"Best place I know is where we met. The World's End tavern. Seems appropriate after the shit we saw." Cree says. "Shall we?"

(I'll open up recruitment. Also, since Avia's player has not posted for weeks, unless something changes I will remove after this weekend).

((Sounds interesting! I'll post my submission here as a replacement. Is everybody still at level five?))

Name - Hall 'Hol Horse' Guiedus

Race - Variant Human [Sharpshooter.]

Class - Fighter, Arcane Archer. [Could I flavor a crossbow into a firearm of sorts? No stat changes, of course.]

Ability Scores - Ability scores: 15 14 17 9 16 12

Alignment - Lawful Evil

Background - Folk Hero.

The group makes to World's End and can hear almost hear the large crowd from inside, even from a block away.

As they go inside, they see that the bar is almost shoulder-to-shoulder. A number of tables were pushed together and there in hardly any room there. This created a lot of standing room, a lot if that is taken up. But, thankfully, there are some twists in and turns of a path of sorts for people to pass through. Cree knows this tavern enough to find a spot where they can situate themselves.

They find themselves at a few seats in the back wall of the building, the air is somewhat stuffy, but at least they can relax.

(New players, introduce your characters and describe what they are doing.)

"Works for me." Lia says, nodding to Cree. She follows towards the tavern where they began this desert treck.

A human male stands at the bar, unable to find a stool for sitting...nursing a mug of ale as the bartender rushes by, attempting to serve all the recent customers.  A tan poncho covers his gear, but out the hood is the jovial face of a man that knows he can take care of himself.  A broad and think mustache rests happily atop his lip. On his chest the emblem of a red crescent moon is emblazed on his armor.

He tries to get the tender's attention a few times, but to no avail...so he turns to his left and begins addressing the person that happens to be standing there instead.

"Hey there.  Buy your ale for a conversation?  Name's Trevels, but you can call me Doc.  Everyone does.  Listen, you wouldn't happen to know of any work in these parts would you?  The company I had been travelling with ran into some staffing problems after an issue with some trolls.  They disbanded and left me here without a friend in the world.  Now I would be a good addition to a mercenary company or guard's outfit.  I am handy with a knife and anybody cut apart I can probably sew up too."

The cowboy would stand at the corner of the bar, talking with a woman as he puffed on his cigarette. He sipped his frosty brew as he ruffled his hair up a bit from under his large, expensive-looking cowboy hat. He smacks the counter roughly as he stares the bartender in the eyes. The man was wearing a bizarre leather cowboy outfit, outlandish spuckles on the back of his shoes, and a small card in the brim of that hat of his.

"Can a man get a good drink 'round here? This drink would make the Devil's skin crawl!" He would huff a bit, kissing the woman on the cheeks as he attempted to impress her as he threw the mug up into the air. Juggling his flintlock, he fired from behind him. The mug shattered into wooden splinters! The woman looked at him in awe as she hugged him. "Anyway doll, the name's Hall. You can just call me Hol Horse! I came here from the western region not too long ago, so I'm not too accustomed 'round 'ere. Heh, maybe you could show me around with that cute face." He chuckled patting the back of her head as he continued juggling his weapon as a bard would juggle felt balls.

He eventually caught sight of the group entering the tavern, a small smirk forming over his stern face.

Beside the cowboy is a small… creature. It has the look of a gnome, maybe? Could be a Halfling? It’s skin looks just a bit pale for the eyes, which are dark little wells of black. A cheap toupee sits on its bald head. 

Whatever it is, it’s clearly poor, wearing a human child’s set of overalls instead of proper small folk clothes. It has a tiny ripped black cloak around its shoulders and it keeps squeezing itself into small places around the tavern. 

That is, until he sees the man with the fancy shooting. He’s now moving closer, and looking like he’s about to reach over and snag something from the man’s belt when he sees one of the newcomers is watching. The creature gives a guileless smile at being caught and there are way, way, way too many teeth (and sharp) in an over-wide mouth. 

"Pleased to meet you. My name is Nessarian." The scholar introduces himself. "I am the sponsor of this expedition we are on. To say it's on the strange side is to say it quite lightly."

Lia stands next to Nessarian, looking around at the various people in the tavern. Lia is a pretty white-haired half-elf, with gray eyes. She wears a tunic, belted at the waist, with a component pouch around her waist. a crossbow is at one hip, with a dagger at the other.

"She clears her throat and addresses those in the common room. "We have need of a few to aid us in some work we are doing. If you are interested, please come talk with us."

Trevel's perks up at the call for aid from the table in the corner.  "Well, looks like my question is answered then.  Sorry for bothering you.  Buy a drink on me for your troubles."

He flips a gold coin out of his purse and onto the bar before turning to join the group at the table.

"How do you do?  My name is Trevel's, but my friends call me Doc.  And if there is work that pays then we will become friends right quick.  I am a deft hand with a sword, a knife, or a suturing needle.  So if your are needing somebody cut or needing somebody what was cut to be not cut, I'm your man."

"Well met Trevel's." Lia says with a friendly smile. "Please join us and we can talk." She gestures to a chair at the table. "I'd like to wait to see if we have other takers, as it would be best to only have to explain things once..." She eyes the others around the chamber to gaige their interest, then glances back to Trevel's. "I am Lia, and the moneybags of our opporation has already introduced himself. I'll let my other companions do so as they feel appropriate."

(Who do we have still left of the group?)

Gulgus

An old white haired dwarf steps forward, the enthusiasm in his voice belying his many years, "Well met! I be Gulgus Stormbrew. Ye look like tha kinna help for which we be lookin'."

The small creature trying to pick the pocket of the gregarious man hurries forward and says in a voice of unnatural depth and allure: “Did you say you were looking for help? I happen to be on the lookout for people in need of my particular brand of… help.” He extends a hand. “Can we make a deal?” 

"As long as you leave my stuff alone." Lia says with a smile for the fellow as he walks up. "We need a variety of skills, so feel free to join us though, our task is a bit strange, so you best hear about it before you agree to anything." She glances around at the tavern again. "We'll wait just a bit longer before we get into the details of it I think, just in case others are interested as well..."

“I never steal from a friend, only take what’s offered. You might look around a bit, but I promise, I’ll be your friend soon.” He lowers his hand. “Ol’ Toenail will be here when you’re ready.”

(OOC: believe we are just waiting on the cowboy now...)

[[Hey everybody! Broke my wrist, so replies will be few and far between.]]

He would flick his cigarette towards the scholar as he looked around at the group, a small smirk on his face. "Pleasure to meet ya'll. The name's Hall, but just call me Hol Horse." He stuck out his hand towards Nessarian, his size and stature being fairly imposing for a mere human. "Guessin' ya'll are adventurin' around 'ere?" He asked staring at Gulgus.

Lia smirks as Hall looks to the men in the group and ignores her all together. She doesn't mind though. "Well Mr. Hall, please join us." She tells him, nodding to the final chair at their table. She settles into hers again, nodding to Nessarian. "Want to fill these fine individuals in on what is going on?"

"Yes, of course..." Nessarian clears his throat.

"There have been strange happenings of late. No doubt you've heard of some: the rules of nature seemingly bending in odd ways, people and places disappearing being examples."

"We have discovered the reason behind these. A dragon from years past had found a way to cheat death and is attempting to revive itself. The way it had done so involves the true realm of dreams and splitting its soul into the two aspects of dreams, fantasy and nightmare."

"It seems that the key to keep the dragon from reviving is somewhere in an ancient library. We have the means of to get to the library. But, since it has been largely forgotten about, we have no earthly idea what to expect when we're there."

"Any comments or concerns?"

Why, this sounds downright heroic.” Toenail chuckles quietly. “I think you’ll find me an excellent addition to a heist like this. I have the skills for moving quick and quiet, and a face for telling people what they expect.” He smiles, revealing the too-wide mouth full of fangs again. “And then theres the magic… I’ve got magic for just about every need.” 

He moves forward and clutches Nessarian’s hand. “We’ll enjoy working together.”