And she tosses the out cold Elf next to the fire place, for someone to collect. Then to the two Dwarves,
"Напитки за мой счёт, если вы не против, я бы хотел услышать обе ваши истории."
Both dwarf give each other a glance of pleasant surprise.
"Well, it is no surprise that drink be had, for we celebrate the life of our fallen. Simon, though small, was a devotee of the Binder and a proficient scout!" She pulls out the chair for Vondal, then takes a seat next to him.
Vondal takes a seat inbetween their the half-elf barbarian and the Lliiran warpriest. "Many thanks", the aasimar cooed at Sister Olga as he sat.
"Yes. Simon, for a short time, no pun intended you'll find out later, was our infiltration expert and trap finder. Miss Hildane.." The blonde dwarf motions over to the green-eyed brunette human female sitting down, "has generously obliged to take up that role for us. Simon was Hin, so I hope the Yawning Portal has some hin spirits to toast in Simon's honor.""And so, Helina. Our party is called The Balanced Coin. We often travel The North, completing quests for others. We have come to Watrerdeep, as many others have, to test our Luck and nerve to brave dangers of Undermountain. Sadly, our group has not gotten very far. The rumors of the vast dungeon are true: it is both massive and deadly. I was definitely surprised by the amount of combat our group encountered during our short forays, thinking it would be more trap-filled, which it still is."
Looking to both Kern and Helina, Vondal expounds. "What I am saying is ones such as you who have the martial capabilities to hunt yeti and smash elven faces in, would do well to join us as we brave The Undermountain tomorrow. Something to think about." The blonde dwarf flashing a bright smile.
"Ah've no heard o' any Binder God, but wit' a death like tha' I salute yer brave little friend and think tha' he'd be better suited fer the halls o' my God, Clangeddin Silverbeard. Werse places ta' be in tha' afterlife than in tha' halls o' Dwarven heroes drinkin' an ne'er gettin' too drunk ter stop! Bwahahhahah!"
Kern shrugs, "Ah've no gold ta' speak o' an now way ah knowin' how ta' get back ta' tha' Dale. Well, exceptin' ta walk north.
They're worse ways ta' make coin asides killin' goblins in a dungeon, I'm in!".
He nurses a pint and looks to Helina, "Ah'm afraid ah've no herd o' ye. But then ah've only ever been in an around Ten Towns out side o' Clan Battlehammer holdings.
O' course, even among me own ah'm a, what' tha' werd in common, Pariah.
Mah battles meld song an the spell with the ragin' ye see. Ah been tryin' ta' get in amongst the Gutbusters but they'd no have me on account o' no' trustin' me spells. So's I was out a huntin' Yeti carcases ta' prove my worth, an well, here I am".
A bar maid held out a try with 12 flagons of Ale, in it, and slid it to the center of the table.
"Bring another"
She says paying for this one and the next, then taking a flagon she raised it.
"Ya! To Simon, may ice never break under him."
And she down it in one, slamming the Mug down on the table with a thump.
She takes another, and she looks at Vondal and nods.
"I will go with you, the Undermountain sounds like a place I should go"
Sipped her ale she now looks at Kern Kant
"It's good you do know know my past, something are best left unknown. Your of the north like me, I am from the great white that moves, where the its ice meets the shifting fronzen sea. North of Icewind dale."
The godling smiled to see the new members get along so well. As he drank, Vondal would subtly place his hand on Sister Olga's knee under the table, and make excuses to wrap his arm around her waist.
Olga taps the hand on her thigh, though it still was clad in metal. She giggled.
"I assume Yeti's and Frozen Sea means you are north of here? I mean, if it's consistent. I don't travel up there. I do love a good warm feast hall to mead, mea,t and a merry song! Especially one to dance to!"She says smiling.
"My name be Kern Kant by the way.
Aye, I know of, but have ne'er seen tha' place o' vast glaciers an' ice".
She looked wistfully remembering.
"It is a place of breathtaking beauty, winter has no sun so the world is lit by shifting lights in the sky and the stars. Summer the sun never sets, and we hunt, everyone thinks snow and ice are just white but its not, I have walked on green sea ice, and run over blue snow. Arr a clean world, life is simple, You hunt you drink you sleep, in the great halls of wood and ice."
She seems to come back to herself, and smiled at the group.
"Come Kern Kant, if we new faces are going to drink to the dead, we should drink something better then this P**s weak ale."
She pulls open haversack, it looked small to her size. Reaching in she pulled out a large brown bottle. Biting out the cork, and spitting it away, she poured some into her now empty mug. Its very strong Alcoholic smell wafted over the table.
Every Dwarf knows this stuff :)
200% Proof Dwarven browed Oldlaw 20 year old Malt whiskey
Not hard to come by if you have the coin, but hard to drink
if you don't have a dwarf like constitution.
Then she offers some to Kern Kant and Vondal, then in turn to each remaining member of the group, After she had poured those who wanted some she said simply.
"For Simon and for tomorrow"
Then drank hers in one go, before slamming her Mug down once more onto the table. Then she poured herself another and Drank that as well.
Then a 3ed but she stopped waiting for the others.
She pulls open haversack, it looked small to her size. Reaching in she pulled out a large brown bottle. Biting out the cork, and spitting it away, she poured some into her now empty mug. Its very strong Alcoholic smell wafted over the table.
Then she offers some to Kern Kant and Vondal, then in turn to each remaining member of the group, After she had poured those who wanted some she said simply.
"For Simon and for tomorrow"
Vondal eyes go wide. "By the Slopes of Solania! I haven't seen a Oldlaw in YEARS!!"
"You keep good company to have this in your possession, Helina!" The aasimar proclaimed.
Vondal offers his tankard, which the barbarian fills to the brim. The dwarf takes a close whiff to his noise.
Vondal drinks it down, setting his tankard down; his face awash of nostalgic pleasure. "Ohhh! Like a home cooked meal from The Revered Mother herself!
What a delight!"
"May the Blessings of the Morndinsamman find and keep you, Helina."
Astrillith keeps to herself, even while at the table. Listening to the stories being told. Backgrounds being discussed. She gently slips her drink. Her green eyes flitting from one to the other as they speak. She silently nods and then a strange grin appears on her face as she seems to be listening to something that Pac was saying
"You are correct" as she trails her free hand along the length of his body
Ceirn will drink and listen in with a broody look.
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" I knew him only a short while. Cautious, he strove to be, but like most things well, the Chaos of life and battle spoke otherwise. I watched him fall. Ogres and Hornets they be, my stars flashing in hopes he recovered, but alas, the battle was too thick for me to ply my healing with haste. He fell, and when the enemy fell atop him dead, his death knell struck; his spirit was too far gone for my magics to do anything to bring him back. So when our cups arrive, we toast to our fallen, we toast to Simon the Sly, Scout Extraordinaire!"
Olga will reach down and touch the elf, offering healing via her training
[dice=Fervor]3d6
Then drank hers in one go, before slamming her Mug down once more onto the table. Then she poured herself another and Drank that as well.
Then a 3ed but she stopped waiting for the others.
The crowd is packed thick within the common room of the Yawning portal. The barmaids work with fluid grace or bullish zeal getting drink and food to patrons all. The lift works at random intervals, lifting adventures up or down into or out of the depts of Undermountain.
At one point, a group failed to provide payment of coin, and refused to offer up items of worth to the Liftmaster. With no sympathy for the adventurers upon the platform, the Liftmaster gave a signal and the thick rope is released. The cries of anger, surprise and fear of falling adventurers are quickly swallowed up by the glee of the crowd.
It is a tight fit around this narrow table. Meant for six patrons to sit comfortably around, it is now crowded with so many in the room. even sitting so close, you have to shout to be heard.
at pauses in conversation, those moments when drink wets the tongue, quenches parched throat, you hear snippets of conversation of other patrons.
No food has come up to the Yawning portal today
Horses dying from the extreme cold.
an unnatural blizzard hammers us here in waterdeep still
Waterdeep is cursed
The lords rest high in their castle, warm and content while the citizens suffer
"That seems a bit to strong for me, at least with my Armor on. maybe when I come back to entertain, I may take a sniff. Until then I shall stay with the ale. Besides, unless you want to carry me up to my room with all my gear." She giggles as she blinks her general view, seeing something odd, and slowly she pans across the bar. Not one to get too alarmed, her smile never fades, but she taps Vondals hand and then moves her hand to grab some of her throwing stars. There she will hold just in case.
Helina has no room yet and have posted she has her handy haversack with her that holds or has tied to it all her stuff. She has her armor on as it’s her only outfit
She sits back the bottle soon drank,
And nurses her last dram of it.
To Vondal she says in that think Northman accent
”I won that in a bet with a half orc, said it was worth a 100gold. I saved it to drink with those who would appreciate it”
It’s clear Helina is smarter than she looks
When Olga gets up to cross the room she dose a fast scan for thieves
And trouble. This table my not have had a fight but there where many others.
”there are many locals here, it must be cold out tonight”
Kern goes on nursing his ale not paying much attention to the other patrons around him but the group itself instead.
"We weight of impending death does seem to dampen the spirits of those here. But it does seem some have accepted it. Yet they wallow in sorrow. Such a strange way. I'm sure more... Optimistic... Folks would try to do as much as they can with their alloted time."
She turns to Pac "Yes, the Simon fellow did not know about his times end, but these around here have a better view" she takes out a small crystal gem from one of her pockets then begins to gently polish it
Not one to get too alarmed, her smile never fades, but she taps Vondals hand and then moves her hand to grab some of her throwing stars. There she will hold just in case.
The dwarf feels his hand being touched, then sees Sister Olga touch her throwing stars. The godling silently nods in acknowledgement, his own hand resting momentarily on Gloryhewner's pommel.
To Vondal she says in that think Northman accent
”I won that in a bet with a half orc, said it was worth a 100gold. I saved it to drink with those who would appreciate it.”
Vonda smiles. "You honor me, northern warrior. Many thanks."
”There are many locals here, it must be cold out tonight”
Blinking, the aasimar looks around the bar. "Yeah." Vondal nods. "That does make sense." The dwarf oblivious to the overall dread.
"We weight of impending death does seem to dampen the spirits of those here. But it does seem some have accepted it. Yet they wallow in sorrow. Such a strange way. I'm sure more... Optimistic... Folks would try to do as much as they can with their alloted time."
"I mean, ya. The storm will pass. Spring will come."
"Does that mean Asrilith infact does have room for joy in her life?" She giggles then looks to the others,
"I have one of those too. I though carry more cooking gear and simple ingredients. Oh and spices. As for the spirng I love the beautiful colors and the rain, you ever dance in the rain? Its wonderful!" She says as she laughs. Life was to her full of joy and wonder.
As she speaks she focuses on the general feel of the tap room.
"What brings me joy and what brings you joy, is not necessarily the same, so you will probably never know" she nods at the priestess
Ceirn is lost in his mug and not listening to deeply as he considers what he could have done to save more Simon.
The giant of an elf Stands, Slinging her Havasack and shield onto her back. She towers over those around.
Then she bends and picking up her Adamantine Great-Axe one handed. compicg back up she looks over at the steps, up to the rooms.
Then to the group she says,
"Tonight, I will look after you in your rooms, I do not sleep much, if another will cover the two hours I do sleep, then you should be safe from the throng and ref-raf."
"I still have a Bath to take, but I am fine bunking anywhere" She says looking at Vondal with a smile.
"Which isn't bad. We should figure out sleeping arrangements"
"Taking a bath?" Vonda postulates. "The Yawning Portal is filled to the brim. I wonder if they have room for baths in this crisis. Besides, the minute you get out, you'll be cold."
"There are a few bath houses to use. Besides a little spell keeps the cold at bay." Olga says smiling.
"Also thought you'd want to join. But am I wrong?"
Vondal ardently nods. "No. You are not wrong! I'll follow your lead."
almost
you turn your head, and gawk in surprise as you watch as a hand holding your coin purse being to disappear into the fold of an elf's subdued colored robes.
Olga seems to feel the need to try and maybe do something when a whirl of activity begins. She blinks and watches as the action unfolds. She looks at the others and holds on, hand drawing her throwing stars, should she need to throw.
Helina is big, but she is also surprisingly nimble.
Her eyes looks down at Half elf catching him in the act of larceny. And she gives him an evil grin. Then surprisingly fast in a single move she grabs him and at what at 1st looks like a combat grab is in fact a dance move. She plucks him off the ground and spins him around on the spot, he lower half and feet flying out and skimming the the heads, hats and helmets of the patrons around them, but hitting none. as he whooshing past them in a circle. Spinning around 360 once she then pops him back back on the ground where he stood moments before completing the dance move. None the wase for ware.
Then with that same evil grin on her face she says to him and the whole room.
Then she leans in and whispers to his ear.
"I will break you in two, and you will like it."
Adding a wink and straightens up once more.
She sighs as she watches the chaos unfolds. Seeing their targets, she nods to Pac "Any hand that reaches, you make sure they regret it" Pac flicks out his tongue and wraps around her waist
"I do not understand the need for such encounters. You and Vondal sure are the same. In many ways" she says to Helina
Helina busts out laughing at Astrilliths comment,
"The tribe I grow up in, females rule and say which male has which female."
She tops her head.
"Males are too emotional, blind focused, they don't understand the feelings of others. They make good hunters and protectors but not cheftens. We pick who I like and the way I like, when I like. You should try it, take what you want from a male, then throw them out of your bed and your life. A lot less trouble that way."
Then she grins at Astrilliths and taps her chest with that back of her hand softly.
"That is unless you like females, I know I have from time to time, same thing, take what you want as well, but with respect."
Then as if thinking of some things she looks down again at the half-elf with the broken nose.
"You are a male right? sometimes it's hard to tell with pretty boys like you"
"Try what? Drag someone to bed? I have very little reason to. Besides from what I heard that such activities can be 'fun', I have had very little urges for such things. So I do not really see the reason to. Though I guess if asked I could participate in such things. But that doesn't really happen. I guess most rely on looks. And I have been said to 'induce sickness'." she does a rather forceful laugh "Not that I mind being left alone. The Coin and Pac has been my only companionship anyway. And I do not mind that." the grimmspawn shrugs
Helina looks hard at Astrillith giving her a look up down, then she sniffs her, which end with a confused look on helina's face..
"sickness, Why? you look and smell fine to me, and you don't seem to be ill with something. You could do with a few more meals, but some like that look, boy like with pale skin."
She looks around the room.
"And your a tall one like me, males would be easy to pick from not that there are that many good ones here"
Looking back she adds.
"Don't wait or ask, pick one and tell them you want to use them for the night"
She nuges Astrillith with her elbow lightly.
"I find the little ones like that a lot, the half men, and Dwarves, they may be short but down below they are often very well made."
She chuckles, and looks down, the half-elf had fled,
looking back up and at Astrillith again she chuckles saying.
"But then sometimes they run like snow rabbits."
Seeing there are cutpurses around, Ceirn reaches down to check his own coins.
"I may be covering most of my body now, but that's the thing, underneath all this. I've been told that I could give undead a run for their gold. But again, I do not mind. It's not something I particularly feel I need. If someone else needs it and they wish to ask me, I do not think I would say no. Mostly as I said, not something I strive for or probably even need. So it will be like asking me to open a door or to go help pick up mail." she shrugs, the snake resting around her waste gently sways it's head from side to side as it looks around for wandering hands or other appendages
She nods,
"As you wish"
She checks her things, and then says.
"So are we going to the rooms?"
" Women too. Interesting. Sounds fun. Hey Vondal would you hate ir if I tired a wkman?" she saked accenting with a gigfle.
"No", Vondal replies, engaged in combat with the pickpocket. "Charging tickets?"
Helina is big, but she is also surprisingly nimble.
Her eyes looks down at Half elf catching him in the act of larceny. And she gives him an evil grin. Then surprisingly fast in a single move she grabs him and at what at 1st looks like a combat grab is in fact a dance move. She plucks him off the ground and spins him around on the spot, he lower half and feet flying out and skimming the the heads, hats and helmets of the patrons around them, but hitting none. as he whooshing past them in a circle. Spinning around 360 once she then pops him back back on the ground where he stood moments before completing the dance move. None the wase for ware.
Then with that same evil grin on her face she says to him and the whole room.
Then she leans in and whispers to his ear.
"I will break you in two, and you will like it."
Adding a wink and straightens up once more.
"No", Vondal replies, engaged in combat with the pickpocket. "Charging tickets?"
"Scandalous, that's more a Sunite or Sharess sorta thing!" She says, laughing, shifting to let herself get her throwing stars ready.
"All I'm saying for this, if someone so much as lifts a finger to try and harm me, I will send them down the Styx without hesitation" she states matter of factly. Her tone steady
"I think I will aim for the room without Vondal and Olga tonight. It's starting to sound like too much of a spectacle for me." Ceirn says.
The dwarf only intervenes with the pick pockets if it seems that the group is having difficulty.
"I'll take whatever room'll have me as ah've nowhere ta' go an no room ta' complain o'er free lodgings, if'n I get some money o' o' this dungeon, first've it'll be given o'er te ye fine folk fer accomadatin' me".
The dwarf does not sense the mood of the rom as he's simply never been here before and is quite frankly disoriented from his recent random portal encounter!