Skarpe RPG, Part 1

[Johan 72109]

They woke up, and realised that they couldn't remember a thing. Nothing.

Their names, weapons, likes, dislikes, the fact that they felt absolutely diabolical - they could remember all that.

It's just they couldn't remember anything else. Where they were. What they'd been doing. Every element of their lives had been stripped clean, until it was just a fresh, clean slate. Clean save for one, last memory.

Screams and howls of pain and terror. The taste and smell of blood. Feral snarls, of neither man nor beast. Fear, lots of that. Running feet. Loud cracks of musket shots, more screams. More snarls. Death.

A clean slate. More or less. And to start off with, they were lying on a floor, in a small, dirty upstairs room, in what they presumed was an inn. Dawn's light was creeping through the half closed shutters. Outside, a cock crowed. Through the open door to the room, they could see a staircase leading downstairs, from which direction they could hear voices in conversation, and the sound of mugs clinking upon tabletops.

The companions could either explore the room they were in, or descend the stairs to the bottom floor of the inn.

[Elendil]

Andria got to her feet, and looked around. Where was she? Who was she? What was she? And why couldn't she remember?
"Perhaps," she said to herself, "I got hit on the head."
She looked around her, there were four other people in the room. Perhaps they knew what had happened...

[Tarkheena_Finduilas22]

Eliana sat up. Where was she? Who were these people with her? She touched her bag of knives; a tough leather which kept them, and her safe. She grasped for memory in the back of her mind.

"I am Eliana" she whispered to herself "I have knives, and I throw them for entertainment. But what else?" she thought harder. Then she got something she wished she hadn't found. Her last memory. The pain, the screams the terror. She wished to find no more.

She looked around her. She didn't know these people, but she had a feeling they would have to work together in order to survive.

"shall we go downstairs? there are people down there that might could help us find out where we are"

[Gryphon]

Lupa breathed slow and easy she felt at her boot where her knife was and she remembered she had a sword on her left thigh as she was right handed... she remembered her secret, or rather, she sensed it. She also remembered that she was an excellent marksman and she liked sleeping alone. 'I'm a hunter.' she thought 'I hunt things and I usually am in the forest.' She didnt know if the others knew but she wasnt going to tell her secret so flippantly, for all she knew they might have been her enemies...

Then a rather rude memory flashed in her mind, screams, snarling, and the smell... blood. She felt death and her sensitive ears were picking up bits and pieces of downstair coversations as they were already loud enough.

"Hmm..." she said "I wonder if this might be our room?" she looked at the people around her, 'Maybe they wont want to fight me.' she thought 'They look as confused as I am.'

[Dernhelm]

Ledra woke, her heart hammering. She felt for her knife, then tried to remember why she needed it. She dropped her hand. What had happened? She remembered – no! she couldn't remember. Nothing. Except fear.

Suddenly she relized there were people around her.... They looked just as confused as she. They were in an inn. Perhaps they could get food; she was ravenously hungry – no, that would never do. What had happened to them? Who knew what they might meet down there!

She spoke. "Friends," – she had no reason to think then otherwise, and it was safest to seem friendly – "Friends, know you what this place is, and what has happened to me – us?"

[Johan 72109]

The group decided to descend the stairs outside their room.

A brief discussion amongst them let them realise that they all shared the same experience. None of them had a single clue where they were, or what they were doing.

The stairs opened out into dirt and decay.

They had entered into the small common room of an inn. Early morning light filtered in through grimy windows, only serving to highlight the filthy floors and tables. At one wall of the room stood a bar, and on the other hung two paintings - one depicting three feathers on a field of blue, the other a rather stern looking, bullish man in a grey uniform, a sabre at his side.

The common room was also filled with people, even at this early hour. At the bar stood the barman, as well as a couple of maids. At one table sat two men and a woman in fine clothes, angry expressions fixed upon their pale faces as they chattered to each other in a foreign tongue. Bowls of thin pottage were set before them, almost untouched. A dwarf sat silently at one of the tables, cutlass set on the table before him, an ale in his hand.

And in addition, the group saw a goblin standing at the door to the inn, who took one look at them, yelped in terror, and then scrambled out again.

The group now could split up if they so chose and talk to anyone inside the inn, or leave the inn itself if they wished.

[Gryphon]

Luna looked around the common room, and noted to try to find the goblin later. He knew something, she could sense it. but she thought she'd let im have a head start, she wasnt in a hurry as far as she could tell and she though if he was tired when she found him it was possible he would submit to her will sooner. The maids were probably a good start, they knew much of what went on in an inn.
"Perhaps" thought Luna "I should start with them."

[Elendil]

Andria, pushed a strand of her long black hair behind her ear, and walked over to the Bartender, she wanted to ask him a question, and she also wanted some ale.

[Gryphon]

Lupa asked a barmaid if there were any rumours floating around that she should know of. One of the barmaids grinned nastily.

'One of the noblewomen witches was arrested last night by the army. Something to the tune of causing disruption and violence in the lower quarters. Her father's offering a reward to anyone who can negotiate her release, but no one's likely to accept. Good riddance, I say. One less noble to worry about.'

The other woman nodded in agreement, and added, 'Probably she was in league with the cut-throats down in the Rishtig. You know how these Lewellyns like to stay together, thick as thieves around a caravan.' With this, both women give a pointed look at you.

'And why do you want to know, anyway?' the first woman ssid giving Lupa a rather nasty look. 'You came in last night, you and your friends, drunk as knaves no doubt, looking as if a Vampyre itself was chasing you, then went straight up to bed without so much as a by-your-leave! Not safe, for Lewellyns like you to cause so much of a stir. The army might take offence.' Her companion nods again.

Lupa decided she wouldnt get very far with the maid and turned to the bartender to ask for an ale...

[Tarkheena_Finduilas22]

Eliana felt quite uncomfortable in the room. She had felt rather sick ever since she woke up and felt like she needed some fresh air. But what about that Goblin? She decided to follow after him.

Eliana stepped out into the street. She decided the air was still not that fresh but kept her word to look for that. Why was he scared of them anyway?

[Elendil]

Andrina walked over to the bar, where the barman and the barmaids were chattering together softly. She noticed Lupa doing the same, but heading for the barmaids rather than the barkeep. As they approached, the conversation was stopped. The barman turned to face Andrina. 'What do you want?' he asked gruffly.
"I want a drink, and I also want to know where I am." She answered him calmly, for she was used to being spoken to gruffly. She smiled sweetly, flirting, for she knew well you catch more flys with honey than vinigar.

[Johan 72109]

Lupa turned to the barman and bought herself an ale, catching a few more ugly looks along the way...

[What a useful post I've just written... :p ]

[Gryphon]

Lupa gave them a look back daring them to mess with her. She didn't want to put up with anyone's problems other than her own.

"What did that barmaid mean 'Lewellyns'?" she thought. All she knew was that Lewellyns were a type of hunting dog. However Lupa didnt think that was what she had in mind. "Are these people really my friends?"

[Elendil]

The barman handed over the drink without another word, a thin brown mixture in a filthy wooden tankard, accepting a few copper pennies in return. He frowned at Andrina in interest.
"Quite a run last night then, if you don't remember..." he murmured. "Well then, young lady," he said, tone changed now from the gruffness moments before, "This is the Three Feathers Inn, on The Mamaev Square, in Port Leviboskov, The People's Republic of Barka." He chuckled at his comprehensive answer, and added, "Will that do?"
Andrnia looked at him again, still smiling, "Would you be so kind as to tell me what a 'Lewellyns' is? It seems my 'friend' wants to know."

[Johan 72109]

"Lewellyns?" The barman asked in amazement. "You mean you don't know?" He stared at Andria's blank look, goggling. "Lewellyns are... you. You and your friends are Lewellyns. How else can I say it, Barkans are from Barka, Pilgrans are from Pilgra, Nantites are from Nante... And Lewellyns are from Lewellyn." He frowns in puzzlement. "How can you not know that ?"

[Dernhelm]

Looking around, she was at a loss for what to do. Where were they? Three Feathers Inn, People's Republic of Barka...but what was that? Ah. Andria was getting some answers from the barman. "...a 'Lewellyns' is?" she said. Ledra listened more carefully. "...don't know? Lewellyns are...you." For moment the noise from the other drowned out his words. "...from Barka, Pilgrans are..." She strained to hear. "...om Pilgra," One of the barmaid's voice rose; she moved closer, trying to stay out of the way, "...are from Lewellyn" She nearly ran into a table, "...not know that?"

"My friend is still exauhsted from yesterday; she isn't thinking well." Ledra said quickly. "How was it last night after we went upstairs?" She hoped this was not to great a blunder...They went upstairs, after all, whether they were dragged, or went up by themselves!

[Johan 72109]

The barman nodded at Ledra's explanation, then answered her question. The three members of the group listened closely.
"Nothing of note," he said. "That goblin creature who's just departed in such a hurry came in shortly after you did. Asked about you in fact. Asked if your friends had arrived back or not, which they hadn't. Still haven't in fact." The barman frowned. "You wouldn't happen to know where your friends are? You know, the other four of you?"

[Dernhelm]

"No. We havn't. What did he know of them?". Perhaps the goblin creature knows more of us than we do our selves, she thought. "Do you know aught of him?"

[Johan 72109]

"Not particularly," replied the barman. "He said that you'd all got into some sort of trouble in the Rishtig, then asked if any of you had yet returned. He seemed quite concerned for you... Gave detailed descriptions of each of you, including the ones who aren't here at the moment. I hope nothing serious has befallen them?"

[Gryphon]

Lupa thought all of this through without saying anything. The goblin still caused uncertainty in her mind. He could still be an enemy and she wasnt going to trust anything anyone said unless it was one of her companions. She took a swig of ale and waited for her other friends to speak...

[Johan 72109]

The barman continued. "If you wish to find the goblin though... The best place to start looking is in the Goblin Quarter, by The Wall... You can't miss it, it's in the midst of the wealthy district. Cursed goblin traders, stealing our money and our livelihoods..."

The group looked at one another. They could either head for the Goblin Quarter, or continue to circulate around the common room.

[Gryphon]

Lupa drains her mug and turns to the others,

"Shall we look for our little friend then?" she asked

[Dernhelm]

"It would seem the wisest coarse." Ledra paused, then spoke softly, so only her companions could hear; "There is little more we can learn here without giving away our...state of mind."

"Well; what say you?"

[waterhogboy]

Light from the oil lamp flooded into Dmitri's vision as I tried to open his eyes. He had a terrible headache, obviously from too much ale the previous night... though he didn't remember drinking any. In fact, he couldn't remember much about the previous night whatsoever.

As his eyes became accustomed to the room around him, he realised he was alone. Where was he? His memory was like a thick fog. He strained desperately to recall some memory, but he could could only catch fleeting images that flitted away as soon as he tried to grasp hold of them.

Suddenly, Dmitri relaised he could hear voices from the room below. He was evidently in some sort of tavern. Maybe there was someone down there who could help him out, give him some clue as to what had gone on. He made his way down the narrow staircase into a dimly lit common room. His eyes fell upon a cluster of women, who seemed to be discussing something serious. Perhaps they might know something. Dmitri made his way over to them. They looked dangerous, all armed and with the look of warriors, but they were women, and not Barkan like himself, so he had no fear of them.

[Dernhelm]

Before anyone could speak, another joined them. He looked nearly as befuddled as they had felt earlier; and weary. Ledra turned. "Who might you be?" She frowned slightly, "And where did you spring from?"

[waterhogboy]

"They call me Dmitri," he said turning to the one who had spoken. "But I have not time for the idle talk. What happened last night? I am believing you know something, yes?"

[Dernhelm]

"Perhaps. Or perhaps we know no more than you." She frowned again, puzzled. "Do you know nought of it?"

The thought was growing on her that this man knew no more than they; had even, as they, forgotten everything. If he could but be made to let this slip...

[waterhogboy]

'Enough of this! I do not like these 'pleasantries' as you call them. You tell me everything you know, or you shall regret it!'

Dmitri's eyes narrowed. His hand moved toward the axe at his belt. Ancient and worn as it was, the blade was still keen and could cut through almost anything.

[Gryphon]

"Everything WE know is everything YOU know!" said Lupa standing in front of her companions "You dont scare me with that little axe of yours and if you hurt my friends you will regret it. All we know is that we came to this inn and somehow we were knocked out and all WE remember is something we do not want to repeat! If you wish to be our friend you need to be more tame of tongue!"

Lupa loooked at him in the eye and breathed a few breaths "Perhaps you should tell us what YOU know. Somehow i think you know more about us than we do."

[Johan 72109]

The whole room turned to stare at the group after Lupa's outburst. The barman was frowning, and the two maids were whispering together.
The dwarf had one hand touching a cutlass at his side.

The group was drawing attention to itself.

[Elendil]

"Look honey," Said Andrina turning to Dmirti and puting on her flirting manner again. "I don't...we don't know you...and I'm sure if you were in our possision you wouldn't what to tell they first person who asked you all about yourself."

[Dernhelm]

Ledra glanced around anxiously, "Why don't we see what we can find out about that goblin-thing, and...converse along the way?" She turned to Dmirti. "We should not wish to – disterb [sp???] anyone, I think." she said, warningly.

[waterhogboy]

"Da. I agree. We must leave this place, before we get into more than you pretty little things can handle."

Dmitri strode toward the door and into the street outside. He waited for the others to follow so they could decide which way to go.

[Johan 72109]

The group left the inn, under the piercing gaze of the barkeep and the barmaids. They found themselves looking out onto a huge paved square.
One end was dominated by a small mansion, bedecked with flag after flag, all bearing the same insignia - a white scythe and plough crossing over an anvil, on a black field. The other three sides of the square consisted of shops, inns (including the one they had just left, The Three Feathers,) a long hall, again with flags covering it, and a physician's. Grey-coated soldiers stood everywhere. In the centre of the square, a tall statue stood - a man clambering over barricades waving a flag and a sabre, gashes covering his arms and chest. 'The Death of Petrovich, Founder of the People's Republic of Barka - Born 1487. Died 1518', reads the plaque.

The group would be able to return to this square at a later date to look around, if they wished.

The group continued along filthy streets, occasionaly pausing to ask for directions to the goblin quarter. As the day began, the streets steadily began to get more crowded, until the group was literally pushing against a horde of hawkers, merchants, farmers, and soldiers, all screaming and yelling at each other and the crowd.

Eventually the streets became cleaner and less narrow, and less densely populated. Goblins began to be more and more prevalent. The group entered out onto the goblin quarter.
A long street of wealthy looking houses led along, directly beneath the tall walls of the city. Goblins wandered along, being overtaken by carriages and large carts covered by leather tarpaulins, all rather expensive looking.
Along the street, as well as the houses, there was a weapons and ammunition shop, a clothes shop, a rather refined looking inn, a collector's shop, and an embassy.
The group could choose to visit whichever place they liked.

[Elendil]

Andrina looked at the shops, then turned to her companions. "I'm going in here," she said nodding at the weapons shop. "Anyone else coming?"

[Dernhelm]

Ledra hesitated, glancing at her rather worn clothes. Then she glanced up, and relized that the others clothes were in even worse condition. She would have to make do; she wouldn't have them think she was fussy, like...like.... Uhg. She couldn't remember. Not the merest syllable.

"It's horrible! I can't remember a thing," she exclaimed. Then she caught herself, and glanced anxiously at Dmitri. He didn't seem to have noticed. Well, he probably has forgotten everything too, she thought.

"I'll come," she said to Andrina.

[waterhogboy]

Dmitri looked around. A fleeting memory of a previous ecounter on this street many years ago brushed the edge of his thoughts before receding in to the depths of his subconcious.

So, the girls wanted to visit the weapons shop? Dmitri laughed quietly to himself. Goblins often had the ability to make people feel uncomfortable when around them. They should learn to control their emotions and fears. They had more important things to do than spend time shopping. Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea joining these women. He, however, did not have a penny to his name, anyway. He decided that the best thing to do would be to make his way towards the inn. Surely the goblin would have made his way back to where he had been staying. This seemed liek a good place to start looking.

Dmitri deliberately turned his back to the weapon shop and pointed to the inn. His face was set and he stood akimbo waiting for the others to follow him. No doubt, however, as the had led up to his expectations of women already, they would disagree with him.

[Gryphon]

Lupa saw Dmitri look at the inn and saw as her two companions entered the weapons shop. Lupa didnt need weapons or clothes and she was curious about Dmitri so she decided to follow him and see what he was up to. Lupa felt that sooner or later she was going to have to decide whether or not to trust him.

"If only he wasnt trying to push us for information i might be able to trust him. But then again the fact that he DID press us means that hes only trying to figure things out for his own sake. Maybe he WAS our friend and forgot everything just like WE did, either that or he IS a foe that got caught up in this mess same as the rest of us." she thought for a moment "Better to have a friend than a foe."

Lupa had made up her mind to keep an eye on him and so decided to go with him into the inn.

[Johan 72109]

The two women stepped into the weapons shop, looking around at the heavily ornamented interior, walls bedecked by paintings of battles and warriors of long ago.

A goblin stepped from another room at the jangling of the door bell, an oily smile on his face, cracking long fingers together. "And what can I do for you charming ladies?" he asked. "We sell every kind of weapon here - sword, buckler, claymore, pistol, musket, rifle - whatever you may wish for, we can provide. And of finest quality as well, straight from the forges and smithies of the Dark Empire. Of course, the more... exotic... items, may be a little out of your league." At this, he sneered at their grimy clothing, "And they need a government license to boot. Of course, the larger weapons would also make you a little inconspicuous, especially were you to be in a place where a young lady would certainly not wish for overmuch attention..."

Andrina and Ledra could buy swords, bucklers, knives, and ammunition for guns (all rather expensive). Other weapons appeared to be either too expensive, or required a licence.

[Johan 72109]

The two entered the inn, recieving rather hostile stares on the way in. The inn looked rather better quality than the one they had just left (The Three Feathers). One wall was mounted with a picture of a bull-like man in a grey uniform, the same as in The Three Feathers, but this picture was being used as a dart board.

In the inn was a goblin innkeeper, a small weasel-like man sitting in a corner wearing rather ragged clothes and looking slightly hungover, and three goblins playing darts and drinking a clear green liquid from small elegant bottles.

The two could go and speak to whichever group they wished.

[Elendil]

Andrina wished she could buy a musket, but they cost to much and they needed a licence. She ran her hand over the hilt of a sword, in was nicely made and she would have liked it, but she already had one...
"I wonder," she said to herself. She was good with swords, and she knew it, but she wasn't sure if she was good enough. She picked it up in her left hand, and made several slashes in the air.
"I do belive I could." She said, still speaking to herself. "Weild both."
She picked it up, and said to the goblin:"I want this one," she said, reaching into her pocket

[Johan 72109]

"By all means, my dear," the goblin said. "Thirteen golden francs, if you please..."

This was almost all of Andrina's money - did she wish to go ahead with the transaction?

[waterhogboy]

Dmitri glanced at Lupa, the only one of the three who had followed him. Keeping his voice low he spoke to her:

'I think it best that we speak with this goblin,' he said, subtly inclining his head toward the innkeeper,'You agree?'

[Johan 72109]

The innkeeper looked up with a thin smile. "Good morrow to you kind sir, ma'am," he said, greasily. "And what can I provide for you? We have the finest sweetmeats, fruits and insects, all the way from the Dark Empire itself. Or some goblin Absinthe, perhaps, if you have the constitution?"

[Elendil]

Andrina sneared at the Goblin. "That's daylight robbery!" She growled, and hung it back in it's place. She pretended to look around a bit more, and then when the goblin's back was turned, she quickly and quietly lifted the sword down and slipped out the door.
When she was in the street she grinned. "Serve him right, filthy dog."
She glanced up at the other shops and then she went arround back of the inn and slipped the sword into a horses feed trough and covered it with hay. Then she went back to the front of the inn and went in the door.
Stealing came natrulaly to her...Not that she could remember why.
She could see Lupa and Dmitri talking to the inkeeper, so she went over to where the darts where being tossed into the piture.

[waterhogboy]

'I'll take the absinthe,' he said. Deftly dipping into Lupa's belt pouch he removed a small coin and tossed it to the barkeep.

'That should cover it, I presume.'

[Johan 72109]

Ledra stared as Andrina took the sword from it's rack, and stepped out from the shop, as quickly as she could.

The storekeeper turned around, and opened his mouth to speak to Ledra. Then his eyes fell upon the empty rack where the sword had been.
"One minute, my dear," he said, politely, walking over to the counter. "I am shutting shop for just a moment," he continued, producing a musket from behind the counter. "You do know that goblins are renowned for being misers? Myself, I just think we're careful." He chuckled gently, before cocking the musket and stepping outside the shop, to scream the word 'theif' at the top of his lungs...

What did Ledra wish to do?

[Johan 72109]

"That will do niceley, sir," said the barkeep, handing over a glass of greenish liquid. Dmitri took a sip, and instantly regretted it. Goblin tastes were not the same as human ones, it seemed.
"Is there anything else you wish for?" the barkeep asked.

Meanwhile, Andrina stepped over to the picture-turned-dartboard, and looked up at the bullish man with interest. One of the goblins chuckled, and said to her, "Barka's mighty General Chuikov, self-proclaimed hero of the War of Leviboskov. Makes a fine dartboard as well." His companions cackled.

Suddenly, from outside, came the sounds of yelling and shouting.

The characters could either continue conversing, or could go to investigate the source of the noise, or any other action.

[Elendil]

Andrina looked up, then glanced at the goblin.
"I...ummm...need to use the bathroom. Where is it?"
It was a lie, but she didn't want to get in trouble. If she could get out back, grab the sword and get out fast. She'd go back to the 'Three Feathers', say she'd left something in the room upstairs...Once up there she should be able to watch the comosian, safely. She hoped...

[waterhogboy]

Dmitri attempted to casually place the mug back on the counter whilst keeping a straight face. The drink tasted awful and was burning the inside of his mouth like anything. He closed his eyes and swallowed, tightening every muscle in his face. He would not let Lupa think he could not handle his drink...

Slowly exhaling he opened his eyes. The barkeeper had something of a smirk on his face, which did not please Dmitri at all.

'Tell me, barkeep. How many rooms do you have booked, I was wondering if I might stay the night?'

[Gryphon]

Lupa disregarded the stolen coin, she could find revenge easily, he didnt know what or even who she was.

"Why so cold?" she asked him

[Dernhelm]

Ledra was taken by surprise – she had not quite expected this. But she owed Andrina nothing; she would not be seen with her. She walked quickly to the inn, to join the other two.

[waterhogboy]

"That is none of your business woman," Dmitri replied without turning to look at her. Then, addressing the barkeep he said, "I would like two rooms, one for me and one for the girl. She will pay."

[Gryphon]

"You dont have any money do you?" asked Lupa "In any case, its my buisness to know if you want food and lodging tonight seeing as how you dont have any money on your person." Lupa looked at him and crossed her arms. "Tell me who you are, what you want with us and never call me woman, my name is Lupa and you will adress me as such."

[Dernhelm]

"Excuse me," Ledra said, apologetically. She walked over to Lupa. "Is Andrina a friend of yours?" she asked, in a low voice "She may be in need of some help."