Gundren Rockseeker is putting together a band of adventurers for a simple escort job with the promise of some real adventure once you reach the destination. Each of you has received your own personal invitation from Gundren to meet here at The Lively Bodkin tavern, in a private back room where he's already covered the price of one meal and two drinks for each of you. There was a small note at the bottom of that section which notes that the tavern's touristy drink, The Horn of Heimdall, would not be covered.

You each arrive in your own time and are directed to the reserved room by a dwarven man named Fribbington wearing a servant's outfit. He has friendly green eyes, long dark hair, but not even the faintest hint of a beard. Fribbington opens the door and waits for you to step inside before following behind and asking about your order.

You see that Gundren has not yet arrived, but his letter did mention that was was placing some last minute orders for the shipment you would be escorting, so he might be a little bit late.

They have all manner of alcohol here, as well as a new gnomish drink called Windslosh which is not alcoholic and comes in either sweet or sour flavors. They tickle your nose a bit and some people love them while others hate them, so order at your own risk if you're intrigued.

Menu Items
Miner's Pie - Chicken pot pie.
Egg Roll - Delicious food from another land.
Ale Cheese Soup - Cheese and Ale together? IN A SOUP!?
Marriage Soup - Greens and meat married in a soup.
Honey Glazed Ham - A thick slice of ham covered in a honey glaze.
Tentacle Stew - It's delicious if you close your eyes.
Spicy Pork - Ham, but hot!
Horn of Heimdall - A drinking horn the size of a horse's leg. If you finish it, you get your name carved on the wall of heroes.

The price tag on the Horn of Heimdall is 8 gp, and it has to be drunk by one person, in front of the whole tavern, usually with 2-4 other challengers lined up at the same time.

(You're free to RP here until I've gotten everyone's character-specific invitation sent out, at which point I will introduce Gundren as well.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:34, Sun 09 May 2021.

Akyra stood outside the tavern, her eyes narrowed as she looked at the door. Snorting a little, she entered the door. Every eye turned on her with a look of surprise....normal reaction at the best of times for her, but some thing she was used to in this place. The fact she was a female Dragonborn was unusual...what few Dragonborn around were usually males, intimidating warriors or cunning arcanists, but a female was rare. Rarer still was her color. Even among Dragonborn kind, the black scales were rare, and what few Akyra knew were her family, a brood of evil Dragonborn from the south.

...but she wasn’t like them.

Her imposing figure matched most of her male kin, the dark sheen of her onyx scales gleamed against the contrast of her silver mail armour, the symbol on the left breast was a dark blue circle with a roaring silver-like dragon head. Around her neck, an amulet had the symbol of bahamut, the platinum dragon god. Her face had a discolouration, a scar from Lo g ago down her left eye ridge, past her eye and down her cheek. On her back, other than a pack ready for travel, was a great hammer of war, at her side a battle axe and dagger, and in a hand, a shield that had the shape of a Dragon wing.

The Dragonborn, ignoring the looks, strode to the bar, her green eyes locking onto Fribbington. “Gundren Rockseerer” Was all she said. The dwarf opened the door and she entered, placing her gear at the wall, and sits. The dwarf waits as she gets comfortable. “Spicy pork and an ale please” She said as she sat, her eyes looking around.

Her first time out of the clergy in her own, this would test her strength if will, faith and determination.

....was this her place?

"A calling, yes, that's what this is, a calling. Others might call it something else, a job, a mission, an escort..."

That last brought him up short, enough that he had to think about it. Then he guffawed loudly, startling the workman nearby from his chore. Whistling a jaunty tune he entered his destination. The Lively Bodkin looked...lively. Once there, he noted a dwarf without a beard.

"Sir, I think you're missing your whiskers." he said. "I'm looking for a Gundren. Do you know where to find him?"

Fribbington lead the way to the back room when Gundren's name was mentioned, answering questions and taking orders as they came.

Fribbington seemed less surprised than most, likely due to having already received a description of those expected to attend the private meeting. "Lady Akyra, I take it. Yes, Master Gundren has asked us to prepare the private room. If you would follow me, please?" As the dragonborn placed her order, Fribbington smiled,  He left the room to place the order, instructing one of the others to actually deliver it as he saw the next expected face enter the establishment.

"Master BonThot? Indeed I am, I swear my father must have drawn a hag's curse." He laughed it off.  "Right this way, please. Master Gundren is running a bit late, but he's sure to join you soon." There are close to two dozen other people inside the tavern's main room, people of all walks of life, and fair sampling of races. It was a lot of people in so small a place, making a tiny room in the back a rather welcome alternative to wait for Gundren's arrival. As you step inside, you're greeted by the presence of the black-scaled dragonborn.

Akyra, pleasantly surprised by the dwarf’s manners and knowledge in her own language, smiled.  she says in her native togune.  She nodded and sat there.

When the door opened, she looked up, her clawed hands on the table in front of her, she looked at the man with curosity.

Bonthot arrives, takes a look at the Dragonborn and says, "Your scales are quite lovely. I am BonThot, wanderer, tinkerer and any other 'er' that you can think of!"

"Do you have a name? And, more important, do you wish to share it with me? Oh, and I am not talking about your secret name, merely what most people call you."

The Dragonborn looked at the man as he spoke....a lot, and raised one eye ridge at the questions and comments. “Greetings Bothnot, My name is Akyra, priestess of bahamut.” She indicated a chair with her hand. “You do not fear me? Most people are wary of my kind, and those who know of my coloration even more so....but I thank you for your kind words.”

The cleric looked at him, many assumptions roaming through her mind, but she quickly banished them. She was someone who had such assumptions thrust on her, and she vowed not to do that to others.

....still, he talked a lot.

"Oh, I am wary, for I do not know you beyond what I can see. And I see a lot. And yet, I think we will be working together, and if you are one of the Great Platinum's vassals, that speaks well of you. Now, have you eaten yet? I am hungry and there is a repast waiting for us. I'm told that the food is provided free of charge."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:27, Mon 10 May 2021.

As the pair go through their introductions and BonThot askes about food, Fribbington clears his throat, <blue>"Excuse me. Yes sir, dinner is to be provided. Our menu is as follows..."



As he goes over the menu with BonThot, a smiling gnome with a balding head enters with a mug of ale and a steaming plate. As he turns to look at you maneuver the order in through the door safely, you see stitched wound on his right cheek. The smell of the spiced ham hits your nose before your eyes can even see it. He smiles at BonThok with creases in his aging face showing that such a smile has graced that face for many years. His bright eyes dull and wide in shock at the sight of Akyra, causing him to pull back reflexively and hitting the plate on the door frame. The ping-tinkling sound of shattered ceramic rings out just before a squishy thwulp as the spicy pork lands atop the plate fragments.

Silence fills the outside room as everyone turns to see what had happened. It lasts only a moment, naturally, before everyone turns back to their own conversations.

Akyra, looking at the man, nods, and even as he asks, the plate comes in with the pork. The smell, enticing brings a smile,to her face, but fades as the gnome looks on in shock and drops the food. Akyra closes her eyes and sighs, then looks at the gnome. “I mean you no harm my friend, though I’d appreciate a new plate of the pork if you wouldn’t mind.”

She looks at bonthot. “I have ordered, but it appears it might have a....delay. You are wise to be cautious of my kind. Black Dragonborn tend more towards evil deeds, but rest assured I am not like that.” You could tell this was a speech she had given time and again, and though her demeanour was normal, there was a slight hint of dejection and frustration in her voice.

"Oh, my friend, I hope I did not offer offense. I merely meant that we are companions now, at least for a short term and maybe more. And now, with our repast on the floor, we shall have an even bigger appetite to enjoy this fine meal, once it is done of course!"

Akyra chuckled at the mans comment. “You will find I am not easily offended. Angered, yes, but offended, no.”She watched as the gnome retreated after the reaction. “Reactions as such haves e been common since I came to this land as a child...even the temple I lived in I was tolerated at best by most. I had few true friends...gundren one of them. He was very patient towards a young and stubborn Dragonborn. “

She looked at her hands. “No...I do not take offence easily. Bahamut has taught me ways to redirect my emotions. As such I am part of a sect of the platinum dragons more militant sect of clerics.....what your kind would call a war cleric” She looked at her gear, then back. “I am tolerant, but don’t shy away from a fight. Had I not received my calling, Gundren had said I would have made a able warrior”

"You know Gundren & the way of Rockseeking? He taught me the art of meditation and how to silence the voices that plagued me! This is lovely! We are truly meant to be boon companions!"

Looking over his shoulder, he said to the beardless dwarf, "Another platter of food, please, seeing as your man knocked the first one over."

Pavel enters into the tavern, ready to meet his friends, he missed them since they travelled to the mountains.

He could smell the fine food from the door, which made his stomach rumble again. It had been a while since he had Miner's Pie and Ale.

While he places his order of food; he looks around, and smiles.

"Hello, it seems the Rocksplitter brothers have brought us all here. Gundren always did say he was going to be on the look out for martial talent."

The black skinned Dragonborn nodded. “I have known him for many years. He, a friend of him known as don-jon and his brothers  Tharden, and Nundro came to the temple for blessings and healing. While Gundren’s brothers settled for a quieter life, the others continue their adventures. I was but young when I first met don-jon and Gundren, rescued from a life on the streets.”

She took out the dagger at her hip and looked at it. “Before meeting them I was an angry, stubborn child. Gundren was one of the first people to see the true me and taught be some basics in fighting. It was a year or two later I was preparing to ask him if I could travel with him, when bahamut spoke to me.” Akyra chuckled. “In my calling, the platnimum dragon said I would one day travel with him, but was not yet ready. Gundren heard what had happened, and he gave me this...” Holding up the dagger. “...and told me to follow my heart. A wise man, but also a free spirit”

She replaced the dagger and looked at him. “Not many priests of bahamut follow the ethos I do, willing to fight for what is right in the world and put their life on the line. Most f them follow the path of a paladin, but my faith was stronger. I believe it is time that I assisted my old friend in his needs....so any who help him, we are to be companions. And with myself there, the platnimum dragon will watch our path with eager anticipation””

Akyra looked up as the door opened and looked at pavel, ready to judge the reaction he would have to her

As the door opens to Pavel, Bonthot looks up and says, "Welcome Friend, and enter."

Fribbington took the ale and handed it over to Akyra, then shooed the server away as soon as he'd picked up the ham and ceramics. He then apologized for the interruption and server's reaction, "We'll see to the food and drink orders immediately. Apologies once again."

Pavel entered as Fribbington was making his way out, "Ah, Private Marsk. Welcome." He offered to make introductions as necessary before he repeated the menu options for Pavel and took any other orders that were placed, then departed from the room once more.

"Greetings friends one and all. It seems that Gundren touched our lives in one way or another." He nods to each occupant, stopping and smiling at Akyra.
"Well met noble priest of dragons. In the future, might we discuss some matters of faith?"

As the others talk, BonThot inspects his meal, savoring the aromas for a time before digging in.

"A crust on top of savory spices and meats...what a wonderful concoction."

Akyra looked at pavel with a neutral expression, then she chuckled. "I've been called a lot of things, a noble isn't one of them...but any discussion of faith, I can do. Usually such discussions make people uncomfortable."

She took a drink of ale. "You'll find people wear their faith differently. Some of faith use it as a banner, flocking people. Some as a blanket."

The dragonborn looked at her weapons, then Pavel. "Me....my faith is my axe and shield. I'm not one for preaching - I'm a person of action."

Lifting his tankard, BonThot calls out, "To people of action!"

Then he continues his meal in silence.

The dragonborn smiled at the human. "To action and faith." She said, taking a drink

BonThot chews his meal slowly, savoring each bite. Once the meal is done, he pours a glass of wine and sips it. It is a strange dichotomy, this foppish man who seems restless, yet full of verve.

Leaning toward the Dragonborn, he says in a low voice, "I have a secret. I've more elf in my blood than human."

He guffaws as if he told a wonderful joke, then takes another sip of his wine.

Entering the tavern is a small lady goblin with flowing red hair, she is dressed a lot better than usual goblins people see goblins. She does turn some heads as she enters, it doesn't bother her however. She takes a bit to order her meal. "Hmmm... I'll try the sour windslosh and honey glazed ham!" she orders.

As the goblin enters the back room with the rest of the party she takes the time to introduce herself to the group before taking her seat. She walks up to each one of the people in the room and says "Greetings! I am the Lovely Green Rose of Wonder, Rosalyn!" She says this to everyone in the room one at a time before sitting down.