Jackblack nods then gives a smile. 

"Come on then, bring in the goods and I'll see about getting your pay." he waves you forward toward the door of the Pink Pony Club.

Alexia stays towards the back, one eye on the goods. She trusts the people here about as far as she can throw them.

As you enter the tavern you notice the crowd is in a good mood due to a group of musicians playing a catchy tune from a small circular stage. The place is three stories high and has balconies all around the top two floors.There are several small private booths with tables and seating for four to six people.  A long bar along one side has a row of red-velvet-topped stools contrasting against the dark almost black wood of the bar. A dwarf woman behind the bar is polishing glasses. Everyone who orders a drink from her tips her one gold and says “Thank you Reeda.” Above the bar is a wall of swords and daggers, all stuck in place in an array of metal and leather. The entire wall is just thousands of blades. 

Reeda gives all of you a big smile when you walk in with the supplies and many of the customers cheer as well. After unloading near the bar, Jackblack gets a hefty pouch from the woman and hands it to Grey. Peeking inside shows a mix of gold, platinum, and gems. "Thanks fellas! "Reeda calls, "We needed the refill."

Alexia snags the bag from Grey and carefully counts everything in it. 

Grey smiles, glad Alexia took the bag, he's never been much of a math guy.

There is 37 platinum, 53 gold,  21 silver, and two 25 gp gems in the pouch.

"475.1 exactly. Surprising." Alexia mutters to herself as she puts the bag away.

Ember flies over to Jackblack as the barrels are offloaded and bartering is going on.   "About that odd rock you spoke of before.  What more can you tell us about it?  And why it might be of interest."

The firey fairy tries to look as bland as possible when asking these questions.          

Performance:   6    ((( Ember has a terrible poker face )))

Deception:  18         ((( but boy, can he spin a tale )))

"Ah well you're new here but surely you've heard of etherium? It's how airships stay in the sky and sometimes magic items use it in their creation." Jackblack shrugs "That rock is a piece of the holy hammer - pure raw etherium. Like a chunk of magic. It needs to be refined to be made safe but that's for other folk to worry out."

Ember listens with wide eyed wonder -

History Check:  22
Arcana Check:  15
Religion Check:   4

Ember *might* have heard of etherium?  And even know a bit about it's uses?  But, that bit about "... holy hammer..."  - first time hearing that?

Quote from Wysperra >>

Charles sighs, "Well you kids might not remember what happened back before. Maybe a hundred or so years ago, the lands were ravaged by hordes of undead..." The old man begins a story you may have heard bits about while growing up. For kids, Khaza Ghul the lich lord will come and eat if you don't go to bed! Eat your veggies or Khaza Ghul will steal you away!

Parents forget that the fight was real. Or maybe they try to forget. Times were bleak, everyone was suffering. Undead rampaged everywhere. Finally the peoples of all the races got their act together. Ignoring politics, favors, and past grudges, the rulers realized that if they did not work together, they would all be wiped out one by one. An army was forged that took battle to the lich lord right up to the gates of his fortress. 

They couldn't get in. The defenses were too strong and army was growing weaker by the day. A council of casters was gathered and they performed what they hoped would be a ritual to end Khaza Ghul for good. Wizards, Warlocks, Holy Men, Nature Witches, they all poured power into the spell, some even giving up their life force to make it happen. When they were done, the fields grew silent. Days passed and nothing happened. More men and women died assaulting the walls.

Voices of doubt erupted among the troops and those supporting the army. That is until a star appeared in the sky. Shining brightly, it lit the clouds with purple light. That's it?! some cried, We're dying before these walls and we sacrificed our mages and we get a star in the sky?! Useless! We should go home before the lich comes out and ....

......

Charles continues his story about Khaza Ghul...

The star grew in size day by day until you could see it streaking across the heavens. It is said the passage of the Hammer deafened those that saw it pass. Then with unimaginable fury it struck the city of Khaza Ghul. The palace was consumed in an explosion that shook the ground, and threw up a dust cloud that blocked out the sun!

Many powerful undead dropped like puppets with their strings cut. And without leadership, the lesser dead were easy to deal with. VICTORY for the people! 

Charles frowns.

Victory yes. The cost was high and in the end we won. But then strange magics were making people sick and they died from unknown diseases. The area around the city became a death zone and for years nothing could survive in the surrounding lands. Now the whatever it is has faded and people can enter the city. Treasure seekers or those wanting to collect pieces of the Hammer, go into the ruins.

That's where you are headed. Smoulderhome. It's a town about a mile from the ruins, services those that want to explore the city. Like he said, nothing grows or that which does it bad for the health. So he tries to make a living bringing them food and supplies.

The Wiz considers how much he specifically knows about refining etherium and whether he can do it himself. 

OOC: Arcana Check 23. 

Also, would you say that the travel here got us a short rest? I want to recover a magic slot in case we get jumped here. 

Refining requires an anti-magic field and jewelers tools, or anti-magic field and a glassblowers shop. 

The ride was not very long, so no short rest.

*I thought we did receive a short rest after the rat incident?*

Alexia looks at the group. "If the rock's really a piece of the 'holy hammer', I'd rather get it out of our hands ASAP. Those mysterious sicknesses don't sound fun to deal with."

Quote from Wysperra >>

OOC: Sure I'll give it to you. Short Rest go.

 HA! I was wrong.

SO sorry.

"Thanks for the delivery!" Jackblack nods with a smile. "You can stay for some drink and entertainment if you like."

Grey raises an eyebrow at the word entertainment, smiles a bit, curious at what that maybe.

"I'll have a drink, to start..." he says, turning to Jackblack, "can I buy you one? What kind of entertainment do we have tonight? Song, Dance, Poetry?"

OOC: This is what I imagine the Orc Band to sound like"

The Wiz begins to feel the music in his bones and naturally falls into a dance in front of the band. He beats the air with his fists and stomps the ground with the heavy beats as he dances around, trying to pull people with him into a rave.

OOC: Performance 20

Alexia has a seat to enjoy the performance, but doesn't drink anything.