7.1.10 - Every Crew Needs a Captain
Sagebrush Inn: Common Room
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The common room is the center of activity for the inn, perpetually bursting with life, alive at all times with singing and drinking and merrymaking and all the attendant smells and sounds. Four sturdy oak tables dominate the large but stuffy room, built with the single-minded purpose of longevity. These long wooden structures, and their accompanying benches, set the tone for the room, because while they are not ornate, not fashioned with beauty in mind, the nicks and marks down its old surface exude character. Each chink and chip, each sullied corner or patched-up leg bears witness to the ages that the inn has traversed. A bar fills the west side of the room, and in more or less the center of everything is an open space on the floor. On one wall is a message board, for anybeast to make an announcement. The smell of cheap ale and smoke clings perpetually to the stuffy air here, as much a part of the environment here as anything, not unpleasant, but always present. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Starring:
Dessie
Amos
Dangeon
Parin
Hactor
Dessie arrives, her posture bent forward and her ears tipped back. She is chewing on the end of a bread crust, mouthing it until it is soft enough to chew. "Hn." before she pushes onward, she sways in step for a motion. It is very clear she is not familiar with this establishment.
The commons room is sparely filled with a few regulars, with a sordid lot of vermin hanging out toward the back of the room. Chattering, drinking and laughing. Amos is sitting at the bar, staring at nothing in-particular as he has his paws on the bar and sighs, "Blasted hare, " He mutters, but he turns his head at the new arrival and looks her over carefully though not looking the least bit impressed. Still, its another feline, "Buy ya a drink missy?"
Dessie doesn't appear to be uncomfortable in the presence of so many strangers. The feline's tail is lifted instead of sulking. Dessie's ears cup forward as the wildcat speaks to her. She is suddenly very much reminded how small her domesticated self is. "Yes!" there is enthusiam in her voice, she is happy enough to someone's considered her a charity case. Or if that's what it is. She slips through the crowd and towards Amos, the tip of her tongue sticking out from between her lips.
Amos lets clatter coin onto the bartop, which is hastily snatched up after he orders her an ale. He watches her as she makes a path through the commons and over to him. Curious about the newcomer, flashing his teeth in a grin at her, "Welcome welcome, can't say I've seen you about here before. Care to keep me company missy, though what shall I call you? I'm Amos."
Dessie stuffs the crust of bread into a pocket and climbs up onto a barstood, careful to keep her tail from being trod on. She does not quite sit on the stool, but squats, elbows braced on her knees. "I'm hopin' I'll be interestin enough for you." she closes one eye as she crookedly smiles. "It's nice weather and there are a lot of gardens." she, trying to explain why she's here. "Ummm I'm Dessie. Nice ta make ya aqua-- aquin-- uh.. aquintan-- somefin like that. I ain't ever seen none of yor kind up here."
The door opens again with a bang, and Parin steps in from outside, shield slung on his back. The ferret takes a look around, a slow grin growing on his face. With that, he begins to swagger towards the bar, producing a coin which he flips and catches.
"So far you haven't been a disappointment as so, and it's nice'ta meet'cha too!" Amos is sitting on his stool, hunched forward somewhat but turned towards the other feline, "Garden's eh? Ain't ever seen much use for them flowers and other daninty stuff but it has been nice, " He smiles in return, still gazing at her with a slight sense of amusement. Then the door goes bang, and the wildcat leans back on his stool and looks past Dessie to see the next new arrival.
Dessie's ears flatten back against her skull and she looks over her shoulder at the 'bang!'. She watches the gold coin in the air, pupils expanding until each iris is a thin rim. Tearing her attention away, she ducks her head back towards Amos, her tail curling around the leg of the barstool. "Food gardens. Mice are very bad at keeping cats out." when she smiles again, her tongue is curled over her upper lip. Dessie has this constant sway in her movements as she talks, "Do you own this place?" If he can afford to buy her stuff, he has to be super rich, right?
Parin steps up to the bar, slapping the copper coin down on the countertop. "Ale. Cheapest y' got." The ferret turns to the two felines and grins. "'Day."
Amos sits himself back in his seat fully, turning back towards Dessie, "Ah ha, I see, " Gazing over her he is once again evidently amused. Wide toothy smile, "No, not this place...place down a bit south, well co-owner but ain't as fancy or well established as this joint but we do alright." Amos watches Parin, "Greetings, " He gives a slight nod in acknowledgement and his gaze lingers for a moment before turning back to his company.
Dessie turns up one paw and puts her chin into it, listening with well, the curiousity of a cat. "There must be a lot of taverns here." she observes with simple surprise. Her head cocks again and she rolls her eyes towards the corners to observe Parin before she lowers her voice and speaks to Amos. "Does everyone have money around here?"
Parin gives the wildcat a wave, accepting his drink gratefully.
Dangeon is not as loud as Parin. That said, she is not quiet. "Drink! Whiskey!" She calls before she's even at the bar. Sauntering across with an eye to the other patrons. The gaze is lingering around Amos and Dessie with a smirk though. "He's payin'." She tells the barmaid, with a jerk of her thumb at Amos, as she sits on a stool gracelessly.
He chuckles, tail flicking behind him as his eyes watch her carefully, "Eh, I suppose there are. Though, spread out enough I suppose, "He shrugs, smirking, "Way south of here though, my "establishment" that is and no, " He turns back to the ferret again, and gives another curt nod before his attention is shifted to the hare. He's already digging out more coin, laying it out on the bar and rolling his eyes and he sighs.
Dessie recieves her drink and holds it with both hands in front of her muzzle. It's a miracle she can keep her balance this way. Tipping it up, she takes several hungry swallows, eyes half shut with pleasure. Pulling the mug away, she licks the foam from her mouth and looks at Dangeon wordlessly; head tilted. Amos must be very rich indeed. "Why ain't choo with your 'stablishment?"
The ferret takes a deep swig from his mug, hopping up on his stool. Parin settles his things against the bar. "Where is y' place, cat?"
Dangeon accepts her drinks with little thanks, just a nod. She perks an ear to the conversation, and smirks at the turn it's taken. "Y' nev'r did say, ol' Cat... 'S not burnt down 'gain has it?" Then a moment of confusion. "Or.. was that somewhere else?"
Amos is reminded of his own drink, guzzling it down until he's finished it. Or maybe just loosing up a bit further as he's assailed with questions. Looking from Dangeon, and then away again back to the cat while turning to acknowledge the ferrets question, "Ya just hold on ya lot, " Another coin, "More, " He says to the tender before turning back to Dessie, "Eh, better prospects up this hear abouts... what with the army to be invading dat Abbey... hopefully, " He smiles, turning to the ferret now, "Eh, is down south, way south of here in the Mossflower Woods. Is called Sorrow's End and no it ian't been burned down!" He grunts, visibly annoyed at the hare, huffing and hissing as he turns to face her, "That'll be boss, if ya gonna be having me paying for your drink its the least ya can do!"
Dessie flicks the tip of her tail rapidly when Amos' annoyance grows. It has her darting her gaze from Dangeon to Parin, trying to understand just exactly the nature of their relationships. The cat sets her chin on the rim of her mug now, whiskers quivering. "Ain't we s'posed to keep away from them old monks?" one ear twitches upward from her shaggy hair. "Summit told me it was real bad to be messin with 'em. Don't them got powers n' such?"
"'Nother force is goin' up against the Abbey?" Parin looks curious, letting his drink list towards the bar. His ears tilt forward. "Where do I sign up?"
"Oy,oy. Righ'.. Righ', Boss." The doe smirks and shakes her head, even groans as Dessie mentions the monks and powers, before turning her eye away and to the ferret. "Y' not already from that army rabble..? Huh."
Parin glances towards the doe. "Nope." He gives her a smug grin. "I'm freelance, miss."
Turned back towards Dessie, he focuses his attention completely on the cat, "Eh, ain't know anything about that... ain't superstitous or any of that are ya?" He grins, half turning to the hare, "Don't know anything about that either... ya need to find you're self a todd or some weasel as I recall... " Scratching his chin as he thinks, then shrugging toward the ferret. Ignoring the hare for the moment he smirks, "She ain't the best of company but she does what she's told... most of the time..." Gesturing to the hare.
A pointed glare at Amos. "Course not. An'... Neither should y' worry, they'm got no powers 't all- bunch o' hoohah." The latter for Dessie. "Bes' way. So was I 'til I hooked up wi' 'im 'gain." Dangeon responds to Parin. Another thumb at the cat. "Ol' cat pays our way through an' I do 's he says. Long as he's payin', 'm hired. As f'r signin' up, y' need to find this crazy tod..."
Dessie has fallen into a silence for the moment, listening to the streams of conersation. She goes back to work on her ale until she's finally reached the bottom. She's vaguely aware that she is being teased, but shows no signs of reaction. "Ain't supa ... spahseetiance. Done heard enuff bout how them monks had critters runnin'. Summit tol' me if you hurt one o' em the whole bloody forest turns out against yeh."
a loud crash is heard and a stoat's yell alsoe. Suddenly a gravily voice sayes, "Tha is /not/ how ya use a bloody sword! Do tha again and I'll be sure ya don't have arms ta even /swing/ a sword with!" This marks the arrival of Hactor an older, more grizzled fox has never been seen. He walks into the room and sits at the table in a huff.
"Crazy todd, eh?" Parin's eyebrows raise as just such a fox comes through the door. "That him?"
"Hrm. Well. 's true 'nuff. 's not powers though." Dangeon admits, as Dessie explains stories. "We all hear them stories. Gi'n the woods, 's true 'nuff." She grins as Hactor comes in, and nods an affirmative for Parin. "Th' one an' only. Go sign on up."
Hactor sits and orders a whiskey. He guzzles have of the dark liquid from his glass, and begins to pick his teeth. His ears twitch as he sinces oppertunitie's knock. He stands and asks, "Who wants ta soighn up then?"
Dessie chews on the end of her tongue, unable to ignore the latest arrival due to the noise. Once again, her ears splay. Whiskers quivering, she asks of Amos: "Who dat be?"
A grin tugs at Parin's mouth as the fox speaks. The ferret leans down to grab the carrying strap of his shield, then straightens up. "Guess that'd be me," he says, strolling over.
Hactor looks the ferret up and down, with narrowed eyes. He takes another swig of his bottle before asking, "And wha makes ya thank I should except? Wha are ya good at?"
Amos smiles at Dessie plesently, drink in paw as he nurses it, listening to the others and still seemingly flustlered at recation to the hare, "Eh, some warlord I reckon... he's the leader of them forces that'll be invading the Abbey... forest demons or not." He smirks, "Myself, and my associate we's just in it to make us some coin without alls the fighting and dying." Gesturing to the hare.
"Where's th' fun in a big battle 'r invasion? Gimme a scuffle an' skill any day. Money wi'out it, though; tha's too rare a chance to leave 'lone." Dangeon chimes in as she's gestured at.
"'M good at a lot of things." Parin chuckles. "Mostly fightin', course, but I c'n also pick a lock, start a fire, climb a tree..." He trails off. "Y' name it.""
Hactor scratches his cheek in thought. He sayes, "One more question. Wha do ya use fur a weapon?"
Dessie puts the mug in her lap, kneading her fingertips around the rim. "So whazzat so important in that big ol' place."
Amos shrugs, leaning forward to sip at his drink, "Can't say I understand it, as I said I usually can be found far south of any woodlanders and their like, " He chuckles.
Hactor barks a laugh and slaps Parin on the back saying, "Well considerin tha rest of tha army yar more than qualified. Welcome aboard!" He then took another long swig of the whiskey.
Dangeon sips her whiskey and shrugs as she leans herself to be a little closer to the two cats. "Ask th' fox. We're jus' here f'r earning some. Righ', boss?"
Dessie pulls the crust of bread out of her pocket and sticks it into the corner of her mouth, gnawing on it. "Uhn. Them furs gettin' somefin fer takin it?"
Dessie watches Dangeon from the corner of her eyes, tongue held between her teeth. "Hows you makin' monies offa it?"
"The rabble 'roun' here's y'r /army?/" Parin gives an incredulous look around the bar. "You've got some ways to go, mate."
"Maybe... eh, think I heard sumthin' about living there or some such, " He smiles, "We're part of the secondary force, we "precure" items for the invasion... ain't work for no army... we's indepdendent." The wildcat explains.
Dangeon grins a crescent, buck teeth prominent, at Dessie and jerks her head at Amos. "I make money 'cuz him an' a weasel promise t' pay me."
Hactor gave Parin a warried look and mumbled, "No when ya got tha devil himself on yer side." He cracked his nuckles and continued, "Besides, I've made due with less vermin bafore."
Dessie says naively, "I thought them mice were real poor, they gots secret treasures?"
Hactor's words don't seem to assuage Parin's doubts. "It's not the /number/ so much as the quality. Some a these are jus'... embarrassin'."
Hactor takes yet another swig of whiskey and groggley sayes, "Well I've got some tricks up me sleeve. And I've got some top knotch foighters teachen tha grunts. Even got a smithy ta make weapons." He grins a toothy yellow grin and sayes, "What do ya think o tha then?"
"Maybe, really am the wrong feller to ask... ain't know nutin' about the Abbey, " He admits, grinning, "Well, I know's its red.. seen it in passing.. so that's something. What about yourself?" Directed to Dessie, "Yeah yeah, you'll get paid... not that you'ves done anything yet..." He grumbles as he glares at the hare.
"I think it'll take some time t' clean this crew up." Parin shakes his head. "So what're the arrangements, we paid anythin', or just plunder? Is there some sorta rank system?"
Dangeon looks uncertain. "There's... rumor. I've n' heard much o' these treasures as a fact, though... An', oy, mister bosscat, I ain' done nuffin' because I've 'ad nowt t' do... Can't do anythin' until 'm directed. Gettin' paid f'r nuffin's good, though." She grins.
Hactor nods and replies, "Aye ya get payed in booze, an plunder." He scratched the back of his head and continued, "There be ranks. Ya got me the Lord, then my lieutenant. And then ya got tha captains and tha grunts."
"There some way t' /not/ paid in booze? I'd prefer somethin' more..." Parin searches for the proper term, windmilling one paw. "Endurin'. An' who's servin' in those capacities?"
Dessie puts the mug back on the counter, ears pricked fowrward. "Jus' stories n' such. Bein' a kitten once, me mum told me that them monky types fed anyun who asked."
Hactor scratched his chin grinning. He knew this part was coming. Bargaining a prise. He answered, "Well once we get tha Abbey ya'll get payed in tones o coin. And even bafore then we'll be doin some raiden on travlers. As far the ranks I'de say ya may make a good archer. Need ta see yer skill first."
Amos scoffs, grumbling, "True enough... guess I gots to blame that weasel for all the waiting around, " He mutters, sipping at his drink and closing his eyes as he relaxes, "Ya were a kitten once eh? Where about ya from... eh... Dessie was it?"
Dangeon eyes Amos oddly. "Did y' jus' ask -if- she was... Nevermind..." She readjusts herself in her seat, and sets an empty mug down. "More o' the same, please." With another 'he's paying' nod at the wildcat.
Parin chuckles, slinging his shield over one shoulder. "Well, horde lord, what's the odds of a beast like me gettin' a spot as cap'n?"
Hactor chuckled saying, "I like yer derectness, If ya foight well enough, ya moight become one now." He grinned wickedley and said, "If ya can best me o course."
Dessie shrugs her shoulders, shaking her head once to get the illcut hair out of her face. "Jussa village, well, Thas a nice word fer it. " it's fairly obvious *wherever* she came from that poverty plagued it. "Ain't even got no name. Jus' got borned dere, thas'al."
Dessie stops chewing the tip of her tongue, looking focused as she studies Amos. "Y' mussa been from somewheres nice."
Parin rests one paw comfortably on his sword. "Where we goin', then?"
Dessie's left ear swivels back as she hears the challange, she can't help but look over.
Hactor stands and spits on the floor. " Les go on out sidethen." He cocked his head to the door. He continued, "Don wanna atract the attention o tha bouncer."
Parin chuckles, moving to follow. "Figured somethin' like that."
Hactor steps into the entrance hall.
Hactor has left.
Mossflower Woods
You stand somewhere between the threshold of the forest and the small dirt road that lies before you. You look up it, and down it, and see that it stretches as far north and south as you can see. Closer to the north, you can see the ruins of a small chapel through the trees. Behind you lies the dense forest.
Exits: [S]outh, [M]olty [B]ookworm [P]ub, [S]agebrush [I]nn, [F]urther into the [W]oodlands, [S]t. [N]inian's [C]hurch, [F]orest, [R]oad
The noice from the army whent silent as they saw there leader come out. Hactor removed his cloke and withdrew his sword saying, "Come on then! Less se wha ya got." Slowley a crowed began to form around the two (and a weasel and stoat were even playcing betts."
After stepping out of the tavern, Parin puts his bow, pack, and quiver aside and slips his arm into the sleeve of his sheild, gripping the handle. The ferret draws his sword, cooly twirling the blade once in one paw. "Ready when you are."
"Arrrrgh!" yells the fox as he charges torwards the ferret. He grasps his longsword fermly with both paws, and raises it above his head intending to slice downward at the ferret.
The large round shield rises almost as though magnetically attracted, the ferret's posture instantly adjusting, one foot sliding back to brace himself. The energy of the block is translated to his sword arm as that back foot steps forward, torso twisting to deliver extra power into the slash Parin directs at the fox.
Hactor feels the vibration os sword on shield move through his arm. He sees the oncoming blade just in time and nearly dodges it. It cuts through his tunic leaving a wide hole in the torso. He growled visiously and took a definsive stance.
Pressing his advantage, Parin feints a backhanded swing, but pulls his blow to step again and direct a thrust at the fox's torso.
Hactor sees the back handed swing and begins to raise his own sword to block, but the thrust took him a bit by surprise. He just narrowley ducked and missed beeing run threw. He stands and cackles saying, "Yar good lad"
A chuckle elicits from Parin's mouth, sword and shield still held at the ready. Apparently he's not much for banter.
Hactor sheaths his sword and sayes, "Well lad ya got me. Yer pramoted ta captain." There were some murmors of disaproval, but when Hactors tail brissled, and he gave the horde a look that would curdle milk th e murmers stopped.
Oh. Parin straightens up, replacing his sword in its scabbard. "A'right, horde lord. Wha' was y'r name again?"
Hactor replies , "Hactor." He then notices the other vermin still watching he turned with a roar a nd said, "Wha you lott gawking at?! Get back ta yer trainin!" He then picked up his cloke and put it back on saying, "And you?"
"Parin." The ferret slides his arm back out of the shield's grip. "Parin Mishthrain." Reclaiming his gear, the ferret looks about. "So, where we bunkin'? An' what're m' duties?"
Hactor stretched poping his back and replied, "Under tha stars fur now. But soon we'll be movi out ta St. Ninian's." He paused a moment to consider the scond question the replied, "Yar current duties cap'n are ta train these troops. Any further questions?"
"Just one." Parin glances around at the 'army.' "Do I have a sign of m' rank?"
Hactor chuckled and said, "Well considerin tha most of tha horde jas saw ya promoted, I wouldn't warrie about athority." He did toss him a coin with a gash in it and said, "Well if ya have ta have a simble thare it is."
"Got it." Parin pockets the coin, for now. With a nod of departure, Parin wanders off among the ranks to find a place to bunk down and keep his gear.
