Sitting in the inn was making things worse. Bai was as bored as ever and to top it off everyone avoided him, even the maids. Waiting for a bounty to get was annoying but knowing there was a bounty but he didn’t want it was worse. Why didn’t he just go and get it? Because it was too far away, by the time he got there the person would have been bagged or killed, either way it was a big bounty. This explained the grumpy face he had. It had been a bad day, Bai had woken up to rain and a hole in his ceiling dripping down on his bed, and then he had found that the inns strong box had been looted which just so happened to have everything but his staff and backpack in it. He let out a growl that was auditable to everyone in the inn, the table next to him stopped talking and looked at him apologetically… what was it they where talking about? A shipment of spice or something, err!

Growling again he got up and walked over to the bar and ordered another ale form the barkeep. Bai was not angry all the time or intended to frighten people; he just didn’t care right now. He had free time but did not welcome it, that was the way of it. He loved bounty hunting but it leaves gaps in time which you can only train, drink or look for trouble. Taking a rounded shape stool he drank his ale slowly. It was good ale and was cellar stored due to the coolness of it. Looking out a window he predicted a storm, it was hot, tipping it down and everything was slowly turning a yellowy colour which would soon go orange then brownish. The orange would look a bit like his hair, wild and some what dangerous. Except for his temper there was nothing that scary about him, he was fit and did not look like he could take one the bounce in the corner but he could.

Calming down he ordered another two pints still drinking the one he just ordered and went to sit back in the corner. The room had started talking again and new people entered to get out of the obvious coming storm. Pipes where lit and a light smoke of Tabac slowly filled the room. Everything was going slow, but this was no magic trick it was boredom. Sitting there lying back against the wall, feet on the table, he took another gulp as his other pints arrived. The problem with bounty hunting; Free time. He moved one the pints to the other side of the table as an invitation to anyone, but it seemed they could still sense his mood.

Thunder rumbled ominously and Birgitta quickened her pace, trying to beat the storm to the inn. The gods let her know that she had lost the race by starting a torrential downpour, soaking her to the skin within seconds. “Hell’s teeth,” she swore, spitting at the muddy road. Her fingers grasped the doorknob and she turned it, pushing her way inside to dry warmth.

Shaking off and wringing out as much water as possible, Birgitta’s eyes traveled around the common room of the inn. Spirits were high, probably because the drink flowed. A few patrons looked up upon her arrival, but most looked to their drinks immediately, not wanting to meet the tall woman’s gaze.

After several weeks on the road alone, she was looking for conversation or a fight, but she wouldn’t know which one until one or the other happened. Another look around the room gave her a better idea of who would be suitable for either. Her gaze landed on a miserable-looking man in a corner. He seemed to ooze…something. She cocked her head slightly. Danger, maybe.

A slow smile spread across her lips. This looked like a good place to start. She crossed the room and saw a full mug sitting on the table opposite of him and Birgitta faltered. Was he waiting for someone?

“Is this for me?” she asked boldly, including both the mug and the chair in one, sweeping gesture.

The thunder storm had blown up in power and he was half way thought his second pint when a woman came in for the downpour. A tall cold eye woman, that Bai watched out of the corner of his eyes while pretending to drink his ale. She was soaked but that didn’t stop her from smiling while looking at him. What in the light is she smiling about!? He frowned into his mug while she walked towards him and his table. What does she want? Putting down the mug he then realised the mug of ale on the other side of the table. The woman faltered for a second, properly sensing his mood then gestured at the mug and the chair, “is this for me?”

Bai smiled but really he was thinking, no it isn’t now get lost! but what he did say was, “sure, I was only going to drink myself dead anyway.” Moving the mug closer to her he took his feet off the table and studied her for a bit. She was big and strong, so was not really his type... Unlike the maid that walked past and who is eyes followed for a brief moment before he went back to the woman. Her hair was tied back and her clothes where of a hunter of sorts; good for woodland. A two-handed sword lay on her back along with a backpack. If in a fight he would have to rely on his speed compared to hers.

“So what is your name? And may I even ask what brings you to this part of the world?” he took enough gulp of his ale and asked a maid to get him another one with a smile as he waited for the woman to sit.

Another flash of thunder and the door opened a women walked in with her hood up she went over to an empty side of the room.On the other side of the room she saw a man and woman the woman was extremly wet and the water from her hair and clothes dripped on to the floor.After a few minutes Snow took down her hood and untucked her hair from it, her hair was down to her torso and the tips at the end were wet.Snow started playing with a burning candle on the table,seeing how long she could keep her hand on it.She glanced at the table oppisite her and quickly went back to messing with the candle.

Forcing a tight smile, Birgitta removed her pack and sword before sliding into the chair. She rested the weapon against the table, but left it close enough to reach quickly. She noticed his eyes follow a maid, but refrained from commenting. Instead, she said, “I am called Birgitta. I am just passing through this land.”

She looked up as a man—patron or employee, she couldn’t tell—lit a fire in the hearth across the room. The flames were inviting and she considered chasing someone away from a table near the fire. Her legs refused to cooperate with her mind, though, stubbornly rebelling against her in exhaustion.

Deciding that ale would replenish her strength, she lifted her mug and drank deep. When she finally lowered the vessel, already half-empty, she said, “And what do I call you, stranger?”

The woman drank and told her name, which turned out to be Birgitta and she drank deeply from the Ale which Bai had given her. He noticed that she staired to the fire longinglyThe woman drank and told her name, which turned out to be Birgitta and she drank deeply from the Ale which Bai had given her. He noticed that she stared to the fire longingly before asking after his name. “Its Bai. I was hunting after someone but someone else got him first.” He took another gulp from his ale and growled again remembering all his stolen equipment. Stranger… that’s an odd thing to call someone when you yourself are a stranger. Two more Ale’s arrived and he paid the gold to the maid, this time without staring.

Turning his head he noticed another woman with long hair sitting on her own playing with a candle. Pushing one of the Ale’s to Birgitta lighting boomed out side and sounded pretty close too. “So what is it that brings you to this place?” and looked quizzically at her from under his orange hair. His staff was also propped pretty close to him and moved it a bit for and easier reach. A dropping noise of water sounded followed by a rowdy cheer as a small hole had formed in the ceiling and had dripped down on to someone head. The atmosphere was cherry but it did nothing to Bai. There was also A seeming tension or maybe loneliness around the girl playing with the candle.

Before Birgitta could reply he shouted over the inn to her, “Hey you want to join us?” He was clearly looking at her and some people turned to look at him and the girl in turns then went back to there drinks and Tabac.

Snow was deep in a trance when she heard a man call out “Hey you want to join us?” She took a few minutes before looking up,A lot of people were staring at that man and herself, she looked around at them for a moment and quickly looked back down at the candle,when everyone went back to their own business she looked back at the man she saw a woman was drinking with him.She nodded and went over.

As she was walking over the doors swung open and a man walked in, he banged into her and then grabed her arms "sorry lass"he said staring deeply into her eyes,She looked up"Its........ahhh" She said too scared to finish the sentence,this was him, the man that was to kill her"Fine, i think thats what you were trying to say!" He said letting go of her arm and sitting down.She glared at him for a mintue and went over to that other table.She pushed back her hair and sat down"Hello"she said to everyone.

Bai saw the commotion and almost intervened. it did seem that they almost knew each other. As she sat down and said hello, Bai was still looking at the man, which was looking at the newcomer until he noticed he was being watched. Taking a swig if his ale he decided to be courteous, "Hi I’m Bai (bay) and this is Brigitta," gesturing to the huge woman. "What’s your name?" looking again at the man he added, "Do you have troubles?" After this he pulled his staff closer to symbolise that he would help if she needed it.

After he had said these words more lightning struck and more people came to shelter form the rain, including a group of thugs; well they looked like thugs, following a rich looking merchant. The barkeep went to move table that was getting dripped on while a maid put a pot on the floor to collect the water. It was all very noisy now with the lightning in random places and the usual merriment but luckily not load enough to stop table conversation.

San shou walked into the inn soaking wet from the rain.thunder sounded behind him.He walked over to a table on his own and waited for someone to serve him.
A maid walked over to him and said "hello,what can i get you?"

"I think i shall have mead please"

there were quite a lot of people in the inn and San shou didnt like crowded places so he felt uncomfortable and irritated,but nevertheless it was better than being outside in the rain.

His gazed looked around the inn seeing many people,He noticed three people sat by the bar,drowning their sorrows they look interesting

"here you go sir" said the maid as she put his mead on the table in front of him.
He took a long deep gulp from his drink and felt the warm liquid pass down his throat.

lovely drinkhe thought.

still the three sat at the bar looked interesting.
He walked up to them and said "mind if i join you three,i could use the company?"
He smiled kindly.

As she sat down the man next to her said "Hi I’m Bai and this is Brigitta,""What’s your name?"he asked "I'm snow, nice to meet you both"She said smiling, the man she knew at the other table gave a laugh and said "snow""Do you have troubles?" asked the man at the same table as her."Troubles no, just minor annoyances...., nothing i cant handle"she said looking over at the man at the far off table.Snow noticed another man walk into the bar he was soaking wet like the rest he was a big build and soon came over and asked"mind if i join you three,i could use the company?"he said smiling.It wasn't snows placce to say if he could or not so she left it up to Bai.

Bai accepted Snow's answers with a smile and turned to the newcomer. He was nothing out of the ordinary but did look kind and a trustworthy man which was always a good sign. "Of course you can," and smiled back. Going to take a drink of ale a drip of water stopped it at his lips followed by too more drips as the new hole in the ceiling got a bit wider. Putting down the ale he sat there glumly with water dropping on his head in splashes, dampening his dull orange hair.

A hail of lighting struck the village in four echoing booms sounded and a man dressed fancily came in with open arms, shouting. "The gods are angry! We must apologise for this! Let us pay our respects right now and visit there shrines!" He was about to say more but grumbling and shout of, "shut up you damned coop!" and his stunned look was ended when he was knocked on the head and was put out into the rain unconscious, followed by a mass of laughs. Bai looked up to the ceiling which he remembered was dripping on him and sullenly said, "So much for the gods in here."

The man in the group said "Of course you can,"
he took his seat on the end next to the large woman.

Just then a man came in preaching about gods being angry or something,quikly to be silenced by a blow to the head that knocked him inconcious,they threw him outside in the rain.Then they laughed.
This angered San shou,He slammed his fist into the bar and said "I wont be a minute" He walked outside to the unconcious man on the floor,He picked him up and brought him inside,he said to a maid in a angry voice "get me a blanket"

She came back two minutes later with one,Sans hou put him by the fire with the blanket on him for warmth.He turned to the people who had laughed at this mans beleifs and gave them an icy stare,Then sat back down in his seat.The men laughed at san shou and said "ooo he is so honourable" in a mocking voice.

San shou stood up and walked over to the cocky man.
"Are you the one that hurt him?" He asked.
"yes"came his reply in a proud voice."so what ?"
"so what?"san shou repeated.

San shou transformed right in front of the cocky man.
He looked down ,the man looked up.
San shou grabbed the mans arms,He picked him up,took him outside and flicked him so hard he stumbled over and said "if the bigger people picked on the smaller people this world would be a devistating mess,wouldnt you agree?"
"y...ye..yes" came a nervous reply
"good" said San shou
"when he wakes i want you to apologise to him and by him a drink,ok" he said as he clenched his huge stone fists.

He walked back into the inn and turned back in human form and sat down.The whole room looked at him with amazement.
"now where were we" He said to the groupd he was drinking with.

“How… what…ahhh..,What did you say your name was ?” snow asked she was stunned as she waited for a reply , the pub went silent and after a few minutes it went back to normal. “Would you excuse me for just a second, I’m thinking about getting a room for the night” she said as she got up and walked to the bar she felt the eyes of that man watch her as she passed his table, She glared at him and went to the bartender “Do you have an available room for the night” she asked waiting for and answer “Yes, just for the night is it” , She nodded “Here’s your key” she took it and went upstairs . A few minutes after when she had gone up that man followed her “Hello snow” he said as he put his hand on her shoulder “What do you want ?” She snapped “Oh I thought you of all people would know” he said pinning her against the wall “Get off me” she said pushing him away “ She started walking away to go down stairs and as she was at the top off them , he called out “snow”, She turned around, and he used some sort of water spell, it was so strong that it blew her form the top of the stairs to a table in the middle of the room, sure enough the table broke and the drink glasses along with it, She got up slowly and said quietly “ouch”. Once again the bar went silent ,he looked down on her with an evil grin. “Guess what” She said “What” he replied “Now I gotta kill ya” He laughed "A woman kill me""First time for everything”she said as she drew her staff.

San shou saw the comotion between the girl and some other man,He walked over to the girl and stood behind her while drawing his mace ready to help in any way he could.

He didnt quite know what had just happened,just that the bar had gone quiet all of a sudden,He turned to look at where the woman fell to find a tall muscley human with a battle axe on his back,he was wearin dark studded leather armour,He looked at him his eyes flashed green as if to intimidate me.san shou turned to my elemental form as if playing a game of who can intimidate each other most.San shou cracked his knuckles and looked at the woman,he helped her up as she had fallen.He then looked at her as if to ask what she would like him to do.
He said "dont worry i will protect you"
And he would,He looked back for his companions to see if they were gonna help.