Lowlife, Scoundrel, Bandit Queen

With the brief, violent intermezzo over, we return to work. I have to admit that I almost long for a little more bloodshed. As long as it isn't my blood. Shoveling and mixing clay, forming bricks and hauling them either into or out of the ovens dug into the ground simply can't compare as far as excitement goes. It doesn't feel as rewarding either.

At least my short stint with the lumberjacks who make sure we don't run out of fuel for the ovens is a little more rewarding, even if it's not exactly any more exciting. At least my [Woodworking] skill improves a little though. Who knows maybe I'll carve a few more little figures later or tomorrow. The skill is close enough to the next level up that I might be able to push it over the edge that way.

Eventually the workday comes to an end and instead of loading yet more finished bricks onto the riverboats when they come around next, we board them instead to return to Riverrun. Since we are going downriver this time around its a much short trip then in the morning.

Not everyone comes along though. The workers minding the brick ovens and the druid regrowing trees, where some were cut down earlier, among others stay behind. I can only presume that there are yet more bricks to be burnt.

At the upstream water front we file off the boats. The other works stick around just long enough to receive what little coin they are owed for today's hard work. I on the other hand shove my quest papers at the clerk who is with us again.

"Sorry to be a bother, but I still need your seal on that for the clerks at the guild hall."

"Ah, yes. Of course! Thank you for helping us out today!"

He is in much better a mood than earlier this day. Because I helped take care of a problem? Or simply because he is back in town instead of out there in the sticks? He doesn't exactly strike me as an outdoors man judging by his rather formal wear.

Well I won't judge him for it. I like it better here in town too after all. I nod in thanks, as he hands me back my paperwork now adorned with his seal.

"Thank you. It's been a pleasure."

It's not exactly a lie and apparently it's exactly the right thing to say right now, as a notification whispered in the voice of Fox brushes the back of my mind.

[*Ding!* Your skill Etiquette has leveled up to level 2!]

This one counts towards the progress of my scoundrel class, which somehow seems very fitting. My charm improves a little too, as the skill levels up. It's all very welcome. I should show some of these rarely used skill a little more love anyway.

With one last court nod and a polite smile I'm off, but at a leisure pace. I may still have to redeem the quest papers at the adventurers' guild hall to receive my reward, but it wouldn't do to appear as if I were in a hurry.

The gate is a busy place once more now in the evening, just like it was in the morning. Except, now it's mostly people leaving the inner district. Very few want to enter right now. And, of course, the guards are mostly focusing their attention on making some quick coin off the people who want to get out before the gates will be closed.

I make sure both my sword and my guild tag are easily visible. I have my quest papers at hand too just in case, but I don't actually have to show them. The tag still works like a charm. Joining the adventurers' guild is really shaping up to be one of my better decisions so far.

The district inside the walls is still busy enough for sure right now, before the sun goes down and the night watch takes over the streets for the better part. It's not like people aren't allowed out on the streets after nightfall, but they better carry a lantern and have a good reason for their late trip.

I can't help but grin at the thought. It's almost like they have reason to suspect that less than scrupulous individuals might be about. Well, of course they do. The captain himself officiated a duel for me after all, after his sister got caught up in a late night high stakes game of cards. It makes me wonder when I'll meet Justyna and Lady Izolda again. I guess I'll have to wait to find out. Or I could check the request board at the guild. I doubt there will be anything though. It's not like their world revolves around me. If anything it's the other way around. At least for now.

A little later I step into the guild hall at the central market place. And, of course, the place is packed. I'm not the only one returning to turn in their paperwork and reap their rewards. Well, it's not like this is unexpected in general, but the sheer amount of adventurers present is staggering. I get in line at the right counter and spend the time I have to wait there by looking around a little. I especially pay attention to all the other adventurers. And yes, after just a few moments I'm pretty sure that a lot of them have to be new around here.

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There are a lot of new faces I haven't seen before. I can't exactly place all the accents I'm hearing either. Most speak Slyd, a few Arngarm, the two most common languages around here, but their actual accents suggests that they are from further abroad.

What is up with that? Are they here because of the recent trouble with the King Boletus? Are they hoping to uncover more riches or the likes? I'm not sure, but it's not exactly impossible either. It can't be just because the group around Rami and Núira left recently, right? Sure a few adventurers flocking where others leave is to be expected, but they weren't well enough known to explain this crowd.

No, that's not it. I'm pretty certain. I might just have to hit the bar before getting myself a bed at the barracks to ask around and find out. That's alright though. After a day of hard work I'm in the mood for a drink and in a moment or two I'll have some coin to spend too. How very convenient. I really like it when things come together like that.

The line moves agonizingly slow. No, to be honest, it doesn't move any slower than usual, considering my limited experience, but I might be a little impatient to find out what is up. At long last I can hand in my papers at the counter though.

The veteran serving as a clerk looks about as excited about the long line, which extends beyond me as more people coming in have queued up, as I feel about the wait. Yet he is professional about it. He checks the papers and the seal a swell as my tag and promptly hands me the promised reward.

"Thank you for your hard work."

That's about as far as courtesy extends tonight, but I don't mind.

"It's been a pleasure."

With those words and fresh coin, even if it's just five pennies, in hand I'm off to the bar, making room for the next adventurer at the counter. Thankfully there is no actual line at the bar, although plenty of adventurers spend some of their hard earned coin on a refreshing drink right away. I hand the serving girl behind the counter a penny.

"One beer."

And almost before I can blink I'm holding a mug of beer in my hands. I make room, but don't move off too far. Instead I address the next best adventurer who doesn't look busy with a casual question.

"Say, what's up with the crowd tonight? It's not usually this busy."

The stout dwarf, I have no clue how old he actually is, but judging by his gear, he must be an adventurer with some experience, looks up at me, even if he doesn't have to actually look up very far, given that I'm not exactly tall either. He raises an eyebrow at first, but then he shrugs and answers anyway.

"You're still pretty new to being an adventurer then, I take it? Well, it's because the circus is coming to town soon."

I blink in surprise.

"The circus?"

Now he actually chuckles. One way or the other, he doesn't seem to mind explaining the apparently obvious to me.

"Well, we call it the circus. It's actually Sezemat's caravan. They move in between the various towns of the frontier lands. Riverrun will be a pretty busy place for a bit, while they are here."

"Oh?"

"Yes, yes. They usually set up camp just outside of town on the meadows. Various traders with their wagons will set up shop. You probably should be able to find just about anything there. And, of course there is the big stage of the theater. They aren't just putting on plays either. There are all kinds of shows too. I guess that is why they call it the circus."

I sip at my drink and nod along as he explains. He is getting a little excited and to be honest that excitement is contagious. This does sound like it'll be fun. There is another aspect to this though, of that I'm certain. I decide to voice my thoughts regarding that.

"And they probably mean more business for the adventurers' guild too? It's not just a big traveling market. There will be more requests as well, or am I wrong?"

The dwarf finishes his beer and grins.

"Oh, you are most certainly not wrong about that, girl. The ingredients for the potions the alchemists sell? The hides for the parchments of the scroll scribes? Even the trinkets of the peddlers. Those all have to come from somewhere."

I finish my beer as well, as he explains. Finally I nod.

"Sounds like we are in for a good time. But I guess not everyone is here to look for work, right? Some are probably just here for the traveling merchants, or not?"

He nods enthusiastically.

"Either for that or just for the show and the experience. In fact I'll try to catch a play or two too, although I'm actually hoping to make some coin hunting monsters for ingredients and materials."

"Well, best of luck to you in that case."

I extend a hand for a quick shake. As far as I'm concerned the brief conversation and the penny for the beer are effort, time and money well spent. I got to learn something good! Good enough in fact to earn my [Gather Information] skill a little progress.

Humming a happy little tune I'm off to the dormitory in search of a bed that is not yet occupied or at least reserved. It's easier said than done. Plenty of the other adventurers seem to be spending the night here instead of an inn or some other lodgings. In the end the pickings are slim, but I manage to secure myself one of the few remaining beds.

One right by a window that is lodged open to ensure there will be enough fresh air in the very full room. Oh well, it still is a bed which beats the floor at the boardinghouse as far as I'm concerned. And more importantly, it's free, which makes up for much.

I worry more about something else. Considering how full the room is, the chances that someone will snore are not negligible. A fresh breeze coming in through the window? I'll just spread my cloak over the blanket and be fine. Someone snores? Pretty much nothing I can do about it but try to ignore it.

Ah well, it's no use to worry now. I'll just have to wait and see. For now I drop most of my things on the bed to take a quick bath before I turn in at long last. All the while I'm already looking forward to tomorrow. In the evening I'll help Matylda and Sylwia with their raccoon problem again. And before that I'll pay Beldragor a visit. Maybe he has some more work that needs doing before Sezemat arrives in town. Oh yes, tomorrow will be good!