The tavern is empty, the fire lit and the beer getting warm. Gordon is cleaning tankards with a dubious looking rag.

Sir Val walks casually into the Inn, wearing his normal black tabard and cloak to ward off the chill wind, his mace aside, but looking clean apart from muddied boots.

To the barman he beckons;

"Some water if you please kind sir. Very quiet in here tonight, I hoped I have not missed anything whilst I have been meandering about on other errands?"

Gordon shrugs and pours some water into a tankard.
"Dunno Sir, maybe everyone is wrapped up in bed away from this awful cold."
He shudders, and wanders over to put a couple of extra logs on the fire.

Over in the corner Lazarus tips his hat up,

"An ill wind this cold does bring, Hopefully it is a good omen and not one of ill. Who may you be?"

"Thank you kind sir, the weather may vary and be chilled now, but we need not wait too long for the winter chill to make its end."

He turns towards the new voice.

"Well met there sir, my name is Sir Vallée des Dieux, or as most call me, Sir Val. Whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

He walks over toward the new stranger, and motions a slight bow of respect and smiles pleasantly.

Meiko walks into the inn wearing a deep red kimono. As usual her Wakizashi is at her hip. She walks to the bar and smiles greeting to Gordon.
"Some Rum if you have it thank you."

She glances around as she waits for her drink and notices Sir Val and Lazarus. She takes her drink with another thank you and walks to where the two men are standing.

She inclines her head to Sir Val and Lazarus. "It is good to see you again, Sir Val. And Lazarus we meet again."

"I see the young lady has beaten me to it!"
He gestures for them to join him on his table

"I sir am Lazarus, a hunter of sorts and a finder of lost things, among other past times"

looks over at Meiko

"I see you even have good taste in clothing, I have not seen such garments before, are they a normal occurance or a ceremonial type?"

"It is good to see you Meiko, you are looking very elegant today."

"Well met there Lazarus, a hunter of sorts. Whatever prey you may hunt, I do hope you do so for the right reasons."

"Depends on what side of the fence you sit. It is always worth the hunt just some are for better reasons than others"

Meiko glances down at her attire in surprise. " This is typical garb for the females of my standing where I come from. This is what is worn when I am not in battle in my armour. If I needed to attend a ceremony then I would wear something much finer than this. But I thank you both for the compliments."

She accepts the invitation and takes a seat at the table Lazarus indicated. "Do you hunt things similar to what Kell does? As I understand it he hunts those who are trying to escape the law and its justice."

"That I do, but I also hunt those things that go bump in the night and that which make the dark seem friendly"

A grin crosses Lazarus' face.

Meiko regards Lazarus for a moment then nods. "There are many things in this world that unpleasant to say the least. The undead are a good example of this are they not?"

"You mean our own dark souls come to haunt us. There must be a balance and with everything in life, death and rebirth are a part of it. "

He seems to drift for a short while

"Many guises do our sins show themselves, jut it seems our darkest hour waits for the light to shine again!"

A man clothed in a dark robe and a hooded cloak walks into the inn and straight upto the bar, talks to gordon pays for a room and walks upstairs holding his key.

A large woman with dark hair a silver cloak and a bright smile enters the inn.
Ohh here at last, what a treck that has been,( heading to the bar) good afternoon my friend could I trouble you for a small drink and a plate of food.

Trelaine the tavern with a stagger and a swagger in his step,

'Ah...good fellow a meal and a room and erm...got any peanuts? could defiantely use some peanuts got a bit of a case of the nibbles while waiting for the meal.'

Peering around the room the odd acting tree fellow notes

'hmm not much of the regular crowd in tonight.'

Noticing Meiko

'Ah good lady, a pleasure as always' he says with a slight bow

'And my other friends of course' Giving a nod to the others he knows.

'And too all those that have yet to make my aquaintance, Trelaine et Galriain Drantharniel, pacifist and wine lover at your service...As always pleased to meet.'

<Nietta smiles at the strange chap,> looks like some one has been celebrating early or is it late ? i hear the all nighters round here are fairly spectacular. Do you have a head ache yet or are you saving that for later?

With a smile Trelaine says

'With so much future available surely it is best to save such things for later.'

Trelaine looks thoughtful for a moment.

'Does my memory fail me again or are you new to town?'

I cant comment on your memory but I am new here, Nietta is my name and very pleased i am to meet you .I am a wanderer by trade
I say that only because it seams to be the thing I am best at< She grins as though its her comments are funny>

'Then Nietta....' Trelaine staggers almost skipping across the room to the lady before gently taking her hand and kissing it. '....I am most honoured to meet a master of your trade' Making his way to a table he takes a seat...

'We are all wanderers in our own way...each step seeking out the path to our next nights bed not knowing what the route shall bring us, excitement, tedium, love, hate, battle...each day is different now matter how similar they seem at the crack of dawn and fall of dusk.'

That's very deep for this time of day are you always this insightful she signals tot he barkeep to bring another ale for Trelaine
Its very quiet in here I was told this place was full of people from many different races that they came here to band together when needed and so forth has something happend to all of them ?

Laughs, 'Deep....No, mearly an observation about the world we live in' says Trelaine. 'For we live in a world of many wonders many of which are small but it is only the large that gather the attention of the many.' accepting the offer of a drink.

'Ah Where are my friends!...many a time i have walked into this place to find a gathering of dozens of the finest warriors of the modern age but today the cupboard is bare, prehaps they have discovered a hoard of loot from ages past and have retired to the country, maybe this moment they battle undead by the dozen on some ill thought out mission or more likely they have fallen prey to age and gone for an early night. I am afraid you are stuck with myself for the time being however for I am not in an early night mood. Life is to be celebrated and time earned enjoyed.'

I Like your thinking. Life is for living l, It doesn't last that long and I do not understand these folk who sit around and do nothing with what they have, I have heard alot of you here fight the undead but surely simply living your life tot he full is combating the undead in a way as well , The joy of simply being alive and appreciating that life all around you from the blade of grass under your feet to an old woman sitting in a corner, all have value and a joy within them alls you have to do is look for it then the trick is to not let it go

'I have recently come to believe that each person should choose one purpose in life, one lofty ideal to perform. If each person manages to complete that purpose then the world would be a happier place. I have done mine now, in fact it is possible i have done far more than my fair share, it is for others to save the world I have earned some time in the sun laying out in the fields with nothing but age to threaten me.'

It sounds like you have quite a tale to tell ? and if such mighty deeds you have done then of course you deserve a rest but the undead threaten all of us and if you lye in the field for too long will you not turn fallow as the grass does or even worse will the undead not run over you and take away what you have achieved thus far. There are many mighty quests upon this land but not that many mighty hearts to walk there path

'You make a compelling arguement, prehaps a diplomat or politician lurks within that heart of a wanderer. But one day even the greatest oaks must fall to create room for the new seeds to flourish or the forest becomes stagnant and weak. As for the mighty quests prehaps those that have not yet tired of wandering this land would find themselves at home doing such deeds.'

Maybe but to use your analogy of the oak falling, It may fall but in a way it stays around to nurture the new seedlings giving them shelter and nutrition caring for them until they are strong. Now I am new here and I don't know anyone really but are your seedlings strong yet or do they still need your protection a while longer. I guess all I,m saying is do not make a hasty decision stay around for a while but hang back , see how everyone does with out you at the for, especially as you are the only person I have spoken to since getting here I would hate for you to leave so soon. perhaps you could introduce me to your friends when they return and perhaps show me round this town so i know where everything is,. Is this the only Inn ? Does it have rooms for hire as I have nowhere to stay at present and whilst I am happy to sleep outdoors in the wild I am not sure if they would allow it here in town.

Trelaien Grins...

'Fear not young lady for I shall not desert you and the people here just yet, I have after all agreed with a friend to look everywhere for something so I will not be curling up to die just yet. A promise is after all a promise, and I could not leave a stranger alone in a strange town all alone once help has been requested.'

'My friends who frequent this place will no doubt show themselves again in a while once whatever task they are doing is done. The call of a tavern seems a strong one to them many i doubt would even leave this place unless given little option. As for a place to stay this tavern I understand rents out rooms to travellers such as yourself so for a crown or two you need not worry about a roof over your head. I am not much of a guide however, the city is not my favorite place i know there area few craftsmen that ply their trade down the road and I doubt you will of mised that monstrosity of stone they call the order of sortiledges, can see that for a mile away.'

'You have not said as yet, where do you originate from? if you do not mind me asking'

Looking everywhere for something, that sounds like a wanderers dream, A reason to go from place to place your a very lucky man as well as a gent .
I did see the large building as I came in but I had no idea what it is or who it belongs too. I presumed it is the home of a local lord of some sort not the sort of thing I,m interested in really I prefer to be around less grand people all that pomp and ceremony doesn't actually allow you to get to really know folk .

'Well it's the home to the mages of this town, so if you want pomp and overly ceremonial things thats wizards for you down to the ground, not my kind of place...very cold I find, not heat wise just cold as in fake, not natural if you get my meaning. I try to avoid going there when i can and make my visits brief as possible.'

thinking for a moment he adds. 'I suppose you are right, it is a bit of a wanderers dream, Buckly my friend who asked me to help her look for this place did seem a wandering type...prehaps I have inadvertantly encroached into your area of skill.....any advice to a novice wanderer?'

<Nietta grins> Make friends,make merry, stay dry on the outside and keep the inside lubricated oh and keep your boots in good order as who knows when they have to carry you out of danger. < with this she orders another round>
Drink up dear your falling behind

*raises an eyebrow when the line keep the inside lubricated is mentioned and then suddenly realises she means drink a lot*

'Good advice all round, I'll be sure to keep it all in mind...So what prompted the wandering lifestyle?' Trelaine looks at his barely sipped drink and then at the next one being brought over and breathes deeply before taking a big swig...

Val makes a stand as Trelaine makes his introduction, "Well met Trelaine, I hope the road has kept you well.". Then takes a bow towards the new comer, "My Lady., sitting back down on the chair he takes a sip of his water.

Val looks towards Meiko, with an eyebrow raised he nods his head towards Trelaine.

"Well I never do know which mindset Trelaine has from moment to moment, he too often seems like altogether another person. I fear this isn't the first Trelaine I met."

A smile breaches his lips as he speaks with positive but confused curiosity for the one who is so infused with his closeness to nature.

He listens avidly to both conversations, paying more attention to the sly quirks of each person he has not met before.

Grins at sir Val. 'I assure you there is defiantely only one of us, but yes i am feeling far better than i have for sometime...A realisation that a great weight is no longer my burden to carry. We seem light on numbers today, the others gone travelling?'

Its hard to explain really. I guess I was happy at home My family worked hard and village life was fine no famine or hardship we heard tales of the undead but saw virtually nothing of them so we didn't really worry too much about them I used to wander off for weeks on end exploring the surrounding countryside and I used to carry messages to and from the local towns while I was at it I bought in a little extra cash when I eventually returned so no body minded too much.
then a few day ago I was in the woods behind the house and I looked up and all around to see the woods were beautiful, The vibrancy of the leaves the texture of the bark all of it so full of energy and life, it was kind of weird, I,m not sure what it means but ever since then I feel the need to travel further to explore and to find new people, so I packed my travel bag and here I am doing just that not sure what the folks will say when I don't return but I guess I will cross that bridge when I get home again.

'Yes the woods can have that affect on you, layers of beauty upon each other...from the whole forest to each tree, down to the patterns on every leaf and every flowering bush. I've spent some time hypnotised by paticularly vibrant areas, it is hard for me to come to towns such as this afterwards...but I suppose like all others i crave the companionship of others even if it does mean entering such places.'

so you think its normal then ? because it hasn't gone away I still see the beauty in living things as I didn't before. It freeks me out at times and I,m not sure what to do with it. that's one of the reasons why I came here to see if anyone else had anything like it.

Meiko looks at Trelaine in some confusion. "Have we met before? I cannot recall as you seem different?."
She looks again at Sir Val. " No matter how long I am here some things about this land I still cannot understand."

Lazarus' ears pick up

"What say you? This er man that stands before us pickled it seems from varing natural juices is not who he used to be? Could that mean he is not the man he says he is but a spy for some kind of unworldly thing or is he just 2 parts to the wind and not many have seen him loose his mind to the drink before?"

Lazarus looks puzzled at the tree covered man

He seems very nice to me I cant imagine him being of erm.. what was it you said.. some unworldly thing
can anything be unworldly and still be here surly if its not of this world then why would it be here at all? sorry didnt mean to poke my nose in but it is a puzzling question dont you think ?