"Well, ya' see, sometimes my Captain tells me to kill someone. So I get on over there and kill 'em. That's how it works, pretty much."
"Just call me Grunt, that's what I am!"
You meet a soldier of Exile. He clutches his steel broadsword firmly.
0
stnd
25
1
He nods. "Thank you kindly!"
"Well! You fellows are poorer than me!"
10
give@coin
11
"That's right - I was the best cobbler in Cotra! And then the Empire comes down here, and they make me poor again! So I'm startin' to figger', maybe some fellows just meant to be poor. So could you maybe give me a coin?"
0
cotr@busi
11
"Well, I'll tell ya' I got thrown down here for bein' poor, no more no less. So I go to Cotra, and I work hard, make a business for myself!"
He bows his head in an almost, but not quite, humble manner. "I'm Dorkin, sirs."
A man with the look of a refugee walks up to you and mutely holds out a begging bowl. He has a resigned, sardonic expression.
0
stnd
11
"So I'm going to look into it. I'm not the best spy, but I know these caves well as anyone."
He looks very worried. "I hear from prisoners the Empire's buildin' this portal, from up there to down here, so they can teleport down a whole army. They'd wipe us out if they could do that!"
0
rumo@goal
10
"The gray pass is the most important one, and I hear that there's a prisoner in Mertis who knows where one is. If I get one, I can start looking into certain rumors."
0
mert@gray
10
"My goal, ya' see, is to look into some rumors."
He pulls out a vellum scroll, edged in red ink. "This is a red pass. The troops down here need passes to get into Empire lands. I'm looking for a blue and a gray pass. That's why I'm heading down to Mertis."
0
scro@surf
10
"You see, I've been going from town to town, looking for certain scrolls from the surface."
At first, he looks upset that you know what he's after. Then he looks you over carefully. "Ach! I know you! You're the ones who went to the Vahnatai! It's safe to talk to you." He pulls you aside.
0
pass
10
"Just killing time."
"Gourdon."
You meet a very heavy-set man with a longbow slung over his shoulder and a full quiver of arrows at his side. He looks you over nervously as you approach.
0
stnd
10
She leans close. "Archer in town. Name's Gourdon. Asking around about passes or some such. He doesn't want people to know about it, but he was rude to me. Oh well." She grins mischievously.
0
goss
9
2
She nods in thanks, and fetches several glasses of wine. You can't tell what the wine was made from, but it's excellent. You ask her where it came from, and she says "Rorik. North end of town."
"Two gold. Sorry."
10
purc@drin
9
33
31
Her smile disappears. "Five gold. Sorry."
4
room
9
She smiles. "Room, five gold. Drinks, 2 gold. Gossip, free."
"Alice."
The bar is tended by a striking woman with short black hair and a pleasant smile. She's quiet for a barkeep - she just raises her eyes as you approach.
0
stnd
9
"They scare the fish!"
0
away@refu
8
"Nephilim destroyed my farm years ago. Now I just do odd jobs for my keep, and relax fishing. And keeping those darned refugees away!"
0
fish
8
"Oh, just an old man whiling away his last years fishing."
"Eh? Oh, hello. Call me Scott."
There is a thin old man sitting under the tree, fishing.
0
stnd
8
41
39
Rorik's Fine Wines
12
wine
7
Tasty Rations
6
4
11
rati
7
"Rations or wine?"
0
purc
7
"Well, if you're brave or stupid enough to travel in these times, I'll do what I can to help!"
0
jour
7
He sighs and leans close. "Well, actually, it was as revenge, for striking up a very close friendship with the magistrate's wife. But don't tell anyone." And with that he laughs for a full minute.
0
bani@exil
7
He laughs and jiggles. "I was banished into Exile because my wines were too good. Made them jealous! And I still make them. You can buy the best wines and rations here, to take the edge off your journey!"
"I'm Rorik, brewer and cook of great reknown!"
There is a jolly merchant sitting behind the counter, with the look of one who's done much sampling of his own wares.
0
stnd
7
She speaks very loud and very clear. "You won't deal with me, I won't deal with you. Now will ... you ... PLEASE ... leave?"
She snaps at you. "Yes! Ignored! They all say they don't know where the attack came from, but I saw lights on the island south of Cotra not long before the troops arrived. And they say I imagined it, that there's nothing there."
0
igno@enou
6
"Yes, I was there, and I've had what I have to say about it ignored enough. Now leave me alone."
0
cotr
6
She looks ready to call the guard at a moment's notice. "I'm still recovering from escaping Cotra. I don't need you bothering me."
0
leav@tres
6
"I'm setting up my shop, and you are trespassing."
"I'm Faye. Now leave."
An imposing woman with graying hair and a severe expression is setting up shop. She looks highly displeased at your intrusion.
0
stnd
6
"Herbs. Clean gauze. Graymold salve. Comfrey root. I do what I can, but I'm always running out of something vital."
0
supp
5
"I need more supplies, but I do the best I can."
"The assault on Cotra was bad enough. But when the Vahnatai barriers came, the war really started up again. The Empire was more reinforced and we were more prepared, and the bodies have come non-stop."
0
barr
5
""
20
heal@help
5
"Healing all who come to me. I have some time to help you if you need it. Though, Heaven knows, everything's been nuts since the barriers came down."
"Eucher the healer. Are you well?" He looks you over for ailments.
There is a young, dark-skinned man sitting behind the table, chopping healing herbs as fast as he can. He's obviously exhausted.
0
stnd
5
She smiles and blushes. "It's not much, I know, but it means a lot to me."
"I was one of the last people thrown into Exile. They didn't want me to dance up there. Too ... uhh ... stirring, they said. I wouldn't give it up, so they threw me down here, where people really need some beauty in their lives."
0
call
4
She does a twirl on one foot. It's a move both graceful and pulse quickening. "Exiles have always needed some cheering, now more than ever. I guess being thrown down here gave me my calling."
0
danc@show
4
She sighs. "Just passing the time. Tonight, I'll be dancing. You should come to the show!"
She floats gracefully over to you. "I'm Eledi."
You meet a small, gorgeous woman, wearing somewhat sparse dancer's clothes. Bereft of an audience, however, she seems somewhat down.
0
stnd
4
""
120
hire@miss
3
"I have strong troops, but they have their hands full babysitting refugees. If you're interested, let me know."
He smirks. "A strong foe, but we can make things go very ugly for them, when we get our hands on them. Very ugly indeed." He gives you a close look. "You're adventurers, are you not? I often look to hire adventurers to go on missions."
0
empi
3
"Fort Duvno, a knife aimed at the heart of the Empire."
0
rule@fort
3
"I rule this fort."
He looks you over. "I am Captain Johnson. What can I do for you?"
You meet a tall, gaunt soldier. His face is heavily lined, and not just with age. His expression seems locked in a permanent scowl, and you doubt his eyes could ever be anything but cold.
0
stnd
3
5
4
Walner the Sage
16
purc@poti
2
"If you have the money and inclination, you can buy that knowledge."
He indicates the tiny holes in his robes with embarrassment. "I do alchemy often, although my concoctions often spit back at me. Many of my recipes are quite useful. In particular, I know how to make two valuable potions with glowing nettle."
0
alch
2
""
21
iden
2
He waves at the bookshelves on the north wall. "Collecting all the knowledge there is to be had in our subterranean abode! Enough to identify your items, for example. Or to give instruction in alchemy!"
"I'm Walner. Welcome to this place of learning!"
You meet a short, stocky man with blond hair and a broad smile. His mage's robes have tiny holes in them, as if eaten away by little specks of acid.
0
stnd
2
"Certain servants of Exile are always needing lockpicks and poison for little spying jaunts, recon, wet work, you know how it is." She grins and starts sharpening a small, wicked looking dagger.
0
usef@stuf
1
"Well, the soldiers are too busy to worry too much about a little petty thievery, and anyway, the stuff I sell is too useful."
0
luck@gene
1
36
34
Amalia's Tools
12
purc
1
""
13
sell
1
"You can buy tools of thievery here, and sell any goods you may have ... umm ... acquired in your travels." She chuckled. "you're lucky - you've come to my shop during generous times."
She smiles unpleasantly. "I'm Amalia. Hi."
There is an exceptionally shifty looking woman behind the counter. She brazenly cleans and sorts lock picking tools, and prepares vials of poison with greasy fingers.
0
stnd
1
114
111
J.R. the fletcher
7
purc
0
"The Empire is killing every Exile they can get their hands on. If we don't get strong enough, we'll all be dead."
0
cotr
0
"Every weapon maker around here is busy - we're preparing for the worst after what happened in Cotra."
0
arro@troo
0
"Well, right now I'm making arrows for the troops. You can purchase some yourself if you like."
"Just call me J.R."
You meet a small woman with delicate features and long brown hair. She looks up from the large pile of arrows she was working on.
