The Slosh House

Huge, have you got any stronger drinks? Kaz is going to spend the day buying drinks to patrons and trying to convince them help Nonian Bragg with the cave exploration mission.

* A Half Orc dressed in Woodland Garb and Scale Mail enters the Slosh House and moves to the end of the Bar and orders a drink in a low gravely voice *
Ale Bar Keep if you may
* The Stranger puts a gold coin on the bar and waits scanning the room and listening to the conversations*

Kaz (see description here) approaches Rithgar with glass of strong alcoholic drink at hand wearing leather gloves
Cheers! he sips some and start conversation You know, I feel like we are in a prison in a way. Can't get back to me friends and relatives, can we? But at least we could drink here in this prison, cheers to that another sip
If however you get bored of drinking I suggest you go see Nonian Bragg. While some people are gathering wood and thinking of protection, Nonian Bragg is setting up forge. That's a small but important step to expand borders. Nonian Bragg insist on hiring more people capable fighting

Kaz illustrate his visionary thinking in attempt to persuade Rithgar to partake the mission.

* The Half Orc standing at the bar having watched the Half Elf stranger approach sets down his Ale and let's out a grunt then speaks in Elvish in a low gravely voice void of emotion * I have matters to attend to here
* The Half Orc picks up his Ale and change leaving a 5 copper piece tip and moves away from the bar*
And I dont drink with strangers

* The Half Orc moves across the Tavern and sets down at a table facing the entrance.
He catches the attention of the elderly lady who he has seen carrying food and drinks as she's returning towards the kitchen empty-handed .
He motions towards her and speaks in a low voice in Common *
Well met may I inquire about a simple meal with some bread and meat perhaps a stew if you have any and another mug of Ale if you kindly may
* He motions towards his empty mug *

* Rithgar finishes his meal and leaves a 5 copper tip and makes his way out to explore the keep . He inspects the Barracks and makes his way to the idle Forge and Enters*

* The days adventures behind her Gen make her way to the Barracks and finds a space to clean up and heads to the Slosh House for Dinner .
Gen enters the establishment and finds a spot facing the door with her back to the wall and orders a meal and something to drink and sets quietly listening to the conversations in the Tavern and reflecting on the days events*

A small blonde girl, probably about 11, opens the door. She smiles at Hugo and Alice before clearing her throat. "HEY! WHO HERE IS SUPPOSED TO HELP WITH A JOB FOR NONIAN? HURRY UP! WE CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR BUTT FOREVER!"

Kaz who seems to have a limp uses a cane with a crow's head as its handle. He drinks drinks his glass empty and jokes about his butt already aching waiting for others, because he were among the first to apply for the job and only dismissed because people like Buttercup were not willing to participate earlier

The girl gulps and holds the door open for him.

Catching the tavern door as it begins to close with the departure of the young girl and the dour-looking man with the limp, a dark figure enters. The oversized rumpled and hooded cloak appears to be worn by a hunchback with some difficulty moving over and into a more dark booth in the corner of the tap room. As the figure slides onto the seat, the hunch abruptly moves. It shifts to one side and down into the seat at the figure's side.

"There. Now are you satisfied? You slothful toad." A vaguely feminine voice emanates from the hood, as a lower half of a greyish pale face is caught in the flickering candlelight illuminating the flat plane of the wooden table top.


A glistening broad head, with wide eyes, and a large mouth peeks over the tabletop. Its amphibian eyes swivel toward the pale figure, not unlike being side-eyed by any humanoid with an attitude. "Yesssss. Gloooom. Lettz order a drinkz, hunh?"

The hooded figure holds up a hand to get the attention of the tavern matron. "Give me moment, would you?" Utters the pale lips of the hooded figure.

Even as the elderly woman turns her attention to the odd twosome in the booth, another figure enters the Slosh House and quickly spots the others. She lowers her own hood, as she moves toward the booth. Her dark hair falls to her shoulders and, like the first figure of the growing band, this also has a pale greying complexion; though seeming vaguely mottled in the subdued light of the evening within the Slosh House.

She sits down opposite the other two with purpose and grins. "Waitin' for me long, my dark minions?" Her eyes flicker red in the candlelight and she props her elbows on the table in front of her, before glancing about the tavern and back toward the door. Almost as if looking for someone in particular...

"Four ales, madam!" She calls to the elderly server, who is still only halfway across the tap room toward them.

*A as if out of nowhere a small Fey sized female clambers up onto a bar stool at the end of the bar and begins to play a haunting Melody*

"Make that three ales for the table and the other to the bard...please." The red-eyed woman requests of the server (Alice)

* Eowen finishes her song and takes up her drink with a grin a toasts her Benefactor across the Tavern, She take several long drinks then starts to play again this time singing in a sweet melodic voice a song of despair and longing and beyrayal*

Of wings laid low by cruel blade,

My soaring heart forever caged,

Betrayal cuts sharper than any knife,

Leaving scars of grief in moonlit life.



The road to darkness, steep and long,

Windeth cold 'neath fading song,

Each step a heavy, bitter toll,

A soul forsaken, losing control,



I am but flesh now, bare and plain,

My beauty shattered, broken grain,

No longer ride the starry skies,

Only mourn and whisper sorrow's sigh,



So raise your tankards high and cheer,

While I lament the loss so dear,

For though your cups may brim with glee,

I drink alone in misery,

The mysterious woman with the red-eyes raises her glass to the diminutive bard's toast. The candlelight catches in a sudden glint off her silver of her fingernails. She tossed back the remains of the amber liquid in her drinking vessel and brings it down upon the tabletop, as she listens to the fey minstrel's latest dirge of woe.


"Mistressz, Me hungryz..." The small toady whines faintly.

The red-eyed woman turns her head to regard the words; cutting her eyes sharply to her minion. "Shuush, Ribberz. I'm listening to the song." She raises a hand to once again summon old Alice for more drinks and some heartier sustenance.

* The small Fey finishes her song then picks up her drink and finishes it with soft gulps followed by a faint burp and a tap to the chest.
She sets the empty vessel back on the the bar and picks up her instrument and begins to play another haunting melody.
As she plays she hums to the music her voice carrying across the room adding an macabre tone to the already haunting piece*

"Here you go schweetie." The elderly bar matron offers, proffering fresh drinks and bowls of steaming stew to the odd threesome in the corner booth. "Enjoy..."


The moment their server turns and begins walking away, the smaller creature with its broad head and wide eyes, presses its spindly fingers against the edge of the tabletop and suddenly one of the bowls is in its grasp. Even an observant patron would find it difficult to witness the amazing speed at which the small being's tongue whips out and claims its prize.


"Ugh!" Emotes the still hooded other in the booth. "Now..was that really necessary?"


The toady one, nods. "Uh..huh...Gloomz." Its large eyes attempting a look of pleading innocence. "Me hungryz..." It pulls the hot bowl close to it's chest and wraps both arms covetously about the bowl.

* The small female Fey plays several more melancholy songs then catches the attention of the elderly barmaid * Please send another round of drinks and two portions of stew to the corner table if you please
* Paying for the food and drinks She hops off the stool dissapearing into the sea of legs only to reapear at the edge of the corner booth and climbing up onto taller seat seat she folds her hands *
I have another round coming and some dinner with a extra bowl for the hungry one

Looking up from its empty bowl, the small hungry one, licks its lipless mouth. Its eyes shift toward the fey bard and blinks only once. "Mmmz...Me likes Eowenz. She nice..." Releasing the grip on the empty bowl, Ribberz eagerly awaits the promised refill.

The empty bowl slides across the table, seemingly of its own accord and perches near the open edge for the bar matron's easy removal.

The red-eyed female smirks at this and turns toward the empty spot on the booth's bench at her left, before greeting their companion fresh off her first set of the evening. "Well done as always, E, my dear." She glances across the table to the broad head and wide eyes peeking up over the edge. "Our talented E does seem to have a soft spot for you, Ribz..."

* Before long the Elder Matron returns with another round of drinks and two bowls of stew which she leaves and retrieves the empties*
Here you go schweeties ill be back if you need more
* As she departs Eowen chuckles and eases one bowl forward*
Is someone still hungry i think??

Leaning slightly forward and pressing its fingers to the edge of tabletop again, Ribberz cuts those large bulgy eyes up to the pale figure at its side. Thinking better of its initial thought of action, it instead extends a spindly arm and fingers to the offered bowl and pulls it close. "Yesz. Thankz, Eowenz." Sticking the tip of its tongue out through the large lipless mouth at Gloom, it then tips the bowl slightly toward that large mouth and slurps some of the liquid off the stew.

Taking a sip of ale, the slender hooded figure speaks. "Noticed a new posting on the bulletin board on the way. Someones calling themselves the Keepers of the Veil are looking for assistance in discovering who or what is responsible for missing items from the supplies."


Eyes widening even more impossibly, mouth stopping in mid-slurp, Ribberz glances to Eowen, Gloom, and Star shaking its head repeatedly. "Notz me. Ribberz not do itz."

Star chuckles darkly. "Perhaps we should look into this. Who better to discover the culprits. I dare say there are none within Quartercrest more capable of stealthily bringing those responsible to light. Am I right? It would also give us reason to get better acquainted with the various locations within this ancient keep."

* A slight smile plays across Eowen's face *
Hmmm a most excellent idea snooping around this old creepy place would definitely be worth it

* Emboldened by drink Eown hops onto the edge of the table and starts to play then bursts into song in a mocking melody*

In Calindor, under the high king's call,

A groom of fate, through the Lilac Veil we crawl.

With a mage's urging and promises grand,

Off we went, to this strange, unknown land.



Oh, the wisdom in our eyes, so keen and bright,

Like beacons of intellect, burning so light.

But when the portal spit us out, here in the West,

We realized our brains had taken a rest.



Quatercrest Keep, you say? More like a haunted hall,

Where ghosts of laughter and merriment now wallow.

We traded the safety of home for this mad quest,

You'd think we were born with our heads in a nest!



But here we stand, in this old, creaky keep,

Facing monsters and dangers, with hearts that beat deep.

So pour us a drink, laugh at our plight,

And here's to the fools who dare to take flight!"

Star pounds are fist on the table as Eowen's tune concludes. "Huzzah!"

She glances across the table to the pale hooded Gloom. "Make haste to the notice board my shadowy willow and make our mark for this discovery exploit."


With a nod, the slender form slides out of the booth. "Consider it done, Mistress Star." She acknowledges and agility traverses the taproom and it occupants; disappearing through the Slosh House's front doors.

Reaching into the hidden recesses of her cloak, Star pulls out a small pouch. Untying it, she pours the contents out on the table in front of her: Five cubic-ally shaped trinket of bone.

* A slow smile appears over Eowen's face *
Hmmm knuckle bones oh yes this night just got a lot more fun
* She rolls half slides off the edge of the table proping herself up in the seat *

Star grins and waves down the grey-haired server. "Another round. please." She tosses back the last dregs of her ale and pounds the drinking vessel onto the table. "Knucklebones indeed."

She snatches up the bits of slightly yellowing bone in one fist, quickly shakes them up in her grasp, and throws them onto the table top between them. "16..not bad as a warm up."


As Alice arrives with most drinks, Gloom reappears and slides into the seat of the booth. "Move over, Ribbz. Make some room. Looks like the bones are out now. I need room to throw."


The small toady whips its tongue out and swipes one of the fresh drinks off the table and scurries into the seat deeper to slurp the ale.

* Eowen giggles as she reaches out and gets her drink *
Somebody is thisty tonight too
* Eowen takes up the dice cup.and finishes her rolls*
Ugh I need to do better than 19

"Slurp! Slurp!" Nodding with large eyes rarely blinking.


Gloom scoops up the bones, takes a sip of her drink, and throws...

"My turn. I'll keep the 5 and re-roll" She announces, as the bones drop. "Ha! 5 and 6, 6, and 5...20. I'll re-roll the 3." The last bone comes to a stop on the tabletop. "Hahahaha! 25!"

Ribberz slides the dice into both hands and shakes them up. One flies out of its grasp and twirls on the table while the others hit the surface. Ribberz shakes its head and re-rolls four. It let's out a loud sigh and re-rolls the four again. Ribberz leans back against the booth and grabs up its ale again.

"20! Ribbz, you got 20 points this round." Star acknowledges.

* As the game continues and she waits her turn Eowen picks up her lute and plays a soft melody*

Picking up the bones, Star's brow furrows with concentration, as she makes her throw. She quickly counts the pips showing, tosses a single die again and calls out her total to the others at the booth. "Twenty and one. Well, looks like Gloom is ahead after the first round." She gently pushes the bones towards Eowen. "When you're ready..."

* Eowen sits down her lute and picks up the dice grinning mischievously she rolls and discards her lowest dice and rolls again*
6,6,5,4,2 hehe 23 for me
* She giggles and playfully sticks her small tongue out at Ribberz*

Cupping her chin momentarily in contemplation, Gloom one-fists the bones again and makes her second initial throw. She counts her score and takes a drink, then tosses four of the cubed bones a second time. Setting aside a second die, she rolls the remaining three for her last attempt at points for the round. She sighs. "14. Just 14..."

Ribberz snickers and double-grips the bones once more. It manages to hold all of them this time and drops them onto the tabletop with a clatter. Ribbz eyes go wider and its returns the gesture to Eowen; though the tongue exposed is considerably longer.

"Well..shit. Lucky bastard! Ribbz, you got twenty-five this round." Star proclaims. She grabs up the bones herself and throws. A roll and re-roll gives her and incredible score of 28. "There. Beat that..."

* Eowen takes a drink and wipes her lips with the back of her hand * Aww I'm proud of you Ribberz them was some good rolls
* Eowen picks up the dice suddenly hiccups and rolls *
Opps I guess ill keep both them fours
* She rolls again *
Ohhh 5,5,6, and 4,4 looks like 24 for me

Making her rolls for the third round, Gloom is rather silent and disappointed with her three attempts at points. "15..." She pushes the bones over in front of Ribberz.


The diminutive toady excitedly rakes the five dice into his hands and tosses them nearly off the table on the other side. Two more wild throws and he hops up and down on the bench seat.

"Twenty-four?! Ribbz you got another twenty-fours point!" Star gives a crooked smile and makes her next throw. "I'll hold at one toss this round. Twenty-two for me." She takes a drink of ale and pushes the bones back to Eowen.

* Eowen now tipsy giggles as she scoops up the dice*
Ok now lets see
* She makes her rolls and frowns burps softly then passes the dice back *
Aww only 21
Here yo gooo

Gloom gives Eowen a grin accepts the bones. She throws them and exclaims, "Ha! More like it! 27!" She hands the dice to Ribberz.


Holding the bones two-handed up to its head, Ribberz appears to be silently praying. To who or what, only the toady knows. Working the throws, it uses all three chances and hops in the seat once.

"27 for Gloomy. 27 for Ribbz..." Star makes her throw once...then twice. "I have twenty-four for this round. Last round everyone." She hands Eowen the bones. "How you holding up there shorty?"

* Eowen smiles *
Im feeling fine my little friend
* She accepts the dice and makes her rolls growling with each failure *
Ugh troll poo looks like 21 for me
*She finishes her drink.and pushes the dice back *

* with a naughty grin Eowen picks up her lute and sings a quick limerick *
Eristor, Eristor, so wise and so tall,

With a staff in his hand, and a spell on his tongue.

But when it came time to choose our new home,

He led us to West Marches, where the monsters roam.



'I've heard the legends, I've read the signs,'

He said with a nod, like he had all the time.

But as we crossed through the Lilac Veil,

We all knew, Eristor was feeling quite pale.



'Remember, my friends, magic can fail,'

He muttered as monsters began to wail.

So here we are, in this keep so old,

Where Eristor's wisdom has led us, for gold.



But shush, don't tell him, I'm sure he'll understand,

That though his guidance may sometimes seem grand,

When it comes to protecting our hides,

We'll all need to rely on our own talents inside."

Diligently, Gloom and Ribberz, score a pair of 25s for their last round of the game. Star finishes with a 22. She smirks at Eowen's latest diddy. "So true... Well, Ribbz. Luck be with you tonight in Sloshy House-land. You win by four points!"

* Eowen claps softly then hiccups *
Well done my friend next time I'll try and stay slightly more sober

"Its getting late." Star intones. "We should make our departure and find whatever rest we may in the meager accommodations available to us in this strange keep once more." She packs up the knucklebones in their small pouch and puts them away, then drains the last of her ale from its vessel, before placing the empty solidly on the table in front of her.

* Eowen nods sleepily *
Yes im tired and in need of rest too
* She gathers up her instrument and looks around the Slosh House and dissapears into the sea of legs*

Star quickly follows from the Slosh House, with her minions in tow.