The day is bright and sunny. Standing in the marketplace, you notice people milling about at various booths and stands. The people are wearing tunics and trousers, carrying various goods and supplies on their way. Two human men stand watching the goings on around them. Their swords shining brightly from their scabbards. Beards dark and scruffy cover their faces. The eyes of the taller of the two meet yours, piercing you. You get the distinctive feeling that you're being sized up.
That's when you notice that weapons are conspicuously absent from everyone milling about (including those who appear like mercenaries). While watching, you notice two elvish men standing near the entrance to the Barley Inn and Tavern; wearing green silk cloaks with golden clasps. Their waists have long rapiers attached to them, with golden handles and jeweled hilts. Their boots appear clean, with an almost unworn quality. They seem in a heated conversation.
A stocky dwarf walks across the center of the marketplace, carrying no axe. His clothes dirty and dark, with tattered sleeves. His beard is grey and unkept. He seems focused on the elves, and stops by a booth that is about ten feet away, watching them intently.
Oloro is meandering, keeping himself occupied when he noticed the men watching him. He stops for a very brief second before attempting to find a quiet, less populated spot near the arguing elvish men, attempting to inconspicuously hide his kukri and listen nonchalantly to the heated argument.
If needed / wanted:
Sleight of Hand Check (to hide knives)
Perception check to listen in:
If not needed or wanted please disregard.
Suddenly feeling very foolish for walking with his own weapons so brazenly displayed, Godfri continued to the inn. His long time friend and mentor might be inside, it was one of his favorite hang outs.
The tricky part would be getting passed the guards at it's entrance. If all went well, his father's seal and his time spent in the City Watch would grant him some form of shelter against the anti-weapons laws in Tallenfur. He hoped everything worked out that way. Thinking on his feat wasn't exactly Godfri's strongest feature.
Silently asking for Desna's smile, he stepped up to the door, strode by the guards, and took a chance.
[EDIT] Assuming no one (or nothing) stops him at the door, he also pushes it open and steps inside.
A familliar clippity-clop of hooves makes itself heard in the marketplace, and soon, a few children perk up, calling to their parents. "Mommy! Look! It's the book donkey!"
And, sure enough, a chestnut mule strolls through the market pulling a small cart full of books, led by a lithe elven woman clad in a scholar's vest and slacks. Riding atop the mule's head, a small tropical bird warbles cheerfully, adding to the childrens' joy.
"Blast that Laurien," Azalea mutters under her breath. "Blast him and that smarmy tone of his. I have half a mind to- Oh! Hello!" Her tone changes completely as a young girl approaches, asking if there are some nice story books in the cart today. Azalea squats to the girl's height and smiles. "Let's find out, shall we?
Certainly enough, The Princess and the Dryad had been sitting there between two big encyclopedias, just waiting to be borrowed by some nice little reader. One quick signature later, the little girl skips away happily, book hugged tightly against her chest. Azalea smiles as she watches her go. "Have a good read, now!" The little bird declares in clear, if high-pitched, common, marked with a pronounced Shackles accent. The little girl giggles as she leaves.
"Always have to be the center of attention, don't you, Julio?" Azalea notes, chuckling as Julio merely tilts his head so as to say I have no idea what you're talking about.
"Now then," the elf reflects, looking around the market place. "I'd better find those mercenaries, because they're most certainly not going to find themselves."
Noting the two armed elves, Azalea thanks Yuelral that she chose to prepare some defensive spells before setting out. Who knows what she could expect out of such people.
Finding himself lost at the news of his parents, Barid stumbles out of the Tavern, catching himself by clenching onto the door's frame. "Its.." inhaling in deeply "… Its never fair." He breathes out with a heavy sigh, while walking up the porch railing of the Tavern, completely unconcerned with the arguing elvish men near him.
They're only a small collection of steps away, but reaching the wooden baluster feels like a mile long trek across the wooden planks. He takes in the scenery of the marketplace, as he contemplates how he'll go about taking his next move.
[Sidenote:] If his small bear would be permitted in the town, he's following close by Barid's side
As Godfri nears the door, it opens of it's own accord. The rustic looking human man surprises him a little as he stumbles outside. He stinks of sweat and dirt, and possibly alcohol although it was hard to tell. Still, his conscious wouldn't let him ignore the man. He looked exhausted, or even hurt. Godfri had a little time, probably, and if Tairn was indeed in the tavern, he'd have to leave from this door. It couldn't hurt any to try and help this poor man.
"Excuse me, sir." Godfri tried to remain polite, even if he was talking to a peasant. "Are you alright?"
As Godfri walks past the men, one remarks, It's that half-wit half-orc, Variel's so-called son. Other than that, they both simply watch.
Barid pinches the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger, as he responds with "I'll be fine. Just need time to think." He then peers over to the commenter, and realize the voice came from an exceptionally large greenish half-orc, who looks much cleaner and well groomed than he would expect one such as himself to be. "What, I mean.. Who are you?"
He glances over to the dwarf, who's shuffling about but chooses to maintain his attention on one thing at a time, and looks back over at the half-orc.
Godfri blinks in surprise. "You mean you don't know?" He asks. It isn't like he's famous exactly, but given his... physique... it wasn't too hard to pick him out of a crowd. The elves said it all only a moment ago. He had something of a reputation around Tallenfur, it wasn't often someone asked him this question. "I'm Variel d'Estrella's son, Godfri." A small pang of sadness courses through him for a moment. Truthfully he can't introduce himself that way anymore. It wouldn't be proper. Still, he'd have time to correct the mistake later. For now, he was intent to continue the conversation. "And you are?"
Barely waiting for an answer, Godfri follows the man's gaze to the somewhat ragged looking dwarf. "Is he a friend of yours?"
Barid rolls his eyes before replying "Uh, no. I really don't know who you are. I haven't been around here in a very long time." He bites his lip at the conclusion of his sentence; it's a clear reminder of how his life had uncontrollably changed. "My name's Barid Mithaan. Apparently my parents arent around here anymore, nor do I think they were anyone really known.. but yea, son of Bahram Mithaan."
Oloro smirks for a brief second, finding the conversation entertaining. He looks around finding an elvish woman lending books from a donkey pulled cart and then back to the elvish men he finds just behind them an exceptionally clean half-orc speaking with a very dirty human male. Just a few days into this new town and he's already seeing such interesting people.
Finding a disheveled dwarf standing not far away to be the most interesting of the bunch, Oloro decides to silently walk up behind the dwarf, leaning over just behind his ear and says abruptly yet quietly, "Have a thing for elvish men huh? Sure, they're pretty, but I feel like they'd be too high maintenance," in a friendly, joking tone while smiling and returning to his upright position.
"This should be fun," Oloro thinks to himself while he reaches for his hidden kukri, trying to disguise the motion in case the the dwarf happens to be hostile.
If necessary / wanted for sneaking up behind the dwarf.
The dwarf noticed Oloro just before he approaches, and turns to meet his eyes. Looking up, he seems to make his mind up after a moment's pause and speaks, I was just thinking that two wealthy elves in this part of town were something suspicious, and I wanted to know what they were up to. Just then, one of the elves says loudly, Sieden, you are too careful! and storms off out of the marketplace. The dwarf curses under his breath, which smells of cheap wine. He turns back to Oloro and says, I really must be going! but he makes no move to leave.
Azalea hesitantly approaches Godfri and Barid, leading the mule and its cart behind herself.
"Pardon me, sirs," she addresses the two men from the ground in front of the porch. She hesitates for a moment and, before she can say another word, the flutter of small wings is heard and a small green parakeet lands on her shoulder.
"You two merc'naries?" The bird asks nonchalantly, tilting its head to the right and back as it speaks.
Azalea's eyes widen, horrified that her familliar spoke to them so brashly and loudly.
"P-please pardon my familliar," she stammers. "It's just... I've been asked to meet someone's hired men in the market place, and you two looked like you fit the description. I'll just be out of your way now, my apologies."
Without another word, Azalea begins to slink away unless anyone stops her.
Oloro stops reaching for his weapon, finding the dwarf not to be of any major concern at the moment. If anything, he finds the dwarf an amusing curiosity. With a smile and soft chuckle to himself, Oloro says to the unmoving dwarf, "Then I shall leave you to your goings sir."
After giving a slight bow to the dwarf, Oloro looks back to the entrance of the tavern. Seeing the entrance beginning to become blocked by various people, Oloro sighs. Maybe he can rustle up some money by entertaining with jokes or knife tricks in the tavern, or at least maybe get some leads on possible work. After all, he didn't come to this town for a vacation and he doesn't want to resort to what he was doing back home.
"Pardon me," Oloro says politely, yet with some slight irritation as he attempts to weave through the three person, one bird crowd.
"Nice to meet you Barid. Perhaps we can help each other. I'm looking for someone, a dwarf who likes to hang out here. Red hair, and beard. Scar along his left eye? Missing a few fingers on his right hand?"
Next, Godfri looks at the book lady, perplexed. "You don't remember me?" he asks. "I used to visit your book store as a child. My mother would make me. Who is it you're looking for, exactly. I might know them?"
Then, as the cloaked human approaches, Godfri tries to step out of his way. However, given his size and the limited space, he accidentally bumps into the elf's donkey. "Oh sorry!" He gasps, hoping nothing spiraled out of control from his blunder.
Puzzled by the question, Azalea looks Godfri up and down, trying to place a name on his face until, finally things snap into place.
"Ah! Godfri! I hadn't recognized you." Azalea's eyes go wide as she recognize the half-orc standing in front of her as the young lad who would frequently be dragged into her library by his mother. "My, you've certainly grown into a fine lad! Please forgive me, I'm afraid the library has gotten a lot of visitors over the years, and it gets rather difficult keeping track of everyone. The height and the hammer certainly made an impression."
Curious, Julio leans in, turning his head sideways to get a better look at Godfri.
"I'm afraid I don't know for sure what I'm looking for. One of the library's wealthiest patrons requested that I meet some of his associates here, but he's left me a little short on information."
As Oloro is weaving between the three, he overhears the elvish lady speak and quickly jokes, "Oh, I'm sure his "hammer" makes quite the impression to be sure," all of this without stopping for one second, or looking at anyone in the face. He continues on with a self pleased grin.
Godfri tilts his head in thought for a moment, then smiles as he finally understands Oloro's comment (he thinks). "I'm surprised it wasn't my sword you noticed." He points to the handle rising at an angle from just over his right shoulder.
"Do you know Tairn Thunder-Shield?" Godfri asks Azalea. "I've been looking for him. He may know a bit about the mercenaries. He likes to keep tabs on that sort of thing. He could maybe help you out."
"... I'm surprised as well, now that you mention it." Azalea replies before adjusting her glasses, quite confused as to how she managed to miss the larger weapon.
"As for Tair, I'm afraid I've not heard of him."
Godfri turns and opens the door to the Barley Inn and Tavern. Holding it open, he says. "He likes to hang out inside. Care to look with me, book lady? Barid?"
Oloro was just about to open the door when Godfri decided to do so himself, nearly falling in with nothing to support his intended weight, but catches himself last minute going through the door before Godfri even has a chance to finish what he's saying.
Oloro chuckles a little at himself before moving on and attempting to speak with the bar keep. "So if you don't mind, have you heard of any interesting job openings as of late?"
"Please, call me Azalea.," the 'book lady' nods, stepping in with a thankful nod.
"Please, call me Azalea," the 'book lady' nods, stepping in with a thankful nod.
"I guess I could, looks like I'll have some free time on my hands now.." he says in reply to Godfri. "What did you say this 'Tairn' does?"
Azalea shhots a revolted glare at the passing rogue as he mocks her words under his breath, making salacious implications. "Well, I never! How rude!"
"He works with the city guard. He's kinda old now, but he used to be a pretty good soldier. He always knows how to handle things." Godfri says, stepping inside the building.
Once he's inside, Godfri looks around for his friend. Checking the bar, the back corner, and the 'guard's table' where off duty soldier's often met for a drink or a game of cards.
If needed:
You see an old dwarf sitting in the corner by the fireplace, absorbed in a mug of ale. Looking up, he sees Godfri and calls out, Godfri! Godfri, my friend! Come on over! I've got some news for you today! A message from your brother! As Godfri and his new aquaintances make their way to him, Tairn motions for the barmaid to bring additional chairs over. May I buy you and your friends a drink? he asks.
After the normal pleasantries are exchanged, Tairn turns to Godfri and says, Your brother, Lanliss, has managed to get a message to me for you. He says that your father went on one of his excursions into the woods and came back seriously ill. He wants you to go and seek out a special mushroom, the Turin Mushroom, which grows near The Hidden Creek. I offered to go with you to help you find the mushroom if you wish, as I know where the creek is.
Godfri looks down at his friend, who even when standing was only as tall as his waist, and smiles. "You sure you can handle the journey, Old man? Godfri asks, only half joking. But this opportunity could prove to be just the thing he needs. After all, how could his father ignore such a heroic feat? His dilemma could solve itself before it ever had time to get out of hand. However, it didn't look as if he had time to get lost wandering the woods on his own. "If you're willing to join me, I'd be honored to travel with you." Godfri bows his head respectfully to Tairn "The Stone Wall" Thunder-Shield.
Then he turns to his other companions, Oloro included if he also came over to the table. "Would the three of you like to join me? I'm sure I could arrange some form of payment. My family has money. Azalea, I know you already have a job to do, but if Tairn could help you with your problem, what better way to find out?"
Godfri turns back to Tairn, "You could help her right?
"Ah, boy. How can I do such a thing when I'm not even sure what it is?" he says. But then Tairn turns to Azalea expectantly. "What seems to be your trouble?"
While Tairn addresses Azalea, Godfri thinks back to what little academia he managed to learn. What exactly did the Turin Mushroom do? If he could remember that, perhaps he could figure out what had happened to his father.
Oloro, given a short lead by the barkeep decides to listen in on the boisterous dwarfs words. His ears perk up when he hears talk of money from the orc and he decides to stroll over and see what it was about.
"Pardon my interruption friend orc, but did I hear you say that there might be a possibility for work and payment? Depending on the job, I may be able to help if the price is right."
Oloro then looks closer at those around the table, trying to see if he notices any similarities to people he's heard stories about since entering town. As of yet, he knows nothing of them.
Godfri, you remember that a Turin Mushroom is good for fevers, and you remember eating them in a stew when you would get sick as a child. Your mother would hand-feed them to you as you lay in bed with an orc-sized flu.
Oloro, the barkeep responded to you, I'm not the want ads. But check with that group over there, they look like mercenaries to me. He points to the group gathered around the dwarf.
Azalea, at first hesitant, eventually approaches the group.
"Pardon me, Tairn, is it? I believe you know Laurien Asbonder? He requested that I meet the mercenaries hired by some of his cohorts. Might you be aware of any of this?"
Biting his lip in a moment of contemplation following Godfri's proposition, Barid considers what the money could do for his own personal task, "It doesnt sound like it would hurt too much to help out. I mean it might, but sure... " Within a brief pause, he realizes he almost forgot to ask what is probably the most important question on the matter, "How much would it pay?"
Godfri sighs, and then chuckles awkwardly. Looking at both Barid and Oloro he says. "Well, I can't say actually. You'd have to work out your reward with my father, or my brother. But money isn't their concern. You've heard of the Estrella's, yes? The Star Shine Vineyards? Those are my father's projects. Then, as an after thought, Godfri adds. "You should come, Barid. I don't know what's bothering you, but a good little adventure might be just what you need. Yaknow, to take your mind off of it."
Oloro looks blankly at Godfri and says plainly, "I have no idea who the Estrella's are, nor do have the slightest idea on what a star shine vineyard is. In any event, could you ask your father for the two of us before we head out? Knowing the reward would allow me to know if it's worth the possible risks, whatever they are..."
Scratching his head nervously, Godfri replies. "Uhhhh. That might be a problem. My father's ill, and we're looking for the cure."
Oloro looks at Godfri suspiciously, eyeing him for tells. Something doesn't seem right, but he could be mistaken. He thinks.
With a nod, Barid agrees with Godfri. "I vaguely remember those places.. and yes I'll join you; I might be able to get at least two things done that way."
Godfri extends his hand to Barid, noting for the first time in his life a human man who's strength and durability might have almost matched his own. If he fought as well as he appeared bred for, this Barid would prove to be a worthy ally. "Glad to have you." he says.
Lass, I know what you're speaking of, but now's not the time to talk. Tairn responds to Azalea. Turning to Godfri and the group, he continues, I do know that the family would be grateful, and that Lanliss is able to give proper rewards. How much it might be, I cannot say, but having the gratitude of the house of Estrella is no small matter in and of itself.
After a pause, Tairn concludes, if there be no other questions, I suggest we be off immediately!
After an hour of walking through the town, you come across the northern gates. They stand tall and foreboding, even though they're made of wooden planks. Many people are entering and exiting today, and you pass by a wagon carrying crates heading out of town. As you approach the gate, a guard looks at you, and motions for you to stop.
Hold! he cries, What business have you carrying such weapons? He eyes Godfri warily, holding his own sword in it's scabbard. Just then, Tairn speaks up, Paul, you blind fool! Don't you recognize me and Godfri here? We have urgent business for the d'Estrella house in the forest. Let us pass!
Paul, looking hard, motions for three others to join him. As all three strong-looking men take positions around the party, Paul asks, I heard that the House d'Estrella has had some...problems...lately. How do I know that you're truly on family business?
Tairn, now boldly walking up to Paul, shouts, Is my word no good enough for ya?. Paul responds, no, old dwarf, it's not. You should choose your friends more carefully.
Azalea reluctantly agrees to help Godfri, realizing that it's most likely her only way to get the party's help in the future. While she's happy to help a man in need, the idea of a sudden forest excursion isn't something she feels very safe with.
She excuses herself from the group for a moment as they come near the library and leaves the cart of books there, requesting that one of the library aides return it to its place. She loads up Rufus with some supplies and quickly rejoins the group.
As the guard aggressively confronts the group, Azalea shrinks away, intimidated.
Oloro rolls his eyes slightly and sighs heavily. Already joining the orc and his dwarf friend is proving problematic, not to mention that he probably won't see any actual reward from the orc or his family based on what he's seen and heard. "That doesn't matter I suppose," Oloro thinks to himself, "perhaps if I can't get paid, I could at least get decent notoriety for future work that does pay."
Oloro then looks to the dwarf to see if he intends to continue, or start a fight that Oloro will be dragged into.
"What would lead you believe that I'm not acting on family matters? Godfri asks the guard confidently. "What proof would you need other than my being here?"
Then he calmly brushes passed the guard as if nothing is at all out of the ordinary. As he passes, he asks the lead guard a question, but he makes sure everyone nearby can hear it. "Would you like to explain to my loving mother, or for that matter, my vindictive little brother, why my father didn't receive the medicine he needs?"
Intrigued but not committed to conflict, Barid stands by Godfri and Tairn to provide his presence, while the two exchange words with the guards.
"Is it really a problem that we're leaving... are we not allowed to for some reason?" He interjects, while discerning the posture of the guards, to see if he should prepare some form of defense.
Shocked by Godfri's boldness, the guards let you pass into the forest. The sun is warm as it breaks through the tree-branches. Birds sing throughout the area. A cool breeze blows from the west. Tairn confidently leads you off of the main road through the woods onto a side animal trail. The brush begins to get thick and thorny branches grab at your clothes.
After about half an hour, you hear the rustling sound of water. You also notice that there are no more birds singing. Orso stops mid-stride and grunts unhappily. Tairn looks at Barid and asks, what's wrong with him?
Oloro takes this brief pause as a chance to put his weapons in easier reach, taking them from their hiding spots and placing them where easily accessible. Then after rearranging his equipment and pulling one kukri out to play with, Oloro waits for Barid's reply.
Taking his cue from Oloro, Godfri also draws his weapon. After a brief moment of weighing his options, he settles on his bow.
He takes several heavy steps forward. Leaves and twigs snap under his weight. At the same time he scans the area with his eyes and tilts his head to the side, listening with his good ear.
Still not fully comfortable acting on his own, he glances back at Tairn with a questioning expression.
Note: Perception roll will be 2 higher as long as it isn't sight based.