After the discussion in the bar, the group decides to try and find Brandt, to get him up to speed on the various different theories they had, and to make a decision regarding Mr Sparks' offer. Knowing no other likely place for Brandt to be, they all head for the Velvet Glove.
--------------------------------------------
Brandt had spent the rest of the afternoon at the Velvet Glove, after returning from his enquiries about any craftsmen that would be able to sell him weapon parts. Although Colette had been anxious about getting her own firearm, she understood that such things take time. Brandt wanted to make the most of his free time, and after a hearty meal with good wine, spent an hour or so talking to Colette, who seemed to enjoy the attention she received, on a day that was otherwise very quiet, at least for that part of the service. Although it might have been good fun, Brandt didn't wanna head to the card tables. He didn't know how much the owners here cheated, but even if they didn't, he was a moderate cards player at best, and didn't feel particularly lucky today.
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Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Corti follows towards the back of the group, as she doesn’t know the way. When the group arrives she keeps her eyes out for Brandt, but doesn’t say anything.
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Corti- Warforged bard (Union!)
Hadar Jaffe- Half-elf Knowledge Domain Cleric (Nemo's Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun)
"By the way, I told the Cannith kid that this was my address for the purpose of sending messages to me, so if someone who looks like they're with the Canniths comes in here, they're here to deliver something to me."
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Thia too would not know the way, so she'd follow beside Corti. But once they reached the establishment, she'd be excited to check out this new place where the famous mercenary is rumoured to hang out. Thia would skip ahead of the others to burst through the doors first to scan the room for Brandt. If she spotted him, she'd throw an arm up and shout " 'Ey!" waving to try to get his attention, then pointing to the group of them coming through the door.
Brandt smiles and waves back at Thia. "Hey! It's you from earlier!"Brandt looks back at Colette and whispers. "It's that girl we ran into earlier on the way to training with the guns. This is the third time she's bumped into me today, I have no idea how we keep running into each other. This girl has to be a tracker or something."
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Thia would wave the group to follow her to Brandt's table. She'd plop down in an available seat beside Brandt. Recognizing Colette from earlier, Thia would give her a polite smile and nod before facing Brandt "It is me. And company." She'd wait for the others to get settled.
“Hello again!” Corti puts up a hand in greeting and sits down on Thia’s other side. Seeing Collette, she leans across the table, “Hi there, I’m Corti.”
With the motley group arriving inside of the Velvet Glove tavern, there was a sudden buzz of activity on the ground floor, with the barmaids straightening their skirts and discreetly touching up their make up, before coming over to the table to ask the new guests what they wanted. A single glare from Colette was enough for them to back off though. She had made it clear that these were not the usual customers.
Although it's quiet here, the faint din of the card tables can be heard in the background, providing an interesting contrast to the mostly empty and almost echoing room that they found themselves in.
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Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
“Ah so Colette is your name.” Thia would give her another head nod. “Brandt did not introduce you earlier today.” She’d smile politely again, “What are you running from?” She’d asked bluntly but casually when Brandt would mention she’s learning to defend herself. She would catch Colette’s glare to the barmaids. Thinking it was unnecessary and rude, Thia, still naive to the true nature of this bar, would flag down one of the barmaids she just shooed away, to order a round for the table so they could all get to business.
Tarian had kept mostly to herself during introductions, half listening and half scanning the room. The right side, dedicated to the elegant pine bar and spaces for clientele to become acquainted with the courtesans, was mostly empty. The staff, with nothing to do since being driven off by Colette, idled their time with each other, chatting on the divans or practicing music or dance to entertain their guests with.
A far cry from the White Maiden. I suppose sailors are more apt to getting straight to business.
Against the wall furthest from the door was a stage high enough that a performer standing on it could be seen from anywhere in the room, even if the room was full. Currently the stage was empty, save near the end where a lone woman sat on a stool, idly practicing the same few bars on her mandolin of a song Tarian didn’t recognize.
What concerned Tarian the most were the gambling tables. A dozen green felt-lined tables were arranged opposite the bar, each with comfortable-looking low-backed barstools. The spacing was crowded but just so: despite the close placement there was always enough room for people to easily meander between tables. Even when a player flailed in frustration, servers never had to worry about a platter of drinks being upturned down their décolletage. In this thick jumble Tarian studied the players, dealers, bouncers, and pit boss, looking for one thing on everyone that was where it shouldn’t be: a playing card in a hat band.
While this was the Forge district, not the Docklands or the Eastern Fields, Tarian still felt a bit on edge. This was a casino and a brothel. It was like jumping straight into the belly of a multi-headed beast.
After a long moment Tarian realized that introductions were completed. Somewhere in her mind she realized Arc hadn’t introduced himself. In that deep recess, she thought: Smart, though I don’t think he realizes why. If any of the Suits are here, they’d want to know who he is. The thought was cut short, though, by the realization she still had yet to introduce herself.
Tarian interjected before Colette had a chance to respond to Thia’s question. She thrust out a hand toward Brandt. “Tarian. Docklands freelancer,” she stated quickly. “Here by way of one Mister Milo Spudsder, with a proposition for work from one Mister Sparks. I’m told you are acquainted.”
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"On the other side of the screen, it all looks so easy." --Kevin Flynn, Tron (1982)
Out of context, also applicable to Dungeons & Dragons.
Brandt looks at Tarian and squints his eyes for a moment. "You look oddly familiar for some reason. Have we met before?" It would certainly explain how Thia's been able to keep bumping into me if she's been sent by someone who knows me.
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Tarian studied Brandt’s face for the first time. It wasn’t as though his face was completely unfamiliar—perhaps they had met at some point, after all. She ran through the last several cases she had in her head, trying to recollect whether she had seen him recently. He wasn’t a client or target—those Tarian remembered easily enough. She was fairly certain she hadn’t interviewed him as part of a lead.
“I think Miss Colette might react if this was some sort of pickup line and I don’t think I owe you money on dice or cards, so it’s gotta be business, then. Let’s see… Apothecary and other medical services? No… Anything to do with plants or animals, also probably no… I remember everyone who’s requested that, so that’s a no…” Tarian shook her head. “Only thing I can think of is my sword skills.”
Without her sword in hand, Tarian quickly ran through five different two-handed sword guard stances, choosing the most difficult to transition between and ending on her favorite: hanging right. “But a gunman wouldn’t have use of a shield-maiden.” Tarian eased her combat stance. “And my accuracy with anything I can’t put my back into is nothing of note. I was tested on it once…”
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"On the other side of the screen, it all looks so easy." --Kevin Flynn, Tron (1982)
Out of context, also applicable to Dungeons & Dragons.
"Ehh, I wouldn't say that I'd have no use for a shield-maiden. No matter how good I am with this thing, some lucky son of a ***** always manages to get closer than I'd like. Having someone who's good with a sword always makes things easier. Do you remember who tested your shooting?"
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
“Can’t say I remember a name, but, now that you’ve made me think on it, I recall during my sword test I was bested by a man with a rapier.” Tarian's grin was playfully destructive as she crouched forward with her left hand in the middle distance in front of her, her right a bit away from her body at her side: a sword-and-shield stance. “I’d like to think I’ve improved a bit since then. Care to have another go?”
Tarian straightened herself. “Or at least I would say, if it wasn’t business that brought me here. I’m not surprised to see you’re doing well, Mister Brandt. Your skill is exactly why Mister Spudsder sent me here to find you. He’s assembling a mission to delay someone in their travel, and was impressed enough by your skill to ask you to join. Spudsder had other urgent affairs to attend to elsewhere, so I’m here in his place. I have more details if you’re interested.” Tarian looked to the rest of the group. “We all have some details, to tell the truth. It’s complicated.”
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"On the other side of the screen, it all looks so easy." --Kevin Flynn, Tron (1982)
Out of context, also applicable to Dungeons & Dragons.
Brandt smirks. "Nice to see that you're doing well, Tarian. You clearly didn't need to join any band of mercs to make a name for yourself. Apparently Spudster forgot to tell you that I've already agreed to work with Mr. Sparks on his new project. And it's not the sort of thing where I can take on a side job."
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Thia would look to Brandt, "Milo was given this job from Sparks. I'd imagine it's related. Spudster was looking for you before he got called away on family business. Thus here we are."
Tarian straddled a barstool and sat hard. “The short of it is this: Sparks wants us to delay a Marshal’s arrival in Duskrock. The three he’s concerned with are Marshal Cimber, Marshal Grimme, and Marshal Arceneaux. I assume you’re probably more aware of their reputations than we are. Arceneaux seems to be Sparks’s greatest concern. Corti and Thia,” Tarian lightly gestured toward the two in turn as she said their names, “are concerned that a couple of Thia’s friends have gotten entangled in bad business with Marshal Grimme, and I’ve got some half-baked conspiracy theory that Arceneaux might be arranging to have Dragoons murdered in Duskrock.”
Tarian spun around on the stool to lean her back against the bar. “So, three potential targets, one with our sponsor’s particular interest.” Tarian watched one of the gamblers far across the room pound the table in frustration and shove his pile of coins to the center of the table. “No particular plan, exactly, either, though we’ll be provided a cover story: we’ll be doing a surveying mission for a potential rail line through the area. That job pays thirty denars a head up front as a signing bonus, with five per head per day salary. The real job is a hundred fifty upon completion. Don’t know about you, but a hundred eighty would go an awful long way for me. First thing I’d do is replace the crossbow that bastard Borrick’s men took from me.” Tarian’s face contorted in a snarl.
After the discussion in the bar, the group decides to try and find Brandt, to get him up to speed on the various different theories they had, and to make a decision regarding Mr Sparks' offer. Knowing no other likely place for Brandt to be, they all head for the Velvet Glove.
--------------------------------------------
Brandt had spent the rest of the afternoon at the Velvet Glove, after returning from his enquiries about any craftsmen that would be able to sell him weapon parts. Although Colette had been anxious about getting her own firearm, she understood that such things take time. Brandt wanted to make the most of his free time, and after a hearty meal with good wine, spent an hour or so talking to Colette, who seemed to enjoy the attention she received, on a day that was otherwise very quiet, at least for that part of the service. Although it might have been good fun, Brandt didn't wanna head to the card tables. He didn't know how much the owners here cheated, but even if they didn't, he was a moderate cards player at best, and didn't feel particularly lucky today.
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Corti follows towards the back of the group, as she doesn’t know the way. When the group arrives she keeps her eyes out for Brandt, but doesn’t say anything.
I do both party and individual character commissions. PM me for info.
Corti- Warforged bard (Union!)
Hadar Jaffe- Half-elf Knowledge Domain Cleric (Nemo's Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun)
"By the way, I told the Cannith kid that this was my address for the purpose of sending messages to me, so if someone who looks like they're with the Canniths comes in here, they're here to deliver something to me."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Thia too would not know the way, so she'd follow beside Corti. But once they reached the establishment, she'd be excited to check out this new place where the famous mercenary is rumoured to hang out. Thia would skip ahead of the others to burst through the doors first to scan the room for Brandt. If she spotted him, she'd throw an arm up and shout " 'Ey!" waving to try to get his attention, then pointing to the group of them coming through the door.
just an unstable unicorn.
Brandt smiles and waves back at Thia. "Hey! It's you from earlier!" Brandt looks back at Colette and whispers. "It's that girl we ran into earlier on the way to training with the guns. This is the third time she's bumped into me today, I have no idea how we keep running into each other. This girl has to be a tracker or something."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Thia would wave the group to follow her to Brandt's table. She'd plop down in an available seat beside Brandt. Recognizing Colette from earlier, Thia would give her a polite smile and nod before facing Brandt "It is me. And company." She'd wait for the others to get settled.
just an unstable unicorn.
“Hello again!” Corti puts up a hand in greeting and sits down on Thia’s other side. Seeing Collette, she leans across the table, “Hi there, I’m Corti.”
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Corti- Warforged bard (Union!)
Hadar Jaffe- Half-elf Knowledge Domain Cleric (Nemo's Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun)
"Hey." He says back. "Oh Colette, this is Corti, she's Thia's friend. Corti, this is Colette, I've been teaching her how to defend herself."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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With the motley group arriving inside of the Velvet Glove tavern, there was a sudden buzz of activity on the ground floor, with the barmaids straightening their skirts and discreetly touching up their make up, before coming over to the table to ask the new guests what they wanted. A single glare from Colette was enough for them to back off though. She had made it clear that these were not the usual customers.
Although it's quiet here, the faint din of the card tables can be heard in the background, providing an interesting contrast to the mostly empty and almost echoing room that they found themselves in.
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Arc silently sips his drink and keeps to himself. Trying to attract as little attention as possible, while acting normally.
“Ah so Colette is your name.” Thia would give her another head nod. “Brandt did not introduce you earlier today.” She’d smile politely again, “What are you running from?” She’d asked bluntly but casually when Brandt would mention she’s learning to defend herself. She would catch Colette’s glare to the barmaids. Thinking it was unnecessary and rude, Thia, still naive to the true nature of this bar, would flag down one of the barmaids she just shooed away, to order a round for the table so they could all get to business.
just an unstable unicorn.
Tarian had kept mostly to herself during introductions, half listening and half scanning the room. The right side, dedicated to the elegant pine bar and spaces for clientele to become acquainted with the courtesans, was mostly empty. The staff, with nothing to do since being driven off by Colette, idled their time with each other, chatting on the divans or practicing music or dance to entertain their guests with.
A far cry from the White Maiden. I suppose sailors are more apt to getting straight to business.
Against the wall furthest from the door was a stage high enough that a performer standing on it could be seen from anywhere in the room, even if the room was full. Currently the stage was empty, save near the end where a lone woman sat on a stool, idly practicing the same few bars on her mandolin of a song Tarian didn’t recognize.
What concerned Tarian the most were the gambling tables. A dozen green felt-lined tables were arranged opposite the bar, each with comfortable-looking low-backed barstools. The spacing was crowded but just so: despite the close placement there was always enough room for people to easily meander between tables. Even when a player flailed in frustration, servers never had to worry about a platter of drinks being upturned down their décolletage. In this thick jumble Tarian studied the players, dealers, bouncers, and pit boss, looking for one thing on everyone that was where it shouldn’t be: a playing card in a hat band.
While this was the Forge district, not the Docklands or the Eastern Fields, Tarian still felt a bit on edge. This was a casino and a brothel. It was like jumping straight into the belly of a multi-headed beast.
After a long moment Tarian realized that introductions were completed. Somewhere in her mind she realized Arc hadn’t introduced himself. In that deep recess, she thought: Smart, though I don’t think he realizes why. If any of the Suits are here, they’d want to know who he is. The thought was cut short, though, by the realization she still had yet to introduce herself.
Tarian interjected before Colette had a chance to respond to Thia’s question. She thrust out a hand toward Brandt. “Tarian. Docklands freelancer,” she stated quickly. “Here by way of one Mister Milo Spudsder, with a proposition for work from one Mister Sparks. I’m told you are acquainted.”
"On the other side of the screen, it all looks so easy." --Kevin Flynn, Tron (1982)
Out of context, also applicable to Dungeons & Dragons.
Brandt looks at Tarian and squints his eyes for a moment. "You look oddly familiar for some reason. Have we met before?" It would certainly explain how Thia's been able to keep bumping into me if she's been sent by someone who knows me.
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Tarian studied Brandt’s face for the first time. It wasn’t as though his face was completely unfamiliar—perhaps they had met at some point, after all. She ran through the last several cases she had in her head, trying to recollect whether she had seen him recently. He wasn’t a client or target—those Tarian remembered easily enough. She was fairly certain she hadn’t interviewed him as part of a lead.
“I think Miss Colette might react if this was some sort of pickup line and I don’t think I owe you money on dice or cards, so it’s gotta be business, then. Let’s see… Apothecary and other medical services? No… Anything to do with plants or animals, also probably no… I remember everyone who’s requested that, so that’s a no…” Tarian shook her head. “Only thing I can think of is my sword skills.”
Without her sword in hand, Tarian quickly ran through five different two-handed sword guard stances, choosing the most difficult to transition between and ending on her favorite: hanging right. “But a gunman wouldn’t have use of a shield-maiden.” Tarian eased her combat stance. “And my accuracy with anything I can’t put my back into is nothing of note. I was tested on it once…”
"On the other side of the screen, it all looks so easy." --Kevin Flynn, Tron (1982)
Out of context, also applicable to Dungeons & Dragons.
"Ehh, I wouldn't say that I'd have no use for a shield-maiden. No matter how good I am with this thing, some lucky son of a ***** always manages to get closer than I'd like. Having someone who's good with a sword always makes things easier. Do you remember who tested your shooting?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
“Can’t say I remember a name, but, now that you’ve made me think on it, I recall during my sword test I was bested by a man with a rapier.” Tarian's grin was playfully destructive as she crouched forward with her left hand in the middle distance in front of her, her right a bit away from her body at her side: a sword-and-shield stance. “I’d like to think I’ve improved a bit since then. Care to have another go?”
Tarian straightened herself. “Or at least I would say, if it wasn’t business that brought me here. I’m not surprised to see you’re doing well, Mister Brandt. Your skill is exactly why Mister Spudsder sent me here to find you. He’s assembling a mission to delay someone in their travel, and was impressed enough by your skill to ask you to join. Spudsder had other urgent affairs to attend to elsewhere, so I’m here in his place. I have more details if you’re interested.” Tarian looked to the rest of the group. “We all have some details, to tell the truth. It’s complicated.”
"On the other side of the screen, it all looks so easy." --Kevin Flynn, Tron (1982)
Out of context, also applicable to Dungeons & Dragons.
Brandt smirks. "Nice to see that you're doing well, Tarian. You clearly didn't need to join any band of mercs to make a name for yourself. Apparently Spudster forgot to tell you that I've already agreed to work with Mr. Sparks on his new project. And it's not the sort of thing where I can take on a side job."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Thia would look to Brandt, "Milo was given this job from Sparks. I'd imagine it's related. Spudster was looking for you before he got called away on family business. Thus here we are."
just an unstable unicorn.
"Well if that's the case, what's the job?
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Tarian straddled a barstool and sat hard. “The short of it is this: Sparks wants us to delay a Marshal’s arrival in Duskrock. The three he’s concerned with are Marshal Cimber, Marshal Grimme, and Marshal Arceneaux. I assume you’re probably more aware of their reputations than we are. Arceneaux seems to be Sparks’s greatest concern. Corti and Thia,” Tarian lightly gestured toward the two in turn as she said their names, “are concerned that a couple of Thia’s friends have gotten entangled in bad business with Marshal Grimme, and I’ve got some half-baked conspiracy theory that Arceneaux might be arranging to have Dragoons murdered in Duskrock.”
Tarian spun around on the stool to lean her back against the bar. “So, three potential targets, one with our sponsor’s particular interest.” Tarian watched one of the gamblers far across the room pound the table in frustration and shove his pile of coins to the center of the table. “No particular plan, exactly, either, though we’ll be provided a cover story: we’ll be doing a surveying mission for a potential rail line through the area. That job pays thirty denars a head up front as a signing bonus, with five per head per day salary. The real job is a hundred fifty upon completion. Don’t know about you, but a hundred eighty would go an awful long way for me. First thing I’d do is replace the crossbow that bastard Borrick’s men took from me.” Tarian’s face contorted in a snarl.
"On the other side of the screen, it all looks so easy." --Kevin Flynn, Tron (1982)
Out of context, also applicable to Dungeons & Dragons.