Memory Fading PbP Chapter One: A Day After Fire

[Ishmayl-Retired]

[ooc]
Welcome players!  Here's how we'll do it.  You guys enter as you will.  You can speak to Graybeard or Cecil, or simply do nothing while you wait for the others.  We'll play that you guys all know of each other, and can even be well-acquainted if you prefer.  If you specifically ask one of the people in the room a question, or make a pointed action, I will go ahead and respond; otherwise, I'll wait until tomorrow to continue.
Cheers, and let the games begin!

All pre-game information can be found in this thread.
[/ooc]

[ic=The Setup]
The Dog's Barn Tavern used to be the most bustling tavern in Sal Boran.  Technically, it is still the most prominent tavern in the city, but that is saying little with only two hundred residents currently living within walls that once held thousands of people.  A tall, burly bear of a man with flaming red hair and beard sits at a table in the back, with some sort of ledger in one hand, and a tall glass of beer in the other.  He is Captain Teral Graybeard (obviously not named after his own beard), and is currently the leader of the few people remaining in this very quiet city.  Across from him, with his back to the door, sits a dark, wiry man named Cecil, who was Graybeard's First Mate, and is now the Captain's adviser in this dismal place.  The only other person in the room is Tervis, who has quickly instated himself as the town drunk; his head is buried in his arms, with four empty glasses in front of him.  His snoring is the only sound heard other than the occasional crackle of wood in the fireplace.
[/ic]

[limetom]

[ic=Naoise Lochán]Naoise walks into the nearly empty tavern.  He brushes some of his long, brown hair out of his eyes and gives it a quick look over.  He sighs, there's no chance of a paycheck tonight.  That's what it's always like now, with really only around two hundred people around, the chances of an audience are pretty small.  Ã¢,¬Å"Aye well dis is feckin' grand, now tisn't it...â,¬Â he mutters under his breath as he shakes his head.

Naoise walks over to a table against the wall near the middle of the tavern and sits down.  He leans his chair back a little, and puts his feet up on the table.  After not even a minute, he lets out another sigh and pulls his mandolin and plectrum out.  It's not that he doesn't enjoy music, it's just that it's something completely different when you have an audience.

He fingers a chord, but hesitates for a moment.  After a second, Naoise begins playing a slow, meandering song in some minor key.  He always finds it easier to play when he plays via his feelings and he just can't bring himself to play a cheery song in a place like this.

Naoise wonders when the others are going to show up.[/ic]
[ooc]His first name is pronounced NEE-sha, for those who were curious.[/ooc]

[Darkxarth]

[ic=Fizz]The door to the tavern opens and Fizz comes stumbling in, his eyes a little over half open.  "Cap'n Greybeard, is it too late to volunteer to investigate the flames in the sky last night?  I overslept, someone was supposed to wake me up," he looks over at Tervis, eyes narrowing.  "Clearly I shouldn't have put my faith in a man who offered to share a drink at nine in the morning.  I joined him because I really hadn't had a good wine in a while, I'm not sure where he got it, but I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity like that.  But it looks like he didn't stop drinking after I left for a nap.  Well anyway," he stops rattling on for a second to take a breath, "am I too late?  'Cause I'm really anxious to join the volunteer group, er, if they haven't already left."  He looks around the tavern, his eyes roving, when he suddenly spots Naoise sitting right beside him.  "Oh, er, I guess maybe I'm not too late.  Hey, what's that you're playing, friend?  It sounds vaguely familiar, but I'm not sure.  Is it a variant on the Ballad of Fifteen Souls?  Oh!  Is it that one song about that guy who had that magic orb, and then he had to take it to that place to do that thing?  I bet it's that one.  Is it?"  He takes another breath and sits down in a nearby chair, he listens for another second, then starts playing his lute, bringing up a soft countermelody to Naoise's music.[/ic]

[Ishmayl-Retired]

[ic=Captain Graybeard]
No, you're still in time.  I'm hoping for more than two though.  Tell me lads, do either of you know the region of Sardatown very well?  I come from the south and never traveled much after I gained my sea legs.[/ic]

Tervis rouses a bit as the two musicians play, and Cecil turns his head around for a quick glance, but seems mostly uninterested.  A light pitter-patter of rain begins outside.

[Darkxarth]

[ic=Fizz]"I've been there a couple of times, though, of course, it was a while back.  But I'm not exactly intimate with the region, no more than I am with any other area.  Which is to say, not much, but enough.  Er, so I guess the answer to your question is no, not me anyway."  Fizz finishes rather lamely, aware that he was rattling again, and goes back to his lute.  He glances up at Naoise, wondering if he knows any more about Sardatown.[/ic]

[Furor]

[ic=Oliver Crow] Crow walks in casually, waves to cecil and then saunters over towards captain Graybeard " I'm itching to get out of this ghost town captain, see a little of my homeland again." He nods to both Fizz and Naoise. " There's not much for a Tracker or a Marine around these parts. This fire may just be some drunken goblins, but its better than wasting away here"[/ic]

[Numinous]

[ic=Timothy Gray]A haggard man with black beady eyes and streaks of gray in his greasy hair stumbles in out of the rain.  Quickly taking inventory of his surroundings, he stands for a moment to shake the rain from his overcoat.

@ Captain Graybeard: "'ello Cap'n.  After all yeh've done fer me, I'm obliged to offer my services in ta investigation of that fire 'twas spotted.  Am I too late fer the farewell party?" *glances at Tervis and then returns his gaze to the Captain, kicking his feet uncomfortably.[/ic]

[Captain Obvious]

[ic= Dura Bochak ]
A burly figure in a cloak made of feathers of all types walks through the door, a large grey wolf at his heels. He pauses and growls to the wolf, "Stay here Koda" and it promptly sits obediently near the door. He stands back up and walks over to where the men are sitting.  "You are the fire-lookers, no? I would want to be one. When can we leave. This town is not a liked-place for me."  [/ic]  
[ooc]The green text is him talking in orchish. And the bad grammar in his common is intentional. Common is not his first language and he is still trying to get the hang of it.[/ooc]

[So-Keher]

[ic=Cyyn]A slender figure with wavy charcoal hair walks silently quietly enters the tavern. His dark fur-lined cloak is moist with the rain and his soft leather boots (poorly disguising a simple dagger) are spattered with mud from the street. Under his cloak he wears bands of leather strapped tightly across his torso over a loose tunic and a quiver peeks over his right hip. Over his back hangs a twin-bladed scimitar and a long bow.

A small sabel suddenly appears out of the hood of his cloak and leans in to his ear as if it was talking to him, and he pauses to talk to whisper something back to it. After a moment of hushed conversation, the mink disappears again and he continues across the tavern.  

Dodging several wooden chairs, he approaches an authoritative-looking man with a brilliant red beard. "Are you the one investigating the star-fire?" His speech is fluent enough, but thinly accented with elvish. "I am willing to help."[/ic]

[Darkxarth]

[ooc]So wait, it looks to me like we've got two or three rangers/druids (Dura, Korumaine's character, & Oliver maybe?) and two bards (Naoise & Fizz), and whatever Timothy is (I'm guessing Rogue).  Is that about right?  What a party.[/ooc]

[ic=Fizz] "So, do you know how many folks are showin' up Captian?  I don't think we want too many, then again, we don't want too few.  Of course, you know what they say, 'there's safety in numbers.'  I think that means that the more smart people you have the safer you are.  But that really doesn't make much sense to me, smart guys aren't necessarily good in battles.  I think it should be 'there's safety in muscle' or 'there's safety in magic'.  That would make more sense, at least to me.  Anyway," he pauses for a second to take a quick breath, "I think six is a good number for this kind of thing, I mean, it's not like there's anything out there now anyway.  What's the worst that could happen?" [/ic]

[So-Keher]

[ooc]I hadn't thought about that but yeah I guess I am a ranger :P[/ooc]

 [ic=Cyyn]"Sounds about right to me. If we have too many it could lead to more accidents, or detection, if situations should arise. That is, what (or who) exactly are we looking for? If you want us to explore somewhere than I doubt you could find a better team." Cyyn pauses, thinking..."But if this is a job for more people, maybe we could split up into two parties?"[/ic]

 [ooc]idk why the color for that is not working. [/ooc]

[Captain Obvious]

[ooc]

Dura Bochak[/url] ]
 "He is right. It is much good to have more. These lands must be not not crossed alone. Too much to look out for." He glances around at the rest of the bar.  "Are there more to come? I wish to go out of here soon. I do not like this town."  [/ic]

[So-Keher]

[ic=Cyyn]"I agree, this town is dead, or dying. We should at least look for clues for the origin of the star-flame. Perhaps the bards can ask some locals if they know anything?"[/ic]

[Darkxarth]

[ic=Fizz] "The folks here are all baffled, if they knew what was going on, why would we need to go check it out?  But, I suppose it couldn't hurt to look for someone who was familiar with that area before we left.  I don't know anyone who was personally, but I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find someone who is."  Fizz looks around at the others, having stopped playing his instrument once people started arriving.  He seems to have focused in on the task at hand, and his face has hardened from its usually simple, boyish appearance.[/ic]

[So-Keher]

[ic=Cyyn] Likewise to Fizz, Cyyn focuses on finding out more info on the surrounding area. Perhaps the first-mate knows more? He walks over to him and introduces himself. Greetings, my name is Cyyn and I have recently joined your band. We were all wondering what it is exactly that we ae looking for. I figured you might be able to tell us as well as detail us on the surrounding area."[/ic]