Kel
"Yer lookin' at'im. Who'd yer want? Just move aside a step. There's smallfry with big ears and some folks round 'ere don't want to be found so easy and isn't so nice about stopping mouths."
Hobbes
Fortuna nods and turns the cards one by one.
"This is where you've been recently. The Tower. Upright, which means disaster averted. The second one is the Empress. Someone watched over you and helped you. Now the third one is you, and you drew the Fool."
She looks hard at Hobbes. "Don't be insulted. The Fool walks where others won't go, driven by instinct. Instinct is the little dog yapping at his heels in the picture, do you see? The next card is what awaits you and that is hard to read. The Wheel of Fortune. A tricky card, which means you need to be careful - a foolish thing to say to someone who drew the Fool. That Wheel will make the unimportant thing important in ways you don't think."
Fortuna pauses for a moment before touching the last three cards. "These represent what may come. You have to understand this is not exact. If nothing in your present course changes, this may come about, but it isn't certain. I say this in great seriousness because the cards are not simple and I am not you. I can only tell you what may be."
Her warning delivered, she continues, but very quietly, clearly uneasy with what she sees. "The Star says that a hidden thing will be revealed, and the Hermit that you will hide it again. This last card is the Hanged Man. He is the sacrifice you must make."
Fortuna stops. "It's not an easy path you're walking and I don't know where it leads. Trust your instincts little fool. The dog at your heels will guide you."
Kel will take a step closer to the nearist stall pretending to look over the goods. "That's probably the one I'm looking for." "A Dwarf who goes by the name of Barstow." "Need to know where he and his crew gather."
"I prefer my cat." Hobbes says with a slight grin as he shows her his tattoo. "But thank you. You've been most... enlightening." And he leaves the 5gp. He gets up and turns to go. "I am going to see if the matchmaker agrees with you." He says with a wink. Then he leaves the tent to meet up with Kelgan who is waiting outside.
"That went.... about as well as I could expect." Hobbes tells Kelgan. "The road ahead is going to be difficult for me or so the old lady said. But I am to trust in my instincts to see me through." He rolls his eyes and shrugs, "Well, it could have been a lot worse."
"Let's talk to the matchmaker. I want to know how many eligible women are available in this town." Hobbes says to Kelgan with a playful elbowing. "And maybe where they live." He smiles.
Kel
"Barstow? The Jewel's the place. Not seen 'im fer a coupla days."
Hobbes
The matchmaker's stall is partially closed off, presumably so that customers can have a little privacy while discussing their matrimonial requirements. Inside, a young woman waits, writing a list. She looks up as Hobbes enters.
"Good morning. With what may I assist you." She looks him up and down and Hobbes gets the definite impression she's making extensive mental notes.
Streetwise =
Streetwise = 1d20+4
The urchin casts a long glance up at the elf and comes to a decision.
Kel
"Din't like their ways and chopped off their lockpick's hand to make 'is point. Bloodhounds din't like that. They got no time for morals in that crew."
"Thanks for the info, keep and ear out for me." Kel covertly drops 4gp on the ground. "Names Kel, I'll be staying at the Merry Mote."
Kel will then catch up with Hobbs.
Kel
Kel finds Hobbes easily enough. The sorcerer has just entered the matchmaker's establishment.
"Let me have the bottle." Arrika says, and once it's paid for, she finds her way to a table. One with a good view of the place, and where she can keep her back to the wall. Then she leans back and waits for the Jewel to pick up.
"Excuse me, are you the matchmaker?" Hobbes says as he tries to get a 'read' off of her.
Arrika
The Jewel remains empty, and Pritchov looks increasingly uncomfortable.
Hobbes
"Yes. I'm Marja. Sit down and I'll make a few notes. Before we start, are you asking on your own behalf, or for a friend? If it's for a friend, I will need to meet him or her to verify anything you say about them."
"My name is Bartholomew Sebastian Hobbes, but you can just call me Hobbes and I am here for myself." Hobbes nervously chuckles and says, "Sorry, Lady Marja, I've not done this before and I'm a little nervous about it. But it is so hard to meet women of quality in my line of work. I am looking for a wife, a soulmate, a lover, and a friend, all in the same woman." He says as he takes the offered seat. "Can you help me find her? Or what is it that you do exactly?"
Hobbes
"Well, that's unusual. Most of my clients are more interested in whether a potential bride can keep house and brings a decent dowery. You don't look that unpleasing. What is it you do that makes it so hard for you to meet eligble women?"
Marja's interest is picqued, but the noise of horse hooves and shouting from outside puts a stop to her questions.
"Excuse me. I think something's going on."
Arrika and Urlag
Pritchov's unease increases as minutes pass and nobody else comes into the Jewel. Eventually, he nods at Arrika.
"Just popping outside," he says unconvincingly, before doing just that. Urlag has a clear view of a deeply worried half-orc looking up and down the street.
From the marketplace, Urlag can just hear the shouting that has attracted the matchmaker's attention.
"Let's check it out. Sune knows, I've waited this long, I can wait a little longer." Hobbes says as he moves to the entrance of the stall.
Urlag maintains his silent watch.
Kelgan nods at Kel. "So, you have any fun?" Kelgan smiles, but stops when he notices the mysterious event...
A small band of armoured warriors enter the square dragging a suspiciously still sack behind them. The leader halts and bows as another, smaller group in deep purple robes join him.
"Good people of Oreme. There was another attack last night on the outskirts of our town. A marked madman of demonic strength attacked and killed a child of seven. He was captured and destroyed." The leader nods grimly at the sack.
"As is my right and my duty as your protector, I have called upon the Inquisitorial arm of the temple to aid us in our plight. They will root out the source of this evil and purge it from the flesh of our town. Citizens, aid them in their quest. The gates are henceforth closed. Any wishing to pass in or out of our town must submit to a search by the Inquisitors."
The robed figures survey the crowd dourly and ride to the temple where they dismount and disappear.
Dragging the bloodstained sack with them, the warriors and the leader follow them.
A short stunned silence follows and then babble breaks out on all sides.
Kelgan nods at Kel. "So, you have any fun?" Kelgan smiles, but stops when he notices the mysterious event...
"I'm disapointed a bit, I thought thay made matches in there but it's just a dating service."
After the templers leave, "Well great now we're locked in."
Oh, by the way Barsow and Co. hang out at the Jewel and Maltin's son might not be totaly innocent."
Hobbes looks at the matchmaker and asks, "Does that happen often? And who are your "protectors" as they call themselves?"
Marja looks hard at Hobbes. "You're not a local boy, then? That was Sir Beren. He's not so bad, likes hunting, drinking and keeping things simple. I'm not sure about those Inquisitors. I've never seen them before."
"Is just "church law" that he enforces then? Because I couldn't help but notice that those Barstow's Bandits or whatever they call themselves are still very much at large. I saw a poster on my way into town." Hobbes gives Marja a wry smile.
"But whatever, do you want to continue? Because I would like to find out how your process works and what your success rate is. Shall we sit back down and discuss this?" Hobbes holds the door for Marja.
"I think not." Marja looks uneasy.
"I don't want to turn business away, but this new development is disturbing ... I don't think ... I don't think I can give your case the attention it deserves."
Hobbes sighes. "Story of my life. You asked me what I did that prevented me from finding that special someone and this is it. I'm a sorcerer and an adventurer. A sort of "hero for hire", as it were. I didn't really come here for romance, but I thought while I was in town, I could see what you could do for me. I can find my own bedmates easily enough, but I want more. I want someone to come home to. Someone to share my life with and possibly raise some kids with. But you can imagine how hard that can be when you don't know where the next assignment will take you. And how much danger you'll get into once you get there. I thought about finding a fellow adventurer, but that never works out. Maybe we're too alike or something." Hobbes looks out over the marketplace.
"I guess I'll take a look at this and see what I can do. After all, it's what I do. Meddle in the affairs of others." Hobbes laughes. "After the city is reopened and everything back to normal, I'll come back and we'll see what's what." And he turns and shuffles out of the matchmaker's salon. He'll head to the north to check out the clothes and toy stores he saw earlier.
To Hobbes's disappointment, it looks as if the arrival of the Inquisitors has put a temporary stop to trade. Shutters are going up on the permanent booths and the traveling folk in the central area are gathering their belongings.
The urchin child Kel spoke to earlier tugs at his arm and whispers something before vanishing into the flurry of concerned people.
Kel
"Hey what's down this way."
Kel will start heading towards the nearest of the alleys out of the square. Tugging on Kelgan’s shirt and speaking softly, “We should leave now, get Hobb’s attention and follow me out of here”.
Kel gathers his unruly flock and shepherds them as discreetly as possible towards the back alleys of Oreme. Scarcely has the marketplace dropped out of sight behind you, when Taren appears briefly once more.
"Told you I was always around someplace." He jerks a thumb behind him. "Jewel's thataway. Something's off there. S'usually heaving this time of morning and nobody's about. Just a tiefling drinking on her own."
I'll toss him a gold, "Lead on youg sir."
Hobbes sees Kel and Kelgan and moves towards them. "Damn crusaders!" Hobbes curses as he meets up with his companions. "The only thing I got was that the dwarf and his boys like to hang out at some place called the Jewel. It's a bar, I guess. Is that where the others were headed?"
"And that's where we're going now, convenient ain't it".
"Let's go, or we'll miss all the action."
Urlag
You hear familiar voices making their way towards you. At the sound of them, Pritchov gulps and heads back into the Jewel, still completely unaware of your presence.
Urlag detaches himself from the wall he was leaning against and steps out to meet the others. "Glad you found the place," he says quietly. "No sign of our game, yet, but it looks like he's expected. What was the ruckus in the market?"
"Some self-appointed 'protectors' enforcing their own brand of justice. They found someone and took him to the temple for 'punishment'. Also they closed the gates to the city, which closed the market for the day. The headman was called Sir Beren, I believe? At least that is what the matchmaker called him." Hobbes tells Urlag.
"Closed the gates, eh? So the dwarf is trapped in here . . . with us." Urlag grins most unpleasantly.
"That is, IF he was here to begin with. Otherwise, we're trapped in here and he is free to roam the countryside and prey on more merchants."
"What did you and the others find out?" Hobbes asks Urlag.
"He hasn't been seen for a while, could be out of town".
"If they got regular rooms here we should check them out for clues".
"Urlag, you seem to know the lay of the land. How should we handle this? We can come in strong, as a show of force, or we can lay low and hope to surprise them." Hobbes turns to Urlag as he asks.
Urlag rubs his jaw. "I don't think he's in there yet. But Pritchov is expecting him. Last I knew, he doesn't stay here, but does come around. I'm the show-of-force type, but maybe better to surprise him this time."
"Apparently we may leave this 'town' if we subject ourselves to the inquisitors search. As I have nothing to hide this does not bother me...it is the inquisitors that do", says Ava with no lack of disgust in her voice. "I doubt that these 'humans' are being entirely truthful about the situation, a bloody sack is an unidentified body to me. Perhaps we use more discretion to go about our business, as these humans stink of lies more then usual."
"I'll ignore your obvious racism, Ava, because I know that's just part of your PRICKLY personality. I don't mind getting searched either since my cloak is magic and no one but me can get any of my stuff out. (It's like a bag of holding, only better.) But where would we go if we left the city? Nobody knows where he would go outside the city? Did anyone else get any other piece of useful information? I don't want to sit around the Jewel if Barstow can't get in because of this inquistion." Hobbes says to the group. "This sucks."
Then he stops for a second and acts like he is listening to something. "Well, yeah, that's a good idea, Cassie."
He turns to the others.
"Maybe I should pay a visit to the city watch and see what they know. Unless we have some other leads. That might be one of the few places still open."