(15) The One-Eyed Cat (Tavern)

[Karaunios]

Cool

[Darithe]

Magdal

Magdal eats the meal and drinks quietly. The loss of Dredd was still heavy on her mind. She hoped he had made it out and was homeward bound. Still she greeted the two elven men with a warm smile. Newcomers were always welcome, full of adventurous spirit and eagerness. She hoped their addition to the ranks would turn the tide of evil she had found outside the keep.

[Jernau35]

Gyb

"There is another job", volunteers Gyb. "In two days. Some folk were taken by gnolls. Gyb included. A promise was made, for freedom".

"The gnolls want their home back. In the caves. If the cave is taken back, the gnolls go back there. No more gnolls on the road, taking travellers."

"Also, no angry gnolls looking for promise breakers".

[Edeldhur]

Daliedhur

"Interesting" - the elf pondered Gyb's words - "And what has driven these Gnolls out of their home?"

[Scott308]

Crobeus - Human Paladin

"Hmm. Are these bandits perhaps the ones who forced the gnolls out? Did they say which of the caves were theirs? Would they be willing to move up the date to tomorrow morning if indeed our bandit problem is also their problem?"

[ateno]

Keya continues to wait for the Lady to show up. He drinks another cup from his pitcher.

He is feeling somewhat better after the interchange he witnessed on the way here.

Keya

[Jernau35]

Gyb

"No, not bandits", Gyb answers. "Dead people. The gnolls said 'Unrelenting Dead' was the problem."

"Bugs, Haldric, Rida, Lloyn, Keya and Gyb promised to deal with this to win freedom from the gnolls"

[OGRE MAGE]

As the group chats freely among themselves, making introductions and discussing the possibility of future expeditions, Wilf stands there with his palms held upwards towards the ceiling. "Is anyone ever going to answer me? I have feelings too, you know."

Daliedhur and Ithrandir, the newcomers to the Keep, speak of their similarities and all the benefits they could bring to an adventuring group. Both seem well accepted by the rest of the people inside the tavern. The black cat at Daliedhur's feet seems slightly nervous around all these strangers, or perhaps it's the worrisome name of this establishment keeping the animal on edge.

Gyb regales everyone with a story about how he and some friends recently promised a pack of displaced Gnolls they met out in the wilderness, mentioning they would help them fight to get their ancestral cave home back from a horde of undead monsters.


Eventually, Lady LeNore enters the tavern with another woman who looks a lot like her, both of them dressed in rather common clothing. She smiles at the group and introduces the person at her side.

"Hello again heroes! This is my sister Jocelyn, who lives here at the Keep. Don't mind her odor, she stinks like that because she's the towns tanner."

Wilf smiles and nods at his odiferous neighbor before looking sideways at Lady LeNore, evaluating her appearance before returning to the bar for more drinks.

"I hope everyone is hungry!" Lady LeNore seems fine with the size of the group invited to dine together, but Jocelyn has a very concerned expression on her otherwise soft features.

Actions?

[ateno]

"Jocelyn, come and sit next to me, I'm familiar with the tannery smell. I have a bit of ale I can give you."


Keya Redd

[Karaunios]

Ithrandir

Since he’s also been invited by Lady Lenore, he joins the banquet. He glances at the bartender and shrugs, regretting that he can’t satisfy his curiosity.

[Edeldhur]

Daliedhur

As Lady LeNore approached, Daliedhur’s reaction was swift and instinctive. He rose immediately to his feet, back snapping into a straight line, hands clasped tightly behind him. The motion felt too formal, too rehearsed for the casual presence she exuded, but he couldn’t shake the impulse toward military decorum. Whoever she was, she seemed familiar to the others, and that was reason enough to behave appropriately, almost like a reflex.

He gave a curt, reserved nod, his eyes lingering just past her shoulder rather than directly meeting her gaze, unsure how to navigate this moment without knowing her identity. “Greetings, my lady,” he managed, his voice low and almost overly polite, each word clipped as though he were delivering a formal report.

The unexpected invitation to dinner caught him off-guard again, and his brow creased slightly as he processed it. "Dinner?" he repeated, a touch unsure. He cleared his throat, glancing quickly to the others for some hint on how to respond to such a casual gesture. "That is… most gracious of you, my lady," he managed, voice strained but earnest, before adding with stiff politeness, "If my company is indeed welcome… I accept."

[gurusql]

Renna

Renna accepts, but watches for how the two hosts act hoping that she is wrong and all is well.

[Scott308]

Crobeus - Human Paladin

Standing, the paladin greets the newcomers. "I am pleased to meet you, Jocelyn; my name is Crobeus. Is everything ok? You look...uneasy."

[Darithe]

Magdal

Magdal rises and greets Jocelyn, ignoring the smell. She had smelled far worse amongst her ma's customers, "Glad to see you could join us."

[Jernau35]

Gyb

Gyb is no stranger to sleeping in fields and ditches. There have been plenty of times he's smelled as bad as Jocelyn. He barely notices it and certainly doesn't care. "Hello" he smiles and concentrates on waiting for the food to arrive.

[shaidar]

Stobart stands and smiles as the lady's approach the table

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Jocelyn."

[OGRE MAGE]

The Free Meal

Jocelyn seems perturbed initially by all the attention paid to her odor, but she eventually warms to the kindness from these strangers.

Her sister appears to thoroughly enjoy the attention paid to her by the newcomers, or anyone else. She smiles wide as she welcomes Daliedhur and any others in the room to dine with her.

As the meal progresses, Wilf and Jess serve the food and drinks with the utmost attention to professionalism, despite the group ignoring the barkeep's inquiry earlier. Though several of the group watch Lady LeNore and her sister eat and talk carefully, no malicious intent is witnessed. One obvious fact can be discerned from Crobeus or anyone else who was taught proper table manners growing up, and that is the fact that Lady LeNore doesn't actually speak or eat like a member of high society. In fact, neither of the sisters shows much in the way of manners as the dinner progresses.

While the nervous looking Jocelyn sits next to Keya during the meal, she eventually leans in closer to whisper him a question. "You aren't.......ummm.......overly wealthy by any chance, are you?"

Lady LeNore talks while she chews on a hunk of delicious freshly baked sour bread. "So gang, what are you thinking now? Plan on heading back to those caves again at some point? Or maybe you have other plans for adventure?"

Actions?

[GreyWolfVT]

Pimlan unsure of what his plans are answers Lady LeNore "That is a good question I am unsure what i plan to do."

[ateno]

The Free Meal

While the nervous looking Jocelyn sits next to Keya during the meal, she eventually leans in closer to whisper him a question. "You aren't.......ummm.......overly wealthy by any chance, are you?"

Whispering conspiratorially; "No not yet, but there are some things that are planned that might make us right. At least that is why I am here. So she's your sister, how long since you have seen here and was she really granted a Ladyship at Greyhawk?""

Lady LeNore talks while she chews on a hunk of delicious freshly baked sour bread. "So gang, what are you thinking now? Plan on heading back to those caves again at some point? Or maybe you have other plans for adventure?"

Quiet enough for the table to hear.

"You just missed staying there forever, why the interest?"

Keya Redd

[Scott308]

Crobeus - Human Paladin

Catching Wilf's eye, the paladin wants the taverner to know he is not being ignored as he begins to chat up the newcomer. "So, Jocelyn, are you not a Lady like your sister, or did she marry into her Ladyship?

Lady LeNore talks while she chews on a hunk of delicious freshly baked sour bread. "So gang, what are you thinking now? Plan on heading back to those caves again at some point? Or maybe you have other plans for adventure?"

"I would turn that question back to you, my Lady. Now that you are no longer a captive of the bandits, I should expect you'd be anxious to get back home, so your friends and family-" he looks at Jocelyn before continuing. "Well, present company excluded, of course. So they know you are safe. Will you be heading back soon, and might you need an escort?"