The tavern door creaks on rusted iron hinges as the Bartender steps into the stable, his lantern casting long, flickering shadows against the hay-strewn walls. He finds the Young Nobleman collapsed on the straw, his face slack and unresponsive, while Timothy sits bound in the center of the room, his wrists chafed and raw. The scent of spilled grease and stale ale hangs heavy in the humid air.
Bartender
He is done. This youngling has seen enough cruelty tonight.
The Bartender approaches with slow, deliberate steps, his gaze shifting from the unconscious form of the nobleman to the bound youth. He reaches for the iron key ring at his belt, the metal clinking softly in the sudden, oppressive silence of the stable.
Bartender
Timothy, you move carefully now. I have no wish to see the magistrate’s men at my door by dawn.
Timothy
Is this a trick, or is the man truly turning against his master?
The Bartender kneels, his lantern illuminating the ropes that bind Timothy. With a sharp, practiced flick of his blade, he slices through the hemp.
“Concerned for the young nobleman, I persuade the bartender to help me render first aid and bring him back to consciousness.”
SUCCESS (Great Diplomacy, rolled -3)
Timothy
We cannot leave him like this. If he wakes to find his satchel gone and no one here, he will call the watch. We must stir him and find out who sent him.
Bartender
He is a sharp one. A dangerous quality for a runaway.
You think he will thank us for waking him? The noble type has a short memory for kindness.
Timothy
Perhaps, but it is better than him finding an empty stable and a missing boy. Help me pull him to the bench.
The Bartender sighs, his shoulders dropping as he sets the lantern upon a stack of hay. He hooks his arms under the nobleman’s shoulders, and together, they drag the limp form toward the low wooden bench against the wall. The Bartender pulls a small flask of biting vinegar from his tunic, uncorking it with a sharp pop.
Bartender
Hold his head steady, lad. If he wakes swinging, I will not be the one to calm him down.
+ Scene Quest Added
Interrogate the nobleman and escape before the guards arrive
“I persuade the bartender to help me carry the nobleman back to a bedroom in the tavern, and put him comfortably to bed.”
SUCCESS (Great Diplomacy, rolled -1)
Bartender
A bedroom? You have a strange way of managing a crisis, boy. If he wakes in a soft bed, he will think he had a nightmare and come looking for me with a clear head.
Timothy
Precisely. If we put him there, he remains under our watch. If he wakes here, he screams for the guards. I can speak to him, calm him, perhaps learn what he knows. You have a reputation for hospitality. Use it to keep him quiet until we are gone.
Timothy
The Bartender hesitates, his eyes tracing the grime on my sleeves before shifting to the sleeping noble. He sees the logic. It is a gamble, but one that keeps the chaos in this room behind a locked door.
Bartender
Fine. You have a silver tongue, lad. If he draws steel when he wakes, you are the one facing the blade. Lift his legs.
With a grunt of effort, they hoist the nobleman, moving with rhythmic care toward the tavern stairs. The Bartender wipes his brow, casting a nervous glance toward the open door, but he does not let go.
“I supervise and offer advice as the bartender puts the nobleman to bed in a comfortable room in the tavern.”
SUCCESS (Great Diplomacy, rolled +0)
The heavy oak door of the master bedroom groans as the Bartender kicks it wide. They maneuver the unconscious nobleman onto the plush feather mattress, his velvet doublet looking absurdly out of place against the worn woolen blankets. Timothy adjusts the man’s head, ensuring his breathing remains steady.
Timothy
Now, pull the latch from the outside. If he wakes and finds the door locked, he will think it a precaution against the drunken revelry downstairs.
Bartender
You speak like a man who has spent much time behind doors, boy. Very well. Let us hope your silver tongue works as well on him as it does on me.
Timothy
The Bartender wipes his hands on his apron and turns to exit, leaving the room dim and silent. I stand in the shadows of the bedframe, my heart drumming a frantic rhythm against my ribs. I have earned us time, but the silence of the inn feels heavy. Somewhere below, the front door creaks open. Is it a late patron, or the magistrate’s men returning for their quarry?
Quest Complete
Interrogate the nobleman and escape before the guards arrive
Skill Upgrade: Diplomacy Great→Superb
+ Story Quest Added
Interrogate the nobleman