Corvus the rogue

Janno was just putting a final light coat of oil on his sword before he bedded down in his room at the Wild Griffyn. There was a knock at his door. He stood and called out, "Who's there?"

There was a moment's pause.

"Janno, I hear you are looking for adventurers," came a man's voice from behind the door. "I am Corvus, and I am looking for a party."

"If you seek such, the door is open," Janno said. He stood a few steps from the door, with his sword held low and his polishing cloth still in one hand.

The latch lifted and the door opened to reveal a small man with dark hair and sharp features. He wore a grey cloak over what seemed to be leathers, and carried a leather shoulderbag. Beneath the cloak, he seemed to have a number of knives and pouches slung on his belt or against his body.

"What is your skill?" asked Janno.

"I'm what they call a jack, in the lower quarters," he said. "I'm nimble and quick."

Janno laughed. "Can you jump over a candlestick?" he asked.

The small man moved like lightning with a diving roll, and Janno found himself bent backwards with an arm twisted behind his back. Corvus's other hand touched him under the chin with two extended fingers. Janno strained, but despite his better size and leverage, could not break free.

"Better than that," Corvus said. He released Janno from the hold.

Janno coughed and frowned at the smaller man. "Much good that would do against an ogre," he said.

"Ah, for ogres, there are different ways," Corvus said. "Best of all is to get them to fight someone else."

Janno grunted. He felt a twinge inside, thinking of the bloody losses so fresh in his mind.

"I admit that a little trick like that will only take you so far," Corvus said. "But it's not the only one I know. Hmm, by the way, you may want to let those young ladies know that they've left some important things in your room."

"What?" Janno said.

Corvus nodded to the window ledge. "Over there," he said.

Resting on the window ledge was a religious necklace prominently displaying the symbol of Lacella. Next to it was a smooth ivory carving that reminded Janno of a tall mushroom with a blunt cap.

Janno looked closer. He said to Corvus, "That's not Bella's necklace. The cord is far too long, and the symbol is made out of oiled leather, not silver."

"That's not a necklace," Corvus said. "She wears that around her hips under her clothes, with the symbol atop her Hill of Lacella."

Janno breathed in. It had a warm, womanly scent as if it did indeed ride under Bella's skirt all day. He looked at the ivory carving. Near the base it was engraved, "To Ariel, may she never rest satisfied." Mostly it seemed to be a smooth little tower of horn with a little ridge near the top, and a blunt-ended cap at the tip. It also carried a hint of scent, a lighter, more flowery sort of musk. Janno recognized the symbol of Arallia, a rival goddess to Lacella...Arallia was also something about love, he thought. Was this some devotional object?

"What is this?" Janno asked Corvus.

"It's her substitutum," Corvus said. "It's no wonder the two of them were looking at each other that way. The faith of Lacella frowns upon such artificial tools for pleasure, while the followers of Arallia revel in them."

Janno blinked. He hadn't recognized the manhood-shape of the ivory carving at first glance. Perhaps Ariel was highly sexed, but wished to remain self-sufficient by carrying this little "man" with her?

"I think they came to some agreement later though," Corvus said. "That they can work together for the your sake... the sake of your adventuring party, that is. If it would make it easier, I could arrange for the ladies' things to be discreetly returned."

Janno grunted. "Perhaps," he said.

"I am also an experienced scout, can track and trail men and beasts, and climb trees and walls," Corvus said. "I have a keen eye, I know locks and traps, and I can usually catch a man in a lie or a bad-faith bargain."

Janno laughed.

"What is more," Corvus said, "I believe I have an opportunity that the right group of adventurers could turn into an advantageous venture," he said.

"Tell me more," Janno said.

Corvus pulled a leather-cased roll of parchment from under his cloak, loosed the closure and began to outline his proposal.