The tables have been cleaned of tankards, the floor is swept and mopped, and the lavatories even have a spray of flowers in a jar.
The Barkeep is behind the bar once more, just finishing drying up someof the tankards.

*Mchugh left by most of the regulars when they left town is chatting with some of the local peasantry about the latest potato harvest*

*Book is reading a scroll marked tales of yore.*

<Tellos enters the inn, his ruined armour hanging off him, and approaches the bar>

Ale please when you've got a second, I'll be in the corner.

<He trudges to an empty table in the corner, removes his armour, takes a leather working kit from his bag and starts stitching>

*Book looks over at Tellos and arches an eyebrow* Hard fight?

Isobel walks in behind Tellos as batterd and bruised as he is.
Tellos let me get this round to celebrate your release from responcibility, I will even buy you dinner so long as it doesn't involve mushrooms, for some reason I dont think I will ever be able to eat mushrooms again

Hard! Have you ever heard of a Dracolich?

Cheers Isobel, I can understand about the mushroom thing, at least yours wasn't fully grown and you were unconcious when it erupted from your chest!

You get the dinner, I'll get the beers!

Stumbling in to the tavern, looking much the same as Isobel and Tellos, Kiran laughes abruptly as she hears Tellos' words,

"Ah don't be so wimpy Tellos! Ya got back up did ya not?" Smiling at the man, Kiran makes her way to the bar, ordering an ale before turning to Isobel,

"You wit' my skills and the soul sword now, I tink I can retire.."

Yeah I suppose, you can't keep a good man down!

Would you like to join us?

"Aye, I would na say no ta some company right now. Think I need as many round me as possible when Katz finds out about that gold dagger I "found"..."

You've not been playing tricks on him again? He was annoyed enough when he spotted you "magicked up" when we were retaking that transport circle!!

"Aye, I know. But I couldn't get him to come with us if there was no treasure at all involved. Umbrial made my dagger look like it was made of pure gold, we needed to get moving, and quickly. I don't like tricking him, but it wasn't like it was just for fun or sommert, we needed to go."

No Tellos. But it does sound BIG. *book smiles and goes back to reading his tales*

He pours out several tankards of ale and brings them to the walking wounded, looking alarmed about the Dracolich, but continues to serve.
Returning to the bar, he listens with interest.

<raises his tankard towards the barman>

Your health good sir.

cheers one and all. <takes a big gulp of what she hopes is ale and not more evil brew that tellos drinks>
Kiren If I were you I wouls stay out of Katz way I heard he was the war path because he found somthing magical at the troll city that turned all his money into dust !!!
I have never really seen him what I would call happy but oh boy I dont want to meet him in a dark alley right now.
I promise I will put the sword to good use but don't talk of retireing your too good a sword to loose and we would miss your company too.

<starts coughing on his ale when Isobel mentions Katz losing all of his money>

He what!!

Vola enters the inn looking in good shape "hi all how you doing then" heads to the bar "you got food please i need food much food and beer much beer"

Sir Niall walks into the Inn looking relaxed and clad in fresh clean clothing. He smiles at the companions present and heads to the bar to buy a tankard of mead.

"Any one else need another drink?"

At the sight of Vola heading towards the bar, Barkeeps eyes widen in horror. He turns to the door to the kitchen and yells to Cookie.
"We're going to need more food. A LOT more food. And beer, send out the order NOW.... yes, I know it's two weeks early, a very hungry troll has arrived."
He turns to face Vola's chest.
"Right, beer then." He begins to pour out several tankards, and hands the first group to Vola.
"May I ask, who is paying for these?"

[The door swings open and in walks Elsquare. Unlike many of the others who have returned he looks somewhat unscathed and exhibits only a slight wobbling gait caused by his bowlegged stance]

[He waves to Vola and approaches the bar]

"Can i have some milk please and........ yes! a bowl of stew i think. I'll be over there" [He points to the table Vola is sitting at and heads that way]

Sir Niall watches Elsquare then speaks quietly to him,

"Maybe you should see the guild of healers about your ailment."

The Barkeep pours a nice cold glass of milk, and brings out a bowl of stew. He heads over to Elsquares table and places it down.

"Aye lad, I'd get meself checked out if I were you! Ya had a bit of fun at the City after all..."

Kiran laughs as she remembers what the poor 'Elf' went through.

Sir Caelwin walks into the bar - his gait is unsteady but strong, several wounds are on his arms and face. His clothing and armour are torn in places and the blade at his hip looks worn with a dull and nicked edge.
"some ale and stew, plus some bread and cheese barman if you would be so kind." He turns to the already assembled patrons of the tavern, "I see we all made it back again although not all of us unscathed. Not sure what scared me the most, the dracolich or the fluffy bunny - not sure about the rest of you but rather thought it might turn nasty on us." Caelwin picks up his offered drink and heads for a table to rest his legs.

Ignoring the knight Elsquare thanks the barman for the food and turns to kiran.

"The poultice i put on at the time seems to have dulled the pain but i think i may be waddling for a while thanks to Ulfden"

The Knight smiles at the retreating elf, he picks up his tankard and joins Tellos at the table. Drinking from his tankard he regards the former sergeant before speaking,

"Tellos, what will you do now that your 'relation' has seen fit to have you removed from the guard?"

Isobel raises her glass in a toast
TO Elsquare may his life be long and his stamina longer, afterall Hes going to need it if he returns to the troll city

"Thankyou" he says turning to Isobel " I think we all hope for a long life, although the way some of you charge into fights I do sometimes wonder"

"As for the stamina..... I will be returning to the troll city and i'm hoping that i will not have to experience that trauma again. Hopefully it was part of the ceremony and a one off. I'm not sure if i'm quite ready to be called 'mummies little troll princess' "

[Elsquare grimmaces at the thought provoked by his last comment and visably shudders, with that he returns to his food with a distant look in his eyes]

The barman retreats to the "sanity" of the bar, and begins wiping down the surface.

Well, once I've sorted out my armour <gestures to the table> I need to find Ral Morga and have a discussion about the Warriors of Light. I have also been offered employment by another organisation, but that all depends on what I find out from Ral Morga.

Tellos Fired from the GUard?????????????????? *Book's jaw drops*.. what idiot did that?



*book starts getting cross*.. I'm begining to wonder if we are actually trying to fight the undead or if we are happy staying in our little corner.

'Why fight the undead anyway?...we're safe where we are, I don't want to sound cowardly but picking a fight you can't win sounds foolhardy to me.'

Sir Niall smiles at Tellos,

"I'm glad to hear that you will still be around. I don't care for the accusations that have arisen from our time in Escavon."

Turning to regard the kilt wearing stranger with a stern look he addresses him,

"I don't belive we have been introduced I am Sir Niall ap Tranhern of the Knights of the Code. I gather that you are new to this part of the protectorate. It would be unfortunate if you remained in these parts without being made aware of the true situation. The fact is that the power of the Life Stone is waning. We have had incursions from the undead and it does no good to pretend that they will leave us alone and hide our heads."

He stops to drink from his tankard.

"The fact is that someone needs to fight the undead or we will reach the point where it will be the T'cra and Undead roaming our world and we will be the forgotten past. I consider myself lucky that these good people have stepped forward and taken the fight to our enemies. It is in no small part due to their actions that the under-city of Goleskanev is now free from the undead blight."

*book smiles*.. I do forget sometimes.. If it was for the knighst and these other fellows.. This part of our little world would be in undead hands.. As the Lifestone no longer protects here.. and my little castle helps defend our borders.


Sadly in all the time we have been protected we've not done much. Ohh getting the numbers back up helped but really..... *book smiles*..

'Forgive me sir I forget me manners so I do, Names Gerard of the Mchughs last of the Mchughs to be precise. Pleased to be meeting yers... While I don't mean to cast doubt on yer words but if the lifestone would be failing would it not be told by the skalds and bardies of all the lands to warn the peoples such...These T'cra again I have nay heard a word told of their deeds and in all my travelling since mah wee mary was taken from me I have never heard of a city named Goleskanev.

I am sure yer are a brave man for to be a knight as you appear to be you must be brave and no doubt have bested many a beast on the battlefield by the look of yours and your friends battered armours and blades. But knights and the guard exist only to protect and to protect you need a danger. I call you not a liar but I'll need more proof before i'm willing to go beyond the barrier to fight.'

McHugh... I could give you proof.. but you'll get it by staying here a while.


As to the lifestone... well it would not be wise to tell everyone the lifestone is failing now would it. It is. If you are fine tuned to magic you could tell there is no energy from the lifestone here.


As for the Danger. The Undead is outside the Gate.. we are over populating our small land. We need to expand, we need items of power back and we need to rid the lands of the undead menance. A tall order for so few. By we know the truth, you walk a dangerious road now.. Sometimes I think this inn is cursed for those who enter it..

'Well the way aye see it, it would be a very good idea to advertise the fact. If wa you say is true and the lifestone does nay protect these lands surely the farmers, the weavers, the herders and their ilk should be told as much so they can move to the city where it's safe. Ah've got many friends up in the north still, would they want to know if they are in danger well ahm thinking aye they would and why would you want to be hiding the fact from them?'

"Pleased to make your acquaintaince McHugh. I would suggest then that you stick around. Maybe you should accompany us on our next foray? Assuming that you're either quick on your feet or good with a blade then you should still remain the the last living McHugh. What do you say, do you want to see the truth for yourself?"

'Ahm no warrior or be blessed with fingers able to make magic from nothing as some do. My duties are that of a simple carpenter but if as you say the threat is real i'll draw blade to defend this town but i'll no risk me neck beyond the barrier till I see reason to go to the enemy.'