For the King (fantasy rp)

Leon looked about the town's people and the decorations they've set . The thought of being welcomed in celebration not only annoyed him but a bad feeling fell in the pit of his stomach.

He took several glances at the individual people standing about to greet them. He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched from amongst them. Usually it didn't bother him, but for some reason in this place he started to feel nervous.

He kept his cool, however, as he followed Rae'Non and the rest of the company. Leon looked at Rune for a moment and realized he could use him now.

He approached the wolf boy from the side. "Hey, do you smell anything funny about this place?", he whispered.

 

Leon looked at Rune for a moment and realized he could use him now.

He approached the wolf boy from the side. "Hey, do you smell anything funny about this place?", he whispered.

Rune looked at him for a moment before sniffling a bit.

"No. I mean, not at first but...there is something a bit....I can smell fear in these people, but not of us, and there's something that I can't exactly place that I think has to do with that fear."

He tried to explain the best he could. It wasn't as easy to explain feeling or things that weren't tangible as compared to explaining how a river smelled or certain kinds of earth.

 

"Hmm", Leon nodded.

He leaned in a bit closer as to make sure no one else can hear him. "I'm not sure about the others or Rae'Non, but I felt something crawling in my skin the moment we arrived here and that doesn't always happen. Like the feeling of being watched in a large crowd".

He jestured with his eyes towards the town's people. He then nugged Rune with the back of his hand.

"Let's keep our eyes and ears....and nose, open eh? This place is too fishy to be welcoming"

 

"I understand." Rune whispered back.

"For the moment, let's keep to ourselves, yes?"

It wouldn't be too wise either to be spreading the word among the others. There could be one or two trying to betray them. Or not, but it couldn't harm to be overly cautious this time, especially after that fire in the forest.

 

"Agreed", said Leon.

"Though let Rae know anything you figure out alright? That way he can plan ahead if anything were to happen."

Leon moved away from Rune and continued riding his foreign creature as though normally, pretending to smile at the crowded people.

 

A little while after they had arrived and the majority of the festivities had finished, Rae broke off from the others in search of a decent inn where they could stay the night. He had never been one for large crowds. Crowds were more than he could keep track of. He also felt as though he were being watched, though he knew not by what. Needless to say, every inn master in the town was nearly fighting to have the heroes and the last of the Daragkhar stay at their inn. Each one offered up their best rooms, even kicking other occupants out, and not accepting any payment from Rae.

Rae at last settled on an old looking inn with a rose-cheeked bald man named Abel Bisham as the master. The place was called the Half-Pint, as was portrayed by the engraving of a half empty mug on the sign hanging above the door. Rae was pleased at not having to duck in order to walk in. These buildings had been made to allow for the unusual height of Rae's people.

"Please come my Lord! Business has been slow lately so you may take whatever rooms you like," said the plump inn keep.

Rae looked down the long narrow corridor filled with doors leading to the various rooms. The door at the very end caught his eye. "What about that room there?"

The inn keeper began sweating. "Ah...Sorry Milord...any room save for that one. Its in a bit of a state of disrepair you see? I wouldn't have the Heroes of Galbadan stay in a place so unsuitable as that."

Rae eyed the inn keep suspiciously, though all he got was an uneasy smile in return. "We'll take the three rooms at the end on the right."

"Of course M'lord. I'll have the maids prepare them. Why don't you go out and have yourself a good time?"

Rae nodded. "Yes...I think I will."

As Rae walked out the front door in search of the others, a terrible smell assaulted his senses. He looked to his left where it seemed to be coming from. A man in a long black cloak stood staring at Rae. He reeked of rotting meat, feces, and decay. He gave Rae a black toothed grin and a nod of his bald head before nonchalantly strolling into one of the ally ways.

"Odd," said Rae to himself. He shrugged off whatever uneasy feeling he had before walking off to find the others.

 

The Tavern was a dump and the ale tasted like bottled whale pee, Ketka thought to herself. She slouched back in her chair and sulked. The group consisted of a vast majority of humans. She wanted nothing more then to crawl up in a ball on the floor and ask for some one to stick a hatchet in her skull. There was the winged girl she appreciated Ketka. That made her feel a little better. It wasn’t enough though. The serving wench strode by with her nose in the air and her cleavage threatening to explode from her corset.

“Hey,” Ketka called out. The wench ignored her. “Stupid, corset confined mutton.” Ketka hissed with a sneer.

 

Leon had made his way to a local pub as the others scattered about on their own business. He needed a drink, his dignity couldn't take it much longer.

He sat at the bar which wasn't too crowded as the bartender approach him.

"What'll it be, hero?"

Leon gave him a dirty glare at the word 'hero' but smiled despite.

"Something hard", he replied.

The bartender chuckled. "You look worn out. I know just the thing"

He turned away to remove a bottle from the top of the shelf of hard liquor and began to pour it in a small shot glass before handing it to Leon.

"Here"

Leon examined it and raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"

"On the house", the bartender replied and left the bottle as he walked away.

Leon looked at him as he walked off and shrugged, taking the shot. He winced once and slammed the glass against the hard wood.

"Damn! That's pretty good!"

The bartender merely smiled from the other side of the bar.

An hour or so passed an Leon still sat at the bar. He had emptied three bottles of what the bartender called the "Spicy Monkey". He had become very buzzed, losing his sense of concentration and had fallen over in his chair twice. Leon jestered to Gloria the bartender (which isn't his name) for more Spicy Monkey, though Gloria decided it was time he'd lighten his load, so he gave Leon a mug of ale.

"Thank you, mis", he replied.

Leon looked around and noticed the warrior girl Ketka had sat a few stools away from him and he made his way over to the opposite side of her.

"You loosh hideous", he said. "I'll buy you's a drinksh"

He looked at the waitress whom Ketka had been speaking to and gestured with his mug, spilling some ale from the top of it.

"Could I pleash get a....whash that in your facsh?"

 

Nateia glided around the city, the eyes of children meeting her own. She flashed them a smile, as she jumped up. She took a thermal as she flew their way. She landed next to a small home. A family of seven or from what she could count. The family seemed to be fatherless, as she looked down at their smiling faces, the mother said nothing. Tiny hands touched the feathers on her wings and giggles erupted. She couldn’t help but laugh with them. She was invited into the home, but sadly rejected the offer. She gave them each a kiss on the forehead, before leaving sadly, her thoughts stuck on her own child.

“Freja..” she muttered as she took off for the skies. The gentle wind felt good against her body. She had spent many days without flying, and it had left her nauseated. The embarrassment was still hot on her cheeks as she remembered the creature. She had embarrassed herself greatly, making her look like some damsel. She landed next to a tavern. She looked in at the people, they weren’t her normal type. She didn’t drink, but the distress and hopelessness she felt… had to be rid of. She entered, noticing the woman that had saved her sitting next to another from their party. She didn’t know him just yet, but she knew by the end of the night, she might know them better then she wanted to. She walked in, her eyes losing their shine. She took a seat next to the woman, as she motioned the bartender.

“The strongest you’ve got.” She said plainly.

She noticed the man, a smile on her face. He had to be hammered.

“You know what?” She said to the bartender, “I’ll have what he’s having.” The shot was poured for her, as she took it into her hands. In one quick movement she drained the liquid down her throat. It seemed to burn as she gasped for a breath. The glass was slammed onto the table, as she shook her head vigorously.

“Whoo.” She said with a grin, “I’ll take one more if you don’t mind.”

 

“Tasteless whales p***,” Ketka cursed. As the wench plonked the drinks on the table. The wench glared at her and Ketka gave her a wicked grin.

The wench cussed under her breath and stomped off. She looked at the two interlopers that had invaded her table.

“What‘s wrong with you pair?” she muttered. “If you wanted company one would think I‘m the worst choice.”

She downed her drink and hailed the wench again

 

Leon grinned at Ketka and threw his mug up as to toast at something towards the far wall.

"I thinsk...you look nervoush...much", Leon mumbled.

He couldn't really keep his focus, but Leon saw from another stool somewhere the girl with wings and he raised an eyebrow as he called out.

"Hey....I know you...."

 

“Nervous my royal rear end!” she snapped. She eyed the wench as she stomped back over to the table.

“Can I have some more whales p***” she asked.

“Why you smarted lipped dog eared w****. I‘m about to have you thrown out on your rear, no manners none could be so stupid as to not know where you came from.”

Ketka jumped to her feet, “Worm, say that again.”

“Oh you heard me right the first time methinks.”

Ketka swung a punch and a man caught her around the waste. She looked around her eyes wild Spere suddenly at her side. Half the bar had stood up for the wench ready to fight her battle.

“We‘re about to teach you strangers a well needed lesson,” the wench screeched.

 

Nateia drained another, just as the commotion started. Her senses were off, and her head seemed to spin. She got up from her seat, her steps unsteady as she looked at the crowd. She gave a giggle, quickly clasping her hand over her mouth.

“One on many? Seems so fair.” She spat out with another giggle. She stumbled forward, almost running into one of the men. She looked at the woman they seemed to be protecting.

“I’m wondering, do you sell you body on the street?” She grabbed her mouth in shock, but a giggle quickly came out as she grabbed her chest. She could almost instantly feel that hand touch her shoulder as the giggles came to an end. With a slurred reaction, her wings flapped furiously. Their table was quickly knocked over, sending glasses and men falling over as she took a lung for the nearest man. Her fist met his chin as she came down on him.

 

“She doesn‘t need to sell herself look how many friends she‘s got. What I want to know is how in the name of the gods she does it. Can‘t be her looks that‘s for certain.” Ketka said with a snicker before jamming her elbow into the mans stomach and spinning round on him. She lifted him smiling sweetly as his jaw dropped in shock at her strength then she slammed him down on the table.

“Oh I know Nateia why don‘t we show these morons what a real woman can do.”

 

She was tossed off the nearest man, his strength greater then hers. She quickly caught herself with the help of her wings just before she hit the table behind her.

“I think we can manage that.” She said with a giggle. A fist came at her as quickly ducked. She fell onto her behind just as her foot flung up onto his crotch. He fell down grabbing his beloveds, as she quickly got herself up. She flapped her wings furiously as some men caught her eye from behind. She giggled as they fell back, but was quickly interrupted as a punch met her shoulder. She growled under her breath, quickly retaliating. She jumped on him, her hands aimed for his eyes. They both fell down to the ground with a thud.

 

The men kept coming at Ketka thick and fast she had dodged a few and snickered as one of the men Nateia had attacked rolled about on the floor clutching his groin. Ketka grunted as a chair hit her in the back and she fell to her knees. She rolled away as she heard a man behind her and reached a mug on a table. Picking it up she watched the hulking man stomp towards her she stood and slammed the mug into the side of his head.

Another man jumped up and kicked at her as his foot slammed into her plate armour she fell with him on top of her. His heavy body making her breathing hard.

 

Nateia scratched as his eyes as some large hands seemed to wrap around her waist, lifting her with great force. She yelled struggled to get from his grip. Her wings were pinned down as a large, fat face cat at the side of her shoulder.

He seemed to mumble something she couldn’t understand as he threw her against the wall. She hit it with a loud bang, her shoulders taking the brunt of the force. She got up painfully, her arms hanging limply as she looked at what she faced. The man had become a group of what appeared to be his peers, as they very much looked the same. Large and fat, from what she saw. She grimaced not really sure how to take them on until she saw the table next to her. She quickly grabbed the table, as she painfully ran forwards with it. She ran into the men knocking them over in a weird drunken reaction. She fell down with them, but her wings quickly helped even her out. She looked over at Ketka, her face unsure as the men started to get back up.

“I don’t think we’re going to be able to win this…” she muttered, her words running over one another.

 

Ketka laughed at her words, “Please.” She clicked her fingers at Spere and he launched himself from a nearby table and into the crowd. A whistle and with a behemoth of a yowl Ketka’s thunder cat squeezed itself in the door of the tavern.

“That should even out the odds a little. Now lets get this barnyard moving.” Ketka laughed and clapped her hands together as the large fluffy mount swiped at the mob and yips and savage barks echoed in the room. In the chaos she couldn’t see the wench creeping up behind her with a large knife.

 

Nateia gave a laugh as the men seemed to run in fear from the creature. She jumped on the nearest man’s back, kicking at him with her legs furiously. He fell down with her, only to get up and crawl away. She got up as something hard hit her over the shoulder. She cursed under her breath swiping at his face with her nails. He backed up just as she noticed the flousey from before. She had a knife in her hand just behind Ketka. She quickly grabbed the bow from her shoulder, notching the arrow on it. In one quick movement and the concentration of her eyes, she sent the arrow for the woman’s hand.

The scream could be heard across the room as she fell to the ground, the blood flowing from her new wound. She glided over, stepping over half drunken men.

“Never bring a knife to a fist fight b***h!” she yelled, placing her bow back on her shoulder. She put her hand steadily on the back of the arrow and pulled hard. The arrow came out, and the woman let out another scream, sobbing on the ground. She picked up the knife, its handle now covered in its owner's blood. She placed it in her allies hand with a grin.

 

Ketka smiled back at her grasping the knife, “isn‘t it lucky you humans don‘t believe in bumping each other off.” she tucked the knife in her belt and lent down onto her level, “By the way,” she hissed in her ear then gave another of her wicked grins, “I‘m prettier. Now I‘d back off if I were you before I let kitty off his diet.”

 

Haskeen hadn't been able to find a tasteful place in town, a place for his refined senses where he could get into nice robes and enjoy a glass of wine, so rather he decided to hit a dive and see what the rougher bunch of the north had to offer.

As he stepped into the door of the dirty old tavern, a large, dim room that was emptying fast, he noticed two of his companions fighting. The dog-elf and the winged one. He looked at the ensuing brawl considering it, Its been a long time, Haskeen, you haven't fought with peasants in nearly a year. With a sincere smile hidden beneath his masking, he began to beat the hell out of the fleeing patrons, cursing all the time. As he swung the blunt end of his spear into one man's stomach he yelled, " Yla'an haramak!" As he kicked a women in her fat stomach, " Sharmuta mos zibby!" is what he spat at her. The southerner landed a harsh punch onto the face of an older patron and screamed madly, "Manuke khara neek hallak!" After that he was silent, simply grunting in anger (and ecstasy) as he brought harm to each commoner he could get his hands on, until they had all either fled or were knocked to the ground, groaning in agony.

He wiped a bit of sweat from his eyes, panting a little, and walked over to the two women and said, "Such a brawl I have not experienced in over a year, but Mulesk's peasantry don't put up as much as a fight as these! My my, you have helped an old soldier feel at home, I thank you!" he offered one jewel choked hand to the women, his other still gripping his spear.

 

Stepping into the village, Shao'Tio felt that something was not right. The townsfolk, looked happy enough on the outside, but he knew that they were hiding the truth. As he walked across the dusty path, which served as a road in this town, he was greeted by a rugged looking man wearing a brown cloak.

“Welcome, back hero! It‘s been a long time since I‘ve seen you in these parts.”

Looking the man in the eyes, Shao’Tio responded, “Why does your village celebrate our arrival as if we had won a war? We have not come back from our quest, we are simply beginning it.”

“Sir, I don’t know.”

“It would be far better if the people in your town held a sword and a shield, instead of drinking themselves into a stupor. Shao’Tio saw in the man’s eyes, a distinct fear. “You know this to be true, although you deny it by your facial expressions.”

The man turned around uneasily and walked away. Whatever evil lurked around this town, Shao’Tio would see to it that it was destroyed.

 

Nateia couldn’t help but let out another drunken giggle. She blushed, her hand going to her mouth instantly. She gently grabbed his hand, attempting at a curtsy. It came out rather lopsided, causing her to lose her balance. She fell into Haskeen, grabbing onto his arm to regain her balance, a full laugh erupting from her lips.

“I’ve neither drank or gotten in a bar fight before.” She said in between laughter. She quickly let go of him, her hand going to her throbbing shoulders.

“I don’t think I will ever again.” Her words seemed to double over each other, “Thank you for the help though.”

 

Drake had been doing his own thing around the town. In partial shock over not even being able to hurt that beast, and having almost let natiea get hurt. That was when he walked into the bar. Chairs scatered, a few broken bottles, a drunken, blushing, gigleing nadiea in the desert man's arms. Drake frowned to himself. It wasn't his place to judge her. He hoped the bar still had plenty to drink left he could use a pint now.

 

Nateia saw as he Drake walked by, and her eyes followed him as he sat down. She stumbled over, nearly toppling over as she tripped on broken glass. She let out a giggle as she caught a chair, and quickly glided herself next to him.

“You know, I’ve never been in a situation like this before.” Her tongue seemed to confuse the last few words, as she twisted them. She gave a giggle, as she lay her head down on the bar. She let out sobs, her shoulders throbbing painfully.

“I’m not a hero, not even close. They sent for my husband, not me!” she said through a sob. She quickly lifted her head, the tears prominent in her eyes.

“I can’t stop thinking about my daughter and you all think I’m some f**king damsel in distress. I’m useless!” she said, the tears slowly stopping. She looked over at the bartender, not sure if drinking more was a good idea.

“You probably think awfully of me.” She said with a desperate sigh. She lay her head back on the table, covering her face with her hands as she let herself go back to crying.