Vissen Tavern

[Alterity]

Cide sat up in their room, dwelling on thoughts, thinking of how events had transpired that last few days. He had closed his eyes and his imagination barraged him with memories, bits and pieces of what he remembered, images and words.

“Where is she? Do you know where she is?” a man had said in the darkness of a new moon night. He watched as she lay on the ground, unconscious or dead, the wound in her back deadly, her club falling from her hand. He looked up at the tall guardsman, the man’s heavy sword longer then he was tall. He jumped back as the beast lunged for him, its massive claw racing past his head, he jumped forward once again slashing it with his tiny blade, ripping another hole down its side as it hollered in pain. They traveled quickly from their past, their short legs carrying them far.

Cide snapped out of the reverie as someone entered the room, or rather something. His pet spider Nightshade crawled up into their room and nuzzled him. He fed it some meat from dead wolves, boars or bears. He rubbed it belly, and it crawled through his window, down the side of the building and into the night. As he looked out the window watching his pet with the amount of joy and care he rarely had for living things, he saw a woman in red enter and leave quickly. Cide went downstairs to see what she had stirred up, as the level below had gone silent.

As he reached the bottom landing his eye was caught by the new sign. He read it, but it sounded useless to him. He was a tracker, and no good with number. Kez would be better at that. He walked towards the pair, noticing that Dorry had finally arrived. He smiled slightly to the shy girl, and turned to Sygo.

“What was that all about? I saw a lady in red enter and leave, but what did she do, just put that sign up?” and before Sygo could respond, he turned to Kez, “The sign says that Lochwar is looking for a codebreaker, up for the task Kez? We could probably work enough money out of them to allow Sygo to gamble more, or for us to get a good Ops house here in the docks eh?”

Cide then swung around a chair so he could face them, and sat down, pulling a small tidbit of meat out of his pocket and munching on it.

[The Explorer]

Kez looks around the Inn then turns to Cide

"Silly animal lover, since when do we care about helping tallies out especially ones of that creed?" Looks at Drorry and Sygo

"well we know Sygo has an infatuation with one of the female tallies but even she has an impressive hatred for him who's name I shall not speak and I'm sure he will eventually gather the wisdom not to get caught in every trap he meets to make enough coins for us to acquire that which we need"

Kez pauses in thought for a second.

"Perhaps Rago will decifer the code to see if anything of use to our cause but not let the tallies know the answer they seek"

Kez turns to Drorry "shall we retire to our room to rest before the new day is upon us?"

[The Explorer]

Kez notices Drorry ignoring him and can barely keep his eyes open, crosses his arms on the bar and lays his head on his arms "wake me when we can go rest sis, I hear rumours of a place to the North we should visit tomorrow"

Turns to Sygo

"I am going to be need some of the coin to change this robe I am wearing into a propper one"

Sygo chuckles simply saying "Finally"

With a yawn Kez falls asleep at the bar waiting for Drorry's answer.

[Mon-da-oth]

Rhode settled down at a seat near the entrance and dropped a bar of silver on the table as he began to sip at his mug of ale.

The hum of conversation soon turned to hushes as glances are exchanged between the customers concerning the bar of silver until eventually one of the many Dock Workers who frequent the inn wandered over.

"What is with that bar of silver?"

"Oh Is found it 'id'n under a pav'n stone near da misty." Rhode slurred his words on purpose.

"Silver under the paving stones? Are you some sort of story teller?" The Worker questioned.

"Nah its bes true, sees." Rhode pulled a tattered sheet of paper from his pouch and unfolded it showing a seal from the Ministry.

The worker glanced at the paper then back at Rhode. "It says there are thirty undiscovered blocks. How many have you found?"

"Only dis one 'ere. Is figured nows dat Is gonna bes a rich man I can take a break fer each ones Is find ans catch a drink or two." Rhode slurred his words again and wiped drool from his lip.

"Only this one?" The Dock Worker asked sparing a glance at his friends sitting at a nearby table.

"Aye, Is figures Is gets da rest after mes drink'n bes finished." Rhode nearly missed the table setting his mug down.

"Does anyone else know about this?" The Worker grinned calling for another mug of ale.

"Nah, justa mes." Rhode took the offered mug with a broad smile.

"Well good luck getting the rest." The worker returned to his table and after a brief conversation with his friends they left the inn.

Rhode smiled to himself folding the forged document and placing it back in his belt.

[The Explorer]

At dusk the door opens to the vissen a cloaked figure enters walks up to Irettep, the cloaked figure speaks to Irettep briefly then he pins a blank parchment to the wall stands there looking at it scratching his head. The cloaked figure walks to the the table between the door and the stage sits on the bench with her back against the front wall giving her the best view of all those in the Inn.

[Mon-da-oth]

The hours draw long and many of the patrons leave for home or work and the few that have fallen asleep drunk are tossed out of the back of the Vissen by Irettep to wake later to the sound of laughing orphans, only to realize that they are several coins poorer than when they first entered the inn.

The normal quiet of the late night that as settled over the inn is interrupted by a brief shriek from the Kalem's agent keeping her post near the door. "Aye babe, 'ows Zoey do'n? a rugged looking man with a patched eye asks grinning at the woman.

He is repaid with a scowl. "One day she will be using your skin for a footstool Rhode."

"Really?" he mocks surprise. "Is so look'n forward to dat." He turns and seemingly forgetting about the agent walks to the bar and leans over the counter staring at the wall. "Aye Irettep wots yous gots a blank note on da wall fer?"

Irettep turns and looks towards Rhode "Ah it aint blank. I have been told there is something on it but I can't see it."

"Aye? Let mes 'ave a look?" Rhode spins quickly past the inn keeper and plants his face close to the note sniffing at the parchment pretending to read it up and down. "Aye, yep, hmmm, very interesting."

"What it say?"

"It says dat yous can't sees mes either." Rhode turned to face Irettep.

"I can too. You are right there!"

"Nah, yous is mistaken." Rhode took a half step backwards into the faint shadow near the wall and allowed himself to be wrapped within them.

"Oh, ah darn it!" Irettep cursed and ripped the not from the wall before taking a seat while running his finger down the parchment trying to make out any lettering that might be on it.

[The Explorer]

The cloaked figure observes Irettep's conversation with Rhode and slips out the door during the commotion.

[Alterity]

The door of the Vissien Inn creakes open, as Alan Twitch walks in, swaying on his feet pretending to be drunk. Few would recognize him, as he is wearing a winged helm, covering his entire face, and a chain shirt, different from his normal leathers. Mumbling to himself, he tries to sit at the bar, and misses, catching himself as he falls. Finally he gets on the seat and waves his hand for a drink. When he receives it, he drops some change on the counter for it, and drinks the ale, spilling much of it down the front of his metal shirt. His mumbling becomes rowdier and louder until most of the Inn could probably overhear him, even if hes just talking to the people around him.

"Ehs, yous would'en believe whats I heard da other days! Some lads in da sewers were talkin's 'bout stuffs and mes overheards der chats!"

The Alan sways, almost dropping the ale.

"Dey bes chattin' 'bout da Prince, naughty thin's to! Dey be talkin' 'bout dem Lochwaris, I swear dey must be heretics *hiccup!*errs somethin'!"

The man waves for another ale, and tosses another few coins, much more then neccesary for both drinks.

"Dem Lochwaris been prayin' all month fer der God ta forgives da Princes. Des lads, deys says dat Lochwar is mads at da Prince fer his lack'o'faiths, and 'is said friends'o'bans faiths... I guessins dat we oughta star' bringin' our faith on up, an' star' payin' 'omages ta Lochwars ehs?"

The Alan raises his ale in a cheer. " 'ail Lochwar!! 'ails ta Marcus and Varaneh!!"

He then stumbles towards the door.

[Peregrinus]

An old sea salt climbs onto the stage in Cear, slightly drunk and begins singing an old Varanite sea shanty...

Oh the year was 584 MA,
How I wish I was in Varsgale now,
When a letter of marque came from the Gov',
To the scummiest vessel I could ev'r love,

Gods damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for Dasarian gold,
We'd fire no guns,
Shed no tears,
Now I'm a broken man on an Varanite pier,
The last of McGinty's Privateers.

Oh, Elcid McGinty cried the town,
How I wish I was in Varsgale now!
For twenty brave men all fishermen who
Would make for him the Manticor's crew

Gods damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for Dasarian gold,
We'd fire no guns,
Shed no tears,
Now I'm a broken man on an Varanite pier,
The last of McGinty's Privateers.

The Manticor skiff was a sickening sight,
How I wish I was in Varsgale now,
She'd a list to the port and and her sails in rags,
And the zephyr in scuppers with the staggers an' jags,

Gods damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for Dasarian gold,
We'd fire no guns,
Shed no tears,
Now I'm a broken man on an Varanite pier,
The last of McGinty's Privateers.

On Marcus' birthday we put to sea,
How I wish I was in Varsgale now,
We were 91 days to the Gulf of Cear
Pumping like madmen, with a cheer!

Gods damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for Dasarian gold,
We'd fire no guns,
Shed no tears,
Now I'm a broken man on an Varanite pier,
The last of McGinty's Privateers.

On the 96th day we sailed again,
How I wish I was in Varsgale now,
When a bloody great Barbarian hove in sight,
With our zephyrs and boarders we made to fight!

Gods damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for Dasarian gold,
We'd fire no guns,
Shed no tears,
Now I'm a broken man on an Varanite pier,
The last of McGinty's Privateers.

Well the barbie lay low down with gold,
How I wish I was in Varsgale now,
She was broad and fat and loose in the stays,
But to catch her took the Manticor two whole days,

Gods damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for Dasarian gold,
We'd fire no guns,
Shed no tears,
Now I'm a broken man on an Varanite pier,
The last of McGinty's Privateers.

Then at length we stood two cables away,
How I wish I was in Varsgale now,
Our zephyrs, a-light, made an awful din,
But with one fat rock the Barb stove us in,

Gods damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for Dasarian gold,
We'd fire no guns,
Shed no tears,
Now I'm a broken man on an Varanite pier,
The last of McGinty's Privateers.

The Manticor shook and pitched on her side,
How I wish I was in Varsgale now,
McGinty was smashed like a bowl of egss,
And the main trunk carried off both me legs,

Gods damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for Dasarian gold,
We'd fire no guns,
Shed no tears,
Now I'm a broken man on an Varanite pier,
The last of McGinty's Privateers.

So her I lay in me 23rd year,
How I wish I was in Vargale now,
It's been six long years since we sailed away,
And I just made Varana yesterday,

Gods damn them all!
I was told we'd cruise the seas for Dasarian gold,
We'd fire no guns,
Shed no tears,
Now I'm a broken man on an Varanite pier,
The last of McGinty's Privateers.

((With special thanks to Falcon for his aid in converting a mutually beloved sea shanty to Dasaria!))

[vastgoten]

A tall man heavily wrapped in long brown hooded robe enters the common room. He pauses a few minutes at the door, scrutinising the area. Finding his victim, a slim man dressed in an old and worn imperial uniform. The man has a tired grim face but still bearing noble features - the robed man glides up to the table. He leans forward putting his left palm as support on the table lowering his mouth close to the sitting persons left ear. He whispers a short phrase and although never facing each-other the noble featured man stops sipping his tea the moment he recognises the voice to listen.

“The breath of Varania is here brother; the time for the gathering has come.”

Where his palm had rested a small piece of paper is left behind as he exits the tavern.

[Mon-da-oth]

The man slides the paper over to himself and looks down at it as if reading it before picking it up between his thumb and finger while continuing to sip at his tea. Several moments pass before he sets the nearly empty cup of tea down on the bars counter and drops the paper into the little bit of tea and the few leaves that had settled to the bottom. He rubs the paper around in the bottom of the cup causing the ink that was on the note to bleed out and mix with the brownish black water of the tea. Satisfied that the note is on longer legible the man counts a few coins out leaving them on the counter and pulls the tea soaked paper out of the cup, once again holding it between his thumb and finger. As he walks out of the door he rubs the paper between his thumb and finger turning it back into a pulp which he discards into the dirt at the base of the inn's outer wall.

[Sorc]

Commoners of Vissen Tavern found paper pinned to Vissens board overnight at morning...

[The Explorer]

It's nightfall as Arriana enters the Vissen avoiding the patrons gaze as usual and wait until Irettep begins to change a barrel of ale she approaches the bar slipping a blank note and two gold peices onto it.

"Post this notice up Innkeeper"

Before Irettep finishes changing barrels over she steals a banana then she takes a seat in the darkest corner of the Inn watching Irettep try to read the note as he pins it to the wall with a nail before putting the two gold coins in his coin pouch secured only by the belt around his waist.

She peels the banana tossing the skin in the doorway of the nearby back room and eats the banana as she observes all that move in the Inn.

[Mon-da-oth]

Rhode appeared on the stool next to Irettep. It wasn't a sudden appearance but more of being aware of someone who had already been there and you had just noticed them. His rag of an eye patch showed the signs of a harsh scar that ran along the side of his face as he reached a dirty finger up under it to scratch an itch.

"Read dat tos mes aye?" He asked Irettep while nodding towards the blank note hanging on the wall.

Irrettep turn and looks at the note and then back at Rhode. "Theres nothing there." he replied running a greasy rag around the edge of a glass.

"Listen, aye? Is aint blind. Is still gots mes one good eye ans Is can see dat dar sometin written dar." Rhode pointed at the blank note with a slight smirk.

Leaning forward Irrettep peered closer at the note on the wall. He scratches the top of his head and ran the greasy rag over his face and stared again at the note. "No, I still don't see anything."

"Well bring its downs ans Is points out were da writt'n bes." Rhode demanded.

Irettep tore the note from the peg on the wall and carried it over to Rhode slamming it on the counter in front of him.

Rhode stared at him for a moment. "So yous gonna get dat note or wots?" He pointed at the empty peg on the wall behind Irettep.

"What? I put the note right in front of you." Irettep turned to glance at the wall but when he turned back the blank note and Rhode were no where to be seen. "Ah?" he stammered with confusion before raising his massive shoulders in a shrug and wiping the spilled ale from the counter top near where he could have sworn he had put a blank piece of paper in front of a one eyed man. Either that or he was just tired from running the bar on his own.

From the shadowed corner of the lower floor of the Inn Rhode sniffed at the air slightly. The smell of a fresh banana caught his nose and he followed the scent to a discarded peel near the doorway to the back rooms. Sniffing again he picked up another more familiar scent.

"Is 'ere wots yous need'n?" He allowed the shadows to drop from around he shoulders where they darted back to the corners to escape his madness.

[The Explorer]

Arriana gets up from the dark area she was sitting slipping into the back room hearing Rhode speak she steps out of the shadow so he can see her looking around carefully to make sure no one is observing the room before she speaks.

"hello Rhode, people like us have a few people around these parts causing problems for us making our skills and training pointless, we have to deal with them simply because they can see us when we don't want them to see us and currently one of them is affecting me getting paid lots for what should be easy for me"

Paranoia being an ally to her she checks the room again only doubious as to what Skia the one woman Arriana knows of that she definetly couldn't see or hear if she didn't want her too reaction to this news would be.

"So their names are Raziel and Gody, I don't know if Gody has allies but Raziel is a lapdog of Bart and Azzelas little annoying group, I mean really how do they expect people like you to make a living when they turn commonfolk into stone including their pouches so you can't rob em and killing em's no fun there's nah bloody when you want there to be and no scream when you want to hear one as well?"

*She sighs*

"They got no respect for our kind and with the one that see's us they'll have no fear of us either, we're going to have to put a stop to Raziel's and Gody's breathing habit, you should speak to your people when you next gather and discuss how we go about sneakily cutting them up. Even better I can get us coin to kill em."

She see's Rhode about to answer but cuts him up speaking soft and quietly but fast

"Oh one more thing they can't go missing in Cear because I am still scamming the Fleet"