Filimena throws her hands up, satisfied. "See? Lif isn't haunting this house? That was the hag spirit! Lif is just... hanging out! So. We provide the tavern, Tali helps to fix the place up, you come in as our main investor, and... this Ferard person than Marik has learnt about, could provide us with contacts to run the tavern, if he isn't interested in running the place, or, perhaps Lif could do it! What do you say? That sounds like a plan, doesn't it?"

Persuasion roll, with advantage please

Hey! That's a 22.

10:08, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 15,22 using d20+5,d20+5, rerolling ones with rolls of 10,17.  Persuasion w/ Advantage!

The man nods at Life and Filimena's explanation of things and puts away his sword.  Renaer ponders Filimena's suggestion for a moment, "Of course, I would love to help you get this place going.  I also know a few people who could help repair and others who can manage the day to day."

"Let's do that, then!" FIlimena says, lips pursed in satisfaction, nodding first at Renaer, then at Marik, pausing a while to see if there's anything the elf wishes to add. "I suppose you'll arrange the necessary introductions?"

Marik nods in silence, already thinking of the improvement he would bring to the place


[Private to GM: Hey DM, here's a few ideas of what Marik would like to work on and add to the manor. Tell me if that seems possible and I'll write my next post accordingly.


Taproom: I gather this is quite a large and high room right? I'd like to arrange the place as a sort of oversized cat's cafe, with large catwalks hovering meters above table. The idea would be to give space to Rani to move freely in what would probably be a crowded space and help serving drinks by lowering them in a basket tied to a rope on the table. Oh and also fill the space with plants and vines reminiscent of Tal'Onarafel forest to give patrons the feeling they drink in a forest with a large cat as a waiter. Marik just think it would look nice and practical for him and Rani, but as a player, I'm thinking it could give definitely unique flavor to the tavern. Would that be possible? :D


Wine cellar: Being an amateur beermaker, Marik would definitely like to make use of the installations to brew his own creations in larger quantities and re-create a brewing setup adapted to him and Rani. I'll do some research as to what it could look like.


Bedroom: Marik would leave the Master's bedroom to Filimena and take the Bedroom giving on the tower. Probably get rid of the bed for a comfy hammock more reminiscent of what he had back home and recycle all sorts of blankets, cushions and soft material to create a sleeping nest for Rani on the floor. He would create little shrines to some Ageless in the tower space. The shrine to Ahrenvoth would be covered in plant growth and vines in a matter of days and would be created from intertwining branches gathered from the magic trees that grown outside. The sapling Fala gave him would be planted nearby, in a sunny spot. The shrine to Cihnehal would be fashioned from small spheres of silver hanging from ropes at various heights as if they were little stars. A cunning observer would recognize a constellation looking somewhat like a Displacer beast. At night, when touched by starlight, the sphere would shift slightly, as if the constellation was alive and moving. Marik would put a weapon rack to hang his weapons just next to this shrine.


That's it for my ideas at the moment, and I gotta run to greet my girlfriend at the airport but I'll be probably be back with more :)
]

OOC: Marik -- no real need for a PM and no issues with any of those ideas - feel free to post on!

--Timeskip--


It is a lovely and lively night when Rixton and his friends enter Snake Skull Manor, having heard talk about this weird place where the bartender is a ghost and the waiter, a large cat. As they open the large wooden door, their eyes widen in surprise. Looking something like an overgrown jungle, the bar is filled to the brim with vining plants that climb up to the ceiling, some even emanating some blue luminescent light in the interior lit by lantern. A little crowd is already sitting and chatting loudly. As they move into the bar, Rixton and friends make their way following clearings in the overgrown vegetation, which forms sort of natural walls partitioning the spaces between tables. As they walk, Rixton catches a glance of a young couple making out in a corner, seemingly enjoying the additional privacy granted by this odd tavern.

They make it to the bar, where various patrons are seen ordering drinks. A friend of Rixton taps him on the shoulder, excitedly pointing one side of the bar. A large jug of wine starts flying to refill the cups of some patrons, while a piece of chalk move to cross an item on the chalkboard menu. A tingling feeling pass along Rixton spine and he becomes uneasy, before shrugging it off. He smiles and taps his friend on the shoulder

"Ah, come on. That's no ghost for sure."

"What? Have you seen this shit. Look the cup is flying!"

"Yeah. I don't know how they do it, but that's no ghost. Ghosts don't exist. Probably just some thin strings or magic bullshit."

"How come they can't exist but magic bullshit does? I heard that...Oh shit look up!"

Rixton turns and back up immediately in fear as a large cat appears from the ceiling, crossing on a large beam of wood covered in moss and vines. The creature stops and something shadowy looking like a human moves on it, depositing three large bottles in a little basket tied to a rope. The figure then lowers the basket on the table next to them where a group of drunken half-orcs and dwarves enthusiastically takes the bottle and throws silver coins in the basket before it goes up again. A bell chime is heard somewhere else behind the foliage. The large cat raises its head and then makes its way toward the sound following another beam.

Rixton then notices these beams go from wall to wall, crossing each other in various directions and heights to form a complicated set of catwalks


"The fuck is this place!" exclaimed his friend Gorush "Have you seen the size of that cat! It's as big as a horse"

"Yeah, that's....wow" respond Rixton, not quite sure what to say.

As they go toward an empty table near the bar, Rixton, still looking up for signs of the cat, almost crashes into what he first thinks is a child. Wondering how a child got into this establishment, he turns and then sees a young pale halfling woman, clad in black robes and holding a book making her way between him and his friends. She looks quite cute. He wants to say something but the girl disappears as quickly as she appeared behind a curtain of vines and intertwined plants. Rixton shrugs off his missed chance and then follows his friends to an empty table near the bar. They see two beer pints flying then fly to the bar to another table.

***

Filimena gazes across the cavern, rolling her eyes at the merrymaking happening around her. Happy people: one of the unavoidable downsides of entering the taverning business, she supposes. She slinks her way gingerly across the floor, careful to sidestep sticky patches of spilt ale and bits of food. Where in the world did Marik go? She gets on her tiptoes, trying to peer of the heads of the small crowd of people stood around the room.

OOC: Marik passive perception is 16 so I'll assume he eventually catch a glimpse of Filimena looking over the crowd.


As he deposit a bottle of whisky in another basket, Marik catch a glimpse of Filimena below. She appears to be looking for someone intently. Thinking she might be looking for a client, Marik doesn't think much of it and focus on the next order. By the Ageless, he never imagine humans could drink that much and so fast without dropping!

A few minutes later, he again catch sight of Filimena in a more quiet side of the bar, apparently still searching. Maybe she would need some help. He does have a great vantage position here and might be able to help her look over the crowd.

He and Rani make their way to a beam juste above her. She still doesn't seem to see them. Marik has a thought and smile. Oh, this is too tempting.

When they get just above her, he dismount of Rani, pass his head throught the foliage and vines, and lower himself holding on to straps of Rani's saddle, reverse spiderman style until his head and shoulders peek through the ceiling vegetation  (with Rani carefully holding him by the belt to make sure he doesn't fall) .

OOC: With Rani help, Marik would roll a 18 in Acrobatics to pull this trick.

Sadly, in his precipitation, he wasn't as stealthy as he had hoped and Filimena looks over her head before he can try to surprise her. Discovered, he smiles akwardly.

"Heyyyy....Can help you?" :D

OOC: Sadly, Marik rolled a 7 for Stealth which is surely lower than Filimena Passive perception.

"Oh, there you are!" Filimena says, sounding surprised, but clearly not surprised at all. "Things seem to be settling down quite nicely in the tavern. I might head over to St Gili, ask them whether they remember anything about my brother. Do you think you can manage here alone? Or you want to come with?" She looks around again, nodding a greeting at elderly half-orc seated in a corner who is becoming something of a regular.

OOC: It seems implausible to me that this entire time, Filimena has not been searching for her brother at all. So my head canon is going to be that she has actually been asking around, but only randomly on the streets, and she hasn't been very lucky. Now is when she intends to starts searching seriously again.

Marik takes a moment to ponder, before responding in elvish.

"A walk would be great but Lif is alone and these people drink like bottomless holes. Should stay to help. I'll keep an ear, see if anyone talks about your brother. Lots of people here, would you want to ask around? You're better in conversation than I am."

Filimena looks around and pouts slightly. She has been asking around, and nobody has been able to tell her anything useful. That's why she's decided today is the day she's going to St Gili.

"I suppose there's no harm asking around again before I leave," she says, turning back to Marik. "Thanks"

Heading over to the nearest table, she waves her hand, casting Guidance on herself, putting on a pleasant smile as she says hello, "Hey! Hope you're enjoying yourself with us today."

OOC: Not sure exactly what roll to make, but I rolled a straight CHA check to gather information, not only from this table but from the ones around. Only got a 12, which isn't great, but ok.

08:05, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 10,2 using 1d20+5,1d4, rerolling ones with rolls of 5,2.  Charisma with Guidance.

Again, it seems implausible to me that this entire time Filimena has not thought to ask around the tavern, so I'm going to propose that she has, with no luck. Let me know if there are any issues with this. I can find some other way to square it

A bit sad his surprise failed, Marik returns to his duties. So there is a table asking for whisky, a table asking for three mugs of his homemade Flower Season (he is quite proud of that brew) and one mug of his Rosemary Red (He'll have to fetch another cask of this one below). He makes his way to the cellar, keeping a eye out for what happens below.

OOC: Marik makes a general Perception check to see what is going on below and what the different patrons are up to.


OOC: Quick post between two tasks. I'll ty to write again one on Sunday

Over the past several week there have been lots of folks coming and going - carpenters, roofers, plasters, plumbers, glaziers and many others.  Each sent by Renaer with instructions to do as Marik and Filimena ask, within reason.  Ironclad seems eager to help all the crafts person or at the very least watch them work as many seem put off by the large animated suit of armour.  Various suppliers come by to get your opinions on their goods -- Hammond Kraddoc from the Vintners’, Distillers’, & Brewers; Justyn Rassk from Guild of Butchers; Ukral Nulbaraz from the Bakers' Guild.

The trio of youths (Agot, Findelye and Sakka) disappear for a while but come back before the Tavern reopens, and they are happy to do some work if you'll have them.  They mention they've been keeping an eye out for Filimena's brother but haven't seen him again.

As for staff, Renaer sends an array of people to speak with you. For the bar he sends Efrix Cotte a human woman in her mid 30s with a modest command of liqueurs, but her real fortay is teas which Fala vouches for and is willing to help supply the various teas and additives for Efrix to use.  Then there is the green dragonborn named Daadashma who enjoys using their magics to craft drinks for the patrons the drinks tend to have some illusion magics to trick the senses by appearing or tasting more fantastical than the ingredients might suggest.

For cooks, Cily a king young halfling woman who enjoys making hearty meals, Bryne Pethey a human female who's cooking is more adventurous but easily tasty, and Amagnen a halforc male who's food is as spicy as Cily's is hearty and reminds Raszire of Zir.


Then the servers and wait staff who arrive you have Gloinain Strongbrew a young male dwarf who wishes to work his way up to brewmaster some day but for now is willing to do most anything,  Kriemha a tiefling woman with dark red skin who wears a tailsman of St Legali a saint of lost souls,  and Athan a human man in his early twenties who seems to be at lost in the big city but is willing to work -Renaer sent him with a note saying "Athan is my brother-in-laws cousin from Keys please be nice to the lad" .

With all the help you're tavern is able to run from breakfast to dinner with little need for you to lift a finger.   The whole of Snake Skull Alley turns out for the opening and most of the shop owners come back for a last one or two meals over the course of the first few weeks.

Marik welcome the hired help with pleasure, lacking himself experience as a waiter and having some trouble picking up subtle social cues typical of taverns interaction. He still assists often in the evening, in part because Rani appears to be a popular attraction among patrons, and also because he finds it a great hunting ground for information. Beyond the first few nights (roleplayed up here), he would like to set up an information collection scheme with Filimena, using his vantage point and good ears to listen in on adventurers' conversation for hints of suspect activity (indicative of Illithid activities) or stories of Filimena's brother. He set up a series of visual cues and gestures to inform Filimena when he hears something interesting and points her to various tables where she can more easily follow up on conversations.

OOC: Marik roll a Investigation check of 11, assisted by Filimena, to try to garner information about suspect activities

Over this time, Marik also compares hints and interesting tidbits he heard with the information gathered in Disanz voluminous book about Illithids, which he knows almost by heart by then (he read it over and over previous to the tavern opening). More and more convinced this is an enemy infinity dangerous and worth exterminating from the material place, Marik builds himself a Sanctuary dedicated to Cihnehal, the Sorcerer Stalker and Eater of the Eldritch. He spends moments each night meditating in front of the shrine, building his connection with the Beast in the Stars and slowly attuning his senses to a very specific type of prey, that of the horrors from beyond on which Cihnehal feeds...

OOC: Marik choose Aberrations as his greater Favored Enemy

Keeping notes of what he heard, Marik is a bit disappointed at the slow pace at which it advances. Some Adventurers and patrons seem to encounter troubling signs but seem sometimes reluctant to talk about it to Filimena or other patrons, unless they are very drunk. With this in mind, he eventually catches Gloinan Strongbrew, one of the new arrival, in the cellar, as they go to replenish for orders.


"Moien Gloinan! How is going... everything? Hum...maybe strange... question... Your name is ...Strongbrew, right? Is it a family name or do you really brew..strong?" ask the elf, trying his best.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:47, Sat 05 Feb 2022.

OOC: Blah. Could we establish what time it is? I only just realised it's actually nighttime based on Marik's earlier reply. In which case, I'm not sure Filimena would actually want to head out. Even if not for safety's sake, she might not want to disturb the priests. Maybe if it's early evening? Sorry, really want to get a bit of action going but just need to get over this tiny narrative bump. I'm also happy to reverse Filimena's earlier decision and have her stay in the tavern one more evening before heading out the next morning.

How bout the current time being 1600 (4pm)? early enough for folks to wander in but no so such that the place is crowded?

Gloinain looks up as he gets a beer barrel under one arm, "Oh hello Master Marik!  Things are going well, just getting another barrel of Iron Ale for the bar as folks seem to like the stuff."  The young dwarf puffs up his chest as he says, " Sir, my family name is Strongbrew; my clan were the royal brewers in Kalazanbaar before the fall."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:49, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

Filimena frowns. No luck. To be fair, she wasn't really expecting to learn anything. Welp, to St Gili's it is, then, she thinks to herself.

She turns to head out the door, but finds herself hesitating. She looks back into the tavern and spots Marik speaking to their new server Gloinain. She narrows her eyes in suspicion, wondering what curious ideas the elf has up his mind this time. it doesn't matter. He'd said before he wasn't keen on heading out anyway. What about Ironclad? It doesn't take her long to spot the construct, who, at the moment, is standing at the bar, carefully lifting and inspecting each mug before handing them off to Daadashma to fill, much to the latter's annoyance. Shrugging, she walks over to the poor fellow.

"Er, hmmm.. Ironclad," She says. "I was about to head out, to St Gili's, to ask them if they might remember anything about my brother. The children said they'd seen him there. Want to come with? You might conceivably learn something interesting about the church while you're there." She smiles earnestly.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:35, Sat 12 Feb 2022.

Ironclad has been mostly observing the goings on in the tavern for the entire time it has been open.  After hours they have been helping clean up and move heavy items as needed.  Currently Ironclad is standing near the door, like a bouncer, they turn to Filimena and nod, "Of course Ironclad will accompany name is Filimena."

so -- are we splitting the party?

"Great! Let's get going then, before it turns dark!" Filimena says, clenching her fists in anticipation. "We should probably let Marik know we're going, though. Wait here while I go tell him." Spinning around, she heads across the room towards Marik.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I thought you should know, Ironclad and I are heading out, to St. Gili's, to ask about my brother. It just seems about time that I got around to that," she frowns, guiltily. "Are you sure you don't want to come with? If anything, the fresh air might do you some good"

OOC: I promise I was already going to do this before you asked, to give Marik a chance to change his mind. Haha. Obviously, I'd prefer not to split the party, but I also think at this point Filimena feels useless sticking around, and would want to do something. Plus, Filimena doesn't know she's in an RPG, and as far as she's concerned, she's just popping by the church for a while, and will be back safe and sound for supper.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:20, Wed 16 Feb 2022.

Marik turns to Filimena, respond in his mother tongue.

"Ah, yes. A walk might be nice! I'm coming, just a instant"


He turns back to Gloinan, but still looks at Filimena, as if he was searching for approval


"Oh, excellent..." respond the elf, mentally making a note to ask him later about the old ale barrel they found in the cellar. "I've been...thinking...we could have a...celebrat...no...signature drink...we could offer...gift to good patrons...something powerful, to put them in good mood.Something... hotter than mustard and milder than cream, maybe. Something to quiet the stallions... make them companions...If see what I mean. Think we could make something like that?"

It reminds him for a second of a old elvish song about a drink called poteen, and he sings some lyrics in his head.

"Come guess me this riddle, what beats pipes and fiddle
What's hotter than mustard and milder than cream
What best wets your whistle, what's clearer than crystal
What's sweeter than honey and stronger than steam"

Gloinain nods to Marik, "Sure thing, I'll talk with Daadashma and Efrix about it.  He starts to head back behind the bar but stops then asks, "Oh, wait do you want that to be a liquor or beer based drink?"

Marik ponders

"Humm....liquor...might work better. We'll...experiment....See you soon"   he says, before turning back to Filimena. "[Language unknown: Toek, petowa ar. Olei ntwhne pock chil la est.  ]

And follow her outside with Rani.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:25, Thu 17 Feb 2022.

moving to here : link to a message in this game