Upon entering the tavern, the floors, the tables, the walls and the ceiling are decorated with intricate geometric circles. All have symbols, glyphs and arcane writings etched into their surfaces. Some appear to be constellations, others eccentric works-of-art, and others are undecipherable. They never intercept or overlap each other and none are the same size, even down to a quarter-of-an-inch. They seem to garnish the attention first to any one who enters the establishment.
"Welcome good patrons. My name is Ogiva Demont and this my establishment. Many comrades and good clients also know me as Ogiva the Nightbinder, Ogiva of the Ten-Thousand Pacts, and Ogiva of the Many Chains. It honors me to have you in my establishment. Please make yourself comfortable. Empty chairs, tables and booths await. Have my cheerful employees fulfill your orders."
The ordered insanity of the geometric designs to the R&D (or at least to her eyes) make one newcomer to the bazaar feel at home in the tavern, as she sits relaxing after a long hard morning of foraging for supplies. Some activity which stirred up the Denizens of Leng earlier in the day gave her a scare, but it was alright - it turned out that they were after someone else, and weren't spies out looking for her.
Still, despite the reassuring angles of the place, she is a little on edge in case a pack of hounds of Tindalos, in full cry, should burst forth at some point. A place with some of the comforts of home also reminds one of some of the disadvantages of that place...
Eventually, Lucinda finishes her drink, pays as she is used to doing, with a handful of leaves, and heads towards the door.
My, what fine gemstones, the man behind the bar examines what he has been paid with.
Meanwhile another patron stares in horror at the carrot that appears to be growing out of the middle of the face of his drinking crony.
It would be simple for him to gouge another customer for drink money, to cover his losses. Ogiva mumbles something incoherent, giggles to himself, then resumes serving customers
*Wanders in to the bar, looking for a beer and a dame*
Floats through the door and finds a booth all to herself.
"Mint tea please, and if possible keep people from bothering me."
Floats through the door and finds a booth all to herself.
"Mint tea please, and if possible keep people from bothering me."
"At once. Is thre anything you wish?"
"At once. Is thre anything you wish?"Floats through the door and finds a booth all to herself.
"Mint tea please, and if possible keep people from bothering me."
"Nothing else, no."
"Nothing else, no.""At once. Is thre anything you wish?"Floats through the door and finds a booth all to herself.
"Mint tea please, and if possible keep people from bothering me."
Like a contraption, Ogiva's palm opens and out from a dimensional pockets rises a brewed cup of mint tea.
"Enjoy your privacy."
With that he departs.
After finishing her tea, Corona leaves the Tavern to and slaughter some goblins. Her contacts will tell her if anything interesting happens...
Splooorrrrtch
Alaina wanders in after all the excitement outside.
"Gimmie a Long Island Ice Tea barkeep."
She takes a look around
Alaina wanders in after all the excitement outside.
"Gimmie a Long Island Ice Tea barkeep."
"At Once," says the Nightbinder. In minutes, the barkeep sends a waiter with a LIIT to Alaina.
She takes a look around
As Alaina looks around, the place is somewhat deserted save for a few luckless thieves and the unemployed leg-breaker. Those that wish not be seen or heard keep a considerable distance away from the Herald of Sunny G. Her aura, to some, is that obvious.
Then, through her divinely enhanced senses, Alaina can hear something outside, behind the tavern. A commotion of sorts, and of snarling goblinoids..."
Alaina sighs and tosses the potent beverage down in a quick gulp. She wanders out to see what's happening in the street.
"Man, all work and no play. I really wanted to find some new dresses.."
Geaux Tigers!!!!!
Alaina sighs and tosses the potent beverage down in a quick gulp. She wanders out to see what's happening in the street.
"Man, all work and no play. I really wanted to find some new dresses.."
Alaina sees teh ratehr bulky goblin attacks an angry pup followed by five goblins rushing a norhtern barbarian with his companion hanging on the side. A young waif is up against the wall, terrified of the fighting.
With business crawling to a halt, Ogiva cleans the tavern bar and unknowningly waits for unexcepted events.
The nightbinder etches a new geometric seal onto the floor of the tavern and speaks aloud an incantation.
"From blood and passion torn,"
"there came a half-breed once born,"
"Of thoughts of profit and unbriddled greed,"
"From the Abyss, such rise an unholy seed,"
"All for desire of wealth and the mind's ire...,"
"I call upon thee, Nnoq the Six-Fingered Merchant. The seal awaits thee Demon-Merchant. Let us haggle."
Soon a gust of wind blows through the tavern and the candles flicker. Up fromt he seal rises a large intellect devourer that feverishly paces the circumference of the seal. Ethereal and transilluminate, it convulses until its central neural mass ruptures and out rises and a cerebrilith with distinct human features.
He gazes upon Ogiva and says, "you wish to bargain from power? Do you wish a pact?"
"Yes I do Demon-merchant. I am expecting visitors soon. I wish I never encounter that little boy."
Soon the lights dim and the binder and the vestige fade from view.
The two mercenaries Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser enter the dimly-lit tavern.
"Now this is investigating I can get into! Barkeep! Some Ilithmarian wine if you please! Just leave the amphora on the bar."
He scatters a dozen silver coins from several distant realms across the bar surface
The smaller cloaked figure frowns
"HIST! You clumsy oaf! Would you bring down every cutpurse and streetwalker on our heads? A bit of finesse is required for investigations such as this. I should heve figured a scruffy barbarian would not know how to go about a bit of civilized skullduggery."
The two mercenaries Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser enter the dimly-lit tavern.
"Now this is investigating I can get into! Barkeep! Some Ilithmarian wine if you please! Just leave the amphora on the bar."
He scatters a dozen silver coins from several distant realms across the bar surface
The smaller cloaked figure frowns
"HIST! You clumsy oaf! Would you bring down every cutpurse and streetwalker on our heads? A bit of finesse is required for investigations such as this. I should heve figured a scruffy barbarian would not know how to go about a bit of civilized skullduggery."
"Aye, your friend is correct," he syas as he places the amphora on the bar. "And keep your blades sheathed. I do not allow bloodshed in my tavern." He looks at the duo and continues, "this isn't a social visit, I take it. You're here for something else?"
The diminutive swarthy cloaked man leans into Ogiva. A gold coin of respectable size appears upon the bar between them
"Aye good sirrah, we seek information pertaining to our client's shop and an attack he suffered recently by one of those dark-skinned elves known as 'drow'. Specifically, what the merchant Muulsh's shop held that the drow wanted, what the shop had been in the past, and the identity and whereabouts of said attacker now."
The Grey Mouser looks down.
"It seems someone has left you a tip, sirrah."
He slides the gold piece over
"I'm sure many like it can be had for the right information."
The diminutive swarthy cloaked man leans into Ogiva. A gold coin of respectable size appears upon the bar between them
"Aye good sirrah, we seek information pertaining to our client's shop and an attack he suffered recently by one of those dark-skinned elves known as 'drow'. Specifically, what the merchant Muulsh's shop held that the drow wanted, what the shop had been in the past, and the identity and whereabouts of said attacker now."
The Grey Mouser looks down.
"It seems someone has left you a tip, sirrah."
He slides the gold piece over
"I'm sure many like it can be had for the right information."
"Lad, I already have enough gold coin," he says as he looks at Grey Mouser with an amused smile. "I deal in information and knowledge. If you're seeking answers, then I need information in return, rumors perhaps, or the outright facts will do."
"Lad, I already have enough gold coin," he says as he looks at Grey Mouser with an amused smile. "I deal in information and knowledge. If you're seeking answers, then I need information in return, rumors perhaps, or the outright facts will do."
The Grey Mouser grins and withdraws the coin
"Well said! I myself am an avid procurator of knowledge, information, gossip, lies, innuendo and fabrications of all stripes. I can tell you about a shocking story I heard from Lady Belthames' body servant that she let slip while drunk at the Pumpkin Festival. It seems this servant had been called upon to procure the services of a mute barber and .."
The Grey Mouser launches into a highly-embellished story about Lady Belthames, her servant, a mute barber, several drunken priests of Bacchus, an androgynous flautist.
The Grey Mouser grins and withdraws the coin
"Well said! I myself am an avid procurator of knowledge, information, gossip, lies, innuendo and fabrications of all stripes. I can tell you about a shocking story I heard from Lady Belthames' body servant that she let slip while drunk at the Pumpkin Festival. It seems this servant had been called upon to procure the services of a mute barber and .."
The Grey Mouser launches into a highly-embellished story about Lady Belthames, her servant, a mute barber, several drunken priests of Bacchus, an androgynous flautist.
...As Mouser concludes his story...
"Ha! Lad, that's a fine tale. I'll need to remember that one in the future, but that's hardly payment."
He quickly draws its picture on the bar top.
"What I am looking for is a book and in it is a seal, a symbol used long in the past. There is a woman, a cartographer named Jyssill the Farwalker and she has something I want. The problem is that she says she doesn't have it or she's misplaced it, but I know she has it as she will not sell it to me. I want you procure it for me, then I will be able help you somewhat in your task. If you're successful in acquiring this book, then I can spare the time to learn about this house and what secrets it once held."
He glances around the bar again.
"To show that I do know something, if the woman you seek is a dark elf, its "The Tunnels" you must find. I know not how to access them for their entrances are hiding in secrecy. The Tunnels are used by every scum, murderer, and thief in the Bazaar. Watch what you say and who to you say it."
He scoops the coins.
"What I am looking for is a book and in it is a seal, a symbol used long in the past. There is a woman, a cartographer named Jyssill the Farwalker and she has something I want. The problem is that she says she doesn't have it or she's misplaced it, but I know she has it as she will not sell it to me. I want you procure it for me, then I will be able help you somewhat in your task. If you're successful in acquiring this book, then I can spare the time to learn about this house and what secrets it once held."
The two sigh and Fafhrd speaks up
If that is what we need to do, then we shall. Come friend Mouser, let us see if we can uncover this tome.
The two depart to the cartographer's shop
From the door letting out to the central avenue of the Bazaar, Devlyn, Allura, Aidan and Oroth enter the Tavern of the Ranger and the Dryad.
Oroth looks around, staring briefly at the arcane glyphs.
"Such strange symbols decorate these walls..."
Oroth looks around, staring briefly at the arcane glyphs.
"Such strange symbols decorate these walls..."
"No kidding. Fits this guy's reputation and 'hobbies' though..."
They make their way to the bar.
Allura shudders slightly as she looks at the strange glyphs. They give her the creeps. She keeps a close eye on her surroundings as they approach the bar.
Through his sources, the Dalesman comes to expect what the tavern is and most of all, its clientele. Discretion and shadowy deals reign openly in the tavern. In far corners of the tavern, muffled voices from cloistered booths and veiled fences haggle over stolen goods. Flagons, tankards, and mug spill with liquidity contents, some identified and some not onto the floor. Ordered chaos, an appropriate oxymoron, roosts this proverbial henhouse of scum and infamy.
“Ah, new visitors. Welcome. What is it you wish to drink?”
Aidan looks at Ogiva with hope.
"Well, I have always wanted to try firewhis-"
Oroth cuts Aidan off with a well timed knock on the head.
"Tea will be fine." He stares at Aidan. "Right Pyre?"
Aidan hangs his head, disappointed.
"Yes Helius."
Aidan looks at Ogiva with hope.
"Well, I have always wanted to try firewhis-"Oroth cuts Aidan off with a well timed knock on the head.
"Tea will be fine." He stares at Aidan. "Right Pyre?"
Aidan hangs his head, disappointed.
"Yes Helius."
"Tea it is," he says. "The sir and the lady, they will have tea as well or do you seek something else?"
"Tea it is," he says. "The sir and the lady, they will have tea as well or do you seek something else?"Aidan looks at Ogiva with hope.
"Well, I have always wanted to try firewhis-"Oroth cuts Aidan off with a well timed knock on the head.
"Tea will be fine." He stares at Aidan. "Right Pyre?"
Aidan hangs his head, disappointed.
"Yes Helius."
"Tea will be fine, sir, as well as some pointers for seeing the more 'interesting' sites of the city - like The Tunnels, for example."
"Tea will be fine, sir, as well as some pointers for seeing the more 'interesting' sites of the city - like The Tunnels, for example."
Cups, a sugar bowl, tongs and a tray with mint tea guides effortlessly through the tavern and places itself gently on the table. Ogiva, like a trained professional, begins preparing their drinks.
"The Tunnels you say? Hmmm, seems to be generating a bit of interest in the past day or so. It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with the robbery at the jeweler's shoppe would it?"
Cups, a sugar bowl, tongs and a tray with mint tea guides effortlessly through the tavern and places itself gently on the table. Ogiva, like a trained professional, begins preparing their drinks.
"The Tunnels you say? Hmmm, seems to be generating a bit of interest in the past day or so. It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with the robbery at the jeweler's shoppe would it?"
"Only tangentially. I understand the owner has started his own investigation into that little mess, but my interest is more in the tunnels themselves and the folks who use them for home and highway. I've also heard tell of some...active trading, let's say...going on down there as well."
"Only tangentially. I understand the owner has started his own investigation into that little mess, but my interest is more in the tunnels themselves and the folks who use them for home and highway. I've also heard tell of some...active trading, let's say...going on down there as well."
"Sounds like you're digging for some information. I'll tell you two things for free. You'll never find an entrance to the Tunnels unless it wants you too. The slavers, the fences, and the cutthroats who run the Tunnels have an informal pact about their particular real estate. So don't scour the Tunnels searching for something you're not going to find. You'll end up dead in trouble, or worse."
He continues to serve to each of the four, although slowly.
"Now, what else can you tell me about the robbery. Anyone involved I should know about?"
"Sounds like you're digging for some information. I'll tell you two things for free. You'll never find an entrance to the Tunnels unless it wants you too. The slavers, the fences, and the cutthroats who run the Tunnels have an informal pact about their particular real estate. So don't scour the Tunnels searching for something you're not going to find. You'll end up dead in trouble, or worse."
He continues to serve to each of the four, although slowly.
"Now, what else can you tell me about the robbery. Anyone involved I should know about?"
Devlyn smiles politely.
"Only what the whole city knows by now - that a drow and two minotaurs decided to cause a scene and steal a shiny. As I said, we're not investigating the robbery. I'm just interested in the drow, and who she may answer to."
Devlyn smiles politely.
"Only what the whole city knows by now - that a drow and two minotaurs decided to cause a scene and steal a shiny. As I said, we're not investigating the robbery. I'm just interested in the drow, and who she may answer to."
"Why with the simple inquiries. It's obvious if she were a drow she would answer to a certain Queen of Spiders unless of course something made her stand out from the rest of her violent ilk."
"Why with the simple inquiries. It's obvious if she were a drow she would answer to a certain Queen of Spiders unless of course something made her stand out from the rest of her violent ilk."
Devlyn nods.
"But a female drow going out and leading an operation personally? That sounds like something far less obvious is indeed going on, especially when combined with the fact that she also possesses powers of the mind. I think she marches to a different drummer than the norm."