========================================================================= = [Dragon] 1.01 - Starting A New Adventure! = ========================================================================= The Dragon's Inn. Home to all adventurers in the world, as long as they have an email-account. It was filled to the brink, as always, and many odd looking creatures were telling eachother even odder stories. As the conversations floated in the thin blue smoke that filled the main room, a pair of companions, a dwarf and an elf, made an announcement. It was a promise for adventure, fortune and glory! The elf shouted: "OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ! To anybody who might want to join Thanin and me, especially for the newcomers! We are going to travel to Dragon's Island in search of adventure. If there are any capable men or women who don't mind perils, please join us. We plan on staying at the inn for a couple of days before starting our trip." A creature of mixed races stood indecisively by the bar. He noticed the two patrons standing on a table. They appeared to be trying to get the attention of the crowd with promises of golden mountains. He walked towards them, while his bulky frame apparently found little resistance in the densely packed inn. "Me GRMPH! Thwuck. Me search little sister. You seen her?" Thwuck looked expectantly at the dwarf and elf. Adain glanced down at the ugly brute and shouted towards the crowd in the Inn: "Here we have another volunteer! A strong arm longing for Gold and Glory! Come friends, and join us in our great Quest!" Thwuck put a 12 inch hand around the leg of the elf and shook it a little. Adain (his face now only inches from Thwuck's) seemed a little surprised at the action. Thwuck growled: "Me ask question! You answer! You seen little sister?" Adain recovered from the surprise and, throwing a quick glance towards the dwarf who was smiling behind his beard, said to Thwuck: "Sure, my friend, ah... your little... sister. It's okay, boy, ah... I think that I have seen her recently..." He looked again towards the dwarf. "We have, haven't we Thanin?" Suddenly his face brightened. With a warm smile he added: "Yes, we've seen her about two days ago and she was travelling to Dragon's Island. Actually we are going there ourselves. Maybe you want to join us in the trip?" Thwuck frowned at the slick reply. He seemed uncertain whether to believe Adain or not. But his search for his sister had not been successfull sofar, so a trip to Dragon's Island wouldn't hurt. After all, he had no better lead than this. "Good. Me go with you. But first me eat." At this Thwuck moved off to the bar, moving with unexpected grace. The barmaid who had brought him his beer smiled at him and asked if he had wanted anything else. The gold coin Thwuck gave her as downpayment easily bought him another mug of ale and a plate filled with pork and potatoes. Thwuck devoured the meal in seconds and burped contentedly. Then he joined Adain again. "Me ready. We go?" * * * [Prytzouth] Six days had passed since Prytz's arrival at the Red Dragon's Inn, a dramatic entrance if ever there was one, but not revieling of his true identity, thank the gods. Three people did witness his transformation, Hugh, Fawn, and a terrified farmer. Hugh and Fawn could be trusted; that much he learned over the last week. He chuckled as he remembered the expression on the farmer's face. It's not too often one gets to see a man change into a wolf. Prytz was confident that a drunken farmer's tall tales wouldn't warrent much weight with the others at the Inn. Over the last week, Prytzouth meditated daily and focused his energies to heal himself. Each day he grew stronger. The wounds closed quickly, but the scars would stay for a while. In time, even they would be undetectable, all except for his right eye. Prytz grimaced as he gazed at his reflection in the small mirror above the wash basin. The fur around the eye was mottled, and the skin underneath was a bright purple. The eye itself was in worse shape; it would take years, if ever, to heal back to it's former utility. Prytz sighed. I suppose it's time to make an appearance, he thought to himself. His gaze turned to the silver bracelet above his right forepaw. A remarkable thing, that bracelet; it always seemed to fit him just right in any form. He wondered why he didn't use it that night he arrived, but quickly dismissed the thought. Prytzouth concentrated on the transformation that, after so many years, came second nature to him. He held an image in his mind while he faced the mirror. He blinked and now looked upon the reflection of a naked man holding a set of clothes in his right hand and a backpack and sword in his left. The scars were more prominent now that he had no fur to cover them. He grunted, and proceeded to dress. "Prytzouth, I've got some...oh!" Fawn had appeared next to Prytz and quickly shaded her eyes as she blushed violently (if ghosts could blush). "Hello, Fawn," grinned Prytz. "Oh, do stop. You've seen me without clothes before!" "Yes, but you had fur then!" she retorted with a huff. Prytzouth chuckled. "You were saying?" "Oh, yes. First I have something for you." Fawn replied as she pulled an eye patch from a pocket in her apron. "Oh, my you are handsome." She seemed to blush again. "Except for that horrible eye." she reached up and tenderly touched the purple skin. "Here, you won't scare so many people if you cover it up." Prytzouth laughed. "I don't think an eye patch will help all that much." Grinning, Fawn continued. "I thought you'd be interested to know there's a group looking for adventurers. I believe they're headed out to Dragon's Island. I think their names are Adain and Thanin." Prytzouth nodded as he placed the black patch over his eye. "Ok, so do I look a little better?" He smiled. "MUCH better," Fawn snickered. "Anyway, I also have a copy of the Montfort Mime for you. It's their first edition." She handed him the newspaper, gave him a hug and disappeared. Prytzouth chuckled and thought, she sure loves her dramatic entrances. He finished dressing, shouldered his bastard sword and backpack, and made his way to the bar. * * * He entered the doorway to the bar and announced, "I hear there's need of adventurers for a trip to Dragon's Island." He smiled and looked around the room to see who would take notice.