Introduction: A Night at the Drowned Dragon Inn

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Slowly the barman starts pulling pints. Eventualy he will call for a barmaid to carry a tray over but by then the magician has already taken his seat.

"Ah, hello there," he begins, addressing the young dwarf, " please allow me to introduce myself. I am Gordrenn, purveyor of magical paraphenalia, material neccessities and related items to magicians of note. Now unfortunately I am in need of a bunch of able bodied fellows such as your good selves," by this point he is speaking to the whole group, wether they think of themselves as one or not, "to assist me in a most delicate matter. Hopefuly the proespect of suitable remuneration should induce you to to assist me."

Leaning back in his seat he awaits some form of responce.

[Chrysalis]

Kharsis stands up, faces the mage and bows slightly:

"Forget about the remuneration, Sir. I am Kharsis of Sheldomar, my heart as well as my arm serve Allitur. You can already consider you have found an ear to explain what this delicate matter is about, and shall justice be dealt, you'll find me by your side."

Kharsis takes his chair and brings it at the same table as the magician.

"If you allow me, of course..."

[Rod the Worm]

Hasta nods too.
"Of course, sir," she says.  "I would be glad to help in any way I can."

[Woojitsu]

The elf from the bar arrives in the corner just ahead of a barmaid with a full tray of drinks.  While the drinks are being served, he seats himself as close to Gordrenn as he can manage.  He opens his mouth to speak but pauses, noticing the serious looks worn by all present.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

"Ah well now," says Gordrenn, "I'm in a spot of bother. You see, my usual servants have found employment elsewhere. That upstart Rilenya's trying to muscle in on my particular corner of the market and, whilst she might not have the foggiest clue about what constitutes actual spell components she does come from a wealthy family and can afford to offer more generous terms of payment than my good self."

Reaching out for his brandy he takes a sip before continuing. "Now unfortunately, deserted by my servants as I am, I have a client waiting for a package to be delivered and he'll be needing it fairly urgently if it takes much longer. I need a group of able bodied folk willing to escort a small chest full of various material neccessities to the small town of Thurmaster. It's about a week's travel east of here, just past the town of Milborne in Harranshire."

Yeah, Milborne where they all speak with funny accents :(. I've "fixed" a lot of npc names to make them less crud* but didn't bother changing the town's name as it sort of makes sense (there is a watermill afterall). I don't think I'll make them all silly comedy aussies 'though.

[Chrysalis]

Kharsis rubs his chin:

"From what you say, it looks like this Rilenya worked some unfair trick, Sir Gordrenn... This kind of behaviour doesn't fit very well to a lady. Well, the hoof of my horse is light: I'll help you with those necessity items. And I would gladly enjoy some company on the way to Thurmaster!"

Kharsis nods at Hasta and Shen, and drinks some of his ale.

[Squigface]

Indeed, as a cleric my aim is to help my fellow man I say, having picked up on the conversation. When do we depart?

Squig

[Custom_Hobby]

As the mage speaks to the group the door opens slowly and a figure lumbers into the room under a drenched cloak. When he draws back the hood you see the delicate features of a young (by their standards) male grey elf. He sets down his pack by the bar and asks the barkeep for "something warm." He reaches into his pack and seems relieved that the book he takes out is still dry. He looks around the room and takes note of the mage sitting with a group of what seem to be adventurers. Once he gets his drink he takes his belongings and sits at the table closest to the group.

Thorgrin, leaning against the wall just behind the table Gordrenn is telling his tale at, takes a sip of his ale and is listening intently. He notices the new comer but doesn't say anything of it. Thorgrin sets down his ale and reaches for his shield and war hammer at his side. Raising his hammer he steps forward and proclaims "Be it the will of Moradin I will lend my shield, weapons and honor to the cause if my assistance is wanted." He then moves over to the table with the wet elf. "Well met friend elf, I am Sir Thorgrin Deepslayer. May we share this table?"

The shivering elf looks up from his steaming cup of tea and nods yes. "I am Amras Tasartir." The elf stands and removes his waterlogged cloak, "I should set this by the fire but I am tired." He drapes the soggy garment over another empty chair and turns his attention back to his tea.

[PaulH]

Garrick agrees to 'alter' the groom's spare tunic and cloak by the morning. A few nips & tucks, and some simple embroidery around the cuffs will only take a couple of hours. Besides, a little coin here & there never goes amiss. 
After using some marked string to take some measurements he writes them down on a scroll.

Looking around, Garrick's interest is piqued as he notices another Elf, presumably some spellcaster. Bidding a polite goodbye to the groom's party he makes his way to the other group and addresses the Elf.

"Ah. Good-day my lady. Are You and your associates looking for some profitable employment? My name is Garrick - may I join you"?

Garrick gestures to an empty stool by the table.

"Ooops - where are my manners? May I buy you a glass of wine"?

If allowed Garrick joins the group & orders a new bottle of wine and some clean glasses.

Paul H

[Balgin Stondraeg]

The young groom to be, by now far from sober, doesn't seem to understand why he's being measured (or even that he's being measured) but eventualy settles down and makes some fairly unintelligible comments.

[Woojitsu]

Not quite following the conversation yet, Shen attempts to hide his confusion behind an upended mug of ale.  Unfortunately, as the mug is still full, this has the unforseen side effect of leaving a trail of foam across the bridge of his nose.  His face goes scarlet, and he makes as if to brush the foam aside with his tunic sleeve, forgetting for a moment about his armor.  He manages to get rid of most of the foam but very nearly puts his eye out in the process.

[Rod the Worm]

"Master Gordrenn, I too would be happy to help you,"  Hasta says.  "Perhaps you could let me know how best to join the Arcane Order in return?" she continues with a wink.

[Custom_Hobby]

Once he has had a few sips of his tea and no longer feels chilled to the bone, Amras recalls the declaration made by Sir Thorgrin prior to sitting down. With that he turns toward the senior mage at the next table and politely interjects, "Pardon my impetuousness sir, if you are looking to employ a group I would also like to listen in and be considered."

[Woojitsu]

Regaining his composure slightly, Shen looks back and forth between Gordrenn and Hasta before declaring, "I, too, have an interest in the arcane, though m'lady appears to be far more versed in such things than I.  Might there be a member of the Order in need of an apprentice?  I will be more than happy to guard your goods on their journey out of gratitude for the name of such a one."

[Balgin Stondraeg]

With a slight sigh at having to repeat himself Gordren tells the elf that "I am indeed needing a group to undertake a small task for me. I'm certain the gathered assembly can inform you of all the dreary details but basicaly I require a package to be delivered safely and swiftly if possible. I am willing to pay one hundred and fifty gold coins of the realm to those of you that accept the task. How you split the reward is your own affair." With a merry twinkle in his eye he raises his brandy and sips once more.

"If you would all be so kind as to give me your names now, and to meet me on the morrow at the temple of Saint Cuthbert, there I shall draw up a contract for this undertaking and it shall be witnessed by the priests. I shall then entrust to you the chest that must be delivered and a letter for my customer to countersign proving delivery. He shall then pay you the ammount aggreed on and specified in the letter."

And with that he leans back to nejoy his drink.