The Old School: AD&D 1e

[garyh]

"My father is a representative of the elves of the Westwilde Woods here in town," the elf replies. "One of his main interests is trading with the mining companies for the necessary metals for the Westwilde. I've spent plenty of time down in the mines with him, and there's nothing interesting down there that I've seen - just rock, rock, more rock, and the occasional chuck of iron. Not that I wouldn't want to be proven wrong, though. This place could use some excitement that doesn't stem from younglings finishing their book learning."

Then, the elf adds, "Oh, and the name's Kel. Kel Greyleaf." Kel raises his glass of feyvine red to his new conversation partner.

 

[Darkwolf71]

"Woods, mines all the same to me."

Turning to their host, "Charles, any rumors of adventure for eager younglings with a taste for excitment?" He asks this with a subtle glance at the obviously 'young for his kind' elf who has joined them.
"I think we'd all like to be rich be this time next week.

Turning back to the group, "My name is Zhantain, by the way. Glad to meet you."

 

[ghostcat]

Having completed her shopping, Lidia walk through the doors of the inn. Patrons who turn to look will see an extremely tall, willowy, young human female walk towards he bar. Once having registered that she is taller than most men, their eyes will drawn to the fiery red hair that's tied into a single braid that goes all the way down her back and the blue eyes that are so dark that they look black.

Having ordered a small beer and breakfast, Lidia looks around for a free seat. Spotting Amirad, who she had meet briefly on the road, talking to a couple of the recent graduates and an elf she move over to their tables. "Good morning Amirad and gentlefolk. This place is crowded today, do you mind if I join you?" Assuming they answer in the affirmative, Lidia will take a seat at the elf's table. "My name is Lidia by the way"

 

[Gli'jar]

"Warm day out." Hulan says with a worried look as he wipes the sweat from his shaved head and face looking both left and right to those classmates standing next to him.

With Grand wizard Telveno's proclamation. Hulan quickly makes his way in, around and through the crowds towards the Bouncing Beholder. However unlike the others, his smile quickly leaves his face, replaced with a determined look as he continually glances over his shoulder on the lookout for the debt collectors. “Gotta get out of here fast, before they come collecting. They ain't gonna put me to work in no slave shop.” Hulan thinks to himself as he remembers the last beating received at their hands. Although a stout and strong fellow, Hulan lacked the mien for arms, he rather preferred to stand back and let the others risk their necks on the head of an axe.

On approaching the bar, a pint of ale quickly finds it way towards his hands as the barkeep leans in close, “They were just here Hulan. You done good work for me in the past but I gotta wash my hands of you now.” Hulan nods and turns towards the crowd, picking up a conversation between a group of classmates and a few strangers. “Safety in numbers, Here’s my chance.” Hulan mentally notes as he approaches a fellow classmate among ranks. “Well if your thinking about adventuring you’ll need a mage or two to provide some cover.” Hulan chimes in, nodding in recognition at Little Mo. “Hulan, transmuter extaordinare, arcane evoler and diviner of destinies at your service.” He says as he puffs out his chest, a spreads his robes, “Available, and at your service. When shall we be departing?”

 

[The Digger]

"Welcome Hulan, it would certainly be useful to have another master of the arcane, wouldn't it?" Little Mo looked around at the others.

Just then a mischievious thought struck her. There had been stories...well rumours, that Hulan had some slight problems with debt collectors. Mo had no idea how true the rumours were but she couldn't resist a dig at the big man.

"When are we departing, you ask? Oh not for days yet. We have to finish the graduation celebrations first, then there's getting equipment ready, then deciding where to go... Oh probably not for a week at least."

...

 

[InVinoVeritas]

The Bouncing Beholder is abuzz with activity.

----

"I'm telling you, it's just like Stinking Cloud, only better!"

Two magic-users, one a doctoral student, the other a professor, are engaged in a deep, yet animated conversation.

"Um... it's... stinkier?"

"Yes! Er, no... It has a longer duration, greater area of effect!"

"Very well, but... why Stinking Cloud?"

"It's a humane way of dealing with crowd control. The standard spell is good, but it can only cover a few people, fill a room, that's about it."

"Sounds like plenty, if you ask me."

"Not in a time of battle. Imagine, being able to disperse an entire army with a single spell. Break formations with ease. Fill an entire village square with an impenetrable stench!"

"Just wait until this evening."

"I just need to find the proper component for such a spell. I've been doing some library research on stinkflowers..."

----

Charles, when a free moment comes, pulls the feywine out from behind the counter, fills a glass, and hands it to Kel with two coasters.

"Here's your wine. Rumor has it there's a new dig on the south side worth checking. Starts in the morning." He casts a glance in Hulan's direction.

[sblock=Kel]
Thieves' Cant: Charles just let you know that there's money in bringing in Hulan. There's also money in protecting him.
[/sblock]

----

A boisterous half-orc stands tall in the middle of the place. Clad in black, hardened leather, looking surprisingly well-groomed for his breed (his hair is not only combed, but slicked back), he calls a toast.

"Everyone, to Vesmer, recent graduate! I never was much for sigils, but this guy finished all those blah-blah-blahs and got himself the degree! Let's see just how much those books taught you about the real world, huh?"

He claps the back of his companion, a dark-skinned human with bushy eyebrows and a purple robe.

"I'll show you when I feel like it, Rack. You won't see me coming when I do," Vesmer sneers.

Two other humans enjoy breakfast at the table with the pair: a youthful female archer with shoulder-length raven hair, and an older man in a gray robe with a hooded cloak pulled far over his face.

----

The doors to the place swing open dramatically, as two armored humans, identically matched, stride in and take positions on either side of the doorway as a chocolate-skinned, russet-haired dwarf enters. He is dressed in very fine clothes, and confidently strides across the room to the bulletin board. He gives the board a once-over and nonchalantly pulls a number of notices off from the center of the board, tossing them to the ground. He then tacks up his own notice, in large, bold, yet intricately scribed lettering.

"All right, kids, congratulations to you all, and enjoy this meal on me. I've got an old family mine that's being taken over by some monsters, and they need clearing out. Should be no problem for recent graduates like yourselves. Who wants some action?"

There is no mistaking who this dwarf is. This is Dolun Thrax, the richest and most successful miner in town. He owns about half the mines in the surrounding hills, and is always on the lookout for another.

 

[Thondor]

(whoops, posting at the same time ...)

“I feel that I have missed some joke.” Amirad notes the look of panic that crosses Hulans face and chooses to ignore it for the moment. “We were just discussing what quest might be best for us to tackle, however we have little information at this point. But I am ahead of myself in my eagerness. I am Amirad, warrior of Solinar. This is Lidia, a Druidess, and Kel Greyleaf of Westwilde, whom you may know. I am sure you know your fellow graduates.”
“ For myself, I can leave as early as tomorrow morning.” Amirad strokes his bastard sword, “But I am eager to test my blade, and have little reason to remain, nor set place to rest my head. I rely on the grace of Solinar, and my meager skills that are his gift. I believe Lidia planned on departing soon as well?”
“I had heard rumours of abandoned gold mines that had been overwhelmed by various monsters and had initially thought of pursuing that. However I lack any pertenant information. Perhaps you have some knowledge, whom we might ask, or other quests we might pursue?”

 

[Thondor]

"Just what we needed to hear."

Amirad walks across the tavern, stopping a respectful distance from Dolun Thrax.

"Noble sir, my fellows and I," Amirad gestures towards the nearby table, "were just dicussing a venture of a similar nature. Perhaps you could enlighten us as to the particulars? I may speak only for myself, but if what I have heard around town is true, then I would gladly aid you in the recovery of your family mines and smite those who have unlawfully laid claim to it."

(Amirad plans to check with the priest of Solinar to ensure that the mine Dolun Thrax directs them too is actually one of his former possesions. If the priest doesn't know he'll seek some other means of confirmation.)

 

[Darkwolf71]

Zhantain raises his mug to Dolun Thrax, "Ho! Sir Thrax, I think we would be most delighted to reclaim this lost mine of yours."
Smiling at Amirad, he agrees, "This is indeed just what we needed."

He also crosses the room and inquires of the dwarf, "Where is this particular mine located? And do you know what types of creatures have made it their home?"

 

[garyh]

"Well, what do you know?" Kel says. "Action in the mines after all."

Walking up to Thrax, Kel tells the dwarf, "I'm in." He then looks to the other ambitious patrons of the Bouncing Beholder, particularly curious as to what the nervous mage will do.