Big thanks to Nimloth of Thay for all the reviews.
Chapter 7: Beregost Bound Day 5
Jeral quickly dressed and packed up his remaining items into his sack and slung it over his shoulder. He headed downstairs to face another day on the road. He was pleased to note that he was the first one down to breakfast. He ordered eggs, meat, cheese and bread. He had just placed his order when Khalid and Jaheira came down the stairs. Jeral watched her slide a sharp glance at her husband; he unabashedly smiled at her in return. Clearly, she had wanted to come down earlier, and from the look of his smile he had found an enjoyable way to delay the start of their day.
Deciding to tweak her a bit, Jeral stood, bowed formally, smiled and said, "So glad you could join me. Not too early for you is it?"
"No child, not too early at all. Jaheira replied.
"Good morning to you Jeral."
"And to you Khalid."
Smiling he looked at Jaheira and nodded, "Woman."
"Jeral, my name is Jaheira, NOT woman," she replied sharply. Khalid started to smile, a knowing glint in his eyes.
"My dear Jaheira, I could not agree more, your name is Jaheira, not woman. And for clarity's sake my name is Jeral, NOT child. I suggest we both do our best to remember that."
"Well played Jeral." Khalid clapped delightedly.
Jeral smiled and winked in Khalid's direction. Jaheira just grumbled and barked out her breakfast order to the serving wench. Imoen bounded down the stairs and helped herself to portions of Jeral's breakfast.
After breakfast they met Ajantis, who had completed his morning prayers and exercises. The group then purchased some bread and cheeses for their travels, and departed the Inn. They walked along the road heading southward. On their way southward they had a brief encounter with some Gibberlings that caused no damage. They also searched the remains of a half dozen merchant caravans that were clearly attacked and looted by bandits. They found no survivors and nothing of value in any of the wreckage. By late afternoon, they reached the town of Beregost unhindered. Where the Friendly Arm Inn was a fortress Beregost was an open, apparently undefended town. Jeral idly wondered what kept the town safe from bandits and other creatures.
A conversation with a helpful farmer on the edge of town served to give them the lay of the land. There was an armorer of some repute, a Temple to the east of town, a magical shop to the west of town, four inns of varying cost and quality and other sundry distractions. It was late in the afternoon so they decided to head for an inn. Heeding Jaheira's advice to be frugal they headed for the Red Sheaf Inn. It was supposed to be the cheapest place to stay in town although they were warned that the inn also has a rough clientele.
The Red Sheaf Inn was on the second floor of a building in noticeable disrepair. At the top of the stairs they pulled open a rickety wooden door and entered into the inn. The combined smells of smoke, sweat, ale and urine were almost overpowering. As their eyes were adjusting to the gloom, they noticed a figure coming closer. Heading directly for them out of the smoke was a dwarven fighter. His barrel chest was clad in chainmail, while he wore a great horned helm and carried a small shield, and large double headed battle axe. His red beard was forked in bronze and tucked into his belt. He had a murderous glean in his eye as he approached the party. Khalid and Ajantis quickly stepped in front of the other three.
"I am here for the head of Jeral of Candlekeep. You other long limbs may keep your heads if you step aside although I not be sad if I get to kill that elven lass we well."
Jeral replied quickly.
"Good dwarf, I am not tall by the standards of my race but I feel safe to say that without a chair or a table for you to stand upon my head will be quite safe where it is."
"No one makes height jokes and lives!"
The dwarf let out a thunderous battle cry,
"BY DURLAG'S AXE, NOW YOU ALL DIE!" He charged right into Khalid and bowled him aside. Ajantis swung at the dwarf but his blow deflected off the attacker's shield. Jaheira swung her staff at the dwarf and stuck him in the head. With a loud "CRACK" her staff shattered into pieces upon his dwarven helm. The dwarf shook his head, spit out a bloody tooth, smiled, and resumed his charge at Jeral. Imoen had stepped to the side and was shooting arrows as fast as she could. At such a close range she could not miss but most seemed to imbed in his shield, or seemed unable to pierce his well-made dwarven chain mail.
Jeral stood at the entrance to the Inn with his hands on his sword hilt and appeared unconcerned about the charging dwarf. As the dwarf closed Jeral placed his right hand behind his back. Jaheira watched Jeral expecting a flung knife to halt the dwarven advance. Right before the dwarf could strike, Jeral stepped back out the door pivoting on his left foot Jeral grabbed the other side of the door with his right hand and swung around to the other side of the door. With a roar the enraged dwarf ran right through the railing and fell two stories onto the street below. As he lay their dazed on the ground a few well-placed arrows and throwing knives quickly ended his life. Imoen walked down the stairs and quickly rifled the corpse. She came up with a purse of 100 gold and another bounty notice scroll.
"Same as the last one brother, except this one is named Karlat and now you are worth three hundred and fifty pieces of gold."
"Well that is flattering isn't it? I suspect if it keeps going up then I am doing something right. Although I have no idea what that is."
The party decided that with their newfound wealth they could afford to stay in better accommodations, particularly when they saw the results of bargain shopping. They walked around the corner to the Burning Wizard Inn. A young foppish looking fellow asked them if they wanted a job on the morrow. Jeral quickly said sure and they arranged to meet after breakfast. As the party sat down over dinner Khalid asked Jeral why he taunted the dwarf. "You know they hate height jokes above almost all else."
"Khalid, of course I know they do. Gorion once taught me that to make one's opponent lose their calm while keeping yours can be half the battle. I also remembered the story of Niklos the Minotaur slayer. Niklos was a skilled warrior who used to get Minotaurs to charge him and at the last minute he would step to the side and then strike them from behind. He did this quite successfully for years until he came across a Minotaur who anticipated his maneuver."
"What happened then?" Khalid asked
"Well the minotaur faked an out of control charge and when Niklos sidestepped he also turned in anticipation of the Minotaur running past. The Minotaur merely adjusted direction and gored him in his lightly armored side. Thus endeth the tale of Niklos the Minotaur slayer. Hmmmm, I guess if one grows up in a library reading all the time something sticks on occasion. I guess I learned something from all those books after all. Frankly, the dwarf looked too tough for us so I tried to even the odds. I will not use the same trick too often less I end up like Niklos."
With a laugh the party enjoyed a hearty meal and then retired for the evening.
As Imoen went to bed Jeral stated that he was going downstairs for a drink. Sleepily she just nodded and went to sleep.
Jeral went looking for a courtesan. He had seen a few during the day and was sure he could find another. He went back to the Red Sheaf Inn and found what he was looking for. After some brief negotiations Jeral followed one upstairs. She was smiling and said "you're an easy one dearie, if that is all you want and I still get full price it is fine by me." Jeral returned to bed an hour later, poorer by seven gold pieces, but he slept much better that night.