Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="neveryours" data-source="post: 1636748" data-attributes="member: 13424">Having found out Dove about the location of The Wounded Crow, the part decided to make some inquiries there.Walking through streets sprinkled with the occasional merchant and street performer, they arrive at what seem to 3 separate buildings on the edge of a square. The two smaller buildings flanking a larger central one, and all painted in black. The windows were shuttered but the noise of rowdy merrymaking still filtered through the wide double doors of the central building. A large stone statue of a crow with wings outspread, an arrow piercing its left wing, leered forward like a gargoyle.Otherwise the buildings appear nondescript, and simply seems to be a sprawling premise that enjoys good business.“I suppose this must be it.” Durgan remarked.Stark frowned. “I don’t like this at all, but let us get it over and done with. We need to more about the elves in Pashin.”As the party passes through the doors into the interior, they enter what seems to be a waiting room lined with stools. A woman dressed in a low cut blouse and skirt slit clear up to her sides approaches the party. Her painted lips curled, brown eyes wide and disingenuous, her blond hair arrayed around her exposed creamy shoulders, she gazes at Durgan invitingly. “Well, hello there. Welcome to the Wounded Crow, how may I help you?”Durgan attempted to put on his most winning smile. “Well met. My name is Durgan Snake and I am here to seek a meeting with Blackbird.”The woman continued to smile easily. “Well, I’ll bring you to the tavern where you can have some drinks first. I’ll inform Blackbird and come down for you as soon as he can see you.”The woman led them through a short passage to the main dining hall where all the noise the heard outside seem to have originated from. Leaving the party there, the woman hurried away. Durgan spotted the group of thugs that had originally accosted the party outside the city walls. They were seemingly intent on drinking themselves into a stupor and not being shy about it. Hooting and trying to grab the serving wenches, they were oblivious to the four large bouncers, armed with clubs, which were watching them, ready to step in if things got too far. Deciding to keep a low profile and stay out of the way of trouble, the party shifted to a quieter corner. After a while, during which Debra drank down copious amounts of dwarf spirits, the woman returned. “Blackbird will see you now.”The party was escorted through a maze of passageways, where grisly trophies had been put up on the walls. Ranging from the head of wyverns to the ubiquitous stags, the trophies seemed to serve no more purpose than serving as aids for identifying locations; since, they definitely did not seem to serve any aesthetic value.They were ushered into a room dominated by a large oaken table that seemed to have seen much wear and use. Behind it sat a large half ogre, on a stout wooden chair. He had the loathsome look common to ogre-kind. His eyes glinted with the cunning and his face was twisted into a shrewd smile. No doubt, his human half had granted him the ambition and deviousness required to climb to his present position. A flicker of interest flared in his eyes as he studied the party on their entrance.Blackbird leaned back into the chair, as it creaked with the weight. “What is it that you wish of me, good sirs?”Durgan bowed slightly. “We require information; more specifically, of the sewers under Pashin.”“And how may I help you in this?”Grinning disarmingly, Durgan shrugged in a nonchalant manner. “The word on the street is that you’re the person to go to for anything that needs doing or knowing in Pashin.”Blackbird’s demeanour suddenly lost its friendly and charming manner. “You seem to know a lot, aye? Why does an elf, a dwarf, and your half-elven friend here want to know about the sewers?”“That is none of your concern. We will pay you for it.” Stark stated flatly.Eyes narrowing greedily, Blackbird smirked. “I do not know the sewers well myself, but I know someone who does. He’s been down there to explore before.”“Well, who is he then?” Durgan prodded.“His name is Skelterfoot. A half-elf who scavenges for lost items beneath, in the sewers,” Blackbird breezed, polishing his claws on the front of his shirt, then examining them.“How much will it cost us to procure his services as a guide?” Tilting his head, Blackbird waved his large clawed hands airily. Well, nothing too exorbitant… Let us agree on fifty steel pieces – upfront - for the service of my introduction. And another hundred steel for each day of employment. Durgan blanched slightly at the sums being thrown about. He made an eye at Karavas, who simply nodded gravely. Shoulders slumping, Durgan said, with a sigh, “Alright, we agree to your terms.” Karavas’ face was devoid of emotion, save the usual solemn “oh-what-a-burden-rests-upon-my-shoulders” look as he drew forth a bag and tossed it onto the sprawling desk before him.Blackbird grinned and reached for the bag, an eyebrow arched as he hefted it for a moment. “That feels about right. Well now, be back here at eight in the morn. I will introduce you then, to Skelterfoot. And he will show you the rest of the way. If that is all, I must ask you to leave now, for I have other matters to attend to.”The party, eager to leave Blackbird, all but slammed the door in their wake. Hurrying through the maze of passages, they retraced their footsteps and emerged into the stifling evening air of Pashin. Still wrapped in thought, Durgan murmured audibly, “And now, to find out more about this Five Dragons Inn.”</blockquote>

Verification