Scene 1: Welcome to Averndale

The Bouncer ushers you in and points over behind the bar in order to answer Leon and Xarakas. There, a rotund human man with a magnificent mustache stands behind the bar, idly cleaning the bar as he listens intently to a group of patrons. This building was made by artists, with the interior decor matched exquisitely to the grand exterior. At the far end of the large central room was an unused stage, with extra chairs stacked upon it. It has not been in use for some time. Currently, the music is being made somewhere else, which is not obvious from here.

At the bar, the workers gathered around telling a tale about their scariest moment in the mines, finishing just as the adventurers' approached. "... an' we swear. We ain't never go back down into that Tunnel 3, ever again! Them spirits are ghosts of everyone who got killed, what when my Pappy was young." The miners nod in agreement, as the Bartender eyes them with a friendly but skeptical look. "I swear! Some of the boys are leaving gifts to appease their souls. Hopefully, the weirdness will stop if they ain't disturbed..." For the Bartender's part, he wasn't sure what to say back to the half-drunk men, but with someone else approaching he takes the opportunity to 'leave it at that', and turns to inspect the newcomers.

"Oh new faces? Welcome! Welcome to the Heart-of-Hearth. " His voice booming with Pride as he motions around them to the room. "What can Marconi do for you?"

Elsewhere in the room, Jasper and Sadur have taken a seat and a teenage boy arrives to take their order just as soon as they had settled. Jasper might know this as one-of-the-two Macroni boys, a pair of young rapscallions and scoundrels who were always getting into mischief around town when they were younger. The twins, Jacob and Jayton, were about fourteen now, and the fact that the second brother is not visible means you should keep your purse hidden away. "Hey are you Adventurers? That is super cool! You two want ale or mead, maybe try some 'Shine?" With an excited smile, the boy stops talking and waits to see what the Mage and Half-orc wanted.

"A pleasure Mister Barcharvi, the name is Rudolf Marconi" The bartender flourishes with a hand to add flair to his introduction. "... Rooms? It’s good that you came when you did! We’re running a deal! You will receive an upgraded room when you pay for a week in advance, what do ya say?" Marconi reaches back and taps a sign behind him on the wall above an arraignment of fancy liquor bottles and wooden casks.

The sign reads: "Market day is Tomorrow, but most would be here for the Harvest festival at the end of the week. Should be a grand time. Please! Take off your cloaks off and relax, and tell me or 'the boys' if you should need a thing."

"Oh 'Shine? Only the best, Mister! Big feller like you is going to love it." The boy winks to Sadur, and nods to the men confirming their order. "A minstrel? Naw mister, my little sister is playing her usual up on the second floor, but we haven't had a proper entertainer in a year or so."The teen steps off to see about those drinks, leaving the party to recollect back at the table together as they wished.

In the crowd, there were mostly humans and a couple of halflings as well as a dwarf who is sitting with the group of miners at the bar. They all seem to be laborers or farmers, as well as a few of the caravan drivers who were having a drink before they would head off to a bunkhouse. Soon enough drinks and food are brought to the table.

Marconi's eyes lit up as he watched Xarakas perform his magick, and lowers his voice to regain the Bard's attention. "Easy with the magick, friend. Folks are superstitious 'round here." He looks to the miners who had gone back to their table by now. Marconi shifts back to the topic. "Your name... I have heard it before... "