A Perennial Tavern - I Think I'm Turning Culdranthine (OPEN)

[Ava Ire]

The sudden shouting took the woman by surprise. "Oh, uh...."

She turned back to Lao, returning his handshake with a bright smile. "Pleasure, Lao Tseng. You may call me Gwen." She turned her glance to the paintings again. "They are nice, indeed. The paintings. Seems like your people are very proud of their history."

"That'd be Josef. He's very... boisterous." Lao said, nodding cheerfully. "Oh, they certainly are. Every time I get some university students here, it's always 'Tsengsi Tzu is the greatest military genius in history!' or 'We introduced writing to the continent!' or... my personal favorite 'We don't need to be six feet tall to conquer the world!'. It's funny because they have other species do most of the work..."

Gwen folded her arms. "Huh. Having others do the work for them. Sounds to me no different than the global white empires, with their imperialism and slave labor." She frowned slightly, though not revealing much else emotion on her face.

"So, mister Tseng, how long has this tavern been around? Is it recent? The design, it's... quite odd."

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

"That'd be Josef. He's very... boisterous." Lao said, nodding cheerfully. "Oh, they certainly are. Every time I get some university students here, it's always 'Tsengsi Tzu is the greatest military genius in history!' or 'We introduced writing to the continent!' or... my personal favorite 'We don't need to be six feet tall to conquer the world!'. It's funny because they have other species do most of the work..."

Gwen folded her arms. "Huh. Having others do the work for them. Sounds to me no different than the global white empires, with their imperialism and slave labor." She frowned slightly, though not revealing much else emotion on her face.

"So, mister Tseng, how long has this tavern been around? Is it recent? The design, it's... quite odd."

"Well, to be fair... you can kind of punt 'em across the room." He says, chuckling. "It's not quite slavery. We're paid the same wages as the rest of 'em. Can't say they treat women super-equally, but... y'know, they're treated better here than in a lot of the empires, but we aren't Iracusia where they run the place."

He looks up at the ceiling and thinks it over, trying to remember how old it is. "Couldn't tell you. Every local'll give you a different answer. Some say it's been around since the middle ages, some'll say it was a mead hall / tribal gathering place when Yangseif was first settled, and some people will say I founded it. Which I didn't. Bought it from an old Reil who was looking to get out of the bartending game."

[Barboneia]

Desmond Monteclair strolled into the tavern, humming "Rule Britannia" as he made his way to the bar counter. He sat down and ordered a stout, as he did the day before.

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

Desmond Monteclair strolled into the tavern, humming "Rule Britannia" as he made his way to the bar counter. He sat down and ordered a stout, as he did the day before.

Lao was quick to reply, getting him a mug and bottle of the exact same... brand, he'd suppose. "Fancy seeing you here again."

A rather-messy haired Culdranth slipped inside, wearing what could basically be described as a black and orange tartan bathrobe. With a sigh, she scrabbled onto one of the barstools. "You should really get some stairs, Lao."

"Perhaps one shouldn't try to sell virility potions outside of my bar, Aelwyd." He said, both of them chuckling. Lao waved over at Desmond. "Have you met Aelwyd yet?"

[Barboneia]

Desmond Monteclair strolled into the tavern, humming "Rule Britannia" as he made his way to the bar counter. He sat down and ordered a stout, as he did the day before.

Lao was quick to reply, getting him a mug and bottle of the exact same... brand, he'd suppose. "Fancy seeing you here again."

A rather-messy haired Culdranth slipped inside, wearing what could basically be described as a black and orange tartan bathrobe. With a sigh, she scrabbled onto one of the barstools. "You should really get some stairs, Lao."

"Perhaps one shouldn't try to sell virility potions outside of my bar, Aelwyd." He said, both of them chuckling. Lao waved over at Desmond. "Have you met Aelwyd yet?"

Desmond poured some of the contents of the bottle into the mug, and took a sip, before looking over at Aelwyd. He looked back at Lao and shook his head. "I haven't met anyone else here, yet. I don't even know your name, to be frank." He looked back at Aelwyd. "But, nonetheless, a pleasure to meet you, ma'am, I assume."

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

Desmond poured some of the contents of the bottle into the mug, and took a sip, before looking over at Aelwyd. He looked back at Lao and shook his head. "I haven't met anyone else here, yet. I don't even know your name, to be frank." He looked back at Aelwyd. "But, nonetheless, a pleasure to meet you, ma'am, I assume."

"... Must've forgotten to say it. I'm Lao Tseng." He chuckled. "Sorry 'bout that."

Aelwyd waved cheerily. "Nice meetin' ya too, whatsyourname. You one of those... ah, shite, what was the feckin' term... Brightish? No... wait, British. Gotta be British."

[Barboneia]

Desmond poured some of the contents of the bottle into the mug, and took a sip, before looking over at Aelwyd. He looked back at Lao and shook his head. "I haven't met anyone else here, yet. I don't even know your name, to be frank." He looked back at Aelwyd. "But, nonetheless, a pleasure to meet you, ma'am, I assume."

"... Must've forgotten to say it. I'm Lao Tseng." He chuckled. "Sorry 'bout that."

Aelwyd waved cheerily. "Nice meetin' ya too, whatsyourname. You one of those... ah, shite, what was the feckin' term... Brightish? No... wait, British. Gotta be British."

"Charmed," he said to Lao, before brushing his hair back a bit and looking at the Culdranth woman. "I'm Desmond Monteclair. And yes, I'm... British." He rubbed his head, and took another sip of the stout, mumbling.

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

"Charmed," he said to Lao, before brushing his hair back a bit and looking at the Culdranth woman. "I'm Desmond Monteclair. And yes, I'm... British." He rubbed his head, and took another sip of the stout, mumbling.

"Ah. That's neat. Never seen any of you guys in Iracusia or Ahl Cuhlt or whatever." She looks off to the side awkwardly. "Which is probably for the best. My, ah... much taller cousins aren't really fans of yours."

Lao looked up from his book and nodded. "Just avoid Tormoid and you'll be fine."

[Barboneia]

"Charmed," he said to Lao, before brushing his hair back a bit and looking at the Culdranth woman. "I'm Desmond Monteclair. And yes, I'm... British." He rubbed his head, and took another sip of the stout, mumbling.

"Ah. That's neat. Never seen any of you guys in Iracusia or Ahl Cuhlt or whatever." She looks off to the side awkwardly. "Which is probably for the best. My, ah... much taller cousins aren't really fans of yours."

Lao looked up from his book and nodded. "Just avoid Tormoid and you'll be fine."

"It's a good thing I hadn't planned on traveling beyond the berth of this realm, then. I'm only here on business, and I'm not planning on staying for long." He shook his head and sighed. "Of course, with current negotiations, I'm going to be stuck here until the Winter Solstice, at least."

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

"It's a good thing I hadn't planned on traveling beyond the berth of this realm, then. I'm only here on business, and I'm not planning on staying for long." He shook his head and sighed. "Of course, with current negotiations, I'm going to be stuck here until the Winter Solstice, at least."

Aelwyd nodded and pursed her lips, snapping her fingers at Lao. "Still have the usual laying around?"

A mug of water was placed in front of her. Seemed she wasn't much of a drinker. "I feel ya. I'm trapped here as well! Stupid flooding messed up the roads from here to Melanthine, haven't been able to drive my caravan around through all the muck."

[Barboneia]

"It's a good thing I hadn't planned on traveling beyond the berth of this realm, then. I'm only here on business, and I'm not planning on staying for long." He shook his head and sighed. "Of course, with current negotiations, I'm going to be stuck here until the Winter Solstice, at least."

Aelwyd nodded and pursed her lips, snapping her fingers at Lao. "Still have the usual laying around?"

A mug of water was placed in front of her. Seemed she wasn't much of a drinker. "I feel ya. I'm trapped here as well! Stupid flooding messed up the roads from here to Melanthine, haven't been able to drive my caravan around through all the muck."

He chuckled a bit. "Ah, reminds me of how I was stuck in London back in 1826 near Christmas and wasn't able to get back to my family's manor in Bournemouth, because of severe flooding. My parents never let me hear the end of it. Although, I much preferred being in the company of the other lads in my regiment." He sighed, as if thinking back to that time, and took another sip of his drink.

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

He chuckled a bit. "Ah, reminds me of how I was stuck in London back in 1826 near Christmas and wasn't able to get back to my family's manor in Bournemouth, because of severe flooding. My parents never let me hear the end of it. Although, I much preferred being in the company of the other lads in my regiment." He sighed, as if thinking back to that time, and took another sip of his drink.

"Christmas is the thing where you all wear red hats and ride cervines, right? I never understood it." She said, looking at him with a quizzical expression. "I should probably visit Europe or something. Or the Americas... you're a Brit, have you ever been in the Americas?"

[Chaos Crescent]

'Hallo! Do you have anything to eat here at all or a drink, preferably both?' Drake asked

Then he took at a rock a flat one and spun it around on the counter top bored. Barely paying attention to others as they barely paid attention to him as is common in taverns.

[Ava Ire]

Gwen walks in, wearing her same coat from yesterday. Today, however, she wore winter boots and a shawl.
She took a seat at the bar.

[Barboneia]

He chuckled a bit. "Ah, reminds me of how I was stuck in London back in 1826 near Christmas and wasn't able to get back to my family's manor in Bournemouth, because of severe flooding. My parents never let me hear the end of it. Although, I much preferred being in the company of the other lads in my regiment." He sighed, as if thinking back to that time, and took another sip of his drink.

"Christmas is the thing where you all wear red hats and ride cervines, right? I never understood it." She said, looking at him with a quizzical expression. "I should probably visit Europe or something. Or the Americas... you're a Brit, have you ever been in the Americas?"

"Christmas is the day faithful Christian servants like myself celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ, the son of God. Our entire religion was named after him, he's quite important. It's a day to give gifts to friends and relatives, and act kindly to all those you meet." He scoffed at the mention of America. "The very suggestion that I would want to go to the Americas is utterly wrong. There is absolutely nothing worth going there for, unless you like mining coal and chopping down trees. Thankfully we were able to put down those seditious 'Americans' back in the 1770s." He sighed, and downed most of his drink. He leaned back in his seat. "Pardon my language, but, by God, I so wish I had been born earlier so I could've fought there against those 'revolutionaries'. I've never been in actual live combat in my eight years in the military."

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

Gwen walks in, wearing her same coat from yesterday. Today, however, she wore winter boots and a shawl.
She took a seat at the bar.

"There's another human! I told you, Carme-" The moustachioed Melanth was promptly shushed by his sister, and he muttered, rather upset.

Her sister replied in her usual dull tone. "She was here yesterday. She doesn't count. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear you had a thing for humans, Josef."

"Christmas is the day faithful Christian servants like myself celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ, the son of God. Our entire religion was named after him, he's quite important. It's a day to give gifts to friends and relatives, and act kindly to all those you meet." He scoffed at the mention of America. "The very suggestion that I would want to go to the Americas is utterly wrong. There is absolutely nothing worth going there for, unless you like mining coal and chopping down trees. Thankfully we were able to put down those seditious 'Americans' back in the 1770s." He sighed, and downed most of his drink. He leaned back in his seat. "Pardon my language, but, by God, I so wish I had been born earlier so I could've fought there against those 'revolutionaries'. I've never been in actual live combat in my eight years in the military."

"I think I've heard of Jesus before... your god is the guy nailed to a cross, right? I mean, I don't know anything about religion, but that's a mighty poor god you've got if he's stuck to some wood." She chuckled uncomfortably, unsure if she was about to be punted across the room. "I don't know, I rather liked the idea of an untamed wilderness outside of Iracusia. Oh, and those Aztecs are awesome! Jaguar heads and everything. I wish more armies incorporated animal skins into their uniforms." She smiled widely. "And the Alyeska colony has a very successful whale-hunting industry, I'm told. It's where all the oil for our lamps come from, y'know."

[Barboneia]

"Christmas is the day faithful Christian servants like myself celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ, the son of God. Our entire religion was named after him, he's quite important. It's a day to give gifts to friends and relatives, and act kindly to all those you meet." He scoffed at the mention of America. "The very suggestion that I would want to go to the Americas is utterly wrong. There is absolutely nothing worth going there for, unless you like mining coal and chopping down trees. Thankfully we were able to put down those seditious 'Americans' back in the 1770s." He sighed, and downed most of his drink. He leaned back in his seat. "Pardon my language, but, by God, I so wish I had been born earlier so I could've fought there against those 'revolutionaries'. I've never been in actual live combat in my eight years in the military."

"I think I've heard of Jesus before... your god is the guy nailed to a cross, right? I mean, I don't know anything about religion, but that's a mighty poor god you've got if he's stuck to some wood." She chuckled uncomfortably, unsure if she was about to be punted across the room. "I don't know, I rather liked the idea of an untamed wilderness outside of Iracusia. Oh, and those Aztecs are awesome! Jaguar heads and everything. I wish more armies incorporated animal skins into their uniforms." She smiled widely. "And the Alyeska colony has a very successful whale-hunting industry, I'm told. It's where all the oil for our lamps come from, y'know."

"I'm sure the Culdranth controlled areas are quite nice, of course, but our colonies aren't. Except for New France. Sure, we may have kicked the French out of that area and taken over their controlled lands, effectively removing them from the continent, but we were nice enough to keep the name the same for the region. I hear the cities of Mahntre... Mon..." He coughs, clearing his throat. "...Montreal, and... Erm... Quebeck are nice places."

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

"I'm sure the Culdranth controlled areas are quite nice, of course, but our colonies aren't. Except for New France. Sure, we may have kicked the French out of that area and taken over their controlled lands, effectively removing them from the continent, but we were nice enough to keep the name the same for the region. I hear the cities of Mahntre... Mon..." He coughs, clearing his throat. "...Montreal, and... Erm... Quebeck are nice places."

"If I ever make a killing off this snake oil business I'll have to check 'em out. I've always wanted to go somewhere dreadfully cold."

[Barboneia]

"I'm sure the Culdranth controlled areas are quite nice, of course, but our colonies aren't. Except for New France. Sure, we may have kicked the French out of that area and taken over their controlled lands, effectively removing them from the continent, but we were nice enough to keep the name the same for the region. I hear the cities of Mahntre... Mon..." He coughs, clearing his throat. "...Montreal, and... Erm... Quebeck are nice places."

"If I ever make a killing off this snake oil business I'll have to check 'em out. I've always wanted to go somewhere dreadfully cold."

He raises an eyebrow. "Snake oil? Oil from a snake? How do you extract it? It sounds dangerous. What are it's properties?"

[Planet hephestus]

A new patron walks in with heavy blacksmithing leathers, smelling of hot metal and wood smoke ( because coal sucks rocks) also wearing a heavy fur lined leather overcoat with goggles on his forehead with a strong upper body and seemed to skip leg day for a few years featuring a slightly long beard sat down at the bar and introduced himself as hephestus smith and said that he was named this because of physical build as a baby and was the owner of a successful smith shop not too far from here

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

He raises an eyebrow. "Snake oil? Oil from a snake? How do you extract it? It sounds dangerous. What are it's properties?"

"It's, ah... a euphemism. I sell fake potions and 'magic' artifacts. I deal in bullshit, basically." She chuckles. "Snake oil is just a catch-all term for the mixes of water and other things I throw together. Call it a 'mysterious Aztec cure-all' and idiot farmers will flock to you like flies to honey! It's incredible. You just have to be able to skip town before they realize that the cure didn't work."

She cackles. "As if a bottle of water could make you as strong as an Arkadacian! Pshaw, they deserve to lose their cash."

[Chaos Crescent]

A new patron walks in with heavy blacksmithing leathers, smelling of hot metal and wood smoke ( because coal sucks rocks) also wearing a heavy fur lined leather overcoat with goggles on his forehead with a strong upper body and seemed to skip leg day for a few years featuring a slightly long beard sat down at the bar and introduced himself as hephestus smith and said that he was named this because of physical build as a baby and was the owner of a successful smith shop not too far from here

Drake would smell the smoke, metal along with sweat before he even entered the tavern.

'Oh, hello blacksmith. How are you?'

[Barboneia]

He raises an eyebrow. "Snake oil? Oil from a snake? How do you extract it? It sounds dangerous. What are it's properties?"

"It's, ah... a euphemism. I sell fake potions and 'magic' artifacts. I deal in bullshit, basically." She chuckles. "Snake oil is just a catch-all term for the mixes of water and other things I throw together. Call it a 'mysterious Aztec cure-all' and idiot farmers will flock to you like flies to honey! It's incredible. You just have to be able to skip town before they realize that the cure didn't work."

She cackles. "As if a bottle of water could make you as strong as an Arkadacian! Pshaw, they deserve to lose their cash."

"Sounds illegal. Are the authorities of the state aware of your actions?"

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

A new patron walks in with heavy blacksmithing leathers, smelling of hot metal and wood smoke ( because coal sucks rocks) also wearing a heavy fur lined leather overcoat with goggles on his forehead with a strong upper body and seemed to skip leg day for a few years featuring a slightly long beard sat down at the bar and introduced himself as hephestus smith and said that he was named this because of physical build as a baby and was the owner of a successful smith shop not too far from here

The barkeep waves at him, smiling slightly. "Heya... think I've heard of you from somewhere."

"Sounds illegal. Are the authorities of the state aware of your actions?"

"It's ENTIRELY legal! Especially because I haven't done it in Culdranthine yet. I've done it in all the Arkadacian countries and Ahl Cuhlt. So they kinda look the other way because I'm scamming their rivals."

[Ava Ire]

Gwen walks in, wearing her same coat from yesterday. Today, however, she wore winter boots and a shawl.
She took a seat at the bar.

"There's another human! I told you, Carme-" The moustachioed Melanth was promptly shushed by his sister, and he muttered, rather upset.

Her sister replied in her usual dull tone. "She was here yesterday. She doesn't count. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear you had a thing for humans, Josef."

Gwen looked over at them, overhearing the rather loud Melanth. She raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"What an odd fellow," she remarked to herself. She stifled a laugh, before turning back to the bar table. Gwen ordered a steaming cup of tea.