Carrion Crown Chapt. 1

'Look for the most ridiculous pair when entering a bar. They'll have the best stories.' Atleast that is what the Professor once told him. Harper couldn't help but heed this advise considering the circumstance He sat himself down near the amusing pair and gave the barkeeper a friendly nod.

Why yes actually. Harper responds with a smile. To think if I'd only set out in this direction sooner I may have been to visit rather then to pay my respects. But such somber discussion has no place here. Better to speak of the good times.

Ya best not, remember my boy is trying to sleep in the back and although your playin is really good I don't want him waking up Gwen says apologetically.

Spring seems to stay in high spirits even though he isn't able to play.

Gentlemen, the tavern is going to close soon, towns rather quite and we don't operate late into the night like taverns in the city. I suppose you need a room in the in since you just arrived and I can take care of that as soon as we get you some food if you need it. We open again in the morning for breakfast an hour after dawn if you don't have other plans.

Jorvas looks toward Harper when he speaks of the room and reaches below the bar removing a key from some hidden hook.

Room at the top of the east stairs on the left. We can take care of the bill in the morning, if you run out on us I'll have to hire the big fella here to track you down.

Gwen sets the rest of the ham from the evenings meal on the bar top along with the toasted bread and cheese. Once you have finished eating and paid the tiny bill for the food you retire and they close the tavern for the night.

Spring heads to his room, since he already acquired a key earlier. He's been drinking since the sun started to set and with it being winter, that was long ago.

I think an hour after dawn may be a bit early for me... maybe in a few days for the funeral I can pull that off

A tiny man enters the tavern as soon as the doors are open in the morning. Though his size is a rather notable feature, the first thing anyone notices about him is his remarkably garish cloak. It looks quite a bit like something a colorblind Greek mathematician would favor. While his small size might lead one to believe he was but a boy playing at being an adventurer, the scarred left hand hardened features put paid to that thought quite quickly. He seems to have a lot of torches for some reason.

He sits a at a table and orders a simple breakfast.

The cloak is in a dazzle camouflage pattern, and is a professional affectation used by his family to indicate their trade.

Nearing the end of brunch, Spring makes his way back in to the tavern. He appears well rested and not affected by the ample amount of nut brown ale from the previous night. His pipe is already lit when he makes his way inside. He positions his backpack around on the seat, getting the contents lined up just right, then sits down on top of it at the bar.

Morning! I'll have some ale and breakfast if you please.

The small man walks, perhaps a bit louder than really necessary, up to the bar and takes a seat next to the most recent visitor.

So, friend, what news have you heard?

Spring looks the man up and down, then smiles.

No doubt, you must be a friend of the professor. If the big brute of a barbarian was, and the silver haired man was, then you must be with a cloak so classy. News? Well, I guess we share the same grim news of the professor, besides that I've been on the road for over a month and news is pretty quiet when you travel alone.

Ah well, I've been in a cave, so I've little to share myself.
He pauses for a moment to consume some delicious egges and then resumes.

I met the professor in a town controlled by an Aboelith in a near by lake. lost two perfectly good fingers saving his neck from an ax. Fun times.

How did you meet him?

Spring instinctively looks at the man's hand. Then looks back up, takes a big bite from his hard toast, then continues.

I met him roughly 10 years ago. He was traveling with a caravan as a roaming scholar, and ended up in my home. I grew up in the Five Kings Mountains, adopted by the dwarves. During an Orc siege I helped the professor and my wife and child escape before any further hostilities could happen to the mountain home. We only knew each other for 4 days... yet he managed to be such an important part of my life.

Spring raises his mug in the air. To you, professor.

Bill joins in the toast with his own mug

Oh, I'm sure they'll let you play.

Bill smirks. It is slightly unnerving.

It just ain't a funeral with out booze and song, eh?

Bill Heinz, Cave explorer extraordinaire!

He holds out his hand, presumably for shaking or some such.

Spring turns and grabs Bill's hand as firmly as he can, and shakes.

Like I said last night, any friend of the professor's is a friend of mine.

Spring can't seem to contain his excitement, and unlatches the bagpipe hanging from the side of his pack. He plays a cheerful mining song of the Dwarves.

A woman's Scorn!

My feet are tired,
But the hearth is warm,
I'll be back soon,
To feel her scorn,
We mined all day,
then we drank all night,
my mind is fuzzy,
but she'll set me right!

perform wind instruments: 19 + 8 = 27

So, um, is that, like, a thing with you?
Just kinda breaking out into song?
I mean, don't get me wrong, you're really good at it, but it's just a little.

He trails off for a moment and looks incredibly shifty.

Unexpected.

Spring plops back down after standing on his pack.

Well, I've developed a way to channel the healing powers of Sarenrae through my music. It took me many years to practice my form and lots of meditation, but I've found great success in using the morale boost of music in combat situations to go along with the divine powers of the Sun goddess.

whew... singing and playing at the same time... good thing i know what i'm doing.