[IC] The Protectors of Greensfen (Part II)

[nerdytenor]

In the market...

[sblock=Perception DC 15]
It is subtle, but you can see the same people looking at each other from one dice game and one stall to the next, as if they are being careful not to speak to eachother in public.

[sblock=Perception DC 20]
Many of these people appear to have tatoos, more so than the other people near by.
[/sblock]
[/sblock]

As you are debating what to do next, the door to the inn swings open. It would appear that the first floor functions as a pub. The large room has an unusual layout - very long, with a raised kitchen/bar in the center, and a few doors here and there. There are about as many tables as there are people at the moment (10 or so), but given how the bartender/cook is cleaning and preparing, you have a feeling some more people will be trickling in soon.

OOC: Are you all going into the inn or exploring the market, or splitting up?

 

[Bramble]

Blay rolls his eyes as the others speak. He feels they are being overly suspicious, after all, nothing looks out of place or strange to him. He briefly wonders if their worries are grounded in their experiences so far, or just a reflection of their anti-social tendencies. Considering how warmly Blay has been treated so far, he concludes it is the latter.

"Come on Kraegyn, lets get something to eat." He says to his companion, and sets off resolutely to the pub.

 

[covaithe]

"Very well, if we're exploring, let's explore. But let's stick together, eh? Watch each other's backs." Karis proceeds to eye the crowd with suspicion, enough so that she misses the actual suspicious behavior.

[sblock=ooc]Perception 14. Sigh. I don't suppose Karis' passive perception of 18 comes into play here?[/sblock]

 

[nerdytenor]

OOC: Yes, I think given that this is not a skill challenge and your character is not "under the gun" I believe you may use your passive perception score here.

 

[pathfinderq1]

Kraegyn took another look around the marketplace. "Let us go make ourselves obvious," he rumbled. "Maybe someone in this town does have some useful tale to tell- or if they are in league with our enemy, perhaps they will be foolish enough to act on it... Either way, I could use a drink." And with that, he followed Blay and Karis towards the tavern.

OOC: Once inside, he will let the more well-spoken take the lead, and will loom supportively in he background.

 

[Arbanax]

Rellek, wanted to explore and ask questions and take the time to just study the situation. But as he turned back around he saw the others crossing the threshold and moving purposefully toward the bar.

Sighing wistfully, he stepped in to the pub with them. Seeking signs and keeping his eyes and ears open for clues within the pub.

 

[covaithe]

Inside the pub, Karis looks for a shady corner where she can keep her back to a wall and watch the proceedings as undetected as possible.

 

[nerdytenor]

As the party enters the tavern/inn, Karis steps away from her companions towards the wall by a particularly poorly lit table while the rest approach the bar. There are a few stools circling the long counter, and Kraegyn nearly breaks one of them when he attempts to sit down.

You gather that strangers are not an unusual sight around here, given the lack of a reaction from most of the people in the bar. A few more people begin to trickle in as the bartender turns to face you.

[sblock=Karis]
There is a group of three that appear to be somewhat more interested in the party than the others in the tavern - they are wearing rather unremarkable cloaks, but seem to be attempting to stay out of sight much as you are, and their faces are only visible when they turn from side to side. They don't seem to have connected you with the rest of the group.
[/sblock]

In a corner of the room, a dwarf sits down on a bench, takes a flute out from his coat pocket, and begins to play softly.

[sblock=Blay]
It's not a tune you are familiar with. You can tell the dwarf is either self taught or had a poor teacher - his fingerings are all strange and his intonation is a bit off at times. Still, he clearly has some talent.
[/sblock]

"Welcome to the Templeton Inn", the bartender says, although if there is any welcome in his voice you cannot detect it. He sounds like a man who is very, very bored. Looking over the two humans and two dragonborn, he continues, "What'll it be?"

[sblock=Rellek]
Every few seconds, the bartender makes a very furtive glance at the door, as if expecting someone in particular.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Joshua]
You feel a very slight twinge of anxiety, although you can't articulate what the source might be.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Kraegyn]
Though the bartender's bored manner masks it, you can tell he is a bit frightened of you.
[/sblock]

 

[Bramble]

"A glass of stout and whatever the stew is today." Answers Blay, tossing a few silver coins on the bar. He pays no attention to the bored-sounding bartender. Everything seems perfectly normal to Blay, but he senses his companions tension, and knows they are here for information, not relaxation. Turning to his companions, he speaks under his breath so only they can hear him.

"I'm going to have a chat with yonder dwarf, if anyone wants to join me. Or you can pursue your own investigations. We'll swap notes when dinner is served." Now, more loudly and conversationally: "It is good to have a place to sit after so long on the road, is it not?"

Blay takes his beer and sits at a table near the flute-playing dwarf. While Blay might come across as irreverent and loud-mouthed to the others, interrupting an artist, no matter what skill level, is a line even he won't cross. He sips his beer and waits until the dwarf finishes before addressing him.

"Friend dwarf, what an enchanting tune. Where ever did you pick it up? I'm something of a musician myself, could I be so bold as to borrow your instrument and try my hand at it?"

[sblock=ooc question]Am I expected to make my own rolls and post them, or can I just announce my intention to use a skill, post its modifier, and have the DM make the roll for me? I would prefer the latter but I don't know how things are done in this game exactly![/sblock]

 

[nerdytenor]

OOC: Thanks for asking about skill checks! To keep a bit of mystery and suspense going, I like to make the skill check rolls when dealing with something unknowable from the pcs' perspective. For instance, perception checks, insight checks, and anything else related to gathering information. But yes, if you want to use a specific skill, please do let me know the modifier and I'll take it from there.

However, if you are performing a skill where the pc would easily be able to tell how well they are doing (for instance, breaking down a door, trying to intimidate someone, or trying to butter them up), then feel free to roll yourself if you like, however I'm happy to roll those if you want, too.

Generally speaking I have a pretty loose philosophy with skill checks.