<strong>-- Helena Shaw (http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/655/adventurer2.jpg) - Druid (http://plothook.net/RPG/profiler/view.php?id=8534) - Magnimar - Recovering from a Hangover at the Dragon's Bosom --</strong><br/><hr/><br/>While many in that old, proud city were beginning to feel the steady tug of drowsiness at their eyelids, a certain druid was just beginning her day in a way that she had become<em>quite</em>accustomed to.  Even the dim light sneaking through the cotton blinds of the tavern room made her eyes sting as they fluttered open, provoking an agonized groan.  Helena pinched at the bridge of her nose to stave off the throbbing pain behind her eyes.<br/><br/>Once the initial waves had passed she dared to squint to one side, where the somewhat disgruntled face of her stalwart ape companion greeted her.  The intelligent beast rolled its eyes, as if to say,<em>'When will you ever learn?'</em><br/><br/>"That's an<em>excellent</em>question, Günter," she muttered with a pained smile, reading his expression perfectly.  "I'll get back to you once the dragons in my head stop playing stickball with my brain."<br/><br/>The ape grunted irritably and wandered over to the door, respectably turning away as the woman pushed the laundered covers to the side and exposed her naked body to the evening air.  A tall, exotic form draped in taut muscle, deep brown skin, and old scars scattered across her abdomen.  It was a body that had seen much in its travels, and would likely see much more in the days to come.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Helena dressed quickly and packed up her essential supplies, preferring to leave even a rented room bare whenever straying from it, even if only to the bar below.  Caution and practicality were two words she lived by, and leaving things to chance simply wasn't in her nature.<br/><br/>The tavern looked to be as bustling as it had been the past few evenings, with a healthy mix of locals and foreigners mingling with one another over a pint or two.  A few newcomers looked to be haggling for a room with the tavern keeper and his fiery-blooded wife, which brought an easy smile to her lips.  It looked like quite an interesting crowd tonight.  Perhaps one or two of them could be persuaded into talking over their cups.<br/><br/>As if reading her thoughts, the large ape grunted and nudged at her hip, provoking a tinkly laugh.  Truly a lush never learned, no matter how many hangovers she endured or healed with a touch of magic.