Author Topic: A mugging in Port Hempstead (Read 2210 times)

Xaltotun · « **on:** March 18, 2009, 07:30:10 AM »

*A mugging in Port Hempstead - How the Baker Street Gang started*

He heard a knock at the door and a small cough to attract his attention.

The guardsman looked up from the paperwork on his overflowing desk and put on a smile. 'Good evening madam. What can I do for you?' He asked, while wondering why he ever took this promotion.

He looked at the time – it is past midnight and I have still not had any supper, he thought. He looked at the woman in front of him – she not only looked as if she has not her supper either, she looked as if a good wash would not go amiss as well. And that smell?

The old woman cleared her throat again, as if unsure of her words. 'Sorry t' bother you sir, but me mind is worrying me an' I wasn't sure if I should tell someone or not.'

The guardsman improved his smile, hoping it would look welcoming rather than the way he really felt. 'Speak up freely my good woman, you have nothing to fear here.'

With a stammer, the newcomer began. 'As you know sir, I help around the the city's sewers, an' well, earlier tonight a strange party approached me asking fer work.

'Well, the pipes had become clogged again – I 'ave reported this before but the council seem unable t' do anything about ...'

'Please, my good woman,' the guard interrupted the sudden outpouring, 'tell me what happened.'

'Sorry sir, it's just that..' A withering look brought her back to the main story.

'Sorry sir. Well, there were three 'o them, or perhaps there was a fourth, but he was always in the background, like a shadow, and it was...'

The guard looked pained as the woman wandered off again in her story.

'Sorry sir. As I was saying these three, or four, asked fer work and I tole them t' go down an' clear the drains.

'Well they was gone for some time, but then they comes back an' the woman, I think she was a woman, said she had found the problem an' sorted it, so according t' the bye-laws, I rewarded them then left them t' come an' report the drains were working again, and write another request t' get the drains fixed....'

The man looked pointedly. 'And? There is more to this than a simple repair of the drains, hmm?'

She looked abashed again as she realised she was back on her old hobby-horse. 'Sorry sir. Yes, there is. Well, I had left them t' come here, but then remembered something and was heading back t' where I last saw them.

'As I neared the barrier beside the sewers, I could hear three or four voices talking harshly – their accents were really strange, except the small one who sounded quite cultured really. I wonder if he is from some...'

The guardsman coughed to bring the woman on track again.

'Sorry sir. Anyway, there was also this kid too. Little nipper and well, I couldn't really make it out, but it seems he was on an errand t' deliver some money t' the baker for his mum.

'Anyway, he was hiding. But the woman and the tall man walked up t' him as they was talking t' him, see?

'The little guy, the tall man called him

Xaltotun · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2009, 07:32:35 AM »

It was a fine day and four of us had gathered to see if we could make some coin, the easier the better. The three of them were talking in voices that were pitched too high for my ears given my current fragile state of health and the time of the day.

Wee man looked over at me and asked, 'Awright duchess? Yer very quiet loik, and lookin kinda rough?'

I replied pithily, 'Ah hid too many cans last night at the Scamp's Mug, man, and got pure dedd glaikit, but ah've goat a bottil o' bru an' ah'll be okay in a while. But gonnie keep the rammy doon; ye'll gie me the boak with a' yer rammy.'

We were talking about what we thought we should to do to gather some cash, and I suggested, 'Ah wis sayin' we should go an' tan a shoap fur sum fun.'

But Wee Man, he's the taller of the four, says, 'Nah duchess, we should go daan an' noise up the kobolds instead.'

Helluva rash, I thought, and then the Big Man spoke up, 'We should go to Fort Llast and see if we can help them there. I have heard there is a wizard in need of some assistance.'

With a lopsided smile, I said, 'Ston up when yer talking.', although the smile would have been difficult to see on account of the hood I was wearing.

Big man glared at me while wee man spoke up in his defence. 'Aw, 'e is standin' ap. Just 'cause e's the smallest 'ere, yer don't need to go pickin' on 'im, awroight?'

Big Man looked with thanks at this and glanced balefully at me. 'I have asked you before not to call me that!'

I came back, 'Ah, shut it wi' yer whinin' and greetin'; yer dain' ma heid in. Too much e a rush, that's yer problem.'

So we got our stuff together (mainly me on condition of my unaccountably sore head) and were about to head out to Fort Llast, when a stranger appeared on the road from Hempstead Fields. I was struck by her apparel and her bearing instantly. She held herself perfectly erect and composed, sure of her surroundings and her place within them.

She was wearing a beautiful outfit, in shades of red, lined with what looked like white ermine, and her cloak was the most amazing colour of red, again lined with the white fur of some creature. And her shoes, well, suffice to say they must have cost a small town's yearly taxes.

I stood at her approach and tried the common vernacular I had learned in my previous life.

'Hi rerr doll, howzit gawin'? Yer claes urr pure dedd gorgeous, by the way.'

She stopped dead in her tracks, as if she had run into a dwarven shieldwall. 'Why hello,' she replied, 'and I thank you, I think, for your compliments.'

'Where wis ye aff tae?' I asked 'Wese yins wis headin' tae Fort Llast an' wondert if ye'd hud any trouble fae that direction?'

She replied that in fact the roads had been remarkably clear; perhaps due to the Road Wardens of Toran's recent activities, she mused. There must have been something in the way

she held herself, the way she seemed so self-assured, so I decided to take a chance and spoke to her in my own language. To my complete delight, she replied in that same language, the tongue of which I had not heard spoken by another for many years. I forced down a welling tear in my eye so I would not show any weakness as I replied in our own speech.

She introduced herself as Saira and we spent a while talking and sharing opinions, during which my companions, looked lost, grew bored, and eventually walked away; except Wee Man who stood by, just in case someone happened by that he could talk into parting with some money.

After a length of time, another stranger approached us, and as the gods would have it, this newcomer was of our race as well. After the initial hesitations until we felt we could trust each other, he introduced himself as Naster. We shared some banter and some tips on the best ways to travel in these lands, and then we parted our ways, but only after Saira tried her best to better him in a game of words and bravado about her god's pleasures.

By this time, my comrades had returned and guv'nor said he had heard of a call for help from a camp outside Vehl that he thought we could benefit from. We headed off to the camp, and spoke to the man there and he told us he was being bothered by a strange creature called Zamin. He said that the Zamin had some undead help to support him, so forewarned, we moved to his camp.

Sticking closely to shadows of the trees and hills where best I could, I scouted ahead and came across some zombies, and returned to the others to make our plans. Since they were so slow moving, we dispatched them with volley after volley of arrows, but then came some sort of dragon, horse thing, that was all skeletal and we had to close with swords to dispatch it.

Working our way slowly, we came across the Zamin's camp. Once again, I walked forward slowly, trying my best to merge with whatever meagre shadows were offered by the trees. I got near each one in turn, and in turn, stood out in open view to lure each of his guards away and bring them to the rest of the gang so we could return them to their lost graves where they belonged.

Finally, we positioned ourselves to take on Zamin himself. I gave out instructions to the gang, as natural leader of the men, and we moved in for the close. We had agreed to count to 10 to allow me time to edge close to Zamin, so I could attempt a strike at his unguarded back. Alas, someone counted too fast and the fight had started before I could get into position. With battle engaged, I tried faster than I should have done to move to get a better position to strike at Zamin and took my thrust.

A hit! But at what cost, for he had seen my approach at the last moment. He staggered under the blow and turned on me, giving the others the advantage. As he moved towards me, I tried to slip to the side and into the shade of a nearby tree and he momentarily lost sight of me. That was enough to discourage him and make him turn to the others.

But he was fast. With two swift strokes, he cut at guv'nor, knocking him to the ground with a death blow and moved to his next target. I will never understand why, but without thinking of my own plight, I ran from the shadows to pour a healing potion down guv'nor's throat, and Zamin took his chance.

As guv'nor revived from my ministrations and moved away, Zamin's thrust took my life. As the last breath left my lips, I saw the Soul Mother take me in her embrace and pull me to her shadowy land.

Some time later, I awoke outside Hlint and all I could remember was the Soul Mother's voice in my ears telling me that she would grant me another chance at life but that I had to be more careful.

I returned to the gang, and they were amazed to see me whole again, for when they had looked for my body to bury after they had slain Zamin, they said it had gone.

So all is well that ends well I suppose, but I know I will be happy if I do not feel the Soul Mother's embrace until I have reached a fine old age and have grandchildren at my feet.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2009, 06:20:03 AM »

Xaltotun · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2009, 06:42:22 AM »

Dusk was starting to set and the winds had dropped to a low susurrus in the background as the two people set up their fishing gear around the small pool.

Without looking at the man, she says: 'Hiya.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2009, 06:15:01 PM »

Ah furgot tae write this up earlier, like, but ye'll love this wan.

A wee while back, ah wis wanderin' through Wayfayre like, an' came across a bunch o' adventurers. Always oan ra lookout fur a fast true, ah sidled up tae 'em tae see whit wis gawin' oan.

Turns oot they wis headin' tae Folly, tae capture sum bandit who'd escaped frae therr jail. Well, ah could smell money in ra err, so ah said ah'd go alang fur ra ride, llike.

Well, we never fund ra bandit, but we say her handiwork, like. She hud goat in tow wi' sum others and hud creatit a bunch o' golems and she threw 'em at ra toon in revenge. Well yours truly wis only really in it fur ra dosh, but ah wis caught between a rock an' a hard place, so ah hung back an' used ma bow tae help ra heroes oot. In between ra fightin', ah managed tae dash aboot an' squirrel sum gold away, but no much tae get frae golems, ah fund oot.

Anyway, ra point behind mah story, an' dinni you be readin' 'is thinkin' "at long last", is 'at insteed o' catchin' (oar in mah case, helpin') ra bandit, we, yours truly included, endit up bein' bleedin' heroes by savin' ra toon frae 'ese golem attacks. Ra bleedin' mayor an a' came oot tae thank us an' laid oan a perty an' a' fur us too.

Me! A hero! Ah'll huv tae go an' belt a couple o' kids tae make up fur 'is wan; oar maybe tan a few shoaps.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2009, 05:40:31 AM »

*One evening, in the inn in Port Vehl, a small, dark clothed and hooded woman is consuming far too much alcohol, but even so, remains very much tight lipped and to herself until a hooded figure approaches her and sits down.*

'Is the deed done?

'Aye, he schwimms wae ra fishesh noo. Nae worries.'

'And no-one saw you,' he asked nervously.

'Whit dae ye take me fur? Shum short o' amateur?' I replied testily.

He seemed happy with this, so he slid a small purse across the table to me. 'Are you not going to count it?' He asked in surprise.

'Why dae ah needsh tae? If it'sh no right, ye'll find yersel' buried alive sum night?'

He gulped, nodded, and slowly left the inn, never turning his back on her.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2009, 05:14:31 PM »

It his bin too long since ah penned sumthin', and therr is much to tell ye noo.

Ah huv bin allowed tae join a big group of mah ain people, an' they wis oot tae grab a prisoner, like. The guy in charge had his ain designs oan ra prisoner, and man, ah kin tell ye, she suffered afore she finally died. Ra High Priestess did her best tae keep her breathin', but man, she eventually gave up and croaked it.

Shame, 'cos she wis a fine lookin' wummin'. Never mind. Where wis ah? Oh aye, well we hud ra prisoner tied an' gagged, an' whit dae ye think, but ah stupit wee dwarf blundered intae us. Well, ye coulda hogtied 'em, but quick as a flash, ah called the wee guy oot, and blow me, but by ra time ra ithers gathert aroon, he wis up fur a fight.

Brave? Aye, nae doubt, but man, really stupid. Wan slash frae ra gang, an' he wis doon an' deein' like a stuck pig. Well, they carved him up guid an' proper so no even his mammy wid recognise him, and then left him fur ra beetles tae finish aff whit wis left.

Stupit dwarves. Think they kin take oan ra world. Think they kin take us oan? Nah, nae chance.

//OOC check out the full story here: http://forums.layonara.com/1362942-post510.html

Xaltotun · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2009, 04:42:47 PM »

I first tested him when I met up with Solena and Cra'xis. Caradith was his name and Solena wanted me to assess his fighting skills, so suggested we head inthe Red Goblin caves.

We went down quite far, and I was a little impressed by his skill with his sword and shield. I watched Solena watching me too: she's a clever one, that one.

We killed a lot of goblins that night, I can tell you, and even got their leader. Caradith worked well enough and with time, will improve. He could be an asset, so I will have to watch him grow, perhaps even help him.

Time will tell.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2009, 09:18:43 AM »

One day, in Vehl town centre, two dark elves happen upon a chance meeting. They have met before and after some preamble;

After an initial talk where I a tried to interest him and he turned me down, I spoke to Eriis in our native tongue, so there would be no misunderstanding, 'You can be on about your chores now. I have more important things to attend to.'

His gaze turned sharply to me, 'Do you imply something?'

I replied coldly in our own tongue. 'I imply nothing, child. But you may infer whatever you wish. I matters naught to me.'

He stopped and said quietly, '... I understand you are under assignment by Solena?'

I frowned and replied in the common tongue, 'No, ah wouldni say that - who telt ye that?'

He made a vague gesture, 'No... annoying person to be dealt with?'

'Dealt with?'

Eriis smirked... more so to himself, 'I thought so...'

My toned deepened, 'Speak clearly an' stop talkin' in riddles.'

He frowned, 'Oh no, I am not in any part of this, as much as I would want to be... I was merely curious.... ' He grinned wickedly, 'I'd like to flay her myself....'

'Flay her? Hmm, maybe you could be useful 'en.'

Eriis, '*his eyes flaring up momentarily* 'I'm sure I'll get much amusment from it... *grins wickedly* a little payback involving... *looks to one of his many concealed pockets, one which has a small spider shuffling in it.

I said, 'So, ye think ye've heard sumthin' then. My, my, how the chatter flows.'

Eriis shrugged, 'I do what I do... gather information.....'

'Well, gather it fur me, an' ye'll find me.. pleasing tae please. It wid help me tae huv sum extra ears an' eyes oot therr.'

Eriis went on to say he would something in return; something to help him hone his skills as a spy, so I suggested we test his skills so far.

Eriis muttered something under his breath about "damned tests", but followed anyway.

I laughed over my shoulder, 'Dinni worry, it's an easy test - folli me an' we kin start right away," and walked off without waiting for the reply. We arrived at the door to Vehl Crypts, where I waited.

'Well, ra door isni gonni open by itself, ye know!'

He muttered, but opened the door and went through first, as was fiting his station.

I watched Eriis as he worked his way around the skeletons, noting his skills and his style. His summons worked particularly well.

I whispered to him, 'ra dug fights better'n ye dae,' and once we had finished the test I said 'Well, ye'll dae. Ah wid rather huv ra dug, but oan account o' ah canni speak dug, ye'll dae"

Xaltotun · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2009, 12:00:52 PM »

An' things keep gettin' better.

Spoke wi' an auld friend again when we bumped intae each ither in Vehl, an' it seems she's concerned ower a darthir who is causin' problems.

Ah huv bin given ra joab o' capturin' 'is elf *she spits* - no killin' them, capturin' them! Me? Seems mah client waants tae keep the darthir so it never gets oot again.

Ah wonder hoo ye kin trap sumwan forever? Anyway, ah best gets oan wi' it. Ah wonder hoo ah could hire tae cum wi' me.

Ah could mix sum poisons an' stick it oan therr food, like, tae knock them oot. Oar a could jist folli them an' chib them unconscious and carry them away.

Ah think ah needs tae find them an' watch ra routine fur a wee bit and then make mah plans. Treat it like a real assassination an' no get sloppy, like.

Aye, that's whit ah'll dae.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2009, 06:53:15 AM »

It's possible ah may huv a career change pendin' so wi' 'at in mind, ah took masel aff tae ra Ice Caves oot by Krashin and took oan ra kobolds toe tae toe.

Ah even went wan better an' stopped tae intimidate ra last few tae show 'em hoo insignifcant therr magic wis. Ah laughed as ra last wan collapsed in front o' me.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2009, 02:33:51 PM »

Ah met ra maist annoyin' man in ra whole world ra ither day in Fort Llast. He goes by ra name o' Wimwick Rugratchet an' he's a bloomin' gnome.

He went oan an' oan an' oan aboot devices an' mechanisms until mah ears wis bleedin'. Ah tell ye, ah wid've dun fur him therr, in toon, but Lilyvaen Glensmere arrived an' distractit me.

Ah found that ah could blank oot ra chatter frae 'at stupid gnome jist by starin' at Lilyvaen; oh, an' talkin' tae her too.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #12 on:** July 24, 2009, 06:43:05 AM »

Bumped intae a dwarf today. Ah wis doon in ra Vehl Crypts, collectin' sum knuckles, when a wee dwarf came towards me oot o' ra darkness.

He looked like yer typical dwarf, sma', bald an' sporting a wee beard, an' he wis as suspicious as a' ra rest o' em, an' he ca'd himself Klass Hrendhamar. Anyways, we goat tae talkin';

'Never trust an elf mother said. Why trust you?'
Ah replied, sumwhat wittily, ah thought, 'Well ah'm no an elf mother, so ye should be okay.'
Klass said, 'No elf mother? what?'
'Whit's tae trust?' Ah said. 'Ah help you, an' you help me.'
Ah said, 'You said "never trust an elf mother"'
'Me mother said,' he said. 'Never trust an elf.'
I laughed at his confusion, 'Oh, never trust an ELF, no an elf mother.'

Anyway, efter ah'd goat him tae furget whit his mither telt him, he saw sum sense in whit ah wis sayin', so in exchange fur helping him get sum dust, he taught me a whole bunch o' dwarven. Ah jist needs to go an' remember it a' noo.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2009, 05:37:15 PM »

Ah wis in Vehl today when who came through ra door tae ra toon but Eriis.

He came over tae talk tae me, an' as usual, wis anglin' fur me tae gie him a belt ah hid made. We bantered back an' forth a wee bit, but therr wis an edge tae it, like.

Ah didni waant any money fur ra belt, so instead goat him tae gie me a lock o' his herr, and a promise that he wid dae me a favor when ah asked him fur wan. He hesitated a lot an' asked why ah wantit his herr, like, so ah telt him it wis tae gie me power ower him so he widni brekk oor deal. He hesitated, then cut a lock aff, tied it in a nice wee knot and gave me it. Ah persisted wi' ra second part o' ra deal, that he wid dae me a favor when ah asked fur it, an' he eventually agreed.

So, he his a new belt noo an' ah huv his herr an' a favor.

He's dedd lippy though, an' heidstrong. Ah'm trying tae squelch that spirit, but maybe instead o' takin' oor usual harsh way o' handlin' it, maybe ah should try ra humie way o' smooth talkin'. Difficult, 'cos ah tried extendin' a hand o' friendship tae him, an' he turned me doon flat, so he isni reddy fur ra ways o' ra humies, yet. Ah think that will jist appear as weak tae him, so ah dae, an' ah canni huv 'at.

Ah'll keep talkin' tae him an' see in whit way ah kin get him in mah power. 'is favor is ra start. Whit else kin ah think o'....

Xaltotun · « **Reply #14 on:** August 03, 2009, 02:21:10 PM »

A big group o' us went tae hunt doon some giants, an' oan ra way, we came across a caravan wi' sum deed humies an' giants.

We tracked them intae therr cave, like, an' blaw me, it wis fu' o' necromancers an' giants. Turned oot ra necromancers hid taken a bunch o' humies captive an' wis caryyin' them away when they ran intae ra giants.

Anyways, we hud oor hands fu', ah kin tell ye, an' durin' it a', Lilyvaen Glensmere goat hersel' near kilt. We checked her pulse, like, but man, she wis near pan breed, deed, so wan suggestion wis tae sling her across Daring's back an' take her tae a healer; but somewan found a scroll and healed her a' better.

Ah helped her up and watched her oot safely, but ah kin tell ye, ah goat stick fur it.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #15 on:** August 04, 2009, 06:05:56 AM »

Ah met up wi' Razeriem today tae sell him sum stuff. Good pay, but man, that man is aye flirtin'?

Ah gave him it back tho', an' we rolled aboot an' laughed like a perr o' weans oan a school trip, ah kin tell ye.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2009, 11:31:57 AM »

Ah wis looin' fer a clue tae ra werr aboots o' ra pirate captain, Old Captain Twinkltoes, when ah met up wi' Nestor. We chatted a bit an' he agreed tae join forces an' help search fur ra captain, oar his remains.

We wis daein' awright, searchin' an' lookin' but wi'oot any luck, when eventaully Nestor lost his heid ower sumthin' ah said, an' we fell tae fightin' each ither.

Man, he's guid that wan, ah kin tell ye. Ah goat a few strikes in at him, cut him a wee bit, but then he hit me wi' a few spells an' a wis stopped in mah tracks, paralyzed. He walked up tae me, an' a' a could dae wis mumble an' wriggle a wee bit, an' he took oot a knife, an' showed it tae me, then started oan me...

Well, he eventually stopped when he saw ah wis bleedin' bad, an' telt me tae learn a lesson. Well, ah learnt a lesson awright: ah'll make sure ah gets me some better magic protections, then we'll see whit happens.

//OOC The fight between us was properly observed and agreed and we broke party and used the PvP widget to start the engagement. The fight was kept IC at all times, and we talked to each other OOC to make sure both sides were happy with the ongoing engagement.

Thanks to geloooo for getting so involved, and a shame there wasn't a GM in-game to see this as we both had enormous fun playing it out.

Dark Elves forever!!

Xaltotun · « **Reply #17 on:** August 15, 2009, 08:13:00 AM »

//OOC Maw Baker (aka duchess) was meeting up with Mearden Fereir to investigate a site he had been told of that would hold important information about a mission he had recently undertaken to do. The site would also have her retainer fee hidden in it, if she could find it. Mearden was there to provide a backup, in case things went awry and it turned out to be a trap for her.

Lance Stargazer narrated the description of the site and the plot to them both, revealing the plot line as they made decisions based on his descriptions.

Major kudos to Lance and Mearden for this adventure. This picture is one of the highlights when Maw Baker was asked to make a decision based on her wisdom:

Lance also made her make several hide checks, bearing in mind she was completely clothed in red and white - always good colors for hiding. Great fun all.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #18 on:** August 19, 2009, 02:54:38 PM »

Oh, ah furgoat tae mention, ah bumped intae Vrebel an' Tralek Rivarmar earlier, an' Trally invitit me tae help him learn hoo tae become a sword fighter... me?

Vrebel is teachin' him, like, but he wantit a sparrin' partner, so he asked me.

Ah agreed, oan condition they teach me hoo tae be a fighter too,'cos ah kin see as hoo ah'm gonni be needin' that sort o' skill in a wee while.

Xaltotun · « **Reply #19 on:** August 20, 2009, 05:04:34 PM »

Raz took me tae ra arena today an' taught me tons o' stuff aboot hoo tae use a sword as a stand-up soldier, sort o' thing.

Man, but he's good, an' he taught me tons o' stuff too, so ah need tae pit it intae practice noo. He's a real joker too, always chattin' away an' tryin' his best tae make me laugh an' furget masel'.