First post.
You sit at an unoccupied table, holding tight your mug of beer. The 30x30 foot room abounds with the smell of human stink, but it isn't nearly as bad as outside, where slaves rot in every corner, and dust storms rip constantly through the city.
It's a slow day, and the bartender looks bored at his seat, playing with a stack of cards. A fat man lies slumped over in a chair nearly breaking under his weight. Someone who looks to be his elder son sits despondently in his seat, snatching glances at the serving ladies.
There are two servers, a woman so old she looks like she could fall over at any second, and a younger girl, probably here to escape from her family while making a bit of money.
There is also a group of 3 working men, barely above slavery themselves, lurking in the far corner of the room, drowning their sorrows in piss-poor wine.
What do you do?
Braydn glances around the room, breathing through his mouth. He slowly stands up and walks towards the three men in the corner. He nods at them in greeting.
"Any of you gentlemen heard anything interesting happen around here lately?" He asks quietly.
The men look suitably scared at the warrior in front of them, and it takes the largest of them a moment to find his breath. But when he does, he whispers conspiratorially to Braydn.
"See that man over there?" His breath reeks of alcohol as he points to the man at the table who is still awake. "Young noble, from the Dikali family. The fat'u' is his uncle. Rumour 'as it, 'is bride-ta be was captured in the night, an' taken as a personal slave ta some farmer-folk outside the city." He hiccups, "He loves 'er, but 'is uncle don't want to risk no 'conflict.' Thinks she ain't worth it. If yer lookin' for work, you may wanta check wit' 'im."
Braydn nods and smiles down at the men.
"Thank you for the information." He turns and walks slowly towards the young noble.
"Rumour has it you need help with a certain woman taken by some farmers? I was thinking I might be of some assistance." Braydn smiles graciously at the man.
The man looks up at you, slack jawed. His face erupts into a sad, but hopeful smile. "Yes! Please!" He stands up, and his uncle wobbles in his chair. "Yes, thank you so much! I'm Opik, by the way. Opik Dikali." He shakes your hand enthusiastically. "I promise, I will pay you handsomely for your services! My funds are limited because of..." Opik gives a hateful glare at his uncle, "That one. But I will give you all I can!"
He gives you directions and information about the town. As far as he knows, it's situated around an oasis. The people there work sugar plantations year-round, making a lot of gold. It's estimated that there are about 300 or so villagers, and 50 or so slaves, 5 of which are trained warriors for the village.
His bride will be easily recognizable by her very light skin tone, as she is from up north.
Braydn thanks Opik for directions and promises to bring the woman back to safety. He then leaves the bar and heads straight for the village.
You walk through the city, past countless beggars and slaves. The sky is clear, and you have no worries about sandstorms. The guards give you a respectful nod as you passes through the city gates, heading towards the village.
You see the village, and observe it from a high-up sandune. It is made of a collection of stone houses, each with a smaller mud house beside it, presumably for slaves or feces. The sugar field is on the far side of the village, and the sun is high in the sky. Nobody except you is out in this heat, and for at least an hour more, everyone will be inside, in the shade, avoiding the worst of the sun's rays. A field of mud and water sits in the center of the village.
Braydn walks carefully into the village. He checks the mud houses for slaves, while trying to avoid being seen. He moves quickly.
As Braydn walks to the first mud hut, a pair of teenagers, two boys, dash around the corner, laughing. They stop when they see him, freezing up and immediately shutting up. "Who the f&%* are you?!" The smaller one says, his friend standing behind him.
For a moment Braydn reaches for his hand-axe, but stops when he see's the boys. He smiles at them.
"I am Braydn, a traveler from the city." He glances up at the sun, then back at the boys.
"Don't you think it might be too hot to be running around outside? It can be dangerous if you overheat." He seems to have genuine concern for the boys.
"Why are you outside?"
"We're playing." The smaller boy says. "We live here, we won't overheat." He looks suspicious again. "Why are you here, Braydn?" He didn't miss the fact that your first instinct was to reach for the axe, but seems to realize that you aren't going for it.
Braydn pauses a moment and looks around the empty village. His eyes rest back on the boys.
"Well, I'm actually here looking for someone. She's a friend of someone I know. I told him that I would come find her for him." He pauses again. "Maybe you boys can help me find her?"
"Sure. What'ser name? We know everyone in this town."
Braydn pauses a moment and curses himself silently for not asking the woman's name.
You. Moron. You are absolutely the worst. You forgot. To ask. Her name. Completely stupid.
He smiles a strained smile. "Well, she uhm, she goes by many names. But she is northerner so her skin is much lighter. Perhaps you've seen her? He smiles a the boys.
They give each other looks for a second. "We got a new slave by that description." The skinnier one says casually. "Sounds like bad luck for you, buddy." He gives you a nasty grin. "You looking to buy her off us?"
"I suppose that depends on how much you might be asking for her..." Braydn trails off and silently considers his options.
And here you are with less than two silver. Well you certainly can't eat them. They're children. Outsmart them? Maybe distract them?
"I do wonder if maybe it would be better if I asked an adult about this nasty business." He smiles at the boys again.
At least you can eat the adults.
"Or perhaps we can work something else out?"
"We'll take you to the owner, Big Tuhati." The smaller one says. They stand on either side of you, guiding you forward. "You and him can work it out. Alright?"
"I suppose there isn't much of a choice. Thank you for your help. What are your names?" Braydn smiles gently at the boys while the group walks.
"I'm Carthun, and this is Pixis." The skinny one says as you walk.
The two lead you to one of the largest buildings, and bash on the door. An enormous man opens it. He has one blind eye on his right side, and looks very heavy.
"What's this all about?" He says, in a voice reminding you strangely of eggs sliding down someone's throat.
"Man named Braydn, wantin' to negotiate for the new girl." Carthun says. "He's looking for a friend."
"Well then..." Tuhati says, opening the door. "You had better come inside, Braydn. Not you two, you go play." He shuts the door once you are inside, and turns to look at you. "So, what are you prepared to offer me?"
"Well..."
Braydn takes a moment before speaking slowly.
"Unfortunately, at the moment I'm rather low on funds, but I will be paid handsomely for the return of the girl. Perhaps we can work something out?" He smiles widely at the man called Tuhati.
"Hah! I like your balls, Braydn..." the man says, clapping you on the shoulder, "But I can't just give you a perfectly good slave on empty promises. And besides, she is quite expensive! I doubt whatever you are being paid would cover the cost of her." He grins. "I suggest you give up. Say," he looks you over, "You're quite the fit one. What say you work for me, eh? It'd be nice to have someone to quell the revolts from time to time. A man strong enough to fight, but paid well enough to make him a servant instead of a slave?" He waggles his eyebrows. "I'm sure an arrangement could be made. And who knows? Maybe, in a year or so, you'd make enough money to buy that girl you like so much. If we don't sell her before then, of course."
Braydn's smile disappears very quickly.
"The girl I like...?" He laughs. "I'm sorry, I believe you've misunderstood. She's the fiancée to a young noble in the City of Dust. If I were to work for you, it would certainly not be put towards the young woman." He shakes his head and chuckles to himself.
"May I ask how much the woman is worth to you? If she truly is out of my price range, perhaps I will consider your offer."
"I would say, she's worth at least twenty gold crowns." Tuhati says good-naturally. "Quite the pretty young thing."
"A nobleman? Which one? What family?"
"Twenty gold crowns? Twenty? Braydn pauses a moment, taking the sum in. "She is to wed Opik Dikali. The two are quite in love apparently. He would be here himself but his Uncle seems to feel the young woman isn't worth it."
"That fool?" A tension you did not even realize was there seems to flood out of his body, and he laughs. "Without his uncle backing him, I doubt Opik has three gold coins to rub together, much less twenty. Is that the man who hired you?" He laughs again. "Trust me, you're better of working for me then him. I can pay you to do nothing unless you are needed. Two coppers and free room and board every day, and a full silver whenever you have to fight. Just the coin itself is double what my servants make."
"Well I suppose it's better than not working at all. You don't mind if I walk around and get to know everyone once the sun has lowered?" Braydn smiles easily.
"Of course!" Tuhati says. "You'll have three meals a day with everyone else, get paid your wages every three days, and you can take a cleaner slave hut, with a bit of bedding. You'll have to buy everything else yourself. If you aren't here, no pay." He smiles welcomingly. "Good to have you, Braydn. We'll speak again soon." He gently but firmly guides you out of the house, shutting the door behind you.
Braydn glances around, looking for people to speak to. For a moment he looks vaguely lost, but the moment passes quickly.
Pixis, the large boy from earlier.
An old woman with a stern-looking face.
A small girl riding on the shoulders of a man with a slave mark on his neck.
A tired-looking middle-aged man.
A flock of toddlers, running around in packs. There is a chance some of the children might be werechildren, which are pretty much babies and toddlers that, during a full moon, become faster, stronger, more agile, and with a penchant for destruction. They are generally harmless as long as you don't attack them, but will break stuff a lot. Killing them has the same punishment as killing a normal baby. Nobody knows why this happens.
Braydn watches the toddlers with a small smile before approaching Carthun and Pixis.
"Good afternoon boys. Glad to see you haven't overheated." He smiles at them. "Think you could tell me a bit about this village? It looks like I'll be staying here a while."
As you walk, Carthun talks about the workings of the village, and Pixis seems content to tag along. "The oasis was settled by a man, I forget his name, a century or so ago. He was a former Dust-Runner, and that's why we don't get any sandstorms here." He brushes some hair out of his face. "Most o' us work the fields on our work days. Only about half the slaves do though, most of them clean, cook, and make sure we're happy after a hard days work. Keeps them dependent on us. Since most of them don't know how to work the fields, they overthrow us, they won't be making any money."
He gives you a brief rundown of locations, enough so that you can find your way around without much trouble.
He nods along with what Carthun is saying.
"Well it seems a nice place. What about the people? Anyone interesting?"
"Na. It's boring as shit here." Carthun complains. "I want to go join the army or something, but everyone says I'm too young."
"The army? I wouldn't think that would be any less boring. Training on a strict schedule, following orders... I think you might like to perhaps be an adventurer or a traveler. Much more interesting. He smiles. And what do you do for fun around here?"
"Pretend to swordfight with each other. Sometimes we're allowed to practice on an unruly slave." He shrugs. "Sometimes we go and smoke Ko-resin with the girls. That's always pretty fun."
"That sounds... fun I suppose." He considers his very different childhood, and nods. "Well, if you'll excuse me I'd like to go look at my new house. You boys stay safe." He bows his head slightly to the boys and heads off to find the cleaning hut.
You walk around, getting directions from the locals. Your hut is off to the edge of the town.
It has foot and a half thick walls, made of clay, which is cracking in some places. It will probably need shoring up before long. It has no windows, and the door is a simple heavy curtain. The 'bed' is another curtain draped halfheartedly over a pile of straw. A wooden stool with 2 legs sits off to the side, the third leg leaned up against the wall beside it.
That is all you can see.
Braydn sighs, but its not far from what he had been expecting.
"I suppose it's better than some places," He mumbles to himself.
I should speak to more of these villagers. Perhaps I may yet get this girl back to her home. It just might take quite a bit longer than expected...
He smiles to himself, before heading back to the people of the village.
Everything is much the same as when you left, except that Carthun and Pixis are gone. The shops have re-opened, and there is a tavern, a bakery, and a weaver all open for business.
Braydn walks up to the man with the girl on his shoulders.
"Hello. And how are you two doing in this sun today?" He smiles at them both.
"I'm good!" The girl says, tugging on the hair of the man. He dutifully turns, and you can see that he has no eyes. "Me and Veras were playing horse! Who are you?"
Braydn bows ever so slightly to the girl. "I'm Braydn. Tuhati has hired me to help protect the village. Pleased to meet you." He smiles again.
She looks very close at you. "You are scary." She says matter-of-factly. "Like a monster. Do you want to race Veras?"
His lips twitch ever so slightly at the word monster.
"I'd love to race. Where should we race to miss?" He looks around the village, waiting for her decision.
"The sugar fields, across the mud." She says. "If you win, I give you a silver piece. If I win, you are my horsie for a day. O.k?" She sticks out her hands. "And my name isn't 'miss.' It's Valiran."
Braydn grins at her.
"Alright Valiran, we have a deal. The sugar fields, across the mud. May the best horse win!"
The two line up, get ready, and they're off through the town!
The two run through the town at almost even speeds. As they run, the pack of children wanders out into the middle of the road, barring your path...