"Me? You flatter me, sir. My family is attached to the court of our Princessa. I am a recent graduate of the Great School, just beginning to find my way."

Rodrigo considers the situation over his drink. "Once my lady travelling companion has recovered from her conquest, I should like to introduce you. I think your kind offer of assistance would be appreciated."

He beckons the barkeep over. "Come, my good sirrah. You overheard our talk. What can you tell me of old Fando?" The elf slips the man a few silver.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:28, Sun 03 Aug 2014.

Elwood tips his hat to Anneth when Rodrigo mentions her.  Then he listens in to the barkeep to see what there is to learn about Fando.

"Well... I guess it'd be alright for you to look at the ship," Wyndham replies to Anneth. "Hey! Maybe that's what I could do! Charge a small fee to visit the ship! I can't see how else I can make any money out of it."

"I'll tell you what, though. Since you gave me the idea, I'll let you visit it for free! The first time. But, if you can think of some other way to earn money off of that mistake, I'll cut you in for half! How does that sound?"


"Can't say as I know any Fando," the bartender answers Rodrigo as he pockets the coins, "unless it was that quirky silver-haired fella that passed through."

"Well, now, I can't rightly say as how he passed through here. He did stop in here for a drink and a meal. Spent the whole time pouring over some scrolls. As I recall, I heard him tell someone he was going up into the hills to get some rock samples. That's be near where old Wyndham over there says he has a ship! Can you believe that? What would a ship be doing in the hills?"

"But, as I was saying, I don't recall this Fando fella coming back through town. He might have, of course, and I missed him."


Talis, Durek and Kareth continue to sit at their table and drink while keeping an eye on the place. Talis spots the Halfling pull something out of his pocket. Although he isn't actually pointing it, he does kind of surrepititiously 'aim' it in Anneth's general direction. As Talis watches, the Halfling passes his hand over the device in what looks like some arcane gesture.


Rukao and Geirdon are still outside, kind of taking in the village and keeping an eye on the horses and wagon. It's a peaceful little village. As they watch, though, they spot a dust cloud coming from the north. Within moments the thundering sound of galloping hoofbeats rumble through the ground.

Talis nudged Durek and Kareth and motioned, with his eyes, toward the Halfling's surreptitious antics.

Rodrigo perks up at the bartender's information. “Well, that could very well have been the old dog himself, sir. My thanks.” He turned to look over his shoulder at the the indicated man, 'Wyndham.' Noting that he was the man sitting with Anneth, the elf returned his attention to his new friend.

“Elwood, do you know this Wyndham at all?”

Durek takes a drink from his ale and nods in acknowledgement to Talis observation.

OOC question for the DM: Does Elwood know Wyndham, or were we just sharing a table?

Anneth feels things.  Surprise.  Shock.  Pleased that she was able to make a profit.  She also feels herself "snapping back".  "Yes.  I would like to discuss this with my business relations." Finishing her meal in one quick swoop, Anneth makes a "wait" gesture, rises, and approaches Rodrigo.

She briefly summarises what has been said to him, in the Elven tongue.  She seems very excited.

The elf listens quietly as Anneth speaks, then raises a finger. Turning to the barkeep, Rodrigo asks, "Do you have rooms to let? If not, can you direct me to someone who does?"

Pfui. Took longer to get caught up than I thought. RL things to do. Also discovered that the lightning strike took out the router, the Vonage phone jack, the ethernet card on the desktop computer (so it can't connect to the Internet), and did something to the big screen TV (it can't receive a signal from the satellite box).


"Yes, I have several rooms available," the bartender replies to Rodrigo. "In fact, I'm pretty much the only game in town. Oh, sure, you can rent Ma Gorton's extra room, but you'd have to put up with her incessant chatter about her family. She is a good cook, though... can't fault her for that."

"Hit me up for a room, then, and we'll adjourn there if you all don't mind?" This last directed to Anneth and Elwood.

Rodrigo gives the man behind the counter the money he requires, picks up his drink, and asks Anneth in Elvish, "Can you ask your friend to join us, Anneth?"

As he turns he catches Durek's eye, winks, then heads off to the room.

Anneth returns to Wyndham.  "It looks like said partner in business would like to discuss things with you!  Care to join us?"

Elwood finishes off his drink and gets up, pays his bill, and is ready to go.

So Rodrigo, Anneth and Elwood are adjourning to a room.


Talis, Durek and Kareth are still in the inn.


What about Gierdon and Rukao? Are you still hanging around outside?

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 98):

Until the diplomatic group gives us the all clear I think we continue to be sullen watchers sitting in the corner.

Talis makes his way over to the bar and procures a room for the three of them.  If he sees a chance he'll whisper to Anneth or Rodrigo and warn them about the Halfling's magic item.

Kareth will go outside to relieve himself and as he does so walk around the perimeter of the inn to recce the low windows and back doors. Then he slopes back inside.

Durek continues to watch the room drinking from his beer and smoking on his pipe.

Rodrigo leads the others to the room, makes introductions, and gets Wyndham to repeat his story. Once he's done, Rodrigo asks, "Who else knows about this?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Fri 29 Aug 2014.

"Knows about what?" Wyndham asks in response to Rodrigo's question. "You mean the ship in the hills? Heck, just about everyone should by now, I'd guess. It hasn't been a secret."

"Besides, what difference does it make?"


So Aaron and Elwood are pardners, of a sorts. While Elwood was in the inn, Aaron had sought out the village blacksmith. Somehow, Aaron had gotten a nick in the edge of his sword. He probably could have gotten it out with his sharpening stone, but it would have taken awhile, and that wasn't the way to treat a sword.

It took the blacksmith--Hammer Jackson--only an hour to heat the sword, pound out the edge again, then heat it, pound it, heat it, pound it, and finally quench it. After that, his sharpening stone had put the edge back on it and some fine grit sand had polished it up like new again.

Aaron supposed a weaponsmith could probably tell the sword had been reworked. It had only cost him a single gold piece.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 103):

Aaron looked over the workmanship of the sword with a critical eye and then hands Hammer his gold piece. Returning his gaze to the sword, he said "Thank you Hammer, you have done a good job. This old sword should do me service for a long time yet. It was my father's..." Aaron stopped  and stared at the sword, mesmerised. Suddenly he sheaths the sword and strides out towards the inn.

Entering the inn, he looked around in search of Elwood who doesn't seem to be around. They had arranged to meet up here after he had seen the blacksmith. So he approached the barkeep. "Barkeep," he asked, "I am meeting a friend of mine here. Have you seen a man wearing a seven pointed star?"

Rodrigo tells Wyndham that he's trying to learn the fate of Fando the Sage, and the barkeep thought the old man might've headed up into the hills.

"Maybe we can help you, friend. Especially for half the profits! Was your cousin an adventurer? Did he have ought to do with magic? What was in that backpack, could I see it, and the sword?"

In reply to Aaron Gray (msg # 104):

Looks over when he hears Aaron's booming voice.  Shakes his head and teases his friend. So you survived Old Man Griswold's final challenge too?

Aarons turns around warily to meet his old acquaintance. "Ahh, Tom," he starts, "I had not expected to see you here."

Then he begins to relax and beckons over Tom over towards a table. "Come and sit with me while I eat. It has been a long road and my feet are weary and my pack is heavy."

As they head to a table, Aaron calls to the barkeep "I would have some hearty stew if you would be so kind."

And then back to Tom, "And to answer your enquiry, yes, I did survive that last fight at Griswolds. It cost me a broken arm, but the other fella was worse off."

"But, before we reminisce, have you seen a man with a seven pointed star? He is a friend I was travelling with and we arranged to meet here."

In reply to Aaron Gray (msg # 107):

Joins Aaron at his table.

Chuckles.  I only suffered a sprained wrist and a bunch of bruises.  The other guy had a concussion as I knocked him out.

In a much quieter voice: I think he went upstairs with a couple of other individuals.

Elwood is curious about the flying ship, but he'll sit back and let Rodrigo and Anneth handle the questioning.  He takes some mental notes to share with Aaron once he gets to the inn, but mostly just listens.