The Dragon and the Unicorn is a two-story old timber building. The wood shows the passage of what looks to be centuries, darkened with age and reinforced in many places. Bright yellow tiles cover the roof and the sign that hangs in front shows a dragon profile over a charging unicorn. It was once brightly painted, but has since faded with time. Patrons seem to frequent the tavern, but most quickly turn away. As you enter, you quickly discover why. An ogre stands just inside and hustles you to the side, asking for your lot tickets. Seeing that they match, he gestures you inside to the sprawling common area. There appears to be four other groups of various sizes enjoying drinks and food.

A tall woman, dressed in the garb of a Kriegian noble, bows to you and smiles. "I am please that enough of you were able to figure out the first part of the riddle. The Dragon and Unicorn is indeed the first place to find your feet when on an adventure, though the other tavern would be a correct answer as well. Enjoy food and drink until the next task is announced. You still have an hour before then," she said and bowed again before leaving.

"Thank you," Kharash nodded to the hostess. "Seems you knew what you were talking about, well done!" he said to Griswold before he went to get some drinks. Carefully moving his large body through the crowd, he returned with his hands full. A mug of ale for each of them, and gestured the rest of the party to join him at one of the standing tables.

Before entering the public house, Griswold made sure Jacoby was comfortable and cared for.

Inside, the half-elf didn't hesitate to take the mug from Kharash with a grin and a nod.  "Ah, thank you, most generous Watcher!"  He gulped down half of the ale in one, then slammed the mug down.  Head lowered, he peered out of the corner of his eye at the Hostess to see if she was watching him.  He gestured assertively with an upwardly pointing finger.  "Of course I knew what I was talking about.  Never in doubt.  Not for a moment.  Although - if I was wrong - at least we would have been in the right place to drown our sorrows out."  He tipped both his mug and chair back, quickly draining the last of the liquid.  This time synchronising the slam of his mug with the thud of his chair's feet against the floor.

"Anyway, as I was about to say before.  It would be my honour to serve in any of the knightly orders of Krieghold.  They are all fine, upstanding, elite military organisations.  Open to only the best that the country has to offer."  He checked on the hostess again. "The perfect place for yours truly."  After a moment he frowned, leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially: "Except the Guardians of the Quill.  Their job sounds so boring!  The Custodians of the Coin too...and the least said about the Ashen Order the better.  What they do is important, obviously, but they're just too...severe."  Griswold leans back, turns his head towards the room (and hostess) and raises his voice, "Though, since I'm destined to be the fifth Rose, the question is, as they say, moot."

OOC
20:23, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 3 using 1d20-1.  Checking out the Hostess.
So is this hostess attractive?  Does she wear a wedding band?  I'm sure nothing bad can come of this mighty roll...

Griswold: You manage to catch her looking back at your table occasionally and to your knowledge she is wearing no indication of being wedded or betrothed.

Eli entered with the others and took a moment to observe the others already seated. He chuckled a bit at Griswold's mention of it not being quite so bad if this was not the place to be. "Still finding the upside even if things manage to go wrong, eh? At least that part of you hasn't changed." He nudged his friend jokingly before taking up the offered mug and raising it in front of him as he addressed the others gathered around the table. "To the beginning of our adventure together... may we be strong in the face of adversity... may we possess the necessary wit when the answer is hidden... and, in the absence of the first two, may we at least be lucky enough to make our success look like we did it on purpose." He added a wink to each of them at the last part.


20 Investigate (or Perception - it's the same result either way) to determine how competent the other groups appear based on their initial appearance and interaction with one another

00:23, Today: Eli Reiner rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Investigate - looking at other groups.

Eli: You think that there may be two groups of competent adventurers present, not including yours. The others look like they either guessed correctly, or figured it out from trial and error.

Sul had been silent on the short trip to the tavern but once greeted by the hostess he inclined his head back at her in turn. "Our thanks for your hospitality madam."

He waited for the others to choose a table to take a seat, if they did so, choosing to remain standing with arms folded over his broad chest as long as the rest of the party remained on their feet.

Since he had just been in an inn having a meal and some drink, Sul declined the food offered. If any attendant came by with drinks he chose only a drink of simple water for himself.

Griswold leaned over to Eli and whispered to him, "A tavern with lots of drink and competitors partaking?  A less honest man, might try to take advantage of that."

Standing up sharply, the Half-Elf bowed to the group with a flourish and a grin.  "Excuse me lady and gentlemen."  With that he spun on his heel and sauntered over to the hostess.  Giving her a winning smile, he held out his hand and said: "The Festival has many surprises, but I doubt any are more pleasant than the one I laid eyes on upon entering this historic establishment.  Griswold Ortmann, at your service."


OOC
19:42, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Persuasion - womaniser on sight!
Not great...

Kharash raised his mug in answer to Eli's toast and laughed. "Well said!" A bit dramatic perhaps, since they were just participating in a game and not slaying the dire boar of the Green Wood, but he enjoyed the light attitude of the two friends. It was a fresh way of looking at things, especially compared to how serious everyone from his order was.

"So how'd the two of you meet?" he asked Eli, while with a small nod of his nose he pointed at Griswold making a move on the hostess.

"Griswold?" Eli motioned for those interested in what he had to say to lean in a bit. He spoke loud enough for them to hear but not so loud that his voice carried to the surrounding tables. "I suppose it's best to let you know as it will make his actions much clearer in this light. Had he been born among the more presentable humanoid races, he could have easily been a knight several times over by now. A rare few have matched his character in the time that I've known him." Eli paused a moment to allow certain parts of his story so far to sink in a bit... particularly the parts about Griswold being born of a different race than he appeared. It was that point which Eli addressed as he continued.

"Many years ago, when I was but a boy, I and a few friends wandered away from our small town a bit further than we should have. We quickly found ourselves caught in the crude nets laid by Goblins. We were only children and unable to escape. I couldn't tell you for just how long we were dragged to that cave, but my friends and I knew that a fate worse than we could imagine awaited us within. We were dropped into a pit..." Again Eli pause, though this was only to collect himself before continuing. "...all but Edwin, anyway. He was the first among my friends to learn of the Goblins' intent. Cailen and I were only left to piece together clues from the sounds we heard. There was no scenario we could come up with that would lead us to think we might see Edwin again. For the rest of the night, or at least what we assumed was night, there was only silence. Cailen and I awoke to the rustling and skittering sounds akin to large rats. When we peered into the dim shadows, we saw that a young Goblin had scurried down into the pit. We would later discover that this was the first time the Goblin had seen any outside of his own race, alive anyway, and was merely curious what we looked like in one piece. In hindsight, Cailen and I could probably have overtaken the creature with our combined strength. It was, however, fortunate that our youthful instinct was fear motivated by uncertainty. The Goblin seemed almost sympathetic to us and did not bother us any further. Instead, he scurried back up the pit wall and back into the darkness of the cave. A short while later, a rope was lowered into the pit... or at least we made ourselves believe it was rope despite its blatantly organic texture. Cailen and I wasted no time in taking the opportunity given us. Once we were out of the pit, we again saw this young Goblin grunting and gesturing for us to follow. We put no thought into questioning the creature's intention as we followed it blindly to the cave's entrance."

Taking a moment to take in the room's sights again, Eli took another drink from his mug before leaning back in and finishing his story. "We began to flee as soon as we got a whiff of fresh air, but I felt a sharp tug on my leg. When I looked back, I realized that the Goblin wished to come with us. We reasoned that it was likely to be left to the mercy of the other Goblins when they realized it helped us escape. With a quick nod, I motioned for the creature to follow us. When we reached the town, we didn't even give a second thought to the fact that a Goblin was accompanying us. We were simply glad to be home. The patrols spotted us and quickly separated us from our rescuer. Distraught, we were in near hysterics as we tried to explain to them what had happened. Until it could be sorted out, the Goblin was locked in a cage. Unsure of what to do, I went to my uncle who was among our town's elders who carried a large influence. I told him the story of what had happened to us, what happened to Edwin, and how we escaped. He smiled and told me not to worry, that he would take care of it. The next day, I went to the cage to find it empty. I was only left to assume that, at best, they had run the young Goblin from the town or, at worst, killed the creature during the night. It was there that my uncle met me alongside a young boy I had never met before. It was another Half-Elf who my uncle introduced to me as 'Griswold'. He told me that Griswold was being adopted by a couple in the town who could not have children of their own. It was years before my uncle told me exactly what had happened. In his time as a young adventurer, he had come across a powerful magical artifact capable of granting a limited number of wishes. He used the last one to give Griswold, my rescuer, a new chance at life himself. To this day, he is not fully aware of his life before that moment. He only knows that he is meant to be a great hero. I haven't the heart to tell him the details of how he already is..." Eli lifted his mug in Griswold's direction once more before taking another drink. "The reason I tell you this is so that you are more understanding of certain tendencies he may exhibit as his true nature may show from time to time. I only ask that you not draw much attention to it when it happens."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:45, Tue 21 Feb 2017.

The noblewoman smiled and lightly tapped him on the cheek with a cupped hand. "You're cute, darling. Come back when you've declared and that may work a little better," she said with a coy smile before turning to the other groups. A few of the more daring of the groups snickered but raised a toast to the fallen Griswold.

The burly ogre guard moves to your table and deposits a piece of parchment. "I need your names and lot number. The other tasks will be announced shortly. Time is almost up." He moved off without another word.

"That's a.. most unusual history the two of you share." Kharash leaned in. "And he doesn't remember any of it?" He glances at Griswold for a second. "That wish must've been a powerful one. He is the exact opposite of a goblin in every way. And you've managed to keep it a secret from him for this long? I don't think I could've kept that to myself."

Kharash looked up at the ogre, "yes, of course," and he wrote down their names on the piece of paper.

Eli nodded solemnly to Kharash. "He used to have the occasional dream, fading memories perhaps, when we were younger but they either don't happen anymore or he just doesn't talk about it. My energy has been better spent helping him focus on his knightly goals rather than trying to remind him of the past he clearly wishes to forget."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:35, Wed 22 Feb 2017.

Sul listened to Eli's tale with a raised brow, finally saying, "That is quite the tale. Let us hope nothing dispels the enchantment laid upon your friend, lest he revert to his original form."

He turned to gaze at the burly half ogre, meeting the guard's gaze with his own. Sul didn't like the ogre's brusque attitude, but kept his silence. It took all sorts to make the world, and they had other tasks to focus on, after all.

Oblivious to his new epic history, Griswold grinned slyly at the hostess and bowed deeply.  "You shall not be kept waiting long, my Lady."  At the depth of his bow, he took her hand in his and laid a kiss on the back of it.  Withdrawing back to the group's table, he guffawed, "Well that could have gone better!  Your turn, Eli.  If you're game."

"What do we have here then?  A registration slip, hmm?  Well I suppose that makes sense.  Though by the time this festival's over, everyone will know our names."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Fri 24 Feb 2017.

The conversations continue around the tables in the tavern, with food and drink aplenty. Most of the groups seem content with the situation that has been given to them. It is nearing the time for the next tasks to be announced when the entire tavern seems to crackle with magical energy. Several of the patrons look around, but it is your table that seems closest. With a sudden bust of light and a peel of thunder, a rift opens up between Sigi and Fariel, who happened to be standing close to each other. They each barely have time to utter a sound and move before they are touched by the light and vanish! Another peel of thunder erupts and the rifts disperses in tendrils of harmless arcane lightning. Left in its wake is the diminutive form of a very confused looking gnome holding a lot ticket with the same number as you.

Wrenn's stood unmoving for a moment, save for his eyes which shifted left, then right. After about three seconds, the gnome twirled about raised his right fist high into the air and then bowed with a flourish of his bronze colored cape. He paused at the bottom of his bow for a moment for applause, and took advantage of the moment to look for an empty seat to settle himself into.

"Gods!" Griswold exclaims, bolting up, taking a step back and drawing his rapier.  He looked about the room in confusion, wondering if this too was part of the test and taking a few moments to gather his wits about him, before chuckling nervously and attempting to break the tension, "so that's how gnomes are born!  I'd always wondered."

He spared a couple for his joke to settle in, then glowered at the new arrival.  "But I'd rather have the cute redhead back...if you don't mind."

"Woah!" Kharash exclaimed as he jumped up, knocking over his chair. "What... how did you do that?"

Wrenn had a moment of uncertainty as the half-elf drew his weapon. He hadn't planned for combat today, and what few spells he had prepared that might aid him would not do well against one of fey ancestry.

Wrenn paused at the elf's comment, and gathered his thoughts to share with the silly man the details of gnome birth. Of course in order to understand the birth you needed to talk about incubation, and of course that wouldn't explain much if you didn't understand fertilization, which of course would require a description of sex. Naturally, you couldn't have that conversation until you discussed genders, attraction, brain chemicals.

It would take several hours, but Wrenn was up to the task and he'd finally settled on the starting point of brain chemicals. Just as he started to launch into the conversation the half-elf spoke again, this time mentioning a cute red-head, which threw off his whole thought process.

"Cute red-head..." Wrenn paused in thought once again, thinking of cute things with red heads. "Ah! Certainly Wrenn can assist you there!"

The gnome held out his arms, put his right index finger in the palm of his left hand, traced a line up his arm and shoulder up his neck and chin, then back down to the center of his chest, pulled his left hand to meet his right at his chest and then lowered both arms while softly chanting words that sounded somewhat like a nursery rhyme in gnomish.

A red-orange kitten appeared cradled in the gnomes arms. "Doesn't get much cuter than that, does it?" [private to dm: Resummoning my familiar in the form of a cat.]

Sul started in shock at the sudden occult disturbances, reaching for his shield and weapon with the appearance of the rift, but then halting in confusion at the appearance of the gnome!

"By the sacred flame! What magic is this?" he exclaimed, gazing at the newcomer with wide eyes, releasing his grip on his warhammer but immediately reaching up to grip his amulet instead.

"How did I do it? Why, not but by the very thing that flows through your veins, Fierce One - Magic!" Wrenn's eyes light up as he sees the dragonborn.



"By what magic? Indeed! That is The Question!" As Wrenn exclaims, he raises an arm for emphasis and accidentally drops the cat which exclaims itself with a tiny "Rweow!" as it drops to the floor on all fours.

"Not my magic, I can tell you that! Mine is not but Divination," he turns toward Griswold and lowers his voice a touch, "Divination is like Divine, only bigger and better." He then turns back to the human, "I was trying to discover that very thing when suddenly I was pulled into some strange dimension the likes of which I have neither seen nor read of before, and found myself here! - Which brings me to my questions. - So, where in the seven stones have I been teleported to? What strange gathering do I now find myself in? And lastly, what is this stub in my hand, and who put it there?"

The corner of Griswold's mouth twitched upwards at the appearance of the cute little critter, but he managed to restrain a full smile.  He wiggled the tip of his rapier in the gnome's direction to reassert himself. "Such arcane incantations! Sir gnome is a wonder indeed!  An explosive entrance and a beastly conjuration!" The half-elf gave an apologetic glance to the little cat before continuing.  "Such showmanship!  And all at the cost of only two lives!"  Griswold's eyes narrowed.

"The redhead was a half-dwarf.  A very pretty one.  And there was an elf too.  He was quiet.  Both popped out, just as you popped in.  What.  Did.  You.  Do.  To.  Them?

"I warn you to think very carefully on your answer before speaking.  As everyone knows Magic is highly regulated in Krieghold and you just happen to have appeared in exactly the wrong place, in exactly the wrong way, at exactly the wrong time.  At this very moment Knights of The Ashen Order, witch hunters if you will, patrol up and down the streets outside.  Only a shout away.  And that's assuming you survive my blade first."

"You mistake my appearance, and your friends' disappearance, as something of my doing. I assure you, were I to have done this intentionally it would have been you that disappeared and the cute redhead you speak of who stayed! What did I do to them? Why, I do declare - not a thing!"

Eyebrows raised, "Krieghold?!"

Wrenn took another look at the surroundings. "Hmm, so it is. Yes, yes. Ashen Order. Old news." The gnome rolled his eyes like a kid whose mother was telling him to go to bed. "I repeat, Sir Paranoia, my appearance here was not of my own doing. I was trading wares at Last Haven, pewter casts and music boxes for a small collection of gemstones. One second I was collecting the gempouch, and the next I was standing here holding this stub in its place." He held up the stub and waved it around, still having no idea what it was.

Wrenn's posture changed as the half-elf threated him verbally. "You're not the first would-be robber to threaten me so. You wish to steal my wares too, eh? 'Sir Paranoia' is far too great a title for one such as you. Liar, cheater, thief, rat! More fitting to one of such demeanor."

Wrenn's eyes grew larger with his own paranoia, as things started to fall into place in his mind, "Yes, I see it clear now, Thief. Buyer offers to pay me in gems, but insists I take them in the pouch provided. A pouch - enchanted to teleport me here, allowing one thief to take my wares unpaid-for, while the other, his honorless sellsword, seeks to steal my life away. Perhaps we should call the Ashen Order over and see who they're more interested in - a harmless gnome capable of cheap tricks? Or a murderous scoundrel disguised in knightly garb, in league with thieves wielding teleportation magic?"

"Woah! Woah!" Eli quickly placed himself in between Griswold and Wrenn. "Hey, I was just as startled as you when this little guy popped in." Eli made a brief motion to the Gnome before looking back to Griswold. "...but don't you think this is just a little bit rash of a reaction here. You wouldn't want anyone thinking you some sort of savage for drawing your sword at the first sign of errant magic, would you?" Even with the new development, Eli couldn't help but take advantage of it as a way to further cement his story about Griswold to the others.

Eli quickly turned to face Wrenn. "I think you may want to sit down and explain yourself a little bit more. Your sudden appearance was..." He paused as he searched for the most appropriate. "...unexpected." The word he chose was certainly an understatement.