((@ Kasian - Yes, following on from the plotline that JJ set us up with - Haunted goings on @ conwe castle, which will tie in both Artemis' book hunt and Kai's search for Isabou.))

Walking over from the bar, Jayden see's MArsha miss the question from the quiet manner druid so leans towards Kai, handing him the steaming cup of tea that Marsha had promised. "Name rings a bell, but not loudly. Old Father Vern's a good rememberer though." Then departs and resumes position near his taps.

Elber looks a bit startled as the owl suddenly poofs out of existence. "Pretty bird. But you must not have heard, a castle haunted by grief for years be unlikely to open its doors to anyone. Not even a wizard, or a sawbones who talks to themselves."

Drex seems to be nodding to himself again "I told you I will bring you some when we are done down here. Go wonder around till then. They just got here calm down. No Ghost just left now shhh or I will make you pop out for a time your self." Looking over at Elber Drex gives a wide grin. "Na, I have a friend that like to stay away from eyes, and we can talk in my head. Some times I forget I am talking out loud, and for that I am sorry. But I some times I just have to much going on in my head to remember I am not talking to them in front of me."

With a nod Drex gets up to go grab the drinks at the bar. As he gets closer to the bar he gives Jayden a nod and points at the drinks that are gathering on the bar. Without waiting he grabs a tray and puts them on and starts calling out drinks and going to hand them to people.

As he hands Artemis his wine he tells him "Imp wants ghost to go and wonder around. He said they will stay out of trouble this time, told him its up to you." Drex looks around and hands the rest of the drinks out to the people that he could remember.

Jack just observes for now. Listening and watching, but also seeing who is paying attention to us. 

Perception: 22

With a click of his fingers, Artemis summons Ghost just outside the inn and goes and sits in a corner with his stew and wine. (Telepathically to Ghost) "Keep Imp in check, and stay within 100ft. I will be watching", (To Drex) "Ghost is outside, any trouble caused is your responsibility." (To Elber) "I have heard rumours of an unnatural presence around Conwe. I have heard nothing of grief in the castle though. That might explain why I have been turned away." 

(OOC: Future posts any sky blue is telepathic to Ghost, and Royal blue is out loud)

Every 5 or 10 minutes he will look through Ghost's eyes and check that nothing is going wrong and they are behaving. And he will also have a quick look around (or longer if something looks odd) Perception 15 (if it counts as my perception, if it counts as Ghost's perception it would be 21)

"Then let us trade tales and learn. I be Elber, and I came here with those four to seek the castle."
Elber pulls up a chair and sits down between Drex and Artemis, pointing briefly in the direction of his friends.
"I know not the truth of this, but word be that the lord secluded himself in the castle after his father be poisoned and his wife died of illness five years past. His daughter and a few servants still remain, but the lord Nethercrown be heard speaking with the ghosts or memories of the dead."

"Well Elber, I am Artemis Matori and this is" Artemis points at Drex "Drex. I'm afraid I have only heard various rumours surrounding Conwe which if I'm being honest is one of the reasons I picked here over larger library's so I could find the truth. From what I have heard the wife definitely died, but from there the rumours change. The main two rumours going around down south, well one involves no grief the other no longer involves grief. The first involves the Lord seeking immortality and so he killed his wife to absorb her life and extend his own. Occasionally he will let travelers in to feast on them to renew his life but that sounds ridiculous. The other says after his wife died he cried out for help and some necromantic power answered. She was brought back for a price. She is now undead and the land around here is cursed, for every year she is undead, the land slowly dies more. Naturally I figured it was entirely safe to come here as those are rumours. I'm sure the truth is perfectly harmless"

Hearing Elber talking, Duncan will add in "Hah! Ghost stories abound! I'd love to test the first! Let's just go knock on the door. If he tries to feast on us he'll find my glaive a bit harder to chew on."

"I've knocked on the door yesterday and today and been turned away by guards. It's up to you if you take that to disprove the rumour or if he maybe isnt hungry. Or maybe he reduces in years however old the person he kills is so to kill us would make him a baby. And Elber, why don't you introduce your friends" Artemis says while pointing towards Duncan (and the others, but mostly Duncan) 

Duncan replies "no need to be so coy Artemis. You can call me Duncan."

Elber shrugs and gestures for the others to come join them at the table.

Jack grabs his ale and stew and joins the table. “My name is Jack, pleasure to meet you both. From what I overheard, both of you have a similar goal to ours. And, there is more than one way to get into a room other than the door.” he says with a wink and a smile. “Pardon for eavesdropping, but what are you looking for in the library?”

Jack is young, maybe 20 yrs old if you had to guess. He has a mop of dark brown hair that is still wet from outside. He is shorter than Elber and Duncan, and slight of build but moves with a smooth grace every step he takes. 

"What would I be looking for in a library except for books. I am a seeker of knowledge, I hope to find something interesting that catches my attention, I don't mind what. My hope is for some arcane scrolls or other arcane related books however if I don't find that I would settle for other things. It doesn't matter if it is an encyclopedia of herbs, a religious text, or even a murder mystery novel. Oooo, not to mention I wouldn't mind finding a book about....." 

You start to suspect that Artemis would probably go on until practically every sort of book possible has been mentioned if not interrupted. He is very much in his own world, his eyes lighting up while talking about knowledge and books and his words speeding up as he goes getting harder and harder to keep up with what he is saying

"I agree with you both, but wait to see what Kai has learned first. It be unlikely but he may still need our help." Elber turns to Jack and Duncan, and then looks over to see how Kai's conversation at the bar is going.

Kai looks a bit frustrated, "Something of a non-answer.  Apparently there is an old man in the area, maybe a priest, named Vern who may remember.  What has waited so long, will wait until the rain stops."

Elber nods. "Aye. There be nothing which hurries us into the weather for tonight. This priest may also offer some truth about the rumors we have heard? It could be worth asking, while you be there for Isabeau's sake anyway."

((Question is if we split the party, or wait for (or help) Kai first.))

"If you think you would be able to help me get to the castle, I would be more than happy to repay the favour by first helping you with this priest thing you are going on about." Artemis' eyes glaze over as he looks through Ghost's senses. "Ghost, do me a favour and look around temples nearby, see if you overhear people talking about a Vern, we might be going with some new friends to see him tomorrow."  16 His eyes come back to normal and he looks at Drex, "Ghost is going to have a look to see if he finds this Vern fellow. Do you think Imp could keep out of mischief and help?"   (Ghost has advantage anyway so not the help action but just either flavour or independent searching)

(Well Ghost finds no one)

OCC:  Splitting the party in town is probably OK, but I wouldn't want to split it and head into the haunted/cursed castle. At least not out of yelling distance.   My vote is to wait for the rain to ease up, then go find the Father Vern.

Drex smiles at Artemis nodding."Sure, Imp will be fine if he is on a mission. Just when he gets bored things start to happen. Also I have no limit on how far I can talk to him.As well when they find him I can talk through Imp With the priest in my own voice. Come in handy when I am taking care of kids and they will not stay still, I have Imp come up behind them, then speak to them from no where. Most the other kids think its funny. But anyways sure imp can go help." 

Looking back at the others now sitting at the table " I wish not to go back out in this weather if I do not have too. I am a healer, but can only give herbs for a cold." Drex's eye's seem to have a smoky haze flow over them for a second then turn back to his normal bright green. "Ok. He has been told, I told him to stay out of sight as well. He will let me know if they find anything."

Drex grabs his mug of ale and finishes it with one drink. "Oh look I can see the bottom, I guess I will go get another. May I grab one for anyone else?" with out waiting for an answer Drex gets up and goes to the bar.

“I say we get a good meal, have a few ales, and sleep in a warm bed. Tomorrow we will have plenty of time to all go together to find this priest in the light of day. I’m hoping we are able to get some local gossip on what’s happening at the castle.” says Jack as he stuffs some bread in his mouth and washes it down with ale.