The 'Slimy Toad' Inn

As usual, Rissa wasn't smiling but she neither was grave-serious. Compared with the grey of her skin, the white of her eyes was bright. The Barbarian was near her; she retired her hands on her knees with the glass of wine. She didn't say a word, though.

The snow storm died down. Angy was walking without any precise direction when suddenly she noticed an Inn. The Slimy Toad Inn. She was a little bit tired and wanted to warm up somewhere.

'Hmm', she said to herself, 'I don't have anything to lose, a warm drink won't harm me'. Arrived in the front of the Inn, she remained surprised, she had thought it was an Inn like all the others, but then she felt that something strange was going to happen to her there. She opened the door, walked airily to the innkeeper and asked him a cup of tea. The man gazed at her in amazement. He saw her eyes, which were incredibly beautiful, as if they were tiny stars.

While she was waiting for the tea she looked around, examinating the inn. She saw a Barbarian who at first sight seemed to be friendly; and then she noticed a girl who was easy to observe by her beauty and the mistery she was giving off. 'It seems that I found someone like me, maybe I will manage to exchange a few words with her, for my own amusement' she thought. Then she saw a young elf who was hiding in the shadows. She felt a great interest for this person, an interest which was unexplainable to her. She threw off her cloack, showing off a beautiful hair, black as ebony and a slender, graceful body. She was feeling better. She took her cup of tea and raised it to her lips, sipping from it slowly. She enjoyed every hot drop, warming up dropwise.

Retreated in the shadows that covered him, Thorn stirred for the first time, his cloak rustling silently, when the Barbarian rose and moved towards the strange girl. Until then, he had been content to watch the scene with a slight satisfied grin on his face. The little apprentice, clumsy though he appeared, seemed to have been right. Thorn had no idea where he had gotten his information from, though he was certain that he hadn't obtained him through his own powers. He was too... silly. However, in spite of his doubt, the information had proven accurate.

Normally, he wouldn't have come all this way following uncertain hints, but the possible reward was too great. He was aware that, if the legends concerning the Vanished City were and his information accurate, the quest was too great to handle for a single person, be it even the best rogue of Portalia. He needed help and behold, this inn offered plenty.

Anyone who embarked on such a dangerous adventure would have use of the brawns of a Barbarian... that is, if he didn't enter a Berserker rage exactly when stealth was required, or tripped over his own feet. He hoped this wasn't the case. The woman had an aura of force. Though he couldn't exactly tell what it was, his senses had never failed him in this respect. He had had some doubts concerning the big horse (he needed to find out more before shaking hands... or hooves), but the tome he was carrying cast them away. He didn't quite like his aura. He wasn't really adept at magic, but his Elven blood, besides sharpening his senses, also carried the magic of nature. And this same blood ran faster now, sensing danger coming from that book.

He was preparing to study the stranger that had entered, when the Barbarian approached the woman. This wasn't good... he hoped it wouldn't end in bruises, broken skulls or... worse. It was difficult enough to persuade such different characters to join him, and that without causing too much fuss. If a scandal breaks out now...

His train of thought was interrupte by the jingling of the doorbell. He smiled. Yep, it would seem that slowly everyone gathered.

Angelique, feeling better after the tea cleaved her hands to the stove and emmited a soft mew. Stunned by what she has just done she gulped, looking around in the hope that nobody heard her.

The sudden ,,meow" interrupted Ias's thoughts. He knew many feline races, off all types, and kinda liked cats. The new guest was, however, much more interesting. He swallowed his last words and placed his head on the book again.

puţin uimit de muţenia fetei barbarul statu o secundă şi zise: ce nepliticos sunt, vai. mă numesc duro'than. z

The girl sighed, dissapointed by her own reaction. It seems like the Barbarian had noticed her soft mew. Angy didn't want that thing... she looked him in the eye, trying to look as friendly as she could and then she smiled, both for him and the girl .

It was very late, but at the inn the light was still burning. Ronin was reluctant to enter, but it was too cold outside. So eventually he decided to go in until the snowstorm calmed down. Inside, it was clear that everyone was looking for shelter from the weather. The atmosphere was quiet, everyone was sipping from their cups in silence. What caught his eye was the young girl alone by the fireplace, looking around. He wanted to talk to her but decided this wans't the best moment. He got something warm to eat and sat down at a table.

Angy felt herself marked. 'Damn my feline instinct, it's nothing but trouble!' She never liked to be in the center of the attention, generally she just wanted to pass unnoticed in the crowd but she couldn't always manage it.

The inn was now empty of the locals. They hadn't left it lighthearted as usual. They were curious... very curious regarding the strangers. But they didn't feel comfortable in their presence. There was something in the air and they didn't want to find out exactly what. The innkeeper had gone to the stables to look after the animals. The time had come. Thorn couldn't afford to miss his chance.

With silent and agile movements he crossed the space that separated his shadowed table from the great fireplace. He didn't stop quite in front of the fire, but a bit to the side, under the dust covered mousse-head that was hanging on the wall (what a distasteful thing!) and coughed slowly. He didn't quite enjoy playing the public speaker, but it was of vital importance now. He waited to see if he had whom to address.