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  The fabled Yawning Portal.  A typical day when less than busy.  And a typical bar brawl. Amid the bustle of Waterdeep, within the Castle Ward where barristers, nobles, and emissaries battle with word and contract, stands an inn not quite like any other. Before there was a Castle Ward or even what could be recognized as an ancestor of the City of Splendors, there was a dungeon, and in that dungeon begins the tale of the Yawning Portal. In ages past, the mighty wizard Halaster built his tower at the foot of Mount Waterdeep and delved deep into tunnels first built by dwarves and drow in search of ever greater magical power. Halaster and his apprentices expanded the tunnels they found, worming out new lairs under the surface for reasons of their own. In time, their excavations grew into the vast labyrinth known today as Undermountain, the largest dungeon in all of the Forgotten Realms. Halaster eventually disappeared, as have all his apprentices, but the massive complex he built remains to this day. For untold years, the secrets of Undermountain remained hidden from the surface world. Everyone who entered its halls failed to return. Its reputation as a death trap grew to the point that criminals in Waterdeep who were sentenced to die were forcibly escorted into the dungeon and left to fend for themselves. All of that changed with the arrival of two men, a warrior named Durnan and a ne'er-do-well named Mirt. The duo were the first adventurers to return from Undermountain, laden with riches and magic treasures. While Mirt used his wealth to buy a mansion, Durnan had different plans. Durnan retired from adventuring and purchased the land on which sat the deep, broad well that was the only known entrance to the dungeon. Around this well he built a tavern and inn that caters to adventurers and those who seek their services, and he called it the Yawning Portal. Some of the magic Durnan looted on his successful foray into Undermountain granted him a life span that exceeds even that of an elf. And for decades Durnan left delving into Undermountain to younger folk. Yet one day, something drew him back. Days of waiting for his triumphant return from the dungeon turned to months and then years. For nearly a century, citizens of Waterdeep thought him dead. But one night, a voice called up from the well. Few at first believed it could be Durnan, but folk as long-lived as he vouched it so. The Yawning Portal had passed into the hands of his ancestors, but Durnan returned with enough riches for them to quietly retire. Durnan took his customary place behind the bar, raised a toast to his own safe return, and then began serving customers as if he'd never left. Adventurers from across Faerun, and even from elsewhere in the great span of the multiverse, visit the Yawning Portal to exchange knowledge about Undermountain and other dungeons. Most visitors are content to swap stories by the hearth, but sometimes a group driven by greed, ambition, or desperation pays the toll for entry and descends the well. Most don't survive to make the return trip, but enough come back with riches and tales of adventure to tempt other groups into trying their luck. And you? You are a group of freshly minted adventurers. Perhaps you have traveled the world, perhaps you did an adventure or two before coming to the Yawning Portal. Or perhaps you just wanted to get a drink. Whatever the reason you all made your way to the Yawning Portal at one point or another. On one visit or another, as you listen to the stories of the adventures who came before you, you managed to meet and come to an understanding. Your group has grown. And now you have just returned from your last adventure, with a bit of coin, and a tale to tell. While you sit at your table, the only actual group currently in the Yawning Portal, you are approached by a mysterious stranger with a job offer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Picks were rather hard, and these games tend to have some drop off, so I took more than I planned. Okay time for everyone to post what they are doing, any tales of your previous adventure you want to put out, and link your character sheets. You can include inner commentary on your feelings about your fellow party members if you want. Posting format would be name of character at the top of the post, possibly in bold, and possibly with an image above it. In character text is normal, and out of character text is in italics. I would prefer it if you linked your sheet in your character's name at the top of your posts. Current Party pre:Player Character Race Class Archetype Zore Julia 'Goolia' Saltspyte Half-Orc Ooze Ochre Jelly Anshu Karl Martel Human Cleric War Mustache Ride Perry Reed Kenku Eldritch Glaive N/A Thanatosian Broutrut Grimstride Mountain Dwarf Peerless Fighter N/A OfChristandMen Siegebjörna Goliath Brute N/A Monk E Jalenia Faun (High Elf) Templar N/A Piell Adran Wood Elf Divine Fist N/A Mykkel Rain Tabaxi Rogue N/A Ryuujin fucked around with this message at 05:23 on May 30, 2020 |
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May 30, 2020 02:01
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 Jalenia "Finally some adventurer sorts can you believe the last 5 places I went to were out? What did they think people were there for the springwater they called spirits? Any of you folks heard any leads recently I would love to compare notes though admittedly so far most of what I've gained in my travels have been some choice words relating to so called craft beers."
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May 30, 2020 03:29
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 Julia 'Goolia' Saltspyte Julia drew her cloak more tightly around her, shivering a bit as it squished just a little too much. Slowly calming herself and focusing, she let her form flow back into a vaguely humanoid shape. She stared out the deeply drawn hood at her compatriots at the table, staring most intently at the Kenku Perry Reed with... well she wasn't exactly sure how she saw any more. But she did her level best to channel the death glare she had developed as a pirate captain. "Did we all need to come to the tavern?" she groused, her voice thankfully still familiar and rough as it had been before her unfortunate transformation. "D' you know how hard it is to keep this shape?" muttering under her breath she let out what had become a familiar string of curses and annoyance though there was no real bite in it.
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May 30, 2020 05:06
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 Karl Martel With his shield slung across his back and using his maul as a sort of walking stick, Karl approaches Broutrut, sitting at his own table near the others. "[Dwarvish]Hail and well met, friend-dwarf," he says. "[Dwarvish]Might we share drinks and names together? I am called Karl Martel." Anshu fucked around with this message at 05:27 on May 30, 2020 |
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May 30, 2020 05:13
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 Perry Reed Goolia's Voice posted:Yes we really needed to come to the tavern, the last group of *same string of muttered curses* told us to get lost when Young Excited Halfling's Voice posted:You had to go and kill that Green Hag by oozing into it's nose! Older Nobler Humans Voice posted:There's no need to Goolia's Voice posted:Sit in the Tavern moping all day when we Barkeep's Voice posted:Need a drink
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May 30, 2020 05:35
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Adran "Look, you're too worried about this," Adran says to Goolia. "It'll be fine, nobody actually cares what other people are doing like 95% percent of the time. Plus, it's good practice! And also good beer." Adran takes a drink to prove his point. "Well, decent beer."
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May 30, 2020 13:12
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Perry ReedAdran's Voice posted:Decent Beer is right. Perry looks over at the others in the Yawning Portal. Excited Halfling's Voice posted:How about those two speaking Dwarvish Goolia's Voice posted:Over in the corner Adran's Voice posted:They look strong
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May 30, 2020 20:52
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 Rain Rain drinks a bit of the beer, it was stronger then what was brewed in his homeland, he had to be careful, the last time he tried to keep up with Adran's rounds, he awakened on the roof of the tavern. "I agree Perry. The human looks like he can take a hit, and can speak dwarvish. The elf over there has good taste in weapons. We should invite them both over." Rain stands and struts over to Jalenia and Karl. "Well met travelers, my friends would like to share our table and our tales, if you would join us?" Rain returns to the table, assuming both of them follow.
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May 31, 2020 13:45
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 Siegebjörna Siegebjörna returns to the table, with a round of drinks on a platter easily carried on one hand and a barrel of mead jostled under the other. "They had party sized at bar! No salted bread bites though." She deals out fresh drinks for the table, unconcerned with what anyone actually ordered. Siegebjörna wrestles the barrel in front of her and procures a hollow steel pipe. She rips the top of the barrel off, and slides it underneath as a coaster before dunking the pipe in and beginning to use it as a straw. "Julia! When I finish party size drink mug, perhaps you can sit inside? Siegebjörna can carry!" OfChristandMen fucked around with this message at 19:13 on Jun 1, 2020 |
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Jun 1, 2020 03:27
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Broutrut Grimstride Karl Martel posted:With his shield slung across his back and using his maul as a sort of walking stick, Karl approaches Broutrut, sitting at his own table near the others. "[Dwarvish]Hail and well met, friend-dwarf," he says. "[Dwarvish]Might we share drinks and names together? I am called Karl Martel." Broutrut gestures vaguely at the seat across from him. Looking around, he spots the pile of drinks being passed around by Siegebjörna at the table behind him. Not bothering to be subtle, he grabs a momentarily-unattended mug and passes it across the table to Karl. He replies in accented Dwarvish [Dwarvish]"The name is Broutrut Grimstride. [Dwarvish]"What brings you to the Yawning Portal?"
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Jun 1, 2020 07:11
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Jalenia Jalenia's features relaxed as she joined Rain at the table. "Ah my how rude of me my business can wait you folks seem like fine company and odd are in my favor that this place will have some at least somewhat potable alcohol to pass the time with ." Not that she particularly needed any invitation to once again delay her efforts for the sake of merriment but this group particularly interested her.
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Jun 1, 2020 11:48
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Karl Martel Broutrut posted:Broutrut gestures vaguely at the seat across from him. Looking around, he spots the pile of drinks being passed around by Siegebjörna at the table behind him. Not bothering to be subtle, he grabs a momentarily-unattended mug and passes it across the table to Karl. He replies in accented Dwarvish [Dwarvish]"The name is Broutrut Grimstride. [Dwarvish]"What brings you to the Yawning Portal?"
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Jun 1, 2020 18:06
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Yawning Portal Siegebjörna orders drinks and food which Durnan provides without much fanfare beyond a nod after taking the coin. Siegebjörna clearly has no trouble carrying so much back to the others. As she does so there is a bit of a commotion among the patrons as a group comes up to pay Durnan for the opportunity to go down the yawning portal at the center of the Yawning Portal into the Undermountain. A few cheers go up, and some catcalls, but that group pays and goes down. As your group begins drinking and eating things begin to slow down in the Yawning Portal as more and more finish their drinks and go off to their work or homes. As dwarvish begins to flow and keys are brought out and discussed a cloaked figure enters the Yawning Portal. They look around the tavern but most of the more impressive looking groups have gone, most of those that remain look more like farmers and laborers, rather than adventurers. After a few moments they spot your group and make their way to you. As they approach they move back their hood enough to show their red hair and a glimpse of green eyes. "Good day to you. My name is Marcus, and may I inquire if you are adventurers by your garb?"
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Jun 1, 2020 19:11
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Rain "That we are friend, what are your troubles? We don't do love spells, revolutions, or plagues, all else might be willing to be paid to resolve."
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Jun 1, 2020 19:34
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Julia 'Goolia' Saltspyte "Aye," said Julia warily, making sure her own form was concealed deeply within her cloak. Her untouched mug of... whatever it was that Siegebjörna had placed in front of her was irritating her greatly, she missed being able to drink. "and we don't work for free. Let's just skip to the part where you give us your best pitch and don't waste our time. You're talking to the..." She trailed off, making her closest approximation of a wince. "Well, we're important." she finished somewhat lamely, cursing her oozey body once more.
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Jun 1, 2020 19:36
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Yawning Portal "Ah yes. I work for Kerowyn Hecrule, the matriarch of the Hecrule merchant family in Oakhurst. A very important family in Oakhurst. Rich." He coughs into his hand before he continues any further along that path. He then continues. "Well the important thing is that about a month ago her son Talgen and daughter Sharwyn went off for adventure. Specifically they went to the Sunless Citadel with a group of adventurers. None of them were ever heard from again." He lets this set in before continuing. "Being a caring mother she is of course concerned. And so I was sent out to look for help. It is well known that adventurers tend to congregate here. She has authorized me to offer 125 gold per person for each of the signet rings returned. And if you should manage to find Talgen and Sharwyn and manage to return them alive and of good mind and body, she has authorized me to double that rate."
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Jun 1, 2020 20:17
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Perry ReedRain's Voice posted:You say that your employer's Marcus's Voice posted:son Talgen and daughter Sharwyn went off for adventure Durnan's Voice posted:but do you know who the others Siegebjörna's Voice posted:that went along with them are. Jalenia's Voice posted:It is strange how such Marcus's Voice posted:a caring mother Adran's Voice posted:Would only offer double for the lives of Marcus's Voice posted:her son Talgen and daughter Sharwyn.
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Jun 1, 2020 20:26
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Siegebjörna After a long draw on the oversized drink, Siegebjörna prods Marcus for more information. "The Oakhurst Clan lost some Merchantlings, aye? Siegebjörna never good with faces, I prefer symbols and diagrams. Perhaps you could draft the insignia for us?" Siegebjörna rustles through her pockets, producing a folded diagram of architectural drawings, gesturing for Marcus to draw on the back of it. "I have heard of this Citadel of Less Sun, military patrols used to avoid it, even though it was structurally sound..." Siegebjörna rolls History on what she knows of the construction and layout of the Sunless Citadel: 15 (in Roll20)
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Jun 1, 2020 20:40
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Yawning Portal Marcus stares at Perry for a bit as the Kenku speaks in a number of voices, including his own. After a moment he shakes himself free and mumbles an apology for staring. "I know only of a local ranger named Karakas and Sir Braford a paladin of Pelor from somewhere else. I don't know if anyone else accompanied them." He is a bit taken aback by the suggestion that Kerowyn doesn't value her family for offering only double the amount for the return of her children alive and health. "I am sorry but 125 or 250 gold for each of you is already a massive amount of gold. That she is willing to pay even more for the safe return of her children does a credit to her as a mother." He looks to Siegebjörna. "Uh yes?" After a moment to switch gears and try and understand what Siegebjörna just said he takes the proffered parchment and begins to sketch the Hecrule family crest to the best of his ability. It is clear he isn't an artist of any great talent, but the design is clear enough that you should be able to recognize the real thing. Siegebjörna recalls that the Old Road skirts the Ashen Plain a lifeless area that is attributed to the long ago attack of a dragon named Ashardalon and that the Sunless Citadel may have been built by cultists connected to the dragon Ashardalon.
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Jun 1, 2020 21:21
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Rain "Finding lost merchants is definitely something we can do, and the amount offered is acceptable to me, assuming my comrades also agree, with the addendum that we will naturally get to keep everything we salvage from the Citadel while searching for the lost Hecrule."
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Jun 1, 2020 21:27
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Karl Martel Turning around in his seat at the other table, Karl adds, "That sounds a worthy cause, and a handsome reward indeed! If a priest of Tyr would be welcome, I would happily give my assistance."
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Jun 1, 2020 21:33
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Broutrut Grimstride "Mmmmmm... young, hale adventurers, just the sorts a slaver would love to capture. When it comes to Undermountain, I think we can all agree on safety in numbers? And you lot look like you could use a bit of..." looking Siegebjörna up and down, he briefly reconsiders his choice of words "...extra muscle."
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Jun 2, 2020 01:03
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Adran "You've got nothing to worry about, Marcus," Adran says as he claps a hand on the man's shoulder. "We'll find your missing folks, no problem!" Sure, they're probably already dead, but Adran didn't feel the need to mention that.
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Jun 2, 2020 14:40
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Jalenia "Sunless citadel that certainly doesn't sound like a name given by someone with the best of intentions. I feel my superiors would agree it's best to check the premises folks like that rarely clean up their messes and disappearances only confirm it's probably more than rubble that's been left behind." Besides her usual duties rarely involved pleasantries like reuniting families this would be a pleasant change of pace.
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Jun 2, 2020 16:15
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Julia 'Goolia' Saltspyte Julia appraised the stout dwarf that had offered assistance. Their group was large and she would have been inclined to dismiss assistance, but if they were being paid per person having more bodies could only help. "If they're willing to pay all of us than we would welcome any extra muscle you could offer," she said with what she desperately hoped was a smirk, "just don't slow us down."
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Jun 2, 2020 16:35
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Perry ReedJalenia's Voice posted:Anyone need to go to the Goolia's Voice posted:market Rain's Voice posted:before we get this show on the road. I think we have all the Broutrut posted:...extra muscle Adrian's Voice posted:we'll need
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Jun 3, 2020 14:38
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Rain "I"m ready when everyone else is. "
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Jun 3, 2020 16:25
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Yawning Portal As you seem to be agreeing to take on the mission Marcus goes to great lengths to give you directions to Oakhurst and the Sunless Citadel. His directions suggest it will take about three days to reach the Sunless Citadel, and just under that to reach Oakhurst.
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Jun 3, 2020 19:22
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Karl Martel "I don't see any need for us to stop in Oakhurst, except maybe to reserve lodgings for when we return from the Citadel; we might not come out wishing to immediately set back upon the road. But otherwise I say we make directly for the Citadel."
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Jun 4, 2020 20:54
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Julia 'Goolia' Saltspyte "We may find out some more information in Oakhurst," Julia said, "But if the group wishes we can go directly to the Citadel. I have little love for civilized locales right now." She makes an approximation of a shrug causing one of her 'shoulders' to visibly sag almost to her seat before she swears and it reforms,
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Jun 4, 2020 20:59
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Broutrut Grimstride "Our missing adventurers likely stopped in Oakhurst on their way to the Citadel; we should at least ask around the town before going into there."
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Jun 4, 2020 22:25
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Rain "I think you were at the bar Broutrut, and missed that the lad and lass are from Oakhurst. Let's see how the three days travel treat us, if the weather goes foul, we may want to rest a day in Oakhurst before delving into the Citadel."
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Jun 4, 2020 22:39
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Siegebjörna Siegebjörna makes an unceremonious belch, interrupting the conversation about the group's destination. "To go to the Citadel of Less Sun, we will cross the Plains of Ashen, a barren waste with no food or provisions. We can find both in Oakhurst. Unless you rather your extra muscle become unhappy." She takes a dramatic pause to stare down the table before again erupting in a loud guffaw. "Hah-HUH! No, it is true, I am very rocky and rotund. Like Mountain!" She lifts her large arms in a pointed roof over her head, attempting to humor Broutrut and Karl. "Yes, Dwarf-friends? Mount Siegebjörna." Extremely pleased with her impression, she carries the now empty barrel back to the bar, conversing with Durnan briefly before retrieving her battering ram and a fresh barrel to go. "Let us set off little boulder-friends. Mount Siegebjörna is ready to rescue some merchantlings!"
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Jun 5, 2020 00:54
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Yawning Portal The group comes to a conclusion and after gathering their stuff head out toward Oakhurst and the Sunless Citadel. The trip seems to be rather uneventful at least. The first two days pass with no excitement except for the occasional traveler on the road. A few hours before sunset on the third day you come across a small village. Oakhurst. Around Oakhurst As you near Oakhurst you notice the activity typical in a small village moving toward the ending of the work day. You still have a few hours of light left and can choose to continue on toward the Sunless Citadel, though you are unlikely to arrive before darkness. Or you can choose to stop over in Oakhurst for some supplies and information, and possibly to rest the night.
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Jun 5, 2020 07:40
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Rain "I think we should stay in the town for the night, pick up whatever information we can get about the Hercules, and the Citadel, anyone else care for a hot meal, a cold ale, and a bed?"
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Jun 5, 2020 13:20
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Perry ReedGoolia's Voice posted:drat Rain you sure do like to put down Rain's Voice posted:ice-cold ales Broutout's Voice posted:Let's get meal and some rest Rain's Voice posted:and see if anyone has any information on our lad and lass.
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Jun 5, 2020 13:50
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Rain "I"m just looking out for the Mountain of muscle over there, it can't be good for her to subsist off water and rations only for more than a few days at a time." Mykkel fucked around with this message at 17:49 on Jun 5, 2020 |
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Jun 5, 2020 14:42
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Karl Martel Rain posted:"I think we should stay in the town for the night, pick up whatever information we can get about the Hercules, and the Citadel, anyone else care for a hot meal, a cold ale, and a bed?"
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Jun 5, 2020 16:25
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Jalenia "I would be up for a little information gathering mission at the pub. Couldn't hurt to know more about what we might be up against besides a little alcohol will help take the edge off."
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Jun 5, 2020 17:37
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Julia 'Goolia' Saltspyte "Going to another tavern sounds exhausting." Julia grumbled from under her thick cloak, attempting to mimic a humanoid walk when your body moved by extending and contracting was difficult. "I'm going to look around and see if there's anything interesting in this dump before we leave."
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Jun 5, 2020 18:15
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