New Face in Town

	The Ox-Strength Tavern, midday

The noon-day crowd is generally quiet, the usual trouble-makers off at hard jobs, or set to sea, leaving the older geezers to keep the benches and barstools warm. The barkeep, an Aesir woman, laughs at some joke just told by an ancient mariner, a man with a missing hand, replaced with a hook. They trade friendly barbs in heavily accented tradespeak.

Few other patrons are scattered in twos and threes, huddled together over hot apple cider, kafe, or the daily stew.

One of the cozy chairs by the pot bellied stove has an occupant, a wee Goblin in black leather. The chair's been dragged up close to the stove, and she rests her bare feet near it, enjoying the heat. "Oi Rose, another curry?" Murder holds up an empty bowl, probably licked clean. With a snort, the barkeep turns and heads into the kitchen,

She had only recently arrived in the city. A destination come upon more bhy happenstance than a planned journey. She had no particular destination, simply wandering south from Stormgarde, a place she had seldom left. All of this was new to her and the city itself had proven to be somewhat overwhelming. Large buildings, different races, all of it was a culture shock to say the least, but one thing she did know was that she was hungry.

The snow did not bother her. In fact, it really was all she knew. Cold weather was the norm in her Jarldom of Steinholar. Yet, as she wandered the city looking for something to eat, she found herself making her way towards a seedier part of town. It was quieter and the people she saw started to look a lot more like those from back home; well at least bit and that comforted her.

She found herself outside the Ox-Strength Tavern and after a pause in front of the door she opened it, taking a moment to pause in the doorway and assess the room before entering. Cold air swooped in before she finally closed the door behind her and with a purposeful stride made her way to the small stove, her eyes glancing to the other patrons as if assessing their stares. Hands extended to the stove, the Aesir woman remained standing, her eyes turning to the figure sitting in the chair in front of the stove.

It was a narrowed eye glance, trying to deduce exactly what she was looking at. Was it a pet? Could it speak? Only one way to find out. She knelt down before the stoe, hands still extended as the snow started to melt from her shoulders. "Anything good to eat here?" A simple inquiry to start.

"'Ere now, shut the door!", a cloaked man complains, just as Kadlin shuts the door. He huffs into his hands, and wraps them around his mug, looking away.

The Goblin peers at Kadlin as the woman approaches, and she sits up. "Well, I like the curry here. Has a good heat to it, even if they do use rat meat." A bowl of said curry the thonked onto Murder's head, and she growls as the barkeep snorts. "It's chicken, not rat.", Rose says. She steps away as the Goblin digs in.

"Been walking far?", she wonders, in between bites of curry. There's not much chewing going on, just rapid ingestion.

It speaks. That was a bit of a surprise. Kadlin half-expected a little yip or perhaps a growl of sorts. When something intelligible comes out of the Goblin's mouth she blinks a few times and actually extends a finger to gently poke thr goblin in the side of the shoulder. "Can't blame this one of the mead." She watches as the little figure scarfs down the curry, making a somewhat expression of disbelief. "Rat meat? Have had that before. Little chewy but..."

She turns her head a moment to look to the man who huffed about the door, a stated word in his direction. "Mind your way or get a thicker cloak."

Eyes slide back to Murder and she continues her conversation. "Far? You could say that. Stormgarde. Only just arrived here in the city with no real purpose or plan. I kind of like it that way." She watches as the spoons of curry find their way into the goblin's mouth. "Where do you put it all?" It was a legitimate question.

The barkeep makes her way just then over to where the pair are before the stove, taking a chance at her appearance and murmuring a few words in her native Aesir dialect. Kadlin's smile was evident as she replied in the same words. Perhaps this city was not going to be so bad after all. "What she is having. The chicken option. And a mead."

The Goblin eyes the finger poking at her shoulder, and cants her head to one side. She stands up on the chair, all three and a half feet of her. "Stormgarde? That's a little bit of a walk. I'm from east of there. Had me whole tribe killed in a war, just me'n'my sister left alive. Da brought us down here, though Da is not my real father, but he raised us til he could not longer contain us." Murder laughs.

"Rat meat is okay, better with spices, but it's not really healthy t'eat, they're bottom feeders, like fish, eat everything that hit th'floor." The Goblin makes a face, and then offers up a small hand. "Name's Murder. Nice ta meet ya."

The barkeep nods, and peeks her head into the kitchen, yelling out an order, before going to pour mead into a stein.

"And you're in luck!", the little woman says, "The Guild here has plenny of jobs, I am sure ye can lend yer..." The Goblin steps back a little, to look Kadlin up and down. "Yer axe to a good cause."

Kadlin listens to the story about the Goblin's past, truly listening. She knew of loss and could relate. As she stands upon the chair, Kadlin leans back a bit, giving ample space to the figure before her. "I am sorry for the loss of your tribe. War is a terrible thing. Yet, sometimes it is the only solution." Interesting words coming from a worshipper of Kor.

"Well yes, rat is not the most healthy of things to eat, a lot of diseases and other things festering within. Sometimes tho, when there is nothing else the risk is worth the starvation." She shrugs and gives the goblin a wink. "Luckily, I am not that hungry to sink to that level."

Her head cants to the side at the mention of the guild, clearly interested as to what this entails. "The Guild? You mean there is a chance for me to make a living here? Earn some money?" Her hand move to rub her chin slowly. "Perhaps I should look into this Guild. If I can make some coin swinging this or protecting others it might keep me from having to eat rat curry."

She small hand is taken and gently shook, Kadlin's own hands rough, weathered and a few small scars. "Murder? Your name is Murder?" A slow nod is given. "Is that your real name or did you earn it?" She watches the little goblin with a raised brow. "Kadlin. Kadlin Bjornsdottir of Steinholar."

"War is one thing, but it shouldn't lead to extermination.", Murder says with a frown. "But there will come a time when I return, and take revenge for my tribe. Learning how t'be the best I can be first, though. Then I'm going to go kill ol' One-eye, and whomever's left of his tribe." The Goblin spends a few moments inhaling the last of her curry from the bowl. "And I put it all inta my two hollow legs.", she says with a messy, toothy grin and a wink.

The barkeep arrives a moment after, setting down a bowl of curry chicken over rice, and two large steins of mead. The little table, normally nestled between the two comfortable chairs, is dragged closer. "You can use the other chair if you like.", Rose says, while Murder snags one of the mead glasses. It doesn't last long, though her eyes may be floating in mead by the time she's done.

Letting out a belch, she giggles at length. "I earned it, and I named meself!"

"As for money, the guild will pay. Lots of missions. Sometimes as..." She lets out a lengthy belch and pats her stomach. "Oof. Sometimes as caravan guards, or a search party for lost... whatevers, and as dungeon explorers or monster killers."

Kadlin has her own opinions of war. Some groups in her mind deserved to be exterminated. Yet, she was not going to expound upon that matter any longer. There were victors in war and the victimized, and who sat along side her was one of the victims. However, hearing about her desire to seek revenge was addressed. "Justice is a powerful motivator Murder. And you certainly deserve it. I would not desire to be Ol' One Eye when you finally decided to seek it.A small laugh is given as she looks at the goblin's legs. "In your hollow legs? Well that aswers that question, does it not?"

As the curry arrives her hands move to pick up the bowl, taking a small bite and savoring the flavor. It had been quite a while since she had a properly cooked meal. Many prior to this had been cooked over an open fire and without spice. "This is quite good. I can see why you ate it so quickly." There is a bit more mannerism in how Kadlin eats, but not proper by a long shot.

The loud belch is met with another wide eyed glance. It was not something Kadlin was unaccustomed to, she was raised among Aesir men and women, but coming from the diminuitive goblin it took her back a bit. "Did that come from the hollow legs too?" The slightest of smiles.

The mead was then reached for and a long sip taken, savoring the flavor she had not tasted in quite some time. "Now that is what I needed." Another sip. "Caravan guards? Dungeon explorers? Monster Killers? I think that is something I could find myself becoming quite adept at. Will you show me where this guild is when we depart?"

She finally now takes the seat by the stove, looking over at her companion. "Are there places ot stay in the city as well for someone such as myself?"

The Goblin cackles and shakes her head. "Nah, that was my stomach. Soon, th'food coma will take over and I'll nap for a while."

The curry has a savory flavour, bordering on sweet, and the chicken is well cooked, the rice too. "It's good for a tavern, and definitely worth the price." The mead is good, and the flavour speaks of home, surely made by some Aesir's hand. Deserving more than being guzzled down, like some Goblin.

"Sure, I'll show you the Guildhall. Oh, you could also check out the Colosseum! You looks pretty strong, Kadlin Bjornsdottir, perhaps you could be a gladiator, and fight for glory and honor!" Murder pauses, her eyes wide. Her silence is then marred by a noisy hiccup. Then another. And another. "I ha... hate hiccups.", she says with a frown. "Oh y.. y... yes! There are places all 'round. Prolly wouldn't want ta stay in the backroom here. Too cold an' they won't let ya burn nothing to keep warm." The barkeep bangs the bartop. "Ye and yer bloody fire!" Murder responds by sticking out her tongue at Rose. "Set one building on fiah and they never let you live it down."

"A nap does sound good. Cannot remember the last time I had a good night's rest since leaving Steinholar." She takes another long sip of the mead and stares at the stove for a moment before speaking once more. "Good mead. No doubt any proper Aesir would serve anything less. I might have to come back here. The atmosphere is delightful." Another small smile.

She settles back into the chair resting the mead on her lap. "There is a Colosseum? Here in the city? I should very much like to see that. I competed in many tournaments hosted by my King. I might enjoy that. Make a little bit of money perhaps and get my name out there for further opportunities. Yes, I would very much appreciate it if you were to show me that as well and perhaps direct me on who to speak to in order to set up my potential involvement."

A long sip of the mead is taken and she look over at the goblin once more. "Yes, owners tend to frown upon when their establishment is set ablaze. Quite literally their profit goes up in smoke."

"The mead and ales are good! This place used ta have a poor reputation, but everything's pretty good now." The Goblin stretches out to pat Kadlin on the shoulder. "Sounds like I should help you find a place to sleep first. Finish up yer lunch and get a bit more mead into ya, and I'll take ya to a place just down th'road. Fernwood Pub, has comfortable rooms, and the price isn't bad at all. Got a room there meself. Ya can stay there if ye can't afford a place. Happy ta share, and I don't take up no room anyways."

"As for the Colosseum, it's right close."

A firm nod is given and the mead grabbed, with a long swig as the stein is emptied. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out some coins, setting them on the table before the stove. It is enough to pay for both meals, or so she thinks. "Well what are we waiting for then? Show me this Colosseum and then perhaps I can try and secure some lodgings. Shall we?"