Aclidia It always begins in a tavern...

They say that the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

They also say to watch that first step, its a doozy...

An ordinary journey to the vineyards turns into anything but for Abel the squirrel.

Hidden behind the clouds above the noon day sun shines down on the area around Aclidia. The storm came suddenly, with out warning like a thief in the night, and with the violence of a vandal. Rain beats heavily at the road way. The green grass of the plains, and the ocean just off the side of the road. Even at noon the day has been reduced to an almost dark errie quality. Even bandits would not dare travel in this weather...

Abel, unfortunately, has little choice. He makes his way slowly, trying to avoid other travelers on the way. As the storm gets worse, however, the squirrel is eventually forced to admit he needs shelter, and soon, lest he drown out here...

The storm continues to beat against him, as if trying to blow him away with each passing gust. Up ahead there is a structure. A tavern it must be out this far from Aclidia. A large stone building with smoke coming out of the chimney set with its back to the ocean that is threatening to overrun the sandy beach behind it. The sign post with the Tavern's name has blown off of the building. There appears to be a patio out the back for guests to sit in the open air in more faverable weather. If the squirrel doesn't wish to drown in the weather perhaps he can drown under a bottle of refreshing ale instead? Assuming of course the tavern has managed to keep its roof under the continual down pour that comes almost horizontal.

Abel spots the building dimly through the heavy rain. He immediately makes a beeline for it, hoping its distance from the city will allow him to retain his anonymity. At least his cloak's hood is up, as he reaches the door and starts to go in.

The squirrel is first greeted the wonderful aroma of cooking food. Unfortunately it is the smell of cooking birds and pork. The tavern is has dirt floors. There is a stair case on the far wall that leads to the second floor and presumably rooms. Of what quality one can only imagine. The tavern/inn is also filled with vermin beasts, mostly weasels and ferrets with a few rats. A portly vixen walks beteen 'tables', boxes really and log chairs set around a central bon fire in the center of the room.

Most beasts are like Abel. Travelers caught in the rain. And while its wrong to automatically assume some beasts are trouble to mess with, its hard not to when some dress themselves in the hides of animals and carry cutlasses and gladius's. The tavern is packed full of beasts with no seats left except save in the center next to the bon fire. The hunched over form of a lizard sits alone on a large log merrily eating away at a plate full of what one can only imagine to be meat. With his back turned to the squirrel all that can really be seen is his red tunic and the back of his red scaled neck.

Abel frowns softly, but he makes sure to keep his hood up. He doesn't trust anybeast in the room, and picks his way carefully toward the fire. He finds a log to sit on, and takes a seat, trying not to draw attention to himself.

The ferrets he shares a log with turn their attention to the squirrel. Their disdain for anything smelling like woodlander is clearly seen in the sneer they each give him. Lanky beasts missing several teeth, ears, or appendages they do little in anyway to try and make Abel feel welcome.

Abel frowns, and tries to scoot away from the ferrets as far as he can. He wishes he could disappear.

Unfortunately for Abel he is about to receive an unwelcome amount of attention. Catching the sight of a bushy tail behind him and thinking it to be the vulpine waitress the big lizard turns to Abel. As it turns out the reptile isn't really a lizard, but really a hunched over monitor lizard. "Hey! Can I grab a few more ribs here please? I'm starvin!" He blinks in surprise when he sees not a fox but a small squirrel there instead, "Well arn't ya a lost lookin soul." The ferrets, who had begun to scoot towards Abel, probably with ill intent (those sharp looking daggers arn't there for show) pause when the monitor starts talking to Abel. Quickly re-evaluating the situation they decide to turn their attention towards other beasts with fatter coin purses.

Abel pales, staring up at the monitor. He is speechless, unable to do much more than squeak. His eyes widen, and the squirrel gulps audibly, frozen with fear.

The monitor continues to look back at him from the log that he is sitting on. Prehaps this is why the lizard was sitting along in a crowded tavern. Staring at him with unblinking eyes. His tongue flicks out once to sniff the air. With the squirrel struck speechless the big reptile looks, awkwardly about the room. He doesn't seem to realize why the squirrel is looking at him with abject shock and horror. "What's the matter? Did I spill something on my shirt?" He pats himself down. The lizard is not only big, but also muscular with some weight around his middle. Yes...there is a reason no one is sitting next to the towering carnivorous lizard.

Abel can only whisper softly, "Please...don't eat me.... I'm property..."

The monitor would raise an eyebrow, if he had any. The monitor seems to think on this for a long moment, either to think of something to say or...perhaps because he is debating whether or not to actually eat Abel. He opens his mouth to reply and is quickly interrupted by a loud, high pitched, nasally voice. "He better not! He's on a diet!"

A polecat with dark black fur and red sides, dressed in brown robes comes stomping over from the stairs practically shouting, "Pello! What on earth are you doing? How much have you eaten?" The monitor lizard curls his tail around to nervously rub at it, "But Oles, you told me to gain weight..." The polecat slaps the lizard on the shoulder, "Yeah! Here!" Then pokes him in the gut before snatching the lizards plate. Taking the remaining ribs and eating them. "Not here! The things I have to do to keep you in shape..."

Abel is frozen in abject terror. "Just don't eat me. Master will be cross..." He tries to crawl away now, without anyone noticing. Better to drown outside than get eaten in here...

"You don't have to eat my..." Pello gives the polecat a glare before rolling his eyes, "Fine." He turns towards the departing squirrel and says, "Hey! Where is the hurry? Feel free to warm yourself over here by the fire friend." As the polecat eats the ribs he chastises. "Pello, what have I told you about your accent?" The lizard sighs, "Really? Here? In the tavern...fine. Hey friendzz, come warm yerzelf near zee fire ya?" He says, his voice becoming deep and dangerous. The pole cat nods approvingly, "That's the ticket. Remember the voice sells the rest of the act."

Abel is even more terrified by that voice, but he can't escape, as beasts seemingly keep coming from nowhere to block his path. Eventually he winds up back near the monitor, and he curls up on the floor, cowering.

The monitor lizard seems to scoot away on the log away from the squirrel. "Oles...what's wrong with the squirrel?" The plump polecat licks his paws clean of pork ribs and give a wide shrug, "How should I know? He's a rodent. Maybe he is rabid or something." As the squirrel cowers the vixen waitress returns, "Hey all! How was dinner? Need anythaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Not seeing the squirrel she trips over him sending her platter full of drinks flying. Thankfully they do not hit the monitor lizard.

They hit the ferrets. Drenched in ale all three of the grey furred beasts stand up to their full height. Daggers, blades, and maces appear in thier paws. With the fox and squirrel so close together its unclear if the ferrets are angry at the Abel, the waitress, or both.

Abel remains still, vainly hoping the fox, monitor, and ferrets won't notice him. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"

"Oh...you arn't sorry chap." Says one ferret. He has an eye patch over one eye and his breath stinks of mead. "But you will be soon. You and that klutz of vixen." The gold furred fox gulps. Pello leans over slightly, examining the situation then turns to Oles. "Should I help them out?" The polecat however shakes his head, "And what? Risk getting yourself hurt in some bar room brawl? Nah, save it for the ring." Oles crosses his arms and leans back in his chair as the ferrets begin to surround Abel and the vixen, "With the storm raging out side we probably won't make it to Aclidia tonight, and since you spent the last of our coin on yer greedy gut now we have to figure out where we are gonna go..."

Abel eeps, and looks at the ferrets. "You're all making a mistake! I am the property of Flavius Baro! Damaging another's property is unlawful here! Master Baro *will* prosecute!" The squirrel is terrified, though. He knows the ferrets are not likely to listen to reason.

The polecat's ears shoot strait up. "Hold up, did that squirrel just say...?" A smile begins to form over the creatures muzzle. "Um...Oles, you are smiling again. You know I don't like it when you get that kind of smile..." Pello leans ways from the table. Oles however stands strait up. "Pello. Save that squirrel." THe lizard begins to protest, "Look, I know what I said but trust me, this is important." With a resigned sigh Pello picks himself up grumbling. "Pello do this, Pello do that. Pello don't eat random strangers..." When the lizard stands up he is a good few heads taller than the ferrets. Placing a claw on Abel's shoulder Pello growls deeply, "/My/ squirrel. Go find your own."

Abel meeps, then turns to see who is touching his shoulder. "Ummmm...." He gulps. "Hello sir."

The lead ferret gulps as well. He can't help but notice that for all Pello's size the monitor is still unarmed. That gives /them/ the advantage, right? "A-and." The ferret pauses to regain his confidence, "An' why should we do that? He wasted perfectly good booz by spillin it on us." The monitor cracks a smile, tightening his grip on able and leaning over his shoulder, "Hmmm, beer battered ferrets. Just like mumzzzz used to make. Still, quite the problem. How about I eat the squirrel first to save your honor, then eat /you/ afterward? Sounds good, yesssss?" he hisses.

Abel quakes. "Please don't eat me sir! Please...."

Pello's smile only grows though. "Hmmm, kind of lean but, as Oles said, I'm on a diet." He turns to the ferrets once again and replies in his stage voice, deep, dark and deadly, "Then again, prehapssss I only need to eat /part/ of you." The lead ferret shrieks. It seems the thought of being eaten has gotten the point across. He dashes away almost tripping into the bon fire. He is quickly followed by his goons, his tail trailing smoke from bushing against the flames. Even the vixen looks disturbed by the monitor lizard, "Um...I'll get you all another round of ribs if you don't eat me either..." She offers. Pello chuckles, claw still on the squirrel's shoulder, "I dunno, what do you think Squirrely? Should I have pork ribs...or squirrel?"

Abel gulps. "I...will do whatever you want sir, so long as I can live. Please sir! Do you want me to worship you, sir? or perhaps serve you? I can kiss your feet... Anything sir, you name it..."

"Well...you can buy me another ale I guess but-" WACK! "OW! What are you hittin me upside the head for Oles?!" The lizard hisses loudly. "I told you to save the squirrel not terrify him to death!" The pot bellied polecat shouts even louder. He wonders up to Abel. Oles leans back slightly, rubbing his paws together as he talks. There is a greedy twinkle in his eye. "Forgive my friend. He's quite harmless, at least out side the arena, I assure you. Please sit, let us get you a drink and something to eat. Then we can talk /business/..."

Abel frowns. "What do you mean harmless? And what business?" The squirrel sits, wondering just what he had gotten himself into. At least it beat drowning outside in the storm, he supposes...

What indeed! Find out next time!

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Characters:

Abel

Abel is a young squirrel slave, with chestnut fur and brown eyes, and missing half his left ear. He has "FB" branded on his left shoulder, signifying his owner is Flavius Baro.

Pello (Me)

Pello 'RazerClaw' Vlahakis stands the average hieght for a member of his species, which means he still towers over others. His scales are smooth and soft to the touch, colored red with a black stripe pattern running down the course of his back.

The reptile has the body of one who takes the time to work out to keep themselves fit rather than gain their strength through manual labor. His body has a muscular appearance with a healthy degree of flesh around his middle and tail. His scales often glisten in the sun due to the oils he puts on them.

The monitor is currently dressed in a set of casual looking garments. A red tunic made from soft cloth covers his upper torso down to his upper thigh with a thick otter hide belt across his waist. His legs are dressed in a brown pair of pants down to the shins of his sandaled foot claws. An animal skin vest also adorns his chest made from a combination of otter, squirrel, weasel, and lined with arctic fox fur.

He wears a silver chain necklace with a medallion of his family crest around his neck.

Oles (Me)(Zombie)

Oles Milas is slightly short for a polecat. He is young, in his mid 13th season. His fur is mostly dark black with a shade of red fur running down his sides from his arms to his upper legs. A patch of white fur begins on his chest and ends at the top of his belly. His sleek figure is broken by a rounded belly and he clothes himself in light brown robes. They were expensive at one time but have begun to fade in color over time.