The small figure approached the city gates from the west, straight out of the dying rays of the setting sun. It looked a bit waifish, short and slender, most likely young, and very alone. That was about all the guards could tell while looking from their posts.

The figure's light steps slowed and stopped as the guard lieutenant strode to meet it at the open gate. There wasn't really much to see, small leather boots, hide trews and jerkin, a nice enough cloak of some naturalish hue ... it was hard to tell in this half-light with the sun in his eyes. The last ray flared and the lieutenant caught a glimpse of delicate feminine features and a pair of striking, tho strangely haunted, jade green eyes.

The lieutenant cleared his throat. "Greetings, miss. You okay?"

A nod.

The guards at the post lit torches as a fine mist began to drizzle down. Loud voices came from the nearby Prancing Pony Inn. Spring thaw had come early this year and the place was packed with traders ... and thieves. "You have business in town?"

Another nod.

The lieutenant contemplated this. She couldn't be much more than nineteen at the most and she certainly didn't look dangerous. "You know anyone here? A little thing like you shouldn't be going around town alone. 'Specially not at night."

Jada wondered what the human would say if he knew she had truly come from the northeast ... from the Forest of Sorrows, that haunted place of strange storms and winds in which human legend said travellers disappeared to the cries of Elven laments. "I am meeting a friend. May I pass?"

The lieutenant was almost taken by surprise as the low lilting voice emerged from her shadowy hood. "Uh, sure. Just make sure you follow the laws ...." The figure was already gliding past him, so silent in its stride he heard nary a whisper of sound. "Uh, hope you find your friend ...."

Rugo. Her friend. The Halfling was her only friend. Jade green eyes scanned the damp streets and buildings in trepidation. As a Wood Elf she had lived her entire 227 years in the forests of the Elves. She'd never been in a human town before. Her delicate nose wrinkled at the smell. Slender fingers trembled slightly. Everything in her being urged her back to the woods she knew and loved. Instead she walked softly and leaned against a tree, a small slender form barely visible in the torchlight.

She thought of Rugo. Dear, laughing-eyed Rugo. He had come to Archfield three days ago to discreetly inquire about a mercenary for their needs. Someone reliable, he had said. Someone honorable and experienced to guide them thru these strange Human lands and into the dangerous south. Someone to follow the footsteps of Jada's father right up to the point where he disappeared.

OOC: Sent to the GM by Kelvar, posted with permission.

The public area of the inn was fairly crowded, the air heavy with smoke and smells (some more pleasant than others, there are few things like the smell of a wet dwarf drying out by a fire). All of the tables were filled with drinkers , the more open tables had happy social drinkers while the corner tables and those in the shadows at the back were occupied by a morose solitary drinker or by groups huddled deep in conversation, conspiracy and other nefarious plans. Malic was the exception, seated at a medium sized table, its surface deeply scared with years of knives, fights, dropped plates and childish engraving, he was alone in the open busy portion of the bar.

A medium tall man, he wears his long hair drawn back into a ponytail with a silver clasp, clad in a tabard whose Wolf head symbol is familiar to those in military circles as that of the infamous "Wolf Pack" Mercenary regiment. A pair of matching shortswords hang from his belt and an unstrung bow leans against the table.

As the Halfling approached Malic looked up "Good day to you...Rugo" Malic smiled at the Halflings surprise "You seek one with the skills to lead, a small group I believe? There are only so many around with such talents, and I prefer to keep my eyes and ears on them and those who seek them." Raising his tankard of ale he gestured "May I get you a drink? Negotiations can be such thirsty work." Malic gestured across the bar and a serving girl began working her way towards them.

Suddenly Malic moved like lightning, twisting his body his hand shot out to grasp the wrist of a passerby. The hand attached to the wrist was still inside Malic's money purse holding several coins, with a single swift blow Malic broke the arm, the sound of the bone snapping stopped the talk around him instantly. The owner of the hand, a rat faced little fellow collapsed to the floor screaming in pain, Malic carefully placed an armoured boot across the mans throat and spoke.

"You really are a foolish little man aren't you, the Eagle can spot a mouse from a mountain top, why did you think you could rob ME without me noticing eh ?" With a final twist of the thief's broken arm Malic pulled the offending hand from his purse, the coins still in the hand fell to floor as Malic released his vice like grip from the unfortunate would-be pickpocket. The coins, a couple of silver and some copper - not even a gold's worth lay on the floor around the writhing man, looking down Malic spoke again "You may keep the coins, I guess you've 'earned' them"

Scrabbling one handed for the coins the rat faced man staggered off away from Malic. At no point during the exchange had Malic's expression changed, while breaking the man's arm he had seem as calm and self assured as he had earlier when drinking his ale alone.

"Now where were we...."

Rugo was nervous. He was out of place in the tavern, full of loud, noisy drinkers. Looking around, he wondered where he was supposed to meet this mercenary.

A stranger greeted him, "Good day to you...Rugo."

Rugo was taken back, but recovered quickly, he did not want to show the human that he was surprised he knew his name. The human gestered for the serving girl to come for his drink.

"Thank you.. Mr. Malic, I presume. Water, please," Rugo told the serving girl quietly, quietly.

As he waited for the girl to get his drink, a seemingly harmless man walked by them. Quick as a flash, the mercenary grabbed the man's wrist. Rugo saw with surprise it contained the mercenary's wallet. Rugo hugged his two large bags of gold tighter. The next thing, shocked Rugo. He broke the theif's arm and let him keep the money. Rugo was aghast with the horror of it, though he tried not to show it.

"This mercenary is too violent, I don't like him and I'm guessing Jada won't either. But if what the town says is true, he is the only one who can guide us there" Rugo thought.

Sighing, as if making a descision, Rugo told the mercenary, " Listen, we need you, I'm willing to pay you a large amount of gold, you get to pick out the party going with us, around four should be enough, and you may command them as you wish. However, I only give you half the gold at the start, if you complete the task, I give you the other half. Deal?"

Rugo waited anxiously for the mercenary's reply. He had never been good at negotiating.

Ariana walked into the city, after a ten-minutes discussion with the stupid guard on the gate. For some reason everyone would look at a woman with a sword with some kind of machist prejudice.

No mater, she wouldn`t let a single chance to show her sword and armour pass. She was looking for a job, and she knew she wouldn`t get it by wearing a nice dress and flowers in her hair.

Her last mission had been a partial sucess. She had escorted the mage without problems , graciously rejecting his grotesque love proposals along the way with the treat of her blade and delicate phrases such as "Not in this life" or "Over my dead body". Finnaly they reached Sunhame.

It was there, that she realised the mage had done something far worse than "Annoying" the thieve`s guild. After foiling two attemts on his life, they finnaly reached the mage`s destination. Big surprise, it turned out the mage didn`t have as much money as he had promised. After treatening him with disecting him in his own lab, he maneged to calm Ariana by offering her several scrolls and a suposedly magical book she could sell besides the money he DID have. It was probably just junk, but it was better than getting only half of her payment. Tough she DID consider disecting the mage, who hurried to hide the knives and scisors he used to study small animals.

She stoped on the blaksmith to get her sword sharpened and to buy some of those arrows with metal tips she had heard so much about. Her next stop would be the prancing pony. If anyone could manege to sell the mage`s junk, it would be farman. She never understood completely what did he do with the items she brought from her adventures, but he had a special talent at turning them into money.

The tall Druid marched purposefully down the street, head high and eyes straight ahead. He made a point of tapping the ground lightly with his staff at every other stride, just in case someone didn't hear him coming. Normally of course, as an Elf he'd have kept a much lower profile in a Human town, but sometimes that wasn't possible. Such as in a crowded marketplace like this. In those cases, he'd found it best to draw as much attention to himself as possible. The Guard he knew might not hesitate to harass in in private, but Archfield was still technically an Open City and they were under official orders to maintain it as such. They wouldn't wish to be caught violating those orders in public, especially not with anyone important. And of course, knowing little of how Elven society actually worked, they were inclined to assume that anyone who looked and acted important was. It was a false impression that in his case Wahan made few efforts to dispel.

Ahead he spied the sign that marked his destination and sighed silently to himself. Dinglebarb's Apothecary it proclaimed in bright purple letters on a green and red background. And below that Herbs & Potions in gold script. It seemed to get more garish every year.

Ducking under the low door he entered the small shop, a tinkling bell somewhere announcing his presence as a little man in an outlandish costume bustled out to meet him.

"A customer! A customer! To my hunble shop welcome are you! Equal there is none in fine gnomish... oh... it's you."

"Yes, it's me. Who were you expecting, the Justiciar?"

Leaning his staff carefully against the door jamb, he walked past the shelves of ready made tinctures and worthless trinkets, toward the dusty counter in the back where Ding kept his "special" reserve. The staff would be safe enough, any theif who was foolish enogh to grab it was in for a nasty surprise, but some of the distallates on display had a tendency to be unstable, and reacted rather badly to its aura. Messy badly.

"Know you never. A customer best he is."

"I imagine. Comes in regularly for his bribe to look the other way no doubt."

"Not true! Not true! An honest gnome I am."

Wahan scoffed at the protest. "For a Halfling. One of these days the Cor out there will find you out. If you weren't the only herbalist in town that carried stone cut tor'prega I'd tell them myself."

"Believe you they would not." replied Ding, crossing his arms. Then added with a sly wink. "They like Gnomes here. They don't like Elves. Besides half of them already know, but come here anyway to impress their friends."

It was the familiar sparring of two old friends of course. The fact was, tor'prega was not the only thing Ding had in his stock. He had connections with the best Halfling growers, as well as with traders coming up from the South. He was also one of the few apothecaries in Archfield that bought and sold dried herbs and not just prepared decoctions and tisanes. Wahan prefered to prepare his own; properly done they were often more effacasious as well as a good deal less expensive.

"I need some andrianarra, fresh if possible."

"Fresh it is not, but six the measure in silver shall it cost anyway." Ding answered, reverting to his gnomish character.

"Six? It was four and eight last year for fresh. Why the rise."

"War to the South comes, caravans have there been none."

"War comes to the South every year. What's different this time? No matter, I have three myrim tappa shucks taken on the Soltice for trade."

"Mummy's Wrap? Don't get much of that. I won't ask how you got them. Give you ... five and four each."

"Trade staright up for four measures of ann?"

"Done." Ding reached for the measure. "In silk, I suppose? For you, no charge."

[This message has been edited by ChowGuy (edited 08-23-2002 @ 11:11 AM).]

Thrax burst into the Prancing Pony, approaching the only person there he knew. The vision was still to clear in his mind, and he knew it would happen within the next week at teh very least. Such a vivid premonition was never close, the fates seemed to enjoy teasing him, seeing how close he would some to danger. But this was no ordinary vision for the first time, there had been intelligable words, not just meanings. There was definately *something* loose. The vision showed that. He sidles through the drunken crowd, getting beer sprayed all over him by intoxicated soldier's drink.
"You're lucky I'm in a hurry this time " He says under his breath. The soldier doesn't seem to hear him, and if he does, he couldn't tell one fist from another in his current condition.
"I'm looking for a a halfling named Rugo." Thrax says as he aproaches Farman, the barkeep. "Where is he?" He says, his eyes glinting with fire, and he slams 4 gold coins down in front of him.
"There - I've paid in advance. Bottle of brandy, thanks. " Thrax seems to calm down a bit.
Farman reach's under the bench and brings out a bottle of brandy, and Thrax snatches it and starts drinking. "Now, wheres the halfling?" He says.
"You don't go getting into any fights, y'hear me? I've got a lot of paying customer's here tonight." Farman says.
"I don't want to kill the halfling, quite the opposite. Are you going to tell me or do I have to find him myself?"
Farman nods and points out Rugo, the looking out of place in the human tavern.
Thrax takes the bottle with him and heads towards Rugo who is talking to a dangerous mercenary, one who just broke the arm of a pickpocket, then let him go with the money. 'That's no ordinary mercenary. I wonder what he's doing with Rugo?' Thrax think's.
"Hello. You don't know me, and I hardly know anything of you, besides your name - Rugo. " Thrax bursts in rather rudely on their conversation. "My name is Thrax te Selin. Mage for hire. No questions asked."

Jada watched as a nervous looking human almost took the wooden door off its hinges getting into the large building where most of the noise was coming from. The building had a very rough carving of a small high-stepping pony out front. Rugo had told her to look for this sign and wait for him outside. She wondered what was taking her friend so long. Another outburst of rather raucous noise came from the building. Never in her worst nightmares would she have given the grating sound the optimistic designation of song.

Sighing softly she glanced above her. The tree was a rather large fir, fairly tall, with several suitable branchs. With an economy of movement that bespoke of her Wood Elf heritage, she appeared almost to flow up the tree, barely disturbing even a single needle in passing. There, that branch would do nicely. Jada settled in with a good view of the building, the city gate, and the street which curved past both. Comfortable at last, she rearranged her sheathed long sword in its place behind her right shoulder where it had been concealed by her cloak. From the other shoulder she removed her composite bow, balancing it across her lap. An inner seam of the cloak produced a couple of arrow shafts, while another pocket brought forth a small knife, twine, a tiny jar and several feathers. Feeling much more at ease, Jada contently set about fletching the arrows while she waited for Rugo.

[This message has been edited by Kaji (edited 08-22-2002 @ 03:41 AM).]

The halfling looked a little shocked at the incident with the pick pocket *what did he expect? that I'd pat the theiving toe rag on the head and send him on his way ?*

Smiling reassuringly at the Halfling (hopefully) Malic spoke "your arrangements are satisfactory, I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of puting the word out that I may need a few likely lads. This inn is a good spot and we shall see what comes in.
"Don't fret, whatever you mission we will do our best to complete it for you....come what may."

Malic looked up as the tall figure approached their table and burst out with "Hello. You don't know me, and I hardly know anything of you, besides your name - Rugo. "
"My name is Thrax te Selin. Mage for hire. No questions asked."

Malic sat back in his chair looking up the figure, his probing gaze ran up and down the cloaked figure. Noding to Rugo he commented "He'll do for a start"
To Thrax he spoke "we are expecting a few more, I only have the one speech and I dont like repeating myself. So when the others are hear I'll give it to you all together".
He sounded a bit harsh but he'd given the same speach numerous times and effective as it was he personally was sick of listening to it.
He smiled in welcome "grab a seat,have a drink and while we wait for others to arrive tell us a bit about yourself and what you can bring to our little group"

Arianna headed right for the Prancing Pony after she was done with the blaksmith. She noticed a cloaked woman staring at the wooden sign on top of the door. Then she started walking to the nearest tree and climbed it over with impressive speed.

She remained puzzled as to what that meant, but in any case it didn`t affect her in any way. If the local madmen wanted to climb the trees, then good for them.

She entered the the tavern, and had to avoid geting near a group of drunken soldiers. Upon seing her Farman left his post, and greeted her. They sat on a table on a corner.

"Arianna!! Welcome my dear, it`s been quite a while this time. How did it go ?"

"I think it`s the last time i take a job you get me into . Not only was the mage a pervert, he wasn`t rich either. I got only half my payment and THIS" with a loud noise, she put the mass of scrolls and the book on the table. "Do you think you will be able to sell it ?"

"It`s difficult to tell... Im not a mage either. In any case, there have been a lot of mages around lately. Or i could ask in the local shop, but im sure they`ll try to take advantage. I think ill try with the mages around first. " He carefully examined the book, as if he expected something to come out from it and devour him. Then he lifted his eyes. "It`s good to see you. Do you still feel like going on with your idea ? You could lead a quite decent life with the money you made up to now."

"You know that`s not what i want, we have already discussed it. It`s not enough yet. I only need to make a few more jobs and i will be ready." She scaned the room as if sudenly searching for something. "I was just kiding about not taking more jobs from you. Is there anything for me?"

"Haha i knew it!. Yep, that group over there. The mercenary is Malic `The eagleŽ " I think you heard about him. That mage has just joined, and i think the halfling is in it as well.

"Well, at least i`ve heard he is no pervert, so ill take it this time" she said with a smile.

Standing up, she headed for their table.

"Greetings, I am Arianna. I am skilled with arrows, as well as the arts of swordfighting. I heard there is business to be had around here, so i wanted to know if i might get into them as well."

"Your arrangements are satisfactory, I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of puting the word out that I may need a few likely lads. This inn is a good spot and we shall see what comes in," the mercenary told Rugo.

As if on cue, a tall man walked up to the table.

"Hello. You don't know me, and I hardly know anything of you, besides your name - Rugo. "

"My name is Thrax te Selin. Mage for hire. No questions asked."

The mercenary told him to sit down, and tell them about himself.

"Greetings, I am Arianna. I am skilled with arrows, as well as the arts of swordfighting. I heard there is business to be had around here, so i wanted to know if i might get into them as well," a woman had come over to the table, she looked like a fierce warrior.

"Please sit down and join us, Ms. Arianna," Rugo was about to say, and then checked himself. It was not his job to pick the party, that was Malic's.

"You better ask Mr. Malic there, Ms. Arianna" Rugo nodded in the mercenary's direction, "he's in charge of picking the party.

[This message has been edited by mebored (edited 08-22-2002 @ 11:05 AM).]

Once more Malic turned to the new arrival, looking her up and down, there was nothing lurid about his gaze, just an inspection.
"Bow, sword both look well cared for, armour looks good , well used despite having just gotten into town. The barman obviously knows and trusts you...welcome to our group. We really need one or two more for a rounded group so let us see who else is in need of employment"

The moon rose silently over the town, waxing almost to full, outline blurred by the drizzling mist. Sheltered by the denser upper branchs of the tree, Jada didn't mind the drizzle, but she was beginning to mind the wait. A half-dozen new arrows were fletched and tipped, and Rugo still had not come. She had watched while several Humanish types entered and left the building. No Halfling had appeared. What if her friend had run into trouble among the barbarians? Small white teeth gnawed her lower lip. No. Rugo was a surprisingly good fighter when forced to it, more so since most underestimated him for his size. Still, the worry nagged at her. Compressing her lips together, Jada placed the arrows in her quiver, adjusted the sword so it hung at her hip and replaced the bow on her shoulder. She would give Rugo until the moon rose over one more branch. Then she was going in.

**meanwhile, in the Prancing Pony's Common Room**

Gina, a buxom brunette in her mid-twenties, delivered a pitcher of ale to the table while managing a saucy wink in Thrax's direction. She knew better than to try with Malic, one direct and rather pointed rebuff a while back had been enough. "On the house," Gina informed them with a nod toward Farman. "Oh, and another water for our big drinker here." She leaned over between Ariana and Thrax to place the mug in front Rugo. "I know who you are," she whispered huskily in Thrax's ear. She sent another wink Thrax's way and a tight little smile at Ariana before she turned to other, better tipping customers.

In the back area of the common room, with the stairs and a way to the back door within dashing distance, two brooding figures quaffed another swallow as they glared at the party. The two thieves had been watching the Halfling since he had come in the door. Their sources had told them this one had acquired a large sum of gold and guaranteed them that his obvious naivete would make him an easy mark. They had also witnessed the rather unfortunate incident with the pickpocket and the mercenary. That had given them something to think about, and they had spent the past hour reinforcing their courage with draughts of Farman's cheapest ale while the furthin' party grew. A pair of rather beefy looking lads in rusted chain had been rejected, as had a sloppy ex-guardsman with a rumored drinking problem. Still, two others had been accepted. Now there were two fighters and a mage (if what the barmaid claimed was true). Then again, they convinced themselves, no WOMAN could truly handle a sword, and everyone knew all mages were basically pansies. It was that eagle-eyed merc in the tabard that had them worried. What they needed was a distraction, the bigger the better.

[This message has been edited by Kaji (edited 08-23-2002 @ 01:14 AM).]

"I can aid you in many ways, but I'm going to come with you anyway." Thrax says, ignoring the winks from Gina. He may look young, but that's partly illusion.
"Probably the best way I can help you is..." Thrax leans in closer and speak's low, so no-one overhears. "Watch. I prefer not to advertise this in public, so I'll keep it discreet." Thrax holds out his hand and passes it over Rugo's cup of water. A small portion of the water lifts up and floats into an empty cup. "My magic deals with the realm of water. Watch." He passes his hand over the water and it goes a dark, sickly green. "An incredibly lethal poison. Kill anything smaller than a Giant in a manner of seconds if it gets inside their body." His hands passes back over the water and it clears instantly. "All better now. Enough of these parlour tricks. I can do much more than this." He lifts the small bit of water out of the glass, leaving it empty. "I also can do a bit of Illusion." The water, still hovering in the air, transforms into a 3cm long snake and drops to the table, splattering over the wood and leaving a watery stain. All of this didn't go over their heads and stayed well out of sight from the other drinkers.
"Don't worry, your drink is fine." Thrax says to Rugo. "I can purify water aswell as poison it, and theres nothing in that water there."

The door opened so cautiously that most patrons in the Prancing Pony never noticed. The slight, slender figure was barely discernable beneath the shadowing cloak and hood of an indeterminate color. Only the most observant eye would have caught the brief glimpse of feminine features as it entered. The figure froze, then proceeded warily to almost glide past the first patrons, high-strung tension subtley transmitted even in the lithe movement. Manuevering gracefully to avoid a wildly gesturing drunk brought the waif in range of the group of intoxicated soldiers. One of them reached out to snag the figure into his lap, and all hell broke loose.

For his efforts the soldier received a lightning quick elbow in the face and a firmly placed foot in the groin as the waif leaped from lap to tabletop without a sound. The hood of the cloak fell back to reveal the youthful delicate feminine features of a girl, with a long dark golden braid and the ears of an Elf. Wide jade green eyes quickly scanned the room and locked on her target. Small booted feet danced down the table, away from the reaching hands of the other soldiers. Agile as a cat, the girl leapt swiftly from table to table, disturbing not one item in her passing, altho the startled Humans and Dwarves she left in her wake more than made up for that. Drinks spilled and plates went flying as chairs crashed to the floor and pandemonium ensued.

A final leap and the woman-child landed lightly on the table in front of Rugo. Facing the others defiantly with curling wisps of hair framing her face, she looked for all the world like a bristling kitten, except for the twin boot daggers in her small hands and the slightly feral light in the gold-rimmed green eyes.

"Got worried about you Rugo," Jada said, rolling the 'r' slightly in her soft low lilt. "I waited where you said, but you wanted to go to the apothecary and it's getting late."

Seeing this distraction as their perfect opportunity, the two thieves stealthily moved in.

Rugo smiled up at his friend.

"Hello Jada, sorry I made you worry, but you're right I do need to go to the apothecary. But I am forgetting my manners! Jada, I would like you to meet Mr. Malic, Mr. Thrax, and Ms. Arianna," Rugo told Jada.

"And now, if I may excuse myself, while you pick out the party, Mr. Malic, I would like to go to the apothecary, and stock up on herbs. We can meet at..." It was then the theives struck.

Wahan still had a few purchases to make, but these would have to be paid for out of his coin purse. Human witches used the myrim tappa shucks to strain their poltices so there was a small but steady market for them, but they had little value to a healer. The rest of his stocks though were meager enough he couldn't afford to trade any away. It had been a hard winter, with hoarfrost more days then not, and snow - usually a rare thing in these climes - on several occassions. That had cut into the harvesting, but it had been a mixed fortune. There had been a rash of head colds and other minor maladies, easily treatable with simple infusions but a service villagers paid well for. On the whole, even with the higher prices it nearly balanced out though there would be little left for other things.

The prices too he reflected, were probably more the result of the weather then anything else. The caravans hadn't reached town yet because they were mired in the more then usually muddy roads. Still, Ding's words troubled him. The Halfling was a shrewd businessman for all his foolish appearence, and his contacts generally kept him as well informed as supplied. There was little reason to think the Steppes Orcs would get past the Dwarves of Runestone unless they moved en-masse even if they wanted too, and if they did the Humans stood between them and the Elven Forest of Sorrows to the Northeast. If there was one good thing about Humans, it was that they liked Orcs even then then they did Elves.

Ding was being even more affable then usual, and uncharacteristicly generous with silk. Wahan suspected there was something up, but bided his time. Ding "byt the ways" sometimes worked to his advantage as well. The only thing that bothered him this time was that it was already tending toward late afternoon. The days were now growing longer, but not long enough, and he wanted to be out of town, and he prefered not to stick aroundt the center of town before dusk. At the least, he'd prefer to stay in the Thieves Quarter near the West gate. "Little Outlands" the humans called it, because in addition to having more then it's share of cutpurses and cutthroats, it was the one place in town where all races were generally tolerated and he actually felt more secure there then elsewhere. The mercs kept a lid on things far better then the Guard did. More then one budding street rogue had met an early end to his career when he tried to pick the pocket. There was also a particular Tavern there that could prepare a halfway decent meal cooked Elven style, and as his mentor had taught him "any meal is good if someone else cooks it for you." Besides the owner, Farman, was a local fence and sometimes had items of interest, though Waha doubted he could afford much this year.

"Oh Wahan, by the way..." here it comes "I have about a half stone of ka'graga root here I uhm... acquired... from some Orcs. I could tincture it myself but..."

"You'd rather I did it? Best you waited. Tinctures don't work well for ka'graga. Orcish shamans use a rdecoction process for it, then infuse that in oil. I can do it, but the evaporation has to be done slowly, you can't let it come to a hard boil, and you have to tend it the whole time."

"If it's the time you're worried about, I have a bed built for the Tall Ones. Though maybe not as tall as you. Still beats sleeping in the rain. Could knock half a gold off your bill."

Wahan considered. It was true that the air spoke of rain coming, and an extra half would be nice. Of course if he could get a bit more it would be nicer.

"Good enough, but throw in dinner as well. If there's one place you [i]don't pretend at, it's in the kitchen, Halfling."

"True that is. Cooking gnomish I do not!"

"Hello Jada, sorry I made you worry, but you're right I do need to go to the apothecary. But I am forgetting my manners! Jada, I would like you to meet Mr. Malic, Mr. Thrax, and Ms. Arianna," Rugo told an new adventurer.
Jada, she was called, and Rugo seems to know her well. 'An old freind perhaps?' Thrax thinks. But before he can inquire more, two theives, obviously waiting for a chance, move in and strike. Thrax senses someone pilfering his money pouch, and stiffens.
'Wait for it...' Thrax is rewarded by a quiet yell and the theives hand pulls away from his money pouch quickly. A huge snake emerges out of it, seeming to come out of his money.
Of course, it's just an Illusion, but the theif doesn't know that. Thrax mixed in some ice magic with the snake, and sent it bursting through the air and freezing the theives hand.
"That should teach you to steal from me." Thrax says. "I should kill you."
The snake rears high over the theives head, but the theif is the only one who can see it. It strikes down and engulfs the theif in its huge body, before vanishing.
The thief backs away in horror and runs out of the room, dropping the few gold coins he had stolen in his rush.
Thrax reachs out for the money quickly and puts his foot down on it. The other theif is still there, but Malic, Arriana, Jada and Rugo can handle them.

As the pandemonium erupted, Farman dashed from the back room where he had briefly gone to roll out another barrel of ale. "What the??? ... STOP! NO FIGHTING!!" he bellowed, but it was obvious his words were being drowned out by the ruckus.

The inebriated soldiers were on their feet, yelling, except for the one chap who was on the floor holding his privates as he emptied his stomach. The dwarf by the fire had evidently gotten knocked off his bench and the smell of singed beard wafted in the air. The guard lieutenant had come in for a simple meal and gotten a trencher full of boar's head stew dumped in his lap for his trouble. He looked a bit chagrinned as he stared at the Elf girl standing on one of the tables.

An elf! Usually Farman didn't have problems with their kind, but something must have set off the patrons. Fist fights began breaking out. Glancing at Ariana, Farman reached behind the bar. Pulling out a sturdy oak club, he waded into the fray.

Having seen an old cohort, the thieves signalled the pickpocket to distract the mage (and hopefully that blasted merc!) while they carefully worked their way behind Rugo and the main prize. There one gleefully took a roundhouse swing at the other, knocking him into Rugo's chair and sending both the 'victim' and the Halfling to the floor. Quickly grabbing the bags of gold the thief rolled out of the way under another table while his partner shoved two other patrons into the party as a block. Ignoring the horrified cries of their cohort, the first thief passed one of the bags of gold to his partner and made hell bent for the stairs while the other headed just as swiftly for the back exit.

OOC: LordDragatus, if Morval still has a room upstairs it's an easy guess where thief #1 is headed right by.
To our mercs, that's your pay headed out the door!

[This message has been edited by Kaji (edited 08-23-2002 @ 09:08 PM).]

Rugo sighed, picking himself off the ground. He knew something like this would happen. He needed that money, to hire the mercenaries.

"Better try to catch the poor fellow, before any of my new friends do," Rugo thought to himself.

Darting around the bar patrons, he ran after the theif heading to the back exit. With amazing speed and agility for someone his size, Rugo dealt the theif a flying tackle, just as he was running out the exit. Quickly drawing his short sword, he pointed it at the theif, who was laying on the ground.

"Please give me my money back, I need it," Rugo asked the theif politely.

The theif smiled, foolishly thinking he could beat Rugo.

"Yeah I'll give yer money back," the theif reached for the money bag and then quicker then Rugo could see drew out a wicked blade, "over my dead body!" Then he rushed Rugo.

Side stepping the theif, he dealt the human a punishing blow to the head, with the flat of his blade. Again the theif tried to attack him but with an expert thrust of his sword, he disarmed the theif and tripped him in one movement. Reaching down he took the bag of gold from the theif.

"I will not hurt you, but I'm afraid my friends will, if they catch you. Run! I think I hear my friends coming, and you better not be around when they get here." Rugo said to the theif.

He watched as the theif took off into the maze of dark alley ways. Shaking his head, he turned to go back inside.

Arianna was entratained by the mage illusions, when sudenly, the usual tavern fight started. It seemed the elve had caused it, but she knew it was just the local boredom of people with no lives and far too much alcohol.

She was preparing to help Farman control the mob, when suddenly two men decided to aliviate Rugo from the weight of the two bags he had been carrying. Obviously there was money in the bags, and since they were just preparing for the job, it meant it was possibly THEIR money.

She was fast to get up. One of the thieves was runing to the door, but the halfling was already behind him. She turned. The other one was trying to get to the stair. Ariana had had her own share of bar fights, and knew the proper code for this situations.

"Put it on my bill Farman!!"

She grabed a bottle of wine from the table at their side, and with all her strength hurled it at the thief. The botle crashed on his head, and he stoped, in confusion.

She started running to the stair, but she was stoped by a drunken soldier who got in her way. She lifted a chair as fast as she could, and whacked the soldier with it. When the drunk guy fainted, she couldn`t see the thief anymore.

"Crap i bet he`s already upstairs."

[This message has been edited by Evilguy99 (edited 08-24-2002 @ 00:38 AM).]

[OOC: Welcome back, Kelvar. Hope you're feeling better.]

[This message has been edited by Kaji (edited 08-25-2002 @ 02:54 PM).]

OOC apologies for the break - too sick to even turn on my computer ;(

The young female elf could not have made a more distracting entrance if she'd tried. The sylph like figure had entered the bar and promptly seemed to have begun a bar fight before dancing forwards and leeping onto their table. Obviously this was someone Rugo had been expection as they both seemed pleased to meet one another.

Their new mage suddenly whirled in his seat casting some form of spell, the would be pickpocket stumbled,then ran screaming from the room as all hell broke loose.
As the bar fight broke out closer to them a pair of dubious looking characters attacked one another knocking Rugo from his seat. Malic leaped to his feet the pair of thieves had robbed Rugo of a pair of money bags and were making there escape as the brawl broke out, one thief headed for the door as the other raced for the stairs.

Suddenly finding himself in the middle of a bar fight Malic saw Rugo run after the thief heading for the door
"Thrax , Arianna help Rugo" Malic called out but he doubted he was heard over the rucas. The barman had come out to calm things down but the other thief was close the the stairs.
In a blur of knee's, elbows fists and head he swiftly put the pair of drunken soldiers who'd taken a dislike to him on the ground, both still alive but there would be much work for the local healers Malic was NOT amused.

Ducking under a well thrown bottle which hurtled through the air to smash into the thief, Malic took the stairs three at a time. He reached the top of the stairs to see the thief turn a courner deeper into the prancing pony.

In a matter of seconds Malic had caught up with the Thief, fury granting him that vital extra speed (although the fact that a wine bottle had shattered on the thiefs head certainly didnt seem to help). Reaching out he grabbed the edge of the Thiefs robe and yanked him backwards off his feet.
The thief flew backwards into Malic who casually but with rather more irritation than usual (these scum had interrupted his meeting and made Malic look stupid - never a good thing to do) slammed the thief head first into the wall. There was the sound of bone breaking and the would be robber sagged into Malics arms. For pure satisfaction Malic again drove the face into the wall of the inn, blood and tooth or two marked the wall and floor as Malic put the unconcious thief over his shoulder and, money bag in hand, made his way back down to the common room to see how his new comrades in arms had handled the situation.

"Hello Jada, sorry I made you worry, but you're right I do need to go to the apothecary. But I am forgetting my manners! Jada, I would like you to meet Mr. Malic, Mr. Thrax, and Ms. Arianna."

Jada slipped her daggers back into the boot sheaths. These people weren't threatening Rugo then, altho the piercing look the dark haired human wearing a wolf's head tabard gave her made her uneasy, as did the yelling and gesturing from the humans she had passed on her way here. She had begun to nod to them when a stranger approached Mr. Thrax from behind and reached out to touch him, then cried out and backed away.

"I should kill you," Mr. Thrax said to the man.

Jada's eyes widened in surprise. She had heard humans were a violent species. If this was their greeting ritual ....

Jada spun as someone collided with Rugo and knocked him to the ground. "Rugo!" Humans began attacking humans. "Rugo!" Frantically Jada leaped from the table to help her friend. Looking around she was relieved to see Rugo seemed unhurt, but he was running off after another human. She moved to follow him only to collide with yet another human, whom she took down quickly with a kick to the back of the knee. She dashed around him to see her Halfling friend disappear out the back. "Rugo! Wait!"

Jada dodged the press of fighting humans, only to be intercepted by the beefy arm of some large human in an apron carrying a club. "Hold on there, girlie," the man said, pinning her arms and lifting her feet from the floor. "You don't start brawls in my Inn and just run out on Farman. You've got some settling to do."

"Rugo! No! Let go!" She struggled, but the human was strong. Soft heeled boots thudded uselessly against his shins. Rugo was already out the door. Jada didn't have time for this. Humans were madmen! In desperation, strong white teeth clamped upon the arm until they drew blood.

[This message has been edited by Kaji (edited 08-25-2002 @ 03:56 PM).]

Going back inside the tavern, Rugo walked right into the middle of a full fleged brawl.

"I think we're in very bad trouble," Rugo thought, ducking a flying chair.

Looking around he saw Arianna, running to the stairs, Thrax was still by the table and Jada and Malic no where in sight.

"Jada! Jada! Where are you in this mess?!" Rugo called over the ruckus. Then he glimpsed her being held by the owner, Farmar or something of the like.

Rugo yelled and saw her flailing her legs, kicking the man's legs, ineffectually.

"Oh no! Jada don't fight..." Sprinting over at full speed, he was knocked over by a human, who looked very drunk. Picking himself up off the ground, he saw Jada clamp her teeth down viciously on the barkeep's arm.

"No, Jada!" he yelled.

Running over he started apologizing to the bartender.

"Please, sir, if you would let my friend go... We can explain everything, some theives stole my money, I chased after one," Rugo tried to explain.

Farman just stared at him, keeping a tight hold on Jada, despite the fact he was bleeding freely from the bite he got from Jada, not comprehending anything the halfling told him.

Rugo started to wiggle his thumb in anger, humans could be so stupid sometimes!

"Listen! If you would let my friend go we could explain everything! She was just worried about me!" Rugo said angrily.

"You saying your her accomplice? Then you better stay here where I can keep an eye on you!" Farman told Rugo roughly.

"That's not what I am saying at all!" Rugo cried and then fell quiet.

"Better not to say anything at all, I suppose. Malic, where are you when we need you?" Rugo thought, knowing that mercenaries were known to be smooth talkers.

[This message has been edited by mebored (edited 08-25-2002 @ 11:20 PM).]

Thrax picks up his money off the ground and looks around. It seems the pickpocket was just a distraction, and two theives run off with Rugos gold. Thrax knows they are just petty theives, well, not that petty, they just made off with a whole bag full of gold, but Malic chases one upstairs and Rugo comes back in from outside, only to see Farman trying to throw Jada out. probably because shes an elf.
Thrax walks over to Farman and backs Rugo up. He contemplates putting an illusion on Jada to hide her elvish heritage, but Farman has already seen her. Why did they have to have this complicate everything? Didn't anyone else know of the danger? Of course not, only he had that particular gift.
"I've got no time for this. Just let her go, Farman, surely we can come to some sort of deal?"

Jada locked eyes with Rugo, and a slow burning anger combined with the desperation there. She watched Rugo closely, taking as deep of breaths as possible with the human oaf's arm practically crushing her ribs. Nodding slightly, she let herself be held, still trembling with tension and frustration. This was the second human that had grabbed her within the space of a quarter hour. The next one was going to lose more than just the contents of his stomach or a few drops of blood.

Jade eyes flared briefly as Thrax approached. "I've got no time for this. Just let her go, Farman, surely we can come to some sort of deal?"

"Deal?! Are you her accomplice too?" Farman bellowed at Thrax. "The little minx BIT me! Like some da*n rabid animal! Just look at my common room! Let her go? NOT likely! Where's the Guard?!! Someone get the Guard! I want them arrested!"

"I'm here, Farman," sighed the lieutenant, still wiping stew from his trews. The lessening of noise near the door signaled the arrival of the local Guard detachment. Four more Guardsmen came in the back. They'd certainly taken their time. Probably caught up in the middle of some dice game. He sighed as he looked at the 'harmless waif' he had passed through the Gate not two hours ago. "I'll take care of it. Disarm them," the lieutenant nodded toward Rugo and Thrax. He glanced at Farman's arm, then looked back at the two soldier's the mercenary had put down. There were several others with cuts and bruises. "Someone go roust out the healer ... and get some poultices from Dinglebarb too. From the looks of things we'll need them both. And someone get me some rope." Looking back at the waif's haunted eyes he shook his head, his voice firm. "You were warned."

[This message has been edited by Kaji (edited 08-26-2002 @ 10:19 PM).]

"Hey Rugo, If you want, I can arrange a... dissapearance." Whispers Thrax to Rugo as the guards enter the room. "I'll understand if you don't want to cause anymore trouble."
The guards move to disarm Thrax and he holds his hands out. "Nothing to take away here."
Thrax thinks, 'It's all because shes an elf. Farman grabbed the nearest suspect and is blaming her for it all. If anything, it was the theives that started all this.' Thrax goes along with the guards, its best to humour them. If they get annoyed they might search him, and find things, like his quarter staff. And that might prompt them to do an in-depth check on his history, bringing him to attention of people higher up in the food chain, and that would cause a lot of trouble.

Malic strode down the stair, the unconcious body of the thief slung from one shoulder.
Rugo and the strange elf Jada seemed to have gotten themseves into even more trouble, Farman and the local Guard were well involved.
Striding up to them Malic dumped the body on the floor before them "Gentleman, its good to see that the forces of Law and order are as blind as usual".
There were horrified looks from his companions at this (ooc sorry just an assumption)

Laughing Malic claped his arm on the Leutenants shoulder "Young Rampolian, an officer in the guard no less, good to see you again, how is the leg " Malic looked pointedly down at the officers right leg which to be honest looked fine and perfect.

"Malic, how the heck are you, don't tell me 'The Eagle' got himself involved in a tavern brawl ?"

Malic took the leutenant and Farman to one side, "look there are several factors going on here and I'm afraid hanging the elf would be a bit simplistic a solution."
Picking up a half empty tankard he continued "We were having a business discussion when the young excitable elf entered, she is very good I barely noticed her myself. One of your drunken lads" Malic fixed an eye apon the leutenant "Tried to get a bit shall we say 'hands on' and paid for it. Then some opportunistic thieves tried their luck and the rest is history"

"Unfortunate but this is a tavern where people get drunk after all. Allow me to propose something. My 'associates' will pay for most of the damages, Rampolian you can take that thief away" gestures to the still unconcious body bleeding quietly on the floor"so you have someone to hang if you really neet it. And I will take this group from your tavern and we will leave town as soon as we can."
Looking down at Farmans arm "accept my apologies for the bite but lets be honest I'm sure you've had worse in your time. I will continue to bring any clients of mine in here and I will owe you both a favour"

"What do you say Farman ?" Malic fixed his gaze apon the Barman and waited for a response.

It had taken longer then he had hoped, but the first stage of the process was finished. Ding had been making good use of the time however and the smell of dinner mingled with the many other wonderous, and some not so wonderous, aromas of the shop. Halfling cooking was still not quite to Elvish tastes, but at least unlike the Humans they did not let their game birds rot, then cover the taste with seasons. Wahan only took pheseant and other game if he found them too damaged to heal but he was not wasteful of them either. He looked forward to the meal even if, as he guessed, the main course had not surrendered its life willingly.

The banging however, seemed destined to delay his plans.

"Rats in the pantry!" Ding swore as he headed to the door. "Closed we are it gives me sorrow! Can come you back upon the morrow?"

"Open up Gnome, Farman wants you."

"Farman the fen... Innkeeper?" Ding inquired, cautiosly operning the door to let in a lad not much taller then himself. It was one of the boys that hung around the Pony hoping to get lucky. "Of his place I know, but do not go. An honest Gnome am I."

"uh-huh. Like anything gets past these eyes and ears. But some elf girlie started a fight and now he wants a healer. And you. Guess he wants to know whats good for elf wounds."

Fights in the Pony were common enough Ding knew, but Farman rarely called for more then the Guard no matter how many injuries there were. This must have been serious. He tilted his head slightly and shook it. "Come I can if I must. But of healing Humans I know some, of Elves I do not."

"Not her shrimp!" the boy sneered. "But she bit him! I guess he's afraid they're poisonous. He wouldn't bother about an Elf."

"Few Humans do." said the quiet voice beside he. Startled, his eyes and ears having given him no warning of the approach, the boy turned to find himself staing a green-clad chest. Craning his head back, he followed it upward to the stern face towering above him. An Elvish face.

"Ho ho ho?" he said in a small voice.

OOC: Sorry!!!!!!!! I just edited. Again.

Farman was about to reply to Malic, when suddenly Arianna walked forward.

" Oh c`mon Farman, this was just a misunderstanding. Mailc speaks the truth about the thieves. And besides they`ve already offered to pay for the mess."

Farman seemed resilent to let Jada go. Tough he didn`t really feel any kind of prejudic torwards elves, this one had BITEN him. Normally, we would had made sure the girl was sent to jail at least for the night.

But he knew Arianna could get caught too if the group was imprisioned. He tried to calm down.

[This message has been edited by Evilguy99 (edited 08-27-2002 @ 04:49 PM).]