The little crab-like creature shakes itself at the notion then glowers at its mistress.
:: Blech! That's a useless and disgusting education. Being constructed is more practical and less messy ::
Ushari laughs, ::”Yeah, I guess that makes us lowly humans inferior to your superior construction!”::
:: Yes, and you show wisdom to acknowledge that fact! There may be hope for you yet. Until you become a perfect machine, however... I suppose you will continue your repulsive biologic activities. ::
Grateful for the lavish accommodations, Jofram gladly shells out coin for the fancier room. Retrieving the large birdcage from his bag of holding, he sets it up near the window for Vaelos.
"Yes, this will do nicely," he says with a smile to one of the prettier female attendants. "Did I hear her say that you are a skilled masseuse?"
Straehan is out of the bath and sitting on the deck when Elsa returns with gnome-sized clothes. The sorcerer sighs, preferring his traveling robes instead of the trousers, dress shirt, and vest offered by the enchanting blonde. Still, better to blend in than stand out like a peacock; Seduction is a subtle art.
Straehan considers his strategy while dressing. It doesn't particularly register that Elsa hasn't left the room. He catches her glance on him briefly. Probably just curious. The sorcerer finishes dressing, wishes the pretty girl a lovely evening and heads downstairs.
Elsa curtsies to Jofram, "Yes, sir. I provide massages."
::Actually, Skitter, the coupling function of the biologics is one of the least repulsive ones we humans have. Be glad you do not have a sense of smell and also do not hang out near a privvy, know what I mean?::
Straehan takes a seat at their table in the bar. He observes the coming and goings of the patrons with interest, alternatively swirling and sipping his port. Through the window, he watches the shadows lengthen and creep across the town. Hopefully, before it gets too much later, the right woman will walk through the door. This should be an interesting evening.
Skitter regards the blonde cleric.
:: Potato. Po-tah-to. All biologic functions are revolting. ::
Ushari laughs lightly, as she walks over to Skitter and sweeps him up in her hand. She then plants a kiss on the side of his metallic body.
::Yes, Skitter, we are a revolting species. I do still love you though!::
She then gently lays him down on the bed, touches up her lipstick, and then slips out the door, a spring in her step.
Jayse grins, hoping he's not taking too big of a gamble bringing the man into the plan. "The payout for you is 10 gold if you help me win a little bet I have going with my friends. And I'm not asking much of you… some insider information and a little talking up to the right ears. I'm hoping a man like you… a man well-known, well-informed, and hopefully well-connected can give me the edge I need to beat my friends."
Jayse looks around to make sure his conversation is private. "The four of us have a wager. The person who can win the favor of the most attractive person or people for the night wins the pot… ten gold of which you'd get if you help me win. First I want to make sure I don't go stepping on your toes, so if you have people you'd want me to avoid, just let me know, and they're out of the game, as far as I'm concerned. But secondly, any insider information about any of the available - and hopefully attractive women - in there would be greatly appreciated. And numbers can count, too, so if there are any women who don't mind sharing attention, that would be helpful to know. Any girls particularly susceptible to making bad decisions once the alcohol flows? Or if gifts are bought? or are there any women in there who have a soft spot for average looking, slightly-mysterious foreign guys like myself?"
He stops and thinks for a second to make sure he's not leaving anything out, then begins speaking again, "The second part is where I'm hoping you can give me a more active hand. If a local like yourself just happened to be able to let slip - while he was on a break and taking a drink in the Slattern - that the brown headed, tattooed man from out-of-town might or might not be a foreign noble trying to recover from a broken heart. Maybe you saw a note on our Mako here that indicated that my wives-to-be died in a horrible accident. Maybe the young noble hasn't been able to find another woman to love. Maybe a certain tattooed young man has had a hard time continuing his responsibility back home until he can find something… something he seems to have lost.. something he'd spend any amount of time, money and effort to recover." His face splits into a grin, "Basically, I have no chance to win against my friends. The gnome is so silver-tongued and charming that he could pretty much talk anything into his wishes. The girl.. well… you saw the girl. What chance do I have of beating that? The half-elf is a wild-card at this point, but he can be fairly persuasive in his own way. Which leaves me. I can help sail a boat, I can swing a sword, and the best I can say is that I'm not the worst at playing the reed flute… but far from good. The story of the heart-broken and seeking nobleman is far more enticing, i'm thinking. Can you help me?"
Bill listens thoughtfully then bursts out laughing. "Hell yeah, I'll help ya. Don't know if I can convince many of the pretty girls of much at all, but I'll try... And I can certainly steer you away from the sirens. We've got a few of those!"
Jayse, happy to hear that Bill is on-board, shakes his head, "I'm not looking for you to convince them of anything... just put the thoughts out there."
Jofram takes full advantage of the offered amenities, opting for a bath and massage. As he kicks off his dusty boots, a thought occurs to him. "Elsa, is there a place nearby that I could have my clothes laundered? I fear that the days of travel have taken their toll."
Elsa nods, "We provide that service, Master Jofram." She rings a bell and Olan comes in and takes his clothes out for laundering.
By the time his bath and massage are finished, his clothes are returned clean.
Bill outlines the two threesomes of 'adventurous' girls who might be up for what Jayse is suggesting. "...I don't think any of them has a particular thing for adventurers or anything like that but they are all pretty practical girls. Maybe you'd have a slightly harder time with the non-human girls." He shrugs, "Sorry I can't be more helpful about that."
Group A #7:
Group A #8:
Group B #3:
Group B #5:
Group B #6:
Ushari skips down the stairs and finds a clean gnome in nice clothes with a trimmed beard and parted hair sitting at their table - drinking and watching.
He gives her an appraising glance. "You clean up nice. I take it you are taking part in Jayse's little contest."
Ushari stops by the table where she sees Straehan sitting and scoping the area out. She slides into a seat opposite him and reaches for a glass of wine.
"Yes I am..." She returns the gnome's look, "As are you, I see." She smiles, "Well, I believe I do have my work cut out for me. A dashing gentleman such as you should have no trouble at all finding quality company this evening."
She glances around the bar area, looking for both Jayse and Jofram. "I see the other gentlemen are still planning their strategies out."
Straehan surveys the terrain, a small pond of women of middling appearance , "Yes, well, there are few blossoms in this lot at the moment. You may not have as much competition as you think. It seems men outnumber the women here, 4 to 1. Still, the night is young."
Their deal struck, Bill assigns another dockman to watch the Mako, makes himself presentable - which basically means putting on a cleaner shirt after splashing himself with water - and accompanies Jayse back down the promenade to the Slattern.
Ushari waits and watches the crowd roll in as night drops her dark curtain. She scans the crowd for intriguing men - three stand out. The first is a lean and elegant half-elf with blonde hair flowing down his back . The dark eyes in his sculpted face ignore the obvious feminine distractions as he works his way to the bar. His clothing is expensive, tailored to his form, and impeccable. The rings on his hands speak to his wealth.
The second man, another half-elf, is a contrast to the first. His clothing, while finely made, is more common. It is as dark as his short hair . Only his grey eyes convey brightness. He smiles and chat amiably with the barkeep. He is slightly heavier than the first man but still cuts a youthful figure.
The final man is human. He is young, clean-shaved, and his brown hair is gently curled. His silk shirt and dinner jacket are in complementary shades of blue. He is well-groomed - down to his manicured fingertips . He stands with a small group of men, speculating on the latest fight going on in the ring on the other side of the floor.
The Slattern quickly becomes a swirl of activity. Eating, drinking, and the barnyard dance of romance happen in the large central tavern. Locals, smugglers, thieves, outcasts, the odd adventurer, and the girls from behind the red doors mingle and transact. Quieter drinking and more intense negotiations occur in the darkened bar. On the other side of the Inn, at the fighting ring, smaller groups of men chat, bet, and speculate on the contests that are taking place and will continue to occur this evening. Given the size of the central ring as well as the smaller pits, the bouts will extend well beyond mindless undead animals destroying each other.
Ushari looks over at the men who she has marked as her targets for the contest. As she sips her wine, she thinks of the men and allows her thoughts to form the initial impressions.
Hmmm. The blonde half-elf...certainly is assured of himself. He seems to be on a mission of some kind. Perhaps he does not seek companionship? Still, he may be persuaded otherwise...As for his brother-in-race, he seems more...accessible. A good fallback position, I believe.
She pauses and checks her makeupp in her compact mirror, before she notes the human, and when she sees him, her mind blanks for a moment as a recollection from her past....no....Despairs Daughters' past intrudes in her mind. The look on her face freezes in a pleasant mask, but turmoil rages in her mind.
He looks just like HIM!!....No wait, he is not quite built as HE was...but they are too similar....an eerie coincidence! Can I go through with this, with him? Maybe I should try anyway? I....I do not know.
Ushari catches a quiet local at the bar watching her. He isn't particularly handsome but he certainly isn't unpleasant to look at. His dark hair and eyes aren't striking. What she notices is his fine features which individually are very pleasant but when put together, somehow, don't make him more attractive. His clothing is common but of good quality and his face is honest and kind. He greets all the staff and locals around him with a smile.
Ushari realises, belatedly, that he may not be watching her so much as being curious about your group.
Ushari glances at the man who seems to be taking an interest in her.
Hmmm, I wonder how interested he is in me? One way to find out...
She continues to drink her wine, and the next time he glances at her, she will smile back at him.
Eustus' glance moves across the room. When Ushari catches his eye, the dark-haired man's look stops briefly on her and then moves on with a small nod of acknowledgement.
Ushari hides a small feeling of disappointment as the man seems to dismiss her out of hand. Hmph...it seems like he is not interested in me like THAT! I wonder if he has something else in mind...
She returns her attention back to the other men, and idly wonders when the first one will make their move.
As they get closer to the Slattern, Jayse lets the conversation drift towards whatever it is Bill seems interested to talk about. He reflects on the little the man had to offer. Sometimes the smallest advantage can mean success, he reminds himself as they move towards the light of the tavern. Still, I hope Bill can talk me up to those three. With one last handshake, Jayse thanks Bill again for his help with the Mako, winking to let him know he also means thanks for the other help. Then he heads back through the tavern commons, taking a moment to get a final look at his chosen quarry for the night. He watches them for any tell-tale signs of who they are or how they work. Though not much is likely to be gleaned in passing, sometimes much can be understood from a look. If the women look over as he passes by, he'll give his best to make a warm smile, making sure not to let his eyes linger on any one of them too long.
He continues up the stairs, already stripping off his shirt as he nears his room on the third floor, flagging down Elsa - or another female attendant if she is busy - as he walks in. When she follows him in, he strips off his clothes, "Would you mind having these washed for me as I bathe? There's an extra something in it for you if it's done quickly. Oh, and a chilled drink would be nice while I bathe." He smiles as he hands over his clothes, only at the last second remembering to grab his stone from the pocket. With nowhere else to put it, he holds it stationary in front of the center point of his brow until it feels steady, then releases it before climbing into the tub. The still-warm water pulls the tiredness from his muscles, and his last thought before he begins cleaning himself is, This should be a fun night.
Jayse - feeling wonderful after a bath, a drink, and clean clothes - lets the raucous noise of the common room wash over him as he jumps down the last three stairs. His mood is obviously light as his pale blue eyes sweep over the room's occupants, lingering quickly on his group of lovely ladies, then giving a quick nod to Bill before finally finding Straehan and Ushari at the bar. Jayse is in his old clothes, but with the amazing work of the local launderer - who is clearly capable of working miracles - he looks comfortable and well-kept in his simple clothes, the sleeves of his pale shirt rolled up to expose the exotic tattoos on his arms and hands. He waves the bar-keep over as he claps the gnome happily on the back, "Winsom! Bill liked his drink, so thanks for that. Can I get a chilled ale?" He then turns to Straehan and Ushari as the bar-keep moves to help someone else, "So, you have any favorites so far? I really don't want to poach if I can help it." Without looking, he quickly describes the women he's looking to win over , "I think I'll see how I fare with those lovely ladies." He smiles at Ushari before looking around, "We heard from Jofram yet on any of this?"
He looks across the room while he waits for an answer, watching some of the card and dice games before spying the fights going on in the next room. "What do you think goes on in there? Those for larger animals or more 'hands on' contests?" He smiles at the prospect of some friendly combat. Then he sees all the merchants, vagabonds, and assorted other 'business-men' in the tavern and his face turns serious, "oh, and I think we should try to keep our ears to the ground on goings-on in Orfallen. Anything that we can find out about that will prepare us will be invaluable. I'll keep my ears open, for sure."
""We heard from Jofram yet on any of this?""
As Jofram descends the stairs, he catches the tail-end of a conversation between Jayse and Ushari.
"I figured I'd give you a head start, Jayse. Give you a more sporting chance."
Jofram casually eyes the room, and notes potential targets of opportunity. signaling the bartender for a round of drinks, he calls a toast. "It wouldn't be proper sport, to set out without a good drink, first. Good hunting!"
Ushari hides a small feeling of disappointment as the man seems to dismiss her out of hand. Hmph...it seems like he is not interested in me like THAT! I wonder if he has something else in mind...
She returns her attention back to the other men, and idly wonders when the first one will make their move.
Straehan sees the boy/girl games that Ushari is engaged in - the enticing looks and the veiled disappointment. He chuckles and looks at all the ill-kempt ruffians eyeing her greedily. Be careful what you wish for...
"Perhaps that gent is shy, Ushari. You don't catch fish by waiting for them to jump in your boat."
"So, you have any favorites so far? I really don't want to poach if I can help it."
The gnome smiles. "That's kind of you, Jayse. Rumour has it there is a veritable wolf-pack of four incredibly beautiful girls who make the rounds together. Real heartless, vicious, b!tches from what I hear. I intend to pluck one from their number without having to curry their favors with extravagant gifts."
Straehan sees the boy/girl games that Ushari is engaged in - the enticing looks and the veiled disappointment. He chuckles and looks at all the ill-kempt ruffians eyeing her greedily. Be careful what you wish for...
"Perhaps that gent is shy, Ushari. You don't catch fish by waiting for them to jump in your boat."
Ushari glances at the gnome, an irritated look flashing briefly in her eyes. Hmmmph...I know what I am doing here! I don't need a...a....telling me how to attract a man!
Yet as she settled back in her chair, she cannot help but wonder what she was doing wrong, if anything. She shakes her head slightly, banishing her doubts. I have done this before, I just need to remember what I did before. Besides, he is not even amongst my top selections this evening. Still, he is kind of cute...
" .... I intend to pluck one from their number without having to curry their favors with extravagant gifts."
Jayse laughs good-naturedly, "Well, some of us aren't so lucky or charming as you, stud. I'll take the attention however I can get it."
Straehan smiles, "Oh, I'm not remotely sure I can pull this off. I just like a challenge."
For another hour, you watch as more and more people wander in to eat, drink, enjoy some impromptu local music, dance, and generally raise hell.
All the women, save Straehan's wolf-pack, arrive in a timely fashion. The prettiest girls have little trouble caging drinks from men with a swish of their hips and a bat of their eyes. Jayse's two threesomes are pleasant to look at, if not spectacular. They seem to enjoy the attention of men but don't seek them out as some other women do.
Bill deftly steals a tankard off a platter-full held by a bucktoothed serving wench and rewards her with a pat on the rear. She kicks him in a friendly fashion but doesn't object to his light-fingered act.
Bill takes a swig of his drink and ambles through the tavern, taking up a position at a trestle table near Jayse's women. He sips his drink and huddles over a plate of food, appearing largely disinterested in the goings-on around him.
Despite his appearance, he listens to the women's chatter, waiting for the right opening...
Laughter, music, and merriment reverberate through the tavern. However, there is a false note... in the form of a growing argument over the favors of a particular strumpet. Two surly men, one a half-orc, in leather leggings and coarse shirts pull at the arms of the whore. Three large locals wearing the livery of the Slattern push through the crowd and close in on the combatants. One is the guard you saw watching over the penthouse. His face is accented by blade scars and his tone is even.
"First, you'll let go of that girl. Then, if you wanna settle this, the ring is waiting." The three men move closer pressing them for an answer. The combatants give a curt nod and back away from one another.
From near the ring, an over-dressed dandy sounds a bell. "We've got a battle! Place your bets here!"
Jayse, still smiling, shakes his head, finishing off his drink as he wanders off into the loud tavern, "Now to get the lay of the land."
He doesn't get ten steps into the common room when the disturbance occurs, and he watches the security and the two potential fighters with interest. They're playing my song, he thinks to himself as he follows them towards the fighting ring. He watches all the men involved, trying to sense in the way they move and the look in their eyes what type of fighters they may be. He leans up against the wall, seeing whether or not the men will step into the ring.
Out of the corner of his eye he watches the table Bill set up next to. So those are the girls he's suggested. He gives himself a rueful shake of his head, Even going after one of these women would be an uphill climb… not to mention all three.
But an old song floats from the mysterious depths of his mind, …but oh what I'd do for the soft white bosom of a fair elven maiden; The travels i'd make; the risks I would take - for a fair young elven maiden.
With nothing else of interest jumping out at him, Jofram heads over to the burgeoning melee. "A good fight should get the evening started. Hmmm, should I put coin on the locals, or no?"
"Your call, i guess. I wonder what the rules to these fights are."
The two thugs enter the ring and strip off their shirts. Neither one is an obvious winner. The half-orc has bulk, muscle, and reach while the human is also muscular but lighter on his feet and
has a half-grin that suggests he's not overly concerned.
The foppish dandy steps into the ring and pulls some cue cards. "Well, here it is, friends, the first match of the evening! A grudge match for the affections of one of our friendly lasses..."
He's interrupted by several chuckles. Someone says, "Yar, 'friendly' like a cat in heat!" to a general laugh of agreement.
The aforementioned 'cat' yowls, "HEY! Be nice you cutthroats or this kitten will stop serving you sweaty toms."
Her pronouncement is greeted by a chorus of boos, pleas, one marriage proposal, and several people laughing. The dandy overrides it all with his booming voice.
"AS I WAS SAYING, our first event will be a grudge match for the fair Ollana... You boys know the rules. As long as you don't try to kill each other or beat a man whose down or quits, it is all legal. But before we get to the fighting... we'll give some folks a chance to place friendly wagers and make a few announcements."
"Ladies, gentlemen, and the majority of you who don't fit EITHER category," his observation draws drunk laughter, "We'll be hosting some fun for you tonight. As usual, we have unusual animal fights in the smaller rings. I hope you all come over to bet. I took a bath betting on that zombie monkey against the skeletal chicken and I need to recoup my losses."
"In the MAIN ring, after this little lover's tiff is settled, we'll be playing King of the Hill. A fighter stays in as long as he can against all challengers. Every round you last, nets you a few more coins. The last man standing - whose fought at least 3 rounds - earns a handsome purse of 10 GOLD in addition to whatever he's gotten in the earlier rounds. Are any of you man enough for the challenge? We'll find out!"
He pulls another cue card. "If that sounds a bit too rough for you, we'll be holding an arm wrestling competition in the tavern. We'll also be having a dance competition for you genteel folks. Naturally, you are free to wager on any or all of these competitions. And finally, if you are feeling very brave or stupid, you can wrestle Shiv's mascot - Mogu. Bring Mogu out here." With a flourish, he draws your attention to a heavy curtain.
From behind the curtain, a seductive girl languorously rides in, stretched across the back of a massive grizzly bear that must stand 9' at the shoulder with 6" claws sprouting from each of its limbs. She strokes his fur and gives the audience bedroom eyes that you can feel in your pocket.
The bear sniffs the air and faster than you'd think possible, snatches a flagon from a gawker with a swipe of a single paw. It laps the brew out of the flagon before crushing the thick metal container with its teeth.
"Now, folks, Mogu is a celebrity. You wanna wrestle him, you gotta pay for the privilege - 1 gold. If you manage to pin him, you get 200 times that back! AW-RIGHT! On with the show! Let's get our love-birds in the ring!"
Ushari watches the events unfold in the common room with a mixture of fascination mixed with an undercurrent of....she wasn't quite sure what, but she felt a sense of suffocation like drowning, much like back on that fateful day when she had started her new life.
To calm her shaking nerves, she decides to pay close attention to the first match, and on an impulse hurries over to the betting table to lay a bet down.
She says quietly to the bettor while counting out the coins from her purse, "Five gold on the human man, he looks like he can handle himself if I don't miss my guess."
As she returns to the table to watch the fight unfold, she scans the common area looking for the local man who took an interest in her before. If she sees him, she will again return his smile.
The battle draws attention from the tavern-goers in general. Of the targets Lena, the pretty human and leader of her group of friends, is quite interested in the fight. Jayse isn't sure whether she is interested in the combat or the physiques of the men.
Of Ushari's preferred men, both of the half elves turn their attention to the battle. Neither Raymor nor Eustus look away from their drinking and socializing to watch the match. Eustus catches Ushari's smile and briefly glances behind himself to see who she is smiling at. When it dawns on him that he is drawing her attention, his look is quizzical and curious.
--> #2
--> #7
--> #8 Leader
Girl Group B
--> #3 Leader
--> #5
--> #6
Levitan (1/2 Elf)
Silnavar (1/2 Elf)
Raymor (Human)
Eustus (Human)
"Five gold on the human man, he looks like he can handle himself if I don't miss my guess."
The bookie whistles. "That's a real bet, Miss."