Back at the Bar

Sweeping up the broken glass with a rag, Chas dumped it in an empty barrel. “Anybody win any money on that?”

“No,” grumbled Gimble. He aimed his wineglass at Chas, who poured the little man another measure. Shar was grinning, however, and slipped a coin across the counter.

“On me,” he said to Gimble, who looked sourly back at his lanky companion. A brooding man with heavy shoulders a few seats down, leaning over his drink, glanced over and half- smiled.

“On you,” said Chas. “Shar, another?”

“Pass, still going.”

“So,” said Chas affably. “Where did you two come in from?”

“Teamed up with Dexter's up in the Valley of Chaos,” replied Shar, downing more ale.

“It was a bloody rout,” sighed Gimble.

“Dexter is great to work with,” said Shar. “He's not like Ugly Maddoc.”

The brooding man lifted his tankard in acknowledgment, and had a drink.

“But Maddoc runs a great team too, and he knows how to work with large groups,” argued Gimble. “You get used to his ...uh, the mouth.”

“I didn't,” muttered Shar. “And I never noticed Maddoc using any kind of tactics. He just rushes everyone in separate groups.”

The brooding man cleared his throat. “...two advance groups, flankers. Central shield wall, mobile missile group and separate caster group. Alternate skirmishing, steady push with wall, shift focus regularly. Keeps 'em off balance and looks like a mob.”

Shar and Gimble stared at the man for a moment. The man looked mildly back at them.
“Slayer's Brotherhood, second class,” he said, finally.

Chas peered at him. “Weren't you in here a while back?”

“Right,” said the man. “Tower of Folly.”

“Well, how did it go?” Gimble looked at the man with great interest.

The man had a drink. “The boss sure wasn't Lady Angharad. Lost his nerve after a day, we left.”

Chas laughed, folding his arms and leaning back. “Ah yes, the new rising star.”

“She's been to the Tower once before,” said Gimble. “There was a woman working with Dexter, Eleri ap something, she knew everything about Lady Angharad.”

“I remember her. Great to have at your back,” mentioned Shar.

“Dexter liked her slightly in front,” grinned Gimble.

“Very professional,” said Chas. “Well, you both saw Kelvic cleaning out back. So you know about the trip to Hell and how that turned out. She's back in Yhelm, from what I hear, and who knows what she's going to do next.”

“Tower of Folly,” said Shar. “Everybody always comes back for another go. You can't help it.”

“No, that's expected. Her people do the unexpected,” retorted Gimble. “They'll go... north, maybe. The old Koschvel barrows, maybe. Temple of the Dead God. Black pyramid.”

Shar shook his head. “She wants the glory. She likes high profile, and her people are friends with the Cyroi. I'll lay money on the Dohoroz. Or maybe even a trip out to Serrenjir or Uryashar... the Alven people love them too. But I really do think it'll be the Tower of Folly.”

Chas considered, and then placed his broad hands on the bar counter. “She's a champion of the people, and she's not always a glory-seeker. Look at her companions: a priest who is soon to be High Priest of his faith in the greatest city in the world, a court astrologer and a devout warrior dedicated to monster killing. These are people with goals beyond getting a drink at the tavern, eh? And let me tell you... I never saw her come through here. They must've snuck into the Tower and left without a word, saving their glory for their patron city. They didn't come here and brag, like everyone else does. But now? I'll bet if they do come here, it'll be open.”

The brooding man straightened up. “You know if she's hiring?”