Locke groaned as he pulled open the door of the tavern against the wind. The door slams and Locke walks over to the bar and takes a seat.
"What'll ya have dear?" The barmaid says.
"I, uh, I'll have... cider please."
The barmaid nods and pours a cider, then sets it in from of Locke.
"You ok dearlin'?". The barmaid looked genuinely concerned.
"I'm fine miss. Thank you.".
Just then, the door to the tavern slammed open.
((Open for me to supply the cause of the slamming?))
A young man swept into the room, a teenager really. His blonde hair hung in loose but perfect curls, and he wore far too little clothing for the freezing weather. Snow fell from his bare feet and his opened leather vest.
He smiled at those who turned to stare at him.
"Whiskey, just bring me a bottle of your best. And I'll have a round for everyone, whatever they want." He untied a leather pouch from his belt and tossed it to the barmaid. Coins clattered when she caught it.
The barmaid peeks into the purse and, wide eyed, begins to go around and take orders. Handing you a bottle of "Downed Orc Whiskey" on her way.
"You from around here kid?" Locke says, lowering the hood from his head, revealing the long, tied back light blue hair.
Nicolai laughed. Something about that question struck him as funny. He threw himself into the chair across from Locke.
"You might say I'm a rather long way from home," he said. "But I travel. You may call me Nicolai."
He paused to examine his fingers. He blew across his nails and they abruptly turned black.
"Well then Nicolai, where does someone, such as yourself, hail from?" Locke was staring at Nicolai's fingers trying to figure out the mystical powers.
The barmaid set another cider in from of Locke, who moved his hand to the handle.
Locke painfully aware that he couldn't arm himself fast enough, should this kid attack him.
The barmaid set a bottle of whiskey on the table, and Nicolai popped the cork with one hand, taking a long drink.
"That would be telling," he said with a smirk. "Let it suffice to say I'm not like anyone you've met. I'd bet your life on it."
"That may be the case, however I have seen my fare share of the unknown... and the unwanted." Locke took a long, almost antagonizing, sip of his cider as he started at Nicolai. His heart was beating fast and hard. He knew he had to get out of here before this... thing.. killed him.
"I believe I must be off. I have something that, simply cannot wait any longer." Locke stood up, nods, and begins to head for the back room.
Nicolai didn't move as Locke walked away. He took another sip of whiskey and looked at the bottle, swirling the amber liquid around inside it.
"I have no intention of killing you, so your concern really is misplaced," he said casually. "In fact I'd rather like to help you."
Setting the bottle on the table he grabbed the back of his chair, and in a display of acrobatics and balance bordering on the heroic, lifted himself into a handstand on the top of the chair before swinging down to his feet and moving to follow the blacksmith.
"It might help you to know I have no affiliation to the chap who ate your mother." He made a distasteful face. "Uncouth really. And all that human sacrifice nonsense. All she really had to do to get what she wanted was to call my name. Well, one of my names. You know, Nicolai, The Enlightener, Prince of Darkness, Father of Lies, Old Nick. I always rather liked that one, no one calls me that anymore." He chuckled. "Honestly, it's not the name that counts, it's the intention. It just has to be me you want. The idea of me even."
Locke stopped and his eye widened. A moment later her kept walking and calmly said "I would kindly ask you to keep your voice down when referring to things I am not sure you have the privilege to speak about."
Locke and Nicolai reach the back room, where there is a demon tied up and gagged.
"I don't know who you are, nor do I care." He said to the demon. " All I want to know, is if you have any information on devils who devour the humans that summon them. Should you have no information I find worthy of knowing, you will be eliminated in the most horrible fashion."
Locke turned to Nicolai and whispers, "I recognize the name Father of Lies. If you are truly him, why would I trust you?"
"Ah. Excellent point," Nicolai said, raising one finger for emphasis. "Well, that particular name is something of a misnomer. Maybe you've heard the expression, why would the devil lie when the truth is so much more fun."
He moved to examine the demon's bonds, touching the iron lock which held him. There was a quiet hiss and the fallen angel quickly withdrew, blowing on his fingers and rubbing them together. "Now this. This is nicely done. Blessed shackles, holy magic. Did you make these yourself?"
He didn't wait a moment for a response. "Don't answer that. Of course not, you aren't a priest. Silly question. You're just a hunter, someone else enchants your tools."
He stepped back to get a different perspective on the trapped demon and his inquisitor. "Your negotiation tactics are all wrong though. Where's his motivation? You were going to kill him whether he gives you what you want or not, so why should he put himself out?"
"I did not say I would kill him if he told me what I want to know. I simply said that if it held no meaning to me, then I wouldn't allow him to leave here." Locke leaned down to the shackles, smelling the burned flesh of Nicolai. " I also don't need him to talk at all... Not with the Perverter of Truths standing next to me. What can you tell me of this one?"
Locke unsheathed his left Saber claw, and held it a few inches from his face and closed his eyes. After a moment it began to glow a dim white.
"What you said," Nicolai said, considering, "In no way alters the fact that there is no possible outcome of this encounter which ends with him still alive, and we all know it."
He watched the glowing blade indifferently for a moment before moving to lean over the back of the chair, to rest his head on the demon's shoulder.
"I can tell you anything, but again, your negotiation tactics are sorely lacking. What's in it for me? Why would I just tell you, when there's such fun to be had watching you fight for it?"
Locke puts the claw back and looks at Nicolai... "It would be fun..." Locke had an almost, evil look on his face when he said it. "... But think of the fun you could have watching me trudge through hell!"
Joshua entered the main room of the tavern, rubbing his hands together to warm them.
Next time, I pick a warmer climate. The young man promised himself.
As he walked into the room, a flustered-looking barmaid caught his eye. As she moved in his direction, he gave her his most charming smile and pulled out a few coins.
"Greetings, love. Mind bringing something warm? Cider, whiskey, whatever's on hand."
"S'on the house, dear. A young looking-gent bought a round for all."
"Even better! Who's the generous soul with all that coin?"
The barmaid glanced around. "Went in the back just a moment ago. Beg your pardons, I've got drinks to fetch."
"Of course." With a farewell wink, he walked over to a table to wait for his drink. Joshua was interested in meeting the fellow who had bought them all a round. He wondered if the man was a gamer, and if so, if Joshua could win a bit more coin from him.
As soon as he was seated, the ring on his finger flared to life. Joshua quickly tucked the ring inside his jacket, to hide the glow. He stared at it, apprehension growing in him.
"What is it, ring?" He asked softly. He didn't receive a reply, of course.
Joshua leaned back and maintained a calm appearance, but remained wary as his eyes scanned the room. He knew what the light from his ring meant. Magic was in the air.
"Good point," Nicolai said. He looked down at the demon. "He makes a good point, doesn't he? Well. Here's my price. Your word I can accompany you anywhere you go, any time I wish. Fair?"
He tilted his head as though listening to something distant. He was being talked about. The barmaid and someone who had just entered the tavern. Interesting.
"As long as you don't inhibit my journey, your more then welcome to accompany me." Locke proceeded to make a small bow gesture to Nicolai.
((Any thoughts on the nature of said demon or am I making shit up?))
Nicolai grinned wickedly. "The demon you seek is named Jorgamond," he said. "Now I suppose you'll let this one go?" He asked sarcastically. "That's all he knows. Other than the fact that Jorgamond is... how did you put it?" He asked, turning to the demon. "Not someone you want to find."
"Jorgamond. That's the demon I want eh? OK, You can go." Locke turns his back for a moment, then turns around again. He wields a saber claw and dashes forward to the demon. The demon, without a chance to scream, falls into four pieces. Locke then heads to the tavern again. "Coming friend?" Lock says to Nicolai.
Nicolai gave a smooth, short bow to the demon's corpse and whipped his way around Locke to the first to exit the small storage room.
He immediately found Joshua's gaze in the crowded room, smiling as one might who was seeing an old friend after many years. Or an easy mark.
Joshua sat at the table with his drink, when he felt, rather than saw, someone watching him. He turned and locked gazes with the man who had just come out of the back room. He felt a cold chill go down his back, even as he painted a fake smile on his face and lifted his glass in a salute to the stranger. The light of his ring began to pulse, and he kept it hidden under his jacket as he watched the magic user - it was this blonde youth, Joshua knew it now - and waited for him to make the next move.
"I hear you are a bit of a gambler, Joshua," Nicolai said with a knowing little smirk. He loved making people wonder how he knew. Until they realized who he was.
He sat across from this man, who looked a few years older than himself. Appearances were deceiving. "What's your game?"
Joshua held the other man's gaze for a moment, evaluating him. Clearly, he was using magic to divine this information...but was it mind-reading, or something else? Joshua maintained a relaxed demeanour, refusing to let the blonde-haired teenager see how rattled he was. Joshua had never been easy when it came to the magical and occult...too many things that tended to go wrong. He took a sip of his warm drink before answering.
"That's what you've heard? I find that interesting. We've only just met, and no one else here knows my name, let alone my interests. Will you share yours with me?"
"Mister Locke, would you care to join us?" Nicolai asked over his shoulder as he produced a deck of cards from his vest pocket.
He set the deck on the table in front of himself and took a sip from his bottle of whiskey, which had been last seen forgotten on a table on the other side of the room.
From somewhere a cigarette appeared in his hand, rough, yellowed paper twisted around dried leaves. When he placed it between his lips the end glowed to life without aid of any external flame.
"I'm not sure if I should partake in these games. I, ahem, we have much work to do." Locke reaches down and flips over the top five cards of the deck...
The hand painted playing cards were of a far higher artistic quality than any most gamblers had in their possession. The sort of game played by a man with unlimited resources.
They seemed otherwise ordinary at first glance, but there was something vaguely disturbing about them. The jack of spades seemed to be staring at Locke. The queen of hearts at one end of the spread he had laid out wore a scowl of contempt, and half hidden by her gown, there was a knife in her hand at her side.
The king of hearts at the other end of the row wore an expression of pain, and there was a small red stain over his heart.
"Nonsense," Nicolai said dismissively. "I have seen more of these mortal errands than you can imagine. If you let the quest consume your life rather than living it in between, then when it's over you'll have nothing left."
He smirked. Now that was an irony. Life advise from the prince of darkness.
Locke takes a moment to consider what he is about to do, then takes a seat. He glances over to the barmaid and gestures for a bottle of run to the table.
Locke turns and looks at Joshua, and then at Nicolai, trying to decide what to do next.
"Joshua, what brings you here anyway?"
((Got room for one more?))
Inigo, who seemed beyond too young to be in a tavern, he quickly entered and shut the door behind him. He then heard a scratching at the door and a large wolf that seemed to be possessed walked in and stood along side the boy. Inigo sighed and said,"Fine Samson you can come in." The wolf had a blank look on its face, but nodded. Inigo's clothes looked like they shouldn't be worn in these harsh conditions, but it didn't seem to bother him too much. It seemed like the barmaid was busy at the moment, so the boy and his wolf sat down at a small booth and looked around at all of the people. He then turned and began to pet the possessed wolf. Inigo seemed zoned out for the moment as he watched two people playing cards. He then looked back and waited to see if anything interesting happened.
Nicolai scooped up the cards and began to shuffle them. He did not display the experience and aptitude of a professional gambler, the skill with the cards which Joshua no doubt possessed.
"Ante up," he said, tossing a silver coin on the table before he began dealing out the cards.
Locke pulls a silver coin from his pocket and drops it on the table. "No games Nicolai. Be honest for a change."
Locke looked around the tavern briefly and spoted the newcomer in the corner with the dog. Locke looked at the dog and noticed that it looked almost, brain dead. Trying not to let it bother him, he concentrated on the game at hand.
(OOC: Sorry it took so long to respond. Been knocked out with a head cold the past few days.)
Joshua eyed the silver that had been placed on the table. He was wary of this blonde-haired stranger and his stylized cards, but the prize on the table was too tempting to resist. Hesistantly, Joshua pulled out one of his own few silver pieces and placed it on the table. He flashed a smile to the blonde-haired youth's companion.
"What brings me here? A warm fire, good mead, and some pleasurable company." His eyes flirted over the pretty barmaid who was serving out drinks.
He took his first hand and studied it. The pictures on the cards disturbed him, they looked a little too...real. He glanced up over his cards at the dealer.
"I don't believe I got your name, Mister...?"
"Nicolai," the fallen angel said. He smirked. "I used to hear Old Nick now and then."
He raised the ante on the first round, and Joshua won, easily.
"What say we raise the stakes for the next round?" he suggested cryptically.
Having lost his only silver coin, Locke says, "I do not wish to participate in another round.".
Looking to Nicolai, " Shall we continue? Or are you not done having your fun with the kid?"
Joshua eyed Nicolai warily. The fact that he had won additional silver only made him more suspicious. This Nicolai was a magic user, clearly. Could he read minds, and if so, why hadn't he used that power to his advantage when playing cards? Joshua didn't know what game Nicolai was playing, but he was sure it wasn't just cards.
"What are you proposing?" Joshua asked hesitantly.
Nicolai smirked. "Nothing so terrible as all that," he said as though he could hear Joshua's thoughts. "The stakes are simple. You are betting your services in the completion of our quest. If you win though, I shall grant you any wish that is within my power."
He gave the gambler a warm smile. "Fame, fortune, charisma, luck. The possession of a magical object of your choice perhaps."
He tossed Locke a silver coin to cover his losses so far. "You must play my friend. The game cannot be met with only two. Gamble the aid of another adventurer and the favor of a fallen angel against..." he paused, considering. "Your fondest memory. That's not such a terrible price is it? Joy is never diminished by sharing it with others."
Locke takes the coin and says "You expect me to place my fondest memory on the table as a bet?"
Locke stared at the coin, thinking of his father teaching him to smith.
"Fine, but if I do manage to win, You follow my orders. Got that Angel?"
((OOC Mind if I kick in here? I will post in a hour or so just PM if you don't want any newbies D;))
Gorne strolling along the roadside suddenly smells beer and liquor and glances over at the tavern finally a place to drink he thinks to himself.
He swings the door open to the tavern a little too hard in excitement that the door swing's back at him and he headbutts it off it's hinges yelling in a heavy Irish accent "bloody devil door learn to stay open or i'll...oh wait I think I already did bahahaha sorry bout' that sometimes I forget my own strength" He pick's up the door with his right hand and smashes it back in place and claims "i'll pay to have er' fixed for ye" he glances around the bar "bring me one of every drink ye got there lass and make it snappy" He waddles his way to a table near the middle of the inn and sets his giant barrel down next to him and smacks his belly anticipating how drunk he is about to get.
((OOC: The more the merrier says I. But I must give the general reminder to everyone that the required format is third person past tense.))
Joshua arches an eyebrow. "Services? That sounds harmless enough." He pauses to watch the rather loud entrance by the tavern's newest patron.
"But what quest do you need me for? Let's stop pretending you're just an creepy adolescent." Joshua leaned forward, lowering his voice. "You said 'fallen angel.' Who are you, really? And what do you want with me?"