Above & Below

A grunt passes Burik's lips, a surprise given his recent inaction and seemingly lack of attention. He glances at their new companion, swaps his and their mugs round, leaving him with one of water. Before standing up and heading to the half-orcs by a round-about route. "I'd be grateful if you watch my back Brask." he says quietly as he leaves.

He comes to a stop in front of them, letting his warhammer drop head first onto the ground with good, single thunk. "So I know you lack high intellectual function, for who else would conduct flagrant displays of unlawful activity in such a populated locale." After letting that sink in (regardless of how long that takes), he continues. "Your employer and I have a common interest. One which is frankly far beyond your pay grade. As such I require a meeting. You are merely pawns of opportunity and I have other avenues I can pursue, but I'm feeling generous today" He obviously looks them up and down, "And I'm sure you could use the pay rise..."

Brask, you can't see why they would be acting that way. Buncha jerks, you figure.

In response to Burik, the middle half-orc furrows his brow and rubs his forehead in frustration. "More of this bullsh*t? Who the hell are you now? You must not be from Gorta if you're mentioning the law." He sits back in his chair as the other two continue to remain vigilant, ready for anything. "Now, unless you can tell me what exactly you need from our employer, you better get back to your stew before I make you even shorter than you already are."

If you want to continue, roll a deception check and explain yourself to him, Burik. 

Effort watches first Brask, and then Burik, approach the half-orc crowd with a slightly raised eyebrow and internal sigh of dismay.  Turning her attention back to the tiefling beside her, her smile widens.  "Oh, a gentleman.  Now that's rare in this town.  I'm not really one for the ale in places like this," she says.  "Especially when I see that we have company," she adds in a much softer voice, tilting her head ever so slightly at Burik and the half-orcs.  "What on earth are you doing mingling with those types?  You obviously have much better taste than those barbarians over there.  You should stick closer to your own kind..."  She leans in a little and bumps shoulders with Akrus.  "... like me."

He blushes again, letting himself smile for the first time since you've been in the tavern. "Those oafs? I'm not with them." He dismisses the thought quickly. "Maybe they notice me...maybe they're too dumb for even that. But I go about my business quietly. Haven't had any trouble recently." He gestures at the bartender, making some motion toward a bottle up on a shelf and sliding over a gold piece. A few heartbeats later, there are two small glasses in front of you, filled with a reddish-brown liquor. Akrus hands you one, raises his own, and bows his head politely as he glances up at you with a smirk. "To our kind."

"I'll drink to that," Effort says sincerely, though she only sips demurely at her drink, savoring the flavor, rather than tossing it back.  "Akrus, hmm?  Sounds like you didn't have to name yourself," she says with a bit of envy.  She flicks a finger against her arm and murmurs a small incantation under her breath, as though whispering a soft curse at her luck.  "Where has everyone else gone then, in these trouble-free times?"  Her expression darkens slightly.  "Or are those oafs the reason you have to do things quietly?  I'll say it plain: they look like trouble to me."  She glances over at Akrus and takes another small draught of her glass.  "Or do you know of a way to keep someone like me from catching their attention as I go about my own business here in the city?"

(Time for an Insight or Investigation check: scoping out Akrus for his station in life and possible "job" from his manner of dress, the coin he's spent, and any other clues he's dropped in front of Effort so far.  Insight: 9 + Guidance: 2.  If Investigation instead, add +3 to the roll.  Also I just realized you described his clothing in an earlier post so he's not of means, whoops.  Well, does he look like an honest poor boy in the wrong part of town or a sneaky sneaky gang member.  LOL.)

"You're rough around the edges but nice enough I suppose"  Wakka Kurama  replies to Brask before he's startled by Burik's sudden activity.  Realizing in that moment his slight inebriation and deciding he needed to take a break, he reached for a random mug at the table and took a hearty swig.

[DM feel free to decide what drink I picked up :)]

Brask grunts as Burik passes him and speaks to him, but keeps an eye on what's going down between him and the half-orcs.  He glances over to Effort, and to Burik, and back to Kurama and Pip, making sure none of his allies are in trouble before he downs the rest of his ale.  Smells like trouble, he says to no-one in particular, and then he looks around the room again for anyone watching them, just on a hunch.

"Oh, they're trouble alright," Akrus takes a sip of the drink, setting it down and looking into the glass. "Half-orcs run this whole section of town. As long as they don't cross over into the rich folks' neighborhood, they don't get bothered. There are some smaller groups of...like-minded individuals, let's say. We go about our business quietly, don't stir up any trouble. Don't encroach on any kind of business the half-orcs have going on. They leave us alone for the most part. Now, what kind of business are you talking about? If you're from here originally, you must know Gorta isn't the place to stroll in and start drawing attention to yourself."

You can tell by his clothes he's certainly not wealthy. He did spend a gold to buy the two of you drinks, but he's been conducting some kind of business in the tavern so he may have had some newly acquired funds - whether they were his or not. You've certainly noticed a youthful innocence in him, but as you talk more and more, it becomes apparent he has some street savvy. He speaks with careful confidence, and carries himself in the same way. 

Brask, Kurama, and Pip continue to drink around the table. They cast a glance over at Effort to be sure things are alright at the bar, but mostly keep their attention fixed on Burik and the half-orcs. It's obvious the tension has risen even more as the three of them bristle at Burik's insults. Now they await his response - either giving some useful information or getting out of their way.

The mugs of ale have been mixed up on the table, and Brask downs the closest one he can reach to find it was one of Kurama's "experiments". The monk smiles an awkward smile from across the table as he takes another gulp of ale. Pip seems amused. 

21

"Indeed I am not. I was brought here on pre-arranged business. One aspect of which is exotic, magical concoctions. And you could no less reduce my size than count higher than 20, 40 with a friend. Myself on the other hand, would have little trouble making you unrecognisable to even your closest family."

"You're right," Effort says easily, setting her drink down on the countertop.  "I used to run with Euphoria.  I'm assuming you heard of him... and what happened to us."  She runs her fingertip along the rim of the glass, a bitter smile on her face.  "So you can imagine that I have no love for those brutes over there, regardless.  I'm back because I've recently heard one of my old brothers made it out of our last skirmish.  His name was Promise... a good sort, he was one of us.  I thought they'd killed him, but I learned differently lately.  I need to find him."  She looks back up at Akrus.  "And so now, I'm back.  Will you and yours be able to help me with this business?"

The half-orc stares up at you for a moment, Burik. Eventually his blank expression turns to a smile. "You've got balls, I'll give you that. Tell you what, meet my friend here around the back of the tavern in about thirty minutes. He'll have an...errand for you to run. Do it without any trouble, and we'll take you to see our boss. No negotiations. Nobody else with you." He elbows the other two and they all stand up slowly. "Maybe I'll see you around if you show you're worth more than you look." The three of them load up their things and head toward the door.

Across the bar, Akrus grows more attentive when Effort mentions her former tiefling companions. "Oh, I've heard of Euphoria." He lets a reserved smile cross his face as he looks down at his drink. "He's still running...whatever you'd call this now." He gestures toward himself. "Not sure I know a Promise, but I've only been running with the crew for a few months. If he's alive, I'm bettin' Euphoria knows where he is. We'll all be meeting up tomorrow...you don't have a beef with Euphoria or anything, do you? I don't want to get myself into too much trouble."

Effort smirks a little.  "Don't bother to mince your words.  Leader or not, Euphoria is a bastard, and half the reason I left Gorta in the first place.  But we're not on unfriendly terms yet.  I can't promise that it will remain so if he refuses to tell me more about Promise.  But maybe old loyalties will hold.  I have spilled blood for that man, much of it my own, and he owes me that much.  If it pleases you, just let me know where to find the meeting, and I will leave your name out of my own negotiations.  It would only be a matter of time until I found him again in any case... you've simply made that time much shorter... and much more pleasant."  She tilts her glass to Akrus in a small toast.  "For that, you have my thanks."

Brask watches the half-orcs go, and shakes his head in wonder.  Our dwarf friend has hidden depths, Pip.  We gotta make sure we keep him safe.  He gets into trouble almost as much as I do.

"Really?"  Kurama replies to Brask, an eyebrow raised slightly, "I would not have expected that kind of truth from him."

Akrus leans back in his seat, considering Effort's request. "Alright," he finishes his drink. "Tomorrow night at dusk. We gather in the old barn about a half of a mile west of town. Where that old elf used to grow all the wacky shit from the Fey. You know the place? Just don't jump out of the shadows or anything. Euphoria doesn't like surprises much these days."

You'd know where he is talking about. The farmer was a famous oddity around Gorta for years.

He politely waits until you finish your drink, and then stands up. "Well, I have a bit more business to attend to before it gets too late. It was a pleasure meeting you, Effort." He smiles and extends his hand.

The rest of you sit and finish another round of drinks - ales, tea, or some combination of the two. About twenty-five minutes have past since the half-orcs left. Burik, what do you do about their offer?

Burik would have retorted before they left:

"Errands?" he scoffs, "You really are as dumb as you look. Enjoy being bottom feeders again... If your boss is feeling generous that is..." He'll then start to head towards his room, saying over his shoulder "Good day and good luck. You'll need it before too long..."

He keeps his grip on the warhammer ready, just in case, but does so in a subtle way. He's expecting some sort of retaliation, so is ready to sidestep and riposte to any aggression.

The middle orc sneers at you, but one of the others puts his hand on his chest, whispering something in his ear. He seems to calm a little, finally smiling and gathering his things. They exit the tavern without altercation. 

The rest of you are left to finish your drinks and your stew peacefully as Effort and her new tiefling friend say their goodbyes. 

Let me know if there's anything else you want to do before retiring for the evening. You can all complete a long rest, and will have the day tomorrow to explore the city, go shopping again, or do anything else you need to before meeting up with Effort's former gang leader.

Effort will explain to everyone the salient points of the conversation she had with Akrus and what (at least her, and likely Kuruma's) plan is, to meet with Euphoria to find out what happened to Promise.  Everyone's invited and encouraged to come along of course. :P

Kurama is all set for the night.  And assuming he isn't stuck in bed all day with a hangover the following day he will join Effort in meeting Euphoria :)

You all awake the next morning relatively well-rested. It had been a long few days of travel and fighting, and it was a pleasant surprise to get an entire night's sleep after a full meal and some drinks. Kurama, the sunlight isn't doing any favors as far as your headache goes, but you've dealt with worse. 

Everyone spends the day staying low. Effort wants to walk the old city streets between the main districts, which shouldn't alarm any wealthy folks and shouldn't alert either of the gangs to her presence just yet. You have another meal at the tavern, and introduce yourselves more meaningfully to Kurama (and vice versa).

That evening, you start to walk toward the edge of town, as Effort was instructed. It takes a solid hour, but the buildings start to become more and more sparse, and the full view of the western horizon becomes one of hills and agricultural fields. The sun slowly dips down lower and lower as you approach the farm that Akrus spoke about. You come to its edge, with a dilapidated wooden fence separating you from some overgrown fields. A few hundred yards away sits the barn. As it gets darker, a gentle flicker of light sneaks its way out of the windows.

Feel free to RP any part of the day, including talking with Kurama. When you're ready, let me know how you proceed.