"I am a finder of the lost. Those who must track down lost children or stock seek me out - or governors, who seek justice brought to brigands, murderers and other criminals who flee the law of their land. A bounty is placed, and I find and retrieve them, or ensure that they do not trouble the client again."
Turning Doria into a gentle twirl, he pulls her in again; closer.
"Ah, but that is any other day. For this evening, I do not track and hunt the lost. For I have already found a far greater bounty - tonight I dance with a beautiful woman. What greater prize could I seek?"
Doria blushes at the compliment. "I see lost children aren't the only thing you hunt, Master Jofram."
"Indeed. And what of you and your companions? Do you reside here in Shiv?"
Exhaustion and pain war with the adrenaline of the victory. Though it gets easier to fake when his three friends begin their chant, and Jayse dances a little jig in time with their encouragement with a loose-toothed smile as he backs into his corner.
So engrossed in the moment is he that Ushari's presence and question go unnoticed, but the bone-jarring wash of Ushar's healing does the trick. "Thanks, Ushari. That was needed. The song was beautiful, by the way." He sits, watching the room for a second and he drops his voice and looks down to mask his lip movement, "A skeleton has been watching either you or me for a bit now. Not sure what it's interest is." Then as an after-thought, "And if i speak strangely, just go with it. Please?"
The official part of his job done, he says more quietly. "Now, this rabble would like a show and I'd like to send them home with something memorable. Would you be willing to take on one more warrior - a real challenge for a man of your skills? There's 5 Sovereigns in it for you - standard gladiator rate."
Jayse looks up, once more adopting his foreign speech patterns as he touches his head, "A man came to be crowned, and a man is crowned. Plus, a man seems to think that this snake-faced fighter already was a real challenge for a man's skills." He pauses as he looks over at his three new friends, cheering him on, and his voice picks up a bit to carry to them, "A man will think about this new challenge if the announcer will tell a man who or what this new challenge is, and if an announcer will let a man consult his three beautiful friends before making a decision."
So engrossed in the moment is he that Ushari's presence and question go unnoticed, but the bone-jarring wash of Ushar's healing does the trick. "Thanks, Ushari. That was needed. The song was beautiful, by the way." He sits, watching the room for a second and he drops his voice and looks down to mask his lip movement, "A skeleton has been watching either you or me for a bit now. Not sure what it's interest is." Then as an after-thought, "And if i speak strangely, just go with it. Please?"
Ushari nods tersely at Jayse’s report of the skeleton. Her voice matches his own in softness and intensity, ”Yes, I saw it. He knows of me now.” Jayse has little doubt she is referring to Ursuul..
Her voice raises up and she smiles in appreciation of his compliment, ”Thank you very much, Jayse. I appreciate that!”
Doria looks at Jofram for a long moment before answering...
"We live in Shiv for now, but we move around quite a bit. Our father 'facilitates commerce' and staying in one place can lead to difficulties."
The dandy nods. "Of course! I'm not trying to shanghai you. I don't know if I can 'explain' Vessa-Valdek. Best if you just meet him. Come on..." He leads Jayse through the ring announcing to the milling throng, "I'll return shortly folks, hopefully with one more spectacle for you to bet on!"
The dandy leads Jayse down a narrow service corridor built along the hull of the boat and then out a large door into a small compound that seems to be a blacksmith's and woodworker's shop along with a livery stable. The refreshing cool night air hits the monk agreeably, as they make their way over to where a wagon is being repaired by moonlight.
Jayse immediately understands the dandy's cryptic comments about his would-be opponent. Vessa-Valdek is an odd looking young man - swarthy complexion, rich skin tone, and almond shaped eyes. A faint halo surrounds him and his eyes glow brightly with almost a metallic tinge to them. A distinct feeling of peace washes over Jayse observing the carter at his work. And then he realises what he has missed. Vessa-Valdek is holding the cart up with one hand while replacing a wheel with the other... and he dwarfs the cart. He must be 9' tall.
The dandy says jovially, "Hey, Ves'. I'd like you to meet one of our elite guests, staying on the top floor. Master Jayse, this is Vessa-Valdek. He's our carter, something of a handy-man, and likely the most dangerous defender of our village."
Ves releases the cart gently, straightens up - 9' tall definitely. His laugh is short and clipped, "HA! Think Mr. Bones is more dangerous but thanks."
The massive carter wipes his hands on his smock and offers Jayse a very careful handshake. An odd accent is present but not thick. "Nice to meet, Master Jayse. Are you liking our Inn?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Jayse does his best not to stare as the giant guy shakes his hand. Oh, sure. The six foot strong-man nearly knocked me out, but the ten foot god-child able to single-handedly lift a cart is supposed to be more my speed? Maybe I should be flattered.
His verbal response is - thankfully - far more courteous, "A man is pleased to meet Vessa-Valdek. and thanks Vessa for his politeness. A man is indeed enjoying the inn. An announcer" Jayse indicates the dandy, "was saying Vessa-Valdek sometimes fights in the tavern for sport. Where was Vessa trained to fight?"
Ves looks uncomfortable. "No, I don't fight for sport. Sometimes I spar with martial artists to learn more, understand their style. You know 'spar' - just touches, not strikes? I learned my style from an old woman who met while wandering."
At the mention of a fight, and suspecting why the dandy was introducing the monk now, the giant looks at Jayse keenly. "You are bruised. I can help." He mutters a few words and touches Jayse. Instantly, Jayse's pains lessen to become almost unnoticeable. He looks at the dandy, "You trying to get me in ring again for your silly money games?"
Dandy shrugs, "Just trying to provide some entertainment for the folks, Ves. Well, Jayse, shall we head back in? I think you wanted to consult with some pretty ladies."
Jayse suppresses his instinct to shy away from the big man's hand, then the familiar feel of the healing power washes through his body, removing not only any remaining pain from the fight but the aches of their seafaring travels of the past week.
As he rolls his shoulders, it's obvious he doesn't know what to say, "Uh… a man gives thanks." As he begins to follow the dandy, he looks back once, "A man will find Vessa-Valdek later if he has a chance, and a man can spar?"
Jayse simply waves away the questioning calls, buying time until he can talk to his three friends. "A man returns to his three new friends with a crown!" He hikes his thumb back over his shoulder at the dandy with a scowl, "though now an announcer tries to trick a man into having his face smashed in by a giant man-child outside."
Ves nods. "Yes! You come back and we spar - no audiences and no bettings. Should be fun, heh?"
Back at the table, Lena, Beax and Alladria congratulate the victor with kisses. Some are more chaste and one or two make some promises.
Lena sits back and sips her wine. "You're very good, Jayse. But Vessa would give you troubles, I think. Though the few times he has been convinced to brawl, he went easy on his opponents. He's a sweet man... but I saw him punch an armored ogre in the face and snap its neck. One blow."
It doesn't take long for Jayse, wearing his silver laurel wreath, to be helped upstairs by the three girls. They want to tend to his 'injuries'...
============================================
With the Half-Elven women, Jofram carries on a lively evening of dancing and elvish conversation which eventually gets continued more privately as well...
============================================
Straehan wines and dines Antigone, ever the perfect gentlemen. They take a walk outside for awhile and the romance there gets continued upstairs when Straehan mentions the lovely view of the water from his balcony.
============================================
Ushari's date with Levitan continues until late. She only manages to tear her eyes away from the gorgeous Half-Elf a few times. When she does, she sees a slightly glum look on the face of the man at the bar. He nods politely every time their eyes meet.
Two bottles of really excellent wine later, Ushari gets the Half-Elf upstairs. She's not sure what exactly happened but the dates ends at her door with a few passionate kisses, a promise for another time, and Levitan walking away. Ushari leans against the wall and debates. Not willing to concede defeat yet, she heads back down to the bar. It is quite late and the tavern is nearly empty. Several of the celebrants are sleeping on or under tables. Luckily, the quiet man who has been watching her all evening is still at the bar, nursing a drink, and talking closely with Winsom. They greet her and offer her a chair before Winsom finds some tables that need cleaning on the other end of the tavern.
Ushari brings her charm in talking with the quiet fellow. She learns his name is Eustus and he's a long-time local here. In the dim candle-light she sees a vague halo around the fellow and realises that he isn't fully human. There is a diffuse celestial perfection to his features. She thinks he is probably Aasimar. While he's quiet, Ushari doesn't have to carry the conversation - Eustus is well read, literate, and has a dry wit. He spends a great deal of time talking about her singing, quite impressed with the feelings she manages to convey with tone not just lyrics.
A half bottle of wine later, emboldened by Eustus's manner, she invites him upstairs. He thinks about it while looking at the empty bottle of wine and thinking about how much she was drinking earlier. He asks, with some amusement, if she is sober enough to know what she is saying.
Ushari convinces him that she is as sober as a cleric on Godsday, or maybe he just wants to hear the words... In either case, the stairwell is a blur and she has difficulty opening her door what with all the groping. They tumble into her room.
We will say no more on what happened that night... save what Skitter chose to share.
Lena, Beax, Alladeria - base roll is the highest DC of the group --> DC:22
RESULT: SCORE!
--- Ushari ---
Levitan DC:38 (Way to pick the high maintenance guy)
RESULT: Fail
Eustus DC:18
RESULT: SCORE!
--- Jofram ---
Staria, Doria, Ashifal - base roll is the highest DC of the group --> DC:23
Common Ground?
RESULT: SCORE!
--- Straehan ---
Antigone DC:29
RESULT: SCORE!
I'll email you guys the table I used but here are some interesting bits:
Neivane and Levitan had the highest DCs - 38.
The Tiefling women were DC:33.
Raymor, the guy that looked like Ushari's dead lover, was vain and gay, i.e. DC:32 with a -10 to bag him - so he had, for all intents, a DC of 42.
Skitter watches the activities. If a construct could wince, he would. At one point, he dives off the bedpost onto the floor hoping to stun himself - a temporary reprieve from the assault on his senses inflicted by their biologic imperatives.
He squeaks quietly :: My eyes. MY EYES! ::
The little crab scuttles around. Finding a fork on the floor, he tries to figure out some way to gouge out his mechanical eyes. If only I had opposable thumbs!
Jayse wakes up the next morning to the sound of a plunking cowbell. He is splayed across his bed with three naked, slumbering, women. A second plunk of the bell alerts him to the goat walking around the room, nibbling on a spilled salad on the balcony. He doesn't recall how the goat got in... but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Jayse looks down and sees the silver laurel wreath crowning something else on his body. He does remember that part of the evening. The ladies thought a reward was in order for a particularly fantastic performance. Jayse smiles and lies back to enjoy a few more minutes of well earned rest.
=============================================
It's a curious sensation, thinks Jofram, being spooned by nude women in front and behind you. He enjoys the novelties of the full body contact for awhile longer until things begin to stir. Staria, the delightful girl in front of him, wiggles at the contact and says sleepily, "That's a nice way to wake up..." Jofram obliges her...
=============================================
Ushari awakes and stretches to find an empty, but still warm, bed along with a note.
- Good morning!
Business calls and I didn't have the heart
to wake you. I don't know your plans but
they serve a great breakfast in the tavern.
I'll be there for brunch and I'll hope to
see you there as well.
With affection,
~E
Straehan rolls over to find Antigone dressing quietly in the pre-dawn darkness. He smirks at the girl, "I'm quite sure this isn't about me hogging too much of the bed."
Antigone gives a halting explanation about why she needs to be home before her family wakes up. Straehan waves it off. "I understand what it is to live with a family. I'll walk you home."
After ensuring the delightful girl arrives home safely, Straehan ambles back along the quiet promenade, enjoying the stillness and fog over the harbor. When he gets back to his room, he crawl under the covers for a few more hours of sleep before breakfast.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Jayse lets himself drift in and out of sleep for a while, enjoying the first truly lazy morning he's had in a while. After a time, however, his stomach won't let him lie around any more. With a rumble so loud he is surprised it doesn't wake the girls up, he disentangles himself from the three naked bodies, rolling off the bed and hitting the floor with all the silence he can muster. No reason to wake the girls.
He stands quietly, watching his three lovely ladies for a few minutes as the warm mid-morning sun reaches in through his open door. Alladria still holds his flute, cradling it against her chin as she snores softly. He can only shake his head at the goat as he quietly slips on his pants and slippers, then sets his stone to floating in front of his forehead once more. A quick search reveals a quill and paper, and he leaves a message for his three prizes.
A man has had the best night a man can remember in a long time. A man didn't want to disturb his three beautiful trophies, so a man hopes they will sleep late and linger in his room as long as they wish. A man will also have a bath sent up should his three prizes wish. A man had to get some breakfast. Three with such appetites aroused one in a man as well.
Grabbing his shirt and coin purse off the floor (a feat in itself given the mass destruction they apparently wrought on the room), he laughs quietly once more as the goat looks at him, chewing the remains of some mid-night snack he doesn't remember ordering. Good morning, goat. A man needs eggs.
Whistling a lively little tune, Jayse heads down the stairs towards the common room. As he looks for his friends, he realizes that his appetite is suddenly - and once again inexplicably - gone. So he finds a booth and waits, sipping on water and reliving the fun evening he just had.
Jayse sees the top of a platter of heaped food bouncing along behind the bar. Straehan strolls into view, carrying it on his head. The gnome chews vigorously on a slice of bacon. Seeing Jayse, he heads over and sets the platter on the table. He hops onto a chair and speaks around the bacon.
"Judging by the lazy smile you wear, I take it you had a pleasant evening?"
Untangling himself from the web of limbs and sheets, Jofram goes to the wash basin to splash some water on his face. Poking his head out the window, he peers at the sky, looking for the silhouette of Vaelos high above. He had only a vague memory of sending the eagle up into the night, where he would no doubt find more peace than in the rowdiness that followed. Gathering the cage and placing it again within the bag of holding, Jofram gathers his gear and clothes. Ah, well. He'll find me, then.
As he dresses, Staria peeks at him through slitted eyelids, still drowsy from the night's pursuits. Jofram kisses her hand, and the hand of her sleeping friends in turn. "Ah, my ladies. Such a grand adventure, was last evening. Alas, with the sun comes responsibility, and I must attend to some matters - remain, if you wish, and enjoy the morn. Perhaps luck will send swift end to my chores, and I can return before you must depart, but I fear I can promise nothing. Until next we meet."
Seeing Straehan and Jayse downstairs, Jofram signals a wench for food and joins the duo to break fast. "Gentlemen... well, gentleman and Jayse. Surely nothing respectable came of the evening with that grin."
Ushari stretches like a cat enjoying the feel of the sheets and the memory of last night. She considers the quiet man who shared her body and her bed. For a quiet man, he was full of passion and skill behind closed doors. Something to remember for next time.
She rises and slips into the hot scented bath she ordered. Afterwards, combed and dressed, she heads downstairs to see what her compatriots have been up to (or down to) as the case may be. Skitter leaps onto her shoulder. She joins the breakfast table and sees that everyone seems to be wearing a grin in one form or another...
She says mischievously, "Good morning, gentlemen. Did anyone sleep last night?"
"Ha! I can sleep when I'm dead! There was far too much to... attend to, for sleep." Jofram says in between bites of his plate of sautéed fish, with some unidentified fruits and potatoes.
The sorcerer glances at the cleric. "Sleep? How could I possibly sleep with all that caterwauling coming from your room last night? I know you serve the Gods and whatnot, 'Shari... but must you call on them so fervently and so often?"
He mimics a breathy girl's voice "Oh Gods! OH GODS! "
For a moment, Ushari debates if she was too loud. Then she fires off a retort. "So it's my fault you couldn't coax the same level of excitement from your girl?"
Straehan acknowledges the jab and chuckles. "Or perhaps I'm so good I leave women incapable of speech."
The time comes to settle your bet. You stare at the 2 pots with 20GP in each. You discuss the merits of each target. By the narrowest of margins, Antigone's looks outshone the others giving Straehan the win for the Best Looking individual and the first pot.
The second pot is more hotly contested. Both Jayse and Jofram bagged a threesome and, when compared, neither group was obviously more attractive overall. In the end, it comes down to 'highlights' and Jayse's ladies had the prettiest single woman of either group - Alladeria.
While it isn't a decisive victory, the second pot goes to Jayse. But Jofram seems interested in a rematch at a later date to settle the matter conclusively once and for all.
Contestant | Best | Cumulative Score
Jayse | 9 | 23
Jofram | 8.5 | 23
Ushari | 8 | 8
Straehan | 9.5 | 9.5
As he picks up his winning, Jayse smiles over at Jofram, "Oh, I don't know… a man could be persuaded to compete again." Then he scowls a bit, "… though a man could be happy to leave out the goat."
Another thought occurs to him, "Oh, and anyone seen my good friend Bill? I need to cut him in on his portion of the winnings."
Straehan hitches a thumb at the bartender, "Winsom said that Bill left word for you that he'll be down at the Mako keeping an eye on things."
With no clear objective today and a general laziness felt by all our heroes, brunch becomes a lengthy affair of nibbling, chatting, and ribbing one another. Both Jayse and Jofram's 'friends' avail themselves of the benefits of the penthouse - enjoying baths and snacks. When the gaggle of women eventually trickle downstairs, pleasantries are exchanged. Only the pretty Alladeria seems vaguely uncomfortable or inclined to do 'the walk of shame'. Buoyed by her brazen friends, however, she gives Jayse a small kiss before running off.
As the brunch begins looking threadbare, the final ladies depart with a curtsy to the newly arriving Eustus. Despite his sober mood yesterday, he seems in excellent spirits. He sits near Ushari and seems as interested in her now as he was last night, following her with his eyes, even while speaking with the gentlemen at the table. "So, where are you good folks headed, if you don't mind me asking?"
Ushari finds her gaze undeniably drawn to Eustus. Trying to keep a rising blush off her face (ever mindful of Skitter's glower), she responds, "I was thinking of picking up a few new outfits from that tailor's shop I saw earlier..."
Eustus smiles, "You certainly could get a decent dress at the tailor's shop... but nothing as nice as what you were wearing last night. I'd suggest Orfallen if fine clothes are your desire. But my question was more about where you are traveling; Shiv isn't home to many people."
Ushari returns his smile with one of her own, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "You must not have a lot of experience with women. Everyone knows they cannot have too many clothes!"
Her tone grows more serious and she shares a glance with her companions. "As a matter of fact, we are headed to Orfallen."
Eustus nods. "Hmmm... is your business 'legitimate'? No insult intended. We just get very few visitors here whose business is entirely on the up-and-up. And Orfallen has hazards for... 'entrepreneurs', if you've never been there."
Jayse speaks in an off-hand matter, as if his words aren't even really worth the breath, "Definitely not anything illegitimate, though I don't think any of us are necessarily opposed to opportunities that present themselves. Currently we're mostly after information, some shipwreck way out west of here… possibly some reaver involvement, but we don't have any solid information at this point."
"If information is what you seek, Orfallen is the right place to go. There are a number of good libraries - public and private."
Eustus thinks for a moment before adding, "Normally I shy away from unsolicited advice but if I might impart a word to the wise. If a less-than-legal venture crops up that interests you, be careful. Most of the illicit trade in Orfallen is run by one mob and they don't like people taking their business. They'll want a piece of your action. Cutting them in is less costly than crossing them, particularly if you plan to stay in town for awhile. From what I've heard, they are well-connected and ruthless."
Jayse shrugs, "Good to know. Is there a name to this organization? Or the name of a high profile member or heavy hitter?"
"It is just called 'the Guild', at least by the less savory elements. We've had some Guildsmen pass through. According to them, its leader goes by the name 'Red Boots'. He's kind of a mystery, so they say. Few in the Guild have met him - or her - face-to-face. He works through a variety of odd cut-outs even when issuing orders. You might get a code-phrase and orders from a little girl skipping rope or a peddler with a pack. And whatever the orders are, you better damn well do it."
"They fear him, whoever he is. He's been credited with killing more than a few guild members who got a little curious about his identity, in addition to a number of judges and city guards. Apparently, it doesn't pay to cross Red Boots."
The regally dressed skeleton enters the tavern. The red embers that pass for its eyes scan the room. It spies your lunch group, approaches, and gives a polite half bow. Laying a bony hand on Eustus' shoulder it speaks, jaw unmoving.
"Forgive the intrusion, Eustus... but you have visitors. They seem eager to speak."
Eustus looks up at the skeleton and frowns. "Did I forget an appointment?"
The skeleton shakes its head, "No. They just arrived. They seek a consultation."