CH. 1: Haven and Hell

[JadedDM]

Kendra (Market square)
Kendra patrols the market square for twenty minutes, not really finding much of anything in that time, but getting progressively wetter. If only she had invested in a cloak.

After a bit, she overhears someone--a man--yelling at someone else in a nearby alley.

Gregeddin, Kynaston and Coroccoco (Outside the Steel Tankard, Herbalist Street)
Coroccco tries and stands under a nearby awning while the barbarian looks up at Kynaston sourly. "You'd deny me a bit of drink? The only solace I've had since my mine shut down, I tell you. I just thank the old gods I don't have a family, or else they'd have starved by now, no doubt." He attempts to get to his feet, slips a bit, then seems to think better of it and just sits there in the muck. "Damn Seekers don't care; charlatans, the whole lot of 'em!" He shakes his fist to the heavens impotently.

Haahqae (Steel Tankard, Common Room)
Haahqae steps into the tavern, out of the cold rain. It's warm and dry inside. Looking around, he sees many of the same faces as he did before. The barmaid who brought him breakfast passes by as she brings drinks to and fro, and the bartender is at the bar, serving those sitting there.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra runs towards the sound of a man yelling. Part of her was kind of hoping that it was something simple she could handle without much of a problem. She was getting a little tired of people glaring at her or giving her lectures about the things that she does. ~Damn my family,~ she thought to herself bitterly as she ran through the rain.

[Haahque]

Haahqae finds his way to the bar and greets the overworked patron with a huge smile. "Greetings. Still unsure of the keep's name, he instead conveys who he's talking to through where he was directing the smile at. "Do I ever have an order for you. I'm going to need a rum, and a beer, and a water. Also do you have any shanks? I'll have one of those too. Also I want something dark and warm, hit me with a recommendation. How much will that be?"

[NoTrammeling]

Coco considers Kynaston from under her semi-covering awning. The priestess stands still with her arms crossed, hands tucked into her sleeves. "This is a fool's errand, given by a hopeless drunk. Whoever suggested this is foolish indeed... and whoever followed, the bigger fool." She seems amused, but it's hard to tell. It could just as easily be peevishness. "I follow for the distraction, and you because you are the biggest fool?" She grunts. "Big, hah! My people's swaddled children are more fearsome."

[JadedDM]

Kendra (Market square)
Kendra turns the corner and looks into the alley to see another Holy Guard holding up a refugee by his collar. "Come on, spill it!" the guard threatens. The refugee, an older, unkempt man, just whimpers unintelligibly. "Damned drunk," the guard mutters, dropping the man. He stumbles and splashes into a puddle, before crawling away in terror.

The guard notices Kendra and turns toward her. "Oh, hey, beautiful," he says smiling. Kendra recognizes him as Ward, a fellow Holy Guard. He's rather boorish and something of a drunk. Despite being married, he would often hit on Kendra in the past, especially after drinking for awhile. "What are you doing in these parts?"

Ward.jpg (32.68 KiB) Viewed 5337 times

Gregeddin, Kynaston and Coroccoco (Outside the Steel Tankard, Herbalist Street)
"Fool?" the barbarian grumbles. "Who's a fool? Not I! I'm a proud warrior of the Kharolis Mountains." He manages to get to his feet, albeit uneasily. "I'd take care of the problem myself, but even I'm no match for demons."

Haahqae (Steel Tankard, Common Room)
The bartender looks at Haahqae skeptically. "Awfully thirsty, are you? Alright, hold on a sec." He goes to retrieve pints of rum, beer and water. He also brings a plate with a shank of beef. "Let's see here, that comes to five coppers for the rum, four coppers for the beer, a copper for the water, and two silver for the shank. So three silver altogether now."

[HorizonsDream]

"~Oh Gods,~ Kendra thinks to herself as she glances around Ward to the man he just dropped into the muck. "Patrolling," she says simply. "I heard yelling, so I was going to check it out," she explains as she walks past Ward and holds her hand down to the older man. She smiles kindly to him to show that she isn't here to actually hurt him.

[Haahque]

With a "Not that thirsty no." and a "Many thanks, good sir." I place the money on the bar and grab the drinks and food and make my exit, serving the appropriate people the appropriate things.

"Their beds might not be much, but at least their service is quick."

(OOC: 3 silver removed from my money, total money remaining: 25 steel, 2 silver, 5 copper)

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin eyes this drunken heap with some suspicion, "Proud warrior you say?"
"How quick your fall from grace appears to have been" he mutters under his breath.

Looking over towards the hobgoblin, "The chance to shape one's legacy, to avoid...", Gregeddin pauses briefly while stepping around the barbarian's vomit, "this in particular... Would be a good explanation for my following." As he walks towards the awning he attempts to dust off the surface water from his forearms or otherwise dry his hands. "Hopefully that provides further clarity to our earlier conversation".

Gregeddin lets out a hollow groan in frustration as he realises his attempts to dry himself are futile.
Speaking to the everyone "Forgive my sheltered lifestyle, but I feel the comforts of a roof and fire would be most welcome. Yet, what shall we do with our noble lord here? I don't trust him to guide us to the mine in his current state, which could take some time to wear off - without meaning to belittle your constitution or vigour, sir."

[JadedDM]

Kendra (Market Square)
As Kendra helps the man to his feet, Ward sighs. "Yeah, he doesn't know anything. I've been tasked with tracking down some huckster selling 'health potions' to the public. Personally, if you're stupid enough to spend good coin on snake oil, I say you deserve what you get. But that old softie Elistan wants me to investigate it, anyway." He sniffs, and shrugs his shoulders.

Haahqae, Gregeddin, Kynaston and Coroccoco (Outside the Steel Tankard, Herbalist Street)
Haahqae steps back outside to join the others after making his purchases.

"Ah, don't worry about me," the barbarian says with a dismissive wave. "I've got a room here at the Steel...oh, wait," he pauses. "Right, they threw me out." He wipes some muck from his face. "P'rhaps one of you fine gentleman can offer me lodging tonight then," he suggests, still swaying slightly.

[HorizonsDream]

"That doesn't mean you need to treat him like dirt," Kendra points out to Ward. "No wonder most of the people hate the holy guard."

[Just_Ice]

"If you promise not to vomit on the floor, you can stay at my shack. The bed's in rough shape but it's all there is for guests," Kynaston assures him.

"I would have liked to do a bit of reconnaissance," he complains, "But that was when I was expecting a more... robust... leader."

[Haahque]

Haahqae's plans for today are rapidly falling apart, but even the best laid plans often go awry, so that's why Haahqae has a plan B! Go find himself a good book to read.

"So I'll meet you all tomorrow at Kynaston's house and we can go find our seeker friend from there."

That sounded like a great cover story for breaking up the party until they once again entered his plan as he entered the mine.

[NoTrammeling]

Coco scoots along to make room for Gregeddin under the awning, calling out to Kynaston and Haahque. She seems perfectly comfortable sharing her space with the man, as miserable as the rest of the conditions are. "Sunrise on the morrow then. If I am stricken by a bout of insanity next morning I may be there. Where do you live, little man?" She rasps at Kynaston, tauntingly.

[Haahque]

"Right here, Steel Tankard, why do you ask? Oh... Kynaston, right. Yeah, I don't know where he lives either."

[JadedDM]

Kendra (Market Square)
The beggar hobbles off quickly, casting glances of fear at Ward over his shoulder. Ward shrugs. "People don't have to like us, just respect us," he points out. "Besides, the refugee scum in this city are just moochers and parasites anyway. But hey, if you hear anything about that fake potion seller, give me a heads-up, eh, gorgeous? I'm getting nowhere on this dumb case." He scratches his stubbly chin. "Maybe I'll find something at the local taverns. Better hit them all, just in case."

Haahqae, Gregeddin, Kynaston and Coroccoco (Outside the Steel Tankard, Herbalist Street)
"Aye, you're a good man, I can tell. I am an excellent chudge of jaracter," the barbarian proclaims drunkenly to Kynaston, slapping him on the back.

(OOC: Next post will be the time skip to this evening.)