Assal nodded once again at the woman as he picked himself up, gently sniggering at his own misfortune. He paused briefy to scan the papers he'd slipped on, which he was sure hadn't been there beforehand, and his fingers drifted to pass the parchment into his belt to be dealt with later; such a task would be en route, and would serve as a good preparation for the trial itself. He stepped through the doorw-

- yes, you guessed it, walked into a kobold Paladin of Bahamut. The bald warrior and his unconscious bard fell to the floor in a crash of armour and instruments, Assal yelping as he went.

From the floor he grinned whilst groaning, "Worst. Day. Ever."

"Are you coming as well,sir?" The man gave a small smile and began to answer the question he knew would come. He made his living not being caught off guard, thinking of all the outcomes before they occurred and having a plan for it. He began to respond when out came the large bald man carrying the drunk half-Orc and rammed right into the kobold. Even better the man thought to himself then man quickly and quietly he took his leave during the scuffle. The man thought this should work out just fine all I need to do is spur them in the right direction.

The man quickly left outside and walked down an alley way. His small smile faded and his face turned stern. This is what he lived for, what he desired the most the thrill of it all. He knew the location well and already knew his first three moves. His focus intense his mind in perfect sync with his body for he knew that he was being followed...

Aquascales stumbled forward after Assal walked into him. "Worst. Day. Ever." Assal groaned.
Aquascales quickly recovered and went over to Assal. "Sorry. I shouldn't have been standing in the hallway like that." Aquascales apologized. He turned around and was surprised to see the new man gone. He decided to ponder that later, as he had more pressing issues right now. Aquascales extended his hand to Assal. " So you're heading to Athera right? That's where I'm heading too. Would it be okay for me to accompany you?"

" So you're heading to Athera right? That's where I'm heading too. Would it be okay for me to accompany you?"
Assal took the hand gratefully, and got to his feet slowly and deliberately, as if he no longer trusted the stability of his legs - or lack thereof. He left Tralen where he lay for now, and turned to the kobold with a smile.

"I don't know how or where you heard of us travelling to Athera, but whatever the case, company on the road would be most welcome. What path do you follow that would require passing by Athera, if I may ask?"

In reply to Assals question, Aquascales said,"I have gotten this bounty from that man in Dark Leather Armour. It's about eliminating a bandit leader. Criminal scum more or less. It is my duty as a Paladin of bahamut, even without a bounty on him, to desl with him. I happened to overhear you talking to the bard here" Aquascales motioned towards Tralen, who was still on the ground," I was going to continue a conversation with him, but I didn't want to interrupt you."

Sweat beat down on his face, his hands twitched, his eyes darted back and forth. The assassin had chased the man to a abandoned building, here he would kill him. He knew his mark couldn't outrun him, he moved so quietly that the wind itself seemed to not even move past him. The assassin was good he had the man right were he wanted him there was only one place left the man had to hide, and that would be his grave.

He turned the corner he saw his prey he had no where to run, the assassin closed in he wouldn't be careless he followed the shadow on the east side of the cluttered room to stay out of the candle light. The final hour was upon them... The assassins extasy turned to panic when pain seared down his legs. He had never taken his eyes off of his prey and that was his folly the hunter had become the prey, lured into the spiders web. He glanced down to see a small razor trap coated in a poison the assassin knew all to well. His legs would soon go numb he had to act now and strike fast. He pulled a small crossbow and aimed at his target, but he was no where to be found. He turned to retreat but stepped hard on a set of caltrops. "but how" the man grew frantic his heart pounded so hard it felt like it would come through his chest. He knew this would be his end, but the hunter had other plans. He looked to his left just in time to see a gust of powder hit him in the face.

"Now then shall we begin? What do you know..."

It was a dark night when Oswald trudged into town. He was very weak and tired from his journey. Oswald was a small man only standing 4"5 not even taller then some dwarfs. But Oswald didn't let that slow him down, he had become a cleric of Alvareon at a young age and excelled faster than any. However Oswald grew tired of the church seeing them as insignificant and narrow minded so he took to the roads.

He opened the door to the lute and stepped in drawing quite a few looks. Oswald was never on to care about appearances so he always appeared very unkempt and ragged. He wore a simple brown cloak with no sleeves over a basic chain armor that came down into a battle dress that was usually covered in dirt and he always used his quarterstaff as a walking stick. He stepped over to the bar and Ordered a simple cup of tea on a room for the night.


He took a seat near the fire and sipped on his cup of tea while scratching his small beard. Well now what he thought to himself as he gazed into the fire it knowing where his journey would take him.

" Iwas going to continue a conversation with him, but I didn't want to interrupt you."
Assal laughed in response, "You are unlikely to find him very conversational at this moment, friend! Though I am sure that once he has awoken and sobered up, he will also be glad of the company on our journey!"

He extended a hand to the kobold, "Assal Browncloak is my name, and it is a pleasure to meet you."

Aquascales took Assal's outstreched hand. He asked," do you know anything about Athera? It's my first time around these parts. I came from a long way away." Aquascales heard the door open downstairs. "If you'd excuse me, there seems to be a new person downstairs. I shall go introduce myself. And, I need to pay for a room for the night."

"I shall accompany you, if t'is not too much trouble," Assal replied as he gently lowered Tralen onto the bed in the correct room, before the kobold and man headed downstairs.
"I am new to these parts, but it seems that Athera is an ancient town, now fallen into ruin, and a common hiding-place of brigands and bandits. My and Tralen's journey will not be an easy one," he finished with a smile.

She listened to some voices in the hallway until they finally moved away; she wondered what that was all about. It seemed they spoke of going on some quest for something, but while she was curious she knew she couldn’t go on any adventure. She had to keep moving lest her pursuers found her.

After the commotion in the hallway dissipated, she made sure the bar and chest was in place, no one else would be unintentionally intruding upon her sleep. She sheathed her sword and lay back down on the bed; it took her awhile to fall back to sleep.

In the morning she rose and packed her things, went downstairs and had some breakfast and after paying her bill she stoked up on some rations, bread, dried meats, etc., and then left the Inn. While she found her short stay here entertaining, she doubted she would pass this way again. If she did, she just might stay here again, the road could be boring and it was good to break the monotony.

She left the lute and town, headed once again into the forest where she felt more comfortable and safe.

The door to the Bleeding Lute flung open and a small form tumbled in and crashed to the floor; a tiny person, only about 3 feet tall, scrambled from the floor as the staff of the Lute and the few patrons still in the tavern this late at night looked on.

Wiping the long black curly hair from her face, Moonbeam Lightfinger looked around the room and gave a sheepish grin to the onlookers.

“Sorry,” she said as she stood up and straightened her clothes.

She stood an even 3’ tall, slim build, dressed in leather pants, a silk shirt with a tiny leather vest. A belt hung about her small hips holding a dagger, which to her size seemed almost like a short sword; numerous pouches hung about the belt. She is a very beautiful though small woman with dark curls and piercing green eyes.

The other patrons turned back to their own conversations, as the tiny person adjusted her pouches, seeming to count and check them to see if they were all accounted for before she moved through the room towards the bar. On her way to the bar, some of the belongings of patrons made their way unnoticed into the small woman’s pouches.

After a few tries she managed to climb to the top of the bar stool without tipping it over. Her chest barely level with the top of the bar she smiles at the bartender.

“Wine please good sir!” she says in a sweet, child-like voice. As her drink is fetched she glances around the room a smile upon her lips.

As Oswald set before the fire stroking his short beard he reached to his side and grasped a rather weathered old tome that was next to two more, one looking rather new and the other fairly old. He skimmed through the book rather quickly stopping briefly on certain parts and leaning over and squinting at others. Oswald took great pleasure in collecting other clerics tomes that had been passed down. He was always looking for something he didnt know or a new take on something he did. During his search he took note of a man and a kobold talking of adventure. Perfect chance to try out a few new things he thought to himself and with a grin he closed his book and went over to meet them.


"Good tidings merry men, What a day that this is." He scanned the kobold ever so carefully and smiled. "I hear you are going on an adventure."
Oswald reaches into one of his belt compartments and grabs a rolled up parchment and unrolls it to see WANTED
"Perhaps I can be of assistance, this world is a scary place you know."

"I hear you are going on an adventure."
"Good evening to you," Assal responded, taking the last step down into the room. He briefly scanned it, taking note of the childlike woman at the bar who seemed of more interest than the other patrons, then his gaze found its way back to Oswald.
"We are indeed in search of adventure, questing to retrieve a lost sword, and to deliver justice to a brigand. Company is always welcome on the open road.
"Assal," he said, extending a hand, "My companion here is Aquascales, paladin of Bahamut; the bard Tralen is a little... indisposed."

"I hear you are going on an adventure."
Tiny little ears perked up as she heard those words, she turned to look at a group of men clustered near the stairwell. She took her wine and laid a coin on the bar, then turned back to watch the men talking. It seemed they might be getting ready to go some place; this could be interesting.

Looking just like a child hopping down off her stool she swayed over to the group of men; her short stature made her seem to appear out of nowhere as she spoke up.

“Hello gentlemen,” her voice was small yet forceful, “did I overhear something of an adventure in the works? If so, I might be interested if it is something interesting and exciting?”

She stood there looking up at the men, sipping her glass of wine waiting on them to respond a faint smile on her lips.