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RESPITE BATH HOUSE - EVENING
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Hatnay had planned everything out as well as usual before coming to this backwater town, without an active shield or even a decent amount of power besides. Still, when the Sarn University offers a healthy bounty for a simple thief, moreso a stupid little kobold, he didn't mind taking a little vacation. Landing in Bairnell's Folly left him hopeful, looking like a lush forest retreat lay ahead, but of course, he is as disappointed as many others to find the town itself lies just beyond the green, in a hot dry belt that leaves the Orelan uncomfortable on a good day. On his third day in Respite, The Old Bullfrog's tavernkeep, in his incredible generosity, pointed the old hunter to this bath house, for a fee of course. Thrice more than he was paying the receptionist to enter. Still, the promised waters are so inviting, he can't help but hum to himself as he stashes three lockers worth of gear (leaving nothing at the tavern), and heads toward the soaking pools. Minutes later, the only thing visible of the 50-something bounty hunter is the top half of his scaly, reptilian head.
Gareth wanders into the bathhouse from the locker room, having just finished sparring with some of the guards at the training grounds and feeling in need of a good soak. He steps into the main area of the bathhouse with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, leaving his well-muscled (and somewhat scarred body in easy view. He sighs quietly as he takes a moment to fold his towel up and steps into the hot water, quickly sinking up to his chest in welcome warmth.
Hatnay was lazily beginning to doze before footsteps approached the water, his eyes opening partway to watch Gareth. He shifts slightly in the water, nodding respectfully to the wolf once he's settled. "Evening." Comes a throaty voice, head barely moving to let out the two syllables.
Gareth nods at the person soaking in the bath as he settles in. "Good evenin' to ye, sir." He sighs again as he settles a little more comfortably into the water, "Nothin' quite like a good soak to get rid o' the aches in the muscles..."
Hatnay hums, not particularly friendly in his tone, though his expression is free of negativity. "This body didn't ache until coming to such a dry town, sucked the moisture right out of my bones."
Gareth nods, looking similarly neutral, though mostly just relieved that the aches from his sparring are going away. "I hear ye, there. Would have been just fine stayin' up around Sarn and Vamas, meself. Heat's been somethin' else, so close to the desert."
Hatnay chuckles slowly, shrugging. "Vamas, hmm? I can see it being a bit much with that coat of yours, couldn't find a better living somewhere more pleasant? Even in that port town North of here?"
Gareth shakes his head, shrugging. "Nah, I had good reason to come here, anyway. Me partner had some family things to take care o', so I tagged along."
Hatnay hums, nodding. "A good reason. So you're smarter than to try living in this nowhere town, then. I'm doing a bit of travelling myself."
Gareth chuckles. "Well... we're travelers, too. Me partner's thinkin' o' maybe callin' this place somethin' of a home base o' sorts in the future, though." He nods out past the walls of the building, "There's a nice bay to the south o' here that's pretty nice. Oceanside, so not quite as hot."
Hatnay deadpans, looking at Gareth. "I take it back, you're both mad." He holds for a beat before laughing a triplet of guffaws, the water rippling from his underwater movement.
Gareth laughs heartily, flashing a sharp grin. "Well, ye might not be far off the mark with that." He settles down into an amused chuckle after a few seconds, "So... ye said ye're a traveler, eh? What brings ye all the way down this way, then, if not the sand, heat, and crazy folk?"
Hatnay grins as well, two crooked teeth poking out from the left side of his jaw at a painful looking angle marring an otherwise agreeable smile. "Just out looking to meet a friend. Don't know the fellow, but he already owes me something."
Gareth tilts his head, nodding after a moment with a smile. "Ah, I see. The fellow's goin' to be pretty surprised when ye show up to collect, I bet."
Hatnay nods, rising from the water a bit to relax, fully revealing his thick neck and near crocodilian jaw. "I hope not too surprised, rumor is he has a lot of little toys to defend himself with."
Gareth raises an eyebrow. "Ye don't say? Toys, like... what, magitech or somethin'?" He furrows his brow a bit, looking perhaps just a touch concerned, though in reality it's because he's sizing up Hatnay a bit now that he's got a better look at them, "Ye best be careful if so. That stuff's not fun to deal with..."
Hatnay chuckles slowly again, the water rippling from his chest outward. "From what I've found out, yes, but that's fine. If I weren't cautious, wouldn't be my age doing this job." He lifts his arms from the water, taut muscles covered in knobbly scales, the relaxed pose revealing a heavily muscled chest marred with a scarred up brand below his left shoulder.
Gareth 's eyes wander along the arm Hatnay presents, though his gaze lingers on the brand on his shoulder for a moment. He nods as his expression relaxes again. "Fair enough. Ye look like ye've had a bit o' a rough and tumble job, but damned if ye don't look like ye can handle yerself easily in a scuffle."
Hatnay laughs his guffaws, shrugging. "Another thing to thank for a long career. You're fairly built yourself, sir. A farmer, perhaps? Or perhaps a shiphand, considering the travelling?"
Gareth nods. "Former shiphand, worked me way up to Quartermaster and like that for a while before I took me leave. No real idea what to do with meself at the moment, however." He flashes a lopsided grin, "Sailin' is a good life, but not always safe. Like ye, I wouldn't have survived to now without some solid conditionin'."
Hatnay grins, nodding as he sinks a bit into the water again with a sigh. "An exciting life at least. I had my turn on a crew for a few years to pay back a debt, never made much of it, just sail to get from one place to another now. One vessel, or several?"
Gareth hums, nodding. "It's not fer everyone, that's true. I served on a few ships in me time, though me stint as Quartermaster was the longest by far. Learned the ropes on the first couple o' ships, then found a crew I took a shine to and stuck with them."
Hatnay nods, closing his eyes as he relaxes. "It's hard to find a good group that just works, I can't imagine finding a full crew is any better."
Gareth chuckles as he settles against the side of the bath again, enjoying the warmth as it starts to soak deeper into his fur. "Aye, the crew I was with had their troubles, but they worked well. 'Course, folks come and go, some faster than others, but that's just how it is sometimes."
Hatnay shakes his head, letting out a single laugh. "Well, can't be happy all the time. Can't be too well liked when you have folks under your watch, either."
Gareth snorts in amusement. "Ye speak truth, sir. Best to give the ones workin' under ye reason to both love and hate ye, but not too much either way. Precarious, but good when it works."
Hatnay laughs again, looking to Gareth. "Love? Not in my ranks, no time for that. They could have love back in their homes, but every scale under my boot was to keep order or face a wrath."
Gareth nods, likewise laughing. "That works, too, but at least on land, ye can get away from each other when needed. On the sea, yer stuck with each other until ye hit land again, so ye got to have some reason to like the person standin' next to ye, so ye don't toss them overboard at the first opportunity."
Hatnay grins, shrugging. "You've certainly got a point there, can't argue with that logic. If I were to reflect, perhaps being lighter might have let me stay at my post." He subconsciously rolls his left shoulder. "Could be a decorated general instead of an aged bounty hunter."
Gareth tilts his head curiously. "You used to be in the military, hm? That's a good background fer anyone gettin' into bounty huntin', at least." He looks over Hatnay's scaly appearance again, "So... ye from Orela, I take it? All the other scaled folk I've met came from there, and I heard their soldiers are fierce."
Hatnay nods, chuckling. "Made Officer before reaching a splitting point. It's not a far stretch to assume that, Southern archipelago. Were you raised in Vamas, then?"
Gareth nods. "Aye, born up near the Westport area, but I've been wanderin' around Sarn and Vamas on ships since I was about 16 or so."
Hatnay hums, nodding. "Sarn is nice enough, a good climate, enough out that way to keep a hunter busy for their whole life."
Gareth chuckles. "From what I heard, those magitech folk at the main university get really upset with folks tryin' to figure out magitech themselves. Uptight, but I guess as long as it pays, eh?"
Hatnay chuckles in turn, nodding. "Don't care for them much myself, the coin can't be denied though. My friend owes them some restitution for his research, so I'll take that payout, and they'll be that bit happier."
Gareth nods, smiling. "And happier clients means nicer pay the next time, too. Sounds like ye've got a pretty nice job, even if things didn't work out as well fer ye in the military."
Hatnay sinks a bit more into the water, supported from slipping in fully by his arms on the side of the bath. "I don't miss it too much, and those university folks pay very well for very mundane jobs."
Gareth chuckles. "I should look into that one day, then. Wouldn't want to butt into yer own business, but those scholarly types always prefer others workin' fer them."
Hatnay eyes Gareth, chuckling. "It's a game for the young and the strong. You've got the second part, but perhaps not the connections. I don't plan on being in it forever, though."
Gareth laughs and nods along. "Aye, I'm not quite as young as I used to be. Might be better fer me to stick to sailin' than tryin' to make the fightin' a career thing."
Hatnay grins; "I hear some say sea breezes are good for the body, anyways. Swords and spears are not."
Gareth grins. "Speakin' from experience, nothin's quite as invigoratin' as the smell of the sea while away from shore. Wind in the sails, ocean spray from the waves, and nothin' to do but watch the gulls and sea life in complete peace."
Hatnay hums, adjusting his seating in the water a bit. "Absolutely. I can't say I've had many better sleeps than those on a gentle sea, except those with a gentle lady."
Gareth nods in agreement. "Combine the two and I think ye've got a winnin' combination, when ye put it that way, sir."
Hatnay sighs, sinking into the water again, finally feeling as if he's properly relaxing, the dryness being soaked away and the heat making him feel drowsy. "I am a firm believer in too much of a good thing. Besides, where does one find a gentle lady who is fond of adventure? Other than your own partner, of course."
Gareth chuckles and shakes his head. "I know a couple of ladies with such a disposition. Me partner isn't actually that sort o' partner, though." He sighs as he leans back a little bit further, chuckling as he goes, "As fer gentle... me partner is hardly gentle."
Hatnay nods, splashing his chin against the surface. "Not so gentle, hm? I suppose it's a good thing she's not so deeply attached, so you can weather any fury by walking away."
Gareth 's chuckle stretches out into an amused laugh. "She'd just as readily punch someone in the face as one would go fer a hot meal and a soft bed." He nods again after a moment, "And we had to do that a couple o' times in the past, but the anger doesn't last long, thankfully."
Hatnay chuckles, nodding. "Sounds like she's got a good, strong fire in her. That I can respect, even before meeting the lady. If you go back, there must be a good working relation there, at least."
Gareth nods. "Ye're right on both counts. She's a good sort, even if she's a bit headstrong at times. We make a bit of a good team, truth be told, so it works out fer both of us."
Hatnay laughs shortly, "Headstrong is a good word for it. Had a few headstrong partners in the past, but I prefer a more easygoing approach when possible. Gave up on having a partner after one that could be called headstrong killed two marks, one was wanted alive unscathed." His voice lowers with his expression. "Not called neckstrong for a reason."
Gareth hums. "I can see that bein' bad fer business, yeah. Partners are good fer watchin' yer back and helpin' out, but it only works if they can keep their wits sharp. Me partner's wits are pretty sharp, even if she acts like she doesn't know a Lizard from a Kobold half the time."
Hatnay laughs, nodding. "Hm, I might take offense if that came up."
Gareth chuckles, then sighs again. "Ye seem like quite the interestin' man, sir. What's yer name?"
Hatnay grins, nodding. "I'll thank you for the compliment." He rises until the water is just at his waist, bowing respectfully. "I am called James Hatnay, pleased to make your acquaintance, mister..?"
Gareth likewise stands up a bit and offers a respectful bow, though also to hide the slight smirk on his face now that he knows for sure he's found his mark. "Pleasure to meet ye as well. Me name's Gareth Gwynn."
Hatnay nods, grinning as he settles back into the water. "A strong name, it suits you." He pauses, nodding again before continuing their conversation, though his responses begin growing further apart as the hot water takes away his wakefulness.
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A SHORT TIME LATER
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Gareth carefully clambers out of the water and wraps his towel around his waist, then sneakily makes his way back towards the lockers, now that Hatnay's dozed off at the edge of the bath. Leaving the older croc to soak for a bit in peace, he slips into the locker room and makes his way to his own locker, where he rifles through his outfit and extracts his lockpicks from one of the pockets.
Gareth cracks his neck to loosen up, then makes his way towards the only lockers that have been locked shut. He kneels in front of the lock of the first locker, takes a moment to glance around, ears perked for any noise, then starts to pick it with a practiced hand.
Fiora has been keeping a watch for awhile outside the locker room. Having finally spotted Gareth making a move, she glances about, then heads towards the lockers, following Gareth in. "Did you do it? It being whatever you're doing? Just taking a long bath?"
Gareth flails and nearly drops his lockpicks, startled by Fiora's sudden approach. He manages to stifle a shout of surprise, but his heart rate almost certainly shot way up. He takes a few steadying breaths, looking over at the giraffe with wide eyes. "Good gods, lass... Y-yes, that guy is the mark Louma wanted me to snag somethin' from. Just got to open these lockers, find the spear... then ye hide it somewhere good."
Fiora tilts her head. "Spear? For that captain, eh? Huh. Didn't peg her for a thief. Well, I guess you're the thief and she's the thief by proxy?"
Gareth pats his chest for a few moments, then nods as he goes back to picking the lock on the first locker. Thankfully, it's not too difficult, and he manages to open it up after a few seconds. "Somethin' like that, sure. Louma apparently really likes those types o' spears, and there aren't any here, so..." He shrugs, "She offered to pay to get her a spear, and there's one in one o' these three lockers."
Fiora hums, "I suppose I can get that. A good weapon can be hard to find. Well, if any of the lockers give you trouble, I can probably just smash em open." She walks around to Gareth's side and leans against another set of lockers, miming out the action of punching one open with a grin.
Gareth looks over at Fiora, then rolls his eyes as he sets the lockpicks aside. "Well, with Mr. Hatnay sleepin' in the heated pool, I'd rather not make noise that could wake him up. Last thing we need is him wonderin' why we're breakin' his lockers open."
Fiora shrugs, "Fine by me. You're the expert at this kinda approach. I'm just here in case things go south. And errand giraffe, apparently."
Gareth laughs a bit as he cautiously opens the first locker an inch or so, just to see if there might be traps. "Ye've got yer skills, I've got mine. Ye're damned good at knockin' heads when need be. Still, if we're goin' to be knockin' Hatnay around, I'd rather do it while he doesn't have his spear."
Fiora chuckles. "Fair enough. Could be fun either way. I don't have my Axe with me, but... I got the rest if needed." She reaches up to a small stone on a chain around her neck.
Gareth hums thoughtfully, then snorts when he sees the trigger mechanism for something hidden near the base of the locker. He flips one of his lockpicking tools around and slides it in so he can work to disable the trap. "Against that giant crocodile, we're goin' to need everythin' we've got, I think. Best we avoid havin' to fight him if possible."
Fiora crosses her arms. "He's after the same asset then?"
Gareth nods as he disables the trap, then opens the door some more. "Yup, he's after that Kobold, Strix. Now... let's see what we've got here..."
Fiora chuckles, "Well, he's already crazy. Who boobytraps a locker at a spa?" She shifts forward to crane her neck around and peak inside as well.
Gareth grunts a bit as he opens the door wider, revealing mostly clothing and a few small packs, nothing in the way of weapons. At the bottom of the locker is a trap that looks like it'd have shot out a bit of fire or something. "Someone that carries everythin' with them, I bet. This one's a bust..."
Fiora leans back against the lockers. "There's way more effecient ways to do that, heh. Guessing he trapped all three too. Fun."
Gareth nods as he shuts the locker and scoots over to the second, where he starts picking the lock. "Most likely. Let's hope the spear's in here, though. The longer it takes, the more likely we get caught..."
Fiora raises an eyebrow as she watches Gareth work. "Did you just leave him in the water? What, you tell him you had to pee?"
Gareth laughs and shakes his head. "No, he dozed off while soakin'. Not surprisin', since he's already 50 or so..." He pops the lock on the second locker a bit faster, then carefully opens it to disable the second trap he inevitably finds, "Once we find his spear and ye take it, I slide back into the pool and wait fer him to wake up."
Fiora nods, "And I stow it under the bed or something? Or you want me to take it to the Captain myself?"
Gareth shrugs. "If ye come across Louma on the way back to wherever ye want to hide the spear, go ahead and deliver it straight. Else, just make sure he doesn't find it." He looks sideways at Fiora as he opens the locker door, having disabled the trap moments earlier.
Fiora nods, "You got it. This is your side hustle, after all." She moves again to peek inside the second locker.
Gareth sighs and shakes his head when he sees that the second locker only has larger packs of what looks like provisions and maintenance stuff, as well as a bedroll and other similar things, but still no weapons. "Damn it. 'Course it'd be in the last locker..."
Fiora chuckles, "Always the last place you look!"
Gareth shuts the locker with a little more force, but not enough to draw attention. He scoots over one more spot and starts to work on the third locker. "I probably should have just let ye do yer thing, here. Probably would have gotten it right on the first go."
Fiora smirks, "And made enough noise to wake the dead too! You can't have it all Gareth. But yeah, it'd have been in the first one for sure."
Gareth laughs a bit and shakes his head as he pops the lock on the last door and quickly works to disable the trap no doubt stowed there, too. "If only it were so easy, though. Ah, well, we just make do with what comes our way, aye?"
Fiora nods, then gives Gareth a raised eyebrow. "Come to think of it, you're just saying that cause you want to see me get singed."
Gareth snickers, the corners of his mouth curling up mischievously as he pops the last locker open properly. "What? No, 'course not, lass."
Fiora rocks forward and stands up, rolling her eyes. "Suuuuure. Anyways, lets take a look at this spear that's worth all this crap."
Gareth takes a look into the locker, and his eyes are immediately drawn to the telltale glint of weapon-grade metal. The object in question is tucked away in the back of the locker, but set such that it shouldn't be too hard to pull out without jostling anything else in front of it. The spear head looks hefty, and quite menacing with its hooks. "And there it is..."
Fiora peeks in, "Whoa ho, damn. That thing looks nasty."
Gareth nods as he gets up and reaches in, making sure there aren't any other traps lying in wait. "Louma said as much. This thing's not like anythin' we'd find outside of Orela. Pretty sure it's a style only the Snakes make."
Fiora hums, "Thought maybe I'd seen this style before, but guess not. I don't wanna give this to that Louma without making her give me a demonstration of it now."
Gareth chuckles as he carefully pulls the spear out, noting it's strange balance as he tries to heft it in his hands. "Well, looks like ye might get what ye want, lass. Louma and I have a planned sparrin' session with our usual gear instead o' trainin' weapons."
Fiora grins, "Oh hell yes. I definitely want to watch that." She reaches out to take the spear from Gareth as he hefts its weight.
Gareth carefully passes the spear to Fiora. "Careful, that thing balances weird." He pauses, thinking, then shakes his head, "Actually... never mind, I figure it'd probably balance like yer axe, now that I think about it."
Fiora accepts the spear, feeling it in her hands as well. "Oh yeah. Huh. Still different, but I could see fighting with this." She smirks, "Alright. I'll get this hidden away. I promise, I won't pick any fights on the way back to the Minnow just to test it out either."
Gareth smirks in turn and shakes his head. "Please don't. Then, we'd have to explain to Louma why someone went into the local clinic with puncture wounds."
Fiora chuckles. She holds the spear with a practiced ease, having trained herself to use all manner of weaponry, spears included, even if never this type of spear. "Yeah yeah. I won't! Sheesh! I promise! ...I mean, unless I'm forced to."
Gareth nods as he dusts his hands and stands up, shutting the locker as he goes. "Good. If ye run into trouble, just let me know, lass." He flashes her a grin, "Anyway, I'll see ye once I've covered me tracks."
Fiora gives Gareth a wave with her free hand. "Enjoy washing off the evidence! Or... something." She turns to walk out of the commons, heading towards the exit.
Gareth chuckles in amusement as he goes about locking the lockers again, then moves back to his own locker to stow his lockpicks away in their usual spot. A minute or two later, he's back out at the main pool and slipping back into the water, thankful to see that Hatnay's still asleep.