The Good, the Cat, and the Lovely

Written Oct 28, 2014

10/9 ...later that evening.

Migi walked into the Toasted Pig Inn. He peered through the veil of lingering smoke. Patrons crowded the few tables beneath the grey mist. He slowly strode to the bar looking at every table in turn.

As he ordered a mug of ale, that feeling returned. Someone was watching him. Someone with a malign gaze had fixated on his back. Migi calmly turned, lifting the foamy drink to his lips. His vigilant eyes darted over the rim of the mug. From table to table, left to right, they passed over each patron. The mug lowered. The cool stout taste forced a bitter, yet satisfied smile.

Most eyes were too busy with stories, drinks, or card games. Very few looked his way, but reverted back to their distractions. One set stared his way. The pupils were wide, unwavering. A small pair of yellow irises leered around a fur covered face. The cat lay statue-still across a table in front of a woman. She gently stroked the feline’s fur. Her chiseled features radiated, almost glowed. She was simply enchanting; exceptional quality, even for a human. Migi had to pull his eyes away.

His tiny eyes resumed their scan of the room. Ralph and Elf were sitting further down the bar. Migi took another gratifying sip of ale. He turned his back to the bar. Another interesting figure sat alone at a corner table. His slouch posture looked genuinely innocent, but his eyes moved in an intent fashion. He was intent on something besides his solitary drink.

Another familiar form scurried past. It gave Migi a passing glance as its padded feet carried it to the other feline atop the woman’s table. It glanced around the room atop its new perch. Its neck craned as the woman gave it a scratch under the chin. Migi turned, asking the barkeep for the latest gossip. The rotund man leaned against the bar while cleaning a tankard. He spouted off the recent events better than a town crier.

Migi’s eyes and ears may have been on the news, but his attention was everywhere. He glanced at various reflections on the shelves of bottles. The locals next to him chimed in an opinion once the bartender brought up goings on. Gossip always got people talking. Migi was in the center of a discussion now, steering the topics left and right. Once on Mrs. Burrows’ missing turnips, he half-turned for another survey of his surroundings.

Migi spied for the less rowdy occupants; the ones trying to avoid attention. Yes, there seemed to be a few. None caught his eye more than the woman though. Calling her attractive would be an insult to her suave beauty. Then Migi noticed the man sitting opposite her. It took him far too long to notice the swordsman. His back faced Migi, but the sword against the table rose above the owner’s head. Only one man in the area carried a sword over five feet long. It was Jak.

Migi’s agile pupils darted around the suspect table. Jak, a lovely young woman, and two staring cats made a crowd. Both of them were peering now, trying to pierce his cover. Then, like a sentry post changing guards, the first cat hopped off the table and out the door. The second sat there, unblinking. Its eyes only slightly squinting as the woman caressed its neck.

Migi had to turn back to his conversation. Something bothered him about looking. His eyes would linger longer than normal. And yet he couldn’t remember what she was wearing after he looked away. There was something about her green eyes that shimmered. Something warned him from the back of his mind. He tried to shake the feeling as best he could.

‘There is no need to worry, though,’ he thought. ‘We’re going to meet with the Captain of the Guard, a high priest, and the chief arcane defender of the town here. At any moment they should be walking through the door.’

No sooner than that hope formulated did the door creak open. Migi twirled his stool to see a youthful halfling stride in. Her long wispy sideburns floated around a mischievous smile. What a surprise. What a blunder. He nerves were rising. He never expressed such an eagerness to meet someone. The halfling went the nearby card table. As Migi turned to his neighbor again, he noticed a slight turn of her head. At least, he thought he did.

She sat with her back to him, squeezing in a seat at the table. Maybe it was nothing. He returned to the turnip talk, most likely being stolen by oversized moles. If she was trying not to be noticed, she was failing miserably. She had one of those bubbly personalities, those that believe nothing in the world could be worse than a dead puppy. Her random, wide laughs rose at things that weren’t even funny. She twirled her fingers through her hair to an obnoxious degree. Still, there was something too overt about her.

A few hands passed. Migi tried to drown out the excited open-fingered claps accompanied by her high, squeaky giggles with every winning hand. The whimpering moans every time she lost were just as annoying. Migi tried pressing his agenda with the locals. He asked about the river lowering the last few days. Were there any rumors regarding the mountains to the east? He was about to mention the temple when she appeared right in front of him.

She leaned forward over the bar and ordered a Frost Brandy. She drank it as fast as it was placed in front of her. “Thanks,” she said tossing the cup back to her server. The bartender juggled it, exasperated. “I hope you had enough sleep. It’s going to be a Wild Night!” she said with two emphatic slaps against Migi’s vest. She turned and went back to the table. Before she even reached the table, her attention took another turn. “OOO! A KITTY!”

She picked up the cat that Migi had tried to forget. Rude, loud, and obnoxious; this girl had it all. He reached for his coin purse to drown out the noise. His head tilted down to his belt. His face wrinkled. He had fallen for it. His eyes flicked upward. His coin purse dangled limply at her waist.

It wasn’t easy, but he suppressed the rage. He ensured the last from his mug was empty and casually walked over to the girl. Peering over the brown fur, she whispered something into its triangular ears. They both watched as he approached, trying to show a charitable face.

“Well, you are a wild one?” he said. “Jak. Glad to see you made it back.” Jak didn’t respond. In fact, Jak hadn’t moved since Migi first noticed him.

“Aw, look Mable. The grumpy gnome is upset,” she cautiously petted the fur, but the cat did not seem the least bit passive. Its eyes never moved from Migi. Its ears had turned back. Migi could now hear its low grumbling. “Do you want to pet the kitty?”

“No thanks,” Migi insisted. Jak was conversing in a low tone just an arm’s length away. Migi was sure he would lend a hand if he needed though. “I want something else.”

“Oh, no,” the halfling’s eyes narrowed mischievously. She rubbed her chin against the soft fur. “You should pet the kitty.”

Arms extended, hurling the mass of fur. The cat landed on his face. It clawed and raked at his wide nose. It turned left and right at any appendage dangling enough to latch onto. Migi and the feline exchanged twisted screams of pain and rage. With a screech, Migi pulled it away from his face. It clawed at his arms as he threw it across the room. It hit a few bottles and dropped behind the bar.

Migi twisted around in circles. Everyone in the room was looking at him, laughing… almost everyone. The short wench had vanished in the commotion. The crowd clapped and cheered. A few of them cried out for the victorious cat. Then a silky smooth voice rose above the cheers.

“No one throws MY CAT!” Jak’s body convulsed, as if abruptly awoken from a dream. The woman’s eyes had lost their glint. Her clear voice juxtaposed the contorted rage in her face. Instinctively knowing what was about to happen, Jak staggered to his feet grabbing the hilt of his sword. It was too late. Something, or someone, slammed into his side knocking him to the floor.

Connecting the Lines

(written Oct 27, 2014)

October 9, the afternoon...

It was well past noon by the time Migi stirred in bed. He had allowed himself to rest, presuming all was taken care of. In front of the door lay a folded slip of paper. Migi slid from his covers and picked it up. It was from Farrow. Most of Jak’s party had come in just a few hours ago. Farrow was keeping contacts on all of them. On the nightstand was a small pouch. The distinct metal jingled as he picked it up. He gave it a toss to the other palm and smiled.

Migi dressed in a spare tunic and breeches he packed. He knew where everyone would be by now. Some of them would be selling loot. Jak would be at the weaponsmith checking on his new sword. At least one would be reporting to the guard on where they had been. Migi would also have to make a full report with the town watch. It was a decent place to start the day.

The gnome walked along the bustling streets. The sounds of hammers tapping metal and shopkeepers haggling prices were enough to fade out any worries he had of gnolls. He walked into the guard house and asked to see the Captain. After a lengthy discussion standing on a crate overlooking a map, the Captain was satisfied.

Migi inquired what else he heard from the other side of the lake. The question was the easiest way to glean what Jak’s party had told the guards. But even the party didn't report what happened. They did confirm a huge commotion in one of the main camps last night. Townsfolk could smell the lingering fumes creep into the basin at dawn. But nothing more was known.

Migi left for the shops. He could track people down in a city better than a bloodhound in a fog. As he walked, he began to feel his neck hair bristle. He continued to walk, trying to ignore the feeling. Then he stopped at the hat shop. He quickly picked up the hat near the window display and looked outside. The hatter asked if he could assist him. Diverting his attention from outside, he explained he just needed a new look. After a moment of adjusting the fresh headpiece, he looked around at some other items. He made a quick, yet stylish choice to go with his outfit. Nothing too bold of a buy, just enough to portray genuine interest of wanted something.

He felt a little better exiting the shop. The delay only cost the gnome a few silver pieces, but it gave him something to adjust while making a quick scan as he stepped outside. Maybe it was only his nerves after his capture. Routine paranoia was not always a bad thing.

Migi continued to peruse likely shops for selling large armor and weapons, the type of low quality that the gnoll might have. It was just too late in the day. The shopkeepers confirmed seeing Ralph, Mary, and Jak already. They had sold a number of items, more than usual. As he wandered through town, the feeling of watchful eyes grew. He took a few narrow streets and stopped at the end, waiting. Nobody was following him.

After 3 hours of fruitless searching he returned to the inn. Jak and Elf might have returned to the Erol's Tower. It was likely. He could easily write another message and deliver it to the tower where Jak studied. He stretched his short legs up the flight of stairs. In his room he finds another note waiting for him on the floor. He closes the door and begins to read. Well, speak of the swordsman. It was from Jak. He asked to meet at the Toasted Pig Inn at dusk.

The St. Cuthbert Church, the town guard, and the wizard, Erol would all need to discuss matters. This was perfect. He quickly scribbled a message to the churches of Moradin and St. Cuthbert. They would be at the Toasted Pig at sunset. Undoubtedly, they would all be summonsed for another appraisal of the situation in the mountains. Migi had the real story before the most influential folk of town. It might be worth the lost gold to have this extra card to play. The guild would prove its importance and solidify a place in town’s inner circles.

If only he had found out what they were searching for up there. Perhaps the church had the answers. The priests of Moradin are the ones that sealed the evil away years ago.

Update from the Dungeon Master

Yes, I have been writing extensions to this campaign. These were several campaign ideas that I just didn't get to when the game ended. I have about 6 more posts, but I keep thinking of more. Once I finish, I'll go back to the beginning with an effort to edit and rewrite. I'll also try to clarify the dates as to when they were written and the date in-game.
I'm writing in more of a short story and novel fashion now. It's a lot more fun. Until then, stay tuned and enjoy!