• Closed • On The House

[Malcolm]

35 Ymiden 716
Bounty: Kade Stone

The Blacksmith Arms, not the kind of joint one might usually find a knight, but often the place Malcolm started most of his investigations in, especially when his suspects were last seen in areas such as lowtown. The Mortalborn wasn't dressed in anything that would give him away as a knight, in fact he hadn't put the uniform on since before his battle in the arena, and didn't plan to change that any time soon, but truth be known, most of the employees at The Blacksmith Arms already knew of him and his profession.
"Rufus, just who I was hoping to see," Malcolm smiled.
"Captain," the old pirate smirked and instantly lost three or four of his patrons, who seemed less than willing to have a run in with the law today. "How can I help you?"
"Ale, hold the poison," Malcolm grinned and watched Rufus pour the drink.
"That all?" The old man almost looked surprise, if such an emotion could still register on his tired face.
Malcolm leaned forward and lowered his voice, "and some information."
Rufus rolled his eyes, there was always something else, "who?"
"Kade Stone."
"Never heard of him," Rufus shrugged.
Malcolm eyed up the man's fingers as if pondering which one to break first. "That's a pity, heard he was stealing wine from the nobles in Venora to supply this fine establishment with. Wouldn't want to see a big investigation get underway that puts you out of business for the rest of the season."
Rufus glared at the man. "Horse shit and you know it!"
"I know a great many things, but it would be a crime to leave this information unreported."

Rufus scoffed and went out back for a while and Malcolm watched as another one of his workers manned the bar for a time. He took this opportunity to look around the room over his right shoulder and spotted a few regulars he was used to seeing, mixed in with the odd unfamiliar face. When Rufus reappeared, he put what looked like a bottle of apple cider down on the counter top and folded his arms.
"For me?" Malcolm smiled, "too kind."
"On the house," Rufus waved him off, "now get out of here before you scare off anymore of my customers.
"I haven't even touched my ale," Malcolm protested, gesturing to the full glass.
"Give it to him then," the pirate cocked his head.
Malcolm took up the glass of ale and placed it down in front of the stranger, "On me," he winked and left the tavern with his gift from Rufus.

[Malcolm]

Outside of the tavern Malcolm found his horse just where he had left it and climbed up into the saddle, slipping the bottle away in the saddlebag before he turned the horse around and nudged the animal forwards, moving through the streets at a light trot. It wasn't until the two of them moved beyond the city gates and over the drawbridge that he took the bottle up again and carefully peeled back the label to read the note that Rufus had scribbled on the inside.
Kade has a daughter named Zara working for a fishing business on the shore. Burn this note.
Malcolm ripped the label away from the bottle and stowed it away in his breast pocket where he would keep it until he was able to return home and burn the evidence that Rufus has assisted him in tracking down a wanted man. After making sure the bottle was packed away safely again, he steered his horse towards the shore and used his heel to encourage the animal to speed up, cutting across the grassy fields beyond the city walls to head for the beach.
On the beach there were many fishing businesses to extend his search to, but Malcolm got lucky at the second, where a young boy cleaning some of the nets informing him that Zara had finished her shift this morning and was probably at home.
"Do you know where she lives?" The knight inquired.
"No, Ser, but Daniel, our boss, he might know."
"Where can I find him?"
"At Zara's place probably, think the two of them are an item."
Malcolm stared at the boy who looked to be at least fourteen, and wondered if he had been whacked across the head one too many times with a fish. "This your office?" Malcolm pointed to the small shed behind them on the dock.
The boy shook his head, "Nah, boss says the boat is the office, his home, his livelihood."
"Thanks," Malcolm continued on down the dock slowly and scanned the boat to see if he could spot anymore crew members that might be hanging around. Sure that the boat was unmanned and the boy was too busy untangling and cleaning nets to notice him, he jumped across and hung from the side of the large fishing vessel, using the strength in his hands and arms to hold him long enough to swing a leg up and climb or roll into the boat.

[Malcolm]

It was inside the cabin that Malcolm began his search, looking over the papers scattered everywhere, most of which were just invoices or orders for fish from some of the local businesses. It wasn't until he found a file on employment history that he felt he was getting somewhere, and though there wasn't an address for Zara's place, there was one on a recent dismissal. "Chadwick Hill, it looks like you're about to get a visit," he smiled, pleased with himself and remembered to put everything back exactly the way he had found it, or as close to it as he could remember.
Chadwick lived in one of the shanties, a poorly constructed house, or hut as they more appropriately resembled. Malcolm got up into the saddle again and made his way east, following the numbers as they rose and led him to the right place, a small shack with the digits 148 painted on the side. The knight slowed his horse by pulling on the reins and the animal turned about on the sand before coming to a sudden stop.
After knocking on the front door, a man stepped out of the surrounding bushes holding an empty rum bottle in his right hand and slumped down in a wooden chair on the porch. "What the bloody heck do you want?" The man slurred and threw the bottle down to join a pile on the ground.
"You Chadwick?" Malcolm inquired.
"Who's asking?"
"I work for a fishing company in Krome, I was told you were looking for work?"
"Yeah, what of it? That little bastard Daniel said I'd never work in these parts again."
"Know where I can find him?"
"On that floating turd he calls a boat."
Malcolm fought a smile and felt he had done well not to laugh. "Anywhere else he likes to visit?"
"Yeah, my ex's place."
"Zara?" He asked.
"How'd you know?"
"I was hoping to speak to her as well, I've heard good things, can you tell me where she lives?"
"What's in it for me?"
Malcolm went over to his mount and took the bottle of wine from the saddlebag. "Will this do?"
Chadwick smiled.

[Malcolm]

Malcolm was in luck, Chadwick had informed the man that Zara lived along the shore in a small wooden house with a roof she had painted sky blue only two years ago. Back on the horse, Malcolm road along the beach, guiding his mount towards the rolling waves so that the animal would travel across the damp sand which was a lot firmer than the dry and therefore easier for the animal to maintain a good speed upon. Every now and then the waves would crash against the shore and race across the sand, spooking the horse who seemed afraid to get his feet wet. Malcolm remained persistent, keeping the reins short to maintain control while he coaxed the gelding towards the water, trying to familiarise him with it so that he wouldn't spook so easily in future.
It wasn't long before he came to the right house, noticing it up ahead in the distance. He slowed the horse to a light trot and moved towards the tree line that the house was nestled amongst and tried to remain unseen as he approached, steering his mount into the trees to tie up and keep hidden until he was ready to come back for him. Malcolm took his shield and sword with him towards the house, not knowing what to expect or how many people he would find inside, gathering that from what everyone had told him, it was possible that if Zara was home, she would probably have company.
After sneaking up to the house he tiptoed to peer in one of the windows. Other than a few chairs, a messily dining room table, an old bookcase, and a wall rug, the knight couldn't see anyone about, and so he decided to continue his search, creeping around the side of the house as quietly as he could, looking in each of the windows he passed on the way. After making sure the perimeter was clear, he decided to venture up onto the porch and found the front door open, knocking lightly before stepping inside. He did a quick sweep of the house before returning to the porch a little puzzled, who in the world leave their house open for anyone to walk on in when they weren't home?
He was on his way back to the horse when he spotted something on the beach, what looked like a discarded dress and towel. With brow raised, curious, he walked over to the abandoned items and followed the footprints leading towards the water with his eyes. One set to of tracks meant one person and he waited until she surfaced from the waves, long black hair whipped back out of her face in one swift motion. As his gaze fell lower, he realised quickly that the woman was naked and rolled his lips in between his teeth to bite them, forcing away a smirk he dare not wear.
Zara jogged from the water and walked across the hot sand with arms swinging at her sides instead of making any attempt to cover herself. It wasn't until she got closer and bent down to pick up her dress that he realised she was Biqaj, eyes glinting in the warm sunlight as she looked up at him.
"Can I help you?" She asked, "or did you just come for the view?"
"It's not a bad view," the knight admitted, watching as the woman dressed herself and bronze arms fought with the light material of her dress, trying to stop it from clinging to her wet form.
"I assume you're talking about the view from the house I just saw you come out of?"
"Apologises," he offered, "I was was told to meet Kade here."
Zara laughed. "Why in the world would he tell you to meet him here? He hasn't lived in that house for over ten arcs."
"Really? Damn," Malcolm sighed, "the guy at the docks said I would find him here, he ordered this sword and shield be made and delivered personally, but I lost the piece of paper with his address on it."
"I haven't spoken to my father in a long time, but I can tell you now," she shrugged, "he has never used a sword or shield in his life."
"Why not?"
"Because I prefer axes you prick," a deep voice rang out from behind him as Malcolm felt cold hard steel come to rest against his shoulder. "Drop your fucking weapons," the voice demanded, "or I'll cut your head off, right here, right now."
Zara stepped forward and grabbed the Knight's wrist and in turn he dropped his sword and closed his hand over hers.

[Malcolm]

Malcolm had to think fast, he was in a tight spot with unfavourable odds. "Wow, Zara, you make me come all the way out here with the surprise you planned for your father and now you're going to let him cut my head off? Too far," the man stared into the stranger's eyes as he used his ability to twist her reality of the truth. "I worked all night on this sword."
Zara bent down and picked up the long sword, looking it over to check the quality of the weapon. "You did a nice job," she smiled, convinced that his words were so. "What do you think?" She held the sword up and Kade stepped out from behind the man and lowered his axe.
"You paid this asshole for that? It doesn't even look new," Kade scoffed, "and you know I hate swords."

Malcolm took the opportunity to study the man who was a lot shorter than he had expected, with bronze skin and inky black hair. His blue eyes were piercing, unlike anything Malcolm had ever seen.
Well come on, show us how it works," Kade smirked, offering Malcolm his sword back before he raised his axe again and had Zara give them some room on the sand.
The knight closed his hand around the leather strap of his shield, tightening his grip as he tested the sand below his feet, pressing with the toe of his boot to judge how much give he should expect. The Biqaj people were known for their love of the sea and Malcolm gathered that meant Kade had done his fair share of fighting on the beach. He set his stance, standing with feet shoulder width apart, his leading foot the same as his sword hand, the right. His body was relaxed, stringy, and he stood with his weight on the balls of his feet, knees slightly bent, keeping his centre of gravity low and central to maintain good balance.
His thumb and first two fingers made up the majority of his grip, the remaining fingers curled lightly around the hilt. The position he took on with his sword was best known as a shoulder parry, or on-guard stance, wrist relaxed and in line with his forearm. The key was not to throw all of his power behind his blows as that tiered a man out, and could quickly put him in danger of losing the battle. The weight of his long sword was balanced between his shoulder and tricep, big muscles that could work harder for longer.
"Ready?" Zara smirked, and without warning Kade lunged at the knight, bringing his axe down at full force.
Malcolm turned away from the attack and raised his shield, predicting the backwards swing of the man's axe as he recovered from the first, which collided with a heavy thud against the wall of steel. The sound rang in his ear and caused the knight to take a step backwards, opening and closing his jaw quickly in order to silence the strange ringing. He cut down low, moving the sword's centre of gravity by bending at the elbow, rather than swinging like the Biqaj man, who he was beginning to think may have been intoxicated, and recovered into the shoulder parry once more.
Kade had dodged the attack, but only just, earning himself a scratch below the knee that bled, drawing a dark line of red blood down the length of his leg. This angered him and caused the man to attack again without much consideration for his disadvantages and how open he was leaving himself to the knight's sword. Malcolm blocked again with his shield and pushed the man backwards before thrusting at him with the sword, glancing the man's right hip as he only just managed to move out of the way in time.

[Malcolm]

Fond of using his shield as a weapon, Malcolm rammed the man and Zara gasped as her father was thrown on his back. The knight stepped forwards and pressed the point of his sword to Kade's neck, halting his right arm below heavy boot. "Drop the axe," Malcolm demanded.
Kade laughed, "All right Zara call your dog off!"
Malcolm applied more pressure to the man's throat, the point of the long blade causing him to suck in a breath and drop his weapon. The knight kicked the axe aside and was suddenly bombarded by the young Biqaj woman, who charged him head on, only to be pushed back as he thrust her away from him with the use of his shield. Zara rolled in the sand and looked up at the man, bewildered. "Who are you?" She hissed.
Captain Malcolm of the Moseke Knights, public servant of the Iron Hand. If you get to you feet again before I tell you to, I'll cut your father's throat, he's worth gold to me dead or alive," Malcolm threatened and Zara backed off, shuffling backwards in the sand on her knees with hands raised.
Malcolm secured his prize, binding Kade's hands behind his back with thin rope he wrapped about the man's wrists multiple times, tying tight knots every now and then to make sure there was no chance of the man escaping. "Get up, walk into the water and stay there until you see my horse move out of sight," he instructed the woman, "or I'll take both of you to the city dungeon."
Zara did as she was told and Malcolm pulled Kade to his feet, shoving the man ahead of him as he walked. When he came to stand beside the chestnut gelding, he heaved Kade up onto the horse and put the man's war axe inside his saddlebag before climbing up onto the house, who made a disgruntled sound, not used to taking the weight of two.
The man felt a small pang of guilt twist his insides as he rode along the beach, looking back only to see if Zara had obeyed his instructions or not, he never felt quite right about using a child's love for their parent against them. She stood in the tide, letting the waves shove her about until he was out of sight. Malcolm cut through the tress then, taking to the road in order to get back to the capital as fast as possible and collect his bounty before anyone could give chase.

[Rumour]

Rumour's Review

Malcolm

Points

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 0/5
Structure: 5/5

Knowledge

General Knowledge:

• The Blacksmith Arms: A popular haunt for criminals
• Rufus: Owns The Blacksmith Arms
• Kade Stone: Wanted Criminal
• Kade Stone: Has a daughter named Zara
• Kade Stone: Bronze skin, blue eyes, and black hair
• Kade Stone: Biqaj
• Chadwick Hill: Zara Stone’s ex-boyfriend
• Chadwick Hill: Drunkard
• Zara Stone’s Home Address
• Zara Stone: Biqaj

Specialized Knowledge:

• Rufus: A good source of information on the Andaris underworld
• Kade Stone: Daughter works for a fishing business on the Andaris shore
• Kade Stone: Prefers axes to swords
• Chadwick Hill: Fired from a fishing business in Andaris in Ymiden 716
• Investigation: Start where the suspect was last seen
• Investigation: Deceit can be used for gathering information
• Investigation: Bribery can be used for gathering information
• Investigation: How to do a basic sweep of a small building’s perimeter
• Intimidation: Criminals are intimidated by high ranks in the Iron Hand
• Intimidation: How to create false rumours for blackmail
• Intimidation: How to use threats to obtain obedience
• Navigation (Land): How to use street numbers to find a building
• Deception: Gather background information before telling a lie about a stranger
• Blade (Longsword): How to perform the shoulder parry stance
• Blade (Longsword): The shoulder parry stance is also known as the on-guard stance
• Blade (Longsword): How to balance the weight of the sword
• Melee Combat: Angering an opponent can create an advantage

Fame

• -1 for blackmailing Rufus with a false rumour
• +2 for enforcing a city law
• +4 for victory in single combat

Loot & Consequences

Your actions have resulted in:

• -1sn for mug of ale
• +55gn for capturing Kade Stone alive (bounty reward)

Using your mortalborn ability, Second Sight, has left you completely drained of energy for 1 trial following the capture of Kade Stone. During this trial, you are more susceptible to illness or divine intervention.

Comments

Wonderful thread, Malcolm! I thought you did a lovely job of bringing Mal's investigation of Kade Stone to life. It was engaging to read while still maintaining an element of realism. I particularly enjoyed Mal's interactions with the NPCs in this story: Rufus, Chadwick, Kade, and Zara. You really brought them to life with your dialogue!

A quick side note: please be sure to indicate the type of Mount, Shield, and Unarmed Combat your PC has skill points in on your CS.

Congratulations on capturing this bounty! I look forward to reading your next thread.

If you feel I've missed anything or if you have questions about your review, please don't hesitate to send me a quick PM. Thank you!

xoxo