"All I got planned today is picking up my purchase." The Lizardfolk would reply in-between chewing up fist-fulls of food. "I slept and I've eaten today... so normally it would be time to work. Maybe I can find some work to do at the festival..."
ooc: You all know Thrash's idea of work normally means anything that earns him coin... or anything that allows him to fight or compete.
Drakar will make his way to the common room, partaking of some cheese and biscuits, and an ale of course. Can’t start the day without a frosty ale! He will carouse around the room talking with the other patrons about the fire festival, in particular trying to listen for any quick and easy opportunities to earn some coin.
‘You jnow - I haven’t seen him for seven years. I am not sure why he decided to settle down this far from home. We are from Yartar which is close to the sword coast. Perhaps he became an apprentice? Are there many halflings in the area?’
Yartar was a bustling city. It lay at a crossroads linking major cities of the sword coast, along the River Subrin. It boasted large bridges, fortifications and a bustling trading market. Merchants, smugglers, and mercenaries would from far flung places. Some of their plots were grand, others were smaller scale and local in scope.
'Come ON, Hamil!' Brighton whispered, streaking around a corner ahead. Hamil trailed after his cousin - as fast as his short legs would allow. He stumbled through the narrow winding streets of stone and scrambled to squat up against the wall beside Brighton. Brighton motioned with a hand for Hamil to be quiet as he tentatively poked his head around the edge of the building. Hamil, unable to contain himself, flopped on his stomach and peered around the corner as well. The Longtoe cousins laid eyes on their quarry.
A single steaming pie on the windowsill.
Helressa was known throughout the city for her magnificent baking and pastries - above all else her pies. Once per week, at the same time and the same day, she made a single apple pie with fresh apples picked from Silverymoon orchards.
'There it is!' Brighton whispered with glee. He was already thinking about the tart taste - still warm from the oven. He turned to his younger cousin. 'Do you remember the plan? It is important that she doesn't realize that is is us this time or she'll tell my mom.' Hamil nodded. 'Okay, good. Just like we talked about. Go on now.'
'Why do I have to do the talking part again?' Hamil whined. Brighton was a little older, quite a bit more sneaky and made all the plans. 'It has to be you because Helressa likes you more - you're young and charming and perhaps most importantly - I don't want to get blamed for this! Now go!' He gave a gentle Hamil a gentle shove out around the corner in the direction of Helressa's front door.
Hamil steeled his courage and walked up to the small stone hut. It was a brick building, like nearly everything in the city. The grey rough hewn walls seemed almost hostile, despite the warm glow from within the windows and the sound of soft whistling. He could just see Helressa whirling around the kitchen with a rag, dancing as she wiped down bowls and counters. Hamil felt a sudden spike of adrenaline and his legs began to shake just slightly. He was nearly eleven now, surely he should be brave enough for this, he thought to himself as he paused at the entrance for a moment. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. (to be cont...)
Within a second, the door was thrown open by Helressa. She was squat, even by dwarf standards, with a round face and rounder stature. Her face was soft and somehow always seemed warm and comforting. She wore an apron today adorned with a brilliant pattern of vines and fruit that mesmerized Hamil. Helressa was smiling (was that a knowing smile or was he just paranoid?) and wiping flour off her hands with a towel. “Oh hullo Hamil!” she said happily and with a grin. “How are you today? It’s been a while since I saw you.” “Hi Helressa. I’m doing well. How are you?” The halflings palms were sweating and felt clammy. He didn’t like this part of the plan. He didn’t like it when he first heard it, and he certainly didn’t like it now. It required him to distract Helressa long enough for Brighton to sneak around behind the house and lift the pie off of the window sill. Unfortunately Hamil was bad at small talk and worse at lying.
“Oh I can’t complain. Lovely day. And my new rolling pin finally came in! I’ve been waiting weeks for it, it’s so hard to get quality wooden pieces. Those stone abominations are too rough on my poor dough. They work fine enough, but you just can’t get it to rise if it flattens too much.” Once Helressa got going, it was hard sometimes to interject. It wasn’t in a way that was annoying. Quite the opposite actually. Helressa would go on and on and others would find themselves standing there happily, enjoying her company and her thoughts. Hamil found himself nodding though he didn’t quite know why. “And how’s your cousin, Brighton? What’s he up to?” At this her eyes seemed to narrow slightly though the smile never left her face.
“He’s fine!” Hamil hurriedly said. “I have a baking question for you.”
At this, Helressa’s face lit up. “Oh wonderful!” she cried. “Why didn’t you lead with that! What is it? Recommendations? Recipe? Substitution? Oh please let it be a substitution they’re always so satisfying.” Already Hamil could see that this was a wise suggestion by his cousin. He could practically see Helressa’s eyes glazing over as her brain raced with the possibility of a puzzle. She continued to ramble, more to herself than anyone else, and out of the corner of his eye Hamil could see Brighton. He was walking down the street, mixed in amongst several merchants heading home the day. A hat was now on his head, pulled low as he shuffled with the crowd. This crowd took him twenty feet from Helressa and Hamil on the stoop before he veered off and ducked around the left wall of the house, the one with the window. Helressa was still alight with the idea of a baking project. She jumped from idea to idea until all of a sudden she cut herself off midsentence, apparently realizing something.
“Oh! That reminds me! Your mother was asking about my tart shells. Let me go grab my recipe card and you can take it home with you.” She turned towards the kitchen, where Brighton was likely stealing the pie at this exact moment. 'DO YOU KNOW WHY I LIKE BAKING?' The dwarf turned to look at him. Hamil palms were sweating profously and it felt like there was a mouse caught in his throat. Why did he have to do this again? He wasn’t brave. He’d never been brave! All his young life he had dealt with a confidence issue and now he was put in a position where his words were the only thing to save his hide, if they ever bothered to show up. His brain flashed through a dozen lies, all of them half-baked at best and full-ass at worst. The pause lengthened. He couldn’t pick a lie. None of them seemed right. He decided on the truth.
“Because much of what we eat is from all over the sword coast, and from even more distant places” Hamil said with genuine sentiment. “I’ve never been. And I would imagine that anything from the surface must be wonderful. I mean. Look at your apron. I’ve never seen so many amazing colours. They look like they must taste like sunshine and warmth.” At this response Helressa seemed to soften just a little bit, and regarded Hamil with kind understanding eyes. “The dreams of a child are so remarkable. I think we as adults often tend to forget that.” “I’ll see it myself one day!” Hamil said excitedly. “Brighton and I are going to go together! When we’re older we will see the whole world! Luskan, the Moonshae Isles, Waterdeep. We’ll travel all over! I can’t wait to experience the surface world, all the sights as far as the eye can see, not hampered by stone turrets and tower walls.
Helressa sighed in mock exasperation. “Ever the pair of you, the Longtoe cousins. Berronar, help the world.” She reached into a small pocket on the front of her apron, and from it she produced a small red fruit. A raspberry, Hamil believed. “Here, something to tide you over until you can go and experience it all for yourself.” The halfling greedily took the berry and popped it in his mouth. It was so unlike the earthy heavy tastes of dwarven cuisine. It was light and sweet, and hecould almost feel the sun on his tongue. He closed his eyes and melted a little bit, which seemed to very much please Helressa.
“I have a small container of those berries inside. Should I grab them for you?” she asked. Hamil couldn’t nod fast enough, and Helressa was already five steps inside by the time he realized what he had done. Her voice bellowed from down the hall. “Longtoes! You thieves!” Helressa was fuming. She made as if to chase before apparently realizing that she’d never catch them. Both of her hands were waving furiously in fists as she stomped around her step. “I am sure you distacted my so your no good cousin could steal my pie, you absolute hoodlums! Of all the delinquent acts, this is criminal! If I get my hands on you, you’ll hold dish soap for a month, you hear me? My kitchen will sparkle!
Her voice faded behind them as the Longtoe cousins made their escape, the string of threats and curses following through the air for many blocks. Brighton giggled to himself as he split the pie between the two of them. Proud of his conquest and the adventure. Hamil was more conflicted. He felt guilty and confused.
Helressa closed the door. She smiled and began to whistle again softly as she walked over to the oven and pulled out her second pie.
Tashia moves to where the mule is stabled in a warm barn just behind the tavern and inn. She finds a group of adventurers saddling up their horses. She also finds Caddy warm and in the stall farthest in the barn.
Drakar and Tashia make a perception check.
"Not a lot of wee folk, no," Quinn replies to Brighton. "Or he might just frequent Dub's place across the village. It's the Shield Maiden. Big stone place and oldest building in Tuvig," she adds with a nod.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
‘Thanks for your time!’ I say brightly. I follow to meet up with Tashia and Drakar.’ ‘They went to the stables without me. Don’t they know I have short legs!’
Thrash would nod to Quinn as he is left alone at the table. "Thanks for the meal... I hope you get time to enjoy the festival." The lizardfolk would say as he slides the five gold pieces closer to the genesis. "Let me know of you need anything while we are in town. P&G are always looking for work. If you don't want to pay in coin, I accept payment in food and drink." Thrash would give a strange grunt and a nod before standing up. Then he would quickly collect any left over bits of meat and cheese before taking a quick circle around the table. After pushing in both his chair and the one quickly abandoned by Longtoe, he slowly makes his way towards the exit. His large muscular frame moves steadily across the room, dragging his thick twitching tail behind him. "I hate the cold.." The lizardfolk hisses when he opens the door and is greatest with a blast of cold air. His ring helped to keep his body warm enough in the frigid temperatures... but he was far from warm enough for his liking.
‘Thanks for your time!’ I say brightly. I follow to meet up with Tashia and Drakar.’ ‘They went to the stables without me. Don’t they know I have short legs!’
Drakar is still at the inn, carousing with other patrons and waiting to see what my 23 Perception reveals.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Once outside, the lizardfolk would raise his hand to help shield his eyes from the bright light and chilling wind. Scanning left to right, he would look for his companions before making his way towards Tashia and Longtoe.
Tashia notices these are more finely dressed folk than she expected to see in this rough and tumble wintery town. It's full of excellent smith's she knows but these people look like they would probably employ their own weapon and armor masters not travel hundreds of miles north into the frozen landscape no matter how good the smith's are in Tuvig! A female human, wearing emerald robes and a jaunty hat, glances at the half-orc warrior for a few seconds before looking down at her saddle.
"Just stopping on our way south," a finely dressed mage then speaks out.
He's tall but not taller than Tashia with a wicked scar clefting his right side of his face in two! Easily fix with the right magic Tashia knows but he seems proud to wear the scar.
"Enjoy," the woman begins to speak but a look from the man in gray has her trail off.
She only smiles softly at Tashia as they move their mounts out of the barn to get on their way.
Thrash and Brighton approach in time to see the group exiting the barn and spot Tashia on her own with the mule.
Inside...
Drakar notices various games of chance. He spots the real winners and the remarkable cheaters. He also spots a small dwarven woman rushing into the tavern. She seems alarmed but quickly composes herself walking calmly up to the bar. Moments later Quinn us beckoned from the party and retreats to ths bar. Within seconds of the dwarven woman speaking Quinn cries out in dispare!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Brighton tugs on Tashia’s elbow. ‘That was a strange couple…don’t quite fit it here. Did they say anything to you?’
"Yeah, he said they were headed south and she wanted us to enjoy the festival. He didn't like that too much."
Tashia shrugs.
"Maybe she's got a thing for Half-Orcs. Sometimes the fancy ladies do, on account of how we're so primal and exotic. He was probably jealous. Pity they weren't staying around longer."She muses.
Hearing the cry, Drakar approached Quinn and the dwarf woman. “What seems to be the problem, Dear?” he addresses the woman. “You are now in Drakar’s presence,” he explains, “‘tis a place of joy, despair has no place here.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
"All I got planned today is picking up my purchase." The Lizardfolk would reply in-between chewing up fist-fulls of food. "I slept and I've eaten today... so normally it would be time to work. Maybe I can find some work to do at the festival..."
ooc: You all know Thrash's idea of work normally means anything that earns him coin... or anything that allows him to fight or compete.
"Hamil," Quinn says to Brighton. "What's he do? Is he a smith," she asks curiously.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
When she's done with her meal, Tashia heads out to the stable to check on Caddy
Drakar will make his way to the common room, partaking of some cheese and biscuits, and an ale of course. Can’t start the day without a frosty ale!
He will carouse around the room talking with the other patrons about the fire festival, in particular trying to listen for any quick and easy opportunities to earn some coin.
‘You jnow - I haven’t seen him for seven years. I am not sure why he decided to settle down this far from home. We are from Yartar which is close to the sword coast. Perhaps he became an apprentice? Are there many halflings in the area?’
Twelve years ago...
Yartar was a bustling city. It lay at a crossroads linking major cities of the sword coast, along the River Subrin. It boasted large bridges, fortifications and a bustling trading market. Merchants, smugglers, and mercenaries would from far flung places. Some of their plots were grand, others were smaller scale and local in scope.
'Come ON, Hamil!' Brighton whispered, streaking around a corner ahead. Hamil trailed after his cousin - as fast as his short legs would allow. He stumbled through the narrow winding streets of stone and scrambled to squat up against the wall beside Brighton. Brighton motioned with a hand for Hamil to be quiet as he tentatively poked his head around the edge of the building. Hamil, unable to contain himself, flopped on his stomach and peered around the corner as well. The Longtoe cousins laid eyes on their quarry.
A single steaming pie on the windowsill.
Helressa was known throughout the city for her magnificent baking and pastries - above all else her pies. Once per week, at the same time and the same day, she made a single apple pie with fresh apples picked from Silverymoon orchards.
'There it is!' Brighton whispered with glee. He was already thinking about the tart taste - still warm from the oven. He turned to his younger cousin. 'Do you remember the plan? It is important that she doesn't realize that is is us this time or she'll tell my mom.' Hamil nodded. 'Okay, good. Just like we talked about. Go on now.'
'Why do I have to do the talking part again?' Hamil whined. Brighton was a little older, quite a bit more sneaky and made all the plans. 'It has to be you because Helressa likes you more - you're young and charming and perhaps most importantly - I don't want to get blamed for this! Now go!' He gave a gentle Hamil a gentle shove out around the corner in the direction of Helressa's front door.
Hamil steeled his courage and walked up to the small stone hut. It was a brick building, like nearly everything in the city. The grey rough hewn walls seemed almost hostile, despite the warm glow from within the windows and the sound of soft whistling. He could just see Helressa whirling around the kitchen with a rag, dancing as she wiped down bowls and counters. Hamil felt a sudden spike of adrenaline and his legs began to shake just slightly. He was nearly eleven now, surely he should be brave enough for this, he thought to himself as he paused at the entrance for a moment. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. (to be cont...)
Within a second, the door was thrown open by Helressa. She was squat, even by dwarf standards, with a round face and rounder stature. Her face was soft and somehow always seemed warm and comforting. She wore an apron today adorned with a brilliant pattern of vines and fruit that mesmerized Hamil. Helressa was smiling (was that a knowing smile or was he just paranoid?) and wiping flour off her hands with a towel. “Oh hullo Hamil!” she said happily and with a grin. “How are you today? It’s been a while since I saw you.” “Hi Helressa. I’m doing well. How are you?” The halflings palms were sweating and felt clammy. He didn’t like this part of the plan. He didn’t like it when he first heard it, and he certainly didn’t like it now. It required him to distract Helressa long enough for Brighton to sneak around behind the house and lift the pie off of the window sill. Unfortunately Hamil was bad at small talk and worse at lying.
“Oh I can’t complain. Lovely day. And my new rolling pin finally came in! I’ve been waiting weeks for it, it’s so hard to get quality wooden pieces. Those stone abominations are too rough on my poor dough. They work fine enough, but you just can’t get it to rise if it flattens too much.” Once Helressa got going, it was hard sometimes to interject. It wasn’t in a way that was annoying. Quite the opposite actually. Helressa would go on and on and others would find themselves standing there happily, enjoying her company and her thoughts. Hamil found himself nodding though he didn’t quite know why. “And how’s your cousin, Brighton? What’s he up to?” At this her eyes seemed to narrow slightly though the smile never left her face.
“He’s fine!” Hamil hurriedly said. “I have a baking question for you.”
At this, Helressa’s face lit up. “Oh wonderful!” she cried. “Why didn’t you lead with that! What is it? Recommendations? Recipe? Substitution? Oh please let it be a substitution they’re always so satisfying.” Already Hamil could see that this was a wise suggestion by his cousin. He could practically see Helressa’s eyes glazing over as her brain raced with the possibility of a puzzle. She continued to ramble, more to herself than anyone else, and out of the corner of his eye Hamil could see Brighton. He was walking down the street, mixed in amongst several merchants heading home the day. A hat was now on his head, pulled low as he shuffled with the crowd. This crowd took him twenty feet from Helressa and Hamil on the stoop before he veered off and ducked around the left wall of the house, the one with the window. Helressa was still alight with the idea of a baking project. She jumped from idea to idea until all of a sudden she cut herself off midsentence, apparently realizing something.
“Oh! That reminds me! Your mother was asking about my tart shells. Let me go grab my recipe card and you can take it home with you.” She turned towards the kitchen, where Brighton was likely stealing the pie at this exact moment. 'DO YOU KNOW WHY I LIKE BAKING?' The dwarf turned to look at him. Hamil palms were sweating profously and it felt like there was a mouse caught in his throat. Why did he have to do this again? He wasn’t brave. He’d never been brave! All his young life he had dealt with a confidence issue and now he was put in a position where his words were the only thing to save his hide, if they ever bothered to show up. His brain flashed through a dozen lies, all of them half-baked at best and full-ass at worst. The pause lengthened. He couldn’t pick a lie. None of them seemed right. He decided on the truth.
“Because much of what we eat is from all over the sword coast, and from even more distant places” Hamil said with genuine sentiment. “I’ve never been. And I would imagine that anything from the surface must be wonderful. I mean. Look at your apron. I’ve never seen so many amazing colours. They look like they must taste like sunshine and warmth.” At this response Helressa seemed to soften just a little bit, and regarded Hamil with kind understanding eyes. “The dreams of a child are so remarkable. I think we as adults often tend to forget that.” “I’ll see it myself one day!” Hamil said excitedly. “Brighton and I are going to go together! When we’re older we will see the whole world! Luskan, the Moonshae Isles, Waterdeep. We’ll travel all over! I can’t wait to experience the surface world, all the sights as far as the eye can see, not hampered by stone turrets and tower walls.
Helressa sighed in mock exasperation. “Ever the pair of you, the Longtoe cousins. Berronar, help the world.” She reached into a small pocket on the front of her apron, and from it she produced a small red fruit. A raspberry, Hamil believed. “Here, something to tide you over until you can go and experience it all for yourself.” The halfling greedily took the berry and popped it in his mouth. It was so unlike the earthy heavy tastes of dwarven cuisine. It was light and sweet, and hecould almost feel the sun on his tongue. He closed his eyes and melted a little bit, which seemed to very much please Helressa.
“I have a small container of those berries inside. Should I grab them for you?” she asked. Hamil couldn’t nod fast enough, and Helressa was already five steps inside by the time he realized what he had done. Her voice bellowed from down the hall. “Longtoes! You thieves!” Helressa was fuming. She made as if to chase before apparently realizing that she’d never catch them. Both of her hands were waving furiously in fists as she stomped around her step. “I am sure you distacted my so your no good cousin could steal my pie, you absolute hoodlums! Of all the delinquent acts, this is criminal! If I get my hands on you, you’ll hold dish soap for a month, you hear me? My kitchen will sparkle!
Her voice faded behind them as the Longtoe cousins made their escape, the string of threats and curses following through the air for many blocks. Brighton giggled to himself as he split the pie between the two of them. Proud of his conquest and the adventure. Hamil was more conflicted. He felt guilty and confused.
Helressa closed the door. She smiled and began to whistle again softly as she walked over to the oven and pulled out her second pie.
Tashia moves to where the mule is stabled in a warm barn just behind the tavern and inn. She finds a group of adventurers saddling up their horses. She also finds Caddy warm and in the stall farthest in the barn.
Drakar and Tashia make a perception check.
"Not a lot of wee folk, no," Quinn replies to Brighton. "Or he might just frequent Dub's place across the village. It's the Shield Maiden. Big stone place and oldest building in Tuvig," she adds with a nod.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Tashia Perception: 14
Perception 25
‘Thanks for your time!’ I say brightly. I follow to meet up with Tashia and Drakar.’ ‘They went to the stables without me. Don’t they know I have short legs!’
Thrash would nod to Quinn as he is left alone at the table. "Thanks for the meal... I hope you get time to enjoy the festival." The lizardfolk would say as he slides the five gold pieces closer to the genesis. "Let me know of you need anything while we are in town. P&G are always looking for work. If you don't want to pay in coin, I accept payment in food and drink." Thrash would give a strange grunt and a nod before standing up. Then he would quickly collect any left over bits of meat and cheese before taking a quick circle around the table. After pushing in both his chair and the one quickly abandoned by Longtoe, he slowly makes his way towards the exit. His large muscular frame moves steadily across the room, dragging his thick twitching tail behind him. "I hate the cold.." The lizardfolk hisses when he opens the door and is greatest with a blast of cold air. His ring helped to keep his body warm enough in the frigid temperatures... but he was far from warm enough for his liking.
"Hello there," Tashia calls out.
"Didn't expect to see anyone leaving today, of all days. Need a hand with your mounts?"
Drakar is still at the inn, carousing with other patrons and waiting to see what my 23 Perception reveals.
Once outside, the lizardfolk would raise his hand to help shield his eyes from the bright light and chilling wind. Scanning left to right, he would look for his companions before making his way towards Tashia and Longtoe.
Perception if needed 19
Tashia notices these are more finely dressed folk than she expected to see in this rough and tumble wintery town. It's full of excellent smith's she knows but these people look like they would probably employ their own weapon and armor masters not travel hundreds of miles north into the frozen landscape no matter how good the smith's are in Tuvig! A female human, wearing emerald robes and a jaunty hat, glances at the half-orc warrior for a few seconds before looking down at her saddle.
"Just stopping on our way south," a finely dressed mage then speaks out.
He's tall but not taller than Tashia with a wicked scar clefting his right side of his face in two! Easily fix with the right magic Tashia knows but he seems proud to wear the scar.
"Enjoy," the woman begins to speak but a look from the man in gray has her trail off.
She only smiles softly at Tashia as they move their mounts out of the barn to get on their way.
Thrash and Brighton approach in time to see the group exiting the barn and spot Tashia on her own with the mule.
Inside...
Drakar notices various games of chance. He spots the real winners and the remarkable cheaters. He also spots a small dwarven woman rushing into the tavern. She seems alarmed but quickly composes herself walking calmly up to the bar. Moments later Quinn us beckoned from the party and retreats to ths bar. Within seconds of the dwarven woman speaking Quinn cries out in dispare!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Brighton tugs on Tashia’s elbow. ‘That was a strange couple…don’t quite fit it here. Did they say anything to you?’
(Passive perception of 14 if he would hear the cry of despair from the tavern)
Brighton doesn't hear Quinn's exclamation.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"Yeah, he said they were headed south and she wanted us to enjoy the festival. He didn't like that too much."
Tashia shrugs.
"Maybe she's got a thing for Half-Orcs. Sometimes the fancy ladies do, on account of how we're so primal and exotic. He was probably jealous. Pity they weren't staying around longer." She muses.
Hearing the cry, Drakar approached Quinn and the dwarf woman. “What seems to be the problem, Dear?” he addresses the woman. “You are now in Drakar’s presence,” he explains, “‘tis a place of joy, despair has no place here.”