Just a drink

[thisone]

The rain came down heavy as the door opened. It was suprisingly quiet in the Dancing Devil, save for the snores of a man who had passed out in a corner table, and a five-man cardgame going on near the center of the common area. The five men in the middle looked up at the figure that walked in, it's boots clanking with the sound of wet steel. In all honesty, this man looked as if he had spent years in the wild, or atleast so many years without a fresh change of clothes. As the man stepped closer into the soft candlelight, it became exeedingly obvious that this was not exactly the kind of drifter you see every day. His left arm was fully encased in platemail, his right only shielded in a metal gloveless gauntlet. His chest was covered in a tattered, rip, and sleeveless tunic, while his legs were clothed by a pair of leather armor pants. His feet, as one could have guessed, had on a pair of black boots with metal blades extending up over the toe and heel like mini axe blades. On his hip was a sword, and on his back was a bow and quivver.

The man made his way to the bar and took a seat, the men having paused their cardgame to watch him, and even the drunk in the corner woke up and looked over. The barmaid looked at the man with a small bit of fear, he being atleast seven feet tall and thick with muscle. The man looked up and regarded the poor girl with mild interest, his grey eyes, who look as if they've seen far too much death, wandering over her body. His face was square and hard, a scar running from his right eyebrown to his left cheekbone. "Can I have a drink of water" he said, his voice sounding gruff and old.

[Moridanu]

(( Arianwen Chandell))

*The cold air that blew in with the latest arrival as he entered the tavern, carried the scent of her brethren who were waiting for her outside. Arianwen tucked one long strand of pale blonde hair behind one ear as she glanced at the old clock that stood against the far wall of the bar. Though the glass had been broken after being on the receiving end of more than one bar room brawl in its time, the clock itself still worked, and she was able to see the hands if she squinted enough. Her shift was over in half an hour, and she sighed deeply in frustration before turning to look at the new arrival.

As he asked for a glass of water, she offered a nod of her head followed by a shy smile as she moved to fill a tankard with the fresh water she had just pulled from the well a few hours ago. Carrying the drink back over to the man, she slid it across the bar and murmered

~One silver piece please sir.~ she murmered, peering out at him from beneath thick lashes. *

[darkflameangel]

(Camriska Duval)

Cammy walked in, kicking the rain water from her black boots and shaking it from her crimson tunic and black pants. she walked smoothly up to the bar, catologueing everyone in the room for memory, and sat down. "Ma'am? do you have any wine perchance?" she said with a voice somewhere inbetween, like she didn't belong anywhere, but it didn't bother her.She smiled sweetly at the madien.

[Blood and Roses]

Gwydion sat with his back in a corner, with his cloak pulled around his body and his hood low over his face. It had been a simple matter to slip that fool sailor the elixer that left him slumbering peacefully on the table in front of him. The minor enchantment on his cloak, along with the poor lighting and modest concealment provided by the sleeping form of the hulking sailor, made him practically invisible in his shadowed corner. Said location also made a decent vantage with which to observe those entering the common room through the front door.

In other times, Gwydion would have chosen a spot near the fire to dry himself on such a dreary, rain-soaked night, and called to the bar maid to feed his companions and fill them with stout drink. Endrit would play a tune on his lyre, and Fanna would sing in a voice that could make a man cheer or weep as she willed. Tulen and Gorgaf would likely start a brawl, the brawny twins at the eye of the malestrom, while quick-fingered Chio would steal everything that wasn't nailed down.

The memories of his companions brought a fierce stinging to Gwydion's eyes, and he quickly blinked the feeling away. If the Hunters had managed to track him this far, he would need his wits about him, and wallowing in sorrow would not aid him if they did. He would likely flee once more, unwilling to take arms against his former Brothers. Gwydion was no coward, but he could not allow himself to be captured. He could not dishonor his fallen compatriots so.

Almost without thinking, he reached up to touch the bands of metal that covered his torso, beneath which a scar the length of a spearhead throbbed in time with his heartbeat. Each pulse brought a fresh ache, each ache a memory of the ultimate sacrifice his friends had made. A cleric could easily have removed the wound, but Gwydion refused to allow himself this merciful surcease. This pain, this scar, would serve as a reminder that he had to survive if he wanted to avenge their slaughter.

As the grizzled giant entered, Gwydion looked up sharply, muscles tensed as he prepared to slip out the kitchen door. The heavy footsteps even jarred the snoring sailor from his sleep for a moment. Could it be... no, this man was not one of his persuers. As the large warrior eased himself onto a barstool, Gwydion let out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding. This is foolishness, he thought angrily. Should I cower at every man in armor, I will live always in fear.

Gwydion stood and removed his wet cloak, a finely tailored black garment with runes of silver threading stitched along the inside hem. His face came fully into the light, revealing proud features; a straight nose and square jaw, eyes the color of emeralds set above high cheekbones. His black hair was soaked, despite the hood, and hung in wet strands down to his chin.

[Blood and Roses]

((d'oh! Wrapping it up, I promise))

Gwydion made his way to the fireplace, hanging his cloak to one side. His armor, mithril straps bound across his torso and over his shoulders to leather underplates, and mithril gauntlets with fine etchings down the forearms, was wet and would need to be dried out lest the leather be ruined. The rain had soaked into the untreated straps, and they were swollen within the buckles. Gwydion swore to himself, glancing around.

He gestured to the barmaid, a sheepish look upon his face. "Miss, I know you are busy, but I require some assistance... is your lord about? Unless, that is, you are familiar with armors..." He smiled apologetically, gesturing to the swollen straps.

[Arianwen Chandell]

(( Excuse the small autos I have made in the interest of keeping this plot moving.. ))

* Arianwen offered another smile and a slight nod as she took the offered silver coin and moved down the bar to place it in the money box. As she moved down towards the other end of the bar, she sensed something shifting in the shadows at the back of the tavern, though her curious jade green eyes failed to notice anything other than darkness.

Dropping the coin into the wooden chest that sat under the bar with a loud chink, Ariawen looked up as another patron entered. Seeing the amount of water that this vampire brought with her, Arianwen cast a worried glance out towards the back door, fearful for her family’s discomfort. The youngest male of the pack stepped forward out of the shadows at the back of the hallway near the door, and looked at her with sombre silver eyes. Speaking silently to him with her own eyes and body language, the two shared a moment before he turned and disappeared back into the shimmering shadows outside. Rain cascaded down in a breathtaking waterfall, the light from the tavern causing it to ripple and burn in the darkness. Sighing deeply, she forced what she hoped would be a welcoming smile upon her lips as she turned back to face the vampire and nodded.

~Aye m’lady..~ She chewed her bottom lip in thought as she struggled with her broken speech. ~ Have wine… good wine… Blood Wine..?~* The last was a question, as she asked the woman for her order. While she moved to get the lady’s drink, Baghdar walked into the tavern. Taking his usual place on his stool, Arianwen nodded to him silently, grabbing a medium sized brown cauldron from beneath the bar. Dropping it on the bar in front of him, Baghdar grunted his thanks as he watched her deliver the lady’s drink. Accepting the payment, she dropped it into the money box before she picked up a large bucket and scooped out too large spoonfuls into Baghdars bowl. The liquid bubbled and squealed in the bowl before Baghdar emptied the bowl in three disgusting slurps and licked it dry. Arianwen knew by now to look away from Baghdar as he ate, and she happily fetched his glass of goats milk while he finished his meal. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the shadows shift, and a man appeared from behind a cloak sitting in the same corner she had inspected a few moments before. Arianwen spared the man a casual glance of curiosity before she turned back to deliver the goats milk, and to check on the woman. After making sure that the woman didn’t require anything else, Arianwen was about to make her way to the back store room to grab her bags of left over food for her brethren, when a voice called out for her assistance. Turning quickly, she saw it was the man she had seen in the shadowed corner moments ago. A deep sigh escaped her silently, before she straightened her back, tucked one pale blonde strand behind her ear and walked to his end of the bar.

Stepping out from behind the bar, Arianwen revealed her uniform, comprising of the required white peasant blouse that hung off her shoulders and was tied over her ample bosom with a pale brown leather thread. Cinched in at the waist with a wide black buckled belt, the blouse was teamed with a black skirt that hung loose around her thighs before stopping high enough to reveal thin but muscular calves that tapered down to her feet. These feet were delicately encased by soft brown leather sandals. Approaching the man, Arianwen cast a curious glance at his armour, before looking at him helplessly. ~Master.. busy. I…..help dry?~ her voice was lilting, like that of a child’s as she looked at him with green eyes that mirrored the colour of his own. Gesturing towards the fire, she walked over to where two empty barrels stood. Kicking one over onto its side, she rolled it over to the fireplace and propped it upright. After placing the mans wet gauntlets on the barrel, she motioned for him to do the same with the other garments and barrel as she stooped down in front of the fireplace to stoke the fire. The flames danced before her casting a rosey hue upon her exposed alabaster shoulders. Throwing another log onto the fire, she smiled instantly at the small sparks of fire that crackled and leapt out at her from their roaring inferno behind the grate of the cast iron fire place. Straightening up, she turned back around to face the man to see if she could be of any further assistance. Her shift ended in a few minutes and she was eager to feed her wet family waiting outside.*

[darkflameangel]

Cammy drank her blood wine peacefully, trying not to notice the bodies around her too much. for a moment she thought she recognized one of them, but soon that passed, who would know her here, so far from her original place? she sighed and finished her wine. The man she thought looked familiar was not getting his garments dried... why does he look so familar... she got up and walked to him, "Pardon me sir, but, have we met?"

[thisone]

((Sorry about taking so long))

The man took his drink in his naked hand and, his debt paid, drank deeply from it. As if he hadn't gotten enough of the liquid outside. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the shimmering of a magic cloak revealing the man beneath it. And the smell of blood was freash from this newcomer. As this man walked to the fire, it was evident by the sound of his footsteps he was in pain, both physical and emotional. To be able to learn about an opponent's mind from his physical actions was a skill that either grew stronger with time, or didn't exist at all. The later case was usualy followed by a slow and painful death. He also noticed that the woman beside him's voice was stranger than normal, as if she were stuck between planes of existance. And when she walked over to the man in pain, a small ease came over the warrior's mind.

The only really disturbing thing he saw, aside from the disgusting slurps coming from a few stools down the bar, was how easily a vampire would be welcomed into the establishment. Granted, the warrior had known many nice vampires, even fighting alongside quite a few of them, but the fact remained that they fed off the lifeforce of other creatures. However, now that the warrior knew, it seemed obviouse to him, what with her almost silent steps as the woman moved towards the man by the fire.

However, his attention was quickly ripped from the barmaid when the clanking sound of armor echoed in his ears, the pitter-patter of the rain dancing on the metal plating telling him that there was more than one of them, five by his count, and they were getting closer. He didn't turn to face them as they came to the door, and he didn't do anything as they stepped inside and took a look around. They weren't here for the warrior, which ment only one, very bad, thing. Thankfully they must not have taken a very detailed look around, else this bar would have gotten very bloody very fast.

"We're looking for a man named Gwydion. If anyone here has any information about this man, your cooperation will be rewarded." The leader of this armored bunch said, his voice sounding clear and young. So sad, such a youth being pulled into such ugly business. Two tendrals of the warrior's long, grey hair fell into his face as he turned to the group, the poinytail that reached down to his tailbone fallling down over his shoulder as his eyes looked over the group.

"Why do you look for this man?" the warrior at the bar asked as he sipped his water, wanting to know more before killing anyone. Granted, they probably weren't going to tell him much, but their voices would give him more information then their words probably could.

((I hope you don't mind me throwing a monkeywrench into this little thing, but i figured it wasn't going to go anywhere else at the moment))

[darkflameangel]

Cammy smiled at the men in the armor, "Yes, why would you want to find 'this man'"

((sorry so short but i'm suffering from writers block give me a little bit and I will give you a HUGE one I promise!!!!!!))

[Blood and Roses]

((sorry for the delay guys, here we go))

Gwydion tugged at the leather strap on the side of his torso, beneath his arm, swearing softly when it did not budge. He tucked his gauntleted hand beneath his arm and jerked his hand free of it, hoping he would have more luck barehanded. Before he could attack the stubborn leather again, he caught sight of the approaching barmaid from the corner of his eye.

Gwydion froze, eyes locked upon the woman moving to assist him. In any other inn, at any other time, he would have smiled his most pleasant smile and turned on the charm while trying to keep his eyes from wandering across the maid's shapely figure. However, no such efforts were needed, as he could not tear his gaze away from the woman's eyes, green jewels glittering in the firelight. Eyes like his, eyes he had only seen once before. As he watched, they seemed to burn with their own inner fire, and the emerald flames filled his vision, and his mind was flooded with memory...

Gwydion's legs had finally ceased the agonized burning, to be replaced by a cramped numbness. In the last 24 hours he had spent 20 of them upon his knees, his mind empty of all but the prayer he had repeated countlessly, endlessly, into the air of the empty chapel. The ache in his stomache had ceased, as had his long-unquenched thirst. His mind was filled with the words of the ritual, which would be complete when dawn's first rays touched his face.

As the sun's light finally shone through the stained glass, it slowly crept down the chapel wall, and filled the air above Gwydion's head with a fantastic kelidescope of brilliant beams. The rays spun and danced through the air, seeming to weave themselves into shapes and patterns unseen by the would-be knight until they twisted together into a single stream of illumination, and lanced down and into his eyes.

With a cry, Gwydion fell back, the brilliance in his eyes unnoticed as his mind was filled with the same holy blaze. He felt a presence within him, a faint brush against his conciousness, but it had left a mark upon his soul. A figure filled his mind, made indistinguishable by the radiant corona that surrounded it, and gone again. The light cooled his burning muscles and soothed his parched throat. It filled him with fresh vigor and purpose. Then it, too, had drained away, leaving behind only the image of two blazing emerald eyes, eyes the color of his own.

A brush with the divine left him gasping on his back, his mind screaming many things, but only one clear thought emerged.

"...mother? I..."

"I... help... dry?" The lilting voice broke through the memory and hauled Gwydion out of his revery. Even so, he still found himself unable to move, unable to tear his eyes away from the woman. Dumbly he watched as she took his gauntlets from his nerveless fingers and layed them on the overturned barrel. When she turned to face him once more, he managed to find his voice, but not the words he sought.

"No, I didn't mean... I could've... " Gwydion cleared his throat and shook himself mentally, forcing himself to focus. This woman was busy, and other concerns weighed heavily upon her, shone clearly on her face. "Ah, thank you, miss. I think I can manage from here. A moment, I will fetch you a coin for your trouble."

As Gwydion was reaching for his pouch, the tell-tale sound of rain on metal plate brought the hairs on his neck to stand on end. Only a fool wore his plate bare in the rain, and he knew such fools were close behind him. He quickly, gracefully spun 'round the barmaid, grabbing his cloak from the hook by the fireplace as he did so, and with another quick twirl threw it across his shoulders and head, ending the turn standing directly behind the woman who had so thoroughly entranced him.

The cloak's magic took effect just before the door swung open, admitting the armored brutes he knew to be Hunters. Gwydion had not expected them to be here so quickly, having taken them for a merry chase through the woods outside town and losing them far upriver more than a day ago. He must be getting tired, for them to have tracked him so easily.

"We're looking for a man named Gwydion. If anyone here has any information about this man, your cooperation will be rewarded." The Hunter's voice was loud and rough, and somewhat nasal. His face was a testament to his experience in battle. His face was scarred liberally, and his nose had been mashed many times, never having been set right. His hair was plastered wetly to his skull, and his armor was starting to rust around the edges.

"Why do you look for this man?" This from the enormous warrior at the bar, water in hand.

"Yes, why would you want to find 'this man'" A feeling like a chill wind blew from this one, only perceptible to those attuned to such things. Gwydion was, as were the Hunters, and knew her to be a vampire. The mercenaries were immediately on guard.

The lead Hunter stepped forward, one hand upon his sword hilt and the other pulling forth a golden sunburst from his beltpouch. He held it before him like a badge of authority. "We are independant contractors, comissioned by the Order of the Breaking Dawn to retrieve him, that he may stand trial for the slaughter of several of their members, including his own companions."

The leader came further into the Inn, his companions following close behind. While the lesser Hunters all eyed the massive warrior at the bar, the Leader faced the vampiress. "The Order will handsomely reward any news that leads to his arrest. He wears mithril armor and carries a large blade, with a pommel that looks like this." He waved the sunburst in his hand, scanning the room. "He is fair-skinned, dark haired, with..." The Leader's searching gaze locked onto Arianwen's face, "...green eyes."

A voice from directly behind Arianwen breathed into her ear, "Please, miss, don't move. I do not want to hurt these men." Gwydion carefully tucked his coin pouch into the back of Arianwen's belt. The lead Hunter gripped his sword firmly and strode towards her. "Just don't..." too late did Gwydion spy his gauntlets, laying atop the barrel by the fire, "... move."

[Blood and Roses]

((Holy cow! wasn't aiming for a whole chapter))

[thisone]

Warrior at the bar listened to all this, his ears pirking up at the mention of the Order of the Breaking Dawn. There was something familiar about that name, he had heard it before, but he could not remember where. Once the man was finished speaking, he turned and noticed the gauntlet on the stool. In a second, maybe less, the would notice it too, so he figured he should draw their attention away from it.

"Tell me, hunters, what is this 'Order of the Breaking Dawn'? What are it's practices, how powerful are it's clerics, and what is this man's true worth to them?" As he spoke, an idea came into his mind. It was a dumb idea, but an idea none the less. He would show interest in this prize, he would make them believe his intent would be to take the prize before they could. And honestly, the wealth he figured this guy was worth was actually somewhat tempting. He smiled and pulled his bow off his back let the bottom tip rest on the floor. "Tell me, what would it be worth if i handed his head in personaly?"

[Arianwen Chandell]

*As the mans eyes locked on hers, Arianwen lost herself in an endless sea of green. Energy passed between them, a current of electricity that had sparked something to be fully ignited at a later time, and Arianwen let out a shaky breath as she shook her head in answer to his offer to pay her.

~You .. no drink…? ~ She cursed herself inwardly at her inability to speak like a normal person, this flaw seemingly magnified by her closeness to this man. Her tongue felt thick and her mouth went dry as she tried in vain to express to him that she expected no payment for her kind deed. ~You drink… you pay… no drink.. no pay.~

Still her eyes were locked on emerald orbs that matched her own and she watched as he moved to draw his pouch, before he suddenly turned and reached for his cloak. With the sound of clanging metal ringing in her ears, Arianwen blinked as the man quickly disappeared. Seconds later, she felt his hot breath upon her neck and his aura mixed with her own, telling her that he was close. A ripple ran down her spine, causing her to shiver and Arianwen swallowed repeatedly as she turned slightly to look at the source of that strange sound of clanging metal, the arrival of the soldiers.

The war between Light and Dark still raged throughout Morthika, and Bendelsain was the heart of the empire. With the Barracks located less than a five minute stroll down the main street of Bendelsain, the arrival of soldiers at the tavern was nothing new to Arianwen. These men however were inquiring about a man by the name of Gwydion. Judging by the mans sudden need to disappear, she assumed that he was the Gwydian that the soldiers were searching for. Listening to the large warrior and vampiress at the bar ask the soldiers why they were looking for the man, Arianwen heard the words “Breaking Dawn”, “slaughter” and “companions”. If she understood the soldier correctly, the man standing behind her had killed his brethren in the morning and the soldiers had come to make him pay for his sins. Tensing slightly, Arianwen almost jumped out of her skin when the soldier turned his head and locked his gaze upon her.

She felt herself begin to perspire under his scrutinising gaze, and she bit her bottom lip nervously as she met the mans gaze and held it. With anxiety coursing through her veins, it was a wonder she didn’t scream out in fright as the man who hid behind her broke his silence to whisper in her ear.

"Please, miss, don't move. I do not want to hurt these men."


Arianwen knew that the soldier had said this man was a killer, but her heart told her that she should protect him. With every ounce of her will, she forced herself to hold the soldiers gaze as she shrugged and shook her head.

~I.. no .. see… man..~ she murmered, her anxiety growing as the soldier grew closer to her, his gaze never faltering. Her brother sensed her impending danger and without warning came running into the tavern from the back hallway. She turned to see her other brother and two sisters waiting in the far darkened end of the hallway. They were there to assist, but only if Arianwen needed their help. Her dark brother raced towards her, causing the other patrons of the tavern to shout out in alarm at the sight of a large dark grey wolf running through their bar. The 5 men involved in the card game jumped up in surprise, knocking over their table and consequently forfeiting the current game. For the skinny man with the strange tribal tattoo across one side of his bald head, who had been about to win a substantial amount of money, the forfeit was intolerable. He immediately began to yell his protest, taking out his frustration on the first man to refute his claims. Soon fists, pints and cards were flying through the centre of the tavern, providing the perfect distraction for Arianwen. Nodding down to her brother who had now arrived by her side, she turned around slightly to make sure the man could hear her. Lowering her voice to a whisper she said ~Go.. with.. brother. ~

If the man followed her advice and slipped out the back with her brethren she would be able to distract the soldiers and hopefully convince them that no such man had ever been here. Through the craziness of the erupting patrons of the tavern, she gulped as she saw that the soldiers gaze was still locked directly on her. As if in answer to her unspoken prayer however, the large warrior at the bar seemed to take it upon himself to distract the soldiers.

Shifting her gaze nervously, she glanced down to see the gauntlet on the barrel. Shooting a quick glance at her brother, she caught his gaze and directed it towards the gauntlet. Her brother quickly moved to the gauntlet and took it in his mouth before promptly disappearing into the darkened hallway with it, his glossy dark fur shimmering in the firelight before vanishing into the shadows once more. If he was quick enough the man would be able to disappear with him.

Smiling nervously, Arianwen stepped forward, hoping that the man had left with her brother. Slipping quickly behind the bar, she smiled her thanks at the large warrior as she walked towards him, before turning to face the same soldier who had stared at her so intently only moments before.

~You… want.. drink sir?~ she asked, blushing slightly as she fluttered her lashes the way that she had been taught. *

[darkflameangel]

((Yikes....))

Cammy watched and listened to the man, then coughed slightly, and in a smooth voice wispered to the man infront of her, " look at me. pay no head to the bar maid." as the man then directed his attention to her she smiled, "the reward as my large friend, "she nodded to the warrior "suggested, would be how much?" she smiled a little more, her fangs ever so slightly showing.

((writers block should DIE))

[Blood and Roses]

Tense moments passed, the Hunter gazing at Arianwen as though trying to draw a connection between the green-eyed barmaid and his quarry. The scarred youth approached Arianwen, hand on sword, and each step rang on the wooden floor like the fall of an executioner's axe.

Gwydion silently prayed to his Goddess, that he not shed any blood this day. The scar on his breast throbbed in time with the Hunter's foot falls, a portent of the violence to proceed. Gwydion felt his stomach tighten, his jaw clench, and he gripped the hilt of his sword with his unarmored hand, palm slick with sweat. He could not allow harm to come to the barmaid, whose only folly was in having eyes like his own. He reached up to the hood of his cloak; pulling it back would dispel the concealing effects of his hood, and draw the Hunters to him. Then the chase would resume.

He heard the sweet girl deny ever seeing him, in her broken way, and Gwydion smiled to himself. If he survived this encounter, he swore to himself to return and thank her properly.

"Tell me, hunters, what is this 'Order of the Breaking Dawn'? What are it's practices, how powerful are it's clerics, and what is this man's true worth to them?" the giant man at the bar rumbled to the Hunters, his voice filling the common room. The subordinate soldiers tensed as the great warrior drew his bow off of his back, hands reaching for weapons, and as he rest its end upon the floor, "Tell me, what would it be worth if i handed his head in personally?" The Hunter group stared warily at him, but the lead Hunter did not falter in his coarse. He walked with grim purpose toward the barmaid.

The sound of claws on wood heralded chaos. A large, dark wolf burst into the room, and the card-playing louts all stood hurriedly, upsetting the table and creating quite a clamor. They immediately took to fighting amongst themselves, and as one fellow quickly stooped to gather the coins scattered about the floor, another man struck a third full on the jaw, sending him reeling and crashing through the table where the sailor in the corner slept. Another man was shoved into the midst of the Hunters, who clouted the man solidly and tossed him back upon the wrecked card table. Soon a brawl was in full swing, knaves and Hunters, even he sailor awoke to join the fray.

"Go.. with.. brother." The barmaid turned slightly and whispered over her shoulder. Gwydion could only assume she was speaking to him, and quickly cast about to look for such a man. He saw none, but before he could begin to wonder at her meaning, the wolf that so abruptly entered the inn had snatched his gauntlet from the barrel by the fireplace and left the way it came. What the...? Gwydion watched as the maid stared after the wolf, and comprehension set in. He grinned and pelted after the furry "brother", the sound of his boots almost indistinguishable amidst the brawling patrons.

The leader of the Hunters did not break his gaze from Arianwen even when his men joined he melee. He started to make his way around the fight, until a chill breeze, a sussuruss of dark energy, flicked across his consciousness. He sensed the evil power working to bend his thoughts, but could not resist the force of their command. He tore his gaze from Arianwen to look upon the vampiress, Camriska, as she spoke.

"The reward, as my large friend suggested, would be how much?"

The Hunter shook himself, and quickly set to hollering at his men, who quickly ended their antics and reformed ranks at the door. The brawl quickly subsided, the other participants unconscious or licking their wounds in neutral corners, and the lead Hunter ordered his men to stand watch outside.

As the soldiers filed out, the Hunter turned his attention back to the giant and the vampiress. He motioned for the barmaid to bring him a drink, and sat himself at the bar. "His head is worthless, without the rest of him attached, hale and hearty" he said with a sigh. "Which complicates my job tremendously."

The Hunter captain cleared his throat and continued, "To answer your earlier question, the Breaking Dawn is an order of demon slayers and undead hunters. They worship a pantheon of sun-aligned deities and typically call upon the sun for their magic. Their priests are some of the greatest foes to the Living Dead, and their paladins are matchless foils to the demonic." The Hunter spat upon the floor. "And righteous enough to make you vomit."

"Gwydion Shadowbane was one of their champions, until he was corrupted by darkness. There is very little information about how or when he was taken, merely the word of the High Priest of the Breaking Dawn, really. But I don't need information, as long as their coin is good."

He is charged with slaying two priests, including the head of his chapter, and murdering his band mates, lesser members of the Order. He is to be brought home alive, that he may face trial and execution. The bounty is a sum of 10,000 crowns, to be paid to me upon delivery. I am offering 10% for information leading to his capture, and 50% for his physical delivery." The Hunter Captain looked over the two, warrior and vampire, and smiled crookedly. "Any takers?"