Turn 31C -- The Streets of Milbourne

After taking his leave from Talimar, Kersath sat in a quiet corner of the Inn and enjoyed a delicious, hot meal and a foaming mug of ale, content to sit by himself and watch the people in the Inn. Again, he finds himself amazed at the self-absorbed nature of the humans. Finally having enough of the Inn, he decides to take a walk around the town and enjoy the frest night air.

Leaving the Baron, he takes a walk along the outskirts of the town, gazing at the farms and villagers who reside outside the town. Walking along the river, he gazes at the moon reflecting off the slow-moving water and contemplates what could have been the reasoning behind the half-built bridge that goes midway across the shallow, slow-moving river. He knows that the locals call it 'The Folly'. But who's Folly exactly is a mystery to him.

Turning around to head back into town, Kersath pulls his cloak tight around him as the wind picks up, sending a chill down his back. As he gets closer to the Baron of Mutton, he hears some cheers coming from the Inn.

"Maybe Beleg finished up one of his rousing songs," he thinks to himself, "or one of the dwarves bested some 'giant' in an arm-wrestling contest."

As he gets closer, he sees Kre come running out of the front doors, hanging a right and heading the opposite way from him. Kersath frowns as he sees a club come from around the corner and strike the unsuspecting Kre on his forehead, dropping him quickly to the ground before two men drag him into the alley. Two men then quickly walk out of the Baron of Mutton and head off the way Kre went, turning down the alley as well.

Pulling his cloak tight around him and staying in the shadows, Kersath heads over to the edge of the Inn and turns to look down the alley. He sees the unconscious Kre in a heap between the four men. One small rat-faced looking man who is kicking Kre in the back; a large man with an eye-patch and scar on his face; and two other large nondescript ruffians who are also raining blows down on the young thief.

"Enough," says the rat-faced man as one of the ruffians kicks Kre in the stomach. "We need information from him and I wa ta kill 'im slowlike." He grins evilly as he motions for the scarred one-eyed man to pull up Kre. He then slaps Kre several times in an effort to wake him.

"...five more minutes innkeep..." says Kre as he is slapped awake by his attackers. After fully regaining consciousness, the rat-faced man graps Kre by his hair and pulls his head up to look into his eyes, "Ya know, there ARE better ways to wake a guy, like a nice foaming mug of dwarven ale, boy that stuff hits the spot!" quips Kre to the little man.

"Shuddup, Novablade," says the rat-faced man as he backhands Kre. A salty taste invades Kre's mouth as his lip splits open and blood flows into his mouth.

"You decided ta do this the hard way, fool boy, so it's gonna be! First, we've got some questions fer ye."

The two new attackers each have a hold of one of Kre's arms as the rat-faced man begins to interrogate Kre, the larger man with the eye-patch is to the side of Kre looking back down the alley away from the street as Kersath enters.

"Where are the Black Arrows," asks the rat-faced man, "We've got some unfinished business with 'em."

"I don't know where they are!" responds Kre, "I'm lookin' for 'em myself!"

Having finally seen enough, Kersath decides to help his friend out. Dropping his cloak to the street, Kersath draws his longsword in his right hand and his short sword in the left before moving in to attack.

"Talimar! Beleg! Gnore! Kre's in trouble!" shouts Kersath as he attacks the nearest thief with his longsword. The man jumps at the initial outburst from Kersath and releases Kre who slumps to the street. The rat-faced man then moves around to grab Kre again as the other thieves move to face Kersath.

Kersath misses the first thief but catches the second man with a glancing blow on his arm. As the battle is joined, Kre weakly attempts to break free of the grasp of the rat-faced man. Even though normally he would easily be able to break free of the little man, in his current weakened state the man holds Kre fast. Kersath dodges a couple of blows from the club of the big man as well as attacks from the two thieves who have now drawn short swords and are advancing on the drow. As Kersath retreats a little to keep all his attackers in front of him and therefore steps into the light a little in the alley. The men draw an audible breath as they realize their opponent is a drow!

The first thief seems inspired by this little fact and lands a glancing blow to Kersath's left arm. Kersath deflects a blow from the other thief and lands one of his own with his longsword to the one-eyed man, his shortsword coming around to strike the other thief who had just attacked him. The rat-faced man continues to hold the struggling Kre. Fortunately, Kre's struggling has prevented the man from drawing his own dagger as he cannot release Kre to grab the weapon.

Quickly regaining his balance, Kersath launches into another vicious attack, striking the one-eyed man full in his stomach with his longsword, opening the man's innards to the cold night air of Milbourne. He misses the first thief as he and his friend back up looking at the still form of their companion.

"Get him, you fools!" yells the rat-faced man as his fellow outlaws falter in their attack.

The two men look at one another before turning their back to run from the alley. Smiling to himself, Kersath launches into another attack at the retreating forms of the men. Striking each man deep, Kersath fells them before they can take a step.

"This ain't over," says the rat-faced man to Kre as he pushes the young thief in the path of the advancing drow.

"Are you alright?" asks Kersath as he cathces the stumbling Kre.

"Yes, of course," answers the bloody thief, "Go after him!"

Kersath moves at the words from Kre but as he gets to the end of the alley he looks into total darkness. Even with his excellent night vision, he is unable to pick up any sign of the fleeing thief, the man apparently disappearing into thin air. Fearing that the man might backtrack and dispose of Kre, Kersath returns to his friend who is lying against the building. Several villagers have come into the alley, attracted by the noise of the battle. Kersath quickly dons his cloak once again before the villagers can get a good look at him and then he moves to help his friend. Kre has a bloody mouth and nose as well as several broken ribs but other than that he is fine.

"What is going on?" asks Kersath as he helps Kre to his feet.

"Admiring fans," answers Kre jokingly. "As I said before, I'm hunted by most of those in my profession, I guess those guys wanted to take me out."

"Well for now, let's get your wounds taken care of and get you to bed. We can all discuss it in the morning."

"You'd better wake Garyld," says Kersath to one of the onlookers. "Tell him the Red Feather Company has helped him once again with crime in Milbourne."

The two of them then walk past the inquisitive crowd of townsfolk before returning to their rooms in the Baron of Mutton. Kre double and triples checks the locks on his door and sets up a little alarm to warn him of anyone entering his room unannounced before falling off to sleep. Unknown to Kre, Kersath spends the evening outside the young thieve's room, hiding in the shadows but keeping a watch over his friend as he sleeps.