The tavern door closed softly, almost a whisper as the rogue slipped through the cracks, his dark tunic soaked through from the rain outside. Yanxia looked up at the noise, her pointed ears far more sensitive than that of her human companion, who continued to listen to the old bard rambleon, the same old stories they had heard at least hundreds of times since they were children, of how the Gods brought Magic to the world, set upon it life and rules, and then left, content to watch from afar. Yet even though every schoolchild (and many of the unschooled) on Yordann knew the stories of The Awakening by heart, Silas still insisted on hearing it again ecery chance he got. Thinking about it, it was probably because he wanted to be just like the old Avatar of Iogica, courageous, honorable and kind. She giggled at the thought. Paladins. Her thoughts were interrupted when the third member of their group, plopped down nex to her, still soaking wet. Sophie, the Forest Nymph, and the best woodland Scout in her entire guild (within her not very large price range, admittedly). She nodded politely to the other woman, unsure how best to ask her if she'd seen anything alarming while she was out. Fortunately for her, she didn't have to.
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"Ya' know, ya' don't have t'stare at me like that. Bobbin' yer 'ead as if yer' one 'o them dwarven machines, the ones that move up an' down when they get to much water in 'em. Spit it out already, ya' damn Elf!"
Yanxia just stared at her, the total lack of decorum throwing everything she had learned out the window, forcing her brain to work overtime. Thankfully, it came up with the kind of eloquent response that her parents had sent her to the Diplomat's Acadamy, one of the most prestigious schoolsin her entire country, to learn.
"Um."
Thankfully fo her, she was saved the indignity of another reply (and anymore of her cheeks burning), when a group of goblins shattered through the windows, and took the the occupants of the tavern captive.
Her last thought, before a black bag fell over her head.
Guess I get to use that /Negotiator/ skill after all, commander.