Meal over (which was positively delicious), you sit back with full bellies and take in the crowd. There is a mixture of sailors, dockworkers, farmers and shopkeepers. A few are enjoying the fine food the kitchen produces, but most are more interested in the drinks Gruenab the barman is serving. A generally friendly crowd, there are still the occasional voices raised in arguement over some small piece of trivia, but just a glance from the HUGE Gruenab soon calms things down again - nobody is willing to tangle with the man mountain.

Conversations are typical of any bar, anywhere. Tales are told of men who are drunkards, cheaters, and hen pecked husbands. There is news of one mans son becoming engaged to the daughter of a moderately well to do merchant (a match most appear to agree with), another couple having a child, and the accidental death of a reputedly shonky salesman - there is an implication the "accident" was arranged by somebody referred to only as "the cleaner".

There is even mention of a vampire apparently sighted stalking the streets of the old city (wherever that is), but the speaker is quickly howled down (apparently he has a reputation for exaggeration).
"I swear it's true! My wife's cousin saw it!"

Another tells the tale of magical creatures who sneak out of the northern hills at the new moon to steal children away and teach them magical powers.


A tall, well built man pushes gently through the crowd, stopping every so often for a quick friendly word with members of the crowd. At over six feet tall, his feathered hat is easy to keep track of.

"Hello strangers!" he declares happily on reaching your table.
"Welcome. I see by your dress and the dust you have yet to wash off your boots that you have come some great distance before reaching our fair city of Greyhawk."
"My name is Talasek, Talasek Thraydin."

"Greetings" Brutus replies, extending his hand in a friendly manner.

"Brutus, formerly of Elredd,but now just Brutus. These are my travelling companions and ..." he glances quickly at the paladin at this point before continuing "our armourbearer. How can our travels interest you, Taladek?"

"Oh, just looking for a little idle chat, pass the time and have a few drinks with new friends."
Grabbing a chair from a nearby table, he dragged it over and sat himself down.
"Tell me all about who you are, where you've come from and what you've seen along the way..."

Joan looks over Talasek, looking for signs of religion or creed that might share a little information on this new character, while Brutus orders drinks for all. He is not yet comfortable enough to be drunk here, so he orders juice for those that prefer it, including himself and Joan. The wine he had with his meal was enough for now.

"Well, we are seeking to deal with a mysterious plague. But as it is not here in Greyhawk, we are only passing through here, stopping just long enough to get magical supplies, hopefully. Do you know where we could get magical spears or daggers?"

'We have come through a fair way chasing this plague, seen many strange things, made unexpected allies and fought some equally unexpected perils. We are also of course, here to offer help to anyone in a cause for good along the way. And apart from that, we are in posession of some pieces of historical and cultural significance by a Bard famous to Elredd. Do you perhaps know of someone wishing to provide a suitable home for such items in return for an item or two my friend Brutus wishes to acquire?'

Jeremiah liked the look of Talasek; he had a very nice hat indeed.

Natasha decided to join in in the crowd swamping the poor man with queries, adding some more practical concerns;

'And Talasek, do you know how we can most quickly get to Wintershiven? Our search indicates we will come closer to finding the answers we seek there. Possibly you would like to join us on the road? The more the merrier...'

'Sorry to  play 20 questions, but we like to be well informed about where we are, where we are going and who can help or hinder our goals.'

"No, not really. I have little need to seek out such places as most of my coin goes directly to the needy. What little I require the Church provides."

"My best guess may be with a pawn broker. I think there may be a few in the Old City but rumour has it the place is overrun by theives and scoundrels."

"By ship I would imagine, but it would be a long journey taking many weeks."
"I regret however that I would be unable to accompany you. My duties here prevent me from journeying any great distance away from the city."
"But Greyhawk isn't the way it used to be. It's hard to know anymore who can be trusted."

""Ayye. Sounds like Elredd." Brutus has almost a dreamy look in his eye, as if remembering something. But a moment later he snaps out of it.

"Sounds to me like a like you are concerned for your life. At least, in Elredd when people start to talk that way, that is the reason. Why do you most of your coin to the needy, as they cannot manage thier finances? Better to build a home for them, and manage thier finances for them, providing food and protection so they can earn thier own coin, and break the cycle of poverty. But it is nonetheless noble to help them. Tell us more..."

Brutus was wanting to know more about why he helped the poor in the way he did, but he deliberately left the question open to see how it would be answered. Meanwhile, Jean just quietly observes, looking for signs that Talasek is a priest, paladin or monk, and if so who he serves.

"My life? No, but I am concerned for where this city might end up."
"This town used to have laws about certain thins, but now ther laws are still there but no one will enforce them. I never thought I'd see the law turn their back on the lawful citizens and look the other way for the lawbreakers."

His voice drops in volume and his tone becomes distresed.
"I sense a growing evil but cannot pinpoint it. I've been getting this feeling for many months now," he tells you.

"City officials seem indifferent to the problem. I can't tell them where I think the problem is, so they just tell me they can't deal with a problem that isn't there. But I've seen some strange things."

"We've had some strangefolk move into town. They're not the ordinary families of farmers or merchants. They're too quiet and aloof. Sure there'll always be people like that, but there has been too many lately. They always come alone, and they always seem to find others of their kind. I don't know where they live, I've tried to find them but they seem to just disappear into the city."

"Greyhawk used to see a lot of adventurers like yourselves but lately they leave town soon after they arrive. I've heard that their rooms have been rtansacked, they've been ambushed and they've been threatened."

He falls silent for a while, then adds appologetically, I'm not trying to scare you folks, I just thought you should know some of this so you can watch your backs. But I'm raining on your good time and for that I appologise. I've said too much. Tell you wat, let me show you around the city tomorrow. It reallyis a great place and I promise I'll bemore fun and show you some really interesting things. This city has treasures you won't find anywhere else."

"What do you say? I'll meet you here right after breakfast."

'Absolutely. We'd be delighted to have the company.' Natasha said with a warm smile. It was good to see that strangers could still be friendly to one another.

Both Joan and Brutus are interested in his offer of showing them around, but for different reasons. Talasek strikes Brutus as someone who can help him find some useful weapons in this quest, but Joan wished to discuss his concerns further. Despite his interesting language, Brutus glances at the others, and after hearing Natasha's comment and seeing approval in Joan's eyes, he also confirms his interest. In fact, he suggests that Talasek may stay with them the night so they might share stories, or perhaps strategies.

"After all, we don't know how far you will have to travel to meet us here. Where do you live, after all?

"Then I shall see you all in the morning," he says cheeringly, standing and stretching out his hand to be shaken.
"No, no," is his reponse on the suggestion he stay.
"My lodgings aren't all that far away and I'm afraid my landlady would worry if I wasn't to return."
"On the eighth hour of the morning then. Sleep well."
A quick bow and a flourish of his feathered hat and he was off through the crowd.
A few hours later you head up to bed having made a few more aquaintances in the inn and shared a few rounds.

The room, inspite, or perhaps because of it's extraodinately high ceiling proves quite comfortable. Fresh linen sheets cover soft, yet supportive matresses providing ample distraction from the raucous sounds of drunken sailors, the odd barking dog and the occasional distant scream.

In the morning you wake refreshed, your clothing laid out already cleaned and pressed and an invitation fo breakfast with Gruenab and the staff downstairs, along with a handful of other guests. As with the meal the night before, the food is simple yet delicious and especially in Gruenabs case, served in plenty.

The eigth hour comes and goes without sign of Talasek. Although he seemed eager the night before, he is now more than an hour late....

Natasha calmly suggests 'Let's ask Gruenab where Thraydin lives. He seemed popular here and said he lived near, so we can go and see what he's doing so late.'

'Gruenab, remember the tall man in the feathered hat from last night? The local? He's late to show us around. Doyou know where he lives?' Jeremiah asked.

"Talasek?" The giant man's voice booms, rattling the windows and shaking dust from ledges.
"Of course, he's a regular. Afraid I can't say where he lives though besides somewhere up closer to the citadel."

" So who would know his address? He said he helped the poor...does he work with a Temple?" Joan was not sure that he was not simply unreliable, but she wanted to be sure.

"I think he's with the church of Saint Cuthbert, but I'm not really sure."
"Nice man he is, always helping people. Gets himself in a bit of trouble from time to time just by being too nice, but his hearts always in the right place."

Brutus thought to himself that he must be a cleric, because he didn't know of any Paladins who were so nice. But he kept that thought to himself and simply asked Gruenab where the church of St Cuthbert was.

Joan noticed something about the look on Brutus face, brief though it was, and commented "Not enough nice people in the world. We really should check on him then. Let's head for the temple, but via the market. Perhaps he is there getting something to help the poor in some sudden emergency."

Brutus asks Gruenab if he has a safe place to store thier meagre things while they go in search of the missing nice person. Once they have an answer, they both go to thier room to gather everything that they will take, and to secure what they will not.

Natasha was suspicious of the way Joan and Brutus kept giving each other funny looks 'on the low low', as it kind of stood out, and even more suspicious of anyone in the market buying stuff for poor people because that's what they did for fun. She kind of liked Talasek,so she hoped that they wouldn't find him there.

Regardless, she and Jeremiah (quiet for once, oddly enough) grabbed their gear and stowed the shovels and other miscellaneous useless-in-the-city stuff.

Like plate mail for instance. Jeremiah is a special case and his constitution allows him to wear plate in the city should he choose to do so. He is also wise enough to realise that he doesn't have to and maybe this should be reserved for when there are actual signs of danger, a good reason to show off, or it is cool enough to not worry.

They then said their goodbyes and thanks for breakfast to Gruenab, and made to leave.

"Your rooms are quite safe," Gruenab assured you.
"Even should somebody be stupid enough to try getting past me, the rooms have solid locks."
"Feel free to use the chests under the beds for any valuables, just don't loose the key anywhere."

And so you prepare to head out into arguably the greatest city in the Flanaess...

As you are coming back down the stairs and about to head to the door, a pounding eachos through the nearly empty common room.
"We're closed!" Gruenab bellows in reply, only to be answered by more pounding.

Grumbling under his breath, the huge barman moves over the the door, slides open a peephole about 8 feet from floor level and peers through. A little more grumbling and muttering later and he unbars the door, allowing the early callers inside.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:01, Fri 26 Feb 2010.

Four armed and armoured guardsmen enter, their faces showing little amusement at the delay.

"Everyone please take a seat and this will all be over quickly," the sergeant commands.
"Firstly, each of you tell me your names, then how long you've been in the city, where you come from and why you are here."
"Then I want to know if you know a man by the name of Talasek Thraydin."

From the man's stance and tone of his voice, not to mention the three armed men backing him up and countless more to be heard outside, it is clear his questions will not go unanswered.

Joan leaves her spears behind, but carries her short sword under her cloak, not really concealed but not advertised either. She sees no reason to leave anything else behind, and takes time to don her armour as well, as no travelling cleric of Celestian would ever leave home unprepared.

Brutus does not see the need for rations, but carries all else, including his shield on his backpack where it was usually carried. All else is as usual, and they are all ready to go by the time they head downstairs to see what all the noise is about.

Brutus quickly gives thier names, stating that they arrived yesterday and intended on passing through when they met Talasek, who offered to show them around the city. His tone is polite and his sentences short and to the point.
"We were just on our way to meet him now, actually. He is late, and there are some items we were wanting to find. Do you know where we could find him, by any chance? I presume you are the city gaurd, yes?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:06, Sat 27 Feb 2010.

"I'm the one asking questions."
"Where did you come from?"
"What is your purpose in the city?"

"I can see you are asking questions. But in civilized lands I get to know who is asking before I answer. Are you the city gaurd?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:10, Sat 27 Feb 2010.

'Let's not have issues here. We came from Elredd, and our business is to chase the cause of a plague specific to regions known to us. We are just passing through Greyhawk though, no need to panick about any such plague here.'