Anneth orders whatever is closest to stew, and just water.  It wouldn't do to be gathering information with an addled mind and a loose tongue.

Her mouth drops upon overhearing the man's story, and her eyes slowly drift to Rodrigo.  She says something in a melodic tongue to him.

Rodrigo nods to Anneth, indicating the man. He, too, looks interested. He leans back in his chair anticipating his wine, and the results of Anneth's efforts.

This just got better and better.

Once the meals arrive, Anneth will request a tankard of ale for the merchant.  "An ale for him, please.  On me, and with my regards." If necessary, she will describe said merchant.  She throws Gierdon a quick wink.

So, what's Anneth's order come out to, so far?  Stew, water, ale... I need to take this out of my character sheet.

Kareth doesn't go right in with Durek and Talis, he wanders about outside a little to see if the inn has a rear entrance.   Then he slips in though the front door, his gait affecting the last stages of soporific drunkenness, and slumps to sit against the wall near Durek's table, apparently asleep.

Sipping on his ale and taking in his tobacco, Durek makes eye contact Rodrigo slightly nodding his head at him.

Rodrigo raises the index finger of one hand slightly, signalling unobtrusively to the dwarf to wait a minute. The elf is hoping for a positive reaction to a lady buying a drink for a stranger.

When the drink is delivered to the merchant, he looks up suspiciously to see whose generosity is being directed his way. When he sees that it is Anneth, his face lights up as he picks up the drink and gestures to Anneth with the drink before taking a sip.


the cost to Anneth for the stew and drink is only 4sp.

Rodrigo raises his eyebrows to Anneth, then tilts his head slightly in the stranger's direction.

Elwood looks over at the newcomers who just bought a drink for his table mate but not one for him.  He's not overly concerned with the rudeness, more curious about why the merchant gets a free round but not everyone else.

The newcomers seem friendly enough.  "Welcome to..."  The lanky man turns to his table companions and asks, "Where is this place again?"

Rodrigo, thinking to move things further along and avoid trouble, stands and bows.

“I am Rodrigo de Çamora, friend. And they tell me that we find ourselves in Haggiskott.” He picks up his drink and walks over to the neighboring table. Lowering his voice, he adds to the stranger who spoke, “I think the lady likes your friend. Why don't we let them get acquainted, and I'll buy your next round over at the bar, friend?”

"Thanks, partner.  I'm Elwood.  I'm just passing through this village myself.  How about you?" Elwood accepts the Elf's offer, and once that round is finished he returns the favor.

Keeping track of Anneth in his peripheral vision, Rodrigo settles down at the bar and makes sure his new companion gets his drink. He carefully pitches his voice to carry, wanting to be overheard and trying to note any reactions.

"Well, Elwood, actually I'm looking for someone. He was on his way from Glantri City to Fenwick, and would've passed through here. Named Fando the Sage. Old human, long white beard, walked with a limp. Travelling on a wagon with a few companions. Within the past week or so."

Rodrigo leans back a bit in his chair, pauses for more observation, then asks, "Sound at all familiar?"

Anneth raises her spoon in a returned gesture to the merchant, and hands the server five whole Silver coins!  In response to Rodrigo's statement, Anneth says, "What can I say, I'm forward," and makes with her stew and drink to sit with the merchant.

"Hey there, stranger!" The dabbler-in-arts somewhat brazenly takes a seat as close to the merchant as possible.

Durek continues to sit in the corner eating his food and smoking on his pipe.

There were two people sitting with the merchant. One was Elwood, who's now gone over to the bar with Rogrigo.


The other one apparently is with the merchant.

"I'll go check the horses," he says as he gets up. He heads out the front.

"Well, I never say 'no' to a free drink... or a pretty lady," the merchant replies to Anneth.

"The name's Wyndham Kellar. I was born and raised here in Haggiskott, but I've been a traveling merchant for a dozen years now. So I know I'm not handsome enough, young enough or rich enough to interest a woman like you. That leaves you wanting something. A drink and a smile is enough to get me to listen to your offer."

He sips at the drink.


Talis is sitting at the table with Durek. And while they are pretending to be disinterested in the goings-on in the inn, they are watching out for anything unusual. The hooded figure at the bar would seem to qualify, but he hasn't looked up since the newcomers entered. On the other hand, there is a mirror on the wall behind the bar. Talis and Durek don't have the right angle of view to tell if he's watching anyone, though.

On the other hand, the Halfling and his guard seem to be rather interested in the merchant and his guests. They keep sending surrepititious glances that way.

Well, this fellow was smart.  No, Anneth did not likely find him attractive, and she was far too dysfunctional for romance - she'd tried it several times, and each lover's family found her far too off-putting for their son!  Bah.

"My name is Anneth Mage-Singer, of Ierendi.  My companions and I overheard your story - about your cousin, and his fortune and misfortune.  Might I hear the tale in whole?  We've interest in such things as you've spoken of, and may be able to help." Pah!  For what price, sorceress.

Elwood scratches his chin as he tries to remember.  "Sorry, partner, I can't say I've run into the gentleman.  The description could fit a lot of old timers and the name doesn't ring a bell.  Is he in danger?"

Rodrigo considered both his drink, and Elwood's words. Both needed... something more.

"Well, he never arrived at his destination. But he is a wizard. Is he in danger? I'd say, as much as others may wish to cause him harm. A lone wizard with a few henchmen can be overcome and robbed with good planning. And wizards sometimes carry items of value. Personally I believe someone may have coveted something of old Fando's, and that I'll find him in a ditch somewhere with the crows at his eyes. But then, my imagination runs rampant ofttimes." He shrugs.

"So, just passing through? May I ask from which way you've come, and what news of the road? Perhaps there is a clue somewhere innit. I'm bound to try and find the whitebeard, promised a friend of his."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Wed 30 July 2014.

For Anneth:

"I'm not sure how you can help," Wyndham replies, but goes into the story. A few more details are added.

"So I go to the barrister's office, and he informs me that my cousin Delron left me all his worldly possessions. Although I was astounded, it quickly turned out that that included an old rusty sword, a beat up dirty backpack, and the deed to some place called Strange Magic. It was up in the foothills here by Haggiskott."

"Well, what did I want with some out of the way place in the middle of nowhere? And just what kind of place could he have had? And why did he leave it to me?"

"I figured it must have been some final colossal joke he was playing on me. Even wondered if he was really dead."

"Although I travel this route fairly often, I wasn't interested in making a special trip. So I come down here, head up into the foothills, and find... a friggin' ship!"

"I can't even imagine how it got there! But what do I want to live in a ship for?"

"I have no idea how much it's worth. Scrap lumber maybe, but even if I wanted to take it to a river, don't know how I'd do it. Magic, of course, but that's a level of magic way beyond anything I have access to."

He stops then and takes a long draught from his ale.

Talis strained his keen Elven hearing to catch what was being said.  He related the information as best he could to Durek and Kareth.

OOC: Not adding much, just wanted to check in so you know I'm still here.

Elwood tells Rodrigo about his travels, which seem to have been just one small village after another.

OOC: nothing established about where he's been.

"If the gentleman is missing and presumed in trouble, I feel obliged to help locate him.  If you could use another set of eyes and a strong shield-arm, I'd be happy to help."

As he drains his cup and calls for another round for himself and his new drinking companion, Elwood overhears a bit of the merchant's conversation.  He'd been wandering for days searching for something worthwhile to do.  It seems like Murlynd has led him to the right place in this watering hole.

Durek continues to drink and smoke on his pipe conversing with Talis.

Rodrigo nodded his head in gratitude for the drink. He looked at the stranger from above the rim of his glass. 'Big fellow, handy in a fight no doubt. Is he no more than he appears?'

Smiling slightly, Rodrigo lets the man's offer slide by without comment for the moment. “Tell me more of yourself, friend Elwood,” asks the elf, and he allows his gaze to scan the room once more. “Where are you from, and who do you serve? I don't believe I recognize the symbol you bear.”

"Huh." Anneth's response is flat.  She was at a loss of words.  "Just...a ship, perched on a hill, like a bird?." Anneth was knowledgeable about magic, and divinations, but this was something else.  It might also be extraordinarily relevant to the task that she is a part of!  "Would you be alright if we were to take a look inside?"

Elwood points at his tin star.  "Oh, this?  It's the symbol of Murlynd.  One of the lesser known immortals.  I am from a small town in Thyatis.  Left it when I was big enough, and ended up in all kinds of trouble.  One day, while cooling off in a noble's jail cell, I had a vision.  Murlynd appeared and called me to serve him.  I changed my ways, said my vows to him, and too up his star as my symbol.  I'm sworn to uphold justice, battle evil, and prevent people from abusing magic to harm others."

Rodrigo can probably guess that there's more to the story than that, but Elwood seems a bit self-conscious talking about it.

"So, what about you, partner?  What's your story?"