Kespin's tale of Rivernest.

Kespin turned his head from his book and addressed Luna.

"No offenses intended pretty shadow talker," He closed his book. "Just an observation on his demeaner is all." He reached down, picked up a stick and moved closer to the group. Then he started to draw in the dirt.

"I have traveled long." he said, "welcome in some areas of this great land, and outcast in others." At mention of that last part he shrugged his shoulders. "Many times I meet people with good intentions, and some with bad intentions. Sometimes you never know who you can trust." As he talked the picture started taking shape.

Tiella recognized what the old man was drawing. She rolled her eyes and moved towards Balar and mumbled "Crazy old man... I think this guy is just some dirty pervert and a trickster himself." Balar smirked leaning over to concentrate on the drawing and laughed. "I may agree with you, but you can't deny his talent."

"One town I visited, Rivernest I think?" Kespin continued to draw in the dirt and talking. "I arrived in time for their end of season festival. A very nice town." he narrowed his head and raised an eyebrow looking at Luna, "One of the folk happened to recognize my talent as a painter....Oh! I have many talents, by the way, but they wanted a large mural on the walls of their dining hall. I closed the doors.. I did not want the townspeople to see my gift to them until it was finished." He continued to draw in the dirt. "Two days I worked shooing people from the windows when they tried to get a peek, they had such nice paints there."

Erik, getting bored with the mans story asked him. "How well did they receive your gift?"
Kespin paused for a minute looking at the Jotun, "Yknow what?, They didn't appreciate it at all!"

"No surprise." Tiella said. Kespin continued.

"They threw at it, fruits and sauces from their end of season harvest meal! The defiled my work in front of my very eyes. Shortly after that I grabbed my little bit of belongings and was chased out of the town. Told never to return again" Kespin looked down displaying to the group that his feelings were sincerely hurt?

There was a pause.

"What did you paint?" Erik suddenly became interested again. Kespin suddenly looked proud and explained.

"It was a glorious mural, a tribute if you will.... of the beautiful moms, daughters, and working women who resided in Rivernest."

Balar started to laugh and Tiella had to ask. "Was it anything like what you have drawn for us this evening?"

Luna looked down in the dirt, along with Dyvia, Erik and Majvoc.

In the dirt, was a very detailed etch of both Luna and Dyvia, bodies in a naked embrace. Majvoc smiled and commented. "Wow old man, good work. I can't possibly imagine how anyone could not appreciate your attention to detail ha ha ha!"

Dyvia and Luna stamped out the picture yelling "Why you!.. I don't look like that.. I would never!" they spun around to confront the old man, but he was no longer where he was sitting. He was over by the cave entrance again sitting comfortably with a scowl looking into that book again.
"By the gods," he muttered to himself, "I must be the only man alive who appreciates the female figures true beauty."