Thieves Quest ~Ruby((Private))

[Ruby Lidenbrooke]

Ruby held the small wooden carving in her hand. It was quite large for her, due to her child-like size and miniature hands. This particular thing was surprisingly straight forward. But why the few coins? Is she suppose to buy a drink? Is there a special drink that's related to a bear that she needed to purchase? Was she suppose to meet a dashing hippie dwarf? She stood before the door, slipping the carved figure into a pouch on her belt before pushing the door open.

So what to do. What. To. Do.
With some gold in her pocket, a few coins more than the funny statue gave her, she made her way to the bar and pulled herself up onto the stool and began to take in the scene. Alot of poor looking sacks of peasants. Upon first glance nothing really stood out to her. So what was she suppose to do here? Seek out the bear. Perhaps there was a stuffed bear somewhere that she needed to find. It would make sense that her next task would probably be....not in the open. Something she'd need to, you know, sneak to. Or maybe the bear was just some big hairy man.

[Calix Hearthrow]

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Welcome to Gallows Inn Tavern

part II of the Thieves Quest

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The Gallows Inn Tavern; it was almost as old as Nova itself. Originally it probably had a nicer name; probably looked nicer then to. The tavern was tucked away in the busiest section of the third district; with a front row seat to the square that held the gallows. It had an old tudor look to it, cream stucco walls stood out against dark timber. The front of the tavern was by no means bright and sunny; it had small slender windows along the side; barely a hands width. The doors solid pine; reinforced with cast iron. The third district was known to have a riot or to; the inn sometimes served as a safe haven when that happened. It was built to last. Probably why it survived the blast during one event, with minimal damage. Gallows Inn had two parts to it, the tavern, with some cheap rooms above it, and the inn; which had several more rooms for those staying longer than just a night. The buildings were separated by a wooden gate that had a small carriage way to the back where a small stable was held. Above the gates a large wooden sign shaped in the form of a hanging man swung.

In short Gallows Inn Tavern was in no ways small. Being one of the most affordable inns in Nova made it one of the more popular ones as well. It attracted all sorts; bar fights and the shady sort were not too uncommon to find skulking around the tavern. However most trouble was kept at bay by the taverns very large owner. Calix Hearthrow; rumor had it that he had giant blood in him somewhere, others said his father got too friendly with a bear and its unholy offspring was the hairy giant that manned the bar.


It was late, the busy hours had come and gone leaving only a few stragglers or those who were just too drunk to move. Calix eyed those who were there, most of them regulars. Others he had gathered were travelers from various outlining towns. In about an hour he’d be tossing the ones not staying for the night out on the streets; but for now he’d be beginning the process of cleaning up for the night.

Earlier that week he had been informed that the boss was conducting a little recruitment test. Building up the core group so to speak. Apparently the dunder head bandits the boss had running around right now were …less then competent. This time the boss wanted recruits with some heads on their shoulders; gods bless them; that was a hard thing to find. Most people in third district knew how to do a task or two and little else. So he’d be lying if he wasn’t curious to see who the King of Thieves would dig up. He HAD been told what was expected of the poor saps that were getting the run around; in fact part of what was needed was posted up on the wall. Mixed in with various wanted posters; one of which had a large X across it. Being that female that had been caught; it was a shame she had represented Ai. The girl had done little for the position she had fought to get.

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Upon closer inspection of the bored, one would find a mix of items. Mostly pictures of various wanted criminals, a few job adds written on blue pieces of paper, the job adds were mostly tailored for the illiterate folk, blue being the common color then just the persons who was posting the job’s coat of arms. But among the mess was a small discrete piece of paper with one simple message.

Pmldovwtv  rh  gl  yv  kilgvxgvw.

Below the bored was a box full of key slips, with a picture of a bed. On the slip there were boxes to check off how many nights, a place to write a name, and a place to write any requests. Customers looking to rent a room for the night usually filled these out and gave it to the barkeep.

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[Ruby Lidenbrooke]

Big hairy man. That was the bear. But what was she suppose to do? She had been given a few coins and the wooden figurine. It slowly dawned on her. She was given enough coin to rent a room. Of course. She was suppose to rent a room, and instead of actually just going to bed, she would be taken to a room with some head honcho or something. Some agent. Or maybe she'd be attacked and need to defend herself. Maybe this next step was to test her abilities aside from unjumbling words.

The thought of a fight excited her some. She hasn't really been in a brawl for quite some time. She was looking forward to using some of her sick ninja moves on some poor assassin. She spun around in her seat, away from the bar, and made her way towards the bounty board where *most* other inns she has been in also had the sign in slips. She still wasn't too sure how she was suppose to indicate who she was, so she grabbed a nearby stool and scooted it across the floor for her to stand on. So she could actually look at the board. She scanned over the papers and eventually noticed the wordjumble that appeared to be similar to the previous one. She was able to figure it out somewhat quickly. She placed roughly half of the letters before it made sense and she could stop the actual translation. 'Knowledge is to be protected.' she mumbled to herself.

She climbed off the stool, used the stool as a table to fill out the slip, being sure to include the translated phrase, then picked up the stool to return it to where she took it from. That's when she noticed "the bear" He must have been in the back or something earlier. Or maybe she was just blind and failed her spot check.

She made her way to the open stool closest to him and climbed up onto it, standing her full height on it. She was about as tall as a standard human now. She waved him over and, quietly handed him the slip and the gifted coins.

[Calix Hearthrow]

He had been busy watching the others in the shop when he noticed a small, tiny, itty bitty, being standing on a stool. Waving her hand in an attempt to get his attention. ”What can I do for yee lass; a a room?” He took the slip and looked down; blinking as he read the code. It seemed that the thieves had another would be member. Though like the gentleman before her, she missed the other hidden meaning of the note. Oh well; the lass would learn sooner or later. He could see why the king might chose this one….she might actually be shorter. ”Your room be number 13 on the third floor on the Inn side. If you need anything let me know lass” He handed her a key with the number 13 on it.

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Room 13

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When Ruby went to her room, she would find a small but nicely furnished room. Nothing extravagant. But there were clean sheets on the bed, and plain brown stitched quilts on the bed. There was a dresser on one end of the room, with an empty bowl and a pitcher of water next to it. A couple of small hand towels signified it was for washing ones face in the morning; that or one could pour some of the water into a glass which was provided. On the foot of the bed a small wooden chest sat; upon the chest burned into the wood was a symbol of a crown with two daggers shoved threw it. The crest of the thieves of nova.

Inside the chest when she opened it was a set of lock picks, a black cloak, and a small packet of dust of tracelessness. The lock picks were of good make, pure black and made with a special matte finish so there was no glare. The cloak was made out of a light wool, perfect for summer nights. It had a large hood that did well for covering ones face. The cloak had numerous pockets sewn into it as well. The dust of tracelessness was in itself special, for it was an expensive find.

Tacked to the inside of the lid of the chest, another note sat.

Xlmtizgfozgrlmh uli nzprmt rg gsrh uzi; ru blfi ivzwrmt gsrh mlgv gszg nvzmh blf nrhhvw gsv srwwvm nvzmrmt rm Pmldovwtv nfhg yv kilgvxgvw. Sldvevi wl mlg uivg, blf hgroo kzhh lm gl gsv mvcg gvhg. Blfi gvhg lu qfwtnvmg rh fk mvcg; hl tvg kovmgb lu ivhg. Gsv gvhg droo gzpv kozxv zg mllm rm gsv nzipvg kozxv. Gsviv R droo kozmg gsivv xslrxvh, fklm gsivv fmhfhkvxgrmt rmwrerwfzoh. Blf droo yv ollprmt uli gsivv kvlkov xziibrmt z hnzoo yozxp nlmvb hzxp grvw drgs z kfikov xliw. Blf droo mvvw gl hgvvo lmv lu gsvhv; gsv hzxph droo yv rm kozrm ervd. Blf nfhg nzpv z qfwtnvmg lm dsl gl gzpv blfi hzxp uiln; xzfgrlm yvxzfhv gsrh rh dsviv blf nrtsg uzro nb gvhg. Tllw Ofxp.

Hrtmvw
Gsv Prmt lu Gsrvevh

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End of Part II

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