Rohan keeps nursing his drink while Elton and Copper continue the conversation. He notices as others make their way into the Dragon. First another halfling in robes followed by Mags and Morstralla who he greets. Finally the big Shoanti Krojun makes his entrance followed by the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. His mouth is open as his jaw drops, putting his drink down otherwise he might spill it. He tries to speak but no words come out, luckily he was introduced by Krojun or one might never find out his name. Copper just blinks as he looks up at his friend after waving a claw in greeting.
"Um...Uh, nice to meet you." Is all Rohan can manage as he sticks his hand out for handshake. "Her hands are so soft, like the most delicate quilt I've ever touched.." He thinks to himself as he shakes hands with Zelladanyia.
A halfling arrayed in a chain shirt and travelers outfit with a holy symbol of Desna hanging from his neck approaches the group. Well met! I have been sent by the lovely Starsong to aid you in your quest. At the sight of the gorgeous dancer, the 3'10" halfling approaches and bows deeply. He takes her hand and kisses it. The swallowtail butterfly festival has nothing on your beauty ma'am.
Smiling, Zella touches the silver, butterfly shaped pendant at her throat as the little halfling kisses her hand. "I am pleased to meet another follower of Desna and I thank you for your flattery."
After Rohan finally manages to hold his hand to Zella, she smiles at him too as she shakes his hand. "It's quite nice to meet you as well Rohan. Your companion is quite adorable."
Zella pulls up a chair and sits down, flagging down a serving girl. "Could I have a mug of honey mead please?
Addressing the group: "I hope you don't mind me sitting down at the table. My feet are a bit tired from all that dancing."
"No, of course you can. The um, more the merrier. We were just talking.. Uh, so are you from around here? And uh, where do you dance?" Rohan says trying to not stumble on his words. He downs the rest of his drink for some liquid courage and orders another.
"I like these new people. They say the right things."
There is actually no staff left up at this point to get you drinks.
Zella smiles at the big man as he hands her a drink. "Thank you Krojun."
She turns back to face Rohan as she answers his awkward questions. "Well, I'm from all around, I guess. Traveled a lot with my family and we've stayed here in Sandpoint quite a few times. I was even born here. Lately I've been dancing over at the Kitten while I've been auditioning to work in the Theater. I also sing on occasion perform card readings."
Pimpernell follows the large Shoanti man over to the bar and grabs a drink as well. He follows him back to the table and finds an open seat (as close as possible to the pretty follower of Desna). His attention is directed to the amazing bronze dragon looking thingy. You are a handsome fellow! Which one of these people do you own? Pimpernell asks matter-of-factly before taking a rather large swig of his ale.
"Well, most of my card readings are for entertainment purposes. I'm a bit out of practice for actual readings. People tend to pay more for good news than bad."
Rohan listens intently to Zelladanyia's reply to his various questions. "I've never had a card reading. What are they for?"
"This big lug is my best bud." Copper points a claw to Rohan while trying to not laugh at his predicament.
"Well, the cards can be used as a means of divination. The answers are quite often vague and left to the interpretation of the person receiving the card reading. I usually get begged for readings by young women who are trying to figure out if the guy they like, likes them back and when they will get married and how many children they will have."
Zella glances back and forth between Rohan and Copperscale as she asks a question of her own. "Would your best bud be willing to let me borrow you for a day so when you aren't busy? I think you would make a great model for the next tattoo I want. I've been wanting a dragon twining around my leg, but the artist has never seen one in person before."
"Of course, provided I can come too. Have to keep him out of trouble, you know. And I've never seen a tattoo being done before."
"Wait, did I just say that?"
Zella nods at Rohan's condition. "That's fine with me. Not the first time I've had an audience for such a thing. I had several cousins with me for my first tattoo. A couple for moral support and a couple to make sure that it was done right and one was cleric of Desna who wanted to make sure the tattoo artist did proper justice to her holy symbol."
"Great, so tomorrow then? And where did you get the symbol the symbol of Desna done?"
"On my back."
Zella stands up and turns around, tugging down the back of her dancing outfit down far enough that the group can at least see the top half of her tattoo from her shoulders down to mid-back.
"Oh, that is very nice.." Rohan comments as his face taking on a more crimson hue and a smile subconsciouslessly forms.
"Thank you Rohan. Do you also happen to be a follower of Desna?"
Elton's eyes light up as Copperscale begins describing the ancient temple, but before he can respond, several others enter the inn.
Elton watches the new people with interest, finding the dancer with the tattoo on her back fascinating, and the large tattooed man called 'Krojun' somewhat intimidating. But Elton also takes an interest in the other halfling who seems to be eyeing Copperscale.
Speaking up, "Hello, Elton Thistledown, of the Kaer Maga Thistledowns. Luck of Chaldira be with you. Master Copperscale was just inviting me to join in an archaeological survey of some ancient ruins and temples."
He looks at the woman, "And a card reading, is that something I could watch? I've never seen one of those before. At least, not a real one. My dad use to do card tricks, but he cheated. I let him win because he was old. You won't cheat, will you?"
"I know a bit about both history and magic. Perhaps I could join you on your next trip to the ruins? Maybe I could help to figure out what it says?"
Elton frowns for a minute to ponder the comment about no cheating, but he nods as Krojun and the woman speak, "And if Missus Zelladanyia cannot figure it out, I can speak and read the ancient Thassilonian tongue, so I might be able to help too."
"When I became a member of the crew on the Orca, I noticed some of the others praying to her for luck on our travels. I decided to join them because well, we all need a little luck right?"
"I think that'd be great if they joined us." Rohan looks at Zelladanyia as he says that.
"A little danger is just the thing to alleviate my boredom during the day. I don't have anything to do until my shift starts tomorrow evening. Besides, I'm sure I'll be safe enough with you fellas."
"You have nothing to worry about. I won't let anything happen to you. Or anyone else coming along. I'm gonna get another drink, does anyone want anything?" Rohan stands and heads towards the kitchen.
Talon stumbles in, flush with coin from his day in the market and his discussion with Brodert. He is now full of Varisian wine and is very much flush in the face. Thankfully he has not lost anything. He very sheepishly looks up at Rohan and Krojun - "Err, sorry guys I've been rather indisposed for a while, making rounds, or buying rounds, making sure the town is safe." As he plops in a chair.
"I'm sure. For all the new people, that's Talon. He went with us through the ruins."
Talon grabs a derelict half-filled flagon beside him and raises it in a toast. He nods and half bows while seated, waiving his arm out in front of him, "Talon Eldercourt at your service." and looks over at his mates "Sorry boys for leaving you hanging, won't happen again."
As Krojun mentions the invisible creature, Elton nearly hops out of his chair, "An invisible monster? Do you think it could have been left down there by one of the wizards? Maybe it's a summoned creature, or even a demon!? First a tiny creature that looks like a dragon, then ruins, then magical writing, and now an invisible monster - this is the best day ever!"
Elton sits back down and rummages through his pack. Finding a journal and pencil, he opens it up and happily writes the words "Invisible Monster Discovery!" then begins drawing (poor) depictions of various creatures, all with with massive horns and fangs.
Talon places both hands on the arms of the chair he is sitting in and painfully pries himself out of the seat. "All, it is good to meet you. I understand that our fates shall be intertwined? I look forward to supporting each of you to the best of my abilities."
At this point, yawns start to overwhelm everyone, as it's been a long day all around, and after some cleanup, you drift off to bed. The next morning is a late one, given the late night, and lunch finds you all gathered in one of the private rooms, along with Shalelu and Brodert Quint, a local scholar whose expertise is the Thassilion Empire. He briefly explains his own pet theory about The Old Light, and it does nothing to improve your opinion of the old empire, even if it is just a theory at this point. He thinks it was not a lighthouse, but a weapon, and that the stone ring in the courtyard of the cathedral is tied to it. Shalelu, for her part, seems extremely concerned about the information about Thistletop, and believes that investigating that in force should be the priority right now, despite her concerns about the ruins below town. At some point, a very pale, tired, and clearly perturbed Ameiko stops by with a doctor in tow long enough to thank you for yesterday's efforts before disappearing once more to her quarters.
"Maybe there is more information there?" Roham surmises. "Is there anything you can tell us about this place?" He asks Brodert.
Chaldira! The Calamitous One! Well met brother! Pimpernell hops over to his NW halfling friend and offers his mug for a toast.
Brodert replies quietly, "I find it unlikely anyone would be all that interested in the tower itself; it's almost entirely destroyed, and would take a massive amount of time, effort, and resources to repair. As for the complex below, I had suspected there might be something like it nearby, but this is the first confirmation I have had of that suspicion, so I know less than you at the moment; you, at least, have seen it. And I agree that Thistletop is the bigger threat. A lone quasit is not a threat by itself; it needs allies, and right now, the closest allies are in Thistletop from the sounds of it. That well sounds intriguing, and I have my guesses as to what it was, but it would take more than a single quasit to reactivate it; it's not an immediate threat."
Zella listens to tall the talk going on. This time she is dressed in her traveling outfit rather than her dancer's outfit and scarves.
"So does that mean our planned expedition down below is called off for now in favor of one to Thistletop? Don't you all be thinking that I'll take back my offer of help just because our destination has changed. I'm fair with a bow if there is anymore fighting to be had."
"Come on Krojun, aren't interested to see if I can fight as well as I can dance?"
"Guess you'll just have to let me come along if you want to find out. Though it means the rest of you gentlemen will have to watch me dance at some point so that you too may judge."