Looking at you with a confused response to your coin pushing, he says, "Just one silver for a couple of pints of ale for you and your friend. On the note of work...the mine owners pretty much own this town. The church protects them because supposedly the law is on their side, even though they don't treat their workers that great. I only complain on it because my pub gets less patronage from sick workers. I've been thinking of moving to another town, to be honest." Leaning closer to you to talk a little more privately, he says, "You help me out noir having to pick up shop and I'll pay you well...It would cost me less to hire any kind of muscle than to buy a new tavern. I only suggest it because I notice your...eh, accessories. Maybe you stand a chance at really succeeding. Well...Edgar do you say?"
"I see... could you tell me a little more about the church? And what stops the mine workers from just rioting and taking control of everything?" He sips at his drink and coughs at its strength. "Erm... I suppose I could do that. Why... why do you need 'muscle'? And my name is Obadiah."
Obadiah
The bartender tells you, "I don't know much about religions. You would have to ask a clergyman...but you should tread carefully there...You are already the talk of the tavern. Granted none believe you are anyone of power from the Church and it is all too obvious to me you aren't from any church nearby at all...but still, you should be careful." Pouring you another drink but from a gilded bottle, saying, "If you take this job, you can have this and any other drink on the house...You would do a great service to me and this town. I don't know what they suffer in he mines that causes them to be so ill and some are even wounded...Maybe if you find some workers and ask them about it, maybe even just go look for yourself. If you do go down in the mines, you might want something besides those nice cloths...regardless, I can't really offer you much more help, but I thank you for your help."
"I... I'm sorry, I can't accept a job as 'muscle' just now, maybe in a few days." He thinks for a moment and continues "If I am to disabuse these people of the idea that we are from this capital-C church, I had better do so quickly. Perhaps I should conduct a service, make clear that I worship another. Mister barkeep, would you allow me to display here a small poster saying such? And could you suggest someone in town who would be willing to rent an empty space and a few benches for tomorrow morning?"
Hearing the kid's problems makes Justin's blood run cold as he imagines just how bad these kids must have it in this town.
This kinda stuff is like what we read about in American history.. I never would've imagined I'd see anything like it in person...
Maintaining his composure, he raises his hands and smiles as he speaks in a manner that implies that he knows what he's doing. "Now, now, we have to face it one problem at a time! It makes the whole process easier, and makes others think we're organized! So problem one: we got ourselves a sick lad that needs a doctor, or" healing" as you lot might refer to it. Well, Mr. Dimitri and I just so happen to have a sort of magical guy in our company - perhaps he'll be able to fix you right up.. Just need to find him now.."
He pauses to think for a moment, as it hits him that maybe separating wasn't the best thing to do.
"..But! Dmitri, my good friend here remembers where our mage-friend is! Why don't you fetch our comrade and I'll keep the kids entertained with a story or two."
He winks at Dmitri, hoping that he'll catch on to what the rogue's up to.
Dmitri sighs sadly at the sight before him, his heart growing heavy at the tale of woe the children tell. Well, the good news is, we're here to try to set right the evils of the world. Looks like you kids are where we're destined to start our journey. We're going to do our best to make sure you don't have to work in such deplorable conditions, ok? Dmitri says, doing his best to put on a smile.
After hoping that he has reassured the kids, he goes back to where he left Lanx and Obadiah. Finding that they're not there, he searches for them in the nearby area, looking for any noticeboards and checking in taverns for them.
Obadiah
The bar keep looks at you with an aire of concern and worry, saying, "If you think you can squeeze on past the religious zealots that run this poor town, than so be it. I might suggest you keep your scribed note to do with your desire to introduce yourselves to the town...don't suggest anything religious...My tavern needs to be able to sell still. On the idea of renting space, I may be able to talk with some of the market shop owners for clearing done area for your benches and what have you. You can rent a room here for about a good a per night. We can talk more tomorrow. If that's all you need...I have tavern to run..." Attempting to politely shew you away.
Dmitri
You see the children look slightly Lee's ragged and worn...Maybe that's a sign that they are turning a little more optimistic. As you leave looking in the only tavern you see the bar keep washing down a couple glasses, suggesting your friend just left his tavern.
"Mmm... thanks for the advice." Obadiah leaves and looks for his friends.
Dmitri makes his way up to the bar, waiting to catch the barkeep's attention before asking, have you seen my friends come in here recently? A wolf-armoured man with a spear, and an older gentleman who appeared to be religious? May have been asking about work in the area. He rubs the back of his neck, seeming embarrassed, we didn't set a meeting point before we got... separated.
As Dmitri exits the building, TD turns to face the children with a grin and claps his hands together as he says, "Alright then, kiddos - what kind of story would you like to hear? I have all kinds of tales I can share."
Thinking back on all the video games he's played, he feels grateful for having a plethora stories to pick and glorify.
Dmitri
The bar keep looks up at you, with a slightly worried look, saying, [b]"Did you all start another round of public unrest? I had hoped you were done. He left to go find you...unless you aren't one of the friends he left to find. He might be where he started his religious display earlier...a fine mess that was, cost me some business today. Find him, keep him quiet so I can keep my tavern busy instead of empty." After he shares with you this, he begins washing a couple glasses, muttering to himself as he works.
Dmitri drums his fingers on the bar counter, thinking about what path they may have taken. After a few moments, he reaches into his coin purse and lays his last two gold pieces on the bar. Sorry the disturbance we caused you. I assure you it was not our intention, he says, pushing the gold pieces closer to the bartender. I know this hardly compensates you for the loss of business, but if we stay in town long I'll be sure to make it up to you in some way or another. With that, he turns from the counter and exits the bar, looking up and down the street for Obadiah and Lanx.
Dmitri asks around, trying to discover if people have seen his companions before they get too far ahead of him, cursing the lack of foresight that led to them not having a rendezvous point set. Clearly we'll need to talk about this before going in to towns... he thinks, and for the time we stay in this town as well.
Finding the group, Obadiah swiftly is brought up to speed, and brings the others up to speed.
"...well. I think that what these mine-workers need as a union. As bloody and dangerous an expedition as could be imagined, but still necessary. I wonder if we could help them do it."
Lanx ponders aloud, "I also wonder that, no that you mention it. What ideas did you have to help out these peasants, Dmitri?"
Dmitri ponders this for a time, resting his chin in this palm while he does so. After a time, he brings his mind back to the world around him, looking between Lanx and Obadiah.
I don't know. My first instinct would be to set up a charity of some sort, help people make ends meet from day to day. But that just treats the symptoms. He turns to look at the town behind him, looking it over as he continues, We need to change how this town is run. We need to somehow get lawful protection for the miners. We need the owners to be accountable. I have no idea how we could do it, he says, turning back to Lanx and Obadiah, but... it's the only thing I can think of. Is there... A lord, A mayor, or something? Someone we can plead the case to?
"If there is a lord or a mayor, I doubt he will be able to overrule the large business behind all this- and also aided by a powerful heathen church. I think a union, striking and the associated struggle of force and will is the only thing that will restore some balance of power."
Hearing the rambling words of these two chosen travelers, Lanx, worried about provoking the balance in this town, the party being made of nobodies...people of no influence, no reputation, no history with the people, he interjected saying, "Maybe if we can make a name for ourselves others might rally behind a cause we present...As of yet, only the bartender and those young urchins know of us...The treaty have only assumptions from our arrival and we are likely forgotten by them. What say you as to our plan? What do we do right now?
Obadiah blinks a moment then turns to Lanx, pondering his words. "Hmm... perhaps I've forgotten what world we are now in. Where we come from, a single man with an idea and words can drive change, reputation aside. Here... Moses was by childhood and training a king; we should follow that example." He thinks a little more then continues- "If you feel there is nothing we can resolve in this town; I suggest we head to another town to find something to fight or help."
Dmitri gives a noticeable, if quiet, sigh at the priest's use of heathen, and another at the mention of Moses, but bites his tongue before saying, before we decide, we should go retrieve Justin. He's still with the children in their... he searches for the right words, ... home. He grimaces as he says this, a pained look in his eye as he stares in the direction he needs to lead his companions. Sorrow weighs heavily on his shoulders, seemingly crushed by his inability to help at this very second in time.
Lanx is reassured by the plan set as to what to do next, rallied, he says, "Than let us find our other chosen traveler and figure what we must do after that. Maybe he has more information as to what we must accomplish next." Beginning to walk in the direction that Dmitri was looking, hoping it was the right way.
Obadiah follows.
Dmitri takes the lead, showing the way to where Justin was, if he heard correctly, regaling the children with stories of some sort. He eyes Lanx as the party reaches the place, trying to gauge his reaction at the state in which the children are living.
Having seen this type of living arrangement many times in his travels, Lanx is saddened by the fact that these children live here but is not surprised by the state of the place. Following the swordsman to the house, he can clearly see it is abandoned and in a state of complete disrepair with a heavy rat infestation, entry holes all over the outside wall.
"...and as the mighty warrior returned to Whiterun, there was a thunderous summon for him that seemed to come from the sky - DOVAHKIIN!"
Justin stands among the children with his arms outstretched as his comrades enter the area. Turning to face them with an excited smile, he gives a cheer and rallies the children, "Ha HA! They've returned! We'll have to put the story on hold - it's time to heal the sick lad!"
Concern sweeps across the rogue as he sees the forlorn expression of his fellow adventurers, but he keeps his composure and gives Obadiah a soft slap on the shoulder hoping that he will be able to heal the boy as TD had promised.
Obadiah blinks for a moment, a little nonplussed by the story, but eventually follows the request and presses golden light against the boy. "There there, everything will be better in a second."
Biting his lip in anticipation, the rogue feels anxious as he waits to see if Obadiah's magic was what the child needed to be healed.
Oh, I hope this works..
Coughing up a black sludge, the child seems to have a less gravely voice as he responds, saying, "The sludge I swallowed accidentally in the mine is coming up! I think I might be ok...What did you do?" Looking up at the cleric in wonder.
Obadiah bends over and with a bit of cloth carefully wipes the child's face and clothes clean of the black sludge. "I... I suppose I bestowed the blessing of my God." He smiles at the boy. "He is always kind to the innocent."
"Yeeeeessss! Success!" Throwing his fists triumphantly in the air he looks at Dmitri and gives him a thumbs-up, saying, "That's great teamwork! Excellent job, everyone!"
Pausing his celebration for a moment, he inspects the sludge on the ground while taking care not to touch it.
"Dunno what to make of it; doesn't seem like something that belongs in a mine shaft to me though.. Granted I don't know anything about mines, to be honest.. I do know that these kids don't deserve to be working in dangerous conditions though.. I would love to inspect these mines firsthand, but I'm fearful we'll just end up like this child here, or worse.. What do you guys say? We need to help but we can't risk our lives. We can always come back once we've gathered more information and honed our skills."
Reaching into his coin purse, he counts out fifty gold for the boys, pointing an authoritative finger at them and stating, "You boys can eat off this until we get back, you hear? Now I'd better not catch y'all working in that mine. You need to be doing safer work like helping clean the Tavern or market stalls or something. If any workers try coming to get you I just want you to hide until they're gone. And they'd better pray that they don't give you any trouble either. And don't let anyone know you guys have this much gold - just spend a little whenever you need food. If you draw too much attention, the adults may try to bully the money out of you. And just try to avoid the mine owners and workers because they may not appreciate losing the extra labour. Just lie low and pretend you're sick and unfit to work. I know they're going to try and force you to work for them, but you're bright lads! You'll know how to avoid working in those blasted mines until we can resolve everything."
With a grin, he nods and looks at his comrades wondering if they agree or disagree with his impromptu strategy for the situation until they can resolve something more permanent for the children.
"Hrm..." Obadiah peers over the brown sludge.
He stands and nods at Justin. "I agree... we should return here, later. And help these poor children."
Obadiah blinks for a second, looking closer at the sludge, before looking up at everyone. "Erm... I'm not sure how to say this... but I see something in this? Something... alive? Life force? I'm remembering something, some book or psalm I read. But this... this came from something. And I don't mean the child."
He ponders for a moment then continues "Perhaps we should take a look at this mine?"
Conflicted with a strong desire to venture into this mine and investigate against his concern for the group's wellbeing, he mulls the idea over.
I wonder just how dangerous this mine is.. Would it be worth the risk..
Justin looks at Obadiah and nods his head.
"Couldn't hurt to have a look, right? 'Sides, we got God on our side - what could go wrong?"
The rogue gives the cleric a playful slap on the arm and looks to Dmitri, asking, "Sound good to you, man? If it seems too dangerous, we bail."
The priest nods. "God is indeed with us... I say we try it. I would like to do something for this town, for these kids, before we leave, even if we plan to return."
I am unsure about the fact of God being on our side, but I agree that we should investigate the mine as well, Dmitri says, shifting his pack on his shoulders and checking to see if his sword is clear, despite never having used it.
Justin looks to the boy that had stole from him earlier and motions for him to usher the group. "Alright then, son - lead us to this damned mine so we can check out out."
Obadiah looks at Dmitri, a little confused, but drops the matter. Nodding, he stands and readies himself to follow the boy into the mine.
The young boy gives a questioning look, asking, "You are really going down there...With the dog spiders?!" The older one gets up from his bed wearily, saying, "Those aren't real...I told you that. What is real is that sludge. I don't know where it came from, but it wasn't fun. I'll show you the entrance, but if I show up inside they'll put me to work...So that's far as I go. Let's go quickly before they see where we live and take us there anyway." Leaving to lead you to the mine entrance, waiting for you as you might fall behind but helping you all make it there in one piece nonetheless.
Following along with the group, he thinks to himself.
I really hope that dog-spiders are all we have to worry about..
Taking a deep breath as they approach the mine, he steadies his nerves and asks, "Alright, guys - you ready for some adventuring?"
The older kid that lead you there quickly says goodbye and darts off into the shadows, disappearing.
gazing at the mine in front of him, Obadiah swallows then ventures into it.
Following alongside Obadiah, the rogue enters the mine and cautiously watches the walls as they advance.
I hope we're not in over our heads here, he thinks to himself.