The Mouth of Doom (Inactive)

Game Master Grimmy

So this is Zelkor's Ferry. The gate doesn't look like much. What must be a captain of some sort hails you from some kind of crows nest above the short palisade.

"Hail traveller's. Before I open this gate I'll say right now you won't find a free meal or free board within, so save the sob stories. I've heard them all.

If there are spellcasters among you, might as well get that out of the way too. We won't take magic books and bat guano from you, but only cast spells on yourself, and no flying around or making yourself blink in and out of god's-knows what plane of existence.

Speaking of God's we don't care what you believe in or worship. Just don't tell anyone else here what to believe and we'll all get along fine.

What'll it be then? You coming in?"

Dot

Dotted.

We will be coming in. Hounds says as he stands next to his diminutive ward.

Quetzalcoatl steps off of the boat onto the dock and looks down to the settlement ahead of him.

@Quetzal:

The dock seems weathered but still serviceable. It has space for only one boat on each side; if the captains were very careful it might be possible to moor a third right out at the end, but the river current makes that seem chancy. About halfway along the wooden surface stands a row of barrels and a stack of crates, being organized by a husky dark-haired man.

Eli steps onto the pier shortly after Quetzalcoatl, taking a quick look around the enclosed area with a sneer on his face. "Great," Eli mutters to himself, voice laden with sarcasm. "Let's get this show on the road."

The burly, bronzed fellow hoists the last out-of-place barrel onto his shoulder.

He starts to make his way around from behind the remaining kegs and you notice that he seems to limp; when his legs come into view, you can see that his right leg is missing from the knee down and has been replaced by a wooden stump.

He sets the barrel neatly in its place and gives you just a glance before making his slow way up to the trading post, returning with a large bundle of fur. After placing it carefully atop some crates, he rests on a nearby barrel and strikes up a conversation with you.

“You’re new here, eh? Just passing through?”

"Both." Quetzalcoatl answers flatly, moving to the side as Eli steps onto the pier. "Could you direct me to the nearest tavern? I want to purchase food."

"You'll want to see old Bristleback. His wife Amelia's a fair cook, nothing too fancy. Last building on the left as you approach the gate, just after the stables."

Grinning up at the guard Ridley says, "Never did like the taste of charity. I earn what I eat and as long as your tavern keeps have whiskey and venison they'll have little problem making money from us. Like the pretty one said," She gestures at Hound. "we'll be coming in."

Raz with us or on the boat then?

I'm picturing Raz on the boat but acquainted with you. You guys will have to work that out. Either way works.

We all meet at the inn.

Eli nodded in thanks as he spoke to the deckhand that Quetzalcoatl had spoken to, "Any type of home cooked food is better than seafare, no?" Eli took a couple of quick steps to catch up to Q and decided to strike up a conversation. "We didn't get much opportunity to speak while en route. What brings you to this fine port?"

Eli and Q, you pass the only stone house in the settlement, and as you round the corner past two low-slung structures, a trading post and a gem-cutters according to the signs, you see the gates swinging open on the other side of the tiny community, about 200 feet away.

It seems others are arriving by land.

Hounds stride through the gate with Ridley beside him, taking in the sparse offerings and keeping a wary eye out. Seems old habits die hard.

Settlement Map Key:
A. Bristleback Inn
B. Stable
C. Big Morgan's
D. Barracks
E. Trading Post
F. ?
G. Ferry
H. Gem-Cutter

The road was long and the trip less then pleasant, but finally Zelkor's Ferry was in sight. Simple greed had lured Ogrim out of the halls of his fathers and it was a decision he had regretted a little more with each mile post he had passed. Hopefully this rumoured, treasure filled dungeon turned out to be more than the fable it appeared.

Looking sourly up at the welcoming committee, Ogrim tried his best to keep his voice neutral. "I seek no charity and my God is not for your kind, Human. Open your gates and point be towards someplace where lodging might be had."

Ogrim enters along with the rest. The Inn is the first, and most inviting looking sight to be seen.

Hound nods to the inn. Let us put our feet up there before we decide what to do next.

The inn’s low-ceilinged common room is really nothing special, but out here so far from civilization it seems to have all the comforts of home.

“Welcome to Zelkor’s Ferry. I hope the captain didn’t question you too hard at the gate. I’m Amelia. My husband and I are the proprietors of Bristleback Inn.

Her light brown hair is beginning to show some grey, but her arms look strong where she has pushed up the sleeves of her brown dress.

"A room with board is two gold pieces a night... We serve breakfast and dinner in the common room, to our guests. Drinks from noon to midnight, for additional charge."

She waits expectantly. You get the feeling they have learned to take money up front around here.

Hounds nods and passes over some coin. Much obliged.

The tables are well-worn, but also well-scrubbed. In fact, a teen-aged girl with hair the color of honey is engaged in scrubbing one right now.

“Don’t forget the sides, Ysbel,” Amelia says to her. The slender girl looks up at the comment, flashes a shy smile when she sees you looking at her, and then goes back to her work.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Hounds is too distracted by taking in the inn to notice any silly details.

Eli nodded in thanks as he spoke to the deckhand that Quetzalcoatl had spoken to, "Any type of home cooked food is better than seafare, no?" Eli took a couple of quick steps to catch up to Q and decided to strike up a conversation. "We didn't get much opportunity to speak while en route. What brings you to this fine port?"

"Pretty, dark-haired women and breakfast food." Q answers, nodding to the burly fellow as they pass him.

"Only the finest things in life, then." Eli steps ahead of Q as they reach the inn, motioning for Q to precede him. With a sly smile on his lips, Eli continues the conversation, "I don't suppose that rumors of danger and treasure in equal measure hurt the journey either?"

Dotting for the time being. have to work today so no posts for now..

Ridley follows her hulking companion into the common room. "Well met Amelia. The hospitality is most appreciated. A fire a drink and a full tummy are the order of the day. Ridley hands over four gold for a room and drinks. "Seems business is good today." She adds, seeing several other travelers coming into the inn as well.

Perception
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Much like her companion Ridley is too distracted to note much beyond the prospect of food and a hearth.

Amelia gives one last satisfied look at the room, then turns to you.

“I need to get out back and weed the vegetables. If you end up around that way by mistake, watch your step because I don’t want anyone trampling on my garden.”

With that parting remark, Amelia disappears through the door to the kitchen and leaves you alone.

You’re not quite alone, though, as you realize when a soft voice interrupts your thoughts.

“Pardon me.” It’s the young maid, Ysbel. She seems to like Ridley.

She points to an old man who has fallen asleep face down on the table she just cleaned.

"Don't wake him, but if you look over Old Russ's shoulder, you'll see there's a map that people like you have carved into the table after they go exploring out there. I thought it might be interesting."

"Wouldn't dream of it miss." Ridley says to Amelia.

"Well thank you sweat heart. I'll be most careful around that man." Slipping the Ysbel a silver coin, mindful to do so careful that other's don't see least someone take advantage of a child with a bit of coin.

"Hound, you get us a table and some food coming and the first round's on me."

Ridley will make her way over and examine the map, trying not to jostle the sleeping fellow.

Stealth to not wake Old Russ1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

Old Russ sputters a bit but doesn't wake. It sounds like he says, "Beholder! Run!"

The Stoneheart Valley Wilderness Map is carved into the table, partially obscured by him, and the Zelkor's Ferry Environs Map is on an adjoining table that has been pulled up next to his. This one is entirely visible.

The files for the maps reflect all the markings carved into the tables.

Apologies for the delayed posting guys - got a little confused there regarding the start - thought I was coming in with Ridley by ferry, but then saw her and Hound posting as coming in through the main gate ;)

Being busy going through his notes on Whiterush, Raziel ended up being one of the last ones off the ferry - he noticed others in travellers, or adventurers' attire, were also getting off the barge, and it got him wondering about the whole adventurer denomination, chuckling to himself - Well... I guess you are one of those Raziel...

It looked as if the docks had seen better days, but they were serviceable enough - noticing the conversation starting up ahead between what was apparently a dock worker and one of the travellers, Raziel did not hesitate and approached, as if meaning to say something, but then stopping short as it seemed the information he was looking for had already been garnered - the directions to a tavern.

Noticing yet another stranger walking up and striking up a conversation, he decides to simply plod along behind them, in silence, not wanting to disturb their conversation, instead taking note of the buildings they are passing through - a nondescript edifice with a purpose he cannot ascertain, a trading post, a stable, and finnaly the inn.

Stepping inside, he notices the hulking form of a gigantic man to one side, apparently travelling companion to a female halfling, a maid cleaning up a table.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

A most curious table in fact, as Raziel takes a second look noticing the strange carvings on it. He then decides to address the serving maid - "Excuse me... Is this table useable by the inn's patrons? I mean, may I sit down and use it as any other? It is so very different from the other tables in the establishment - why is that?" - he questions with a smile.

Lets get this moving along then :D

No problem we did flip-flop that on you while you were absent, just to get rollin'. Shared history from Whiterush is still go, as they just came from there as well, only by road not Keelboat.

Ok, so that would mean Raziel was already acquainted with Ridley and Hound, correct?

Momentarily taking his eyes off the table, with another look at the huge man and halfling, a broad smile creeps into Raziel's face - "Hound! Ridley! How are you my friends?" - he greets them with a bow - "Have you guys seen this table? It is definitely interesting - why don't you join me here?" - he urges them, but then looks back at the serving maid - "I mean, if the table is available for common use, of course"

Totally up to you :) Yes works.

Ysbel:
"Shhhhhhh... you'll wake Old Russ!"

"Old Russ..?" - Raziel whispers, looking around the room, then noticing for the first time the old man dozing off face down on a table - "That one? My apologies, I was... distracted" - the tiefling grins, his tail whipping around restlessly.

Her hand is on her hip.

"He useta be a wizurd you know..."

A pair of crutches lies beside him, and he has a peg for a right leg and nothing for a left.

"Why doncha just make a copy. Quietly...

"Only the finest things in life, then." Eli steps ahead of Q as they reach the inn, motioning for Q to precede him. With a sly smile on his lips, Eli continues the conversation, "I don't suppose that rumors of danger and treasure in equal measure hurt the journey either?"

"I find those to be the by products of a day well spent pursuing the simple things." Q says with a smile as he and Eli continue toward the inn.

Hounds nods to Raziel. Good to see you as well. I believe the maid has told us about the table. Hound orders some stew for everyone and makes sure not to jostle the old man.

Ysbel looks momentarily nervous or confused, but a woman who has just come up from the basement through a door between the bar and the stairs overhears the request and takes over for the young girl.

"Stew is only served at meal times I'm afraid, not made to order. But we have an ale brewed by monks for their times of fasting that some say is good enough for a man to subsist on it alone."

She pauses with a corked bottle and a pair of stemmed glasses all in one hand invitingly, cocking her head to one side.

Ale then. Hound nods.

The new, middle-aged server pours glasses of ale at the bar, and Ysbel brings them to you at a table near the one where Old Russ sleeps. Making eye contact with Ridley, she cocks her head meaningfully at the slumbering invalid.

The other server busies herself behind the bar, and makes frequent trips up and down the stairs. It doesn't seem anyone would object if you discreetly copied the information from the table to any parchment you may have among your equipment.

You have already seen enough to know that while the map shows major geographic features, it is not labeled in any decipherable way, so any decisions made by consulting this map as to where you should begin your exploration will inevitably be somewhat arbitrary.

What would you like to do next?

Map of environs isn't showing up.

Hmmm... You at work? I have it set to "anyone can view." Well here's an alt:

Zelkor's Ferry Environs Map alt

Hound lets his fingers trace around a certain area4,5,6 So what lies over in this area?

Ysbel's curiousity seems to overcome her fear of you. Coming to your side she strains to get high enough to see.

"Well I don't know what all the numbers mean. But where the 4 is, I think that's where people cross the river. And the doodley thing where it says six, that must be "laughing dog hill". But this!" she says excitedly, pointing at number 10, "This is the haunted cabin! I know a boy who spent the whole night there once!"

Did he come out alright? No ghosts biting his toes?

Wide-eyed:

"He wasn't even scared. Nothing scares him. But also, did you know there's a witch in the woods?"

Didn't know that, thanks for the info.