Revelry, Horrors, and Ripples
Blending in with the populace of this city is exhausting, but I’ve played roles before in many a mummery, so I’ll do what must be done. At least everyone seems to be enjoying the festival. I feel a little bad for hitting that woman with the bottle during that climb on the trash heap. I only meant to slow her ascent, not do her serious harm. I did let her know afterward that I was remorseful. One must keep up appearances.
I’ll have to visit the Row to see what’s what. That dwarven fellow seemed an interesting sort, and there might be some coin had in betting on the fights he mentioned. Plus, it would be nice to see how the non-humans live away from judgmental stares and just be able to relax.
Kolbus and the others seem skittish about making inroads with the local Clippers. I’ve found that brashness is needed at times to get doors opened. Taven hasn’t given us all the time in the world to do the task he set us upon. Time will tell, I suppose.
I don’t know which is more horrifying. The number of rats contained with the trash heap, the appearance of a half-human / half-rat monstrosity, the fact that Kolbus was bitten by thing, the fact that I came close to working magic to save him, or the fact that I seem numbed to creature’s emergence from the flaming rubbish? I, now, owe that kid Milo my life. He very unselfishly pulled me away from it after it knocked me out and administered aid to me with one of his concoctions. Damn it all! I hate feeling beholden to someone. So many other people were injured running away. Why in the nine hells didn’t I run away? I had no business tangling with something like that. I’ll just focus on helping Shakes with the injured.
***
I learned the kid’s name is Pounce. Playing for him in the square was easy money, not a lot, but easy hour’s work. Now we are to have a meeting with his gang. I’ll have to discuss it with the others. Perhaps we can do some work in exchange for information. They have to know that the Clippers are looking for something.
There is more going on in this town than I first thought. I’m intrigued. Maybe there is a ballad to be written?