Heroica RPG - Heroica Hall

[Scubacarrot]

Haldor laughed.

"What sort of Nord would I be if I didn't? Please sit." He then sighed, a worn and forlorn look on his face. "I trust that there is no cause for us to fight? I've seen far to much of this city and its true face lately to give a damn anymore."

Guts handed one of the bottles to the norseman, and sat down at the nearest table. After a quick look in all directions (Open, bad visibility, Guts wanted back to his claimed table) Guts spoke:

"Hmm? You recognized me instantly, even when tired. You ears are good." Guts let out a small chuckle that sounded more like him scraping his throat than anything else. "No... I have no reason to fight you. What I wanted to talk to you about is something... I'm less used to, let's say." Guts stopped, took a big swig, and continued with an uneasy look on his face:

"I should not have called you out when we met, I was guided by my own petty fears, and I should not have been."

[JimBee]

Hybros watched as old heroes entered the Hall again. The one-eyed ranger, Docken, and the Shaman Haldor entered. The party investigating some sort of machine was back, which meant Boomingham, the jolly knight he had traveled with so long ago, was back. And also Nur, the shady mage. The imp waited patiently for them to arrive, it had been a long time since he had last seen them.

[Zepher]

Boomingham saunters into the hall in his normal way. He glances around with wide eyes and spots Docken. He walks up to the Warden and claps him on the back as he sorts out the money.

"I'll take my 250... and then leave 105 of it with you," he says with a chuckle, scooping up the remaining 145 gold. He then makes his way over to Haldor and a man he does not recognize. "Care if I join in? I need somewhere to sit until Jess and Nur come and heckle me for their fair share of my loot. Worth it for the dress garb." Boomingham sags into a chair and spots his old friend, Hybros, in a nearby corner. He waves him over.

"I need to be off to the market soon, but I figured I should relax after that hellish quest. Haldor, I know you need to free your mind... how strong is that wine of your's, mister? Nur promised he'd join us for a few glasses too... but I don't see any harm in starting without him."

[Scorpiox]

"I never forget anyone that I have met, I should know, I've met very few people. You have a new face, Guts Holla. Do not blame yourself for our quarrel, much did cloud my mind then, and even worse now. I don't even remember much of it anyway. What is it that you wish to speak of?" Haldor was tired and battered, much had passed in such a small time that it was a struggle to all understand. Not even his friends could provide solace.

He turned his head as Lawrence sauntered over. Smiling weakly, he spoke again. "Yes, I need something potent. Maybe you can help me as well."

Edited July 13, 2012 by Scorpiox

[The Legonater]

"I never forget anyone that I have met, I should know, I've met very few people. You have a new face, Guts Holla. Do not blame yourself for our quarrel, much did cloud my mind then, and even worse now. I don't even remember much of it anyway. What is it that you wish to speak of?" Haldor was tired and battered, much had passed in such a small time that it was a struggle to all understand. Not even his friends could provide solace.

He turned his head as Lawrence sauntered over. Smiling weakly, he spoke again. "Yes, I need something potent. Maybe you can help me as well."

I look across the hall, and see my old friend back from his quest. He seems worried, though. Defeated. Saddened. It wouldn't be the first time I had seen that face- if my eyes didn't betray me, I could have sworn I saw it on my own face from time to time. Especially... then. I go to his table.

Haldor, old friend. Time as a Shaman hasn't been good to you. What appears to be the problem?

[Scubacarrot]

Quite surprised, Guts answered Haldor:

"Yes, actually. That was all of importance I wanted to speak, although I would not say no to company while drinking."

Guts held his hand out to the bearded man, and said:

"I am Guts Holla, you must be 'ser' Lawrence Boomingham, king from the far past? Your reputation preceeds you. The wine is good, I would not say... strong, it's wine. I can advise a few good liquors Scheherazade serves, if that's more your fancy?"

[Zepher]

Boomingham slammed his meaty rough hand into Guts and shook it.

"Pleasure to meet you, Guts. Yes, I'm Lord Boomingham, and I hope that the reputation that proceeds me isn't all bad." Boomingham chuckles. "How about both? I can do wine and harder stuff."

Boomingham turns around and calls over his shoulder. "Someone bring me a Flaming Gumballs and a Mead!" Boomingham turns back to Guts. "Pour me a glass, if you wouldn't mind. Does anyone know if Nyx or Hoke has returned, or if Mr. Marvelo is around?"

[Scubacarrot]

Guts glanced at his hand, after shaking with Boomingham, he suddenly felt he needed a bath. And Guts never had that feeling.

"Not all bad, no. But the stuff that IS positive, if you want to call it that, can't possibly be true. Anyway you turn it, my Lord, you seemed like a very interesting person to meet."

Guts sighed and rolled his eyes when the man suggested the drinks.

"I'll keep it with wine, for now. When you were talking about 'stronger stuff', I did not imagine something rich dames would drink on a warm sunday afternoon."

[Scorpiox]

Haldor sighed again, then took a long draught of wine. "She hates me, you know it's true Lawrence. After all we have been through, she can't stand the sight of me. What do I do Boomingham? I feel like we're all on the steady slope downwards now. Guts, you know anything about women? It was the Wolfgang that did it. I didn't want it to happen that way, but we all have weaknesses, I guess mine is that I was too stupid to see." Haldor took another slug of the sweet alcohol, hoping that it would offer a refuge from the harsh reality.

[Zepher]

"Positive things, you say? That I'm a king among men and a god among kings? The flaming gumball is a tribute to a friend. If you make me an ally, I'll make sure to take a swig of wine for you too every time I get back here." Boomingham chortles and pats Guts on the back. The Lord's mead arrives and he downs it. The Gumball clearly takes longer to prepare.

[Scubacarrot]

Guts looked at Boomingham's face, there was nothing "kingly" about it, whatever that means.

"Hmm, no, I once heard someone say you are a stand-up guy."

Guts took a swig from the bottle, and then poored some in a glass Guts apparantly got out of nowhere, and put it in front of Boomingham, after that, he looked at Haldor, and said without looking in his eyes:

"Women? Yes, I had a woman once.. I won't bother you with the story, there is no happy ending. The elf girl you were with? If you want to keep her, you got to work for it. Sitting here getting yourself drunk is not a particular way to get back into her good graces, if that's what you want."

[Zepher]

"Does any story involving women ever end well?" Boomingham chortles. He downs the glass that Guts gave him, leans back in his chair and sighs. "Drinking won't win her back, but it's a sure fire way to forget that you should be doing that. Does any story where you try to win people back ever end well, in truth? It's a daunting task, and rarely worth the trouble. Some people like you, and some don't, and that's that."

[The Legonater]

Haldor sighed again, then took a long draught of wine. "She hates me, you know it's true Lawrence. After all we have been through, she can't stand the sight of me. What do I do Boomingham? I feel like we're all on the steady slope downwards now. Guts, you know anything about women? It was the Wolfgang that did it. I didn't want it to happen that way, but we all have weaknesses, I guess mine is that I was too stupid to see." Haldor took another slug of the sweet alcohol, hoping that it would offer a refuge from the harsh reality.

Upon realizing the topic, my face turns less yellow pale.

I'm afraid I have no advice, friend. The closest thing I had to... success on the matter was... well... she was taken along with everything else I knew back home. I turn silent.

[Masked Builder]

Alexis watches the heroes returning too the hall, it looked like Haldor and Jess were back. Good she thought, it'll be good to see her again. Her sharp ears pick up something Boomingham was saying.

"Does any story involving women ever end well?" Boomingham chortles. He downs the glass that Guts gave him, leans back in his chair and sighs. "Drinking won't win her back, but it's a sure fire way to forget that you should be doing that. Does any story where you try to win people back ever end well, in truth? It's a daunting task, and rarely worth the trouble. Some people like you, and some don't, and that's that."

"Hey watch it mister! You're treading on fragile ground."

[K-Nut]

Althior walks back into the hall after a week of endless work. He walks past the Quest Board, seeing a group signed up for Quest #39, including Alexis. He stares at it in disbelief. How could she? He walks up to the saloon, making a point not to look at Alexis. He sees his old friend, Haldor, sitting at the bar. "Haldor, my friend! How the hell are you?" He shakes his hand, "We must catch up over a drink," He smiles for the first time in quite awhile.

[Masked Builder]

Alexis turns to watch Althior enter the room. "There he is, I wonder where he's been." She gets up and heads over toward the table where Althior is, she walks silently up on his left and reaches around and taps him on the right should. She watches him intently waiting for him to react.

[Zepher]

Boomingham winks at Alexis as she approaches, but before he can say anything, her mage has walked up and her attention has been drawn to him. Boomingham sighs. His head feels hot under his newly acquired hood. He mops it with his handkerchief and sighs again.

"Hello, mage. I don't believe we've crossed paths before. My name is Lord Lawrence Boomingham, friend of Alexis, she was in the first crew that I quested with. I also see you and Haldor are pals... what do you say to a drink?"

[K-Nut]

"I told you, Finnegan! Stop it with the practical jokes!"

"Uhm, that wasn't me, sir..."

"Right, it was a chicken. Of course it was you! Who else would it be?"

"Ch- ch- chicken?" Finnegan rushes over to the other end of the room. If he had a thumb, he would surely be sucking it.

"Hello, mage. I don't believe we've crossed paths before. My name is Lord Lawrence Boomingham, friend of Alexis, she was in the first crew that I quested with. I also see you and Haldor are pals... what do you say to a drink?"

"Boomingham, I recall that name. Nice to finally meet you. Name's Althior Emorith, Sage, and you probably know my association with Alexis." He chuckles, "I'll surely take you up on that drink,"

"think of a happy place, think of a happy place..."

[Masked Builder]

She winks back to Boomingham as she approaches. Then Alexis watches as Althior ignores her; "Great, wonder what's up with him now..."

"What's up dearie? You don't seem to be in the best mood."

[K-Nut]

Finnegan hears Alexis' question from the other side of the room. Finally! He thinks, My chance to get rid of her!

"Me? Well, lemme think about it-" Finnegan sits up triumphantly from the other side of the room, interrupting Althior.

"Of course he's not in the best mood! You're ditching the-" Althior chuckles a bit, embarrassed, as he almost tackles Finnegan, stopping him.

"Would you excuse me for a moment?" He walks with Finnegan and slaps him on the back of the head, almost knocking him over, "I was in the middle of something, Finnegan! Just Shut up!"

"But was what I was saying a lie?"

Althior hesitates before he speaks, "Hey," He says, sharply, "I never said that," He grins at the aura as he walks back over to the table. He turns back to Alexis, "Let's just talk about this later, okay?"

[Masked Builder]

"Later? Why later? Why can't we just take care of this now?"

[Brickdoctor]

"I'll take my 250... and then leave 105 of it with you," he says with a chuckle, scooping up the remaining 145 gold.

"Thank you, Lord Boomingham."

Noticing that the other heroes seem to be consuming copious amounts of alcohol and discussing their various relationships with women, I retreat to a corner of the Hall to eat my meal.

[K-Nut]

"Later? Why later? Why can't we just take care of this now?"

"Because I don't want to make a scene in front of our friends. They just got back from their quest and should have some peace and quiet for a bit,"

"Peace and quiet? Remember there is that dumb-as-a-rock knight getting drunk over there,"

Noticing that the other heroes seem to be consuming copious amounts of alcohol and discussing their various relationships with women, I retreat to a corner of the Hall to eat my meal.

Finnegan leans over to the ranger who just sat at his table, "I have a feeling you and I are the only sane ones here. Name's Finnegan, by the way. I'd shake your hand, but I don't have any. "

[Masked Builder]

"Alright, fine. But don't think I won't ask about this again!" She turns to Boomingham. "Sorry about that, he'll just never talk to me." Alexis sighs. "Where were we?"

[K-Nut]

"Alright, fine. But don't think I won't ask about this again!"

"Knowing you, you'll ditch me and go ask someone else about it,"

"Wishing you didn't stop me now?"

Althior rolls his eyes, but mouths to Finnegan, "YES"