Plight of the Flightless

[Kalortah]

83rd of Ymiden 721

"'Old still mate, ya?" Dafari's voice cut through the sounds of the other tailors doing their work, scurrying about like good worker bees. Karolis stood for measurements in the middle of their work area. Why they had insisted on bringing him back to the workshop for measurements was beyond him. Yet he didn't question it. There were few enough tailors in the Glass Quarter. There was Augustin's Boutique, surely, but it was too much of a walk for the man to undertake, and they were almost always too busy and crowded for his liking. Sarah's Silks was a more quiet spot, which was far preferable.

"How long does it take to ascertain my measurements?" Karolis asked Dafari, his mouth twisting into a pout as Jack on his shoulder chirped its agreement.

"Look mate, ya already paid, so just 'ave a moment to relax. We'll get ya measured up." Dafari was personable enough, and Karolis didn't mind the man, but for Delroth's sake he had a manner of speaking that offended Karolis' ears.

Even so, he endured the measuring process, having already dropped a substantial sum on the owner of Sarah's Silks so that they would be able to make clothes to measure for him upon demand.. "Aaaand there we 'ave it mate. All measured up." Dafari hopped to stand on his feet, and walked around Karolis, giving him a once over.

At this point, Karolis still hadn't purchased the shoulder-covering he'd want for his avian friend, Jack. Dafari was one of the most talented Leatherworkers in the city, by reputation, and so Karolis thought to deliver a proposition that he furnished him with certain goods toward that end.

However, he thought he should grease the wheels of greed first, by tipping him for giving measurements. A few golden nels went a long way toward that end. The nels slipped into his palm, Karolis smiled thinly, "Say, how about a night of entertainment, just the two of us guys." The stilted delivery of his proposition came somewhat flat, as Karolis wasn't used to cavorting with... well... anyone. He was a solitary person. But he wanted to try and get this craftsman on his side if he was to make the plays he was planning.

Dafari beamed, and clapped Karolis roughly on the shoulder, nearly toppling him over. "Aww, shore mate! Let's 'ave a time!"

So saying, Jack complained loudly at the jostling he gave his shoulder, flapping his wings until a few ruff-laden feathers fluttered off. "I'm off in a few breaks. Call me then, aye?"

There, Dafari left them. And Karolis turned to Jack, lifting his eyebrows and wondering what he'd bargained his way into. He almost didn't want to know what Dafari did for entertainment. At most, Karolis was prepared to take him out drinking. He was not prepared for the night that lay in store, in the Dust Quarter, when he picked up his new 'friend'.

[Kalortah]

When they met later, Dafari led him along, dragging him to what could only be described as The Pit. Both for the fact that, that was its name, but also it described the scene fairly handily. All manner of unfortunate scum crowded that den, and Karolis was left to wonder why a highly skilled workman would be caught dead there. Nevermind the fact, he didn't know what this place was for. He'd already begun to regret his carousing with Dafari, who offered to share his skin. "'ave a drink man." He said, shoving the wineskin beneath Karolis' nose. It took all his will and self-control not to flinch.

Yet he took the wineskin all the same. The wine inside was far too bitter for his taste, a far cry from the VIthella he preferred. "Good man, aye?" Dafari asked, and Karolis could only nod his head and hand the skin back. In truth, it tasted as if the skin had only recently been tanned, and the fluid inside was containing some of the tannins. Needless to say, Karolis didn't truly like it. But it'd be rude to refuse a drink, especially in Rharne.

"What is this place, what do you do here..." Karolis asked, but was soon answered by the appearance of a few hungry-looking bums entering from the perimeter of the cage at the center of the Pit. The men looked desperate, and ugly, and vile and dirty. And many other unpleasant things that Karolis could list off if he had the inclination.

Then, from the other end of the pit, a pair of chickens popped out. At first, Karolis smirked to see them, until it dawned on him their purpose for being there, and the echoes of their clucks and bagawks which sounded like unnatural calls to battle and violence. Twisted cries of past pains and loss, of abuse at the hands of their caregivers. Karolis was livid upon hearing the plight that these chickens had gone through. He turned away, not able to watch as the chickens went at it against each other.

Karolis braced himself against the shoulder of Dafari. He couldn't watch, but could listen as the chickens were torn from head to limb by the hungry bums fighting for a sack of change. Karolis reached into his coin bag, and brought out a few silvers for Dafari, "I'm going to be sick, here my friend, buy yourself a drink? And tell e who organizes these fights."

Dafari quirked a brow, and then jerked a finger over toward the corner. "Gele Nervaro."

Karolis nodded, and slipped a golden nel into Dafari's hand, at which the man's eyes widened, "Know where a man can do business with him?"

"You into cock fights?" Dafari asked, with a sincerely curious tone. He leaned back on his foot, which caused Karolis to take a step back, and put himself in full view of the leatherworker.

Karolis had nothing for him but to lie, "Yeah, I'm looking to train up a few of my own birds." It took every ounce of self control not to choke over the words. But he managed. This was an important matter, and it was all the more important that he keep up appearances, before the deed he planned to accomplish.

Dafari nodded, and then shrugged. "He sails his schooner the Bloody Rooster out of the docks, and fetches his birds from Zynyx. If you catch him at either place, I'm sure he'd do business." Dafari fixed him with an uncertain glance, perhaps wondering why his new friend was dropping change into his palm so liberally.

Karolis nodded, and slipped the man another couple of silvers. That was all he needed to know. He patted Dafari on the shoulder, bidding him good night and good drinking. Then he slipped into the corner, to watch and wait for Gele Nervaro to make his move out the door, if he would. Closing time was fast approaching, and he wanted to be there when Gele was ejected with the rest of the rabble.



In a few breaks, the Pit closed its doors, ejecting all the rabble, including Gele and Karolis out of the door. Gele looked at Karolis, and smirked, "Fancy duds." He said, pointing at Karolis' jacket. There was real admiration in his voice and face, which almost made what Karolis had decided to do regrettable. Yet, he'd killed people that admired him before. He had no illusions to the contrary. He would do so again. Besides, it was a casual comment, nothing more to Karolis' ears.

The bard nodded curtly, and then made his way down the streets, toward Pilgrim's ascent, where he'd find his house. He knew where the man made berth, that was enough to not have to talk to him, and extract more information out of him.

Once he arrived at the Gallery, and the Manor house that perched atop of it, he made his way to his study. There, he found his adamantite rapier. It would have an appointment with the neck of a certain smuggler and bird-abuser. While hunting was fine and good, Karolis couldn't abide the cruelty he heaped upon those poor creatures, confusing them, and rendering their minds as useless to their own nature.

He would see justice done to that man. So he began plotting his take over of the ship. He'd have to employ some unsavory types, to be sure, but it'd be worth it to see that chicken killer brought to justice.

[Doran]

Kalortah:

Knowledge:
[*] Deception: x 2
[*] Appraisal: x 2
[*] Socialization: x 2

Loot: -
Lost: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: 5, for a night of entertainment with Dafari.
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 10

- - -

Comments: Well, that was interesting! When I read the review request, I couldn’t help but wonder how Kalortah ended up getting involved in cockfights and whether Delroth would approve!

Suggesting a night of entertainment to Dafari in order to get him on his side is a clever strategy.

What happened then made me smirk though, I have to admit!

As you wrote yourself in the first post, Kalortah was not prepared for what would happen, and you described that well. It’s understandable that he already started to regret carousing with Dafari when he arrived at the Pit. It sounds like entirely the wrong place for someone like Kalortah to be, and that wine that Dafari offered to him sounds disgusting.

I’m impressed by Kalortah’s willpower though. He didn’t refuse the disgusting drink regardless!

And the poor chickens! I think the sight would have made me livid as well. You described the violence well in my opinion. You made it obvious what was going on, but you weren’t too explicit.

With that being said, I was wondering what Kalortah would do about the chicken killer. For a moment, I was sure that he would just offer that guy a lot of money and buy the poor abused chickens.

I wonder if he’ll really end up bringing the chicken killer to justice. I look forward to reading what happens next!

Enjoy your rewards!