Commando Part 21

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.