Thread A - The Rusty Dog

[Author]

Our story begins in the great coastal city of Alexandria (see world notes). Sol sits high atop the sky, and the smell of the ocean fills the nose. A young blue dragon wanders the streets, getting regular intrigued stares from passers-by - but not so many as one might expect. After all, Alexandria is known for its friendship with her father, but it's a strange sight nonetheless.

[Aurora the Dragon]

Aurora walks down the streets quietly marveling at the town around her. She's been into town before, quite regularly, but it's always interesting to see the adventurers rolling through from the docks and roads on their way to visit her father's library. She stops for a moment and turns to the white cat padding along beside her. "Cedric, are we going the right way? This doesn't look like the docks."

[Author]

"Just smell the air, girl," says a white cat, pacing along beside her. He takes a deep breath through his nose, and turns 90 degrees. "The ocean is this way. Whether that's the right part of the docks I cannot say."

[Aurora the Dragon]

Aurora sniffs the air a bit. Then she smiles, slightly pleased. "Oh you're right! The scent of salt and alcohol is definitely strongest over there. I hope there are plenty of tough adventurers in the bar. I want to get in with the right group or my adventure could end up boring. I can't novelize a boring adventure, now can I?" she asks. Without waiting for a reply, she takes off walking brusquely towards the docks and walks into the first bar she finds.

[Author]

Cedric sighs.
accompany her on this 'adventure,' he says. Keep her out of 'trouble' he says. Together my orders are completely meaningless.

After only a few more blocks walking, Aurora gets a glimpse of the ocean, and then spots a sign hanging over a door - The Rusty Dog

[Aurora the Dragon]

Aurora admires the sign for a bit. "The Rusty Dog. Now that's what I call a tavern for adventurers!" she says as she walks in. She takes a moment to admire the patrons of the tavern and breath in the air. It smells like salt and alcohol, but to her it's magical, just like in her stories. She heads over to the bar and tries to sit on one of the stools. She struggles for a bit, both because she is a little clumsy and stools are not made for dragons, but she eventually gets into a not completely uncomfortable position. Then she looks over to the bartender. "One ale, please!"

[Author]

While many buildings in Alexandria use a variety of metals and a sheek look to their architecture, the Rusty Dog uses notably classic tavern architecture. Similarly, many of the patrons are of a relatively salty look, compared to the scholarly echelons of Alexandria. This was a bar for sailors and dock-workers.

As such, nobility is uncommon, and the bar goes quiet when a Blue Dragon and her cat waltz in. All eyes are on her as she makes her way onto the stool. Most are not the type of folks who would even have visited her father's tower, much less met her before.

[Marceline Mori]

The bartender, Marceline is taken aback by her newest customer. She was more prepared for general sailors and other types of folk who spend a long time out at sea, the type easily swayed to drink more then they should by the cute bartender with the low cutting top. She was not expecting a Blue Dragon... didn't they mostly keep to themselves in that tower nearby? Regardless, here was one now asking for an ale.

"Ummm... You know what type of Ale you'd like? We have a lot of options. Red Apple, Hanging Lizard, good old mead and a local favorite is Dragonsfire." Did I just suggest Dragonsfire to a dragon? "It'll cost you, of course."

[Aurora the Dragon]

"Oooh! Dragonsfire sounds good. I'll have one of those," she says as she rifles through her bags. After a little bit she pulls out a diamond and sets it on the counter in front of Marceline. "Will this be enough?"

[Marceline Mori]

Marcy's eyes open wide, and already her mind is racing through various ways she could make this diamond disappear. She quickly checks around the bar, trying to see if anyone notices the massive rock before her.

[Author]

She sees people watching intently, but doesn't get the feeling anyone realizes quite what she was handed - it wasn't a particularly large diamond, after all. But crystal of any size for a drink...

[Marceline Mori]

You don't live long by ripping off a dragon, especially a dragon that is probably related to the big one in that tower nearby. Marceline leans in close to Aurora and whispers "For this? You can have as much as you'd like."

[Aurora the Dragon]

"Oh, that's great! See Cedric, some people are really generous. So, can I get my ale now?"

[Marceline Mori]

"Yeah, no problem. One dragonsfire, coming right up."
Marcy proceeds to pocket the diamond, then grabs a tall pint glass and walks over to a few brass taps.
Alright. I now have something worth getting killed over sitting in my pocket... This will be an interesting day.
While the machine before her pours out the red hot ale Marcy checks the bar again, counting the number of exits that she could take just in case someone decides to try something funny. She returns to Aurora once the glass is full, and carefully sets in town in front of her.
"We also have good pub food, if you want to get the full bar experience. Our cook is one of the best I've ever known."
Normally that line is use to lure sailors into spending more then they had intended. For once, Marcy was being honest about it.

[Aurora the Dragon]

Aurora grabs the glass and gulps it all down in one swig. She shudders a bit, then sets the glass down. "That tasted awful! Can I have some more please?" she says with a big smile on her dragon face. "Oh, and if you have any good cooked meat I'd like that."

[Marceline Mori]

With a nod, Marcy grabs Aurora's glass and fills it back up. When she drops the glass off, its accompanied by a second glass filled to the brim.
"If you would excuse me, I'm going to personally go tell our cook to prepare the best slice of steak he can."
Marceline moves out from behind the bar, taking care to lock it before she steps back to the kitchen. Aurora can see her full outfit now, a loose fitting black dress with long sleeves and a low neckline. She looks just like the stereotypical barmaid, but dressed in black to contrast with her unnaturally pale skin. She walks with a brisk pace towards the kitchen, looking for the cook.
Luc is never going to believe this...

[Author]

Cedric hops up onto the counter. "What did you pay her in, girl?"

[Aurora the Dragon]

"Oh, just a small diamond. Daddy has hundreds of them. I figured they must be the least valuable, so I took some with me when we left. He said it was fine. He doesn't care too much for them, since he mostly just hoards his books."

[Author]

Cedric sighs again.
"We have a lot of those, sure, but Aristotle is immensely wealthy. You know most people pay in gold in the stories? Actual gems are... well we practically own this place now."

[Aurora the Dragon]

Aurora looks surprised, then nods. "Yeah, I guess you're right. In the stories, the heroes always have to work to get the gold and gems. I guess the diamonds are kind of like cheating. So then... I guess that's why the bartender is being so nice. Should I start a bar fight to make up for the fact that I just paid too much and try and get my money back?"

[Author]

"No no no we don't need that kind of violence. Just... perhaps they have some very expensive vintages that we can get the diamond's value out of, bring a bunch of it home..."

[Aurora the Dragon]

Aurora downs the next beer. "Well, I guess we can just get my money's worth as best we can, and then see if she knows where I can find a boat out of here to adventure."

[Author]

"Yeah... a boat... you know, we could go around north on this continent or something, I mean, off the sea to the east is the Wolves and... oh gods don't take me to the frozen south."

[Aurora the Dragon]

"I don't really have any plans yet. We'll just see where the winds take us. And don't be such a wuss. You have fur."

[Author]

Cedric just grumbles to himself.

[Sponsored content]