[Game Thread] Location: Sharn - The Cracked Mirror Inn

[randomsyllable]

The rain was spreading. Beyond the ill weather attached to the Sonia, the entire city was experiencing a veritable deluge. If Night had his way, any god foolish enough to claim dominion over storms or the portfolio of weather would soon be suffering from an acute lack of followers. Genocide of a sort had its appeal. Moreover, this filthy human body stunk. The sweat permeating the clothes and hair covering this insipid little creature reeked of labour. It had taken far too long to cross this wretched city, even with a mount.

Reduced to the lower classes in every respect it seems...

Still cursing the weather, he dismounted in front of a shabby building, two stories high and brightly light. Slapping the pathetic nag he'd ridden here across the flank, he watched it gallop off into the night. Good riddance and perhaps it would find new utility in the cookpot of some half-wit denizen. Shouldering the door of the building open, he came home.

"You're still upright, more's the pity," sneered an overly muscled dwarf by the door, "tail between your legs."

"Do bait him more Fathan, I have need of more blood tonight" Night's face creased into a smile as the red haired woman behind the bar turned to face the new, and only, customer, "And don't think of taking that as an invitation, fleabag."

"I would never make that mistake Z. Your hospitality is famed throughout the city for its nonexistence. Now get my room ready - I am dreanched from my trip down to these slums." Fathan snorted.

"There are barely two drops from the sky and the high and mighty cower. How royal are we now?"

"Never royal and the dwarf doesn't suit your complexion. You still look like a corpse."
"Always a critic," shrugged the dwarf as his features flowed into those of an even smaller halfling.

Studiously ignoring the now-halfling, the woman behind the bar scowled. "Now that the polite nothings are over and done with Night, you can reaquaint yourself with the drizzle outside because I have an errand for you. There was a disturbance down here recently. Some fool, who wishes to be a paladin no doubt, calling themselves the 'Monti Marauder'. I will not have someone scaring away my clientele. This 'Marauder' must have the realities of the situation explained and then dealt with. Permanently."

"Your turf?"

"You have been gone too long, fleabait."
Night shrugged and turned for the door, "Food was better when it hadn't learned to talk back."

[Fil kearney]

Z watched the changling leave with a sigh. It was impossible for her to not notice the coincidece of deaths when he was in town.

It was early still... the bad weather made the sun inaccesible in the early afternoon. In honesty, the depths of the Cracked Miror In made seeing the sun prohibitive except for an hour or so at high sun... but when te clouds roll in, the bad elements come out.

She would have normally gotten up sooner and prepared for the early dark, bt the storm literally came from no where. Another sure sign he was in town.
even the gods don't like him.

The door shunted open and another guest had arrived. drenched.
I'll have to put out the rug
Z contemplated as the puddle spread further towards the long bar.

"SIt for a spell, get the cold out of ya. The stew is gonna be ready in the minute,so how about a whisky apetizer for he lungs?"

With a grunt of approval, the heavy human flumphs into a chair, grabing the whisky triple shot from the stained bar as teh stew wafts in from the back.
"Hey Oggy-- how we doing?"

"Five mintues."
shouts back a gruff voice with a heavy Karrn accent.

"Five minutes." Z repeats for the guest's benefit.

[Fil kearney]

Z's casual conversation with a regular is interrupted by a strange sound.
Putting the glass she was cleaning down, she was a bit alarmed when it started shaking and rattling across the bar. Then all the other glass started to rattle against each other.

Looking concerned, she called out,
"Oggy.... what in Hells is going on?"

"Prolly those damned Stone Guys again.. shakin' tha city. Someone otta do somthing about them."
Is the shouted response as the big Karrnathi expatriot comes out from the kitchen.

An instant later, the door bursts off the hinges as a deluge of freezing cold sea water comes washing into the bar....

[randomsyllable]

Z doesn't even have time to shout out in surprise before the breath is knocked out of her by the impact of the water. As it crashes through the bar, she sees Fathan's thrashing form sail by as the undertow begins to drag her towards the door and death.

However, if she is unable to vocalize her surprise, others are more than happy to step in. From the cellar comes a shriek of rage. A skeletal figure blinks into existence on top of the rushing water and gestures angrily at the door. The rushing water is abruptly slowed and the undertow ceases dragging the occupants towards the door. With a slight hiss, the newcomer looks around the ruined bar. "Disturbances are undesired. This is most certainly a disturbance. Words will be had with the landlord. And clean up this mess - I do not appreciate the damp." Muttering under its breath, the figure disappears in a twisting flash.

Still in 4 feet of water, the unfortunate denizens surface. Sputtering a last few mouthfuls of water, Fathan growls. "I don't care if he did just save my life. That thing give me the creeps. The furball had better keep him away from me."
Z looks at Fathan with a sigh, "Or what? You'll be used as a source of raw material if you pick a fight with him." Fathan snorts.
"Oh, absolutely. That's why I want him far away."

[Fil kearney]

(( OOC: Never mind the previous flood. that was cleaned up rather handily. Any CS'er+'s wanting to jump in the game should start here at the bar. The current players will be here chatting it up with you here "in character"... obviously, early entries have more timet to talk... you are all playing the character you will play in the game (sans stats and official classes) it is assumed you have all been together for sometime now, and you are exchanging warstories. make up whatever you want about each other. we're just shooting the ****, but comedy imporv rules stand here. I"m looking for personality integration, and initiative.... if you know what the hell I mean, you will win, but be welcome to ask question in the open invitation thread.))


The Cracked Mirror was a dark place in the lower wards of Sharn. Z, the ever-present barkeep kept the drinks coming as old adventurers talked of days gone by...

(OOC: go ahead. oh, and you can only "officially" talk with Gwyn, Sul, and Cel until other players join the convesation, then yuk it up with whoever you want)

[roaddog41]

Kristine walked calmly into the bar... her stride long despite the shortness of her legs. He hair flying behind her the beautiful elf slipped easily onto a barstool and looked around at the soggy room. Must have punctured a cask of ale... wow what a mess. Still if they ain't serving wine Im getting out of here soon. Her hand comes up in an unmistakable gesture to the barkeep for his attention, and accompanying the raised hand is a smile that brightens the room and stuns its inhabitants.
Kristine was truly beautiful. Her body lithe and free moving beneath the strange robes she wore. Her hands the typical pale elven hue, were dexterous and agile. Making her gesture to the barkeep seem full of hidden thoughts and emotions. The rest of her body was likewise, and despite the totally chaste clothing she wore, Kristine seemed somehow... provocative.
Elven wine Barney... the best vintage you have please Her smile widens, and for a moment the barkeep could have sworn there was light erupting from her face bathign her form in a beautiful halo, and then her smile disappeared. She stared at the man in consternation and he realized that he was calmly pouring ale into an already over full mug...
No wonder the inn looks soggy... the barkeep can't tell when a cup is full.
The barkeep quickly stops pouring and sets the mug down, his embarrassment only acting to spill still more ale upon the floor and the counter. He tried to recover by sliding the mug down the counter to the waiting patron... and he is successful. However the man in question is staring so hard at Kristine that the mug hits his elbow, causing the poor man to face plant the counter. One could argue that the only bad part of the deal for the man was that the fall forced him to turn his head and cease looking upon the angel who had entered his favorite drinking hole.
Wow... humans truly are clumsy out here... I mean all he had to do was sit back and he wouldnt have gotten hurt. Poor man he needs to improve his reflexes.

[roaddog41]

Z finally comes back to some semblance of normalcy.... gathering his wits about him and bringing the asked for drink. Unfortunately for the man he brings only a small glass of the elvin wine, perhaps thinking that the small woman would not be capable of drinking too much. Kristine drains the glass in one quick movement, setting the glass down and her finger plays idly around the rim of the glass. The motion seemingly innocent somehow sends flares or nefarious thoughts throughout everyman in the bar. Thanks Barney, next time though leave the bottle. Her smile is brilliant once again.
Then Kristine turns and faces Gwyn. My friend it has been a long time. I doubt you recognize me from the temple, I was one of the monks asked to draw out the mandala that was so puzzling to us all. Shortly thereafter I left the temple, I needed to enter the Prime and test my self... Her smile is almost blinding.
I would love to here you tell the story

[Amy]

Before Gwyn can answer the lovely elven maiden, the Cracked Mirror doors are forced apart again. This time it is done a bit more slowly, but with no less force, by the gritty spread-eagle fingers of a grey-skinned man. His arm is next, either borrowed from a stone giant or of similar ilk, followed a stooped shoulder and bald head. Once those pieces are through the doorway the tall and powerful form of Rockfoot Allkiller stands erect. His smooth pate nearly brushes the rafters of this common space and the bow pulled in after him stands a half-hand taller still. A quivver of long arrows rests on his back; a beige chain-mail shirt on his front, and what must be a large version of a bastard sword is sheathed at his side.

A timid smile breaks onto his stoney face as he crosses the short - every distance looks short to this fellow - distance to the bar. He surveys the seating options and brushes them aside with one muscled arm. He clears his weapon to the side and sits next to the bar. His eyes are still even with the counter. A noise like a rolling boulder soon becomes clear as his voice calls out. "Keep, water please. My throat is dry as road pebbles."

Before the water arrives he turns to take in his former companions. "So, where have we all been since I was a babe in your midst?"

[Fil kearney]

The Inquisitor is glad the attention from Kristine shifted away from him. It was the same discomfort he felt while under the scrutiny of Celestine's succubus minion.

Of course, a 12 foot mountain archer filling the room doesn't make for a more relaxed environment either.

"Errr... I'll get a rain barrel"
The barkeep says, attempting to keep eye contact with the giant, but every movement from the elf pulls his focus off center.
"Have a seat.. er, well.. how about just sit?"

With a chuckle, Cel relaxes a bit more. Old friends in old bars makes for a good night.
"Where is it you say you grew up again, Rock?" He never could quite give the same answer twice. Whether it was the nomadic life, or his lack of recall didn't matter much.. he was just as sincere with each location. The shepard respected the massive warrior's openness even with the inconsistencies.


((OOC: hey Surreal.. for the sake of the conversation, we'll assume the mind ward was disrupted by the flood somehow....? So you can play nice with everyone here. And until the real players pick up, I'll be babbling along to generate some momentum. Try to catch the wave.))

Gwynn slides into a closer chair at the bar to make nice talk with Kris.
"Of course I remember that. I also remember how you nearly got yourself arrested in Thrane as well... care to tell us how that happened again?"
Kris, of course, hadn't been familiar with current customs back then after first leaving the Temple for Khorvaire. Bringing it up-- again-- still embarrassed her, but she knew he only did it so she wouldn't take herself too seriously.
Even the Avatars of the Gods have to admit they are human.

[roaddog41]

Kristine sighs deeply. You would bring that up... and I expect a good story from you later Gwyn. Z brings the bottle back over to Kris and places it beside her glass... unsure if he should fill it or simply leave the bottle. She reaches right out, not even looking and grasps the neck of the bottle easily. Her fingers brushing his hand as he lets go ever so slightly. A move that fills his head with wild ideas and even wilder images of what the touch might mean. Of course Kristine doesn't even notice the brief contact. Nor does she notice the collective sigh as every other man in the room notices the touch, or even the stunned expression on the face of the barkeep.
Well how was I supposed to know that bath houses are separated according to gender. You know as well as I that in the monastery we meditate naked as often as we meditate clothed. I was so Dirty from the road and well.... I didn't know. She lifts the bottle to her lips and takes a long swig of the potent spirit... although it seems to have as little effect on her as the first glass had.
Well I walked into the bath house... and I didn't even notice that there were no women bathing... the attendant freaked out of course... but I assumed it had something to do with my dirty appearance. I only found out later he was upset with the fact I wasn't supposed to be there. I mean he didn't say anything about it. Just stood there and gasped like a dieing fish
Another deep swig of the wine.
And so I disrobed and got in the water... I was in the middle of washing myself when the freaking town guard charges in... with some little tiny guy screaming and yelling about an evil spirit trying to seduce his customers and steal their souls.... I jumped up immediately and looked around for this threat, berating myself for how I could have missed it. Then the guard surrounds me....
She grimaces and then takes another deep swig of her drink. I tell them I am not an evil spirit... and I reach for my clothes and one of them tries to stab me.
Another deep swig and a glance down at the now empty bottle, she grimaces. Well while I am defending myself the captain of their guard steals my clothing... along with all of my protective items and runs off with them. And so I go after him.
After a long chase through town in which I apparently end up angering a number of people who are upset with my nudity... I catch the fool at their church... he is telling the priest that I am evil. Well the priest can eaisly tell I am not, and he gives me my clothes back and after listening to me and the guard he explains the whole situation.... The fools though I was a demon tryign to steal souls of all things... and he thought if he stole my clothing I wouldn't be able to do it. What idiots.

And then to top it all off they throw me out of town for public indecency... the priest had the nerve to tell me its actually a jailable offense, but since I beat the stuffing out of their entire town guard its not like they could do anything about it.

She turns andalmost jumps out of her skin as Z is standing right where he had been when she took the bottle. she gives him a funny look and then suddenyl smiles. Wow this guy is good, although he forgot the second bottle. Maybe he needs payment first. Kristine reaches into her robes... accidentally exposing enough of her skin to show poor Z that she is wearing nothing beneath the outer covering. She pulls forth a large purse and places a single piece of gold upon the counter... just as Z finally gets enough breath to gasp. she looks up frowns.. and then shrugs her shoulders. She places another gold coin on the counter... followed by two more. Another bottle Barney... and man are your prices steep.
She turns around to face Gwynn again... Wanna know what the worst part was???

OOC I am taking license for the fact that a 14th level monk is immune to disease, as well as poison to say that they can suppress the effects of alcohol on the body. All should know that Kris enjoys the taste of wine, particularly elven manufacture.... but is unaffected by alcohol due to her training.... it would remove some of her control over her own body so she renders it ineffective by controlling her stomach's muscle movements to not absorb what she is drinking... similarly to how she would prevent a poison form being absorbed... In fact drinking is a personal test wherein she tests her abilities... and is rewarded with the taste she so loves.

[Ascendant]

"Regardless of whether or not he wants to know, I most certainly do!" Heads swivel and eyes flicker about the room as the patrons of the bar try to figure out whom is speaking. That normally-rudimentary task is somewhat complicated by the fact that there was certainly no one sitting in this corner of the bar before. And considering the vast array of senses magical and mundane possessed by the gathered denizens of this drinking establishment, it was a fairly sure thing that when they didn't think someone was there, that person wasn't there. Yet here he was. Considering who he was, the fact that he was the one there wasn't much of a surprise. The group's quizzical looks quickly shift to ones of recognition (with a smattering of mild annoyance) as they recognize Xiv, and realize that he must have been listening from outside with the intent of teleporting in merely to make a dramatic entrance. He has materialized on a chair near Kris, seated backwards with his hands folded over the chair's back and his chin resting expectantly atop his arms.

"Please, do go on with this tale!" Xiv regales her in his slightly-accented tone. He did his best to hide the fact that the Common of Khorvaire was not his native tongue, but his insistence upon pronouncing each syllable fully and clearly marked him as a foreigner. Whether he meant to do this or not was anyone's guess, but those who knew him best would probably guess that he did it on purpose to give himself an exotic flair. "My lady, your story is greatly interesting me. Not only because it concerns yourself, and especially yourself in a state that is very agreeable to the mind's eye, but because I seem to be learning so much of Thrane that I did not know. You say they had threatened to arrest you? Now I was thinking that the people of that fine and devout nation would be more apt to burn someone for such an offense. But it seems my beliefs are horribly warped and prejudicial, alas!" He leans his head back dramatically, hand over his eyes, and while he has the advantage of gravity he takes a moment to tip a wine glass to his lips. Where exactly he got this glass is not certain. "But I should know better, no? Why, Gwyn here is as fine a . . . man . . . as they come, and he adheres to the belief of the holy and sacred and fiery and hot and silverish flame himself! I should be ashamed!"

Xiv's eyes light up as he has an idea, or rather as he gives the appearance of suddenly having an idea that he has most certainly had for a while. "I know. I shall make it up to you by telling you the story of my famous battle with the five Sea Dogs of Lahazaar!" One did not have to be skilled in telepathy to detect the silent unanimous animosity that confronted this statement. Once Xiv got started talking about his duels, he would never stop until he had become so engrossed in his tale that he was challenging everyone and everything within reach until they fought back. With a resigned sigh, the black-haired man sat back down (an interesting feat, as he had already been sitting, but drama must sometimes make allowances for such things) and waved a hand dismissively. "Very well then, I suppose it is most polite for me to let you finish your tale first."

[Fil kearney]

"Last time it was four dogs."
Rock quipped while searching for a place to settle in.
Barney finally managers to shuffle the barrel into the main room, and the giant provides an overly large gem to compensate for the hassle he will be creating for the night.

Cacthning the light with the precious stone, the barkeep let's his growing apprehension wash away with the flood waters. Good fortune again!
"Another round then for everyone!"

[roaddog41]

Kristine gives Xiv a fierce glare. The worst part was the little man that started the whole trouble offered to hire me as a... as a... a lady of a less than virtuous nature. the sigh rebounding around the room certainly wasn't the result Kris was expectign and her glare moves everyone back to their drinks.
Z brings back another bottle after getting Rock's barrel. He sets the bottle on the counter leaving his hand upon its neck hoping against hope she will touch him again. Instead she turns and looks at his hand atop the bottle. Her brow furrows and her eyes narrow. Oh come now Barney... surely the wine isn't that expensive.
Poor Barney stutters and whips his hand from the bottle as though he had been burned.Her glare sends him back down the bar, filling drinks and the like.
Man Z just gets weirder and weirder.... anyways so after I broke the mans jaw there was some talk that maybe I was possessed... but I left. Their mayor gave some big speech about how I could never return but well... I kinda stopped him...

[Amy]

Pausing with his water-filled bowl-sized steel ladle half-way to his face, Rockfoot snickers at Kristine. "You could have stopped the Mayor's inauguration parade as it drug his rock-hewn two-story likeness up a vertical cliff, Vixen. Now, that reminds me of the time I was born. It was far away in the lofty Hawkhaven Ridges as I recall. I opened my eyes to the most perfect sight in this or any land that is not the Elemental Plane of Earth: six ragged crags burst up through a pillowy floor of cloud cover. Of course, the Roc mother who laid me was nowhere to be seen but the shards of my thick grey eggshell were littering the nest around me..."

[roaddog41]

Huh??? your a bird? wait how would I stop a parade??? and why would it be going up a cliff? Kristine looks incredibly confused at the giant. She takes another long sip from her bottle waiting for the giant man to explain himself. She had though he was just an odd looking giant.