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The sun has set and the lamps have been lit. The tavern has become fuller, though this does not seem to have improved the surly barkeep's mood. Having had the ale and food, it's easy to see that it's the girls bringing it and the prices asked for it that draw the crowds of mercenaries, miners, and adventurers to this place, the improbably named Smiling Ass.
It's not hard to imagine he's smiling because the beer is actually his piss.
Snickering donkeys aside, the crowd seems to be typical of a place such as this, full of toughs, brigands, and rogues, some of them being the ones bringing the drinks. For your own reasons and by your own ways, you now find yourselves among them in the town of Redwall nestled in the foothills of the mountains known as The Wall.
Alruc stands against the bar, loosely holding his tankard and scans the crowd. His wide orcish features show a grin, full if tusk, while his well worn armor and equipment show he's not to be trifled with.
"So, what's the word around town? Work to be had, or some mischief to get into? I fins myself short of coin and itching for a bit of exercise."
He addresses the bartender in general, keeping his voice loud enough to be heard across the din of the bar.
Mei had been on the road the past several days. her last job paid well enough, and they didn't ask many questions.
Still trail rations were not the best of meals, and Mei could use a hot meal.
Making her way into the bar, not exactly the best place but she had hoped there would be good food.
Mei was not a very imposing or dangerous looking sort. she carried a spear with its blade wrapped in cloth over her shoulder. her dress was definitely foreign. a simple outfit looking lightly armored, if at all.
she takes a seat and orders a hot meal. leaning her spear against the table.
Bruno sits at a table near the fire with some of the local miners. He's easily taller than all of them and stronger than most. He's also had several drinks and he's busy debating the efficacy of piston-mauls in rock cracking.
Still too espensive! he declares to a squat bull of a miner. You'd need half a dozen men just crafting the Thunderstones to run the things!
Anna is sitting by the bar, her feet swinging steadily and nowhere near the ground. She's come to Redwall in search of work with better coin than that of the army in Ironwall but hasn't had much luck yet.
She perks up she hears an orc standing nearby ask the bartender about work.
"I'm looking for that kind of work, too!" she speaks up. "We should team up! It's harder to get that kind of work alone."
She looks closer at the orc, as tall and imposing and well-armed as one would expect an orc to be, and thinks what a good fighter he must be; no one's ever accused Anna of being either too smart or too wary.
Smiling, I listen to Bruno debating the pros and cons of piston-mauls with a local miner. Wouldn't catch me in a hole playing with rock. I'd get it moving or just let someone else do the work. No use over exerting myself when there are those who will do it so I don't have to. Finishing my drink, I motion yet again to the keep to refill. When he ignores me as he did before, I pour myself another and replace the accoutrements behind the bar. Setting an appropriate amount on the counter, I turn on my chair and look over the room while I imbibe.
Glancing at the fairly large and loud orc asking for work, my interest is piqued further as a human about myself chips in, "I'm looking for that kind of work,too! We should team up! It's harder to get that kind of work alone."
Looks like an interesting duo. Their size is comparative to that of Bruno and I. Obvious what his skills are but I wonder bout her.
I look towards Bruno checking to see if he is still in conversation. I "reach" out and flick his pouch, a previously established signal I need his attention.
Turning back to my observations, I wait for Bruno to finish up before motioning him to come closer. those two I motion towards the orc and human, looking for work. I settle back having said the necessary.
"Oh? Up for a bit of a challenge, eh? Can't say I blame you, this place has seen better days." Alruc eyes the human offering to team up with an appraising glance.
"I'm Alruc Mordred, of the White Clouds. Me and Alruud are looking for riches to gather. How about you?"
Bruno hastily finishes his expert analysis of the other miners opinion and excuses himself to join the conversation. He stands almost as tall and almost as broad as the orc. His darker skin and hair mark him as al-Sunni.
Jyste says you're looking for work. Is none in this joint looking for some pay? Besides those miners there. Marble cutters they are. Surface rats to a man. Their roster's full up.
"Work means pay, in my experience." Alruc offers a hand in greeting to the large human in front of him.
"By your words, I take it you're a miner? Any word of lost shafts, hidden openings to dangerous underground dwellings, or the like? Ranching and roping pay so little, and provide almost minimal danger, you know?"
Bruno takes the hand. I was. I'm more recently retired from the Rock-It pitch. But, unfortunately, I'm not from around here. I could ask around, see if any of the local mines are having issues. I didn't dare before with only Jyste here as backup.
Cao sips his drink at the bar and listens. Funny how these things go. Like iron filings to a magnet.
Having just wrapped up some business himself the the eliciter had stopped in for a drink to contemplate his next steps. Now here was a gaggle of adventuring types looking for work.
Still it was the woman with the spear that caught the elf's eye. Pushing off from the bar Cao moves to the small table off to the side where Mei is sitting and hovers near the young woman, May I join you? I can't help but notice that you are not from around here and perhaps you might like a friendly conversation?
Cao offers a light smile as he gesture to the empty seat.
"My name is Anna Tov." Anna hops off the barstool and reaches up to shake the hands of the large men vigorously. "I used to be a scout in the Ironwall army. We put out bounties sometimes. Maybe Redwall does that too."
No kidding! In from Ironwall too! Worked in the mines up north. Bruno says as an aside, not wanting to truly interrupt the conversation.
Almost as if the six of you beginning to gather was a signal, a herald in gaudy, garishly-colored clothing burst through the door of the tavern with two of the town watch on his heels. The crowd falls silent as the herald clears his throat.
"Good people of the, um must I really say it? oh alright, alright! Good people of the Smiling Ass, by the order of the Baron Redwall, a bounty has been issued for the safe return of his daughter, Lady Loren, and the heads of her captors. Anyone who wishes to claim the bounty must bring the lady to Keep Talios."
The herald looks expectantly at the crowd, only to be met by blank stares.
"Oi! Is dis one o' 'is by 'is bear o' a wife or by one o' 'is mistresses," a loud booming voice calls out, breaking the silence and heralding the roar of laughter that comes from every man and woman in the tavern.
"'Ow many o' his goils does dis make? A half-dozen?"
"Maybe he should be spendin' the money he's payin' for bounties on better guards!"
"Or learn to keep it in his breeches!"
Are only a few of the statements that can be heard over the bedlam. It takes several minutes for the ruckus to die down, mainly because it takes that long for everyone to filter out and find more herald-free places to carouse and have fights in.
Leaving just the six of you.
"Ah! You, good sirs and ladies, look like competent folk! You must be interested in this quest, too! Why this is the most people I've ever had stay to find out all of the details! Please, please, puh-le-e-e-e-ease tell me you'll take it! Puh-le-e-e-e-ease! I can't face the noodles again!" the herald finishes on his knees before Anna, weeping, and almost climbing into the tiny woman's lap. His large, pointed, running nose nearly touching hers.
Oi! Bruno grabs the man by the collar and drags him back away from Anna. Calm down and spit it out already. And by "It" I mean "How Much".
"Who's the girl, who grabbed her, and where are they? Finally, what's the pay?"
Bruno manages to grab the weeping herald, but that only serves to redirect his grasping hands. The short man soon has the much larger Bruno's arm in a python-like hug as he weeps.
"Ye might as well take the job," one of the watchmen says as he leans his spear against the bar and helps himself to some whiskey.
"Aye, otherwise ye'll be hearin' him blubber," the other says as he follows his partner.
"For hours."
"Nay, days."
Bruno puts his palm over the man's face- regardless of the snot from his blubbering- and peeks the pathetic Herald off onto the floor.
We're waiting...
Anna wipes her face on her sleeve as discreetly as possible.
"Is there - er - anyone else we can talk to about the job?"
"I wouldn't do––" the first guard begins, but it's too late, the instant he hits the floor, the herald teleports onto Bruno's leg.
With a sigh, the watchmen, ales in hand, turn to Anna. It's about then that you notice the barkeep has left the nine of you alone in the mostly empty tavern.
"Well, it's like this, Miss. Lady Loren was captured on her way back from a visit to Saphton. The only one of her guards that managed to get away––"
"And there's always one that manages to survive."
"––didn't get a good look at the attackers, only they were short with shrill voices and green skin."
"There's a pool among the watchmen here. Current odds have it as forestkin painted green and speaking in falsetto."
"The bounty is a hundred gold ducats for Lady Loren's return. Another hundred if she's alive. Five hundred more if she's still reasonably sane."
"A hundred more if she's still a virgin."
"And there's gonna a be a pool on which of you deflowers her before you leave the walls if you accept."
"We'll split the winnings with ye if she's still a maiden when you return."
"Only problem is, we haven't a clue where she might have been taken, other than somewhere in the woods about three miles from the gate."
"So, do you want the job?"
The two of them sip at the ale as they wait for your answers.
Bruno thinks about kicking him until he stops moving, but that would just cause problems. Instead he leaves the man to make mud on his dust boots and listens.
Not a bad haul, but split between us...
Bruno shrugs. It's better than sitting around here and dying of boredom.
"Reaching out " I grab a "towel/rag" from behind the bar and once it has moved with in my reach, I "shoot" it to the hand of small lady whom has just been slimed by the now whimpering herald, Edward Blathermost. I move from where I am sitting and take a seat closer to the rest of the group.
I "shoot" the bucket of water kept behind the bar to clean up messes to roughly a foot over the whimpering fool. He momentarily goes quiet as the slop water drenches him. The bucket hits the floor just missing the unfortunate wretch. next drinks on me Bruno I say in a measured calm voice by means of apology. I "grab" the pitcher from behind the counter and float it to the counter with in reach of Bruno. Then taking the appropriate money out and setting it on the bar with the other money not yet collected, I settle back to wait and listen.
"Sounds straight forward enough to me. We ride as soon as possible, grab this girl, slay all the green midgets, and get bags of gold! Let's go!"
Alruc grabs up his shield and slings it over his back, then pounds the remains of his tankard before tossing it to the bar.
He whistles as he moves towards the door, then calls out in Orc: "Alruud, we ride!". A loud whinney replies, along with the jingle of horse tack and saddlebags.
Bruno smiles as the orc leaves. A man of action. I like that. Anyway, Jyste, fellow acquaintances, I'm going to go make sure that Orc comes back in one piece. Who wants to come with?
Anna nods. "Let's do it! No deflowering! Thank you, guards!" She shakes their hands, grabs a rag off the bar to properly clean her face, then follows Alric out.
Grinning, I "send" the pitcher from the floor to the counter. Then see that the money hasn't been touched still. I "grab" half...that's more than enough left for poor service and lack of courtesy. I then gather what I have outside my "pocket" and follow.
Cao sips his drink at the bar and listens. Funny how these things go. Like iron filings to a magnet.
Having just wrapped up some business himself the the eliciter had stopped in for a drink to contemplate his next steps. Now here was a gaggle of adventuring types looking for work.
Still it was the woman with the spear that caught the elf's eye. Pushing off from the bar Cao moves to the small table off to the side where Mei is sitting and hovers near the young woman, May I join you? I can't help but notice that you are not from around here and perhaps you might like a friendly conversation?
Cao offers a light smile as he gesture to the empty seat.
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+12
Mei motions for the elf to have a seat. I am not from around here. she replies to him in a heavy accent. one that most likely cannot be placed to any around here. her facial features are definitely nothing like the common people in these parts.
friendly conversation would be nice. Seems there is some trouble she adds indicating the offer of a bounty. I normally am in the bodyguard business, not so much rescuing.
Cao takes the seat and nods at the revelation that Mei is not "from around here", with a polite smile. As the bounty is offered and chaos ensues Cao finds himself rising from his seat distractedly but still waves after Mei to follow him, Yes yes, be my bodyguard. I'll do the rescuing...we'll...do the rescuing...you keep me alive... The elf ends on his feet half stepping towards the others before he shoots back a smile at Mei, We can discuss your "not from around here" on the road, yes?
Not really waiting, Cao continues to glide to towards the others while starting to half yell back at Mei, Every group needs a kind face to parlay. You never know, we very well might just be able to talk them into giving the poor girl back...
Motioning to Bruno that he will follow the former Rock-It star on the jaunt Cao stops at the door to the inn and looks back at Mei with a smile, Come on. It will be fun!
With that Cao exits to follow after the others...
Mei finishes the last bit of her meal, drops a gold coin on the table and heads out. her spear over her shoulder. As you wish. she says acknowledging her new employer.
We will discuss payment as we travel then.
"Oh Thank you! Thank you very much!"
The hastily formed party leaves the two watchmen and the profusely thankful Edward Blathermost behind and head for the gate. They arrive just as the watch is beginning to close it for the night. It only takes a few minutes for Cao to talk their way through, and soon the party is on the road as the first stars twinkle overhead.
It turns out the two watchmen were indeed correct. You catch a glimpse of a chalkboard with hastily drawn columns and rows on it as you pass the gate house. At the top, you see the phrase "Cherry Popping Pool" scrawled in large letters.
Anna looks up at the night sky. "I don't know how much I'll be able to tell about the crime scene in the dark," she says dubiously.
I say lets get there and make camp outside the area in question. That way we can get a fresh start in the morning.
"Can you not see in the dark? Seems to be a disadvantage in this line of work. How often do missions of derring-do take place out in bright sun? The shadows, the depths, these are the places where real fortunes are made!"
Alruc swings up onto his fine black steed, kitted out for long distance riding or possibly working a range. A long, very sharp lance sits in its cup alongside his stirrup, while bags and straps hold the rest of his gear.
Bruno nods. This is true, but, unfortunately, humans are not gifted with that ability. We might as well be blind in the dark.
horses indeed! why would i trust an annoying thing I have to feed. much better just to jump as we go. That way I don't have to clean or feed anything but myself. I wait, hanging back to the shadows, until everyone has cleared the gates and then "jump" to just outside the walls.
Anna nods at Bruno's statement. "Can your horse can see in the dark?" Anna wants to know of Alruc. "I always got assigned to foot troops, thank goodness; riding would've just been one more thing to learn. I heard of a pair of special goggles to see in the dark for important missions, but I never got to use those.
"I don't have a horse. Will anyone else be walking too? I hope that horse doesn't get too far ahead. It might not be safe further on."
I believe a decent group of us will be walking Cao offers as he motions to himself and checks over his shoulder to see that Mei is indeed following them.
Cao begins to talk in an overe-xaggerated voice, I can see twice as far as any human so when its dark and a human can't see, I can't see twice as well as they can. The arcanakin offers an easy smile to anyone who looks at him as he makes the joke.
"Alruud here cannot see in the dark, but his nose and ears are sharp. I trust him to keep his senses aware for the blind side, and he trusts me to point us in the right direction."
Alruc grasps the lance and makes sure he's ready to seat it and charge at a moment's notice.
"Not to worry about hoofing it along, we'll keep pace and watch out for any threats."
Mei brought up the rear. she is wary of ambush as a true bodyguard should be. the look on her face is of disbelief.
she mutters something in a strange language as the others decide.
Mei is extra vigilant concerning her employer. but the others are no less important.
Jyste seems to bleed into the shadows as he shadows the group. None aware he even left town.
Mei sees nothing but the gloom of the night forest, but that does not sway her from her vigil.
The party spends the next hour moving along the road, the well-worn ruts easy to follow. Nothing of note is found or happens, until they find the spot where the attack must have happened. The stripped corpses of the guardsmen hang from the trees or are skewered on stakes. Scraps of wood and cloth are painted with crude drawings of what can only be goblins defecating on, peeing on, setting fire to, and stabbing humans and elves, made with blood and other less mentionable media. The shattered remains of a carriage lie to the side of the road, along with a couple of trunks that now only hold rags and broken glass.
Even in the gloom of a moonless night, the carnage is plain to see.
Bruno gives a low whistle and carefully picks his way through the scene. He's not sure what exactly he's looking for. Anything that catches the eye.
He draws two medium sized stones from a pouch at his belt and spins them in his large hands.
"Bah. Goblins. Filthy little buggers stole what they could, burned the rest, and peed on the ashes. Be on guard, they're sneaky, tricky blighters. Could be right underfoot and you'd not see them til they stabbed your foot."
Alruc readies his lance and rides in a wide loop around the scene of the destruction.