As he entered, he was met by a line of stares. He didn't happen to be a normal patron, even in the tavern. He was, after all a Kobold. He was clad in turquiose armour, with a engraving of Bahamut on the chest plate. "Rest easy friends, I'm not a normal Kobold," he said in a educated voice. Some of the patrons went back to their drinks, while others kept an eye on him. That morning he had woken up out in the middle of a farmers field. The Kobold had a faint recollection of a fight beforehand, but he wasn't sure. His scimator clicked against his armour as he walked in. Not anly was he heavily armoured, he carried a large sheild (for him at least), and a backpack full of assorted adventuring gear.

The kobold walked up to the bar. As soon as he sat on the stool, he realised he was too short for it. His head barely came up o the bar. "I'll have some of the Mutton pastries please," he asked politely, while placing a gold piece on the table. He scanned the room. The kobold noticed the half orc decsending down the stairs. Perhaps this is the time for himself. He strolled over. "Good evening. I'm Aquascales, a Paladin of Bahamut. And you are?"

Tralen was greeted by a strange sight as he reached the bottom of the stairs. A Kobold, but not a normal one at all. This one seemed to be wearing full plate mail, carrying a shield much to large for him and a scimitar hung by his side. Then the question he received, "Good evening. I'm Aquascales, a Paladin of Bahamut. And you are?"
"Good evening to you as well, Aquascales... I am Tralen, a travelling Maestro of sorts. Taking a bow, Tralen smiled once more. He stared down at the Kobold, looking up he noticed the two others who had entered the Inn while he was in his room. "Seems more interesting folks have joined us." Lute in hand, Tralen bowed to the Kobold then turned towards the stage.

As he started walking, he looked back to the Kobold. "I'd enjoy talking more, maybe after my performance?

The tavern got busier real fast; in the space of minutes three new arrivals entered.

First, the woman watched as a figure in white colored cloak entered and sat at a table. The dark caped woman raised and eyebrow inside her hood wondering why anyone would wear such a bright color, it provided no camouflaging characteristics but instead made the person stand out in a crowd.

The next person to enter made the woman reach under the table and grasp the hilt of her sword again. This was a warrior, maybe a mercenary, and bared watching. She could overhear some of his words with the bartender and she relaxed slightly not hearing him inquiring about looking for someone.

Then a Kobold in turquoise armor walked in and left her stunned; what was next, a dragon in a grass skirt? This place might not be the place for her to rest awhile; too many strangers seemed to frequent this place. That increased the chance that someone might recognize her or be one of the ones looking for her. Besides, her kind were not welcome everywhere and she might find trouble from an unexpected quarter.

As the Half-orc minstrel stopped to speak with the Kobold before continuing to the area set aside for performers, she decided then and there that she would just stay the one night and then move on tomorrow before something happened.

Assal had the sudden feeling he was being watched. He frowned, pinpointing the location of his watcher. He grabbed his now-filled tankard and passed a few coins to Maria, sidling across the bar towards the stool at which sat the cloaked woman.
He grinned, and nodded to her, taking another stool, "Don't I know you from somewhere?"

He took note of the concealed weapon and the plate armour, the sword concealed in such a way that showed a desire to avoid combat, but also an expression of defiance at all those who would dare oppose the wielder.

Stepping up on to the stage, Tralen pulled a stool into the centre and sat down. Looking up the crowd as he tuned his Lute one last time he spoke. "This is a song of my travels, starting from Artor and ending here at this very Inn. I hope you all enjoy. Smiling and closing his eyes, Tralen started plucking at his Lute, creating a soft, flowing melody throughout the Inn.

On the road again,
Oh, all the places I've been,
On the road again,
Let me tell you what I've seen,

Oh, in a tavern in Artor,
I met a nice young farmer lass,
She sold her oranges, melons too,
And she was full of guile and sass,

On the road again,
Oh, all the places I've been,
On the road again,
Let me tell you what I've seen,

In Palantir I met a bard,
One such as myself, you see,
Though I dare say that my singing voice,
be much better than that of he,

On the road again,
Oh, all the places I've been,
On the road again,
Let me tell you what I've seen,

In Drefast once I saw a troll,
Who spoke words as I to you, and more,
Though I be not as strong, or brave,
Eloquent enough am I, and not a bore,

On the road again,
Oh, all the places I've been,
On the road again,
Let me tell you what I've seen,

In Calestra fair I met a girl,
Taller than the tallest spire,
And when I asked her how it was,
She laughed, and breathed some fire!

On the road again,
Oh, all the places I've been,
On the road again,
Let me tell you what I've seen,

In the Bleeding Lute I met some folks,
As strange as strange can be,
Hopefully, once they've heard my song,
They'll buy a drink for me!

Standing up, Tralen took a bow, then promptly exited the stage not waiting for the crowds reaction. He was confident enough in his own abilities and believed they would enjoy true art if they heard it. Smiling wider than normal he walked back up to the bar and took a seat beside the cloaked woman and the man in mud-splattered plate.

"One ale please. Looking towards them as he slid the coins for the ale onto the counter he let out a laugh. "So, what did ya think?"

Assal listened to the song quite carefully, picking out the lyrics but not paying much attention to the lute playing, occasionally tapping along to the beat and eventually singing the chorus as it popped up.
When the bard came to sit near him, he looked away from the cloaked woman, who seemed glad for the lack of attention.

"Ha!" Assal boomed, turning his attention to the newly-arrived bard, "Good tune! I enjoyed it, in any case, though I may not be musically minded. So you say you've travelled around a fair bit?"

Looking over to the man in muddy platemail after taking a drought of his ale Tralen smiled.

"I'm glad you enjoyed the performance my good friend. And yes, I have travelled quite a bit, surely you have heard of Tralen the Bard in your own travels?"
Tralen sat staring at the man with a somewhat hurt looking expression upon his face.

"I do not wish to offend, Tralen the Bard, but I had yet to hear of you before straying upon this fine tavern," Assal began, "I ask simply for information as to a famous blade. Would you have heard tell of the Answerer, a fell longsword like no other? You have travelled far 'cross this land, and as such you seem to be the person to ask."

Tralen stared back at the man as he asked his question. His expression changed to that of mishcief as he smiled once more.

"Ahh, I see then. You're one of the adventuring types. Tralen took another drink from his ale and then stared up towards the roof, lost in thought for a few minutes.

Looking back to the man, and then turning his head to the door, Tralen sighed. "I may have heard of a blade called by that name, but that was so long ago. Maybe an adventure to those parts would help jog my memory. Why do you need such a blade, a strong adventurer like yourself? Tralen stared at the mud-splattered man with a questioning look

"Adventure is what I seek, aye, for better or for worse" Assal smiled as he replied to the bard, taking a large gulp of ale. "But I seek this blade for it is mine by birthright before it was lost, stolen by some young thief eager for gold. I found him swiftly, dead, and the blade had been taken away. I think that I have tracked it down, but I seek confirmation from one as learned as yourself."

Assal sighed heavily before continuing, "It was a shame to lose such a beautiful piece of smithwork. I would swear it was magical. It was also named 'Retaliator', if that helps."

Tralen stared at the man, then looked him up and down before smiling again. "Oh I see, are you perhaps of noble birthright? I seem to recall a certain rumour that floated past my travels. Grinning mishievously, he stared the man straight in the eye.

"Tell you what, give me your name, allow me to adventure with you, let me have a few more drinks, and I'll gladly tell you where I last heard this blade you hold so dear is being held. Tralen finished off his ale in one gulp and placed the Tankard back down not to quietly.

"So what do you say? Will you let an old bard adventure with you? I do more than sing. With that Tralen smiled and it seemed like a fire was burning within his old eyes.

Assal smiled widely at the mention of nobility. "Well, that's quite a long story, and for another time, but I am not of noble birth," he said as he downed his ale.

"I am Assal, son of Cianman of the West. I accept any company that can be offered, for the road is weary when travelled alone. I must warn you, however; this is to be a dangerous path, and you may regret even offering to assist me. Though the rewards may be great," he added with a final grin, before turning to Maria to order another round, paying in excess to cover a couple more rounds.

Tralen laughed as the man who he now knew as Assal mentioned danger. "My dear friend Assal, to be a renowned Bard like me you have to get yourself into danger quite a bit."
Grabbing another ale as it was put on the counter, Tralen downed half of it and laughed heartily. Looking at Assal, then back to the robed woman he smiled. "Hey Assal, if you're so worried, why don't we ask our female friend over here. She seems like one who can defend herself. That Kobold over there... Tralen pointed to the kobold for Assal. "I bet he would love to join us as well!"
Tralen downed the rest of his ale and started to laugh again. This caused many of the patrons to stare in the Half-Orcs general direction.

The cloaked woman visibly stiffened in her seat when the large man walked over and spoke to her.

"Don't I know you from somewhere?"
Slowly she stood up as she looked at him, her face briefly visible inside the hood of her cloak. He could see dark yet beautiful elvin-like features framed by silvery hair. Silver eyes regarded him closely for a moment before turning away.

“No, I don’t believe you do.” She said sternly and then walked away leaving the rest of her ale sitting there. She headed up the stairs as the bard began his song. The melody followed her up the stairs where she sighed in relief.

She thought that man might have known her but then when nothing happened she knew it was just a typical tavern pick-up line. She stood in the hallway upstairs for a moment listening to the bard sing before she went to her room. Opening the door she looked around the hallway to make sure no one was following her before going inside and locking and barring the door.

Once in her room, she moved over to a small chest at the foot of the bed and dragged it over to rest in front of the door. She then went to the window and after peeking out, she closed the shutters and barred them and then closed the windows locking them. All that done she sat down on the bed and breathed a sigh of relief, she felt about as safe as she could in a strange place.

She slipped the cloak off and hung it over a nail on the wall; in so doing she revealed the rest of her form with no one to see. Her body was covered in skin-tight black leather armor, yet parts of her body showed in cleverly placed slits in the armor which showed off her body beneath without sacrificing it’s protection.

Her well toned abdomen showed through horizontal slits; her breasts showed considerable cleavage through slits in the vertical leather strips that came down from a leather collar with silver studs. The armored pants contained strategic slits down her legs revealing well toned thighs. (Picture Halle Berry’s Catwoman outfit )

Her shoulder length hair hung loosely in silver ringlets about her shoulders, making her ebony dark skin appear even darker in contrast. All in all she was a very beautiful dark elvin woman who showed off her body, but then covered it up with a long dark cloak and hood.

She paced the room for a few moments, looking nervously around the room as if making sure the room was secure. She finally removed her sword belt and hung it over the head post of the bed. She unsung a small hand crossbow and set it on the table next to the bed within easy reach. Then she stretched out on the bed and stared at the ceiling as she tried to relax her tense muscles.

It took a long time before her eyes closed and then after a few more minutes her breathing slowly and became rhythmic as she finally drifted off to sleep.