Magnes coughs his drink in surprise for a moment but waves off any assistance. The gears in the dwarf's head turning "Aye a gold rush'd explain tha' quality'a this place. Anythin' I ought ta know of Lord Blackrose before I go tryin' ta talk to him? Oh an' there any men from tha' fort here today? Figure I ought ta pay meh respects fer their hard work when I passed em' by."
The Dwarf states with a bit of a forced voice
"Yer' drunk Magnes, it ain't one-a those tales here"
Kevroth smiles a little and speaks quietly, "We should not go into known danger until we are hale and well prepared. Running off half-cocked is never a good idea."
Kevroth glances with some surprise at the large building aparently by itself in the middle of a forest. When he steps inside he glances about at the other patrons, then accompanies Magnes up to the innkeeper. At the mention of venison and ale he brightens a bit, "That sounds excellent, good sir, it has been long since I have had venison done properly."
"Aye. Some soldiers here and an officer. Brecken. Lord Blackrose has been very reclusive since his wife, Ilsa passed away. I doubt you'll get an audience with him."
"I'll have some brought to your table. Rooms, meals and ale for six persons will be 9 derims and 3 thalen."
Suddenly, the things Kevroth has been hearing sink in. Fort Lonbrac keeps travelers safe? Castle Blackrose is the home of Gregor Blackrose?
He tries, with no success at all, to keep his eyes from going very wide.
"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost!" the innkeeper asks Kevroth.
"One the topic ah spirits!" Magnes bursts in "In meh wanderin's I've come acrost a beverage I ain' heard of before, ah course the labels gone as well. Thin' ya might be able ta' place it fer meh?" The Dhouvarr requests as he retreives the unlabeled bottle out of the fort from his pack.
The innkeeper opens the bottle and smells it. "Smell's like Galdoran Fire-Brandy."
"Didn't you see the enclosed pasture by the stables next to the inn?"
"Where is Master Calswin now? How long until be begins his performance? I would very much like to meet with him if you would be so kind as to pass on the request." Rhialla says smiling.
In the mean time, while the others settle in on the strange happenings or are relaxing, Rhialla wants to mingle with the local tavern and gather information.
"Master Calswin is the old gentleman with the white beard and the green hat sitting over by the fireplace." the Innkeeper answers.
Koija stood gazing at the inn for a few moments.
Rhialla wants to sing to unwind and ease her nerves after she's mingles with the crowd, maybe make a friend or two, but also to help garnish some wages for the party to ease their financial worries.
"Master Calswin, pleased to meet you, my name is Rhialla and I am a travelling faithful of the Loving Lady Larafae. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to perform a muscial number so that I might sing this evening? I can pay you a share of any coin that is gained if you want. I am not trained, by the matron of the gallery I hail from says I have a natural talent. I was hoping on developing it if you have any constructive criticism."
"Pleased to meet you Lady Rhialla, and yes my dear, I will gladly play while you sing." the man says and pulls forth his three-necked guitar.
After the song everyone claps and whistles, and Calswin gives you a big warm smile.
"You have a wonderful voice, Lady Rhialla. The matron of your gallery did not exaggerate when she said you had natural talent."
"There is something odd about the inn. I sense a strong magical aura around it. So watch out for any oddities once inside."
After he had said that. Koija would follow the others inside, intend on finding out what was so peculiar about this inn.
Inside the inn, Koija stays mostly silent while he observes his surroundings and the people in it.
Magnes nods and accepts the bottle back from the man "Somethin' ta savor then. Thank's for the news, hard to find on the road. Anythin' else of interest recently" The Dhouvarr asks, unsure what to expect.
"Oddities or not it'll be the only option we have fer' warm food an' cool drink. A place ta bed down as well." The dwarf says with a grunt "I'm wilin' to risk weird fer that."
"There's talk that Prince Gerond, the brother of King Glenric is gathering nobles' support to start a civil war against King Glenric, but no one knows if there's any weight to those rumors. IF there is, we might be soon be seeing the first war in Arglondar since the Age of the Dawnbringer began."
In the 138 years since the Great War ended, when Auluras Amathane vanquished Sarvorath, Arglondar has enjoyed a time of relative peace and prosperity, except for the War of the Two Griffons, a civil war between Gothrund's father, Glenric and his brother Gerond. Glenric prevailed and Gerond was executed for betraying Arglondar's rightful heir. Teltamar supported Gerond during the War of the Two Griffons, and since then relations between Arglondar and Teltamar has been poor. There's been some skirmishes in the borderland, but no real war has broken out between the two great kingdoms.
For a brief moment the building appears to change appearance completely, from well-kept and lively to derelict and overgrown with smashed windows. Only for a few seconds, then it returns back to looking normal again.
Kevroth just shakes his head in response to the innkeeper and drops his eyes, trying to master himself. The thump from outside causing him to jerk his head towards it and lift his musket nearly to 'port arms'.
They are obviously stuck in the past. I wonder what is the source of this magic.
Koija stays silent trying to find the source of this strangeness.
|
Sabrik, rubbing his head from bashing it in the wall, decides he couldn't fight a building. Figuring it was a mage, he directs his malice at the bartender, and moves inside.
To those inside, sabrik appeared a little insane. He had a large bruise on his forehead, and his wakizashi is shining like a razor poised to kill.
After the conversation with the Barman had ended Magnes had moved over to the table with soldiers at it attempting to drink them into an early grave by all appearances.
Koija stood up from his table and walked over to Sabrik. He spoke in a calm but serious tone "Calm down. There is no need for your weapon here right now."
Magnes peers up from his conversation noting Sabrik's appearance, a blade, Koija talking. Mah... what now? Can't I just drink tha' ghosts of tha' past under tha' table in peace?
"What in the blazing world are you going on about?!" The innkeeper says from behind the bar, and behind Koija, who you were just about to hit with your katana. "Someone help! Stop this crazy bhakiri!"
The Red Griffon soldiers gets up from their table and hurries over to the bar and surrounds Sabrik, swords drawn. There are six of them. "Halt! In the name of the King, you are under arrest!"
"Perhaps he has drunk to much? Magnes can you help me here please?" Koija tries to interject.
Rhialla stops in the middle of whatever she is doing to see what is going on, 'That sounded like Sabrik...'
Seeing Sabrik with his weapon and hearing his aggressive tone directed at Koija, the pleading bartender, and the Red Griffon Contingent already surrounding Sabrik, Rhialla hums a bit as she goes to stand nearby. At first the look in her eyes are curious but as the pieces fit together and she discovers what happened, her face turns to anger and disgust.
"Put the weapon down! Do not be a greater fool than you already have been." Rhialla commands of Sabrik.