forum The Fat King Tavern and Inn // CLOSED

Started November 30, 2019 by @GoblinKing

tune

"She did," Yama said from behind her as he entered the bar. "They kept nearly fifteen feet away from her after the first few. They took one look at her and decided to go pick fights with people smaller than they were, the cowards!"

“You’re damn right they did! Lookie here, boys, we got ourselves an eye witness! Can’t call me a liar now, eh?” Shadul didn’t bother bringing up her leg- that was for a time when she wasn’t drunk and having fun.

“Pull up a stool, Yama. These sorry sons-of-bitches missed out on a good fight yesterday!” She laughed, clapping her hands together. Shadul’s double-headed axe was strapped to her back, crusted with dried blood she hadn’t the time to wash off.

"Alright!" Yama said, hesitantly at first until he realized that Shadul was inebriated.

Should I tell her? he thought. Nah, she's already drunk and having fun. She might not even remember me saying anything depending on how this goes.

"I tell you what, though, she may have done a bit of the heavy lifting, but I certainly pulled my weight. Beat the shit out of a few of 'em, especially those cavalry guys. Since when did those guys get their hands on Direboars and grizzly bears?!"

Caspian's expression immediately dimmed. "Well…yes actually. There might be someone looking for me that we should watch out for, just in case he decided to follow." She wasn't sure if Myrin had been joking with the question, but Caspian figured she would have to give a serious answer. What if he did show up and she hadn't told anyone? It was better to let them know.

Myrin’s eyes darkened. “Oh, uh, okay then. Let’s be on the lookout.” She nudged Caspian’s arm. “Don’t worry, alright? It’s gonna be fine, we’ll keep you safe.” She grinned softly. What am I doing? I’m just supposed to get in and get out. Keep your eyes on the prize.

“Since a thousand years ago, Yama. Tellin’ you now, don’t underestimate how those damn orcs’ll win a battle. Once saw a guy get his arm cut off and then proceed to use it as a weapon ‘fore passin’ out from blood loss. Crazy shit.” Shadul cackled, throwing her head back to polish off her mug of beer.

"Crazy, but not as crazy as the time I had to make a leg – I'm a weaponsmith," Yama said, turning to the rest of the table. "…For a woman who worked in a brothel. Lost her leg in a railroad accident years ago, but she wanted the leg made from pure ivory and had a fuckin' gun inside that would activate with a bolt on her leg! Anyone tried to mess with her, and they got a hell of a surprise, the fuckers!"

Yama loved being able to recount his own travels, and he found that he could mesh with Shadul and her compatriots easily.

“Fucking wild!” Shadul barked, slamming her mug down on the counter and sliding it over to the barmaid. “Fill me up, wouldn’t ya, miss?” She winked at the woman, turning back to the group once she got her mug back.

“Ronta here is a fisherman b’ trade- I’m tellin’ ya, half’a his stories are so unbelievable I’on even know what to believe!” The half-orc clapped a hand onto the shoulder of a dwarf. He raised his mug, winking at the group.

“Well, then I know I’ve done my job! Let me tell you folks about the demon fish of these here swamps…” Ronta began his old tale, beer slinging in his cup and he drank and talked.

We'll keep you safe. Caspian repeated in her mind as she made her way back to The Fat King. She had spent the night sleeping in a rather comfortable looking tree she had found, not wanting to waste her money on an inn room.

She wandered into the tavern and waved over at the dragon man and Shadul as soon as she saw them.

“Ah, Caspian! Over here!” Shadul grinned, beckoning her over. Ronta was still deep into his fisherman’s tales, each one becoming out outrageous and unbelievable than the last.

Caspian grinned as she made her way over to Shadul. She hadn't even been here a week and she was already making friends. For that, she was quite proud of herself.

"Hello! What're we talking about over here?"

“Ronta here’s bein’ a lyin’ bastard! Demon fish ny ass!” Shadul thrust her mug towards the dwarf, the liquid inside sloshing as she did so. “Fisherman’s stories!”

"Demon fish?!" Caspian asked, leaning forward with curiousity in her eyes. "Really? Have you seen one?"

“Pull up a chair, lass! There are so many demon fish in these here swamps I’m surprised people ar’nt killed by ‘em daily!” The dwarf cackled, taking a swig of his beer. “Last one I saw was big ‘s a juvenile alligator and had eyes like the Great Father himself! I’m thinkin’ he was possessed, you see.”

"Possessed?!" Caspian gasped, her eyes widening in surprise. "These things sound awful! Is there a way to avoid them? Or a way to kill them? Is there a repellant to keep them away from me?" She hadn't been in these swamps for long. Clearly this person knew of the dangers the swamp brought, and Caspian needed all the help she could get.

“Ronta, you’re scaring the girl! Quit with all your tall tales!” Shadul scolded, tugging on the dwarf’s ear. “He’s telling stories, Caspian, there are no possessed fish in the swamp.”

"Are you sure?" She asked hesitantly. "There are plenty of creatures out there we haven't seen yet. What if demon fish just hide from us and only attack people when they're alone?"

Ronta clapped his hands together. “Tha’s wha’ I’m saeyin’! I’ve seen ‘em with my own two eyes!” He waved the barmaid over. “Miss! A refill for a weary fisherman, yeh?”

Caspian sat down finally. "Anything is possible, Shadul. Our world is filled with things humanity hasn't discovered yet. Maybe possessed demon fish are one of those things."

Shadul rolled her eyes. “Be afraid of an old man’s stories if you want, but know that he makes a living off of his tales.” Shadul finished her beer, setting it down. “Ronta, you’ve got other stories to tell, don’t you?”

“Hundreds!” Ronta bellowed in response, slapping his knee. “Let me tell you all of the mermaid in these here swamps.”

"I don't care what you think about this one Shadul. I've seen mermaids before. Someone even called me a mermaid once, even though I'm not one." Caspian said, leaning back in her seat. "Half mermaids exist too. I've read about them."

"Anything's possible, alright! Just look at me!" Yama said, gesturing to himself. "My parents literally talked with each other about what I might look like. Mom said if I came out looking like a pile of mush, she'd love me anyway. Yeah, right! If I came out looking like a pile of mush with three arms and eyes on my ass, she'd have died from shock!"

(Shit, this came earlier, but I can't move it to match. Whoops.)

“I know mermaids exist, Caspian. One lives in the nearest freshwater lake.” Shadul pointed to the swampy town outside, where everyone walked on boardwalks and buildings were on thick wooden stilts. “Out there? I don’t know. I think the water is very shallow for a mermaid.”

Myrin arrived as the crew was deep in conversation about underwater creatures. “You guys are thinking too small,” she joked, sliding into a worn wooden seat. “You shouldn’t be afraid of what’s under the sea, you should be afraid of what’s in the sky! Dozens of foul, winding beasts live in the shadows of the clouds, watching the Earthdwellers for any signs of weakness.”