(Tavern) City of Orussus, The Red Dragon Inn IV

[GnomeWorks]

Officer Vagan
"In the Orussus city watch, officers are encouraged to adhere to certain sartorial and depilatory standards,"

Troi looks at the young man in confusion for a small moment, then laughs. The sound is long and heartfelt, and lasts for a long moment; eventually he stops, and he shakes his head. "So that was all over th' fact that I've got long hair an' unusual clothes?" He asks, his accent returning. "Oh man... I'm sorry, I thought that... oh, man..." He laughs again.

Officer Vagan
"I've been recruited in an initiative to enforce those standards, and I forgot where I was for a moment. Terribly sorry."

Troi shakes his head. "Don't worry 'bout it, man. My fault - I thought you... well, nevermind, y'know? Don't worry 'bout it."

He looks back at the bar. "Wha, I'm startin' ta lose my edge if I'm gettin' nervous when somebody looks at me funny... not like it's th' first time that's happened, an' it'll happen again." He looks back to Vagan. "I'll take yer commission. Dunno if anybody else'll come along, but I'm plannin' on it. But, ah... do ya happen ta have a description of their leader, by chance? I'll need ta be able ta identify 'im when I see 'im, y'know?"

Jaan
"How many are you looking to commission? And can you provide horses? We will need to cover a fair bit of ground I think."

"Good questions." Troi says, nodding. "An' where have th' attacks been happenin'?"

 

[Thomas Hobbes]

Vagan sits with growing embarassment threw the merriment he's causing, coming to a straighter and straighter position of attention until Joe, coming over with the next round of drinks, says "For the gods' sake, at ease, officer, before you strain something." Hearing this, the young man to drop into a much more comfortable parade rest.

"But, ah... do ya happen ta have a description of their leader, by chance? I'll need ta be able ta identify 'im when I see 'im, y'know?"

"Her. There's been one or two people who got a good look at the leader, but all I can tell you is that she's an elf. I'll can tell you where to find the most easily reached witnesses."

"How many are you looking to commission? And can you provide horses? We will need to cover a fair bit of ground I think."

"Good questions." Troi says, nodding. "An' where have th' attacks been happenin'?"

"I don't think the Captain will spare any horses," Vagan says apologetically. "Perhaps the merchants who put up the rest can help you there. The attacks have been happening along the roads that lead Northwards to Rivenblight. There's a good stretch of woods the road runs through, and there haven't been any attacks far from those."

 

[doghead]

"Perhaps ..."

"I am not from here, and suspect that the others who take the commission will not be either. While the woods are undoubtably easy to find, a map of the area would be of great assistance. Can you arrange for one to be provided?"

"And when do you wish this commission to begin?"

 

[Guilt Puppy]

“The City Watch has offered one hundred gold pieces to those who cease these bandits attacks on the good folk of Orussus,” says Vagan, without the slightest trace of irony, “and another hundred if their leader is apprehended. As of two days ago,” he continues, “a group of local merchants offered another three hundred gold pieces, and have offered to pay a third of that up front.”

Sturm's attempt to do the arithmetic is evident on his face -- and so is the fact that when he gives up, it's as much out of general ornery-ness than lack of intelligence.

"Bah! Apper'endin' some wag ain' no real workin' anyway... Bes'n pass on this job 'n leave 'em what go at it some less ways fer splittin' 'at reward..."

He has a thought, though, and turns toward Jaan and Troi.

"Ye know, tho', I've no'n against keepin' meself busy, so if'n 'ere's no more jobs what'll have come what time ye're leavin', an' if'n it looks what this'n won't take too long, ye jes might find me interest, w'ot askin' fer no share o' yer loot. But 'at's no promise, hear, so don' go an' depend on it fer nothing. 'sjes thinkin'."

 

[doghead]

Jaan's brow furrows a little as he tries to decypher exactly what it was the dwarf just said. Particularly the last part he is thinking when he suddenly realises what he is doing. He straightens up with a start.

"Ah. Yes, ... I was kind of hoping that you would join us so I could try some of that ale of your friend's." He sounds genuinely disappointed. "Sounds like it puts hair on your chest."

"But should you wish to join us come the time to leave, I'll have no objections."

 

[Keia]

Thurgan stumbled through the door of the Red Dragon Inn, and looked behind himself to see if he had been pushed. The afterglow of a recent strike lit up behind him. 'Dagnub lightnin' attractor I've become,' Thurgan thought. Thurgan was somewhat tall for a dwarf and broad of shoulder. His dark brown hair was overly thick, including his beard. Both the beard and hair were braided to keep them from the work area, though in more recent times, it was to keep them from harm in his battles.

Wearing a heavy cloak that revealed well-crafted chain-mail beneath, Thurgan continued his entrance on worn boots to the bar. He spoke aloud, “Thurgan Hammer, Dwarven smith,” and then more quietly added as a request, “A Dwarven ale, perhaps?”

He looked around the room, taking in the current occupants and nodded at friends from his most recent journey, Troi and Velbrik – as well as others he may have missed sight of.

 

[Thomas Hobbes]

"Sure, we could get you a map," says Vagan agreeably. "This is less a comission than a bounty I've been told to inform the public of- although obviously we would prefer sooner." He smiles slightly, still recovering from his early embassment.

 

[GnomeWorks]

Officer Vagan
"Her. There's been one or two people who got a good look at the leader, but all I can tell you is that she's an elf. I'll can tell you where to find the most easily reached witnesses."

"A woman, eh?" Troi asks, scratching his goatee. "That's kinda strange, I gotta say. But I'll keep an eye out fer 'er... th' witnesses won't be necessary, I don't think. I got an idea a how ta go 'bout this..."

Officer Vagan
"I don't think the Captain will spare any horses, perhaps the merchants who put up the rest can help you there. The attacks have been happening along the roads that lead Northwards to Rivenblight. There's a good stretch of woods the road runs through, and there haven't been any attacks far from those."

"...an' that confirms my idea." Troi says, nodding. "Tell th' merchants that, in addition to th' up-front cash, we'll need a wagon, an' some horses, an' some merchandise. We're gonna lure 'em inta attackin' us. See if th' merchants'll throw in some manacles, too, in case we get some alive."

He looks to Jaan. "Hell," He smiles, "we could be done by th' end a th' day."

 

[Thomas Hobbes]

Vagan shakes his head. "I have to go on patrol soon, and it's a bit of a walk, so you'll have to ask the merchants yourself. But here..." he searches breifly through a pouch on a belt and hands Troi a small piece of parchment. The script reads, in common, The bearer is performing some service for the ORUSSUS CITY GUARD, and should be rendered such aid as is not onerous. "Oficer Vagan" is the rough signature at the bottom. "Give 'em that, tell them I sent you, and what you're workin' on. I dunno how much they'll help, but it can't hurt to ask." He smiles. "They've got some sort of office on two-thirty-seven of East Potter's lane."

 

[dpdx]

Rurik watches the questions and answers fly about the tavern with a mild interest.

"Aye, me fren's got the right of't; this'd be a job fer the faster an' greener among yer." He raises his tankard to the tavern at large, and to Jaan in particular. "Yer go right ahead an' chase down tha elf queen. I'll be 'ere, drinkin', when yer get back, mos' like."

Rurik turns back to face Sturm. "Chasin' one o' them poncies, no 'orse? Someun's drunker'n we are."