Rameldin wanted to make sure her skirt didn’t get dirty and lifted it up a bit. Draug, who was walking behind her, made an attempt to see what she was wearing underneath. The sight must have delighted him, as the reflection of a water puddle caused a smile on Draug’s face. Rameldin – unaware of this – saw that Toxif gestured to some of the playing children, which stopped them immediately and one of them ran off. She asked Yesnarel, who also saw this happening, if Toxif could be trusted. “Maybe they are setting up a trap for us” she said worried. “Meh, don’t worry. They are only children. He probably goes to the inn to clean up the place for us.” was Yesnarel’s answer. What he did not know yet was how right he actually was about this. The group continued walking up the hill and after they reached the highest point, they could see where they were heading.
The Broken Mast: it was clear how the inn got its name. 200 meters ahead, they saw 2 houses next to one another and, in the middle, a big ship. It looked like as if that previously mentioned hurricane brought along a ship as well and planted it here. In the middle of it was the mast going up in the air for about 4 meters, where it broke and the rest fell on the house on the left, creating a little pathway. At the entrance, a woman with beautiful black hair could be seen. The little child that ran away before could now be seen again running toward her and he whispered something in her ear, before running away again into one of the houses. The girl looked at the group and walked inside. Still far away, around 150 meters, the group heard a woman shouting and then the rumble of a fight. Erleothir looked at Draug who nodded and both nicked their head towards the inn. Without saying a word, the knights picked up the pace. Then from one of the windows, a stool was thrown out, closely followed by a man who came through the wall right next to the window. Then, from the other side of the door, another man got thrown out. Draug and Erleothir now lowered their pace again, not sure what to think of it. Through the door, they saw a third man going away from the inn involuntarily. The girl walked outside, getting rid of the dust from her dress and beckoned the group towards her. Rameldin started ahead of the group stating that she would handle this and leaving no time to her team members to react.
Now only a few meters away from the inn, the group saw a shadow rising from behind the girl. Almost not able to walk through the door, a big man – he was easily 2x2 meters – came from inside the inn. Just as Erleothir was about to warn the girl from the danger, she put her hand on his cheek as for a “thank you for the job well done”. The big guy then picked up the three men lying outside and walked away with them.
“Welcome at the Broken Mast, fair travelers, the best inn you could ever imagine……..in the Brackwaters.” The girl started. “My name is Jalfeera and I’m the 2nd in command. My boss should be coming in a few moments.”
Rameldin answered on behalf of the adventurers:
“Thank you for your kind words and the efforts you’ve already done to welcome us. My name is Rameldin and let me introduce my fellow companions.”
“Sure”, Jalfeera continued, “but let’s go inside first. Toxif, thank you for your services. You are dismissed for today.” and she gestured the group inside.
The interior was rather small. Inside the inn were 3 tables with seats for 4 persons and a bar where another 7 could take place. In the middle, you could see the mast going up in the air for a few meters, before it went further to the first floor were the rooms probably were and at the front of the ship was the statue of a naked woman, although it was on the inside and not on the outside anymore as one would expect. One of the walls now showed a gaping hole, rest of its use as an exit just a few minutes ago. A window was broken (this also appeared a few minutes ago), but for the rest the place looked very good. It was indeed one of the best inns you could ever imagine……..in the Brackwaters. The group sat at the bar and Rameldin did the introductions.
“And who is your boss and where is he?” she finally asked.
“ALTREK!,” shouted Jalfeera, answering the group and calling her boss in the same time. “His name is Altrek Nasir, just a good friend of mine. Not my boss, boyfriend or other relation”, as Rameldin already started to ask the whole family history of them. “I’m sure you are all thirsty; let me provide you with a drink until ALTREK! come down. The first one is on the house.”
They all took a beer and, to the surprise of Erleothir, it was not only less strong than the Bor beer, but also actually refreshing and cold. While Draug unsuccessfully flirted with Jalfeera, the group suddenly heard a voice from behind.
“Finally, the adventurers Alast talked about have arrived. I’m pleased to meet you” he said while looking at all of them. “My name is Altrek Nasir and I’m ….”
He stopped in the middle of his sentence when he eyed Draug. The room suddenly turned dark. It was as if the room reflected the mood of Altrek, but when the light came back again, Erleothir saw what the real cause was: the big guy who threw the 3 men out earlier had come back and was blocking the light from the entrance.
“Dahut”, Jalfeera started “repair the window and the wall behind you and please clean up the place a bit before going to bed.”
Altrek eyes did not leave the group while this happened. “Alast said that I could expect 5 persons: 2 dwarves and 3 humans. My eyes do see 5 persons indeed, but only one dwarf and four humans.”
He stepped forward towards Draug.
Yesnarel must have known what Altrek was thinking for he simply said: “He is trustworthy”.
Draug was also very surprised to hear the name Alast and it was up to Erleothir to explain at best who they were to Altrek and Draug. Rameldin did not really help when she stated that the group killed her mother and she joined them for that reason. Erleothir had a hard time explaining it all, but he answered all questions as well as possible. After Altrek was sufficiently informed about the group, he simply said: “follow me downstairs” as he walked towards the statue. He pressed on the bellybutton (a nipple would be too easy to guess) and a very narrow stairway, hardly wide enough for a person to fit, opened up in front of them.
The group followed Altrek down in the cellar of the Broken Mast. This room was at least twice as big as the inn itself and filled with crates, weapon racks full of swords and halberds, and several racks full of armors. At the back of the room was a little river and in the middle a big cannon. Erleothir inspected the crates a little closer and saw a seal, which was very familiar to him. These were crates from Shotia, or actually, these were crates that Erleothir and Alast loaded on board of a ship in Shotia. Erleothir just realized that his job in the first week of Shotia was smuggling out weapons.
“What is going on here? Speak swiftly!” Erleothir said in a harsh tone.
Altrek started to explain: “What you see here is for the upcoming change in Kitaesi. For several months we have been gathering weaponry to help us start a revolution.”
Yesnarel knew of the history of Shadaki and he explained to the group that the people of Kitaesi had been occupied for over four generations.
“That is true” Altrek continued “but we are going to take back what is rightfully ours. Most people in the city are not fond of this idea and we must be very careful with whom we speak. They are currently in a very good position which they most likely are not willing to lose. However most of the people, especially those living in the Brackwaters, do not have any privileges. Can we count on your help?”
Erleothir said: “You say that you must be very careful with whom you speak, yet you seem to trust us easily as companions from Alast and even show us your secret lair of weapons. How would you know that we won’t turn you in to the rulers of Kitaesi? Not only is Kitaesi on the threshold of a change, so is the whole of Magnamund, for good or for worse. But if you seek our help in freeing your people from the crutches of your oppressors, I feel that we must do so. However choose your comrades most carefully”.
Altrek put a smile on his face and guided the group upstairs again. “Come, my friends, you must eat and in the meantime I’ll explain our plan.”
The group sat at the table and Altrek was happy to have an audience willing to hear him out.
“You are currently located in the Broken Mast, which is – was – the second ship of Captain Farsig. He is the one who is currently celebrated as part of the festivities of Kitaesi. I’m sure he will pay us a visit tomorrow morning as this is his second home. The big fest is of course for Commander Shanxi who celebrates his 90th anniversary serving the army.”
Rameldin was intrigued by all this, but had a simple question, which was probably on everybody’s mind: “Where is Alast?”
Altrek provided them with a letter. It read:
Hello my friends,
If you read this, it means I have been arrested. Do you remember the Blue stone that we found in Boari? Well, I have heard of another stone that commander Qwidas found in the Sadi Desert. It is yellow and it also glows. Some of the soldiers that were part of the expedition to bring it back to Kitaesi are already dead. I could be wrong, but I think it’s a piece of our puzzle. They are all very secretive about it but I am sure it will go public on Commander Shanxi’s Anniversary Party. Maybe you will be able to find out more than I could, and that Altrek does not start his revolution too early. Let’s wish us all most of luck.
Alast
PS: If you could rescue me along the way, I’ll be very grateful. Seriously!
The news of Alast being held captive shocked the group, but Altrek suggested that he was arrested on purpose.
“Alast must not be underestimated in his actions, because he must have got a good reason for all.”
To be honest, that opinion wasn’t shared by the group as they remembered him taking a shit outside of the window of the Kilitanin house in Kalte. That and also the time when he cut a finger from one of his first kills, only to put it in his backpack where it ultimately rotted away along with most of his food. Anyway, the group found out that there was another key in the city and Alast knew about it. That was what was important. But how would they get there unnoticed?
Then Altrek continued: “We are currently 'ruled' by magistrate Barif, a good-for-nothing, incapable leader. He is the last in line of his family. When he dies, the 3 commanders of the army, Shanxi, Qwidas and Sintar, will probably do anything to take his place, each with their own personal army. They will fight each other to death, not caring about any collateral damage, causing thousands to get killed in the process and the commander, who will win, will still continue to oppress us. That’s not an option. We must wait for the festivities to end so the three commanders are gone. Then we can overthrow the magistrate and I will take over his place and control the palace, before the others have time to react. Tonight I will contact the field workers from the North and ask for their support. I suggest you take a good night’s rest and speak with Captain Farsig tomorrow. He might help you get into the palace and rescue your friend.”
Yesnarel suggested wearing the sabers he saw in the cellar. That way, they would all be able to present themselves as officials from their respective countries and convince Captain Farsig to take them inside the palace. “Aah, a splendid plan, young Yesnarel. Since I expect a fight coming up, I’ll provide you each with 2 potions of Laumpsur as you will need them. Now if you excuse me, I must attend my secret meeting with the field workers from the North. Just don't do anything stupid in the meantime.”
Rameldin was very sad that she could not go to the party, because she really wanted to go out dancing. However Erleothir offered to bring the party to her since she wouldn’t be able to go. He asked Mulchanor to sing a merry song, while he invited Rameldin for a dance. The two danced through the Broken Mast and Rameldin got caught in the blue eyes of the knight. “Trust me”, he said to her in a low comfortable voice and Rameldin knees started to shiver. The knight truly was charismatic and he managed to convey his confidence and appease her fears. After the dance, he guided the young lady to her room and came back alone. The others, especially Draug, looked at him with a questioning face.
“Back so soon?” asked Draug.
Erleothir answered in a simple tone: “I just thought it would be better for her to go to bed instead of going into the city. And I still have a girl waiting for me out there.”
They quietly finished their drinks and went to bed soon after that.
13th January 5001
Rameldin was the first to be wake up the following morning and, while the rest of the group was still sleeping, she came downstairs to the main room and there found Captain Farsig. In a bold move, she took a chair and sat right next to him, starting only then with an introduction. They chatted alone for a while and the rest of the group woke up slowly. Yesnarel was deep asleep and Mulchanor didn’t manage his efforts to wake him up. He was himself pretty tired, having not slept properly. Jalfeera’s room was right next to his and she quite obviously didn’t spend the night alone. Unfortunately for Mulchanor, the bed was placed against his. The men entered the room and saw Rameldin sitting next to a man they assumed was Captain Farsig. Rameldin waved frantically to them: “Helloooooo, over here!” she shouted although the room was completely empty. She had allready been chatting with him for at least half an hour
All sat down, their back straight, eager to impress and please Captain Farsig. In all their eagerness, they managed to bring up each and every flaw or weakness of Rameldin’s explanations. When Farsig was intently intrigued in the odd group and clearly trying to understand who they were and what their obejective was, they each in turn stuttered or brought unfinished sentences, vague justifications of their presence in Kitaesi.
Rameldin smartly pointed out that Yesnarel was a prince and Draug jumped on the occasion to complete that he was his bodyguard. Never mind that Yesnarel is from from Valerion and Draug from Palmyrion. Thankfully for Erleothir, he could skip the part of Draug being a knight already when he himself was one as well. Mulchanor was a dwarf and that was enough in itself, his stature and confidence spoke for him.
In the end, Farsig could be seen smiling - or grinning - a few times and whether he just wanted to thank them for the entertaining breakfast, whether he acknowledged their worth or whether he had a calendar on his own; all what matters is that he allowed them to accompany him to the palace.
"You seem to be a bunch of entertaining fellows and I'm sure you would be a nice addition to the celebration tonight. You see, we are eager to show the world that we are far from being a bunch of uncivilized and ruthless pirates bent on.... domination of the sees. There will be plenty of officials tonight and to be honest, me bringing guests from abroad will surely interest the magistrate and the commanders. While this gives you the occasion to have a look in our Palace. I will also see what I can do to find if your friend Alast is kept there for any reason. I think this is a excellent situation were everyone can only win from each other..."
Giving them free time until noon, with the intend on meeting again at the central plaza, he stood and bid his good bye for the morning, before leaving the inn, he turned his head a little and made a sign to the barmaid, who could be seen smiling in reply.