That morning Swords and Sorcey Inc, after a long time away had finally returned to Deneval, and the group decided to check in on the bar before going to report to the king.
When they arrived they were surprised to hear that the bar sounded like it had people in it. as they opened the door they saw that there was a table of three guards drinking a bit of ale with their armor collected at their feet.
Toward the bar Aria looks up to see the group enter and she waves at them saying, "Took you guys long enough."
The group looks over at the guards as Maldrek addresses Aria.
"We have customers?"
"Oh yeah, these three guard the north part of town at night, they could use a good drink before they sleep the day away." Aria responds. Maldrek nods and continues speaking with her as the rest of the group examines the rest of the bar.
It seems like Aria has reorganized the tables, put up a few paintings and set up some sort of notice board in the corner of the room.
Aria notices Zilo looking at the board and shouts. "Oh yeah, I put that there for jobs, been letting folks know that were a local merc company, then some people came back with requests."
"Good to know! things are starting to finally pick up" Said Zilo with a smile. May, Cruxis, and Leo waltz over to check out the board while the rest head over to join Maldrek at the bar. Aria looks at Jin and Sparky and says
"Some new faces I see, they as good in a fight as you guys?"
Alaroc points to a drink on the shelf as he throws his arm around Jin and says, "You shoulda seen it! These two took down beast the size of this whole Building like they were nothing."
Jin winces, holding his shoulder as Aria pours the two men a drink.
"I wouldn't say nothing, that beak wound still hurts like a mother, thank you by the way miss."
"Call me Aria. I'm Maldrek's Business partner I run the homestead , you guys do the jobs. Speaking of business arrangements."
Aria's eyes focus on Zilo and she says, "I still have a scar from the wolf you told me to wrestle."
"Did you win?" Asks Zilo with a smile to oppose Aria's scowl. she leans back shaking her head before responding.
"Well what would you have me do today?"
"You'll see when the time comes, I'd rather not give away the surprise."
Sparky looks at the two of them going back and forth and turns to May who arrives at the bar.
"What with them?"
"Huh? Oh Zilo destroyed her family's home and to make up for it he agreed to teach her how to be a bard." Says May going back to look through the papers
"That thing when Zilo rub strings?"
"Sure... yeah... I gotta show Maldrek these."
May stands and walks over to Maldrek. After she leaves Sparky lights a small flame on his finger and Cruxis sneaks up behind him and snuffs it out.
"Unwise little Gob, if you light the bar we lose our place of business, bad enough we lost our ship."
"YOU WHAT!?" Shouts Aria from the other side of the bar.
"I've been advertising that you guys could 'Sail any sea and Right any Wrong' a little tough to Sail without a ship" Mumbles Aria as she stomps over to Cruxis and Sparky. Once there she asks, "What happened.
Leo out of the blue slides around the side of the bar with a hop to the other side and gives Aria a devilish smile.
"Well you see my dear Aria, the name is Leo by the by. You see When we began to Sail back down the river I spotted an entire army of barbarians a mile inland from the coast, so I rallied our forces and spearheaded a-"
"We got the snot beat out of us by a woman and she took the ship." Interrupts Zilo. Leo sighs as Aria stares at him and says
"Quite the charmer they pick up aye?"
Leo shrugs before causally wrapping an arm around Aria's shoulder and saying, "I try my best. but I couldn't match up to you. I was charmed the moment I laid eyes on you."
"I'd move that arm or I'll need to act as the bouncer and bartender today."
Leo raises both his arms, and begins to walk away, seeming to get the message. As he turns and retreats to a table, he waits for Aria to look away from him he takes out his little black book and slides some hair from his sleeve onto a page before writing Aria on the page. Then he closes the book and mutters with a smile
"That should make for a fun time later."
back at the bar Jin and Alaroc are three shots in as Maldrek and May look over the postings. Maldrek rubs his chin and says
"Either way, The king will be expecting us, and We may now need the money to get a new ship. Pass these out and see about getting some other work done." Says Maldrek as he stands. Once he is up Zilo rushes over to him and says
"You're going to see the King?"
"That's the plan."
Zilo goes in his bag and retrieves the boots with dried blood on them and hands them to Maldrek. He gives his friend a wink, which is hesitantly returned and Maldrek walks out. the moment Maldrek is outside the door he throws the boots down an alleyway.
May looks down at the papers, then at the team and she grimaces and begins walking back over to the board. Then she says, "You know what We just got back I say we take a say before we get right back out there."
"HERE HERE!" Shout Alaroc and Jin at the same time, hoisting up their next shots. Sparky and Leo decide to look and see their new rooms. Aria for then next few hours kept Zilo in her sight, waiting for some sort of ridiculous request. Cruxis left the bar shortly after Maldrek to try and secure a new sword.
May decided to rest in her room after a long journey, same with Sparky and Leo. Alaroc and Jin started up some merriment with the evening customers who can in. The entire Day Zilo just sat there, playing his violin, giving Aria the very minimum of his attention as he did.
Just as she began to relax when the sun began to set Zilo dropped his fist into the bar, pointed at her and said
"Design for me the perfect night on the city, the entire city, and execute it all before midnight." Aria's Eyes popped open almost by instinct, she then immediately looked at him questioningly before rushing upstairs and getting May and Leo to agree to watch the bar.
Leo looked to take to the role very skillfully smiling and listening to the woes of those who came in. May helped him by being the one who knew the spots of the bar that he was unfamiliar with. Aria ran to her room and retrieved a map of the city and some copper pieces as well as a quill, ink and paper.
Frantically she looked over the map popping pieces of copper onto key locations. this city was big and after dropping down 5 pieces of copper at all corners of the city she grabbed May walking by with some drinks and asked.
"Which horse is faster!?"
"Um I guess Vivace, Presto is a bit more sturdy for pulling the cart, but unhook them and Vivace loves running around."
Aria goes right back to the map and then takes to the paper, she scribbles down Young One's Plaza as Zilo looks it over. She notices Zilo then immediately crosses the line out and begins writing in Elvish, a language Zilo isn't very familiar with, after writing 5 lines in elvish she grabs Zilo and the paper in each hand and marches out of the bar with them.
As she does she passes by Cruxis who looks sad and without a new blade. He walks up to Leo at the bar and says, "Huge city like this and no blades of fine craftsmanship for a good price, only common pieces of sharpened steel."
Leo smiles looking at Zilo and Aria beginning to hop atop Vivace and says, "I think I can help you there Friend, if you do me a favor."
"What sort of favor?"
"Just watch the bar for me for tonight, I have plans I don't wish to miss."
"Deal, how do I get a good sword?"
Leo retrieves a small note book he seemed to be writing in during the trip back on the bone saw. the book looked to contain notes on Magical items and their creation.
"I was helping Maldrek learn how to make magical gear on the way back on the ship. he had a book on the theory of basic creation techniques, and I helped him bounce the concepts around. He told me He planned to get the specific books to craft them here in Deneval after he got a new ship if he had some money left over. Ask him when he gets back and maybe he could make you a magic blade like Alaroc's."
Cruxis picks up the notebook and flips a few pages around, looking hopeful.
Leo leaps over the bar and pats him on the shoulder, saying, "Go ahead and keep that bud, magic weapons notes are toward the back. now if you excuse me..."
Leo takes out his spellbook and casts a quick spell of Ray of Frost, leaving visible frost on the spot Aria was planning. The imprints on the table of her writing are the only parts left unaffected.
"I have a date." Smiles the trickster.
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