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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ruined" data-source="post: 842466" data-attributes="member: 113">6th of Chardot, yr. 150 A.V. Zamon, the ‘jewel of Zathiske’, rose from the shores of the Broadreach like a lotus in bloom. Tall spires marked the heart of the city, while numerous smaller buildings curled out to form the city’s outer border. A heavily populated collection of docks stretched out onto the river, handling traffic from Quelsk and the Blossoming Sea. Regardless of its splendors, Surielle felt more comfortable waiting on the outside with Tréan and Snowmelt.Gerad returned to the group after a few hours of chasing rumors within Zamon. “I was careful asking around, but none have heard of our mysterious Kelkarrin. I checked with a few scholars in the library, and traders who worked in the lands to the North.”“What should we do?” Surielle asked. No one seemed to have a sure answer.“I have paid a scribe to check through some tomes and see if there is any information to be had. I can check back with him later this afternoon, if you would like to accompany me.”Surielle had no desire to enter Zamon, with the memories of her last city adventure still fresh in her mind. Tréan spared her from the task.“I’ll go with you Gerad,” the priestess said. “We can check a few more places, and then if we find nothing, we can continue north.***“I’m sorry, sir. The Academy Library has closed for the day. I’m sure you can speak with Monsieur Tabereau on the morrow.”Tréan could see the cords of Gerad’s neck stand out as he clenched his jaws. He may have been a military man, but he displayed little patience for bureaucracy. Tréan laid a hand upon his arm and stepped forward.“We thank you for your kindness, sir. We shall call upon him in the morning.”The keeper of the library nodded and quietly closed the door before them. They had asked to look through the library on their own, but that was met with quick denial. Unfortunately, Tréan suspected it had colored the keeper’s opinion of them. The best she could do was keep Gerad from causing a scene that would be remembered once they were gone.“Well, we can’t use the library,” Gerad said, glancing down the streets around them. “We could try the taverns.”“Sorry, love. I don’t drink,” Tréan said.Gerad grinned. “I wasn’t looking to lose myself in a mug of ale. Patrons and barkeeps know a lot of people. Someone may have heard of Kelkarrin.”“More importantly, someone may have seen Silas. That’s more of his element.”She wasn’t thrilled to ask just anyone about Kelkarrin, but Gerad did have a point regarding their shady friend from Quelsk. If he had reached Zamon first, he might have inquired about them. Tréan nodded her assent, and the pair moved further into Zamon.The Blazoned Arms satisfied whatever criteria Gerad kept. The place was decidedly busy with many patrons coming in for food and ale after a day of work. Gerad guided Tréan to the sole empty table in a darkened corner. There was only one chair remaining at the table, which Gerad let her have. She watched as he walked over to another table where two men sat. She tensed as a few words were exchanged between him and the two dockhands. Tréan could make out that they weren’t eager to give him their extra chair, but Gerad took it anyway, doubting that they would stop him. Neither moved to save the chair, but both fixed their eyes on her and Gerad.“We can order a drink from the barmaid, and then once we’re settled, I’ll ask the barkeep about our friends.”Tréan nodded, then gasped when one of the men from the other table slid up with his own chair. He pushed his grimy face in front of hers, completely ignoring Gerad.“Hello there, lady. You’re far too beautiful to be stuck here in this corner –” “Leave.” Gerad said flatly. It wasn’t a request.“I’ve got this boat,” he continued. “And you’d look wonderful laying there with nothing but my –”“I said leave!”  Gerad grasped the man’s shoulder and shoved him away from the table, sending him and the chair crashing to the floor. Tréan leapt from her chair, and noticed the smaller of the two dockhands slinking up behind Gerad. She called out to warn Gerad, but he was focused on the larger man who was standing up from the wreckage of his chair. Gerad winced in pain from the other man’s blow, which Tréan thought to be a punch. As she moved to confront this man, she noted the blood-soaked dagger in his hands.Tréan lashed out at the dockhand with the blunt end of her spear, but missed. He smiled at her, casually tossing the dagger between his hands. She could see Gerad wailing on the other man from the corner of her eye. She needed to handle this man on her own. He feinted forward with one hand, and then slashed out with the other, drawing a bloody gash along her hip.“A shame to kill such a pretty young woman,” he said, ogling her body one last time. He lunged forward with the blade, aiming straight for her heart. A muscular arm halted his progress and slammed him to the floor. At first Tréan thought it was Gerad, but instead it belonged an unfamiliar rough-faced manTréan’s unexpected savior towered over the man. “You shouldn’t hurt ladies…” The dockhand skittered a few steps backwards, then rose to his feet with dagger still in hand. His eyes weighed his chances against the man Tréan now believed to be a half-orc. He was completely unaware of Gerad, who quickly wrapped his arms around the man’s neck.“And you should never have stabbed me!”  Gerad’s muscles bulged as he snapped the man’s neck. Tréan stared in horror as the man fell lifeless to the floor. So much bloodshed went directly against her ways. Gerad’s face was bloodied from the fistfight, but the other man was motionless on the floor. Had Gerad killed him as well?She rushed forward to Gerad, who was now frowning and holding the wound on his back. One quick glance and Tréan knew he had been stabbed in the kidneys. Without her help, he would die within a night.“We must leave now!” she said, clenching her teeth.  Gerad nodded to her, and then to the half-orc behind them. Grasping his arm, Tréan led her wounded friend out of the Blazoned Arms.  “… We need to have a talk about your way with others.”</blockquote>

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