Xalkas follows close behind the tiefling hoping his larger friend will help him go unnoticed by whomever is in the room while rolling his eyes. 

The Great Hall

It is two stories high, with stone stairs on both sides of the room leading up to a stone balcony at the west end of the chamber. Heavy double doors lead east to the castle yard, while two interior doors open to the west. Arrow slits look out to the north and the south.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker strolls in through the two doors held open for him like he owns the joint. He’d glance around as he walks through, passing by two Crushing Wave Reavers who guard the inside of the doors.

At the west end of the room, below the balcony, a large wooden chair sits behind a wide table littered with papers and discarded plates. A second table, this one long and furnished with benches, runs down the middle of the hall. The walls are painted in green and blue, decorated with tattered banners showing nautical designs.

A large burly man stands from his seat in the large wooden chair. He places his hands on the table before him. The guy sports hair from his knuckles all the way up his arms, chest and neck. Most impressively of all, he has a magnificent beard. He juts his chin and narrows his eyes at the tiefling sauntering in. “Who goes there!?”

A tall lithe woman lounged on the table with her legs crossed. ”Were you expecting company my lord?” She’d glance over her shoulder with a bored expression. The light danced off her pearl skin as she’d pull her dark black hair off to the side.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker strides in, pointing his thumb behind him, “New recruits following behind me. Just here to bid welcome and hear a bit of inspiring speech from m’lord. The priestess suggested it, you know, get them excited a bit after the very dry orations she gave us for, ug, I lost track.  Actually, maybe I should call them damp orations. Given the topic and that they dampened the mood. Am I right?”

He glances back at the group, “Well, get in here you sorry lot and prostrate yourselves before our real leader!  He’s going to inspire you with words about the cults great mission that you lunk heads can maybe be a part of.”  He turns and nods at the man, an apologetic smile on his face.  

Kerric:

Nodding, Kerric grunts, “Aye, Captain,” as he moves into the room, following instructions but still lurking near his Captain—like a good bodyguard should.

The man would glance from the woman to the tiefling leading in a ragtag group of recruits. He'd straighten his posture and cross his arms as he'd be addressed. The man who you could only assume to be Jolliver himself would look you all up and down as the groups captain would speak. His brow would pop before exchanging a quick glance with the maiden on the table before looking back over the lot. After a long pause, the man would let out the largest guffaw. He broke into laughter that echoed through the hall. There were even some snorts slipped in there.

Jolliver Grimjaw

 Urshnora
(The woman on the table)

"Even I've had to deal with that woman's prattle. You've all heard enough." After dabbing the corner of his eyes dry, the mans hand would find his beard to stroke it thoughtfully. "Look folks. I'll give it to ya straight. We're fixing up this here old crumbling castle all while protecting trade along the river from the depredations of monsters and bandits." He'd make a few hand gestures. "And if ya stuck it out through D's shpeel, you're probably hungry."

"Starving!" Ebele blurts from Hawk's back.

"See! Who are these find folk?" The man would laugh loudly once more. "Couple of you got spunk. A lively bunch could get lots done around here. Yeah?" He'd gesture for them to take a seat at the banquet table. "Sit. Sit."

Map Update

Kerric:

Listening to Grimjaw put a noble spin on his river cultist activity--protecting the merchants from bandits, indeed--Kerric moves to take his seat, looking to T'chal'fronack'zcinicker for cues.

Insight on the baddies:  15

"Protecting merchants from bandits sounds good, don't it captain.  We don't want to end up like that Dwarven delegation.  Whatever happened to them, anyway?" he adds, attempting to nudge the conversation towards a topic of their interest (Help action for T'chal, maybe?)

Xalkas maneuvers to a seat such that he has one of his companions between himself and a potential enemy should fisticuffs ensue. 

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker looks to kerric, his eyes rolling a bit, then turns back to jolliver. “Ha, ya. Protecting the river. Right. Yes indeed. A noble calling. And of course we need to collect a minor fee for such protection duty, am I right?!  Well, after her ministrations we surely could use a bite to eat there sir.” 

Jolli would give a nod of deep respect to the elven warrior when he'd listen and lead the way for the others to take a seat. "'Course your..." He'd address the bear in the room, "Large friend, is welcome to sit at the table." He'd gesture for him to take a seat at the head of the table at that end before he'd start to stack some papers on his desk. "So yous heard about the missing delegation too eh?" Grimjaw would glance up to Kerric. He'd then lift his head with a grin when his companion would chime in and confirm agreement to joining them for a meal. "Good, good! I expect Shoalar to join us any time now."

Placing a large hand on his assistance shoulder, the man would address her. "Urshnora, go inform the kitchen of our extra guests." He'd jut his chin out in the direction of the servers quarters doors at the back of the room before helping her off his desk. "Now where were we..." Sending her on her way, he'd move around to the head of the large meal table. "Ah yes! The fancy folk that were travelin' overland to Sumber Hills." Jolliver would start chuckling. "Fancy folk, fancy monies am I right!?" He'd snort. "We were just the middle men on that one." The man would shrug. "My men mentioned something about the Black Dirt people..." Something twinged in Xalkas' scholarly mind Earth, not Dirt... "They snatched the group just short of the Summit and like the gentlemen that we are, we escorted them across the river. After some bartering, of course." The big man would stroke his beard with pride before letting some snorts slip. "Though rumours have it they got ambushed by the Sky Peeps on their way back to base!" Xalkas' eye would twitch, Air. Jolli's laughter was large and echoed in the hall once more.  After he'd settle, he'd glance back to the servers doors before looking back. "We fill our bellies while they duke it out!" His hand pats and then rubs his belly.

"Now that's enough about us. What about you lot?"

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker shrugs, "Oh, what's to say. This lot came from all over. Some of 'em were poor sods just lookin for a better way to make a livin. Most of 'em heard rumors of a true callin up the river. And this bear here...well...it just followed us in. I don't know why people aren't running and screamin." He shrugs casually and leans back in his chair a bit. "Pfff, sky peeps, black dirt folk, fancy folk. Such a busy time. Those dirt folk and sky peeps always ambushin each other. Ha. You guys get along with them both though? Or should I say we do, since we're part of the we now." He smiles a winning smile.

Despite the close call with the reaver entering the bathhouse, Bhawke surprised even himself that they were able to make it as far as they did without attracting any unwanted attention. With Ebele on his back, practically blending into his fur, and Xalkas able to utilize his size to cover most of himself, he was quite glad that he decided to stay shifted as a bear. Hopefully it didn't become a huge issue down the line for them.

Which didn't seem like a problem at all! The guy with the cool beard even was letting him sit at the table! Speaking of, as soon as his bear eyes saw Jolliver and his magnificent beard, he rattles off to Ebele. "Damn, Belle, this guy's beard is like a dream. It's all pointy on the sides n' shit. Even got a cool 'stache too to boot. Looks good on 'im. Wish I could grow somethin' like it!"

When ushered to sit, he takes his big bear ass and plops it right down at the end of the table where instructed to and gives the man a thankful grunt. "You can hop on off if ya want, Belle. 'less you like ridin' on me that much, heh."

When T'chal speaks of the bear and how 'it just followed us in', the bear in question gives the tiefling a look, offended, but knows he can't exactly do anything suspicious, and huffs instead. "Rude."

Kerric:

Outwardly calm, Kerric is under no illusions about how this will turn out.  Convinced that Jolliver just sent Urshnora to get reinforcements, the elven warrior is poised for immediate combat…Still, the intel being gleaned by T’Chal seemed to be of use, so he stayed his blade for now.

Jolliver would cross his arms and listen intently to the tiefling's quick summary of the crew. Again, one by one he'd look them over, giving a nod of respect and acceptance to the Captain and the Elven Warrior. It was when his eyes would land on the gnome where his expression shifted a bit. It went from bored to suspicion from his silence. Then his wary attention was pulled to the strangely well behaved and apparently random bear.

"He's my seeing eye bear and we come as a pair!" The blindfolded monk pop up into view. "And you knew that sir." Her head would crane a little towards T'chal'fronack'zcinicker and she'd stick out her tongue. Ebele would then plop her chin on BHawke's head. I got your back. Snort. There was no reason for her to get down yet, especially since she definitely didn't smell any food yet!

Jolli gawked in shock before slapping a big hand on the table. He'd break out in a now familiar guffaw and the same snorting laughter. "An' here I thought it was the bear who said he was starving!" He'd fan himself a little before dabbing his eyes. "You folks for real?" To him that question was rhetorical, making a hand gesture as if swatting it away in his amusement. "We're no stranger to bear men around here." He'd return to stroking his magnificent beard with an amused grin. "Heck, he's more behaved than the others. They got tempers those ones."

Suddenly the sound of two doors on either side of Grimjaw would open. Three human commoners would come out with serving trays. The food smelled delicious, and a little familiar. There were mugs of ale too. One man would serve Kerric and Xalkas while another served T'chal'fronack'zcinicker before hesitantly placing Hawke's plate down and scooting it closer to him with a few awkward attempts before scurrying off. The third would serve Jolliver, pausing when he'd realize Shoalar wasn't there for the other plate. Grimjaw would jut his chin to have the man bring it towards the end of the table for the monk. Once their tasks were complete, the servers would line up to give the large man a respectful brow before marching off back to the kitchen.

"He snoozes, he looses!" Jolliver chuckles lowly, grabbing his fork. "Enjoy!" He'd make a grand gesture to his guests prior to taking a seat himself. The man wouldn't wait, he'd dig right in.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker grins in a conspiratorial manner at the big man, hiding his mouth from the monk and bear, "In truth, the blind girl and her bear are the only worth while ones of the lot if you ask me. Don't tell them that though. This pretty elf is too concerned with polishing his metal, and the gnome, what good are gnomes? Am I right?" 

He looks at the food before him but pushes it away. "I just ate, more for you folk. So, where are we supposed to go after food to get situated, and prepare for tomorrows daily duties. Do we go back out on the river boat, or is there manual labor and the like to be handled round here? Do you have a task list about or a chore sign up sheet? Maybe a new member manual to read?" 

With full cheeks from enjoying his meal, Jolliver returns T'chal'fronack'zcinicker's grin all while slipping snorts to the first bit of commentary. His eyes would flick to each of them along the table as he does. At the end the jolly man would flash a wink to the bear.

Ebele would lean over Bhawke's shoulder, stretching and straining to reach her plate from her perch. Is... his... beard... really that epic? She'd muse back in thought to the Kalashtar with a smile as she'd struggle. Awe your scruff is just fine. The blonde would stick her tongue out in effort as her finger tips would paw at her plate, just barely out of reach. She could hear the man he was talking about enjoying his meal. The monk's stomach would grumble in Hawke's ear. He getting anything stuck in it? She'd try not to snort herself from Grimjaw's laugh. You gunna eat that? She'd abruptly switch sides to his other shoulder and swipe the plate that was scooched over for Hawke. It was closer. Sitting up triumphantly, she'd help herself to a bite.

Grimjaw's eating would pause briefly when T'chal'fronack'zcinicker. Curious. After what appeared to be a generous amount of time passed, no one except the blind one was eating and only one was talking. Every recruit that came through the doors were always starving and eager to chat amongst themselves after D's orientation. He'd start sucking food out of his teeth and rest his forearms on the table. "You were to be assigned a bed in the bunk house, a watch squadron and rotation prior to being sent here for a meal. Then I asses." He'd pick something out of his teeth, look at it, then eat it. "That's how I gets to know ya." Jolli would sit back in his chair and run his tongue along his teeth for another food check. "Then I assign ya to your jobs outside of watch." He'd lift his hand from the table and gesture behind him with a snap. "Then there's an evaluation and peer review after 24hrs."

Sitting silently in his seat, Xalkas would feel something begin to slither around his legs and up into his lap, threatening to constrict him to the table.

On Xalkas
(Surprise MF!)
Constrict Attack: 17 Damage: 8
If the target is Medium or smaller, it is grappled (escape DC 12). Until the grapple ends, the target is restrained.

At Ebele's retort in regards to T'chal's words, Bhawke gives an additional 'hmph!', even crossing his paws against his chest to show his displeasure with the tiefling. How dare he 'forget' the monk and her seeing eye bear! Nerve! I know ya got my back. Thanks, Belle. Hopefully I'm playin' this 'seeing eye bear' role well 'nough. Don't need this guy to get all sussy on us. Damn right I'm well behaved...

The druids eyes widened at the sight of the food, it taking a good amount of his will power to not dig into it as soon as the plate had been hesitantly place down before him. Gotta be a good bear, gotta be a good bear... His eyes flicker over to Jolliver, and if a bear could blush, he would 100% be doing so at the wink he was thrown. Oh, man, yeah, it's really sick. Wonder if he'd let you touch it. My scruff ain't nothin' compared to what he's got... But I don't think I could grow hair like that. Shieeet imagine if though-- He cuts himself off at the sound of her tummy rumbling. Oh, shit, sorry, let me-- Although it seemed as if she took care of it herself, he still swipes a paw gently to bring the plate closer to her (and to also get a wittle nibble himself). Oh, and not really? Not that I can see... Lemme look...

Bhawke is too preoccupied with checking on Jolliver's beard for food to notice anything else going on right now.

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

Kerric:

Outwardly calm, Kerric is under no illusions about how this will turn out.  Convinced that Jolliver just sent Urshnora to get reinforcements, the elven warrior is poised for immediate combat…Still, the intel being gleaned by T’Chal seemed to be of use, so he stayed his blade for now.

 Perception:  21

(Kerric will be able to notice Xalkas' reaction and determine what's the cause of it.)

Xalkas lets out a terrified squeak...”There’s a sss sss snake under the table.! And it’s wrapped around my legs.... get it off.” He then nearly faints and tries to weasel his way away from the creature (I assume snake but I could be wrong.)

Escape attempt (dex): 11

Kerric:

Already on edge, Kerric plants his hands firmly underneath the table and flips it over violently, trying to expose whatever is attacking his friend from below.  Saying, “We are betrayed,” he draws his gleaming silver Elven blade and moves towards Xalkas in an attempt to help him.

Athletics:  20