Chapter 2, in which more Adventurers join, people gets bored, and the half-dwarf gets a warning

Vodok
"I 'fink we have the time tar spare on yeh so ge' los' in your own robes please. An'way, Shorty, I reckon we should get goin' now since we've got like 5 heroes and a mad old man." The small dwarf said. "Right ya are" Red Un answered.

Everyone started to back up their stuff and when everyone had packed all their stuff Red Un said "Ill meet ya all here when the sun's totaly outta sight, everyone who ain’t there will be left so get all your stuff you need." "Right." Everyone answered at the same time.

Red Un
Later, in a dark alley, the old hunched man walked alone, muttering.

"Damn 'em...sinners...doom of 's all th' be...curse 'em...hee hee..."

Two men in black robes emerged from the shadows. The old man stopped.

"Oh no...no please...I din't tell 'em nuthin'...no...please...I won't tell..."

One of the robed men spoke as the other moved closer to the trembling man.

"It's too late, Grumbart. You have betrayed the brotherhood of the Dark Star. Therefore, you die here."

A dagger flashed in the shadows, and the old man laid dead without a word. The two robed men disappeared into the shadows again...

Meanwhile, Red Un was still sitting in the bar, having another beer. He was mostly packed up and there was still time left before the others would show up.

Danger
He stared with no emotion at the dead body on the ground. He only wanted to find whatever adventure he could. To take his mind off of... certain people.

The young mage walked into the bar. His black hood hid most of his face.

"I thought you would like to know" he said in a careless tone. "I found an old man outside. He's been stabbed to death." he stood waiting for a response but could not wait for long. "Do you think you can add one more to your party?" He said looking at the half dwarf's packed things.

Andrune
Despite her brothers warning, Andrune wanted to see how Thais looked in the night. Everything was so different from Ab'dendriel, so new, so exciting. The breezy air was filled with the stench of oil from the many light posts.
As she walked through the almost empty streets of Thais, encountering only a few wanderers, most of them hooded and in a hurry to get in to their warm homes.
At this time in Ab'dendriel, she would have been sitting on one of the wooden platforms above the trees, watching one of the usual ceremonies on the ground below.
Suddenly she heard some strange noises from a nearby house. One voice started to sing, but was interrupted with a loud punch. Curious she headed towards the building. She suddenly bumped into a dwarf, who fell down on the cobbled road.
- "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she said and tried to help the dwarf up, when she noticed he was sleeping.
- "Crazy dwarfs" she muttered for herself as she entered the house, entitled "Frodo's Pub"...

Red Un
Red Un looked up on Danger.

"Dead?"

He got on his feet and ran out in the morning sun. Danger pointed to the alley where the old man laid. Red Un ran over there and looked down and the dead man. He seemed to have died calmly, it almost looked like he was sleeping. Red Un got down on his knees and examined the body closer.

On one arm was a strange tattoo. It was a demon of some kind, surrounded by a black star. Right where it was there was also a fresh wound from some kind of knife. Red Un muttered.

"Black star...black star...oh dear, this is far worse than I suspected..."

Then he looked up at Danger, who hadn't heard a word of what he said.

"Yeah, I ran into this poor drunkard before. Probably one of those robbers that disgraces this city."

The two returned to the bar and sat down at a table.

"So, ya wanna join my little group eh? Well sure, I will need all the people I can get and you seem to be a good druid."

He explained to Danger what he had explained to the others. He was finished just as Andrune entered...

Danger
The young mage grinned, taking off his hood. His green eyes seemed almost soulless.

"Good? Not hardly..." He said. He had meant that with more that one meaning.

"What’s with the old man anyway and does it have you so rattled?" his voice cold. "Afraid to die? Heh... I'll give my life to anyone who thinks they can take it."

If he only knew how willing I am to die... The young mage thought.

Red Un
Red Un laughed.

"Oh no, I would be the last to be afraid to die. That's why I usually get into trouble. Frodo! Gimmie another beer!"


Andrune
The voices, the people, the very life of the pub confused Andrune. Everything went so fast, the chatter was so loud...
The contrast with the quiet and peaceful elven city was so sharp. She had to take a seat.
- "Want anything, milady?" asked a man behind a counter.
Andrune looked up.
- "What? Ah, no thank you."
The man didn't answer as he was too busy conversing with a few knights who had been drinking a bit too much.
Thais was not as she had imagined it...

Roku Yarit
The ship cut through the waters with ease and the air was filled with the cries of gulls. The White rune on the mast of the ship glowed faintly as Roku stood on the deck, staring out onto the distant city of Thais. "We must move faster, captain. There is something that must be done with haste."
The captain nodded and sighed heavily. "Are you implying we use the engine?"
Roku nodded slowly. "The gift from the Dwarfs of Kazordoon should prove itself useful in this case."
"But sir, it was not tested. It may blow up and kill us all."
The Sorcerer turned around and walked directly in front of the captain. "I am quite aware of that but I will not let the fear of your own mortality make me late!"
The Captain recoiled an yelled to the crew down below to lower the sails and prepare to fire up the engine.

Roku followed the captain down below and through a series of doors until he stood before the massive engine of the ship. "Beautiful isn’t it?" he asked, motioning to the endless maze of gears and boilers. There was no reply because he knew the men all feared this machine and what it might do to them. Massive smoke pipes pierced the deck and held high above the ship, causing it to sway a bit more violently. "Captain, fire it up."
The Captain looked over at his men who all set to work, reading the instructions they had been given.
They ran around quickly, watching gauges, turning wheels, releasing valves, until with a giant bang it came to life.
The gears moved furiously and steam filled the room. The ship creaked and groaned as the massive blades in the water began to turn. The ship jerked around wildly put it slowly picked up speed, a great deal of speed.
The Captain stumbled back and ran out of the room to the safety of the deck. Roku followed silently, grinning at the crewmen’s panic and the captains fear. "Are you alright?" he asked dryly.
"I-I am fine. That thing is just so...massive. It is a tool of destruction not one that I would prefer to use again."
"Then let us make this last as few moments as necessary." Out of the corner of his sharp eyes he saw the city moving closer with great speed. He was having no trouble standing firm but the Captain was tumbling all over the place and found refuge, grasping onto the mast.

Red Un
Red Un muttered to himself as he kept sipping on his beer.

"The dark star? ...but it was so many years ago... Dark star..."

Then he shined up.

"Well, I really could use some more food! Frodo! Gimmie some fishes!"

There were screams outside, and suddenly, the sky was blotted out by a huge cloud of silvery fishes. Then they started to fall.

There is an old saying that fishes can recognize the sound of a dwarf steam engine from far away, and usually flees at the sound...

"Well, that was ironic..." said Red Un.

Dragon Hunter
...suddenly enters. He was big, about 1,95. But the only thing you could see under his cloak was the shoulder long silver-white hair. He spoke to Red Un with a cold voice "I heard you are seeking experienced adventurers...If it’s ok for you I wish to follow."
And after ending that speech he put up a sword on the table (The blade looked like it was made of well polished silver, the handle was black and the whole sword seemed surrounded by a magical aura). Then he yelled as if he didn’t care about the screams outside "Frodo! Get me a beer!" Frodo passed him a beer and he sat quiet, waiting for an answer from the half-dwarf.


Red Un
This seems good, Red Un thought for himself. Now he had lots of mysterious people in his gang.

"Aye, that blade of yours seems useful. However, I cannot take any responsibility if it is broken during our adventure."

Red Un explained once again what his plan was.

Dragon Hunter
The mysterious man takes off his hood. He looked like any normal man except the hair and the black armour.
"Urish Nagag Erth" he mumbles as he looked at Red Un. Red Un heard a voice in his head saying "I do not only know the art of war". After those words where spoken the connection broke. He put the sword in his belt. They could now also see that he had a bow and a quiver of 10 arrows. And he said "I have no intention of dying". With those words said he finished his beer and inspected the others. He seemed quite interested about the half-dwarf. "By the way, what is your name half-dwarf?" he said. He now awaited an answer.

Red Un
"Man, the weirdest thing just happened. I had a voice in my head. Must be all this beer. I need some more to forget it. Frodo!"

Then he remembered the question.

"My name eh? Well, I guess that my real name is Redw..."

He stopped talking as two men in black robes and hoods entered the bar and sat down in a corner.

"This place is a little crowded. Let's wait for the others outside, shall we?"

Then he walked out, trying not to be noticed by the newly arrived men.

Dragon Hunter
The mysterious man gives the 2 men a cold look and follows Red out. He mumbles "Urish Nagag Erth" while looking at Red. The connection re-opens "You seemed frightened by those two men, why? I’ll leave this channel open, for some reason I don't think you want to talk in the open. By the way, it’s me who is standing besides you saying this. Just keep eye contact and think and I’ll know" Red heard the voice say. Waiting for an answer, he look into Red's eyes.
Red Un
Oh dear, I'm going insane thought Red Un. He looked over at the Dragon Hunter.

"Wait a minute, did you...?"

The Dragon Hunter nodded.

Red Un wasn't very good at telepathy.

Don't ye dare to listen to my private thoughts he thought and looked over at the Dragon Hunter.

The message seemed to have got through...

Dragon Hunter
He looks at Red and speaks through the link "I think it’s wrong to spy on other peoples thoughts. Telepathy is ok but I don't like spying on potential friends" .He nodded at Red. And through the link again "Want me taking care of them?". He was waiting for an answer.

Red Un
Red Un tried to collect his thoughts.

Ahem, who? he thought. I, uhm, just thought it was a bit crowded in there...

Dalafor
...while the two dark men entered the pub and so he saw Red Un going out next to the huge fighter>
-Banor can hang me from my fingers if those two are not acolytes of a dark god Seems this will be a good tale to be told And, talking bout dark gods followers, wasn’t that Danger? Danger Hi man! Last time I saw you, you got lost in the Black knight fortress, how in the hell did you got out there?





Dragon Hunter
Looks at Red, thinks "No problem, I'll take care of them unless you have any objections. They didn't look like decent people anyways". Starts to walk inside with his hand on the sword and the other one inside the cloak.

Vodok
"Why were you 'n' 'at other guy lookin' in each other eyes all the 'ime? Was it a conntest?" At the same time the small dwarf put his nose an inch from Red Un's and stared at him really hard. Red Un's hand seemed to be twitching in the direction of Vodok's throat but he just said "go drink a beer in Frodo's" In a half mad sort of way. "sure!" The dwarf answered and ran into Frodo's and took a beer from Frodo and put a couple of gold coins on the desk and drank like a maniac.

Red Un
Before the Dragon Hunter could get inside, Red Un grabbed his shoulder and thought.

Don't! Those men are absolutely more than you can handle. We will take care of them later.

Meanwhile, he said "Excuse me, do you have a gold coin to spare?" so that no one would be suspicious.

Dragon Hunter
Turns against the half-dwarf and look him into the eyes. "Thank you for informing me. As you wish, we will handle it later. What now?" he thinks. The dragon hunter loosens the grip around his sword and the same with the object he had his hand on under the cloak.

Red Un
Let's just wait for the others thought Red Un while he said "Well my good sir, don't look at me like that! If you don't want to give me money, just say so!" Then he turned away while he thought don't try to draw attention, especially not from those two robed guys inside.

Danger
The young mage heard his name being called by a familiar voice.

"Dalafor! long time no see." he said extending his hand for a hand shake.

"How did I get out? Heh" He chuckled softly. "With the help of my sister of course! Rhia has secret powers that even amaze me. I guess being half phoenix has its --"

The young mage stops in mid-sentence. "Those two men... I sense powerful magic from one of them." He nods toward the men in black robes.

Pheonix
-Rhia was always close to her little brother. Though she could not see him just yet she knew he was near. She could hear his thoughts and the thoughts of those around her.

-"You know, it’s not nice to beg for gold." Rhia said walking to the entrance of the bar. "He's in there? Troubled as usual." She said tossing a bag of gold at Red Un walking into the bar. " And it’s not nice to talk in secret when in public." She thought to the two out side.

-She got in. She made sure not to be seen by Oriel. He would feel like she was babysitting him! Of course she was... because he was always getting into tight spots. Why can’t he be more like Valdearg? He never got in to serious trouble like Oriel did...
She just would have to keep her eyes open.
Something bad was going to happen. She could feel it.

Red Un
Before anyone could react, Red Un grabbed the bag and put it in his backpack with a greedy smile.

Hey, I am a half-dwarf after all, he thought.

Dragon Hunter
The dragon hunter looked at Red Un as if he were a pathetic little being, put his hood on and went inside the tavern again and sat down with the others. "Send another beer!" he yelled at poor old Frodo, who quickly sent the dragon hunter a beer. He looked at everyone in the room with a penetrating ice cold look. He seemed to find it amusing when he scared the shit out of Frodo, then he just sat there drinking his beer.

Dalafor
...to be heard and I need to hear the details but, before I forget, when we have some time remember me that we need to go to the King to ask for your reward, ‘cos you was there and fought bravely with us so you also deserve to ask for a prize. But tell me how your life went after we met last time? And yes, those two had a very strange aura round them, even for a Dark follower, no offence, my friend


Dragon Hunter
The dragon hunter looked bored as he picked up a couple of throwing knives and throwing stars, starting to cover them with some kind of liquid. He asked the everyone at the table "Do anyone of you got some explosive arrows?". While he was awaiting someone to answer to his question he finished the knives and stars and put them away.

Lugin
Malva is not taking a very active part of the discussion as she have fallen asleep on her chair.

"Zzz..."

Raydude
"Hey," I mumbled as I walked into the pub. "Yah well guys I’m going to skip out, turns out I can’t get a seller for anything and I’m way too late. Guess my thieving in my past kinda wrecked my reputation. So I’m sorry, hope some thing good happens to ya all" I walked away without truly grasping the scene


Vodok
"OI!! Red Un!! When are we goin'? We'll 'af'ta go soon 'cause I’m gettin' bored 'ere! Frodo!! Gimme a beer." The short dwarf yelled.

Dragon Hunter
The dragon hunter falls sleeping from his chair and hits the ground with a big bang. He instantly wakes up shaking his head saying "Huh? Where am I? Oh, Frodo’s...And there are..Aha!" he got up on his legs.
Then he said to Frodo "Get me a room! NOW!" Frodo quickly passed a key to him and the dragon hunter went upstairs. He yelled down "Wake me up when we leave!" and went to sleep.

Roku Yarit
Explosions start coming from below the deck and giant clouds of black smoke begin to rise from the smoke stacks in the ship. Roku turned his head quickly to hear the screams of the crewmen from below deck. "What is going on?" he yelled to no one in particular.
A oil and smoke covered man appeared from the hatch and began coughing uncontrollably as he choked out a response to the Sorcerer. "The engine is on fire "
Roku ran to the man’s aid and laid him down on the deck then covered his mouth his the sleeve on his robe as he descended into the smoke filled interior of the ship. There were many people on the ground, apparently dead from the toxic gases that flooded through the rooms. He himself began to cough violently so he moved back out to the deck to get some fresh air.
"How bad is it?" the captain asked.
Roku was hesitant for a moment. "Everyone is dead. We cannot turn off the engine and unless we do I think the ship is going to collide with the harbour and explode."
The Captain looked at him with horror. "You cant stop it?"
"Any attempt to would most likely cause the ship to explode and kill both of us, but perhaps that would be a better fate the not stopping it and letting hundreds of people in Thais die by our hands..."

Red Un
Meanwhile, Red Un was playing a psychological game with the two hooded men. He drank to his beer and shook Malva gently.

"Hey Malva, I met a very weird man before, talkin' something 'bout a library of some sort, and that I knew of it. Most Thaisans are crazy, eh?"

The hooded men shifted a little, but still didn't remove their eyes from Red Un.

"Anyway, I do of course have a big 'ol library at home. Hmm, these beers make have to do something outside...excuse me."

Red Un rose and walked outside. When he closed the door, the two hooded men rose and also went out.

Red Un led them to an old alley where the old man still laid, just as dead. Most people in Thais doesn't care about a dead body these days.

"Oh, great Durin! How horrible!"

The two men grabbed his shoulders before he could react.

"Listen half-dwarf, we won't kill you now. Would be too many eye witnesses even here. But if you go to the desert, and search for the key, we must stop you. You know why."

Red Un laughed silently.

"Hah, you foolish old priesthood has gotten it all wrong. It's just a library for crying out loud! Stop murdering people who are interested in knowledge."

"Very well. We will just give you a warning then."

Before Red Un could react, a dagger was pushed into his back. Then the two men disappeared again.

"Po...poison...HELP!" yelled Red Un.