BAR STORIES

BAR STORIES

(journal and story piece)

Noval-Sol sat at the table, his third empty ale mug in hand. The bar was empty save for Mathies, the bar’s owner, and Maddine his daughter who was busy cleaning mugs and anything that was lying around. Mathies had closed the bar since the plague had started and they were taking the opportunity to do some cleaning and odd jobs.

Mathies dropped another log in the fireplace, gave it a prod with his boot and brought another round to the table, sitting opposite him. He had been a good friend ever since Sol had returned to Korvosa some 2 months ago, he had taken him in like a long lost son and now was enjoying a drink and sharing in his tales and stories.

“… So not just rats, but wererats in the vaults...” Sol nodded in agreement.
“and your group negotiated with one of them, in the streets…. By the gods, I thought they were all taken care of in the great purge some years ago. I’m going to have to speak to the councilmen about this” Mathies took a deep drink as Sol explained the situation, and how the wererat community were living in relative peace under the city.

“Well, I suppose since you took care of the young upstart,…. And I guess as long as they don’t make a nuisance of themselves, but roaming the streets…” he continued, shaking his head “And she gave you some water breathing potions?” Mathies always enjoyed Sol’s stories since they sparked the sense of adventure he had had in his youth.

Sol wondered if this was why he had let Sol tend the bar and help out as he continued recounting the river adventure. He told of the weird sensation of breathing water, the amazing underwater sights and how they were ambushed by the eels as they approached the boat. With some beers under his belt he had started to embellish the story somewhat and a couple of times when he looked up he noticed that Maddine had stopped working and was totally engrossed in the tales as well.

Sol detailed how the sharks were intelligent, attacking with the ferocity they are renowned for and the Sea Hags ugliness and speed at which she rippled through the water. He paused for a while, but with some encouragement continued to tell of his failing and how two of their number had been taken to the brink of death, how they now bore the wracking scares of the critical wounds they had endured and how he was unable to cure them.

Maddine sat down beside him and asked more about the boat. As Sol looked up at her, he felt his spirits lift as he told of the positive clues they had found; the boxes, the evil holy symbols, the doctors’ mask and deeds to the ship, and how they were close to finding the cause of this unnatural plague. He left out the groups plans for chief doctor (if he even was a doctor) for their own safety as they didn’t need to be involved un-necessarily.

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The night wore on and the topics varied as the beer flowed. Sol felt unburdened as he voiced his concerns about the Bank of Abadar and that they seemed to be more focused on coins than communities. They talked about the merits of the other churches Sol had visited the past few weeks, and as the night was getting on Mathies looked Sol square in the eyes.

“Well lad, I understand your parents encouraging you to join the Bank of Abadar and that you’re trying to live up to their memory. Hell, taking your fathers’ name in his honour is a fine act of loyalty if ever I’ve known one, but you have to find your own way.”

“Find a God that feels right to you, worthy of your worship. One you can talk too freely like we do, and be damned anyone telling you otherwise” he stated and uneasily stood up.

“Let yourself out Noval” Maddine whispered as she helped her father out of the room. He was still going on about it 'being the Gods job to care about people', but it was all lost on Noval as he stared into the low embers of the fire… pondering his feelings, his sense of fate, and the upcoming situation they were about find themselves in when they confronted the so-called doctor.