Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1993 12:41:44 EDT From: Message-ID: <93217.124144BANNON@MAINE.MAINE.EDU> Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: Re: [Welcome] [L&S] Stories and Wine References: <93216.103826ASG102@psuvm.psu.edu> Coriander turned her head to watch the golden skinned elf extend his invitation to the company at large. She sopped up the last bit of gravy with the last piece of biscuit as she considered joining their table. She wasn't ready to go home yet. She had no other plans. She tucked the soggy tidbit into her mouth, regretting that the end of the meal was never as warm and as succulent as the start. Oh, why not? May as well talk to some folks. Always something to be learned from others. Never wasted time. She pushed back from the table and made a swipe at her mouth with a cloth napkin as she stood. Tossing the bit of fabric down on the table, she hefted up a set of small saddle bags from the back of the chair and draped them over one shoulder. She paused a minute to tug at the fine chain mail that covered her dark rose colored tunic. A good story might be worth another hour or two of being locked in chains. Alterations of firelight and shadow brought out the unusual garnet highlights of her thick black, shoulder length hair, as she made her way to the Elf's table. One patron had the opportunity to observe that her eyes displayed the same combination of colors, with deep garnet-red irises and jet-black pupils, when she asked him to pull in his chair to clear the way. None would call her beautiful, not with the freckles splattered across her nose, shoulders, and arms, and her somewhat broad, bony back. Still, in the right light, with the right garments, someone might use the word "striking." Of course, others might have been distracted, before ever coming to that conclusion, by the one item of jewelery that she wore, a carved malachite snake that wound around her biceps, with glittering topaz eyes. The eyes would prompt one to move in for a closer examination of the ornament and the new perspective would reveal the fact that the sharp carved fangs of the serpent were sunk deep into her upper arm. A valuable, and doubtless, painful trinket. She arrived at the table of the sociable Elf and half-Elf and introduced herself with a friendly smile. She spoke softly so as not to disturb the infant who was also part of the company, "Messieurs, I would also enjoy some diversion before I retire for the evening. Thank you for your invitation. I will join you, if I may? My name is Coriander."