Fen worries he has said the wrong thing*  "errr... quite right, apologies... I didn’t mean to suggest... it was just..." and trails off.

* For DM:

Hearing Rinzak's comment bout being here to learn, Ventheris will hand him his now completed wood carving, "Here, a token for your quest for knowledge. It is an emblem of The Raven Queen, an ancient, powerful deity." 

Woodcarving roll to see how much it looks like a raven (doing dex+proficiency unless you think something else should apply): 24

Zook responds to Rinzak. “Now that is a most excellent question, and if I ever come close to discovering the true secrets of the world, then I should like to to know why some words have silent letters. A most confusion riddle, indeed. As for my friend here, he said something in Giant speak, but I’m not sure I understood. It is a most peculiar language, and although he has taught me a few words and phrases, I don’t always pick up what he’s saying.”

”So...a Githzeria from Limbo. You are a long way from home, my friend.”

Upon seeing Ventheris present the wood carving, Zook’s attention perks up even more. “What wonderful craftsmanship! That is beautiful. I am keen on wood carving, myself, and I must say, that is an example of very fine work.”

Rinzak raises an eyebrow and slowly takes the offered emblem, slightly inclining his head with a raised eyebrow "Thank you.....whoever you are......OH! Apologies....your name?" Though he seems to be beating himself up a bit after having made the pleasantry slip, he visibly flinches at the Gnome's mispronunciation of his people's name "Gith-zer-ai. In my language it means those who spurn Gith. You had just said 'Those who craft Gith.' " Taking a moment to admire the craftsmanship of the token he had just been presented as he awaited the strange Half-elf's response.

“My apologies, my name is Ventheris, a pleasure to meet you. And I believe you said your name was Rinzak of the gith-zer-hi? Between the caravans and the Mere of Dead Men, I’ve seen many types, but this group is quite strange to me.”

Carlin shrugs, "Strange isn't always bad."

Ventheris will raise his hands and lean back a little, "No, of course not. I meant no offense. Merely that with this assortment of individuals, many different things could be accomplished, if we were to work together as the man at the bar seems to wish us to."

Quote from Ismenow >>

Hearing Rinzak's comment bout being here to learn, Ventheris will hand him his now completed wood carving, "Here, a token for your quest for knowledge. It is an emblem of The Raven Queen, an ancient, powerful deity." 

Woodcarving roll to see how much it looks like a raven (doing dex+proficiency unless you think something else should apply): 24

 That roll works, you've made a detailed carved wooden raven. 

Volo is over at the section where you are all talking, and he says, "So, what story should I tell? The time I was in Barovia? - Or when I met the goddess of magic? Possibly when I was in Chult kidnapped by the lich from another world? Wait- no, I've got one. I haven't told this one in a while," He says while stroking his beard.

"You know this tavern, Turtle Peak? Well, once upon a time I bought this tavern from the city, as it was shut down and abandoned due to it being haunted. I took on the tavern, I was writing a book at the time on ghosts, too bad I never finished it. ANYWAY, well, my friend Floon Blagmaar got kidnapped, and I had to hire some adventurers to go rescue him. Who these adventurers are, you may ask? It was four fellows I met in the Yawning Portal, what a shame it was that it got destroyed, poor Durnan, these fine fellows were an adventuring party known as the Desert Chickens. Well, these fine adventurers rescued Floon and a noble from the Xanathar Guild, a nasty crime syndicate that was having a war with the Shadow Network at the time. Well, funny story, I had run out of money, and couldn't pay these adventurers, so I kind of gave them this tavern as payment for the favor they'd done for me. One thing leads to another, and the Desert Chickens are saving Waterdeep from total annihilation, and now they are renowned across the Sword Coast!"

Zook continues his conversation with Rinzak. "I apologize for the mispronunciation. Language is such a funny thing. I often wonder how it came to be that that there are so many different ways of speaking in the world, and how some of them differ vastly from each other. But those questions aside, what's even more fascinating, is that you are not even from this world, are you? You are one who walks among the planes. How long has it been since you arrived here?"

To Carlin, he answers, "Indeed. Strange is a matter of perspective. The tree is strange to the whale, much like the moon is strange to the earth worm."

Ramath looks around for a bit, listening intently to the conversations around him. Does he hear anything from the other patrons?

Perception: 18

((He don’t hear sh!t))

Rinzak inhales sharply at the different mispronunciation, but just exhales slowly and mutters to himself in his language for a moment before clearing his throat "It is no bother. I have only been on the Prime Material plane for three months." After Volo concludes his tale, since Rinzak knows nothing of the man besides this tale and what the odd elf has claimed, he asks "Have you provided an accomplishment for your people worthy of recognition?" No judgement in his voice, just a question as to measure how much this person should be respected among humans.

"He's written a few books," Carlin says, "They're pretty good!"

Fen chimes in "I have all 18 of Volo's guides, including 4 original editions. He travels far and wide chronicling treasures,  landsH and creatures. He is my personal hero.”

"You own 4 original editions and you're working for tips here?" Carlin asks, more out of curiosity than disbelief.

Fen replies "I may live a simple life now, but I grew up near Gond Gate in Baldurs Gate. My parents still own The Nymph’s Tale near the Hall of Wonders, which is... or was... frequented by the nobles and elite of the city. The mindflayer attack has changed things, though our library survived if you ever want to see them and have coin to spare."

"You were attacked by a mindflayer?"

Hecate's interest is caught by one of Volos comments in particular.

"You say you were in the process of writing a book on ghosts? You wouldn't happen to have any notes with you, I suppose?"

Ventheris will glance over at the dragonborn, "You're a fan of ghost stories?"

Fen responds to Carlin "I was actually tied up by bandits midway between here and the Gate when Mindflayers attacked the city, though that is a story for another time [OOC, the former happened as part of campaign history, the latter as part of rolled backstory, so it is not just me trying to make my backstory prematurely epic]. I have seen the destruction they left throughout the Gate first hand when I've been back to visit though."

Fen also listens in for details of the ghoststory/quest that Volo is sharing.