Honor and Mead

[jamesshyvur]

Bragir had watched the brawl between the Nord woman and Jolfried, he grunted in respect for the victor. Jolfried was a powerful and honorable warrior, he had the privilege of doing battle along side the Battle-Born clan, they knew of his honor and valour even if they didn't respect his race they respected not only his office, but the man he was. He looked around the tavern Elduin was gone, anger rose up in Bragir, he tossed his stool across the tavern smashing it against the wall. He approached Jolfried "Have you seen that damned Bosmer? If so where did he go?" He asked rage still in his blood red eyes.

Bragir glanced at the Dunmer and female Nord "If you know where this Bosmer went you would be doing all of tamriel a service by telling me where he went." He told them as he glanced at the woman with the werewolf scars. "Blessings of the nine on you, my son suffered the same fate as you. May your fate fair better then his." He told her with sadness in his voice

[trinn]

Yet another stranger came to their table, and Atla was surprised by the amiability of the people in Riften. Normally they kept to themselves. "That's right." she said, looking up at the newcomer. Something about her seemed strange... when the redguard girl removed her headwrap, Atla sucked in a breath. She recognized those scars. They were a gift from a werewolf. Immediately her hand went to her blade, though she did not draw it. "What sort of help are you looking for, exactly," she said, though she suspected the girl was a wolf herself. The very thought made Atla's normally friendly demeanor more harsh. She had sworn years ago to end the lives of all weres. Though the redguard might appear friendly now, her beastial form would not know mercy.

[Firestar]

Rosa carefully gauged the Nord's reaction when she revealed her face. It was not a common disfigurement, as few survived such an ordeal with a werewolf. It was possible Atla had already guessed what she was. She never told anyone what had happened to her unless she trusted them completely, and even then only if circumstances required it.
"If you are as your name claims, I would like you to help me." She gestured at the scars on her face. "I want you to help me track down the animal that did this to me. The same creature murdered my parents, and it must pay." Her voice almost took on a growl as her anger loosened the restraints of her beast. She kept it in check, though, not wanting the people to Riften to drive her out.

Jolfried was distracted from the conversation by an Orc who approached, the same one who had destroyed a piece of furniture a moment before. Great, another Mer. But perhaps the kind he trusted most.
"Nope, sorry friend. Must have slipped out while Atla and I were pounding away on each other." He didn't miss the rage in the Orismer's eyes, nearly berzerk. He must have some specific reason for hating that Wood Elf. Jolfried knew his insticnts had been right.

Rosa glanced at the Orc out of the corner of her eye, an annoyed expression on her face as she pulled the headwrap back over her. Hopefully his statement could be interpreted as merely his son being attacked by a werewolf.
"Thank you," she told him rather stiffly. The subject of her attack was rather a sore spot for her when brought up by strangers.

[jamesshyvur]

"No young one, my son was one...lock yourself away under the beasts sway. He gave me these scars." Bragir explained as he pointed to his deeply scared face. "If you see that damned elf do not tell him I am here. And Jolfried tell your father his old friend Bragir says hello." He told the group as he walked out of the bar.

Bragir stumbled onto an Argonian assassin standing over his quarry his knife high in the air posed to strike. The lizard was mumbling something about a Night Mother and Sithis. Bragir disregarded it and grabbed the Argonian's arm and crushed it. He screamed in pain but not for long Bragir tucked his head under his arm and snapped his neck like a twig. He dumped the body in the waters blow as Elduin had done. He stared at the Bosmer's unconscious form, he wouldn't kill his enemy this way, there was no honor in it. So he left him there for his "friends" to pick him up.

[Firestar]

Rosa could have killed the Orc for his loose lips. She had no clue how he guessed, but she would have appreciated it if he didn't say anything. Luckly as he was speaking, there was a loud crash from the direction of the tavern's kitchen that masked anything anyone was saying, including the Orc. She glanced around hoping no one had heard him. Thankfully, he left a moment later. She relaxed a little more and turned back to Atla.
"So what say you, Wolfsbane? Will you help me rid the world of this scourge?"

[Max452]

Dalien let a small smile form on his lips as Atla rose as victor. He gave her a playful shake of his head. Always causing trouble... It seemed to say. "You fought well, Jolfried." Dalien commented before they were interrupted by a woman. As she conversed with his friend, Dalien was eager to eat, he wondered when the barmaid would come over. After all, since Jolfried was paying, he was not going to let that hospitatlity go to waste.
The revealing of Rosa's scars caused him out of his thoughts. Werewolves? Dalien tried to keep track of the conversation, especially when an orc joined it. He knew how much Atla disliked werewolves; she was very touchy about the subject, but he had witnessed with his own eyes the rage she developed when killing those beasts. He had no doubt that Atla would be more than willing to hunt this werewolf. He signed. She enjoyed getting into trouble too much. But as he promised, he would be by her side until he died.

[jamesshyvur]

Elduin slowly came around he stumbled back into the tavern and sat down. "I can't believe I am still breathing." He said to his new friends. "Oh well hello there." Elduin said noticing the redguard woman. "You seem familiar..." He continued his voice trailing off as he pondered his thoughts. "Meh you just have a familiar face I suppose." He said with a charming smile. "I may have a job that I would like to discuss with all of you...privately." he looked at Jolfried "But not you, if you are interested meet with me later in the third room of the tavern." He told them as he ordered a round of drinks.

[aiden]

Velir walked up to the bar and leaned against the worn counter. He kept his face down, his hood up, examining the fine grains of the wood. It had been worn down by days and days of constant use. The thought brought a smile to his lips. He'd grown up just outside of town, had walked by this place many times, even entered on a few occasions. But he was tired now, looking for some brief respite. The last job had been taxing. Hunting down rogues and wild beasts always was. But he had to admit, this last tag wasn't as wild as some of the others before her. She at least had the decency to admit she was a monster.
"A pint, please," he told the bartender. He took note of a group of people by one table. They looked interesting, not exactly friendly but interesting. Maybe he'd move over to join them. "Thanks," he said to the bartender as a pint was set onto the bar in front of him. Dropping a few coins on the wood, Velir picked up his pint and moved towards the others slowly. It'd do him good to join the regular crowd for awhile, instead of finding more mercenary groups.
"Hello," he said as amiably as he could, lifting the pint to his lips for a quick drink. "Name's Velir. Hear anything interesting around here?"

[jamesshyvur]

"Riften is the town of rumors and underhanded deals, friend. What are you looking to hear?" Elduin replied to the new strange Dunmer with odd green eyes. "Come have a seat I have tales to tell tonight." Elduin continued as he finished his fourth mead and his lips loosened. "Do you recall the Grey Werewolf that was terrorizing an Imperial outpost? How it just disappeared without a trace...I am the only living being that knows the end to that tale." Elduin said with a small smile

[trinn]

OOC: sorry Jeriah! Atla is just making assumptions about the scars, she doesn't know 100%. I can modify if you like!

The numerous interruptions were beginning to frazzle Atla's patience. She took a few deep breaths and was relieved when she could return to his business with Rosa. "It would be my honor to help you." she agreed, though hesitantly. Her ears caught the name of werewolf again, and she glanced back at Elduin, who had returned without her notice. Dalien would be keeping an eye on him, no doubt, as well as on Jolfried. That nord seemed to be calming down a bit though, to her relief.

[jamesshyvur]

"The Grey Werewolf had been preying upon Imperial soldiers for over a month when I was approached by an Imperial contact to hunt the beast. However, I was not informed that that Dark Brotherhood had been contacted as well. This was my first run in with these so called professionals. Needless to say I was less then impressed, however upon my arrival in Skyrim I was escorted into the military camp and met my hunting partner, he was a Dunmer named Ferlon, he was an odd fellow always going on about Sithis, Night Mother, and The Void. But anyways the first three weeks of my expedition turned up fruitless, the night I was about to give up and call it a myth The Grey made his move. It slaughtered a scouting patrol we made our first encounter with the beast, it was immensely powerful, one of the strongest of his kind I have ever tracked and killed. It is my personal belief he was an Alpha of a pack in the surrounding area. Ferlon gave the beast a mortal blow with his poisoned blades, but it came at a cost greater then he cared to bare...the beast bit into his arm and before I could react he turned his blades on himself...probably one of the first noble actions he had ever done. I tracked the beast throughout the night, oddly enough the tracks led back into the camp...as it turned out The Grey...was...a small girl...the officer's daughter. The beast had completely overwhelmed her mind as the curse often does to a werewolf that works out of Hircine's will. So I did what I was paid to do, I waited until night fell by her side, I assured her soon everything would be over, I would make the pain go away. At night she changed...and...I...killed her...taking this patch of grey fur as proof." Elduin said as he procured a piece of thick Grey Werewolf fur and his head sagged and tears fell from his eyes. "Ever since then the Empire has used me to do unspeakable things...so that is my tale I slew the horror of Skyrim, The Grey Beast, a young girl." Elduin said as he finished his tale and sipped on another pint of mead somberly.

[aiden]

"Interesting story," Velir said, taking a swig from his pint. "I can't help but wonder how you were able to retrieve the fur before the body returned to its human state upon death. You must have very quick hands and an incredibly sharp knife." Velir smiled and finished his mead. "I've hunted my fair share of werewolves, both in Skyrim and off the coast of Morrowind. The breed here is very different, the infected being able to retain some sense of control. I feel very sorry for the girl. Do you happen to know how she was infected at so young an age and managed to survive the attack?"

[jamesshyvur]

"I have been hunting since I was young so my skills with blade and bow are honed to near perfection. I never asked how she was infected I didn't care to know and I still don't but I have heard tales of pure breedwerewolves that are in Hammerfell. Apparently they have a small town in the wilderness where they live in peace and serve Hircine. They have been reproducing from what I hear...perhaps that is where that girl came from? Either way I do not care to know. But let's hear your tale Veril?" Elduin asked abruptly

[Firestar]

OOC: It's fine Trinn. I was mostly annoyed by the others who gave her one glance and were like, "Oh hey, werewolf." Suspicions are okay, just not outright knowledge until it's been proven.

Rosa sat back, satisfied when Atla agreed to help her. She was going to need all the help she could get in hunting down the werewolves. Her ears turned toward the conversation beside her as the Wood Elf was talking about slaying, of all things, a werewolf that was a young girl. She didn't really like the way that conversation was going, nervous that the others suspected what she was. She listened to the completion of the Bosmer's story, then a barmaid finally came over to the table.
"My apologies about the wait," she told them, her Nord accent heavy. "Now, what can I get for you?"
"I'll have me some salmon steaks and an apple cabbage stew," Jolfried ordered, "and a pint of mead as well." Rosa smirked from under her wrap. Even after that beating he received, he still wanted another drink. Well, a Nord was a Nord after all.
"I'll take some seared slaughterfish," Rosa said.

[jamesshyvur]

Pyros had been watching the brawl from across the tavern, he overheard the Bosmer's story as he passed by. He had the finest Orc warrior that Orsinium had to offer. He needed an assassin which he knew Elduin was from his contracts and he needed a loyal soldier which from the information on Jolfried he was fiercely loyal and honorable. He approached the denizens "You two, may I have a word with you." He said pointing at Jolfried and Elduin as he pulled his official seal of the elite guard from his hip pack to ensure there would be no trouble from either of them. If there was he would eliminate them as swiftly as possible. "This is official Imperial business." He said as he stared at both of them.

"Jolfried as much as you might hate me, I would suggest not fighting this one, the elite guard is not to be trifled with." Elduin said as he glanced at Jolfried and the rest of his table. "The last time I had a run in with these men...I barely escaped with me life, I cannot say the same for the mercenaries who challenged him. These men and women are elite warriors and of noble blood." Elduin continued. "Please, sir lead the way." Elduin said as he stood to his feet nervously.