Ah, the Red Boar! It's been too long! Throwing the door open, I hand my sword and cloak to my page, Eodred. The lad scuttles off to secure lodgings for us. I look around expectantly, hoping to see some of my old friends. But my smile quickly fades as all I find is a pungent smelling little Roman gnome harassing some girls.

Well, I should look at the glass as half full.

"Eodred!" I call out in a voice that makes all in the tavern look up, "My sword!"

Eodred is at my side in an instant, and my gleaming broadsword is out. Before the stinky lisping toad knows that I even exist, the tip of my blade is under his chin.

"What do you call yourself, who bothers these ladies?" I demand. "Speak!"

"Puh- pwease, my lady," he manages to babble, "Hockimus. Hockimus is my name."

He looks like he's about to wet himself. I turn to the ladies. "I can kill him if you want," I offer casually. But the women decline, saying that the Roman is a nuisance rather than a villian deserving death.

Darn. Shrugging, I resheath my sword and toss it back to Eodred, who looks happy because now he won't have to clean it. The toad-gnome scuffles off, casting me a sour, sidelong glare.

Well, at least the bier here won't disappoint me. "Some Ale!" I call out, tossing a few gold coins on the bar.