Taffer's Inn is a famous landmark pub in Bicksparrow. Old Man Taffer laid the foundations of the building including the basement while he had family help put in the woodworks and glass panes. It was not far from the norm of how Alshaedians built their homes, except for the basement. Taffer was the overly-cautious sort where he would build rooms connecting other rooms and trap doors leading to the sewers. Every time the tax-collectors came over, he would quietly slip away while his family had them occupied and drunk. Or so rumor has it.
As night fell, the denizens of Bicksparrow hurried along into their hovels and houses. I stayed in the shadows and spotted a large group of cloaked men lugging some heavy luggage. They were Trenchers alright. I watched as they hurried along into Taffer's by way of the main entrance. 3 of the Trenchers abruptly turned off to the right away from the main group. I saw them case the front of the building then around the corner. There they opened up a side door with the last two gazing around before heading inside.
Wasting no time, I rushed towards the side of the building. Something large and bulky was hanging on the handle of the side door. I leaned in close. It was a padlock and it was Sunken Grade, impervious to my lockpicks. I continued around the side looking through the windows and peering about the walls. The majority of the windows had their curtains drawn with bits of dimmed lights peering through the cracks. I turned slightly toward a noise I started to hear coming from the ground. I think. I peered at a sewer lid where bits of sound were emanating from it. It wasn't running water or sewage. It sounded like laughter.
I bent down and lifted the grating. Thankfully it wasn't too heavy and I was able to gently push it aside. Fearing the stench I was about to enter, I held my breath and jumped down. My feet met with an almost dry floor and from the looks of it, the tunnel was scrubbed clean. I nearly forgot that Alshaedians hate dirty slums so janitors and workers get paid nearly as much as a guard. Still, it was something someone had to see to believe. More laughter echoed down the tunnel and I stepped toward it. A wooden door laid at the top of a set of stairs. I sprinted up them and tried the door. Unlocked. I turned the knob and peered inside.
I saw an entire gambling ring with people filling half the room. Many were cloaked like myself, but there were those that stood out like nobles with their fancy outfits. Must be under the Trencher's influence. I stepped and closed the door behind me. "You must be new," a voice chimed to my left. I turned to see a Trencher addressing me. "You have fun now. Just make sure you have enough money." He walked away. Well, that was easy. Better not waste this chance. I eyed a nearby door. That should lead me into the rest of the Inn. I looked about. Where would the Trenchers keep their goods?
It was then I noticed 2 Trenchers walking towards the back of the room, one of them holding what seemed to be a small shiny rock. An Opal Shell. I watched as they left through an open doorway in the opposite corner. Nobody else has seemed to have paid attention to my entrance especially after just standing in the same spot for a few moments. I walked through the crowded tables and was subject to some brainless conversations.
"No more, Leera," a drunken gambler shouted aloud. "You already got my rings. You won't be getting my coffers!" Another table rat leans over towards his friend. "Say, friend," he utters. "Why don't you bet on 17? It's a good number." His "friend" pushes him back and barks, "Because you said the same thing with 29!" The gouger shrugs and replies, "It varies, but 17 is definitely better." As I approach the darkened doorway, I hear the first man yell aloud, "You should've led with that to begin with, you stupid suckwad!"
The hallway beyond the open door began to brighten up as I got closer to the threshold. I spotted numerous alcohol barrels and storage boxes. Making sure no one was watching, I entered inside. There was no sign of the two Trenchers. There was another door to the left part of the room and it was shut. Wood creaked above me, jerking my gaze. I saw a wooden staircase leading upstairs and two men walking down. I hid behind a large barrel beneath the stairs and watched them descend. "You're lucky Archibald didn't catch you," one of them scolded the other. "He wouldn't have noticed," the other uttered. "He's got his mind on the notes you lot grabbed." The accuser snapped, "The galleons are nothing compared to the Opals. You touch them again, I'll make sure you're thrown out and gutted!" The duo went silent as they stepped off the stairs and walked towards the gambling room. Sure enough, neither of them had the Opal or anything to conceal it with. These two particular thieves' cloaks were short, reaching to only their waists. They left and shut the door behind them. Perfect.
I slid out from behind the barrel and shifted onto the staircase. The wood creaked a little bit, but I kept walking. A vacant doorway laid at the top of the staircase and a lit lantern laid on the wall facing me. I slid by the threshold and looked to the left. The hallway only turned to the right and it was dimly lit. I peered right and spotted the Inn Master's office. Only a handful of the rich and reputable taverns have one. This one seemed to have another Sunken Grade Padlock and there was a Trencher standing in front of the door. Fortunately, he was looking down the adjacent hallway seemingly at something that caught his interest. I ducked back behind the wooden beam.
There is only a single light in this hallway. The other lanterns were around each corner leading to adjacent halls. This particular lantern had 4 sides with only 3 sides with glass frames. The open side was facing towards me. I gripped up a water crystal. Had a hunch that I needed one of these. It might make a slight noise but it's better than a flash bomb. I peered into the hallway again. The guard was still turned away, but now I saw he had the key to the padlock. Now for a perfect distraction. I lobbed the crystal. It hit the lantern dead inside, collapsing and splashing water onto the candle and the excess splattered onto the wooden floor.
I heard the Trencher audibly react to the noise. "What the?" I kneeled back behind the frame and listened as the thief stepped closer with wood slightly creaking underfoot. "Tch. Damn defective lanterns," the Trencher muttered. I peered around to see him step into view and turn to face the lantern. I clasped my blackjack and went for the knockout. BOP! A solid hit on the back of his head and he crumpled onto the floor. I snatched the key from his belt and sprinted for the office. I stopped myself short before reaching the corner. I was a little paranoid by what that Trencher was looking at. I peaked out with one eye. There was another Trencher, but he wasn't looking my way. In fact, he was facing the floor towards the left side of the hallway. His head swayed slightly and his arms drooped. I looked towards the floor. An alcohol bottle. How convenient.
As if on cue, the drunkard started to sing. "Durdur Di dum dum!" I rolled my eyes and headed for the office. I didn't want to hear any of it. I unlocked the door, leapt inside and closed the door. The room was looked to be a standard office, except for some glaring items. A large safe laid inside one of the walls and a pike with a skull at its head stood in the corner. There was also a stack of galleons on top the desk and as I bent to see the floor, there was a strongbox under the seat. I grabbed my lockpicking pouch and got to work on the strongbox. A trivial lock, but as I got it opened, I was stunned. I was expecting the Opal Shells not bank notes. Most likely the ones Archibald was worried about. I didn't really care for them, so I put the box aside and swiped the coins on the table. I scavenged around, finding more galleons and loose change, as well as an Opal Shell laid in the jaw of that spiked skull. Where did they put the rest? Those two Trenchers weren't gone for long when I went after them so it's safe assume that they stored them in here. I eyed the safe and then something else caught my eye.
The walls of this room had a luxurious design. However, these were not painted and on closer inspection, I realized that it was design wrap. A part of this wrap stuck out and I reached to peal it. There laid three sets of numbers: 15, 2 and 32. The combination. Thank you kindly, Mr. Taffer. I keyed in the numbers and opened the safe. There laid well over 30 Opal Shells and more coins. I shoved the treasure into my satchel as quickly as I could. After sweeping around the room one more time, I left and headed to the wooden staircase. The drunk Trencher was quiet and now slumped next to the wall.
I entered the storage room and froze. There was someone climbing the stairs. I turned to the knocked-out thief. I got to move him. There was another door in this hall before the Inn Master's Office. Hopefully it's unlocked. I grabbed the sleeping guard and dragged him to the door. The footsteps on the wood slowly got closer. I gripped the door knob and turned. The door creaked open and I rushed inside still clutching the body. I stuffed him in the corner and peaked out behind the almost closed door. Someone stepped into view at the top of those wooden stairs. He sipped from a bottle he was carrying, turned around and sat the top of the stairs. You've got to be kidding me. He didn't have anywhere else to go?!
I considered another knockout until I heard someone calling from downstairs in the storage. "I'm up here, Cleen", responded the man on the stairs. I didn't have time to wait. I shifted into the hallway and closed the door behind me. Turning the corner at the office I made towards the sleeping drunk. I slinked past and, to give me another shock, he started to sing again. I jerked my head to see that the next room had a dozen Trenchers sleeping in beds! His sleeping fellows were starting to stir. One man instinctively covered his head with a pillow without even looking up. "Benny!!," a voice roared from the hallway causing me to duck behind the door. "Shut your bloody trap! No one wants to hear your trash-filled singing!" To which Benny replied, "Quit that racket you old hag! Can't you see that your husband is having a grand time, you stupid eejit?!" I heard booming footsteps approaching fast and soon a few Trenchers stormed out and started tackling Benny. I leapt behind the next corner.
The long hallway I found myself in led to another that led to the main lobby and front entrance, but I wanted to see if I could make it to the back door with the padlock. While the Sunken Grade is a thief's nightmare, it's also supposed to be convenient for the owner. Should the door be unlocked and opened on the inside, the padlock unlocks as well. The back door should be around here. Two other hallways appeared before reaching the main lobby. I tried the first one. Lined with rooms and leads to a dead end. I moved on and peered around the second hallway. This one was much wider and the back door laid on the other side. However, two Trenchers were guarding it and chatting with each other, not looking this way.
With those two there, my only shot was the main entrance. I sighed and headed to the main lobby. No one was around. I quickly walked towards the door. "Hello Oren," a voice said behind me. I froze. I know that voice. I turned to see Archibald, the leading Trencher. He was accompanied by a dozen other thieves and bandits. "Trying to make off with our loot?" Archie asked while smirking. "That's pretty bold of you." I looked up towards the second floor of rooms. At the balcony, several more thieves appeared, bearing loaded crossbows. "How about you hand it over, Oren? I'll make sure my men don't rough you up too much." "Tempting," I replied. "But not as tempting as the riches I'll get with this job." Archibald laughed. "The door is locked. Do you think you can get out in time before my men brutally slaughter you?" With the amount of heavy weaponry these Trenchers have, I wouldn't be able to crash through one of the windows.
So here I was, trapped by Alshaedia's ruthless thieves. I only had 2 flash bombs left in my pouch and I highly doubt I can get all of them. The Trenchers would, for the most part, anticipate the flash and I'd be in a less favorable position. More dark figures swayed into view; the faint candlelight glinted off drawn swords and knocked arrows. "Hand it over, Oren", boomed Archibald. He wasn't smirking anymore. I was starting to panic. 3 of them began to briskly walking towards me. I stepped back--- BOOM--- and jumped forward as the front door banged loudly behind me. The Trenchers froze mid stride with all eyes fixed on the door. I caught myself stepping backwards towards the Trenchers. It couldn't have been the swordsman, could it?
BOOM! Another bang at the door seemed to echo throughout the entire building. "Did you bring the Bulls down on us, Oren?", Arch yelled from behind me. Kaden wouldn't barged through the door especially since I told him to stay outside. "I didn't bring anyone else with me. Who else did you rob, Arch?" A final crush at the door sent it falling off its hinges, revealing the answer nobody wanted. There stood someone clad in silvery armor and as the dust settled, the figure slowly stepped forward. I spotted more armor combatants shuffling near the door frame. The first one gripped a spear that bore a sizeable banner near its head. The pattern of white and purple sparkling in the dimly lit room was unmistakable, yet terrifyingly impossible.
"Ladroni!", a voice boomed from the leading Spastani Knight. "SPATS!!", roared Arch, seemingly to retort the stoic knight until I noticed a Trencher running for a switch in the wall. Pretty soon, a whirring sound echoed in Taffer's halls. More Trenchers emerged from darkened doorways and invisible trapdoors. I saw more bows, crossbows, swords, daggers, axes, and even a couple of arquebuses. The leading Spastani Knight, unfazed by the new arrivals, began addressing the throng, in her own tongue. Obviously, not a single one of us understood what she was rambling about, most likely something about the "God-King's return". However, she soon began speaking in our dialect, though her pronunciation could use work. "By the right of the Spastani Sacred Order, this ta-vurn is now under the protection of the Knights Spastana. All robbers and banditis are to surrender their lives, possessions, and weapons. Those that resist our will, will not survive." A tense moment passed as we all stared at the knight and the front door.
The Spat took a bold step forward. Instinctively, the 3 Trenchers that were going to jump to me sped toward her swords drawn. "Wait! Stop!" Whatever Arch was fearing came crashing through the windows, striking the trio; their bodies hitting the floor, dead. The Spats brought their guns! "Age!", screamed the leading Spat and she was soon surrounded by more heavily armored knights. "Ceachar Ve Aiden!", roared Archibald. Death for Aiden, in the old dialect. The battlecry to all whose hatred of the Spats did burn their hearts.
The room erupted in a cacophony of violence. Trenchers rushed past me and missiles flew. The knights formed into a tight formation, anticipating the Trenchers, and skewering a handful. However, the thieves hurled oil bottles onto the silver shields that shattered and sprayed the liquid. A second later, arrows laden with spark crystals collided with oil-soaked shields and burst into a powerful blaze, setting nearly a dozen knights alight, cooking in their own armor. In response, the Spats that weren't on fire launched their missiles into the mob of thieves. A sharp pain to my leg snapped me out of my shock. A bolt grazed the side of my hood and struck the Trencher behind me. Time for me to leave.
The Spats started pushing back against the Trenchers. From where I was positioned, the thieves were disjointed, debating whether to join in melee or flee. The only two options were the back door and upper windows which are now unguarded, hopefully. I sprinted left bumping into multiple Trenchers, some of them joining me in running further into the tavern. "Oren! Get back here!", Arch yelled behind me, but the fighting nearly drowned him out and nobody else was paying attention.
I headed towards the back door along with two other thieves. The door was closed and unguarded. The three of us began sprinting faster ---BANG! The back door swung wide open; the doorknob blasted off its fitting. More Spats were revealed in the dark doorway bearing guns pointed right at me. I slid to my knees, gripping at a flash bomb and groaning as the pain in my leg became more profound. 3 shots rang out and the two thieves dropped dead around me. I hurled my bomb and it hit the loading Spat right on the head. I twisted my body toward the floor and the cracking sound of my bomb pounded my ears followed by the screaming agony of the knights.
Scrambling to my feet, I limped down the hall and zigzagged through adjacent rooms. Where are those damn stairs? I put a hand to my leg and felt my leggings wet from a superficial wound. Judging by the burning pain, an arquebus shot must've scraped my left leg. The Trenchers were scrambling in every hall and room, taking no interest in me. I was ducking my head regardless as more gunshots rang out around Taffer's halls. Wood splintered nearby, striking me and others. There! The foot of the stairs is at the end of this hallway!
More glass windows shattered and bodies tumbled to the floors. The shouting and screaming were momentarily drowned out by the booming of guns. One knight appeared at the bottom of the stairs but was quickly tackled and shanked through the visor. Zealot bastard screamed his last like a banshee. I brushed pass the Trencher and his kill, up the stairs. More thieves were shuffling up and down the second floor. Bumping and pushing against these Trenchers, I managed to make it to one of the windows.
I glanced outside. Nobody was in the back alley, not yet anyway. My hands gripped the handles when I heard, "OI!" No, I'm not turning around now; I heaved myself through the opening, spun around and gripped the ledge. It wasn't too far down for me to fall. "Get back in here, you coward!" Booming footfalls accompanied with that yell spurred me to let go. One silent agonizing moment later my feet hit the ground, but the weight of my bounty threw me off balance and I tumbled over. Luckily the bag didn't rip open, but it still collided with the stone making a loud clattering noise. I scrambled back on my feet as a figure rushed up and forced me against the wall. A Spat had me pinned with his pike while another came up behind him in support. These two weren't as heavily armored, but at least the first one has more strength over me. "Ladrona Crepo," he hissed. His eyes narrowed as he pushed me further up against the wall.
The pressure was nearly immense. Fortunately, I was still clutching my last flash bomb. I pulled my right hand up to hit my captor in the face with it, but hand collided with the pike shaft and I dropped it. I instinctively looked to see if I snatch it. Big mistake. A blinding white light took my sight as the bomb hit the ground and judging by the screams near my head my captors were also blinded. The pressure on my chest gave way and I stumbled to the left, leaning against the wall. I slowly limped away. I could barely make out the silhouettes of the buildings but the next alley should be nearby.
I felt something grip onto my shoulders and pushed me to the ground! One of them must've recovered fast! Shuffling footsteps approached from down the alley while the Spat pounced on me. However, the booming footsteps didn't slow. I felt the Spat crawled to his feet and drew his sword. "Zaharan!", he managed to yell. I listened as the Swordsman whipped away his opponent's weapon and knocked him out cold with one solid punch. The body hit the ground and I felt strong arms lift me back to my feet.
"I thought you might've blinded yourself after I saw you on the wall looking for your eyes. Looks like you stared too hard into the Sun" Kaden. "Having fun?" "I asked. "You reap what you sow, thief. Let's get out of here," he said. "I'm not a friend to the Spastani Knights either." The swordsman had me leaning against him and we hastily walked through the alleyways. The sounds of the fight grew fainter behind us. However, something loud echoed in the dark followed by a rumble underfoot, weak but strong enough to stagger Kaden.
My sight slowly came back as we walked further. I got a better bearing after a long while of shuffling. "We can stop here," I whispered. The swordsman set me down on bunch of grain bags. "So, you didn't bring the Spats on the pub?" Kaden looked puzzled, but only for a moment. He must've figured someone led those knights there. "I did not. They did enter the town as soon as you left for the inn. They walked with purpose in their steps and no one at their head." Then who tipped off those zealots about Taffer's Inn? Just then footsteps echoed nearby.
I sprang up and Kaden drew one of his swords. I hid behind the corner of a larger house and waited as the footsteps drew nearer. A figure appeared and stepped in grabbing range. I snatched the newcomer by the collar and pinned him to the wall with Kaden coming up in support. It was Piers! "Piers", I hissed. "Oren", he responded, "what the hell is your problem? Let me go!" "Did you bring the Spats down here?" I asked in a hushed tone while still holding him. "What?! What are you talking about?" Piers looked genuinely confused. "I came to make sure you got the goods!" I wasn't letting go easily. "Who brought down the Spats?" Piers shot me a look of terror. "The Spats? What happened?" I hissed back, "You tell me! Why the blazes are the Spastani Knights doing this far north?"
Kaden chimed in. "The Spastani Knights don't come around here this often?" I turned in frustration. "The Spats are forbidden to enter Alshaedia. The monarchy and the people hate them with a burning passion." Piers stopped squirming. "You're serious? Spats?" "Now you're catching on," I snapped. "Who set those zealots on the Trenchers?" Piers caught his breath and blinked. "The mercenaries," he sputtered. Kaden perked up, "Mercenaries?" Piers turned towards me in a shock. "Lord Casimir from Trinity had hired mercenaries to track down the Trenchers. Apparently, they stole a bit too much shiny coins and new notes from Trinity Bank." I released my grip on Piers and groaned. The pain in my leg got to me. Kaden stepped up. "Let me see that leg," he said, brandishing a bandage. I sat down on a nearby crate and Kaden got to work.
I turned to Piers, who was brushing himself off. "When did the Trenchers rob the bank?" He looked around a couple corners before answering. "The same night Remy pulled that betrayal. I didn't even hear about it until my source spotted Casimir addressing the mercenaries in front of the bank. He neglected to tell me they were Spastani. I left soon after to look for you." Kaden reinforced my thought. "Casimir must be a wealthy man. They are not cheap. And considering how they managed to track down the Trenchers---." He paused. "How did they find them?" I turned to Piers. He shrugged. "I don't know. My source said Casimir knew that it was a large group that fled north. My guess is that they must've grabbed an informant from around here."
The wound in my leg let out a quick sting as Kaden tightened the bandage. "Not too tight, Kaden," I groaned. He looked up, eyebrow raised. "I've tended battlefield wounds before, Oren. Yours is pretty tame." Piers bent down over my leg. "What got you?" he asked. "Spat arquebus," I replied. Piers gawked at the wound. "Those zealots have some nerve. Alshaedia isn't going to let them get away with this." Piers hands slowly closed into fists. Many footsteps echoed and ran past us on the main road. The denizens of Bicksparrow were stirring and heading towards Taffer's. Several people came into the alleyway we were resting in. They mostly looked towards my leg as they ran past. But anger began to twist their faces as they ran into the dark.
"Shall we head back to Estheaven?" Kaden asked. Piers peered at my satchel. "Did you grab---," he started to ask but I didn't have time. "I took the coins, but I left the bank notes. I didn't think they were valuable." Piers sighed. "Those notes are worth a fortune. But since you have the marked galleons, the Spats will be coming for you. If we take this back, they'll reenact storming Taffer's on my place." I rolled my eyes. "I suppose you want me to dump these coins then?" Piers squinted a bit, "Well---." "Um. If I may." Piers and I turned to Kaden. "I have a solution that might benefit you both." "And that is?" asked Kaden. BANG!! An arquebus shot rang out in the distance. Several screams echoed from the dark alleyway. Kaden continued, "We should get going. Back to Estheaven." "Are you mental? Did you not hear what I said?" Piers was nearly flabbergasted. "We travel back to the City. I'll explain it on the way. We need to go. Now!" Kaden reached down to pick me up. "You better be right about this," I said taking his hand. He heaved me to my feet with little effort. "You'll be satisfied, Oren. You'll get your monies worth."