Lost in Translation: A Collaborative Story

Part 1: Spickerzocker

Ali'zarin was tired, bored, and in need of entertainment when someone decidedly shorter than him sat down at his tavern table. He glared at the newcomer, then had to readjust his gaze about a head further down, as said newcomer was a dwarf. Said dwarf seemed to be immune to Ali'zarins glower, as far as he could tell - it was rather difficult to make out his face underneath the wild shrubbery of red hair and beard.

Said dwarf chewed for a while on his pipe, apparently sizing Ali'zarin up before saying, "Hello there. Would you be interested in joining an adventuring party?"

Dwarrows sure didn't beat around the bush. "I haven't been convinced to yet, and it would depend on what exactly, ah, adventuring entails."

The coppery shrub chuckled. "Aye, fair enough. There's something foul afoot in the woods up north- "

"I am no elf," Ali'zarin interrupted, "I know we may all be pointy-eared weed-eaters to you lot, but as a Drow I know possibly less about that forest than you."

"I know, I've got eyes. By O'sha, are you a snippy one. No, I've already got a ranger from around here, she knows the lay of the land well enough. I'm askin' you because while the travellers that've had run-ins with the beast have spoken of something spider-like, while the locals have not, just of many skittering legs and foul venom. Figured you'd want to be there if it's a spider and be of help if it's not."

Ali'zarin hummed and rolled a sip of wine around his mouth. It was true, he'd be annoyed if there was a giant spider he could've tamed and it had been slain instead; likewise he'd probably be able to fight something with many quick legs and avoid being stung. On the other hand, someone being that presumptuous and above all, correct when he had barely spoken to them was extremely irksome.

Leaning back, Ali'zarin drawled, "Well, what's in it for me? While the idea of my own spider mount may be compelling, should it not be a spider or tameable leaves me with nothing but danger."

The dwarrow tsked. "And they call us greedy! Very well. The thain has put out a reward for whoever should defeat the beast, and you may have a third."

Ali'zarin narrowed his eyes. A third of the reward seemed meager when he was certain he could take the foe on by himself; but it would be discourteous to demand more than his employer or to diminish the guide's share. Besides, the advantage of having someone slower than you in a chase could not be underestimated.

After another demonstrative sip of wine, Ali'zarin said, "Those terms sound... agreeable."

The bush of red hair and beard moved in what should probably be interpreted as a smile and Ali'zarin had a broad hand thrust at him.

"I think if we are truly to work together we ought to know each other's names," the dwarrow said, "my apologies for not introducing myself before. Mizim, child of Thofur, at your service."

Ali'zarin silently sighed and reached out as well, only to find his hand firmly grasped in a rough palm and pumped up and down.

"Ali'zarin, truly a pleasure." he ground out.