In reply to Therarak Gemfinder (msg # 21):

I have recently arrived in this "town" from the south and I am looking for adventure and employment.  Pray tell, what brings a Svirfneblin to this backwater joint? he asks quietly. Also, did you catch what the woman is crying about over there?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:30, Thu 16 Mar 2017.

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 20):

Thorfire wonders to himself...If I buy him a drink will he shut the hell up?

In reply to DM (msg # 19):

Doesn't Lazaret get a Perception Check too or is he too loud to see the woman crying?

In reply to DM (msg # 14):

-I wonder if this Zelgor character needs a security detail as he travels back and forth from Podu?-

Tell me dear, do you know where Mr. Zelgor stays while he is in town? I would like to talk to him a bit about some business I might have in Podu.

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 20):

The singing has caught Celador's attention.

Bravo! Excellent ballad my bard friend!

Celador raises his drink in appreciation.

-not a bad singer, I wonder how he'd fare in a fight. I think I'd rather have him on my side than be against him-

"Why he has a room at the Stronghammer Inn," Mattis replies matter of factly. "They say he spends a lot of time reading in his room."



By the time Thorfire and Therarak have completed their introductions, nearly half the tavern is gathered around the singing tabaxi. Strangers laugh and cheer with each line of Lazaret's song raising their glasses and clapping their hands in time with the his silly tune.

Meanwhile, the sobbing woman, now sitting alone after the departure of her three tablemates, sits with her face buried in her hands. For those observant enough to notice, the contrast is wrenching.

For most of the tavern, however, the plight of the sobbing woman goes unnoticed. All eyes are on their newfound entertainer. As he completes his tune, the crowd applauds and chants for more.


OOC: Lazaret, excellent singing. Please award yourself 1 inspiration point!

OOC: Thorfire and Therarak, please roll a d20 for a perception check (and yes, Lazaret is too busy making friends to notice the sobbing lady).
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:31, Thu 16 Mar 2017.

In reply to DM (msg # 27):

OOC: is Zelgor watching Lazaret, the sobbing woman or the halfling and the gnome?

Upon finishing his song, Lazaret accepts a fresh drink from one of the men at his table. He raises his drink and nods to Celador and sizes him up.

To himself - "I wonder what the old man with the pipe thinks of all this. Perhaps it's time to get a closer look."

He plays a little ditty on the flute and makes his way over to the old man and sits down - trying desperately to focus on the man's eyes and not his pipe. His shiny, shiny pipe.

In reply to DM (msg # 27):

Thorfire excuses himself from his new friend and approaches the crying women's table. Pardon me miss, but I can't help but see you are distraught.  My name is Thorfire and I am new in town.  Can I help you in anyway?

21:32, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Perception

21:36, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 18 using 1d20+2.  Persuasion.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Fri 17 Mar 2017.

You honor me with your knowledge of my people. Have you seen others like me recently?

I wonder for I no longer have a home. It looks like we are both searching for the same thing.

22:22, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 11 using 1d20+3.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:26, Fri 17 Mar 2017.

Zelgor surveys the tavern from behind the cloud of his trusty pipe. He seems to watch everyone while at the same time watching no one in particular. His eyes wander from the grumpy pair at the bar to the elf and to the sobbing woman (who now sits with a Halfling...who a moment ago was sitting with a Svirfneblin!). So many things to observe.

His attention turns again as he is joined by the flute playing tabaxi who has turned the tavern into a bit of a performance hall. He sits for a moment, as if without a care, blowing a long puff of smoke into the air before addressing his visitor.

"Fire Star of the Lazaret," he starts with a nod. "Your stories and music have created quite a stir this evening."

The sobbing woman pulls her face up from her hands with a sniffle. "Oh," she stammers, startled to find Thorfire before her. "I beg your pardon. I didn't intend to make such a scene. It's just that - " she holds for a moment, debating whether or not it makes sense to talk of private matters with a complete stranger. But somehow, she finds the Halfling trustworthy. "It's my son. He's fallen in with a bunch of bad apples. Well he had fallen in with them. But he ins't anymore. I mean they aren't anymore. The bad apples, I mean. They aren't here anymore... on this earth." She takes a deep breath to compose herself. "I mean they're dead. The rotten apples. And now my son has come back with a warning, but he's been thrown in the dungeon and they say he's going to... going to..."

She can't finish her sentence. Instead, she breaks into tears.



OOC: Therarak, you notice that Hyacinth is carrying a small pouch in her lap. Not unlike those used to carry gold coins.

In reply to Zelgor (msg # 32):

I aim to entertain. From the sounds of things around here, these folks could use a little diversion.

But, where are my manners? I hope you don't mind if I sit. I am Lazaret, indeed. Your name is? I'm sorry I did not catch it if you told me before.

I hope you enjoyed my little song. It's something I do to keep my friends entertained. I learned long ago that I had a certain talent for such things. It was a skill that was much appreciated in my former life on the sea...

I'm sorry. I am prattling on without proper introduction, but...it's just...your pipe, sir. Where did you get it? I have never seen one quite like it. The cook on my former vessel used to smoke a similar one - not quite as nice - every night after dinner had been served and cleaned up. He used to recline in a cargo net on deck and smoke while staring at the stars. He would blow this delightful rings and fancy shapes. I could watch him do this for hours.

I have not seen a Deep Gnome for at least six 10 days when I was traveling here from the south.  They kept to themselves and I didn't have a chance to talk to them.  If you will excuse me, I want to talk to the sobbing woman over there.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Fri 17 Mar 2017.

Do you mind if I sit down?  Your son must be Kevril, I heard the others talking about him.  Did you have a chance to speak with him before he was arrested?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Fri 17 Mar 2017.

The old man leans back and exhales another cloud of smoke. "I go be many names," he starts, before smiling ever so slightly. "Some of them not very nice. But most here call me Zelgor. It is a pleasure to meet you, Fire Star of the Lazaret."


Zelgor examines the pipe in question thoughtfully. "This was a gift from a friend in a far away land. A long time ago..." He looks up for a moment at the smoke clouded ceiling. "I wonder what ever happened to him... But no matter, it is from a far away place. If your cook had a similar piece, he was well travelled, indeed."

Amid sniffles, Hyacinth motions to the Halfling to sit. "Yes, Kevril is my son. My boy. He's just a boy. I spoke with him when he came back to town. He was upset. No, frantic. He was frantic." she sniffles again. "Frantically upset or upsettedly frantic, I don't know what you'd call it. He was speaking a mile a minute and he only made sense half of the time. I don't know where he learned to talk like that. There was a hooded man and a cart and they were just to take a few coins but the hooded man..." she stops. "And now they've thrown him in the dungeon like he's a murderer. He didn't -" Her face falls back into her hands.

Well met, Zelgor. You appear to be a man who has seen many things. I seek adventure and new experiences here in the Northlands. The men at the other table say that the mountains are too dangerous, but I say they are too inviting to not be climbed.

Have you been out there and climbed to the top? How did the world look from such a vantage?

Zelgor shrugs his shoulders. "I spend more time in the foothills nowadays, but I have been in the mountains many times. Never atop them, mind you. They are cold and inhospitable on the exterior at altitude. But underneath the Spine of the North lies an endless network of tunnels." He pauses to judge Lazeret's interest, then settles in his chair as he continues. "The greatest of the mountains lie on either side of Great Passage, the road stretching from Cathid on the south through the stronghold at Stonehaven to the abandoned outpost of Healy, now just a ghost town. Fharylt rises highest on the west and Orronil on the east. Each was a capital of a separate dwarven empire in centuries past.

"The great Ironhammer Dwarves of the past built miles of tunnels starting under Fharylt, but they weren't the only ones. Orcs and even more nefarious creatures built tunnels of their own in the mountains, and they still do."

The old man sighs in conclusion. "Yes, I suspect there is plenty of adventure to be had in the mountains, especially in the Great Passage, but I also suspect that even humble Westbank may offer you adventure, if you knew where to look."

And look I shall.

Mountaintops abound and I shall stand atop one soon. Mines and tunnels too? Well, these lands certainly hold much for these eyes to see. Clearly my path leads North.

I thank you for your time, good Sir. Perhaps you would like to travel North as well? I could use a fellow who knows his way. I can't pay much, but I promise you will never be bored on the journey.

In reply to Zelgor (msg # 40):
Therarak hears talk of tunnels under mountains and joins the Zelgor and the cat.

Matter of factly, Greetings. I am Therarak Gemfinder. I have spent most of my life in the underdark. I know its secrets and dangers like I know members of my own family. Perhaps I could be of some use in any expedition you are considering.

In reply to Therarak Gemfinder (msg # 42):

Good heavens! A gnome. It has been some time since I have seen a man of your, er, stature.

Lazaret's instinctive prey drive kicks in and he stares just a little too much. Before the instinct to pounce kicks in he collects himself.

I am Fire Star of Lazaret. Please call me Lazaret as I am sure we are going to be fast friends.

The underdark you say? I must confess that most of my travels have been at sea, in towns and otherwise completely above ground. But I am fascinated! Who knows what treasures and sights await right below the very earth we walk on? Perhaps my soft steps and keen hearing will be of service down below.

Tell me, what have you seen in the underdark that a young seafarer such as myself should not leave this plane without experiencing for myself?

A short joke? I see the humor.



Great and noble cities. Tyrants whose power is only surpassed by their cruelty. Treasures beyond compare and dangers to match.

In reply to Therarak Gemfinder (msg # 44):

Cities under the ground?! Why I have seen cities floating in the seas and even in the skies once, but never under the ground. This is something I must behold.

When do we leave?

With that, Lazaret leaps onto the table, draws his rapier, and raises his glass.

Glory awaits in the shadows!

That's terrible...Thorfire pauses for a few moments. I have certain "skills" and I am looking for employment.  If you have some coin, I could look into the matter and see if I can find evidence to clear your son.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:29, Sun 19 Mar 2017.