Shalina had never been so relieved to hear mention of a brothel. Once they were finished here, that would be her next order of business.
She ordered another round of drinks for the dwarves but then excused herself and Tekk. "Thank you all for the good company and the information. If I'm going to talk to Grogun before everyone leaves, I need to track him down sooner than later. All the best to you tomorrow. I hope your trip will be profitable."
The dwarves raise the new round with cheers, 'Darik Stoneclift" The leader says nodding, 'May we meet in dry tunnels!" The gossip had cost her 3 gold, but she didn't have time to haggle.
Together, Tekk and Shalina reluctantly comb the town and surrounding tent city for a cheap flophouse. They find a few, run by Calistrian priests mostly. Tekk clucks disapprovingly like a mother hen. Sadly, even these systems of tents aren't the worst and they are sent to the far corner of the tent encampment.
Here the tents are dirty, ill-kept. Little shacks are set up, using scraps and old wood. The place smells even worse, no one caring about the human waste piling up. Trash and garbage is piled on the crude dirt streets. It would be quite a mess for the locals to clean up after these folks left.
At the edge of camp they find a small cluster of half-rotten tents that seems to be the cheapest, meanest, worst brothel Shalina could imagine. The woman working there have a thin, hungry look. For them this is an act of survival, not an act of devotion like the virtual temples that Calsitra runs.
Passing a rough looking half-orc bouncer bigger then Tekk and her put together, they step inside. It smells like rotten canvas and wet dirt. It is nearly empty, just a rough room, with flaps leading to the rooms. Two men are drinking heavily at a rough table in a corner, arguing loudly about magic.
As they stand there, an older woman steps out from a flap, wearing the bare minimum required. Tekk grumbles but the woman smiles, wanly.
"Help you, miss?" She says, her voice polite but hurried. "We only have women working here, if that is what you are looking for..."
Shalina returns the woman's smile. "I hope that you can help me but not in that way, thank you. I'm actually looking for someone who I was told may be here. Berd Grogun?"
She nods at the name and jerks a thumb over her shoulder, "He is in there." Seeing Tekk's stricken face she shrugs, 'He is decent, if that is what you are worried about. He got dressed quickly." She shouts at the two arguing men, slurringly arguing over what magic they have seen and done.
If they could do half the magic they claim, Shalina would be impressed.
"Thank you. Do we need to pay you to go back there?"
Shalina looks at Tekk. "Can I trust you to behave? Do you want to stay here?"
The drunks are mostly bickering that one guy says he can do amazing spells and the other guy says he is, and quote, 'a damned fool'. Both men are outrageously sloshed.
Tekk looks unhappy. 'I'm not leaving you out of my side. If this Grogun tries something, he'll have to go through me."
Shalina doesn't see much through the threadbare curtain.
Then Tekk adds, looking at the muddy floor, the worn looking woman and the moldy tents. "I doubt the Gods would be upset if we found the owner and made him invest in better surroundings..."
When the woman said nothing to Shalina's question, the bard took out three gold coins and pressed them into the woman's hand. "I understand that you insist we pay for access." She then leans closer and whispers, "Please take the night off. You deserve a rest."
Shalina nods at Tekk, "We could try but I highly doubt the owner would do anything. Sadly, if it costs them money then they won't be interested in changing."
She listens briefly at the curtain before pulling it open. "Mr. Grogun?"
The woman takes the coins, tears at the corner of her eyes. She nods carefully and retreats behind another curtain, vanishing from sight.
"I would not give him the luxury of refusing..." he places a hand on his hilt. Shalina often forgets Tekk is a paladin. Not now.
Shalina pauses but hears nothing but a strange, labored sound of breathing. Wet breathing.
She pulls it open, revealing a squalid little canvas room. The only 'furniture' is a filthy blanket over some old, soggy straw. A man is standing in the corner (the smell of urine fills the room). Grunting, he turns at Shalian's voice, fixing his battered shirt.
At the sight of him, Shalina stops worrying about the smells and dirt. The man's face is a ruin. Fully half of his face is a twisted mass of scars, burns and loose flesh. The skin is a dark shade of purple, as if recently bruised. His eye on that side is gone, lost in a sea of melted flesh. His ear is a gaping black hole, and the eyebrow a broken lump. Half his upper jaw is gone, a lip hanging over missing teeth and broken gums. Even the nose is a gnarled stump, a soft spot in a face with far too many.
The other half is fine, showing a middle-aged man with graying hair, a weather-beaten face. His one eye, a murky brown fixes on Shalina. His breath is a soggy wheeze as one half of his mouth never quite closes.
"Who in the Hells are you?"
Shalina halts somewhat surprised by the man's appearance. Before introducing herself she blurts out, "Baskir's handiwork, I presume?"
"I would assume we have a similar hatred for the man and I'm here so you can tell me everything you know about him."
At the mention of Baskir's name, the good half of the face hardens, growing taut. The other half is past all emotion, and hangs loose and flaccid, a lifeless moonscape.
"Aye, it would be him. He sent a bullet right into my brain." he points a stubby finger at the missing eye. Then he looks Shalina over, "What did he do to you? It looks like you got off clean." His tone is a bit dismissive.
'Reckon, I tell you the best idea I have come up with is to not mess with the gunslinger?"
Shalina's eyes flashed. "Just because you can't see my scars doesn't mean they're not there. He killed my friend so I can honestly say that my heart looks a lot like your face."
"What can you tell me about him? Because he will be messed with."
The man ponders Shalina's words then says, 'He is a hired gun, far as I know. Me and some friends, were were hired by a Taldane noble. Doing some guard work for his daughter, seemed simple enough."
He shook his head. "Middle of the night, me and my best friend Gerk were on duty. Quiet, peaceful even. Then bam, this crazy man kicks open a door and throws a servant into the hall. Head all smashed in. We were young, we froze up."An old sadness enters his voice.
"He turns to me turned to me, grinned that maniac grin, and shot me int he face. Next thing I know, I'm in a temple, being healed. It hurt...like fire had been poured into my socket. And it never stopped, not even now." One finger traces what may have been a cheek.
"I spent years chasing him, in revenge. Didn't learn much. He works for some nasty people, tyrants, evil cults, literal monsters. Anything for a few coins. Some of things I've seen him do..." He sudders and goes on.
"Always works alone, enjoys shooting people in the back, no warning. Fights dirty and enjoys hurting people. A nasty customer in a nasty business. You go against him, you better be bring your best. I've seen better men and women than us gunned down. What else you looking for?"
"Vices, habits, weaknesses. Anything I can use against him. I already know that he's bat crap crazy or sociopathically evil or both."
"Also, my uncle taught me one of the main ways you can hurt someone is to mess with their money. Surely after years of chasing him, you know where he keeps his money. If I fail to take his life, at least I can take his money and make his life miserable."
Shalina paused and then asked as an afterthought, "Why did he attack the Taldane noble's home? Why did the daughter need protecting? Did Baskir take anything?"
Shalina is convinced the man is telling the truth although he might have descended into drunken wastefulness sooner then he indicated.
'Weakness?" The man says, "He isn't as good up close, your sword might be a good weapon." he points a thick finger to Shalina's glaive. 'If you can get close without getting a face full of lead."
"He thinks he is smarter then he is and he can't pass up a chance to cause some destruction. He is disciplined, he can wait for hours, but if he thinks he can get away with some wanton murder...he will.'
'As for money...he keeps it all in an account in the Grand Abadar Bank in Absalom. Good luck getting to it there, money is like religion to those people. But it is there, quite a pile of it."
To Shalina's last question his good half grows sad, even though many years and a hard life. "The daughter was being used as blackmail on the noble to pass some law or other. Baskir kidnapped her. The noble didn't have the influence they thought he did. He left her body in the market square, floating in a fountain."
He shakes himself, 'Now, if that is all I want to go get drunk." He moves as if to shoulder past Shalina and Tekk.
"He's here you know. If you want restitution, you're welcome to help us. If you'd rather get drunk, that's ok too. Your choice."
The man pauses, 'He is here?" A strange mix of fear, anticipation and hate run across his face. 'You want me to come with you?" the man asks, doubtfully.
Tekk puts a hand on Shalina's shoulder and whispers, "This one, really?"
Grogun hears it and says roughly, 'What, because of my face? Too ugly for you, holy man?" His hand scrabbles for a rapier at his belt.
"I don't know where he is but I was told he would be here. I thought you may want to help us, and you know Baskir. Plus I know that someone who is highly motivated often fights like many." Turning to Tekk she says, "He should have the chance to get his justice. How would you feel if someone denied that to you?"
When he starts to pull his rapier out, Shalina holds up her hand. "Now, now...we fight Baskir, not each other."
Berd looks from Shalina's face to Tekk's. He shakes his head slowly. 'You are crazy. You want to go toe to toe with Baskir, after seeing my face? "
He pauses then adds, "It is crazy, really crazy."
Another pauses then, "Do you really mean it? You want me to come with you?"
Shalina looked at Tekk and then back at Berd. "We can't be babysitting you so if you can protect yourself and want to help then you can come." She could see Tekk's disapproving look out of the corner of her eye. "But, there'll be no drinking to excess and no womanizing while you're with us. If you're with us then we need your full focus. Agreed?"
Tekk looks thoroughly displeased.
Berd nods to the 'terms' but adds, a twinkle in his good eye, 'Are we expecting drink and women where we are going? Excluding present company, of course."
He stretches out a hand and, reluctantly, Tekk shakes it. Shalina nods when the paladin draws it back, he wipes it on his tunic, as if it was govered with grease.
The old drunk says, 'So, do we have a plan? If I know Baskir, he already has one."
The shouting in the common room becomes louder, a real drunken argument. Shalina can hear the chairs hitting mud, knocked over.
"I can do it, I swear!"
'No you can't!"
Then Shalina hears a spell cast, although she can't quite tell what it is. Then she hears one of the arguing men curse, stone sober. 'Gods...."
Shalina tried to look stern. "Well considering you were about to get drunk, I just wanted to make sure you understood that that wouldn't be happening tonight."
"Hopefully Baskir just assumes that Tekk and I are dead. If he thinks he's smarter than everyone then he'll assume that we're buried under tons of rock. Plus, he won't be expecting you. But aside from that there is no solid plan, per se."
"Drunk people casting spells, that can't be good."
Assuming that the results weren't good based on the other man's response, Shalina steps into the other room and casts her own spell.
Shalina steps out, quickly casting dispel magic. Whatever the spell was, it is instantly quashed. A bright point of light shimmers and dies, and the two drunk men leave, running into the darkness.
Berd looks impressed, his one good eye squinting, "I wouldn't have pegged you for a wizard. Nicely done." He shrugs, "Where are we meeting tomorrow? Where are you staying?"
It is full night now.
Shalina shakes her head, "Not a wizard. I have some magical talent but I have a feeling that that was lucky."
"Right..." Turning to Tekk she asks, "Where are we staying, again?" Knowing full well they hadn't made any arrangements and it had been too late to do so weeks ago.
Tekk looks a bit confused at the question. Grogun says, "Shall we leave now then? We can beat the rush. A night march is not fun, but maybe we should test each other out anyway? See if I am up to your toughness?"
"There will be hundreds of adventurers setting out tomorrow morning. It would be good to get a head start on them. We'll have to camp regardless so it might as well be away from the masses. Alright, I'm in for a night march. At least I can provide us light." Turning to Tekk she asks, "You in?"
Tekk ponders the mutilated man with a cold eye. His voice is warm though, "Yes. Let's see who breaks down first. I am curious how our new colleague hear holds up, without the prospect of loose women or cheap liquor at the end."
Berd grumbles but one look at Shalina's face quiets him. "Let's go."
Tekk and Berd set a demanding pace. It soon becomes clear both intend to march the other into the ground. The night march becomes a competition and several times they nearly pass Shalina by, who has to wave them back.
Shalina would have bet on the desert worn, battle trained paladin but Berd Grogun is not as soft as he looks. His paunch seems to be muscle and the rest of him seems tough and wiry. Neither gives any pause or rest as they eat up the miles.
Finally they come to a bridge crossing a stream, barring the path. The bridge is wooden, well-kept, obviously some local construction. Shalina pauses at it, as Berd and Tekk try to hide the deep gulps of air they are taking and even in the dark she can see the shining sweat.
From the murk on the bridge she hears a voice, "Greetings. This is a toll bridge." A wide half-orc steps out of the shadows, bearing a metal mace in huge hands.
Berd leans forward, still huffing, and whispers in halina's ear, "Partell, part time adventurer, mostly bandit. Not a nice guy..."
The half-orc smiles and goes on, "Will you pay in gold or..." His eyes travel over Shalina (although she is quite covered up)'Something else?"
'Don't try anything foolish, I have half a dozen archers covering you from the far side."
Shalina whispers back to Berd, "Could he actually have archers across the way?
Shalina's eyes narrow at his suggestive question. "Sorry, you're not my type but I can't speak for the guys." Then she gives him a sickeningly sweet smile and says, "Although if you do allow other payment, I'd gladly pay you with your own blood."
Berd mutters, 'Probably at least a few, if not really half a dozen."
Partell's gray eyes narrow, "You got a cute mouth, save it. The toll is 300 gold. You look like you can afford it. You pay, no problems. You don't, we have trouble. Simple, right?" It is too dark to see across the bridge to where the archers may or may not lie in wait.
"No, not simple...unless you meant you. Guys like you always promise no problems so I do what's agreed upon but then there're still problems." Baskir's face came to Shalina's mind and her anger became palpable. "I need more than just your word because regardless of what I do, I have a feeling there will still be trouble. So why should I part with any money?"
The man shrugs, "If you don't, you have to swim and nasty things live in the river. Not to mention, we may or may not throw some arrows at you to keep things interesting. If you pay, why would I want to fight? I got my money, and for nothing. I wouldn't risk getting hurt, would I?"
"And here I thought the trolls were supposed to live under the bridge." She sighs in exasperation, too tired to care about the money and not really wanting to expend the energy to fight. Obviously if they had left the next morning with everyone else, this wouldn't have been an issue. But then again, there may have been other issues to contend with. She digs in her stuff, knowing Tekk would be ever vigilant in protecting her, and makes a show of digging around to find enough money taking a few minutes to collect it. She then hands it out to the half-orc.
Tekk growls under his breath, "If we run into him again..." But lets Shalina pay. Berd seems to feel the matter was a well-run scam and shrugs.
The half-orc takes the money and grins. Well-pleased he obviously thinks himself quite clever at his little toll bridge. With a elegant bow, he waves them on.
At the far end, Shalina does see two woman with bows watching them. Not quite the half dozen promised, but they do look good with the crossbows, which they keep trained on Shalina's head as they pass.
"Easy. He's not worth wasting more valuable resources than money." Shalina honestly thought he'd change his tune and demand 300 per person and so was happy when he just took his measly amount for the three of them.
Shalina glares at the two women as she passes. They wouldn't have stood a chance with her in a fair fight and she made sure that her face let them know that.
Once they had traveled a fair distance from the bridge Shalina slows their pace. "Maybe we should rest a bit before we get to where we're going. We'll be no good to each other if we're all exhausted."
Both Berd and Tekk object loudly to resting. Then they look at each other, Tekk blushing a bit. 'All right. You want a campfire and all that?" the paladin asks.
Based on their initial reactions, Shalina was doubtful of her own thoughts. "Do either of you know how much further we need to go? Maybe we could press on a little longer."
Even as she spoke, Shalina really didn't want to continue. She wanted to rest. "On third thought, I really need to get some rest. A fire would be nice but it'll also be a beacon for anyone or anything else out here. We'll definitely need to set up watches if we build a fire. I can provide the spark if we can find some wood."
Tekk goes and gathers some brush. There are a few scrubby trees about, in the hilly and rocky landscape. The night is dark and warm, and a million stars hang overhead, twinkling in a variety of colors.
Berd says, in his low, mushy voice, 'You did well at the bridge. It was wise not to fight them." he pauses, as if thinking then adds, 'Thank you for bringing me."
Shalina is awed by the stars above. "That's not something you see in the city." Once Tekk had gathered the kindling, the bard gives her thanks and says the words to light it. "It's warm enough that we probably don't need it but there's something comforting about a fire. Even if it does say, 'here we are.'
Shalina smiles at Berd, "Thanks for the vote of confidence. Ever since meeting Baskir, I've had my doubts about my decision-making. And you don't need to keep thanking us. It seemed natural that someone who hates Baskir as much as we do comes with us. So why were you in Rappan? What were you hoping to find?"
The mutilated man shrugs, "Nothing. Just following the crowds, mostly what I do these days. Get drunk, waste some money. I haven't achieved much these last few years...Hasn't been very productive." his voice trails off.
Tekk soon returns with an armload of dry wood, 'Who is taking first watch?" The paladin asks softly, while piling the kindling.
Shalina could understand Berd's actions. His injury probably alienated everyone who he thought had been a friend yet he didn't know another way of life. "Too much alcohol does have a tendency to get in the way of a lot of things. But I would think it helps to have a purpose. The three of us getting justice against Baskir will be your first step back towards being productive."
At Tekk's question she answers with a small smirk, considering how the men had been acting, "If you and Berd can handle the first two watches - that is if you're not too tired - I'll take the third."
The men notice her tone but are unsure what to do about it. In the end they ignore it. Shalina falls asleep as Berd and Tekk are arguing about who should take watch. Judging from the tone, neither quite trusts the other enough to sleep under their gaze.
Shalina dreams of distant Wait. The glittering dunes rising around the city, the smell of the streets, the feel of her old hairpins as she picked a lock, the taste of her mother's cooking, her uncles' rough but kind voice....Then there is a loud chime that fills her whole being. then, a vast rumbling, shuttering sound......
Shalina wakes up, suddenly all awake. Alla round her the silent darkness of the Mana Wastes stretches. The fire is small and dim to her side. before she can move she hears voices...voices she does not recognize.
'Come on, it is good money." The voice says, low and soft.
"Yeah, it is safe enough. They are all asleep. A quick jab and we can have it all. They look loaded too...." Another voice says, the higher pitched tone of a halfling.
Shalina, eyes barely open, can see a darkened figure on the very edge of the fire. They are talking to Berd, who is sitting up, taking watch. Tekk snores lightly across from the small flames. It is impossible to see his face from this angle.
'Not like we haven't done it before...." Says the strangers's voice.