Archer nodded to Fae, agreeing that it's good to not live up to bad expectations.  To the gnome's question he answered, "The other two ladies are resting."

He's a tad surprised at how excitable this one is and sweatdrops at the task.  This is like a dwarf trusting a human to sort through miscellaneous chunks of ore.

"Will completing this task be considered sufficient payback for staying at the inn."

The gnome responds, "Completing? .....hahahahahahahahahahaha!" he falls on his back and rolls around some, laughing. "Comple-heeheehee... comple-*pant* *gaaaaasp* ....hahahahahahahahaha"

Fae says, "How much are we expected to do? I don't understand. Why are you laughing?"

The gnome holds a hand up as if to say with body language "hold on" and slowly collects himself before standing up. "OK. So."

The gnome explains that misc stuff gets poured into this room at random intervals. So the pile "regenerates". So there is no completing the task. But what he expects is for the trio to do what they can. For every 5 hours put in, they pay for a night at the inn. "Butifthiswasn'texplainedtoyou,thefirstnightisfree."

He proceeds to spill all kinds of info: However, obviously, working for 5 hours ensures another night at the inn. 10 hours would mean 2 nights and not having to work the next day. And so on. They DO have an "overtime" and it is based off of what percentage of hours you worked in the day or more you have been working. Examples include overtime pay for people who work 15 hours in a single day. Or 30 hours in two days. And so on.

He then faces Lerkeeb. "Nowforyourquestion."

He continues his talking at about 250 words per minute, explaining what counts for functional. And seems to be going through some of the junk himself to do so.

Bent bolt? No longer useful. Needs to be melted down. Goes in "scrap metal" pile.
Paper that has any space on it at all? Useful! Can use it to take notes and such.
Random object that seems to have no function? Useful! Can be used to prop things up.
Apple core? Not useful. But if it has seeds, those are useful!
Broken mug? Not useful. Unless its handle is still in tact, then the handle can be used as a "loop" or "hook"
Bag of shattered glass? Not useful. Goes in the recycle pile.
Magical item? Useful! Put it in the lost and found pile.
.....
He keeps going until stopped.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:47, Wed 07 Oct 2015.

  As long (and fast) winded as it is Lerkeeb isn't going to be the one to interrupt because the more the Gnome talks, the more bits are revealed as qualified.

  Unless they spiral off into a tangent, they it would be in the best interest to pull the emergency brake.

Archer does not appreciate being laughed at, but he keeps silent during the answer.  When it becomes apparent that the gnome likes the sound of his own voice, Archer quietly gets to work sorting.  Should he find an item of questionable destination, he'll show it to the jabber-jaw, implying he expects him to clarify where it should go.

Fae begins helping also. It is a relatively boring task. Fae looks to the other two as she sorts. "So where are you two from, anyway?"

The gnome, of course, continues babbling and is happy to answer questions as they are directed at him.

  Oh that's right, Lerkeeb based his backstory on a mentioned a single time piece of flavor text didn't he?

  "I am from *insert Feywild Eladrin city here*.  I'm sure you all would find it more pleasant than the Fortress of Frozen Tears"

Archer doesn't know what to make of Lerkeeb's comment.  "Can't say I'm familiar with either place, but it's sounding to me like both are very harsh, yours slightly less so.  Myself, I come from X Forrest.  Mostly pleasant for natives.  Very unwelcoming to outsiders.  So I learned that if I wanted to see anything new, I would have to leave.

"How about you, Fae?  Was there anything pleasant from where you come from?"

---

OOC X forrest = Witch Wood?  I seem to remember some "wood elf only" woods from some setting somewhere...

Fae says, "The Feywild is known for being a bit extreme, yes... but there are safe havens. I can only hope Lerkeeb's home is one such safe haven. As for where I come from? The city is named Chaulssin. It is unknown at large, both to surface dwellers and even to most dwellers of the Underdark. Its remoteness makes it pleasant in that there are fewer enemies. Training was hard in the ninja school I was put in, but our master was, thankfully, 100% fair. She never punished without a real reason, and always rewarded any merited actions. But she died and a new master took her place. One who was 100% unfair. That's when things went downhill and our school faced extinction. So I left and traveled the Underdark for the past decade. In that time, I got to see the other places and how they compare to Chaulssin... The Underdark is a horrible, cold place, devoid of mercy.... do you suppose your people would accept me if you vouched for me, Archer?"

She looks at Lerkeeb. "Or you? Are your people accepting of outsiders?"

  "Unfortunately, the reaction to Drow would likely be typical, even if we are more open to outsiders than some."  It comes with having the DnD equivalent of the Keebler elves (Well, Gnomes in that case) selling baked goods across the planes based out of your city.

  Which means they are only snooty to most outsiders, totally better than average reception!

"Good to hear that your background wasn't all bad."

Archer shakes his head solemnly to Fae's question, "At best, my vouching for you would result in your being merely thrown out instead of imprisoned or worse.  Though I imagine that if one of our deities were to send an angel to vouch for you, that would be a different story.  And such a thing would not be too surprising at this point."

Fae says, "I hear you... we do seem to be tied together by some thread of destiny. Though it does feel like we are merely leaves being swept to and fro by the wind."

She looks from Archer to Lerkeeb. "I wonder how much of a part fate is playing, though, what with our harpy ally. Is there more to this quest of ours than elvenkind? Or is Serena just the chaos factor as is the case of any destiny?"

Lerkeeb's turn

  Well, clearly elves of all varieties are more important than other species "While these objects seem quite specific, I would not be surprised if such things were not fully coincidental"  Damnit, Lerkeeb.  Your common sense is getting away of your snooty elfness again.

"Perhaps destiny itself is but a leaf blown in the wind.  I worry for our future, but at least one of those worries is not that my allies will mistreat me for my race.  That alone is enough for me to take heart that not only are we destined to be together, we are most likely predicted to survive what more ordeals may come."

(Fast Forward)

The group finds working here and living here to be tolerable at worst and downright fun or relaxing at best. Gnomes are a lively, eccentric bunch. They are all easily able to contribute. It's kind of funny watching Serena sort junk, though, as she tends to use her feet to grab and examine things.

After about four days, June calls the group together. "This place is very nice. But we have been tasked with finding the rest of the magical items. I think coming here once in a while to relax could be a good idea, but for now, maybe we should think about moving on?"

Faerema says, "Easy for you to say. Serena and I were very lucky to find acceptance with you bunch. Lucky to find acceptance here with the gnomes. But luck only goes so far, you know?"

Serena just slides her foot, one wing behind her and the other held up to cover her mouth.

  A shame to hide such a pretty face, but he understands her self consciousness considering even after rescuing her she was afraid to talk.

  "There is that, yes.  I suppose I will just have to risk also being less than popular, when I light people trying to hurt you just for that on fire."  On hit triggers to add fire help with this claim.  Eldritch blast? On fire. Eye bite? On fire.  Witchfire? On fire, then more on fire.

Archer looks a little surprised by the suggestion.  But first he comments to Lerkeeb, "I'd wager each of us would not be entirely popular in most places we visit, regardless of whether we defended one another."

To June he says, "I thought we were waiting for some sort of sign or guidance.  Because outside that, I honestly don't know where we're supposed to go from here or what we're supposed to do next.  Do you?"

June squirms. "...sorry. Perhaps it is my human side that is growing impatient. But I wonder if I'm not supposed to wait for a sign. I realize there isn't anything to go on, but I worry I'm wasting time."

Faerema says, "There is much to be said for action, but also much to be said for patience."

Serena says, "I... have a suggestion. We could be searching and still stay here. All we would have to do is have one of you offer up a reward for information on any heavily elven-related activity. Then you sift out the information given to things you deem best to pursue?"

  Hah, clearly Eladrin are the most popular of Elves.  So any issues will be minor compared to the rest.

  "That is a wonderful idea, Serena.  Though we would not be able to offer much of a reward at first, I suppose it was already inevitable we would need to seek out better paying jobs ourselves.  Adventuring is expensive."

Archer nods to the ideas offered.  To June he clarifies, "Please do not conclude from what I said earlier about my assumptions that I was accusing you of being impatient.  You asked an important question the rest of us should have been asking as well.  Thank you for taking initiative.  And thank you, Serena, for the good idea."

He nods to Lerkeeb.  "Good point.  the better the offered reward, the more likely it is we'll get an answer."

June says, "Then maybe the answer is for us to adventure for a bit. We'll need to in order to get richer and earn reputations as heroes... it might even help Faerema and Serena."

Faerema says, "Earning a reputation... Serena and I really need that. And if we are going to get anywhere with our quest of seeking out relics, we'll need that reputation or else meet roadblocks every step of the way."

Serena asks, "Then... the plan now is to be heroes?"

June nods. "Yes."

  "It is true that while less pleasant, such tasks build a better reputation than more mundane ones."  Unless it was a really, really good bakery or something.  But Lerkeeb doubts he can compare to his patron's brand of baked goods.

Archer gives the idea some thought.  "I wonder if perhaps the next vision or visitation is waiting for us to reach a certain level of skill before contacting us again.  If history is any guide, we can expect each new trial to be more dire than the last.  I hate to say it, but right now the only lead we have is that goblin-infested town.  Serena, you don't have to go.  We'll understand."

Serena squirms and slowly nods. "If... you're going to that place, I'll just stay here until you return."

June glances at Archer. "Didn't we grab whatever we could from there?"

Fae just rests her chin in her hand in thought.

  "If is the only location of note nearby that we know of, yes.  There is also the matter of who the Goblins thought they were working for." You know, Fae.  "Clearly wherever their orders by letter comes from knows something."

  He nods to Serena, "I can not blame you for wishing to avoid that place."  What with the torture and all.  Such a gentle feathered lady, despite her totally metal name of Serena Bloodfeather.

  Then again, he lights people on fire and his name is a jumble up of a cookie company.