Posts from Ad aspera

Are those who went to the square waiting for the others according to the schedule?

Waiting for Knuth to finish jumping on rooftops, find the time-bending device, and finally show up to listen to the herald by noon.

— Well, thank you for the company and the tip. It’s nice when you’re greeted like that. Here, take this.
Ruven handed the boys a couple of copper coins.
— If we meet again, I’ll tell you what I manage to find out about the Stronghold. Alright, run along, I’ll continue on my own.

Deciding to visit the Stronghold later, he headed towards the tavern he was told about.

"The Golden Goose" is a building without frills, but impressive, two-story, made of good brick, and even the sign above the entrance – Ruven doesn’t know what it says, but it looks solid. A pig is eating some scraps near the right corner of the building, and Ruven manages to witness someone from the tavern staff trying to drive the animal off the street with kicks and a broom.
At the entrance, Ruven is greeted by the gaze of an armed brute sitting by the door, and, finding nothing suspicious in his appearance, he again sinks into a half-sleep. There are not many people in the tavern during the day; at first glance, the place looks very respectable, quiet, and clean, and the visitors are quite diverse, only it is noticeable that they are all quite well-off. One is solemnly drinking wine in the corner, embracing a lute; two are playing dice; another stands out because he is armed and wearing chainmail. At the window, a group of merchants complain to each other about their difficult lives, accompanying each heartbreaking story with nods of solidarity:
— After the guards searched the hold, I found that three bundles of excellent fabric were missing! They don’t even know why they’re doing it, but they still steal!
— The tax on slaves has been raised again, and without any quality control! It’s good for those who trade in healthy girls and bodyguards, but what am I supposed to do? I buy in bulk...
— There were some unfortunate ones... Bandits almost didn’t let me out of the city. Luckily, I hired some guards – they got a little scared, said, “Give us your wallet, unload the bundles of furs, and get out of here.”
— Did you give it to them?
— Of course. Nowadays, all the guards are a bunch of scoundrels; half of them will run away as soon as they sense trouble. I wouldn’t be surprised if we meet those bastards in Tirren again. They’ve completely lost their fear.
The man behind the counter in the middle, burly, balding, and with a short-cropped beard, sits with his chin resting on his hand, and his small, dark eyes dart around the room, just like a good scout checking the surroundings, but his face is impassive. Ruven clearly doesn’t look like an important person to him, and he doesn’t bother to change his relaxed posture to greet him – only his eyes stop on the guest.
— Welcome to the Golden Goose. So, what can I get for you?

Added 1 hour 53 minutes ago

By noon, Unus, Krait, and Ruven have the opportunity to listen to the town crier’s speech. The square is large, but there are not too many people – most of the workers would prefer to have a snack and refresh themselves with beer during their break, if there is one, rather than listen to the town crier, and most of the audience are women and outsiders. Exactly at noon, the sound of a trumpet announces the beginning of the speech. The town crier is in his forties, clean-shaven, short, and dressed in a tabard with the city’s coat of arms.
— Hey, you! Shut up, – he shouts at the noisy crowd instead of a greeting. – So... First of all, I have the honor to inform you again, citizens of Tirren, that, by the grace of the gods, King Fendrin, our ruler and benefactor, in his wisdom and generosity, has granted all free people of our country the right to bear arms, excluding only double-edged swords with blades longer than four palms, regardless of their service in the city guard, mercenary units, or other activities that usually imply this. In this regard, the blacksmiths’ guild needs masters and apprentices, and the head of the guild asks me to inform everyone who is healthy and not yet employed. Also, with the resumption of shipping, loaders are needed at the port... Also, anyone who is ready for more noble, albeit dangerous, work will always find a place in the city guard...

— The good news for honest people is that Andreas, nicknamed Baldy, a thief and the head of a gang that has caused much trouble in the city in recent months, was finally caught yesterday, along with three of his accomplices, and tomorrow, at noon, on this very square, there will be a trial and execution, which honest people will, of course, be pleased to see. Of course, it would be nice to wait for the holiday, which is in five days, and I remind you that during these three days, every craftsman will be completely free from work, and on the third day – half-free, but justice cannot be delayed.

— I must also remind you again about the temporary ban on fishing... about the fact that property tax is now levied per capita...
The brave soldiers mostly listened to this incomprehensible part. Unus, the literate one, could still understand what new problems await the inhabitants of Tirren, but the cultural gap between his homeland and local customs deprived him of this opportunity.
— Since everyone who has anything to do with it knows that... in three... four... In general, they should know that the big tournament in Divefe is coming soon, and access to the Stronghold is now open to every free warrior from foreign lands, so that they, as well as the knights of our country, can hone their skills before the upcoming great competition. Details on the spot. I will also mention other matters: the elder of the village of Colorino to the north has asked to rid the peasants of the naga that has settled near the village, and whoever deals with it will receive a reward. And an alchemist who lives in the port is looking for a “reliable person” for some business. I don’t remember the details of the business or his name, and in general, may the gods punish him, because he is a disgrace to our city and his profession... That’s all!
The town crier, having exhaled, coughed for a long time, with obvious pleasure, and finally left.

Added 2 minutes ago

Unus, having no competitors, can begin to preach, but the town crier’s large platform is not for him – the humble place of the preacher is located separately, at the very edge of the square. Near it, as usual, there is a crowd of beggars looking for alms.

Now, the "Golden Goose" looked like a calm and well-maintained place, perfect for resting after a long journey. As expected from the best tavern in Tirren, it seemed to be quite popular. It was probably much noisier and more crowded in the evenings, but even at this hour, the establishment wasn't empty. Judging by the presence of an armed guard at the door and the well-to-do appearance of the patrons, it was logical to assume that not just anyone was allowed in, which meant one could expect some order.
Passing by the merchants discussing their problems, Ruven approached the counter.

The man behind the counter in the middle, stout, balding, and with a short-cropped beard, sat with his chin resting on his hand, and his small, dark eyes scanned the entire hall, just like a good scout checking the surroundings, but his face was impassive. Ruven clearly didn't look like an important person in his eyes, and he didn't bother to change his relaxed pose to greet him – only his eyes stopped on the guest.
— Welcome to the "Golden Goose." So, what can I get for you?

— Good day, — he greeted the tavern keeper. — I'd like something to drink and eat, of course. And I'd also like to know the prices for lodging.

Later that day...

When the herald finished his speech and left the square, Ruven sat down on a bench nearby and began to ponder the information he had received.
First, he spoke about job opportunities – blacksmiths, loaders, guards... The first would require learning the corresponding craft, the second sounded cheap and unappealing, and the third... Well, he didn't want to get involved in that mess again. Although, in general, it was an option, if there were no other choices.
And there were other choices – he learned about a large upcoming tournament in Divefe, in connection with which the Stronghold was opened, which meant he could go there and test his skills. Also, one of the village elders announced a reward for the head of a monster that was terrorizing the peasants. Ruven had only a vague idea of what kind of creature this "naker" was. Probably some kind of ghoul, or maybe a vampire. At such moments, he regretted that he wasn't a well-read monster expert with a wealth of experience and a bestiary at his fingertips. Nevertheless, it was worth a try, it was quite a suitable job for a warrior. And there was also mention of some task at the port with an alchemist, about which the herald spoke very unflatteringly. He wondered what the alchemist had done to earn such a reputation? Ruven didn't know anything about alchemy, although maybe it wasn't necessary – perhaps it was enough to drink a couple of experimental potions and not die in the process. But still, the offer didn't seem appealing, at least according to the herald.

The news about the Stronghold and the tournament seemed the most interesting. If the news had already reached here, then in Divefe itself, they were probably shouting about it at every turn, and every self-respecting knight was already preparing to participate. And Divefe was famous for its knightly orders – his father once mentioned that there was even an order of dragon worshipers there. Perhaps that was where he was headed? That would be logical for a person seeking to unravel the mystery of the Black Dragon.
In any case, for now, Ruven was just sitting and thinking, although the decision was already taking shape on its own.

— Good day. — he greeted the tavern keeper. — I'd like something to drink and eat, of course. And I also need to know the prices for lodging.

-- Uh-huh, -- Ruven was offered some kind of paper with writing on it, but, faced with a wall of incomprehension, the tavern keeper nodded understandingly and began to list monotonously: light beer -- three coppers, dark beer -- five coppers, strong ale also five, mead -- seven coppers, Fendrin red wine -- one silver and five coppers, Divef red or white wine -- two silvers, Turan red elite wine -- seven silvers. That's for drinking. Green soup -- three coppers, beef soup -- five coppers, roasted chicken -- five coppers, game -- one silver and five coppers, pies with offal and herbs -- four coppers each. If you're with friends, you can slaughter a pig and make a lot of other things. Lodging is four silvers per day, or 20 silvers for a week.

Krait was picking at his ear with his little finger throughout the loudmouth's speech.
He grimaced at the part about enlisting as a laborer and wanted to spit in disgust when the word "guard" was mentioned, but he couldn't, as it was too crowded.
He smiled happily at the announcement of the execution and nudged his neighbor with his elbow, overwhelmed with emotion – "cool," he seemed to say.
He dozed off a bit when the herald droned on about taxes on immobility and other meaningless things.
He came to when he heard his neighbor muttering – the latter had reacted aloud to the announcement of the tournament as something superfluous and pre-arranged by its organizers in a deceitful way, so that an honest person wouldn't stand a chance. The weight of this opinion was somewhat undermined by the fact that the commentator himself looked rather scrawny, with a patchy beard, a receding chin, and matchstick arms, but with a protruding beer belly.
Finally, Krait nodded at the final stage of the speech – when he heard about the monsters that had infested the village and the port.
"That's more like it," he explained his emotion to his neighbor. "Go in, go out, take the reward. Let the dogs stand guard all day long."
Pulling out his little finger – it was covered in earwax along the entire phalanx – the warrior wiped it on his trousers, cracked his neck and shoulders, and headed for the port.

Unus, having no competition, can begin his sermon, but a large platform is not for the herald – a modest place for the preacher stands separately, at the very edge of the square. Near him, as usual, a crowd of beggars gathers, seeking alms.

Unus mentally recorded everything the herald said, so he could think about it later. But now, he had to begin his sermon. This was not the first time for the paladin. However, even when he gave his first sermon, he did not feel particularly nervous, as the support of the All-Mighty was so strong.

The Ardorian took the place of the preacher, placing his helmet for collecting alms next to him, and began his sermon in a rough, but kind and calm voice.

- Brothers and sisters! People of Tirren! The All-Good All-Mighty has sent me to this city of vice to save your souls from torment! Today, I will tell you about lust. The most terrible and insidious sin, from which the fall into the abyss of evil begins.

For more than an hour, Unus spoke about how any carnal desires, including the simplest ones, such as hunger, are lust. And about how such desires, if not controlled, gradually turn people into monsters. In his speech, the paladin emphasized the wealth of the city and the temptations that this brings. He concluded with advice to the poor people to think about whether there is enough righteousness in their hearts to resist vice if they suddenly become rich.

For over an hour, Unus talked about how any carnal desires, including the simplest ones like hunger, are lust.

/ And only now did it dawn on me that Nebok is playing the role of a villain. /

He extracted his little finger – it was covered in earwax along its entire phalanx – the warrior wiped it on his trousers, cracked his neck and shoulders, and headed towards the port.

The port was, as usual, dirty, bustling, and somewhat chaotic. Prostitutes scurried away from a burly, bearded man; loaders and other workers skillfully maneuvered around him; and guards watched him intently. Only the sailors didn't care – they sat on the docks and on their ships, unperturbed, some with a bottle, others with a girl in their arms. This group probably wouldn't even be surprised by the arrival of the gods – a sailor would just take a swig of beer, grunt, and drag a port girl into his cabin, maintaining his solidarity with his comrades in the order of turns.
The alchemist's house, a shabby wooden shack, stood not far from the shore on the southern end of the district. The door was closed, but the disgusting stench emanating from the window indicated that the owner of the house, at least in one respect, was like an ordinary person – he worked during the day.

Added 22 minutes ago

Unus mentally recorded everything the herald said, so he could think about it later. But now, he had to begin his sermon. This was not the first time for the paladin. However, even when he gave his first sermon, he didn't feel particularly nervous, as the support of the Almighty was so strong.

Ardorian took the place of the preacher, placing his begging bowl next to him, and began his sermon in a rough, but kind and calm voice.

“Brothers and sisters! People of Tirren! The All-Good Almighty has sent me to this city of vice to save your souls from torment! Today, I will tell you about lust. The most terrible and insidious sin, from which the fall into the abyss of evil begins.”

For more than an hour, Unus spoke about how any carnal desires, including the simplest ones, such as hunger, are lust. And about how these desires, if not controlled, gradually turn people into monsters. In his speech, the paladin emphasized the city's wealth and the temptations it brings. He concluded with advice to the poor to think about whether there is enough righteousness in their hearts to resist vice if they suddenly become rich.

Unus's main audience is idle women, usually middle-aged or older. It's hard to say whether they understand anything, or if they just look at him reproachfully and mutter something about strangers and their faith, but they definitely have new gossip now. The reaction of the others is mixed. A couple of people greeted the preacher in the traditional way, throwing rotten vegetables and a piece of some kind of raw entrails at him, but, seeing Unus's indifference to such a pathetic attempt to anger him, they retreated. Someone said that Unus was "much more eloquent than that old man from the church," and many agreed with him.

During the sermon, a fat man in rich clothes asks him:
“You tell it all so smoothly. But then tell me this: one person struggled with hunger and died. Another decided to fight the thirst for money, lost his business, his property, and his good name, and it all went to some scoundrel who doesn't even believe in gods. So where is your good? If you live like that, half will go bankrupt, the other half will get by, and the one who wants money, food, and to have sex will win. And he wants it, and he does it.”

A young man, about twenty years old, neatly groomed and shaved, wearing simple clothes but with a dagger, asks:
“I think I didn't understand the most important thing in your speech. What is virtue: not having a desire, or suppressing desire? If you don't have it, then there is no virtue in the act – even stones don't have desires. But if you have a desire, then, in your opinion, the soul is already corrupted and there is no salvation?”

“Yes, there is enough in your hearts, but there is not enough in your stomach...” one of the beggars asked, and the other supported him. “Yes, you save people, so what about us? Aren't we people either?”

Smelling an unpleasant odor, the northerner spat. He hesitated. Then he spat again – this time three times over his left shoulder, just in case.
- Is anyone home? - he croaked, pulling the door open.

Footsteps can be heard behind the door. For a moment, the shutter opens and then closes again, after which a hoarse, thin voice asks in a hostile tone:
-- Who are you? Who, ahem, do you want to see?

- I need a Chemist! There's a paid job available, they say.

Which locations can I go to there?

- I need an Alchemist! There's talk of a paid job.

-- Ah, a mercenary. Ahem. Come in. We don't need extra ears around...

Letting Krait in, the alchemist locks the door again, although, it would seem, the spirit of his lair should have scared away all living things within a dozen meters. The master of secret science looks, to put it mildly, wild: thin, dirty, in rags that even a beggar would be ashamed of, he coughs often and moves slowly and awkwardly. Experiments, apparently, have left their mark... The dwelling fully corresponds to its owner: dirty, smoky, and with a terrible smell: something is boiling on the fire that the alchemist has lit right in the middle of the room in a large tray, and the fumes rise in a column. One corner is piled with all sorts of ingredients: some in sacks, some on shelves, some in sealed jars, some lying on the floor, the second is filled with bottles of dubious contents, the third has a dirty bedding, and the fourth has a staircase to the basement. Several books, none of whose pages have escaped the alchemist's own notes, are scattered on the floor.
-- Ahem. You found your way here quickly... So, listen, there are several tasks. First, I need to test something. On myself and, ahem, in the field. Second, I need to get a certain book from our university. I, ahem, am not in good standing there... And finally, I, ahem, have some problems with the local riffraff. Criminals. What are your skills?

Added 4 minutes ago

What locations can I go to.

Noted:
City center, town hall
Eastern quarter, guard post
Noble quarter
Stronghold
Artisan quarter

This is "fast travel." You can always, like a guard in the beginning, randomly choose a location/encounter in the current quarter. I can basically count the Town Crier as one – the announcement can be heard throughout the city.
By the way, the Town Crier appears every three days, except in case of force majeure. If you are not on a quest/job, you can consider that you automatically receive the News. And he also repeats old announcements.

During the conversation, a stout man in rich clothes asks him:
-- You tell it so smoothly. So, tell me this: one person fought against hunger and died. Another decided to fight against the thirst for money, lost his business, his estate, and his good name, and it all went to some scoundrel who doesn't even believe in gods. So, where is your good in that? If you live like that, half will go bankrupt, the other half will rest, and the one who wants money, food, and to sleep with a woman will win. And he wants it and gets it.

A young man, about twenty years old, neatly groomed and clean-shaven, wearing simple clothes but with a dagger, asks:
-- I don't seem to have understood the most important thing from your speech. Is virtue in not having desires, or in suppressing desires? If you don't have them, then there is no virtue in a feat – even stones don't have desires. And if you have desires, then is your soul already corrupted, and is there no salvation?

-- Yes, there is enough of that in hearts, but there is definitely not enough in the stomach... Sir, could you spare some bread? -- one of the beggars asked, and the other supported him. -- Yes, you save people, so why not us? Are we not people anymore?