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Post by Seraphine on Jan 20, 2005 7:28:11 GMT -5
This is where I'm going to start posting fiction on our D&D game about Axia. It may or may not be part of the new Genesis Project setting. These tales are taken from the scroll a Bard kept to document the epic he knew was developing around him.
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Post by Seraphine on Jan 20, 2005 7:28:37 GMT -5
It was Saturday again, open floor night at the Horseshoe. Reilyn’s place was little more than a refitted barn with a wood floor and a bar but it was still the most popular place in town. He had a bar put in seven years ago, drinks was the first thing to attract customers. He also hired a few of the local girls, they were the second thing that kept people coming back.
Reilyn was a charismatic man who preferred to solve problems with words rather than arrows and blades, though he kept a wicked looking scimitar strapped at the small of his back. He tells me it’s mostly for show, but I’ve seen him practice that blade with more proficiency than a showman. I’m tall for a half-elf, I’m even tall by human standards, but Reilyn still had an inch on me. He was not built like brick, far from it. Most of the time he has to ask for help when lifting more than bag of wheat. He’s definitely more of the finesse type. He keeps his hair long but neat. He doesn’t bother with a pony tail or any other fuss, just lets it fall near his shoulders. Often times he forgets to shave, which gives him a more rugged look. If you were to name one characteristic about his looks that stands out it would be his smile, the one that wins the trust of nobles and his customers alike.
He spends most of his time behind the bar serving drinks or on the floor at larger events to mingle with the nobles and other prominent peoples of the area. He was known to be the first to know or the first to be informed of anything that happened. That’s how I got to know him. My path of life leads to many taverns, whether it be for drinks, women, or information. He was watching me work his floor, not for the poor saps’ coin, but for their knowledge. When he found out I was also an entertainer he decided I’d be good to keep around.
Tonight he was mostly occupied with Sgt. Wilkes who was the head of the local garrison. We had been keeping tabs on troop movements south of here and hearing many rumors of the lands to the east. The quiet corners of the world were beginning to make noise and we needed to hear it.
Reilyn’s wife, Nessa, was half-elven, not surprising since we were so close to the elven lands. When I stood next to her she had to look up to meet my eyes in a way that reminds you of that cute mischievous girl you once ran around with, but she was no child, but a woman. Her eyes were the kind that could look right through you. It made some people nervous when they caught her eye, until she turned on her smile that is. No wine or drug could make you feel the way she did when she gave you her attention and charm. She’s a mentor for many of the neighborhood kids. She listens to them like no adult ever does and they appreciate the opportunity to share what’s going on in their lives. She had long silver hair that cascaded off her shoulders. Normally she wore it plain except when she cooks. Then she ties it up to keep it from getting in the way. She had the thin lithe figure most elves had, slender frame and long legs that would let your curiosity run away with itself.
Nessa does most of the cooking at the Horseshoe. She also does all the training of new employees. An excellent teacher and great friend, she makes sure all of the workers under her not only perform their duty but enjoy their work. She was a firm believer in the idea that if the servers are happy the customers would be happier, mostly because she was right. Having attractive smiling ladies serving customers always relaxed their customers and loosened their tongues to Reilyn.
I had been hired by the couple to entertain on a daily basis. My job was two fold, first I was to keep the patrons happy, but I was also to be Reilyn’s ear. During the busy hours I would play piano, dulcimer, sing, and dance. When I had free time I would speak to the travelers about news on the roads. Often when traveling entertainers came through I would exchange all kinds of rumors, information, and general information over games of poker and rounds of drinks. Nessa kept my drinks weaker to improve my odds. Most of the time when they left I’d have a new ally or someone I could count on for information, once or twice I may have made an enemy by winning too much of their wallet. Poor sods, I always slipped their coin back into their packs with a note hoping to keep me off their bad list.
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we had an open floor night where I would play instruments while someone else sang or danced. Before I arrived at the keep the open floor was rarely occupied by a few of the more inebriated patrons. I took advantage of the situation and started pulling the women of the crowd up for songs. If they wouldn’t sing they would have to dance. Now Horseshoe was packed with eager patrons waiting for their chance to show off one talent or another.
I took my time to play a few less lively numbers to keep the crowd from getting too exciting before I opened the floor; some people were still walking in off the streets coming for the same reason that I usually did on open floor night, other than I have to that is. Recently, other than my research and training, I’ve had a pet project, who just walked in the door.
She was shorter than me, 5’8” or so with long dark auburn hair. Her figure was hugged by a white dress that ended at her ankles, no curve unappreciated. It parted to her left side, allowing her leg to entice viewers to hope to catch a glimpse of something more. A gold colored trim outlined fold of clothing across her chest, tucking itself into the sash around her waist. It hung from her shoulders leaving the soft smooth skin of her arms exposed. Around her neck she wore a thin black silk choker to contrast the rest of her outfit. She wore no jewelry, mainly because I couldn’t afford it for her, but I didn’t think she’s that type of girl. Her lips were thin and rouge below a small subtle nose. And then there were her eyes.
When you looked at those eyes they were a blue that seemed like the sky, or maybe the clearest waters you have ever seen of a crystal lake, but when she looked at you as well… Many times I’ve lost myself in them for hours completely forgetting what we may have been doing. When looked deeply into them I can feel something well up in me and reach out, tasting an old feeling that know is familiar. It was almost like touching her soul. It frightened me sometimes, but no one else seemed to have the same reaction.
“How’re you doin’ tonight Sera?” I started calling her Sera a few days ago. When she asked me why I called her that instead of Lindsey, though that wasn’t her name either, I only smiled and read her a poem about the angels of the sea.
“Oh Tobias, it only gets better from this point on.” She smiled and came over to give me a hug. I didn’t stop playing the piano but I leaned over for kiss on the cheek. “Your usual tonight?”<br>“You know me, elven wine and a big hunk of meat.” She winked at me and went off to get our table. I took a moment to indulge, I couldn’t deny that loved to watch her go, but I resumed my responsibilities and began to play a more up beat tune. The crowd instantly got into it and was ready to get the night started. There wasn’t much good news in the world recently; this was their one place to get away from it all. I always let some of the young aspiring musicians of the keep take the first hour on the floor to support the singers so I could share dinner with Sera. It gave them a chance to show off their lessons while the others showed off their voices.
I did the usual introduction to the open floor night and left it to three new boys I had auditioned earlier that day. They had potential if they were dedicated enough to practice, then I headed off to a small booth seat where a delicious meal and beautiful woman waited for me. As usual she didn’t order me just a “big hunk of meat.” Instead there was a portion of rice accompanied by vegetables and roast beef.
Our conversations were rarely about anything important. It was kind of nice to get away from the real world that would constantly chase us. But tonight I had to ask her something.
“Well look at this. What is this on my plate? It’s got all these weird colors, what do you call ‘em?”<br>“Those are called greens now eat up, they’re good for you.”<br>I held my nose up in an over exaggerated expression a child would use out of disgust. “Well I’ll eat it but I refuse to like it.”<br>“Oh shush you. Ever since I knew you, you would eat anything put before you. You’d eat a rock if I didn’t stop you.”<br>A huge grin spread quickly across my face and was quickly contagious. “You’re right.” I took a large forkful of food and shoveled it into my mouth and began to chew with a very satisfied smile on my face.
It was her eyes again. Sometimes I wished I could just spend the rest of my life like this. I really had no desire to go out to be something great or someone important. I just wanted to spend my days content to sing and play instruments, then to share supper with a pretty girl. But I knew it was not to be, and from the news I’d been receiving recently I knew that this time of bliss may soon end.
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Post by Seraphine on Jan 20, 2005 8:02:10 GMT -5
When we were done eating and thoroughly deep into our great philosophical discussions on why puppies were so darn cute, I decided I had better ask her before the wine had gotten to my head. “Look Ax- Sera, how are you feeling?” The look on my face must have said something because she was almost instantly a little nervous.
“Wha- What do you mean Tobias?”<br>“I mean how do you feel? I want to know how complete you feel.”<br>She looked down at her hands for a moment, then when her eyes met mine again they were beginning to get moist. “I- I feel like I’m close to something. I was close to something. Then it was going away. Now…” Her voice trailed off into a pain that I could not only see, but feel as well. I reached across the table and took her hand in mine. I nodded my head to let her know that I understand and that it was alright. A tight smile formed on her lips and she began to speak again. “But now Tobias, I don’t know what it is, but I get this feeling, when I’m near you. I have the same kind of feeling that I’m a little more complete whenever you’re here with me.”<br>It was funny, though at the same time those were the words I wanted to hear, they were also the words I that feared most. I wanted to believe it wasn’t just because of the ritual we performed in the dessert; I wanted to believe that it could have been… Though she may have liked me I knew that I was now partially linked to her by more than just friendship.
The silence took its toll on me and I spoke once again, “Whatever you choose, I’ll be there to help you through it. I’ll do everything I can to make things right.” We both smiled then, she even laughed; it was a most delightful sound. In the past two weeks I’ve seen the best there is to life and what it all could be. I knew what I was going to have to fight for, and hoped there was someone I could pray to for the strength to carry through.
The crowd cheered as a song ended. I looked over and realized how late it was getting. “We had better get up there or their going to be too drunk to appreciate your voice.” I smiled eager to hear the fruits of my project. Her voice was something wonderful. We wiped away the tears from our eyes and walked to the stage. When she stepped on up the crowd cheered knowing the voice to come. I began to play my violin and she sang a song about children and their carefree bliss. I let go and just let the music take over. Tomorrow was just another day, just like any other.
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