2-14 “Better than Nothing”

By the time we find Inspector Freeman, Harold's constant blathering is starting to get to me. He was scouring alleyways when we got to one of the men assigned to relay messages. How does he manage to root around in the alleys all day and not get even a smudge on his breastplate? places are quite filthy.

“Sir, this is Harold Wordweaver, a business partner of Peter Moldmaker, he's here to tell you what he knows. We have an enchanted stone of his appropriated for the investigation and he would like it back, if it proves irrelevant to the case.”

“Well, I wouldn't say I'm a partner, more of a-”

“Thank you Nivar.” Interrupting someone? He must be exhausted. “If you could take Ken and do a sweep of the alleyways, it'd speed things along nicely. This area looks like the center of the more recent disappearances.

“Mister Wordweaver, let's go talk someplace more comfortable, no sense standing out in the sun.”

Even something like this is preferable to standby, pretty sure he knows that much about me. Otherwise, it would probably have been an order, most of the others hate alley work. We spend a fair deal of time searching, and bump into another pair of watchmen that are on the same task, nothing to report except which areas they've already scoured. At least there wasn't any muck around to have to dig through, surprisingly dry around here. Ken is rather adept at avoiding and maneuvering around the detritus that is clogging up some of these alleys.

“It's getting close to the end of our shift, lets check one last set across the street from this one and head home, don't worry it's a small one.”

“Starving here, can't wait to get home and eat dinner.”

“Do you do the cooking at home too? When we were out in the woods before you made some surprisingly good stuff.”

“Only one at home to do the cooking, taught myself to cook when I was tired of paying too much for food or eating junk.”

“No one else at home? Have you been looking? I'm sure a lot of women would be impressed by the uniform, and that you can cook like that.”

“No, saving myself for someone back in the hometown, we've been keeping in touch via a pair of enchanted brooches I... obtained from a previous employer. Waiting for the situation down there to be appropriate to get her out.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“Worse, I really wish I had-”

“Hey! Stop, thief!” We're just approaching the street, they aren't crowded, stall owners are starting to pack up. Probably a snatch and run. Hope he's running this way, I bet there'll be a great look on his face when two watchmen pop out of an alley.

2-7 “Full Cooperation”

She brings us our drinks, the sage water here is as good as ever. After managing a few more orders she comes back to us.

“So, what questions does The Watch want answered today?”

I hold up the sketch of the victim and the sketch of the man the victim talked to at the bar on the day he was killed.

“Do you recognize either of these two?”

She looks the two portraits over for a moment. “Yeah,” she indicates the victim's picture, “I don't know much about him but I remember how ridiculous he looked when he came in here. The guy wasn't a regular.”

She then indicates the other sketch, “This one is Peter Moldmaker. He used to come in here every other day for lunch and mead. Haven't seen him in about four days though. He runs a small metal sculpture shop in the southwestern part of town. Never started talking about it until he was right drunk, never got an intelligible address for the place. Anything else?”

The missing persons started being localized to the southern section of town about four days ago, that's worth looking into.

“Have you heard much about the missing persons lately?”

Selena has good ears and is probably in the know of much of what various underground organizations are up to. She doesn't talk unless asked, but she's always cooperative. Funny thing is, the criminals know she's a willing informant. They haven't managed to silence her, so they try to avoid discussing their own affairs around her, instead talking about the plans of their competition.

“No, I'm afraid not. I imagine that the damn slavers, and blue dust runners are all laying low until it blows over.”

We had originally thought that the missing people could have been kidnapings carried out by the people trying to start an underground slave trade here. After so many people with families or a lot of contacts were reported missing, we decided that it was more likely to be unrelated. Usually they try to pick up new folks in the city, people not many would notice disappearing.

Investigator Freeman enters the building. He starts questioning some of the customers.

“Well, I have some information to pass along. Drink was wonderful as usual. Good afternoon.”

I empty my cup and leave the payment plus tip for Selena. Investigator Freeman will be glad to hear we have some real leads finally.

2-6 “Heroes”

The tavern is busy during lunch, The dull roar of everyone talking greets me as I enter. The smell of food and alcohol pervades the (mostly) well lit room. The first of the place's owners I run into is, of course, old Sandro, the bouncer.

Sandro was their muscle back when they were fighting monsters in ruins and whatever else it is these treasure hunters used to do for a living. Even in his advanced years he can still put an unruly drunk out the door with ease, and the last guy that tried to rob the place learned that his walking stick isn't to help him get around. The massive scar running across his face draws many questions but no one, as of yet, has been able to get a reliable answer. Every time you ask he comes up with something new.

“Well hello there, Nivar.” He takes a look at Ken as we enter, “Stuck with some new blood, eh?”

“If it's obvious, then I haven't been as useful in helping him train as I had thought.”

Ken get's a look at the scar, “I bet there's a story behind that one.”

“Ah, yes, I will never forget the lesson I learned that day...”

A pause, he always leaves a pause, I think it's so that he has time to come up with something new or perhaps to think back and remember which stories he's already told the current listener. I've heard about ten different explanations for that scar, from the serious to the absurd.

“Never shave with your magical dagger.”

“You never had a magic dagger, Sandro!” That would be Dekrom, the serious dwarf is always quick to dispel any of Sandro's fantasies. Dekrom currently works as the cook and sometimes waiter of the tavern. From what I've gathered, he is a wizard and not one of low caliber. If he see's someone about to get unruly he often takes the initiative of casting a sleep spell or some other similar enchantment to save Sandro the trouble of a fight.

The two start a very colorful exchange of the sort you only see between two friends, this is always a good moment to let them be and move on to the bar. The fellow that the victim talked to on the day he was killed is not around today. Oh well, hopefully I can glean some useful information from Selena, the bartender. If you ask her she'll tell you she was the groups scout, and that 'Oh no, I've never used my skills for anything illegal,' but while I've yet to catch her at it, she is a pickpocket at the least. The way she puts it is that she 'always gets a tip' even if the barfly in question didn't leave her one intentionally.

She and Dekrom started running this place when Sandro's old age finally stopped him from being able to fight the type of things they planned on encountering on their treasure hunts. The elves and dwarves live so much longer than we do, I wonder if befriending humans is hard on them? It would explain why their kingdoms tend to be so isolationist.

She gives us a smile, “It's so rare for you to bring a friend Nivar. On duty or off? Not that it changes what you order.”

“On duty, so nothing heavy for the kid here.” She knows that I only come here on duty if I have questions.

Ken look a little downtrodden, “I guess it'll be lemonade for me then.”

She already knows what I always order.