Mother Anachain does indeed find what she is looking for in the Market, as she makes a quick visit there on the way to the Inn. She is greeted warmly at the stalls and finds trade here quite easy as the people manning the stalls seem eager to trade.
((Seeing their eagerness for trade could Anachain maybe barter her way to getting enough components for 2 castings at a discount? Maybe 20 gold worth of components for 15 gold? Persuasion: Nat 1 (+5) - I am guessing no discounts.))
"Food and drink sounds just fine," Anachain says to Cassie with a smile. "Thanks. It was a fruitful enough excursion, I suppose. Found a couple of strangers who seem to be joining us... Hopefully that'll turn out well." Anachain kind smirks over at Deniz and Grimrin at this, hopefully indicating she is just being playful with her words.
"Your mayor is supposed to be meeting us after a while, so we'll be lingering around I suppose. We'll also need rooms and our horses and carriage tended to, if possible... We may likely be off again in the morning though, so just the one night for now?" Anachain figures they could rush right out immediately after finalizing the deal with the mayor but chances are not so much...
Meanwhile she mentally sends Myrth over to perch up around the other guests and listen in and spy a bit. Mostly the two younger elves as they are actively talking and thus there are things to overhear for an invisible imp to catch... But Myrth will also try to peek at the elderly moon elf and see what their tome is - just a journal or a magic book or? Though Myrth will keep a bit more distance from them as they seem likely to be more wary than the youngsters. Anachain sees no reason to spy on the harpist, at least for now... They're pretty open about what they are doing.
(Myrth Stealth and Perception in case you need them? Stealth: Invisible but 23... Perception: 15)
((Also, at first chance to do so discreetly, Anachain is slipping her gloves to Myrth so he can attune to them.))
Cassie cocks her head to one side a kulloda's request, the service smile not leaving her mouth for a moment, but as Anachain speaks, the barkeep listens and seems to take to that request before doubling back on kulloda's. "A growing group is never a bad thing, many hands make light work so they say. As for the mayor, I could have someone run out and pass along a message to meet you here if it pleases you.
One night for stabling is still 5 silver for the cart plus 1 silver per horse, the coin for lodging can be sorted when you leave though, how many are you now for the night?" She pours a few mugs of the mulberry and dishes them out before meeting kulloda's gaze, "for you my dear I'll find the biggest bowl we have, but you'll have to finish it and hand it over for a refill if it's not too much trouble, I think I've only the one bowl that'll sate your appetite" she gives him a warm smile and waits on Anachain.
"He may need a trough," Anachain comments with a side glance at Kulloda.
"But no thanks, the mayor knows to meet us here. It has already been discussed," she adds. "There are five of us now. Four if you count him as a horse..."
"right you are, I hope she doesn't make you wait too long" Cassie says regarding the groups plan with the mayor, before adding, "I'm sure we can do better than the stable's straw for the big guy, I'll get five beds made up, but first that stew..." And she heads into the back to serve the food, leaving the group to observe the comings and goings of the bar for the moment.
Kulloda agrees to the condition that he needs to return the bowl. But he warms to the idea of a trough too.
"Maybe just the whole cooking pot," Kulloda muses.
He watches the whispering sneaky elves for awhile longer as he waits for Deniz to stop daydreaming. Maybe he's in that elf trance, Kulloda thinks to himself.
Grimrin sits there uncomfortably, looking all around the room, clocking the nearest exits. His eyes likewise linger on the bandits, but when Cassie approaches, she takes most of his full attention. After she leaves, he looks at the other patrons and says quietly, "Anyone else feel like she was trying really hard to be friendly?" He looks around suspiciously again.
Cassie returns with a shining example of the service smile wrapped around her face as well as several bowls for those who requested them. She then darts back and returns once again with what looks more like a large mixing bowl full of stew, which she lifts with effort onto the table in front of kulloda.
"Okay then, I hope everything is up to standard there, is there anything else I can get for you?" She pauses for a moment and if no one needs anything she wishes everyone an enjoyable meal and returns to her barkeeperly duties.
The harpist's song finishes and Deniz finally responds. Turning to Kulloda, he says: Forgive me, I did not intend rudeness. I was simply enthralled with the music. It was an elegant and evocative melody from a skilled musician. The stew arrives and Deniz gives it a vague look, then asks Cassie politely if there is any bread available, before continuing, giving his assessment of the activities in the tavern like a scientist who has made a series of new discoveries:
Sharpening blades is a regular habit for those in the martial career, and apparently not an activity looked down upon in a public place. Or perhaps it is, but their disregard for propriety is a feature of their youth. The content of their conversation is more curious, but I surmise that young soldiers are also prone to exaggeration. The elder I would guess is scribing a spell, although I am no expert in such matters.
Then leaving the topic of the tavern patrons, Deniz says: I trust your business with the mayor concluded to your satisfaction.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
"They say they didn't recognize the tracks they found," Anachain answers Kulloda almost before she realizes she is talking. She looks around to the others and smiles and gives a bit of a shrug. "I have ears everywhere," she explains.
"Anyway, 'Long toed, four clawed...' they say. But walks upright. But the prints disappeared before they got to the water... That point confuses them. Perhaps it flew?" She asks this question of the others herself, it not being part of what the two elves talked about. "The other noted that moss grew in the footprints almost as if the forest itself was trying to hide the creature's path. Sounds a bit exaggerated to me but one never knows for sure, I suppose..."
"But they're not bandits or such. They plan to check again tomorrow before bringing it up to the captain of the watch..."
Togar clicks his beak and looks at his bowl for a minute, cocking his head, considering the conversation. He turns with awkwardness and says “I agree, seemed overly friendly to me. For this place. Perhaps just overdoing it a bit, but it doesn’t mesh with anything else we’ve experienced here yet..”. He picks up a spoon and then some of the stew, sniffing it, then puts it in his mouth and makes a lot of smacking noises as he tastes it. “Hmmm.” And he continues. After the majority of the solid bits of the stew have been consumed, Togar conjures something that looks like a straw that he puts into the bowl and he noisily sucks out the remainder of the juice, clicking his mouth afterward with a self satisfied look on his face.
Togar turns to Deniz and says “No, it didn’t go satisfactorily. There are additional tasks we must perform. She almost balked on the whole deal. And still no sampling or viewing of the presumed magical items that we are being told of but have no evidence for. If we do all of this work and she walks away with giving us some pittance, some cheap lighted stick or some such, I’m going to blow my top knot! Hrrmmph!” He puts his clawed hand to the top of his head, where the feathers had been steadily rising as he was speaking, he pulls them down flat again on top of his head, but it takes several passes. Then he turns to hear the assessment of the elvish hunters as told by Anachain. “Perhaps we should follow them? See these prints? I’ve never heard of anything like that… anyone know what could make such tracks?”
Kulloda devours his stew, puts the empty bowl on the bar and then goes over and sits down at the table with the two elves who were talking about the prints.
"Where see footprints? By bridge?" Kulloda asks by way of introduction. "Flying creature guard bridge?"
With Togar making his lovely dinner noises, the elderly elf looks up from his book and scowls. When the straw appears and Togar sucks down the remainder of the juice, the elf slams his book shut and gathers the rest of his things and leaves in a huff.
Cassie comes back to the table, seemingly blind to the old man's abrupt departure and leaves 5 keys upon the table. "We have plenty of room tonight, settle up in the mornin' during your breakfast." she hovers for a moment, then if nothing is stated she retreats back to the kitchen.
Two dwarves burst in from the outdoors, in a very jovial mood slapping each other on the back and head straight to the bar. "Cassie m'lady! First round is on this one!" the second one points out his friend and bursts out laughing.
Followed not too far on their heels, the Mayor does enter the Inn as she promised. She looks around for a moment, spots your table and heads over. She takes Kulloda's empty seat and makes herself comfortable. Before she even has time to start in, Cassie arrives with a glass of wine and sets it in front of her. Then swiftly makes her exit.
"Ah, now that we are in a more comfortable setting, shall we discuss things in a more civilized manner?"
"Everything went fine," Anachain tells Deniz with a sigh, contradicting Togar. "Well, everything went well enough..."
"There may have been some confusion on the original deal but the mayor is meeting us here to tell us just what the magical items on offer are," she explains to him. Then, looking to Togar, she says "But maybe you need to reign in expectations a bit, eh? Nobody is asking you to slay a dragon or anything so don't be expecting the moon, eh?"
Anachain rolls her eyes a bit as Kulloda stomps over to the two elves and she wonders if she'll be breaking up a bar fight in a moment... But is soon distracted by the elderly patron leaving and the dwarves clomping in. Follow the elf with the book, she mentally directs Myrth on a hunch, and then waits patiently at the bar to see what develops.
The two elves stare, open mouthed, at Kulloda. They blink a few times before they regain control of their faces and look to one another before one answers him. "I uh... well, good evening mister. Were you... were you eavesdropping on us?"
Deniz nods slowly as he listens intently to the replies, then summarises: You have been requested to perform other tasks prior to obtaining the promised reward.
The elf replies to Togar that he does not recognise the creature being discussed at the other table. Then as Cassie appears for the third time (at least) and there is still no bread forthcoming, Deniz starts to pick at his stew, pushing the meat aside and spooning out the vegetables.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
"Ah, now that we are in a more comfortable setting, shall we discuss things in a more civilized manner?"
"Ah, madam Mayor, nice to see you again," Anachain says with her best attempt at charm. (Charisma roll: 14. Could be worse.) "If you want civilized I suggest we talk fast while our friend Kulloda is distracted at the other table. This here is Deniz, he joined us in our vanquishing your bandit problem... He and Grimrin are in the group now and will be helping us in whatever else we do for you going forward."
"Now I believe it was a bridge issue, a pixie issue and was that it for ongoing issues?"
Kulloda stares blankly at the elves for a moment, wondering what on earth they're talking about.
"Kulloda not drop anything," Kulloda says then continues, gesturing back at the group at the other table. "You talk in tavern. Others hear you. Kulloda come ask what you see. So footprints near bridge?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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((Seeing their eagerness for trade could Anachain maybe barter her way to getting enough components for 2 castings at a discount? Maybe 20 gold worth of components for 15 gold? Persuasion: Nat 1 (+5) - I am guessing no discounts.))
"Food and drink sounds just fine," Anachain says to Cassie with a smile. "Thanks. It was a fruitful enough excursion, I suppose. Found a couple of strangers who seem to be joining us... Hopefully that'll turn out well." Anachain kind smirks over at Deniz and Grimrin at this, hopefully indicating she is just being playful with her words.
"Your mayor is supposed to be meeting us after a while, so we'll be lingering around I suppose. We'll also need rooms and our horses and carriage tended to, if possible... We may likely be off again in the morning though, so just the one night for now?" Anachain figures they could rush right out immediately after finalizing the deal with the mayor but chances are not so much...
Meanwhile she mentally sends Myrth over to perch up around the other guests and listen in and spy a bit. Mostly the two younger elves as they are actively talking and thus there are things to overhear for an invisible imp to catch... But Myrth will also try to peek at the elderly moon elf and see what their tome is - just a journal or a magic book or? Though Myrth will keep a bit more distance from them as they seem likely to be more wary than the youngsters. Anachain sees no reason to spy on the harpist, at least for now... They're pretty open about what they are doing.
(Myrth Stealth and Perception in case you need them? Stealth: Invisible but 23... Perception: 15)
((Also, at first chance to do so discreetly, Anachain is slipping her gloves to Myrth so he can attune to them.))
Cassie cocks her head to one side a kulloda's request, the service smile not leaving her mouth for a moment, but as Anachain speaks, the barkeep listens and seems to take to that request before doubling back on kulloda's. "A growing group is never a bad thing, many hands make light work so they say. As for the mayor, I could have someone run out and pass along a message to meet you here if it pleases you.
One night for stabling is still 5 silver for the cart plus 1 silver per horse, the coin for lodging can be sorted when you leave though, how many are you now for the night?" She pours a few mugs of the mulberry and dishes them out before meeting kulloda's gaze, "for you my dear I'll find the biggest bowl we have, but you'll have to finish it and hand it over for a refill if it's not too much trouble, I think I've only the one bowl that'll sate your appetite" she gives him a warm smile and waits on Anachain.
"He may need a trough," Anachain comments with a side glance at Kulloda.
"But no thanks, the mayor knows to meet us here. It has already been discussed," she adds. "There are five of us now. Four if you count him as a horse..."
"right you are, I hope she doesn't make you wait too long" Cassie says regarding the groups plan with the mayor, before adding, "I'm sure we can do better than the stable's straw for the big guy, I'll get five beds made up, but first that stew..." And she heads into the back to serve the food, leaving the group to observe the comings and goings of the bar for the moment.
Kulloda agrees to the condition that he needs to return the bowl. But he warms to the idea of a trough too.
"Maybe just the whole cooking pot," Kulloda muses.
He watches the whispering sneaky elves for awhile longer as he waits for Deniz to stop daydreaming. Maybe he's in that elf trance, Kulloda thinks to himself.
Grimrin sits there uncomfortably, looking all around the room, clocking the nearest exits. His eyes likewise linger on the bandits, but when Cassie approaches, she takes most of his full attention. After she leaves, he looks at the other patrons and says quietly, "Anyone else feel like she was trying really hard to be friendly?" He looks around suspiciously again.
"Maybe she just likes you," Anachain chides Grimrin. "Could be your lucky night, eh?"
"Orrrrr...." she adds a moment later. "Could just be she works at an inn and being nice is part of the job?"
Kulloda looks at Grimrin for a moment then grunts an acknowledgement.
“She call Kulloda my dear. Nobody call Kulloda my dear. Ever. Maybe scared.”
Cassie returns with a shining example of the service smile wrapped around her face as well as several bowls for those who requested them. She then darts back and returns once again with what looks more like a large mixing bowl full of stew, which she lifts with effort onto the table in front of kulloda.
"Okay then, I hope everything is up to standard there, is there anything else I can get for you?" She pauses for a moment and if no one needs anything she wishes everyone an enjoyable meal and returns to her barkeeperly duties.
The harpist's song finishes and Deniz finally responds. Turning to Kulloda, he says: Forgive me, I did not intend rudeness. I was simply enthralled with the music. It was an elegant and evocative melody from a skilled musician. The stew arrives and Deniz gives it a vague look, then asks Cassie politely if there is any bread available, before continuing, giving his assessment of the activities in the tavern like a scientist who has made a series of new discoveries:
Sharpening blades is a regular habit for those in the martial career, and apparently not an activity looked down upon in a public place. Or perhaps it is, but their disregard for propriety is a feature of their youth. The content of their conversation is more curious, but I surmise that young soldiers are also prone to exaggeration. The elder I would guess is scribing a spell, although I am no expert in such matters.
Then leaving the topic of the tavern patrons, Deniz says: I trust your business with the mayor concluded to your satisfaction.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Kulloda looks at Deniz trying to decide if he’s actually said anything or not. Finally he grunts.
”What curious talk? What they say?”
"They say they didn't recognize the tracks they found," Anachain answers Kulloda almost before she realizes she is talking. She looks around to the others and smiles and gives a bit of a shrug. "I have ears everywhere," she explains.
"Anyway, 'Long toed, four clawed...' they say. But walks upright. But the prints disappeared before they got to the water... That point confuses them. Perhaps it flew?" She asks this question of the others herself, it not being part of what the two elves talked about. "The other noted that moss grew in the footprints almost as if the forest itself was trying to hide the creature's path. Sounds a bit exaggerated to me but one never knows for sure, I suppose..."
"But they're not bandits or such. They plan to check again tomorrow before bringing it up to the captain of the watch..."
Togar clicks his beak and looks at his bowl for a minute, cocking his head, considering the conversation. He turns with awkwardness and says “I agree, seemed overly friendly to me. For this place. Perhaps just overdoing it a bit, but it doesn’t mesh with anything else we’ve experienced here yet..”. He picks up a spoon and then some of the stew, sniffing it, then puts it in his mouth and makes a lot of smacking noises as he tastes it. “Hmmm.” And he continues. After the majority of the solid bits of the stew have been consumed, Togar conjures something that looks like a straw that he puts into the bowl and he noisily sucks out the remainder of the juice, clicking his mouth afterward with a self satisfied look on his face.
Togar turns to Deniz and says “No, it didn’t go satisfactorily. There are additional tasks we must perform. She almost balked on the whole deal. And still no sampling or viewing of the presumed magical items that we are being told of but have no evidence for. If we do all of this work and she walks away with giving us some pittance, some cheap lighted stick or some such, I’m going to blow my top knot! Hrrmmph!” He puts his clawed hand to the top of his head, where the feathers had been steadily rising as he was speaking, he pulls them down flat again on top of his head, but it takes several passes. Then he turns to hear the assessment of the elvish hunters as told by Anachain. “Perhaps we should follow them? See these prints? I’ve never heard of anything like that… anyone know what could make such tracks?”
Kulloda devours his stew, puts the empty bowl on the bar and then goes over and sits down at the table with the two elves who were talking about the prints.
"Where see footprints? By bridge?" Kulloda asks by way of introduction. "Flying creature guard bridge?"
He then sits, waiting for their answer.
With Togar making his lovely dinner noises, the elderly elf looks up from his book and scowls. When the straw appears and Togar sucks down the remainder of the juice, the elf slams his book shut and gathers the rest of his things and leaves in a huff.
Cassie comes back to the table, seemingly blind to the old man's abrupt departure and leaves 5 keys upon the table. "We have plenty of room tonight, settle up in the mornin' during your breakfast." she hovers for a moment, then if nothing is stated she retreats back to the kitchen.
Two dwarves burst in from the outdoors, in a very jovial mood slapping each other on the back and head straight to the bar. "Cassie m'lady! First round is on this one!" the second one points out his friend and bursts out laughing.
Followed not too far on their heels, the Mayor does enter the Inn as she promised. She looks around for a moment, spots your table and heads over. She takes Kulloda's empty seat and makes herself comfortable. Before she even has time to start in, Cassie arrives with a glass of wine and sets it in front of her. Then swiftly makes her exit.
"Ah, now that we are in a more comfortable setting, shall we discuss things in a more civilized manner?"
"Everything went fine," Anachain tells Deniz with a sigh, contradicting Togar. "Well, everything went well enough..."
"There may have been some confusion on the original deal but the mayor is meeting us here to tell us just what the magical items on offer are," she explains to him. Then, looking to Togar, she says "But maybe you need to reign in expectations a bit, eh? Nobody is asking you to slay a dragon or anything so don't be expecting the moon, eh?"
Anachain rolls her eyes a bit as Kulloda stomps over to the two elves and she wonders if she'll be breaking up a bar fight in a moment... But is soon distracted by the elderly patron leaving and the dwarves clomping in. Follow the elf with the book, she mentally directs Myrth on a hunch, and then waits patiently at the bar to see what develops.
The two elves stare, open mouthed, at Kulloda. They blink a few times before they regain control of their faces and look to one another before one answers him. "I uh... well, good evening mister. Were you... were you eavesdropping on us?"
Deniz nods slowly as he listens intently to the replies, then summarises: You have been requested to perform other tasks prior to obtaining the promised reward.
The elf replies to Togar that he does not recognise the creature being discussed at the other table. Then as Cassie appears for the third time (at least) and there is still no bread forthcoming, Deniz starts to pick at his stew, pushing the meat aside and spooning out the vegetables.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
"Ah, madam Mayor, nice to see you again," Anachain says with her best attempt at charm. (Charisma roll: 14. Could be worse.) "If you want civilized I suggest we talk fast while our friend Kulloda is distracted at the other table. This here is Deniz, he joined us in our vanquishing your bandit problem... He and Grimrin are in the group now and will be helping us in whatever else we do for you going forward."
"Now I believe it was a bridge issue, a pixie issue and was that it for ongoing issues?"
Kulloda stares blankly at the elves for a moment, wondering what on earth they're talking about.
"Kulloda not drop anything," Kulloda says then continues, gesturing back at the group at the other table. "You talk in tavern. Others hear you. Kulloda come ask what you see. So footprints near bridge?"