Entering the lodge the commando and his eleven
companions found themselves in a large common room. The main entrance to this
lodge was set on the far right side of where most doors would be. Constructed
out of planks from swamp trees the door sat just thirteen feet away from the
corner of the building. One the right side of the common room sat the bar area
where a barkeep and two bartenders served six patrons. Each patron sat in tall
stools drinking the local ales of this region. Some wore overalls made from
reptilian hides over tank tops, torn dirty shirts, sleeveless hide skin shirts,
and leaf-grass made Kurtas. Others near the bar wore fishing vests, utility
vests, plaid shirts with rolled up sleeves or torn off, trousers, cargo pants
and sarongs.
The
commando looked around the common area seeing other patrons, maids, bar
wenches, and servants. Aside from the six patrons at the bar, those close by
and their two other friends were fifteen other patrons. Four of these patrons
were pirates sitting in the far left corner at a booth. What gave away these
pirates was their choice of weapons. It was particularly those cutlasses
pirates often wear dangling from belts. Even though this time was more modern
time period there were still those who fought with melee weapons. At this
pirate’s booth sat a female pirate, a canine humanoid with the appearance of a
badger, an Orc and a skinny dark elf. Each one of them wore a different outfit
that differentiated them from the rest.
The
female pirate wore a corset shirt, pant boots that allowed the wearer to take
off the boots. Over the corset and pants she donned a long, wide purple sash
wrapped and tied around her waist. She also wore a swashbuckler hat over brown
hair. In one hand she held a prince pipe and wore a gauntlet over the tattooed
arm. Next to her sat the Canine pirate who wore a long sleeveless tan overcoat
over a cuirass like shirt made from belts, plates of metals, and thick leather
sown to a white shirt of wool. This canine did wear trousers torn at the ankles
with a purple sash tied over the belt holding up the trousers. Beside the
Canine humanoid sat the orc who had grayish skin tone. This orc pirate wore a
sleeveless sweatshirt over loose baggy pants. He appeared more modern than the
rest save for his purple bandana and large brown boots. His brown boots looked
like they had seen better days. As for the drow he wore the more traditional
drow garments of a long black tunic vest over a white long sleeved shirt with
stripes, red pants, knee high boots, and a purple bandana enveloping a cap with
the tail wrapped around his single braid pony tail.
Maurice’s
gaze turned from the pirates to the rest of the patrons. These patrons sat at
tables, round and square, big and small. Apparently this lodge had an
assortment of tables, chairs, stools, a few sofas, one couch, corner chairs,
and a few game tables. In the left side of the lodge was the fireplace/furnace
that kept the lodge warm other than the kitchen.
At
the fireplace sat a female monk of martial arts wearing the temple-school
uniform dyed turquoise with green trim. She sat crossed legged in a corner
chair in the midst of meditation across from a goblin scientist. On a nicer
chair the goblin wore an unbuttoned lab coat over a nice suit without the
jacket. This well dressed goblin had a monocle and goggles dangling from his
neck. He sat comfortably while working on a strange automaton with four legs.
Next to the goblin was a half drunk looking adventurer in a fine leather under
a loosened Inconel chest cuirass. His seat was the couch which he lounged on
with his hands behind dark auburn head and his feet hung over the other arm of
the couch. Maurice could not see what pants the adventurer wore nor did he
really care. The other patrons are a swamp ranger in rough looking gray
buttoned collarless shirt, tan oil pants, two bandoliers, brown belt, and a
pair of dirty boots. This ranger had the Borvadosian appearance that had a scar
of banishment over the small holes where piercings used to be.
At
separate tables in the middle of the lodge were four hunters, a pair of trackers/trappers
and a Ranger-Poacher sitting alone. There wasn’t much difference in the other
clothing that really made these patrons stand out. Each of the hunters and
tracker/trappers wore brow, black, camouflage, and dirty green hunting
jumpsuits. However the Ranger-Poacher had a tanned hide shirt with a collar,
and buttons under a ragged red vest decorated with teeth, claws, bone ribs,
hooks, and snake fangs. For pants he wore a Sarong that was dirty over boots
made from reptile skins. All of them had distinct features to their faces and
hair from beards, scars on one side, half shaven heads, tattoos, dreads,
disheveled, messy hair and a missing eye. None of these patrons paid the large
party any heed or attention. Most of them were either tired, drunk, oblivious,
preoccupied, or simply gave no damns about them.
The
walls of this fine establishment were decorated with animal hides, head
trophies, large jaws of predators, skeletons of snakes, tapestries, horns from
game, harpoons, long hooks, portraits, broken pikes, and guns. Such trophies
and hides included those of deer, crocodiles, boars, mounted snapping turtle
shells, skinned bear hides, crocodile hides, and the hides of swamp cat. After
looking around Maurice turned to Maphai. She informed him that their rooms had
already been prepaid. Accepting this prepayment the command nodded letting his
companions off the hook.
Five
of his companions went for the bar while the rest joined him. As he joined
Maphai, Ordoz, Cagan, and his companions at the larger table Jode, Jenn,
Loaket, Macan and Flede took empty places at the bar. The commando and his
group sat down at a grouping of tables that were connected for larger parties.
Just as the enlarged party sat down patrons began to leave, and guests retired
for the night. While these patrons and guests left the larger party was served.
For
an hour the gathered warriors, commandos, soldiers, goons and mercenaries
drank, feasted and relaxed. They enjoyed themselves and each other’s company
looking forward to a restful night. Maphai and Maurice discussed how long they
should stay here and get information from locals on where the Vestrisians are.
Taking out the dog tags Maurice showed Maphai. Her own eyes grew wide as if she
had seen these before. The mercenary leader told the commando that there is a
group of soldiers with that dog tag in a village south of here.
Before
she can explain the lodge door burst open with a loud bang. Everyone’s
attention was directed to the entrance. Ten large well-dressed goons came in
the door way of the lodge. With the lodge’s attention on them the ten goons
displayed themselves in a line. Every single one of them wore identical outfits
that consisted of white silk shirts with thin red stripes under bronze waits
coats and pants with a black belt. These fine looking outfits all had a blood
red ascot tie. Over this these goons donned shawl-cloaks of a sinister black.
Although the goons wore identical clothing their faces were not. On their heads
rest trilby hats, bowlers, ivy caps, ascot caps, and pork pies.
Even
with the attention focused on them these new arrivals stood there eyeing
everyone in the lodge. Those at the bar to their attention away from them back
to drinking. All four cougars and Harpy roared with laughter, shouting and
carrying on. The rest of the lodge did the same thing and went on with their own
business. Maurice still kept his focus on them from the corner of his eye. When
the rest of the lodge turned away the ten well-dressed goons sprang into
action.
What
the Onyx Cougars did not see were weapons being drawn from pockets in the goons’
cloaks. Out of their pockets these goons wielded Kukris, daggers, batons,
stilettos, spike nails, and crowbars. As one this group of ten goons crept up
on the four Cougars and Silver Harpy. Oblivious to this the four Onyx Cougars
in their uniforms of dyed Gantronese uniforms kept on drinking. The Cougar’s
onyx claw scratch emblem disappeared behind the goons. Flede, Loaket, Macan,
and Jenn became grappled and jumped by the ten goons. Jode leapt up as he
companions were stabbed and beaten repeatedly. The lone Harpy smashed a mug on
a goon’s head then jabbed a second with a knife. In moments she opened fire on
these goons hitting a few, and bringing only one of them down. A baton wielding
goon brought his weapon down on Jode’s head knocking her down to the floor.
Maurice and his companions sprang up with weapons at the ready.
Just
one other goon fell next to the other goon leaving eight armed goons against
fifteen other armed fighters. To the left the four pirates were up with hands
on weapons. Among the pirates the canine humanoid wielded an axe, and a short sword.
His companions had their hands on hilts of cutlasses, scimitars, and rapiers.
Maphai, Ordoz, Cagan, Nanim, and Vylinsis drew pistols, and a shotgun. Even
Maurice’s group wielded pistols, and revolvers on the eight goons. Seeing they
had brought knives to a gun fight the goons hesitated. The two sides were
locked in a standoff allowing Maurice to concentrate on their uniforms. He squinted
his eyes at something on their suits. A pin of some sort could be made out on
the right side of their waist coasts. Each goon wore a pin that resembled a
boar or pig of some sort.
Brittany
brushed past him sowing an incredible amount of rage. Without warning this lone
Red Heart opened fire on the eight goons. Using her pistol Brittany rapidly
fired sending bullets at the goons. Although she preferred knives and daggers
this Red Heart decided a pistol would suffice. When the chamber was empty three
more goons lay dead and one of them clung to a wound while gripping the bar.
Two of the remaining goons held up their Kukris and stiletto with angry
expressions. The pair of well-dressed goons charged Brittany at random order. Both
goons let out a yell and raised their weapons. Those who had no obstacles in
the way riddled the pair of goons.
Each of
the goons collapsed on the floor face first. The remaining three goons made a
run for it. Eyanosa, Taregan, and Amonif were about to run after them the
moment the trio fled. All three of them started to pursue these goons, but were
stopped. Maurice and the rest of them stopped them forcing their angered
companions to stay put. On their left flank these three were not the only ones
about to give chase after those goons. The orc and Drow pirates held the canine
humanoid back. It snarled at the door trying to get out of its fellow pirates’
grip. The female pirate approached Maurice and Maphai with her hand stretched
out.
