Hawks Humiliation

This weeks blog is written by the person who plays the Shifter character 'Hawk'. Many thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed account :)

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As the sun rises across the mountains, the heroes gather with the refugees that they helped to rescue from the doomed city of Vathirond. The companions look out at the city approaching, looking for landmarks and buildings of note. Casting a glance to his right, Hawk gives a toothy grin to see a raptor – some way off – hovering on a line with his head.

While not being aware of any movement, the Mighty Argonth begins a slow descent. Suddenly there is a flurry of activity all around as with well practiced maneuvers, the efficient guard of Argonth roll the ramps out so as they come to rest at the very instant that the Argonth finally comes to rest - some 500 yards from the city walls of Starilaskur.

As the companions leave the ramp, Vaelen turns to the group and directing his question towards the companions and the refugees are ushered down the ramps and towards the city gates. Dirk mentions that the best place for his staff to get lodgings would be the Horn Blowers Inn – it is down a back alley off one of the main roads, but has an excellent reputation.

The city guards have obviously been forewarned by the Flight Commander as they are questioning each and every refugee as to what skills they have and what they can offer. Seeing this ahead Avalon questions whether they should seek another gate in order to avoid the wait (with what he obviously considers to be his inferiors). Scanning the city walls, Vaelen announces that the nearest gate would appear to be some three quarters of a mile.

Hawk announces, in a low growl, that he will sleep outside, as he doesn’t want to be caught in a city full of zombies again. Dua – once again adopting the conciliatory tone, which he worries will be the only tone he can speak in while with this group – points out that zombies are highly unlikely and that the time it would take to travel that distance would be more than they would have to wait. However, he is quick to point out as Avalon has D-Ablow scratch the ground, we may find that we are posed less questions at another gate.

Vaelen announces that he will wait as at least traveling through this gate; they will be greeted as heroes. Avalon swallows his anger at being forced to wait, a Kaizer no less, and sees the wisdom of Vaelens words. Hawk still unsure decides that if Vaelen is willing to enter this city, then he shall too. With a grateful sigh, Dua looks up to see that the question as to whether to travel to another gate has since become mute, as they are next in line.

Dirk strides forward to the guard announcing the group as his bodyguards. Vaelen is almost sure that he sees money change hands between Dirk and the guard.

As the companions file through, the guards make a quick inspection of their weapons, naturally when they come to Avalon this takes somewhat longer as his varied arsenal clatters noisily to the floor. Dua gets directions from one of the guards for the Horn Blower and, after waiting for Avalon to collect his many things, leads on.

Hawk stares up at the buildings towering above him towards the centre, but all around there are tall buildings, Dua wanders quite happily staring at the architecture, noting to his delight, a certain Galifarn style to the towers. The scents of the local dishes make Avalons stomach grumble, and the group hurry to their destination anxious to get a hearty meal inside them.

As they step down a back alley they are greeted by a wooden painted sign showing a golden horn. Further along they can see the double doors of the stable. As they walk in, Avalon stays at the door and enquires of the wizened landlady if he can stable D-Ablow. Not batting an eyelid, she bids him stable it away from the horses so as not to spook them.

Vaelen pays for rooms for the whole group while Hawk and the quickly returned Avalon rapidly turn their thoughts to food.

As the group sits down the landlady bustles around them bringing drinks, the few locals in at this early hour pay no heed to the group. The talk soon turns to discussion of their employer, and his trustworthiness. Vaelen, ever alert to subtleties, bids people to keep their voices down, as this place was recommended by Dirk and they may well know him.

Vaelen is quick to point out that the hunting down of these bandits seems most out of character for the money obsessed Dirk. Dua reasons that if these bandits have been robbing people then it is possible that Dirk intends to ‘rescue’ that bounty, Janin goes further to speculate that there may even be a particular item – maybe magical, adds Vaelen - that Dirk may be interested in. Regardless, the consensus of the group is that Dirk is out for Dirk and getting richer.

As the discussion comes to an end Amelie, the landlady returns with food, a local delicacy of beef with stuffed mushrooms. Avalon asks what one can do for entertainment here, and with a twinkle in her eye Amelie recommends the local brothel – lusty Gals - very reputable. Vaelen hides his disdain at the existence of such a place, while Avalon is already privately planning a visit.

Dua produces the potions that he has been collecting and studying and begins detailing his findings. As the group decides on the best use of the potions, Vaelen suggests that they ought to concentrate on how to gather information about the bandits.

“No” Shouts Avalon, “Before this goes any further, I will have an end to the sniping and bickering between these two” and with that he points at Hawk and Janin. Hawk snarls as Janin offering a disarming smile, which Hawk sees as a sneer. Not paying heed to his food he leaps to his feet.

“He has no honor!” with a roar he strides out of the door, slamming it shut.

“My friend, your words were well meant but very clumsy” Vaelen eventually says into the stunned silence.

“It needed to be said” the stubborn Kaiser snapped back, “I was not going to go into battle not knowing if the battle is in front or behind”.

“Yes, but the way you said it was all wrong. To do so in front of everyone, what did you expect?” Refusing to be humbled, Avalon protests that it needed to be said while going back to his food.

Vaelen, turning his gaze to Janin asks, “Do you know why he would hate you so much”.

“Well” smiles Janin, “You have seen what he is, nothing but a beast. Oh yes, there was the treatise that separated them from lycanthropes, but they are still diseased. One step removed from lycanthropes is all they are and all lycanthropes are to be destroyed!”

Dua steps in “Well, I must say that all this arguing does make me feel rather uncomfortable. I think that Avalon did the right thing” with a nod to Vaelen “though it could maybe have been delivered more tactfully, perhaps”.

Hawk fighting from letting the shift take over, finally gets control and sees that he is in the stables. He sees the saddlebags still on D-Ablow and scans the stable floor. He sees a tattered strip of leather and scratches out the words, “He is Silver Flame. Silver Flame killed my family, my village. Tried to eradicate my race. He is without honor”.

Patting D-Ablow, Hawk puts the strip of leather into the saddlebag and walks out.

Hawk considers his options, and seeing little choice, heads out looking for House Deneith, if there are men like the Sentinel Marshall among them, then it would be a worthy place to join.

When he arrives at the House, he immediately asks about the sentinels and how to become one. He also asks about bandits around the city and gets nothing from either. Disappointed Hawk wanders the City looking for lodgings.

The group continues their meal with Vaelen, Dua and Avalon discussing where to look for Hawk, while Janin questions the logic of having such a volatile member of the group. Dua reluctantly concedes that Janin may have a point, hastily quoting Avalon and his comments about the fighting in front and behind.

Janin, having finished his meal stands, bids the companions good searching and heads out. Once out on the street he strides off, seeking a House Sivis enclave, intent on sending a message.

Dua and Vaelen also finish their food and head out, leaving Avalon to order another drink. While Amelie bustles around the table clearing the plates away, Avalon wanders down to the bar. One of the locals, asks him about D-Ablow and forgetting all idea of searching for Hawk – for the moment – Avalon soon finds out that the man used to work as an animal handler for House Vadalis. Avalon questions the man further looking for any way that he could further improve his mount and companion, D-Ablow. Avalon bids Amelie hold the second helping and heads first to check on D-Ablow and then out into the city.

As he tends to D-Ablow, acting under a sudden instinct, he checks the saddlebags. Stuffed into the top of one, he notices the scrap of leather that Hawk had left. He reads the note scratched into the leather and sighs to himself, understanding now why Hawk shows such enmity toward Janin. He quickly scribbles down a reply hoping that Hawk may return to read it.

Dua reasons that if anyone is likely to know about bandits, then it would be the guards, heads out looking for a guardhouse. It is not very far that Dua has to wander, before he sees some guards outside a guardhouse. He draws a few curious looks, but is relived to see that amongst the guards is a hobgoblin. Putting on his friendliest smile, Dua walks up to the hobgoblin, asks about the city, while subtly working his way round to asking about bandit activity. Ugly Gus, as the guard introduces himself as, tells Dua of tales about some bandits 50-100 miles south east of town, near their shared homeland – Darguun - not on a major trade route, but probably a bounty on them if you ask the right person, he adds.

Dua amazed at how simple things can be if you just think about them takes a walk around the city marveling at the sights. On the lookout for Hawk Dua makes his way to the park and on his way spies a street vendor selling something called the Korranberg Chronicle, a local newspaper. Intrigued at the publication, and hoping that there may be news of the bandits, Dua hands over his silver and tucks it away, deciding to read it over the evening meal.

Vaelen wanders the streets looking for Hawk, his path leads him to the market district and while there he looks in on a blacksmiths in order to sell a few items and inspect the skill of the smith.

As evening descends, each of the party wends their way back to the Horn Blowers Inn, all except Hawk. Janin, eagerly heads back to the Horn Blowers, looking forward to the new day and the hope of a response to his urgent message. He had no idea that it was possible to collect messages from such enclaves, and the news fills his mind with possibilities.

There is somewhat more of a crowd in at this time, though the table they took their morning meal at is still free. Vaelen calls over to Amelie asking if she would be so kind as provide an evening meal and they take their seats around the table.

Once again, the conversation turns to their financially motivated employer but the arrival of Dirk prematurely curtails their discussion. As Dirk approaches the table, Dua feigning innocence asks who he works for. Dirks response, is as evasive as the group had expected, though he quickly deflects the questions by suggesting that capturing bandits is working for Breland and helping the people.

Casting his eye around the group, Dirk asks where the muscle is. Avalon stands, his chin coming level with the table takes the title. Dirk grins at the Halfling and elaborates that he means the Shifter, Hawk.

The group looks guiltily at each other and Vaelen speaks up, saying that Hawk had left and it is unclear if he wishes to return. Dirk slams a hand down to the table, “I’m paying you all, so you’d better make sure that you find him. I’m not paying you anything if the muscle isn’t with you”. With finality to his order, Dirk announces that he is off for a bath, and heads outside.

Avalon ventures that he knows why Hawk left and states confidently that he will return. When the companions question him, he refuses to reveal what he knows stating that if Hawk sees fit, he will tell them himself. With that, Avalon announces that he’ll go out into the night and see if he can find Hawk, and he heads out to the stables and D-Ablow.

As Amelie brings the food to the remaining companions, Hawk having had no luck in finding a bed for the night, with the influx of the refugees and a large number of off-duty soldiers from Argonth, finds himself outside the last possible room for the night – the Lusty Gal.

Swallowing some of his pride, but refusing the bed that is already paid for and just some few hundred yards further up the road, Hawk enters through the garishly painted door. He finds himself in a small anteroom with luxurious silks adorning the walls, with a stunningly beautiful Human female in front of him curiously though Hawk cannot seem to fix her features in his mind. Hawk asks on the price for just a room for the night and as the madam begins to reply, the door opens again behind Hawk.

He hears a familiar dwarven voice announce his entrance. As Hawk steps to one side Dirk begins asking about Rosie and the twins whereabouts, before he notices who else is in the anteroom. Blushing badly, Dirk swallows and turns to Hawk.

“I’ll expect to see you at breakfast at the Horn Blowers, I’ve paid you to do a job so you better keep your end and you gave your word on Argonth that you would hunt down these bandits”

As Hawk stumbles over a response and the sting to his honor, Dirk wanders through the curtained exit. Instead Hawk turns his attention back to the madam and continues haggling for a bed for the night, she succumbs to pity and suggests that if he is prepared to act as a bouncer, if necessary, then he can have a cot under the stairs for the night. As the madam is making her offer and Hawk gratefully accepts, Dirk reenters the anteroom with a satisfied grin on his face.

"Still haggling? Good lad!" Dirk greets Hawk.

“Once this is done, I am free of your employ” Hawk states with a growl to Dirk.

“I’ll be seeing you at breakfast then lad” Dirk smirks as he leaves, his whole visit being less than five minutes.

A few minutes later Dirk enters the common room of the Horn Blowers Inn and informs Janin, Dua and Vaelas that Hawk will be here in morning. He then bids them a good evening and heads up the stairs for a real bath then bed.

Outside in the city night, Avalon rides around on D-ablow, trying to think where the fiery shifter would choose to go. His travels take him to various places in the city, but with no clear idea as to where to even begin looking for Hawk, Avalon finally gives up and heads to the Brothel.

As he enters the brothel Avalon spies the madam and immediately asks whether there are any Halflings in the establishment. After some haggling he finally settles on two Halfling twins - one blonde, one brunette – for twenty gold an hour.

Smiling to himself Avalon enters through the silken curtains having handed over his twenty gold. Sometime later, Avalon reemerges into the anteroom, finally satisfied. The Madam stands in front of him, barring his exit.

“That will be another 20 gold, Sir Halfling, you only paid for the one hour!”

“My apologies” smiles Avalon “I guess I got carried away” and with a grin on his face, hands over the extra gold.

Making his way back to the Horn Blowers, Avalon finds that Janin and Dua are still up, discussing a possible plan. Avalon bids them good night, and having seen that Avalon has safely returned, Avalon and Dua soon follow.

Hawk rises early, throwing off the sackcloth that served as his bedding for the night. He growls to himself as he considers the way that Dirk has trapped him into walking alongside the Silver Flame follower and gathers his belongings heading to the Horn Blower. As he approaches the door, once again he thinks of the dishonor that he has in traveling with a Silver Flamer and instead heads for the stables hoping to perhaps speak with Vaelas or Avalon first.

Hawk takes up a seat on a low wall across from the stable entrance and watches as Avalon comes down to tend D-Ablow. Lacking the spirit to care much for hiding, Avalon easily spots Hawk, retrieves something from D-Ablow’s saddlebags and walks across to him.

Saying nothing, Avalon merely nods a greeting and hands over the scrap of leather that Hawk had scratched a message on yesterday. Staring down at the leather, Hawk sees that there are scrawled in chalk the words.

“And if you mark him to be the same as those that killed your village, are you no better in your prejudice than that which you accuse him of?”

Hawk nods to himself, ‘this little Kaiser has wisdom beyond his size’ he considers.
Giving a toothy grin he follows Avalon into the Horn Blowers.

Hawk and Janin exchange a meaningful stare as Hawk sits down at the table, Vaelen quickly orders breakfasts for all. They quickly pool the information that they managed to get, which mainly amounts to what Dua had obtained from the Hobgoblin Guard Ugly Gus.

They also begin to discuss what resources they have between them, such as torches and the like, Dirk finally comes downstairs in the midst of this talk and says that he is buying some wagons and will sort some food out too. He also says that he needs to find out more about bandits and states again that the plan is to take them alive. Hawk suggests that they set off immediately as the closer that they get then the more that we would be able to find out, Dirk agrees but reminds the group that he still needs another day before he can get hold of the wagons.