Fall of Tadric (IC)

[Alaena]

Tadric is a bustling city, even in these dark times. Millions of souls struggling to survive in a wide urban sprawl, where one can acquire anything for the right price. Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, and even more sinister folk call this city home, though humans make up the majority. More people seek refuge behind its vast walls everyday, many whispering that the countryside is "lost" as roaming bands get more aggressive and whispers of men and women alike succumbing to dark desires and pleasures become more common. Even the lords of Tanric are said to hold orgies almost every night and take all manner of drink and food from whomever they please to satisfy a new desire.

The sun sets across the city as night will soon fall and the worst elements of the vast metropolis will become active in their element: the cover of darkness, where anything may transpire. A king may become a pauper, and a pauper a King. Though Tanric's King is still yet to be replaced, many vie for power in both the light and the shadow. Maybe rumors of the Sin Requiem are true, that the nation will be consumed by lust and carnage, and whosoever sits on the ashes does not matter much in the end...

Introductory Posts

Alein

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You have followed one of the low level whorehandlers, an Orc by the name of Grusk, to a brothel on the very edge of the city, near the western gate, also known as Lion's Gate. It has seen a large number of refugees, more so than the rest of the city, and making an ideal place for desperate folk to be preyed upon for sex work that they can't get out of. You believe Grusk may get you a bigger fish, and slowly unwravel the worst in the city.

You stand outside the brothel Grusk frequents, The Last Drop, deciding how to approach him and get whatever information he knows. You can see him through the window, arm already wrapped around a half-elf employed at this brothel. Several people brush by you on these crowded streets, all looking for their own aims and needs.

You look left and right and see no one in particular paying attention to you at this moment. Some guards shuffle by, holding a criminal in shackles, as well as some merchants peddling their wares from street stalls. The odors of thousands of people huddling in close quarters fill your nostrils and your heart with anxiety, but nothing you're not accustomed to from living here with your family. Your worst feat is that someone like Grusk, but more powerful and cunning, may one day sweep your own wife and 18 year old daughter into this hellish side of Tanric.

You look at Grusk again through the window, returning to the matter at hand, how you might approach finding the fish bigger than him, and how you might use him...

Alvidera

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You find yourself near the south gate of the vast city of Tanric, having only been barely able to trade a few things you found on the road for two days rent at a tavern and inn called The Jack's Eye. You had barely stopped to rest when you made your escape from the country side, but eventually, freedom seemed here at last - but you could not stay here cheaply.

The owner of The Jack's Eye, a human named Edric, was already giving you lustful eyes, a gaze you'd become all too familiar with. You were certain he was hoping you wouldn't be able to pay, that you might "pay" in another form than bartered goods or silver.

So you now find yourself in a predicament, as you finish your breakfast at The Jack's Eye. As your gaze wanders out to the street, the large crowds shuffling back and forth through the city, what would you do next? How would you support yourself? What do you want to do with your freedom?

You had overheard more than one woman being offered a job to "serve" men in many ways, but you weren't entirely convinced this would be your path in the end... You had heard of the sex crazed women, who succumbed to lust after spending too many times with Orcs, or the like. Many women only served Orcs, claiming their "sexual superiority" being the reason. Such nonsense was truly false, but who can say for certain?

You finish your drink and decide now is the time to act. How will you survive, what path shall you walk, and will you survive Tanric?

Cassandra

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You have a dream that haunts you still, a vision even, of these two women reaching out to you, but even so, it was very easy to lose one's self in Tanric. It was difficult enough to find one's way through the massive urban sprawl to as it was to find a way out of the squalor. However, your gifts and talents made a survival in the cutthroat place a much more realistic possibility.

You entered Tanric some weeks back and found yourself in the Swords Quarter, a place where all manners of monsters and warriors would sell their skill to the highest bidder, and with more than a fair share of arena fights to whet local lordling appetites. You had receive more than a few offers in the short time you'd been in the area; one, to fight a large beast known as a worg, and another to join a melee against a captured Orc warband, and, somehow the shadiest of them all, to serve some tentacled monstrosity as a lover for one night.

Any person, man or woman, seemed for sale in Tanric, only the right price had to be found, and you were still struggling to find your direction in the throngs of thousands, with just as many opportunities looking behind every corner, waiting for the bold to take it.

You currently stand in Crimson Square, a popular place for vendors and sellswords, looking out at the many glistening bodies and arms being traded freely for deed and gil. Where would you start, how would you survive, and what do you reach for? These are all questions only you could answer.

Valrissa

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You found yourself at Rendwell, the name of your husband's rundown estate, once said to be owned by a famous warrior from an age forgotten. Though you no longer have servants to attend to you, this estate was in the oldest part of Tanric, with an ocean view and frequent patrols by the city guard. However, after only one day, you began to feel the sting of low coffers.

Apparently, the guards extorted the clearly "struggling" nobles and estate owners rather openly. You had to begin paying them or they threatened to "tell" some well connected gangs in the Dockward about your lack of funds and security, making you a prime target for robbery, slavery, or worse.

There was only one choice. You had to make your way back up, rebuild your estate and your coffers, if you wished to remain in Tanric. You suppose you could make your way at sea, with your husband's old ship, though this also required refurbishment, a crew, and none of this would come without hard earned gil.

As you stand in the dessicated garden of your estate, looking out over the sea, you resolve to do something about this. What you would do, in this vast city with limitless opportunity, could only be limited by your skill and potential, and hopefully not end up like those women you hear about in rumor... those who seek pleasure at any and every opportunity, lost to the supposed Sin Requiem, with their lust addled minds and bodies...

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Active Character List
#1: Alein

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Name: Alein Oakheart
Age: 37
Race: Human
Sex: Male
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 167 lb

Stats

Bravery: 75
Faith: 35
Will: 50
Fortitude: 50

Health: 25/25
Corruption: 0/100

Traits:
Longsword Training
Physical Intimidation
Urban Tracking

Equipment:
Longsword, dagger
Half-Plate armor, shield
Locket

Gil: 4,990

#2: Alvidera

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Name: Alvidera
Age: 19
Race: Elf
Sex: Female
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 106 lbs.

Stats
Bravery: 50
Faith: 75
Will: 35
Fortitude: 50

Health: 25/25
Corruption: 0/100

Traits:
Summoning Magic (Can summon creatures/spirits from magically imbued crystals to fight on her behalf)
Oral Sexpert (Her training focused a lot on oral sex, so she's very adept when she really needs help or wants to avoid other sexual activities)
Fleet of Foot (Elven heritage makes her excellent at moving quickly whether to flee)

Equipment: Summoning Crystal(Wolf)
No Armor/Sheild
Mysterious Amulet(Does not know she's carrying this for the moment)

Gil: 5,000
Biography: Hailing from the Forests of Vermos far to the South, Alvidera's village was invaded by Gnolls a year ago, and she was among those taken. That week was the most terrifying time of her life as the beasts used her and the other captured women until she was practically broken. When she began to accept her fate, the savages lost interest and sold her to passing slavers who planned to traffic her in the sex trade. Unlike the Gnolls, these men expected her to participate in the debauchery and to even fake enjoyment. After many months of this, she wasn't even fully sure she hadn't started to enjoy pleasuring the many strange, demanding customers.

Then one day, she got her chance. The customer must have been a mage, at least a fledgling one, as he had accidently left behind a satchel. She was going to hand it over, so her masters could either keep it or return it to the customers, but for some reason, she peeked inside seeing was full of money except for the crystal on top that glinted with an aura of magic that couldn't be missed by an elf. Seeing her oppurtunity, she quickly grabbed and threw on the nearest article of clothing and calling the creature into this realm. Ordering it to run to the commons room and make a ruckus, she made a mad dash for the back of the building and hopefully freedom. Though she was unaware of the amulet buried at the very bottom.

Appearance:

#3: Cassandra

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Name: Cassandra Vale
Age: 23
Race: Human(part tiefling unknown to her)
Sex: Female
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 130

Stats

Bravery: 75
Faith: 50
Will: 35
Fortitude: 50

Health: 25/25
Corruption: 0/100

Traits: Silver Vixen (Bonus to charming those who’d like to get Cassandra’s pants)
Demonic resistance( resistant to demon/magical influence, but weak to physical pleasures)
Expert duelist(bonus to fighting when confronted by a single opponent)

Equipment: Heirloom sword(previously her "fathers") A set of throwing daggers, a net. Leather Armor. Sapphire necklace(gift from her mother) a detailed drawing of her mother, camping supplies.
Gil: 5,000

Appearance:

#4: Valrissa

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Name: Valrissa Woe-Droet
Age: 18
Race: Tiefling
Sex: Female
Height: 5'8"
Weight:

Stats

Bravery: 50
Faith: 75
Will:50
Fortitude: 35

Health: 25/25
Corruption: 0/100

Traits:
Regal Appearance (when dressed up gets a bonus to persuade etc others?)
Acrobat
Magic User- Fire

Equipment:
Dagger
Simple Sling
Sword Cane

Fine Gamberson

Regal clothing
Large coin purse
Jewelry

Gil: 5,000

Appearance:

[Lorielle]

Cassandra wanders into the Swords Quarter, if she were here for pleasure or glory she'd be ecstatic, but what she was doing was much more serious. Holding the drawing of her mother that her aunt had commissioned was what the woman who birthed her last looked like. That was decades ago but it was a good start. Her aunt gave her some clues as to where to maybe start and now she was here in a district where people come to revel in the pleasures of flesh as well as the glory of combat.

Choosing a place to start though she looked around for a knowledge broker of sorts, someone with birds in all the right places and willing to sell information at a price. Hopefully she could find such a person to start with, but if she couldnt today she'll definitely a place to call her home base for her stay in the Quarter as she begins her search.

[Lazy Kitsune]

Alein keeps one hand by his coin purse and his wary eyes out for potential threats as he works his way slowly through the crowds of refugees and vagabonds that drift through the area by Lion's Gate. He was used to traversing parts of the city such as this by now and was well aware of the dangers they had to offer. The gruff sell sword stops before his mark's establishment, his gaze halting in its cautious sweep of his surroundings to linger upon the Orc Grusk. Inhaling through his nose, he shifts one of his arms down towards the hilt of his sword, ready to grasp the handle at a moments notice. For the right coin he used to hunt people like Grusk, but all things considered it wasn't too long before that that he used to hunt for people like Grusk. In his early days before family life instilled him with new values he took coin from where it was offered.

While the idea of working jobs like that again didn't sit right with him, Alein knew it might be the best bet of finding out who Grusk answered to without risking putting his family in jeopardy. If he could get work as a mercenary for this Orc then he might be able to find out enough about his operation from the inside to make a more decisive strike before showing his hand as a potential enemy. It would hardly be savoury work, but in these strange and dark times it seemed like a low cost to pay for his family's safety.

Alein stepped into the Last Drop, keeping his stern gaze focused on Grusk and away from the bountiful displays of flesh that the brothel presented to tempt customers. He wasn't sure how much of his reputation Grusk was aware of, but men like him were often looking for protection or hired muscle. For the moment he decided to linger within earshot of Grusk, in case the Orc let any key information slip while in the comfort of the brothel or if the Orc took his own notice of Alein. The mercenary beckoned over a nearby brothel worker, feigning interest in discussing what services they had to offer while he kept his peripheral attention on Grusk.

[Firehead]

Alvidera shivered feeling the innkeeper's glare on her even as she ate breakfast. She had known that look a hundred times before on a hundred different men, but it always meant the same thing. She had run away to be free of that kind of life, and she was hesitant to fall back into that lifestyle again. She'd looked over a few Inns she'd heard were cheaper, but those places were so shady looking that she was certain she would be dragged from her room in the middle of the night for gods knows what. This was her only choice for shelter, and if worse came to worse, she wouldn't have a choice, but she vowed to herself to avoid resorting to that as much as possible. Especially with strange rumors floating around like women becoming addicted to Orcish men and such.

She caught herself puckering her plush lips again as she sipped the soup from her spoon as if she were about to fellate the silverware. Her masters had trained her to do that kind of thing to entice customers, and she was finding the habits hard to curb when she wasn't focused just eating like a normal person rather than a wanton slut. She was concerned about giving Edric the wrong idea, or even worse, giving away her former status as a whore.

Finished with her meal, she hopped out of her seat before heading for the door. "Thanks again for the meal, Edric." As she walked out of The Jack's Eye, she found herself worried about what could happen to her, and she found her hand in the pouch clenching the crystal. She was tempted to summon the beast to walk alongside her to deter trouble, but she reminded herself that she'll be fine as long as it's light out and people are around to see anything though that probably wouldn't prevent harassment. Besides, she hadn't quite gotten full control over the summoned beast yet, so summoning him unnecessarily could do more harm than good if it went out of her control. Still, she kept it close at hand in case something did happen.

She needed a source of income, and she figured the best place to start would be the city's market square. Such a place was bound to have people looking for workers other than prostitutes.

[Alaena]

Cassandra

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Encounter Roll: 77

You search high and low in the Swords Quarter for more than a hour before you wander into an exotic tavern on the edge of the distract. The strange incense catches your attention at first, wafting upon a rare breeze through the streets. You peer inside and see colorful drapes providing only modest privacy for the many booths. Exotic wines are paid for handsomely and served quickly to the several dozen patrons, all of which are quite well dressed.

You overhear a patron in a nearby booth exclaim, "If anyone can find her, I can, I know everyone around here."

You approach this boastful informant, a blonde Elf bedecked in finery and jewels, as he takes a swig and suddenly turns to meet your gaze. He smiles and says, "A fine lass if I've ever seen one, though I don't believe I've had the pleasure of being underneath you, yet. How can I help you, my lady?"

Alein

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You have no problem slipping into the busy brothel, just one of many suitors seeking sweet pleasures. The whores wore nothing that could be called clothing, save by the most liberal of tailors, with almost everything on display and available for the right price.

Many other patrons, soldiers, merchants, sailors, pave their way through the brothel's delights. Many continue the flirtatious dancing and drinking, as they not so discreetly decided which whore they would pay for on this night. You were vigilant, and hoped that given enough time, this vigilance would pay off.

From around his nook, as you parley with a prostitute for a drink, you hear Grusk say, "Yeah, that bastard still owes me money. I need to collect 'fore he squeaks away. You know his kind. Know anyone who can clean it up for me?"

You glance over and see Grusk talking to several other Orcs, possibly direct kin, as some of them openly fornicate with paid for women right in the open, a sign of wealth and influence, at least among the underworld, to throw any and all social decorum out the window so blatantly.

Alvidera

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Edric smiles at you as you thank him for the meal and his eyes hold no shame over eyeballing your figure rather openly. He takes the dishes from your table and says, "Remember, only a few days, then next payment is due... unless ya find somewhere else to stay of course."

His smile might be harmless if you didn't otherwise feel his gaze watch your backside as you walked out.

Encounter Roll: 16

You search the nearby market square, one of many across the vast metropolis of Tadric, and find yourself in one that is rather humble and a bit less shadier than others. You see mostly food and traveling equipment being sold, some horses here and there, and other tools. You eventually find a minotaur, a bizarre sight even in Tadric, selling watermelons.

Aside from him being more than 7ft in height, he also caught your attention due to his "Hiring" sign hanging from his modestly sized stall. He finishes with several customers and eyes you over as you approach.

"Targus," he grunts, "Lookin' for melons?"

He holds up one of his finest fruits and says, "About to close up for lunch. Can give ya half off on this one."

This seems like an easy enough job, fairly simple in fact. He didn't seem to objectify you right away, and this was ideal, especially if the rumors about a minotaur's addictive semen were true, you would likely prefer to avoid that scenario. Everyone had to start somewhere, after all, but if you wanted something more dangerous, and more exciting, you would simply have to expand your search. In Tanric, opportunity was around every corner, and the deeper you went, the more exciting it would get.

[Lorielle]

Cassandra's eyes flutter when she catches a whiff of this exotic incense she's managed to stumble upon. Wandering inside she was somewhat taken aback by the decadence of it all. While she's lived her life as a noble even her aunt knew the strength that lay behind minimalism and not needing to flaunt her wealth. 'Find anyone?' She thinks to herself as she shows the informant the drawing of her mother. "Well yes im looking for this woman. she's the older sister of Madam Vale a prominent merchant woman. Im her niece Cassandra Vale, I'm looking for my mother."

As she hands off the drawing she looks around the room, taking in a bit more of that incense as her eyes flutter once again, as she examines something she bends at the hip to look at something interesting on the ground unknowingly swinging her leather clad ass at the blonde elf. Once she was done examining what seemed to be the a rather crude looking statuette she turns around back to the informant. "How much would it.. cost.. to enlist your help?"

[Lazy Kitsune]

Alein
It was unnerving how populated buildings such as this had grown to become. Was there so little for refugees in Tadric that this was really the only thing they had to fall back on, or were there perhaps some truths to those tales of sexual deviancy running rampant across more and more of the world? Regardless, his plan so far was paying off, with Grusk having already let slip his need for hired help. Alein thanked the whore he used to help blend in, tipping them a coin for their time before making his way over towards Grusk and his kin.

"Excuse me, gentlemen." he announced his presence, his gruff voice contrasting the hedonistic merriment of The Last Drop's atmosphere. "Don't mean to pry, but it sounds like you could use some help. Just so happens, I can use some coin. I know my way around the city, I've experience tracking people down. And lets say I know how to make people... see reason. And I'm very good at being discrete about it."

As distasteful as it was to offer these men his help, especially as some of them fornicated so openly, baring the lack of decency for all to see, Alein swallowed his pride for the moment. There were good deeds to be done here, some might call them heroic. That wasn't a word Alein would ever use to describe himself, but if he could be that for his children then this would all be worth it.

"The names Alein." he said, holding out a hand towards Grusk.

[exalted]

Valrissa sighed as she sipped her coffee, the brew brackish and distasteful as she found she had not talent for the mundane practice. She had found that a lot in the last few days, being truly alone for the first time. The small personnel staff and guards she had been given by her husband to escort her to the city had turned around once she entered the walls, not knowing the staff she was to be handed to no longer existed.

She sipped the brew patiently still, content that it was at least warm as examined the garden. She could tell it had once been lush and vibrant, the tangled dry and dead leaves and vines would have teemed with flowers in the most vibrant hues, much like the rest of the villa. Now it was just dust and dry, she had swept out the Master bedroom with an old broom she'd found, to keep her things clean at least, but the issue with the guards troubled her. The purse her Husband had given her. to last for the duration of her supposedly short stay, was already getting light and she knew it would not last much longer. She would need to procure more, and friends to help ease the load until the situation at her home settled.

Distantly she knew she would need to get a staff soon to run the house, and a proper guard to keep the local constabulary in check, but those would only come with coin.

Pouring out the remains of her cup on one of the bushes, hoping that it might sustain the life of at least one living thing, she strolled back to her bedchamber. She slowly undid her robe and let the folds of silk cloth part as she walked, giggling slightly at the risque act she would have never attempted have attempted before; but now, alone in an empty villa, seemed exhilarating. She shrugged the garment off her shoulders and hung it on the post of the bed, walking into her robe to chose which dress she would wear today.

She found a blue and black number she thought would do the trick, combining the colours of her old and new households, mixing her accompanying the jewelry to reflect the same theme. She planned to go to court today, to announce her presence and see if she could find any friends of her Husband or old house who might help her in her plight.

[Firehead]

Alvidera turned kept from looking at the Innkeeper as she frowned at his reminder. She'd been surprised how much it cost for only a few nights, but Eldric had insisted the surge of refugees into the city had driven up such costs, and given the prices of other Inns, she wasn't sure it wasn't just an excuse to gouging her for more rent.

Thankfully, her trip to the nearest market was uneventful, so she released her grip on the crystal as she walked about looking for work of some kind until she found it.

She noticed the sign before the shopkeep, so upon hearing his voice she quickly turned towards him only to stop mid greeting when she noticed the large Bullman towering over her. She had always heard that beastmen like gnolls and minotaurs were similarly savages, so her experience with her former captors immediately made her worry that he might attack her. She stood there for a few awkward seconds while he offered her a melon at half-price before she realized his friendly enough demeanor and the offer of food. She quickly shook the thought from her head. She was here for a job, and she wouldn't get very far suspecting an innocent and friendly shopkeeper of doing something like that.

She could still feel fear for the towering male, but she pressed through it. Rationally, there was no excuse for it, and she needed a job that would let her keep living in the city without selling herself. "No, thank you sir, but I already ate." She pointed to the sign hung on his stall. "I was looking to ask about your help wanted poster." Her eyes suddenly flashed with realization that the first two syllables out of his mouth, which she simply glossed over in her mind, were likely supposed to be an introduction as short as it was. "Oh, Targus is your name. I'm sorry, my name is Alvidera, and I'm new to the city and looking for work."

[Alaena]

Just a note on how rolls work. Higher is better and not all rolls use your stats. Ones that do not are typically resolved by 50 or lower being bad, 51 or higher being good, to degrees depending how much higher or lower. Rolls that do use stats, good is simply rolling in your percentile range; i.e., a character with 75 Bravery can succeed at Bravery rolls so long as a 26 or higher is rolled (75% chance) and traits alter this further. Opposed rolls are settled by the difference between your score plus what you rolled and his score and what he rolled; i.e., if you have 75 Bravery and roll a 50, your total is 125, and if he as 50 Brave, he has to roll a 75 or higher to get a tie. A natural 100 always succeeds and natural 1 always fails; in the event of a tie with two 100's, there's a reroll. Ties typically settled by rerolling until there's no tie.

Cassandra

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

He examines the drawing, then examines your posterior as you bend over before him and the others at his table and when you turn back to him, he smiles and says, "Name's Elblanc. I can find her, but I don't work for free, as you can see."

Elblanc gestures to the table, filled with fine food and wine, and several of who must be friends, including another Elf, a human and an Orc.

"2,000 gil up front. Depending on the difficulty of the job, I got rates... at least another 4,000 when the job is done. Surely a fine lady such as yourself can afford such a thing. You wanna find your mom, don't ya?"

Elblanc leans back and takes a swig from his glass and says, "Ask anyone here. I know these streets better than the rats. I got everything you need right here," he taps his head, "And here," and squeezes his groin. A few men at the table chuckle in response.

You don't have quite enough to afford the second part of his payment, but you could earn money in the meanwhile, or try to find someone less suspect altogether.

Alein

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

(Subtracting 10 gil coin from character)

The whore thanks you and pats your shoulder, leaving you with your drink and your greater concerns.

Grusk looks you over carefully, eyeing the intruder at his table with some suspicion. He hesitantly shakes your hand while his other hand gropes the rear of a serving wench sitting on his lap.

When you mention your name, he scratches his chin and says, "Hmm... I think that name does ring a bell... huurrm... Alright, Alein, but I gotta know you're not one of them uppity crusadin' types. There's a guy across the street at another bar, owes me a small amount. Bring back his purse. If he resists, bring back his hand. Do that, and I'll know yer level and give ye the real job."

One of the Orcs says, "Grusk... ain't that guy kinda big? You mean Borsk, right? I mean, this chap looks tough and all, but-"

Grusk grins and says, "I'm sure Alein here can handle it. Hell, you can even keep half of whats in the purse... after ye bring it to me."

The other Orcs also eye you with suspicion. It seemed unlikely there was another way to earn their trust, or if there was any way at all. You already seemed set in mind, however, that you'd get your hands dirty here if necessary, and this just seemed to be the first step on the road.

Valrissa

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

You decide to pull on old strings in the hopes that something might come up to aid your financial and domestic situation. You find your wardrobe, at the very least, plentiful enough to avoid the appearance of desperation, a very detractive element in any negotiation that may occur and you would know to be careful to avoid.

After you decide upon appropriate dress and jewelry, you make your way to the First Court, as its known for being the first and oldest court in the city. It is a lower court, where many of the minor nobles mingle, pass laws, collect taxes, and throw wilder and wilder parties rather frequently. The presiding noble is Duke Traxus Coswin, an older fellow and uncle to the last King of Tadric, who rules the Seaside district with which your estate resides with a loose hand. Many say he has gone senile, but none can say for certain.

You walk the paved and patrolled streets safely, passing by numerous other nobles, before arriving at the monumental building known as the First Court. Pillars and grand statues, not maintained very well, speak of a greater lost age. You enter the main lobby, and being about dinner time, you see food and drink being served to nobles who are gradually becoming more inebriated. You look behind you and see poorer folk, those not dressed as well as yourself, being prodded away and even shackled and thrown into a wagon for attempting to enter the First Court, a place that once espoused egalitarian virtues.

You begin to mingle with these folk, hoping to draw up these old connections of your husband's.

[Roll: d100 + 15 (trait) = 61]

You mingle quite successfully and manage to track down someone who is apparently a colleague and former business partner of your husband's, a half-Orc named Xan. You eventually find him out on one of the balcony's overlooking the city, apparently making flirtatious moves on some well-dressed Elven lady. He himself wore fine clothing and jewelry, as most others here.

He glances over at you when you step out onto the balcony, but doesn't immediately address you until it's clear you wish to speak to him. Once his quarry loses interest and gives an excuse to walk away, you're left only with Xan.

He takes a swig from his fancy wine, spilling some of it on his blood red tunic, and says, "I have not seen your kind around here, but many nobles here avoid the bastards... Fortunately, my father was kind enough to leave an estate to his bastard. My name is Xan, and you might be... ?"

Alvidera

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Targus looks you over and scratches his chin. "Work, huh? You don't seem that scrawny at second glance, actually. Then again, if I do say so, you are quite pretty... I bet you could sell a lot of melons."

He hands the watermelon to you and says, "Consider it a tip. You're hired, so long as you can be here every day startin' tomorrow. Your job'll be sellin' the things. I'll stay around for a bit to get you setup, but then I'll head back to the fields. You'll have to take care of the stall yourself. Your cut'll be 10%. Sell a lot of melons, it'll pay out well, I promise ya, and we can maybe talk about a raise if you do well."

Targus continues to close up his stall, packing away his tools and other things before finally closing up his wagon, with at least another dozen melons inside. He sits on the back of the wagon and looks you over again and says, "If all of that's agreeable, then we might make some real money... just uh, be careful. Not just about melons being stolen, which doesn't happen often, big size and all, but plenty of people would love to take advantage of someone like you. Be on guard."

Targus scratches his groin, covered by a tight fitting loincloth that left little to the imagination as to the size of his package.

[Lazy Kitsune]

Alein didn't consider himself a crusader type at all, although even he had to admit his current goals were far more righteous than any he had had in the past. Given all the work he had put in to becoming a more respectable man, it seemed a little tragic that he had to tarnish his new life by doing Grusk's dirty work. Still, it was a small price to pay to ease his mind about his family's safety. Collecting on a debt meant either he would be going after some unfortunate refugee Grusk had taken advantage of or another criminal scoundrel that had got the short end of the stick in some dirty business. Given what the others said about this 'Borsk' made Alein think, or at least hope, it was the latter. Threatening other scoundrels wasn't going to weigh heavily on his conscience.

"Borsk. In the bar across the street." the mercenary reaffirmed. "Should be quicker than picking up the groceries. Got anything more descriptive than 'kinda big'? I can go fetch you that coin purse right away."

[Firehead]

Alvidera nods as the bull-man offers her the job of minding his stall, so he can return to his fields instead. She was surprised that he'd trust a perfect stranger with his stall so easily and even give her a free melon which she was sure would spruce up whatever Eldric would cook up for dinner, but she vowed to be worth his trust if she took the job. "How much do your melons tend to sell for? As I said, I'm new to the city, things seem so much more expensive around here, and I need to make sure I can cover my rent." She also recalled how many days exactly she had to pay up and how much was due as that would figure into her calculation as well.

She was caught off guard when he scratched his groin drawing her attention to the loincloth that did hardly anything to hide his girth. She had seen customers do that on purpose to show off when they were negotiating for her services, but it didn't feel like that was his intention here. She couldn't put her finger on why, but it felt different. She refocused her attention on the discussion at hand. It was honest work, and if it paid her enough to cover her living expenses, she didn't see a reason to outright say no, but maybe she should look around for other opportunities before outright saying yes.

[Lorielle]

Cassandra eyes Elblanc. The arrogance was certainly annoying but the confidence and finery in which he draped himself in must be an indicator of something right. Besides it’s only an extra thousand Gil it can’t be that hard to scrounge up right? Though she rolls her eyes at his distasteful joke, reminding her of her youth growing up with many other noble born boys who all thought if they could beat her in a fencing match they’d be allowed to get into her pants. Of course that just meant a lot of them got hit in the groin.

“And how long do you think it’ll be before you can get me that info?” As she says that she pulls out her coin purse and sets the advance fee out for Elblanc. Though she doesn’t hand it to him right away. “Surely we can cut some sort of deal? Look into the kindness of your heart to help a daughter get reunited with her long lost mother?” She tries to play up the water works a little though she doesn’t want to seem incapable. Aside from that she was suspicious of the company Elblanc kept she was severely outnumbered and she wouldn’t be able to threaten him in anyway.

[exalted]

Valrissa stepped into an alcove for moment of privacy before entering the court, dabbing at her brow and bust with a handkerchief to remove the sheen of sweat that had accumulated as she walked. She had nearly decided to ride instead, but that would have meant diverting to livery and no doubt the peasant would have demanded some payment instead of doing something civilized like starting a tab or account. She glanced from the shadows at the trespassers being arrested and shackled, a twinge of guilt passing through her that she could not help them. No she couldn't afford to help others until she helped herself.

Slipping into the court, she stayed to the outside, doing a circuit as she did her best to match the strangers with the information and descriptions she had been furnished with before her wedding to her husband for just such a moment. Artfully, she lifted drinks or bits of food from the passing loaded serving trays as she promenaded, enough to slack her thirst and hunger for now. She was just about to give up hope of finding an acquaintance when she noticed the orc on the balcony and smiled.

Pulling back her shoulders and puffing out her chest, she strolled up, making eye contact and smiling as she had always been instructed to do... and nearly fell flat when he started to talk. Her eyes went slightly wide and she reared back nearly imperceptibly, unsure if he was just this uncouth normally or the the wine he spilt was playing a factor. Making sure to stand back out of the splash zone, she was unsure if he was implying impudently that she was a bastard or well or merely commenting on her breaking the unofficial protocol of the other nobles. Either option presented it's own issues.

"The Lady Droet," She introduced herself, "I believe you know my husband, yes? You said you had an estate in the City, that must be lovely, my husband's is in quite a state at the moment with the staff abandoning it, it is just so hard to find good, kind help these days, wouldn't you agree?"