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A handsome blonde elf with a wild look in his eyes scans the festivities. He is clad in leather armor and has a throwing axe hanging at each hip and a lute slung across his back.
Maybe we should secure lodging before we do anything else? said a voice in his head.
Nah, too much fun to be had first, Elivain replied a different voice in his head.
And with that, he set off to try some of the free food, chat up some of the lovely women in town, and casually share tales of his "great success as a bardic performer" to ensure lots of performance opportunities while he was in town.
"...and the ladies would swoon and the men would dance. Why, when I'd launch into a heartfelt ballad, even the hardened veterans of war would find tears in their eyes. Oh, help young lady. No, this spot isn't taken, please join me."
Narekk had no idea that this tiny town would be holding such a festival... if he knew, he would have stayed miles away. Not that he did not liked the food or the fun that a festival always brings to the people, he disliked the constant fear and the looks he invariably received. While in battle, he used this fear to his advantage, but among common people it was a burden, an ability that he could not 'turn' off.
Narekk walked among the common folk, looking for some game appropriate for a servant of Gorum. As he walked, the peasants usually got out of his way and those who didn't almost screamed when they finally noticed his fearsome figure.
At least it is easy to walk among this crowd...
He also kept an eye open to the watch... not that he expected any danger... but better to keep an eye on the possible fighters. His thoughts were interrupted by the delicious smell of herbs and roasted pig. Narekk loved pig above all things, in all its forms. He followed the smell until he found its source.
"Good day man. Want some meat..." He watched as the man was cutting a piece for him, too small for his taste. No, no, more generous, I big man from the west, also where I find strong drink?
Narekk puts his hand at his waist, retrieving a gold coin and putting it in the man's hand. He knew the feast was for free, but he did not like the idea of not paying for it. He tasted the meat and roared. "By the Gods, this good! I come back for more! Better to put more boar and pig on the fire, old man!" He laughs warmly, even though his smiles were kind of scary.
In his long coat and had, Tobar is not very indentifiable -- he looks like many of the rural folk who flock into town for the festival. A small sprig of hay sticks out of his mouth, idly worked over in a slow chewing motion, while his eyes flit from one attraction to the next. As children run about a slight smile creases his eyes and mouth. He moves toward one of the carts full of warm rolls of bread and picks one up, spits the weedy hay sprout out of his mouth, and tears the roll in half. One piece disappears into his mouth and he chews slowly as he leans lazily back against a nearby building to observe the festivities.
Marcus strolled around the stalls whistling happily. His eyes are on the stalls and not where he is going he bounces off the huge figure of Narekk. Mumbling he pulls away quickly "Beggin' yaaahr pardon" looking around frantically for a friendly face seeing Tobar chewing on a bun he rushes over. "Tobar is what you? I 'aven't seen yew in ages. What yew up ter deese days?" Flustered he speaks quickly not giving Tobar much of gap to reply "Do yew realize there are Orcs 'ere? Orcs! Next fin' yew know goblins'll walk in an' expect ter be welcomed. Know what I mean?"
Narekk sighs, confused by the way the man speaks.
"I only half-orc, you little rabbit." Narekk looks down the man. "Are you saying I no welcome here?"
"If yes, I challenge you to take me out... if not, we drink."
"Ah, hello, Marcus," Tobar says in a leisurely drawl. "I saw -- strange days, eh? Though remember when th' wainwright got drunk and smashed up the Hagfish last month? I reckon as long as folks aren't bustin' the place up, it's not a big problem, yeh?"
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Small towns. One consistent thing about them is that news travels quickly. Therefore, the whispers about the beastly orc wandering around town quickly reached the tavern where Shadrick was drinking (and bragging with very little basis in reality).
"An orc, eh?" the elf asked. "Perhaps I should look into this," and he stood up from the table enjoying the sounds of admiration from the ladies.
Are we walking into a fight? Elivain asked in a tone that was more concern than worry.
Nah, he's been wandering around town and hasn't hurt anybody yet. He's obviously friendly...or at least not violently inclined...which is pretty much the same thing for an orc. Let's go see if he wants to join us for a drink.
And the elf walked out of the tavern.
It was quick work to find the large form of what the locals were calling an orc. He was...something else. Shadrick wasn't sure quite what, but not orc. Not all orc, anyway. Some locals seemed to be nearby and interacting with him.
He heard the orc say something about a challenge and about drinking.
Our type of fellow!
Your type anyway, muttered Elivain.
Hey, if a barroom brawl breaks out, as they tend to do, you know you want that beastie on our side.
Fair point. And the elf came walking confidently up to the enormous orc-ish character.
"Greetings, big fella," the elf said in a friendly tone. "Looks like we're both new to town. What say you and these fine fellows join me in the tavern over there for a drink?" Then, he added to the "locals," "Maybe you two could tell us a little more about Sandpoint and the festival?"
A small mousy figure in a hooded black cloak threads her way through the crowd of legs around her. From her vantage point amidst the mingling people, she can't see who is speaking on the stage--even children obstruct her view. She darts, weaves, and rubbernecks to make out the placards of the various businesses and market stalls scattered around the square. A few perceptive villagers notice the large black raven flitting from rooftop to rooftop, but no one pays it any mind, or realizes that it follows the same path, only higher up, as the tiny gnome lost in the crowd.
Curse those drunken dolts for staying out all night. And curse me for thinking it would be a good idea to come with them from Korvosa.
Ellizza had arrived the day before with a group of friends and family. Her aim had been to acquire some new arcane learning or items, but even with the festival going on, there was little to discover. Even the iron filings were being sold at a higher price than back in Korvosa. The aim of the rest of her traveling group, mostly gnomes, was to party and to drink, apparently. They were still sleeping it off back in their smelly tent.
Ellizza continues wandering through the crowd, looking for a vendor of anything magical that she may have missed yesterday.
Marcus almost stumbles getting a few paces away from the 'half' orc. regaining his feet "Soz I mean' no offense." Reaching out he offers the orc his hand "I fnk I'd 'ave a be'er chance ov drinkin' yew under da table van takin' yew any uvver way. And quite frankly I would put a large wager on yew fer da drinkin' an' all. Given da choice a drink sounds good. My name is Marcus. Nuff said, yeah?" He smiles apologetically at Tobar and mouths a "Sorry".
Marcus grins at Elf, glad with the distraction "Yaaahr payin' right?"
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"Pretty sure I can manage the first round, at least. My reputation as a great performer has preceded me..."
Or arrived as soon as you opened your lying mouth.
"so I'm pretty sure I can finagle a free drink or four," and the elf flashed a conspiratorial wink at the human.
"So, are the other two of you interested in some comradery, drinking, and possibly a bar fight? Not that we'd start one, but you never know..."
EXCUSE ME!!! Ellizza squeaks, as she is nearly trampled by a group of boisterous tall folk passing near the tavern entrance. She is shocked by the presence of a towering brute with a monstrous visage. What a fright! He seems to be a little more cautious than the rest of this rowdy rabble, at least. Jolted out of her single-minded search, she suddenly becomes aware of her knawing hunger. She dodges a few more oblivious strangers and makes her way into the tavern to find something to eat.
Narekk looks to all the men around him.
Hum... no need to start a fight. These men look quite friendly.
"Right, so we drink then! But better to leave the fight to other day. When things like this happens, guards look at me and attack with no thinking... brawl turns to carnage quickly then... I go front, easy to walk. Oh, name is Narekk Wyrmtongue." Before moving, he bites another piece of his delicious roasted pig, showing a glimpse of his long and wyrm-like tongue.
Narekk moves towards the tavern, taking advantage of his size and 'fear aura' to move around. Almost at the tavern he hears a girl squeaking at his feet.
"Sorry little rat..."
"What's serving for dinner today, please?" Ellizza asks the serving wench. Whatever the answer is, "I'll have a gnome portion please. What's that you say, it's on the house? I'm starting to like this festival after all!" She tips the lass two silvers and manages to find a seat at a dilapidated wooden table. She hopes the food isn't too terrible.
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"Pardon us," the elf offered as somewhat of an afterthought as he and his group nearly trampled a gnome. They then continued into the tavern.
Maybe we should buy that poor dear a drink. Or invite her to join us. She looks lost and alone.
Yeah, let's impress all the ladies by having a burly orc and an adorable little gnome. I don't think you think these things through.
Or maybe I think with other parts of my anatomy... came the response which was ignored as usual.
They made their way to a table and the "orc" introduced himself as Narekk.
"Well met, Narekk, my name's Shadrick," the elf says with a beaming smile, while simultaneously signaling the serving wench for a round for him and his friends.
"As for fights," he continued, "I certainly don't go looking for them, but I'd prefer to have you on my side rather than against me if one did break out, eh fellas?" he said turning to the two locals he'd invited along.
In the back of his very cluttered mind, Shadrick was already writing lyrics to a song about Narekk the Nasty to endear him to the crowd if need be.
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"Many thanks, milady Ameiko. May I say your generosity is matched only by your beauty," says Shadrick, taking her hand and gracing a kiss across the back of it .
"In answer to what brings me to Sandpoint, I'm ever seeking new stages and new audiences. As for my friends here," he says, gesturing across the table and pausing a moment as he realizes that the gnome had joined them at some point, "I've not heard why they've come yet, so I guess we'll learn that news together." And he turns his attention towards his party members, though takes a moment to throw a wink Ameiko's way.
Flirting?
She has a place where we can perform, get food and drink, and rest for the night. Yes. I'm flirting.
"Thank yew an' vank you." raises his mug to Shadrick and Ameiko before drinking.
"I'm just in town fer da party. Well, I did 'ave some business, but I sold aaahr yearlin' sheep dis mornin' an' bought da supplies da farm'll need. So now I'm just 'ere fer da party. Know what I mean?"
Ellizza sat down for only a few minutes before she was confronted by local man who seemed offended by her presence. "Pardon me miss, I'd like to sit by my chums here. I just got up to get me a drink. If you don't mind?" His tone of voice did not leave much room for argument. Ellizza, flustered, gave up her seat and looked around. The only other open seat in the crowded tavern was in the middle of the group with the fearsome-looking character that she had noticed before.
My only other choice is to eat while standing. Maybe they won't pay any attention if I just slip in quietly to sit at that open chair.
Her hopes for anonymity are immediately dashed by the zealous innkeeper's implication that she is a member of the group at the table.
Oh well, they don't seem to be a bad bunch at least. I guess I can introduce myself.
She waits until the fawning elf answers the innkeeper, then addresses the group in general. "Pardon me for intruding, I was only looking for an open seat. My name's Ellizza, from Korvosa."
Tobar tips his hat to Ellizza and says, "Have a seat, little lady. No trouble at all."
Narekk looks at Elizza and smile.
So the little girl out there is a fey... gnome.
"I here to fight, not sure what. This what I do and what I will do until I die. I had fight for the Orcs of Belkzen, for the barons of Ustalav and the men of Nirmathas... any war nearby?"
Narekk tastes the fish and puts a coin in Ameiko's hand.
"Said first on the house... this for the second and third. Good food. Also, how much for a keg of this mead? Bring me one, please." Narekk looks at his new made friends. "You want mead too? If so, we may need another keg..."
Marcus smiles "No problem, but me another drink and I'll call it even."
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Shadrick laughs at Narekk's mention of the potential need for two kegs just for their table and gives hima warm pat on the shoulder saying, "We'll get along just fine, Narekk. Just fine indeed."
Then turning his attention to the gnome, he added, "You're more than welcome to join us, my dear. Always nice to have another lovely face at the table," he says, intending to flatter both the gnome and Ameiko.
Flirting with both? At the same time?
I'm talented.
"Another lovely face?" Whose are the others, the demonic orc's and the yokel farmboy's? Ellizza snickers silently at the thought. Despite the group's polite salutations, she still feels out of place and does not share in their camaraderie. She digs in to her pint-size portion of salmon. Mmm, spicy! Better than I would have expected from this place. She saves a few scraps on the side of her plate to give to Belbagus later on. She can sense him perched on the roof, waiting patiently for her to exit.
Ellizza sighs inwardly as yet another rowdy crew enters the tavern.
As the man hits his head, Narekk stops eating and look to the white faces of his new made friends... he could feel the tension and expectative forming around, waiting for his reaction. He gets up to his full 6 ft and 7 inches of height, puts his giant hand on the man's shoulder and says...
"No problem... just take care next time."
Narekk sits down again and resumes eating, and soon after changes attention back to Shadric.
"What you said...what you said..."
Over a hundred gold for a keg of mead? Is it made of real gold? Narekk looks in his tankard, almost expecting to find a gold coin inside. He starts to use his hands to count... a weird process, since he has only four fingers in each hand.
For the sake of Gorum, this girl is charging over ten times the usual price...
"Hum... never mind then... just keep bringing regular ale..."
He looks around the table.
"So what your story? What you seek?"
Seeing the girl confused herself with the price, Narekk put 10 gold pieces in her hand.
"Need help to bring here?" He asks with a smile in his face.
"Me? Just a local. Work where I can, day to day. Not a man of great ambition," says Tobar.
"Oh, thank you, mylady... You very kind, not sure why...
Narekk wasn't used with anyone being kind to him... Quite the opposite actually.
Everyone else seems to ignore or not to hear the offensive mutterings of the vulgar man, and Ellizza is happy to ignore him as well.
"I have nothing intriguing or mysterious to tell. I traveled with a group of merchant friends--but I am no merchant--to Magnimar, in search of arcane learning. I found little to interest me, and my friends wanted to take a side trip here to Sandpoint to see the festival. They are all unconscious in our camp just across the river, after squandering their profits last night on strong drink. I came along with them because I had nothing else to do, and to continue searching here, among the shops and stalls of the festival. I have not had any luck, and I am growing weary of my journey.
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"Well, perhaps all is not lost in your search for arcane, my dear," Shadrick responds. He then waves Ameiko over.
"Ameiko, our wonderful hostess, I believe my orc friend is ready for another drink, and since you're here anyway, the darling gnome here has expressed an interest in arcane learning. Is there anywhere in town where she could accomplish this goal?"
So, is this your attempt to get rid of the gnome?
Nonsense! We can accompany her and meet more people in town. Being better connected helps increase the odds of performing and of cheaper lodging.
(Sigh) There for a moment I thought you might have had an interest in the arcane learning, or better yet, have felt a moral obligation to help provide protection for the poor gnome who is in danger of being lost and trampled in this festival crowd.
What? Oh. Yes. Those things too.
Tobar rolls his eyes and says to Marcus, "Remember my earlier comment about busting up the place?"
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"Would you like us to restore order, Lady Ameiko?" asks Shadrick, putting his hand on Narekk's shoulder as if to indicate that "us" includes the muscled "orc." He then looks around at the rest of the crew flashing a broad smile as if to encourage them before turning back to Ameiko.
You're dragging them into a barfight?
It'll be fun!
Even for the gnome who's in danger of being trampled even without a barfight?
Shadrick turns back to the group, his eyes settle on the gnome, "Stay close, dear Ellizza, I'll keep you safe."
Tobar leans back in his chair and tips his hat up slightly. He pushes back the sides of his long coat and pulls from its holster a battered, badly-worn flintlock pistol, which he starts to meticulously clean and adjust quite visibly. Any time the brawl looks like it's about to reach their table, he turns hard eyes to the approaching mook.
The little gnome can't help but roll her eyes at Shadrick's offer of help. She may wish she were bigger, but she has learned how to handle herself among the tall folk, as all little people do if they want to survive and thrive in a world dominated by the larger races. Then her eyes grow wider as she notices Tobar flaunting an aged firearm. Now there's a rarity! I wonder if it actually works? It looks more likely to injure him than anyone else.
As the tavern breaks down into chaos, Ellizza sees a chance for some thoroughly gnomish mischief, which breaks through her previously glum mood. "Hazbah cassias metolotreta" she mutters under her breath and points at a nearby table . As the original assailant's back is turned, a full mug of ale flies off the table and hits him in the back of the head. Not hard enough to shatter, unfortunately, but he does get a nice welt and drenched with beer. Several others nearby get slightly splashed as well. The mug clatters to the floor. "Hehehe!!!"
versus DC 14.
Ellizza grins wickedly and winks at the others.
"Enough! Stop with this. NOW!"
Narekk loses his patience and punches the drunk... just to remember he was wearing his cestus.
Crap...
A couple of teeth and blood flies from the man's mouth. Now that the damage is done, Narekk looks around, trying to strike fear is those men hearts.
Tobar looks askance as Narekk wades into the fray with a cestus and commits armed battery, then glances about to see if Sheriff Hemlock happens to be in the establishment.
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Are you going to try to sing our way out of trouble as usual?
But of course!
Shadrick hops on top of the group's table using it as a makeshift stage and pronounces, "Yes, ladies and gentlemen, witness the awesome might and power of Narekk the Nasty!" and he begins singing...
Narekk the nasty
Is large and quite smashy
but he really is
a teddy bear at heart
If he sees there's a threat
well then you'd better bet
that he'll smash
that threat apart
He's the finest of friends
staying true to the end
He'll never let you down
not one speck
He's a hero through and through
and a friend forever true
he's the nasty
orc Narekk"
"How about a round of applause for the hero, ladies and gentlemen. The kindly orc who put and end to drunken violence!"
Narekk is not happy at all with the song, but at least the fight is over and the guards are not escorting him out of town, or even worse, to the jail.
"Thank girl, that was easy, half strength and half drink in mind... hand now half teeth in mouth!"
Narekk comes closer to Shadrick and whispers.
"When I die, if I get known by this song, and not by my deeds, I come back from dead and kill you... slowly."
His face showed that he had no idea how he would come back... but he would for sure.
Ellizza joins in the applause with the rest of the crowd and quickly finishes her meal.
"I'm ready to clear out of here."
She takes with her the bits of food she saved for the raven, and tags along with the others if and when they leave.
Narekk nods to Shadrick, but before he moves he looks at Ameiko.
"I go with them, but latter come back for more drink. You have good stuff lady. Good stuff."
He takes his big mug and drinks all of it, his throat barely moving as the huge amount of liquid flowed into his mouth.
"Now we move... stay close little one, I have plenty of space around me when I move, easier."
Tobar holsters his battered pistol, adjusts his hat, and stands. "Right, off to see the end of the festivities."