Tellus - Cap'n Nary's Barnacle
*Perched on the furthest end of the waterfront promenade edging the well-kept park in the temple district of Solum's capital city, just up the hill from the pungent aromas and loud sounds of the docks and warehouses of the river district, sits Cap'n Nary's Barnacle. The homey inn & tavern is built right on the edge of the levy, with wide decks stretching out over the river below, and is known to savvy sailors and travelers as the best tap in town. Its proprietor, a colorful character by the name of Garuda Ileas, has contracts with merchants traveling to every corner of the kingdom, and as far out as Qhuchit and all up and down the coast, and he taps only the finest beverages. Despite the quality of his drinks and the cozy and clean middle-class feel of his rooms, the owner always manages to keep his prices just within a reasonable range for a sailor coming off the river and looking to live it up for a few days before shipping out once more. Though the largest paying crowd are merchants and sailors from the docks, the Barnacle is popular with lovers and tourists during the summer, when the outward rooms on the second floor offer a lovely view of ships plying the water all up and down the river, and tables and chairs have been placed out on the deck for people to catch a fresh breeze coming up from the sea, and enjoy the sunshine. From time to time the Barnacle's trading partners bring exotic baubles, perfumes, and knick-knacks from distant lands, and these are displayed behind the bar to tempt the more affluent and compulsive. During tourist season patrons with bad tempers are sternly warned to keep their ill humor to themselves or be tossed out in the street, and because of this policy the business even attracts the occasional giggling young nobles, out 'slumming' without wanting to subject themselves to any real danger. These rare and lucrative patrons are always offered the finest suite, reserved for people with outrageous sums of money to throw around, and cut (a little) extra slack on their conduct. In the off season, when the weather cools and travel slows, the exotic meads and liquors are mostly stashed in the cellar in favor of stronger alcohols and hot spiced wine. The menu features less fish, in favor of heartier meats and stews that are more likely to entice the rugged working men who make up most of the clientèle, and even the shiny little treasures behind the counter are swapped out for good furs, oilcloth, boot flasks, and simpler and more essential things that a soldier or a caravan guard might buy before leaving for their next journey. No matter the season, the inn's common room is always comfortable, its owner is always friendly, and business is never lacking. (This thread is here specifically for the purpose of providing a good kick-off point for new players, and a place for people already established to just bum around and talk to strangers. RPing here is officially open, and anyone is welcome to post. For those interested, more information can be found in my profile submission forumer.com/viewtopic.php?p=182#182>here.)

It was late in the day, not too long after when dockworkers were getting off work and heading to their prefered tavern or inn that two young men opened the door to meet the usual buzz of merriment that is common for such establishments. One, who had appeared medium sized but on closer inspection one might note that he had a pronounced stoop, noted to the other, "Buisness is still good, seems like. C'mon, Nicholas, let's go find a table." The other, tall in a considerably more conspicous manner, followed while quietly singing an immensely amusing song with rather raunchy lyrics, and providing his own instrumental acompanyment to boot. Subsiquently, both Nicholas Fox and Reishon Craelim had large grins on their faces as they found a table about midway between the fireplace and the counter and had a seat.

"Be right with you!" Fox and Reishon were left to their own devices for a minute or two while the waitress made her way over to their table, taking a few other orders along the way. Eventually she broke away from someone trying to engage a conversation, and stopped at their tableside. wrapped in a beer-stained apron with a puffy-sleeved linen shirt underneath, the short, rosy-cheeked woman at the tableside was a common sight here, and generally well-liked. Sporting rosy cheeks, dark brown hair pulled into a modest braid, and the name of Mirna, she was rarely anything but friendly, and happened to be at the center of a local favorite ongoing tavern drama. She beamed at the two young men and leaned on the edge of the table. "Today's a special day darlin's, you picked the right time to come in! We're servin' up hot roast racks of lamb, slathered with an exotic herb butter from the far eastern swamps, and a moss-wine our trader picked up along the route through qhuchit. The wine's a little unusual, but it goes nicely with the spices, which are disappearing fast. Of course, if you aren't feeling adventurous we've got stew an' bread and all the other regulars. So what'll it be?"

Reishon returned the smile, and paused for a moment as his self-control battled with temptation. The Barnacle aslways had such good food, and each time he was supposed to go home for dinner it took a good deal of effort to keep from ordering "just one more dish". For a few more seconds, the struggle continued, until he finally thought, i>What the hell, and responed, "That sounds good. Can we get just a bit o' the lamb and a bottle o' wine for starters? Oh, and is it too early in the season for the fish stew with the boiled vegetables, or do y' have some o' that, too?" He then looked at Nicholas and explained with a grin, "The way I see it, by the time we're done, we'll probably be drunker than a sailor with a day's worth 'o shore leave anyways, an' that's no way for me t' come home, so may as well book a room eat up! On me, 'o course, 'cause skimpin' out on my end o' the bargain wouldn't be too honorable-like, and I try to avoid that kind 'o thing when I can. Anyways, what're you havin'?"

the young man stopped singing about what he had been at the mention of food, and sung of stew made of dew for a couple minutes before speaking a cultured tongue for a low rank infantry: well mirna, I am feeling adventurous the roasted muscles of a dead lamb sounds delightful! if your feeling adventurous ...perhaps should look me up later *smiles* then as another thought struck him exlaimed in a tone devoid of culture, and more liek an excited child: ooh that reminds me I gots to get me coins! *digs in his backpack* oooh! i forgot i had this! *produces a flask* opening it,both the medic and waitress could smell it a good 2 feet away. it smelled like the fumes alone could knock a horse out, but judging by the smell, probbly had the flavor of horse piss as well. *nicholas wincing and capping it once again sheepishly puts it back in his seemingly endless backpack, ...I think it was better i forgot about that. {still digging in his bag for either his money or who knows what now}

On ocasion, there are situations for which even the lower class can be left dumbstruck for a few moments. This was one such time. After a few moments of feeling like he should say something, Reishon utilized the traditional polite means of getting attention, although truth be told, the clearing of the throat was half that and half a cough to clear the smell out of his nostrils before he lost his appetite. "Eh, don't you worry none 'bout that, Nicholas. It's all me, remember? 'Sides, I'm a wee bit worried 'bout what else y' might have in that there back-sack. Wouldn't wantcha pullin' out nothin' that 'aint proper for an establishment like this, aye?" Turning to Mirna, he continued, "Anyways, we'll be havin' two orders o' the lamb, a bottle o' wine, and that fish stew if you've got it. How much'll this be cotin'?"

Mirna chuckled politely at Reishon's banter, and after a moment of thoughtful tooth-sucking, assured him they did have the stew in question available. Well, so she thinks. She waited for Nicholas' impromptu song to finish, subsequently taking his order, and giving him the hairy eyeball. After a moment she looked over her shoulder to see if there was someone behind her. Finding there wasn't she snickered and looked back at Reishon. "Yer friend lose his glasses? Or maybe his mother?" She straightened, tugged at her apron briefly, and replied after a moment "That's ah... lemme think... two and the stew... s'gonna be more'n a belt and less'n two good boots, all told. Sit tight darlin's, it'll be out shortly" She gave them a friendly smile and peeled away from the table, weaving her way back to the kitchen to deliver her orders.

found it! *his head pops from his bag, his hand holding a small jingling leather bag followed by a belt and pair of boots, nicholas attempting to be funny, but the money bag between these two items.

Rieshon shook his head and smiled. His new friend's sense of humor was so erily similar to his old classmates' that he felt himself slipping back into the habbit of cracking inapropriate jokes and making risque references. "So that's where yer money is, eh Nicholas? I've gotta warn you, I've known me many a men who think with their crotch, but never known me none who tried to pay with it. Then again, I havn't known many who haven't tried, neither. Tell y' what: If she don't accept YOU as payment, I'll cover the bill with silver, aye?"

nicholas looked suprised- you think she would? she seemed about as serious as I was *scratchs his head* though' i wouldn't be a mindn' *smiles* I got me silver in plenty, it's company i was lacking in *leans back in his chair* flutes are good for many things, among them, for getting silver to pay for meals, or perhaps we can see if a song will cover both our meals? in the mean time, lets see if we can get you to read notes!

Rieshon sruged. "I don't think she'd take it either, myself, but it don't hurt none to try, eh?" He continued with a grin, "Just make sure to couch it as comedy or somthin', so that we don't get thrown out on to our asses or have the guard called on us or nothin'. Anyways, if a song'd work t' pay for the grub, I'd be happy with that." He leaned in conspiratorily, "Just between you an' me, I'm savin' up. Once I can get out of the army, I'm thinkin' that I'll be goin' to some small village and startin' a clinic there, far from hate an' death, just livin' out m' life like the rest of 'em." He leaned back, now mirroring Nicholas. "I don't tell too many people that. Most 'o my squad would've made cracks 'bout it, but I don't think you'd do nothin' like that, least not with any bad meaning behind it. But all that's a story for another day, or maye just another drink later in th' night. For now, makin' sense of them random squiggles on th' lines is th' first order 'o buisness!"

make sure i make a joke of what? nicholas asked, who seemed to have already forgotten the little play flirting. ooh! ya i may play a song if they allow me too wether it gets us a meal or not *nods* that is a nice dream friend. After all these gerations of nothing but war... not so many of us think that way sadly. if i survive to see your dream able to leave that mind, let me know how i can help *smiles* i don't got no long term goals myslef... least none i'll be able to actaully do.... , so if i can help ya with yours, least then i'll have made this place a little better. digs around in his bag for a bit and after a few minutes says: you got those songs huh? *laughs* one of these days i gotta empty this thing out and get rid of all the junk in here.

Reishon laughed. He had forgotten that he took the sheet music. Nodding, he removed his backpack, and after pushing a few rolls of bandages and a crude hemsotat which had shifted durring transit out of the way, he removed the sheets of paper and set them on the table with a grin. "Aye, based on that there flask y' had, I'm thinkin' that you're right." Adopting an over-serious tone, he continued, "If yer worried 'bout some sort o' health hazard in there, I'd be happy t' act as th' residing medical official, making sure that y' don't start no new plauge or nothin'." He laughed. "'Sides, from what I hear th' ladies like themselves men who're all organized-like. Or at least that's what I'm told. Personally, I never found that it worked for me, but I never put much effort into skirt chasing or the like, myself. Too busy panicking 'bout m' squad doing that very thing, most 'o the time."

Nicholas scoffed "it's still perfectly drinkable! it's my battle flask tis' all. i drink a splash of that if i'm hurt on the field, and i don't even feel pain anymore, plus it tastes so bad... i takes my mind off any pain untill it kicks in... though a medic produces less scars... and perhaps the ladies you like like organized guys, if that's the case... i'm going to die alone it seems, so thankfully it aint always true eh? now lets look at them notes.

A few minutes later Reishon was scratching his head. There were far more numbers in music than he would have liked. 4:4 Time Signature? Eight note? Quarter note? Why wasn't anything simple, normal, and most importantly WHOLE numbers in this zany world of sheet music? He sighed and said, "Well, one thing's for sure. I 'ain going t' make m' living by writin' no songs like these here ones. I'm thinkin' that m' new goal is t' be borderline literate, just so I can get the jist 'o a song 'fore I play it. I'm thinkin' that anything else'll be out o' my reach." He chuckled. This was almost fun, in a sick sort of way. Challinging, one might say, to do something that is not, and never has been in your usual domain. On the one hand, it irritated him that it was so new and hard to get, but on the other hand it was like observing a strange spicies of a bird that he'd never seen. Despite his words, he laughed and redrew his attention to Nicholas, ready for more explinations to send his head reeling again.