(15) The One-Eyed Cat (Tavern)

[Monsieur Rose]

Bugs

"Oh. OOH! Wow, ok. Thanks, I see why people were touchy." Bugs nods a few times and then speaks again. "Wait. Everyone? Even Devereau? Man, that guy was great. Good shot too."

"Is there a memorial around somewhere? I'd like to pay my respects."

In case you missed this.

Bugs finishes his food and thanks Jess for the information. He plans to go find a room in the inn after finishing conversations.

"Welp. I"m going to get a nice room. Anyone is welcome to sleep in relative privacy there with me if you want. I don't even take up the whole bed."

[OGRE MAGE]

I did miss this one. SORRY!

Jess thinks for a moment.

"I think there's an old memorial to the soldiers and Lord, probably hung up in the old castle fortress somewhere. I dont go in there much."

"Devereau didn't go to war with the others. In fact, because of his leg, he was hand picked by Lord Wledig to stay here and run the operations at the Keep. And he's done so well, he's still doing it."

[Monsieur Rose]

Bugs

His eyes pop out at the news. "That's GREAT! Wow. I mean, not the memorial, but Dev. Man, he's in charge now? And doing well! I wouldn't have left if I knew that! Leave it to my Da to bury the lede, wow."

"I'll have to go see him. And tease him about not finding me when Sabine put my name down."

"Thanks Jess! You have made my year. If you were a gnome, I could kiss you."

He repeats his offer of lodging to the group and hands Jess a gold piece for the food and chat.

[hedgeknight]

Bugs repeats his offer of lodging to the group and hands Jess a gold piece for the food and chat.

Dredd
"I'll bunk with ya. Snoring or not, makes no difference. A place on the floor is fine with me. After the trek from Longspear, I'm not long for the waking world."

Dredd gets an ale "to go" and then follows Bugs to the lodging.

[sastaz]

At some point in the night, Jess approaches Sylla again.

"Hi. It's me again. Since it seems you are somewhat in charge, I just wanted to remind you that I do a little freelance work on the side myself. Not in here, but just keep me in mind if you ever need someone." She rolls a coin between her fingers and smiles.

Sylla raises an eyebrow at the young woman's display of legerdemain.

"You know what, we might just do. At missions like this one, I find there's always a need for people with the right talent of....discretion. There's no use in slaying every single goblin in sight just to achieve our objectives, no matter what some of the men in the group seem to think."

She looks Jess deep into her eyes, to try her best to judge if the young woman is serious.

"We leave at dawn tomorrow, can you manage that? Either you tag along with me and be of assistance whenever your skills might be needed, for half a share. Or, you join on the same conditions like everyone else, for a full share - but then I expect you to plan ahead and take the same risks as anyone else in the group. It's up to you. What do you say?"

She produces a stiff upper lip smile - with just a hint of warmth in it. "I know that I would love another woman on the team."

[OGRE MAGE]

Jess seems surprised by the answer.

"Oh! Well, I can't go tomorrow. I mean, I have duties here, at the Keep. Who will help out if things get busy here?"

She looks around at the place. "No, I better not sneak off with you. I want to, but I better not."

"Do you know when you're going to return? Maybe I can ask Wilf, and he will let me go along with you next time? After a little more planning. Mouse isn't the only one who knows something about locks around here, you know."

[sastaz]

Sylla

"Of course, no problem sister. I will find you when we get back. Alas, I do not know when that is, but I shall assume just a couple of days. These are uncivilized and dangerous lands, and we need to take our time exploring them. Maybe Wilf will change his mind when he sees all the bags of treasure we bring back, right?" she smiles.

"Farewell for now, and wish me luck."

"Restless and patient at the same time that one, intriguing." she whispers to herself as she walks off.

[Scott308]

Crobeus - Human Paladin

After taking a hot bath, Crobeus finds his way to the tavern for something to eat and drink. If anyone mentions the expeditions in the morning, he prefers going to the single cave. Right now, an area with multiple caves to explore, filled with potentially multiple groups of monsters, is more than he is willing to take on so soon after the disaster that was this afternoon's adventure.

He spends 3 gp for the Starving, a pitcher of ale, a room, and a tip.

[GreyWolfVT]

Pimlan waits for the paladin as he is already good on drink and finishes whatever is left of his load of bread. "Others are headin out soon to the caves. We best not take too long." he says to the paladin.

[Jernau35]

Gyb

Gyb walks up the bar, his feet aching from a day spent in his new shoes. He nods at Wilf then proceeds to dump half a dozen fistfuls if copper coins onto the bar. "Hello Mr Wilf. Gyb would like some stew for dinner and some for breakfast. Several ales to nurse through the evening. And a place to sleep when he falls. Today has been long and difficult. And Gyb's feet hurt. How are your feet?"

-70cp deducted

[OGRE MAGE]

The human proprietor Wilf looks down his nose at the vagabond monk, shaking his head as soon as he sees the counterfeit kobold coins.

“What’s this then? You trying to pull a fast on me here or what?”

[ravenn4544]

Haldric too looks to find a room, or share one if needed, and rest and make peace with his benefactor. He'll rest, first, and see what the others are planning before making the time to make his way to the chapel in the keep.

[Jernau35]

Ah! They're still painted gold aren't they?

Gyb

Gyb is confused for a moment then sees the obvious problem and blushes. "Oh no. Sorry. Yes, they are copper." He scratches one with his nail. "The kobolds are forging them. Gyb grabbed a handful in the dark."

He takes five silver pieces from his pouch. "Please may Gyb have some stew, a sleeping place and some ale? Then he smiles sheepishly. "Do you have a scrub brush? The more Gyb can clean, the more ale Gyb can buy." Gyb begins to scoop the "gold" coins back into his bag. "Gyb will scrub outside of course!"

[OGRE MAGE]

Ah! They're still painted gold aren't they?

Gyb

Gyb is confused for a moment then sees the obvious problem and blushes. "Oh no. Sorry. Yes, they are copper." He scratches one with his nail. "The kobolds are forging them. Gyb grabbed a handful in the dark."

He takes five silver pieces from his pouch. "Please may Gyb have some stew, a sleeping place and some ale? Then he smiles sheepishly. "Do you have a scrub brush? The more Gyb can clean, the more ale Gyb can buy." Gyb begins to scoop the "gold" coins back into his bag. "Gyb will scrub outside of course!"

Wilf is not so easily satisfied.

"HEY! That's not right! Trying to fool a hard working businessman and blaming kobolds when you get caught? We arent having any of this in my place!"

Clearly not joking around, Wilf shouts up the stairs.

"JESS! Get down here! I need you to go fetch the authorities. NOW!"

[Jernau35]

Gyb

Gyb steps back in alarm and raises his hands. "It's a mistake! Gyb grabbed them and forgot to clean them!"

"Mr Wilf, only a very stupid criminal would try to pay seventy bad coins at once. In a pile! On the bar! In front of you! Look how bad they all are!"

"A cheater would pay with one at a time. To be safe. Not all. Why would Gyb pay seventy gold for a bowl of stew and some ale? With that much coin Gyb would rent a room, not sleep on the floor!"

Gyb lowers his hands. "Mr Wilf, Gyb left your tavern this morning, went the caves and just came back. He's had no time to paint paint bad coins and passed you none last night. It was an honest mistake sir".

On the upside, if Gyb is arrested at least he won't have to worry about somewhere to sleep tonight

[OGRE MAGE]

Wilf looks at the monk with suspicion, but hears him out anyway.

"I have seen patrons trying to pass off painted coins like these before. Exactly like these, actually. You say you took them off kobolds? Do you have anyone who could verify that? Because if you don't, we are going to have a little problem here."

[Jernau35]

Gyb

"All the others went to the inn. Maybe send Jess there to find a witness? Gyb doesn't want to go in case you think he's running away".

A thought strikes Gyb after a moment. "At the gate. Sabine saw Gyb go in and out with all the others!"

[OGRE MAGE]

The young Jess eventually makes her way down the stairs from the rooms above the tavern.

Jess.jpeg (122.39 KiB) Viewed 1509 times

Wilf calls her over before addressing Gyb.

Wilf.jpeg (81.06 KiB) Viewed 1509 times

"So what if Sabine saw you come and go. I dont suspect you are painting copper coins gold right here inside the Keep. You must be doing it outside somewhere?"

[Hotgoblin]

Loyn-Dwarf Fighter

He walks in whistling and sees the barkeeps and Gyb at the bar…“Good day, to you, we’re back sooner from the caves than expected! At least we all made it back without much ado! I’ll get an ale and some stew, all that adventuring has made me hungry! He sees the pile of coin on the bar. “Gyb you showing them what we found in the Kobold cave? Those little bastards have way too much time on their hands, that is for sure!”

[Jernau35]

Gyb

Gyb exhales heavily as Loyn confirms his alibi. "Thank you Loyn! You see Mr Wilf, Gyb is not a criminal. Just a mistake".

"Err...may Gyb still have scrub brush please?"