Visiting the ol' Tavern...[Private]

[Kaetal Lunaire]

Timestamp: Evening, 2nd Brightening of Imperos, Autumn in Era III of the Celestine Mandate, Era XII Post Fractum.

Kaetal walks into the Crown Inn & Tavern for the first time in awhile. The last time he was here he had seen a swarm of Wilder Katta that had nearly killed him for stepping on their officer's tail. Kaetal smiled from the corner of his mouth when that thought resurfaced. But now was not the time to lament. It was time to drink a mug of mead and relax from his day of training.

He was decked out in the casual military garb of the Imperial Legion and sported a Longsword at his side hidden beneath the standard issue green cloak. He approached the bar and scratched the rough stubble that seemed a reminder of the length of today's training.

"One mead if you will, and directions to the corner most private from the regulars."

After the barkeep served up the mug he pointed to a well-lit corner where there was a clear table. It strangely made sense that it would be the one lit table that seemed to ward off the drunkards. After all, light hurt the eyes somewhat when you had been drinking since the sun set.

Kaetal worked his way, mug in hand, toward the table and set his spear against the wall next to the seat he chose and sat down with a loud sigh and a stress-relieving roll of his neck. He brought the mug up to his lips and, as expected here at the Crown, it wasn't mead. Ale. But that's why he ordered the mead. He felt like ale and knew the humor of the barkeep was strange but predictable.

He sat back, not looking to gamble, seek the company of the barmaids or spy for a fight this night. Just good ol' rest and relaxation...

...That is, if you could relax in the Crown.

[Rúmil Ancalimë]

Fluttering in the front door of the Crown Inn and Tavern, Rúmil can't help but feel overwhelmed at the barrage of sensory perception. Every time he waltzes into a crowded or heavily crowded area, his senses get overwhelmed, like a slap in the face. Staggering a little, Rúmil takes a second to float down to the floor. Gathering his wits about him, he looks into the bar.

"Fun, fun, fun.....where is something fun?"

Like a moth drawn to a flame, first thing he notices is the most well-lit table. The human sitting there is wearing chain mail.

"He looks shiny," Rúmil laughs to himself. Perfect. He flys up to the ceiling, looking for a place to make the shiny human's acquaintance. Seeing an opening, he flys down into the mass of bodies, and swoops low under the table. He decides to introduce himself by flying into the human's shinguards, and jumping up and down.

[Kaetal Lunaire]

Kaetal had his head back and eyes closed trying to relax from the hard day's work. He was certain no one would try messing with him for two reasons. First, he was at a well lit table and no one would try anything too underhanded where there was light. And two, he was wearing the stardard garb of a guard and everyone seemed to steer clear of them.

He was in the middle of a deep yawn when he felt, and subtley heard, something hit his shinguards. His yawn was suddenly cut short and his legs hit the underside of the table. Hard.

"Ow! What in the name of the Kingdom was that?!"

He reached his hand to his longsword and peered under the table to find a Fairy dancing on his shinguards. A look of surprise appeared on the recruit's face. He released his sword pommel and rubbed the stubble of his right cheek while his face moved from surprise to concern.

"Serale, friend. What seems to have you in such a good mood as to dance and an even better mood to bother an off duty military man?"

It was then that Kaetal realized he had inadvertantly spilt much of his ale when the table was hit with his knees. Thank goodness the mug hadn't tipped over, but the new table-top lake was starting to create a waterfall over the side and onto his lap. Kaetal rolled his eyes as the cold brew soaked through his trousers. He called for a barmaid to bring him a rag and wiped up the mess on the table then on himself once the rag was brought. He looked up and sighed, then looked back under the table at the joyous Fae once more.

"Anyway. Mayhap you join me ON the table instead of under it? Then perhaps I'll be informed of your intentions with flying into my legs."

[Rúmil Ancalimë]

Laughing aloud, Rúmil flys up to the table top, and alights next to the spilled ale. He leans up to the top of the mug, and peers deep in side. Quickly losing intrest, he next bends down, and helps himself to a sip of the ale on the table. Standing up, shaking his head in disgust, he starts to dance in the puddle of alcohol. Twirling around a few times, he sings a merry little tune. Stopping his dance, he looks up at the big man, with wide eyes.

"Please sir, what is this vile ale you drink? It is terrible stuff, really quite weak in comparison to the stuff I borrowed from my dwarf neighbors downstairs. Poor fellow, I guess you can't hold your liquor. Oh well."

Hopping up and down, Rúmil finishes his little ditty. Then he flutters to the rim of his new friend's cup.

"The reason I am in such a great mood, is because today is a wonderful day for frog chasing. You ever been frog chasing? It is the best thing for a fae to do on an autumn day? Always puts me in a grand mood. What do you do for fun? Play at being a soldier?"

[Kaetal Lunaire]

Throughout the Fae's dancing, drinking, and fluttering about, Kaetal just watches with one eyebrow furrowed, the other one reaching toward the sky. He was'nt sure how this Faerie could get so much energy out of his tiny body, but knew that somehow, someway, this one had found out how. He knew Faerie's were often times curious and cheerful, but this one seemed neurotic. It must be a male.

"This ale," Kaetal sweeps up the mug, sending the faerie falling to the table," is what I wish to drink tonight. Undoubtedly your Dwarven friend has stronger ale. He's a Dwarf and I have training tomarrow. So, I cannot get drunk tonight. My intent WAS to have a relaxing drink and rest from a hard day's work. However, you've seemed to foil my plans."

Kaetal looks up and notices a few drunks couldn't see the Fae on the table and were giving him strange looks for talking to himself. He shakes his head slightly, eyes rolling, then looks back up to the nearest barmaid.

"One more mead if you will, Miss. Now, where were we? Frog chasing? No, can't say that I've had the opprotunity to 'chase frogs', but then again I'm not a Fae, so it seems rather pointless. Though I've noticed it puts you in a grand mood. And no. I don't have fun 'playing at being a soldier'. I am serving the Imperial Legion and am in training to one day become a Quartermaster. That's a Weapon's Expert, if you didn't know."

As the barmaid came back to the table with Kaetal's new "mead", which was most likely ale, he handed her 5 crowns and started drinking. And it was indeed ale. He rounded his neck once more and looked to the Faerie.

"And you, my friend? What is it you do for a living? Chase frogs, or is there something else? Well, at least something else you'd like to do?"

[Rúmil Ancalimë]

Rúmil ponders the question presented to him for a moment. Thinking quickly, he responds,

"Chasing frogs as a proffession? Wow that would be a great job, but I really don't see how that would be very productive. You see, my ideal job would be more along the lines of a proffesional traveller. I always liked the idea of travelling around the country and seeing new things, eating new foods, seeing the sights, you know, lotsa neat things to sample, and to....obtain. Chasing frogs IS very nice though, and I highly recommend it to you. You should try it sometime. Although you are a little taller than me. Try running after dogs, they are more your speed.

"How is it serving the Imperial Legion? Lotsa shiny stuff? Kung-fu fighting? Get to hang out with any pretty ladies?" Rúmil winks at his new friend, and without stopping to breathe, he continues,"Maybe I should look into this Legion of yours. I like the idea of nifty shinies, not to mention all the tasty food they must feed you..." Rúmil's voice trails off at this point, as his eyes begin to sparkle in a mischevious way. His voice full of glee, he suddenly pipes back up, and says, "Please good human sir, tell me more about this Legion of yours."

[Kaetal Lunaire]

Kaetal listens to his newfound friend, a faerie no less, while he seems to go on and on about random topics. However, whilst the Fae mentions "looking into" the Legion, Kaetal was drinking heavily from his mug and nearly sputtered the entirety of it's contents on his lap once more. If that didn't express his disbelief, then his wide eyes did. He sat there while the faerie finished his thoughts silent as the grave and took a moment, staring at the Fae the entire time, to process the idea. A Fae in the military. He hadn't heard of it before, but he knew the Imperial Legion wasn't picky as it was on a volunteer basis.

Kaetal sat his mug down and wiped the frothy brew from the stubble on his face with his sleeve, underneath his bracers. He had just finished basic spear training that day and wasn't sure how the Legion would train someone so....tiny.

"Listen, friend. The Legion isn't just something to try and see if you like. It's a major commitment and not one so easily shirked as other professions out there. If you want to join, I'm sure they'd take you. They tend to take anyone willing to volunteer. But, don't you think you're a little...uh,....small for the Legion?"

He looked to the Fae with a look of genuine concern as the bar patrons still thought a guard was going insane right before their eyes.

[Rúmil Ancalimë]

Rúmil blinks.

"Actually good sir, I am just the right size. You on the other hand, are too big. I also think that the legion could use a faerie like myself, because of our innate magical nature. That's right, I can use MAGIC! Sort of.....well, I am working on getting to work on it."

Putting his hands behind his back, and pacing back and forth across the table, Rúmil can't help but wonder about his friend's apparent lack of knowledge about Fae. Oh well. Perhaps another time.

"I tell you what, how about I head down there," He interrupts himself to wave at the barmaid who had walked over to the table. She had a look of concern on her face, was approaching Kaetal somewhat nervously. Upon seeing Rúmil's wave however, she stopped in her tracks, and a slow smile crept over her face.

Picking up where he left off...."Where was I? Oh, right. How about I head down to the Military District and talk to an officer of the legion, you know, see what they say? What do you think?"

[Kaetal Lunaire]

Kaetal couldn't believe what he was hearing. A Fae in the military. But then again, just because he hadn't heard of any before didn't mean there weren't any. He knew better than to assume anything. Maybe a Faerie in the Legion would be of great help. Maybe as a scout, or spy, or...distraction. Kaetal smiled from the corner of his mouth and chuckled quietly to himself. He had lost his look of concern completely and was instead was looking somewhat cheerful.

"Sure thing, Faerie of 'just the right size'. Sounds like a grand idea. You should ask if you're interested in the military. I wouldn't get my hopes up until they have you sign a contract and send you off to collect your equipment. Good luck with it. I truly hope you get in. In fact, tell them I referred you."

Kaetal took up his mug once more and took a large swig out of it. He raised his legs to rest his feet on the chair directly across from himself. He wiped his lips and set the mug back down with yet another roll of his neck. He had an amused look on his face and waited for the Fae's decision.

[Rúmil Ancalimë]

Rúmil can't help but wish it were the next day.

"Of course I will head on down there, it would be super-duper of me to offer my services to the military. I shall do just that very thing tommorrow. And why wouldn't I? I think it should be exciting fun. Mayhaps you and I will see each other? I don't really know that much about the legion....perhaps you could fill me in? I would really love that."

Rúmil flutters his wings, and flys up to about Kaetal face level, and says, "Talk."

His eyes wide, waiting for an answer, perhaps an intresting tale of adventure, romance, maybe even with a Faerie for a hero.

[Kaetal Lunaire]

Kaetal smiles from the corner of his mouth as the excitement of his new Faerie friend grew. When the little Fae commanded him to talk, the smile withdrew from Kaetal's face and his right eyebrow raised up while his head receeded back slightly. Dear Cetheron this one was sure arrogant. But cheery and maybe that's what Kaetal needed around.

"Well, the Legions is a long and serious commitment to make and requires the utmost loyalty and a humble attitude." He looked into the Faerie's eyes at this point, silently conveying this was no play-thing like "frog chasing", this was serious. He then leaned back and noticed the drunkards who originally were thinking him a madman, now that the Faerie was clearly in view, were exchanging crowns now, some with looks of triumph, some with looks of disappointment. Kaetal chuckled again and crossed his arms after another long pull from his ale, noticing it was now nearly half-gone.

[Rúmil Ancalimë]

Rúmil nods his head slowly, then cocks it to the side. He looks at Kaetal inquiringly.

"Well of course it is a commitment. It IS the Legion, of course it is a serious commitment. And I am the most loyalist-loyal Faerie in all of Alleria. I think. I hope. Irregardless, I have no doubts that I can prove myself in the Service of the Empire. That I do not doubt. And lastly, as far as humble, I am not a conceited guy, just full of fun and spunk. I think that no matter what does come my way, I can take it in stride better than most, because I have the right attitude. That you should never doubt."

With a serious look on his face, Rúmil points at Kaetal's face.

"I would die for the Empire, if indeed I must, but I see no point in staying somber about it."

[Kaetal Lunaire]

Kaetal listened intently to the Faerie who started, what he could only figure to be, a self-motivating speech. Probably, to re-assure himself more than the human cadet he was speaking to. The corner of Kaetal's mouth raised upward in his usual corner-smile as he listened to the excited Fae who was taking himself very seriously. It was a little hard not to laugh, but he figured it was for the best not to. His newfound friend seemed to be quite eccentric and a laugh could shatter his current train of thought. So, he wanted to be in the military. Every new recruit was a blessing to the Imperial Legion, so Kaetal simply shrugged and was honestly fairly surprised at the last comment from the excitable creature.

"Good. Then you'll need to go to the Military District tomarrow, since it's too late this eve, and go to the Recruiter's Office. There you can ask any questions you must and the recruiter will answer them. Then you'll simply sign a form and POOF! 3 Eras of your life belong to the military."

Kaetal laughed and took another deep pull from his mug. then he stops mid-swallow and puts his mug down.

"Pardon my manners. Welcome to the Legion my Fae friend. I am Kaetal Lunaire, son of Ton Frei. And what are you referred to as, my friend of 'just the right size'?"

Kaetal chuckled inwardly at that last part. It humored him much to hear someone barely 9 inches tall say they were 'just the right size'.

[Rúmil Ancalimë]

Rúmil stood up as tall and proudly as he knew how. Puffing out his chest a little, he leaned his head back and said proudly, "Rúmil Ancalimë is my name. I am a Faerie native of Alleria Prime. I am a loyal citizen of the Empire. I shall head down to the Recruitment office tommorrow."

Trying to look as respectful as he could, he held his right hand out for a handshake, hoping the human wouldn't be offended. With his left, he waved at the barmaid, hoping she saw him waving, as he was getting quite thirsty himself.

[Kaetal Lunaire]

Kaetal was a little confused as to how he would shake the little Fae's hand without crushing it, but quickly made compromise and offered his pinky finger to Rúmil. He chuckled a little with the obsurity of it all and when he saw that the little man was having a bit of a problem getting any attention in a tavern full of drunken and roudy patrons, he put his left arm up and waved at the nearest barmaid, bidding her over to the table. After all, his own drink was pretty much gone now.

"Well met, Rúmil Ancalimë. One moment. Barmaid!" he said looking up briefly, "Over here!"

Once she came over Kaetal ordered another "mead" and bid her to wait for the Faerie's order.