The Long Road - Game Thread

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

Gowin smiles at Pascal. "How about that." He looks over his shoulder at Drusk. "And what are you? His sous chef?"

"Ah no, I've been studying with a brewmaster, but that is a recent hobby, after Pascal talked about starting up a bistro.

"And my apologies Gowin, but I forget what you do. Warehouse... warehouse... rat catcher?"

Gowin laughs, good-heartedly. "Not all the time, but sometimes. I help run the Goodbody warehouse down at the docks. It wasn't what I expected to be doing with my life, but I enjoy working with Goldy, and it's rewarding work." He looks at Pascal. "So, you want to start a bistro? I've heard it's tough the first couple years. Do you have any experience?"

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

He looks at Pascal. "So, you want to start a bistro? I've heard it's tough the first couple years. Do you have any experience?"

Drusk: "Pascal has been planning carefully, and sometimes fate deals good opportunities. We did a task for a Waterdeep noble, and to repay the favor, we have his patronage for the first month. Still a lot of work after that, but that definitely reduces the troubles at the start."

Pascal whips out a business card... it is a hand-drawn piece of paper with fantasy crayon, “Plus we got friends and family discount.”

Gowin continues to smile as he takes the card, as if waiting for the punchline of a joke. After reading the card, he looks at the two with surprise. "You already have a place? Here in Waterdeep?"

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

Gowin continues to smile as he takes the card, as if waiting for the punchline of a joke. After reading the card, he looks at the two with surprise. "You already have a place? Here in Waterdeep?"

 Pascal gestures to the scribbled address line with a self-confident eyebrow bounce

Quillary gratefully deposits little Ula, then takes the plate of fruit with a bemused smile. She settles on a stool in a corner and just holds the plate of fruit.

Gowin reads the address. "Where is this? What ward?" After Pascal says it's in the North Ward, Gowin nods, looking interested. "What kind of place is it? Does Hildi work for you?"

Mileen begins mashing a potato with a fork, talking quietly to Ula as the toddler continues to twist and turn in her mother's arm to keep her eyes on Quillary.

"So, Quillary was it?" Goldy asks, smiling at the half-elf. "Are you from Waterdeep?"

"No," she says, holding the plate of fruit. "A small village a bit east and a month or so south. Waterdeep is the longest I've stayed anywhere since leaving. The village is not there anymore," she adds for no particular reason.

Around then Jorin makes his way inside and seeing the potatoe mashing going on.  He offers to help with the food prep saying, "It is basically the same as ringing an anvil, no?"

Gramgram smiles at Quillary. "Is that so? What was the name of the town? My family's in Tethyr. Maybe I know of it."

Jorin, before you get inside, as you and Tamil round to the front of the house, you catch Hildi and Hori having a strained conversation. The two turn to see you approaching and both look like they've been caught. "There he is," Hori says overly bright, raising a hand to his son. "Your sister just went in. Let's get you something to eat." Hori leaves Hildi and walks inside with Tamil, putting a hand on the younger son's shoulder. Hildi turns away from the house and Jorin, his hands on his hips. He stomps at the ground.

(I'm assuming Jorin mentions the Hori-Hildi interaction to the rest of the party at some point, or that it was noticed by more people than just Jorin.)

At some time when Drusk is alone with Hildigrim (or only other members of the adventuring party are around), he will quietly mention this: "You look to be burdened by something. I am curious, but it is not my place to pry forcefully into your family matters. If there comes a time when you need to talk, I will listen. And I can make the conversation under the seal of clerical confidentiality.

"You look reluctant... Like I said, I don't want to pry, if you are unwilling. Let me conclude by saying, sometimes it is easier to vent your worries with someone only bound loosely by the ties of personal loyalty, rather than the tight bonds of family responsibility... Or so I'm told, since I grew up in an orphanage." At that, Drusk smiles, and heads to the kitchen to see if he can aid in the meal prep.

OOC > Quillary's village, on the edge of an elven wood somewhere, was burned to the ground by an orc war band nearly fifty years ago, the few survivors left for other towns, and the elves turned it into a park, basically. If anyone's heard of it, the story they've heard is one of tragedy.

"Oh, it was called Erynnleaf," Quillary says quietly. "It was... some time ago. I am told it is a quiet reserve now, trees grown up around it." She shakes her head to clear it. "Is there anything to drink?"

Quote from Mingofaust >>

OOC > Quillary's village, on the edge of an elven wood somewhere, was burned to the ground by an orc war band nearly fifty years ago, the few survivors left for other towns, and the elves turned it into a park, basically. If anyone's heard of it, the story they've heard is one of tragedy.

(OOC: That is real interesting... Drusk's backstory is that his elf village managed to wipe out attacking orc raiders. They found this half-orc baby, didn't want to kill an innocent, but decided it would be an amusing form of payback to raise it as an elf. This backfired, when Drusk was more zealous about the elf religion than the other acolytes... So even though Quillary and Drusk have different home villages, they may be in the same neighborhood that gets periodic orc raids.)

Jorin walks up to Hildigrim and puts a hand on the halfling's shoulder.

"Sometimes the villagers you defend are harder to deal with than the dragon you defend them from, eh?"  Jorin says and fixes his eyes on Hildi.  He'll wait a moment to let Hildi speak if he wants, but after a beat will turn to head inside.

Hildi gives Jorin a thankful smile and walks inside with him, unusually silent. Gowin is still in the dining room with Pascal and Drusk.

As Quillary is finishing her story, Hori and Tamil walk into the kitchen. It's a nice-sized kitchen, and halflings don't take up as much room as many races, but it's still starting to fill up.

Has Gramgram heard of Erynnleaf? 3

Gramgram immediately smiles a cute, knowing grin. "Erynnleaf?" she says, clearly delighted. "I have heard the tale, but have never actually been in that part of the country. How interesting. Were you there when the orcs attacked? It must have been awful," she says, her tone becoming both serious and concerned.

While his grandmother is speaking, Forte fetches a bottle and pours a little dessert wine into a cup and hands it to Quillary. Hori starts pulling out bowls and offering various foods to Tamil, who is turning everything down.

Quillary's eyes widen as Gramgram improbably knows the story. "I was, uh, yes, I was there, I was a little girl. I um... drink?" she asks a little louder of anyone in the increasingly full kitchen while still balancing her plate of fruit.

Forte waves the glass he's already poured for the half-elf a little closer to her face. "Wine?" he asks.

"Yes!" She takes it up. "Thank you," and she starts to down it, remembering herself about halfway through. "Fruit?" she offers, holding the plate out.

Forte takes a piece and leans against the counter, nibbling, and paying more attention to the others than Quillary.

The conversation in the kitchen is amiable. Ula the younger is being fed some potatoes, but her big eyes keep straying curiously toward Quillary.

"Where are the boys?" Gramgram asks. The conversation dies down a little, everyone looking at the matron. "Hildi and the others?" She clucks her tongue. "Some hosts we are, all of us hold up in the kitchen while they're left to fend for themselves." She gives Hori's shoulder a little shove. "Go out there. Look at some maps or something. It's Wintershield. Go find out what my grandson's planning to do this year."

Popsy half stumbles into the kitchen from a side door. "It's almost ready!" he says brightly, halting the slow kitchen exit.

Tamil smiles at his father. "Can I have some this year, Dad?"

"No," Hori says, smiling at his son.

"Forte?" Popsy almost sings. "Are you going to try some this year? I think it's time."

Forte looks at his father, wide-eyed, then almost laughs. "I'm ... not sure, Popsy. Maybe."

"How about you, dear?" Popsy says, turning to smile at Quillary. "Feeling adventurous?" He laughs. "Listen to me. You're an adventurer. Of course you're feeling adventurous." He leans a little closer, speaking conspiratorially, "Every Wintershield, I make a special brew from a recipe passed down through the generations. It opens the mind and shows you the future."

Gramgram pushes on Hori's shoulder again, and he, Tamil, Goldy, and Forte move toward the door to the dining room. "I'll be right out," Mileen calls, cleaning potatoes from Ula's face and hands.