When the Gnome made mention of his mother's sister, He felt like he had been struck by lighting. His eyes narrowed as he regarded the Gnome. " Aye, I knows the place,it be owned by me Aunt. Stop pissing inta th wind, Tess. What be it all about?"

She laughed out loud at the big warrior's remark.

"It seems you'd be more capable of pissing in the wind than me... ya got better... equipment for it. Now back ta your Aunt, I don't know why she wants to see ya but I know she wants to. Being on friendly terms I said I would seek ya out. Now ya know Deverick the Tall. That's how she names ya by the way. I do know this... she has a tricky second sight that has come in handy a time or two. Mayhaps she's had a vision. There are many of her folk in town. Mayhaps some such is up."

She took another pull of her ale and nearly spat "Mayhaps she wants to give you condolences on the loss of your dah? Its too late to travel this eve, the gates be closed but first thing tomorrow morn? We can head out then."
This message was last updated by the player at 22:57, Wed 13 July 2016.

 Deverick eyed the Gnome, not sure he believed her or not. " I be assuming ye be speaking th truth. But know this Mistress Tess, if ye be playing me false, I got ye like a fish."

He got to his feet. " Ye might as well come ahead en meet me mates, C'mon." He walked over to the table with the others and sat down.

 "Seems she be sent by me aunt, that wants ta talk ta me. Or at least that be er story. Mayhap th Gnome speak th truth, mayhap not."

The gnome tripped on something and bumped into the big warrior as they moved toward Dev's companions.

"By Cuthbert's bronze club!" she swore as she righted herself. "Sorry about that Deverick the Tall. That ale's gotta be more strong than I thought!"

When Dev introduced her to all his party, the gnome winced at his comments.

"Do you introduce all your acquaintances this way? Well met all! My name is Tessorielle Rhytherhkient, but everyone here except Deverick can call me Tess."  she said with a bow.

Ren smiled and nodded "My name is Donal Swiftfoot. Pleased to meet you Tess."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:44, Thu 14 July 2016.

The dwarf stood up and bowed "Ovo Goldenshield, at yer service Mistress! May I buy ya ah whiskey?"

The dwarf nearly beamed!

Tess bowed back deeply "I am at your service and your family's Master Goldenshield. However, I must decline the whiskey as I have yet to finish this wonderful ale."

Dev recognized that the gnome answered the dwarf's greeting in the proper dwarven fashion.

Blossom gave the gnome a curt nod but then looked away without saying a word, though Dev could see a white-knuckled hand around the hilt of her broadsword!

 Deverick was clueless why Blossom was acting all strange like. He was not the most estute when it came to the motives of women. The Warrior resumed his seat,and took up the tankard and drank deeply. " Alright Tess, ye av delivered yer message, so now what? We av some business ta discuss, so be a good lass and go entertain yerself til we be done. Off ye go."

 Deverick wanted to show" Donal" the papers he had found in the satchel that was owned by the evil Priestess.

"By all means Deverick the tall! Good night all! On the morrow then." she said bowing and stepping backwards with grace.

Soon she made the bar and was lost among the throng there...

Blossom's ice blue eyes followed the gnome all the way to the bar.

"Gud riddance!" she spat.

Then she turned to Dev "Ya believe da little shit den yah?"

Ren gave out a sigh "Mayhaps you should see about your Aunt on the way to the Golden Wheel Dev. Well it has been a long two nights for me. I will write the letter tonight and give it to you in the morning. Your coin should arrive from the Union before noon. Is that alright?"

 " Deverick yawned. " If it be alright with me mates, it be fine by me. I nay think ye would cheat us,Sir. Mayhap we could all get some rest."

A sudden thought came to Dev,and he did not like it much. "If I be not mistaken The Golden Wheel be in th High Quarter. It be fer high en mighty types. I doubt if we lot, could even get past the Door Wardens, let alone deliver any message."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:23, Thu 14 July 2016.

Ren nodded and reached for his other boot. Again he worked the heel and out popped a ring.

"Most wise Deverick. You are right as rain. Normally they would not let you in. Yet, with my letter and this ring, you should gain entrance without any problems. I doubt Nerof  will be there. However, there is another to ask for. His name Evran Hawkwood. A halfelf like meself. He is the manager. He'll get the message to the Mayor. You'll wait one day and return for the answer and bring it to me. I should have some answers from the Merchant's Union by then as well. Then we can decide from there. In the mean time, while waiting, head to the Green Dragon Inn. The proprietor should cover your stay, room n' board, show him the ring and he'll put it on my tab. Got it?"

 The tall warrior slowly nodded to what Ren O Star was saying. A nice clean bed, hot bath,and a hot meal always did wonders for Devericks moral.

"Aye, I be thinken all three o us could use a bath,hot meal en a good night sleep. We can ead fer this er Green Dragon ye spoke of,Sir. What say ye, companions, does we stay er til dawn er head fer th Green Dragon?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:34, Fri 15 July 2016.

Ovo seemed a little distracted as he searched the growing crowd at the bar.

"Nay lad! We stay 'ere this eve. Our coin comes on the morrow n' I mean ta be 'ere ta get it."

Turning to face Dev once more "Three more o' these whiskeys n' any bed will do."

Ren nodded "The suite Finn has sat aside for you is not bad. It may not be the Green Dragon but you've most likely slept in worse. I know I have. Why don't you have a whiskey on me... Deverick the Tall?"

Blossom pursed her lips and then shrugged "I vill stay Borcarsen. Da dwarf has ah point. I vant my coin afore I leave. I spent much coin on da Beggar Master already. Sides, I feel lucky. Mayhaps vee should wager ah bit at da Golden Wheel. Vhat do ya say?"

 Deverick heard the others, then shrugged." Right, we stays er til er get paid in the morn. I needs ta see what me aunt wants o me, affore we head fer this Golden Wheel. But the suit nay be fer jus me. We can all sleep in the room, Blossom can av th bed. Not th first time I av slept on a floor. But I needs ta wash up, then clean and oil me weapons en armor.  So we er for th night."

 That having been settled, Deverick  waved the Tapster over for another ale.

The pox-marked tapster sauntered over with two ales and two whiskies. once he sat the tray down he reached under his apron and pulled out a pouch. To Dev it looked familiar and it should, for it was his own!

"The red wee one sent this over!" Finn said "All there said she 'cept one orb. Finders fee said she. If that don't beat all. never seen its like meself. Put this on your tab Master Ren?" he asked.

Ren nodded and smiled "Well I think that makes her a bit more trustworthy eh Deverick?"
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 03:34, Fri 15 July 2016.

Blossom scowled "Vhat! She stole yer pouch Borcarsen? I'd count yer fingers too yah? Vant me ta teach her ah lesson den?"

Deverick had a look of total surprise when the Tapster brought him the purse. He looked to his belt, and sure enough, the strings had been cut as neatly as a Fishmonger that slit open a trout. His first reaction was a deep frown, but the more he thought about it, he found himself starting to smile. The smile then turned into a laugh.

"By th Gods, she ad on one me. I twas not very polite ta er, since it ad been a bloody long evnin, so she payed me back fer me bad manners, en showed her strip at Th same time. Aye, the little shyt called Tess might be trusted, but not very bloody far."

 Deverick actually felt somewhat better for a few moments, because the image of the three fallen lads in the dirt and filth of the street had left him well vexed. He knew it would haunt him for many nights to come. But for now, he had ale, and a jest on him by colorfully dressed Gnome, called Tess. So he laughed and drank.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Fri 15 July 2016.

The group settled down for a night of drinking, fish stew, and swapping stories if not a few lies between companions that had become brothers of the sword. Ovo spoke of stories he had heard coming out of Hardby... that orcs were raiding the Wild Coast out of The Pormarj. Ren speculated that there was money to made running weapons, supplies, and mercenaries to that savage land. Blossom wanted know more about the Greyhawk Castle and how long had adventurers been making their fortunes among those notorious ruins. Again Ren explained that a Mad Mage had made the place and no doubt wild magic still ran amok there. The Master Merchant went so far to say that he and other merchants of the Union had sponsored various adventuring companies with mixed results. Some came back with enough coin to buy mansions in the High Quarter while others had not come back at all.

Of Tess there was no sign, she had mayhaps slipped away or was hiding in one of the shadowy corners of the common room. Dev wondered what his aunt could want and why so many of the barge folk were now tied up on the docks outside. Were they here for some sort of meeting? Was there coming just a coincidence with all the upheaval within the walls of Greyhawk City.

At last the night ran on and the group were led to their suite. There were three beds complete with feather pillows and blankets. A single oil lamp did little to keep the shadows at bay. Finn bid them good night and closed the door.

"The whiskey... waaas gud!" exclaimed the dwarf. "'N tomorrow we'll get our coin. From nuth'n to having nearly five hundred gold! With promise o' more ta come."

When they were setted and the dwarf's snores sounded more like an angry owlbear's stomach, Blossom spoke in a hush tone.

"Da Castle? Dat's vere vee vill make our coin. I need coin Bocarsen n' lot of it. Vhat do ya dink? You are from here yah? Is our chances gud?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:33, Sat 16 July 2016.

 Deverick had cleaned and oiled his armor,clean oiled and honed his steel, before he washed up and made ready for bed. What he wanted to do was visit the publuc bathes in the city early in the morn before they attempted to gain entrance to the High Quarter and the Golden Wheel. But that was for tomorrow, He had just gotten comfortable in his bed, when Blossom spoke to him about the famous or infamous Castle Greyhawk.

"Aye, there be plenty o tales bout Castle Greyhawk. Some says ye can get as rich as a Lord, if fortune be wit ye. But ye can also get as dead as as dead can be,as well. There be stores o fierce creatures that roam that place. When I prenticed for me Da,we ad some o them there Adventures come ta the shop fer various things.Iron spikes, weapons en armor repaired after they ad been in th bowls o th castle. One needed his shield mended, I saw me Da pull out o that shield wha I thought twas a spear point. Me Da showed it ta me, by the Gods, it was nay spear point, it was a bloody tooth."

 He rolled over and attempted to peer through the darkness to where Blossoms bed was located.

" If we decide ta risk the perils o Castle Greyhawk, we ad better get a few more that know wha they be about with us. But with a bloody Oligarch willing ta sponsor us inta that place, we twoud be right proper lack-wits to not av a go."

Blossom nodded in the dark and then bit her lip.

"Borcarsen? I... vould say some such but ya can nay tell no one. I trust ya Borcarsen or I vould nay say nuthin to ya. There is ah reason I need coin."

There was silence... and through the darkness Dev thought he saw her cheeks were wet.

 Deverick was not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but even he could tell that Blossom wanted someone to share a burden she had.
" If ye wants ta tell me,Lass, I be right honored ye wants me ta know. I will tell nay a soul what passes betwixt us."

She took a deep breath and it seemed she steadied herself for something, perhaps something she a strong barbarian from the north feared to face.

"I'm nut vhat I seem Borcarsen. I am far from home yah, but there is ah reason for dat. My father vas ah powerful Jarl. Vee vere ah powerful clan. I vas to marry ah yung noble, ah Jarl's son, thus unite our clans yah? But his father betrayed us at da gather'n for da vedding. Our men overdrank, dinking all vas okay but it vas not. My father's rival and his men only pretended ta drink n' celebrate. Vhen the night vas nearly done dey attacked like volves ta sheep. Our swords did da best dey could but dey vere defeated. I excused myself early and saw dis from my room. I... I ran n' took an small boat and escaped. One day I vill go back n' take my father's land back. But I need coin ta by swords n' men ta vield dem."

 Deverick heard her tale of woe,and he was moved. His father was gone,and perhaps his birth right in the Smithy, but his family and home was still there. Blossom had lost everything to someone that played them false. If there was one thing that Deverick hated more then a cheat, it was a liar.

"I nay tell anyone what I jus heard, I promise. And ye av th right o it. If ye are ta get back what be yers by birth right, ye needs steel en gold. and lots of both,Lass. So lets get some sleep,and be about gettin ye some o that gold on th morrow."

Deverick rolled over and tried to get comfortable. But before he went silent he whispered.

" And th gods willin, if I still be drawin breath, when ye go back, I might go with ye and hew off that piss pot drinkin son o a whore's head meself."