[Game Thread] The True Wilds

[AlexN]

You approach the front of the wide open gate. You all notice that there is a huge chunk of rock in the ceiling that is glowing, it looks just like a moon in the night sky, there are smaller chunks of whatever mineral that is glowing resembling a starry night sky, those who have lived on the surface feel more at home. Other than the Moon, one can not see the ceiling. As a result of the "Moon" being so bright, everyone has their darkvision extended twofold, it is still too dark for those without darkvision, but those with darkvision notice that it is not as deep of a darkness compared to lightless chambers. There are many people of many different races being looked upon and scrutinized. You see two groups of 10 guards each. Surprisingly they are all male Drow instead of the usual brutes of other races that you see as guards. They are all dressed in the finest armors. One is at the mouth of the gate and the other group is 50 feet ahead stopping groups, demanding bribes. You see a lone Dwarf get smart with a guard, he is quickly pinned down and becomes a head shorter, silly Dwarf, he lost his head in the conversation and because of that he lost his head, you all amusingly say to yourselves.

At first you see the male guard captain yell at you all without thinking, Alright you all pay the toll and get the hell in this is quick one-two people You are surprised at how he addresses a woman but you notice that some of the other female drow are taking the same treatment from those arrogant male guards. Although these guards are surely backed by very powerful females it still sickens you that they are allowed to treat a (perceived) superior, damn urban areas and their progressive tastes!

Although the guards responds rudely to you all intially he only really notices what is in the group when he looks upon you all when he is right in front of you and he sees a walking dragon skeleton. ****, looks like this group is of more import than expected. I am certainly of lesser status than this prideful wench

He smiles a yellowed-tooth smile. Apologies mistress, I did not notice there was a blessed female in the group, no toll for you or your slaves. I welcome you into the gates, beyond is the Ghetto of Foriegners, and then the rest of the city. The city is divided into 8 ghettos each governed by a house. Enjoy your stay He says while bowing with arms open, a sign of vulnurable submission. You all press onward, to the real wilds.

[Acathala]

She acknowledges the guard with a brief nod, and then rides in on her dragon, motioning the others to follow her. Whilst it does sicken her to see how the females are treated at the gate, she knows she cannot afford to teach these guards a lesson. Unlike last time, this is not a moldy old keep with drunkards guarding it. These are well-trained and disicplined forces of a large drow city, and if she tried what she did there here, then things of a sharp and metallic nature would soon penetrate her. Even if some how they manage to defeat the guards, the wrath of the houses that they belonged to would swiftly descend upon her.
Once they have entered the city, Amdaer takes her helmet off. This is the first time you all have gotten a clear look at her, and the first thing you notice is her head is completely shaven of hair. Facially she puts you in mind of a hunting cat, like one of the displacer beasts. Golden eyes survey the area around her. "Pretty city. Interesting times await and trials to be overcome."
Once they have found a space they can speak, Amdaer says "We will most definately need the protection of a house. However we will need information about the houses here."

[Allu]

Iliv nods "Aye m'lady, that is what I was trying to say before those surfacers interrupted with their drivel; I suggest we get rooms in the same inn so that we each have time to learn about the houses and can make an informed decision. If we check in as a group we may get a better price and then we can start gathering our information."

[Sir Alex]

Grashek stands before the gates and sighs with resignation. He had hoped the fall of Imphar would herald some new phase of his life. Hoped that his destiny would be revealed, and somehow he would break the yoke of oppression that had lain on him these long years. Yet here he is again, captive to the vile drow. Grashek pauses to stare at the blood spurting off the stump of the dead dwarf's neck, licking his lips.

After the guard has spoken his empty threats, Grashek turns to the cleric and puts on his best smile. He suspects it looks more like a feral grin but no matter. "Yes. If you require my services, Mistress, then I will be available. You have seen me fight and know my great worth. If not, I can find my own way in this place." Or find my way out of it, the elf-soaked hellpit that it is.

[AlexN]

You all search around the Ghetto of Foreigners for an Inn to stay in, although this area is not suitable for the drow of the party it would be unwise to venture into the more drow-related districts without knowing what's what. After some quick asking around you all find that there are many Inns in this district alone. (OOC:If you do a search for somewhere it will be always within the parameters of a district rather than the parameters of the city on account of the immense size of the city. There are many choices of inns and some of cater to a certain...demographic. Although the following is not an exhaustive list of all the inns in the Ghetto of Foreigners, these are the main ones that would would be able to go into:

Damp Lodge, The Black Widow, Firewater Place, Teeson's Rooming House, The Moldy Beholder, and Knucklebone's Inn. There are a few more that you have heard of but they are very off-shoot and the listed are on a main street, very easy to find. Which one do you traverse to for now? (Don't feel obligated to go into an inn this is just my assumption of what you all will do based on your responses, do what you all feel like doing)

[Acathala]

Amadaer will pick the cleanest looking place. Preferably run by a drow.

[AlexN]

After looking around, it is found that The Black Widow is one of the better establishments in the district. When you all go in you realize there are very few drow around, about half are surface dwellers. None of them dare to look directly at the group. This place is huge for a tavern. It is about 150ft by 200 ft. To the right side is a bar with many tables around for eating and drinking, to the left there are several gaming tables where people are placing bets on various gambling games

Looming around are several bugbear enforcers and also there seems to many prostitutes bargaining with clients, although there is an equal amount of female and male courtesans, none of them are female drow. In the very back you all can see stairs that presumably go upstairs to private rooms. Noticing a female drow, one of the two bartenders comes up to the group (who is a human) says Welcome to the Black Widow. What can I get you all to drink? If you want a room it will cost 5 silver per person a night. Since there are 5 of you it will be 25 silver a night. How long will your stay be? For one gold a night per person I can give you a third-floor room which is much bigger and nicer.

Even though it is loud and obnoxious, this place is very nice looking. A lot has been spent on furnishings and for the most part, it is clean and merry, things not common in the Underdark.

[Acathala]

"Acceptable. The Third story." She looks at the male drow, clearly expecting them to pay.

[Allu]

Iliv smiles and produces 2 gold coins from his backpack and says "This is for the mistress and me but I would like to know how much it would cost if we were to rent the entire floor for the five of us?"

[Sir Alex]

Grashek stares around at the inn's rich furnishings. The furniture and hangings appear...fragile...as if he might smash them with a careless touch. Such sights were rare for him in Imphar. The gladiator barracks were far from luxurious.

As the drow elves dance their game, Grashek smiles. He will pay his own share but there is no point paying more than necessary. He stares at the bartender and flexes his hand, and thick crystalline claws glitter briefly in the dimness. "Perhaps if you offer a special discount for the Mistress and her entourage, I will try to keep my talons off the furniture. Profitable all around, yes?"

[AlexN]

The human goes back to the bar and gets out the inn registrar. He quickly glances at it then returns to the group. He says to Iliv,

Although we already have many people staying on the third floor we can give you four out of the ten rooms on the third floor. They would be the furthest from the stairs and all adjacent to each other. How does that sound? It would cost a total of 20 Gold a night for the whole group since you are renting four rooms but in terms of discounts I can offer you two free meals every day. Usually we add the price on to the room tab but since you are willing to spend so much on our fine establishment I am able to give you this offer. Plus I will send you up some talent if you feel so inclined he says smiling, while pointing with his eyes at some of the prostitutes.

He then looks at the flind and smiles, I wouldn't be so eager to put your claws on any part of our furniture, the owner hates when guests do that and you would not want to incur the wrath of the owner He leans towards Grashek in a whisper, He flayed the skin and ate the previous owner.

He then announces to the group, So who is paying the tab or are all of you paying your own way? He points to Talon, You have not stated if you are paying or if someone is paying for you, do not try to slink to the side to avoid paying I see you in the back

[Allu]

Iliv pays the ten gold for both his room and goes up to his room to check upon it and drop a few things off before returning to the main room to question the bartender.

[Acathala]

(OOC I think Allu is paying for himself and me, which leaves one drow and a flind to pay for.)
"I can provide you with 16 of pure water each day, or purify 8 cubic feet of food and drink each day. I believe that is more than generous. As for our rooms, I want us to be adjacent, even if you have to move people. If they object, explain a cleric of Lolth requires it."

[AlexN]

He hands Tal'neth the keys and states, As I stated before mistress, the four rooms I'm giving you are already adjacent to each other.

Tal'neth and Iliv go upstairs since they have paid. They go into their rooms and notice it is spacious and very nice. Polished oak tables, vibrant tapestry, leather furnature, it is geared more toward surface adventurers but it will do. The shape of the room is akin to a rectangle, it is long but not too wide. There are two private bedrooms at each end of the parlor and they are comfortable, king size beds each. The four rooms are at the end of the hallway furthest from the stairs. There is a window in the parlor but it has a lock on it for security, the view of the city looks very nice.

So now that a sort of "base of operations" is set up, how will you all proceed?

[Allu]

Once his business is attended to Iliv, with Svek in tow will return to the common room for some food and wine which the drow will first feed to his slave before taking the chance to eat himself. During his meal he will keep his eyes and ears out for any kind of rumour or information about his new city, he is afterall a visitor at the moment.