INN
Hilde shook her head, doing her best to answer Maeve's curiosity with what she had heard.
"I'm not sure what would provoke it, but someone had attacked Madame Valia. She is the master of dance here in Kalla, she teaches young women and girls the art of dance for both entertainment and ceremonies. It's quite an important role here in Kalla, even I used to take some classes from her when I was little," she said with a faint smile at the memory. Though it quickly faded as she continued to tell Maeve what she had heard.
"Apparently there had been a string of kidnappings before this as well, and Valia had thought that people were losing interest in the art of dance, till she heard that her students weren't at home either. I assume she was next on the list..., but it seems they failed to take her. A man had carried her to the temple where she was receiving healing when I left." Her father then arrived, serving her order and giving her an offer to help with the cost of her travel. When she refused and offered Isoli currency, he just heartily laughed it off with a broad smile, "Oi, 'old on now, lass, this is worth much too much. I may be a businessman, but I'm fair. A room only costs five copper, and the meal two. I appreciate ya, but I can't accept so much."
It was then that a large man, surprisingly taller than Allard by nearly a foot, stooped through the door. He wasn't as heavily built as Allard was, but he was still a large and heavily built man in his own right. The man would have had to stoop a bit, though, not quite as much as he would in other places where it would feel like he had to crouch to get through, but with the large sack he carried, he nearly had to do so anyway. "Hello friend, welcome ta tha Sworn Spirits!" Allard shouted to the man as he greeted him. "If ya don't mind taken yur helmet off, there is no trouble ta be had here. Last man who came in here with a helmet on was part of a raiding tribe. Had ta take it off for 'im, though, the poor bastard left his head inside. I don't have many rules here, but that's one I'm a tad particular on." He then went off to get a drink for the man.
This was when Anrak asked Hilde about her armor. Hilde was stunned by the man's enormous stature when he came in, she couldn't help but watch, as if the man's size demanded attention. More than that though, his presence was ominous, and didn't make her feel comfortable. Something seemed off about the man, and the large sack he carried just gave him all the more look of a criminal from a fable. She had to stop herself from unconsciously setting her hand on her blade. Between the tension of things going on in town and the imposing presence of this man, it made her a little jumpy.
"O-oh! An armorsmith? I know where a smithy is, b-but... Gallin doesn't normally forge armor, I'm not sure how much help he would be. My armor was a gift from my father, I'm sorry." She said with a slight bow.
"Gallin should be close to the market, if anyone can help, he may be able to fix something in the meantime. Otherwise, Master Aerex may be able to make some leather goods for you at the tailor's shop," she suggested.
"Here ya are," Allard said as he set the drink down and waited for him to remove the helmet. "Ya said ya didn't wanted a pint but not ale, so I got ya some rum and some water. We still got some curry in tha back, just waitin on n'lad ta tell me it's ready," he said to the large man before looking out the window. "Aye, seems you were right darlin'. Chief is out there addressin' tha crowd now. Might should go see what he's got ta say 'n let me know."
Hilde's eyes seemed to glow as she nodded her head,
"R-really!? Alright, I'll be right back!" She said as she bowed to the two guests and hurried out the door.
Allard sighed as he watched her go. "That girl....She's got an adventurous soul. Reminds me of when I was younger....worries me ta death," he chuckled.
TEMPLE
Sahale chuckled a bit at Allanon mentioning keeping a hand on his sword as it was protecting his life.
"Your life, is actually saving your life right now. You have a hefty sum for your head, but the price of bringing you in alive is also quite tantalizing, though a much less public bounty." Sahale looked Allanon up and down and then looked to Madame Valia, his gaze seemed to be a little more delighted seeing she was still around. He then looked back to Allanon to address his proposal.
"Hmmmm....No, no, that simply won't do," he said as he shook a finger in a negative gesture and then brought the same hand up to rest his knuckle and thumb against his chin in thought.
"It seems I will just have to accompany you to see the investment through. If I'm not satisfied, I can make additional collections then. However, this is already shaping up quite interestingly. After all, I thought we were already going to be off to a bad start when I saw the beautiful miss over there with a little target on her. Would have left a bad taste in my mouth to know something so breathtaking was extinguished from this world." Sahale's face brightened up as he drew Ren in to him with one arm, pulling her right shoulder to his left at he tapped his sword sheath on the ground.
" Alright then, its settled!" he started with a wide smile,
"The chief will be taking a volunteer force to look for the other missing girls, that is where we need to be. I'll make sure we go where we need to." he let Ren go and looked Allanon square in the eye.
"I'll go ahead and let you know, I'm not looking to claim any bounties.... But should you cross me....well..."his face darkened considerably,
"I can always stand to line my pocket a bit more." his face nearly instantly changed to his regular happy demeanor.
"but for now, business is great! Let's move on shall we, I've spent too much time in one spot already and it's starting to feel cramped in here." It was then that Kistal made his presence known to the group in the temple.
"Ah, a friend of yours Al? Sahale asked Allanon.
"Well I'll give you all a hint. What do you know about a man named Krogan, eh? Any of you ever get into history every now and then? Well, old man Calibastard may or may not be doing one or three things around here. I'll say what I know in less..." he looked around to see if any other people were listening in, though it was mostly with his eyes instead of his head, any head movement to look around was disguised under something simple like stretching his neck.
"Well, in a less crowded environment... but he has taken an interest to the the ruins Krogan used to rule in. Word is that is his men's current base of operations. If you are interested, that would be a good start as any." It was just after this everyone in the temple could here a man's voice boom over the others. It was the chief of Kalla, addressing the people directly.
THE SQUARE
The man Aerex was speaking with shook his head, "She was attacked in her home today, and badly injured. Some foreigner found her with two dead mercs inside, rushed her to the temple. Word from the temple is that those mercs might be involved in them girls that have been disappearing too. Surprised you are just now hearing about it. The whole town has been in an uproar the last couple hours." Just then a man came walking to the crowd and everyone seemed to take notice without him saying a word. "Cheif Dorron...in his battle wear? What is he-" but he was cut off before he could finish.
A booming voice sounded out over the crowd, everyone else becoming quite or whispering. "MY PEOPLE, HEAR ME NOW!" A man strode up, and though he seemed to be aged, his body looked to be in top condition,his hair and beard were kept short, which seemed to be common for many of the male warriors of Kalla. He was not adorned with a lot of regal attire befitting a leader. Just spots of armor and a loin cloth. In his right hand, he led a heavy looking mace. The head was a smooth sphere with no spikes. Over his shoulder, was a heavy shield. The little he had consisted of leg and arm guards. His other piece of weaponry, was a heavy single bladed knife at his back. Other than that he had a water flask at his side and a small pouch at his back as well, next to the knife.
"I have been informed of the current situation regarding Madame Valia," He said looking to the crowd, meeting the eyes of as many as he could. "The temple has also sent word to me of the connection between this attack and the girls that have disappeared these past weeks. I'm afraid that our fears have come to fruition and that there is indeed an enemy at work. I don't know which outland tribe it is, but whomever it may be, we will find them, and crush them under our heels! I want anyone willing to lay their lives for their tribesmen and form a search party to start preparing to move out. We will meet here and leave in two hours. May Sandrine protect our people, may Krogan guide our wrath." With that he made a short bow to the crowd, which everyone bowed back in respect. A number of people still milled about while others seemed to head for home, some would be coming back in time to join the volunteer group.
"That's the cheif here, eh?" Bidzil said as he watched the man walk off and find a place to sit and wait. he had no special guard with him and didn't try to chase anyone away who came up to talk with him.
"He seems.... just like anyone else here... I guess when they say everyone in Kalla are pretty much on equal standing they mean it. Wonder what kind of person he is." While the man seemed to be respected by those around him, he was open and talking with them as if they were his own friends and family, despite the concern and anger that traced the edges of his face. Anyone talking with him could practically feel his body giving off a bloodlust for whoever did this. Bidzil crossed his arms in thought for a moment. He had the urge to help, but, did he have the right to jump into their affairs? And what of his own goals? What if he fell before finishing what he needed to do? Bidzil shook his head. No, that wasn't the right way to go about thinking. Besides, he needed to talk with the chief anyway about his own mission, hoping that the chief would help with what he was looking for. If Bidzil helped, not only would he be doing what he felt was right in helping where he could, but maybe the chief could tell him where the soul of Krogan's great maul was. He then nodded as he looked up to Aerex,
"I'm going, they can use all the help they can get. Besides, I have something I need to ask the chief about anyway."
Member
