(Prologue) It was a dark and stormy night......

[Keeper]

"Ah, 'educated' men.  I came across a lot of 'educated' men when I was a scribe.   Some of them are interesting, like my friend, Ivor, here.  Some of them are fools who couldn't find their own bum in order to wipe it, unless it had an index and a bookmark."  The frown of Raul's face shows that he has come across too many of the lost-bum variety in the past.

"When I do come across an educated idiot, I try and stay well clear. Unless, of course, they're offering me gold to tell them which end of a sword to hold."  Raul smiles at the thought of gold.

[Fabian]

"The we shall remain clear of all academies, colleges, and all such institutions if we are to meet no-one educated beyond his intelligence!" Alarian jokes. "You were a scribe, and now a sellsword? One should not judge a book by its cover then; how did you come to swap the pen for the sword?"

Listen check, to see if I can hear what they're arguing about?

[Keeper]

"My parents wanted me to have a quiet life of a scribe and found me a position with a well-to-do merchant in my home town.  I was quite good at the job, as it goes, but I felt constrained and not a little bored. Pfondue, the merchant I worked for could see this and helped me get an apprentice's position in a weapons foundry he owned, provided I kept helping him with some his more important paperwork and correspondence."

"I developed a great interest in weapons, and became quite proficient with many of those that I had learned for forge and build.  Then, Pfundue went, well, bankrupt and I enlisted in the Sardian army and I've already told you the rest."

"So, have you got any hidden talents you haven't told us about yet?  Pushy parents?  Or skills in basketweaving or fishmongery that you can fall back on in hard times?"  :) Raul smiles warmly to show that he doesn't usually meet people with quite such an unusal background as his.

[Fabian]

Alarian smiles sadly but with some humour, "I am sad to say that I am bereft of basket weaving skills, nor am I a fisherman. I grew up in a nobleman's household and was able to pick up odds and ends of learnng from the lady of the house, who was a very kind soul. I was in the lord's fyrd and saw some combat against outlaws and that sort of thing, hence this" he pats the longsword he wears, which seems to be of good quality. "There was a great dispute, an argument, for which I was at fault. So I left my lord's land and like you, am now a traveller."

[Alex]

Ivor's nose wrinkles at the thought of fish. He's never quite trusted the stuff since that night in Gablehead when the foreign hobbit convinced him that raw fish was a real delicacy. Even now, the smell of the stuff makes him queasy.

Oblivious to the jests of his companions at the expense of the intelligensia, Ivor stares across the room, trying to remember whether he remembered blue robes from 'Ancient and Mystical Orders of the Arcane: a Concise History of their Beliefs and Traditions,' or if it was that chap in 'Old Nanny Gnomekin's Big Book of Bedtime Stories for little Gnomes aged 3 and over, volume 3.'

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Ivor recognises the robes as those of the order of the all seeing eye. It is a rather prominent group of magicians, in fact, possibly moreso than any other in the kingdom. However, this old spellweaver's robes are patched and tattered, clearly he has been a wizard for a long time and hasn't had the chance to repair his robes much recently.

As Alarian focusses in on the small group by the far wall, he does indeed make out a few words.

"But my dear fellow" calmly states the wizard, teeth on edge, the noise of the crowd drowns out most of what he says next but the few words that are audible sound like "remuneration," " services", and  "time of year".

After a few more moments conversation the priest leans back in his chair, beckoning one of the acolytes to him, who nervously approaches. A few words are had, and then the young acolyte makes his way nervously to the bar.

[Fabian]

Are they in fact asking him to carry out a task for them? Intriguing. "Shall I get the next round?" asks Alarian. He goes up to the bar and stands next to the acolyte, "They seem quite on edge there, don't they?" he says to the acolyte.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

As Alarian approaches the bar he manages to overhear the stammering acolyte pointing at his table and asking the barman for "whatever they're having, again please" and he sees coins change hands.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

The barman balls out another short yet incomprehensible order to the barmaid and she starts weaving her way back to the bar (probably to pick up the drinks the young acolyte just ordered, wealthy customers like these guys get special treatment).

[Alex]

Not long after Alarian heads for the bar, Ivor has a flash of inspiration.

"The All-Seeing Eye!" he exclaims, rising out of his chair then realises he's being a bit too loud and clamps his hands over his mouth. Settling back down in his chair, he turns to Raul and explains in a whisper:

"The old guy, he's wearing the robes of the All-Seeing Eye. Y'know, that big group of arcanists based right here in Medhera. I knew I recognised them! Some people get them mixed up with the Mystic Circle of Willis, but it's definitely not. Look, you can tell by the way the stars on the robe are arranged int-"

An often-seen look from Raul reminds Ivor that he's in danger of going off on a tangent.

"But I thought they were pretty well-off; I didn't think he'd be so shabbily dressed... Maybe his good robe's in the wash?"

Edited ever so slightly to help.

[Fabian]

The acolyte ignored me! How rude. Any idea on that dwarf's crest?

[Balgin Stondraeg]

The acolyte ignored me! How rude. Any idea on that dwarf's crest?

I haven't got round to writing for him yet and CH hasn't told me what his insignia stands for yet either :(. So I may just have to make something up :).

"Uh, sir?" The young brother turns to face Alarian, "sir," he repeats, "that is, well, you know, sir.... Business, sir. Erm...." at this the corner of his bottom lip curls as if he's about to bite it but he manages to suppress the nervous impulse. "Sir, if you'd just sit down sir," he swallows hard, his adam's apple bobbing noticably in his skinny throat, "brother Berden will be with you soon, sir. The drinks are on him."

Behind him the tired barmaid, slouched against the bar whilst the barman pours pints, gives the young novice a very demeaning look. She clearly doesn't think much of the sheltered life he's lead.

[Fabian]

Alarian looks straight at the young man, and says kindly and seriously "Thank you to Brother Berden for a kindness to strangers, we shall repay it." He walks back to the table, "Well, it seems that I did not have to buy a round after all; it would appear that Brother Berden of the Theydoric order is our patron for the night!" he says smiling, "Although I'm sure that it shall have to be repaid with some service. The wizard spoke something about 'services' and 'remuneration'; perhaps we are the second choice?"

[Alex]

Thanks for the edit, Balgin- didn't want to say anything that'd be contradicted when more info is revealed.

A burly dockhand moves in front of the arguing pair, blocking Ivor's line of sight. He stares at the man's sea serpent tattoo, which covers a bicep larger than Ivor's head, and he gulps nervously and sinks back down in his seat.

When Alarian comes back from the bar with his news, Ivor's absentmindedly sketching a copy of the tattoo whilst staring into mid-air. He's pleased at the thought of free drinks, and somewhat curious as to what exactly is going on- it's not everyday a clergyman buys a round, after all. When the wench delivers the drinks, he settles back with his fresh cider and tries to look relaxed. After all, Raul is often telling him that first impressions count for a lot when it comes to finding work, and that order they picked up this evening wasn't cheap...

[Fabian]

Despite himself, Alarian is excited at the prospect of being involved in something that smacks of intrigue. Priests... know nothing fools... Quiet, spirit, if it is to your distaste then it is all the more to my liking.