Lords of RPG

Looking for Work

“What about this place?” Elanor asked Erich as they walked past what looked to be an old tavern in some disrepair.

“Looks like it's seen better days. Some of the windows on the third floor are broken and all of them on the first floor are boarded over. Is it even open?” Erich replied as he tested the front door. Locked.

They hadn’t had much luck in finding employment since they made it to Bassot-Garmond. A few odd jobs here and there, unload ships, load wagons, all general labor. He and his wife of just two years wandered the streets of Bassot and Garmond looking for work, looking for a place that might provide real jobs.

Slow and painful progress

The piercing pain in his head caused by dehydration was a familiar waking call to Armand Frediani. Most days, he woke this way. If not in pain, then still drunk. It took him several moments to realize the hammering in his head was coming from elsewhere. What time was it? Was Henriot working on the place while Timm was gone on Zuc Swain’s business? Gods!

Armand pushed himself off the blankets and long bench that served as his bed in the room with three walls that acted as his home and shuffled to the chamber pot to relieve last night's debauchery.

“I hear you moving around down there bard. You’re finally awake. Get your ass up here and help me. Time to sweat it out.” Henriot yelled from the second floor.

Armand filled a large wooden cup with water and quickly drained it, and a second before heading up the stairs.  Armand rarely if ever went upstairs in the dilapidated tavern. It had suffered such heavy damage during the initial recombining of worlds and the fights that ensued that the roof and walls were missing in many places. It was lucky the structure was still standing.

Timm with Henriots help had replaced the roof and critical walls to make the building safe again. Unknown to Armand, Henriot had been hard at work for at least several days. The second floor had seen many repairs and it appeared four rooms were framed out but without walls and doors.

Over the next two days, Armand sweat more than he had in years as he and Henriot finished framing, paneling, and installing doors on the second floor. Paint, decorations, and furniture would have to wait, but Timm would surely be surprised to see such progress when he returns.

As they finished their work on the second day, Henriot told Armand to pick one of the rooms and move his stuff into it. They would start seriously working on the first floor next and Henriots room of residence for the past year would soon become a storeroom. Armand never thought to ask Henriot where he got the funds or materials to do all this work.

Locked Doors

“The roof has been replaced,” Elanor remarked as they passed the old tavern near the docks.

“Looks like some repairs have been done…and there’s a new lock on the front door…but it’s still not open,” Erich replied as he tested the front door to the mysterious tavern that was never open.

“Let’s swing by next week and check again…maybe they need staff?” Elanor said hopefully.

“At the rate they’re working, that’ll be next year,” Erich said with a wink as they both turned and continued their stroll.

References

Henriot watched from across the street as the young couple paused in front of the tavern and had a short conversation. He had seen them before, the previous week or the one before that. Young and green…definitely not used to the big city and probably not dangerous, but he couldn’t help but wonder what they found so fascinating about Timm’s tavern…who were they?

Henriot waited until they walked around the bend and out of sight before he crossed the street and entered the tavern…he should talk to Timm about a second entrance, or would that reveal too much. Hopefully, Armand would be awake, not drunk, and able to help.

<Just a little flavor story. Bringing the crew together who will work at Timm's tavern when it opens.>