Dim Lane, just off Cargo Street, led the group to an even smaller street, an alley really, named Moonshadow Lane. It was here that Dev saw the two story building that was The Widow's Rest. The second floor was an apartment that Almi, Dev's Aunt, let out. Right now the current tenant was an officer from the watch, one Galen Starlen a Deputy Constable of the Night Watch. This made Dev smile. The rent helped cover expenses and having a Night Watch officer living there gave her a little extra protection that she didn't have to pay for. The small tavern stayed open all night and catered mostly to longshoremen from the docks and was a safe place for a few of the Rhennee to gather in seclusion and relative privacy the place provided.

As Dev, Ovo, and Blossom entered they were immediately welcomed by the coolness and dimness of the place. The few tables were lit by copper lamps which were held and raised overhead by metal chains which allowed the lamps to be lowered and refilled with oil and raised again. The higher the lamps hung, the less light would be provided. It depended on the customer and his companions on how much light there would be. Yet, no matter how low, the lamps gave off feeble light none the less. The oil was scented by an extract of the guntha plant known to grow on the banks of the Nyv Dyr. It was favored by the Rhennee for it's sweet aroma though it made The Widow's Rest a smoky place as well.

When Dev's eyes had adjusted to the place's light, he saw that his cousin Amali was waiting tables today. She was young and pretty, mayhaps the prettiest of Almi's three daughters and thus was forced to work days when the crowd was sparse and groping hands were the fewest as well.

"Deverick! Is it really you?" she called over the den of the few assembled patrons. "Oh Dev! I'm so sorry!"

The last was said as she rushed to the big warrior and hugged him in an ogre's grip. Dev could hear her sob as her head burried itself into his chest.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 04:00, Mon 18 July 2016.

Deverick saw that not much had changed in the Rest, same ole table, chairs, and those bloody smoking lamps, that stank up the place. Dev never could figure out what his mother's people, saw in the use of Guntha plants. She used to bring it as incense when he was growing up, and it was one of the few things that got his father highly annoyed. But he suddenly had to smile, recalling an odd bit of memory from years gone by. His mother had been burning the Guntha plant in the kitchen of their home. His father came in from a long day at the forge, and when he got a whiff, he demanded why she was using it again, after he told her he disliked its "stench". His mother crossed her arms, and like a Knight facing a Dragon, she declared that the reason she burned the incense was due to it masking the most unpleasant but still pleasant thing. His father crossed his arms and demanded to know what she was talking about. His mother pointed to his father, and then waved her hand in front of her nose. His father had been sweating over a forge for most of the day, so he was, ahem, shall we say, he was fragrant. His father looked at her blankly a moment, then roared with laughter. Deverick would miss the banter between his parents, and his father’s laughing.

  Dev snapped back to the present when his cousin greeted him, and offered him her respect to the passing of his father. Before he could reply, she rushed into his massive arms, like some predator leaping upon its prey. Deverick was never one to enjoy the weeping of a woman. He wrapped his massive arms and paws that he had for hands around the woman that was his cousin. He was deeply moved by her grief, and he almost allowed his own to come to the fore. But then he recalled his two companions, and that stopped him cold. His father always said, never show weakness in front of anyone but family.
 He spoke to his cousin in the tongue of the Barge Folk.

. “There, there, lass. It twill be alright. Me da be in a better place now. He be a happy bloke, as he be working a forge fer the Gods. Can’t get any better fer a Blacksmith then shoeing a horse for a Deity.”

 Dev could have broken this small woman, without breaking a sweat, but he was a gentle with her as a new born.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:20, Mon 18 July 2016.

Amali sniffed a few more times and wiped her eyes as she lifted her head from the big warrior's chest. She forced a small smile on her lips.

"Aye! I bet he is as that. He was good enough I'll wager. What brings ya to the rest? Do you know mother was seeking ya then?"

Blossom and Ovo looked from one to the other as it was clear that neither spoke the tongue of the Barge Folk. It was if Amali noticed the pair for the first time as well.

"They be friends of yours then? I can find ya a table. Mother is out but will be back in a short moment. Look at ya! Looking like a swordsman for sure."

 Deverick smiled to his cousin,and slowly nodded.

"Aye, that he was,me Da could work iron en steel like nay one else. I be er cause some little toss pot o a Gnome named Tess, hunted me down,and told me yer Ma wanted ta talked ta me."

 When his cousin made mention of his two companions, Deverick realized he had been talking in the tongue of the Rhennee folk. Dev dropped back into the Common tongue.

"Oh aye, these er be me mates. She be Blossom,a Shield Maiden, and this er be Ovo,a Dwarf Warrior. And this beauty be me cousin Amali,on me mas side of things."

Amali chuckled at the gnome's name.

"Aye! She is known to Mother and us. She can be trusted Dev. In fact, she's with Mother now. Where? I don't know. Mother never tells me anything."

Amali nodded to each in turn as the big warrior introduced his two companions.

"If you be with my cousin Dev then your family to me. Let me show you all to a quiet table. Mother has some good mutton with sage roasting. We have good ale as you know and some good wine from Keoland if that be more to your liking."

She said smiling, leading them to a corner table.

"Sit here and I'll be back with some drinks. What will you have?" she arched an eyebrow toward each in turn.

"No vine fer me. Ale be gud. Dat and da roast." said Blossom returning the young Rhennee's smile.

"Ale fer me too!" said Ovo with a wink.

"And you Dev?" Amali asked.

 Deverick was surprised that his aunt was with the Gnome, but he had no reason to doubt his cousin.

" I'll av the mutton,a tankard o good Ale, and some bread and cheese."

 Deverick leaned over and spoke his mother's tongue into the ear of his cousin.

"Amali, all three o us,av need o a place ta stash some coin for a day er so. It be a decent amount,di ye think Auntie would keep it fer us? We av a task ta do, after I speak to er nibbs. We nay want ta av ta worry bout our goods."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Tue 19 July 2016.

Amali nodded and gave Dev a sly wink "Aye! Anything for you. That mutton and ale is coming right up!"

Then she was gone! The three were sitting alone for a bit. Three of the patrons at the bar were longshoremen by their looks and dress. Yet, two others that sat at another corner table... the furthermost away from the party appeared to be Rhennee themselves. One looked toward Dev's table and nodded in their direction.

"Them that's ah talk'n about us be true Rhennee right Dev? Mayhaps they be friends o' yer Aunt... I wonder wot theu're talk'n aboot." said the dwarf.

Blossom shook her head "Most like vee don't look like Barge Folk. Maybee dey vonder vhy vee are here. Dat's vhat I dink. Maybee dey should be told by yer kousin vee are velkum here."

 Dev saw the other Barge folk seated at another table nod his way. Deverick nodded back with a smile.

"Aye, they be true Rhennee,Ovo. As far as we being welcome, ye be with me,and I be family o th owner. And besides, if anyone in er has a problem with us being er, they can Bugger off. But ta be honest, many o th folk ad a problem when me parents joined. Some think me brothers an me be half breeds,not welcome round their fires. But me mums clan tolerates me en mine,Some of em even likes us. Me Aunt likes me well enough,en she as some weight in er clan. She be a wise woman o sorts, and many come ta er fer counsel."

 Deverick looked around the room, just to make sure no one got any ideas.

Amali was true to her word, she returned shortly with a tray laden with thick slices of roast mutton spiced with rosemary, sage, and thyme. This along with fresh bread, a wheel of cheese from Elmshire to the north, and three foaming mugs of dark ale.

"Here you be good folk! Fresh from the kitchen. You'll find no better on the Strip or dare I say anywhere in Greyhawk City!" Amali said and almost lost a finger to Ovo!

The dwarf nearly pounced upon the mutton.

"I've nay had the like for three moons or more! We dwarfs are great lovers o' mutton ya see. All the sheep we keep in the mountain valleys and hill aboot. Tis ah fine meal lass! Ah mite better than fishstew I can say!"

Blossom smiled at the dwarf and gave another to Amali "Are all of Borcarsen's family as nice as ya then?"

"None as nice as me! I'm Dev's favorite... cousin that is. Well I've got to get back to wait'n the tables and fetch'n food for the bar. I'll be back though. If ya need me before then just wave!"

"She's nice Boracarsen. Vill vee meet yer Aunt too?" the maiden asked with an arched brow.

"Who cares as long as she keeps cook'n the mutton!" quipped the dwarf.

 When the tray of food was brought forth, by Dev's cousin, his nose detected it long before his eyes. Deverick was a big man, and had an appetite to match. When the food was spread out into the table before the three, Dev took his eating knife,and spear a few slices of mutton covered in gravy. He tore off some bread,and sliced off some cheese. Once he was done, he slid the tray towards the Blossom.

Me Aunt movs in er own good time,Blossom. Til then, eat up, th food er be good. This er mutton smells so good, I bet ole Tritherion emself, might come down from th eavens, for a slice. " He said with a laugh.

 Deverick thanked his cousin,and waited for her to leave before he spoke to his companions.

 " Jus wanted ta let  you lot know, I found  100 orbs, 30 silver nobles and 50 copper commons, in that there evil she Priest's satchel. We can divide it up latter."

 He then concentrated on eating for a time,savoring the rich flavor of the meat,and the coolness of the ale he washed it down with.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Wed 20 July 2016.

As Dev and his companions ate their fill of the tasty mutton, cheese, and bread all were aware of man, short and wiry but strong, standing 5 feet 6 inches tall. His leathers and bright yellow shirt accented by a scarlet sash. A broad bladed knife was tucked within the sash with a well worn wooden handle sticking out.

His skin was an olive hue and his hair was curly and dark black. There was no doubt of his Rhennee heritage. He spoke in the Rhennee tongue which they named Rhopan.

"You speak our language well for a *shurvesh!" he said with a smile that did not reach his dark brown eyes.

Behind him was his companion, dark eyes glanced this way and that. It was obviously keeping a watch out for trouble.

*Shurvesh- is a word, derogatory term for non-Rhennee.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:06, Wed 20 July 2016.