Newhearth, of The House of Draugr.

[Any characters that Johann has met at events are allowed here, Plus Hans.]

From the outside, the building has the same weathered but enduring look of many in this region of Amrania; dark grey stone brick, proud gabled roofs rising up towards the stormy evening sky, slightly overhanging above anyone standing there, like a great majestic beast. Upon entering the house, it would become clear that the house was newly refurbished, and that people had not been living in it for long. The front door opens to an alcove which opens up to a square room, presumably serving as a lobby of some sort. Each of the other sides of the room have doorways that lead into other rooms. The left one (from the perspective of entering the room) leads to a stairway, the rightmost a living room of some kind, and the one facing the front door opens into a large dining hall, lit by hearths at each end. A an oaken long-table running along much of the length of the room. The flooring of the rooms is a new-looking dark wood planks, with rugs of deep colours, or animal furs laid over some sections.

Johann is sitting in the living room, waiting for something. He calls to someone who is upstairs.

"Well, the invitation went out a while ago, but it's hard to say how many people will be here for this little gathering, I don't know how many will be able to make it."

Yelling downstairs, from upstairs, as she's still getting ready.

"You would have thought people would have told you if they were coming or not, it is a party after all. I don't know if Glenn's cooked enough for more than a few people. I'll be down in a minute, I've nearly finished airing my hair"

Over the sound of rain and wind outside there is the rattle of wood on stone as an ox-drawn cart pulls up along the cobbled path outside the house. A man steps down from the cart and his voice calls out over the howling gale.
"THANK YOU DRIVER, HERE'S AN EXTRA WARRANT FOR TAKING ME OUT IN THIS STORM."
He hands the driver the small tip, and walks towards the front door, his leather coat wrapped around him tightly to shield him from the whirling rain. Once at the door he rapped the brass door knocker three times, his other hand clamped onto his head to prevent his three-pointed hat from flying off.

Hearing the sound, Johann stands up and opens the door.

"Ah, Captain! I see you made it here in one piece, Come, get rid of that hat and coat, dry yourself by the fire."

Lydia walks down the stairs, making some finishing touches to her blonde hair. It's in a curled pony-tail, over one shoulder. Her hair moves with a slight breeze, seeing as she's still using her magical fingers.

"Captain, good to see you" she smiles as she walks over to the table, grabs him a glass of mead, and passes it to him once she's next to him. "Please, do come in."

"Thank you Johann, it's terrible out there. Nice house you have here... Ah, and the Lady Lydia, a pleasure as always."
He takes off his coat and hat and hangs them by the door, then, as invited, steps into the living room, his body welcoming the heat of the fire.
"Oh, before I forget, a housewarming gift!"
He fumbles aroung inside his coat pockets and pulls out a small bottle of golden liquid.
"Antique Gevellian brandy, from 643AR. It was a lot of trouble to ste- uh, I mean, acquire this particular bottle, but it had been sitting in my drinks cabinet for ages, gathering dust, so I thought I should let you have it, so it can gather dust in your cabinet instead!"
Seamus laughs lightly, and offers forward the bottle.

Laughing, Johann closes the door, leaving the sounds of outside muffled. he takes the bottle, and briefly looks it up and down, before placing it on a small table in the living room.

"Will...master Yksin be joing us? or is he off on some...Business?"

Lydia takes the bottle from the table, smiling and skipping slightly. She takes it into the pantry, placing it next to all the mead, wine etc Johann seems to have.
She walks back in, and places her arms out to Seamus. "Give me a hug, sailor. It's been a while since I've seen you!"

Seamus accepts the embrace and, once Lydia releases him, continues his conversation with Johann.
"Well, I'm certain he got the invitation, but he said he'd make his own travel arrangements. Something about taking care of something... Anyway, shall we sit down? I need to hear about what you two have been up to here in the north!"
He moves to an armchair and goes to sit down.

"Right, now that someone other than me and Lydia is here, I'm going to get some mead out, yes?"


[Edit - Seamus no longer has any mead in his hand ]

"Oh we haven't done much, Seamus. We've been lazing around, staying in by the fire most nights. It gets awful cold up in the North after all, so you have to find many different ways to keep warm" Lydia grabs herself a drink while doing this, sipping lightly on a dark red wine, smirking to herself lightly as she drinks.

"Aah, yes, that would be great Johann, thank you. I would've bought some in the last town we passed through, but you should've seen the prices the tavern was charging!"
He makes himself comfortable and turns to Lydia once more.
"Ah, I see... So, have you been in charge of furnishing this fine home? I have to say, it far surpasses my expectations... Then again, what does a man who sleeps in a hammock know about interior decorating, eh?"
He laughs again, this time more of a chuckle.

"I thought it needed a woman's touch. Johann is terrible at picking out matching colours, I just took over." She points to one of the animal skins on the floor. "He killed that one himself, and insisted it be part of his home. I couldn't find myself to refuse..." She blushes lightly, then proceeds to drink more of her wine.

"Excuse me two seconds, Captain. I must answer the door" Lydia walks towards the door, and answers it. "Hans!" she says with delight, "Do come in, and take off your wet coat and hat, or you'll catch yourself a chill!" She motions towards the table "Seamus and drinks are over there. Food will be served shortly. Johann is getting some mead"

As Hans enters, Johann appears from doorway leading into the dining room, under his arm is a mead barrel with a tap.

Seeing Hans, a man he has grown fond of drinking with, he raises the many mugs in his other hand.

"Mead!"

Hans enters quickly, peering out the window for a second before breathing a sigh of relief.

"Their gone, thank the Wind Speaker. Thank you Lydia, it's nice to see you again. He bows slightly I won't put my coat up near the fire, unless you want the smell of wet fur everywhere later."

He removes his jacket and places it on the coathook in an alcove, furthest from the fire, putting a mat that he brings out of his coat under it to catch any water that might drip.

"Now, as the Hauldr says! Mead! Ahoy Captain! The cargo is aboard the ship. Now, shall we party?"

He takes a mug off Johann, waits for him to put the Keg down before filling up with the glorious brew


MODEDIT: Have you ever head of the 'edit' key?

Johann lowers the keg onto the table in the middle of the living room, and begins to pour mead for all.

"Anyone had an interesting experiences these past few days?"

"As long as no-one throws up on my- Johann's carpet, then I am fine with 'partying'." She moves a hand to her ponytail, shaking out her curls lightly, it landing on her shoulders. Putting her glass out to Johann she grins, "Fill 'er up"

Hans chuckles, gulping his mead.

"Depends what you mean by interesting. Oh, yes, I have something for you."

He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a long thin wooden box, before handing it to Johann and whispering in his ear, so Lydia doesn't overhear despite her proximity

"These are incredibly rare Shuruti herbs, used by husbands to decrease the pain for the woman when she is, erm, 'on the cycle'. Burn them when she's going through it, the incense will stop it hurting her and you won't have to deal with the usual female funny-business that accompanies 'that time'. Use it right and that should last you a year."

He pulls back, grins and walks over to a chair near the fire, plopping himself down in it.

Johann smiles, and takes the tin and puts it away in a small cabinet near where he was sitting.

"MANY thanks, my friend."

Lydia sees him put the box away, and turns to him. "What was that...?" She asks them both.

"It was nothing but a little extra spice for that strong mead I like."

"Want me to put it in the pantry, with all the other spices?"