Jorin nods at Jalester, casting a glance at his more glib companions, ventures, "Aye, we have.  This fine house of feast and rest could use, umm, additional...fine-ness.  Pascal is as skilled, no, more skilled..." he throws a not-so-subtle wink at Pascal, "...in the kitchen as anyone else in the city, sadly we are not as heavy with coin as we need be to fix up this building."

Pascal shoots up, suddenly warmed by the sound of funding. In a flash, surprising for a large gator, Pascal is already ushering their guests to the table, “That’s right! Sadly, while we got plenty o’ passion and experience, coin ain’t something we exactly got in spades. But, once the people get a taste of this,” Pascal plates everything prom and proper, “Well, they gonna be linin’ up down the street!”

(In my mind, Pascal ends with a Justin Wilson "I gar-on-tee!")

(Of course!)

(OOC: Usurped DM crown has been transferred to a troubled brow...)

Renear seems delighted by Pascal's cooking. He has some questions about the party's finances and the long term business plans. Pascal is skilled with Persuasion, but Renear hesitates to commit. He promises that he will talk with his family's accountants, to find out if investing fits their plans. He thanks the group for the meal, and leaves.

Jalester is also thankful for the meal. He says he will keep the group in mind, if he encounters interested investors or job opportunities for free-lancers.

It is now the next morning. The group is a little sore and tired after the quick mountain trek of yesterday. While cleaning the main dining room, there is rapid knocking on the front door, and a figure enters (before anyone can say "enter" or "go away").

Drusk to the stranger: "Sorry, we aren't open for business... You'll have to break your fast in another cafe."

The young woman, no, the half-elf you see is something to behold. She is lovely, yet something about her puts you off. The bold but beseeching stare of her golden eyes? The loamy smell? Her skin is mottled in patches, dark brown and pale, she dresses in clothing at turns tattered and cared for. Her hair—dark and silver both—is tangled, caught up with what seems to be leaves and twigs, a flower or two, and... beetles? A small animal skull adorns the top of her head... maybe the leaves and flowers and skull are a hat?

She carries a battered old wooden shield, a club is pushed under her belt, and her cloak just covers an old leather cuirass on her torso. Her pack is small, but full.

There is an air about her that seems haunted, desperate, but then she smiles and the cheer reaches all parts of her, even as a little cloud of gnats or something explodes off of her.

"You must be Drusk!" she announces, as she continues into the common room. "I am not looking for breakfast, but rather for you and your companions. I bring a job from the City Guard, that a man named..." she thinks. "Jalester. He suggested I bring it to you, that you were in need of coin, and might accompany me to see it done?"

She distractedly puts a sealed scroll on the bar and looks around, shedding shield and pack onto the floor in a heap.

Hildigrim slides from a chair and approaches the young half-elf. Giving her a little bow (for he is tiny), he smiles brightly at her. “Felicitations, stranger. Welcome to the Road’s End. My name is Hildigrim Goodbody.”

She turns to see Hildi. “Well met, master perian,” she says, using the Elvish for halfling. “My name is Quillary. Felicity may not be on offer, though. Out there it is the season of seductive death, and in here? This offered task,” she nods at the bar, “Was passed over by many an enlisted soldier before landing with us.

”It may be...” and she pauses, searching for a word again. This time she whispers a little to herself, very quietly, the snatches of which you barely understand. Then she finishes, “...simplistic? Deadly? Ungain... no, undesirable.”

For a moment, Quillary feels an icy chill wash over her, and the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. For a moment, she stares intently at Hildigrim, but the feeling is not coming from him.

Turning around, next to her is a plate with 2 slices of toasted flatbread and a hunk of cheese. There is also a cup with heated cider. Looking around, there is no one who could have brought the plate of food to her table...

As her eyes narrow in alarm, a cloud of motes, almost like dust, spring up around her, but they dissipate when she sees the cheese. She looks back at Hildigrim, then sits slowly. "A change of heart then, about breakfast," she says to nobody in particular. She smiles at the food, at Hildigrim, and at Drusk (and anyone else in the room), and digs in. "Do you know," she says between mouthfuls, "That cheese is made by adding materials of decay to milk? And that this decay then ferments, like beer?"

OOC > This is not entirely accurate, and displays her limited knowledge of actual food.

Intelligence roll to find out if it's lecture time by Hildigrim concerning the process of turning milk into cheese: 3

Intelligence roll concerning fermentation: 7

What do you think, Quasimodal?

(11 -> Hildi suspects that something is off about that description about cheese, but he will need some quiet time to search his mind palace.

21 -> there will be a trip a little later in the day, when Hildi is free to lecture Quillary about fermentation of cider, beer, or processing cheese)

Hildigrim climbs into a chair at the table with Quillary. "Do do you mind telling us while you sup about this task?"

"Oh, well," she says through a mouthful, offering Hildi some of the food. "I don't know much, but that there is a cart leaving at noon, and it will take two days. We're to open the scroll when everyone's here, Jalester said."

(Pascal and Jorin haven't spoken up yet, but they are around for the scroll to be opened.)

Most of the scroll is written in block letters, using military jargon and legalese. Between Hildigrim and Jorin, the group is able to decipher the following:

• The City Watch / City Guard needs five adventurers to investigate why the supply boat from Dynnegall is overdue by almost a tenday. While there have been heavy rains and snowstorms, there have been enough clear days that river travel was possible.
• The party will travel by wagon from Waterdeep to Amphail, a two day trip along the Long Road. From there, you will be loaned express horses to travel east along the Dessarin River to the outpost of Dynnegall (another day and a half).
• Each member of the party will be paid the equivalent of 15 GP as hiring payment, and another 30 GP when they return to Waterdeep with a report of the situation (and how it was solved). Rations during the trip, and overnight housing in Amphail will be covered. If there are Unusual Circumstances, then Hazard Pay will be added (up to another 30 GP possible). If the express horses are lost or killed, the cost to replace them will be deducted from the pay.

In addition to the formal text, there is handwritten notes along the side in blue ink, apparently added by Jalester:

• There is a Dynnegall on the island of Moray, far to the west in the Moonshae. But we wouldn't send you that far away for a job. There just happens to be an outpost to the northeast with the same name. (OOC: In case you were planning on playing CCC-BMG-MOON 2-2 in the future, I've adjusted the location.)
• The army was looking for 5 free-lancers to handle this. They had the paperwork to hire a group of five, so with typical army efficiency, it has to be exactly five. Since the four of you at the Road's End and this lady druid are still new-ish to Waterdeep, I figured you could use the pay. 45 gold for less than a tenday of work will help with your expenses!
• The last time the supply boat was overdue, it was caught on trees that fell in the river. But if there is more serious trouble, I'm sure your group can handle it.
• The wagon to Amphail leaves at noon today. Sorry for the short notice. Show up an hour early to fill out the bureaucratic forms. If you show up late, the army will "volunteer" some soldiers to do the task, and the job offer & hiring pay will be withdrawn.

There is also a pouch with 75 GP. (Everyone should add 15 GP to their equipment.)

Jorin is drinking from a cup of breakfast ale, or could it be dinner ale he's simply having for breakfast?  Either way, a cup of ale when Quillary comes in with her offer.  He smiles broadly, recognizing another of similar...untamed-ness as himself.

He brings a second cup of ale for her as the group goes over the scroll.  After discussing the job, he turns to Pascal and says, "My friend, I had planned on forged you a chef's knife like no other in the next couple days, but it seems that will be delayed.  I apologize and will set about hammering in the forge as soon as we return.

He then introduces himself to Quillary, "I am Jorin, of the Bodt.  What brings you to Waterdeep?  You seem as far from home here as I."

"Sounds fairly cut and dry," Hildigrim comments, still looking over the map.

Quillary is pleased to meet Jorin, and happily takes another cup of drink. "Jorin," she says, then whispers it to herself a couple more times. "Of the boat."

Her eyes grow troubled at his question. "I do not call any place home, as you might, and yet I am on a long trip to get there. It will take my whole life," and she quirks a private smile at that. Then she looks about the place, at the assembled party, and claps her hands at Hildi's comment about the assignment.

"Then you should get ready to go! Or has the city life made you soft like worms?" she laughs and holds one up she spirited from somewhere, pink and wiggly, and tosses it underhand towards Pascal.

"Ah, a fellow traveler, we are indeed alike."

Jorin roars with a cannon blast laugh at the worms jest, "Ha!  I like her, and she is right.  No lamb for the lazy wolf, friends, let us be off." He gulps down the rest of his breakfast ale and begins assembling his things to go.

Hildigrim's head jerks up at Quillary's teasing, but he's soon smiling, especially as the druid lobs a worm at Pascal. "Hainard's hairy toes!" he exclaims, jumping down from his table. "This halfling's always ready for adventure!" He runs about, gathering his weapons and pack, and is back in a jiffy and looking excited.