Chapter 1 - Trouble In Red Larch

Aukan smiles widely and punches ligthly his chest with an open hand.

Kaylessa, "The innkeeper" of the Irkell, I am Aukan, "The fearless" of the tribe Anacalatai. I come to you to bargain. Food and lodging for the fair price you ask for those services.

Aukan nods in agreement.

The room will be enough. I thank you, Kaylessa of the Irkell.

Aukan nudged at his throat, visibly concerned.

I would like to ask another favor from you, something to ease this thirst, if you can.

Welsh has been eavesdropping this entire time. The words no sooner escape the goliath's lips before Welsh steps forward. "Greetings fellow adventurer. I am Welsh of the Frolicking Forest of the Feywild. Do I doth hear you doth need a drink?" His voice is obnoxiously loud and mimicking the goliath. He looks at the woman again, slamming his fist on the desk. "Then pray thee, get a drink for this great hero as well! It is my treat!"

Welsh puffs his chest out, trying desperately to impress the goliath.

This was getting interesting very quickly. She eyed the goliath as he entered carefully, wondering whether to pull him into the ploy. He looked strong at least. Yet she was often cautious tricking those obviously capable of breaking her bones with little effort. Welsh;s question helped her make up her mind.

'I am not sure. There was a large figure help you fight... yes that may be him. Unfortunately the dreams are not always clear. The genasi, she too..there was fire...' Before she finishes she realises her companion is already starting to approach the goliath. Aukan he had loudly declared his name was. She picks her free drink and settles back to watch.

"I will take the shared dorm. I'm afraid I'm on a bit of thin traveling budget, and 'copper saved' and all that."

Vanri nods to the other people she sees.

"I might take the bread and chicken as well."

Aukan turns to see who is talking to him. He is looking in his same eye height but he doesn't see anyone.

Who said that, who is there?

Confused, Aukan turns his head looking for the source of the sound until he looks down to see Welsh.

More confused than before, Aukan raises an eyebrow trying to make sense of Welsh appearance.

Hello creature... I find your appearance something new for me. What are you supposed to be? You are ho human but you have the face of one. You are no goat, yet you have the horns of one.

Welsh is slightly taken aback now that he is actually talking to the goliath, but quickly collects himself. "Oh these? I'm a satyr!" He twirls around, allowing Aukan (and anyone else watching) to truly take in his appearance. He takes a moment to wiggle his little goat tail.

He stops and gestures to Aukan's...entirety. "And what are you, some sort of giant? An ogre perhaps?"

Well her 'hero of destiny' hadn't been hit by the goliath yet, so that was a plus. A satyr he said he was. She tried to think if she was aware of the term. Even goliath and genasi weren't a common sight, especially all at once. Maybe there was a bit more to her vision than she thought.

She snorted into her drink at the thought, before waving over the fire genasi. If she was going to do this, she may as well go all in, and the more people between her and the medusa even he existed the better. She would let Welsh butter up the goliath at least.

'Good eve, I'm sorry but this might sound weird but perchance are you a fire genasi...only I had reason to believe you would be here.'

Aukan opens his eyes wide and lets out a strong laugh.

Ha! Ogre would kill to be like my people... Well, ogres would kill anyway.

Aukan adopts firmer stance, his hand on his hips.

I am a Goliath. Proud warrior of the tribe Anacalatai, descendants of giants

Vanri looks at the human(?) who spoke to her. As she does she runs a hand through her hair that causes the sparks and tiny bursts of flame.

"Why yes I am. Why where you expecting me, do you have any information on a thug known as Grimjaw?"

'Grimjaw, Grimjaw. It might ring a bell. My visions, they are vague. It's family tradition you see. Nadya Hordeseer.' She offers a hand. 'What did see was someone causing the earth to swallow thousands, and those trying to stop him. A genasi, a goliath and a man who seemed part goat. And guess who, while I was searching the area all walked into the same in at the same time. ' She grins

Welsh pounds his chest at Aukan. "Please, Aukan the Goliath, join us for a drink." He grabs two drinks off the barmaid's tray as she approaches, handing one to Aukan. "Nadya here is an oracle or something. Before we listen to her, however, we satyrs have a very important custom. So important you could say its religious. Its a sacred ritual."

He turns to Nadya and Vanri, who apparently were mid conversation already, waiting for them and holding out his pint. "We satyrs in the Frolicking Forest believe that when meeting someone new, it is a good gesture to the gods..." He pauses for effect, looking around and grinning. "The gods will send you blessings if you drink an entire pint in a single go." He holds his mug up to Aukan, waiting for a cheers, one eyebrow cocked up with a grin.

"Then it better be a small pint, I'm not much of a drinker."

Nadya grins, memories of when she was back at the college, supposedly learning. 'I'm in for that'

Aukan holds the drink, wich looks considerably small on his hand.
He turns to look to the small congregation that reunited by fate or by accident at the inn.

He smiles.

Of course I would toast for you. Nadya the Oracle, Vanri the Fire genasi, Welsh the Satyr.

Aukan raises his drink.

May your battles be glorious and your victories plenty

Aukan drinks fast as any thirsty creature. Once the jar is empty, he turns to Kaylessa.

What would the trouble be?