Heroica RPG - Quest #40: The Strivvian Job

[Scubacarrot]

OoC: So does that mean someone raised it to 400? It's somewhat unclear as the auctioneer sounds like he's asking someone to bid 400.

Skall could just see the tip of the Gnomes hat, "410"

Yes.

The only bidder left seems to be a gnome, who waits a bit, then bids 420 gold.

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall knew he couldn't top the bid unless the salesmen would be interested in his dabloon, he turned his head away, finished with the bidding process. As the Orc was handed over to his new owner, Skrall made sure to keep track of where the gnome was going.

[Scubacarrot]

The gnome dressed in red got pulled up to the stage, and after paying the money, got handed the orc, in chains and some papers. The gnome proceeded to stand in the crowd, now with the orc next to him, unlike the woman who bought the female slave earlier, who had left. Only one slave remained on the stage, the man with black hair. Blackhawk continued:

"Yes, very good indeed. It's always nice to see new bidders, shame you did not quite win, but perhaps you can try your luck again. Right, so this fellow..." Unlike the others, Blackhawk did not have the man unchained. "...Is a bit of a special case. Normally, slaves like this we send to the mines right away, but I thought to myself, you know what? Some of my customers like a challenge. And that's why today we have here, a slave that killed his master with a rock. He's been a slave since birth, but went crazy. Who is up to tame this bad man? Starting bid is only a 100 gold, go!"

Unlike with the other slaves, no one bid right away...

[CMP]

"I guess we're not goin' anywhere with this, then...I s'pose we follow this map or the crates, then?"

[Sandy]

Having returned to the others and seeing the final man being sold, Ellaria whispers to her companions:

"If anyone has some spare gold, maybe I can buy this poor man his freedom. He might even help us out in battles if we do that, and even if we don't, it would be a small price to pay... I just need 4 gold from someone and I can do the bidding, so is anyone up for that?"

[CMP]

"What, the one that went insane and killed someone with a rock?"

Atramor handed over 4 gold anyway.

[Zepher]

Boomingham scoffs. "I told you I'd get you a slave, didn't I, daughter. I've got too many children today." Boomingham raises his gloved hand. "100! Bid met!"

[Sandy]

Ellaria was confused about Boomingham's sudden offer.

"Oh.. Thank you, I guess. If the bid goes above 100, I'll pitch in the rest for you. Atramor, you can take your 4 gold back, but thank you for the gesture, anyway."

She then peered across the crowd hoping that no more offers would be placed.

[Scubacarrot]

After Boomingham's bid, a silence fell for a few seconds, before Blackhawk started speaking again:

"Very good sir, you look like you can handle a challenge, ey? Anyone else, come on!" No one seemed to be interested, so Blackhawk continued: "You just got yourself a good deal, my friend. Sold, for a 100 gold coins, to the man in the hood. Come on up." Half pushed by the crowd, Boomingham got up to the stage, where Blackhawk said:

"We're just getting the paperwork in order, we need your name, occupation and intended use for the slave. After that you can pay and go on your way. Hm, you like a traveler, tell you what, for 20 gold, I can get you some good enough clothes and a cloak for your new purchase."

Meanwhile the slave stared blankly at Boomingham.

[CMP]

Atramor nodded as he took the money back from Ellaria, and blinked as Boomingham purchased the slave instead. Hopefully this Blackhawk guy was exaggerating a bit when he said he was crazed...but now what? What if he didn't turn out to be a guard? He grumbled a little, glancing at Zoe for a moment. So far their 'leads' hadn't done much good.

Edited November 22, 2012 by CallMePie

[Zepher]

"I'll take the clothes and cloak as well. I've got a friend who will give me the money." Boomingham glances over at the paperwork. "The name is Blackhood, I'm a sell-sword from the High Kingdoms." Boomingham scratches his nose. "I was hired by the Eubric Town Watch when I was returning a bounty I hunted to the city. They are looking for their guards. Have you heard anything about them, chappo? Would be worth your while to tell me, we've been outfitted with enough money to buy them back no matter what befell them... and I certainly don't care what their current condition is."

[Scubacarrot]

The Slave-seller raises an eyebrow when Boomingham talks.

"I can't say I have, Mister Blackhood. I can tell my suppliers to keep an eye out for any Eubricans, and I can send you word if you remain in the city. Very well. That will be a 120 gold, please."

Blackhood holds a few papers, and a key in his hand.

[Zepher]

Boomingham hands over the gold, and takes the papers and key. He leads the man down to his party.

"Got a name?" he inquires. He turns to his party. "We're off. There's nothing for us to see here. Blackhawk told me there weren't any Watch Men here, and I can't think of a reason for him to lie. It's not like the whole city is conspiring to keep them from us. I say we head out to the place on the map that's marked. We'll keep this fellow in tow until we know more about him."

[CMP]

"Sounds good."

[Sandy]

Ellaria hopes she did a smart decision as she passes 20 gold to Boomingham for the clothes to the slave. She wished that the slave would agree to help them, instead of just fleeing upon the first chance... Turning to the slave, she whispered to the man:

"Do not worry, my friend. You are in safe hands now. Let us speak more when we get away from this horrible place."

[Scubacarrot]

Boomingham hands over 120 gold, leaving him with 30. He takes the papers, which he sees are papers that prove he owns the slave, the key is likely for his shackles, and Boomingham takes the clothes as well. With the slave right behind him, he returns to the party. On the Paladin's question, he answers without emotion:

"Yes, Master."

Zoe hears Boomingham's plan, and says:

"Not that I want to tell you what to do, but do you have a guide? You can't possibly be thinking of following a crude map into the desert on your own? You'd likely lose your way and die. Slave, do you know the deserts around the city?"

"Not well, my lady."

"That'd be too easy, wouldn't it... Okay, I have an idea, you follow that final lead you have left, I will meet up with Purple and Roman and find you a suitable guide for your trip into the desert, alright?"

[Zepher]

"Stop with that master junk," Boomingham barks. "Tell me your name. Mine's Blackhood, as you heard."

"What was that lead? Crates from Eubric. Very well, let's head off to that." Boomingham turns to his slave again. "Tell me about how you can into the business. What made you knock off your last owner? I'd probably have done it too, can't blame you, but what was the straw that broke the camel's back?"

[Waterbrick Down]

Skrall followed Boomingham, he looks over his shoulder at the Orc slave, maybe when he had been younger but not today. He lowered his head bringing up the rear of the party.

[Scubacarrot]

The party starts walking, the slave runs after the party with his hands still bound.

"My name is Servus. My parents were slaves, so I am too. My... former master hurt someone. I got angry... I picked up a rock. The next thing I remember I am being held back by four men, my master's head nothing but blood..."

[Zepher]

Boomingham shrugs. "Well, looks like it was lucky for you, because now you're mine." Boomingham lowers his voice. "Listen here, Severus. I want to keep an eye on those two ladies there. See them?" Boomingham indicates Nyx and Ellaira. "While you're under my service, you protect them. If they're alright by the time we leave Strivvi... you're free. I'd advise you return with us to Eubric, it's bound to treat you nicer than this city has, but my deal stands either way. They're okay, you get your freedom." Boomingham kept leading the party towards the crates.

[Scubacarrot]

The slave has a concerned look on his face:

"You are not allowed to free slaves unless in a special circumstance, like if you save the life of your master. Everything I have ever known is here... But I will take your deal. Maybe I can be free in Eubric? Life as a slave is not so bad as you make it out to be... At least we get food, a place to stay, and protection. The people that live on the street have none of those..."

[Sandy]

Ellaria nodded at the slave they had bought.

"Nice to meet you, Servus. I am Ellaria. Not to sound rude, but you should probably dress up in the clothes we bought for you. After you're done with that, would you mind telling us who exactly was your former master, and who did he hurt? There is something rotten in this city, and I don't believe in coincidences. We were lead to you, so it just might be that your master has something to do with why we are here in the first place."

[Scubacarrot]

"I'd love to, my lady, but my hands are shackled. My former master owned a quarry outside of the city, I worked at his house here. His name was Alberto Pebblestone. I was doing my tasks in the courtyard when I saw him beat another slave, a woman... I wonder what she thinks of me now that I killed a man, and what will happen to her... Strange, a few days ago I had never even hurt anyone."

[Zepher]

"There's a place in Eubric where you can live off the streets and still be a free man. I shall take you there when we're done." Boomingham produces the key and unlocks Servus.

[CMP]

"You may as well take 'em off, Boomin'ham, I don't think he's goin' anywhere anyway," remarked Atramor, following their party leader to the Gray Tower.