PM to join [The Rearing Stallion] Inn trouble (Hender)

[Scarlet Evony]

37th of Spring, 513 AV

How was it that she always managed to get in trouble in this blasted place? The afternoon usually brought stragglers in the Rearing Stallion, most looking to have a quick drink or something else. Scarlet was only here for the company usually, not that she minded free drinks. Only this time, everything had went differently. The person she had met, a quite moody Vantha, was starting to take out his problems onto her. He was being aggressive, shouting, and having a rude attitude overall, but the probability was violence was going to erupt soon. Nonetheless, she wasn't really up to taking this risk.

"Look, I'm sorry this happened. I didn't guess you'd be here to hook up girls... No, I'm not interested... Look, I think those alcohol vapors are a bit too much for you. Now if you don't mind. I think I'll be taking my leave." Scarlet stood up from the table, followed by the shambling Vantha. Just as his hand grasped hers, she reached for the counter to the closest man who looked strong enough. She hoped that this ruse would work. "Oh, hey there Titus. Long time no see? Listen, I'm in a bit of a mess. This man insists that I should come with him, but I feel that he's being aggressive..." Mid speech, the drunk man took a quick glance at the complete stranger Scarlet was talking to and departed in the same way, throwing a couple of silver mizas on the table.

Scarlet exhaled in relief. "Thank anyone who made him drunk enough to fall for that." She looked at the man, who probably was confused by her sudden intrusion. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you, sir, but I was in quite a pickle. If anything, I would like to let me thank you existence at this very place, otherwise this would've ended pretty nasty here." She eyed the man, top to bottom. His skin color resembled that of the Isur, but Scarlet had never met one in person. Her curiosity awakened in a glance, but she kept quiet about it, as for now. "What's your name, so I can thank you properly... Titus." She said with a smile

[Hender]

Hender stared into the half full pitcher, lost in his own thoughts. He didn't usually occupy the tavern before evening but his morning had been especially stressful. He still wasn't halfway through what he had been commission to forge at the metal works, and the apprentice assigned to help him was as much use as a Zith counselor. So after completing his 7th order, a rather fiddly iron pendant in the shape of a dagger, he decided that enough was enough and he would unwind in the tavern. Besides he could go back in the evening, his preferred working hour. The rearing Stallion was fast becoming his favorite Inn. He enjoyed the warmth and the atmosphere and usually there was so many people in the establishment that he could just blend into the background and enjoy a beverage in peace. However this afternoon was not one of those times. Hender was brought out of his thoughts by someone tapping his shoulder. He didn't have time to take in the features of the person that had requested his attention before she, as he had seen enough to know that they were a she, started talking to him.... like she already new him. He looked at the women a frown furrowing on his forehead. Why was she calling him Titus? Did he know this women and had forgotten her? No that wasn't possible his memory was good, sometimes too good. He didn't even notice the otehr man until he turned and left the Inn grumbling and throqing a few coins onto the table to cover his tab. And now the women was thanking him! For what? Hender was confused, non Isur's still confused him he couldn't understand their mannerisms and oddities. However he felt it polite to respond to the woman's question non the less and he was curious to have her intrusion explained. "My name is Hender. Well you can thank my workload and incompetent apprentice for my presence here this afternoon. But please enlighten me. What just happened?!?". He looked at the women trying to decipher any clues on her that would inform him of her reasons for speaking to him.

[Scarlet Evony]

Scarlet finally settled in her place near the Isur. She laughed lightly at his reaction, trying to wave it off. “Well it just happens there are a lot of odd people around here. I’m a person for mingling and well, there’s some situations when you brush off on the wrong persons… This was such a situation, and I’m glad I found you… I guess. It’s perhaps the oldest trick in the book.” She examined the man thoroughly before continuing. “My name is Scarlet. Pleasure to meet you.”

In a matter of seconds, she was already trying to get the most out of Hender. “So, you’re an Isur, right? I’ve never got to talk to one before. Is it true that you harbor secrets on metal smithing? If it’s true, why would you need an apprentice? Wouldn’t you be better off alone?” Her questions poured down as an unsuspecting torrent on the man, her innate curiosity reverting to that of a child. “I’ sorry. That must be rude. Okay, let’s do this. You answer one of my questions, and I’ll answer one of yours. I guess I’m still jumpy after that encounter I just had.”

[Hender]

The strange woman laughed, obviously amused by his confusion, and sat down next to him. The woman had long light brown hair and her dark blue eyes shone in the light of the inn. Even before she sat down, she was talking. Hender had never heard someone speak so fast! the words seemed to flow out of her mouth like a river from the mountains and Hender had to really concentrate to catch everything she said. She asked a string of questions, but before Hender had time to register what she set let alone reply she had apologized and suggested a strange questioning game. Hender was not sure what to think. He just started at the women, waiting for the torrent of words to finish. When she seemed to have stopped he gave her a quizzical look and replied "I am indeed an Isur. Yes my kind are known for their metal smithing. And yes i would be better off without an apprentice however without apprentices my craft would die out, however much they may inconvenience us." Orkis decided to humor the woman, asking a question in response. "And you are a human? How long have you been in Syliras?"

[Scarlet Evony]

The question didn't take Scarlet by surprise, and was prepared, as always, to lie in the event this came up. She brushed off an innocent laughter while looking him straight in the eyes and responding "Of course I'm human. I mean, there's not much else I could be, right?" She gestured to the bartender for a cup of water before going on. "Sometimes I just tend to get a bit imature or giddy. After all, it's the first time I get to talk to an Isur."

"As for how long I've spent in Syliras, I guess I could say it's been my home for my entire life. The city and its surroundings. I try making my living as a hunter around these parts. Spring is one of the seasons the prey tends to get pretty bountiful." The slip wasn't much, not like anyone could tell her Kelvic nature from just one word. "So, how long have you been here is Syliras? Did you manage to set u;p a working business around these parts?"

[Hender]

Again Hender struggled to register the barrage of words that came at him so quickly from this excitable woman, his mind takeing a moment to compute and process what she was saying. No i guess there isn't anything else you could be other than a human, not that I really know much about other races that is. Hender turned to the bartender in an attempt to order another drink whilst Scarlet signaled for hers, but before he got a chance she was talking. Again! Hender raised his eyes to the ceiling as he turned back to face the woman.'Izurdin let my patience be plenty' he thought listening to the woman again. Hender had just processed the answers to his questions as she asked her own: 'So, how long have you been here is Syliras? Did you manage to set u;p a working business around these parts' Hender frowned at the question, he did not like talking about himself. However since he had asked the same of the women it only felt right too answer "I have been here for 37 days now. I did not choose Syliras it seemed to choose me" He did not elaborate on why it chose him as he felt this was dangerously close to his past, something he was not going to discuss. "No i have not set up a business, I work in the Ironworks forging the items this city needs to function" Hender had previously not thought of setting up his own business however the idea appealed to his ambitious side and he kept a mental note of it for later. Despite himself Hender was enjoying the exchange with the woman. She was peculiar and was open about her emotions and feelings, almost the total opposite to the Isur that Hender had grown up around. And indeed he found himself asking some questions of his own: "So were is it you hunt? It is something i have not really encountered before I left my home. What do you hunt with?" Hender was interested to know more about her hunting, especially what equipment he used as the smith was always keen to learn now items to forge

[Scarlet Evony]

What kind of a question was that? Well, somebody who didn't really know the city had an excuse: Nobody really bothered to explain where the food in Syliras came from. It was only natural to go down to the Bazaar or have a warm meal at the Stallion or the Coin without ever wondering how or where they were stocking from. Scarlet was more than pleased to clarify it for him. "I hunt in the Bronze Woods. There's a lot of little animals out there that in here are counted as delicacies. Other than that, it's a pleasure tracking down your average rabbit or deer."

As the cup of water Scarlet had ordered reached its destination, she immediately took a sip out of it. It was refreshing having something to go with all the questions. She gave the Isur a wink. "As for what I hunt with... Trade's secrets" She gave a small laugh before turning the question back upon him.

Before that, though, she took some time to examine the muscular form in front of her. Surprisingly, he was a bit shorter than her, though she doubted that she would be able to wrestle him if she ever got in a bar brawl with him. It's funny how those thoughts just on the top of your head can have such an outcome... Odd. Instead, she inquired about his arm. "What's so special about that oddly colored arm of yours? Is that what you use for smithing?"

[Hender]

The bronze woods. It sounded like a mysterious place and already Hender was forming images of what it looked like in his head. Towering red tree's thick with bark and foliage, catching the evening light and looking as though they were made out of bronze. At least that's what Hender's imagination told him, for in reality he had no idea what they looked like, it was just a logical explanation he could think of for the woods to have their name. As Scarlet sipped her water Hender saw his opportunity to gain the bartenders attention and signal for another pint of Ale, after all his throat was dry and more ale might help him shrug of the antisocial feelings that usually prevailed within him. 'Trade secrets'. Secrets was something Hender understood well, he had plenty of his own, so he would not push the woman further on the topic. Even though the sly wink and grin made him wonder if she was hiding something. The question about his arm did not overly surprise him, after all it was the first thing you notice about an Isur. However it being described as odd Irked him a little. "I see no oddities with my arm. It is a gift from my God, he created us in his image and throught this gift we represent him and his values. I am linked with my God through my arm, something other races cannot claim. Such is Izurdins gift that I can indeed use it in my craft". Hender looked down into his mug of ale, annoyance on his stone liek face. He sighed and took a big swig of ale. He chastised himself in his head :Izuridin teaches patience, it is not her fault that she is ignorant of my link to my God, just as it is not my fault i do not know what the Bronze woods look like, or what she hunts. He took another long gulp of his drink and turned his head once again to look at her. "So tell me, what do the Bronze woods look like?"

[Scarlet Evony]

The Kelvic was happy enough to talk about her place of birth and home. "It's.... I guess I can say it's beautiful. I don't care what most people say about it, I still see it as a place very dear to me. It's pretty nice in spring, but I believe you can get the entire feeling of the woods just as the autumn starts. That's when you see what they mean by "Bronze". I guess you would enjoy it there." She kept quiet, silently looking inside her cup trying to find more words to describe her home.

"I usually enjoy being around the part further away from Syliras. The part where the name stops matching reality. You can only find fir trees and pines there. The bronze actually tends to become a bit of green. But that's the part where the most fun happens. The ones who only keep around in Syliras are missing out. Big time" She gave herself an honest smile while her reflection did the same in the cup of water.

"As for being linked with your god through your arm, some could be closer to that than you think. Just because they don't brag about it, it doesn't mean they don't find pride in their achievements." Her palm shifted slightly on the cup, hiding the faint glow emanating from Priskil's gnosis mark. Her own trust required it now, but decided to remain strong without it, in her name. "Though I can't say I have a god. I usually pray to her, but she's not mine to pray to. I respect her, as a friend, as an equal, as a helper and as what she is. I could never be where I am without her."

"Only, I guess, people are different. We both see our duties and our links differently. I couldn't imagine how it would be, seeing it like you... I probably wouldn't be the same person. But I do understand and respect those decisions you make.

[Hender]

Hender listened keenly as Scarlet described the woods. Hender had been near woods on his journey to Syliras. They had seemed huge and uninviting, not at all how this woman was describing them. Enjoy it there? Hender wasn't sure but maybe one day he would visit. Maybe. Hender stiffened at the woman's cutting words. Hender did not overally understand her sudden displeasure. He had not meant to brag, merely state that his arm was not 'odd' but a link to his God and a constant reminder that he is in his Gods image and that at all time she represents his race and his God. Perhaps to those that were not as obviously and as closely linked he could have come across as bragging, but it is not my fault that my God is pride of his race and gifted us with his image. Hender shifted uncomfortably and looked at the woman "I did not mean to offend you however i will not apologize for being proud with what my God has gifted me and I will not shy away and try and hide it. It is mine to be proud of and proud I shall be" He kept his eyes leveled at the woman for a moment after finishing his sentence then turned his attention back to the Table and his drink.