Jaded Wayfarer Inn

[Mr_D]

"You could see it like that, I suppose." He said with a slight chuckle. He liked the idea of being a honourable rogue.

"I merely see it as making a living and giving back when I can."

[Loxley]

Arden emptied his mug of ale, and rose from his chair. "I've got some things to take care of, brother, so I'm going to arrange for a room for the night. But remember, we're not mercenaries. We're pilgrims, and our names are Faithfull, and Irving. As you may have noticed during our last visit, Bregan Savant isn't exactly on friendly terms with Lycoria." Greyhawk snorted.

"Maybe it's because of that business with king Gunther..." Arden interrupted him quickly with a wave of his hand.
"Yes, yes, whatever you say. Gunther's dead and buried anyway, and besides, it was his fault if he couldn't keep the queen to himself." He took his leave from the two, and walked up to the bar, where he got a room for the night. He wasn't really tired, but he needed his privacy for now, for the business he was about to conduct. And so he left the first floor, and headed up to the rooms on the second floor of the inn.

Once inside, he locked the door. The room was small, with a sad excuse for a bed, but it was big enough for his needs. He walked up to the mirror on the wall over a wooden desk, and looked at his mirror image. Then, he touched the ring in his ear, and pulled it free. It began to pulsate in his hand, and he used it to draw several arcane symbols on the mirror, leaving a glowing red color behind it where it touched the mirror.

Soon, a face began to appear in the mirror. Arden laid his head on the side as he recognized one of Bregan Savant's lieutenants, Dante, also the band's foremost weapons master. "Captain...", Dante exclaimed in surprise. "I thought you were in Merolder, searching for your brother." Arden shook his head shortly.
"It's a long story.", he said. "I left with my brother to Lycoria to rescue the agent that was captured there. But I'm going to have to go back to Lycoria to conduct some more business. What I need from you is to send ten of your best trained scouts from the 2nd Brigade to meet up with us in Lycoria. We may need them before this is over with." Dante lowered his head in a nod.
"As you command, captain.", he said flatly.
"One more thing.", Arden added. "Send a pigeon to Kale Archambaud in Dun-Lorn, and tell him I want him to dig around a little. I need him to find out as much as he can about a female adventurer named Caitir. She's a human, and a dashing one at that." Dante raised his eyebrows.
"A woman, captain?", he asked. "You know that Rukie will kill you if she finds out, don't you?" Arden chuckled and nodded.
"I have no doubt she would.", he replied. "But it's nothing of the sort, this time it's different.", he continued with a frown. "Just do what I told you. Thank you.", he added, and the image of Dante dimmed slowly.

Arden gazed out at the star-filled night-sky outside with a thoughtful expression in his face. The cool night air sobered him up, and he smiled to himself. They had an exciting journey ahead of them, of that he had no doubts. And the fact two beautiful ladies were involved in it only made it all the more intriguing.

[Mr_D]

"Well then, shall we get going? If we take too long we'll miss the caravan." Nero said, rising from his chair. He fastened the clasp of his cloak around his neck and lifted his bag, slinging it over his shoulder.

[Ariel]

Ladarious reached for his tall carved staff and his worn leather satchel and stood up. Motioning with a hand gesture to the ladies to go first.

[Magus]

Caitir hopped childishly from her seat, slung her bag over her shoulder and merrily stepped in file with the others.

[Loxley]

"Hey, brother...", Greyhawk said through the locked door. Arden opened it a moment later, and let him inside, followed by Cujo. He returned to his seat in the window, looking out at the cold night beyond the inn, while waiting for his brother to talk. Greyhawk continued: "They look like they are preparing to leave the inn now."

"Let them.", Arden said. "We will track them starting in the morning. While they may enjoy traveling at night, we will enjoy a good night's sleep in a bed, for the last time in a very long while. Tell the inn keeper to have our horses sent by courir back to Kuthersia, to an inn at the edge of the Ironwall forest, an inn called "The Happy Juggler". We won't need them any longer in either case - from now on, we move by foot."

"As you wish.", Greyhawk said. "Can we keep up our speed to match it with theirs, then?" Arden again nodded.
"We will.", he assured his brother. "I took the liberty of calling for some reinfocements, ten of the scouts of Bregan Savant will meet up with us in Lycoria. That'll make things easier for us. Until then, however, we're going to be constantly on the move..."

"Sounds like a hectic journey ahead of us.", Greyhawk sighed, as he left the room.

[Llew]

(Virde is a thief. His age is unimportant. However, suffice it to say that he is old enough to have made powerful enemies, but not so old as to have been killed by them yet. He stands 5'11 and dresses for the most part in black, switching to any nondescript clothing when and if the need arises. Usually though, his costume is a black embroidered doublet, black leggings and a short, gold fringed cape. The longer, larger hooded one is reserved for missions. He also wears a gold chain around his neck and several jeweled rings. His hair is black and is worn gathered at the back of the neck with a thong.
In character he is somewhat of a rouge, appearing gallant to the ladies, but that is all. He does not trust easily. He has seen to many dungeons to put faith in random strangers met by the wayside, and he keeps his own counsel in all matters. His weapons are three or four daggers hidden about his person, a short-sword, and a small, hand-crossbow, as well as bolts. Other necessities include several vials of poisons, ranging from deadly to merely sleeping potions. His daggers and the tips of the crossbow bolts are poisoned.)

Virde swirled the last of the wine around in the mug before finishing it off. He paused a moment to let the delicate liquid slide down his throat, and then stoppered the small flask. Rare wine indeed. He smiled a little at the memory of how he'd gotten it. "And the good Baron had posted a dozen guards just to protect his wine cellar!" He said, chuckling under his breath.

Attaching the flask to his belt he left his corner and sauntered towards the door of the Wayfarer, tossing a coin to the proprietor as he exited. Standing outside the door he stretched leisurely, all the while watching the four who had just exited before him. After hearing the direction their caravan was taking, he had summarily decided to go with them. The change in scenery would do him some good, and it was an excuse to get back up that way. He had some unfinished business that could be taken care of. Two birds with one stone...He nodded satisfactorily at the thought.

[Loxley]

Arden, sitting on the second floor, in his window, allowing the soft night air to kiss his naked upper body, watched the dark-clad stranger with a frown as he followed the group of four. He knew many agents and spies of the lands, but this one he had never seen before. "Who are you?", he mumbled thoughtfully.

[Mr_D]

The wagons and coaches of the caravan were parked by the roadside a some way down the road. It seemed the occupants were about ready to move on, many had gathered their belongings and carried them on their backs in large packs, their bedding and tents rolled up and tied in bundles. It seemed they still had some way to go before they made camp for the night.

[Loxley]

Arden watched as the caravan began to leave. Until it disappeared in the darkness of the night, he kept his eyes on it. Then, when it was gone, he went asleep, with no worries for the next day's "hunt".

[Llew]

Virde casually made his way to the stable, overtly catching sight of someone in an upper window of the Inn who had been watching him. He shrugged it off; if they were after him they would have to either trail or/and join the caravan. He would be on the look-out for new arrivals but he would not go out of his way.

Swinging open the heavy door he strode into the hay-smelling stables, singling out his black Courser in his stall. He retrieved his tack, which consisted of an ornate black saddle, which contained, hidden in a secret apartment, an extra store of poisons and other necessities of his trade, and a sliver embossed bridle. He cinched it down, rubbing the horse's neck almost affectionately before mounting and heading out under the moonlight. He easily caught up with the caravan as it began to move, and after a brief exchange with the caravan master, took his place near the rear of the column, incidentally next to one of the more elaborately decorated carriage.

[Mr_D]

As the merchants gathered their wares and people finished restocking their supplies at the inn, the caravan began its slow journey northwards. Nero approached some of their fellow travellers in friendly conversation to pass the time, introducing himself and his companions.