Lyos, his new deku shield slung over his shoulder and new dagger sheathed aside the fiery hilt of his old, heaved the heavy ornate door of the Inn. The cold night breeze continued to whip against his cheeks while he held the door open to allow Hurin to step through. Hurin blew past his brother and immediately closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his face laced with eager anticipation.

Mmm, it smells wonderful, doesn't it, brother?

Lyos gazed around the dimly lit room that looked like so many taverns do but with a distinct architecture he felt he'd seen before...
Impossible, I've never visited this castle before in my life. I'm probably just tired. He also noticed that no one was there yet so they went ahead and walked up to the bar and took a seat. A portly man with a rugged mustache and a slight limp walked over.

Barkeep: What'll you have? he said in a friendly yet booming bass.
I'll have an ale sir and my brother here will have a mug of hot cider.

The man nodded his head and moved off down the counter. Lyos stretched out his limbs the sat back and gazed into an elaborate mirror positioned on the wall a few feet behind the counter. As he puzzled over why a tavern like this would have such an elaborate piece of artwork, the sweet smell of apples melded with the hardy aroma of fresh brewed ale filled the air around them as the barkeep made it back with their drinks. Lyos began to take out a couple of rupees to pay the man when he interuppted...

You guy's're new 'round arntcha?
Yessir just got in this morning. Beautiful town you guys got here.
I'll tell ya what, since ya new, it's on the house. He said with a slight gleam of jovial beguilement.
Well thank you sir, I greatly appreciate it!
Don' mention it. He said as he walk away to attend other customers
The people here are really nice aren't they, brother?
Yes indeed they are.

It was no small wonder the reception they'd had today. If our luck continues like this, Lyos thought, we may yet find it far sooner than we'd ever hoped. However, if previous experience was any indicator, this would not be the case. For now, Lyos was contented to praise in the blessings he was now given.
Just then, he heard the door swing open behind him. Both of them glanced over their mugs to see who it was...

OOC: sorry guys for the god-modding i hope what i did was ok... i'll change it if its not

"I'm glad that the weather has finally cooled off some...but this is insane. I wouldn't be surprised if it started to snow tonight." A young sounding man said from under the hood of his red cloak. He pulled the hood back and looked around the room for Lyos and his little brother, Hurin. He quickly spotted then and leaned his staff next to several others that had been propped up next to the door. "You two are something else. I came strait here, and yet you beat me here. And you had to go to the Quartermaster's armory before it closed. Your pretty quick." Sovelis said as he undid the clasp to his cloak and hung it on one of pegs that had been stuck in the wall for the travelers to hang their coats and such.

The mage walked over to the same table as Lyos and his brother, and sat down in one of the empty seats at the large table. "Excuse me, Barkeeper? Could I also have a tall mug of that warm, spiced cider to take the edge off the chill outside?" Sovelis said, loudly enough that the large man could here him over the din of the small crowd of people present.

Lyos took another sip of his ale as Sovelis slid into the spot across from them at the table. With a now full stomach Hurin had already stared to nod off, and with heavy eyelids put his head in his brother's lap. Sleep well brother. Gently stoking his brother's golden hair, Lyos turned his attention to his new friend.

Well you know how kids with an empty stomach can get. he said with a lopsided smile and took another sip of ale.
So, Sovelis, tell me more about yourself. You were very kind to welcome us in such a manner but I feel like I know hardly anything about you.

"What's there to know? Sovelis is also a foreign being in Hyrule." Kasei said, taking his seat. Instead of ordering something, however, he brought out one of his possesions from his bag: the Book of Mudora. "How much aincent Hylian do either of you know?" He asks, flipping through the pages, until something caught his eye: a date more than a hundred years old.

He looks at it for a second, then turns away, closing the book. "Oi! Get me a nice mug of cider!" He shouts, upset.

Zeze pushed open the door, gloomy and sullen. Sakiko was at Masakazu's house, and the bard was left to her own devices. Her face pulled down into a frown, she slipped into the tavern, at least glad for the warmth. The winter coldness was dampening her mood, and her usual cheeriness was down in the dumps.

The bard slid onto a nearby seat, and rested her chin on her hands. She muttered to herself,

"Shame to be traveling alone."

She glanced over to the side, and saw Kasei. She recollected her meeting with him before. She grumbled in a low voice,

"'lo, Kasei."

The bard then waved her hand in a lethargic manner, glad that she had some rupees to spend.

"Gimmie some nice, pipin' hot herbal tea with light cream on the surface, with an exact amount of half-gone, not half-full, and make sure you add lotsa lotsa love to it. Nothing's good without lotsa love to it, you know. My mom used to make yummy cookies with lotsa-- eh, forget it."

She buried her head in her arms, awaiting the service of the bartender.

The door burst open as everyone's favorite (or most hated) cleric burst through the doorway, his round body practically bouncing between tables to Sovelis, where he dropped his massive behind into a chair half as wide as his rump with a sigh. He looked over at Hurin and cracked a grin. "Cute liddle tyke, ain' 'e, mate?" He said to Lyos before turning his attentions to his buyer. "Now 'den, Sovelis, how's bout startin' us off wit' Zura wine or summat? I ain't had wine in fer'eva."

Slowly, a sulking Saber made his way to the table, eyeing Burlo's slight path of destruction left behind after the drunk's frivolous antics with despair. He sat down opposite the cleric, trying to stay away if he could. His eyes wandered to the sleeping child in amusement and awe "So, Lyos." He asked, his eyes lingering on Hurin a while longer as he dreamed of what the future may hold for him. "Where do you come from?"

Arrika walked into the inn with a scowl, the package she'd stolen for her employer apparently the wrong one- the employer had refused to pay her and she'd been kicked out of their mansion by a guard when she threatened him. Seeing the familiar group of people made a forced smile twitch across her face, and she sat next to Zeze. "Yo. You alright, Missy? You seem kinda... down... and er, you're actually dressed as a bard for once...I don't know, but I think this suits you better than the skin-tight thief outfit... or that huge blood stained war helmet..."

Lyos' eyes glazed over at Saber's question. It was something he hadn't thought about for many years. For him the pain was still too near. If would misfortune plague him wherever he went he could not tell, yet it seemed the fates had conspired it so. Besides, he thought all great men walk with a limp. I mean look at Saul... No, he had to be patient.

Pushing the thoughts aside he turned to Saber with a sad smile.
Once, long ago before Hurin became my brother, I lived in a small village in Hyrule. Through... unfortunate circumstance, we were forced to move on.
It was clear by his expression of hidden pain that Lyos did not desire to pursue this line of questioning any further.

Lifting his head ever so slightly, the torchlight of the tavern began to glimmer in his once again bright eyes just as if nothing of his origins had been mentioned. He turned with a curious expression to a flustered Kasei. What exactly had he meant by Sovelis being a "foreign being"? The mysterious Kasei could be speaking in metaphor, but there was really no use in troubling over it now. Perhaps he'd just have to see for himself.
But to answer you question Kasei, only what little my grandfather taught me when I was not but a year or two older than Hurin is now. That is a rather interesting book you have there... Lyos said wondering whether the man would open up about it or not.

OOC: is it ok that we have multiple conversations going or should I try to reconcile Lyos' comment with the comments of everyone else, even those not addressing him or the people he's addressing? Just wanna keep it real ^^

Zeze would've done a cartwheel and clapped and sang a song, as everyone seemed down. However, how could she do such a task when she was feeling grave and depressed herself? The bard looked up at Arrika, and muttered,

"Fine as a bumblebee, actually. Thanks for asking. And how about you? You look like you've eaten one of Sakiko's cooking."

The bard sighed loudly, thinking of Sakiko. Sure, she was a sour and bitter companion, but Zeze had a kind heart and missed the mage. She said to Arrika,

"Sorry, Sakiko's not here today. She's off reading ink scrawls."

Zeze sighed grandly once again, and said grumpily,

"Y'know, the service here is rotten. I've called for some tea, and I get..."

She waved around her hands, and muttered,

"Air."

Zeze glanced over at the other three, wondering what their past was like. Lyos's past seemed to be filled with pain, and he looked as if he wanted to forget his past. Just like Sakiko...the bard wanted to join in their conversation, but she didn't know how to approach them. It wasn't like she was unfamiliar with them, but their conversation seemed personal. Thus, the bard remained quiet, listening to what they had to say next. Her other ear remained opened for Arrika. Zeze felt almost useful for some very strange reason, and she felt a tiny bit of cheerfulness creep to her slowly.

After leaving the new gentlemen their drinks, the barkeep hobbled over to the two women, his syncopated footsteps muffled by the din of conversations taking place throughout the tavern. He set their drinks on their table with a soft clunk as he gave the best apologetic smile a rugged face like his could give.
Oi fergive meh fer the delay ladies, he rumbled in a deep baritone, we've seen a right bit 'o action t'night, more 'an usual and jus' seems this ol' leg o' mine caint keep up like it used to. Jus' hollar if ya need anythin'.

While Kasei seemed to collect his thoughts over his fizzing mug of cider, Lyos noticed the two feminine figures who had placed themselves at a table across the inn. He recognized the one as Arrika from earlier. The other had a strange look about her, like one out her element. For some strange reason her gloomy countenance did not suit her. He'd not seen her before, still a strange longing possessed him to see this new face full of life and energy, not donning the doleful expression that now hung over her face like a dark curtain.
Arrika looked none too pleased herself. Perhaps the later events of the evening had not gone in her favor much the same as had the earlier. Not wishing to see such pleasant faces like this, he signaled with his free arm for the two to joined them.
Hoy! Arrika, over here. Please you and your friend come join us!

The Sheikah looked up as her name was called and nodded to the innkeeper gratefully. She took Zeze by the arm and sat next to Sovelis, pulling the bard into a chair beside her and smiling with forced cheeriness that she did not truly feel as a way of lightening Zeze's mood. "Oh Goddesses did you hear what happened to..." The Sheikah trailed off into a very gossipy, girlish sounding conversation that was sure to confuse the men gathered. Small snatches in the chittering conversation could be distinguishable every now and then, such as "And then she was like-" or "And I was like what the hell-" or "And can you believe he-"

Zeze craned her neck towards Arrika, raising her eyebrows. A small grin began to grow on her face - she knew the ways of this game. And it was a game she was the very master of. The bard gasped, her green eyes wide. All traces of gloom left her entirely, as she covered her gaping mouth with her hand. She half-whispered in replies to Arrika's gossip, "You're kidding!" Afterwards, she did a small squeal and giggled, "I cannot believe it! I could almost predict it though!!" Zeze peered at the men, hoping that they were clueless of their gossip. She giggled evilly, and took a swig of her tea. She said cheerfully,

"Now that's what I call service! Ah, I feel much better now!"

Zeze waved at the three others, and smiled.

"Didn't make a proper intro, did I? Name's Zapheta, but I'd hate to take away extra oxygen from your lungs - so call me, Zeze, will ya? And I know Kasei, but do I...?"

She peered at Sovelis and Lyos carefully, searching her mind for any recollection of them. Her short term memory loss had proven to be quite offensive to others in the past.

"Ey, and wut about me, mate?" Burlo called out with a tinge of disappointment. "Is watin' fer my Wine still--" Burlo ranted at the barkeep until Saber cut him off with a stiff finger.

"Burlo, he owes you nothing. You've done nothing for him, and it's in his kindness that he serves you." The mercenary chided, as if dealing with a child--Albeit a child with a drinking problem. "And his paycheck..." He added softly under his breath.

"Kind barkeep.." Burlo added to the end of his hanging sentence, looking down sheepishly behind his mass of tangled hair. He really needed a drink before he went insane...

"As for me, I'll have a North Mountain Draught." Saber added. "I don't care how it's made, though I do prefer it without ice. Could you do that for me please?" He finished, before turning his eyes and ears to those at the table, brushing his hair aside as he tried to pick up on the conversation so he could join in.

Grabbing a bottle and two more mugs, the barkeep made his way over to the now very full table.
'Ere ye are sir, some 'o me best vinum right there. he said with a rosy smile as he clunked a bottle of wine and the empty cup in front of the already wasted cleric. Migh' wanna go easy on it though, mate; dunno if ye realized yet but you've had two already. he added with a deep chuckle.
And for ye sir, North Mountain Draught (an' one o' the finest I've made for quite some time I'll have ye know) hold the rocks. But I will say they are a bit uncomfortable cold against me bare palm, rawharharar. the jovial man guffawed as he made off to help the other customers.

Lyos shook his head and couldn't help but smile at the portly man's humorous attempts. His attention was once again averted as the women began to chat rapidly in a manner he only thought capable by chipmunks. In any case, at least they seemed happier, but Lyos couldn't help but wonder the subject of these random mutterings and silly prattling exchange they'd worked themselves up into. Women were so curious, yet so...
What is it that has gotten you two so excited if I may ask? he asked with a glint in his eye.

Ooc: Timeline befuzzlement crisis!

IC: Zapheta turned to look at Burlo and Saber, but she couldn't recall seeing them. Zeze shrugged, hoping she'd know more of them, and shifted her gaze back to Lyos. She stared at him for awhile, trying to think of why she had turned to see him in the first place. Her capricious thoughts were the masters of her, and she was hopeless against the ever-failing memory. Zeze pursed her lips - a habit she picked up from Sakiko - and waited for the lost thought to hit her. At long last, the bard let out an "Ah ha!" and smiled at Lyos. She took on a 'wise-man' dialect and said,

"Ah, my friend, gossip is the very life-giving element of women. Well, at least for Arrika and myself. But we do have our honors- gossip is to be said in a manner of how chipmunks and other rodents would say them. And they're never to be disclosed to anyone other than of the female population."

She gave him a wide smile, and winked, to assure him it was a mere joke.