The town of Belhaim is the quiet country town located in the Verduran Forest
of northcentral Taldor, on a minor trade road between Wispil and Dunholme.
A lesser tributary of the Verduran Fork runs along the side of the town,
connected to the main road by a covered wooden bridge.
The Towns folk don't know that with the coming of a Party of unique individuals,
and soon collapse of a tower will set off a chain of events for both them and their visitors.
The party is traveling as guards for a Merchant named, Silas Gribb.
As the party arrives at Belhaim, the caravan is checked by the Town guard.
The guards find contraband and have a warrent for your employer.
Your mentor saw your waunderlust and decided to give a have giving you some potions to heal should things go south,
and a flask containing some fine local ale for times when you really need that drink.
Lina gave you this so you'd not need to worry about becoming a target for kidnappers like in the past,
or starting fights by those seeking to court or get your attention.
And a scroll of magic stone so that should you be in a pinch, you have a method of attacking ranged targets or the undead.
You mentor gave it to you should you ever be in a pinch and need more strength to complete a task at hand.
As you were getting ready to leave town a poor looking old man gave you 2 Melons, you sensed he was Fey readying a prank,
but to not appear ungrateful to the fey you accepted them as Fey can be bad losers at times when their target catches on.
The Melons haven't spoiled in over a month, so you know they are enchanted and likely a prank item.
Your mentor knows you have the right stuff, but knows that luck can turn against you quickly,
The potions to help out in a fight, and the book of Letters should you need to deal with officals within Taldor.
24 charges/day, each charge is 10 mintues)
The people of Hellsung figured you could use this item when in town or exploring caves that would otherwise be hard for you.
and removes her troublesome wings, but she keeps her hooves, 24 charges/day, each charge is 10 mintues)
The people of Hellsung figured you could use this item when in town or exploring caves that would otherwise be hard for you.
You all stand at the entrance to Belhaim next to a bridge over the river.
Two of the guards starts to escort your employer Silas Gribb to the Garrison to be held in their jail for a time.
Another two guards start inquiring the party.
Duke looks over the group.
Astrid quips as she looks over the group
"It looks like we have a interesting group here."
Duke asks
"And what about the rest of you?"
While the guards were taking care of Master Gribb, Aurorae had sat quietly on a fence overlooking the river, swinging her feet.
"Our first real job and we already botched that. I should have known he was shady. Dad taught me. And hiring a group of outcasts like us without batting an eye. You should have known better", she berates herself silently.
As the couple of new guards approach the group, she jumps down the fence and removes the hood of her cloak, shaking her hair in place.
Though small for her apparent race, the young woman has clear elf look, with long pointed ears. Without the hood, a mass of curly dark hair cascades down her back. Her green slanted eyes contrast with the tanned skin of her arms.
As she comes closer to the guards with an engaging smile, her cloak parts, revealing a short sleeveless green dress stopping at mid tights.
A nice looking sickle is affixed on the left side of her belt while a light crossbow is strapped to her back.
She stands close to the guards, her naked feet halfway into a puddle and opens her hands :
"Good day to you Madam, Sir. We apologize for not having realized we were hired by a crook. We didn't know that he was carrying contraband, we were just hired to prevent any attempted theft."
Her voice is deeper than expected with a velvety tone that she uses to soothe people or animals.
"We do not want any issue with the authorities here.", she waves a hand a her friends attire. "Now that we seem without an employer, we will just try to find a new job here and be out of your way as soon as possible."
Rune using the item from Hellsung to help deal with people and places in a diplomatic manner appears like a 7ft tall version of herself without her wings.
She tries to appear as diplomatic as possible, but she is very intimidating in appearance to folks even when she is shorter and without her wings.
Rune adds
"WE had no idea that Mr Gribb was smuggling contraband.
He said he just needed some guards for his cargo."
Kusar stands aside. His floppy hat makes him appear a bit more stately. Though the half-minotaur is usually found shirtless, Kusar decided earlier that wearing clothing might make his appearance look more official. With his hat, he also appears shorter than normal - only about 6 feet tall.
"We didn't know for sure." Kusar echoes the others. "We're new. Had no idea what he was up to.". Kusar shrugs.
Astrid adds
"I don't know about that, it seems the truth but I'm sensing they are holding things back.
That is what my women's intuition is telling me."
Duke replies back
"Yeah, well your women's intuition doesn't have a perfect track record, and when it messes up it messes up big time."
Rune thinks
Oh sh*t, I really don't wanna reveal my true form,
it scares the crap out of people.
But then again honesty is the better road at times....
But other times causes more trouble.......
Aurorae keeps her engaging smile, trying to divert the attention of the suspicious woman.
"Both of you are very perceptive", she says with a half-bow. "As you can obviously see, some of my friends are "different". As in not completely human. We don't hide it but we prefer not to draw too much attention to it, you see. Because some people are more keen to shoot first and ask questions after."
She shrugs. "I will not say we are harmless, because we can hold our own as caravan guards. But we are good people. Gallus, here, is a follower of Cayden Cailean for example and Rune and myself were wards of a high priestess of Shelyn. Isn't that true ?", she asks her companions.
"And we haven't been fully paid for the job we just did. Do you think there's a chance we can collect our pay from the magistrate in town once he's recovered the price of the fine ?"
"Hey, to be honest, we're just as surprised as you are. But there's no need to get personal about it. Besides, if we really had something more to do with Mr. Gribb, don't you think our names would be listed in that warrant you have?"
...
"But Aurorae does make a good point. We were expecting to get paid and technically we completed our work. So if the town plans on collecting his assets, why don't you make sure his debts are cleared and let us take our wages before moving on."
Duke replies
"I can understand your group a bit better now and am believing your words.
Now I don't quite know if your going to get any payment from Mr. Gribb, if any at all.
You'd need to find out from the garrison, Gergis Bellett.
But since He'll be processing this paperwork, the answer won't be anytime soon."
Astrid adds
"I still think they are hiding something....
That tall woman looks more like a blacksmith then a ward from a priestess of Shelyn."
Rune thinks
"Crap, Crap."
Then speaks
"Well I was raised by a priestess of Kurgress, but I took to Blacksmithing, due to my strength and skill with hot metal."
Astrid replies
"Well, Looks like I can't completely judge a book by it's cover.
And I may be off with my women's intuition it seems."
Duke replies
"See, you can't always rely on your intuition, facts are facts."
"Now that all is sorted. Could you give us some pointers about your fine town? I mean, where are the inns where we could rest ? For we had a long journey today."
"And are there any place we could look for a job here? I mean for people like us. Because it seems likely we will have to wait for your commander - Gergis Bellet, I think ?" she hesitates as she tries to get the name right.
"So, yes, we will have to wait for him to process the documentation. So if you can point us to the garrison as well, that would be very helpful."
Duke replies
"Let's see, there is the;
The Wise Piper Inn,
The Grayhands Tavern,
The Belhaim Garrison,
Tymek's General Store."
after a moment continues
"That's all off the top of my head at the moment."
Astrid adds
"since we have guests raised in by those of a cloth,
We also have 2 temples here one to
Shelyn, known as the Shrine of Seven Roses,
and a House of Abadar. "
"Thanks a lot, you've been really helpful. I hope we'll find what we need there.", she thanks the guards.
Then turning to the party, she asks: "Anything else we need? Or are we good to go and visit a tavern. I wouldn't mind something to eat and drink right now."
"I am parched.". His stomach grumbles as well. He lets out a low laugh. "I guess I'm hungry too."
Kusar stands on his toes to survey the town, hoping to see over the heads of the guards.
Rune adds to Kusar's words
"Your not the only one that is hungry, this morning's breakfast was not the most appetizing......"
"So I guess we are hitting Grayhands for a meal and a drink."
Rune adds with the thoughts
"I wonder how many I could challenge to a drinking contest....."
Lairë's stomach let's out a slight growl. "Food? Certainly. We can discuss where to look next while Kusar treats."
"Good, It seems we are on the same page. I propose to hit the tavern first. We'll see if we can get any information about potential jobs there. If we don't we'll go to the Inn for dinner and to find rooms. Then there's still the temples that could give us pointers and they may even have a forge for you to work at, Rune."
"Sounds like a plan then. I hope they have some tasty salad. The last place I went to... let's not talk about that."
Kusar stands up tall. "Does anyone know the way? I get lost going from my bedroom to the kitchen," the half-minotaur jokes.
Rune replies with a bit of a smile to Aurorae 's words
"I doubt the temples here have forges, but every town has at least one blacksmith."
"But first things first ... Food and Drink"
Duke gives directions to Grayhand's Tavern
"Just follow straight on this road and Grayhand will be on your right side after the Amphitheater."
"Thank you. I hope to see you around," Kusar says absent-mindedly.
"Let's go, guys." He'll look to the group then start walking in the direction of the tavern.
The Party finds the Grayhands Tavern and enters and you see a few people there.
The man quickly looks at the group entering that he has not seen before
"First new customers in months and they look like Trouble with a capital T."
Rune ducks her head some to clear the doorway as she enters the tavern.
"Let's see if I can find a spot to order."
The sees Rune enter his Tavern last and he gets a bit nervous and thinks
"....we got BIG trouble....
.....I don't think I have any spot big enough for this customer....
.... and it would not be a wise idea to cheese her off, as she looks strong....
....Heck they even have a short minotuar with them...
...I may not want to piss them off...they could break the place..."
"Welcome to Grayhands How may I be of service."
"Hey buddy. I hear insulting your customers is bad for business. Let's hope your food can compensate or it might be bad for your physical well being. Now why don't you see what the ladies want?"
Swerlo adds in his thoughts
"You don't have to deal with the sh*t I have to deal with pal,
Let's see you run a Tavern is a small town that is in a rut."
He continues with his words
"Unfortunately I don't have a place that works well for some of the unique individuals among your group.
But if I could suggest a reasonable place it would be at the table next to the bar.
I'll have a strong bench put out for the group."
Aurorae sighs: "Thanks for your concern, Lairë. But I think we should try that a different way.", she whispers.
As the tavern keeper indicates the table by the bar, she sashays to the bar, perches on a bar-stool and leans forwards. There is a soft thud as the wooden tree-like symbol she caries around her neck spills out of the top of her dress and hits the wooden bar.
She absentmindedly tucks it back in place and she smiles to the man behind the counter.
"Thank you very much, my dear sir. I’m afraid we started on a wrong foot. Maybe we could start again, I’m Aurorae and I’m delighted to meet you. Your tavern was highly recommended by the town guards. My friends and I are just travelers stranded here on the shores of your establishment and we are not ones to cause trouble. We only wish to find something to sate our thirst and hunger. If you could provide two portions without meat it would even be better."
She spins on her stool, hops down from it to rejoin the table and cast a look over her shoulder: "And who knows, maybe you’ll decide the day you first met up should be labelled with a T for treasure."
Rune takes her seat when the bench is placed at the table, and sees Aurorae deal with the Grayhand's owner, when Aurorae takes her seat,
Rune pipes in with a bit of a sigh
"Your lucky in that your femininely beautiful, Aurorae, while I have to deal with being very masculine in appearance, scaring the crap out of people even when I don't wanna scare them, and have to deal with a lot of size issues.
I really wish I could become femininely beautiful, but it's not in the cards as far as I can see, and I can thank *Dad for that."
Kusar stands in the back and watches the exchange.
"I am indeed starving. We wont cause any trouble. We're just here looking for food and drink. We'll pay good coin."
Rune takes her seat when the bench is placed at the table, and sees Aurorae deal with the Grayhand's owner, when Aurorae takes her seat,
Rune pipes in with a bit of a sigh
"Your lucky in that your femininely beautiful, Aurorae, while I have to deal with being very masculine in appearance, scaring the crap out of people even when I don't wanna scare them, and have to deal with a lot of size issues.
I really wish I could become femininely beautiful, but it's not in the cards as far as I can see, and I can thank *Dad for that."
Aurorae comes back to the table and sits by Rune: "Sorry Rune, I did not intend to hurt you. I know you have people on their back foot whenever you go somewhere. And that's something you have to deal with everyday. But you know, sometimes I envy you, cause when my tricks with people don't work, I've got nothing to back me up. All this willy grace was as useful as tits on a breastplate when I was kidnapped. And I'm far more confident going anywhere when I have you to cover my back."
She punches Rune on the arm. "So don't sell yourself short. We all have been given a weird deal in life and we'll have to play it. But what I see is that we complement each other. Keep focused on the good things, we're alive, free to go where ever we want and do whatever we want..."
Rune replies back in a whisper
"No need to apologize, I've generally gotten used to it, but it still stings some.
And your right on a number of accounts, but I'm also looking into my future some and it needs some feminine charm for it to be better.
I get that we do cover a number of each other's weak points, but it still not covering all each others weak points.
And you don't need to worry about accidentally starting fires with flaming hot wings."
Swerlo replies to Kusar
"I hope so,
the last group of newcomers here said the same thing and cause a lot of damage, and skipped out of town quick to avoid paying for the damages."
"That's not us. We're an honest lot.". Kusar responds to Swerlo. But he thinks, 'I hope so at least. I don't know these others all that well.'. Kusar sits down on the bench. "Is it possible to have another glass of water?".
"And don't forget the menus," adds Lairë.
Having taken care of priorities, Lairë takes a moment to look around while settling in.