Scene 1: Inn Plain Sight

Unvisited corner

"She sent me, but I have to be sure. Who are you? Are you by any chance Alax Jadescales?" Brickowsky answers light heartedly, still not trusting this dubious Merry Rumwell character.

"Who else lives here and where is the way out?" Leana askes the rats.

The ghostly figure floats towards Brickowsky, not seeming to notice his lack of footsteps.

"Ah, a fellow dwarf. Yes, yes, good to see you. Ha ha, I am certainly not Alax. Didn't Althea tell you who she was sending you for? I'm Oswin Roca, the dwarf keeping my party from being wiped out by a dragon."

The rats look at each other and seem to conference before turning back to Leana.

"A green man used to come by often, even leave a bit of cheese, but now only a hooded man likes to come once in a while. Bearded man came down, but never left. We'll show you the way out...once we remember."

The rats both turn in opposite directions and scurry to a wine rack. They start to sniff along the wine racks, presumably looking for their exit.

Following Brickowsky's lead, Hindle attempts a jovial manner and chimes in, "Ah, so. Oswin, nice to meet you. I am Hindle Ambolong and friend of Brickowsky here. How is it you are came to find yourself in this cellar? ...and what of your friends? Are they here as well?"

"Can't you tell? He's dead they're dead only he's alive and he's not supposed to be." Derv says he doesn't attack the ghost though mostly because he's stuck pondering weather or not his sword would injure the ghost.

Remebering the plaque from the tap room, Brickowsky asks further with rising awe in his voice: "You're THE Oswin Roca from the Hard Way? Who plundered the lair of the dragon Cinderhowl and returned alive!?"

If the dwarven ghost replies positiv, the wizard would ask further: "What happend to you, my dear fellow?" and would try to bring it to Oswin's attention that he seems to be a ghost at the moment.

Merton and Leana, please roll perception checks.

Brickowsky, Derv, and Hindle gather together near the ghost Oswin.

"Yes yes, nice to meet you all. Looks like you have quite the adventuring party yourselves. I am THE Oswin Roca of the Hard Way, didn't Althea tell you anything when she sent you to find me? I came down on my own to get us some celebratory drinks after visiting Cinderhowl's lair (he winks at Brickowsky and his elbow passes through his arm) and then I don't remember much after that."

He glances at Derv as he ponders.

"And what is bothering you, my son? Ha ha, I may be old, but don't let that fool you."

So the plot thickens. The adventurer of the month - a fresh ghost in a tavern. Not run by its famous proprietor. Something stinks. And not just the powdered chickenwings.

"Well, old chap." the blueclad dwarf continues his search for truth. "She was in such a good mood that some minor details got lost." As the ghost acts innocent enough and his touch doesn't seem to affect him, Brickowsky tries to get more information by playing to the well-known dwarven lust for treasure: "She told me you found fine things in Cinderhowl's lair. Please - Oswin! - tell me more!"

The druid watches the rats scurry along trying to figure out their way. Leana cannot quite see, where they are off to or if there is another passage somewhere in the cellar. While listening to the ghostly conversation, she looks around trying to find anything useful.

"Ah yes, elves don't seem to hold their drink well in my opinion. Or maybe that's just Althea."

As Brickowsky inquires about treasure, a glow almost shines behind the ghost's eyes.

"Oh yes, we found many great treasures. Didn't you see the cape she was wearing? We found the greatest treasure of all I say, but that is top secret."

The ghost mimes locking his mouth shut and throwing away the key before winking at Hindle.

"Come on! You can tell me, Oswin." Brickowsky tries to coax out the information, while speaking dwarvish. "I'll tell no one."