The NPCs are securing the tradegoods and animals.
The trip to the inn takes you up a gravel road past the stables, where you part spend a bit of time settling the cargo, carts and animals.You're goods are inspected and you are given claim papers for when you wish to leave. Kent will hold them. After that, you are directed to the Inn at the top of the hill. The weathered signboard claims that this is the Gatorhead inn. As a matter of fact, there is a fairly stylized drawing of a gator's head to confirm it.
You are met at the door by the innkeeper, an improbably tall man who has to duck to avoid hitting his head on the lintel.
"Hey now, travellers!
"Cori! Stir up the pot and get the table ready for more company!
"I'm Innkeeper Jame and welcome to the Gatorhead. Sorry about the small inconvenience at the wall, but the army will soon have it sorted out. Will you be staying long?"
He gestures you into the common room. There is only one other occupant for a fairly large room. There is a fire with a drying rack at one end.

[Edited for Visibility]

[EDITED on Wed December 18, 2002 @8:42 AM (PST)]

[EDITED on Sat March 1, 2003 @9:01 AM (PST)]

Rath will stay hunched over giving kind of a grunt as a reply. He will huddle into his cloak (it is still raining right?) and find a dark corner somewhere out of the way

You have your choice of seating. As stated, there is only one other occupant, a worn-looking veteran adventurer you would guess by his look. He is hunched over a mug of something.

The rest of you are seated together, with Rath in the corner. A handsome young woman with a crooked smile brings out bowls, spoons and mugs. She seems friendly to all and asks, "We have a thick stew to hold your ribs together; what would you like to wet your throats?"

I take out the three or so silver's worthof coins I have and put themon the table.

"I do not know how far this will go but bring my friend her whatever he wants if U can afford it, and for me just beer if yo uhave it. Also, I think we are only staying one night, is there a room we all three can stay in?"

I look over the Wench, giving her an appraising glance and a cocky smile, " ANd where would you be staying tonight , my sweets?"

She gives you a broad wink. "Someplace warm and cozy, love. I'll get your drinks." She sweeps up the coins and drops them in the innkeeper's hand who says, "Oh aye, drinks for all then, plus dinner. This will cover a room for the night as well, if you don't mind sharing. Beds are soft and clean. Only one other staying the night and he don't make much noise."
He jerks his eyes in the direction of the fighting man sitting at a separate table.

OOC: Is there a problem in posting? There is stuff to do here if you want to play, but I need feedback to work off of.

OOC: Rath has to pretty much lay low, can't be moving around, if someone sees that he's Riven he's pretty much screwed and so it the whole party, who are associating with a Riven.

Ah, I was afraid it might be something like that. You are able to disguise your reaving, of course. Also, just by talking, no one can tell you are riven.
I didn't intend for this scenario to sideline your character, so how about I make a meta-game deal? I guarantee that all attempts at disguise will work, the only exception being severe combat damage that shreds your clothing, or notice by an adept. In this situation, you are pretty safe from either.
Of course, if you despise such Player-GM deals, forget I said it.
If you have any other suggestions let me know. I don't want somebody sitting out. I had to do that for two weeks in Manifest Destiny. I was knocked out by GM fiat and no one even looked for me. If it had been my only game, it would have been a real pain.

I was a lurker in Manifest Destiny then, and I remember that.

In light of our new deal...

"I'm going stir crazy here, I can't believe I left Beka out there while I sat in here. Handle I have to find out what's going on. If there is a battle, I don't want Beka getting hurt. Maybe I can talk to the..." Rath looks around, makes sure no one is around and lowers his voice even more, "Riven band and find out what's going on. I have to do something"OOC: Can I hear combat from outside?Perception 13-
3d6: 13 Sun December 15, 2002 @9:29 AM (EST)

It is fairly quiet outside, nothing but the occasional patter of rain, though even that is lessening. As you are waiting for Handle's reply, Innkeper Jame comes in with your drinks and food.
"Sorry, sirs, for the delay. I had to send Cori out to the gate with supper for some of the soldiers. Here's your beer, and I think you'll find the bread very fresh. And you're in luck; the stew's till piping hot."
The rich aroma of baked bread, thick stew and strong beer fills all of your nostrils. You realize you've been eating trail food for five days.

"Sir do you know what's going on around here? I mean when or why these
attacks started?"

"Oh sir, you won't have to worry about that. The army will soon have that lot sorted out."
He looks nervous, as if he doesn't believe what he is saying. His prominent adam's apple bobs as he continues, "There's been three attacks in the last six days, all of them successfully repelled, mind you, and the inn was untouched. There was some business with reavers as I understand. I don't really know the details; we're not fighters here at the Gatorhead.
"But as I said, not to worry. No danger, sir. We're safe."

The stranger at the other table gives a low and bitter sound at this speech of comfort. He gestures for Jame to refill his drink.

Rath looks to the stranger, "And you sir, you don't seem to agree with the Inn Keeper, do you know what is going on? Why they are attacking this settlement? Or who is attacking for that matter."

The man continues to hunch over his mug, even though it is currently empty. For the longest time he doesn't move or speak. Just as you are about to turn away or ask again, he says in a dry cracked voice, "My brother knows a peach from an apple. He never mistook the night for the hole in the night. The hole in the night. Storm brewing in the hole, that's the truth of it. If you were smart, you'd come in out of the rain. Don't want to get soaked. Made of sugar... Sugar an' spice melting in the rain.
"Sugar an' spice melting in the rain."
Innkeeper Jame hurries over to fill the mug. You smell no alcohol in the liquid. He looks apologetically at you and motions you aside.
"Sorry about that sir. Don't pay Horn any mind. He , eh, had a bad time out in the wilds. Don't rightly know the whole story, but his time's paid for till the next ferry comes. Kindness of the Master, may the Disciples bless him."

Just to bring you up to concurrence with the other threads, you have had a nice meal. Jareek and Kent join you about halfway through.
Kent seems withdrawn and somewhat nervous, but Jareek is rather expansive.
"Ah me lads!" he cries, "Does anyone know a bit of song? Hardly seems like an inn without song. Don't be so long in the face. Hey, where is everyone, anyway? Still at the wall? What the blazes is the problem? Surely a pack of riven can't be a danger to the fort," he says, turning his back to the others and giving a broad wink to Rath.
"Master Nuyok said he would be here in a bit and let us know what is going on. He wanted to visit the infirmary first."
"How's the beer? And could one of you stand me a round or two till me kit gets here?"

I take a sip of my beer and look as rath tastes the stew before doing so myself,

"I don't think he is right in the head. Sounds like more than a bad night."

Tearing apart the bread into tiny peices, I look it over for a while before finaly sticking the smallest peice into my mouth.

OOC: speaking an a low tone that won't carry and masking my mouth against lip readers

"Rath, is there some kind of connection between riven? This is the second time you seem to think you would make a difference or taken some sorta siding with them? I have to admit being completely unknowing of such things but I thought riven were taken and warped in different ways. Just like any of us born to the world, jsut casue you are a human doesn't make you a good man or reasonable, and two beasts of the same type can be one trustworthy and the other a jerk. Do you think that riven are somehow more connected or trustworthy of each other than normal people and beasts?"

[EDITED on Mon December 16, 2002 @6:32 PM (PST)]

"I think you misunderstood me, if I go out there I can talk, find out what this is all about, at least we won't be fighting blind and I can be an inside man against them... If need be. This could all just be one big misunderstanding. You've seen how people get around Riven, they immediatly think we're evil. I'm not saying they are or aren't, I'm just saying it would be better to get both sides of the story, before jumping into the middle of a fight we know nothing about."

"Yeah I did misunderstand you, I guess. But near as I can figure they are holding up behind walls and expecting the riven to attack them. That don't seem like a misunderstanding. If the riven are attacking the fort, then they must be, if not evil, at least stopped. Anyway near as I can see it... Eh!? What"s that? Cas?"

[EDITED on Fri December 20, 2002 @3:27 PM (PST)]

Just as everyone has finished their meal (did anyone stand Jareek a drink?), A shout is heard from outside, "Handle!"
At the same moment, the door is flung open and Cas bursts in, looking somewhat disheveled.

Cas, you can see a room with several tables. Handle, Rath, Jareek and Kent are at one near the corner. An adjacent table seats a haggard-looking adventurer huddled over a mug. An extremely tall and gangly innkeeper looks a bit alarmed at you. Cori has returned from the wall.

Cas gathers herself and becomes a bit more composed. He looks over an Handle. "Would you come here for a moment Handle it is kind of important."

Cas walks up to the innkeeper as stern as she can, "Sorry for the rude interruption. I am the Paladin of Master Nuyok, Cassandra." This is loud enough for everyone in the inn to hear.

Changed cause I put the wrong name down.

[EDITED on Wed December 18, 2002 @5:38 PM (EST)]

This is the look that you get from Kent and Jareek at least. Actually, Kent looks kind of annoyed or scanadlized. There is a look upon the face of the innkeeper that modern folk reserve for people who say, "I'm an alien abductee, three times now". Cori has a look of amusement.

A while back Vagrant entered the Inn he gave out a frustrated sigh and plopped into a remote seat. Over the course of the evening he muttered occasionally to himself but generally kept silent.

With Cas' interruption he seems to startle to life again. He stands up and as he looks around he begins to speak but is quickly interrupted by a gut-wrenching coughing fit. When he can, he continues, "Jeezus, I must have fallen asleep. What goes on? Rath, my friend, have our other companions *cough* *cough* returned?"

Cas totally missed Vagrant before and gets a look of total excitement, "Vagrant... how perfect!" She works her way over and takes a seat next to him. In a quieter voice now she speaks so that her companions can hear, "I'm helping Master Nuyok right now and he sent me on an errand that desperately needs your help. Have you met the stranger who came here recently? We need to find him and talk to him and also search his room. Master Nuyok thinks that this is pivotal to the forts survival."

Vagrant, now knowing for sure he missed a lot during his sleep, returns, "Certainly Cas, if I can be of some help I will certainly do so. I haven't spoken to anyone here at the Inn myself but I did hear some conversation with a strange one before I faded off. Are you talking of the one that doesn't seem right in the head? I was thinking I would ask him some questions myself but my condition got the best of me and I must have dozed off. Last I remember he was at that table--"

Vagrant points where he remembered him last...is he still there?

Vagrant quickly realizes he has a question, "Cas, is Nuyok okay? Why isn't he here?"

Cas nods, "Nuyok is fine. He is at the infirmary. He thinks that we should go and investigate the strangers quarters very carefully. From what I hear he was attacked by the first reaver and has been here since. Now there are five reavers attacking the city. We both suspect that something is here they are after and we place our money that the stranger may have something. So we need to figure out what."

Cas breathes, "My plan is we talk to the inn keeper and get the okay to check his room out. Once we search it, I'll report back to Nuyok what we learn. I don't want to stay here too long. I promised to protect Nuyok and while he may be healing people now, later he may be the only person able to deal with the reavers."

Does Vagrant see the 'afflicted' stranger in the Inn
anywhere?

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From above:
"An adjacent table seats a haggard-looking adventurer huddled over a mug."

Handle and Rath confirm that this is the one you seek. Rath lets you know that his name is Horn, and that he speaks nonsense.

OOC: Go ahead and give your plan to Handle. If he doesn't post by this afternoon, I'll post his actions.

OOC: Horn did it with the lead pipe in the kitchen.

The plan is simple. Handle, Vagrant, and I will approach the tavern keeper. We will explain that we need to search Horn's room because he have the source of the Reaver attacks. Considering his very life is on the line, it is expected he will permit this. If he doesn't permit us to, we will approach Horn.

Honestly, Horn shouldn't even know it is happening though if he was there, he may actually give us clues to its location by trying to protect his precious. This reminds Cas of a story involving some short Hobblies, and a Glum seeking his 'precious'. She will be sure to tell someone this story later.

The innkeeper views your story with a skeptical eye.
"First," he says. "I don't know of any 'Master Nuyok', so that name carries no weight with me. Second, there has never been a fox paladin since the beginning of the world. Third, I had already thought of that; who wouldn't? I had Cori check his room to make sure there was nothing that could hurt my guests. It's my responsibility.
"If you want to go in there, you talk to the person who is footing his bill, Master Ash. You bring me official word from him and I'll let you in there."
He really is being honest. His suspicion is entirely natural, given the way your party is presenting itself: A street kid, an imbecile, a mysterious figure cloaked in stifling rags, and a fox who claims to be a paladin.

OOC: does the rooms have locked doors, You said we arranged for a room so were we given a key? If so then

"Well Casandra, perhaps you can go to the master and get permission. If you need me I'll be upstairs in our room. Rath, vagrant and I have gotten one for the night. Ah I see you are ready as well to go upstairs Rath, "

I go and get Rath and help him along to t he room.

"Come along, we have to go upstairs, carefulnot to trip... one step, two step, thats it..." continuing as e go upstairs and fading. Once out of earshot of others.
"Rath I'm going to see if I canfind this Hom's roomans search it. keep an watchfor anyone coming and give me a warning, perhpas delay them a bit."

OOC: depending on the type of locks here I may be searching the rooms. If they are all locked it may be a problem finding his room, if only one other than ours is locked then I'll attempt to pick it and go inside.
Perception 14-, Secruity Systems (find traps, etc) 14-, Picklock 14-
3d6: 6, 6, 6 (STUN: 18, BODY: 6) Fri December 20, 2002 @3:40 PM (PST)
3d6: 6, 5, 6 (STUN: 17, BODY: 5) Fri December 20, 2002 @3:40 PM (PST)
3d6: 3, 4, 1 (STUN: 8, BODY: 2) Fri December 20, 2002 @3:40 PM (PST)

[EDITED on Fri December 20, 2002 @3:40 PM (PST)]

There is no way Cas is just going to approach Master Ash and ask for permission to search the guys room. Instead, she will go check in on Nuyok and provided he gets a moment, she will fill him in on everything. But before she leaves.

"Handle, if I do not return, I will be with Master Nuyok at the infirmary attending the injured."

really tore you a new one.

After a great deal of searching, avoiding the innkeeper, rath providing distracations and general confusion, you are left with a profound sense of annoyance. Not only can't you tell which room is Horn's (and the locks were child's play), you even searched your own room twice before realizing it. Who designed this place, MC Escher?

After the better part of an hour passes, you come to the conculsion that Horn must be travelling so light that he is probably wearing everything he owns. The innkeeper is very suspicious (after all, you guys asked to search the room, were told 'no', then went upstairs and id it anyway), but you believe you have avoided him, thanks to some skillful acting by Rath.

Just as you are headed downstairs to let Vagrant in on your search results, you hear a terrific CRA-CRASH!!! from somewhere outside. Everyone (except Horn) rushes to the door and looks outside. There is a spreading fire on the gatehouse roof and you can just barely destinguish tiny figures fighting on top.

Vagrant rushes to the doorway to see what is going on. He will double-take between the burning gatehouse and the stairs where he awaits his companions' return. If they do not appear in the stairway in 30 seconds he will head out of the Inn to investigate coughing all the way.

I once more run upstairs hoping to not get lost in the maze of strange corridors and exactly the same looking doors, and get into my armor. Finaly grabbing my largest knives and my buckler I head out to see if I can be of any help.

Orienting on where the actions is, I'll try to make my way to it in a round about way - staying to the shadows, but if any of my fellow travelers seem to be in trouble I'll jump in to help them.

make whatever rolls you need for me.