Izayah winked at Carmen. "Great service, delicious tastes and a beautiful view. Can't beat it here." He set five gold down on the bartop. "This oughta buy drinks for others too."

He looked at Lukas, and then noticed Tusk behind them. He nodded and smiled at Tusk. "Howdy! First round an' likely more're on me."

Turning back to Lukas. "Ain't nothin' strange. I'm a friendly guy mosta the time, an' I'm celebratin'. Even if I wasn't, I'd buy you a drink since we don't know each other, an' sharin' a drink t'gether's a good way t'get t'know people better."

He headed to a larger table and sat down. "Whether you wanna sit down with us or not, your first ale's free regardless." He let out a chuckle.

Verbannt sat down at the table, seeing the others begin to walk in and making sure there was room for them.

"You have been here since the beginning."

It was a statement, not a question.

"Yet we have never ranged together. I am Verbannt."

He eyed the man's longbow, nodding appreciatively.

"A hunter then? What do you feel towards wolves?"

Never one to turn down a free drink, Tusk places another 3 gold next to Izayah's stack.

"Much appreciated. When those run out, this should cover the rest. Barkeep, do you have any stout? It's a little like ale, so if that's all you have, I'll settle."

Finally, he isn't short on coin, and can carouse a wee bit. He follows the others to the squat table, taking his place on one of the low benches.

He looks over the man and his larger companion, a veritable giant with goblin-like features.

"That trick of turning into a wolf is pretty impressive. Would that we had some of your kin, the campaign against Varna would have been measured in days rather than months. Is that a part of your blood, or payment of a kind?"

"I stole the curse of Skinwalking."

Verbannt answered the man bluntly, taking a pull from his mug. It looked tiny in his enormous mits, but his massive fingers were dextrous.

"Stolen from the blood of Tidelan Wavyrus, who walks with rage."

He added.

"We have have words, and come through stronger for it."

His accent was strange, clearly of the Southern tribes, but he sounded almost surprised by the revelation.

"Skinwalking, eh? Curious term. Sounds quite peculiar to have your skin walking all over the joint." replies Carmen. "Me, I prefer to let my feet do the walking."

She brings a large tray to the table, loaded with all of the alcohol that had been ordered. There was no stout, but the ale was decent. "If there's call for it. I'll see what we can import." she says, touching the crystal that she had bound at her neck.

As Carmen walked, her cloak flowed behind her, tendrils seemingly touching some of the tables as she walked past. Those in the know knew that Flint was her constant companion, hanging from its resting place upon her back. Several small pouches hung from Carmen's belt now, clearly new additions to her equipment.

Izayah couldn't help it. He burst with a big belly laugh at Lukas' question. He slapped the table once as well even. "Oh. Oh man. See, we just met, but if ya knew me, that'd be funny s'hell." Still grinning and trying to stem the chuckling. "I been out on quests several times now, since I was one o'the first batch of adventurers that come up here. Aside from, I think, one mission? Every single time, I got attacked by wolves, dire wolves, WIN'ER WOLVES. I mean, it's like I attract 'em or some'in! It's crazy!" He let out another, but smaller, laugh and shook his head.

He then shrugged, calming down. "I don't harbor no animal ill will, though. I only kill 'em if I need meat or they attack me."

He listened to the conversing about wolf transformation and skinwalking. "That's damn cool. Wish I could do it." Then he hung his head and started laughing again. "Sheeet. Actually, knowin' MY luck with wolves, they'd be comin' after me for some OTHER TYPE'o action, male an' female BOTH!" He let loose another belly laugh and leaned back in his chair.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:50, Tue 14 June 2022.

Tusk seems unusually thoughtful as he listens to Verbannt, sipping at his ale. If agitation is present, he hides it considerably well.

"Interesting that you find it a curse, as it seems like a boon in the right hands. Still, even with the same end, not all means are the same."

The man continues listening to Izayah regale his wolf-stories, chuckling as he does, although his eyes widen slightly at the last line.

With a degree of mirth imparted by the ale, Tusk laughs boisterously. "If I find myself afield with you, hunter, I shall keep an eye out for their kind."

A giant of a person ducks through the door, almost crouching to admit his 8' tall frame.  Standing inside the shop, his head sucked to avoid the rafters, he booms out.  "I am looking for the keeper of this Hall.".  His deep voice filling the space.  He wears a suit of chitinous plates reinforced with metal.  They seem to have once belonged to a pair of centipedes of massive size.  Across his back is a maul, and a sheaf of 5 javelins.

"I be she, unless you're looking to kill me, in which case I'm just a humble bounty hunter." replies Carmen from her seat with Izayah and the others.

"Then perhaps a pack of trained wolves is not for you."

He said, the low growl that accompanied his words only revealing itself to be a chuckle on the last notes.

"But will it not be beautiful to see them hunt by my side?"

This question he directed to Tusk. It was possible that they had already seen him at the edge of town in his homestead, training the quartet of wolves that he had brought back with him from the woods. It was even possible that they had seen him with his new prize, the fledgling, though their eyes would have needed to be sharp indeed.

"Perhaps the word 'curse' is not right."

He added, staring into his ale.

"For it is one I sought to claim for myself, even though I had previously been found unworthy. I did not have it within me when first I tasted the blood, but Tidelan's blood woke it within me. He is stronger, I would think, being a Warrior."

He bared his teeth.

"I am a Hunter, but I am something else too. I am still walking that path, and do not truly know where it ends."

He paused when Sovok entered, staring at the being who stood taller even than he.

"I will have a pitcher of mead Hallwarden.".  He states boldly, then spying Lucas his expression turn guarded, having not seen him in the fight.  "You have a prisoner?  Or do you need that one slain?". He states to Carmen, his broad hand seeming ready to grab his maul.
This message was last updated by the player at 08:39, Wed 15 June 2022.

Tusk takes in Verbannt's words thoughtfully, working his way through his drink. "However you came by it, it's a useful trick to be sure. I have little notion of a man's worth, save how he treats others and performs his job. Perhaps you just weren't ready before."



Tusk looks up at Sovok's sudden arrival.
"I know what you're thinking, but I'm a guest here, same as you. Now's the time for celebration, not making fun of the little guy. Why don't you pull up a really ... high chair and join us?"

Izayah grinned at the group but did listen to what was said, not just waiting for his turn to speak, but genuinely wanting to get to know new people over a drink. He chuckled and shook his head at the 'trained pack of wolves'. "T'each their own."

When the 'giant' came in, he idly wondered if trouble were apart to start, so one hand drifted down to the hilt of one of his rapiers under the table. But he kept the other on the table and took a swig of his ale.

He sighed at Sovok's possible racial assumption, unless it was a joke and he and Verbannt were friends, but Izayah didn't really know either of them to be able to tell that. He wasn't sure where things were going with the new arrivals and the people at the table with him, so he stayed ready.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:33, Wed 15 June 2022.

"Be at peace, Craig Guardian."

Verbannt said to Sovok, using a title of respect from his kind to the Goliath.

"Your maul and my fangs drank deeply of Red Foot blood together."

Verbannt had seen the massive warrior during the fight, albeit only briefly.

"Now is the time for drinking, and for plans."

His eyes tracked back to Tusk.

"Should you wish it, Tidelan bore me no ill will for taking what the Red Foot had spilled. If you wanted to seek to claim Skinwalking for your own, you could ask him for a trial."

The words were strange, but it was clear Verbannt had meaning to them.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Wed 15 June 2022.

"Then we will need more MEAD!". Sovok bellows enthusiastically, seemingHallwarden bring forth the MEAD!  We FEAST tonight!". He bellows at Carmen, laying down a fistful of gold coins.  "And bring a fresh pig set to roast!"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:50, Wed 15 June 2022.

Tusk was typically pretty resilient to such things, but even he recoiled a bit at the suggestion of consuming Tidelan's fluids, even if the act offered the possibility of the kind of power displayed by Verbannt. The Genasi had always seemed a little extra moist to the mercenary, which made the task seem both potentially easier -- and more revolting -- all at the same time. Perhaps the bugbear had it in him; Tusk did not. He certainly ate his share of flesh, but eating part of something sentient seemed to him to be somehow unwholesome. People could create, and reason, and philosophize (especially Tidelan!). People had recognized the gods, and developed ideas about Creation: the origins of everything.

Tusk just couldn't rationally even consider such an act as drinking the blood of his fellows.

"Your offer is kind, but I think I shall pass. I'm not certain how his gifts would combine with my own, and I'd rather not find out. It is enough that you are on my side now, I suppose."

He finishes his ale, and orders a second.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:19, Sun 19 June 2022.

Izayah slowly, and casually, pulled his hand away from the hilt of his sword as things seem to calm down. But he frowned and leaned back a bit instinctively as Sovok kept yelling. He looked over at Carmen and smirked, "Yeah, Hallwarden. You heard 'im. Mead." He smothered the chuckle that emerged from his mouth and took another drink of ale.

He gestured towards the table, "Would y'like t'join us, er...sorry I don't know yer name." He stood and held out a hand. "I'm Izayah Hamadrell."

"I am Sovok, small man!". The near giant booms out, his voice seeming friendly.  His hand completely engulfs Izayahs' as he grips the man's hand.  "I will sit at your table!". He states, dragging over two chairs to fit his body.  He sits upon them, and odd site given his size, and the much smaller size of the chairs.

Carmen shakes her head at the request for mead. "No mead here yet. Give me time, I'm working on it!" she replies. "All we have right now is ale and wine. I hope to have a supplier for mead and stout arranged once I can use my crystal to good use."

She does grab more ale to place on the table, and she sits with the others.

"That battle was intense! I wonder what the mayor has planned for us now that it's over."

Verbannt moved a chair aside so that the Goliath could take a seat next to him. Sovok was larger than the Bugbear, but not that much larger. The Bugbear's physiology meant that he always had a bit of a hunch, and so rising to his full height he would still be a few fingers shy of the newcomer.

"There is no other side for me, for I am Verbannt."

He answered Tusk, and for those who spoke the Goblinoid tongue the name made sense.

"We forge our own path. For me, I seek to build on what has started here. Goblin tribes unified against the Red Foot? Such is the path, if we wish to walk it for generations. Unify the tribes, so that we have strength."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:35, Sun 19 June 2022.

Izayah blinked a few times in surprise, then slowly shook his head. "Y'know. That's the second time I been called 'small' by someone. Ain't never happened 'fore I came t'the Rimewood. I know I ain't too fond of it, an' most people don't care t'be nicknamed offa physical dif'rences like that."

He sat back down and drank a bit more ale. He looked at Carmen, "At one point I thought 'bout learnin' more 'bout brewin' an' selling liquor in town but..." He gave a shrug. "I ain't here enough. An' truth be told, I LIKE bein' outside o'town more often'n not."

He smiled then, in response to her question about the mayor. "Hopefully some'in' more excited'n guard duty, for me at least."

"There are Ogres in the wilds."

Verbannt rumbled a low and guttural growl, and it took them a moment to realize that he was laughing.

"My pack and I found one and brought it down."

It appeared he was dead serious about the pack of wolves then.

"I do not know if there are more, but a whole tribe would prove dangerous. We will need to know, when my fledging is ready I will find out. It will be many months though."

Tusk nods soberly at Izayah.

"As you'd expect, it happens to me more than I'd like to admit. An uppercut or two usually does the trick. Failing that, I bite their ankles!"

His raspy guffaw cuts through the Den's atmosphere, before he gulps down some more ale.

"Ogres, eh? Been years since I've seen their kind, and longer still since I saw them in the wilds. I was barely a man then, not much more than a lad."

His eyes go distant, focusing on some far-off memory rather than anything in actual view. He shivers in spite of the Den's warmth.

"Saw it rip the arms off one of my brothers-in-arms before we were able to put it down. They can be a bit... feisty."

Verbannt bared his teeth, as close as he could come to a smile.

"Four wolves, and I wearing the skin of a Direwolf. It was a Hunt, not a fight."

Izayah hesitated with the turn of the talk, and the assumption made. His eyes shifted to one side and then down. He cleared his throat. "...Yes. An Ogre. How'd you know?"

He kept to himself who had REALLY been the last being to call him small. And the fact that it had been a female.

He quickly changed the subject, "I wonder if there'll be more arena battles soon where Carmen can kick my ass again." He grinned at her.