Gierdon looked at the dwarf and then to the board and back. "Aye! I'll give it a go! What are we playing?"

"Since you're new here, we'll keep it simple," the other Dwarf replies. "Five darts each alternating, high score wins. We've only got three sets of darts, though, so the most you can win is 2 gp. By the way, my name's Granite. This here's Rupert, Brock and Karak."

He introduced the other three Dwarves that are playing darts. Other Dwarves don't seem to be with this group.

"If that's alright with you," Granite adds, handing Gierdon the darts he's holding, "you can go first. I'll sit this one out. Besides, we need some more ale."


((OOC: If you want to roll for success, 1d20+Dex mod five times.))

Anneth hears a voice much like Gierdon's.  She smiles inwardly.  "Thank you, love.  I'll have that Zhar Grand Wine, if you don't mind...not much of one for ales.  And, hmm, I'd like to ask you about food once my friends arrive."

Less than a minute later, a goblet of the requested wine is placed on the counter in front of Anneth.

"That'll be 2 silvers, miss," the bartender tells her.

Anneth hands the young woman four silver coins.  "So," she takes a sip from the goblet, "Even if an elf were to keep their magic in check, they wouldn't be permitted here?  Apologies for being an uneducated outsider, as it were..."

The bartender gives Anneth a strange look before he responds.

"I'm not quite sure what you mean, Miss," he says. "Anyone is permitted here, even hobgoblins." He nods in the direction of the hobgoblin sitting beside her. "Even clerics, for that matter, though he'd be wise to keep it to himself."

"Why would anyone keep their magic in check? Only those without magic are unwelcome in the city. Well, not so much any more. And Dwarves are an exception."

"M'name is Gierdon." Gierdon introduced himself as he took the 5 darts from Granite. He squared hisself with the board, took aim, and let loose with each dart successively. After throwing his darts and stepping to the side for the next dwarf he asked whomever of the group would listen, "So what's up with this place? Jungle themed, thug guarded, elven prohibited tavern?"

[OOC: 08:29, Today: Gierdon Warbeard rolled 10,16,11,19,5 using d20+2 x5. darts. Total=61]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:13, Wed 19 Feb 2014.

Rukao let out a small, amused chuckle as he heard the exchange between Anneth and the waitress. Perhaps he'd just been bluffing with his earlier comments, testing the girl to see just how new and naive she was.

Still, he tucked the crime reports into a pile seeming quite disappointed with what he was finding. Hobgoblins who could cast magic were odd and even if this one could, he didn't look to be well equipped to solve or protect against crimes done using magic.

"The names Rukao, girl. Rukao Faestalker. Sounds like your in a bit of trouble. Or looking for some," it wasn't clear whether he was offering to help or threatening to turn her in.

Brock was the next to go. Although he didn't seem to be particularly skilled at the sport, he'd obviously done a lot of practicing.


22:08, Tue 18 Feb 2014: Brock rolled 14,17,12,17,8 using 1d20+1,1d20+1,1d20+1,1d20+1,1d20+1 ((13,16,11,14,7 = 61 total)).

"Thug guarded?" Granite repeated, glancing around looking for whom qualified as a 'thug'. "I don't think so; this place doesn't even have an unbrawler. Wouldn't do much good against magic anyway."

"Elf prohibited?" he repeated, sounding even more confused. "I'm not even sure how that would be possible. Why? What made you think that? I think Brumleigh and Quilliken there would be highly amused to hear that... or maybe upset." He was indicating a table where two of the other Dwarves were engaged in some sort of dice game with, apparently, two Elves.

"Definitely a jungle theme, of sorts," he agreed with Gierdon's first comment. "But this is Glantri City! There ain't no room for ordinary here! Pubs in other towns can get by on good food, gossip and camaraderie, but that won't cut it in a city where magic flows in the streets!"

Rodrigo's expression freezes as the pretty young lady turns and catches him staring. Recovering quickly, he smiles back, an admission of having been caught, a little self-deprecating perhaps -- 'boys will be boys.'

'My, she does fill out that robe nicely,' he thinks to himself, bowing.

'Can't abandon my new acquaintances, they could be held hostage even now...' The thought forces itself to the forefront of his attention.

Seeing his score already beaten Gierdon looked at Granite with confusion apparent upon his face. "Odd...I know of an elf who tried entering earlier. I was told that when he approached the door he was greeted by a couple of burly guys who denied him entry because he was an elf," he said as he cast at the two elves playing dice. "He tried to work his way through with some sleep magic but it had no effect on the two. They were about to whollop him when a lady and I stepped in to stop it. We came back shortly later and see no trace of them. Just seems kinda odd, the whole event."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 06:49, Thu 20 Feb 2014.

"Oh, that sounds like Buzz and Red," Granite replies. "Hard to believe anyone that stupid can cast magic, isn't it? They're just a couple of bullies, prone to what they think is an amusing prank."

"As for the magic, if that was out on the porch, that's because Rumguzzle paid the Guild to put an anti-magic field on it. He got tired of brawls spilling out into the street and then erupting into fireballs and lightning bolts."

"Glad they didn't keep you from coming back. It's the only pub in the city that has excellent Dwarven ale and even serves Dwarven food."

Durek walks in the inn, and finds an empty table.  Motioning for Kareth and Talis to join him he moves over to the table.  Once seated he orders an ale and takes in the scene; "What now?"

In reply to Durek (msg # 81):

A tall, muscular Elf with blonde hair and sparkling Amethyst eyes strode into the Tavern and took in the exotic sight with a smile "Now this is how you make an impression through decoration!" he exclaimed.

The Elf was wearing Plate Armor under a tasteful black robe trimmed with scarlet and
gold.  On his back is a Bow of fine Elven make and an archaic Battle Sword that few men could heft, let alone wield.

He quickly joined the Dwarf who had proceeded him into the Barrel of Moneys and ordered an Ale.  "The Dwarf-iest Ale you have!" he added as an afterthought.

He turned his attention to Durek and said "Well the easiest, most direct method would simply be to ask the Barmaid or Barkeep if they know this Manfred character.  Perhaps we should start there?"

This message was last edited by the player at 19:13, Sat 22 Feb 2014.

"Well, thank you for the game, but I see my friend who I've been waiting for there at the bar. Here's my gold piece you've won. May we meet again." Gierdon stated as he handed the winnings to Granite.

He turned and walked to the bar to where Anneth was sitting and tapped her on the leg. "I see you've made it here. I'm gonna check to see if maybe Rodrigo is waiting for us outside. Order me a Dwarven ale for my return."

Rodrigo, spotting an elf walk in with some companions, thinks, 'Now's the time to go in! See what happens to him, and another to fight on our side if the attackers show themselves!'

He approaches the door cautiously, then enters.

His eyes cannot believe what they see.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:06, Sun 23 Feb 2014.

"Mine is Anneth Mage-Singer.  I'm looking to avoid trouble, if possible... Since the bartender said that anybody is permitted, why would there have been two large men standing outside this place giving my good friend, the aforementioned elf in black, trouble?" Anneth sips her wine.  Wow, now that was good stuff.

She lets out a cry, feigning surprise and satisfaction at the sight of Gierdon.  "Oh, Gierdon!  I was wondering where you were.  Yes, go look for Roddy, will you." She motions for the barkeep, and requests an ale for the Dwarf, handing him her coins as she does.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Sun 23 Feb 2014.

Gierdon smiled at Anneth's nickname given to the elf. As he turned to leave, he saw a couple elves walking in, one being Rodrigo. He walked over and saw Rodrigo awestruck by the sight of the decorations. "Hey Roddy! Quite a number they've done in here. Takes a bit for the eyes t' get used to. Anneth's over by the bar," he said, nodding his head back to where he just came from. "Finding a table might prove a bit difficult seeing as how busy this place is. But I believe I've gotten some info as to what happened."

Placing his hand around his tankard and stroking it lightly he gave Anneth's question a knowing smile. "Oh, come now... It should be obvious." He took a brief moment to glance over his shoulder as though to check to see if anyone was listening before looking back to Anneth and continuing in a serious tone.

"This city-- its run by wizards. Humans who spend every waking hour of their day with their noses buried in ancient books in hopes of learning the secrets of the universe. These are men who would do anything to extend their lives even a day to learn just a little bit more. Who will turn themselves into horrific creatures, make pacts with devils or bind their souls to inanimate objects thinking that just one more day of study will give them the answer they need to become a god."

He looked away from Anneth, lifted his tankard up and took a small gulp, letting that sink in-- the truth about the desperation of wizards, at least the type of wizards who would make a magic city and appoint themselves its grandmasters. As he lowered the tankard he continued, though he didn't look back at Anneth quite yet, "Now, imagine if you will how such people who feel their life draining away with every tick of the clock must feel about a group of people who have all the time in the world, who never need sleep a wink... and yet take such a relaxed approach to their studies that their fitness, their health, their beauty need not be sacrificed one bit on the altar of study."

In reply to Rukao Faestalker (msg # 87):

Talis took the Ale from the server and quaffed a large gulp.  He made a a satisfied aaahhh sound and said "That is awful, awful stuff, Durek.  How do your folk abide a drink that is almost chewable?"

With a smile Talis started to take another drink delighting in the new experience of the unpleasant hops-filled beverage when his eyes fell on Rukao.  He nearly choked.  Ale sprayed indelicately from his lips and he openly stared at the Humanoid sitting placidly amongst the bar patrons.  Talis nudged Durek "Do we...do we attack it?  Damn it! Glantri is a strange place."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:22, Mon 24 Feb 2014.

Kareth enters the pub. It's a bit too... 'friendly' for his tastes, but then most pubs are like that. It's a community thing.

He quietly finds a table along the wall to slip into the chair as he scans for the person they are looking for.

Dwarves are plentiful, even a few Elves, and a Hobgoblin! But he doesn't see his target.

He watches to see what the others do, the door swings open again and someone else walks in. At first, he thinks it's who he's looking for, but that fades in the dimmer light of the pub.

Still, he watches the man, who joins some friend in a booth in the back corner.

Then it occurs to Kareth what he just witnessed. He saw a disguise spell momentarily fail, as if his target had stepped through an anti-magic zone.

Rodrigo carefully picks his jaw up off the floor. Squinting slightly, he brings the room into focus with a monumental effort of will. “By Rad, what madness is this..?” he says. But then he chokes at the sight of a hobgoblin warrior. “A hobgoblin, and I've already used up my spell!” Realizing that he'd spoken above a whisper, he speaks quietly to Gierdon, “Say no more, I see our quarry. What's the plan, jump him when he leaves? I know a man who knows a man, we could get... let me see, perhaps five crowns for him! And that's even without the plot against elves!”
This message was last edited by the player at 20:25, Tue 25 Feb 2014.

"What?! No!" Gierdon replied looking around confusedly. "The hobgoblin has nothing to do with it. B'sides, look around, lad. No one's paying him any mind. He's talking to Anneth and she doesn't seem concerned. The two thugs are just bullies and there's a anti-magic field around the porch. It was just normal stuff, nuthin' fancy. Now let's go talk to Anneth before you jump back into the fire."

Rodrigo looks crushed. "What? No!" And then softer again, "Really? No grand plot?" The elf looks almost wistful. He sighs.

Allowing himself to be led to the bar, it's only as he arrives that it occurs to him to ask, "Say, what were you calling me earlier..?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:24, Tue 25 Feb 2014.

Anneth processes what the hobgoblin has said, and replies with, "You ought to write books." She is very clearly inebriated, now.  Such is the price of not eating much with a drink, and not having water to sip!