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[color=seagreen][h1]Drake[/h1]

[color=greenyellow][b]Time:[/b] Evening of the 2nd[/color] 
[color=greenyellow][b]Location:[/b] Tough Tavern[/color]
[color=greenyellow][b]Mentions:[/b] Everyone at the Tavern[/color][/color]

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What was a delightful evening where Drake could reconnect with an old friend quickly turned sour. And even that sour rancor turned dreadful as the events transpired in the bar. A cold sweat began to run along his temple as the man took stock of the situation.

[color=greenyellow][i]Right. They want to rob the bar, minimal resistance, and they pack just the means to keep any wayward or rebellious souls in check. Direct escape? Impossible, or at least presumably so. Whatever trickery or sorcery was afoot, perhaps the shroud only blocked visual and audible stimuli. But getting there means getting through the vagabonds who had claimed the night.[/i][/color]

Drake shot quick glances around the room, it seemed there were around half a dozen bandits. Perhaps untold numbers beyond the shadow-licked walls of the tavern. But the upside was, as the witch had put it, “No eyes in, no voices out.” So the odds of external help for [i]either[/i] party was low. Yet each one of these vagabonds posed a great threat. 

It was mid analysis that Ariella began her muddled drunken protest, and was quickly approached by an unnamed large mass of a man. There was ice behind the Lord’s blue pupils that almost spoke on their own. A disdain for one who would casually speak so slyly in front of his own sister—but he held his tongue. This was not the time for blind heroics. At least not yet.

[color=greenyellow]”If I may.”[/color] Drake paused, his hands fully stretched back onto the table as requested. [color=greenyellow]”The bravado and theatrics are plenty enough proof that you all control the room. While such games are entertaining I cannot help but bring to light one major flaw in this arrangement.”[/color] The lord paused. [color=greenyellow]”You speak or us as if we are walking sacks of gold coins for you to cut and maim as needed until you leak us dry.”[/color]

Drake turned his head to look at Garran. [color=greenyellow]”But enlighten me. How many burlap sacks have you seen cut up, crushed, and sliced that can still be good at keeping the gold all in one place?”[/color] He posed his question and let it hang before continuing.

[color=greenyellow]”Killing or maiming us is the same as taking the key to a treasure vault and throwing it down the river. Unless your goal isn’t riches, but something else.”[/color] Drake continued. [color=greenyellow]”Some powerful connections lie beyond this room. Something that some poultry spell cannot snuff out…So I just wanted to kindly request we settle things amicably. For all your sakes and ours.”[/color]

He stopped one last time, before quickly adding. [color=greenyellow]”I’ll have a double whiskey, please Lady Kalliope.”[/color]

A single act of moderate defiance, but he hoped his little speech would buy some time, or perhaps draw some ire towards him. Maybe it would even offer the group an opening. Drake kept his calm demeanor, but he also braced for the proverbial whip that may come to crack against him.


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