LOST TRAILS 10 ZHENTIL KEEP

[ewancummins]

SIR CLIVE AND KLOKULF WITH THEIR SLAVES

Theophilus clears his throat and then says,''Excuse me... ahhh...Master... The Street of the Money-changers is one block to the east. "

Tonio nods.
"Shirts, you said, Boss? There's a second-hand clothes-seller across the street from my home...that's not far, either." His face darkens.
The laborer's voice isn't so quiet now, but still carries an edge of undisguised wariness.

[RocEter]

SIR CLIVE AND KLOKULF WITH THEIR SLAVES

Theophilus clears his throat and then says,''Excuse me... ahhh...Master... The Street of the Money-changers is one block to the east. "

Tonio nods.
"Shirts, you said, Boss? There's a second-hand clothes-seller across the street from my home...that's not far, either." His face darkens.
The laborer's voice isn't so quiet now, but still carries an edge of undisguised wariness.

"Your home, you say? Tell me, would it bring harm upon your family should we visit them?" Clive asks Tonio.

[ewancummins]

Tonio blinks.
"Harm? No. No, don't think so, Boss."

[alhoon]

''Are you...was that...'' Her small voice barely carries over the noises of the street, even standing so near the wizard.

"Are you going to be all right?" Raen said. He still has the few coins he had gathered on his palm as he looks for Kat. "That went better than I thought. Lekar is probably worse. Will you need assistance going to your place of work?"

[ewancummins]

''Are you...was that...'' Her small voice barely carries over the noises of the street, even standing so near the wizard.

"Are you going to be all right?" Raen said. He still has the few coins he had gathered on his palm as he looks for Kat. "That went better than I thought. Lekar is probably worse. Will you need assistance going to your place of work?"

The young woman's freckled face breaks into a wide smile. ''Yes, thanks!''

As Raen escorts Lana to a tavern down the street toward the north, she chats with him.
Her name is Lana. She works in the Slaughtered Ox, a tavern kept by a man named Armanzhoon. After determining that Raen comes from someplace far away and hasn't been to Zhentil Keep before, she shares gossip and rumors. In the prior month, there's been trouble between opposed factions, spilling over into street fights and back-alley stabbings, and rumors of purges within 'The Black Altar.' Not murder by broad daylight, though, but at night and in shadowy meeting places. Her knowledge of religious and political matters seems limited and second-hand, though, and she uses a high whisper when discussing any dark or dangerous-sounding bits of gossip.

If Kat tags along

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, she has no trouble overhearing the conversation.
Once Lana comes to understand Kat is Raen's friend, the barmaid quickly warms to the other woman.

[kintire]

Kat joins the pair and chats cheerfully to Lana. She is interested in the gossip and the situation in the city, but she is only proposing to stay here overnight so she doesn’t go into much detail.

Neither does she pay any attention to where the others are going

[Wolfglide of the Fraternity]

SIR CLIVE AND KLOKULF WITH THEIR SLAVES

Theophilus clears his throat and then says,''Excuse me... ahhh...Master... The Street of the Money-changers is one block to the east. "

Tonio nods.
"Shirts, you said, Boss? There's a second-hand clothes-seller across the street from my home...that's not far, either." His face darkens.
The laborer's voice isn't so quiet now, but still carries an edge of undisguised wariness.

"Your home, you say? Tell me, would it bring harm upon your family should we visit them?" Clive asks Tonio.

Tonio blinks.
"Harm? No. No, don't think so, Boss."

"It sounds as though we have an itinerary, then," remarks Klokulf. "The clothier and its environs, the money-changers, then the inn."
Noticing Kat and Raen walking away down the street, he says, "The inn we haven't coordinated to meet at before dividing . . . For the love of Førstregel." He hustles to catch up and relay directions.

[ewancummins]

AFTER DIRECTIONS HAVE BEEN RELAYED AND A RENDEZVOUS SET FOR THE INN THAT EVENING...

KLOKULF, SIR CLIVE
AND THE TWO SLAVES

First the money-changer's and the the second-hand clothier's shop, neither of which business takes very long.

Dressed in mended old shirts, with the crimson auction numerals painted on the chests wiped and the smeared stains concealed, Tonio and Theophilus look less like captives and more like ordinary poor citizens.
They accompany their new owners without good cheer, but also without any grumbling or foot-dragging.

Tonio's family--his father, mother, younger sister, and two little brothers-- are happy to see Tonio alive and well, though obviously not overjoyed at his present state of bondage. The laborer's parents offer Sir Clive and Klokulf what meager hospitality their overcrowded tenement home can afford.

The father, Arnulfo, says ''My boy's a good worker, Sir Knight. And a scrapper, too. That's what got him into this trouble.''

Tonio grimaces. He shrugs his broad, muscular shoulders.

Theophilus takes the family reunion and introduction of the masters as an opportunity to snatch up some morsels of cheese and bread from the table and gulp vinegar-wine from an unattended jug. The skinny teenager does this without hiding, but also without drawing much attention to himself.

Alwina, who as usual accompanies Klokulf, somewhat awkwardly engages in conversation with Tonio's mother and sister.

[ewancummins]

BENN...

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? OOC If the player has plans, let me know. Otherwise I will assume he waits someplace he considers reasonably safe. Maybe an early check-in at the inn

[ewancummins]

AT THE SIGN OF THE SLAUGHTERED OX

RAEN AND KINTIRE
WITH THE BARMAID, LARA

Lara points out her place of employment: a two story half-timber building with a steep slate roof and murky windows set with verdigrised bronze bars.
Stairs run up the west side, to a closed wooden door. The main ground floor doors on the south side hang open, swung inward and blocked in place.

Inside, the dim air smells of sweat, fried fish, fermented drinks, and anise. A dozen or so customers, mostly men and older boys in workingman's garb, cluster around the bar, where a harried man with a great beak of a nose and goggling eyes hastens to fill multiple orders. A girl with a similarly big snout assists the man.

The bartender looks up at Lara as she comes in and calls out, ''Lara! What took you so long? You're late!"

She blurts an apology, hurrying to pull on an apron and get to work.
To Raen, she says, "Thanks!"

A look at the crooked letters of the chalked menu shows a simple range of food and drink at reasonable prices. Nothing fancy, unless 'Zambook' is some delicacy or fine liquor.

[ewancummins]

ALAIN

standing in the streets after his companions have temporarily split up, hears sounds of a disturbance nearby, the noises drifting down a narrow lane that runs between multistory 'islands' of masonry buildings ( combinations of shops and tenements, perhaps).
Footfalls, shouts...musical instruments?

As the boots slapping the pavement come closer, Alain sees it's not a riot or an affray but a parade.
Men in black cloaks and fearsome-crested helms march to the thudding of a brass drum and the squealing of a reed-pipe, right hands clapped on sword hilts.Shields hang over the men's shoulders.
The guidon bearer holds up a flag embroidered with an armored and bejeweled gauntlet.


As the double file of twenty soldiers in studded leather emerges from the alley and turns right in the main thoroughfare, passing directly in front of Alain, Alain sees what follows the martial display; two men in black leather masks, stripped to the waist and smeared with red paint, half-dragging an unclothed woman through the streets on chains connected to her neck and rests.
The woman's hair is silvery gray but her lithe form suggests the suppleness of youth. She wears nothing but a light smearing of dust and blood. And, as she gets close, he can see her elfin features and pointed ears. Her eyes squint in the light of the open street and she stumbles as if dazzled.

People nearby stop to gather and stare at the parade and the dark fairy lady.

[RocEter]

AFTER DIRECTIONS HAVE BEEN RELAYED AND A RENDEZVOUS SET FOR THE INN THAT EVENING...

KLOKULF, SIR CLIVE
AND THE TWO SLAVES

First the money-changer's and the the second-hand clothier's shop, neither of which business takes very long.

Dressed in mended old shirts, with the crimson auction numerals painted on the chests wiped and the smeared stains concealed, Tonio and Theophilus look less like captives and more like ordinary poor citizens.
They accompany their new owners without good cheer, but also without any grumbling or foot-dragging.

Tonio's family--his father, mother, younger sister, and two little brothers-- are happy to see Tonio alive and well, though obviously not overjoyed at his present state of bondage. The laborer's parents offer Sir Clive and Klokulf what meager hospitality their overcrowded tenement home can afford.

The father, Arnulfo, says ''My boy's a good worker, Sir Knight. And a scrapper, too. That's what got him into this trouble.''

Tonio grimaces. He shrugs his broad, muscular shoulders.

Theophilus takes the family reunion and introduction of the masters as an opportunity to snatch up some morsels of cheese and bread from the table and gulp vinegar-wine from an unattended jug. The skinny teenager does this without hiding, but also without drawing much attention to himself.

Alwina, who as usual accompanies Klokulf, somewhat awkwardly engages in conversation with Tonio's mother and sister.

Clive greets Tonio's family warmly and accepts their hospitality with grace and respect.

"Your hospitality is most generous." He says to Arnulfo. "A kindness, I must repay in kind."

Pausing for a moment, Clive looks around Tonio's home and then at Tonio before continuing. "Tonio, I suggest you gather a few keepsakes to remind of your home and family. Our journey ahead is long, and I know not when we will return."

Clive says nothing of Theophilus's actions but he makes painfully obvious that he can see him.

[ewancummins]

AT TONIO'S HOME

Theophilus avoids Sir Clive's gaze, and ceases his feasting on the sly.


Tonio thanks Sir Clive and then goes to gather his things.
He quickly returns with a sack stuffed with personal belongings, spare clothes, and food.

Tonio's siblings all kiss him goodbye. His sister weeps and his mother fusses over him as if he were her only child.
Arnulfo then clears them all out of the way and gives his son--who stands taller than he does-- a bear hug.
"Keep out of trouble if you can, son. The knight'll make a good master, I think. You can see he's a man of honor, not like some who swagger about in their sword belts and... Well, I hope we'll see you again."

[kintire]

Kat simply stares coldly at Klokulf displaying no interest in where he will be and not making any statement that she will meet where he says, or anywhere else. She waits until he stops talking and moves on with no reply.

Arriving at the inn she settles at a table and orders something that sounds safe.

“So, what now?”

[ewancummins]

NOTE:

The Slaughtered Ox, where Kat and Raen escorted Lara after helping her out of the difficulty with the black-cloaks, is a tavern/pub (serving food and drink), not an inn.

The inn where Klokulf plans to rendezvous with the party isn't far away. We hadn't named it in the thread before, but it is called the Barrowhill Inn.