A trip to the tavern 8/26/02

[Saga Librarian]

Frendle

A small figure clad in green armor and carrying a small bow, steps out of the brush at the edge of the clearing. He approaches the tavern uncertainly. Pausing at the entrance he peers in under the doors. Then standing up straight and adjusting his large pack and slinging his bow across his back, he enters the tavern. Once inside he approaches the bar, and removing his pack he leans it up against the worn wood of the kick rail along with his bow. Using the pack for a step up, he climbs carefully onto one of the tall stools. Balancing unsteadily on this perch he addresses the tavern keeper.

"Err, ummm, Excuse me sir, may I have a pint of ale and a bite of something to wash down with it? Anything you have lying around back there will do. Perhaps a loaf of that fine bread I smell, and some cheese and apples please? This stool is a bit of a trial for me I'll just be over there at that table near the window so's I can keep an eye on the weather."

The small figure climbs down from the stool, slipping only once, and gathers up his pack and bow. Carrying his gear in both arms he tries to squeeze between two chairs. The bow becomes stuck in the runs of one of the chair backs. The Halfling carefully backs away from the chair in an attempt to extricate his bow. As the bow comes free at one end the other end manages to jostle the arm of one of the tavern's patrons, causing the tall elf to spill some wine from the thin goblet he was holding to his lips onto his fine robe.

Apparently oblivious to the damage he has caused to the elf's garment, to say nothing of the spilled wine, the Halfling sets down his bow, and getting a better grip on the pack, picks up the bow and once again heads to the table near the window. When he arrives at his destination he sets the pack down under the window ledge and leans his bow against the wall. He hesitates, and then reaches once again for the bow. He bends it against his leg and loosens the bowstring. Satisfied he places the bow against the wall once again and sits down on the small three-legged chair at the table. He looks out the window, and begins to hum a tune to himself as he cranes his neck to take in the full view the window affords him. Turning his gaze back to the tavern he abruptly notices that every last pair of eyes in the tavern are fixed somewhat amusedly on him.
Quickly he jumps up from his chair, and fumbling with it a bit to give himself room, he bows slightly and a bit self-consciously.
He stares back at the room, in which some titters of stifled laughter can be heard, and as though he had been prompted by some stern, yet unseen, schoolmaster he addresses his unexpected audience.

"Oh ahermm hello. Ummm how do you all do this fine day? I hope that you are all well and at rest here. I uh, I am Frendle Wingfoot of Rivervale, though I have lived most of my life in the eastern end of the Karanas with my dad. At a farm he works on there if you know the place. I am, umm, pleased to meet you all, and I thank you for sharing this fine establishment with me. I have traveled a bit to get here as a friend of mine told me about it. Well so off I trekked and here I am so to speak. So ummm, well good to have met you all and I wish you well. Ummm Well I mean I wish you have a good day and a fine meal and.... Um well... thanks."

With that the Halfling sat back down, his cheeks the shade of the apples on the tree outside. He turned to look out the window, and then shyly he glanced back into the tavern. As everyone was still looking at him he became suddenly very interested in the contours of the wood grain in the table top though he would glance out the corner of his eye every once in a while to see if everyone was still looking at him.


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Caillou
Pebble with a bow

"Frendle!!"

Caillou yells and dodges across the room to give her friend a tackle hug.

"I wasn't sure you would find this place, but I am soooo glad you have. It has been too long since I have seen you. I see you've kept up with your bow. Have you also been practicing those other skills?"

Caillou's pause for response is merely a moment, barely long enough for Frendle to begin to draw a breath let alone reply.

"Where have you been keeping yourself? I've been a bit of all over myself, I've even been to frozen lands and fought in a tower against all kinds of undead and got lots more notches on my bow. 'Bout time I start looking to enchant him, you know. And I have been back through the Karanas from time to time, even stopped at your ma & pa's farm a couple to see if they knew how you are. Gosh was it really that long ago when we started out together? Now I have risen above you in abilities. So many of those we started with are no longer around us. I wonder sometimes how Kuzlid and Dinar and the rest are doing, it really was a grand new adventure we sought. Too bad we could not sustain it. But I am soooo relieved to see you are here. I look forward to a time we might pit our bows together against some foe. So what have you been doing?"

Caillou pulls back and looks quizzically at her friend for a moment, almost waiting for him to reply, but as he seems about to open his mouth to do so, starts again.

"OH! and where are my manners?"

Caillou looks to the barkeep.

"Some of Tuppen's finest for my friend. You really should try this. Tuppen, a halfling like yourself and the Guildfather emeritus, makes it himself, the finest brew in all Norrath, and Luclin, too. I'm not sure about the planes, haven't been there and I don't know if they sell any booze on the planes anyway 'cos I haven't been there."

The barkeep looks amused as he sets the glass in front of Frendle and Caillou pays him.

"Oh and I probably should introduce you to my family, shouldn't I?"

Caillou turns to those at the tavern.

"Everyone, this is Frendle, my friend and fellow ranger. Frendle this is... ummm... everyone."

Caillou begins to giggle and has to sit in one of the chairs to keep her balance.


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Bindi the Hobbit
Creeping Crook

Bindi rushes over to Wystro to try and calm him as he looks down at the free wine spilled all over his robe.

"Shh...no cryin now...we'll wash it up. Bartender! Some club soda an HURRY!"

She goes back to patting his back and trying to staunch his tears.


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Wystro
Mage of Felwithe

"Red wine goes does not go with green robes!"

Wystro rubs at the wine stains furiously. Images of a tremendous cleaning bill rush through his troubled mind...tears continue to flow.

"B-b-bindi...*snifff*....it's not coming out.."


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Caillou GNA   
Pebble with a bow

Caillou realises Wystro was the one spilled on and looks a bit horrified.

"It's okay, Frendle," she whispers quickly, "he'll only fry you a little. He's a sweetie, but more vain than a bard when it comes to his robes. We really need to find some magical way of cleaning it with something as dry as desert sand so it don't shrink."


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Frendle

After Caillou's energetic greeting Frendle's embarrassment at being the center of so much attention is lifted. He takes her hand in greeting, but then he turns toward his path from the bar. He looks at the tall wizard with apprehension. But then as he sees that he is not going to be fried, even slightly, right at that moment he relaxes and his expression becomes more one of concern and a little remorse.

Oh Caillou it is good indeed to see you again, but look....

He points at the calamity he has caused.

Did I really ruin his robe? It must be wondrous indeed for him to care so much for it.

Frendle gazes at the stricken elf for a moment, and then he approaches slowly. Standing silently for a moment he then straitens himself to his full height and bows.

Lord um, Wystro I am so very sorry that I ruined your beautiful robe. If indeed, as my friend Caillou has suggested, there is a way to clean it with out damaging it further, I will get you whatever is needed. I have little money, but there is still some left from that which I earned working for the Gypsies in Northern Karana. Or if there is something, some magical herb or stone that you need I will fetch it for you.


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Wystro
Mage of Felwithe

Wystro pulls himself together and turns to Frendle....He sees that the halfling is genuinely remorseful for his horrible action.

*Snifffff*

Wystro pulls out a spidersilk handkercheif and blows his nose.

"Well...Frendle is it?...Well, Frendle, if you were to buy a snifter of brandy for me, perhaps --and I say perhaps -- my spirits will improve."

(Note to self: Carry around shovel or wear Robe of the Elements or tattoo "I am a Magician" on forehead.)

"Perhaps Free Spirits will improve my spirits."


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Frendle

Frendle smiles gratefully at the elf, and scurries over to end of the bar. Opening his purse he counts out half of the precious platinum coins within. He places them in the hand of the tavern keeper.

Please sir, bring Lord Wystro whatever brandy this will buy him.

Frendle then turns and after apologizing to the Mage (wink) again he returns to his table and sits down with his friend.

Lady Caillou, everyone was staring at me when I sat down. I did not know it was because I had ruined the Mage's robe. I thought it was because they had not seen a Halfling Ranger before. I was so surprised I stood up and made that silly speech.

A pitcher of ale and two mugs, the bread and cheese and some cold meat are placed on the table by the tavern keeper. Frendle fills his friends mug and then his own.

So tell me, what happens here? Who are all these folks? Are they all friends of yours?
I have been in a few taverns in my young life, but somehow this one seems different. I noticed it as I stood outside the door. There did not seem to be the same anonymous chatter that there is in other taverns.

Frendle places a hunk of cheese in his mouth and tearing off a piece of bread from the loaf munches it as he waits for his friend to respond.


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Caillou GNA   
Pebble with a bow

Caillou blinks at Frendle in astonishment.

"But of course they've seen halfling rangers afore, hasn't everyone? There's quite a few halfings in Saga."

Caillou smiles, thinking of Bippin.

"But... you asked about the tavern... a friendly place it is. A place for gathering at the end of day to unwind and just.. well... be ourselves. You never know who is going to drop it or... "

Caillou lookd up in the rafters.

"... drop down. We are a gathering of friends, near family to some of us. Tuppen, whose brew you drink, is the Guildfather emeritus (though I am not sure what the fancy title is suppose to mean) and Fayd, the nice cleric over there in the pretty blue armor, is the Guildfather. Bindi looks after those wanting to join us and Bippin, my dear sweet Bippin, is an elder as well. We care about each other a lot, fight together, and hopefully do not die together (at least not too much). We share humor and tragedy, standing beside each other. Don't know what else I could tell you. Others might have better words than me."

Caillou smiles and takes a long drink from the glass.