At Wyn's nod, Winnie moves to claim the table indicated, but stops at  a couple of other tables on the way.  After a few coins change hands, the workers sitting at those tables get up and move to other tables that are a little bit further away.

The eldest of the new arrivals pauses at the door for a few words with Gedd, the half-orc, then nods and heads over to one of the tables that Winnie has cleared. He settles himself on a chair and looks around the common room. The contented smile on his face suggests that he could be very happy here.

As the last of their party enters the tavern, Gedd heads over towards the bar to speak to the woman behind the bar.

"Good afternoon, mam. My name is Gedd. Can you give me a quick run down on what you've got on the menu in terms of food and drink? Let's start with a couple of jugs of ale - Poacher's Pale, if you've got it - and your house wine - we are all thirsty enough after so long on the boat that the first drink probably won't even touch the sides of our throats on the way down."

Leaving a coin on the bar for her drink, Marceline turns and listens to Wyn and Pipre speak, nudging Wyn slightly when he introduces Pipre as a councillor.

"Always councillors with you." she teases, then nods to Pipre and scrutinizes her carefully. "Councillor. How can we assist you?"

Zirul shakes his head at Gedds comment.  Not all people drink such a way.  Some prefer something less damaging to the body and mind.

"Okay, I see. Looking to start a life here, I take it? That's all you had to say-- I notice you don't have many belongings with you. Would I correctly assume that arranging somewhere for you to stay would be helpful? We don't have a proper Inn yet."

Pipre notices Lark arriving, no doubt sent over by Serenity. "Ah, perfect. Lark, could you put in a request for our guests here to stay in the guest rooms at Tusk Keep? Work down the list from there."

Pipre isn't shy in scrutinizing Marceline right back. "Just Pipre is fine, love. What was your name? Tansy has a lovely anise vermouth, would you like to assist me in finishing a bottle?"

Lark enters and then exits almost as quickly, her sharp tunic and snug skirt barely having a chance to settle before she whips around back out of the tavern.

Leading the way over to the Table that Winnie has secured, Wyn smiles.  "Ahh.  Thank you.  We actually have quite a bit of luggage with us, but I have asked the captain to keep it aboard ship for the moment." he pauses for a moment as he takes his seat and waits for the drinks to arrive.  "but it is, in some respects, fortunate that you speak of not having a proper inn, because we would like to build one.  And then develop it into a proper hotel as trade picks up.  We have some experience in the field," he adds with a grin towards Winnie.

"We would, of course, be prepared to recompense the city for the disturbance this could cause as a way of demonstrating our good will.  But allow me to introduce the rest of out group.

Winnie, here is my wife.  The large chap over there sorting out the drinks, is my brother Gedd, and the Red head with him is my sister.  Dame Berta.  Marcy has been my wife's travelling companion, and will be looking for employment  here.  She is a devotee of Pharasma, and a good person to have by your side.  Folfast and P are long term retainers and friends."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Thu 05 July 2018.

Tansy loads up trays with jugs of ale and wine and  then adds a stack of cups, before she calls the waitress to take it over to the table.

"Just the house ale and wine, I don't know what Poacher's pale is.  But I'll send a tray of food over shortly.  Will you settle up when you have finished ...."  she half asks looking for assurance that the bill will be settled.

Gedd grins at Tansy's tactful question and opens his belt pouch to fish out enough coins to cover the food and drink that has been delivered or promised so far.

"Poacher's Pale Ale. Back home it was what the local woodsmen and poachers used to brew in their cabins and huts. A bit rough but cheap enough to be afforded by ordinary folk. Not to everyone's taste but if it's the only drink available you soon get used to it. Old Pete over there swears by it. That's probably why he's known as Pete the Poacher," Gedd finishes with a grin.

Then he pours a two cups of ale from the jug and takes them over to where Pete is sitting. He hands one to Pete and lifts the other to sniff its aroma before tasting it.

"Sorry, Pete. They've never heard of Poacher's Pale. Here, try their house ale instead. Hmm, a bit too sweet if you ask me. Not bad but not what you'd call a real man's drink."

Marceline thinks for just a second on Pipre's offer and nods slightly - it was foolish to turn down a free drink, after all - and nods to Pipre with a fain smile.

"Marceline. And it would be my pleasure." she says as she follows everyone to the secured tables and takes a seat across from Pipre.

She nods in agreement with most of Wyn's tales of their travels, frowning imperceptably as the elder Roth calls her Marcy and looks at Pipre.

"Just Marceline, please. It once belonged to an....hm...old friend. The rest is true; I serve Pharasma, I like Winnie more than Wyn" she looks askance at Wyn and winks "And I wouldn't mind a job."

"Well that's me told ..." Wyn mutters, before his siblings can tell him.

Winnie grins as her husband is admonished and declared less likeable than Winnie.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:03, Fri 06 July 2018.

Pete accepts the cup of ale from Gedd and savours a mouthful before responding.

"It's no Poacher's Pale, that's for sure," he agrees. "Needs to be bittered with a bit more hops. I wonder where they get this brew from? Might be an opportunity there. Once you Roths have finished your chat I think I might go and have a chat myself with the lass behind the bar."

Pipre goes up to the bar and gets a bottle she left at the tavern purposefully, and comes back with one of the fortified wines she bought last time they went to town. It's sweet and strong with an undercurrent of licorice flavor from the anise. She pours some for herself and Marceline. "We just recently began construction on a temple and gravesite to Pharasma. We have a lot of exciting new construction happening but I think of everything we need to begin focusing on paving these streets and getting drainage sorted before the uh, mud, standing water, and waste has a chance to settle in. If you wanted to build your inn, and later hotel, near my brothel I feel like we could benefit from shared custom. Don't worry, it's not a wild and filthy place at all, it's clean, legal, and-- well, as time goes on, it should only become more and more classy.

"We should definitely save the particulars for a meeting with myself, the Mayor Cass Mordane, and the Chancellor, Andalon de Lebeda." She seems very at ease discussing things with a hand-rolled cigarette and a beverage at hand.

At a nod from her husband, Winnie pulls a small pouch from somewhere inside her clothing, the looks around for somewhere to empty it.  Eventually she takes a dish from the tray of snacks, empties it into one of the other dishes, shakes it clean and pours the contents of her pouch into it. Ten pale purple beans, each with a few black specks, clatter into the dish.

"They are magic beans," she says poker faced, then her voice drops  so that she can't be heard from any of the further tables "Each one will speed up a building project so that it is finished more quickly and at a lower cost."

Pipre looks around the table, trying to decide if she's being punked.

14:19, Today: Pipre rolled 14 using 1d20.  remind me to invest in SENSE MOTIVE.

"My cousin made them."  Winnie adds as Pipre looks around.

Wyn has his normal gentle smile across his face although his hair ripples in the non existant breeze.
This message was last updated by the GM at 04:38, Sat 07 July 2018.

Marceline takes a sip of the wine and lets the flavor linger, finding herself surprised at how much she enjoyed it. "I don't drink a lot of wine, but this might just convert me." She takes a second sip and listens to Pipre speak about how the town is coming together and waits until she's done before she speaks again, savoring her glass.

"I can assist with the graves and their tending, but I must inform you that while I do serve Pharasma, I am not of the priesthood. More of a...hmm...pious freelancer? Is there such a thing?" She shakes her head. "It doesn't matter. I'll assist how I can if you would like me to." Marceline fiddles with the wine glass and hopes she hasn't given the wrong impression of herself.

When Winnie offers Pipre the beans her face goes neutral as takes a bigger sip of wine and suddenly becomes very focused on her glass and its contents.

A slow smile spreads across Gedd's face as Winnie reveals the magic beans and explains what they can do.

"Ah, Kezra, of course," he murmured.

"Has Wyn mentioned that we are hoping to build an inn and develop it into a hotel here in future?" he added softly to Pipre.

She nods slightly at Gedd and then looks back to Winnie, "Well, I'll be sure to let the building project supervisor know of such a fantastic boon."

To Marceline she says, "Oh, it's completely up to you. I didn't mean to imply anything, just that you might be comforted knowing there is a house of Pharasma's worship here."

"We would all be very happy to hand the beans over to the council for civic use at the same time as we get permission to build the hotel." Wyn adds as he reaches out for his wine.

His face twists as he tastes the wine and he coughs slightly.  "If I could have a jug of water ..." calls across to the waitress.  In the meantime he reaches out to stroke the wine jug, before  commenting  "That should be a bit better now ..."

Berta grimaces as Pipre introduces herself.  "These councilwomen will be the death of us," she mutters quietly, for Gedd's ears only, though the sour look on her face turns to a wry smile as Wyn's easy manner causes the official welcome party some annoyance.

"This one bites too," she notes, again just for her brother's benefit.

As they enter the tavern, Berta remains by the door, watching what may turn out to be an altercation at the docks, her hands out of habit slipping down to her sides, then tightening to clenched fists as her fingers fail to touch the blades she's left aboard.  She liked those Aldori guards.  A little prone to sudden violence ... but not so bad once you got to know them.

The excitement outside seemingly over, the warrior-woman turns about and looks around the common room, noting the commandeered tables and that Marcy ... Marceline, if she preferred ... chatting to Pipre.

Smiling broadly, she joins them, a swagger in her step as she crosses the room to pull up a chair next to, ah the hells with it, Marcy, reaching over to appropriate the remaining cup and raising it to toast the councilwoman.

"None too fond of mud myself," Berta remarks all straight faced in response to Pipre's listing of the necessary civic works, as she takes a sip, pulling a face.

"A little light and fancy for my taste," she offers her opinion freely on the local brew, grinning at Wyn's reaction to it.

"I'll vouch for her, if you like," Berta inclines her head towards Marcy, though her eyes don't leave Pipre.

Once Lark returns with news of rooms,  the Roths say their good buys make sure the tab is properly settled and make their way back outside.

Pipre chats a bit about projects and possible hotel locations before Lark returns. When the Roths are on their way she thanks Lark and heads out to find Cass and the others.