The Green Griffon Inn was a small bar more than an actual place to stay but to the citizens of Sparrowcreek on the Miras and Bervoy border it was by far the best place to spend the evening. Tonight was no different as the small bar was filled to the max. Rodney the local bard was selling his wares in the corner. Trish the serving wench was busily serving drinks while avoiding the braver hands of some customers. Marcus the bar owner stood behind the small bar and served the ale and wines all the while wishing he could close early and see about sampling some of Trish's more exotic wares.
The door opened suddenly and illuminated the short and wide silhouette of a dwarf just outside the door. The figure entered the doorway and seemed to survey his surroundings before approaching the bar. The dwarf was a little over four foot but his shoulders were just as wide. The dwarf had shaved his head bald but showed some sign of stubble returning. His black beard was braided into a large single strand and tucked into his belt. Wearing breastplate and sporting a great axe it was easy to see this was another mercenary on his way to Miras.
Miras barely a kingdom had been taking in just about any traveler to pass through it's borders with no hesitation. The kingdom was in need of many and all sorts of jobs and individuals. Mercs had been flocking to the new kingdom like flies to a corpse.
" Ale! Barkeep an keep it comin'. " said the dwarf in a raspy voice.
" Coming right up sir. That will be 3 copper. "
" Fine. Just keep it coming. Also hold onto this for me would you? "
The dwarf handed over a small pouch. The pouch jingled as Marcus took it and he could not resist looking inside as he placed it on the shelf behind him. Inside the pouch was 10 platinum pieces!
" Sir! Surely that would be safer with you. "
" Nope - that should cover da damages if your boys get rowdy. If not then I'll take it fore I leave. "
" What!? What damages?!! "
" None yet - all depends on yur customers if you have any or not. "
With that the dwarf downed a cup of ale and motioned for more. The dwarf seemed to have nothing else to say and simply stared and drank from his cup.
Marcus at first was nervous the dwarf meant to start trouble but as the night progressed he could see that it was as the dwarf mentioned "just in case". Still Marcus kept an eye on the dwarf and all those near him just in case of trouble. A short time later Trish wandered over and began chatting with the dwarf who seemed to appreciate the company and was busy chatting away. Marcus pretended to be cleaning as he eavesdropped.
" So what brings you this way? "
" I am headed to the Adventure Guild. I aim to make a name there. "
" Oh? And what will this famous name be? "
The dwarf sighed and looked Trish in the eye.
Clearing his throat all civility disappeared from his voice as he asked
" Do ye really need ta know? "
" Um . . . no . . . I think not. " Trish answered and quickly found other things to do.
With a small smile the dwarf watched her go and returned to his drinking. The crisis seemed to have been avoided and Marcus sighed in relief as he wondered what had caused the change in the dwarf.
The peace lasted another hour before Todd the local bully and his gang of friends approached the dwarf.
" Hey mister. You scared poor Trish. I don't like that - you need to apologize and quick like."
The dwarf spun around in his stool and looked up at Todd. Todd was close to 6 foot and had been built like a warrior once upon a time. Now too much drink was catching up with him as his waist seemed to be expanding beyond his pants capacity to hold. A rope belt kept his pants barely containing the beer belly. Muscle still showed however and Todd walked with confidence that he was the bigger and better man. The collection of 4 cohorts only reinforced this.
" Your right boy. Trish I am sorry to have scared ya. Was not ma intention at all. It's just a sore subject is all. "
The dwarf returned to drinking and seemed to pay no heed to Todd and his boys any longer. Todd however saw this as a sign that he could have a little fun at the dwarf's expense. Marcus glanced nervously at the small pouch of platinum behind him but made no motion to stop Todd. He did not want to be though of as a sympathizer and have more trouble tomorrow night. The dwarf would only have to deal with it once while Marcus would have to endure Todd for at least the next month before he found another target.
" That's good. I like you can listen to good advice so easily. " laughed Todd. " Why don't you tell me your name? "
The dwarf swiveled around once more and stared Todd in the eyes much like he had Trish earlier. " Ya sure boy? "
" Yea! Tell me the whole story. "
" Ok then . . . but if ye laugh, smile, snicker or make any comments about me name . . . ye'll be on a liquid diet.
" Sure sure. Tell me your story. " said Todd
" Me story has to start 10 generations ago. Me great ancestor was out on patrol and she was ambushed. Now da story differs here - some say it was a mage. Some say it was a tribe of orcs. Others say it was a barbarian horde. I think it must have been a dragon . . . maybe two. She was ambushed but she fought back for days and days and because she was facing two dragons she had to finally ask for aid. A local elf was a friend of hers and she asked her for help. Now between the two of them they were able to defeat the dragons but not before the elf had took a dreadful wound in place of me ancestor. Now she was feelin' guilty and overcome wit emotion so no one blames her but this is da root of me problem. She asked da elf if she could do anything for her. Ye know expectin' a small request like give me a drink of ale. Or take this to me family kinda thing. But no! Damn elves!! She asked me ancestor if she'd truly do anything and my ancestor said yes. Now remember we don't blame her - she was tricked after all. But the elves was single and afraid her name would die off her wit her so she asked me ancestor to name a child after her until the end of our days. So my ancestor went home - got married and named her first little girl Jillantherous. We shortened this to Jill of course. Damn elves!! Jill went on to be a great warrior and when she married she named her little girl Jill. Now that Jill developed a new and quicker way to smelt hard ores like mithral. She was famous and still known by many dwarves. She married and named her girl Jill as well. It seems it was both a blessing and a curse. The child has to bear an elven name but it seems that it's also a blessing as each and every JIll is famous for either a great battle, deed, craft, invention, or something. Me Mom was a famous general. De first in 200 years. So proud of me Mom. But she did not have any girls and so as the last born I was named Jill so that we can keep our ancestor's promise. Now I gotta go do something famous just like all the Jill's before me.
The quick of it is me name is Jill Magemasher."
The Inn was deathly quiet and still near the dwarf. His tale had caught the attention of many a patron and it now seemed to be spreading through out the Inn like a wildfire. Marcus was stunned to have heard the tale and had completely forgotten the dwarf's warning until he heard Todd begin to laugh.
The laughter became contagious and soon laughter erupted in pockets all over the Inn. Marcus himself was nearly caught up in the wave of laughter until he saw the dwarf's enraged face.
With a single fist balled up to the size of a small mace the dwarf pulled back and slammed his fist into Todd's nose. Todd was thrown across the Inn floor and promptly stayed there. The dwarf rage clearly marked across his face began a slow steady march to the remaining chuckles.
- - - - - - - - 4 hours later - - - - - - - - - - -
Jill walked out of the Inn leaving his small pouch of platinum behind. He was pretty sure 10 platinum would cover it. If not it would cover most of it.
