Cheese Toast
“Cheese Toast — 12 Bit” That’s what it says on the sign next to a vending booth.
“Eat more cheese toast!” the vendor cries. How about a little snack?
You know, that cheese toast is lip-smacking good.
Of course, you shouldn’t eat any when you’re already full: [Hero] gets decidedly nauseous. In fact, [Hero] has trouble keeping it down.
“Better not eat any more cheese toast then,” comments [Hero] dryly.
Maraskanian Rice Sack
A sack falls off a passing cart. [Hero] barely avoids being hit by it. The sack splits open at [his/her] feet, and coarse-grained rice spills out on the pavement.
“Maraskan Rice” it says on the sack in big letters.
Star Trail Map Seller
A man in a long coat is standing at the street corner watching people go by. When you pass him, he opens his coat and shows you a large parchment.
“Interested in a genuine treasure map? For you, just 100 Ducats!” he murmurs in a Phexian voice.
[Hero] is skeptical. “… and just what kind of a treasure would that be?”
The man looks about suspiciously, and when he is sure no one else can hear, he proudly answers: “The map gives the way to the hiding place of the legendary throwing axe Star Trail!”
“Star Trail?! Did I hear him say Star Trail just now?” [Hero] asks in a dangerously calm voice. “I do believe he said Star Trail!” [Hero] answers equally calm.
“Star Trail? Did I actually hear you say Star Trail just now?” [Hero] asks in a dangerously calm voice.
The tone of voice must have warned the man, because he actually managed to dodge [Hero]’s fists when they start flying all of a sudden, and ran away faster than [Hero] could pursue. After a few steps, [Hero] lets him go.
Dog Catchers #1
With some amazement, [Hero] watches a man in rags using a piece of sausage to lure a dog toward a group of three fellows armed with ropes and nets that are just as raggedy looking as he is. The dog has barely gone past them when it is caught.
Do you:
Put the dog catchers on the spot
Mind your own business
“Hey, you, what are you doing?” [Hero] barks.
“Mind yer own bloody biz’ness!” the lure — who seems to be the group’s leader — shoots back.
How are you going to react to that?
Teach the lout some manners
Mind your “own business”
[Hero] doesn’t need any help to do that: One blow each sends the band leader and the guy holding the net with the dog to the ground.
The other two hesitate just a fraction of a second too long before attacking, and [Hero] sends them to join their comrades in blissful oblivion.
“Scum!” [Hero] growls and kicks the motionless figure of the leading dog catcher, gratiously ignoring the soft crack of his breaking ribs. Carefully, to avoid being bitten, [Hero] frees the dog who isn’t quite sure yet who’s on who’s side in this.
“Go on — get out of here!” [Hero] barks at the confused animal — and what do you know: the dog understands…
Dog Catchers #2
With some amusement, [Hero] watches the ragged fellow with the bandaged chest as he lures a dog with a small piece of sausage, passing by next to,.
“Haven’t we met before?” [Hero] asks softly when the dog catcher has reached [his/her] side.
Surprised, the man looks up, and all the color drains from his face with panicked recognition.
“My dear old pal!” [Hero] bellows with mocked chumminess and gives the dog catcher a bear hug that makes the man whimper in pain… until [Hero] hears the soft crack [Hero] has been waiting for… and with a whimper of pain, the man goes limp in -o arms.
At the far end of the street, [Hero] can see the dog catcher’s mates inconspicuously making their get away. With a sigh, [Hero] he feeds the sausage to the barking dog… a dog that has no idea it how barely avoided disaster.
“Say, how long are his ribs going to stand that sort of treatment?” [Hero] asks with a hint of concern.
[Hero] waves it off: “He’s obviously healthy enough as long as he can go on catching dogs!”
Dog Catchers #3
“Stone me! If it isn’t our old pals!” [Hero] says and leans against a shadowy wall until the dog catchers, carrying off their catch, have almost reached,.
“Well met, gentlemen!” [Hero] hails the band and steps from the shadows.
“What an ill-mannered lot!” [Hero] declares, watching the fleeing dog-catchers as they run away. A dull thump and a shrill whimper reach your ears, when their leader, in his panic, runs right into the corner wall his companions have already turned! Shaking [his/her] head, [Hero] frees the dog from the net.
“You again! That’s the third time we’ve had to rescue you,” says [Hero], bending down to pet the dog that’s looking up at [Hero] with trusting eyes. “Stop running after every little snip of sausage you see. We can’t keep an eye on you forever,” [Hero] lectures.
For quite some time, the dog follows you until it sees a rat and runs off in pursuit of it, barking loudly.
Intoxicated Dwarves
A band of severely intoxicated dwarves is approaching, singing and shouting boisterously. Suddenly, one of the dwarves stops dead in his tracks and stares wide-eyed at [Hero]: “It’s me mother-in-law!” he shrieks, then he turns and runs away as fast as his little legs can carry him.
“Talk about being stoned out of your skull!” [Hero] exclaims and, with some bemusement, watches the rest of the dwarves. They are are arguing about whether they should follow their fleeing compatriot, get out of your way or simply continue drunkenly onward.
Pickled Dwarves
A band of severely pickled dwarves all of a sudden turns the corner right in front of you. [Hero] doesn’t have time to step aside and runs right into the leading one. Obviously, the collision jarred him, and he, ah, divests himself of his stomach contents all over [Hero]’s clothes.
Cursing loudly, [Hero] looks at the mess that used to be his/her clothes, whereas the dwarf doesn’t seem to know what really hit him just then. He is standing propped up against the nearest wall with a vacant look in his eyes until his companions pull him onward.
Dwarves Attack
Abruptly, a party of dwarves with at least four sheets to the wind turns the nearest corner. [Hero] hasn’t time to step aside and runs into the leading dwarf.
“W-wha’ a s-s-sorry sp-sp-exhibition,” the dwarf slurs, “g-g-ettin’ s-s-soused ou’ of your sk-sk-brain and then g-g-goin’ about b-b-botherin’ ‘armless p-p-passerses-by!” Following which, he attacks [Hero], swinging both his fists.
Even a drunk dwarf remains a strong opponent, although I can’t help thinking that defeat could well have been avoided with a bit of concentration. Anyway, [Hero] gasps for air and goes down.
The dwarf may be strong, but he is also well out of it by now. His fists don’t hit anywhere near [Hero], and propelled by his own momentum, he falls flat on his face, which is where he remains for now.
Singing Dwarves
A band of obviously soused dwarves comes at you, singing boisterously. They block the entire street, and there’s no way to avoid them. With amazing speed, they surround you.
[Hero] inconspicuously lets his/her hand drop to the hilt of his/her weapon.
“Whoa,” shouts one of the dwarves, probably their leader. I guess that move wasn’t all that inconspicuous after all. — “We were just going to ask you to join us. They have some excellent stout down there!” He points vaguely in some direction or the other. The only way to find out what tavern he is talking about is to join the dwarves on their binge! So, do you:
Go along
Decline the offer
The dwarves take you into their midst and head straight for the nearest tavern.
You spend a famous time with the little people, and when you get back out on the streets hours later, you have consumed a tremendous amount of stout and are much jollier than before.
The dwarf just nods, and then the band lets go of you to approach the next group of passers-by, singing just as loudly as out of tune.
Too much Brimstone
An old man, who has been watching the scene unfold with wry amusement, just shakes his head. “Too much brimstone,” he murmurs. “Far too much brimstone!”
A handsome young man walks up to you with almost floating movements and a far-away look. He wraps his arms around [Hero]’s neck and gives him a very wet kiss.
“I love you all…,” he sighs.
“Indeed!” [Hero] comments, disappointed.
[Hero] wipes his mouth while the young man “floats” away. Then, suddenly, he stops as if he’d hit a wall. He looks around with a confused expression, shrugs, and walks on with perfectly normal movements.
A pretty young woman walks up to you with almost floating movements and a far-away look. She wraps her arms around [Hero]’s neck and gives her a very wet kiss.
“I love you all…,” she sighs.
[Hero] wipes her mouth, while the young woman “floats” away. Then, suddenly, she stops as if she’d hit a wall. She looks around with a confused expression, shrugs, and walks on with perfectly normal movements.
Chamber Pot
An elderly man is looking out of a window in the upper story of a townhouse. When he sees a Holberkian pass by below, he disappears inside, reappears a moment later and empties a chamber pot onto the head of the blackpelt.
“Oops, I’m sorry! I didn’t see you down there!” he shouts contemptuously. What do you do:
Challenge the man
Mind your own business
[Hero] steps up to the door of the house and knocks. It takes a while, but then steps can be heard approaching, and the miscreant himself opens. “What do you want?” he asks none too friendly.
“Teach you some manners, buddy!”
“What you did to the Holberkian just then, you think that was funny?”
[Hero] [Hero] roars in anger und underlines % words with several hearty blows to the man’s face. It forces him back to the far end of the hallway where he falls to the floor with a bleeding nose.
“That’ll teach him!” [Hero] snarls, somewhat pleased.
the wrong man
the wrong woman
4 says [Hero].
“Take care of your own stuff!” the man bellows in return, but he’s facing D with that kind of attitude! With several hard blows to his face, [Hero] forces the man back to the far end of the hallway, finally leaving him lying there with a bleeding nose.
“That’ll teach the lout!” [Hero] snarls, somewhat pleased.
Street Wall Parchment
[Hero] sees a notice hanging on a street wall. The piece of parchment is covered all over with small letters. According to this, the Holberkians are to blame for the high rate of infant mortality, recent birth failures, and the bad harvest. What’s more, they are said to incite their cousins, the orcs, against the other peoples of Arkania, and prevent their other kin, the elves, from getting involved…
…They are charged with subverting the town as a help to the orcs. They are charged with having grasped an entire neighborhood of it already, and people who live in the adjacent streets are leaving, too, so the Holberkians will take over those as well. The author calculates how Riva will be populated entirely by Holberkians in twelve years time, thus turning the city over to the orcs without a fight…
…Besides, it claims, there are no supernatural beings in town, it says, but rather, it’s the Holberkians murdering innocent folk every night. The guild is supposed to be under their control anyhow, and the mysterious disease the judge suffered from some years ago is cited as proof of the blackpelts’ “turning” him, whatever that is supposed to mean…
…Also, the pirates on the island of Sorrek are said to have come on invitation by the Holberkians, and the black mage living outside of Riva in his tower has supposedly been bribed by the Holberkians and is doing his foul deeds on their behalf.
“Gearing up for a witch hunt, are they?!” is![Hero]’s cynical comment on this balderdash.
Woman with a Basket
A woman with a very full basket of goods is in the middle of the street. After fighting for her balance for a few seconds, she falls flat on her back. Her shopping falls all over the pavement. The basket rolls away and comes to the stop at the feet of a Holberkian, who helpfully bends down and starts gathering up the woman’s belongings in it.
“Disgusting thief!” she screams the second she notices the blackpelt.
It takes a while for the Holberkian to understand what the woman is saying, then he tries to explain in broken Garethi that he had no intention of stealing her shopping. However, the woman won’t be swayed and starts to attack the Holberkian. Now, things have gone far enough for [Hero], and [he/she] grabs the woman’s wrist.
“Now hold it…,” [Hero] starts, when one of the passers-by watching the commotion attacks [him/her]. With one blow, [Hero] flings away [his/her] opponent and turns around in an open challenge.
Suddenly, the people appear to have lost all taste in a fight and hurry off. Both the woman and the Holberkian have gone, too. The Twelve know which one of them took the basket.
Holberkian Scum
“Scum! Scum!” someone is shouting behind [Hero]’s back. You look back in surprise. Some children are following a Holberkian, hurling insults.
Shaking your heads, you walk on.
Sailor Falling
Suddenly, something hits [Hero] forcefully from the side, and a heavy weight drops on [his/her] shoulder.
“C-ca-canshou wash where shou-shou’re go-in’, shou lan-l-l-lubber shou?” drools a deep voice.
[Hero] decides to be polite and takes a step aside. There is a dull splat, when the sailor, suddenly deprived of his support, falls flat on his face.
The drunkard says something unintelligible, then he rolls over and falls fast asleep in the middle of the road.
Vessel Clash
Loud, hectic orders accompany the simultaneous movements of two ships casting off from the quay. The two skippers are standing on deck and exchange insults in between giving commands.
“What’s going on?” [Hero] asks a passing pedestrian who stops to enjoy the fracas.
“The ‘Tempest Bride’ is a warship, the ‘Hylailos’ a merchant vessel. Their respective captains think the other has no place sailing the same seas as they do,” the man explains with a grin. “Also, the harbor entrance is too narrow for both ships to pass at the same time!”
Incredulous, [Hero] stares at the harbor entrance which is wide enough for ten vessels.
the warship
the merchant vessel
the merchant vessel
the warship
Disappointed howls rise from, when [NPC] leaves the harbor with a slight lead.
“Happens every day!” the man on the quay says, nods to you with a smile and continues on his way.
Harlot
male
the guy
the man
the toyboy
the fellow
female
the girl
the wench
the harlot
“Hello, sailors. Wanna have a good time?” a voice asks from behind you. “I can cut you a group rate if you’re all game!”
Shocked, [NPC] stares at [Hero].
“Please forgive me, I didn’t know…” with that, [NPC] is gone!
Do you follow [him/her]?
Depending on your preferences, you spend some more or less entertaining hours with [NPC].
“No sale!” [Hero] sends [NPC] packing.
Man Overboard
“Man overboard!” a voice echoes across the waves.
Next to the ship, a heads bobs up from the water, two arms wave through the air, and then the man is gone again. A thick rope is thrown down to him, and its end almost clobbers him when he comes up again, but he sinks away before reaching it.
The fellow probably owes his life to the fact that the rope can’t swim either, for the crew finally manages to pull him back on board without him surfacing again first.
Ship Lost Control
Loud shouts draw your attention to a vessel approaching the quay on an extremely unsteady course. Apparently, the crew has lost control of the ship and is desperately trying to regain it.
With a tremendous crash, the wooden quay shatters under the impact of the ship. The shouts become ever more desperate. Though its sails were rolled up long ago, the vessel is still moving fast.
It hits another ship in the harbor, and while the crew cries out, the wooden hulls scrape across each other with a harsh noise even louder than the sailors’ screams.
After the ship finally comes to a stop, boats are let to water to collect the sailors thrown overboard during that pathetic docking maneuver.
An old man on the quay shakes his head. “I’ll never understand why they still build ships with rope-controlled rudders — chains are so much safer!”
More Murders
“Did you hear about it?” a woman asks us, “There have been more murders!”
Market Hall
“The marketplace is probably here.” [Hero] says.
“Yes, and the big building at the other side is the market hall.” a passing woman replies, pointing to the big building in the west of the marketplace.
Boron Yard
Do you want to enter the cemetery?