Sunrise: 0245Sunset: 2110
- 1191 Count Illirium II of County of Sunndi born
Nachod and the Vainishing Company [25 Apr 1211]
Near the end of the 25th, the village of Nachod becomes visible to the Company. The village itself isn’t that large—maybe twenty or so building. It itself is surrounded by a twenty-feet deepit with a single bridge going over the pit. A large wooden gate closes the bridge at night. At this time of day, the gate is opened and a single guard is leaning across.
Tar will send Yalinari and Vanith into town first to scope out things. Yalinari suggests they use Vanith to lure the merchant out to somplace they can grab him, but Tar tells him that first they should find out the lay of the land.
The pair approach the gate and find a bored guard leaning against the post. The town is very small—about twenty buildings. The center is dominated by a large square building, perhaps 10feet across. The town, for the most part, sits off the road like a driveway. Inside the moat perimeter, there are only two streetsone which goes frothe gate to the temple (and circling it) and a cross street about 10feet frothe gate. The rest of the area is simple ground. They head into town and look for anything that looks like it might be an inn, but find none. Heading into town, they pass a few houses, a blacksmith, and a cooper before the first crossroads. Before them to the right lies a lumbermill and down the right crossstreet is a large mansion. Before them to the left is a tanner and more houses. The left cross street houses the Drunken Goat Tavern that Majod menioned and the street ends in another large mansion.
Yalinari suggests to Vanith that they head to the Drunken Goat and ask about. The goat is a small place only able to hold about ten people. One table of four is set out and there is a small bar that handle about six people. It’s just before the supper hour and there are only two people in the bar, other than the owner, Georges. He has the look of a rugged man about him and Yalinari is about to ask him about his story, but one look at the man’s arm stops him. His left arm only extends about 5 inches before it ends. Georges sees him looking and answers the unanswered question:
Loggin’s messy bus’ness it is. I was at watching tree cut, when another fell, Landing here on my arm. (he points to the missing arm about at the elbow). Lying on the ground for hours I was until tree being moved by the others. By time log moved, saving my arm was out of question. Having no way to live, Zakria feels sorry for me. Builds me grand tavern to run. Keeps what little I make, I make living though.
Yalinari:
Zakria owns the lumbermill then?
Georges:
Yes, having owned half of it. Brother, Anoush he other half. Fourty-four years ago, father, Haig, starts lumbermill. Very successful. Sells wood to many people.
Yalinari:
So who does he sell to, I don’t see a lot of people aroud that would buy lumber?
Georgres:
Selling directly to people, he does not. Only Anoush and Zakria have money to be buying lumber. No, Lumber is being bought through Rakim, merchant of trade routes. His house is at end of lane.
Yalinari whistles and opines that someone who owns a house that big must be a powerful man in the village. Georges responds that he is, but so far he has decided not to run for mayor.
Yalinari:
Any idea why? Mayor! Wow. That would be anyone’s dream, wouldn’t it.
Georges:
Mayor is half-owner of lumbermill. He is being rich as well. Powerful as well. Most work for him. Easy way to win election.
Yalnari:
Is there rivalry between them? Or are they close friends that don’t want to ruin their frienshithrough competition.
Georges:
Rakim is not spending much time on affairs of town, Anoush is being much more interested. Rakim is being more interested in his trade routes. Always meeting with merchants he is. From Rookroost, Hallorn, Pinnacle, Castle Dahlvier. Always. He is not selling here is goods, though.
Yalinari:
Well, Georges, you’ been a grat help, Is there any place in town where they might rent a rooor two?
Georges: Anoush or Zakria might having a room or two to spare, depening on the offering you will be making?
Yalinari:
Well that depends on the rooms. If they’re basic, a story. If they’re of better quality, they might qualify for a portrait.
Georgres:
Anoush might be liking to have company. His house is at end of town opposite of Rakim’s.
Yalinari:
Thank you very much, my good man. I will do that. Being a traveller and an entertainer could we swap entertainment for food and drink?
Georges:
Always a story is nice to be having. Entertaining us with a story or song would be having you a good dinner, my friend!
Yalinari smiles at Vanith and extends his elbow, “Shall we?” Vanith takes his arm. Vanith smiles and takes his arm, spinning quickly and giving the bartender a view of a lot of leg. They exit the Drunken Goat and head westward around the back of the Tanner’s, to the Mayor’s house, taking a good look at Rakim’s in the process. The bottom part of the “L” of Rakim’s house rises almost 30 feet in the air and has the main door offest to the south with a larger window to the north of that face.
As the leave the tavern and head toward Rakim’s, Yalinari’s amulet starts to vibrate. Yalinari looks arounf, but keeps moving. As he gets closer to the tanner’s back building, he sees a figure walking toward them from around the mayor’s house. She is decidedly feminine, but the amulet hasn’t stopped vibrating. They meet around the alley between the Mayor’s and the Tanner’s.
Yalinari:
Greetings, m’lady! Do I have the honor of addressing the Mayor of Nachod?
Lady:
No I am not. However, I am most interested in having a drink. (She runs her finger up Yalinari’s arm). Join me.
Yalinari:
I would love a drink.
Vanith tries to stop him, but Yalinari ignores her.
Yalinari
Durril, m’lady. And you are?
The woman turns and kisses Yalinari full on the lips and caresses his butt.
Woman
Hungry … for you.
Yalinari
I haven’t … eaten … anything … in a while.
Vanith is unsure what to do and looks around. Suddenly, she shrieks and passes out.
Yalinari wakes up freezing cold. Has it snowed and he fell into a snow bank after the night drinking? It’s happened before. He goes to sit up and finds that he can’t. “Great,” he thinks, “I’m frozen in the bank of ice!” He opens his eyes and then realizes that they are open. He can’t see! Suddenly he remembers! A woman was walking to him. He was being friendly and she picked him up. In his mind, her image burns. Dark haired, exotic look, and lips that could kill. In fact, maybe they have. He was so entranced by her. She locked lips with him and his mind simply exploded. He remembers Vanith saying something, but can’t quite remember what it was. She let go of the kiss and he could see her breath. She whispered to him. What was it now? Oh yes, “Conglacior sum.” That was when it happened. Her breath, still cold, became colder. He could feel his lips freezing and then, as if a blanket had been removed during the coldest winter he had ever felt, the cold descended. In a flash, the cold was over and heat flowed through his body. His shivering stopped and her visage wavered. He tried to move, but his limbs simply sagged. He can still remember falling and lying on the ground looking up at her legs and not being able to appreciate them.
Vanith? What has become of her. he tries his limbs again and is now certain of several things at once. His arms and legs are bound to an icy cold table. From the slight wind playing over his body, he believes that he is naked as well. For some reason, he thinks that this is one of the few times that he isn’t looking forward to being bound naked in front of a beautiful woman. Well, he was thinking that.
Suddenly, his member becomes warm and aroused and he immediately understand the feeling and thinks that this woman is one of the best around. His blindfold is removed and he looks down to see her smiling up at him. He immediately forgets the cold and the pain and closes his eyes to enjoy the sensation. He’s not sure how long this has gone on when he feels her teeth catch on him. He glances down surprised, but then he understands why. It was no mistake. Her mouth is opened and she is showing her teeth. It’s then that he notices her feature a little better. With her hair falling around her face and not pinned up, the twin peaks of short horns can be seen on her head. In addition, her teeth are not human but a row of sharp teeth that rather reminds him of a piranhas’ teeth. As she catches him once more between the teeth, she closes her jaws slightly and the pain shoots immediately to his toes and his head. Fortunately, the pain is short lived as merciful blackness swallows him up.
