Sarkalor looks at the man addressing him and his friend. Seeing no reason to refuse, he says, smiling: "Sure, be welcome to sit here. And if you are done haggling, I would like to know if the owner is interested by some furs in exchange for a room and a mug of beer!"

Petronax looks at the 'beer' dubiously and says "he seems to be ready to get rid of this, I can't think why."

Settling on the bench Petronax drops his legionary helmet next to him and sighs as he pulls his armour off. His little dog sniffs Sarkalor's boot. The veteran has another pull of his beer and says "we're just in on the caravan, we'll pay off here rather than stand guard on the stalls as Orestes here has business at some place further east, not sure where it is. What brings you to Elkoi, are you a local?"

Orestes nods at the man when his name is mentioned and sits down with his beer next to Petronax. He slowly removes some of his armour and places it on the seat next to him, getting comfortable for a night of drinking. Taking a sip from his beer he sits back not wanting to interrupt Petronax and this new man.

"I'm from Jonston myself. Sarkalor is the name, and I came in as you, guarding a caravan it seems. Are you from around here yourself?" answers the Sartarit, keeping an eye on the owner, still wanting to know if he is interested in furs.

"Sartar?! You're a long way from home. Orestes here is from the Sartar Sun Dome, he might know your people. Me, I'm from Tarsh but years in the auxillia lost me my accent." Petronax stretches his feet out, Scylax has already curled up under the bench and is asleep despite the noisy tavern. Petronax says quieter "the prices here are high, can't see why as it's so out of the way. I guess they think us outlanders are made of silver."

He has another tentative go at the beer, his forehead creased with an unhappy and dissatisfied frown. He'd really been looking forward to a good drink.

"Yeah, I did my tour in the auxiliary legion, it's the only way to get your citizenship without joining the seven mothers. They make it hard for you, you can get out earlier if you go initiate but my ancestors would never forgive me if I forswore them for some god so I stuck it out. And in the end I didn't settle in the empire anyway" he smiles.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:33, Sun 05 Feb 2023.

A serving girl seeing Sarkalor with no drink stop at the table "Would you like to order a drink and some food, sir?"
This message was last updated by the GM at 22:03, Thu 02 Feb 2023.

Sarkalor listen with interest to Petronax before the maid arrive. "Some drink and food, sure, the best you have! Will you accept some furs in exchange? Or where can I sell them?" he asks back.

In reply to Sarkalor (msg # 22):

"It's pork mostly, all different cuts but the knuckle is really good. I'll bring you one of those. Moraring usually accepts furs as long as they're not mouldy or rotted." The serving girls says.

On entering the Tavern Sabrina looks over the taproom in some hope of finding an empty chair, if she sees one, it will soon be occupied if not well a spot near the bar will have to do.

In reply to Sabrina (msg # 24):

There are 3 men sitting at a table with some free seats. It is an odd group, a lunar a Yelmalion and an Orlanthi. They all appear to be chatting. At a different table a Balazaring hunter sits alone at a table with plenty of empty seats at it.

not wanting to intrude on what could very well be a private conversation between a bunch of men, it is the table with plenty of chairs and the hunter for her.  Sitting down at a set across from the Hunter with barley a glance. "mind if I sit here" she asks "not that it matters if you do. There are hardly any other seats currently available so it is either me or whoever is next through the door."

"Please do take a seat," says Votlung, "you have the look of a warrior, is that your trade?"

In reply to Votlung Stands Tall (msg # 27):

"no! that is my hobby I am trying to get a gig as a mercanary.  The life style sounds just right for me.  How about you?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 06:51, Mon 06 Feb 2023.

"I just want to get out of this city," Votlung stretches his long body out. "These walls don't suit me."

Waiting for his meal, Sarkalor goes back to talking with Petronax: "Why are you so bent into acquiring the citizenship here?"

listening to Petronax chatting away to our new friend. taking another sip from his beer, surprisingly wincing less he looks up as a woman entered the inn. starting to glance away he suddenly takes a small look back as something catches his eye. He has seen few Yelornans in his time but she was unmistakably one of them. They tended to keep to themselves and the priests in the temples whenever they visited the sun dome. "this could be interesting" he thinks to himself.

"Citizenship here?" Petronax looks a bit confused "I already am a citizen, of the empire. Elkoi is a subject kingdom but not really in the empire."

"But really, after the comradery of the legions who could squat in a shop hammering out horseshoes and hinges in some back street for the rest of their life? It gets to you, this life. Still, a young wife, a position of respect and projects varied and interesting, that would be fine. But those are dreams for the end of the day under the awning with a cup of wine, it's not what life is really like. One still dreams though. Would a big fat swag of loot from a campaign buy me into a position as an engineer somewhere? I can only hope."

In reply to Petronax (msg # 32):

The serving girl returns with beer and food and places it in front of Sarkalor. "Moraring says he'll take your furs, show them to him when you've finished and he'll give you a price."

Sarkalor nods at the maid, then looks expectantly at his plate and starts eating. "So the plan is to become rich first, then decide what to do, right? Sounds interesting. Do you have any prospect on how to make it happen?" he asks, half laughing half chewing.

"Well, I've heard things about Balazar. Interesting things." Petronax leans back and Sarkalor might guess that he's wondering if he should the rumours with him.

On the table next to Petronax, Orestes and Sarkalor 2 citadel warriors are getting into a loud drunken argument.

"No, no, no! Grink you're wrong. Elkoi DID build this place and he made the giants do it."

"You're talking shit Jepper, how could a little man force 1 giant to do it, never mind 3."

"By Elkoi you're dense. Everyone knows he had a magic ring that forced them to do his bidding."

"Really? Where is this ring then? Why is no-one else bossing giants around?"

"It was buried with him wasn't it?"

"Well surely someone would have dug it up by now."

"No-one knows where his tomb is do they. There's one in the citadel but divinations say its empty."

"define the term ring. There are many sizes of rings from the ring of a bell to a ring of mountains... why not have a ring of enemies surrounding a city."
the amazon mutters with a sigh.  this argument does not seem likely to end peacefully
a malicious smile creeps across her lips at the thought of keeping the peace by firmly persuading some men to go to sleep.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Tue 07 Feb 2023.

Orestes raises his eyebrows at the words of the argument next to them and tried to get petronax's attention. He sits back gently sipping his beer, the taste of it gone as he commits the details to memory... magic ring... giant control... tomb in the citadel. With the caravan job over, there is only time on his hands, his scrolls for the Dykene temple are not urgent.

"Yeah, so as I was saying ... wait a minute." He turns to Orestes "What is it comrade?"

Sarkalor raises an eyebrow, looking at Petronax and Orestes in turn.