>>6093197>>6093253>>6093286Compared to the Drowning Zora, Kesey’s tavern is a step down. The patrons are rougher, the furnishings rougher, and the whole place feels dingier.
“What do you want old man?” the barman demands as Bormin approaches.
Realizing the traveling old man persona won’t hold up here, Bormin changes tactics “Whatever’s cheap,” Bormin says roughing up his voice some and slapping a few small green and blue rupees on the table while avoiding eye-contact.
The barman glances at the money then sweeps them off the counter and into his pocket. He turns around and fills a mug and places the cloudy brown liquid in front of Bormin before wandering off to tend to another patron.
Sipping on the watery drink, Bormin opens his ears and surreptitiously surveys the room. The atmosphere is quieter here, but there is still a low rumble of muttered conversations between the patrons. As Bormin looks around, he catches sight two men, one with a haunted look, just in earshot at the end of the bar. Focusing his ears he hears one of them say “He looked just like my nephew too, poor lad. Why’d you go and shoot him for.”
“When a man like that tells me to do something I do it. I’ve seen what he’s done to people who don’t do what their told.” The man shudders before going on. “Besides I told you what we were getting into and you said still said you needed the money.”
“Yeah,” the other man says looking into his mug.
“Look it was a clean shot kid probably died quickly, and besides if he had gotten away, he would have shouted far and wide about who just did his da in. Then we’d’ve ended up swinging or worse no matter who the person who told us to do it was.
The haunted man’s nose crinkles in disgust. “How does a man like that even become Captain of the Guard?”
“Those noble shits need someone to do their dirty work right? So, they pick someone whose hands are already dirty and give him some fancy title and let em keep doing what they’ve always been doing. Only now the mean bastard gets paid to do it.” The man shakes his head. “Wish I could have a job like that.”
“I wouldn’t, it makes your beer taste awful,” the haunted man says taking another drink from his mug.
“You just ain’t a killer.”
“And you are?” the haunted man questions.
The other man stares at his mug “No. I did what I had to. It was my life or the boys, but that still don’t make my beer taste any better.”
The two men fall silent as they stare into their drinks.
>That’s all you need to hear time to go back and confront Kilny.>These men were involved in the killing of Baloh and his boy. Perhaps more direct questioning would reveal more, like where they took the money carts after the ambush.>This is a good start, time to move on to one of Kilny’s previous investigations and see what he left behind, or what he tried to hide.>[Write In] 