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<blockquote data-quote="aboyd" data-source="post: 3604687" data-attributes="member: 44797">The Chickens Come Home to Roost, part 3 of 5Having walked half the length of the underground town, the group stood at the entrance to a suspended bridge.&nbsp; Alric tried to commit to memory the vision he was seeing -- a long bridge leading up into a massive stalactite, at least 100 feet in diameter.&nbsp; Dwarves guarded both ends of the bridge, and Crommel was already in an animated discussion with one of them.Govard hung back.&nbsp; &quot;I'll take the horses.&nbsp; Unload.&quot;&nbsp; He still looked sickly and wasted.&nbsp; Draden grabbed his gear and made his way across the bridge.&nbsp; Castor followed.&nbsp; Alric hesitated, not wanting to leave the weakest member of the party to wander alone, searching for the stables.Crommel seemed to notice, and said, &quot;I'll walk with him.&nbsp; I need to see that my pony is well taken care of.&quot;Alric reluctantly removed his gear from his horse, and started across the bridge.&nbsp; As he approached the entry to a hollow in the stalactite, he noticed a raised portcullis.&nbsp; He paused.&nbsp; Inside he could see his friends.&nbsp; But he had no idea what else awaited him.&nbsp; Was the portcullis to keep raiders at bay, or victims within?&nbsp; For a moment, Alric considered casting a spell to watch for malicious intent, but a dwarf stood nearby in full armor, and Alric did not wish to alarm the guards.&nbsp; With a shrug, he headed inside.Draden and Castor had already negotiated the rental of two rooms.&nbsp; The bartender, a female dwarf, was pointing them toward a staircase.&nbsp; Alric approached, noting to himself that she seemed decent enough.&nbsp; All three headed up the stairs together.&nbsp; They found even more guards at the top of the stairs, and presented a pass.&nbsp; Inside there was a waiting area with a view right out of the stalactite, down to the water below.&nbsp; They made their way to their rooms, and stashed their goods.&nbsp; Alric felt reasonably sure that nothing would be stolen as long as the guards were truly upstanding folk.&nbsp; He felt the itch to cast a spell to detect wickedness again, but suppressed it.&quot;Should we join our friends at the stables?&quot; asked Castor.&quot;After a drink,&quot; said Draden.Back downstairs, the bartender made assurances that the bar's offerings were of extremely high caliber.&nbsp; Castor wasn't moved.&nbsp; &quot;Crom would be unhappy if he missed a drink with his people.&quot;Draden shrugged.&nbsp; &quot;We'll buy him a drink soon enough.&quot;&nbsp; As he spoke, he put some coins on the bar.&nbsp; Alric followed suit.While the bartender filled the cups, Alric asked, &quot;Can you tell me if Jovina, Verdash, or Ivellilian is here?&quot;&quot;Try later,&quot; she said, &quot;and why would you ask about Verdash?&quot;&quot;What do you mean?&quot;The dwarven woman leaned forward on the counter.&nbsp; &quot;He's a mean cuss, runs a slave trade here.&nbsp; His press-gang probably would've met you at your ship, if not for your weapons and armor.&nbsp; Any other community might not appreciate you brandishing your pointy sticks all about, but in Rook's Roost, you've done well being so... conspicuous.&quot;Alric was disappointed.&nbsp; &quot;We're conspicuous?&quot;The woman made a placating gesture.&nbsp; &quot;I merely speak to your arms.&nbsp; Here in the Barnacle we tolerate no fighting, but outside, keep your hand to the pommel.&quot;Soon, after agreeing that the drinks were exceptionally good, the three of them made their way toward the stables.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="aboyd, post: 3604687, member: 44797"] [b]The Chickens Come Home to Roost, part 3 of 5[/b] Having walked half the length of the underground town, the group stood at the entrance to a suspended bridge. Alric tried to commit to memory the vision he was seeing -- a long bridge leading up into a massive stalactite, at least 100 feet in diameter. Dwarves guarded both ends of the bridge, and Crommel was already in an animated discussion with one of them. Govard hung back. "I'll take the horses. Unload." He still looked sickly and wasted. Draden grabbed his gear and made his way across the bridge. Castor followed. Alric hesitated, not wanting to leave the weakest member of the party to wander alone, searching for the stables. Crommel seemed to notice, and said, "I'll walk with him. I need to see that my pony is well taken care of." Alric reluctantly removed his gear from his horse, and started across the bridge. As he approached the entry to a hollow in the stalactite, he noticed a raised portcullis. He paused. Inside he could see his friends. But he had no idea what else awaited him. Was the portcullis to keep raiders at bay, or victims within? For a moment, Alric considered casting a spell to watch for malicious intent, but a dwarf stood nearby in full armor, and Alric did not wish to alarm the guards. With a shrug, he headed inside. Draden and Castor had already negotiated the rental of two rooms. The bartender, a female dwarf, was pointing them toward a staircase. Alric approached, noting to himself that she seemed decent enough. All three headed up the stairs together. They found even more guards at the top of the stairs, and presented a pass. Inside there was a waiting area with a view right out of the stalactite, down to the water below. They made their way to their rooms, and stashed their goods. Alric felt reasonably sure that nothing would be stolen as long as the guards were truly upstanding folk. He felt the itch to cast a spell to detect wickedness again, but suppressed it. "Should we join our friends at the stables?" asked Castor. "After a drink," said Draden. Back downstairs, the bartender made assurances that the bar's offerings were of extremely high caliber. Castor wasn't moved. "Crom would be unhappy if he missed a drink with his people." Draden shrugged. "We'll buy him a drink soon enough." As he spoke, he put some coins on the bar. Alric followed suit. While the bartender filled the cups, Alric asked, "Can you tell me if Jovina, Verdash, or Ivellilian is here?" "Try later," she said, "and why would you ask about Verdash?" "What do you mean?" The dwarven woman leaned forward on the counter. "He's a mean cuss, runs a slave trade here. His press-gang probably would've met you at your ship, if not for your weapons and armor. Any other community might not appreciate you brandishing your pointy sticks all about, but in Rook's Roost, you've done well being so... conspicuous." Alric was disappointed. "We're conspicuous?" The woman made a placating gesture. "I merely speak to your arms. Here in the Barnacle we tolerate no fighting, but outside, keep your hand to the pommel." Soon, after agreeing that the drinks were exceptionally good, the three of them made their way toward the stables. [/QUOTE]

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