Gravel to Granite (Inactive)

Game Master Lareg

The barkeep steeps lightly down the stairs, key in one hand and a blanket slung over her shoulder.

"Victory," she smiles.

She walks toward the dwarf, resting the blanket near him.
"I hope it keeps you warm."

After resting the blanket near the dwarf, she approaches Silx.

"And here is your room key."

Shayne looks at the waitress--barkeep, he corrects himself--with new respect. Thank you again for your hospitality to so many travelers arriving in one night. I forgot to ask your name, dear.

Then looking up at the Half-Orc again he suggests in a whisper, "She seems to be friendly, willing to take a shift of night watch, capable with locks. Perhaps we should invite her to join us in our visit to the keep tomorrow?"

"Thank you. I am Granita. It wasn't long ago that I stumbled into town. Though my welcome was not unexpected, I'd rather meet interesting travelers than scowl in fear."

Aak asks the bartender, Miss, wanna join us tomorrow for some possible work and adventure?

"I'm afraid I have my hands full here. Best of luck all the same."

Granita turns toward the others in the bar.

"If anyone needs anything else just ring the bell. I'm going to relax a bit before I lock up for the night."

She turns and heads behind the bar and into the kitchen.

"Thank you ma'am" Silx pockets the key and continues sipping on his drink, listening to the others talk

Everyone needs to roll perception

1d20 ⇒ 5

I can see my hand, I see my hand lol

A good roll! 1d20 - WIS Mod = 19 - 1 = 18

You should probably use the rolling format shayne
Perception1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
I also see my hand

Perception 1d20 ⇒ 20

Perception:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

"Ooo, sparkly!" The gnome hops off his bench, whispers to the sack, "Be right back, m'lady,", and looks out the window.

Silx finishes his drink "Shall we meet again in the morning, here?"

"Agreed"

Agreed, let's meet here in the morning and then head out.

The gnome looks back from the window.

The Drow might want to hide or go upstairs. Lots of lights are coming fast. I hope they are friendly people. Should we ring for Granita?

Aak, can you look out of the window and see what is coming ?

Stealth:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

By the time you turn around to warn Silx, he's already gone

Perception to look out window

1d20 ⇒ 14

At this point everyone's attention is focused out the windows. Approaching lights can be seen in the distance. They are closing quickly. In Nelith's estimation, about the speed of someone running.

How many? Do they appear to be bobbing as if carried by someone running on foot?

Is there glass in the windows ?

At least four light sources. They do appear to be bobbing as if being carried by someone on foot. There is glass in the windows, much of it dirtied from the outside.

Aak will grab his weapon and shield and ready them just in case the 'lights' are hostile.

Meaning we can't see through the window ?

You can see, but not clearly. It's basically the equivalent to a light fog.

Shayne suppresses his Prestidigitation and then looks around the tavern for a place to hide his sack. Whomever is approaching might ask more questions than his current companions. If under his bench works, he stashes the sack there quickly and then calmly deals out cards into a fortune telling array at his table.

As the lights approach closer, it is clear that they are lanterns, held by several humanoid figures. There seem to be four to six figures approaching the Inn / Tavern. Not all of them are carrying lanterns.

Do they talk amongst themselves ? How do they act ? What expression do they have on their face ?

Do the look like guards or travelers?

They are not speaking to one another. Although they don't look like guards, their garb is strange for travelers. In the lantern light you can tell that each of them is wearing a hooded cloak. Though the colors of the cloaks vary from tan to nearly black, they seem to be cut similarly. The hoods and moving shadows from the swaying lanterns make it very hard to make out expressions.

Calmly, Granita emerges from the kitchen.
"Well, it's about time to lock up. Does anyone need anything before I start the kitchen clean up."

As she finishes speaking she turns toward the front windows, to see what everyone is looking at. Her expression changes quickly.

She seems to be saying something under her breath as she moves quickly toward the front doors.

Roll perception again.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 16

What is wrong Granita?

After locking the front doors she turns back toward the bar, speaking to Aak as she walks quickly.

"This isn't your fight. I'd suggest heading to your room."

Silx whispers from the top of the stairs "I second that"

Perception1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Run?? A Half-Orc doesn't turn tail and run? I am not a coward.

Run, you expect a Half-Orc to run? That's just not in our DNA make-up! Silx, Shayne, Nelith, you can hide if you want, I will not view any less of you for doing so. Me, I am not gonna run and hide, I will stand here and fight. Nelith take me room if you want, you can hide there.

Aak will take up a defensive position 15' from the front door. If they come barreling through the door in a threatening manner, Aak will charge the first enemy and take a hack at them using power attack. If they act politely, he will not attack unless provoked in a threatning manner.

Granita, do you need help finding something? Aak questions her under what appears to be strenuous circumstances.

Shayne looks at Granita.

Perception 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

He glances at his spread of cards on the table. "Today is not my day to die," he assures himself. Then he removes from his sack the head of an elderly but still beautiful Varisian woman. "And yours was three days ago, m'lady, he continues.

With a small gesture he redirects the Prestidigitation to the head, whose hair starts writhing eerily. Already walking towards the door to the kitchen, carrying the head, he asks Granita, "Mind if I use a bit of flour?"

Perception to see the Gnome grab a freaking head from his sack!

1d20 ⇒ 14

rolllooks good to me, lol

A freakin' head! What the hell are you doing with a freakin' head in your sack Shayne! The bloody mess you left behind makes sense now! What did you do!? Are the people coming here after you? What did YOU do Shayne!? Aak asks in a combination of panic and utter shock of a Gnome holding a severed head in his hands. By the way Shayne, I don't like lying so don't try to lie to me

Probably no Perception roll needed. He's not being subtle. If interested, you can read about the head in the backstory on Shayne's profile page.

What is proper Play-by-Post etiquette here? Do I answer the direct question, or wait for every other Player to take a turn?

Read it..great job and quite creepy but good :) Off to work I go *ugh*

Hearing Shayne's story about the head, Aak doesn't question the Gnome's intention, rather odd they may be, but who is he to judge others' past.

Go ahead and respond directly to Aak as you see fit. We won't worry about turn order outside of combat. Players can back track to respond to previous responses as they like.

"I'm afraid I used the last of the flour today. Feel free to hide in the kitchen if you like. Just clean up after yourself," Granita laughs at these last word come from her mouth.

Turning to Aak, a flicker of anger flashes through Granita's eyes.

"I would not see any more death at the hands of these fanatics. Stand and fight if you must."

I'm going to pause here to let others catch up. Feel free to ask clarifying questions and such.

Aak, I did not mean to say that Shayne had time or inclination to recount his story at the moment. As the Player you know a bit about the gnome's history, but as Aak the Half-Orc not yet.

Shayne pauses when he hears there is no more flour. He winks at Aak. "M'lady taught me to always help a woman in distress."

Then the gnome takes a whip from his backpack and climbs onto an empty table to the side of the front door, still holding the head with its writhing hair.

Then the gnome moves the hair-raising Prestidigitation effect to Aak's hair and runs out the front door, holding the head high while screaming "Drunk Half-Orc with a Vorpal sword! Drunk Half-Orc with a Vorpal sword!"

Granita has already locked the front doors.

Oops. I forgot. Thanks for correcting me. Post edited.

Which Bardic Performances do I know at zero-level?

Bardic performance works exactly as it does at level one accept he can use the ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + 1/2 his Charisma modifier.

good point, didn,t mean to over do it as Aak wouldn't know all the background info. Was trying to get to work lol

It appears that Shayne can cast more than one Prestidigitation cantrip, since each has a one hour duration and they do not require concentration. Is this true?

I'm pretty sure that cantrips can be used as often as you like.