The Mourning After (Horror) (IC)

[Neurotic]

"Death is just another part of life." The priest? says in a somber tone.
"It is sad when a young life is lost, but it too helps the future. Make peace with the loss, and if that gets to be false, well, you can rejoice all the better. I can toast with you for the hope she is still alive."

 

[MetaVoid]

Ozzar looks at the other dwarf incredulous.
"Part of life? It is the end of it! And if you ever lost anyone significant to you, you might be less drab about it! Come, boy, let's drink to hope!"

Looking across the lake, the guard shudders.
"That thing gives me creeps."

 

[JustinCase]

Seeming lost in thoughts and memories of his own, Mal finally comes to his senses. He tears his gaze away from the mists, and hopefully before anyone can see the sadness on his face the half-elf adopts his trademark smile again.

”The Golden Dragon! Yes, let’s go get a drink first,” he beams.

”We should find Filiu there. She can provide us with lodgings and refreshments, I’m sure.”

He leads the others inside.

 

[Leatherhead]

The Gold Dragon Inn, Gatherhold.

1st of Zarantyr, 998 YK. Mid Morning.

The Gold Dragon Inn is House Ghallanda’s most famous franchise. There is at least one in every major settlement, and if you travel by the major roadways, you will never be more than a day from the next. The one in Gatherhold is their flagship, serving not just as an inn, but also as the front desk of their enclave headquarters, the Great Hall.

Decorated in a lavish interpretation of the traditional Talentan style, it stands at six stories tall. Featuring two theaters staffed with House Phiarlan artists, two restaurants (one for the traditional Gold Dragon Menu, and the other an experimental kitchen), three bars, a full-service Kundarak bank, and 50 rooms, it is the beating heart of Gatherhold.

The front desk is split level, one side for the locals, and the other accommodating human sized guests. A halfling in well tailored clothing greets you, while a warforged with an equally well polished shine stands silently at attention off to the side. “Good morning to you travelers! I hope your journey is going well. May I check you in, direct you to the dining halls, or are you perhaps looking forward to this afternoon’s performance of ‘All's Quiet on the Thranian Front’?”

 

[JustinCase]

"Good morning, my dear man!" exclaims Mal, back in his element again. "My friends and I have just completed the first step of our eventful journey, and are looking forward to getting some welldeserved rest. I myself am looking forward to your selection of fine wines."

The half-elf leans towards the halfling and softly adds in the Halfling tongue, "We have been sent by Dame Yamyra, cousin to Lady Filiu Ghallandra, to aid the Lady with an inconvenience. Could you let her know we've arrived? My name is Maladiel."

Switching back to the Common language, he finishes with a big smile, "And please, you really must point me to your tailor!"

 

[Kobold Stew]

"We're not here for the show," says Tillington, "We're hungry and need to wash up after the road. Perhaps an evening performance? For now, though, as my friend said, we're hoping to try some of what's on offer. You have an incredible place here."

Tillington nods at the halfling, and appreicates that so much of the furninshings are scaled for someone his size.

 

[Hades#2]

"I do enjoy a good show! A brief rest first though. I do find it quite challenging to get a proper rest while traveling aboard any moving vehicle." Xian replied to the receptionist.

 

[Leatherhead]

“Lady Filiu?” The desk clerk is taken aback for just a moment before regaining his composure. “Oh, you must be referring to the Hotelier.” He promptly picks up a sending stone, and after a brief conversation rings a bell on the desk. “Bellhop, please escort our guests to the Hotelier’s Office.”

The warforged in the room snaps into action, holding a door open. “Right away boss! And right this way, if you please!”

“A word of advice from one who appreciates a fine suit to another: Don’t mention ‘Lady’.” The clerk warns Maladiel as an aside. “She gets very cross about the fact she doesn’t have a mark.”

The bellhop guides you to a lavishly decorated office. They open the door just long enough to let you all enter, then shut you all inside.

Trophies of all kinds decorate the shelves, with scant collections of books dispersed amongst them. The desk in the center is halfling-scaled, but on a raised floor to make the stature of the one sitting behind it more imposing. Even then, what draws your attention is the animal pen in the corner of the room. There, a middle-aged halfling woman is feeding and caressing a clawfoot. The clawfoot lets out a chirping sound in gratitude as the woman responds “You are welcome, Brother.” in the halfling tongue before turning to greet you.

The woman moves as if she was a predatory animal. Locking eyes with the biggest of you, her body turns around in motions meant to keep her gaze forward and her body fluid. Her robes flow to make her look bigger, and her jewelry clacks and flashes in ways designed to distract you from her vitals. As she sits, she adjusts her horn rimmed half-framed glasses so that she can peer over their obviously magical lenses.

“Please, sit.” She speaks in a low, authoritative tone. ”I understand Yamyra sent you, if that is true, I need not know anything else. The less, the better.” She pauses a moment to let the subtext sink in. “What did she tell you?”

GM: I admit that was a bit of herding. Pleasantries are quick enough while in person, but they take so long over php I couldn't help speeding it up a bit. If you want later though, I can do up a quick synopsis of that play.

 

[JustinCase]

Maladiel bows curtly, already having taken a quick measure of the woman.

From Dame Yamyra he knows that Filiu runs this Gold Dragon Inn, which here in Gatherhold is also the main Ghallandra stronghold; anyone who's in charge here holds great power and influence. What Mal sees here frightens him a little more; obviously this halfling woman is very comfortable around dangerous predators, and has learnt some of their tricks. As an urban entertainer and fixer, Maladiel finds it hard to trust his honed instincts around one with such clear bonds to the natural world.

"I will not bother you with tales of our past or our connections to Dame Yamyra," he smiles, using the Halfling language to express familiarity, as well as implicitly giving away just a little information about themselves. Then he turns back to the Common trade language.

"She has told us Clawfoots are going missing," he gets to the point quickly, estimating that their host prefers it to pleasantries. "There are suspicions about a local ranch being involved. As creatures of such sacred importance and, dare I say, family, we will leave no stones unturned, I can assure you... Hotelier."

Mal bites his tongue, only just refraining from saying "m'lady" at the end of his line. In fact, the half-elf is much more direct and less formal than usual.

 

[MetaVoid]

Ozzar follows quietly, his job is guarding or hitting things, not entertaining nobles.