“And then I said to the damned elf, ‘if you spent as much time hugging trees as you did complaining, maybe your home planet wouldn’t have imploded!” said the dwarf, heartily laughing before guzzling down a tankard of super nova red. “And if you didn’t spend so much time in your workshop, maybe you’d be able to fit into a child sized tuxedo” replied the elf with a victorious grin. The tavern was unusually busy this evening; most of the tables were occupied with patrons of varying sobrieties. At the bar at the far end of the tavern, the bartender was busying himself serving the swarms of humans, elves, dwarves and the single gnome that clustered around him. “Out of all the tables you could have got Sedric, you chose the one right next to the toilet” rumbled the dwarf, staring at the gnome leaving with contempt. “Well maybe if someone had repaired the retrograde ion thrusters instead of playing [hearthstone], it wouldn’t have taken an hour to drop in from orbit!” quipped Sedric. “Well said brother!” agreed Fayeth her long elven features forming a grin. “Hark! I was too busy finishing off the data requisition from that satellite you nearly crashed into Kadgar” retorted Holgaar. Kadgar was intently glaring at the bottom of his empty mug when he heard his name and snapped his head up. “I’m sorry what was that? I wasn’t listening”. A large crash sounded from the opposite end of the bar. Then the bar fell deathly quiet. “Guys? Hello any of you in there?” Kadgar said, without noticing the eerie change of tone. With his fingers he traced where Holgaar was looking, and ended up pointing at the large black mass standing in the doorway. Kadgar suddenly noticed that the whole room was starring at the unidentifiable bulk. The silence suddenly broke. “Yo” coolly said the pilot and he assumed looking at the bottom of his mug and with that a sliver of normality returned to the tavern. “Orcs” whispered Holgaar under his beard as his gaze followed the 6 towering figures lumbering towards the bar at the opposite end of the room.

“6 pints of super nova red, paleskin” grunted the leading orc as he approached the bartender. “6 pints coming up” replied the bartender, sweat forming on his brow. The band sat themselves upon the recently vacated bar stools and slowly eyed up everyone else in the room. As they sat, the bartender mixed the drinks in a flurry trying to serve the orcs as quickly as possible, decreasing the chances of him accidentally setting one off. Holgaar gripped the handle on his thunderaxe, his gazed fixed upon what he presumed was the leader. “Holgaar, don’t be so rash, they’re probably only looking for a drink” responded Fayeth, after hearing the dwarf’s leather glove tense. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about dwarves Fayeth, it’s that they’re as stubborn as a pimp” replied Kadgar. “That doesn’t even make sen-” retorted Sedric before he was cut off by a roar from the dwarf “Those bastards levelled my homeworld, and if you carry on I’ll level you!”. Everyone’s gaze fixed upon the companions in the corner. The noise level of the room dropped. The orcs turned around from the bar, and stared at the companions. Holgaar rose from his chair and said “Um I’m -” when his address was interrupted by the gnome swinging open the lavatory door, catching the dwarf and subsequently knocking him to the ground. Cursing in he dwarvish as he rose, he spun round to the startled gnome. “DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!” boomed the dwarf, “I AM Holgaar THE FABLED ADVENTURER!”. The gnome quickly regained his composure, and responded to the fuming dwarf “Who?”. Before Holgaar could set upon the gnome again, the orcs at the bar rose, the one at the back unclasping a dark grey shotgun from a black holster across his back. The orc in the most expensive looking armour grunted “Thankz for doing my job for me, dwarf. We’ze gonna get rich after returning you and your friendz to our employer.” He unlatched a dark silver cylinder from his leather belt, and pressed the large rectangular button on the side. The sound of an energy weapon energizing rang through the tavern, and a warhammer shaped beam of red energy stemmed from the dark silver hilt. “Get em boyz.”

~InvisibleTree