For the past few years, an ogre has demanded monthly tribute from the town of Dundraville. Since the demands were ale, sheep, and occasional mundane supplies, the town complied with these demands. The ogre was content to collect his extorted goods, and leave the town alone. However, last month, the tribute changed. In addition to ale and sheep, the ogre demanded gold and building materials!
But the situation has grown even more grim. The ogre returned yesterday with yet more demands of ale and worse: townsfolk! The town is in an uproar and denied the ogre's request. The brute flew into a rage and grabbed two townsfolk and hauled them back to his lair. They're destined for his gullet, no doubt! But amidst all the turmoil, six brave townsfolk have vowed to confront the ogre, and bring him to justice. The brave ones include a noble's son, a gnomish alchemist, a member of the town militia, a wizard's apprentice, a local trapper, and a mysterious elven witch that lairs in a nearby forest. With the aid of the local druids and brewer in town, the last batch of ale the ogre took was laced with a mild poison to help incapacitate the brute. Now it's time for brave heroes to finish the deed.
The volunteers have come to meet at 6 am the morning after the Ogre took the two townspeople at The Merry Riot Inn at the request of the noble's son Lord Casimir La Frond to discus their plan of action and to see what each one knows of the Ogre.
One of Dundraville's largest buildings, the Merry Riot Inn is a welcome sight to tired travelers. The inn is owned by several prominent townsfolk including the brewer Berk, and Kerwin Krell the outfitter. The inn boasts a massive common room with full food service, and eight guest chambers. A trio of attractive sisters, Darly, Dayla, and Dayl usually act as serving maids. However, the latter has been kidnapped by the ogre, leaving the remaining sisters quite distraught.
Mischa, never comfortable in town and doubly so because of the tension from recent events, walks quickly through town nodding to only a few of the residents who had overcome their distrust of her to make the trek out to her hut for help or advice. Truth be told she was if anything more wary of them then they were of her. Foolish humans get themselves into trouble more than anything else she thinks to herself as she slips into the Merry Riot. Still the problem with the ogre were something else entirely. The human's attempts to appease the monster had started to falter and she sensed something dark behind its recent aggression. It had taken some persuading from Bowen to convince her that it would take an organized group to deal with the conflict but he had finally done so. She was to meet the other members of the group in the inn.
Looking around she fails to spot him or anyone else who looks like an adventurer and brushes off a seat at an unoccupied table in a corner and seats herself.
For such a short lived species humans have incredibly odd problem with punctuality she thinks sourly
Bowen walks through the door of the Merry Riot, hands firmly clutching the straps of his pack. He stands in the threshold scanning in the interior until he spots Mischa in the corner.
He makes his way through the crowded room and takes a seat next to the elf.
"Sorry I'm late, he says as he drops his pack by his feet. Have I missed anything?
As Mischa stepped into The Merry Riot Inn and took in her surroundings she immediately noticed the large common room. The place was abuzz with activity. Obviously a local gathering place before the day began. There was about 20 townsfolk in the inn having breakfast at various tables, there was another group gathered around the sisters that ran the inn. One of the sisters was crying and the group was trying to console her. Mischa immediately realized that she had never actually stepped foot in this building before as she never had a need in the past. The woods provided both food and lodging for her and socializing with humans was not high on her agenda of things to ever do out of desire, but this time it was a necessity.
Mischa's entrance was all but unnoticed however as the whispers began from the patrons, making her way to a corner table she overheard the normal whispers of witch and the gossip that usually went along with her presence. One family that was seated close to the corner Mischa chose actually got up and hurried their children out the door upon her arrival trying not to be so obvious and the children stared in Mischa's direction. No one hurried over to take her order yet so she sat alone at the corner table.
The single oil lamp that sat upon the table glowed lightly. The lamp being placed obviously out of comfort more than necessity as the windows in the inn provided more than amble lighting for the room. Mischa blew it out. What a waste of oil she thought as she waited for the others.
She did not wait long before Bowen entered and took a seat beside her.
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Current Location: Dundraville: The Merry Riot Inn, Time: 6:01 am
She glances coolly at the fleeing family but other than that seems to ignore everyone else in the tavern.
"They'll give away our sheep without much of a fight," Bowen growls in the common tongue "It's only when they find themselves on the menu that they decide to do something."
A young servant girl, maybe about 15 with a dark complexion and braids in her hair comes over toward your table. She is kind of stand offish and boyish in appearance as she approaches your table, pausing momentarily to gather her courage on approaching the table with the Witch of the Woods seated at it. She then hurries over.
"Good morning. I will be your server, Natasha is my name." she says quickly and hurriedly.
She then sits down a chalkboard like slate with some writing on it. "I'll be back momentarily to take your order." she says again in a rushed scared tone. She then runs off to the kitchen at quite a fast pace.
The chalkboard menu reads:
Ale, common 3 cp/mug
Ale, Berkclay's Stout 5 cp/mug
Ale, pale 5 cp/mug
Ale, fire 7 cp/mug
Fruit plate 8 cp
Meal (fish stew & bread) 1 sp
Meal (mutton stew & potatoes) 2 sp
Bread and cheese platter 2 sp
Single room (8) 4 sp/night
Newt strolls in the door to Merry Riot Inn while whistling and humming a strange tune. He finds an empty seat at a table and tries to see above it while looking around at who is here.
He seems to be fiddling with something that has part of his attention when he is not looking around the room.
Bowen peruses the menu. "Hmm..."
Turning to Mischa, he says
After awhile the serving girl returns from the kitchen and approaches the table that Newt is sitting at. She introduces herself.
"Hello, my name is Natasha and I will be your server this morning." she says politely and with a big smile. She then slides you a chalk slate menu and then simply ask. "So what will you be drinking this morning, sir?"
The young girl glances quickly over in Micha's direction but quickly snaps her head back to Newt. Stepping over one step to put her back to Mischa's table.
"So what will it be?"
"I'llhavetheBerkclay'sStoutAleandthefruitplateplease!" he says excitedly.
Lord Casimir steps into the tavern. "I apologize for being late. I was caught up in some... family matters." He looks around, and sits at a table close to both Newt's and Mischa's.
After a moment, he turns to Bowen. "I understand you frequent the wilderness around our town often. Any ideas on where the ogre hides?"
The serving girl tries her best to understand the fast talking gnome....
"So you want a Berkclay? and some fruit? Or was that some fruit in your Berkclay?"
She then apologizes for her troubles..
"I am just filling in today. Since that thing took my cousin Dayl yesterday things have been chaotic at best, I'm not even sure how Darly and Dayla can even keep the doors to this place open with their sister being carried off by that brute. Only the gods know what has become of her or what that thing has done to her. Probably done ate her by now. I hear that some locals gonna go up there and torch the place today. Can't say I blame 'em myself, but I wouldn't want to be the one to come face to face with no giant thang."
After Lord Casimir enters she becomes fixated on him....
"Is that, that Lord Casimir La Frond." she swoons.
"Oh, sorry. I forget myself when I'm excited. I'll have the Berkclay's Stout Ale and the fruit plate please!" he says slower this time.
"Ok, Ok. Got it. Fruit Stout and Berkclay's Platter." the serving girl says not even looking at Newt but rather at Casimir. Almost tripping over herself.
"Coming right up." she stammers as she rushes off to the kitchen looking back over her shoulder the entire time at Lord Casimir.
On her way to the kitchen she bumps into Darly one of the sisters that run the inn. Darly calmly settles her down and sends her on her way.
Looking over at Anya'drea from behind the bar and listening to her speaking to herself she interrupts.
"Brag aboyt waaat dear?"
Darly kind of ducks when you point the wand at her, and then seems agitated. "Aye, you're dat wizards apprentice. oi recognize yer. well dare won't be any shootin' bolts av anythin' in dis 'ere establishment dear. did Nerenethos gie yer dat before yer man lef? waaat kind av dark experiments 'av yall been doin' up dare in dat wizards tower anyway?"
Mischa snorts at Bowen's observation. After a cursory examination of the menu pushes it away. She has no expectation of how fresh the fruit or meat in this place would be and she already had breakfast but...
Bread and Cheese she orders the girl, carefully extracting two bits from her pouch and placing them down.
She falls into silence as other people walk in.
Her gaze passes over the excited Halfling and the two young humans. Foolish children she thinks to herself.
To Bowen
To Bowen ** spoiler omitted **
Newt stands up, grabs his drink and plate and heads over to the table that Bowen and Mischa are at.
"Hi! I heard you talking about the ogre. I'm going too. I remember you." he says while looking at Bowen. "I'm Newt. Pleased to meet you! Who are you?" he asks Mischa.
He plops down in an empty chair with his food and drink and continues eating.
Darly whispers something to the serving girl while she is headed out of the kitchen and then turns her attention back to Anya'drea...
"Oi alwus worry whaen young birds go raun pointin' sticks at others an' braggin' dat they say produce dark an' threatenin' results."
The serving girl overhears Mischa's request as she brings Newt's order to his table. Nodding nervously at the elf as if to confirm she heard the order but never approaching the table she heads back off to the kitchen. She returns a short while later with the bread and cheese platter, it is quite bountiful and sits it on the corner table.
"Darly says it is on the house." she gestures toward the woman at the bar.
She then turns to Lord Casimir blushingly and says in a whispered voice....
"And Miss Darly would like to know if the wizard's apprentice seated over by the bar is with you guys? She is quite concerned as she has brandished a weapon of some sort. If she is not with you she would like you to escort her out of the inn."
With that she returns to the kitchen, never making eye contact with Mischa.
"Yes, of course she is with us!" Newt says in a friendly voice. "Have her come join us."
[dice=Newt Perception]1d20+6
"Why does the serving girl never look you in the eye, pretty elf lady?"
Mischa gives Newt a stare and drops into Common. Perhaps you should ask her that question.
Darly comes from behind the bar. Her tight dress barely concealing her full figure. The woman in her early thirties is quite attractive and walks with both purpose and grace as she makes her way over to the corner table. She pulls a chair out and takes a seat.
"So, judgin' me lord la frond bein' 'ere an' seein' dat de witch av de woods 'as graced us wi' 'er presence den oi can only assume dat dis is de groop dat is 'eadin' ogre 'untin' is dat correct?" she says inquisitively.
"I hate to send you back with another order," Bowen tells Natasha. "But it's hard to get word in when I'm competing with someone with a mouth bigger'n he is tall." He gives Newt a friendly nudge with his elbow.
"A bowl of the fish stew, if you please."
My bad, disregard that last statement Mischa gives Newt a stare and drops into Common. Perhaps you should ask her that question.
"She's not a pretty elf like you. What happened that they dislike you so?"
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Mischa puts her two bits back in her pouch. In truth she does not have much money as she's made a conscious effort to be self sufficient and not have need for trade. The fruits and occasional game she procures for herself in the wilds would be undoubtedly fresher then whatever this inn could provide but cheese and bread are a different matter. Those two taste different between every baker and cheesemaker.
Mischa samples both from the platter. The bread is fresh and well baked and the cheese has a pleasing tang. Both are simple but they make for a pleasant change from her own fare.
Just a bit mollified at being forced into setting foot in the crowded and stuffy tavern Mischa nods.
Bowen has persuaded me that a group will have a much better chance of success in driving the ogre off and bringing balance back to the woods.
Mischa gives the Gnome a pointed look and ignores his repeated question.
Bec rushes into the Merry Riot, nearly bowling over a townsman in his haste. A few pieces of straw stick out at odd angles from his hair and clothing, and he nearly trips over the haft of his spear as he keeps moving through the room. When his eyes alight on Bowen and Lord Casimir, he breathes a loud sigh of relief and rushes to the table. Oh thanks to all the gods in the heavens he grins. I thought you'd leave without me. Seeing the others food, he sinks into a free chair. Got a Stout for me Darly? I've a mighty thirst!
Bowen is about to warn Newt from pursuing the sore subject of Dundraville's treatment of Mischa when Becarus comes storming in.
"Leave without you?" he echoes as the big man joins their table. "We're hardly in a rush. It's not like the ogre cares very much about punctuality."
"I know something that might be useful! As I recall, just few years ago I found a cave on the west side of Skulltop Hillock. As far as I could tell they head directly into the hill. Maybe it is a back way in to the ogre's lair!" he says while he absentmindedly rubs his hands together.
Yes, she's with us. Just a second."Casimir walks over to the bar "Anya'drea? The rest of us are over here." he motions to the table in the corner "Please, come join us"
Darly instructs her serving girl to bring a round of drinks for the group and anything else they may need. She then turns her attention back to the conversation at the table.
Now speaking in a lower tone as not to let her other sister which is highly upset and still sobbing on the other side of the bar hear. She drops her fake accent and now speaks in clear common.
"Well I hope your intentions are not to run the Ogre off by any form but to slay it where it stands. It has taken my sister Dayl and I want justice. I want its head." she then looks at each of you directly in the eye and then continues. "I also expect you to bring her back to me alive and well, do you understand me?"
Not waiting for an answer she leans back in her chair and returns to her normal tone and accent.
"Oi tink we al' understan' each other don't we."
Mischa raises her eyebrows at the unexpected steel in Darly's voice and gives her a slight nod in acknowledgement.