The Gang is All Together Part 1

Posted on 01 Jun 2021 @ 9:18pm by Mage Kalian Winter & Warrior Martin Josceran & Warrior Rhiannon Cadash & Rogue Cainan Sauvage & Rogue Elinowy Ursulas & Rogue Harlowe Dulmi

2,981 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Summerday La Fête
Location: Raven's Roost Tavern
Timeline: Cloudreach 18th – afternoon

OOC: After 'Welcome Back' and 'The Talk'

Jaslyn left the stables south of the Jader town proper accompanied by Cainan and Rhiannon. She was tired after everything they'd been through but definitely in a celebratory mood. Jaslyn knew she should check-in at the Grey Warden compound near the stables, but she wanted that drink.

Rhi had agreed to go along to get a drink. She walked closer to Jaslyn than Cainan. She like the mans look but it was Jaslyn that had caught her eye. The woman was not only sexy but seemed like she would have a good sense of humor.

Cainan needed a drink; he kept his carefree, jovial facade in place so well he almost convinced himself, but deep down, in a part of himself he knew existed but rarely acknowledged, he knew the fallout from the mine would ripple outward into his life for a long time to come. His responsibilities to Felix and Harlan, his responsibilities to Julanna's family... His responsibility towards Javier. He was going to have to do all of it, to at least some degree; these were not the family commitments he was so happy to let slide, or the societal norms he was so happy to remain contrary to. These would be necessary, and that part of him wouldn't stop tugging at him till he had done them.

He noticed the dwarf, pretty as she was in a rough way, maintaining a closer step with Jaslyn. He wasn't a jealous man; far from it, in fact, as he had been more than happy to share lovers in the past, but it was a new development; for once in his life, he decided not to inject himself into a potentially sexy situation.

The three of them passed through the craft guild district, where the hammers of the smith's apprentices could be heard ringing against anvils, crafters sang call and answer tunes to maintain the rhythm of their looms, and bright just-dying cloth hung to dry. Although Jaslyn had come with Cainan to the Raven's Roost before going to the mine, their visit had been brief. Just long enough for the proprietress to tell them her brother and friends were already at the mine.

As the three passed the craft district Rhi heard the fall of the hammers. It was a noise that every dwarf knew. No matter their chosen life. It was in their bones. The rhythm of the fall, "clang-ping-ping-ping. Clang-ping-ping-ping. Clang-ping-ping-ping." Rhi felt that rhythm in her a she slightly swayed to its as they continued to the Raven's Roost.

She pushed open the tavern's distinctive outer door, carved with the image of a Raven. Then Jaslyn paused, holding the inner door for her two companions. Inside, Cainan's three friends were sitting at a table laden with food that seemed to be leftover from breakfast, she didn't see any other tavern patrons. The three appeared to have been discussing something serious.

Kalian looked up at the new arrivals with a distinctly relieved expression and got to his feet. "Good to see you all. I'll bet you could use a drink."

Cainan grinned, following Jaslyn and Rhiannon in. The subtle scent of wood stained with ale and beer and sweat caught his nose, welcoming him back. Oh yes, he was going to need some drinks. "Three drinks, if you would - as large a tankard as you have, and whatever the ladies are having as well," he added, fully intending to drink the three himself. "These are on me," he added to his companions; he had two sovereigns in his pocket, and he fully intended to burn as much of it on food, booze and other distractions before the end of the day.

"Please do consider me the willing recipient of your generous endowment," said Jaslyn, with a salacious grin for Cainan.

Kalian gave the elf a curious once-over - Tessa had mentioned an elven Grey Warden with Cainan – then he hurried to the kitchen to fetch more ale.

Martin was pleased to see Cainan and Jaslyn ; he hadn't got the chance to thank them for their timely arrival yet, things had been a little bit chaotic at the mine. And Rhiannon's help had come in more than a little bit handy.

"Why don't you all take a seat ?" he said, waving at the empty chairs. His eyes felt gritty with lack of sleep and he still had to escort Elinowy to the Chantry, but he figured they had five minutes to thank their saviours.

Elinowy had remained fairly detached from the clean up at the mine. Her time had been spent on the sick and avoiding Kalian, she had not spoken to Cainan and his... companion. She put down her tea from the toast Martin had offered to their hesitantly proclaimed bonds of friendship. She smiled welcomingly at Cainan and Rhiannon before her eyes drifted onto... the elf. She had been so preoccupied by the ramifications of her talk with Kalian she had not even considered her appearance. . This was most unbecoming of a devoted sister of the Chantry. She drew one hand over her chest in a vain attempt at modesty. Cainan and... the elf settled into the chairs, leaving Elinowy to sit directly looking at the elf. She turned her head so as not to make eye contact with the creature. "Msr. Sauvage, so good to see you again. We are in your debt for our escape from the mine." she said in greeting. "and to you Mistress Rhiannon. I am glad to see you are unharmed." The look returned from Cainan made her even more self conscious of her appearance. "I... ah... don't believe I was introduced to... your friend." she said courteously, turning her gaze back to the elf. "I am sister Elinowy Ursulas. Forgive my casual appearance."

Kalian returned from the bar with a tray of tankards full of ale, and began silently setting them in front of the new arrivals, plus a second round for Martin and himself.

Rhi had given Kalian and Martin a nod. Sitting with them Rhi got a drink. She sat down next to Jaslyn if she can, if not she will sit across from her. She listened as the Chantry Sister Elinowy thanked Sauvage and her. She raised her drink of ale and smiled warmly at the sister. "Sister please. There is not need of thanks. It was my pleasure to deal with someone who treated others like slaves. Besides, I made a great deal in the end."

Jaslyn smiled gratefully at Martin's invitation, and pulled up a chair ending up between Cainan and Rhiannon, and across the table from Martin and the tall red-headed human woman. In the busy organization of the caravan back to Jader, she had caught everyone's name, but not the dark man serving drinks. "A pleasure to officially meet you, sister Elinowy. My name is Jaslyn." With a sly glance at Cainan, Jaslyn wondered if there was a particular reason for the sister's disapproving expression, and why Elinowy still wore immodest rags… not that Jaslyn could complain about the view. She had the sense that there was… something... between Elinowy and Cainan. And if there was, well… she'd made no exclusive claim to Cainan's charms and with her stiff posture Elinowy looked like she could use the kind of release a man of Cainan's considerable skill could deliver.

"Indeed, Rhiannon here," Jaslyn slapped the dwarf on the back with warm approval, "offered the mine owners the opportunity to get the mine up and running as a legitimate business. With workers being paid fair wages, it could make quite a difference to the poor of Jader looking for work. And I've no doubt you'll make a profit as well." Jaslyn raised her tankard to Rhiannon, then drank.

Martin mirrored Jaslyn's toast to Rhiannon. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about the pretty dwarf yet, but when she'd had to make a choice she had sided with them, that counted for something.

"Some steady employment for the refugees would definitely make a difference. And even a poor vein of silverite should yield enough profit to make everyone happy. I think it will benefit Jader as a whole." He looked at Jaslyn. "And we have you to thank for that, as well. I very much appreciate your and Cainan's timely arrival."

Rhi gave Jaslyn a big smile when she slapped her back. Her attention turned to Martin when he spoke up. She raised her glass to both comments and downed her drink. Setting the mug upside down she motioned for the waitress to bring her another one. As she did she grinned. "Tis nothing. Small vein of silverite or not, it is not so much that I am looking to make a profit. I believe that people should be able to earn a decent living. If the mine dries up then those working will be given a good severance and offers of other employment with either myself, my mother or with someone else."

At the rate his friends were drinking, and with Cainan paying, Kalian and his sister gave up delivering ale in tankards – each of which would need to be washed - and Kalian helped his sister deliver pitchers of ale to their group, so his friends could pour it themselves, and he could stay in his seat long enough to drink too. "That's good to hear, Rhiannon." Kalian himself was planning to stop in to see the pretty dwarf and ask about what she'd said in the mine about working for her.

Cainan had to feel good about that part - less poor people, or rather more money in their hands, was always going to be a good thing. He noticed a cool demeanour from the good sister, but put it down to her less than formal attire and the associated embarrassment therein, and took his seat at their adjacent table. "Yes, thank you Rhiannon - that is the best possible outcome for the mine; I had feared it would simply fall into the hands of another gang and the cycle would just repeat," Caninan mused, raising the newly delivered tankard to his new dwarven ... friend? Things had changed so fast in the last few days that he was happy to forgo the usual dance of acquaintance to friend for all present. As it was, some of his oldest friends had recently created a space in his heart that he was happy to fill with new experiences.

Jaslyn nodded to Rhiannon. "Next time you go on out to the mine to check on things, I wouldn't mind going along. I didn't see the mine itself, and I'm curious. Silverite is often used in weapons for fighting darkspawn."

Rhi gave a nod to Caninan. She liked the young man. "I would not have allowed that to happen. I have plans for the mine." She smiled, a bit mischievous though, but a smile none the less. She turned back to Jaslyn. "It would be my pleasure if you were to come along." Her smile warm and inviting. "Silverite is used in weapons against darkspawn. It is expensive to work with. Have to get the right mixture or the weapon is useless."

"Guard Captain Landry," said Jaslyn, addressing Martin, "She's a piece of work. You and your friends exposed what was happening in the mine, and freed all those people. Sure got her knickers in a bit of a suspicious twist. How much trouble are you in?"

"Hmm..." Martin grimaced. "I suppose it depends on your definition of what trouble is. I'll probably pull a few months of unpleasant assignments. Identifying corpses, night patrols in poor districts, you know, the stuff no one wants to do. But I'll live.

"Any chance you could sleep with her?" Cainan asked, bluntly. The looks that elicited caused him to shrug in his own defense, his hands open and facing the ceiling as if to show he had no ulterior motive. "What? Pretty sure she could use it, and might reduce the penalty of... what, doing your job?" Cainan asked, raising an incredulous eyebrow. "Serious question; would she not have given the go-ahead for a mission if you had brought it to her? With the evidence you would not have been able to get without going there, I mean. I'm not entirely sure why you'd be in trouble beyond the good Captain just not having the chance to take credit for it."

Martin nearly spat out his beer, and found himself desperately coughing. He thought of the captain more as a mother figure than anything else, and the notion of sleeping with her felt disturbingly incestuous.

"The captain is, hum. Not my type." He admitted. "Anyway, she wasn't wrong. I should have planned for back-up. If you and Jaslyn had not showed up in such a timely manner... we might all be dead." That was a sobering thought. "Think of it this way... I went with a civilian and a Chantry sister, put us all in danger, and did not even had a few friends following us from afar. I should have thought this through better. I don't know if the captain would have approved it if I'd gone to her with what flimsy evidence we had... but she also has to deal with the politics of the job."

The fact was that the captain yelled a lot at Martin... but she also gave him a lot of leeway to do his job as he saw fit. And, while she might ostensibly have him on latrine cleaning duty, she had never penalized him in ways that would truly hurt.

Rhi sat quietly listening to those around her. She sipped at her drink as the conversation continued. Her smile it was getting to be interesting when Cainan commented about Martin sleeping with the captain. It was Martins response that made her laugh. "Oh now that would be a sight to see."

Kalian shook his head. "I heard Landry yelling at Martin, in front of the other guards. That woman is mean. I'm surprised she doesn't carry a whip."

"She probably does… at times," said Jaslyn, slyly. "Landry's the type. A politically ambitious dominatrix." She spoke thoughtfully, summing Landry up - at least in her own estimation. She'd write her report to her commander the next morning, after a good night's sleep. And other things… Jaslyn lifted her glass to new friends, and drank.

Martin bit back a smile as he returned the toast. It felt nice to have friends who had his back. The thought startled him ; he hadn't known these people for a very long time, and already he thought of them as friends. Then again... most of them had saved his life at least once already. An auspicious start to any friendship.

* * * *

The door to the tavern swings open, revealing a stout dwarven individual of dubious gender, but that's okay; that's just the way they like things to be. They are dressed in a simple leather studded brigandine over a quilted doublet, an undyed and roughspun cloak tossed over their shoulders. This dwarf surveys the Raven's Roost with a blue-eyed squint before their eyes settle upon the bar, and then the table of other patrons occupying the space. Intending to listen, the dwarf climbs up into one of the seats at the bar, and places down a handful of copper. Patrons often offer far more information than bartenders. Patrons, also, were normally drunk. But judging by the one introducing herself as a Sister, something in them has doubts. They order a bowl of the house soup and a simple drink -- just some watery ale, nothing like home -- but remain otherwise quiet, their face towards their business so the others do not know of their eavesdropping.

After his serious conversation with Elinowy and Martin, Kalian slipped into his usual, gregarious demeanor he used to greet guests. His sister Tessa had served the dwarf already, but Kalian decided to approach them and introduce himself with a sincere, wide-mouthed grin. "Hello there, friend. I don't think I've seen you here before. I'm Kalian."

The dwarf in question casts their gaze up and down the human approaching them, one eyebrow lifted. It would seem this sort of environment is the sort that results in people coming up to complete strangers to ask them questions. As usual, however, Harlowe is unflappable. A small smirk lifts their cheek, pinches it with a dimple. This sort of half-smile was hardly genuine, but Harlowe knows one catches more flies with honey than vinegar -- some less pleasant sorts than others. "Harlowe Dulmi. But you can call me Harlowe, I suppose."

"A pleasure to meet you, Harlowe. I don't recall seeing you here before, are you new to Jader?" asked Kalian with sincere interest. "A group of us are drinking at that table over there, would you like to join us?"

"New indeed," the dwarf replies, taking a sip off the alcohol in front of them. "Just wandered through on the Imperial roads from the east."

They cast their gaze in the direction of the table nearby. While they would have been just fine listening from a distance, perhaps they'd learn more directly nearby. Or less, depending on how caution plays these sorts of individuals. Though, judging how Kailan just up and approached the prickly-looking strange dwarven individual who just wandered in, despite all shadiness to their appearance, they think "caution," for now, is just not in the others' vocabularies.

"Sure. Why not."

Kailan motioned Harlowe toward the tables with Martin, Elinowy, Rhiannon, Cainan, and the elven Grey Warden, and considered how they all might appear to the dwarven newcomer. "We're a friendly lot. Really."

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OOC: Continued in 'The Gang is All Together, Part 2'

 

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