The Lost Tavern

[Quonundrum]

Aliendron

"A pity ..." He says, responding to the waitress. "This captain must be a very enterprising individual." His large, alien black eyes widen considerably though at Marlaman's explanation of the floating creatures. "Thought Eaters?! They are ...relevant ...to my area of research," he quickly clarifies. We must be on the Ethereal plane, then. I have read about them, but never an actual description." He digs out a leather journal from his backpack and begins to carefully draw an illustration of one. While gazing in wonder at the Thought Eater, he absently asks, "Besides the tavern, are there other areas inside this building."

[gurusql]

Torbath

"So many doors, any all leading to other rooms in the tavern or some place else?"

[ravenn4544]

Alordan looks around in wonder and skepticism. "What's the ethereal plane?"

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Sort of the Plane that ties the other Planes together. Similar but not the same as the Astral Plane. Not my area of expertise but I have heard of it."

[jemmus]

Theo, though he's not handsome and lacks social charm, is not an air head and not unintelligent. He ponders what he's hearing and thinks, "A place linking many portals-- perhaps what's called the ethereal plane. In a tavern, in a place called a "Fun House." Who could conceive of and create such a thing? A mortal being with tremendous powers of wizardry and an ironic sense of humor? Or did the universe itself do it, and this is basic nature of the way things are in the world?"

The young philosopher in need of a haircut, a shave, a bath, and some laundry service (after the swamp submergence travel and house of dung episodes) converts a poem he has heard:
"Tavern, Tavern, serving drink,
In the pools of the pink,
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful....? Funhouse guy?"
No, no good. 'Plan so sly?' Stupid, even worse. 'Mystify.' Not as bad, but not great. Maybe 'Funhouse guy is the most profound, impactful, and says it best after all." He can't come up with a good rhyme for "eye" for now. But then again, the original poet couldn't either. "'Symmetry' doesn't even begin to rhyme with 'eye'", he thinks. "Unless they pronounced it differently back then. But I doubt it." On the bright side, finding the rhyme and the right three syllables will give him something to think about during his time on long, boring watches.

A lot of you guys will know that that was lifted from William Blake's poem "Tyger! Tyger!"

[OGRE MAGE]

The Lost Tavern
The Ethereal Plane

Lerrick walks over to the windows and glass door that leads outside to a patio area. There is currently nobody out there, so she looks out the window for a moment.

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The pink mist appears thick, but every now and again she notices shapes and figures a little more clearly. There isn't much to see initially, but after a few moments pass, she thinks she spots something large well off in the distance.

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Theo spends his time composing as more food and drink are brought to the table. When the waitress sees him sniffing his own armpits, she motions for the stairway off in the distance. "You can find lodging up there. Along with anything else you might want. Companionship too......or maybe a bath?"

Marlaman nods his huge head when Andron guesses their location correctly. He watches as the alien looking priest draws out the creatures they use as makeshift waiters, making sure he draws the heads large enough. "I usually tell any newbies to avoid going outside altogether until they get a better feel for the place. But yes, you might find the fighting pits or the gambling dens downstairs to your liking. Fun can be had upstairs as well, if that is more your style. Or maybe the Ethereal Marketplace would be more to your liking? I've heard folks say they can buy one of almost anything in there, but I find the whole sprawling place terribly confusing, myself."

He looks to Torbath next. "Most of our doors lead to other portals, so again, be careful where you wander in here. You will see some folks coming and going through portals normally, but they already know where the gates they use lead. I myself don't even know where some of our doors lead. And believe it or not, a few of the more tricky ones created here actually fluctuate and change. No telling where you might end up going through one of those."

Listening to other folks talk at their nearby tables proves to be a tricky endeavor as conversations sound mumbled and distorted whenever you try to eavesdrop. Oddly, you can make out conversations easily when you aren't paying attention to specific discussions though. A good listen around the main room finds everyone in the place speaking that same perfect dialect of the common tongue.

Actions?

Aliendron AC10 13/17 (CL4) 1st 0/5 2nd 1/4 (MU3) RM, CL, DM, 1st 0/2 2nd 0/1
Theo AC:5 13/13 (Sword)
Alordan AC3 18/22
Torbath (M3) AC8 18/18 RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 1/1 (top of backpack) Comet AC:7 4/4]
Lerrick: (C5) AC:5 26/28 1st 2/5, 2nd 4/5 3rd 2/2 (Light Stone)
Cresty: (F2) AC:4 17/17
Tlachtga (D4) AC7 31/31 1st 6/6 2nd 4/4 3rd 2/3 (Light Stone)

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Very interesting place. How much is a room, perhaps you have one for multiple people?"

[kruk]

Lerrick

The cleric gasps out loud, temporarily losing her composure. She recovers quickly and moves back to the party. I believe it is a good idea that we NOT venture outside into the pink mist. There is a powerful being out there that I am quite certain would easily kill us all if we approach it. Lerrick has the same look on her face as she did when she witnessed the brutal devouring of a minotaur corpse by the killer trees.


Cresty

The fighter, after hearing from the cleric, boldly moves towards the window to see for himself. What could possibly have been so bad out there?

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"I will trust your assessment Lerrick. In here we stay until we figure out our next step."

[gurusql]

Torbath

Torbath pulls out 8 gp from his pouch and gives it Marlaman. "As I understand it this allow you to get one of those Drow Whiskey's that you like. While you are sipping that perhaps you could tell me about the doors that you do know where they lead." Then Torbath pulls out another 8 gp and "Perhaps for a chaser when we are done."

16 gp marked off

[Quonundrum]

Aliendron

When Lerrick returns to the table, Andron doesn't look up as he replies, his attention still focused on the drawing of a Thought Eater. "Indeed. We are poorly equipped to handle wandering in the Ether. It is somewhat analogous to an ocean that many different kinds of powerful entities use to traverse the planes. What I have yet to ascertain is why Wendell created that portal. I suspect, as it was on the Smoke world, it should become evident as we explore. I think we should heed Mr. Marlaman's advice and start inside the tavern. The gambling dens downstairs sound promising. Players typically exchange banter and gossip while they bet."

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Yes, mingling and seeing what happens seems our best option at the moment."

[ravenn4544]

Alordan rattles off what he now knows aloud, "No going outside? Check. No idea of what we are trying to find out here? Check." After a moment or two of mumbling to himself he offers, "Listen, before we go all wandering off, I think we should at least pair up in case we get into trouble..."

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"A wise thought Alordan. Perhaps a spellcaster with a non-caster would be best?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Does Theo want to do anything?

[Quonundrum]

Aliendron

Tlachtga

"A wise thought Alordan. Perhaps a spellcaster with a non-caster would be best?"

"There are seven of us, but it's a reasonable plan. As I see it, inside we have the rooms upstairs, plus the fighting pits and gambling dens downstairs. We can regroup at the bar. I suggested the gambling dens, so I am willing to go there. Mr. Alordan, would you care to join me?"

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Yes, one group will have 3. I can take the rooms to start with. Perhaps Theo with me. I suspect my capabilities will be limited in the tavern but hopefully spell casting will not be needed."

[kruk]

Lerrick

With a look of disappoint on the cleric's face That means I have to go in a group with him. She points to Cresty, then sighs


Cresty

The fighter still stands by the window looking out at the mist, oblivious to what is going on with the party discussion

[Rex]

Tlachtga

To Lerrick, "You can certainly join me and Theo if you want. One group will have an extra caster either way."

[jemmus]

Theo
Where to then, friend Tlatchga?