Dorothy
*The next day, Alarise got up, wondering what to do today.*
Travis
_At around mid-day, Almann walks into the local inn and tavern. Not doubt they had good drink here, and perhaps he could stir up some merriment. The actions of his previous quest were definitely on the lips of the patrons there, a local branch of cultists was slaughtered by a group of three mercenaries. Almann didn't care plain faced fame, but appreciated the talk about some of his deeds, whether or not he gets credit for them._

_He would walk up to the bar and order one of their specialty bourbons along a couple of bar biscuits to munch on with his drink. He ordered the drink on ice, which made it more expensive, adding up to a cost of 4 coppers, and another 2 for the biscuits. He didn't mind though, it was a treat for him to celebrate his earlier victory._

_He turns to a man next to him who is talking to someone else about ventures up north and his experience with the Northern Silnari. Almann joins in the conversation and soon makes acquiantences with the two men. Turns our they're nomadic traders themselves, the kind of folk Almann is used to. Soon they order more drinks and become louder, drawing a croud as Almann tells stories of his time with the elven nomads of the north._
Dorothy
*Alarise came down to the tavern, deciding to get herself some biscuits. She sat alone, dangling her legs while she ate.*
Travis
_Almann would address the men he was talking to_

"You see, my father, if you could call him that, had a pack of carnivorous sheep, yes, carnivorous sheep. It's a long story for another time but anyways... The bastards would eat a couple of chickens every so once in a while and then play it off as it was nothing. He goes out there right, and my father yells for me while I'll messing around his shop. Turns out one them bit some of his fingers off! He goes like this..."

_Almann forms with his hand some missing figures in a rude hand gesture and turns to them with a puzzling look_

"And he says: Do you think they're trying to tell me something?"

_At this point half the crowd is spitting drunk, and many of them let out chuckles, the more drunk ones let out hollers and laughs._

"But it doesn't beat the time the entire horde had to stop because some kiddos undid the saddle of the Khan... Let me tell ya! He was furious! I swear he was going to challenge the munchkins to an official duel!"

_He mocks falling off of his chair in a foolish manner, trying to mimick the Khan_
Dorothy
*Alarise listens to the man, curiously. She'd tilt her head as she took in the story he's telling.*
Travis
"What ended up happening is the Khan made them ride bareback on the horse for about a couple thousand kilos... Now let me tell ya, there ain't hell until you've met a steppe rouncey without a saddle, if there is something more stubborn than the Khan himself, it'd be the horses!"

_One of the men at the table asks if he misses the horde life_

"Do I miss it? Aye, some of it, but not all of it. Being a macen in an elven horde is almost like being a merman on land. The elves are faster and quicker learners than most men, but I thought I managed. My father wasn't apart of any famous house, which was part of the reason he didn't stone me as a babe in the first place. Any of the noble houses close to the Khan wouldn't have hesitated to get rid of the liability that is a Macen child. But I'd like to return one day yeah? I'll bring back some glory and gold to the horde to show that I was just as good as the elves all along. Maybe I'll even challenge the Khan! You fancy that? He never liked me anyways. Didn't like macens in his horde for too long. One day though..."

_Almann orders another drink while the crowd dissipates back to their seats_

_Almann would take a look around for different people he could talk to, and faces he could remember_

_He spots the girl sitting a ways back... Say, doesn't her outfit look familiar? He would recognize some of those leathers, but even more telling were her ears, and her face. Could she be from the steppes? He had to find out._

_Almann would empty his drink and head over to the table where she was sitting, and address her directly._

"Hello miss, it's been itching at me, but I'd like to ask, are you from the steppes? You have the look certainly."
Dorothy
*She nods energetically,* "Mhmm! I was born in Salvainia, though my parents are both from the Steppes and I've been there a number of times~!"
Travis
"Really! May I sit?" _he gestures towards the seat_
Dorothy
*She nods.* "Go right ahead!" *She'd shift a bit.*
Travis
_He'd sit and offer his hand to shake_

"The name's Almann, Almann Jek. Spent 25 years in the horde, say, you ever meet Khan Attaman?"
Dorothy
*She shook her hand.* "My name's Alarise Monte—and uh... Nope! Never met him."

"I don't _think_ so, anyway."
Travis
_Almann smiles_

"Monte you say? They had some story tellings about a house that went by the same name. Though not all of it was truly positive... They still acknowledged them as skilled hunters and warriors all the same. Not many people get close to Attaman, considering he's the de facto ruler of the steppes, most of the time he surrounded by his blood brothers. The only times I've ever been in contact with him was when I unhinged his saddle with a friend of mine, or pulled some prank big enough to get his attention."

"You were born in Salvainia, but visited the hordes you say? How is life here? I only came here recently looking to open up a shop, I got lucky and got a stall in the city."
Dorothy
"Ehhh.. I dunno. I kind of prefer Salvainia to it; it's.. A bit difficult to compare them, though."
Travis
_He nods_

"Well if you want to meet the Khan sometime, I could take you. While I did say that House Monte was told by story tellers to be great hunters/warriors, my father always refuted this. He said no one appreciated the smiths or tinkerers enough to tell great stories about them." 

_He would wave his hand to the side in frustration_

"It never rang a good bell with the young ones, y'know. After all, how was the horde to amass their forces and raid if every young man or woman became a smith or someone of the craft? He always told me that a lot of the heroes in the stories were simply good craftsmen instead of being high strung warriors, and that the House Monte _he_ knew were rather good at crafts like he was. Is that true?"
Dorothy
*She nods,* "Mhmm! Our bloodline is all craftwork!"

"..Except me, of course. I'm uh.. Kind of more of a warrior and adventurer than a blacksmith."
Travis
"Nothing wrong with that. Its always good to have someone who can fix yer stuff up when they get worn, ya know? That's what I do. My father taught me well enough to fix up stuff, but not forge entire suits of plate or helmets..."

_He would notice the great sword_

"That's a fine piece you got there, your family forge it?"
Dorothy
*She unsheathes it.* "This? This is the Blade of Orion. It's a legendary sword that was apparently wielded by my ancestors, and it's been passed down through my family since then. It was a neat wall decoration before I happened."
Travis
"Really? Mind if I appraise it? I have an ability that allows me to see the values and some abilities of objects like blades, armor, and accessories."
Dorothy
"Uh.. Yeah. You don't have to pick it up or anything, right?"
Travis
"Nah, it just needs to be in my field of vision."

_He casts 'Magical Appraisal' to see the properties and worth of the blade._

_His eyes widen greatly and he turns pale as he leans back in his seat_

"Y-you guys used this as a decoration...? It is quite a sword, glad to see it's being used. You must be one amazing person to wield such an amazing blade, by the way. I've never seen such a weapon of such quality!"
Dorothy
"My precedents never saw a use for it since uh.. They never needed a sword. The last adventurer in the family was twelve generations ago.."

"Is it really that good??" *She tilted her head, looking up at the man as she sheathed her blade.*
Travis
"Aye, like you said it's legendary. It's quality is of legendary. And it's owner takes great care of it. _He winks_ It's worth... Well I wont mention that here, wouldn't want other people listening in eh? It's, as I'm sure you know, quite old. Over 2000 years. The blade is too old to see the maker of the piece, but I assure you the blade is one of the greatest pieces _I've_ ever seen..."

_Almann scratches his chin and grins_

"I would be honored to go on a quest with you. I specialize in Bronze Magic by the way, I help defend and buff up other people's stats to maximum effect. Need more speed? Strength? A floating shield? You got it. I have some ranged spells too plus my bow."
Dorothy
"O-oh uhm.. Sure! I can do a quest!"
Travis
_he claps his hands together_

"Then it's settled! Got any particular quests in mind?"
Dorothy
"Nope, you can choose!"
Travis
"Alright. I have experience fighting cultists. They unfortunately kidnap people, with their favorites being women and children and sacrifice them over open bonfires. They usually carry loot they've stolen from other people to act as sacrifices as well. They usually come in packs as well, most of them tend to be poorly armored with some basic weaponry. Their leaders however... They're dangerous. They often carry armor and steel helmets, and understands chaotic summons and modifications."

_Almann sighs_

"They sing a particular song in a strange tongue, and they sing it loud. They're not hard to find. The 'Song of Aventurr' if you've ever heard of it. It's some ancient incantation and ritual to a strange god. I would like to see them dead or in chains, what say you?"
Dorothy
"I say we slaughter them, like pigs!" *She says, unusually positively.*
Travis
_Almann laughs_

"That's the spirit!"

"Before we do that, are you hungry? I'll buy."
Dorothy
"I want as _much bacon_ as they can put on a plate."
Travis
_Almann whistles a server over._

"I want some beef stew, and the lady here wants as much bacon you can put on a plate."

_The server gives him a funny look, but nonetheless takes the order and informs the cook._

"Also, I think it might be interesting to deviate away from cultists, seems like people are saying after the previous purge they've thinned out a bit. I hear the New Sunlight Guild has some interesting bounties posted..."

"There's a werewolf in a nearby forest causing some trouble for the guards. We should be able to take it down, if you're up for it. The bounty for it is 300 silver. There also seems to be a follower of the werewolf, we also need to take them down."

"There's also a huge creature that's been harassing caravans, with a bounty of 1000 silver. It's another hunting quest, something we'd probably be good at."
Dorothy
"How about we go through both?"
Travis
_Almann gives a grin_

"Eager are we? Which one do you want to do first?"