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Alright, here is a good point for all of us to chat a bit while everyone finishes up their characters. This will also be the spot to ask any questions or get any clarification you may need while the RP is going.
I was hoping to put up a couple of conventions, just to make the play clearer for everyone as we read it. As I mentioned in the recruitment post, I was hoping to use invisible castle for any die rolls, though if that is unavailable to you due to a firewall or the like, I don't mind using dmtools die roller.
When we are talking out of character, the tend to make that much more clear. Feel free to just type in your actions normally, but making conversation Bold makes it stand out a lot more from the rest of the text.
Finally, if you wish to communicate directly with me(or any of the other players) or you are speaking in a language other then common, please use spoiler tags. I will also do this when I am delivering information through skill checks.
For example:
Knowledge(Religion) DC 20
If any of you have any questions on how to use any of these tags, they have examples just under where you enter posts, it says 'BBCode tags you can use:' just hit the show button. You can also ask any other questions here.
Feel free to let yourselves get used to your characters mindsets here as well, and have fun!
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The Lost Shepard
The sign over the front door shows a shepherd with a crooked staff but no sheep. From noon until midnight (and sometimes after), the Lost Shepherd is open as an eatery and taphouse. Never burgeoning with customers, the place is never empty, either. Good smells waft from the kitchen, from lamb stew to fresh baked bread, frying bacon to sage-and-thyme roasted vegetables.
The building’s great age cannot be concealed by the frequent repairs, and so the interior is drafty and dusty, but fires in multiple fireplaces keep the place warm. The taproom is large and comfortable, with a high-placed loft above the door offering additional seating. Beyond the taproom lies the kitchen, a pantry, and a small office. The second and third floors offer rooms for rent, about half of which seem occupied at any given time.
During business hours there are two cooks on hand, a middle aged halfling with slicked back black hair that is just begining to grey and who sports a gold tooth, who most often is out in the main chatting amicably with one customer or another and an elderly human woman, unattractive enough that it takes a bit of squinting even to determine her gender, who only seems to come out of the kitchen when she is trying to call the halfling back to aid her with something.
A single young human girl waits the tables, she's young and just on the pretty side of plain. The girl appears friendly enough, though she is often so busy as not to spend much time chatting with any one customer.
Beyond the staff there are few other customers in the tavern most nights as the majority of the townsfolk prefer to leave it to adventurers who tend to come in fresh from a journey with coin in their pockets, or well funded in preparation for an excursion then blow their coin quickly and depart, leaving the shepard profitable but usually only busy a few nights a month.
The only regulars seem to be an elderly dwarf who sits across from the door and is there so often that he could be employed as a bouncer were he still a bit more spry. Often talking to the halfling cook and obviously regailing him with some story or another, its all but unheard of to see the dwarf un-intoxicated.
The sole other patron is a human man who is just moving past middle age, with his greying hair well kept and his clothes of the finest qualities. He smiles warmly to anyone who enters the tavern, watching them with obvious interest but otherwise keeping to himself.
Rates at the Lost Shepard are fair:
A room above the tavern costs 5sp per night, including two beds. The rooms are clean and well kept. For an additional 5sp per night, a simple padlock may be rented to place on the door.
Meals in the taproom are hot, generous, and tasty, with surprising variety. Meals are 5sp as well, but for 3sp one can buy something lighter, simpler, and cold.
Ale is plentiful but nothing special at 4cp per mug. The bar also offers wine by the pitcher for 2sp or excellent whiskey at 1sp per glass.
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Everyone knows the legends of Dragon's Delve, perhaps they were bedtime stories of riches or scary stories told among children, but the dungeon truly world renowned both for its dangers and for the treasures that those who do return from it bear with them. However, each of you is coming into play with a bit of extra knowledge of your own. Perhaps these rumors are what brought you here, or perhaps they just added extra enticement, but for some reasons these stories may have stuck with you.
Remember though, these are rumors and rumors often hold embelishment but even false legends often have hints of truth behind them.
Kolgun
Thel
Aldrin
Bengal
Bengal, preferring to be in cat form most of the time, strides into the inn. She sits down on her haunches at the entrance, surveying the crowd for a moment. Her tail swishes back and forth as she thinks to herself. She stands, then walks over to the kitchen, making sure to walk past the waitress, giving her an affectionate rub on the leg as she strolls by.
In the kitchen, she makes her way to the halfling, batting him gently with a paw and meowing loudly, trying to get his attention for the hopes of some scraps of food.
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The barmaid starts a bit and nearly spills the tray of food and ale she was bringing to the old dwarf when she feels the furry creature move past her legs. When she sees what it is she giggles slightly but glances up towards the kitchen. "Juddelo, you've got company headed your way, might want to shoo her off so she doesn't get into the chicken!"
The halfling turns to step out of the kitchen to find out what the girl is talking about and just about trips over the cat. He tries to make an intimidating face at the animal, waving his hands above it. "Go on now, shoo. No guests or their pets back in the kitchen. If you want something, pull up a chair and and ask Taran just like anyone else."
The other cook makes a rather sour face at Juddelo's poor attempt at humor and simply grabs a little bit of mutton and tosses it back out into the main room so she could close the door behind the cat if it chases after. "The little beast would make all sorts of mess in the kitchen."
The cat scoffs, as well as any cat could, though the sound was quite odd coming from the feline. With an angry swish of her tail, she turns around and heads back out of the kitchen.
Seeing an empty table, she hops into the chair, taking the time to change back to her humanoid form. After a round, the young woman sits at the chair. When standing, she is a little under three feet tall. Her skin is the same color as the brown fur of the cat, her hair has the same reddish brown and black markings. Her eyes are a bright green, still catlike. Swiveling around a bit so that she faces the crowd, she motions the waitress over to take her order.
Question, what about character traits? Are we going to use them?
Kolgun sits at a table near one of the fireplaces, his back to a wall. He holds a book in one hand, and a mug of ale in the other. He’s reading with rapt attention. His trail pack sits on the floor at his feet, and a warhammer rests within easy reach against the wall next to him.
Anyone who has traveled in the company of dwarves would recognize that Kolgun is young to be so far from his hold, “Barely old enough to braid his beard.” But a closer look would reveal confidence and experience beyond his years. His hands and face bear scars from untold fights or battles.
If anyone approaches, Kolgun will close his book, look up and invite them to join him for a pint. Like most dwarves, he is reserved, and any will consider anything beyond simple conversation
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The barmaid sets down the food and drink before the dwarf, blinking a bit as she turns around and sees the small woman who had not been there just a short time before. She blushes a bit in embarrassment at apparently having completely ignored a customer for a moment, but she also gives a warm smile. "Greetings, Miss. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in. Will you be having anything?"
The Tibbit giggles, smiling appreciatively at the woman, "Well, I thought I could get my orders straight from the kitchen, but I was told to come out here and order. I would like a good meal please, and some warm milk if you have any."
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The waitress nods her head a bit, though she seems a bit confused at the order for a second. Then the realization comes to her that obviously the cat she saw earlier must belong to this one. "It will only be a moment.
Though the waitress may have missed the display, the others in the tavern seem to have taken notice, the elder human chuckling slightly to himself as he simply observes.
The old dwarf snorts loudly and then chuckles a bit, looking over to where Kolgun sits reading. He speaks loud enough to be rude and is obviously more then a little drunk."Well I'll be, lad. That certainly isn't something you see every day, is it? You think the wee halfling is one of them nature fellas?" He pauses in his speech long enough to puff up his chest a little bit. "Why on one of my trips to the delve we had one of those woodsy types. Druid I think is what he called himself. He was an elf I think. Didn't like him much, though I saw him turn into a bird once. He was a flighty fella."
The dwarf pauses a minute as if trying to make sure he did tell a joke and then begins laughing uproariously.
She laughs once more, not taking offense at the drunken dwarf's antics. "While I appreciate the mistake in calling me a halfling, I actually happen to be a Tibbit good sir."
Alright, here is my half-elf bard Jayden. I still need to work on a description and his background but everything else should be ready to go.
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Rumor for Jayden
Kolgun considers the young lady at the other table. He’s certainly met halflings, and elves. But he’s neither met nor heard of a Tibbit before. She does seem friendly enough, if a bit mischievous.
He reminds himself that he’s not back in his hold, or with his clan, and that he should expect new people and new things.
He offers a greeting, "Evening, Miss." and raises his mug toward her.
Since she did not yet have her meal, she raises a hand in greeting to the other dwarf, "Evening! It's a wonderful evening, isn't it? My name is Bengal. You would be?" She tilts her head to the side for a moment, "I've seen most of the people in here, seen them going in and out, but you I don't recognize."
A rather odd-looking gnome wearing an array of clothing that could best be described as haphazard, and is probably something that a color blind person would pick rather than someone with any ability to actually discern color, walks into the tavern. Wearing a bright yellow robe with a red boot on his left foot and a blue boot on his left, while also wearing a green glove on one hand and a tattered purple glove on the other, he walks over to a table, takes a seat, and waits for the waitress to come buy and offer him something to drink. He appears to have recently been in some kinda of explosion, as he has black scorch marks all over his cloths, and his hair has the very faint smell of smoke. If asked if he's alright, he'll reply "To much sulfer, that was the problem! Well, it might have been the phosphorus fungus I mixed in. Hmmm....oh sorry, I tend to ramble about work more than I should. What was it you were saying?"
Upon seeing the gnome enters, she perks up considerably. There was a halfling, and now a gnome in the tavern? It was just her lucky day it seemed!
With his cape billowing in the wind, Thel stands in the doorway, taking in the...meager...offerings. The fires being stirred to life by the breeze from outside, Thel walks inside, leaving the door open wide.
Running his finger along the seat of a nearby chair, he pulls out a handkerchief and places it on the seat before sitting. His rapier gets caught between his legs as he sits, causing him to topple to the floor.
A couple of young lasses giggle, and an ogre of a man guffaws.
Thel lets his anger show for a moment, tearing the sword from his belt, flinging it across the room. Sitting in his chair, he sneers at the two girls, and beckons the barmaid over. She brings him an ale, along with his sword, warning him not to lose it again...and indicates the ogre-man, who audibly cracks his knuckles by making fists.
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Traits
OOC: darn typo, meant blue boot on the RIGHT foot, not the left foot.
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The dwarf quiets down some, while no one seems to have taken any offense at his humor, no one seems to be particularly interested in it either. Taking up his tankard again he mutters into his beard "Tibbit? Tid-bit more likely, ha!" With that said he takes a hefty swallow and returns to just murmering to himself.
The barmaid is in quite a hurry as she rushes around the room to take the new orders, ducking into the kitchen for a moment and returning with a feather duster to help get some of the soot out of the gnomes clothing if he doesn't mind the assistance. When the sword bounces against the wall she jumps and a large human man with grey hair pulled back into a pony tail looks down from the loft above. He simply watches to see if there is going to be any trouble as the girl goes and fetches the blade, bringing it back to Thel nervously. "I... I think you dropped this, sir?"
The drunken dwarf, startled from his near dozing by the crash calls out boisterously with a laugh "Looked more like it dropped him!" only to be silenced by a quick glare from the girl, who seems genuinely concerned of the man.
Following in the footsteps and the open door of the foppish Taldoran Jayden watches his small tantrum with an amused smile before making his way to a table on the opposite side of the room.
Placing his pack on the floor Jayden gracefully takes his seat with a slight flourish of his cloak and takes out his lute with a nod and smile to the room.
"If no one minds I'd like to play a few songs. I fear I have ignored my lute of late and it could use a little exercise."
Assuming there are no objections Jayden strums a few cords before beginning a quiet tune.
The gnome accepts the waitresses assistance in getting the worst of the soot off of his clothes, and says "I'd love to hear something cheerful after the failure of my last experiment! Play on, good minstrel!"
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Hearing the first few notes of the lute being plucked, the halfling peeks his head out of the kitchen where even the crash of the sword didn't rouse him before. Leaving his cooking duties behind, as if he were quite comfortable doing so(which the snort from the old woman still cooking implies he is), he makes his way over to a table closer to the bard. "Oh, a musician. Marvelous. I'm sure you have some tales to tell, hm?"
Thel sips at the ale, poking at the food placed in front of him.
As music fills the air, Thel listens for a few moments, and shakes his head. "The nobles of Oppara would be appalled at such a display. But then," looks around the common room, "this isn't Oppara."
Bengal looks over to Thel, tilting her head to the side, "And why are you in such a sour mood this evening sir? It's such a lovely night"
Thel sips at the ale, poking at the food placed in front of him.
As music fills the air, Thel listens for a few moments, and shakes his head. "The nobles of Oppara would be appalled at such a display. But then," looks around the common room, "this isn't Oppara."
Smiling at the response from Thel as if he fully expected it, "Well I guess it is a good thing there are no nobles of Oppara here then."
Looking around the room with a chuckle he asks, "Any requests?" as he continues to strum.
Kolgun asks "Do you know the Stonemason's Worktune?"
He tucks his book into his coat and prepares to listen to his song, what ever it may be.
Bengal looks over to Thel, tilting her head to the side, "And why are you in such a sour mood this evening sir? It's such a lovely night"
"I miss the opulence of Oppara. It has been a long time since I've...'roughed it'." Looks into the dregs of his ale and sighs. "What I wouldn't give for a Chelaxian wine."
Smiling at the response from Thel as if he fully expected it, "Well I guess it is a good thing there are no nobles of Oppara here then."
Thel smiles. "There may be one closer than you assume."
She looks utterly confused by his remark, eating a bit of her meal as she thinks of an answer, "Well, if you miss it so much, why not return?"
Kolgun approaches Thel, claps him on the back and says "Cheer up, lad. This ale can’t match the worst I’ve had in the Five Kingdoms. But, the fire's warm, and the company is good."
He winks at Bengal, then continues, "Why not buy us all a round of ale, and we’ll listen to the minstrel spin his tales?"
She looks utterly confused by his remark, eating a bit of her meal as she thinks of an answer, "Well, if you miss it so much, why not return?"
"It's...complicated. I'm here tonight to help resurrect my family name."
Kolgun approaches Thel, claps him on the back and says "Cheer up, lad. This ale can’t match the worst I’ve had in the Five Kingdoms. But, the fire's warm, and the company is good."
He winks at Bengal, then continues, "Why not buy us all a round of ale, and we’ll listen to the minstrel spin his tales?"
Nearly spilling what's left of his drink after Kolgun's clap, Thel downs the rest of it. "No, I suppose it's not the worst..." He stands and goes over to the minstrel.
"Yes, let's hear a story about the glorious past of this great nation."
Ale's fine, but wine's finer! Let the bard play, and lets drink to memories of happier times.
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The old man, who thus far has remained quiet stands from his spot across the bar and approaches the gathering, giving them a small smile. "You seek to raise your families name, do you, nobleman? Thinking to fill your pockets with coin?"
He glances then towards the dwarf "And what brings you so far from the five kingdoms, if not the riches of the ancients, treasures your people left behind when they still blinked in the light?"
His eyes then pass around to the others. "Quite a motley gathering the tavern has seen on this evening it seems. There are few enough travelers through these parts as is, but such as yourselves? No, you come here with one purpose, do you not? You seek the dragons treasure, the magic of the mages, the home of your people, legends and fame. However it may call to you, each of you seeks the delve."
The man chuckles softly as he looks over the gathering again "Now, I wouldn't be the businessman I am if I couldn't see the burning in your eyes for this task. As I said, we don't often have your sort here, perhaps a few travelers a month pass by and only the foolhardy or the reckless would seek the delve alone, and it would be a pity for you not to return due to the distraction of music rather then the focus of business at hand."
He pauses a moment as if realizing that he has been a bit crass in this. "I apologize for being so blunt, but in many ways this is my business. My name is Methrondir and I pride myself in my ability to supply those such as yourselves and of course to provide fair and just compensation in return for such trinkets as may be uncovered. It has been some weeks since I have seen anyone interested in the trek and I'm afraid that I have been growing weary of waiting, it has caused me to be a bit... excitable at the fortuitous arrival of such obviously skilled patrons."
" It seems our host is very astute in his observations. I don't know about the rest of you folks, but the tales of the mages has recently raised my interest. I would love to hear more about this trek you are proposing, and what strange flora and fauna we can find in the delve"
Thel looks the man up and down, hands on his hips, feet set wide. "What would you know of the delve? You look as if you could hardly make it across the room.
Ooooh! I've heard of that already! It sounds mighty interesting. I would not mind going there myself, and seeing some of the stuff I can sneak past.
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Methrondir laughs lightly at the gnomes comments and even grins a bit to Thel. "Oh no, I'm afraid that I am not your host nor would I make much of a traveling companion. I am simply a humble shopkeep without a shop. I rely on travelers such as yourselves in order to ply my wares, as a small town like this, or even the great Oppara itself would have a time supporting me otherwise. I deal in a wide variety of treasures, of which the delve and its regular explorers provide a steady stream."
He lowers back into his chair with a soft groan. "The last group of travelers who were my regulars decided that they were through with their excursions and it was time to retire... Um, mostly. So I have been without a steady income for some time. Thus my eagerness. But, as you can imagine, I have heard a few tales of the delve in my time from my customers, though I am sure most are fish stories."
He gives a bit of a nod of his head towards the Dwarf who is now sleeping with his head upon the tabletop. "Even Erlan here claims to have raided the delve before and will tell you all about it if you catch him a bit earlier in the night. Though I have heard from others that he simply guarded the real adventurers camp and watered their horses above. Depends on what tales you believe, I suppose."
Thel smirks at the thought of a dwarf tending horses.
"A likely story"
...realizing he has not kept his rough edge about him, Thel murmurs something about needing another drink and hunts down the barmaid.
I’m here to explore the Dragon’s Delve, it’s true. So, I’d hear your proposal, as well.”
Kolgun returns to his table and sits.
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The old man smiles broadly at the dwarf. "Oh, I simply make the same proposal any shopkeeper makes to his patrons. Should you require any supplies, I will acquire them, this is not always a quick task, but I suspect you will often find it easier then walking your way to Oppara and trying to find a willing shopkeep. I have managed to build up a fair number of contacts in my time of doing business and I am quite adept at getting any goods necessary. In addition, I would be most happy to purchase most valuables you may pick up in your expeditions, from trinkets to treasures. There is always a market for works of art and of course weapons can easily find their way into the hands of other adventurers who may have need of them. My offer is simply one of symbiosis. You take the risks, you gain the rewards, with but a handlers fee for me to supply you with what you require."
"Well, I am low on alchemical supplies after my last experiment. Heck, I'm out of a lab! And I've heard about strange experiments having been done in the delve, the remains of which could greatly aid my own research. It might be the ringing in my ears, but it sounds like a pretty good deal to me. What about you, my Noble human friend? You said yourself you need money to help out your family. It sounds mutually beneficial if we and these fine folks here got together and had a go of it. The excited gnome looks eagerly at the others and looks for signs of agreement.
"Well, it seems we have the fates to thank for brining us together."
'It's certainly not the ale,' he thinks.
You can count me in!"
Jayden, quietly listens to the talk as he continues to strum chords on his lute.
"It appears we all have a common purpose tonight. As our friend suggested," nodding towards the gnome, "it would be wise to pull our resources and work together. We could make it something like a business venture."