The Keep - Part 1

[VennDygrem]

Ouray finds the kobold's tracks, then the direction he was moving in, and finally the kobold itself. A ways off, the kobold continues fleeing into the woods, but fails to notice the hawk overhead.

[BowenSilverclaw]

As he notices the Kobold Ouray lets out a screech to alert Curyll before folding his wings and descending upon the Kobold in a steep dive.

[spoiler]Going for the nonlethal option you mentioned in the OOC thread so we can later interrogate him.

Attack, damage: 18,4
[/spoiler]

[VennDygrem]

As the Kobold is without his shield, the attack is a hit, and he rolls to the ground as he is pelted by the bird. Curyll easily catches up and can do with the kobold as he will.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Curyll compliments Ouray and then ties up the unconscious Kobold before dragging him back to the others.

[Nanshork]

Amnon nods at the fair maiden.  "Of course madam, let us be your escort so that no more harm may befall you."

[VennDygrem]

Your party regathers and finishes resting up briefly before heading out for the King's Road once again. You are not far from the city, and as you come around the last bend you see a modest settlement, larger than the typical village, but barely large enough to be considered an actual city. Still, it seems fairly quaint, and quiet at this time of day. The mid-afternoon sun is slowly grasping for the horizon, and instinct tells you that soon the city's denizens will be settling in for the evening.

Delphina thanks all of you and takes her leave, briefly stopping to tell you about the city's only public house, functioning as both inn and tavern- Wrafton's Inn. She then begins heading in the direction of a building on the edge of town.

[Risada]

"So.... I guess it's time for some snooping around... let's find this old man..."

After saying that, Golkonda starts looking around for some old man, then, will look into the Wrafton's Inn.

[tallan]

Minharath follows Golkanda, always up for some tavern time. So many exotic people and minds to interact with. Nothing like the monastery.

[VennDygrem]

The townsfolk out on the streets look strangely at Golkonda, as they have never seen a Githyanki before. They seem fairly reserved, but you manage to get word from a few people that a man matching your description is a common enough fixture in Wrafton's Inn- Eilian the Old. They believe you can find him at the Inn now, or if not, then soon.

[spoiler]I was gonna give you guys the chance to roll streetwise for me, but that seems a little unnecessary for such a small place.

I'll try to update with more information on entering the Inn later. It's a bit late here now. [/spoiler]

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Delphina attracts Mytos' gaze until she leaves visible range - the gaze is one of slight disdain, as if her presence was off putting to him. It is only made more obvious by his comment, once she has disappeared, of a stale and almost sarcastic "pretty..." uttered with what comes close to a rolling of the eyes. Pulling the scarves loose and baggy around his neck, and settling the hood on his shoulders, Mytos begins a vague wandering, from which he disappears for an hour in his random observations. After a while, he appears in front of the tavern, walking in still in a daze, eventually finding Minharath and Golkanda.
[spoiler]
He wanders for a goodly while just to get a basic lay of the land, observe any landmarks of interest or general necessities of towns such as stables, smiths, shops that might interest, etc. [/spoiler]

[Nanshork]

Amnon decides to follow Delphina, escorting her to her home.  He had made it his duty after all.

[Risada]

[spoiler]Streetwise: 6

Goddamn..... I hope my next few rolls to get better, because I definitely don't like it this way...
[/spoiler]

[VennDygrem]

As Amnon follows Delphina, he notices she is walking rather briskly to her abode. She doesn't try to elude you, but she rather abruptly thanks the Paladin for helping her and bids him a good evening.

When your party first arrive at Wrafton's Inn, the crowd is fairly sparse. The innkeeper, Salvana Wrafton, is readying the kitchen for evening meals, but she also occasionally comes out to clean down the bar before the local riff-raff pour in. She greets you when you first come in, welcoming you as it's obvious that you're new arrivals.

Over the course of the next hour, several townsfolk and fellow travelers (mostly merchants, by the look of things) stumble in, including the rest of your group, and eventually you notice among the crowd an elderly patron, of note due to his advanced age. He orders a drink and sits by himself at a table against the wall. He looks different from the farmers and other everyday workers of the city, dressed in robes rather than overalls. His build suggests more of a librarian than a soldier or farmer, and his wrinkles are particularly exaggerated as he furrows his brow.

Other than the old man and the innkeeper, several people seem to file in, and it doesn't take long for the place to become relatively busy. Some other oldtimers come in, though none save one seem as old as the robed man. This other man looks like he's seen better days, most likely due to Karrnath's mandatory military service for all citizens of the nation, but nonetheless is dressed in a farmer's clothes. Nobody seems to pay him any mind as he shuffles in, orders a drink, and takes a seat at a table in the corner. Shortly after his drink is brought to him, he catches Salvana's attention again and appears to order another drink. The innkeeper casually glances at the mug already on his table, but sighs and fetches another.

A quiet elf, dressed in a hunter's garb, sits alone at the bar, near the end. She ignores everyone else, and has an obviously surly attitude.

A human woman, dressed in plain clothes yet of rich fabrics, sits at yet another table at the back of the room, keeping her business to herself.

Another man eventually arrives as well. Several patrons doff their hats and greet the man, calling him 'Lord' and raising their drinks to him. He, too, retreats to a corner table, content to sip his beer.

The tavern is full of people, some of whom may have answers to any questions you may have. One may even be your contact.

[tallan]

Minharath takes in the scene when he first arrives and does his best to engage the bartender in conversation. Through his interpersonal skills and some generous tipping, he tries to get the scoop on who's who in Winterhaven, particularly his fellow patrons as they arrive.

[Nanshork]

Amnon smiles to himself as he walks to the Inn, satisfied at a job well done.  He joins his compatriots, wondering what they should do next.

[VennDygrem]

@tallan:
At this point, you can either directly ask the bartender questions, or try to go with a streetwise check for general information from the bar patrons. I'll still want an idea of what information you're looking for. General information directly-asked won't warrant a diplomacy check, though anything more than that will.

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Although not incredibly diplomatically talented, as his compatriots seem to take their time, he decides to get started on finding the contact. After looking over the people in the tavern, Mytos decides that, given only the information of "an old man" for his parties contact, it is not unreasonable to talk to the oldest man there. The man seems learned; he probably has some information that is useful, at least. Going to the bar, and, speaking to the bartender, points to the old robed man in the corner. "Whatever he has, I would like one of as well, barkeep." Drink in hand, he proceeds to move over to the table, asking the old man, "If you'll excuse the interruption of your thoughts, I was wondering if I might have a word with you.

May I seat myself here? You seem a learned man; could one correctly assume you are quite learned about the geography or history of this area?" He remains standing, though he stands nearby the chair across from the man as if waiting to be welcomed to the table.

[spoiler]Diplomacy: 21
Wow, not as bad as I was expecting, thank you IC![/spoiler]

[tallan]

"Pardon me, as you can tell I'm not from this area. I have some business around town and I like to know the lay of the land. As a bartender, I trust that you know things inside and out. I would be very grateful if you could help me get my bearings with some valuable information." He casually places a few gold on the bar and looks around the room. "For instance, who do I have the pleasure of sharing this fine establishment with today?" He does his best to be polite and discrete

[VennDygrem]

Although not incredibly diplomatically talented, as his compatriots seem to take their time, he decides to get started on finding the contact. After looking over the people in the tavern, Mytos decides that, given only the information of "an old man" for his parties contact, it is not unreasonable to talk to the oldest man there. The man seems learned; he probably has some information that is useful, at least. Going to the bar, and, speaking to the bartender, points to the old robed man in the corner. "Whatever he has, I would like one of as well, barkeep." Drink in hand, he proceeds to move over to the table, asking the old man, "If you'll excuse the interruption of your thoughts, I was wondering if I might have a word with you.

May I seat myself here? You seem a learned man; could one correctly assume you are quite learned about the geography or history of this area?" He remains standing, though he stands nearby the chair across from the man as if waiting to be welcomed to the table.

[spoiler]Diplomacy: 21
Wow, not as bad as I was expecting, thank you IC![/spoiler]

The old man looks up from his drink and says, "You may sit wherever you like, traveler." He makes a wide, sweeping gesture indicating that there are empty seats everywhere, though you do not detect any bitterness in the act. "You assume correctly, as I have lived here many years and have gathered a sizable knowledge of the area. If you're just wondering where the best place for a drink is, or the best inn, I'm afraid you're standing in the only establishment in the city. Fret not, however, for Salvana runs a tight ship, so to speak; And no, we do not have a... red light district, if that is also of your concerns, as it so commonly is for the young men passing through here."

[VennDygrem]

"Pardon me, as you can tell I'm not from this area. I have some business around town and I like to know the lay of the land. As a bartender, I trust that you know things inside and out. I would be very grateful if you could help me get my bearings with some valuable information." He casually places a few gold on the bar and looks around the room. "For instance, who do I have the pleasure of sharing this fine establishment with today?" He does his best to be polite and discrete

The bartender, also the innkeeper, is a female human of middle age. She greets you as she slides her hand over the gold pieces and retrieves them, her eyes briefly lighting up; After all, you've given her enough to keep the whole room in drink for at least the next hour or two.
"Well well well, stranger, you've certainly got stones on ya tossing your money around so openly. A piece o' warning though- I'd keep your purse-strings tightened. We get all sorts wandering through town from the King's Road, and if some o' them merchants catch a glint o' your gold, you might find yourself walking a couple pounds lighter."

She finishes wiping out the mug she was drying, and continues. "I'm Salvana Wrafton, sole proprietor of this fine establishment. Now, you were asking about the people here? Mostly just townsfolk, and them I can tell ya about. The rest are traders coming in from the south. A couple have been here before, but I don't remember much about 'em. The man yer friend is chattin' up is Valthrun. He's somethin' of a hermit, holin' himself up in that tower in the center o' town. Calls himself a sage, a scholar... Valthrun the Prescient, some call him. He comes in here every so often, I wager to socialize and get a little interaction."

"The other ol'timer in the corner is Eilian the Old. Been here in Winterhaven for some time, but Host knows how he tends to that farm of his. I feel bad for him, living all alone over there down in the valley, but he doesn't complain. He loves to talk, actually; I imagine he knows more about what goes on in town than most others you're likely to meet, since he talks to just about everyone. Bit nutty, though. A few screws loose, but he's harmless. Mostly."

"The fancy lad in the corner is Lord Padraig. He handles the business of the city; though, and you didn't hear this from me, a lot of the townsfolk don't think he's cut out for the job. I think he's just got too much on his plate, and running a city this remote has got to be nerve-rattling, but ya can't help people's perceptions of ya."

She rattles off a few more names, but doesn't seem to know the elf hunter's name, nor that of the human woman. "Think I heard her say it was Elly or somethin'. Can't quite remember, as she doesn't speak so much. She's been here for a couple o' weeks now. The elf," Salvana nods her head down the bar a ways, "I think she lives out in the woods. No idea what she comes here for, other than ale."

[spoiler]What's everyone else doing?[/spoiler]