Marion

As Ghengis tells of the fall of his clan you see Marion's face instantly turn to sadness. The compassion she shows towards him, and also previously when Dajur talked of being cast out from his herd, is obvious and it is becoming clear that this young woman does not hide an ounce of her emotions from those around her. If not for the weapons and armour she carries which have clearly seen regular use as well as the two large scars streaking down either side of her right ear you might easily think her utterly naive and not knowing the way of the world.

"My dearest condolences friend, to have endured such a loss...I cannot imagine. To have felled one of the great beasts must hold little consolation, as mighty a feat as it is. Is this what brings you here?"

"Here's just as good as there, as far as I'm concerned. As long as it's got meat, ale, and monsters. "

(Happy Thanksgiving!)

Dajur, as you are facing the counter, you are able to make out the gnome drop by the bar where the dwarf had appeared. They seem to have a rapid conversation, though you can't catch the details through the din. After a few moments, the dwarf grabs a large stepladder, setting it against Magnus's back and using it to climb up to his head. He whispers in his ear for a moment, and then descends, returning behind the bar and apparently hopping onto a stool, as his head and shoulder are now visible behind it as he aggressively starts to clean a mug that shows every sign being a few wipes away from translucency.

Bristen

Sensing the mood souring looks at his new friends.  "The past isn't the best place to dwell friends, we're here and we're alive.  For that we should be grateful."  He then picks up his dulcimer and begins to play a jaunty song. 

Performance: 21

The music fills the room, setting everyone immediately at ease. About half the room drops their conversation and watches appreciatively, clapping along in (and out) of time with the regular beats. The song is relatively well known, and before long the room fills with a roaring chorus, happily sung from easily two dozen throats. A few patrons even throw a few coppers your way, totalling 10 for the bard. As the last notes of the song fade, the door opens again, admitting a trio of guards coming in out of the rain. One of the gnomes scuttles over with a rag and begins to frantically wipe at the puddles leaking off of the guards rough but functional armor. They seem tired, dogged, and immediately take a small booth at the right of one of the broad fireplaces. Without any signs of an order, their table is served with a basic but hearty meal, simple but refreshing to the clearly bone-tired guard group. 

Marion

As the mood begins to relax Marion sits back in her seat and finally begins to let the weariness begin to ease out of her body. Taking a plate of bread and meats and filling her cup of water she simply enjoys the music and the company with a warm and contented smile across her face, occasionally tapping her cup against Ghengis’s large mugs of ale as he heft’s them into his face.

"Tell us, paladin, what drives you to such a dangerous profession as ours? " Ghengis asks during a brief interval between mugs.

Marion

As Ghengis asks of her past you see the tension briefly return for a moment before she lets out a deep sigh. She stares down into her cup of water for a long moment, letting the events of her past flash through her mind. Looking up to the Dwarf she says with a wistful smile: “Family, of course.”

She leans forward and begins to elaborate: “My two older brothers are both talented Mages and when I was still a child they were drawn into a fight one day. Obai cared not for who or what was caught in the duel while Rathner tried in vain to protect the village from the energies unleashed by his twin. The village was devastated.” She pauses for a brief moment before continuing: “Since that day I felt the calling of Mystra tug at my heart for magic is a gift and to see it squandered and used for evil as Obai did does not sit well with me. I wished only to see the great gift cherished and to protect the innocent from those who would exploit it for their own end. When I finally reached sixteen I left to join the Order of Mystra and entered training as a Squire, and here I am some five years later” She finishes with a smile, her pride in her achievements is obvious and you can see that she still can’t quite believe she has earned her rank as a Knight.

Ghengis nods sagely. "Well, we're in for a long one. Better make yourself comfortable. "

Apparently overhearing a small part of Marion's story, one of the guards snorts in derision and loudly asks his comrades. "Another priest, eh? Maybe this one will finally reopen the temple."

Ghengis hides a grin behind a mug of ale. He does not know much about this strange paladin, but from what he has gleaned she will not let this insult pass without comment.

Priests are few and far between this far from the capital. As are travelers with silver. Tis why i was purchased, to guard what silver the Inn has.

Magnus tips his head to stare at the paladin, not that his form has eyelids.

Has your party much silver? You might have need of my abilities.

Bristen

Bristen looks confused at the giant machine but recovers quickly, "I'm afraid our last employer met with an untimely demise before he could pay us.  I can't speak for the others but I unfortunatly am tapped out and looking for a way to refill my personal coffers." 

Turning to the others he asks, "So the guards said they would have some business for us?  I wonder if it has to do with those charming fellows we met  on the way in."

Then goes back to playing.

Marion

As the guards comment about her a clear look of annoyance and hurt crosses Marion’s face. She doesn’t quite know what to say at first. As the others speak up she composed herself, though the annoyance is still evident on her face. She looks to Magnus and says in a very short tone “Perhaps your services will be needed sooner than you think big one” 

Standing up she moves over towards the guards and says to them in a very firm tone “Were you speaking to myself guards?”

The guard in question takes a guilty gulp from his mug, glaring at Marion over the rim. He puts it down, the empty mug making a loud clack as it hits the table. The atmosphere of the room seems to have dimmed significantly - things no longer seem quite so warm, cheerful and inviting as before. The guard sloppily wipes his mouth with the back of one hand, still glaring at Marion. "The gods abandoned us, little priest. Your kind packed up and left months ago. 'Recalled' they said, leaving us to fend for ourselves. No priests, no healings. Only us. Only the guard. Tell that to your god." One of the other guards looks uncomfortably at his comrade, but his eyes drop down in shame, agreeing with his companion's words. It seems that everyone in the room is listening in. Indeed, even as Bristen's song rises again to the room, only a few half-hearted voices join in the chorus. The room even seems less full than before, revealing maybe 15 or twenty remaining of what you had first assumed to be a crowd of 40 or more. The dwarf bartender loudly mutters from the back. "Look there Deller, you've gone and ruined the atmosphere again." He walks over to one of the fires, and proceeds to cast his fingers over the flames, clearly casting some spell. Immediately, the room is again filled with laughing, jovial figures, happily eating, drinking and singing to whatever tune Bristen plucks out on his dulcimer. He sends the guard who spoke a warning glare before returning to his seat.

Bristen

OOC did the bartender cast a spell and then it appeared more happy people were in the bar?

Marion

As the guards speak and the atmosphere changes Marion remains focused on those in front of her and fails to notice the strange goings on with the people filling the room. She replies to the guards in a calm and steady voice that conveys the conviction in her words in no uncertain terms: “The gods have not abandoned you, you have abandoned them. How can you expect miracles when you show no faith? You were never alone, for the gods are always with us, you simply did not ask for help. You merely expected it.” As she sees the disbelief in their eyes she adds “If you were truly alone then why has Mystra brought me here this day?”

A young human man, mid-20's, approaches the table the group is sat at (well, except for Marion who is having words with the guard). He wears simple common clothes, a jet-black dyed backpack featuring a harness for a shortbow and quiver with arrows, and a leather belt with dagger and a shortsword, both sheathed. His hair is short and brown, scruffily brushed back, soft brown eyes - a white tattoo around his left, and grins cheekily at you. He is holding a deck of cards, "a game of cards, anyone, bet of a silver?"

Ghengis, with endurance typical of his race, seems to have suffered no ill side effects from drinking half a dozen mugs of ale. The sharp black eyes scrutinize ths newest arrival closely.

 "Deal me in, stranger."

"Name is Devon, what's yours?" Devon asks with a smile as he deals the cards.