A small settlement to the east of The Aviary, Ceciderunt Dea
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Despite the mid-afternoon sun hanging high above the rolling countryside the Tavern still bustled with activity. Various people of differing occupations and species all mingling together on the road that lead from The Aviary and along the Pilgrim's Path, each hoping to be hired by a Caelistine that was making the long pilgrimage to the Featherkeeper. Because of the near constant activity, the tavern was quite well off, and the drinks consistently flowed, leaving none wanting for a mug of ale. Near the back of the tavern a group of mercenaries huddled together and conversed of their past missions and hopes for the next job. The younger men talked animatedly about their prowess, while a couple of the older mercs simply sat back and puffed on imported cigars or stared silently into their ale. "Sir Elric!" one of the younger men, a shorter lad with light blonde hair and intricate facial tattoos had chose to try and get the older merc to talk about his past again. Elric Aradryan sat back with his mug of ale in one hand, and the other on his mace, a sly grin forming around the cigar in his mouth, "Boy, I already told ye, I ain't fer talking much o' me past." Some of the other vets smirked at the light disarming comment, while a couple of the younger lads only felt compelled to ask more.

"Come on, you're a veteran, teach us a few things." The lad was persistent, and to a degree, Elric admired the younger man's spirit. Yet, sometimes spirit could hinder a man's fighting ability and had to be broken. He took out the cigar and stared for a moment at the smoldering tip, the hand-pressed leaves of tobacco dark in the light of the mid-day sun and the glow of the charred tip a deep red. He let out a breath of smoke, the aroma of the cigar drifting lightly across the table. "I could teach you things" the older man began, "but the problem with doing so is that you will never forget the lessons." The younger mercenaries shared a look of confusion for a moment, though some of the more seasoned veterans let the smiles fall from their faces and looked grimly into their drinks, not willing to interfere. "Tell me youngster, have you ever faced a feral Cruentai? Perhaps a Dalimos of one of the rogue tribes?"

The younger man laughed and waved his hand, "Come on Elric, we've all faced the dangers of the Cruentai/Dalimos border-" He was about to continue when Elric flicked a bit of ash towards the upstart. "Be silent." he growled, a hint of danger crawling into his voice as he silenced the younger man. "When you have seen a man broken in half, and hung from the walls of the village he grew up in by his intestines, you will have faced the dangers of the border. When you have seen innocents violated in broad daylight, in front of all that they loved, you will have faced dangers. When you have seen a man fall from the height of what any could hope to achieve.... You will have faced the truth." He took a long draw on the cigar, taking in the stunned faces of the younger mercs, glad to see that they now understood the real dangers of their profession. "Do not think that you are safe because you have a blade. Do not feel protected by that plate of steel. You will die, and it will be painful, but if you call yourself a true man, you will continue to think nothing of your own suffering. You will take up that blade, and don your armor for those who cannot. You will walk into the dangers of the borders, and die with a smile on your face."

Another of the veterans spoke up, raising his glass as he gave the old creed of the mercenary "We are all dead, but have simply not found our grave." A solid round of cheers arose from the veterans and the clink of glass sounded from the clash of their mugs. The younger men were a little more subdued by the veterans and their attitude, but now the vets spoke among themselves of their old days, how things used to be and how things changed since Kanas. Elric stared out the window, The Aviary taking up most of the view with myriad shapes flitting between the floating structures. For a moment he thought of the old days, where he was one of those Caelistine who had taken to the skies above The Aviary, of how he once stood for something greater than just being a mercenary for hire. An old pain flared up in his back as he remembered his past, of his fall from the Aviary, and how he had vowed to regain his place among his people. That was why he was here, in this tavern along the Pilgrim's Path, so that he could ensure that the daughter of an old friend would safely earn her wings, and so that maybe, just maybe, he could redeem himself in the process.