Fantasy Tales of Ristafel

[DergTheDergon]

Vallen let out a sigh of relief. 'Thank the gods... at least a few of these people are willing to forgive my behavior... from the reactions of many of these folk, especially that man I approached alongside Ayrenn earlier, such action is considered downright barbaric in these parts.'. He smiled back at Emerald, as well as Ayrenn. "Then it seems you will be pleased to hear that I have already decided to join. I cannot pass up such a promise of adventure simply because a few of the others bare hard feelings towards me, especially when there are still quite a few willing to give me a chance, it would seem."

 

[MechaGhoul]

Matthew just stared at the scene where the barrels were. He had seen many things upon the sea, but seeing a man escape a cask was always exciting. Especially since he broke out of it with his own strength. The rest of the discussions and things on the adventure were easily ignored.


Especially considering the appearance of the man. Now this was a man, a true man. Oh Crawley knew what good those hands would be at sea. He eyed Hadi and Ajax with joy as he smirked. Matthew was ready to stake his claims, but that's when he noticed an ape.


A walking, talking ape creature. A hideous and foul looking creature. It would be useful fodder on the sea, he smirked at large and foul beast of a man. "Aye she be harsh, but not as much as yer face." Matthew began laughing, and realized that the man had spoke of wanting to come along. "Always need deckhands, good at anythun 'sides scaring t'cabin boys? Must say ya got good manners on ya though, 'n a caring heart.."


Matthew immediately began leaning his body to the left and the right to get a good view of the man from the barrel. He sported a nasty face full of disgust when he saw Vallen hug on some shedevil. But Pressmaster Crawley glanced back at the abomination. "An' you are?" Matthews asked to the seven foot man as He went back to trying to peep another glance at the chiseled and bronzed champion that was there.

 

[CallSign]

Lily looked around the bar. Someone here plans to start a quest... I wonder which one it is. She quickly ruled out the monk who spoke many unneeded words and the priest who spoke very little. The beast of a man had only just appeared, so he couldn't possibly have enlisted the bard for the announcement. Thus, that logically left the two Etherborn girls - most likely the one who was hugging others enthusiastically.


Lily approached Emerald, the base of her battle axe making a light thud as she stopped before her. She grinned widely, showing off her sharp canines. "Ladies, I hear you need help. I am a Rogue, and am without a job. Can I come along?"

 

[Xenonia]

Emerald broke away from her hug with Vallen to see Lily, and let out a light gasp. Emerald had never seen a Dragonkin before, and Lily was certainly quite striking. She had a sort of odd beauty to her, enticing in it's own way. Emerald spoke up after a good few seconds of total silence that had been spent staring slack jawed. "Oh, I think so... I am not the head of this expedition, but it would seem I am acting as the screening process. Welcome, friendly rogue... What is your name, if I may ask?"

 

[The Velveteen Rabbit]

Ayrenn gladly accepted Emerald's hug, and gently embraced her back. When she pulled away, Vallen spoke up. The golden Etherborn watched happily as he apologized for what he had done. And as she expected, Emerald accepted. She gave him a warm hug as well. The tension in the tavern seemed to have finally lifted. Ayrenn began to relax slowly.


A smile continued to linger across her lips as she glanced around. The presence of a Dragonkin nearby made her slightly alert, but she ignored the feeling and smiled warmly in her direction. She remained quiet, waiting to hear more about this Dragonkin.

 

[CallSign]

Lily didn't mind the Etherborns' reactions, as she had grown to expect it. She did cut a unique figure, after all. Her smile faltered momentarily as she learned she had guessed wrong, but only momentarily. Then it returned, and she introduced herself warmly. "Fair ladies, my name is Lily. As you've likely noted, I'm a Dragonkin. Now, mind pointing me to the runner of this quest?"

 

[ComradeSenpai]

"Perhaps I can help." Hachi interjected, placing a hand on Laria's shoulders.


"This young lady is the one placing the call to arms. We must commend her bravery; it's not often a girl of twelve places a call to arms like this. She seems well read as well. No doubt she'll become a refined woman when she grows up." he explained, nodding.

 

[CallSign]

"Oh, I see! Thank you, warrior I don't know!" Lily turned from Emerald to look at Laria. "So, child, have you need of a roguish type on this quest? I would quite love to learn to read along the way."

 

[Blumenkranz]

It took some time until the librarian noticed that another Etherborn woman and a monk were talking to her. Immersed in her books like she was, it was a miracle that her reaction time was of mere seconds, but it still felt as an unnatural pause.


The girl looked surprised at the two adventurers. "Oh! I am very sorry, madam!", Laria apologized, with a concerned grimace. "I was checking my notes one last time before our departure."


The archivist got up from her chair and dedicated a small bow to the newcomers. "Yes, indeed! I am really happy to hear about your desire to join us, miss. We are currently making the last preparations to embark in a thrilling journey through these mountains, in search for the the tomb of Sigmar the Great!", she said with a rather energetic, although still as faint as ever tone. In effect, she still wasn't adapted to the outside world's characteristic loudness and spontaneity, which was why she still talked with the same volume one would expect of a brief converation inside a library. "Oh, and of course you can join too, nice lady!", she added as she bowed towards Lily. "The more the merrier!"


However, the librarian's eyes widened in surprise when she heard Hachi's comment. "I am sorry sir, but I am actually twenty years old...".

 

[ComradeSenpai]

"Twenty? But..." Hachi took his hand off of Laria's shoulders, and placed one each on the girl's chest and hip. There was no way someone with this figure could so far past marrying age.


"Twenty. I.... I'm so sorry." he said, his voice laced with regret. As if to apologize, the samurai pulled the librarian into an embrace.

 

[Blumenkranz]

Laria looked down, slightly disappointed, and sighed. "Yes, so am I...".


It was hard being reminded that her figure was less than spectacular. Despite being described as cute by many other librarians, it was clear they meant it in a fatherly way. For other people, she would always be that sweet child of adorable dresses, despite already being a grown up woman. Puberty left long ago, and it only left her wider hips that were easily dissimulated by her skirt. Nonetheless, she gratefully accepted the mysterious warrior's embrace, and hugged back his cold black and yellow armor.

 

[CallSign]

Lily had no idea what the samurai was so sorry about. Lily had always been gifted, and never been mistaken for a much younger age. All she knew was that she had a new job, and she would finally learn to read! Today really was a good day, except that thrice-damned hangover she still had and which had overstayed its welcome.


"Hey, blue-robed fellow! Find me an egg and you'll get a reward~" Lily was, of course, talking to Vallen, the blue-robed monk.

 

[Zerohex]

Ajax ruffled his beard, pulling out splinters and little bits of bone and food as he listened to Hachi's summary of current events. It sounded insane and he still had no idea where he was or how he'd wound up in that barrel. Oh well, wasn't important now, what mattered was adventurin. The word "quest" was thrown around a bunch and the little man dressed like the sand people near his homeland mentioned a tomb and monsters. Very few people seemed to even acknowledge that he'd burst from a barrel screaming and putting on his war face so they were either hardened adventurers or people coming out of barrels was indeed a thing locals did, and a land so strange must surely have some good action. Ajax was sold.


"If you're cool with me coming out of a barrel I think we're gonna get along just fine Hadji", he said as he patted the hunter in the back as gently as he could, which wasn't very. Even holding back, a hand his size wasn't terribly kind. The start of an adventure demanded a celebration, but he wasn't sure just who was actually in the quest aside from Beltaway, who Hadi had pointed to. A lot of these people didn't look like they were ready for such a pursuit. Lots of women and even one that looked way too young. Then again he'd been young when he got started, so he'd just have to find out some other way. He knew just how, and took a couple deep breaths in preparation. "You might want to cover your ears", he told his new friend.


"ALRIGHT EVERYBODY! WHOEVER'S COMING TO THE TOMB TO KICK SOME ASS AND TAKE SOME SHINIES GIMME A HELL YEAH!" Ajax shouted at the top of his lungs. It was impossible to ignore, several times louder than the combined din of the tavern. The glass panes on the windows actually rumbled from the noise. "Whoever's coming, I'm buying breakfast! Or lunch! What time is it!?".

 

[spandez]

"My name is Ragnvald. Though Reginald works if that's easier to pronounce. I... guess I've done enough work putting up houses to know my way around carpentry. And I'm accustomed to living off the bounty of the land. Though I will admit, the variety of vegetables available in a city is much more appetizing than bamboo shoots and wild potatoes. Uh... there's also this thing I learned where I can stand on water."


The giant man guzzled his water in one swig, before returning to the salad. When the barrelman spoke up, however, some of the salad got caught in his throat.


"Um... verily, hell yes!"

 

[Xenonia]

Emerald looked about the room as it descended into merry chaos. A man, who had just burst from a barrel, was screaming about the quest, Lily, the rogue, was attempting to seduce Vallen, Laria and Hachi were hugging, and several other eyecatching debacles were going on. She smiled to see the quest had gained such momentum, each second the level of enthusiasm in the room grew, and it was contagious. Emerald made her way back to Hachi and Laria, deciding to turn the hug into a group hug. After all, it was only fair, seeing as she had already hugged both Vallen and Ayrenn.

 

[MechaGhoul]

Matthew gave a nod to the hideous creature. He glanced towards the direction of the yell from the chiseled bronzed god, and raised his left arm into the air. "AYE! You have t' Pressmaster Crawley for your cause!" He shouted out. Matthew flipped his hair back as he smirked at the ape and gave a nod. "Looks like yer a boatswain, Reginald. You'll tend to t'ship, and repair it." After all Matthew knew that all treacherous adventures, at least those that were truly dangerous involved the seas.


Matthew reached for the bottle of rum on his side as he took a small sip from it. He quickly corked it back up and put it on his side. He smirked as he stroked at his beard. "Can walk on t'sea eh? Definitely got some sea-legs. As fer veggies, fruits 're better. Prevents the dreaded diseases."

 

[Nautilus]

"Oof!", Hadi stumbled forward a little in surprise, "You are very strong, barrel-man Ajax. But why do you ask me to cover my-", he was interrupted by Ajax's shout. "-Oh. I understand now.", he mumbled as he waited for the ringing in his ears to subside, "You are very loud as well, barrel-man Ajax; your voice is almost as large as your hands. I wish to join you, so , too, will say, er...", what had it been, again? Some strange turn of phrase, he had heard one of the native people shout it a couple days ago as well. It must have been something from a local dialect. What was it? Oh, yes, it had been...


"Hilyah!", shouted Hadi, pumping his fist in the air, "Hilyah, hilyah!"

 

[DergTheDergon]

Vallen listened as the librarian spoke, and smiled as she apperently bid both him and Ayrenn welcome to her expedition of sorts.


He clenched his right fist as Hachi began to suddenly grope the second woman this morning, but as she seemed far more receptive to it then Emerald did, he was able to calm back down without reacting.


He was then rendered surprised, confused and slightly embarrased as the woman he had seen shamelessly remove her underwear and hand them to Hachi earlier requested an egg from him out of the blue, in a quite suggestive tone to boot. He decided to oblige her after regaining composure, half because he didn't seem to have much to do at the moment and half because he was admittedly perhaps a bit too curious about the reward she promised. "Erm... I... suppose I could acquire an egg for you, miss. Wait here." He remembered seeing a local farmer selling eggs at a stand not too far outside the tavern earlier, and so he calmly strode out the door and went to purchase one.

 

[CallSign]

Lily noted that the monk seemed removed from the current time-space continuum in some way that she couldn't quite put her finger on, as he stood dumbly before reacting to events in the reverse of the order in which they occurred. However, this uncharacteristically intelligent thought was pushed far out of her mind by the sudden sound of a man screaming at the top of his lungs.


Hangovers are hell.


"HELL FUCK YOU TWAT!" Lily screamed as she spun her axe over her head, rushing the shouting bastard head-on. She swung the end without a blade toward his head at high speed, but with little force behind it, making for a painful but not very harmful - and easily stoppable - attack.

 

[Zerohex]

"YEEEAAAAAH THAT'S THE SPIRIT! AND THE FIRST FIGHT OF THE DAY IS HERE! EVERYONE ALWAYS WANTS A PIECE OF THE BEST!" Ajax screamed excitedly as Lily charged him, axe in hand. And while many, many others would stop and think what they could do to defend themselves without battering a little girl with long pink hair, Ajax was not that kind of man. Oh no sir, charge at him with an axe and he will break your face as best he can, no matter who you are. And he'll love every second of it.


"DON'T HOLD BACK IF YOU REALLY WANNA GO!" he continued to scream as he took a step forward to bridge the difference in reach between his massive leg and the girls' axe. Though this put him closer to the swing, he raised his left hand on a forceful block as he launched a roundhouse kick with his right leg. This wasn't some flashy and predictable deal aimed at the torso or head, however, but rather Ajax's leg shot towards the girl's left thigh, right above her knee, looking to smash his shin into it. The blow was heavy, though not cripplingly so, and if it landed flush the girl would probably find it hard to walk, let alone continue the fight.

 

[ComradeSenpai]

"Okay. I see how it is." Hachi said as Emerald joined in on the hug. The samurai hypothesized that it was either his impressive combat prowess that could simply scare off attackers, or the dragon musk wafting from his helmet. It may have even been a combination. Still, scent and swords wouldn't win him wives. He had to continually be an excellent samurai.


Hachi charged his masculine ki, and his hand slipped around to sneakily lift up his faceplate. Leaning to one side, then the other, he placed a peck on either girl's cheek before sliding it back down and wrapping each arm around their shoulders, leading them outside.


"COME, FELLOWS. LET US SET FORTH." he beckoned as he stepped through the exit.


"Behold, my reliable and aggressive mount: Kyouko." the samurai introduced them. The giant hornet awaited the group outside, hungrily chewing through the carcass of a goat. As her master greeted her, Kyouko gave off a loud, intimidating buzz that meant something like a happy greeting, before approaching Hachi. Kyouko's carapace glistened yellow and black in the sun, covered in an array of saddlebags with several different polearms and even a long bow sticking up on either side, almost in a sort of display. In front of the saddle were her bulbous black eyes and a set of mandibles laced with the fluids from her meal and a trace amount of acidic spit.


"I see you ate well this morning, Kyouko. Good girl." Hachi said, scratching her behind the antenna. Climbing up onto the hornet's saddle, he looked to the group and asked, "So... there is room for one more. Who has weary legs?"

 

[DrBones]

Beltway, seeing his meal ticket and prey leaving the tavern, hurried off stage. Just in time, too, since a pair of loud-mouthed barbarians started fighting just as he got moving. Years under Two-Dogs Bower's mentorship had given him the fantastic ability to worm his way through crowds while, technically, not even being in the crowd. Wherever any one person would get in his way, Beltway simply worked through them, either over or under. This leaping, loping gallop of a needling managed to get Beltway out the door in a mere half-minute.


Beltway, feeling quite pleased with himself, very nearly walked right into Kyouko. Reality came washing back to him as he stared the massive hornet in the faceplate. A barely-noticeable animal noise erupted from his throat, borne from Beltway's reptile brain and barreling through millions of years of evolution. For a brief moment, Beltway was speechless. Heart, lungs, and brains all ceased in their hitherto-unceasing dance of life, and for a moment found themselves flatfooted. For scant fractions of a second, Beltway was clinically dead. And then he exhaled.


What was once pure panic immediately melted into suave smugness, drilled into him by Two-Dogs Bower. Beltway could remember the lessons now... "Ye'll neva get t'ladehs if'n yar a screemin' puftah inna face o' denjah! Duwet agin! Y'ain't leevin' 'til y'feel nae feer!"


With a sly grin masking his terror, Beltway spoke nonchalantly. "A more odoriferous steed I hath seen before, but scarcely have I seen such casualness around such a being! Brave sirrah, thou art bolder than brass yet 'twould be folly to call thee denser!"


Beltway carefully ambled his way to Kyouko's side, and stared into its reflective gena. Seeing his reflection, Beltway took the time to pick a fleck of cabbage-roll he had bought from Dibbler's Balut and Meat Pie Stand located just outside the tavern.





"Tell me, good sirrah, what hath thou fed it to give yon steed such a glossen coat?"

 

[Blumenkranz]

Laria felt how another person embraced with one arm. It was Emerald, the beautiful Etherborn of soft skin and beautiful green eyes from before. The same girl who, just a few minutes ago, dedicated her a killer stare. The librarian wondered if she had misinterpreted her expression - since she was not very used to non-verbal communication -, as the woman appeared to have no hard feelings towards her at the moment.


The girl wrapped one of her arms around Emerald's waist, as a sign of acceptance into their hug. Even though her face was still in direct contact with a cold metal plate, it still made her feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, like her delicate blue heart was glowing intensely inside her chest. Could she say that she had just made new friends? Her first flesh friends? Only time would tell, but truth is, she was already liking the outside world.


But then a loud noise that sounded like a screech pierced her ears. Laria jumped out of fear, just before covering her eyes. This was the loudest sound she had ever heard, and it hurt like hell!! All the words she was able to discern in such a horrible noise was "tomb" and "gimme a hell yeah", so she assumed it was directed towards her.


"H-hell yes!", said timidly the librarian, as she discretely raised a half open fist in front of her chest. Her ears were still ringing, but she was glad to see that she had found so much enthusiasm for her quest in this small tavern.

 

[Xenonia]

Emerald blushed once again. Though she was flattered, she wasn't entirely sure how she felt about Hachi... Kissing her. It wasn't entirely unpleasant, but it was definitely surprising. And then being spirited away onto the beautiful, and frightening, giant hornet Hachi called his steed. Were they starting their quest already? It was very sudden, she thought, but probably for the best. After all, further time wasting would only delay their journey. When she saw Beltway approaching, Emerald reached down to pull him aboard the hornet. "Come along with us! The journey begins!"

 

[MechaGhoul]

"Everyone wants a piece of him indeed. I'll claim t'prize." Matthew mumbled out to himself as he heard the yell from Ajax. He licked his lips as he raised his eyebrows. He flicked out his upper teeth as he bit on his lower lip for a moment. Matthew moved his head, plainly annoying the exiting patrons of the tavern. No, he kept himself focused on the foreigner as his legs moved with such a graceful and firm motion. Matthew's grin turned wide as he gave a slow nod. "Everyone wants a piece." He noted again in another mutter. Quickly he realized that he needed to pay attention to the boatswain, who'd be a crucial member of the team. That ogre-like man could repair the ship, and as such he'd need to make sure he was impressed into being impressed.


As such, Pressmaster Crawley glanced at the Apeman Regnvald, "The rest o' t'deckhands 'ere already ready to serve 'board the ship, and set sail to the tomb." He blinked as he held out his right index finger, "I'll discuss yer advance on pay, fairly soon. Rest of t'crew oughta know as well." With that being said he gave a firm pat on his coin-purse. He spun towards the door as he gestured for the monster to follow.


Exiting the tavern he glanced at the giant, hornet, thing for a moment. As such a thing was worthy of attention. He then glanced at the group, as he yelled out."To t'port, ya future seamen!" All he had to do now, was get them to the ship and he would have his sailing crew.