========================================================================= = [Dragon] 1.04 - Black Boot Inn - Dinner - First Night = ========================================================================= The party ordered a meal, but Tawas only ate a small portion of it. What was distracting this strange dark elf? mused Prytz. He had ordered his usual meal, steak, almost raw, and a glass of beer. Famished, he all but devoured the stake in a few fork-fulls. Leaning back in his chair, Prytz smiled and continued his examination of the group. Thwuck had ordered a plate of pork, baked potatoes and sour cream. He seemed awfully quiet lately - Prytz thought to himself - not contributing to any conversation as of late, but rather replying with a grunt now and then. Surprisingly, the demihuman hadn't missed a step with the rest of the group on the way to Pas du Mer as he ran on foot instead of on horseback. Brianna ate slowly. She sensed the dark elf's uneasiness and knew she too felt uneasy. She still could not help wondering what it was that he wanted, or what he could or would do for Adain and the rest of the group. Thanin, whose eating habits were generally quite refined for a dwarf (his use of cutlery, for instance), now ate without regard for table manners. After finishing two steaming bowls of stew, the dwarf downed a small tankard of ale, and belched in satisfaction. Brianna burst out laughing. She realized no one else thought it was funny and went back to eating. She pushed the hair back behind her ears and considered that maybe her nerves were getting to her. Despite the attention he'd given his meal, Thanin had also noticed Tawas' uneasiness. Well, I guess I can't blame him, Thanin thought, he probably feels like a `dwarf out of a mountain'. The dwarf removed a small pipe from his belongings and tamped a small handfull of tobacco into it. As he lit the pipe, Thanin turned his attention to to Pryztouth, who was currently surveying the group. Looking through a haze of sweet-smelling smoke, Thanin asked, "so tell me, Pryztouth, what is your lot in life? Why'd you join us?" Brianna chimed in, "Yes Prytz,why did you join us?" "Why does anyone go on adventures? Gold, of course." Prytz chuckled. "Truthfully, I've lived by the sword and by the road most of my life. When I heard there was need for a swordhand, and when I heard we were headed to Dragon's Island - one place I have yet to be - how could I pass up the opportunity?" He winked with his one good, yellow eye and grinned. Suddenly Thwuck started to speak. "I need to find little sister. She sick, just like me. But I think I found cure. Need some ingredients and some information. Witch said dragon's bones were necessary. So I come with you on trip." Prytz's eye opened wide with surprise at the sudden outburst from the demihuman. Quickly recomposing himself, he smiled at Thwuck. "Well, if your sister is on Dragon's Island, I'm sure we'll find her. But what do you mean by sick? You look quite healthy for a..." It was then that Prytzouth realized that he couldn't place Thwuck in any race he had known. His body composition just didn't match, but then again, there were many strange beings in these realms, himself included. Thwuck nodded at Prytz's reply. "Me not invalid. Sickness more subtle. Hard for me to explain. Will try other time. For now, trust me." After the meal, everyone wanted a good night's rest,except Tawas. Prytzouth thought that Tawas's uneasiness and restlessness probably was an excuse to leave the party at the inn. Call it curiosity, or perhaps call it suspision, he thought to himself. But I don't exactly trust our dark skinned "friend." Prytz watched Tawas slip out of the front door; he turned to the group. "You know...I'm not all that tired. I think a bit of fresh air will help. Don't worry about me waking anyone, I'll rent my own room tonight, but I need to feel a bit of nature before turning in." Brianna wanted to get outside as well. She felt less lonely out there, more connected. There was something about the way Prytz had asked though... almost as if he hoped everyone would decline. Let him go alone, she thought, I can use the sleep. "Enjoy the evening air, and look in on the horses if you don't mind." A bit of nature, eh? the dwarf asked himself. This trip was becoming stranger and stranger. First, a drow elf. Now, after having travelled from Monfort to Pas du Mer, the fighter wanted to get outside. Thanin preferred the outdoors to the confines of the inn, but even he liked to get indoors occasionally. Thinking perhaps that his weariness was making him see more than was really there, Thanin decided to let it go, and made his way to bed after saying good night to the others. Brianna thought this a great idea and followed shortly after.