"Well,... Um,... Wow." I said, trying to sound intelligent, but unable to hide my wide-eyed expression from the others. "That's, quite a resume'."
"When you say 'trapped', do you mean physically? Is there a way you can be set free? Or were you 'captured' in spirit only?" I ask as Romulus slowly picks up the amulet.
My interest was genuine, but I was also trying to keep the amulet talking, so hopefully it wouldn't notice that I was ready to flame it at the first sign of an attack or mental domination of Romulus.
Yes, I just switched back to 'first person'. Been reading 'Harry Dresden' novels, Sorry! ;P
As the voice booms out, Akallabeth jumps back, but the flame doesn't flare unbidden as it used to do.
'Good, at least I'm getting a little less jumpy,...'
Glancing at the others with a raised eyebrow that speaks volumes, Akallabeth leans forward again, making VERY sure not to touch anything this time as well.
'I was always raised to believe that a TRUE hero was modest, So,...'
"Well gentlebeing, I would have to humbly answer no, I do not consider myself a hero. We are but a group of well-meaning persons trying our best to right a great wrong. We DID defeat a group of brigands in this area not all that long ago. And I believe that any remainder are fled."
He looks again at the others,
"Um, WHOM do we have the honor of addressing??"
OK, looks like we've picked up a potion of CLW, an as yet unidentified book, and a chatty amulet?!? :)
Distracted by Aierianna's shout, Akallabeth goes wide-eyed as the pile of debris teeters over directly towards him.
"Oh,... " And he is buried under the detritus as it falls.
Fussing, mostly at himself, he waves off the others offers of help as he extricates himself from the rubble. "Nothing hurt but my pride." He tells them.
To himself he adds, "All those lessons, and I can't even dodge a broomstick,... Rassin' Frassin' Knickle Frickle,..."
His grace if not his dignity restored, he aids the others in swiftly examining the room. He spares a moment for the large map, and says. "Kegi, would you be so kind as to examine this? CHeck it for accuracy against what we know of this floor?"
"Now then," He says, rubbing his hands together briskly as he turns his attention to the desk. "What do we have here?" He turns his still-burning magic-sensitive eyes to the objects on the desk, careful not to touch anything yet.
Spend 3 rounds examining the objects for magic to get all possible info.
Um,... @Jsl~ Is Kegi still with us? I just noticed that I haven't seen him post since we found Luc.
Akallabeth nods at Romulus suggestion, then waits for Airenna to give the door teh all clear. He leans in, still trying to be careful not to touch the door.
"Hm,... Guys, the door doesn't seem to be warded, or if it is it's only minor magics. Probably just alarms as opposed to wards. But I'm seeing the letter "T" around the handle in a couple of places. I wonder, It could be the remnants of blessing with Holy Water, but more likely a key to bypass the alarms. Did any of those guys we first ran into have anything that looked like a "T" on them?"
He looks around at the obviously hastily abandoned rooms. "I'm very curious as to what they deemed valuable enough to actually bother with magic for. Shall we open it?" He grins.
"Well, this looks promising." Akallabeth smiles when they find the hidden doorway. He aids in searching and making sure that the 'house' is clear, then studies the arcane script on the locked door.
"Well, this looks fairly defensible." He says while helping guide Lucienne to a fairly stable looking chair. He then returns to the script on the door. "Tenna-Sie? I don't get it. LIke most of the stuff in this castle." He admits grudgingly.
He summons the flame, and winces as the flames are forced into his eyes. He focuses his arcane sight upon the door.
"Rom, Aieranna, what do you two see here?"
Cast Detect Magic, concentrating on the door for 3 rounds.
Akallabeth tips his hat to Aerianna, and gives her a mock (but not mocking), bow. He then begins to truly examine the area they are in, looking for entrances/exits, hiding spots, clues to where the 'Knaves' come and go from, etc.
"Thank you Aerianna. By tagging along with us, you seem to have inherited our problems. In case I didn't make it clear earlier, welcome." Akallabeth says, tipping his hat to her.
"I agree Rom, I think we should rely on Kegi's expertise, and Aerianna's, and see if we can string up a few alarms and traps. What do you guys think, we search out the Knave's hideout/base? It doesn't look like Lucienne is going to be joining us soon, we should find a place where we can leave her in relative safety." He adds, looking at the woman huddled in the corner.
Akallabeth watches Lucienne with obvious concern in his face. What the concern is for he doesn't say.
Quietly he gathers the others, letting Lucienne have the far corner.
"Kegi, Rom, Arieanne, I don't know that I want to imagine what she's just been through. Let's give her as much space , and time, as we can afford to. But let's try not to leave her ALONE-alone if possible. Not just because I'm worried about her own reactions, but I'm not sure that she can defend herself if we get attacked right now."
In a normal volume he continues.
"Kegi. The knaves used this room as an ambush point, so it's probably travelled enough that we don't want to park here for long, unless you want to try your hand at 'Knavery'? Let's see if we can find out where their hideout was. Or is. That may not have been all of them. I'm guessing it's nearby. Any chance you can track them?"
"Rom. I used to have a spellbook full of things for perimeter defenses and alarms. But I don't know them anymore. Do you have anything we can use for any kind of defense or alarm?"
"Arianna, I'm Sorry. Between the running, and the fighting, and the training,... I just realized I don't know anything about you. Other than I don't want you pointing those swords at ME!" HE says with a sincere smile. "If you have any skills or abilities that can help us secure our position, or help Kegi scout out the area, please let us know. "
HE looks back at Lucienne, and speaks softly once more.
"I know less about priestly magic than I do about the Gatekeepers', does anyone have any idea if there are any,...side effects, from being brought back to life? I'm thinking we can try to give Lucienne some time if we set up a base here, and use our time to see if we can locate those bushes, trees, whatever. What do you guys think?"
Sorry so long-winded. I see this as an ongoing conversation with everybody, these are just points he brings up.
Akallabeth's first response is a slack-jawed gape, cleverly covered by running like crazy.
Once they found themselves in a hiding spot, Akallabeth looked Lucienne over with a more critical eye. He finally seemed to be convinced that it really was Lucienne, and not some doppleganger or undead reincarnation of her. He grinned, like a kid in a candy store.
Welcome back Luc, We'd have been to get you earlier, but we were busy. Well, that, and we didn't know that you were alive!!!" He impulsively gives her a hug. Then backs away, embarrassed. "So, any idea why they bothered to bring you back? Or what they wanted with you? Scratch that, hold that thought. What DO you think about where we first met the Knaves Kegi? We pretty much broke up that crew, think it's still empty and waiting to be claimed?"
Akallabeth stroked his goatee as he contemplated Kegi's plan for tactical flaws. He didn't see any glaring ones.
"Yes, if Rom 'injures' you to escape, and you fall to the ground, yelling at the guards to give chase, then YOU follow THEM back towards us,... Yes, that might work. At least I don't see anything wrong with it." He smiles. "Sounds like a plan."
"The trick will be too draw them over to chase after us. If we attack with too few, they'll likely ignore us or drive us off. If we attack with too many, they'll hole up and NEVER come out. Does anybody have a sure-fire insult that's never failed?" Akallabeth asks, smirking.
Apparently the last month has done wonders for whatever has ailed him. He seems to be the smarmy, tough-exterior, heart-of-gold Private Inquisitive that first met Kegi and Romulus all those,... weeks, ago?
Akallabeth propped himself back up on one elbow as the large man finished his tale. For a moment he just looked at the barkeep, then he lay back down, stare at the ceiling and murmured,... "I hate prophecies."
He turns his head to smile at the barkeep to take the sting out of his words. "Taken literally, They're always so darn,... painful."
"Well," He mused after a few more moments. "That explains a lot, actually. About the Castle I mean. That explains why we couldn't identify where we were, or what magic is powering this place, it's from what we sometimes call 'The Lost Art'. We had no references to identify it with!"
Akallabeth looked at the barkeep again, "I don't suppose your book of prophesy told you what needs to happen after you find 'us'?"
Akallabeth sits up on one elbow, just now realizing how close he came to cashing in permanently.
'Heh. Commander always said that I can't do things the easy way.'
He looks the barkeep in the face, ands nods. "I am grateful, and as you have been so generous so far, it would be boorish of me to refuse you now. Please, tell me a story about a castle,..." Akallabeth smiles, and lays back down, his mind racing as he listens to every word,...
Akallabeth quickly checks the condition of the barkeep, How is he? Injured? Dead? That might change my next/future actions.
Then he limps to join the others at the window. "I don't want to leave Kegi out there alone, though he's probably in better shape than the three of us together. Unless somebody has a better idea, If he starts to get too far away, I want to follow him close enough to keep him in sight. How are you doing? I know you both look like I feel,..."
'Daughter?!? I don't remember Lucienne saying anything about being from Castle Loony,...'
Akallabeth winces in pain as he slides relatively quietly to stand next to Kegi peeking through the crack in the door. He furrows his brows in confusion when the woman calls Lucienne her Daughter, and his eyes go wide when the barkeep goes flying.
Akallabeth watches as the lookalikes hoist Lucienne's body up between them, and march out the door in step. He silently mouths the word 'Bizarre', but remains otherwise still as the 'queen' takes her leave.
Akallabeth looks at the others, like him all injured and looking like escapees from the Mourning, and asks softly,... "Does anybody have a clue as to what just happened? Or who that was?"
Akallabeth then nods to Kegi, and slowly pushes the door quietly open to make sure the coast is clear.
Using signals he had almost forgotten from his previous life, he taps Kegi on the shoulder, points to his eyes, and then the door to indicate Kegi should watch the departing group. He then moves to check on the barkeep.
Akallabeth felt cold, and yet comfortable. It would be so easy to just relax. But somewhere deep down, he knew that would be wrong. There was something he still had to do,...
Spend 1 AP to stabilize, If Kegi still gives me a potion, that +7 HP would put me at +3? and therefore awake, if in a lot of pain?
Akallabeth regains consciousness, and a familiar if blurry face swims into view. "Kegi?" He mumbles blurrily, "Whas goin' on? Wha happen'?"
Akallabeth narrowed his gaze as the Dandy managed to gasp his ultimatum. Then he relaxed into a small, tight, smile as he saw which hand the dandy was referring to.
"Well, I must say that sounds very generous, six lives in exchange for saving one." Akallabeth shrugged. "Sounds fair to me, what do you think Lucienne? He hands you the vial, and you heal his wounds?"
He then looks at the Dandy. "And it doesn't matter if you trust me or not." He says pleasantly, with no hint of a threat. "I couldn't heal you if I tried. But this is the second time in under an hour that YOU have tried to kill US. And I think that the young lady with the curative magic would like SOME sign that WE can trust YOU. So what do you say goodsir? You hand her the vial to prove that you won't try to kill us the instant your better, and she saves your life. Sound fair?"
He asks, waiting expectantly.
I was going to 'ready an action' to grab the arm/hand with the vial if it looks like he might break it, but then realized that would be a Grapple, which the caster stinks at. :P
Akallabeth, apparently recovered from his earlier self-doubts, strides quickly over to help Arianna to her feet, and then goes over to the form of Maddock lying on the ground. He begins to examine him, trying to see what happened, and if he is alright.
"Yes, please enlighten us goodsir. WHY, exactly, should we 'not do that if we want to live'?"
Akallabeth asks as he slowly rises from Maddock's unmoving form, his usually pleasant face set in a determined scowl. "And while your at it, what happened to our friend? I didn't see any of you cast any spells. Start talking, and maybe the lady can be convinced to use her wand to help you."
Seeing Maddock collapse for no apparent reason, Akallabeth glares at his remaining assailant, flames visible in his eyes as well as covering his body.
"Last chance. Get down. STAY down, or die!"
SLowly so he doesn't draw an attack, he waves the flames through another pattern in the air. He steps to the side and shoves his hand though it again, releasing another wave of rainbow colored sheets of flame covering his last opponent and catching the ones who were threatening Maddock.
"Agreed," Akallabeth calls to Luc as he warily circles with his remaining foe. "There is definitely something bigger we are missing here. Come on lad, don't be shy. I'll be perfectly happy to accept YOUR surrender." He covers his nervousness by flexing his fingers' grip on his staff, waiting for the attack he knows will come. "Otherwise you'd best make this shot count, because you won't get another,..." He growls.
Reassured by Lucienne's fairly calm speech during battle, Akallabeth takes a breath and tries an old meditative technique, almost forgotten from his previous life.
Yipe, I never played with AP before, I keep forgetting about them! If L~ let's us have a second attempt this round, (an AP would have put me over before) Then I'll use the following. (Otherwise ignore the rest of this post)
With a breath Akallabeth's eyes focus, and his shaking stops, he looks his remaining assailant in the eyes. "Showtime. Move it or lose it. I have a date with the Fat Man."
above is 19+8=27, -2 for shaken=25, DC:11 for 1st lvl spell, Success!
Akallabeth eyes begin to smolder with his inner fire, and the flames of his mystic armor flare brighter. Casting cautiously to avoid drawing unexpected blows, his hands flare with flames and he paints a particular pattern in the air, turning at the last moment to shove his hand through the center of his pattern. From his hand the flames spread out in a scintillating rainbow of fiery sheets. The rainbow flames catch one of his attackers and one each of the attackers threatening Romulus and Lucienne, who were standing back to back.
He smiles as he sees the result of his handiwork. It isn't pleasant.
"Now", He says calmly to his other attacker, "What am I going to do with you?" He manages not to let his knees bang together while he says this.
Spoilered for length,...
Spoiler:
Cast defensively to avoid AoO, 5' step for aiming cone, Cast Color Spray, DC:16 Will save or the following depending on their level,
2 HD or less=The creature is unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, then blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round. (Only living creatures are knocked unconscious.)
3 or 4 HD=The creature is blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, then stunned for 1 round.
Seeing the bully boys take hits, but keep closing in, Akallabeth growls and gives up trying to untangle his crossbow from its strap. With a grin that looks positively gleeful, he lets the flame loose. Quickly weaving mystic patterns in the air, he slaps his flame covered hands against his chest, and the flames once more cover his entire body. This time, they do not fade from sight, but remain clearly visible surrounding him.
"Keep back Rom!" He growls, apparently unaware of the flames continued presence. "I've never regained the power spent in the cage battle, use the wands!)
Spoiler:
Cast Mage Armor, 5-0 lvl & 3-1 lvl slots left. Received healing wand charge after battle, Current HP: 15/17
Akallabeth looks at 'Piggly Wiggly', to the Burly barkeep, and returns the dandy's sneer. He rolls his eyes upwards.
"Oh ye gods, little fishies, and the magic to turn one into the other! These people obviously don't want us here, don't they realize if they'd just point the way, we'd be happy to do the work for them and leave?!?!"
He reaches for his crossbow, but it has become inexplicably tangled in his coat. He fumbles with it as the bullies close in,...
"Well," I said, waving cheerfully at the lad's retreating back, "Unless we plan on re-locating and robbing mr. Piggly-Wiggly, the Barkeep is likely to be no source of info. If you think we can piece together enough info to find and use the exit ourselves, I'm for that. Otherwise, I can't think of a better source of info than the top!"
"Of course, judging by our track record so far, we may just annoy or frighten him too. Not sure I want the head of this crazy place mad at me."
"Blast it all, I HATE playing the game without knowing all the rules!"
Akallabeth makes a visible effort to calm down. "OK, what does everyone else think? Personally, I think if this is just a 'castle', then it has to have an entrance and exit. maybe we can just find that. Otherwise, I'm with going to the 'King' and see if we can make an ally of him. IF he hasn't already chosen another side." He adds, nodding at the person who made that observation earlier.
"Well, that makes two of us." Akallabeth responds with a grin. "We haven't met the King either. Perhaps you can tell us about your local customs in the castle then. What is considered polite when greeting someone on the street say, or what is considered a generous gift if your trying to impress someone important?" He asked.
Seeing the boy is bordering on the brink of a panic attack, (easily recognizing the symptoms from his own experience immediately after the Mourning,) Akallabeth drops the charming smile and says calmly and gently, "At ease lad. Everyone, freeze. We're not going to get any info if he has a heart attack. Relax, please. We mean you no harm. I promise that not one of us will lay a hand on you. All we want is someone to answer a few, simple, questions. That's all. I promise." He finishes with his hands still held out empty.
Akallabeth then slowly takes a few steps back, and calmly pulls the chair the piggy-man had just recently vacated to face the boy, and slowly sinks into it. "There, better? Have a seat, or not, as you wish. If we gentlemen frighten you," ('And I know I frighten myself some days,...') He thinks to himself, "Then perhaps you wouldn't mind talking to one of the ladies? Just a few questions, and then we leave. That's all."
He looks to the two women with a quick but obvious plea for help in his eyes. 'All this power, and I can't convince a single boy to talk to me for 30 seconds!' He fumes helplessly behind his calm facade.
"Nothing dangerous or scary lad. We are genuinely turned around, and just need a friendly face to answer a few questions, that's all." Akallabeth answered with his most charming smile, holding up his hands to show that they were empty.
"And I happen to agree with your opinion my friend. This time at any rate. I for one happen to be tired of playing 'catch up' with figuring out whatever 'Shadowwise' throws at us. I think some 'thinking ahead' info is just what the physician ordered!"
"Hoy there lad! Don't be in such a hurry to run off! We mean you no harm! We were only calling his bluff. Be a lad and answer a few questions for some strangers lost in a new place?" Akallabeth asked the boy behind the counter edging toward the exit.
"Hrm." I said intelligently. "I hadn't considered seeking allies against 'Shadowwise'. That's brilliant!" I smiled at Lucienne. "After all, if 'Shadowwise' is sending people willy-nilly into this realm to get them out of the way, how long before he tries to take over here too? That's a viable argument to present to a ruler."
"But I think, If the king's up there, don't we have to go through the knights to get to him?"
Akallabeth isn't sure, but he doesn't think that Kegi is the bluffing type. It appears that he has put his momentary indecisiveness behind him, and quickly picks up on Lucienne's intent. Slipping into his 'snake oil salesman' grin as easily as Kegi shifts, He moves to stand next to Lucienne, and try to help her 'good cop' pitch.
"May I?" Akallabeth says, intercepting the paper as Kegi shoves it back towards the fat man. He scans it quickly. Noting it's age, he reads it to see if there is any dates or anything that would give an indication of it's intended length of authority, or expiration date.
"Indeed sir, we are actually unwilling , visitors, to the castle, and merely wish to be on our way. If you could help us in that regard, we would be most grateful."
Akallabeth looks at Lucienne after she whispers in his ear, Then at the bell she handed him.
"You seem so sure, so confident." He whispers, gazing at his own warped reflection in the bell.
He continues, almost too softly to hear,...
(DC 10 to hear,...)
Spoiler:
"Sometimes it's just so hard to keep the fire,... I just don't want to hurt anyone else,... who doesn't deserve it."
His handsome features harden, and he looks up. He halfheartedly smirks at Romulus, and says in a normal volume, "Sorry Rom, I didn't hear you come in."
I looked around, still saw no one. I whispered to Luc,
"I consider myself an honest man, but I have to admit I'm tempted. No conflict, no confrontation. Just pay up, get our info, and go. No physical harm done to anyone, everyone goes on their way,..."
I slowly removed my hand from her shoulder. "Maybe I've just got 'backwards' on the brain. I never would have considered this before,..." I said, barely loud enough for her to hear me.
I muttered "I was afraid of that." Just loud enough to be understood, then slowly rotated my neck until it popped. I sighed. Having released what little tension I could, I turned to the others with my (hopefully) usual roguish grin,...
"Well, shall we go and see this man then? If there's ONE thing I DO know it's that politicians love to talk! Even if they only tell you what they think you want to hear! Maybe this 'Magic Tax man' will at least give us something worthwhile to go off of?"
I look around the street, "Now, which way to City Hall or the Inn do you suppose,... ?"
"Very well, lets go and ask him then. The worst he can do is say 'no',... like everyone else in this blasted place,..."
"Lucienne, with your skills, is there anyway that we can tell WHERE we are? I just had this,... nightmare. What if we were only subdued by 'Shadowwise', and we are currently under some some sort of mental illusion? The way that everything seems to be backwards, it's like a freaking nightmare! And we know how good he is with manipulation and,..."
I took another long breath. "All I'm asking is, do we possess the ability to determine WHERE we are on our own? I would LUV to be able to figure out at least THAT much without help from the locals if possible. Whatever we do, If it turns out that we really ARE in another dimension, great. Anywhere you can get INTO you can get OUT of!"
I took another long breath as I re clamped the lid on my inner fire.
It wasn't easy. "Let's go find this guy. maybe HE'LL tell us something! Or maybe we'll get lucky, and the 'tax collectors' are villains here, and the Highwaymen are the good guys! Either way, I'm gonna wanna fry something real soon!" I muttered just loud enough for the others to hear.
I nodded, saluted the barkeep with my mug, and took one last swig. I tried not to dwell on the fact it was starting to taste,... well maybe not GOOD, but decent.
"Very well then. I bid you good day sirra, we shall return anon."
I turned to the others. "After you ladies, gentlemen?" I indicated the door. My head was still hurting trying to get around the whole 'backward' thing, and I desperately felt the need for clean, fresh air and calm conversation.
Once outside, I took slow, deep breaths, and actually felt a little better. "Is it just me?" I asked the others, "Or have I learned about/traveled to, more different dimensions and planes in the past week than I ever read about in my entire life!"
"WHEN we get back, I am gonna bury that 'nemesis' SO FAR under that seal the he is gonna have to look DOWN to see UP!" I exclaimed to the others, making clutching motions with my hands.
"So?" I asked, much more calmly now that I had vented, "Shall we see a man about a 'magic item tax'??"
I looked again at the muscles of the big, beefy barkeep. Swallowed. And gave him my award winning smile. "You are quite correct goodsir," I agreed amiably, "I certainly don't think I could take you in a fair fight. And, to be honest, we've done quite a lot of fighting lately. I would love to find a more,... amicable, solution."
I glanced at Luc and the others, then turned back to the barkeep. "Exactly HOW much lead do you require for the Dandy, or to ask you for the information we seek? We will find a way to procure it." An inspiration struck me,...
"Perhaps," I mused, "In lieu of paying you in lead, there is a service we could perform for you? A problem you have that we could solve for you? Something that you need done that would be worth answering a few questions for us?"
I kept a tight lid on the fire inside. This was not a good time for it to flare up. I hadn't realized until that moment how used I had gotten to blasting everything first, then asking questions.
'Let's try it this way first,' I told myself, ' We can always blast later if this doesn't pan out!'
OR, Aerianna and I could post at the same time! LOL!
Akallabeth raises an eyebrow at Lucienne's suggestion.
"Ticklish?! Maybe. But I'll admit I'm not keen to test that theory!" He whispered back.
"Something about this place has been bothering me since we,... 'arrived'." He tells Kegi and Luc. "I can't quite place my finger on it,..." He strokes his goatee as he concentrates, a habit that the others have noticed he does when he is thinking.
"It's like looking at a displacer beast! You KNOW what your seeing is off to the side of what your trying to hit, but you can't help but swing at it anyway! Everything is off to the side here, Lead is worth more than Gold, the Cats spit you out instead, of, eating,...? Is that it?!?" He asks, turning back to Luc & Kegi, "Is everything, Backwards here?"
His eyes seem to light from inside as inspiration strikes. "That's it! it's not 'off to the side', it's backwards! It's like looking in a mirror! I wonder if the rule of 'backwards' applies to everything here,..." He muses. "If so, then your right Luc. The way to beat the barkeep at his challenge wouldn't be with brute strength."
The Barkeep looks offended as he sits down the 10 mugs of beer.
"That is my finest!"
'Why did I KNOW he was gonna say that?!?' I asked myself, taking a large swig of his 'finest' and managing to hold it down.
Noticing that some of the others were keeping their eyes on the rest of the room, i concentrated on the barkeep. My smile was only slightly dimmed by the slight effort it took not to make a face at the taste the beer.
"Well goodsir, we have met the rules of your establishment. While we are enjoying our drinks, may we now also companionably discuss possible business interests?" I took another swig of the beer. Not as large as the first, and was pleasantly surprised at how much less watered down it tasted this time.
'Probably because I just killed all my taste buds,...' I mused silently.
"What are you asking for the,... privilege, of some private discussion time with our mutual 'friend'? Is my companion correct, has he run up a tab? If so that would explain his recent bad choices that got him in this mess to begin with." I smiled, and took one more cautious sip. Not bad.
'I may just survive this after all.' I considered. But decided that ale was not my favorite beverage. Anymore.
"Or,..." I tapped my chin thoughtfully, "It is possible that YOU may possess the information we seek. If so, we could just reach an agreement between ourselves, and you can keep Mr. Dandy here and do whatever you like with him." I decided against another drink, for now. And settled for smiling as I awaited his response.
Akallabeth tried, not very successfully, not to laugh at the sight of the Dandy wearing one of the probably overpriced drinks. At Arianna's clever jest he gives up and chuckles. Recovering quickly, he nods to Romulus as the other fades smoothly back outside, and turns back to the barkeep with a grin that matches the humor on the barkeeps face.
Which is to say, not much.
Wordlessly, Akallabeth places a few coins on the counter. He raises an eyebrow, then adds a few more. He then reaches out and snags one of the dilapidated looking mugs and salutes the barkeep with it. "That will do to get us started, I trust?" And takes a swig.
Questions about 'throwing money around', for all,...
Spoiler:
What is the going rate for ale? (watered down or otherwise) I don't want to start out by throwing Plats around if the beer is a copper or two. Give me a starting point, and I'll add enough on top so that the Bar keep realizes that we are; A) Good for the coins, and B) Serious about wanting to deal with him. Thanks!
