Fate - First Reply This Town Ain't Big Enough

[Gunner Valenntyne]

Falwood was a pretty peaceful place compared to some of the more crowded regions of Arethil. That wasn't to say that the elves didn't have their squabbles, but Gunner Valenntyne felt much more at home on the crisp-aired, quiet roads of Falwood than he would in a city full of sour faces Vel Anir or the duty-obsessed city of Valenntenia. Not that the burly young man had particularly meant to wind up where he was, of course. It was just where the wind had taken him.

To see a wagon traveling on the roads leading into the Falwood from the Anirian territories to the north without an escort wasn't a common sight, but it didn't have far to go; it was merely a supply wagon for a nearby settlement of humans, not even big enough to be considered a village. The settlement got regular shipments from the human cities outside Falwood to keep them stocked and fed, and both sides minded their own business.

The load that this particular wagon carried was raising some eyebrows as it passed through the small group of buildings to park itself at the settlement's storehouse. That was mainly due to the long-haired, bare-chested man wrapped splayed out and snoozing on top of the crates of goods, with a burlap sack of belongings tucked under one arm and a rolled-up shirt and coat under the other.

Yawning, the murmuring from the settlers would rouse him from his nap as the men in charge of unloading the wagon stared daggers at him. Ah, he'd overslept. He cracks a grin and waves to the men, sitting up and collecting his good. "G'mornin' gentlemen! Suppose I'm in your way, eh? Sorry, I hitched a ride and the breeze was just so nice, couldn't help but--"

Needless to say, after collecting himself and shaking off the sting of his knuckles as they'd dealt with the rather hostile workers that had tried scuffling with him, he was feeling much more awake. Now, a drink would really hit the spot, wouldn't it? Yeah! Something to warm his belly before he saw what kind of trouble he could get into! This place was tiny, but even the smallest settlement had a place for a man to get a drink. The whole place would go mad otherwise, wouldn't it?

He pulls the fur gloves off of his hands as he travels down the dirt path he'd just ridden through. The air this far out into the middle of nowhere was so clean: the normal dirt-filled air that filled most big towns and cities could really wear a guy down over time. It wasn't long until he found the small 'watering hole' where men were carrying crates of bottles into.

Following them into the tiny little place, he whistled at how cozy they'd made it. It only had room for a small bar counter and two little round tables, maybe a room or two upstairs to stay in, but even with its limited space, it was well-lit and decorated with all sorts of trinkets they'd bought from the elves. He nods to the bartender and shoots him a bright smile as he sits at the bar, fishing in the pocket of his jacket and pulling out a few coins, laying them on the bar. "I'll take whatever's cheap, and a bunch of it, if you please."

The Bartender smiled, but the grin faltered as his eyes traveled over Gunner's shoulder. Those workers who'd just had a tussle with Valenntyne were back, buried and dirtied, but with eyes full of anger. And this time, they brought swords.

Gunner peeked over his shoulder and clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Well, that wasn't good. He was good in a fistfight, but he didn't have any iron on him. Turning to face his snarling pursuers, Valenntyne leans back against the bar and smiles, somewhat defiantly. "Come on now, surely we can talk about this? I didn't mean to squish anything back there, it's just... I'm a thick guy, you know? Lemme buy you a drink!"

The man in front brandishes his sword threateningly.

"Only drink we want is your moron blood, you dumb ape."

 

[Selina Della Altas]

The Falwood was another check on her bucket-list!

The forest itself was rich in magic and wild forces and this much was immediately apparent to the young wizard as soon as she caught sight of the first line of trees!
Once she entered the forest the duration of her journey practically tripled! Every new species of mushroom or leaf, every animal both mundane and magical with their regional variations, every glade, grove, lake or pond in her path was subjected to her enthusiastic scrutiny, thorough recording and obsessive sample taking!

Thankfully she was adept in wilderness survival, but she certainly didn't plan on the journey taking this long, so by the time she reached the human village she was living on the nuts and berries she was able to find along the way and rationing the last sip of water from the cleanest stream she could find so she was excited to finally get some real food!

Her entry to the town practically went unnoticed, a small woman with a blue traveling cloak dragging a decorated wooden staff with a gnarled head of roots, trudging up the path with a tender step like her feet hurt, and they did!
She spotted what looked like the local tavern and saw a group of men enter. The building seemed small, but she hoped they still had space for her!

Room and board, but especially board right now!
She'd take whatever drink they had and whatever food would fill her up the fastest.
Then she needed to wait. As a human it wasn't a very good idea to just show up unannounced to an elven city, there were certain permissions she had to get for the mission she had set for herself, and while she started the process by letter the final stages had to be concluded in person.
And that final stage would be concluded here, she just needed to be here when the elven official showed up to evaluate her.

Selina trudged up to the tavern, her feet sent pain through her legs in pulsing waves, but she stood up straight and adjusted her cloak, holding her staff like a proper walking stick and looking forward to sitting down in an actual chair!
She pushed open the door and almost pushed her nose into the back of one of the men who entered before her!
She gave a hasty apology and was about to step around the group when she looked up from under her hood and took in the scene before her.

The group were armed and glaring at the only other man in the building besides who she supposed was the innkeeper.

"Only drink we want is your moron blood, you dumb ape."

The man leaning against the bar was not armed, at least not apparently so.

Selina groaned in frustration. This was such a hassle! This had to be going down right when she was at her wits end with eating nuts and berries like a fricken raccoon!
If she waited for them to fight it out, they might destroy the inn! and she'll have to beg food from one of the residents!

Selina pouted fiercely at the group of men that stood between her and actual food and drink! She examined the room and the men in a brief moment.
Right or wrong, the group of men were armed and outnumbered the other guy, these weren't fair odds.

Selina gripped her staff, the pain in her feet forgotten as she began mumbling an incantation, the runes in her staff began to glow in response and Selina tried to make eye contact with the guy at the bar, to try and indicate that she wasn't with the group as she stepped away from the door to allow the group easy escape if they eventually felt so inclined.