Chapter 6

  talks & taverns

  Zenthia was waiting by the other side of the street watching people exit & enter the Tuskenstien tavern waiting for Oskar & Remidemus. It felt like only minutes so she pondered on recent events, from the night before, watching the gang of goblins potentially being the same group they were after. To her new team? Olo’s teachings repeating in her thoughts

  “A patient hunter will gather more information, than one who is just after results.”

  Her cloak distorting her form she appeared as a snow mound on a barrel, some meeting her reflective eyes. She heard her two new companions before she could see them arriving at the Tuskenstein tavern.

  These two will be a great distraction if nothing else”

  kicking off the barrel & meeting up with the two by the door she took her role.

  Oskar was in mid conversation with Remidemus as they entered, “Seriously Remi, you mean to tell me it gets colder here?”

  ‘Yep, way colder, when I first got here, I was half frozen & was dragged inside a passers-by house, they defrosted me gave me this amazing soup, it was great, nearly lost my toes” Remidemus was as jovial as ever while Oskar looked mortified,

  “And these flash freezes, does that happen this late in the season?” Before he continued, they sensed someone behind them. The two turned to see a snow covered Zenthia,

  “Aren’t you cold?” the two asked,

  Zenthia shrugged, & the two noticed the heat she was transmitting.

  For Oskar it was like returning to sanctuary, the tavern still warm. open beams lined with mounted game of the successful hunts.

  Franklyn the half orc tavern keeper saw the three enter & gave a welcoming smile.

  At a table furthest from the bar in the middle of the tavern floor.

  Zenthia called the two over with three mugs of ale

  ‘She's quick’ The two thought

  “What happened to your face” Zenthia asked looking at Oskar now in the light,

  Remidemus & Oskar looked at each other & chuckled

  “Wrench discount” said the two in unison.

  Eyebrows raised & confusion only created more questions. All three sat down & shared what they learned.

  Oskar breathed through his nose slowly feeling it out “We’ve found out there’s a new gang in the city, Gloria told us someone was killed by something that made a loud noise, we believe it could be the same device” said Oskar

  “I didn’t get much but what I did gather was that if there was a place to start, it’s in the 4th ring called the dungeons den, it may be nothing, but I was told it can get dangerous” said Zenthia

  “I know that place frug takes me there from time to time, shorter folk more often go there. & Oskar here got a new wand” Remidemus said in an excited tone.

  Zenthia cocked her head curiously & looked at Remidemus.

  “Frug? You mean the shop keeper or the Brawler in the fighting ring?” Zenthia asked,

  Remidemus chuckled “The shopkeeper, do you know him?”

  “Not personally, but he does have local pull due to his specific imports” she cut off the train of thought herself now curious & couldn’t help but get a little excited herself, “Well show us Mr Wizard” Zenthia said

  Oskar obliged by unwrapping the black cloth revealing the stained ash wood wand, the runes were a ruby gem dust inlay with three rings of different metals going from the grip along the wand towards its tip.

  Both remidemus & Zenthia’s eyes widened in excitement

  “Okay. Let’s put together a plan for when we find these guys” Zenthia said, her mind racing.

  “If we want to listen in on their conversation I can translate if they start speaking the goblin tongue, I understand both southeastern, & northwestern regions,’ said Oskar.

  “Depending on what sort of approach I can cause a distraction so one of you can sneak off with the target & or device” Remidemus remarked.

  “It sounds like a start, you said you knew where we’re going, what sort of things can we expect’ said Zenitha surprised a plan was actually being made.

  “The place is run by a dwarf named Orsik, he’s happy when things don’t get broken in his tavern, watch your feet & your coin when waking, shorter folk tend to frequent more often so we will stand out. In other words, a tavern brawl is possible but ill advised” Remidemus said more sternly, “I would rather none of this gets out of hand, I don’t want any collateral damage”

  “I don’t think killing this individual would be wise either, we will need to get information, however tonight we just need to remove this weapon, right?” Oskar Asked tone.

  “Well, if we’re walking in this place loud by appearance already, we will need to blend in & not draw attention to ourselves” said Zenthia getting more & more excited

  “I see, we get them drunk or we convince them to, take it outside” said Oskar winking with a slight grin.

  Remidemus & Zenthia shared a look.

  “Oskar, have you actually been in a fight before?” Zenthia asked,

  Oskar’s face froze, “Ye-Yes of course I have”

  The Paladin & Ranger nodded, figuring they were going to find out either way

  “By the sounds of it we got ourselves part of a plan of action, shall we drink to it” Remidemus suggested, holding his empty mug.

  Zenthia nodded, holding her also empty one “Indeed, shall we” Oskar acknowledged he will need to sober up very soon.

  Leaving the warm tavern now even warmer was hard to resist. All three got up & began the next stage, Remidemus, Zenthia & Oskar took steps out the door together, their footsteps falling Insync shadows dancing off the wall as they passed the ambient glow of the lively nightlife out to the biting winds of winter’s icy fangs.

  They moved towards the fourth ring of the city. Fire pits every few meters keeping passers-by warm & giving the team of investigators a passive audience. Parts of the streets were nearly melted back to cobblestone, completely leading the three to the wall dividing the third & fourth section of the city.

  Guards patrolled the top & bottom of the wall giving nods & allowing passage. Remidemus took front as guide to the Dungeons den. The fourth wall was a different place at night, Remidemus was aware of this. It did not take long for eyes to catch sight of the three of them & the curious eyes stayed trained on them until they entered the dungeons' den.

  The door was a split barn door style horizontally in the middle, the tavern was cozy & almost fully seated, with the three having half a head of space from the ceiling they surveyed the room. Sitting in groups, gnomes, dwarves even a Halfling or two drank ate & made merry while bards played songs both of the land & of the city, catchy tunes to keep everyone entertained, while some had people crowd the nosebleed section in to the singing & clanking of their wooden mugs.

  Remidemus made a stride to the bar greeting the tough looking dwarf behind cleaning the ale-soaked counter.

  Orsik “Orl sik” was a sturdy stout of a man, his long matted hair from a long day tied back into a lock of dreads, a braided beard reaching below his belly with dwarven beads adorning it.

  “Orsik my friend! How are you?” said Remidemus

  “Remi, unusual to see you without Frug, & who are these two?” Orsik said in an excited tone

  “Frugs not with us tonight, these two are Oskar & Z, we’re on a mission actually” said Remidemus excitedly

  Oskar looked nervous scanning the tavern for anyone suspicious & locked eyes on a table of goblins in the corner, a total of six of them. It wasn’t Targen & his group. Letting out a sigh of. Relief? He wasn’t sure. Oskar tapped Remidemus on the shoulder. The wizard gestured with his head to look over towards them.

  “A mission ay? Of what sorts” Orsik inquired.

  “Just a patrol, some of the city guards got volunteers doing double time. Say any chance can get a round of say, nine” Remidemus asked pointing over to the table of goblins.

  Orsik had seen this sort of thing play out before, & knew Remidemus well enough to know that he would take it outside.

  “No worries Remi. Take a seat & I'll be right over” said Orsik with a slight grin.

  The moment Oskar sat down he took a sip of his ale & closed his eyes, focusing on all the conversations in the pub, homing in on the multiple conversations happening at the goblins table.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Their skin a variation of olive green, ears pointed with some pierced or cut to be slightly shorter, long & or bolus noses protruding from their faces, eye similar to that of a goats however some have circular irises all depended on their lineage, they sat in the corner table with a few chairs empty & spoke in the goblin tongue

  “What a score, we had that farmer pissing himself in front of us” goblin 1

  “Heh & that girl with the horns, she was a looker” goblin 2 laughing

  “I want to do it again, can we, please, we can burn that bitch Gloria’s place this time” Goblin 3

  “All of you shut it I’m trying to enjoy myself” Said Goblin 6. Clearly the leader dressed in an oilskin long coat, & almost as well-dressed as an informal noble underneath.

  “Do you think if we take that golem it would listen to us? We could do some real damage with that thing on our side’ Goblin 4

  “You can’t even control your drinking Philk heh’ said laughingly Goblin 5 to Goblin 4 now known as Philk

  “Neither can you Thak, you could barely stand when the powder popper went off” said Phik

  “I said shut it, we wait until we are told what our next move is, got it!” said the leader standing.

  Zenthia caught but a glimpse of a shiny metallic device almost like a scroll tube holstered to the right side of his ribs

  “What’s wrong with your friend there he looks like he’s fallen asleep” said Orsik placing drinks on the table

  “Dry eye’s the poor thing” Zenthia chimed

  Orsik nodded sagely before dropping off the rest to the group of goblins, it sparked their drinking spirit as they looked towards the three.

  “It’s them I am certain of it, they called it a powder popper,” Oskar whispered, his back was facing the table of six,

  “Head up. They're looking this way” Remidemus chided.

  A goblin sitting next to Philk stood up & approached the table he was wearing a three-piece suit made for the winter all made from quality wool surprising all,

  The well dressed goblin cleared his throat & spoke clearly with little of the usual guttural closed throat problems that plague most goblins, & his accent was reminiscent of the local area “Slavic”

  “You filled our mugs, yes? This is kind of you”

  Remidemus took the lead for the three, “We did, A celebration for the birth of new friends” Remidemus raised his mug cheering his new friends, then the goblin in front of him

  “BOROK!”

  The tavern fell silent. Zenthia, this new goblin & a handful of the older individuals looked on in surprise & shock.

  Oskar & the other five goblins at the other table shared a look of confusion, but followed the movements.

  The new goblin nodded in approval clinking his glass with Remidemus’

  “You know the old ways of Borok, I am Gurul, it is a pleasure”

  “Remidemus”

  “It’s an honor to witness a Borok, they say great things are to happen when a fate bound team come together”

  “Indeed my friend, & considering this group is very new I still have great faith in our quest” making a toast again & shortly after Gurul moved back to his group with less suspicion & more comradery

  “I think I see it, on his ribs” Zenitha muttered, hard focused on the shiny item

  “Oh he’s awake, good how are you doing?” Asked one of the Halfling bar staff. All three looked down startled,

  Oskar recovered first “yes, sorry dry eyes, I’m not used to these cold climates”

  “Well don’t rub them now. Is there anything I can get for you?”

  “Some water would be great, thank you," Zenthia affirmed, waiting for it to be just the three of them again.

  Oskars long ears dropped becoming more conspiratorial “if you want to move soon, we may be able to get them sooner than later, the one with the long coat appears to be the leader but he’s also receiving orders from someone else” Oskar was in a sobering tone

  Remidemus looked to Zenthia & his new wizard companion, & gave them both a nod, he gestured to the open seats next to the goblin & tossed a gold piece to Oskar.

  Oskar caught the coin mid air & strode to Orsik ordering a whole round for the nine of them, when Oskar dropped the gold coin his eyes nearly bulged out of his eyes

  “Keep them coming” Oskar said with a wink,

  Zenthia & Remidemus walked in unison towards the chairs & started pulling them out to take a seat.

  “Shall we play a game” said Remidemus placing six dice on the table.

  The smile from Gurul quickly turned into a grimace as the dice was then followed my three silver pieces, the Goblins eyes widened & the leader gave a crooked smile

  “A man of risk, I like you already. What are we playing?” Said the leader speaking in the common tongue though still gutturally spoken clearly placing three silver pieces on the table. “Names Rahvix’ “Rah Vix”

  “Remidemus” with dice rolling in his hand Remidemus explained the game

  “It’s a very simple game, you need to get three of the same number & make it to a thousand. Three ones is equal to one hundred,

  three twos equals two hundred,

  three threes equals three hundreds so on, extra numbers like one & five are extra points, ones are ten & five is fifty, other numbers don’t count unless there are three of them.” Remidemus smiled menacingly.

  An intense grin & an eyebrow raised, eyes of daggers piercing into armored man. Oskar placed the large mugs of ale, larger than the mugs the Goblins were previously drinking, the reveal of broken yellow & dead teeth birthed haunting smiles from the six Goblins.

  “Let’s play then” said the leader

  Remidemus gave him one of the dice to decide who went first. Remidemus went first. Roll after roll after roll & Remidemus had won with now six silver.

  The leader smiled. “I like this game. How about again” Rahvix said

  Remidemus added another three gold, the leader followed suit, this time the leader won.

  “Heh I guess ole Ravix is getting the hand of this game”

  “How about we makes things interesting” said Remidemus inquisitively

  “I’m Listening” said Ravix intrigued

  “How’s about that bag” said Remidemus pointing at the grey fur satchel

  “Hohoho interesting that will cost ya…” Rahvix was interrupted.

  Before Ravix could finish his words Zenthia loudly dropped the pouch of three hundred gold, silencing every voice at the table quiet enough to hear Ravix swallow his own spit.He nodded, & placed the gray bag on the table.

  The two rolled to see who went first, Ravix did.

  Before these three arrived Rahvix was enjoying his promotion. Him & his boys, moving into the city in a convoy of new arrivals with a higher number of goblins, purely intentional that way, it's way easier to sneak a few when there are many.

  Throughout the previously long week the team established their position with the organization a friend of theirs recommended for them all they had to do is street test the crazy bosses new devices, damn thing nearly blew his arm off just using it. Still besides all that this place, this city has another name Bahviar “Bar vie are” The city of adventurers.

  & as it just so happens, he's sitting with three clearly highly ranked ones. Seriously. What's with this? a beefcake human & two elves, the look on the girl's face made him uneasy to uneasy, the goblin didn’t know the exact price of the satchel. He killed the previous owner after all, knowing that thought he saw the Dark elf in a different light, Camouflage cloak, that bow, was she a city ranger. That did it. He began to panic, sweat fell from his head, he picked up the massive mug & nearly choked pulling himself together.

  Rahvix played along in his Favorite language, Bullshit. “You three look like you like stories” bearing a toothy grin, taking the silent smiles as a yes Rahvix continued “There once was a sorcerer, a powerful wielder of the mystical arts of magic, he made many things just because he could regardless of whether or not he should. Some say he was responsible for the war three hundred years ago with the demons & the celestials coming to blows within the realms, some say he died a very long time ago, some say he lives & he’s hungry”

  Rahvix voice grew darker & more guttural as if physically reliving the battle pulling himself closer to Remidemus his breath was hot & carried an odor.

  Roll after roll both on the edge of their seats, one last roll, Remidemus had had lost all his points due to rolling nothing that matched.

  Rahvix grew greedy & impatient, losing the flow of points roll after roll keeping him at the same number.

  Remidemus chuckled “That's quite a story my friend. Is there more?”

  Remidemus had four hundred points, Oskar, Zenthia & the other five goblins were glued to the game only making noise to drink.

  It was Remidemus’ turn, picking up the dice rolling them on the table, landing on three six’s. Six hundred points, totalling at a thousand points. Remidemus had won.

  Anger welled up in Rahvix’ drunk red face. Taking the last swig of ale & slamming the large wooden mug, keeping a slurry focus he took a deep breath as if he were about to howl a horrid war cry.

  A sound of crunching dry flower petals broke the impending holler. Oskar funneled fine dust into the opening on the top of his clenched fist, took a deep breath then bringing the clenched fist to his lips, a gray mist blew into the faces of the drunken Goblins.

  Their eyes grew heavy, calmness filled the table & all six heads landed on the table & fell asleep.

  “Run” Oskar quietly roared.

  Zenthia grabbed her pouch of gold.

  Remidemus slipped the gray fur satchel off Rahvix, slid all the gold pieces left on the table into his coin pouch & all three bolted out the door.

  Clouds covered the night sky hiding the moon & stars, snowflakes started falling, the three of them sprinting down a side alley to check the bag, & it was empty apart from a few tufts of fur of different animals were in the satchel. All three were in shock.

  “Where is it” Oskar asked irritable

  ”I don’t know, did we drop it?” Remidemus doubted

  “It’s still on Ravix” Zenthia said, realizing their mistake. “I said it was strapped to him”

  “We have to go back, we’ve got at most thirty seconds before at least one wakes up” said Oskar

  “I’ll go I’m the fastest” Said Zenthia giving the bag to Remidemus & running back into the Dungeons den.

  The atmosphere had not changed, music still playing, patrons still singing & goblins still asleep. Zenthia’s heart pounding, her eyes trained on the Rahvix’ slumber body, too close for comfort. Zenthia danced among the tables & patron's, her heart racing, she steadied her hands carefully & softly raised Ravix’ by the shoulders, raising him off the table, pulled the mysterious powder popper out from its holster, A bag fell on the ground. It looked like a waterskin, regardless she grabbed that too & exited.

  The powder popper had a wooden handle that slopped & molded to a metal pipe, it had a funnel point by the grip that goes into the top of the barrel where powder would go & attached to the funnel was a wick you would use off a lamp that would spring down rotating the wick into the funnel, it loosely fit in one hand.

  Taking a firm grip of the powder popper along with a small water skin she sprinted back to Remidemus & Oskar.

  Rising the Pistol in the air showing it to the other two both in amazement & awe. She had done it, Remidemus almost instinctively put his hand in the soft silver fur satchel that he had been petting as if a living creature. Feeling different toughs of furs inside he noticed a strange warmth to the bag like it were alive, grabbing one of the toughs of fur & pulling it out to inspect.

  The patch grew into softball of jet black fur & began to wriggle, it rolled out of Remidemus’ hand. It grew & took shape, a large feline figure revealing a panther.

  The onyx Leopard slowly approached Remidemus with caution, its reflective eyes trained on Remidemus, sniffing the satchel, she began to growl, then jumped from rooftop to rooftop disappearing into the night.

  “Well that happened” Remidemus said

  Zenthia looked to the sky. “We should leave”

  The snow began falling heavier, those who live here know this to be the beginning of one of Norruvals deadly blizzards, where if you’re caught out, you are as good as dead.