3 Events at The Weeping Dragon

It was a quick walk from the alleys entrance to the inn with Layla leading the way. Along the way Hawkfrost mentioned to her that he intended on renting a room there to which she replied that he would have no trouble in doing so. Upon arriving Layla instructed him to leave the packages on the bar while she went to talk to the owner.

Now sitting at the bar staring at the jostling roarous mess of people, he wondered if he had made the right choice in coming here. He could leave he thought looking in the direction of the exit, he didn't have any reason to stay here he could camp out in the forest till morning and look for work then. He didn't need to risk...

As he was about to finish his thought Layla came from the back kitchen with a large older woman wearing a bandana around her head.

"This is the man I was telling you about Maybel, he said he was looking to stay the night", Layla said as Hawkfrost felt the older woman wrack him with her gaze.

"My inn is very crowded tonight due to an group of worshippers, so normally a room would not be cheap", the woman said looking at him further with her piercing gaze, "however, Layla says you have been kind enough to her so I shall only make you pay the regular fee of 25 silver per night."

Upon hearing the price Hawkfrost felt his heart slide down into his stomach. He only had 10 silver to his name at the moment along with the camping gear he had on his back and his weapon. He didnt think it would be so much for room at an inn, every other place he had stayed at on the here journey had barely cost him 10 silver.

"Thank you very much mam, unfortunately I dont have the money for a room tonight", he answered, "however, how much is it for food and drink?"

"Drink is 5 coppers a round, and a meal two silvers," the woman answered as he felt her gaze again.

Reaching into his pouch he pulled out a silver piece and placed it on the counter along with 5 copper peices.

"I'll take a meal please and whatever is on tap", he answered then stood up, "I'll be over in the corner."

Adjusting his pack on his back he walked across the crowded room, as people cheered and sang drinking songs. On one of the tables he noticed a dwarf stomping a jig to the beat of the onlookers claps. Reaching his corner table near at the back of the room he silently observed several people silently conversing across the room, they wore all black robes with a box hood that covered their faces from the harsh light of the candles and fire place.

Off to his left he found a large mirror sitting against the wall next to the fire place, it was scuffed with soot but still held it reflective properties. The image that started back at him was a grim facade of himself: his dark brown hair matted and messy in long swaths, his clothes ragged and holed, a beard begining to grow around his face, his arms wrapped in old dirty bandages. The only thing that seemed to hold a speck of his former person was his blue eyes, which even now shone like sapphires from behind his mess of hair.

Scratching his beard in examination he heard a loud clang from the front of the room. Turning to see what the commotion was he saw a group of unruly men barge into the bar, knocking patrons from their seats and flashing their weapons to any who might try to stop them. However none of them truly stood out like their leader who was fairly large, wore a leather long coat, and had a large white gem in place of a missing left eye.

Hawkfrost didn't need a second opinion to know these were bandits, he had encountered them many times on his journey here. Thinking back, they must have been one of the gangs the gnome at the market was talking about. Examining the group he counted 6 in total, four carried swords, one carried a bow, and the leader kept his weapon hidden.

"Maybel a round for me and the boys", the groups leader shouted with rancorous laughter.

"Hogarth how many times have I told you, you and your boys are not welcome here", Hawkfrost saw Maybel declare defiantly with her arms crossed.

" And how many times have I told you to shut your whore mouth and do as I say. Or do you need a reminder of last time you talked back to me?" the bandit leader sneered as he revealed a cat of nine tails from beneath his cloak.

Watching Maybel, Hawkfrost noticed her whole body clench at the sight of the cruel device, Layla who was cowering behind the large lady clearly flinched. The other bar patrons didn't move or do anything to stop the agression, he saw as well and the looks on the few faces he could see said they did so out of fear. The tension in the air at this point was so thick he could have easily cut and spread it on a piece of toast.

Standing up from his seat he began to walk to the bar in a very slow manner making sure he paced each of his steps. Deliberately he went over and took the bar seat that currently lay between Maybel and the bandit leader, where he held up a hand to catch her attention.

"I think I'd like to buy a drink now", he said as soon as her gaze flashed to him.

Reaching into his pouch he pulled one silver piece out and layed it on the bar. As he did so Maybel gave him a look to not get involved in this.

"Or, Layla could you please get me drink?" he asked cocking his head to look around Maybel and at the trembling form of Layla.

"Yes, Mr. Hawkfrost sir", she answered quickly grabbing a wooden pint mug from behind the counter and filling it from the drink on tap.

"Thank you", he said taking the mug from her trembling hands carefully and taking a quick sip.

"Would you like your change sir", Layla asked taking the silver peice off the counter.

"not yet", he whispered then took another sip placing himself in front of the bandit leader.

"What kind of name is Hawkfrost their," the leader said his attention now fixated on him.

"My name, now please leave you over grown piece of roc scrap", Hawkfrost answered this time taking a large mouth full of the alcoholic liquid.

The insult was just what was needed to throw the leader over the edge as he had hoped, his rage blinding him at being called monster excrement, he reached his arm back to uncoil his whip. Taking the opening Hawkfrost spit the mouth full of alcohol in the leaders eyes and turned his attention to the two swordsmen, one on either side of their boss, rush forward to stirke. Kicking the barstool that was next to him into the swords man to his left he saw the man stumble and then using the shaft of his own weapon he turned to the one on his right and parried the blow with a push that sent the one to his right stumbling backward.

Not many people would consider an axe a formidable weapon especially one built for chopping trees and splitting logs, but it was the only thing close to a weapon he had ever used and was still leathal enough to get the job done. He demonstrated this with a quick flourish of his wrist as he sent the axe flying deep into the head of the swords man to his left who was getting back on his feet.

Seeing the leader wipe his eyes of the last of the drink, Hawkfrost took the still full mug in his left hand and flung its contents again, mug and drink, into the face of the leader, who backed up into the other two swordsmen hindering their advance with the many pieces of furniture around and blocking the aim of the archer. With that taken care of he quickly dodged the swing of the swordsman to his right who had recovered from his parry, grabbing the legs of the fallen stool he had kicked earlier, he swung the seat around and upward into the jaw of the swordsman with a satisfying crunch, whom immediately crumpled to the floor in a heap.

As the blow landed he felt a freezing chill run up his arms and he backed off, clutching at them tightly. Why now? he asked himself, he hadn't had an episode in weeks, the last time had been when the wolf pack had attacked him. Slowing his breathing, he focused on his arms, straining with all his might until the chill left them.

"Whats the matter, hope my boys didnt hurt you to badly, I want that pleasure for myself", he heard a voice say as he barely looked up in time to see the archer get in position and launch a shot at him.

Moving quickly he barely sidestepped their arrow before he noticed one of the swordsmen had gotten and was swinging for his head. Lunging under the blade he found himself under a table as he heard a whip crack at his heels. He needed to get back on the offensive again he thought as he quickly rolled under the table and stood up on the other side facing his adversaries.

The remaining four had moved out to form a pincer attack, with the two swordsmen on his left and right hand side ,the boss advancing from the middle blocking his weapon, and the archer set off to the side. Taking a deep breath and exhaling he lunged across the table into a roll where he planted his leather boots into the chest of the bandit leader knocking him against the bar. Taking the space he slid of the table and crouched to grab his axe from the head of the fallen bandit, and used it to block an incoming strike from the swordsman to his left and right who landed their attack in unison. Pushing both swords away from him he swung his axe at the feet of the swordsman to his right landing a sickening crunch as the man fell to the ground crying in pain. He then roll once more into an upright position dodging another arrow, as he blocked another attack from the remaining swordsman.

As the swordsman went in for another attack Hawkfrost took advantage of the mans exposed neck to swing his sword in for a fleshy thwack that began to spew the mans blood everywhere. Pulling himself in closer to the dieing swords man he pivoted on his heel in a spin which pulled the axe from the mans neck and lined Hawkfrost up to throw the it at the archer. However the archer must have guessed his move and ducked out of the way in time to avoid the bladed head of the axe which sunk into the wall. Using the archers distraction this to his advantage he rushed the archer and with a left hook slammed the archers head into the protruding shaft of the axe knocking him unconscious.

He was about to turn around when he felt a quick pain lash across his back as he turned to he that the bandit leader was back on his feet. He smiled wickedly as he clocked his arm back for another swing, only to have it be replaced with surprise as Hawkfrost saw the large hand of Maybel latch onto the bandit leaders wrist. Taking the opening Hawkfrost ran forward and planted his shin between then bandit leaders legs. The mans face turned a strange red color as he collapsed to his knees his hands immediately reaching to cup his harmed pride.

Looking down at ground he saw the mug from earlier laying discarded next to one of the dead swordsmen. Bending over he picked it up and using the end slammed it into the pained bandit leaders face, knocking him unconscious against the floor.

Putting the back on the counter he looked over to Maybel who was wiping her hands against her apron as she walked back around the bar.

"How much for the damages to the inn", he asked after sitting down on a stool to rest.

"With the fact that you took care of those leeches, none, but because the fight drove out most of my customers and you used one of my good mugs to bash a mans face in I'd say 10 copper pieces", she answered leaning against the bars counter.

"you still have my change right?" he asked with an understanding nod.

"I get your point, Layla take the 10 coppers out his change and get him a fresh drink", Maybel ordered as Layla quickly began to fill out the order.

"Well that was exciting", he whispered to himself as he checked the bandaging on his arms.

"A little to exciting I'm afraid", a hardened voice replied.

Looking to find the voices origin he saw three men in armor ornated with the cities crest standing at the entrance to the inn. The leader of the group, an older gentleman with graying hair and steely eyes, stepped forward from the group and walked up to him.

"I'm Roland Mars, Captain of the City Guard, and until we get this mess sorted out your under arrest."