Ch 1. The Inn of the Unseen Servant

[Stonjuz]

The tell-tale signs of the 'invisible workers' leave no doubt that the request for salted herring is not going as planned. Jacob's gaze drifts about to see his crate, addressed to the Inn, in care of himself, on top of a table. These last few minutes are his first in the city. The crate pre-shipped to this, his destination, has not been opened. The 'invisble workers' have not seen ANY herring.....yet. And the monkeys cannot smell.

Thor'ar the dwarf had a 1/2 day headstart on the bard and thief (although by no effort of his own).
The doors upstairs may or may not contain the other characters too.

[Shonuff]

>BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP.<

Skuzz scratches his crotch then ties his belt a bit tighter as he stumbles out of his room. He shuts the door and adjusts his hooded cowl. The half-orc rotates his shoulder , loosening the tight muscles in an old injury, as he walks down the short hall to the stairs. The tan-hued half-orc scowls to himself at the weather outside hearing the rain beat a dulcid tone across the roof. His heavy footfalls echo off the wooden steps as he comes downstairs into the main room of the Inn. Skuzz sighs, knowing soon he'll have to go out and actively look for work..something that pays. His gloved hands touch a set of throwing darts on one of the two bandolier straps across his chest.he adjusts the deep green hooded cowl on his head and he moves into the room.

"Well, lets see what we can find to do down here." Skuzz sighs to himself, looking for a seat open and in full view of the rest of the inn's main room and door.

[Stonjuz]

For an instant, Jacob and Nayman both tangle with the idea that this could be the Innkeeper.
Skuzz walks by the breads, takes one and speaks into one of the uncovered monkey ears.
"Special."
A bowl fills from the ladle's saucey pour and is lifted to the bar. On the opposite side of the carved statue, the latest, and largest, to join the main-room inserts 5 pieces into the monkey's open mouth, essentially dropping them down the wooden windpipe.


That's four !!!!

[JobaTett]

Jacob plays some upbeat music, tapping his foot to the music, but too afraid to sing. After a few moments of being lost in song, his cheerful song finishes. "Any requests?" he asks hopefully, holding out his cap in hopes that someone will pay him. He glares at the Unseen Servants. How do they run this place?! he thinks to himself.

[Stonjuz]

A door opens in the back of the room, exposing, momentarily, a storage facility. A rolled up canvas can be seen drifting towards and out the front door. Nayman, closest to the entryway can see the canvas is raised as hooks are latched and the canvas falls, unrolling, exposing the painted message. Estate Sale. Today only. 3PM. Adventuring gear, Weapons, Artifacts. Soon, another duplicate canvas is raised as backdrop for the stage revealing the same duplicate message. This canvas is signed, in smaller font. A. Cluemiester.

[Vargr1105]

Nayman ignores the canvas. He is so hungry he can almost feel the linings of his stomach eating themselves. He looks around the inn for some suitably-looking naive mark which he can use his natural glibness on. He will come up with a sob story about having lost his money bag to a cutpurse shortly after arriving at Greyhawk City, poor little province boy that he is, etc.

[Stonjuz]

A pair of halflings enter the bar. They head straight to the breads.
As the small hooded cloak of the taller of the two falls away a bit , the half-orc notices that they could be human children.
One tries to block the view between the bread and the monkey statue.
Upon sight of Skuzz seated and watching them, the tallest of the pair, definitely a human boy, with a frightened look, taps the other on the back and, as if practiced a hundred times, they scamper back out the door.

[Shonuff]

Skuzz puts his spoon down, standing up and stretching his back. the half orc walks to the table of bread and rips a long loaf in half. he walks to the door and whistles to the kids, tossing half the loaf onto the porch, once he sees them turn back. Skuzz walks back inside and sits down, sopping up the remainder of the soup with the bread, filling his gut.

He looks over to the bard, asking for requests and shrugs, turning to focus on the others in the taproom.

Skuzz ponders for a bit before murmuring to himself (but not really caring if others hear):
"Hmm, seems like today should be full of adventure...or death."

He looks to the floating scroll and reads it with little trouble. Skuzz makes mental note to himself of the address and takes a quick look to the window to check the daylight (time). The half orc adjusts his one bandolier of throwing darts as he mentally checks inventory of his gear.

[NJWilliam]

Just before leaving the caravan, Branc stopped by one of the older traders with whom he had spent much time discussing obscure matters over the weeks, to bid him goodbye,"I'll have more to speak of when next we meet!" He warned his recent companion with a parting embrace.

Branc had parted ways with the trade caravan that he had accompanied East a bit outside the City of Greyhawk.
During the weeks of his journey with the caravan, he had heard much about the caravan's Easternmost planned stop, and it was easy to turn conversations toward it and learn what the traders and guards knew of the general layout of the city.

While no stranger to travel, it was good to be off the wagons and back on his own feet again.

Suspicious of most cities from his nomadic youth, he keeps an extra eye on his belt and coin. But looking forward to what could be learned in this new land, Branc beats the travel dust from his cloak, and sets off at a comfortable pace for the establishment he often heard the caravan men mention, "The Inn of the Unseen Servant." Sounds as likely a place as any to begin my search, he thought to himself, and at the very least a place to get some hot food and a cool drink.

[Stonjuz]

Darius:
As he makes his way thru the outer villages you are shown slammed doors and shutters, vegetable tosses, hard stares, and verbal abuse. A cleric of Pelor, in full church regalia, approaches you just outside the southern gate. An preteen human boy holds a finely made umbrella over the priest's cap covered head. Neither show fear but do seem a bit apprehensive. "You must be the new acolyte Darius. I am Angus Geaser, your ...ahem, liason to the church."
The two of you exchange Pelor praises and he continues...
"We, I mean I'm, afraid I was unable to secure your entrance to the city temple as your last monsignor has requested. Sorry for the wet welcome. It's been raining here for days. As for the others hostilities, Im sure you understand that most humans of Iuz, recognizable by your slightly unique facial features, are the sworn enemy of Greyhawk, other arrangements had to be made for your stay while in the Great City. Room and board has been procured at a fine establishment just inside the gate."
As the two enter the gate, spittle from one of the guards hits your shoulder.
"Here it is..., oh, watch your footing there,... the mud.
Yes. Here it is...The Inn of the Unseen Servant."

[Computer +1]

Darius looks up at the Inn and then turns and bows to Angus. Thank you brother, I understand. This place will be more than fine for me. I am not sure how long I will be staying anyway and I don't wish to be any trouble at the city temple. Pelor's blessing on you both.

He turns and enters the Inn, tired from his travels.

[Shonuff]

Skuzz turns his head slightly under the hood, spotting the door opening. The sound of the rain beating without end outside soothed his nerves a bit. The huge half-orc sniffed deeply and tried to see if any scents came off the new person coming into the Inn. his left hand rests calmly on his bandolier strap across his chest, (giving him the 'Napoleon look') while his other hand held onto his drink.

((If the man looks to Skuzz he will nod once in greeting and stop looking directly at the man.))

[Stonjuz]

Angus enters after Darius. The boy remains outside, under the canopy.
As Darius takes in the sights, Angus takes the clearest outer path to the monkeys.
"Presidential Package", he says, in a low voice, but loud enough to register. He then opens a small pouch and begins placing the many silver in for payment. He turns, nods slightly to the dwarf nearby, and returns to Darius. "The suite all the way upstairs is yours for the week. The church should make their decision on your ...placement, by then. Take this for meals, baths and emergencies. Pelor's power be praised Dari...., Brother Maynard. I shall be back to check on you on the 'morrow, for services."

That's five.!!!
I'll get Branc into the tavern by tonight.

[Computer +1]

Darius thanks Angus again and waits for him to leave before surveying the room. He sees the large half-orc looking over and respond to his nod with a nod of his own. He then looks to move to a empty table to order some food.

[Stonjuz]

Branc jumps from the wagon, as it stops for the gate.
The guards, having just witnessed a human from the land of Iuz enter, begin questioning the newcomers a touch more thorough.
"Name? Land of origin? Business in Greyhawk? "
The words cannot come out of his mouth fast enough as the banner of the Inn begs him to enter.

[NJWilliam]

Branc politely nods to the guards. "Branc Temugen, a traveller at times of Ket, and I'm here off this caravan for meal and a drink at yonder tavern," he says, pointing to the Inn of the Unseen Servant, which he walks directly for, hoping his answers and demeanor satisfied the guards.

[Stonjuz]

Branc watches as the monsignor steps from beneath the canopy and suddenly the rain lightens a fraction.
He motions for the boy to keep up and the pair head north up the main road.
"My, you have been on the road a long time. Ket huh? Guess that aint as bad as the last group that came thru. Bloodthirsty Iuz I tell ya.
You arent planning on going to the Servant too are you? Thats where they got the lot holed up.
The Iuzian AND the Pomarj prisoner from Sterich are BOTH in there. No way you'll catch me going inside, even if there is an auction today."
He shakes his head to the negative and looks back at the road to the south for any more newcomers.
Another guard says "I sure dont know what to think of it anymore. Certainly hope Pelor and the Mayor know what they are doing."
A third guard, the same one responsible to allow Nayman to enter unnoticed, responds..."Greyhawks walls have been soften by diplomacy if you ask me. ", as he watches the mage cross the courtyard and disappear into the Inn.

Six. Now that wasnt so hard was it? Two and a half weeks. Hope everybody is still awake.
Forcing you all into a room to roleplay, at least for now. That was the original idea.
Could use backgrounds for some, post them in character sheets.if you like

[Epichicken]

Thor'ar eyes the ad for the auction, and disregards it with a grunt, "hrumph!" no weapon could possible replace his one and only great Bardiche. His gaze now shifts to the liquor cabinet again, and it seems to whisper into his ear, stop. With another grunt Thor'ar walks up to the counter and orders his meal. "let me get that there gravy that yo'ben cooking all night, the odor's been teasing me for too long!" with a small grin Thor'ar drops 5 copper coins into the lumber mouth of the monkey. While waiting for his food, Thor'ar mentions to the Half-orc, this food any good?
OOC edited for grammar

[JobaTett]

Jacob looks to the newcomers and is delighted to see new faces "A coin for a song perhaps?" If no one pays him, he proceeds to the bar and orders a drink.

[Stonjuz]

Branc enters the Inn and hears a dwarf call for food and then sees a bowl float about towards the end of the bar. A human equipped with a lute begins speaking in common Greyhawk, with a similar touch of Baklunish accent as the dwarf, to his left. As Branc considers the request for song, he sees a well armed halforc finishing a meal. Another human standing off away from the others, with his arms about his waist, is beginning to sway from the driest of mouth and belly. A third human, bald, broad and also adorned with a lute, is seated at a smaller table near the bar, studying the menu. Make a knowledge roll to recognize the Iuz facial features.

Darius reads the menu and watches how orders are placed. He realizes that he must be more specific in his request for food. He listened and watched as the dwarf had ordered gravy, and it was brought over. It seems the Inn is possessed by spirits that are obeying verbal commands, but are unable to read minds. Two of the other humans here are engaged in greeting, while a third reaches and leans upon the raised countertop, off to your left, upon the utterance of your order. "Gravy" As the goat gravy is poured you add, "with bread....and milk". You place the 5 copper, as stated on the menu, in payment.
Darius, Skuzz and Thorar deduct 5 copper from wealth.

Nayman leans a little on the countertop, wondering if these people are to let a proud begger die of hunger. Make a Fitness check to avoid hunger penalies to Constitution.