Scarlet very quickly dashes into the tavern through the back door, past the cook and in front of her friends, while wielding her stick. She kicks dirt as she runs through the back and into the tavern. She notices the bleeding man and Alia's red blade, and the two remaining thugs.
"Heh. I guess you're keeping the sword arm fresh, Alia. Did me and Zokon miss anything?" She does a quick jig.
Luna again attacks the ruffian in front of her, (green)
... not doing much better than she did before... in fact slightly worse... maybe her heart isn't in it, being in cramped indoor surroundings?
Celyne again tries to bop the ruffian on the head with one end of her staff...
She gasps in frustration as she fails to do much to stop the fellow...
Zokon moves 60 but is behind Scarlet
"Heh. I guess you're keeping the sword arm fresh, Alia. Did me and Zokon miss anything?"
Alia stares at Scarlet. Then she stares at Wyne.
"I...thought they had you...I...shouldn't have...", and her gaze moves over to Posh, past Numalar's shocked expression.
"I wanted to protect them!", she exlaims, with somewhat teary eyes, before shouting her frustration at Red and Leaf:"You idiots! This is your fault!"
As Numalar withdraws, the barmaid just behind him, drops her tray and screams "" at the top of her lungs. The rouges withdraw post-haste with another man holding the door open for them to pass through as they go.
"That's a lovely hue of crimson, don't you think?" Faeria says to no one in particular.
"Heh. I guess you're keeping the sword arm fresh, Alia. Did me and Zokon miss anything?"Alia stares at Scarlet. Then she stares at Wyne.
"I...thought they had you...I...shouldn't have...", and her gaze moves over to Posh, past Numalar's shocked expression.
"I wanted to protect them!", she exlaims, with somewhat teary eyes, before shouting her frustration at Red and Leaf:"You idiots! This is your fault!"
Posh takes note of Alia's reaction and nods.
"Our friends are alright, but these poor bastards sure as hell aren't." he states simply, drawing his rapier.
"Are you alright? That was quite brave of you." a strange woman says to Numalar, kneeling beside him, drawing him away from the spilled ale.
Posh puts his weapon away and then turns his gaze to Alia.
"Are you alright?" he steps close for a second, but stops himself remembering the look in her face just then. "I was afraid they were being honest too. I'm glad Scarlet and Zokon are fine." he gives one of his bright smiles as he says this in an attempt to calm her down.
"Again!" Faeria giggles.
Zokon stops when he sees the rest are safe.
"I would advise not chasing them, they were too well prepared, they could have an ambush or a trap setup to catch us in case it went south on them"
Celyne gives a little cry of relief when she no longer has a thug in her face, and reaches out a hand to Luna, gently holding her by the scruff of hte neck to indicate to her NOT to give chase to her prey.
"I'm so glad they left... I was so scared... he was right in my face, and his breath, oh my! He smelled like a sewer. Is everyone alright?"
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the barmaid just behind him, drops her tray and screams "" at the top of her lungs.
"Easy now, lass," Numalar says calmly, to the barmaid and to the rest of the bar. "The elven lady had cause to fear for her life, and for the life of her friend. She acted in self-defense. "
The rouges withdraw post-haste.
"Does anyone know who those men were? What was their problem?"
"Are you alright? That was quite brave of you." a strange woman says to Numalar, kneeling beside him, drawing him away from the spilled ale.
Numalar steps out of the growing puddle of ale and moves over to the bar.
Brave? After that? Is she being sarcastic? Or is she involved somehow? Perhaps she knows who those men were. Should we have been scared?"I thank you, my lady, but all I really did was talk. When we fought a horde of giant spiders out on the plains to the west of here, that might have counted as bravery."
"But forgive me, madam; allow me to introduce myself. I am Numalar Auritonius of Valdralee. And who might you be? Tell me about yourself. And do you happen to know who those men were?"
Numalar listens closely to her answer.
the barmaid just behind him, drops her tray and screams "" at the top of her lungs."Easy now, lass," Numalar says calmly, to the barmaid and to the rest of the bar. "The elven lady had cause to fear for her life, and for the life of her friend. She acted in self-defense. "
The rouges withdraw post-haste."Does anyone know who those men were? What was their problem?"
"I thank you, my lady, but all I really did was talk. When we fought a horde of giant spiders out on the plains to the west of here, that might have counted as bravery."
"But forgive me, madam; allow me to introduce myself. I am Numalar Auritonius of Valdralee. And who might you be? Tell me about yourself. And do you happen to know who those men were?"
Numalar listens closely to her answer.
She makes a low curtsy which somehow puts Numalar at eye-level with her plunging neckline and resplendent baubles. "M'lord, I'm Naleksa Vijic of Varisia. Perhaps we can talk of your battle against the spider hordes over a drink?"
Celyne gives a little cry of relief when she no longer has a thug in her face, and reaches out a hand to Luna, gently holding her by the scruff of hte neck to indicate to her NOT to give chase to her prey.
"I'm so glad they left... I was so scared... he was right in my face, and his breath, oh my! He smelled like a sewer. Is everyone alright?"
"Tell me M'lord Auritonius, do you always travel in such beautiful and exotic company?"
After about three straight shots , the barmaid seems to calm down. A number of diners make to leave--for quieter taprooms you'd guess.
Zokon will approach red sheathing his sword and drawing his sap,
I'd answer my questions peacefully if I was you before you commit a crime.
Red nods in the affirmative.
** spoiler omitted **
Posh decides to walk off silently, attempting to not be noticed as he walks over to someone near the kitchen.
"Sorry... so sorry... They scared me... I sent Luna after one... they shouldn't have sneaked up on us." Celyne says in a small voice.
To the party, those who are still close by her, she adds, "Maybe I should leave with Luna... go to a room or something...?"
"Sorry... so sorry... They scared me... I sent Luna after one... they shouldn't have sneaked up on us." Celyne says in a small voice.
"Get them a round over at that table." says the barkeep pointing at your table.
Scarlet sees one of the thugs leave, and laughs to herself. Ha! Like he could outrun me. I'll chase him all over this city-
She comes to her senses as she sees Celyne scared out of her wits, Zokon holding the red thug, and Alia, half in tears.
Calm it, Scarlet. Not here. Too public. Need more answers.
Scarlet stops fidgeting and stretches. Her skin turns deep red briefly, and the area around her heats up as she exhausts her innate rage. She stops to catch her breath.
"What did they..." She wipes her mouth, "Try to do to you?" She turns to Alia.
She moves to pin the remaining thug against the wall. "What did you tell her?"
Scarlet hears the bartender say something, but she's not really paying attention.
She moves to pin the remaining thug against the wall. "What did you tell her?"
"That things would be tough if they didn't answer us straight like." Red blathers.
"Why did your men outside attack us? I get the impression that you wanted something from us? What was it? Or why were you here?
"We're keepin' tabs on Mung, the baker. Your friend there was talkin' wit 'im this afternoon and then you all hightailed it to the Magister's office--it looked bad from our angle. Tha's all I swear!" Red says.
** spoiler omitted **
A mix of feelings surge though Posh at that moment. Part of him was glad to see someone so dear to his heart alive again, but he turned pale as he was afraid what this might mean for him or even the rest of the party. Especially Celyne or Alia. He puts his hand to his rapier and lowers his voice, deciding not to take a step towards her or into the kitchen.
"What are you doing here? How did you survive?" he keeps looking to his sides, afraid she might have brought someone with her. "What are you and the old hag planning?"
"If that is the truth then you really decided to try intimidate a well armed group of travellers who just handed in bandits for a bounty. All because we talked to an overly chatty pie seller?"
"Keep talkin' boy." Scarlet keeps her gaze fixed on Red, her hand gripped on the stick. Cause if she didn't grip that, she would reach for her swords.
Posh puts his weapon away and then turns his gaze to Alia.
"Are you alright?" he steps close for a second, but stops himself remembering the look in her face just then. "I was afraid they were being honest too. I'm glad Scarlet and Zokon are fine." he gives one of his bright smiles as he says this in an attempt to calm her down.
"I...am fine. Thank you. I just...i knew this was a rough land...but...I am not used to death." Not ones caused by me, at least...with the archer at the bandit camp, it was him or me...this guy?...whole different story...
Alia fails to register the Bar Maids reaction, instead staring at her comrades, Red, and Wyne, then repeatedly wipes her blade clean in a meditative trance before resheathing it."What did they..." She wipes her mouth, "Try to do to you?" She turns to Alia.
She moves to pin the remaining thug against the wall. "What did you tell her?"
When Scarlet addresses her, Alia is pulled back from her trance:"He...they implied that they already had you, that something terrible could happen to you if we don't cooperate. I wanted to check on you, since Zokon mentioned you'd be just outside, but when I stood up, he tried to knock me out. I feared for you, and stabbed him...he must not have expected that, he didn't even try to dodge."
When Celyne suggests to move Luna to a room, Alia quickly looks around, to find Posh gone and Numalar flirting with a strange woman...and addresses Zokon:"Can you get me out of here? You know this place, do you not? I only defended myself, but I have no trust in the justice system of this town. They seem too eager to hang people to look at all the facts..."
Posh puts his weapon away and then turns his gaze to Alia.
"Are you alright?" he steps close for a second, but stops himself remembering the look in her face just then. "I was afraid they were being honest too. I'm glad Scarlet and Zokon are fine." he gives one of his bright smiles as he says this in an attempt to calm her down."I...am fine. Thank you. I just...i knew this was a rough land...but...I am not used to death." Not ones caused by me, at least...with the archer at the bandit camp, it was him or me...this guy?...whole different story...
Alia fails to register the Bar Maids reaction, instead staring at her comrades, Red, and Wyne, then repeatedly wipes her blade clean in a meditative trance before resheathing it.
Posh nods his head as he understands.
"I know. I almost lost control myself, but our friends are fine." he states, reaching up as high as he can on his toes to try and tap her on the back in a comforting way. He stops for a moment as someone grabs his attention and he silently leaves her behind.
Zokon thinks for a second then nods
"I'll do as you wish, friends if you get chance buy some more food, rope and arrows please"
Zokon will grab his gear and lead Alia out of town to camp out in the woods.
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... and Numalar flirting with a strange woman...
and addresses Zokon:"Can you get me out of here? You know this place, do you not? I only defended myself, but I have no trust in the justice system of this...
Numalar is being pulled in multiple directions at once, but overhears this. He quietly says to Alia: "That wouldn't hurt, but I think you will be all right. After all," Numalar's voice rises. "A visiting noblewoman from Kyonin can hardly be expected to tolerate such behaviour from someone so below her station. He struck you and swore at you. Your behaviour is justified." Numalar turns on Red, and points. "Isn't that right?"
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"We're keepin' tabs on Mung, the baker. Your friend there was talkin' wit 'im this afternoon and then you all hightailed it to the Magister's office--it looked bad from our angle. Tha's all I swear!" Red says.
"And just what exactly," Numalar says thoughtfully, "were you afraid we might tell the magister? What could Mung possibly have told us that would trouble you?"
Numalar looks him up and down and seems about to turn away, but then turns back. "I do hope you realize what you just said here. You have basically admitted that you hoped to obstruct the flow of justice here in Restov. The magister may be interested that a band of ruffians is threatening and assaulting those who come to see him."
"So perhaps you should explain to the lady here" (Numalar indicates Scarlet) "Just who put you up to this, and why."
Celyne directs Luna to sit completely under the table and hopes those sitting around the table hides all hint of her presence there in case the town guard shows up.
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"Get them a round over at that table." says the barkeep pointing at your table. ** spoiler omitted **
Numalar turns back to the bar, and gives the barkeep a tired look. "I appreciate your understanding, good man. But I think I need something stronger."
Numalar pulls out a handful of gold coins and drops them on the bar.
"By Macrathane's Codpiece! Give me a shot of the strongest thing you've got. Something that will take me back to the glory days of Rostland."
"Honestly, we thought this was a better neighbourhood. Do you know who these fellows were? Or get this kind of thing much in here? Perhaps you should send someone to summon the watch. Or an undertaker."
He turns back to the young lady. "I'm so sorry, my dear; where were we?"
"Tell me M'lord Auritonius, do you always travel in such beautiful and exotic company?"
"I'm older than I look, Lady Vijic. So there is no 'always;' my fortune has waxed and waned many times over the years. Recently, it seems that fortune has brought us together. We haven't been together all that long."
"But what about you, Lady Vijic? If you are indeed from Varisia, you have traveled far more widely than I have. Did you come by caravan? Or did you go by sea to Taldor, and then up the Sellen River?"
"If that is the truth then you really decided to try intimidate a well armed group of travellers who just handed in bandits for a bounty. All because we talked to an overly chatty pie seller?"
"And just what exactly," Numalar says thoughtfully, "were you afraid we might tell the magister? What could Mung possibly have told us that would trouble you?"
"Keep talkin' boy." Scarlet keeps her gaze fixed on Red, her hand gripped on the stick. Cause if she didn't grip that, she would reach for her swords.
"We're just s'posed ta keep folks away from the rat catchers' is all." He also admits that Wyne had hit Alia first.
Celyne directs Luna to sit completely under the table and hopes those sitting around the table hides all hint of her presence there in case the town guard shows up.
Numalar turns back to the bar, and gives the barkeep a tired look. "I appreciate your understanding, good man. But I think I need something stronger."
Numalar pulls out a handful of gold coins and drops them on the bar.
"By Macrathane's Codpiece! Give me a shot of the strongest thing you've got. Something that will take me back to the glory days of Rostland."
The barkeep turns to his server. "What are you doing?"
She looks a bit befuddled for a moment and then starts to protest when the barkeep interrupts. "I said get the good stuff, not this swill!"
Then he turns back to Numalar. "Sorry she's new, I had to fire my last girl for breaking the crockery."
He fixes up an alchemical concoction he calls The Flaming Burst Broadsword for you and Naleksa, and anyone else daring enough to blow out the 10-inch flames that dance upon its surface and down one.
"Honestly, we thought this was a better neighbourhood. Do you know who these fellows were? Or get this kind of thing much in here? Perhaps you should send someone to summon the watch. Or an undertaker."
"My stable boy is already on his way to the nearest guard post. The one over there still standing is Red, he's one of the Scarred Shadows, the city's thieves' guild." He says gravely.
He turns back to the young lady. "I'm so sorry, my dear; where were we?"
"Tell me M'lord Auritonius, do you always travel in such beautiful and exotic company?""I'm older than I look, Lady Vijic."
"Naleksa, please. There is a maturity in those deep and clever eyes that is true, and it makes their gaze all the deeper. But I see whimsy and courage as well. They are like fathomless pools such that I can not help but try to plumb them."
"So there is no 'always;' my fortune has waxed and waned many times over the years. Recently, it seems that fortune has brought us together. We haven't been together all that long."
"As you say there is no always. Only the here and now. So let us not waste time and instead enjoy now while we have it."
"But what about you, Lady Vijic? If you are indeed from Varisia, you have traveled far more widely than I have. Did you come by caravan? Or did you go by sea to Taldor, and then up the Sellen River?"
"Nearly all of the above though I have never been to Taldor. Taldor strikes me as too stayed and civilized for my tastes, and for yours as well." She says noting the drink that burns like a wall sconce in front of you. "As you have said though, you have had the longer life, so you must have more stories."
** spoiler omitted **
"You expect me to believe that? She's just let you go or you just gave up the life you were so good at living with her?" he asks, slowly taking a step into the kitchen so that they were out of view, but remaining standing a few feet from her. He relaxes his grip on his blade "I wish I could believe you...Tell me. What happened after I left you alone that night? Don't tell me the friends of mine you killed on my way up here are still alive too?"