Swollins, Goshin, Coombzy, and Havax
Shadows lengthened across the floor as the sun moved past the mountains. None of his companions had returned as of yet, but Swollins was not entirely concerned. It grew darker earlier than expected, and the town itself did not appear dangerous or threatening in any way. He had no reason to worry for anyone***8217;s safety. He sighed and returned inside and sat down at the center table once more.
As the day***8217;s work concluded, several patrons began to wander into the bar to spend what coin they had earned with their labor. The innkeeper grumbled as he served drinks and began prepping dinner for anyone who wanted to eat. ***8220;Stew again?***8221; Coombzy called out.
***8220;YOU SHUT IT!***8221; he roared back.
Bemused, Coombzy took a seat by Swollins and passed him a mug of ale. ***8220;Surely a strong warrior such as yourself has a tale to tell a simple Bard, one searching for inspiration,***8221; he said, nervously glancing towards Havax who was deftly spinning a small dagger through his fingers.
Swollins took the mug and raised it, nodding his thanks to the Halfling. ***8220;What would you like to know?***8221; Swollins replied.
***8220;Well for starters, how about your name stranger? I am called Coombzy.***8221;
***8220;His name is Swollins,***8221; a voice called out from the front door.
Coombzy Bardic Lore:
They instinctively turned their heads to the door and the voice and saw several newcomers enter the inn. There were three of them, an elderly man who wore loose fitting leathers, a breathtakingly beautiful woman, and a man whose entire face was hidden behind a silver mask. Both men were armed, though their weapons were not drawn. ***8220;Do I know you?***8221; Swollins asked the elderly man.
***8220;No, not as of yet,***8221; he replied, moving to the seat across from Swollins. ***8220;May I?***8221; he indicated to the bench.
***8220;It***8217;s a free city,***8221; Swollins answered.
The man sat down, shifting his rapier as he did to still be reachable and extracting a smoking pipe from a pocket in his belt. ***8220;Do you mind?***8221; he asked, holding the pipe out. Swollins shook his head, a quizzical look on his face. The man filled the pipe with leaf, lit it and placed it in his mouth.
Coombzy studied the man with interest. He was older for a human, probably around sixty years of age. His skin was tan and leathered, his hair and eyes were both grey. There was a twinkle in his eyes, however, and there were many creases from a lifetime of carefree smiles. His body language was completely relaxed.
His female companion moved towards the bar behind them and sat on a stool. She was a true beauty, no doubt with some elven ancestry. Blazing red hair cascaded gracefully down to her bare shoulders. She carried no weapons, and wore only leathered robes that would make even a brothel worker blush. As she sat down, she crossed her legs, revealing her smooth thighs all the way to her hips. Her hand went to her face as she viewed the room with an expression of cold boredom.
The third man was a complete enigma. He had not moved from his spot at the door. His entire body was covered from head to toe, no part was visible. He was neither short nor tall, fat or skinny. Coombzy could not even tell what race he belonged to. The silver mask he wore hid his face entirely, even his eyes were shrouded in darkness. Two jagged shortswords were on his belt, a shortbow strapped to his back. In his right hand, he held a large leather sack that looked rather heavy.
***8220;Ah that really is the way to end a day,***8221; the elderly man said, letting out a puff of smoke. ***8220;Now where was I? Ah yes, this here is Swollins. The hero who saved Cravenia from the threat of Ogl. Or is it the villain who killed the King and Queen, stole their daughter***8217;s virtue and left the city in ruin? I suppose either story is a good one,***8221; he chuckled.
***8220;You haven***8217;t told me your name yet, Friend. Or how you know me,***8221; Swollins said roughly.
***8220;Oh my apologies. Name***8217;s Sauter,***8221; the old man replied. Coombzy inhaled sharply.
Coombzy Bardic Lore:
***8220;The lovely lady sitting behind you is Hayes,***8221; Sauter continued on. ***8220;And this fine young man is Remy,***8221; he indicated to the masked man.
***8220;Why does he wear the mask?***8221; Swollins asked.
***8220;You know, I ain***8217;t never actually asked him that. Not that he***8217;d tell me anyway. Ol***8217; Remy here doesn***8217;t speak. Worked with him for years and I still have no idea what his voice sounds like.***8221;
***8220;And what sort of work do you do?***8221; Swollins asked bluntly.
***8220;Straight to it then, I knew there was something about you that I liked,***8221; Sauter laughed and took another puff from his pipe. ***8220;I am in the business of tracking down and bringing back wanted men. Women too for that matter, if I***8217;m being fair. It just so happens that my business has brought me here to you today. Now, I would like for you to tell me where I might find Lieutenant Prowell, his subordinate Illo, and a human mage named Ztir.***8221;
Swollins stiffened in his seat, glancing at the masked men guarding the door, then over his shoulder at the woman positioned behind him. She flashed him a cold smirk. A man sitting next to her, two empty mugs in front of him, leaned in close. ***8220;Hey pretty lady, what***8217;s a nice girl like you doing here . . . hic.***8221;
There was a quick flash of steel, a streak of red appeared across the man***8217;s thigh. She leaned in close and whispered in his ear. ***8220;Head outside and walk until that stops bleeding,***8221; her silky voice carried across the room. The man stood, his eyes glassy, and began to walk, dripping blood across the floor as he did so.
Havax had stopped fiddling with his dagger, and was now watching the scene with intensity. ***8220;I don***8217;t know who you***8217;re talking about,***8221; Swollins spoke.
The smile vanished from Sauter***8217;s face, replaced by a slight frown of disappointment. ***8220;Oh come on now, let***8217;s not play games. I know that these men are in your company. I know that you fought beside each other at Ogl. My interest is not in you, only them. Just tell me where I can find them and our business is concluded. Let***8217;s not overcomplicate things with matters like loyalty and honor.***8221;
***8220;What are they wanted for?***8221; Havax asked, certain that if this man knew who travelled with Swollins that he would know that Havax was a part of the crew as well.
Sauter glanced in the Drow***8217;s direction. ***8220;Murder,***8221; he replied. ***8220;Perhaps you***8217;ve heard of a noble family in Cravenia, the House of Opfor. Now a member of this family traveled to Ogl in the company of several of his household guard. Four of those men returned from Ogl, but their noble lord did not. That right there, well you see that upset the family because little Opfor was the heir apparent, and his father is not entirely pleased that his favored son died at the hands of his own men,***8221; Sauter explained.
***8220;And what proof do you have that it was murder?***8221; Havax inquired.
***8220;Proof isn***8217;t my business,***8221; Sauter replied. ***8220;Bringing in fugitives is. Lord Opfor Sr. hired us to find his son, and bring his killers to justice, dead or alive but preferably alive. So we ventured into what remains of Ogl and found young Opfor***8217;s body half buried under a ton of rocks. Now the trolls had taken a couple of bites, but curiously he was missing his hands, cleanly severed like. Trolls don***8217;t tend to cut limbs, they tend to tear them, and so whomever cut them off must have been a member of his own party. It don***8217;t take a detective, son.***8221;
***8220;That doesn***8217;t make any of them guilty of murder,***8221; Havax sneered.
***8220;Guilty or innocent, I don***8217;t particularly care much,***8221; Sauter retorted. ***8220;I***8217;ve been hired to bring them in, and I will bring them in. It***8217;s easier for everyone if they***8217;re dead, but I get paid more if they***8217;re alive. Makes no real difference to me, but Lord Opfor seems particularly keen to get them alive. Now the way I see it this can go three ways. You can tell me where they are, I***8217;ll collect, and everyone wins. You can tell me to **** off, I***8217;ll still find them, and only we win. You can interfere, we***8217;ll put you down too, still find them, and only we win. Now just to show you how serious I am . . . Remy?***8221;
The masked man, who had not moved since his arrival, stepped forward and tossed the large sack he held onto the table between Swollins and Sauter. It landed with a thud and rolled over, spilling its contents onto the table. Long blond hair, matted with blood, flipped and twisted as a severed head spun across the wood. It was well rotted and smelled something fierce, but there was no mistaking the face as Sauter swept aside strands of hair. It was Dmaul.
***8220;I present to you, the fourth member of Opfor***8217;s household guard,***8221; Sauter explained, his face now steely serious. ***8220;A ranger who did not wish to be found, and who chose not to come in alive.***8221;
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