Birthright 3: The Worm's Supper

[VAN]

Filbert catches his breath for couple seconds welcoming the snowflakes at his face. Seeing Crowley he winks at the big man.

"We made it! Now I need to get the wine to the Three Penny inn. Thank you for the assistance. I will come back to Lady Domenica's place tomorrow at some point."

[ewancummins]

Filbert catches his breath for couple seconds welcoming the snowflakes at his face. Seeing Crowley he winks at the big man.

"We made it! Now I need to get the wine to the Three Penny. Thank you for the assistance. I will come back to Lady Domenica's place tomorrow at some time."

LATER THAT NIGHT, AT THE SIGN OF THREE PENCE


Filbert finds the gang waiting for him in the back room, playing at dice by the light of candles.
A big brazier sits on a barrel, leaking warmth over the room.

The man with the fancy slashed and puffed breeches lifts a pewter goblet as Filbert draws near. Drink dribbles down his stubbled chin as he smiles.

''Ho, Half-Man, I see you've come back. But have you got the goods with you?"

[VAN]

Filbert places the bottle on the table.

"You bet I did. A bottle of fine Avanese wine as promised. I haven't taken anything else because at the room I broke in had nothing of value and once gotten the wine thought was better to go away and come here. "

[ewancummins]

BACKROOM, THREE PENNY

Fancy-Breeks laughs.
"Right, you gave the place a quick in and out." He makes an obscene gesture. "Get what you came for and you're off. That's my style."

The man picks up the bottle and examines it.

''Looks right. Come back tomorrow night after we've had time to ask around about you, Perry. For now, you are 'half in.' Ha! Got a problem with that?"

The other men laugh at the boss's weak attempt at a pun, all except the thin man in the tattered cloak. He just sits in silence and watches 'Perry.' with a neutral expression on his face.

[VAN]

"That's fine. But I think I deserve at least a glass of the Avanese wine I got you! Or we can open it tomorrow when you will accept me." He winks at them.

[ewancummins]

"That's fine. But I think I deserve at least a glass of the Avanese wine I got you! Or we can open it tomorrow when you will accept me." He winks at them.

The gang boss scowls.
"You expect me to give you free drinks now, eh, little man?"

But the gaunt man in the tattered cloak cuts in- "I think he's earned a drink. And it's not like we can fence the stuff so as to get a fair price, not without drawing attention to where we got it. You don't imagine that the Crone would pay us its real value?"

The gang boss rubs his chin, wiping away some runoff from his last swig.
He draws his dagger.

The rest of the gang falls silent, no laughter or chatter now. All eyes on the leader and his cloaked lieutenant. Those two don't look straight at each other, but exchange a tense sideways glance.

The leader sets the bottle down on the table and impales the cork. He pops it out with a twist.

"Fine. Let's all have a drink of the good stuff!"

Laughter again, and talking. The dice roll, money changes hands, and the game goes on.

[VAN]

Filbert raises his glass:

"To all of you and to jobs well done!"

He savours the wine.

"Really tasteful!"

When empties his glass he says:

"Thank you very much for the drink gentleman. See you tomorrow."

Then exits the room and as before he makes attention not to be followed before returning to palace.

[ewancummins]

Filbert raises his glass:

"To all of you and to jobs well done!"

He savours the wine.

"Really tasteful!"

When empties his glass he says:

"Thank you very much for the drink gentleman. See you tomorrow."

Then exits the room and as before he makes attention not to be followed before returning to palace.

Filbert walks alone in the cold and dark with no lantern, using his heat-sight to pick out the warmth of windows, doors, and chimneys against the cold walls and pavements of the city.
As chilly as it is to go without even a warming lamp, he gains two advantages; concealment from any watchers and the ability to spot the body heat of anyone following close behind.
But he sees only a blur that might be a cat or small dog, and that soon disappears...


He reaches the palace after a long, uncomfortable slog through the city, having laid some false trails just in case anyone does try to track him.

While not actually frostbitten, he does feel bitterly cold. And thirsty again, and hungry.

The guards check his credentials and then usher him inside.

Soon he has a room with a warm fireplace, a bed, a jug of mulled wine, some cake or ham as he likes, etc.

[ewancummins]

the next day

MIDDAY, AT BARILLIA AND ASSOCIATES



After sleeping the rest of the night and part of the morning, Filbert has dressed and gone to see his partner in intelligence gathering, at her office outside in the docks quarter outside the walled city.
The weather is clear now, but a thin coat of snow remains on most outside surfaces. Soot from chimneys and cook fires has turned the snow gray in patches.


He may notice workers loading goods onto a keelboat alongside the waterfront warehouse.


Within the timber warehouse, he finds the muscular black dwarf, Vollmar, dressed in a coat of mail. The dwarf stands in between rows of goods, lifting a crate overhead and lowering it to brush his skull, then pushing it up again.

The dwarf sets the crate down as Filbert draws near.
It clinks as it touches the floor.

He looks Filbert eyes to eyes, tilting his head down only a little (adult humans literally look down on Filbert much of the time, but with a dwarf, the height difference is of course smaller). His eyes show golden flakes, like those of another dwarf Filbert has met.
''Honored One."
Vollmar holds his right fist over his chest.
"You are here to see my gold-giver?"

Unless Filbert has a different plan, Vollmar will take him to meet with Domenica.

[VAN]

"Hello again. Yes please I would like to meet her if she isn't busy."

[ewancummins]

"Hello again. Yes please I would like to meet her if she isn't busy."

Vollmar escorts the halfling to see his boss...



OOC-

VIEW CONTENT:

We will let Tarlyn do the next post for this continuing scene, I think.

[steveflam]

MIDDAY, AT BARILLIA AND ASSOCIATES


"Ah, Thank you Vollmar. Lord Filbert" she nods at the dwarf before turning to Filbert, even as Vollmar the dwarf exits the office.

"So, how fare you this fine cool morning, Filbert? I figure we can forego this tiresome etiquette and call each other by our names, no?"

She grins slyly and asks "How was your evening? Crowley has not come to see me as of yet?"

[ewancummins]

MIDDAY, AT BARILLIA AND ASSOCIATES


"Ah, Thank you Vollmar. Lord Filbert" she nods at the dwarf before turning to Filbert, even as Vollmar the dwarf exits the office.

"So, how fare you this fine cool morning, Filbert? I figure we can forego this tiresome etiquette and call each other by our names, no?"

She grins slyly and asks "How was your evening? Crowley has not come to see me as of yet?"

The Gimp hangs about in the shadowy rear part of the office, watching Filbert as the Halfling talks with Dominica.
He wears that same armored jack, leather with studs or rivets visible, he had on last time Filbert saw him.
The lank-haired, hollow-eyed man opens his mouth and emits a soft, wordless moan.
Then he retreats further into the shadows, eyes still watching Filbert.

[VAN]

"Of course we can drop the etiquette, I'm not fond of it anyway just keep it when we are in pubblic. Crowley didn't return yet? That's weird we both left the other inn same time. He did a really nice job there, he does know hid job. Thank you for giving him to me."

Filbert fills Dominica what happened yesterday including the strange cat.

"I'm not a wizard but I didn't like this cat, maybe was a coincidence but it seems to have showed the guard where were we in the cellar and I think it might followed me yesterday but I maybe I'm overeacting. Anyway I need your help one more time. The leader of the group said he will ask for me around before letting me in. I need him to find something, for my alterego Perry of course. Not much but maybe an arrest for burglery, something that can convince them that I'm like them. Maybe having someone in a guild will help us to find out the conspiracy."

Pointing Gimp's armor he adds:

"And can you get me an armor like this? A light one so will not cause movement problems if possible. I need to be agile if I want to be in that guild. Of course you will be paid for that."

[alhoon]

Termelan, Safana

After asking Safana whether she will help in the contest the next day or not, Termelan looking queasy, touched Ben's hand to get his attention. "I don't feel well. No offense to the establishment, but I think I may have food poisoning. Itchy in the inside, aches" he says making a grimace. "Can you lend me some help please? I would really hate to lose the contest tomorrow..."