Rogin:"In need of an Ale" Samheen 24th.

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Rogin:"In need of an Ale" Samheen 24th.

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This tavern, located in the very center of Abu`Sahir, is patronized by the upper layer of commoners, merchants, as well as the lesser nobility of the city. Adorned with gold paint and alight with a thousand candles, it is usually near full, with servants hurrying to keep up with the crowd's demands. A band of regular musicians plays instruments specific to Amun Rah's culture; to these swaying tunes, girls that are perfectly formed dance in costumes that don't have enough fabric in them to qualify for the state of 'dressed' in any proper circles of nobility. Honeyed spirits, dried spiced meats, and fruit are the common courses here, although a more substancial meal is available when requested.

The tender is Yabal, a large man who keeps his head shaved. A polite smile is ever present on his lips, at least until some patron wears his patience to thin, in which case he demonstrates admirable skill in Amun Rah's very own Flowing Sand style of martial arts. None of his servants are female, except for the ones who dance. When approached about payment for some time with one of the girls, Yabal will happily offer his sheep instead, for half price. After which most drop off, confused or disgusted.

It was into this environment that you stumbled. "Hello, can I get ye a mead?" Yabal asked, his demeanor open and friendly. The sparkled gold sequins of the dancing girls reflects the candle light and the little dots of light race around the walls of the room, almost hypnotically.


..........
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Rogin looked at Yabal with emotionless eyes, nodded friendly to him and replied with a friendly tone "Yes please, that will do for starters". He needed some time for his eyes to adjust to the light. The laughing and screaming was deafening to his ears.
Once his eyes had adjusted he saw a mass of people in this establishment. 'So much for a quiet drink' Rogin thought to him self.
He sat down at a table at the back of the Inn. He looked around for a back entrance, you never know when you might need it!

As he was waiting for his mead he started to loosen his belt. This gave the sweat a chance to escape from his britches in the form of condensation. Rearranging his shirt so that it didn't bind and placing his backpack under the table between his legs he sat in desperate anxiety waiting for his drink.
He looked over to the bar and saw that the Yabal was running busily with his tray of drinks. Rogin looked him up and down to try and calculate his abilities as a fair bar man. If he could judge him then maybe Yabal would be able to see what kid of man Rogin was. This would come in handy just in case one of the customers decided that Rogin was looking for a fight. Which at this point of the evening and in his present state of mind he wasn't!
And in case he couldn't, that would be a good time for him to run through the rear exit if things got out of hand. Rogin was skilled enough to take down a few men with his sword but if he was seeing double and the city guards decided to interfere that could mean another few wasted nights in the hole. And he heard about the hole here!! Not a nice place to be.
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Yabal nodded at the request and turned to fill a few pitchers of previous orders which he passed over the bar with quick hands to his serving men, boys who were dressed in red vests and carried their trays with eager regularity. They were well trained lads, that's the way Yabal liked them, and he liked them to be young men, strong enough to handle a fight if it broke out and he couldn't get to it immediately, as well as able to handle the grabby merchants and nobles. The last thing he wanted was to bring a bar wench into this room, she'd be harassed beyond belief.

There didn't seem to be another exit out of the tavern, but there was a hallway leading into the back, which took a corner beyond which Rogin couldn't see. Aside from that there was a kitchen behind the bar, which was easy to tell thanks to the noises coming from within as well as the food that was passing through the door and the disappearing plates and cutlery that entered a swinging door on the arms of the waitstaff.

"Here you are, mate." Yabal said as he slid the honeyed mead over to Rogin. It was a light ale, and had a thin layer of foam just barely spilling over the top of an earthenware tankard. "Can I get you anything else tonight?" He asked, his dark eyes not meeting those of the youth for more than a flicker before he was looking down at a slightly used rag which he was rubbing down the countertop with.
[color=#000000][i]"What of the soul was left, I wonder, when the kissing had to stop?"[/i]
-- Robert Browning. [/color][size=75][i]Avatar by: [url=http://vyrl.deviantart.com/]vyrl[/url][/i][/size]
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Rogin carefully gripped the mug and pulled it to his mouth for a quick sip. Then he nodded to Yabal and asked for another mead. For this was the coldest and most tasty mead he had pass his lips in an elfen-age. It was like an angel pissing over his tongue.
Before Yabal could leave, Rogin asked what sort of dead animal was on the menu this evening.

Later on this evening Rogin had to find lodgings. He desperately hoped that there were clean beds and clean water. He would ask Yabal if he knew of a decent place to stay for the night. Also where the nearest clean stable was for Raider.

"Speaking of Raider, I better go out and see if he's alright. Check if his water is still in abundance."

But for now he would savour this drink and purely enjoy it till the last drop.
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Yabal poured the youth another mug full of the fine ale. "Will you be paying now, or when you're done?" He asked him, not particularly worrying either way. No one escaped the Golden Ram without paying, and this young man would be no exception. Rubbing his hand over his shaved head to remove the sweat, he wiped it off on a dirty apron hanging at his waist.

"I've got a sheep stew, with a bit of everything in it - potatoes and rice, carrots and peppers for some spice." His voice was low, not a growl, but deep enough so that one had to listen in order to pick up all the words. "Can I interest you in a bowl, maybe some bread as well?" He asked the newest of his guests.
[color=#000000][i]"What of the soul was left, I wonder, when the kissing had to stop?"[/i]
-- Robert Browning. [/color][size=75][i]Avatar by: [url=http://vyrl.deviantart.com/]vyrl[/url][/i][/size]
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"If it's all the same to you I'll pay when I'm ready to leave later this evening." Rogin said to Yabal.
"The stew sounds like something my mother used to make. What are the odds this will taste similar?" Rogin asked the large man jokingly. "Because if it does I don't want it!"

Rogins philosophy in life is to keep the people that serve your food and drink in a good humour. If plant a couple of comical remarks and you sympathize with their hard work, you get better service.........most of the time!

"Oh, and by the way my good man. You wouldn't happen to know of an inexpensive lodge to rest my weary bones do you and a good stable for my steed? Both preferably clean, very clean."

Even though it was busy in this sweat hole of...........what ever kind of men were present, he hoped that Yabal would appreciate his humour and comply with a satisfying answer.

Rogin was not intending to stay all that long. He was tyred and hot. A good nights rest was on the 'things to do list' for this evening. He checked his purse just to be sure. He saw that he had plenty of cash flow to get through the week, if he was careful. But in the morning he had to attempt to find a means of replenishing the meager amount of crowns left in his purse.
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Yabal laughed heartily to Rogin's joke. "That's fine, boy. Pay when you're ready." The bartender grinned. "It's a damn good stew, my friend. I have an excellent chef - he worked for the Rafao himself, once upon a day. So will you be having any then? You look like you could use a good meal." He looked down at the young man.

The bartender was a strong man, and his arms rippled with trained strength. He wasn't overly muscled like those in the great Arena, but enough so that it was obvious he could take care of business if it was necessary. His particular martial arts was known as the Flowing Sands style, something found only in Amun Rah.

"Lodgings? Well, I've got accomodations here at the Ram, of course. They're upstairs, and I've just lost two of my tenants." He smiled. "They aren't cheap, but things can always be arranged." Yabal had had an arrangement with the last young man who stayed there - a young man who had met a princess in the sandy streets, who he was now flying home to her city on a magickal carpet which Yabal had borrowed from a friend. Yabal had amazing resources, and his life was never dull.

"I have a barn in the back with stalls, but it's not some great stable, by any means. I don't usually lodge horses. Not many people have them. Any means of travel is usually on foot, or a camel, and the camels as I'm sure you saw, are tied out front awaiting their masters."
[color=#000000][i]"What of the soul was left, I wonder, when the kissing had to stop?"[/i]
-- Robert Browning. [/color][size=75][i]Avatar by: [url=http://vyrl.deviantart.com/]vyrl[/url][/i][/size]
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The words of Yabal seeped into Rogins ears. Rogin was one to take heed in what he heard. This man, roughly the same build as Rogin, seemed to have a quality about him that Rogin appreciated. Straight to the point, a man of his word.
You never know when an individual like this might come in handy.

"That sounds like a meal I can not refuse." Rogin said with a grin. "I'll take it. And you might as well pour me another drink while your at it. The room sounds fine. After I finish my meal end drink, if you have time, you can show me to my room after I escort my horse, Raider, to your stall. If that's alright with you."

Rogin thought he had heard the other customers speaking of this man. That he was not a man to fool with. He heard them say that he once tore a mans arm off with a move that could not be described. That's how fast it went!
Rogin was no stranger to fighting but he stood open to anything he could learn that was new. In the morning he would have to ask Yabal about teaching him some techniques on combat. In turn he would help him around the place and the stables. And maybe get a discount on the room.
Last edited by Guest on Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Ashari
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"Stew it is," he said. "Hishran, one bowl for the counter!" The barkeep shouted over his right shoulder toward the kitchen in the back.

"Yessir!" Replied a quick voice from somewhere beyond the wall behind the tender, though it was difficult to tell exactly where.

Yabal poured another mead as Rogin stood from his seat. "They'll both be here waiting when you return, mate, get your horse into the stable where it'll be comfortable. It's right around the back." He paused. "What's your name, by the way? Arrangements always need a name to put them under. I'm Yabal, and as an insider to an outsider, I welcome you to Amun Rah." He stuck his hand out to be shaken and gave a good squeeze, one that demonstrated power but also restraint, as he did not crush the laborer's hand.

Outside in the desert heat Raider kicked his feet and snuffed hard as his owner approached. It was so hot here. He was used to Dort and the cool wet weather, not the arid sand. Shaking his head the horse loosened dust from his mane and pulled at the reins that fastened him to the same log as the camels. The spitting camels, one of which spit right at Rogin, missing him by maybe inches, did not seem pleased by the strange hoofed companion.

A small road, practically an alley, lead on both sides of Anurith's Golden Ram. Unlike many of the other buildings that were pressed right up against one another, this one had space on either side and gave the impression of space behind it as well.
[color=#000000][i]"What of the soul was left, I wonder, when the kissing had to stop?"[/i]
-- Robert Browning. [/color][size=75][i]Avatar by: [url=http://vyrl.deviantart.com/]vyrl[/url][/i][/size]
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The names Rogin an honour to meet you kind sir.

Rogin took the hand of the the man and smiled at the firmness of his grip.

"I haven't had a hand shake like that for quite a while. It's good to know that there are still real men around."

Rogin strutted out into the street where the sun scorched the earth. As he approached his trusty steed he was spat at by one of the camels. luckily for Rogin he was alert enough to be able to dodge it in time. It was too hot and Rogin was too tired to give the camel a shot in the chops. Which he normally would do if an animal spat at him. But not today.

Rogin walked to Raider and untied him from the log. He patted him on the neck and gave him a loving kiss on the nose. For some reason Raider reacted very obedient to this gesture from Rogin. Raider was a peculiar horse. There wasn't a man alive that could come near him. He would bite and kick if any one would. Rogin and him had a special bond that seemed to be unbreakable and no one could get between the two.

There were women that wanted to impress Rogin by cozying up to Raider but Rogin warned them not to. Still they would try. This always resulted in a night in bed alone.
Raider would let them get close and would let them pet him once or twice. After that the games began. Raider would rub his head against there breast and when in the right position would take a chunk out of their breast.
Strangely enough Rogin always had a good laugh about that. Thus resulting in a lonely night. Then again it was never lonely because he would sit and laugh about it with his companion, Raider, for hours.

"Hey buddy. You ok? I know it's hot but don't worry, I'll get you to a cooler place with plenty of cool water to quench your thirst."

Rogin led Raider to the back of the Inn. There he saw that the stall was remarkably well kept. Seeing as there were no other animals kept there this was a logical reason.

He walked his friend into the stall and led him into a box filled with fresh straw. Rogin saw that the trough was filled with fresh water and that there was plenty of hay. He felt that Raider was in the right place for for the night.

After taking care of Raider Rogin strolled back into the Inn. He sat down and waited for his meal to arrive. In the mean time he enjoyed his cool mead and listened to the men sitting at the table next to him. It was noisy but Rogin tried to listen in on the conversations that were taking place. Any information he could hear might be useful in filling his purse. After all, if he couldn't arrange something with Yabal he would have to find other means of gaining a cash flow.
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After Rogin had finished his meal he retreated up to his room for a good nights sleep. He arrived in his room and saw that it was well kept by Yabal or who ever cleaned the rooms of the Inn. Rogin also saw that a bath had been drawn for him. He had no idea if this was the custom for new patrons but he did appreciate it.

Rogin scrubbed the dirt and sand from his weltering body. After a long ride in the dessert this was not a luxury!

The next morning Rogin stepped out of bed, washed, dressed and packed some necessary tools for the day. This included his sword, knife and money pouch.

He left his room and locked it behind him. On his way to the stable to check on Raider he saw Yabal and greeted him.

Upon arriving in the stable Raider seemed comfortable. But Rogin could tell that Raider was ignoring him. " Don't worry old friend I'm out on the town by my self today." Rogin reassured his horse giving him a pat on the neck.

Rogin left the stable and walked into the street. It was once again a warm and sandy day. The wind was blowing as it always seemed to do here. "Damn sand!! First thing I have to get is a scarf of some kind!" Rogin whispered to himself irritably. He strolled by a few shops and entered one that seemed clean. There he looked at some scarves and found one that appealed to him qua colour, purple. He negotiated the price with the keeper of the shop and once satisfied with the price he paid the man. Before leaving the shop Rogin wrapped it around his head covering his mouth and nose.

The day went on. Rogin stopped here and there to look at items he didn't need or wanted to get one day. He stopped for a meal and watched people walk by the Inn where he had stopped to eat. Once finished he once again walked the streets of Amun Rah. Again stopping at a few street stands to look at nick-nacks. He bought a cooking set at one of the stands. The wooden plate covered in carvings from the Isle of Dort. This he HAD to have along with a pot he thought he could use in his travels. Staying at Inns was getting too expensive and he could always catch fish to cook them on an open fire. He was no master at cooking but how hard could it be?
He saw a lamp that seemed to come from a ship. No doubt a sinking one. " I might as well get me one of those too."
He agreed on a price and went on his way.
Rogin came upon a shop where jewelry was sold. His eyes fell upon a small but shiny earing. He looked around to see if no one was watching and entered the shop. He always wanted an earing and decided to have one poked into his ear but was a bit ashamed at the idea. Some men thought it to be for women but Rogin found it to be an asset to his attire.

Rogin noticed that the day had gone by quickly and headed back to the Inn. Once again greeted his horse and went back to his room, closed the door behind him and kicked up his feet.
Before he fell asleep he scrubbed his sand-blasted body.
It was an early night but Rogin could use the sleep. He looked at his new purchase in the mirror and smiled at the sight of his new shiny earing. Agreeing that it looked good on him and went to bed.
Last edited by Guest on Mon Jan 09, 2006 11:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Ashari
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Closed: No skills awarded.
[color=#000000][i]"What of the soul was left, I wonder, when the kissing had to stop?"[/i]
-- Robert Browning. [/color][size=75][i]Avatar by: [url=http://vyrl.deviantart.com/]vyrl[/url][/i][/size]
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