Sunset: 1755
- No Greyhawk Events today
Meeting large, angry smith is bad for the digestion!
Talisien leaves the Acorn just after supper, expecting to find Arney at the forge finishing the day’s tasks. Walking into the shoppe, he’s surprised to find a young woman knitting in the corner behind a short counter. On the counter are utensils, candle holders, and other assorted goods. A young boy, maybe four years old sits on the floor stacking thin strips of metal into a small tower. Talisien puffs out his chest and announces his entrance:
Talesien:
Hello. I’d like to see Arney. The sooner the better.
Woman:
Arney? What do ye need ‘im fer?
Talesien:
I’d like to speak to him about a sword.
Woman:
What you lookin’ for? Ye don’ wan to be botherin’ him about nothin’ now do you?
Talesien:
I’m looking for the sword that he made for Lucanio. It’d be nice to speak to him if that’s ok.
Woman:
oooh, ye don’t wanna do that’, ye don’. Now, you walk right on outta here and forget all tha’ you do. Best for all of us it is!
Talesien:
I have told you what I have come here for. It is for Arney’s sake that I speak of this issue. In the end, it may be of some help to him.
Woman (shaking her head):
OK, if yer reall’ wan to, ye go on back and talk to him. But don’ come runnin’ back too me if’n it ain’ goin’ well for ye. Ye go now… go …
Talesien:
Great.
He turns and heads toward the larger doors in the fence. As he turns his back he fails to notice the grimace on the woman’s face. In fact, as soon as he’s out of the shoppe, she tells the boy to run home. Grandpa’s not going to be in a good mood when he comes back!
When Talisien gets closer he can hear the clanging of metal on metal as he gets closer to the outbuilding.
he continues Inside, the building, the temperature is so hot, Talisien starts sweating immediately. Inside three very large men are hammering away as a red-hot piece of metal.
Talesien:
Hello Arney! I should like to speak with you when you have a free moment.
The hammers stop and Arney shouts:
Don’ stop hammerin’, ye lazy, bastards, or th’ iron’ll go hard. (To Talisien) Damn you! What’re ya want?
Talesien:
I’d like to talk about the trial. Would you prefer a better setting than this or would you like to speak now?
He eyes Talisien dangerously:
I got work ta do. See I’m a workin’ man unlike you lilly-liveried fops tha’ go about makin’ real men’s lives hell. What th’ hell you want? Arrom, get tha’ swaggers. Harold, hold this.
Talesien:
I’d like to help you out. It seems I’m in a possition to take some problems out of your hands.
Arney:
Great! Yer hear to take tha’ scumbag of a cheat outta here. Great. Give Joanne th’ 12 pieces and be on yer way!
Talesien:
Well, I can take him away…but I won’t do it for free. I’ll need something from you as well.
Talisien ducks the hammer that comes flying at him as Arney yells:
I ain’ givin’ you nothin’. I’m th’ one thas owed I am. 12 Gold is what I’m owed, 12 gold’s what I’m gonna get and I’m not gonna be givin you more than your lunch handed you after I take it from you’re cowardly, scum-sucking belly!
Talisien:
Sir, this is not going well. Not for you I’d say. There’s more than one person in this town that sees you at fault in this situation. If …
Arney drops his tool and starts to move toward Talisien angrily. Both Harold and Arrom grab Arney whose screams back (including a little spittle):
Why you little snot-nosed son of a whoreson mongrel. I’m gonna take you over this anvil …..
Harold:
You best be leaving mister.
Talesien:
Good advice mate. Thanks!
Talisien leaves with a quickness he hadn’t previsouly possessed and hears more cursing and clanging of metal, but he’s not quite certain what they are as he beats feet and leaves.
Talisien:
I have never met such an ass! We can’t reason with him. We’ll have to play this your way.
Altan:
I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but ye should always trust me implicitly. Always.
Talisien:
How could I have forgotten. (sarcasim)
Altan:
The mind boggles.
Talisien:
Well, it doesn’t seem like he cares much for his receptionist. His kids are kinda slaves…perhaps we could break in tonight and break some stuff.
Altan:
I like th’ way ye think. Leave that t’ me. Ye deal with th’ soddin’ lawyer. Th’ nastier th’ better.
Talisien:
Alright. I’ll ask the ball bustin lawyer to go there and see what he can do
Altan:
Nah. “See what ‘e can do” ain’t gonna cut it. Have ‘im go there an’ threaten fireballs from th’ bleedin’ heavens, mate.
Talisien:
yea…isn’t that what I said?
Altan:
Gonna have t’ work on yer clarity.
Talisien:
He’s a ball bustin lawyer…I thought it was assumed that he’d…well…bust Arney’s balls
Altan:
I ain’t one t’ assume anythin’, ‘specially with bloody lawyers.
Talisien:
Well I’ll make sure to be clear and precise in my meanings. By the way, if you get caught tonight, I’ve never met you before.
Altan:
Get caught? What’re ye on about? I ain’t never been caught. Ain’t meanin’ t’ start tonight. ... By th’ way, didja getta look at th’ fuckin’ sword?
Talisien:
Didn’t get to ask. I got a good look at some of his equipment though. Real upclose…cause the bastard threw it at me.
Altan:
Nice. Don’t matter. I don’t reckon he’ll keep th’ good stuff in th’ workshop. It’ll be locked up tight someplace. Possibly th’ house. May have t’ burn ‘im out.
Talisien:
You don’t plan on doing all of this tonight do you?
Altan:
Hey! I’m well rested, I am.
Talisien:
Well, you know what you are doing…I think. I’m off to the lawyer before it gets to late to ask him. I’ll get him to show up sometime tomorrow.
Altan:
Good luck with that. I’m gonna take a short walk. Scope the place out.
Altan heads to the blacksmith’s shop to check it out Astrally, while Talisien heads to the tailor’s to get some decent clothes for his meeting. When Altan gets across the street, he looks the place over and can see the black smoke rising from the forge. Arney’s still at work, but judging from the growing shadows on the street, he won’t be for long. Smiling, Altan pulls out his bowl, fills it and starts to chant. He smiles when he sees a small figure dart out of a building and start to chew on the offering in the bowl. As Altan starts to speak, the Spirit spits out the offering, glares at Altan and disappears. “Bugger me, where’s he go?” mumbles Altan, but the Spirit is gone. Once again he sets up for the conjuration. This time, he adds a little iron filings to the bowl. This time the Spirit eats the offering, burbs, and lays down in the bowl.
Altan bites back a smart comment and asks the Spirit to search the entire blacksmith’s enclosure (house and forge, and any other buildings that might be there), and report back to him on every sword that it detects – size, description (if possible), location. The Spirit leaves and returns quickly and tells Altan that it could find no sword. It then disappears before Altan’s eyes, leaving him to chew on the possibilities. Finally, he watches as the smoke from the forge slows and stops and he decides that it’s time to get some rest. He heads back to the Heron until midnight.
Much later that night, dressed in black clothes and carrying some rope, tools, and a bag, Altan scales the fence. At the top, he glances around and sees no motion or dogs. Smiling at his skill, he quietly drops down and waits again. Slowly, he creeps across the courtyard and heads to the smithy door. He tests the door slowly and finds that it’s in good condition and makes no sound. Finding it unlocked and smoothly moving, he opens the door barely wide enough for him to get in. Slipping in, he unhoods his lantern and narrows the beam to a fine point. He looks around without moving and finds that the forge is empty, with all tools put away carefully. He doesn’t know much about blacksmithing, but decides that the hammers are the most important things. Tongs should be pretty important as well. He loads his bag with as many of those sorts of things as he can and puts anything made of wood into the forge.
The wood starts to smoulder quickly and he smiles evilly. He takes a shovel and grabs some hot coals and places them against the wooden wall. He’ll then takes the bag of tools and leaves. Seeing no one in the street, he heads toward the town well. When he gets there, he dumps the bag and waits until he hears a faint splash. Chuckling, he heads toward the Bleating Sheep Tavern for a nightcap. Afterwards, he heads back to the Heron and heads up the back stairs. As he steps onto the last rise, he can hear the clanging of the fire alarm. He smugly smiles as he see the whisps of black smoke rising a few blocks away and congratulates himself on a job well done.