Not long after the woman atop the bovine left, the guards watching the affair closed in, hands on their weapons. "You there, elf, don't move. We have some questions for you before you enter the city proper."<br/><br/><span style="color: #0000FF">Lenwe smiled slightly as the guards surronded him hands on thier wepons "a friedly greeting as always" he said calmly to them, he stopped walking and foldered his hands back inside the large sleeves "ask away, I have little to hide" he said looking at the man who had adressed him.</span><br/><br/>The smirk did little to help the guards opinion. "What are you doing here? We've heard no word of an elven convoy, what is the reason you're here?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #0000FF">He looked at them evenly "I am with no convoy, I live my life in exile as for why I am here, I seek work a bed and sustinace that is it, I do not seek trouble nor to cause unrest amoung your fine people".</span><br/><br/>"Exile eh?" The guards looked at each other and nodded, hands off their weapons. "Be quick about your stay then. I don't need trouble in my town from your knife-eared friends. You're free to stay for the night or two but no funny business you got that? I'm having at least one guard keep eyes on you at all times."<br/><br/><span style="color: #0000FF">Lenwe looked at him with an honest smile "you are a good man, I promise my kind will not cause trouble on my behalf, I was a monk anyone who would seek me would be of the peaceful kind not that they shall seek me, I understand your need for a gaurd I shall be on m best behaviour, I do ask one question if you'd be willing to answer" he said pausing for a moment "I am premited to defend myself should there be a need?" his request was simple but nessercary there was a lot of hatered for his kind in the world.</span><br/><br/>There will be no killing in my town, but if anyone tries to rough you up, you can defend yourself. I have no need to keep you in an infirmary when you could be out of my hair. Off with you then." The guard waved dismisivly. "Nearest inn is the red crown, seedy place but the beds don't smell of salt."<br/><br/><span style="color: #0000FF">Lenwe nodded at his answer "thank you for the advice sir" he slowly walked threw the ranks of guards careful not to knock any of them as he passed and headed to the Inn he was told about slowly puffing on his pipe.</span><br/><br/>While that banter transpired from afar, a halfling watched carefully from the crowd as the bull riding woman and the elf had words. It was interesting to say the least, this sub-human standing on a high horse, while this outsider literally did the same. Both were good candidates, though the elf had more money. Perhaps a deal could be made with the woman?<br/><br/>He approached cautiously, making sure both hands could be seen from her much higher vantage point.<br/><br/>"Hail there good woman, I hope the knife ears haven't cut your day down too much?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">She had just taken a drag on her pipe when the halfling approached and spoke. The word choice made her chuckle, the smoke released from her nostrils before she addressed him, "Who him? Nah, that twig was no more troubling than a fly on BC's ass. Ain't that right, boy?" she asked the bull who tossed his head as if he understood the question. </span><br/><br/>"Indeed indeed. The names Trivian lass, a pleasure." He bowed his head lightly in greeting." You look well traveled, might I guess Tyrinia?â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"You have a good eye," Taliha said with smirk. "The names Tailha and I do come from Tyrinia, no doubt you heard of the Stormstrum? Finest dwarvian bull breeders and cart handlers in the whole land?" the words were spoken with pride, she even seemed to sit up straighter in the saddle.</span><br/><br/>"The breeding no, but I've purchased quite a few carts bearing that name. I suppose this here," He motioned to the great steer, "Is thanks to the former?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"Aye," she reached forward and gave BC a hard pat along his thick neck. "Raised him from a calf by hand myself. Proved to be larger than even the bull who sired him," she scratched the bull's neck and he pawed at the ground. </span><br/><br/>"I'm sure he's the bane of cow's everywhere. What brings you so far from your homeland?" He asked curiously<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"Adventure, fun...excitement," she shrugged, though she looked at the man her hand continued to pet and stroke the large bull. </span><br/><br/><br/>"Hmm," he scratched his thin beard with a smile. "Excitement eh? I may have just what you want then. If you're willing to work for it.â€<br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">She actually looked offended at that, "Willing to work for it? There has never been a Stormstrum who did not work for what they wanted. Act like I am some lazy knife ear and not the proud Dwarf that I am." </span><br/><br/>His smile only grew wider. "Sounds like just the thing I need then. Meet me at the red crown, order a mead with fully cooked raw steak. My boy will bring you to speak with me." He tipped his head in a bow once more and quickly started making his way back into the thick crowd.<br/><br/><br/>Walking back into the inn of his ownership quickly as his short legs could travel, Trivian spotted a very curious site. A drell of all things, sitting in one of his tables with a dead moldy bird. And did that bird just twitch? Very curious indeed. "Ah, excuse me lass. Why exactly do you have the corpse there on my table?" His tone was not chiding, but curious with a hint of humor.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF00FF">Shadilinn was surprised when instead of waitress or waiter coming towards her there was a man. What made the moment even more facinating was the way he asked about the corpse. " Oh, this bird. You see I have a passion for reanimating dead things..clearly I prefer animals. " She paused for a split second before speaking some more. It was a rare sight when someone actually asked her what she was doing. " Do you have any decent wine here? Or food for that matter?"</span><br/><br/>He glanced around the bar a moment before snapping his fingers a couple times. Within moments a large man came holding a chilled bottle filled with a delicate purple liquid. "The finest in town I assure you. And food is cooking as I speak. Raising the dead you say? Not something I hear often around here. I can't imagine it's simply a hobby for you." He poured two glasses as he sat on the raised stool to meet the girl at eye height.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF00FF">The man seemd to just snap his finger, and the people of the bar that worked there responded rather fast. Did this mean he was the owner? Her left hand fished out 7 silver coins placing them on the table. " Raising the dead is more of a facination. People tend to steer clear of my type. My facination with it is pourly respected. " She allowed a small laugh to escape her lips. It was a rare kind of laugh one that was of amusememt. " However, I have yet to be successful. "</span><br/><br/>"Mmm, can't say I blame them most of the time. They have good reasons to keep the dead where they lie." He took a sip from the wine and smiled wide showing his shining white teeth. "I can see the benefit of such idea's however. Though you may not have the skill now i'm sure you don't plan on giving up. Other than that I bet you have skills besides making corpses twitch."<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF00FF">" Of course. I was taught by one of the best necromancers around. However, He died and ever since I've been playing around with this spell." She gestured at the bird. " I do feel there is justice in reviving the dead. The possibilities are endless. "</span><br/><br/>"That they are. Now, forgive me if i'm too forward, but if i'm not mistaken your proffession doesn't bring in too much gold, am I right?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF00FF">" Yes you are correct , what I have placed on the table is the rest of what I have. People are not too keen on what I do. But I have these 7 coins from people carelessly leaving them on the ground but this has been collected over time. I am also unaware of what or how much a coin is worth. I was raised without that knowledge."</span><br/><br/>A glint shown in his eye as he contemplated this new information. "Well I think this might be your lucky day. I have been in need of an arcane apprentice such as yourself. You see, I'm in need of your services, quite soon I might add. There is a matter I need only the brightest of minds and strongest of magics. You seem to hold potential for both, and I wish to hire you for that reason. Know that should you accept you'll be fed promptly every day with no worry on where the next meal will come from."<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF00FF">" Well that sounds like a deal. I do wonder how such arcanic needs will come in handy but there is always room to figure that out later. " Her only hope was that this job would help her gather more information on her teacher.</span><br/><br/>Finished with his questioning of the Drell girl, Trivian made his way towards the scuffle that had erupted whilst he spoke to her. Seeing the patrons give the man a wide berth, perhaps another hire was to be found. "Greetings my friend." He said, getting atop a stool to more properly speak to him. "I hope my seedy patrons aren't giving you too much trouble?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #40FF00">"Not while they are foolish enough to approach and armed and armored warrior while they're drunk" replied Tairon quietly, studying this halfling he had noticed talking to the drell necromancer.</span><br/><br/>"Good good, where might you hail from my friend? I don't get too many armored folk come into my nook of the city."<br/><br/><span style="color: #40FF00">"I come from Silvermoor, sir. I am guessing you own this fine establishment?</span><br/><br/>"Silvermoor? I get good mead from that city!" He said with delight, patting the warrior politely on the shoulder. "Yes indeed I do my friend. This here is my pride and joy. I am Trivian, a pleasure."<br/><br/><span style="color: #40FF00">"Nice to meet you Trivian. How can I help you? Or are you unlike most inn owners, and simply like to talk amongst your patrons?" Tairon asked, still unsure of this halfling's intent.</span><br/><br/>"Well my boy that depends entirely on whether you are looking for work or not." He said, settling on the bench and revealing a pipe from his surcoat. "I have a job in need of a guard, quite an important one to me at least."<br/><br/><span style="color: #40FF00">"Hmm...not sure aout that. You see, I'm in the process of tracking down a bandit wizard, by name of Malereth. have you heard of Him?</span><br/><br/>The name struck a cord with Trivian, but visably he seemed to simply ponder a moment. "Hmm, Malereth eh? Sounds familiar... Oh! that's right, he's the father of my patron whose merchendise you'll be guarding should you accept. Goes by the name Tiberion."<br/><br/><span style="color: #40FF00">It took a moment for this to sink in. "You mean to tell me," Tairon began quietly, " That I am to guard the son of a murderer!?" His voice rose to a shout, especially at the last word. For indeed, Malereth had killed several villagers, including Tairon's younger brother.</span><br/><br/>A grimace appeared on the halflings face as he rose his own voice in turn. "Is your skull as dense as this armor? The merchandise you fool, not the man. All you have to do is make sure I get the payment, once the product is delivered safely. What you do with him after that." He let it hang in the air a moment. "Well he obviously didn't stick well in my memory, I don't think I was too attached."<br/><br/><span style="color: #40FF00">Tairon settled down at hearing this. He was after all finished half of his original journey already. He knew how to find Malereth. "Alright then." he said, "I accept you're offer. Although, I wonder. do you mean you mean you already know the strength of my armor, or are you merely assuming that it is thick? you see, if it is in truth paper-thin, than you're statement would make me smarter than you, would it not?"</span><br/><br/>The halfling stood on the stool, put a hand on the mans shoulder and looked down. "My boy, don't trouble yourself with petty word games. You have a caravan journey to prepare for. It leaves the morn.. after next, so have your affairs in order by then. Food will be supplied but the rest, you're on your own." And the halfling, satisfied with the talk, hopped off the stool with a nod, and went to the back of the inn.