Café de Nuit

at the Sign of the Two Goats....

The Goats stands along the Drover's Way, in the west end of town. The pub is a two storey rectangular building fronting the street, with a rubble filled lot behind it. One gets the impression the original structure was much larger and more impressive, but centuries of neglect and abandonment have taken their toll on the former glory of the place [indeed, much of the city of Pont-a-Museau seems like this, as if the busy activity of the inhabitants is only postponing a final collapse into ruin]. The facade of the pub is decorated with mismatched bits of sculpted stone, marble gargoyles and smiling girls, all worn and weathered by centuries of rain and wind. Above the door to the left, hangs a handpainted wooden sign. Two goats are depicted thereon, butting heads. The tin lantern hanging next to the door is unlit. The the shutters fitted to the green glass windows are wide opened. Sounds of carousing, singing,etc
emanate from inside.

The interior is one large room, with a back doorway leading to what is presumably the kitchen[ a serving girl is coming out with a plate of fried fish and earth apples]. A long bar stands against the back wall. Behind it hang racks of wine bottles, kegs of ale and small beer, and rows of wooden mugs sitting on shelves. Tables and chairs are scattered about the room. The place is busy, but there are a couple of table free. The west end[ to the left as you enter] of the room is dominated by a big brick fireplace, but no fire burns there at this time.

A serving wench takes your orders. The prices are pretty reasonable, but the selection is rather limited. Ragout is the special of the day. The selection of booze is decent, but not impressive. Most of the drinks offered are locally brewed proucts.

The Streets of the River Quarter-

Alain circulates through the dives, winesinks, and pawnshops of the River Quarter, His sources there readily confirm that Van Diecks is known to be a bully and a criminal.

"Well this is my first time in here sir and I hear your ladies are some of the finest in Richemulot. I am...Alanik. Pleased to meet you. I would like to browse you women, and be assured I have gold to spend."

Jonathan puts a silver in the mans hand while they shake as a tip. Though Norzak is nearby, Jonathan does not act as if he knows the dwarf, though he keeps a peeled eye in case of trouble. As Jonathan scans the room, he keeps looking back on the red haired girls, looking for any obvious signs of injury. It almost borders on staring.

"The special will do nicely," Bennedict smiles at the serving wench. "And I find myself in a mood for a glass of wine. Care to join me, herren? Anything you recommend, Fraulein?"

Norzak enters after Jon. He looks around, especially at the ladies. He isn't as open about staring at the ladies as Jon is. He is clothed as a dwarf with a normal looking tunic and pantaloons. He has an eye patch and wears a bandana for headgear.

When he is approached by the host/hostess he speaks out. "Ye got any midgets? I's a fancy fer two if'n ye gots some." He hands the hostess a few silver coins. He catches Jon's eye and winks slyly so only the youth sees it.

Dorgio gives the waitress a crooked grin. "Yes, I'll be having the same."

Then, turning to Cirdan, he says, "Now my friend, we really must be hearing about your visit back home. Six months you said had passed for you? What occured?"

at the Lorelei:

The man smiles when he feels the coin pressed into his extended palm.

''M'sieur Alanik, I am sure we will be able to accomodate your desires.''

He motions towards the room full of women.

''Take your pick, m'sieur. ''

Several of the women smile at Jonathon, and one middle aged doxy blows him a kiss. A plump girl with curly raven tresses and a beauty mark on her left cheek leans forward and licks her lips suggestively. A redheaded beauty on the stairs makes eyes at him from behind her black silk fan.

The man turns his attention to Norzak.


''Midgets you say? No, I'm afraid you will need a speciality house for things like that. Well, let me think....ah, yes, Marie is our shortest girl. She'll coast extra, because she's still fresh and new. You understand?''

The man laughs loudly. He shouts out,

''Marie, you little fool, come over here and let the gentleman have a look at you!''


A brunette girl comes over. She is only a few inches taller than Norzak, skinny, and looks younger than Evie. The girl's eyes go wide with fear and she bites her lip when she sees the fearsome one-eyed dwarf standing in front of her. Her cheap low cut gown seems maybe a size too large for her. She's wearing thick white makeup, but one can see the ghost of a bruise beneath it, under her left eye, which is a little bit puffy.


''Marie, it's time you started earning your keep. Why don't you take this fellow to a room and make his acquaintance, eh?''



Marie's response is to nod dumbly and curtsey towards the dwarf.
In a small voice she says,

''I hope...euh...I hope...that m'sieur finds me...euh...pleasing.''

at the Sign of the Two Goats-

The serving wench recommends the ragout or the onion soup. She gives you all a curious look just after she takes your orders and leaves to bring back food and drink.

Norzak definitely notices the bruises and makes eye contact with Jon with a nod. Hoping the lad understands, he speaks to the young lady. "Ye'll do fine lassie, yes fine indeed! Lead me on." He slips the man two gold coins and takes Marie gently by the arm. On the exterior he was all smiles, but inside he was fuming at having seen the bruises. If that dolt was responsible for the bruises, he was in for a very nasty awakening.

tarlyn wrote:Norzak definitely notices the bruises and makes eye contact with Jon with a nod. Hoping the lad understands, he speaks to the young lady. "Ye'll do fine lassie, yes fine indeed! Lead me on." He slips the man two gold coins and takes Marie gently by the arm. On the exterior he was all smiles, but inside he was fuming at having seen the bruises. If that dolt was responsible for the bruises, he was in for a very nasty awakening.

Marie, her arm trembling in Norzak's grip, walks on across the room and up the stairs with him. She leads him to a doorway, pushes it open, and steps inside.

The room is mall, maybe twenty feet by fifteen feet with a low ceiling. A single window admits light and fresh air from outside. A sagging wooden bed with a dark colored matress is shoved up against the wall near the window. The room also contains a small armoire, a chamberpot, and a round mirror the size of a buckler that hangs on the wall to the right of the door. The wall paper is peeling away in places, and the threadbare rug on the floor has certainly seen better days.

Marie moves to take Norzak's coat.

"Missy. Sit on the bed with me. I's not gonna hurt ye, ye unnerstand?" He tells Marie in a soothing voice. He takes her hand and leads her to the bed. He lets her sit before standing. Moving to the door he leans against it and smiles at her, removing his eye patch. He looks at the young girl and winks at her, putting his finger to his lips.

Speaking in a low voice to her he asks "Is yer name really Marie? I won't harm ye, I give ye me word of honor. Yer safe with me lassie." Norzak reaches into his pouch and removes a similar package he gave Jon. "This 'ere is some food. I bet yer hungry. Here ye kin have it. I just want to ask you some questions, if that's okay with ye lassie." He holds the package in front of him and moves over to the young trembling girl, handing it to her. "It ain' much, but it'll hit the spot."

Norzak looks at her with compassion, his eyes on hers. Still in a low voice "I's not blind. I kin see ye've some bruises. I herd bout this place is all ye need to know. Now I just want ye to tell me the truth about them bruises, okay? Is that man downstairs doin' that to ye an tha other girls here?" The dwarf is actually very calm and gentle with the young girl.

Jonathan moves past some of the other girls walking up the stairs to the red headed beauty. Jonathan, equally comely, seemed almost a sibling to the woman with his matching curling locks.

"My dear," Jonathan says taking the woman by the hand and delivering a hot kiss to the inside of her wrist. "As soon as I set eyes upon you I knew my evening was going to be a very long and...exhausting."

Jonathan turns to the pimp and asks for a room. As They climb the stair Jonathn begins to wonder just what he plans to do with this woman once they were alone. After all, he was still a boy at heart. And how to question her of Van Dieks? Jonathan cursed himself silently for not asking Norzak more. His eyes however, could not leave the backside of the woman as the pimp led on to the room.

tarlyn wrote:
Norzak looks at her with compassion, his eyes on hers. Still in a low voice "I's not blind. I kin see ye've some bruises. I herd bout this place is all ye need to know. Now I just want ye to tell me the truth about them bruises, okay? Is that man downstairs doin' that to ye an tha other girls here?" The dwarf is actually very calm and gentle with the young girl.

The girl ceases to tremble and calms herself.

''Yes, m'sieur, Marie is my true name. It wasn't Louis who did this- it was M'sieur Van Diecks. He's the Patron. He...I made him angry. Sometimes he hits the girls when he is angry. It's better to do what he wants. He's very cruel!''

Maries begins to cry softly.

''M'sieur nain, won't you take me away from this place and bring me home to my papa and maman? ''

at the Goats-


Five men in long coats stride into the place as if they owned it. They take up seats near the door. As they sit down , anyone of you who is looking may glimpse swords and pistols worn under the dusters of at least two of the men. These strangers seem very much interested in your party. They are watching you, and not trying to be overly subtle about it.

The girl ceases to tremble and calms herself.

''Yes, m'sieur, Marie is my true name. It wasn't Louis who did this- it was M'sieur Van Diecks. He's the Patron. He...I made him angry. Sometimes he hits the girls when he is angry. It's better to do what he wants. He's very cruel!''

Maries begins to cry softly.

''M'sieur nain, won't you take me away from this place and bring me home to my papa and maman? ''

Norzak is pleased with how Marie reacted. The information is even better and what he suspected. "Kin ye tell me where I kinna find this Van Deeks fella? As to bringing you back to yer ma n da, where is it yer live?"