The Tale of Gelk

Chapter 1 - Midsummer's leave

Upon the early morn of the midsummer's eve most Froths would enjoy the preparation of their ships in the warmth of the early hours or partying in the taverns of the port town they happen to be in, for Gelk these joys were boring, he was a taboo amongst his race as every Froth loved the open sea yet Gelk found the waters boring and grew sick whenever he was on a ship. Gelk still worked hard on the ship his grandfather owned earning his place amongst the crew, as he sat on a hill overlooking the port town he wondered if he could just disappear without anyone worrying.

"The way the sea acts is worrying this year, it seems that we will have to take extra precautions." The old Froth sighed as he tottered towards Gelk, he stopped at Gelk's side holding himself up with his cane. "Your siblings are either enjoying drinks or preparing the ship, yet you sit up here all alone, why is that?"

"...Grandfather...I feel sick of the sea, of its many thrills I find none and I see no use in partaking of the ale or dragons spit." Gelk sunk into himself feeling as if he admitted something dangerous.

"Dragon's spit, more like dragons piss with it's rancid taste." The old Froth laughed as he smiled towards his grandson. "Hoist yourself up boy you need not fear me for I once felt as you did, though not as literal."

"But a Froth shouldn't hate the sea or get sick from it, I fear I am not one of your own as i do not spit fire or take joy from the sea." Gelk gabbed on he was silenced by his grandfather's finger, the two scaled creatures stood in silence for awhile.

"The festival is going to start up soon, I will be holding off on leaving the port and I'll be leaving you here, you will stay here and find work with a caravan." The old froth smiled before struggling to take a seat next to his grandson, Gelk smiled at him before sighing and staring down at the port town once more. "You will learn how to breath your element, you're just a late bloomer, it will come with time."

Wagner sat inside a booth within the Brothstone tavern sipping on a mug of Dragon's spit, many of the maidens of the bar stared at him and the antler like horns emerging from his crown. They looked like that of a grand stag with the horns splitting off like tree branches, most Humes have never seen a Xillic before only heard rumors about their beauty, while Wagner certainly wasn't beautiful he was skilled with a blade and prideful of his horns as they showed off his place within the society of his people, a paladin of the goddess Nirdrith. Across from him sat a happy little gnome who worked tirelessly at a new leg trap built for capturing any creature, he hummed a little tune as he continued on.

"Svil, you realize that will never work right?" Wagner asked as he took another sip from his mug, the two had been adventuring together for awhile.

"Well atleast I'm not a prideful git who is in love with his own horns." Svil said as he continued tuning the device, the Xillic rolled his eyes as he glanced at one of the bar maidens, he smiled and winked to her.

"So you say, what do you plan on testing it on?" Wagner asked as he stared at the thing, to him it looked like a bear trap with modified teeth, but to Svil it was his newest tool. The bell of the tavern's door rung as a large beast of a woman stepped through the door, he bunny like ears twitched with every sound within the nearly empty bar, she was a clove usually found in the feywild and she looked like a one woman army wearing her weapons as if they were decoration. A second set of the large bunny like ears stepped through the door behind the first woman, she wore armor made of bone and carried a spear on her back, both of them had white fur and red eyes. The two sat at the booth next to Wagner and Svil and ordered for a pot of tea, which the waitress quickly ran off to get.

Gelk sighed as he munched on a stick of dried meat while walking down the hill , he was hesitant to find a caravan or find a job amongst the Gnomes and Humes that lived in broth, he lived his whole life as a sailor and in this town of pirates he doubted he'd find work that didn't have to do with being on the ocean. He stopped in his tracks as he watched two Cloves walk into the town's tavern while armed to the teeth, he slowly began coughing as he slowly walked towards the door, with his rapier in hand.