[Open] Two Birchs Walk Into A Bar

[Igrainne Birch]

Igrainne didn't see the point of going to rent a room right now; she was never going to sleep again in her life! Alleria Prime was beyond competition for the biggest, noisiest, busiest, most exciting place she had ever visited. She hardly knew what to look at, or who to look at - so many people! Odd ones, too. She desperately wished to meet a gnome. But how anyone ever found anyone else in this place was beyond her. Thinking of this, she clung a bit closer to her brother's side.

"What are we going to do now? Will we have to share our room? Are we going to get something to eat?" the girl bombarded Walen with her questions.

Her sadness at leaving her family and farm was set at bay, for now, by renewed excitement. She wanted to see everything Prime had to offer.

[Walen Birch]

Walen almost chuckled at his sister. Igrainne had been a mixture of nerves and excitement ever since they had arrived. The guard had seemed to frighten her a little, or at least unnerve her, but that only lasted for a moment. The sights of the city had captured her attention, and with it, the constant questions that sprang forth from her mouth.

"We shall get ourselves a room, and yes, for one brightening at least, it would be best if we shared. This is not a place where I feel safe leaving you alone."

Perhaps he was being overly protective, but the Crown, despite its favourable reputation, was still a busy tavern. He had seen things here that had shocked him when he had first arrived. He could only imagine what it might do to his sister.
He patted her arm reassuringly before moving on towards the table where he could reserve their room.

"Serale, I am Walen Birch, and this is my sister, Igrainne." he said in introduction, motioning to his sister who was barely paying him any attention. "I would like a room with two beds, at least for a cycle, with a divider screen to give her some privacy."

The worker nodded, had Walen fill out their names in their guest book, and handed him a key. "Room number 3. I will have someone bring up a screen. The cost is 25 crowns."

Handing over the crowns, Walen grabbed the key and motioned for Igrainne to follow. Soon, they had their belongings in their room. Cry perched himself on a small chair near the window, and remained there as Walen took his sister back downstairs. He knew she wanted to go into the tavern itself, and felt he could give her this one experience before he found a location to apprentice. Finding a table near a wall and the entrance, he sat down. He watched his sister's reactions to the patrons with the tavern as they sat, waiting for a barmaid to approach.

[Kour'el Kha'Serith]

OoC: Sorry it's so late a post, don't kill me Tauro >.>

Eddies of snow drifted into the infamous Crown as Kour'el entered. So back here again. How I loathe this place. A grimace flickered across her scaled snout. The memories associated with this place weren't all that good. Sure she had meet most of her friends within these walls, but she had also been threatened by an ugly half orc, whose bones had littered the streets. Too bad the Sentinels had shown up, Kour'el would have liked to have made his demise more slow and pain filled. Call her a whore would he? Well he was now in Aeternia, keeping the demons down there company.

Or that time she had been shot. That was not fun. True it had been her fault, since she had started a brawl in the middle of the tavern for no other reason than Yha'nis had triggered her temper but still. Shooting her and her friends had been just a tad extreme. Hopefully the guards wouldn't keep record of how many people they threw out of here. That had been era's ago though, so she wasn't particularly worried. She had changed, and it was doubtful anyone would recognize her for one lousy brawl.

She made the counter, behind some soft skin pair. While she was bored, amber eyes roamed over the couple in front of her. While generally soft skins were beneath her notice and not worth her time, until she got too know them, she had nothing else too do but watch, as she waited to get a room. Adreia could fend for herself, Kour'el wanted one night away from the sarcastic draconess. A chance to relax before their mission started.

When it was her turn, the amber eyes fixed on the man behind the bar, her tail waving gently behind her. "Serale. I want a room for a cycle. It's just myself in it. No one else." Paying the fair, and taking the key, She passed through the familiar room to the stairs. In her room all she did was toss her pack on the bed, remove her cloak, check to make sure everything was in order, and her money was kept close to her. Than, locking the door as she left, she headed back downstairs. Again there was that soft skin couple, the only reason she probably recognized them was the study she had done of them before. If not, their pasty, colourless features blurred together really.

And the room was full, as it always was. Getting a table was always so much fun. Kour reflected as she stood, eyes flickering back and forth to find a table. A sigh of disgust escaped her, and she turned, heading for the table with that soft skin pair she kept seeing. In some weird way, she was familiar with them enough. Hopefully they wouldn't mind sharing the table they had snagged, with her. A hint of teeth showed as she wondered if they were the racist sort. A talon hand landed gently on the table top, the blue talons caressing the wood for a moment before retreatig to somewhere behind her back. It wouldn't do to scare the couple. At least not yet.

"Glaikat. Serale. Do you mind if I share your table? I haven't seen any others that are free." A rustle as her moved her wings. Already they were feeling restless from being cooped up in a coach, and than walking. Stupid Adreia, why couldn't she know how to fly?

[Igrainne Birch]

Igrainne's mind was still demanding to know how someone built a building with a million-zillion sides like this, and why didn't they make it four and be sensible, and was it possible to build a regular house with so many sides, and what did people want with so many darkened corner tables, anyways? But Walen had already laughed off most of her questions.

The fireplace looked inviting. It was still winter, and though it had not been a long journey from the Birch Farm, it had been a cold one. But so many people - the kind of people who looked at home with swords and scars, like people in Walen's stories - they were all crowded about the fire, and Igrainne would not have wanted to go so near. She gazed upwards as they walked into the tavern, transfixed by the candle chandeliers (she vowed to have one of her own someday, silly as it would look in her farmhouse) and by how one could stare up into the second story balcony. This wasn't a tavern; it was a palace.

She hopped into a chair next to Walen, still looking at all the people.

"I'm starving," she announced, then grinned. "Oh, Walen, Prime is incredible." As if she'd seen any of it.

When Kour'el approached, Igrainne did not know what to do. She stopped talking, and perhaps she stared a bit rudely, though the human child really had no idea who or what she was looking at. Her immediate reaction (enthusiastically urged on by her overactive imagination) was that this was obviously a great magical dragon... ancient being... thing... person. Who... well. Igrainne's imagination couldn't quite keep up with reality at this moment.

For of course she'd been educated about all the races, even if she hadn't known many of them, and she could see this was a dracon. Igrainne congratulated herself on meeting her first dracon. She wasn't sure if it was a boy or a girl, but she decided then and there that the draconperson's greenish-blueish scales were very pretty, and she should like to be colored like that if she were a dracon-girl. The dracon also had wings, and a tail! It was all very exciting.

"Serale! I'm Igrainne, and this is my brother, Walen," she introduced them. She looked to Walen to see if he would say yes. If her brother thought it was safe, then it was safe.

[Stephan Woulofen]

OOC: Hope you don't mind I'm not sure if Stephan met Walen or Kour before, if he has please remind me. I have been in threads with so many PCs over time I can't remember who I've been in threads with and who I haven't.

IC: Tomorrow Stephan would be visiting the Empress and hopefully reclaim his former glory and honor that had been stripped from him due to the trial that had greatly damaged his credibility. It had not only hurt his credibility, but it also had damaged his friendships and relationships with new family, as well as kept him from the Senate that he once had barely had to apply for. Forgetting all of that for now, or at least he would try, Stephan dragged himself away from his new home, wife, and child, for just one evening to enjoy the taste of some hard liquor from the tavern that he hadn't been to in so many patterns.

It had taken him awhile to decide what to wear for the evening, and if he had thought about it well enough he would have realized how ridiculous he was acting, but he hadn't been of totally sound mind lately to think all too deeply. The torture he had endured in Midpoint, the confinement in the extremely small cell, and the badgering he had received during court had definately taken their toll on him. However, despite all that he had no signs of age, no signs of a single gray hair, which had anybody known Stephan that well or taken that time to study him over his years, they would find this fact very odd and question his mortality.

Anyways, walking through the streets of Prime he had left all the guards back at the residence tonight besides one who followed him, although he had asked him to remain as well. The elven guard remained hidden, so well Stephan never saw him, but he had a feeling at least one guard would follow him. He had finally decided to wear military garb (looking just like the avatar to keep it short), his black obsidianite breastplate fit well with the rest of his black clothes and boots, and his dark black hair. His eyes however, and as usual, were what got the most attention because they were the finest gems one could have, reason being was that was how he had bedded so many women in his lifetime. However, that was the past, and it would remain there. He was new, reborn one could say because he was married to a woman he loved who had born him a child, a male child.

Coming upon the tavern a smile appeared on Stephan's face, the first in a long time. This place brought back so many memories, and fortunately all of those were good despite this city having left a very dark wound on his heart, a wound that the very few could understand, let alone comprehend. Opening the front door to the tavern he entered drawing many eyes on him, some obviously knowing who he was, while others saw a threat, and the ignorant saw a target because they believed all he was was a rich wussy wannabe warrior. He sure hoped he didn't have to prove those people wrong tonight, he really didn't want to get anymore attention from the authorities right now.

The tavern was crowded as usual, this was Prime of course, but he had seen far worst. Surely many hadn't returned to Prime yet or would never return after having left during the chaotic times. Making his way to the bar Stephan pushed back his cloak-like cape as he sat upon a stool. Gesturing to the bartender he ordered the tavern's special mug of ale, paid, and enjoyed his drink peacefully despite the opposite of a peaceful setting.

[Riconus Xind'ell]

OOC: Room for one more? PM me if there's a problem with that
---

An imperial legionnaire once more. Damn it. What was once a proud man who commanded the soldiers of an entire province with a steady hand had now become another faceless figure of Alleria's great legions. He took solemn in the fact that his estate and wealth still lay protected and hidden in the Lauryllian Gracelands, but it was not enough to offset the burden of joining another of the empire's militaries once more.

It was perhaps for that very reason that he decided to make the trip to the Crown Inn & Tavern, his hair now black in an attempt to hide his identity, but it was a poor effort, when more knew him for his icy blue eyes and the scar on the left side of his neck, a reminder of the Battle of Centripax against Julos the Mad, easily the greatest battle he had ever partaken.

Though the man sitting two bartstools away from him was dressed in full military garb, with a breastplate of obsidianite indicating some sort of importance, Riconus was quite the opposite, wearing a leather green tunic with the collar unfolded, taking advantage of the oppurtunity to wear casual garments before having to wear military vestments for at least another pattern. He made a mental note of the dracon conversing with the two humans to his left, but focused the majority of his attention on his paid mug of ale and the busty female servers passing by... hmm, perhaps he should have worn his military uniform after all. But it was no matter. For now, he just enjoyed the relaxation that he would be hard-pressed to find later on, raising his glass slightly to the unknown man sitting close at the bar, should he care to recognize Riconus.

[Walen Birch]

Ooc: welcome all of you to Igrainne’s first drunken experience.. I don’t think Walen has met Stephan or Kour before.. (or Riconus, for that matter hehe) [order’s Kour to do fifty push ups for being late )

Ic:

”Then order something to eat!” Walen exclaimed in response, his voice a little louder than intended.

He was not yelling at her. Indeed, Igrainne’s excitement was infectious, and though he remained guarded, he got himself caught up a bit in her experience. Had he been this way when he had come to the city? All he could remember was being awestruck, and if truth be told, a little scared of all the people. They were simple folk, raised in a simple lifestyle, at least, they had been. Now, Walen had travelled a fair bit of the southern stretch of the Empire, and Igrainne, well, she would have experiences she never dreamed of before. Things just had a way of happening in such a place like Alleria Prime.

He was about to warn Igrainne about speaking to strangers in the Crown, but the dracon’s sudden appearance at their table silences his tongue. He looked up at the scaly being warily, knowing that their kind did not hold the best of reputations. Purely by chance, Walen had never met a dracon before, though he had seen several in his journeys. His mind worked quickly trying to determine whether this particular dracon was a threat or not.

’Don’t be ridiculous,’ his thoughts intruded. ’Igrainne will think you are muddle brained if you keep this up. Or you’ll put such a scare into her that…’

Walen wanted his sister’s journey to be a successful one, and he would try everything in his power to make her feel safe, yet still teach her to be careful. First impressions were important, and for now, the dracon seemed friendly enough.

”Please, join us,” Walen responded with a warm smile and nod, motioning towards one of the empty chairs. ”As my sister said, I am Walen. We are just waiting for the barmaid.”

As if she had heard him, the barmaid appeared at their table, and plump, middle-aged woman that gave Walen a stern stair. She had obviously heard his last comment and believed it was a complaint.

”I be here,” she announced, as if her presence had not confirmed the fact first. ”What you be wanting?”

Walen motioned to his sister and their dracon companion, allowing them to order first. For himself, he requested a warm mug of ale and cold steak and potatoes, a request that made the barmaid chuckle.

”Aye, they be cold and warm all right. I just no tell ye which one.”

As she walked away, Walen noticed the well-dressed man at the bar. He was always suspicious of such individuals in taverns for he believed those of true wealth would never be caught in such a place. Yet, this was Prime, and the Crown Inn had an empire-wide reputation. He would not judge the man yet. Another caught his gaze, a man wearing a green tunic, who seemed to watching them. Or at least, he had been. Walen merely nodded in his direction reminding himself to keep his eyes open to any threats. Sighing, for these thoughts would only ruin Igrainne’s first evening in Alleria Prime, he turned his attention to the dracon.

”So, stranger, what name do you go by? And if I am not intruding, perhaps you could tell us something of your kind. My sister and I have not had the honour to meet one such as yourself before, and I know she must have a million questions to ask you.”

He jabbed Igrainne’s ribs in jest, knowing that his comment would get him an icy stare.

[Kour'el Kha'Serith]

OoC: Haven't met Stephen before nope. Welcome you two =) *castrates Walen*

The slit pupil eyes flickered to the girl. The one who had spoken first. Something about her manner reminded Kour'el of, well herself, when she had been here for the first time. Sitting at one of the larger tables, a whole medley of races sharing her table with her. She had been open, friendly and naive for the most part, she supposed she still was, though her views were more jaded now. Though Kour'el was not as naive as this girl, nor was she ever. Her life was probably more eventful than hers. Not that she resented the girl, in fact she felt a sense of kinship, and a little sadness. Perhaps the girl would hold onto her innocence longer than she had.

Than again this was Alleria Prime. A new coat of paint, and a new empress didn't change that. Strife and trouble still ran rampant across the Empire. It always would, given the track record the people in charge had. Of course, that wasn't a fair assessment of this new batch of soft skins in power, but it was a generalization that would stay in place until they proved themselves. And given the state of the empire, they had a long , tough time ahead of them.

Blinking, realizing her train of thought had wandered, Kour'el gave a shake of her head, to clear her thoughts. The scales on the back of her neck rattled lightly as she moved, but the noise of the tavern most likely covered it from anyone's hearing. Even she barely heard it, not that she registered the sound anyways, as it was a normal occurrence. She did make a mental note to order a tub of hot water sent to her room, if possible, so she could enjoy a bath, and oil her scales. Shedding the dirt that worked under them and transforming them from their current dingy state would be pleasant before crawling into bed.

Inclining her horned head gracefully in a show of thanks, Kour'el selected a chair across from the too. Than, in a purely draconic move, she flipped it around, so the back was facing the table. For a moment, she lamented the lack of an empty bar stool, or a proper chair for that matter. Settling down and pulling her wings and tail in a little tighter, not wanting either to get jostled or stepped on, Kour'el looked up at the dumpy waitress.

" Rare steak, a bit of bread, spiced potatoes and a cup of plain tea, with a bit of honey and lemon juice on the side if you don't mind." Returning her attention back to the pair of soft skins, Kour'el caught the nod to someone behind her, and for a moment, she tensed. Was he setting her up for someone to slip a knife in her back? Narrowing her golden eyes, Kour'el resisted the urge to turn and look. If he was playing games, Kour'el didn't want him to know she was aware of it. If people thought you were stupid, ignorant, they tended to make mistakes.

Instead, she decided to answer his questions. " My name is Kour'el Kha’Serith. That's a shortened version of it anyways. My full name is slightly longer. It is nice to meet you." A hint of a smile surfaced as she glanced at the man's sister. And here she had thought them lovers. It was probably a good thing she hadn't said anything. " Well that depends, I can tell you many things about my race. What would you like to know about us drakesta?"

[Roland Moonstar]

OOC: Ah, so here is where all the cool people are.

IC:
Roland enjoyed the Crown Inn. Here in the heart of the Empire, this was the true soul of Alleria Prime. Sure, the games of power and back-door politics were played a few doors down in the Insulae Coronae and places like that, but to Roland, this was the truly important place, for here was where the people themselves met. The crown was an ephemeral thing: today it would be Arabella, tomorrow another Julos; the Crown Inn was far more permanent, as always the people were here wining, dining and having fun.

Noticing that the crowd was rather thick today, he looked for an empty table. Seeing none, he looked for someone he knew. He spotted Walen.

Roland walked over and took a seat. He was a pale-skinned Kemite with brown hair and eyes, dressed in an expensive charcoal business suit. "Ah, there you are Walen. May I join you for a moment? And that must be the beautiful Igrainne that you have told me about," he said looking directly at scalesister Kour'el. "Truly, the resemblance is uncanny." He offered his hand to everyone. "Serale, I am Roland Moonstar, Lord Protector of Tearsfall and Marshal of the Legion of Justice. I believe Walen here is our best Deputy ever. We are a very egalitarian organization-- one of our founders was Draekial, and our past president was the Dracon Erolki." He addressed this to Kour'el, who would never know that Roland was the man who sent her young grand-nephew Len'anor'heith Gio Nia'mnyth to Terramarique.

"Well, speaking of family, I would be remiss if I did not say hello to my own second cousin. Greetings, Stephan, and I hope all is going well with you." He waved to the man at the bar, inviting him over.

Few knew it, but Roland had left being Justicar of Centripax for family reasons. Some knew that he had to return to visit his ex-wifes family after her unfortunate accident, but only Roland himself knew that Stephan was another reason: he did not think he could impartial when it came to family member and so recused himself from all proceedings.

* * *

To Igrainne's left, and rather downward, someone was staring intently up at her, warm brown eyes open. The otter-like creature had a rapt expression on his face, and an offering of a necklace made out of beach shells in one outstretched paw. His breath smelled frankly of fish. "For the pretty girl, the normal-sized girl." He motioned at the giants all around them.

"I'm Looie. I like you. Will you be my friend?" He closed his eyes and darted away for a moment, then padded back, an eager yet slightful bashful expression on his face.