Rhanloi's Romp Through the Sword Coast

Manfred bows with a flourish as the group is introduced to those inside the inn.

’We’re very glad to have been of service to you all…’ he smiles, and looks to the inn’s staff and patrons.. ‘Umm, does anyone know why a group of undead might have been trying to break into the inn?’

(Insight: 6, Persuasion: 12)

Nobody can think of a reason the undead would rise and attack the inn! Cooragh only emerges from the kitchen long enough to thank you and give you a piece of her special pork pie. It is very spicy, but delicious for those who can stomach the burn. On her neck, beneath each ear, are tattoos of curved daggers. 

Martisha sits in the corner at a lone table, poring over records and watching the patrons. Backes keeps the ale flowing all night. He tells you that he gave up a life as a privateer (that is, a pirate) to get into business on land. He works the bar and assists Martisha, but he hopes to someday open his own place in Neverwinter or Waterdeep. He wears a pendant around his neck in the shape of a trident. Sitting at the end of the bar is a strapping woman called Teega, the smith who works at the Wayside Inn smithy. She wears a set of bronze bracers shaped like three lightning bolts.  

A young halfling sits at a table, humming to herself, and occasionally plays the harmonica (quite well.) She wears her long hair in five braids atop her head. Nearby sits a male human, a bard by the looks of him. He sings along to the halfling’s ditties on the harmonica, and gladly buys a drink "For anyone who helped drive off the undead!"

Penumbra takes a moment to ponder the mark on the zombies.

Religion: 6

Not being familiar with this mark she makes note of it and heads in to the Inn.

Penumbra thanks Cooragh and inhales the pie with evident delight, Droop does the same while making a slightly smaller mess than Penumbra. When Backes asks what she wants to drink Penumbra asks for hot tea, an ale for Droop, and another piece of pie. As she enjoys her tea she watches the people in the Inn, looking for anything out of the ordinary in anyone's behavior.

Insight: 16

Manfred enjoys the food, and a couple drinks, but his ears perk up at the sound of the harmonica playing and, after giving the human a chance to accompany the female halfling, he grabs his lute (and wine glass) and heads over to her. ‘Just going to mingle…’ he says to the rest of his group.

’Hi…’ he says to her ‘That was very lovely playing. May I join you?’

Religion: 14

Perkas notes the mark on their bodies. "Interesting." She looks around on the ground while things are still fresh and looks for a direction they might have come. Doing a perimeter sweep kind of thing. (Favored enemy undead)

Investigation Check: 6 
Survival Check (Advantage):9, 6 

She can't find anything! Extremely frustrated and bothered she heads into the in with the others. 

Happy to have a free drink and room and board for the night, she takes a drink and a piece of pie and eats and drinks with a smile on her face. "the pie is delicious." After finishing her pie she takes her drink and does a walk around the room, keeping to the edges but on the looks for something similar to that brand she saw on the undead. When she gets to Martisha's area she'll slow her pace and lean against a wall within earshot of her. As she watches the crowds she'll say loudly enough for her to hear as she says over her shoulder "I can't imagine that an attack like the one tonight helps business any."

Penumbra notices that Teega has an affection for Backes. The inn is buzzing with conversation and stories from the laborers, a handful of other travelers, and farmers who must work the small fields nearby that supply the inn with food, meat and milk. These folks are no strangers to the dangers on the High Road, so you notice nothing too out of the ordinary. Some folks are a bit shaken up by the attack, while others have resumed their meals and conversations as if they were attacked by undead zombies at least once a week!

Manfred just made a new friend - and like a puppy she does. not. Stop. TALKING. To you for the rest of the night... " My name is Silla Scalesweep! It is so nice to meet a halfling like me out on the open road! I am traveling from to Leilon, hoping to get hired on as a fisher by Valdi Estapaar, the woman in charge of the fishery in the town. Do you know Valdi Estapaar? Do you like to fish? I like to eat fish. And sing! And play my harmonica. Oh, you are a bard? Let's play together!" ...

Perkas gets a curt response from Martisha. "People who live through exciting events tend to be very grateful...and very thirsty. No damage to the Inn. No body hurt. Sales are up." She is obviously pre-occupied with her books and ciphering.

Insight check: 17

Perkas turns to her nods and gives a curt smile and lifts her glass to Martisha. "Here here for win-win situations then." And continues her turn around the room."

She sees Manfred preoccupied with his new friend and giggles a little. She rejoins her friends at the table and says quietly as a whisper to her party when it's just them. "I got the feeling that this kind of thing isn't exactly hurting their business if you're hearing what I'm saying. The lady doesn't seem to be that shocked the events are helping business. It seems like it's not a big deal to stop the issue."

She leans back in her chair and continues drinking.

In need of a muscial interlude, and still feeling peaky after his brush with the wraith, Manfred enjoys playing with, and teaching, Silla.

His fingers slip on the strings of the lute for a moment, distracted by the wall of words hitting him, before - the consumate professional he recovers to continue playing - but by no means a virtuoso performance (Performance: 10 (nat 1), lucky halfling re-roll 15)

After enjoying her food and tea Penumbra decides she has learned all she will by sitting at watching.

"Come on Droop, we told Rand we would check in with Martisha so lets go see what's up." She says gesturing for her sidekick to follow along.

Penumbra first gets a new cup of tea from Backes then walks directly over to the table where Martisha is at work. Pulling up a chair and sitting down Penumbra introduces herself.

"Hello, sorry to interrupt. I'm Penumbra this is my associate Mr. Droop. Our little party here didn't just stop in by chance, we are from the guild* in Phandalin. Rand asked us to stop by here on our way and check in. Now I'd say form the look of that skull mark on those walking corpses that those weren't just random wandering horrors, I'd say someone raised em up and sent em here. On top of that looking at the way everyone is reacting I'd wager it's not the first time this place has had necromanitic pests knocking on the door. Rand said you were a friend and a friend of Rand's is a friend of mine. Let me and my party here help you out, we can be discrete if we have to."

Charisma: 6

Perception: 16

Insight: 11

*Got to think up a good guild name.

Quote from SageLakeheart >>

Insight check: 17

Perkas turns to her nods and gives a curt smile and lifts her glass to Martisha. "Here here for win-win situations then." And continues her turn around the room."

She sees Manfred preoccupied with his new friend and giggles a little. She rejoins her friends at the table and says quietly as a whisper to her party when it's just them. "I got the feeling that this kind of thing isn't exactly hurting their business if you're hearing what I'm saying. The lady doesn't seem to be that shocked the events are helping business. It seems like it's not a big deal to stop the issue."

She leans back in her chair and continues drinking.

Caught up in all the revelry, Wakka didn't give the strange mark a second glance once he wasn't able to identify it's origins.  Happily accepting the offers of free food, drink and lodgings, Wakka mingles about with the patrons enjoying the cool ale and hot pies offered by the establishment.  As Perkas returns, he listens to her words before shrugging and saying casually, "You think she brought the undead here?  That seems doubtful, especially since it didn't look like things would've worked out quite as "smoothly" for them if we didn't show up when we did."  Pausing to take a long sip of his ale he continued.  "I think you're just overthinking things Perkas, but if you want to keep an eye on her, be my guest.  As for me, I think it's about time a had myself a second serving of this delectable pie.  I'm not sure how she accomplished it, but this is truly one of the best things I've had in a while."  Rising from his chair, he gave Perkas big smile before moving towards Cooragh and the kitchen. 

"Another one of your pies please."  He began as he approached the half-orc, "And I must ask, where did you get those tattoos?  They're quite interesting?"  

• Religion: 8
• History check on the tattoos?: 8

Penumbra manages to draw Martisha out of her shell at the mention of Rand. "Well, I'll admit these are the first undead to attack the Inn, but not the only dangers in the region. Many enterprising hostellers have tried to maintain an inn here where the Triboar Trail meets the High Road. Some succeeded for years before falling victim to monsters or bandits. Others gave up relatively quickly, when the dangers become apparent. I'm more stubborn than most, and I knew the doors would keep them out. Even if they got in, Teega and Brackes would have taken care of them."

"And how is my old friend Rand? You say he's given up adventuring to run a house for adventurers? Hah! Sounds like me. Only I have some other business ideas. Perhaps you can help me again. I want to partner with the settlers of Leilon to set up a mutual protection pact, as well as a trade pact where we sell our vegetables and livestock in return for the goods they will produce. If you head down that way, I'd be grateful for any good words you put in for us."

Wakka wanders back to the kitchen and complements the chef, who broad smile reveals her orcish tusks, but also indicates her gratitude. She happily gives you another meat pie "with some extra kick for your pants!" In response to his question, Cooragh admits she got them because she knew it would upset her mother, a human from Luskan. "It was a foolish youthful folly," she says.

(Anything else? Folks are starting to head out. You have three rooms paid for tonight upstairs and can retire whenever you want. The se are to the south. The northern rooms are for staff)

"Teega and Brackes do seem capable but I bet you could use a little extra muscle around here once in a while, I'll talk to Rand see is we can send someone out here to help guard against all those monsters and bandits that have ended so many other attempts at running an inn out here. Rand really seems to like his new post I only met him shortly before we founded the guild but he proved himself many times in our bid to liberate Wave Echo Cave. I'll tell him you said hi. As for Leilon, you're in luck! That happens to be where we are headed, Rand wants to setup a sort of extension guild hall. My friends and I would be happy to help in any way we can. In the mean time keep an eye out for that skull symbol we found on the zombies send word to the guild if you need help, it's what we are there for. Is there anyone in particular we should talk to in Leilon? Anything you can tell us about the settlers there?"

After Martisha answers Penumbra says goodbye and thanks her for her hospitality then returns to the group and informs them of her conversation. Droop remains quiet and stands next to Penumbra in a sort of crooked attention, he almost looks dignified except that he occasionally picks his nose and flicks the booger on the ground. Penumbra sees this as a vast improvement over his old habit of closely examining the booger for at least a full minute before eating it.

Perkas realizes that her mistrust of people has bled thru. Her mind tends to instantly go to the worst-case scenario when someone who is profiting is involved. Her past somehow always comes back to bite her, so she jumps to that conclusion quickly.

She sighs and keeps drinking, paying attention to how penumbra is fairing in her conversation. She could take a lesson from her.

"Sounds like a mutual interest that we can help with. The undead and that symbol just make me really uneasy, I don't like it. What's the plan? Sleep for the night take in more of the city in the morning before heading Leilon?”

(Too be clear based on Perkas comment, this is just an Inn at the crossroads of the High Road and the Triboar Trail. There some farms nearby, but nothing else. A very small community of about 30-40 people eking out a living on the edge of the wilderness.)

Martisha answers Penumbra's question, but it is apparent that she is quickly tiring of the conversation. "Lord Neverember hired a dwarf by the name of Grizzelda Copperwraught to oversee the rebuilding of the structures that will comprise the new town. She's who I would speak with first. Or you can talk with Valdi Estapaar - she oversees the slowly expanding fishing industry in Leilon and would be a good business partner for me. But enough talk...I must finish these tally books before I can turn in for the night."

Quote from Rhanloi >>

 Wakka wanders back to the kitchen and complements the chef, who broad smile reveals her orcish tusks, but also indicates her gratitude. She happily gives you another meat pie "with some extra kick for your pants!" In response to his question, Cooragh admits she got them because she knew it would upset her mother, a human from Luskan. "It was a foolish youthful folly," she says. 

"Who hasn't had a few of those?" Wakka drolled as he thought wistfully to some of his more "colorful" mistakes of his recent past; many self-inflicted

After having a second, and eventually third serving of Cooragh's pie and spending the majority of his evening speaking with the Half-Orc near the kitchens, he said his goodbyes to her and anyone else still around before making his way upstairs towards one of their free rooms for the night.  Finding an open bed, it wasn't long before he was fast asleep, a happy smile on his face as he relieved the party's victory over the fearsome Cryovain.

Penumbra thanks Martisha and leaves her to her work. After reporting everything she learned to the group she heads upstairs and picks a bed, Droop does the same.

(OK - moving us along =)

The night is short, but passes without further disturbance. You find out from Martisha and Backes the next morning that you have less than twenty miles of travel along the High Road to reach Leilon. Silla, the halfling female, asks if she can travel with you, but she is looking only at Manfred as she asks...

Later that day, less than a mile away from Leilon, you see roughly fifty people stand in a clearing just off the High Road, where the forest to the northeast and the swampland to the southwest give way to grassland for a bit on each side of the road. The beginnings of gardens or larger fields of crops are half-dug here. The people mill about in a panic. Some shake in fear, others shout in anger, and in the center of it all an enraged dwarf waves her arms and tries to get those around her to listen. A bored-looking human in a chain shirt and shield decorated with the sigil of Neverwinter stands next to the dwarf. He finally bangs his spear against his shield to quiet the tumult.

The dwarf speaks into the silence, berating the townsfolk for being such an unruly mob as they evacuated the town. She calls out a few individuals by name, shaming them in front of the group for their cowardly actions or their absolute inability to follow directions. (You are just within earshot - while you can make out the gist of what she's yelling, any discussions held at a normal level of speaking would be impossible to understand. The villagers have not noticed you yet...Actions?) 

"Seems to be some sort of commotion up ahead..."  Wakka commented to others as the crowd came into view.  "Shall we go see what the issue is?"  he asked the group.  

(If nobody stops him) Wakka walk the short distance between the two parties and speak up as soon as he believes he'd be heard.  "Hello there!  We're adventures from Phandalin's Guild on our way to Leilon when we say your merry band on the side of the road.  Is everything alright?  Anything we can help out with while we're here?"  

One of the stonemasons claims that as they were evacuating Leilon, she saw something strange happening in the water out on the swampland, past the marsh islands. Another stonemason claims to have seen some of the returning fishing-folk, who were still out on their skiffs in the marshland, shouting in panic. Others nod and “harrumph” to indicate they saw this as well. 

At this point a short, female dragonborn wearing a holy symbol of Lathander shouts, “May the Morninglord forgive me! We are missing two of the children. Smithwell and Burnice aren’t here. They were right behind me as we left the town.” This pronouncement sends the collected townsfolk into a panic again, forcing the guard to put spear to shield to quiet the crowd.

Another priest in robes and wearing a slightly more ornate symbol of Lathander insists, "We must immediately go back to town to retrieve the children, consequences be damned!"

The dwarf in the center of the group yells, "Everyone stay right here until one of the soldiers from the town comes to tell us that it is safe. Until then, no one is going anywhere!"

Penumbra approaches and looks the dwarf directly in the eyes. "Hi. I'm no one. These are my friends, they are also no one. Since you said yourself that no one is going anywhere I think we will just go and save those kids rather than just waiting around for some soldiers to report their deaths." With that said Penumbra marches off abruptly towards the town without looking back. Droop hesitates for a moment then realizes that Penumbra is serious and begins to follow, running to catch up.