Into Town She Rides

[Valiancy]

(Valiancy, Throndir (Johanna), Linwelin Only <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 ><>   <---Fish)

[spoiler]Imagine his voice as Cole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjEQhdg-SVA[/spoiler]

Merchants bustle back and forth in the town, chattering and bartering as they would any beautiful day. Heavy hoof beats perforate the clamor of all the trading; An elf, mounted on a fairly large, tawny Elk, maneuvers through the thick crowd. A few of the merchants who are at first disgruntled from being pushed out of the way by a big stanky beast hold their palms to the sun to veil their eyes from its rays and glare up towards the rider. Angry fists rise and fall when the merchants witness what the rider is. Slender, daintily built with flowing silver-blonde hair,amethyst eyes, and an exotic tan skintone, the elven rider blushes and raises a hand bashfully to apologize. One merchant hastily pulls a small chicken crate over and stands on it, taking and landing a sloppy kiss on the rider's hand. "It's quite alright, m'lady. It's too crowded not to bump some backs." The merchant says, so certain that he's about to woo a foreigner.
The rider withdraws the slobbery hand and dismounts then takes the Elk's reins in hand and walks.
"I need a drink." says the elf in a soft, soothing voice, scanning the area for the nearest watering hole. The elf's pace quickens when a bar is in sight, leaving the merchants far behind.

After hitching the elk to the post outside so it may make friends with the other patrons' ponies, the elf swings the door open and heads in, sits at the bar, and orders a drink meekly. A drunk wanders to the bar and leans on it in a way that he thinks is casual and nonchalant, but in reality he's swaying like a sapling during a winter storm. "Bartender! I'll pay fer the lady'sh drink. *hic*. Either from the drunk's breath or choice of words, the elf's head falls to the bar in a defeated manner, with a thunk.

[Linwelin]

Before the bartender has a chance to decide on his action and respond, a slim, white-haired man sitting on a nearby stool decisively stands up and walks toward the drunk and the stranger. Despite the white, long hair, the man does not look to be more than in his mid 30s. He addresses the man sternly. "As you don't seem to know your own limits, I don't see reason why your should impose yourself on another right now. And judging by the lady's reaction, she seems to agree." He continues with a knowing smirk, "I suggest you return to your table, and leave the woman in peace. She seems plenty exhausted from the way she dropped her head a moment ago."

He then turns to the elf momentarily, leaning in and speaking in a lower tone. "I am right to assume you don't wish for company, correct? If I'm mistaken, I'm sorry to have interrupted. I simply have low tolerance for those without self control."

The man, makes sure to keep his eyes on the drunken man, on his guard for whatever could happen from his intrusion.

[Valiancy]

The elf sluggishly gazes at this new person and calmly speaks, "I'm a man. I'm not a lady. I'm a man. I am a male elf. I am very male. It's not that easy of a mistake to make, is it?" He (?) sits up, legs crossed slightly to the side, and pulls his long, luscious hair into a very masculine man-bun and pins it. "I....Thank you. For ridding me of that drunk. This town is no more easy to bear than the last." He (?) turns and smiles warmly, a few strands fall to his (?) face and he (?) brushes them away to rest neatly behind his (?) ear. "I'm Vahn Akriel."

[Linwelin]

I know this is only RP, but it IS a character trait.
[blockquote]Perception to recognize Vahn is a man:  1d20+10 : 2 + 10, total 12[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Will save to recognize Vahn is a man:  1d20+1 : 12 + 1, total 13[/blockquote]

[Linwelin]

[spoiler=What the rolls needed to be...]Well, they needed to be an 18 each, sooooo...Vlad's confused! :D[/spoiler]


"A man...?" Vladimir stammers out. There was absolutely no sign that the elf in front of him was male. The hair was feminine. The face was feminine. Sure, the voice was deeper, but still very feminine. The elf before him was female, he was almost certain of it. Vladimir looked to the bartender, the drunk, and anyone else who was watching. Everyone, except for the drunk that couldn't mentally process much of anything right then, was taken aback and shocked. Some agreed with the stranger's statement, but most found the very idea unbelievable.

"I'm Vahn Akriel."

Even the name was confusing; it had a male first name and a female last name. What ARE you...well, like I'm one to talk.

"Ah...Vahn. I'm Vladimir Ludwik, it's a pleasure to meet you. And not a problem, I'm sure he realizes he's unwanted at this point." Vladimir then gives the drunken man a warning gaze, as if to tell him this is beyond is current capability anyways. He soon sees others nearby escorting him away. He then turns back to Vahn. "So...really?"

[Valiancy]

[spoiler]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEjEmAKSvSA Playing the harp part on lyre, humming violin section[/spoiler]
Vahn stares blankly at Vladimir. Really? Why does no one believe me on that? He shakes his head to clear his thoughts and nods. "Yes, I'm a man." he says, just as the bartender delivers a petite drink to Vahn, still certain that he's a she.
Patrons murmur among themselves trying to come to a conclusion as Vahn sips the beverage, very carefully holding the glass with minimal amount of digits. He sets it down, pinkie finger first to avoid noise. "Excuse me." slips as quickly out of his mouth as he does out of the bar. Outside he rummages through his elk's pack. Passersby look at the scene, very confused, but accept it as a moment to ogle at a foreign babe. His face lights up as he draws a lyre from the deep crevice of the pack and he darts back inside, patting the elk on the way.

Strut, strum, strut, strum. Vahn starts playing and humming to distract from the debacle his physique has caused. Some raise drinks to the performance, others sway in their seats, and the rest are too drunk to notice.

[Linwelin]

Vladimir watches, eyebrow raised, as Vahn rushes out the door. The elf was a strange one, that was for sure; proclaiming to be a man when it's impossible to deny they're a woman, then running around for unknown reasons. This elf IS a woman...right? There's no other way to see it. Then a lyre and song-like humming begins from outside the door as Vahn struts back in in song. Vladimir could only guess it was some kind of distraction for them self, but it was not helping their argument. Their voice, though low for a woman, was certainly too high for a man. Their movements and way of playing were definitely feminine. Distracting and impressive as the performance is, Vahn only appeared more womanly in this way.

Still, Vladimir waited until Vahn was finished, at least enjoying the performance before speaking further with the stranger. "Quite beautiful playing. I'm guessing you're a bard by trade?" He said in an appraising manner.

[Valiancy]

Vahn dips his head lightly in thanks. "Why, yes. I'm a paladin as well, actually. But music calms people more than a holy-man's ranting." He sits back at his drink to continue slowly draining it, despite it being meant as a shot. After finishing, he slips a hand into a pouch on his belt and blushes deeply before stuttering forth an apology. "I... Well I'm.. I'm so sorry. I cannot pay in coin, it seems."

A little miffed, the bartender tosses a cleaning rag on the bar. "Well then. You'll just have to pay with labor." The words pass through Vahn's ears and his face contorts oddly as if it reminded him of something better left forgotten. That was the last time I was forced to clean. It was the last time! It should /stay/ the that way.

[Linwelin]

P-Paladin...!

Vladimir nearly goes into a cold sweat at the news. For all his effort to avoid anything related to the divine, he seemed to become surrounded by men and women of the cloth much too often. He'd come to Ternadan seeking a calmer lifestyle, as his vampiric nature was not exactly well received. But from the first night in town onward, all he'd met were multiple god-blessed and god-fearing adventurers; around four of those were close friends, and only two knew of his condition. Luckily, those two were understanding and gave him a chance. If not, he'd be running for his life of dead right now.

Why has fate deemed it so necessary that I meet and befriend every holy man and woman in the land?

Vladimir did his best to not go rigid from Vahn's revelation, and managed to not show his nervousness. I have to learn this one's temperament, whether they'll be a friend or foe in the long run. If it turns out to be the latter, then I all I can hope is that they won't be staying in town for long.

As Vladimir plotted to himself, he saw Vahn had run into some trouble. A travelling bard and paladin...copperless? Now that's a surprise. The man (?) before him may just be in dire straits himself. This could be a great chance to give this elf the slip and save myself from immediate danger...but no. Vladimir had been in worse situations numerous times. He could no longer count how often he lived in the streets, straining himself to simply find work, let alone do the work itself. He couldn't leave the fellow like this.

And so the clink of silver hit the bar surface.

"I'll cover it. This elf seems to have gone through more than enough, and...he did give us a splendid performance." Vladimir nearly slipped on his pronouns, but was sincere. The man (?) was a paladin, and Vladimir wasn't about to be on his bad side by arguing his (?) gender. Whether he believed it or not.

"However...You-" Vladimir pointed to Vahn, "-owe me some tales for the trouble. How exactly does a bardic paladin become broke? I'll grab us both drinks, you prepare your tale. What's your drink preference?" Vladimir motions back to a table down the bar where they could sit and awaits a response.

[Valiancy]

The pauper paladin picks up the dirty rag with his index finger and thumb and plops it into the bartender's hand as if to say "No, this goes here." and happily joins Vladimir at the table. "Thank you, Vladi! I can call you Vladi, right? I usually don't have so little, but I lost track of my coin." He pulls out a chair just enough to sit gently and cross his legs very politely.

He opens his mouth. "Do they have anything with fruit in it? I do love fruit." His eyes beam towards Vladimir expectantly but he's caught up in a conversation with himself internally.

'Slaves are expensive.' No, no. That sounds worse than it is. How about 'I buy slaves to free them if I can't lance the slaver to death'? Yech, still not right. I can't tell him why I'm broke, can I? But it's so dastardly to lie to him. I suppose he needs the full story.

His eyes drift to the grimy window, where his elk is just barely in view, and he stays silent.

[Linwelin]

"Hah! 'Vladi'! I've not been called that specifically in years. And there's a southern town that exports a smooth grapefruit ale. I'm pretty sure that this tavern keeps some in stock." Vladimir turns back to Fredrick, the barkeep. " You heard 'em. A bottle of that grapefruit ale for Vahn, and a Night's Feather Ale for myself." He then takes a seat himself, with the drinks coming shortly after.

Vladimir's eyes follow the distracted Vahn's gaze to see an elk through the window. "I-Is that your elk? You ride an elk? That's quite a rare sight." He turns back to the elf. "So? How'd you come to end up broke and in this tavern?"

[Valiancy]

The voice draws back Vahn's attention and he whips his head around to look at the source; Vladimir. "Oh, yes. His name is Hart. As for how I ended up so broke, well... " The distraught paladin runs a hand through his hair and smiles. "I should really tell you from the start of it all. So... He sighs gulps in preparation to retell something difficult.
"When I was a child, my village was raided. Anyone who fought back was killed. Anyone thought to be worthless was killed. Women and girls were all spared. But, these bandits, being spared by them was less than a blessing. Those brigands worked for a slave trader. We became his property, and for so.. so long we were tortured, and abused." Vahn falls silent as Fred delivers the beverages, and resumes his story after the gentleman backs away. His eyes show more anger than sorrow.
"I was assigned to housework on the trader's estate, hidden in some forested region. That lasted for years. It wasn't the absolute worst, I barely knew anything else. But one night he decided to lead me into his bed chambers. I kept telling him, 'Milord, I'm a boy.' but he didn't listen, and threw a tantrum when he disrobed me- Claimed trickery and whatnot, and tried to kill me. So, I did as any scared elven boy would; I ran. I saw Elk in a pasture along the estate. I hijacked one I could reach the back of, and never went that direction again." Vahn takes a sip of the grapefruit ale to allow himself a quick break from speaking.
"I've made coin to survive on by acting as a bodyguard, or playing music for nobles. But whenever I see a slaver selling someone and I can't free the prisoner through combat- I buy them. I buy them, give them anything I can, and let them go free far from that slaver. I know it's minor. I know most of them probably end up getting caught again. And I know I'm just handing the slavers profit. But... It's something I do for myself. Does...That make sense, Vladi?" He doesn't break line of sight with the neck of his ale bottle. His legs, although still neatly crossed, are shaking very slightly and his thumb drums on the table.

[Linwelin]

Ah...I had not expected such immediate honesty on a sensitive topic. That just proves his determination. Vladimir, with his keen and perceptive senses, could see the elf quaking slightly. Judging from that, I can believe it to be true. Which means he IS a he...! This is one strange meeting.

Vladimir took a swig of his ale, having a short moment of reminiscence of the taste and its origin before leaning in to speak on what he'd been told. "Have more pride in yourself. It's a noble effort, one anyone would condone. And from the sound of it, you've saved more than a few lives, and future families. I'm sure you've thought about it, but by freeing those people, they can have normal families out of servitude. Which means you've saved entire lines of descendants, not just a few people here and there." Vladimir smiled. "And you've certainly found a good town. Though you won't find any slaves to free here, this town hosts a number of adventuring and mercenary guilds. It's not uncommon that we get contracts to route slave trading rings. You'll find that everyone in this city is behind your cause, to varying degrees.

"And as for your own past predicament...let me just say I understand. I can relate actually." The man had a quick flash back to the tower of that gods-forsaken wizard who'd tricked him into selling his body for research. The tests, the surgery, the...transformation. All under that madman's alchemical solutions and scalpel. It took a great deal of effort not to quiver himself, and he soon shook himself of the memory. No more...that was long ago.

"So you've answered most of my questions with that tale, but one still remains. When during all that did you become a paladin? To whom are you devote? If this is prying, pardon me. But knowing someone as a person and through their work often yields very different results." Vladimir, of course, wanted to know this for his own sake. Who this man worshiped determined whether or not he could eventually know the truth. Having heard this tale, Vladimir felt he'd found a kindred spirit. That was a rarity for him that he would not relinquish if he had the choice.

[Valiancy]

He leans back in the chair, reminiscing. "WelI, I was still fairly young when I escaped captivity and after I'd been riding Hart for several days, we came upon a small village. It started to pour so I sat in the mud beneath the best awning I could find." Vahn smiles and rolls his sleeve back to reveal a tattoo of a sword, with a hilt resembling the sun, on his left shoulder. It's covering his slave mark.
"An old priestess came by, and offered refuge to me. Refuge in her Temple of Iomedae. It was a really small building, but it was well tended to." He rolls the sleeve back down and continues,
"She asked me what I would change in the world, if I could, and I told her it would be making Bad people pay with their own blood instead of the blood of the Good. She said there was a light in me, the light of Iomedae; The yearning for Justice. Vahn lets his hair down, apparently tired of it falling on its own anyway, and takes a sip of his drink.
"I asked her to train me in her ways, but she said I was better suited as a paladin, with my fervor and vehemence, than as a priest. She sent a courier that night, and a few days later I met a Paladin of Iomedae. He took me under his wing for training and, after a handful of years, he inscribed this on my shoulder." Vahn pats the covered shoulder, still smiling warmly from the memory. After a brief pause he speaks again, "I do hope that answered all your questions. I owe you at least that for your kindness."

[Linwelin]

Notably vehement, eh? I could really respect and befriend someone like that...if their order didn't actively despise what I've become. Iomedae, goddess of justice, honor, and...the sun. Luckily, I myself am not malevolent, or I might be visibly disturbed by this man's very presence. Well, I certainly can't admit my past in return. If he asks...half truths it is. And if he pursues, well, I have my hat with me...

Vladimir kept a cheerful, impressed demeanor during his mental panic. It wasn't fake, after all, the paladin certainly was respectable. But the scenario kept getting more and more dangerous. If this paladin happened to have a direct hatred of the undead in as zealous a manner as slavers, then the methuselan needed to part ways. Fast.

"It's like it was meant to be! A beautiful tale, indeed. You've certainly answered my questions. Of course, I still have more, which you are free to refuse answers to. What have you accomplished under the order of Iomedae? You seem to be well traveled, so I assume you've gone through much on your path. I do enjoy hearing of others' travels." Vladimir, again, had genuine interest. But with the ever-present ulterior motive of survival while still remaining helpful to this kindred man. Vladimir had a vengeful and just past of his own...but much less holy and clean; this made deciding what to do about this fellow quite the dilemma for him.