Krom keeps his attention on his meal, but offers up a small whispered prayer to Moradin for the safety of those going down the well. He looks up from his meal and drink glancing at the Elf hearing them mention the familiar name of Adathar, "So, you are lookin' fer that person too. Moradin gave me dreams, I guess they'd be more visions, to look for this Adathar as well." He takes a long drink from the mug finishing the rest of his ale before sliding the gold coin to the bar keep, "Ye can keep the change." Krom turns in his seat, the best a dwarf can to face more in the direction of the Elf.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Ithelion turns to the Dwarf and nods, "Yes, visions, and other much less subtle messages."
She grimaces remembering the dead birds, then glances at Garnet before continuing, "At first I took them as a bad omen for the plans I was making, but then...then I was forced to admit that I was being summoned. For what purpose, I do not know. Have you any insights into this mystery, Master Dwarf?"
Ithelion frowns, considers for a moment then says. "Please don't take this the wrong way...but I also received this message and -- while I have the utmost respect for Moradin's teachings -- I don't see why he would also send me a message. Although, were Moradin involved, it would certainly give me great cheer compared to many of the alternatives."
She pauses a moment, then continues "It may be as you say, but I can't help but feel there may be a simpler explanation here; at least I hope so, for if there the gods are involved, then there are more than one, and that thought I find a little daunting."
Daemyar approaches the portal to look inside and see if his sign is inside.
As you approach the chasm, you (and everyone) hears a bloodcurdling scream - a woman, if you’re not mistaken - that abruptly cuts off. “Yanna! Yanna! Nooo!” You recognize the voice - it belongs to the brash swordsman from earlier. The sound of ripping flesh, spraying liquid, and slurping echo from below. As you look down (you’re not the only one looking) you spy an outline of a figure below thanks to your dark vision. It is the swordsman and he is covered in dark liquid you surmise is blood. “Please, please. Send it down! Now!” The swordsman pats his pockets and pouches, looking for something. “Oh gods, no! Yanna had the pouch, I can get you the coin though, I swear! I swear it. Please! Send down the rope, please!” The echoes of the terrified youth are horrible and difficult to hear and you can just barely hear clicking and a low growling emanating from the hole. You can see that the swordsman hears it too as he looks around frantically. Then, a flash of pale flesh knocks into the youngster, who begins to scream. You see another flash - you guess humanoid - and another and then another. To his credit, by the sound of it, the swordsman was having some success as you hear the sword bite into something solid. Another scream however, and you hear metal clanging on the tiled floor below. You see the outline of the swordsman, stumbling below and armless, looking up. “Please, plea-“is all he is able to utter before several pale humanoid figures set upon him, crunching and tearing and ripping. Most turn away from the sounds, and Durnan snaps his fingers and a translucent sheen covers the hole, blocking sight and sound from escaping.
“Good choices! Let’s see, that’ll be 6 silver in total. Miranda!” Durnan shouts to his overworked serving girl, who sends a boy about the same age over to Durnan. “Lucas, one, no- two platters.” When the boy doesn’t go anywhere immediately, Durnan glares at him, “Now boy!” The boy runs off to fetch the food. [Durnan and everyone turn towards the hole as the sounds can be heard. See above]
As Durnan snaps his fingers, a translucent barrier crosses the opening of the chasm. Durnan seems sad and thoughtful as he turns his back to write something down on the counter behind the bar. The boy hops back with the platters and Durnan has your drinks ready. Just as Durnan is about to pick up the returned letter from Lorell, he hears Ithelion mention Adathar. His nostrils flare for a moment, he closes his eyes and sighs. “Ye name?” He asks [I assume you tell him] and he hands you a letter with your name on it. As Durnan hears the dwarf mention Adathar, he goes through the same steps and Krom also receives a letter. You hear Durnan mumbling as the puts the other letters under the bar, mumbling angrily. You are able to hear something about “meddling, sun and stars, damn star born.” As Durnan reaches out to take the letter back from Lorell, as soon as he touches it it disappears in a wisp or smoke. In it’s place lies two items: a room key and a pin. The pin has a harp and a moon on it. Durnan’s jaw clenches as he pounds the bar with a fist. “Damn him! Well, these be yours lad. The room is on the top floor, don’t worry ‘bout the price, it seems someone has already paid for you.” Durnan looks apprehensively at the other notes...
Daemyar can’t help but say in a low voice “Glory is his. No matter his cowardice.”
He then finds his way to the bar. “You have a funny place here. You let them in for free, but put a lid on it once they lose. It’s like you pretend they never existed at all.”
Daemyar can’t help but say in a low voice “Glory is his. No matter his cowardice.”
He then finds his way to the bar. “You have a funny place here. You let them in for free, but put a lid on it once they lose. It’s like you pretend they never existed at all.”
Durnan’s face darkens as the stranger approaches the bar. His eyes turn hard and his jaw is clenched tight. “l don’t find it funny at all. ALL know the price for entry and exit, and the possibility of reward draws them all. One gold down, one gold up. No exceptions. And,” Durnan draws uncomfortably close to the hobgoblin, “we forget no one.” Durnan gestures to the side of the bar where there seems to be a collection of keepsakes numbering in the many hundreds. You notice the last ones: a lock of hair and a toy sword. “Yanna and Tyrol, both children of friends but adults all the same,” Durnan continues to stare at the masked stranger. Talking low, he leans in close to Daemyar and says “When I was younger, a whole company of your kind slaughtered my family and most of my village. I say most because the rest were kept as slaves. A few years after, I killed every single one of them and took their ears. It was a simple thing as they had grown fat..from eating man-flesh. I was able to find only two villagers left alive, the parents of those kids you just saw go into the hole. So before you lecture me about what happens in my inn, remember you’re the one with the mask. Though I could smell you as you are when you walked in here.” Durnan withdraws from Daemyar. Nodding to the cloak, Durnan says, “Don’t get any ideas under there.”
Daemyar shrugs. “You did as honor compelled you. I see no reason for anger.”
He is a bit nervous at the prospect of having his mask seen through. “However, if my presence disturbs you, I will be on my way soon. I am looking for a sign... Adathar.”
[Anyone proficient in history can roll a history check to see if you know more about the Yawning Portal]
@daemyar
Durnan’s eyes bulge for a moment at the mention of Adathar. Stifling whatever words he was going to say, he instead hands you a note with your name on it.
Turning to the wizard, Durnan nods his head,“Aye, the smart ones do just that...”
“Aye, indeed,” says Durnan, shaking his head a little. He looks at the remaining letter, which simply has “Genasi” written on it. Looking up, he proffers the note, “This is for you I suppose.” [those of you who have handed your notes back to Durnan receive the same thing Lorell did above. The time is about 6PM]
Garnet's grin vanished when the scream emitted from the portal. She didn't turn around. She didn't need to,she could feel it, fear, desperation, and death. The letter in her hand a sobering reminder that she was here for a reason. Handing back the letter she took hold of the key and stashed it in her purse, fecthing the six silver and a gold coin placing it on the counter. She addressed Durnan "A coin for the dead, I'm sure have you have a better use for it.” Garnet pulled the hood of her cloak up casting her face in shadow, she looked down at the food and after a moment of thought. She grabbed the plate. " I'll bring the plate down in the morning." With that she stood swept out of the room and up the stairs to find her lodging. Her mind turned to the letters content, suspicion building on what her reason for being here might be.
Ithelion also hands back the letter, and when she sees the room key asks, "Does the restriction on magic also apply to private rooms?"
Looking to the wizard gravely, Durnan says, "Aye, an' no hard feelins from before. There's anough in here'll kill ye, without anyone flinging magics. There be certain magics that ye should stay away from in this place, and ye take yer own destiny into yer hands if choose wrongly. Other than destiny, me lads will know if ye overstep." With that, Durnan nods subtley to a table of 4 men seemingly playing cards, but after closer inspection, they are more busy scanning the room. At Durnan's nod, one of them nods back. "In any event, it's unlikely that the Blackstaff'll let you unleash hell in his town," the barkeep says with a grin.
[Ithelion, upon reflection, you begin to remember some tales about this inn. You remember that the owner, Durnan, is old - some say magically sustained - and one not to be trifled with. You remember some rumours about how he and a few other notables in the city are actually the Masked Lords, though you don't know this for certain. You know that in years past Durnan was the first (along with his friend Mirt) to go into the hole and the first to come back...alive...and with enough loot and treasure to buy and build the Inn that surrounds the chasm now. The story goes that the hole is actually part of a tower that a mage built a long time ago, that serves as an entrance to a maze of terror and horror. Rumours abound about how one could, if lucky, gain entrance to both the mage's maze and the Underdark. You know the stories tell that entrance and exit both cost 1 gold coin, with disastrous results for those who come back without the fee. The events of the last few moments prove the truth of this rumour.]
Krom was about to say something before the screams from the pit came up and instead touches his amulet and offers up a prayer to Moradin to protect and guide their souls home. Handing back the letter, he is surprise to see it poof and leave behind a key and pin. "That is pretty generous of this fellow." Krom pockets the key and pin keeping to his seat at the bar, "I'll be havin' another round of dwarven ale." He looks around at those remaining near the bar, "Would any of ye care for another round of drink?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Ithelion nods, "I will stay for a time, to finish my brandy at least...then I must ready myself for later. And after that..." she says, indicating the pit, "I'm not really sure I could rest at the moment."
She turns to Durnan, "You clearly know this...Adathar...can you tell us anything about them?"
"Much obliged, milady, though unnecessary. How's about I'll keep it for ye until ye need it again...or ye take off with me plate!" Durnan's eyes twinkle with humour as he slips it in a crease on his shirt.
@ithelion
"That's a tougher answer than ye think, lass,"Durnan says with a sigh. "Only he, she, it could tell ye that answer an' if past events are any indication, ye'll find out soon enough. No, no - don't ye be tellin' me anything," Durnan says, holding his hands off as if to fend off grim death. "It's between ye all and the Wanderer, an' that's the way it should be. He's helped me afore, but godsdammnit if he ain't always findin' ways to twist me moustache into pieces." Losing himself for a moment, Durnan turns back to the three still seated at his bar. "Ye have to remember his...kind...don't work the same way as us folk, so what you think it straight, to him it's crooked - if ye get me meaning. I don't be knowin' what his plan is but the Blackstaff told me he'd come knockin' an' he even says a quintuplet arrives too, though I don't be knowin' it was ye all." Durnan looks pensive before adding, "If ye all see him tonight, tell him to give me me bracers back.
"Now, ye got yer rooms. Ye feel free to wander about me place, sit by the fire, talk to me guests - jus' no causin' trouble or ye be takin' a trip to...well..." He leaves it unsaid but you catch his meaning. Durnan turns back to washing cups and mugs, whistling a jaunty little tune. A few more patrons come in, then some more. You estimate about 25 persons in the establishment, not including bar staff (that you know of), Durnan, and yourselves.
And with that, Krom, Ithelion, and Lorell are milling together around the bar, while Garnet and Daemyar went to their rooms. For all of you, the rest of the evening is yours to do as you wish.
[you can RP (roleplay) whatever you like. it's around 8pm in-game. alternatively, if everyone wants to, we can fastforward a few hours...]
Krom keeps his attention on his meal, but offers up a small whispered prayer to Moradin for the safety of those going down the well. He looks up from his meal and drink glancing at the Elf hearing them mention the familiar name of Adathar, "So, you are lookin' fer that person too. Moradin gave me dreams, I guess they'd be more visions, to look for this Adathar as well." He takes a long drink from the mug finishing the rest of his ale before sliding the gold coin to the bar keep, "Ye can keep the change." Krom turns in his seat, the best a dwarf can to face more in the direction of the Elf.
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Ithelion turns to the Dwarf and nods, "Yes, visions, and other much less subtle messages."
She grimaces remembering the dead birds, then glances at Garnet before continuing, "At first I took them as a bad omen for the plans I was making, but then...then I was forced to admit that I was being summoned. For what purpose, I do not know. Have you any insights into this mystery, Master Dwarf?"
Krom shakes his head, "I have not lass, but Moradin works in mysterious ways. I trust that this is just part of my pilgrimage."
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Ithelion frowns, considers for a moment then says. "Please don't take this the wrong way...but I also received this message and -- while I have the utmost respect for Moradin's teachings -- I don't see why he would also send me a message. Although, were Moradin involved, it would certainly give me great cheer compared to many of the alternatives."
She pauses a moment, then continues "It may be as you say, but I can't help but feel there may be a simpler explanation here; at least I hope so, for if there the gods are involved, then there are more than one, and that thought I find a little daunting."
As you approach the chasm, you (and everyone) hears a bloodcurdling scream - a woman, if you’re not mistaken - that abruptly cuts off. “Yanna! Yanna! Nooo!” You recognize the voice - it belongs to the brash swordsman from earlier. The sound of ripping flesh, spraying liquid, and slurping echo from below. As you look down (you’re not the only one looking) you spy an outline of a figure below thanks to your dark vision. It is the swordsman and he is covered in dark liquid you surmise is blood. “Please, please. Send it down! Now!” The swordsman pats his pockets and pouches, looking for something. “Oh gods, no! Yanna had the pouch, I can get you the coin though, I swear! I swear it. Please! Send down the rope, please!” The echoes of the terrified youth are horrible and difficult to hear and you can just barely hear clicking and a low growling emanating from the hole. You can see that the swordsman hears it too as he looks around frantically. Then, a flash of pale flesh knocks into the youngster, who begins to scream. You see another flash - you guess humanoid - and another and then another. To his credit, by the sound of it, the swordsman was having some success as you hear the sword bite into something solid. Another scream however, and you hear metal clanging on the tiled floor below. You see the outline of the swordsman, stumbling below and armless, looking up. “Please, plea-“ is all he is able to utter before several pale humanoid figures set upon him, crunching and tearing and ripping. Most turn away from the sounds, and Durnan snaps his fingers and a translucent sheen covers the hole, blocking sight and sound from escaping.
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
@garnet
“Good choices! Let’s see, that’ll be 6 silver in total. Miranda!” Durnan shouts to his overworked serving girl, who sends a boy about the same age over to Durnan. “Lucas, one, no- two platters.” When the boy doesn’t go anywhere immediately, Durnan glares at him, “Now boy!” The boy runs off to fetch the food.
[Durnan and everyone turn towards the hole as the sounds can be heard. See above]
As Durnan snaps his fingers, a translucent barrier crosses the opening of the chasm. Durnan seems sad and thoughtful as he turns his back to write something down on the counter behind the bar. The boy hops back with the platters and Durnan has your drinks ready. Just as Durnan is about to pick up the returned letter from Lorell, he hears Ithelion mention Adathar. His nostrils flare for a moment, he closes his eyes and sighs. “Ye name?” He asks [I assume you tell him] and he hands you a letter with your name on it. As Durnan hears the dwarf mention Adathar, he goes through the same steps and Krom also receives a letter. You hear Durnan mumbling as the puts the other letters under the bar, mumbling angrily. You are able to hear something about “meddling, sun and stars, damn star born.”
As Durnan reaches out to take the letter back from Lorell, as soon as he touches it it disappears in a wisp or smoke. In it’s place lies two items: a room key and a pin. The pin has a harp and a moon on it. Durnan’s jaw clenches as he pounds the bar with a fist. “Damn him! Well, these be yours lad. The room is on the top floor, don’t worry ‘bout the price, it seems someone has already paid for you.” Durnan looks apprehensively at the other notes...
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Daemyar can’t help but say in a low voice “Glory is his. No matter his cowardice.”
He then finds his way to the bar. “You have a funny place here. You let them in for free, but put a lid on it once they lose. It’s like you pretend they never existed at all.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Durnan’s face darkens as the stranger approaches the bar. His eyes turn hard and his jaw is clenched tight. “l don’t find it funny at all. ALL know the price for entry and exit, and the possibility of reward draws them all. One gold down, one gold up. No exceptions. And,” Durnan draws uncomfortably close to the hobgoblin, “we forget no one.” Durnan gestures to the side of the bar where there seems to be a collection of keepsakes numbering in the many hundreds. You notice the last ones: a lock of hair and a toy sword. “Yanna and Tyrol, both children of friends but adults all the same,” Durnan continues to stare at the masked stranger. Talking low, he leans in close to Daemyar and says “When I was younger, a whole company of your kind slaughtered my family and most of my village. I say most because the rest were kept as slaves. A few years after, I killed every single one of them and took their ears. It was a simple thing as they had grown fat..from eating man-flesh. I was able to find only two villagers left alive, the parents of those kids you just saw go into the hole. So before you lecture me about what happens in my inn, remember you’re the one with the mask. Though I could smell you as you are when you walked in here.” Durnan withdraws from Daemyar. Nodding to the cloak, Durnan says, “Don’t get any ideas under there.”
Now, what do you want?”
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Ithelion closes her eyes and says quietly to herself, "May their gods give them rest, and their souls find peace".
After a moment she turns to Durnan and asks, "Can one pay the return trip in advance?"
Daemyar shrugs. “You did as honor compelled you. I see no reason for anger.”
He is a bit nervous at the prospect of having his mask seen through. “However, if my presence disturbs you, I will be on my way soon. I am looking for a sign... Adathar.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
[Anyone proficient in history can roll a history check to see if you know more about the Yawning Portal]
@daemyar
Durnan’s eyes bulge for a moment at the mention of Adathar. Stifling whatever words he was going to say, he instead hands you a note with your name on it.
Turning to the wizard, Durnan nods his head, “Aye, the smart ones do just that...”
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
History: 15
Ithelion stifles a laugh, and turns to Daemyar, then says, "And another looking for this Adathar -- is anoyong here actually not looking for them?"
“Aye, indeed,” says Durnan, shaking his head a little. He looks at the remaining letter, which simply has “Genasi” written on it. Looking up, he proffers the note, “This is for you I suppose.”
[those of you who have handed your notes back to Durnan receive the same thing Lorell did above. The time is about 6PM]
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Ithelion also hands back the letter, and when she sees the room key asks, "Does the restriction on magic also apply to private rooms?"
Daemyar hands his letter back to Durnan.
Upon receiving the key and pin, he’ll head up to the room, but he’ll look for a place to hide and watch who all comes inside.
Stealth 9
Paladin - warforged - orange
Garnet's grin vanished when the scream emitted from the portal. She didn't turn around. She didn't need to,she could feel it, fear, desperation, and death. The letter in her hand a sobering reminder that she was here for a reason. Handing back the letter she took hold of the key and stashed it in her purse, fecthing the six silver and a gold coin placing it on the counter. She addressed Durnan "A coin for the dead, I'm sure have you have a better use for it.” Garnet pulled the hood of her cloak up casting her face in shadow, she looked down at the food and after a moment of thought. She grabbed the plate. " I'll bring the plate down in the morning." With that she stood swept out of the room and up the stairs to find her lodging. Her mind turned to the letters content, suspicion building on what her reason for being here might be.
Looking to the wizard gravely, Durnan says, "Aye, an' no hard feelins from before. There's anough in here'll kill ye, without anyone flinging magics. There be certain magics that ye should stay away from in this place, and ye take yer own destiny into yer hands if choose wrongly. Other than destiny, me lads will know if ye overstep." With that, Durnan nods subtley to a table of 4 men seemingly playing cards, but after closer inspection, they are more busy scanning the room. At Durnan's nod, one of them nods back. "In any event, it's unlikely that the Blackstaff'll let you unleash hell in his town," the barkeep says with a grin.
[Ithelion, upon reflection, you begin to remember some tales about this inn. You remember that the owner, Durnan, is old - some say magically sustained - and one not to be trifled with. You remember some rumours about how he and a few other notables in the city are actually the Masked Lords, though you don't know this for certain. You know that in years past Durnan was the first (along with his friend Mirt) to go into the hole and the first to come back...alive...and with enough loot and treasure to buy and build the Inn that surrounds the chasm now. The story goes that the hole is actually part of a tower that a mage built a long time ago, that serves as an entrance to a maze of terror and horror. Rumours abound about how one could, if lucky, gain entrance to both the mage's maze and the Underdark. You know the stories tell that entrance and exit both cost 1 gold coin, with disastrous results for those who come back without the fee. The events of the last few moments prove the truth of this rumour.]
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Krom was about to say something before the screams from the pit came up and instead touches his amulet and offers up a prayer to Moradin to protect and guide their souls home. Handing back the letter, he is surprise to see it poof and leave behind a key and pin. "That is pretty generous of this fellow." Krom pockets the key and pin keeping to his seat at the bar, "I'll be havin' another round of dwarven ale." He looks around at those remaining near the bar, "Would any of ye care for another round of drink?"
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Ithelion nods, "I will stay for a time, to finish my brandy at least...then I must ready myself for later. And after that..." she says, indicating the pit, "I'm not really sure I could rest at the moment."
She turns to Durnan, "You clearly know this...Adathar...can you tell us anything about them?"
@garnet
"Much obliged, milady, though unnecessary. How's about I'll keep it for ye until ye need it again...or ye take off with me plate!" Durnan's eyes twinkle with humour as he slips it in a crease on his shirt.
@ithelion
"That's a tougher answer than ye think, lass," Durnan says with a sigh. "Only he, she, it could tell ye that answer an' if past events are any indication, ye'll find out soon enough. No, no - don't ye be tellin' me anything," Durnan says, holding his hands off as if to fend off grim death. "It's between ye all and the Wanderer, an' that's the way it should be. He's helped me afore, but godsdammnit if he ain't always findin' ways to twist me moustache into pieces." Losing himself for a moment, Durnan turns back to the three still seated at his bar. "Ye have to remember his...kind...don't work the same way as us folk, so what you think it straight, to him it's crooked - if ye get me meaning. I don't be knowin' what his plan is but the Blackstaff told me he'd come knockin' an' he even says a quintuplet arrives too, though I don't be knowin' it was ye all." Durnan looks pensive before adding, "If ye all see him tonight, tell him to give me me bracers back.
"Now, ye got yer rooms. Ye feel free to wander about me place, sit by the fire, talk to me guests - jus' no causin' trouble or ye be takin' a trip to...well..." He leaves it unsaid but you catch his meaning. Durnan turns back to washing cups and mugs, whistling a jaunty little tune. A few more patrons come in, then some more. You estimate about 25 persons in the establishment, not including bar staff (that you know of), Durnan, and yourselves.
And with that, Krom, Ithelion, and Lorell are milling together around the bar, while Garnet and Daemyar went to their rooms. For all of you, the rest of the evening is yours to do as you wish.
[you can RP (roleplay) whatever you like. it's around 8pm in-game. alternatively, if everyone wants to, we can fastforward a few hours...]
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons