Café de Nuit

meanwhile, in the back room of a club in the River Quarter...


Jules is a retired gendarme, a stout old man with a wooden leg and a fondness for applejack. Alain has provided him with drinks and conversation, and is learning quite a lot of potentially useful information from the old fellow, who keeps contacts in the gendarmie and the black market.

''It is as I told you, M'sieur Smythe. Gaston Van Diecks has lots of friends. He's free with his gold, you see. Probably half the gendarmes in the River Quarter have taken bribes from him at one time or another. Really, the man has more money than one would expect, even with his rackets being sucessful. I've heard he found a cache of treasure down in the sewers. ''

Jules takes a sip of cider, than a long drag on his cigar.

''He's not from this city, you know. Oh no, he's from Saint Ronges. Malreux brought him up to run the girls and help keep the books. He was a clerk when he was a young man, that's what they say. A vicious brute, but he has an excellent head for numbers. ''

Jules eats a link of brown sausage before continuing,

''Word has it that he's been recruiting sellswords lately. I'm not sure what he intends on doing with them, though. ''

tarlyn wrote:
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?"

''M'sieur Van Diecks stays here most nights. He's coming back tonight. I heard his men talking about it. He sleeps with a different girl every night. I'm afraid...I'm afraid it will be my turn tonight.''

She sniffles a bit, then goes on

''My parents have a little farm downriver. That's my home, not this awful place! ''

Bennedict sees the men enter, and he tries not to let on that he is aware of their attention. All the same, his right eyebrow crooks up, suggestively, demonstrating why Herr Gehrman does not play poker.

"That conversation will have to wait, I fear," Bennedict says to his table mates, his voice only quavering slightly. "Curse us for fools, we should have seen this coming. I think we have drawn some unwanted attention. I trust you brought your sword with you, Herr Cirdan? I do not feel like being turned in so these ragamuffins can claim a bounty."

Norzak listens to Marie. She confirmoed his suspicion that the brute would be there that evening. From what he'd been told by the others it made sense. A plan was formulating in his mind but he'd need the girl's help.

"Marie, lissen ta me. I cain' promise ye nuthin' but I think this brute might not bother ye no more if'n ye kin help me out tonight. I need ta know what time he usually shows up and if this is your room? Kin ye be sure it's yer turn tanight? I'd like ta be waitin in hidin' in yer room afore he e'en arrives. It ain' gonna be purty but this dolt's got it comin'. Are ye with me or not?"

"Who says we didn't? see it coming?" Dorgio asks in a hushed voice. As per usual, he is armed and armored; it would almost have been a sin of omission to arrive here otherwise.

"I could draw the mists around us so we could escape," he whispers, almost grinning, "or we could give them the rush. Or perhaps, perhaps we can follow a lead."

Following that, he waves the barmaid over. "How about a round for our friends over there?"

Saying to Jules" My friend that would be useful to know why he would need those sellswords . If you happen to find out that tidbit of information . It would be worth more than just a meal and drinks for that info. " Slipping him a gold piece and walking over to the bar keep and saying " Keep the food and drinks coming until this runs out or he calls it a night. "Giving the bar keep a gold piece and gesturing to Jules " If theirs any thing left after he does, keep half the change for yourself, and give the rest to him ." Waving good bye to Jules on his way out the door to get his own diner some where else so his ties to Jules and other sources do not lead back to him or his allies. Alain will be going along to browse the same eateries Ewan mentioned for the other three party members to eat at .

Cirdan has been sipping on his drink, quietly listening to the tavern gossip and the talk of his friends...

His face does not tell how he is reacting on what he overhears, but his hands in the iron gauntlets open and closely like from a nervous reflex...

Brock Marsh Runoff wrote:"Who says we didn't? see it coming?" Dorgio asks in a hushed voice. As per usual, he is armed and armored; it would almost have been a sin of omission to arrive here otherwise.

"I could draw the mists around us so we could escape," he whispers, almost grinning, "or we could give them the rush. Or perhaps, perhaps we can follow a lead."

Following that, he waves the barmaid over. "How about a round for our friends over there?"

He glares at Dorgio. "Well you could have told me," he snaps, in a quiet whisper. He plucks at his tweed vest and shirt. "I doubt this will do much to turn a bullet."

He grimaces. "If we make a move, I'll support with my spells. If any of you have a spare armament, I wouldn't mind that either." He then grumblingly says the words to the Ezran prayer of shielding, as little protection as that will offer to him.

Dorgio slips Benn a dagger underneath the table, then whispers, "My apologies, friend, I had been thinking it was implied. But let's see if we can't wet them with drink, first. Perhaps they can be bought, perhaps they are unsatisfied with Deiks. Or maybe they are not his men at all. Or perhaps we must fight, but perhaps we can hold out on that long enough for them to drink away their advantage."

Benn grimaces. "Let's hope for the latter. I doubt we can get anything from these, other than that they were hired to come get us. They have the look of hired muscle, not organizers."

Jonathon, at the Lorelei...

The pretty whore, Rosalind, laughs at Jonathon's strange question-

''Monsters in the sewers? Hahaha, sure, my mother used to tell me a story like that when I was a little girl. She said the rats could really speak and reason just like human beings, only they hid this from our sight. She told me that when the moon was full, the rats would drink a magical potion to grow as large as men. Then they'd walk the streets of the city at night, wrapped in cloaks and wearing masks to cover their ugly snouts, looking for children to steal and take down below, never to be seen again! I was scared of rats for a long time because of that story- but now that I've grown up I know it's just a old wives' tale.''

Rosalind leans over the bed frame to adjust the window shutters. Now the room has gone from brightness to a soft semi darkness. She turns to Jonathon and whispers,


''Surely you didn't bring me up here to hear children's stories, sweet Jonathon?''

Jonathon is looking over Rosalind as she speaks. All of what he sees is pleasing to the eye: her figure, her face, and her long red hair.

''Your hair, it's just like mine. The same red, like a flame.''

''Yes, I noticed that right away. Do you like it? My mother used to say the fairies gave me this hair, but I'm sure I have it from my father- whoever he was.''

Matyr's right hand moves up, gets hold of the woman's red locks, and he grabs her at the waist with his left- pulling her close. She leans back and he leans forward at the same time. She lets out a soft sigh as they tumble to the bed...




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in a little room across the hall, Norzak and Marie...

Marie listens intently to all the Norzak says. She replies,

''I will help you. I don't know how to be sure if he'll come for me tonight. That's just what the older girls were saying. You can hide in here tonight. I'd feel safer if you were with me. ''


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Benn, Cirdan, and Dorgio at at the Sign of the Two Goats...


Two of the rough looking group stand up and move to a table immediately across from where your party is stead. The remaining three men stay near the door, having moved over a bit so that they have a clear line of sight on your party, and are close enough to the exit to intercept anyone attempting to enter or leave, should they decide to do so.

The uglier of the pair that's moved near to you all speaks-

''You'd be Bennedict Gehrman, then. That makes these three your partners- a half-breed, a freak, and a dirty Barovian peasant. Ha! I've come for three particular items my employer wants. You have them. You know what I'm talking about Gehrmann, or do I need to spell it out for you?''
The ugly speaker and his silent companion keep their hands very near the openings of the coats.



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Alain at Odall's Eats...

Odall's Eats is the next place on Alain's list. It's a small eatery in the River Quarter, right along the waterfront. Supposedly, it's a good place to gather gossip about goings on in this part of town. The cafe serves what has been described to Alain as ''Arkandaler food. '' Arkandale is a country to the south, and Alain knows precious little else about the place.

Near the door on the exterior of the cafe hangs a big wooden board that's half covered with notes, posters, printed broadsides, etc. A closer examination shows the writings are done in a variety of hands. Alain can't read all of it, because some is written in unfamiliar script, but what he can read shows a variety of topics: announcements of auctions, estate sales, wanted posters [none for Van Diecks, you'll notice], etc.

Past the door and inside the cafe is a large chamber well lit by sunlight coming in through the open windows. Flowerpots with marigolds and impatients in them sit on the window sills. The bright hues of the flowers stand out against the whitewhashed walls. To Alain's left as he enters is a long hardwood counter that runs nearly the length of the room. Along the countertop are rows of cotton napkins, wooden cups, jars of various things [including pickled pigs' feet, jam, peaches, etc]. Against the counter are several stools. On the wall behind the counter there are wooden cabinets, all closed. Across the room to Alain's right, facing the open windows and the riverwalk, are several small wooden tables with rattan chairs. The far wall has an half-door leading to what appears to be the kitchen. The whole place is very clean.

There are several customers in the cafe, and a couple of youthful servers taking orders, bringing out food, etc.

As Alain walks in and looks about, a gray haired man ambles over. He's a well-fed looking fellow, with an amble brisket. He doesn't look like a weakling, though, there is muscle under that fat, you'd reckon. His apron has grease and flour marks on it.


''Good day to you suh! What can I do for you?''

Dorgio fixes the ugly one with a slow smile, then lights a cigarillo. "Ah, my friend, such xenophobia, it does not become a man of the big city!" The priest continues to smile, partly to hold the thug's attention and partly because he finally got a chance to use "xenophobia," perhaps the longest word he knows in Mordentish.

He flicks his eyes away from the man only for a moment, towards the barmaid. "A bottle of your strongest spirit, please!"

Returning to the thug, he says, "Your employer, he has terms, yes? A little finders fee for us?"

When the bottle arrives, he pours a generous amount in his glass, then offers the rest around.

"Or perhaps we are simply to be grateful for our necks?"

Keep them talking, he thinks.

The ugly man smiles, showing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

''Finders fee? Sure. He'll pay ten florins each to hand over the items. He said you'd be stubborn. I'm happily surprised you're showing common sense. ''


The speaker moves one hand away from his coat and takes up the glass. He sips at his glass of juniper-spirits, without ever taking his eyes off Dorgio.

The quiet man leaves his glass sittting in front of him untouched, and does nothing more than stare at your party. His fingers are moving nervously, tapping away at the hem of his long coat.
Tip tap, tip tap...

The serving wench has left and not been back since dropping off the spirits. Others are drifting away, as well. People are congregating towards the bar or to the rear of the building, where the great fireplace stands cold and empty.

"Given the overwhelming level of force on display, Herr..." Benn arches his eyes, suggesting for the fellow to give his name, "I'm afraid you offer us little choice. Unfortunately, Herr Sancerre has been far more generous than your patron, and I am somewhat particular about doing business with people I don't know. Perhaps you'd care to give us his name?"

Adam wrote:"Given the overwhelming level of force on display, Herr..." Benn arches his eyes, suggesting for the fellow to give his name, "I'm afraid you offer us little choice. Unfortunately, Herr Sancerre has been far more generous than your patron, and I am somewhat particular about doing business with people I don't know. Perhaps you'd care to give us his name?"

The yellow-toothed man laughs, an ugly sound, and says,


''Haha! His name? No. I'm not stupid, you damned clerk. Give us the items now, and there won't be trouble. You'll be paid. As for your employer and his deep pockets...well, I don't care to keep mine waiting, that's all.''

Something like fear flickers across the man's ugly face when he mentions his unnamed boss.