(13) The Last Plank (Docks Tavern)

[OGRE MAGE]

The woman gets a confused look on her face as she listens to the groups discussion.

"Port Zangerios, eh? What's a desert man such as yerself doin there, I should wonder. I don't surpose ye saw a huge orange haired barbarian ships captain while ye was there by any chance?"

Unsure if Valkrina is being serious or not, she refrains from offering up any more suitable accommodations for the lady until the conversation runs its course.

She looks at Xenos as she takes his coins. "Are ye sayin ye do have a ship at yer disposal then?"

[shaidar]

Xenos sighs

"Unfortunately I have no ship, I was merely a passenger. I thought to see a bit of the world, but the sea did not agree with me and I grew homesick for the desert. Now I see gainful employment for one of martial skill."

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

"Actually we do have a ship. But it was beached upon the coast as it needs a new mast and sails. The rudder is half gone but the hull is secure and she is water tight. If we can get spares to repair, it is seaworthy. It is a small craft and could be salvaged in a dry docks or careened in the small cove we left it in.

We trekked here as we had no food and hunting along the coast was not profitable."

She shares the beginning of their adventures.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"I don't think the place is the best to spend the night in. But it's the best now considering the money we have.

Which brings us back to the subject of finding a work. Like our friend here said, the owner of the whore house might have something for us to do in exchange for some coin."

[Rex]

Drest

"It seems at least worth asking."

[OGRE MAGE]

The woman tips her hand a bit after Val mentions the wrecked ship, snapping her head around quickly to face her. “Ye don’t say. Well, mi lass, if yer lookin fer folks who do salvagin, I’d be the one who could steer ye to em.”

A group of 6 Viking sailors plow through the swinging doors to enter the bar, calling loudly for ale and women. The barmaid sighs and excuses herself with a smile as she hurries to wait on the newcomers.

Valkrina notices a man with a lute enter the barroom from a side door, the barmaid motioning him with her eyes to resume his duties. Then everyone at the table is startled by a common looking man with one eye who suddenly steps out from around the nearby post he was obviously hiding behind.

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He steps up to your table, slamming both palms down on the surface hard enough to get your attention. After the last adventure at sea, most of you are bewildered and concerned to spot the tattoo on the back of his right hand, an obvious pair of winged sandals.

He looks to Valkrina first. “You should be cautious of making deals with strangers, my pretty. You never know the real intentions of the person you’re dealing with.”

He then calmly addresses the entire table. “Forgive my intrusion, friends. My name is Amos, and I think I can help you fine strangers out. For we at the Grotto of Rel are most welcoming to newcomers to our fair city. Especially ones with certain…..shall we say…….talents.”

“You can sleep at the temple for free, as long as you like. And if it’s profitable work you're looking for, we got plenty of that too, believe me.”

He looks carefully at Tuurma’s face. “Well then, you are a special one, aren’t you? Not many like you around these parts I’d wager, with the Witch Queen so close by.”

He smiles down at Drest and winks his one good eye, his hand resting on the hilt of a dagger strapped to his belt. “Whatta ya say folks? Free food and lodging sound good to everyone? You can even bring your ugly Pictish dog along with you if you want.”

Actions?

[shaidar]

Xenos laughs and looks at the man and then his companions

"Hmmm, I don't know. Maybe we should be wary of making deals with strangers. You never know the real intentions of the person you’re dealing with." he looks back to the man, now without a smile "Last time we got involved with Rel, it ended very badly for us."

[sastaz]

Tuurma looks at both Amos and Xenos, in turn as they exchange verbal blows.

"Easy now. I don't think anyone wants to draw unnecessary attention, right?"

She turns to address Amos.

"And no, there are not a lot of us. In fact, I have not seen a single one since our arrival. And I really hope not to become the last one." She looks back at her companions again quickly, to assess their reactions.

"Actually Amos, could we have a moment? As you surely understand, we need to discuss things."

Looking back at the others again, hoping none of them is giving her an angry stare.

[Rex]

Drest

Drest slides his hand to the hilt of his sword and lets the others do the talking, grinning back at Amos.

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

"I am not your 'pretty'. I am not your anything. I am not His at all" she speaks back to the herald remarking about him and the god Rel

"Tricks and traps and becoming a plaything for the gods. As you say, perhaps I should not trust your intentions."

She looks around the group then covers one eye to do the same again and looks back at Amos. "You see swords for hire and a band of desperate ruffians. I see a guildsman in need of lackeys and cutthroats to waylay merchants and rob graves. No doubt you have more refined and lucrative offerings in mind, temple offerings and wealthy villas."

She 'hmms', considering options and input from the group. But a grotto sanctuary sounds better than a brothel cellar though she is not convinced regarding the 'staying as long as you like' promise.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus crosses his arms over his chest and stares at the one-eyed man with a stern look. "Thanks for your offer, but I rather sleep in a brothel than in a temple of Rel." The man seems too eager to bring them to his temple.

"And what kind of work does your temple offer?" He's not really interested in working with the temple, but is curious about it.

[OGRE MAGE]

Never Good Enough

The one eyed worshiper of Rel laughs out loudly at the sarcastic reply from Xenos. "Good one, mate! Since the great Rel provides us all with mystery and luck, perhaps my master has not quite finished with you yet."

He looks to the hand of Drest next. "No need for any of that friend. I bet you don't get called that very often." He keeps out of arms reach from the surly Scout, just in case his threats are real. "Do I know you from somewhere else, mate? Your perma-scowl seems familiar to me."

Turning his attention to Valkrina, the man nods his head in appreciation. "Yes, I do see things a bit differently, as you pointed out. But as I said, those with the right talents are always welcome at the Grotto, and of course, the better the skills.....the better the jobs.......and the better the pay, too."

Lastly, he scoffs at the attitude of Akhilleus. "Go sleep in your brothel then sir. Your diseases matter not to me. If you want to know the type of work you will be offered, change your perspectives and come see for yourselves."

Looking again to Tuurma, he finishes. "All I really care about is you, my dear. If you decide to see what the Grotto has to offer you, your friends can either come, or stay. They don't understand what you and I understand, so they matter not at all to me."

The man bows low to Tuurma. Respecting her request for privacy, he walks away to sit at a table closer to the stage, allowing the newcomers to Xambaala time to discuss his generous offer.

Actions?

[sastaz]

Tuurma waits for Amos to leave, then bows in and whispers.

"Speak to me friends, what really happend between you and Rel?"

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

They don't understand what you and I understand, so they matter not at all to me."

"What do you understand that we don't?" she asks a question rather than answering one.

[sastaz]

Tuurma looks puzzled, and slightly irritated.

"I have no idea what he was talking about. I would think he means that I was the only one prepared to even hear his offer. So, please tell me why we shouldn't."

[Bluetongue]

She 'hmms', considering options and input from the group. But a grotto sanctuary sounds better than a brothel cellar though she is not convinced regarding the 'staying as long as you like' promise.

Valkrina shrugs. She doesn't trust going to a brothel any more than a follower of the trickster God.

"Before, we sailed as companions to adventure for a sage but later we discovered it was just a ruse for Rel to taunt and terrorise our steps to satisfy his whims. As playthings for the gods we all died only to resuscitate upon a drifting craft that shipwrecked us upon the shore.

And now the gods seek to play with us again."

[Rex]

Drest

"I am not even sure what was real and what was dream actually. Rel can not be trusted for sure."

[shaidar]

Xenos

"I agree, I do not trust Rel or his followers."

[Rex]

Drest

"The issue is, I don't see to many other options available to us. It may be in our best interest to at least hear what they have to say. They seem plenty interested in Tuurma and maybe we can use that to our advantage."

[shaidar]

Xenos

"I suggest we look at other options before deciding. We don't know what else may be out there."