The Traveller's Rest
A new world brings with it unexpected challenges for Incursio Das.
Based on the IRONAGE PROMPT: The Lounge. Incursio Das is an interesting figure within the Infinitum’s history, let’s just say he gets around a bit.
He threw open the door to the tavern and it crashed against the wall loud enough to silence those inside. Some looked his way but most carried on with their disgusting business. Beneath his hood, Incursio Das wrinkled his stuffy nose at the smoke coming from the various cigarettes that hung from patrons' mouths. He could have gone anywhere else in this blasted city, but this place wasn’t as bad as the others. There were plenty of things elsewhere that he wished he could scrub from his memory. He never wanted to see another bare-arsed elf in his lifetime and yet that wasn’t even scraping the surface of what he had been thrown into. He tightened his grip on his walking staff and headed for the bar, pushing past a large, wide dwarf and lanky elf. If he thought he stood out before, he certainly did now, even more so. The two men were too busy hurling a litany of insults at each other to even complain about him moving them aside.
The bar offered at least some respite and something familiar, rounded ears. The bartender caught him staring and came over.
“Right, what can I get you?”
“Ginswald Ale.”
“Coming right up.”
The bartender soon came back with a black tankard foaming over the top. “Anything else?”
“Nothing for now,” said Incursio taking the biggest gulp of his life and bringing the tankard back down to the bar. What am I evening doing anymore?
He brushed his hood down revealing his silvery face. The bartender sharply returned. “I’ve seen a lot of folks in my time, but none like you.”
“Nor will you ever again.”
The man rested on the bar, unlike the humans he remembered that were more lithe, he had no doubts this man had won his fair share of fights. His muscles were barely contained by his shirt’s sleeves. “And why is that?”
“Because I never stay in any place for long. I’m a bit of a traveller these days.”
“Travelling where?”
“Wherever the wind takes me.”
Incursio found himself rhythmically tapping and was about to take another swig when something large barged into him and his tankard toppled over the counter. He rose to his feet and looked at the bartender before meeting the eyes of the bearded little man before him.
“It was -”
The words would never come because Incursios’ aether-infused fist was buried in the man’s bulging stomach. It didn’t just wind him, he keeled over onto his back. Incursio brought his black boots down on the large dwarf chest. “Oi! knife-eared piss for brains. This fatfuck your friend.”
“He’s a mouthy one. Think you might have shut him up for good.”
Incursio double-checked, he had only meant to wind the man but his lack of movement had him briefly worried. Looking down he saw the dwarf squirming beneath him. The others looked on with bated breath along with the bartender. Incursio released pressure on the dwarf and stepped over him and with a flick of his wrist the long ball ended walking staff flew it into his grip. He could see the elf preparing a spell. Not today. Not tonight.
Incursio used the range he had to bring the ball end of his staff down hard upon the elf’s head. That broke his concentration and before he had time to get his bearings back, Incursio had him by his robed collar. It was like lifting a feather, carrying the lanky elf to the tavern’s threshold. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood.”
The elf raised an eyebrow at the statement but wasn't allowed a word in as he was tossed to the dirt street outside. He looked up at Incursio and snarled, “silver bastard, on Eythe’s head. You’ll regret this.”
Incursio chuckled. “Tell your bastard god. I look forward to his judgement.”
“What are you?” he spat.
“No one,” said Incursio going back inside. He stumbled back to the where dwarf had been laid out. The man had been helped back to his feet. He took one look at Incursio’s face and scarpered past him.
Incursio reclaimed his seat.
The bartender came back. “You sure you don’t plan on sticking around, I need a bouncer and those two are always getting into fights.”
“About what?”
“Old history, old wounds for dwarf and elf. I try to keep out of it personally. And seeing as how you did me a favour, how about another drink on the house?”
Incursio smiled. “I can’t say no to that.”