Moto nodded to the tall red haired man with the big mustache. He looked at the signet ring the man seemed to be playing with. “Well said...I don't believe I got your name?” Moto held out his hand in friendship.

Then as the man with the longbow came over, Moto answered him. “Indeed we are. I am Moto Trema. If you are one of our number, welcome.”
This message was last edited by the player at 05:46, Wed 09 Mar 2016.

"I don't believe I gave it," the lanky man sounds most apologetic as he sets down his knife and shakes the offered hand. "Quite remiss of me ... my name is Percy.  Perch Arndell."

"Welcome, indeed," he echoes Moto's words to the new arrival, glancing lazily around the room.  "I think he might be planning an invasion rather than a reconnaissance !"

Bai continues to observe the ever growing group. They all seem friendly enough, or at least good at hiding their true motives. Finishing her second serving she went to the bar and gave her dishes to the barkeep, placing a gold coin on the bar she smiled at the man. "Thank you, the food was very good." She raised a hand to stop any denial of the money, "That's a tip, you earned it."

Moving back to the tables she took her seat and went back to simply watching the group.

Pipre leads Thistle along, following behind Rook until they reach the animal pens of the Happy Drover. If there is someone attending the pens she will give them a shiny silver piece to take care of the yak or otherwise doing it herself before moving into the inn properly. After taking in the essentials she needs, taking it off the pack saddle and carrying it in, she is in a cold sweat from the sheer level of toxins her body is sweating out from the night before.

She reads the situation quickly enough and moves to get some of the food that will nicely absorb some of the mess she drank. While getting out the coin to pay she was told that the food was on the house and with that knowledge she helped herself to a bit more. She came to sit down, squeezing herself between two other people to make a spot for herself at the table and not seeming shy about it. She also isn't shy about eating with her dirty fingers, slender and soot-stained with dirt under her nails, and using the bread to sop up the broth. "Pipre," she would say at some point, and to no one in particular, "Alchemist."

The barkeep watches with interest as more of de le Maistre's people turn up and start tucking into the food. Perfect timing, he thinks as they all start to dig in but I hope there aren't many more of them .... the thoughts continue as he wonders whether he will have to serve his own dinner to these guests, to make up a short fall.

However, when Bai approaches the bar he is more than happy to take both the dishes and the gold coin from her.  "Thank you Ma'am." he responds with a note of surprise in his voice.

New thread is open - please move across to that.

However, please feel free to finish off any conversations in this thread, if you wish.

"An alchemist, eh," Percy greets the newcomer with a smile as he shuffles along to make room for her, absently brushing at his cloak as he replies to her succinct conversational efforts. "Lead into gold and such arcane mysteries ?  Fascinating !  Alas, I seem to possess the unhappy gift of being able to make gold vanish completely.  And quite without any effort on my part to boot.  I only wish I could tell you how I do it !"

"Percy's the name."  Out of politeness he doesn't offer a hand, as both of Pipre's seem fully occupied.

In reply to Percy Arndell (msg # 53):

Borric joined in with a laugh at Percy's joke. "The gift is a curse, I say." He turned to Pipre, "Is it true? You can turn lead into gold?" He seemed fascinated with the idea.

Thread now closed to Group 1

The Inn Keeper cleans the mugs and wipes down the bar surface as he waits for new customers.

The young man looked again at the sign above the door of the inn.

"Well, I suppose this must be the place. The Happy Drover Inn. I wonder how many people would guess that name from that picture?"

He shrugged and walked inside. After a quick glance to get his bearings he headed straight for the bar.

"Greetings, friend," he said to the barkeep. "Henry de le Maistre said he's organised lodging for his men here while we are in town. Is there somewhere I can store my gear?"

He indicated over his shoulder with his thumb at the backpack, bedroll, waterskin, shield, morningstar and crossbow with which he was burdened.

"Back here," he says leading Andalon to the bunk room, "It is just going to be you and your mates in here, so it should be safe enough.  You're the first so you get first pick." He rambles on companionably from the door way.

"Ale up at the bar, dinner later in the common room." he adds before he heads back to ythe bar.

This plain room has six double bunk beds set around the sides and can sleep up to twelve people, it ha a long table in the middle of the room.

Andalon says a simple "Thanks" as the barkeep finishes his brief introduction.

He looks around then swings his backpack and bedroll up onto a top bunk near the door. He covers his light crossbow with his shield on the bed then he hangs his waterskin and morningstar on the bedpost near the wall.

Then he heads back out to the bar and orders a mug of ale. When the barkeep hands over the drink Andalon reverently removes the golden key (on closer inspection it is obvious that it is just painted gold) from around his neck and touches it to the mug. "The blessings of Abadar be upon this House," he says, then drinks from the mug with obvious pleasure.

He smiles at the barkeep and raises his mug in salute.

"I trust you have made a good deal with Henry de la Maistre? Good for both of you?" he asks.

"Indeed." the inn keeper responds with a smile responding to the sign of the Golden Key, mush as one business man would to another.  "It is quiet at this time of year, just a few locals and a bit of trade as the villagers come into market. So it is good to have people in and around.  And there were a couple of very generous people among your colleagues, who went out this morning." he grins broadly.

"We get much busier into the summer as the crops start coming in, and during the last few months before winter, everyone has crop or meat for the market.  I have to take on two or three extra staff then." he says with a smile as he remembers the coin that flowed through his hands just a few months before.

Andalon looked a bit taken aback at the news of another group that left this morning.

"What? Don't tell me I was too late getting here? No, that can't be right, I only signed up with de la Maistre this afternoon. So he is hiring two teams? Did you hear where they are heading for?" he inquired.

"Out past Fort Serenko, to some place called Oleg's." The barkeep shrugs.  "There was nine in that group.  I remember Mr de le Maistre saying he needed to see one of the Swordlords, and that he would be following on in a day or two, so maybe he is just adding to the numbers while he is in town?" he half suggests, as he starts polishing at a possible stain on the bar.

A shadow descends on the doorstep of the Happy Dover.

There is a moments pause before a gloved hand reaches out to open the door and make their way inside.

Looking around, the newcomer takes stock of the surroundings and inhabitants before a hand reaches up to pull back the hood of the cloak they wear and reveal themselves. The newcomer is female, though that is likely not surprising. What is surprising is the color of her skin. Though not the rich ebony of rumors, it has a clear Grey complexion, that were not for the outcry might actually be considered lovely.

A hardened face, likely from years of learned indifference looks over the two speaking and slowly makes her way towards them.

"Let's skip the banter, shall we? " she says, in aim to avoid any hostilities. "I'm here at the request of my employer, one Henry De La Maistre. " she replies simply, pulling a glove from one hand and then the other.

Andalon glances across at the newcomer and his eyes widen in surprise before he glances away. When he looks back at her a moment later that brief expression of surprise is gone and replaced by a friendly smile.

"Me too, so it looks like we will be travelling together. I am Andalon de Lebeda, a cleric of Abadar," he says to introduce himself.

Aris'ta looks at the cleric, clearly sizing him up. A moment later she extends a hand to him.

"I am called Aris'ta, and consider myself as skilled with the bow as I am with my wit. I apologize if I came off abrupt just now, " she paused, giving the barkeep a sideways glance.

"I am not use to having a kind welcome, let alone one so friendly." she turns and smiles politely, if not shortly, towards the barkeep. "Might I trouble you for some water, if it is drinkable? If not I'll take as stout an offering as you can male. " she requests.

"I don't drink it personally" the barkeep respond, eying his new customer up, "Can't never tell when  there might be something wrong with it.  I can do some onion tea, if you want to wait for the water to boil, or there is small ale if you want something really light.  Otherwise it is just ale or stout."  He says giving a run down to the drinks available.

"The bunk room is through there." He says indicating the door through into the common  room, "I can show you through when you are ready."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:42, Mon 21 Mar 2016.

Andalon happily shakes hands with his new colleague.

"Well, there's a happy coincidence for you," he exclaimed. "One of the orisons I have prepared today is Create Water. I would be quite happy to fill a mug with clean, pure water any time you want it. Although, of course, as Abadar is the god of merchants and wealth, he may take offence if I were to do so for free. But one copper piece for a mug of pure, clean water would certainly avoid any offence to my god. Or stick with the ale - it really is quite decent."

He lifts his own mug of ale in salute to the barkeep and savours another mouthful.

A smile touches her lips, though barely, and she takes a seat. Resting an arm on the bar, she reaches into a pouch and pulls a few copper pieces from her purse. She lays two on the counter. "I assume you are the owner of the establishment? Might I please have a clean mug for my friend here to place water in?" then turns her eyes back to Andalon and holds out the other for him, held between thumb and forefinger.

"While I do not have faith myself, I would hardly wish to displease yours. My offering and thanks for the water. " she states, though knows at some point she will need to switch as she cant afford to pay for water each time. Still it would not be wise to find disfavor in newfound friends, especially those one is inclined to work with.

"Well, I run the place." The barkeep offers as he pulls out a 4-pint jug from under the counter and finds a clay cup, which he polishes with a rag - holding it up to make sure there are no smears on the glazed surface.

However, he pushes the coppers back towards Aris'ta with a grin "Just don't make too much of a habit of it, or I'll go broke."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 19:03, Mon 21 Mar 2016.

Andalon accepts the copper piece and touches it reverently to the gold painted key he wears around his neck before pocketing the coin. Then he chants a brief prayer as he holds the key firstly above the mug then above the jug as well. Both fill with clean, clear water.

He nods to the barkeep and murmurs, "Thank you."

Aris'ta looks surprised a moment, as she retrieves her coin and pockets them. She watched closely as Andalon does his blessing and sure to his world, clean, clear water appears. It has always been a marvel to her that such things worked. Though, magic was a thing of everyday.

"Again, you have my thanks. It has been a long while since I have found so kind a greeting. I shall have to recall it on the road should we encounter others not as kind. " lifting the cup to her lips, she took a sip and closed her eyes in satisfaction.

" A true talent to your profession, if I ever cross paths with anyone who questions you, I shall be sure to right their memory. " she pauses, setting the cup back down. " Tell me, what do you hope to accomplish on this excursion of ours?"