Quote from Makkiu >>

Honestly, I don't know if he had been there. He guarded a few merchants going on ships by his time so he could but I never explicitly thought he had. It would be more likely for him to hear something on docks or during his education. He would also not be exactly involved on the underworld dealings. Not that he knows about. So a straight check and one at disadvantage:

History Check: 19

History Check w/Disadv: 9

 [Space saved for me to elaborate in the morning, watch this space.]

Thurodim simply lets out a frustrated grunt as the dwarf dismisses the team's offers to help and shakes his head slowly, then looking at Ghurr with a resigned shrug before heading inside.

"Thank you, glad we could help." He says, perking up a bit at Verity's praise, taking another swig of dwarven ale, nodding and giving her a green thumbs up over the bath.
"Have you seen trolls like this here before?" He asks her.

Faera shrugs as the dwarf charges on past.  She takes a seat at their table and thanks Verity for her generosity.  She looks to Mala, "So, do you spend most of your life on the water?  What's that like?"

Settling into her chair, Mala sips at her drink. "Me?" she says as Faera asks her a question. "Yea. Well, for the last 10 years I pretty much lived aboard the Barnacled Mermaid. We would hit the ports of course now and then, but otherwise on the water."  She then pauses, taking another sip of her drink, furrowing her brow. "Guess it's a decent life. Nobody asking you stupid questions. You know your job and do it, your crewmates do the same, and everything works well."  She shrugs, "I've grown to enjoy the sea. But was always interesting to see all the different lands we'd stop off in." 

Once again, she pauses for another drink.  "What about you Faera? I presume you studied magic somewhere. How'd you end up in Fort Imma? Or is this where you studied?"

Ghurr sits quietly by the fire, listening to the others talk. He finishes his food and absently tries smoothing down his fur. Most of it sticks back out a few seconds after he finishes.

He looks closely at Faera when the question of magic comes up.

”Yes. yes. Tell story about magic.”

As Mala mentions the Barnacled Mermaid, Thurodim gets a somewhat dreamy look on his face, seemingly thinking back on his days at the ship, nodding to Mala's description of life at sea, taking another swig, then leaning back to listen to Farea and her story.

As most of the group now have their eyes on Faera after Mala asked about her magic, the tips of her pointed ears turn red.  "Me?  Well yeah, I studied magic, I really enjoyed it actually.  But not in Fort Imma, not sure if they have a school for magic there?  If they do, I haven't heard about it."

She stops herself from rambling and continues, "I studied over in Talith.  You'll find a lot more elves over there," she chuckles, "But I wanted to travel after my studies and found myself here.  I haven't been here long, but I gotta say that I'm excited about our mission and am very curious what we will find in Softs Rest."

She yawns, "Speaking of rest... I think I'll head up.  Enjoy that bath, Thurodim." and she heads in the direction of the rooms after getting a key from Verity.

Tha massive half-orc grunts, nods and smiles briefly as Faera gets up and leaves for her room, hoping to enjoy that hot bath soon before heading for a well-deserved rest of his own. While waiting for his bath he lets Mr Bleeches come out on the table, offering him some of the cheese he brought from the Skelly. "So, why did you come to Fort Imma?" He asks Ghurr, curious about his new big furry friend.

As Faera rises to leave, Mala downs the last bit from her drink and stands as well. "I think I will get my rest now too. You boys stay out of trouble!"  She grabs a key from Verity as well and heads with Faera towards the rooms. "Sorry if my questions put you on the spot. I didn't mean to," she says as they part ways. "Good night." She then quickly slips into her room. 

Ghurr watches the mouse for a moment as it nibbles the cheese Thurodim offers it.

"Miss Hoppy, Lord of the Night," Ghurr says, thinking about the cat back in Fort Imma.

He looks over at the fire than back to Thurodim.

"Fort Imma first real town Ghurr visit," Ghurr says. "Go along trails in forest and out in fields and farms and defend weak but towns strange place. Fort Imma not so big. Think maybe should try. Towns maybe hide many dark places."

Ghurr laughs before continuing.

"Sea smell good there. Town smell not good. But meet new friends so Fort Imma is good."

"Yes I too prefer the sea Ghurr, being up in the rigging and watching the ocean to the horizon, it sets my spirit free. Fort Imma is okay as long as I can work in the harbor in the days, watching the sea but eventually I must find another crew Ghurr. In the meantime I can think no better way to spend my days than doing som good, bringing some light if you will, doing it with friends." Thurodim says, raising his tankard to the the bugbear with a wide smile.

Ghurr raises a mug back to Thurodim.

Then he looks to the doorway, leading to the courtyard and stables.

"Should keep watch in case more troll," Ghurr says. "Once inn quiet, Ghurr can watch first."

Thurodim nods and takes another swig of dwarven ale. "I would need to rest properly though, that troll tore me up pretty badly." He rumbles, briefly looking down on his wounds, then scanning the room for Verity. "So, you talk about protecting the light Ghurr, are you a kind of holy warrior then? I didn't know the bugbears had deity's caring much for protecting the weak." He asks curiously after a while.

"Grew up in Magnal Forest with mum and dad," Ghurr says to Thurodim. "They only bugbears really know."

He frowns, looking for the right words.

"They really smart. No trouble talk common. Not like Ghurr." Ghurr says with a big smile. "Think word for mum is druid. Dad say he hedge wizard. Not sure but always have lots of fun potions."

Ghurr shifts his bulk in the chair, cringing a little when he hears it creak under his weight. But he smiles again when he sees Thurodim's chair strain just as much.

"The old forests and nature have power. Connects all creatures with light. Ghurr protect that. Protect all who need it. Too many just want to put it out," he says nodding back towards the stables. "Not sure what holy warrior is. But Ghurr take oath to protect those ancient powers."

He sits quietly for a few moments, sipping his drink.

"Why you not have crew now?" 

Thurodim listens to Ghurr, his admiration for the bugbear increasing with everything he learned about him. It would take a lot of courage and commitment to his cause to enter a world that feared and despised his kind, something the half-orc knew a lot about but would lilkely never experience quite as Ghurr had this night alone. He appreciated the simplicity with the bugbear, not so many fancy words, it suited the half-orc well.

"When the old captain left our ship the Barnacled Mermaid there was a new captain that...Mala and I didn't see eye to eye with, so we left, and have been staying in Fort Imma, looking for a new crew. I guess you will be our crew now." Thurodim says with a wide smile, taking another swig of dwarven ale, realizing his tankard is empty again and it's magic spent for tonight. "Getting a bit tired, hoping for that bath but then I should rest, you come and wake me when I rested okay?" He says to Ghurr.

Faera and Mala head up the stairs, past a door on a small mezzanine level, then on to the top floor to their rooms. They will find them small but comfortable. The rooms are more or less the same, and your imaginations will fill in any minor differences, so I'll describe them as:

Single beds laid out with clean linen, an old rug on the floor, a small side table on which sits a couple of old books and a candle. On the opposite side of the room is a lockable chest for storing any belongings during your stay. A couple of faded tapestries attempt to hide the bare stone walls and make the rooms feel more cosy. A halfling girl you would guess to be in her teens follows the two of you up, and in your rooms asks you in turn "Light your candle miss?" She carries a lit lantern and a small bundle of wooden sticks a few inches long. 

Downstairs, Verity approaches the table and says to Thurodim "Your bath is ready! Just in the back room there. Here's the key, make sure you lock the door! Wouldn't want anyone wandering in." She gives you a wink as she returns to bar.

When you enter you find a good sized fire has been built up in the fireplace, and a tin bath positioned close to it. It is about half way full of steaming water. In one corner are the large kettles which would have been used for the heating and pouring of the water into the bath. A small table next to the bath holds a sponge on a stick, a bar of hard soap, and a brush.

Thurodim accepts the key Verity's handing him with an appreciative grunt, blushing at the halflings comment. "I'll go and have that bath now and then get to rest in our room if that's okay." He says to Ghurr, getting up and getting his gear, giving Ghurr and Ilithir a nod before he moving on to the back room. Once inside he locks the door and undresses, taking good care to clean himself and his clothes and gear as best as he can. It wasn't exactly the first time the massive half-orc was splattered with blood, most often someone elses. Although the general view of half-orcs not being the cleanliest of people, Thurodim always had made an effort, even at sea, to clean himself after a good fight, as a good fight invariably got him soaked in blood. After some cleaning, rough brushing and changing of water the massive half-orc just laid back in the tin bath, trying to make himself as comfortable as possible, enjoying the relaxing warmth, pondering this day's exciting events, feeling some excitement he realizes over this venture and gaining some new friends. Later he finishes up, dresses and makes his way up to his and Ghurr's bedroom where he barely makes it to the large bed before collapsing and falling into a deep and blissful sleep.

Faera looks into the small, cozy room and smiles, to the halfling, "yes, that would be delightful, thank you."  And once the girl is gone, she settles in, reading her spellbook for a time as she ponders what tricks to have up her sleeve for tomorrow.  

Ghurr, with the images of the broken fence and the troll eating the horse still in his head, decides to sit watch once the tavern begins to quiet down. He finds a spot by the door or a window where he can see the whole main room plus out into the courtyard. 

After the halfling girl lights the candle in Faera's room, Mala nods to the girl. "Sure. you can light that one too," she says shortly. As soon as the girl is done, she says, "Thanks," and slips into the room closing the door.  She quickly removes her coat and armor, settling into a chair, and closes her eyes. She uses her Primeval Awareness to see if any unusual creatures are near. (Detects aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, or undead within 1 mile, lasts for 1 minute - used 1 Level 1 Spell Slot.) 

Once finished, she stands and prepares for bed, soon falling asleep.