Norman
*As the sun begins to hide behind its horizon akin to a coquettish courtesan peeking out from behind her fan, bringing the night life to the fore. Glimmering tiny stars and the majestic moon take over, beckoning the night life to awaken. The hawking of wares comes to a high point before the conclusion, especially the taverns. None of which really matters to Aleinn who seems to be stuck in her own world.* **Come on! There has to be one somewhere! The sun's coming down!** *She thinks to herself as she saunters through the streets, circling the same few blocks she's circled for about two hours, now.* "Perhaps, I've misjudged? No, no, no. If there's anyone who knows the occult, they'll be here. That's just base logic..." *She says, returning to her, now, frantic search.*
Ron
*Gunther stumbles outside of the tavern he has been frequenting for the past few hours, his silver tankard gleaming as the setting sun graces it with a gentle touch. Squinting a bit as his eyes adjust, he tanks another sip of his ale, letting out a deep breath as he enjoys the fresh air. Taverns always brighten his mood, but one must take time to enjoy the wonders of nature as well. He smiles slightly to himself as he observes the people running about to and fro, the merchants shouting their goods and services. Curiously, he notices a woman walk by as if searching for something. Then again, she passes a bit later. And again. Gunther watches her with his good eye, his other rendered useless by his... Condition. Well, as long as she's not up to anything nefarious, it's not really his business...*
Shirley
*The young woman looks right and left with a bit more energy about her, as though she's in a hurry. She pivots on her heel and turns to see a one-eyed man staring at her, giving her a bit of relief.* **An old soul, maybe he can help...** *She thought, figuring he'd probably know more about the town than she does. Aleinn shuffles closer as the pressure of speaking up bears down upon her step by agonizing step. Her palms begin to sweat beneath her long black gloves, the question gets caught in her throat. She almost looks sick, at first glance. The shy elf's attempts to speak up fall flatter than ever as she holds up a finger and forgets her question.*
Ron
*Gunther blinks in surprise as the woman approaches him. As she gets closer he notices her elongated ears marking her as an elf. He lowers his mug to watch her, anticipating some sort of question. She goes to speak... And says... Nothing? Gunther smiles kindly as he realizes what must have happened. She must be shy! Deciding to try and calm her nerves, he speaks first.* "Yes, young lady, is there something I can help with?" *In a calm, deep voice that sounds... Much younger than his appearance would imply.* "There's no need to be afraid, I don't bite. Are you okay, I must admit you look rather unwell..." *A hint of concern entering his voice. His one good eyes tries to meet her gaze, hoping he has at least helped ease the tension somewhat.*
Shirley
*She takes a step back and regains her composure after her momentary lapse of social anxiety. The elf adjusts her glasses and refocuses her mind on the man before her. Aleinn clears her throat and holds up the crudely drawn map before the man. It represents the city with buildings being represented as little squares with an X over a named square. "Library" Is what it said.*
Ron
*Chuckling slightly, Gunther takes a sip of his ale before nodding slightly* "Ah, you're lookin' for the library? Well, I can tell you where it is... Hm, actually, if you're not from around here it might be better if I take you myself. It's a big city, and people are a lot less likely to hassle you if they see you're with a priest." *To an average person, Gunther most certainly didn't look like a member of a clergy. Muscular, scarred, and drinking ale out of a tankard. No holy garb, just a white muscle shirt and slacks. But that was rather common for worshippers of his God, after all.* "Just uh, don't ask me to do any researching or big reading. Not exactly my forte." *He smiled warmly, waiting for her response.*
Shirley
*Aleinn looks him over, trying to get a read on him.* **I suppose he seems innocent, enough. And he IS a priest. Though, priests haven't exactly had the greatest reputation...** *After pondering the possibilities and escape strategies in case something goes awry, she nods along with the large man's plan, though reasonably keeps one hand on the hilt of the blade on her hip and awaiting him to lead the way. She peeks around, in case her pursuers could be closer by than anticipated, but seems to find nothing.*
Ron
*Gunther smiles a bit wider as she accepts, his eye noticing her guarded stance. He takes no offense, he is a stranger after all.* "Great, well let's be on our way then. Try not to lose sight of me, eh? Should be easy enough to keep track of a fella as big as I am." *He begins walking at a calm pace through the crowds of people, the evening crowd parting a bit for him as he gently pushes through. Every few minutes or so he checks to make sure the elven woman is still behind him, not wanting her to get lost or harassed. It dawns on him that he hadn't introduced himself. Awful rude of him. When they break through the main crowd and head into a less busy road, he slows a bit to walk beside her for a moment* "Names Gunther by the way. Pleased to make your acquaintance Miss." *He gives her another friendly smile* "We're getting close to the library now, hopefully they have whatever yer looking for in there." *He continues walking again, still holding that ornate silver tankard in his hand absently and humming quietly to himself as he lumbers along.* Not very chatty... *He muses to himself as he goes. Well, that's alright. He had been told he could talk enough for two people at times.*
Shirley
*As they reach the library, she looks up to the large man who guides her around, wondering what drives him to do so.* **Suppose it doesn't matter but, perhaps there's something he wants from me, as well.** *The elf thought, finding gregariousness hard to believe.* "Aleinn..." *She spoke up rather quietly. Her voice is soft and sweet but her tone is cold and distant. With the crowd passing her by, her eyes shift throughout to look for anything out of the ordinary. One thing that comes to mind is a soldier who looks to be drunk on duty. As they left the square, she remembers seeing him leaning a bit whilst trying to stay up. Well, she's seen on a couple of streets as they've gone on, wondering if that's some kind of coincidence or if the scouts are already being deployed.*
Ron
*Gunther nods a little as she finally speaks for the first time. For a moment there, he was seriously wondering if she was perhaps mute.* "She speaks!" *He says in a joking tone, followed by a chuckle* "Apologies, you're allowed your quiet, truly. I was just unsure if you could speak or not! That's a wonderful name." *She looked a bit different from other elves he had met, but... Well, he was no expert. The pointy ears were really the only elven trait he recognized. Far as he was concerned, they weren't too different from humans. Just longer living. Standing by the door to the library, he notices the girl looking anxiously around her. She'd been doing that since even before they met. Ever the busy body, Gunther rubbed his neck with his free hand and quietly asked,* "Look uh, it may not be my business but... You in some kinda trouble? You look spooked. If yer in trouble with the guards or somethin' I won't report you, long as you didn't kill somebody or something." *His one good eye looked at her concerned and questioning.*
Shirley
*Aleinn doesn't quite hear the question as she focuses on the once empty street behind them, seeing the man follow. In the moment, she sees through the façade. Their eyes lock, a look of death in his own.* **We have to get off the streets!** *She thought as she pushes what little weight she has behind her newfound guardian, forcibly shoving him into the library with several groans of struggle as she's maybe half his size.* "Come. On. Moooove!" *She says without further explanation as they proceed into the library.*
Ron
*Gunther makes a noise of protest and shock as Aleinn begins shoving him into the library, clearly panicked. Eventually he gives up and allows himself to be shoved inside. It's now quite obvious to him that she's in some sort of trouble, but he keeps his mouth shut for now. Mostly.* "Follow me. It's clear you need somewhere to... Lay low a moment." *He gently nudges her along as he leads her deeper into the library, away from any prying eyes or ears. Finally, once he is satisfied with the distance, he turns around to fix her with a pointed look, his arms crossed.* "I'll help you out for now. Just promise me you haven't done anything that will make me regret this?"
Shirley
*She nods then bows her head, beginning to apologize profusely.* "I'm very sorry for not explaining. You see, I'm betrothed. But, my betrothed is a...'Illuvia Vhenali' or a... Mirror lover..." *She hesitates for a moment, going for the direct translation rather than the true meaning which is: 'Someone who would mate with their own image'.* "But, I don't want to marry him. Or be a housewife. Or sire children. I just want to explore and-" *Aleinn comes back down to reality, eyeing Gunther.* "As I said, I apologize. I didn't think they were here just yet. I had a clear lead on them. About a few days worth. Though... That WAS three days ago..." *She promptly bows her head to the man, expecting quite the chastising.*
Ron
*Gunther listens to her spilling her story out to him, a pained look on his face as she bows her head to him. How horrible. Forced to marry a filthy narcissistic man, if he took the meaning of her words right. Love was something to be celebrated and mutual, a type of revelry between two souls. Not a cage of imprisonment to another. The very thought made Gunther's blood boil. Closing his eyes, he exhaled slowly and ran a hand through his white hair slowly.* "I see. Raise your head, Aleinn. You don't owe me anythin'. I'm just a priest, and a slightly drunk one at that." *Gunther was never comfortable with people bowing to him or being deeply polite. He was a simple man.* "Well, that settles it then. I'll help you hide from mirror mater, and whatever else I can help too. I ain't got anything else going on right now anyway." *He grinned a bit, then started coughing a little, holding a hand over his chest for a moment. Clearing his throat he looked away from the young woman in front of him.* "It's... A bit dusty in here, isn't it?"
Shirley
*She takes a step back, unsure if what ails him. Though, the talk of dust does reassure her a bit.* "I suppose this place could use a light dusting." *Aleinn laughs nervously, returning to her original spot. The shy elf peeks out from behind the bookshelf that they're near just to assess where her enemies are. For a moment, it looks as though things are going cordially between the soldier, the librarian, and the soldier's two associates. That is until the leading soldier slams the librarian's head into the front desk, knocking him out. Aleinn slinks behind the bookshelf, a panicked look in her eye.* "It looks like they're loosing the grip on their subtlety. I believe that's the only exit, as well. I'm taking suggestions." *She says, peeking one eye out to see the three men dispersing, perhaps to search.*
Ron
*A bit relieved she doesn't press the issue of his cough, he takes a moment to steady himself while she looks around the bookshelf. Good... Right now was not the time to suffer from this damned illness. As she creeps back, he hears the loud crack of the librarians head being slammed into the desk. Her next words confirm his suspicions.* "Are these men fools? You can't just walk into a public place and start assaulting people..." *His normally relaxed personality and stance shifts a bit. Standing straighter, he cracks his neck and stretches.* "Well, if you're taking ideas, I have one. We knock their arses out and toss em in the nearest bin. If they're looking to play rough, I can play rough too." *He lifts the tankard and grins a bit* "From the looks of your sword, you should at least be able to fight a bit too, yeah? My God gives me some blessings I can impart on us. Make us faster, stronger for a bit. I can also heal in any wounds we get, provided we aren't too injured. What do ya say, want to get some payback?" *His idea isn't exactly... Subtle or complex. But that's just Gunther. What you see is what you get, mostly.*
Shirley
*Aleinn is taken aback by the priest's willingness to help her with a dangerous people. This is the kinda thing that could spell a man's death, though that doesn't seem to affect the priest much. Aleinn draws her crystalline blade from its sheathe, peeking around the bookshelf again, confirming that they've all dispersed. The elf dons her hood, looking back to Gunther.* "I'll watch over you from high up. I trust you can take care of yourself, but, just in case. Also, if it can be helped, I'd like to avoid bloodshed today. Odds are they're just trying to earn a paycheck." *She requests, looking up to her guardian with hopeful eyes.*
Ron
*Gunther smiles a bit and nods slightly* "Don't worry about it. I've tussled with bigger fish than these fellows. Just worry about yourself." *Clasping his tankard, he mutters a few words of prayer to the Reveler, a soft shine spilling forth from his tankard to cover the two of them for a moment. Thus prepared, he makes ready to walk into their sight.* "This should make you feel a bit faster on your feet. And don't worry, I'm not out to kill anyone either. I'll just knock em unconscious and tie em up. Let the guards deal with em. I'll even heal any major wounds after we're done here." *He gives Aleinn a thumbs up and steps out of their hiding place, walking straight towards the thugs...*
Shirley
*Aleinn smiles and looks to the top of the bookshelves. She takes a deep breath, focusing her mind.* "Mana Spring." *She whispers, promptly jumping into the air. As her legs extend, a sigil of appears beneath her feet giving her the ability to jump twice more, catching onto the edge of the bookcase and pulling herself up. Almost immediately, Gunther is spotted by one of the thugs and tightens his fist.* "You there," *He calls out to Gunther, recognizing his ensemble. It seems he's the one who witnessed them from afar.* "I believe you were with someone I'm looking for. Would you mind pointing me in her direction? Naturally, you'll compensated for the information." *He says, seemingly dignified in his approach but his standoffish posture indicates that this is the first and last time he'll be asking.*
Ron
*Gunther feigns surprise at the thugs questioning, thumbing at himself as he "Drunkenly" Staggers a bit forward.* "Huh? Me? Sorry, I dunno what you're talkin' about friend." *He lurches forward a bit closer, scratching his head in confusion a bit* "Ohh... Wait, I think I know who ya mean now... Right... See, there's a bit of a problem with that..." *Suddenly he uses his moment in a drunken stagger to grab the man addressing him by the head in one hand and crashing his head into the nearby table, conking him on the skull with his tankard for good measure.* "I don't take kindly to two bit thugs like yourself roughing up innocents. So this is your first and final warning. Piss off, before I make you. Any takers?" *Gunther assumes a fighting stance, one free hand and the other wielding his tankard as a mace or club. Hearing the thugs curse and draw their weapons, he sighs heavily and shrugs* "Nobody ever takes the easy way... Well, don't say I didn't warn you!"
Norman
*The two allies come to the aid of, presumably, the leader. They were of similar size, one with a hand axe and the other holding a curved dagger.* "Come to a scrap then, ye old bastard?" *Said the man with the dagger, sizing up Gunther with his singular good eye, the other covered with an old eye patch. He gets into his battle stance. The other man with him has long, shaggy, dark hair and more skinny frame.* "Hang on, this guy took out Shep in seconds. We mi-" *He says taking a step back as the man with the dagger charges forward.* "Let's go, ya wrinkly prick!" *Against the wishes of his friend, he charges towards Gunther off of his back foot, attempting to run the priest through with his dagger.*
Ron
*Gunther takes a step to the side, his gods blessing giving him the speed to avoid the man's attempt at impaling him. As the thug charges by, Gunther tosses his tankard up and grabs the man from behind, throwing him bodily over his shoulder to the floor and into a table, catching his tankard after completing the motion.* "I'd prefer if you didn't call me old or wrinkly. I'm rather young, thank you." *His tone is rather casual despite the fact this man is trying to kill him. This fact apparently irritates the dagger wielding man as he groans and pushes himself off the ground, rushing Gunther again. This time, Gunther prepares to dodge again, but feels a pain in his chest strike. Gritting his teeth, he realizes he won't be able to dodge the dagger in time... So instead he grabs the knife in his free hand, wincing slightly as he feels it bite into his flesh. Ignoring his pain, he swings the tankard into the side of the man's skull, the impact making a dull thud as he knocks him to the ground again. Gunther starts coughing, a bit of blood leaking from his nose.* Just a little longer, dammit...*He casts his eyes about, hoping his young charge is safe wherever she bounced up to.*
Shirley
*With their plan shot to hell given that his friend charged in like a barbarian, the shaggy-haired fellow tightens his grip on his axe.* "Well fine, let's go, y-" *He is once again cut off, suddenly being silenced by Aleinn dropping from such a height and landing on his back. By the looks of it, he seems pretty much at the point of surrender. The first man begins to stumble to his feet, his balance not where it should be given the recent knocks to the head. Aleinn stands upright, concerns arising about her new friend who is currently coughing up blood. With looks that could kill, she shoots a serious glare at him.* "Get out of here! I'll take care of the rest!" *Truly wanting the best for his well-being. Her focus then turns back to the clumsy hired thug and points her crystalline blade towards him. The crystal glows yellow in that very instant and a bolt of lightning explodes forth, targeting his torso. As the bolt strikes him, he flies into another bookshelf. Once again, effectively routed.*
Ron
*Gunther looks a bit surprised as Aleinn suddenly knocks the man to the ground, doubly so when her sword glows and blasts the man across the room. Grimacing slightly he wipes his face, smearing some of the blood off onto the back of his hand and stands up straight.* "I'm fine... Besides, this is pretty much over, yeah? Unless the lad under your boot thinks he stands a better chance, we can just tie them up and be done with it." *Gunther shoots the man in question a look, and seeing the resignation on his face he shrugs and walks over to the man currently sprawled out against the bookshelf. Pulling some rope out of a satchel on his side, Gunther binds his hands and props him up.* "Learn to take a hint, friend. Find a better employer next time... And stay quiet in the library, eh?" *Gunther mumbles a few quiet words of prayer, healing the worst of the man's wounds so he wouldn't bleed out or suffer any lasting side effects. Standing, he looks at his own cut up hand and wraps it in some fabric, pulling it tight.* "Let's take care of the other two and then make sure the librarian is alright. You good?" *He asks Aleinn, trying to move past his own injuries and whatever was happening with him earlier quickly.*
Shirley
*She frowns, looking at his condition which is much worse than hers, considering the condition of his health. She promptly sheathes her weapon and begins tying up the other two with scraps of cloth from their own clothing.* "I will be fine. I believe I've lost less than you, though. You could run, if you'd like..." *She turns away, clutching her bicep in her free hand.* "Perhaps, get help from the local healers or live your life in peace. Would that not be preferable?" *She asks, walking towards the librarian who's probably dealing with quite the headache, by now.*
Ron
*Gunther scoffs at her suggestion, walking over to the librarian as well after checking that the men are properly tied and removing their weapons.* "What, run away and pretend this didn't just happen? That you're in danger? Sorry, can't do that. This ain't my first cut, and not the first time..." *He trails off, looking at the dried blood on the back of his hand* "...Well, ain't nothing the healers can do for me anyway. Magical or otherwise. Peace just doesn't suit me either. I have my reasons for this. You're not the first person I've helped, you know. 'sides, I'm wrapped up in this now too, no guarantee your persistent suitor will just ignore that I helped you escape for a bit." *He gives a slight smile and gently places a hand on the librarians shoulder, uttering a healing spell to help her deal with the pain from the thugs brutish actions earlier.*
Shirley
*Aleinn ponders his words, trying to find him an out. Despite the fact that it doesn't look like he wants one very much.* "Alright, fine. If your mind is made up about this, I won't push any further. Just... Don't do anything you don't have to, alright? This world is rather scarce on good men." *With that, her thoughts go back to her betrothed, a man willing to send armed assailants to drag her back just so he can have a housewife. The librarian opens her eyes, a big lump on her forehead, a bit of blood trickling from it.* "Th-Thank you, father." *She says with respect to his profession. Her eyes then look to the elf Gunther is traveling with, the look of worry in her eyes.* "H-Hey. Don't worry about me. I got a knock on the head but I'll be none the worse for wear. Though, I suppose you deserve a proper thank you. Are you both magic users? I have a list of tomes that I could give away at a discount." *Aleinn's eyes light up at the notion. The thing she's been looking for. Right here! As she's about to jump at the chance, she realizes she doesn't have much space for spending extra money. The money she has now is for room and board.* "I appreciate the offer but... My expenses are tight, at the moment." *Aleinn says with an awkward laugh, trying not to seem rude.*
Ron
*Gunther smiles slightly at the librarian* "Well, I'm more of a man of faith, so tomes don't do me much good. As for the girl..." *He watches her face fall a bit at the obvious fact she doesn't have enough money for what she wants. Running a hand along his hair he wanders over to the unconscious men and empties their coinpouches. Not exactly a treasure trove, but he isn't shy about taking a bit of recompense for their misdeeds. Meandering back over he sets their coins on the counter, and a few of his own. * "Here. Hopefully this covers at least something. As for my repayment... Well, we were never here, y'know?" *He winks with his one good eye, then mumbles an incantation, filling his tankard with ale from thin air.* "Mhh. Nothin' like a nice drink after some work."
Shirley
*The elf looks down at the small coin pile then back to the librarian who looks to be counting with her eyes.* "Hmmm... Okay, with that we may be able to get you a beginner level spell. With that." *The librarian turns around and pulls out a drawer that seems to be segmented into five sections. She grabs the two tomes left in one of the sections and places them both on the counter.* "Alright, here's two tomes that are pretty good for training the deacons to becoming full fledged clerics." *She points to a golden book with designs of white, intricate, thorny branches converging to the center, labeled 'Light Disc'.* "This is for Light Disc, a minor spell that launches a disc of holy light at your enemies." *She then points to the other which is of similar design with the colors flipped around.* "And this is Minor Blessing. A heal good for use in emergencies and training up how to use healing magic for when things really get hairy. It won't be the healing spell that fully restores your health and mana but it'll pull you out of death's clutches." *Aleinn smiles as she looks at the two books. An attack or a heal... What to choose? What to choose? Being spoilt for choice gives Aleinn pause and she turns back to the only one who would know anything about holy magic, requesting advice with just a look.*
Ron
*Running a hand through his beard, Gunther looks at the books, to Aleinn, and to the downed men. That blast she did earlier was strong, and it looked like she was at least half decent with a sword. Another ranged option wasn't a bad choice, really, but having the option to heal even a bit could truly save a life. All the offense in the world wouldn't matter if you're dead, after all. After musing this over for a minute silently he replied,* "I'd recommend Minor Blessing, personally. It's a lessor version of my healing, but it'll save lives in the future. You already have some ways to fight, at least in our short time together. But it's your choice, truly. You know yourself better than I do." *He shrugs a bit and leans against the counter slightly, taking a sip of his brew*
Shirley
*She nods, immediately turning back to the librarian with a look of determination and points at the Minor Blessing tome.* "I'll take this one..." *The elf says in a quiet voice, pushing the coin pile to the librarian. The librarian smiles, handing her the book in return.* "Once again, I appreciate the assistance. And... What's the saying again? 'May your spirit be honed by your blade' or something like that?" *Aleinn is somewhat shocked that she's been recognized as a Sword Witch, even though not many magic casters also use swords.* "'May your spirit empower your mind and hone your blade.' Thank you." *She bows her head and proceeds towards the exit, hardly holding in the anticipation of reading about and learning a new spell. Aleinn leads the way out, suddenly realizing she doesn't actually know the city well enough. She turns back to the man.* "Do you possibly know of an inn around here, Gunther?" *She asks, her fingers thumbing with the page corners, clearly excited to get started.*
Ron
*Gunther stands and gives a short wave to the librarian and quietly says,* "Thanks. The girl's going through a lot. Get the guards to take care of these louts, I'm sure they won't trouble you anymore." *He makes his way after Aleinn, wincing a bit at the pain in his hand from the earlier fight, and the pain in his chest from his earlier fit.* Need to take care of that later...*He thinks to himself before realizing Aleinn had stopped and was looking at him. At least partially. She was almost vibrating with excitement, holding that book. Seeing the girl in any state but nervous wreck made him smile slightly, and he cast his mind back to think about what she had just said. An inn? Letting out a deep chuckle his warm smile turned into a grin.* "Do I know an inn? Ha! You do realize you're talkin' to a priest of Cayden Cailean right? The inn is our house of worship! Any tavern, any inn can be a holy place if filled with the right people. So aye, I know an inn or two. I'm already staying in one, they've got room for more guests." *He rubbed his beard and started walking, leading the way* "Don't worry, lass. They're good people. You should be able to at least relax for the night without worrying about your problem. Nobody that I drink with would let such a fate befall you"
Shirley
*She feels awash with relief, taking a step back and gesturing Gunther to lead the way.* "Wonderful. If you wouldn't mind..." *Aleinn says before looking to her tone of of knowledge. As she inspects the intricacies of the tome's design, she finds herself getting a bit embarrassed upon realizing that she's been getting a bit too comfortable around Gunther, showing off her vulnerabilities, such as her love for reading and magical tomes. The shy elf straightens herself up and shakes her head vigorously in an attempt to get herself back in working order. Almost for naught, as she opens the tome she bought and frantically reads through the lines.*
Ron
*Gunther turns to ask a question and sees her practically head down in the book she had just bought, and let's a small chuckle leave his lips and shrugs, silently leading the way to the inn he's been residing in for a few days now. He just watches now and then to make sure they don't get separated. Before too long, he stops in front of a decently sized wooden building, the sign hanging off a post reading "The Tone-Deaf Bard". Clearing his throat to catch Aleinn's attention he says,* "Sorry to interrupt your reading, but we've arrived at the inn. Never seen someone get so absorbed in a book! Was it that interesting?" *He has a joking spark in his one good eye, and he leans against the frame of the door slightly* "Can't say I know much about learning via tomes... I was taught very differently. Still, if it's divine magic I could probably help if you have any need of it. Although based on how you sent that thug flying earlier..." *He let the statement hang and nodded at her* "Go on when you're ready. I'll be along in just a moment. Want to finish my drink outside real quick."
Shirley
*She looks up from her book, only scratching the surface of the knowledge she should be focusing on. The snap to reality leaves her a bit lost as to where she's been walking to this whole time, taking a second to gather her surroundings.* "Oh! Uhhh... Thank you, Gunther! I would gladly welcome any teachings you offer." *Aleinn bows to the large man, her new tome nestling under her armpit. Following his advice, she walks into the inn, wondering if she'll a bunch of people like Gunther, i.E. Strong and wise, biblically inclined, alcoholics. It'll be a strange comfort.*
Ron
*Gunther smiles a bit and waves a hand casually* "Don't worry about it. Least I can do. Let the tavernkeep know you're with me, they'll treat ya right." *Once she's out of his sight, he sighs and slowly sips his drink, letting his body sag a bit heavier against the wall. He tastes copper in the back of his throat from earlier, the alcohol doing nothing to wash away the taste of his own blood. A small crimson trickle leaks from one of his nostrils and he wipes it away before it can stain anything. Staring up at the sky for a moment, he takes a few slow, deep breathes to calm his mind and body.* "No point worrying others... I just wish I knew how much time I had left... Not that it would change much, I suppose..." *He mutters to himself quietly, his voice quiet and unsure, a stark contrast to his usual jovial cheer. Downing his drink, he stands up a bit straighter, runs a hand through his hair, and pushes open the door. Best not dwell on dark thoughts too long. Inside, the tavern is bustling as people retire from their jobs for the day, filled with people drinking and dining, playing cards, chatting. The sounds of vibrant life that his God adores and asks of people. Freedom, Revelry, Joy. The true reasons to live. Gunther can't help but feel a smile tug at his face despite his morose thoughts from earlier. A few people raise a toast to him as he enters, which he returns. His one eye scans the crowd for his elven companion, hoping her nerves hadn't gotten the better of her in such a crowd.*
Shirley
*As she walks into the inn and the full weight of the revelry bears down upon her she realizes just how many more people there than she previously imagined. No small difference, should one wonder. Where'd they all come from? You could hear the muffled cheers from outside but THIS many?! As she stood still in such a convivial place, she began to notice that she's drawing concerned eyes. Probably for the best but she couldn't tell the difference between concern and judgement. The eyes everywhere. Left, right, center, someone noticed. She began to back away, the idea being that she'll wait for her friend. Not paying attention, she backs up into a woman, rather overwhelming with muscle nearly hops out of her skin. With no better ideas, she finds the most unoccupied corner, pulls her hood, and waits.*
Ron
*Gunther asks a few people if they saw a young elf, and after a couple drunken responses, he gets a coherent one that points her out in the corner. Making his way through the crowd with practiced ease, he stands in front of her.* "Sorry about that. I guess you're not really used to this kinda place, eh? I know they're a rowdy and loud bunch, but they mean well. Come with me, I'll introduce you to the owner and we can see about getting you a room, and some food if you're hungry? It's no 5 star restraunt but it's better than hard tack." *He chuckles at his own comment. In truth the food was rather good, but he was trying to lighten the mood a bit to make her feel more comfortable in such an unusual place.* "Ah. And don't worry, it's much quieter upstairs so when you have a room you'll have peace and quiet, not to worry. Just follow me, try not to get lost in the crowd yeah?"
Shirley
*Guilt tugs at her spirit. All the magic tomes in the world never seem to prepare one for social gatherings, the most difficult situation of them all. Seriously, what an oversight. Worse yet, now she's only created more work for the kind priest. With a single nod of her head, she stands up from her corner and follows along, unable to raise her head due to the shame. Dutifully, she follows along, the feeling almost nostalgic. Her memories flash of the ball she was brought along to as a child. The reason was for peace negotiations between the High Elves and the Celestial Elves. Land disputes or some such nonsense. Anyway, she couldn't bring herself to talk to many of the others. The only time she did anything in the lines of communicating was to get food at the feasting table. Her mother found her eating alone in a lowlit room, knowing of her issues with mingling. She calls out to her daughter and has her follow along back to ballroom. There are few memories like that of her mother.*
Ron
*Gunther notices her posture shift, ever alert for people's troubles. He thinks, for just a minute, about pulling her aside and asking what's going on in her head. But he decides against it, for now. They were strangers, after all, despite what they had just experienced together. It was hardly his place to meddle. Yet he had already thrown himself into her situation... His train of thought was disrupted as he realized they had reached the bar. Before he could even say a word, a feminine voice called out* "Gunther! What's this I hear about you bringing a girl with you!? Is one woman not enough for you!?" *Gunther sighs softly and quickly turns to Aleinn* "That's the owner... Dont take anything she says personally, she's a big joker." *Turning back around he gives a charming smile to the woman behind the bar, hoping to stop her from embarrassing him too badly. The woman in question had reddish-brown hair tied back in an elaborate ponytail, hazel eyes full of warmth, and just the right amount of muscle to tell she could handle herself. She looked to be in her late 20s, and was quite a looker in her own right. Gunther rubbed his neck and replied loud enough for her to hear* "Come now, Hilda. You know it's not like that! When have I ever brought a woman here like that?" *Hilda, the mistress of the tavern, put her hands on her hips and gave him a slightly teasing smirk.* "Oh that's true, you just leave a trail of broken hearts in your wake, like mine! Yet the hopeful fool I am, I keep letting you back in my door... Well, you gonna introduce me, or not?" *Gunther chuckled slightly, his face turning a bit red from her... Slightly exaggerated comments. He gently moved Aleinn forward and gestured to her.* "Hilda, this is Aleinn. Aleinn, this is Hilda. Best tavern owner on this continent. And a very good friend of mine."

*While she smiled at the flattery, she did let out a small "Hmph" At the last bit.* "Aye well, if it were up to me it'd be more than *Just* Good friends. It's a pleasure to meet you, young lady. Well, you might actually be older than me... Elves are always hard to tell."
Shirley
*The shy elf pulls down the hood enshrouding her face, as is the custom in anyone's home, showing her silver hair, dark skin, and the peculiarities of the little shimmers that happen throughout such. Nothing absolutely blinding, but like little gleaming lights every now and again. Aleinn takes a step forward and bows her head, the absolutely cold expression on her face.* "I am Aleinn Vale, an adventurer of many far off lands. And I'd like to room here for the night. I promise not to cause any trouble, I just want to read." *She shows the edge of the magic tome from between her back and her cape, unable to trust any who may have sticky fingers amongst the drunkards.* "I have no intention of intruding on your...'quarry'." *The elf respectfully bows her head again.*
Ron
*Gunther rubs his neck awkwardly at her last statement, looking away slightly in embarassment before clearing his throat slightly* "You don't have to be so formal, Aleinn." *Hilda squinted at Aleinn for a minute, then leaned forward on the bar to get a bit closer before saying* "We have plenty of rooms upstairs, dear. I'm not sure what your circumstances are, but I'm not gonna ask either. Let's just say you're not the first stray person this lug has brought in off the street who needed somewhere to stay for a day or two. I trust his judge of character. As for my... Quarry..." *She looks at him sideways, while he examines a plank in the ceiling VERY thoroughly* "That one slipped away a long time ago. He's never once been seen with a woman, ever. It was just a joke, truly." *The barkeep smiled kindly at Aleinn then stood back up, crossing her arms.* "Well, if you're getting a room, would you like a bite to eat as well? If you don't wanna eat with the drunks and rowdy ones, we can send it up to your room for ya."
Shirley
*Aleinn nods and bows her head once more before standing upright.* "Apologies if I've made anyone uncomfortable. It's customary amongst my people to bow once, announce oneself, bow again, and announce one's intentions before entering anyone's home." *She says taking another step forward.* "As for the food, I would very much appreciate having it delivered to my room. It-" *She pauses her thoughts, wondering if it's a bit desperate to mention that she hasn't eaten all day. Though, as she says this, her stomach audibly speaks for her with a notable grumble undermining her formality a bit.*