Jorel will walk into the room craning his neck to look around in all the corners, “Hello! I saw the door marked staffs only so I thought it’d be a good place to look for a staff. Have you ever heard of the staff of Vendyia?”

 Black Cat, as you attempt to jump onto the window ledge once again, you land but only with one foot and slip, crashing down to the ground with a very loud thud. You watch as the wooden door swings open and the clerk of the antique store, dressed in unnaturally expensive clothing for a middle-class antique shop, looks at Black Cat and says delicately, "Sorry, we're closed today." before shutting the door and going back inside.

Jorel, both figures face you now, both a bit confused. The slimmer one is a handsome maroon tiefling. Dauvyn, the burlier one, says, 'Yes, indeed. It's famed. You know, I'm a hunter myself, so there was one time I--"
The tiefling cuts him off. "I'm sure you don't want to hear him ramble on, but we're not sure of the whereabouts of the Staff, but there might be information about it in the Grand Library of Xiladen." The tiefling smiles, then adds, "Is that truly why you came all the way down here?"

Making shushing gestures at the tiefling, Jorel will look at the other one, “Yes, please, I’d love to hear all about it, why don’t you come upstairs and I’ll buy you a drink to wet your throat while you talk.”

Seeing his group all walk away Smoke is still standing in the tavern. His face turns a bit more serious as he looks around thinking about what to do. His pockets have no more coin so gambling is not an option.. well not through the game at least. 

Then he puffs his chest and puts on a grand smile and walks towards Ester.

Might you be Ester Lynchar? My name is Smoke Treestrider and i've been told you're a bard. 

In my travels i always try to find the best stories and a bard is a sure bet for one. He says most sincerely.

I will trade you a tale of my own experience for one of yours. 

He looks around with his arms almost extended to the sides turning to face the crowd. Who would not love to hear a good tale?

Jorel, Dauvyn looks excitedly to the tiefling, clearly enjoying storytelling. The tiefling nods to Dauvyn and a smile spread across Davyn's face. "Alright, let's get to it, then. Come up with me, and we'll talk."

Smoke, Ester judges you carefully. The crowd does not waver. In fact, they seem more intent now than ever. Ester seems to have a moment of nervousness rush over him, but it fades in an instant.  "Alright...tell me yours first then."

Very well. He clears his throat and takes a deep breath as he starts his tale.

Our party was asked to clear the deep part of woods, and so we bravely ventured into the woods going in further with every passing hour. The trees grew thick and shrugs large when we entered older parts of the forest. Parts even the light of the sun would no longer go. He says as he bends through his knees slightly. 

His hands closer to his body motioning cautious steps to create an eerie feeling in the room. 

As it got darker, little did we know ..we.. would become the prey. Moving through the woods we felt our feet become heavier with each step. At first we thought we were just getting tired. But we soon realized we walked into a giant web!

His eyes widing with those last words to emphasize them greatly. 

Suddenly we heard what sounded like raindrops, hundreds of little thuds. Smoke taps his fingers on a table to create the matching sound effects. Hundreds of little raindrops. But to our fear those sounds were made by the legs of spiders. Some no bigger than a baby but others the size of a small horse.
Several huge spiders were upon us producing more webbing. We could not move!

Smoke's tail wraps around his waist along with his arms. 

There he stood our huge companion, our very own goliath, trapped in a coccoon of webbing. That was their mistake haha. He became so angry he tore the webbing loose in a cry of rage, so strong that man. Quickly bringing down an axe into a spiders skull taking it down. Then swinging axes through the webbing weakening it for the rest of us. Just in time because the next spider charged at us only to be stopped by our stout dwarven shield wall.

Fists now clenched turning around a bit with every few words to capture all of the audience. 

Lovely fellow once you get to know him really. He says a bit more cheerfull and quickly returns to a lower voice. 

Our short wall quickly used his hammer to smash out some of the spiders legs having it fall down to laying face to face with our dwarf before its head got crushed by his hammer.
We stood holding our ground and defending around us. He taps his fingers on the table again, this time slowing until the sound goes away completely as he says Soon most of the spiders were gone, but the fight was far from over.

His face now grim and he looks down at the floor a moment with his arms to his side. As he speaks again he raises his arms to portray the size. 

Then a huge spider stood there watching us battle the last of her young. This massive beast lunging forward snapping at us with pincer like jaws. It started to bite me, i could feel the pincers draw blood. It left a scar even. 

Smoke lifts his shirt a bit, turning around showing where his skin got pierced by one of its pincers. As the spider was about to bite into me fully.. splash as a crossbow bolt took out one of its eyes. The splattering  got gore all over me. Making a disgusted look.

But i knew my trusted friend had saved me there. The creature took some steps back in pain. Its look upon us once more our monk started throwing darts rapidly to keep the beast at bay. Some landing but others bouncing of its black chitin like armor. Trying to shield itself it lowered its head in defensive position. 

Smoke now starting to smirk. That was all he was waiting for. 

In the dim light, barely visible he apeared. A small rogue with blades drawn leaping on top of the spider and in one motion bringing his daggers down to the back of the creatures head. It stumbled. Smoke imitates stumbling a bit to left and right. Then the beast collapsed.

Finally we felt safe again but i started to notice my vision got blurry, as i looked down i saw the vile poison of the spider had gotten me. I fell to my knees and all went black. 

He closes his eyes and takes a short pauze for effect. 

But i stand here today not just because of my friends. It was this that saved me. He reaches in his pouch and holds up the Stablization Mixture from Zyn-dar, clear for all to see. 

Nodding yes as he turns a full circle. Then puts the mixture back in his pouch and he looks back at Ester.

And that is the tale of the Darkwood forest. 

Smoke then waits for Ester's response.

Jorel would have come back up the stairs in time for the story and motioned for his new friend to stop and listen, “He tells the best stories. Anyway, lets find a table where you can tell me some of yours.” And he’ll find a table where he can see the gambler and sit down, beckoning for some ale for his friend.

As Jorel makes contact with the rooms inhabitants Aldin walks quietly down the other fork, his eyes moving to spot signs of any pitfalls or traps.

Stealth: 11

Perception: 13

Smoke, Ester seems to eye the Mixture with slight respect and sits back after the story. "It sounds like you've been on many journeys. Well, I suppose I could tell of one of mine. If someone will get me another drink?" Immediately, everyone in the crowd seems to make an offer, quick to please the high-rolling champion. Ester smiles as he selects a human to get him some wine, tossing the human a few gold pieces for the drink. "Now, I wasn't always this successful of a gambler, as surprising as that may be to some of you. It was in the thick of the war before the peace treaty was signed, and I was a mere traveler a bard playing instruments for possible pay. Little did I know when I stumbled into the outskirts of Iltermyre, in the Lower Eastern Province. It was hours before the infamous Tyronian Bombing, named after the formidable High General of the East. A double agent associated with the West had leaked the strategic plans the West had for the next battle and High General Tyrone led thousands of Eastern army members to the edge of the valley above Iltermyre. Now, meanwhile, I was in a tavern, much like this one. I was playing my banjo. How was I to know what would happen next?" Ester looks around, pausing for suspense. "That was when the Bombing occurred. Multiple huge balls of flammable materials lit on fire and launched from a catapult, a lethal weapon. The tavern's roof came crashing down as fire spread to everything. People rushed around to flee, and I barely had gotten my wits about me when the next fireball hit the area, causing the foundations to shake. A large wooden pillar fell from the roof and hit me on the head. I fell unconscious, and when I awoke there was fire blazing all around me. I tried to get up but I was injured, my ability to walk impaired. That was when I heard it. A poor cry for help from behind the bar. I was able to roll myself off the slab of wood I was laying on which probably used to be a table. My bones ached, and pain engulfed every part of me as the fire was lit before me, burning and searing my skin. I was able to fashion a splint out of some burned wood, and fashioned it to my ankle, allowing myself to be able to limp with minimal struggle. I found that a child--a small child, had been abandoned underneath the bar. For some reason, the bar had yet to burn, as it was on a slightly raised platform. I had to hobble out of the tavern, trying to get across the street to a building that people seemed to be inside, as it hadn't been burned yet. The ground shook many times with new collisions. I was able to make it inside and return the child to its parent, but we had no chance but to wait. Wait for the building to explode. As the rest of the town was in flames and destroyed, we were forced to wait for days and days on end. It turns out that building was a casino, and in all my free time there,  I was able to learn how to achieve my level of gambling excellence." He turns to Smoke with a bit of a smile. The crowd is clapping for him in admiration. They've probably heard this story a thousand times already, but they still seem appreciative of his recounting of the events. "How was that?"

Jorel, Dauvyn smiles as he sits down. "So, you wanted to hear my story about encountering the Staff of Vendyia? I can't wait to tell you, but first, just to make sure, are you like a monk or something? And you're not part of a faction or cult...something like that? Zander would kill me if I sat down and rambled my stories of relics to an aristocrat or something."

Aldin, as you walk, you see a light at the end of a tunnel after a few minutes. Up a few stairs, nowhere near the previous amount, you find yourself at the end of a street, in front of an old antique shop. Just a few feet away from you, you can spot Black Cat, standing underneath the window of the shop.

Glaring at the window ledge once more, Black Cat vows to burn it to the ground one of these days. Then he will sit against the wall and wait to see what happens, see if anyone leaves.

Jorel will laugh easily, “No, not a cult and certainly not an aristocrat. I was raised in the same monastery Vendyia learned her skills and I hope to recover her legendary staff for the order, if I ever find any trace of it anyway. But you say you encountered it? That’s incredible! What was it like?”

Smoke bows his head in respect to the bard. 

A wonderfull tale, i thank you for sharing it with me. Not everyone will find the courage to relive such dangerous times. But a bard never disappoints in my experience. 

It is these tales that shape us. Smoke tries to put on his best scholar face. 

All we need is good healing to allow us to continue our fabled lifestyles. To my surprise i have found one in this very market with the finest of goods. 

He leans in I am no stranger to the medicinal herbs of nature and this man had great quality. Your town is lucky to have him in these troubled times, but im sure an educated and wealthy man such as you... 

He looks to the remaining gold clearly impressed. 

..will already have a deal with this man. What was his name again.. an older thiefling..  Smoke scratches his head   AHh Zyn-dar, yes thats it.

Now that i think of it, your tale of saving that child. This town recovering from an attack. A good man such as yourself probably asked Zyn-dar to come to this town in aid. 

He looks around with a shocked expression on his face. 

Is he here on your behalf then? Such a selfless act does not need to go without the people knowing. He gestures around the room again with a smile to have the people in the tavern think even more of Ester. 

Dauvyn smiles, clearly a kind soul who believes what he's told. "I was lucky enough indeed, yes. Before working for Zander, I was a relic hunter. Part of a fierce faction. We were a large army of brave relic fanatics, obsessed with the idea of finding powerful relics ourselves. Anyway, we were a new faction, and the competition was awfully high, given the world has its share of people in search of power. There had been a new discovery in the rolling hills and valleys of the Upper West, and my group was off to investigate. We went to go find other powerful relics, supposedly infused with god-like strength--the Divine Seven, I believe the relic group was named. On our quest, we ran into a pesky group of Ascendency members, who had somehow found the Staff somewhere in the hills that day. They had yet to use it though, and as soon as I realized the strength they wielded, they attempted to use it. It glowed, an unworldly glow, but then it shot from his hands and into the air. I couldn't trace where it fell, and I never ran into it again. But the legends are true! It is indeed real, and it only accepts those who are true and pure!" Dauvyn happily finishes his mug of ale, slamming it happily on the table.

Ester looks at Smoke, clearly interested in what he has done, and Ester clearly wants an opportunity to make himself more loved in this tavern, but while he still has a few moments to consider his options, to consider the rationality of the potential endorsement, he pauses. Just for a moment, so he can still recapture the excellence if he chooses to endorse, and still early enough to shut down the offer. Smoke, make a Persuasion check.

“That’s incredible! Oh, I wish I’d been there.” Jorel will pause to order his friend another ale, “So how’d you go from esteemed relic hunter to working with Zander? Surely you haven’t retired from the greatest search ever?”

Aldin gives a low whistle to get Black Cat's attention. He gestures for him to come over and shows the tunnel. "It goes to the tavern we were at. This all seems very strange." He goes on to tell him briefly what he saw going through the door and down the stairs.

(Smokes persuasion roll for Ester 11)

(never a good roll, but its not super bad i gues)

Black Cat tilts his head as he listens to Aldin and then fills him in on what he has seen, especially about the half-orcs carrying all the gold to this shop and disappearing inside.

Jorel, Dauvyn replies, "Well, relic hunting really was my passion, I must admit. But...it wasn't stable, I guess. There was never a guarantee I would earn enough gold for a meal every day, and sometimes I didn't land any gold at all for weeks on end. The faction was declining, and the competition was too fierce to maintain our level of competitiveness with them. I had no other choice at the time. And yet, I had the dignity to steer clear of our rival factions, which I stand by to this day. But I discovered Zander a few years ago, when he was first raising a group of supporters for his political campaign." Dauvyn looks at Jorel. "You do know Zander, don't you?" You can make a History check to see if you remember hearing something about him before if you'd like.

Smoke, Ester assesses you. He's clearly impressed, but clearly not to the extent he will throw around his name for the benefit of others. "Well, that is certainly an interesting question you propose, my friend. How about you explain this a bit more thoroughly?" Ester smiles for Smoke to really sell the idea to Ester. You can make another Persuasion check.

Jorel history: 18

Jorel, you can recall hearing Zander's name before, but not much background. All you know is that he is an underdog Emperor Election candidate, whose announcement to run earlier in the year caused quite a stir politically.