Game table

The innkeeper trots up to you, his hoofs striking the stones of the path and his smile upon Jacob. "You are gracious. Perhaps you should be the Innkeeper instead of I. Welcome. You are welcome to stay at the Inn. We ask poor compensation and comradeship in these difficult times. Do you bring news of far off lands with you. We have only takes of woe and failing defenses though our park walls hold against the viper hand and the masses do not overwhelm our reserve."

I have seen this green folks fortune and this pirate lady. They are true enough. They are heros who drive back the viper hand and talk big about raiding their hideout.

There is some great power here keeping this place looking like Imladris (Rivedell). "We can pay our way, and perhaps a few songs would lift spirits. If Passion Flower would care to harmonize, I'm sure we can entertain all a bit to help pay our way."

A slender and younger version of the old faun comes out of the tower and gallops up to Dokul. She stops to stare wild eyed at the strangers. "Daddy, daddy! the tower vibrates with new life. It senses the arrival of the new comers. Allow me to show them to the dining table so that we may feed them? I heard mention of song as I came near!!". Her round eyes are wide with wonder. Besides a barmaids apron, she is not overly clothed but wears a sleek pelt of tan hair with colorful spots and stars markings.

"Pardon my mirth, gentlemen and ladies. I have skipped my manners. I am Dokul of Nexal and this is my daughter Dena. Yes child, take them to the table. Serve them wine and roast for the predators and the fruits of garden to the gentle. Have song. And dance. For heroes are amongst us, so sayeth the teller."

Denalici races to the door and begs you to chase. She enters a main hall with fire and scroll tables, and up some stairs that line stout outer cell of the tower up to a mezzanine where a great curved table spans half the circumference of the tower. Many folk of silvan races and humans alike sit and eat, trying to stay merry though the mood is calm. After seeing to seating the entire party and gesturing for servers, she canters back to Jacob and touches his dulcimer. She looks up with her doughy round eyes and begs me to play. Passion Flower sits on the table beside him and sings harmony to his tunes, smiling sweetly at him, while the party drinks and rests.

"My dearzest love, Kitty. Did we choose our home too hastily? This seems like the happiest place in the True World. What is it about this place. You seem to glow most radiantly in this magical light." I touch Kitsune’s cheek and kiss her hand and cheek. "Surely if we were to ever lose our bard on the road, we would only have to come here to find him."

Smiling, I respond, "I'm pretty content with our home choice, but this place is lovely! But you are right, I think we should let him enjoy himself." With that, Kit grab's Duke's hand and pulls him up to dance.

"Keep the pace lively my bard! This Lady doth prefer to step quickly." I follow Kitty’s hand to an open area of the floor with smooth varnished wood floors under the light of the moon shining in through the windows. She turns back to me and my heart melts into the smile upon her beautiful face. She is ready to sloth off the concerns of the day and forget the world. Our clasped hands loosen to a light touch and we find the four step beat of the harvest tune. I offer my right arm and she lays her left arm onto mine as we begin our dance. Our feet step together. Our hearts and bodies commit to the music. The euphoria of it all seeps in. I am dancing with my love, turning her ever so close to me so as to never be far from her. She dutifully follows my lead and I offer her my best choreography. I am entranced. I spin her in order to show her off. The faun daughter giggles and dances her percussive hooves to the music on the table to our joy. We laugh and forget all but each other.

I enter the common area with a smile on my face and seemingly not a care in the world, but in truth my eyes take it all in, I scan for threats and keep senses sharp.
"Such a charming room, I'm sure the echoes will play to our favor." Retrieving the lute from my bag of holding (sure to be noticed as a Mary Poppins trick), I strum the strings and tune one that has gone slightly sharp. "A madrigal to start."
Sings:
When the dragons grow too mighty
To slay with pen or sword
I grow weary of the battle
And the storm I walk toward
When all around is madness
And there's no safe port in view
I long to turn my path homeward
To stop a while with you
When life becomes as barren
And as cold as winter skies
There's a beacon in the darkness
In a distant pair of eyes
In vain to search for honor
And in vain to search for truth
But these things can still be given
Your love has shown me proof

Hearing the raspy by enchanting harmony from Passion Flower, we deliver another as I dance around the room, over the bar, around the tables and over Storm's lap to end up sitting on Passion Flower's lap for the coda:
Do you always trust your first initial feeling
Special knowledge holds truth bears believing
I turned around
And the water was closing all around
Like a glove
Like the love that had finally, finally found me
Then I knew
In the crystalline knowledge of you
Drove me through the mountains
Through the crystal-like clear water fountain
Drove me like a magnet
To the sea
How the faces of love have changed turning
The pages
And I have changed oh, but you, you remain
Ageless
I turned around
And the water was closing all around
Like a glove
Like the love that had finally, finally found me
Then I knew
In the crystalline knowledge of you
Drove me through the mountains
Through the crystal-like clear water fountain
Drove me like a magnet
To the sea
To the sea
To the sea, yeah
To the sea, yeah
Yeah
Yeah
I turned around and the water was closing around me
I turned around and the water was closing around me
Sea
The sea

In the midst of the chaos, Jacob finds a way to whisper to Teth asking if she could find out more about the druids and what they are discussing, perhaps a peek at the maps.

"Passion Flower, would you care to learn the lute?" He slips under her so she's now sitting in his lap with the lute on her lap. "Tell me my future."

As Passion Flower allows herself physically to be moved by the bard onto his lap, she allows herself to be moved by the bard’s advances. Taking the lute from him, she leans over and whispers his future in his ear. She takes the lite into her mouth and plays a simple child’s song, not quite in tune but with a wide smile. "Teach me Jacob. How shall I touch the lute and make music as you do?"

"Come my love. Let us to bed. Kon, Stormslayer and Antethoe are asleep in their chairs and Jacob is teaching his pupil. I long for our pillow talk and relaxation after this day that has been laid to rest. Tomorrow we discuss what we will about the thugs, but tonight is ours. Come." I take my lovely dancing partner toward the stairs and follow the eager to please Denalici who shows us to our room and giggling, closes the doors on our kiss.

"So, Jacob... what is the plan? Has your Passionate companion told you more about these snakes that need skinning?"