cover image credit to: @spotted-mooncalf
The three adventurers stepped into the Inn, where a human woman glanced up from her work. She immediately gave her new customers a warm smile.
âWhy, hello there! Youâre just in luck, I believe we happen to have a suite thatâll suit you three nicely!â She announced in a chipper tone.
The three nodded in unison, all muttering acceptances of the generous offer.
âMarjie! Can you please escort our guests to their room?â She called out, giving the trio a wide grin as Mars placed a couple of coins on the front desk.
Suddenly, a younger version of the inn keeper appeared. She was a handsome woman, with stunning white hair and slightly pointed ears. She looked the trio up and down before letting out a dramatic sigh.
âBut Maaaaaa! I donât even work here anymore!â
The âMaâ in question whipped her head around like an angered owl, glaring at her daughter. Majora just looked smugly at her mother before grabbing the room key.
âRight this way,â she told the three guests, dodging a targeted swat from her mother. She then started her way down the hall, silently expecting the three to follow suit. As they did so, Majora couldnât help but look over them once more.
âHavenât seen you around here before. Lemme guess, nowhere else would take ya in? Or is our humble little inn lucky enough to be your first choice?â She joked, now walking backwards to face them as she spoke.
Mars, still holding the tieflingâs arm, ran his free hand down the walls as he made his way down the corridor.
âIs it that obvious?â The elf laughed. âYou guys are the first inn Iâve come across in days that actually has a spot open for mythical beings. I must say, Iâm surprised the owner herself is human! You said she was your mother?â He asked softly, his hands still roaming to get âa lay of the land.â
âYup.â Majora answered, popping the âpâ as she turned back around.
âMaâs owned the inn for as long as I can remember. Says she got it from her grandfather.â She eyed the rooms as they passed by, fond childhood memories playing through her mind.
âItâs kinda hard for us to turn away mythical beings when half her children are half humans.â She added, subconsciously tucking a white dread behind her ear.
She then stopped in front of one of the many rooms, using the key to unlock its door and swing it wide open.
âI see. Well that certainly explains her kindness,â Mars chuckled as he walked into the room. The other two followed in pursuit, Zephyr helping the elf sit down on the bed. âHard to come by under Maelrickâs reign,â Mars scoffed,â that damn brute is going to drive half his subjects away and the other half will be in poverty before they even realize something is wrong! This is the third town Iâve come across thatâs growing more hostile to nonhuman beings.â The elf shook his head, then pawed at his pocket.
âApologies,â he smiled sheepishly, tossing Majora a gold piece. âI donât mean for you to hear my ramblings, your familyâs hospitality is very helpful to those like us, is all.â
âI prefer to stay out of.. politics,â Majora sneered. âIt just complicates things..butâŠyouâre not wrong.â A pained expression passed over her features before being replaced by a forced smile. âBut itâs not like any of us can do anything about it,â she finished, leaning in the doorway.
âI donât think thatâs true.â Mars replied simply, earning hesitant looks from the others.
âPeople think they canât because no oneâs ever tried,â He shrugged, leaning up against the wall,â Take this inn for example, it may have been good business for your mother, but have you ever wondered why so many people have been flocking here recently? Youâre the only one who will take in those like us. Doesnât that bother you?â
Majora gave a noncommittal shrug.
âAs long as we can give our kind a place to rest their heads, and we can take care of ourselves, I canât really say it does.â She replied coolly. âI mean, donât get me wrong, I get it. But whatâs the point in worrying about something so out of your control? If people hate us, they hate us. I just donât think the opinion of other people is worth stressing over.â
There was a beat of silence.
âOur kind makes due.â
The orc standing in the corner of the room finally spoke up. âOne day there wonât be any of our kind. Your inn will lose customers and the humans wonât want to stay here.â Ramius explained carefully. âThe King is known for scorching homes to make room for his empireâŠâ Then his voice trailed off, as if caught in a distant memory. He shook his head, pulling himself back to reality as he looked up at the group once more.
âItâs foolish to sit by and watch as the kingdom exterminates your kind. Just because nothing bad has happened yet doesnât mean it wonât.â Raimus huffed, the bed creaking under his weight as he sat down.
Mars sensed the tension and attempted to steer the conversation in a different direction. âI like you Majora,âhe smiled,âWhy donât you show us the tavern and we can all get something to eat together?â
· · â ·â¶Â· â · ·
âTo new friends! To our journeys!" Mars raised his mug of mead in the air, toasting with the rest of the party.
The best part about this Inn? There was a pub attached to it.
âRaimus!â Mars patted the mighty orcâs shoulder,âTell me about yourself, my friend. How long have you been travelling? Is this the first village youâve settled in?â He was rapid firing questions at the poor orc.
Raimus smiled a bit, rubbing the back of his neck as he spoke,âOh Iâve been traveling for about two, maybe three years now. I stay in villages until they want me out.â He gave a hearty laugh, no doubt feeling the effects of his generous cup of mead.
âI grew up by the sea. I was supposed to become a healer but the world had other plans for me.âRaimus shrugged, glancing down at his drink.
Clearing his throat, the orc looked back up at the elf. âWhat about you, Mars? Whatâs your story?â
Mars wrapped his hands around his mug, rubbing it lightly with his fingers. âI was from Berch actually,âhe started with a dry chuckle,âMy mother and I were servants. We were passed around until one day we served the King.â
His voice suddenly trailed off, his fingers gripping the mug tighter.
âI broke the law. I committed treason under his rule â thatâs how this happened.â Mars pointed up at the bandages that covered where his eyes once were.
He suddenly heard Majoraâs voice, his head turning in her direction. âThatâs why I canât just sit back and let this happen to others.â
Raimus placed a big hand on Marâs shoulders. âMaybe you can start somethingâŠâ He leaned in, speaking much softer to finish his thought,âA rebellion?â
âOh yeah?â Marsipan chuckled softly,âAnd Iâd wager youâd be first in the ranks, ay big guy?â He asked with a friendly nudge.
âNow weâre talking!â Zephyr piped up, his golden eyes shining.
âIf you guys want a rebellion, Iâm your guy. Us Moonridges, Iâm sure youâve heard of us, are a very powerful house. I got like, connections.â
âWell, heh, I did, anyways,âhe corrected, nervously tapping his hands on his thighs. âMy family and I are.. on a little âbreak.â My old man thinks I need to âlearn the real worldâ and âstop being a little brat.ââ Zephyr mocked his father with a comically gruff voice before switching back to his normal tone.
âSooo, he cut me off. He wants me to prove myself and I think this is my shot. My dad would have no choice but to take me back if I led a rebellion." The tiefling finished his speech with a giddy laugh. He was practically bouncing in his seat, tail wagging excitedly.
âKeep your voice down!â Mars laughed, pulling Zephyr back in his seat. The elf then leaned in, tapping the table with his fingers.
âIf weâre serious about this, and Iâm starting to believe we are,âhe smiled nervously,âWe canât just run up to the kingdom and say weâre rebelling. We need a plan, time, and reinforcements!â
Mars rummaged through his pack and pulled out a map of the entire land which was tailored with braille engravings. âWeâre here, in Dormshire,âHe stated, feeling his way around the map. âDoes anyone know of a place near here like this? Where itâs growing more hostile by the day and magical beings would be more inclined to hear us out? We need to start as far from the kingdom as we can. Close in on it with forces from every corner.â
Ramius scratched his stubbled chin as he thought it through. âIâve stopped in a couple of places.. run down places.. but..â His lips curled up in a small smirk. âThereâs a few places underground that have quite a few others that would be eager to listen to us.â
âWould any of these underground routes get us to the Earlgrail?â Mars pointed to a corner of the map. âEarlgrail is the most south and if we can get there without any snafoos, we should pass right by the enchanted lake and the faun lands.â
He paused. âThe enchanted lake will be easy, itâs the most magical place from here to the deadlands. The faun lands though, that may be tricky. Fauns are solitary, whoâs to say theyâll listen if we can even find them!â
Majora had been flitting around the tavern, speaking with patrons and checking in with the regulars. She circled back to the table when the rebellion talk started though.
âI know a faun that would hear you out,âshe mentioned casually, slinking back into her seat at the table. âItâll be perfect.â
âDo you think you can get us to them?â Mars asked quickly, shooting his head towards Majora.
He then caught himself being too brash, holding his hands up. âLook you donât have to join if you donât want to, but weâll need someone who knows the lay of the land from here to the forest of secrets. If you could help us get that far.. whatâs say.. a hundred gold pieces for it?â He reached in his pocket, dropping a small bag of coins onto the table.
Zephyrâs goatlike ears flattened as he watched the bag cling onto the table. âYouâre paying her?â He cocked an eyebrow. âWell, I see what you think about the rest of us.â
âThe rest of you said yes before you found out Iâd pay you!â Mars laughed, giving the tiefling a playful shove. Zephyr just looked offended.
Mars turned his attention back to Majora, pushing the bag of coins closer to her. âWe can rest here a day or two, get our bearings and some supplies before we head off. Then you take us to the forest of secrets. Deal?â
The white haired woman bit her lip. She sighed, about to turn them down before a voice spoke for her.
Majoraâs eyes widened as she whipped around to find her mother standing behind her.
âWhat? Things havenât been easy with you off living your fairytale life in the forest.â
âIâll make those cloudberry rolls you love so much.â
ââŠFine. Deal.â The druid huffed in defeat.
âGreat!â Mars cheered. âThen tomorrow youâll show us around the village! Where we can get supplies and all.â
He looked at his now friends sitting around the table. âForm this point on, weâll be the four founders. Founders of something bigger than ourselves, for the good of the lands. Yeah?â
âFor the good of the lands.â Zephyr agreed.
âFor the good of the lands.â Majora muttered.
âFor the good of the lands.â Raimus laughed.
Downing the rest of his mead, Raimus studied the map now laid out on the table. âIâve met a few nymphs at the lake of enchantment. They may not want to speak to me for .. uhm.. reasons⊠but Iâm sure theyâll love Zephyr!â
He shot the tiefling a smug look. âThey love a cute face.â
Zephyrâs ears wiggled at the compliment, the young tiefling lifting his chin up proudly. â⊠I am pretty cute.â
âIâm sure whatever we run into shouldnât give us that hard of a time.â Raimus began. âI mean, as long as we explain our situation it should be fine.. right?â He finished, giving the party a weary glance.
âRight.â Mars nodded. âThe worst they can do is say no. Well, c'mon gents, big day ahead of us!â
After a grateful handshakes with the Inn keeper, the trio made their way back to their room. There was an eagerness in the air that they thought long dead.