Eve walks into the dining room, the silence disorienting them after the cacophonous dream. Strange -- the silence, for the first time. Mae greets you, signing <<Hello!>> -- who knows where she picked it up, but she did. Mae brings them a coffee, a slice of bread with butter smoking slightly on the side. However, discomfort creeps across Eve's face, even as they look out at the cloudless sky. Something feels wrong, but they can't quite place it.

Crumb, on the other hand, feels no such sensation, other than a bit of soreness where the stone pressed against his back throughout the night. A stream of midnight coffee trickles into his flask, and the taste -- for once -- is satisfying, the coffee rich with some sort of spice. "A blacksmith? Aye, we've got one here," Mae replies. "He's a little strange - that you'll see for yourself, but his shop isn't hard to find. Follow the sounds of hammering, tha's all." She smiles, her face crinkling -- then, she reminds something, closing the distance between you two to whisper in your ear. "Don't ask him questions," she says. "He's had more than enough of those throughout his life."

(OOC: Sorry, all! Couldn't access PbP during the weekend (didn't have computer + it didn't work on iPad).)

Quote from Weslockes >>

Eve walks into the dining room, the silence disorienting them after the cacophonous dream. Strange -- the silence, for the first time. Mae greets you, signing <<Hello!>> -- who knows where she picked it up, but she did. Mae brings them a coffee, a slice of bread with butter smoking slightly on the side. However, discomfort creeps across Eve's face, even as they look out at the cloudless sky. Something feels wrong, but they can't quite place it.

 Eve will leave the tavern after eating all of there food, looking at the sky, she will go to the dock

Crumb thanks Mae for the advice “thanks Mae, if my companions wake before I get back would you mind letting them know I’ll be back shortly?” He ays for the coffee and drops a few extra silver on the table for Mae’s help, and heads out straight towards the blacksmith. 

"I'll head out with you, Crumb.  He'll probably be able to direct me to any Guild offices or rules for itinerant journeymen coming into town.  Then I can leave you to your errands and go check out the gossip from the local fishermen at the docks."  Says Leif as he hurries after gnome.

“By the stones crack, that ale packs a wallop. I could eat a mountain goat! What do you have to eat, Mae? Maybe hair of the dog with whatever you’re serving.”

Tine had spent the better part of the morning nursing her cup of that strange coffee-and-ale concoction, half trying to wake up and half trying to shake the heaviness left behind by her dreams. Once the others had started drifting out, the gnome to the forge, the elf to the docks, she slung her fiddle case over one shoulder and offered Mae a tired smile. “I think I’ll take a walk, see a bit more of your town,” she said. “The air might do me good, and maybe I’ll hear a story or two along the way.”

Outside, the day had the washed-clean brightness that follows a storm. Tine kept to the narrow streets, stopping to speak with whoever would spare a word: a fishmonger setting out the morning’s catch, an old woman sweeping rainwater from her doorstep, a child tracing patterns in the puddles. She asked the same thing each time, voice light and curious stopping to listen to whoever would talk. “Any tales about the storms here? Or the sea? The kind of stories you tell when the waves get too loud to sleep?”

Eve: the docks lie far down below the town, the slick, seaweed-covered stone stairs offering a difficult -- but rather fun -- path to navigate. The docks -- actually, just a single dock, jutting out into the ocean -- is peaceful, the swooping seagulls intermingling with the gentle rushing of the water. The sun stands high in the sky, its image glittering across the waves for miles. You enjoy the view for a while, but you still can't shake the feeling that a wave could rise up now and swallow you. And then, out of nowhere, a small, dark pinprick appears on the horizon, growing in size as it gets closer and closer. After a few minutes, you can make out the shape of a large ship -- red-and-white banners aloft, draping the mast in color, it looks almost like something straight out of a carnival. 

Crumb, Leif: you two depart, following Mae's instructions -- the hammering sound of hammer against anvil is audible anywhere in the village. It takes you a few moments, wandering around the streets, to pinpoint the shop, but then you see it -- a humble, two-story abode, made of cracking wood and crumbling brick, serves as a backdrop for the smith -- an old man, his face lined with age, raining hammer-blows upon a piece of metal with the precision of an artist. As you approach, he looks up and greets you. "Ahoy, friends!" he cries, a grin spreading across his face. "What brings ye here?"

Tine: you depart with Crumb and Leif, breaking off from them to explore the town. Not many people are out yet, but those who are seem as if they don't want anything to do to you. Several children, playing with a ball on the street, break ranks and scatter as soon as they see you approaching. A crowd of babbling townsfolk make sure to give you a wide berth once they see you -- a distrust of outsiders seems to be common among those of this town. Strange, you think -- something, someone, has wronged this place in the past -- perhaps they believe that we might do the same? Either way, you find none who will speak to you -- until a young man, hair graying already with the weight of some evident stress, approaches, staggering. "The end is near!" he shouts, his voice cracking with a hateful lament. "We shall be swallowed, and none shall remain!"

Dragonborn decides ot accompany Eve, when she point in direction of red ship he takes a look too and shares seen #Do you know something about ships like this?#
Zofsaadi takes help action so Eve has avantage on perception check to look for other distinctive features of the ship.

Quote from Weslockes >>

Eve: the docks lie far down below the town, the slick, seaweed-covered stone stairs offering a difficult -- but rather fun -- path to navigate. The docks -- actually, just a single dock, jutting out into the ocean -- is peaceful, the swooping seagulls intermingling with the gentle rushing of the water. The sun stands high in the sky, its image glittering across the waves for miles. You enjoy the view for a while, but you still can't shake the feeling that a wave could rise up now and swallow you. And then, out of nowhere, a small, dark pinprick appears on the horizon, growing in size as it gets closer and closer. After a few minutes, you can make out the shape of a large ship -- red-and-white banners aloft, draping the mast in color, it looks almost like something straight out of a carnival. 

 Staring at the ship, Eve will move towards the ship, but still staying in sight of the tavern

Quote from Arcanmas >>

Dragonborn decides ot accompany Eve, when she point in direction of red ship he takes a look too and shares seen #Do you know something about ships like this?#
Zofsaadi takes help action so Eve has avantage on perception check to look for other distinctive features of the ship.

 "Would you like to follow the ship with me?" Eve signs 

Zofsaadi nods 'yes'. And then signs #But I think it's better to be more cautious when away from our group#

Ooc: come on, make this check

"Ahoy matey.  Just came in on the ship last night checking in with the local craftsmen."  Leif presents his journeyman's ring and continues on. "can you let me know who to report my presence to?"

She slowed her pace, lips pressing together as she glanced around. “Well,” she murmured under her breath, “so much for a warm welcome.” Still, she didn’t let the tension sit heavy for long. She just began to whistle a tune bright enough to chase shadows from doorways, but gentle enough not to offend skittish hearts. The melody wound through the street like sunlight after rain, playful and inviting. “No harm in a song, aye?” she called softly. “Music’s just words without the sharp edges.”

But just as the tune began to take root, a voice split the air. “The end is near!” The young man’s cry echoed down the empty street, his eyes wild, steps uneven. Tine stopped whistling, her voice calm even as her heart quickened. “Easy, friend,” she said “You’ve frightened half the town, and I’m not sure you mean to.” Her tone stayed kind, but curiosity flickered behind her sea-green eyes. “Tell me, what end are you talking about? The storms? Or something worse?”

Eve and Zofsaadi, you watch the ship approach (OOC: you know what, I got this picture in my head and want to try it for Zofsaadi's Help action) -- Eve perched atop Zofsaadi's shoulders, peering at the ship coming in to port. Eve, you're able to discern some more about the ship, which is proving itself to be larger than expected: not only do the swirling banners suggest that it's some sort of traveling-performers' ship, but you spot crew members scurrying around and up the deck and mast, doing flips and jumps that seem impossible all the while. It seems that they want to be noticed. Eve -- looking even closer, as you strain your eyes, you spot burns and cracks along the ship -- it appears they've run into some problems before, which might also explain the cannons lining its sides. 

A voice rings out from the ship, trumpets fanfaring it -- "Please welcome the Midnight Troupe! World-class performers! One night only!" The ship draws in, docking -- somewhat comically -- at the small pier sticking out from the shore. As soon as a plank is lowered, a stout man, dressed in the red-and-white of the ship and a smile. "Are you ready...for us?" he shouts to you. "Come see us tonight, right outside town!" And with an amazing efficiency, they're already unloading -- getting all their things out of the ship, dragging long swaths of their red-and-white fabric off the mast. 

"Local craftsmen? You'd probably want to go to the town hall, that's where everyone is," the blacksmith replies to Leif. "So what are you all here for today?" 

Quote from chrisbodmann >>

“By the stones crack, that ale packs a wallop. I could eat a mountain goat! What do you have to eat, Mae? Maybe hair of the dog with whatever you’re serving.”

 Realizing Mae was ignoring him, Orrin walked outside, stretching in the morning air. A hunger gnawed at his stomach, and so he angled his steps to the town hall. 

"Maybe they have something to eat there." he thought out loud.

(OOC: Sorry, didn't see the original post!) 

The town hall is only a few streets away from the tavern -- not hard to find as well, its high roof dominating over the small houses of the town. As you approach the hall, however, you see Tine, currently undergoing an onslaught from a doomsayer. He spots you approaching, and stands in your way. "Do you wish to know of the end, fellow? It draws near!" He smiles, revealing a crooked, yellow grin beneath his lips, and cackles wildly. "It shall be soon!"

Orrin gravely looks at the man. “Tell me of this doom and I shall confront it!” He rolls his shoulders and flexes his muscles, ready and looking for a battle. Something worthy to confront. 

"You do not understand!" cries the doom-speaking prophet, violently waving his hands in the air as if completing some demonic ritual. "We shall be devoured from below! Extinguished by the extinguisher! There is nothing to confront, for it is inevitable!" As he speaks, dancing wildly, he falls to the ground, kneeling on the stones. As he topples over, he whispers, so quietly that only you can hear, "Death comes on its own terms." Now, he's sprawled across the cobbles, his clothes rumpling as he begins to snore loudly. 

You and Tine observe, surprised by this sudden change -- but the few townsfolk who had stopped to see this scene treat it as normal. It appears that this man and his prophecies aren't new to this town. 

The gentleman in red and white approaches you, Eve and Zofsaadi, and extends a hand, bloated and covered with rings of all shapes and sizes. You take it anyway, not wishing to be disrespectful. "So who are you?" he asks politely. "I haven't seen either of you around these parts before..."

Orrin shrugs. "Well, friend Tine, shall we find some food?" He claps a massive hand on Tine's back.

Tine blinked as the man crumpled. For a long heartbeat, she simply stared, half expecting him to leap back up and continue his sermon. When the snores started, though, she exhaled a slow, bewildered laugh. “Well,” she murmured, kneeling beside him, “if doom’s coming, it’s kind enough to let him nap first.” She set her fiddle aside and crouched low, brushing a strand of matted hair from the man’s brow. His breathing was steady, but his face was drawn tight, as if even in sleep he couldn’t quite outrun whatever haunted him. “Easy now,” she whispered, giving his shoulder a gentle shake. “Come on, love, stay with me a bit longer. You said something about being devoured from below, what did you mean?” She sighed softly, her voice dropping lower. “Death comes on its own terms,” she repeated under her breath. “Strange thing to whisper like a prayer.”

She looked up at Orrin, a faint smirk tugging at her lips despite the concern in her eyes. “You’d fight the sea itself if you could, wouldn’t you? Let’s give him a moment, see if he comes too. If not, maybe Mae or someone in town knows who he is, sounds like he’s been preaching this sermon awhile.”