You find yourself in the small village of Arnheim at around the same time just as the sun creeps out of sight over the horizon. Though Morrisleb is already high in the sky waiting for its brother. Its green light casts an eery glow across the village making the houses seem much more imposing and scary than they should be. The ten or so houses that form the village are all completely still and silent though with no light coming from them. Which contrasted starkly to the local Inn which appears to be the centre of life judging from the amount of noise coming from it.

Even at this time the last of the stopped and bleak people of the village seemed to be entering it. But a few people green in the face and extremely drunk staggered out ran after by a rather large set man at their heels when they had managed to escape him they screamed obscenities at their pursuer from the darkness before apparently staggering home. The man returned inside in silence and the village quietened once more.

OOC: So starting at last Eh! I would like some fluff from Aesgareth fairly soon though.

Oh by my gods! Why after all these years i still can't stand the smell of human villages. Gavillian rode upon his horse towards the inn. He tried to make a grimace, as he arived at the inn, but it failed. The smell of beer, smoke and roasted food made him sick. But as always he kept a strait face. As he arived at the back door of the inn, still mounted on his horse, he knocked loudly on the door with his fist.
"Good man I must speek with thee! And for the love of your god hurry!"

A small but fit old man walks out his world-worn face seeming to creak as he begins to talk.

"Whats a damn Elf doing at my back door at this hour?"

The man seemed as though he had to force the word elf out of his mouth and looks at you with a face full of contempt awaiting an answer.

Thorgil Thorsson looked with an aloof glance after the drunkards who had staggered into the night. Humans could never hold their drink.

By Ranald, this was a backwater, though. His career had hit a new low if he was forced to ply his trade places like this - but he'd made Bogenhafen too hot to hold him, and hopefully the road-wardens wouldn't even think to look for him in such a benighted way-stop. He remembered the warden Krugenheim with a slight frown - the man's jokes about 'lowwaymen' had pricked the greybeard's pride.

Still, where there were people, there was money to be taken. Perhaps Arnheim would surprise him yet. Strolling towards the inn, he pushed open the door, taking a quick look about him: with any luck, he would find something here to occupy his time and fill his purse.

OOC: Aesgareth's on a railway tour of Canada - I don't think he'll be back for another week or so.

The inn is extremely bright with many lanterns set upon the wall. A few people sat at the bar slumped over with a pint of ale which they would raise occasionaly to take a sip of. The large man you saw earlier stands by the door staring with piercing eyes at all who enter.

The tables are filled with other dreary people except for one which contains a group of merchants with a variety of coloured clothing covering them. They appear to be very loud and very drunk.

The barwoman a rather plain woman with straight brown hair calls out to you "Dwarfen Travveler what will you have?".

A few people look up at you before slumping down again and one of the merchants in the corner started "Oi I knewsh dwar,dwar,dwarf onesh" the rest shouted "Aww not again" before falling silent.

OOC: Ahh well that would explain it! Thanks.

seeing the contempt of the poor man, Gavillian took out his best smile and made bow to mock the foul man.

"Well if you would excuse me... I yust need a minute or two of your most valuable time human. I was wondering if some merchants or travlers are in the village at the moment, will you be so kind to give me their names if you know them?"

"There may be, may be not you'd just have ta slip me some gold to work my memory eh!"

He chuckled as thouhgh forced and then continued.

"And don't do any of those poncy bows this is the great empire not whatever damn happy forest ya mother spawned ye from"

"Keep your foul tongue behind your rotten teeth human!" If thou ever! and i meen ever! Talk about my birth-mother that way again I'll cut of your balls and then kill your children sow you know no blood of yours will ever walk this earth..."
But instead of finishing his sentence he regained his smile and said: "Well good man if only gold can make your brain work i shull give it to thee."

ooc: I don't know how mutch i have but I'll give a coin to him.

"Well my my you've got a tongue, though this coin is plenty enough we have some merchants staying they're the ones who are loud,drunk and in fancy colours."

He turns to go inside "With that you have enough for a night here room for a horse and a meal in the morning".

His face shows that the sentence made him sound generous so he adds to the end.

"Though I only do it grudgingly Elf"

He turns and leaves almost jumping to close the door and leave you behind.

OOC: You know have ten gold coins minus the one you have given. 1GC is enough to be told information and pay for a weeks meals and for a weeks nights in the common room with your horse kept in the stables or a single nights stay with the horse kept in the stables.

1GC=20 Silver Shillings=240 Brass Pennies

ooc: I'll put my horse in the stables and go insite.
ic:

I hope I'll find work with one the merchants.

The inn is extremely bright with many lanterns set upon the wall. A few people sat at the bar slumped over with half drained pints of ale which they would raise occasionaly to take a sip of. The large man you saw earlier stands by the door staring with piercing eyes at all who enter.

"Elf"

He says to you spit rising in his mouth he follows you with his gaze as you move.

The tables are filled with other dreary people except for one the merchants you have been looking for. Three of them are in a drunken sleep lying in their own vomit. The last is rather regal wearing an intricately designed red and gold cloak over fashionable green clothing he looks bored and drums the table lightly with his fingers.

The barwoman a rather plain woman with straight brown hair calls out to you "You're the Elf Dietrich mentioned here have a glass'a wine" She pours a bottle of what appears to be called Red Love into a Wine Glass. "not often we use this not much call for it but still you Elves prefer it duntcha?" She places it on the bar in front of an empty stool before walking off.

We elves... bha! Picking up his glass and stool Gavilian makes his way towards the table of the merchant and sits down.

"Greetings. Are you planning to leave soon? And are you interested in a mercenary to protect your goods? i'm good with the bow, I have my own horse and I ask only 1 gold a week 4 if their is fighting involved. what do you say?"

The man stares at you as if he was trying to read all that he could from you with just a look.

"I am in need of protection and your rate is fair"

He stands up in front of you.

"I am here for a rare speciality item which could take a while to make a deal for so I will meet you in two days at around mid-day and I will pay after the journey is complete"

He offers his hand for you to shake.

"I'll be ready to leave here at mid-day in two days. Untill then." I shake his hand, then turned and walk towards the Barwoman.

"My lady, can I have a moment of your time? I'm staying for two days sow here 's another coin give it to Dietrich will you?" he paused to look back at the drunks. "Ah yes and can you show me where my room these drunks are horrible!"

"Wow you elves must be rich throwing money around like that, but i'm not complainin"

She reaches her hand out to point to a set of stairs in a room behind the bar.

"Its just upstairs first door on the right. "

She begins to go about her buisness to the few people left here. The majority of people have already left and a few have taken to lying down on tables for their nights sleep. The drunk merchants seem to still be asleep and the man you just talked too seems to be moving towards the door.

"Merchant! what's your name?! Mine is Gavillian!" gavillian speeks loud enough for the man to hear. and waits for an answer and then leaves.

ooc:I'll now wait with posting to give the rest the chance to do stuff ok ^_^ :D

"Jonas Klein" The merchant said as he walked out the door.

OOC: yes.

I would like a post from LordChilipepa and Vriishnak within a week please.

Thanks.

"An ale, girl. Look sharp about it." Thorgil looked around, his eyes moving with a practiced ease around the common hall: they settled on the merchants in the corner, if merchants they were - their clothes and manner at least marked them out as richer than the other inhabitants of this hole.

He strolled unobtrusively across towards them, noting a small table that was vacant alongside theirs - pulling out a chair, he heaved himself up into it, turning his head to listen to their conversation. He barely noticed as the barmaid brought him his ale, subconsciously straightening his long, white beard with one hand as he tamped down his pipe with another...

OOC: Sorry. I was sort of waiting for Vriishnak... but why, I don't know. My brain falls apart more with each coming week :D

The merchants appear to be talking of fighting an orc of considerable size. One of them jumps up and punches the air "WHAM" he shouts "and he wash down". "Oh that never happened" the others cried. The man had fallen and was in no state to answer. The others stubled to pick him up.

One merchant sits apart from the rest he sighs quietly as he reads a small paper from your posistion it appears to be a diary.

He has a regal posture and he appears tired though his eyes appear sharp though his body doesn't. His eyes suddenly turn to you "Is their any reason you need to watch us?"

The words seem to be firm yet kind and he patiently awaits an answer.

OOC: No problem.

For timing LordChilipepa your characters events happen first then LordKjarls then Vriishank and Aesgareth.

Thorgil looked straight back into the man's eyes, lighting his pipe as he did so.

"Not really," he said, in a casual, friendly tone. "A dwarf's allowed to look at people, isn't he? You're a sight more interesting than anyone else in this place." The old prospector's face split in a broad, toothy grin.

"I hope I haven't offended you, mein herr - let me get you a drink."

"I will say we are the most interesting people here"

He gets up to sit down next to you.

"I thank you for the offer but I do not have the constitution of a dwarf so I shall have to decline your offer, lest I become similar to my friends"

He looks puzzled as over what to say next and then he almost beams as it comes tio him as though he was an inventor with a great idea.

"I think I will sit with you for a while" he then looks condescendingly at his friends "You at least will make better conversation".

He lets out a hearty laugh then falls silent.

Thorgil gave a slight smile, leaning back on his seat as he took a puff from his pipe - the practised veneer of gruff respectability already slipping seamlessly into place.

"So what brings you here, then?"

"I'm here for a rare item of which I cannot give much detail but i'm promised large amounts of money for it in altdorf"

He adjusts himself on his seat.

"My friends are here for the journey why they came i'll never know their comfy rooms in altdorf seemed to suit them fine"

He stops in thought again before starting up again.

"Dwarf could i trust you to help me to guard this item i'm sure it can be arranged for a very reasonable price!"

"Give me two days and i'll come back and arrange prices with you becuase i'll have it by then"

"Oh and i'm Jonas"

Removing the stem of the pipe from between his teeth, Thorgil looked up at this 'Jonas'. He was clearly considering it.

"Altdorf, you say. Do you have horses? A coach?"

"Yes I have a coach with room enough for at least four it has room for the item in the back where it will be well secured"

"Horses only for my friends" He checks up on them they are still merrily drinking and trying to flirt with the barmaid who merely ignores them. "You would ride in the coach with me to protect the item"

"What kind of an 'item', then? Or is it a matter to be kept quiet, eh?" Though still friendly and half-amused, the dwarf had shifted into a lower, conspiratorial tone - he had done enough musket-running and smuggling in his day to become acquainted with the necessity of secrecy.

"I am afraid I cannot reveal this item to you but i will give you that it is of profound religious significance" he states in a whisper that you can barely hear.

"I hope the fact I do not reveal it to you is of no concern?" He says suddenly returning to the normal sound level of his speech.

Thorgil looked doubtful.

"I like to know what I'm doing, when I'm doing it. It is, really."

He took a deep pull on his pipe, and then looked back at this fancily-dressed human.

"Sigmarite?"

Jonas says nothing but crosses his index and second finger in the sign of ranald.

Thorgil tilted his shoulders in a sort of careless shrug. "Why the big fuss, then? I didn't think his people went in for all the high-and-mighty secrecy."

"I'm sure He would prefer me to get this item to him and his people safely Dwarf" he speaks much less softly with this sentence before quickly reverting back to his normal voice for the next.

He calls across to the barmaid "Tell Dietrich Jonas wishes that this Dwarf be granted a room for a few nights"

The woman hurries quickly off apparently to fufill his wishes.

"I hope you don't mind me paying for your stay do you?" He stops then starts again. "Can I have your name please? I appear to have forgotten to ask."

"Thorsson. Thorgil Thorsson, at your service and your clan's." The old dwarven greetings worked wonders on receptive human minds. "And I take it very kindly of you, Herr Jonas."

He shifted his pipe from one corner of his mouth to the other, and went on.

"You want guards for your... cargo... so I hope you don't mind if I ask why. You expecting trouble on the road?"

"Yes I always expect trouble on the road better to expect what does not happen than not expect what does!"

First an elf, now a dwarf. For a dingy inn in the middle of nowhere, this place sure had some interesting clientele. To Wilhelm, this could only be a sign of one thing; that this was exactly the sort of place he had been looking for. The sort of place, to be exact, where mercenaries, or as they sometimes called themselves, "adventurers," were hired from. It was surprising, though, to find such a place way out here, in the middle of nowhere. The only reason he had even decided to stop in this backwater thorp was because, after a few days of hard travelling, he had wanted something more... refreshing... than water to drink. But it appeared that this place could very well be of far more use to him.
He kept his silence for now, carefully rationing his swigs of ale as he watched the man and dwarf converse. There could be no doubt, from their hushed tones and careful glances at their surroundings that they were discussing buisness, and not of the legal type. Whatever it was, he decided, it was probably just the sort of thing that he would want in on.

Aesgareth:

The barmaid snaps you from your obsevation "Do you plan to drink anythin or you gonna sit their all evenin?"

OOC: Well um more creative timing. Wilhelm has entered the Drinking House first followed by Thorgil then Gavillian then finally Konrad. The reference to elf in your last post I will just ignore so I can get this to work O.K.

"Well, Herr Jonas: to tell you the truth, I can't think of anything better to do." Thorgil grinned, and extended one stubby-fingered hand. "I accept."

For the most part his joviality was affected: this wasn't his kind of work. But to shake off those on his tail, he couldn't think of a better hide than the Empire's seething capital, and here was this man offering a fast passage, and paying him for it. Thorgil was no fool.

Lord Chilipepa:

"Thankyou" Jonas shakes your hand then returns to his friends and begins to read his piece of parchment just as before.