Paul returns to the inn as soon as errands are finished.
He sees a Nalan and lifts his hand - "Oye; whiskey!"
He nods to Dalvis.
"Thanks - you gave the square word, that's for sure. That Greyaxe guy was a straight arrow all the way," he says with a nod and smile as he swings himself into a chair; picks up the bottle that Nalan has brought over to him and pours himself a glass.
As he drinks takes a drink he looks around the room and notes who else is there...
Once turns to his friends in the room and nods to them and motions them over.
"Well, I got tell you, there was a lot of information I just found..."
"Where to begin, where to begin?"
He sips the whiskey casually and looks around.
”This joint’s kind of slow now, eh?” he says with a small nod as he looks at his companions.
He pulls out a thin wand from his pouch and tosses it on the table, spinning it in small circle. There are strange symbols on it which are clearly aligned to the church of Sarenrae.
”You like it, doc? Here – “ he says tossing the wand to Gii.
”It’s good for what ails you,” he adds with a wink.
The stableboy takes the offered gold coin in recompense for his time and answers and nods, "Thanks, mister", and places the coin in his pocket and walks to the back of the stable to finish his chores.
** spoiler omitted **
Paul glances at Yuki and grins.
"When fancy words fail there's always coin," he says as they head to next joint.
"I will be most vigilant, Paul. Have no fear. Sarenrae will be guiding us all. I will report in if there is anything unusual that I see or hear."
** spoiler omitted **
He nods, holding up the wand, examining it carefully, then looks her in the eye.
"Thanks again, Sister," he says, sliding the wand gingerly into his pouch.
"But don't risk yourself on our count - we'll do what we got to do."
He thinks a moment, glancing away, then glances back at her.
"You're a stand-up lady; I just don't want to see you getting hurt is all."
Then he drops a knee, kisses her holy symbol; stands and heads out to his next order of business...
Gii catches the wand, bringing the ornately-carved wooden stick up to his spectacles for a closer look. "Oh, this will be most helpful. Where did you find it?" the cleric asks, his brows raised.
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"Well, if ye want to sell 'em, come find me", handing back the two daggers.
"Most of my materials I need for my work. We're a small town and we can't be giving away resources to any who ask."
Belak scratches his matted beard.
"I have iron ore, wood and arrowheads. Depending on how much material you want, I can consider making a deal."
"As to the magical stuff, don't have any here. You can try one of Elladas Demos' people. If they like ye, they'll work something out with ye."
Belak shows the two of you about the smithy, "I sell most of my items as soon I make them. Yet, I have these ..."
You see several daggers lying side by side on a wooden bench and two spears propped against the smithy wall.
Shields: 2 light wooden shields, 2 bucklers.
Martial items: axes and picks (light and heavy), 1 composite longbow, 1 composite shortbow, 2 quivers with 10 common arrows in each.
Exotic items: 1 falcata, 1 Dwarven maul axe, 1 Dwarven longaxe, 1 Elven curve blade, a couple of bolas.
Gii catches the wand, bringing the ornately-carved wooden stick up to his spectacles for a closer look. "Oh, this will be most helpful. Where did you find it?" the cleric asks, his brows raised.
Paul pours himself another glass of whiskey and flashes Gii a grin.
"Didn't find it - was a gift; but, uh - don't want to mention names," he says glancing around the room, but the symbol alone should be clear enough...
He drinks the whiskey down and thunks the glass on the table.
"So doc, you're a sharp guy - let me ask you something..." he adds as he leans back comfortably in his chair.
"How many diggers you know come into town to do work on a mine but don't bring picks, shovels, spades, rope, lanterns and so on?"
He glances around the room; his eyes pausing on the bewitching eyes of a certain lass sitting at their table, then he glances back at Gii.
"Oh yeah; while I'm at it, so let's say you're out in the mineshaft and find something; how'd you pull it back to town if it was a bunch of ore? I mean - would you use a mule, donkey, horse - or maybe just stuff a bunch of heavy rocks in your pockets..." he chuckles; his eyes flicking to the door and the dusty window.
His eyes pause a moment as he studies the terrain in the distance through the window, then he turns back to the others.
"I don't reckon that any decent digger would come to do work without tools or pack animals..." he says with a grunt, then looks out the window again, staring at the terrain.
"As I'm thinking on it, this place is goblin-country, right? So I reckon if I was going to travel all the way out to this town I figure that I'd be hauling some blades, bows, guns and so on... On account of the goblin tribes and all..."
He shakes his head, a sardonic grin on his face.
"Ah hell, I mean - if I was walking all the way to this place with no horses, no digging tools, and walking through goblin-country, well... You can bet your bloody ass that I'd at least have more than a dagger a piece, eh?" he says with a grin, then pours another drink and downs it hard, his gaze flicking past Gii to rest on someone else again for few brief moments, then his gaze flicks back to the doctor.
He pours one more glass of the whiskey, looking at the others and grinning a little crookedly.
"Whatta ya say, doc - maybe a little after sundown you want to help me with something?"
He leans in and lifts his glass to Gii in a sort of salute and smiles broadly under flat eyes.
"I got to do a thing..." he says, then downs the rest of the whiskey.
Gii cocks his head at Paul, only vaguely understanding what he's suggesting. "You are correct, it would be foolish to wander around unarmed and unprepared if you were a miner. So it begs the question, what would you do about it?" the Nethian asks as he places his hands palms-down on the table.
Gii cocks his head at Paul, only vaguely understanding what he's suggesting. "You are correct, it would be foolish to wander around unarmed and unprepared if you were a miner."
Paul leans back a little and laughs, then reaches forward and claps Gii on his arm warmly.
"You're gods damned right, doc; you wouldn't do any of that if you were a bloody miner," he says, chuckling a little as he shakes his head with the grin.
"So it begs the question, what would you do about it?" the Nethian asks as he places his hands palms-down on the table.
Paul grins.
"You bet your ass, doc - what the hell do we do about it, eh?" he says; his enthusiasm apparent as he slides the glass over and offers him the whiskey if Gii is interested.
He glances around at the others.
"What do ya'll say; the doc's in - what about the rest of you?" he says glancing at the others.
** spoiler omitted **
Paul’s eyes widen at the goods; especially the ore.
After he is told that Belak does his own work and gets his own stuff his eyes widen appreciatively in respect.
After the goods he looks at Belak and crosses his hands and places the palms flat on his chest and bows to him for his courtesy.
”Minn Þakka, frægiligr Belak af inn Greyaxe skuldalið. Lifa eða deyja með virðing.”
”My thanks, honorable Belak of the Greyaxe family. Live and die with honor.”
He pauses as he examines the various lumps of ore; the rare meals and alloys attracting his attention.
”Well, I reckon actually tracking down and buying the magic supplies for a thing’s up to the others,” he says slowly as he picks up a small bar of metal, studying it with narrowed eyes and whistles tonelessly then puts it back on the table.
He looks up at Belak.
”I’ll take the other stuff – metal and ore – as much as you’re willing to sell… You do discounts on bulk?” he asks as his head cocks to the side, studying the dwarf thoughtfully.
Edit: Post singular, not plural.
"Suppose 's nice to know that even now folks still got manners."
He leads Paul to the back, into his workshop, where his anvil and the rest of his tools of the trade sit. A small wagon sits in the back, a safe distance from the forge, with various hunks of ore.
"I guess it wouldn't fault me much if I let you have say...20 pounds from that there bunch. I haven't graded it, so can speak to it's purity, but I figure you could fashion something of use out of it. I think 6 silver would be fair. I'll even throw in a bag if you like."
** spoiler omitted **
Well, I did use a spoiler, but maybe not for all of the sentences?
Meanwhile, I spent a lot of time on translating the language as I couldn't find an online translator for that language.
I was pretty proud of it, though; it wasn't easy and fairly challenging. But I enjoyed the writing, the effort and the work as a whole.
Anyhow, I'm sorry if the coding was an issue; I'll try to keep that in mind for the future.
** spoiler omitted **
Paul leans back from Gii and looks at the others.
"Oye - listen; me and the doc are going to be doing a thing tonight while ya'll sleep," he says with a glance toward Gii and a grin.
"Some of you don't want to sleep, well, you can come with us - but if you need to sack out, I don't mind that neither..." he says with a grim smile, curious to know what is going on with the others at the table.
He lifts up the bottle of whiskey and offers it to his companions.
"If planning ain't your bag, maybe just some ol' fashioned conversating is what you'd like to do?" he asks curiously.
When Gii failed to be pulled Bart, wrinkled his nose and vanished from the room. Everyone seemed to have their own idea of what they were doing tonight, with Paul being as talkity as ever about his plans, so the lad decided to get what he needed to do done and find a nice place to rest. He found Alar outside waiting right where his bond told him he would, though spotting the lion was difficult until the creature made an effort to be seen. With a grin, Bart walks up to Alar and channels a touch more of his energy, summoning the cold and hot power within to return yet another star in the Lions form to its original strength.
It burned cold in the darkness that slithered around Alar's form, but Bart could tell it had done the job. The lad gives the Lion one last hug, and then sends the creature onto his own dreams, waiting for several moments after Alar had faded from sight. Bart sighed, then returned to the inn. He asked only for some bread, cheese and water, managing to scarf it a loaf and a chunk before disappearing upstairs. By the time Paul got back, Bart was already situated in the room he had been given, looking for a good place to hide for the night. The bed was too obvious and after one incident with thieves...
Gii raises his hands, motioning negatively. "Ooooohhohoh no. Not tonight. Most certainly not tonight. I am exhausted. I asked what you would do, not what we would do. These miners are likely not what they seem, and I am not in any condition to be dealing with them tonight." The Nethian stands, gathering his belongings, and bows to the others. "And on that note, I am going to spend the rest of the evening in prayer. If you have need of me, feel free to come speak to me. But today's events have left me drained and uncertain. I must immerse myself in study to figure this out."
By the time Paul got back, Bart was already situated in the room he had been given, looking for a good place to hide for the night.
Gii raises his hands, motioning negatively. "Ooooohhohoh no. Not tonight. Most certainly not tonight. I am exhausted. I asked what you would do, not what we would do. These miners are likely not what they seem, and I am not in any condition to be dealing with them tonight."
Paul looks at Gii with surprise.
He stands up and claps the priest on his shoulder.
"Fair enough, doc; get your rest, then. But anyhow, it's barely six o'clock, I ain't doing a thing until maybe past sundown - but I reckon if you want to sack out, that's your call."
He sits back down again and stretches out his long legs under the table, watching the rest of the people at the table thoughtfully; curious to know what the others had to say.
|
Ayreth finishes her evening meal as she listens to the information that Paul has gathered. "Thank you, Paul. While we were certain that these 'miners' were not as they claimed, this information confirms that." In an effort to be conciliatory, she offers, "If you need help, I am willing to spend some time under the stars, though I prefer to know what the task is."
She gives a big yawn as she heads to her room
"Im with the doc on this one... a girls needs her rest!"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ayreth finishes her evening meal as she listens to the information that Paul has gathered. "Thank you, Paul. While we were certain that these 'miners' were not as they claimed, this information confirms that." In an effort to be conciliatory, she offers, "If you need help, I am willing to spend some time under the stars, though I prefer to know what the task is."
[dice=Sleeping Stealth (If Applicable)]1d20+16
Gii wakes blearily from a fitful sleep. The troubles of the day before, in addition to the dreams that plagued his sleep, leave him frustrated and not well-rested. The frightful imagery of the dream have him confused and a bit worried, but he brushes it off with little thought.
Despite this uncomfortable awakening, the Nethian pulls himself out of bed to begin his rituals of morning prayer and holy scripture.
The next day arrives sooner than you think, clear, dry and already warming up as predicted by Paul the previous night. You each wake in respective states and begin readying yourself for the day. After morning ablutions and prayers/meditations etc you find yourselves back in the tavern hall ready to break your fast.
Entering the hall, you can see Dalviss sitting at one of the longer tables, coffee mug in his hand, quietly talking to an unknown patron. The tavern is closed for business so you are curious as to who this stranger is and how Dalviss knows him.
Nalan is at the counter, lethargically wiping down the surface. He looks up as you enter, more bleary-eyed than the day before, muttering something beneath his breath.
He responds with a simple curt, "I'll bring you out some coffee and food", before tossing the cloth down onto the bar and moving into the kitchen.
Before he disappears behind the door, he remembers something and adds, "Oh yeah, Dalviss wants to talk -- something to tell you."
Dalviss' crinkled blue eyes were looking red and tired. Seeing you enter the hall, he lifted his hand (the one free of the coffee mug) and waved you over the table.
"Good morning, all! I hope you slept well last night. I can't say my sleep was all that restful. Still, not to worry ... Come, join us. I have someone I'd like to introduce to the party."
Dalviss' smiled -- it was friendly enough but the old adventurer seemed to have the jitters and would occasionally give a wild jolt but would settle down just as readily.
As he sat, Dalviss' peered around the hall and lowered his voice accordingly,
"Another has come in answer to my summons and happily your group grows by one. Let me introduce you to Linndell Rallos. He has much to catch up on even though you have only been in town a day longer than he. Yet, I'm certain you will welcome him and make your own introductions."
Dalviss, cradling the mug in his hand, lifted it and took another sip of his hot, black coffee. "Breakfast won't be long."
Linndell bows his head towards the newcomers. He appears young for an elf, barely an adult. His slender appearance and gear show signs of competence in battle, but not as a warrior.
Good day. My apologies on being late....travel delays are such a bother. Dalviss hasn't been able to tell me anything about the latest happenings, but said that you would bring me up to speed. This....ship as Dalviss calls it, is intriguing. He is not the only one interested in what it is.
Just then, the door of the Mineshaft swung open and in came a pale blonde-haired Halfling. In her hand she held a small bouquet of herbs.
As she moved toward the bar, she noted Dalviss' presence and held the bouquet up in greeting.
"Mornin', Dalviss. Since Leeara's not here, I thought Nalan would like these fresh herbs for the tavern's meals. That lass better hurry up and return. I can't keep picking up her slack -- I'm busy too!"
The Halfling's pale blue eyes travelled around the group, taking in their measure with some suspicion. There were dark circles under her eyes as if she had not slept in days. She pawed at the air for a second.
"Well, I'll head out back then" and with that, the Halfling stepped behind the bar and out through the door leading to the kitchen.
Paul’s eyes flick over the elf casually as he picks up the cup of coffee and takes a quick drink of it, then plunks the now half-empty cup back on the table. A bit suspicious of the newcomer, his gaze flicks to Davlis and he studies the man, checking to confirm with his employer if this stranger is truly on the up-and-up.
When he’s satisfied with Dalvis’s recommendation, he looks back the elf.
”Morning, then,” he says with a nod.
He jerks his chin at an empty chair at the table.
Why don’t you grab a seat. I reckon if we’re going to talk proper and all that then I’d rather do it while we’re all comfortable,” he adds.
Taking another gulp of the steaming coffee he watches the elf.
”Name’s Antairis, but my friends call me Paul,” he says as he tips his hat.
”The boss called you Rallos – What name you prefer to run under?” he asks.
"Well, I'll head out back then" and with that, the Halfling stepped behind the bar and out through the door leading to the kitchen.
As Paul waits for Rallos to talk, he glances at the vanishing Halfling with a studied gaze.
I reckon that this berg don't got enough business to make a lass like that miss so much sleep... Meantime she's pawing at the air like she's got the shakes... That don't sit right...
Paul glances at the elf, then to his mates; confident that they'll bring the newcomer up to speed as soon as they're able to.
He turns to Dalvis -
"Oye, boss - beg pardon, but I got to do a thing," he says as polishes off the coffee and stands up, striding to the kitchen that the Halfling's at with a purpose.
Paul strides to the door of the kitchen and swings it open, his eyes sweeping around the tight confines of the place and resting on the Halfling.
"Morning," he says to her with a nod, his eyes studying her tiny frame, looking for any signs of disease or stress.
If Miss Leera got cursed around here and turned into an animal, then maybe others did too...
"Don't mean to barge in your kitchen or nothing, but I done my share of cooking on the trail and I figured maybe I could lend a hand, if it's alright with you," he says as he glances around the snug room thoughtfully.
"You fix a mean coffee, I'll say that," he says, doing his best to compliment the meal so far; knowing a little bit of Halflings from his time in Cheliax, and recalling at least their pride in their cooking and herb lore.
Thinking of what he remembered of them he holds up his tobacco bag, cocking his head and looks at her.
"Was just about due for a smoke - but I reckoned maybe you got a line on some quality stuff; we can do that maybe after breakfast, though; if you'd like," he says with a friendly nod.
The Halfling turned at the sound of the door swinging open. She peered at the man, her pale-blue eyes scrutinising him and listening without saying a word for a time.
"Mornin' stranger. You have a name? Mine's Sahriah Fastleaf." She continued placing the fresh herb bouquet in a wooden bowl filled with a little water so the leaves wouldn't wilt in the heat.
"This ain't my kitchen, fella. This is Leeara's place. I'll let Nalan know you enjoy his coffee and cookin'. I just bring him fresh herbs -- especially with Leeara gone walkabout."
When he offered her the tobacco, the Halfling shook her head, her long braid swinging back and forth, "Ack, givin' the stuff up. Ain't been sleeping all that well of late. The smell bothers me, now."
A frown line appeared across her forehead.
"Did you want somethin'? Nalan's stepped out to check on the stables and his boy, Tommi. Shouldn't be too long."
Yuki yawns and stretches as she comes down the stairs. It was a good sleep. Seeing a new face hers lights up as she skips to him
"Good morning mister new person! Where you from? What do you do? What's your name?" she bombards him with questions
-Posted with Wayfinder
** spoiler omitted **
He nods.
"Name's Antairis," he says with a nod "Paul Antairis; nice to meet you, Miss Fastleaf," he adds.
He glances around the kitchen for a moment.
"I like good herbs - you do good work bringing quality stuff," he says, then adds - as if it is a sudden thought - "Say, where do you find your herbs - I mean, you know; you got a garden or something, or you trek about in the turf nearby... If you wander for 'em let me know; next time I head out I'll do what I can to maybe find some for you," he says.
The lad was particularly careful, and was damn near certain not a soul spotted him as he made his way down the stairs and out the door to the alley. Once there, he quickly performed the ritual to summon Alar, as he did every morn 'pon waking. The ritual was rather odd for most, should anyone see it. Bart took hold of the amulet around his neck and whispered a word, a name, every few seconds. He did not need the amulet, but using it as a focus made things a little easier for him.. For a minute, shadows gathered around the boy, and motes of light burned into existance, pushing back the darkness for a time before being consumed. As the seconds passed, the motes grew brighter and the shadows more volatile in devouring the light. Each second brought more lights until finally Bart had nearly a dozen and a half of them as bright as any star the size of his fist. They begin to swirl and form, the shadows twisting inside them for a moment before bright, brilliant lines of light connect each of the stars.
A very crude lion shape is formed out of the stars, the darkness serving as a background to what was almost a very life like painting. Then it changed. Near the end of the minute, the crude drawing of stars took on life and definition, grew a mane, and began shifting and moving. Finally the fully realized Alar stepped out of the painting that hung before Bart.
Bartholomew, of course, had not actually created Alar, he had merely created a doorway for the creature to come through. As far as the lad could tell the ritual was necessary to keep Alar on this plane, giving the Lion the chance to adapt as the cold shadows slowly fled, leaving the starry Lion standing before Bart. The two shared a moment, the young man wrapping his arms around Alar's neck, and then the latter vanished into the shadows once more, though Bart could feel him through his connection.
By the time he walked in through the front door, Dalviss was introducing the others to another one of their kind, another guy for hire. Bart wrinkles his nose as he looks at the man for a moment then shrugs his shoulders. "The ship be pretty important to the whole thing I'm thinkin, but there be odda tings we gotta be worryin about too. If we're going to be lettin ya in on them it's gotta be on the road... just ta be safe, ya understand?"
Bart sticks a piece of straw into his mouth as he enters the room, ignoring the fact that he was a child. Bart often did that. Never mind the fact that he had to look up at everyone to speak to them, he seemed to consider himself deserving of the same respect they were.
Linndell grabs a chair and a mug of coffee. He sits down with the rest of the group.
My name is Linndell. I am what some might call a scoundrel, thief or a rogue....but that is a matter of semantics. I have skills that might prove useful in our endeavor to find this ship/fallen star. As for where I am from a city just to the southeast of us. Anything else? It is hard to answer questions before breakfast.
Linndell laughs as he makes his last comment, but appears a bit troubled.
His eyes denote a bit of pain.
She grins
"Much similar to my skill set. By i focus on words rather than physical skills" she gives the newcomer a knowing wink
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ah I see....we are two sides of a coin....very pleased to meet you.
She gives a him a curtsey
"Look forward to working with you"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Antairis, eh? Won't be forgettin' it." Sahriah gave a brisk nod to emphasis the point.
"I usually don't go tellin' strangers such things, but if you must know, I have my own little garden, with the herbs I need for my work. Occasionally, Leeara will bring me a special herb or two, if I've run out. Why you askin'? I need no help finding what I want -- got some skill with the growin' and procurin'." The Halfling gave a short laugh before her face began to twitch and she pawed at the air once again.
Sahriah shook her head as if to settle and clear her mind. The dark circles beneath her eyes stood out all the more.
"Got to be headin' back to my shop. Have to set up for the day. Good day to you, Antairis", and with one last, satisfied look at the herb bouquet in the wooden bowl, she waved at Paul and left the way she came in.
|
|
Just before dawn, the smell of food and coffee begin to fill the air. A vile drink, but its aroma can be enticing. Ayreth stands, stretching the kinks out of her muscles in a very pleasant manner, if there were any observers. She lightly knocks on the door against which she had just been leaning. "Miss, I will remind Dalviss to send breakfast."
Ayreth goes downstairs and finds Mister Crenn sitting with a newcomer. After introductions, she nods her head in greeting. "Mister Rallos, Ayreth, fortune-teller extraordinaire." She performs a showy curtsy, that definitely confirms that she is very feminine.
Aside to Dalviss, "Do not forget breakfast for the guest that arrived yesterday. I imagine she is quite famished."
Linndell bows at the new arrival.
Pleasure to meet you. It seems this is a very eclectic group. I think we will get along fine.....I am sure of it....
His voice trails off as he finishes the last sentence.