Seeking fortune

[Mehallie]

I have entered this plaza with coin given me by my tribe, and a sturdy staff on my fist, a small knife at my side, and my belongings on my back.  For all the leagues behind me, I am not weary - my people are nomads, and we can carry our homes on our backs for many spans before we need rest.  At the moment, I merely take in the panorama of colour, texture, scent and sound around me.  It\'s staggering.  How can so many people live in one place?  Surely they must feel as if they are stifling in such crowded space, even though the sky is open above us.  If I were a lesser being, I would quail at these foreign noises, but my people often trade in such places though they do not prefer them.

I, however, am my own creature, and I find everything I see intriguing even though it is all wondrous strange...

Now, I am slightly indecisive.  What path should I choose?  I have no contacts in this city, no knowledge of guild-halls.  My people do not keep records and only the main clan-leader can read.  I was taught the rudiments of the words-that-stay which make up written language, but I know I am not good at it.  I\'m aware that there are those who see this as ignorance, but there is no helping that.  Only those who are not Enkidukai would make such a foolish assumption...but I note that there are few of our people here.

I decide to make my way to the fountain where cool water casts itself into the air by some magic I cannot ascertain, droplets forming bands of colour in the very air.  What a rich place this land must be if they can waste water in such a way!  I eye the statue with some unease, for the figure cloaked and cowled does not give me comfort - we prefer to see the faces of all we deal with, even Gods - but nevertheless, I sit at the edge of the pool and put my pack down between my feet, pondering my next move.

(OOC yep, this is an interaction thread.  Jump in as you see fit!)

[Ravenmaster]

(OOC: Mehallie, thanks for giving that info. I\'ll add in when I\'m not in class. I\'m guessing you character name is Mahallie? Since you wrote completely in first person I don\'t want to refer to you as Mahallie when that isn\'t your character name. )

[Mehallie]

((OOC: yep that\'s right  looking forward to the interaction))

[Ravenmaster]

(OOC: I began writing, then realized that I don\'t know whether Mehallie is male or female.  I\'ll assume female, if it\'s not , tell me and I\'ll just go through and edit.)

As Mehallie sat on the edge of the fountain in Hydlaa Plaza, she saw and heard a wide variety of creatures conversing, trading and the like.  She watched two dwarves arguing.  

\"No, ar people found et. We jis let you borrow the bloody thing!\" said one dwarf.

\"You lie, Tuklan, it was the Ironfist Stonebreakers who first discovered the treasure.  You folk have always been after it!\" said the other dwarf, shorter than the first.

\"How dare ye insult me family!  Yer nothin but a elf-lover!\"

\"You, you\'re lucky I don\'t have my hammer on me or yer head\'d be crammed 10 feet into tha groun\'!\"

The two exchanged insults for a short while then got into a viscous brawl.  

[Mehallie]

(OOC I soooo shouldn\'t even be sitting in front of this computer right now, but what the heck)

I frown slightly, whiskers drooping.  I\'ve never had much dealing with the short-folk, and this is one of the reasons.  My people do not interfere with squabbles - many a human that steps between two of the short-folk ends up with BOTH of them beating instead, and wisdom tells me I should merely sit back and observe for the time being, which I do, my staff resting upon my knees.

However, treasure sounds an interesting word...I hold that thought in my mind, and waiting for an opportune moment to ask  my questions.

\"Tis said...\" I say blandly, my accent seemingly quite thick in my ears round these city-folk.  \"That nothing restores brotherhood like a brawl and a drink afterwards...when you\'re ready, I\'d like to hear of your dispute, if I may.\"

[Ravenmaster]

At the sound of \'a drink\', the Stonebreaker pauses from pummeling his companion and looks up. This pause gives the Hammerwielder sufficient time to pound him int he side of the head with a clenched fist.  
With the Stonebreaker unconscious, the Hammerwielder stands up and says, \"I be Tuklan Stormhammer of the Hammerwielders.  I believe you mentioned a drink, ma\'am?\" He extends his hand upward in a hearty greeting.

[Wormtail_]

OOC: I\'m pretty new to just jumping in a roleplaying thread and just start, so I might make a few mistakes here and there.

IC: Hidden within the shadows of a building, a tall, lanky Lemur watched the fight in interest. An Enrukudai was sitting near the fountain, or on it, also watching the fight. Two Dwarves, of different clans, it seemed, were having a brawl on the streets. The Enrikudai seemed to say something, and one of the Dwarves looked up, only to be knocked down and out cold. The Dwarf then extended a hand in greeting to the Enrikudai. Unable to restrain his curiousity longer, the Lemur approached cautiously. He said to the Dwarf, \"I am Laharl Tra\'mern of the Lemurs. I saw your fight, and was impressed by your feats of strength and focus.\" He asked,\" Now, what are your names?\"

The Lemur was wearing a light leather suit, with two matching swords on either side. Both had a magical inscription on the hilt. The Lemur called Laharl, the same Lemur, wore a cloak that covered most of his body. He appeared to be a warrior, but the cloak suggested a rogue. What was he?

OOC: Laharl was not in hearing distance of the fight, so he does not know either characters name. Also, I will not put in more information about him until your character asks.

[Mehallie]

(OOC you\'ll have to forgive me not being on this thread much - I\'m waiting on a laptop which will allow me to stay in bed and waste time properly)

I frown slightly, whiskers twitching at the Dwarf who greets with hand outstretched.  There is no weapon in his hand, and of course I am not defenceless, so I grip the creature\'s forearm, though I found his blow to the other dwarf lacking in honour.  \"Crystal shine on you and your ancestors, Tulkan\" I reply in a traditional greeting, though somewhat disconcerted at the attention now.  Here is another, one of Laanx\'s children, and again my whiskers quiver.  Strangers, unknown, but of course I am in a city of people I do not know, and I am unsure of whom to trust.  It is said amongst my people that darkness always tests one first to determine whether it has found easy prey.

I incline my head, taking in most of this new one, manner of dress and all.  Weapons of a warrior perhaps, but the armour isn\'t heavy enough.  I know nothing of other paths, but as this was part of my reason for coming to this place, I suppose I must treat some as friend until they prove they are foe.

\"Laharl, First-Created, greeting,\"  I reply in my mild, purring voice, though I hesitate to give my naming.  I shrug, tail twitching somewhat as I rest one foot against my pack.  \"I am a wanderer, seeking a different path than that of war-guard or monk.  I am...unsure what that should be however, and so, I am here.\"  

I twitch an ear toward Tulkan.  \"I merely observed, I know little of the quarrel.\"  I didn\'t actually offer the Short One a drink, but if it may give insight into the difficulty, this may be information I can use to further my own interests in this new world.

All the while, I take in this Lemur\'s measure.  I dare not ask just yet what his profession may be, as I do not care yet to reveal my own ignorance of the workings of this city.  I will observe, for the time being; my people are good at this.  Till I know of good or ill, I give the Lemur our tribe\'s Lord-title, M\'ar.

\"I assume the...altercation....interested you in some way, M\'ar Tra\'mern?  Perhaps we can all make our way to a tavern to discuss the matter.\"  I hope that in this place I could find even a tiny dash of chai, but failing that, I have my own collection of spices to be combined with milk into the invigorating drink I favour.

[Wormtail_]

Laharl said, \"Greetings to you, wanderer, and to you, Tulkan of the Hammerwielders, as I take your name to be. It is a good idea to go to the tavern and discuss matters further, as long as there is no need for things to be secret. I have many questions of my own, but they can wait until we reach the local tavern.\"

\"Yes, the altercation interested me most greatly. I would usually think that two Dwarves would get along most nicely, but the fact that they are in different clans may amount to something. I am curious as to the cause of the altercation, but that can wait until we reach the tavern.\" Laharl directed the larger part of the comment towards Tulkan,. So saying, he rested one of his hands on the hilt of the sword, the other hand hanging loosely by his side.

[Mehallie]

I frown at the movement of the First-Created toward his weapon and my hand-paws clench upon my staff while I eye him suspiciously.  We are not a trusting people, but it often holds us in good stead.  I rise, taking up my pack and incline my head to both of my acquaintances.

\"Lead on, and I shall follow.\"  I say nothing about not knowing this area well, and I would prefer they were both in front of me, as I know not whether they are in league or no.  Besides, I wish to observe.   I am, indeed, here to find another profession or path other than what I am familiar with, and perhaps studying the Short  One and the Lemurian I may learn a thing or two, or find something that interests me.  It is possible I have fallen in with bad company, but \"often one learns best from the worst\".

[Kinoss]

As the three walk begin to walk the Enkidukai notices a figure dressed in many layers of clothing. This figure is completely cloaked and his face cannot be seen. Standing a top battlement on a wall he watches them. The Enkidukai is distracted for a moment and looks away from the figure, when she looks back he is gone.

[Wormtail_]

Meanwhile, the Lemur named Laharl led the Enrikudai and Dwarf to a nearby tavern. They entered the noisy and somewhat smelly tavern, and Laharl then asked a nearby waiter to guide them to a table with three chairs, and was far away from the most drunk of customers. The waiter guided them to a seat in the corner, and the table had four chairs.

Oh well, thought Laharl, someone else may come and join us. It doesn\'t really matter, I suppose.

Each of \'person\' then seated himself or herself at a seat. Laharl waited for the others to make their orders, and waited himself until the other two made their orders. He leaned back in his chair and observed the rowdy crowd in the tavern.

(OOC: If there are any edits others wish for me to make, like the ones regarding where we are sitting, then I will edit this post. By the way, should we have an extra OOC thread?)

[Ravenmaster]

The three sat around the table for a bit.  The enkidukai and the lemur made idle chat as the dwarf guzzled mug after mug of ale.  Eventually, after he had saturated himself with about twice his body weight of alcohol, he began to loosen up a bit.  Melhallie, who had been waiting patiently asked him about the treasure he had spoken of.  The dwarf began to speak:

\"WeLll, yersheemish, thergrashbrrrr sklabof! Uh... Thersha dish tresssher an itsh all gratanshtuff.. Themsh shtonebrakstershers iz alweez troshkabla! steel eniet an shezh thatsh therrsvbgla.  Amshlokshslopp...\" He paused to take a drink, then another, \"Gablaaaashklop grrrn klaugnipzla.  Sepgrebllidok--\" At this point he collapsed and fell to the floor.

[Wormtail_]

Laharl listened as the Dwarf tried to explain about his treasure. He failed miserably, however, and fell unconscious. Great , thought Laharl, there\'s a drunkard at this table. I wanted to have gatten away from them... He sighed, and took out a book from his bag of \'stuff,\' and looked through the pages while searching for a magical or physical cure for drunk Dwarves.

EDIT:

IC: A few minutes after looking through the book, Laharl grew bored and decided to go the easy way. He took out both swords, and slapped the Dwarf with the flat of the swords, while concentrating on forcing the Dwarf to rouse into consciousness. The rubies on his sword grew a bright red for a split second, and the Dwarf, when slapped, rose slowly and groggily to his feet. \"I\'m afraid you will not be able to get another drink,\" said Laharl, \"until you prove your worthiness by telling us what you told us would tell us.\" Laharl sheathed one of his swords, but kept one unsheathed and held it ready, mainly to look threatining.

[Ravenmaster]

\"Aahh, washat? I\'sh gotshta tell ye what you told me I told you I\'d tell ya? Watshu talkin about? Who\'zh ish ya ennywaiz?\" At this point the other dwarf barges into the inn, the lump on his head visibly throbbing.  He lets out a yell and runs at his ale-saturated companion and aggressor.