Elendor
Conn's Daughter
An angry farmer is in search of a bard that seduced his daughter.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Dunland - Redvyrne
Description: Some say early autumn in Redvyrne is the best time to be in, next to Springtime in Redvyrne and Summertime in Redvyrne. The air is crisp and the wind only hints at the coming winter. Cellars are stocked full of vegetables and smoked meat for the winter, and people are generally well-fed and happy.
Here, this sleepy village boasts a tavern with two guest rooms to let, not that there are many travelers who would pay to sleep in a room, so they remain unoccupied most of the time. But the main room is a different story. Hard working men gather after a long day in the fields to share laughter, conversation, boasting and drink before heading home to their wives and children.
It is not an unusual occurrence that the door slams open, so only a few occupants look up from their tankards when a red-faced farmer stands in the doorway, looking angry enough to kill someone.
"WHERE IS THE FELLER FROM DUNHALLOW?"
[Carac(#32384)] A man of expansive girth draped in a stained apron stands behind the bar, wiping out mugs, refilling mugs, and all the other things an innkeeper does behind the bar. His pock marked face turns towards the door as it slams open and he wrinkles his mouth in distaste.
"There be more than one feller from Dunhallow," he replies blandly. "Least I believe there is, otherwise wouldn't be a hold now would it?"
Sitting in a corner with a handful of dice and a grin on his face is one particular young man from Dunhallow. The youngest son of the Fian to be precise. He's wearing a thick green sash tied around his head to keep back tight brown curls. It also serves rather well at hiding many ugly scars along the left side of his face and jaw.
His clothes are of fine quality, with good stitching and sturdy fabric. Perhaps sixteen, the young man is laughing as he rolls the dice again, but Jadiran lifts his green eyes to the doorway when the angry farmer bursts in.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
"You're hidin' him, ain't you?"
The red faced farmer yells at the mammoth innkeep, and ploughs over the other customers to head to the bar, rolling up his sleeves and balling his meaty hands into a fist.
"Hey Master Sionn! You'd better get your battle-axe ready! " The other patrons laugh at the innkeep.
But other patrons who know both Sionn the Innkeep and the farmer all their lives, stop the farmer by physically restraining him.
"Whoa whoa, Conn! What's gotten inta you?"
[Carac(#32384)] It is not a battle axe that, Sionn pulls from behind the bar, but the big heavy mallet he uses for breeching the kegs of ale and spirits sold within the inn. From the way the portly innkeep hefts the mallet, it would be a safe guess to assume he carries most of those heavy casks, himself.
Point the large head of the hammer towards the farmer, Sionn forgets all about wiping and refilling for the moment. "There's no trouble allowed within these walls," he says, matter factly. "Unless you be wantin' to find out how hard it is to farm with a few crushed bones you'd best put your arse in a stool." He gives another matter of fact nod, to the farmer, and lies the mallet onto the bar.
"Now then," he says much more companionably. "What are you drinking?"
Jadiran watches this disruption of his dice game with interest, a curious expression on his face. Then he looks back at the other men at the table. "Did I tell you about the beautiful girl I met the other day? She has hair the color of mahoganey, and skin the color of chestnut. Gorgeous." He reaches to toss another coin onto the table. "Maybe I'll go find her again tonight.. so I think this is my last round." If the father is -here-, well then he's certainly not at home, now is he?
[Gabhran(#15443)]
Some of the regulars cheer when Sionn brings out the mallet. But Conn is not so amused, nor is he intimidated.
"SO YOU -ARE- KEEPING HIM HERE!"
Farmer Conn strains against the three men who hold the angry farmer back. His face is now tomato red, and steam seems to be coming out his ears when he turns his glare from Sionn to the gambler's table. Even the three men who hold him turns their face when they hear the gambler's voice describing Conn's daughter.
Not even the three of them can hold Conn from changing his course from the bar, to the corner table.
"YOU!" Conn points at the well-dressed young man. "YOU FROM DUNHALLOW?"
[Carac(#32384)] Sionn sighs and shakes his head. "Keeping who here?" he asks. "Like I said there is more than one feller from Dunhallow. There's the Fiann and his sons to begin, then the small folk who live on their . . ." he pauses as everyone else turns towards the table.
"So it was the son, you wanted?" he asks. "Why didn't you say so?" He lifts the mallet once more and gives a sigh as he journeys out from his place behind the bar. "Why not tell us what it is that's got you all steamed up Conn? Then we can settle the matter as is best?" He smiles then. "If the lad has done you wrong, I might even let you borrow my wee hammer."
Jadiran reaches to scoop up the dice once again, but Conn's yelling is difficult to ignore. The young gambler stands, still holding the dice that he shifts about in his hand absently. "Me? Trouble? I've been here dicing all evening." He answers in a serious tone. "What happened, sir? I can certainly let my father know about whatever is bothering you. Did someone steal something from your farm? Run away with a daughter?" His green eyes look the large man over, sizing him up.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
Farmer Conn shares the same Mahogany hair and the chestnut skin as his daughter but that's where the similarity ends. Where she is willowy and graceful, he is stout and ungainly. Where she is beautiful, he is ugly.
"I'll borrow your mallet, Sionn, if you don't mind retrieving it out of his arse!" Conn bellows at the Innkeeper. He then turns his fiery glare at Jadiran.
"Are you Gunther, the bard from Dunhallow? The one who claims to be dying of an ailment and wanted to spend the last few months with my daughter?"
[Carac(#32384)] "Seamus, Rupert?" Sionn calls towards the back of the tavern for his sons. The two burly men are much the same size as their father, but with their heavy builds not yet gone to fat, come when called. "Go bar the door," he orders. "Seems we've got some sorting out of tales to do."
He waits until he hears the heavy timber slam down across the door and then turns his attention towards the young man. "You don't be in Dunhallow boy," he says. "Does Conn speak true? Have you been messin' about with his daughter? Fian's son or no, that be a good way to find yourself swinging from a tree about here."
A smile cracks on Jade's face and he quickly shakes his head as he looks between Sionn and Conn. His expression grows serious again. "No, sir. I'm no bard. My father is Mainchin, the Fian of Dunhallow. Does he strike you as the type that would tolerate have a bard for a son? Honestly?" Jadiran reaches down to scoop up an unstrung bow from the floor. "I'm an archer. I hunt."
The boy from Dunhallow smiles again, "But if I win this roll I'll buy you a drink, and you can tell me all you heard. I'll have my father track the bastard down."
[Gabhran(#15443)]
"..used to be the executioner for the Ceann." A patron whispers, pointing at Sionn, sliding a finger across his throat while sticking out his tongue.
Ignoring the whisperings behind him, Farmer Conn continues to strain against the three men who hold him back. "Oh, I don't believe a word he says! Just look at him, all smug and smirky with his fancy clothes and fancy boots! Kiern knows every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie! Lies that my Behsie believed over her own father that she would go against me and refuse to marry the feller I picked out for her! I'll have ye know, I've locked that hussy in the cellar. But it would be just as easy to get her here, and have her point you out!"
[Carac(#32384)] It is the smile on the boy's face which seems to irritate Sionn the most, not his words. "I agree with you, Conn, the lad doesn't seem to have the right ammount of respect for his situation." He sighs then and shakes his head. "Welt, there's aught but one thing to be done for that."
He hefts his heavy mallet once more. "Bard or archer," he says then to the boy. "I imagine it'll be hard for you to make your way doing either with a crushed hand."
He nods towards the boy. "Seamus, Rupert grab his arm. Got to teach the boy that no matter who you're kin to, don't give you the right to act like a smartass."
The whispers aren't ignored at all, and when he hears the word 'executioner', Jadiran grimaces and his gaze shifts to the barkeep with a new respect. Then his green eyes wander to the barred door and his brows pinch together. Conn's accusations seem hardly phase the young man and he casually tosses the dice to the table and looks up to the farm again. "My name isn't Gunther and I tell you, I'm no-.."
"What?!" The young archer suddenly protests at the bartender's decision. "You have no proof of this!" Jade draws back now with an alarmed expression on his face. "He's the ass! Accusing me because I happen to be from Dunhallow! He locked his daughter in a cellar, for Kiern's sake!"
[Gabhran(#15443)]
"I never liked Dunhallow. And it'll give me real pleasure to see one of his own get what's comin' to him." The farmer growls with anger. "I locked Behsie up so she won't get no funny ideas about runnin' off with some sweet talkin' sissy boy."
Conn looks at Seamus and nods. "Mashin' his hand won't kill him but, if it turns out he bed down Behsie, then the mallet will crush the part of him that will!"
*BAM!*
Some of the more squeamish patrons let out a cry of horror, but when they open their eyes, they will discover that it was not the sound of the mallet crushing the hand of a young dandy.
*BAM!*
It is someone on the other side of the door. The force with which they knock is enough to wake the dead.
[Carac(#32384)] "So it looks like you are more than just smiles," Sionn says to the Dunhallow lad, but is interuppted by the pounding on the door before he can say more.
"Just a moment for Kiern's sake!" he yells at the door, and then motions the boys to open it. "Why is everyone out to break my damned door today?" Sionn asks no one in particular. "It's never harmed no one far as I know, but everyone is slamming it and pounding upon it."
He points his mallet towards Jadiran before turning his attention to the door. "Don't you be thinkin' about goin' anywhere lad," he says. "You've still got some questions to answer."
"Well, why don't you go find one of my brothers to take out your dislike upon." Jadiran retorts immediately, scowling. Still, the young man can't help but take a peek at the dice he just rolled, and he suddenly gives a short laugh, "Dueces! The pot's mine!" He jabs a finger to point out the success, but is jolted back to the situation at hand with the loud slamming sound.
He glances around wildly for a moment, then sorts out where the noise is coming from and gives Conn another smile. "Come on, now, sir. I'll buy you a drink, we'll figure out who the real culprit was and you'll be happier, -I'll- be happier, and .. " He faulters for a moment, "And we can even see what bug is up the ass of whoever is outside pounding on the door, right?" There's just a hint of a frantic edge to his voice.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
The moment the bar is removed, the door opens, and two men wearing armor, dressed for battle, stumble in, almost falling forward right onto the floor had it not been for Seamus. They are injured, covered in dirt, and obviously exhausted.
Farmer Conn looks over his shoulder, momentarily taking his eyes off Jadiran. He squints at the pair. "Ask 'em if they're from Dunhallow."
[Carac(#32384)] Sionn's eyes widen at the site of the men and he moves towards them with surprising quickness for a man of his girth, assisiting Seamus with helping one of the men to a nearby chair. "Conn you an Rupert get the other one," he says as the first is deposited into a chair.
"Someone fetch some water from the well," he orders as he looks the men over.
"Not you!" he says turning to point a finger at the Dunhallow lad.
He gets a bit closer to the injured man before him. "Can you speak, lad?" he asks. "What's happened to ya?"
"I-.." Jade is cut off before he can ever get the words out. He watches the commotion for only a moment, then surrepticiously reaches to slide his earnings from the dice table, easing the coins into his pocket. Next he reaches down to grab up a quiver full of arrows from the floor, trying to casually slip it over his shoulder.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
While Conn and Rupert helps the second injured man into the chair, the first one looks up at Sionn from the chair. He breathes heavily with his mouth open, and his eyes are filled with sorrow and shame.
"Redvyrne Keep.." he starts, breathing laboriously, then stops. It is difficult to tell if he stops because he needs to catch his breath, or because he does not want to say what he needs to say.
"It has been captured. By Bears." The second one answer, and he doubles over in his chair, head buried in his hands with shame. "We tried to take it back ourselves but we couldn't."
"What?" Sionn demands, unable to believe the words that have just been spoken. The same sentiment seems to be felt by the rest of the patrons in the bar.
"He got hit on the head too hard and is talkin' out his arse," one man claims.
"Aye," another agrees. "No way the Bear could take Redvyrne," he adds. "The Ceann would have put them down with little fuss."
"Ceann Praxis has been gone along time you old fool!" Another exclaims. "Can't say who does hold Redvyrne now, mayhap its...."
"ENOUGH!" bellows Sionn as he turns to glare towards all those in the bar. "Is what your friend here says true?" he asks turning to the second wounded man. "Are there Bear in Redvyrne?"
Jadiran is just beginning to whisper a soft prayer of thanks to Kiern for the distraction when the news is announced. The archer ends up staring at the warrior along with the rest of the tavern. Though, as the questions begin to fly, Dunhallow's shock wears off quickly and the young man begins edging towards the door.
Here, this sleepy village boasts a tavern with two guest rooms to let, not that there are many travelers who would pay to sleep in a room, so they remain unoccupied most of the time. But the main room is a different story. Hard working men gather after a long day in the fields to share laughter, conversation, boasting and drink before heading home to their wives and children.
It is not an unusual occurrence that the door slams open, so only a few occupants look up from their tankards when a red-faced farmer stands in the doorway, looking angry enough to kill someone.
"WHERE IS THE FELLER FROM DUNHALLOW?"
[Carac(#32384)] A man of expansive girth draped in a stained apron stands behind the bar, wiping out mugs, refilling mugs, and all the other things an innkeeper does behind the bar. His pock marked face turns towards the door as it slams open and he wrinkles his mouth in distaste.
"There be more than one feller from Dunhallow," he replies blandly. "Least I believe there is, otherwise wouldn't be a hold now would it?"
Sitting in a corner with a handful of dice and a grin on his face is one particular young man from Dunhallow. The youngest son of the Fian to be precise. He's wearing a thick green sash tied around his head to keep back tight brown curls. It also serves rather well at hiding many ugly scars along the left side of his face and jaw.
His clothes are of fine quality, with good stitching and sturdy fabric. Perhaps sixteen, the young man is laughing as he rolls the dice again, but Jadiran lifts his green eyes to the doorway when the angry farmer bursts in.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
"You're hidin' him, ain't you?"
The red faced farmer yells at the mammoth innkeep, and ploughs over the other customers to head to the bar, rolling up his sleeves and balling his meaty hands into a fist.
"Hey Master Sionn! You'd better get your battle-axe ready! " The other patrons laugh at the innkeep.
But other patrons who know both Sionn the Innkeep and the farmer all their lives, stop the farmer by physically restraining him.
"Whoa whoa, Conn! What's gotten inta you?"
[Carac(#32384)] It is not a battle axe that, Sionn pulls from behind the bar, but the big heavy mallet he uses for breeching the kegs of ale and spirits sold within the inn. From the way the portly innkeep hefts the mallet, it would be a safe guess to assume he carries most of those heavy casks, himself.
Point the large head of the hammer towards the farmer, Sionn forgets all about wiping and refilling for the moment. "There's no trouble allowed within these walls," he says, matter factly. "Unless you be wantin' to find out how hard it is to farm with a few crushed bones you'd best put your arse in a stool." He gives another matter of fact nod, to the farmer, and lies the mallet onto the bar.
"Now then," he says much more companionably. "What are you drinking?"
Jadiran watches this disruption of his dice game with interest, a curious expression on his face. Then he looks back at the other men at the table. "Did I tell you about the beautiful girl I met the other day? She has hair the color of mahoganey, and skin the color of chestnut. Gorgeous." He reaches to toss another coin onto the table. "Maybe I'll go find her again tonight.. so I think this is my last round." If the father is -here-, well then he's certainly not at home, now is he?
[Gabhran(#15443)]
Some of the regulars cheer when Sionn brings out the mallet. But Conn is not so amused, nor is he intimidated.
"SO YOU -ARE- KEEPING HIM HERE!"
Farmer Conn strains against the three men who hold the angry farmer back. His face is now tomato red, and steam seems to be coming out his ears when he turns his glare from Sionn to the gambler's table. Even the three men who hold him turns their face when they hear the gambler's voice describing Conn's daughter.
Not even the three of them can hold Conn from changing his course from the bar, to the corner table.
"YOU!" Conn points at the well-dressed young man. "YOU FROM DUNHALLOW?"
[Carac(#32384)] Sionn sighs and shakes his head. "Keeping who here?" he asks. "Like I said there is more than one feller from Dunhallow. There's the Fiann and his sons to begin, then the small folk who live on their . . ." he pauses as everyone else turns towards the table.
"So it was the son, you wanted?" he asks. "Why didn't you say so?" He lifts the mallet once more and gives a sigh as he journeys out from his place behind the bar. "Why not tell us what it is that's got you all steamed up Conn? Then we can settle the matter as is best?" He smiles then. "If the lad has done you wrong, I might even let you borrow my wee hammer."
Jadiran reaches to scoop up the dice once again, but Conn's yelling is difficult to ignore. The young gambler stands, still holding the dice that he shifts about in his hand absently. "Me? Trouble? I've been here dicing all evening." He answers in a serious tone. "What happened, sir? I can certainly let my father know about whatever is bothering you. Did someone steal something from your farm? Run away with a daughter?" His green eyes look the large man over, sizing him up.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
Farmer Conn shares the same Mahogany hair and the chestnut skin as his daughter but that's where the similarity ends. Where she is willowy and graceful, he is stout and ungainly. Where she is beautiful, he is ugly.
"I'll borrow your mallet, Sionn, if you don't mind retrieving it out of his arse!" Conn bellows at the Innkeeper. He then turns his fiery glare at Jadiran.
"Are you Gunther, the bard from Dunhallow? The one who claims to be dying of an ailment and wanted to spend the last few months with my daughter?"
[Carac(#32384)] "Seamus, Rupert?" Sionn calls towards the back of the tavern for his sons. The two burly men are much the same size as their father, but with their heavy builds not yet gone to fat, come when called. "Go bar the door," he orders. "Seems we've got some sorting out of tales to do."
He waits until he hears the heavy timber slam down across the door and then turns his attention towards the young man. "You don't be in Dunhallow boy," he says. "Does Conn speak true? Have you been messin' about with his daughter? Fian's son or no, that be a good way to find yourself swinging from a tree about here."
A smile cracks on Jade's face and he quickly shakes his head as he looks between Sionn and Conn. His expression grows serious again. "No, sir. I'm no bard. My father is Mainchin, the Fian of Dunhallow. Does he strike you as the type that would tolerate have a bard for a son? Honestly?" Jadiran reaches down to scoop up an unstrung bow from the floor. "I'm an archer. I hunt."
The boy from Dunhallow smiles again, "But if I win this roll I'll buy you a drink, and you can tell me all you heard. I'll have my father track the bastard down."
[Gabhran(#15443)]
"..used to be the executioner for the Ceann." A patron whispers, pointing at Sionn, sliding a finger across his throat while sticking out his tongue.
Ignoring the whisperings behind him, Farmer Conn continues to strain against the three men who hold him back. "Oh, I don't believe a word he says! Just look at him, all smug and smirky with his fancy clothes and fancy boots! Kiern knows every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie! Lies that my Behsie believed over her own father that she would go against me and refuse to marry the feller I picked out for her! I'll have ye know, I've locked that hussy in the cellar. But it would be just as easy to get her here, and have her point you out!"
[Carac(#32384)] It is the smile on the boy's face which seems to irritate Sionn the most, not his words. "I agree with you, Conn, the lad doesn't seem to have the right ammount of respect for his situation." He sighs then and shakes his head. "Welt, there's aught but one thing to be done for that."
He hefts his heavy mallet once more. "Bard or archer," he says then to the boy. "I imagine it'll be hard for you to make your way doing either with a crushed hand."
He nods towards the boy. "Seamus, Rupert grab his arm. Got to teach the boy that no matter who you're kin to, don't give you the right to act like a smartass."
The whispers aren't ignored at all, and when he hears the word 'executioner', Jadiran grimaces and his gaze shifts to the barkeep with a new respect. Then his green eyes wander to the barred door and his brows pinch together. Conn's accusations seem hardly phase the young man and he casually tosses the dice to the table and looks up to the farm again. "My name isn't Gunther and I tell you, I'm no-.."
"What?!" The young archer suddenly protests at the bartender's decision. "You have no proof of this!" Jade draws back now with an alarmed expression on his face. "He's the ass! Accusing me because I happen to be from Dunhallow! He locked his daughter in a cellar, for Kiern's sake!"
[Gabhran(#15443)]
"I never liked Dunhallow. And it'll give me real pleasure to see one of his own get what's comin' to him." The farmer growls with anger. "I locked Behsie up so she won't get no funny ideas about runnin' off with some sweet talkin' sissy boy."
Conn looks at Seamus and nods. "Mashin' his hand won't kill him but, if it turns out he bed down Behsie, then the mallet will crush the part of him that will!"
*BAM!*
Some of the more squeamish patrons let out a cry of horror, but when they open their eyes, they will discover that it was not the sound of the mallet crushing the hand of a young dandy.
*BAM!*
It is someone on the other side of the door. The force with which they knock is enough to wake the dead.
[Carac(#32384)] "So it looks like you are more than just smiles," Sionn says to the Dunhallow lad, but is interuppted by the pounding on the door before he can say more.
"Just a moment for Kiern's sake!" he yells at the door, and then motions the boys to open it. "Why is everyone out to break my damned door today?" Sionn asks no one in particular. "It's never harmed no one far as I know, but everyone is slamming it and pounding upon it."
He points his mallet towards Jadiran before turning his attention to the door. "Don't you be thinkin' about goin' anywhere lad," he says. "You've still got some questions to answer."
"Well, why don't you go find one of my brothers to take out your dislike upon." Jadiran retorts immediately, scowling. Still, the young man can't help but take a peek at the dice he just rolled, and he suddenly gives a short laugh, "Dueces! The pot's mine!" He jabs a finger to point out the success, but is jolted back to the situation at hand with the loud slamming sound.
He glances around wildly for a moment, then sorts out where the noise is coming from and gives Conn another smile. "Come on, now, sir. I'll buy you a drink, we'll figure out who the real culprit was and you'll be happier, -I'll- be happier, and .. " He faulters for a moment, "And we can even see what bug is up the ass of whoever is outside pounding on the door, right?" There's just a hint of a frantic edge to his voice.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
The moment the bar is removed, the door opens, and two men wearing armor, dressed for battle, stumble in, almost falling forward right onto the floor had it not been for Seamus. They are injured, covered in dirt, and obviously exhausted.
Farmer Conn looks over his shoulder, momentarily taking his eyes off Jadiran. He squints at the pair. "Ask 'em if they're from Dunhallow."
[Carac(#32384)] Sionn's eyes widen at the site of the men and he moves towards them with surprising quickness for a man of his girth, assisiting Seamus with helping one of the men to a nearby chair. "Conn you an Rupert get the other one," he says as the first is deposited into a chair.
"Someone fetch some water from the well," he orders as he looks the men over.
"Not you!" he says turning to point a finger at the Dunhallow lad.
He gets a bit closer to the injured man before him. "Can you speak, lad?" he asks. "What's happened to ya?"
"I-.." Jade is cut off before he can ever get the words out. He watches the commotion for only a moment, then surrepticiously reaches to slide his earnings from the dice table, easing the coins into his pocket. Next he reaches down to grab up a quiver full of arrows from the floor, trying to casually slip it over his shoulder.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
While Conn and Rupert helps the second injured man into the chair, the first one looks up at Sionn from the chair. He breathes heavily with his mouth open, and his eyes are filled with sorrow and shame.
"Redvyrne Keep.." he starts, breathing laboriously, then stops. It is difficult to tell if he stops because he needs to catch his breath, or because he does not want to say what he needs to say.
"It has been captured. By Bears." The second one answer, and he doubles over in his chair, head buried in his hands with shame. "We tried to take it back ourselves but we couldn't."
"What?" Sionn demands, unable to believe the words that have just been spoken. The same sentiment seems to be felt by the rest of the patrons in the bar.
"He got hit on the head too hard and is talkin' out his arse," one man claims.
"Aye," another agrees. "No way the Bear could take Redvyrne," he adds. "The Ceann would have put them down with little fuss."
"Ceann Praxis has been gone along time you old fool!" Another exclaims. "Can't say who does hold Redvyrne now, mayhap its...."
"ENOUGH!" bellows Sionn as he turns to glare towards all those in the bar. "Is what your friend here says true?" he asks turning to the second wounded man. "Are there Bear in Redvyrne?"
Jadiran is just beginning to whisper a soft prayer of thanks to Kiern for the distraction when the news is announced. The archer ends up staring at the warrior along with the rest of the tavern. Though, as the questions begin to fly, Dunhallow's shock wears off quickly and the young man begins edging towards the door.
Players: Jadiran, Sionn, Conn
Located in: Dunlending
- You are here:
-
Home
-
Elendor
-
Dunlending
- Conn's Daughter