More Booze - RPLOG
Participants
Date
17/11/476
Log
Discontent! Despair! Today is the day...well, there's no festival today, but it would appear that drink is nevertheless in short supply. Ale, cider, beer, wine - the only available drink is a disgusting toddy brewed up from palm sap, and who wants THAT? To be sure, one would imagine such a place as the Freeswords' Inn would be constantly stocked up on drink far in advance to account for any shocks, but it would appear that this fateful day, the improbable - nay, impossible has finally happened. It wouldn't be so bad if folk could just step out the door and get some more, but it would appear the locale has been steadily exhausted by now. Drink, being one of the mainstay comforts beings from all walks of life can enjoy...and it's only when it's not around that one can understand the importance of it, as evidenced by the growing number of discontented folk milling about in the common room and street outside.
Issi weaves her way into the Inn, dodging or trying to dodge the various angry patrons gathering in and around the Inn. The viper has already pulled out a few sheets of paper, trying to sort through them to find a usabe water magic scroll. If what people were saying was true, then it might come in handy, or not.
Kurzon's pressence had litle to do with anything so mundane as protesting his own lack of drink, his monk-like disposition made him more concerned with the public welfare and fallout not to mention the chance to do something that could well allow him to push his new reduced limits.
Falx slowly made his own way through the crowd to the inn, hearing everything going on, the rumors, and the outright angered statements. All this makes him curious, not as to what is going on, but more as to why. He's curious as to what would cause such a shortage, and he thus goes in to investigate.
"It's not my fault," the bartender on duty says, looking completely nonchalant as he polishes a glass with practiced finesse and carries on the time-honoured tradition of passing the buck. "You lot drink too much, really, ran through our reserves in a few days. Take it up with the merchan't guild - can't buy what isn't there. They don't have any, so we don't have any. Simple as that."
"What do we want? Another drink! And when do we want it? Now!" Unfortunately, this show of solidarity from the massed beings, though impressive, is insufficient to sway the cruel mistress that is reality. The lack of drink is still painfully obvious, and throats are growing drier by the moment.
Issi has a few scrolls that hopefully won't implode, but no promises. She looks about for a good place to try them, but as it stands the big cluster of beings was making it hard for the viper to do anything useful, not that it was likely in the first place. She does try to think. Shouldn't there be a river in town?
Kurzon frowns, then deciding he should act to mitigate the public unrest, he raises his voice above the din. "Rather than complain to those that offer us faithful service for hard earn crown, let us go to the guild and seek what is required to aleviate the source of this problem rather than rail at those that share the suffering from the symptoms?"
Falx remains mostly silent, noticing both Kurzon and Issi, and also taking note of the Bartender. The Merchant's guild doesn't have any? Now that's an interesting development. He slowly makes his way to the bar where he can get a better view of what's going on, to keep an eye on all the rowdies. He also starts to go over equations in his head, preparing for the possibility of their need.
Wise, sensible words from Kurzon indeed. Unfortunately, the problem is that the intelligence of the average mob is easily found, by any metric, by taking that of its least intelligent member and dividing it by the number of folk in said mob. This usually doesn't bode well, but the appearance of a thick oaken cudgel from underneath the bar, held in the hands of the bartender, is definitely cause for concern even to the stupidest would-be drunk, inspiring a brief detente in the proceedings. Perhaps the time for preparation is over, and the time for action is now- but what, exactly?
Issi is confused, why won't people drink water if their thirsty? She writes her question down on a peice of paper, and gives it to the bartender, then looks around to find the two other beings who weren't rioting, going to ask them the same thing.
Kurzon wastes no more time waiting around, he departs for the merchant's guild, someone would have answers there. If it was a late shipment he'd go pick it up, if it was stolen he'd get it back...simple.
Falx makes his way in a slightly expedited manner to the bartender, placing himself between him and the crowd. He has already set on some dark math to use on this crowd should they attack. He doesn't want to actually hurt anyone, but will do what is necessary. Though, he does have one question, and he turns to the bartender to ask, "Are you aware of the reason behind the Merchant's Guild running dry?"
The hulking gorilla of a bartender scratches his head and tries to make his voice heard above the din. "Dunno. Went and asked last week, didn't have any. Went and asked again three days ago when the casks were running dry, still didn't have neither drink nor answer. If you're going to get answers, then try not to beat anyone up, or at least don't turn it back on me. I have enough trouble here as it is -" he folds up Issi's scrap of paper - "like this."
Issi sighs... Ignored. She is still confused, but not really wanting to speak, epsecially now when half the city would hear her... She wanders off after Kurzon.
Falx nods to the bartender, and then turns to Issi, doing something that he almost knows he shouldn't: He places an arm on her shoulder. "Personally, I prefer water," he states before looking out to see Kurzon making his way out. "The source is more related to the Merchant's Guild, so we should investigate there." He begins to make his way there, although stops and looks back to Issi. "Come, we shall discover the source and remedy this." If Issi would follow, he would slowly guide her through the crowd and to the exit, making their way to catch up with Kurzon towards the Merchant's Guild.
The Merchant's Guild, predictably, is down by the maritime district where much of its business can be handled with ease. Almost as large and imposing as the Freeswords' in size and stature, the three-storey building is mostly dark at this hours, but a few lights can be seen burning beneath the shutters over some windows. Not the best hour for visitors, perhaps, but one could consider knocking. The front entrance looks securely barred and it's unlikely that calling would produce any discernable effect, but there's a side entrance somewhere off by the waterfront.
Kurzon wearig his fighter's soul, has no time or patience for doing anything that is not direct and showing of results so unlatching one of his hammers he raises it and bashes it against the frame of the main doors three times. There, nice and loud, frame shaking without doing more than potential cosmetic damage.
Issi wanders up behind Kurzon, looking for a window to peek in. She writes to Kurzon (Has the river dried up? Why are people complaining about lack of beverages?)
Falx approaches the Merchant's Guild just behind Kurzon and Issi, looking about. He notes the overall sturdiness of the door, holding back a chuckle at Kurzon's actions. Nonetheless, it would be a good idea to look for another way in, just in case this method proves fruitless.
Nothing on the first hammer, shuffling on the second, and finally a voice from inside on the third. "No one's here, please go away!" This unfortunate statement, however, is followed shortly by some harsh whispering, barely audible through the reinforced door, and eventually the sound of latches being withdrawn comes from within and a small mouse peers through a crack in the door.
"Well, you knocked, so I suppose you can't be thieves," the fellow says, clearly taking no consolation from the idea. "Do forgive my apprentice. I'm Jerome, and just a bookkeeper, really - most of the members aren't in at the moment, it being night and all, if you want an audience or have other business -"
Issi blinks at the mouse. handing him yet another note, wondering what was going on. Surely not all the beverages in the city could have dried up, why all the riots?
Kurzon frowns as he waits for a response, then when the first response comes from the female he'd seen lurking about but had yet to meet, he takes a moment to allow his attention to be drawn to her drawing, not yet really studying her or her nature. "Hmm? No. Water is not the desire but products processed from water and other things like barely or honey. I'm surprised you didn't know." When Jerome speaks he latches his hammer to his armor. "I seek only the source of your current troubles...A freesword offering to solve the problem in the name of civil unrest."
Falx stays right behind Issi, still looking around. He looks up at the door with the first voice, and he shakes his head, preparing to move around to find another way in. However, he tops when the door opens a bit, catching his attention. He moves back to the door, looking at the mouse, whom he awaits to speak to until after Kurzon's statements. "You are not alone, Kurzon," Falx states directly before addressing the mouse. "Three of us desire to understand and then remedy the current situation before... matters become worse than they already are."
"Oh, THAT," Jerome says. "No, it's not that the river's gone dry, dear. I'm afraid that there's only so much that can be done, see. We used to get a good proportion of our spirits from a certain island nation, you see. Problem is, they've suddenly grown aggressive and started turning away even merchant ships...and with a shortfall, there's only so much one can do to make up with local breweries and other imports. We're trying to negoatiate something with Cliffside, but given our rocky history...well, merchants will be merchants, but these things will take time."
He scratches his head. "I'm afraid everyone'll will have to run dry for a moment until matters are sorted out. Could take a week, I'm afraid."
Issi nods slowly, understanding a little more, there was no more alcohol, and there was still a river. She looks to the other two, holding a paper reading (So... can't people drink something else
?)
Kurzon hums softly as he considers the situation at hand before finally raising a hand to rub his chin before that hand lowers to level a thick clawed digit on the mouse. "I will ask you to make an official announcement to this effect so that people understand the situation and adjust accordingly. After that action can be taken to support your position, such as traveling to cliffside to aid negotiations. Until then I'd advise trying the local farmers, they often make ciders and cellar wines, perhaps they'll sell at the right price and local maerchants can call them harvest specials or something...I amnot a merchant..but I do not like this disturbance of peace."
Falx closes his eyes, listening and turning to Issi for a moment. "As Kurzon stated, there are other possibilities. Perhaps not exactly what they desire, but it will hopefully sate their thirst." Looking back to Kurzon and the mouse. "In regards to the island nation, I suggest enlisting the aid of those capable to possibly alleviate the situation more rapidly."
"We would if we could, and indeed, have done so when it comes to our more sensible clients. The problem is just that - have you even tried talking to the rabble out there? They don't care about much more save where they get their next drink from, try reasoning with the likes of them. As for the farmers and presses, well, I certainly don't control what they do, so threatening me isn't quite the best course of action, either - I don't even make the decisions here. No one likes a disturbance of the peace, it's not good for business, but neither are we Creators who can wave their hands and say "do this", and it'll be done. Even the Good King isn't capable of that. Trust me, we're doing all we can, and we're bleeding both money and clients through our proverbial noses - these things take time. Now, if you'll please...before you, too, think of disturbing the peace yourself and necessitating the guard to poke their noses into this business." That's it - the door slams, and is quickly barred from within, perhaps a little more sturdily than what ought to be.
Issi blinks. That was that. She looks about for a guard to pester, thinking that it would at least help with the crowd. Perhaps after they could reconvene and figure out how to stop the riots instead of quieting it.
Kurzon growls his annoyance, but then he was being a bt unreasonable in his own right so rather than pound on the door again he pulls out his notbook, tearing out a page and begins writing down everything Jerome said, places the mouse's name at the top then with a grunt he hooks a claw into the door and lever's out a nail used to hold likely some prior notice in place uses it to pin his message in place. "I'm heading back to alert those at the freeswords, it will at least direct their wrath away from home or send them to harass the castle."
Falx sighs and shakes his head, looking to the Main Concourse, and then to Kurzon. "It would be much more preferred to reduce the mobs in the inn to prevent any accidental injuries, or to get guards infolved without purpose," he states directly. "Nonetheless, as no solution can be reached, your compromise would be the best to stem the tide for now." He says nothing of the removal of the nail, although isn't too sure of the notice. "Also, it might be prudent to request protection for Jerome in case someone decides to take their wrath on the messenger."
