[IC] Chapter 1 - Concerning Orcs

Dennan keeps a watchful eye on Cadigan, trying to make out and judge his interaction with the bartender.

Veronica people watches for a while and waits for the others. If they are unable to find a place to stay for the night, she'll go stay at the thieves guild and meet up with everyone in the morning because she knows how the humans are and how they loathe anything that is different and don't want trouble sullying up their town/community.

After observation of Cadigan and the bartender, Dennan is relieved that his suspicions were ill-founded; the two were conspiring, just not against the party or for any nefarious reason.

He tries to relax and let his guard down. That is hard for him here in the confines of town, but as Cadigan begins to turn out-of-tune strings into captivating melodies he begins to calm down and enjoy it even. He wonders why Veronica left so abruptly, but can relate to needing space and preferring the fresh night air if that was the reason. Still he thinks he should let her know that they all might be staying for a bit.

He turns to Layla, "Everyone seems to be settling in here. Cadigan sounds pretty good. Ey? I think I'm going to go find Veronica and let her know what's going on in here."

Layla nods at Dennan.
"I am not sure why she ran off... this place seems fine. A bit gloomy crowd maybe. Perhaps something is on their minds. But I'd say we all chip in a bit and grant everyone a good meal and bed for a night."

"Yes. Food and rest. That’s what we all need. I believe we have a meal coming as our host took our 4 silver a head. We can split that for sure. As for rooming, I’m not sure they have anything here. Mr. Ale fast recommended we see a proprietor named Sebastian at the Boar’s Head for rooms. It’s a good idea to do so soon after having a meal here. I’ll go find Veronica outside and let her know what we’re up to. Hopefully she’s not far. Keep your guard up. We don’t know everyone in here or who else may wander in. I’ll be back shortly. Looking forward to that meal."

Dennan then heads out the door and stops in front of the tavern to peer around for any sign of Veronica.

Dennan will find Veronica outside people watching and still angered at those who told her to shut up after she had told their story about all they had been through and seeing Dennan will say "I heard they were going to turn us away to a place called Sebastians, that's why I left. Plus after I told our story about what happened to all of us, they told me to shut up about the Orcs. That's why I went outside because I didnae want to cause a scene or hurt anyone due to their rudeness and disrespect towards their guests. I was thinking about going to the thieves guild (if there was one) to rest for the night if we didn't get to stay, but it seems like we got lodging for the night then. That's good. Why are humans so rude and hateful to those of us who are different than them? Why can't they learn to treat others with respect? Like that family there with the little sick boy there. All they wanted is food, water, and a place to rest their head but got turned away. The humans are scared to catch that young lads illness. " She pointed out to a mother, father, and a little boy on wooden crutches frail, weak, and coughing get turned away from another inn/Tavern.

Dennan understands Veronica's position. He too is easily consumed by mistrust for humans, seeing time and time again how their self preserving souls allow them to justify turning away and taking advantage of others just to better themselves.

"I know what you mean Veronica. I'm inside just waiting for something to go wrong. I thought Cadigan was selling us out somehow and am expecting any moment for some local authority or thugs to burst in and try to rough us up. But actually Cadigan was just working out a deal to entertain us this evening. I was wrong. I saw the bartender as shifty and looking for his next quick bag of gold. But he's just an awkward fellow." He looks to see if Veronica is any more at ease.

"One thing's for certain though. Even if things right now aren't as nefarious in there as my first instincts would have me believe. They still could become so at any time. There are orcs out there moving around not too far beyond this town's shelter. Something is clearly different about their patterns. These people may know that, which makes them scared and unpredictable to us. We can't leave Layla to see the people we freed to safety alone. It isn't safe. We need to help her. It seems the three of us make a good team."

"I'll tell you one thing. I'm relieved that the owner of this place here is hin. I know his kind. They are not weak-minded, self-preserving humans. They know the world, its dangers and follies. They respect life and believe comfort is deserved by all those who earn it. I feel he turned us away simply because he doesn't have rooms and this Sebastian he has referred us to we can trust."

"Gentlemen?" Layla asks as she is suddenly semi-surrounded by the men asking her questions.
Not that it matters much. She has the feeling that they dislike orcs as much as she does, eventhough they are a bit intimidating.

"We were lucky, mostly," she admits. "The Thousand Axes got attacked by other orcs... Stone Fists?.. no... Stone Tusks that is what Dennan called them. We took our chance during the attack. I am not sure if any orcs are looking for us. I am not even sure how many of them are still alive."

Veronica nods. "Let's hope that we are given their protection because if not, we need to find those that will keep us safe and not sell us out for the first shiny coin that catches their eyes. Our Family is our fortress and we stick together no matter what." Veronica replied before she followed Dennan back into the inn.

As he turns to head back in the Tavern with Veronica, Dennan responds, "After everything we've been through together over the last few days, it seems like that's what we are forming." His voice then trails a little as he tries to see through his own clouded memories of family. "...It's been a long time..." Then with quiet resolve he says, "Yeah, let's stick together." He shows a rare smile and says, "and get some of that hot food before it's gone."

Veronica nods. She follows Dennan into the inn/Tavern only to see Layla being harassed by a group of human men.

"Shall we go help Layla out?" She asks him a moment later.

"Yes" he answers emphatically.

Veronica walks up to the men harassing Layla and ask with a dark smile on her face showing long sharp vampire incisors "Can I help you gentlemen? Yes, Layla here was with us as a prisoner like we were. While captured, we saw two of the prisoners were made to fight each other and the loser was sacrificed for a religious ritual they did, we made our escape, killed an orc, grabbed our belongings, made another one run away, and they fought other Orcs while we escaped. We don't know if they are still looking for us, but all we want right now is protection, rest, and a good meal. My name is Veronica Crane, I am the great-granddaughter of the legendary Ichabod Crane and though, I am not human, I am dhampir and I'll do whatever it takes to survive. "