Although you have yet to find yourself a new crew or ship to work on – you have found the next best thing, or maybe first depending on your mood, Ale. You heard of possible jobs being posted, random men seeking help, and even crews docking in the small town to hire from lots in one of the three taverns found in the Saltmarsh.
People tend to avoid the table your sitting at as they give you stares of wonder. It is clear that your kind isn’t common among the people of Saltmarsh. Though some drunk men have been approaching you to challenge you to bouts of strength, you easily beating most of them, find yourself approached by a massive man in miners clothing. He sits down and smiles ”Arm wrestle you for a drink.” As if preemptively judging your answer he places his arm on the table waiting for you to take it.
Selinae:
Though the downtime between jobs can be nice in certain cities – it’s the small towns that you find it goes the slowest. For the time being you have found lodging in the oldest building of the Saltmarsh the Wicker Goat. Not the worst tavern you been in, the sounds of laughter and singing fill the air. The drink is regularly poured and your mug never seems to be empty.
The bartender comes over to you as he notices your mug empty “Another one? Wouldn’t happen…excuse me for a second.” He stops for a moment as he looks up as the young girl entering “You’re late, hurry up and get to serving the customers.”His attention turns back to you “Sorry about that, so what brings you to the Saltmarsh?”
Sybella:
As you walk through the town you find that your nose isn’t assaulted by the usual smell of fish. Seagulls caw in the sky as they circle trying to find dropped food. In the background the sun begins to set over the water, painting the blue with oranges and pinks. The ships sit calmly on the water as smaller vessels begin to roll in from trying to catch something out on the water.
You eventually find yourself walking through the wooden door of the Wicker Goat, the oldest establishment in the Saltmarsh and where you work as a bar maid. Lankus just stares at you“You’re late, hurry up and get to serving the customers.”.”Utters from his mouth as he continues to pour drinks for the customers that have gathered around.
Mizzula:
You find yourself walking down the road to the town of Salt Marsh reaching its gates just as the sun is setting. You get waved through quickly by guards, who from what you can tell, do not want to work anymore. With barely a second look or inspection you continue on your way enjoying the sites of the Azure sea to your south. A warm breeze finds its way across your skin helping to cool it a little from the walking.
Eventually you find yourself in the main town surrounded by people staring at you, some children pointing at the new person in town. You find yourself outside an old wooden two story building as a young woman runs into the door only to be accosted by a man telling her she’s late. As you look up you see an old wooden sign with an image of a goat on it in beautiful black script is writing THE WICKER GOAT.
Del:
With your home behind you, the strange sense of adventure and dread fill your body. Images of your family fill your mind as you breach the water and see a small town in the distance. Looking around you notice the sun going down casting beautiful colors into the water, around you fishermen stare blankly as they rub their eyes.
One man rows over, his face covered in a white beard skin wrinkled and tanned. He just chuckles reaching out with a hand and helping you aboard. He just laughs as he rows you back to the docks and looks at you “You can find some good lodging at the Wicker Goat in town, it’s probably the safest.”
Jake:
You’re hair just floats around you in the blackness as you hear the sound of waves, a figure in long grey robes stands before you. His face covered by a half black and half white mask, his robes seem to move as if water is floating them in the nothingness. He just stands motionless as a voice echoes around you “The ones you seek are gathering my son. You wanted to be used, now go and spread my word and name through your lips and actions.”
With that you shoot out of your sleep as you spit up a little salt water. Before you fully come to, an image of a goat made of some kind of straw material woven together. You don’t remember when you fell asleep looking over the ocean, but you did. As you stand up your stomach growls as your mind begins to think of the delicious Shepard’s Pie made at the Wicker Goat.
Nimb:
You left the college and following the winds ad tales have brought you to the town of Saltmarsh – having heard some stories here and there you decided it was time to study the town and its lore for yourself. Deciding it best to travel by boat you have found your way to the town, landing at docks that smell of fish.
You wander around for a little, hoping to find a safe haven for the night. After asking around a little you have found yourself at the doors of the Wicker Goat. The sounds familiar and the smell even more so, this is your stage for the night.
The Orc grins in response, his eyes brightening at the prospect of free alcohol. He holds up a finger before rummaging in his backpack. A moment later, he holds forth an enormous empty tankard which he briefly polishes against the leg of his trousers and then sets down on the table expectantly, and then re-secures his backpack which bulges and ratttles with further metallic gear.
"Gom find stipulation of wager terms have excellence. Gom have joy with drink lacking burden of expense. Gom have certainty to prevail lacking any misgiving. Gom offer caution arise from discriminating palate and refined taste impose added cost of coin expenditure. Gom have satisfaction to vanquish with inexorable result to commence now."
All too aware he lacks the funds to make good his debt should anything go awry, Gom mentally gauges where to kick in order to snap his foe's chair leg thus forcing him to tumble to Gom's left, which would offer a timely gravity assist should his innate and considerable brawn prove insufficient. If his thirteen years have taught him anything, it is the value of an uneven playing field.
As Gom leans forward and braces his elbow on the table, there is a disquieting creak emitted by the chair he is sitting upon. Though definitely one of the most resilient chairs on offer within The Wicker Goat, it nevertheless protests under the weight of the hulking Orc, his armor, shield, weapons, and prodigious equipment which altogether press with a force well in excess of four hundred pounds. As soon as their opposing hands lock together, Gom instantly begins the struggle to pin his adversary.
The man smiles at Gom, showing off some of his missing teeth. He grips Gom's hand giving his bicep a quick flex as he tries to intimidate the Orc "Then it's on."
At this moment an onlooker just smiles "Alright - no cheatin' on the count of three...1" as the man begins to count the attention of the crowd is drawn to the two. Anyone in the tavern will notice a silence almost overtake the patrons for the spectacle "2...3!" as soon as the number three finishes the man begins to push on Gom's arm trying to push it to the table.
Though the downtime between jobs can be nice in certain cities – it’s the small towns that you find it goes the slowest. For the time being you have found lodging in the oldest building of the Saltmarsh the Wicker Goat. Not the worst tavern you been in, the sounds of laughter and singing fill the air. The drink is regularly poured and your mug never seems to be empty.
The bartender comes over to you as he notices your mug empty “Another one? Wouldn’t happen…excuse me for a second.” He stops for a moment as he looks up as the young girl entering “You’re late, hurry up and get to serving the customers.”His attention turns back to you “Sorry about that, so what brings you to the Saltmarsh?”
Selinae flashed the young girl a smile, it wasn't so long ago she'd been her age....
" Spiced Rum. Or some wine if you've got it? Moscato? Nah...ale will do, its ok."
" Between jobs, I'd prefer diving but I can turn my hand to almost anything. You know of something?", Selinae said with an easy smile.
She scanned the room; mostly human...though was that a half-orc....no..orc...trouncing the locals at arm wrestling? She briefly considered going over but her mothers admonishment was already sounding in her head; she whispered under her breath...." As you wish, Mum."
As she thought of her mother she took another look at the serving girl and realised she was a half-elf just like mum......no....full elf....still.... Selinae decided that, despite all evidence to the contrary, it was fate and finger waved to her with a friendly smile.
It wouldn't hurt just to look, Sybella tells herself as she takes a detour to gaze at the docks of Saltmarsh. Of course her route to work usually resulted in the sights, sounds, and usually smells of those docks, but Sybella sometimes inched closer than necessary as if it were a dare to see if she'd just stowaway onboard some ship out there. She thought to herself that perhaps joining a crew would be her ticket to adventure. Not just any crew - a fisherman's life was definitely not for her, but a ship that truly set sail beyond the shallow reaches of the Azure Sea. The colors in the sky entranced her as she daydreamed of leaving, a common pastime of her's to be sure. It wasn't but another 5 or 10 minutes when something clicked in her mind - she was going to be late!
The relatively young wood elf more or less runs the last half mile into the Wicker Goat, but the familiar chiding of Lankus tells her she is late again. One of the strangers at the bar offered the elf a wave and a smile, which gives Sybella some pause as she returns the favor. This person looked incredibly tall. Impossibly tall? The lady looked human, but Sybella recalled her mother's wisdom and knew that couldn't be the case. She was a... a... a giant? As she stood there, Lankus' face grew redder despite his focus and attention on the stranger.
Sybella mouths a 'sorry' to Lankus as she rushes toward the back room to slip on an apron and double check her hair in the mirror. Looking nice, clean, and pretty increased the odds of tipping. Doubly so if any in the tavern tonight were adventurers! Some of them paid for copper meals with silver - and oft-told her to keep the rest!
Satisfied with her appearance, Sybella rushed out to greet the customers and took stock of the room. The giant(?) was being served by Lankus, owner of the Wicker Goat and basically a goat himself, at least in her mind. There also seemed to be a - no way! Sybella rushed her way to the table of the half-orc(?) and practically shouts, "Can I get you anything, uh, sir?!"She has stars in her eyes which practically scream that she is excited to see such a person as this half-orc(?) in the tavern.
OOC: Player knows your races, but I want to play Sybella a little more naive/ignorant than that. Also here is a ref of Sybella.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
With your home behind you, the strange sense of adventure and dread fill your body. Images of your family fill your mind as you breach the water and see a small town in the distance. Looking around you notice the sun going down casting beautiful colors into the water, around you fishermen stare blankly as they rub their eyes.
One man rows over, his face covered in a white beard skin wrinkled and tanned. He just chuckles reaching out with a hand and helping you aboard. He just laughs as he rows you back to the docks and looks at you “You can find some good lodging at the Wicker Goat in town, it’s probably the safest.”
Nodding his thanks to the honest seeming fisherman who had made the effort to pull the gaunt, green skinned man into his boat, Del is undeniably entranced and clearly distracted by the beauty of the setting sun. So different, yet equally dazzling, when viewed from above the waves, the young traveller muses to himself. Barely registering the weathered man's meaning, the intuitive genasi none-the-less catches the words, "lodging... Wicked Goat... safety..."
Muttering his thanks as he passes the man a handful of the small brown coins that he'd been told to share to gain favour and buy things here in this strange dry realm, Del clambers from the boat onto the pier and looks around for a building with devilish live stock tied up out front. Pulling his still soaked long brown travelling cloak tighter around his thin frame and drawing his cowl down over his long black, blue and green braids of kelp-like hair, the freshly emerged ocean dweller drinks in his surroudings with his small black eyes. Leaving his coral handled scimitar in its scabard and his crab adorned shield upon his back, the young druid moves somewhat rigidly as after a while as his brown-grey sharkskin armour begins to dry out and stiffen. Finding a building sign posted as the Wicker Goat, Del clutches a small talisman around his neck and murmers something beneath his breath before entering the building to enquire about a room.
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land DM Beyond the Bitter Shore DM Echos of a Burning Crown
You’re hair just floats around you in the blackness as you hear the sound of waves, a figure in long grey robes stands before you. His face covered by a half black and half white mask, his robes seem to move as if water is floating them in the nothingness. He just stands motionless as a voice echoes around you “The ones you seek are gathering my son. You wanted to be used, now go and spread my word and name through your lips and actions.”
With that you shoot out of your sleep as you spit up a little salt water. Before you fully come to, an image of a goat made of some kind of straw material woven together. You don’t remember when you fell asleep looking over the ocean, but you did. As you stand up your stomach growls as your mind begins to think of the delicious Shepard’s Pie made at the Wicker Goat.
As Jake stands up wiping his mouth, he mutters to himself, “I say yes to one voice in my head and suddenly I’m spitting up the sea. He better be right, or he’ll get a talkin from me.” Scratching his bald blue head, Jake takes a last looking at the setting sun over the ocean before heading into town for that Shepard’s Pie while absentmindedly tapping the symbol around his neck.
As he walks into the Wicker Goat , he pauses when he sees the weird people in here. The regulars were inside after working on the sea all day obviously, but there’s an huge orc over there that doesn’t seem like he needs much in the way of assistance, at anything, currently arm wrestling with Sybella getting excited like usual. There’s a giant of a woman sitting at the bar chatting with the barkeep, and then there’s this guy, who looks weirdly familiar. Jake realizes that he’s a water genasi like him, which he’s only seen once or twice in his lifetime. The man does look like he’ll need some help for sure. Jake goes and sits next to him while putting a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not from here, I can tell. Where’d you decide to leave to come to this place?”
You find yourself walking down the road to the town of Salt Marsh reaching its gates just as the sun is setting. You get waved through quickly by guards, who from what you can tell, do not want to work anymore. With barely a second look or inspection you continue on your way enjoying the sites of the Azure sea to your south. A warm breeze finds its way across your skin helping to cool it a little from the walking.
Eventually you find yourself in the main town surrounded by people staring at you, some children pointing at the new person in town. You find yourself outside an old wooden two story building as a young woman runs into the door only to be accosted by a man telling her she’s late. As you look up you see an old wooden sign with an image of a goat on it in beautiful black script is writing THE WICKER GOAT.
Seeing the children pointing at him, Miz decides to have a little fun and walks in the direction of the largest group of children. He starts casting Prestidigitation repeatedly as he walks, first a shower of sparks erupt from him. Then all the dirt and grime from the travel starts to vanish as he uses the spell to clean himself from head to toe. Stopping in front of the children he smiles and asks, "Are you ready?"
Before they can answer he waves his hands around makes the sparks start shooting out of their hands. At first they scream in shock, then they start to aim the sparks at one another while running around the sorcerer. Mizzula starts to laugh.
While the children are playing Miz continues to cast Prestidigitation, this time cleaning the children while keeping their sparks going. When he finishes cleaning them he lets the sparks run out. Pats them on their head and continues on his way.
Looking out of the corners of his eyes he sees several adults had stopped to watch him play with the children. Mizzula smiles. "Best way to make friends in a new town is to let others see you playing with the kids", he thinks to himself.
Feeling a bit thirsty after the show, Miz heads into the Wicker Goat to get some ale.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Gom is puzzled by his opponent brandishing a snarl comprised of less than a full complement of teeth. To Gom, it implied the man couldn't intimidate his enemies into refraining from punching him in the mouth, but the fool didn't even have the wisdom to conceal his obviously inadequate fighting skills. Clearly, he had failed to use and/or protect his dental weaponry. The flexing of the arm, however - that at least made sense.
"Gom have thirst and lack interest in theater skit. Gom not require warm up drill with severe boredom."
Gom is surprised when an uninvited interloper suddenly hijacks the process to insist there should be no cheating, that the contest must only begin following a count of three. How, HOW was it possible a race so idiotic had not been overrun and enslaved by any number of other groups that lived in the real world, as opposed to some absurd utopian delusion that associated cheating with injustice. Cheating is so obviously the prudent and practical course.
However, before Gom can properly threaten the busybody, he notices they have somehow attracted the attention of many of the patrons. Given the bizarre norms of what humans considered respectable behavior, and their typical haste to characterize Orcs as vermin in need of killing, Gom freezes under the pressure of so many judgmental eyes. The count is given and the contest initiated. Angered that he's allowed himself to be intimidated into playing by their rules, Gom is enormously tempted to use his chair snap ploy immediately, just to proudly demonstrate he isn't bound by "honor".
As Gom labors mightily to obtain his free drink, out of nowhere appears an enthusiastic Elf. Gom believes she has asked him a question of some kind, but he really only registered the "sir" portion. How refreshing to be accorded deference and respect! It is evident she must be among the wisest of her kind. Gom offers no coherent reply, but his extended grunt of exertion sounds vaguely as if he were in the midst of giving birth.
Selinae regarded the two genasi with interest, the same people but so very different....though she wondered what one of the mountain folk she was from would make of her, not that she worried about it the sea was far superior to a bunch of rocks no matter how high the pile.
She looked about the room and then down at her ale, it wasn't great....she missed her dad going on and on about different hop mixes and brewing, his family had not been happy when he'd taken up fishing. She remembered being introduced to her dads family...at 3 years old she had towered over them all. Not over mums family...that had to wait til she was 12.
She got to her feet, ducked under the rafters and made her way over to watch the orc wrestle with a muttered apology to her mother for taking in interest in such things.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Selinae:
The bartender just nods as you mention ale and begins pouring a mug “A diver huh…that’s gotta be a pretty good skill. As for jobs I’m sure some will wonder in – usually people wait for the night to settle before coming in to make offers. Though most fall on deft ears, the miners know they have solid work and aren’t going to do anything crazy.”
He places the mug in front of her and just smiles “If you’re looking for work though Anders might come in here later with another plan on how to make Saltmarsh prosper or just some random task – pays well though if that’s what you’re looking for.” He looks down to the drink and then back to Selinae “I'll just put it on the tab for your room.” he says as he notices you standing to go watch the arm wrestling.
Gom:
Unlike the other patrons in this bar, this man is keeping his own with as his arm only begins to move slowly towards his direction. Between the arm flex and his ability to keep with the strength of Gom, its making you a little worried that he might come back. In the background you can hear the crowd cheering for your opponent, in just a few seconds he has already made it farther than most with you.
“Strong bastard ya are…” Comes from his gritted teeth as he tries to push you back towards your side of the table.As the girl comes up the man locks eyes with you but begins to speak again “Jimmy, get the girl our mugs and get this man a drink.”
[OOC]
Strength Check: 5
Gom make an opposing strength check please.
Sybella:
Lankus just nods as he looks over and watches you begin to wait tables, keeping his focus on entertaining the customers at the bar. As you begin to walk through the crowd it’s a usual night of people shouting orders and you have to deftly avoid grabs. After you begin taking in the sight and are grunted at by the creature in front of you, William speaks up to Jimmy.
After speaking to Jimmy, a slender man with brown hair walks over holding William’s mug and a big silver tankard “Here you are Sybella, just get them some ale and who ever loses will be paying you.”
Del & Jake:
The man just blinks as you hand him the coins “Th’nk ya – tis very kind of ya lad.” As you leave the man just sits in his boat still pondering what just happened as he stashes the coin you gave him.
As you walk, leaving a trail of dirt soaking up the water that drips off you, people just stare and point. Some of the children run to hide behind their mothers as other whisper bets to go up and say hi. In the background you hear a voice say “First an Orc, then the tall woman and now this thing…surely something must be a foot.” Another woman just responding “Maybe it’s got something to do with all the weird things happening lately.”
As you enter the wicker goat, it’s quite an interesting sight with a crowd of people surrounding an orc and human arm wrestling. A wood elf trying to take their orders as they wrestle and getting direction from another man. Before being able to take in the rest you feel a hand on your shoulder and some words enter your ears.
Mizzula:
You notice some of the men staring at you with concern, but shrug it off as then being cautious of the stranger around their children. The women with them laugh as the children run to their mother, a couple appreciative of the free cleaning you gave their children.
As you enter the Wicker Goat you find it quite a site – a goliath at the bar, a human and orc arm wrestling, two water genasi, and a wood elf who appears to be one of the bar maids. A blonde haired woman passes by carrying a tray of ale and food give you a quick look “Just find a place to sit and Sybella or myself will be with you shortly. If you’re looking for a room talk to Lankus behind the bar.” As the rehearsed phrase speeds from her mouth she stops at a table and begins to spread around the drink and meals to patrons.
The crowd is chanting for the other guy. Of course. Gom is an Orc, and though he may be tolerated, he is seldom ever welcomed. Although it did seem to Gom that the curious Elf was at least somewhat impartial. Or maybe that was the wishful thinking of a pariah.
This was frustrating. And taking way too long. It was time to kick the chair and end this. Sweat trickled down Gom's face and merged with the oozing trails of drool as Gom imagined the pleasure of a full and free tankard. If he didn't act very soon, he worried his foe might steal a win via endurance rather than superior strength. Kick the damn chair!
No.
That's what they expect. That's what they want. Gom would simply confirm all their prejudice and antipathy and probably get tossed out, wrongfully deprived of his reward. Their culture was backward and made no sense, but here, they had the numbers, and so he must conform and beat them at their own game.
"Gom. Not. Bastard... Gom TWO-HANDED!"
He lets loose with a howl of defiance and calls upon the last reserves of his strength.
Mizzula walks over to the bar and says to the man,"You Lankus? I was told you were the man to speak with about a room. Also, is there a magic shop in town?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sybella's pulled out of her distraction by Jimmy and the mugs. As they are pushed onto her, she can't help but spare the half-orc(?) a determined look. He seemed like an underdog and she couldn't help but root for such people. She whispered under her breath,"You can do it, Mr. Orc."
She disappears into the back for a moment before once again emerging with mugs, tankards, and other sorts of cups filled with ale, beer, and other liquors. She visits her tables and puts on her best smiles in hopes for tips or even rumors of adventures.
OOC: In case check is needed for rumors and such here is a Charisma check: 10 (+2 if persuasion, untrained).
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
As Jake stands up wiping his mouth, he mutters to himself, “I say yes to one voice in my head and suddenly I’m spitting up the sea. He better be right, or he’ll get a talkin from me.” Scratching his bald blue head, Jake takes a last looking at the setting sun over the ocean before heading into town for that Shepard’s Pie while absentmindedly tapping the symbol around his neck.
As he walks into the Wicker Goat , he pauses when he sees the weird people in here. The regulars were inside after working on the sea all day obviously, but there’s an huge orc over there that doesn’t seem like he needs much in the way of assistance, at anything, currently arm wrestling with Sybella getting excited like usual. There’s a giant of a woman sitting at the bar chatting with the barkeep, and then there’s this guy, who looks weirdly familiar. Jake realizes that he’s a water genasi like him, which he’s only seen once or twice in his lifetime. The man does look like he’ll need some help for sure. Jake goes and sits next to him while putting a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not from here, I can tell. Where’d you decide to leave to come to this place?”
Surprised that someone would be so bold as to place a hand on a stranger's shoulder, Del turns with a small frown on his plain green features, expecting to find one of the ever-brash humans or perhaps a curious halfling accosting him. His words of admonishment fade before being spoken, however, as he notices a fellow scion of the sea sitting next to him, apparently in an attempt to initiative dialogue.
Not recognising the man and guessing from his dress and mannerisms that the fellow is not from Gillemree, Del curiously studies the stranger before responding in the naturalist's calm and almost monotonously level voice,'
"No, I'm not. I'm from... somewhere else. I mean no offense stranger, but do I know you or you me? Where I am from, people are not so forward. This place, its people and its cultures are unfamiliar to me."
The last is said with an almost bewildered look around the room, taking special note of the mix of races, styles of dress and languages, with Del's stare eventually coming to rest on the contest of strength between the orc and his burly opponent.
[OOC] perception check to study the genasi beside him and the inn's common room: 18
*First nat 20 of the campaign - huzzah! May there be many more to come. :D
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land DM Beyond the Bitter Shore DM Echos of a Burning Crown
As Sybella speaks her words close enough for Gom to hear over the crowd a sense of power moves in his body. His arm flexes as he smashes the man’s hand into the table. William just looks at him as Sybella comes back with the drinks “Good match friend – as promise here is you drink.” He just stands and lifts up his mug leaving with his companion to sit at another table. The crowd slowly dispersing back to drinking and other merriment, a couple move to congratulate the Orc and then shake Williams hand for lasting longer.
As a group of men past Selinae she can over hear some of the dulled whispers, the men making sure to keep their voice out of earshot of Gom “No surprise – look at that monster. William never stood a chance.”
In her search for story Sybella doesn’t find to many besides the few random folk who aren’t from town the rest is just local guard and miners. Though as she comes across a table the familiar slender face of Anders Solomor’s seems to be paying very close attention to the Orc – he smiles and waves her over “Sybella, my dear, will you be so kind as to put that…thing on my tab for the night.” He just hands a gold to you “That’s a tip for you to pay close attention to his table and make sure he gets whatever he wants.” As you look closer you see that he has a bag with him – which is peculiar for Anders.
Spoiler for Sybella (Insight Check DC: 10)
Ander’s is known to see the potential for profit in an individual and you sense that he may have a proposal for the Orc and is trying to get him drunk for a yes. More so something about him seems like he might be making one of his offers for adventurers in the tavern tonight.
Del and Jake:
Del you notice a lot of things about this place – although it is clearly old it seems to be well kept. Most of the patrons are in armor, with some type of crest on it, or dressed in plain clothes with black dust covering they face and hands. The food hits you and the smell of various meats dance in the air. Finally, as you are talking to Jake you can over hear something about a monster winning the arm wrestling and people throwing various negative comments under their breath.
Spoiler for the nat 20:
You notice a slender man sitting at a table talking to one of the barmaid and handing her a gold piece. Beside him sits a large bag and his attention as you follow it seems to be focused directly on the orc that just won the arm wrestling match. His eyes seems to carry an interest towards the orc.
Mizzula:
Lankus looks at Mizzula“Aye that be me. A room is 2 silver a night.”He leans back thinking for a moment“No magic shops, but Xendos occasional has a few wares at her ship. Though how much you can trust a fiend is up to you. Now what can I pour you?”His hand picking up a glass and waiting for you to tell him.
Del would see an bald older man wearing some chain mail under a white shirt and a brown vest, with a mace at his hip. On the other side of his belt is what seems to be some type of healer’s bag, with herbs and vials filled with maybe liquid poking out and shoved in holsters. His hands seem like they spend a lot of time in the dirt, and he seems to have spent the night on the beach from the sand he still has on him. He has gray eyes that seem hard, but soften every so often as you talk. He’s also bright blue.
”We don’t know each other, you just seem like you’re gonna need some kinda my help, and I don’t like not being able to help.”
He won! A very good thing has happened! Gom smiles and looks around the room to lock eyes with all the witnesses, daring them to pretend this was anything other than an epic feat of Orc superiority.
It's obvious the mood is one of mild disappointment, but there's something else, too. Oh, right. They don't like gloating. They don't like having their faces rubbed in it. Somehow it's okay to be weak and kind of pathetic just so long as nobody points out that reality, because then you're rude and arrogant. Instead, you must coddle the defeated. Modesty and humility are prized so that the losers can save face. How one is supposed to derive a useful lesson from such appeasement is unfathomable. Nevertheless, this isn't his tribe, and these people are not his kin, so Gom will be tactful.
As William stands to exit the battlefield, Gom also stands as a gesture of respect.
"Gom salute vigor and courage. Gom have appreciation action fulfill contract with generosity. Gom proclaim toast with commemoration of great struggle."
Gom again looks around, and is pleased that his remarks seem to have been generally well received. Many onlookers have raised their own glasses to join the toast. Gom raises his own heavy tankard halfway to his thirsty lips before he remembers another "civilized" custom.
"Gom desire gratuity offering with Elf woman. Gom experience lack of financial liquidity. Gom substitute first drink having compensation for coin loss."
Using both hands, Gom slowly extends the full tankard out to Sybella.
Selinae watched the interaction between, she assumed, 'Gom' and the young elf with amusement. She did not bother speaking with the racists, it would be their own fault if Gom overheard them.
She raised a glass to the contest herself, though the atmosphere was a little different to home where the salubrious toast one-upped each other until all were falling about laughing....this did not seem that sort of place.
She decided to chance it and asked the loser, William, politely if he could point out Anders for her.
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Gom:
Although you have yet to find yourself a new crew or ship to work on – you have found the next best thing, or maybe first depending on your mood, Ale. You heard of possible jobs being posted, random men seeking help, and even crews docking in the small town to hire from lots in one of the three taverns found in the Saltmarsh.
People tend to avoid the table your sitting at as they give you stares of wonder. It is clear that your kind isn’t common among the people of Saltmarsh. Though some drunk men have been approaching you to challenge you to bouts of strength, you easily beating most of them, find yourself approached by a massive man in miners clothing. He sits down and smiles ”Arm wrestle you for a drink.” As if preemptively judging your answer he places his arm on the table waiting for you to take it.
Selinae:
Though the downtime between jobs can be nice in certain cities – it’s the small towns that you find it goes the slowest. For the time being you have found lodging in the oldest building of the Saltmarsh the Wicker Goat. Not the worst tavern you been in, the sounds of laughter and singing fill the air. The drink is regularly poured and your mug never seems to be empty.
The bartender comes over to you as he notices your mug empty “Another one? Wouldn’t happen…excuse me for a second.” He stops for a moment as he looks up as the young girl entering “You’re late, hurry up and get to serving the customers.” His attention turns back to you “Sorry about that, so what brings you to the Saltmarsh?”
Sybella:
As you walk through the town you find that your nose isn’t assaulted by the usual smell of fish. Seagulls caw in the sky as they circle trying to find dropped food. In the background the sun begins to set over the water, painting the blue with oranges and pinks. The ships sit calmly on the water as smaller vessels begin to roll in from trying to catch something out on the water.
You eventually find yourself walking through the wooden door of the Wicker Goat, the oldest establishment in the Saltmarsh and where you work as a bar maid. Lankus just stares at you “You’re late, hurry up and get to serving the customers.”.” Utters from his mouth as he continues to pour drinks for the customers that have gathered around.
Mizzula:
You find yourself walking down the road to the town of Salt Marsh reaching its gates just as the sun is setting. You get waved through quickly by guards, who from what you can tell, do not want to work anymore. With barely a second look or inspection you continue on your way enjoying the sites of the Azure sea to your south. A warm breeze finds its way across your skin helping to cool it a little from the walking.
Eventually you find yourself in the main town surrounded by people staring at you, some children pointing at the new person in town. You find yourself outside an old wooden two story building as a young woman runs into the door only to be accosted by a man telling her she’s late. As you look up you see an old wooden sign with an image of a goat on it in beautiful black script is writing THE WICKER GOAT.
Del:
With your home behind you, the strange sense of adventure and dread fill your body. Images of your family fill your mind as you breach the water and see a small town in the distance. Looking around you notice the sun going down casting beautiful colors into the water, around you fishermen stare blankly as they rub their eyes.
One man rows over, his face covered in a white beard skin wrinkled and tanned. He just chuckles reaching out with a hand and helping you aboard. He just laughs as he rows you back to the docks and looks at you “You can find some good lodging at the Wicker Goat in town, it’s probably the safest.”
Jake:
You’re hair just floats around you in the blackness as you hear the sound of waves, a figure in long grey robes stands before you. His face covered by a half black and half white mask, his robes seem to move as if water is floating them in the nothingness. He just stands motionless as a voice echoes around you “The ones you seek are gathering my son. You wanted to be used, now go and spread my word and name through your lips and actions.”
With that you shoot out of your sleep as you spit up a little salt water. Before you fully come to, an image of a goat made of some kind of straw material woven together. You don’t remember when you fell asleep looking over the ocean, but you did. As you stand up your stomach growls as your mind begins to think of the delicious Shepard’s Pie made at the Wicker Goat.
Nimb:
You left the college and following the winds ad tales have brought you to the town of Saltmarsh – having heard some stories here and there you decided it was time to study the town and its lore for yourself. Deciding it best to travel by boat you have found your way to the town, landing at docks that smell of fish.
You wander around for a little, hoping to find a safe haven for the night. After asking around a little you have found yourself at the doors of the Wicker Goat. The sounds familiar and the smell even more so, this is your stage for the night.
Campaigns:
Wildemount: The Felderwin Irregulars (2020) - Balassar Silverstone - Dragonborn Fighter (Rune Knight) Lv. 5 | Rise of TIamat - Aiwin Aralana - Wood Elf Fighter/Ranger (Arcane Archer/Gloom Stalker) Lv. 9
The Orc grins in response, his eyes brightening at the prospect of free alcohol. He holds up a finger before rummaging in his backpack. A moment later, he holds forth an enormous empty tankard which he briefly polishes against the leg of his trousers and then sets down on the table expectantly, and then re-secures his backpack which bulges and ratttles with further metallic gear.
"Gom find stipulation of wager terms have excellence. Gom have joy with drink lacking burden of expense. Gom have certainty to prevail lacking any misgiving. Gom offer caution arise from discriminating palate and refined taste impose added cost of coin expenditure. Gom have satisfaction to vanquish with inexorable result to commence now."
All too aware he lacks the funds to make good his debt should anything go awry, Gom mentally gauges where to kick in order to snap his foe's chair leg thus forcing him to tumble to Gom's left, which would offer a timely gravity assist should his innate and considerable brawn prove insufficient. If his thirteen years have taught him anything, it is the value of an uneven playing field.
As Gom leans forward and braces his elbow on the table, there is a disquieting creak emitted by the chair he is sitting upon. Though definitely one of the most resilient chairs on offer within The Wicker Goat, it nevertheless protests under the weight of the hulking Orc, his armor, shield, weapons, and prodigious equipment which altogether press with a force well in excess of four hundred pounds. As soon as their opposing hands lock together, Gom instantly begins the struggle to pin his adversary.
The man smiles at Gom, showing off some of his missing teeth. He grips Gom's hand giving his bicep a quick flex as he tries to intimidate the Orc "Then it's on."
At this moment an onlooker just smiles "Alright - no cheatin' on the count of three...1" as the man begins to count the attention of the crowd is drawn to the two. Anyone in the tavern will notice a silence almost overtake the patrons for the spectacle "2...3!" as soon as the number three finishes the man begins to push on Gom's arm trying to push it to the table.
[OOC]
intimidation check by your opponent: 5
Strength Check: 15
Gom make an opposing strength check and insight check please.
Campaigns:
Wildemount: The Felderwin Irregulars (2020) - Balassar Silverstone - Dragonborn Fighter (Rune Knight) Lv. 5 | Rise of TIamat - Aiwin Aralana - Wood Elf Fighter/Ranger (Arcane Archer/Gloom Stalker) Lv. 9
Selinae flashed the young girl a smile, it wasn't so long ago she'd been her age....
" Spiced Rum. Or some wine if you've got it? Moscato? Nah...ale will do, its ok."
" Between jobs, I'd prefer diving but I can turn my hand to almost anything. You know of something?", Selinae said with an easy smile.
She scanned the room; mostly human...though was that a half-orc....no..orc...trouncing the locals at arm wrestling? She briefly considered going over but her mothers admonishment was already sounding in her head; she whispered under her breath...." As you wish, Mum."
As she thought of her mother she took another look at the serving girl and realised she was a half-elf just like mum......no....full elf....still.... Selinae decided that, despite all evidence to the contrary, it was fate and finger waved to her with a friendly smile.
It wouldn't hurt just to look, Sybella tells herself as she takes a detour to gaze at the docks of Saltmarsh. Of course her route to work usually resulted in the sights, sounds, and usually smells of those docks, but Sybella sometimes inched closer than necessary as if it were a dare to see if she'd just stowaway onboard some ship out there. She thought to herself that perhaps joining a crew would be her ticket to adventure. Not just any crew - a fisherman's life was definitely not for her, but a ship that truly set sail beyond the shallow reaches of the Azure Sea. The colors in the sky entranced her as she daydreamed of leaving, a common pastime of her's to be sure. It wasn't but another 5 or 10 minutes when something clicked in her mind - she was going to be late!
The relatively young wood elf more or less runs the last half mile into the Wicker Goat, but the familiar chiding of Lankus tells her she is late again. One of the strangers at the bar offered the elf a wave and a smile, which gives Sybella some pause as she returns the favor. This person looked incredibly tall. Impossibly tall? The lady looked human, but Sybella recalled her mother's wisdom and knew that couldn't be the case. She was a... a... a giant? As she stood there, Lankus' face grew redder despite his focus and attention on the stranger.
Sybella mouths a 'sorry' to Lankus as she rushes toward the back room to slip on an apron and double check her hair in the mirror. Looking nice, clean, and pretty increased the odds of tipping. Doubly so if any in the tavern tonight were adventurers! Some of them paid for copper meals with silver - and oft-told her to keep the rest!
Satisfied with her appearance, Sybella rushed out to greet the customers and took stock of the room. The giant(?) was being served by Lankus, owner of the Wicker Goat and basically a goat himself, at least in her mind. There also seemed to be a - no way! Sybella rushed her way to the table of the half-orc(?) and practically shouts, "Can I get you anything, uh, sir?!" She has stars in her eyes which practically scream that she is excited to see such a person as this half-orc(?) in the tavern.
OOC: Player knows your races, but I want to play Sybella a little more naive/ignorant than that. Also here is a ref of Sybella.
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
Del:
With your home behind you, the strange sense of adventure and dread fill your body. Images of your family fill your mind as you breach the water and see a small town in the distance. Looking around you notice the sun going down casting beautiful colors into the water, around you fishermen stare blankly as they rub their eyes.
One man rows over, his face covered in a white beard skin wrinkled and tanned. He just chuckles reaching out with a hand and helping you aboard. He just laughs as he rows you back to the docks and looks at you “You can find some good lodging at the Wicker Goat in town, it’s probably the safest.”
Nodding his thanks to the honest seeming fisherman who had made the effort to pull the gaunt, green skinned man into his boat, Del is undeniably entranced and clearly distracted by the beauty of the setting sun. So different, yet equally dazzling, when viewed from above the waves, the young traveller muses to himself. Barely registering the weathered man's meaning, the intuitive genasi none-the-less catches the words, "lodging... Wicked Goat... safety..."
Muttering his thanks as he passes the man a handful of the small brown coins that he'd been told to share to gain favour and buy things here in this strange dry realm, Del clambers from the boat onto the pier and looks around for a building with devilish live stock tied up out front. Pulling his still soaked long brown travelling cloak tighter around his thin frame and drawing his cowl down over his long black, blue and green braids of kelp-like hair, the freshly emerged ocean dweller drinks in his surroudings with his small black eyes. Leaving his coral handled scimitar in its scabard and his crab adorned shield upon his back, the young druid moves somewhat rigidly as after a while as his brown-grey sharkskin armour begins to dry out and stiffen. Finding a building sign posted as the Wicker Goat, Del clutches a small talisman around his neck and murmers something beneath his breath before entering the building to enquire about a room.
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist
DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land
DM Beyond the Bitter Shore
DM Echos of a Burning Crown
You’re hair just floats around you in the blackness as you hear the sound of waves, a figure in long grey robes stands before you. His face covered by a half black and half white mask, his robes seem to move as if water is floating them in the nothingness. He just stands motionless as a voice echoes around you “The ones you seek are gathering my son. You wanted to be used, now go and spread my word and name through your lips and actions.”
With that you shoot out of your sleep as you spit up a little salt water. Before you fully come to, an image of a goat made of some kind of straw material woven together. You don’t remember when you fell asleep looking over the ocean, but you did. As you stand up your stomach growls as your mind begins to think of the delicious Shepard’s Pie made at the Wicker Goat.
As Jake stands up wiping his mouth, he mutters to himself, “I say yes to one voice in my head and suddenly I’m spitting up the sea. He better be right, or he’ll get a talkin from me.” Scratching his bald blue head, Jake takes a last looking at the setting sun over the ocean before heading into town for that Shepard’s Pie while absentmindedly tapping the symbol around his neck.
As he walks into the Wicker Goat , he pauses when he sees the weird people in here. The regulars were inside after working on the sea all day obviously, but there’s an huge orc over there that doesn’t seem like he needs much in the way of assistance, at anything, currently arm wrestling with Sybella getting excited like usual. There’s a giant of a woman sitting at the bar chatting with the barkeep, and then there’s this guy, who looks weirdly familiar. Jake realizes that he’s a water genasi like him, which he’s only seen once or twice in his lifetime. The man does look like he’ll need some help for sure. Jake goes and sits next to him while putting a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not from here, I can tell. Where’d you decide to leave to come to this place?”
Seeing the children pointing at him, Miz decides to have a little fun and walks in the direction of the largest group of children. He starts casting Prestidigitation repeatedly as he walks, first a shower of sparks erupt from him. Then all the dirt and grime from the travel starts to vanish as he uses the spell to clean himself from head to toe. Stopping in front of the children he smiles and asks, "Are you ready?"
Before they can answer he waves his hands around makes the sparks start shooting out of their hands. At first they scream in shock, then they start to aim the sparks at one another while running around the sorcerer. Mizzula starts to laugh.
While the children are playing Miz continues to cast Prestidigitation, this time cleaning the children while keeping their sparks going. When he finishes cleaning them he lets the sparks run out. Pats them on their head and continues on his way.
Looking out of the corners of his eyes he sees several adults had stopped to watch him play with the children. Mizzula smiles. "Best way to make friends in a new town is to let others see you playing with the kids", he thinks to himself.
Feeling a bit thirsty after the show, Miz heads into the Wicker Goat to get some ale.
Campaigns:
DM - Waterdeep Dragon Heist PbP
Gom is puzzled by his opponent brandishing a snarl comprised of less than a full complement of teeth. To Gom, it implied the man couldn't intimidate his enemies into refraining from punching him in the mouth, but the fool didn't even have the wisdom to conceal his obviously inadequate fighting skills. Clearly, he had failed to use and/or protect his dental weaponry. The flexing of the arm, however - that at least made sense.
"Gom have thirst and lack interest in theater skit. Gom not require warm up drill with severe boredom."
Insight (+1): 14
Gom is surprised when an uninvited interloper suddenly hijacks the process to insist there should be no cheating, that the contest must only begin following a count of three. How, HOW was it possible a race so idiotic had not been overrun and enslaved by any number of other groups that lived in the real world, as opposed to some absurd utopian delusion that associated cheating with injustice. Cheating is so obviously the prudent and practical course.
However, before Gom can properly threaten the busybody, he notices they have somehow attracted the attention of many of the patrons. Given the bizarre norms of what humans considered respectable behavior, and their typical haste to characterize Orcs as vermin in need of killing, Gom freezes under the pressure of so many judgmental eyes. The count is given and the contest initiated. Angered that he's allowed himself to be intimidated into playing by their rules, Gom is enormously tempted to use his chair snap ploy immediately, just to proudly demonstrate he isn't bound by "honor".
As Gom labors mightily to obtain his free drink, out of nowhere appears an enthusiastic Elf. Gom believes she has asked him a question of some kind, but he really only registered the "sir" portion. How refreshing to be accorded deference and respect! It is evident she must be among the wisest of her kind. Gom offers no coherent reply, but his extended grunt of exertion sounds vaguely as if he were in the midst of giving birth.
Strength (+4): 23
Selinae regarded the two genasi with interest, the same people but so very different....though she wondered what one of the mountain folk she was from would make of her, not that she worried about it the sea was far superior to a bunch of rocks no matter how high the pile.
She looked about the room and then down at her ale, it wasn't great....she missed her dad going on and on about different hop mixes and brewing, his family had not been happy when he'd taken up fishing. She remembered being introduced to her dads family...at 3 years old she had towered over them all. Not over mums family...that had to wait til she was 12.
She got to her feet, ducked under the rafters and made her way over to watch the orc wrestle with a muttered apology to her mother for taking in interest in such things.
Selinae:
The bartender just nods as you mention ale and begins pouring a mug “A diver huh…that’s gotta be a pretty good skill. As for jobs I’m sure some will wonder in – usually people wait for the night to settle before coming in to make offers. Though most fall on deft ears, the miners know they have solid work and aren’t going to do anything crazy.”
He places the mug in front of her and just smiles “If you’re looking for work though Anders might come in here later with another plan on how to make Saltmarsh prosper or just some random task – pays well though if that’s what you’re looking for.” He looks down to the drink and then back to Selinae “I'll just put it on the tab for your room.” he says as he notices you standing to go watch the arm wrestling.
Gom:
Unlike the other patrons in this bar, this man is keeping his own with as his arm only begins to move slowly towards his direction. Between the arm flex and his ability to keep with the strength of Gom, its making you a little worried that he might come back. In the background you can hear the crowd cheering for your opponent, in just a few seconds he has already made it farther than most with you.
“Strong bastard ya are…” Comes from his gritted teeth as he tries to push you back towards your side of the table. As the girl comes up the man locks eyes with you but begins to speak again “Jimmy, get the girl our mugs and get this man a drink.”
[OOC]
Strength Check: 5
Gom make an opposing strength check please.
Sybella:
Lankus just nods as he looks over and watches you begin to wait tables, keeping his focus on entertaining the customers at the bar. As you begin to walk through the crowd it’s a usual night of people shouting orders and you have to deftly avoid grabs. After you begin taking in the sight and are grunted at by the creature in front of you, William speaks up to Jimmy.
After speaking to Jimmy, a slender man with brown hair walks over holding William’s mug and a big silver tankard “Here you are Sybella, just get them some ale and who ever loses will be paying you.”
Del & Jake:
The man just blinks as you hand him the coins “Th’nk ya – tis very kind of ya lad.” As you leave the man just sits in his boat still pondering what just happened as he stashes the coin you gave him.
As you walk, leaving a trail of dirt soaking up the water that drips off you, people just stare and point. Some of the children run to hide behind their mothers as other whisper bets to go up and say hi. In the background you hear a voice say “First an Orc, then the tall woman and now this thing…surely something must be a foot.” Another woman just responding “Maybe it’s got something to do with all the weird things happening lately.”
As you enter the wicker goat, it’s quite an interesting sight with a crowd of people surrounding an orc and human arm wrestling. A wood elf trying to take their orders as they wrestle and getting direction from another man. Before being able to take in the rest you feel a hand on your shoulder and some words enter your ears.
Mizzula:
You notice some of the men staring at you with concern, but shrug it off as then being cautious of the stranger around their children. The women with them laugh as the children run to their mother, a couple appreciative of the free cleaning you gave their children.
As you enter the Wicker Goat you find it quite a site – a goliath at the bar, a human and orc arm wrestling, two water genasi, and a wood elf who appears to be one of the bar maids. A blonde haired woman passes by carrying a tray of ale and food give you a quick look “Just find a place to sit and Sybella or myself will be with you shortly. If you’re looking for a room talk to Lankus behind the bar.” As the rehearsed phrase speeds from her mouth she stops at a table and begins to spread around the drink and meals to patrons.
Campaigns:
Wildemount: The Felderwin Irregulars (2020) - Balassar Silverstone - Dragonborn Fighter (Rune Knight) Lv. 5 | Rise of TIamat - Aiwin Aralana - Wood Elf Fighter/Ranger (Arcane Archer/Gloom Stalker) Lv. 9
" Anders....probably should have asked what he looks like....", Selinae mumbled as she watched the wrestling.
The crowd is chanting for the other guy. Of course. Gom is an Orc, and though he may be tolerated, he is seldom ever welcomed. Although it did seem to Gom that the curious Elf was at least somewhat impartial. Or maybe that was the wishful thinking of a pariah.
This was frustrating. And taking way too long. It was time to kick the chair and end this. Sweat trickled down Gom's face and merged with the oozing trails of drool as Gom imagined the pleasure of a full and free tankard. If he didn't act very soon, he worried his foe might steal a win via endurance rather than superior strength. Kick the damn chair!
No.
That's what they expect. That's what they want. Gom would simply confirm all their prejudice and antipathy and probably get tossed out, wrongfully deprived of his reward. Their culture was backward and made no sense, but here, they had the numbers, and so he must conform and beat them at their own game.
"Gom. Not. Bastard... Gom TWO-HANDED!"
He lets loose with a howl of defiance and calls upon the last reserves of his strength.
Strength (+4): 10
Mizzula walks over to the bar and says to the man, "You Lankus? I was told you were the man to speak with about a room. Also, is there a magic shop in town?"
Campaigns:
DM - Waterdeep Dragon Heist PbP
Sybella's pulled out of her distraction by Jimmy and the mugs. As they are pushed onto her, she can't help but spare the half-orc(?) a determined look. He seemed like an underdog and she couldn't help but root for such people. She whispered under her breath, "You can do it, Mr. Orc."
She disappears into the back for a moment before once again emerging with mugs, tankards, and other sorts of cups filled with ale, beer, and other liquors. She visits her tables and puts on her best smiles in hopes for tips or even rumors of adventures.
OOC: In case check is needed for rumors and such here is a Charisma check: 10 (+2 if persuasion, untrained).
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
Surprised that someone would be so bold as to place a hand on a stranger's shoulder, Del turns with a small frown on his plain green features, expecting to find one of the ever-brash humans or perhaps a curious halfling accosting him. His words of admonishment fade before being spoken, however, as he notices a fellow scion of the sea sitting next to him, apparently in an attempt to initiative dialogue.
Not recognising the man and guessing from his dress and mannerisms that the fellow is not from Gillemree, Del curiously studies the stranger before responding in the naturalist's calm and almost monotonously level voice,'
"No, I'm not. I'm from... somewhere else. I mean no offense stranger, but do I know you or you me? Where I am from, people are not so forward. This place, its people and its cultures are unfamiliar to me."
The last is said with an almost bewildered look around the room, taking special note of the mix of races, styles of dress and languages, with Del's stare eventually coming to rest on the contest of strength between the orc and his burly opponent.
[OOC] perception check to study the genasi beside him and the inn's common room: 18
*First nat 20 of the campaign - huzzah! May there be many more to come. :D
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist
DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land
DM Beyond the Bitter Shore
DM Echos of a Burning Crown
Gom, Selinae, and Sybella:
As Sybella speaks her words close enough for Gom to hear over the crowd a sense of power moves in his body. His arm flexes as he smashes the man’s hand into the table. William just looks at him as Sybella comes back with the drinks “Good match friend – as promise here is you drink.” He just stands and lifts up his mug leaving with his companion to sit at another table. The crowd slowly dispersing back to drinking and other merriment, a couple move to congratulate the Orc and then shake Williams hand for lasting longer.
As a group of men past Selinae she can over hear some of the dulled whispers, the men making sure to keep their voice out of earshot of Gom “No surprise – look at that monster. William never stood a chance.”
In her search for story Sybella doesn’t find to many besides the few random folk who aren’t from town the rest is just local guard and miners. Though as she comes across a table the familiar slender face of Anders Solomor’s seems to be paying very close attention to the Orc – he smiles and waves her over “Sybella, my dear, will you be so kind as to put that…thing on my tab for the night.” He just hands a gold to you “That’s a tip for you to pay close attention to his table and make sure he gets whatever he wants.” As you look closer you see that he has a bag with him – which is peculiar for Anders.
Spoiler for Sybella (Insight Check DC: 10)
Ander’s is known to see the potential for profit in an individual and you sense that he may have a proposal for the Orc and is trying to get him drunk for a yes. More so something about him seems like he might be making one of his offers for adventurers in the tavern tonight.
Del and Jake:
Del you notice a lot of things about this place – although it is clearly old it seems to be well kept. Most of the patrons are in armor, with some type of crest on it, or dressed in plain clothes with black dust covering they face and hands. The food hits you and the smell of various meats dance in the air. Finally, as you are talking to Jake you can over hear something about a monster winning the arm wrestling and people throwing various negative comments under their breath.
Spoiler for the nat 20:
You notice a slender man sitting at a table talking to one of the barmaid and handing her a gold piece. Beside him sits a large bag and his attention as you follow it seems to be focused directly on the orc that just won the arm wrestling match. His eyes seems to carry an interest towards the orc.
Mizzula:
Lankus looks at Mizzula “Aye that be me. A room is 2 silver a night.” He leans back thinking for a moment “No magic shops, but Xendos occasional has a few wares at her ship. Though how much you can trust a fiend is up to you. Now what can I pour you?” His hand picking up a glass and waiting for you to tell him.
Campaigns:
Wildemount: The Felderwin Irregulars (2020) - Balassar Silverstone - Dragonborn Fighter (Rune Knight) Lv. 5 | Rise of TIamat - Aiwin Aralana - Wood Elf Fighter/Ranger (Arcane Archer/Gloom Stalker) Lv. 9
Del would see an bald older man wearing some chain mail under a white shirt and a brown vest, with a mace at his hip. On the other side of his belt is what seems to be some type of healer’s bag, with herbs and vials filled with maybe liquid poking out and shoved in holsters. His hands seem like they spend a lot of time in the dirt, and he seems to have spent the night on the beach from the sand he still has on him. He has gray eyes that seem hard, but soften every so often as you talk. He’s also bright blue.
”We don’t know each other, you just seem like you’re gonna need some kinda my help, and I don’t like not being able to help.”
He won! A very good thing has happened! Gom smiles and looks around the room to lock eyes with all the witnesses, daring them to pretend this was anything other than an epic feat of Orc superiority.
It's obvious the mood is one of mild disappointment, but there's something else, too. Oh, right. They don't like gloating. They don't like having their faces rubbed in it. Somehow it's okay to be weak and kind of pathetic just so long as nobody points out that reality, because then you're rude and arrogant. Instead, you must coddle the defeated. Modesty and humility are prized so that the losers can save face. How one is supposed to derive a useful lesson from such appeasement is unfathomable. Nevertheless, this isn't his tribe, and these people are not his kin, so Gom will be tactful.
As William stands to exit the battlefield, Gom also stands as a gesture of respect.
"Gom salute vigor and courage. Gom have appreciation action fulfill contract with generosity. Gom proclaim toast with commemoration of great struggle."
Gom again looks around, and is pleased that his remarks seem to have been generally well received. Many onlookers have raised their own glasses to join the toast. Gom raises his own heavy tankard halfway to his thirsty lips before he remembers another "civilized" custom.
"Gom desire gratuity offering with Elf woman. Gom experience lack of financial liquidity. Gom substitute first drink having compensation for coin loss."
Using both hands, Gom slowly extends the full tankard out to Sybella.
Selinae watched the interaction between, she assumed, 'Gom' and the young elf with amusement. She did not bother speaking with the racists, it would be their own fault if Gom overheard them.
She raised a glass to the contest herself, though the atmosphere was a little different to home where the salubrious toast one-upped each other until all were falling about laughing....this did not seem that sort of place.
She decided to chance it and asked the loser, William, politely if he could point out Anders for her.