"Bartender! The biggest bucket of ice you can get me, please,” Hayvanlarla calls out as she totters into the room under a pile of caribou skin blankets. “It is entirely too hot in here. At least for me,” she huffs out as she sets the blankets down on the floor behind one of the tables. Addressing the patrons seated behind the table, she continues, “I know most of you like it to be a bit warmer, but I’m about to make it far more comfortable in here for myself and my creatures. If you don’t like the cold, then I’ll advise you to move, borrow one of these blankets, and or order some hot spiced wine from the bartender.”
Turning to accept the big bucket of ice, Hayvanlarla puts it on the table and then whistles a shrill call to which a large white wolf responds, coming into the common room and sitting next to Hayvanlarla with it’s tail wagging like a well trained dog.
“Don’t expect to take advantage of my generosity, however. Winter here will make sure that I get those blankets back once the temperature comes back up to these unbearably warm levels.”
“Now, let’s see… What do you say we start with something exotic. Yleyr, I challenge you to a match.”
Queras eyes the druidess curiously from the shadows of a far corner. He’s sitting on a bench and leaning against the wall, his hood up to cover his face. As she enters the room and issues her challenge, Queras stands and speaks up. He doesn’t have to raise his voice… something in the tone of his voice attracts attention. Demands it.
”Now, now… to each his own, fair lady,” he starts out with a thin smile, “but don’t you think your plan is rather… rash? I, for one, do like it warm.” Pausing for a moment he spreads out his arms to the left and right and lets his gaze wander around the room. “So do the other customers of this cozy establishment… right?” Stepping forward casually, he makes his way over to the bar. “Your suggestion of a drink is a good one though,” he offers with another thin smile.
Making himself comfortable on one of the stools after ordering spiced wine, Queras eyes the crowd and the druidess closely.
“Oh! A challenge!” Teela exclaims happily. She travelled to this inn after hearing rumors that there is a game that magicians play with summoned creatures here. She is happy to see one in action before being thrust into the thick of it herself.
Egbert takes his cup of ale from his unseen servant. ”At last, now I can see for myself what this is about.” (and maybe learn some of their weaknesses)
As the elderly man and the youngish woman speak up and seem to express interest in the challenge, Queras motions them over. “Come, come… let us watch this together.” Smiling thinly, he adds “I’ll buy you two a drink. Then I’ll show you what summoning is about.”
Turning to the bar tender he orders two drinks of their choice and then regards them once more. “So… which of you two wants to have a little… challenge? I’d understand if you would not want to… obviously. Still, no one will be hurt, eh? Except… well… hm?” Grinning broadly at the two in turn, he patiently waits for their refusal.
Yleyr stared into space, ignoring everyone. In fact, were it not for the mention of his name, the alienist may have stayed motionless for some time to come. Glancing about with his trademark blank stare, he finally rested eyes on the challenger. The woman who issued the challenge seemed to exude bravado. But her natural skill with temperatures was not something to be taken lightly. Yleyr silently nodded his head. He held up eight fingers, indicating that he would like the first contest to last no more than eight rounds.
Xandos, the robed figure in the shadows at the back of the room observes all of the others very carefully, taking note of any subtle differences in personality type. He has the hopes of sizing up the competition. He thinks to himself, “This should be education to watch...” in regard to the upcoming challenge.
"Well, well...ladies and gentlemen, it would appear that we have our first challenge, offered and accepted!” The propriator of the Inn of Many Things gestures towards the tables set up north and south of the board. “
“Hayvanlarla, if you will choose the north or the south table, and if each of you will finish your preparations, we will get underway.”
Queras waves Xandos over and then raises a brow in the direction of the other two. “Well? Are you going to accept my offer of a drink? Even if you don’t seem to want to do what you’ve come here for?” Laughing derisively he turns towards Xandos. “Good man, what about you? These two seem to lack the courage or they are overly worried about the health of their summons, I don’t know. Are you up to a challenge?” Smiling thinly he adds in the direction of the other two “my offer still stands to either of you as well. You get to pick the length of the match.”
Queras takes a leisurely sip of his wine and then turns on his stool to face the three of them once more. “Anyone?”
"I do not make hastily decisions and am content in observing a match or three. In due time I will show you what it is like to lose a match. Until then, I will drink with you...but only one as of now. I want to be clear headed for the judging of the match to follow.”
Teela is a little surprised by the quick challenge so soon after she arrived and sits in thought while the odd gentleman turns to challenge yet another patron. Upon his refusal Teela makes up her mind.
“Challenge accepted! I think you will find that my creatures can stand up against yours or any others. Especially with my help!” Teela smiles brightly after her last statement and looks over to the match that is about to start. “Eight rounds sounds like an interesting match and I will stand to the south. But first, we have a match to judge.”
"Excellent. Queras, Teela, I’m pleased to see that you, too, will be gracing my Inn with a challenge. Teela, I believe the choice of starting position is yours.”
Looking at all the spectators, Egg stands up, winks at his new girl, and shouts to the crowd, “IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO CHALLENGE ME? Or must I wait for the next go round?” He discards his usual posture and stands tall and makes what he considers a menancing sneer.
Queras simply smirks in the direction of the elderly gentleman. “Hey, wrinkly! Over here!” Indicating a seat at the bar, he eyes the old man up and down. “You into the summoning business? Aren’t you a tad bit too old to control the energies and powers involved? I’ve known you for… about an hour now and already I am worried sick that you’d get hurt in the process of summoning.” Chortling slightly, he looks about at the patrons, then back at Egg.
“So. If you really think you are up to this, let’s talk business. What kind of summons you’ve been doing, hm? Undead (he grins broadly)? Constructs? Animals? Celestials or… (his voice drops low suddenly) fiends?”
Egg smooths his hair and says, “I am strictly fiendish and celestial. I don’t like undead, they are kinda creepy.” He pauses.
“Are you challenging me? Or are you accepting my challenge? Either way, I am ready to summon.” Egg’s voice seems to grow stronger with every word. “I just might overwhelm you with my power.”
“How many rounds? ‘Cause I can go as long as you can, and probably longer.” He snickered at his own joke.
