Chapter 1: The Road to Dagger Falls

[Breila]

"Do I look like I need that much protection?" Eringard asks, Elianna's question having brought her out of a reverie. She had been observing the city closely ever since it came into view, has there been any obvious change since she left it?
"I admit I would rather go into town and see how my parents are doing." However, she gets off her horse and leads it into the stables.

[Jenara]

"No, of course not. I was merely suggesting we should all stay together." She responds quickly, not turning.

[HorizonsDream]

Raina dismounts from her horse, and follows the others to the stables. "Gimak, you think you'll let me borrow some coin?" she asks softly.

[JadedDM]

"Again?" Gimak asks. With a sigh, he fishes five gold coins from his pocket and gives them to the thief. He then searches about for a stablehand to take the animals so they can move on to the inn.

[NoTrammeling]

Maria nods dutifully at Elianna's request, trying to keep a dour business-like face but she can't contain the grin that sneaks out at being given responsibility. "I can take care of them, I'm practically an adult!" She takes Fleet's reins, clearly familiar with horses.

A stablehand comes out to greet the party. He's got the look of a native dalesman about him, brown-copper hair and a dour mistrusting manner. "Y'all c'n go inside." He says curtly as a young man who looks to be his son rushes up to help.

Stepping into the Teshford Arms, the party immediately causes the common room to go quiet. Most of the space is filled with high circular tables, able to fit six comfortably, and many of these tables are filled with tough mean-looking men in leather or chain armor with sword belts hung on the backs of their chairs. They size the party up, and cast some less-than-polite looks at the ladies, but get back to their chatter as a short round woman sweeps out from behind the bar on their right to greet them.

She's got coarse black and gray hair pulled up into a bun and a huge, clean white apron over a dull gray dress. "Hello travelers!" Her tone is all oily complacencey, "come on in from the road now, have a seat, have a drink, would you like room? Elbin! Take their packs for them!" A young boy with the Daggerdale look comes running through the kitchen door at the back of the bar.

[JadedDM]

Gimak looks around the room with cold calculation. He wondered how difficult the locals might prove to be in their investigation. When the woman approaches, he smiles and nods. "Aye, I'll take a room," he says. "How much for a night?"

[Breila]

Eringard smiles at the woman. "No room for, me, of course, I'll sleep at home" she says. "But I would like a refreshment. Do you have any of your elderflower wine left?" Her tone is light and airy. If the party knew her better, they'd notice it's somehow forced, as if to overcome dislike.

[Jenara]

"Yes a room would be useful, Maria would you like to share?" Elianna asks as she surveys the common room, "Elderflower Wine sounds good, and what food do you have this evening? And I will hold my pack, thank you." She adds pulling her pack closer to her body.

"Shall we find a table?" She asks the group giving the men a wary glance.

[HorizonsDream]

Raina smiles sweetly to Gimak. "Thanks," she says once she is given the money, which she quickly pockets before she enters the inn with the rest of the group. "Not a very friendly bunch," she whispers to Gimak. "Sure, a room would be nice," she speaks up to the innkeeper.

[NoTrammeling]

The innkeep ushers the party to the bar inside away from any of the men, who on further inspection seem to be largely mongrels from all over the world mixed with a solid core of Zhentarim. One man gets up from his table without a word, buckles his sword belt and makes for the door. Maria zips along next to Elianna, "I can stay on my own, I'm not afraid of this place."

"I'm called Olavia, good sirs and madams," says the woman, producing seven keys from a lockbox behind the bar, "that will be two pieces of gold for a night each, and a further coin for daily meals, the finest room and board in all of Daggerdale I assure you!" Her claims may at one point have been true, but the once-fine furnishings are stained, worn, and in poor repair. The lone fire in one of the corner hearths is weak and smokey most obviously from an uncleaned flue. The evening stew that some of the fighting men are consuming looks thin, and smells none too good.

To Eringard she adds, "My dear we have a fine vintage of elderflower, a steal at one gold to the flagon."

[JadedDM]

Gimak has a seat and scratches his beard a bit. His eyebrows raise at the prices. "Olavia...those are some rather steep prices, if you don't mind me saying," he observes. He wonders to himself if there may be a cheaper place to stay for their duration here in Dagger Falls.

[Stik]

"I shall return," Traern says, quietly.

Much in the same way that anyone who runs from lawmen must be guilty of something, and therefore must be caught and questioned, a man suddenly leaving when newcomers enter the taproom is likely to be trouble brewing. Best to see what sort.

Traern will step outside to see if he can follow the man discreetly, while keeping watch on his surroundings. He's seen scouts ambushed before.

[Jenara]

"Indeed they are. But this is the best establishment in Town, thus..." Elianna says as she turns to see the Elf leave, "I will not tell you what to do, but stay safe."

"Maria, my suggestion was not based on fear, rather economy." She adds flatly, turning back to the group, "Two nights, please. Shall we split a flagon Eringad?"

[HorizonsDream]

"Yeah, those prices are a bit much," Raina nods her head in agreement considering that what she was given from Gimak wouldn't even last her awhile at that rate.

[Breila]

"Yes, we should share a flagon" Eringard says, sounding a little distracted.

(To her knowledge, have prices alsways been that steep?)