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It is morning at the Amber Flame Great Block, for the twentieth day in a row the sky has been pristinely clear, with not a single cloud in the sky. A fact ignored by most of the residents of Amber Flame, who have not watched the sky in months or years, some even having spent their entire lives without ever peering once outside. It is a normal enough morning, everyone just grinding away at their jobs or wandering about the store front of the Great Block.
Alright you all find yourselves at the store front of Amber Flame, so what are you doing?
As always, the first priority of the day for Sid is getting some money to eat and pay for a place to sleep, so he set up "shop" on a stone plinth, putting his healers kit and writer implements in full view.
When he see some possible costumer he start advertising his services.
"You seem to be far from your block. If you want to write a letter home, you will get it for a fair price."
"Good morning good wife, I see you are near the end of your pregnancy. I can help delivering that child, it is always good to have someone with experience near you at that time."
Spotting potential costumers: and
Advertising his services to them
To some know costumer he even offer his magical skills, mostly the mending cantrip, but he is a bit wary of doing that as he don't want to step on teh Guild shoes.
In the meantime he stay on guard for possible danger.
While Sid wait he scan the crowd for interesting people and keep an hear out for any useful information. He don't sell them but he occasionally share them with friends if he think they can profit for them without hurting anyone.
He is a bit distracted: "I swear I have seen a girl with night black hairs with the corner of the eye, but she is nowhere in sight. Pity, she was good looking."
Another day has begun in my search, best get to it, Bennevy thinks to himself as he moves around the stalls. As usual, he concentrates his search in three areas of interest: booksellers, alchemists and hebalists, and finally antique dealers.
He trains his ears to the sounds of the barkers, calling out the names of their wares as he moves through the crowd.
Bennevy moves towards the stall selling potions and elixirs. He gives a nod of greeting to the proprieter, and begins browsing through the bottles and vials.
Ian peruses the folk in the market, looking for those lacking in proper faith.
A small hafling is sweeping up outside the Smiling Goblin Tavern located just down a minor side street. He is wearing a bright cloak of blue and green and the colors seem to clash with his shock of red hair. He greets passers by with their first name and has a word or two with most. You catch that his name is Tomid from their responses. He seems to know most passers and it is obvious that those he speaks to are happy to see the little halfling. He must be genuinely liked. Casual observation does not give away how attentive he is to his surroundings and a study of his behavior might give away that little that passes his side street goes unnoticed by him. And close inspection of his person would reveal that he wears at least one concealed weapon - a small sword not of local design.
Kiriko is heading for the Smiling Goblin Tavern, to sit in a dark corner and to listen if someone has information on profitable targets or even work. While walking she scans her surroundings for threats and oportuintys, always having atleast two planed escape routs. Only the most carefull observer would notice the slight bulges hinting at the hidden weapons all over her body - kniefes, throwing darts and a wakazashi straped to her left forearm.
Down the side street a strapping young fellow with a spring in his step walks into the Smiling Goblin.
This looks like a fine establishment to drum up business.
Upon entering the tavern Ral strides up to the nearest tavern wench and bows low. My dear, a round on me for the bar and a haunch of your finest mutton for myself. Oh and keep my tab open awhile please.
As the mutton is set in front of Ral he looks at it with disappointment. Ohh no this won't do. It needs to be cooked a little longer. No worries my dear I can handle it. falling into himself he conjures a small flame that bursts from the haunch, as if his voice alone had given the flame life. Now blackened, Ral smiles and bites deeply into the meat all the while exsclaming the deliciousness of the meal.
Bennevy sets down the elixir he was scrutinizing, gives a nod to the.proprietor, and moves towards the disturbance.
Fighting bodes ill. I must investigate
Ian rises and moves toward the sounds.
As customers begin to enter the bar Tomid realizes it must be past mid morning already. He stows the broom in a nook that might have been designed to house it, gives a the statue of a green goblin with a tremendous grin on his face that stands by the front door a stiff salute, and enters the bar. He immediately notes Kiriko in her normal booth in the back and nods to acknowledge her. His facial expression just for a moment seems to ask her is all is well before his attention shifts.
Seeing at least one new face in the bar Tomid launches himself into his routine of stellar service. He actually hops up onto the bar and says Good morning sir. Tomid, at your service. He bows so low that his hair almost touches the bar. I see that Matti has already seen to your food. And thanks to your generosity a number of our regulars have a drink. Surly you require something to quench your morning thirst. In addition to beers and wines we have fresh juices of whatever is in season for your health and pleasure. I would be pleased to provide it on the house. And if I might get you anything at all you only need to ask.
He pauses to see what the man might ask for and then continues Might I have the pleasure of your name and your occupation? And from what block you hail from? Before Tomid has the chance to ask even quarter of his customary questions for any new customer the cries of a brawl interrupt him. He looks quite cross for a moment. Oh bother. he says. I guess I had better go and see what is going on. He shoots Kiriko a nod and offers You are welcome to come with me… before he heads out the door.
"What is happening? Maybe someone need help. And hopefully he will even pay for a cure ... "
Sid pick up his backpack, and go to investigate."
Kiriko aknowledges Tomids nod and nods herself telling him, that all is well.
As she notices Tomid launching his routine Kiriko decides to cock her ears, maybe she could pick up something usefull. But before anything usefull is mentioned the talk is interruped by the sounds of a Brawl.
The tiefling girl deides to take the halflings offer and go with him, to see what is going on and if being elswhere would be a good idear(for her and mybe for Tomid).
Sid notice the signs of danger and if he think it is needed he cast Shield of faith.
As he approaches the area of the disturbance, Bennevy scans the area for signs of danger.
Ahh yes sir, my name is Ral'Zen Firebrand and as for my profession that is ....What is that racket?
Taking the halflings offer Ral follows still clutching the mutton.
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Sid, Ral and Kiriko
Bennevy
Ral walks over to the circle gathering around the men.
Looking to the halfling Ral says This is more like home, haha! 5 gold on the scrappier smaller man!
While a few others are as excited in their mirth as Ral, he can see that this is a civilized place and this kind of ruckus will most likely draw the authorities. That is something that worried him deeply. It may be hard to drum up the type of businesses he was used to if guards were present in the district and Ral remembered the all to familiar pain that would be in store if he didn't get the money he owed and get it soon.
He then goes over to the woman to seek some answers as to why the two are fighting. Hello there, May I ask you miss what the commotion here is about?
Ian looks at the fighters, then at Ral.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves. All of you."
He will step forward to attempt to get the two to stop fighting.
Tomid declines the sorcerer's bet, explaining I too am a small scrappy man. It would be like betting against myself. Those noticing Tomid at all might notice that he has dropped his bright blue and green cloak somewhere and now wears grey nondescript clothing that blends in well with other people on the block.
Suspicious of the motives Tomid looks about the crowd trying to see if anyone is working crowd.
Likely he sees none and then gets the idea to work it some himself. Choosing distracted people that he does not recognize as being from the block he begins to borrow things. He tries to minimize his chances by choosing his targets on the edges of the crowd where he is less likely to be seen and more easily to slip into an ally.
Bennevy watches the fight for a moment, trying to determine if it is an organized sparring match, or if it is an actual altercation.
"A fist fight. As long as it is limited to that, there is no reason to interfere. Maybe if someone crack a tooth I can sell a Cure Light wound to fix it."
Kiriko looks around, trying to see if someone is using the fight as a distraction for anything.
and decides to use the distraction to lighten the pockets of those that apear drunk or otherwihese inatentive to their surroundings.
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The woman "Urg, they're always at it, I don't even care anymore"
Bennevy
Tomid
Kiriko
Sid
Ahh well that is all good and we'll but this is causing quite a scene. Perhaps if you were to step in and stop this you could save them a night in jail.
I need to find a way to end this. Serdo will come looking if I don't get that cash soon.
"What are they fighting about?" Bennevy asks the woman.
Sid keep an eye on Tomid and try to keep at a good distance from him.
Calling out a thief isn't always a good idea, especially if you don't know if he is backed by some powerful gang but Sid can hardly afford to lose money.
"Maybe there is some other guy working with him?"
Sid scan the crowd, trying to see if there is some other cutpurse or someone protecting Tomid back.
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Sid
The woman sighs and looks at the fighting me "Don't make me stop you again" she says with a cold voice. The two men look at her with faces that betray their fear and they stop fighting for the time being.
"I'm sorry for the commotion" the woman says to the crowd thats gathered
"Woman. Why are they fighting?"
"You two, on your feat. Tell me what you believe about this world."
and then,
With the fight concluded, Bennevy turns to walk away until he hears the question asked by the man who helped break-up the scuffle.
What do they believe? How much do they know about the cage known as Reality?
He steps closer to hear their answers.
"You two, on your feat. Tell me what you believe about this world."
"Strange words. There is something to learn here!"
Sid try to look incospicuous while listening to the conversation.
Tomid fades into a familiar ally and heads to a certain spot he knows to drop off a few items. Then he moves quickly back to the Smiling Goblin, donning his cloak anew and stepping out to call in business. Watching a fight is thirsty work. He calls. Come to the Goblin and find cool relief.
Seeing some sense to the halflings words. Ral walks over to the group eager to dispatch the scene so that he may resume his hunt for not so honest work.
I have found that these sorts of questions can often be answered by a good brew and a good tavern wench at nights end. Speaking of which, perhaps we should join our halfling patron and begin seeking answers for ourselves.
Kiriko heads back to the Smiling Goblin, making a small detour to deposit a few items for later inspection, to sit in her corner, drinking a fruit-juice and watch the situation unfould.
'reality is just an illusion created by out perception'
Say it. Speak the truth. Bennevy urges silently, as he waits for the second man to elaborate upon his statement.