Three years, three years ago he had been part of a large group of Knights, and now he was a wondering Knight, serving no Lord and no one purpose. He had no vows to keep up, though he still kept to the old ones as best he could anyway, using that freedom that he now had as it was needed, depending on the situation. He had saved many, killed many, failed to save some, had been wounded many times, more than he cared to think. But the gift of the bear had allowed him to survive when normal men would have failed or died in the same situation. He wasn't immortal, far from it, just resilient, more so than any normal human. He knew his strengths and his limits he had learned them quickly, he had to, if he wanted to survive. His mother and sister were still out there, alive last he heard any news from them, it was hard to get news since he was always travelling around. He needed to go and see them it had been too long and they'd probably like to know that he was still alive as well.

Lokir sighed to himself as he gulped down more whiskey, and used the bottle next to him to refill the glass. He was getting himself good and drunk, why? No other reason than he wanted to and he had found himself in a sour mood thinking on the past so he decided to drown it somewhat with a bit(lot) of drinking.

Lokir stood a little shorter than six feet tall, despite being just into his mid thirties his hair was grey, a natural colour he was born with, with hazel eyes. He scratched at the week old beard on his face, he needed to trim that, long beard under helms didn't always make for comfortable wearing. But he could do that later. His armour set was up in a room, but he was wearing the boots from his suit of armour, just because he had been too lazy to change and they were familiar and comfortable. Otherwise he wore normal plain clothing, nothing special.

He shot down the next glass of whiskey and poured out another and eyed the bottle; half gone. ”Hey, keep, ready up another, eh?” Lokir spoke and placed the coins on the bar top and the keep brought him another bottle setting it next to the half full one, or was it half empty?

Did it matter?

The knight sighed placing his forehead on the bar top after downing another glass of whiskey. He ignored whatever else was going on in the tavern, he knew some were playing cards others just talking. There was one bard in the tavern singing some sailing shanties for the patrons. But Lokir was lost in his own little world for now, but his ears were open, just in case a fight broke out.

Amongst all the chattering and music, there was a stranger whom had just walked through the door. This stranger was a woman, a maiden to be more specific. She was not only a stranger to the tavern, but also to the land. The maiden had traveled far and wide, until she found herself in unfamiliar land that she was now in. Her turquoise eyes scanned the tavern as she stood motionless at the door. A dark cloak hid her hourglass figure from everyone’s eyes, and her head was kept low with the cloaks hood pulled up over it. The only thing about her that could be clearly seen was her luscious, curly red hair that was loosely draped over her bosom. Hiding herself like she did made her look quite mysterious, but she didn’t mind. She actually liked making others wonder.

She felt a sense of pleasure the moment she noticed the bar. It had been a while since she last had a good drink. After all of her journeying she figured she deserved to let loose a little. So, she elegantly made her way over to the bar and sat one stool down from a man seemingly drowning himself in whiskey. But the woman didn’t pay him any attention. Many people came to taverns and drank themselves drunk. It was something she had seen many a times and was used to it. So she mainly just ignored them unless they started talking to her. Which, has happened plenty of times as well. One accidental glance under her hood and men would start trying for her attention. She was an exceptionally beautiful woman whom oftentimes found pleasure in keeping a man company, but only at the bar. Never has she spent the night with any man, and never had any lovers. It was difficult to believe, with her beauty and all. But she was a lady, and ladies never spent the night with a man whom was not her husband. It was improper, indecent and shameful.

“One shot of whiskey, please,” she said to the barkeep. “I’ve been traveling for a while now, and I’m in need of something that’ll help me loosen up a little.” Finally, the woman pulled her hood down to reveal her fair skin, her beautifully large turquoise eyes with long eyelashes, and her full, rosy red lips that just dared men to try giving them a peck. She was certainly a beautiful sight. The barkeep set down a small glass containing whiskey and slid it across the bar top to her. She offered him a smile of gratitude and lifted the glass to her lips. If this night went as she hoped it would, then it was going to be a good night.

He heard the door open and close but didn't look up to see who or what had walked in, not until that person came over to the bar and sat down a stool over from him. He only made a chance, cloak hiding her figure, long red hair, just over five feet tall, kind of short for an elf, Lokir thought. She asked for whiskey from the barkeep, saying she had been travelling and wanted to loosen up a bit. Larka raised a brow over another gulp from his glass; loosen up? Interesting. That was not always a safe turn of phrase to use in a place like this one, people could get the wrong idea.

After she took her first sip, allowing Lokir a chance to take in her beauty, the mostly drunken knight spoke up, though his words were not slurred. ”May want to watch the words you use in here, ma'am. Saying you're wanting to 'loosen up' might be taken the wrong way by some of the patrons here.” He warned and took another gulp of his own whiskey, from the bottle this time, no need for the glass anymore.

Before he could say anything more the door to the tavern opened one more and heavy foot steps came in, three sets in fact. ”Lokir!” A voice called.

The drunken knight groaned, he knew that voice, and now his night might be ruined by more than by memories. Turning on his stool Lokir eyed the three men that had just walked in. ”Roger, gentlemen.” Lokir greeted with a nod to the three.

All three men were similarly dressed, their boots were the same, in fact they were almost the same style as Lokir's, only Lokir's was a different colour. None of them were armed, which was good news in Lokir's mind. The lead man, Roger stepped over to Lokir, who was leaning back on the bar top with the bottle in his hand. ”Heard we might find you here. Wanted to see if it was true that you're still in the area after what you did, Oathbreaker.”  The man sneered.

Damn, Lokir hadn't wanted this, he hadn't seen these guys for three years now. ”Ya, I'm still around and still alive.” Lokir replied. ”I've stayed out of your way, Roger, and everyone elses', what's the problem here?” Lokir inquired.

Roger snorted disgust. ”The problem is that you're still alive! After what you did, our Lord should have had your head on a pike.”

Ouch, that stung, but Lokir grunted at that comment. ”You don't know the whole story, bud, I did what I had to do for good reasons. Reasons I'm sure you won't understand.” Lokir replied. ”Now, because I'm a nice guy and willing to try and make amends, since I don't see why we still can't be at least friends, let me buy you three a round, eh?” Lokir suggested.

Now to wait for the answer, Roger seemed to be thinking it over, while at least one of the men with him were eyeing up the female elf sitting a stool down from Lokir.

    The maiden no more than took another small sip from her shot of whiskey when the man one stool away from her spoke. She gently laid the glass back down on the bar top, and turned her head to took at him with a mischievous smile and a suggestive look in her eyes. 

“Maybe that is what I meant,” she replied. Though it really wasn’t, and she was only wanting a good drink, she likes to tease men sometimes and mess around. She was good at it; seducing men. But she always made it clear she would not sleep with them. Being hard to get always seemed to drive men wild, which she quite enjoyed.

But now, she decided to be serious with the man. “But you’re right. I’m only here for a drink. I hope you don’t mind.” Her smile never faded, as well as the look in her eyes, she lifted the shot of whiskey to her rosy lips once more and took another drink. This was when the three men barged into the tavern all of a sudden, making her flinch with surprise. But she quickly brushed it off and went back to her drink once she realized they were there for the man whom she just spoke to.

With them speaking as loudly as they were, one couldn’t help but overhear their conversation. Besides, they were right there next to the man, whom she learned was named Lokir. And with that, she also couldn’t help but grow curious. 

What exactly were they speaking about? What had the man done? And how was it he deserved death?

These were the questions that came to mind, but a lady knew when to keep her mouth closed, and her thoughts to herself. Their business was with Lokir, not with her. She should stay out of it.

And though this was what she had decided, it seemed she would have to speak up after all, once she noticed one of the three men eying her. She set her glass down and turned herself to face the man better. “What do you think you’re looking at?” She asked, though there was no hint of anger in her voice, only mild amusement. “Don’t you know staring isn’t polite?”

He raised a brow at her initial reply to his words but as she continued he grinned, to each their own. If she wanted to say such things in a place like this, he had given due warning, the rest was on her. Soon after Roger and his two men came in and Roger started at Lokir. The man staring at the elf woman, when caught by her staring, turned his gaze away and blush slightly. He was a knight and was acting indecently, in front of a superior, that was never good.

Roger stared at Lokir for a moment and didn't say anything in reply to Lokir's offer of a drink. Instead the man brought his arm back and threw a punch at Lokir. The half drunken knight saw it coming but in his current state wasn't able to dodge it. Instead, he showed his inhuman side by tanking the punch to the cheek and standing his ground, not moving from his place or flinching and staring Roger in the eyes. ”That, was uncalled for.” Lokir snarled animal like.

The three men went still and Roger's eyes were wide as he stared back at Lokir. ”Yu, you're not human anymore!” He exclaimed pulling his arm back and taking a step back from Lokir, who didn't move even as he bruise started form on his face already.

”Nope, and I'm betting you know exactly how that happened, not too many around these lands that can provide what He can.” Lokir replied back reaching back for the bottle of whiskey and downing some of it.

”No, that can't be, our Lord would never have given you that! Not after what you did!”

Larka growled again and took one step forward. ”It was him, you can ask him yourself! I did what I had to do, and He knows that, He knew it was going to happen before I did it because I told him I was going to do it. It was the only way to save her, and you fucking know it!” Lokir continued, anger growing. ”Now, get out of my face, Roger. I'm done with you, I've left everyone alone since then and it would be nice if you did the same for me, and let others know the same thing. But if you want to make a fight of it, then let's step outside.”

The three men seemed to think on those words for a moment before Roger spoke up. ”This doesn't end here, I will find out exactly what happened.” He said as they took their leave of the place.

”Go ask Him yourself!” Larka called back as they went out of the door and he growled to himself as he stared at the door for a moment before plopping himself back down on the seat again. After a moment the rest of the patrons went back to what they were doing since there was no fight happening they didn't care anymore. Lokir slugged back half of the bottle of whiskey and sighed, before looking for the elf woman. ”Sorry about that, I hadn't expected them to find me here.”

Seeing the man turn his face away to hide the blush that appeared made the maiden giggle. It always amused her when she made a man shy; it made her want to do it more. But that was something she couldn’t do. Not now anyway. Her amusement was short lived when there argument became heated. She gasped and placed a hand over her lips when Roger threw a punch at Lokir, but she quickly became amazed, yet slightly terrified, when it had done nothing to him. The words they spoke, whatever “that” was, was nothing more than foreign to her. She could make no sense of any of it, but, she didn’t really need to. It was something she should stay out of and try ignoring. But that was difficult considering how close they were to her. 

She was even a little surprised by Lokir’s colorful language, but not near as much as the whole situation itself. It happened so suddenly, and was very close to becoming a fight. Until the three men finally decided to back off and walk away. Trying to calm her nerves, she turned back towards the bar and gulped down the last bit, before sliding the empty glass to the barkeep. “Another,” she said to him. He took the shot and refilled it with whiskey, after which she took another drink once it was returned to her. 

Already it was starting to calm her nerves, enough so that she was able to look back at Lokir just as she did before. A softer, kinder smile now shone on her features. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve seen much worse, believe me.” She took another drink, then added, “If I’m honest, I’ve never quite seen a man take a punch like that and not even flinch. You must be incredibly strong.” Her smile became more seductive as she looked him up and down. 

Back to the Winking Mermaid I go thought Daz as he was walking back to where his first adventuring days started, slowly making his way to the popular tavern, looking around and feeling in the sights around. It's been awhile since he was here, he didn't particularly miss this place, but he does remember this place as being happy and joyous with the occasional ruckus. He needed find a job, the last one was alright but he needed more to send back to his sister at home, who recently had a baby girl and a good enough husband. He never really thought of Lucas all that much, he always trusted Lacy's judgement so when they decided to get married, he wasn't too worried about it. The baby though, was a complete surprise to him, since Lacy wasn't really the motherly type, but apparently faith had other plans. 

Shaking off the thought, he walked in to the Winking Mermaid and saw another busy day at the tavern, he even saw the waitress he met the first time he was here. She met his gaze and smiled at him, apparently remembering him. He smiled too but quickly looked away and sat down in the bar, trying hide his blushing face. Soon, he asked for juice from the barkeep, who gave him quizzically gave him a look and just nodded. He grabbed a mug and poured in lemon juice and slid it across the table, not before spotting a ginger woman with beautiful features sitting a few seats beside him. He looked at her but couldn't see her face since she was talking to an elderly knight of sorts, who was drunk and hopefully not disturbing her. He shrugged and continued to drink his juice until three men came and were dressed like the knight that was talking to the woman, he tried to ignore the conversation that quickly turned to a shouting match between the two parties. He heard a quick thud, as if someone punched another man's face, but when he looked back the knights, they were just standing there. He looking away from the group, but was worried a fight might happen, thankfully no such fight did happen and he was able to drink the rest of his mug in peace. After downing his juice, he quickly got up and go outside to urinate, but he bumped into the knights. The man stared down at Daz, who quickly apologized, saying I am sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you. The Knight simply looked at him with displeasure, and said You should watch where you're going runt, or else bad things might hit you in the face. He nodded respectfully, but he instead of walking away, he spat on the shoe of Daz. Feeling insulted, he pushed back at the knight and shouted I already apologized! What's your problem with me? Why the hell did you have to spit on me?!. Before he knew it, some of the patrons stopped and looked at them with suspicion. This time, instead of saying anything, Daz tried to move past the group and try to head outside, but was stopped by them. He looked at them each and saw they wanted to start a fight, so Daz respectfully gave the one who spat on him a quick, vicious uppercut, which sent him tumbling backwards. He saw they had no weapons, which gave Daz a wicked grin as he readied himself for a fight. 

One of them grabbed the man who was sent reeling and looked at Daz with surprise, either he was thinking that this young man was either stupid or insane, he popped his comrade to a nearby empty chair and quickly tried to charge him. Daz saw this coming and dodged to the side, then giving a quick elbow to the back of the head of the charging knight as he ran by. The knight grunted in pain, visibly annoyed, he punched wildly which Daz easily dodged again and gave a sick belly-to-belly suplex to the man. Afterwards he saw the remaining knight standing, surprised and unsure what to do. Daz just looked at him, waiting for something to happen.

[OOC: Sorry for the delay, Dragon and hello Daz! And, FYI, Daz, those are well trained knights like Lokir is, so they aren't push overs :P]

Lokir smiled to the woman's words after he had apologized, there was always worse in this world, sadly. It's what knights like him needed, he felt, to go around and help those that couldn't help themselves in their times of need, to be their shield. ”I've seen much worse myself as well.” He replied grinning at her last comment of him taking the punch. ”Yes, well, as he said, I'm not human anymore, so that helps. He is human and he knows that my strength can match the three of them in a fight.” He explained and took another shot from the bottle, despite not being fully drunk just yet his tongue was a little looser than normal. ”I'm a werebear, but not by birth, it was a gift from my Lord before, well, before those three wanted me dead.”

Lokir sighed and leaned forward on the bar in thought for a moment. ”Hm, you save someone's life from a situation with no other options and yet still become hated by those you once called allies.” He chuckled. ”Our Lord's daughter was kidnapped, but that wasn't anything new, the political games he and the other nobles played had kidnappings all the time. The hostage would be treated well until the random or demand was filled and then released with no harm done. We as Knights were oath bound to not interfere in these 'games', so we could never go and rescue her even though we wanted to.” Another pull of the bottle and Lokir thought a moment, the booze was making him feel better, a little anyway. ”One day she was taken by a rather nasty noble who wasn't one to keep the rules of the game sometimes. For whatever reason even though the random was paid he wouldn't release our Lord's daughter, demanding more and more, and then threatened her life, which was unheard of!”

”Things became desperate but by our oaths we were unable to do anything. But our Lord wasn't stupid, he knew he needed to get his daughter out of there despite what the rules stated. He came to me, and asked I do what I had vowed not to do; interfere in the game. He knew I loved her, and knew that she had feelings for me and used that against me, not that he had to push too hard.” The commotion outside started but Lokir ignored it for now, lost in memory and talking even if the woman wasn't listening. ”I did what had to be done, the guards wanted to stop me when I arrived to rescue her, and some of them did try and stop me, but most turned a blind eye, knowing what was happening with their Lord. I carved what path I had to to get to her and I brought her home. But no one could know that our Lord had asked me to do it, for then the other noble could call for retaliation, so I was painted as an oath breaker and said I went rogue. My Lord could have had me executed, it would have been fitting, but because I saved his daughter, my love, he spared me that much and sent me away.” Lokir grinned. ”But what no one else knew was that I met him and his daughter in secret a day later, he had access to some old blood, werebear blood, and gifted that strength to me as a reward, and a night with his daughter. I haven't seen her since, I hope she is well, for I may never see her again.” He finished off the bottle in time for whatever the hell was going on outside to become louder.

Groaning, Lokir lurched to his feet. ”Excuse me a moment, miss…? I am Lokir.” He took the time to introduce himself and request her name before heading over to what was left of the fight.

One of the knights were still standing and a young man looking ready for more fighting. Lokir was in no mood and grabbed the knight by his shirt collar and raised him off his feet with one arm and tossed him out the door. He then did the same for the other two knights, getting them outside. ”Enough for tonight, go home.” Lokir growled at them and watched them leave. 

Lokir then turned his attention to the young man. ”Careful who you pick fights with, boy, you're lucky they weren't armed and you caught them off guard. Or else that would have gone badly for you.” Lokir warned and then went back to his stool sitting next to Nelanna again.

[OOC: My bad, well I actually I made them bad so I apologized, but thanks for the welcome! In my defense, they were unarmed and my character is a master at first move sucker punches ;) ]

Daz looked at the old knight with a bit of thanks, but then quickly noticed the similarities of the boots between the group of knights and drunk knight. As he had nothing to do and was curious to find out more, he ordered another mug of juice and sat down next to the knight and looked at him and the beautiful woman next to him. She was definitely distracting to Daz as he looked at her with curious eyes, something feels off about her, Daz felt it but paid no attention to the feeling as he was still curious about the knight and his connection with the other group. 

I wanted to say thank you for the help, but you're wearing the same boots as they were wearing, are you friends with them? he said with a friendly tone. Of course, as drunk as he was, he wanted to be careful around him. He almost said something to red haired maiden, but decided against it, he still had that gut feeling something about her made it both exciting AND dangerous. For now, one thing at a time, then we'll see where the faiths take him. 

    “A werebear, huh?” Nelanna repeated. “I can’t say I’ve ever heard of one. I must say, I imagine it must be quite interesting being able to take the form of another creature.” By this time her shot of whiskey was empty, so she slid the glass across the bar top to the barkeeper. She figured she had enough to drink for the night, for a lady never allowed herself to get drunk, so she dismissed the barkeeper when he asked if she wanted another shot. Then, she looked back at Lokir with a quant smile. However, as he stood and introduced himself, she didn’t have any time to do the same before he walked away and joined the fight outside. Well, more like finished it. She had a few more questions to ask him, so she decided to stay there and wait for his return.

When he came back, she offered him a welcoming smile. “Back already? I suppose I shan’t be surprised,” she said lightheartedly. This was when her eyes laid on the other man whom spoke instead, thanking Lokir for helping him and asking a question. And, being the lady she was, Nelanna shut her mouth as not to interrupt. She would be patient and wait for her turn.

[OOC: Sorry this took so long, and because it’s so short. I didn’t really know how she should react >.<]