[Teregor Eltherian][Session 1 - Level 0][Part 2]

Teregor pushed open the doors to Drig’s Tavern, and let Bandlor walk in first. The inside was very rustic, there was a bonfire in a stone pit near the center of the tavern, plenty of tables and chairs around, and a few wooden support beams holding the roof up. The young man walked in after him and pointed to the bar.

Bandlor walked through the room. The wood flooring creaked under his large stature. Teregor pulled a seat out at the bar for the fallen god and then sat himself. Bandlor took the seat and eyed the bar with disapproval.

“The selection is sparse.” Bandlor said under his breath.

“We have whiskey, ale, and a little bit of perry from our neighbors.” Teregor explained. “It’s the best you are going to get in the frontier towns of Endrea.”

“Endrea?” Bandlor asked.

“Yeah, a comparably small human kingdom. Right smack dab in the center of the continent. Well, this town in particular is in the south-west quarter.” Teregor seemed to enjoy sharing the information.

“Alright, well who runs the bar?” Bandlor looked up and down at the empty space behind the counter.

“Drigs does, of course.” Teregor chuckled.

“So where is he?” Bandlor gestured forward.

“Over there.” Teregor nodded his head.

Bandlor looked slightly behind his right and spotted three men playing cards. Two were hunters, but one had on a dirty apron that had grease and beer stains. Bandlor’s expression soured as he grew impatient.

“Hey Drigs! We’re thirsty!” Teregor yelled.

“Farmer Arkin would kill me if I let you drink.” Drigs looks up from his card game with a scowl.

The rotund bartender laid eyes on Bandlor and had to think for a second. The fallen god of war must have looked rather fiersome. Dressed like a warrior, quite a bit of skin revealed, scars across himself, and a mean expression. One could assume that Bandlor was an adventurer.

“Erin! There’s guests.” Drigs yelled towards the back of the store.

The door to the kitchen swung open as a young woman looked out. Erin Dardes was someone who Teregor had few interactions with, but had known since he moved to the village. She was just two years older than El. She had frizzy red hair, bright green eyes, and an abundance of freckles.

“Hey mystery boy,” Erin walked to and leaned against the counter, “bringing a warrior into the bar might be the second weirdest thing you’ve done.”

“I am not just any warrior.” Bandlor clenched a fist that was resting on the counter.

“No, this is Ban, my uncle.” Teregor said with a smile.

“Ban?” Erin directed her attention to El.

“Ban?” Bandlor looked down at El.

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“Yeah, Uncle Ban. He wanted to get a drink, maybe a glass of whiskey and a bottle of perry.” Teregor started counting silver pieces from a pouch on his side.

“El, you never spend your money. Are you sure?” Erin asked.

“It’s not often I see family. This is a special occasion.” Teregor replied and sat the coins on the bar.

“Yeah, I was passing through.” Bandlor said, looking pleased as a glass was set in front of him, and slowly filled with whiskey.

“That’s honestly good to hear. Having warrior types around only makes our little community uneasy.” Erin said.

“Why’s that?” Bandlor asked before taking a sip of his whiskey.

“Well, no offense, but you look like a Rat Catcher.” Erin explained.

“A what?” Bandlor raised an eyebrow.

“Rat Catchers are unlicensed adventurers. Usually the Guilds take charge of anyone with exceptional magical, spiritual, or martial skill. The few who operate outside the guilds are usually bounty hunters, monster slayers, and dungeon delvers.” Teregor said.

“And They tend to stir up trouble for the rest of us.” Erin added.

“I think I need to go catch up with my nephew.” Bandlor finished his whiskey and then grabbed the bottle of perry before standing from his seat.

“Well it was nice meeting you, Ban.” Erin smiled.

“I’ll see you later.” Teregor said to Erin before following Bandlor.

The two exited the bar, Bandlor took a swig of the perry, before he continued back towards the barn. Teregor followed closely as they crossed the village.

“So now that you’ve been excommunicated, what are your plans?” Teregor Eltheiran asked.

“Big word for you. Were you educated here in the village?” Bandlor looked back.

“No, I’m not from here.” Teregor answered.

“Figures. This place doesn’t give me a very intellectual feeling.” Bandlor turned back around.

“What are we doing?” Teregor asked.

“You bought me a drink, so I am giving you a chance. We are going to spar one time, if you land a single blow I will train you.” Bandlor explained.

The two walked out into the fields beyond the barn. Bandlor set his bottle of perry on a plow, cracked his knuckles, and turned towards the farm hand.

“So when do we start fighting?” Teregor asked.

Bandlor punched Teregor across his jaw, sending the young man staggering backward. Teregor tasted iron in his mouth as he caught his footing. He straightened himself and turned back to face Bandlor. The fallen god quickly stepped forward and swept El’s legs out from under him.

Teregor fell to the soil. Bandlor raised a boot ready to stomp down on El’s face. The farm hand rolled away and sprung to his feet. As he did, Bandlor swung his leg around to kick Teregor in the side of his face. The farm boy got an arm up to block the blow, but the strike slammed into his arm with a painful crunch.

“Stop, stop.” Teregor said between shallow breaths.

“No!” Bandlor screamed as he planted one foot in the ground, spun, and kicked Teregor in the gut with his other foot.

El grabbed Bandlor’s leg, doubling over as the air was knocked out of him, but he refused to let go of Ban’s limb. The god of war kicked up and slammed his other leg across the side of El’s skull. Bandlor dropped to the ground, landing on one knee, as Teregor hit the dirt.

Teregor’s vision had black spots. He raised himself up onto his hands and knees before spitting blood onto the soil. Saliva dripped from his mouth as he struggled to remain conscious.

Bandlor, already on his feet, stepped towards Teregor and kicked him in the side, forcing the young man to roll over onto his back.

“I yield.” Teregor barely got the words out.

“Then you are not worthy.” Bandlor huffed before he turned to leave.

“Wait!” Teregor struggled to stand on his knees.

“Why should I? What, you think you’re special, you think you need a way out of this village? I don’t care how you ended up here. You’re nothing.” Bandlor stopped walking away but didn't turn around.

“You will care. I’m not from this village.” Teregor pulled himself to his feet.

“I don’t care where you’re from.” Bandlor turned around feeling more and more annoyed.

“You’re going to care.”