Marble Realms: Lost Gods

Chapter 4: Tavern Brawl

Nathuss and Alosrin

“Basinborn should just pass this river,” Alosrin said, glancing up from the map and pointing to the large river in front of them.

“Good, we need to restock our supplies and maybe get some rest,” Nathuss said. “I remember when Basinborn was just starting out. Apparently, it is a bustling town with a large market.”

“Nathuss I don’t think mentioning the fact that you remember when a 500 year old city was just starting out is a good way of keeping yourself hidden. I mean, I might as well put a sign around your neck saying, ‘I am an ancient dragon’,” Alosrin said, shaking his head.

The two walked into town, the streets full of life. Many people stopped and stared, and a few turned away in disgust. Women pulled their children away, hiding them behind their skirts.

Nathuss glanced around the street, looking for the closest tavern, hoping to get away from the judging eyes of humans.

“Not very welcoming to outsiders, it seems,” Alosrin whispered to the God as a man spat in their direction.

“I mean, would you be if an eight foot tall horned creature covered in scars walked into town with a very small elf,” Nathuss stated.

“Maybe?” Alosrin said confused, “Personally wouldn’t see anything wrong with it.”

“Good for you for being open-minded and minding your own,” Nathuss said, rolling his eyes.

The two finally reached the town's tavern, and Nathuss pushed open the door. The lively and loud tavern seemed to die when the patrons caught sight of who was at the door. Several men jumped up and grabbed their weapons, drinks and conversations long forgotten as their eyes narrowed in on the newcomers.

“What in the nine hells is a monster abomination like you daring to step foot into a town like this?!” A large man pointing a shortsword at them. The man clearly looked like he had one drink to many. He seemed to wobble slightly, his eyes glazed over, and words starting to slur together.

Another man piped up, “You freaks disgust us walking around thinking you are better than us! Take your elven slut and leave!” This one seemed to have been the leader, more sober than the others, closer to Nathuss and Alosrin.

Before either man could speak, a man from the back of the tavern stood up.

“Howel, I swear to the gods, leave them alone or I will personally drag your asses out of this inn half alive,” the tiefling yelled, he must have known the group of drunks or maybe he was the owner.

Howel, Nathuss assumed, spat at the red tiefling and cursed at him. “Shut the f**k up you theiving hell spawn. Go back to your faggot ass stories,” He sneered turning on the man and pointing his weapon to him.

A flash of a weapon and next thing Nathuss saw was the man pinned to the wall by a knife. “Is that the best you could think of?” the tiefling asked, laughing.

✦✦✦

Apparently, the group must have had prior disputes with the tiefling because the pinning of their leader angered them enough to attack.

It was mostly a blur as a few men bolted from their spots and charged at the tiefling in the back, weapons drawn. No one was apparently safe from the group's drunken rage, as two made their way towards Nathuss and Alosrin.

Alosrin instinctively backed up, not one to fight, “Hey we mean no trouble. We don’t know that guy. W-We’re just passing through,” Alosrin said, raising his hands in surrender, his nervousness evident in his voice.

Nathuss could tell that no matter what, either said it wouldn’t deter the men from their mission. The god pushed the smaller male behind him, slightly using his large form to separate the danger from his friend. Nathuss looked down at the two men, a slight smirk appearing on his face.

“Been awhile since I kicked some puny humans’ asses,” his deep voice resonated as Nathuss took a swing at the first man. His fisted connected with the man’s jaw, the sound of the bone breaking rang in the air. The man fell to the side unconscious. The second man seemed to hesitate before raising his axe in attack.

Howel had successfully removed the knife, pinning him to the wall before charging at Ekron with the knife in hand.

“YOU DISGUSTING DEMON BASTARD! I WILL END YOU!” the man yelled as he went to bring the knife down into Ekron’s back. Luckily, the weapon didn’t find its mark, successfully deflected by the drow with a knife of his own.

“Not much of a man if you strike a man when his back is turned,” Damon commented, forcing the man to stumble back.

Ekron looked over his shoulder before turning to face Howel and Damon. “I got this, I have been wanting to teach him a lesson for a while now,” Ekron said, walking towards the two, grabbing a mug of ale off the nearest table. He took a drink before throwing the mug at the man, hitting him square in the face spilling the remaining ale over his front.

“Since day one, you have been picking fights with every non-human that enters this town. I am not sure what your disgusting little brain is thinking of, but clearly, it isn’t working,” Ekron grabbed Howel by the front of his shirt, pulling him close to his face. “But this has been a long time coming. Don’t worry, you’ll live but I am going to make it so you wish you didn’t,” he said, throwing the man into the nearest table, the force causes it to break, drinks and food scatter all over the floor.

Forsennsa’s voice faintly is heard over the sounds of fighting. “For f**k’s sake Ekron try not to break the furniture.” She wasn’t going to stop them. Howel and his gang needed to be taught a lesson and honestly Ekron is the one to do that. “Sorry Foresenna! I’ll pay ya for any damages,” Ekron said as he picked up a chair. He looked back over at Howel, raising the piece of furniture over his head in a swift motion he brought down the chair over the other man’s head.

“How does the chair taste?” Ekron laughed.

The chair shattered into pieces. Howl groaned, grabbing his head, blood covering his fingers. He seemed to sway trying hard to stay awake. Attempting to stand, he stumbled. Ekron laughed once more before kicking the man’s feet out from under him. The tiefling grabbed the broken chair leg before taking and hitting the other in the head effectively knocking Howel unconscious.

He stood up and took in the tavern. The looks of it the other three seemed to have handled the other’s. A few were unconscious, others injured with broken bones, seeming to understand that their leader was down; they didn’t stand a chance. They began grabbing their unconscious friends, half dragging them on the ground as they made towards the exit. Ekron looked back at Howel, sighed before reaching down to pick him up. Not before taking the man’s coin purse. He threw the man over his shoulder as if he was a bag of flour. Walking towards the door, carefully stepping over broken furniture, spilt food,

and unconscious patrons. Kicking open the main door Ekron proceeded to throw the man out on the street. A few of the other’s attempt to catch their leader but only ending up with the man’s body on top of them. “If I see or hear that any of you harass another non-human civilian I will personally drag y’all to the woods and dispose of you like the rotting flesh that you are,” Ekron growled out. He spat on the men before turning back inside to help clean up.