Black Hart

Gradsul by Twilight

Chapter 5 - Temperance, Temperance!

A haggard-looking, straggly bearded wizard sat at a table in the Waymeet Inn.
"Another apple cider, please," the wizard said, in a rather depressed voice, to the chubby, over-pleasant barmaid standing in front of him.
"Right away, sir!" she replied cheerily - too cheerily for Smokelight's liking!
The wizard grumbled under his breath, "Damn that Thoggin! Nasty little skunk, sending me to this teetotallers' heaven!"
Smokelight was still fuming about getting stuck in this situation. A town where drinking was illegal?! Temperance was a town that was entirely too... too... wholesome! That was the word. The place was like one unending church picnic. Where was the occasional brawl, or exchange of insults to liven things up? What about the whores and the gambling - the little things that make life worth living?
This all seemed to be missing here.
Smokelight reflected that he wasn't anywhere near lawful or good. "Temperance"seemed to him like a stagnant, milk-and-honey paradise...
"Here's your cider, sir! I hope you enjoy it!" The bar-maid set a huge earthenware cup of fresh cider in front of the slumped wizard.
"This cider wouldn't be a little hard, by mistake, now -- would it?" Smokelight asked.
"Oh no, sir!" The barmaid said, blushing. "We're very careful about that!"
"Good, because it would just be a terrible thing for me to have to get drunk - by mistake - now wouldn't it?" Smokelight said, his voice trailing off into a growl.
At least the food was good here.
After a week of waiting, suffering through healthy food, too much pleasant courtesy, and the inability to spend money in great quantities because there was nothing to spend it on, Smokelight finally saw, or thought he saw, the three he'd been waiting for. Three outsiders walked into the Waymeet Inn, clearly travellers just into town.
Looking them over, his heart lifted - they too 'looked the drinking sort', and he almost did a cartwheel when he saw the human's holy symbol.
Olidamarra!

Compared to the bustling Rivermeet, Temperance was almost a ghost town. And none of the trio were in any doubt as to the reason for that. To their horror, in Rivermeet, they had discovered that the town's name had good reason to be so - within the bounds of its burgh, roughly ten miles each way, alcohol was forbidden!
To sell it, to buy it, to drink it, even to carry it was an offence under the local Lord, Dyervan Tsarka's, bye-laws! Apparently a devout convert of Xan Yae, an unusual deity for these parts, he banned any other such substances which affected the body and mind. This told them that their stay in the town would be only long enough for them to find this 'Smokelight' and leave.
The journey south, by sailbarge on the Sheldomar between Niole Dra and Rivermeet, had been uneventful. They had made a good choice in going by river - the Caisteallweg was teeming with soldiery heading between the capital and Rivermeet - where they headed off west for the horrors of the war in the Dreadwood. Some were also heading back, most of them wounded in some way. Many more were heading to the battle than coming from it!
There were plenty of people about Temperance, but the small town lacked atmosphere and gaiety, the townsfolk just quietly going about their business with little ceremony. There were also a number of Constables about - they had been warned that the Lord strictly enforced his ruling, and any contravention would likely find them in the stocks, in jail, or worse!
In the town sqaure a small market was underway, mainly local farm produce for sale. They easily spotted the drab and lifeless Waymeet Inn gazing longingly onto the square.
Entering, they found to their surprise that there were several people therein, eating meals and supping on what they knew were unworthy beverages. Apparently this inn, in order to survive, created unrivalled foodstuffs, and had the greatest selection of juices and cordials in the Sheldomar, possibly in the whole Flanaess.
Somehow, Akhan got the feeling that Eloi and Kyros had been unimpressed by this.
They approached the bar, Akhan intending to do a little digging to see if they could find this 'Smokelight'. As he opened his mouth to speak, a man stepped over to him from behind, offering his hand in greeting.
"I am Smokelight," the man said. A black-haired, greying man with a scraggly beard and moustache, he was clad in animal-skins and filthy hides, topped off with a broad-brimmed hat. He smeeled heavily of smokeweed, and indeed had a reeking pipe in his right hand. His eyes, very distinctive, were bead-black, like the eyes of a crow. "Now tell me by the gods we are leaving this drinkforsaken hole - I will abide it not a minute longer!"

Eloi looked at Smokelight in dismay  and muttered to himself, "Ah fer feck sake! Thoggin is surely having a joke with me, he obviously takes some perverse pleasure in allying the imbeciles of the wizardry world!"
He regained his composure and spoke. "We are pleased to meet you Smokelight. I am Baron Eloi Brandt of Amarr and these are my companions, Master Akhan Bherrulian and Kyros or Sablefist, priest of Olidammara. You will pardon my scepticism, but my only experience of your trade have been poor. I hope that you may change my opinions."
Eloi, obviously had orc somewhere in his heritage and the fine Baronial clothes did not sit comfortably on his bulky frame. The one thing that stood out was the evil blood red boars head which was embroidered onto his tunic. Eloi was obviously still learning the fineries of having a title and his attempts at grandeour only sadly revealed the inadequacies of his true upbringing. In Smokelight's mind, Eloi immediately became "Sir Pig-Snout," although, of course, the wizard didn't say that.
"Ten coppers says 'Smokelight' comes from that weed you're puffing on," Kyros said, extending his hand, wondering if the man before him took kindly to humour. "I'm Kyros. I take orders from the Baron Boarhead here and the elf-and-dog duo."
Kyros shrugged irreverently and warmed up to the three of them.
"I'm along to do the impersonations and get drunk once in awhile. So far I've already helped the enemy, gotten drunk, and nearly executed, though not necessarily in that order."
Shaking Smokelight's hand, Akhan glared at Eloi as he announced their names to the whole of the inn.  This was supposed to be a mission aimed at stopping a Scarlet Brotherhood agent and here they were bandying their names around in a roomful of completely sober people. 
Besides, Akhan didn't like having his name noised about in public, whatever he was up to.  There was no telling what sort of mischief was sitting listening at the next table.  There were plenty of people's noses he'd put out of joint over the years and it didn't pay to hit any town with a fanfare. 
He looked around the room for any suspicious characters, apart from the two smelly ones he was standing with. 
"Good to have you along Smokelight," he murmered ruefully.  "This is Ash," he added, pointing to the large dog with the enthusiastic tail.
Smokelight scratched the dog's head, careful to let the animal get his scent first from an open palm. The dog grinned inanely and continued wagging his tail in approval.
"I too have little desire to remain in this place any longer than I have to! I suggest that unless anyone has any objections we continue our barge voyage down the Sheldomar River as soon as we can arrange further passage. We can explain our mission to Smokelight as we travel."
He turned to leave the Waymeet inn assuming the others would follow, muttering, "What the fecking use is an Inn if there ain't any booze!"

As they sat on the deck of the barge Eloi rummaged around in his backpack and produced a bottle of  Keoish Brandy. He opened the bottle and took a long hard swig from it. He then passed the bottle to Smokelight.
"Take a swig, my new friend. Enjoy it while you can. I know of your fondness for the drink and whilst you are in my company I do not expect your drinking to get out of control. A pissed wizard could be a danger to allies as well as enemies. I do not mean, do not drink! I like a good drink as much as the next man. But, when it comes to the crux I need to know your going to remember the words and motions to the spell you need to cast."
"Don't worry about that, Sir Eloi," Smokelight snorted. "I know my spells as if I'd been born with them."
He grinned at the hidden irony of his statement.
Eloi grabbed the bottle from Smokelight before he got the chance to finish it off and passed it to Akhan and Sablefist.
"As I have explained to the others our mission is to flush out a Scarlet Brotherhood spy in the city of Gradsul. He is apparently providing information to the Scarlet Brotherhood and the Sea Princes to aid them in their conquest of Dreadwood. We are to rendezvous with one of Thoggin's men at the Golden Anchor Tavern in Gradsul's dock area. That is all I know at present and I am sure that our contact in Gradsul will have further news and information."
"Flush out a spy, eh?" the wizard muttered. To himself, Smokelight wondered what information a spy in Gradsul would have access to, that would be so valuable to Scarlet schemes.
"One last thing, Smokelight. You may know that Akhan and myself were part of the group which uncovered Lominstrall and Count Fimuth's treachery. They too were assisted by an agent of the Scarlet Brotherhood, Shabass T'Lan. T'Lan was killed by our friend Jean-Paul Pascal, but I fear that his body has vanished from its resting place. It is my fear that T'Lan has somehow been resurrected and will be a thorn in our side during this mission."
Smokelight nodded, quietly absorbing Eloi's soliloquy. He was actually rather impressed with how organised and determined this half-orc seemed. He had never met an intelligent half-orc.
If he had said so, Akhan would most likely have told him that he still had not!

As night fell, the sailbarge continued slowly down the ever-widening Sheldomar.
Akhan had been pacing up and down the boat all night. He stared solemnly at this motley crew. He had to admit it, there had only been four suspect figures in the Waymeet Inn, and he was one of those four!  A handsome half-elven dandy with a big sword and a war-dog at his heels in the company of a black-gloved cleric of Olidamarra, a mage who looked like a gently steaming dung-heap and a loud-mouthed half-orc Baron. 
"Mmmm," he thought. "Going to be real easy to keep a low profile when we get to Gradsul."
Still, they weren't in Gradsul yet so maybe they could work something out.
"I think we really need to work out a cover story for Gradsul," he declared, breaking the silence that had reigned since Eloi had taken away the brandy bottle as they reached the halfway mark. "After all, we don't know how many agents this Brotherhood spy has got working for him.  But we can assume that he'll be looking out for anyone sent against him.  So, our modus operandi should incorporate something to throw any Brotherhood-employed sneak off the scent." 
He scratched at the facial scar running along the lenth of his left cheek.
"Maybe you should consider ditching the regalia Eloi?  And then again, maybe not.  Another possibility would be to say we were members of your household.  Let's face it, we look the part.  I always said I'd be happy to be Chamberlain and look after your financial affairs." 
Akhan laughed at the thought of promotion, and Smokelight snorted humorously at the image of Eloi as a noble lord with the rest of them as members of his court. He fancied that he'd make a fine court wizard for a half-orc.
Akhan gazed downstream for a moment. 
"What say the rest of you? Certainly a lot depends on the state of the game down there and we'll have to listen to what this agent of Lord Thoggin has to tell us.  But I think it's fair to assume that the docks will be one place that will have a Brotherhood presence, if only to monitor Keoish trade movements and how they're being affected by this war.  If we're not going to debark before Gradsul we should decide on our publicly avowable reason for being there.  Say, Eloi - maybe there's some sort of shrine in Gradsul that'll cure noble flatulence!"
"I would have to agree," Eloi answered. "Somehow I think, looking at the four of us, that the chances that we do not attract attention is very slim."
He reached into his backpack and drew outsome smelly rags.
"My adventuring clothes." he explained. "I suggest that Smokelight and myself leave the barge before we reach Gradsul and enter the city by the main gates. Akhan and Sablefist can continue on in the barge until they reach the docks. We can then rendezvous at the Golden Anchor Tavern and meet our contact. That way we should draw minimum interest to ourselves."
"That sounds good to me," Smokelight agreed. "I'll pose as an old drunk. Now, where's that brandy bottle? It will make a nice prop for my role, especially if it's still partly full. Eloi, where is that bottle of brandy you had earlier?"
"And I thought we were going to walk through the main gates of Gradsul and ask all the Brotherhood members to step to the front," Kyros said sarcastically, leaning back casually.
"Har, har!" Smokelight guffawed, still looking pleadingly at the Baron. "That's how things got done in the old days, as I remember!"
Smokelight was amused by the image of a party of adventurers stalking around town, asking if anyone has seen a Scarlet Sign.
"I don't know, that dog of yours," Kyros continued, pointing to the dozing Ash. "Ah well, you can't leave him behind anyway. Maybe you could shave him or something."
Ash stirred from his light slumber, raising his head and giving Kyros awhat he would have sworn was a 'try it!' look.
Eloi laughed, saying, "Perhaps a poodle cut would be in order?"
Akhan chuckled at their suggestions. 
"Maybe you'd like to try giving him a trim Kyros?  I'm sure if I spoke nicely to him I could persuade him to give you your fingers back afterwards." 
He fished out a length of strong leather which served as a leash on the rare occasions Akhan wanted closer control of the dog.  Swinging it around, ignoring the frosty look he was getting from Ash he went on.
"But as for Ash sticking out in Gradsul, I actually think I might be able to work it to my advantage.  After all, dogs are notorious for needing a walk and what could be more natural than for his owner to stroll around the streets of the city?  Perfect excuse for hanging around corners pretending to wait for the hound to do his business."
"Splitting up is not a bad idea," Kyros commented, "if you can change out of finery, or in your case Smokelight, your 'drabbery'."
Kyros's easy tone belied the attention he paid to the names and details described by Eloi and Akhan. He knew on a mission like this his life, and the rest of theirs, depended on keeping one's eyes and ears open, and keeping as a low profile as possible.
Eloi had by now staged the horrible sight of stripping off his Baronial finery down to his unwashed underpants and thankfully put on his adventuring clothes quickly. He looked at the group.
"Right, Smokelight and myself should attract little attention. I don't think anyone would look twice at a drunk and a wretched half-orc. The problem is you two."
He pointed towards Akhan and Sablefist.
"How the feck do we get the pair of you into the city? Sablefist, can you lose your mantles and insignia which pronounce you as a  priest of Olidamarra. Akhan, at least change into something a little more drab. I am sure that the Scarlet Brotherhood agent in the city could see you coming from twenty leagues away!"
"I can take care of my own appearance," Kyros said. "I'll go put on my make-up before our date with the boys in red. I'm always dressed in my dull green and black, but I don't know what this elf is going to do. Maybe he can round down his ears a little," he said in jest. "I'll withdraw my offer to shave the dog, if that any consolation."
Kyros reached out to Ash to give him a good scratch, watching to see if the dog could understand what he was saying. He gave a grumbling whine of enjoyment and his tail thumped three times before he dozed back off.
"Maybe I can help," he added.
Pausing to check that the area was indeed private enough, as far as barges go, Kyros took out a small leather case.
"My make-up," He said simply. "How about bushy eyebrows and another scar on the other side of your face to match this one?"
Kyros whipped out a box of colours and a brush, ready to alter Akhan's appearance.
"Disguise?" He shrugged."As for myself..."
Kyros began to beam at the rest, and bowed slowly and extravagantly to them. When he raised his face again, however, it was not the face of Kyros who laughed back at them, but a toothless wrinkled face old man with squinty eyes.
"It's the hat," he whispered. "It also empowers me to count to ten backwards without thinking, and drink pints of bad ale without retching."
Kyros winked cheekily.
"Just remember never to attack anyone with a single black glove, wristband, gauntlet, whatever, on the left hand."
"I do have a few questions, while we're discussing things," Smokelight said. "This Scarlet Brother you met up with before - Shabass - what were his capabilities? And what makes you think that he's been brought back to life?
Smokelight's question about the nature of Shabass T'Lan brought a cloud over the malicious grin he had formed at the picture of Kyros trying to shave Ash.
"Queer customer that one, Smokelight.  I don't know how much Thoggin told you about him, but the last we heard, his body hadbeen stolen." 
Akhan made an indelicate noise which seemed to indicate some form of disapproval. 
"You see, the bugger managed to raise a demon and set it on the King while we were at Count Fimuth's Axewood residence.  So, it's a fair bet anyone willing to go to the lengths of stealing his corpse ain't just going to have it stuffed for an unusual piece of parlour furniture."  He sighed.  "Nope, I think we should have chopped the body up into tiny little fish food sized chunks when we had the chance.  My suspicion is that he's been resurrected by now. Eloi, maybe you should try and describe this Shabass's appearance to the rest unless you've done so already."
Akhan's face took on an even more concerned look as he considered what to say next. 
"The other thing to keep in mind is the suggestion that T'Lan may have been the agent or disciple or whatever of something a bit more unpleasant than your usual Evil suspects.  Hey, I'm no theologian - no offence, Kyros, but I never could get my head round any of those religious texts - but even I know bad news, spiritually speaking, when I see it.  We found a mummified hand on Shabass T'Lan which we believe is some holy symbol devoted to Tharizdun." 
Akhan's voice had dropped as he said this, the memory ofthat vile hand giving him the creeps despite the warm air.
"Anything else to add Eloi?  Maybe you could describe his fighting style?  I never saw him taking anyone on, but maybe you heard a description."
"Akhan has provided reasonable information regarding T'Lan," the Baron added. "As far as fighting is concerned, I do not know much of his style. It would seem he prefers others to do his dirty work, but he did carry this."
Eloi produced the baton that T'Lan had used during his final battle with Jean-Paul.
"I do not think he was much of a fighter. This is not a weapon with much style. Anyways, we have much to fear from the agents of the Scarlet Brotherhood. They are skilled in the art of the assassin and of magic."
"As to his appearance, T'Lan is of pure Sueloise origin. He has platinum blonde hair, but dresses plainly.  However, it can not be guaranteed that the Scarlet Brotherhood spy will be Sueloise. He could be of any race, colour or creed. We must be vigilant!"
He opened his arms to finish "If there are no more questions then I'd like to get some shuteye for the rest of the trip." Eloi leaned back against the rail of the barge and tipped his cap over his eyes.
"Sleep away. I intend to smoke," Smokelight said, pulling a stick from a hidden recess somewhere on his person.
Rubbing it against the barge's floor, it sparked into a flaring light, then settled down as whatever substance had ignited was spent, and the wood began to burn gently. He put the flame to his pipe, and as he puffed a pungent purplish-grey smoke began to wisp out in a thick, solid looking strand.
"Oh, and if you're going to sleep, you won't need that brandy, eh?" he added.
Eloi answered by reaching for his backpack and pulling it in to use as a pillow.

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