Callie looks towards Clarence and waves him over before sitting down. "I'm not a bar maid, Serim. I'm a cleric from the local church of Sehanine. Are you new to Fallcrest?"

Dido takes the invitation and goes to sit across from Kitau. "What are you wary of, if I may ask?" he gets a more serious expression to show he isn't taking her concerns lightly.

  Most Bar Maids don't dress up like White Mages gone Metal anyways.  Clarence swaps locations once more, but even that Cha 9 doesn't mean he's going to turn down Callie and Serim's invitation for such (or is that the Wis 18 talking?).

  "I spend a good deal of my time out of the city, and even I know that.  So of course he's new."  That is the Cha 9 talking.

Kitau eyes Mr. Plate Armor more closely and surmises he's a holy soldier.  It's literally written all over him.  But how to answer his question in one word or less?  Not that she's practicing her Maverick impersonation.  That's crazy talk!  She gives an angry glare to the happy Tiefling.

"Evil," she answers Dido darkly.

Serim manages to keep from rolling on the floor laughing and merely chuckles merrily.  These two are priceless!

"I stand corrected," he says, "And excellent deduction.  Yes I'm new to Fallcrest.  I could never have guessed she was a cleric of Sehanine from her armor, weapon, and holy symbol.  Nor could I have guessed her companion is a druid from his hide armor and staff."

Well they COULD be NPCs coincidentally wearing tell-tale gear.  Maybe.  He reaches into his pocket, takes out a gold piece, and offers it to Callie.

"An offering to your church," he says, smiling.

Callie replies to Serim with a smile (Reference Kuro from BESM here), "Thank you, Serim. Though I can appreciate your sarcasm, you would be amazed how many people are missing great amounts of knowledge on the gods. Such as what their names are, much less what their symbols are."

She pockets the gold piece. Then says, "Though as obvious as I might be, I'm not sure what makes you so sure Clarence a druid and not a rogue, ranger or even just some guy who hunts in the woods and likes his walking stick. But at least you have demonstrated you don't miss the obvious. Unfortunately, if there is something obvious about you besides your appearance and the fact you're new here, I have missed it. So what brings you here?"

Dido lets his glance look again. Sure, the guy looks like one of those half-devil descendants the tieflings. But outside of that, Dido doesn't have much reason to suspect the man. He looks back at Kitau. "Seems to me like a local holy woman and her friend have their eyes on the one you were eyeing. So you shouldn't worry too much. What brings you to town?"

Yes, he heard Callie ask that of Serim. It's a good question!

  Elsewhere, Joe is someone who uses one of the most obvious bows in existence for a reason... Not that it helps the second they disarm a trap.  Without thieves tools.

  "It's the bears thing.  Bears are always causing problems.  Yes, such a sensible response there Clarence.

"Work," Kitau answers, sliding her business card toward Dido.

"Have weapons, will travel," it reads.

"Kobolds," she elaborates, sipping her drink.

"You're a sweet thing," Serim answers, leaning his head in his hand with a sigh, "I'd hate to burden you with details of my present unfortunate circumstances, but I suppose there's no stopping a sweetheart like you from caring.  I'm the third son of a southern noble with little prospect to inherit.  I'm thinking of establishing a small manor somewhere nearby - far from my oh so generous siblings.  I'm looking for capable associates to help me, and a band of enthusiastic adventurers would suit my purposes admirably...  If being rewarded handsomely suits their purposes."

"How handsome a reward and what is the task at hand?" Callie asks succinctly.

Dido eyes the card and looks back at Kitau with an unsure expression. "I wouldn't recommend for anyone to do such dangerous jobs alone. You didn't INTEND to... did you? Either way, I'm coming with you when you head that way..."

  Clarence would wonder just how many well armored girls carry business cards advertising their use of such, but just because he has a high Perc doesn't mean he was paying complete attention over there.

  "Is there an option for moderate reward with a vast chance of surviving to spend it, perchance?  Or is that just too much to hope for when it comes to propositioning any adventurous sort."

Kitau nods to both Dido's question and his statement without any further elaboration.  She turns her attention back to the Tiefling who's now used words that are more to her liking.  Namely, adventurers rewarded handsomely.  Still doesn't like him.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:03, Fri 09 Apr 2010.

"Well that depends," Serim answers Callie and Clarence both, "I'm sure you've heard the news that the Skull Kicker kobold tribe has driven off it's rival clans and been aggressively raiding the King’s Road.  They're holed up in the appropriately renamed Kobald Hall.  The Lord Warden could easily eliminate this threat if he were to mobilize the city's militia, but for some reason, he chooses not to.  Instead he's posted a small 10 gold per kobold bounty.

"Not much considering the reports I hear suggest that their numbers are small.  Well I suspect that there must be a reason behind the rise of this particular tribe.  They're much more organized and aggressive than the kobolds of the past.  I'm willing to pay 100 gold to learn what power is behind these kobolds.  Additionally, I'll buy back whatever valuables the kobolds have looted at their market value.  From what I've heard, that could be hundreds of gold, so I will set the limit at 1,000.

"So that leaves it up to you what ratio of reward to risk you desire.  If you take 100 volunteers, that's still potentially 11 gold per person.  Of course, the fewer you take the larger the reward per person.  Since they're holed up in the old keep, a small but highly capable group would probably be best, but again, it's entirely up to you how you want to lessen your risk should you choose to take on the task."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:08, Fri 09 Apr 2010.

Callie gives a thoughtful look as Serim explains. "Well trouble HAS been increasing. Which is why I was heading out of town for a while here shortly. And we have had an adventurer or two stop through, but... they usually either said they would do it and then left town in the opposite direction, or flat out refused. I was going to investigate it at the least and hopefully find no evidence that people died trying to do this."

Dido also listens in and hears what Serim has to say. He smiles at Kitau. "Looks like you and I don't have to be alone in this. We should go introduce ourselves to our potential companions." he says, standing, though he waits for Kitau to get up before he does any walking towards the table the other two are at.

  Clarence would be sure the Kobolds were employing bears somehow to be such a problem, but even their nonsensical ire with such animals had limits.  "Well, as much as what passes for my common sense suggests otherwise, I'll come along with you if you need the help Callie."

  They consider Serim for a moment, then ask "And assuming you don't come along for this little adventure yourself, where would we come back to meet you?"  But odds were good they would come along.  Harder to make sure the hired looters Adventurers actually gave you the treasure when you didn't come with them.

Kitau carefully considers Dido's suggestion.  She really doesn't like the idea of working for a Tiefling, but she likes the idea of having to compete with a competent group for killing kobolds even less.  Best to be a part of the group and take advantage.  As for the Tiefling... keep you enemies closer.  She makes up her mind, stands, and follows Dido's lead without a word, taking her business card back.

Serim chuckles at the exchange.

"She's as brave as she is beautiful," he comments of Callie, "And if it helps your sense of common any, sir, it seems we have two more capable looking people showing interest."

He gives a nod to the new arrivals.

"Serim Selduzar at your service," he introduces, "This is Callie, cleric of Sehanine; and Clarence, Druid of vermin warding.  If you didn't happen to overhear, I'm offering a 100 gold bounty to any group who brings information of who is organizing the attacks carried out by the Skullkicker clan holed up in Kobald Hall.  Also, I'll be buying back up to 1,000 gold worth of merchandise recovered from them."

He turns to Clarence.

"I'm not qualified to join you," he admits, "I'll likely still be staying here at the inn when you return.  If not, I'll be easy enough to find.  I plan to use the time building a reputation for myself."

Callie blushes lightly at Serim's complement. "...thanks.." she says quietly in response. When Serim turns their attention to the ones walking over to them, Callie looks over to Kitau and Dido. She gives them both a warm smile in greeting.

Warm Smile (Callie Utility 1)
"With a smile that lights the night
 as day, Callie gives others pause."
Encounter * Radiant
Free Action    Sight
Target: Each creature that sees Callie
Attack: Charisma vs Will
Hit: Target is dazed until the end of
 Callie's next turn.

(OOC: Just kidding, of course. XD But was fun writing it.)

Dido blushes from the smile and tries not to let it show. He smiles at Callie, then Serim and Clarence. "Greetings. My name is Dido. I am a paladin serving the Platinum Dragon and Moradin." he places his hammer upon the ground, hammer end up and next to him. It is something he always does when mentioning the name of Moradin among those who are not enemies as a sign of respect to the god of Earth and Stone. Of course, the people here have no way of knowing this. "And this beautiful fey flower is Kitau." he says, switching the hammer over to his left hand and presenting Kitau with the now-free right hand.

"I am pleased to meet you all." He caught himself from saying "honored" since that would not be entirely true. He believes strongly that to actually say he is honored, he has to know the person he is talking about first.

  Serim's flattery is completely wrong.  Callie would be off to Punt Asmodeus a few Hells upwards if she was as brave.  "Can't really fault you for your choice of location, and your choice to stay here."

  Clarence looks over to the short ones he is not so personally familiar with.  'Always a pleasure to meet those more heavily armed than me who intend to use such on someone else."

   Halflings with Bastard Swords.  Halflings with Warhammers.  Gnomes with... Wow.  Clarence can't help but glance at his  worn whatever-wood-was-handy-at-the-time staff, but it's not like he ever hits people with it anyways.

  OOC Style: <Neeeeeeeerd>Your Callie utility is clearly impractical.  If they are dazed until the end of your next turn, then they will be too out of it to blindly agree to your request on your next turn.</Neeeeeeeerd>

  Also, was messing around with the Builder.  It doesn't factor in the AC/Reflex for when you have a spiked shield equipped (Spiked shield turns up on the 'weapon' list, I know they can factor implements that raise defenses, but I guess they never got around to it with the spiked shield).
  We know for a fact spiked shield also = light shield, I'm mentioning this so Mitten's doesn't figure Kitau's stats too low when they figure when with Spiked Shield equipped in Off-Hand slot.

  Was also reminded that not only do shield bonuses not stack, but you just plain can't dual wield shields for... some reason.
  Even more >.<, the 'two weapon defense' specifically labels it as a 'shield bonus', so using a spiked shield on top of that is useless.

  So yeah, Kitau may want to drop spiked shield prof unless they still want it for the style points (if they still have two-weapon defense build in for free).
This message was last edited by the player at 03:42, Sun 11 Apr 2010.

Kitau frowns, the right corner of her upper lip twitching.  She keeps her eyes fixed on the Tiefling, making it look like he's the only one annoying her.  But since she didn't smile back to Callie or blush at Dido, it's anyone's guess if she's simply ignoring their pleasantness or she dislikes smiles and compliments.

"And what will you do with that 1,000 gold worth of stolen goods once you've laid claim to it?" she asks.

Serim raises his eyebrow and puts on an amused frown.

"Looks like you've got yourself a classic adventuring party, Callie" he says, "Cleric, Paladin, druid, fighter.  Well I suppose you should have a rogue and a wizard join you for good measure, but that's up to you.  As for what I'll do with the goods, I haven't made up my mind.  I'm thinking of asking the church help me with locating the owners so they can buy back their goods.  Of course, should you choose to keep any of it for yourselves, that's your prerogative; I'm not the one who'll have to explain to the original owners or law enforcement 'finders keepers.'"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:27, Mon 12 Apr 2010.