A large building, the King's Inn is home to many patrons. The large saloon area has 15 or so customers being served by two busy serving girls. They are mainly a selection of hunters, pig herders, and citadel warriors.

Votlung, having arrived earlier waiting for the arrival of a caravan, sits alone with a beer.

Sarkalor has just entered, the caravan he was a guard with arrived in town an hour or so ago. Now he needs a beer and a room.

Orestes and Petronax enter a few minutes after Sarkalor. The caravan they were guarding also arrived recently. They need rooms and beer.

Petronax pushes the door open, dead-tired but excited to see a new place after the road and keen for a beer or a cup of wine to make up for the days of posca, an astringent sour wine the legions use as an equivalent to an energy drink.

He looks about the crowd and pulls his helmet off, acutely aware he's wearing armour like some sort of odd person. He walks over to the landlord with Scylax, his little dog, trotting behind and nods "Salve legate," he says with a grin. "Any accommodation available? I've just come in with the caravan and I'm keen to rest my mule, put away my gear and have a cool drink."

In reply to Petronax (msg # 2):



The man behind the bar is short and chubby with a greying mop of hair. "Welcome stranger. I'm Moraring, owner of the place. What sort of room do you want? I've got a few. There's a dorm or shared or private rooms. Obviously price goes up as you get more private. Stabling for your mule will be 4 clacks a day 19 if you want him fed too. Can I get you anything to drink?" The man seems pleasant enough and takes little notice of Petronax's arms and armour.

Sarkalor sees the owner of the inn in conversation with someone else. So he decides to sit at a table and patiently wait for the conversation to be over, nodding at a waiter when he sees one. He spreads his furs on the table so that they don't lie on the ground.

Orestes walks in and slaps the back of Petronax as he moves up to the bar next to him. "Better make that a couple of rooms, not sure I can handle any more of his snoring" he says with a laugh and look to the side. "And we will definitely need to get that beer flowing, I cant remember the taste we've been on the road so long and I would like to get re-acquainted."

Orestes turns his back to the bar and leans against it surveying the room and the patrons "What do you say Petronax my friend" he grins ear to ear "we set up shop here for the night till neither one of can stand?".

In reply to Orestes (msg # 5):

"A private room is 8L a night, a shared room is 4L each a night." Moraring says while pouring 2 beers.

Petronax blanches a bit at the price and says to Orestes "want to share a room?" He shakes his head in bewilderment and sups his beer.

CON Roll (Target 95). – 89
This message was last edited by the player at 11:20, Tue 31 Jan 2023.

In reply to Petronax (msg # 7):

"I think we might have to, I guess I've put up with you for this long" he replies "You had better get all of your gear stowed away upstairs before we start any heavy drinking"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:09, Tue 31 Jan 2023.

The veteran nods. "I don't suppose they have a bath house here" says Petronax wistfully, not looking forward to a birdbath out of a ewer. "How's the beer?"

In reply to Petronax (msg # 10):

The beer has a strange taste and an odd sort of kick as it hits your stomachs and makes them gurgle. The feeling passes after a while and although it still has a strange after taste no further ill effects are felt.

"We can provide a hot tub of water for a bath, it's 6 clacks though. If you make it 2L one of the girls will come and scrub your back." Moraring says with a conspiritorial grin.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:37, Tue 31 Jan 2023.

Petronax grimaces at the taste of the beer, wondering if he could ever get used to this or if it's because he rarely drinks beer these days. It certainly has an eye-watering aftertaste but he remembers a brewer back in Tarsh who brewed a piss that tasted like beef jerky and said it was 'eclectic'. Funny guy, he had his hair pulled back into a little bun high on the back of his head.

He shakes his head at the offer for a back-scrubber, fearing it's an actual scrubber, and says "no thanks, I want to keep all my money to buy more of this fine beer. Speaking of drinks, do you sell any local wine?"

In reply to Petronax (msg # 12):

"We do have wine, 16 clacks, it's hard to come by and those merchants don't sell it cheap." He says glumly.

Petronax is usually fairly diplomatic but this time his jaw drops, sixteen clacks is the price of a day and half of work for a labourer. "Oh!" he says in a high voice before resuming his normal gruff tone. "Uhh, we'll wait for that room and tub, please come and get us when it's ready." He holds his vile beer in his hand and lets out a long breath.

Wanting to get away from the innkeeper and the no doubt next nasty surprise he looks around and he says to Sarkalor "excuse me soldalis, can we share your table with you? The rest of the inn is packed. I'm Petronax and this is my companion Orestes" he gestures to the tall Sun Domer next to him.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:04, Tue 31 Jan 2023.

"Can you make that two baths please, hold the scrubber" he says to Moraring before turning with Petronax throwing him a knowing grimace at the beer. He mutters gently under his breath "we may be broke before we leave here tomorrow".

Sarkalor looks at the man addressing him and his friend. Seeing no reason to refuse, he says, smiling: "Sure, be welcome to sit here. And if you are done haggling, I would like to know if the owner is interested by some furs in exchange for a room and a mug of beer!"

Petronax looks at the 'beer' dubiously and says "he seems to be ready to get rid of this, I can't think why."

Settling on the bench Petronax drops his legionary helmet next to him and sighs as he pulls his armour off. His little dog sniffs Sarkalor's boot. The veteran has another pull of his beer and says "we're just in on the caravan, we'll pay off here rather than stand guard on the stalls as Orestes here has business at some place further east, not sure where it is. What brings you to Elkoi, are you a local?"

Orestes nods at the man when his name is mentioned and sits down with his beer next to Petronax. He slowly removes some of his armour and places it on the seat next to him, getting comfortable for a night of drinking. Taking a sip from his beer he sits back not wanting to interrupt Petronax and this new man.

"I'm from Jonston myself. Sarkalor is the name, and I came in as you, guarding a caravan it seems. Are you from around here yourself?" answers the Sartarit, keeping an eye on the owner, still wanting to know if he is interested in furs.

"Sartar?! You're a long way from home. Orestes here is from the Sartar Sun Dome, he might know your people. Me, I'm from Tarsh but years in the auxillia lost me my accent." Petronax stretches his feet out, Scylax has already curled up under the bench and is asleep despite the noisy tavern. Petronax says quieter "the prices here are high, can't see why as it's so out of the way. I guess they think us outlanders are made of silver."

He has another tentative go at the beer, his forehead creased with an unhappy and dissatisfied frown. He'd really been looking forward to a good drink.

"Yeah, I did my tour in the auxiliary legion, it's the only way to get your citizenship without joining the seven mothers. They make it hard for you, you can get out earlier if you go initiate but my ancestors would never forgive me if I forswore them for some god so I stuck it out. And in the end I didn't settle in the empire anyway" he smiles.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:33, Sun 05 Feb 2023.

A serving girl seeing Sarkalor with no drink stop at the table "Would you like to order a drink and some food, sir?"
This message was last updated by the GM at 22:03, Thu 02 Feb 2023.

Sarkalor listen with interest to Petronax before the maid arrive. "Some drink and food, sure, the best you have! Will you accept some furs in exchange? Or where can I sell them?" he asks back.

In reply to Sarkalor (msg # 22):

"It's pork mostly, all different cuts but the knuckle is really good. I'll bring you one of those. Moraring usually accepts furs as long as they're not mouldy or rotted." The serving girls says.

On entering the Tavern Sabrina looks over the taproom in some hope of finding an empty chair, if she sees one, it will soon be occupied if not well a spot near the bar will have to do.

In reply to Sabrina (msg # 24):

There are 3 men sitting at a table with some free seats. It is an odd group, a lunar a Yelmalion and an Orlanthi. They all appear to be chatting. At a different table a Balazaring hunter sits alone at a table with plenty of empty seats at it.

not wanting to intrude on what could very well be a private conversation between a bunch of men, it is the table with plenty of chairs and the hunter for her.  Sitting down at a set across from the Hunter with barley a glance. "mind if I sit here" she asks "not that it matters if you do. There are hardly any other seats currently available so it is either me or whoever is next through the door."

"Please do take a seat," says Votlung, "you have the look of a warrior, is that your trade?"

In reply to Votlung Stands Tall (msg # 27):

"no! that is my hobby I am trying to get a gig as a mercanary.  The life style sounds just right for me.  How about you?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 06:51, Mon 06 Feb 2023.

"I just want to get out of this city," Votlung stretches his long body out. "These walls don't suit me."

Waiting for his meal, Sarkalor goes back to talking with Petronax: "Why are you so bent into acquiring the citizenship here?"

listening to Petronax chatting away to our new friend. taking another sip from his beer, surprisingly wincing less he looks up as a woman entered the inn. starting to glance away he suddenly takes a small look back as something catches his eye. He has seen few Yelornans in his time but she was unmistakably one of them. They tended to keep to themselves and the priests in the temples whenever they visited the sun dome. "this could be interesting" he thinks to himself.

"Citizenship here?" Petronax looks a bit confused "I already am a citizen, of the empire. Elkoi is a subject kingdom but not really in the empire."

"But really, after the comradery of the legions who could squat in a shop hammering out horseshoes and hinges in some back street for the rest of their life? It gets to you, this life. Still, a young wife, a position of respect and projects varied and interesting, that would be fine. But those are dreams for the end of the day under the awning with a cup of wine, it's not what life is really like. One still dreams though. Would a big fat swag of loot from a campaign buy me into a position as an engineer somewhere? I can only hope."

In reply to Petronax (msg # 32):

The serving girl returns with beer and food and places it in front of Sarkalor. "Moraring says he'll take your furs, show them to him when you've finished and he'll give you a price."

Sarkalor nods at the maid, then looks expectantly at his plate and starts eating. "So the plan is to become rich first, then decide what to do, right? Sounds interesting. Do you have any prospect on how to make it happen?" he asks, half laughing half chewing.

"Well, I've heard things about Balazar. Interesting things." Petronax leans back and Sarkalor might guess that he's wondering if he should the rumours with him.

On the table next to Petronax, Orestes and Sarkalor 2 citadel warriors are getting into a loud drunken argument.

"No, no, no! Grink you're wrong. Elkoi DID build this place and he made the giants do it."

"You're talking shit Jepper, how could a little man force 1 giant to do it, never mind 3."

"By Elkoi you're dense. Everyone knows he had a magic ring that forced them to do his bidding."

"Really? Where is this ring then? Why is no-one else bossing giants around?"

"It was buried with him wasn't it?"

"Well surely someone would have dug it up by now."

"No-one knows where his tomb is do they. There's one in the citadel but divinations say its empty."

"define the term ring. There are many sizes of rings from the ring of a bell to a ring of mountains... why not have a ring of enemies surrounding a city."
the amazon mutters with a sigh.  this argument does not seem likely to end peacefully
a malicious smile creeps across her lips at the thought of keeping the peace by firmly persuading some men to go to sleep.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Tue 07 Feb 2023.

Orestes raises his eyebrows at the words of the argument next to them and tried to get petronax's attention. He sits back gently sipping his beer, the taste of it gone as he commits the details to memory... magic ring... giant control... tomb in the citadel. With the caravan job over, there is only time on his hands, his scrolls for the Dykene temple are not urgent.

"Yeah, so as I was saying ... wait a minute." He turns to Orestes "What is it comrade?"

Sarkalor raises an eyebrow, looking at Petronax and Orestes in turn.

he subtly indicates the table next to them with the arguing men "We have some days free now that our caravan run is completed, what they say may not be true and just the talk of drunk men but I am definitely up for exploring some more exiting days than just standing guard." he shrugs "wouldn't hurt to ask around about this tale". He turns to Sarkalor "You are of course welcome to join us as it sounds like your caravan duties have eased up as well."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:05, Fri 10 Feb 2023.

Not taking any attempts to hide the fact that she is also listening in on the conversation about rings and Giants. Sabrina moves her quarter staff to a more accessible position.

The man who's name seems to be Grink stands up, staggering slightly "Well Jepper I've got to go. I'm on watch early tomorrow. Watch out for giants. Ha ha ha."

Jepper replies "See you later mate." before he turns his attention back to his beer.

Grink staggers off and out of the door.

Sarkalor looks at Grink leaving the place. Answering Orestes he says: "Why not? I am in no particular hurry to leave this area. Maybe we can ask some more questions to this Jepper though?"

"Seems he likes a drink" he replies back to Sarkalor with a conspirational smile on his face. "Petronax, are you in my friend? Bit of fun after our uneventful journey here."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Sat 11 Feb 2023.

"To be honest, I tire of watching pots and pans. We didn't get any loot or plunder on that trip in, so yes, I'd be willing to look this over." Like most mercenaries of his time he's brutally frank when it comes to the topic of loot.

moving promptly over to the inebriated gentleman
Sabrina sits across from him.

"Jepper is it not?
My name is Sabrina and I could not help but overhear your words about
Giants.  I have always wanted to see one. So I was wondering if you would tell me more abut what you know?"   

In reply to Sabrina (msg # 47):

Jepper turns to Sabrina, he gives her an appraising look before his face turns into a drunken grin, women as a rule don't talk to him often, beautiful women never talk to him. "There's no giants here anymore. The only ones you see are the big stone ones that surround Balazar." he shakes his head sadly "If you're after Elkoi's grave I can tell you what I know, which ain't much, but I know it's not in the citadel. You could see if the Irpi Enter priests know or maybe go to Trilus. There's a Lanky Mike priest there he might be able to tell you."

Seeing that his new found friends oar not the only ones to be interested by the giants story, Sarkalor is quick enough to move and sit next to Jepper, and enter the conversation: "And where exactly is Trilus? I am not from around here and don't know very well how to find my way. Do you have the name of the priest?"

In reply to Jepper (msg # 48):

"ah yes the sage Priests would know more that is very much a fact, but it is also said they charge rather large fees for any scrap of information. Vicious circle that! people need the knowledge to gather the coin but need the coin to gather the knowledge.

Now if you have the information that this man" gesturing to Sarkalor "it could help out greatly.  I would also take it as a great favour if you could tell us one of your favourite Guardsmen encounters, you know something full of action like quelling a tavern brawl or chasing a rogue across the roof tops?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Sat 11 Feb 2023.

Votlung has already decided to quit Elkoi. If he is going to travel, he may as well try and earn some coin.

"Do you need a guide?" he asks the group of outlanders, having gone over to their table. "Someone local, I mean."

"Ahhh! I remember last year just after the great hunt, some young fella brought in a smilodon. We were all mighty impressed. Turns out we was too impressed too soon. He'd winged it or knocked it out or something. Anyway while he was displaying it at the gate it woke up, turned round a chomped off an arm. Next thing it's all panicky trying to escape while we try and corral it out of the citadel. In the end it took 6 of us and a bunch of disruption spells to chase it off. And the worse bit is the young fella didn't win the hunt because the things you bring in have to be dead." Jepper chuckles slightly as he tells the tale.

with a smile Sabrina replies

"Now that would be fun to hunt down.  Anyone interested in hunting down and subjugating a sabertoothed kitty? I love the idea of having one and naming it Meoath"
(pronounced Meowth).
Any takers for a cat hunt? We could also look for Shadowcat kittens, that way we could have cats in a variety of sizes


We could always bring back a kitten for Jepper here to help him with his patrols"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:05, Mon 13 Feb 2023.

In reply to Sabrina (msg # 53):

"People don't like cats round here much. Brother dog is more to their taste, but if you can catch a smilodon you could win the great hunt." He takes another swig of his beer.
"I just remembered an old poem that is supposed to say where Elkoi is buried. It's not really accurate, at least no-one has ever been able to find him using it."
he pauses for a moment to gather his thoughts before he continues.
"Stand atop Flint Hill
When Yelm above the Rockwoods his face does show
Follow his smile til you find where Aldrya does grow
Then look up for Greatway you will view
It will lead your path to something new
A ring of oak trees describe it best
Here Elkoi takes his eternal rest.

That's as best I can remember it, hope you can work it out because I barely understand it." he shrugs.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:09, Mon 13 Feb 2023.

Orestes leans back on his seat having been listening in. Turning his head towards the other table "Sounds like we need to head to Trillus and find this Flint Hill. I have a rough map of how to get there as I am on my way to Dykene deep in Balazar for a delivery to my Temple." He looks over at the Yelornan "Maybe we can find a suitable cat for you to how did you say it... subjugate hmm?" he raises his eyebrow slightly as he says this. "But for now we should drink and enjoy ourselves it has been a long few weeks and a well deserved drink and feed is deserved by all."

Sabrina and Sarkalor both take drinks of their freshly poured beers. Petronax and Orestes allow themselves a small smile.

Petronax shakes himself out of his reverie and¹ leans forward conspiratorially to Sakalor and Orestes. "If we're interested in this ring we should enlist those two as well, I'd rather have them at my back than have them as foemen. What do you think, should we make a show of interest? A company of five is more likely to survive the Wilds than three."



¹Sorry about going AWOL, I was feeling unwell.

"I must confess, I am curious about this Yelornan, she seems quite a force of nature. I had the pleasure of watching one fight once, she was visiting our temple and partook in a sparing session with some of the men. They foolishly decided to take it easy on her. The healers had their work cut out for them that night." he says with a laugh. "I definitely believe she will be an asset if we can temper her exuberance. The other man I am not so sure about, but like you say better with us than against us."

After ingesting several beers, Sarkalor is in a merry mood. "Of course, why not? The more the better!" he answers to Petronax. "When are we leaving?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:04, Thu 16 Feb 2023.

The beer has a very strange taste which makes the stomach gurgle. For Sarkalor this passes quite quickly and while it takes a little while to get used to the taste it becomes acceptable.

Sabrina is not so lucky. Her stomach gurgles for a few minutes before it empties all over the floor. She slumps back in a chair, feeling weak and a little helpless.

The local inhabitants all cheer and laugh loudly while a serving girl runs up with a bucket of water to wash the vomit away.

In reply to Bandos (msg # 60):

refusing to accept the public humiliation! Sabrina gathers her property leaving her payment due the tavern she leaves. Even though she still feels weak. She has lost face over a drink!

The shame the Amazon personally feels drives her from the city. She thought she was made of sterner stuff.

Petronax looks down at his beer and says "you know, I'm starting to think this stuff is made by trolls. I almost threw up when drinking it as well." He shakes his head and pushes it away. "I'll try the well water but I bet that will be full of pig shit."

He gets up and ambles after Sabrina, going out into the night and leaving Orestes to watch his gear. Catching up with her the older man says sombrely as to the night itself "there's something wrong with the beer in there, everyone who's had a drink there has almost thrown it straight back up, myself included."

He turns to her and gives her a half smile. "I'm Petronax, I was sitting with two other warriors when that tale of a 'giant's ring' got spun and even though I should know better at my age I'm as interested as my two companions are. I saw your interest as well and it occurred to me that rather than a bunch of us working at cross-purposes we could combine our efforts."

"And as for being sick in a tavern?" Says the old legionary optio, "it's not how you handle your drink that drives admiration but how you handle yourself in battle, you know this. The warrior that bears their wounds but stays in the line deserves admiration, let's go back into the pest-hole of a tavern and make plans for this venture. If we're lucky on the trip we might go past somewhere where we can get a decent drink."

"Not the best ale I aver drank", comments Sarkalor when seeing the amazon leave, "but not a reason to throw it all up either..."

Turning to Orestes, and the 'local guide' he says: "Are you all still interested in this chase for the ring? Or do you think the drink they serve here is bad omen?"

"I think going after this ring is a good way to find a better inn." He says with a grin. "Trillus will hopefully have better ale"

"Alright. I guess we will be able to decide with more clarity the way forward tomorrow morning! I'm going to sleep: have a good night, sun domer, and see you tomorrow."


That said Sarkarlor goes up, takes his fur and proceeds to pay for the meal and night with some of it, before going to rest.