Dot of the Watching Eye
Dot
Paint peels from the wall as you awake, golden light peeking in from the windows. The cries of already drunken men come from below, four other visitors already having awoken and obtained drink.
A single man also sits in the common room, staring at the chaos unfolding within the inn with disdain.
Soon, events will be set in motion.
Soon.
Zelkor's Ferry information will be posted in the Campaign Info tab.
Ran groans as he wakes and levers himself up off the bed. He'd slept in worse places, but this place was definitely in the bottom half. It takes him a moment to register the noise downstairs. "Gods, it's too early for that." He stands and stretches, going over to the washbasin to wash the sleep out of his eyes.
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Theragul sits at a corner table, calmly breaking his fast as he casually watches and listens to the common room.
Not long ago, I would be wearing a cloak to hide my fell features in a place like this . He idly touches his bastard sword emblazoned with the wing and blade. Let them judge shallowly if they will. My blade stands ready to bring the Light should the ignorant allow the Darkness to lead their actions towards hatred.
Tark lumbered downstairs spitting curses left and right - "What in Torag's name is happening down there?!" - he grumbles wading into the common room.
"Best get me something to drink before my mood turns sour" - he ponders. Looking around, he spots Theragul sitting all by himself in a corner and moves on over - "Guess you couldn't sleep either Halfblood? I swear it felt like a freakin' dwarven forge when I first heard it - I'm guessin' nothin's better than a loud noise to wipe the sleep off yer face though, right?!" - he strikes up a conversation, sitting heavily next to his recent travelling companion - "You ate yet? I'm about to order me somethin' - you wantin'?"
The dwarf seems like a veritable implement of warfare - multiple and different types of weapons stand out from his shape, pointing here and there - in spite of the armour worn, he doesn't seem hindered by it - all of the apparel seems to have seen good use, and if anything is in fact very well kept, would be his fiery beard and moustache - "Girl!" - he shouts - "Mind I bother ye for some food and drink this fine morning?"
"It's Tark me brother" - the dwarf nudges the tiefling's ribs hard, all in good nature - "And is there any other way to consume ale if not in abundance?" - he questions, with a dire look in his face - "I don't think so my friend" - he roars in laughter.
"Anyways, it is food for me only then" - he ponders for a few moments - "Commune you say..? I remember the dwarves o'me clan doin' somethin' like that - is it due every mornin', or your Empyreal Lord lets ya do it when you have the time?" - he questions with the usual bluntness.
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"Dawn is when the night is slain by the sun, and so Ragatheil lends me a sliver of His blazing wrath at sunrise to bring to find and destroy the Darkness for another day. Let us hope today provides us with such opportunity, resting in inns such as this for to long leaves me... anxious for action." Not thirsty for blood... not lusting for slaughter... Wrathful vengeance upon the fell brood that tainted me since birth, that is what my Lord seeks and so that is what I seek in His name.
"Got it" - Tark nods, closing his mouth that stood agape for just a tad.
"Don't worry lad - we should be bailin' out of this place soon enough - I didn't travel from miles away to be sittin' my arse on some far remote tavern or halfway house, though you already be knowin' that. Even so, I've gotta say this one ain't half bad" - he takes a look around.
"Have you seen the others by the way?"
Jean takes his time after waking to groom. Not a hair out of place, not a scuff to sully his armor. Once satisfied, he descends to the common room.
"A good morning to everyone." He nods in the direction of the serving girl. "Miss, if you would be so kind, I will take my breakfast."
He sits a table over from the Dwarf and Demon Blood and gives a tentative smile in their direction while he waits for his food.
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"If the tables can be pushed together for drinking and gambling, they can sure be pushed together for breakfast." With that he reaches a long arm and drags Jean's table together with Tarks and his own. He then mutters quiently, "Observing proprieties too well in a place like this is as bad as flashing too much cash, paladin. Best not to let the dark see what they might perceive as weakness..."
"Ah, there you two are. Must have had something in my eye. People are better than you think Theragul. And trust is a strength. Besides, there are easier targets for thievery than us I'm sure."
"That is for sure Fleur, though I'm thinkin' there will always be some poor sod really down on his luck, or desperate enough to risk takin' a shot even at a strappy fella like Theragul here" - the dwarf pipes in - "There's a lot'o'crap on the big wide world that be for sure, but ya can't just see darkness around every corner lad" - he adds at the tiefling - "It'll make ya go nuts!"
Turning to the paladin he follows up - "Say, have you eaten already? I'm about to order me some hearty breakfast - you in?" - he keeps looking about for a serving person.
"By the way... Any idea on how we startin' on what we came here to do?"
"He's right you know. Don't mire yourself in darkness when there are so many fair things to look upon." Jean smirks. "If there is someone that desperate about, then they clearly need whatever they can manage to pick from my pocket more than I do and are welcome to it."
He responds to Tark's question "I haven't, but there are still a couple of sleepy heads upstairs, so no hurry."
Ran came down looking fresh and crisp in spite of his having stayed up late with Tark. While the man couldn't hope to match the dwarf's tolerance, that didn't stop him from trying. "Order me something greasy. I need to soak up all this ale floating around in my blood." He sits in between Tark and Theragul, across from Jean.
He looks over at the loud drunks. "Some people don't know when to stop." Ran looks back at the rest of his team with a smile. "We wouldn't know anything about that, would we?"
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Magnus comes down right behind him, looking as dapper as ever.
"The facilities in this establishment leave something to be desired. It's a good thing we Tates are prepared. I hope no-one has too bad a head from last night's ale? good. Now what are we doing today? Ah, yes we have a commission from Lord Venthraine. We need to find some basic information, Ran, you're good at that, why don't you go ask a few locals what they know about Rappan Athuk? Maybe Jean can go with you; people seem to trust him."
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To Jean, the tiefling says quietly, "I do not mire myself in darkness, my friend. I seek it, so that by destroying it I make the world brighter. I worry that your pure heart looks only for the good in things, and sees not the darkness that must be cut out like a cancer."
To Magnus he says with a fanged grin, "Good! A commission will be a welcome distraction from days in an inn. I know not of Rappan Athuck, but surely there is more to do than wait there." Around companions that know him, the tiefling seems freer than he did alone in an inn, worried about conflict with those blind to the dark.
Gabr joins the others in the common area of the inn. He is a small, non-descript man who might have occupied a place at the table for some time before anyone took note of his presence.
"Good morning," he greets his mates quietly, favouring each of them with a nod and a smile as well.
Ran came down looking fresh and crisp in spite of his having stayed up late with Tark. While the man couldn't hope to match the dwarf's tolerance, that didn't stop him from trying. "Order me something greasy. I need to soak up all this ale floating around in my blood." He sits in between Tark and Theragul, across from Jean.
"I'm tryin' lad, I'm tryin!" - the dwarf lets out in frustration - "But everyone seems too busy to take my order" - he roars, this time a little louder.
He looks over at the loud drunks. "Some people don't know when to stop." Ran looks back at the rest of his team with a smile. "We wouldn't know anything about that, would we?"
"Dunno what ye're talking about Ran - everyone knows that you stop drinking when you fall down from yer seat, right?!" - he laughs hard.
Magnus comes down right behind him, looking as dapper as ever.
"...Now what are we doing today? Ah, yes we have a commission from Lord Venthraine. We need to find some basic information, Ran, you're good at that, why don't you go ask a few locals what they know about Rappan Athuk? Maybe Jean can go with you; people seem to trust him."
"There ya go - ye're a good man Tate, all organized and stuff. Starting to gather some info looks like a good enough idea"
"Good morning," he greets his mates quietly, favouring each of them with a nod and a smile as well.
"An' top o' the mornin' to ya too Gabr - had a nice night sleep there?" - he pokes his companion into conversation.
Ran laughs at Tark's comment. "I wouldn't know anything about that, Tark. I always fall asleep before then."
He grins at Magnus. "It is somewhere in between sleeping on dirt in the rain and a rooftop room at Lady Amathera's House of Silken Wonders, I'll say that. But I'll bet it's better than wherever we end up sleeping tonight."
As the party continues to speak to each other, Tallie (one of the serving women) comes up to them with a forced smile. "Sorry for your wait. What would you like today?"
The other men are continuing to be rowdy, and one of them comes over to the table. "What... are you doing here?" The man is obviously drunk, his words slurring widely as he leans on the table. "You all look interesting..."
"No problem lass" - Tark retorts - "We're in need of a stout breakfast so... I'm sayin' some portions o' meat should be involved, as well as some fresh ale, if ye've got some - as for the rest I'll trust yer suggestions on the house specialties..." - he nods, and was about to sketch a smile, when he notices the drunken man approaching - "Without a side of drunkard, if it can be helped" - he adds, ignoring the man, since his travelling companions would probably accuse him of not trying to make friends at every corner, or something like that.
Ran smiles at the drunk man. "We're tax collectors. Have you paid yet this year?"
"Some bread and a side of bacon I think." Jean gives Ran a disapproving look. "My friend jests. Our business here is our own. I think a little moderation, especially so early in the day, would do you well sir."
Ran makes a funny face back at Jean but lets him and Magnus deal with the drunk.
Gabr submits to Tark's elbow in his side but seems reluctant to join in the raucous banter going on around the table. He is a man of few words, preferring to watch and listen most of the time. His father lives life believing that it is better to keep his mouth shut and appear stupid than it is to open it and remove all doubt, a belief that was diligently passed onto his sons. The Mos'ata estate has always been a place of solemnity and measured conversation as far as Gabr can recall so he has grown to be generally quiet man.
"Taxes are never a matter for jest and one of us is a tax collector." he admonishes Jean, fixing the paladin with a stern gaze...but only for a few seconds before he winks and flashes a good natured smile. He is generally quiet man, not a humourless wretch.
Tark taps his fingers on the table, waiting for both the girls' reply, and for the drunken sod to move away.
Thallia, ignoring the drunk man, continues speaking. "Of course. I'll get it right to you." Meanwhile, the drunken man seems to ignore the comment about tax collectors. "Rappa Thuk is... blur..." The man falls over, the drink already gone to his head.
The innkeeper, Odo, steps out from behind the counter, his arms crossed. "Sorry about that gentlemen. The rabble'll be gone shortly" He speaks with an odd accent, his voice growling to match his muscled figure. As the drunks spot him moving, they dump some money on the table and begin to leave, uneasily staring at Odo.
Tark nods in appreciation of both Thallia's response, and Odo's 'cleaning up' - "Ye seem to have 'a way' with them drunkards, heh?" - he quips at the man - "Guess that's handy when runnin' a business... No gentleman here by the way, but thanks anyways - wouldn't wanna stir no ruckus in your establishment. Tark's the name" - he introduces himself.
Taxes are never a matter for jest and one of us is a tax collector.
"Well, I suppose. Though you aren't responsible for these lands." The aasimar's wink catches the young man by surprise. With surprising strength for his thin frame, Jean helps the drunkard to his feet.
Ran looks over at Odo and gestures at the fleeing drunks. "Are they celebrating something? It's a little early in the morning to be that deep in your cups for no reason."
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"Much obliged to you, Master Odo, and please ignore my compatriot. He's a little rough around the edges, but I, for one, am most certainly a gentleman and it would have been most regrettable if there had been an incident. I have no doubt that the help could have handled it, so your fine establishment was never in any real danger, but it is good to know that it wasn't necessary."
"It is a sort of talent, you could say..." Odo glances at the last drunkard, who stumbles away after being helped up. "Tanks for..." The man's words lisp off into some drunken nonsense as he almost falls out the door.
"No matter of mine as innkeeper what they celebrate Master Ranald." Odo says calmly in response to Ranald. "So long as they cause no real damage on their way out, it is no business of mine."
Thallia returns, an apologetic smile on her face as she walks up to Jean. "I'm sorry, but the inn has a policy of never serving pig." Odo nods as she speaks. "Slipped your mind Thallia?" She nods, embarrassedly looking at the ground.
"But what of you Master Magnus? Still with the silver tongue of yours? You could talk the ear off a troll with that!" The innkeeper smiles in jest, staring at the dapper sorcerer. "But I heard the black-blooded one speaking of Rappan Athuk? What kind of work brings you to that accursed place?"
Ran smiles at Odo. "We're the rescue party. Somebody with enough money to hire a bunch of lunatics," he gestures at the party around the table, including himself, "but not enough parenting skill to teach his son not to go poking around in ancient deathtraps, tasked us with finding his wayward child."
"Yeah" - Tark chuckles - "We callin' it a mix between babysittin', treasure huntin' and... Well, fearless courage" - he laughs.
"And that" - Tark nods with a huge grin.
Ran chuckles and gestures at Theragul. "And taint destroying. I always forget that one."