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-----A sorrowful look crosses the old captain’s face as he answers, "Me lieutenant? That boy done died down south when t’ings turned bad. There come a time when me n’ me troop hadda head up here wit’ every troop in Redmarsh bein’ outnumbered by da orcs, draggins and whatnot! Now I be getting’ too old fer the game n’ some o’ these boys be like me own blood. I took it ‘pon meself ta lookin’ after ‘em and findin’ good jobs fer ‘em wit’ people young n’ strong enough ta lead ‘em."
-----The old man then looks Seth in the eye and tells him, "As fer terms, ye pay me a fee whatsever ye thinks be fair and each man inside’ll have his own fee ta be paid by da month."
-----Seth smiles at the Captain, "You have an interesting way of talking. Where do you come from, Redmarsh?"
-----"Aye, that we be!" The old captain replies, "And ye be findin’ no better men than what’s ye be seein’ ‘ere! Trained ‘em meself I did, from a’fightin’ wit’ a long sword t’ aimin’ a bow!"
-----"Well!" Seth exclaims. "I am not sure how many men I will need. I could use just two now. How much do they cost?" Seth stares at the tent as he thinks and waits for a reply. He turns back to the captain. "How many men do you have and how much to hire the whole company? I would also like to interview the two men I want to hire today. Could you send the elf, the dwarf and two others, whoever you think is the best, to the Cloven Inn? After I have talked to them my wife and I will come back and pay you your fee and let you know which men we have chosen."
-----"Two o’ me men’ll cost ya ‘bout six gold a month," the oldster says to Seth’s first question. He then raises his eyebrows as Seth continues.
-----"There be sixteen of me men left and it’ll cost ye ‘bout fifty gold fer all o’ ‘em," he then answers. "Da dwarf and da elf ye’ll ‘ave ta talk ta yerself. Both o’ ‘em be specialty type o’ fighters."
-----The old man pauses for Seth to react. He then asks, "How soon ye be wantin’ me ta send da four ye ask fer ta da inn?"
-----Seth nods, "Ok, if you send them in about two hour's time, that should be ok. I'll let you know tomorrow if I need the whole company. Here is an advance on your fee." Seth hands the old warrior two gold pieces. He turns and returns to the Inn. On reaching the Inn he asks Maime if he could have use of a room with a desk with two chairs and another room for some guests to wait in.
-----Maime sets Seth up with a small room off the main entrance room in the Inn. "The others can wait out here in the lobby, if that is to your liking," the innkeeper tells him.
-----A short time later, four people walk into the lobby and Seth can see that they are the four he requested. The dwarf looks over the place with one thumb tucked in his large leather belt. A big warhammer dangles from his other hand. With his long brown hair and his beard braided into two strands, he looks very impressive. In a grunting, almost rude tone, he quips, "They gots any brew in this place?"
-----The raggedy-haired elf surprises Seth. Before he only saw the elf sitting but now standing at his full height, the elf seems almost as tall as a human. The elf narrows his eyes as he glares about the inn’s lobby as if expecting trouble. He happens to catch sight of Seth from the other room and he gives the musician the once over, looking him up and down. The frown never leaves his face.
-----One of the humans that follows them is huge and momentarily gives Seth reason to pause. The man’s features looks somehow bestial and almost orc-like. Still the man’s arms are huge and a large sword dangles by his side. Somehow this one reminds Seth of Raven.
-----Finally the other human, compared to the other three, appears absolutely unremarkable. Standing at the average size for a human, the man’s hair is a close cropped brown and no beard adores his face. Wearing studded leather, he walks calmly in and watches to see what the others do.
-----Seth looks at the four. "Greetings, I am a merchant who has need of bodyguards as well as soldiers who will not quake at killing when ordered to. I would like to talk to each of you individually first and then we will arrange contracts." He looks for Maime or a serving girl and asks them, "Please bring some ale or wine for these fellows, whatever they would like to drink."
-----He then makes to enter his new office and indicates that the dwarf should enter as well.
-----The dwarf follows Seth in and stands with one hand on his hip while still holding the warhammer in the other. "Aw right, ya lookin’ fer a loyal bodyguard," the dwarf begins, "I be the one. Me name’s Runik Balaphar. Ne’er disgraced me clan n’ ne’er runned from me duty!"
-----The dwarf continues to look at Seth while raising his chin pridefully.
-----Seth regards the dwarf. "Well Runik Balaphar, I see you are handy with the hammer, what other skills or weapons are you good at?"
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