Sonya
You enter a salon furnished entirely in red. The air is filled with a heady perfume, and four barely dressed “Ladies” are sitting on a circular settee in the center of the room, looking at you with some astonishment.
a fifth woman comes up to you and doubtfully asks “What can I do for you?”
“Quite a lot, by the looks of it.”
“Nothing. Maybe some other time.”
“I think we took a wrong turn somewhere.”
“My girls have a lot to offer, but I doubt they’ll show it to such as you. After all, they’ve got their pride.”
“There are people willing to pay for those hags?”
“Are they that ashamed of their bodies?”
“You underestimate us, fair lady.”
“I can’t imagine there will be a next time for you.”
“We’ll see.”
“Why? Women have got lethal charms around here?”
“I get the feeling we’re not welcome here.”
“Very perceptive, darling.”
“Seems any orc’s a genius around this place.”
“Looks like we’re intruding on important business.”
“O.k., I guess we better leave.”
“It is hard to imagine my girls having any trouble with you lot, but you might scratch them, and that’s bad for business.”
she gives a quick tug on nearby bell-pull and without hesitation three armed men storm in.
“Don’t you think you’re overestimating the danger you pose?”
“What say we put them to the test?”
“We never repeat our opponents’ errors.”
“You may be right.”
“Why, you might not be as stupid as you look. You might even be able to find the way out all by yourself… now!”
A Pirate
When you open the door, there is a fierce barroom brawl in progress. Tables and chairs are flying across the room and in the center of it all stands a frantic tavernkeeper, trying to save what he can of his furniture.
you stand by the entrance for a few seconds without being noticed, then one man gets thrown right at your feet.
“What are you standing there for?” he bellows. “The thugs have ambushed us!”
“So?”
“Give those thugs what for!”
“Don’t let us keep you from the fun.”
The man stares at you in disbelief, then he shouts “Traitors!”
Immediately, the room falls silent and dozens of beaten and battered faces turn to look at you.
A Man
As you enter the “Hook and crook”, all talk inside ceases. Everyone stares at you in open hostility.
“Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, you scarecrows.” one of the men informs you.
“Yes, you certainly are, bottom breath.”
“I would most certainly regret that, my good man.”
“Pray tell, why are you all so beastly?”
“You’re going to regret saying that, you rat-face, take my word for it.”
The man viciously swings the leg of a chair at the nearest member of your party and you can see his mates rising to join in.
“So we don’t like stinking orcs. Big deal!”
“Being insulted by you is music to my ears.”
“What, is my shave that bad?”
“Do keep insulting us if it makes you happy.”
“You haven’t just got a bad shave, boys, you stink! You look like some measly little landlubbers who desperately need a keelhauling, and most of all, you live mighty dangerously. Any more questions?”
“Yeah, at which brothel does your mother work?”
“Yeah. How did you live to be this old?”
“No, thank you very much.”
“You’re too feeble even to provide a challenge and I’m afraid I’d fall asleep bashing your heads in. Paddle off, before I change my mind.”
With those words he pushes you out into the street.
Innkeeper
Behind the inn’s counter stands a short man with sparse hair and a nose like a beak. He pointedly ignores you.
quite a while later, as you shuffle about with impatience, he glances up, looks you over and says: “You’re no seamen, are you?”
“No, thanks be to the gods!”
“Sure we are. Can’t you see that?”
“No, we must have taken a wrong turn.”
“Well, you’ve no business here then.”
without another word, he lowers his head and starts to scrutinize the countertop.
“Not while you’re all buttoned up like that. Let’s have a look…”
“Absolutely out of the question!”
“What, now? Here? Well, really…”
“What do you mean?”
“That’s what I thought. You know the way out, do you?”
“I’m not going to waste anymore time with you lot. I can’t stand it if someone sails under a foreign flag, anyway. Josur? Come in here and show these idiots the door. But don’t hurt them anymore than you have to.”
“Trash like you, pretending to be seamen? Get out, now!”
Storekeeper
There is a steady coming and going here. Goods are being brought in or moved out all the time. A man is standing at the gates, both hands in his pockets, giving orders.
When he sees you, he barks: “Get lost, can’t you see I’m working!”
“No, we can’t, you lazy lout!”
“But it’s important!”
“You mean we’re disturbing you?”
The man stares at you in disbelief. Then he calls over four of his men.
“Throw them out, and don’t be too careful!”
The foreman gives a loud sigh, before acknowledging your request with a terse: “Yes?”
“The boss wants yesterday’s take right away!”
“How about some courtesy!”
“We need some sailcloth, if possible.”
“Very perceptive, my friend. Well, now that’s clear, maybe we can all continue with our work.”
With those words he turns away and leaves you.
“So go see the sailmaker. What do you think he’s there for?” he turns back to his work.
Carpenter
Three strong men are in the process of carving a new mast for a dragonship in this large workshop. The oldest of the three comes up to you and tersely asks:
What do you want?”
“Watch your tone, sir!”
“We just came by to keep you from your work.”
“We’d like to buy a ship, master.”
The man with the large timber axe grins derisively.
“Either you’re very stupid or very brave.”
“It doesn’t take any courage to stand here.”
“Just because your axe is bigger than you are?”
“You must have misunderstood us, sir!”
“Get lost and stop bothering me.”
“Don’t tell us you’re actually working!”
“And who’ll be there to catch you if you fall?”
“Only if you insist.”
The shipwright gives you an evil grin.
“O. K., that’ll be three thousand ducats in advance… that means now.”
“You can get three hundred up your backside!”
“Yes, of course. Right away. Where did I put it…”
“Beg pardon, that’s quite a lot!”
“Make tracks, before I have you thrown out!”
“As you wish. Boys, over here! And bring your axes!”
A Drunk Man
The bar is full mostly of drunken sailors. When the door closes behind you, they all stare at you.
“You’re not seamen, are you?” drawls a drunken brute.
“Why do you ask? We got bow legs or something?”
“Sure. Any problems with that?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Let’s see your tattoos, then! Come on!”
“Come and look for them if you dare!”
“You’re that anxious for some skin, fellow?”
“We haven’t got any, honest!”
“Get them!” the brute bellows and jumps you along with everybody else.
“Leave our bar, you milkpuffs! Now! And don’t you dare show your faces around here again, that is if you want to keep them!”
Old Man (Map Maker)
There is an old man sitting by a desk in the small cabin, checking a cursory drawing against an old map. As you approach, he covers the drawing with his body and asks:
“What do you want?”
“Your secrets, what else. Let’s have them!”
“A treasure map. You don’t happen to have one?”
“Your advice on a difficult trip.”
“You got some big mouths. Have you got a writ from your captain? If you don’t, you better get out real quick.”
“We don’t need any writs.”
“Writ? Gee, I forgot to bring it along.”
“Why? Do we need one?”
“I can’t give you anything without a writ, not even advice. Do remember to get one before you come back.”
“Bureaucratic oaf!”
“Couldn’t we settle that among ourselves, hm?”
“I guess we better.”
“You came to the right man. No one knows this area as well as I do. Let’s take a look at your writ and you can consider your problem solved.”
“Writ? What are you talking about?”
“What if we don’t have one?”
“I’m sorry, do we need a writ?”
“You better get lost real fast, before I call the guards!”
“Bad move! Consider yourselves fortunate I just throw you out and don’t call the guards!”
“I’m very sorry, but without a writ I can’t help you. That’s the way things are, I’m afraid.”