Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Two

JMaytr · Post by **JMaytr** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:07 pm

Jonathan takes a bite of his food and makes a face as the hot bird hits his tongue. He washes the bite down with some ale.

"Well I am pleased to meet you Norzak and Dorgio. Times can be quite trying without friendly faces to share conversations with." Jonathan takes another bite of his food. "Talents? When I hunted with...my father I often acted as a scout of sorts. I'd sneak up, see what was happening, and report back. I can get close to things quietly. There's practically no one or no thing that can see or hear me if I don't want them to. Helps with catching the rats below. And I'm pretty good with this,"

Jonathan produces a wicked looking knife from his belt, quite fast in fact, and twists it in the air as if to accentuate his skill. Then he puts the silver blade back, his fingers lingering comfortably on the raven clawed handle.

"That is, when trouble arises I can handle myself. Worse things below than rats."

steveflam · Post by **steveflam** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:14 pm

"I's a be liking yer style. Ye got moxie, bub! Meet us tomorrow at our office" Norzak gives Jonathan the address " 'n' we kin fin' yer somethin ta do!" He nudges Dorgio under the table with his foot. "Whut yer thinkin about that, Dorgio?"

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:52 am

"Certainly you may, and again my profuse apologies that my associates forced the issue to escalate this far. But if you know these men to be trouble, then you know why we must operate to extremes." He unfastens the man's bindings.

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:37 am

Cirdan has watched as Ben has questioned the man.

Now, free of all pressure, he gives the man a friendly smile.

"By my ancestory and the honor of my life, I swear I will protect you from any harm, Sir."

He then takes out his purse and begins to count. Half of the money he then puts back, but the other half of the he puts into another small silken bag.
The coins are golden, with a skull on one, and a cross on the other side.

"Take this, for all the pain and fear I have caused you. But be careful with whom you spend it. - These coins are rather rare for these lands, and people might be able to redirect them to me."

Cirdan then will take up the monk robe and the false beard again.

"As my friend Ben said, I'll escort you, if that is your wish."

Brock Marsh Runoff · Post by **Brock Marsh Runoff** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:47 am

tarlyn wrote:Them's peoples I've harmed or killeded deserved it, ye canna deny.

"There are men who are deserving to die. But sometimes with our actions, we turn those who do not deserve to die into those who do. Let us hope we have not done that to the man at the gallows."

tarlyn wrote:'N' now 'is lil missy gonna marry tha elf. I don' get that, but then again I'm a middle aged dwarf in a 'uman land!"

He comes out of his burgeoning stupor a little at this. "That is reminding me. Time, does it pass differently in Darkon? Cirdan, he thinks he has been gone half a year."

When Norzak engages the stranger, Dorgio listens attentively, and cocks his head quizzically when Jonathan nearly mentions a "doctor."

tarlyn wrote:"Whut yer thinkin about that, Dorgio?"

He nods. "Wouldn't be a bad at all. It is being a pleasure to meet you, Jonathan." He takes another swig, then grins slightly. "So, Mordentshire, eh? I am wondering if you've worked with the Weathermay girls. I've been searching for their latest volume. They seem like, ah, how does one put it, interesting women."

JMaytr · Post by **JMaytr** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:33 pm

For a flash of a moment Jonathans demeanor seems to darken, but that could be a trick of the tavern light. A large smile crosses the youths face.

"The only Weathermays I've heard about are lunatics. People about town always poked fun at the women saying they were obsessed with child stories of ghosts and witches and walking corpses. Bah! There are monsters in the world I assure you, but they usually wear human faces. After all, 'twasn't boogymen that orphaned me."

Jonathan stares into his ale for a moment.

"Forgive my outburst friends. I often forget how strong dwarven ale can be, and how it can shift ones mood quickly. We humans aren't as long lived as your bretheren sir Norzak, and lack the worldly experience to manage our moods and spirits simultaniously...well at least I do." He lets out a drunken laugh. "An answer to your question Dorgio, I have never worked with the crazy Weathermay girls, let alone read tales they may have penned. I am sorry to be no help there. My...father never felt it important to see to a formal education. Perhaps if he had..."

Jonathan trails off, his voice growing qiuet as he finishes. He seems like he is lost in thought for a moment. Then his eyes stop tearing up and grow hard.

"Whew! This is a fine night indeed! Good spirits, new friends! What more can a lad ask for? Ha Ha. Perhaps I should begin a round of water?" Jonathan swallows hard, then stands up. "This head of mine is swimming. I think I shall retire for the night, early call below catching those bugger rats. Thank you for the invite to your office friends, I shall take you up on your offer. Perhaps when my tongue is not so loose and my wits not so dull from ale I will be enjoyable company. Good night sirs."

Jonathan bows then staggers towards the door of the bar. He stops for a minute and bends over to pick up somthing from the ground. He puts the object into his belt pouch then walks out of the bar.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:56 pm

Rafael wrote:
"As my friend Ben said, I'll escort you, if that is your wish."

''Euh...if it is all the same to you, I'd rather go on alone, monsieur.''

The man rubs his wrists and ankles for a moment, then stuffs the coins deep inside his coat and edges towards the doorway.

''I won't be any trouble to you with the law, I swear. I'm going home now, and will be out of town by noon tomorrow. I just need to get my family gathered up and ready to go. I'll tell people my wife's mother is very ill, and we've all gone to visit her. Alright then, I'm leaving now.''

The man walks backwards to the door, with slow and cautious steps. He never takes his eyes of Cirdan's hands. As soon as he exits, he turns and begins running away into the night.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:03 pm

Noon, the next day, at the office-

All of you have had a chance to sleep a full eight or nine hours, eat breakfast, and prepare for the day. The day's work has just begun in earnest.

It's cooler out today than it was yesterday. The air smells of dead leaves and faded flowers. The weather is partly cloudy, with gusts of strong wind sweeping unpredictably across the city. A man had best keep one hand on his hat on a day like this.

Someone knocks on the office door...

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:35 pm

Bennedict has been awake for several hours, turning the broken remnants of his walking stick over in his hands with a thoughtful expression on his face. Am I jumping at shadows, he thinks? It is possible that all of these strange things are unrelated. Malruex and this new Van Deicks person, the strange costumes in the warehouse, the artifacts, my passing out at dinner with Madame Rennier, and Herr Cirdan's bizarre lack of chronology. Certainly they could be. But do I really believe it? No. Hell no. Something else is going on here.

Suddenly there is a knock at the door. Puzzled, he sets his walking stick back on the desk and goes to answer it.

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:07 pm

Cirdan has performed his morning routine with the sword, in full armor, and, still sweating turns to the door as well...

steveflam · Post by **steveflam** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:05 pm

Norzak rouses from his ale induced slumber when he hears the knock on the door to the office. He rises slowly and gathers his weapons. HE hides his daggers as always. He moves to the door and opens it and spies the others. He shrugs and walks up to the door, but doesn't open it. Instead he stands to the side of the door and asks in a loud voice "Who is it?" His hand never wavers very far from his short sword.

Brock Marsh Runoff · Post by **Brock Marsh Runoff** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:47 pm

Dorgio had awakened with the dawn, as he had been trained to. He'd been awake, yes, but perhaps not at his most cogent, owing to the previous night's drink. Still, he'd steadied himself and had recited his morning hymn.

Thank you for giving
This bright new morning
So steeped seemed the evening
In darkness and blood
There'll be no sadness
There'll be no sorrow
There'll be no road too narrow
There'll be a new day
And it's today
For us

After that, he'd alerted Benn, Cirdan, and Alain about the coming visitor.

Now, he sits in the common room, and has Norzak asks after the knocker, he leans forward, hoping it's Maytr and not one of the Van Diecks boys.

JMaytr · Post by **JMaytr** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:47 pm

Jonathan breathes deeply as he approaches the door. He checks his clothes to make sure that he's decent looking in appearence, puts a hand to his mouth, exhales and smells his breath. He scrunches up his nose at the thick liquor smell.

Jonathan takes another breath and knocks on the door to Dorgio and Norzaks office.

"Alright Jonathan. You can do this." He whispered to himself before the door opens.

Le Noir Faineant · Post by **Le Noir Faineant** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:01 pm

Cirdan will be the first on the door, and open it:

"How can I assist you, Sir?"

steveflam · Post by **steveflam** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:08 pm

"Oi 'iss Jonathan from lass nite! C'min laddie! Elf, 'es awright. We meeted 'im lass nite. 'E hunts rats 'n' other stuff in tha sewers. Thought 'e might be a useful addition to our ragtag bunch. Dorgio metted 'im too." Norzak moves forward and shakes Jonathan's hand and leads him in. "Dun be so nervous, Jon. We's good peoples. This here is Cirdan. Thass Benn 'n' thass Alain. Everyone, this is Jon. Hey Jon, tell em about yerself. Cmon have a seat n relax."

Café de Nuit

Welcome, friends, to our establishment.

Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Two