Hound Hunting

by **Ereck Darkshade** on February 4th, 2014, 12:02 pm

Winter, 40th, Year 513
Simpering Seacow, early evening

Ereck, on one of his rare trips out of the house before work had started, had been wandering the streets of Sunberth in search of answers. While not usually bothered by the coming and goings of the city, this particular event had stirred the interest of the young man. Yesterday, someone had left some guy from the Daggerhands in a public place, together with a note. By now the note had been all over town. Ereck had gotten his hands on one and had, which had been more difficult, found someone who could read it to him. It had been interesting to say the least.

Some guy named Hound proclaimed himself savior of Sunberth and was preparing to stand up as its leader. Or something along those lines. What intrigued the young man most was the lack of any solid information on this Hound character. Normally there was always someone or some group who worked with a person who could be tricked into giving up information. But now, not so much. This Hound guy was seemingly all alone. Nobody knew anything about him, no one had heard about him before and, as every proper myth did, nobody had a description of the Hound. Ereck had made his way through the city for a bit, just looking around, as if the Hound with pop up out of nowhere and tell him who he was.

The hunt had been fruitless and Ereck had stopped at the Seacow. While the prices were not his favorites, the serving girls and the fact that the place was rumored to be a Night Eyes location both were what drew him back every time. Even though he had been in this place before, on occassion, still he hadn't been accepted as a regular and the regulars that did come on a daily basis looked at him with open contempt. He wasn't one of them and he sat alone to the side, his back to the wall, his eyes on everyone in the building. For now, the bar was just getting started, with patrons slowly streaming in and joining old friends with pats on the back and rounds of drinks for their tables.

Even within the regular groups there were different factions. Some, like Ereck were here for the girls, others were here because they knew the owner or lived close by and considered this -their- local watering hole. Some, who didn't know the reputation of the establishment, were new and would most likely never return. With the events from yesterday still fresh in everyone's minds, Ereck had no trouble catching up on the latest rumors about the Hound.

The table to his left was discussing how, apparently, the Hound was built like an ox with a face to match. A giant of a man, towering over others, with the strength of a hundred men. Ereck discarded the fairy tales surrounding it and got to the point, stripping the information down. So Hound could be a big muscular guy, probably an ugly one at that. Another table two guys were arguing how the Hound was either a vengeful ghost or some sort of mage come to enslave them all again. Ereck dismissed both notions. The mage one had most likely started from Sunberth's local pastime, Paranoia. The ghost one was just as unlikely. Ghosts couldn't touch so how could it have killed a man, written a note and spiked it up on a wall? Ereck shook his head and looked around.

The men were all discussing the news and the rumors. The fact that someone had managed to publicly challenge the Daggerhands and gotten away with it, that on its own was already news worthy. It meant the Daggerhands were losing their grip on the city and that the note could possibly be right, on top of it. This Hound character, the more Ereck spent thinking about him, became more and more interesting.

by **Ereck Darkshade** on February 5th, 2014, 3:57 am

From his pocket, Ereck summoned the note he had obtained and looked at the symbols in front of him. They meant nothing to him, except for being ink on paper. Maybe there was someone out there who might be interested in how the ink moved and what it meant but to Ereck it was just that, ink. What he did understand, however, was the fact that the piece of paper was important to Sunberth. After having had it read to him, he understood the value of this piece of paper.

Leaning back in his chair, Ereck pushed it back on its hind legs and unceremoniously plonked his boots on the side of the table, making himself comfortable with the tankard of ale he had ordered. Not that special brew they boasted here but a simple ale for a simple price. Ereck sipped from the drink as he strained his hearing once more, listening to the several conversations that ran through each other. Each table believed a different thing about this Hound character and each table thought they were right and swore that whoever had told them had been a friend or direct contact of this Hound character. None of it was true, of course.

It was from the mouth of the most dangerous person in the room, however, that an interesting bit of information came. Two tables started arguing with each other, the shouting getting louder and louder. Ereck half expected a brawl to happen. Both sides were adamant about their Hound story, one side claiming him to be a wizard bent on conquest, the other claiming him to be the Ox man, a giant with horns or some such nonsense. Before the brawl could actually start of properly, there was one person who single handedly stopped it. Linellia Farrell.

"The Hound is a woman." Five words, spoken with such determination that it quietened the brawl down to some murmers in a matter of moments. "And she's not from around." One guy, braver or more drunk than the rest, stood up from his chair. "Of course he isn't, Linellia. Don't be silly. A woman woul-..." The rest of his opinion got stuck in his throat as Linellia's dagger pricked the skin of his neck. "A woman wouldn't what? Hmm?" Ereck watched, impressed by the woman's commanding presence. Before her, the man seemed to shrink and before long he sat back down under general laughter from both tables.

Ereck downed the last of his ale and put the mug down on the table. His boots slipped off the table and he stood up, walking over to the bar counter. His movements were calculated and he arrived at the bar to find Linellia there just as the Eypharian was in the back, getting some things. "What makes you say the Hound is a woman?" Ereck asked, his voice as casual as possible. He didn't like talking much, his voice often too deep and dark for the litheness of his body. Linellia turned to him with a raised eyebrow. Her eyes brushed over him as she seemed to evaluate him. Whatever she saw wasn't offensive enough it seemed as she shrugged.

"What's it worth to you?" Ereck blinked and stared for a moment. What was what worth? It dawned on him a moment later and he reached into his purse, pulling out two silver Mizas. "I'm just curious about this Hound character, just like everybody else." It wasn't like he had a fortune to draw from. All in all, Ereck had never had to buy information before and he had no idea of the value of it. For his two silver Mizas, Ereck received two short sentences. "It was done smartly. And that's neither a Sunberth trait nor a man's trait." The implied insult went far over Ereck's head.

Ereck thought about that for a while, leaning on the counter while Linellia moved through the tables and served the customers. It wasn't much to go on but, perhaps, he could find out more from Linellia if he offered her better terms. When she returned from her round she gave him another eyebrow-raised glance. "Should you hear anything else, I'd be interested to hear about it." Ereck said as he placed three more silver Mizas on the counter, paying for his ale. Under the glances of the regulars, some curious, others jealous, Ereck walked out under the night sky and towards work.

by **Ereck Darkshade** on February 8th, 2014, 10:40 am

With the new information under his belt, although it wasn't much more than rumors, Ereck set out into the city of Sunberth. While he didn't really believe the Hound to be a woman, neither the name nor the actions really spoke 'woman' to Ereck, he didn't dismiss the idea of the person not being from Sunberth, or at least having spent quite some time outside of Sunberth. Locals didn't really go and kill some Daggerhand general, or whatever rank the dead man used to hold, and then put a name on it that might lead back to them. The only ones who could have done it this way were either the Night Eyes, who never drew attention to themselves, or the Sun's birth who wouldn't have used a lowly name such as Hound.

Ereck shook his head and scratched the stubble that was starting to grew on his jaw and chin. He sighed to himself as he looked at the problem from different directions. What did he have at the moment? Hound was a giant man with an ox head, Hound was a ghost, Hound was a magician, Hound was a woman, Hound was not from Sunberth. Ereck discarded the ghost and magician rumors. While they were the most interesting they were also the least realistic. Now he was down to Ox, woman, outsider. With his newfound ability to buy information from people, Ereck figured he might as well go and get some proper information.

He had heard that in cities like Zeltiva and Syliras, people had to register or something when they entered the city. That would have been handy in this situation but Sunberth was so open that it was impossible to keep track of the coming and going of strangers. So where else would he be able to get information like that. There were plenty of bars that would be able to provide him with information but he didn't have the money to spare on some insubstantial rumors he would hear over and over again. Where would strangers go if they didn't know the place?

Ereck made his way through the city towards the market district as darkness started settling in. If they had come in by ship, the sailors would have most likely recommended the Drunken Fish tavern, the favorite tavern for sailors looking for drink or work. The other option was the most famous and popular tavern in Sunberth, the Pig's Foot. Where the Drunken Fish only supplied sailors and people who had come in by ocean, the Pig's Foot supplied everything and everyone. Every Sunberthian worth the name knew the tavern and would most likely send stranger over to it should they inquire about a place to drink or eat.

Ereck headed over towards the Pig's Foot, constantly keeping his hand on the hilt of his weapon. In Sunberth you never knew when people might decide to pop up out of the darkness and demand in an ever friendly manner for your money and clothes. Or they just stabbed you if they weren't feeling very talkative at that particular moment. The chain of his weapon jingled with every step and the sound, quiet as it was, relaxed Ereck as he walked through the narrow streets that would eventually lead him into the market district and ever closer to the Pig's Foot tavern.

by **Ereck Darkshade** on February 10th, 2014, 10:57 am

Ereck took turns left and right in the alleys of Sunberth until finally he walked out onto a more open street, where he took another right. In front of him, a little of in the distance, the market district beckoned him. His pace picked up as he trudged through the mud and lingering snow towards his destination, close at hand now. He shivered in the cold air in Sunberth. The city didn't have any walls to keep out frigid winds and the buildings didn't provide a lot of cover either. Ereck disliked the winter, especially once it started snowing or, afterwards, when the snow started melting.

Finally, Ereck reached the front of the Pig's Foot Tavern and he pushed open the front door. Almost as soon as he walked in, he walked into trouble. Upon opening the door, Ereck bumped it into someone's back and managed to spill what little had been left in their beer mug. "Apologies." Ereck muttered to the man who tried to grumble something drunk at him. He quickly passed him by, making sure not to get drawn into a brawl right off the bat. The later you arrived in the Pig's Foot the shadier it got. And the more dangerous it got. Ereck sighed as he plopped himself down on one of the empty bar stools.

With a small nod of recognition towards Merv, Ereck ordered himself a mug of ale and leaned on the counter. His eyes shifted over one side of the room, looking for potential trouble makers or maybe someone wearing a tunic with a 'Hound' embroidery on it. You never how lucky you could get until it happened. Sadly, there was no Hound tunic wearing person sitting in the Tavern. Merv walked over to him and sat the mug down in front of him and held out his hand towards Ereck. With a sigh, he put the money in Merv's hand. "You'd think after some time you'd start trusting people, Merv." The owner grumbled something about Sunberth and moved back to cleaning mugs with a piece of cloth.

Ereck turned his head as he sipped his ale. He let his eyes wander over the other side of the room. No Hound tunic wearing person there either. Ereck sighed and put his mug down. Behind him, people started getting louder and, as he turned around, a quick brawl broke out. It ended in two guys getting thrown out within chimes. The excitement lasted only for a moment and things died down quickly, much to the disappointment of the gathered crowd. The tavern quieted down a bit and Ereck waved towards Merv, trying to get him to come over. After some insisting, Merv walked over with a starting scowl on his face.

Having had some experience in information buying with Linellia already he knew how to start. He plucked a single gold Miza out of his pocket and, with great regret, pushed it over the counter towards Merv. "Ever heard of Hound?" Merv regarded the coin for a moment and then slipped it in his pocket. "Everyone has." Ereck stared at Merv, trying to determine if he knew more than everyone. "I know. I mean heard anything that doesn't involve ox heads, magic or ghosts? Anything concrete?" Merv seemed to think for a moment, his cloth wiping continuously over the same spot on a mug in his hands. "I might have. What's it worth to you?"

Ereck stared at Merv trying to determine if he was joking. "I just... Never mind." The surprise and the anger in his deep voice were evident as Ereck reached down to his pocket and pulled out another gold Miza, smacking it on the counter and sliding it over to Merv, a little stronger than intended. Merv's hand smacked down onto the coin before it could slip off the counter and he pocketed it as well. "I know what everyone else knows. Hound's new and he's obviously got it out for the Daggerhands. I think he's looking for people to help him. That's all I got." Ereck stared into his mug as he listened. That he was looking for people to help him was something new. Ereck thought about it for a moment. "Why you ask? You got some beef with him already?" Ereck looked up from his mug, drawn from his thoughts. "What? No, nothing like that. Just curious, is all. Keeping up with the recents, you know. Heard of any new people in town? New people are always interested in guides and guards once they get used to the Sunberth customs." He shrugged and looked back in his mug.

Merv put the clean mug down on the counter and looked at Ereck for a moment. "I might be able to get something for you. As long as you got more where these came from." He tapped the pocket where the Mizas had disappeared in a moment ago. Ereck sighed and took a big swig of his ale. "It's nice to know who your friends are, Merv. Thanks." Ereck's voice was laced with sarcasm as the conversation ended. Merv wandered off once more, tending to other customers and the ever present stack of dirty mugs. While it had been more expensive than he had imagined, Ereck wondered if it had been worth. So far he wasn't a single step closer to this Hound person and he had taken several steps back when it came to his savings. And the ale wasn't even very good.

A while later, the door of the Pig's Foot closed behind him on his way out. Ereck had much to think about and he was about to be late for work on top of it. At least, while working, he would have plenty of time to mull over all the bits and bobs he had collected so far. He didn't think there would be a sudden revelation of thought in it but perhaps he could puzzle it out a bit more. And he might take Merv up on his offer and come back in a few days to see if he had heard anything interesting.