All but one of the trio of buildings has been secured for the approaching night.
As you approach the Inn it is clear that only those interested in weathering the cold evening air have remained outdoors. The few others cast shadows inside the tavern that takes up the majority of the first floor of the Inn.
Entering, only the barkeep looks your way.
"Sit where you like. I'll be with you in a moment."
Two large men sit near the rear of the tavern, chatting quietly. A third sits near the bar, in a near stupor from drink. Several tables sit empty in the middle of the tavern. One booth is occupied near the window. The hooded figure seems to be captivated by parchment on the table.
Silx walks in, hooded to keep attention away. He takes a seat and puts the back of it to the wall, sitting so he can see the entire tavern. He pulls out a small journal while he waits for the barkeep
The barkeep walks toward Silx, glancing quickly at the seated patrons, checking to see if they need anything. Seeing them occupied, she pulls a rag from her pocket and wipes her hands as she stops near Silx.
"Welcome. The cook has left for the night, but I can offer you warm soup and stale bread. Otherwise, it's the moonshine that we make here or a mead from the dwarves."
The barkeep looks around, seeing now that Silx' seat has been moved away from a table.
"Do you want me to move a table for you?"
Silx is a little startled by how kindly he was treated "Why...umm yes, soup and bread would be nice. I can move the table. Thank you"
The barkeep nods at Silx.
"I'll be back with your food soon."
Glancing briefly at the other occupied tables, the barkeep quickly approaches Aak.
"And how can I help you on this particularly cold night?"
Nelith enters the tavern, and smiles when he sees the Drow's precautions. Upon hearing Aak's commment, he sits near Aak [b]I too would be interested in hearing the latest gossip[/b}
|
Hello, elf. What brings you into this little inn, other then the obvious relief from the weather? Aak politely asks the elf. Aak, even though he stands at a formidable 6'2", he cannot or better will not hide the scars on his face. He looks like he was beaten with an ugly stick for lack of better terms. His hair is dark brown and highly wind blown due to the inclement weather outside, and his eyes, ever searching for potential threats.
I do not mind the cold weather, but I like good food and strong tales.We''ll listen to the barkeep's gossip fo now, but i'd like you to tell me sometime how you got those scars
Same as the orc,
Silx is getting stiffer as more odd characters enter. An orc and an elf? Must be my lucky day... He keeps his hood up and keeps reading
"Soup it is. I can't promise it will be good, but it will be warm."
The barkeep walks back toward the bar, smiles at Nelith, and continues through a door behind the bar.
The hushed tones are tough to make out, but Aak clear overhears something (pm on the way). Nelith isn't sure who is talking, but someone is.
A blue-skinned gnome in worn and dirty clothes stumbles into the inn's tavern. He gently sets a bloody sack on the table nearest the door then collapses into a chair, without even brushing off his clothes, removing his backpack, or looking around.
He lifts his head to moan, "Food...Warm...". He peeks into his vest, perhaps checking the contents of an interior pocket. He smiles weakly at the sack. Then he again drops his arms onto the table and lets his head flop down.
The barkeep returns from the kitchen with a tray of bread and two bowls of soup. She walks toward Silx, glancing curiously toward the gnome that has just entered.
"Soup and bread. If you'd kindly leave a couple of cooper on the table before you leave that will be more than enough. Let me know if you'll be needing a place to stay."
She quickly places soup and bread on the table before moving on to serve Aak.
"Your soup. Warm as can be. Would you like any bread?"
The barkeep sets the soup near Aak and glances quickly around the tavern, awaiting his reply.
"Of course. I belive I will take a room for the night, thank you"
Upon hearing someone speak the word "room" the gnome almost lifts his head, but again collapses.
A look of concern flashes across the barkeep's face.
"Word is that those who built the keep are organizing expeditions into the mountains. For what purpose, I fear to even guess. I think I have a parchment someplace that one of them left. I will bring that to you."
The barkeep turns quickly and then stops, as if remembering something. She quickly nods in Silx' direction before turning back to Aak.
"Were you going to want a room also?"
Nelith adresses Aak again.
"Warrior, i'd like to take a look at that parchment when you've read it. Also, It seems I haven't introduced myself yet. Name's Nelith".
To the barkeep "I'd advise you to wake up the gnome and say something about his behaviour. I imagine you don't want a blood stain on your table. I'd also like a room." He puts a few coppers on the counter.
The barkeep nods at Aak.
"I will make arrangements."
She turns toward Nelith.
"I've seen so many stains on these poor old tables that another will barely be noticeable. I'm afraid I have only two rooms left, both of which have been spoken for. You're welcome to find a spot on the floor here or make arrangements to share a room. Would you settle for some soup or bread?"
The gnome lifts his head to smile at the barkeep.
He swallows, blinks, then exhales a sigh that seems to creep slowly from the top of his head down to his chair. He sits up, then rolls each shoulder to stretch weary muscles.
"Thank you, dear. No worries. The blood is mostly dry."
He makes a gesture like directing an orchestra while singing softly, Bim, bom, bim bim bim bom. The dirt and stains on the table top begin fade.
He reaches into his vest and pulls out a very nice deck of fortune-telling cards in a decorative, waterproof leather case tied shut with a leather cord. The case unties itself.
Warming his cold hands on the soup bowl, Silx takes a deep smell before digging in. He keeps the booklet next to him on the table, and his eyes flicker between it and the people around the tavern. He tries to keep his ears hidden with his hood, and just hopes that the others believe the darkness of his face is due to the shadow of his hood.
Silx stiffens up as the gnome clears the table with a few words. Great. An orc, an elf, and now magic. I'll be lucky if I'm still alive in the morning
Spellcraft
Nimt will sleep downstairs then.
|
|
Aak will notice the spellcasting but hasn't got the foggiest idea what spell it his. Since it isn't affecting him, he doesn't really care either way.
Hey gnome, yes you the one barely able to hold yer head up for more than a few seconds. I feel in a good mood so if you want a bowl of food to warm up and not die from cold it's on me. Aak will call-out to the gnome, voice gruff because subtlety has never been a strong suit.
"Thank you, kind sir. May the wind under your wings carry you to where the hair on your feet never falls out."
Then, softly to himself. "No, that's not half-orcs. So tired."
The spell is clearly noticed by all, though the other patrons don't seem to be bothered.
"Soup for all then."
The barkeep smiles and heads back to the kitchen. She returns quickly with soup and a burnt loaf of bread. She sits the tray at the bar, sifts through some papers before folding a parchment into her apron pocket. She lays a bowl of soup before the gnome and Nelith, leaving the bread to Aak.
"On the house. Share it as you see fit. Here is the parchment I mentioned."
She hands the folded parchment to Aak.
"Now I must prepare the rooms. Ring the bell at the bar if you need anything."
Slowly, the hooded figure sitting at the booth nearest the window stands. Parchment in hand he walks toward Aak.
"I have the same parchment half-orc. I'd find some friends quickly if you hope to get work. I've gone for the first few dawns alone and been turned away. Yesterday I met some others to go with in the morning."
Without another word, he heads toward the stairs near the inn's entrance.
The gnome says "Thank you, again" to the waitress.
He glances towards the movement of the hooded man but ignores that other patron. Yet he smiles, noticing for the first time that the room has booths.
He picks up his soup and sack, moves to a booth, then happily drinks the warm broth.
A gray-faced bald dwarf walks into the inn, door slamming behind him. "Weather. How do people stand it? he mutters before he slides down onto a chair in the most remote corner he can find.
Silx sinks even lower And a dwarf. Right now a god is laughing at my pain
Perception
Silx brings his head up Work? I need money, badly...oh curse the gods! Silx slowly gets up, then sighs and makes his way over to the orc. "Hello there, I overheard you all were collecting a group for a job. Care for another?"
"Careful of the door, my sturdy friend."
The barkeep descends the stairs near the entrance. She carries several worn blankets.
Smiling at the new arrival, she sets the pile of blankets on the bar.
"Can I offer you drink or what passes for food in these parts?"
Awaiting the dwarf's reply, she glances toward Silx and Aak.
"Your rooms are ready. For the rest of you I have some blankets if you wish to weather the night on the floor here. All I ask is that you pay for breakfast in the morning and try not to complain."
She laughs a moment before turning back to the dwarf.
The two men who had been speaking in hushed tone to one another quickly stand and approach the stairs, leaving a shinning silver coin on the bar before heading upstairs.
Nelth whispers to Aak: Sure
To the drow: If the half-orc agrees
The gnome finishes his soup and smiles.
He realizes he forgot his deck of cards at the other table. He retrieves them (subtly motioning for his spell to start cleaning the other side of his former table) and takes one of the worn inn blankets.
From the top of his backpack he unbuckles a thick winter blanket which he lays across the booth. The inn's blanket is put, still folded, at one end of the booth as a pillow.
But he does not lie down. Instead he sits on his makeshift bed and starts softly singing a song that at first seems to be a lullaby, but with the lyrics of a sad love song. He sings about missing "my lady", about how she cared for him and taught him all he knows, about the chill in his heart since she died and he buried her, and about how her noble people no longer walk the roads on this side of the grave.
"Food would be nice. Or what passes for nice in these parts, the dwarf answers gruffly. "And a blanket, I suppose."
"Good, thank you for the opportunity. Now may I be informed of what the actual job is?
"I'll be back with some warm soup. I should have a blanket for you before your soup is cold."
The barkeep walks toward Aak and extends her hand, holding a key.
"Here is your room key. It's up the stairs all the way at the end on the left."
She glances toward Silx.
"Your key seems to be jammed in the door. The room bolts from the inside. It is also at the end of the hall, on the right. Once I get some more soup and another blanket I'll see what I can do about getting the key out."
She looks back toward Aak and waits patiently for him to take his key.
After the song ends, Nelith applauds. A good dirge, sir. Might it be that you are a bard ?
Also, my asssociate here might have a job for you
To Aak:a very gallant offer, although I wouldn't be surprised if my "cousin" knows a... subtler approach to deal with the lock.
|
|
Very true Nelith, subtlety and finesse have never been a strong suit for me. Aak responds with a slight chuckle of stating the obvious in his voice.
Aak gets up and walks over to the Gnome after he finishes his song Gnome, would you like to join us tomorrow at the keep? Maybe you'll get some work, stretch out those weary bones and gain some tales to tell later?
The gnome looks up at the Half-Orc for a moment, obviously thinking.
A generous offer. Yes. Thank you. I have a quest of my own: to deliver this sack to the nearest monastery. But questing may well be easier while employed and with hearty company.
He stands and offers his hand. My name is Shayne.
Yes, good elf. A bard indeed.
"I'll let you know if I need help, thank you."
Smiling, the barkeep turns and heads back to the kitchen. She returns shortly with soup for the dwarf.
"Your soup. I'll bring down a blanket in a bit. Ring the bell on the bar if you need anything before then."
She turns and heads back up the stairs.