Meanwhile back at the inn

General Summary

Meanwhile back at the inn, Cap’n has found a new friend in the likes of a sea folk captain. The two of them had a jolly time drinking ale, and swapping stories of all sorts. The captain after a little bit of time leads up to the idea of a ship to the Holy Isle, but the captain points out the great problem of nobody being allowed to leave. Cap says he’s working on something to solve that problem, and the man nods saying, “If you can solve this, I’d be most happy to give you a ride.” Devan got bored of the sea talk and headed up to our rooms only to find a note on the bed saying, “Your staff seems interesting, we should meet. Thornish Pub, first bell after dark.” Then he gave a scream of pain and his arm has carved in it, “Staff missing.” Devan runs downstairs and pulls Cap’n aside. “There was this weird note, and now I’ve got this strange message on my arm, and it hurts!” “That do be bad,” Cap’n says, “Let’s think this over with a drink. Barkeep, two drinks for us.” Devan drinks his ale a bit faster than he maybe should have because when I come in he’s three sheets to the wind drunk, and babbling about strange cuts and other things. “Addie,” Cap says, “We have an appointment tonight at the Thornish Pub. We’ve got a few hours to kill, so I propose a few more drinks before we head out.” The two of us happily enjoy some more drinks and Devan happily drinks a few more, but by the time he’s done, he can barely walk. It’s quite impressively bad. “It be early, but I propose we sober Devan up and wander over to the Thornish Pub,” Cap drank the last bits from his cup. After a few twists and turns we find the Thornish Pub only to discover Lili there drunk as all get out, “What happened to her?” I ask the barkeep. “Dangest thing I seen,” he answered wiping down the bar, “She just had the one drink and that barely touched, but she kept getting drunker and drunker before finally passing out. Do you know the lady?” “She’s our friend and we were meeting her here,” I said pulling Lili up. I quietly cast a restoration spell getting her back to some semblance of normality. Then we settled in to wait for the first bell.

FIRST BELL

A few minutes after the first bell a beggar walks in, looks over the bar, and upon seeing us heads straight to our table. The rags on his body do not cover his missing left hand, and I remember where I’d seen him before, begging on the side of the road. “Are you our contact?” Devan asks. “I am he,” the man responds jerkily almost as if he is a puppet on strings. “Will you join us in an ale?” Cap asks waving over a barmaid. “Alas, I no longer partake of that drink,” the man says waving away the barmaid, releasing a special blend of smells as his arm moves. “I believe we have business to discuss,” and the man sits back and folds his hands in front of him waiting for us to talk. He reminds me of old money and someone who spent too much time at a boarding school. “We would prefer to conduct our business in person,” Lili said. “This is as in person as it gets anymore,” the man said with a show of sadness. Cap starts and I hear his voice in my mind, “I think he’s an oathbound spirit.” “I have a proposition for you, in exchange for getting your staff back you will help me in my endeavor,” the beggar saw Devan’s raised eyebrow. “For now let’s say we have similar goals. You wish to leave here, I wish to remove your impediment expeditiously. I do not wish for the rod or the staff or any such nonsense, I wish for the blood of the Speaker.” “Why should we help you? After all, we might be able to find a way out on our own? Why involve ourselves in a religious disagreement?” I asked. “You have already seen an example of what I will do to achieve my aims,” he responded looking at me. “Good kitty,” and he grinned. “Besides, I would think a cleric of the Creator would wish to hunt those claiming to speak for a false god.” “That mayst be,” Cap grumbled, “But I need to know more. Your earlier project could have killed many people, and I would not be part of that. I will not go against the Creator to help you in your little vendetta. I need more information.” “You can join me or not if you will help me in this meet Ven at the well at midnight,” the beggar stood up and sketched a rough bow to us. “I look forward to seeing you at midnight tonight.” “I need more information before I can agree to anything like this,” Devan groused angrily. “I’m not helping murder some innocent fool. I’m gonna follow this beggar.” Devan wandered out the door of the pub only to see the beggar wander across the street, shake for a second, and then wander over to a corner asking for change. “Here friend,” Devan said. “Enjoy a hot meal tonight,” and silver coins feel into the beggar’s outstretched hand. “I don’t know about you,” Cap says to Lili and me, “but I intend to find more information before this meeting. Mayhaps I will see you tonight at the well.” “I will be there,” Lili said, “I need to get my staff back and I don’t see any harm in stopping a speaker of the wind.”

Report Date

21 Dec 2021