"And here I though we have all the time in the world now. But if you believe "Mr. Dori" is about to leave the tavern, we sure can pay him a visit."

Tom looks across at the main room. "Well, that is true. I was more worried about chaos and violence descending again on this enclosed space - it will make navigating more difficult, and I find that people are sometimes more congenial when not in danger of having their head bashed in by chair. Even so, it is still worth following up. If you like, take point on that line of investigation. I will spend a few minutes to divine the essence of the contents of the box."

Lia chuckles quietly. "Sometimes more congenial when not in danger of having their head bashed in by a chair." she repeats back to herself in a mumble, and smiles.

Althoris takes a moment to check the common room, and is pleased to see that the patrons are remaining calm, for the moment at least, although the dynamics have changed somewhat. Most have returned to their seats, but rather than being spread evenly through the space they are huddled into groups and talking quietly. Those not seated are either investigating the door themselves, or moving from one table to the other, making inquiries, spreading optimism or simply asking opinions. At least for now it seems new arrivals have ceased.

As Tom looks at the box, Carnation informs him that she detected no trace of poison or contagion about the box. Tom focuses on the subtle arcane vibrations common to the stuff of all magic, and identifies the contents of the box as Dust of Disappearance. Bentley's eyes light up at this announcement, although he makes no request for the box to be returned to him, merely watches as Tom stows the box back in his robe.

It is at this moment that the brown-haired waitress arrives lugging a large tub of water up the hallway. Used to seeing congregations of people by now, but not knowing for what purpose the group is in the hallway, she smiles and breathlessly asks if she can pass through to the door at the end of the hall.

Delmon answers "Yes you may fair maiden! May I ask what your name is?" Delmon then charmed by the waitress bows down and kisses her hand then follows after her and ask were she is staying in the tavern and if she has no room she is welcome to share mine. Delmon then flexes his rock hard muscles. If any charisma check is needed I got a 20 + 0 = 20.

So a nat 20 charisma.

The waitress/maid replies to Delmon that her name is Kardinya. Then following his display of libertine prowess, she looks Delmon up and down with the appearance of someone who receives similar such propositions many times a day. I see chivalry isn't dead, she quips, and then adds, But if you'd like to put those muscles to good use in the service of a fair maiden, then you might be so gallant as to offer to carry this water into this here room for me.

Persuasion check: 20 + 0 = 20
Oh, would you look at that! Nat 20 for me too!

Lia, moving out of the way, asks Kardinya what the water is for.

And, speaking of rooms, Lia realises that she'd already checked out before getting trapped, and so she doesn't have a room to stay in. She silently hopes they'll solve the riddle before that becomes a problem.

I help her carry the water to the master bedroom with a couple glances at Karinya along the way.

Delmon takes the water tub from Kardinya, and she turns and knocks on the door, announcing herself. The grumpy response from within simply says Enter! and Kardinya unlocks and opens the door, whispering to Lia that she doesn't enjoy this chore, but the guest demands it and pays accordingly. Half-closing the door, Kardinya leads the way across the floor, and requests Delmon to place the tub in the centre of the room, which Delmon notices has a sick, necrotic stench in the air. It is large for a tavern guest room, large enough for a double bed, a small desk, a wardrobe, a side cabinet, and in the corner a small screen surrounding what must be a bathing tub. A small splashing sound can be heard as a voice from behind the screen (who must be Mr Dory) demands: Who is that with you, girl? Kardinya replies that she merely accepted some assistance with the tub from another guest, at which Mr Dory grunts his assent. Kardinya then retreats to the door, beckoning Delmon to vacate the room also. Outside, Kardinya sighs with relief, whispering to Lia that Mr Dory almost never leaves the tub, but that she is glad of the fact as the few times she has seen him in person, she has been revolted at the sight, saying his pale skin appears to hang limply off his body, and isn't a sight she wants to see again.

Legendary elven hearing informed Althoris about  Mr Dory's conditions. He summed it up to everyone around. "So, our sweet witch cursed the man with some sickness or his employer - whoever that mysterious being is - punished him for a failure. Still do not see how it helps us in our current predicament."

Sitting in a corner of the tavern upon a barstool a red tiefling was rousing himself up. A young man who had just newly reached adulthood, the evening had been his first experience in the ancient art of drinking, and like many young men new to the wonders of alcohol he had grossly overestimated what he was capable of imbibing. Long story short, he had passed out and slept like the dead through the whole ordeal with the witch and the barroom rumble.

Holding his head gingerly as he suffered his first hangover he opened one golden eye to note that the small round table that had been in front of him before he passed out was now gone. It seemed like a lot of tables had been tossed over for...some reason.

Getting up he slowly made his way to the door, forced it opened, and immediately slammed into a wall of darkness. Which helped his throbbing head none.

"I will never drink again," he mutters quietly, before turning to the nearest person with a questioning look.

Hatch the hungover tiefling paladin has joined the quest!

(Hope this is okay?)

Lok Sits down in the Tavern with a drink, and examines the room around him. Still  unsure of what has transpired, Although, he notes, things have seemed to have calmed down considerably. 

"Wish I was still asleep" he glumly states to himself, grimacing at his surroundings. 

Glancing around, Lok suddenly notices the sight of tables overturned, and the signs of a recent bar fight, he shoots up one eyebrow in a questioning look. 

While drinking, his eyes scan across the room looking for more indications of what happened while he was asleep. 

Lia shakes her head slowly. "Poor man. I'm sure if I were in his state I wouldn't want to speak to anybody either." She looks over to the closed door, wondering how they were going to be able to speak to him. "Does anybody have any kind of telepathic magic? Perhaps that might be easier?"

Hatch looks to the sleepy-looking human barbarian sitting nearby, but he seems just as uninformed as the hungover tiefling. But a halfling bard strumming on a lute at the next table, without breaking rhythm in the slightest, answers their questioning looks with a quick explanation about the witch, the curse, and the cryptic quintain.

At Lia's question, Locksure recalls a small red kenku who spoke to him without voice but seemed to communicate directly into his mind.

Summary of the cast so far

Hatch held the sides of his head even tighter during the bard's explanation, each strum of the lute ringing throughout his poor head so hard he could swear he could feel it even in his ram-like horns.

"How do the dwarves survive this?" he muttered under his breath. But he thanked the halfling for the explanation nevertheless. So now he was trapped in this tavern until a way to break the curse could be found. And of course the solution was some, cryptic thing. Not exactly being the brainy type on his best day, and even less so right now feeling like someone took a warhammer to the inside of his skull, he would need a lot of help to get out of this one. He hated to do it, but...

"Who among the patrons here are most likely to solve this riddle? I would like to offer them my help if I may," he asked, bracing himself for the answer. Why did everything have to sound so loud right now?

Lia hears Hatch and glances around until she spots him. She looks back at their little group, nodding, and then back to him. "Oi! Mister! I dare say we have a good chance at it." she calls, hoping the others wouldn't mind her imprudence in enlisting his help.

Upon hearing of the current situation from the bard, Lok gets up from the table and stretches.

Wandering over to the Tiefling with a grin, he sticks his big hand out for him to Shake.

"The name's Lok."  leaning closer  he whispers "Listen,  I dont know about riddles. Shouldn't we just bust down the door and attack that black wall?"

"Brute force has never failed me." 

Quote from NightPhoenix828 >>

Lia hears Hatch and glances around until she spots him. She looks back at their little group, nodding, and then back to him. "Oi! Mister! I dare say we have a good chance at it." she calls, hoping the others wouldn't mind her imprudence in enlisting his help.

 Hatch gritted his teeth as the woman's call rang through his splitting head like some kind of strange loud bell meets knife in head combination. Curse be to whoever invented ale, he briefly thought before staggering his way towards the half-elf and her group.

Quote from XionZilla >>

Upon hearing of the current situation from the bard, Lok gets up from the table and stretches.

Wandering over to the Tiefling with a grin, he sticks his big hand out for him to Shake.

"The name's Lok."  leaning closer  he whispers "Listen,  I dont know about riddles. Shouldn't we just bust down the door and attack that black wall?"

"Brute force has never failed me." 

 Gingerly shaking Lok's hand (as he did everything gingerly with a hangover) Hatch gave his name in greeting before answering, "Doubtful. How does one cut down darkness? Some interdimensional magic at work, if we could bash down the black wall there's probably some cosmic horrors on the other side. Best help the brainy folks figure this out. Least till the food and water runs out, then we try force," he finished, wishing every syllable he had a less wordy answer.