Airwalkrr's Shatterscape IC (Cooperative Design-As-You-Go PBP)
It is a cold winter evening in Narovan and the sun is beginning to set. "Mind ye get yerself from outta the cold," the innkeeper says as you step inside. "You're likely te catch yer death out there."
Settling into the cozy inn you see a small bar room off to the side with a warm fire lit. You are joined by a few others, possibly on errands like yourself. They do not appear to be common folk however. They are all either travelers or persons of some importance.
"Ye'll be stayin' the night then?" the elderly innkeeper asks, motioning towards the setting sun. His meaning is clear. Only a fool would enter the streets again at this hour. "That'll be five silvers. All's I got is spots in the common room. No singles left. But it'll do ye right. Blanket'n pillow's included fer the night, free 'a charge."
Handing him the money you take a blanket and pillow and head to the bar room to see what to make of your companions for this evening.
OOC
I'll prepare a short background for each of you. All I need to know is whether your character is a native of Narovan or not. I.e. does he/she live here?
Attached is a diagram of the Crookside Inn in Narovan. As you can see, it is small. It is situated on the edge of Narovan just inside the city walls by the Assassin's Gate (South Gate) in what is appears to be one of the poorer districts. The innkeeper appears to run the place by himself and is an elderly man of perhaps some 60 years with long, thinning gray hair and a wiry gray mustache. He appears frail but limber.
The bar room has a fireplace and a bar. There are a two tables, one much larger than the other, and seven chairs. Stocked behind the bar are two barrels of ale and a cask of wine. There is also a stove in the corner. If the pots and pans hanging from the ceiling are any indication, the innkeeper also does a fair bit of cooking behind the bar.
Micheal walks into the bar on the cold evening, speaking of blessings of Krendon to himself that it was not colder on his journey to the Inn. Walking up to the bar, he looks to the Barkeeper and says "Hello kind sir, I was wondering what you may have to drink?"
(OOC:Hm...any trouble with taking control of NPCs if it helps with world design a little?)
Feel free to describe the personalities of NPCs in the OOC thread, but allow me to RP them here in the IC thread. The only characters you should play in the IC thread are your own, as well as any hirelings you may acquire along the way.
"I've got housebrew ale (it's a bit heady, but good and rich), Narovian dark ale, and a red wine. I've also a bit of Dardessian brandy under the counter if you feel so inclined. What's your pleasure?"
Kylest found himself at the gates of Narovan as the sun was dipping lower towards the horizon. Sunsets still amazed him, one of many new things he had discovered on his trip from Stonheim. He'd quickly realized that he had left the caverns with nothing to his name but the armor and weapons from the pit. They were useful enough in their own right, but not good to eat. Going back to the orcs to beg for food was not an option. But amidst all the new sensations assailing him, Kylest found hunger to be almost welcome for its familiarity.
Once in the lowlands he managed to learn enough about scavenging food to stave of starvation. And a chance encounter with a foolish bandit provided some clothing, supplies, and even a handful of coins.
But it was the sight of Narovan's sprawl in the distance that finally gave him a destination. He didn't know what it was about the human city, but a tickling in his mind drove him forward. Something to do with the dreams he'd been having, perhaps?
The open streets of the city were strange, but the cobbled streets felt reassuring under his feet as he found himself directed to a small inn. Uncertainly, he opened the door and found himself welcomed by the innkeeper. The human seemed more certain of thing than Kylest had lately. And so he numbly handed over the requested coins and found himself a patron of the Crookside Inn.
He nods a wary greeting to the humans at the bar, and finds himself a place to sleep for the evening. But excited energy still buzzes in his head, and he does not feel ready for rest.
__________________
SOUL: Secret Organization for Underground Levity
You can't stop the laughter!
THE HIVE: One Mind, No Purpose. Public Member of the Secret Fraternal Order of the Hive.
Feel free to describe the personalities of NPCs in the OOC thread, but allow me to RP them here in the IC thread. The only characters you should play in the IC thread are your own, as well as any hirelings you may acquire along the way.
"I've got housebrew ale (it's a bit heady, but good and rich), Narovian dark ale, and a red wine. I've also a bit of Dardessian brandy under the counter if you feel so inclined. What's your pleasure?"
[It's getting dark. Hurry! Hurry! No, wait. We can't make it now. Go back. Before it is too late!]
Arden rolls her eyes at the Coward's panicked contradictions but steps a bit quicker even so. She feels both relief and trepidation at being back inside the walls of Narovan nine years after her still unexplained and sudden departure. Now, however, she stands at the edge of the street and looks around. There is an inn somewhere nearby; she knows it, she just has to find it. Finally, as the city wall severs another ray of sunlight casting the street into deeper darkness, she spots it. The Crookside Inn.
A Coward, a Psycho, and an Illene Mystic step into a bar...
Laughing she throws open the door to enter. As she steps inside she briefly considers leaving the wooden box tucked under her arm and especially its contents out in the cold.
[Don't think it! Haerdal will know!]
"I know that as well as you," she snaps.
In her distraction she nearly treads on the heels of a dwarf who has entered ahead of her.
"Well, I'd be hard-pressed to find glass, but you are certainly welcome to a mug," the innkeeper says to Michael with a smile, serving up a frothy mug of ale. "Four coppers whenever you have the time."
The innkeeper then turns to the dwarf and the woman making their way in, "Be stayin' the night I reckin'. Five silvers for a spot in the common room. Blanket n' pillow's included. Feel free to take off a load by the fire when ye've settled in. Gonna be a cold one tonight. Kin feel it in me bones. Dinnae feel afraid to ask fer a drink neither. I'm well-stocked," he says, patting the casks behind the counter.
As Micheal finishes the mug of ale, he complements the bartender on a fine brew, passes him 5 cp and gets down to buissness.
"I was wondering if I could get some help, as I believe I am supposed to talk you about finding my charge" he says passing the bartender the assignement note.
The innkeeper looks a bit surprised as you hand him the scroll case, but he walks over to the fire place where the lighting is better and sits down. He pops it open and pulls out a piece of rolled up parchment which he begins to look over. He clearly must strain a bit to see the writing, as he is getting up in years. When he is finished, he puts the parchment back inside the case and walks back to the bar. He slides the case down behind the bar and winks at Michael. "I can see you are here on business. Not to worry. We can take care of this first thing tomorrow morning. Nothing to do about it tonight of course."
Kylest tensed as he felt a presence loom up behind him. He turned sharply, fists clenching, but he clearly expected something more threatening than a slip of a human girl. He forces himself to relax, and finds himself staring at her tatoos for a moment before her apology filters through his adrenaline.
He breaks eye contact, looking away, and speaks in a voice gone gravelly from disuse.
"No insult taken lass. Sorry for. . . I'm just a little bit jumpy right now."
__________________
SOUL: Secret Organization for Underground Levity
You can't stop the laughter!
THE HIVE: One Mind, No Purpose. Public Member of the Secret Fraternal Order of the Hive.
Arden smiles, relieved that the dwarf didn't carry through with that clenched fist.
"Narovan can have that effect on a person."
She inclines her head in acceptance of his apology and steps off to the side to wait for the innkeep to become free. When the man does return from reading the scroll that another customer handed him she speaks up.
"Yes, no sense traveling the streets now. A mug of the Narovan dark, please. And any leftovers you might have from the evenings meal."
As if sensing the tension in the dwarf, the innkeeper walks over and motions inside. "Please sir, you are wearied. Perhaps a drop of brandy to wet your tongue will set your mind at ease. Come, sir. Sit yerself by the fire and I shall fetch it fer ye. What do ye say?"
Once he has the dwarf situated, he comes to wait upon the lady, "Narovian dark it is ma'am. An' I kin whip up some bread n' cheese if that be te yer likin'. Afraid there weren't no meat delivered today so I wasn't able to make any of me stew."
Kleb had been adventuring for years after Born's death before arriving at Narovan. He had always meant to go to the city and find Born's friend, Canestriel, but he felt oath-bound to follow the teachings of the Order of Luthes and help those in need. And in these dark times there was always someone in need. But now he finally arrived triumphantly in Narovan... and promptly had his backpack stolen by a wily halfling gypsy.
One of his legs began to grow stiff from a mixture of an old injury and the cold, and he bent down to massage the numb limb. "I'm sorry, sir. I must admit that I have been recently robbed and the brash lad was a bit quick for me to chase down. Still, I have a strong back and a sharp mind. I would be glad to pay for my board by either labor or perhaps by having me do a reading to your customers from the Book of Luthes."
__________________ My Involvement:
Spoiler:
Player of Doral Kinsman the Beguiler in Who Wants to Be a Wayfinder IC
The innkeeper gives Kleb a long, hard stare, then holds out his hand as if to shake it in introduction with the wearied man.
Spot DC 21; automatic for Kleb
The old innkeeper slips five silver pieces into the wearied man's hand.
"Ah yes, of course sir, I'd be happy ter, but... Oh look see here, this is more than enough fer the night sir. Don't you worry yer head about it." It seems the man has enough money in his hand after all. The innkeeper then leans in to whisper something into the wearied man's ear.
Listen DC 15; automatic for Kleb
"Don't worry, lad. I'm not about to put you out into the cold. Go grad ye a spot by the fire and dinnae think a thought aboot it."
Micheal sees the Paladin come in, and mutters something under his breath before he looks back at the bartender, and passing him 2 silvers, saying "Ill take another one of your brew, and what food that could get me with the rest....whats the cost of a room here by the way?"
Kylest withdraws again from the sudden attention he has drawn. He shakes off the barkeep's offer, and is greatful for the distraction provided by the new human's arrival. He places his burden down in a corner and seats himself down, watching the rest of the room carefully.
__________________
SOUL: Secret Organization for Underground Levity
You can't stop the laughter!
THE HIVE: One Mind, No Purpose. Public Member of the Secret Fraternal Order of the Hive.
The paladin smiles and nods respectfully to the innkeeper to show thanks. There was kindness here, which validated much of the Order's teachings. He made a mental note to try and repay the charity he had seen as he handed the innkeeper the five silver pieces back and walked into the room.
The assortment of travelers was odd: a jumpy young lass speaking with a stocky, shaved dwarf ... another man drinking beer and staring at Kleb with an air of distaste ... and locals that glanced a distrusting eye. Feeling a bit uncomfortable the tired, armored man took a seat near the fire, massaged his calf in an attempt to get the stiffness out, and took a book to read from a vest pocket.
__________________ My Involvement:
Spoiler:
Player of Doral Kinsman the Beguiler in Who Wants to Be a Wayfinder IC
Responding to Michael's request, the innkeeper replies, "I've bread n' cheese enough for all if you delight it sir. 'Ave it out in a jiffy. Oh, an' a bed in the common room be five pieces o' silver. My deepest apologies but the private rooms already be taken." He moves over to a small pantry behind the bar and retrieves a baker's box and large cheese wheel which he sets down upon the largest table, producing a hunk of cheese and loaf of bread for both Arden and Michael. He hands Arden her change (3 sp and 4 cp, assuming she pays for a spot in the common room as well), then heads back to the bar. He returns a few moments later with a frothy mug of dark ale. "Enjoy, lass!" he says with a wide grin.
Spot DC 20
There is a raven perched on the rafters above you. While there is nothing particularly unusual about that in and of itself, the bird appears to be watching the door very intently.
Skill Spoilers: Read Me
Whenever you see a spoiler block with a skill DC listed, you may roll that skill check. Special conditions may also be listed, such as "within 30 feet of the lantern" or "automatic for [character x]." If you succeed on the skill check and/or fulfill the special condition, you may read the skill spoiler. I have no way to monitor abuse, so please use the honor system. If the skill is trained only, I will try to always include a reminder to that effect with a parenthetical note. Since we are using the honor system, I don't care what method you use to roll for skill spoilers, although I would prefer you be consistent. You could even roll these skill checks at home with real dice for all I care. You are only cheating yourself of the experience if you elect to cheat.
OOC
Other than the innkeeper, your characters are the only ones in the bar room. The other guests that the innkeeper refer to appear to have already retired.
Linear Mode
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