The Mouth of Doom (Inactive)

Game Master Grimmy

"'welcome."

She glances at Ridley, as if for approval.

"Oh! And each pint will be two silvers, please."

When little Ysbel runs back to the kitchen to fetch something, the middle-aged server watches the door swinging after her.

"Can you imagine, spending your whole life in a place like this? Do you know, that girl sees people like you every day of her life?"

She shakes her head absent-mindedly.

"I'm Tallie. The maids have finished preparing your rooms, here are the keys. Do you have any mounts to stable? Or require any?"

Eli steps into the inn and pauses for a few seconds to let his eyes adjust to the lower level of light inside. A small group of people was gathered around a sleeping man, possibly a local, though the group couldn't be mistaken for anything but newcomers to the area. His curiosity piqued, Eli waits for the barmaid to finish her conversation before motioning to her. "A couple of questions, if you've got a minute. First, how much for a mug of ale and how much for a room per night? Second, what's got that lot so focused?"

No mounts and I am afraid we don't have enough for them right now. Hound will finish his ale and then check out the rooms.

Eli:

Tallie exhales through pursed lips.

"Well, she may not think I've noticed, but our little server girl Ysbel has turned the attention of that lot over there to our table where Old Russ is sleeping."

She shakes her head with bemusement.

"You see, people like these come here all the time. Some want to get rich, others want to be heroes, but they all do a fine job of carving up our tables. Over the years they've marked it up to serve as a map with some system of numbers."

She pours you a thimbulful from an already open bottle.

"Try this. And what about you? May as well join them over there, you can't tell me you're any different then the lot of them?"

Hound,

Your room number is painted on a block of wood the size of a playing card tied to your big iron key.

The room is utterly non-descript. A single bed, sheets folded and tucked-in neatly. A single window looks out on the stables, where a pair of stable hands shovel bails of hay.

Ridley waves excitedly,"Hey Raz!" Her attempt at whispering only slightly softer than most everyone else's conversation. "That map is pretty neat, but we got ta be real quiet or we'll wake this guy. You have any parchment? If we're going to go traipsing about in this area a map might do us good."

Noting Ysbel looking her way she gives the girl a wink and friendly grin. "You meantioned a witch in the woods deary? I'd love to hear anything you know about that."

Time of day, and rough idea of season?

Hound sets down his spare belongings before heading back down to meet with Ridley. So do any of you have ideas on where our next destination should be? At the very least, we should start thinking about how to raise money for lodging.

Eli chuckled to himself as he replied to Tallie's question, "Well I could. Doesn't mean it'd be true though." He takes a small sip of the proffered sample and then downed the remainder. "Exquisite. I'll take a pint. How many of those that come through here looking for fame, fortune, and glory ever find it?"

Ridley,
You can see Ysbel is doing fake busy work as she talks to you and probably won't be able to keep it up much longer without being reprimanded.

"The Witch, she lives in the weird woods, and the trees are like octopusses... octopies? And..."

She leans in...

"She eats kids..."

3 o'clock in the afternoon, 2nd Thyrsday of the 10th Month.

Climate a little less harsh than New England. Cold nights drop as low 40 this month.

Eli chuckled to himself as he replied to Tallie's question, "Well I could. Doesn't mean it'd be true though." He takes a small sip of the proffered sample and then downed the remainder. "Exquisite. I'll take a pint. How many of those that come through here looking for fame, fortune, and glory ever find it?"

"Honey, in my lifetime? None. The old enemies are finished, all the heroes are buried and forgotten. It's a new day. You don't need to be born with title and land to get ahead, and you don't need to save the world 'cause it's already been saved. The thing to do in this age is get yourself a trade."

She winks at you.

"That's how you get yourself a girl worth keeping. 2 silvers for the ale, two gold for room and board."

Ridley'[s eyes grow wide. "Eat's kids? That's horrible. Hmm, it looks like me and my friends might have to do something about that. Tell you what, we're going to discuss what you told us, and probably get a copy of this map drawn up. In the mean time we'll let you get back to taking care of the inn here, and a little later I'll have some more questions for you."

When Hound returns to the table..."I think for today we should see what we can find out about the area around town, hopefully come up with a lead on jobs by tonight, and start working toward said jobs in the morning."

"I'm beginning to like this town." Q says to Eli, smirking. He walks over to the bar himself, ignoring what looks might befall such a turqoise fellow. "Bartender give me your stiffest distilled beverage."

Agreed. I am not the chatty type with people so that is your area.

"Honey, in my lifetime? None. The old enemies are finished, all the heroes are buried and forgotten. It's a new day. You don't need to be born with title and land to get ahead, and you don't need to save the world 'cause it's already been saved. The thing to do in this age is get yourself a trade."

She winks at you.

"That's how you get yourself a girl worth keeping. 2 silvers for the ale, two gold for room and board."

"Perhaps. But it's the life of adventure and fun that will help one find that girl, no? Always out of reach, they are. One more town, one more day for happiness immeasurable." Eli closes his eyes as he speaks, reminiscing about the feeling that he'd just described, a sensation that has been kept only in the back of his mind as he has focused on his more immediate goals. Eli opens his eyes again after a short pause and motions towards the chair next to him. "Please, take a seat, if you've got the time. What are the things that a man in search of more earthly pleasures around these parts should know?"

Reallizing she's staring, Tallie reaches for a bottle of thick glass with a wide mouth, more of a milk jug then any spirit container you've ever seen.

"Strongest bev-... Well, I'm certainly glad you asked. This will molt your feathers."

Turning back to Eli.

"Earthly pleasures'll get you killed, and that goes for anywhere not just here. The way that Kaandra Dark dresses you can't blame the boys around here for looking, but she's as deadly as her husband is creepy."

Ogrim clomps his way into the inn and receives the house's customary welcome.

He snorts at the price of a room, "Don't we think a lot of ourselves...," but he hands over the coins all them same. Declining the offer of an ale, but accepting an empty tankard, he surveys the common room.

Taking in the colourful assemblage present, he takes a seat at an empty table where he can listen in. Reaching to grasp at the medallion around his neck, he places his closed fist over his empty tankard. A thin stream of sparkling clear water pour from between his fingers and fills his cup to the brim. Casts create water Lifting the tankard to his lips, Ogrim drinks deeply.

Eli barely stifled a laugh as he mentally filed that tidbit away for future use. "Not a problem in the least, I'm not one for married women anyway. Something to look into another night, perhaps. I should have phrased my inquiry better. You mentioned that wanderers uncounted have come through here, even carving a map into the table over there. What can you tell me of the Mouth of Doom? The direction to it and what I am likely to encounter on my way being the two items of greatest importance."

"The Mouse of Doom?? Yeah I've heard of it, a dire rat as big as the tarrasque, lived in a swamp about 50-60 miles from here. It's been dead for years, the froghemoth ate it. You'll need to come up with another silly idea."

She's looking over your shoulder now.

"Hey dwarf, we have some kegs from your kin in the Stoneheart Mountains, if that empty mug doesn't quench your thirst."

Turning back to Eli she crosses her eyes and sticks out her tongue.

Quetzalcoatl takes a swig of his drink and the feathers on the back of his neck visibly stand up. He makes a noise somewhere between a giggle and pigeon's coo before downing the rest of the beverage. "Another! And bring out your finest piece of meat." he then turns to his comrade. "What is this mouse of doom?" he asks Eli, "Surely one doesn't come out this way to catch a rat."

Eli is unable to hold his bearing at that and lets out a loud, barking laughter, only covering his mouth to avoid waking the man sleeping at the carved table. Once Eli regains his composure, he responds to Quetzalcoatl's incredulous look. "Indeed not, Q, and I think that's enough ale for you, madam. The Mouth of Doom, as I hear it, is a cave complex near to this town, filled near to the brim of treasure and monsters alike. I assumed that was the reason for you and I and the trio over there to be here at all."

"No, I came for bad b~*~!es and good weed let the wind carry me here as it would, though I vaguely remember your going ons of high adventure and dangerous perils. Tell me more about this Mouth of Doom over fine drink." he says, though he seemed to have more to say. "Ma'am, get this man one of what I'm having."

Okay Kanye.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
"Actually, that's what I've been talking to Tallie about. She seems reluctant to share her knowledge with me, though. More's the pity. I'd have been more than willing to bring back a souvenir in return for any piece of knowledge that helps ensure that I do make it back."

She pours another and knocks one back herself.

"Maybe you boys should go ask around town or something. I have so much on my conscience already."

I seem to notice a distinct lack of diplomancy characters, lol.

Diplomacy is overrated.

"We're all here of our on accord, Tallie. Would it not burden you more to know that you could have helped us, offered us a piece of advice that might have kept us alive, and instead chose not to? We'll be heading there with or without your help. Don't let our actions rest on your conscience." Eli wasn't the best when it came to politics, seeing layers upon layers of hidden meanings, but even he could put someone on a guilt trip if he wanted to.

The door of the inn barges open and a tall broad shouldered man with shoulder long blond hair, blue eyes and ruggedly handsome features steps in. He carries himself with the aire of a noble and wears a heavy chainshirt.

He looks around then flashes a suggestive smile in the direction of the bar maiden:

Hey sweety will you fix me an ale and whatever you have to eat. All this fresh air has got my appetite all worked up!

Seeing the ragtag group assembled around a table the man approaches. recognizing a few faces from the farry ride the man booms

Well you look like an unlikely group of companions! I bet you came here for just the same reason as myself! The call of adventure!

OK, great, I think that's everyone checked in and ready to go.

Everyone receives 200 XP ad hoc for the RP so far

@Hound: Hey! Raziel is Diplomatic :D

Okay Kanye.

[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+1
"Actually, that's what I've been talking to Tallie about. She seems reluctant to share her knowledge with me, though. More's the pity. I'd have been more than willing to bring back a souvenir in return for any piece of knowledge that helps ensure that I do make it back."

You can roll diplomacy for that soft bribe/enticement, +2 to the roll for the follow-up guilt trip.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14 Bah... still didn't work.

That was close, someone can assist. Quetzal and Alrik are nearby.

Hound burps

Regardless of the success of Eli's effort's to coax information from the bar-maid, the party is free to plan excursions or gather more info about town.

Ogrim enjoys another refreshing mug of water, "From the conversation in the room, I gather that everyone has come to test their mettle against this supposed mouth of doom. While their might an inclination to compete for the the purported riches. Perhaps we should pool our resources? Share information and the like. It might increase our chances of success."

That sounds agreeable. Unfortunately, I know little about the surrounding area, just that this landing is named after the wizard Zelkor.

A keen plan from a smart mind! Alrik replies to the Dwarf.

My name is Alrik of Karlsguard. Few foes will stand in my way in battle, but every strong leader needs good soldiers!

Then he throws the barmaid the puppy look.

Diplomacy aid another 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

** spoiler omitted **

Don't think Raziel was listening in on the conversation that entailed the Sense Motive roll, correct Grimmy? Not that his sense motive would really make that much of a difference though :/

Ogrim enjoys another refreshing mug of water, "From the conversation in the room, I gather that everyone has come to test their mettle against this supposed mouth of doom. While their might an inclination to compete for the the purported riches. Perhaps we should pool our resources? Share information and the like. It might increase our chances of success."

Raziel nods at Hound's response, then looks towards Ogrim - "Well met" - he starts - "As my friend here as just commented, we still do not possess enough information yet as to where we should head out next, though pooling resources is always a good option" - he ponders for a few seconds - "In any case, we were just addressing that same exact issue before you joined in on the conversation - we are hoping to gather additional information still today, or perhaps some sort of job opportunity, so that we can head out in the morning" - the tiefling stands up and moves towards the bar, then stops and turns towards the dwarf again - "By the way, I am Raziel"

Heading to the bar, he tries to catch Tella's attention - "Excuse me - As you have probably understood, we are like many you have probably seen around these parts, intent on looking for... Hmmm... Lets call it adventure, in whatever shape or form it may present itself to us" - he smiles - "I was wondering if you could point us in the right direction, as to obtain more information, not only about this much talked about Mouth of Doom, but also regarding the area in general? Perhaps we can contact someone that has visited the area before?"

From the bar he nods at the new arrival - "Well met friend, I am Raziel"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Quetzalcoatl looks at the barmaid, aware she's holding out on his new barmate. He places a hand on her wrist, not grabbing it, and looking her in the eye as he speaks. "Tellie I believe you're holding out on my friend here about this Mouth of Doom? It sounds like a punchline looking for a joke."

Diplomacy to assist Eli: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15

He then looks around and realizes he and Eli are not the only ones talking about it. "For what reason has this become the topic of everyone's conversation?"

DM Grimmy wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Don't think Raziel was listening in on the conversation that entailed the Sense Motive roll, correct Grimmy? Not that his sense motive would really make that much of a difference though :/

That would be up to you, the inn has a big common room, they were talking at the bar. No walls.

Raziel was at the table, taken in by the carvings, etc. So he would most likely not be listening to the conversation - I'll just wait for her answer to his questions afterwards :D

Eli, Alrik and Quetzal got her to loosen up though, so all will be revealed (as far as this bar-maid is concerned anyway.)

I didn't know we were playing that kind of game.

Tallie leans across the bar. Holding the eye contact Quetzal made, she adopts a low tone.

"We had a regular some years back. Used to come in scarred from battle. I don't know what to say about that, except I... I guess I thought I could change him. He used to talk about that Mouth of Doom.

One day I noticed his spirits were improved. He told me he had found a green statue of a demon, pointing it's finger. He thought it was a clue. He thought he was close. After that he never came in again.

I never told anyone that before."

Heading to the bar, he tries to catch Tella's attention - "Excuse me - As you have probably understood, we are like many you have probably seen around these parts, intent on looking for... Hmmm... Lets call it adventure, in whatever shape or form it may present itself to us" - he smiles - "I was wondering if you could point us in the right direction, as to obtain more information, not only about this much talked about Mouth of Doom, but also regarding the area in general? Perhaps we can contact someone that has visited the area before?"

Tallie shrugs.

"A simple ferry service to shuttle traveller's on the old path across this branch of the Whiterush. That's our whole reason for being here. The guard's in the barracks might know a thing or two about bandit activity, but they'd be more concerned about the safety of merchants, and merchants head east as fast as they can to the coast road and leave this troubled land behind them.

The trouble maker's come and go, whatever they do manage to haul up from the deep dark places gets sold off to Rasmus at the Trading Post, or they save it for someone in the city with deeper pockets. Beyond what I've told you, and whatever's scrawled on that table, all I hear is the bragging of drunkards.

Come down from your room just before last call on a busy night and you'll think every vagabond in here begging for a drink has been in Rappan Athuk and lived to tell the tale. The only one I tend to believe is Old Russ there. A senile, legless, drunk. Somehow he looks more the part then these braggarts who come in with shining armor and polished blades..."

As if on cue, the door to the inn swings open.

Hounds will slip back into the role of glowering bodyguard to Ridley.

A well-coiffed, blue eyed man bursts in, followed by his company of seven. He throws his arms wide.

"Who will buy the first round for the Company of the Crying Maiden!"

His chain shirt, buckler and rapier are obviously of fine make, and they glint in the sunlight that pours in behind him. Not a stain is on his blue cloak. His hands are gloved, his boots are fine supple leather. His accent is that of a high-born noble from the Grand Dutchy of Waymarch.

Quetzalcoatl listens to Tellie speak, nodding as she tells him about the regular. "That's preposterous." he says dryly, [b]"The poor man confused quitting with quitting while he was ahead and got himself in a mess."

He downs another shot of Tellie's good stuff, making the cooing noise again while she spoke to Raziel. As she mentioned the senile old paraplegic drunk, Q's eyes begin wandering the room until they find him. Checking him out, he tips his glass and then looks back to Tellie when the blue-eyed man bursts in and makes his statement.

"Who would name their group of friends after a distraught woman?" Quetzalcoatl asks sincerely, not caring if he is heard or not.

He seems pleased you asked.

"Isn't it obvious? Whenever Renard the Adventurous leaves town the maidens all weep!"

"Go back to your day job and get some dirt on your boots, son." Q replies dryly.

Hound detects a bar-brawl inducing insult and positions himself better to defend Ridley.