Actaeon enters the hall with a satisfied smile. Another successful Quest. Reflecting back on the Quest, he thinks, that didn't seem as stressful as the first Quest I went on. Maybe it was because I wasn't the Party Leader.

Nerwen, now sitting in the saloon, notes a newer hero walk in. A young ranger clad in dark cloak. She nods hello as she steps to the bar to refresh her drink.

Actaeon nods back to the elf and joins her at the bar.

"No quests on the board today," he says, hoping to start a conversation.

Kiray came back into the hall, rich from her quest and her selling at the market. Then she face palmed. She forgot to sell her weakest sword and sold all of the inert blades she had, all of which were stronger than the Sword of the Kin. She gritted her teeth and sat down. At least she had more gold now. She looked around, seeing Actaeon and went up to him and then saw an elf with him.

"Good work out there, Act," Kiray said. She stuck her hand out to the elf. "Kiray."

Francis walked into the hall, wondering if any amount of gold was worth being inside a monsters belly, before spotting his quest mates and walking up to them.

"Hey bros. Acteon, have you been able to get the smell of monster bike out of your clothes?"

  On 11/29/2014 at 2:19 PM, KingoftheZempk said:

"Good work out there, Act," Kiray said.

"Thanks! It's easy to follow a good leader," he says, genuinely. Noticing that Kiray still has one of the weaker swords, he says, "Hey, I still have an inert blade if you want to buy it. I'm about to head out to the market, so if you want it, I'll sell it for 25."

  On 11/29/2014 at 4:06 PM, Captain Settle said:

"Hey bros. Acteon, have you been able to get the smell of monster bike out of your clothes?"

Actaeon laughs, "Either that or I've just gotten used to the smell!"

"Really, Actaeon?" Kiray asked, her voice rising. "I wasn't that good. If anything, I felt too commanding. And really? Sure, I'll buy the blade off of you, thanks. Here's 25 gold."

  On 11/29/2014 at 8:10 PM, KingoftheZempk said:

"Really, Actaeon?" Kiray asked, her voice rising. "I wasn't that good. If anything, I felt too commanding. And really? Sure, I'll buy the blade off of you, thanks. Here's 25 gold."

"Really. You did well. A party leader has to be commanding or the quest will fall apart!"

Actaeon accepts the money and hands Kiray the sword.

Kiray accepted the weapon. "Thanks, you're right." She then lowered her voice to a whisper. "Is it just me, or do you think Reg, Red, and Briar left a little too quickly?"

  On 11/29/2014 at 9:45 PM, KingoftheZempk said:

Kiray accepted the weapon. "Thanks, you're right." She then lowered her voice to a whisper. "Is it just me, or do you think Reg, Red, and Briar left a little too quickly?"

Actaeon thinks about it for a second, "Maybe. What's on your mind?" he asks, waiting for Kiray's theory.

  On 11/29/2014 at 9:53 PM, Actaeon said:

Actaeon thinks about it for a second, "Maybe. What's on your mind?" he asks, waiting for Kiray's theory.

"I was hoping they could give us an in with the Wolfgang. After helping out Diana, and after getting Reg to help us, I''m interested in helping them out more. They seem like an... interesting group... Maybe not honest all the time, but maybe a little more honest than the houses."

Nerwen shook hands with the knight, saying

Nerwen Calmcacil, Elven minstel. You've just come back from a quest? On the sea?

Speaking to the dark ranger she said

Winter is often a quiet time for the hall. And Grogmas is coming soon.

  On 11/29/2014 at 9:57 PM, KingoftheZempk said:

"I was hoping they could give us an in with the Wolfgang. After helping out Diana, and after getting Reg to help us, I''m interested in helping them out more. They seem like an... interesting group... Maybe not honest all the time, but maybe a little more honest than the houses."

Actaeon nods, "I should have that of that. Where do you think they rushed off to then?" He pauses for a second. "Do you think we'll see Diana again?"

  On 11/29/2014 at 10:14 PM, Chromeknight said:

Speaking to the dark ranger she said

Winter is often a quiet time for the hall. And Grogmas is coming soon.

"So it seems. What's Grogmas? It sounds... oddly pleasant."

Nerwen smiled a warm sunny smile. Grogmas is an Orcish tradition.

Long ago, Grog the Red, a tribal chieftain became known for his extraordinary generosity. Once a year, he gave away valuable treasures from his hoard to all the members of his tribe, as well as the chieftains of some neighbouring tribes. But he did it in the dead of the night, so that nobody knew it was him. Not until he was murdered by a greedy rival chieftain. Of course, war and bloodshed ensued, but the memory of Grog lingered. Even now, for one day in the year around the time of Yenearsira, winter solstice, orcs everywhere forget their feuds and anger, and give gifts to their loved ones through Father Grogmas, the spirit of the generous chieftain.

The Feathered Serpent, one of our veterans, and Scherezade, our host celebrate it and we join in.

"Wow, sounds like an excellent tradition!" Actaeon says with a smile. "How long have you been with Heroica?"

Matthias wanders in and checks the quest board; boredom is evident on his face as he takes a seat at the bar. He wonders where everyone is... only 9 heroes are on mission, and yet the hall has been so quiet lately.

Nerwen smiles seeing Matthias go past then replies to Acteon.

More than three years now. Which might seem long, but time moves in strange ways in the hall.

Tell me about yourself, what brought you here to Eubric, to Heroica? Do you have any traditions and holy days where you're from?

Edited November 30, 201410 yr by Chromeknight

A snort - his own - awakes Bobby from his slumbers. He rubs his eyes and looks around. "Oh shiz, wonder how long I was out." He looks around and finds a seat at the bar next to a gnome. "How's it hanging, little dude? I'm guessing you're a hero, ain't ya? That's cool, that's cool, I am too! Name's Bobby." Bobby offers his hand while glancing over his shoulder for the bar maid.

I glance up from my writing. What was that thing with the spiky head and huge black eyes speaking gibberish. I stare at Bobby blankly for a few moments before shaking my head and continuing my work.

Matthias stares at Bobby for a couple of seconds - much the same blank stare Monk Pretzel has on his face - and then shakes the offered hand. "Name's Math, I'm a hero sure thing," he says, trying to mimic the mohawked man's strange speech. His tongue rebels, however, and he reverts to a calmer tone. "What are you drinking today, Master Bobby?"

  On 11/30/2014 at 11:28 AM, Chromeknight said:

Nerwen smiles seeing Matthias go past then replies to Acteon.

More than three years now. Which might seem long, but time moves in strange ways in the hall.

Tell me about yourself, what brought you here to Eubric, to Heroica? Do you have any traditions and holy days where you're from?

"Well," Actaeon says. Taking in a deep breath, he realizes that he hasn't told too many people his story. "Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to join Heroica. It was my dream. My father owned a tavern. He scrapped and saved until he had just enough money to send me off and enough money to... well." Actaeon stops, realizing he is about to say too much. "So when he saved up enough, I headed to Heroica and got my first quest and barely managed to lead us through a difficult quest."

"What about you?"

  On 12/1/2014 at 3:32 AM, Actaeon said:

"Well," Actaeon says. Taking in a deep breath, he realizes that he hasn't told too many people his story. "Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to join Heroica. It was my dream. My father owned a tavern. He scrapped and saved until he had just enough money to send me off and enough money to... well." Actaeon stops, realizing he is about to say too much. "So when he saved up enough, I headed to Heroica and got my first quest and barely managed to lead us through a difficult quest."

"Barely?" Kiray repeated. "We made it through pretty damn well if you ask me. I'd say if it wasn't for you, there would be a few more of us that disappeared." Kiray sat back and thought about the... frog... thing in disgust.

  On 12/1/2014 at 4:14 AM, KingoftheZempk said:

"Barely?" Kiray repeated. "We made it through pretty damn well if you ask me. I'd say if it wasn't for you, there would be a few more of us that disappeared." Kiray sat back and thought about the... frog... thing in disgust.

Actaeon smiles gratefully. "Thanks, Kiray." Sitting back, Actaeon thinks back on the previous quests as well. "Well, hopefully a new quests comes along soon and the two of us can quest again for the third time," he says optimistically.

Erik looks up as a crazy mage appears in the hall - Either that or a drunken hallucination. He gets up to converse with whatever it is for a while, but it disappears, or it wasn't there to begin with.

He hears Monk Pretzel calling to him.

EDIT: Retconned

Edited December 1, 201410 yr by Myrddyn

  On 12/1/2014 at 3:32 AM, Actaeon said:

"What about you?"

Nerwen ignores the half-Mopag making the flashy entrance as she calmly replies to Acteon.

I came to Uland by boat from the Mistlands. My vow-partnership with Elladan was at an end and I was delivering gemstones to his factor here in Eubric. I took lodgings at the temple of Sem, where the novice, Johero mentioned Heoica was always looking for clerics. When younger I'd studied the healing arts and calling on the blessings of the Gods, especially Galadrya and Celeborn Gods of the Elves, so I returned to that path for a while. Being here has lead me through that to working with blood magic like the Orcs do as a shaman, and to be a stalwart shield as a paladin of Ennoc. Now I am once again a musician, a minstrel channeling power through voice and instrument.

As for traditions where I am from, I am of the Mith'Quessir a silver elf of the White Tower. I follow the path and keep the ways.

Your first quest was difficult? What'd you have to do?