Ornwin was grimly preparing to force himself to consume his entire special, but since the others are apparently passing over the dinner, he carelessly knocks his bowl onto the dusty floor near Chester's feet and says, "Pardon my clumsiness. No need to bring another bowl.I shall do without dinner."He then rises hastily and joins the others in heading toward their rooms.

Lotti joins the general move upstairs chatting with the others about nothing as she goes.  She will wave and say, "Good evening, see you in the morning." to those remaining behind, (Ie the wait staff or anyone of the party that wishes to do things differently.) as you would.

OOC: I'm a bit confused by some of the posts, but if we're all now heading to our rooms I can get on board with that.

Otis offers Cassandra an arm, looks across to check on Lotti and seeingthat she's following, heads towards their bedrooms.

Trailing behind, Trevion followed the travelers upstairs, his gaze going back to the lobby as he ascended, watchful for anything that might signify danger. He felt weary, but recognized that sleep would be a long time in coming, if it sought him out at all.

When they reach the rooms, Otis investiages the wall thicknesses where possible, such as doorways and windows.
He's seeking where any creepy-sneaky passageays might be.

No fool, the bartender growls, "You'll be regretting that."

Upstairs the six of you, comprising the inn's only guests, Chester had admitted, take stock of the six rooms. Each nearly bare room has a bed, a desk with a single drawer, a picture on the wall--gorgonzola, pepper jack, blue cheese, cheddar, and brie. One of the rooms is not like the others: its wallpaper has started to peel back, revealing a viscous goo failing to do its job as an adhesive. Above the desk on the wall is tacked a photograph of a woman on a beach, her back towards the viewer and her eyes toward the sea. A gull flies above her. The bed in that room has been stripped of its sheets, revealing a vast red stain. You decide not to camp in the murder room.

And, thus, you have spent your first night in the Emperor of Curd.

If Chester, the concierge, and Aloitious, the barkeep, register any disapproval of your redecorating, they keep it to themselves, perhaps grateful that you didn't leave any additional steaming messes on the floor. Chester still speaks with the crispness of a sliced apple although with a fraction more strain than the day before. Perhaps, he had hoped, for once in his extended life, for a better tomorrow that had not arrived.

In response to your requests, Chester provides directions to the following points of interest within Tegel ... City, the fog having lifted enough to permit safe travel:

• Brinna Birgit, amazon -- Martial trainer
• Temple of Thor -- Divine trainer
• Rothald the Twice-Born, knifer -- Skullduggery trainer
• The Mayor
• Shrine of Molna -- Divine trainer
• Ep Sroten, shyster -- Arcane trainer
• Halaf Fec, proprietor
• Residence of Sir Runic the Rump -- Martial trainer
• Marash Ar, fine horses
• Bark and Byte, drinking den -- SUD trainer

Tegel Manor, of course, is visible from just about any point in the city and can be visited after an hour's walk.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:27, Wed 18 May 2022.

"I'm heading to the lounge to grab some milk and cheese if anyone wants to join me," says Ereth before walking out the door.

Once there, he will order the special and sit down at a table to play solitaire while waiting on his meal.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:02, Wed 18 May 2022.

“Sounds good,” Cassandra replies.  “In the light of day, the milk and curd special does sound appetizing for breakfast.”

“I’ll join you and the rest of the party in the lounge for cards and breakfast shortly.  I’m going to head down into the break room to see where Chester hangs out and to see what else is down there.  If I can sneak down there on my own, I will.  But if sneaking down there is not an option, one or two other strong arms can join me.”   She smiles.

“After breakfast, I think we need to explore the town today, during the day.  There are a few places of interest to each of us, and a few we all should visit together so we can learn more about this town, the Rumps, the Manor, and why we have been brought here.”
This message was last edited by the player at 01:25, Wed 18 May 2022.

While playing solitaire, Ereth will also practice his prestidigitation to sharpen his skills and amuse himself.

Ornwin mutters "I wouldn't call that stuff appetizing, but if it's all they've got, I'll eat it." He follows Ereth and Cassandra into the lounger in search of food, wondering if his share will be poisoned after the threat last night.

Curious to see the village in the day and clear of fog, Trevion ventured to the entrance of the Emperor of Curd and stepped outside, surveying the surroundings.

Lotti runs after Trevion, hastily tightening straps on her mail as she goes.  "Hold up Tre, I'm coming too."

Once outside she turns on him talking hurriedly, excitedly.  "So what are you going to do about you know who?  I've heard holy warriors won't abide any evil and let it thrive, is that right?  Are you going to plan their destruction now?"  She makes hand movement's like she's swinging a sword and taking off someones head.

"Are you going to prey to enhance your powers and get further divine guidance?  What about that one that isn't Chester, are you going to put an end to him as well?  Did your special evil alert thing ping when you saw him as well?  How long are you allowed to let them live given they're being helpful but their hearts are black?  I know you probably don't need it, but I can help if you want.". Finally she seems to run out of steam and turns to Trevion for his response, since up until then she really hadn't given him a chance to get a word in edgeways.  "Sorry, sometimes I get excited and talk a lot."

An earnest smile reached Trevion’s normally stoic features as Lotti spoke. He blinked as he tried to process her fusillade of questions, then responded haltingly.

”I have and will continue to seek the goddess’ guidance regarding this place,” he said, looking out at the surrounding village, ”She hasn’t rendered any clear instruction to me regarding Chester, or the man at the bar. As best I can discern, neither are seeking to harm anyone, so I’m not inclined to…um…strike them down as yet. Of course, were I to learn that they were complicit in harming innocents, I would be obligated to bring a halt to their activities.”

“My suspicion, at least for now, is that they are both influenced by, or possibly even created by, something else. The source of the evil that has taken root here. It is that, whatever it may be, that should be brought to an end. Destroyed. It could be that once it is dealt with, Chester and others like him might be freed. So I think my mission is to seek out whatever is at the heart of this corruption.”

He shook his head. ”I fear that as a champion, or a holy warrior, I may be a grave disappointment. I am still struggling to understand Athena’s call and what she wants of me. Even within my own family, it seems to me that there were others who would have been far better suited for her service.”

“But this I do know. All of my training as a soldier has taught to function as part of a larger force. Alone, one such as me is limited in what they can accomplish. And that remains true now. Whatever awaits us here, it is not something that I can challenge by myself. I must stand with others, to be one of several who seek what is right. I must rely on you, Lotti. Your skills and knowledge. Yours and the others.”

He paused, then added with a smile, ”And should Athena show me one who must face quick justice, you will be the first to know. You have my word.”

Lotti beams him a smile and tilts her head a little as she nods it in apparent understanding.  "Phew, you've got a lot to think about.  I'm not going to even pretend to know or care about what's going on in the big picture.  Perhaps I'm just a small picture kinda girl, but something bad happened to someone in that room with the blood stain on the stripped bed, and that could have been one of us if we hadn't all slept in the same two rooms."

She is silent a moment as she considers what Trevino has said and what she wants to do.  "You know what, if you're okay to continue without me, I've changed my mind, I've got a question or two I want to ask Chester.  That apparent blood stain was on my mind all night, and I'd like to know a little more about it.  Direct questioning probably isn't going to give me any answers I want to hear, or provide any clarity, I think Chester is slippery, but sometimes the unexpectedly direct approach is the simplest.  You're welcome to come along, or wait a moment if you want, but if not, be careful," she looks around from where they stand before going up on her toes and turning striding back to the inn with some sort of purpose in mind.
_______________________

Once inside she'll glance to see some of the others in the dining room, before looking for Chester.

OOC:  I'll leave it there until you confirm Chester is about Host, allowing the others to post if they have time/desire.

Trevion considered Lotti’s words, then fell in behind the runner, wanting to be present to hear Chester’s explanation, and in the event the concierge responded to the questioning in an unexpected manner.

Outside the Emperor of Curd, the swirling mists have all but dissipated and the gray stone paths lead in many directions with none taking them.

Within the incommodious lounge, Ornwin, Ereth, and Cass avail themselves of what succor it might offer, mindful of stepping around the congealing mass of cottage cheese still plastered to the floor. Aloitious serves the three of them without overt hostility. Perhaps, he plays the long game. Perhaps, he can only make empty threats.

In the lobby, Chester remains stationed at his desk, his feet planted on the trapdoor that leads to the employee breakroom.

Ornwin takes a cautious bite/sip of his dish, still wondering if his "special" is more "special" than anyone else's. He remarks, "If this kills me, it has been nice knowing you all."

Seeing the others sitting and eating, Lotti diverts from her first calling towards Chester and moves over to them, happy to see that Trevion is still around.  Frowning she notices the mess still on the floor where the bowl was spilled and leans in to talk over the table, mindful that her voice doesn't carry to Aloitious for now.

"Really, you guys are shitting me.  You're happy to eat that, with that" she gives her head a slight nod to the cottage cheese mess,  "still on the floor?  If this is how they keep the public areas, what do you think it's like in the kitchen?

I'm not always the most intuitive, but doesn't anything about this place concern you enough to reconsider sitting down to eat?

I couldn't get that blood soaked bed out of my head all last night.  Someone was butchered there, and so might one of us have been if we hadn't stayed together.  Why am I so strung out about this place and you're all so calm and relaxed?". There is a slight shrill of hysteria or maybe it's just exasperation in her voice.

"At best someone died in that room, at worst it was murder, and yet they hired it out as if nothing had happened, and you're all about to chow down exactly as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening here."

"I agree that it makes no sense," said Ereth in response to Lotti's observation. "To be completely honest, ever since the carriage ride that brought us all together, I've heard a little voice in my head questioning every decision I make, and encouraging me to do things that I normally wouldn't do. It's almost like I'm under a spell of some kind."

"Maybe that's the case with everyone around here...," he wondered aloud.

"Are you talking figuratively, or for real.  Are you hearing voices?"  Lotti's question is sincere.

After sitting in the lobby for 15-20 minutes and observing Chester standing stubbornly silent and immobile manning the front desk atop the trap door that was the only visible access point leading down into the presumably dank depths of the Curd break room, and figuring that there will be other opportunities to explore the break room or search for other hidden passageways leading down into the mysterious cellar, Cass heads into the lounge to join Ornwin and Ereth at the card table, and observes them jointly playing a game of solitaire and picking over and around the lumps in the still-rancid looking food and drink - daylight having not improved the appearance or smell of the Curd’s “special.”

Not 5 seconds after she had stepped over the spilled mess from last night and sat down at the table, Lotti came bounding into the lounge, followed a few seconds later by a cool and collected Trevion.

Before Cass could say anything, Lotti launched into her verbal tirade about the whole absurd situation in which their party found themselves.  She understood why Lotti felt strung out. Cass felt the same way.  But Cass could only internalized her thoughts and feelings - not having the gift of gab and vocalization with which Lotti was gifted, especially early in the morning.

However, while Ereth and Lotti continued to talk, Cass finally gathered her own thoughts and said, “I agree with you, Lotti.  Let’s get out of this ... Inn.  We have a whole day of daylight left to explore this town.  But I don’t think we should split up, for now.  Let’s gather Otis and head out.  Shall we start off with the Mayor’s office, then work our way down from there?” she asks hopefully.

Although it only just dawns on her, Cass finds some comfort in the fact that Chester and Ali the Barkeep seem to be mostly human and, if undead, appear to be of the weaker sort that is able to function and handle their limited daily duties during daylight hours and apparently without fear of the sunlight streaming freely through the various windows of the Inn.  Cass will make these “obvious” observations known to the party, but not until they all have left the Inn.

Absent any objections from Lotti, the party will gather up all their belongings and will give Lotti sufficient time to question Chester about the Murder Room and also about how one actually summons Chester using his 4251 ext. listed on his card.

Once her questioning is complete, the entire party will head out together, into the Village, toward the Mayor’s office, with Lotti and Ornwin leading the way.

In reply to Lotti (msg # 89):

Ereth ponders Lotti's question then offers up the best answer he can. "Real or figurative? Feels real enough to me, but who knows."

"It's probably nothing- as I said, it's just a little voice. If it gets louder or angrier or more specific in its demands, I'll let you know."

Lotti is concerned, possibly more about the stability of the person she is talking to than anything else, but she tries to clearly define the voice Ereth is admitting to.  "I'm not about to get dictated to by a 'voice' she makes air quotes "in your head.  Have you ever heard this voice before the carriage?  What things has it been encouraging you to do?"