Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Snarf Zagyg" data-source="post: 9551106" data-attributes="member: 7023840">Doc wasn't used to all the fussin' that doin' his job seemed to provoke here, but he was even more taken aback by the thought that this new posse he had found might actually have his back...and not just to stick a blade into it. As uncomfortable as bein' honored made him, Doc was even more discomfited by the unnatural and vexatious way he felt a certain ... fondness for his compadres. Don't much cotton to these feelings like a burr in the boot. Reckon I'll counter 'em with my other emotions, like gamblin' and drunk.After dealin' with a bare number of pleasantries and honorifics and a quick reconnoiterin' of the Keep they's been gifted, Doc found himself moseyin' on down to the village of Doyle's Tor. Worlds may change, but likker is the same. Figurin' this Tor steading has a saloon and likker won't drink itself.Spotting the tell-tale signs of a waterin' hole, Doc walked in and sidled up to the bar and ordered hisself the strongest of whatever they got. After a few rounds, or maybe sum more, of gettin' hisself likkered up, Doc noticed that a bit more than a few hours had passed and he was the only one drinkin'- so he then made the smallest of talk with the saloonkeeper, Pykus Foll. Pykus learned Doc that some locals had holed up in the neighborin' areas, makin' life uncomfortable for the good people of Tor and extractin' themselves a bit of coin for that bothersome privilege, and the good people didn't have the coin no more for their own drink. Pykus continued, sayin' that the blackhats were also keepin' people from comin' to Tor, and Pykus would have to close up the saloon for good in a few days as he couldn't keep it open with no one to drink and havin' to pay for the privilege of keepin' it open.Finally, seeming to gather his gumption from somewhere, Pykus spoke his mind. I heard about the brave adventurers that Lord Faldur employed to end the menace of the Giants. Some people have said that one of them was a stranger to these lands. And I do not mean to offend you, good sir, nor do I mean to impose my minor problems upon you, but your clothes and demeanor mark you as a person that is far from home. If you ... know ... those brave adventurers, good sir, please relay to them that should they rid our humble village of the evil that has befallen us, I will pledge my service and what little a humble innkeeper can offer as recompense. Doc stared at the bar for a while, not acknowledging the words of Pykus. Finally, Doc drank another shot of likker and drew his gaze up to stare straight at Pykus. Doc's steely blue eyes had flames of anger within them.You tellin' me that these blackhats are goin' to close the only saloon in town that I can get my drink on? I think the Sheriff won't abide that kind of lawlessness, no... sir.... eeeeeee. Throw me a bottle, and I'll make sure the likker keeps flowin' and a personal invitation is extended to them blackhats to meet the Sheriff. When Pykus gave Doc a bottle of likker, Doc walked out the door takin' pulls on it. (A day later)Doc walked back into the saloon. Pykus noticed some small blood splatters on Doc's clothing. Doc said nothing, but sat down and tapped his fingers for a drink. Pykus poured a double, which Doc downed immediately, tapping his fingers again. This repeated, in silence, for an hour. Then, one of the villagers ran in to the Inn, and shouted at Pykus- We are free! Landro just found them. All of them! Pykus stared at him uncomprehendingly. What was he saying? The villager continued .... Landro was out gathering firewood. And he said that he found them. All of them. All of the bandits! They were all dead. All of them. Pykus was still having trouble with this... there were, what, one or two score of the bandits? All of them? And then Pykus began to put the pieces together, as more villagers rushed into his inn to celebrate.He looked down at Doc and the bloodspatters. Good sir, it would seem that you have truly saved all of Doyle's Tor. How can we thank you?Doc didn't look up from under his hat, but kept drinking. I'm not good, and I'm not sir. You can call me Doc. All I did was make sure they's got what was comin' to 'em, and they did. They's with the Sheriff now, and there ain't no place worse than that. And you thank me by keepin' the likker flowin' and findin' me some smokes.Doc reached into his poncho, and pulled out a heavy sack. It was filled with coin and some gems. Found this with the blackhats. Reckon it's what they took from you and your kin. Figurin' they's need it to buy drinks.As more villagers came in, Pykus shouted out to them, Here he is! The noble adventurer of Lord Faldur, Sir Doc from the Faraway, who vanquished the evil that had befallen us! And noble Sir Doc has not just saved us from these calamitous circumstances, but brought us back all that was taken by those ruffians! He has only asked that we drink with him. Huzzah!The next few hours were what Doc hated- people, children even, thanking him. He just wanted to drink and smoke. At some point, Pykus told him that for all he had done, the saloon was his as well. Doc reluctantly agreed, so long as Pykus took his fair share for stayin' on and keepin' Doc's likker flowin'. Over the next few days, Doc found that a lot of the young 'uns in the Tor looked up to him as the law, so he hesitantly began to show 'em some of the skills he had to keep the peace so that they wouldn't be defenseless if he wasn't around- but he made sure they knew the prime lesson. Folks are all different, and y'all let 'em be. If'n they's causin' problems, ya talk to 'em and get 'em to stop. And if they's the type that won't listen to reason and won't mosey on out of the Tor, then's ya gotta invite 'em to meet the Sheriff. There ain't no in-between, either. Ya let 'em be, or make it end. End prejudicial like. Other than a brief trip to see Sir Donnell's elevation to knighthood, during which Doc felt a pang of something akin to pride, Doc otherwise spent his time in the Tor. He didn't need sleep, so he was a regular at the saloon. Of course, Doc began to play cards, drawing others into the game, and it wasn't long before the saloon also was a regular gambling hall, attracting bored villagers and travelers to lose a little money. Doc played the games straight, mostly, except for those few occasions when some fancy mountebank would attempt to cheat the good people of Tor. The cheaters always regretted playing four aces when Doc had a straight flush.Doc was feelin', if not good, then at least not as melancholy as a lonesome doggie, drinkin' and smokin' and gamblin' in the Tor when one night Doc felt the pull of something he knew all too well. The Sheriff had orders. Doc roused hisself from the drink and the game and walked back to the castle, but the call was coming from an area outside of the castle. Doc found hisself in a graveyard with a small chapel, and he felt pulled into the chapel. Once he was in there, Doc felt this powerful force that pushed him to his knees, and a voice rang out.HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN YOURSELF, DOC SENTENZA? DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR PURPOSE? WHO DO YOU SERVE?Doc could only whisper against the force pushing on him ... you .... i only serve you, sheriff. I AM THE SHERIFF. YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHERS BEFORE ME, DOC SENTENZA. AND AS YOU ARE MY INSTRUMENT, IN THIS WORLD, AND ALL WORLDS, KNOW THIS- IN ALL THINGS YOU SERVE ME. I HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH YOUR HARVESTS, AND FOR THIS, YOU SHALL BE MY DEPUTY. BUT YOU ARE MINE, NOW AND FOREVER, AND THIS PLACE SHALL BIND YOU TO ME SO YOU SHALL NOT FORGET YOURSELF AND YOUR PLACE.With that final pronouncement, the booming voice stopped, but Doc's body was wracked with pain as the Sheriff filled his vessel with the Sheriff's authority. Doc could feel the Sheriff imbuing him with new abilities as his deputy, but the transmogrification felt like Doc was dying again, a hundred times over. As this was happening, the chapel itself changed, becoming darker and marked with the symbols of the Sheriff and an altar to send souls to the Mesa of Madness. Outside, a thick fog sprung up, and the graveyard's flora became twisted and venomous. When Doc recovered from the pain to survey his surroundings, he saw two people that weren't there previously.Howdy Wyatt. Howdy Jesse. Reckon the Sheriff released y'all for good behavior?They all stared at each other for a few seconds, then started laughing.(The next week)Doc was at the saloon, deep in his cups, when he looked up with gimlet eyes and saw someone from the keep enter. The messenger approached and told Doc he was needed at the keep. Doc figured that would cut into his drinkin' time, and politely declined the invitation with a courtly response of Go eff yourself. The messenger appeared to have been ready for this response. I was told to tell you that Sir Donnell has requested the presence of all the adventurers, for there is a new threat.Pykus sidled up to Doc and whispered to him, Sir Doc! You cannot refuse this request. We will be fine, and I will keep the saloon and cards going, and I am sure that your lads will keep the peace. Go where you are needed.Doc inwardly grimaced. He felt like Tor's cat; the more he rejected their love, the more the villagers wanted to pet him. Maybe a little time would let 'em realize that the servants of the Sheriff weren't the tumbleweeds you wanted in your town. Doc grabbed some likker and smokes for the road, and went to the keep where he saw that Donnell, Hoss, and Kahru were there waiting. Lookin' at 'em, Doc grinned and laconically stated ...So. Who needs a-killin' this time?[OOC]Sorry for the delay. If you saw my other post in the Pineapple Express, you know why. Cliff notes because that's a long post (and it could have been longer)-1. Doc is spending most of his time in Doyle's Tor (which he call the Tor).2. There's a little backstory to how he got the inn and gambling hall.3. I added a bit for the chapel/graveyard, that also explains the 5e24 conversion.4. Hirelings of note-Pykus Foll- Bartender. gamingJesse- GraveyardWyatt- ChapelBastion Orders[/OOC][OOC]1. Gaming Hall.Trade (makes money).<a href="http://url=http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=294889" target="_blank">Gaming Hall: 98</a>Wasn't sure if I roll or average, and it doesn't make much of a difference anyway-<a href="http://url=http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=294890" target="_blank">Winnings: 31</a> x 10310 gold pieces. (Would be 350gp average, but that's with the 98).2. Bar.Information gathering. Anything about giant attacks, specifically the stone giant we made deal with.3. Graveyard.Harvest. One vial of Burnt Othur Fumes.4. Chapel.Whispers of the Mesa. Beseech sheriff for three pieces of accurate knowledge about the attacks that were previously unknown to Doc and that serves the Sheriff's interests. [/OOC]</blockquote>

Verification