Hedrion Rising

Part 3: Present day

Garis's tavern had long since been a watering hole for travelers and vagabonds even during Ferikiah's siege. It had supplied necessary resources to the front lines during the war. Those that worked at the tavern had also helped escort those supplies through secret pathways and shortcuts only Garis himself knew. After the war ended, he went back to running his bar, but also used the connections he made during the war to arrange jobs for mercenaries and bounty hunters. A secondary building next door served as a storehouse and a trading outpost. The entire place was designed by Garis himself. The tavern is wide but only half as tall as the large storehouse, both made of of metal and wood gathered from the desert. Garis himself was one of the most brilliant technical minds in all of Hedrion, inventing and overseeing the creation of the weapons that were used in the later years of the war. Now he's trader and bartender.

He passed a cup to customer at the bar as another one entered wearing a red and withered cloak . Garis took one look at the man and formed a smug smile. the man sat down and removed his red hood, covered in sand, to reveal a face bearing two scars . A short one just below the lip and another longer one across the nose. he was tall but not skinny. his eyes were green and had less color then they used to, just like the rest of him. he beared a shattered scimitar at his waist and a patched satchel.

The stranger said,"Good morning Garis. How've you been?"

Garis chuckled,"Bored tuh death without yer company. Despite all dese customers here, I seldom have decent conversations. 'specially seeing as most a them be drunk."

"That's what you get for running a tavern"

"yeah I know, I know,"he said grabbing the man's usual drink,"but enough about me, how'd the job go?"

He took a drink from his mug and wiped his mouth. reaching into his bag, he pulled out a wooden cylinder and placed it on the bar.

"HE he he. Ya never were one to disappoint",Garis said as grabbed the cylinder. He tried to open, to no avail.

"I already tried,"Vincent said putting it back on the bar,"It's locked, my employer has the key."

"Ain't that a shame,"Garis responded,"only makes me want tuh crack it open even more."

Vincent put it back in his satchel saying," No way. Ludlow will only accept it if it's in one piece.

Garis huffed,"Sourpuss, where's yer sense of adventure."

"tainted by the war and buried on the battlefield."

"Ah come on. What if there's a map in it? it could lead to treasure greater than the reward for givin it up."

Vincent finished his drink,  put his head down, and rubbed his eyes as Garis continued a quitter ,"Ye saw the bounty on the thing, over a thousand gold coins! whatever be in it must be of tremendous worth. I say, we take a peek now before they. . ."

Vincent pounded his fist on the table,"NO! I will not be mixed up into some insane adventure!"

everyone at the bar looked at them. Garis looked at them with a weak smile apologetically, they all turned back around and Garis motioned Vincent to the private conference room beside the kitchen. Garis locked the door and sat down, pouring himself a drink.

Vincent spoke first," I'm sorry for yelling, but not for what I said."

Garis took a sip as Vincent sat down,"Ya never carried such disdain fer the notion before the war."

"That time has long since passed,"Vincent said," and if you ask me, I believe it was for the best." 

" Yeah," Garis said," giving up on the amazin' life you had was certainly the best choice."

Vincent stood up," You know full well that I had no say in the matter at the time to go back to adventure...

Garis cut in," And what about after the war! Ye could've gone back tuh yer old life, but noooo! Ye couldn't, no you wouldn't allow yerself tuh continue." 

"I couldn't bring myself to do it! Not after...! not after what happened."he said putting his hands on the table.

"She woulda practically begged ya to move on with yer life."

"True," he admitted," But she would've also had enough understanding to know when one's will to fight is broken."

Vincent sat back down and rested his face in his arms. Garis knew what he said was harsh, especially considering what Vincent had been through. Even still, though his words were harsh, he needed to hear them. Ever since they'd met, he had hated the thought of battle. And yet he still managed to complete several jobs. Vincent had taken an oath of pacifism which forbade him from engaging in physical combat. But his time spent adventuring has taught him how to deal with aggressive characters and the landscape of Hedrion. He'd become an incredible tactician, by his employer's standards at least. Them and Vincent's enemies had learned this on many occasions; Wether it be tricking someone into giving up their treasure, being followed and leading them to a dead end, sneaking into a hideout of a gang undetected. He did this without lifting a blade, and instead using spells and charms. 

As for the man's reputation, he is well known throughout the desert kingdom of Balantine and many others. a few places welcome him with open arms, while others would rather use a sword, spear, or any number of sharp objects, and most see him as nothing more as a tool to their own ends. Regardless, when someone asked for his help he did so only for the reward. For that was all he lived for, a job that would reward him with a new life. A futile quest. Each and every person he worked for he saw as a new opportunity for change. Alas, no matter who he served, none gave him the same rush and feeling of freedom he had in his old life. His current boss, Mr.Ludlow was no aberration in the pattern.

A few minutes after their argument one of the waitresses came in and said," um, sir."

Garis turned to her," Yeah?"

"A man is out their asking for Vincent", She said.

"Must be my employer", Vincent said getting up,"I'll be back."

"Alright", Garis responded.

Vincent left the room along with the girl. Garis remained their and grabbed a picture off the shelf above the booth. He brushed the dust off it and moved his fingers across the peoples face. He let out a big sigh as he sat down and set the picture on the table. He grasped his personal bottle and looked on at the picture, taking sips to drown his thoughts.