R
Rando
Guest
Rupert hung his satchel and hat on a peg near the front door and headed into the Whistling Lady.
Several of the local men and women eyed him as he picked his way through the crowded common room and found an empty table near the firepalce. As he took a seat and adjusted himself, he scanned the crowd.
Most were still singing and enjoying themselves. A few would glance at Rupert out of the corners of thier eyes and a few even went so far as to tip a mug Rupert's way and give a smile. But no one really seemed to mind that he was around.
A plump ale wench in a too-tight girddle and too-loose blouse ties plopped a tray of empty mugs on Ruperts table and leaned in close, almost nose to nose. She was blonde and red cheeked and a little drunk, and she beamed at him in a most friendly way.
"Ello there love. Aren't we dapper? We don't get many ministers in town, not often at all. What's yer name dearie, and what'cha doing in Belton?"
Not wanting to tip his hand this ealry in the investigation, and aware that anyone at anytime could be a servent of the enemy, Rupert only smiled a bit and said "Just passing through, and thought I'd stop in for refreshment."
The barmaid looked at Rupart askance. "Honey, no one, and I mean no one, passes through Belton on their way elsewhere. This is the end of the road."
With that she turned and walked away, taking her tray of dirty mugs but not Rupert's order.
Rupert bit his lip. He'd already been called out as a liar by a barmaid. Luckily, she did not seem to be kicking up trouble over it, because she was back to laughing and flirting with the other customers.
At last another serving girl, this one younger, smaller and darker, brought him a mug promised to keep it full as long as he wished. Rupert leaned back and drank. As he began to relax a little he took in the sights and sounds around him.
Making a head count, Rupert determined that there were 26 customers in the inn besides himself, 4 serving girls and the bartender. Most of the customers looked disheveled and of low station. They had the cloths, rough mannerisims and speach of laborers. They mostly talked about working at the silver mine, and how much they hated the overseers there. Apparently none of the mine's overseers frequented the Whistling Lady. A few others complained about how difficult it was to farm the soil around here, and hoped they could someday move to the more fertile lands in the North.
Then Rupert noticed another group of men sitting a little away from the bulk of the Inn's patrons. They were dressed more richly and for the most part drank in silence. Each was in a red robe with an embroidered gold star on the chest. They were also all old, or at least older then Rupert's lean years.
There were 4 of them and every once in a while one would whisper something in the ear of another, or perhaps just exchange glaces that seemed to be a language in and of it'self.
At last one of the red robed men got up and walked over to Rupert, brining an extra mug with him. He was a bitter looking, stooped and white haired old man with one eye. He shakily set the mug in front of Rupert and then extended his hand for a shake.
"Hello sir. I am Murdock, councilman of Belton and all of the Southern Porvence. It is not often that this juridiction gets Royal Ministers in for a visit, but it is customary for a visiting minister to make his buisness and prescence known to the local magistrates. I and my ascociates were just leaving this establishment as we have further buisness to take care of, but if you would like to begin to acknowledge the aforementioned and usual formailities, we will be at the Provential Hall at the northern end of the main street. Good day."
Rupert sat motionless for a moment as the locals continued to more or less ignore him. Rupert thought about his track record. He had been seen as a liar by a barmaid and had offended the local magistrates. Not too good so far.
Choose Your Path
A - Find another place in town to start your investigation.
B - Go talk to the barman for a room and start over in the morning.
C - Follow the group of local officials out and appologize.
D - Dive straight into the pool of locals and be a stranger no more.
E - Continue to sit and listen and wait for whoever next comes your way.
Several of the local men and women eyed him as he picked his way through the crowded common room and found an empty table near the firepalce. As he took a seat and adjusted himself, he scanned the crowd.
Most were still singing and enjoying themselves. A few would glance at Rupert out of the corners of thier eyes and a few even went so far as to tip a mug Rupert's way and give a smile. But no one really seemed to mind that he was around.
A plump ale wench in a too-tight girddle and too-loose blouse ties plopped a tray of empty mugs on Ruperts table and leaned in close, almost nose to nose. She was blonde and red cheeked and a little drunk, and she beamed at him in a most friendly way.
"Ello there love. Aren't we dapper? We don't get many ministers in town, not often at all. What's yer name dearie, and what'cha doing in Belton?"
Not wanting to tip his hand this ealry in the investigation, and aware that anyone at anytime could be a servent of the enemy, Rupert only smiled a bit and said "Just passing through, and thought I'd stop in for refreshment."
The barmaid looked at Rupart askance. "Honey, no one, and I mean no one, passes through Belton on their way elsewhere. This is the end of the road."
With that she turned and walked away, taking her tray of dirty mugs but not Rupert's order.
Rupert bit his lip. He'd already been called out as a liar by a barmaid. Luckily, she did not seem to be kicking up trouble over it, because she was back to laughing and flirting with the other customers.
At last another serving girl, this one younger, smaller and darker, brought him a mug promised to keep it full as long as he wished. Rupert leaned back and drank. As he began to relax a little he took in the sights and sounds around him.
Making a head count, Rupert determined that there were 26 customers in the inn besides himself, 4 serving girls and the bartender. Most of the customers looked disheveled and of low station. They had the cloths, rough mannerisims and speach of laborers. They mostly talked about working at the silver mine, and how much they hated the overseers there. Apparently none of the mine's overseers frequented the Whistling Lady. A few others complained about how difficult it was to farm the soil around here, and hoped they could someday move to the more fertile lands in the North.
Then Rupert noticed another group of men sitting a little away from the bulk of the Inn's patrons. They were dressed more richly and for the most part drank in silence. Each was in a red robe with an embroidered gold star on the chest. They were also all old, or at least older then Rupert's lean years.
There were 4 of them and every once in a while one would whisper something in the ear of another, or perhaps just exchange glaces that seemed to be a language in and of it'self.
At last one of the red robed men got up and walked over to Rupert, brining an extra mug with him. He was a bitter looking, stooped and white haired old man with one eye. He shakily set the mug in front of Rupert and then extended his hand for a shake.
"Hello sir. I am Murdock, councilman of Belton and all of the Southern Porvence. It is not often that this juridiction gets Royal Ministers in for a visit, but it is customary for a visiting minister to make his buisness and prescence known to the local magistrates. I and my ascociates were just leaving this establishment as we have further buisness to take care of, but if you would like to begin to acknowledge the aforementioned and usual formailities, we will be at the Provential Hall at the northern end of the main street. Good day."
Rupert sat motionless for a moment as the locals continued to more or less ignore him. Rupert thought about his track record. He had been seen as a liar by a barmaid and had offended the local magistrates. Not too good so far.
Choose Your Path
A - Find another place in town to start your investigation.
B - Go talk to the barman for a room and start over in the morning.
C - Follow the group of local officials out and appologize.
D - Dive straight into the pool of locals and be a stranger no more.
E - Continue to sit and listen and wait for whoever next comes your way.
