Darkest Hour - PBP - IC

[FunkMonkey]

"A round of drinks?", exclaims Malach a grin on his face, "Good Pech, if you will not indulge yourself, you should join us for a smoke and a healthy dose of bull$#!+.. we appear to have lots of both at this table!", he adds.. sending a quick wink toward the grinning barmaid. But just a quick wink.. as he is distracted, naturally, by the young lady who has just entered the inn.

Malach also notices that Kel'ar has sat down nearby. He had noticed Kel'ar earlier, he is hard to miss, and was glad he had joined the table. "Made of gem, eh? I can't imagine the ladies are that intriguing then.. but smoke.. smoke would be a sad one to be without. Does it do anything at all for you?"

Malach is interested in the reply.. but his eyes do wander periodically to the mysterious woman by the bar.

[foproy]

looking at malach and in a low whisper frayden says " you noticed that too did ya, somethin aint right there, i cant place it, but somethins off about that one."

[Morganti]

Kel`ar[/]

Kel would give what could best be described as a warm smile, though naturally it twinkled with the low grade gems of his teeth, he restrained his impulse to launch into a discourse about how smoke could make gems, and instead settles for "smoke does nothing for me at all, I am fueled by will and creation"

Kel notes the new comer and her appearance, searching his memory for some hint of who she might be or where she might be from, and comes up blank, though her actions speak to him of temptress and seduction, luckily, he has no prince to warn, and settles back to enjoy the company of any and all who show up, thinking that the variety will be good for his learnings.

[Daedalus]

Gerald is surprised that the human invited him to come over to smoke and exchange silly stories with him and the other Pech.  He wonders if they would buy some of his more interesting stories... He gives them a once-over and this makes him think twice before launching into his regular routine.  The Pech would probably pay a pretty penny for his "ancient treasure map". Of course it was only something he scribbled onto vellum to sucker tourists out of their excess cash, but the human...he would get in the way...

"I'll join you fine fellows in a moment, after I pay for this lady's meat."  He plucks 5 more silver out of his pocket, and hopes the bartender has some dried meats in the back.  "If that's not enough for you, you know where to find me."  He gives her his sly wink and saunters over to Malach's table.

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He uses Mark on anyone he thinks might be after him, and anyone he might be able to scam, usually Bluff, Sense Motive and Notice.  No offense to you fine gents, just being IC. 

[spinningdice]

Bartender
The bartender glances over Jabe for moment, his eyebrow raised.
"Of course, my dear. Would the lamb stew be sufficient or would you prefer something dried - or raw?"

[Mister Andersen]

Jabe

The woman tilts her head slightly, quizically. "Do you slaughter your own animals and harvest their blood?" she asks blithely. "If so, my lord Groot would be most gratified by it. Otherwise the stew will suffice for us both."

[spinningdice]

Bartender
"Not often, most is purchased from Andra, 'bout five miles on. Sometimes travellers trade a bit they've hunted." He speaks to one of the staff who head off to the kitchens.

Groom
The groom from outside dashes in, straightens himself up and has a private word with the bartender.

[Krensky]

Roger Conrad

Roger pauses his recounting of an expedition to recover the treasure of Colma, how they encountered the treasure's unborn guardian which seemed far more interested in the flower garden outside the ruins when Jabe walks in.

He glances her over and turns back to Malach, Kel, and Frayden.

"Something not right... what was your first hint? Leather-clad elf girl dressed to start a riot, blood red tattoos, crazy eyes? Perfectly normal in these parts I'm sure," he says before finishing his ale.

"The spiky bits are probably just a fashion statement too. Sure, she looks like a bard's muse, but they tend to leave the bard pretty poor off, don't they?" he says before turning to the barmaid.

"Lizabet, I seem to need another ale if I'm going to finish the tale of Colma's treasure," he says, a smile on his lips and twinkle in his eye.

On hearing Jabe's request for blood he looks at the three at the table and the new comer with a nod.

"Now asking for blood for her and her master... I've known enough mundanely crazy women, no need to try the uncanny sort."

[FunkMonkey]

"Makes one wonder what.. and where.. her master is. Perhaps the ashen look on the poor groom's face means he has met the master?," Malach says, returning his glance to the table, distracted by the gleaming smile of Kel'ar"

"Well, that is a shame about the smoke my good... man. No wine, no women, no smoke? I dare say I'm not sure I could go on living."

Malach also nods as the generous pech joins the table and holds up the pipe as an invitation to partake.

"This is sure to be an interesting evening gents."

[spinningdice]

Outside - Groot Only

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A man on a horse bursts through the gates, his breathing is ragged and his clothing bloody. He falls from his horse and stumbles towards the Inn door.

Inside
Done with serving for the moment Lizabet returns to fetch Roger a drink and hovers nearby hoping he'll finish the story. In response to the appearance the strange woman she positions herself to make her own considerable assets more prominent.

[Mister Andersen]

Groot
The rootwalker stirs at the unexpected appearance of the rider. The great creaking of that movement, and the incongruence of such action from what is oestensibly meant to be a stationary thing causes the panting and tense animal's small brain to go into over drive and it rears backwards, trumpting its confusion.

His craggy features furrow even further and he looks beyond the wall into the enveloping darkness.

"Groot!"


Jabe
As she waits for the innkeep to return, the barbaric elf surveys the other occupants of the inn with what can only be described as a wary, predatory eye. Yet at the same time the subtext of her movements is flirtatious, almost an invitation to the curious to dare the potential dangers of the wild in order to uncover the mysteries it obfuscates.

Then something catches her attention, some sound hidden amongst the movement of trees in the wind outside, and she tenses.

[Krensky]

Roger Conrad

"Thank you Lizabet, now... where was I? Oh yes. After being chased into to ruins by the guardian, we searched for the treasure. The map Harry had purchased was useless, whoever drew it had obviously never even seen the ruins of Comar, let alone been inside. We searched everywhere, under every rock. We checked for hidden doors, secret passages, magical and mundane illusions to no avail. There was nothing in the ruins other than five hundred year old junk," Roger takes a swig and smirks roguishly.

"Harry was furious. So mad in fact, that he forgot what set the guardian off the first time and stomped on some of the flowers as we were leaving, setting the guardian off all over again. As we were fleeing it, again, I noticed one of the deep, almost unnatural indigo flower buds stuck to his boot, so I tackled him, pulled it free, and tossed it to the guardian. The golem snatched it from the air and took it back to the bush Harry had damaged and cast some sort of spell, reattaching it and healing the damage. After this it went back to ignoring us."

"While we stood around the ruined stone gazebo in the middle of the garden, we noticed the light dimming in the middle of the day. Looking up to the sky, we could see that a solar eclipse occurring. Thrag fell to his knees, wailing about some orc god... Grask, Grisst... something like that eating the sun and the end of the world. Just as we were getting tired of it, the moon completely blocked the sun and then something wondrous happened," Roger pauses to take another swig of his ale and let the drama build slightly.

"The flower buds surrounding us began to bloom, releasing wisps of glowing pollen into the air. After a heart beat or three, hundred of bell voiced pixies appeared, singing as they flew from flower to flower, adding their own pale light to the drifting glow. It was probably one of the most beautiful things I've ever witnessed. We had found what was so important about the flowers that someone set a golem to guard and tend the flowers. We'd found the treasure of Colma, it was the flowers," Roger sits there for a moment, smiling and his eyes distant as he remembers. When it passes he takes another swig and chuckles.

"This set Harry into another rage! He started ranting and raving about how the treasure was worthless since we couldn't take it with us. Julian tired to calm his brother down, but to no avail. I had to slug Harry before he lost even more control and set the guardian off for a third time. After the eclipse passed we left. I still wish I'd had some way to capture the beauty of that moment... Ah well, there's bound to be something just as amazing out there, waiting to be found," Roger finishes with a wink at Lizabet.

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Impress: 19+7=26
Crap, using up my good karma hitting on the barmaid!

[Daedalus]

Gerald
Gerald hops up into another one of the chairs made for humans next to the human and the other Pech.  He looks at the outstretched pipe for a moment, trying to not let his eyes widen (and failing) then extends his hand to grab a puff.

"Gerald's the name, in case I've forgotten.  I do a little of this and a little of that."  he smiles generously.  Whilst Roger's telling his story, his ears perk up slightly when he mentions the false map and he feels a sense of impending doom.  The way the barbarian lady is staring at he door wasn't comforting, either.  He makes sure to put himself in a position where he could bolt for the door as quickly as possible, in case he gets recognized, and the possibility of getting mutilated comes into the picture.

[jscifert]

Draethon watches the antics of the people in the bar with some interest and not a little amusement - particularly the posturing of the Conrad fellow!

Thinking he better head out and bring the extra meat he ordered to Trenevar, Draethon stands up, gathers his things, and heads towards the door, intent on bringing his companion some food.

[spinningdice]

GC
The door burst open and a wounded man staggers into the taproom and collapses, he's covered in dust, sweat & blood and his breathing is ragged.
"Help them!" he croaks “They’re at the church in Andra. You have to help them — before they’re found!” he struggles to say more but unconsciousness claims him.

Outside

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Your attentions pricked by the rider your vantage point of being taller than the wall allows you to see a fogbank rolling in with unnatural speed. You also note bestial snarls and indistinct shapes moving within the wall the fog.