The Keepers of Chaos: A Vault of Hell

Andraste Liadon: LXXXVII

Three string's: LXXXVII

Andraste took in a deep breath strumming her lute slowly in an attempt to emulate Mattrim next to her. She tried to give the man a brave smile but he seemed to be chuckling.

"Hey! What are you laughing about.." she complained, the blonde shot her back a humorous smile with those brilliant white teeth.

"Three strings!" Andraste was shot out of her mind when a patron at the bar yelled for her teacher. "C'mon ya bastard play us a decent song and stop goggling at the elf!" She spotted this drunken dwarvish man slurring his words atop a table surface swigging back some god awful drink. She giggled a little and even Mattrim seemed relatively bemused.

"Alright Yarvarn." Mattrim amused, "I'll play you a 'decent' song." Mattrim mocked the way the dwarf said decent adding the pompous frills of the accent and slurred speech. "Andraste.. How about.. Adventurers tales symphony five?" Her stomach turned to knots, crap could she even do that? She had been practicing but this was totally different.

"Well I.." She stopped herself as Mattrim shot her a confident smile. "Of.. course." he tapped his foot three times and together they switched songs. While bardic magic was originally her goal in these lessons she felt as if instead she'd found.. More.

"Hey Andraste!" Her attention was brought again from.. Oh, two people had just entered the Yawning portal Adleth and Alekzandr whom she could clearly see heading in her direction. They looked better after the long fight they'd all just engaged in, but she needed to run to her lessons.. Thank Selune that Druidic magic healed as well.

"Comrade, this is where you ran off to? We just finished-"

"Alekzandr!" Durnan called from across the bar floor. "You bastard, you were supposed to tell me if you stop showing up! I'm overstocked on Vodka." Well now Andraste knew someone had to be joking, there was no way on Toril that Alekandr drank so much vodka it could affect stock surpluses.

"Why in Lobadoshki do you think I'm here? It's about to sell!"

"Hey." Andraste snapped from her speciation when Mattrim nudged her shoulder. "Don't lose pace." Her eyes felt hazy staring at him, he had one of those inviting friendly looks which caught you off guard.

"Apologies." She muttered, suddenly finding it rather difficult to reply. She bowed and continued the song. The tavern was loud and quite comforting; the noise helped to overpower whatever nerves settled in her. She glanced longingly at the Portal, located in the center of the room. Its murky circular stone bricks looked fragile. She occasionally winced, staring at the winch thinking how she had literally risen up on it to escape.. Whatever it was that was down there.

Her head kept playing a trick on her, imagining the shaft whirl to life dragging up some of her old friends.. A mockery of her cowardice. She pursed her lip continuing the strumming. Adleth was screaming about something at a distant table, yelling at Alekzandr and that new Vestus figure who seemed to be quietly writing something on the table surface.

Mattrim cleared his throat. "You.. might wanna try loosening your fingers, try leaning forward." She felt his hand wrap around her body and over the lute's surface she was more accustomed to her flute rather than this.. Large bulky wooden piece. Mattrim placed a hand over her's and guided them to the lower strings. "When you pick at them, try to use a bit more of your finger. It may seem like the tip is enough, but really curl it over and then pull." He gently tapped her shoulder pushing her body forward so she was a little bit leaned over. It felt like the lute had just gotten lighter.

"Thank you.." She stuttered out a quick thank you before pulling gently at the G and then E chords. She continued the song, all the while painfully aware of Mattrim's eyes piercing her. She took deep breaths trying to recall the songs and tales they would sing during the winter moon's or even her son's birthday.

"Yeah that's it, just try and feel the way it vibrates against you, harmonize with it."

"Heh.." She bit her lip to avoid a chuckle. "I know how to play music, Mattrim, I'm just having a hard time adjusting to the lute.." She rolled her eyes, peeking her head up Andraste could still see Adleth and others drinking.

"Oh really? You should have mentioned. What else do you play- oh uh, try and lose that grip you're gonna choke the neck." He returned once again, setting a hand on hers to try and pry her white knuckles off the lute's head.

"The flute, I used to be rather good actually." Andraste remarked, peeling her fingers off. When would she finally get to learn some genuine bardic magic? She wanted to enchant onlookers and heal the injured with her songs.

"Well shit, you should've told me.. You still have it or? I could give you a new flute if you need. Swing by my house some time.." Her cheeks lit up a little, she was thankful the one man; Herod wasn't there she could already see him screaming thot while turning the tavern into ground zero.

"Really?" She queried, careful to not tell him she did still in fact have her flute.. "Why thank you, where is your house?" she mused. On her right Durnan slammed a drink onto the table where others would place tips.

"You're gonna need it Three string's." The bartender grumbled. Mattrim waved a hand with a quick whistle, a spectral force hastily grabbed the dark beverage and poured nearly half of it down his throat.

"Mage hand? What a splendid spell." She guessed spinning around astounded by the mystic ability he displayed with just a whistle.

"Mhm." He nodded, picking up the lute with the magic help. It seemed more versatile and a lot less creepy than the one cultist's odd.. Squid spell? Octopus arm? She was learning as time went on not to question the members of this 'Keepers of Chaos' party.

"Holy shit.. I am SO DRUNKKK!" Alekzandr screamed from one side of the bar, she took one look, then another, then about three more.

"Does he.. Have?" She started.

"That is in fact two kegs." Mattrim replied, setting a hand on her shoulder. A few others watched on in either shock horror or a mix of utter confusion.

"My house is on four twenty six thunder staff way.." Andraste barely heard him but her cheeks lit up quickly.

"Thank you sir." Sir? She laughed, he'd been teaching her so it felt formal but she'd already called him Mattrim, why was she nervous? She wanted to take her eyes away, but with him pressed up behind her, and just seeing the oddness that was Alekzandr's drinking. Her mind was confused. But, as she felt him behind her, as she listened to the music being played in the tavern. She felt her lips begin to turn up in a smile. She could get used to this.