Hatch sighs as he stares at the drink. "Either the situation has panicked you to the point of forgetfulness, or you're not Willagee. Before things get out of hand or devolves into a big fight and panic ensues and so on, can we just talk, calmly and peaceably? Maybe start with what has become of our regular barkeep and go from there?" Hatch asked, hoping that with fewer people crowding around that maybe, just maybe this one time, tact would work.

Persuasion roll: 20

The bartender glares hard at Hatch, but then his shoulders slump, he sighs, and the magical disguise melts away like morning frost, leaving Mr Dory standing there. Despite the recent departures, there are still enough people at the bar to notice, and several patrons gasp and move away from the sight of the pale, wrinkled face. Talk, then, futile though it may be. I would not hurt Willagee, as he has been good to me in my need, and have merely placed him in a magical slumber.

"Thank you," Hatch said, sincerely glad that peace seems to be working and hoping that the others can remain calm and help ask the right questions to get answers and not agitate Mr. Dory.

"I suppose the first thing many of us would like to know, is what sort of person is this witch who has cursed you and trapped us all in here? What sorts of dealings have you had with her, and what do you know of the type of magic she uses? I promise I will not pass judgement on you here, whatever the nature of those previous meetings," Hatch asked, maintaining a polite and reassuring tone. He didn't know if there was a minefield here or not with these questions, so he wanted to remain clear he was only looking for answers, not to pass judgement.

Lia gasps slightly, before clearing her throat to play it off. She nods, saying "I would much rather talk than fight. There is only so much you can say with a weapon."

Seeing Mr Dory appear, Lok tensed up. 

Almost by instinct, the barbarian started to reach for his dagger

However, due to their previous failed attempt, and with how cooperative Mr Dory is being for now. Lok relaxes and settles his hand down on the counter instead. 

"Speaking of..." The barbarian gestures towards Mr Dory 

"When that witch cursed you with this... immortality disease, did she also have a riddle for that or is the Tavern a special situation?"

Wolf, seeing that there is something going on with the bartender, secretly pulls out his Dagger of Venom. He contemplates if he should activate it’s poison, but decides not to.

Delmon hides the vial of acid under the counter out of sight of Mr. Dory. Delmon asks "Do you want to die? Many immortals wish to be freed of life. Is that the case with you?"

Slumping down behind the bar, Mr Dory sighs deeply, then recounts his story:

Mad Maggie is a collector of rare items, such things that would curdle the blood of decent people to hear of it. I confess I was willing to acquire them for her, as she paid well, and I was willing to use my gift of sorcery against those who possessed what she needed. But as her requests became more difficult to acquire, I turned to the devils for aid, accepting their diabolical terms in exchange for the information of where to find the items I sought. One day Maggie and I disagreed over the value of one item. It was particularly difficult to obtain, and I demanded more than the promised fee.

And so she cursed me. There was no riddle or any hint of a path to freedom. Perhaps she knew of my deal with the devils, and sought to prolong the time when they could claim me, as a kind of cruel torture. Now my body decays as if dead, but my soul remains. For a time, a Cleric of Talona cast a Gentle Repose spell on me each tenday, but she could not remain here indefinitely. Now I rely on regular bathing to slow the decay. Others have tried to remove the curse, or restore me through greater means, but all have failed. I am no student of the arcane, and I know not what manner of magic can be so powerful as to prolong my life so. I spend my days imploring the devils to aid me, but they answer me not.

Now I see the final twist of the knife - by cursing you she has condemned me. I do not believe your plight is hopeless, merely her way of inconveniencing you. By granting you a riddle, there must be a way to accomplish it, and thus a way for me to die. I have fought with all my heart to avoid it, for I do not wish to live as a helpless corpse ... but perhaps it must be. Can you aid me?

"Now were talking!" The barbarian grins. 

"Mad Maggie huh, I have half a mind to hunt her down once all of this is over." 

Lok glances over at the door, longingly.

"I've had about enough of this tavern. I will help an any way I'm needed so that we can leave, and then that witch will answer for her crimes." 

"I will end your misery my friend!" Delmon says.

"Thank you for telling us your story friend. Normally I'm against killing one who means me no harm...but if there's truly no way to cure you, and no other way to free us, then I suppose we must give it a try, that is if you will allow us. But as we are in no immediate danger, and there are still other parts of the riddle to solve, from crying and buying to of all things flying, I would ask, if it is okay with you, that we may put off your death till the absolute last? We may have need of your services still in accomplishing the rest of the riddle. Would that be okay with you? Who knows, between now and then we may find a way to cure you of your curse and avoid your demise, if we're lucky," Hatch said.

"Well, if what this gentleman - Wolf was it? - suggests is true," Lia begins, gesturing to Wolf, "then the riddle could be substituted as; Mr Dory dies, Althoris cries, Carnation lies, Lok buys and Delmon flies. With a curse of this manner, I would assume it's not meant to be taken literally, but we do know that Lok has purchased several drinks already this evening." Lia jokes, smiling at Lok.

Lok chuckles 

"True enough"  sitting back he adds "I suspect more drinks shall be bought before this curse is over." 

remembering why he came over to the bar in the first place, Lok returns his focus to Mr Dory.

"I had actually made my way over here for an ale." The barbarian stated glancing over towards the kitchen. 

"What of Willagee? Shall he wake up anytime soon?" 

Mr Dory nods and walks back into the kitchen to rouse Mr Dory from his magical slumber. After an apology and an explanation, the bartender chuckles and frankly forgives Mr Dory, tells a few jokes about how he probably did a better job at serving drinks than himself, and then returns to serving at the bar. 

Mr Dory then says to the assembled group: I fear my plight is bleaker than you realise. I must be immersed again within the half-hour if I have any hope of staying my body's decay. And as my bath is now empty, and we have no means of fetching more water from the well outside, then my doom draws nigh. But I know not any way of ending this existence, as long as any part of me endures...

Quote from ZorgAlmighty >>

Mr Dory nods and walks back into the kitchen to rouse Mr Dory from his magical slumber. After an apology and an explanation, the bartender chuckles and frankly forgives Mr Dory, tells a few jokes about how he probably did a better job at serving drinks than himself, and then returns to serving at the bar. 

Mr Dory then says to the assembled group: I fear my plight is bleaker than you realise. I must be immersed again within the half-hour if I have any hope of staying my body's decay. And as my bath is now empty, and we have no means of fetching more water from the well outside, then my doom draws nigh. But I know not any way of ending this existence, as long as any part of me endures...

 "Not necessarily - you merely need to not rot correct? There's no reason your bath need be of water so long as it gets the job done, and this bar is still well supplied with another liquid known for preserving things...well, except maybe one's liver," Hatch said, holding up the alcoholic beverage Dory had fixed him in suggestion. "At least worth a try, and if it don't work, we'll have to think up something else."

Mr Dory walks away from the bar with a half-hearted shrug, but makes eye contact with Delmon as he passes into the corridor, indicating for him to follow. He makes as if to return to his room, but pauses at the end of the corridor and turns to Delmon. I don't want to die, he says in a low whisper, but equally I don't wish to live like this. If my end can save the rest of you from an endless imprisonment, then ... perhaps I can atone for some of my many errors. If you truly wish to aid me as you said, then I have one request of you. Ensure no-one tries to stop me from what I'm about to do. Do you swear it?

Hatch turns as Dory leaves the bar. "It's at least worth the try, right?"

“Yes,” Wolf says to Hatch. He has been listening in and watching everything that’s been going on so far.

A young elf in a green cloak sits down at the hag’s abandoned table. He slaps his book down on the seat, next walking to the tavern ordering place (?). “Water, please.” The elf walks back to his table. You cannot see his whole face, only his mouth. The hood blocks your view.

Lok, after getting his drink, has settled down in his seat. 

Things, at least for the moment, have seemed to calm down. besides for the air of suspension, and overall mistrust around him,he could finally take a chance to breath. 

The barbarian takes a long drink from his tankard. Watching as Mr Dory wandered away from the bar. 

Lok debated on following him secretly, but decided to stay at the bar, having had enough of Mr Dory for a while.