The Broken Bar Tavern
The Taveren is a small hole in the wall just inside the cities south gate. It has long been known as a bar that attracts sell swords, thieves, adventures, and all manner of those who would earn there living in a dangerous way. Because of this it has a built an board out front to let those who come to the city in need of such folk may only look at the board and know if who they seek can be found inside... Or if any group needs new blood for there ranks.
The bartender and owner Brock, is a long retired mercnary with a hart of gold. He loves to hear the stories of those he feed and serves drink of all manner to. If the story is liked by the crowd after being told is stage. Then your comped a meal on the house. Just as advertised by the sight the bar has the apreance of falling apart, and is covered in scraps and chips, but most who spend there days here are not offended by such things. The food is good, the ale is cheep, and the company suits them fine enough to make up for a slightly delapodated bar.
The bar as usual had no less than twenty patrons sitting about, and Theodoric, was among them. This was one of a few places he would sit with the scarf down around his neck, his scare exposed to the world. He had no fear of ridicule, or offending anyone here. His table had two other with him. A heavy set man who nearly burst from his plate armor, and a young human with a staff and a sword wearing an explosives outfit... The young human seemed to be a bit to proper for the bar, but sat quietly reading his book. They had posted the need for a skilled healer almost a week ago, and Theodoric was growing a bit uneasy from being in one place for two long. "We should go tomorrow. With or with out a healer." He finally said from behind his ale. "What do you say Gord?"
The heavy set man hummed a moment. "Hmmm... Mmm... Hmmm..." Then after taking another drink of his honey mead Gord made a diction. "No... We should wait I think... It's supposed to be dangerous in the runes of the old lower city... So we would need a healer." His words came lazy, and his red glow of his cheeks showed he was drunk only a few hours after dawn.
"I agree with Gord. We should wait for a healer. Cleric, alchemist, or what ever. We should at least bring someone along with the skills needed to keep us alive and moving." The young human man said with out looking up from his book Lance smiled. "You just don't have the patients it takes to make the kind of money we will after this job... We posted a sign on the board. I'm sure someone will answer if we just wait a bit longer."
The door to the tavern opened and closed with a bang. Standing in the doorway was a hooded figure holding a piece of paper, the only thing that could be seen where red eyes peering from beneath the hood. Brock obviously knew who it was for he hurried around and wrapped his arm around the person's shoulders protectively. "Whater ya doing here? This's no place fer someone like you." The figure held up the piece of paper and pointed a dainty gloved hand at it. Brock nodded his head and sighed. "Aye... o' course that'd be whach yer here fer." Shaking his head he glanced around. "AY! BACK TER YER DRINKS!" Turning to the three strangers Brock pointed them out and whispered reassuring words the to hooded figure before shoving them in their direction. The hooded figure didn't miss a beat just kept on walking until they were standing at Theodoric, Lance, and Gord's table. Placing their flyer on the table the gloved hand pointed at it and finally spoke. "Says here you gentleman are looking for a healer." An almost whimsical voice came from under the hood as Mydra spoke.
Lance closed the book and smiled at Theodoric, "see. If Had listened to you we would be in a dank dungeon with no... Umm." He looked to the hooded women with a bit of confution a bit of confution. "Cleric?" He asked hopping to be right but not sure.
Gord just raised his tankered. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Gord. A former knight of Baulders Gate. Now a shield for higher." He then took a sip and placed the tankered down.
"What's your name?" Theodoric looked right into her eyes. He knew what red eyes and a figure like that ment. She was a Drow. This... Complicated things. He didn't know if he could trust the girl, but maybe a few tests would help him determine if she was just another Drow driven to the surface by an evil society of spider loving blood thirsty freaks, or if she was one of the freaks playing the part to gather information for her people to wage a raid of this city.
Looking over her shoulder she took the seat across from the three men and leaned in. "Names Mydra" she whispered her name so only the three men could hear it. She clearly didn't want anyone else to know who she was. "And... yes I'm a cleric or healer." Leaning back in her chair she eyed each of them in turn.
"I'm, Lance. It is a pleasure to meet you miss Mydra." Lance could not help it. He had been raised proper, and now needed to act proper at all times. "We know the notice was vague, but there is.
A. LOT. Of money on the line here." Lance went on now taking a sip of his wine. "What do you know of the old section of the Under City?" He smiled brightly as he awaited her answe and set his book down on the table. The title read a bit strange it said
"physics", in common.
"Hmmm..." Gord took another drink and sighed. "I'm running low on mead... Hmmm." With that he looked over his shoulder at a cute serving girl. "Young lady. I appear to be running low on Honey Mead. Might you get me another glass?" Guard asked with a smile that only a buzzed man could muster with rosey red cheeks.
"You don't sound so confident in that assessment of your abilities. Are you gitted by a god or not?" Theodoric asked with a bit of suprise in his tone.
"Theodor, do not harass the young girl before I'm done asking my questions. Besides being rude as can be. Your making it hard for me assess if she knows much about where we are going, and if she may or may not work for the other team." Lance looked rather upset but his tone was so proper it seemed to block out any rage at all.
Mydra pressed her lips together for fear of smiling though they wouldn't be able to see anyway, her hood still hid her features very well. "It's quite alright Lance. But no my family and I left Underdark when I was very young I never left the darkness of the mountain until I came here and then I spent all my left around this area." Turning her attention to Theodoric she frowned. "I'm a healer I just need more practice and confidence is all. Sometimes my patient can end up with a stomachache but nothing serious."
"There you have it Theo, she's capable." Lance smiled a triumphant grin. "I would shutter to think a pain in your tum tum could slow you down." Lance was mocking Theodoric a bit before he returned to his conversation. "Well that is good that you all got out before the collapse..." Lance leaned in as to hide what was about to be said. He whispered- "our employer knows a passage around the cave in... There is a bank in the old city that has a lock box witch holds something the man wants... We are aloud to take anything we like from the remains of the old city, to include the rest of the bank, a massive museum, and countless other lost valuables." With that Lance leaned back and smiled. "So! What will it be? Do you find the job appealing?"
"Hmmm... Maybe we should tell her the rest of the information... That is only fair to her." Gord said with smile. Then the serving girl returned and he took his next mead. He took a long drink of it then went on. "The traps, the monsters, the Drow Raiders that seek slaves." Gord paused a bit and thought a moment. "Hmmm... Mmm... Oh! Yes and the dragon that lives down there!" Gord looked rather broad of himself for remembering all of this.
"Gord, is right to worn you. All the other risks aside if your captured by the Drow you'll wish you died in the fight." Theodoric explained then pointed to his cheek. "This scare. It's a nice day as a slave to them."
Mydra took a moment to feel out there emotions, Lance seemed pretty open and honest at the moment, Gord was too sheets to the wind and Theodoric was very guarded so she couldn't get a good read on him just yet. "I'll make you a deal, I'll come along on two conditions." She held up her fingers to emphasize her point and then ticked them off one at a time. "One you lay off the mead. If we're going to do this I'd like to not die in the process because one of my companions is drunk off his ass. And two you teach me how to fight better. I've trained most of my life but my father was no warrior and the city watch wouldn't let me join because I'm a woman, sexist pigs."
"Hmmm... Mmm..." Gord looked a bit offended. "I'm. I'm not drunk... I'm... Well I have a healthy glow." Guard tried to defend himself as being close to sober, but he was clearly not. "I don't drink near as much when I work... I can't carry to much so I have to drink it wisely."
Lance looked at Gord like a parent looks at a lying child. "Gord can control himself when there is potential for danger, but he is beyond drunk right now..." Lance then sighed. "I'm going to have to tell you that Gord and I fight a bit different than you. I use a bastard sword, Gord uses a spear- and there's no sell sword better with a lance when mounted." Lance then looked across that table. "Then there is Theodoric... Well if your looking for someone to teach you to use an elven curved blade, twin blades, or just all around light and rapid striking weapons... He is your man."
"I don't know if I can teach you to fight. " Theodoric said and sighed. "I haven't seen you fight. I need to evaluate what you look like when you swing, when you dodge-parry-or thrust... Then there is the most important element of all of this. You have to be dedicated to drilling. To practice. I can teach you the basics of how to use the swords your carrying. If you want to lean more than that... I have conditions." Theodoric could teach her to shave a man's face with a scimitar while dulling him... Learning this skill would take a lot of time on her part, and more importantly it would mean she would have to prove she had no wicked intentions with the skills she would learn.
"I wield two short swords and am killer with a bow." Mydra looked across at Theo and nodded her head. "Im fine with having you evaluate me if that's what is needed." Crossing one leather clad leg over the other she sat back comfortably in the chair and sighed softly. "What are your conditions, Theo? I gave you mine, so let me hear yours." Just then Brock came up to her and whispered in her ear. Her red eyes flicked up to meet his and she frowned deeply. "Can we possibly take our conversation elsewhere?"
Lance looked at Brock and then back at Mydra. His expression a bit confused about what was happening. "Is there anything we need to know about you before we take the conversation elsewhere?"
Gord looked like he was not in any shape to go anywhere at the moment. "I'll just wait here until I'm in the mood to get up and move." With that Gord took another drink and smiled brightly.
Theodoric shook his head. "You two stay here, and deture who every is looking for Mydra. I'll go take her around town a bit, and come back when the danger has passed." With that Theodoric got to his feet and walked for the back door pulling up his scarf, and putting on his hood.
"Oh... Blast that fool." Lance said through gritted teeth. Then looked to Mydra. "Please do keep up with him... He's looks like he's moving casually, but he is faster than you realize."
"Fast is good for me." Mydra jumped up and hurried after Theo, her coat flapping against her leather pants. Keeping her head ducked down she passed through the back door and just as it was closing the belligerent shouting started. "I know she's hear Brock. You can't keep hiding her! She wont always be protect forever!" Mydra stiffened at the threat, her hand instantly flew to her side as her eyes flared with rage. How dare he threaten her. Catching up to Theo, she kept pace at his side. "I apologize for the inconvenience.
" Her tone was more guarded than it had been in the tavern, less friendly and light.
As the two left the back door Lance cut off the man. He got right in his face to draw his full attention "Oh sir. This, is the wrong bar to threaten the owner in. You must have mistaken this establishment for the one your really looking for." He let his hand rest on his sword, and removed his reading glasses- placing them in a hard and ridged leather case on his belt. "I assume you'll find a kinder tone before I force one out of you?" Gord didn't speak, but instead stood to his full size. A massive man- it was clear his slumping had hidden just how tall he really was, and his hand rested on his hilt. Nothing but the 'Hmmm' Comming out of him. Though it some how sounded deeper and angry. He stood before the man's body guard.
As the two went out the back Theodoric spoke up. "No trouble. Though I do need to know why your being followed." Theodoric moved out of the ally and into the street pulling his hood. He was looking around before walking into the open and spotted two men watching the ally. An he stood casually on the wall he signaled her to stop when the men looked away. "Wait... Answer my question and then we can go." He made a seen of looking at people the way a pick mugger, or pick pocket would pick out a mark.
"Followed isn't exactly the word for it." For the first time, Mydra lowered her hood and stared straight into Theo's eyes. He could finally see just how beautiful she really was. Her long white hair was loose for once except for two small braids that were pinned back from her face. Turning her head up ever so slightly, bruising could be seen around her neck as if strong hands had held her there. "Stalked is more like it. I had thought he was a kind man, apparently I was wrong. I'm hoping that I'm not making the same mistake with the three of you." Tears brimmed her eyes at the memories of the past few weeks but Mydra squared her shoulders in defiance and held her head high, refusing to show weakness.
Theodoric was taken back by Mydra's beauty. He then shook his head and sighed a bit of relief. "Well good. That means your not wanted by anyone we can't put back in there place... Your going to like working with us." Theodoric was looking around the streets for a way out. "Dose he employ many men?" His hope was no, but knowing his own luck the two goons out front were this stalkers men. It would make there escape a bit tougher than it needed to be.
Mydra raised her hood back up and nodded her head at the men by the front of the tavern. "As far as I know it's just those two. But I don't know everything about him." One of the men turned in there direction causing Mydra to tense up. Turning her back to the strange men she looked up at Theo. It was rare for someone to be taller then he but it was nice to have to look up at a man for once. "I think we should move."
"Agreed." Theodoric moved back into the ally and headed into the back door of a bakery that was opposite the bar. He moved right through the back of the shop and straight into the store from he grabbed a small bag of flour on the way, and dropped two gold on the counter. "Thank you." Theodoric said as he moved into the street and then sat on a bench right in front of the bakery. "Here. Sit for a bit." As Theodoric sat he no longer had the bag in his hands.
Mydra followed closely behind Theo as they made there way through the bakery. The owner nodded at Mydra, smiling kindly. She pulled her hood more tightly around her face so that she couldn't be seen or recognized. Once outside she sat down beside Theo, crossing one leg over the other. A couple of men on horses walked by them, talking amongst themselves. Crossing her arms over her chest, she slid one hand inside her jacket, around the hilt of a small dagger, waiting patiently.
The two men from the street came into the bakery, and had an exchange with the owner. Then It was out the front door of the bakery, where one knelled. He smirked as he noted flour on the ground. Signaled the other man, and the two were off down the street after a trail of the powder. They didn't even notice Theodoric or Mydra on the bench. "That won't keep them stumped long... Why are they after you?" Theodoric watched as the men followed the wagon he set the powered on and followed as it rounded a corner.
"Because there boss doesn't like it when one of his "pets" gets away." Mydra's voice seemed to grow cold with the topic. Rolling up her sleeve closest to him she showed Theo the bruises that lined her arm. Her body was practically covered in them. "I could have healed myself and had them gone by now, but I've let them heal naturally... as a reminder. He'll never touch me again and if he happens to, I'll cut his throat."
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