Rowän motions for Briersting to follow as she makes her way into the Two Palms Inn.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The Two Palms Inn's welcoming sign hanging above its door, is now more an inviting sight, with evening setting in.
Inside are already several of the groups, divided over the tables. The barkeep is busy filling tankards with ale from a recently opened barrel.
A waitress brings out bread and soup to a table at the back. Supper seems to be an available option.
One of the nearby groups' members elbows his buddy softly.
"This is crab stew, mate, how many times do you get to eat that?
By the Radiant One's grace, sure isn't any of that back at the capital, tell you that."
A sign hangs from a nail in one of the tavern's pillars.
Local specialty: Chef Louis' crab stew.
Served with bread and mead. 1 silver a serving.
The Druid’s stomach rumbles distracting her from what’s going on around her. As she looks around the inn she wonders what is available from the kitchen tonight.
(pass)
She smiles when she overhears the nearby group.
Ha ha. Crab stew. They are enjoying it.
(fail)
Astella goes to find the proprietor and says that she understands that a bard is already coming, but asks if she could sing a few songs as well, with any payment to be determined by how well the audience likes her performance.
If they don't enjoy it, then no need for payment, but if they do, maybe a meal or a spot in the loft?
The innkeeper leans on the counter, between the previous customers walking away with their drinks, and Astella coming up to him.
"Sure, if you want to sing, i'm not stopping you.
I'm not promising anything, mind you. If everyone here was a great singer, Radiant One preserve me if they are, i'd be out of business if i'd hand out free food and lodgings based on that alone."
He points at a small stage made of several planks across a few crates, with lanterns hanging around it in a triangle.
"I could do a discount on the lodging. Bed & breakfast is 2 silvers, but if you can get these people going, it'll be 1 silver instead."
As Astella is headed towards the stage, he hits a nearby metal plate with a mug to make noise and draw attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. Before the main performance starts, we have a pre-event tonight. This young lady is a singer, and will sing to fill the time until the main act arrives."
Some conversations briefly stop. Some await Astella with neutral attitude, some others dismiss the announcement and continue their conversations.
Some just sit with a look of low expectancy of this sudden gig.
Right before you start your first song, you hear a whispered line in your ear.
"Show them what you're made of, Snowflake."
Astella wasn't sure what to sing at first, but right before she goes onto stage she starts grinning and starts out with an elven song simply called "Winter Song" welcoming the winter, and promising that love is still alive beneath the snow. She doubts anyone here native to this seemingly tropical climate will have heard it, but she knows that some people in the audience will recognize it, and hopefully the others will feel the beauty of it.
She follows this with a more popular song in common, a ballad about a man torn between his love for the sea and the woman he loves back home.
Her last song is one where there is a lot of audience participation, a quickly moving humorous song about a man trying to solve a problem and running into bigger and bigger obstacles to resolving it... it's a song with a lot of made up verses and a refrain that everyone knows, so if audience members (or the incoming bard) have a suggestion for an additional verse, she goes with it until her time is up, then bows and sits down with her friends...
... unless there is an open spot next to a certain elven woman.
Daniel finds a table and sits. He glances over the inn and smiles as he notes most people within are smiling and seemingly enjoying themselves. For his part, he leans back and listens to the general noise looking rather content with a half finished bowl of soup in front of him.
At the anouncement he glances towards Astella, a comforting smile on his face.
As Astelle sings her first song, it seems there are more people familiar with snow than one would think. Antagarich has winters, only a few places aren't touched by it.
Noticing some occupants at a table sporting furred necks of jackets, one would imagine they potentially are used to it.
Some of the more critical ones dismiss it as 'soft and mushy', but it is generally well received.
The song of the sailor draws less enthusiasm, surprisingly. Perhaps not too relatable, but the perceptive of you, , notice the waitress daydreaming and getting quiet as she does.
From a corner, a piece of bread is tossed at the stage.
"Get yer sentimental crap out of......*WHACK!*, his sentence is cut short as the waitress hits him on the head with the wooden tray.
"No making a mess of our place." The innkeep gives a sharp glare to the man, who grumbles and decides it isn't worth trouble.
The last medley gets more attention, even from the least enthusiastic, as verses both graceful, quite bold, and rowdy, get the people going.
The innkeep seems satisfied, as during the last part, people ordered more drinks.
With a quick but careful search, Astella sees the quartet in a back corner. Roderick casually pulls an empty chair from nearby, as the elf motions for him to pull up a seat, and shoves it in between himself and the elf. "Nice going.", he says before taking a swig.
Serena the dwarf nods. "The las' one was the bes' of them all."
The elf just smiles faintly, looking at you.
-------------------
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Shouldn't we try to help her somehow...?" Estelle asks at first, but then Astella proceeds to completely rock the performance - at least, in her estimation. Relieved, as she herself had no real musical talent whatsoever, she claps and cheers excitedly for the bard at the end of each song!
"Amazing! She's really good at this!" she exclaims, taking a bite of her own plate of crab stew with even more satisfaction. It had tried to eat her, now she got to eat it instead. Justice had been served -literally, in this case.
"Reminds me of how they used to hire bards to perform in the mess halls of the army camps. Those were quite lively too! Sometimes, at holidays and things were less formal, they'd even try and get us to dance," she smiles softly and looks towards the evening sky through ther window.
Seeing that slightly over half but not quite all tables were engaged when Astella stops playing, Estelle reconsiders. "Maybe we could help her still win the bet if we *did* start a dance and involved the other tables? The waitress looked like she was having fun with the songs, for one. Now if only we had a handsome knight here to sweep someone off her feet and start things off..." she trails off, just a touch cheekily. Maybe the good atmosphere was getting to her? Or perhaps the drink was a bit stronger than advertised...
The druid sits back and enjoys the bard's performance Joining in load and off-key during the refrain.
She knows her limits and shakes her head at Estelle's suggestion, "You can't please everybody lass."
--------------------------
Thank you. says Astella to Roderick and the group, flashing a smile, and then sits back, watching for the bard.
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Brunhild grumbled ”Anyone who tries to make me dance is gonna be missing a few teeth.”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The waitress comes at the quartet's table, tapping Astella on the shoulder.
"Stew's on the house for you. There will also be some special rations to be picked up for your group, tomorrow morning.", she makes her tours after that.
All groups seated, talking, eating, laughing about the innuendo of some verses of that medley, it turns to be 19:00.
The door opens, a soft evening breeze briefly enters as the doors open and close, drawing eyes towards it.
There stands a blonde woman, in her late twenties, early thirties, perhaps, dressed in a burgundy and white outfit, with matching hat. She strikes a bit of a 'cheerful older sister' vibe.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen."
(amused murmering)
"Lord Markham requested i provide some entertainment for the evening, for all the gathered competitors." She heads for an empty stool at the counter and claims it as the place of her first song.
"I am Ailyssa, and i will be your musician for the evening."
Unstrapping an old lute from her back, she tunes it, and hits a note.
She starts off with a most unusual ballad about adventurers and the trouble they find themselves in, as well as what they cause others. Many recognize themselves, or people they know, in such sung about characters. It's quite well received.
Some 45 minutes later, there is a short break, and she sits drinking from a mug of mead.
Astella pats the elven woman's knee
Excuse me a moment.
She then walks over to the blonde bard and, keeping her voice low so that it doesn't carry to the entire room, she says
Greetings. Your singing is lovely. ... I'm not sure if you are aware that one of the items in the scavenger hunt contest is a musical instrument. I wouldn't want to deprive you of a tool you use for your livelihood, of course, but was wondering if you have a back up instrument or an idea where we could obtain a musical instrument in these parts. If you do have one, we would be interested in buying it or trading for something you desire in return perhaps? ... If we win we can offer much, but there is no guarantee of that of course.
"Thanks. Glad you liked it so far.
I was unaware musical instruments were in such high demand. This instrument isn't going anywhere until i've done my part tonight."
"I usually have many instruments, but i've brought only this lute with me to the island, as it's old and not as well kept up as my other instruments. How much are you willing to spend to acquire it, anyway?"
She takes another swig.
"Frankly, i was worried our ship would have a run in with a Regnan (*) ship. That, and the salty sea air might affect the other instruments. As far as i am aware, currently the only instrument on the island is my own."
Regnan pirates, the scourge of the open seas. Active near Antagarich and the continent of Jadame.
As merely the first party to approach her, and the new information provided, she quickly weighs off odds.
Brunhild perked her head up. "Well, that's a good question now, isn't it? Usually a brand new instrument would be what, five gold?" She asked, rhetorically. "But that doesn't seem like a fair price. Given that ye only have one, and they aren't in much supply, even if it certainly isn't new. How about...twenty gold? Four times the price of buying a new one. Ye finish usin' it, so ye get what is needed after it and make a tidy profit. And we get what we be lookin' for. This way everyone wins."
Rowän walks over and chimes in, muttering something unhelpful.
And we will also guarantee your safety tonight, in case some... err slightly less ethical group tries to take it. Honestly, if the rest of the groups find out this is the only option, you likely don't want to be anywhere near it. I suppose it depends on what the judges will accept... a pot lid or a hollow log, and many other things, can easily be made into an improvised musical instrument, and it is hard to believe that on the entire island there is no music lover with their own. For now though, yours seems to be the only obvious and unquestionable option.
Ailyssa seems to ponder the very generous offer.
"I'll certainly consider it. For now, though, i will need to focus on my performance, which aught resume about now."
Ailyssa resumes her act, this time at stage, with a song of ages past, dreaded times and narrow victory. It emboldens everyone's determination to win the competition, it seems.
Patrons go to and from the counter for drinks, those not lazy enough to walk anyway.
Some tables' patrons have been As Astelle sings her first song, it seems there are more people familiar with snow than one would think. Antagarich has winters, only a few places aren't touched by it.
Noticing some occupants at a table sporting furred necks of jackets, one would imagine they potentially are used to it.
Some of the more critical ones dismiss it as 'soft and mushy', but it is generally well received.
The song of the sailor draws less enthusiasm, surprisingly. Perhaps not too relatable, but the perceptive of you, , notice the waitress daydreaming and getting quiet as she does.
From a corner, a piece of bread is tossed at the stage.
"Get yer sentimental crap out of......*WHACK!*, his sentence is cut short as the waitress hits him on the head with the wooden tray.
"No making a mess of our place." The innkeep gives a sharp glare to the man, who grumbles and decides it isn't worth trouble.
The last medley gets more attention, even from the least enthusiastic, as verses both graceful, quite bold, and rowdy, get the people going.
The innkeep seems satisfied, as during the last part, people ordered more drinks.
With a quick but careful search, Astella sees the quartet in a back corner. Roderick casually pulls an empty chair from nearby, as the elf motions for him to pull up a seat, and shoves it in between himself and the elf. "Nice going.", he says before taking a swig.
Serena the dwarf nods. "The las' one was the bes' of them all."
The elf just smiles faintly, looking at you.
-------------------
both at the team and Ailyssa, since Astella's little chat.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rowän continues to eat oblivious to all that happens around her.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Hey, what do you say we offer a position of court bard to her if we win? The same kind of deal we made with Sally? She seems good enough for it too!" Estelle says, happily contiuing to eat.
Actual spoiler content:
Some tables' patrons look at both Astella and Ailyssa, after their conversation.
Some hour later, Ailyssa has another break. A little longer, as some of the great stew is involved. You see Brent Flinn talking to her too. He seems to be doing an ok job of chatting, and you see his fingers going up to indicate numbers, but it is unclear how much exactly, with his back towards you.
Two others are more quickly brushed aside. Not surprising, with one looking like a drunk....and might very well be too.
As she finishes the stew, and is about to get off the chair, she holds movement, and stares towards the wall. A patron nearby walks away with three tankards. She remains for a minute or two, before turning around.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Brunhild shook her head. "Positions are cheap too offer, but expensive to give. If we can buy this for twenty gold, that is far better in the long term than employing a Court Bard."
"She looks nervous." Brunhhild said, glancing over. "Could be trouble coming. I'd lay off the drinks and keep yer eyes open, everyone."
When Estelle suggests a court bard, she says Sure, if she is interested... or more money. We're not really in a position to haggle, since this is the only instrument we know of on the island. Any other that may be here will require much more effort and time.
After offering her opinion, Astella slips back into her seat by the elf, alert to anyone in her group calling her by name... she needed to know.
But frustratingly, she never quite gets it.
On the bard's second break, she returns to talk to her again.
Hey, no pressure. You make your own decision, but give us a chance to meet anyone else's bid, okay? We can even talk about a share of the reward. ... Or if anyone threatens you, let us know so we can help.
She stays a moment to see if there is anything she can do for her immediately, but if not, she returns to her seat by the elf, trying to not make her feel pressured.
After offering her opinion, Astella slips back into her seat by the elf, alert to anyone in her group calling her by name... she needed to know.
She stays a moment to see if there is anything she can do for her immediately, but if not, she returns to her seat by the elf, trying to not make her feel pressured.
"I'm fine, i'm fine."
No, no, she's very much trying to hide something. Something that caused her to get anxious just recently.
Zoltan lean back in his seat, tankard in hand.
"How far along are you guys with the scavenger hunt?", he is as blunt as could be at it, causing Roderick to snicker, and Serena and the elf eyeing you with interest.
As for the others, the waitress comes by, asking if you need anything else, before moving along after any answer.
Ailyssa's final performance is a ballad. She takes to the stage, and conjures a violin. With permission from the innkeep, the three stage lanterns are snuffed, and the stage corner is dim.
She starts playing the violin and singing., while using dancing lights for lighting effects.
By the time the song ends, the dancing light dim out of existence, as she bows, receiving applause from practically the entire crowd.
people are emotional.
"It was my pleasure, ladies and gentlemen. But i must call this a night, the day has been long. Good night to you all."
She leaves and heads up the stairs to the next floor. Odd, in fact...
Roll a perception and flat Wisdom check please.
As she passes Brunhild, who noticed her nervousness, Astella shrugs and whispers Watch out for her.
Sitting back down with Roderick's group, she fields the question.
Well, we have leads on all of the items, but have only acquired one so far. How about you?
When the bard returns to the stage, she thinks
A violin? Did she dump the lute already?
and looks around wildly to see if someone has it already or is leaving with it.
When she starts heading up the stairs, Astella goes after her and asks Excellent performance, I loved it. ... Please just let me know whether you still have the instrument or not. If you sold it, I understand, but I need to know, you understand, so that we know whether to wait to know what boon we can do for you or not.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Nobody is carrying the lute. It was placed on stage behind her.
Well, we have leads on all of the items, but have only acquired one so far. How about you?
Serena: "We have delivered two from the list. Alexis is somewhat knowledgeable regarding potions."
Zoltan: "Bah, anyone with some survival training can craft that as well as alchemists, minus the odd flavor alchemists get in it."
A leftover piece of bread is tossed at him by Alexis, and the goblin just grins.
When she starts heading up the stairs, Astella goes after her and asks Excellent performance, I loved it. ... Please just let me know whether you still have the instrument or not. If you sold it, I understand, but I need to know, you understand, so that we know whether to wait to know what boon we can do for you or not.
"I haven't sold it, but i will hold on for it a little longer."
"Hm... nervous you say, Brunhild?" Estelle repeats, frowning, not having noticed anything off about the musician until now. "Think someone threatened her for the instrument? That would get me quite nervous, in her position..."
She glances through the tavern, trying to notice any irregularities regarding the behavior of the patrons. Particularly anyone else appearing to be tense or otherwise not joining in the dinner or festivities.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
With her usual bluntness Brunhild walked up to the Bard. ”Yer nervous. It shows.” She said. ”Name’s Brunhild. Order of the Stone Heart.” She introduced herself, head held up high. ”If any of these low lives threatened ye, then stick with me. Anyone puts a hand on ye, I’ll break it.” She said with complete sincerity. ”So how about tellin’ me what’s got ye twisted?”
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
”This is the best darn soup I think I’ve ever had,” the druid remarks. As Brunhild gets up she asks, ”If you’re not going to finish yours can I have it?”
"We have delivered two from the list. Alexis is somewhat knowledgeable regarding potions."
Zalona steals a glance at Alexis and grins.
Ah, yes, we gathered the berries, but haven't made the potions yet. You are ahead of us so far, but there is time yet.
_____
"I haven't sold it, but i will hold on for it a little longer."
Understood, and thank you for the information.
When Brunhild comes up, Zalona steps aside, but adds
Yes, however we can help. Please just say the word.
in support.
At the mention of the bard seeming worried, Daniel will stand and approach her after the others bombard her with more haggling and bidding. He will purchase a drink for Ailyssa and sit next to her before leaning in.
Ailyssa, I would speak to you about something other than a price for your instrument. One of my companions noticed you seemed worried, or nervous, about something. I would offer you my assistance, should it be helpful to you.
-----
Getting addressed while at the start of the stairs, Ailyssa turns around to the duo.
She smiles. "Everything is fine."
There is a brief moment, before a cautious twinkle appears in her eyes.
To Brunhild;
"Say, have you heard the tale of Markus Bronzebeard, it's quite good."
You will have heard of him. A dwarven merchant whose valuable spot on the market, came under attention of business rivals.
He received death threats should he not surrender his business or speak of this intimidation. He pulled through, but only due to intervention of a 3rd party.
"Not interested? A pity. Well good night to you.", she makes off after that.
You notice a table not too far from the stairs, where four men are sitting. They are not competitors though. There are some peculiar hand motions. They might be slightly different in Avlee, but Daniel recognizes soldier hand signs.
Move. 2. Move. Look. 4. Move.
Two times move can also mean follow, Daniel recalls.
After Brunhild and Astella make their case nearby, the hand motions stop briefly, then resumes.
Attention. Group. Cancel.
The four get up and leave the inn.
Astella follows the bard at a distance until she sees what room she goes into, and then returns to address the group privately.
Well, I think we should guard her room tonight and give her a friendly escort in the morning... make sure that she makes it out of here safely. Even if she doesn't give us the instrument in the end, it's a matter of ... ethical responsibility I believe. I don't know what has her spooked, but I can guess. Someone must have threatened her, and we need to make sure this game doesn't turn deadly for her. What do you say? Sleep here and take watches outside her door? ... I might be able to talk Roderick's group into helping us if needed. What do you guys think?
"Aye." Brunhild said. "If I remember correctly, it was the Anviltamer Clan that took him in and protected him from the unscrupulous." With a nod she said "He left town after leaving the market and was taken to the temple under cover of night, aye? Stayed there with protection until the heat died down. Aye, a good tale." She said meaningfully. "We'll be headin' to the town gate soon enough. But ye've got a good head for tales. Hope to see ye again soon." She finished, before returning to the group.
---------
"Aye, the lass is in trouble. If she doesn't give in to intimidation, or if she even speaks of it, there'll be danger. Set us up to meet with her at the town gate. She'll be needin' protection."
"Daniel and I saw a group of four making soldier hand signals, motions to 'follow' Ailyssa it seems. But when you offered to help her, they made signals for 'group''attention' and 'cancel' before suddenly leaving," Estelle adds, watching Rowan eat the second bowl of soup throughout it all with some amusement despite the situation. "We should definitely try and protect her. Right now it looks to me as if this unknown group of outsiders is targeting her more than the competition."
Rowän nodded in agreement at her companions remarks, ”Seems there might be more going on here then meets the eye. Perhaps we should discretely watch her room until it is time for our meeting.”
He left town after leaving the market and was taken to the temple under cover of night, aye? Stayed there with protection until the heat died down.
"Indeed. Some humans are very keen on aggressive expansion of the market. He eventually ended up back in Stone City. Got himself well established, but that was a very long time ago, before even my dear grand-nan was born."
Astella quietly, as best as possible, peeks around corners to see where Ailyssa's room is at. Seems it's in the back at the east end.
As time passes, other patrons also get to the second floor into their rooms. The place is likely pretty packed, but maybe not full just yet.
Astella goes and arranges for a room, and knowing that they were due some "special rations" in the morning, offers to share with someone, and they can have the breakfast if they want... or more than one, since they were going to have to sleep in shifts anyway.
Then she orders her free stew, and sits with Alexis again while she eats, if they are still around.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The quartet was still present, finishing their last drink.
Astella tells them that someone threatened the bard, and asks if they are staying at the inn tonight. If so, maybe they would like to help ensure her safety?
Daniel did find it odd, why soldiers were around in the tavern. Surely they would be better suited for discovering and combating whatever was threatening folk on the isle?
The only question I have left is why? Why so much effort for a traveling bard?
Daniel did find it odd, why soldiers were around in the tavern. Surely they would be better suited for discovering and combating whatever was threatening folk on the isle?
The only question I have left is why? Why so much effort for a traveling bard?
"Well... we don't know anything about her. Maybe Ailyssa is a fugitive? Maybe she stole from or slighted someone powerful," Estelle suggests, somewhat uncomfortably. "That they know the hand signals doesn't mean they're soldiers still. They could have moved on to being mercenaries or bounty hunters. The only way to find out more would be to ask her - or them. If we're going to be risking our lives doing this, persocanlly I'd like to know..."
She glances at the others in turn, wondering if any of them felt up to sart another conversation with the bard, this time on an uncomfortable subject?
Alexis smiles at Astella's request.
"She did do a fabulous job. Zoltan and Roderick can do a shared shift."
The two look up at the blatant statement.
Zoltan: "Right.....but we're not going to stand around all suspicious outside our, or another's, room."
The two are the first two of the four to go to their room.
Serena looks at Astella with a grin.
"Tha's been the bad news. So how abou' sharing some leads as well?"
The innkeep and waitress are cleaning up, and are almost done as well.
Well, there's supposed to be a temple out in the forest with those decorative floor tiles, and we have a guide to where it might be. Want to come with when we go? That sounds like one of the items where there is probably plenty for everyone.
Estelle is a bit hesitant to leave the security entirely up to the second time, even in shifts. After all, though they appeared friendly, they were still a team of their competitors. However, she eventually relents and volounteers to take whichever part of the watch is convenient.
"But... I'll go and get healing first at the post, if it's still open. If there's a decent chance these unknown soldiers will attack at night, I'm going to get my remaining wounds healed properly first."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
At Astella's proposal, the two look at each other, then back.
Serena: "Sure, why no'."
Alexis: "See you in the morning, then."