It had been a beautiful day in Port Peril, and the night promised to be even more so. Especially for the owner of the Formidably maid. The best bar in town, at least according to its owner, who said it loudly and often, in the chance that might make it true. Several ships had come in today, and that meant his tavern was filled to the brim with men, women and wotsits wanting food and drink.<br/><br/>Elly the tavern wench was walking around serving drinks, and he noticed she was particularly interested in a young man sitting at a far table, nursing a mug of ale, and from the look of him the boy fancied himself a fighter.<em>"Pah"</em>he thought<em>"She's probably just looking for someone to warm her bed tonight"</em>Over to the other side a group of Orcs had taken a table. He pondered over the beasts for a second. One of them stood out, a young girl, thin for an Orc and with very unusual brown hair in plaits. He looked at her, as she started talking to a young human woman who seemed overly interested in the Orc, but the flattery seemed to be working. Not in part, he thought, to the copious amount of drink the beasts had ordered. They might be savage, smelly and ugly, but truth be told, they sure kept his pockets filled with gold.<br/><br/>As he looked around the room, he saw two people at the door. Leaving was a young human girl with what had to be the flimsiest pistol, he'd ever seen. She was drunk, and apparently angry at something or someone. The one entering was a young girl, he immediately recognised as one of his ilk. A servant of the Pirate queen. It was a gift Besmara had blessed him with years ago. No matter how well disguised, he'd always recognise someone following her path. And as he'd promissed his mistress, the girl would find succor here tonight.<br/><br/>The young halfling girl that had been singing all night, was taking a break. She came over to the bar and got a drink before sitting down. He still wasn't sure how she got here, but he wasn't complaining. She worked for food and drink, even paid for her room with the tips she made. Quite a few from the size of her purse. He liked cheap, so he liked the halfling.<br/><br/>Tonight was going to be a very profitable night.<br/><br/>*-------------------------------------*<br/><br/>A few hours later, just outside the tavern, a scholarly young man on his way to find a place for the night hears a cry of anguish close by. As his curiosity takes hold, he goes to look in the alley. He notices something behind him, but alas, it's too late. The world turns bright red, then black.<br/><br/>At the dockside the angry young woman is staring out at sea. "Some day" she says quietly "I'll rule it all. I'll show these weaklings what's what". Suddenly, she notices she's not alone. But the drink has made her slow, and before she can reacts, she feels a sharp pain in the head, and everything goes blank.<br/><br/>The young priestess walks out of the bar, and towards the sea. She was still unsure why the barman had insisted her tab had been paid by her mistress. He had to be wrong. She had no mistress. Well, apart from Besmara, but the godess wasn't in the habit of picking up people's tabs. But then again, free food and drink is free food and drink. As she walks towards the dockside, she is suddenly surrounded by figures hugging the shadows. The last thing she remembers is a sharp pain in the neck,<em>"Mosquito"</em>she ponders for a second, before passing out cold.<br/><br/>Inside the tavern, the young Orc girl, and the human woman have hit it off, and retreated to the woman's room. There they enjoy each other's company some more for hours, until finally, exhausted, the young half orc falls asleep. The woman steps away from the bed as three men walk in. One of the men speaks a simple incantation. Then, they lift the girl off the bed, and out into the night.<br/><br/>As the tavern closes, the young halfling singer decides to go outside for some fresh air. The only people still there are one of the wenches, Elly, or Emmy, something like that, and a young man seemingly sleeping of his stupor. Damn kid couldn't hold his liquor. As she walks outside, suddenly she feels a sharp sting in her neck. "Bit early in the year for mosquitoes" are her las thoughts as everything turns black.<br/><br/>In the main room, Elly is sweeping up the floors. Oscar, her fat handsy boss has long since retired to his little cottage out back to count his winnings. The other maids had left as well, but she stayed for a good reason. At the far end of the room is a young man slouched over a table. He's sleeping of whatever Scourge had paid her to slip in his drink. And there were Scourge's men right now, ready to pick up the boy, and pay her the rest of the money. Her eyes widen with surprise, as she is grabbed from behind, and she feels a knife against her throat, sliding gently. As she feels the warm blood trickle down from her neck onto her body, she realises. "Scourge never keeps his promise". Three man walk out of the tavern. One whistling as he tosses a knife in the air again and again. The other two grunting as they carry a limp young man's body between them.