work you over, there on the uh, playing field there." the boast is hollow since Quintus knows little about the game and can't even remember what the pool table is called.

 Smiles and blushes when he took her hand. She  smiles when he realses her hand.

' Sir It is all right. i do  like listing to you speak. you speak well.  I am noble but i work for one higher then I"

She smiles at him and looks  at the other man and nod sher head

     A powerful pride rises in the older nobleman, age, power, and majestic bearing returning to his war slumped shoulders. "Then may I impart a bit of vision that my father gave me, but I was unable to invest. You are in a unique position to see both sides of the coin. You have nobility, but serve those of richer blood. You are servant, and lady, each in equal measure. You must influence the few, though they stand on the shoulders of many. Take all you see under your house, it is a great responsibility, but only in this way can you move the world. With a word guide those who will not be ruled, with action show those who will not act, and with Faith, accord thyself for those you shall never meet. I understand that being a woman, you may not have the choice of who you shall be wed, but whomever it is, guide and support him, and bring others to follow him and you will do well all your days. My mother gave my sister this advice before she went to her marraige bed after her wedding. I have seen the truthe of it, for she married a man with many hidden faults. I feel I can call him friend though when it was all said and done."
     Quintus stands and claims a stick from the rack. Looking all the more rediculous for having grabbed the bridge. "Gallus, crack the balls and let us get on with this game."

"Aye, let's."

Gallus retreived his own stick from the wall and tested its length. It was of course small in his hands, but he held it with ease and grace. He looked at his arms for a minute then turned back to Quintus.

"I fear I may have the advantage in reach. That means you break."