The Eye of Xandalos: Search for the Blood Crests

[Krin]

Trudging along the muddy path, the young elf pulled his jade cloak around himself tightly. The biting cold air blowing in off the King's Gulf was truly a force to be reckoned with.
"Sula must be having a wretched day," he muttered to himself as the slosh of mud gave way to the thud of cobblestones.

Dark Mansion finally loomed ahead, along with the first landmark of his remaining hopes. Three years of fruitless searching had passed, and yet at long last he had finally uncovered a piece of the mystery that might yield some results.

Upon entering the city, he was accosted by hawkers. Even in this weather, the merchants were desperate to sell their wares. He brushed aside a rather hideous woman pushing a tray of hair ribbons on him and quickened his steps. The woman reached out to halt him in hopes of continuing to charm him with her toothless grin, yet her hand fell on the back of his cloak, giving it a small tug as he stepped briskly away. One of the edges slipped from his grasp, unfurling in the wind. A bright, golden flash from beneath the cloak caught the woman full in the face, causing her to stumble backward in surprise and drop her tray.

"Bloody kid! What in the name of Zathroth was that?" She shrieked as she scrambled to pick up her product amidst the fray.

Her curses followed him as he swiftly jerked the cloak back over himself and tightened his grip on the edges in front of him. Just my luck. I've not been here five minutes and already I've caused a ruckus. The onlookers were shifting their gazes from the crone to him, unsure which to blame for the disturbance. He was not about to wait around for them to decide.

The door to Frodo's Tavern slammed open with the force of the wind behind it, and at long last he stepped through and closed it behind him. Reaching into the folds of his cloak, he unbuckled the belting that kept a strange book strapped to his side. He drew it out and buckled the belt back up. A few eyes already upon him, he the books cover to unveil a flash of visibility before tucking it under his arm and taking a seat by the bar. The book, far from ordinary, appeared simple at first glance. It was completely back, marred only by a single crimson oval in the center of the front cover with four strange symbols, all maroon, surrounding it. Upon closer inspection, the oval had a deeper red within it, almost like the pupil of an eye. So much so, that it in fact shifted around within the oval... alternating its gaze between the four symbols surrounding it. It was this factor that the elf relied on to attract the attention of those worthy of joining him. Noticing this odd trait was the first test.

And so he waited, gazing at the table in front of him with his knuckles white on the binding of the mystery in his hands.

OOC: One of my favorite Tibian mysteries, and we shall bring it to life! Join in!

[Zanko]

“No thank you, a glass of water will do finely.”

“Are you sure? Water costs just as much a beer, you know?”

“I know, but water will do.”

“If you say so,” said Frodo. He reached down below the counter and pulled out an old and scratched wooden mug. “Just a moment,” he said, walking into the room behind him and then emerging a few seconds later. “Here you go, that will be three gold pieces.”

The half elf handed Frodo the gold and quickly grabbed a stool by the counter; the place was filling up fast and only a few places remained before people would start having to stand.

The pub’s door slammed open and a figured stepped inside, which had nearly everyone in the pub staring. Zanko looked up and then returned to his drink. Another one, always looking for attention. He thought, stirring his finger round and round in the water.