Alliandra strums three dramatic chords (which sound like  "dum, Dum,DUM!") in order to add a dramatic sting to the arrival of a potential benefactor before sliding over to help make room for the newcomer.  She tries to appear nonchalant, but she knew that great adventures often started from such chance encounters in taverns,  and she was thrilled to be in the right place at the right time.

Paran raised his eyes from the hot broth he was having, his deep green eyes settling on the stranger, and chuckling lightly without humour "He looks like he is selling to me... not buying Antia... he seems... not nervous in need, but in want... but then.. maybe its too soon to judge..." he brought down his gaze back to the broth sighing and continued working on it.

That was typical Paran, his mood seemed to be dark even when he did was not. His frequent pauses seemed to mark this effect even further, but everyone in the group knew this by now and knew that no offence was meant.

Gordrenn sits down at the party's table and begins, "Thank you. You see, I have to deliver a chest of material components to Tauster, who lives in the village of Thurmaster in Haranshire. My usual couriers have just left my service, but I really need these goods delivered. They're nothing terribly expensive or important, but Tauster gets very huffy if I'm even a day late."

"We are not simply errand boys. Why should we bring these goods for you? What glory is there to be had?"

Vimak's eyes widened as he spoke. Apparently "thinking" on the fly.

"Vimak wonders what these goods could be? Basilisk eye balls? Live dragon eggs? Crawling lich fingers!?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:36, Sun 03 Apr 2016.

"Glory?" Gordrenn laughs. "I can pay you 150 gold pieces to deliver the chest to Tauster. That's a fair price for the service.

"And you won't be delivering anything quite that exotic." He looks around at the others to see what they say.

Aliandra sighed.  She had really hoped for the kind of adventure that might inspire an epic ballad or two. Her comic satires had begun to bore her, and if she had to start a relationship with one of these adventuring louts just so she could write a vindictive break-up ballad (at least they always proved popular in the taverns), she was going to go crazy.

"I suppose a long walk could do me good," she shrugged.  Perhaps some fresh air and some time outdoors might inspire an ode to nature. Not the most popular, but she might find a wistful, romantic noble trapped in the court who might pay her for it.

Cathasach slowly ran his fingers along his mustache and smiled as he sounded his rough vocal chords.

"150 pieces of gold is glory enough for a delivery, eh?"

He turned his wild eyes to each seat at the table before settling on Mags for confirmation.

Lucien bridges his cards extravagantly as he studies Gordrenn with an amused expression. "Nothing extravagant and yet here you are willing to pay that kind of money to see it delivered?" The elf's tone is slightly incredulous. "That is not, of course, to say that you could hire us for less."

Taking a moment to think over the man's offer as he studies his expression, Lucien finally shrugs and leans back. He balances the chair in which he is sitting on its two rear legs. "Nor, however, are you likely to find a group of people who can so assuredly, without any doubt, accomplish the task of... delivering this chest." He points a dramatic finger in the air as he completes the statement.

"I am curious to know however, what IS in the chest." It is a statement, not a question.

"And why could you not deliver this chest yourself?" As the waitress returned with his order, Toppor downed the whiskey and ate the stew quickly. He paid little attention to normal etiquette, and juices from the stew dripped down into his beard.

Gordrenn huffs at Toppor's question, "I have too many clients to make the deliveries myself. That's what I'm paying you for.

"Now, if you are interested, meet me at the temple of Helm, on the north side of town, at sunrise tomorrow. I will have the contract written up and ready then." He forces a smile and says, "Enjoy your evening. I'll see you in the morning." He then turns and quickly exits the tavern.

Toppor looked at Lucien, "Well, I noticed he didn't bother to answer your questions."

Topper lifted his bowl and loudly slurped the last of it down, and followed it up with a belch worthy of a human. Once upon a time he would have cared that it wasn't worthy of a dwarf, but those days were long past. He dipped his fingers into the glass of water he'd ordered, then wiped and dried them on his shirt and beard before drinking the lot of it as well.

"But, there's nothing stopping us from seeing what's inside once we lay eyes on it, and a man can always use a bit more gold in his pocket."

Lucien gives Toppor a casual shrug. "As you say, we can always investigate the contents ourselves once it is in our possession. I also agree with the sentiment of earning a bit more coin, though at that price we should be wary of abnormal danger. For the time being, it might be a good idea to get some sleep." The elf's tone is sarcastic and he looks instead to Aliandra. "Or you could sing us something and everyone could play a few hands." Lucien performs another eccentric shuffling of his deck to emphasize his point.

Alliandra tries a few chords on her lute, then improvises the following.

We were given a task
But were told not to ask
'Bout the box. "Don't open  it please."
But we're good with locks,
And we could open the box
"Hey look! A hive of angry bees!"

Aliandra grins puckishly as she plays a musical flourish.  "C'mon, where's your sense of mystery and adventure? If we leave the box closed, it contains a magical artifact that has the  potential to save or destroy the world.  If we open  it, there's a good chance it contains used toothpicks."

The cleric of light looked over to the others from under her hood "I would imagine that any contract signed would forbid the opening of the chest.....and as we are all of good standing to do so after signing would be unseemly" she said giving Paran a stern stare.

Then turning to Lucien" as for gambling ....that is a sin and I will not partake.....anyway I always seem to loose at games of chance" she added with a hint of a smile across her face
This message was last edited by the player at 10:26, Thu 07 Apr 2016.

Vimak grumbled deeply under his breath as their potential employer left. He brightened when Lucien mentioned a card game.

"Teach me the rules of this game Lucien, in no time I will be besting you. Who else would join our game?"

A distant look came over Toppor's face and emotions played across his features, a combination of sadness, fear, and anger...

He drew in a deep breath, shaking his head, "Cards sounds like a fine idea. Which game are you suggesting in particular?"

For a long moment, Lucien gives Aliandra a sardonic stare until Anita mentions gambling. With an offended expression, he stares at Anita. "Who said anything about gambling? Here I was suggesting a nice innocent game of Jester's Court to pass the time. Honestly." Lucien begins to deal out cards to those who are interested, while beginning to explain the rules of the game.

On the surface, the rules seem quite simple: one must force other players to reveal their cards without revealing their own and each card allows it's holder to do something different. Of course, lying is an inherent facet of the game, which may be the source of the glint in Lucien's eye.

OOC: I dont' know any fantasy card games so, I made one up. Imagine Jester's Court is a bit like the real game Coup. You can claim to be holding any card and the only way to to find out for sure is for someone to call you a liar. You lose when you have revealed your entire hand.

"So... nothing better to do... other than taking this... this package I guess..." said Paran finishing his broth and finally looking up from the plate.

"I'll take you too on that game.... for the night might be long... and better I keep my mind busy".

The talk of the mission at hand held little interest to Magdaleine; whatever the pay, it was a job. If the risk outweighed the payoff, she could deal with that upon collection.

As Lucien explained the rules of his game, however, Mags perked up her ears and expressed an interest in playing. The notion of a chance game with a deceptive element intrigued and excited her.

Cathasach twitched his nose and shrugged his battle stained shoulders, eyeing the elf man with interest. As the table collectively started to sound up a smile crawled up his face and he inclined his head.

"Yes... an innocent game to round off the night. You shouldn't be so suspicious, Antia. After all, what could go wrong?"

"No wagers? Just as well, I haven't two copper to rub together, and I would not feel good about myself if I fleeced the rest of you to remedy my current pecuniary deficit," Aliandra laughs.  As the negotiations drew to a close, her spirits rose, and she almost seemed eager to set out at once.

Antia smiled to herself at Drust's comment, yes what indeed could possibly happen. She thought.

"If you are all set on cards I will bid you all a goodnight and retire for prayer" with that the cleric of light stood and headed for the bar to secure a room until morning

Lucien shoots Aliandra an incredulous look and bids Anita a good evening as she leaves the table. When the remainder of the group has their three cards, the game begins in earnest with Paran, who is to Lucien's immediate right, going first. The elf will continue to deal and play hands through the night until about 2 AM when, if anyone is still playing, he will head for the room to get enter his trance before morning.

When the games start Topper seems rather happy to participate, but as the games move on he draws more into himself, ignores most conversation, and has to be reminded a time or two that it's his turn. After the fifth game he calls it a night, "Thank you, friends. If we're going to spend a good deal of time on foot tomorrow, I best get some rest while I can."

Vimak played the card game for several hours. His strategies were straight forward and aggressive but he clearly did not understand the deception required to be consistently successful. Despite his lack of success he methodically counted how many hands each player had won. After a particularly devastating round he retired for the night saying " Well played all, especially you Lucien, Vimak is impressed. My people have a tradition, a member of a clan who performs a note worthy deed is given a new name." He places his huge stony hand on the Lucien's shoulder. "I will call you 'Truth Stealer' for besting me thoroughly."

With that the Goliath speaks briefly with the inn keeper about a room or some dry accommodation and heads to sleep.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:09, Sat 09 Apr 2016.