POVERO

[alhoon]

Fild makes a frown. "bodyguard duty? Rat out people to the authorities?" he says shaking his head negatively.
"I don't say we go for the wrong side of the law again, while I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand, but I find bodyguard duty and caravan escort duty boring and pointing fingers to people that have done me or mine no harm detestable."

[VAN]

Tom sighs.

"Ok, lets finish our dinner and have some rest we are all tired. Tomorrow we will see what this city can offer us."

Turning to Gertie he says:

"We will share the room, the two of us and Gem, as we did when we were children."

Tom winks at Gertie and casually passing among most of the tables finally gets to the counter and asksif he can get a room for himself and Gertie.

[Adam]

Alfonse shrugs. "As long as its nothing like that business with the gnome," he says, "My spell components all smelled like manure for a week afterwards..."

"A wizard always has some value in a town like this," he says, "Maybe if we could find a board to post a notice, I could find some work that way."

[VAN]

Tom dismisses everything he has heard about the weather but makes a mental note of those that had daggers. He should be careful, they are indeed new in the city and for once they should try to mingle without troubles with the law. Alas how difficult will be that for the half elf...

Going back to their table whispers what he founds out without telling the others his plans. He just winks to Gertie emphasizing what the man said and has a dagger so that isn't that innocent and good fellow.

[Zilfer]

Damien had lagged behind walking the streets a bit and familiarizing himself with how busy the streets where and asking directions of multiple people to get a lay of the land. He wasn’t the smartest man, and had a hard time remembering directions but he found if he asked enough times he would know at least the general direction.

The people of the town seemed helpful enough if not busy going about their business. He hadn’t picked up what sort of trade work most people tended towards yet but there was still time for that. Damien walked in around the time money was being mentioned and he nodded his head in agreement as he took a seat. Money was always good, but Damien had always had an easy come easy go attitude with money.

“Save your money, I’ll pay for our first night here since we are all here partically because of me,” said Damien as guilt played over his face for a moment. “Give me your tabs for your rooms and I’ll at least pay for the first night.”

Damien’s attention moved to Tom’s scheming then back to Alfonse. “If you think that might earn some coin putting out that you are magical then I’d say go for it,” said Damien furrowing his brows as if trying to decide something. He ends up getting over and walking over to where a group of men were playing cards, and asks if he can join the game.

[ewancummins]

Damien had lagged behind walking the streets a bit and familiarizing himself with how busy the streets where and asking directions of multiple people to get a lay of the land. He wasn’t the smartest man, and had a hard time remembering directions but he found if he asked enough times he would know at least the general direction.

The people of the town seemed helpful enough if not busy going about their business. He hadn’t picked up what sort of trade work most people tended towards yet but there was still time for that. Damien walked in around the time money was being mentioned and he nodded his head in agreement as he took a seat. Money was always good, but Damien had always had an easy come easy go attitude with money.

“Save your money, I’ll pay for our first night here since we are all here partically because of me,” said Damien as guilt played over his face for a moment. “Give me your tabs for your rooms and I’ll at least pay for the first night.”

Damien’s attention moved to Tom’s scheming then back to Alfonse. “If you think that might earn some coin putting out that you are magical then I’d say go for it,” said Damien furrowing his brows as if trying to decide something. He ends up getting over and walking over to where a group of men were playing cards, and asks if he can join the game.

Three men sit at the table. They all wear plain clothing; tunics and breeches.
No money in sight.
One of the men, whose gray hair gives him a more mature appearance than his two youthful companions, indicates an empty chair. ''You can join after we finish this game. Won't be long, I think.''

The players proceed with the game.
In short order, the older man lays out a winning hand and the others congratulate him on his victory.
One of the two younger fellows shuffles the deck of cards (five inches by three inches, with what looks printing of black ink images against the yellow cardstock).

[Zilfer]

Damien took a seat getting a good view of the cards. “Just arrived in from outside of town, probably not an uncommon sight here I’d guess. You fellows come here often to play? I might be of the mind to join you for a few games in the future,” said Damien waiting for the cards to be passed out. He had his own deck of playing cards, old and worn but still usable but he mostly used those for a different sort of card game.

After getting dealt in and looking at the cards in front of him, continued to try and be at ease. “My name’s Damien by the way.” He shifted his cards in his hand as if matching up cards, or organizing them in his hand. If he had anything decent he planned to throw away the good cards and keep the bad. The point was to gather a bit of information not really win the games. After a few hands he planned on asking about the lone drinking man, he had a feeling Tom was already planning that guy as a mark.

If you were going to mark someone it was best to know at least a rudimentary amount of trouble that could come along with the job. Besides, it was like his father always said, “Old men don’t grow old without learning some secrets.” Whatever that was supposed to mean.

[Adam]

Alfonse returns to the table, having asked around the bar for where work could be acquired.

"Evidently there's a marketplace," he says, "Somewhere I could look for an employer in need of my...talents. Plus my components could use a refreshing, anyway. Anyone care to tag along?"

[alhoon]

"I would come, but it's still early. Let's enjoy this place for a bit more and we go in half an hour." Fild turns to the others "Don't do anything I wouldn't do... unless I'm here to open some heads and get you out of the mess."

[Adam]

Alfonse sighs and plops down into a chair near the table, pulling out his spellbook and flipping through it idly while sipping at his wine.

Maybe if I suggested ROBBING the marketplace, they'd be more interested he thinks as he rolls the words of the spells around in his mind out of rote habit.

[VAN]

Turning to Fild Tom says with a smile.

"You are really getting us more and more my friend. Well some muscle is always welcome."

[alhoon]

Fild looks 'hurt'
"It's not about my good looks and dashing personality then?" He said and flaunted his goatee.

[VAN]

Van rises his glass ordering another one.

"Call it as you want. You are one of us now."

[steveflam]

Gertie looks at Fild. She hums and taps her feet. "You think cause you have three hairs on your chin you're handsome?," she giggles, a good hearted jab indeed.

She takes a sip of her juice and swallows it then burps rather loudly. "Beat that one, big brother!" Then she laughs real hard, tears streaming down her cheeks.

[ewancummins]

LATER

A STROLL DOWN THE BAY ROAD


The party, having rested and taken refreshment, commences a post-siesta tour through the heart of POVERO by the simplest means: stepping out the front door of the Frisky Friar and walking south, down the gentle slope of the earth toward the bay.
The walk carries them through a district of inns and roadhouses, hostelries, and other businesses that serve travelers.

Once, they are delayed when a party of drovers moves a large herd of sheep east to west across the road, temporarily blocking traffic. The drovers head for a small green square on the left (eastern) side of the Bay Road, hemmed in by houses and tenements. Traffic is picking up, with men in dusty clothes coming into and out of the businesses and cart drivers in sun hats driving wagons onto the Bay Road from side tracks that lead to the urban farm plots.

As the party moves further down, the buildings rise higher, most notably so to the right (western) side of Bay Road. Espalandes and plazas open up between tall blocks of masonry. The modest structures of the northern city give place to grand, imposing buildings in a range of styles from the thick walled and domed old style structures to airier, many arched palazzos. Some of the buildings have been white washed. Others show elaborately carved stone facades. And some are painted in pastels.


By this time of day, the city has become quite busy. The city-explorers see a a higher class of people join the stream of common travellers and farmers that flows in from the north: magistrates in black robes passing between buildings in sedan chairs, ladies wearing lace and jewels riding sidesaddle on ponies, gentlemen strolling with belted swords, and so on.
They also spot several clerks who scuttle along afoot, carrying thick packets of papers tied up in twine.

People mounted and on foot come and go in all directions, but the general flow of traffic follows the curve of the Bay Road toward the sea.

While still in the Civic District, the party comes across a man in a buff and blue particolor doublet reading aloud from a broadsheet. He stands atop a short stone pillar. (Close examination shows wooden steps adjoining the back of the squat stone cylinder). A small, mixed crowd has gathered to listen to him.
(Anyone who pauses to listen may catch some local news.)