046.3 "I only requested one bodyguard."

[Corwin]

[21:27] <Kotono> The Church of the Golden Flame hasn't changed much since your last visit. Oh, it's colder now. Today a bitterly chill wind blows in from the south, as if to herald Auril's coming months of domination. But despite the chill within the church is warm. You are met inside by a acolyte, escorted within quickly. In a simple meeting room Gustival awaits, nodding to Janson. "Whimsical Sweets?"
[21:28] <Whurric> "That'd be us," Whurric answers briefly with a nod.
[21:32] <Kotono> "Two of you?" Raising an eyebrow as he looks to Whurric, "I only requested one bodyguard."
[21:33] <Janson> "If you only need one it's important to have the right one," Janson interjects smoothly. "We're different sorts of bodyguards. Why don't you tell us about what you're looking for and we can see who fits best?" No sense fighting over taking them both along.
[21:36] <Kotono> "I need to conduct some business with a clique of merchants from Malmuth, the Sevarn family. They have a reputation of expecting strength and dirty dealings, so I want to dissuade them of that and have help if things go wrong. Someone who's imposing, tough and can intimidate is a huge plus."
[21:37] <Janson> "Short and simple, Whurric's your man," Janson bows out and steps backwards. "Good luck, Whurric. I'll go see if Josa needs any help."
[21:39] * Whurric laughs. "Well that was quick?" Whurric comments as he scratches his beard. "I'll see ya later then, I guess, Janson."
[21:40] <Kotono> Janson getsa nother nod as he departs out, before Whurric is addressed. "Are you a local dwarf?"
[21:42] * Whurric shakes his head. "I'm stayin' here for the time being with my brother, but we're not originally from here. From Irongates, point o' fact. Though I know a fair bit about the places around here if y'need me to, as well," the dwarf in question answers.
[21:46] <Kotono> Gustival pauses, before he shakes his head, "Alright. Be here at an hour past sunset. Be scary, be imposing and be ready for trouble if things go wrong."
[21:49] <Whurric> "I can do that," Whurric grins as he flicks a finger behind him so it slaps against the flatside of his axe.
[21:56] <Kotono> OOC: Any other questions or good to move along?
[21:57] <Whurric> ooc: move along is fine, I don't really think I need to know much more right now.
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC: Going to do anything special for preparation or apperance before going back?
[21:59] <Whurric> ooc: hrm...nah, I think I'll just show up as is, but I'll have axe out and handy.
[22:00] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. For reference, make an intimidation check.
[22:02] <Whurric> roll d20+11
[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Whurric rolls d20+11 and gets 14." [d20=3]
[22:02] <Whurric> ooc: ouch
[22:06] <Kotono> Whurric returns that evening, Gustival awaiting him. He wears armor and carries a blade on his back and a mace on his belt. He gives Whurric a look over, "How good are you with that axe?"
[22:09] <Whurric> "I've been usin' it to kill for longer  than you've lived years, I bet," Whurric replies drily. "I'm a dwarf, we do beat you humans out just a tad on time. Had time to get very -very- good with it."
[22:11] <Kotono> With a dour, almost melancholy look to that, "That I believe." he says, starting to walk ahead and out, "One step behind me, look imposing and intimidating as possible."
[22:13] * Whurric nods. "Should I stay silent and speak only if spoken to, or free to speak as I wish?" Whurric asks.
[22:16] <Kotono> "Strong and silent. Follow my commands, act otherwise at your discretion."
[22:18] * Whurric nods again. "Alright," is his simple answer as he follows behind Gustival, with his axe held ready in his hands. It remains to be seen if it'll have to be put to use or not that night.
[22:21] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 35." [1d100=35]
[22:22] <Kotono> With that, Whurric and Gustival head out! The duo go to the Old City without incident, a sleepy in on a street corner your destination. With a glance back, "They're staying in here," he announces, "Open doors for me and go through first. I'm not expecting that sort of attack, but it's what they expect from bodyguards."
[22:23] * Whurric doesn't even reply, he just goes and does as requested, moving to open the doors.
[22:25] <Kotono> You go through the front of the Inn, heading to stairs going up. Up to the third floor, to a room in the mi ddle of the hall, "That one," Gustival instructs.
[22:27] * Whurric nods and leads the way to that room, attempting to open the door or knock if it's locked.
[22:31] <Kotono> It's indeed locked! A knock gets the door to open! Ahad of you is seven+ feet of pure muscle. His skin is pallid white. Not just normal white, but white as newfallen snow. His face is covered in scars, strained leather armor and pants covering the rest of him. He carries no visible weapons, yet has fists bigger than Gustival's mace. He stares downa t Whurric, "What?" he asks, voice flat.
[22:34] <Whurric> "Business here, obviously," Whurric replies drily as he points behind him in Gustival's direction without turning away from the man, keeping his eyes pinned on the man's own. "Now you gonna let us through?"
[22:37] <Kotono> OOC: Make an intimidation check, -2 modifier.
[22:38] <Kotono> OOC: -4, I mean. Whoops.
[22:38] <Whurric> roll d20+7
[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Whurric rolls d20+7  and gets 12." [d20=5]
[22:39] <Whurric> ooc: *drives an axe into Hatbot's head*
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 26." [1d20=16]
[22:41] <Kotono> The big man stares down at Whurric, eyes a frosty blue shade throughout, no hint of pupil or iris. He stares for several seconds before grunting, stepping aside.
[22:42] <Whurric> "That's a good lad," Whurric comments as he looks ahead into the room quickly, and if it looks safe enough, will shift to the side to let Gustival take the lead again, otherwise he'll lead the way in.

[Corwin]

[19:48] <Kotono> Within is a warm room. A fire is lit, raising the temperature enough to make sweat pop out on Whurric's brow. Within this room are two other people. One is a lanky man with short brown hair, wearing a tunic and leggings. The other is an older man with a beard and a grimace on his face. His hair and beard are snow white, though he's not particularly wrinkled. Gustival heads inside, nodding
[19:48] <Kotono> to the older man.
[19:49] <Kotono> After a moment of quiet, "Gustival," The older man inclines his head back, as the white behemoth takes a position besides the older man.
[19:50] * ORval (~Dis@c-71-194-208-215.hsd1.il.comcast.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[19:50] * Whurric stands besides Gustival and just observes the others quietly, since that's pretty much what's expected of him.
[19:51] <Kotono> "Leluth Sevarn," Gustival rumbles back, the two matching gazes together. AFter a moment Leluth smiles, "So what business do you have for me today?"
[19:52] <Kotono> Gustival takes out a heavy coin sack, tossing it onto the table. "I heard one of your boys bought a shipment of grain and apples from Kesse about a week ago."
[19:53] <Kotono> The coin pouch gets a casual glance before the older man replies, "Yes, and...?" His voice is bland and polite enough, folding his hands together.
[19:55] <Kotono> "I want to buy it," Gustival goes right on, face a picture of dour disapproval. "500 marks."
[19:57] <Kotono> "5,000," Leluth Sevarn answers back immediately. The two lock eyes a moment, "So what's so special about that pile of food?"
[19:59] <Kotono> There's a longer pause before an answer, "Problems back at home. I'll give you 700 marks, which is plenty of profit. We both walk away happy and without any..." A glance at Whurric, "Problems."
[20:01] <Kotono> The big white man steps forward, whilst Leluth Sevarn just gives Whurric a look, "You think you can make problems for us, dwarf?"
[20:11] <Whurric> "I'm pretty sure I know a few ways I can if that's what I need to," Whurric answers with a wide toothy smile. "Do I need to cut something up? Well, that's entirely up to you...but let's leave it at the fact that I walk away from my fights with fewer reminders of how the fight went than your large friend." Whurric gestures at all the scars on the man with the head of his axe.
[20:11] <Kotono> OOC: Make an intimidation check, +2 bonus?
[20:12] <Whurric> roll d20+13
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Whurric rolls d20+13 and gets 29." [d20=16]
[20:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 30." [1d20=18]
[20:23] <Kotono> Leluth Sevarn doesn't even blink at that. He gives Whurric another gaze, "2,000 marks," he announces, "Plus details on why this is so important to you."
[20:23] <Kotono> The white giant just crackls his knuckles, meeting Whurric's gaze as well.
[20:27] <Kotono> "1,000 gold," Gustival retorts back, slowly starting to smile. It changes his face, no joy in it a tall. "My friend, you don't want to get involved in Kesse's problems. This here? This is a courtesy." Stepping forward and tapping the table, right in front of the quiet, lanky man, who barely even blinks at it, "Seira's name has power with the Crimson Guard. Do you want a visit from them and
[20:27] <Kotono> all your shipments seized?"
[20:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 23." [1d20=10]
[20:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 31." [1d20=19]
[20:29] <Kotono> "If you had that in mind, we wouldn't be here," Again Leluth Sevarn doesn't even blink. "1,850 marks and the story behind this."
[20:31] <Kotono> "1,400 marks," The retort is immediate, "Do you want to gamble all your cargo in this city on a maybe? If Seira's church and the Crimson Guard blackballs you in Balmuria, so will Waukeen's church. You won't get a penny from here or west for a generation.""
[20:32] <Kotono> "1,500 marks and the story," After a few more moments of contemplation, and another glance at Whurric, "Agreed?"
[20:36] <Kotono> After a moment Gustival scowls again, "Agreed." He extends a hand out, the two men exchanging handshakes. "Are those two trustworthy?"
[20:37] <Kotono> "Yes. Xandrin here," A curt look to the white giant, "He's loyal to me. Silent John there couldn't tell anyone if he wanted to. Got his tongue cut out after a bad round of cards."
[20:41] <Whurric> "I can always entertain the pair of 'em outside if you'd like some privacy," Whurric notes nonchalantly to Gustival.
[20:42] <Kotono> "Do that," Gustival says after a moment's thought, after listening to Leluth. After another moment the older merchant nods, Silent John leaving without a word. Xandrin gives Whurric a long gaze, "Coming?"
[20:44] * Whurric nods, moving out the door and leaving Gustival and Leluth alone.
[20:45] <Kotono> Once outside Xandrin gives you a long look. He stands in front of the door back in, arms crossed. He looms over you like a mountain, until, "Didn't know dwarves worked for Serians."
[20:50] * Whurric shrugs. "Can't speak for other dwarves. As long as the work's not disagreeable though, well, it's work. Not exactly much to do since things didn't degenerate into a fight though, gotta admit," he replies.
[21:15] <Kotono> With a grunt Xandrin just nods to that. He goes quiet, waiting. OOC: Going to do anything or just wait.
[21:15] <Whurric> ooc: just wait. I'd invite 'em to sit down and play cards, but I'm sure Silent John wouldn't appreciate it.
[21:17] <Kotono> About a half hour passes before Gustival emerges. He nods to them all once, "Let's go," he says to Whurric.
[21:19] * Whurric puts away his axe and follows after Gustival silently.
[21:21] <Kotono> Once outside and a few blocks away, Gustival glances at Whurric, "You did fine. Couldn't get the bastard to even blink, but I couldn't, either. Man has ice water in his blood."
[21:23] <Whurric> "Your trade deal went about as expected then?" Whurric asks with a raised eyebrow.
[21:26] <Kotono> "Worse than I was hoping. I was hoping to get it for a thousand marks or less." Gustival shakes his head, "Let alone having to spill details."
[21:30] <Whurric> "Hrm...he really did seem to not react much outside of the occasional glance my way. His large guard was really much more emotional, honestly. What sort of man is he?" Whurric asks curiously.
[21:33] <Kotono> "Merchant family scion. Rich and good at the agme, has enough power so he can't be trampled." Gustival says, "If this was some penny ante merchant, we wouldn't have to do this. If we outfight force the issue with him, he'll do his damnest to damage our trades in return."
[21:43] <Whurric> "Huh, never thought of trading as being that complex a matter. You going to be needing anyone from Whimsical Sweets for more, or was it just that one meeting?" the dwarf asks as he takes a look back towards the inn.
[21:49] <Kotono> "Doesn't look like it. If nothing else," With a shake of his head, "Leluth isn't going to be a problem for the second half after all this now, I think."
[21:53] * Whurric nods again, not really having much more to add, and just continuing to escort Gustival.
[21:59] <Kotono> Soone nough you return back. Once back at the temple Gustival hands you a bag with jingling coins in it. "Payment for services," he says.
[22:04] * Whurric gives a single nod in thanks as he takes the bag. "Hope business carries on well for you then. If y'need any help later on, you know where to find us."
[22:05] <Kotono> Another nod back, as Whurric takes his moneya nd goes...