An evening at home

[Kurjak]

The rain driving down outside the windows of the Inn would have been enough to make most sane people stay at home. It was just above freezing outside, and the streets were slick with rain and ice liberally mixed together. It was all but deserted.

Inside, the innkeeper stood behind his desk, looking out one of the glazed windows with a mixture of annoyance and content. The rain meant no customers, but no customers also meant a rare evening of peace.

Suddenly the door opens, letting in a rush of cold air, and rain spatters in on the mat in front of the door. A tall man strides through, and immediately forces the door closed behind him, his cloak dropping to it's normal position, rather than being plastered to his back by the wind as the door cuts the wind off.

"Bloody weather... " The man pulls his hood back, revealing grey hair and a dirty, weathered face. Piercing blue eyes stare out from under bushy grey brows. As if by reflex, his hand strays to his shoulder, checking the tall handle of a sword sticking up over his shoulder.

With long, sure strides he walks over to the bar, walking fast to prevent too much water from spilling onto the floor from his drenched clothing and hair.

"Mulled wine John, and make it hot, please... " The voice is deep and full.

"Sure Kurjak, it'll be there in a second. " John looked at him with something close to pity. "Go stand by the fire and dry yourself out somewhat, why don't you? "

"I think I'll do that indeed old man. " Kurjak grinned, knowing full well that he and John were about the same age, and headed down to stand in front of the fire with his hands towards the flames

[Taranthala]

A faint scratching can be heard from the door, as 'something' tries to gain leverage outside. After a bit of fumbling with the doorhandle, the door finally opens, and the wind quickly gets ahold of the door, flinging it open.

Slowly and quietly, a dark blue panther sneaks in, completely soaked 'to the skin', dripping from the fur and leaving a trail of puddles in its path. It wanders near the 'dark secluded spot', a favored place by many visitors of the inn, and stops, as if waiting for something... with a strange look in its predatory eyes, focusing on something...

The barkeep slow hides behind the counter in fear, as if this beast were just waiting to jump him and flay his skin from his body... or because he knew what would actually happen was much, much worse.

The long, elegant tail begins to quiver. Then, the hind legs follow shortly after, and in a flash it shakes the water off, leaving the surroundings dripping. It places its claws firmly in the floor and stretches its long back, and with a long yawn, trudges to a dry spot in front of the fireplace and lazily lies down, with its head resting on its crossed paws.

[Anaia]

From the still-open door, a bright, cautious stutters: "is it safe to enter now, kitty?"

The small head of a female gnome is sticking out from the cover of the door frame. She skims the inside of the inn and gets a terrified look on her face. With a fast pace, she runs into the inn and heads straight for the hiding place of the barkeep. Her robe and white hair is all dry, and a faint blue, shimmering hue covers her body.

She struggles to climb up on a chair, so she can look over the desk, and almost whimpers.

"Uhm.... mister? .... sir?"

The barkeep comes out from his hiding place. The little gnome looks and him with a regretful look on her face. "I'm sorry for the mess kitty made, and I'm sorry if she scared you.... are you alright, mister?"

The barkeep nods and glances at the wet floor and the small pools of water here and there.

"I can dry the floor for you, if you'd like me to, mister barkeep"

The barkeep looks slightly more scared and with great difficulty stutters a "No, that won't be needed"

With determination in her voice, she finishes her apology. "Well, at least I'll tell kitty to behave so it doesn't happen again!" and with a small jump down from the chair, she sets for the panther, which is several times larger than her, and starts wagging her finger at the big cat.

"Bad kitty.... you better go over there and give that poor man an apology!"

[Taranthala]

The cat just snarls at the gnome, tired and bored, its tail wavering impatiently.

[Anaia]

The gnome shakes her head, tugs Kurjak's left trouserleg and asks "Uhm.... sir.... I can see you're a bit wet.... did she do that to you too?"

[Kurjak]

Kurjak had taken the Panthers appearance with no more concern than he would have any other person walking in, though he seemed to reflexively shrug his shoulders to move the sheath of his sword into a more comfortable position on his back.

As Anaia asked him her questiong, Kurjak looked down at her with a smile, looking curiously out of pleace on his weatherd, gruff face.

"No little miss, can't say she did. The rain did, like it probably did to her. " He looked down at the big cat and shook his head. "Though it isn't every day I see a panther walk in here and lie down as if it belonged here... " His eyes rested on the cat long enough to spot something out of place, and shook his head.

[dionas]

A face appear in the window, next the door open qiuetly and a tall, thin elven warrior approaches. His body covered with scars, some of the serious ones is bandaged. He take a quick look around the inn and see one of his old friends Kurjak in Stormwind city. As he approaches Kurjak, Dionas eyes catch a glimt of a peculiar being a very tiny little woman. It was a gnome, but Dionas had never seen a gnome before. "Namma'ri" he say and refer to the gnome. The panther starts to growl because of the orcblood on Dionas cloak. "I was attacked by a orc in DunMorogh" he say and walk over to the fireplace next to Kurjak. "He had killed several of your dwarffriends near Iron Forge". Dionas look at Kurjak and say "we have to report to the king, something moves in the east, the orcs gathers together, I'm affraid there is going to be an attack on this beautiful city!" Dionas slits himself into a chair and calls the innkeeper. "A pint of the finest elven wine, please". Shortly the innkeeper comes back with a mug filled with the finest elven wine, brewed on the finest grapes from Darnassus. Dionas looks very seriously at the little woman and say "I dont hope you are án ally to the orc!"

[Sille]

Once again the door open, and in the door way stand a young girl surounded in a shimmering shield.

As she enters the room she makes a little flick with her staff and the shield disappears into nowhere. Then she walkes to the barkeep perfectly dry and safe.

As she walkes through the room she nods to the strangers gathered by the fire.

"Good evening good follows, it seems like you to have been walking around in this horable weathers... what brings you out in a night like this?"

Then she orders a cup of hot soup from the innkeep and wolks to the gathered group.