Durwe, Tynia and Ordil are first to make it back to Jak-a-napes. Inside, music is playing and the laughter and conversation has become loud. Several provocatively dressed women move among the crowd of unshaven, drunkenly cutyard men, hoping to get some coin for their troubles. The adventuring group seen earlier are no where to be seen. The smell of cut wood mingles with that of ale and food.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:21, Mon 14 Nov 2022.

Dūrwė was pleasantly surprised to see so much carousing going on with so many in the town sick. He leads the others to a table for them, and he holds out Tynia's chair for her to seat her.

"It seems that things become lively here after dark, even with so many townsfolk sick," Dūrwė says to Tynia and Ordil with a smile.

Tynia thanks Dūrwė with a smile before seating herself in the chair he offers. She had heard the music the closer they had come to Jak-a-napes. At first she thought it had been somewhere else. A brow rises at the sounds, wondering how they could be so happy with the sick and at a time like this. But she realizes it isn't that bad. In fact, the closer they get, it's worse. It is not festive at all but more drunkenly, like people have had too much to drink. Tynia rolls her eyes, and wonders why people have to get drunk to have fun.

"I would guess so," She responds to Dūrwė, and glances around. "What's the occasion for this drunken partying?"

A perceptible murmur passes through the crowd as the two elves enter the Inn. Jak Crimmy calls to you from across the room, questioning your appetite for ale or food.

A slender red haired woman in her mid twenties slinks up to Durwe's larger than average elven frame and runs fingers along his armor and touches his shoulder length, honey blonde hair.

"Is there something in particulars yeh lookin for hun?" she cooes softly, casting a sideways glance at Tynia and then realizing the two might be a couple. Noticeably every breath threatens to pop the bustle on her dress.

Dūrwė flashes his best and charming smile at redheaded woman, and says with a pleasant tone of voice as he looks directly into her eyes, "what a lucky man I am to be in the presence of two beautiful women. I might become 'particular' as the evening passes into the night, but right now I am waiting for some other friends to join us. Perhaps we can have a drink later in the evening? I don't want to be rude to my friends nor do I want to be rude to you."

The red headed woman moves off.

Jak Crimmy seats you at a table near the stairs which lead up to your rooms. When asked, he says there is nothing special going on and that most nights are like this in the tavern.

As the three of you await the return of your companions, you are entertained at one point by a drunken barefoot halfling that jumps atop one of the tables and dances a little jig. A new tune starts up and the halfling takes on a serious look with a squinted eye which is comical.

"Glintaxe, a mighty hero of the dwarven race,
Seeker of heirlooms lost without trace,
He ventured the deeps where old evil sleeps,
He perished in the halls of some dark place.

(A Chorus erputs, tankards raised high)
Ho! A Ho! A Ho! Adventuring they did go,
Seeking glory, treasure and fame!
Ho! A Ho! A Ho! Adventuring they did go,
Naught but one returned, a ballad we sang!
(End Chorus, some laughter, halfling continues)

His restless spirit still stalks the night,
His shining axe still glows bright,
I’ve seen his ghost, and this is no boast,
I’ve ne’er laid eyes on a more fearful sight.

(Chorus erupts)
Ho! A Ho! A Ho! Adventuring they did go,
A Drink to the dwarf and to bury your woes!
A Ho! A Ho!

Jak Crimmy seems to enjoy the ballad to Glintaxe and claps along and drinks with the rest of the crowd. As soon as the halfling has finished the ballad though, the innkeeper shoos him from the table and yells for Carla to clean the table of possible hairfoot worms. Damnable cheery Hin, Jak grumbles inwardly.
This message was last updated by the GM at 18:33, Mon 14 Nov 2022.

Brett had entered Jak-n-napes to hear the last bit of the ballad. His brows rise, for he knows that ballad. It was one he heard back at the monastary that seemed like years to him. He smiles at the memory.

"That was kind of interesting, if a trife redundant since I've heard it before." He said.

He gazed about looking for their companions and saw Tynia with the others already at a table.

"I believe our companions have returned," he said and made his way to the table. He smiled at Tynia and his eyes turned to the others.

"So, anything new where you went to?" He inquired of Ordil and Dūrwė

Dūrwė takes a drink from his goblet of wine, and looks around the room casually taking in all the sights and sounds happily. He was feeling a little sweep up in the festive atmosphere, and was further nudged along by the cheerful hin's song and dance.

He waves to Brett when he spotted him walking toward their table, and grabbed a chair for him.

"Well, unfortunately, not much in the way of immediate importance," the young elf noble says conversationally as Brett settles into his chair, "however, we did learn that there is a significant number of different humanoid tribes outside the town's and lumberyards' immediate influence."

Karok actually paused in the midst of signaling for an ale. His ears pricked up.

 "Humanoids? You mean, orcs, goblins, that kind of thing?" he asked with obvious relish.

Dūrwė nods his head affirmatively at Karok's question as he takes a drink from his wine goblet.

"Yes," Dūrwė says once he sets his goblet back onto the table, "Did you find anything useful at the Herbalist's"?

"Aye, Laurel took our hairy stones to analyze," Karok affirmed, finishing his gesture to bring ale. "And filled a little information for us. Then we went to the church to meet up with all of you, but took a short cut that Jhaelin knew. Maybe the gods inspired him in that, because we ended up breaking up a kidnapping-- or something--" he shrugged.

"Killed a couple of louts from over at the House of Rouge, met the Sheriff, got to see the town graveyard..." he dropped his voice for table-only sharing: "...found out that someone's stealing cadavers out of their coffins."

Allowing the others to chip in, as they wished, Karok told them the whole story, pausing for the arrival of his ale and a deep libation.

Tynia heard it all and she turns her head to glance at Karok.

"Now what is the reason behind that, taking bodies from the graveyard?" She asks in a thoughtful tone of voice. Something was not right by it all, and she wonders what is could be.

Dūrwė nods his head agreeing with what Tynia is saying, and thinks to himself, stealing bodies out of the grave? Kidnappings and combat in the streets? What manor of evil looms around this place?

"It's as if some noose of darkness is tightening around this town and surrounding area. Mass poisoning, grave robbing, kidnapping, and bloodshed in the streets, and all within half a day of arriving here," Dūrwė says low for only the table to hear, "We should be highly cautious this evening, and remain close to each other."

Brett having greeted Dūrwė, sat down himself. He wasnt' into water all that much any more and decided to try his hand at the ale.

"I agree with that. That is something really strange, but what is it? Why would bodies be taken? That's sacrilege, isn't it?" he said with a sad sort of look for those bodies with families and the like.

He had lived here in Falcon's Hollow since he was six and has been gone from this place for just over a year, but it seems a lifetime. The Hollow has always been a desperate settlement of the downtrodden, indigent, and religious zealot. Lawlessness has always been a problem, but these recent things bespeak of something more evil in nature. Something much more sinister than the lumber lords who look down on the town from their Perch.

Jhaelin voices these thoughts then nods at Brett's words, agreeing with his sentiment.

"Aye, an abomination and blasphemous in the eyes of most gods. It is not the same here anymore."

Perhaps someone needs to bring justice, law and order to this place, Jhaelin thinks inwardly. The church of Iomedae is a good start, but more must be done. One thing at a time Jhaelin... first we need to find those reagents.

"There is another matter which we should take heed. Kabron certainly knows of us now... or will by the end of the night. Durwe has the right of it. Be wary."

Conscious of a missing member of their party, Jhaelin looks around the busy tavern room.

"Ordil did not come with you. Did he say where he was going? We certainly do not need any trouble right now, especially after this evening."

The halfling who earlier performed the ballad of Glintaxe, jumps again to a table top to be seen.

"I CALL THE WAGER! ITS JAK-NAPES WITH A TWENTY FIVE SILVER WAGER! FIVE SILVER A HAND. WHAT YA SAY? ANY o' YOU BERKS AND SODS WANNA LOSE YER MAKINS?"

His first response from the gawking audience comes from Jak Crimmy.

"Get off my table!"

The halfling gets to a seat, pulling out some dice and a pouch of coin.

"I'll throw bones with ya!" a cutyard worker by looks of him calls.

Jhaelin appears distracted a moment, the speaks up.  "I think I will try my luck at the game."

He turns and moves off toward the halfling, pulling at the strings of his money pouch.

"I'll throw against ya!"

Tynia waves a hand and shakes her head. "I'll pass thank you so much. Gambling's not my thing." She finishes and turns away from him.

Brett waved a hand and would follow Jhaelin. 'I'll follow and watch you all, to see how it is done. And maybe I'll try my hand at it." he said.

"I suppose everyone ought to throw their money away in their own way," Karok shrugged, addressing himself to his dinner. "Personally, I don't think much of gambling, either. Honest-earned money and, if you lose it, it's gone. And if you win, you get money too easy, without earning it. Not good for the character."

More ale disappeared from his mug.

Having become the leader by roll of the dice, the halfling picks up the second die and prepares to roll. He blows on the dice in some ridiculous tradition of bringing luck to the roll.

The bones roll on the table and the halfling's infectious smile broadens.

"I think I will hold on that one," he says, passing the dice to Jhaelin.

Jhaelin rolls without any flare. Two pips and four pips. A lower roll than any double. Jhaelin sighs and hands the dice to the last player.

The cutyarder takes the dice and rolls. Another doubles! A higher score than Jhaelin's, but less than the leader's. Jhaelin loses the round.

"Well, that's a start eh?" he says, placing five silver coins onto the table. At most, he could now lose only four more rounds.

Begin round two...

Having lost the last round, Jhaelin picks up the dice and becomes the leader for the new round. He throws the dice and gets a mediocre roll of 64. Confident one of the other two rollers will roll below that, he passes the die and sets the number of tries to one roll.

The halfling takes up the dice and grumbles a bit when he rolls a score lower than Jhaelin's. He passes the dice and the cutyarder happens to roll the same score as the halfling. Its now a toss-off to see who loses between them.

The cutyarder rolls the low score and pays the pot five silver. The pot is now at 10 silver coins.

Begin round three...

The cutyarder now becomes leader as he lost the last round. He takes the dice and rolls a doublet of twos and holds with one toss setting the rolls. The halfling takes up the dice and rolls a mix, 6-2 and Jhaelin rolls a mix, 4-1. Jhaelin loses and pay the pot.

Pot is 15 silver and Jhaelin grumbles, taking up the dice for the next round.

Begin round four....Pot at 15 silver

An interesting round begins as Jhaelin makes THREE tosses, therefore setting the number of tosses in the round. He still only ended up with a mix roll of 6-4. The cutyarder picks the up the dice thinking this would be an easy kill. He rolls THREE times and still could not beat the leader's score. His higest roll is a mix of 6-1. The halfling loses the round with his highest roll being a mix of 5-2.

Begin round five... Pot at 20 silver

Halfling makes two tosses and holds at a 6-1 mix. Jhaelin rolls a 6-4 on his first toss and holds, beating the leader's roll with one toss. The cutyarder makes two tosses and comes up short, paying the pot and taking up the dice for the next round.

Begin round six... Pot at 25 silver

The cutyarder rolls a doublets of 3-3 and holds on one toss. The halfing rolls a mix of 5-2, and Jhaelin loses the round with a roll of 4-2. He pays the pot.

Begin round seven... Pot at 30 silver

Jhaelin rolls a mix of 5-3 and this time holds with one toss. The cutyarder rolls a mix of 3-1 and the halfling rolls a mix of 5-1. The cutyarder loses the round and takes up the dice.

Begin round eight... Pot at 35 silver

The cutter picks up the dice and throws. "JAK-A-NAPE" he yells, rolling the unbeatable score of 2-1 as leader. It also means the loser will be paying double the wager. The halfling rolls a mix of 3-2 and Jhaelin rolls a mix of 3-1.

Jhaelin sighs, paying double the wager at 10 silver coins and he is out.

"Good game." he says, then walks away, leaving the halfling and cutyarder to battling it out between the two of them for pot winnings.

Dūrwė smiles at the man, but shakes his head negatively in response to the offer. He stays at the table with Tynia and Karok.

Dūrwė nods in agreement with Karok's opinion on gambling, and says, "it's fine at first, but it can quickly consume a person like a sudden blizzard."

He carefully watches Jhaelin and Brett as they move over to the gambling table, and then says with concern in the voice, "I am worried about Ordil. Do you think he is becoming ill from going into the well?"

Jhaelin rejoins his friends, minus twenty five silver coins. He sighs, musing on his loss.

"I really should give it up," he says, drinking from his lukewarm mug of ale he left earlier.

"Really... it does not surprise me at all that Ordil is off doing his own thing. No surprise there at all. As for being sick... can't really tell. He seemed okay earlier."

Jhaelin shrugs, "Well... I'm off to bed. I need rest before tomorrow."

Making his excuses, Jhaelin retires to his room for the night.

There's a lot of trouble out there," Karok ruminated. "Ordil might be high stealth, but he's alone and one mistake could put him in peril. I wouldn't mind looking for him-- if it proves he's not already abed, here, somewhere-- but it would help to know where to look."

" 'N I know going over to that house of Rouge would be the wrong kind of excitement, so I hope we don't have to look there."

The dwarf began to hurry in finishing his meal.

Brett watched the game, fascinated by the dice, though he was by no means interested in playing. It seemed a pathetic way to lose or gain money, to him.

When Jhaelin lost he shrugs and returns to their table where he had his food and a tankard of ale, though he didn't eat or drink just yet.

"So, we should wait to see what Ordil would do, right?" Brett asks of Karok. "That doesn't seem right, for some reason. After all, he is a companion."

"Nay, lad," Karok corrected. "What I said was to first check and see if he's already taken a room, here. If not, I was asking these two wizards, who were traveling with him, where they thought he might have got to, so we could look. And I was saying if it was at the red light place, owned by the toughs, it would be hard going for us."

"Red light place, huh? Would he even frequent such a place?" Brett asks. Then he shakes his head. "It doesn't seem right to me. But I guess he might have taken rooms elsewhere."

Gazing around he shrugs again. "Well we can only hope he's taken rooms here."

Karok shrugged again; an impressive gesture with his massive shoulders. "I don't know what he'd do. Only met him yesterday, and you only minutes later, come to that." He looked over at the elves. "And you the day before. So I'm not sure what any of you will do. I'm just trusting that, when I stand between you mages and danger, you'll be supporting me. Otherwise, we're not going to last long out there with the orcs, and goblins, and witches, and vermin."

He looked to the other three. "I know that each of you is a more winning personality that I am. Would one of you like to ask the innkeeper, or one of the help if they know where Ordil is?"

Tynia shrugs. "I have no idea where he went to. He was with myself and Durwe but then he disappeared. It was like he didn't exist anymore." she says glancing around to look over at Durwe in query.

Dūrwė nods his head along with Tynia's words, and confirms it as he says, "Yes, it is most bizarre. He was with us before we entered the inn and sat down. He was just gone. He said nothing to us."

Karok peers around at the others questioningly. "So, do one of you want to ask the innkeeper if he had a room booked here? And, if he does not, we'll talk about going out to look for him."

The innkeeper reminds whichever PC asks, that each of you were shown your separate rooms earlier. Ordil does, in fact, have a room upstairs, but the innkeeper has not seen the man since the party left earlier.

Karok's brow furrowed mightily with the effort of thought. "Well. That's it, then. He's probably running around out there."

"Tell you what, I'll go up and check his room, then wake Jhaelin and tell him. He might know where to look. Unless he objects I'll then take volunteers to go on a search mission."

Karok has just made his decision, when he catches sight of the lad entering the tavern. Several patrons pause in their conversation and move aside to let him pass. One eye is swollen shut and his lips are swollen. Streaks of blood come from his nose, mouth and one ear. Frightening to look at, but the blood is no longer flowing. He walks in, holding an arm across his chest, slowly moving for the stairs.

The smile he tries to give his companions when he nears them is disfigured and his teeth stained with blood. His hair is wet, as well as his upper body clothing.

"No worries. I will live." he says. "Someone who doesn't like us poking around decided to send you all a message."

Anger was not an emotion that usually crossed the handsome young elven noble's face, but its mark upon him was evident for all to see and hear as Dūrwė says, "WHO sends this message, and where can they be found presently?!"

Tynia stares and winces. "That sure looks painful," she puts in. "Oh, well. So what HAVE you been doing? Fighting from the look of it." she finishes and turns her head away, not wanting to know more than she needs. After all, Dūrwė had asked the question she wanted to ask first.

Ordil winces either from the pain inflicted upon him, or the anger he finds within his newfound friend's features.

"I believe... If I knew the answer to that, I might not be alive, and I have no clue as to who it was, or where they are. I got sapped."

Ordil absently rubs a visable knot on the side of his head.

"They put a sac over my head and I came to when they poured water on me. Never saw them, but there was more'n one of 'em."

"But the more I hear of this explination the more I'm curious, why you, Ordil?" Brett asks. His gaze tracing the bruises and wounds with disgust or maybe it is more pain. Like it was not inflicted on Ordil but himself as well. "Wow, that looks painful." he finishes staring at the bruises.

Having no one or thing to focus his anger on at the moment, the heat quickly recedes leaving only compassion for his new found companion. Dūrwė quickly rises and moves to Ordil's side to help navigate the crowded common room and the stairs up to his room.

Declaring loudly for all near to hear him, Dūrwė states coolly, "Only cowards and men of despicable and low character would ambush a stranger and nearly kill him. I cannot abide by men of low character, and I will root these villains out and have justice for this cowardly act. Mark my words, good citizens of Falcon's Hallow, do not harbor these cowards unless you wish to face the same justice that I will inflict upon these dogs!"

"Cool your blood, colleagues," Karok rumbled, using his table-only voice. "There's someone working for the downfall of this town. Our group is trying to help the Hollow, so they're targeting us. They probably got Ordil, because he strayed out on his own from the rest of the group--" he threw a significant look at the Shadow Meister as he spoke. "We've got to stay together so's they don't pick us off, one by one."

"An' probably, if we make much progress, things'll get more dangerous. So let's get our wounded raven, here, up to Jhaelin for some healin', let him know what's going on, and be more careful in times to come."

Dūrwė says coolly, not caring if he's overheard or not by the patrons, "Indeed, Karok, all of that is obvious. I am making it obvious to all here that they should choose wisely as to which side of the fence they are standing when all is brought to light."

"Aye," the dwarf conceded. "Begins to seem like keeping a low profile may be out. Let's not be drawn by diversions, though. Do the job and be watchful. Those who oppose us enough, will come after us, soon or late. We need to be ready, and we'll need to be smart. Which is a bit beyond me, personally. So I'll settle for sensible."

He slid one broad shoulder beneath Ordil's arm to support him. "C'mon," he said. "We'll get you fixed up. Then we better think about bedding down in pairs." His gaze swiveled up to Ordil's. "But don't try anything funny. I'm not that kind of dwarf."

He moved for the stairs with the rogue, preparing to visit Jhaelin.

Even though he stood up to help Ordil up the stairs, Dūrwė sits back down when Karok stands and swoops under Ordil's arm to help him up to his room.

With a less serious tone, Dūrwė says to Karok, "I'll stay here with Tynia and Brett, and escort Tynia when she's ready to retire for the evening."

Durwe's words of caution bring a varied array of reactions from different patrons. More than a few of the cutyard workers show a surprised look, while others glare with contempt and distrust.

Jhaelin is found in his room. his prayer closes wounds with a soft amber glow, and the pains in his chest subside, but there are still red welts, some swelling, and a darkness around one eye that might take a day or two to fade.

The companions sleep the night restfully and without further incident.

"Really now. If Brett there is ready, I could go off and retire about now, I think." Tynia says. She glances over at Brett, to see if he was ready or not.

If he is, she will get up from her seat and make her way to her room for the night.

Brett glances at Tynia with that look of 'you're tired?' and nods. "Yeah, sure I'll head up to my room as well." And he yawns, covering it with a hand. "No choice now."

He got to his feet and headed off to his rooms.

He moves forward to where Jhaelin is and speaks to him, "So when will this job be complete?"