The Mermaid's Tear

The town of Tarkin Harbor sat on the southern most peak of Isa's smallest continent, Galadea. Though fairly modest in size with just over 1,000 citizens, Tarkin is a flourishing fishing town and is Galadea's primary trade and port city. While most cities and towns on Galadea are ruled by individual governing states or kingdoms, Tarkin is an exception. Dictated soley by Duke Paxton, he has deemed Tarkin as tax exempt - and has threatened to take away access to Tarkin's ports if any other state or kingdom should challenge his ruling. Tarkin is known for its characters - those that stay as well as those who come and go - and is the most diverse city in Galadea. Tarkin is also a bustling tourist spot, with mild weather year around.

Tarkin Harbor is protected by thick and sturdy fifty-foot high white stone walls. While Tarkin has not been under siege in decades, it has traditionally been the focal point for several of Galdea's previous civil wars - and, traditionally, the side who controlled Tarkin at the end of each war was victorious. The walls are in fair condition and are spangled with watchtowers. Duke Paxton has approximately fifty employed guards, only ten of which are on guard at any given time. As a port town, Tarkin receives its fair share of shady characters, drifters, thieves, pirates - most of whom are allowed to carry on about their business since the guards are employed primarily to temporarily defend against external threats. However, this doesn't mean that Tarkin is in a constant state of chaos or corrupted by crime - it simply means that the citizens of Tarkin are capable of taking care of themselves and look out for one another.

Besides being Galadea’s primary center of trade and war – there is something else that Tarkin is known for: The Mermaid’s Tear. The tavern/inn is as old as Tarkin itself and sits on the beach front near the docks. Each room was built with a view in mind, most looking out to sea, others looking over the bustling market center. It has been upgraded over time to include balconies, additional fireplaces, extra rooms and the like, but has maintained its antique-ish look and feel. The Mermaid’s Tear has been owned by the Shipsails since it first opened its doors generations ago.

The Mermaid’s Tear is currently owned by Otigeon and Janella Shipsail – a married human couple with no born children. The two have recently gone on a vacation of sorts, traveling Isa in search of ingredients to brew the "ultimate ale” – a tradition amongst Shipsails. No one knows how long they will be gone and it is not uncommon for the search to last a year or more. In their stead, they have left their foster daughter Elwen. This young half-elf knows no other parents and was raised in the tavern, and therefore is an ear-catching story teller and entertainer. While not having traveled far from Tarkin herself, she has memorized hundreds of tales and songs told by drifters, traveling monks, nobles, bards – verbatim.

It is the first night that Elwen has been left in charge, and even though she is young, she is capable.


The sun had just begun to touch down on the horizon when Elwen descended from the inn upstairs down to the tavern on the first floor of The Mermaid’s Tear. She expected it to be a slow evening since most of the patrons who usually occupied the tavern were friends of her foster parents, and as she came off of the last step, she could see that she was right. A few people sat around at various tables, but it was quiet save for the crackling of the fire in the fireplace. Elwen sighed, brushing a few stray strands of dark chocolate colored tresses out of her face as she stepped behind the bar. The half-elf peered around silently, pondering where her bartender, Fillian, might be. Her lips pursed slightly and twisted to the side in dissatisfaction. She hated tending bar, and she certainly hated it more when someone else was supposed to be doing it.

The girl sighed again, leaning her elbows on the bar, propping her head up with the palms of her hands. Elwen definitely needed a pick-me-up – a good conversation, an interesting story, something. Luckily, it was still early in the evening. Perhaps there was still something – or someone? - to look forward to. Elwen tried to keep that in mind as she slipped out from behind the bar to make her courtesy rounds at the few tables that were occupied.

Yu walked off the ship slowly as the men unloaded the cargo next to her, it had been a long and boring trip, she never did sleep well on boats for some reason, maybe it was the sound of all the water or something. She walked away from the docks and spotted a sigh that read "The Mermaid’s Tear Tavern & Inn" She could use something to drink after that long trip and made her way into the Tavern.

She stepped inside and looked around, a few people but for the most part it seemed to be quite. She was thankful for that and found a table in the corner, she sat down and set her shield down next to her, along with the small bag that had been tied to her belt. She puled out the wooden chair and sat down, the chair voicing it's protest against someone wearing plate mail armor sitting in it but didn't brake thankfully. She brushed some stray locks of hair out of her face as they tend to always cover on of her eyes, but it was something she was use to, she never could do anything with her and although she had cut it, she didn't want to grow it as long as it had been. with a sigh she leaned back in the chair a bit and waited for someone to come take her order.

Mastema stepped off the boat for the first time in this new place. He took inside all the smells, the sights and more importantly the people that scurried around like a bunch of rats doing this or doing that. He was here for one reason and one reason only, to find his attacker whom he's tracked for the past seven years.

He walked down the street, hand constantly on the his blades never knowing what to expect, but he always leaned on the side of caution. "Expect the unexpected" has been his motto since he was attacked and left for dead on that fateful night so many years ago.

Glancing into the various shops and places to see, he finds the "The Mermaid’s Tear Tavern & Inn."

"Hmm, this could be a good starting point" he said to himself walking in the door.

Looking around he notices the place rather empty, probably typical for this time of day. Shaking his head he notices the female sitting in the corner so casually leaning against her chair...Bitch..He thought to himself, his trust and faith in woman all but destroyed long ago, something that he never has nor will likely ever be forgotten. He headed directly to the bar, barely acknowledging her presence in the tavern area, sitting down he waited from someone to take his order and get him information.

Fillian Goatfoot is in the house

surrenity, peace, sleepy, quiet, these were the words that could describe the mermaid's Tear that very ordinary day. Guests were arriving, and the owners daughter, that pretty half elf waiting on her bartender. The little halfling was nowhere to be found. Abruptly the door to the inn banged open, slamming back on the wall, and there was the sound of running feet. "scuse me, so sorry, yes I know this is terribly inconvenient, much abliged." The little fellow, standing chest high on most folks pushed passed people, zigging and zagging through the sparcely populated tables, muttering appologies as he went. In such a hurry he was that he was oblivious that most of his appologies fell on def ears, for what empty wooden table ever answered an appology?
The little man ran around the bar and hopped up on the bench he had installed behind the bar, so as to bring himself up to the proper height, his round face was flushed with his exertion, as he opened his mouth and began to speak.
"Come one, come all, get your swill, your fill from your buddy Fillian. I have arrived, and I am serving drinks, elven wine, dwarven spirits, wet your beards or lips on anything you could want!" The little fellow prided himself that he served anything anyone could ever want to drink, he swore up and down that if he did not serve it, than it "it damn well wasn't worth drinkin' in the first place"
After he said his piece, he walked down the bar towards a new fellow that'd just wandered in. "Greetings to ye mate, what's yer poison?" he asked as his deft fingers found a glass, prepared to tap the keg or open a bottle for the fellow. "Ye name it, we got it."

He looked at the little man as if he were crazy, the way he ran, the way he talked, the way he just carried himself. Shaking his head, he closed his greyish colored eyes, and looked down thinking about what it was he wanted to order.

"Ale" The demon told the tender quietly.

He shifted in his seat, an almost uncomfortable feeling fell over him, something that just did not feel right, like something was going to happen. Shrugging it off to his over active imagination, he plays it off thinking it's just because of the new surroundings.


"Yes, an ale, please" he said finally spitting out the rest of what he wanted to say.

Yu sat up strait in her chair when the shorter man had come. She watched him rush behind the bar and stand on something so he was eye level or so with the one man sitting at the bar. She overheard him shouting about all the kinds of drinks. That was enough to tirgger a thought. "Wine yes.... She said to herself and tried to remember, what had it been? She sighed, all she could remember was it was very very very rare, and probably more then she could afford right now, but it made her happy for a moment as she knew it must be something from her forgetting past.

Waiting impatiently for his drink, he turned on the stool and took notice of her again. Shaking his head knowing she is just someone else he could throw away as easily as the other woman he has been with since the night of nights.

It hasn't been easy for him since that night, brutally beaten and tortured to death, all because of her, the woman whom he thought he loved betrayed him and left him for dead. Ever since that point his trust for any woman since that point, all but gone. And even though he knew nothing of the female that sat just a few short feet away, he couldn't but help feel the same distrust in her.

"One of these days" he thought to himself turning back around still waiting for his drink, growing more and more impatient with the service. Despite his covered face, his eyes showing the frustration that continues to grow deep inside of him.

Fillian Goatfoot

"I thought ye looked like a ale fellow mate." he said and slid a tankerd of the brew in front of the fellow, who wasn't even paying attention, instead was looking at another costomer. "That'll be 2 silvers." he said to the fellow, before he turned slightly leaning across the bar to yell across the room to the lady. "Oy m'lady, what'll you be havin? Som wine maybe? Or fruit juice, or is it a harty ale fer you too?" he asked.

He hopped down and moved to her table to hear her response, so she wouldn't have to yell across the room.

Yasmina

Having just outrun the fat bastard she'd stolen a sizable purse from, Yasmina 'Nimblefingers' ended up hitching a ride into the next town. A quiet enough place with a whole new population for her to cheat and swindle if given the chance but first she had to get to know the place. She decided to stop by the local tavern and see if she could get any work waiting tables, a good way to spot who's who in this place and choose her next marks.

Her clothes were a little raggid around the edges but only to those who really paid a great deal of attention to detail and those were the onse she usually cared little for hanging around anyway since those were the first to notice when a lady has stolen their jewels or purse. She entered the place with her head held high, her ice blue eyes sparkled in the light of the fireplace and candles, male eyes, most in the pub, looked up and appraised her with looks of hunger and lustful preoccupation upon their faces. Yasmina smiled dazzlingly, she was used to male attention, used it to her advantage and it only got annoying when a guy got too rough.

She used the gypsy skills she'd been raised with to gracefully move about the room as light-footed as an acrobat, deftly pocketing a few dangling baubles along the way and made her way to the bar. "I'm looking for whomever is in charge around here." she said sweetly to the face that appeared before her as she stood looking across the bar.

Fillian Goatfoot

The little man was half way around the bar, when someone new entered, and he couldn't help but to stare. He stepped back up on his little bench so he was eye level with her as she stepped to the bar. "One in charge round here'd be here." Fillian said jerking a thumb at his half-elven boss who was talking to customers. "I'm just the bartender, name's Fillian Goatfoot." the fellow said extending his hand to her in true halfling friendliness. "Son of bergin goatfoot, of the old goatfoot tribe of the mountain springs village." he smiled, satisfied with his abreviated linniage. "And who would you be my beautiful lady?" the halfling asked of her. His chocolate eyes gazing at her, evaluating her, a little rough around the edges, but then again, what honest, or honest to his thought person wasn't a little rough round the edges. The only ones who were pressed and polished were those that sat behind some desk or spent their life sitting in a garden picking flowers and star gazing. His opinion was she was simply a woman who had lived a little. "Do you have a story?" he asked as he finally released her hand where he had given her a thorough halfling shake.

The_gladiator said:

Fillian Goatfoot

"I thought ye looked like a ale fellow mate." he said and slid a tankerd of the brew in front of the fellow, who wasn't even paying attention, instead was looking at another costomer. "That'll be 2 silvers." he said to the fellow, before he turned slightly leaning across the bar to yell across the room to the lady. "Oy m'lady, what'll you be havin? Som wine maybe? Or fruit juice, or is it a harty ale fer you too?" he asked.

He hopped down and moved to her table to hear her response, so she wouldn't have to yell across the room.

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He took the drink that slide down to him and gave a respectful nod to the tender.

"Thanks" he said tossing a couple silver coins down on the bar top for him to pick up on his way back.

Not two seconds after he got his drink to his lips, the door swung open wildly, jumping he reached for his blades, all the more ready to take down anything that came his way.

He listened to her words carefully, and nodded respectfully as she was here on some sort of business that the tender seemed able to handle at the moment. Quietly the demon walked to the dark corner of the bar, little his words while sipping on his ale.

Yu thought about it and was not sure how to ask for the wine she was thinking of. She picked up her things and walked slowly around the tabels aand chairs to the bar. She sat down and tried to think again, although not to be rude she would wait till the Bartender was done talking to the woman who just came in.

The_gladiator said:

Fillian Goatfoot

The little man was half way around the bar, when someone new entered, and he couldn't help but to stare. He stepped back up on his little bench so he was eye level with her as she stepped to the bar. "One in charge round here'd be here." Fillian said jerking a thumb at his half-elven boss who was talking to customers. "I'm just the bartender, name's Fillian Goatfoot." the fellow said extending his hand to her in true halfling friendliness. "Son of bergin goatfoot, of the old goatfoot tribe of the mountain springs village." he smiled, satisfied with his abreviated linniage. "And who would you be my beautiful lady?" the halfling asked of her. His chocolate eyes gazing at her, evaluating her, a little rough around the edges, but then again, what honest, or honest to his thought person wasn't a little rough round the edges. The only ones who were pressed and polished were those that sat behind some desk or spent their life sitting in a garden picking flowers and star gazing. His opinion was she was simply a woman who had lived a little. "Do you have a story?" he asked as he finally released her hand where he had given her a thorough halfling shake.

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"Yasmina...I'm new in town. I was hoping perhaps I could be of some help around here. I can wait tables, clean, tend bar, whatever's needed if it will earn me a little room and board and an occasional coin in my pocket." she said letting her smile work it's magic on the little man. She knew she'd likely have more luck charming the male persuasion so she used her charms on him first hoping he'd help talk her up to the half elf in charge.

Well now, you are a sweet thing aren't you?" he said with a laugh, "Can you dance?" he teased, obviously joking. "Would you care for a glass o wine?" he asked, "Do you have a story if I might inquire. Business is business, I can introduce you to the lady in charge round here, but a good yarn be the coin of choice for me. Well least wise generally." he said with a smile. "Have a seat." he said. And hurried over to Yu, "Sorry lady, what could I be gettin you?" he asked a wirlwind of activity as his slightly pointed halfling ears were open listening for responses from either lady.

Mastema did something he normally did not do. He pulled down the cloth covering his face, revealing some of the burnt flesh of it. He cringed at the feeling of the fresh air flowing freely across him in almost a week. He stood quietly, foot and back resting against the wall doing the twelve ounce dead lift with his right arm.

His eyes roamed about the room, watching everyone carefully. There movements not all that unfamiliar of every other place he had ever been. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the first female that was in the tavern when he walked in. There was something about her, something familiar about her movements, about the way she just carried herself.

As quickly as he looked, the vision vanished from his site, the bartender blocking his vision, expelling all thoughts of the moment from his mind..Shaking his head he just continued to sip quietly on his drink, almost secretly thanking the tender for clearing his mind.

Yu looked at him and thought again. "I'm not sure what it's called, but I know it's a Rare Wine..." She kept trying to remember things about it. "It's got a smooth taste... And I thik it was made by only woman... But that's all I can remember..." Yu said, she sighed, more to not being able to remember anything else about herself. SHe looked at the bartended and sighed again. "I'm not even sure if it comes from around these parts...." Yu added, she had been lots of places in the last year, and had found nothing, but she had again gotten her hopes up about something small again, something that might have been from her past or maybe just a late night in a tavern such as this one.

"Hmmmm" the little man hmmed to himself, "Was it an elven vintage m'lady? Or human make?" he said. Running a finger along his bottles of wine. "Expensive stuff this, do any of these look familiar?" he asked pulling a couple of bottles off the shelf. "Far as I know these are both brewed by females. This brewed by the elven followers of their goddess of beauty. And this was made by some women, forget where. I know so many yarns, its difficult to remember everyting." he said smiling at the woman.

Yu looked at them and then pointed to the bottle with a pinkish liquid. "That's it!" She said. It was rather odd looking, not the normal colors for wine, but a almost pink milk looking liquid that was special in the way it was made. She didn't know how or why it was special, but she knew she had drank this when she was young. "How much?" Yu asked, she probably didn't have enough but she'd spend what she could, it was one of the few links to her past she had remembered over the last few months.

How long had she been walking? She'd asked herself that question hundreds of times. Never allowing herself to give the answer. "Too Long" had come and gone ages ago. Days even.

Gennifer couldn't bring herself to stop. No matter how tired, how hungry she'd grown, the greater the distance between what she left, and where she was, she felt sure; soon.. she'd feel safe.

Soon.

Her stomach growled as she looked in the distance. A small town cropping up. Almost coming to life as she walked. First just the twinkling lights. Then, as she made it up the pass, the great white stone walls surrounding, almost announcing its existence.

Pushing unruly bangs out of her green eyes, Gennifer pressed forward. A port town. Probably rich in out of the way places to hide oneself. Ideal for getting lost, until she could figure out, just what it was that needed finding.

By the time she reached the shore, Gennifer had spent every last ounce of energy she had. Looking over to the Inn, prominently gracing the shoreline, Gennifer trudged towards it. A bowl of something would find her just enough strength to find somewhere safe to tuck away for the night.

Fingering the dwindling silver in her pocket, Gennifer pulled the door to. Looking about as she stepped in. Scanning the faces for anything familiar, she was relieved in the loss of recognition. A stranger among strangers. It was safer that way.

Making her way across the room, Gennifer eyed the bar. If she could find out the cheapest fare, she could be on her way again, dissolving into the night.

Her step faltered as she felt the strap tighten about her ankle. Trying to right herself quickly, she knew it was too late, long before she lost her balance. Reaching forward to stop herself, her hand caught the tray a barmaid was carrying, toppling it with her as she went down.

"You clumsy Git" was heard grumbled from the creature as he picked up his satchel, perusing the contents to ensure their safety. Dripping in ale, and 'brew', Gennifer picked herself up off the floor, apologising profusely as she tried to return the salvageable glassware to the glowering woman's tray.

"I am sorry. I.. " Picking up a glass shard, she felt the crystal blade slice across her palm. Quickly bringing the fresh cut to her lips, Gennifer licked at it. Stanching the bleeding, as she dropped the shard.

"A sorry state I am. I can.. pay for that. I have no money.. but Im a hard worker."

"Hold that thought.." Yu told the bartended and walked over to the girl who had just walked in and spilled some drinks. She looked at the girl who seemed to have cut herself on a piece of glass from the broken glass on the floor. She turned back to the Bartended. "She's got a nasty cut it seems... Could you get something for her?" She asked in a kind tone.

She looked at the man who's ale had been spilled and shot him a cold look. "I think you've had enough to drink.." She said and stood. "If you have a problem with this girl you have a problem with me..." She placed her hand on her sword. Yu would never draw her sword in a place others would get hurt, it was something in her mind that told her to protect the people. But if she must she would fight this man if he tried to hurt anyone in here. She didn't know why or what made her do this, she guessed it was from being a Knight, but even then this ran deeper, something else like a voice in the back of her head. "Shale we step outside to discus this?" Yu asked the man, her hand still resting on her sword.

"That stuff eh?" the little man asked, "That's rare and expensive stuff, don't sell it often, I'd have to say 1 gold per glass." he said, "I'll make that 9 silver iffen you have a story." he said. Before the woman could respond yay or nay, there was the crash of breaking glass and the splash of spilling liquid, Oh dear oh dear. The little man flew into a flury of action, grabbing a towel, and a broom, he rushed round the bar, and standin gon his toes began to uncerimoniously wipe the woman's face with the towl. "There ye are m'lady. Careful now. Now don't you fret." he babbled. He could see the half elf rushing over too, and nodded, it was good she was coming too. He turned and shoved the broom at a random patron, "Here help clean up would ye?"
"Oh dear she is hurt, "C'mon." he said catching hold of her wrist and pulling her after him, "I'll see what I can do. Come now, I won't bite." the halfling soothed.


ooc: didn't mean to assume the owner would be on her way, but it seemed a worthy assumption! sorry bout that)

amchentai said:

"Hold that thought.." Yu told the bartended and walked over to the girl who had just walked in and spilled some drinks. She looked at the girl who seemed to have cut herself on a piece of glass from the broken glass on the floor. She turned back to the Bartended. "She's got a nasty cut it seems... Could you get something for her?" She asked in a kind tone.

She looked at the man who's ale had been spilled and shot him a cold look. "I think you've had enough to drink.." She said and stood. "If you have a problem with this girl you have a problem with me..." She placed her hand on her sword. Yu would never draw her sword in a place others would get hurt, it was something in her mind that told her to protect the people. But if she must she would fight this man if he tried to hurt anyone in here. She didn't know why or what made her do this, she guessed it was from being a Knight, but even then this ran deeper, something else like a voice in the back of her head. "Shale we step outside to discus this?" Yu asked the man, her hand still resting on her sword.

Click to expand...

He looked up at the sudden crash through the window.

"I knew it" he said outloud.

He pulled the covering back up against his lips dropping the glass of ale to the floor. Quickly he grabbed his daggers and threw them at the creature, the creature that had been following him for days across the water.

The dagger spinned and flipped through the air, it's intended target, the neck of the creature...It found it's mark and the creature dropped.

"Sorry, don't mind him" He said, voice cold and uncaring really about what just happened, the blood of the creature spilling onto the floor.

"He's been following me for 3 days now, and I don't know or care why" He pulled the blade from it's neck, wiped it clean on his jeans.

"Everyone ok?" he asked them all, smiling behind his mask.

(ooc: sorry about the mess, i got bored lol)

Gennifer's eyes darted around at the patrons as the woman stepped towards her, having words with the grumbling creature. Eyes flashing over the sword at her side, she took a step back, shaking her head.

"Thats not necessa-"

Her words cut short as the unceremonious cry came from behind her, as her boot dug into the foot of the 'innocent bystander'.

"Oh!" Turning suddenly, Gennifer gasped as the frown from the old woman reached her. "Im terribly sorry! I didn't mean to.. are you alright?"

Before the woman had a chance to answer, the little man was at her with a towel. Dabbing at her features, as Gennifer stepped back. 'Blending in' was not working out according to plan.

"Im fine.. just a scratch. No need to -" His hand closed about her wrist, causing Gennifer to go rigid, considering possible options. Tugging her arm, his soothing came back at her, as he pulled her through the tables. "Its fine its-"

Eyes widened as she dove to a crouch, watching the dagger sail through the air, landing with deadly precision. What little colour had made up her features, now all but gone as her green eyes followed the masked creature across the room to return his daggar.

Looking away, as his eyes crawled over the room, Gennifer kept her head down. She didn't recognise him. But something about him, kept her eyes diverted. Take no notice, to not be noticed. Her gaze falling instead on the little rivulet of blood, snaking down her palm, and along her arm.

Crimson against porcelain. Licking her lips, Gennifer blew a breath. Whispering to the little man, still firmly holding her wrist, Gennifer looked earnestly to him.

"I think I made a wrong turn somewhere."

The little man was caught off guard, with the dagger throwing, so he clung to the woman, "Here, I'll help ye." he said. Hoping someone would figure out what was going on.

ooc: someone wanna explain to me what's going on here, I'm lost did I miss a post or something, who said there was a creature, where'd it come from?)

Yu turned to look as things happened so fast to really take in all at once, either way it scared the man off. She knelt down next to the Bartended and the girl. "Are you alright?" Yu asked, she offered her hand to help the girl up.