Post by ATB Staff on Feb 21, 2019 15:51:02 GMT -8
In a room under the eaves of the White Hart Tavern, Skarhn Barrett updated his ledger at a table in the corner. The curtains were pulled tight and the shades drawn low so that only the smallest bit of light might squeeze through the hidden windows. The dim lights from candles caused a dancing of shadows that played tricks on the eyes. A few chairs were scattered around scarred tables, many of them empty. The curtain to the southern alcove, the one overlooking the street, was also drawn with two of "her" guards standing watch. All in all, Skarhn thought to himself as he absently scratched at his day's growth of beard, things were fairly normal.
A man came tramping up the stairs from the tavern below, not even trying to be cautious about his entrance. He arrogantly strode up to Skarhn's table and with a smirk said, "You hiring? I'm the best you'll get." The man adjusted his sword on his belt expectantly and when Skarhn ignored him he cleared his throat loudly. "I said, are you hiring?" he demanded. When no response was forthcoming, the man looked around the room as if to ask "Are you kidding me?" He then leaned down, anchored both his fists on the table, and said "I. Asked. You. A. Question."
The man's attitude quickly changed as a knife flicked up against his neck from behind him. A woman's voice purred into his ear, "Manners, boy," and the knife point was pushed ever so slightly into the skin, just enough to draw a bead of blood from the man's now pale face.
Skarhn waited a beat before closing his ledger and finally looking up. "I've got this, Meliel," he said in a bored tone. The knife was immediately withdrawn and whomever had been behind the man ghosted away without a sound. Skarhn tipped back in his chair and regarded the newcomer with disdain. "First, you move like a bull in heat. Second, you're rude. Third, you wear that sword like it's steel instead of a part of you. Fourth, Meliel doesn't like you. So no. The Crossed Swords may be hiring, but we're not hiring the likes of you. You may go now," he concluded, cutting his eyes towards the stairs in open suggestion.
The man sputtered something under his breath and put his hand on his sword, his face red with anger. "I don't suggest that course of action, friend," said an older man wearing religious robes, who occupied a nearby table. An armored dwarf with a beard like molten copper sat next to him, finishing a mug of ale. As the dwarf put down his empty mug he wiped foam off his beard and said, "Oh, let him be stupid and short-lived! I'm up for a brawl."
As the man took a step back, trying to decide what to do, a woman in a half-moon hunter's cloak walked up the stairs and into the room. She approached the old man and the dwarf, slapping road dust off her gloves as she came. "I need a glass of good wine! That last contract did nothing but find the kind of trouble that works up a powerful thirst." As she strode by the man she arched an eyebrow at him and said "Did I not hear you were leaving? The stairs are that way." She nudged the man towards the exit as she passed.
Bewildered and embarrassed, the man retreated downstairs but not before a slender stilletto embedded itself into the stairwell with a solid thunk thrown from somewhere above. "Clearly, your best is terribly poor," a woman called after him. "Come back when you've learned better!" Laughter echoed in his wake as he hastened his steps.
*_*_*_*_*_*
Introducing hired mercenaries! You can find the Crossed Swords Company in the room above the White Hart Tavern. Each of the mercenaries has their own unique skill set and personalities. You can only hire one at a time, and they don't come cheap, but they are worth it. Enjoy!
A man came tramping up the stairs from the tavern below, not even trying to be cautious about his entrance. He arrogantly strode up to Skarhn's table and with a smirk said, "You hiring? I'm the best you'll get." The man adjusted his sword on his belt expectantly and when Skarhn ignored him he cleared his throat loudly. "I said, are you hiring?" he demanded. When no response was forthcoming, the man looked around the room as if to ask "Are you kidding me?" He then leaned down, anchored both his fists on the table, and said "I. Asked. You. A. Question."
The man's attitude quickly changed as a knife flicked up against his neck from behind him. A woman's voice purred into his ear, "Manners, boy," and the knife point was pushed ever so slightly into the skin, just enough to draw a bead of blood from the man's now pale face.
Skarhn waited a beat before closing his ledger and finally looking up. "I've got this, Meliel," he said in a bored tone. The knife was immediately withdrawn and whomever had been behind the man ghosted away without a sound. Skarhn tipped back in his chair and regarded the newcomer with disdain. "First, you move like a bull in heat. Second, you're rude. Third, you wear that sword like it's steel instead of a part of you. Fourth, Meliel doesn't like you. So no. The Crossed Swords may be hiring, but we're not hiring the likes of you. You may go now," he concluded, cutting his eyes towards the stairs in open suggestion.
The man sputtered something under his breath and put his hand on his sword, his face red with anger. "I don't suggest that course of action, friend," said an older man wearing religious robes, who occupied a nearby table. An armored dwarf with a beard like molten copper sat next to him, finishing a mug of ale. As the dwarf put down his empty mug he wiped foam off his beard and said, "Oh, let him be stupid and short-lived! I'm up for a brawl."
As the man took a step back, trying to decide what to do, a woman in a half-moon hunter's cloak walked up the stairs and into the room. She approached the old man and the dwarf, slapping road dust off her gloves as she came. "I need a glass of good wine! That last contract did nothing but find the kind of trouble that works up a powerful thirst." As she strode by the man she arched an eyebrow at him and said "Did I not hear you were leaving? The stairs are that way." She nudged the man towards the exit as she passed.
Bewildered and embarrassed, the man retreated downstairs but not before a slender stilletto embedded itself into the stairwell with a solid thunk thrown from somewhere above. "Clearly, your best is terribly poor," a woman called after him. "Come back when you've learned better!" Laughter echoed in his wake as he hastened his steps.
*_*_*_*_*_*
Introducing hired mercenaries! You can find the Crossed Swords Company in the room above the White Hart Tavern. Each of the mercenaries has their own unique skill set and personalities. You can only hire one at a time, and they don't come cheap, but they are worth it. Enjoy!