Logs > Gamma Logs > Traitor of the Month

Traitor of the Month

[Crossroads Inn, Common Room]
Thinly varnished oak walls enclose this common room. Stretching along the back wall is a grimy datiawood bar, its wood counter warped from age and spilled drinks. An old, rather ornate chandelier is suspended from the ceiling and illuminates a menu that hangs over a small sign, which is tacked to a beam behind the bar. Wooden tables, chairs, benches and stools are scattered throughout the room, and a small lyre leans against a trash can, waiting to be played. Leading up to the second floor is a set of misshapen rickety stairs. You see Breen the barkeep. Also here is Shadeark and Sceen (seated on a stool).

The aroma of freshly cooked food fills the air.

Muffled voices can be heard from nearby tables.
The only obvious exit is out.

Your group follows you.
Sceen says, "Aye."
Sinjinn wipes the sweat from her brow.
You ask, "Think it'll go well?" of Sinjinn.
Sinjinn sways from side to side.
You rub Sinjinn gently.
Sinjinn says, "If..."
Sinjinn says, "Ye gods you walk fast."
Sinjinn staggers around while looking at a stool.
You say, "Sit down."
You get a few sovereigns from an embroidered black leather pouch.
You hand Breen the barkeep some money.
Breen pours some Shades of Night Ale into a jar and hands it to you saying, "May the gods bless the Queen of Nellcwyln till the end of her days!"
Sinjinn says, "My head is swimming..."
Shadeark meanders out to the street.
You notice a glint of light playing off of Sceen's meticulously etched pure gold hauberk.
Sinjinn seats herself at a table.
Sinjinn says, "Ugh."
You offer your pint jar to Sinjinn.
You say, "Just have a sip."
Sinjinn accepts your offer.
Sceen says, "Queen of Nellcwyln.."
Sceen furrows his brow.
Sinjinn sips some Shades of Night Ale from her pint jar.
You ask, "Unless you'd rather juice?"
Sinjinn says, "Yes, I'd rather... I'm sorry."
Sinjinn offers her pint jar to you.
You say, "All right, I'll finish it."
You accept Sinjinn's offer.
You say, "Well, it's still good ale, Sceen."
You shrug.
Sceen nods slowly.
You say, "And cheap, which at this point is my main concern."
You say, "Until we get some coin for the play."
You grin slightly.
Sinjinn nods to you.
You sip some Shades of Night Ale from your pint jar.
Rich and full-bodied, this ale carries the distinctive flavor of sultry summer evenings.
You put a pint jar on a bar.
Sceen says, "And something of a talonish import."
You get a handful of sovereigns from an embroidered black leather pouch.
Sceen smiles softly.
You raise an eyebrow in Sceen's direction.
You ask, "Since when?"
Sinjinn frowns.
You hand Breen the barkeep some money.
Breen pours some juice into a glass and hands it to you, grinning to himself.
Breen the barkeep gives you your change.
You offer your tall clear glass to Sinjinn.
Sinjinn accepts your offer.
Sinjinn swallows some sweet saxumberry juice.
Sceen says, "Queen Llwyellia of Nellcwyln."
You say, "Nellcwyln isn't Angar Wydde."
You walk over to a wooden bench.
You seat yourself at a table.
You put a couple sovereigns in your embroidered black leather pouch.
You close an embroidered black leather pouch.
Sinjinn leans on you.
Sceen says, "No... it isn't.."
You ask, "Well, was Nellcwyln taken?"
Sceen says, "Sort of..."
Sceen says, "It declared independance."
Sceen says, "Sort of."
Sinjinn sips some sweet saxumberry juice from her tall clear glass.
You say, "I thought she just refused to let Imperial troops through."
Sceen says, "Thus..."
Sceen says, "Rebelled."
Sinjinn rubs her temples.
Sceen says, "She was part of the empire, and rebelled by not allowing troops."
Sceen says, "To pass through her boarders."
You say, "I thought all the provinces had that right."
Sceen says, "Not during war time..."
Sinjinn says, "I can't say I blame her. Troops are notoriously rude and leave nothing but messes behind them with lack of respect."
Sinjinn swallows some sweet saxumberry juice.
Sceen says, "Nellcwyln is now the launching point to further invade the area..."
Sceen says, "That and Angar Wydde, same area."
You say, "They voted not to review her decision, which tends to suggest that it wasn't considered an act of rebellion."
Sceen says, "And the orcs moved in and took over."
You notice a glint of light playing off of Sceen's meticulously etched pure gold hauberk.
You rub your eyes.
Shadeark asks, "Where did you hear about the orcs and Nelcwynn?"
Sceen shrugs.
Sceen says, "Around."
You say, "I thought it was pretty common news."
Sceen says, "It's about 6 years old."
Loud bumping can be heard from the ceiling.
Sceen says, "The actual... disallowing of troop passing."
You say, "Six years ago since Plade, I guess."
Shadeark says, "Well I have been here about two and never heard of it."
Sceen shrugs.
You say, "Yes, but you're always combing your hair."
You say, "Hard to hear anything over that noise."
Sinjinn chuckles.
Sinjinn swallows some sweet saxumberry juice.
Sceen says, "And I thought you didn't care about anything else but yourself."
You groan.
Sceen says, "Regardless..."
You ask, "Politics makes my head hurt anyhow. What else is going on tonight?"
Sceen glances at Breen the barkeep.
Breen the barkeep shrugs.
Sinjinn agrees with you.
Sceen says, "Why are you selling ale from a nation under Talonish control?"
Shadeark says, "Things related to politics."
Shadeark nods to you.
Sceen peers at Breen the barkeep.
You say, "If it was imported from a province under Talonish control, which as far as I know Nellcwyln isn't, I'm sure someone would come in and confiscate it."
Sinjinn says, "Surely they would have by now."
Sceen glances at you.
Sceen says, "Sure it is."
Shadeark says, "Well the ale is not tainted."
You say, "Well, wouldn't they? They keep a close eye on the ale, they tax the blazes out of it."
Sceen shrugs.
Shadeark shrugs.
Shadeark says, "No one has died from it and it has been weeks."
Sceen asks, "It's cheap isn't it?"
Sceen says, "And this wouldn't be imperial shipping lanes either."
Sceen says, "If it's from Nellcywln."
Sceen asks, "Arknor set breen up with the supplier, didn't he?"
You ask, "So?"
Sinjinn asks, "I don't understand why you think not drinking the ale makes any difference. Breen's already bought it, it's not going anywhere... he hasn't replaced it. You think it's going to hurt some queen's feelings that you're not drinking it?"
Sceen glances at Sinjinn.
Sceen asks, "Not drinking?"
Sceen says, "I never said that."
You ask, "Have you been drinking it?"
You notice a glint of light playing off of Sceen's meticulously etched pure gold hauberk.
Sinjinn flails her arms about.
Sceen says, "I don't drink alcohol."
Sceen says, "I said it was odd that he's getting the ale from there in the First place."
Sceen says, "Not what's wrong with it."
You say, "Well, then, what are you going on about? For once I agree with Shadeark."
Sinjinn nods to you.
Sceen says, "Nellcywln is under Talonish control..."
Sceen says, "The ale is from there."
Sceen says, "Money is spent for the ale."
Sinjinn furrows her brow.
You say, "Nellcywln is not under Talonish control. Angar Wydde is under Talonish control."
Sceen says, "Thus... money is being given to Talone... a few times removed for sure."
Sinjinn blinks.
Sinjinn says, "I... think I see. Gads, my head hurts trying to follow you around."
Sceen says, "Angar wydde is under contention."
Sceen says, "Talone holds Nellcywln."
You say, "No, Angar Wydde is now a province of Talone's empire."
You ask, "They put what's her name in as Duchess of Kant, remember?"
Sceen says, "Yes."
You say, "And they declared her a pretender to the throne."
Sinjinn admires you.
Sceen looks lost in thought.
Sceen says, "Lady Prine."
You say, "Right."
Sceen shrugs.
Sceen asks, "And?"
Sinjinn swallows some sweet saxumberry juice.
Sceen says, "Are we to argue that leyrn isn't a traitor, he only helped the orcs out... but isn't an orc himself."
You raise an eyebrow.
You ask, "What are you talking about now?"
Sceen glances at you.
You notice a glint of light playing off of Sceen's meticulously etched pure gold hauberk.
Sceen asks, "In what reguards?"
Sceen asks, "Leyrn or the analogy?"
You say, "In regards to Leyrn."
Sceen glances at Shadeark.
You ask, "I've been in rehearsal all bloody night. Now what's happened?"
Sinjinn raises an eyebrow.
Sceen says, "Shadeark here says that Leyrn lead a band of orcs to the meeting with the jhakor and imperial ambassador."
Sinjinn frowns.
You furrow your brow.
You ask, "Truly?"
Sceen says, "And they caused a rucuss."
Sinjinn asks, "What happened?"
Shadeark says, "I missed the attack itself."
You say, "Gods, Sceen, what a conversation stopper."
You turn to face Shadeark.
Sceen glances at you.
Shadeark says, "But many that saw it were there."
You ask, "Did they manage to fight the orcs off? What happened to Leyrn?"
You ask, "Was he caught?"
You ask, "Did anything happen to the alliance?"
Shadeark combs his hair, making it gleam and shine.
Sinjinn peers at Shadeark.
Shadeark says, "Alliance is fine, Leyrn is not captured, orcs got fought off."
You rub your chin.
Sceen nods.
You say, "I'm surprised there isn't a huge crowd in here babbling about it."
Sinjinn says, "So the jhakor didn't change their mind? That's fortunate."
Sinjinn says, "And I'm surprised about that as well..."
Sinjinn nods to you.
Sinjinn says, "Odd."
Sinjinn swallows some sweet saxumberry juice.
Sceen shrugs.
Sceen says, "Happened a bit ago i wager."
You say, "Never would have thought it of Leyrn."
You say, "I think he's still got one of my boxes."
Sinjinn frowns at you.
You say, "Well, I won't be getting it back now."
Sinjinn snorts.
You gaze upwards to the heavens.
Sceen says, "If you ask nicely...."
Sceen says, "And help the orcs out."
Sceen shrugs.
You notice a glint of light playing off of Sceen's meticulously etched pure gold hauberk.
You say, "Sure, maybe I can get it from the Guard when they take him up to the block."
Sceen nods.
Sceen says, "Might work."
You say, "Excuse me, could you stop a moment? The prisoner has a box he promised to open."
You grunt.
Sceen nods.
Sceen says, "Stay of execution on the grounds that he's just about the only skilled picker."
Sinjinn chuckles.
Sceen stares off into the distance.
You say, "Idiotic."
Sceen sighs.
Sceen stands up.
Sceen asks, "What isn't?"
Sceen meanders out to the street.
You say, "Certainly not you."
You stare off into the distance.
Sinjinn smirks.
You lean back while sitting on the wooden bench.
Sinjinn swallows some sweet saxumberry juice.
Sinjinn drains her tall clear glass dry!
Seeing that it's empty, Sinjinn sets her tall clear glass aside.
Sinjinn licks her lips.
You say, "I suppose now there'll be another round of people running through the King's Woode with torches and whatnot."
Sinjinn groans.
You ask, "Why is it the moment they get the proclamation down, something like this happens?"
Sinjinn grunts.
Sinjinn says, "It's this town, I'm telling you, it's cursed."
You say, "Now I'm glad I wasn't there, that would have been lovely. Let's just hope nothing happens the night of the play."
Sinjinn groans.
Sinjinn says, "Perish the thought..."
You say, "Sev would hang himself, you know."
You grin slightly.
Shadeark says, "Leyrn is this month's traitor. The traitor for next month will be.....Breen."
Sinjinn says, "Sev would be positively livid."
You glance at Shadeark.
You say, "Traitor of the month, hm? Lovely thought."
Shadeark says, "Think about it."
You say, "Oh, come on, how many more can there be? Otherwise there would have been a big crowd out there with him."
Shadeark says, "We have had a different traitor each month since Winte."
You say, "We should start a pool."
Loud bumping can be heard from the ceiling.
Sinjinn smirks.
Shadeark asks, "We have drawings?"
You say, "We could start."
Dracan comes into the bar.
You exclaim, "Hear ye, hear ye, who's the next traitor? Throw in a sov and you'll win big!"
You gaze upwards to the heavens.
Sinjinn chuckles at you.
You say, "Just think, we could set odds."
Shadeark says, "You could take bets."
You say, "Five to one for Sceen, two to one for Teru."
Dracan asks, "Talking about Leyrn, are we?"
Sinjinn nods to Dracan.
You say, "Ayah, we were in rehearsal all night and just found out about it."
Dracan nods.
Shadeark says, "One to one that Breen will stand there like a rock."
You say, "That's a sucker bet."
Sinjinn chuckles.
Shadeark says, "The sucker is the one that votes against it."
Shadeark says, "Ahem bet."
Shadeark says, "Vote, bet...roughly the same in an odd not the same way."
Sinjinn whispers 'I'll bet you five sovs he combs his hair in the next minute.' to you.
You stifle a laugh.
You cough.
You thwap Sinjinn.
Sinjinn snickers.
Dracan asks, "What would odds be on me?"
You ponder Dracan's existence.
You say, "Ask Shadeark, he's the blue-haired oracle."
Dracan smirks.
Sinjinn says, "Blast, I lost."
Sinjinn opens an enruned blood red robe.
Sinjinn gets a few sovereigns from an enruned blood red robe.
Sinjinn closes an enruned blood red robe.
Shadeark says, "Outlook is not good."
Sinjinn offers her few sovereigns to you.
You accept Sinjinn's offer.
Sinjinn sticks her tongue out at you.
Dracan chuckles.
You grin at Sinjinn.
You ask, "More juice, in that case?"
Sinjinn says, "Ah, that would be lovely."
You stand up.
You groan.
You say, "I swear to you, I'm taking a pillow."
You say, "I think I can hide it under my brigandine."
You walk over to a bar.
Sinjinn says, "Aw, poor thing."
You hand Breen the barkeep some money.
Breen pours some juice into a glass and hands it to you, grinning to himself.
Breen the barkeep gives you your change.
You walk over to a wooden bench.
You offer your tall clear glass to Sinjinn.
Sinjinn accepts your offer.
You seat yourself at a table.
Sinjinn says, "You have to lie there much longer than I do, and I know I get stiff and sore after five minutes."
Breen the barkeep grins broadly as he proudly gazes at the new addition to his menu.
Sinjinn swallows some sweet saxumberry juice.
You say, "Yes, but I don't have to pretend to speak orcish."
Sinjinn laughs!
You say, "Every time you start grunting I feel like I need to wipe your chin."
Sinjinn says, "That costume was stifling."
You say, "And hairy."
Sinjinn says, "The snout... I couldn't breathe."
Sinjinn shakes her head slowly.
Sinjinn says, "How we suffer for our art..."
Sinjinn grins at you.
Sinjinn swallows some sweet saxumberry juice.
You act: Jurion puts his tongue in his cheek.
Dracan says, "And I wouldn't even take it anywhere outside the thater..."
You say, "Think about poor Sev, he's been playing another part every time."
Sinjinn laughs!
Sinjinn says, "Gods, no, I never would."
Sinjinn says, "Sceen would impale me instantly and then call me an orcish supporter for wearing the costume..."
Sinjinn chuckles.
Dracan smirks.
You say, "More than likely."
Sinjinn says, "Not a chance I want to take... I'm going to be nervous as it is if he's even in the audience."
You say, "He's practically calling us that for drinking the ale."
You say, "At least now he's got Leyrn to run around after."
Breen the barkeep glances at Shadeark.
Sinjinn swallows some sweet saxumberry juice.
Shadeark seats himself at a table.
Dracan says, "Well, at least we only had a few casualties."
You chuckle.
Sinjinn asks, "Were you there when all that happened?"
Sinjinn raises an eyebrow in Dracan's direction.
Dracan nods.
Dracan says, "It was rather amazing."
Dracan says, "One second all's well, the next the other jhakor was sniffing, then Bam!, orcs everywhere."
Sinjinn furrows her brow.
Dracan removes his engraved low-steel gauntlets.
Dracan plops himself down at the bar.
Dracan puts some engraved low-steel gauntlets on a stool.
You ask, "They didn't manage to damage the alliance, though?"
You ask, "I mean, everyone got out all right in the end?"
Sinjinn raises an eyebrow in Dracan's direction.
Dracan says, "No, everyone was okay in the end, though Ghuk suffered a severed arm, and a few people were killed."
You nod to Dracan.
You say, "And a silence descends while we all chew the news."
You chuckle.
Dracan says, "I was lucky though, was able to find my way out of the underworld rather quickly."
Dracan shrugs.
You nod to Dracan.
You ask, "Was it a large attack?"
Dracan says, "Fairly large, yes."
Dracan says, "Not a massive group, probably twenty of them or so."
Dracan says, "Plus Leyrn."
You say, "He actually led the orcs? That's what Shadeark was saying."
Dracan says, "I'm not sure about that."
Dracan says, "Some people are saying so, but I didn't see him giving them any commands or such, so far as I know he was just with them."
You say, "Was it only a shock to me? I'd have never expected it of him."
Dracan shrugs.
Sinjinn swallows some sweet saxumberry juice.
Dracan says, "I didn't really know him."
You say, "Then again, I didn't expect it of Merow, either, and I thought I knew him quite well."
Sinjinn agrees with you.
Dracan nods slowly.
Dracan says, "No, I never expected it from him..."
Breen the barkeep smiles crookedly at you and says, "Name yer poison, pal? What ken I get ya?"
You lean back while sitting on the wooden bench.
Loud bumping can be heard from the ceiling.
You sigh.
Sinjinn swallows some sweet saxumberry juice.
Sinjinn drains her tall clear glass dry!
Seeing that it's empty, Sinjinn sets her tall clear glass aside.
You ask, "Whatever happened to Jayden, anyway?"
Shadeark says, "So the people least expected turn to turn traitor become traitors."
Dracan says, "Don't know."
Sinjinn says, "If that's true, then Shala's next. Shala or Sceen."
Sinjinn chuckles.
Dracan smirks.
You grin wryly.
Vurlak comes into the bar.
Vurlak's group follows him.
Vurlak waves to you.
Shala smiles at Dracan.
You wave to Vurlak.
Shala waves to you.
Vurlak waves to Sinjinn.
You wave to Shala.
Dracan smiles at Shala.
Shadeark says, "I would say Breen. No one would ever see that coming."
Sinjinn waves to Vurlak.
Shala asks, "Has anyone seen Illuriel?"
You say, "With the ale? Sceen already wants to lynch him."
Sinjinn shakes her head at Shala.
Sinjinn says, "Not in here."
Dracan says, "Not since the Inn, nope."
Shala nods to Dracan.
Shala asks, "How did it go?"
Dracan says, "Badly, but not overly so."
Shala frowns slightly.
Shadeark says, "Three letters."
Shala asks, "How badly?"
Shadeark says, "O r c s."
Shadeark says, "Make that four."
Shala glances at Shadeark.
Shala furrows her brow.
Shala asks, "You were attacked?"
Dracan says, "Twenty orcs and Leyrn."
Shala gives Dracan a worried look.
Shala blinks.
Shala asks, "Leyrn?"
Dracan nods to Shala.
You nod to Shala.
You say, "So we're hearing."
Vurlak gets a black wool beret from a cloak of the Imperial Guard.
Vurlak puts his black wool beret on his head.
Shala frowns thoughtfully.
Vurlak ponders the situation.
Shala asks, "Anyone hurt?"
Dracan says, "Only two people were killed that I'm aware of... and Illuriel was there to take care of the other wounded."
Shala nods to Dracan.
Shala asks, "And the Lady Ambassador?"
You ask, "Did anyone ever manage to talk to Khregen? Was he all right?"
Dracan says, "She's fine, someone got to her and took her to safety."
Vurlak glances at you.
Vurlak looks lost in thought.
Shala sighs.
You beckon Vurlak toward you.
You ask, "What's your problem? Tired?"
Vurlak raises an eyebrow in your direction.
Vurlak says, "A little."
Shala asks, "Is the alliance called off then, Dracan?"
Dracan says, "I'm just glad it wasn't trolls, that would have been a lot worse."
Shala leaves Vurlak's group.
Shala agrees with Dracan.
Vurlak says, "Was gonna meet this Illuriel and see if she could help me with this." to you.
Shala says, "You have a good point there."
Vurlak waves his severed leg of a gharkin around.
Dracan says, "No, it's not off, but the next meeting will be kept a bit more secret."
You nod to Vurlak.
Shala ducks her head.
Shala glances at Vurlak.
You say, "She hasn't come in here at all."
Vurlak grins at Shadeark.
Shala says, "Careful with that thing. You could put someone's eye out."
Vurlak tsks.
Shala nods to Dracan.
Shala says, "That's probably wise."
You ask, "Did you lose another one, or is that the same one?"
Shadeark says, "Stop moving behind me."
Vurlak leans on his severed leg of a gharkin.
Shadeark glances at Shala.
Vurlak says, "Same one."
Shala shrugs at Shadeark.
Dracan says, "Ghuk and his warrior friend fought well, though Ghuk lost an arm in the fighting."
Shala says, "You make a good shield." to Shadeark.
Shala grins teasingly.
Shala nods to Dracan.
Shadeark says, "Well I was about to kill Severin after that one incident."
Dracan stands up.
Vurlak takes a deep breath and lets out a loud yawn.
Shala giggles.
You ask, "After he smooched you?"
You grin at Shadeark.
Dracan gets some engraved low-steel gauntlets from a stool.
Sinjinn blinks.
Sinjinn laughs!
Dracan pulls his engraved low-steel gauntlets onto his hands.
Vurlak raises an eyebrow.
Vurlak glances at Shala.
Shala says, "Not his fault. He's got poor eyesight in the dark."
Shala grins at Vurlak.
Dracan says, "Well, good evening to you all."
Vurlak asks, "Yer man's a wafter?"
Shala shrugs.
Shadeark says, "But inns are not that dark."
Shala says, "Never know bout those things."
You nod to Vurlak.
Sinjinn waves to Dracan.
Shala says, "He's not with me."
You say, "He wears lavender."
Shala grins.
You wave to Dracan.
Dracan touches his spiked low-steel armet.
Vurlak says, "Wafter."
Shala waves to Dracan.
Vurlak nods.
Shala says, "Thanks for the news, Dracan."
Shala giggles at Vurlak.
Dracan nods to Shadeark.
Shala says, "You'd like him, Vurlak. Honest you would."
You exclaim, "He wears lavender!"
Vurlak nods to Shadeark.
Shala says, "He just takes some getting used to."
You say, "I mean, honestly."
Shala glances at you.
Dracan bows.
Sinjinn grins at you.
Vurlak says, "He kissed this guy."
Vurlak glances at Shala.
Dracan meanders out to the street.
Vurlak says, "That's just wierd."
Shadeark says, "Any male that puts their lips on me has a death wish."
Shala says, "You're not one to talk." to you.
Sinjinn says, "It takes a real man to wear lavender and get away with it."
Shala says, "At least he's never kissed Cappy."
Shala grins.
Sinjinn throws back her head and cackles.