Tallius Urist

Barter: 2/5
Streetsmarts: 1/5
Strength: 1/5
Cunning: 3/5
Charisma: 4/5
Business 2/5
Marksmanship 2/5
Barkeeping 2/5

Inventory:

Senatorial Signet Ring (Currently hidden on the Automata in the tower.)

Concealed Dagger, Inscription reads "Imperator" (Buried by Miaya, location unknown.)

Two Iron Daggers.

Crossbow, 49 bolts.

Dignity

2,870 Gold

Holdings:

Fine horse-drawn cart, valued at 500 gold.

The Clock Tower Tavern, standard configuration, capacity of 50 souls. Advanced Brewery on site. Estimated sale value 25,000 gold.

Deactivated Automata, type unknown, properties unknown, sale price unknown.


Employees:

Sif: Barmaid with unusual strength and little tact. Weekly Wage of 30. Insurance pool deposit of 10.

Martellus: Burly academic with brewing and barman skills. Weekly wage of 30. Insurance pool deposit of 10. Contracted for Barkeeping lessons.

Miaya: Eccentric Painter, Cook, and Huntress, in that order. Knows Tallius is actually Marcus Sertorius, seems willing to keep this to herself. For now. Weekly wage of 30. Insurance pool deposit of 10. Contracted for Hunting lessons.


You have close cropped brown hair, and are clean shaven. You will remain so, lest someone recognize your once distinctive facial hair. Your wife used to call your eyes liar's blue. You and Lucretia were not on the best of terms at the time, but she has a point there. You are currently wearing a simple cotton shirt with some brown trousers, tied together with a fashionable sash. Classy, if simple.

The cart jolts sharply as it passes over a particularly pronounced pothole, jolting you from your slumber. You groan in disappointment, as far as dreams go it was a pleasant one, the kind you would imagine bestowed by the God of tits and wine, were he not as dead as the rest of the pantheon.

“ Sorry, did I wake you?” Miaya says, her utter lack of concern evident in her monotone delivery. You grunt in reply, and she punches your shoulder lightly with one hand still leading the team. “You do not have room to complain, Tallius, you are supposed to be driving anyway. Unfortunately you fell asleep and I had to take over. Again.”

You shake off the last fading mists of your rest, and pass from grunts and groans to actual words. “Sorry, you know I can't manage sleep schedules well.”

“Yes, I do. You will have to work on that. Good thing you woke anyway, we need to figure out what to do with our guest. Patch is only a few hours from here and we will start seeing a lot more traffic soon. If we are going to do him in we should do it when there is less chance of someone seeing us.”

Turning over your shoulder, you lay eyes on the bundled form of Reginald Britannius. Covered as he is in cuts, bruises, and mud, you cannot help but be somewhat amused at the contrast with the impeccable and impractical uniform standards he once kept his men and himself to. Now the bastard's in the mud with the rest of you, question is what to do with him. Miaya is all for cutting his throat and leaving him in the mud, and it certainly has it's appeal after all the trouble he's brought. But maybe you are not the kind to kill a man in cold blood. You could always turn him in for his attempted road banditry once you arrive in Patch, though there is no guarantee the same system which gave the man employment will see him to justice.

Hey guys, we're ten threads in and I just want to say, thanks for reading this far and playing this silly little adventure out. You can view this as around the halfway mark for what I have planned, but don't hold me to that exactly.

Sorry about last week, but pissing people off regarding weddings tends to end in blood, I hear.

As always, thoughts and suggestions are appreciated and thanks for reading!

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>>25455171
I believe last week some people wanted to let him go, and I wanted to violently murder him and leave him buried in a shallow grave with his boots sticking out of the ground.

Let's compromise and interrogate him. We need to know who sent him, and why. If we let him go or transfer him to the authorities the lady protector's men -will- find him. He's too big a loose end for them not to tie off.

>>25455274

I'll wait for a few more responses before I just go with this. As always, I have all night. No need to rush.

>>25455274
What would interrogating him get us though? I thought we already knew the details about why he was here.

>>25455514
Not particularly. We know he was sent by the lady protector (or one of her subordinates more likely) to look for somebody. We just assumed it was us.

Threadly reminder that the updated Ebook can be found at http://pastebin.com/kbGzcbDb

>>25455274
Might as well see what he knows.

>>25455195
Pleasure to read as always, barkeep.

I'm in favor of getting anything he knows that might be of value. Whether he ends up a red stain on the road or not depends on his answer.

>>25455716
>>25455695
>>25455274

" Well, I have some questions for him, at the least." You say, wondering exactly what he and his men's orders were. He never did give a straight answer, instead relying on the power of the Lady Protector's seal to stave off attention.

" Good, hopefully he says something that makes you angry. I tire of being around him." The cart pulls to the side of the road, and Miaya draws one of her knives as she climbs into the back of the cart. Britannius is still asleep, until she strikes him with the hilt of the weapon, knocking his head against the side of the wagon bed.

" Gah, you damned savage!" He cries as Miaya removes the wad of cloth serving as a gag from his mouth. " What the hell do you two want? Just end it already, I will not impinge my honor further by conversing with traitors and their savage whores."

Miaya hits him again, and raises her arm for another before you motion for her to stop. You don't get any questions in if he goes under again.

What to say?

HAHA TIME FOR TAVERN QUEST

I personally think we should cut out his tongue break his hands/fingers and just hand him over to the sheriff for banditry.

>>25455884

I like the way you think Anon

>>25455884
A bit rough, why not just dump him somewhere far off the roads and leave him to fend for himself?

>>25455822
"I suggest you tell us of your employers, before we discover if your honor smears red along the road."

Red asphalt, here we go!

>>25455822
"Reginald, you're very short on friends at the moment. I like you, and I'd like to help you, but my friend here thinks you're not worth our trouble. Now if you tell me something useful I'm sure I could convince her otherwise, but as it is I just don't know."

>>25455884
Kind of hardcore, although more than likely the sheriff would hand him over to the federal authorities, who would just release him/murder him to keep him quiet.

>>25455921

so he can rob someone else and swear everlasting vengeance on us?

I would rather just slit his throat and leave the bastard on the side of the road and not put up with the trouble.

>>25455822
Search him for the letter that had his orders in it. Maybe he held onto it.

>>25455944
>>25455967

"Reginald, you're very short on friends at the moment. I'd like to help you, but my 'savage' friend here thinks you're not worth out trouble. How about you tell us who sent you and why, and I'll try and convince her otherwise." You say, in a calm, measured tone that you honed on the floor of the senate. A tone utterly detached from your feelings towards the man.

Reginald visibly pales. " A-and how do I know you'll let me go if I tell you?"

Miaya smiles, and begins to pick a tooth with her knife. " You do not. You will simply have to trust us, my dear."

You look aside at her, and nod. That should help.

Roll intimidation, 5 dice.

Rolled 42

>>25456103
We're going to kill him no matter his answer.

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Rolled 55

>>25456103
This train has no breaks.

Rolled 83

>>25456103

Rolled 59

>>25456103

Rolled 13

>>25456103
Cmon

Rolled 65

>>25456122
>>25456125
>>25456126
>>25456138
>>25456143

>>25456162

Your tandem routine with Miaya seems to have worked, it is only a few short moments before the once collected Britannius breaks under the pressure. " It was the old man, you know, the Consul. Nero Sertorius, that was his name. He put out an open commission, with the Lady Protector's full authority, to come north and search for Clockwork Relics. Old automata and the like. I accepted, because job aside I have done good business here catching savages and rebels, and selling them to the mining companies in the midlands. That's all, I swear. Please, I have a family, two kids. Er, Byron! And Be, uh, Betty! Byron and Betty! Can you really deny children their father!?!" He crawls ineffectually toward the back of the cart, frantic.

Miaya rolls her eyes, and looks to you, knife in hand. Decision time.

>>25456271
Kill him and let's be on our way. This has taken entirely far too long.

Is slaving illegal?

>>25456271
He lied about having kids, obviously. If he can't even be an honest man in a situation like this, he's clearly not trustworthy enough to live.

>>25456271
I think we have what we need from him. Quarrel through the heart, nice and quick.

>>25456348
It appears to be sanctioned, although it appears you can only slave outlaws.

>>25456271

kill him hang his ass in a tree with a sign that says

"This Is The Price Of Banditry"

>>25456271
"Yet how many children have you denied their parents?"

Let's be done with this, he's outlived his usefulness.

>>25456271
I'd prefer not to kill him, but looks like everyone else wants to.

>>25456338
>>25456359
>>25456363
>>25456374

You shake your head, slightly. Miaya nods her understanding, and Reginald's pleading is silenced as her blade plunges into his heart. His eyes go wide, and he slumps against his restraints. Miaya dumps him out of the cart, his corpse impacting the wet mud with a splash, his face to the ground.

" I do not know why you hesitated, men like him deserve far worse than we gave." Miaya says, wiping the man's blood from her curved knife with the rag she had used to gag him.

" I needed time. Decisions like that shouldn't be easy."

" Oh? Well that one was, if you ask me. Come on, your turn to drive."

You spend the next two hours in light conversation, as Miaya works on one of her paintings and you finally manage to drive the cart without nodding off. Its uncertain whether she is being talkative for it's own sake, or simply to keep you awake and focused so she can paint instead of drive.

Eventually, the cart clears the forest, and you get your first view of Patch. Built on the side of the great river Julia, Patch is a city renowned for it's culture and festivals. It was once a trade port, but is now far more famed for it's more frivolous role as entertainment capitol of the protectorate. Though still in the north, the surroundings are considered safe enough that Patch has no wall to speak of, just some gatehouses for the main roads, one of which you approach now.

Even the gate has an air of levity, a bright, cheerful green rather than the dour stone one would expect. A gatekeeper in standard military gear casually walks to you cart, after clearing the several in front of you for entrance. On closer inspection, you see the soldier is wearing what appears to be a mask of some kind. Decidedly non-regulation, that.

>>25456731

" You here for the festival, friend? If so, your just in time."

You imagine it's a roundabout way of asking what your business is, but you are curious as to what the festival could be about.

The man looks over you, Miaya, and the cart, and seems satisfied with his inspection.

"Well, if you need help finding anything, I can help you out. Name's Ardran, I'm the southern Gatekeeper for the day shift. Its my job to help you find what you need."

>>25456742

Thank you good Sir could you please recommend us a nice Inn?

>>25456742
This
>>25456795

>>25456742
We should ask what festival is being celebrated.
It's important to remember the dates of these things for if we want to come next year!

>>25456742
Ask about festival.
Ask about art dealers for Miaya maybe?
Get supplies? That is why we're here right?

>>25456742
"Hail! I am not here for the festival, but would you mind telling me what it is?"

>>25456938
More like we are here to find our very own bard! An entertainer extraordinaire!

>>25456988
Oh yeah ask him where the bard college is, since thats why we came in the first place.

>>25456795
>>25456820

" My thanks, good sir. Could you recommend us an Inn?" You say.

Ardran thinks for a moment, and then snaps his finger. " Yeah, the Driftwood still has openings. Probably the last rooms in town because of the festival. You'd do well to look there."

You nod. " What festival is this, by the way? We're here on business, and were not aware of it."

The man's face lights up behind the brass mask, his eyes gleaming. " Ah, my friends, you have the pleasure of experiencing our biggest yearly event. This is the festival of Jesterfell. Patch got it's name because this is where the motley of the Trickster God Marvel was torn during his great ruse against the elder gods. One of his multicolored patches fell to earth here, and we've been dedicated to having a good time ever since. Just because the Gods are all dead doesn't mean we should stop having fun, no?"

You can't argue with that.

Miaya speaks. " One more thing, friend. Are there any art dealers in town? I have some works I would sell."

" Of course, many are in town for the festival. Many vendors and a few shops and communes down by the waterfront would surely be interested."


" You have been a great help, Ardran." Miaya says, nodding her hooded head at the man.

" Think nothing of it, ma'am. Just doing my job. Oh, before I forget, make sure to buy some masks from the vendors, it's tradition to give everyone who doesn't have one a hard time."

You and Miaya say your farewells to the gateman as more carts and foot traffic approach, and pass through the gate. Inside, the festival is in full swing, and you must be careful with the cart, as the myriad masked revelers care little for proper right of way.

Miaya points. " Look, Tallius. There are the mask vendors he mentioned. We should buy some, no? Looks like we will stand out otherwise."

>>25456742
Ask him what the festival is about.

>>25457169

You nod, and direct the cart to the nearest vendor. A fat man greets you, yelling some pitch, surely. You cannot hear it over the crowd.

He has a number of masks, and Miaya quickly picks one with a long, beak like nose. You remember hearing about plague physicians in the exclusion zones wearing something similar. You look around for one that suits you, before one of the stands draws your eye. The masks are caricatures of public figures. You see The Lady Protector, or at least a reproduction of the mask she wears in public. Some mythic heroes. Decimus, the head of the Adventurer's Guild.

And...

...oh my.

You recognize that one.

The patrician visage of Nero Sertorius, Consul, General, Hero. You almost giggle. Miaya will have a fit.

But do you dare?

>>25457173
That is a horrible idea. Just get a mask that looks like a boar or some other type of animal.

>>25457173

We Dare

>>25457173
That'd just be bad juju. Something else. Anything.

>>25457173

No need to buy the mask just try it show Miaya have a laugh then buy another

>>25457173
Get it.

Also get a backup mask.

>>25457173
Might be interesting to sound out people's opinions and find potential spies. Or we could go with something else to not scare potential friends.

>>25457381

this seems reasonable.

>>25457381
I like this.

>>25457384
Wearing double masks?

>>25457173
This is too tempting not to. Maybe buy another mask like somebody else suggested as well. Unless they're hella expensive.

>>25457460

No need to buy the mask just try it on and show Miaya laugh and then buy another

>>25457360
here
change vote to
>>25457381

>>25457173
Wear it.

>>25457381

You are not quite willing to push your luck so far as to wear the thing around, but the prospect of throwing it on later while Miaya has her back turned is too tantalizing to pass up. You hand the man some change and he passes the mask to you, along with a less daring affair with visage of a boar, which you don as you leave.

Miaya is by the cart, her hood and mask giving her a sinister appearance that, despite it's almost horrific nature, you have to admit suits her.

" Find one you like?"

" Oh, you have no idea."

" Sure. At least you face matches your mind, now." You bristle a bit at the insult, and the fact that her facial expression is hidden behind the mask. Now Miaya is even harder to read. She climbs up the cart, and takes the reins. You sit beside her, hiding the Nero mask in your pack as you do.

The revelers part as you head to the waterfront district, where you were told you would find the Driftwood Inn. It takes the better part of an hour to get there.

You arrive, and the stableboy takes your cart and team into his care. The room is quickly negotiated, a mere thirty gold a night. There was only one room remaining, so you and Miaya are forced to share.

Placing her things on the room's only table, back to you, Miaya speaks. " So, what now? We could head to the Bard's College, I think it's up in the northern sector. Or we could walk about the festival. Maybe we shall find someone there, and I think we could both use a little levity."

Levity, eh? You feel the mask in your pack, and suppress a smirk. You put it on, replacing the boar's head, just as Miaya turns.

" So, Tallius, you want to grab something to ea-"

Her eyes widen. You begin laughing, but are cut short as her hand impact your face, the slap sending the mask flying against the wall.

>>25457720

" W-what the hell, Miaya?"

" Y-you asshole!" She yells, shaking her hand. Apparently that mask was harder than your face, at least.

You look at her, holding your sore face, just as she loses her composure and begins laughing.

" No, seriously, you are fucking terrible for that, But it was funny. Sorry I hit you, I know that's Sif's job. Anyway, where to?"

>>25457730
Well, I figure we either enjoy the festival or visit the art galleries. During a large festival isn't the best time to shop for supples or hire an entertainer, they'll have inflated thier prices as they are in demand right now. Wait until the festival is dying down before we do those.

>>25457730

I'd prefer walking around the festival. Bard College is good and all, but I'm sure a good amount of are already out enjoying the festivities anyway.

>>25457730
Walk around festival and take the measure of the town. Ask how people feel about the government perhaps. See who the movers and shakers in town are.

>>25457730
Observe festival first, see if we can pick up any bard purchasing tips. Then art galleries.

>>25457730
Walk around the festival first. Those bards aren't going anywhere.

>>25457777
This is smart. Let's go visit the places Miaya wanted to sell her art, first.

>>25457730

Miaya wanted to go eat lets go eat and see about getting ourselves a Bard

>>25457777
Good point anon, hit up the art gallery see if we can't take advantage of the festival to sell some art.

>>25457777
>>25457794
>>25457836

" You're right, things have been a bit too serious lately. Let's enjoy the festival. Hey, we can even go by those art galleries that Ardran mentioned."

She nods, and hands your boar mask to you.
"Sounds fun. Let's go, we will walk this time. Take in the sights."

You both leave the Driftwood, the old woman running the place nodding at you as you somewhat hastily exit with Miaya just behind.

The crowd is a lot larger than you were used to. Patch is a much smaller city than the Capitol, but the streets you used to frequent were never this congested. Revelers and shop stands are everywhere you look, as are entertainers. Masked men juggling and singing and even an old man with some puppets, all of them drawing crowds. Even the puppeteer.

Before too long you find yourself at the galleries, a series of small shops and communes on the waterfront. The river is rather beautiful this time of day, and you imagine you could find many pieces attempting to capture the sunlight reflecting off the water inside the shops.

" I will just be a few minutes, Tallius. Do try not to get lost, I would hate to have to track you down like an actual boar." Miaya disappears into the crowd, heading toward the shops. You wish her luck.

Several minutes pass as you lean on a wall. You decide to partake in the time honored tradition of people watching, but end up feeling uncomfortable as all you can see are a couple going at it in an alley right in your field of view. Suppressing a blush, you turn and try to move somewhere else, only to find a man in a hawk mask feet away, studying you in a strange, stooped position.

" You might want to get moving. The Running Riot is headed this way."

" The what?"

" You don't know the Running Riot? Well, you will soon. CAW. CAW. CAW!" The man runs off, flapping his arms more like a chicken than a bird of prey.

>>25458178
Looking back into the street, you see the crowd parting. A moment of confusion before you see the cause. A horde approaches, a veritable army of entertainers of all sorts. Jugglers, sword eaters, musicians. More than you can count, running at a dead sprint while still trying to partake in their arts. You don't know whether to laugh or scream, but you know you need to get off the street!

Cunning roll, three dice.

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>>25458178

Rolled 83, 33, 3 = 119

>>25458193

Rolled 89, 32, 25 = 146

>>25458193
Dice Gods hear my plea bless these dice

>>25458178
I think we should take that Jane very literally...

Lets pop into the art shop to avoid the crowd.

Rolled 53

>>25458193

DICE

Rolled 84

>>25458193

Dice take me

>>25458202
>>25458217

Its 1d100 each, guys.

Rolled 9

>>25458178

>>25458224
>>25458240
>>25458267

Your first thought is to run into the shop where you saw Miaya heading, but it is too far, and you are too slow, to make it before the Riot overtakes you.

You see one option remaining. The alley where you previously saw the lovers is somewhat closer, and you can see the couple, now mostly dressed, watching on, unconcerned. They must be convinced of their safety, so you'll join them.

You take off at a dead sprint, your feet impacting the cobblestones with a repeated clacking sound. Though you make good time, your heart begins to hammer against your chest, and a splitting pain nearly sends you to the ground. Perhaps there was a price to that ritual after all, and you pay it now.

Staggering to your feet, you unsteadily attempt to cover the remaining distance. For their part, the couple are cheering you on, their arms motioning for you to move faster and join them. Your leg goes numb as you trip over a cobblestone and strike your knee upon another. Rising yet again, you attempt to limp the rest of the way.

You almost make it. The alley is mere inches away as the first fool cartwheels by you, a blur of motley and insane laughter. After him is a hugely muscled Meridian upon some kind of one-wheeled cart. Then a juggler, the produce he is tossing into the air flying about him uncontrollably as he fails to both keep pace with the Riot and continue juggling successfully.

You dodge the falling produce with a desperate jump, but slam into a man with a lute of some kind strapped to his chest. Bouncing away from the impact, you see the shocked faces of the couple fly past as you head straight towards a wall, and everything goes black.

>>25458504
Well that's what happens when you get stabbed through the heart I guess.

>>25458504
We found our bard!

>>25458504

Not our beautiful face!

>>25458504

>inb4 we wake up naked, and robbed

>>25458504
Bard has been acquired!

Chekhov's Lute. This is our guy.

>>25458504

"I swear, if you got brain damage over something this stupid, I will kill whatever is left of you."

You open your eyes to a hazy blur of a world. The woman admonishing you sounds like Lucretia for a moment, but you didn't hit your head so hard that you seriously entertain the possibility.

" Ah, he's alive, is he? It's good to know my chest didn't kill him!" Another blurry figure, shorter than the first.

Your vision soon resolves the images into something resembling the real world. The woman is Miaya, which you knew, really. The man is the musician you bumped into, judging by his trashed lute. Or, well, you call it a lute, but it looks noticeably different. You're no musician.

You note you are no longer on the street, or even in the alley. Instead, you are lying on some cushions in a stone building of some kind.

" Where am I?" You say, weakly.

Two others join the bard and Miaya from the right. You recognize their masks, it's the couple from the alley.

" You are in the Bard's College, friend!" The man begins.

" Finest in the Protectorate!" The woman continues.

Miaya shakes her head. "They insisted we bring you here after I found you with them in the alley. Apparently anyone injured in the Riot is brought here and given a free meal and treatment. As you might imagine, they are flush with guests. Oh, and they insisted on coming."

The bard nods his head, you note his mask is the visage of one of the Clockwork Empire's engineers, a face half that of a squid and half cold steel. Normally terrifying, his is an amusing caricature instead. " If you see someone go down in the Riot, it's your duty as a resident of Patch to see them help and the College. These two know well their duty, as they should."

The woman scoffs. " Duty this, duty that, honor and so on. You are always so serious Crese, why can't you take things easy like Haro and I?"

>>25458829

Haro shakes his head. " Ela has a point, Crese, you didn't have to come. Its not your job, you were Running the Riot.

The short man holds up the ruin of his instrument.

"Not with this, I wasn't. Anyway, I was careless. Not the man's fault. What's your name, anyway, friend?"

>>25458853
"Tallius Urist, Tavernkeeper in search of a Bard at your service."

>>25458975
short, sweet, and to the point.

>>25458853
"Tallius Urist, professional tavern-keep and amateur runner."

>>25458975
Second.

>>25458853
"Tallius. I'm sure Miaya's already introduced herself as well."

>>25458975
Yea actually even I prefer this.

>>25458829
"Tallius Urist is my name, and it would seem that fate has guided me here. I happened to be in Patch to visit you good folks."

>>25459032
This.

>undressed ughtaha

>>25459032

I like it

>>25458975
"Tallius Urist, Tavernkeeper in search of a Bard, at your service. I imagine you already met Miaya."

The small man, Crese, helps you to your feet, and shakes your hand afterwards.

" I'm Crese, musician and maker of musical instruments. These two bufoons are Haro and Ela, duet singers and my partners in the crime some dare call entertainment."

Haro and Ela bow in tandem. It seems they tend to do most things together, singing aside. They even have similar mannerisms, and are of the same height. If Ela cut her hair, you wouldn't be able to tell them apart behind the masks. Which are also identical.

Haro and Ela link arms and walk past you, heading for the door, before turning. " They should be serving dinner in the main hall, you are invited, of course! Crese did knock you out, after all."

They practically skip down the hall, leaving you with Crese and Miaya.

" You two don't have to come if you don't want to, but drinks are on me if you do. If you want a bard, how does a band sound? We could talk it over. But I understand if you want the time to yourselves, plenty of people spend the festival with family."

He disappears into the same hallway before you can think of a proper response.

Miaya thumbs the beak of her mask. "We really need to start disabusing people of the notion of out relation. It is getting persistent."

You nod. " Well, the last guy died, so..."

She snorts. " A little soon, Tallius, but I see your point. What now? We could join them, I'm starving, or just look elsewhere.

>>25459412
Joining them sounds good. Probably cheaper.

>>25459412
Join them, I see no harm in it.

>>25459412
>"We really need to start disabusing people of the notion of out relation. It is getting persistent."
We will do no such thing. It's good cover.

>>25459412
Explore the city for potential business/criminal contacts then join them at the bar later.

>>25459412
Free food and drinks, what are we waiting for?

>>25459522
>it's good cover
Interracial relationships is a no-no here, m8.

>>25459412
Join em, food time and then business, Tallius's favorite side dish.

>>25459412
Join them. We can make conversation while we're there and be sure that they're the type of people we'd like to hire.

>>25459412
Join them. We can make conversation while we're there and be sure that they're the type of people we'd like to hire.

>>25459412
Join them, negotiate a deal to bring them back with us.

Before we leave, we have to find a way to get Rico's letter to his mother.

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>>25459564
But we're wearing masks so it's probably ok for now.

Meta Conversation: Are we any clearer on our long term goals? My plan remains as:

1. Finish renovations.
2. Start hiring informants.
3. Start taking a more direct interest in adventures into the source. Offer to buy and fence their loot. Offer increasingly illegal services to those we trust including the buying and selling of clockwork tech/banned goods/information.
4. Open new taverns, use them as checkpoints in an elaborate smuggling network for illicit goods and political dissidents.
5. Compromise politicians in the capital, use them to investigate Marcel Le'Eforet's murder.
6. Find the people who did this to us, deal with them appropriately.

Other people have mentioned getting hella rich and opening lots of taverns, which is fine, but not so much an end as a means. Has anybody else thought about this? Because it should be informing our actions in Patch.

>>25459446
>>25459447
>>25459558

You decide it could do no harm joining them. " Let's go, Miaya. Getting knocked on your ass works up a thirst."

Miaya chuckles and follows you into the hall.

The dining hall that enter after a few moments is vast, obviously built not only to service the students and staff of the College but the influx of visitors during Jesterfell as well.

You and Miaya take the two seats across from Crese, Haro, and Ela that the trio had apparently kept open in anticipation of your joining them.

The food is lavish, a degree higher than anything you've eaten in some time. You hear Miaya take in a breath, and watch her eyes widen. She must have missed the finer points of the culinary arts, being a chef herself. As appetizing as it all is to you, it must be like coming home for her.

You take a sip of wine as you sit, and hear Miaya throw off her mask and begin devouring her food to your side. She at least had the presence of mind to not remove her hood.

Crese watches her for a moment, amused, before finishing his goblet and looking back to you. " So, you're looking for entertainment, and Haro, Ela and I are looking to get out of the College. Why don't you tell me about the establishment you run?"

Over the next hour the trio get the abridged history of The Clock Tower Tavern. Crese seems interested, but Haro and Ela are practically ecstatic. You'd think you just read them one of the old novels you used to like.

Ela takes a chunk out of a chicken wing. Likely her eighth, or so. You can't imagine how her slim figure allows for it. " The northern frontier! It sounds exciting, doesn't it Haro?"

Her other half nods his agreement, drinking wine from his goblet with as much enthusiasm as Ela devours her meal.

Crese is more serious than his companions. " So, I imagine we will mostly be performing for adventurers, then? Well, they tend to tip well, and it will be interesting to see if they can pull some old musical devices out of Origin."

>>25459866

He nods.

" So, what's your offer? I imagine you'll be wanting to hear us first, of course, but what are we looking at, as far as board and pay go?

>>25459880
A flat sum every month with room and board included, and they keep all the tips they make.

>>25459880
"My other employees all make 30 gold a week, with ten into an insurance pool. Plus you three would make tips as well. Room and board is covered, basics nothing fancy, same as me."

>>25459880
"Accommodation, food and drinks, weekly pay, whatever you make in tips, and excitement."

>>25459880
"Let's hear you play, then I can make an offer"

Lets not over commit. It would be tough if they were trying to accommodate fringe tastes.

>>25459942
>>25459880

This sounds reasonable. Let's see if we can haggle them all into sleeping in the same room. We need those damnit!

>>25460004
too bad hit lute thing is broken

>>25459944

"My other employees all make 30 gold a week, with ten into an insurance pool. Plus you three would make tips as well. Room and board is covered, basics nothing fancy, same as me."

Crese mulls that over. " As you likely realize, those two only need one room between them. And you can fit me in a broom closet if you have to, I just want out of this damned College. There's a practice room down the hall to your right, third door. We'll go there after we're done with dinner, and set up to play you a set."

"You'll love it!" Ela adds.

Wait, didn't you break his lute? " Crese, don't you need a new instrument?"

" Nah, that was my backup. I'm not reckless enough to bring my best out on the Riot."

" Ah, good."

You note Miaya has not said a word, and is still fervently attacking her food. She must have been holding in just how hungry she was, you kind of feel bad for making her wait so long. Not to mention making her deal with saving your ass. Again.

Haro and Ela stand up suddenly. " We're going to go through some vocal exercises. Have to be sharp for the performance!" They dart off without another word. You note the exasperation on Crese's face, and realize that exercises the two are about to partake in likely have little to do with vocals.

He shrugs. " Eh, I hope they don't put you off."

You shake your head. " I've been around young love before, Crese. How long you been third wheel?"

His eyes kind of lose focus, like a war veteran's, or someone who saw an old lady bathing. " You have no idea, friend. Seems an eternity."

You hear a snort beside you. Miaya, having devoured two and a half plates worth of food, has returned to the conversation. " Sorry, a bard just out of College musing about eternity is kind of funny, is all."

" I'm a bard, being overdramatic is my job."

Miaya raises her goblet. " Fair point, Crese."

>>25460362
Ask Crese about his instruement.

It's a guitar, isn't it?

>>25460362
How long has he been barding at the college?

>>25460362
" On that note, I need to retrieve my instrument. I will see you in the practice room in half an hour." Crese stands, bows his head, and leaves at a businesslike pace.

Miaya puts her drink down, and leans over towards you. " What do you think of them, Tallius? I think Sif would like the twins."

" They aren't twins."

"Oh? How do you know?"

" Because I saw them fucking in an alley."

" So, not twins then."

" Right. I'll reserve judgment till we see them play."

Miaya stands. "Shall we then? I have had my fill of food, and we did come here for a reason. Well, besides alleviating your depression, that is."

" You're the one who insisted they come along. Face it, you were as bored as me."

She shrugs as you both walk to the practice room. " Boredom is relative when you have lived as long as I have. At least the company is nice."

You arrive moments later. The practice room has chairs prepared for you, and the trio are already on the stage. Haro and Ela have changed clothes, again. You cannot imagine why. Crese has his instrument with him, and ugly, long thing of brass, wood, and string. You've never seen the like, though the one you broke could be it's smaller, lighter cousin.

Crese calls out to you from the stage. " I hope you don't mind us starting out loud!"

He strikes his instrument, playing it much as one would a lute, but the strange device makes another sound altogether. It's a deep rumble, like the heavens themselves are to be split, and you can't deny the power behind the sound. But that's just the beginning, as the tempo rapidly increases, each of the the titanic sounds coming together into a cohesive whole.

Just as you grow used to the thunderous solo, Haro and Ela join in, their voices alternating low and high tones, the clean sounds a contrast to the savage power of the instrument. The effect is like nothing you've witnessed.

>>25460646
Unique. Sounds good for the Tavern.


Can they play other, more classical tavern songs as well?

>>25460646
The song ends minutes later. You look to Miaya, and find her face impassive behind the mask, which she has returned to her face. No gauging her reaction.

They soon enter into another, different song. This one is entirely different. The same instrument that had so emulated thunder now gave rise to soft, rising and falling tones as the duet of Haro and Ela let out a tender song of lost love and longing, far removed from the bellicose lyrics of the previous song. And yet, if you were to classify it, it would be of the same genre.

This too, ends, and the silence seems to imply that they wait for your reaction.

>>25460561
>>25460646
Its totally a guitar.

>>25460716
Applaud. They've got the job.

>>25460716
>>25460740
Applaud, comment on the uniqueness of the performance. Its very good, but if customers don't take a liking to it, they'll probably have to play more traditional songs like >>25460715 suggested. hopefully they will though.

>>25460716
Applaud like an americlap

"bretty good!"

>>25460716

slowclap

>>25460716
Applaud.
"I did have doubts especially about the instrument at first, but the performance is very good."

>>25460716
So rousing.

>>25460725
>>25460740
>>25460782
>>25460785
>>25460787
>>25460845

You begin clapping.

"I did have doubts especially about the instrument at first, but the performance is very good." You say.

Miaya stands as well. " I do not know what that was, or how you did it, but I really liked it, and I do not know why."

" What is that instrument, Crese?" You add.

The small man shrugs. " Family heirloom. Never seen another I didn't have specifically built, and none of the wooden ones sound quite like this one. Like nothing you've heard eh?"

" Indeed. I'd be glad to have all of you, at the previously mentioned rate. Your voices were great as well, Haro and Ela."

They bow simultaneously once again.

" You should at least stay until the festival ends, then we can head north together. It will be hard to leave now anyway, with the city so full." Haro says. You have no doubt he intends to continue his celebrations with Ela for the two days remaining in the festival, but then, maybe some more time off will do you and Miaya good as well.

>>25461034
Going to re-vote we investigate the city for new connections. Survey people for political opinions, ask about big personalities, start cultivating sources.

>>25461034
Let's go to safe, not so crowded, non-violent art galleries. Urist's head is probably still ringing.

>>25461211
Going to have to agree. This is an opportunity that we shouldn't pass up.

>>25461034
Also, we should see if there is a dedicated tavern in this down and if so is it Association approved.

>>25461332
Town not down.

>>25461034
There is also the matter of hiring some professional protection for the tavern. We don't want to get stabbed in the chest again.

>>25461500
I wouldn't be opposed to contracting some protection, but I don't think any bodyguard could protect us from the sort of righteous shitstorm that precipitated our stabbing. Unless we contracted the elves.

>>25461500
Political contacts and a big bouncer, sounds good to me.

Did Miaya actually end up selling any of her art, we kinda forgot to ask.

>>25461734
A festival outa have food and drink vendors, might want to look into finding some new suppliers and/or recipes as well.

>>25461211
>>25461302
>>25461332
>>25461500

You decide an extended stay is in order, though it will surely be a working vacation. The Association could do with having more influence out here, so you can look into that. Political and other connections might be useful in the future, who's to say? Maybe even get some local toughs for protection.

"Thanks for the performance, and I think we will be staying until the end of festivities. We're staying in the Driftwood if you need us for something.

Crese waves as he puts away that odd instrument of his. " Sure thing, and we'll be around if you need us, but good luck finding those two during daylight hours, unless you have a map of every alleyway in Patch. The duo shoot him dirty looks, but he's too busy to notice.

You and Miaya slip out as they begin some sort of friendly argument. It seemed pertinent not to pry.

It's dark out when you leave the College, and even the revelers have begun to thin out. You decide it would be best to return to the Driftwood and return to business on the morrow.

You arrive there in under an hour, its amazing how easy it is to traverse Patch when not dealing with the press of crowds or a horde of stampeding entertainers.

The room is as you left it, and you collapse on the bed, exhausted, as Miaya closes the door behind you.

" Oh, I will sleep on the floor then. Just don't count on me the next time you get trampled or something."

You feel like you have a witty response to that, but you fall asleep before you can bother to utter it.

*************

That's it for tonight, guys. Thanks for participating, as always, and I'll see you next week.

Archive here: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/25455146/

>>25461995
Thanks Barkeep, see you next week.

>>25461995
Thanks Barkeep, was fun. See ya wed heh

>>25461995
Thanks for another great thread Barkeep.

>>25461995
Good show, barkeep.
See you 'round next time!

>>25461995
Thanks for the Thread!
Ebook updated: http://pastebin.com/kbGzcbDb
Thankfully Mediafire decided to work with me this time.

I think that Crese and these "twins" are in fact old gods who faked their deaths with all of the others and are living out "mortal" lives down here.

Calling it.

>>25463397
i wouldn't mind that at all.

If Barkeep GM is still around, i would like to make a comment to him.
First, I was a bit taken back when the gods of this setting was "killed by mere robots with SCIENCE" it runs counter to a decent fantasy setting like this. but know i see it there is more to it. which is good, yes the gods don't seem to have much of a pressing importance to what we're doing here, but sturing the shit storm of a possable believers vs non believers spat should be advoided. and i think he did that well enough. they are out there, maybe they still show their influence, but it is hazy. So it's agreeable enough for most of the readers and rollers here. (contiued)

>>25463582
(part 2)
2) this may not be addressed for a bit. but i am wondering just what is going on at the empty mage's tower. it was the 3rd option of a starting tavern. we know what happened to the old tavern in town. but the mage tower is just left in limbo. I can see it being filled with another helpful starting mage. or maybe a break way group from the south lands where our barkeep came from chooses to drop their roots and make their own mage school. shit, maybe it's a stageing base for adventures to handle the clockworks. just tossing out idea.

3rd) the old peddler and son could be convenced to open a shop next to the tavern that can give us goods at times.

i hope these ideas can be help full and thank you barkeep GM for doing all of this,.

>>25462694
btw, what is his twitter site for tavenquest again? i need to bookmark it.

>>25463919

It's @TavernQuest

As for the Mage Tower, you may recall it belonged to Khaldun, who is currently traveling with Lucretia as an advisor. Make of that what you will.

>>25464163
(looks back though the threads) oops. forgot about that. sorry.

humm, maybe later if Lucretia loses in the "game of thrones" so to speak in the chapital, she could flee to the tower and hide out there herself. my oh my what fun could had with that. just think about it. we COULD wind up hire lucretia (in a false ID) as a new bar wench....

>>25464163
a full link please? i'm new to twitter and all.

>>25464338
never mind, i got it.