...as a dog I swear to you! I'd never seen such a big rat! And these heroes faced them and earned their drink and lodgings for the tenday. Oleg, the innkeeper at the Overflowing Goblet, tells the story for the third time this night while gesturing to the table where an eclectic group of adventurers sit. The crowd reacts with indifference for the third time in the night and one of them shouts back I heard the rats peed in your beer Oleg, and it's certainly improved it! the joke is received with raucous laughter by the patrons, the barmaids and even the own innkeeper. A halfling barmaid looking tired approaches the table and asks the sitting party Will you have anything else?
Mazhir smiles politely at the barmaid and shakes his head. The drinks here didn't measure up to the wheat beers back home, and he had taken the job to refill his coin purse and would just as soon not empty it again right away. "I am content, thank you," he says gently while laying a silver on the table for the barmaid.
Sharing the other patron's indifference to the heroics of he and his tablemates, he surveys the room, noting clothing styles and letting the babble of the crowd wash over him.
"I'll take another tankard, still have some of the sawdust in my throat I think..."
As he waits for the new pint to be delivered, Garborn puts his hands behind his head and leans back a little on his chair.
"Noisy tonight..."
The Elf smiled reassuringly at the Halfling female and says...
"No thank you my dear, I believe I am content."
Vaelen's eyes pass over each of the 'heroes' sharing the table of honor with him. His blank stare and facial expressions (for those familiar with Elves) speak volumes...
"How did I end up with this bunch?".
He continues to scan the crowd out of habit but otherwise says little....
Jovar nods at the waitress, "Another tea would be grand miss."
It had been a good day. Pay had been earned and while he still didn't quite understand why, it was always satisfying to see It tear through rats like they were made of paper. It was a sensation that both terrified and exited him.
The reactions of some of the others was as expected, though all of them coped quite well. Back in Rashemen his teacher had vomited the first time he saw It in action.
"Drink and lodgings for a tenday he says? Well, ne'er heard of a challenge to drink ten a day before, but I'm game. Another round!"
A cry from the street precedes the door to the inn bursting open as a group of half a dozen mercenaries dragging a young woman and a teenage boy after them. Get us some ale shouts the one that seems the leader. I get thirsty while teaching thieves to choose their dupes he turns to the boy who is pinned by a hairy half-orc covered in scars and unsheathes a dagger All right boyo, which hand is your favourite
With a sigh, Khaz got up from the table and walked over to the disturbance, muttering about humans, their civilization, and lack thereof. "Come on lads, with me. This 'ain't right."
"You there, the ugly one! That's a matter for the guards, not your knife. Or perhaps you'd rather be talkin' to me bloody fist?"
He glared daggers at the half-orc. There he was, an unarmed (not counting the bow slung across his back), unarmored dwarf, armed with nothing but his hands and an air of complete confidence, staring down a large half-orc and his hand of thugs. Only a madman, or a seasoned warrior would dare do so.
Garborn also rose slowly.
He wasn't fond of thieves as a rule, but this sort of brutality was just a little more than he could stomach.
"By the looks of it, he's already been taught a lesson but proper. Don't you think that's enough?
Besides, you got your money back didn't you?
Like he said, leave it for the guards."
The half-orc lets go of the boy for a second and before he regains his composure the kid is already hiding behind Khaz's back.
The leader of the mercenaries steps toward the dwarf and says Alright shorty, who in Hoar's f@%% do you think we are? he takes out of his pouch a piece of parchment with an official seal of Arrabar's Lord Eles Wianar. We are the guards now, since thieves and scoundrels seem to have taken hold in this town, the boyo is a criminal he stole a book from an important man and we captured him as he was giving it to the girl he throws a book on the table next to him. We were just going to find out who the final buyer is, unless your bearded majesty thinks we shouldn't do our jobs. he smiles at the men taking places behind him So what shorty? Shall this town have some law or what?
Suppressing a sigh, Mazhir rises from the table. "Excuse me, I am a stranger in these lands, but this seems highly irregular. If your intention is to merely scare the lad then it's none of my affair, but I'm not willing to watch anyone be tortured at the next table over in an inn." Turning to the pair of alleged thieves, he asks (not unkindly), "Have the accused anything to say for themselves?"
While the others are busy distracting the guards Jovar starts the ritual to summon his eidolon. It would take some time but odds were they'd be able to keep the thugs distracted for long enough. If things were already solved before the ritual is complete that meant he could just break it off then and there.
He sets down on his knees and starts a low chant in a mix of Rashemi and Undercommon while drawing some intricate pattern on the floor with his finger.
Oh, tense...
We were heroes a moment ago, might not be for much longer.
A slow smile creeps across his lips as he contemplates the irony there.
And yet, stopping brutality is something that heroes DO! So even if this thrashes our reputation, it's still the right thing to do.
Hah!
The leader seems to calm down after Mazhir's words but stands his ground Ok boyos, maybe we were a bit rough on the boy. We'll get him to spend a couple nights in a cell and that will probably loosen his tongue enough he looks at the girl still grabbed by his men And the same can be said for the girl he looks back at the party waiting for their response
Garborn scratches the back of his head a little, contemplating what to respond to that.
On the one hand, it seemed they WERE duly appointed lawmen and as such not to be trifled with, on the other hand, he suspected they might still use brutality once out of sight.
Eh, I guess I'll see what the rest of the party does and act accordingly.
Khaz nodded approvingly. "Good on ye then. Glad to see law an' order prevail. To ale an' mead, lads!"
Sure, it might be a ruse. But Khaz didn't think enough of half-orcs to make such subterfuge seem likely. And even if so, he didn't quite fancy spending a night in prison by defending thieves. So, taking the win and get back to drinking seemed like the best option to him.
Valen stands up quietly and moves to a position to kill from the shadows and also block the door if needs be....
He takes careful look at the Mandate the halforc shows and also the book. He tries to make sense of the situation. Wether the Orc speaks the truth about being commissioned as guards and what the importance of the book may be.
Weighing the guard's response for a moment, Mazhir slowly nods. It'd have to do,
at least for now. "Laijiri? Unless we're prepared to deputize ourselves here and now it seems the boy ought to be turned over." Leaning to try to peer at the young man behind her, he frowns and glances at the girl as well. Curiously silent pair, given the ordeal they seemingly just barely avoided. I sense something is up.
The half-orc moves to grab the boy and if nobody acts they drag them outside and carry them toward the closest guard-house.
The Elf keeps a close eye on the Half-Orc and presses in behind the group of Mercenaries turned lawmen. If there is a good chance for Valen to lift the document or book from the leader, he will do so. Otherwise, he will follow the Dwarfs advice and get back to drinking....
"Lass." Khaz said, as kindely as he could. [b]"The world 'ain't fair and we can't solve all problems. The law is the law, an' those who fight it end up hangin' from a noose. I hope they keep their word, but losin' sleep over it doesn't help anyone, eh?"[/
The book seems an accounting book, from the fast glance you get you only can ascertain that whoever uses it is involved in big business since all amounts are specified in platinum.
Vaelen could try to get the document from the leader's satchel. The books is in his hands so it would be quite difficult to pick without him noticing
Valen takes note of the book and the two young prisoners as well as any identifying features of the Half Orc and his group for future reference. He backs away back into the shadows and makes his way back to his seat. The Elf, being a bit out of his element isn't sure what all that has transpired is important or now, so he follows the lead of the the others.
"Seems to be a simple theft of some financial records. Since those seem to be legitimate law enforcement officers, I see no reason to get involved. Besides, what do I know of urban culture and the ways of those that live in cities?
Jovar broke off the ritual as the situation seemed to stabilize. "Sorry my friend, better luck next to time.".
He got up from the floor and moved back to his table. "I agree, if tentatively. If they are legitimate law enforcement here, and it all points in that direction, we'll have to let it pass. It may be selfish but I do not have the desire to be run out of town. Again."
Mazhir stares thoughtfully at the door long after they lawmen & the accused have left. "Curious, though. The boy and the young woman never said a word. In my admittedly limited experience with crime that strikes as noteworthy, but I suppose it's out of our hands now."
Scraping his chair back, Mazhir stands. "I, too, must bid you a good night. We shall see what the morrow brings."
Garborn sat down again, looking forlornly at his fresh pint.
The confrontation had perhaps ended as well as it could, but it was still not a very good solution to his mind.
True, the brutality had stopped, but could easily resume once out of sight again.
Taking a sip of ale he frowned, the amber liquid having lost it's taste as far as he was concerned.
With a sigh he headed off to bed instead.
As the party wakes in their rooms upstairs the inn is eerily quiet. No sound but those of the streets come from downstairs, and the welcome smell of breakfast is clearly absent.
It takes some time for Mezhir to notice the familiar smells of fresh bred and grilled pork are absent, occupied as his is with his morning prayers at the thrown-open window. "Curious," he murmurs, dressing and opening the door from his room to the hallway.
"They serve piss-water for beer an' air for breakfast. Hmmph! Was lookin' forward to some eggs I was."
Normally, Garborn would have slept in a bit, finding one of the small pleasures in life being to just doze in bed for an extra hour, not really asleep, but not fully awake either.
But as he lay there dozing, he noticed that something was missing, and slowly his brain started to work, which of course pulled him fully into the waking word.
"Huh? Why is it so quiet outside?"
Throwing his clothes on, Garborn made his way to the window and peered out.
Valen's meditation is interrupted by the lack of sounds normally accompaning an Inn of this size. He quickly dons his traveling gear and makes his way stealthfully down the stairs to see if something is amiss.
As Mazhir goes downstairs followed quietly by Valen he sees an elf, dressed in rich white and red robes sitting at a table, a couple guards in full uniform guar the door from the street from the inside and no one else is to be seen in the inn.
Those that look outside through the windows can see a patrol of city guards, dressed with the official uniform guarding the entrance to the inn, the innkeeper and a cook are waiting in front them looking worried.
"Whatever is happenin' lads, it 'aint my fault! Uhm, well, let's go see what they want. An' by us, I mean Vaelen. Ye've talked yer way out o' sticky spots before, eh? "
As he peers out and sees the guards keeping the workers out Garborn curses.
It wasn't very hard to figure out that the most likely scenario was that the previous evenings altercation was the cause.
"Tyr's hairy left buttock, this is a fine mess!"
Uh oh, the Mulhorandi priest thinks, but he descends the stairs nevertheless. "Greetings, sir. I certainly hope you didn't put together this reception on our account, it was hardly necessary. I am Mazhir Ketamet, from Gheldaneth, how may I be of assistance?"
Vaelen will accompany Mazhir and greet the Elf in his native tongue while attempting to assist the priest in being overly polite...
Jovar had some more troubles waking up than the others. The nightmares plagues him again, dissatisfied with the interrupted summoning of last night.
When he does come down stairs, wiping the sleep from his eyes he doesn't say anything about the official welcoming comity, nor doe he notice them for that matter. He waves away Vaelen's greeting in Elven. Only when he sees his fellows were not looking at him does he notice there are others present. He then just stands with the others, his face a mix of sleepiness and surprise.
Garborn opens the door to his room and peeks out, seeing the rest of his team by the stairs, he stays in the doorway but listens in as best as he can.
I really don't want to get arrested, but I don't want to fight either...and I REALLY want breakfast.
The elf stands up and offers his hand to Mazhir. Well met. I'm afraid I am here on account of your actions last night he smiles I've come representing Lord Eles Wianar. To thank you and apologize. The current situation has forced the city to hire less than ideal guards and you helped avoid a crime happening by their hands. Unfortunately the girl escaped before she was interrogated and now we have need of your services. he sets the book from last night on the table beside him This book is proof of embezzling by an important member of one of the noble houses of Arrabar. Whoever had it stolen certainly intended to use it for blackmail. I, on the other hand, am more interested in finding out where the money is going he shows a notation in the book It started small but seem to have increased both in frequency and value as time went on, here he makes a notation about a payment to the Hidden Lord in Iljuk. As far as I know the Hidden Lord is a low-class tavern and the amount, almost a thousand gold pieces would be enough to buy the whole place and rebuild it. he waits a second as the others are making their way downstairs The city can't be seen to interfere on other cities and so we have need of decent people to help us. You'll be well paid for your efforts of course...
Phew...looks like breakfast is still an option then.
"So, since the Hidden Lord is the only clue, you want us to go there I take it?
Also, no offence but...why us? This sounds like a pretty big thing, and we are an unknown quality..."
Mazhir considers this information for a moment, then slowly nods. "I see. And what is it that you like for us to do, precisely? Trace the payments up the chain as far as we are able? Find this young woman? I'm not entirely clear on what we are being asked to do."
We know who is doing it, we don't know what he is doing with the money the elf says dryly We need you to investigate that tavern and find out who it's going to he lowers his voice You will have a contact there, one of my men a half-elf by the name Eawěn he listens to Garborn question Why you? Because you've been seen arguing with our guards and so will not attract suspicion. And if you get caught Lord Wianar candidates deny any relation with you
Garborn actually laughs at what could be considered a less than comforting response.
"Ah, now that is honesty! Much appreciated that.
So, go there, meet Eawën and snoop around for any evidence of where the coins eventually stop.
Sounds simple enough."
The Wild Elf fails to hide his disdain for the city Elf and his reference to the Half-Elf Eawen in Iljak. He's also speaks a bit sharply to the lordling not appreciating being ignored after giving the traditional Elven greeting (or so he thought not knowing High Elf rules per se)
"How do we know what you say is true, self proclaimed hand-holder to this Lord Weiner?
How do we even know any of this is true or that you are not somehow involved?
More information is needed here...for instance, lets say you are telling the truth...
Are you saying an officer or servant in one of the Noble houses is skimming money or one of the Nobles themselves misdirecting it and the family is curious?
What is your Lord Weiners and Arrabar's business with it anyway?
Is it your lord who is being blackmailed?
Possibly, you are the one doing the questionable accounting.
We need names of those involved, dates, motives, suspects...
What of the boy, you still have him don't you?
What does he have to say?
How was he to meet this girl?
How did your 'inept' guards just happen to find them at the time of the meeting?
Perhaps you think us fools to go running off after your errand with no proof of anything except for your fancy clothes... eh? What is your name by the way?
The elf stays in stunned silence for a minute after Vaelen's tirade I... You haven't been in Arrabar for long have you? Lord Wianar is ruler of Arrabar and Chondath so if his city funds are getting stolen it certainly is his business. A noble holding an important office in the city is the one we know is sending the money away, if there are more involved we don't know for sure yet. As for how my guards caught the boy, I had them watching the manor of the suspect and they saw somebody leave by a window, they followed him and caught him when making the exchange. You can ask him if you want, he's in a nearby guardhouse in good health minus one finger. he pauses for a breath I don't think you fools but you clearly think me one if you expect me to give you names so you can go sell your information to the highest bidder. The only name I can give you is mine, I'm Lorel Cravenhog assistant to Lord Wianar, and if you doubt me ask anybody in the streets
He looks around at the rest of those present I've made my offer, if you're interested we can discuss terms, If you're not I will just bid you farewell
The woman was a young dark haired human, in his early twenties. Her eyes were a dark blue and she was a bit chubby
Garborn is a bit taken aback at the sudden downward turn the conversation took, but he does his best to hide it.
"Sure, details...
Is there a timetable on this job?
What were you thinking about paying?"