Aldern gingerly picked himself up off the ground and made his way over to the dead beast and his erstwhile companions.
"By Gorum, what strength!" he stated in awe. He looked somewhat drunk, and his fine clothing was soiled by the fall into the loam and grass. However, a broad grin showed upon his face as he realised his group was he first to slay a beast, and a very sizeable one at that.
Zair was watching the forest intently, so he was the first to see the four beaters returning to the site. The men looked dirty and tired, and one of them carried his arm as if it pained him. It seemed these were definitely the cause of the boars wild flight.
While the party dressed and trussed their kill, and Augie cleaned up the various bits of blood and brains, Lady Nessa rode back to the them. She seemed none the worse for wear, but her tone towards Raimos had cooled somewhat. It was clear by her look and some of the words she spoke that she had expected the man to ride off after her, and "rescue" her. In fact, Raimos at least suspected she may have let the horse have its head rather than have lost control as it first appeared.
Within half an hour, the other three groups had also returned. Each group had managed to bag wild game, but nothing as impressive as what remained of the boar Crokus and Ira had slain. Pheasants, rabbit goose and wild boar were on the menu tonight it seemed.
******
The fire roared in the Rusty Dragon that evening. Ameiko had done a superb job roasting the boar and the other game, though she had berated the party for destroying the head of the animal as she couldn't present it properly now.
Around the inn, people were laughing merrily and many were quite drunk. The nobles had hired the entire place, and were supplying their men and themselves with the best that Ameiko could offer. Spirits, wine and ale were flowing freely, and the food was plentiful. The cool spring breeze coming in off bay couldn't tough them in here.
The four men were the toast of the party initially, but before long people had closed to groups of their own, as is the norm in any party that runs for long enough. So it was that the four adventurers found themselves sitting at a quiet table, near the fire and the food, enjoying a moment with just themselves.
Crokus, seeing his Half-Orc friends are nowhere around, decides he can't ruin his image tonight.
He pulls out a pencil and a journal and starts marking into it some notes he'd been working on. After some time, he exclaims.
"Aha! I think I've finally got this down. I'll mark that one as 'Proficient' until I get the chance to actually talk to a Giant..."
When Ameiko comments on the boar, Ira points to Crokus and shakes his head.
As soon as he is able, Ira slips away properly clean his clothes. He returns downstairs to eat a modest dinner, then slips off again to go to the blue house to meditate (and if possible sleeps at the monastery rather than the Inn.) He is not one for large social gatherings.
He returns to the Inn at first light so that he can be found in his room in the morning, should adventure call.
...for a while, Raimos is quiet, nursing his drink...the events of the day play through his mind. He'd never seen a man opened like Crokus was...and he was pretty sure it would kill a lesser man. Raimos had never felt quite so mortal before. Life was fragile, for most of us.
...but then Desna had answered his prayers, and he was now a healer. Raimos had never anticipated that.
That deserved celebration!
With a sudden change of heart, Raimos drains his mug, grabs a second, and stands with a flourish...To Crokus, as much monster as man, who slays boars with a single blow, even when the beast has done his worst! I daresay such a blow would lay low many a champion of old, and yet the sight of his own blood merely inspires him to a fury the likes of which...need chronicling!
Raimos finishes his toast VERY loudly, raising his mug in tribute as he turns to his friend...who frankly, has him awed at the moment.
...glancing at Amieko...I'm sure he'll do his best to leave the head more intact, next time, if he can control the strength of his mighty arm!
Raimos drinks deeply, and then turns to Lady Nessa...speaking more softly...I am so glad you got the horse under control...I'm am no great rider...and when the boar emerged...and that great tusk ripped into my friend...I'd never felt so mortal in all my years. I would have died from such a blow, I know it.
I have been blessed by Desna...my hands now heal. Such a wonderful gift.
Again, for a time, Raimos goes silent, just staring into his ale...and then the moment passes. Again he stands, with a broad smile, and then breaks into limericks...some just funny...others more ribald.
Diplomacy: (with an extra +1 for the ladies...and any men with...those proclivities)
Perform: Oratory: (same)
The party was starting to wind down as the night dragged its way towards midnight.
Lord Foxglove, quite inebriated, had come to find Ira, and was now lamenting the young Monk had retired early to his rooms. He was talking to another young Lord, (the one whom Crokus had mistakenly insulted earlier that day), and was esposing the teachings of the monks god and how his unarmed techniques were "amazing to behold". All the while the young Lord was holding him upright and nodding in sympathy, while Ogling one of the serving girls.
Raimos had somehow managed to disappear as the evening wore on as well. It was only after Zair noted that Lady Nessa was also conspiculously absent that he came to understand what had happened. The strange Inquisitor hoped his bardic friend wouldn't land himself into too much trouble. It seemed one of the other Lords, a local man by name of Titus, had also noted the ladies absence and was none too pleased. Still, none of them were bothering Zair and Crokus.
When the door to the Rusty Dragon flew open, it caught everyone's attention. The cold night air swept in, causing goose bumps across the flesh and flickering the candles at the tables.
A tall man stood in the doorway, his clothes clearly those of a rich man. His face was livid with anger, flushed red around the cheeks and his almond eyes bulging with barely repressed rage. His skin colour, the cut of his hair and the thinly cut mustache clearly put him as a foreigner. When he yelled into the room, his accent was also thick.
"Where is my daughter!!" his words boomed across the general chatter that was still occurring. "Where is Ameiko, who should be home tending to the family business instead of acting the Harlot in an establishment such as this." His tone and the way he dismissively indicated the building told volumes of what he thought of the inn.
He caught sight of Ameiko then, standing at the bar with a bottle of expensive spirits in hand. Her face was pale, and a look of mixed horror and anger was crossing her face. The man's words slipped into a foreign tongue that neither inquisitor nor barbariab could understand. His tone hadn't changed though, and it was clear he was berating the owner of the establishment with his full wrath. As he spoke, he began to stride across the room towards his daughter, pushing through the gathered guests and ignoring the comments of "I say!", and "Really, the rudeness!".
He reached Ameiko and grabbed her physically by the arm, looking to drag her from the tavern immediately, while the shocked nobles and servants stood watching.
Crokus walks up and puts one of his hands up to the man's chest.
"That's far enough," he growls "If you've business with Ameiko you can settle it here, politely, with no further trouble."
Zair follows Crokus' lead and walks up to the man.
"I believe this woman was about to get me my drink, sir."
He looks directly at the man so his eyes are visible to the man, glowing in the darkness of his hood.
"I am not a man...who takes kindly to being kept waiting."
The older mans face pales considerably as both the orc and the half blood step up to him.
He took a step back, visibly shaken before a small amount of courage comes to the fore again. Staring straight at Crokus he snarled "You! It was you and your friends and all your type that causes such woes as this town has suffered. Why don't you vagabonds just leave this place!"
Ameiko, freed from her fathers clutch, threw the liquid contents of her glass into his face. She was livid with rage and shame and whatever words she spoke were loaded with hatred.
The old mans face went blank at her words. He stared through Ameiko, as if she were suddenly dead to him. "You would rather throw your lot with such as these, then so be it. I have no daughter!"
With that, he turned and stormed from the room, leaving the stunned guests to stare after him.
Ameiko slumped against the bar, the energy seemingly sapped from her fully. "I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen, but that's the evening done. If you'll please wrap up your drinks and make your way to you rooms, I'll see to cleaning up."
The party was done
*******
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...during the whole scene, Raimos does his best to act very, very indisposed, and recites flowery words of praise of soft skin and silky hair as he nuzzles and strokes the same...
Ameiko, I hate to disturb your...comforting...but what was that all about?
Ameiko, I hate to disturb your...comforting...but what was that all about?
Ameiko stares blankly at the strange man in front of her. She had only met him through his companions very recently, and seemed quite reluctant to speak to him. Even with Crokus there, someone she had met a few times now, she wasn't willing to speak of it.
"What happens between me and my father is our business friend. I know you mean no harm by it, but for now, please give me the room I need to clean and get some rest."
It seems that is all there is to it, and so the party breaks up for the evening.
****
The next morning is a late one for all but Ira. The monk woke very refreshed, and snuck back into his own rooms in the wee hours of the morning. By the time the others of his party had roused themselves from the late evening of food, wine and in some cases women, it was late morning.
The breakfast that day was not up to the usual standards of the Rusty Dragon. It seemed as if leftovers from the previous day had been thrown together to form some type of soup the locals called Scrumpy. The bread was fresh though, and the water clear and clean. Barely any of the nobles had arisen yet, including Lady Nessa, who had merely groaned pleasurably and stretched languidly before rolling over and returning to sleep when Raimos left her. Ameiko was not to be seen though, apparently deciding to remain in her rooms this morning.
The repast was interrupted by a presence suddenly appearing at their shoulder. It was one of the younger town guards, a lad barely out of his teens and with a slight beard to show for his age. He stood nervously in front of the Heroes of Sandpoint, waiting for them to acknowledge him before speaking. "Gentlemen, the Lord Mayor Deveron and Sheriff Hemlock would have words with please. They request your presence at the town hall within the hour."
He stood there, waiting for a response.
...Raimos looks up from the morning's food and raises a weary eyebrow...
They would? Ah, well...I had nothing better to do...Raimos pushes away the bowl...stands...yawns...and stretches like a cat...ah...so be it.
Crokus looks forlornly down at his nearly full plate.
He looks up to the guard, back at his plate, and then shrugs.
Snatching a number of sausages from the table, he looks at the guard.
"All right then, guess they wouldn't call if it wasn't important. Lead on."
Zair starts to wrap up his morning exercises behind the inn, and notices Crokus and Raimos being escorted by the guard.
He quickly walks up to the trio.
"Is there something going on?" he says as he matches step with his two companions.
Hmmm?...raising an eyebrow...why...the Lord Mayor and the sheriff have requested an audience. I do hope they don't want a long epic...it was a late night for me. Lady Nessa can be rather...engaging...and has her...needs...
...Raimos offers no more explanation...lost in the warm fuzziness of the morning after the night before...
Ira nods.
Crokus turns to his companions.
"How far away is the blasted Mayor's office anyway? It feels like we've been walking for days!"
Ira shrugs, and walks on.