[IC] The War of the Spider Throne

[Asherion]

The War of the Spider Throne
IC Thread

Player Character Roster:
#Raptor - Gray Elf Rogue 1 - Akiano Morashra
ToySoldierCPlus - Human Spirit Shaman 1 - Saul
mootoall - Human Wizard 1 - Avantus Marianne
cd4 - Human Ranger 1 - Longbow
Cohuge - Human Paladin - Jaime
distant quasar - High Elf Bard - Ruaer Verwyn

Links:
[OOC] The War of the Spider Throne
Rukan Campaign Setting
Initial Recruitment Thread

[Asherion]

The One Legged Gnome

The One Legged Gnome is an inn in Andirith, at which most travellers, adventurers, and mercenaries stay while passing through. Its proprietor, Bartleby, is indeed a one legged gnome, his other leg replaced with a strange metallic leg which moves as though it is real. Magic, he says. At the One Legged Gnome, an adventurer can find out about persons who are hiring help, hits, mercenary work, and caravan work from Bartleby, who has his nose in everyone's business.

It is here that we begin, as the party comes into town, having completed an escort trip and now searching for the group of bandits (whoever they are) who have been pillaging towns...

====================================

The Inn is the same as perhaps many other inns that you have seen in your short, or long, lives, depending on your relative years, but its proprietor and some of its clientele can often be unique. The tables are roughly hewn wooden tables, benches, and chairs, and the lighting in the room is bright, but shadowed around the walls and corners to allow for privacy when necessary. A great hearth fire blazes on either end of the great room, and the bar is on the center wall opposing the entrance. To either side of the bar, staircases go up, presumably to guest rooms.

Bartleby, the proprietor, happens to be at the bar, preparing for the evening crowd, as the evening approaches on this cold, pre-winter night, and he looks up as the party enters, and gives them a nod.

There is a scattering of people in the inn at various tables and the bar, a few barmaids, but for the most part, the inn is not exceptionally crowded as of yet.

[Cohuge]

Come lads, I could do for something to wash out all the dust from the road. Jaime quickly walked up to a seat at the bar. He wanted to take the seat that was in the best shape, he hated squeaking chairs.

[distant quasar]

"Some good food and drink does sound delightful my friend, but what is this dust you speak of?" Ruaer's eyes sparkle slightly as he says this. A quick glance will show that his clothes are indeed completely clean (thanks to that handy prestidigitation). He looks around the bar as he settles into a chair with its back to the wall (the better to see everything). "Perhaps this bar will have some music later, you think?" he asks no one in particular.

[Cohuge]

Jaime glares at Ruaer. You know what I mean. he says as he is waiting for the barkeep. Jaime chuckled, Ruaer had chosen a squeaky chair. Perhaps we will be graced with music.

[Asherion]

As the party gets settled, you can see that on either end of the room is a raised platform of sorts. On one end is a stage, empty, upon which, presumably, music is performed. Upon the platform on the other end is a long, mahogany table with elaborate chairs about it. A High Table, or sorts, for distinguished guests, perhaps.


A rather tired, homely looking, barmaid wanders by and turns her eye on the two who have seated themselves. "Drinks? A meal? What can I do for you?"

(If anyone wishes, they may roll spot checks to notice anything else significant about the establishment or its current denizens)

[#Raptor]

Akiano takes his seat next to the others. "A glass of water for me please." he says to the waitress, then he looks around in the room, to get a idea of its architecture and the clientel.

Spoiler

Show

Spot - (1d20+6)[9]
Listen - (1d20+6)[14] To catch on what people at the tables next to him are talking about.

[Cohuge]

Some wine please. said Jaime, flashing a smile at the barmaid. He looked around the room taking in the details.

Spoiler

Show

Why not.
Spot: (1d20+1)[12]

[distant quasar]

Ruaer laughs at Jaime's gaze, "Well, sort of. I guess." Then he wiggles around in his squeaky chair for a moment, to best get comfortable. *squeak-squeak*
Turning his attention to the barmaid for a moment. "Some wine please. And by the way, do you know if anyone will be performing this evening?" he gestures towards the stage.
After she replies he surveys the room with the others.

Spoiler

Show

Spot: (1d20+5)[19]
Listen: (1d20+5)[24]

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Saul seats himself with the others, turning eyes glinting like those of a bird of prey upon the barmaid and room. "I don't suppose you have any morning dew? No, not likely. Some, mead, then, if you would, please."

Spoiler

Show

Spot (1d20+7)[13]
Listen: (1d20+7)[9]

[Asherion]

Everyone except Akiano make special note of the triad of academic looking fellows sitting at a table near the center of the room. Dressed in fine clothing, and all armed, none of them look particularly threatening, none of them look like they belong here, and all of them are drunk. They are insulting passerby and laughing uproariously, and the proprietor, who is currently bartending, is giving them worried looks, as they heckle the half orc sitting at the bar.

"So, that was a water, two wines, and a mead... coming right up, then. And yes, actually, I believe that there was supposed to be some new bards performing tonight; in fact, they should've... ah! There they are!" she says, and gestures at the stage as she turns to leave and fulfill the drink orders.

Onto the stage walk a bumbling man and woman, perhaps clumsy, perhaps inebriated, both a bit outlandishly dressed, in ridiculous styles and colors.
As they begin to sing, it becomes readily obvious to all present that neither of them was born with a talent for music. In fact, if there is something that is the polar opposite of talent... they both have it.

[#Raptor]

He looks back to his companions, as everything seems normal except for the so-called bards. He never had much interest in making music, but even he was aware that even a drunk ogre could do better. "I think you need to teach those humans how to properly make music." he says to Ruaer while trying to cover his ears. "If that is possible for them at all."

[cd4]

Longbow who has been quietly watching everyone now speaks. "Indeed that is some of the worst music I've heard, I'm surprised the bartender let them play here"

Spoiler

Show

Spot Check (1d20+6)[8]
Listen for anything else which is being spoken under the cover of the music (1d20+6)[14]

[distant quasar]

Initially excited at the idea to observe another performer, Ruaer soon began wincing at the performance. He looks at Akiano, "Yes, I agree. I don't fancy the idea of being deaf tomorow, which is surely what will happen soon here..." he walks up to the bartender and gets his attention.
"Excuse me, I'm afraid I'm being rather rude, but would you mind if I had some time on the stage this evening? My companions and I are passing through town and I probably won't have another chance. he then follows the bartenders gaze towards the table of academics getting steadily drunk. He raises his eyebrows and asks, "They look like they're liable to get themselves in a situtation. If you don't mind my asking, who are they?"

Spoiler

Show

Diplomacy: (1d20+7)[19]
Would it be a Gather Information for finding out about the people at the table? If so: (1d20+7)[25]

[Cohuge]

Jaime's face turned green at the bards' performance. He hoped his wine came soon. How could they be so... untalented? I have heard better sounds come out of an outhouse, if you do not mind me saying. Jaime said. Covering his ears, he studied the group that was getting drunk, seeing what was happening with them.

Spoiler

Show

Spot: (1d20+1)[16]

Edit: I forgot, would I need a sense motive roll?

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"You want me to get them off the stage? A couple of flames would drive them away..." Saul says, offhandedly. He continues studying the triad of rude academics in the center of the room. "Should we do something about them? They're more annoying than the music."

Spoiler

Show

Spot: (1d20+7)[17]
Listen: (1d20+7)[14]
Sense Motive: (1d20+3)[11]

[#Raptor]

Akiano raises a brow as he looks at Saul. "About who are you talking? And whoever it is... I can not imagine them being more annoying than them." he says, squinting at the musicans.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"The fancy ones over there." Saul points to the trio at the center table.

[Cohuge]

Jaime did not want it to come to violence. He thought that he may be able to talk to the group about Heironeous and his works. Jaime voiced his thoughts to his party.

[#Raptor]

Akiano turns around towards the trio which apparently didn't catch his eye before. "Oh. Didn't notice them." he observes them for a few secounds and then says to Jamie: "I don't know if you can convince them... but for as long as you talk to them at least they can't provoke the half-orc." he says with a worried look.

[cd4]

Hmm, Could be troublesome. If you can calm them down then it would be helpful. I don't like to be involved in barfights. Longbow said after also noticing them for the first time.

[Asherion]

The bartender looks conspiratorially at Ruaer. "I'm fairly certain you couldn't do any worse. I'll make it happen... as soon as we can get rid of these guys."

"Oh, the kids over there? They're students from the College of Politics in the capitol. No point to that place except for the rich to send those who aspire to become professional idiots, in my opinion... anyway, that bunch comes through here traveling on the King's Road a few times a year, and every time, they stop in here, looking for trouble, and cause problems for my other customers."

The gnome serves up some other drinks, and then turns back to Ruaer. "What are you and your friends doing here in town? Are you here visiting? Looking for work? Traveling through?"




The students have quieted down, at this point, whispering among themselves, and now one of them, a blonde haired, large fellow, points at the musicians and yells "You up there. Sit down and shut up before someone makes you!"

[distant quasar]

Ruaer looks at the blonde haired man in disdain at his disrespectful remark for a moment before he answers Bartleby's question.
"Actually, we're looking for a party of bandits. They destroyed the village of a few of my friends over there, and we've joined together to search for them. The last we heard they were near this area. Would you happen to know anything that could help us?"

[Cohuge]

Jaime started to take a sip of his wine, only to realize that he did not have it yet. "If they start up again, I will go talk to them." he said.

[Asherion]

The barmaid brings the drinks whisking over, as if in response to Jaime's actions, apologizing for the delay due to the increasing amount of people drifting into the inn as the evening comes closer.




Bartleby: "Well, I couldn't tell you if this is related, now, but in the last week or two we've had quite a few people... well, disappearing in the area of the old Marston Mines... out the north end of town down the King's Road, the entrance to them is out that way... travelers on the road and a couple who was foraging in the woods, and a couple of kids who play out there fairly regularly... all of them, vanished. No signs, no blood... just gone. I've heard people talk about monsters, but I reckon that's silliness; it could as easily be this group of bandits you're referring to, or hell, anything really." He polishes another glass as he talks, "You might want to have a chat with an officer or the commander of the town guard if you're going out there though, there's a bounty for information, or the capture or killing (with proof, of course) of anyone responsible, or the return of the missing. Might as well not miss out if you're doing that...." Bartleby trails off midsubject as the blonde at the center table stands up, obviously drunk beyond judgement, and hurls a mug at the woman on the stage. The mug connects solidly with her temple, and she keels over to the stage, out cold. An immediate and momentary silence hushes the entire bar, as many of the patrons snap around to look at the commotion, and lay hands on weapons.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Seeing the woman collapse, Saul immediately runs up onto the stage, ready to administer aid.

Spoiler

Show

Making Heal check to stabilize if necessary. (1d20+7)[24]

Once the performer has been taken care of, Saul turns his attention to the person who threw the mug, fingers twitching, ready to cast at a moment's notice.

"What did you do that for? Sure she was annoying, but you didn't have to throw your mug at her! Apologize, right now! To her and the mug!"

[Cohuge]

"Nice throw." Jaime said under his breath as he cautiously stood up and headed towards Saul and the fallen performer, easing his sword and shield from his back.

[#Raptor]

Akiano looks on with disbelief of what just happened. As he notices his friends getting up, he reluctantly stands up too, following Jamie but not drawing his swords yet. He whispers to him they walk "Are u sure we're going to need our swords? Maybe this situation could be calmed without a fight." He looks at him worried, obviously not too happy at the thought that a swordfight could ensue from this.

[cd4]

Longbow stands up but doesn't draw his bow or move until he sees what happens next. Hmm, this could get ugly he mutters.

[Cohuge]

Jaime realized that he looked like he looked like he wanted to fight, and hastily shoved his sword back into its sheathe.