(Nikta has managed to secure a suitable box from Jack the Serving Boy, complete with some nice twine to make a little bow. The party leaves the box on the doorstep of the Blacksmith's home and starts to head on the road east that Willfred has pointed out to you all. It's a fairly well-maintained road, and since you've all gotten such an early start, you make excellent time.

At about 6pm or so, you all reach a small roadside Tavern named "The Weary Traveler." A sign underneath that boasts of 'cheap Ale and clean rooms'. This is pretty much the only building here, aside from an outhouse in the back and a small horse stable on the side with a couple of horses tied up.

As you enter, it's fairly empty, except for a table with about 6 rough looking men playing cards and smoking cigars, one middle-aged couple that appear to be travelers, and a very pretty young serving girl of about 16 or so.The bartender, a kind looking old Dwarf with white Mutton Chop sideburns is cleaning a glass, sees you all, and welcomes you.)

"Welcome, welcome to The Weary Traveler. What'll it be? 

DM's note: Please go ahead and give me some Perception checks just to keep the game flowing. Also, let me know if you want to do anything now that you're off the road, so to speak.

Perception:8

"Hello, my name is Lena Tealeaf. What kind of food do serve?"

"Ah, hungry, are we, Miss Lena? You're in luck! We have some very fresh Veal, potatoes and rye bread, and a slice of Pecan Pie. Just 4 SP! We've also got house ale and Tapwell's Cider."

(The bartender smiles.)

"Ah, how rude of me. Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Eddie, but everyone calls me Goldie."

(He rubs the top of his head, ruffles his white hair and laughs.) 

"Nickname used to make sense, before Father Time did his number on me. Now it's snow white, but it used to be gold. Hehehehe....

Anywho, please let me know if you'd all like something. So, you all coming from Hogsbottom?" 

Perception: 2

"Headed to Hogsbottom actually, can you tell us anything about it?"

Perception: 8

"That all sounds delicious, I have a whole meal with water if you have some. Thank you." Lena turns to her friends.

"Do any of you want anything?"

(Goldie smiles at Nikta.)

"Just what everyone else know: Lots of slaughterhouses and all the associated trades. Tanneries and such. And, of course, Tapwell's Cider Mill. Big, big apple orchards."

(Lena places her order and Goldie happily makes his way towards the back.)

"Please, stop!"

(There's a bit of a commotion over by the rough looking guys.The crew is laughing and hooting as their leader, the gruffest looking guy with greasy hair and a big moustache, is harassing the poor young serving girl, flipping up her skirt and pulling her onto his lap. She tries to get away but he keeps pulling her back. The poor girl looks frightened.)

"Come on, fellas, I asked you before to please leave Trish alone." 

"Shut up, old man!" "Yeah!" "We're just having fun with the girl, killjoy!"

(The guys holler and hoot. Goldie looks worried and defeated, and decides he probably isn't going to be much help against all of these guys.)

"Sigh..."

(After a few more moments, Trish finally manages to wriggle away and runs to the back as the rough guys laugh.)

"Yeah, she wants it, Tex." "She's sweet on you!" "Whoo-eee!"

(The guys go back to drinking and playing cards...)

I'll use mage hand to grab one of the thug's drinks from their table and dump it on one of their heads as they're actively abusing the girl. 

"If you'd like someone to harass, I volunteer. Care to follow me outside?"

(Also, just as a matter of course, I'll generally just have my "Armor of Shadows" invocation up for an AC 15 at any given time, in case I forget to mention it right before a fight.)

(The lead thug, Tex, menacingly gets up, wiping the drink off of his face and turning around slowly. As he stands, you realize he is a very big man, about 6'5 and about 240 pounds, and looks tougher than a 2 copper steak. He actually looks even tougher than anyone you've ever faced. He turns and stares daggers at Nikta.)

"You must have some sort of Death Wish, you stupid little half breed! I've killed men for less than that!"

(Goldie comes back to the bar and starts pleading with him.)

"Come on, Tex. Free drinks for you and your boys, just please, no fighting in my tavern."

"We weren't going to pay for your stupid drinks anyways. This little punk...."

(Tex steps up to Nikta, towering over him menacingly) 

"This little punk needs to be taught some manners."

(Suddenly, Tex grabs Nikta and tries to toss him out the door!)

17

DM's note: Ok, we're going to do a contested strength check to see if that worked. Nikta, give me a Strength Check. Also, just so we're clear, this guy is very bad news, I wouldn't take him lightly if I were you. 

(Was kind of counting on the others helping out, but hey, lets see how this goes... come on nat 20...)

Str: 17

I calmly reply "I believe I said outside."

(If I have the ability I'd like to drop my scarf and show off the crackling-with-embers, scarred mess that is my lower face, and make an intimidation check. The look is technically harmless and just a result of the experience that made him a warlock, but it's bizarre and hopefully a bit off-putting - Intimidation: 16)

Nikta had a really horrible childhood, he's a bit nihilistic.

OOC: Sorry Lena's a tiny non-threatening halfling who prefers to talk things out. Also been busy with stuff.

When the man grabs Nikta, Lena, slightly panicked, will turn into her wolf form and begin growling at the man, bearing her fangs,in an attempt to help Nikta.

Edit:(I'll put an intimidation roll in here too, if its needed.) Intimidation:3

(Oh Lena bless your heart.)

Carxus, distracted by food selection, only just now notices the brewing altercation. He walks up and silently stands behind Nikta, as a show of support. His yellow eyes glow with power.

 Intimidation: 21

(Tex has attempted to toss Nikta out of the Tavern, but Nikta has managed to stand his ground and doesn't budge.)

"I believe I said outside."

(Lena turns into her Wolf form and tries to Intimidate Tex, but she's actually now obscured by a table, so he doesn't see her, and is therefore not intimidated.) :)

"Step back."

(Gerard also makes an attempt to Intimidate Tex, but he's too busy looking at Nikta's exposed face to notice. He also looks over at Carxus, and is intimidated by his Tiefling characteristics. He backs up a little bit.)

"Tough guys, are you? Well... you're all just lucky, we were just leaving..."

(Tex motions over to his boys.)

"But you better hope we don't cross paths again, or you might not be so lucky. Come on, boys."

(Tex and his boys back out of the Tavern.)

"Phew! That could have gone much worse." As I slip the scarf back up into place. "Thanks for the backup, friends - and I hope that doesn't cause you more trouble Goldie."

Carxus rubs his now dimming yellow eyes. “No problem. Ehh...doing that always makes my eyes water.”

(Goldie lets out a sigh of relief.)

"Thanks, all. Sorry about all of that. Sometimes those fellas are okay, but sometimes they're just... well, they are jerks sometimes. But I'm the only place to get a drink for a while, so they'll come in, settle up, and thing's will be okay for a while. I wish they wouldn't mess with Trish, though."

(As Goldie walks out from behind the bar, you all hear and see that he's got a stump for a right leg. He notices you all notice and chuckles.)

'fraid I wouldn't be much good to protect her if it came down to it. Maybe if I was younger, but, even then, Tex is as tough as they come. His boys ain't slouches, either. I appreciate what you all tried to do, but don't go picking no fights with them on our account. Now, that's all settled, I'll get you all's supper ready. Can't really give that away, but you all can stay the night for free as a thank you."

(Goldie heads towards the back to get the food ready. A few moments later, Trish comes out with some mugs full of water for you all. She looks like she's composed herself and thanks you all for helping her earlier.)

Lena turns back into her halfling form and runover to Nikta.

"Nikta, what happened to your face?" She tugs at his scarf, trying to pull his head down to her level. "Were you injured by something? Does it hurt?"

She'll make a medicine check to see if she can tell what it is. Medicine:19

It was a bit of an act of desperation on Nikta's part to expose his face like that, as he's not super comfortable with it himself, so he gently tries to keep her from exposing it again, but explains,

"I was subjected to some pretty nasty... experiments, we'll say... as a kid. Some part of them went wrong, to put it lightly. It's not painful or anything, but it's definitely distracting, attention getting, and sometimes troublesome. Unfortunately it's also kind of part of what gives me my conduit to magic, so... I try to make the best of it."

That being said he turns to Goldie again. "One of the ways it's troublesome is in making those around me lose their appetites when I'm taking care of mine - I'll take my meal and a water in that back corner, out of the way of your other patrons, and join my friends here when I'm finished. Thank you for the hospitality as well."

"Okay." Lena says still slightly worried. "You'll let me know if it does hurt though, right? I don't want you to be in pain if I can help at all."