What Comes Next (RP)

The barmaid looks sad while she directs you to Tina's home, she claims not not to know where the husband is, but you might suspect there is more to that story.

It is not hard to find the place you are looking for, it is a small house with a large yard that could accommodate more than one stage-coach, though it is currently empty.

When Tina answers the door she recognises Albert and immediately becomes defensive. "I'm sorry." She says, not sounding at all 'sorry'. "If Humphrey owes you money it is not my problem. He is not my problem anymore."

Obviously she thinks you are collecting on (old) bar-debts, or something.

What do you do?

- Roald and Albert -

"I had had enough of his funny business. So I kicked him out, didn't I." Tina says, also not wanting to go into detail. "You can find him, drunk, at the establishment on Postern Way." For someone who is 'not her problem' she seems remarkably well informed as to exactly where he is.

You —neither as a bartender, nor an ex-drunk— can not be expected to know every establishment in the city, and most of the bars and inns are known by varied names —many interpretations of the crude, hand-drawn signs— but neither of you knew there even was a drinking hole on Postern Way.

What do you do?

Tina shrugs uncomfortably at the talk about not knowing the place, but does not seem surprised by your ignorance.

"Clothes? You trying to be funny!" Tina exclaims at Roald's suggestion. "I have nothing more to say to him." She says, firmly closing the door.

An old couple in the street eye you suspiciously as you approach the only place that could potentially be what you are looking for. They hurry away, shaking their heads in disapproval.

"Shut that door." Says a scantily clad women lounging nearby. She barely looks up at you as you enter, though a large, intimidating looking, man standing near the back entrance glares at you as though you did something wrong.

While there is some drinking going on, it is clear that is not the main reason these men are here, in this 'house of ill-repute'. You see one man being lead upstairs by a giggling, young women —wearing almost nothing at all— and the other men watch as she leaves, apparently waiting their turn. No one is talking to each other nor making eye contact.

What do you do?

Humphrey starts and then looks embarrassed at being found in such a place, then he bristles as Albert mentions it.

"Private?" He says, sounding interested. He knows that you and Tina are... friends... or at least friendly, and —even though he knows this is wishful thinking— may be hoping you have come from her, on her behest.

"Yes." He says, and leads you out the back door, greeting the doorman in a familiar way. This door is much better maintained, and leads into an alley off Postern Way. The alley is shaded and clearly makes for a more circumspect way into the ... well let's be honest and call it a 'brothel' —though that is maybe a generous term.

It looks like Humphrey wants to defend his being there, and, if you don't stop him, he will launch into a self-righteous speech.

What do you do?

"Really? You? Raynor?" Humphrey says, sounding surprised. "The god of fire?

"Is that why your bar burned down?" He asks, looking at you 'suspiciously' —though it is probable he is joking. "I liked that place. It was handy, you know, before getting home."

When you mention Necusle Humphrey quickly looks around to make sure no one else is listening before answering in hushed tones. "You really don't want to go there. Bad place that." But, when he sees you are are convinced you have to, he relents.

"I have never been that far." He declares, loud enough that any unseen listener would definitely hear that bit. "Not much regular travel to places like that. I have heard of merchants and trader making the run, but they tend to lie about where they are going and then hope to, somehow, convince, entice, or coerce anyone who signed up to stay with them after they find out the real destination. If you go around asking about that place people will get suspicious."

He thinks for a moment. "But it is possible that a merchant that already plans to trick people into such a trip would welcome some who are 'willing'? I don't really want to be associated with that, you get me? But, maybe I could ask about and find such a group? You would have to do me a favour... of a delicate nature... first though.

"You remember my wife, Tina? She won't talk to me. Maybe you can talk to her, persuade her to see reason? If I can just explain..." He turns to Roald. "She always like you, Roald. Said you were a 'good man'... which seemed a bit hypocritical to me, but you can't expect logic from women, right." He tries to grin in a good-matured way.

"What do you say?"

What do you do?

- Roald -

"Oh, yes! Definitely!" Humphrey says, quickly tossing out the last of the 'beer' he brought with him to the alley. "I would do anything for her.

"Though it is a little unfair her objecting to my drinking, you know she likes a bit of a drink herself, and often comes home blotto." This last sentence is spoken in a sullen undertone and not really directed at you. He completely ignores the nature of the establishment you found him in and that 'drink' may not be what got him thrown out. His promise also came very easily.

- Albert -

Humphrey is a little freaked out by your answer, and dismissive, at first, of you offer of a prayer, until you explain more.

"'Conquest', you say?" Humphrey says, sounding suddenly interested. "'Of the heart'? I could get behind that. What do I do?"

- Roald -

"Here?" Humphrey says with a complicated look of disgust on his face. "I am here because I have nowhere else to stay, and no carriage with which to earn silver for somewhere better. Both of those problems are Tina's fault."

He is trying to skirt around what are are asking, but both of you know the women are the reason for this place, and it is true that Tina liked a bit of a drink of an evening and, unless she has had a sudden change of heart, can not really complain if all he was doing was drink.

What do you do?