"No chance," Stiofan replies. "She's tight with coin at the best of times, and she doesn't believe us besides."

Asano orders a fresh round for the table, and slides a chair over as the ales arrive. "I think it may be best if we discuss any possibility of payment with this Mistress Mellikho," he says with a smile. "Though, ensuring that these men retain their health, sanity, and livelihood is significant reward itself. Where could we find the lady in question?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:22, Mon 24 Oct 2016.

Jak gave a small shrug, and a half-smile. "It rarely hurts to ask!" He glanced at Morg with a questioning face at the newcomer who followed the dwarf in and then joined the conversation.

He turned back to Asano. "I'm Jakrynn, by the way, but you can call me Jak."

His food arrived with the second round of ale. His eyes lit up at the sight of it. He took in a deep sniff of the warm food's aroma. He began to dig in to the food with relish, making small happy noises at the taste, acting for all the word like someone who hadn't eaten in days. As he was eating he quickly but discreetly slid a couple of non-wet pieces of food in to two separate pockets, one pocket for later and the other for Twitch.

He washed down a bit of the food and paused. "Morg, we should go t'the quarry t'night an' see what we see."

Stiofan greets Asano and thanks him for the fresh round of drinks. "You folk are the best luck we've had all year," the man comments, accepting another ale.

"I'd expect the boss to be still back at her house near the quarry. Not far from here - out to the main road, turn right, on your left at the edge of town."

Asano and Morg's stomachs rumble again, smelling the delicious aromas from Jak's plate.

---

Red Larch map updated.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:58, Tue 25 Oct 2016.

"Nice to meet you, Jak. I'm Asano," he replies, signaling to a waitress for a meal. "Would anyone else like anything? My treat." He looks around the table, expectantly.

"I also think, it would be a good idea to pay a visit to the quarry," he says as plates of food arrive for anyone who ordered. "Though, perhaps after we've eaten. Do you two not have another companion, as well?"

Morg finishes his last ale, slaps Asano on the back, and says to Jak, "Asano here also has a wee job for us, and I wanted to hear what you and Bram think of it. I'll go look for Bram at the exploding tavern and get the dinner I ordered there."

He heads back to the Swinging Sword.

---

Jak frowned slightly as Morg toddled off to go find Bramwell. He gave a slow nod to Asano. "If it's t'be business propositions discussed an' Morg's comin' back with more people, we should maybe go get a table upstairs."

He gave a smile to the workers. "Well, it's been a pleasure. Enjoy the free ale an' we'll see if we can't help you out, but be safe until then, alright?"

He stood up and carried his meal and ale upstairs to an empty table with some room.

"Probably a good idea, Master Jak," Asano says. He flags one of the waitresses, indicating that they're moving upstairs. He makes eye contact with the stonemasons, and says, "Gentlemen, we'll do our best to secure your workplace. In the meanwhile, enjoy the ales."

The stonemasons wave their thanks as Asano and Jak move upstairs.

The second floor is still hot and somewhat humid from the heat of the day and the crowded room below. As such, it is much less crowded. Several farmers sit quietly eating their dinners, though a halfling who looks like a local sits broodingly in the far corner, nursing a cup of ale. Most tables are empty.

---

EDIT: it's a halfling sitting in the corner
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:44, Thu 27 Oct 2016.

After claiming a table, Asano surreptitiously inspects the brooding local. The man was clearly concerned about something from the way he barely paid attention to the mug before him. Possibly awaiting a companion, or evading attention. Asano began consuming the prepared fare as he waited and watched.
"So, Jak, what brings your merry band to Red Larch," he asks absently.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:47, Thu 27 Oct 2016.

The first thing Morg does on entering the tavern again, is buy another ale at the bar. Not seeing Bram and Asano, he points at their chairs to Stiofan, who points to the stairs.

He ascends the short-folk-friendly stairs, and sits down next to Jak, "Bram is looking for some ghosts or some such. I personally prefer my soon to be redead to have bones."

---

Bramwell steps into the ramshackle tavern for the first time and stops to take in the dimly-lit taproom and its patrons.  Morg made his way up the stairs to join Jak and some others, but the paladin first wished to find the baker who was supposed to be dining here.  After a brief search he noticed a flour-dusted fellow engaged in an animated conversation with an older man by the bar, and figured that to be his man.  The tall half-elf approached the pair and introduced himself, "Good evening, friends.  Pardon the interruption, but are you Mangobarl Lorren, the baker?  I am Glyphscribe Bramwell Caulder, and I've heard that you've sighted a ghost and perhaps some goblins near town?  Some comrades and I intend to visit this tomb to deal with whatever dangers lurk there, so any information you can provide to help us would be much appreciated."

Mayon has to jog a bit to catch up with the older half-elf, but arrives at the Helm around the same time. He stands quietly behind him upon approaching the baker, saying nothing, but listening curiously.

"Glyphscribe! Glyphscribe? I've never heard of the like!" the man says loudly, turning to Bram and shaking the paladin's hand vigorously. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Mangobarl Lorren, a pleasure! Like none you or I have ever known."

He turns to Mayon. "What is a Glyphscribe? Seriously! What is a Glyphscribe? I don't know! But I'm pleased to meet the both of you."

"I've seen no ghooosts," the man says, slurring his words slightly. "I just saw a gerblin out near an old tomb northeast of town, not 12 weeks ago."

"The kid who saw a ghost, pshawww," he sprays spittle towards the bartender, who jumps slightly back. "She was only scared of shadows most like. Those gerblins are tricksy folks, never come that far towards town without a reason. They were probably setting up some ruse to scare away the kiddos so they could rob some graves. Pay them no mind," he says with a swat to Bram chest, which almost carries him off the stool he sits on. "They're like to head on off north when the winter gets here."

The man the baker is with, an older man of small height but sturdy build, grabs Lorren by the shoulders. "I think it's time you're off to your shop, Mangobarl," the man says. He nods to Mayon and Bram as he heads to the exit, supporting the skinny baker as he goes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:00, Fri 28 Oct 2016.

Jak gave Asano a shrug as he discreetly pocketed a bit more food. "Honestly? We were just passin' through. Place t'stay for a day or two, see if there were any rumors t'find, money t'be made, places that pay for good music, that sort o'thing."

Morg came stomping up to them and plopped down in a chair. Jak flashed him a quick smile and then quirked an eyebrow upwards. "Oh is he, now?" He chuckled softly. "That man finds more smoke than fire most of the time, but he means well."

He turned and watched as Bramwell came in and ignored them to go directly to the flour-covered man downstairs. Jak chuckled again and shook his head. "Ah, well, rarely a dull moment at least."

Mayon is too stunned to speak throughout the exchange,  but offers a polite smile and nod as the baker is led away. "Er...thank you for your help, sir. We appreciate it."

He then looks at Bram, trying hard not to laugh. "Well that...certainly happened."

"Apologies, friends," the barkeep says, leaning towards Mayon and Bram.

"Lorren's a good man and a hard worker, even if he is a little high strung. He doesn't usually drink that much. I think the earthquake set his nerves on edge. "
This message was last edited by the player at 17:43, Fri 28 Oct 2016.

"Perhaps," Verthel says, approaching the tavern keeper. Nevertheless, there is too much strangeness about for it to be a coincidence. Keep safe until all this madness has been sorted out."

Bram is taken aback by the baker's enthusiasm, but the smell of spirits on his breath explained it well enough.  Bram shook the fellow's hand and said with an awkward smile, "Oh, a Glyphscribe is an ecclesiastic of Deneir... charged... with... Hrm."  His explanation dragged off into silence when it became clear that Mangobarl wasn't listening.  After hearing his rambling tale Bram nodded to the companion that agreed to bring the poor drunkard home and called after them, "Many thanks for the information, it will surely prove useful!"

Turning to Mayon, Bram chuckled a little. "Not the most reliable source, but I think we've learned what we needed to know.  Lets go upstairs to confer with the others, shall we?"  The paladin then proceeded upstairs, where he greeted Morg and Verthel, then introduced himself to the others he hadn't yet met.  He then reported all they'd heard on the ghost: the tomb's location, as well as the sighting of goblins.  Once he'd heard what they'd learned of the strange occurances at the quarry he said, "It's curious how much is amiss in this community.  These people need help.  The night is still young, yet.  Would anyone else care to have a look at that quarry this evening?"

"Indeed, there does seem to be much amiss in this area," Asano says. He gestures to the plates of food around the table. "Care to dine before we investigate these happenings?"
His eyes dart across to the lone halfling, wondering if his apparently missing companion had arrived yet.

Asano sees nothing has changed with the halfling. He generally scowls at nothing in particular, and occasionally takes a sip from his mug.

---

If the plan is to head to the quarry next, you all can wrap things up at the Helm in this thread and we can start a new thread for the full party.

Jak slurped down his ale and gulped down his food as he listened to what Bram had to say. When the half-elf finished talking, Jak wiped off his mouth and turned his head as he let out a belch. Then he turned back and said, "Excuse me."

He proceeded to fill in Bram and the other people he didn't know that had come in with Bram about what they had learned about the quarry. "I think we should head t'the quarry t'night an' see what we see."

He looked over at those he hadn't formally met yet and introduced himself.

OOC: I'm good with heading to the quarry.

OOC: Quarry sounds good to me as well.

Mayon introduces himself as well to Jak and Asano, and nods quietly at the suggestion. Those men needed the quarry to work for their pay safely. So far the "gerblins" at the tomb hadn't done more than scare a few people.