Nashkel

The tattooed man is big. Easily closer to 7 feet tall than 6, and well-muscled. His shaved head sports his most obvious tattoo, a circular affair that covers about a third of his face and most of his skull. An enormous sword rests across his lap as he digs into his meal - a hefty slice of venison. Oddly, across the table from him, placed before an empty seat, is a second meal: a large salad topped with various nuts and apple slices. It appears untouched.

Try as he might, Sheemish doesn't recognize the big tattoo. It doesn't seem magical, but perhaps... tribal?

Then Sheemish notices that the man is muttering under his breath between bites, but can't quite make out what he's saying.

The cook claps her hands in delight as she admires the finished cake. "It's beautiful! Almost a shame to see it eaten. I suppose we should deliver to the table before anything unlucky happens to it!" She points out over the double-doors to the tattooed man by the fire. "I don't see a child with him, but... well, he's the one who ordered it."

Sheemish strains to listen to make out the muttering, even trying to enlist stitch to help, but the poor friend wasn’t responding, probably still recovering from its attack on the spiders the other night.

With the bustle and commotion in the common room, Sheemish has a hard time hearing anything the man says. "...must find... wipe the floor... for the eyes..."

The large, tattooed man's head is about level with Stella's, even while he's sitting. At the moment, he's happily admiring the cake and its animal constellations.

Then he looks back at Stella and speaks with a heavy accent she's never heard before: "A song? Is there no... birthday song in this place? I thought there would be..." The man looks around expectantly, then settles on Stella once more and breaks out into a huge grin. He's missing at least one tooth. "You sing us a birthday song!"

Sheemish feels some distant emotion, as if in a former life he used to be a server and forever came to despise, loath, and forever be repulsed to singing birthday songs to patrons. But he cocks his head to the side and curiously waits to see Stella’s reaction.

With the help of the companions, tonight the common room has known laughter, song, and plenty of delicious food.

Aldous and his guards are about to disappear down a connecting hallway when Stella and Sheemish finish their song, to the applause of all present. All except for the four dwarves by the door...

Clapping and cheers cover the sound of chairs tumbling to the floor as the four dwarves leap to their feet, drawing weapons spreading out into the common room and nearing various members of the party. They might have gone unnoticed until blood was spilt, but one companion reluctant to join the festivities spots their scheme.

Calliope is able to warn the party before the dwarves have a chance to strike!

Round 1 Player Phase!