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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3788075" data-attributes="member: 11760">Chapter 6 Beneath Blackberry RidgeIt is the 4th day of Rain, in the 721st year of the Imperial Age.A cool wet wind blows through Blackberry Ridge, and the shrubs rattle against the wooden barricade outside. But overhead, the storm clouds are blowing quickly across the sky to the west. There will be no rain here today or tomorrow.Inside the Dented Coin, Gerda Schenker brings the four strangers plates of bratwurst and mushy carrots, setting them on the table with a thump, and casting a dubious eye over the group. It doesn't take much to tell that Renraw, Tock, Kat and Ragglus are running low on funds: The extravagant spending of their first days in town is a distant memory and the four are down to one meal a day.She leaves the table with a derisive snort, murmuring a quiet word to the tavern's bouncer, who seats himself on a stool by the door, watching to make sure that they don't attempt to slip away without paying their tab."Pitcher of wine," Katadid looks meaningfully toward Renraw as he pokes unenthusiastically at the still-pink bratwurst. "Two silver.""Maybe we should hit the stables," Ragglus sneers. "I hear they're serving grass. Tastier than this, I wager. Remind me why I decided to follow y'all, instead of going home to introduce Scim to his innards?""The blackberries?" Kat offers. His answer is interrupted by a violent cough that has followed him since their battle with the Moss River. He contains himself and taps his fork against the table, starting with one corner and moving to the next, reaching over his companions to hit each corner.Renraw quickly but precisely slices his brat, oblivious to the conversation around him."I still can't believe these papers. This name the Kujau woman gave me: It's utterly unpronounceable! Who's going to believe I am who I say I am if I say it a different way every time?" He jabs a slice of meat into his mouth and chews vigorously. "No, it will never do. When we get to Freeport, I'm choosing another.""Viouesoeri Krieger," Kat says, pointing to himself. "It's ... well ... ""Exactly right, Leach," Renraw says, pointing his fork at Kat. "Yours at least has some interesting diphthongs in there! Would it have killed her to sneak me an extra vowel or two?"Ragglus' mood starts to dip further south, seemingly caught in a staring contest with the bouncer at the door. Without knowing it, he begins to compulsively crack his knuckles at a slow pace."What we need is some money, real money," Renraw says as he scoops some errant carrots onto his fork with his finger. "I shudder to think what might happen should someone tell our antsy friend Chaplin here he's to wash the dishes. What's gotten into you, Chaplin? Didn't you have your morning movement today?""Yeah," Ragglus replies, taking his eyes off of the doorman briefly to toss a sideways glance to the wizard. "You're eating it."Renraw chokes a moment before he manages an awkward grin."Not far from the truth, I fear. Still, I'm glad to eat. Energy to think our way out of this mess, you know. How are you doing in that regard, Chandler? How best to Freeport, in your opinion? And how to make us some traveling money first?""Carter," Tock reminds Renraw, chewing a bratwurst. "We're sorry about your name but pick a pronunciation and stick with it. We all need to stay in character. Who knows who might be in the employ of the baron. He's a Lothianite, remember, and tricky. So for now remember I'm Dargus Carter."But you're right, we need some spending money. Man cannot live on ... whatever this is ... alone. Viouesoeri, did you hear anything about making some money?"The door of the Dented Coin bangs open, the wind grabbing it away from the young man pushing it from the outside. The guard looks a little sheepish and closes it again, blushing under the scowl of the bouncer.Looking around the room, he spots the group from Midwood and comes over to them."You're the ... " His face screws up as he thinks of the right word. "Delvers? Adventurers? Bailiff Schultheis sent me to find you. Well, after you finish your grub, anyway."</blockquote>

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