The world has never been a safe place. Bastions of civilization populate a dark, menacing world—islands of order and reason exist in a land otherwise overrun by dark cults, vile monsters, creatures from the dark edges of the imagination, and worse. As deadly as the world is on a normal day, something has begun to stir on the fringes of the civilized Elsir Vale. Formerly the site of an attack by an army known as the Red Hand, the Vale has known several years of peace since brave adventurers stormed into the teeth of the approaching Hand and sent them scurrying back into the darkness.

Brindol is nestled close to the center of the Elsir Vale. A decent-sized town, Brindol is actually quite bustling for a farm town.

Whatever your reason for being here, Brindol is where you have wound up. The guards at the gateway to Brindol see you and say, "Halt! Who goes there?"

(OOC: Igatho is not part of the team yet. If you guys want to have met each other already, cool. If not, please make sure you all will meet inside Brindol at some point. I chose to exclude Igatho so as to have some controlled conditions in which Igatho can safely meet the team.)

https://docs.google.com/spread...520/edit?usp=sharing
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Wed 15 July 2015.

A grizzled looking human adventurer replies, "Toothix.  Here on business.  Where's th' pup?"

His travel-worn equipment speaks of many scrapes, and his Popeye squint betrays his no-nosense attitude.

  "I haven't been away that long, have I?" Kyle grew up in this town, but these days he has spent more of his time away guarding one trade caravan or another.

  Kyle is much less grizzled, if only because his face came that way.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 1):
With a cold sigh and much irritation at being held up for a long journey a deep violet skinned drow lower the the scarf around her face to reply " Simply passing through."

The guard nods to Kyle. "Good to see you, Kyle." then looks at the other two. "The pub? Well there's Ilya’s Cardhouse, The Marooned Schooner, Cleftie’s, Brindol Gentleman’s Club, the Blue Parrot and the Antler & Thistle."

He gives a quick low-down on which ones are more ritzy than the others and once Toothix and/or Nina pick one, he gives directions.

Toothix snirks at the Drow's non-reply, keeping any further commentary to himself.

"Thanks.  Freelance merc by trade.  Heard Brindol's been havin' goblin troubles.  Happ'n t' specialize in goblin 'diplomacy,' heh.  I'll be at Cleftie’s if any pay'n opportunities happen along y' need extra muscle fer."

He follows the directions given.

  Clefties at least keeps the glasses clean while not charging extra for it, so Kyle starts wandering in that direction himself.

  "It does seem to be a popular profession, though too many mistaking it as a fancy word for brigand."

In reply to Kyle (msg # 7):

The drow nods silently while replacing the scarf tho hide all but her eyes, after the things she had seen over the past few weeks she would follow the nearly intoxicating smell of liquor to Clefties to drink away the lingering horrors.

Nina doesn't notice or care that the guards have a knowing smile on their faces. Nor did it even seem to matter that the guards made no big deal out of a drow coming into town.

Toothix didn't really notice anything either.

Kyle, however, definitely noticed the all-too-familiar "boy are THEY in for a surprise" look on the guards who have no better pass time than to cause some form of mischief even if they can't be around to watch it happen.

When the bunch make it to Clefties, they see the familiar overweight, hairy, balding bartender. To the far corner of the bar is a couple humans flirting with some big-breasted lady.

But on the other side of the bar is a seven-and-a-half-foot tall blue-skinned, blue-haired baby. A bar maid is cooing at the baby and making the baby giggle.

"Heh," Toothix agreed with Kyle.

On the way to the bar, a cockatoo had landed on Toothix's shoulder, and he introduced it as Dre.  Inside the bar, when he catches sight of the baby, (extended werewolf transformation cutscene complete with bone-snapping sound-effects) Toothix suddenly transforms into an antropomorphic black cat.

"Aaaw!?  Shes so cuuuute!"

He approaches with a loving smile and opens his arms with a big smile!  "Hugs!"

The cockatoo hops off his shoulder and perches on a chair back.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:12, Sat 04 July 2015.

  "Well, that's new."  No, not the sudden display of catface (which is also new), but the giant baby, in case you couldn't figure it out.

  Still, they haven't kicked it out of the place yet so... The baby can handle booze more than a dwarf?  Looks like that second unlisted insight check botched.

In reply to Kyle (msg # 11):

Ignoring the blue giant in the corner the drow heads for the bar and drops a large pouch which jingles with the sound of coin, "The strongest ale you have."

As she raises her mug the smooth black cloak shifts to reveal the razor sharp daggers strung at her side.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:21, Sat 04 July 2015.

The baby looks surprised to see a kitty charging, but accepts the hug. The bar maid squeaks at the sight, covering her mouth. But she calms down seeing the stranger means no harm.

The bartender looks at the drow. "Strongest? Sorry to say, but all we got for that is this here Witch's Barf." he shoves a drink to Nina. It's decent tasting. Not the best, but not the worst. But it does have some kick to it. Nina is well aware of her limits and knows she could handle this mug... and MAYBE one more before going full-on drunk.

The bar maid Melody spots Kyle and hurries over to him. "Oh Kyle, you're back. Heh... the guards fail to tell you about the baby?"

The baby then hefts the kitty into the air, if he lets her, and goes to follow Melody.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:29, Sat 04 July 2015.

Lucky cuddle-purrs and rubs his fluffy cheek against the baby's, purring and tail-wagging.

"Hello!  My name is Lucky.  What's your name, cutie pie?"

  "Hello, Melody.  Yeah, they neglected to mention that particular detail."  He looks up at the baby, and comments "At least she seems to be popular."

In reply to Kyle (msg # 15):

The drow looks around the room amused at the sight of the baby petting the man sized cat person, but just as quickly as the calm sets in the storm returns as the blood filled memories and screams return.

She quickly grabs another mug and chases the scenes in her head away.

The bartender knows it is none of his business what is troubling the drow. Normally, he'd ask a gal what ails her, but this is a drow. Drow are not to be messed with and he doesn't want to risk upsetting her.

Melody nods. "Yeah. She's a frost giant. Some adventurers killed her parents, but weren't interested in killing a child, so they dropped her off here. Turns out, she is happy, s'long as you give her something to smash once in a while. So who are your... friends?" she glances at Lucky and then to the drow. "Lucky, I got. But who's the girl and what's the story on these two?"

Igatho's voice proves to be exactly like that of a toddler, just louder. "Story!" She then looks at Lucky. "My name is Igatho! I like pie!"

Nina's second drink is either less strong, or the memories haunting her are making a stronger effort than she anticipated.

"I like pie too," Lucky mews happily petting the baby's hair, "But I looove Igatho!"

The cockatoo is gone.  In it's place is a cherub kitten.  She flutters over to the Drow and gives her a concerned look.

"Whatsa matter, pretty lady?"