Mad Dog Mayhem

Mad Dog Tavern

The door in your hand leans crazily as you give it a stout yank, dragging it open from where it had wedged against its frame. Stepping inside, you come into a squat building three long tables sit astride the floor, and a small fireplace in the rear wall. Small grains of busted crockery crunch underfoot as you walk, remnants of one of the many good-natured brawls that erupt here on just a regular basis.

The crowd is smaller in the day time, but there are still a number of people here... High Pass Guides coming back from a long ride through the dark and deadly valley fishermen bringing their catch to roast on the spit over the fire while they take a draught of ale farmer\'s sons who have come to town for the day, and are sneaking some of their father\'s money into a mug of mead.

It\'s early in the day yet, but the dinner hour has almost arrived and Cecilia is already enjoying a light dish of fish and vegetables. She\'s sitting alone, off against a wall, and has a peaceful expression on her face for a change.

Sending WHO request.

[Mobeorn(#22365)] \"Good day, lass,\" Mobeorn says as the door bangs open, threatenign to fall off its creaky hinges. He ducks into the tavern, winding his way around the benches to find a seat--but waving at the barkeep as he does so to bring him mead.

Cecilia looks up and grins widely. \"Mobeorn!\" She greets him with her usual enthusiasm, then beckons, \"Come, sit with me!\" and gestures to one of the several open seats at her table. \"I want to talk to you.\"

[Mobeorn(#22365)] \"Oh...\" The beijabar doesn\'t bother to hide the change in his expression--as if the girl is asking him to drink sour milk. \"All right. That mead, barkeep?\" he hurries the man. Then he drags a bench over toward the girl, wood scraping in the dirt floor.

\"What? You don\'t want to sit with me?\" Cecilia catches on to his expression almost immediately and her smile slips away. \"You .. don\'t have to.\" She says carefully, but it\'s clear that she -wants- him to join her.

[Mobeorn(#22365)] Mobeorn won\'t fit on the same bench as Cecilia--he\'s too big. But he drags his bench over toward her. \"What is it?\" He eyes her suspiciously.

[Elaos(#30364)]

With a slight hop to his step, Elaos enters the Mad Dog, a grin upon his face as repositions the bundle on his shoulder. His song comes to a close as he waves to a few of the others within the tavern. He brushes his braid back and sighs, rolling his shoulders as he moves for the bar.

\"I wanted to know when the next t-.. Oh! There\'s Elaos! Just a minute, I\'ll be right back. I have to say hello to him.\" Cecilia bounces up before Mobeorn can protest and threads her way through the tables to the bar, leaning against it next to the older healer. \"Good afternoon.\" She says sweetly, a grin on her face.

[Mobeorn(#22365)] Clearly, from the look that crosses Mobeorn\'s face, he is relieved that Cecilia is focusing his attention on Elaos. \"ANd keep them coming,\" he says to the serving girl who sets a large mead in front of him. Then he turns to watch the healer girl at work.

[Elaos(#30364)]

About to order, Elaos finds Cecilia beside him suddenly. \"Cecilia!\" Says the older healer with a smile. \"Well I thought you learned your lesson with mead.\" He jests and then gives a chuckle as he then nods. \"Mead please..\" This is given softly before he looks back to the younger healer. \"Now who did you abandon to greet me, not that I am ungrateful.\"

Cecilia reaches up one hand to idly twirl a thin braid, still smiling fondly at the older man. \"Oh, just Mobeorn. He didn\'t want to talk to me anyway. How are you today, Elaos?\" Considering that she was sobbing on his shoulder a few days ago, the young woman has certainly bounced back quickly.

[Elaos(#30364)]

There is a chuckle and looks back to the beijabar who seems to be relishly the quickly produced mugs of mead. \"I see..\" comes his reply with a faint smile. \"I am well, its a nice day out so I can not complain. Lots of work to do, I came in to wet my throat and see if the fish was good. Is it?\" He states, leaning in to whisper to her, \"I hate to offend them.\"

[Ingnaur(#30298)]

Speaking of bouncing, someone looking a lot like a boy but also a young woman sprints into the tavern like someone is on her tail. \"Hey, listen, where is the cook?\" she asks the buxom barmaid who is presently serving drinks to customers. Over her shoulder is a basket that smells awfully--fishy! Her brow crumples stressfully as she awaits a reply, and looking over her shoulder slyly, her lips twist into a grin.

[Elrond(#7440)] \"Hey! Hey! You didn\'t give me the second coonskin for that basket of fish!!!\" complains a voice. It\'s Rathvard the Fishmonger, in a dudgeon, behind the girl.

\"I was enjoying it.\" Cecilia answers in a soft tone, still grinning. \"You can try some of mine if you like?\" The invitation is followed with the young woman turning to look at the two that just burst into the tavern, her gray eyes wide. Then she laughs, \"Best watch what you say.. Mobeorn is sitting right over there.\" The healer says none too quietly.

[Elrond(#7440)] The fellow gives Mobeorn a quick glance and blanches. \"Just a joke,\" he hisses nervously. \"Just a joke!\"

[Ingnaur(#30298)]

Gnarling, the girl turns around and with one hand on her hip, she stares the fishmonger down. \"Now, now, Rathvard, why would you go around making such outrageous lies about me? You know I haven\'t seen you in weeks and I much less remember speaking to you than I making you any outrageous deals!\" Turning to the barmaid, she puts her hand on her heart and swears solemnly to all those who are present, \"Everyone here knows me and knows that I only take coins for my fish. To deal in skins would be a reprehensible crime.\" A shifty eye glances at the beorning while all this is being said. Turning to the Rathvard, Ingnaur scowls and proclaims, \"Shame on you for even suggesting such a thing! Or, for that matter, bargaining in such matter with anyone else!\"

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"Ohhh what an offer.\' Elaos states and then turns to look at them as well, \"Not the best place to do that..\" He says, a shake of his head given before he takes the mug of mead. \"Show me to your fish...Just one bite.\" But he gazes towards the other two, causing him to pause at the bar for a moment longer.

Elrond bllanches a bit more and backs up a bit, spreading his hands. \"All right, all right, can\'t you take a joke?\"

\"Oh, I\'ll fetch it.. you stay here.\" Cecilia slides away and lights over to the table where she left her meal, grinning at Mobeorn who\'s still drinking, then she\'s back at the bar and dropping the dish in front of Elaos. \"Enjoy! I\'m full anyway. I had a huge lunch not that long ago, but I wanted to eat something before I spent the night watching the infirmary.\" Then the young woman goes back to watching Ingnaur, laughing.

[Ingnaur(#30298)]

The barmaid is finally able to fetch the cook, who comes into the room with a sweaty face and wiping his forehead with a greasy dishtowel, he says, \"Ingnaur, my dear, you have brought me fresh fish? I was expecting Fatty Lumpkin to come and give me some later today, but it seems to me that you have raced him to finish.\" Slapping down three shiny coins, he reaches out for the basket of fish.

[Elaos(#30364)]

Such rapid service, the fish placed before him. Elaos gazes down at it and then chuckles, \"Well thank you, I shall have to do something in turn.\" He nods and takes up a piece of the fish with his fingers. Placing the piece in his mouth, he cleans his fingers at the same time and then grins at her. \"Not bad at all.\" He bows his head slightly and then turns to watch the scene. \"Not very mindful are they?\" He questions Cecilia as he leans one arm agains the bar and then lifts the mead to his lips to wash down the fish.

Cecilia shrugs her shoulders, unconcerned. \"They\'re enjoying the day as well.\" She says with a grin, then adds, \"I knew you would like it. You have good taste. Were you going to come work at the infirmary tonight? Maybe.. keep me company?\" There\'s heavy hinting from the young woman.

[Ingnaur(#30298)]

Quickly grabbing the coins, Ingnaur says to the cook with an angelic expression on her face, \"You know I am quick at my job, and the fish...\" she winks, \"The would eat out of my hands if I let them.\" Then, leaning over the bar, she whispers to the man, \"Don\'t tell my old competition I came to see you and gave you your wares, OK? The man has had a bad day and did not catch much. In fact,\" she sighs, \"I just saw him at the crossroads complaining to the ironsmith that he was robbed of his goods today, while he was taking a nap after a hard days work.\" Her bright eyes roll to the back of her head and she sighs, \"Tell me, my good friend, which fisher in his right mind would not take his fish to the market and sell it at the best price, rather than sleep by the riverside?\"

[Elrond(#7440)] Rathvard, unobtrusive, sidles out of the place, hoping to get out before Mobeorn wakes up.

[Elaos(#30364)]

A brow raises then as Cecilia\'s words and he smiles, rubbing the back of his neck. \"Tonight?\" He says softly and then seems to think, \"I suppose I could stop by, I did have some herbs to put away.\" He nods then and takes another bite of the fish, watching the antics for the moment of Ingnaur. \"Do all females have that? I mean that ability to look innocent?\" He asks off-handedly.

[Mobeorn(#22365)] WIth a snort, Mobeorn startles in the corner. It seems the shapeshifter fell asleep but is now awake again.

[Elrond(#7440)] Rathvard slips quickly out the door.

Cecilia laughs at Elaos\'s question and turns to look at Ingnaur with a knowing expression. \"I don\'t know what you\'re talking about, Elaos. What do you mean by innocence?\" She asks, grinning and sounding perfectly confused.

[Ingnaur(#30298)]

Shaking his head and letting big beats of sweat fly in all directions, the cook says to the fisherwoman, \"Mark my words, that family is upto no good! Lumpy is becoming lazier and lazier, and his sons are worse than the father.\" Ingnaur having her money firmly secure in her clamped fingers nods her head, before turning around and finding a seat at a table. \"I\'ll have some of that good stuff,\" she tells the barmaid while on her way. And, then, plopping herself on a chair she puts the coins in her pocket while flipping one in her hand, so that all evidence the reward of her hard-days labor.

[Mobeorn(#22365)] \"What was that? Coonskin?\" Mobeorn says sleepily, bleary eyes following Rathvard out the door. He reaches for his mug of mead, downing the rest of it in one long drink, then eyes Ingnaur. \"What was that all about?\"

[Elaos(#30364)]

Elaos gives her a look that says he hardly believes the act but shrugs his shoulders. \"Mmm hmmm.\" He looks back down to the fish, taking a bite of it before he grins, \"So you are working the infirmary tonight? Anything I should bring besides the roots from yesterday?\" He asks the girl, still in silent watch mode of the other going ons.

[Ingnaur(#30298)]

Eying the shapeshifter warily,

Cecilia doesn\'t get any support from Ingnaur, so she turns her attention back to Elaos. \"I don\'t know.. maybe some patients so that we won\'t be bored out of our minds?\" Her gaze wanders over to the skinchanger, \"It was a joke, don\'t worry about it Mobeorn.\"

[Ingnaur(#30298)]

Eying the shapeshifter warily, the fisherwoman chuckles and waves a dismissive hand, \"Only a joke, Master, nothing to worry about. No innocent animal was injured, and apart from a few fish being fried everything is all and well.\" The coin that is mid-way in the air is caught with flying fingers and tucking it into her side the girl grabs her drink and puts it to her lips. A big gulp is taken, putting the mug back on the table, Ingnaur yawns. She is everything a boy should be and there is not even a remote resemblance of anything girlish in her. Well, apart from that innocent smile she always puts on display once in a while, in tight situations.

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"Well I am not sure they will be willing patients..but how bout some food and music if nothing else?\" He offers, making a quick fix of the fish and eyeing the empty plate. \"I was going to go gather some more and check in on Eydis. See how she is doing.\" He smiles to this and lifts up his mead. \"What will you do till tonight?\" He glances towards Ingnaur then, smirking a bit.

[Mobeorn(#22365)] The door slams open, a fat Fatty Lumpkin standing there, glaring, hands on hips. \"MY FISH!! Give me back my fish!\" That is roared toward Ingnaur.

Cecilia is nodding in agreement with Elaos\'s ideas when the door slams open and the bellow of fish splits the air. The healer begins giggling, \"Looks like we may have patients yet!\" After a moment she adds, \"If there\'s any blood, you\'re tending to it.\"

[Ingnaur(#30298)] At such a loud proclamation by Fatty, Ingnaur slinks just a little more into her chair. She is trying to get under it, by the looks of things, and if she can manage it she\'d be on her hands and knees by the end on the floor. With her thin finger to her lips, the fisherwoman eyes Elaos and whispers a \'shhh\'. Crawling, now, she is under the table between legs, hopeful that the large man will avoid her presence and she will pass unscathed. She does not, for one, want to be Cecilia\'s patient tonight!

[Elaos(#30364)]

He blinks and turns, looking towards the door as well. \"Hmmmm, let us hope not.\" He replies in full meaning as he watches the woman climb beneath the table. He nods, his braid shifting down his back. He smiles and looks back up. \"Fish for the road..\" he instructs and leans further against the bar, watching the scene unfold. \"Should be interesting.\"

[Mobeorn(#22365)] \"Oi!!!\" Mobeorn\'s surprised shout echoes across the tavern as the shapeshifter jumps in surprise as Ingnaur crawls by him. Without thinking, the man kicks out, trying to push the fish woman away--probably trying to roll her like a boulder across the room!

Fatty, who is old and lumpy and walks with a limp (an old \'fishing injury,\' he says), totters on into the tavern, trying to catch up with the woman. \"Come here!! Git here!!!\"

Mobeorn attacks Ingnaur with his Beijabar Fists and mildly wounds her!

[Ingnaur(#30298)]

\"OUCH!\" the woman roars like she had just been killed with a lance, and quickly jumping to her feet, she clutches her side and races to the bartable, on which she jumps to get out of Lumpkin\'s reach. \"I didn\'t do nothing! It was all him and his sons. I was working hard one day, having caught a dozen good fish, and just when I was tying my boat to the dock his sons Stout Stoward and Big Lorrie run off with my catch!\" She is about to hop out of the way. \"I paid him in kind!\" she declares, as just as she is about to skip across the table, her foot lies in a plate of fish and she falls right into the faces of Elaos and Cecilia.

Cecilia watches all of this with gray eyes wide, but she\'s still laughing. Ingnaur did it to herself, and the healer isn\'t going to get involved. She\'s not boyish at all and detests getting dirty unneccesarily. Though, she doesn\'t seem to have much choice in the matter when Ingnaur is falling right at her. The healer gives a girlish shriek and cringes as she throws her arms over her head, bracing herself.

[Elaos(#30364)]

Quick on his feet, Elaos\' own eyes widen in quiet surprise as he reaches for Cecilia, grasping at her arm and giving her a strong pull without trying to hurt her, towards him. The elder healer, dances back a few steps as well, actually lifting the other healer over the flailing Ingnaur. His other hand moves to guide, Cecilia to him and with him back a few good paces more from the scene. \"Hmmmm there goes a quiet morning,\" He chuckles, holding the woman gently as he watches.

[Mobeorn(#22365)] By this time, of course, Fatty has toddled over close enough to wear Ingnaur is, and along the way he\'s picked up a pitcher of ale. \"Ha!\" he barks at the woman. \"More like you waited for me boys to come home and then you stole their catch from them!\" he snorts loudly. And then to emphasize his point, the man hurls the pitcher toward the fish woman--ale spewing her way, followed by the clay pitcher. LIkely the Mad Dog charges double for its drinks, given how often the crockery here gets broken in fights, but then, it also funds the potters in Beorning.

In the back, Mobeorn tries to quietly slink out of the tavern. Can Beijabars slink?

[Ingnaur(#30298)]

A little more athletic than either of the healers, Ingnaur does a little flips and lands luckily on her butt, instead of her head. Glowering with anger, she says to them, \"I thought you were healers! If I had landed on the two of you you, at least I would not break my head. Aren\'t you supposed to be saving lives here?\" She is about to say more when the pitcher of ale comes flying at her, followed by more earthernware. \"Are you trying to kill me?!\" she screams as she barely misses getting knocked square in the eye. And racing behind a few good men... err... customers, Ingnaur charges after the slinking Mobeorn. If she had any hope of getting out alive, she would have to get him into this. And with any luck, Lumpkin would miss his aim and send something in the Beijabar\'s direction.

Cecilia doesn\'t even realize what\'s happening as Elaos pulls her out of the way. Then she finds herself unharmed and in the older healer\'s grasp and she lets out a sigh of relief. \"Thank you..\" She might have said more but then Ingnaur is yelling at them. Ceci scowls and straightens away from Elaus, retorting, \"Didn\'t break it hard enough to shut your mouth, did you?\" Then some ale splatters her dress and she sucks in a horrified breath and turns a glare on Fatty. \"HEY!\" The healer reaches for the half empty mug that Elaos was working on and flings it at the man in a sudden bout of anger.

[Elaos(#30364)]

Reaching past her, Elaos grabs it from Cecilia, his eyes wide, \"Hey hey, if you are going to throw something pick someone elses mead!\" He proclaims, trying to safe his own with some passion. Eying the younger healer, the man shakes his head. \"Remember..it comes out...don\'t get involved.\" he tries to warn, seeing how this could all go SO wrong.

[Elaos(#30364)]

Elaos just stares, his mug gone before he can get a hold of it. There is something of sadness that spreads across his gaze.

[Mobeorn(#22365)] Fat, lumpy, and lucky. Fatty ducks, and the mug flies across the bar, landing with a soft BONK on Mobeorn\'s head. \"Huh?\" The shapeshifter turns, eyeing Ingnaur, who is trying to sneak out behind him. \"If you two want to fight, you\'ll do it outside,\" he growls. Then he yanks open the tavern door.

[Ingnaur(#30298)]

Slinking past Mobeorn, Ingnaur tries to get the beijabar between her and Lumpkin. The man would not dare to throw anything at the shapeshifter, if he wished to stay alive. And unexpectedly and lucky for him, at least he didn\'t aim the mug at Mobeorn! Now for Ingnaur, it is well known that a young thing like the fisherwoman is quick on her feet. Putting distance between her and the abusive competition, she is about the grab at the door when she hears what is being said behind her. \"I did not start it! He did. And he\'ll have to find me first, after he gets past my family.\" Looking over her shoulders, she a wicked snarl twists across her face. \"And I have a large family. My brothers always like a good fight!\" That said, she races out without a backward glance.

Cecilia watches with horror as the mug hits the shapechanger instead. She gasps loudly, \"Oh, Mobeorn! I\'m sorry!\" And lucky for her the man is well distracted. Ceci looks back to Elaos, \"You made me miss!\" She says with a small pout, leaning against the bar again with her own expression of sadness.

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"Me?\" The elder healer states and blinks. \"You just stole my mead..\" He proclaims and looks for the beijabar to Cecilia. He takes a moment and shakes his head, moving forward to except the wrapped fish before paying for it. \"I think I am going to get out of here while I can....so that I am not caught in the next crossfire.\" He looks between them all and actually has to wait to make sure he doesn\'t incur any of the attention that is being offered up.

[Mobeorn(#22365)] Mobeorn doesn\'t seem to realize that it was Cecilia who threw the mug--the shapeshifter is glaring at Ingnaur and Fatty, who is unsuccessfully trying to make himself look small. But when Ingnaur skips out the door and runs, he grumbles something annoyed, then sighs loudly. \"I\'m going to the Laird\'s if anyone needs me. Will get my mead there....\" He passes out the door, muttering once more about women.

\"I.. it was half empty anyway!\" Ceci answers quickly and flashes Elaos that winning smile while offering an endearing apology. \"I\'ll get you another. Ok? I won\'t take it, I promise!\" She gestures, \"Besides, they\'re gone!\"

[Elaos(#30364)]

Chuckling, Elaos gives a shake of his head, \"I will see you tonight, Cecilia. I find it safer out of doors..\" He winks and takes up his fish and then his bag. \"Till then m\'dear.\" He inclines his head and winks before turning to go, a tune soon finding its way in the form of a whistle as he begins to march for the exit.

Cecilia sighs in defeat and slumps back again. She watches the man leave with a wistful expression on her face, then orders herself a mug of mead to enjoy before going on shift for most of the night.