(Corvin/Mordred Adventure 2): Corvin at the Stolid Soldier/Temple

[archolewa]

Corvin makes his way through the labyrinthine streets of Thorncity to the Stolid Soldier, the flowering walls snaking through the city meaning he has to walk three times as far as a crow flies.

He enters and fines the place as busy as ever. The tables are still filled with ex-soldiers and others trying to find their way after the fall of the Kinslayer, Ol' Will still stands behind the bar serving drinks and keeping an eye on things, his daughter Sabrina weaves expertly between the tables dropping off drinks and food when she isn't playfully telling off her father.

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin makes his way over to the bar and waits his turn to be served. If Sabrina passes by or sees him he will smile and nod.

[archolewa]

Sabrina stops when she sees his smile and nod. She glances down at the teddy bear in his belt. "Let me see, Corvin right? You were running with a Druid and a Magic-User I think. Kicked the crap out of those Battleaxe bozos. Don't see your buddies though, hope they're alright. You need something?"

[shaidar]

Corvin

"That's me, Corvin. My friends are fine, thanks for asking. I wanted to ask Ol' Will something, since he seems to know what's going on in the city. I was also wondering if you had a small keg of beer I could take away. But I see you're really busy, so I can come back after I've been to the temple."

[archolewa]

"Pffsh. We're always busy," says Sabrina. "Hey, Dad! Corvin wants to talk to you. He's the guy who offed some of your customers."

"Ah, yes, Corvin. You know, Hrek was a regular. And quite the drinker," says Ol' Will, a smirk tugging at his frown, as he approached. "Cost me a pretty penny you did."

[shaidar]

Corvin

"Sorry, my friends and I will just have to make it up when we are around. Starting with a small keg of beer to take with me, if such a thing exists. That, and I was wondering if you knew of any particular areas of the city that Lupine have decided to settle in."

[archolewa]

Ol' Will pulls out a small keg and starts filling. "Such a thing exists? This a soldier town, boy! 'Course it exists! Now, Lupines eh? Well, if'n you're looking for individuals like yerself, plenty of them up in the barracks. Working as scouts and commandos and the like. Some of the more experienced over there do part time work helping to train other Lupines in using their claws and fists more effectively, if that's what you're looking for. But packs? Well. Not really any packs in Thorncity. I've yet to meet a Lupine who likes the City all that much. You get some enclaves mixed in with villages, especially close to the wall. I could point you to a few down south if you like. But that's usually only a family. Maaybe two. Lupines in those villages, their kids tend to leave home, find a spouse, and settle in a different village that doesn't already have a Lupine family. If you want the larger packs, the ones that span multiple generations, well those are wanderers. The biggest of them, lead by old Goldstreak himself, will be in the Grove for the Solstice, in what? A month or so I think?"

Corvin remembers a few vague stories and references to Goldstreak. He's an old, powerful Lupine who was apparently a great hero when he served in the War. From what he can remember, the old man was instrumental in his youth in proving that the Lupines had not allowed the Kinslayer's evil to corrupt them. Certainly his parents spoke of him with reference. But Corvin can't remember any details.

[shaidar]

Corvin

"It was a bit of both really. Sebastian already mentioned the pack that goes to the Grove at the solstice, but I didn't realise it was Goldstreak. Can I pay for the keg now and pick it up on my way back?

[archolewa]

"'Course. It'll be five coppers," says Ol' Will. He gives Corvin a quick up-and-down. "Be careful. He's got a couple of granddaughters who are coming eligible, and seems every unattached Lupine in the city is hoping to marry into his pack. Now, I ain't saying that's what you're interested in. But some Lupines inherited a bit too much from their human side than is good for them, if you know what I'm saying. And some inherited a bit too much from the wolf. They might not like it if they sniff another potential rival. 'Course they're fools. If you're worried enough about the competition to go after them, you're not getting past Goldstreak. But fools will be fools, and that makes them dangerous."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin hands over the coins "I'm not quite ready to settle down yet, I just need to spend some time with more of my kind."

[archolewa]

Ol' Will takes the coins, his expression thoughtful. "Hmm. Now, I believe you. You're an honest sort, a man can see that a mile away. But Goldstreak, well most days he'd believe you too. But right now? He might think you're trying an underhanded way to worm into his confidence and hook up with one of his granddaughters. He's a smart fella, a reasonable fella. But he's extremely protective of his family, and that can blind him sometimes. Tell you what. You did good when you offed Hrek. Didn't like the way that guy eyed my daughter, or any of my other serving girls. I'll write him a letter, let him know you're coming, and want to talk to him and his folk some. He'll believe me. He and I go way back."

[shaidar]

Corvin

"Hrek was bad, more than you know and that's all I can say, the world is better off with him not in it. I appreciate the letter. My family died when I was young. I was taken in by a human family, who treated me like their own and I'll always appreciate that but, and it's hard to explain, I just need some time with other Lupine.... Hold on, you know Goldstreak? What did you do in the army?"

[archolewa]

Ol' Will grins. "Same thing as everyone. Fought the Kinslayer and his monstrous hordes."

Corvin gets the sense that Ol' Will was perhaps a bit more than just a soldier...and that he isn't going to be giving any more details anytime soon.

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin smiles "We both have things we can't talk about. I get that. I appreciate your help. I'll suggest to the others that we come here tonight for a meal and more than a few beers."

[archolewa]

Ol' Will nods and gives a broad grin. "Looking forward to it. And if you give me some good stories about what you've been up to these past few days, I might even let you have the food for free."

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin grins "I might take you up on that challenge. I'll see you later then."

He smiles and nods at Will and Sabrina.

Corvin's plan is to go to the Barracks next

[archolewa]

Corvin makes his winding way to the barracks. The barracks are a mini-fortress. It would be impressive, if the Church, Magic Acadamy and Castle (all fortresses themselves) didn't loom up behind it. He pauses at the gates, guarded by several bored soldiers. They have a brief conversation when he introduces himself, gives his old rank, they double-check some records, and then wave him through.

He makes his way through two lines of walls, zigzagging first north, then east, and soon finds himself spat out into a large, open courtyard. On the far side is the low, solid stone building of the barracks. The courtyard itself is filled with units performing drills, soldiers and adventurers practicing their weapons, and men and women of all shapes, sizes and races chatting along the sidelines. A bored clerk sits under an awning near the entrance to the barracks, being just about the only person in the place who isn't slightly damp from the grey drizzle. A desk is spread out before him with a several need, small stacks of parchment, and a pile of sheeths tucked under the table.

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin heads over to the man at the table.

"Excuse me" he will then use the man's rank if it is obvious, or 'sir' if not "I'm here for two reasons. The first is that I'm trying to locate somebody as I need to contact them with news about their family, the second is that I'm looking for weapons training from a Lupine. Can you help with with either, or direct me to someone who can?"

[archolewa]

The clerk perks up when Corvin approaches. "Well son, I can definitely help you with some training. You look fierce, but not super fierce if you catch my meaning. Just need a few pointers with those claws of yours I'm assuming? Well, I think Eric over there can help you. 25 gold of course. Eric'll work with you for a week, come here bright and early every day. He'll get a handle on if you're making progress about halfway through. If you are, great! If not, well you can cut the training a bit short, and get half your money back. If you're looking for info on where someone deployed, just head into the barracks and hang a left. Look for the archives. They'll help you."

The clerk gestures to a brown-furred Lupine standing at the edge of the practice field, watching two humans spar with spears. He's cheering on one, while giving the other good natured trash talk. When the clerk gestures to him, he waves and gives Corvin a friendly smile. His bestial nature looks a bit more developed than Corvin's, but not a lot more.

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin nods back, before turning back to the clerk "Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for."

He makes his way over to Eric. "Hello sir, the clerk said you might be able to help with some training. I think I need some pointers to develop my unarmed and claw skills further."