With a smirk still on Beergs face after the copper coin flippantly drops into Kraz's ale leans in to reply to Kraz,
yes names are hard to remember, the half elf is Sorin, and the high elf is Nilelane. i am unsure if she meant it to land in your drink or not, but if so that was quite a good shot. Beerg slams his ale into Kraz's and chugs some more.
Beerg looks back at Sorin and Nilelane's engagement with Llewellyn to ensure that it continues in just in jest
”Whoohoo!” Sorin raises her hands in excitement after watching the copper piece fly into Kraz’s cup. Leaning quickly back over to Nilelane placing a hand on her shoulder ”Now that shot will surely persist through the ages. ”
Ordering another ale for herself, Sorin looks at Nilelane when she clatters on the platter ”Oh honey, are you ok?” she gently takes the cup of tea Nilelane has from her. ”Let me have that. I think you’ve had enough.”
Llewellyn laughs as Nilelane's coin flies away, into Kraz's drink, then turns to Sorin. "My dear lady, thank you for your patronage." He leans in close to Sorin, his voice dropping to a murmur.
Llewellyn spins to Nilelane, then his face crumples in concern as he sees her shaking and muttering to herself. "I say, are you alright my dear?"
So, did Jack pick up anything interesting from his pick pocket attempt?
As the eccentric-looking man leans in to murmur to Sorin, you brush past him, dipping your agile fingers into a gaping coat pocket.
You don't look at your prize, but by feel it appears to be a velvet item, although as you stash it in your own pocket it feels slightly weightier than only fabric would suggest.
Jack takes a seat and begins to eat his meal, still keeping an eye on the various people in the tavern.
”Oh! A mystery!” Sorin says as the bard pulls away.
When and if it seems Nilelane’s tremors have subsided, ”Maybe you should go rest Nilelane. ” Sorin says still holding hand. Any medical attention required is given inquiries about a room are made.
"Well we should turn in as well. Where is our room?"
Once away from prying eyes, Jack will take a look at the item he swiped.
Jhaele leads you all up to the second storey. "I assume you want two rooms ," she says, leading you around to the right (to Room F on this map). "Gentlemen, this is the Dalesman's Rest. Enjoy." She opens the door to reveal a comfortably outfitted room with four single beds and a small hearth. "Ladies, come with me."
Jhaele leads Sorin and Nilelane around to the other side of the floor. "I figure you two might like to stay in Elvenhome." The door she opens reveals a subdued and tasteful room done in rich woods, carpeted with soft, dark green wool .
8am, 6th of Eleint, 335 NR (1367 DR)
The day dawns clear and bright, with a cool morning breeze blowing from the northeast. The lone merchant from last night takes his breakfast, as do the men in desert robes and the merchant who was talking with the shepherds last night. You eat a delicious, hearty breakfast and are ready to face the day. Jhaele enquires if you wish to keep the rooms for another night, or longer.
Kraz looks a bit tired as he enters the sitting area. He is apparently not used to sleeping in an actual bed. He perks up at the sight of food though and takes a seat to eat.
"Kraz thinks he will sleep on the floor next time. He thinks it will be more comfortable."
After devouring the food, in which he does not talk while doing so.
"So Kraz thinks we should go bach some cattle rustlers today."
SO what was it that I took from the bard?
At breakfast, Jack shows the ring to Sorin.
"Can you decipher the script on this ring, my lady?"
Sorin takes the ring...
Jack notices a darkness pass over Sorin's face as she takes the ring.
"Woah...Sorin, are you ok?"
Feeling refreshed after the couple of Ales has made Beerg appear a little chirpier than you'd expect AHHHHH, what a sleep... He starts to tuck into his hearty breakfast. I'm with Kraz here, i think we should check out these cattle rustlers and put a stop to them hindering these poor farmers lives!
The next morning Sorin wakes early and steps outside to great the sun. She moves through a familiar pattern of motions designed to loosen her muscles and center her mind.
Afterwards at breakfast
”Sure, Ill take a look... Looks like Elvish how I interest.......” Sorin’s face goes dark.
Snapping out of her dark amazement at Jack’s concern. ”Huh? Oh, um well it seems to me that the engravings could be the language of dark elves. This ring has some history I’d say. Where did you get it?”
"I umm..found it? So, what kind of history? Is it magic?"
He keeps his tone low as he speaks and continues to watch the tavern.
Sorin turns to the elf startled by the sound emanating from Nileane's robes, and then back to Jack. "No idea, Torm has not granted me the ability to know these things. Although in time perhaps I will discover it. Many of my instructors could have called upon powers of detection."
Handing the ring back to Jack, Sorin turns back to Nilelane "What was that Nilelane? That sounded an awful lot like a bird trying to sound like Jack. I do not remember you having any pets in our room last night. Did you sneak something in past our innkeeper? You sly little minx." Sorin says finishing her question with a wink.
Jhaele bustles over to clear your empty plates. "I hope you enjoyed the meal, and the stay. Will you be wanting the rooms further?"
Kraz stops eating long enough to look up and deliver a toothy grin..
"Kraz thinks you silly casters are silly."
"Well...we may still be needing the room for a day or two...we need to speak with your copp...errr...warden was it?? About the cattle disappearing. Might be a penny or two in it for us!"
Jhaele nods. "I'll hold them till later this afternoon, just let me know. I'll need a down payment, plus the room and board so far, if that suits. One gold should cover it."
"Thurbal, the warden, is always looking for capable folks to do jobs," she continues. "He'd be the man to see about work for coin. Our lord, Mourngrym, has a fair view of adventuring types, and sees them well-rewarded. If you want to hire your swords out, Thurbal's the man to see."
"Well let's get moving then!"
Kraz leads the way to this Thurbal man.
Sirin polishes off the rest of her breakfast ”I agree. The sooner we see the Warden, the sooner we get can get started. ” She stands up, grabbing her pack from th floor next to her she moves to the door. She then unties the quarterstaff that was secured to the sack and prepares it as a walking stick.
Jack leaves 2gp to cover their expenses and a hold for the room.
"I am sure we will probably be back for the midday meal as well. Excellent breakfast and the most comfortable beds!"
The party pays Jhaele, who gives a warm smile as you leave. "Did you want the rooms tidied? Good luck today, there'll be a pint of ale waiting for you when you return!"
The party steps out onto Shadowdale's thoroughfare. The ill-kept horses from last night are no longer tethered at the front of the inn. Off to your right (northeast) is Weregund the Trader's shop, which you passed last night on your way in. You begin to bear left (southwest), knowing that the Twisted Tower sits on the west side of town, overlooking the River Ashaba, the town's natural western border.
Shadowdale is like any small rural community, in that its people are up and about early, going about their business industriously, hailing each other by name. What is different about Shadowdale is that you feel no dispproval from the locals, as one normally would walking around armed and armoured (or just being a half-orc). You receive smiles and nods when you meet the eyes of the folks of Shadowdale.
The buildings of the main street soon give way to lightly wooded hills once more, and as you head down towards the river you see on your right a high, treeless hill, rock poking out from the soil in many places. It is the Old Skull, after which the inn is named. On your left, you see a striking temple, rising like a phoenix, which seems to be dedicated to Lathander. Continuing on, the road dips further, and you see the river before you, running forcefully south. On the north side of the road, overlooking the bridge across the river, sits the Twisted Tower of Ashaba.
As you approach the gatehouse, you see a squad of four guards standing at the entrance, relaxed but alert. One of them steps forward, a sturdy-looking man who could be a farmer, but for the comfortable way he wears his chain shirt and carries his shield.
"Well met, travellers. Nat tells me you're staying at the Old Skull. I'm Sergeant Horrol, what can I do for you?"
Sergeant Horrol's eyebrows climb towards his hairline at Nilelane's outburst. "Is everything alright?" he enquires carefully.
Sorin drapes her arm over Nile’s shoulders comfortingly. ”Not to worry, she’s fine. She just really likes dragon chess”
"Ah sergeant, just the man we were hoping to see. I hear tell of some cattle disappearances in the area, and my friends and I are interested in perhaps offering our help. And not just the missing cattle, but anything you might need a group of 'problem solvers' for."
Jack smile at the guards, trying his hardest to look not guilty while asking for a job!
Horrol nods at Sorin. "Right..." Turning to Jack, he becomes more business-like. "Step forward to the gatehouse, I'll alert the warden. Heth!" he bellows as he strides toward the gatehouse, and a young page pops out of the access door. "Fetch the captain-of-arms, lad, and tell him we have adventurers here offering their services. Hop to it!" Heth gives a nod and a smile and turns tail, scampering back through the door.
"Warden Thurbal will be glad to see you," Horrol says, turning his attention back to the party.
Six minutes later, warden Thurbal appears. A tall, clean-shaven, middle-aged man with close-cropped blonde hair and a trim physique, he looks you all up and down more than once before grunting in approval and motioning you to follow him into the gate.
He leads you through the left access door to the inside of the curtain wall, and the half-orcs among you find it quite tight in the 2-foot wide confines of the wall. Thurbal himself turns slightly sideways so as not to rub his broad shoulders on the walls as he walks. At what you presume is the corner of the tower, he leads you up a tight and winding circular stairway, eventually ending in a small, cramped, windowless room. A wooden table, covered with paperwork, and a straight-backed chair are the only furnishings.
Thurbal sits down behind the desk and looks you in the eye one at a time. "Right," he begins in a brisk voice, "Simple job, simple arrangement. What with the farmers and shepherds all clamouring for increased patrols around the countryside because of recent predator attacks and trampling herds of wild horses and all, were a bit short-handed, not that you should get the idea that were not fully capable to handle any defence of the Tower should it be needed. I dont want any mistakes or rumours being made about that. Anyhow, while we have that issue well in hand, we need a routine reconnaissance of some abandoned tunnels beneath the castle. Pays one hundred gold each, plus 20% of any loot you find in the course of your patrol. If you want it, it'll be your job to investigate all of the passable passageways." He leans back slightly in his chair, awaiting your response.