Still a thriving tavern in the capital city of Kingsport, The Broken Lute has seen better days. The mood is busy, but depressing. Gone are the musical acts and entertainment the Tavern used to be known for and in it's place is a general sense of melancholy. Whatever life the performers used to bring to this place has vanished and the tavern, like the world, was worse for it.

Moondale slipped into the Broken Lute hoping to be unseen.   Clothed in a long brown weather beaten cloak.   He hoped nobody would notice or remember him.   At least for now.   This was so so much different from when he left this place last.

As his troupe had left that late sunny summer morning he had made a rousing farewell speech.

We shall return and remember Turnpike Troubadours perform "because they don't like it up 'em".   He had shouted as he left the building.   The whole tavern had cheered and shouted back.   Yes "because they don't like it up 'em".  It was their catch phrase.

The troupe's name had come years back from a comeback from an insult from a town guard and the use of his pike on them.   The guard had hated elven music.  He had tried to turn the room against the elves.  Much to Moondale's surprise he had got a big laugh from the whole of the room.  The troupe had joined in by playing their music in silly ways.  It turn out to be a great night and the name stuck.

As he looked at the place he came to the conclusion.   He was punishing himself.   That was the true reason he was returning to all their old haunts.   She was gone.   He had been left behind.   Clearly he had never been on their level and he was just the hanger on that somehow made it into the troupe.

The first time they kissed.  Was that not to stop him trying to sing.

He headed over to the bar with the smooth grace of a rogue.  Sat down.  He slipped a coin across to the barman and said in a low gravel voice.
A mug of ale. Oh how he hated ale but asking for elven wine would bring to much attention to himself.

OOC:
There are some odd references to music and TV but it may help if you know I am English and like Country and Weston music.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:27, Thu 21 Dec 2023.

 A human man walked in next, clearly a man of the cloth, but his holy symbol was that of a scroll and crossed Quills, the symbol of the Muses, goddesses of the arts, including music. The land had become silent and this man, along with others of his order are looking for answers. For now he would sit down at a table, looking sad at the empty stage as he sighed.

The door opened again, followed by another human with some Kellishite features. With the music gone,  Terias was tasked, along with all of the followers of Desna, of finding out what had happened. For the time being, a good stiff drink or four were in order as he listened in to the conversations. "Ale!" he asked the server, plunking a silver coin on the table.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:20, Fri 29 Dec 2023.

Whilst the mood in the tavern is somber, in the corner furthest from the door is a table where there seems to be a bit of excitement happening.  You can hear the occasional rattle of dice as they bounce on the scratched wooden surface and mild swearing every so often.  It is hard to see how many people are actually partaking of the game, but you think that there are three, or four, seated with another one or two looking on, including a serving girl.

"You playing or not?" Can be heard across the busy tavern quite distinctly in a voice that isn't quite as gruff as you might expect.  "You're either in, or out.  Make your mind up, and make it quick.  There are others waiting to play, if'n you're done." The voice can be heard again, chivvying at least one of the group to decide what they were doing.

Moondale looks over and studies the crowd playing in the corner.  Seeing if he can pick out who if any are members of the local theif guild.  Also who is running the show.

Sitting alone at a table off to one side, watching the people in the tavern, she thanked the waitress who brought a drink and a bowl of clear liquid. A large purple caterpillar climbed out of her pack and into the bowl.

 To break the silence ad try to pick up the mood of the Tavern, Judas begins to stomp a foot to make a beat and whistles a tune off the top of his head. It wasn't great music, but great music seems to have vanished from the land and a little ditty like this would still surely be welcome in times like this.

13:13, Today: Judas BonJovi rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  Perform (Whistling).

 The performance wasn't the best thing ever, this is true, but it was appreciated and even with it being a random little tune, some in the tavern gave smiles, little toe taps and even a slight bit of clapping along with Judas. The moods certainly lifted at least a little.

Sonata listened to Judas's whistling, tapping her toes along with the rhythm. A thought struck her, and she retrieved a book from her pack. The cadence was the same. She began softly, nervously reciting the epic of Beoric the Bloody in time. Then she tried to match the melody, and soon as if a spell was upon her, she was singing the poem aloud, "He raised up his ax, and he brought the weapon low! With one mighty swing he drove through his foe! He tied him to his horse, and dragged him to and fro! and when he was done, he had plowed a bloody row!"

00:08, Today: Moonlight Sonata rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  singing.

 It came together nicely, an impromptu duet of two amateurs that together if they had the chance, they could make those people dance and maybe they'd be happy for a while.

  Ringo sat at the end of the bar with a tankard of ale, a half eaten chunk of bread and bowl of stew in front of him. He'd been watching a game of dice at a nearby table and trying not to bring any attention to himself. That was hard to do when you were bigger than most and armed the way he was. He made an effort to look like any other traveller not wanting any trouble.
  He glanced around the bar but didn't make eye contact with anyone for long. A voice tried to goad someone at the dice table to make a move, Ringo's hand dropped to his side as he took a drink of ale. He had no plan to get into the business going on at the game but it wouldn't hurt to be ready if their business came his way. Another man started to whistle and his fingers started to tap to the beat. The man wasn't half bad and others in the tavern seemed to be enjoying it as well. These day's that was rare, even rarer was hearing a soft voice join the whistling. As he listened to the words of the song he grinned as he realized his fingers were tapping the ax at his hip. "Bar keep, I'd like to buy those two a shot of rhythm and blues or whatever they are having." He set his tankard down and placed the needed coin on the bar. "And I'll have another ale."

 Judas wanted to get the chance to talk to the young lady who joined in with his attempt to lighten the mood and to the fellow who offered to buy him a drink. The priest would try to congregate towards the man siting down and gesture to the lady with a smile. Perhaps this chance meeting could lead to something wonderful and if they are fortunate, useful to solving the land's current troubles.