[Omashu Tavern] stories in the night [open]

The winds outside the small tavern where picking up because of the late night weather. Everyone was tired, and had been looking for a place to stay. The same had been true with Zilo. He had no idea how long it would take him to get to the fire nation. Nor did he have a general idea in which direction it was. He had never been there, and everyone he encountered had looked at him as if he was an idiot. Which judging by his appearance it could be proven true. He dressed in the nations color, had an exotic tattoo on his chest. The white and gold shredded gi around his shoulders threw them off some what. Thinking he was just a traveling bard.

Which truth be told he used that as an excuse to get inside of the city. Most of the people here needed to have someone put some cheer into their day. Or so the guard said, but upon entering, Zilo could see that it needed much more than that. Everything here was kept tight, guards at every corner, some marching around the corner. Between their marching and the sliding mechanism above him, that had seemed strange at first, till someone explained that it was a transfer system, had filled the air with dust and created an overall madness with the addition of annoying sounds. His ears ringing from the unexpected bustle of the city made Zilo take a quick turn into a tavern.

The giant youth having to duck his head to step in, was able to stand at full height within the room. His figure was lean, and most could tell was built of mostly muscle towered above others. One would have to look up greatly to see his face. Zilo stood amazingly at six foot eight. The youth pausing at the door had began to look around, there was quiet a few people in the bar. An older gentlemen flirting with a waitress, another sitting at the table taking a drink of water he'd presume. And the kids had been running around, exclaiming and acted as if they where making out some type of battle scene from a story.

Then something caught his ear, as he looked over at the two people sitting at the table, the older one had mentioned that he had been too the fire nation. A small smile appeared on Zilo's face as he walked over to where the two sat. The waitress eyes began to widen as she saw him approach. Suddenly he reached down to tap what he assumed to be the boys father on the shoulder. The small smile on his face couldn't be discerned between anger, or intrigued. Since he had only been in the company of local travelers he honestly didn't need to practice his courtesy with others. Zilo's voice was like that of young man, around the age of nineteen. It was rough, but had a general sense of warmth to it.

"Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear that you've been to the fire nation. I've been trying to get there myself. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like you to show me the way." Zilo's voice wasn't exactly booming, but it carried over nearly anyone in the room. The kids became quiet as they heard the giant speak. They had been intrigued by him, and where gathering around him. They had been pulling at the long red bandanna, and his sash around his waist. One child touched his tattoo, another was pulling on the bandages around his arms and hands. One could tell they had been placed there due to scarring, or serious damage. As they had been kept clean and neat compared to the rest of his torn outfit. "I would truly appreciate it..." He stated looking over at the kid next to the older man.

He tilted his head slightly towards the kid before speaking."I'm sorry if I was interrupting something you two had for a getaway trip. But It's urgent I get back to the fire nation." Truth be told, he was looking for his mother. Oro had mentioned that if he was able to get away from the village, and get back to his mother. He could find out where he belonged. And to Zilo that was everything as of this moment.

Wei let out a sigh of disbelief when his uncle had began to state that he had traveled to the fire nation, to the boy's knowledge Xian had only been within the Earth Kingdom's borders, perhaps there was some truth to the story. He had only been present to his uncles travels for the 10 short years he had been around, maybe when he was in better health and in his youth, maybe it was then Xian had visited the other Kingdoms. The elderly travel guide began to delve deeper, telling the woman of a story where he had saved his entire group from what he called an Armadillo Bear, which was terrorizing a fire nation village. While his eyes were concentrated on his uncle, Wei noticed that he was suddenly covered in shadow, the boy looked to the left and he was met with a massive figure of a man. He had never seen someone so big before in his life, the only thing he could compare him with were the rock formations he had seen on some early expeditions.

The waitress too noticed the giant that had approached the table, causing the conversation and most of the tavern to grow quiet at that moment. Xian was at a loss for words as he looked up, the waitress too had a fearful look in her eye, as if things were about to grow violent, however, what happened next was a pleasant surprise. The man put on a friendly smile and asked whether or not it would be possible for his uncle to guide him from Omashu all the way to the fire nation.

"Y-you want to go to the fire nation...? Well...I mean that's pretty far..."

Before his uncle could come up with a legitimate reason to refuse, the group found themselves being approached by a second man, he too was very tall but his size was less intimidating due to the friendly look on his face. He too was interested in tagging along for the journey, wanting to head for the fire nation if possible, Xian was at an odd position, if he refused, the tavern would know he was a liar, if he went, he wasn't sure his elderly body could take a journey like that.

"Well...I'm not sure my old bones could make a journey like that anymore...I'm sorry boys, I don't think it's good idea."

At that moment, Wei sat up, a journey like that could make a lot of coin and most important of all, it would allow him to see the world, he had to experience it for himself. The boy was determined to do it.

"Uncle, I can do it."

Xian looked at his nephew in surprise, it was rare that Wei volunteer for a job or even speak for that matter. The elderly man thought to himself and shook his head, he did not want to risk putting his nephew in danger, he knew very well that the world was a perilous place.

"No, it is too dangerous Wei. Wandering the desert is one thing but that long a journey is way too dangerous. You're just a child."

Wei was upset, he hated that fact being brought up, he had worked for most of the time he was with his uncle and to him, being called a child was insulting. He clenched his fists tightly as his hands rested on the tables flat surface, he looked up at his uncle again, this time however his eyes were ablaze with his intensity, he wanted the chance to prove himself. Xian was silent for a few moments, he knew Wei was the determined type but he had not been used to being away from his nephew. The elderly guide looked to the two men who asked to be led to the fire nations lands.

"Well, what do you think boys? He is a very good guide, still interested?"

Standing there for a moment, the waitress came back with the drinks and food he had ordered for everyone. He watched as the kid began to pick up the remaining gold that had been spilled, though it didn't really matter to him, he knew that this so called valuable ore was doing in the sand scorpion ravine he decided he'd let that insight go, for anyone crazy enough to go down there. "There's more of that material inside the scorpions ravine, from where I was training." He stated looking over at the other man, he had a false smile on his face, as if he had been uncomfortable. Turning his attention back to the uncle, he noticed the old man lean back and asked a very unfortunate question for Zilo. Upon being taught by his master, and traveling with the man, how they had gotten guides before, wasn't a pleasant one.

When he spoke, Zilo's voice was cold, almost too cold. It was like the happy care free him as gone, and replaced with that of a warrior thursting for blood, and no care how he got it. "Well, as for payment I never really do a business transaction, I guess if we go that way, I can guarantee no harm to you and your grandson. That or I could just force you to take me, and should we go the wrong way, I'll gladly make your body a display for those that cross me..." He turned his attention to his drink, before picking it up and taking a large gulp and setting it back down. He then continued with his saying. "As it is with my life, i've never had time to make deals, it's been kill or be killed from the start... And if I need something done, I will use force if necessary."

Though he hadn't seem like a killer when they had first meet him, they could tell now that he isn't a fresh pup when it comes to battles, or deaths of another human. Over his time, he had been pushed near death himself. He knew the feeling all to well, the coldness creeping over your body, that shuttering breath. It doesn't matter who you are, it is frightful, to wonder how to get that last breath. What if you stop, how would you get it... What it was like to suffocate. The fear of not being able to breath, but yet you where dead... It was one that the human brain could not overcome. Turning his attention back to Wei he nodded gently before the smile he had when they first appeared showed. "My name is Zilo, I have no last name."

Turning around Zilo grabbed a flute out of his back pocket, and began to play small low notes, the skeleton like design of the flute moved as he pressed down on the buttons. Each hand and bone bent with the pressure, each one allowing a more hollowed tune, it was a bit eerie to watch. The music though from it, was soft and relaxing. It allowed one to feel tired should they allow their body just to listen to it. Zilo decided to play the flute at this moment, simply to calm himself. He had allowed a great deal of his other personality to leak out, the one he had when training with Riosh. And yet he had just let it speak for him around others that had no idea who he was.

As the music came to a stop, Zilo looked up at them, placing the flute on the table his voice had gone back to the friendly man they had first meet. "Sorry about that, I let my training leak through however... I suppose I could take you down to scorpions ravine when we get back. That way you can get more of this ore." He stated looking around the table.