(ooc: If Aeros knows the name of the barkeep let me know and I'll adjust the post)

His face immediately sporting the largest grin you've seen so far, he replies back to the woman, "Oh you know I could never stay away from you Ellomerra," dramatically saying her name before pausing to give her a wink and a laugh, "And though I never had he chance to speak with the 'venerated patrons' of the Blushing Tankard I did end up making some new friends so not a bad night at all!"  Aeros laughs again as he heads closer to the bar towards the rest of the party, "I see you know Menodora already Merra but consider these three here my special guests.  I know you'll give them the best hospitality the Lodge has to offer!" Flipping her a gold piece (or whatever it would cost), he'll finish with "Drinks and meals are on me tonight!" 

(OOC: thanks and slight updates made!)

(Oh, yes, he would lol. Apologies, her name is Ellomeera Murnig)

"Oh, aye, Firemark is to the southeast past the Prayer Foundry," Ellomeera answers, palming Aeros's gold piece from the bar, "and Lay 'o the Land is a block east of the Lift to the Upper city." She pauses, head cocked as she considers the rest of the party. "You'll be lookin' for 'ole Zendasa at the shop; she's an odd sort, druid, ye know, but good," she explains as she bustles about, getting tankards and pouring drinks for everyone. "Got a head for just about every sort of herb or dirt ye could think." She slides the drinks over to everyone and calls back an order of the house special - sausages, potatoes, eggs - protein staples for the workers that frequent the place. "If'n ye want somethin' different, let me know; we have a few soups, some mushrooms," she shrugs. 

"You lot get caught up in that explosion, then?"

Taking a sip of his tankard, "Not on purpose but we ended up being in the area as it happened.  Watchmaster asked as to assist with the investigation a bit as we happened to run into the escapee as well.  Haven't happened to see a goliath running about have you?" he half-joking asks Ellomerra.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Eryn says with a polite smile in answer to Aeros' largesse, "but I have peculiar tastes and grains give me gas, so I will cater for myself. No offence intended."

Then, when he gets the chance to order, he says, "A mushroom and spinach omelette, if you can... Oh, and a glass of red wine—your finest."

Ellomeera chuckles, turning to call Eryn's order back to the kitchens, then shakes her head. "I have not seen a goliath runnin' about I'm afraid," she answers. "I'd think that'd be a bit noticeable; most of us here are shorter folk; you tall 'uns tend to stick out." She pulls out her finest red wine -which is still somewhat suspect- and pours some in a tankard for Eryn, resolutely not apologizing for not having a proper wine glass, her look daring him to say anything about it. 

"That's just like th'Watchmaster to hire you lot," she tuts, then turns a sly grin towards Aeros. "Y'know, you ought t'ask him about that friend 'o yours," she all but snickers, clearly having heard the rumors about the affair. Then, she turns back to business. "Master Aeros' gold will cover the lot 'o ye tonight, so feel free t'eat up and drink as ye like. Rooms are 5 silver per night - the ones opposite Menodora are made up," she informs Eryn and Arthasis as she scowls across the room at Udoth. "If ye've got more questions for whatever the Watch has set ye on, feel free t'ask, but don't go runnin' off any o' my customers." She turns towards Menodora and nods at the room around them. "If ye want to play somethin' feel free, though as we discussed yer just as welcome to have dinner and retire for the night as ye played fer us last night."

Eryn fishes in his coin pouch and puts a gold piece down on the bar. He then picks up the tankard and says, "For the room, the wine, and going to the trouble of cooking something special."

Turning around to prevent the barkeep seeing any involuntary reaction to the smell of the wine, he smells it bouquet and looks to see if there are any quiet tables.

[OOC: Perception check (for the hell of it): 17 .

"I might have it in me for a song or two. Only seems fair given your hospitality," she says, pausing a moment over her plate of food. The excitement of the day had taken plenty out of her, but turning down an opportunity to perform as hardly in her nature. No matter where it might have been, and especially not when it helped keep a roof over her head, and provided a place to sleep. She finishes up her food while Ellomeera talks with Aeros. 

She flips her lute across her lap from her spot, and gently plucks at it a moment before eyeing the area that could be described as the stage; though it's merely a place free of any tables. It makes her grin -- remembering a time when standing on a stack of books had been a stage. Swallowing down the last of the drink in her tankard, she stands up and passes across the room -- collecting a chair in the hand not holding her loot and plops down onto it. 

Her first piece is an old Elvish lullaby that she learned from her mother -- it's very laid-back and relaxed and more of a warm up piece than anything. The words themselves weave a tale of hope and, if to be believed, were written during the early years after the formation of the Diarchy in Uthodern. (Think the opening to Stairway to Heaven-esque). 

Performance Check: 14

The second piece though, is much more lively and better suited to an establishment such as this. It is an upbeat piece about a drunken sailor who sets off to sea to fight a monster, that she learned from from a gnome who'd ventured to the city from Palebank.  (think "Little Lion Man" by Mumford and Sons). 

Performance Check: 13

After Arthasis had made his inquiries, he took the meal that was offered him. It was a rather plain fare but he hadn't eaten for half a day and thus food tasted considerably better than he expected. With relish he devoured one of the sausages and gave Aeros an appreciative nod. "Thank you, good friend. I didn't notice how hungry I grew during the past few hours.", he announced. By than Menodora was playing her lute for the crowd inside the inn. She wasn't half bad, he had to grant her. The first piece she had played was way superior to the other, though, and half way through the second song his thoughts were again focused on how tired he was.

Quote from inkedwolves >>

"That's just like th'Watchmaster to hire you lot," she tuts, then turns a sly grin towards Aeros. "Y'know, you ought t'ask him about that friend 'o yours," she all but snickers, clearly having heard the rumors about the affair. 

 "I still mean to but... uhhh, earlier this evening did not seem like the best time to bring it up.  He did not seem to be taking it well."  Aeros replies slightly flustered at Meera sharing his personal business.  "Hopefully if we find this runaway, I'll get the opportunity to bring it up (and he won't try to arrest me for asking!)" he adds before laughing loudly.  

Aeros will then listen contently to Menodora play her songs for the group and though he thought she performed her first song better, he rather preferred the second song overall and joined in with the other patrons at the bar to sing the popular refrains.

Performance: 15

Eryn points out the quietest table in the room to the barkeep and asks her to bring his meal to him there when it is ready. He then takes his tankard and lays claim to a space at that table. Then, with backpack and bow at his side so he can keep his eye on them, he takes the weight off his feet as he waits for his meal to arrive.

He has been travelling for a very long time, but he has finally reached his destination. Now, perhaps, he could relax a little and maybe, just maybe find... He smiles ruefully as he remembers the agreement he made with the Watchmaster. It had been made in a moment of anger and shame at having been bested by a bunch of lowly kobolds. He regretted making the agreement now, but he had taken the human's gold  and was now honour-bound to complete the task.

The sound of an ancient elvish song brings him out of his reverie and he scans the crowded tavern looking for its source. It is the human female, Menodora, and her rendition of the piece is not bad, but it is not exactly as he remembers it. Perhaps the lullaby is played differently in this part of the world, or perhaps she has modified it to suit her human tastes and capabilities.

[OOC: DM, Are there any other elves or half elves in the place that Eryn can see? Perception check, if needed: 25 ]

Her second piece is more suited to this crowd and this place and, when his omelette arrives, he concentrates on eating the food and drinking the wine, no matter their taste and quality. They are, after all, different to the trail rations he has been eating for the last few days.

Menodora's music delights the crowd; though her first song is played much better than her second, it is the second song that seems to stir the best reaction from the half-drunken patrons of the Lodge. Certainly, they and Aeros's participation livened things up even further, and at the end there were many a drunken toast to the bard and each other. 

As Eryn looks around, the only half-elf in the room is Udoth, still holding court in the corner; he appears to be deep in conversation, perhaps of the haggling sort, with an amiable middle-aged gnome. On the table between them is a strange metallic device similar in make to the automaton Aeros found at the prison. Beside them, another gnome leans against the wall, arms crossed over their chest, eyeing the two at the table. Though their curling hair is hanging over their face in a mohawk, the dark color of it matches the male gnome's, signifying some possible relation. 

The other patrons are mostly more gnomes, halflings; some humans. 

Your food and drinks are served and the night is yours. 

Menodora will do one more drinking song that she has learned along her travels; if only because, despite it not quite being her best performance, the half-drunken patrons are entertaining to watch. 

Performance: 20

After that, she'll wander back over towards the bar, for one last drink before bed.  She smiles brightly before retaking a seat. 

"I'll have one more drink, please," she offers in Meera's direction. 

"So, shall we all meet in the morning for breakfast, and then start our search anew?" she asks to any of the group that are around her. 

(OOC: should have quit the performance rolls while I was ahead LOL) 

Eryn will quickly eat his food while keeping a discreet eye on the red-haired half elf and his gnomish companions.

Assuming the group doesn't move, once Eryn has finished both his food and his drink, he will pick up his pack and his bow and make his way over towards Aeros. However, if they do decide to leave, he will instead pick up his gear and follow them out, while also trying to attract Aeros' attention.

"Dragonborn," he begins, keeping his voice low enough so that only Aeros can hear. "The red-haired half elf has something that reminds me of that device you found in the prison cell."

[OOC: I don't suppose enough time has past for a short rest, has it? if so, Eryn will have spent his hit dice to recover the single hit point he is still down from the fight earlier.]

Aeros, content to continue the search in the morning will spend the rest of the night mingling with the rest of the bar patrons before turning in once the Lodge starts to quiet down for the night. (unless something happens before then or he's called over by another party member)

(Not enough time passed for a short rest, no. Aeros, I believe Eryn was attempting to get your attention~)

(Oh I'm sorry I somehow miss the post!)

Aeros turns and takes a look at the item in question and agrees that it does match the other item they had found from the prison.  "Should we go and ask him about it?"

"Definitely," replies Eryn. "But I suggest we tell the others first, just in case things turn nasty. You tell your priest friend and Arthasis and I will see if I can catch the lady bard at the bar."

Not waiting for a reply, Eryn heads towards the bar taking a casual look at the half elf and his companions on the way to check what weapons they might have on their persons.

[OOC: Perception check, if required: 6 . Also, here's a Deception check to see if he can avoid drawing attention to himself: 16 ]

Approaching the bar, Eryn smiles at Menodora before he begins speaking to her in a low voice. "The red-haired half elf speaking with those gnomes over there has something with him that looks like what the kobolds used to break our quarry out of prison. Stay watchful, while Aeros and I question him about it. We might need you as a surprise card up our sleeves if things get nasty."

Turning to head off, he stops, turns back and places his backpack and bow on the floor next to Menodora and adds, "And do you mind looking after these?"

Eryn then heads over to meet back up with Aeros.

[OOC: LOL. Hope the Deception check isn't needed.]

(ooc: I'll use the crit fail to notice that something is up, if that's ok)

When he had finished his well deserved meal, Arthasis licked the grease off his fingers and prepared to leave for his room. Even though it was time to finally get some sleep, it looked like his companions had other plans. He observed them moving through the room talking and whispering to one another. 'What is it now?', he asked himself irritated. His patience was almost at an end, by this point as another yawn overcame him. He wanted nothing more than to fall into his bed and close his eyes. He took a quick glance at the room, trying to spot whatever was responsible for their behavior but couldn't find anything out of the order.

Frustrated he turned to the innkeep and said, "I'll take some wine. Something good if you have it." He was of a mind to leave them to their shenanigans, but decided to stay for a few more minutes to see what was going on.