Drinks with an old friend Part 2

ArchivedUser

(( Part 3 sorry for the delay been out of pocket))

Exiting the Claw the mid day sun shines brightly on them as they make their way down to the ship. "What's the clients name Havoc?" Twist asks as he passes a net mender working on a large hole. Swatting a gnat Havoc responds "Aldriss and you'll absolutely love him apparently he's a Vek you know those orcs" He continues on his walk towards the dock. "really? well this has all the potential in the world then." As they pass dock eight he notices the vessel at nine and whistles sharply. "Havoc that's a galley and not a small one at that, most be two hundred feet" Twist offers. "Its a big boat" replies Havoc unimpressed. "Please don't refer to it as a boat, sailors are touchy sorts and if were taking this to Trollhaven then you want the sailors on board to at least not hate you, and id hate to have every meal I eat to have someone's spit in it!" Twist makes his way to the gang plank and is met by a large sailor with a rather nasty scar on his face. "State your business or be gone" The sailor a middle aged Kaelar human all but snarls at them.
"Please inform Master Aldriss that his noon appointment is here, Masters Twist and Havoc have arrived" Havoc hands over a small coin and smiles to the sailor, who pockets it and heads up the gang plank. After waiting a few minutes the sailor returns and motions them up the plank into the heart of the ship. Standing on the deck of the Dorya’s Tear Twist smiles and looks to Havoc "It's cleaner then I thought it would be, it almost smells like some fruit or something close" Rolling his eyes Havoc answers back "Yea they have a maid who put mints on pillows here as well" he smirks. As Twist turns to look the ship over he notices that the ships crew all seem to be in uniforms and for the most part were a mixture of human and elves. Scanning he spots someone of authority approaching.
" Gentleman I am Hanabek Cole first mate aboard the Tear, welcome aboard." The first mate is a Py'rai elven lass with sea green eyes and a lean frame smiles warmly to them. " Please follow me the Captain will see you now" Without waiting she turns and makes her way to the cabins. Following the elf they both look around at the orderly and well maintained ship. Havoc whispers softly to Twist. "Its all very efficient and almost a military feel to it, right?" Twist simply nods and steps out of the sun and lets his eyes adjust to the shaded hall of the main deck cabins. Stepping to the back of the ship knocking the mate waits. "Enter" Hanabek opens the door and motions them within the room.
Stepping into a rather large room with a series of shelves lined with books and maps a central table large enough to seat a dozen Twist sees the two people gathered within. One a large Vek orc the other a human who was obviously the captain on the Tear.
" Welcome aboard the Dorya's Tear I'm Captain Alexandros, this orcish brute is my partner and your soon to be employer Aldriss Spanner" The orc stands at his full height he is a little over seven feet in height but his mass is rather slim. " Please have a seat gentlemen and Cole please have the cook bring lunch and a bottle of brandy" Aldriss he said and nods to Cole as she makes her way out following his commands. Sitting in a large high back chair Twist to the right and Havoc to the left of the Captain.
"Gentlemen I appreciate you coming for this meeting and I wont take to much of your time, simply put we are in the midst of a expedition to a set of ruins which we think holds several tomes that will lead to a artifact known as the Frostmantle, my problem quite simply is I don't know enough about dwarven locks and runes to get into the vault. its set about three hundred feet below the surface of what we believe is a old school in Trollhaven that was once part of a Vek city long abandoned. Hence my contact with you, Twist you come highly recommended as a able lock picker and your knowledge of ancient dwarf runes should help in this and Havoc I am told your knowledge of magic's both priestly and arcane will be ideal in this endeavor " A knock to the door interrupts his talk. "Enter" Aldriss responds to the knock as a petite old elf come into the room. "Lunch sirs, its grill steaks along with potatoes and fresh squeezed juice and apple brandy" The cook sets four plates at the table and bows before heading out.
Aldriss continues " I am offer you this as a contract for twelve weeks you work for me and I provide whatever you need for this endeavor weapons, gear, money you get a cut of whatever we find lets say ten percent of whatever we find and sell. How does that strike you gentlemen?" Sipping the brandy Twist responds "It is a lot to take in and all the fine dining and booze wont easily sway me, your talking a trip into Trollhaven, its a ruddy swamp and a troll infested mess to boot. As for gear and weapons I am good, money is great but you cannot spend it if your dead." Under the table he gets a slight kick from Havoc and pauses as Havoc speaks up in between bite for his lunch. " What my partner is saying is true good sir, but I am interested in this place so I will counter your offer with this. Concerning gear we keep whatever we find within the this place if anything is worth it, with the exception of your tomes. We will need a upfront some for our supplies of say ten thousand slips of gold and another thirty thousand upon completion of this job" He smiles slightly as he looks between the Captain and Aldriss and a quick glance to Twist shows his partners approval. "What say you good sir do we have a deal?"

(( sorry I created a new thread the old one kept coming up with an error))

ArchivedUser

ArchivedUser

The captain nods slightly to Aldriss and points to a small cabinet in the corner. Aldriss takes a small pouch from within it. "Two things gentlemen" He says and lays the pouch on the table. "First and formost all decisions go through myself with regards to particulars of this mission. We have a camp set up as a base of operations near the ruins. That will be our destination for the moment." Looking between them he continues "Second we will have ample time for exploration and plunder but twelve weeks is our limit I have to be back here at the end of that time, if we are not finished by the new moon three months hence we won't find what we are searching for" He slides the pouch over to Twist. "What say you sir dwarf? your partner is on board and with your help I am sure we will be very successful in this venture."  Twist looks to the pouch and back to Aldriss "I will need a bit of time to gather my gear. But gentlemen provisionally I am in." He picks the pouch up and looks to Havoc. "We need to make a stop before we go I have to gather a few items for this expedition." Havoc stands and nods. With the food or the most part untouched by Twist they depart the cabin. He sighs deeply as they make their way off the ship. "I will meet you at the Claw in three bells Havoc I have to gather a couple things and I want to let the Guildmaster know where I will be for the next few months, Id hate for them to write me off the book and be no longer allowed to work here".                                                                                    Heading to the outer district Twist makes his way to the traders office. Stepping within he makes his way to the cluttered desk of the security official at the traders post. "I'm here to see Savalon, be a sport and let him know Twist is here for a pickup". He slides a coin to the security officer. "Right I'll let him know I'm sure he will see you sir," The officer steps back to the secure door to the back of the room. knocking he steps within. After a moment he steps back out and heads back to his desk and hands the coin back to Twist, Your marker sir, all is in order he will see you know." Taking his marker Twist hands a silver coin to the officer " First rounds on me Meeker"                                  Twist steps by the officer and makes his way to the semi opened door. " Come in Twist, close the door and lock it if you please." Stepping in he does as requested and looks to his Guildmaster. Savalon Glytss  known as Onyx eyes Guildmaster of the entire region for those Rogues who worked within the light. " Sit old friend, I have your package and I understand your headed to hunt trolls? " He sips from a small glass flask. He slides a small package to Twist. "Its a complete set of Alum and Diamond tools. Your paid in full for the work you did for the guild. Now fill me in on this Trollhaven excursion"                                                   He sits back as Twist sits and ignores the package for the moment. "The mission is a simple explore and loot run, hopefully the intel will prove true I cannot stand Trollhaven but between Havoc and the clients enthusiasm and the fact that there are ruins to be explored I'm on board, With that being said I will pay my dues upfront for the next three months and also I will need a my room sealed until I return." He hands over a small stack of slips and a couple of the rubies from the Captains pouch.  Savalon looks to the far corner of the room and motions in the corner. Stepping from within the shadow of the corner stands his Tulnar assistant. "Kerr'tal have Twists' room sealed and he is paid for the next six months on dues," He smiles to Twist and continues " The Moare job came in and we had a good quarter so three months free dues for our elder locksmith." He winks to Twist as Kerr'tal exits the room. 

ArchivedUser

Really enjoyed it. Thank you for writing.