Safe Haven (IC)

[Reiver Party]

As you stand in the "grand port" of Safe Haven, you understand. The harsh sun assaults your eyes along with the dust blowing in from the broken, rocky scrubland stretching to the horizon. You traded everything you had for passage on a stinking, creaky boat to get here. The Illustrious Market stretches before you, but you have precious little coin and it crawls with theives and footpads. Three roads snake out from the town, but the land is rough and crawling with bandits. You understand now you've seen it for yourself.

You understand you're down and out in the arse end of the Old World.


You have decided to spend an hour learning more about Safe Haven and the surrounding area. You split up and explore the town, approaching those locals you feel safe talking to.

Most of the commoners here seem to be interested in selling you something. The rest seem to be mercenaries and criminals. Here and there, a preacher for one god or another speaks at passers-by. A rat-catcher is advertising his trade but having little luck.

The guard, the Royal Guard as it turns out, patrol the busy streets in pairs. They wear steel breastplates and helmets over dark leather, and carry wooden shields clothed in an orange fabric. The sergeants also wear an orange tabard. The Royal Guard are rude and aggressive, shoving people out of their way as they patrol.

A well-armed and distinctive Imperial mercenary proves very helpful. He is Johann "Bluefeather" Steinn, an Averlander easily identified by the large blue feather protruding from his hat. He relates that the caravan area at the north of town is a place to seek work. The roads are dangerous, and traders will pay mercenaries to act as guards and scouts. He advises that lone travellers must know the land very well to avoid getting killed by beast and brigand.

A disgruntled peddler gives away a map of the area. He is upset that it only lists towns, villages and some forts; he wanted one that shows the larger hamlets and homesteads as well.

As you reconvene in front of the harbour, you share with each other what you have learnt about Safe Haven.
You are currently standing on the South Side, looking north. The harbour is directly behind you.

To your left is the town gallows. A noose hangs ready, perhaps as a warning. Beyond that is the Census & Trade Office, a squat building in a state of some disrepair. Beyond that is a stone temple built against the very walls of the town. Unlike the grey-white stone of the walls, the temple is built from pink-tinged white stone. Columns support the jutting tiled roof, and the dark wooden doors are decorated with intricate carvings of Manaan punishing the impious and disrespectful.

To your right is a gaggle of jeering people gathered around a flat raised stage. This is the Flesh Market, and slaves are being taken from an iron pen and dragged on stage to be bid on. The current lot is a gang of three scrawny-looking aged men, and the crowd is hurling abuse at the auctioneer. Beyond the Flesh Market is a pair of tall, square ramshackle buildings that appear to be collapsing into each other. A crowd of rowdy sailors is making it's way over.

The centre of Safe Haven is a great square, larger than any town square you have seen before. It is filled with the stalls and awnings of the Illustrious Market, so many that it seems more like one great mass than many individual stalls. Moving through it is like traversing a cramped rabbit warren, and there is no logic to the layout. Fine Arabyan fabrics are displayed next to cheap trinkets and "folk cures". An arms merchant flags his wares next to the sizzling grill of a halfling's pie stall.

The square is demarcated on it's north, east and west sides by a line of terraced, narrow buildings each no less than three floors high. These are filled with stores, inns and taverns.
Behind the east and west terraces lie more terraces that house the permanent inhabitants of the town. The neighbourhoods get poorer the closer you get to the town walls.
Behind the north terrace is an open area for merchant wagons and caravans to park up and unload. There are a number of pokey warehouses for rent, though few are still available.

Between the west and north terraces is a wide gap allowing passage through to the caravan area and a smaller square containing the town stocks. A number of people are gathered watching a Sigmarite priest brutally flog a number of prisoners one-by-one.

Between the north and east terraces is a wide gap allowing access to the caravan area and an area of more warehouses, larger in scale this time. A stone cathedral of some sort is under construction and a burly Imperial man with a huge, bushy beard and a barbed whip oversees the labouring slaves.

Beyond the caravan area are the thick stone walls and single great gateway that allows passage in
and out. Four guards attempt to interrogate those entering or leaving, but most people seem to just be walking past them. To the right of the gateway is a busy cartwright's workshop, a wooden building built against the stone walls. To the left are a series of stables.


The West Terrace holds the following buildings of interest (going from south to north):
The Hammer & Crown, an Imperial inn of average quality.
An inn of poor quality. "The Scratch Hole" is crudely carved into the wooden signage.
A locked and reinforced door. A sign above reads "Paradise" in Classical.
Imperial Firearms, a shop that explains itself.
The shop of "Tharran Feit, Outfitter".
The Ratslayer, an Imperial tavern of good quality. A portrait of Emperor Mannfried hangs outside.
The sign on the end building reads Herr Jaefer, Herbalist.

The North Terrace holds the following buildings of interest (going from west to east):
The Guardhouse, which also serves as a jail.
The King Jukic, an inn of best quality. It appears to cater to merchants and has it's main entrance on the opposite side of the building to the Illustrious Market.
The Jar of Fortune, an inn of good quality identifiable by the Arabyan signage. It is known for it's gambling and cards room. Like the King Juvik, it is not accessible from the market.
The Elf House, easily identifiable by the Eltharin symbols that spell out which Elven merchant houses are represent by this shared office.
The Corner House, an Estalian inn of good quality.

The East Terrace holds the following buildings of interest (going from north to south):
The end building apparantly houses the Public Scribe.
The next building reads "Bartesch & Boorean, Fine Tailors & Clothiers".
A grimy-looking Bookshop that is not open. There is no signage and the door is locked.
The Cauldron, a tavern of average quality. It has a sinister feel about it.
Mymidia's Bounty is a Tilean tavern of poor quality. The signage is obsessed with her huge busom. It is a favoured haunt of unemployed mercenaries.
The southern end house is a Smithy. The south-facing wall is open at ground level, and is guarded by a sullen mercenary. Great waves of heat roll out to battle with the chilly sea breeze.

The region was shaken up a couple of years ago by a roving band of mercenaries conquering a vast territory. Their rivals dead, they split the lands between themselves. The Guild and the Rooster also profited from the instability, securing lands for themselves.

King Alfert Jukic
One of the mercenaries that carved up the region, King Jukic rules from the village of Ox Hill. He does not seem to be respected by the people of Safe Haven (unless a Royal Guardsman is in earshot). Most people want to be ruled by his brother, Captain Jukic, and don't understand why Alfert got the port.
It's well known that the King's meat comes from Ox Hill and his gold from Safe Haven, so both are heavily defended by his Royal Guard. Homesteads are essentially unprotected; his lands are regularly raided and plauged by bandits.
He keeps a large court, although the only courtier people seem aware of is the hated priest Krier. He wanders the King's lands, dispensing "Sigmar's justice".


Captain Jukic
One of the mercenaries that carved up the region, Captain Jukic rules from the fortified and prosperous town of Jusesse. He seems to have a reputation as a consumate tactician and a harsh but just ruler.
He keeps several advisors at hand, but does not hold courts. He even talks to the people sometimes.


The Guild
An Imperial merchant guild that seized on the instability of several years ago and conquered several towns with an army of mercenaries. Guild territory is popular with merchants and traders because of the Guild's low taxes and protections for trade caravans. They apparantly don't care about the locals (save for tax collection). Despite obstensibly upholding Imperial law in their lands, in practice the Guild permits witches, cultists and outright heretics to operate freely within it's borders.
There are twelve guild members, although the only one people in Safe Haven know is the Guildemeister Solveig.
The Guild have built a town in the hills to the immediate northeast to create a faster trade route to Red Manor. It's a really stupid idea because any local could tell you those hills are cursed.


The Rooster
A Brettonian of some mockery, he is nicknamed for the heraldic crest that flies proudly from his towns and villages. He rules from the village of L'oeur, which was a tiny homestead when the Rooster took power. He has built it into an industrious wine-producing village and the L'oeur bottles are apparantly quite nice.
Although he is sometimes treated as a joke, he controls the region's only iron mine. This gives him significant leverage over the other princes.
His Redcaps are a force unto themselves, upholding what laws they want however they see fit. Many see them as little better than bandits, and traders attempt to limit their time spent travelling through the Rooster's lands.


The Neighbours, circling round from west to east

The Mercenaries
West of the Jukic brothers lie the rest of the mercenary band. They are known to be the Noble Tilean, the Woman, the Elf, the Drunk and the Barbarian.
Stories about the mercenaries focus on their exploits as a group, not individuals, and little seems to be sure about any of them.


Great Forest
The Great Forest lies to the northeast. The Forest is split between Imperator Fekete, an Imperial knight, and a woman referred to as the "Ice Princess". They are apparantly always in conflict, although wild tales abound of a torrid and tumultuous romance between the two.
Hochafen is the gateway to the Imperator's realm, although in practice he controls almost all of the forest.


Prince Wilhiem
Bordering the lands of the Guild and the Rooster, Prince Wilhiem of Averland is apparantly an affable young noble that's going to get himself killed. It's an open secret that the true power in his princedom lies with his closest advisor - a fierce priest of Morr. Beware the Blackcloaks!

The Badlands
A hive of fugitives, cultists and goblins, the Badlands are, you are told in no uncertain terms, to be avoided.
Beyond them lies some independent settlements, but people are unable to detail them to you.


You are strangers in a dangerous land.
You have the sea at your back and Safe Haven laid out before you. Beyond that, three roads lead out to Ox Hill, Jusesse and Iron Pit.

Your fates are yours to control now.

[Thragka]

"What an absolute hole!"

Esteban said it with a smile. There was a curious energy to his face when he'd reconvened with the other newcomers. The hour spent wandering Safe Haven had been illuminating. The Border Princes were clearly a place of independence and adventure - he just hadn't quite realised before arriving that that brought squalor, brutality and disappointment hand-in-hand. This was just incredibly, unbelievably alien compared to life in Torrosa and Magritta and the civilised lands he'd left behind to the north. He was well out of his depth, and far from the comforts in life he'd previously taken for granted.

Which meant that, whatever experiences the coming months might bring, they were going to be fantastically interesting.

"Maybe not quite what you were expecting, Don Grogansson? Starting life anew in a dump like this?" His grin could adequately be described as coprophagous, but he kept his tone playful. "What's the first step on your plan to make your fortune - and pay back our wages? Because I, for one, wouldn't mind a drink. There's a public house the other sound of the market that seems promising." He waggled his eyebrows at the rest of them and bobbed his head a few times northwards.

[BananaPhone]

Swaying back and forth gently upon the prow of the rickety ship that bore her across the ocean, Selindra watched the ramshackle human settlement swell in size before her as she neared her destination. With ashen features the elf exhaled wearily at the city, its ghastly edifices possessing all the charm of a sex offender squatting upon a tree branch outside someones window. She did not know which was more depressing - that she would be arriving here, or that this would be her home for the immediate future. Either option seemed reason enough to find something sharp to slit her wrists with to spare herself the misery.

Though a small part of Selindra's psyche had remained optimistic that she could not judge a book by its cover, it only took several minutes navigating the arteries of this city to equip her cynicism with the hydraulics necessary to crush what little hope she had. Though she had lacked a formal education until the most recent decade of her life, Selindra did possess an instinct that had been finely honed at the School of Getting the **** Kicked Out of Her, and such an education easily recognised this miserable bastion for what it was: a cruelly exploitative social hierarchy that felt far too familiar for comfort. In fact, were the hateful presence of that wretched sun removed from the equation, Selindra might have been fooled into thinking that she had just stepped off a boat at the harbor of Karond Kar.

Thankfully the group she had arrived with seemed intent on remaining with the devils they barely knew rather than venture alone into the city and fall foul of the ones they didn't. A motley collection of travelers, they seemed to instinctively be forming a bulwark against the depredations of their new, predatory environment, so Selindra figured that accompanying them would afford the protection needed until some for of employment could be arranged.

As the others spoke, Selindra instead peered back at the city in an almost motionless gaze while the luminescence of the orange sun granted her a glow of vitality. It wouldn't take long for her to draw the attention of the moneyed class whom wanted the boasting rights of their offspring being educated by an elven scribe...so there was that to look forward to. But even so...the wizard couldn't help feel drawn to something else...something bigger in scale, ambition and consequences. As vile a decrepit pit as this vicious little hole in the world was, a quality of opportunity lurked within its horrid workings that she and others should be able to exploit to its fullest advantages. That is, of course, if they could find it.

[ArcturusV]

The swordsman's attitude wasn't alone in it's positive bend. In the hour that they had made landfall Rothan Ironhands had been thoroughly enjoying himself. Saying his goodbyes to the Captain, offering his help, asking him for a few bits of information about the city. He had wandered out not with a scowl at the squalor. No trepidation at the armed thugs of the so called "Royal Guards", or the slave markets, general downtrodden nature. Even the heat of the sun didn't REALLY bother him. It was quite familiar to the heat and stuffy nature of the mines.

When he had come back to the others, he had a smile on his face, a little swagger in his step. He laughed heartily at the Estilian. "Aye, always a good idea laddie... but I think a small stop first, you know," he looked over the fencer and the elf, arms crossed over his chest, his left hand stroking his beard softly. "Town like this, you Tall Ones got a huge mark on yer back. Lookin' all stuffy shirt and fresh off tha boat. Every footpad and bone breaker in the burg is gonna be lookin' to lighten yer load." He pointed to the Estilian's boots, what with their Best Craftsmanship fine leather and such, "Ain't hundreds in this burg who wouldn't gut ya just ta have 'em. Ya look handy with yer flimsy little pig sticker there... but that don't mean much when someone with half yer skills gots twice the cunnin' and three times the meanness."

[Vetril]

Strom adjusted his feathered hat, as he eyed the unimpressive sight presented by the human settlement.

"Ach, we're passing through - who would want to stay in this place forgotten by the ancestors? There's nothing of interest for me here - even the thing your kind calls ale tastes like old water. As for thieves, those cockroaches are everywhere: you just need to stomp a few, before the others scurry away into the dark holes that originally spit them out."

The dwarf stroke his beard once, before he looked up to the foreign swordsman.

"As for business, I want to get to work as soon as possible: with all the turmoil that this region has seen, one has to believe that there must have been many battles through the years. Many battles means many corpses, and the rich corpses are usually entombed with their gold. Surely these humans that died decades ago have no use for it."

Strom's eyes returned to the town, as his hands clenched into fists, firmly planting theirselves on his hips. He was the portrait of stability.

"We need a map, Grugni save us. Or a guide. Then we need food, and everything an expedition might need to explore long forgotten sites."

The noble looked around, to identify a peasant who was able to elevate himself above the severe limitations of his lowly social status. Surely there was someone who could avoid picking his nose for the time necessary to provide directions. A guard, maybe.

[Sir Dancealot]

"I have a map. A man gave it to me."Meirnem said, towering above Strom, all tans and browns and greens, somehow blending into the background of the town. She hadn't really gone far, tawns and cities not being her thing. She had gotten a map, which is exactly what she wanted. She couldn't really read the words on it, but she knew what most of the symbols meant. Nothin' like a ranger's map.

[Reiver Party]

The noble looked around, to identify a peasant who was able to elevate himself above the severe limitations of his lowly social status. Surely there was someone who could avoid picking his nose for the time necessary to provide directions. A guard, maybe.

There was a guard standing some way off to Strom's right. He was looking out at the sea, stretching his arms and fidgeting in his armour.
(His partner was on the periphery of the Illustrious Market, shouting down a stallholder for some reason or another and jabbing his finger into the flabby man's chest.)

[Aneurin]

Astria

Ah, a new town in a new place - bristling with the promise of things unseen and unknown. No suspicious authorities to drive you off after your welcome sours. Trackless wastes to explore, treasures to be found and legends to be made.

As she walks back through the streets, Astria breathes deeply to get as much of the heady air of adventure as she possibly can, and to quiet the nervous butterflies in her stomach - she's a very, very long way away. Still, her face lights up as she spots the others and waves to them over the crowd.

She runs the last few yards, the faded red silk ribbons of the costume - it was her first time out, so she should look her best - bouncing as she skids to an enthusiastic halt next to the Estalian.

"I'm glad you didn't leave without me!" Astria says cheerfully, glancing around the group. "I'm sorry I'm late, I got lost on the way back," which is... not quite true, she has to admit. But that stall just looked so interesting, she had to take a look. "Did anyone find any work, here? I found a nice looking tavern we could maybe stay in. The Ratslayer, over towards the West. I didn't get a chance to ask around, but there might be someone who could tell us something interesting there,"

She wrinkles her nose slightly. Heady though the air of freedom is, it's got to be said that there's a certain element of rotting fish and sun-warmed rubbish to it.

[Thragka]

Esteban raised a friendly eyebrow to Rothan. "It is true what you say ... of course, I would take any man in a duel, but that will not prevent me being stabbed in the back. So what do you suggest? A trip to the tailor - or the armourer?"

He listened to Strom's pronouncements patiently. "A map, or a guide, or rumours, these sound like the things it might be useful to visit a public house for, no? I heard my home tongue in the Corner House, to the north, so I may introduce myself there. But if the rest if you go elsewhere I should be quick to rejoin you." It was said dismissively - though not quite brashly enough to be rude. It didn't really cross Esteban's mind that the inconvenience of going to the Estalian tavern might be a problem for the others - he knew what his plan was, and not much else mattered.

[ArcturusV]

"Gettin' yerself some local duds. Maybe go stab one of the blighters in the face with your sticker there. Or just buy 'em if you're feelin' fancy. Just look around, make sure ya look like the rest of the gits here. I be thinkin' the more we lookin' like the local toughs, the lessin' said toughs come lookin' at us fer an easy mark," Rothan replied to Esteban. He gave a shrug, "Er not. Up ta ya. Just sayin' if I were a local... I'd see that and make sure when ya weren't lookin' my dagger'd find yer throat, nice and clean so as not to ruin those fancy clothes."

He turned to the fanciest little dwarf in this group, "Sounds good ta me," he told the dwarf in Khazalid, a bit heavily accented by Imperial Tongue as he hadn't been part of proper Dwarfy Lands. "Dunno if you're gonna get all these tall, non-bearded freaks ta go along with it. They look a bit dandy ta go doin' somethin' like that. I'll leave all the plannin' ta ya, if'n ya want me ta go an' 'convince' these tallies ta go along."

[Vetril]

Strom grabbed his belt with both his hands, as he gave Astria Meirnem a disapproving stare. He even explicitly stroked his beard a couple of times, for good measure - some dwarven gesture carrying a particular meaning, no doubt. Unfortunately, the noble didn't really seem impressed by the elf's announcement.

"You have a map. An elven map? Inaccurate, no doubt. Don't you think I have forgotten how your kind treats allies. I'm keeping an eye on you."

Then, the dwarf shifted his attention to the duelist, in time to understand what he was planning to do. He shrugged at his words.

"A cartographer, that's what is needed. If you want to ask around, go right ahead. I'll see if I can get directions from someone respectable."

That said, the noble approached the guard he previously identified. The change in his behaviour, as he addressed the human, was noticeable: it was obvious that he did indeed know good manners - he merely didn't bother to use them frequently.

"Oi, good citizen of the Empire of Sigmar! Would you be so kind to answer a few questions related to your charming town?"

[Sir Dancealot]

"It's a ranger's map of the surrounding area actually. And if you desire me to not do the job you hired me for, that's your perogative." Meirnem responded quietly, her voice both melodius and rugged, her brown eyes peering out from the shadow of her brown hood. It had honestly been easy to forget about her on the ship, often times seemingly simply disapearing for days until someone wondered where that one brown cloaked, soft spoken lady had gone off too. "You're also looking at the wrong person..." She added, still rather quietly.

[Reiver Party]

That said, the noble approached the guard he previously identified. The change in his behaviour, as he addressed the human, was noticeable: it was obvious that he did indeed know good manners - he merely didn't bother to use them frequently.

"Oi, good citizen of the Empire of Sigmar! Would you be so kind to answer a few questions related to your charming town?"

The sneering guard spun on his heel, with a hand raised to strike.

"Errrmpire, who'd you think yeeer talking to sunshi-"

His eyes bulged as he took in Strom's height and attire.

"-shine-"

He finally settled his gaze on Strom's fine, fine hat.

"-sir. I'm, uh. Certain I can be of assistance."

The guard gave an awkward attempt at a half bow. This caused his helmet to shunt forward into his eyes, and he raised his hand to stop it. After a long second, he removed it and tucked it under his arm as if this was part of the bow all along.

[Thragka]

Esteban blinked when Strom started talking about the Empire of Sigmar. He raised one finger and opened his mouth - then thought better of it and let the guard respond. He turned back to Rothan.

"Does he know ... where we are?" he asked the other dwarf quietly. Suddenly, nailing his colours to the Grogansson mast didn't seem quite such a bright idea ...

[TheAnnoyingNoob]

Allegria

Waltzing up to the gathering and whistling a jaunty tune she leaned in between Esteban and Astria, resting an arm on the pairs farthest shoulders, "So, where will all of us be staying and where what will we be doing? I have a feeling we won't last long on hat we have in our pockets. If anyone needs a suggestion, I found quite a few interesting locales. For lodging and entertainment, the Jar of Fortune is apparently quite the place for gamblers, exotic too! I couldn't read the sign myself but I'm sure it was Arabyan.", she looks to Esteban, "I heard some Estalian from an inn, the Corner House I believe, maybe we could go there? I'm sure you would be an apt translator." she then switched her gaze to Astria, "And I heard some Tilean from another, Myrmidia's Bounty I believe. Have you seen the sign out front? I'm sure the place would be great fun to visit."

[ArcturusV]

Rothan laughed deep and heartily, watching the nobleman Strom go off, and the reaction of the guards, the confusion of his allies by circumstance for the moment. He shook his head at the absurdity of it all, and put a big grin on his face as he saw the Tilian lassie come on up with the Estilian and the flamboyant elf Astria. Those three were more his speed, having some good cheer in life and not quite so full of themselves. At least what he could tell from the short time he had known them. He puffed up his chest unconsciously, turning to look at the three of them.

"Why choose? Hit 'em all up. By the time we get ta the inn we all should be rip roarin' on whatever ale they be servin' in this end o' the world, and probably picked up a few leads too, eh?" Rothan at least intended to do the Bar Crawl and Rumor Mongering, knowing drunken workers and sailors were at least easy conversation and might spill some random rumors of usefulness.

[Thragka]

Esteban gave a dismissive snort. "Well, it's not as though one can trust a Tilean to worship Myrmidia correctly, is it?" There was a twinkle in his eye as he looked at Allegria while saying this. It sounded mostly in good fun, but it was hard to be sure ... "But this is not a bad idea. We go to a series of the taverns and have a talk, and maybe we will learn some interesting things. Your house of blasphemers would be closest, I think?"

[Vetril]

Strom started to explain, encouraged by the friendly disposition of the human. The noble was satisfied: clearly his ability to judge people had once more yielded its fruits - what was the chance to find not only a helpful guard, but a competent one, on top?

"Well, I happen to be in need of a reliable map of the region. If you could tell me where I can find a cartographer, or someone in possess of such an object, I would be happy to let you continue with your job, without disturbing any further."

The dwarf's hand gestured at the others, as if to bring them to the guard's attention.

"You see, me and my... business partners" - the hesitation is barely present - "are planning to travel a lot in the immediate future. It's always best to know what to expect, I would say. No one likes surprises, expecially on the road."

[Reiver Party]

"No, no, of course not sir. Sir dwarf."

He straightened and scratched his chin.

"A reliable map... Trouble is sir, most people that 'ave one keep a tight 'old on it. You could try a trader, sir, one what's struggling might sell you whatev'r map he's using.

Other than that though sir... Maybe Señor Edras. 'e might have an older one, tends to get all the old things 'round 'ere. In the building next to the public scribe, sir."

He pointed towards the bookshop on the East Terrace.

"Jus' there, sir. 'E charges a high price but a man- dwarf! A dwarf of yer obvious means should have no problems there, sir.

...'Course your associates would have to drag him out the Cauldron first. Sir."

[BananaPhone]

At current, Selindra felt she had little to offer. The others seemed preoccupied with their ideas. One dwarf wanted to go pub crawling while another desired a map so that he could depart the city he had just arrived in.

"Lodgings," she said over her shoulder towards the group, "acquiring lodgings and securing a centre of recuperation, relaxation and refreshments."

[Sir Dancealot]

"Excuse me Herr Guard. But about how accurate would you say this map is?" Meirnem asked quietly a few paces to the side of the guard, holding up the square of soft leather as she did. The guard might know a bit about the area around here, he lived here afterall. Maybe even went on patrol. "My compatriate her, who hired me to do such things might I add, doubts the usefulness of this map." Half of her face was hidden in the shadow of her brownish, greenish cloak, and all but her arms were hidden within its folds.

[Thragka]

Esteban's ears pricked at the mention of «Señor Edras» - it seemed like he might be far from the only Estalian in town, which might prove handy. He didn't want to interrupt Strom's discussion, but he tried to catch the dwarf's eye and indicate through a complicated facial expression of pursing his lips and wiggling his eyebrows that this was something that might be worth following up.

[Reiver Party]

"Excuse me Herr Guard. But about how accurate would you say this map is?" Meirnem asked quietly a few paces to the side of the guard, holding up the square of soft leather as she did. The guard might know a bit about the area around here, he lived here afterall. Maybe even went on patrol. "My compatriate her, who hired me to do such things might I add, doubts the usefulness of this map."

The guard hesitantly took the proffered map, eyes darting from Meirnem to Strom's and back. His brow furrowed as he studied it.

"The Hill... If that's Jusesse... Red Manor... ...Looks about right for a trader's map, ma'am. Even included that idiotic hill town. Missin' the small places like Esselmund but I suppose you'd run into 'em on the road anyhow."

He thrust the map back towards Meirnem.

[Sir Dancealot]

"Fantastic. If anything, then we should be able to mark on the map ourselves instead of buying a new one. That should be cheaper correct?" The woods woman asked the dwarf.

[Vetril]

Strom seemed satisfied by the information that the guard freely gave to him. He nodded in appreciation.

"Tch, I knew it - inaccurate. We'll see, we'll see; in the mean time, you heard the good man here: off to see this Senor Edras, whoever he might be." - he added, to the benefit of the human - "You have my gratitude; it is so rare to find someone helpful, nowadays."

The dwarf strolled down the road with confidence, his heavy, reinforced boots loudly hitting the ground as he walked.
He was looking for the scribe's building, and, by extention, for his destination - the house of Senor Edras, collector of antiques.

As he slowly and purposefully advanced, he grumbled, thinking aloud:

"I might be able to convince him to let us copy the missing places on our map for less money, I guess..."

[ArcturusV]

As Strom Stormed off after this Estilian sounding name, Rothan slide up next to Meirnem. He leaned in a bit conspiratorially as the nobleman trundled off, back of his left hand covering his mouth as he turned his head left to look up at the tall woman. "Ach! Gots a head full o' rocks that one. Throwin' good coin away!" He scoffed a bit at the thought of the nobleman paying money for a map that was probably going to be just as good as the one they had, maybe worse and misleading with falsely printed locations. At least they could trust this one wasn't false. Missing some little hamlets, but not going to lead them into some doom or get them hopelessly lost.

"Ya seem to gots a good head on yer shoulders. Bit more sense than him. Hows about yous and me do somethin' a bit more... productive... while old moss beard there goes on flappin' about maps?" He gave Meirnem a wide, toothy grin, "He goes on all being some big shot demandin' his services and such. Keeps this stuffed shirt guy busy, we circle around back... see if he's got anythin' worth takin' off his hands. Think ya can do the work, I watch yer back?"

He looked down at her longer legs and more agile, stealthy body than his blocky thugness, "Looks like ya got the chops fer the work. I can go handle any... curious types... you sneak in, find somethin' that catches yer fancy, and we bolt all befear Moss Beard there even gets done all waggin' his tongue and doing his big introduction with the fella."

It was worth a shot, seeing how willing the rather agile looking Human would be to cross some lines, maybe have an aptitude for the work. It sounded like this crazy old man was something of a loner with a seldom visited locale, so there shouldn't be too much risk of anyone getting caught. A good first job to see how someone would work out.

[Sir Dancealot]

"Could you possibly speak in a fashion that sounds less like a pile of gravel talking?" The woman ask, looking down at the dwarf beside her. Her hands carefully folded the map as she considered his words, adding the bits and pieces he'd left out and sifting through the slang. "So," she continued, the map now carefully stowed about her person, cloak covering her body, looking something like a moving log from a distance, all green and brown. "You want me to break in and steal from some man we don't know and could one day become a useful contact?" She asked quietly, before her face shifted into a grin, her oddly perfect white teeth pale against her face, "Sounds like it could be fun."

[ArcturusV]

Rothan let out a loud laugh and patted Meirnam nice and hard on the back. "Aye lassie... look like the start of a lot o' fun!" He seemed in pretty good spirits, swaggering along in the wake of Strom, figuring the Noble Dwarf would know where he's going... and at the very least they were planning on using him as a distraction so no use getting there before him. He looked back over his shoulder and flashed the other Tall Ones they were with a bit smile and an exaggerated wink, "I'll be seein' ya at that Bounty Bar, aye? Let me know how many I need to catch up with ya lightweight dandies." All in good humor. Off to commit his first robbery here, maybe break some guy's knees. Then a night on the town... it was good to be in Safe Haven.

[BananaPhone]

Though her attention had been focused mostly on the horizon, Selindra had spoken her mind. When she received no acknowledgement or response from her fellows, she simply nodded in resignation and turned back to what she had initially been considering.

Then she heard the sound of foot-steps. Multiple foot-steps, in fact.

Turning her head to look back over her shoulders she watched as the group walked off with that well-dressed dwarf serving as the nucleus around which all the others arranged themselves.

Her eyes widening slightly, Selindra brought her hand up as if to pause them with her mouth open and ready to utter 'wait for me!' - bbut she halted. Exhaling, Sel lowered her arm, brought her lips back together and, with eyes sinking down to look at the ground, resigned herself to fact that fate had seen fit to render her solitary for a bit over a century - why would it change its mind now?

Swallowing, Selindra looked away and back to the tavern she had been eyeing - one of the better ones in this city. She didn't have much...just a pair of gold crowns...but hopefully it was enough to put a roof over her head while deposited flyers in advertisement of her services.

The elf could read and write in multiple languages. In a trading town where most people couldn't even spell their own name, good paying employment wasn't far away. Or, better yet, one of the moneyed families whom wanted the boasting rights of an Elven tutor education their children. That was always worth a few coins a week.

Then, hopefully, something better could come her way.

With that, Selindra moved towards The Hammer & Crown .

But first, she stopped by a store to buy some parchment, ink and a pen.

[Aneurin]

Astria

As the others start to split off, Astria gives Allegria a smile.

"Myrmidia's Bounty? I didn't see that one when I was looking around. I don't mind going there, but don't you want to look around the market first? It's so wonderfully exotic and strange. I'm sure there must be a few rumours about their goods that we could chase - maybe go exploring some ruins and looking for rarities?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

[TheAnnoyingNoob]

Allegria stroked her chin, the effect greatly reduced without facial hair, "Why not indee. I'm sure there are all kinds of exotic things about. Well, I think I've got a plan. For myself at least. I'll take a look around the market, head to the Jar of Fortune to see if Ranald sill help me make a few coins, and then head off to Myrmidia's Bounty. Why don't you meet me there after you've met some of your countrymen Estaban?" turning to head to the market, she caught sight of Selindra out of the corner of her eye, "Hey Sel, you lonely downer, wan't to come with us? If Ranald is with us today we might make some coin!"

[Reiver Party]

Senor Edras' Bookshop
The stout wooden door is locked. The clatter of tugging on the ring handle fails to rouse any occupants, as does banging on the door and shouting.

The window is grimy with several years of built-up filth. Those peering in can make out a front room lined with towering bookshelves and dominated by a large wooden table. The bookshelves groan with large tomes and loose sheafs trapped between the books. Books of various sizes are scattered and stacked on the table.

A relatively well-dressed woman interrupts in Estalian. "You are looking for Señor Edras?"

She sneers. "You'll not find him here. He will be drowning his name and his life's work in The Cauldron."

The Back of the Bookshop
The alley is cramped, but at least it's empty. Neither the terrace of stores on the one side or terrace of houses on the other has windows on the ground floor. The alley is clearly used as a gutter although thankfully it slopes slightly towards the center, creating a foul stream running down towards the sea.

Señor Edras' back door is stout wood reinforced with iron. The black iron lock is old and scratched with use, but stil serviceable.

(Average +0 test to pick).

Myrmidea's Bounty
Those opening the door were assailed by raucous noise. The tavern was full with heavily-armed carousers and a few hard-bitten lady servants fighting through the crowd with steins of beer or bowls of soup. Chairs were getting moved and kicked around the place, the only safe seating looked to be wooden benches built into the walls. The bar was somewhere to the right, through all the people.

The Illustrious Market
The market was packed with people, making navigating the warren of stalls even more difficult. The wealthier patrons had sullen mercenaries following them around for protection. The even wealthier had an actual bodyguard taking actions to protect them from the bustle of passers-by.

The Hammer & Crown
The inn is fairly quiet, with only a few patrons drinking and quietly chatting. All heads turn as you enter.

The tables are circular, each with several chairs or stools arranged around it. Those tables near the wall are benefited by padded benches built into the wall at certain points and the corners. The bar is at the far end of the inn, next to a staircase (presumably leading to the rooms). A slate sign mounted behind the bar reads



BEER 1p RAKIJA 1p/1s RED WINE 2p/1s
SOUP 10p BRUDET 12p
POCAGA 1p POVITICA 3p
ROOMS ENQUIRE AT BAR

The innkeeper is a short-haired and broad-shouldered man sporting a handsome moustache. He eyes you from behind the bar, pausing his vigorous glass-cleaning.

[Thragka]

Señor Edras' Bookshop
«Ah! My thanks, Señora,» said Esteban in rapid Estalian. «But pray, another moment of your time, if you would be so kind. I am new to these lands, and it is a pleasant surprise to hear the home tongue so readily used. Are there many people from the Kingdoms in this town?»

OOC: He'll call her Señorita if she looks young enough.

[Reiver Party]

Senor Edras' Bookshop
The Señora looked to be on the cusp of middle age. She was briefly taken aback by the question.

"I- Yes, Señor. Many families have settled here over the years."

Her attitude shifted, and she became almost haughty.

"As servants and peddlers, of course. Only the Edras family has truly strived and prospered."

[Thragka]

Señor Edras' Bookshop
«And I take it you are a member of that esteemed family?» asked Esteban. «But where are my manners? Forgive me, Señora. I am Esteban Raúl de Silva y Vásquez, lately of Torrosa, at your service. And this,» he continued, indicating the dwarf for the first time, «is my esteemed companion Don Strom Grogansson.» He said his companion's name slowly, with a wave of the hand and a polite nod which (he hoped) made it clear he was conducting an introduction. «As I said, we are new in these parts, and we were hoping Señor Edras might furnish us with a map.»

[Reiver Party]

Señor Edras' Bookshop
The Señora gave a curt nod at each introduction. She did not appear to know proper etiquette.
"Meliana Edras.

My father has maps of the region, certainly. I believe he still has several guides detailing local features as well."

[Sir Dancealot]

Meirnem frowned at the wall, then motioned the dwarf over, indicating she needed him to stand where she was. When he complied, she would climb up him without really explaining what she was doing. No doubt he would figure it out soon enough.
[roll0]

Simply hopping straight off the dwarf, she scramnled
To the firt window, checking if it was unlocked.

[Thragka]

Señor Edras' Bookshop
«My thanks, Señora. We shall see if we can find your father.»

Esteban turned back to Strom and quickly relayed the gist of the discussion. "So I suppose we go to The Cauldron? If that is where we find Señor Edras?"

[ArcturusV]

For his part, Rothan knew what was what. It wasn't his first Rodeo so to speak. So as Miernam scrambled up onto his shoulders and leap up for the window he accepted it without any real muss and fuss. Everyone had their role after all, and his was being built like a brick ****house at times like this, his blocky shoulders well accustomed to the light weight, taller people using him as a step ladder.

Once she was up, he kept his arms ready to catch her, in case she fell, his eyes flashing down the left and right, and back to the locked door before looking back up at Miernam, making sure that the coast was relatively clear.

[Reiver Party]

Meirnem found the window latched, but by sliding a thin object up the gap between the panes she was easily able to open it.

The room inside stank of human. The walls were bare and grubby. The wooden bed was unmade, with sheets and blankets thrown on top in a pile. An battered ornate desk stood against one wall, littered with empty bottles and a dirty wooden plate. More bottles lay on the bare wooden floor. Some looked like they had contained spirits, others looked more like wine flagons.

[Vetril]

Impressed by the exchange, the dwarf looked at Esteban with a newfound appreciation.

"It's good to see you know how to speak. Good manners are scarce among humans, from what I have seen."

That said, he touched the tip of his hat, as he took his leave.

"You bet we are off to that tavern. They said he has an old map, right? That should have the locations of many old places that are now abandoned - think of all the treasure lying somewhere in the ground, waiting only for determined hands to take it."

Strom himself seemed to imagine those riches all too clearly: he rubbed his hands together as his eyes almost shone for the excitement. Clearly, he could see himself count pile after pile of gold.
After a moment, he shook it off, and pat his chest with the palm of his hand.

"Ahem. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, the map. Let's go to this place called the Cauldron."

[BananaPhone]

Giving the insides of the Hammer and Crown a passing over with judicious eyes, Selindra ignored the stares of onlookers as she moved over towards the barman.

"Salutations, tavern lord," she spoke, her voice carrying a natural melody that made it pleasant to hear.

"You have the look of authority about you that one would require to manage a business - so am I correct in assuming I'm addressing the proprietor of this establishment?"

A bit of flattery never hurt.

[Sir Dancealot]

Meirnem frowned at the room she was in. Distgusting humans. She nearly sneered at she stepped through the room, quickly checking it for anything and then moving onto the hallway, her footstepped silenced by the soft leather of her boots.

[Reiver Party]

Hammer & Crown
The bartender fixed Selindra with a steady gaze, slowly lowering the glass and rag.

"Elf House is down the street. We don't tend to your... delicate needs."

A couple of patrons chuckled at the last two words.

[BananaPhone]

Selindra offered a snall, dry smile at the bar tenders amusing remark.

"Well," she started. As she spoke the elf reached out and picked up a used stein. Raising it to her face, Selindra sniffed the air above it, her delicate nose twitching as she did so.

"You're serving weak, chikdrens booze that wouldn't even intoxicate my house cat...so you're obviously catering for someones delicate needs."

[Reiver Party]

Selindra drew more chuckles from the patrons. The bartender raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, aye?"

From behind the bar he produced a wooden cup, about two inches round and four high. He grabbed a bottle of light-brown spirits, poured out a measure and pushed the cup towards the elf. The fractious onlookers started sniggering.

"Drink up. My treat."

[BananaPhone]

Selindra repeated the practice: she rose the cup to her nose and sniffed it gently.

Then, quick as a flash, Selindra placed it against her lips and threw her head back then forth. The contents of the cup were gone.

Smacking her lips together as she savored the fruity taste, the elf placed the cup back onto the bar.

"Not bad - you might need to send some up to my suite later this evening so that I have something to brush my teeth with."

[ArcturusV]

With his Partner in Crime, or at least the makings of one, scrambled up and into the store/home, Rothan set himself up in a casual seeming "Guard" position. His back was leaning against the wall, right next to the door to the back of the shop so that he was on the side that the door opened up on. His arms were cross over his check, his right hand wrapped up by his knuckle duster, ready to thump someone if they came and got a little too curious for their own good.

No one would mistake that he was up to some sort of trouble, it was just impossible for a thuggish looking dwarf to seem like anything but suspicious in his armor, axe at his belt, blocky, leaning on the wall, looking around to see if someone was coming. Best case scenario they might think he was waiting to meet someone for later trouble, or running security. But no one would mistake him for just a guy on a casual stroll. He'd be ready if things went egg shaped, and hoped the Tall One was smart enough to go unlock this door from the inside right away for an exit strategy.

[Reiver Party]

"Well. You can have as much as you pay for. And a, uh, suite is ten silver a night."

He seemed a little uncertain at this elf casually knocking back moonshine.

[BananaPhone]

"Ten silver a night?!" Selindra balked. Deliberately her playful smile remained to enforce the atmosphere of good humour.

"My dear sir if I could throw ten silver a night out the window then I'd have your handsome serving boy over there to warm my bed as well! Be a gentleman and enlighten me as to your entire catalogue."

[Reiver Party]

Inside Señor Edras' Bookshop
As Meirnem crept forward, she managed to avoid disturbing any of the bottles littering the floor. Everything was covered in a layer of dust and- animal hairs?

The room exited onto a short hallway ending with a narrow staircase leading up and another leading down to the shop floor. A doorway immediately to her right allowed access to a small room. Checking the stairway up, Meirnem saw the owner of the shed hairs - an old dog, squared-headed but coloured a distinctive white with black spots, was slumbering at the top of the stairs. It did not appear to have woken up.

Currently undiscovered, Meirnem returned to the small room for a moment. It was not very deep and it's width was less than the length of the short hallway. It contained only a rusty metal bath and an old cloth laid on the floor, perhaps as a mat for wet bathers to stand on. Meirnem's keen eyes noted the dust coating the floors was heavily disturbed around the mat, and carefully peeling it back revealed a trapdoor cut into the floor. Slowly lifting the lid, she discovered it was not very deep and contained only one thing - a locked strongbox.

[Reiver Party]

Hammer & Crown
"My cattle what?"

The bartender seemed to be getting annoyed for some reason.

"Listen, sweetheart. Rooms are ten silver a night, and half a crown's the best price you'll see for any room in Safe Haven!"

He took a breath.

"You can sleep in the common room for 5 coppers. If you don't mind the drunks."

[Aneurin]

Astria - The Illustrious Market

Astria's attention is... well, everywhere. From the stalls of gaudy knicknacks to the more exotic curious, everything is worthy of investigation. And, of course, everyone is worth talking to; all the stories of far-off places, and lost treasures are there simply to be devoured.

After a while, though, she drops back to Allegria's side and shoots her a wary look.

"Um... is it normal for people to buy other people?" she says warily, eyeing a merchant and his new chattel as they talk by. "I've never seen it in the Empire, before, but maybe I just didn't look in the right places?"

[Sir Dancealot]

Meirnem looked at the strongbox with annoyance. Now she would have to carry it off. Annoying. Wishing she could just pick the lock and head off with what was inside, she lugged the box out of the hole and carefully made her way to the window.

[Reiver Party]

Senor Edras' Bookshop
Despite a couple of worryingly noisesome clanks from inside the box, Meirnem was able to make it to the window without alerting the dog.

[ArcturusV]

Rothan, for the moment, not being the most sharp eyed fella, or the fastest, was still where we left off, leaning against Senor Edras's shop's backwall, near the door. His ears were focused on listening for the sneaky and agile Tall One to open the back door, his eyes looking around the alleyway for anyone wandering along. He didn't seem to think to look up, at the window, that Miernam might have gone and tried to dump something out of said window.

[TheAnnoyingNoob]

Allegria - The Illustrious Market

After searching around the market and taking in its exotic sights, sounds and smells, she once again met up with Astria. As the elf spoke though, she frowned, "I don't believe so." she began in Tilean, "I believe that it is illegal in the Empire, though no doubt shady individuals would continue the trade. My Sigrid said the Norse sell those they capture on raids, and I've heard tales of such markets in Araby, but have never visited either." As she spoke, a mischievous grin crossed her face, "Say, you wouldn't happen to have any objections to liberating these slaves would you? I'm sure someone will leave town without a heavy guard. Who knows, they may even choose to accompany us on our grand adventure. I can see it now, Astria and Allegria, Liberators of the Oppressed!"

[Sir Dancealot]

Muttering very quietly to herself about lockboxes, Meirnem tied the box up in the end of her line. Then, she slowly lowered the box down from the second floor. If the box ended up not having anything of particular worth, well, damn. But hey, at least the act was exhilerating. She'd have to do this again some time. And bring a steak or two in case they had any dogs that weren't asleep. Grinninh, she tugged on the rope lightly, letting it clank above the dwarf's head before finishing her lowering. After that, she dropped the rest of the rope down, she wished she had a grappling hook and hopped out of the window.

[ArcturusV]

With a clank right next to his head, he finally looked up to see a nice, fat chest dangling above him, his eyes going wide and a smile clearly on his face. Reaching up with his grubby little hands he helped lighten Miernam's load, taking it nice and easy, and setting it aside in the street carefully, mindful of that clinking noise that it was making. Once it was set down he got back in position to help catch the Tall One, so that a good 4' of the drop would be negated by a stumpy little landing pad and nice rock hard dwarven hands. "Come on lassie, nice and easy," Rothan prompted. No thoughts of cutting and running at the moment. You didn't get a crew rolling by ditching people after all.

[Sir Dancealot]

Dropping onto the dwarf, she quickly scrambled off, moving towards the box and grinning. "Let's wrap it in your cloak and find a quiet place to pop it open shall we?" She asked, a grin on her face as she held the box towards the dwarf to wrap.

[ArcturusV]

Rothan nodded, he bundled up the chest as best he could, taking some effort to make it look more like a bundled knapsack as opposed to just a box wrapped in a cloth, putting a few odds and ends to distort the shape in so that it wasn't clearly Box Shaped. Tucked under his left arm, carrying nice and easy, he gave Miernam a toothy grin. "Find a nice bar and get a room eh Tall One? A bit to drink and celebrate the first of many future jobs, and to go divvy up the haul, eh?"

He was already starting his way down the street, not wanting to linger near the shop in case someone, like old man Edras, bothered to show up looking for his missing chest.

[Sir Dancealot]

"Sounds wonderful," She replied, following the dwarf. This was so Exciting! Not even two hours ashore and she'd already robbed a man's house! And he didn't even know yet! She was very close to vibrating with happiness, "You get the room, I'll meet you upstairs!" She continued, happily bouncing along. "This is so much fun."

[Reiver Party]

The Cauldron
The tavern was long past it's best. The wooden tables, stools and exposed beams all showed the signs of age. The floorboards were mostly flat. The bar stood at the far end. No-one was manning it. Two huge wooden vats dominated the space behind the bar, with several wooden kegs stacked between the vats.

Immediately to their right, two old crones sat in the corner. They were clutching wooden cups, cackling and leering over at the two newcomers.

Down the far end of the tavern, against the left-hand wall, three reedy, crusty old men were huddled over a table. Each clasped a leather tankard in both hands. They were dressed fairly well, although clearly none of them had washed their clothes in some time. Certainly, one of these three could be Señor Edras.

Even as the two took the sight of the Cauldron in, a girl appeared from behind the bar. She couldn't have been older than twelve and was dressed in the hard-wearing heavy dress and apron of a servant. She carried a bottle of wine on a tray - which she nearly dropped in shock at the sight of Estaban and Strom.

[Reiver Party]

The Flesh Market
The crowd around the stage numbered maybe forty, though many of them were clearly slaves themselves. The bidders seemed to number around twenty to twenty-five. They were yelling and jeering at the ragged auctioneer, a ragged Imperial man with scraggly ginger hair and the brutal facial scars of a mauling by some great beast. He didn't seem too differently dressed to some of the pirates Allegria had seen.

The current lot was a heavily muscled Norseman, standing in little more than a loincloth and cloth footwear. Even though his hands were shackled behind him and his gaze fixed off in the middle distance, the auctioneer kept shooting worried glances back at the hulking slave.

[Thragka]

The Cauldron
"Euph," intoned Esteban. "Not so lively here, not so. Señor Edras?" he called out. "Forgive me, we are looking for Señor Edras." He switched back to Estalian. «If you are here, Señor, we care to do business with you!»

[Reiver Party]

Hammer & Crown
The inn was fairly quiet, although the elf at the bar looked familiar. She was apparently engaged in negotiations with the taciturn innkeeper.

The tables were circular, each with several chairs or stools arranged around it. Those tables near the wall were benefited by padded benches built into the wall at certain points and the corners. The bar was at the far end of the inn, next to a staircase (presumably leading to the rooms). A slate sign mounted behind the bar read



BEER 1p RAKIJA 1p/1s RED WINE 2p/1s
SOUP 10p BRUDET 12p
POCAGA 1p POVITICA 3p
ROOMS ENQUIRE AT BAR

The innkeeper was a short-haired, broad-shouldered man sporting a handsome moustache. His disagreement with Selindra was easily resolved - her attempt to haggle had gone badly awry.

He was only too happy to rent the three of them the one room; sharing a room for safety was apparently common practice around these parts. He was especially happy once the ten silvers was handed over.

As Rothan made payment, Meirnem headed upstairs. The room was basic but sufficient. The wooden walls contained a bed with blankets and straw mattress, a table and 3 stools. The window was actual glass, and a cloth roll secured at the top of the frame could be unfurled to serve as curtains. The door locked and looked thick enough to block out most noise (not that there was much noise at the moment).


The Cauldron
The old man furthest from the door cried out in Estalian. He was clearly quite drunk.

"What business brings a diestro and a... a dwarf pimp to me? More thugs to bleed an old man dry? More jackals to feast on my corpse after I am stabbed! In the back!"

He sank down from the table and onto his knees. His shouting became melodramatic and he thrust his arms skyward.

"Have the gods betrayed me too? Myrmidia! Verena! I can bear no more curses! I renounce- renounce..."

He stopped yelling to feebly fumble for his tankard on the table. His friends hadn't even reacted to his histrionics. The cackling ladies and serving girl were just staring at the Señor.

[Thragka]

The Cauldron
Esteban sighed. He walked over to Señor Edras, put one hand on the drunk's shoulder and with the other guided the man's cheek so that they were looking at each other.

«Señor. We wish to pay you, for a map and guide you may have in your shop. So you can spend more money drinking yourself to death.»

[ArcturusV]

Hammers, Crowns, and Thieves (+1 Bondage Elf)

Rothan seemed in good spirits, despite solo paying out for the room. He made sure that the curtain was drawn, no reason to give anyone lurkin' about a show of a dwarf and what he did in private with his bar and two tall gals and a box. Same deal with locking it up, before he finally set down the "bundle" on the floor and unwrapped it, revealing the box that Miernam had lowered to him from Estas's Shop.

He spat in his hands, rubbing them together to help his grip as presumably Miernam handed him the bar, getting a nice firm grip as he set it in the box's lid.

"Well now lass, we see just what was so worth hidin'. Whatcha think? I'm bettin' some special bottles of somethin'. Estilian wines or somethin' a bit harder to get a hold of here, special occasion stuff." He shrugged, "We'll find out soon enough."

He had no idea if the haul was going to be worth a damn. But it was a first job, no one got pinched so far. Miernam seemed excited. He gave her a moment to savor this, then went to pry open the box, putting his dwarfy weight and power slowly into it, not looking to just shatter the box but just keep applying pressure until it opened.

Rollin' my Strength Check to crack it open:
[roll0] vs my sad, sad 35 Strength.

[Reiver Party]

The Cauldron
Up close, Esteban could see the man did not look well. His eyes were sunken and had the slightest yellow sheen, his skin was clammy and his breathing was ragged. He struggled to focus as he took in Esteban's words.

"Pay? You're... customers?" His eyes narrowed. "Guide? The Barseive guide isn't for sale! Who put you up to this-"

He attempted to spring to feet, flailed forward and clutched to Esteban for support.

Hammer & Crown
The box creaked, but did not open before Rothan's muscles failed him.

[Thragka]

The Cauldron
Esteban had neither the time nor the inclination to deal with this besotted fool. He slapped the elder man hard in the face, and then launched into a tirade in Estalian.

«Listen to me, you drunken idiot, nobody put us up to this. We went to your shop and your daughter directed us here to find you! And even she was bitter and doubtful at the suggestion that you might conduct some honest business. Have you no shame, Señor? Do you not know what a disgrace you are, what disservice you do to your name and your family and your kingdom? Now you will come with me to open your shop and sell us your map, or we will leave you here to rot in your cups and spit when we hear your name in the street!»

Finished, he shoved Edras off him, forcefully enough to send the old man tumbling to the ground.

Obviously ALL that is contingent on nobody else interrupting or stopping Esteban from mistreating this poor old fellow. Also, I feel like I should make a Fellowship roll, in case you want one. Even though Esteban's ... not being very friendly. [roll0]

[Vetril]

Behind Esteban, a very much pleased Strom watched the exchange. He stepped up, to talk with the unfortunate peasant - without doubt, the mediocrity of that specific individual required a skillful hand to manipulate properly.

"Ahem. As you can see, good man, my bodyguard here happens to be quite irritable. Do excuse him; he has had an unpleasant day, and his patience seems to have ran out after he had to fight off the second group of bandits that tried to rob us, on the way to this town. On the other hand, I am much more open to proper negotiations - there is no reason to be uncivilized, right?"

Strom examined the human, wondering how someone could fall so low; did that elder have no respect for the good name of his own family?
The dwarf tried to make sure not to betray his disgust, as he continued with the friendliest tone of voice he could muster:

"I happen to be starting a business here in the region, and when I asked the good people of this town, I was told that you are in possession of an expecially old map, displaying the locations of various sites scattered through the land."

Strom stroke his beard once, as he stopped talking. After finding the right words, he made his request.

"Now, everything has a price in this world, but I am sure we can make a deal that will leave both parts satisfied: you seem to be in need of coins, and I am in need of the knowledge. Thus, it is in the interest of both to facilitate an exchange of property, so to speak. But to start, why don't we sit at a table, so that we can speak like the good people do?"

[Sir Dancealot]

"Well, it's clunky. Maybe something large? A pistol?! Ooh! Maybe it's a bomb!" She seemed a bit too excited at the prospect of a bomb as she handed over the crowbar. She was bobbing excitedly as the dwarf began his ministrations with the box. Until of course he tucked out.

Awww! Drat. Here let me give it a go. Maybe you loosened it!" She said, shooing the dwarf out of the way and settled herself on the prybar, her arms looking akin to branches on a tree as they poked out of her cloak.


[roll0]

Unfortunately, her grip wasn't quite on there, and thus, she slipped, the box popping up and landing on her foot. Cursing in elvish, she hopped about the room on one foot. It wasn't every day that the elf tried to pry open a mobile box with a prybar.

[Reiver Party]

The Cauldron
Señor Edras was resentful, but stood (successfully this time) and shooed his drinking companions away with his hands. Collapsing down onto his stool, he waved Esteban and Strom to sit down. He addressed the two in heavily accented Reikspiel.

"I hknow map hyou want. Is irreplaceable, maker hnot halive these days. Hin good times I hnever sell.

...Hin these times is six crowns."

He held up his hands, four fingers extended on one hand and two on the other, to make his point.

[Vetril]

The nobleman sat on the stool without many ceremonies, putting his hat on the table - taking his time to make sure that no liquid or dirt would come into contact with the fashionable accessory, of course..
Strom grimaced as soon as the Estalian mentioned the exorbitant price. He rested his hands on the table, their palms down, but soon started tapping on the wooden surface. Before the elder could add anything else, the noble quickly made an objection.

"Six gold crowns are a small treasure, for a map I have not even seen yet. Tell me, why is a piece of parchment so precious? Mind you, I do not make a habit of purchasing things I have not examined. If I am to pay any amount of gold, I want to see what I am buying, first. Show me, and then I'll gladly talk about your coins."

Satisfied that he had spoken his mind, the dwarf nodded once towards the old man, as if to underline the concept.
As Strom leaned towards Edras, his chin went up noticeably; that, paired with the determined look in the dwarf's eyes, made it clear that he was not going to change his mind anytime soon.

[BananaPhone]

While the dwarf and wood elf hoodlums were busying themselves with a lockbox inside the tavern room, Selindra had opted to remain downstairs and pass the time conversing with the natives over the top of a beer stein. After all, alcohol helped oil the diplomatic wheels, so to speak, she was sure there was much she could learn about the type of men that would visit a tavern of this reasonable quality (by human standards).

ooc:
I suppose a gossip roll?

Selindra is trying to learn about the big shots around town: the whose who, who has money, what are the dominant industries, notable Houses etc

Gossip: [roll0]

Edit: Oh, I see, so you're done throwing 1s and 2s my way are you forum roller? Just when I need them? Bah. Sel's fel is 29, so hopefully her buying a round of drinks helps provide the bonus necessary.

[Reiver Party]

The CauldronThe old man scowled back. When he spoke again, it was in Estalian. Perhaps he felt threatened, perhaps it was a bargaining tactic.

"The maps are very rare. These are only copies of them known to exist! If you want the maps, you have to pay the coin. Show me you have the coin to pay!"

He emphasised the last point by jabbing his finger into the table on every word.


Hammer & Crown
After spending 6p on drinks for the patrons, Selindra knew little more than when she started. The little cliques didn't like mixing and didn't seem to pay too much attention to goings-on in the town. They were old men and wastrels, not a useful source of information to the elf.

She learned that

The Magistrate nominally ran the town, but did little beyond drink, gamble and take backhanders.
The Guardhouse offered bounties on wanted criminals and brigands.
Traders going to Untgart were crazy. Those hills are cursed, you know.
Smugglers are smuggling cargo through Safe Haven. Surely such rogues amongst rogues are found in The Scratch Hole.

[Thragka]

The Cauldron
Esteban rolled his eyes, but translated for Strom. "And if you have any interesting words for this man that he might not understand, I am sure I can put them in Estalian for him," he added.

[ArcturusV]

Hammer, Crown, and Thieves

Rothan took back the crowbar, seeing the Tall One, who apparently was very brittle, near break her arm on the poor task. "Aye, harder than it looks lass, eh? Can't just put yer full weight into it either, gotta be careful about breakin' what ever's inside as well ya know. Can't just go at it like a Ork."

Once more gripping it carefully, putting the bar on the box deliberately, near the lock so as to pop the lock rather than shatter the whole box, he started pressing down on it slowly and steadily, adding more weight and more power gradually as he heard the popping that came with tearing the box from the lock with his mighty dwarven thews.

[Sir Dancealot]

Growling in annoyance now, she move her way on top of the box, so as to hold it steady as the dwarf went at it again. After a few moments, she heard the tearing of wood and popping of metal as the lock came off.

"Yes! Finally. That was surprisingly easy wasn't it?" She asked, a bit amused. "We probably should have gone after the lock in the first place shouldn't we? Well, what are you waitin' for? Pop it open! You 'unlocked' it, so I thing you should have the honours. Plus, I can see plenty fine over your shoulder." She smiled at that last bit, peering over the dwarf's shoulder as he raised the lid of the box.

[Vetril]

Strom's face became red as he listened to Esteban's translation..

"Are you implying I am a liar, old man?"

The dwarf stares at the Estalian for a long time, before he simply added:

"I don't think I like your attitude, I find it insulting."

The nobleman reached into his own bag. He retrieved his the decently sized pouch he used to keep his coins safe, making it jingle for a moment, before he tucked it away once again.

"Now, question my integrity again, and I'll find my map somewhere else. Meaning, in case it is not sufficiently clear, that you'd get no money at all. So can we see the damn thing, or are you just wasting our time?"

[ArcturusV]

Hammers, Crowns, and Thieves

If Rothan understood the Short Joke at his expense, he didn't seem to pay it any mind as he tossed the crowbar over onto the bed, letting out a little sigh as the box was cracked open. "Savor the moment Lass, no tellin' what's in there," he said slowly as he knelt down. He was taking his time, his hand running over the cracked box, doing as he said and taking a moment to let the anticipation build up slowly, breathing deep and calm before he cracked open the box, peering inside at the....

Whatever was in there.

[Reiver Party]

The Cauldron
The old man had regained a twinkle in his eye.
"Tell your master to settle down. I will find the maps and bring them here. We can make the exchange in public, yes? Count your coins out."

He got up, shuffled round the table and -with a little wobble - walked out of The Cauldron.

Hammer & Crown
The box contained a number of gold and silver coins, a small capped tube of tough leather and three gemstones. One stone was purple, one green and the last orange. The tube, when opened, contained a document written in Classical and signed by someone with a fancy signature.

Meirnem was able to identify the purple gemstone as an amethyst and the orange as a fire opal.


62 gold coins (mostly Imperial and Estalian)
Good Quality document case containing unknown document
Amethyst
Emerald
Fire Opal

[Thragka]

The Cauldron
«Yes, in public, a good idea,» said Esteban as Edras departed. «We will be here. Hurry back!»

"So," he said to Strom in Reikspiel. "A drink while we wait? To celebrate ... our first business endeavour?" He looked around, trying to catch the serving girl's eye. "¿Ola, señorita? A bottle of wine, I think, and two cups. And leave to us the cork."

[ArcturusV]

Hammer, Crown, and Thieves

Rothan smiled down as he looked at the box. Quickly digging into the coins he scooped them out, and started stacking them up. He was very careful, mixing it up so they both got an equal stack, and about equal amounts of both Estilian and Imperial coinage, until it was split right down the middle, 31 to 31. Pushing one pile near Miernam he said, "Yer cut, keep it up and we'll be rollin' in Crowns and havin' a grand time before ya know it!"

Then, the fancier, harder stuff. He frowned down at the writing and the gems. Coins were easy, you knew how to split them, they were easily spent, and almost impossible to trace in a town like this where no one would notice different currencies. After all, you had Norscans, Estilians, Tilieans, Imperials, Kislevs, etc, all mingling and sailing through. Lots of varied coin.

But people tended to notice precious jewels and fancy writings.

"Think we should hold off on the rest. Least fer now. See if there's anyone lookin' for 'em first, gotta find a good buyer. Might take a week or two, at soonest, to offload them. Lessin' ya got better ideas."

[BananaPhone]

After her venture into the den of average repute, Selindra felt she had a bit more information to go on now.

The Magistrate, it seemed, was the unspoken boss of the town...hardly surprising. The lofty legal powers that the man possessed made twisting the odd arm, or murdering the occasional dissenter, an easy prospect. Such capabilities offered even the most unimaginative man a road to dominance...and his vices too. Oh his vices! Drinking, gambling and taking bribes. Yes, Selindra could work with that.

The Guardhouses proclivities towards bounties was a curiosity as well...at least the elf thought so. She wondered just how thorough the operatives of the post would be when validating the legitimacy of retrieved bounties and the subsequent bequeathing of due reward. She wondered if even a passing resemblance was needed to known criminals...if that were the case, she was sure there were some beggars that could be rounded up, processed and the ones baring a resemblance to wanted felons could be brought in for a reward.

Or...perhaps the guards could offer an even darker service...say Selindra developed an enemy. I wonder how much she would have to stuff into the pockets of Safe Havens finest in order to brand her opponent a 'wanted criminal' to be hauled away to some stinking pit. The idea almost made her giggle.

[TheAnnoyingNoob]

Nudging Astria, Allegria leaned in, all the while scanning both the slaves and assembled bidders, "If anyone catches your eye, tell me." Straightening again, she tried to catch the Norseman's eye, hoping that she could alert him to the possible rescue with facial expressions alone.

[Sir Dancealot]

"I have all the time in the world my short friend!" She said, happily taking the coins and counting them as she deposited them in her pouch. Then she frowned, took all but eight out and put those in her backpack rolled up in her blanket and a few other places, making sure they wouldn't clink together. Two, she put in her boots. "Don't want to keep all in the same spot!" She said, still happy. Almost annoying so. "After all, look what happened here!" She waved towards the box.

Then. she motioned at the jewels and paper, "How much do you figure those are worth? And do you want to see if our roommate would like to read the note?"

[ArcturusV]

Rothan was a bit less scattered with his coins. He took them all into his coin purse... then strapped said coin purse to the inside of his thigh, underneath his breeches. Good luck getting to that, pickpockets. Also good luck tossing the room and stealing his coins like just happened to him. Sure if someone beat him up, pants him, etc, they could make off with all his coins. But if he got owned like that... well he figured it was his own dumb fault for picking a fight with someone that much more hardcore than him.

He smiled up up at Miernam, "Keep yer coins close to yer skin. Makes it harder for the sticky fingers to lift 'em," he explained to her. Only real explanation he offered for why he carried his coins that way. That done, he looked over at the rest of them, frowning deeply.

"Well... I don't rightly know. Maybe that poncy Tall One downstairs can help us with it like ya say. Seems valuable though. Ranald knows those poncy ones love their scrolls and letters. Probably worth a pile a crowns ta someone."

He took the Gems, and the scroll case, out of the box and split them up, taking Emerald and the Fire Opal up and putting them in his coin purse, and handing Miernam the scroll and the Amethyst, "Evenish split, near I can figure. Less likely we'll both get robbed. Once we can find a good fence and turn that stuff into nice, shiny coin, we'll split it up right and proper, sound good?" He held out his hand to shake on the deal with Meirnam. He seemed honest enough, small grin on his face peeking out from under his beard, eyes gleaming with visions of taking this area for all it was worth, Tall One with Tree Outfit and Thuggish Dwarf, side by side. Her natural agility and ability to reach the top shelf combined with his criminal knowledge and ability to shatter kneecaps.

[Reiver Party]

Nudging Astria, Allegria leaned in, all the while scanning both the slaves and assembled bidders, "If anyone catches your eye, tell me." Straightening again, she tried to catch the Norseman's eye, hoping that she could alert him to the possible rescue with facial expressions alone.
"He'll do, won't he!" grinned Astria with a nudge.

The Norseman had seen Allegria's facial twitchings. He stared like she was mad.

Bidding on him was slow, and the auctioneer was rising the prices an eigth of a crown at a time. The current bid was 1 and 2/8 crowns.

[Sir Dancealot]

"Well, step one is finding the fence." The elf replied, moving to the window and looking out. "I have no idea where to find one of those." She continued, tucking the gem and scroll about her person. No doubt you can find someone eventually though!" She turned back around, grinning, "We should go and see if we can't find the guy that hired us eh? No use in not getting paid twice in one day!"

[Vetril]

Strom watched Edras leave the tavern. Only then he returned his attention on his companion.

A drink would be a very good idea, my friend. As long as these imperials here have some decent spirits, which I doubt. We'll see.

The dwarf picked up his hat, and absentmindedly brushed off some imaginary dust from the colored feather that decorated it. With a satisfied expression on his face, he continued talking.

Once we know more about the landmarks and the sites of this region, we can make an educated decision: which old location might make us the richest people of this side of the human lands? With that information, we can decide what equipment we shall need to succeed.

The noble looked at the bartender, waiting for someone to bring the alcohol.

[ArcturusV]

Rothan shrugged, "Takes time lass. Even if I knew the local fence, gotta wait. Can't move stuff so soon after it's taken, 'case someone is looking for it, ya know?"

Still, Meirnam's enthusiasm was infectious, "Well now, how about you and me go spend the fruits o' our labors eh? Ol' Fancy Hat was told ta meet us at the Boob Bar anyway," he said, referring crassly to "Myrmidia's Bounty" and its sign, and of course the Dorf Noble as Fancy Hat. It was the place he named as a rallying point for the group earlier. Plus it wasn't like he knew how to read to know anything other than it was a sign marked with cleavage.

"... 'sides... gives us some time ta get ta know one another better, and talk about the future, eh?" he went and gave her a crooked smile, a bit silly looking, offering out his arm towards the Tall Girl like he was some gentlemanly noble as he planned to go drink copious amounts of anything that would make an Elf roll a Toughness Test just by looking at it until everything looked a lot more pleasant.

[Reiver Party]

The Cauldron
The little girl scurried off behind the bar somewhere, and some minutes later an older woman arrived. She looked haggard and wore a dirty grey apron. Possibly it was once white. A stange and cloying odour clung to her, earthy and acrid at the same time. She didn't look thrilled at the prospect of custom, but was polite in her tone.

"Sirs. The Estalian red is two copper a glass. I will not insult you by offering the Tilean wine.

We have no dwarven ale, but we still have some strong bitter left. A mere copper a glass to you, sir dwarf."

She spoke flawless Reikspiel, but her accent was a little clipped.

[Vetril]

Strom nodded, placing a copper piece on the table, just in front of him.

"Bring it to me, and we'll see how good it is."

With the matter of drinks out of the way, the dwarf turned to eye his companion.

"So. What is your opinion about this village? It doesn't look like much to me, but maybe humans prefer to live like this."

[Thragka]

The Cauldron
"A fine choice," said Esteban, slipping the woman two coppers. "I shall have a glass of the red."

He turned to his companion. "Euch, Don Grogansson, I cannot say I think very highly of this ... village. I do not think many of the people here would choose this life - unless, like us, they are seeking their fortune. Surely you were not expecting one of the great cities of the north? Forgive me, but ... " Esteban paused, then shrugged. "I, and some of the others, had thought you had a clearer idea of the place to which you lead us?"

[Reiver Party]

The Cauldron
The bartender dutifully served up one foaming tankard and one cup of dark estalian red.

The wine was good. Genuinely Estalian, to Esteban's nose. Strom's beer was... acceptable. Not a true dwarven brew, but a reasonable manling approximation. Perhaps a drink for the middle classes.

Before they could get too far into conversation, Senor Edras returned with two rolled maps tucked under his arm. He unveiled them on the table. The geographical features looked to match the map they had seen Meirnem produce, but neither of these were annotated.

"One is a map by the great Arcturu the Explorer. He shows all sites of interest and value in his time. The other is a trader's map. Much more recent. See the resources drawn on, the map maker is showing you where to buy up livestock and goods."

http://i58.tinypic.com/mhvnye.png

http://i58.tinypic.com/1zdlk4h.png

[Reiver Party]

Outside the Bookshop
As Meirnem & Rothan approached the bookshop (the last known location of their companions), they saw an wirey old man locking the front door and making haste into The Cauldron. He carried two rolled-up scrolls of some kind tucked under his arm.

[Vetril]

Strom emptied half of his glass almost immediately - and then proceeded to give a perplexed stare at the ale that remained.

"Worry not; I am just curious about the habits of the human race - they are entirely different from the customs of my people. However, from what I have seen, there is nothing complicated about them; I have to admit that maybe my expectations were initially set too high."

The dwarf seemed on the point to be adding something, but he is interrupted by the return of Edras. Wasting no time, he stood up, to have a better look at the drawn maps.

"Arcturu the explorer, eh? How old would that make this parchment? Can you prove it's authentic?"

Strom traced his finger on some of the roads depicted on the old map, noting the consistency and the state of conservation of the inks.

"This does look awfully well preserved, doesn't it?"

Evaluate to have an idea of how much something like Arcturu's map might be worth.

Evaluate: [roll0] vs 30.

[Sir Dancealot]

Meirnem sidled up to the man, quietly showing up at his side, "Excuse ne sir, but have you seen an estalian and a dwarf? It was my understanding that they were headed here."

[Thragka]

The Cauldron
"Si, Don," said Esteban, eyeing the maps with a greedy glint. "I think if we are to go ... make our fortune, then this explorer's map is quite good. Places of interest, that the common man might not know, and might not yet have ... saqueado. Looted, I think is the word? That is the place to bring our little company. As for the trader's map, well, I think we are not yet rich enough to make use of this."

[Reiver Party]

Outside the Cauldron, thirty seconds ago
The old man something spat out in heavily accented Reikspiel as he hurried inside the Cauldron.

"Hyour thugs are inside!"

Tilean or Estalian, Miernem would've said. Still, it was worth investigating.


Inside the Cauldron, now
Miernem & Rothan walked in to see Edras haggling with Strom and Esteban. The two scrolls were laid out on a drinking table. They were maps.

Señor Edras seemed to have changed his tune, speaking to Strom in Riekspiel again. "Excelente condition. Arcturu map is, eh, thirty years old. There is... secret techniques to keeping map pristina."

[Sir Dancealot]

"Ah, I see you men are here! I have the map if you want to copy stuff!" Meirnem said as she sidled in with her companions. She was almost too cheery really.


I honestly did not see this update. I am irked now.

[Thragka]

Esteban raised an eyebrow. "Ah, which map is this now? We are just negotiating the purchase with Señor Edras ..."

[Sir Dancealot]

The elf shrugged, pulling a piece of rolled parchment out from her cloak and unrolling it for the man to see, "It's a trader's map. A simple one sure, but it's got landmarks and such on it."