Arthur walked into the pup which was nearly desolate at this time of day. Only a few were in it and none Arthur wanted to get to know. All he wanted was some stiff drinks that would see him through the day. He sat down by at table and a good looking waitress came over and said," What will it be stranger". Arthur looked up and said," Whiskey in big cups keep it coming". The waitress smiled and went away. Of course she would smile at him, Arthur was handsome but he chuckled absently if she would think him handsome in his dragon form now that would be a shocker. For a moment he thought about doing it but shook his head. What was wrong with him he was getting all sadistic and grim again.

What he needed was a long stiff drink and then he would be as right as rain once more. The waitress came back and handed him his drink and Arthur smiled and said,” Thanks". The waitress bowed and went away and Arthur took a long drink and near drained the tankard. He refilled it with the bottle the waitress had left. He thanked the waitress silently in his mind he would leave her a big tip when he left. He then took another drink and let the booze wash him away.

The ranger walked through the swinging doors and into the pub. His journey had taken him a great distance from home, and he was now thirsty. In his weakened tired state it was easy for him to give into his temptations. The elf had sworn to his love to try to give up the bottle, but it was hard to keep that in mind when he was so far away from home.

The small elf approached the bar and called to the bartender, "I'll have a pint of the houses greatest ale." He slapped some coins onto the counter to pay for his drink. The owner starred at him for a second. He seemed unsure whether to fill the order or not. Wood elves could seem somewhat child like to someone not familiar with them, but the sight of the youth's coins drained the man of any desire to not treat his tiny patron.

Chuck gazed around the bar as he waited on his drink. There were quite a few people here already, but it was a little early for the night life to be out. The nomad had time to enjoy his drink and leave before it too crowded. He was sure that the drunks would not be too kind to such a small elf. He could forsee himself being the object of several jokes, and he would rather like to avoid their hospitality.

Finally the owner returned with Chuck's drink. The elf threw him a smile and said, "Bottom's down." The young elf threw back his mug and guzzled his drink. Others around watched with some amazement at how such a small man could down his drink so fast.

Once he had drained the last drop, Chuck slammed his glass down on the counter. "Wowee!" He said with a grimace, "You call this ale? I've tasted better horse piss than this." The wood elves ale was a more flavorful and stronger ale than the humans brewed. This new ale was hard to stomach for someone who had grown up on the elven batch.

But the elf muscled his way past the taste and called out, "Another pint!"

Arthur watched as the wood elf walked in. It was unusal to see a wood elf in this place. Arthur shrugged he had seen stranger things it was just another day. He did not want to disturb anyone anyway all he wanted was to drown his troubles. Arthur took up his bottle and poured the whiskey in it and again drained the tankard . He liked his lips with the alchol washing through him. It was hard for him to get drunk being half-dragon he could drink a whole barrel withouy feeling tipsy. It took something stronger usually but now he just wanted to enjoy the silence.

It was broken by the wood elf complaining about his drink and shook his head elves would know about fine drinks but they should know that the human stuff sometimes had a stronger kick than they realised. He got up and poured the rest of the whiskey in his tankard and took another long draught and went up to the bar and sat down next to the wood elf and said," I need another bottle tender". The bartender nodded and then Arthur looked at the wood elf and said," You know if you don't like the drink, get somethign better this place serves some pretty good stuff even for elf standards".

The morning had been comfortably and light as Karin put on her apron and washed tables after the patrons. She knew though, that as the afternoon waned on more negative members would wander into the tavern. She glided gently through tables, the wolf always at her heals and ever aware. She had been wiping the drops from an oak table when someone slammed a glass down onto the bar. Karina’s eyes groped for a vision of the perpetrator, but as always she was only met by darkness.
Approaching the bar, she approached the men from the opposite side.

“You know if you don't like the drink, get something better this place serves some pretty good stuff even for elf standards”

Ahh, the man with the whiskey. He had a sweet voice when she had served him. Essedar took a post at the end of the bar, watching the two men in an analyzing way that only lupine eyes could. Karina approached on the opposite side of the bar from the two men.

”Can I get you something different, sir? Karina was always kinder to these men then she should have been. Many came straight off the trails, just looking for trouble, and it always seemed to be found in the quiet tavern. She had never quite understood what could make men fight over the simplest of things. She even found it humorous at times. Smiling at the two men, she awaited an answer.

As Chuck waited for his second glass of booze, some pretty boy patron approached him. "You know if you don't like the drink, get something better this place serves some pretty good stuff even for elf standards," he suggested.

Chuck could not help but laugh a little. "I've already ordered the finest beer this tavern has to offer. If this is the best, I'm afraid you are sadly mistaken. I feel sorry for you, having never tasted a real beer," the elf boasted proudly not aware that some people might consider his remarks rude.

The bartender returned with a second frosty mug for Chuck. As he reached for the glass a barmaid approached asking if she might be of service. "No, I think I'll be a'ight," he said laying a few more coins down to pay for his second glass.

Ignoring the others who had come to chat, Chuck quickly downed his second pint. It was nothing personal against them, but some people just like to get drink in privacy. "Whoa!" Chuck cried as he lowered his second cup, his face once again contorted. He thrust his head around trying to shake off the taste.

"More!"

Arthur only smiled and said," I wasn't talking beer elf, I am talking wine, whiskey, and other liquor, and I have tasted real beer, I've been through elf lands enough to have gotten their drink, but they have got nothing on the Dwarves wine, which is actually served here, one of the few places I can find it, along with Dragons Fire Whiskey which is pretty rare". Arthur then looked at the barmaid that had served him earlier and said," If you could get me somethign stronger, I need good mix today, its one of those off days for me".


HE tne turned back to bartender who ave him his bottle of whiskey and Arthur opened it and he chugged it down quickly and let it down the bartender stood w ide and amazed that Arthur still stood there without looking a bit woozy. Arthur smirked he would not let on his secret but he needed something strong to wash away his troubles. He then said to elf," Now however if you want a real treat, there is this place near the Temple of Nature that has mead that will knock your socks right off and get your drunk quicker than anything alive, however the people there not as good company and the performers there need a bit of work but there okay". Arthur then looked for the girl to see if his strong drink was coming.

Karina lifted the coins from the bar, depositing them in a jar only a few feet from the men. Grimacing at the elf, she turned and nodded as the sweet voiced one asked for something stronger and proceeded to create a mix that would go down softly, but hit as hard as he wanted. The bar was set up to a system so she wouldn’t have to fumble around and she knew where each bottle sat. She left the other man's drink to the bartender.

After finishing, she brought the tall glass back to the man. He smells like trouble… A hardy, woodsy voice entered into her thoughts. She cast her glance in the direction of Essedar, who laid at the end of the bar, his tail swaying back and forth on the dusty floor. His eyes gave her an image of herself, standing in front of the two men. One was an elf, only a few inches shorter then Karina....the other was a handsome man, obviously the owner of the strong voice. The wolf looked at both with thoughts of disgrace and trouble, he always had been the more cautious of the two of them.

Karina scoffed at her lupine counterpart and turned back to her customers smiling.”Where might you be coming from? What with such stories of good places to mingle you must have some entertainment for a poor bar maid.” Karina slid the glass to the other side of the bar.

Chuck sighed as the conversation continued. He really liked to drink in private, but it seemed the customs in these humans' pubs were different from back home. He decided it was best not to fight the customs and accept the company. After all he did not want to be a bad representative of his people.

"I do not think you have ever tasted the ale I am talking about. It is very unique," Chuck continued insisting that his race's ale was the best, "my... tribe of elves are different from the mainline you usually think of. Our city is hidden, and we do not have aliens there."

The youth reached across the counter grabbing his third mug. He laid some more coins back down as payment yet again. This time he did not throw his drink back like before. If he was going to be stuck in the conversation, he might as well take his time.

"I have heard of this drink you talk of," Chuck continued after taking a couple of swigs, "Curin's Meade they call it, but his temple is hidden. I've no clue where to find it, and I've never met anyone who does. I would very much like to visit the place. It seems like my type of atmosphere, but I doubt I will ever be lucky enough to lay eyes on it."

Chuck turned to the barmaid. He did not like the way her questions were going. His people would not like him giving away the secrets of his race. Smiling he said, "I'm afraid I can't tell you that. Great folly would it be for me to let slip the secrets of my folk. I would never be allowed back. I hope you'll accept my sincere apologies."

Arthur only smiled at the mans comment amd said," Youd be suprised what I have tasted, and seen". He then looked around a bit and sat there quiet for awhile and then said," I know where the temple is, its not that hard to find, you just need to know how to look". When the girl finally came with his drink he smiled at her and took it.

HE took a drink it went down smoothly and tasted great but his eyes lit up wildly it had a good kick and he licked his lips with a smile. He would leave a bigger tip for her. He took another small drink with a smile on his fcae. The girl then came up aand asked them about themselves Arthur smiled and just drank. The elf beside him answered rudely and Arthru shook his head with a frown.

He then said," Well I can tell you about myself unlike this rude elf". HE paused letting more pass into his gullet. HE then said," I have come from the Ered Annon on a recent visit to the Sanctuary of Angels, I come here every summer to perform, you see I am a very good performer and the summer is the best time for me here". Arthur smiled and paused and took another drink. He then said," Now some stories, well I was a dragon slayer at one time, but only evil dragons did I slay, I was known as Arthur the Evil Dragon Slayer, Elf Friend, Slayer of Shadows".

Chuck grunted in annoyance. The patron had no clue what he was talking about. He had the young elf confused for some common elf. Of course, how could he know about the wood elves of the Clarieden. They were a secretive race. They did not allow strangers to come into their precious hidden city, and they rarely had anyone go out. Acting like he knew everything, yet he had no clue what he was talking about.

Perhaps if Chuck had not been so annoyed by the man assuming he knew everything there was to know about the youth's race he would have listened when he began talking about the temple, but the elf had already written him off as a common arrogant drunk telling wild tales of adventures that had never happened, places that did not exist or monsters that know one had seen and survived.

Chuck took another large swig from his mug. He was extremely irked by the customs of these 'civilized' people. They were the largest bunch of hypocrites. They held fast to their customs then called anyone who did not follow them rude; yet they showed no hospitality to these outsiders who had their own ways. He was getting tired of this city fast. Perhaps it was time to leave. That is, of course, after he finished his glass.

"I would rather be rude than a traitor," Chuck said starring down at his half empty glass, "I am keep someone else's secrets. I respect their privacy. I hold fast to my word. I protect my family. If this is rudeness than so be it; I am rude. I will never understand you humans."