Open Chronicles Ale, Afflictions, and Amusement.

[Nuir]

In a Tavern among the busy port district there sat an Elf with pale features. His white hair and cream colored cloak seemed to almost glow in the warm flickering light of the fireplace and lanterns lighting the dim tavern. His elegant features and slightly focused expression might have almost presented a pious vision. Almost. Except that he had certainly drunk his own weight in the cheap drink served here and was currently engaged in the very un-pious pursuit of gambling. The only indicator of his drunken state being the bloom of red that had begun to spread from the tips of his pointed ears.

Specifically, he sat among a group of travelers and sailors playing some form of poker. Nuir certainly didn't blend in. However being that this was a hotspot for travelers and merchants the crowd was diverse.
Nuir couldn’t even blame his lack of success on the alcohol. He just had never been very good at learning rules for card games. His stoic expression could only help him so far when he had no idea what he was doing. His mismatched eyes surveyed the cards in his hand as if carefully considering his next move. In reality he was simply trying to remember if this was a good hand or not. Judging from the pile on the table Nuir had forfeited a pile of coin already. He had one a hand or two on sheer luck but still couldn’t get the knack of it. Really, he wasn’t actually all too sure he even remembered what had led him to join in. He had some vague memory of healing a round of minor injuries, curing one of the sailors of something nasty. It was the part in-between that was really fuzzy. He gathered he had lost at arm wrestling but won at some kind of drinking game.

It was lively in the tavern, much livelier than when he had first entered but he didn't mind. He was beginning to think he liked the bustling atmosphere of the city….or perhaps that was just the buzz of the alcohol. At the very least he found the jovial atmosphere amusing and there seemed to be plenty of folks to practice his skills on. Luckily for him it seemed the harder looking the individual the happier they were to describe in great detail their ailments. Indeed the seafaring folk in particular seemed almost competitive in telling him of their ills. As if the most diseased and damaged among them would win some badge of honor.

Nuir gave a small shake of his head “hmmm… perhaps I should call it for the evening...” He had already attempted to fold and leave the game a few times but for obvious reasons the other players had convinced him to keep playing.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's tail flicked as he looked over his cards. A mediocre hand to be certain, but he'd learned to school his features and keep from letting anything slip. Tenevi training and a life at sea were certainly a boon of experience in that department. Still, he did feel a bit bad for the healer who's purse would certainly need a revival after tonight's revelry. He had, after all, helped many of the Zorren's compatriots, one of whom had been a fellow rigger who had fallen from the mast and broken his leg in a truly spectacular fashion.

"Luck can be as fickle as the sea. Against you one moment then with you the next. Give it another go." He lifted his tankard to his mouth and took a large swallow of its brass colored contents. The slight buzz gave a pleasant warmth to his body, but having just reached port, it wasn't quite time to go hard on the party. Even as an extra hand, Vulpesen's experience had placed him in fair bit of responsibility over his oceanic journey and it wouldn't do if he let the riggers under him run wild and kicked out of port in the first hour. Rowdy as the bar was becoming, at least the gambling was keeping them in one place. The winnings from a friendly healer certainly helped with that.

"And tell me this, are you from here? Having a healer at a port of call could certainly come in handy in the future. Ropes get slippery and if the fall don't kill ya, it can certainly lead to some complications for future employment without talents such as yours." His loose fitting black attire, a baldric of daggers, and a sword at his hip certainly didn't give Vulpesen the most glowing air, and compared to Nuir, his fanged smile might have appeared to be far more sinister, or at least roguish. Still, he kept his manners friendly and even polite, even as those he chaperoned cursed and frolicked around the bar as their natural depraved home.

 

[Nuir]

Nuir hummed thoughtfully again. He wasn't really all that concerned about the loss. He always found some form of compensation being pushed his way soon enough. He knew how to barter his skills if it came to it.
The healer had developed a sort of catch and release attitude when it came to currency. There wasn't much sense in carrying too much of it around when you had a general presence that screamed 'mug me' like he did.
He generally preferred to invest it in having his clothes mended or his equipment upgraded.....but there was a charm to frivolously spending it like this too. Though some might have described it as it's own kind of robbery.

His eyes drew slowly up from the cards to meet the golden eyes of the other man. Perhaps the buzz was what caused such a delayed reaction. "Ah....I suppose have faith chance will even out in my favor. Though perhaps not in this game." He shook his head lightly "I only arrived in Elbion earlier today. When I asked around everyone point me this way as far as Inns. " He considered the idea. This would be a very convenient area to get further training. It was one of the reasons he had been sort amicably forced out onto this journey. If he wanted to better his craft he needed to see more of the life that walked Arethil in person. Once could not truly restore the shape of something they did not understand.
The woman who raised him had a general disdain for most non-Antikathri beings. Something he hadn't always been so sure he was an exception to. Luckily he hadn't carried her attitude to heart. Nuir was easily bemused and eagerly curious about the physical differences.
There was a hint of a buzzed smile in his voice "It's an appealing idea....I suppose it is time I consider lingering somewhere...." It might be nice to have repeat clients and the sailors brought in some quiet....exotic ailments.
"I am from the spine....at least that is from what direction I came." Nuir clarified quietly. Perhaps it was the comfortable buzz that made the idea seem much grander than it was and had him feeling suddenly a bit homesick.

His eyes looked over the man's face with great examination for a moment. He had noticed the tail early on, how could he not. He had been too distracted until now to ask. Plied with ale he was emboldened to ask directly. "Might I ask.....what manner of being you are? I don't think I've come across your kind before...." He should think he would have remembered such striking features.

Vulpesen

 

[Aurra Brylee]

Aurra was quite surprised to hear a familiar voice.

She was far less surprised to see that Nuir was on a losing streak. Elbion was a welcoming city but it would still be a bad idea for an elf to kick up trouble at an inn.

He was young and sweet and slightly naive. They would take advantage of him. Not that the rogue has thought about taking advantage, but that had been a fleeting thought.

Aurra had a mug of wine - because of course humans would serve wine in wooden mugs - and walked around to catch his eye. She would try and extract him from the game and perhaps win a few coins back when it was appropriate.

 

[Vulpesen]

A clawed hand tossed a few more coins into the pot and Vulpesen leaned back in his chair, his cards folding against his chest as he spoke in return to the healer. "Fortuitous for us that you did. Keesler here would have had a rough time of it if you hadn't." His tail lifted to prod the sailor in question, a young man who's leg had required mending before their game had started. Keesler for his part, simply grunted and scowled at his cards. The fall had apparently been the start of some hard luck for the rookie as his luck had been running worse than the man who had fixed him up.

"I personally prefer to wander, but even a man like me as a home. Setting up shop with your trade may be wise, certainly in a place as busy as this." Thinking of his own home, Vulpesen couldn't help but compare it to the spine. Veradune, hidden deep in the wilds of Malakath was a dangerous place, but the mountains held their own perils. Idly, he wondered if the elf before him had found those perils to be cause for his own travels.

"I'm a zorren," he offered in candid response. "My home's a bit far from here, but my people are traveling a bit more nowadays. We're from Malakath, but perhaps its time we spread our code to the shores of Epressa and Liadain. There's something ill in the winds and we hope to be there to keep it from spreading." It was a simple truth for his people. Zorrens were made to protect. Not that he expected any sort of understanding from the man. Even his own crew scratched their heads when the master rigger spoke of his true purpose. Competent but odd, was a description his sensitive ears often heard whispered behind his back.

It was those same sensitive ears that tracked a steady pad of footsteps behind him. A tickle in his mind, some instinct drilled in by his training that told him something was off. Someone was watching. Idly a hand fell to rest by his waist even as he continued the game. Not everyone who took an interest in his idle hobbies was a threat. But it was nice to be prepared in case they were.

Aurra Brylee Nuir

 

[Nuir]

"Think nothing of it! The Gods from Stars arrange such meetings with favor." Or at least he chose to believe he was cosmically guided to those who needed him. Though superstitious nay-sayers might have countered that there were sick and injured among all walks.
Certainly he felt his fortune to be uncanny.

The snow haired elf tilted his head in careful consideration. "Malakath? Indeed that is far.... I too am given to wander.....perhaps I will go and see what methods are used among the healers there some day." It really presented more questions than it answered. At least for a naturally curious sort like Nuir. He could tell that the Zorren was speaking with a sense of purpose. This the elf respected even if he didn't quite understand. He liked people who moved with a grand sense of direction. His hands held the cards quite loosely the game almost forgotten as he mulled it over.
Perhaps because of the ale he boldly proceeded with the most obvious inquiry. " Then I presume the fluffy appendage is expected form and not a whimsical curse or affliction?" He replied with a smile before playing his hand.
His gaze intent and cat like roamed over Vulpesen with a clinical sense as if truly assessing him.
With another swig of ale it seemed he might have been about to launch into an onslaught of quite personal questions. Mercifully his eyes were draw to the figure lingering behind Vulpesen . The line of thought was cut short as his small smile widened.

"Miss Brylee!" He scooted over on the bench and somewhat drunkenly thumped the seat beside him a few times. He beckoned her over with a gusto of enthusiasm. "I'd been so hoping our paths would cross again! I've a small gift, come! come sit!"
Aurra Brylee

 

[Aurra Brylee]

"Miss Brylee!" He scooted over on the bench and somewhat drunkenly thumped the seat beside him a few times. He beckoned her over with a gusto of enthusiasm. "I'd been so hoping our paths would cross again! I've a small gift, come! come sit!"

"It is good to see you too!" Aurra declared.

She could see from his movements that he had been drinking. The rogue glanced down at her mug and took a swig. She supposed she might need to catch up a little, but swilling cheap wine from a wooden mug hurt some part of her.

"Why don't I stay on this side of the table until the hand is done," she said politely. She had forgotten how intriguing his eye colours were.

"We wouldn't want anyone thinking we were cheating."

He was so naive, she thought to herself. Aurra stayed where she was, hand close to her hip in case anyone wanted to claim she had already been cheating.

 

[Vulpesen]

"The wilds are dangerous, but the many poisons we find there also serve as medicine in the right dosage. Though we've plenty of magical talent among those who don't have the memory for such things." For his own part, Vulpesen was knowledgeable enough to keep himself alive in a pinch, though he was thankful that his patrons had included healing among his magical gifts. No muss, fuss, or worrying about poisoning yourself.

Nuir's question brought a gasp of mock surprise from Vulepsen and he turned around to stare in apparent awe at his tail. "Where the hell did that come from!?" The black brush wiggled and wagged in front of his eyes for a moment before he returned to seriousness. "Most zorrens have tails, though I hear that those with mixed parentage do tend to lose them."

Ease washed over the man in black and his hand rose from above a hidden dagger to his mug which he lifted up for a large swig. Whoever this 'Brylee' was, she wasn't here for him and she appeared to be no threat. Another few coins clinked onto the table, the last round of betting before cards were shown. With any luck he'd be able win enough to pay the healer and retain some for himself. "Smart woman. Not the kinda place you want to get a look of impropriety in."

Nuir Aurra Brylee

 

[Nuir]

The little Elf's eyes blink slowly in surprise. Of course the thought of cheating hadn't even occurred to him. If anything he was perhaps a little envious of the very notion. It was difficult enough just keeping up with the rules of the game let alone finding some way to circumvent them or boost his own odds.
ah. Had they perhaps thought he was one of those types to feign a lack of skill then suddenly place a large bet and win a profit? The notion was amusing.
Or perhaps it was simply that his friend wasn't trusted by this group. They did seem a hardened bunch. The types to be wary of strangers. Of course he had traveled with her before so he knew she wouldn't do such underhanded dealings.....or at least he assumed Aurra Brylee had no need to. If she was happy to wait then they could catch up in a moment.
"very well then..."

He momentarily turned his attention back to the game. He placed a few coins more because it was the thing to do than out of confidence. Sure enough as the round played out he had managed to loose again. Though it hadn't been a terrible hand it hadn't been enough to win. Despite the bad luck there wasn't even a shade of regret on his face.
In his assessment he really had quite a good time and had learned a few bits along the way. Using poison to heal was intriguing. As a healer he was fascinated by all manner of injuries but he had a special interest in poisons. Especially, where magic and poisons mingled there were even toxins that operated more like a curse.
He shrugged and offered a polite smile "Well, thank you for a good game gentlemen." The healer replied to the group of sailors in general and in specific to Vulpesen "..and for obliging my questions."

 

[Aurra Brylee]

Aurra slipped onto the bench where Nuir had originally indicated. She smiled at him; he had mentioned a gift. It was also amusing to see Nuir tipsy.

However, she had something to do first.

Aurra set a heavy bag of coin on the table. There for just a moment with its weight before she put a few coins in front of them.

"Why don't you show me how to play the game?" she asked, offering a shy smile to the table.

 

[Vulpesen]

"My pleasure. Always a joy to educate, especially since my people plan on spending a bit more time on this side of the ocean." Vulpesen grinned as the pot became his, eagerly scooping a majority of the coins into his pouch. Drinks it seemed would be on quite the discount for him tonight. Though, he was sure to leave some on the table, a bit of payment for the man who had so willingly patched up some of his men. At least, that was the thought until another bag of coin clinked onto the table.

His ears flicked and his eyes moved up to the pale elf woman. Something about her innocent request made his hackles raise. In truth, he didn't trust her an inch. Not in the 'she's going to stick a dagger between my ribs' sort of way, but more in the 'there's no way she doesn't know this game and thirty others besides' kind of way. Still she was a friend, and he could guess as to her motives and sudden interest in their game.

"By all means," he responded with a polite smile. His bar tab had been secured and a half weeks of wages had been doubled in his pocket. He could stand to lose a few coins in the worst case scenario. "Game's Allirian Hold 'em. I'll deal."

Nuir Aurra Brylee