The Blind Kraken Inn was for many the first port of call from the south wharf of Waterdeep's dock district. It was a haven for the less reputable of the cities travellers. A place where city guards seldom came and deals were made and broken.
The establishment bustled with all manner of folk. Tables set about the floor seated drinkers and gamblers. Draped off the upstairs balcony were men and woman of all races coaxing the patrons below with offers of companionship for a modest fee. A small area around a fireplace was kept clear for the Kraken's entertainers. Two played here this night. A sombre melody of bagpipes and Lute strings kept those close by swaying and singing. Cheers of "Grubar!" And "Linny!" erupted from the merriment.
Amongst it all, a young woman, service tray in hand, deftly skipped about the tables collecting empty tankards all while avoiding the occasional slap on the arse or attempted grope. With a smile and a wink she kept them cheering and laughing as she navigated the a course back to the bar.
"Ye having fun, Daisy?" Came the gruff voice of Benrik the Inn keep. An older, more grizzled version of the patrons that now drank his ale, gambled at his tables and spent coin on his whores. He wore a decent scar across his right cheek to his lip that he earned as a whelp in a bar not unlike the one he now ran. Part of his large handlebar moustache was now divided by it.
"Sure, Boss," she chimed back as she unloaded the empty cups from her tray. "Just another night in Paradise!"
"Just be sure you keep moving out there," boomed the voice of a younger man from across the bar. Daisy shot him a wry smile as she moved across to his position at the opposite end of the bar.
"Oh don't worry, Lucias, I'll only stop if the tips good." Smirking as she danced away with two full tankards of spiced mead.
The establishment bustled with all manner of folk. Tables set about the floor seated drinkers and gamblers. Draped off the upstairs balcony were men and woman of all races coaxing the patrons below with offers of companionship for a modest fee. A small area around a fireplace was kept clear for the Kraken's entertainers. Two played here this night. A sombre melody of bagpipes and Lute strings kept those close by swaying and singing. Cheers of "Grubar!" And "Linny!" erupted from the merriment.
Amongst it all, a young woman, service tray in hand, deftly skipped about the tables collecting empty tankards all while avoiding the occasional slap on the arse or attempted grope. With a smile and a wink she kept them cheering and laughing as she navigated the a course back to the bar.
"Ye having fun, Daisy?" Came the gruff voice of Benrik the Inn keep. An older, more grizzled version of the patrons that now drank his ale, gambled at his tables and spent coin on his whores. He wore a decent scar across his right cheek to his lip that he earned as a whelp in a bar not unlike the one he now ran. Part of his large handlebar moustache was now divided by it.
"Sure, Boss," she chimed back as she unloaded the empty cups from her tray. "Just another night in Paradise!"
"Just be sure you keep moving out there," boomed the voice of a younger man from across the bar. Daisy shot him a wry smile as she moved across to his position at the opposite end of the bar.
"Oh don't worry, Lucias, I'll only stop if the tips good." Smirking as she danced away with two full tankards of spiced mead.
Lucias Halt, the taverns lead bouncer, stern and sturdy. Billy club hanging from his belt and Daisy's Lover for just over a year now.
It was Lucias that had found her walking aimlessly in the nearby market area, sobbing and making very little sense. Something about an employment venture that had fallen through.
He took her back to Benrik after much coaxing and assurances that he wasn't trying to rob her.
She was smart enough to insist that a town guard escort them back to the Kraken, just to be sure.
All that initial mistrust and fear turned about as time went on.
It was Lucias that had found her walking aimlessly in the nearby market area, sobbing and making very little sense. Something about an employment venture that had fallen through.
He took her back to Benrik after much coaxing and assurances that he wasn't trying to rob her.
She was smart enough to insist that a town guard escort them back to the Kraken, just to be sure.
All that initial mistrust and fear turned about as time went on.
Daisy arrived at a table consisting of three men. 'Some kind of uniform,' she thought as they all sported a crimson sash across their chest. A fourth figure sat opposite the men. A dwarf, but the smell of the sea permeated from him so strongly that she would have believed that it was some kind of bearded sea creature that walked out of the bay instead of off a ship.
A game of bones was currently underway. The dwarf against the human seated in the middle of his cohorts.
A game of bones was currently underway. The dwarf against the human seated in the middle of his cohorts.
Judging from the pile of coins on the dwarfs side of the table, the game wasn't going so well for his opponent.
"Boys," she interjected between moves, "two cups o' mead, as ordered."
The dwarfs hand went up and snatched one tankards before it even left her tray and began quaffing it's contents, keeping one eye on his opponents.
Daisy watched the spectacle play out as he replaced the mug on the tray in record time and proceeded to down the next.
The second cup was drained and handed back to the stunned Maid. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and took a few copper from his pile and slapped them down on the edge of the table in front of Daisy.
She offered a small curtsey and nimbly scooped up the coins.
She turned away and took a few steps back from the table spreading the money in the palm of her hand to check for any fake currency as Benrik had taught her.
There was more than enough for the drinks, but there was one smaller coin, it looked more like iron than copper.
She held the palm of her hand closer to her face. Depicted on its surface was a hand holding what looked like another coin.
"Mi lord," she said spinning about not taking her eye from the iron coin.
"I think you-" the dwarf interrupted her and she looked up from her palm . "Lass, the names Greyson and that's A gift. From me to you." he gave her a quick wink, " you keep that on you for good luck." As he turned back to his game. A quick smile, another small curtsey and she was off, collecting cups from other tables.
"Keeping out of trouble, boys?" she asked the two other bouncers at the front of the tavern. They replied back with their usual playful retorts.
Then from behind her clear as day, she heard the word that was responsible for starting more bar fights than she'd had hot dinners.
"Cheat!" Accused Greyson's losing opponent as he slammed his fist down on the table, sending game pieces in all directions.
"Ye call me that again, boy, and you and yer little friends here, will be sittin' down to piss fer the rest o' yer lives." He threatened . "Now take yer ugly faces out of here, like the losers ye are so I can count yer money."
"How's about we just take back what's-"
Lucius' hand slapped down on the angered man's shoulder as Daisy watched by the entrance as the other bouncers quickly moved in to stand behind the Dwarf. She'd be out the door in a flash and up to the guardhouse a few streets from here to alert the city watch.
"If you have a dispute, take it up with the Magistrates in the morning." Warned Lucius who had his small club readied in his other hand. "There will be no trouble here tonight."
"All right boys," said the leader of the trio as he raised his arms and stood slowly, turning to face Lucius as he did. Two dozen more men and women stood up as Lucius realised they all wore some kind of red sash, belt or bandana!
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| Greyson |
The dwarfs hand went up and snatched one tankards before it even left her tray and began quaffing it's contents, keeping one eye on his opponents.
Daisy watched the spectacle play out as he replaced the mug on the tray in record time and proceeded to down the next.
The second cup was drained and handed back to the stunned Maid. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and took a few copper from his pile and slapped them down on the edge of the table in front of Daisy.
She offered a small curtsey and nimbly scooped up the coins.
She turned away and took a few steps back from the table spreading the money in the palm of her hand to check for any fake currency as Benrik had taught her.
There was more than enough for the drinks, but there was one smaller coin, it looked more like iron than copper.
She held the palm of her hand closer to her face. Depicted on its surface was a hand holding what looked like another coin.
"Mi lord," she said spinning about not taking her eye from the iron coin.
"I think you-" the dwarf interrupted her and she looked up from her palm . "Lass, the names Greyson and that's A gift. From me to you." he gave her a quick wink, " you keep that on you for good luck." As he turned back to his game. A quick smile, another small curtsey and she was off, collecting cups from other tables.
"Keeping out of trouble, boys?" she asked the two other bouncers at the front of the tavern. They replied back with their usual playful retorts.
Then from behind her clear as day, she heard the word that was responsible for starting more bar fights than she'd had hot dinners.
"Cheat!" Accused Greyson's losing opponent as he slammed his fist down on the table, sending game pieces in all directions.
"Ye call me that again, boy, and you and yer little friends here, will be sittin' down to piss fer the rest o' yer lives." He threatened . "Now take yer ugly faces out of here, like the losers ye are so I can count yer money."
"How's about we just take back what's-"
Lucius' hand slapped down on the angered man's shoulder as Daisy watched by the entrance as the other bouncers quickly moved in to stand behind the Dwarf. She'd be out the door in a flash and up to the guardhouse a few streets from here to alert the city watch.
"If you have a dispute, take it up with the Magistrates in the morning." Warned Lucius who had his small club readied in his other hand. "There will be no trouble here tonight."
"All right boys," said the leader of the trio as he raised his arms and stood slowly, turning to face Lucius as he did. Two dozen more men and women stood up as Lucius realised they all wore some kind of red sash, belt or bandana!
The distraction created by the other sashes was all that was needed for a hidden blade to be stuck repeatedly and brutally into Lucias. In the blink of an eye and a scream of grief, the inn erupted into a brawl as loyal drinkers and bouncers tuned against anyone wearing a red sash.
With a great bellow Greyson pushed the table into his three aggressors, freeing Lucius from the grip of his attacker.
The precious seconds bought he spent immediately on Lucius.
Hands spread over the young boy bleeding out he muttered a few quick illegible words as a glow covered Lucius.
The blood visually slowed its flow from his body as a dagger struck the back of his concealed breast plate.
Greyson turned with the blow. And caught the young woman by the wrist, resisting the urge to set her alight with a thought, settling instead for a head-butt that spread her nose across her face. He flung her back sending her smashing through a turned over chair where she remained motionless.
"Hold on lad," Greyson said surveying the carnage unfolding. "Wasn't meant to happen this way." Lucias looked up as the pain took his consciousness. He heard the Dwarfs words before the blackness took the pain away.
The fighting closest to the bards intensified as knives, bottles and chair legs were brought to bear.
Gruber, with on leg up on the footstool channelled his innate powers into his pipes and let forth a macabre dirge that effected all those in the immediate area. Most of the weapons from enemy and ally alike were dropped to the floor as those within his immediate vicinity succumbed to a terrible vertigo-like sensation. Gruber noticed a few of the brigands in sashes were able to shake off the musical assault. "Stubborn bastards!" He snorted.
Linny, rapier at the ready and lute strapped to her back leapt from table to table, slashing fingers and piercing joints, disarming those who hadn't been stricken by Gruber's music.
The precious seconds bought he spent immediately on Lucius.
Hands spread over the young boy bleeding out he muttered a few quick illegible words as a glow covered Lucius.
The blood visually slowed its flow from his body as a dagger struck the back of his concealed breast plate.
Greyson turned with the blow. And caught the young woman by the wrist, resisting the urge to set her alight with a thought, settling instead for a head-butt that spread her nose across her face. He flung her back sending her smashing through a turned over chair where she remained motionless.
"Hold on lad," Greyson said surveying the carnage unfolding. "Wasn't meant to happen this way." Lucias looked up as the pain took his consciousness. He heard the Dwarfs words before the blackness took the pain away.
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| Grubar |
Gruber, with on leg up on the footstool channelled his innate powers into his pipes and let forth a macabre dirge that effected all those in the immediate area. Most of the weapons from enemy and ally alike were dropped to the floor as those within his immediate vicinity succumbed to a terrible vertigo-like sensation. Gruber noticed a few of the brigands in sashes were able to shake off the musical assault. "Stubborn bastards!" He snorted.
Linny, rapier at the ready and lute strapped to her back leapt from table to table, slashing fingers and piercing joints, disarming those who hadn't been stricken by Gruber's music.
A young man through gritted teeth growled as he managed to get a swing of a table leg off at the Forest Gnome. Smiling the whole time, Linny jumped and spun straight up and over the swing, landing with her rapier back in it's sheath and her trusty lute in hand with a chord held at the ready. Her other tiny hand raised in the air holding a silver plectrum. Her little legs in a widened in stance as she brought the plectrum down and as the lute sang so did she, unleashing a high pitched shriek so magically charged that held him in place for several seconds!.
As he collapsed she spun back to Gruber, a massive smile on her face. "Ha!" She laughed as she leapt back to the stage where Gruber surveyed her work from. "Now that was a showstopper!"
As he collapsed she spun back to Gruber, a massive smile on her face. "Ha!" She laughed as she leapt back to the stage where Gruber surveyed her work from. "Now that was a showstopper!"
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| Linny |
Gruber nonchalantly pulled a piece of squashed bread out of each ear after a few moments. "Oh I'm sorry Linny, I didn't see you take down that one whelp," as he pointed and muttered at the pile of helpless brawlers. "eleven, twelve, thirteen." He sighed and patted his bagpipes. "I was too busy counting." he gloated.
"Humph!" She retorted crossing her arms and frowning. " I'm surprised you could get past five without using your fingers!" Her childish features always made Gruber smile. She had real talent. Although he'd never admit it out loud.
"When he two are finished measuring cocks!" Roared Greyson, a ruffian locked under each armpit
"Ooh! We're coming, Greyson! Linny cried out cheerfully waving her arm, signalling despite being only several meters away. She leapt into the fray as Grubar waded through the incapacitated crowd, mumbling half assed apologies whenever he accidentally trod on a hand.
Daisy hadn't seen much of the brawl play out, she had burst through the Krakens double doors into an empty street in search of anyone that could alert the guards.
Her eyes welled and her heart felt as if it had split, body shaking with each uncontrollable sob. The streets were barren.
"Help!" she finally screamed in desperation, "Help us!"
"Oh I don't think there'll be any help for you, lass." Hissed a voice from behind her. She spun about with a gasp as the same man who had attacked her dear Lucias was stalking towards her. A bloodied female carrying two curved knives beside him. Terror rolled over her like a wave and thankfully her flight instinct took control. She turned and sped away as fast as her legs would carry her towards the darkness of the nearby alleyways.
