Frostskin entered the establishment with little fanfare. She was in no mood to deal with anybody but herself. Her outfit was not the most subtle of costumes. Her legs were tightly wrapped with a black cloth. Her torso was wrapped like wise. A long black cloak, smudged with dirt and a few clinging leaves, flowed down her back. The hood was drawn up and hid most of her head. Only her face stood out, but even that was obscured. Resting above her nose and working downwards was some similar cloth wrapping, covering her lower face. What little was exposed of her skin was a pale, almost deathly, white. Wisps of dark hair can be seen on her face.

She made her way towards the innkeeper. She had a little money, though most of her possession were the bare essentials, rolled neatly on her backpack or strapped to her person. She started to whisper to the innkeep.[Private to GM: I am in need of lodging for the night, inn keeper.]

The hobgoblin replies, "I believe there are three good forges around town, all of them about the same since they have to be up to Unbular military standards.  As for provisions and the like, there is the quartermaster.  Most supplies go to the army, but he'll sell some of it to wayfarers like us for a half-way reasonable price."  He looks at Tyler then shakes his head, dismissing the cleric.

"So, other than visions, what are you really doing out here in such a dangerous place.  I mean no offense, but even Unbular and Anthros have trouble in Midrath Koar.  It's no place of the rest of you."

When the third human arrives and cuts all the way to the front of the line, Grondor attempts to reign in his temper.  Between the cleric's half-answers and this new little one's rudeness, he began to suspect that humans mostly fit the archetype given them.  Only this small one in the Echtinik carapace seemed worthy to speak with, though she hadn't really said much.

The Anthros looks down at the rude little human cutting in line and bares fangs and claws.  Quickly, to prevent bloodshed on the floor (that he would later have to clean up) the goblin behind the counter glares down at the new human and barks, "end of the line if you want a room.  Otherwise, get lost."

There are angry stares up and down the line at the darkly wrapped human.  The goblin ignores here and finishes up with the Anthros finally and calls the next in line, the Kradok.

"Just one? Or do you have others staying with you?"  The goblin asks.

nodding as Grondor speaks.

"I see, I see.  To be honest the reason we are here is to get some information on an artifact that could hopefully save our people.  That's why we are here in such a dangerous place as this.  Something about a Dragon or somesuch creature, i'm not entirely sure what that is though.  Hopefully we'll find some people here who can help us."

Looks over to Tyler and frowns a bit.

"When he's not in a pensive mood"

"Dragon!" the hobgoblin guffaws at the word.  "Them are just myths.  Ain't no such thing as dragons, girl."  He continues to chuckle at the idea and looks over at his Invar companion with a wink.  "I'm Grondor Stormsword, girl, and this here is my, er, traveling companion, Vertium.  What's your name?"

"Just the one," Kiro replied to the goblin. He decided he could scour the common rooms for hired muscle after he had settled in.

He stopped himself from looking back at the others behind him as he said offhandedly, "Preferably something with real good locks."

He had already lost so much to get here, but the treasure he was seeking would be easily enough to cover his losses with a great deal left over.

His ears, however, perked up at the word 'dragon'...coincidence? He turned, the innkeeper forgotten for now, "The skeletal dragon perhaps?" he asks, his curiosity instantly spiked.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:24, Tue 08 Dec 2009.

She just shrugs at Grondor as he says dragons are myths, then she introduces herself

"I am Genovia Swiftfoot, pleasure to meet you.  My travelling companion here is Tyler."

She then turns to the Kradock when he asks about the dragon.

"Yes it is supposed to be dragon bones, have you heard of them?"

"Coincidental. The dragon bones is why I'm here."

Coincidental indeed. But then again, that would mean that other people had heard of the treasure. Competition.

"I was actually going to try to find some hired hands to help me get to them later tonight," he said, an obvious hint at an offer.

Frostskin muttered some choice curses under her breath as she was ceremonially kicked from the front to the back of the line. She glared at the line for a moment before waiting at the rear. When she overheard the talk of dragons, her ears perked at the thought. Her mother had once said that dragons came for children in the night, stealing them away so that they could feed on the child's bad behavior. Seemed plausible at the time. She tried to lean closer without making herself look too interested.

Vertium listens to the conversation in silence, slowly putting the pieces of the puzzle together. His thoughts are limited however since there is still a lot of information missing to trully understand the situation.

He turns to Kiro and starts speaking to him.

" Interesting... It seems that our quests may be related. While I am curious about studying the properties of these dragonbones you are speaking of; I am more interested in finding a certain book that can probably be found at the same location. Maybe we could team up to accomplish our respective quests?"

By the way  he is speaking, it is clear that the Invar is some kind of scholar looking more interested in the knowledge that can be gained from the quest than the possible material rewards. After a while, the young mage remembers to introduce himself.

"Oh, I am Vertium by the way, Vertium Thrusius. I'm a travelling scholar and wizard. "

He presents his hand to the Kradok (or offers greatings in the way common to the Invar and Kradok).

The hobgoblin looks around at everyone and nods in answer to some question in his own head.  "We should meet at the Midrath Groghouse and discuss this.  It is just three buildings south of here.  Anyone interested in this 'dragon' skeleton oughtta come.  I'd like to see if this myth is true or not."

Soon the goblin at the counter has rooms for everyone.  The cost is only a silver per room.  Once checked in, Grondor heads out the door reminding everyone of the name of the groghouse.  He also promises to buy the first round of drinks.

 With a glance at Genovia, he shrugs and softly says, Halai appears as he wants, in my vision i could feel the warm touch as if from my mother, at times i get the feeling Halai can be what ever form he wants to use to deliver his message.  Come lets check in and go see about the dragon bones, for our quest.

 Paying the man he waits for Genovia and follows along with the others, he had to wonder if the others were here for the same reason he and Genovia were here.

 Ordering a tankard he finds a chair and gets comfortable, to listen to this conversation.

She pays for her room as well and drops her things off, then goes to the tavern.

Kiro took the Invar's hand briefly, as the line was moving along. "Kiro Latroony. Sort of an...er...well I like to study things."


Kiro pays for his room to drop off his well used pack. Thing seemed to be getting heavier with every step. He stashed what little gold he had left about his person, and then headed for the grog house.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Wed 09 Dec 2009.

Vertium pays his for a room and aranges a place to leave his horse. The young mage will then put the items from the saddlebag on his horse away in his room.

After that, he will head to the Midrath Groghouse to join his Hobgoblin bodyguard.

(OoC: Let me know if I need to pay extra for the horse.)

Frostskin pays for her room with an attitude, but is still grateful for having gotten one. She takes her things up and arranges them to her liking. She straps her sword to her back and several of her small metal stars to her person. She takes a few coins to pay for anything she might need and heads down. She remembers that one of the patrons in line had said the name of what sounded like a tavern. She had never been drinking before and it sounded like a good place to relax. She slowly made her way up to the goblin again, making sure she did not skip anyone this time.
[Private to GM: {Goblin} What is the place that the previous patron spoke of? (She slips the goblin a silver for the information)]

"Ah, Vertium, over here," the hobgoblin grins as the Invar enters.  He waits for the scholar to take a seat the raises a meaty finger into the air.  "That's everyone.  Wulda!  First round's on me!" he bellows at the hairy bugbear woman serving this section of the establishment.  "So, let's hear it.  Tell me about this myth come to life."  Grondor drinks deeply from a rather large wooden drink container banded by metal bands.  It looks like nothing more than a miniature keg with a handle.

[Private to Vertium Thrusius:
GM: No, no extra for the horse.  {Insight} Grondor seems to have a lot of connections at this fortress.  He knows everyone by name and everyone apparently knows him, too.

*Please add a description for your character that others can read.  Thanks! :D]

[Private to Frostskin:
GM:{Diplomacy}He is immediately mollified by the coin and quickly answers.  "It's called the Midrath Groghouse.  You can't miss it.  It's the big building where everyone is at just south.  Your room is ready for when you return, fresh comforter and fluffed pillows."  Your willingness to toss in a bit of coin for the information has made him willing to work harder for the possibility of a little more during your stay.]

Frostskin smiled under her wrap and left the goblin. She made her way to the groghouse and took a table after scoping out the people she had seen earlier. She knew that they would recognize her, but she didn't care. She was more intent on just seeing what they were up to.
[Private to GM: Frostskin slips another silver to the goblin as she leaves.]

Kiro looked into his mug, swirling the contents around. He hadn't heard much about the dragon bones, so he waited for one of the others to speak up. He knew only the location, and the possibility of what was beneath.... And where there was coin to be had, Kiro would be there.

He took a drink, and tried to hold back a grimace. Compared to the stuff back home, this may have just been lake water. He shrugged, and downed nearly half in one sitting. As long as it wet the tongue, it would have to suffice.


[Private to GM: You did say everyone was already there right?]

Vertium starts telling the group about his part in the adventure. He keeps things as short and concise as he can.

"There is a book that I am seeking in the region. I am not even sure the book exists but one of the gods sent me a vision about it. Until I am proven wrong I will believe the message. From what I know, the book is linked to a skeleton. My assumption is that the skeleton is this dragon I have heard people talk about. "

 Sipping at the drink, he listened carefully as the man told about his vision, The thought did cross his mind that it might be the same skeleton he was told about. He glanced to Genovia in a silent question(if she is looking at him at all).

 My friend and i share a somewhat simular dream and my vision concerning this skeleton. In the vision i was shown, Halai said that the skeleton of a dragon was guarding the cave and inside the cave was a talisman that would or could be used to save this world from a fearful danger that was coming soon...She said there were items inside the cave also besides the talisman which could help those who had joined Halai's cause. That was the vision i was shown.

"Seems to me that this dragon skeleton is just a marker for the cave.  The cave holds all the interesting stuff.  I'd lay gold that this skeleton is just a pile of rocks someone thought looked like their idea of the myth."  Grondor paused in thought.  "I'm up for an adventure into the Koar and it sounds like there is a lot of treasure to be had down there for all of us.  You'll need me anyway.  None of you but the priests looks like you can take a hit and the Koar is mighty nasty."

The hobgoblin leans back in his chair and takes a massive swig from his miniature barrel.

     Kiro paused, as if about to say something, then took another swig instead, finishing off the mug and slamming it onto the table. He motioned for another round, pressing a gold into the bugbear serving woman's palm - a clear indication to keep them coming. [Private to GM: ((Yes, 1 whole gold. Enough for 5 gallons of ale. And Kiro expects to finish them all or die trying. haha))]

     Though the booze was piss poor weak by Kiro's standard, the others seemed to be better informed about the treasure than Kiro had hoped - thoughts of contracting the others for a preset fee and keeping the rest of the findings himself were slipping through his fingers, and he needed the booze to drown the out what was left of the last month's hopes and work. So he was to keep going until he was drunk enough to accept only an even share.

     "I suppose that settles that then, unless any of yu have something else to say?" A fifth of what was under that skeleton... Kiro wondered how much that was. Not enough to stop drinking yet. "Name's Kiro. I happen to be a master forger," he lied. Well, not quite master.

Listens to the conversation, and nods to Tyler, then the rest of the group at the suggestion of grouping up.

"Regardless of the danger involved going into the cave is something that needs to be done, if it will help us stop what is to come.  The added bonus of possible treasure is always good too.  I say we get what gear we need to stock up and then see about getting to this cave.  Oh and for those that don't konw my name is Genovia."