coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
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Post by coomer on Feb 21, 2021 18:51:28 GMT
Steffon’s hand was just making its way towards the barmaid’s own when the figure that had been in the corner threw back its cloak, revealing itself as not quite human. A shudder ran down the bard’s spine as he looked deep into the crimson eyes, barely amnaging to pull his gaze away as the creature spoke. When he turned his eyes to Steffon once more, it was if an electric shock had run the length of his body. Luckily he was no stranger to quick thinking, and he forced his face into a grin as the man complimented him. Chuckling, his hand shot into the air to catch the pair of silver coins that headed his way, moving almost subconsciously into his cloak to deposit them in his coin pouch. ”Music is its own reward, my dear friend,” he said in response, treating him to a bow of the head. ”But of course, it is a poor bard who turns down the noble donations of his fans. As for more songs…” His attention turned to the group of Halflings, who still looked at the bard with wide, appreciative eyes. ”Perhaps our little friends here might be persuaded to lend a hand… And of course, their generosity would be paid handsomely,” he said, this time winking in their direction.
Seduce Halflings: Charisma Check DC:10 Outcome: 23 (TWENTY-THREE)
The effect was instant, and the Halflings almost tripped over themselves trying to get towards the bard. He motioned towards the stage, causing them to collide with each other again in a rush to get up there as soon as possible in order to keep Steffon happy. A smile graced his features as he rose from his stool, taking the hand of the barmaid and kissing it gently. ”Duty calls, my sweet,” he said, causing her to giggle nervously once more. His lute spun to his front once more as he took to the stage, the Halflings looking at him with eyes of wonder and admiration. A small, musical laugh erupted from his lips as he bent down, whispering the plan into their ears. They nodded eagerly, several of them warming up their vocal cords. ”What else is needed, on nights like these,
That the tavern cannot supply?
It brings us joy, it brings us booze,
It never leaves us dry.
Who else to thank, on nights like these,
Than the master of the bar?
His vintages carry us on,
With ale by the jar!
So come, now, raise your glass,
Drink to your heart’s content.
For all is foul, and all is fair,
Drink till your money’s all spent!
A simple maid, a local girl,
With eyes as bright as snow.
Her hands carry our food and drink,
But what else does she know?
She knows are wants, she knows our needs,
Her expertise is clear.
For she can service men like us,
Especially with that rear.
So come, now, raise your glass,
Drink to your heart’s content.
For all is foul, and all is fair,
Drink till your money’s all spent!”The Halflings chimed in in the chorus, echoing the Bard’s words. It was a tavern song, pure and simple - and one that never failed to bring joy.
Performance Check Xd|Ba1wM1d20+5
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Post by Jay on Feb 21, 2021 20:42:20 GMT
As the bard honed his attention in on the barmaid, a thought that caused Legolas to wrinkle his nose, the cloaked stranger joined the crowd. The elf watched closely, eyes twinkling with interest. He could not immediately identify the stranger's race, but to his surprise the man grabbed a couple of flagons and approached his table in the corner, offering a drink. He towered over Legolas, and not just because one of them was seated.
Though his thoughts were unsure, the elf nodded to the only other empty seat. The bard launched into yet another diddy, this time pulling the halfling troupe in on the chorus. As the ensuing cheers died down, Legolas peeked at the stranger. "What brings you to this Inn?" he asked, resting his hand around the offered tankard but not taking a swig.
---
The quiet man at the bar, seated next to the hungry monk, stirred. Beiro Drazlad looked up, acknowledging the room's hustle and bustle for the first time. He'd found this tavern and decided to stop in because it seemed a quiet, dull place, but while he wallowed in self-pity, the place had become quite popular. A cast of unusual and out-of-place characters had gathered, seemingly at random. The crowd merely raised the specter of his despair. He knew the signs of an adventuring party well enough, and there was no doubt in his mind that the forces of the universe were at work to produce just that.
Suddenly he burst out in a wail, burying his face into the crook of his arms on the bartop. His ale flipped over, making a loud noise as it hit the ground behind the bar, splashing its contents across the barman.
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Post by Alucard on Feb 21, 2021 21:12:06 GMT
Alucard took notice of the indication to take the free seat opposite the mysterious elf. While he indicated for him to sit he still did not offer his name as he had, so clearly manners failed this one. How rare though in a race of people who maintained a high decorum of pedigree and respect. As he watched the elf place his hand on his mug and not drink from it he leaned back in his seat and drank from his own tankard enjoying the fantastic ambiance of the bards music before responding to his question.
“Well unnamed stranger, what brings me here is simply information and the desire to explore... that should suffice for now.”
As Alucard responded the man in robes who had been keeping to himself and smelled of old dried blood broke out into a fit of crying and misery. Still speaking in elvin Alucard turned to face the man at his table. “I wonder if the stench of old dried blood on his robes not belonging to him is the cause of his grief?”
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Post by Indifferent on Feb 21, 2021 23:47:55 GMT
 The barman retrieved Aranil's meal from the cook in the kitchen and placed it on the countertop much sooner than she expected. The overflowing bubbly suds of ale and steaming hot lentils was a sight for sore eyes that slowly started to lul the girl into a stupor as she gazed upon them with expectation.
The aroma was so tantalizing that spittle escaped her lips in an unladylike fashion as she leaned forward to fully embrace the succulent scents that permeated the air around her. Unlike their usual elegant selves, this little elf was ready to dig into her bowl like a wild animal and nearly had until the bartender interrupted her trance with a gentle cough.
Aranil snapped out of her daze in flash and shook her head lightly before she looked up to the old gnome who stood behind the counter. Her face bore a puzzled expression, oblivious to what the man could be after until he glanced down at his turned-up palm. She smiled softly and let out a small giggle when she realized his intention.
With some hesitation, she reached for her money purse only to find it was empty. The girl's face turned pale as she let out an audible gasp. Being short-stacked was a common theme among lone wanderers but also a dilemma she hadn't anticipated. The girl smiled and scratched her head as she giggled in response to the unfortunate happenstance. She had to think fast and come up with some way to get out of this situation.
"Ah, I'll work off the payment. That's right. I can wash dishes or serve your patrons. I mean it, I'll do anything. Just, please don't take the food away," she pleaded in desperation.
The old gnome didn't look too enthused by her offer and clicked his tongue in response as his eyes wandered down to her chest. Aranil's face cringed in disgust by his provocation as it dawned on her what exactly she could've been committing to with her suggestion.
"Oh, but you can't have my body," she said while wrapping both arms around her chest to cover up her lack of proportion in that area. Before the bartender could utter a response, a strange voice called out the girl. Aranil turned to find an unknown man waving her over. Suddenly an idea to solve this annoyance popped into her mind, and she grinned widely before turning back to the bartender.
"Well, you heard the man... he-he-he," said the young elf as she snatched up her meal from the countertop before the gnome could elicit further dispute. Eager to accept this newfound friendship, the young elf left the barside with a wide teeth-baring grin as skipped over to the man's table.
As the girl turned away from the bar, she noticed a few new faces had joined the fray. Some of which resembled her own race, although she couldn't be certain without further inspection. The bard was still up to his regular antics, singing a merry song like a fool. He even took a poke at her own shortcomings. Aranil opted to not his words personally. She didn't want to spoil the mood. Though she would remember to get back at him some other time.
Then there was one who stood out far more than the rest. He was a giant compared to the others present, nearly doubled the young elf in size, and his skin was pale, oddly so. His was a peculiar sight that Aranil glanced over as she walked by before arriving at the table she was to join. The fact that he could speak the native elven tongue also piqued her interest.
"Many thanks for the invitation. My friends call me Nilly, and who might you be?" said the young elf as she placed her food and drink on the tableside before removing the custom-made bow from her backside.
Her weapon wasn't anything special by any means, just something she put together from a tree branch that still had a few leaves on it with a bow-string composed of her own hair. Her mid-length brown cloak followed suit soon after, where she placed one on and the other against the back of her chair before plopping herself down on the seat. As Aranil waited for a reply, she slowly dug into her meal, one spoon at a time, and cautiously paid more attention to the people around her. Particularly the once solemn-looking man with the oddly stained cloak who just had a sudden outburst of tears. |
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Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
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Post by Balial on Feb 22, 2021 2:55:36 GMT
Before setting his sights on solely his dish, Li Jie noticed the heavily outfitted attendees around him. He took a mental note of this weapons, armor, and their coin purses ensuring that he was aware of what dangers were around him. With his mind on track and his meal before him, he dug in. It wasn't long before the giant, the great sword user, walked by him with a chuckle and a tankard. Li Jie lifted from his hunched position and began to look around. Piecing together that his actions were savage compared to the other denizens around him. As he cleared his throat he straightened his spine and wiped the crumbs from the corner of his lips. With a single hand wrapped loosely around the mug's handle, he lifted for a large swig. Just in time for his heathen-like behavior to end, the elf woman plopped down with her meal and introduced herself. " Li Jie, Li is fine though if you can't remember it." He said with a grin to match her own. Compared to the others, she seemed more on the same wave length as he did. A bubbly persona that was filled with cheer and wonder. It was possible she was acting, but then again he was possible Li Jie was as well. " What brings you to Neverwinter?" He asked as he placed his hand on his stein in preparation for finishing his drink. Each chug of ale went down harder than the last, a gulping sound faint compared the the melody of Stagspeak. Finishing his drink he brought his arm down with force, slamming the mug against the oak table top with enough force to rattle the jugs of those around him. A satisfying 'ah' escaped his lips as he once more mimicked the wiping motion over his mouth. Alucard, still a stranger to the monk, sat near him and began to address the cloaked elf as Li Jie had done himself, it seemed the two were both interested in the mystery of the cloaked figure. The setting began to unfurl before him, the bard did as bards do; wooing the crowd and the barmaid. The adventures began to gather and whisper tales of their deeds, and more figures began to pour into the inn. The night was proving busier than normal and the bar master was sure to be pleased with the turn out of the night. " Could be the bard's doin'" The tattooed man said to himself but in a loud stag whisper that those around would be sure to hear as he pointed to around the tavern. As the song of the bard reached the peak of it's performance, the robed man wailed out in sorrow. Ale flowed freely from the tipped mug and the foamed drink poured itself over the lap of the monk. he jolted up, throwing his hands into the air in rather shocking turn of events. " Aw for fuck sakes!" The cheerful tone of his voice remained even after sour words escaped his lips. " You okay lad?" He asked, ignoring the now clearly soaked region of his groin in order to cater to the weeping man. To make matters worst the old gnome chimed in, his outstretched hand calling for coin. " What for?" He began to question, " didn't I pay already?" The gnome didn't answer with a voice, only a motion of his head as he signaled for Nilly's meal. Sighing the monk hung his head, his fingers digging through his sack of coin once more. A grin appeared on his face that was clearly masking the disdain for Nilly's action, but he handed over the coin regardless. " You're lucky its tradition to give a new friend a meal when you meet. Next meal is on you!" Finishing up his sentence he eyed Nilly to see her reaction of both the bar master taking his coin and his response to her.
Insight Check: Wishing to gain insight to Nilly's character, does it seem that she does this kind of thing often? ziVgYAPO1d20+2
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Post by Alucard on Feb 22, 2021 3:22:14 GMT
Without much waiting for a reply from the elven man Alucard poured himself another drink and downed it just as a well dressed older human entered and left the tavern in a matter of moments making his declaration for information and coin.. a job? An adventure? It was certainly better than sitting here listening to this chap cry and stink of old blood.
“Well, That’s my cue my good sir, I’ve never been much for listening to mortals cry about their dismally short lives... but perhaps that will intrigue you? I’ll catch your name another time and place I’m sure.” He chuckled having switched from elvin back to common as he spoke.
Standing he gave a slight nod of his head and exited the tavern, his goal accomplished for striding into the establishment in the first place. It was night time now and the shadows were always his friend. The door closing behind him he raised his hood up once more and headed after the wisened looking man.
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Post by Jay on Feb 22, 2021 7:10:28 GMT
It had come out so naturally that Legolas hadn't realized Alucard was speaking elvish until the giant switched back to common. The elf's eyebrow perked up, but before he could offer his name the man had already made for the door, apparently following the recruiter. The same thought had crossed his own mind, but if Alucard was going to be part of that adventuring party, then he wasn't sure he wanted to be. Something about the towering swordsmen left him unsettled, but he hadn't been able to place it.
Shrugging it off - and figuring he'd never see Alucard again - Legolas turned his attention back towards the tavern's other occupants. He guessed there would be more that followed the servant, but his interests had now landed upon the sobbing, robed man. There were dark stains on his already dirty robes, and the tint hinted at their nature - blood.
Casting a look at the tankard still resting in his hand, Legolas considered the drink for a moment, then placidly stood up and approached the wizard, setting the ale nearby. "I noticed you spilled your drink, you can have mine if you'll tell me why you're crying - and why you're covered in blood," he said, setting his weight down on a stool next to the forlorn.
Hearing a voice that seemed to be addressing him, Beiro chose to ignore it, up until he was offered a drink. He'd already forgotten that he'd spilled his own, but nothing drowned despair like a stiff drink. He reached for it swiftly, but Legolas gently pushed it back.
"What seems to be your trouble, friend?" the elf asked, flashing a thin but mostly friendly smile. The wizard frowned, making another grab for the ale. This time Legolas allowed him to secure it, and waited patiently for the man to down it. When he had finished, the elf cocked his head expectedly.
Belching, Beiro sighed heavily. Warmness crept outwards from his belly, quelling his nerves for a moment. "This blood isn't mine," he said plainly as if Legolas should have known that already. He spoke loudly, making no effort to reserve his voice only for the elf. "It's my cleric's." The wizard allowed that to sit upon the air for a moment before continuing. "And my bard's. Annnnd my ranger's. We were escorting a cart for some dwarf bloke, and orcs ambushed us on the road. They cut us down before we knew what hit us."
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Post by Asgeirr on Feb 22, 2021 7:40:24 GMT
The brisk chill of the evening quickly snuck up on the town, though the sun still provided its light and warmth to all for yet some time, the veil of night was encroaching. It was always at this particular point in the night that the urges to satisfy two of the three primal urges arose: the thirst for mead and hot food. It was not unheard of for these to the precursor to satisfying the last.
Asgeirr's heavy mail boots thudded against the cobblestone pathway leading up to the tavern. A path the ex-soldier was familiar with as it was the one solace he took while working in the area of Neverwinter.
His latest job was assisting a local farmer in exterminating a pack of wild wolves that had grown too fond of picking livestock from the old man. A relatively easy task as the fangs could not stand against the strike of an axe. With an absent minded hand the human ran his index and thumb finger along the edge of the new wolf-skin cloak draped across his broad shoulders. His shoulder length dark hair had been pulled to one side and sat atop the white and grey fur and shifted slightly as the mans right hand pushed the door open - to nearly smack into a purple clad man clamoring about an adventure.
Asgeirr desired nothing more than to keep a low profile at this moment. He wanted the cold, frothy mead in his stomach and a pound or two of meat to follow beside it. To achieve this end, the fur-cloaked man plopped himself down on the nearest stool to him.
"One gallon of ale and a beef stew - and do not dare skimp me on the beef," the Warrior muttered to the bartender, as he withdrew a half stack of silver coins and placed them firmly against the lacquered countertop. A moment later he released the pressure from the coins and withdrew his hand.
Using his peripheral vision, the warrior cast a series of short gazes out into the tavern. It was lively tonight, the man thought to himself. Many new faces whom he had not come to know thus far in his travels. Nor did he want to - at least not until the ale had been consumed.
Asgeirr ran his index finger into the bushy, coarse beard that dominated his face as the large container of ale that came his way brought a surge of joy to his heart.
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coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
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Post by coomer on Feb 22, 2021 8:06:47 GMT
The tavern erupted into cheers and applause, led mostly by the still-blushing barmaid. Even the gnome tavern keeper offered a wide grin, but his little eyes darted more often to the paying patrons around him than the bard - evidently his pleasure was merely at the thought of more silver filling his sack tonight. Even the teary old man couldn’t curtail his joy - not quite, anyway. As the others rushed to see what the old man’s problem was, Steffon merely rolled his eyes and turned to his Halfling troupe. ”I must say, I’ve never met such a talented group of Halflings. Is this your first time at the inn too?”It was the Halflings’ turn to blush, and one of the front stumbled over his words in an attempt to answer quickly. ”N-no sir - can I call you sir? - we’re the regular performers here, five times a week and every festival day! W-Will you come back and see us?” Although Steffon hadn’t made any motion to leave, the Halflings knew his type - a travelling Bard was never sitting still, and Steffon was no exception. With a chuckle, Steffon ruffled the Halfling’s hair (even though they were likely of a similar age). The mere touch of the bard’s fingers caused the Halfling to shudder in anticipation. ”How could I abandon such a wonderful troupe? Of course I will come back from time to time - and we can repeat our performance tonight!”Before he could speak further, the door of the tavern opened and a figure that Steffon was sure didn’t frequent the tavern (or any tavern, for that matter) stepped inside. He was dressed in lordly raiment, but he carried himself as one without rank or title - a servant, for sure. The albino was the first to answer the call, striding immediately over to the doorway. Steffon’s eyes moved to the crying man for a moment, noticing his poor, stained robes, before looking back at the richly attired servant. Is this really a choice?Lute still in hand, he leapt from the table and landed deftly near to the door. ”A quest, a quest, comes knocking at last,
But you must move quick, you must move fast.
For the titan who seems averse to the sun,
Has finished his drink, he’s all but done.
But do not fret, maiden of ale,
For Steffon will return, no need to wail.
A quest needs a hero like a tavern needs a bard,
And now it would seem our hero has a bodyguard.”He clapped a hand on the pale man’s tall back in delight as he turned back to the waiting barmaid, offering her a wink and a wave. She swooned slightly, but Steffon had already passed through the doorway with his new ‘friend’, keen to see just what this servant needed. |
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Post by Indifferent on Feb 23, 2021 3:18:25 GMT
"Li Jie huh. I'll do my best to remember. Nice to meetcha," said Aranil with a playful giggle. Unlike the other patrons at the inn, Li was rather welcoming and far more friendly than his outward appearance would've suggested, which put her at ease. "I'm here for adventures, of course," replied the young elf eagerly as she thrust her hand into the air, nearly jumping up from her seat. "This world is filled with many wonders, and I'm going to see them all!"
Aranil's face was riddled with excitement as she looked the man straight in the eyes. Her sincerity should've been made clear as she meant every spoken word. With any luck, their interest might align, she thought. Now would be a perfect chance for the young elf to recruit some comrades in arms.
Unfortunately, Aranil couldn't muster the courage to ask him after her sudden outburst of excitement. Instead, she just buried her face back in her meal and quietly enjoyed the sights and sounds. All was going well until Li decided to nearly scare the crap out of the young elf when he jumped up from his seat in a fluster.
"Whoo-oooa," Aranil shouted. The shock of Li's words hit her like a ton of bricks that left her scrabbling to maintain a firm grasp on her bowl. "Easy now, no need to get excited," she continued as she too jumped up from her seat after slamming her bowl on the table.
At first, Nilly thought there was trouble, but that didn't seem to be the case. The weeping old fellow just happened to spill his drink, which then landed all over Li's lap. Luckily, he didn't seem too irritated and recognized it as an unfortunate happenstance. He even went so far as to inquire if the guy was well, which impressed the young elf a lot. But, before the old guy could answer, Li's sights turned to the barkeep and then her.
"Ah-ha-ha..." she stuttered while trying to look away. "My bad-my bad. You see, all my searching for adventure has left me, well, broke," she explained as she pulled out her empty coin purse and waved around. "Don't worry-don't worry, the next ones on me," she continued embarrassingly with a bow before displaying her usual cheery expression. "On the bright side, I guess that means we'll be sticking together," she said with a wink while presenting him a thumbs up.
Soon after Nilly gave her excuse, the inn was met with another patron. One who wasn't likely the kind one would expect to find in an establishment such as this. At least, in her eyes. The man was far too well dressed and proudly displaying his wealth for the young elf's tastes. His appearance alone was enough to cause her to grind her teeth in envy, given her current monetary situation. Strangely enough, the old fellow wasn't there for a meal but instead to offer the patrons an opportunity. After a short speech, the man left as quickly as he came.
"Li! Adventure is here," Nilly, who at first held the man in contempt, was now bright-eyed and giddy, jumping for joy as she thrust her fists overhead.
A chance like this hadn't come her way in a long while. This could be her big break. On the other hand, the old guy did seem rather suspicious. She wasn't sure if his words could be trusted just yet but some of the other patrons were already heading out the door. Aranil didn't want to miss this chance, but as she went to grab her stuff, she remembered there was still the sobbing man at their table.
"Ah, that's right," she said while thumping her head with her palm. "Almost forgot about this guy..."
The young elf's attention returned to Beiro Drazlad, who was being questioned by an unknown elf. The man didn't seem like he'd give up any details though, his response was dismal at best. That is until he was tempted by the elf. It was a simple trick but productive none-the-less. Leave it to ale to loosen a man's lips. Nilly listened intently to the old guy's story along with the others, hanging off every word. She also checked him over, to see if his story holds up.
"Oh my," Aranil gasped. It was a sad story but not something rare in her experience, though it still left a sour taste in her mouth. "What do you think Li," asked the girl as she looked over to her new friend. Her head then swiveled over to the other elf. "What about you? Should the three of us team up and go teach those orcs what's what? We'll need a bit more information, but I don't think this will end well for the city if we stand by and do nothing." |
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Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
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Post by Balial on Feb 23, 2021 21:46:32 GMT
 The ink stained monk gave a warm hearted smile in response to Nilly's worldly desires. The two had something in common, he wanted to see the world just as much. Something inside of him had been missing and the thought of seeing the wonders of the world was the one thing that tamed the emptiness inside. The elf grew timid while the bar began to rile up once more. Moments passed and the old Gnome had came and went. Nilly, who answered honestly, had promised to pay him back and perked up when she thought of having an ally on the adventures ahead. " Ha, we would need an adventure for that to happen!" He said with a hearty laugh and a wide grin. As if he was a fortune teller the doors of the bar swung open. His attention removed itself from the weeping wizard and turned to see some kind of well dressed, silver-haired, old man. " What's this?" His voice called out to Nilly as he pointed his thumb over to the prim and proper man. The old man began to articulate his sentences as if they were structured by a royal servant. He offered nothing more than the opportunity for a job, no indication of payment or difficulty. Li Jie moved his thumb from point to place it against his chin, rubbing and humming to himself as he narrowed his eyes. Something didn't feel right to him, the offer was too vague and could spell danger in an instant. Nilly lifted from her seat excitedly, proclaiming that their time for adventure was now. Maybe she was right? Without another moment to think the bar began to break into sections. The giant already taking his exit at the first offer of work, as well as the bard who had parted with another soothing song. " Well, looks like there is too many of them out there. Plus, there might be adventure here, you just gotta' look for it." He said turning back to the wizard. Just as Li did another elf figure had passed his ale to the drunk, offering his ear for the man's tale. " A friend of yours?" Li asked Nilly, tilting his head over in the direction of Legolas for a moment. Beiro began to speak, weaving his tale with just vague enough details to outline an adventure for the pair yet. His eyes danced over to Nilly and he noticed she was eagerly hanging onto ever word the poor man said. Li leaned over, his rough hand resting upon the shoulder of the stranger before he addressed him. " Hey now, cheer up. You're alive aren't ya?" He said breaking the story and interjecting himself with an aura of positivity. " How about you give us some more details, like where this happened? Maybe a group of us could go investigate what is goin' on." He leaned in with a smile, his eyes intently examining every facial motion and twitch of the man's muscles he could feel while his hand was on his shoulder. " Nilly, you would be interested in helpin' out this unfortunate fellow, ya?" He turned his head to the elf across from Biro, "y ou as well?" In Li Jie's experience, things like this always lead to an adventure, and with adventure came gold and knowledge. Insight check upon Beiro's response. Is he lying, does it seem like there is more to the story other than an ambush? |
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Post by Jay on Feb 23, 2021 22:31:53 GMT
As more strangers intruded upon his goal of reaching a drunken stupor, Beiro frowned. One of them went as far as the place a hand on his shoulder, which he quickly shoved off. "You want details, huh?" he said, suddenly standing up. More drunk than he'd realized, his knees wobbled and he had to place a hand on the first elf's shoulder to avoid swaying. "Think you and your little pals are gonna go off on a big adventure, do ya?" There was no real menace in his words, but he was definitely working himself up.
For a few seconds the wizard's face contorted, turning red. "Some god damned dwarf hired us to escort a wagon to Phandalin. Gundren was his name," he said, pausing to belch loudly in the monk's face. "Said there was a contact there called Sildar. Don't ask what was in the wagon, he didn't tell us. We figured it was trouble we didn't want."
Using one hand to lightly steady the drunken wizard, Legolas shot a glance at the others. He hadn't invited them over, but he wouldn't say no to the company of another elf for his first real adventure. The monk looked highly capable as well, even if he were a slop at the dinner table. "What happened to the wagon after you were attacked?" the archer quizzed. He surmised it had probably been left behind, especially if this guy was the only one to survive the ambush.
"I left it behind! Didn't you hear me? I was the only one to survive!" Beiro yelled very ironically, working himself up again. "The orcs probably raided it the moment I was gone. I'm sorry, but your adventure is over before its even begun." The wizard belched again and slumped back onto his stool. "A shame... the dwarf promised us gold behind our imaginations..." The ale had taken its toll, and the wizard dropped his head back against the tabletop.
For a few seconds, Legolas sat quietly, contemplating. It was almost certain the goblins would have taken anything of value from the cart... rendering it pointless to attempt to pick up the quest of the wizard's doomed party. But just maybe, the same goblins would be smart enough to leave the cart on the road to trick other travelers into stopping. The elf decided it was worth it, if he could gather a party of his own. He turned towards the other two and smiled confidently. "The name's Legolas. Who's down for an adventure?"
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Post by Indifferent on Feb 24, 2021 3:33:13 GMT
Nilly nodded in agreement with Li's assumption. If Beiro's story held any merit, then adventure might be waiting for them just down the road. "Pfft! Nu-uh never met him before," the young elf replied to Li's following question, nearly bursting out into laughter at his presumption. As if all elves knew each other. Still, Aranil checked out what she could of Legolas's features just to be sure, but there was no recollection to be had.
Beiro's following explanation seemed rather typical of a lazy job. If you don't know what cargo you're transporting, you won't understand the level of danger that accompanies your task. Although she wanted to condemn his poor choice of actions, there was no point in beating a man who was already down in the dumps. At least Beiro still had his life. Hopefully, he doesn't waste it. Li and Legolas's request for Nilly to join them in investigating Beiro's failure brought a smile to her face once more. With any luck, there was still some evidence to be found along the road.
"In, totally in," Aranil shouted while jumping around enthusiastically, though it didn't last long before she started to pace back and forth while rubbing her chin.
"But, we already have a few problems. This old guy didn't give us much detail about the attack itself. Like how many enemies were there? Where did they come from? How far from town were they? Was it day or night? Or at the very least, what kind of weapons did they have? Just knowing that they're orcs doesn't give us much to work with," she said before finally coming to a halt with her back to Li and Legolas.
"And the biggest problem we have is..." Nilly's speech paused for a moment as she swung her body around to face her new companions. "It's already dark out and likely too late to find a carriage to take us there!" The young elf's head dropped forward in disappointment before slowly rising back up to face Legolas.
"I'm Nilly by the way, nice to meetcha," she said with a cheerful smile despite her previous solemn ranting. "So... What do you guys think? Do we wait for this guy to wake up so we can get more details and head out first thing tomorrow? We might have to take turns keeping an eye on him to make sure he doesn't run off before giving us what we need if that's the case." |
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Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
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Post by Balial on Feb 24, 2021 20:44:54 GMT
Although Li Jie was trying to comfort the unfortune wizard, Beiro retaliated, shrugging off Li's hand with a violent jerk. As he raised himself onto his feet and stumbled with intoxication, he placed his hand against Legolas for support. The monk lifted his hands into the air with harmless intent, as if saying 'woah there', the grin no longer on his face as he looked at the dire expression of Beiro. While Legolas began to interrogate the wizard, Li Jie listened and watched; studying the response of the drunk. Beiro was being honest as far as he could tell, more so than expected. The monk had thought that the man would have known more; the direction the orcs were, the contents of the cart, or at least how many orcs were there. Each question that raced through the tattooed man's mind was harshly put on the back burner as Beiro spewed words filled with heartbreak. Through the sorrow important clues were given, the type that Li Jie hung on while the others stood silently for a few moments. " Phandalin... Gundren... Sildar..." He repeated the names of the location and people softly while rubbing his chin. A sound broke him from his inner thoughts and brought him back to reality. He heard the tail end of a brief introduction of the elf, to which he perked back up with his casual grin and optimistic tone of voice. " Li Jie!" He said bowing slightly to Legolas. Introduction were met with an offer and Nilly was the first to express her concerns as well as her enthusiasm. " I don't know if that should really be our concerns." He said bluntly, scratching his head in frustration. " We know that there was an attack on a cart and where the final destination was supposed to be. If we don't do anything others could end up like our friend here!" His face furled with a bit of woe as he folded his arms over his chest. " I think we should just grab what we need and start down the path as soon as possible!" His intention were clearly written on his face, he wanted to leave immediately. His mind was already racing with the terrible things that could happen and he tried to think back on what he had heard about the area surrounding Neverwinter. What were the real threats? Was it the monstrous foes, were certain paths riddled with hunters' traps, or were their any known bandit camps around the outskirts of town. " Good sir, can you lend us your wisdom?" Li Jie asked, lifting his hand to grab the attention of the Gnome. " Have you heard of any recent attacks on traveling merchants around the area or any particular dangers that seem out of the ordinary?" Rolls
Nature [recall information surround Neverwinter]: Pup_VaE71d20
Persuasion [Try and gather info from the barkeep.] 1d20
Survival [General direction of Phandalin] 1d20+2
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Post by Indifferent on Feb 24, 2021 22:28:42 GMT
Although Nilly's questions were valid, Li was still insistent they leave as soon as possible. The young elf was mildly disappointed by his response, but she understood the monk's concern. She felt the same way he did. If the orcs weren't taken care of, then other travelers might meet the same fate as Beiro's companions.
On the other hand, it would be easy for the orcs to set up an ambush under the guise of night and attack anyone passing by. Leaving now could mean their makeshift group would be walking right into a trap just like Beiro. As Aranil wrestled with her thoughts, Li took the initiative to request aid from the old gnome. She couldn't just let Legolas and Li walk into danger all by themselves, and so she decided to follow suit.
"Alright-alright! You twisted my arm!" she shouted before flaunting to pouted face at Li. Nilly then walked over to the bartender and looked at him with the most pitiful expression she could muster. The girls eyes were already starting to get a bit teary and she was ready to let them flow if she had to. "A map too if you will? You don't need to give it to us but if we could just have a look that would be enough. And any information you could give us about the local wildlife in the area would much appreciated as well. Please..."Rolls Here
Background Feature = Wanderer
Nature [Recall information about the area between Neverwinter and Phandalin]: CJFFDY9O1d20+3
Persuasion [Help beg the barkeep for information]: 1d20-1
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