Recruiting and Planning Revenge!
Black Gull - Tavern
An ever present combination of smells greets any new arrival upon entering the Gull. Various ales and grogs, rums and wines; of course, the scents and aromas of liquors would be there. It's a tavern. But along with those airs, the underlying odor of unwashed bodies and unclean boots can be detected. It is this joining of scents that gives the Gull a very well-loved and oft' visited personality.That, and the state of the inner commons, as well.
The scuffed floorboards beneath ones footpaws will guide anybeasts' eyes to the simplistic layout that the Gull was designed in. The east wall opens, narrowly, its mouth for a well-lit vestibule to settle uncomfortably. Light, both from the outside, and the two lanterns hung there, casts a revealing glow upon the entrants, giving the patrons within a rather decent visual. Slipping further into the Gull, the light grows dimmer, and far less frequent. With no windows to the outdoors, the tavern is held in the palm of eternal dusk.
Across from the entrance, the bar has been placed upon a, slightly, raised platform. Being open on either end, it's not uncommon to see the tavern's wenches and 'tenders hustling about, passing one another as they go about their duties. Reflecting, poorly, the goings on about the bar is a large, dusty old mirror. A few beasts have traced various crude pictures in the gathered dust around the border, but for the most part the mirror (the middle of it, at least) remains clear. Cracks of time and stains from thrown drinks stripe the looking glass in a few places. Various racks and shelves with bottles, labeled and not, settle on either side of this mirror above casks. Two doors, abused and slightly battered, rest behind the bar; One faces the west and to the barn and paddock, while the other, North-facing, gives way to the kitchens. To the south is a platform consisting of drenched, copper-brown wood (mainly from spilled blood, one might assume).
With the season changing once again, the open hearth nestled against the northern wall, along with a staircase, has roared back into life. A steady fire can almost always be seen and heard crackling lazily over dead wood. A few run-down garlands are strung about the mantle; somebeast's attempt at making the Gull a little more festive, perhaps.
Erebos lumbers down the steps at the usual late time of morning. The few who are around at this time are regulars, and know the lizard's clawsteps: Heavy thuds followed by the scraping clacks...those would be his talons. Erebos appears and without word or even angry, hungover grunt heads for his regular seat at the corner table. He finds a beast fast asleep in it and drags him out, flopping him unceremoniously on the floor. He sits and goes about whatever business it is reclusive alcoholic lizards go about.
Blackfur walks slowly into the black gull,beside him is a couple weasels and a very chatty bat on his shoulder.."Please..please Kowell want to slay the bunny, kill the-" his sentence is cut short as the cat grabs his thoat"Quit, idiot...now go spy." he growls,the bat mutters and flys off. Blackfur looks around and smiles coldly as he finds a seat close to the monitor,.."Ahhhhh,..good ta be back in the old Black Gull." The two weasels stay close by,bodyguards prehaps.
Kowell leaves towards dirt road and heads south.
Erebos glances towards the cat as he leans forward, with a shiver. He is so far away from his warm rented bed. He pulls his coat on, the down feathers and cat fur heating his scales. He then returns to his own doings. It appears he is writing something, and furiously. He pauses every few lines and consults a pouch on the table, the insides clinking suspiciously like coin.
Blackfur glaces at the monitor and grins slightly, "Well dont see many monitors in this here cold weather, quite intresting indeed." The two weasels get a drink,but stay close by thier boss.
Erebos watches the weasels. Now that is a splendid idea. As the barmaid brings them their drink he raises a finger for a drink. He's been staying here since fall and by now they know what he wants. "Noteeze I am not outzide..." He says. He looks the cat up and down with sharp scrutiny, picking up the detail on his clothes, the weapons on him and his companions as well as the cat's obvious injuries. "And neither, I zhould you be. Een a plaze like zis, I would not do zat. too eazy to ztart a fight and een your condeetion, lozze."
Blackfur remains calm as he listens to the monitor,he looks to his bandaged arm and leg and back to the monitor speaking low,"My wounds are healing fine my lizard friend,...but lets not speak of them,besides I have my friends with me...I am Blackfur,leader of the Black rose, mayhaps you be intrested in jioning us" he smiles coldly "Could always use a monitor in the group"
Erebos sighs and puts the quill in his claw down. "I have alreadee zpoken wiz zat bruteezh Bagjer of yourzzz." The end of that sentence turns into a little hiss and his tongue flicks out, tasting the air. "And I am zhure you could use me. But zee, manee beaztz can uze me and I am not een want vor monee....what eez eet about ze Black Roze zat /I/ could uze?"
The cat nods,"Yes a beast of ya talents..well there be a warm place ta sleep and a room of ya own." He smirks "Even ale and wood pigion to eat...and we have slaves,not for eatting though" He adds the last bit quickly."Besides being in a group and not alone has its advanages...we need many things,healers...fighters..assassins,and the like.." He stands slowly,he grumbles something as his leg brothers him some,he raises a paw and snaps his fingers as the two weasels come over to him,he nods , "Lets us go back to the base." He looks to the monitor.."Think on it my cold blooded friend, I shall send my spy Kowel, or the badger Nnightmare, or one of my guards to see you in the next couple days." He then exits the bar with his two weasel guards on either side of him.
Back at Base later that night
Blackfur is in the infirm bed, a beast has just changed his bandages and so he has decided to rest in here instead of his room for the rime being,and the walking got to his healing leg.
A stocky rat comes in, wringing his paws and casting about the room. He sees Blackfur and scurries over. "Ah! My lord, He-" But the rat is interupted by the lizard, who has entered silently. Well, as silently as a beast his size can. "I am uzuallee paid vor my 'ealing vavorzz." He grumbles, crossing his arms.
Blackfur looks over and slowly sits up,he excuses the rat with a wave of his paw and looks to the monitor "Well it's a pleasure to have you here sir..ahh yes,but of course you wil be payed for your services, and if decide to you may stick aroud here."
Erebos nods, and opens the bag at his side, keeping his thick coat fastened tight. "Yezz. /Eev/ I dezide." He pulls out a cial of some sort of herb and drops it on a nearby table, he bends over the reclining cat and pushes him back down onto the cot, being gentle. He knows how beasts get when their leader is manhandled. "You have zwollen...You may be 'ealing, but by moveeng you 'ave eerritated ze woundz." He frowns. "You zhould not 'ave travelled zo var."
Blackfur starts to glare at the monitor when he is pushed back down onto the cot,but he allows it as it wasnt forceful,he does listen to what he says and nods,"Well...guess I wont be going far for few days then hmm," A rat watches from the doorway at the going ons in the room but lets the healer help Blackfur as it is needed. "Will have ta send some beasts out if need anything some time soon.." he grumbles slightly,"Like the death of a..certain beast."
Erebos rolls his eyes, although since his pupil's are not visible, the gesture does not transfer. "Ah, Ze Black Roze. Juzt begun to recooperate and alreadee you 'ave grudgez and enemees." He places his open palm on the cat's forehead, his cold blood helping in assessing Blackfur's body heat. "You 'ave abeet of a veever."
Blackfur starts to speak "That...badger," he stops and takes a deep breath,he speaks again"The one who did this to me...this Oz, he needs to die and soon."He then stays quiet so the monitor can help him better,its true he has a fever but its not deadly high one at least.
Erebos ignores the comments about the badger so far, trying hard not to get involved in the happenings of this place. "Eet eez mozt likelee vrom overexerteeon..." He goes through the medicines in his bag, and as he pulls out another vial, it slips from his claws and crashes on the ground. He swears and looks at his claws. "I weell treat you but virzt, Eet would be...lovelee...eev ze vire could be ztoked. Ze colder I am, ze clumzier too."
Blackfur listens "The room could be made..warmer if you would like," There is a couple words he doesnt make out but pays close attention, a rat comes in to help make the fire burn a little better in the fireplace here,as its important in cold weather to keep an infirmary warm too.
Erebos nods, and scans the room, spying a mortar and pestle nearby, and crossing to it, bringing the unbroken vial along. "Ze trip 'ere eez probablee to blame vor my zleepperee clawz." He does not clean up the broken glass. He's not /that/ conscientious.
Blackfur watches the monitor closely,he clears his thoat "I never did ask your name, what is it?" He stays layed down since he most likely be pushed back to the cot anyways.
Erebos talks as he works. "You may call me Ereboz. I do not use my birth name...Eet eez too voreign vor you furred beaztz to zpeak wiz your mouthz." he empties the dry leaves into the bowl and begins to knead them into powder, releasing a pungeant smell.
Blackfur wrinkles his nose a little at the smell,he nods "Erebos then...so prehaps you can be one of my..healer beasts here, unless there be something else you'd be intrested in."
Erebos pours the now powdered comfrey leaves into the glass with the other mysterious herb powder, and crosses to the basin of water, scooping some out with a claw. "You mentioned ze pzeeteeonz of vighter, 'ealer, azzazeen...I 'ave been all of zees at one time or anozer. I am alzo well acquainted wiz ze workeengz of ze zheep. I 'ave been an offeezer een ze armee ov Zampetra. I am equipped vor anee job." He mixes the ingredients into a yellowish brown paste.
Blackfur smirks slightly and a cold smile comes to his face as he thinks a moment and then looks back to Erebos.."Prehaps for now...a fighter/healer, course a chance for...advancement of a position," he nods "In due time that is..."
Erebos turns, a scaly brow raised. "...Advancement." He says, letting the word roll around in his reptillian mouth. He glances down at his body, the paint that was once an indication of his rank. "I 'ave not yet zaid zat I weell Join.."
Blackfur nods"Alright, just saying...if you do,your have your own room,..allys, and a possible well payed job, there is plenty of food and ale to be had...but I will let you think on it"
Erebos nods, falling silent. He returns to the cat, with a large glass of the salve and a flat piece of wood to apply it. He sets it down near the bed and begins to undo the bandages, kneeling so that he doesn't have to stoop.
Blackfur tenses up a little as the leg wound hurts, his arm doesnt hurt nearly as much but then he didnt do much with it,he walked with his leg, the leg is swollen as mentioned but appears to be healing fairly good.
Erebos inspects the leg. When he brushes the fur aside the skin is a purplish in some places. He grunts displeasure. "You muzt ztay zteell vor zis." The lizard warns, starting to undo the splint.
Blackfur growls slightly,but he does his best to hold still while Erebos helps his leg,he closes his eyes and just stays quiet and as still as he can, so far so goood.
Erebos begins to apply the paste, in the direction opposite of the way his fur runs, so that it may get under it, contact the skin. "Zis weell 'elp wiz ze zwelling..." He explains as he works over the leg, smearing the paste evenly. It is mied well, so that it is smooth, and pleasantly cool, and for Erebos' size, he is surprisingly gentle, having the dexterity of a true surgeon. He does not apply any pressure that would worsen the tom's discomfort.
Blackfur manages to stay still as the monitor does this,he seems a bit surprised at the gentle touch as well,he opens his eyes and simply nods as he remains still.
Erebos simply can't resist any longer. Partially because of his rising interest, partially because of the silence, made awkward by their close physical proximity. "You zaid zees eez ze outcome of an...encounter...wiz a bagjer...Eef zat eez true, zen you are luckee to be alive..." He leaves the leg to dry, unsplinted, and moves on to the arm, beginning the process again.
Blackfur growls low,not at the monitor but at the mnetion of the badger, "Yes it was,..and if I have it my way He will die, horriablly die" he smiles coldly "I will make him suffer..he calls himself Oz,...well I say soon beasts will call him nothing cause I WILL destory him!!" He coughs a little and tenses up some,ok movement hurts and so he is still again,..."Sorry..I just want revenge, and
death for him, he will pay for what he did to me and if have it my way...sooner rather than later"
Erebos leans back and pauses as Blackfur has his little moment, continuing to unfurl the new bandages after he calms down some. "Even bevore you are able to be een attendanze when he dies?" Off with the splint. "You weell not be able to zee ze lazt breath...ze eyes goeeng empty az 'e leaves vor ze black vorezt..." Erebos is so lizard like, cold blooded to the bone. Impatience is foreign to him.
Blackfur listens to him, "You are right, I DO want to watch his death, the life light fade from his eyes forever...I will make sure he is dead,unlike he did with me" he smiles coldly as he thinks..a evil thought comes to mind."Poison maybe..yes but...how to watch him die." he chuckles evilly,yes a plan is forming now.He manages to stay still threw all this,and is oddly excited at the idea of watching his enemy die.
Erebos continues in his duties. He glances up at the cat. "Any good vermin 'ealer..."He begins to say, careful not to sound too eager. In truth he hasn't done too much recently, and the idea of working again, seeing the fear rise in his enemies eyes again...Well, all vermin are alike in that way. "Eez alzo well verzed in ze darker zide ov potion makeeng."
Blackfur looks to the monitor,.."They are?" he smiles coldly "You are knowlegeable in the poison arts,...this is great news, posion...sweet and deadly, get it into his blood stream..watch him suffer,breath his last and die!" he chuckles coldly, "I like it..Oz wont trouble me for much longer if I can get him poisoned, a poison that works..not too quickly, he MUST suffer before he dies, yes....suffer and pain..then let his stupid friends find him dead and lifless, a message to them you DONT mess with the Black Rose and live."
Erebos says nothing on this. Let the cat plot his own plottings, As long as Erebos gets work and drink, He'll supply the beast's need for evil. Drink, now there's an idea. He sits back and looks over his work briefly before standing, beckoning the attending rat over to him and mumbling his request in the deep thunder-noise that is his voice.
Blackfur smiles coldly as he nods "Yes.... death will be of great fun to watch and I plan on watching it one way or another." he looks to the monitor once more as the lizard stands.
Erebos watches with a smile as the rat attends to his wishes. He seems to be done talking of death and revenge and badgers...only interested to the point where he is involved. He turns to a nearby healer. "Wait unteel zat driez and wazh eet off wiz oil of 'orsetail." He then turns to his new patient, wiping his claw off on his the sash beneath his coat. "Zen you weell weezh to recover az queecklee az pozzeeble. And zat meanz rezt. Now." And with that, he exits.
Blackfur watches as Erebos leaves,a rat does make sure he doesnt cause trouble and if needed either escorts him to a empty room or outside depending on where he plans on going.
Blackfur decides to rest as advised, besides he needs rest to better serve out his revenge.
