A New Hope

9/8/2011

10:19 PM

Logfile from Elendor.

The Market Square

You have arrived in the two-hundred eighty feet by two-hundred eighty feet open-air market known as the Market Square. Four buildings, brighter in colour than most of the buildings in town, border the market and are filled with shops of every kind, along with the taverns and other places people like to meet. Hawkers walk about with carts peddling goods, and entertainers draw a few crowds when the weather is decent. People from the outlying areas, and the occasional groups of Dwarves or Elves, may be seen amongst the locals.

The very center of the Market itself is a fenced-off hole spanning ninety feet in circumference. A few steps descending through the hole leads to the Market Pool, an area directly beneath the town. A few pulley contraptions bordering the area might suggest that it is used as a means of transporting goods directly from rafts into the market square.

Contents:

Arla

Reynold

Obvious exits:

West leads to Center of Bowman Street.

East leads to Center of Avenue of Tales.

North leads to Center of Firespark Lane.

South leads to Center of Merchant\'s Way.

Market Pool leads to The Market Pool.

[Arla(#20128)]

It is clear and cold, and in the market there is life. People go out and about doing whatever it is they do. One of them is a tall man, proud and sturdy. This man is Jamis and he walks with a purpose, to a stall with rolls of clothing upon it.

[Adom]

With equal purpose in strides longer than his legs seem fit, the Vintner of Finney approaches Jamis. Lips pursed, eyes narrowed, fists balled at his sides, Adom\'s turns determined features upon the King\'s man, speaking, \"You seemed right and true in our first meeting, good sir. I find the definitions of \'trust\' and \'friendship\' failing in this town.\" A heavy sigh falls in hot air through his nose.

\"I hope that my first impression,\" he adds, \"has not permanently turned you from giving me the chance to speak with thee.\"

[Arla(#20128)]

Jamis has a casual stride, as if his shoulders were mountains that water flows off easily. He looks over at muted fabrics, pondering, thinking. With the approach of Adom his head turns and amber-brow eyes fall upon the man, filled with humour.

\"Oh good sir! Don\'t worry, I would of done the same in your position too. Scampre is...not a man by our standards, but a product of his life lead.\" and a heavily gloved hand goes to be placed upon his shoulder. \"You protected my sister, that matters to me greatly. Speak away, you always have freedom of speech with myself.\"

[Adom]

\"Forgive me, Jamis,\" concedes the Vintner, eyes falling closed as head nods deeply - or falls towards the ground. A subtle difference indiscernable this moment. \"Why any should trust his words when they are exchanged only in turn for coins,\" he continues, as at last he looks again upon the man, \"is beyond my reckoning. Tellers of truth need not be bought to share their knowledge.\"

Once more a heavy sigh, but at last his fists unclench - and nervously fold upon each other behind the Vintner\'s back. \"I may only show my face freely in the daylight, after my rage was loosed upon .. that poor excuse for two-legged beast,\" Adom declares, \"and have been duly warned to avoid the Wharf. Thanks to that foreign watchman, the black cloak I bought for disguise is worthless now. Do any of the King\'s men, any of the watch, actually understand how far things have fallen? Will any actually DO something? Or shall they leave it all to me.\"

The tones of the final sentence do not rise as a question should, and the hottest of blue fire burns within Adom\'s eyes.

[Arla(#20128)]

The casual manner to this man leaves that is easily seen. Eyes dart back and forth and hand moves to grab Adoms arm - in no rough way, but to lead him off to someplce quiet.

\"Listen, Adom the Vinter. It\'s a dangerous game, whats happening here. And to be honest, I plan to be fixing it. Business is not as it is meant to be, I don\'t like these questions. You want to help, I see that, but I have plans of my own in the works.\" and then the man looks to Adom as if weighing something in his mind. \"You want to be part of this? It will be dangerous, no promise on your life either. If so, it\'s all volunteer.\"

[Adom]

Wide comes the surprise in Adom\'s eyes, and upon jaw falling open, \"You? Plan to be fixing it? This is the most welcome news.\" The shock lasts upon his face, as words falter. Awkardly his hands come from behind his back to lock arms at his chest, and finding no comfort there return to previous repose. And so he is lead to a spot away from eager ears - eyes may yet see this meeting, but finding a cohort - the fear of fighting these battles alone slowly eases, his muscles relaxing beneath the tight protection of his jerkin.

Breaking silence, the Vintner promises, \"I have already volunteered - you have seen one moment, but I will not speak in detail of my deeds in this place. If I should see any more harm befall your sister, or the fisher-girl Malle, or any other lady I have met in my time here? They call me hot-head, and madman already. Yet they know not of the fate i cast upon the emissary who dared bribe my father. I fear not the call of righteousness.\"

[Arla(#20128)]

\"Ah!\" says Jamis with a chuckle and goes to slap (in a brotherly way) Adoms arm. \"A man to my liking! Now, I believe you and you best believe me, this will be dangerous. But I do need someone to be part of my plan, and you may fit the bill well.\" a snicker lines his rugged face. \"Here, move further away with me and I will explain. I have little time for this, so you know now and hold your silence else pay the cost - which I trust your silence.\"

And the man moves to a even quieter spot, few paying attention, busy with their day. So he whispers: \"I\'m planning a secret sorta mission, I\'m posing as a thief looking for Slugger - I plan to go alone, no debate there so hold back your tounge, but, I need a second hand in this plot, you fit the bill well and I think we will work well together. But it will be low down work, dirty and hard, full of danger. So, Adom the Vinter - Man of valor, will you join me in this dangerous adventure to catch a no-good-man?\"

[Adom]

\"To your benefit,\" responds Adom sharply and quick, \"I have TWO hands to offer you. About the best in town it seems too. You have heard much of my .. work. What you haven\'t heard is that I fought off two of them thieving underdeckers on my lonesome. Tried to take this much-valued jerkin as fee for wandering into their tunnels.\" He laughs briskly then, the fierceness of before melting as they step again farther from prying gossipers.

\"Whoever this no-good-man is, I\'m in. I swear it. I was already in on my own, but to have company upon a mission I cannot ignore? What shall come will come,\" the Vintner waxes, a deep enthusiasm in eyes now focused upon Jamis eagerly, \"Maybe death. Glory. Or all that I truly seek - peace and a chance to return to my wine business when the spring\'s thaw opens the lake and river once more. Tell me, exactly, what may I do?\"

[Arla(#20128)]

\"Ah, two hands, well best keep them at a ready!\" he states with a firm nod. \"The part you will play, well, let me tell you the plan first.\" and so in a low whisper he explains the plan to Adom. \"Now, your part will be my sidekick, but I wont drag you along until I know the plot it set for sure. Of course, we will use different names, keep our faces covered, cloaked hooded and the light. Only daggers at our sides and our bodies and minds our weapons. I would suggest you fancy yourself up with some scum like clothing, and once, or if, i return from the underdecks, we will take the next step.\"

[Adom]

\"Then we have spoken enough of this here, and now,\" again the Vintner answers quickly, an excitement or urgency clear in edgy hastened words, \"and fortunate that my habit of looking clean for the Summer and bearding up and growing out my hair for warmth in winter may add some layer of disguise.\" He claps Jamis squarely on the shoulder, and smiles deep and knowingly.

\"I\'ll leave now, keep the watchers guessing. I am rarely seen in the southeast section of town, perhaps there for our next talk, in two days time? Rushing too much may allow too many to tie up the strings we wish to keep secretly unhitched,\" he declares, a sudden nod of head. Without further words or gesture, he is off into the crowds of the market - thinner as they now be with the fading of business before winter\'s grip closes trade.

[Arla(#20128)]

Jamis smiles wickedly and slaps Adom on the shoulder to. \"Two days time!\" he says with a nod. \"Be well till then, and work on your \'guise.\"

And so the King\'s men turns and heads off on his own work - looking over the fabrics again.