In The River Kingdoms Banditry and Might Makes Right was the way of the land. Chaos and disorder a way of life; except in Fort Inevitable. The Walled City of Fort Inevitable was a bastion of law amid the chaos, enforced by the Hell Knights. Here, slaves kept the stench of most human cities at bay with picking up garbage and washing the cobblestone streets. Here patrols of Hell Knights checked suspicious goings on with swift judgement. Here, where there was a law for every occasion and permits for everything...the wealthy were safe and the poor at least protected from those of unscrupulous nature.

It was a sunny hot day in Mid Desnus that found a new beginning for a group of strangers who were just now gathering at the Juliver Arms Inn in the late afternoon coming from far off Oppara for the hint of fame and fortune, from the 5 Kings Mountains hearing rumors of precious stones and gems. Brought on by the latest supply train from far off Isger and Cheliax at the bequest of the Hell Knights, From the Bandit Stronghold of Thorn Keep  where the Wolfmane Barbarians lived in an easy alliance of sorts in the interest of technology. and locally from a residence of a local Wizard where strange magics were found interesting.

A few had seen the flier posted on the wall in the Inn, a couple had been asked personally whether in person or by letter, and at least one had over heard a conversation and decided to come seeking to join.

Corwin MacDugal, called by many 'The Dislodged' had posted the fliers. The wanderer of The River Kingdoms was seeking to employ 6 individuals to investigate The Emerald Spire, where many adventurers were lost.

Rumors were The Spire had been here far before the first settlement in the River Kingdoms, Long before the Elves returned from the First World to Kyonin after Eathfall. Long before The Whispering Tyrant fought Aroden....but those were rumors. Noone really knew. All that was known is that a translucent spire of green crystal jutted from the ground and within were found treasures, magic, creatures, and death...most assuredly death.

The inside of the Halfling run Inn was comfortable and welcoming. The Food and drink well prepared.. A private table at the back of the Inn had a gray haired gentleman who took note of every passerby. A Rapier was in a scabbard at his hip and a shortbow hung on the back of his chair. a Lute on the other side. He sat nursing an ale waiting for those answering the call.

Nethi approached Fort Inevitable by the north gate. There was no way she'd willingly bring herself to either gate on Juliver Way. It had been weeks since she'd last seen the place and she hadn't expected to return so soon -- she wasn't ready to deal with a dozen odd Hellknights questioning her in this heat. Nethi hadn't seen hide nor hair of Greb yet, but they were supposed to meet at the Juliver Arms anyway.

Nethi kept her chin up and her thoughts undaunted on the way, and thanked Milani this 'Corwin' hadn't picked the Red Shield. Once inside she looked around but the gentleman was easy enough to find. Fancy weapons, a taste for music, and looking at every passerby like he was waiting for someone. She only hesitated a moment before wandering over. "Corwin MacDugal?" She asked. "I am Nethi."

The wanderer looked her up and down with an eye trained to see past appearances to what was underneath.

Nethi? I take you're considering the expedition I'm putting together. please have a seat. you are the first. tell me what you'd like to drink and I'll have it brought over. the food tonight is a lentil soup made with Osiris peppers. a little on the spicy side but oh so tasty...bread and some sesame asparagus. I've already eaten. I can tell you that's is excellent.

Making his way to Fort Inevitable on a rumor, Zail had an aversion to what he saw. Between slaves and Hellknights, he would need to be extra careful and tone down his usual style of dress if he did not want to attract undue attention.

Entering the north gate Zail started to ask around for directions to places to stay, along with listening to any rumors as to what is going on in town as he made his way.  "Excuse me. where can I find a place to stay?" he asked at the gate.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:20, Tue 16 May 2023.

A farmer bringing goods to town passing through the Juliver Gate, the busiest of the gates ...being the direction most northbound travellers came up on...smiled a said why the Juliver Arms Guvnah. it's the best Inn in town.

A laugh from the crowd and a woman with about 20 homemade brooms on her back and missing a front tooth laughed and said cause it's the only Inn in town ya feebleminded twit producing a barrage of laughter from among the throng of entrants.

The farmer carrying a sack over his back chuckled like he'd been kidded by an old friend ya don't have ta be rude now dorothie. just trying to be proper wit da gentleman

Nethi offered a polite half-bow and sat down. The meal sounded nicer than anything she'd eaten in years, but the food and drink weren't the point of the meeting. She doubted they would talk much about that before others arrived, though. "The expedition, yes, I'm sure Greb will be here soon. And wine will do for me, one of Caerlin's, please," Nethi said.

Verdra entered Fort Inevitable from the northern gate, moving with the focused determination of a woman on a mission. She was a tall woman with a statuesque look, and black hair so long that, even collected in a ponytail as they were, they nevertheless still reached down to her shoulders. Combined with the black tribal tattoos that covered her bare arms and most of her face, she wasn't somebody who would go unnoticed, yet she ignored any comments or calls directed her way, her steps confident and secure as she headed straight to the Juliver Arms' Inn like she was following a set of instructions on how to reach it she had memorized perfectly - which she was.

She didn't slow down or interrupt her determined march once she entered the inn either, merely letting her golden gaze move across the patrons until she identified McDougal and corrected her course to head straight for him, sitting herself down to his table without hesitation, barely slowing the time necessary to adjust the sword at her side and the bow on her back so that they didn't catch on the chair. Then she said, her attention entirely on him:

"Greetings, Corwin McDougal. As we discussed, I intend to participate in your investigative expedition. I acquired Chieftain Darioth's permission to do so, as you recommended. My interest in the possibility to collect the information you hypothesized about remains undiminished."

Only after having said that did she turn her attention towards Nethi, her gold-colored eyes taking in the woman in a scrutinizing manner that seemed to held no judgment - in fact, it seemed to held no emotion at all, being merely an evaluating one. Then she told her, in the same dispassionate tone she'd spoken to Corwin with:

"Greetings, stranger. I am called Verdra. I hypothesize you are to also participate in the research expedition. Are you allowed to identify yourself?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:48, Tue 16 May 2023.

Greb, after little trouble at the entrance at Fort Inevitable, decided to climb to the roof of the first building and brachiate towards the Inn. Not only was it his preferred mode of travel, but after the comments at the gate (referring to him as Nethi's slave always raised his ire), he mostly did it to irritate the Hellknights. He might have decided to be a 'good' person, but that didn't mean he gave up on nasty behavior, oh no. After a few blocks he dropped to the ground in an acrobatic backflip. On short legs, he walked (or waddled, depending on how generous the observer was) towards his meeting. He waited until a longshanks pushed open the door, then jumped through the opening and climbed up to the rafters. From there it was easy to spot his partner. He crossed the rafters to above the table. He dropped down into the seat beside her and began admonishing her. "Nethi. Babushka, you should've waited at the gate for me. You know I've got short legs. And I couldn't convince any of the Hellknights to give me a horsey ride. Don't they have any sense of fun or whimsy? "

The arrival of the monkey goblin caused Verdra to turn his attention to him and say, in the same neutral tone:

"Greetings, stranger. I am called Verdra. It is my understanding that Hellknights are forbidden from having any sense of humor or whimsy. Are you allowed to identify yourself? Do you intend to take part in the research expedition?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Tue 16 May 2023.

The monk, a red-bearded dwarf wearing sandals and a robe and visibly armed with a quarterstaff rather than the usual axe, hammer or ugrosh usually associated with his people arrived at an unhurried pace.  "Well met all," he said.  "I am called Hessum and I intend to join this research expedition.  May we all learn from it to the betterment of our innermost selves."

Nethi didn't know what to make of the newcomer, Verdra. "Allowed..?" She asked, hesitantly. Was it simply an awkward turn of phrase; or did the think Nethi was still a slave? Thankfully Greb's arrival prevented her from overthinking it; and Verdra's same question to him cleared her misunderstanding. Nethi smiled as Greb admonished. It may not have seemed like much, but for her it was a rare sight to behold. "Oh, even if they had you wouldn't want to go anywhere they'd be willing to you." She might have laughed; or maybe just exhaled a little, it was hard to tell.

She turned her attention to Verdra. "I am Nethi. And yes I'm allowed to tell you -- no hand holds my leash."

Nethi looked to the newest arrival. "Hello," she offered in greeting.

The door to Juliver Arms pushes open only slightly as a light-footed and soft-stepping Ysoki squeezes through quietly and sniffs at the air. Well-kempt for a ratfolk, and for the average peasant for that matter, this one's tunic and cloak appear to be freshly laundered and not much used to 'adventure' and his soft brown-and-white fur seems to be freshly combed. Picking up a familiar scent, the Ysoki begins to cautiously scamper across the inn's dining room, timidly avoiding the feet of the bigger folk, before reaching the table claimed by Corwin. Using a crooked staff unslung from over his shoulder as support, the small one climbs up to the seat at the table to squat--resting on his tail to keep his head at a comfortable height relative to the tabletop--and nods respectfully to Corwin as he announces himself, "Mister Dugalson; Master Royst has sent me in his stead, with his regards, to assist in your endeavor ... and to return to him our findings, of course." He then looks to the others gathered and greets them, "Misses and .. Misters." He nods respectfully at each, but can't help but tilt his head to the side slightly as he appraises the monkey-like gremlin.

The monkey goblin chuckles. "Probably right. Everyone, my name is Greb. Student of Healing and Nethi's better-looking partner. Also a former slave. We escaped together and have been friends ever since." He wears light leather armor with a bandolier of knives across his small chest. A sap, a club, and a sling are all tucked under his belt.

"Thank you, so it is easy to be the best inn in town if there is no competition, eh?" Zail said with a smile  "What is the best local drink? Something that would put hair on a dwarf and make an orc cry." Zail asked the group
This message was last edited by the player at 10:08, Wed 17 May 2023.

Greb sizes up the oddest person at the table. "Excuse me for being blunt, Verdra, but what are you? I've operated on all manner of humanoids, some monstrous, others not. But you aren't a humanoid, are you?"

Verdra nodded at Nethi when she said nobody held her leash.

"I can observe that you are not wearing a leash. My words were metaphorical. Many things can disallow a person from taking certain actions: the law, a request from one's chieftain or teacher, a vow or promise, personal preference, a desire for secrecy, a lack of knowledge, or more. It is reassuring to hear no such circumstances are present here."

The woman seemed content that her words had cleared any misunderstanding, and she remained unruffled and serious as chaos descended on the inn as more and more people seemed to crowd the table around them and talk over each other. She even offered a "Greetings" to both the dwarf and ratfolk, providing her own name as before and then asking for Emok's in return.

When Greb addressed her directly, she turned a scrutinizing look on him, then pointed to his overlarge round head and his long tail, as well as gesturing vaguely in Emok's direction, and then answering:

"If you desire a meaningful answer to your question, you will need to clarify how such a thought was conceived; observation would suggest that you are further away from humanity than myself."

Greb remarks "as a linguist, I've become sensitive to people's inflections. Ofttimes, the way they pronounce words and emote indicate not only their feelings, but what actions they are prepared to take. Body language is another sign that informs imminent actions. I've met several very straight-laced people hanging around with Nethi, even some monks who keep their emotions submerged. But some inflection, some body language always leaks through. Not with you, though."

Verdra kept her attention on Greb as she answered:

"That is interesting knowledge. I had no idea that such a skill even existed. I have no such ability to understand the thoughts of people from physical movement and vocal intonation. I require thoughts to be conveyed to me by means of words, either written or spoken. I shall thus recognize your expertise in the matter, and consult you should such talent be necessary to the success of this expedition."

She nodded slightly in his direction, and added nothing else.

"In my case", says Hessum, "Part of what leaks out is the fact that I'm a dwarf and so everyone knows we are all greedy, gruff and garrulous.  Well two out of three ain't bad." He smiles when he says it though.

Greb responds "Bull! 'Everyone knows' is a poor yardstick to apply. Whatever 'everyone knows' about goblins, don't assume in my case. I will likewise give you the same consideration." The sawed-off runt talks like a wizard or at least an educated scholar.

Nethi nodded subtly to Verdra. "It's alright, dear -- your choice of words caught me off guard, that is all. As Greb said, we have both been slaves, and the Hellknights were our jailers. Asking if I was allowed... I am sorry I overreacted." She said, hoping to smooth things over some with a simple explanation.

Verdra turned her attention toward Nethi and said, her tone unchanging:

"Your words caused no offense. I clarified the meaning of mine to prevent misunderstandings from happening."

She nodded to the other woman in a manner that seemed respectful, if somewhat cold due to her neutral, lightly thoughtful expression.

The poor farmers and tradesman looked at Zail with a failure to understand his question then one spoke ummm an Ale?

Another chimed in with a grin yeah a beer mate has to be a beer

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The other 5 sat in the inn as a waitress brought around drinks and the meal