<JETMODE> <Kender> So.. *thinks a moment* What's your specialty, anyway?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: I've got a bit of a dual class thing going on, really...I'm a thief-and-archer in training, at the moment.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *arches eyebrow* Um.. inneresting. *grin* Following a family trade?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Not really. *she smiles as she scritches Cinno* I have no family.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *slightly sheepish look* Oh. Er, sorry there.

<JETMODE> *Cinno mrrs, then walks over and sticks his face in Kender's food. :D

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Oh, don't be sorry, my friend, it's always been that way, as far as I can remember.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Hey! Cinno! *shoves him away* Well, I guess if you say so.. both m'parents are still alive, and I have two younger sisters and a younger brother.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Younger siblings...fascinating. I'm not much in the way of relationships...

<JETMODE> <Kender> Well, there are days it gets annoyin', but I certainly couldn't do without them. *extends a hand* Name's Kender, by the way, Kender Oanesdale.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper blinks once, then takes his hand and shakes. "Call me Whisper.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *brightly* Nice to meet ya, Whisper.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: A pleasure, I'm sure. *She's by no means angry or annoyed with him, but she's certainly not nearly as cheery as he is either. :)

<JETMODE> <Kender> *looks around* I don't really know where to go...

<JETMODE> *Cinno is still eating his food.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper finished off her drink and thinks for a few moments. "You're looking for a Beast Master, you say?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Do you know his name?

<JETMODE> <Kender> ... *clears throat* Well ... 'fraid I don't know exactly ...

<TIAMAT> *Whisper frowns. "Well, I can point you out to a couple of the Beast Master trainers here, but I don't know if any of them are the one you're looking for.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Well, I'll be happy to have a look around. *grin*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: I'll introduce you to the Beast Masters, then, if you like.

<JETMODE> <Kender> That'd be great! -- it's not any trouble, is it? I mean, you aren't needed anywhere? *jerks his chin at the arena*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper chuckles. "No, not now, I haven't booked for another battle yet. Come on, I'll show you around. This place is pretty big. *She gets up and grabs her cloak, fastening it around her shoulders but leaving the hood down.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *nods* I'd noticed that. *he pats the bag, and Cinno yawls an objection but hops back inside, then he slings it over his shoulders again, leaving a couple coins on the table*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper tosses the bartender a coin as she passes and he nods to her with a smile. She leads Kender down to the ground floor, pointing out a few of the areas on the way -- shops, inns, maybe a temple here or there.

<JETMODE> *Kender's quite a country boy. He's overwhelmed and thoroughly enjoying himself -- not to mention being totally wowed by the fact that he caught the eye of a pretty girl. (Even if his cat started it.)

<TIAMAT> *The ground floor is basically all training grounds, except for the entrance hall, which has awards and displays of past gladiators and warriors who fought here. There are four main parts of the training ground (so far): The archery area, the jousting arena, the magic grounds and the general fighting area, which is the biggest. Whisper leads Kender to a fenced in area of the general fighting area where various monsters are being kept.

<TIAMAT> *She leans against one of the fences, where a nightmare is grazing. The black horse looks up at her and snorts once before going back to its meal. She ignores it and scans around the fences until, "Ah, there he is." She motions Kender over and points out a sqat dwarf with a white beard wrestling with a basilisk in one corner.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: That's Gilbert, the head of the Beast Masters. He might be able to help you.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *blinks* He.. er.. he seems kinda intimidating.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper laughs at this. "Gilbert, intimidating? Oh, I suppose he is a bit ... but nothing compared to some of the folk you get around here. The trainers are bad enough, and some of the competators in that Arena...no, Gilbert's nothing compared to them.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *a little pale* That's.. really encouraging..

<TIAMAT> *Whisper claps him on the back. "Don't worry, Kender. Everyone starts out green here. Gilbert knows the ropes as well as any trainer, though. He'll get you in the Arena in no time.

<TIAMAT> *At this point, Gilbert has finally managed to get control of the basilisk and is slipping a heavy leather collar over its neck, the chain attatched to a spike driven in the ground. He dances back lightly once the job is done, the basilisk straining to get free and hissing wildly at Gilbert, but the collar holds fast. Gilbert dusts his hands off and starts brushing his clothes off; he's quite covered in dust and mud.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *stares quietly* I wonder if I'm gonna hafta do stuff like that.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: If you wanna be a Beast Master you will. But Gilbert isn't about to start you in on handling basilisks right away.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper opens the gate in the fence and stands aside. "Why don't you go talk to him?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Geez, I hope not -- er, you sure?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper eyes him up. "Only if you wanna be a Beast Master. Gotta start somewhere.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Well, I don't wanna bother him ...

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Nah, you won't bother him. Trainers are usually busy but never too busy for another apprentice. If you come back later he'll probably be doing something else. Only way to get in is to do a bit of pushing. Besides, *she looks over at him; he's watching them expectantly* he's already seen us, so leaving now won't do any good.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er, right. *shrugs nervously and trots inside, waving a little*

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert approaches Kender, looking neither pleased nor annoyed at an unknown guest. He steps right up to and looks up - being a dwarf, he's probably only around 4'. "Yes, what can I do for you?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er.. hi. I'm here to be trained as a beast master -- my father wanted me to follow the family trade and all -- and he sent me off to find his old instructor ... I was wondering if you knew anything?

<TIAMAT> *He's got a fairly long, white beard that comes to a curly point at the end and white hair that hangs down midway to his back. His skin is deeply tanned and leathery from the sun, and a number of scars can be seen slashed along his arms and face. And he's wearing a plain tan/brown tunic and pants with leather boots and gloves.

<JETMODE> *Cinno pokes his head out of the backpack and yawls.

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert peels his gloves off and reveals that part of his ring finger on one hand is missing. "Well, you've come to the right place to be a Beast Master, all right. About your father's instructor, I dunno, there's a good number of us here at the Arena, but I think I'm the oldest. Who's your ol' dad?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Dorian Oanesdale.

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert: Oanesdale! Dorian Oansedale's your old patter? Why, ol' Dorian I go way back, practically raised that boy while he was training...*he strokes his beard thoughtfully* Not entirely diciplined, as I recall, but he did have a way with animals...*he eyes Kender up* Yeah, I can see Dorian in you, boy...you've got his eyes.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Y-you're Dad's master! Wow -- he didn't even give me a name, just sent me out the door!

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert: No name? Don't tell me ol' Dorian's forgotten about me already?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Well.. he was in a little bit of a rush. My little sister had just set the kitchen on fire.

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert laughs heartily. "Oh, that sounds like something Dorian mighta done himself when he was a wee thing. So you're here to be a Beast Master, eh? Why didn't your patter train ye himself?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Well.. he taught me the basics, but with the family and all, he's more interested in taking care of Mom and my sibs than doing any full-out training.

<JETMODE> *Cinno eyes Gilbert with interest and mrrs expressively.

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert nods. "Ah yes, family does tie one like that. Well, if I do say so myself, your ol' patter sent you to the right place. No where else in the land to be trained than here at the Arena. And not just for Beast Mastery! You should see some of the knights and mages we get here... *he spies Cinno* Nice looking feline you have there.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Uh? *glances over his shoulder, then grins and scratches Cinno's ears* Yeah, he's my partner. He wouldn't let me leave the house 'less I took him with me. *grin*

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert nods approvingly. "Every good Beast Master needs a pet. Or a corral of pets. *he motions toward the various stables and pens where all sorts of animals from rabites to the nightmare and basilisk mentioned earlier are being kept. "'course, most of the bigger monsters are down in the dungeons. We can't be keeping dragons and ogres and golems up here unless they're in the Arena.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Wow.. dragons and golems?

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert: Oh sure. Not too many of the competators are crazy enough to be wanting to fight them, unless a really decent group comes along with a couple mages and berserkers and a priest or two. And every once and a while you get the crazed knight who insists on slaying the dragon for his princess...*Gilbert waves a hand and turns into one of the stables, motioning for Kender to follow.

<JETMODE> *Kender trots after. "Well, I don't know any princesses, so that's pretty safe."

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert takes down a brush from the stable wall and wanders over to a pegasus. "Well, if you stay on long enough, you'll be handling dragons as part of your Beast Mastery training. *he brushes the pegasus's coat and mane, mostly white with a sort of purplish tinge. "Mostly Dragoners handle the Dragons, of course, but I've managed a good deal of them myself. Right nasty beasts they can be, unless you know how to calm 'em.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *watching the pegasus with fascination* Really?

<TIAMAT> *The pegasus shakes its mane slightly and breys softly. "Of course. Don't worry, though, Dragons don't come until much later. You have to learn some basic fighting skills before you can even start in on the Beast Mastery stuff. *There's a sudden uproar a little ways outside the stable and a large black dog comes bolting inside, barking wildly, and runs right under the pegasus's and bowls itself into Gilbert.

<TIAMAT> *The pegasus breys loudly and rears up on its hind legs, its wings spreading and flapping a bit; the dog and Gilbert are in a tangled mess on the ground. "DOWN, Rex, DOWN!!

<TIAMAT> *The dog scampers to its feet and runs behind Kender, whimper and cowering.

<JETMODE> *Kender yelps in astonishment as Cinno hisses and dives down into the backpack, then he darts in next to the pegasus, dodging wings, and lays a hand on its back, trying to calm it. I think his da' kept horses.

<TIAMAT> *The pegasus paws at the ground and whinnies nervously, shaking its head and tail and still flapping its wings a bit, but at least it's down rearing up and trying to fly off. Gilbert groans and gets to his feet, rubbing his chest where Rex's paws tackled him. He turns to the dog, who's cowering in the corner, then peers out the door; the basilisk is hissing fiercely in their direction.

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert: That blasted basilisk! He's been nothing but trouble ever since Xylo brought him in...that wolf always did have a sense for untame creatures, though. And Rex there doesn't get on very well with lizards in the first place. *He turns back to Kender and the pegasus, which is still pawing a bit but seems to have settled down pretty much. "Looks like your patter did a pretty good job at starting you out there.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Uh? *pats the pegasus lightly* We had a buncha horses at home, he trained me on them sometimes. *grins*

<JETMODE> *Cinno pokes his nose out of the backpack and grumbles.

<TIAMAT> *The pegasus sticks his nose over Kender shoulder and nuzzles his cheek against Kender's face. Gilbert laughs. "Well, it looks like Willowsmane likes you.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *sheepish grin, rubs the pegasus' nose* He's mighty pretty.

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert: Ah, he's a gentle one, most of the time. Don't send pegasuses and unicorns out to battle, at least not much. Our Beast Masters in-training love to ride them, though, they're great for a bit of practice.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Yeah ... so.. er.. where will I be starting..?

<TIAMAT> *Gilbert: Well, let's see. How much training in fighting have you had?