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As on many evenings, you gather at the Rusty Dragon with friends for some drinks and companionship. The late summer air is balmy and heavy with moisture from the sea, but a cool breeze flutters through the open windows with a promise of coming autumn. Tonight is notable because Sandru and his caravan just returned to Sandpoint earlier today, and he has spend most of the night regaling you with tales from the road - most of them 'enhanced' for better entertainment.
Now near midnight, Sandru stands on the bar, dagger out, as he displays a recent duel he witnessed. Ameiko sits in a chair by the cold fireplace, tuning her samisen as she listens to Sandru with a smile. Sitting nearby, Koya runs her finger around the edge of her wine glass. Shalelu is present as well, but she remains silent in her corner seat by a window, as she usually does.
"And as the rogue falls on his back, hands raised in surrender, the priest's rapier at his neck, he squeals 'Yield! I yield! You can keep the pig!' Sandru ends the tale with a dramatic punchline, throwing the Dragon into a chorus of laughter.
As the laughter begins to die, Koya speaks up. "But which were you, Sandru? The rogue or the pig?" she jokes. Laughter spreads again through the tavern, from Sandru most of all. He jumps down from the bar to kiss Koya on the cheek. "How I've missed you, mother!"
Story finished, the tavern breaks into the din of a dozen conversations, as patrons head to the bar to refill their drinks and others beg off to leave for their beds. You have an opportunity to mingle and reaquaint with friends.
Harlan heads over to Sandru
"Brother, your jokes are always the best, but I think Koya got the best of you this time."
Harlan heads over to Sandru
"Brother, your jokes are always the best, but I think Koya got the best of you this time."
Sandru flashes a toothy smile and rustles Harlan's hair."Little brother! It is good to see you again. I wish you had come with us on the latest outing. The women of Korvosa were... splendid!"
"How is life in Sandpoint? The usual quiet fisherman's hole? I heard that goblins were harrassing the hinterlands again... something about fireworks. We had no trouble coming up from Magnimar."
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Heng chuckles appreciatively at the jests and banter of the bar. He doesn’t drink, but sips water unobtrusively from an opaque cup. Watching the easy exchange between Koya and Sandru, he feels a twinge of jealousy at their natural comfort with each other and regret for his orcish otherness.
He approaches the table as Harlan makes his observation. ”Tata always has the last word, “ he notes fondly. ” We are glad to see you back, Sandru. The journey went well then? Sandpoint is the same as you left it.”
Maeve bustles efficiently about the Dragon, dressed in that provocative manner of barmaids everywhere. She quickly checks in with Ameiko with a smile. "The cooks are starting to clean up in the kitchen for breakfast." Assuming no other special instructions, she leaves it at that and goes over to Heng
"Just wanted to let you know we're about to dump the hot water for tea. Would you like any more before we do?" she asks pleasantly.
"It has been quite here. If the goblins are active again I haven't seen them here."
Nothing exciting has happened here in a long time. Thankfully.
” We are glad to see you back, Sandru. The journey went well then? Sandpoint is the same as you left it.”
Sandru nods, "Very well, indeed. A shorter trip than normal, but a profitable one. We made a bit more coin in Korvosa than expected. Korvosi are fickle buyers, and hard bargainers, but Desna blessed us with a selection of the right goods at the right time. The coin will help pay for some long overdue repairs, and maybe we can get one more trip in before the winter snows come." As he quaffs his ale, you can sense the love of the road exude from the man, though he seems comfortable and content to be home, among family and friends.
Kvalsir downs some ale of his own before commenting. "Aye, and it will allow you to pay your employees, eh Sandru? After all, coin jarls rule by coin, and coin ensures a golden army--but without it, the gold leaves!" He laughs at his own cleverness (or at least what he sees as cleverness) before letting out a large belch.
Ah, these southern lands are not so bad at times--and coin for golden-haired Ulfen, ha! If I cannot go a-viking, then a coin thane I shall remain for now! And this jarl is at least unlikely to get his caravan sunk.
Malnival smiles at the quip from Koya and shakes his head as he walks over to Shalelu. "Wonderful! I can understand why you protect these humans. Their humor is delightful!" He hands her a glass of wine then drinks from his own.
Maeve smiles at Heng's invitation. "Perhaps in a few moments," she says. "At least with the boss' permission."
She makes sure to check over the group and that no one needs anything before grabbing her own ale and taking a seat, grinning like mad. "It has been quiet around here lately. Maybe a bit too much - makes one hope for goblin raid at the worst of it,"
Maeve smiles at Heng's invitation. "Perhaps in a few moments," she says. "At least with the boss' permission."
Ameiko waves you off with a grin, indicating that she's got the bar covered.
"It has been quiet around here lately. Maybe a bit too much - makes one hope for goblin raid at the worst of it,"
Koya puts her wine down carefully, an eye on Maeve. "Be careful what you hope for, young one. Desna smiles and Desna weeps for us, as she decides our fate. But if we mock, Desna always laughs."
"The last time goblins attacked Sandpoint en masse, many lives were taken, and it took the town years to rebuild. A single goblin is naught more than a feral dog - as like to run from you as bite you. But in numbers, goblins get... brave. Unpredictable and savage, a horde of goblins made even dwarven lords of old retreat to their mountain holds!"
"Aye, and it will allow you to pay your employees, eh Sandru? After all, coin jarls rule by coin, and coin ensures a golden army--but without it, the gold leaves!"
Sandru laughs and toasts you with his mug. "Worry not, Kvalsir, salaries for my trusty guardsmen is always covered. There are so few of you, I can scarce afford to be miserly and lose one!"
Malnival smiles at the quip from Koya and shakes his head as he walks over to Shalelu. "Wonderful! I can understand why you protect these humans. Their humor is delightful!" He hands her a glass of wine then drinks from his own.
Shalelu nods her head in thanks and takes a sip of the wine. "For those such as us, it is rare to find those you can call 'family', when you have none of your own." It appears she was about to say more, when her eyes return to the window, peering into the summer night. She seems distracted.
Kvalsir snorts and takes another large drink of ale before toasting Sandru back. "'sright. Quality over numbers--and none are better than the Ulfen!" He glances over to Harlan. "Boy, come and drink. One day soon you will be ready to come with Sandru--then you shall be blooded, and halfway to being a man!" He lets out a hearty laugh before continuing. "Then, we shall have to find you a woman! Perhaps a tame Talish lass!" He laughs at his own "cleverness" once more.
Koya puts her wine down carefully, an eye on Maeve. "Be careful what you hope for, young one. Desna smiles and Desna weeps for us, as she decides our fate. But if we mock, Desna always laughs."
"The last time goblins attacked Sandpoint en masse, many lives were taken, and it took the town years to rebuild. A single goblin is naught more than a feral dog - as like to run from you as bite you. But in numbers, goblins get... brave. Unpredictable and savage, a horde of goblins made even dwarven lords of old retreat to their mountain holds!"
Maeve turns very red as the full insensitivity of her comment hits home. "I'm sorry - I didn't mean - I mean I did but...." She takes a deep breath to calm herself down. "I didn't mean to say that I would want the goblins to attack the town en masse. That might be a shade too interesting even for me."
Parity takes it all in, settling into the comfort if this place he's come to spend do much time in. He listens intently through the conversations offering a small smile for jokes that are clever and turning his head only when he hears a voice he doesn't recognize. It's the exchange between Maeve and Koya that roused him to speak.
"Mother, the intent of her comment cannot be lost though. Sandpoint has grown ... easy ... for us. I, too, feel restless and while I wish not to.return to the pits, I miss the rush of blood and the excitement of merely being alive. Goblins, dragons, or devils on 2 legs ... it matters not. They all represent change, difference, even challenge. I would welcome it too. Goblin horde if it need be. If not.that, then what purpose serve I?"
"Ah, thank you Kvalsir, but I don't think a Talish lass would be quite what my parents had in mind."
Half a man? Is that some kind of...nevermind, the barbarian is obviously drunk.
"Be easy Maeve, none of us thought you were wishing for a goblin attack. All young people such as ourselves wish for excitement. When you get to be an old man like my brother you'll be ready to settle down. Aye Sandru?"
Shalelu nods her head in thanks and takes a sip of the wine. "For those such as us, it is rare to find those you can call 'family', when you have none of your own." It appears she was about to say more, when her eyes return to the window, peering into the summer night. She seems distracted.
Malnival's smile turns into a slight frown as he watches Shalelu turn away. "What troubles you, sister? You are back among your friends now. Rejoice in the time you have with them! They are human after all, their light burns the brightest, if only for a brief time."
"Old man?!? What are you trying to say?" Sandru laughs at Harlan's comment. "The road is my home. If I ever 'settle down', it will be into my grave!"
Koya looks up sharply, and you can see a flicker of concern cross her eyes. As Parity speaks, the old woman nods in acknowlegement, but her gaze is miles away. After a long pause, she replies in a soft voice.
"I, too fell a restlessness in my bones, even one as aged and 'experienecd' as I. Many years have passed since I traveled far, and never beyond Varisia... Korvosa is as far as I've ever gone. I am too old to battle off goblins and dragons, but the song of the world calls to me - to see far off lands and leave my mark there." She passes Sandru a knowing glance.
The caravan master laughs. "Mother, you are far too serious! Now is a time to relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Soon, I will take the road again, and you will come with me... perhaps that will sate your wanderlust."
"What troubles you, sister? You are back among your friends now. Rejoice in the time you have with them! They are human after all, their light burns the brightest, if only for a brief time."
Shalelu's eyes narrow, but she continues looking into the night. "There is a strange scent on the wind. Faint, but..." She looks up at Malnival and gives a smile. "Worry not. I am happy to be among friends once again. Stay, and enjoy the wine and company. I will see you soon." Shalelu takes up her cloak and bow, and nimbly hops out the window and into the night.
"Eh, maybe Sandru has the right of it. Are we too somber and serious this evening? "
Parity adjusts his blindfold, pushes back from his table and moves purposefully through the room, taking the same path he always does, trailing his fingers along the tables and just missing chairs that have been moved away. He stops by Ameiko, not facing her and asks "Ame, would you play that one I favor ... about the pixie and the army of giants? Brandy's Illusion?" He smiles and.moves to the bar for a refill bumping a patron along the way and mumbling an apology.
Malnival slowly waves as Shalelu vanishes into the night."Quel fara mellonamin. Good hunting my friend."
He pulls the window shut, making sure to secure the latch.
50 years of knowing Shalelu and I am still surprised when she decides to depart. Maybe one day it will be I that suddenly leaves, leaving her to watch me disappear into the night.
Malnival turns his eyes back to the others. Listening to their conversation and sipping from his wine glass.
Kvalsir laughs at Harlan's comments and empties his flagon as Sandru responds. "Aye, and nyte ish what I am doing right now... Is gut to hvile between campingvogn vokter, heya?" He turns his attention to Harlan. "And don't worry lillebror, you will be kept shafe on the vei." He tries to take another drink, and frowns as he notices his empty flagon. "Woman, more ale! I have a mighty thirst tonight!"
"I wish I knew the road as well as you Sandru. Perhaps I can join you on your next caravan."
Harlan gazes wistfully out the window, only to see Shalelu exit through it.
"Tell me Malnival, does she always leave that way?"
Maeve smiles brightly at Shalelu gets up to leave. "Hope to see you soon," she says, with quite a bit more sincerity than she might manage for most customers at the tavern.
"Woman, more ale! I have a mighty thirst tonight!"
At this, Maeve looks like she might grouse something out about being on-duty, but a quick glance at Ameiko is all that is needed to convince her to simply stand and sashay towards the bar. For a moment she looks at Sandru, clearly tempted to say something as she returns, but seems to think the better of it for the moment.
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"I am too old to battle off goblins and dragons, but the song of the world calls to me - to see far off lands and leave my mark there."
A slight look of concern passes over Heng's face at Koya's words. "Tata, the thought of the dangers you might face on the road fills me with dread, but I understand the need to find one's place in the world. And besides you have many bold and skilled sons to handle the goblins and dragons."
He smiles and then again looks pensive, "The safety of Sandpoint has been a luxury for me compared to the horrors I experienced in Belkzen. However, I do not believe it is our fate to spend the rest of our days here. I will, of course, accompany you where ever you wish to go."
"Ame, would you play that one I favor ... about the pixie and the army of giants? Brandy's Illusion?"
Ameiko smiles, remembering the song and its ridiculous lyrics. "With pleasure," she says, picking up her samisen and retaking her seat by the hearth. The Dragon settles down as many patrons head out for the night, leaving behind only your core group and a half dozen others. Ameiko plucks a few arpeggios and then starts up a januty melody. Her contralto voice fills the tavern with a tale about a tricky pixie and her rube companions on an ill-fated hunt for a dragon.
Maeve slows a bit to enjoy the melody as she grabs the drink and brings it back to Kalvsir.
Kvalsir nods in approval as he accepts his ale, raising the flagon in thanks, but having the presence of mind (thanks to lessons taught in previous forays to the Rusty Dragon) not to try and pinch Maeve as she leaves. He has a drink before turning to the remnants of his dinner, and begins picking out the bits of meat that still remained after consuming most of his dinner. He lets out a roar of laughter from time to time as the song commences, otherwise content to drink and listen to the others for now.
"Tell me Malnival, does she always leave that way?"
Malnival smiles and shakes his head at Harlan, "Only if there is a window nearby. If one is not available she has been known to disapear in a puff of smoke."
He walks over to the others and leans against the bar as Ameiko begins her song. Tapping his fingers lightly on the counter in time to the beat.
Harlan sits quietly and listens as Ameiko begins to play, losing himself in the moment and gently swaying in time with the song.
Kvalsir laughs at Harlan's comments and empties his flagon as Sandru responds. "Aye, and nyte ish what I am doing right now... Is gut to hvile between campingvogn vokter, heya?"
Sandru laughs heartily, clapping Kvalsir on the shoulder. "The more you drink, the more your Ulfen dialect comes out. I have no idea what you just said!"
A slight look of concern passes over Heng's face at Koya's words. "Tata, the thought of the dangers you might face on the road fills me with dread, but I understand the need to find one's place in the world. And besides you have many bold and skilled sons to handle the goblins and dragons."
Koya shakes her head and smiles. "I'm not as old as all that... these limbs still have some spring yet left in them! I can still walk on my own two feet, and ride a wagon with the best of them."
"Parity is right though, maybe a touch too introspective tonight. Let us enjoy ourselves." She lifts her glass in toast, and settles back to listen as Ameiko begins her song.
Ameiko's song plays lively through the tavern, telling the story of Brandy and her unfortunate companion/victims. It is a funny tale, speaking to the absurdities of mortals, with a moral lesson to never trust fae... or something to that effect. Ameiko sings it with humor as well, changing up her voice to a squeak when singing Brandy's lines.
When the song ends, the Dragon erupts into applause and laughter, brought on by the quick reprise punchline that ends the tune. Ameiko then starts up a slow, somber melody, plucking slowly at her samisen to introduce the epic 'Rains of Cassomir', a tragic tale of treachery and vengeance.
Before she can get more than a few stanzas into the epic, you hear a loud screech of a distressed horse come from the street outside. As Ameiko halts her song, the door to the Rusty Dragon bangs open, and a man stumbles in and falls over the threshold. He is a man, modestly suited in leather armor and a traveler's cloak, but he is noticably burned and blood seeps from several wounds along his legs. His scabbard is empty.
From outside, the horse continues to scream as if in pain.
Parity will cock his head and.move to.the door listening.intently, one hand over his shoulder on his sword hilt. He waves his hand as if shooing people away, whether there is anyone there or not.
"If you'll allow Heng I know a thing or two of the healing arts. My skill with a ladle has often forced me to heal the unlucky recipient of my black bean goat chili."
Kvalsir, stands and lets out a bestial roar. He grabs his spear from its convenient spot leaning against the wall behind him. Hearing the screams from outside, he drunkenly rushes to the entrance of the dragon, clearly ready for a fight despite his lack of armor. "Sandru, klar til kamp! Angrep!" (Translation: Sandru, ready for battle! Attack!)
He has a large grin on his face as he rushes outside, and is clearly looking forward to combat.
Malnival bears the blade of his longsword and moves through the door, careful not to bump Parity, and into the street staying at a distance from Kvalsir's spear. He readies a spell and scans the area looking for a threat.
Perception:
Maeve is shocked at the rather suddenness that her idle wish for 'excitement' was granted. She regains her focus quickly enough, though, as the people around her jump into action. She's not much behind Kvalsir as she makes ready to get into the battle, scanning the street for anything to hit.
The man nods in thanks as Harlan's healing magic washes over him, closing wounds and easing burns. He pushes himself up stiffly.
"We need help! My caravan was just attacked, a mile or so outside the town walls. We were pushing through the night, just passing through a low wood... a bunch of bright flashes blinded me, an explosion hit us. I heard screams and shouts, but my horse bolted - it was all I could do to keep her on the road!"
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As you move outside, you see (or hear, in Partiy's case) the rider's horse bucking and thrashing, screaming in pain. A firey brand, still smoking, seems to be lodged into its saddle. Otherwise, the street is clear, but for some concerned citizens peering from their windows.
Manival begins weaving his sword and empty left hand in an intricate patern chanting words that you hear but canot remember after they are spoken then points at the horse.
-Mage Hand:You point your finger at an object and can lift it and move it at will from a distance. As a move action, you can propel the object as far as 15 feet in any direction, though the spell ends if the distance between you and the object ever exceeds the spell's range.
Noting that the others have the street covered and there is no immediate danger, Parity moves to the man. "Did you see your attackers?"
Maeve takes a few more moments to make sure the street is, in fact, clear, then turns around and heads back into the inn, calling out as she passes. "I'm going out to help, Ameiko. Don't let them leave without me?" She gets into the back to go through her chest. While she hadn't been able to part with everything she took when she left her parent's house, there was just enough for this - a specially tailored suit of studded leather armor, with extra cuts that allow free movement without sacrificing protection. For the moment, the metal components were still polished to a mirror sheen, but she had tried the armor on before. In moments, though, she was changed and ready, wrapping her hands as she left her room.
"All right, I'm ready."
"Rest easy sir, we'll look into it."
Harlan limps outside the Rusty Dragon while Parity questions the man.
"I'm afraid if we're going to hurry I'll either need to start now or find a ride."
Kvalsir growls as he runs outside, blinking in the sunlight. The lack of apparent foes clearly irritates him, and he sourly turns around and growls at the others as they exit the building. "Hvad? Where are the enemies?" As his bloodlust settles, he shakes his head, as if clearing it, and turns to Harlan, ignoring the horse. "Hrrm? Hurry where? Do you know where enemies await, lillebror?"
As he speaks, Kvalsir brandishes his spear, waving it wildly about as if this action in and of itself will help him find something to fight.
Harlan looks up from his spot on the ground.
"Uh...that's a fine spear you have there Kvalsir. The injured man inside said his caravan was attacked less than a mile from the gate. Parity and Heng are talking with him now."
Picking himself up and carefully standing away from the excited Ulfen warrior, Harlan looks around the street for any other injured.