Elma smiles at the conversation as she helps Dannika fill her pot. "I got this in another place, back in my home." Once the transfer is complete she places the Jug back in her pack, anyone who looks can see that there's no residue or stickiness left from the honey. She watches as the words flow, and when Minty looks to her she adds to the moment.

"I plan to perform. There is much one can learn from an audience, both as a performer," she looks over at Minty with a smile "and as someone in the crowd." She looks back at the couple.  "Having ears inside the audience before, during, and after a show is a surprisingly in-depth way to learn who people really are." She looks serious for a moment. "I don't know what we'll find, but since we don't have much right now, anything will be of benefit. I'm also hoping that the burgomaster will approach us so we can work toward some information above the ground level."

Minty smiles at her friend's reference to 'someone in the crowd' then adds, "So, Danika, we are new to this town. To this land, in fact. nonetheless we plan to change things for the betterment of all. What will you tell us that will help us understand this land, its peoples, better?"

She exchanges looks with Urvin. They seem guarded in their answer, in fact, answering your question with a question.

"Like what???"

Perhaps you can gather more from what they did not say. Why would they be so guarded, if not keeping a secret?

"Whatever comes to mind. If nothing, comes to your mind, then that's fine, we can go talk to someone who has an opinion," replies Minty not altogether diplomatically. It didn't help being fed up with a town that promised to tell its story but said little and that at a glacial speed.

Elma glances over at Minty with one eyebrow raised. She then turns back to the pair, "Anything of import? It's hard to know what to ask when one doesn't even know the streets of the town, or the names of those involved. Or what is actually happening aside from 'it is all horrible'. But... that's fine, when you think of something you'd like to share just seek us out." She put her pack on her back and smiled. "You know where we'll be!" She does a little curtsey and starts to turn then chuckles and turns back, "You know where we'll be better than we do! Where is our room?"

Uncharacteristically Minty lingers a number of breaths longer, "Like what? Like who controls what around here? And, yes, you're going to ask 'why?', well, in case you weren't listening, it's becasue we can and intend to help. Help what? Well, you want Urvin, you and your boys to die of old age. Currently that's not going to happen. In fact currently it's not even vaguely possible. That's what we hope to change." She doesn't add that she, Minty, may pay for the change with her immortal essence, her soul.. "So if you're interested and want to quit stonewalling, come and talk to us. You know where to find us."

With three careful, backward paces the half-elf moves towards Emla and then spins on one heel to follow her friend towards their room.

Danika gives you the key to room 3. They both pause and exchange worried glances to each other before giving you the lowdown you've requested.

Urvin: "You will need to forgive our hesitation. You have come bearing a gift, and it has not gone unwelcome, we gladly trade you room and food for the honey. You say you want to help our land, it is no secret that Count Strahd is an evil vampire, but the land is still his, and he has spies everywhere. We too want to help our people, but you aren't the first adventurers to waltz in here and start demanding our secrets."

Danika: "You were speaking with Ernst, he works for Lady Fiona, the only noble in town that could challenge Baron Vargas to defend Vallaki. Despite Vargas's...eh...insanity, he keeps our guards and gates strong. We know Fiona is in league with Strahd. If she overthrew Vargas it would weaken the town against the vampire. Not to say we are actually well defended against him, but he does not bother us as long as we pay taxes."

Urvin: "There are a few other adventurers here who have recently killed Baba Lysaga, an old witch that is said to be Strahd's nursemaid. If you want to help, speak with them, perhaps you're in alignment with your goals."

This message was deleted by the player at 20:50, Mon 20 June 2022.

(After Vyktor’s healing)

The door opened. Jun Jia entered the Inn, scanning the tavern for an empty table. “We should rest and gather our strength for tomorrow’s festivities.” She looked up at Vyktor with a bright smile. “A celebration of your healing would be in order, too.”

"That sounds good," said Ceila.  "We do need to recover, before we risk facing their kind again..."

"I'm not sure if I'm much for celebration, but a good meal and a relaxing evening sounds very good. Let's not draw too much attention." He added the last as an afterthought. It seemed that wherever they went, trouble seemed to present itself.

The half-elf nods, and answers with a little smile. "I owe no loyalty to Ernst, we talked to him for something like five minutes before he brought us in here." She shrugs, "I don't have any loyalty to anyone here yet, though I am generally pre-disposed to the working classes." She tilts her head, "I wasn't looking for all of your secrets, just a general idea of what's happening in the town and the area as a whole. What you've told me here is enough to start with, and I am grateful for it. You've little reason to trust us, but I thank you for pointing us in a direction." With a small curtsey she leaves the kitchen, "I'll return with more honey, you'll not be housing us for free while we're here, but we appreciate the room, board, and a chair to perform on."

Elma enters the main room, her pack slung over one shoulder. Her dress is still the most colorful thing in the room, but that's a position she's used to being in. She leans over slightly and speaks briefly to her companion while looking around the room. A group of adventurers that just killed Strahd's 'nursemaid'? Would she be able to recognize them on sight with such a simple description...?

The answer was, apparently, yes. She watches a group of battered and scuffed people walk in, look around and sit at a table. Elma and Minty share a glance and then Elma pulls out an instrument, hands her bag to her partner and heads back toward the "stage" they had set up for her earlier. It had been mostly taken down after her performance, but there was a chair sitting there in a bit of clear space so she sits down again.

She brings the piccolo up to her lips and blows gently into it. After a few notes she plays a slow, easy tune. She doesn't want to hit the high notes, in a room this size anything of a higher register would just grate on the ears and overwhelm the probably tipsy audience. Nobody wants a high note shrilling through the air while one is trying to enjoy a little conversation with their food, so she sticks to the lower notes and keeps the beat slow with a tapping foot.

-----

The song I have in mind is Clearly Now (https://www.youtube.com/watch?...ab_channel=onlyalena) but without words, of course, so it's soft and gentle and slow, using low notes that somehow have a positive and hopeful feel to them.

minty curtsies when Elma does, once again looking smaller in the background of her more imposing companion.

When Elma glances at the slightly travel-worn group, Minty understands volumes, and settles down next to the the others. She ventures, "If you've not heard her before, you folks are in for a treat. But where are my manners. I'm Minty; she's ELma. We've newly in town. May I offer you folks each a glass of something by way of aplology for my wayward manners?"

“Nihao, Nushi,” Jun Jia nodded, not quite making direct eye contact with the new woman. “I mean, hello, ma’am.” She spoke in a dialect perhaps unfamiliar to even as well-traveled a woman as Minty. “My companions are Ceila and Vyktor. If a tall man joins us, his name is Chokhar. My name is Jun Jia.”

She watched the Bard sing, nodding her head slightly with the music. A pleasant smile on her face, Jun said, “Your companion has a pleasant voice, Minty. Music soothes the weary soul after a hard day’s work.”.

Noticing the female's eyes sliding away from hers, Minty makes a deliberate head movement to catch them. "Hello, 'Ginger', and thank you. My apologies if I don't get your name quite right. Now, what might be your pleasure?" She leans in to invite response.

“My name is Jun Jia, not ‘Ginger.’ If it is easier, the people of the West might call me ‘Jia’.

Thank you for your kind offer. Tea or well water would be welcome. My companions may want a stronger drink?” She tentatively allowed Minty to establish the eye contact with a polite smile. Jia looked at Ceila & Vyktor for their answers.

Minty practise, "Jia. That's easier. Jia. yes, thank you," and mirrors the polite smile. Her attention lingers for some seconds and then turns to those named 'Ceila & Vyktor'.

Chokahr purchased a bottle of the more expensive wine, Red Dragon Crush, and gracefully carried 6 glasses in one hand. It was a feat in itself that the barbarian did not shatter the wine glasses at their stems.

"Greetings. I am Chokahr." He pulled his shirt collar over a bit to show off his scar where the vampire had bit him. "Everything is redeemable here, as long as you are willing to push yourself to the limit. I assume you both are like us, brought here against your will and with no other choice but to try and solve this world's problems for a chance at returning home?"

Danika and Urvin appeared from the kitchen to bid everyone a "good evening" and you were left in the care of a woman named Vesper with bright piercing blue eyes. Some of you remember her from both the wolves and vampires, but she pretends to have never met you before and treats you like any other patron.

It is 8pm and the front doors crash open for the two sons of Lady Fiona Wachter: Niko and Karl. The town drunks.

They stride through the inn on the way to the bar to hassle Vesper when they stop to oogle Elma's playing.

Once she finishes her tune they both bow in turn, "Greetings, I am Nikolay Wachter." "And I am Karl Wachter." "You play so beautiful." "If there is anything you need you come to me, I will take care of you."

Elma smiles, more focused on caring for and putting away her instrument.

Insight - Elma has run into any number of town drunks in her time, does she recognize these two as being such?
18:48, Today: Elma Keensong rolled 6 using 1d20+3.  Insight.
Nope!

Once she is ready she stands and bows her head a bit toward them. "I do thank you for your greeting, and for your compliment." She steps away from the chair and toward the table Minty is sitting at. "I will return to my companion here, but I will likely perform again before the night is done!"

Insight result: they are already drunk and plan to get even further drunk.

Niko and Karl's jaws drop a bit, and they heavily breathe through their mouths, "Wait? Compainion like..." "Like lovers?" "Like...isn't there a word for that?" "Lesbians?" "That's so hot. I've never met real lesbians before."

Clearly no amount of noble blood nor money has been spared on their pedigree.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:16, Tue 21 June 2022.

Elma glances at Minty and widens her eyes, having to struggle to keep from rolling them. When she looks back at the two, her face is still smiling but her eyes are slightly less so. "You assume a great deal, men... if you've never met a lesbian then how do you know what they look like?" She chuckles a bit before adding, "I'll let you buy us a mug, but only if you promise to dance for the crowd next time I sing."

They both nod furiously, "Absolutely!" "We love to dance!" "Vesper dear! A mug for everyone and when the time is right we all dance!"

Vesper raised her eyebrows at Elma as if to say, "Don't encourage them!" But she began pouring ales anyway, coin is coin.

When Chokahr turns up Minty nods a greeting, eyes the glasses, and then the bite bites, the latter with some alarm. "Doesn't that mean you'll turn into..one of those things?" She pushes her chair back slightly and gathers her balance.

When Chokahr doesn'tlunge for her thorat (or, perhaps, blood) Minty notes the lack of alarm from Jia and ges with it. "Well, yes, brought here  and so forth, exactly. And we're trying to work towards getting home. As soon as a serving person comes within range the half-elf orders a round according to the tastes of the group.

***

With the loudmouths doing what they do, Minty pays attention to the table conversation around her but there's a slight remoteness, as if also tuned in elsewhere, a featutre common to half the population and to the eternal bewilderment of the other half. When the pair of lushes settle down so does Minty.

“Will your friend be alright?” Jia discreetly indicated the wealthy, drunken louts accosting Elma. “Ceila and I were not so lucky as to meet them the last time we were here.”

She leaned closer to Minty. “The…bites…came from six unwelcome guests at the Coffin Maker’s shop. We…ended their stay. I do not know if there are more ‘guests’. A priest warned us of a stronghold to the south overrun with undead.”