Vigwyn's 'A New Beginning...' [IC]

A New Beginning
Chapter 1: New Port​

Tuesday, September 14
7:38 p.m.

Business is slow this evening at the Porthole, the dining room at the King's Inn, where you are staying in New Port. Today was the first day that September really felt like September. A cold drizzle fell steadily from the slate-grey sky, and a miserable wind blew brown leaves across the muddy cobbled main street. Waves slapped ceaselessly against the dilapidated piers. Those who could finished their business in town early and left, and few remain to patronize the Porthole.

The proprietor is not one to waste candles needlessly, so only a few are lit here and there in the relatively large but empty room. Besides yourselves, only three other tables are occupied, and two of these by people you recognize as fellow guests of the Inn. The guttering fire radiates very little warmth from the cavernous fireplace, and what flickering light it casts serves to menace rather than cheer the room.

However, the smell of warm bread and cooking meats and vegetables permeate the air, and the lateness of the hour has magnified your hunger. After a few minutes, Esmerelda the serving wench makes her way to your table. Though you have eaten at the Porthole several times since making your way to New Port, she still does not trust elves, and wonders why a respectable human would associate with one.

Despite this, her manner is polite while she describes the evening's fare by the dim light. "Good evening, sirs. I hope the day has treated you well. This evening, the kitchen is offering baked fish and vegetables for three silvers, or roast lamb and potatoes for 5 silvers. Your choice of wine or ale with either meal. And as a special treat, the proprietor has just received a jug of rum. One silver per shot. What will you have?"

"The lamb and wine will do nicely," Gallo says. "And of course a shot or two of that rum to start." He ends his order with a quick wink to the serving wench as he waits for Edgar to put his in.

"Just the fish, vegetables, and water for me. I can't keep down anything much more than that. I thank you for your Inn's hospitality."

Edgar turns to Gallo, "All of that? I had thought we were going to head out tonight."

Creamsteak said:

Edgar turns to Gallo, "All of that? I had thought we were going to head out tonight."

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"Ah, but where's the fun in going out without a bang, my friend?"

"Thank you, sirs. I'll give the order to Wilson," says Esmerelda, artfully ignoring the elf's wink with the practiced skill of one who must ignore many an unwanted advance. "I'll be right back with the rum," she says as she turns and leaves for the kitchen.

While you chat and wait for the food and drink to arrive, you hear the tinkle of the bell above the door to the main street as a pair of customers enters the dining room. One of them is a young member of the town watch, or so you deduce from his uniform. He quickly scans the room, and lets his gaze linger upon you for a moment before looking away. His companion is a larger, somewhat older gentleman of approximately 35 years. He wears a neat brown beard and a kelly green cloak. The two men head for a table near the fire. There, they warm themselves as best they can and converse in low tones.

"Gallo, were you expecting company?", shrugging in the direction of the visitors.

Creamsteak said:

"Gallo, were you expecting company?", shrugging in the direction of the visitors.

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"Not I," he replies. "Seems those guardsmen are everywhere around here; I'm thinking they don't trust you for some reason." Gallo offers a sarcastic grin with the statement, but it quickly fades. "We should definitely get our fill and take our leave of this dreary place. Surely there is somewhere more deserving of our attention."

"You're paranoid, as I guess an elf would be. You know, I was a member of the town watch once, briefly. Don't underestimate the usefullness of someone just because they have a reputation for never being in the right place at the right time."

Edgar keeps his eyes and ears aware as best he can while we wait out our meals. Maybe there's a chance he'll get an idea what the men are talking about.

"Mmm," Gallo mumbles, not really paying Edgar any attention, for he too is trying to discern what the men are being so secretive about.

[sblock=OOC]Using Spot +12 to attempt to read lips.[/sblock]

Gallo is able to make out much of the furtive conversation of the pair near the fire. But this task is made difficult by the fact that the young watch officer keeps looking over at him, and Gallo does not want to give away the fact that he is paying attention to them.

The young watch officer appears to be gossiping about various goings on in the town watch, led on by persistent questioning by the man in green. The bearded man seems to be very interested in everything the watch officer reports, but probes especially for information regarding the head of the watch--Sheriff Brownfield--and the attitudes of the watch toward the Count's guard. Every so often, the older man compliments the younger man on his 'insight' and 'astute observations'. The watch officer appears to be pleased by this flattery, and he is quite willing to tell the older man all he wants to hear.

After several minutes, Esmerelda returns. She places a cup of water on the table in front of Edgar and two small glasses of rum in front of Gallo. "A rare treat indeed, master elf." (This last bit seems to leave a bad taste in her mouth, but she carries on.) "Wilson tells me that the proprietor bought this rum from a fisherman who claims to have recovered it from one of the local islands. You know, they say pirates sometimes visit those islands, but I'm not sure I believe it. What could possibly be out there for them? I'll be back with the food and wine when Wilson finishes preparing it," she says as she turns to leave.

The conversation near the fire continues, much the same as before.

As you wait for your food, the doorbell tinkles again. An old farmer enters. He walks with purpose toward the posting board, and nails up a handbill. As he turns to exit, he notices you and gives you a quick nod of greeting. He then leaves the dining room without any further business, probably hoping to make it home to his farm before the weather gets any colder.

[sblock=OOC]Spot check DC 15. Spot check result 14 + 12 - 2 - 2 = 22. Penalties: 2 for distance (speakers are about 25' away) and 2 for circumstance (Gallo must not give away that he is trying to read lips, and guard keeps looking at him). Check succeeds.[/sblock]