Decent Into Darkness

[Priss]

The smoke from the pipeweeds of the three dwarves over in the corner fills the dark noisy room with a thick pungent atmosphere that almost makes it difficult to breathe.  Every once in a while a paticularily bold being sends a glare in the direction of the dwarves, but none find their courage strong enough to go over and actually make them put the weeds out.   In other words, it's yet another typical night in the tavern known only as the Edge.

The barkeep sends a calculating glance your way as you walk through the door, bringing with you a rare blast of fresh air, tinged with the cold of the snow and frost filled night outside.  His, no, hers you notice after a brief moments inspection, sharp green eyes catch sight of the roll of thin tanned hide in your grasp and a brief smile flickers about her lips.  She nods towards a large table back in the opposite corner from the dwarves where a couple of others have already gathered.

As you walk over you scan the gathering, yet you notice that everyone seems to also have somewhere on their person another of those leather scrolls that brought you here.  No where to be seen is the mysterious Lain d'Nirae that brought you all together.  A glance at the barkeep just brings another mysterious smile and a slight lift of her shoulder.

-----------------------------
OOC:  Reactions?  Be sure to include descriptions of your characters!

[Trunkyboy]

A flash of green can be seen for an instant, before the eyes shift elsewhere.  Brushing aside a lock of straggly long black hair, Tom slouches even further into his black cloak that conceals the rest of his features but doesn't quite hide his six foot broad shouldered frame.  What skin can be seen is heavily tanned, a hilt of some huge weapon can be seen by his side in easy reach.  He absently-mindly plays with a leather scroll with scarred hands, slowly tearing it to pieces.  A pensive dark frown is on his unshaven face, there is a hint of a briney smell and something... darker emanating from him.  His gaze skirts everywhere with rapidness as his mouth turns a bit more downward.  Where was that blasted girl?!

[Prince Herb]

A short, slight woman looks up as Tom comes in ; she's an elf, with long, long black hair that falls down to her narrow waist, and lovely shining green eyes.   She's dressed in the white hunting leathers favoured by the elves of the far north, and has a bow and a very large bastard sword sitting at her side with her pack.   One of the ubiquitous leather scrolls can be seen in front of where she sits, fiddling with the tuning pegs of her travel harp.

Her eyes meet Tom's briefly, then she picks up her kit and follows him to the large table.   "I'm Moonshadow," she says, "and I think we are to be travelling companions."

[Figment]

A pair of small brown eyes flick over the approaching pair, taking note of the scrolls, before continuing their circuit of the common room. The owner of the eyes would appear to be your average dusky skinned woman in dark clothing with waist length black hair pulled back into a tight braid, if she weren't less than three feet tall. A small backpack hangs from the back of the chair she is perched upon. The only visible indication of any weaponry is a small quiver strapped to her right leg.

Sighing to herself, Ticha picks up the leather scroll from where it lay on the table in front of her, and starts tapping it against her thigh, all the while keeping an eye out for this Lain person.

[tabyk]

Stepping into the tavern, and with only his mail shirt refuting the look of a simple traveler, Daren nodded to the barkeep in thanks for the indicator before looking over the other scroll bearers.  Then rubbing his bald head a moment he approached the waiting miniscule woman, and after pulling out his own copy of the mysterious scroll case he asked, "Any idea when she is supposed to arrive?"

[Figment]

Glancing up at the non-descript human male, Ticha stills and replies in a small and proper voice, "I do not know when she will arrive."

So saying, Ticha then resumes her scan of the common room and the soundless tapping.

[Priss]

The first thing anyone noticed was a slight glint of firelight off of a silver signet ring in the shadows.   A shimmer of silvery hair as the owner shifted it back with a slight shake of her head.  The soft rustle of a heavy wool cloak.  A brief glimpse of twin orbs of fire in the darkness.

The young woman emerged from the darkness of the shadows as if she owned them.  She was small, barely brushing against the five foot mark, but her height disadvantagement didn't seem to bother her.  Her build was slim, and she carried herself with the ease of someone long accustomed to a more uncivilized seting.   Her hair was as pale as fresh minted silver coins, worn tied back in a severe ponytail, but probably only about shoulder length if it was let down.  

Her skin was dark, but if it was a natural darkness, or one born of long hours spent in the sun and weather, the mind couldn't easily decide.  Her ears bore the slight point of a half-breed of the elves.  She wore dark clothing, in various shades of black and dark blues and browns, much of it either soft wool or the hard and heavy sheen of leather armor.  

A long rapier-hilted straight sword hung straight down from her belt, instead of at the more common jaunty angle.  A strange either short-bladed sword or long knife with a saber's hilt opposed the rapier on the otherside of her waist.  Other than that, the hooded black cloak she wore covered it all.

She glanced around the table, pale blue eyes taking in everyone in turn.  Eilistraee's follower, Moonshadow, a slender elf who garnered a tight smile of real or imagined problems in the future.  The human warrior-thief, Daren Stone, who recieved just a brief nod of the head in acknowledgement.    The small in statue, but not in action, Ticha, a brief glimpse of amusement from the somber woman.  

When her eyes finally met the husky barbarian known only as Rackham, the smile blossomed into something more like a cocky grin and her hand drifts to the hilt of her sword.  For a moment, even that hardened warrior couldn't help but remember another young woman that bore a similar grin and ring upon her fist.  His old partner in mayham and destruction.  Nirae d'Elesandr.

"Well, I see you all managed to arrive safely.  Welcome to The Edge.  I'd appreciate if you don't get drunk and destroy the place.  It's not cheap to repair after all.  And besides,"  A grin at the dark-haired barkeep that seemed even shorter than the woman, but not by much.  "Jack wouldn't be very happy if you did.  And that would be a Bad Thing."

"Now, as some of you may have guessed, my name is Lain d'Nirae.  I'm the one who asked all of you to join me here."  She smiled, stepping forwards to lean against the table.  "What I'm asking now, is who amongst you is strong enough to follow me..." A brief pause as she glanced around the table again, meeting each person's eyes.  "into the Depths of the Underdark."

She straightened, sweeping her cloak back with a tiny shrug of her shoulders.  "It wouldn't be completely with out compensation though." A lightening fast movement of her hand, and four small leather bags thumped into the center of the table with the satisfying sound of coins.

"There's more waiting at the end for those who make it back out.  Now... who will join me and aid me in rescuing my mother from the dark kin?"

-----------------------
OOC:  Any who open the bag will find 10 platinum pieces.

[Prince Herb]

"Money, though nice, and not to mention shiny, is of trivial importance compared with the opportunity to repay a debt of honour, and of blood." says Moonshadow, picking up one of the four pouches.   "Freeing your mother is as important to my family as it is to yourself, I assure you."

"There are spiritual matters to be attended to as well ; I hope to be able to offer freedom and the solace of the goddess to troubled souls in the darkness."   Moonshadow pointedly studies Lain for a moment, as if she's weighing up the troubles that darken the half-elf's own soul.   "Yourself not least."

[Priss]

Lain glanced at Moonshadow, one silver brow arching high.  "Gods of any sort are not my concern.  Whether they be or no, I care not.  Follow what you may, and preach to those who will listen if you will, but kindly do not seek to impose your will or the ways of your... godess... upon me."

She glanced at the others.  "And the rest of you?  What is your say?"

[Trunkyboy]

Rackham stares at Lain intently, his eyes staring as if trying to see into her soul.  After scrutinizing the young woman from top to bottom, he sighs inwardly with relief.  Outwardly a small crease on his forehead finally straightens out.  She doesn't LOOK anything like him.  There had been some very VERY drunken nights, and victory celebration nights, and oh-so-happy-to-be-alive nights...  Nirae hadn't seemed to mind he almost always had blood on him, either his or a foe's, and after a while he had developed a nagging doubt...

His eyes soften for a moment after looking at Lain, they become less stoney and piercing for just a second.  "Your mother was a good woman," his voice drawls out, rough and husky and a bit rusty.  His definition of good was anybody's guess.

"I'll go with you girl, and the underdark will become a raging sea of lifeblood from those who stand before our blades.  Their screams will become testimonies of their foolishness."  Why, he might even gain another scar or two!  And some nice... trophies...

A corner of his mouth lifts into a half-insane mockery of a grin, his eyes glint madly with unholy fervor, and...  Oh yes.   Rackham grabs a bag from the table.  Money was useful for buying sharp and pointy things.  Nirae had broken him of the habit of just trying to take most of it from the screaming shopkeepers.

OOC:  I'm sooooooooo sorry Priss!  I just couldn't resist!   :D

[Priss]

"Glad to have you along, uncle."  Lain replys with a slight wink.  "Feel free to create as much mayham and destruction as you want.  I won't stop you."

Then her pale eyes darken for a moment, her voice deepening to an almost husky drawl as her hand drops to the hilt of the saber-knife.  "Unless we find him.  I'm afraid you can't touch him.  My... father... must answer to my blade's questioning first."

[Figment]

Picking up one of the pouches and glancing inside, Ticha looks at Lain for a long moment before quirking a small smile.

"The Underdark, an interesting destination to be sure." Ticha seems to pause for a moment in thought, before making the small pouch disappear. "I too am looking for someone, and I have reason to believe that travelling with you will lead me to him. I will accompany you."

[Priss]

"Very good, Ticha."  Lain's lips quirked upwards in a brief smile, before her eyes turned to the only one who hadn't spoken yet.  

"And that leaves just... one.  Well, Mr. Stone?  What is it?  In... or out?"

[tabyk]

Hefting the final bag of coins in his hands a couple times, as if weighing it, the short man then shrugged and merely replied with, "It's nice to be employed again.  When do we leave?"

[Priss]

For a moment, Lain's pale eyes seem to flick towards the window to the street where the cool light of the moon lit the darkness with a silvery glimmer.

"Now."  She replied.  "Assuming of course... if you think you can handle it."  

The smirk that played across her features was little if not at least slightly mocking.