Richard chimes in. Thank God, A law enforcement officer. I don't think we need to worry about violence, Jolis. This is a place of reason and justice.
The woman laughs wryly when Richard chimes in. "Ha. Law and Justice. You really are new." She sighs and shakes her head, gesturing for you to follow. "Come on, let's get you inside. You don't want to be outside on 'tax day'."
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"We are new but I must admit that that I do hate paying taxes..."Lera says following the woman.
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See, Orcan women love me. He says to Jolis. The investigator follows the sheriff.
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"Love is not the emotion your face inspires in me," Grelda says to Richard, overhearing his comment.
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"Love is not the emotion your face inspires in me," Grelda says to Richard, overhearing his comment.
"Oh good, it's not just me then."
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As they walk, Jolis gives Richard a 'better-luck-next-time' pat on the shoulder.
The big warrior leans down and whispers, "You must learn how to crawl before you can run".
Jealously is not a good look on you three. He says matter of factly
"Envy. Jealousy is fearing someone will take what you have. You mean to say Envy which is wanting what someone else has. For example, you are envious of my superior command of Taldane and jealous that I will take your reputation as the clever one in this group."
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Yes. You fear losing status to my obvious awesomeness. So you try and lower my status with personal attacks. But stick with that word Nazi thing you got going. People love it.
"Gods above and below, preserve us from yet another made-up word for Richard."
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Cayden, they just won't shut up, will they?
"Boys. Girls," spoke an exasperated Jolis. "Let's try to salvage our horrible first impression you two are making, but scheduling this spat at a later date, shall we."
Jogging up to the half-orc guide, Jolis try to begin a new dialogue.
"Please excuse my friends, the journey here has some of us on edge and exhausted. My name is Jolis, what is your name?"
"Love is not the emotion your face inspires in me," Grelda says to Richard, overhearing his comment."Oh good, it's not just me then."
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Vitranna smiles but holds back from saying something more in the face of the newcomer.
"Drogheda," she answers, scoffing at Richard and Lera's bickering. "Don't worry, they'll fit right in with the rest of the blathering fools in this town."
Drogheda leads you through the market and down an alley, occasionally glancing nervously at the sky. Before long, you reach a building with a sign that reads "Durga's Bar" over the top, in Common and Orc. Drogheda opens the door and nods for you to go in.
The inside has indeed been renovated to look more like a typical Korvosan tavern. Lanterns light the room despite the early hour, as all the shuttered have been closed tight. About a dozen haggard looking men and women sit around drinking or picking at paltry meals. Everyone is armed and they tense up when the door opens, but relax when they see Drogheda.
Behind the bar, a middle-aged orc bearing a strong resemblance to Drogheda starts putting down mugs when you enter. "I told you they'd be strangers. Nobody from here is suicidal enough to be out playing music on tax day."
"Speak for yourself," one of the men at the bar chimes in. He looks to be missing an ear, and most of the fingers on his left hand. "I'd be out there myself now if Liz hadn't dragged me here this morning."
Jolis reads the sign over the building, a look of relief washes over his face.
As the big warrior enters the tavern, Jolis exclaims with joy, "Oh, Thank Cayden! It's a "
Looking around to the anxious faces staring at the newcomers, the absalomian continues, "May the blessing of The Lucky Drunk be upon all present here!"
Jolis waves his companions over to the bar. "First rounds on me, guys", Jolis smiles. Sitting down in front to the middle-aged orc, the big warrior greets the bartender. "Hello and well met, my good sir! We'll have ale or whatever house specialty you recommend." Jolis's giddiness is almost palpable.
A man so broken inside and out, that death holds more comfort than life. A man, who has looked into the gaping maw of depravity, pain and suffering, feels no more pleasure in living...Must be a ex-sex partner of Lera. Richard walks over to the damaged man. Taxation sucks. I'd like to buy this brave man a drink. In fact, we'll like to buy everyone a drink.
Wanting to make a good first impression, Richard has Jolis turn around so he can free the leather armor. He let's it drop to the ground. How much would this buy us?
"Oh, claws out today, Richard?" Lera says in mock hurt. "To think a man could be so cruel to a poor, innocent girl like me."
Lera gladly take a any alcohol offered her and takes a seat. "So Drogheda, why are you this afraid of taxes?"
Vitranna watches out whatever accounts for a window. Not knowing what this 'tax day' entails, she's more than curious to see what the locals are afraid of.
Grelda is quiet and observant as she enters the bar. She studies the people's faces, alert for anything out of the ordinary.
While the patrons don't seem to share Jolis and Richard's levity, Durga at least puts on the face of a cheerful barkeep. "We've got mead, we've got ale, and we've got a barrel of Jeremy's Brew. Don't know what's in it, but it's strong enough to knock out an ox - I wouldn't recommend that one this early in the day." He fills a first mug for Jolis, and is about to pour a second when Richard sets the armor down.
A chorus of murmurs go up around the bad as Durga steps closer and plucks a tuft of bugbear fur from the leathers. He starts to grin viciously. "Tell me you got this off one of Jabral's boys and I'll pour the whole house a round."
"Are you serious!?" Drogheda shouts indignantly. "You told me not to go anywhere near them, but he kills one and you praise him?"
Durga shrugs. "He's not my kid, it's not my problem if he gets skinned alive. Besides, the least I can do is give the walking dead man a free drink." He pats Richard on the shoulder before hiding the armor behind the bar and filling the rest of the mugs.
Drogheda grumbles some obscenities before settling into a table near Lera. "Tax day was our brilliant leader's scheme,"
she says, voice dripping with venom. "Instead of fighting off Jabral's men with dignity, we leave out gifts for them like we're trying to woo some woman. Anything that's outside when they arrive is theirs for the taking as long as they do no further damage. But in all his infinite wisdom, our great leader didn't think to exclude the townspeople from that arrangement."
@Grelda: It's obvious that everyone here is on edge. A few of them watch you warily over the rims of their mugs, but most ignore you - they see you aren't threatening them and so you aren't their concern. But every few minutes, there are apprehensive glances towards the door.
@Vitranna: You are able to see outside through the small slats in the shutters, but the streets remain still for now.
Mead, please. He would let Jolis field the question about Jabral's boys. He wasn't sure if the truth was the best course of action.
Richard wasn't keen on the skinning alive comment. He knew it was not meant as a euphemism. Still, he was glad to see they had an in with the common folk. However... Your brilliant leader wouldn't, by any chance, be an old man who professes to be an expert on the storms that bring the ships here?
Either way, it was important that the bugbear confrontation be kept a secret from the leadership. He was not sure how that was going to happen. The scientist drops his gear and takes a seat next to Drogheda. He pulls out a pipe and fills it with a pungent weed. A feeling of relaxation soon runs through his body as he holds the smoke in his lungs. He passes the pipe to Drogheda with a 'ere.
So, what exactly do you leave outside for them? Food and Drink?
Lera frowns as she listens to the Half-Orc's explanation. "Not even the pretense of a protection racket. Didn't think it could get much worse than home." Lera briefly looks down, remebering days gone by. She accepts any drink poured for her before continuing. "We just got to the island and la fed closer to Junk Village. So pardon our ignorance. Who's Jabral?"
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A chorus of murmurs go up around the bar as Durga steps closer and plucks a tuft of bugbear fur from the leathers. He starts to grin viciously. "Tell me you got this off one of Jabral's boys and I'll pour the whole house a round."
"We took those of some bugbears, if that's what you mean", admits Jolis. The big man happily takes the luke-warm mead set down in front of him. Before he takes his first sip, though, Jolis pours a small stream on the bar floor, as is the traditional offering to Cayden Cailean. The mead isn't bad, would probably be better if it was cold, but on a jungle island, you get what you get, Jolis surmises. As he drinks, the absalomian listens to Drogheda explaination of "tax day". With an appreciative belch, Jolis drinks down the empty mug.
Nodding with thanks, Jolis says to the bartender, "My name is Jolis. Are you Druga?"
Richard wasn't keen on the skinning alive comment. He knew it was not meant as a euphemism. Still, he was glad to see they had an in with the common folk. However... Your brilliant leader wouldn't, by any chance, be an old man who professes to be an expert on the storms that bring the ships here?
Either way, it was important that the bugbear confrontation be kept a secret from the leadership. He was not sure how that was going to happen. The scientist drops his gear and takes a seat next to Drogheda. He pulls out a pipe and fills it with a pungent weed. A feeling of relaxation soon runs through his body as he holds the smoke in his lungs. He passes the pipe to Drogheda with a 'ere.
So, what exactly do you leave outside for them? Food and Drink?
"He's the one," Drogheda answers, passing politely on the pipe. "Food, drink, clothes, medicine. They'd take the blood from our veins if we let them."
Lera frowns as she listens to the Half-Orc's explanation. "Not even the pretense of a protection racket. Didn't think it could get much worse than home." Lera briefly looks down, remebering days gone by. She accepts any drink poured for her before continuing. "We just got to the island and la fed closer to Junk Village. So pardon our ignorance. Who's Jabral?"
"Jabral is the piece of shit warlord who set himself up in the palace."
"That's if he even exists. Not like anyone has ever seen him," the man at the bar interrupts again. "Stay in line, or our big bad demon boss is gonna rain hellfire down on you!" He says mockingly, though no one in the bar seems to be amused.
Nodding with thanks, Jolis says to the bartender, "My name is Jolis. Are you Druga?"
"The one and only. Finest orc barkeeper outside the Belkzen, and father of "
Drogheda makes an obscene gesture in response.
"Fancies himself a mage, does he?" Lera says with a smirk. "We'll see how he feels when I'm through with him."
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"So, Druga", asks Jolis, "how long does 'tax day' last? And what does Ruin Village have for an inn, or a place my friends and I can stay for the night?"
And how often is tax day? How much food? are you the only village taxed? How long has this been going on? Richard chimes in. You can almost see the wheels spinning in his head.
To Richard: "You ask too many questions," Drogheda said, clearly getting irritable. Still, she answers the best she can. "About once a month, for the last six months. I don't know what deals the other villages have made, since they aren't my problem. They take more food than they leave - we have just enough to not starve, and that's mostly thanks to our hunters."
To Jolis: "You'll know it's over when it gets quiet again. Anyway, there's a couple of rooms upstairs you can stay in. Nothing fancy, but we keep em clean for travelers."
Suddenly, a loud horn echoes outside, cutting the conversation short. Several more sound from different directions. Soon, you hear shouts and laughter, and several pairs of heavy boots on cobblestone. From the window, you can see at least a dozen figures - bugbears, goblins and others - moving through the street and rooting through the crates you saw earlier before loading them into carts.
Then, the door opens again. A bugbear woman in heavy armor steps inside. She has a wicked grin on her scar covered face. The gruesome necklace she wears is made of too many ears to count. Most of the villagers immediately look down and away, but Drogheda stares her down. But despite the half-orc's show of defiance, anyone close can see her shaking.
"Durga! Pour a drink for me!" the bugbear says cheerfully, moving to the bar next to Jolis.
"Your drinks are outside. Go get them," he says flatly.
The woman lets out a bone chilling laugh. "That's what I like about you Durga. A great sense of humor."
The open door now gives the rest of you a better view of the what's happening outside, as well as a look at the dark shadows that pass over the street every few minutes.
Jolis takes a few moments to get a feel for the new vibe in the room.
If we fight her, it could bring more problems to these people than they can handle. 'When in doubt, use that patented Caliean charm'.
Looking at the bugbear out of the corner of eye, Jolis interupts the conversation.
"It's alright, Durga", says the big warrior with a small smile, "I'll pay for the lady's drink, and I'll have another myself, thanks."
Jolis looks into Durga's eyes, as if to say, it's alright. Make her happy so she'll go away.
The big warrior turns slightly toward the bugbear, and nods, "Name's Jolis. What do you go by?"
Following Jolis' lead, Lera lowers her nails and quietly puts Viska under the table. She does not shake or avert her eyes.
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Vitranna simply stays looking out the window at the commotion, but continues to keep the bugbear woman in the corner of her eye as well.
Richard stands up at the sound of the horn blasts. His fight or flight response was being triggered by the sound, but he wasn't sure what to do except stand there. When the bugbear enters, Richard drops his eyes and watches Durga's hands shake. If things went sour, he was sure the villagers were too scared to help. He needed to make sure the armor was hidden well enough.
It didn't take much to pretend he was scared, he was scared. Richard backs up while looking at the bugbear's necklace, and he bumps into the table behind him, and intentionally knocks over some food and ale to the floor. Richard give a quiet apology and heads over to the bar, while Jolis talks to the bugbear.
The investigator looks behind the bar to insure the armor is tucked out of sight. He looks back out the open door, and notices the moving shadow casted by something high up. Richard couldn't very well stick his head outside to see what it is. The scientist sees a bucket of water, a mop, and a rag behind the bar. He grabs them and goes to clean up the mess he made.
It didn't take long. Richard tosses the dirty water out the door. and stares at the pooling water on the cobble stone pavement at the entrance. Slowly as the water settles, the investigator uses it as a mirror to watch the sky for whatever is casting the moving shadow.
Mean in a stone hard to get at stone alcove atop the broken tower, Miya is watching the streets far below, hidden from both sky and road, she had waited still as stone. As the others had been lead to the bar. As a Ninja the craft of concealment was ingrained in her. Her clothing now had the look of the very stone she was within. Ninja clothing, designed to hid form and shape.
She had seen the others heading into a building, then waited until the raiders had come. Watching, counting observing.
Her fox tattoo was keeping watch where she was not looking, in case something got to close.
Grelda glowers at the newcomer. She lets Jolis try his diplomatic tact, but she's ready to step in with a more intimidating approach if the bugbear proves prickly.
The bugbear turns to Jolis as if noticing him for the first time, looking him up and down. "Pretty little man thinks himself a charmer, hm? Alright then. You can call me Grin," she says, showing off rows of pointed teeth to emphasize the name. "You heard him, Durga. My drinks are on him."
Durga grimaces, moving stiffly as he fills two more mugs, never turning his back all the way from Grin. He places both mugs on the bar, and gives Jolis an apprehensive - perhaps warning, look. Grin chuckles slightly at Richard's stumbling before taking a drink. She seems to be buying his timid act.
Outside: From Miya's vantage point, she can see many of the enemy's movements, though her view is still limited. From her position, she can see at least 30 moving from street to street, but the distant horns tell her there are more. They are far from organized, and it would be a compliment to call them undisciplined, but they all seem to know their jobs and move with a purpose. Flying above, goblins riding vultures and other birds shout down instructions and keep an eye on the streets. They pass close by, but don't notice the ninja.
Though Richard and Valeriya's views are more limited, they will manage to see much of the same.
"You can call me Grin," she says, showing off rows of pointed teeth to emphasize the name.
"Lovely", spoke Jolis in a deadpan manner. The big warrior didn't fail to notice the "drinks" comment Grin made.
If that's the game she wants to play, we'll play."As Jolis quickly downs his mug, the big warrior wipes his mouth.
"Ahh! You know what, Durga! You talked me into it. I'll try one of your Jeremy's Brew next, and a double for the lady."
The absalomian gives Durga a quick wink, and turn around in his stool to stretch his legs, while making eye contact with members of his party, hoping they get his meaning.
Vitranna inwardly groans at the godling's attempts to drink a bugbear under the table.
Not good. She has easily 100 pounds on you Jolis!
Lera looks at Jolis, understanding his meaning. She stops looking outside. Her gaze turns to the hapless villagers.
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Richard walks back to the bar and sets the bucket and mop back to where they were. He looks at Jolis, and a gives a side look at Grin. He listens to the godling with incredulity. His face twists up as if to say What the F@ck?!?
Richard couldn't see the end game. With thirty plus warriors and air support under her command, and the villagers so scared that they're more likely to attack us then the bugbears should something go wrong... messing with Grin can only have a bad ending right now. Richard shakes his head with a hard no.
Miya keeps her eyes on the gang, but is also looking for a leader,
who is in charge of this rabble?
Durga cocks an eyebrow at the request, but nods slowly. He pours a drink so dark purple it's nearly black into the two mugs and sets them on the bar. The smell alone is enough to make your headspin. It tastes something like fruit, but any flavor it might have is almost completely overpowered by the burn of alcohol. Grin lifts hers and downs the entire mug in one go before slamming it back on the bar. "Good call, pretty boy. Let's have another."
Lera notices that as Jolis draws Grin's attention, more villagers are willing to brave glances up at her, but not too openly. A few of them whisper conspiratorially, but are either too scared or too smart to act. It's safe to say they're more afraid of Grin than the entire rest of the army combined.
From Miya's perspective, it's difficult to tell who exactly is in charge. Whoever the orders are coming from, they aren't within your line of sight.
Lera shifts so that she cannot be seen through the window or by Grin. Viska ducks under her chair hiding as well. She looks to the villagers and allows some arcane energy to well in her palms. The energy glows a deep purple; even a commoner could see it is clearly arcane. After three seconds, she closes her fingers into a fist and snuffs it out. She puts the pointer finger of her other hand to her lip signalling the villagers to be silent.
After drinking the whole mug down, Jolis lets out a loud, appreciative belch. "Oh! I needed that for weeks! You were right, Durga,", nodding at the orc bartender, "that is an end-of-the-day kind of drink. Two more, same as before", smiled the big warrior.
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And so, the Battle of The Ages began, as human and bugbear fought Constitution to Constitution, mug to mug!
2 down!!
3 down!!
4 down!!!
By the fourth drink, Grin is beginning to show signs that she's feeling the effects, but nowhere near as much as Jolis was hoping. "Less haf anuther round. I's startin to feel like a party."
"Sorry Grin, but that's the last of the good stuff. We had to leave the rest outside for you. I'm sure your boys have already loaded it up."
"Then I'll haf to tell em to unload it. Don't you wan anuther round too, prettyboy?"
Fortunately, before you have to answer, another figure steps into the bar. A young, black-haired, human woman, dressed rather plainly, stands in the doorway, clearly annoyed. "Grin, what's taking so long? Your group is the last one finished. Sound the horn so we can go."
Grin rolls her eyes and turns halfway on the barstool. "Don't be such a stuffy ole bat. Let me haf some fun."
"Jabral is waiting," the newcomer says icily.
Grin's namesake smile falters for the first time since you've seen her. She gets to her feet and unhooks a horn from her belt. "Fine. Let's not keep His Majesty waiting. I'll see you next time Durga."
Grin's namesake smile falters for the first time since you've seen her. She gets to her feet and unhooks a horn from her belt. "Fine. Let's not keep His Majesty waiting. I'll see you next time Durga."
Jolis lets out a long, low belch. "Mai bee necks tim, Grinnyface."
After several attempts to grab his coin purse, the big warrior succeeds and starts pulling out a small handful of gold coins."O key. Let cee", slurs Jolis, "Eye thunk..oo..aboat fiffy guld outta du it, tup inclouded, lut mee now uf thaught wull covor it, Durgy, mi gud frien."
"An eye doughnut now woo dis Jeremy iz, but tall himm two got storted onn maaking morr uf hiz brew. Dat was dee..dee..deel..rully gud, ander I luv himm."
Sneering at the drunkenness portrayed by Jolis and Grin, Vitranna does take the moment to cast a minor detection spell on the two possible enemies, looking to see if they have any magic on them that might tell her more about what they are dealing with here.
As Grin moves outside to start barking orders, the other woman stops to scan the bar briefly, looking for the source of the distraction. Instead, her gaze stops on Lera. She stares for a moment, as if caught off guard. "My, what pretty eyes you have. Get them from your mother?" She moves to take a step forward, but the horn draws her attention away. She smiles, stiff and forced. "A conversation for next time, dearie."
She joins the rest of the mercenaries outside, as more horns sound to answer Grin's and the carriages move out.