Cat on a Hot Inn Roof Part 1
General Summary
The sun was high in the cloudless sky, and the air was full of bird song and the scent of flowers as Grażyna, Renato, and Zima made their way back to Direwold having successfully vanquished a number of rats from the cellar of a tavern at the behest of the Guild. The adventurers regaled each other with the tales of their derring-do as they reached a large inn. Deciding that they had made good time, and could afford to wait out the heat of the summer sun with a cool drink in the shade, they headed to the door. As they crossed the rickety bridge over the narrow stream by the inn, Graz let out a cry of excitement. “Oooh! Look at the cat!” A tortoiseshell cat was indeed reclining on the roof and sunning itself. At the noise, the cat awoke and turned to inspect the group. With a yawn and a stretch, it stood up and scampered along to the edge of the roof where it leaped down to the dirt track and trotted over to the dusty group.
Renato froze in place as the cat approached and sweat beaded on his smooth brow. “I don’t like cats. I’ll wait over here.” A few elegant strides took him to the waters edge where he observed the friendly feline as it meowed and purred, entwining itself between the legs of the others. It sprang up at Graz, and landed in her arms. As the Bard was fussing over the cat, she noticed something strange. “What’s this in your collar? Hold still kitty.” Tucked into the cat’s collar was a scroll sealed with an elaborate wax seal. “Says here ‘Speak with animals (Modified v0.8)’ That’s weird. Anyway, look at the kitty! I think it likes me. What happened to it’s shell?”
Zima leaned in and lifted the scroll from Grażyna’s hand. “What are you on about? Shell? It’s a cat.” The seal is broken and the scroll unfurled. “I don’t know why I’m looking at this. I probably can’t read it.”
Renato, lured in by the mysterious scroll and reassured now that the fearsome predator was restrained by Grażyna, shuffled forwards a few paces. “It’s just a scroll I think. Have a look at it. If you can’t read it then I’ll have a go. Incidentally, you know gibbons? I like gibbons.”
Zima looked over the contents of the scroll as the cat glared at Renato. The penmanship was impressive, and the ink seemed to shift colours in the sunlight. Zima read out the incantation and a soft glow surrounded the party.
“Yes! I knew it would work! Thank you, my friend. Now, I would like to bring you up to speed. I am in dire need of your help.”
Zima looked around for the source of the voice. It was a man’s voice. Well educated. Local, but with a twang of Elvish about it.
“Madam, please release me. I feel it is somewhat inappropriate to continue this ruse now we can converse as equals.”
Grażyna looked down at the cat in her arms. “I’m sorry Mr Cat. Here you go.” The Bard carefully released her tight hold on the unfortunate mage and he jumped down to the ground.
“My name is Finethir Shinebright. A mage of some small renown in these parts.” Renato’s eyebrows shot up in suprise at the name. “The Finethir Shinebright? I know of your work. But why are you here? And a cat? And… have you ever turned baboons into bassoons?” The cat fluffed it’s tail and growled softly. “A long story. Let us retreat to the inn here and I can give you the whole sorry tale.”
Entering the cool of the inn, Renato motions to the others to be seated while he procures some refreshments. A quick rap of knuckles on the scarred bar top brings the attention of the wiry barkeep. The weary looking man puts the mug he’s holding on a shelf under the bar, and walks over. “What can I get you sir?” His shirt was white once, but that was many years and fewer launderings ago.
“Well my good sir, I would very much enjoy a refreshing goze or a kettle sour should you have one. And for my friends as well.” An arm sweeps over the room to show the now seated party.
The man looks at the crowded table, at the only patrons in the establishment. “Don’t have none of that stuff. Sounds a bit Elvish to me. I got beer. It comes in mugs. An’ I got a bowl. For the cat.” Taken aback at the poor offerings available but, sadly, only too familiar with the casual prejudice shown to non-human races, Renato doubled down on his warm and charming approach. “Beer sounds exactly the thing for such a hot day! Three beers in mugs then please.” The barman stared at Renato for a moment as if expecting something, a thick finger tapping on the bar. “Of course! A-a-and one bowl of beer? For the cat? Please?” The barman seems satisfied at this and, with a grunt, turns to the barrel of beer behind him. Removing the top, he proceeds to dip three mugs and one bowl into the brew. “Six copper. Cat’s is on the house.” Renato counts out eight copper and lays it on the bar top. “My thanks, sir. Here are eight shiny copper pieces for your trouble. Please do keep the change and thank you for your hospitality.” The barman slides the coins from the bar and they disappear into the pocket of his apron. He fixes Renato with a cold stare as the beers are picked up and carried back to the party.
Renato arrived to find Shinebright in full swing. “…but the boy was hopeless! I tried all I could to impart my knowledge and the intricacies of Transmutation to him but he failed again and again. The principles of poly-planar trans-weave theory is something I had grasped as a first year student! Yet here he was, Ahmed Noke, the self-assured son of a blacksmith, unable to complete even the most basic polymorph or change base elements into gold! Of course, I have to accept the lions share of the responsibility. I had thought him of age to learn. He looked old enough. I had not taken into account the advanced rate at which these Humans age. He was but a child. He quickly grew frustrated with the years of service. I suppose he sought to accelerate his advancement by removing me from view and utilising my stores and writings to further his own career. I awoke one night to find him standing over me. His face twisted in a rictus of glee. The moonlight casting harsh shadows. I was shocked to find him violating my personal space in such a manner. I began to reprimand him in no uncertain terms and was soon stunned into silence. My beautiful voice had been replaced with the grating mewling of a cat. I soon learned what had befallen me. Noke had used my own spells against me. He kept me locked indoors, presenting me to his visitors as little more than a pet. Not even a familiar! He denied me even the basic courtesy of acknowledging that I had any understanding of magic. For two years I endured that. Two years of sleeping on blankets and eating whatever scraps Noke thought to toss me. Sometimes, he would starve me. Then see what I would endure in order to survive. Overcooked fish. Undercooked chicken. Scrambled eggs that were left to go cold. The ignominy knew no end. But this morning, I saw my chance! Noke left in a hurry. He did so without checking the doors. I was able to retrieve an experimental spell and to escape my captivity! I knew I must seek assistance. I am in no position to face down my erstwhile apprentice at present. And I must retrieve my wand in order to undo the spell that turned me into the monstrosity before you neeeoooowww!” The cat suddenly started to groom itself energetically.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
The door of the inn shook in its frame from the impact. A moment of peace as if someone was compiling their thoughts. “We know ‘e’s in there. Bring ‘im out or we’ll ‘ave to ‘urt ya.”
There is the squeal of rarely oiled hinges as the barman climbs out of a window at the back of the room.
With barely any thought, Grażyna picked up Shinebright and, much to the objections of the venerable wizard, stuffed him into her pack. “Ok, but..” she whispered to the party. “What if… we tell them we don’t have a cat. And just walk out? What do you think Mr Cat?” There was a frustrated grumbling from within the backpack as Renato considers the pro’s and con’s of the suggestion. Weighing up the implications of engaging in misdirection and, frankly, outright lying, or remaining honest and truthful and possibly initiating hostilities as a result. Zima was weary of the conversation and inspected the inn for alternative escape routes. The only other door led to a kitchen, much to his disappointment.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
“Bring ‘im out and we’ll not kill ya slow! The boss wants ‘is cat back. It ‘as great sent-him-mental-valoo and must be returned fours withs.”
The door exploded into the room in a shower of splinters and old nails as the mighty fists of Guz slammed into it again. The Orc looked at his hands for a moment, impressed at the destruction they had wrought. With a little chuckle he stepped into the room. “Right then. Gimme the cat.”
After several stressful minutes, Renato, Grażyna, and Zima hurried out of the inn. One sleeping wolf, and one extremely dead wolf, left in their wake. Grażyna roused Shinebright from his slumber. The whines of the vanquished wolves sounded through the trees, and the dirt road showing that several creatures had gone East in a hurry. Shinebright confirmed what the adventurers had already discerned. They should go to his tower to the East.
A short walk through some pleasant forest led them to a secluded clearing. A group of large wolves sat playing cards, some tents for shelter. One tent, judging by the noise, served as a latrine. But what immediately captured the attention of any newcomer was the tower. Unlike most wizards, Finethir Shinebright had opted to use the natural environment to form his dwelling. A ramp formed of woven, living, vines led up to a platform forty feet wide. Plants lay around the perimeter. Beyond was another vine ramp leading to a large circular enclosure. Branches and leaves formed a living wall around this dwelling, but the cat left no uncertainty. “Look what he’s done to my home! Those wolves used to be my guards! That latrine is too close to the well! The boy is incompetent!”
Renato, still invisible from Zima’s quick thinking at the inn, and, drawn to the prospect of a game of cards, approached to the pack of wolves who were reclining at the base of the tree and deeply engrossed in a game of dice. As he drew near, the wind shifted. The scent from the tents lent credence to the notion that one was some kind of privy.
Creeping up on the wolves, the invisible Renato snuck in between a couple of them and studied the game for a moment. “Mind if I join in?” said a voice from nowhere. The wolves panicked and alternated between howling and shouting. As Renato withdrew to the relative safety of having comrades within striking distance, there was a groaning sound.
Grażyna and made her way up the vine ramp and stood on the wooden platform. “Come ooonnnn! Mr Cat! Hurry up!” The cat trotted along a taught vine and up into the branches of the tree. Shinebright had climbed up into some low level branches to survey the area. In front of them, the branches and leaves parted. A large circular room was revealed. It was well appointed, with several book shelves around the perimeter, a grand hardwood desk with a sage green leather blotter stood upon a finely woven rug. The chamber lacked windows or lamps. Instead, clusters of luminous flowers grew from the walls shedding multi-coloured light.
Standing in the newly formed doorway was a human male in his late forties. His face was pale with fear, and sweat ran from his brow. He was dressed in fine red robes embroidered with arcane sigils, and held a wand in his left hand. His dark hair showed streaks of grey coming through, and had been raked back to fall to the small of his back. The sound of ripping material, and a bestial roar cut through the warm air.
The latrine tent collapsed in tatters as a muscular brown bear fought it’s way out and started towards the entrance to the tree. It tottered slightly as though walking upright was difficult for it. The presence of yet another foe focused Renato’s mind, and he raced to the platform Grażyna was on.
Zima, having bided their time in order to judge the disposition of the battle field, sprang into action. Running up the ramp, Zima ducked under the outstretched arm of Noke, and made haste into his private chamber. Drawing to a halt in the middle of the room, Zima took stock of the contents. The rug was lovely, but a bit cumbersome. It wouldn’t fit in his pack. The desk would be worth something, but same problem. Plus locked drawers. And lots of books. There was another door though. That might yield better results.
Launching himself up to the platform, in only two attempts, Renato saw Noke wielding the wand they had been told of. Summoning all his finesse, Renato ran at the mage. Over the clanking of his armour, Renato shouted “Hey! Look at that!” and pointed over the mages shoulder as he snatched at the wand. Noke was not taken in by this ruse and his hold remained firm. He did, however, recognise that he was now surrounded and his sanctum under attack. Almost immediately regretting the waste of such a powerful spell, Noke cast Haste upon himself. The world around him slowed to a crawl. He hurried to his bedroom, past the intruders, and reached his carves wooden bed. With a touch of the wand and a carefully memorised incantation, he transformed the bed. He mounted the wooden Dragon, careful to avoid splinters, and bade it make an escape. The roof of the chamber exploded as the Bed-Wyrmling rose. A body of lustrous golden wood and wings formed of shimmering silken sheets. The silhouette hung in the air for a moment, pawing at the air.
The scene faded to blackness as we withdraw from the memories of these brave souls. Join us next time, dear reader, for more thrilling tales from the Adventurer’s Guild of Direwold.
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