Gameplay - The Dragon Who Asked Too Much

It's evening. If you want to seek a tailor you'll need to wait until morning.

So you could:
A) return to the inn and get some sleep
B) gather information and rumors from the bar patrons
C) wander the streets looking for trouble

Mavis sinks her beer, nods goodnight to her colleagues and chooses A.

Let's call it a night, get some sleep, and go clothes shopping in the morning.

"Kay'!" Ruby nods, liking this plan.

You return to the inn and whether or not you set watches, you sleep well and remain unmolested and undisturbed. Morning comes and as you make your habituations and your way to the dining room, you find a young serving girl in severe conservative clothing setting the table quietly. She curtseys and retreats to the kitchen. Mont emerges rubbing his hands on a cloth.

"Good morning honoured guests. Would you care for a hot tea while we prepare breakfast?"

Eee smashin’! From a brickie’s boot, six sugars if tha’ ‘as owt.
The offer of a proper cup of strong tea makes Mavis feel slightly homesick.
But no sense mitherin’ when there’s graft to be done.

Eh up Mort! Ah’m lookin’ to buy nice frock today, ‘as tha’ idea where ah’ might go?
Summat posh. Evenin’ wear like?
Mavis wonders what breakfast will be served. Hopefully a full dwarven, with a fried slice.

"Would you happen to have any coffee. I didn't sleep well last night."

"Yes please, fine maiden." Ruby answers confidently, unaware if that is the correct terminology to use for the server.

Tea would be lovely. Thank you very much.

The manservant Mont brings you your requested beverages. "Fashion, ma'am? We usually have tailors brought in, but if you're keen on seeing the city, there are a few parlours not a long walk from here. Or I could have a carriage prepared? Yes, a carriage. I will do so. Master isn't leaving the inn this day, so it is not needed. The driver will get you where you want."

"Just out of curiosity Mont. How long have you been serving the master? And as he always been a... dead guy?"

Mont looks sharply at Hehsh, but only sighs. "He is old but he isn't dead yet, young sir, though I don't imagine it will be long now if he can't complete the transference. As to my service, I would say it has been nearly forty five rewarding years."

Transference? Mavis catches Mort’s word.
Transference doesn’t sound like the necromancer just wants to be around to provide guidance to the lad.
In one direction it sounds like possession, in the other like stealing youth.
Keep him talking. Transference from ... to ....?
This transference, complicated spell is it? Thy master must be reet clever to cast such magics, an’ ah bet tha must be reet clever to assist. Ah’ve no ‘ead for magics, ‘ow does it work? In simple terms, for numpty like me.

Garth stays quiet, hoping Mavis can get this guy to say more than he should.

Mont squeezes his eyes tight. "It's complicated. The mother offered the boy to us. They would share the body, each a partner, until the boy grows to maturity. By then the old man would fade away, leaving only his skills and memories. The boy would be his own self, but with the inherited wealth of his benefactor. If he dies, the boy will be left all but defenseless."

He wipes an eye. "We wouldn't have started this without knowing we would succeed. These are dark magics, and the cost is steep. We had everything we needed to compete the ritual, but our vampire ashes were stolen and destroyed so we can't recover them. We had hoped, briefly, that we could find another source, but it was too much to ask. We'll use the wealth to keep him alive, of course, but the inn is the entirety of it. A fire would render him penniless. Master has many enemies, and without his powers, the boy will be at their mercy."

"Do you...know who first took the ashes?"

"Would that work? And if so, where did you learn this magic?" Hehsh is getting a foul taste in his mouth at this strange ritual

Mont shakes his head. "It was a hired hand. The ashes were delivered to a rival, who sent them back to us after they had been destroyed magically."

To Hehsh this all sounds entirely plausible.

Mavis keeps a polite three-dragon-ante face during the explanation, but she’s weakly persuaded.

Thank you for the offer Mont, but I think we will stretch our legs and walk to the shops.

Shall we go folks?