Open Chronicles The Last Chance Inn

[Ennio]

Ennio let out a quiet, hmm, as though he were thinking something. "Perhaps she will be more forthcoming now. A gentle word and some monsters crashing through the window can sometimes have the effect of loosening the tongue."

The innkeeper flashed a smile, then stepped over towards another door.

It was pulled open, and the two members of staff on the Last Chance Inn stepped directly into the same corridor as Alyx and Virdan. A bright beaming smile touched the Innkeepers face as he saw them, a little wave offered.

"I see you've made it!" He said with a smile. "And met some of our friends."

Ennio stepped forward, letting Ipatiy ask her questions before he echoed her sentiment. "That is a rather good point."

He mused. "There's not a safer place than the Chance."

The Innkeeper said beamingly, apparently entirely discounting the fact that the place was currently crawling with strange monsters.

 

[Virdan]

Then stay close and keep your eyes peeled. We go together, Virdan.

A silent look to the knight followed by the smallest of nods.

She was used to working alone.

But there wasn't time to argue or to disappear.

The Last Chance was proving to be a curiouser and curiouser place. One that made her head spin a little or perhaps that was the loss of blood. A pause as the walls along the hall seemed to billow and deposit them straight into the path of Ennio and IpatIy.

Pray to tell me why do you wish to head outside, call me observant but is that not where the enemy is coming from?

He mused. Theres not a safer place than the Chance.

An arched midnight brow toward the Innkeep.

"Be-," there was a sudden roar outside from a beast much bigger than those infesting the Inn's hallways and corridors. A sudden lurch on the roof as a weight landed atop. The Inn's very structure groaned then began to grow and expand. The ceilings once above their heads shot upwards and kept going. The very walls they stood around began to morph and expand as the very roof itself slid open to the star-dotted sky. It was as if they were standing in a massive arena now.

There was someone else who sought asylum.

And it looked as though the Inn was admitting entrance.

To her dragon.

The others wouldn't see anything at first, just a dark blur like a shadow that momentarily blotted out the stars then a shift as the dragon revealed itself, eyes intent on Virdan.

"Do not attack the dragon lest you wish for me to end your life," Virdan spoke to all present in a calm and quiet voice.

 

[Ipatiy Kozlov]

If the last chance was 'safe' she'd hate to see what was happening to the rest of the city. That is if the rest of the city was even facing this threat. For all, she knew the attacking 'friends' were only after them, and once more just so happened to arrive after this woman showed up.

The tension in the air only increased when the thud of something big came from above. Ipatiy for once shows a sign of emotion other than money lust at the mention of a dragon. "I'm not dumb enough to fight a dragon and I suspect this inn can hold just about anything, though I will have to ask if your dragon is scared what are we fighting"?

She had not seen a dragon before let alone fight one but if it was trying to hide inside the inn that did not bode well for them. "Also you've not answered my question yet madam". A slight tinge of frustration building up under her clam stoic tone of voice.

Virdan
Alyxander Quellchrist
Ennio

 

[Alyxander Quellchrist]

Alyx had his weapon drawn the moment he spotted the mammoth beast over his head. He would have been readied even sooner if they covered buildings opening up to swallow dragons out of the sky in his training drills. Funnily enough they left that one out.

Still, the fact that the inn's roof changing shape to accommodate a dragon was only barely the strangest thing he'd seen all day allowed him to keep some measure of his composure as he narrowed his eyes up at the hulking beast.

To say everything happened fast would be an understatement, but Alyx stayed his hand as Virdan demanded, nonetheless. It wasn't a hard ask; fighting a Dragon wasn't exactly something he aspired to do today, and with only one of his men at his side he wouldn't have liked his chances. Instead, he slowly lowers his gaze to the mysterious woman, though his blade does remain drawn.

"Yes, Miss Virdan. I do think it's time for a smidge of context, now that we're all thoroughly involved in whatever business you've brought to the doorstep here. You seem to know a good deal more than us about what's happening."

Alyx didn't mind assisting; It was far more exciting than boozing it up all night, but he wasn't going to keep flying blind. Not after that close call in the bedroom, and certainly not with a dragon over his head.

 

[Ennio]

If Ennio was at all worried about the Last Chance suddenly adjusting and shifting to fit a dragon into it's halls he didn't show it one bit. The smile he had worn all night didn't move an inch from his face,. He only reached up to gently scratch at his beard while the others commented about not fighting the newly attending behemoth.

"We'll have to find the Dragon Goblets..." The Tavernkeeper said to himself quietly as both Alyxander and Ipatiy insisted on Virdan telling them what in the hell was going on.

The Chance itself meanwhile seemed to creak and shift, continuing to make space for the Dragon until it could fit just fine into the tavern itself. The walls and roof of the entire space seeming to have tripled in size, with the doors apparently having followed suit.

All without a single comment or beckoning from the supposed 'owner'. "Well we've all had a lot of excitement."

He commented as he walked over to a nearby wall, knocking on it.

"I could certainly use a drink as you explain." A panel in the wall fell open, revealing a small bar. "Anyone else?"

 

[Virdan]

Virdan walked up to her medium-sized moon dragon. Andor quickly tipped his black head toward her.

"I'm fine," she reassured her bonded, letting her fingers linger on his scales. A huff of warm breath that surrounded her from his nostrils. "No I believe them to be friends."

Finally, she turned to face Ennio, Alyx and his knights, and Ipatiy. Even as Ennio began playing bartender once again.

"The beasts you all have fought tonight are called Jarlax. They exist on my continent." Her back leaned against the bulk of her dragon.

"I was tracking them when I was attacked." It was rather impressive for any of them to have known she'd been following them. Ever since they started being able to use portal stones. "Apparently now they are tracking me or perhaps just scouting for a future invasion."

A small breath.

"I am unsure."

 

[Ipatiy Kozlov]

A slight hint of fear that would be natural of anyone seeing a dragon for the first time washed over Ipatiy's face before she composed herself as the beast proved to be a friend, not a foe. "I must say you certainly have the skill to tame such a beast". She could imagine the expenses to keep one fed along with how much money she could get from selling its scales.

Though her attention was drawn away from the beast and toward the women it served, she finally explained what they were fighting and why they were there. "I see, so more or less you were tracking these monsters, they pulled a 'fast one on you' and you limped your way here while they followed you". "Quite an unfortunate turn of events if I was to explain your situation". Though a possible invasion? That wouldn't be good for business.

"Let's just hope you are wrong about that last part, either way, I think for now a short break is in order". Ipatiy moving to join Ennio at the bar, after all, if she was to work here might as well sample some of the wares. "Whiskly please, and the good stuff if you may sir".

 

[Alyxander Quellchrist]

It was for Alyx to take in, even if he had accepted Ennio's offer of alcohol, which he politely declined. As Virdan spoke, his hands left the hilt of his blade and fell to his sides, a bated breath long stored within his lungs finally escaping as the Knight released the tension in his body. This night went from strange to bizzare, and then perhaps beyond that.

"Possible incoming invasion from a foreign land by a species never before seen by eyes here, and a strange woman with the ability to tame something thought mostly extinct." Quellchrist recapped, sliding his tongue thoughtfully against his lower lip. There was a name that came to mind; a place he'd only heard of in old books and tall tales, but if that place is indeed where Virdan and her 'friends' came from, he'd rather ask her about it in private. "Did I get all that?"

Alyxander again eyes the increasingly tempting bar as the white-haired barmaid sipped her whiskey. No, as good as it sounded, he wouldn't risk being even slightly glazed if those things came back. "Water." He requested simply, before turning to look at one of the now massive doors. "It's not likely Alliria is in danger then. If they aren't based on this continent, their numbers wouldn't be large enough to stand up to the might of a city so large. Good. I'd hate to be stuck in here when those things are killing people I could help."

It may have seemed a matter of morality, but it was just as much for pride; If people were dying and he was nearby, he wasn't doing his job. If he wasn't doing his job, then what good was he?

At Ipatiy's call for a break, he felt his muscles grow heavy. He'd not yet slept, and even in that fight againt the Jarlaxes he'd felt sluggish. Was it safe for him to rest, truly? He took a glance at the intimidating dragon sitting only a few dozen feet away from him and sighed. Yes, he probably couldn't outdo that thing in terms of lethality.

"Time for me to get a room, then? I would at least like to rest my body, if not sleep. I'll have to find one of my medics to help me clean this wound, so a bath too, if you could, Sir Gladhand?"

That first Jarlax had clawed into his back. It hadn't hurt at the time, but the adrenaline had worn off, and the deep gouges in his muscles ached terribly, and his shirt was a bit of a bloody mess.

 

[Ennio]

Ennio poured himself a drink, a simple gimlet, and by the time that was finished a botle of whisky had appeared on the small makeshift bar. "I'm sure Alliria will be perfectly safe!"

The Innkeep agreed with Alyxander, though in truth he knew as much about military matters as a squirrel did airplanes. It seemed though, for a time, that the emergency was over, and that at least he could understand. Besides, the Chance would be moving on soon anyway.

It always did.

"Here's that." He said, handing Ipatiy her drink. "But be glad!"

Ennio continued as he turned to Virdan. "Despite being chased across continents, everything turned out alright. Rather lucky eh?"

He took a sip, then glanced at Alyx for a moment before suddenly jumping. "Oh!"

Fingers snapped, and a glass of water suddenly tumbled down onto the bar. Spilling ever so slightly as it nearly fell over onto the plain wood.

"Do follow me! Rooms for everyone." Ennio said, taking his gimlet and setting off down the hall.

 

[Virdan]

"You do not tame dragons," Virdan said softly. "If you are lucky enough, one chooses you." Her hand stroked down the side of Andor. He huffed, looking at Ennio and growled in a non-threatening way. A moment later, a massive golden goblet appeared with some sort of liquid. Andor bent his massive neck and licked from the goblet with his forked tongue before lifting his head once more.

A low warble as his reptilian eyes settled on Alyx.

"Yes, you are right," Virdan commented. She too was tired and still healing from her own wounds. She could feel her dragon would also appreciate the rest, especially now, knowing his bonded was safe. "We'll tell him in a moment."

Perhaps if she and Alyxander had some privacy again. For now, she walked with Andor after the others. Ennio seemingly glad to show them the way to more sets of rooms. The halls warped and swayed as Andor walked, making room for the dragon's wide berth.

 

[Ipatiy Kozlov]

The maid took a sip of the whisky, enjoying the smoky flavor as the conversation drew back to the dragon at hand and their current situation. “An invasion would put a damper on my daytime business. But could mean some more mercenary work, that always pays well”.

“That being said things could be worse though I have a feeling the people actually in charge of this place should be informed”. That is if they didn’t already know what was going on around the Inn. But considering its magical nature Ipaity wouldn’t put it past the possibility that no one outside this structure knew what was happening.

Too much thinking and something not covered in her paycheck for now. Though on the other hand rooms for the night would be within her role as a maid. Ipaity put down her finished drink as she followed the ground through the hallways once more.

“On the subject of baths, I would certainly wish to wash my uniform given the chance”. The apron she had only obtained a few hours ago was already being stained.

 

[Alyxander Quellchrist]

If Alyx wasn't as exhausted as he was, he probably would have felt the beast's gaze boring into his back. As it was, he was far too preoccupied with trying cleaning his wounds and getting a modicum of sleep before any more of those hideous things had the chance to get the jump on him. Serrin followed close, but gave his commanding officer space.

"Do you know whare Yalai is, Serrin? I could use a hand cleaning these gouges." He grumbled back to his subordinate, so tensed up under the question. Yalai was their most talented medic, but she had a habit of partying a bit too hard, which Quellchrist only needed to look back at Serrin's expression to know was the case this time. He groaned. "I suppose that figures. I don't mind the two of you being together, but I do beg you keep things more professional. When push comes to shove, I need you both able. Save the bedroom antics for home."

The Commander's soldier seemed to go a shade red, and nodded affirmatively. Apparently Serrin thought his superior paid much less attention to the relationships of his troops than he actually did. For his part, Alyxander didn't have much reason to care about such things so long as it didn't put the whole of the unit in danger. A smile came to his mustachioed lips, and he shook his head at his flummoxed friend.

"It's fine. I can deal with the wound myself, just be mindful, my friend."

Once Alyx was safe within his new accomodations, he wasted no time in stripping himself at last of the armor that confined him, setting each peice gently on the floor before stepping to the bath and running hot water into the basin as he knelt at the edge, wincing at the throbbing pain of across his back, while also silently processing the ramifications of what he'd just seen.

A dragon, alive. Bound to a woman, no less. The city of Dornoch would have a field day when they heard of this in his debriefing.

If they heard of it in his debriefing.

As of now, Alyxander had no intention of including it....

 

[Ennio]

"Oh I'm sure they will be!" The Barkeep said to Ipatiy, glancing at her for a brief moment as she mentioned 'mercenary work'. Was he already going to lose his new employee? Hopefully not, the lunch rushes tended to get a bit wild. "I'm sure Alliria can more than fend for itself."

As had been proven a few months ago when the city had come under attack, though he wasn't entirely sure what had happened with all of that. "Let me just find a room for our last guest and I'll show you where you can do that."

Ennio said with a happy smile to his new employee, gesturing towards Virdan to follow.

The Inn seemed to stretch and shift as they moved through the hall, moving back into place as the Dragon finished passing through. He came to a stop at a rather massive door, gesturing to it and popping a comically sized key into the door which he pulled from his coat.

"And here is our Dragon room." Ennio said with a gentle wave towards Virdan and her companion, smiling as though the entire thing were par for the course and no more needed to be said about it. "It's a little bit more rustic than your last room, but...I'm sure you'll be comfortable."

He said to Virdan, turning to Ipatiy. "Now, you and I are headed into the basement."

Ennio continued with a snap of his fingers, turning on his heel and guiding the young woman towards the washrooms.

 

[Virdan]

Andor snuffed and dipped his massive head in approval as he lumbered into the room. Virdan turned and gave them each a quick nod. Somehow she knew no more attacks would happen tonight. And she imagined that would be the last of the jarlax for this Inn to see on this trip.

"Thank you both," she said quietly.

If it hadn't been for Andor seeing this Inn, she'd be in far worse shape than she was now. She lingered in the doorway until Ennio and Ipatiy left. A quick turn to Andor who had circled around a ledge in her room, that seemed more like a massive cave. Wings outstretched, his luminous eyes followed her for a moment.

"I'll be right back. Get some rest."

He chuffled at her as she stepped from the room and retraced her steps back to where Alex had disappeared in. Fingers curled into a tight fist and she knocked quickly on his door.

"It's me," she called. "May I come in? I have something that you'll need on those wounds..."

 

[Ipatiy Kozlov]

The maid took the time to look around at the Inn as the group strode through its halls and somewhat parted ways. Giving a small nod to the fact Alliar could fend for itself, after all, some beast-like monsters were probably not a match for its actual military.

As Virdan finally slipped into her room the maid gave a small bow at her voice of thanks before she and her new boss left. "Basement? I hope it is the cold storage and wine cellars and not some other sort of basement. Trust me I've served a few people in the past that tended to have quite the 'extravagant' basements". Needless to say, she followed without much hesitation back through the hallways of the ever-changing inn.

 

[Alyxander Quellchrist]

Alyx had cleaned the wound as best he was able to on his own, and now slowly sank into the waters, the tug of weariness pulling his eyelids down over his face. He would have dozed off in the warm embrace of the bath were it not for a sudden rapping on his door, followed by Virdan's voice calling through to him.

A brief moment of irk passed through him quickly at how close he'd been to finally unwinding, before he pulled himself out of the bath and retrieved a towel, drying his body enough so that he wouldn't wet the floors of the room before tying the cloth around his waist to make himself at least somewhat decent before moving to the door.

It swung open before Virdan, and the Commander greeted her with a nod as he gathered his long damp hair up to move it from his face, water escaping it and falling down onto his skin and the towel at his midsection. "Something I'll need? I take it there's a trick to treating 'Jarlax' wounds that I'm not privy to?" She seemed full of knowledge he couldn't fathom, so why should he be surprised if there was some special ointment for claw wounds she had stashed on her?

Still, he'd come off as sarcastic, and after a pause, he shook his head and turned to move back into the room. "I apologize, It's been a long night. Come in."

 

[Ennio]

"Well." Ennio began as she chewed over the question for a brief moment. "It really depends on which door you take."

Or how the door felt at that particular moment. Sometimes it was rather difficult to tell where the Chance would take you, or where it would take itself. If he had to guess, they would likely be heading off from Alliria soon.

If only because of all this nonsense. The tavern generally didn't like to stay near any sort of battle, least not unless it could help out.

"This way!" Ennio said cheerily, leading his new employee down the hall, through three turns, and eventually to large heavy wooden door. He stepped up to it, pulled out a ring of keys and flipped through it until eventually settling on what appeared to be an ordinary iron key.

He slipped it into the door, and a second later the door opened to reveal a set of stairs.

As they descended they would indeed find a large storage room. Racks of wine filled the area, but along with that was a small partition which lead into what appeared to be a large washroom. Neatly stacked with linens, clothes, and extra pillows. "Clothes can be washed here."

Ennio said, already walking back there.

"And of course you'll have your own room, though that's not in the basement." Employees of the Chance only deserved the best.

 

[Ipatiy Kozlov]

"That is cryptic but considering what I have seen today I shouldn't be surprised". She mused at the response from her employer. This inn probably had more magic in it than that academy she robbed a year ago, the maid's short trip down memory lane being put on hold at Ennio led Ipatiy through some more doors.

Her amethyst gaze wandered over the storeroom and its contents, quite well stocked if she had to say. "That is good to know, seems you have just about everything here, I certainly would like to see the room on offer, I could use a bit of sleep myself, that is unless my shift is not over yet, I expect there is more 'cleaning' up to do"? She asks, referring to their not so invited guests.

 

[Virdan]

Expression remained unreadable at his quip of sarcasm. As if she had a thousand years of patience from teaching students, she remained quietly staring at him. Her eyes seemed more golden in the lowlight of the Inn than they had before. At the invitation to come in, she slid beyond the threshold, the door closing behind her.

It would be hard to hear her footfalls and it was clear she had a dangerous grace to her steps.

"Irubu powder," she said. Fingers slipped into the folds of her clothing and pulled out a small, leather pouch. The golden-hazel eyes of hers flickered to his face. "The wound was on your back, right? Turn around so I can see it." She'd take several smooth steps forward, the tone of her voice brokered for no argument.

 

[Alyxander Quellchrist]

Alyx was far too gone for the night to make any more observations about her footsteps, potential lethality, or how welcome the sight of an attractive and friendly face was after the day he'd had, though he did note it mentally.

As tactically minded as he was, even the Commander needed to give his head a break now and then. The towel-clad soldier turned and sat on the edge of the bed he'd been provided, resting his arms across his knees as he bent slightly, wincing at the pain of his skin stretching the wound out. "Mmh... Irubu? Never heard of the stuff, so I guess I was spot on with my guess." He smirked up at her.

She practically glided forward like a shadow in the dark, and Alyx briefly nodded behind him. If she was offering to help, he wasn't going to refuse. there was room to work on the large mat behind him. "Be my guest. If you wanted to harm me, I don't think you would have knocked."