Half Way To Sober

It was noon around the Ferravale Tavern and the clock struck thirteen.

A small group of vermin had gathered around the tavern doors wanting to get in as per their usual routine. But something was amiss this day for the doors that let beasts into their usual drunken bliss had remained firmly shut.

Not the small group of vermin had grown into a rather large mob. If the number of beasts continues to grow surely they will have to file for Horde status. Angry shouts and disgruntled remarks chorus through the streets as the beasts bemoan their terrible, sober, state.

Scioto had been alerted to this and groans as he has made it important to keep copies of the keys to main places in his office and one such key is the tavern one. "What is going on? Why is the tavern not open?"

It was of course, made immediately known to the head guard that the Tavern was not open. After all, such a tragedy surely requires the aid of the guard! Unfortunately the head guard fox has settled into his role perhaps a little too well, if nothing else he has learned how to avoid work when it comes. He managed to dodge the message runners well until almost noon when they found him trying to sneak out of his office window.

Begrudgingly Bandit the head guard now marches down through the streets of Ferravale, a foul mood evident on his snout at being caught and forced into doing his duty. The brown furred fox looks different, to say the least in his new uniform. A blue tabard over a chain mail tunic, both of which look loose even over his pear shaped body. Another change brought on by the increase in his income and degrees in exercise.

"Move aside! Move it ya mangy lot. Make way!"

The fox parts the crowd like Moses did the Red Sea, aided by two guards, the unlucky stoat and weasel the fox roped into this mess to accompany him. He strides through the crowd moving towards the chieftain.

Scioto looks at Bandit, a little annoyed as he feels this could of been taken care of already. A very peeved off rat gets right in Scioto's face when he is about to get to the door, "So where is the OWNER, this place should a..umm... been open already ya.." The rat frowns as he gets a death glare from the Chieftain and gets out of the way as Scioto gets the key out and unlocks the door and his first order of business will be to march up stairs and drag a certain stoat out of bed, or least that’s the plan.

By opening the door of the tavern Scioto unwittingly unleashes a cascade of events that are sure to lead to chaos and possibly the death of his head guard. Like an open drain on a sink the crowd surges forward fueled by the single desire, a desperate need, to fill their ales with sweet sweet ale and possibly some stew. But mostly Ale. Bandit yelps in panic as he and his guards are almost trampled by the mob. "No! Back! Back! Back you mangy lot or I'll have the lot of you flogged!" The fox and guards desperately try to hold back the titanic force of the crowd. In the end Bandit steps into the tavern and slams the door shut behind him. The sacrifice of his guards will be remembered. He'll make a memorial statue in their honor later, for right now he plans to kick a certain stoat in the tail once the Cat drags him out of bed.

Scioto glances down as the door is slammed shut, hopefully the guards with Bandit is not hurt too much, he does wonder how many was with him as he pounds on a door down the hall "Marek!..." He then kicks the door open, and storms in. It’s less than a minute later he exits with a shocked look on his face and walks to another door and this one he opens more like he should and peers in. He then comes down the stairs and sits on the bottom stair quietly.

"Well good morning to you too," Bandit finally replies. He can't help but notice that there is a disturbing lack of stoat. "So where is ol' Marek the Menace. Is he in his room or did he curled up under the wine tap?"

Scioto shrugs "I..don't know, is a bit unlike him to not be here and the mole is gone as well. I don't think he would of up and left without saying anything to me about it. Have you heard anything, of anything happening last night or this morning?"

Bandit scratches at his chin as he remembers last night. The fox walked into the tavern, eight hours later he woke up with his chain mail on backwards with a box on his head in in his office. "No." He says flatly.

Scioto shakes his head and growls. He looks at the door "Well we are going to have to open the tavern without him then or something far worse than a misplaced stoat is going to happen"

A shocked look over comes the fox's snout, "O-open the tavern?" He looks at the door and nervously bites at his claws. The sound of angry protest can still be heard. "I don't know sir. That mob hasn't had an ale to calm them down since last night. They are half way to sober by now. Are you sure that's a good idea?" The fox offers a half hearted chuckle, "Besides, who would you get to cook and serve drinks?"

Scioto crosses his arms, "May be cooks out there wanting in, or maybe someone to serve ale. They can get an ale and maybe pay later, but for only the first hour then they need to pay for what they bought" Then he says, "Besides, " He adds" I don't want any one hurt or Blisa to try and come in here with, well that crowd out there"

Bandit inwardly sighs in relief. For a moment he was worried that the cat would suggest that HE do the cooking. The fat, gluttonous, and food driven fox do the cooking, ha! What a laugh.

The fox seems to ponder over the idea for a moment then shakes his head. "Ok, you might want to stand back then sir. Wouldn't want the Chief to get hurt now." Either doing his job or stalling for time before actually opening the door, the fox asks, "So Marek really isn't in the tavern, at all? Where else would he go?"

Scioto shakes his head and then gets behind the main serving area before he speaks, "No he is not in here or his room or clearly around the village. I have no clue where he would of gone, we need to find out."

Bandit gulps and smiles despite how his ears lower. Like a beast marching to the gallows Bandit shuffles to the door. He outstretches his paw slowly, turning his head away from the door knob as he opens it.

The fox disappears, engulfed in the sea of furry critters and vermin that rush into the building. For a moment it looks like Bandit is truly lost, his head however can be seen in the back as he throws himself against the far wall.

Scioto watches this in shock and takes a deep breath as of course they start arguing with him, each other and so the chieftain steps onto the main bar table and shouts in an anger filled voice "EVERY BEAST SHUT UP!!" It echoes through the tavern and they all stare at him opened mouthed, a couple hide under a table and one rat faints. The chieftain crosses his arms "Ok now...listen and listen carefully"

Bandit dares to open one eye. The fox's gut sags when he releases the breath he has been holding. Patting himself down the fox is relieved to find himself in one piece. It looks like his duty here is finished so the vulpine head guard begins to shy his way out the door, sticking close to the wall, before he can receive more duties to preform...

Scioto looks around "Now..you" He points to a couple he knows cooks" Get back there and make lunch now!" They quickly do. He points to some rats, "You guys can serve drinks..." ..."But, we work later on to...day..." The look from Scioto is bad, its obey or else and the rat gulps and gets to work quickly. He looks to the others "And all the rest of you...SIT DOWN!" The tavern beats have never been so organized and quick, or so quiet right now as Scioto jumps down and looks around for Bandit, not finding him the Chieftain sits down where he usually does and gets an ale, a strong ale.