the Morning After

Upon looking out the window he sees that the fog has lifted, yet the heavens are filled with grey cloud and the dawning sun has a hard time showing itself. Below, the poor soul who had been attacked during the night is nowhere to be seen. Fred sees cloaked and hooded figures leave the Inn, it would be a good idea to know who they are, for my own protection he thinks.

Still armed Fred decides to have breakfast. The upper hallway is filled with men similarly armed, and Fred notices that one of the rooms has its door bashed in, some of the wooden splinters splattered with blood. Downstairs the main hall has only a few patrons, Fred spies the innkeep wringing his hands and cursing. Sitting himself down at a table, Fred saddles up to another man saying, "Quite a night."

The man didn't turn to look at Fred, but in disgusted tones answers: "#$@@! Nin are gonna kill the whole bloody lot! Just glad I'm not on their list."

Fred feels out of his league, too disadvantaged by his lack of understanding. He mentally goes over everything he had been told of this place, once King Emry pulled him from the Shreken and told him of the Impaler: Regin Mort had become the most powerful sorcerer in the east, and with his magical power has come the desire for earthly power and control. What began as his take-over of the independent eastern Duchy of Wi'Sdom has now become a conquest of the adjacent lands as well. He has openly stated his desire for the Duchy of North Umbria - apparently their proximity to a remnant of the Fey Wood is what attracts him. Fred shakes his head at the news he received before leaving for Vjorica: that Belboz had left his abode in Mt. Cicatrice in order to best Mort, but was bested instead. King Emry knew of Mort's distasteful tactic of magically incapacitating an enemy and then impaling him on pikes. Few have held out any hope for Belboz, or for any other who would go against the mad mage. And so Fred was sent here, to Vjorica, in the hopes of getting the information needed to kill the Impaler. He was told to seek out Quint, a freind of Allaria, and to speak directly with Castellan - the Unifier of the Divided City. Fred shakes his head again as he wonders how "unified" this City truly is.

"Friend," says Fred to the man next to him. "What is a Nin, and what of this Squad I have heard about?"

The man looks at Fred this time, carefully too. "Who said I'm your friend? You look like a stranger to me, and if you don't know the answer to your fool question than you ain't worth spit!"

A wench comes up at this point and asks Fred what he'd like to drink. "Ale, and I'd like some meat with that." Before the wench could even turn Fred adds: "Cook some up for my friend here as well, I'll pay."

The man beside him raises an dirty eyebrow at that.

1. Once the food arrived the man began to eat with vigor, yet still did not speak with Fred...
2. "Don't think a plate full of sheep makes you my friend," says the man to Fred...

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