Meeting around the table...

You sat sipping tea at Franz's kitchen table, the big human back to looking perfectly normal. Although you now knew his secret, which was kind of intimidating to think that inside him was that huge howling beast. “Have a cookie.” He grunted, laying a plate piled high with sweet molasses cookies in front of you. “Their fresh baked.” He pointed out with a slight smile, reaching over you picked up up and took a bite.

“Ammm... that's good.” You admitted with a grin, as Oolok reaches over grabbing a big handful of cookies shoving them into his mouth. As he sat close beside you, one thick armed draped over your slender shoulders.

“So what happened after that?” The half Orc asked as his chewed loudly, spraying cookie crumbs all over the table cloth.

“Well what do you think?” Arlen snorted, as he returned to the table with the Ale he and Oolok were drinking.

“City guards cocked it up.” Oolok snorted, as he grabbed the fresh tankard from Arlen and swilled it down as the faun went on.

“Of course they did... took us into custody, while letting the assassin escape.” The faun said sourly, pausing to take a drink out of his own tankard. “We got a free ride down to the ol' Gaol... got to spend a lovely six hours telling the exact same story over and over again. Although we did get a handsome offer from the Captain... he's going to find us a ship leaving the city. Hell he even promised to book us passage, just so long as we get out of town.” The half Orc rolled his eye's, plainly it wasn't the first time he had heard something like that from the city watch.

“Yeah... they always say some shit like that... 'Get out of my city' like humans are so much better than us.” Oolok said that in a high lisping voice, that mocked the nobles speaking voice.

“Well at least Franz had better luck than us... he tracked the assassin.” The faun snorted turning to look at the tall human, who sat sipping tea looking very serious.

“That so... bet he ran straight to the thieves guild huh.” Oolok snorted with a grunt, he'd seen a lot in his time in the criminal communities.

You ask in surprise: “Are the criminals in this city organized into a single guild?”

Arlen quietly answers you: “Of course it’s not so. These thugs and extortionists are simply not capable of creating any single stable structure. They are constantly fighting for spheres of influence. The term “guild” only reflects the claims of the largest gang to dominate the criminal world of our city. At the moment, this term is used by the thugs from the Shadowblades gang, who control most of the port quarter. The rest of the gangs cannot yet undermine the position of these dangerous guys.”

Franz responds to Oolok: “You'd lose that bet.” Franz snorted sitting his tea cup down, looking around the table slowly before going on. “He ran up town to a big walled mansion, there was a highborn Elf lord there. The assassin reported straight to him... only he didn't much like the report.” The big humans pale face grew even more grave, as he said the next part slowly. “The thing was summoned... from the lower realms I'd guess, since it had a strong sulfur smell. This Elf lord is a rich, powerful mage and he wants you dead.” Franz pointed out softly, as you sit there looking stunned at that statement.

“What... why... what have I ever done to him?” You blurt out in confusion, at this almost unfathomable turn of events in your life. Only a week before, you had happily working in the tavern you'd lived in your whole life. Eagerly sucking a few cocks to get a better deal on beer and wine, providing some customers with a little pleasure. Thinking that like your mother, you would spend your whole life doing that kind of thing.

“I think you discovered that... when you went to the great library.” The hulking human pointed out softly, pouring himself a bit more tea as you look around wildly. “Someone... either a enemy of your fathers house, or perhaps someone within it wants you dead.” Franz finished as he took a sip of his tea, laying a huge warm hand on your bare forearm.

“What...why would they want Me dead?” You asked incredulously, thinking that you were hardly worth this much effort. You are just a sissy little half Elf whore, that thought sounding a lot like the watch Captains voice in your head.

“Obviously enemies of the house wish it ill...” Arlen pointed out softly, flashing you a sympathetic look. “As for family perhaps your life stands in the way of their inheritance. Perhaps if you show up at your sires house, this Elf lord will lose his standing or some such thing.”

“Then I say we damn sure go ta his daddies house!” Oolok snarled angrily, plain the idea of someone hurting his Elfboi was getting the half Orc's blood up. “I'll have ta go get ma dad's old sword...”

“Well you know I'd love to go...” Arlen assured with a quiver in his voice, sounding like it was just the opposite. “But the pub isn't going to run it's self... So I'm afraid I'll just have to sit the adventure out. Right Franz... Franz.” The tall human was looking over at you thoughtfully, slowly stroking his stubble covered lantern jaw.

“I'm sorry Arlen... but yer going to have to do without me for awhile. I'll be back once the lad is safely where he needs to be.” The tall human grunted, making you look at him in confusion. He had hardly said more that three words to you, the whole time you had knew him. Now he was dropping everything to help you, it just seemed strange to you. Oolok on the other hand was all for it, the half Orc slapping Franz on the shoulder roughly.

“Not sayin' I can't keep'em safe alone... but it'll be a lot easier with you around.” Oolok snorted, flashing the table a big excited grin. “Ok... first like I say gotta go dig my fathers weapons out, since half Orc's aint allowed ta keep arms within the city.”

“And I need to find our little Elf friend here some better weapons and armor than he has now. No offense... but one dagger isn't going to be much defense. Luckily I know a few folks that might help out with that... and they owe me a favor.”