A firewhiskey, please. Seishan smiles and winks at the serving girl. Though that will surprise noone, I suspect.
Ah, Rurik - he was both, really - adventurer and explorer, though the line between the two is so thin that who can tell the difference these days? The wilderness is filled with adventure, and the adventures are often filled with wilderness, are they not? He and I traveled together and saw many things, some of which will never leave me. Unfortunately, he... he did... leave me, that is. We delved a little too deep into some caverns in rural Varisia, and I saw him...
Her voice wavers, and she takes a drink to steady it and to distract from the situation.
...I saw him ripped in half by an Umber Hulk. I barely escaped, and in the chaos I lost the rest of the party, not that's I'd have been much good to them anyway. Anyway, that was nigh on a year ago, and was my last day of adventuring. As you can imagine, I need something...simpler.
Lost in her reverie, she shakes her head as though to clear the memory.
What about you, big man? How comes an Oread to hold a partnership in an inn?
Osk nods at Seishan's story his attention focused on what is clearly an intense tale. He seems to contemplate the details as Seishan looks to switch the topic.
I might have met your Rurik... he has the sound of a man I met years ago. Regardless it a hard way to pass and all too common a fate for those who feel pulled by that adventure you mentioned.
The oread pauses a moment then knocks a knuckle on the table, How did I come here...Well the owner's father was known to me and I worked for him some before falling in with his daughter on some of that "adventure" we were just discussing. As is natural you pick up others with similar goals and you... Osk makes a gesture like something flying off into the horizon.
Years later here we are. Adventures had, friends lost and a family of sorts comes together. If you had told me years ago that those closest to me would by my employer's daughter, a halfling who could talk a forest into buying wood and an elf could kill a man faster than you could say his name I would never have thought it... Osk offers a shrug and leans back in his chair.
But here we are. We made money and opportunity came from the cycle of life. Cedany's father passed and we looked real hard at what we had earned and thought that maybe Absalom was a better place to make a fortune or do something rather than a desert, cave or some creatures stomach. So here we are. Each adding our "skills". We aren't the saintliest group but we have an honor for each other that I think makes up for it...
Osk raises his stony brow and gestures across the way...
The group hurries back from the other end of the district, items in hand. Martin begs off to the pier citing other tasks to attend to, certain the group is fine without him for the time being.
You return to the gallery and Tirkala mumbles something about needing some space. Cedany, Harrison and Mael enter the Gallery and are clearly able to see Osk sitting and talking with a patron. The oread gestures intently to the group to come to the table.
Maeltheron. Cedany. Lucky. The oread points at each as they approach then gestures to the ifrit. This is Seishan. She has come to...well I think she has come to join our motely crew.
Osk stands to grab chairs and motions to the lot to sit. Let us swap stories a bit. I think we all might be able to serve each other...
Maeltheron saunters into the gallery ahead of the others, and as he makes his way to his office off of the Gaming Room, he notices Osk deep in conversation with a flame-haired beauty. He re-routes his destination in their direction.
Hey, Osk, how goes things here...oh, I am sorry. I did not mean to interrupt. I am Maeltheron Timmerond, one of the proprietor's of this fine establishment. How may we be of service?
"A pleasure to meet you Saishan, why don't we discuss over food, I'm starved and more than a little thirsty." Cedany summons a staff to fetch some food.
"Now I don't know how much you've spoken to Osk? The Inn wsas my fathers so I'm rather attached to it, but more help to keep it running is always appreciated. What do you bring to it? Cedany looks Saishan in the eyes with her misty white blnd eyes.
Seishan smiles warmly as the group approaches, and stands to shake hands with each in turn.
As your friend said, I am Seishan D'Tsarraas A-Magnimari bil-Ruriki, also called Seishan Flamehair. It is joyous to meet you.
Smelling the incoming food, Seishan's stomach rumbles audibly (and embarrasingly), and she digs in to the provisions with gusto. As she eats, she expounds.
As to what I bring to the inn, I have a stake saved up from my days on the road, so there's that, but as you have the place up and running already, that's maybe not your primary concern. By trade, I'm a charmer, both literally and figuratively. I've always been good with people, I think because I find them so fascinating. I have a real, legitimate interest in their lives, their struggles, their trials and travails. I like to get under their skin and see what makes them tick. I also...
...have some ability in the arcane arts, though the ability comes to me naturally, and not through book learning. I tend to specialize in the magical manipulation of minds, and also fire-magic, the latter a remnant of my heritage, no doubt. When there is an awkward situation to be dealt with, I am your girl.
This place looks great, it seems like you've put a lot of work into it. I understand that bringing someone else on board must warrant some reservations. I offer you this - my word that if you ever find me to be less than a stalwart companion and friend, that you have but to say the word and I will take my leave with no hard feelings. What say you?
She wipes her hands on a nearby napkin and looks imploringly to each member of the group in turn.
"Okay, we're pretty much all Adventurers in semi-retirement, though we put our skills to use to protect ourselves and our community here. I'm sure the others will introduce themselves if you're not familiar with them already.
I'm Cedany Grove, though I rarely use my surname, I'm usually a little more lightly dressed, but we've just returned from a little specialist visit."
Finishing up her food she glances at the others.
"I think I'm going to get changed, while Maeltheron checks with his contacts. I'll keep my gear close to hand if we need to move again quickly."
Unless anyone has more to say Cedany retreats to her quarters.
Osk looks over at Lucky and Mael in response to Seishan's introduction, What have you brought back with you? It seems to me Seishan's public arts might be of value to the inn and...other pursuits but I am curious to know what you have discovered. Osk leans in to Seishan, We were contracted for some local work, depending on what they have found this might be a good chance to see if you fit with our group.
Harrison would take the woman's hand and shake it firmly when she came to him. "I am Harrison Jones, but most around here simply refer to me as 'Lucky'. I am a bit of a jack of all trades and I assure you that anything Osk has told you about me is most certianly true. The man is not much of a deceiver and quite the straight shooter. I think that is why I like him so much. He has a sense of honor about him..." Harrison would rattle on for a bit here and there when given the chance, but upon being asked about their current job, he would take another look at Seishan before continuing on in hushed tones. "We came across an unexpected visitor who may later turn out to be an ally. Beyond that we have found that our missing entrepreneur seems to be doing quite well for himself. At this point in time, I am unsure of whether that is the reason he was abducted or not. From what we have garnered so far, it seems likely that his captors are still looking for something of his. That, or at least, trying to cover their tracks."
having some trouble at home, might be monday before I can post.
Cedany gets changed into more casual clothing, stashing her adventurers gear within easy access.
She checks the staff in charge, make sure we've had no further unpleasant visitors and then tries to gather up the others to work out a next step.
Cedany changes and makes her way back downstairs. Harrison, Osk and Seishan are still at the table and Maeltheron is...?
"Okay, did we find any evidence at all there, or are we moving onto the Tannery?"
Cedany looks expectantly at Harrison and Mael.
I've seen our folks posting elsewhere on the boards so I am going to assume that this little experiment just reached a natural drop off. No big deal, it happens.
Thanks to all of you and see you around.