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Elodar had heard bits of the conversation - bare fragments, really, but enough to know that the woman presently threatening the men with hovering spikes seemed to have reason for her actions. He noted cynically that, other than some gasps and stares, few people responded to the sudden introduction of danger into their midst. Who did respond? His companions for these past leagues.

And because others did respond - ones who seemed a little more accustomed to communicating with others - the elf chose to remain in his seat for the moment and observe. If things calmed down, then he had no reason to interfere. He could hardly even hope things would go so well, though. With luck, the most he'd have to do was join the others and gently point out that this was hardly a place to seek revenge. But if weapons or other threats were brought further into the scene... then this would be one of those rare occasions when he'd have to admit that bows weren't ideal for everything. Not that he couldn't hold an arrow on someone's head just the same.

Yester was just on her way back from the kitchen when the elegantly clad woman mentioned that trouble was brewing up, but the sound of the commotion itself and a certain dwarf was more than enough to catch her attention. Regardless she made a thanking nod and hurried down to the centre of the commotion, leaving the food the elf and foul smelling girl had ordered as she passed them and making sure she had at least two poisoned daggers hidden away in the outer layer of her skirt. She had no intentions of taking any risks regarding whatever menacing spell the troublemaker was using, but she didn't plan of faking goodwill either. Elises inn had rules, and the girl was crazy if she thought Yester had any plans of working extra time scrubbing floors because things got bloody. Not to mention that her witchcraft was really hurting the inns business. The waitress already saw at last a third of their customers heading for the exit, to scared to stay.

"HEY! What in oblivion makes you think you can use weapons in here!? Does this look like some public arena to you? You either take those things down, or scram missy. We don't allow fights at this establishment." Yester loudly declared, hoping that at least one of the other waitresses would have the wit to get some guards. Sure, she was within striking range and could potentially put the cloaked woman to the ground without getting hurt, but that meant that she could do the same to her. And as much as the youth tried to keep an intimidating front she was weary of what those levitating spikes could do to a person and preferred very much that somebody else did the fighting if things came down to it.

Marchesa glanced at the papers she and her companion (well, mostly her companion) had put up on the notice boards with some pleasure. At least that hadn't been for nothing. The woman in red stared back at the sorceress in front of her and smiled warmly, gesturing at the map with an elegant wave.

"Yes, I am the one. And I should look, my dear. The danger will only increase the longer the item that I look for remains lost. " Marchesa leaned slightly forward, staring at the other sourceress' eyes. This one had power. Power that could be harnessed, possibly.

"I suppose you haven't heard of the monsters of the woods, have you? They're folklore around this parts, extinct for decades. Green horned brutes resembling trolls who hunted down travellers and devoured them in caves. " The woman continued, reaching for one of her travelling bags in the floor and placing it on the table with a nonchallant look.

((I'll post with Baen later.))

"Far away and into the wilds, I expect. We're searching for something." Baen smirked mischeviously, plucking a string of his lute. "Tell me, haven't you seen the woods growing darker? This item is starting to cause trouble. Not that we wouldn't know about that, scoundrels as we are." He glanced backwards.

"Well then, your not-friends are having an especially unlucky night, I'm afraid. Magic. Fear it or love it, it's so very charming, isn't it?" The bard winked at the sorceress cheekily, but his words would have revealed something else. "Oh, of course I did! Pretty, young and surrounded by drunk pretenders, what not to like?" The bard joked, leaving the makeshift stage that was barrel with an agile jump. Not to mention you could be useful, pyromancer.

"You seem interested in my glorious quest, m'lady Brit!" The youth with the red hair grinned, waving to where Marchesa and the exotic looking woman were already debating something. "Maybe you've seen the notice boards. Adventurers are so hard to come by in this place. So are caravans or horses for sale, but at least they're cheaper." Arguably, that is.

Skylar listened to the dwarf and the waitress. The dwarf's fatherly/demanding voice switched something inside. The lasses' threats however fell on deaf ears. She did as the dwarf asked, the spikes dissipated onto purple smoke which faded. The man she was threatening stood up and brushed his jacket before leaning on the table in front of her, a devious smile plastered on his pasty white face "Till next time lass" he waved his doggies to follow him. The men got up and did so, snickering on their way out.

Syler let out a deep breath that she was holding in, calming her racing heart. She looked down at the floor like a sorry child does to a scolding parent "Sorry..." she murmured, twiddling her fingers.

"Not so unlucky, apparently," Brit mused, glancing back momentarily as the men left the tavern before her gaze snapped back to Baen the Bard. He knew she had magic. He could probably sense it, given the power she sensed from him. Well, that was just as well - if she was to join him on this adventure, this quest, of his, it wouldn't be much fun if she didn't get the chance to throw a fireball every now and then, would it?

Her lips curved into a knowing smirk. "Interested? I might be," she said, standing herself and moving so she was directly in front of him. "A quest into dark woods for a lost treasure? And a handsome bard will be there? I think I'd find it quite difficult to say no."

Quite difficult, indeed. Her feet were already itching to leave the tavern and set out on a journey. She tried to keep the extent of her eagerness out of her voice, however, not wanting to seem desperate. Though, in reality, maybe she was just a little.

"D'e filt'y t'ings do d'at d'ey must to live, as do all t'ings. Remove d'em if you must." Annani spoke flaccidly even with that heavy accent. "But... too much power is d'e bad t'ing. You should not seek it."

Things seemed to be calming in the building. That at least was a plus. But everything still felt tense and foreboding.

This was not exactly the reaction Valder expected. The witch seemed almost childish in nature. He glared at the men who felt the need to make a last remark at her."I will cut you." He suddenly said to them."I will cut you up and no one will ever miss you if you keep talking." His voice a lot more serious.

At this point many eyes would be on them most likely. Valder just waved them away."There's nothing to see here! Get to your business you crummy lot." After that the Dwarf went back to his spot, grabbing the mug of ale he had left and drinking some of it."This bloody tavern..." He complained to himself as he sat back down, overlooking it. He heard no mentions of adventure at this point.

Isabelle watched the men leave. "Well.... they weren't very nice....."Isabelle said, before returning to her table with Elodar. "I wonder what was up with them... or that girl...."She said, glancing back at the table Skylar was at. She was silent for a few moments, before grabbing her staff which she had left leaned against the table. "I'm gonna go talk to her. You cazn have my food if you want it. I'm not all that hungry."Isabelle said, going over to the table Skylar was at. When she got to the table, skylar would be able to smell Isabelle's overpowering stench. "Uh... may I ask what happened with those mean a few moments ago?"Isabelle asked. "And, do you mind if I sit with you?"She added.

Seems the dwarfs words had calmed the witch...Great. Rather humiliating that she'd completely ignored her, but things could have gone a LOT worse. Yester let out a frustrated sigh and started cleaning up some off the tableware that had fallen to the floor as the men had run for the door, some was even shattered. Now, naturally they had tons of replacements in the kitchen, but plates and mugs weren't exactly growing on trees.

As Yester walked past the now more or less calm blue hooded-figure she couldn't help but give her an angry glare. The girl didn't look like she had the money to pay back for the damage she'd caused in lost customers and property, but Yester was sure as hell intending to have a good long talk with her on business ethics once she was done with dealing what was left of the dishes. Not to say that she had any intentions of starting another fight. Her feelings towards those levitating spikes hadn't changed one bit, and to be honest, she'd never really trusted magic users.

Now, she didn't consider herself to be an ignorant person, but even she had to admit that stories of witches abducting children and causing diseases had made an impression on her as a kid. And it wasn't a good one...

Sky fell back down in the chair with a huff. Even though she started the whole thing, she was somewhat relieved. Sky pulled down her hoodie and dropped her head, huffing once more before straightening up. she spotted Isabelle before she got to her table "No no, please" She smiled, gesturing for her to sit "do sit" her voice was sweet and calm, as opposed to before. She looked at Yester cleaning up the mess, she felt bad. Skylar grabbed her pouch that hung from her belt and held it upside down on the table so whatever she had would fall out. She had already paid for her food previously so she was down a few coin. Realizing that she had next to nothing, she pouted and dropped her head into her hands "They're killers and I'm a head hunter" she said finally raising her head, her hair all scruffed up in front of her face. Too frustrated and a lil sad to sort out her hair which obscured her vision, she just tilted her head back a little and looked at Isabelle through the gaps in her bangs.

Just another incident of idiocy, it seemed; someone getting carried away with more show than substance. "Intelligent" beings really weren't so different from animals as they tended to think. And now that the show was over, everyone carried on with their own things.

And here was that blue-cloaked woman, so quiet, so childlike, claiming to be a headhunter after killers. She might have magic, but the young witch was a mouse pursuing a cat.

Elodar stood, figuring that if their table was still empty by the time their food was ready, he and Isabelle weren't all that hard to spot. He walked purposefully over behind Isabelle and continued on behind the blue-cloaked woman to smack the latter female in the head.

"Headhunter?" he demanded sharply, his voice somehow managing to drop even lower. "Find your own head first! Training? Experience?"

"But that is the problem, isn't it? They don't do what they must to live. They do what they must to kill and die afterwards." Marchesa opened the bag, very slightly, so that only the exotic traveller in front of her could see what exactly was inside it.

The monster's decapitated head was a murky green, with lidless yellow eyes that flickered with malice. Rows of sharp teeth gnashed together, and its horns were sharp, and curved backwards, curling at the end. One of them was broken, as if an axe or something sharper had smashed through it.

The head was ...not alive, but aware. Conscient. Its eyes that brimmed with hatred saw. Its ears, with fur growing behind, twitched occasionally. Its tongue was cut out, courtesy of one of Baen's knives.

Marchesa closed the bag, glancing at the dark skinned woman. And then she spoke, softly, carefully, with all the diplomatic calmness she was so good at mustering. "Trolls. Remarkeably good at regenerating their wounds, but coming back from the dead is something that is usually quite unusual. This species has been extinct for decades. And now it is half dead, half alive. An abomination fueled by magic. Rotten inside. We killed the rest with fire and a dagger in the brain. I kept this one as...evidence, and for research. The woods are awaking, and monsters with her. Too much power is a bad thing, yes. But uncontrolled power is even worse. Not to mention others will seek it. "

Marchesa leaned backwards, tying the strings and placing the bag on the ground, and then turning back towards the woman. "Why did you choose to warn us of the perils? What is your interest in this matter? I do see you have power. Cold warmth." She grinned, taking a drink from her goblet.

Baen watched them leave indolently. "Oh, I wouldn't say that yet. You never know, and that one seems to be holding a grudge." He commented, as if describing a particullarly interesting chess match.

He placed the lute in its case. "Well, I wouldn't say that exactly." The bard threw her a fanciful smirk over his shoulders, red hair still mostly in place*. "I'm talking about the woods, of course. I'm definitely handsome. As for the woods, we might even have to visit a few cities. The forest is a large place. And the treasure won't be lost for long if we don't hurry, you know. Come, let me buy you a drink, oh intrepid adventuress!" He grinned again. "I'll tell you more of my tale by a table. I suppose you haven't seen the notice boards?" He asked conversationally, glancing at Marchesa out of the corner of his eye.

Well, she was on to something there. But the troll's head, so soon? What a wasted oppurtunity for a pratical joke.

*Ah, the perks of being a shapeshifter with a doctorate in glamours.

"I never say no to a free drink," Brit said with a laugh, smirking up at him. "And I must confess, I haven't seen them. So I guess it's rather fortunate that your playing attracted my attention." She grinned and motioned towards the rest of the room, indicating that he should pick a table for them to sit at. "But go on, Bard. Tell me your tale. I am very interested to hear it."

The sight of the monstrous head that was both alive and not finally broke Annani's stoicism. The priestess jerked back from the thing and pulled her staff around in front of her. She let out a hiss and scowled. Once the bag was closed again the scowl melted away, but there was still a faint, determined sort of anger in her expression.

Annani did not answer the questions. She said plainly, "I will go wit' you. I will see."

As the Dwarf listened to the blue witch, he started to laugh as loud and obnoxious as could be."Ma'am, you are pretty crap at your job if that's the case!" He found the situation amusing. Especially with Elodar getting involved. He finished the last bit of his drink and could feel the alcohol rise to his head. Even for a Dwarf drinking on an empty stomach meant he could endure less alcohol than usual.

The stout short man hopped off of his chair and walked outside. He didn't tell anyone, but he wanted to check on Skiddel. Those boys he paid were staying away an awful long time. When he was outside he was relieved to see they did their job. They simply didn't come back inside. The shaggy pony was as healthy and happy looking as a pony could get. The Dwarf stroked her mane while she ate some hay."You rest up, girl. Moradin knows you deserve it after what you've been through." Skiddel didn't seem to acknowledge Valder's words. She was too busy nomming on her food.

When the knight wanted to walk back inside he took notice of the notice board. There he read about an expedition. One that he found interesting. Perhaps this was his chance at regaining his lost honour! Like a true knight he stormed back inside, kicking the front door open and smacking his axe against his shield loudly. He wanted to get everyone's attention. Perhaps this was the alcohol's doing.

"Which one of you fine people is looking for adventurers!? I'm sure you could use the backing of a knight, so don't even try to ignore me!" He shouted into the mass of people.

By the time Yester had returned from the kitchen she spotted another customer, the bluehaired elf, already in full swing with scolding the troublemaker. Seemed butting inn now would be senseless, but she still kept a close eye on the small group that had gathered as she served the remaining customers. For all she knew a new fight could arise if the elf wasn't too careful. And to be honest she almost felt embarrassed for not noticing that trouble before it was too late.

And where had Elsie been? The old tavern owner usually had a keen ear for such things brewing up. In fact she tended to be the first one out, fixing the mess the most rowdy customer caused. Not to mention that last time the waitress had entered the kitchen she couldn't remember Eliese standing by the stew at all...Yester felt a slight unease spread through her gut as she once again returned to the kitchen, but this time without any orders.

Upon taking a better look she finally noticed that Elise's second son was now standing by the stew in her stead. She came closer to him, before asking "Oi, Bernard! Where's Elise?" It came out sharper than intended, but the young man seemed to share some of her unease as he answered "Went to her room earlier today.Said that old age was catching up to her, and she needed some rest..." he didn't look too comfortable mentioning his mother's complaints about her age, and the waitress could understand him. Sure,the tavern owner wasn't exactly in her prime anymore, but Yester couldn't remember to have ever heard the bossy woman make any complaints on her health. But then again "I guess one day had to be the first. She works us to the brim, yet she doesn't loll around herself either." The young man simply nodded in responce, but didn't seem too reassured.

Yester was just about to attempt leading the conversation to safer waters, when she suddenly heard a loud banging noise from the main hall. The youth batted her eyes and gave the entrance leading to the hall an annoyed scowl, as if everything was the doors fault. Finally Bernad let out a sheepish laughter and asked "Want me to come along? Though I'd bet anybody would run away thinking a troll was about to attack them if you continue making faces like that..." Yester gave the guy a rough push on the shoulder, and started making her way back to work. "Nah, you'd get beat anyway. Though now that I think about it, getting your face remodeled could just make you presentable enough not to be mistaken for a ogre every time you go out in public." She yelled back as she once again left the kitchen area, but this time; with a somewhat childish smirk glued to her face.

"They're killers?!"Isabelle said in surprise. "How come they haven't been caught yet?! Where I'm from killers aren't tolerated and are locked away until they die.... I guess things here really are different..."She said, before hearing Sky say she was a headhunter. "What?!"She practically screamed. "Killing doesn't solve anything! All it does is end someone's life before it's supposed to end!"Isabelle said. "Ugh..... why is everybody else in the world so obsessed with killing each other?"She asked slumping down on the table. She glanced at Elodar when he came by, smacking Sky in the head. She groaned when she heard him chastising Sky. "And you're okay with this?!"She asked.

Sky tilted her head as she watched Isabelle rant. Sky smiled apologeticly "I'm sorry, I guess that's how the world works" her smile faded "but they deserve death, it's personal"

She turned her attention to Elador "my training you ask? Well, not much... I may have lost my head in the great ogre wars, the war against the witch in the south and her army of werewolves, the demons of Mount Abbadon, the raid of King Smith's castle and many more raids and wars in the last..." She muttered some numbers on her fingers as she counted "137 years" She smiled at him "not enough experience I guess" She faked a frown.

As soon as she heard the dwarf announce adventure she bolted up "I would, I can handle my own"