Acidios sneezes on Barlow's food and the plate in front of Barlow disintegrates into a gob of some green goop. And just as quick as it came the goop vanishes leaving nothing but the table.
Lady Hurcele looks at Acidios with a stern look Honestly, do you have no manners when it comes to being around civilized folk. The Orc here has more manners than you. Where you raised by a bunch of street rats? I would ask that you control yourself before you ruin any of my things. Would you like another plate of food... I am sorry I never got your name.
IN THE NAME OF...
Barlow roars out the words when he looks down and sees the pile of goop disappear; then, realizing someone is talking, he silences himself and looks up at Lady Hurcele. Before talking he takes a deep breath and unclenches his fists.
The name is Barlow. My appetite is ruined, so I'm sure the small one is proud of himself for sneezing on my food. Disgusting... but don't mind him, he'll pay for all damages he accrues. It's not the first time he's been a giant pain in anyone's rump, and it won't be the last. By the way, his name is Acidios.
He points toward the Gnome, seemingly very frustrated with him.
I wouldn't dare tell you Lisbeth's name without her permission, but the pompous one has already popped the cork on that one. So this here is Lissie.
At this he points toward Lisbeth.
Lisbeth's jaw clenches as the scene unfolds before her. Not for the first or last time does she wonder to herself how she ended up with these people, Lisbeth does her best to ignore the chewing sound, but to no avail. Her temperature begins to skyrocket as she turns to Lady Hurcele.
Steeling herself, Lisbeth ignores Barlow's disintegrating food to glance at the map.
"Descriptions of the signet rings, Talgen and Sharwyn, please."
The rings themselves have our seal on them, a Hammer laying on a bed of coins. As for Talgen he is a short fellow with a big bushy beard. Sharwyn is of average build, her hair is a violet and she has a scar across her left cheek that goes from her lip to her ear. I really hope they are okay.
Lady Hurcele shows you her signet ring. And gets a pleasing look on her face.
Please find them, I dont know wh.... She chokes up as she speaks and then quickly regains her composure. Just, you must find them.
"What did they go there for?" Lisbeth asked curiously, still staring at the map.
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Acidios giggles and thinks to himself Worth every coin.
Wonderful! Food time is over, we have descriptions of our targets, and it looks as if the oh-so delightful Lady Hurcele is about to cry. Onward fellow adventurers!
On his way to the door, Acidos walks up to Lady Hurcele and whispers something to her. Stretching on the tip of his toes to get as close to her ear as he can.
I really am sorry for the damage Lady. Just deduct the costs from my share of the reward when we bring your friends back safe and sound.
Acidios gives her a smile and waves goodbye.
Barlow gets up and nods at Lady Hurcele as he walks towards the door. Before he walks out he pulls his cloak on and make sure it covers his face.
They went in with a group, someone in the group was looking for something I'm not sure what. If you bring back Talgen and Sharwyn in good shape and good mind I will double your reward.
Lady Hurcele looks down at Acidios and gives him a nod.
Is there anything else before you all venture out?
You should probably stop pressing your luck. Acidios was it? I can supply basic needs.
Lisbeth watches her comrades leave and after pausing a moment, she points to the map. "I'll take this. Who can translate this for us?"
I am sorry I only have it in Elven. Your big friend should be able to follow it well enough. Let me show you the road that will take you to the citadel.
Lady Hurcele points out on the map the direction you need to go. It looks to be about a half days walk walk.
Lisbeth's eyes narrow. "It seems foolish to follow a map written in a language you don't understand. I will find someone to translate the writing."
Picking the map up off the table, Lisbeth rolls it up and puts it in the folds of her cloak. Knowing she should offer some sort of farewell, but not knowing what to say, Lisbeth looks down at the floor and murmurs something that sounds like 'goodbye' and heads for the door after her comrades.
When Barlow sees Lisbeth come out of the door he raises his arms in the air.
Ah, there you are! I was wondering if the scary woman ate you. Whew, glad you're alright. Let's get on our way.
Barlow starts heading off the direction he thinks will lead to where the circle was on the map.
Lisbeth jumps when Barlow greets her outside, his booming voice ever unexpected. Her heart pounding a small tattoo, she pulls her cloak around her irritably. "Can either of you read the elvish? Am I the only one here that doesn't want to march off to her potential death without knowing more about this Sunless Citadel?"
As Barlow continues walking he looks back over his shoulder and responds to Lisbeth.
Who wants to read Elvish? Too much effort, in my opinion. And that's why we are going to this Sunless Citadel isn't it? To learn more about it. Get over here, Lissie.
He lightheartedly waves one of his large arms toward his side, beckoning Lisbeth to follow him.
Lisbeth grumbles to herself and follows Barlow. "Fine." Once caught up to Barlow, Lisbeth casts a wary glance behind her, unable to shake the feeling that she was being followed.
Barlow looks back at Acidios when he speaks and then looks toward Lisbeth when he realizes what Acidios has said. A somewhat worried looks appears on his face.
Everything okay, Lissie?
He reaches over to rub her arm with one of his large hands in hopes of making her feel somewhat better and peers around the street to see what is making her feel on edge.
As he looks around his hand subconsciously goes to the hilt of the Earthbreaker slung on his back.
Barlow's huge hand nearly drops her to the ground, but she manages to balance herself. She didn't see anything, and while this slightly calmed her nerves, she couldn't stop herself from feeling like there were eyes on her back. Of course, Lisbeth rationalized to herself, when do you not feel eyes on your back?
"I'm fine. Although, if there's something to this elvish writing on the map, I'll take apologies in the form of gold," she hisses irritably. Stepping toward a side road to hopefully get out of the main streets, she continues. "Let's hope this Lady Hurcele can pay up."
Realizing no danger had shown itself, Barlow relaxes and his hand drops from the hilt of his Earthbreaker. He follows after Lisbeth silently, making sure his hood is pulled over his face.
Probably the only thing the little one and I agree on...
Lisbeth stews silently for a moment, thinking of what to say in retort. She seriously considered learning Elvish now, just to spite the both of them. Paranoia. It had probably saved her life on numerous occasions. "Say what you will about my paranoia, but something doesn't seem right about this."
As you head out of town you can see three men standing in the road. They are all of the rugged type. The leader in the middle is wearing a red sash on his arm. He calls out to you.
So me and the boys 'ere, we get talk that you three be head'n into the citadel. We gots a proposition for you. One that well... ya just can't pass up.
Barlow's hand instinctively moves toward his Earthbreaker's hilt as he waits for further action on the part of the three strangers. He positions himself so he is between the strangers and his comrades, ready for whatever comes next.
Suddenly irritated, she pauses in her gait, briefly, and speaks as though bored. "You have three seconds to spill it, or we move on."
While waiting for an answer, she looks around, hoping to find a quick path to the rooftops in case things get hairy.
The leader takes a few steps forward easily within 40 feet from you. The only means of escape is to run into the forest or back to town.
Now sweetheart, we don' need your tongue. And you can tell yer big lugger there that he can take his hand off his weapon. as it wont be needing to use anythin' o' that sort.
We know you are going ta find those Hurcele folk. We be lookin for something as well. There was a fellow by the name of Sir Braford, he has something that you could say belongs to me. A Sword. You are going to bring this back.
Ignoring the man's threatening words, Lisbeth sighs and tilts her head back as though popping her neck. Resuming a bored gaze at the gentlemen, she continues, "How much for it, or we aren't interested."
Barlow makes no move to remove his hand from his weapon and makes a low growling sound in his throat when the man stops talking.
Look men it is trying to speak... HAHAHA! I am sorry I don't speak beast. As for you pretty, we will pay you 500 gold pieces. Assuming you can complete the job. Also we will give you another 750 gold pieces for the signets that Lady is asking for.
Lisbeth raises an eyebrow at the offer, but decides to let Barlow be the 'negotiator'.
Barlow lets out a roar and rips the Earthbreaker off his back; his cloak falling to the ground in the process, revealing his massive musculature in detail.
YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT YOU FILTHY COWARDLY DOGS!
He raises his weapon to ready and slowly starts walking toward them, growling loudly in the back of his throat and barring his teeth.
oh I think we made it angry. Uh... you better control your animal before we put him down and you lose out on this opportunity to make some real gold.
The leader looks at Barlow with wide eyes and quickly puts his hand on his long sword. Leaning back on his foot slightly as if ready to run. He looks at his men and they too put their hands on their weapons. You can see a slight shake in their hands, however, they hold their faces steady.
Barlow rushes the leader of the group, roaring as loud as he can at his disgust for being called an animal. He pulls back his hammer as he runs to gain power for the attack. When he reaches his antagonist he pushes his left foot into the ground hard to stop his movement and turns his whole upper body with his weapon to put more force into his swing; aiming the spikes in his hammer right for his target's wide expanse of open cheek.
Stopping too short in his rage, his weapon misses the target by more than a few inches. Barlow shouts profanities in anger at his folly and readies his weapon to swing again.
Murix watches as Barlow's weapon passes by and misses him by a long shot.
HA! apparently the beast is blind as well. All deals are off a shame for you really. As we would have had steady work
Murix draws his long sword in a fluid motion bringing it up and taking a slight step forward slashing the sword down attempting to hit Barlow's face. The orc moved just in time while readying his weapon and the advance of Murix fails.
In the same motion Murix uses his momentum on his perfectly placed foot and bounces back just out of reach of Barlow. He pulls his sword up and gets ready for another attack.
Lisbeth at first sighs in annoyance, but when the leading man takes a swing at Barlow, Lisbeth reaches into her cloak, pulling out her loaded bowgun, hoping that the three men are more focused on Barlow than on her actions. She needed their attention on him, not on her.
The other two men draw their rapiers and begin to advance on Barlow. The right thug steps forward and suddenly feels a sword go into his gut. He looks down and sees his middle begins to dissolve away. He drops to the ground sliding off of Acidios' sword.
The left thug approaches Barlow on his left side, and slashes his rapier trying to disable one of Barlow's arms.
Still slightly shaking the thug swings to slow and his rapier gets knocked aside as Barlow readies his weapon to attack Murix.
Barlow screams in rage when the leader again calls him a beast, stepping forward to meet the filth head on.
I WILL END YOU, YOU DISGUSTING MISCREANT!
He does not even seem to notice the other two thugs swinging their swords at him. He pulls his weapon back, both hands gripped tightly around the hilt, aiming the spikes again toward the miscreant's face, and swings in his attack with all the force he can muster.
Seemingly prepared for this attack, the target pulls back just in time to miss a mighty blow to his head. Barlow is fuming now, having missed the filth twice already. He lets out a mighty bellow to the skies and readies his weapon again.
Murix gets looks at Barlow and starts to laugh.
Put down yer weapon before you injure one of your allies. You can't just go around swinging and hope to hit something. Now we have a real proposition for you. And as you have already taken down one of my men, I would rather not lose another.
At this Murix lowers his sword, and waits for a response.
Barlow doesn't seem to hear these words, and is still pulling back his weapon for another attempt to meld this man's head to his Earthbreaker.
"So SPEAK! Clearly this exchange is no longer going to be on your terms. We are heading into the Sunless Citadel and if you want us to consider your damned proposal, you'd better make it. I'm sure there are countless others that want your ruddy sword, and would make a proposition without the insults."
Fuming, Lisbeth moves up to stand just behind and to the right of Barlow, clutching her blowgun in her fist.
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Acidios lets out a sigh of satisfaction at his recent kill.
Glad you've got a semi-level head Lissie, but we both know what barlows got on his mind. We are past proposals.
Acidios turns his attention to Murix. A frightening grin across his face as he begins to advance behind him, pointing, and chanting something under his breath.
The second Murix hears Acidios start to cast his spell he lunges for Barlow, a brief second before he swings he sees Lisbeth raising her blow gun as the dart flies out he changes his swing and deflects it leaving himself open to Barlow.
Suddenly he feels a fuzziness come over his head. As Acidios' daze takes effect.
The other thug takes a swing at Barlow. Barlow doges the rapier with ease and continues to focus his attention on Murix.
Barlow, seeing the turn of events, begins to laugh raucously.
He pulls his weapon around to swing it, once again, at the head of his foe.
After his successful hit, he lets out a battle cry and relishes in the blood spray hitting his face and chest.