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Shima Longfoot (Grinning Goat Tavern)
"Right. Only wear those at weekends, and then just for pleasure, missus," Shima says, looking at the blonde. "How much is whiskey here? I'd love to give you one but not sure I can afford it," he adds, completely deadpan. "Could do that if I had work." Slipping into Cant, "Any work considered."

Kendra stands from where she was sitting, and looks around. "I think I'm going to go visit my family for a little bit before I have to start my shift," she says. "I'll see you later on tonight." With that said, she leaves to go visit home.

Tulbas goes to the bar, "Hello ladies" he smiles. "You two know each other? Hi Keira, how are you doing, and you Zoya, how did you manage since our journey together?" he asks politely. Seeing Haaque he gestures him to join at the bar. "Good morning. I was looking for you. You seems troubled, but first meet Keira, we have met before for a short while and here we meet again. Zoya you must remember." from the barkeep he asks for a hot cider.

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(OOC: forgot to select spells. Can I do it retrospectively?
If so, charm person, sleep, magic missile, grease, ray of enfeeblement. Thanks)

Haahqae makes his way across the room to join Tulbas. At least it was no longer so crowded here that he had to squeeze his way across the room. " 'Morning Tulbas. It's mostly just that the giant seems to be the last thing we did where anything seemed to go right. 'Morning Zoya, I hope you're doing well. 'Morning Keira, nice to meet you. Ro... Inkeeper, I'll have one of those breakfasts of yours please."

Arulia blushes again at her father's assumption--it isn't what she meant to imply, but as it got him out of the forge, it suited her purpose all the same. To hide her embarrassment, she studies the stranger's shield for a moment. It's very dented as her father noted, but it shouldn't be difficult to fix.

Finally, Arulia looks up from the shield to look at the stranger. He's handsome, she thinks, enough so that she imagines that she'd have remembered his face if she'd seen it before. Questions race through her mind, but she decides that the most obvious is the best place to start. "I...I haven't seen you in town before," she begins nervously. "Have you just come recently? What brings you here?"

Gregeddin is in awe at the noble district, je walks with air in his chest and shoulders back with pride and good posture. Seeing the magnificent houses and the view out over Haven, and even over the walls! It was fantastic, almost the stuff of tales he would tell, perhaps one day he would live like this. Oh the thought of being sad that this view became so normal that he wouldn't notice it anymore. How he longed to be sad like that and not sad struggling to make ends meet. He would indeed be quite happy with that kind of sadness. Haahqae and his logic must be rubbing off on me, the bard thought as he concludes his thoughts coming up to the ex mayors mansio.

While entering the mansion Gregeddin quickly studies the paintings and scenes to see of anything he might recognise to make conversation about or maybe even impress the prefect..(Heraldry check)

When introduced Gregeddin bows deeply from the waist, carefully thinking about how best to present himself. (etiquette check). He thought, not your perfect ness, not my Lord, ah yes that's it, our Lord! He approaches the motioned seat and speaks confidently and proudly looking the prefect in the eye, "Our Lord, the trade guild wishes to discuss something to increase the prosperity of your city." That's it keep it efficient and centred around his desires.he stands and recites the letter while holding the scroll facing the prefect so that he could read at the same time. The bard had rehearsed this enough to commit it to memory and maintain eye contact. When Gregeddin finishes with the letter he places it down on the desk so the the prefect may study it at his leisure. The bard sits and closes his introduction with "we hope to keep the economy of the city strong to make a prosperous place. I hope that you consider this submission and that we may discuss it if you feel so inclined. There is more prestige in ruling a wealthy land, than a wasteland." The bard sits upright on the edge of his seat, trying to hold himself with dignity as he watches the prefects reactions intently.

(Would it be possible to see what papers the prefect is working on his desk from where Gregeddin is sitting?)

Haahqae and Tulbas (Steel Tankard Inn, Common Room)
Keira shrugs at Tulbas. "Last time we met, you tried to blackmail me, elf boy. Don't think I forgot about that," she says coolly.

"Not so great," Zoya answers. "I lost my job as a bouncer at the Masked Dragon. They couldn't afford to keep me on. Now we have to scrape by with my husband's job alone, but the new taxes are killing us. I've been all over the city, but there's just no work here...unless I sell my sword to the army, but I like my freedom."

The bartender charges Tulbas 2 copper for a cider. He charges Haahqae a silver for the meal. He sets both at the bar for them.

(OOC: While Keira and Zoya are both at the bar, they weren't talking with each other or interacting in anyway. I wasn't trying to give the impression they knew each other, they were just both sitting at the bar.)

Kendra Synclair (2723 Crooked Road, Synclair residence)
Kendra arrives at her family's house, which she has not visited since before the occupation. Her family visited her while she was in bed wounded, but since then, she's made no effort to see them.

Using her key, she lets herself inside. Her mother, who had been feeding the children, quickly leaps to her feet, rushes to Kendra and embraces her. "Oh, Kendra! It's so good to see you! We've been so worried!"

Tristan and Jamie start running around, chanting her name, excited to see her.

"Why are you dressed like a dragonarmy soldier?" asks Rangle from his chair, whittling a little toy for the kids.

Gregeddin (Prefect's mansion)
Gregeddin doesn't recognize any of the scenes in the paintings. He would guess these are likely recent victories that the dragonarmy has held over the lands they have conquered, but he can't be sure.

Tethys looks up when Gregeddin greets him properly and sets aside his quill to listen. Taking the paper offered, he looks it over. "Ah, you're referring to the new tax," he says, setting the note aside. "And the merchants sent you, I gather, in hopes that if there is any beheading to happen, it will be yours and not theirs." He chuckles slightly. "Unfortunately, war is expensive. Troops need to be maintained, fed, armed, hired and paid. It cannot be helped. Once the war is over in the spring, I'll lower the taxes then. The merchants of this city will just have to 'tighten their belts,' as you humans say, until then."

Gregeddin glances at the papers Tethys was working on. They seem to be written in Nerakese, the language of Neraka. Gregeddin only knows a handful of words of that language, but he doesn't recognize any of them on the paper, especially upside down.

(OOC:
Gregeddin makes a Heraldry check [TN 15] (1d20): 18, fail.
Gregeddin makes an Etiquette check [TN 17] (1d20): 7, pass.
Gregeddin makes a Read Languages check [TN 20%] (1d100): 58, fail.)

Arulia Seroth (Thoron's Blacksmithy)
The young man looks around the shop absently, taking it all in. "I'm not from Haven. I was from Gateway, originally. Before it was burned to the ground. I was taken prisoner and sent to Pax Tharkas for the slave mines." He looks out the window, checking for anyone eavesdropping. "There was a slave revolt. We escaped and...well, it's a long story. I'll just hit the highlights. One of our rescuers was a true cleric of the old gods. She converted a man with us, a man from Haven. Highseeker Elistan. He then, in turn, converted me and sent me here to help you."

Shima Longfoot (Grinning Goat Tavern)
The woman doesn't offer any reaction to Shima's words. Rather, she turns back to the bartender and gestures to her glass while placing a silver piece on the bar. As he fills it back up, she says, "You shouldn't offer a lady a drink if you can't afford it. It's bad form." Taking the drink, she sniffs at it and swirls it around a bit in the glass. "So, where are you from, John? And what brings you to Haven?"

Shima Longfoot (Grinning Goat Tavern)
“From the south. Looking for the freedom to make money, but no work means no money,” the dwarf replies. “And as I said, I’d be pleased to get you something, but my circumstances need to improve first. What should I call you, anyway?”

"Ahhh... That's not exactly that. After all you have been pick pocketing and in the risk of losing your hands. I didn't reported you to the guards and just asked for some help. In any case, I'd like to clear things between us, and well, there might be so issue that will benefit us both and give us just this chance to clear it up."
To Zoya he say, "I'm sorry to hear that. I hope things will turn brighter."

Kendra returns her mother's hug, and takes the time to gather up her brother and sister in a hug too. "It is nice to see you too, dad," Kendra finally says. "I'm fine. Thanks for asking. As for why I'm dressed as a dragonarmy solider, that would be because I am one," she explains. "They put some pretty big taxes on all the merchants. Though, Norris is exempt from it now that I'm in the army."

Arulia looks about nervously. She knows that she and this stranger are alone in the shop, but to speak of the old gods so openly...well, he seems like a braver person than she. But if he can speak so plainly, she will too. "Elistan!" she says, her voice full of wonder. "I didn't know him well, but he seemed like a good man. I am glad to hear that he escaped from the army, and that he is working for the gods."

Arulia lays the stranger's shield down by the anvil and picks up a suitable hammer. "And you follow the old gods, too? Fizban, by your medallion? I am honored to meet you, but...how can I help? Why did Elistan send you to find me?"

Haahqae and Tulbas (Steel Tankard Inn, Common Room)
"I wish now I had demanded a share of that giant's loot," Zoya admits. "Instead, all I got was fifteen steel coins that are already gone and a sword I'm no longer allowed to carry legally. As it stands now, we probably won't survive until the winter..."

Keira shrugs. "I did what I had to do to survive. Not all of us are so blessed to know where our next meal is coming from or that we'll have a warm place to sleep tonight."

Kendra Synclair (2723 Crooked Road, Synclair residence)
Rangle snorts. "So the Holy Guard was beneath you, but not the bastards that conquered our town, huh?" he asks.

"Rangle, language!" Garnet objects, placing her hands over Tristan's ears.

"What? I lost my leg to goblins, and now my daughter's fighting alongside them," Rangle objects. "Guess that's the world we live in now." He blows some sawdust off the ears of the little horse he is whittling.

In an attempt to change the subject, Garnet asks, "Are you eating okay? How is Norris doing?"

Arulia Seroth (Thoron's Blacksmithy)
"Fiz-who?" asks the young man. "I follow Paladine, the Platinum Dragon. I was told you did, as well. Elistan said he had a vision of what is going to happen in Haven and he told me of you, and that I should seek your help in this mission since you are a citizen and know the city. Apparently the church of the Dragon Queen is opening a brothel soon. The women who will be working there will not be doing so willingly. They'll be slaves, or forced to out of desperation from the new taxes. We need to do something to put a stop to it, before it opens."

Shima Longfoot (Grinning Goat Tavern)
"You should have tried further south then, 'John,' the woman says. "The army has conquered everything north of here, from my understanding. There is no work to be found in Haven." She takes a drink. "Me? Why I am called 'Jane,' of course."

Shima nods, "That's a nice name," and turns to the barman. "If work turns up, I'd still be interested. But no corsets. A token," and he flips the barman a CP. "Nice to meet you, Jane."
Shima moves to leave, to head onwards to the Happee Ohgr.

Haahqae takes a bite and chews it down before nearly exploding as (some of) his inner thoughts surface in the form of a rant.

"Indeed, it seems that no one can get an odd job these days, and most of the steady jobs are strained to keep afloat. I wonder what the dragon army's going to do once they have no inns or smiths or farmers left. Can they eat dirt? Do they not need nails? Pots? Locks? How's anyone supposed to tour around without an inn to stay in? I'd say if the church and the army are sucking up all the money in taxes, do something that they need to spend money on, but I don't even know what they spend their money on. I mean some on weapons and some on drink and some on bounties and stuff, but that doesn't seem to make up for the current taxes. Are they just stockpiling it all up or something?" Haahqae's not usually one to be caught up in all this money talk, but these last weeks have been frustrating. For the first time in a long time he's actually wanted to get money. And for the first time in a long time he hasn't been able to. He's a multi-talented jack of all trades master of them all carefree and good at his job (joggling), and his other job (hero-ing), but despite his best efforts he feels like he's making no progress at all. He's not sure why he picked now to pour this out on someone he only barely knows, maybe it's because she's in the same boat (or rather, much worse), or maybe he just feels like he needs someone to talk to about this who isn't Ismene. Ismene looked disapointed in him when he told her that Belzor had gotten away. Haahqae hated letting Ismene down like that. He wasn't avoiding her! He just wanted to actually get something accomplished before he spoke to her again, give her some reward for helping him free Tulbas.

In hindsight, it was probably not the wisest idea to rant like this with two baaz in the room. Mind you, Haahqae's not someone who uses hindsight very often. Hopefully they were far enough away to not be paying attention.

"I need to change my tactics, surely there must be a job in this town that pays in steel. Maybe I could try my joggling routine for the army, see if they enjoy it. Maybe I should find something else." If the army and the church were getting all that money and not spending it then it must be stored somewhere. And they're not spending it, so they don't need it right? Haahqae hasn't had to resort to 'borrowing' money in a long time, but recently he's learned a couple of tricks that would make it a lot easier and he's never had more motivation to do so before. This gruel tasted particularly nasty today. Or maybe just thinking about taxes and the army leaves a bad taste in Haahqae's mouth. "Maybe if I find another job I might be able to get the three of you employed as well."