Dot
Mac dotting and checking in!
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Dot!
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Dotting again... edit: worked
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The town that squatted on the shores of Diamond Lake shared that name, but neither shared the gleam or promise of their moniker.
The lake, it's once abundant fishery suffocated by the detrius of years of mining, sat brown and oily. The town perched on
the shore like a pustulent sore, a haven of misery and hopelessness.
Dawn crept over the surrounding hills, illuminating the few cairns and monuments that were still visible, but the hope that light
brought rarely made its way into the noisome streets of Diamond Lake. It had rained over night, and with the execption of the main
street, the Vein, the streets of Diamond Lake were a mire of stinking mud.
Out into this, the many workers of the mines, slowly shuffled out and made their way to the holes in the ground where they spent their
days. Some emerged from flop houses, but most had spent the night in the many old warehouses, kept over from when a vibrant fishery
worked the shore and lake.
As the day brightened, and the miners disappeared into the earth, those fortunate enough to earn their keep above ground emerged and began
their day...
An annoying ray of sunlight slowly tracked its way across the battered wood of the table upon which you had rested your head last night.
Eventually, it settled directly on one closed eye causing it to twitch and tremble and ultimately open to reveal the red-veined eye within.
With a groan you realize you fell asleep at the table, instead of staggering up to the flea-infested loft above the common room. Stretching mightily,
you watched as Moory , the serving wench and the Cook bustled about the common room, cleaning and righting any table and chair not upright.
Moory gave you a smile before being chastised by Cook. You think she might be a bit sweet on you, and your thoughts meandered that way, until interrupted by the arrival of the owner, Till Snafnatch. Hefting a sack over one shoulder, today's provender from the grocer, Till greets you , "Ah, Borden...time to face the day!" the tavern-keeper declared.
Hefting the sack onto the greasy bartop, he walked over , reversed a chair and sat, "I was hoping you were still here. I have a message for you. "
He smiles, being a man who likes his secrets, and waits for Borden to draw the message out of him.
As is your habit, you rose with the dawn, performed your ablutions and prayers then sought out your mentor Vitor. Leaving your small chamber, you strode out into the Temple proper, seeing a number of acolytes cleaning the public area of the Temple. With a bow of respect, the acolyte answers your query as where Vitor may be, "I believe he's taken a number of acolytes to the graveyard.."
Crossing the Temple, you feel the needs of the body, and stop at the kitchen, joining a number of acolytes and priests there.
Sitting after grabbing a bowl of gruel and some bread, you notice one of the Garrison's lieutants enter. You believe his name is Drobun Trent.
He clears his throat and addresses those present, "Good morning, my Captain has asked me to seek out any who would assist in a task that we of the Garrison are not able to complete. Any interested in helping, join me at the notice board in the square at noon. Thank you."
As he turns to go, your eyes meet for a moment. He gives you nod, then leaves.
You walk into Diamond Lake at early morning along the path that hugs the lake shore. You notice the waters of the lake are brown and oily, no doubt a result of the mining activity the town is best known for. A steady stream of miners pass you going the other way to mines that are further from town. Ahead you can see the town has come alive, many miners climbing the hill to descend into the earth.
You path brings you into the town proper, and you can't help but scan the people's faces for sign of your friend Shayenna, but you don't see her. As you move through the central square , the few vendors try to entice you with their meager offerings. As you pass by a group of people, you over hear one of them speaking, "...Yes, the Captain needs a group of people for a task. I'll reveal the task at the noticeboard at noon. No, the Garrison can't do it, that's why we're appealing to the fine citizens of Diamond Lake." The man, a soldier by bearing and gear, appears to lose his audience's interest, but he doens't seem phazed, moving on to another group of people to repeat his entreaty. As you watch, it seems most of the 'fine' folk of Diamond Lake don't seem to interested in peforming any civic-minded activity.
The early morning sounds of the town wake you from slumber. Extricating yourself from the arms and legs of your fellow street dwellers, you ease yourself down from the attic of the abandoned house you and your friends had 'appropriated'. Headed towards the Vein, you stop at the back door of Evard's Grocers. For bravely dealing with a few large rats the other day, the grocer's daughter Ella had been giving you a bag filled with some bread and cheese and some dried fruit every morning since. This morning was no different, the slight girl holding the package out with a smile, "Here you go, Mac, thanks again."
As you turned to leave with a wave and a smile of your own, she calls out, "I heard about something you might be interested in....maybe...."
As the early morning light filters in through the nearby shutters, you hear the soft exhalations of the children nearby, still asleep. Lying awake for some moments, steeling yourself for one more day 'working' for Madame Mezziana. Finally , getting out your thin dirty bed, you tip toe to the privy, then start your day.
The morning is occupied with rousing the children, getting them fed and dressed and then setting Heather and Violet to working on the other children's letters.
Looking at the larder, you realized that a trip to the grocers was in order. Bouncing the very light purse the Madame had allocated to you for this purpose, you set out into the cool morning air. Dealing with the grocer, Evard, was always a joy. The man always had a smile, even for you! He dealt honestly with you , always giving you an extra loaf of bread or couple of apples; he knew you cared for the orphans. As you carefully filled your sack with your purchased provisions, the door opened and the sound of heavy boots rang through the shop. Looking over your shoulder, you saw Drobun Trent, one of Captain Trask's lieutenants stride in and greet Evard, "Evard, Good day, good man!"
You didn't hear Evard's mumured response. Drobun continued,"I've a favor to ask. The Captains looking for some civic minded citizens to assist with a task our men just don't have the time for. Let anyone you feel fits to arrive at the notice board at noon. All will be explained then. Good day!"
As the soldier departs his gaze rests on you for a moment, then slides past.
Evard comes over, a few tarts in his hands. Wrapping them , he places them in your sack, "Mmmm, maybe something for you to look into , Mia? ". At his shoulder, his daughter Ella smiled and nodded her agreement.
Kneeling in the center of the old ring of stones, you raise you face to the rising sun, breathing deeply of the moist, morning air. Looking out at the hills surrounding Diamond Lake, you can see the beauty of the land revealed by the dawn. Then your gaze slides sideways to the town...a blight on the landscape.
With a sigh you rise and begin your usual transit around the the edges of the town, your companion padding along beside you....biding your time before having to endure re-entering the town.
As ususal, you encounter a few of the soldiers from the fort on the paths , walking their patrols. Most give friendly waves or at least a neutral nod of recognition, they're used to seeing you out and about the fringes of the town. One of the more frienly guards, you think his name is Tolnen, stops and hails you, "G'Morning to ya! See you about all the time, yeh!", he says happily, "You should know, the lieutenant is lookin' for some people to help deal with somethin'. Somthin' we can't 'cause the Capt'n takin' us away fer somthing' else!"
He trots away to catch up with his squad, "Thought you'd like ta know, yeh! Noon at the notice board in the square..."
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Quickly finishing up the breakfast, the paladin deposits his bowl and utensils in the window next to the kitchen sinks and thanks the acolyte accepting them. Dragomir then makes his way to the graveyard to meet Vitor and the acolytes.
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Walking down the slope slowly and carefully, the former Lodge member can't help but feel disgust at the stink and utter hopelessness the town oozed . He'd seen the town from the distance a few times out on patrol in the wilds with his friends, and even from afar, Diamond Lake had always been a good reminder of why the druids and rangers fought to preserve the wild from excess civilization. The lake had been completely stripped bare of life, and for what? Who benefitted from this?
Not the common folk, judging by their 'down on their luck' attires and hunched backs. Why would anyone ever come here volountarily?
He sighed. And that was the problem: he wasn't here volountarily - not exactly. Being exiled from the lodge to this felt like a one-way trip into hell. Yet... some money would come in handy to prepare for the trip out. And much more importantly, he just wanted to make sure Shayenna, or Senna, was safe before he left. He could probably rely on his survival skills to make it through the wilds and live off of it, if he really wanted to. But for her, he'd brave this cesspit.
So... first things first. That town watch member might know where Senna was, and if not, jobs usually got paid. "Don't suppose I could ask what this mystery task is roughly about, sir watchman? I'm from the Bronzewood Lodge and passing through, but I'd be open to do a few jobs while I'm still here. Mostly looking for a friend of mine actually, a half-elven ranger who would have entered here a few days ago. Any idea where she might be?"
Even though he was clearly young, he was decently muscled, skilled and experienced and tried to impress this in his posture and speech while speaking to the soldier.
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Groaning he picks up an nearby tankard and shakes it... Empty!
F!*@ity f@&+ f@$%, he curses inwardly.
He picks up another and shakes it and is rewarded with a faint sloshing of liquids within.
Success!
He swigs down the remaining mouthful of stale, under brewed, warm ale and burps slightly. He rakes his thick but shapely fingers through his hair, scrubbing at his scalp in an attempt to both fix his hair and wake up his brain.
He rises and starts shaking any other abandoned containers he can find, tavern keeper Till abandoning his sack on the bartop as he moves to beat Borden to his prizes, moving to pick up the 'empties' before the storyteller can beat him to them.
Well, don't wait til the Cows come home my friend... spill the beans, buy me a beer or bury me. You look like the cat that stole the cream so I'm guessing it's a good bit of news. A job maybe?
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Mia looks into the basin of somewhat clean water after washing her face and wonders how much longer she is going to be able to hide her growing despair from her charges. Violet, she suspects, already knows that everything is not going well for Mia. Heather would likely find out soon. The others would pick up on their concern, and then, what? What could she do? She doesn't have enough coin to get the children out of this gods-forsaken dump of a town, and she certainly can't abandon them, so what could she do?
The voices of rousing miners heading out for the day draw her from her reverie. The future would have to worry about itself, she reminds herself. She banishes the look of melancholy and puts on a grin. Today was Heather's birthday, and she was going to have a good one, darn it!
Feeling a little better, she turns back to the room she shared with the children and started getting them up and ready for the day.
===
Mia grinned as she is greeted by Evard and Ella, two of the all too few bright souls in Diamond Lake. She gets enough food to last the week, supplementing the purse Madam Mezziana had given her with some of the coin she'd saved up to buy treats for both Heather and Violet, whose birthday was only a few days away.
The good cheer in her eyes dims and the grin vanishes as she hears Drobun Trent come in. The man never gives her trouble, but then again, he never seems to see her at all. Head down, she continues carefully filling her sack, listening to the conversation between Evard and Drobun with one ear.
A task they don't have the time for, Mia wonders as she turns to watch Drobun as he finishes speaking then turns to leave. For a moment, their eyes lock. Mia looks away, hoping that his glace at her means nothing.
She looks up as Evard stuffs in a few more goodies and starts to protest when he cuts her off with his question.
"I guess I should," she says, feeling a little spark of hope flicker to life. She smiles at both Ella and Evard before thanking them and leaving.
Curious, I wonder what is going on. Maybe it won't be an excuse to get rid of some potential troublemakers.
Mia shakes her head. She's being paranoid. The guard wouldn't be that circumspect. They'd just grab them, assuming they aren't under someone's protection as a favored minion.
"If anyone's out there listening, please let this be a good omen," she mutters. "I don't know how much longer I can bear this life here."
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He was hungry as he had such a busy night he had forgotten to eat. The coins clinked softly in his coin purse, but Mac thought why should he spend them if he didn't have to? He stopped at a horse's trough and washed up as best as he could while finer folks gave him looks of disgust.
Ella had been kind enough to feed him and he saw no reason to discontinue the service. He grabbed the delicious meal thanking the girl profusely when she mentioned she knew something he might be interested in, Mac cocked his head to the side and with a smile said, You have already done me a great service by providing my breakfast, but I am always interested in information!
After putting the food up and surprising Heather with a pastry once the little ones were done with their lessons, she gathers the older children into the kitchen of the cramped shack while the younger ones take care of their chores.
"I'm going to be looking into something that might help us put some more food on the table for all of us. The guard talking about it said for anyone interested to come to the notice board at noon," she tells them.
"Heather, You're in charge until I get back. Make sure that everyone finishes their morning chores, and if they do, I have a treat for them. Violet, seeing as I need to get ready for this, you've got the kitchen. Don't go too overboard, I'd like to have a big meal on your birthday too." She turns to Elias and pauses as she notices his glare. She swallows the stab of panic and reminds herself that she shouldn't have to fear him. She'd known him the entire time she'd been in Diamond Lake, and the boy she knew wouldn't hurt anyone.
Of course, the boy she knew had also changed in those three years.
"Elias, help Heather keep an eye on the little ones. Toril and Havin especially," she says and smothers a sigh as she sees him roll his eyes.
"Well, I suppose I'd better get ready," she says.
===
As Mia left the shack, carrying her worn pack and the gear she might need for a the job the guard has, she sees Elias walking down the small street. Her eyes narrow as she watches. A sigh escapes as another figure rounds the corner, Iseph, one of the thugs that Madame Mezziana keeps around. She has warned the children to stay away from Iseph and his ilk, but Elias waves and, much to Mia's surprise, has his greeting returned by Iseph.
Things are getting grim for Elias' future if he is hanging around the likes of that thug, Mia knows. She shakes her head, at a loss of what to do or say, and heads off to the notice board. Hopefully, the guard would be willing to pay for the help they got, Maybe even enough for her and her charges to leave Diamond Lake and get started in a new life somewhere better.
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Enjoying the beautyful morning Tomoe trots towards the city alongside her trusty cat, meeting the soldiers patrol with a sigh.
Most of them are friendly enough, but they remind her of the city, the ugly spot in the else perfect landscape, and none of them would hesitate to catch any halfling at the slightest accusation.
She recognized Tolnen though, she had spoken to him before. On several occasions. It seemed he enjoyed unspoiled nature quite a lot as well, nice fellow.
G'd morning to you as well! I hope you find everything as peaceful as i did! What'ya sayin' there? The captain's takin' you away? Y'know where or why? I hope y'll be back soon and safe! You think i can help them lieutenant? I'll go take a look then! Might be something different!
Thanks fer lettin'me know! she says and waves as Tolnin catches up with his troop and turns to continue her own way towards the city then.
What's goin' on there then eh? Needin'the help of halflin's? Prolly crawlin'into some hole or sneakin' around somewhere. Not pleased, but i'll check anyway.
Till smiles and rubs his hands, an old habit he has when he's thinking about money. He beats Borden to a half-ful flagon, peers down into it and makes a face. He doesn't sell the best spirits, some would say they don't even merit being called the worst. But when they've sat out in the air for half a night...
With a skeptical look, he slides the dregs to Borden, then crosses his arms, allowing the human dreg to sample his offering.
"Now then, seems the Captain gots one o'his lackeys drumming up volunteers for somesuch. Maybe a chance to do some good..." Till suggests,his motive for his suggestions transparent to Borden, he hopes his best customer will come into some coin and pay off his bar tab. Scratching his head,Borden can't quite recall how much it is. Till only charges a copper or two for his swill, but Borden's downed a good many flagons of the stuff!
Climbing the small rise at the edge of town, Drogmir could see Vitor and several acolytes moving among the gravestones, trimming weeds, brushing lichen and other debris from carved inscriptions. Drogmir sees a few people on the streets, all who give him a courteous nod of greeting.
Vitor waves when he sees Drogmir at the entrance to the graveyard,and strides over to greet his protege, "Good Morn to you, Drogmir. How does the Lady of Mint find you this fine day!" he declares with his usual vigor.
The guard turns to Haran, a mock frown on his face, "Sir, who you calling sir? I work for a livin'!" , his broad face then breaks into a wide smile, "He he, just kiddin'"
He scraches a spot under his armor , then asks, "Bronzewood you say? Huh, got one o' those wanderin 'up at the stone circle, the edges of town. Her and that cat of hers...Pretty she is, too bad she's....you know..." he says, holding his hand level with the ground a few feet high. Haran's not sure he's describing a child or halfling or gnome...
The guard's wistful look is replaced by embarrassment, "Sorry...you had other questions...Right, jobs. Show up at the noticeboard there, " he says, pointing to an abused looking plank of wood with a variety of placards and parchments attached to it, " at noon and you'll find out what the Captain has in store! "
He then remembers Haran's other question, "Right...half-elf ranger you say. Hmmm, can't say I've seen her..." he says, looking to his patrol-mate, a sour-faced, unpleasant looking man, who also shakes his head, "Sorry, hope you find your friend..."
Then with a nod and a friendly wave, he and his partner move off on their rounds.
Ella blushes a bit at Mac's praise, "One of the Captain's lieutenants came by. They're looking for volunteers to do something the Garrison don't have time for. I think they've given out coin before
for such things....I was thinking about you when he was here....you're so brave..."
She looks down at her feet, then back up at Mac, "They're callin' any interested to the noticeboard at noon." she says, then hearing her father calling for her, tosses Mac another small apple from her apron and scurries back inside.
As Mia moves through town towards the square, a few people nod and smile but as she's accustomed, most avoid her gaze or cross the street to avoid her. Entering the square, Mia sees a few watchmen in conversation with a newcomer . Well at least one of them, the other, looking sourly around at the passing townspeople is none other than Mia's occassional nemesis, Valois Tunreaux.
His passing gaze catches Mia, and he stares at her for a moment, smirking. Then his companion having finished his conversation, he moved off into the meager crowd.
The usual vendors had set up their stalls, and as the hour was approaching noon, a small gathering was beginning near the noticeboard.
As Tolnen re-joined his patrol-mates one of them said somthing harshly to him. Chagrined, he ran back to Tomoe, breathing hard, "Sorry, please , I misspoke about the Captain taking us away. Please, don't say anything to anyone about that ....please?" . Then with a thankful expression, he ran back to catch up with his comrades.
From her vantage point up the hill, Tomoe could see the townsfolk getting about their business...
"I had received an unusually guest with my breakfast this morn. A representative of The Garrison visited me to ask for assistance in a garrison matter at noon at the notice board in town. If I had no other pressing Lady of the Mint matters, I was thinking I would see if I could assist."
Caydens Rise I'm dusty... Any chance of some badly toasted bread... stale and moldy? Some old under fried eggs? And maybe some cut price blood sausage with bits of what I hope are only hoofs in it?
Awww... come now Borden, that's a pretty hard order to fill, Till said doubtfully.
Why?, Borden asked, before spitting onto the rush covered floor. Thats what I got yesterday...
The bartender laughed and cuffed him lightly on the head as he went back to the bar and grabbed the sack.
We'll see what we can throw together. Your tab is rising and you know I have a gold coin limit. You need this job and I need my coin. Apparently it's at the town square notice board a half segment 'afore noon, Till said, with reference to a sundial that stood on the corner of the street the pub, with an added lie so that Borden wouldn't be late.
In that case? Pour me an ale before breakfast and crack an egg into it - I might as well fortify myself before I throw myself into the hero gig again, the professional teller of tall tales and b&*~%#~~ artist pronounced with an affected gravity and solemnity. Hero-ing isn't for the faint of heart and is best done with a full belly...
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Harran grins as the jovial guard cracks some jokes and shares the information. "All right, thanks. I'll keep looking. Good fortune to you on the rounds."
"Not to the other guy with you though; he seem like an a%@$~$*," he thinks, but leaves it at that.
Figuring he had to start collection information somewhere, he approaches the board and looks at the notices on display.
Then, his pocket starts moving.
And moving.
And moving harder.
The man sighs a deep one and unclasps it, after which a small rodent peeks up from his former prison, staring at the man with a look of absolute betrayal!
Harran just sighs. "Oh no you don't. You're the reason we ended up in this mess, so you can just hide back in there while I look around town. We don't want to make a scene, and I don't care how hungry you are for bread or cheese right now. We have a job to do first."
The rodent, on closer inspection a rat, stares at the stores wistfully, greedily drinking in the scents of the nearby food stalls being set up but unable to escape the man's iron clasp on his small frame.
Then his gaze fixes on something, after which he yelps and ducks back down.
Non-plussed at this odd behavior, Harran looks in the direction the rodent hid from, and sees Mia moving through the crowd.
"Is that... what? A catfolk? A human? A demon? All three at once? And just walking around in the open? Well... she looks like she knows where she's going. Probably a local, so might as well ask?"
"Excuse me, Miss?" He calls out to Tiefling, trudging forward to catch up. "Mind if I ask you something?"
The young half-elf stops at a respectable distance and tries to keep his eyes locked with hers, though it glides back to her exotic tail and fangs at least once. He blinks on seeing the more demonic features up-close, and hesitates, mouth opening and closing at obviously not having any clue what exactly she was, but much more fascinated rather than repulsed. "Um... I, well..."
He shakes his head. "Sorry, I'll start over. I'm Harran, a... ranger-trainee from the Bronzewood lodge. I'm here on a visit to the town, looking for a friend who came here recently. A pretty half-elven ranger named Shayenna? Was probably carrying around a falcon on her shoulder. It, ah, might have tried to eat someone's pet. Multiple times. And she might have threatened to shoot someone who got too close. They're similar, like that. Don't suppose you might have seen them? The guards didn't seem to know, and I just got here. I don't really have any leads at the moment."
The man shrugs apologetically and waits for Mia's response. His most prevalent features are his unusually vibrant dark-brown hair, healthy complexion and almost-shining green eyes. The rim of chain mail edges below and above his mostly brown clothing and cloak. Except for the the armor and what looks like spear with many ends on his back, his backpack and displayed gear on it does seem suited for travelling and perhaps camping in the wilderness.
His right pocket also seems to shiver on its own.
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It takes a few moments for Mia to realize that the “Miss” Harran was calling for was her. Mia has had some people not snarl or spit at her on first meeting, but they were very rare and often more than a little strange themselves.
"Uh, yes," she says and waits for his reply, only to notice him noticing her rather peculiar features. The old, worn-down cloak she had been issued when she was a Hellknight no longer holds heat, but it does cover her tail up. A pink blush starts to burn on her cheeks as she wraps the cloak tight around herself and hides her tail from view.
Too careless. I shouldn't be showing off what I am when there's so much anger and resentment bubbling beneath the surface.
She listens to his question while quietly looking him over, and finds her eyes drawn to his squirming pocket. She spends a fair moment wondering what is going on in there, and the pause after Harran's grew long and awkward.
"Oh, uh? Your friend, Shayenna? I, uh..."
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"No, I don't remember seeing anyone like that," Mia says after a little too long. "Then again, she might not have come by where I live in town."
Mia turns and starts to head to the notice board in the square, but she stops. After a brief hesitation, she looks back at Harran.
"My name is Mia. It was nice to meet you Haran."
She resumes walking to the board, her cloak still wrapped around her as she pulls the hood over her head.
Not too long afterwards, as Mia is walking along with her head down, she runs into a man more than a head taller than her and twice her size. She stumbles a step, then another. Unfortunately, she trips herself and starts to fall.
Wondering if she should have asked Harran to join her on whatever the guardsmen are handing off to "civic minded citizens" (while also wondering who in their right mind would call any natives of Diamond Lake civic minded) she doesn't see the tall, scruffy Borden until she'd smacked into him. She tries to keep her balance, but she is over a foot shorter and half his weight when soaking wet. She might as well have run into an ogre from her perspective. She stumbles another two steps before losing her fight with gravity and letting out a cry as the ground comes up to meet her.
Vitor listens and nods, rubbing his chin as he looks across Diamond Lake to where the Garrison Fort lay, "A Garrison matter? Hmm, interesting..." he says, turning to a nearby acolyte and giving her a few instructions.
Turning back to Dragomir, he says, "Indeed, go....at the very least to see what 'assistance' the Garrison needs. And if it suits the Lady, by all means, offer your assistance!"
He then offers Dragomir a spade, "But first, as you have some time until noon, help us?"
As Mac makes his was through the town, he notices that there aren't quite as many Garrison soldiers about as usual. As usual, none of the Sheriff's men are out and about, but you can only see a couple of Garrison patrols about town, when there's usually at least double that on their way in or out of town.
Unsure what the garrison might need from him, Dragomir geared up fully before he left the temple, taking his longsword and flail. After a few adjustments, Dragomir's gear was distributed evenly about his person.
Walking back into down, Dragomir noticed the garrison's lessen presence on the streets of Diamond Lake, giving the paladin pause to wonder what might have happened or is happening. Hopefully nothing belonging to the machinations of the mine owners.
As he approached the notice board, I appeared a small crowd had developed. No doubt others who were asked to assist the garrison, so likely I would be working with these individuals today. Most Dragomir did not recognize. The only one he was familiar with was the mysterious gray-skinned lady, who had just had a collision into a visitor to Diamond Lake. Who would willingly visit Diamond Lake? The Pharasman thought. Dragomir wasn't certain if the altercation was deliberate or not. So the paladin decides to sense evil around the notice board and see what happens.
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"No, I don't remember seeing anyone like that," Mia says after a little too long. "Then again, she might not have come by where I live in town."
Mia turns and starts to head to the notice board in the square, but she stops. After a brief hesitation, she looks back at Harran.
"My name is Mia. It was nice to meet you Haran."
"Hm? Oh. Yes, Likewise! Please, just 'Han' - that's what my friends call me," The self-proclaimed ranger trainee manages. "Good fortune on your endeavors, Mia. And thanks for the information."
He respectfully waits at the marketplace as she moves away.
Then he opens his pocket, relocates to a quieter spot and takes out the Rat. "Come now, she wasn't that scary, you wuss. Actually... she was really pretty. I wonder what she is? Never seen anything remotely like her kind in the wild."
The rat just stares at him, wide-eyed.
"What? No harm in admitting it, right? After all, it totally isn't like the lodge cracked down hard on Senna and me, and that we had to break up because I somehow had the misfortune of getting a Rat during my trial," Harran continues, somewhat bitterly. "Oh wait, I did, and that rat is you ."
Said rat looked around uncertainly, still unable to escape as the fist squeezing him tightens more and more.
But Harran eventually drops the Rat back in and just sighs. "Never mind. Can't change the past, I guess. But... what now?"
As he replays the events with Mia in his mind, he frowns. "Wait... she paused really long there. Think she knew more than the said? Or that Mia's in some kind of trouble? Looked like she was trying to disguise herself too."
From the pocket, the Rat's eyes go wide again and he shakes his head time and time again.
"Yeah, I knew you'd agree! Maybe if we jog a bit, we can still catch up... think the town square's in that direction too, and we need to be there soon anyway for the annoucement ."
On the way there, heading into the streets Mia took, he looks down and asks one more question. "Think I handled talking to her well? Pretty smooth, wouldn't you say?"
The rat seems to bury his face in his paws, then shrugs in hopelessness and moves his paws in a 'so-so' motion.
"Great... No cheese for you today."
Having lost sight of Mia in the meantime, Harran just continues on the path until his nose picks up something rather disturbing - even in the middle of the urban pit of misery.
There were times when his part-elven heritage and the sharp senses served him well, as was usually the case in the wild.
But this time... he'd have passed.
What approached him seemed to be a black hole of booze, carrying at least six different kinds of cheap alcohol to a degree where it muted out all the other scents and inescapably demaning the attention of each of his nostrils. And then came the unpleasant odor of unwashed sweaty human in the middle of it.
He follows it to the side and sees Borden Read towering over the prone figure of Mia in an alley. "What's going on here?" he asks, frowning at the situation.
Buggered if I kin work it out... she just ran into me and fell over, says the seedy looking a*!+%*& swaying. He burps slightly.
Pardon me, he says leaning down and extending a hand, somewhat ambivalent to her appearance.
Feeling rather embarrassed and humiliated, Mia wordlessly accepts the offered hand and tries to keep her cloak and hood covering her.
"I-I am so sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going," she says. Her gaze is aimed at the road to the side and behind Borden.
Here it comes, the yelling, she thinks as she finally notices the smell of booze about him.
He burps again... a smell of ale and eggs?
Naught to fuss over miss... no blood no apologies needed.
He helps pull her up with a casual ease.
Where you running to or who are you running from anyways?
As he makes his way to the message board, Mac sees less garrison patrols then he normally sees. A thought enters his mind of abandoning this fool's errand and take advantage of the fewer patrols and go to work-especially as everyone's attention is turned to some crazy lady falling down. He sees a tempting jeweled dagger sticking out of a scabbard. He is about to make a reach for it then thinks better of it. He reminds himself about why he is here and how he would face Ella in the morning.
He burps again... a smell of ale and eggs?
Naught to fuss over miss... no blood no apologies needed.
Just about to ask something along the lines of 'Is that so, Mia?', Harran holds his words as the at first brutish-seeming guy helps her up, seemingly without agression, and straight up asks her the adamantine follow-up question afterwards.
Curious about it himself, and not feeling entirely comfortable at either leaving or approaching more without good reason, he holds his position and decides on listening a bit more.
"The guard said they were looking for help and would be saying with what at the noticeboard. I was going there when I wasn't paying attention and ran into you," Mia says as she dusts herself off.
"Sorry about that," she says with an apologetic nod before looking around to see how much attention she'd drawn to herself.
There's Harran. I wonder if this has to do with his missing friend.
The notice board?, rumbles the man. No need to rush and besides I'm off that way myself, he says with a slight bow and a sweep of the arm to indicate the direction. Might as well Shufti over there, Borden finishes, throwing in a Kellish word into the sentence with a casual ease as if it's become a bit of slang used so often as to become an every day thing.
"Uh, shuff-tee?"
Oh?, he pauses confused by the question, the pronunciation or both. He pinches his forehead between his fingers, as if pained by a mild headache or by the exercise of thinking.
Oh right... sorry. Just how we speak in Absolom. It's a mashup of languages over there. It means 'take a look'... it was kellish, originally 'šāfa'...but ya' know how it goes, he says with a shrug as if to express a complacent acceptance of the corruption and change of the language.
"Oh. So you're both heading out to hear this announcement as well? The one about the job?" Harran asks from slightly further down the alley. When they reach him, he adds: "Sorry for interfering, Mia - I realize it's probably none of my business. But the situation just looked... ah, 'dubious' from where I was standing," he explains.
He sizes Bordan up and gives him a nod. "Name's Harran. I'm here on a visit from the Bronzewood Lodge, mostly looking for a friend of mine. But I heard the guards asking for help to the townsfolk when I got here too. Can't deny I'm at least curious what this mystery task could be."
"Oh. So you're both heading out to hear this announcement as well? The one about the job?" Harran asks from slightly further down the alley. When they reach him, he adds: "Sorry for interfering, Mia - I realize it's probably none of my business. But the situation just looked... ah, 'dubious' from where I was standing," he explains.
"It might even be dire to ask for assistance from The Lady of the Mint", said the tall quiet armored warrior standing behind them.
This individual is wearing scalemail armor and holding a heavy wooden shield. On his hip a longsword is sheathed and a light flair hangs from his belt. Over his armor a tabbard is draped with the symbol of a white spiral, with a bandolier over that with various flasks.
Harran blinks and his gaze flies towards the newcomer, whom he'd somehow failed to notice despite all his gear and weaponry.
"Lady of mints...?" he slowly repeats. "Are you one of the drug-dealer types from the city we sometimes hear about? Well... I can see why mints might be needed here. The situation does seem dire."
For some completely inexplicably reason, he looks at Bordan Read.
The tall human isn't sure if the half-elf doesn't really know about The Lady of Mint or if he's the subject of a jibe.
"Eh, The Lady of Mint is one of Pharasma's many saints of whom I'm a member of it's enclave here in Diamond Lake." The warrior blinked. "You are aware who Pharasma is, do you?"
The half-elf frowns for a moment and pauses to think, then simply shrugs. "Should I? From your insinuation, I gather he or she is one of your gods, and I'll admit I'm not too familiar with them. Where I'm from, most worship various entities of nature instead; part by tradition, part because Nogwier doesn't exactly like anything not of the Old Faith. Though the old nutjob *does* have a soft spot for the cult of a nihilistic god of your pantheon who insists the world is about to end."
He then raises his shoulders and hands in a 'what the hell kind of sense does that make?' kind of fashion. "Personally, I'd rather live my life by my own morals than any imposed upon me by some higher entity, and I get by just fine without revering anyone."
He tries to be polite, but there's an undercurrent of genuine bitterness when he discusses religion and Nogwier in particular. He seems to really not know, or perhaps care, about Pharasma.
Well met then Harran... and Mia?, he says, dragging the name of his female bodyblocker from the half elf's reply. Yeah, I'm interested. I got my start in life angling towards adventuring and this sorta sounds like a hero sort of gig. I used to be a pathfinder before events took over the path of my life, besides, haunting this towns pubs pays poor coin indeed.
He looks past Harran and winces at his characterisation of the Pharasmin faith. Pharasma was held in high honour in Absolom, especially given the island states proximity to Osirion and Qadira. She was humourless, true, but was a critical part of, well... life. She was there at the start of it, and by the Gods, she was there at the end.
He picks up on the undercurrents from Harran but decided to let it pass. Religion was a sore spot for many.
Borden gives a respectful nod to the newcomer and makes a spiral over his heart with his thumb. I know of The Lady of Graves..l'm not a worshipper so much but I do honour Her.
Mia nods as Borden guesses her name and watches the newcomer with a wary eye as she takes a half-step behind the much larger Borden.
A man of the cloth, a Pathfinder, and a man of the old ways that seems to hate the gods. Heretics, rabble-rousers and cacophiles is what they'd be called back home.
Mia wraps her cloak more tightly about herself. She can't hide her ash-gray skin or white hair, but she could at least look passably human if no one saw more than that.
"I-I know of her," Mia says in answer to Dragomir's question.
Mia seems more interested in avoiding attention from the newcomer, Dragomir, more than anything else. Her answer has an air of uncertainty and hesitation, almost as if she was lying. She's possibly even afraid of him given how she's shifting to put Borden between the Pharasmin and herself.
The half-elf then raises his shoulders and hands in a 'what the hell kind of sense does that make?' kind of fashion. "Personally, I'd rather live my life by my own morals than any imposed upon me by some higher entity, and I get by just fine without revering anyone."
"Well..that is your prerogative, I suppose." Dragomir responded tersely, nearly borderline rude. Even the paladin could not excuse his tone.
Borden gives a respectful nod to the newcomer and makes a spiral over his heart with his thumb. I know of The Lady of Graves..l'm not a worshipper so much but I do honour Her.
The armored warrior was taken aback by older gentlemen's correct use of the spiral over the heart, despite his own admission of not being an adherent. The tall bearded man returns the nod with equal respect.
"Forgive my temperament, please. My name is Dragomir Venchev, a paladin in service to Pharasma, Goddess of Death and Birth. Prophecy and Fate."Mia wraps her cloak more tightly about herself. She can't hide her ash-gray skin or white hair, but she could at least look passably human if no one saw more than that.
"I-I know of her," Mia says in answer to Dragomir's question.
Dragomir offers a silent nod of acceptance to the intimidated lady. The holy warrior had hoped this first encounter with the mysterious gray-skinned lady would have gone better, but the paladin understands that Pharasma's very nature is intimidating to most.
Dragomir tries to steer the conversation away from Pharasma for the moment. "Am I to understand those gathered here were requested by a garrison member this morning as well?"
Seems to be the case, though I'll be more on the bounce once I shake the last of this headache. The hair of the dog dint seem to do the job... personally I blame bad spirits... or rather, cheap ones.
Harran wasn't really surprised by the terse reaction on his statememt, as he'd been on the wrong end of superstition and religion for most of his life - even now, when things had finally seemed like they'd work themselves out.
People seemed to get offended and potentially violent very easily when challenged in whatever system they had for themselves to explain away inexplicable things, and this older man certainly looked dangerous as well. That Mia seemed to want to hide from the man also didn't speak in his favor. On both accounts, he wasn't particularly interested in picking a fight with the self-proclaimrd 'Pharasmin (?)' over nothing but his preference to not worship a god.
Thus, he holds his tongue until the topic shifsts and Bordan speaks up first. "...Yes, I too was asked by the guards when I got here. But now that we're talking... sorry, sir Borden, was it? Did you just say you *ate* dog hair? Do they really use that as a hangover cure here?"
Borden holds up a hand wearily.
Just 'nother figure of speech mate... figure of speech.
He seemed to attempt to draw himself together by sheer effort of Will.
C'mon on. We best make haste lest some other hodge podge random band of wannabe hero's beats us t' the job.
'Us?' What 'us'? We only just bumped into eachother?" Harran wonders, but follows along regardless, keeping the Pharasman in his periferal vision on the way. Bordan and Mia seemed friendly enough, at least, and he has a suspicion they both knew how to defend themselves. And maybe Dragomir wasn't as zealous as he first seemed. Wouldn't hurt to keep options open until they heard the announcement...