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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Welcome to the Halmae (updated 2/27/07)
- Thread starter spyscribe
- Start date
KidCthulhu
First Post
I wondered when this group would get around to trashing a tavern. All the cool adventuring parties do it.
Thomas Hobbes
First Post
Just reached the end of the thread. Very nice, all around. 
Paticular kudos to spyscribe for writing and Fajitas for writing up a very cool world.
Paticular kudos to spyscribe for writing and Fajitas for writing up a very cool world.Just caught up after a little story-hour hiatus, and I'd forgotten how good the writing was here. 
So if Hue was taking the bait to be the one who started the brawl, and that's what you wanted, why did one of the drunk's friends hold him back? Did you decide that Hue wasn't being antagonistic enough to put the responsibility for it on him?
BTW, we have a gnome in my D&D group who acts extremely similarly to Hue, only he does it specifically to annoy people/thinks it's funny, not because he's honestly that "different" (as I get the impression Hue is).
Thanks for sharing it all with us!
So if Hue was taking the bait to be the one who started the brawl, and that's what you wanted, why did one of the drunk's friends hold him back? Did you decide that Hue wasn't being antagonistic enough to put the responsibility for it on him?
BTW, we have a gnome in my D&D group who acts extremely similarly to Hue, only he does it specifically to annoy people/thinks it's funny, not because he's honestly that "different" (as I get the impression Hue is).
Thanks for sharing it all with us!
spyscribe
First Post
Thomas Hobbs, Welcome! And good to see you around again, Talix. Glad you're enjoying the story.
Yeah, Hue... High INT, low WIS, in case you couldn't tell. If he does just enjoy getting reactions out of people, then the character is far more subtle than any of us ever gave him credit for. In fact, there is a theory going around that Hue's complete lack of guile is the only thing keeping the ferret's plans for world domination in check.
I can just picture the two of them when they first met:
Ferret (thinking and rubbing its little paws together): Excellent... The first phase of my plan is complete. I am bonded to the bipedal wizard. Already, my towering intellect has increased, and his opposable thumbs will prove most useful for--
Hue: Look Ferret! A squirrel!
Ferret: Erm... I begin to fear I have miscalculated.
Yeah, Hue... High INT, low WIS, in case you couldn't tell. If he does just enjoy getting reactions out of people, then the character is far more subtle than any of us ever gave him credit for. In fact, there is a theory going around that Hue's complete lack of guile is the only thing keeping the ferret's plans for world domination in check.
I can just picture the two of them when they first met:
Ferret (thinking and rubbing its little paws together): Excellent... The first phase of my plan is complete. I am bonded to the bipedal wizard. Already, my towering intellect has increased, and his opposable thumbs will prove most useful for--
Hue: Look Ferret! A squirrel!
Ferret: Erm... I begin to fear I have miscalculated.
spyscribe
First Post
Part the Forty-Fourth
In which: an irresistible force meets an immovable object.
“I’ve never seen them in town before.”
“—Been asking questions all over the place.”
“Said they were looking for a guide.”
“She was the one who was cheating, Officer. We were just having our usual friendly game.”
“He cast something. Then, all of a sudden I’m hitting this guy. I didn’t want to, I just couldn’t help myself.”
“That little freak called me stupid! And then he tried to kill me.”
“I was just trying to keep things from getting out of hand.”
“There were two other women with them, but they both split soon as the fight started.”
Steadfast the Just strokes his beard as he surveys the riff-raff in the Thirsty Watchmen. Another brawl. The second tonight, in fact. There are days when Steadfast the Just is tempted to shut-down the taverns, in Kettenek’s name, the better to preserve the tranquility of Noran. But no, his superiors insist such an act would only incite more violence. And he must admit that it is not Just to punish those guilty of no wrongdoing for the misdeeds of a few unsavory elements. Unsavory elements against whom Justice must now be meted out.
After questioning the tavern staff and regular customers, Steadfast has a pretty good idea what happened. He turns to deal with the miscreants directly, but first, he speaks to one of the members of the Watch who first arrived to subdue the scene.
“Two of the possible instigators have fled. Track them down.”
With a quick nod, the man leaves, and Steadfast turns to the six travelers gathered in one corner of the room. Clearly a suspicious lot. He will hear their side of the story, and pass his judgment. Kettenek’s Justice demands no less.
**********
Meanwhile, outside the tavern Lira and Eva try to come up with a plan of action.
“The guard just seems to be waiting there.”
Hey, Boss?
“How much longer do you want to wait?”
Boss?
“If they’ve been arrested we should find out where they’re going to be taken—”
Boss!
What? Lira finally turns her attention to her familiar.
You ah… wanna get out of sight, maybe?
I am out of— Oh… Ehkt’s balls!
As Lira realizes she was not as hidden as she had thought, she also realizes that the guard by the door has been joined by two other members of the Watch, who are now making their way towards the alley where she and Eva are waiting.
Eva reaches for a concealed dagger in her cloak. She didn’t mention she was carrying it to the guards at the gate, and so they didn’t ask to peace-bond it. “Should we run?”
“You run. They already know I’m here.”
Eva quirks an eyebrow. “You sure?”
“Go!”
Eva takes to her heels as quickly and quietly as she can. Lira (and Euro) turn to face the approaching watchmen.
You got a plan, Boss?
Of course I have a plan.
And as the first Watchman comes around the corner, Lira takes a deep breath… and screams.
###
“I am Anvil the Just, of Dar Pykos.” Anvil informs the local Justicar who has arrived on the scene.
“I am Steadfast the Just, of Noran,” he replies, sizing up the foreigner.
“It is good that you have come here to restore order and lawfulness,” Anvil states.
Steadfast tries to determine if the other man is mocking him. It is true not all members of his order are as… serious… as he. Still, there does not seem to be any sarcasm in the other man’s manner. “I am glad you approve of lawfulness. There are those here who believe you to be the cause of its breech.”
Anvil’s reply is flat and immediate: “They are mistaken.”
“That is what I am here to determine.”
Behind Anvil’s back, Thatch notices Moira trying to catch his eye. He looks over to see the bard mouthing, “Oh my.”
###
Outside the in alley, Antonio the watchman tries to reason with the seemingly hysterical girl before him.
“It’s okay,” he tells her, hands up in what he hopes is a non-threatening pose. “It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you. I just need you to calm down alright?”
The girl, although hyperventilating slightly, does stop screaming. “What do you want?”
“I’m with the Watch—”
“I didn’t do anything wrong!”
Antonio takes a deep breath. He really hopes that she doesn’t start screaming again. “I’m sure you didn’t. But there was a fight in the tavern, and the Justicar is going to need to ask you a few questions.”
“Why?”
“Well, you’re a witness. And there was a woman who ran away before we got here. Did you see her?”
“See who?”
Antonio keeps himself from groaning, barely. “Why don’t you just come inside for a bit with me, okay?”
She gives him an uncertain look. “I don’t want to go back in there.”
“The fight’s over. It’s safe.” He extends a hand. Reluctantly, the girl comes over and allows herself to be led inside. Antonio lets out a silent sigh. This is going to be a long night. He can tell. Still, if he has to baby-sit a dim bystander, at least she’s cute.
###
Steadfast listens, skeptically, to the party’s story. It’s original, he’ll give them that. But credible? Hardly. Kings and wizards and vast conspiracies of magic-haters? Perhaps a Justicar in Dar Pykos would buy such swill. Maybe a Justicar didn’t and that is why this motley band is now on the run. But Steadfast the Just is no fool to be swayed from Kettenek’s will by such transparent lies. And those who come to spread their unlawful ways to his city, live to regret it.
The thought occurs, that resolving this case might be just the break he needs to get his promotion to Third Order. Then, at last, he might finally be allowed off of market duty… With an act of will, Steadfast returns his full attention to the task at hand.
“I suppose you have proof of this vital mission you are on?”
“Certainly,” Anvil replies, and he reaches for the staff which contains his letters of introduction from the King and Temples of Dar Pykos.
However, before he can bring them out, a member of the Watch comes over and taps Steadfast on the arm. Reyu listens closely as he whispers in the Justicar’s ear. “….found one of the women, just outside… Doesn’t look dangerous, but she’s got a set of lungs on her.”
Across the room, by the bar, Reyu sees Lira being brought in, guided by a Watchman who keeps a heavy hand on her shoulder. She’s either very nervous or putting on a good show of it. There’s no sign of Eva.
###
Eva runs as quickly and silently as possible through the alleys of Noran, but she can’t seem to shake her pursuers. The city is laid out in a straightforward pattern, but that doesn’t overcome the fact that the Watchmen simply know how to get around better than she does.
She sees a pile of discarded crates behind a building that might allow her to get up on the roof-tops, but she doesn’t think she has enough lead time to get up before someone comes down the alley after her, and once on the roof, there’s no cover to speak of.
She ducks behind the pile. There are ale casks, old straw, and produce crates… Must be another tavern… Eva curses her own stupidity. She’s standing at the back door of some kind of inn or tavern, with any luck, one filled with people. If the Watch doesn’t have a good description of who they’re looking for, getting lost in a crowd is probably her best shot of escape. As quickly as she comes up with the plan, Eva slips through the door at her back, and in a few moments, hears running feet passing through the alley behind her.
###
Steadfast questions the red-haired girl from the alley.
“What’s your name?”
“Lira.”
“Just Lira?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you run out of the tavern?”
The girl stares at him just a little incredulously. “There was a big fight going on. I got scared, and my friends told me I should leave.”
“And what scared you so much that you just had to leave right then?”
She gestures to her 98-lb frame. “If you were me, would you stand around in the middle of a bar fight? Besides,” Lira lowers her voice a bit, “these big guys had been giving me looks all evening; it was creepy. I just wanted to get out of there.”
“Who are these ‘friends’ you came in with?”
Lira indicates the six strangers across the room. Just as I suspected, Steadfast thinks. Clearly there’s more going on here than these strangers would have me believe… Aloud he asks, “Couldn’t they protect you?”
“They were busy enough trying to keep things under control without worrying about me.”
“If you’re so delicate, why do they travel with you?”
A pause. “I have other talents.”
“I see.”
Steadfast leaves her by the bar and returns to consult with the watch. Evasive and impudent. Well, it would all be dealt with soon enough. He finds the head Watchman, and takes him just outside for a consultation.
“Have you found the other one?”
“Not yet. Our men have a good description, though. Your orders?”
“Kettenek’s Justice demands she be found. Keep looking for her. Take the seven travelers into custody at the Temple of Justice. Tell everyone else to go home for the evening, but the barman can reopen in an hour or so.”
The man salutes smartly. “Yes, Justicar.”
###
The tavern isn’t particularly crowded, but it isn’t empty either. It is also, Eva notes gratefully, quite dimly lit. She slips into a table near the back with a good view of the door, getting a glance or two from some men playing cards in a corner, but none of them come over.
Although Eva’s posture is a comfortable slouch, its takes an effort of will to get her heart rate down to something approaching normal. Luckily, it’s a skill that Eva has some practice with. She’s just trying to work out her next move when two members of the Watch come in the front door.
One of them goes over to talk to the men playing cards. They exchange a few words she can’t make out, and then one of the players nods in her direction.
Eva is about to bolt when—
“Something to drink, ma’am?”
The kitchen scutt is at her elbow.
“No, thank you.”
Eva rises and takes a step towards the back door when a hand suddenly wraps around her upper arm. “Going somewhere?”
###
Thatch stares at the featureless stone wall in front of him, then glances around at his equally subdued companions. “Slavery isn’t legal in Noran, is it?” he asks.
In which: an irresistible force meets an immovable object.
“I’ve never seen them in town before.”
“—Been asking questions all over the place.”
“Said they were looking for a guide.”
“She was the one who was cheating, Officer. We were just having our usual friendly game.”
“He cast something. Then, all of a sudden I’m hitting this guy. I didn’t want to, I just couldn’t help myself.”
“That little freak called me stupid! And then he tried to kill me.”
“I was just trying to keep things from getting out of hand.”
“There were two other women with them, but they both split soon as the fight started.”
Steadfast the Just strokes his beard as he surveys the riff-raff in the Thirsty Watchmen. Another brawl. The second tonight, in fact. There are days when Steadfast the Just is tempted to shut-down the taverns, in Kettenek’s name, the better to preserve the tranquility of Noran. But no, his superiors insist such an act would only incite more violence. And he must admit that it is not Just to punish those guilty of no wrongdoing for the misdeeds of a few unsavory elements. Unsavory elements against whom Justice must now be meted out.
After questioning the tavern staff and regular customers, Steadfast has a pretty good idea what happened. He turns to deal with the miscreants directly, but first, he speaks to one of the members of the Watch who first arrived to subdue the scene.
“Two of the possible instigators have fled. Track them down.”
With a quick nod, the man leaves, and Steadfast turns to the six travelers gathered in one corner of the room. Clearly a suspicious lot. He will hear their side of the story, and pass his judgment. Kettenek’s Justice demands no less.
**********
Meanwhile, outside the tavern Lira and Eva try to come up with a plan of action.
“The guard just seems to be waiting there.”
Hey, Boss?
“How much longer do you want to wait?”
Boss?
“If they’ve been arrested we should find out where they’re going to be taken—”
Boss!
What? Lira finally turns her attention to her familiar.
You ah… wanna get out of sight, maybe?
I am out of— Oh… Ehkt’s balls!
As Lira realizes she was not as hidden as she had thought, she also realizes that the guard by the door has been joined by two other members of the Watch, who are now making their way towards the alley where she and Eva are waiting.
Eva reaches for a concealed dagger in her cloak. She didn’t mention she was carrying it to the guards at the gate, and so they didn’t ask to peace-bond it. “Should we run?”
“You run. They already know I’m here.”
Eva quirks an eyebrow. “You sure?”
“Go!”
Eva takes to her heels as quickly and quietly as she can. Lira (and Euro) turn to face the approaching watchmen.
You got a plan, Boss?
Of course I have a plan.
And as the first Watchman comes around the corner, Lira takes a deep breath… and screams.
###
“I am Anvil the Just, of Dar Pykos.” Anvil informs the local Justicar who has arrived on the scene.
“I am Steadfast the Just, of Noran,” he replies, sizing up the foreigner.
“It is good that you have come here to restore order and lawfulness,” Anvil states.
Steadfast tries to determine if the other man is mocking him. It is true not all members of his order are as… serious… as he. Still, there does not seem to be any sarcasm in the other man’s manner. “I am glad you approve of lawfulness. There are those here who believe you to be the cause of its breech.”
Anvil’s reply is flat and immediate: “They are mistaken.”
“That is what I am here to determine.”
Behind Anvil’s back, Thatch notices Moira trying to catch his eye. He looks over to see the bard mouthing, “Oh my.”
###
Outside the in alley, Antonio the watchman tries to reason with the seemingly hysterical girl before him.
“It’s okay,” he tells her, hands up in what he hopes is a non-threatening pose. “It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you. I just need you to calm down alright?”
The girl, although hyperventilating slightly, does stop screaming. “What do you want?”
“I’m with the Watch—”
“I didn’t do anything wrong!”
Antonio takes a deep breath. He really hopes that she doesn’t start screaming again. “I’m sure you didn’t. But there was a fight in the tavern, and the Justicar is going to need to ask you a few questions.”
“Why?”
“Well, you’re a witness. And there was a woman who ran away before we got here. Did you see her?”
“See who?”
Antonio keeps himself from groaning, barely. “Why don’t you just come inside for a bit with me, okay?”
She gives him an uncertain look. “I don’t want to go back in there.”
“The fight’s over. It’s safe.” He extends a hand. Reluctantly, the girl comes over and allows herself to be led inside. Antonio lets out a silent sigh. This is going to be a long night. He can tell. Still, if he has to baby-sit a dim bystander, at least she’s cute.
###
Steadfast listens, skeptically, to the party’s story. It’s original, he’ll give them that. But credible? Hardly. Kings and wizards and vast conspiracies of magic-haters? Perhaps a Justicar in Dar Pykos would buy such swill. Maybe a Justicar didn’t and that is why this motley band is now on the run. But Steadfast the Just is no fool to be swayed from Kettenek’s will by such transparent lies. And those who come to spread their unlawful ways to his city, live to regret it.
The thought occurs, that resolving this case might be just the break he needs to get his promotion to Third Order. Then, at last, he might finally be allowed off of market duty… With an act of will, Steadfast returns his full attention to the task at hand.
“I suppose you have proof of this vital mission you are on?”
“Certainly,” Anvil replies, and he reaches for the staff which contains his letters of introduction from the King and Temples of Dar Pykos.
However, before he can bring them out, a member of the Watch comes over and taps Steadfast on the arm. Reyu listens closely as he whispers in the Justicar’s ear. “….found one of the women, just outside… Doesn’t look dangerous, but she’s got a set of lungs on her.”
Across the room, by the bar, Reyu sees Lira being brought in, guided by a Watchman who keeps a heavy hand on her shoulder. She’s either very nervous or putting on a good show of it. There’s no sign of Eva.
###
Eva runs as quickly and silently as possible through the alleys of Noran, but she can’t seem to shake her pursuers. The city is laid out in a straightforward pattern, but that doesn’t overcome the fact that the Watchmen simply know how to get around better than she does.
She sees a pile of discarded crates behind a building that might allow her to get up on the roof-tops, but she doesn’t think she has enough lead time to get up before someone comes down the alley after her, and once on the roof, there’s no cover to speak of.
She ducks behind the pile. There are ale casks, old straw, and produce crates… Must be another tavern… Eva curses her own stupidity. She’s standing at the back door of some kind of inn or tavern, with any luck, one filled with people. If the Watch doesn’t have a good description of who they’re looking for, getting lost in a crowd is probably her best shot of escape. As quickly as she comes up with the plan, Eva slips through the door at her back, and in a few moments, hears running feet passing through the alley behind her.
###
Steadfast questions the red-haired girl from the alley.
“What’s your name?”
“Lira.”
“Just Lira?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you run out of the tavern?”
The girl stares at him just a little incredulously. “There was a big fight going on. I got scared, and my friends told me I should leave.”
“And what scared you so much that you just had to leave right then?”
She gestures to her 98-lb frame. “If you were me, would you stand around in the middle of a bar fight? Besides,” Lira lowers her voice a bit, “these big guys had been giving me looks all evening; it was creepy. I just wanted to get out of there.”
“Who are these ‘friends’ you came in with?”
Lira indicates the six strangers across the room. Just as I suspected, Steadfast thinks. Clearly there’s more going on here than these strangers would have me believe… Aloud he asks, “Couldn’t they protect you?”
“They were busy enough trying to keep things under control without worrying about me.”
“If you’re so delicate, why do they travel with you?”
A pause. “I have other talents.”
“I see.”
Steadfast leaves her by the bar and returns to consult with the watch. Evasive and impudent. Well, it would all be dealt with soon enough. He finds the head Watchman, and takes him just outside for a consultation.
“Have you found the other one?”
“Not yet. Our men have a good description, though. Your orders?”
“Kettenek’s Justice demands she be found. Keep looking for her. Take the seven travelers into custody at the Temple of Justice. Tell everyone else to go home for the evening, but the barman can reopen in an hour or so.”
The man salutes smartly. “Yes, Justicar.”
###
The tavern isn’t particularly crowded, but it isn’t empty either. It is also, Eva notes gratefully, quite dimly lit. She slips into a table near the back with a good view of the door, getting a glance or two from some men playing cards in a corner, but none of them come over.
Although Eva’s posture is a comfortable slouch, its takes an effort of will to get her heart rate down to something approaching normal. Luckily, it’s a skill that Eva has some practice with. She’s just trying to work out her next move when two members of the Watch come in the front door.
One of them goes over to talk to the men playing cards. They exchange a few words she can’t make out, and then one of the players nods in her direction.
Eva is about to bolt when—
“Something to drink, ma’am?”
The kitchen scutt is at her elbow.
“No, thank you.”
Eva rises and takes a step towards the back door when a hand suddenly wraps around her upper arm. “Going somewhere?”
###
Thatch stares at the featureless stone wall in front of him, then glances around at his equally subdued companions. “Slavery isn’t legal in Noran, is it?” he asks.
blackshirt5
First Post
Very nice, spyscribe. Excellent as always; what more can a guy say?
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