"Bjoern, do you still have your purse? It seems the rest of us got robbed. Not only that, I was... burdened... with making offerings to the great goddess Belet-Lil for the whole group. And now they want to get paid. I need 20 gold kind of urgently. I will pay you back, not sure when but I will."asks Red, who seems part angry, happy, embarrassed, confused and amused at herself all at once.
Red then turns to Hedran, replying "Thanks for the kind offer Hedran. I think if they want anyone to work here it might be me. I seem to have impressed Alia. At least I am clean, and making friends."
"They are different, I'll give you that" - Hedran nods in agreement - "Soft... Maybe... I tend to think they are hard in different ways. The most ruthless people I have ever met were city dwellers" - he ponders - "They would not draw a blade on you, don't even know if they could use one. Yet they could bring worlds of harm upon their antagonists"
Again the familiar chuckle returns - "But yep, they are soft" - he adds, taking a bite from his own morsel.
"What about you Anhur? What brings you here?"
"I have wandered the many lands that lie north of my birth home. I have learned from the warriors of Azimba, but also from the panthers of Ikuna; I have seen the strange mystics of Yar-Ammon, but I have also seen the fires of Zadj; I have eaten with the men of Khazistan and the beasts of the eastern shores. Wherever the strands of fate pull me, there I go. And in all places, in all precious things, in all great men and powerful beasts, I search for the center, the heart."
"I would gladly help, but it would seem after purchasing these meager morsels, I have been 'relieved' of all my money also" - Hedran shakes his head with a smile - "I'm not even surprised this city is already overwhelming us without the slightest of chances" - then turns to Anhur - "I guess we are the soft ones huh?" - again he shakes his head and smiles.
"Red, I cannot help you" - he returns to the matters at hand - "I have no issues in offering my work as servant for a couple of days, if they accept it. Maybe that will sort things out? At least they should offer me a place to sleep, now that I have no coin to pay for my own" - he suggests, then adds with a slight more serious tone - "Or we can just bolt. I don't care"
"You should not be so careless, Hedran. While we spoke I watched a man make a move for your purse. Do not despair, for I took it to keep with my own. Here--" Anhur says with a grin, reaching back for the missing purse.
Red then turns to Hedran, replying "Thanks for the kind offer Hedran. I think if they want anyone to work here it might be me. I seem to have impressed Alia. At least I am clean, and making friends."
The one called Alia lays her hand gently on Red's arm.
"No, no - you misunderstood. It is true that for our services we do require modest offerings to the goddess, yet you have already paid me the coin - you only owe the coin to Razak," she adds with a nod to the male you had encountered earlier.
The man named Razak turns a glance between Red and Alia.
"It is good that she made the offering to our Lady of The Moon for the services you rendered. Yet the debt for my services is yet to be paid," he says with a formal but stern voice.
Anhur curses and swears as he gropes all over his robes in a furious effort to find what he would not; both purses had gone missing. "At least the bandits of the desert wastes had pride enough to rob openly where they could be strangled!" He declares in frustration.
Anhur curses and swears as he gropes all over his robes in a furious effort to find what he would not; both purses had gone missing. "At least the bandits of the desert wastes had pride enough to rob openly where they could be strangled!" He declares in frustration.
The heavily built male acolyte's eyes widen in surprise and he shakes his head.
"Ah! You were robbed by one of the street gangs which operate near to here, eh? Do you know which gang assailed you?" he asks, a curious tone in his voice.
The one called Alia lays her hand gently on Red's arm.
"No, no - you misunderstood. It is true that for our services we do require modest offerings to the goddess, yet you have already paid me the coin - you only owe the coin to Razak," she adds with a nod to the male you had encountered earlier. [/ooc]
"Of course. Please excuse me for my error. I am new to this land and Sushranite is not my native language." replies Red repentantly.
"Ah! You were robbed by one of the street gangs which operate near to here, eh? Do you know which gang assailed you?" he asks, a curious tone in his voice.
"I am a stranger to this city, and these thieves did not announce their names or their deeds. If I knew which bandit had taken my silvers, I would already be freeing his blood from his body." Anhur replies, now somewhat more calm but clearly still angry; he was not a man to forgive a slight, though not every grudge was wise to pursue.
"Ah! You were robbed by one of the street gangs which operate near to here, eh? Do you know which gang assailed you?" he asks, a curious tone in his voice."I am a stranger to this city, and these thieves did not announce their names or their deeds. If I knew which bandit had taken my silvers, I would already be freeing his blood from his body."
Hedran cannot help but smile at Anhur's words - "What he said" - he adds, with a nod at the male acolyte asking the question.
Her private appointment with the elder yet attractive Priestess had gone very well in her opinion.
Tairin felt like herself once more - revived by the particular administrations bestowed upon her. A drawn out smile played across her mouth and she looked at Mei-Mei. "You have honoured me much, this day, Lady Priestess. It was a pleasure to be in such company as yours and it will be one of my fondest memories." Tairin shook out her long, silky, fragrant hair. "Please, tell me, how much coin can I favour you and your goddess for such pleasurable courtesy?"
Once the coin was exchanged, Tairin gently stroked the Lady Priestess' face and spoke in hushed voice against her ear, "You are a rare beauty, Lady Mei-Mei." Bowing her head to the Priestess, she retreated from the sanctuary of The Wet Embrace, and moved to find her companions.
As Tairin stepped outside the bath house, it did not take her long to locate her companions and moved toward them with a newfound confidence and revived beauty. Her unbound hair flowed in silky waves down her back, the fragrant oils used on her body gave a heady and wondrous scent as she moved and her linen robes were pristine and fresh.
"Greetings, companions." Tairin smiled broadly, but looking around the group and noting the unfamiliar male and female, she enquired, "What has transpired?"
When the priestess realized you are literally only there to bathe, she immediately changes her entire attitude. It is both courteous, but distant - professional. She will service your needs as a customer, but has no desire to indulge with more intimate actions with someone who is not interested in pursuing things further.
Therefore, you are bathed, cleaned, and refreshed completely in her care.
"Greetings, companions." Tairin smiled broadly, but looking around the group and noting the unfamiliar male and female, she enquired, "What has transpired?"
The male, Razak, looks at Tairin inquiringly.
"With respect, we are attempting to collect a debt from one of your companions. Further, you have received services for being bathed and having your clothing laundered. Such mundane services are not without price, even beyond receiving the healing touch of our goddess," he adds, clearly alluding to the fact that the liaison between him and Red should be seen as almost a 'divine gift' as Red was able to couple with an acolyte to Belet-Lil.
However, at this time the priestess who had been with Tairin appears.
Surveying the scene with a regal eye, she then looks at Razak.
"Today is an auspicious day; therefore we shall not charge them for the cost to launder their goods or bathe them - yet it is a fact that you have serviced one of them and must be compensated," she adds with a direct voice and then a glance to the party awaiting the coin.
Tairin addressed the male acolyte before her, "I do not know your name. If we owe you coin, then it shall be paid promptly, rest assured."
Tairin glanced at Red with new eyes, wondering something but not speaking of it in present company. Still, the woman was a riddle.
When the Lady Mei-Mei appeared and spoke, Tairin respectfully nodded, "You are most kind, Lady Priestess. I shall pay for the divine service granted to my sister. What sum do you seek in recompense?"
Tairin addressed the male acolyte before her, "I do not know your name. If we owe you coin, then it shall be paid promptly, rest assured."
"A mere trifle - only ten gold pieces," he says with a gracious but firm voice.
The priestess nods her head at this and turns to the company, waiting to see when they will pay.
When the Lady Mei-Mei appeared and spoke, Tairin respectfully nodded, "You are most kind, Lady Priestess. I shall pay for the divine service granted to my sister. What sum do you seek in recompense?"
The priestess's full lips twist in a languid smile.
"Ah, little àirén, I am sure the acolyte will enjoy your offering on behalf of your companion... yet between you and I and the matter of coin? You need not worry on such matters," she says with a deep, soft voice as she moves to Tairin.
She slides her hand gently up and brushes a loose strand of Tairin's hair back, her fingertip gently caressing the curve of Tairin's ear with an almost feathery touch.
She leans in more closely, her very words teasing out like an intimate embrace.
"Between you and I there can be no talk of offerings - and regarding such matters of payment? Rest assured, I have already been aptly satisfied," she adds, her breath blowing warm and gently on the nape of Tairin's neck and she then leans back; her lips rising to blossom in a lush, knowing smile.
She pauses a moment, her hand resting on her hip as she surveys the others casually, but her eyes return to Tairin after a moment, her gaze gliding up over the younger woman with a catlike delight.
"A mere trifle - only ten gold pieces," he says with a gracious but firm voice.
The priestess nods her head at this and turns to the company, waiting to see when they will pay.
"Ah, little àirén, I am sure the acolyte will enjoy your offering on behalf of your companion... yet between you and I and the matter of coin? You need not worry on such matters," she says with a deep, soft voice as she moves to Tairin.
Opening her fine pack, Tairin retrieved her coin pouch and discreetly pulled ten gold pieces and handed them to the male acolyte. "Our gratitude for your kind service."
Looking to the female acolyte, she asked, "Do you seek recompense as well?"
Upon the Priestess' dismissing the notion of recompense for her own services, Tairin smiled delightfully; her dark eyes bright under the warmth of the woman's breath upon her neck. A shiver moved down Tairin's spine. She wanted to ask Mei-Mei what àirén meant, but refrained out of courtesy, opting to believe it a pet name from the woman's own lands.
As Mei-Mei's eyes studied her form, Tairin's skin flushed with heat and she returned a coy smile. When she spoke, it was softly, "One can learn much from you, Lady Priestess."
Looking to the female acolyte, she asked, "Do you seek recompense as well?"
Alia looks between the priestess and Tairin, then Red, then Tairin.
"No, in truth, my fortitude was not as great as your companion... such debts have been more than compensated," she adds, attempting to sound as worldly as the priestess, yet her words seem a touch clumsy - as if she does not have nearly the skill or experience in such matters.
As Mei-Mei's eyes studied her form, Tairin's skin flushed with heat and she returned a coy smile. When she spoke, it was softly, "One can learn much from you, Lady Priestess."
The priestess raises an eyebrow at Tairin's words and studies her with a mixture of interest and naked hunger, then chuckles deeply in her throat as she moistens her lip thoughtfully.
She arches her back slowly, then smiles.
"If you truly wish to learn more, come to me again on the next full moon and I shall begin to instruct you properly," she says with a smile mixed with both sly innuendo as well as a sincere offer to provide instruction in such paths - should you desire them.
She then returns inside the bath house and the other acolytes leave you all, except for Alia who is willing to answer any other questions you might have at this time, being completely impressed by Red's fortitude with her during their interaction - as well as the response of her priestess with Tairin.
Looking to the female acolyte, she asked, "Do you seek recompense as well?"Alia looks between the priestess and Tairin, then Red, then Tairin.
"No, in truth, my fortitude was not as great as your companion... such debts have been more than compensated," she adds, attempting to sound as worldly as the priestess, yet her words seem a touch clumsy - as if she does not have nearly the skill or experience in such matters.
Red blushes slightly, then gives Alia a wink and a knowing smile.
As Mei-Mei's eyes studied her form, Tairin's skin flushed with heat and she returned a coy smile. When she spoke, it was softly, "One can learn much from you, Lady Priestess."The priestess raises an eyebrow at Tairin's words and studies her with a mixture of interest and naked hunger, then chuckles deeply in her throat as she moistens her lip thoughtfully.
She arches her back slowly, then smiles.
"If you truly wish to learn more, come to me again on the next full moon and I shall begin to instruct you properly," she says with a smile mixed with both sly innuendo as well as a sincere offer to provide instruction in such paths - should you desire them.
"Your acolytes also display useful skills Priestess."replies Red.
Then after the lady departs, Red says to Tairin "Thank you kindly Tairin."
"Your acolytes also display useful skills Priestess."replies Red.
Then after the lady departs, Red says to Tairin "Thank you kindly Tairin."
Alia's eyes move between Red and Tairin again.
"I am pleased this has been dealt with - yet my heart prompts me to asks what is it I can do for you truly?"
"Some folk come to cities for many reasons, some for profit, some for luxury, and some for adventure. You have done poorly with profit, it seems, but succeeded with luxury."
"As of now it seems you have not tested the waters for adventure - yet... Still, I am unsure what it is you desire and so I cannot aid you until I know more," she adds.
Donning his armor again, Bjoern takes another long drink of water and sits down putting all his weapons on a blanket and starts sharpening them one after the other.
Red replies to Alia, saying "We did have a goodly supply of coin, until we came to Belthaar when three of the less alert of us were relieved of most of it by the irritatingly expert Belthaar thieves. For myself, seeking adventure seems attractive, especially if it can be combined with acquiring some wealth. We have not discussed it, but my suspicion is my companions are adventuring types. I would be delighted to hear your advice Alia, though I am not sure the street is the best place for such a conversation."
Hedran finds it odd that this 'stranger' Alia would take such an interest in their dealings, and observes her intently.
He is still curious about why this would be an 'auspicious' day, but keeps his thoughts to himself.
Then after the lady departs, Red says to Tairin "Thank you kindly Tairin."
"You are welcome. It is best to pay such debts."
"I would be delighted to hear your advice Alia, though I am not sure the street is the best place for such a conversation."
"We are in the bath house's private courtyard, sister, so I am certain we can speak at ease within its gates. And the young haraami who attempted to take my coin pouch and failed, ran off and dropped his own pouch as he fled. It did not contain an abundance of coin; merely seventeen silver pieces and twenty two copper pieces, but I am certain he will miss it dearly. But it is small recompense for the coin they stole from the three of you. And indeed, it seems we are all here for adventure, although I cannot speak for the new man there," gesturing to the ex-slave, Hedran.
"The guys were not very adventurous in the bath house." adds Red quietly and somewhat cheekily.
Hedran raises an eyebrow at the way Tairin refers to him as the 'new man' - "Thanks" - he smiles at Tairin - "I'll refrain from speaking for you also" - his comment seems good natured as he is still smiling - "Name's Hedran by the way 'old lady' - and then chuckles.
"In any case, for now my objectives are more mundane - after the immediate concern of where I will sleep tonight, I think I will aim at recovering a modicum of currency to refill my pouch somehow" - he ponders - "Actually I will need to buy a pouch first" - in spite of the robbery, he seems to be in a good mood - "After that we'll see"
Red replies to Alia, saying "We did have a goodly supply of coin, until we came to Belthaar when three of the less alert of us were relieved of most of it by the irritatingly expert Belthaar thieves. For myself, seeking adventure seems attractive, especially if it can be combined with acquiring some wealth. We have not discussed it, but my suspicion is my companions are adventuring types."
Hedran finds it odd that this 'stranger' Alia would take such an interest in their dealings, and observes her intently.
.
”Ah, then adventure it is for you and your companions! Very good, yet I am not wholly sure how I can help you,” she says with a bright smile, then a small frown as she starts to think.
Alia purses her lips, her eyes flicking to Tairin, then back to Red.
"Now, it is a fact that you and the males you travel with have been robbed, but your companion," she says with a nod to Tairin "was not robbed, but secured a coin pouch from one of the would-be thieves... "
"I suppose that it is doubtful the thief will forget that, or forget that your companion has his pouch and coin, though I do not know how that may lead to any action or would-be adventures," she says slowly, her brow furrowing as if she is trying to puzzle things out.
"Assuredly, there may be trouble later if he does wish his money back, but then - the thief who dropped his pouch which your companion took may have been nothing but a clumsy lout and decided to seek better options rather than attempt to waylay your party later… Yes; I am sure that will be the case," she says after a moment and a bright smile.
Donning his armor again, Bjoern takes another long drink of water and sits down.
"Indeed, why should any thief worth his salt seek to harm you when it is known that at this time the truly talented thieves are likely plying their skills on the folk who are enjoying the gifts offered near the temples to Baal-Khardah – for it is said that a rogue who masqueraded as one of their priests and was hunted long was brought to justice and the relic he carried – a staff to mark his status as a priest – was returned to the city this very day, though some still say that his confederates may lurk near to the city," she adds, hoping this news will cheer Red up.
"Of course, I am also not wholly sure how folk hunting associates or those who spoke of knowing this false priest may lead you to adventure," she says the last to herself with a somewhat confused expression, almost as if she is not sure why she brought it up.
He then puts all his weapons on a blanket.
"Ah! But perhaps this will matter little, for the war chiefs have returned to the city through the cover of a great storm that the gods themselves must have sent to aid them and all are pleased at their success!"
"Well - excepting those folk who hail from foreign cities who we are at war with - they are likely not pleased. But what does that matter? They have sent no armies to fight us as of late, though I suppose it is likely that they have sent spies within our walls to ferret out the secrets of our cities. Yet why should that matter to you?"
"Spies must do their best to blend in with those they mingle with, only an inept spy - and by that I mean the sort who appears to be greatly out of place with the local people of our city - only they should have any true cause for fear, I should think," she says, referring to those who do not blend well with either the local folk of both Balthaar and Susrah as a whole.
"Indeed, only an obvious outsider should be judged with any real suspicion by those in a city who stands askance with rivals who wish to do her harm; yet you and your companions seem to blend fairly well… mostly,” she says, her eyes glancing from the towering fair-skinned Bjeorn, the dark-skinned southerner Anhur, the two foreign women and the enigmatic north man Hedran.
”Yet you seem to be decent folk; I doubt anyone would judge you harshly or be suspicious of your presence here, or your sudden arrival. After all, it is true you arrived nearly the same time the war chiefs returned, though you did not travel with them, but - undoubtedly - anyone who has noted or marked your arrival will clearly judge this as mere coincidence," she adds with a cheerful voice, clearly enamored with Red's earlier affections with her and doing her best to be optimistic and helpful.
He then starts sharpening his weapons one after the other...
Seeing Bjoern sharpening his weapons, Alia frowns again, knowing she must have erred to have failed to inspire more confidence with her suggestions somehow.
She looks at Red with a somewhat sad pout, clearly a bit out of her element regarding tactics and strategy. Still she rallies herself for one last piece of advice, not sure if it will help, but hoping it will.
”I believe one of you spoke of a former patron of mine; I am glad he is with you and that he can help you. He is a good man, or he was to me, and I feel that traveling with him should be safer for you then without him. After all, he is well known by a powerful noble house and if you travel with him and are seen together then surely those folk who serve the noble will great you with the same enthusiasm that they show for him,” she says slowly, her finger tapping her lip thoughtfully.
”Were I you, I would return to the inn and await him there, for he has said he shall come to you at night, and if he was successful - and why should he not be - then he may have coin for you to offset your losses.”
”In any case you are already established and paid for at the inn. Also, though it may seem like a dull place at this time, as it is not likely to be crowded now, I deem that when the sun sets and the land cools that you will find the inn to be more interesting place and surely one with more adventure; being that your companions and you seem to crave adventure this is a good thing.”
”But in any case, as you have a bargain to wait for him to return to you I would say that waiting in the inn is perhaps the wisest choice, at least until you have heard from him. After all, where else will you go this night if not to the inn you have already paid for?”
She glances at the sun to gauge the time, then back at your company.
"Even so, if he does not come to you tonight then it would likely be best to rest there, at least to gather additional information and try to find those who may seek your help for work. But if you are not successful with any of those options this night then return to me in the morning and I will do what I may to aid you should you need it."
"There are articles and services I require, but those are concerns for another day. I wish to know what business is transpiring on the other end of the city." Anhur speaks, standing broad and ready. His robes, still the khaki color of the wastes, hang about him with an air of forgotten splendor even as the sun grows weary in the sky.
"She speaks wisely. We should not miss our companion, nor should he miss us." Anhur says with a respectful nod.
"There are articles and services I require, but those are concerns for another day. I wish to know what business is transpiring on the other end of the city." Anhur speaks, standing broad and ready. His robes, still the khaki color of the wastes, hang about him with an air of forgotten splendor even as the sun grows weary in the sky.
Alia looks at Anhur; despite her training, it is hard for her to contain the contempt she has for this southern barbarian.
Still, she rallies gamely and responds.
"The business of celebration, no doubt! The priests of Baal-Khardah have been making gifts to those who claim to be faithful to their god; they claim the storms which came to aid the war chiefs were a gift from their god and so wish to bless their followers richly."
"Though, of course, most folk who follow them are already rich - at least, for now," she says with a somewhat sardonic gleam in her eyes, then shrugs her shapely shoulders and looks to the rest of you.
"Do you others wish to go with this one to the western part of the city where the temples of Baal-Khardah are? It is yet three or four hours to sunset if you do not desire to remain in the tavern to wait for your traveling companion then you could travel to those temples and still return to your tavern before nightfall and meet with him... if you wish. Though I think it would be wise to meet him this night, no matter where you would go in the meanwhile," she adds.
"She speaks wisely. We should not miss our companion, nor should he miss us." Anhur says with a respectful nod.
Alia gives Anhur a long, appraising look, her gaze clear and intent as she studies him coolly, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Then the look passes and she turns back to Red and gives her a coy wink then shrugs her shoulders again and offers her a small, girlish grin.
"Indeed, why should any thief worth his salt seek to harm you when it is known that at this time the truly talented thieves are likely plying their skills on the folk who are enjoying the gifts offered near the temples to Baal-Khardah – for it is said that a rogue who masqueraded as one of their priests and was hunted long was brought to justice and the relic he carried – a staff to mark his status as a priest – was returned to the city this very day, though some still say that his confederates may lurk near to the city," she adds, hoping this news will cheer Red up.
Red gives Alia a none too chaste kiss in appreciation of Alia's efforts to cheer her, then asks "Do you know anything more about this man who impersonated a priest of Baal-Khardah and his confederates? It could be important."
She looks at Red with a somewhat sad pout, clearly a bit out of her element regarding tactics and strategy. Still she rallies herself for one last piece of advice, not sure if it will help, but hoping it will.
”I believe one of you spoke of a former patron of mine; I am glad he is with you and that he can help you. He is a good man, or he was to me, and I feel that traveling with him should be safer for you then without him. After all, he is well known by a powerful noble house and if you travel with him and are seen together then surely those folk who serve the noble will great you with the same enthusiasm that they show for him,” she says slowly, her finger tapping her lip thoughtfully.
"That would be Samir. The noble house you mention... well Samir had a falling out with his former owners and was sold. If it is the same house you have in mind Samir is anything but in their favour now."
Following the further discussion of what to do in the immediate future, Red says:-
"I think we should spend the night at the inn we paid for. And see what funds Samir managed to raise. And Samir knows the city, so is likely to have suggestions as to what we can profitably do here. Tomorrow we can decide what actions to take for the future. what do the rest of you think?"
"She speaks wisely. We should not miss our companion, nor should he miss us." Anhur says with a respectful nod.
"I'm sure the girl Alia is being as upfront as expected" - he nods at her to show he acknowledges her words - "But really come on - how WELL related can Samir be in this place - we all remember how we met up with him right? And how he left this town the last time he was here?" - Hedran shakes his head - "If that is how well related people are treated here, I'll take the desert storm anyway" - again the mischievous smile starts showing on his lips.
"That would be Samir. The noble house you mention... well Samir had a falling out with his former owners and was sold. If it is the same house you have in mind Samir is anything but in their favour now."
"That"
"I think we should spend the night at the inn we paid for. And see what funds Samir managed to raise. And Samir knows the city, so is likely to have suggestions as to what we can profitably do here. Tomorrow we can decide what actions to take for the future. what do the rest of you think?"...
"Agreed"
The companions have returned the Black Dog Inn and have done what they can to make themselves as comfortable as they can while waiting for Samir to return. He had promised to return after nightfall, and although the sun sets near toward eight o'clock, even now they have still not yet seen him.
Meanwhile, though they have eaten and made themselves as comfortable as they can in the common room, they still attract many a curious or suspicious stare from those folk who are now crowding into the inn for warmth or the promise of a hot meal or cold drink.
As they continue to wait they notice a tall, heavily robed figure enter the inn and study the place intently. When his eyes reach the companions he lowers part of the veil around his face and they recognize him as Samir.
He quickly moves to you and sits besides you.
”Greetings,” he says as he glances at each of you ”I am glad to see you again; I heard you have had some trouble with some of the Red Hands today,” he says, his eyes studying the room intently, then relaxing after a moment.
Seeing some confusion on the faces he picks up an errant scrap of bread on the table and chews it, then grabs the nearest half-empty cup of whatever someone has been sipping and downs it quickly.
”The Red Hands are a small-time gang of thieves, nothing special – but rumor is that they’ve a small place they meet to share loot and fence items,” he adds with a low, quick voice.
”I went to meet Alia after the bath house, I thought I may see you there, but you had already left…. In any case, she told me that you had taken one of the pouches from these villains? Good!” he adds, helping himself to whatever else is on the table.
”The mistress of the House – she is a priestess with many unknown powers and though I do not wholly trust her it is a fact that she can divine secrets of a person simply by handling a possession of theirs… In short, if we return there now we may be able to have her do a reading on the pouch to find where these basterds make their nest, eh?”
”If we can do this then we should be able to find the place where they keep their loot and then go there quickly and then kill them and take whatever wealth they have kept,” he adds.
He glances around the tavern, suspiciously, but as of now no one seems to be paying him any attention, so he shrugs.
”But we cannot dally overlong. Such a reading may take time and the longer we wait the colder the trail grows,” he adds.
”Take the gear you have and let us go quickly; we can talk more outside about my success doing the thing you sent me to do earlier this day,” he says, doubling checking to make sure no one is listening in ”but better to talk outside, for after dark there will be fewer folk on the streets than in this place to listen in to our words, eh?”
He then fastens his veil around his face and stands, quickly moving toward the door and only pausing for you to follow after him.
Bjoern smiles at the idea to rob the thieves and nods."That would be a splendid idea. Not that they managed to robb me, but for the others!"
Red silently follows Samir outside. Once out in the street, she says "This is a brilliant idea Samir. We got to meet Alia at the bath house, delightful girl." while thinking delightful girl she was. This is probably not the best time to mention I shagged her. Samir might know...
"Sounds solid" - Hedran pipes in - "Kill them, and take their wealth. Let's go"
"This plan pleases me, but how can we be sure to hold onto our purses this time? And speaking of purses, have you sold our wagon?" Anhur grins at the idea of robbing the thieves, but he maintains a composure to avoid making mistakes of passion.
"Well, I have no pouch anymore so..." - Hedran chuckles at Anhur.
"My suggestion as to avoiding having your wealth stolen by thieves again is to carry only a small amount of coin in your purse and use that for most purchases. Store the rest of your coin in your backpack,well away from the top, and avoid taking it out in public. If you have to spend a lot, make sure the rest of us are there to watch for thieves. That way nobody will know where most of your coin is and even if they did, it would not be possible to obtain it by picking your pocket. Of course, there is no need for such precautions if we are all impoverished. So we had best make this raid on the Red Hand a success."
Once the party is outside they are better able to talk without anyone watching or listening in, for the streets are nearly empty now, except for a few random pairs of people hurrying down streets to find a place to get inside and enjoy themselves.
You notice, though, that while you cannot make many people on the streets at all, it is clear that there does not seem to be anyone who is traveling alone.
Red silently follows Samir outside. Once out in the street, she says "This is a brilliant idea Samir. We got to meet Alia at the bath house, delightful girl."
He glances around the streets for a moment, then looks at her.
"Aye! She had many interesting details to share about you as well," he adds, giving Red a sudden but curious glances, then turning his gaze to the dimly lit streets around you.
"This plan pleases me, but how can we be sure to hold onto our purses this time? And speaking of purses, have you sold our wagon?" Anhur grins at the idea of robbing the thieves, but he maintains a composure to avoid making mistakes of passion.
Samir ignores the question about the purses, but he travels with a quick, easy tread, pausing only as he sees four men wearing a crude sort of uniform and carrying torches marching down one of the main roads and diverts your course to a side alley.
"I did not do as well as I wished with the wagon. The camels were easy to sell, as you may guess, but it seemed that no one wished to purchase a slavers wagon who did not already possesses one. In the end I was able to convince the camel drover to accept it with the purchase price of the camels, but that slippery basterd cheated me roundly for it," he says with a growl, clearly more annoyed that he couldn't have gotten a better deal for the wagon then he did.
He turns his steps and leads south down a side street between two tall buildings which you believe are warehouses. The street comes to a wide area beyond the two warehouses, and just north of two more with a side-street that runs east west between them.
You suspect the side street allows easy foot traffic, but the east-west street allow wagons to bring goods between all four buildings, and the small area where the goods can be unloaded widens out around the side street to allow the wagons to be moved and stored there with more simplicity.
As you hurry down the side street you notice behind you a shape is moving in the shadows, but hurry on, knowing that there are more of you than the one following.
Samir notes the man too, but urges you to hurry on where you can spread and out and deal with him better, rather than having only one or two of you in the back to fight, if it indeed comes to fighting.
As you funnel into the area between them you observe that the side road between the warehouses which leads south is not in a straight line with the northern route.
However, when you enter the space between the warehouses and move forward to the small area between them you are shocked to see a wagon is blocking both the the east and west side road.
"Damnation! Come, move forward so we can deal with whatever this footpad behind us may try," he urges with a growl as he draws his blade an moves forward to flank the area which shadowy person behind you is moving into with whoever will help him.
As he readies his weapon and you all funnel around the opening to stop the person behind you and whatever trap they may be trying to snare you in, you hear a muffled scream for help coming from the shadows to the south of you.
In the dim moonlight it is hard to see well what is going on - but easy enough to see you are all in danger!
Red silently follows Samir outside. Once out in the street, she says "This is a brilliant idea Samir. We got to meet Alia at the bath house, delightful girl."He glances around the streets for a moment, then looks at her.
"Aye! She had many interesting details to share about you as well," he adds, giving Red a sudden but curious glances, then turning his gaze to the dimly lit streets around you.
Red blushes a deep, well, red but does not reply.
Moving down the alley to your north seems to be another of the masked men who is advancing on you; currently you have spread out around the alley opening to deal with him and it is at this time you hear the scream.
The scream comes from the southwest corner, at that place you see several masked individuals gathered around an elderly man who they have forced into a corner and are assailing.
One of the man sees you spread about the opening of the alley and he points at you all.
”No witnesses!” he spits out and the men turn toward you as the other man continues to advance down the north alley.
The buildings which flank you are roughly 30 feet high.
They are considered to have a DC of 25 to Climb them as they are considered a Typical Building Lower Wall - Here –
Finally, the entire place is considered to be extremely dark; so the enemy are considered to have Concealment and when you attack I need you to roll a 1d100 – a roll of 81-00 will miss your target – unless you have the ability to see in the dark (I know some of you do).
Please have your sheet updated before you post your action if you haven't already done so. Thanks!
Seeing the goons come closer Bjoern smiles his toothy smiles.They think they are the predators, when in reality, they are the prey!
Seeing the goons come closer Bjoern smiles his toothy smiles.They think they are the predators, when in reality, they are the prey!
The enemy wins initiative. I'll have a post up soon; sorry for the delay...
Moves up to K:8 and swings at Anhur –
The other two rogues converge on the screaming man and stab him viciously and multiple times, eliciting more screams of pain….
At this point the man in the corner has crumpled to the ground and the other two Rogues turn to stare at you.
Red, quickly summing up the situation, casts Mage Armour on herself, saying:-
"Cailleach Sciath! Excellent! An opportunity to demonstrate our displeasure with the thieves of this town."
"No witnesses you say? Deal!" - Hedran grunts, drawing his morning star and swinging it hard at the rogue between himself and Samir, and then shifting his position.
Quickly slashes at the goon in front of him after taking a step aside.
Using combat experience of course.
Quickly slashes at the goon in front of him after taking a step aside.
Using combat experience of course.