HT Aliaver/Player DS Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- R1.John Haight.......HY..Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar .. Ma --.Tobie Bonahoom....YY..Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry.. Fe R3.Mark Murtha.......HN..Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human....Ma R1.David Sanders.....HN..Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human ..Ma W4.Wout Broere.......YY..Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human ..Fe ...Julian.Draven.........Zabyra............Dancer..Normal/Human....Hu R4.Alex Koponen......YY..Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human ..Fe -- Npc...............YY..Etain.............Teacher.Normal/Elf......Ma Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Squirt (Ferret) Kell Game Web Site - http:/nrgcomputers.com/pbem/ Public posts/actions to pnpgm@list.powersandperils.org (mailing list) Private emails (not public actions) to pnpgm@comcast.net Game Update #1 in sequence (file #32) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Admin Notes: None. ---------------------------------------------------------------- [Recap] [None] ------------------------------------------------------------ [New Stuff] [Sivas, Marentia] [Novehas 15th, 1634TH] [Time: 10:45am] So the party members around the province begin to head to Cholan's tavern. The ex-sailor ex-party member was wounded during the Climan mission in the final battle. His arm is still weak but he refuses all treatment which could cure him. He claims a man should remember his mistakes, his weakness. Only then can one grow and improve oneself. After 1.5 years the man has grown indeed since that day. Got married, got a kid and bought this tavern with his profits from that mission. His tavern was a somewhat popular spot in the south side of town. It used word of mouth rather than blatant advertising. Anyone who looks can see that no sign over the door even says the name. He just claims he has not had time to do one. Cholan had mentioned to the party members that Damon wanted to have a party to celebrate getting a second ship for his business. The sailor who was also on the Climan mission with others like Unali and Z'leyra got his first ship thanks to King Maros himself as his profit of the trip. Now he mostly sails the lake, river and at times sea shore south of Marentia. Originally it was to be a dinner party but Damon changed it for various reasons. Now the party arrives for a lunch party. The first to arrive is Z'leyra dressed warmly but for more public events. She carries her iconic staff as she walks toward the tavern. The tavern itself is a medium sized place that could fit maybe with some work 200 patrons. The second story was initialy morstly used by the last owner as rooms for the inn. But Cholan decided to make his residences there with his family. He still has a couple free rooms just in case. The place has a decent bar that could fit 50 on stools. There is a decent small stage that could fit 4-5 entertainers playing music or 1 or 2 dancers or singers. Z'leyra chooses the table by the fireplace since it is large enough and has a full view of the place including the stairs. Old habits tend not to change for paranoid people. The fireplace is active warming the place since outside it is a cool 45 degrees or so. The day is nice but cool as the sea breeze kicks in whipping past the hills. Z'leyra notices that the new table settings finally show a female touch. It must be Kes who is decorating more in this place. Even the curtains seem new. More family looking place than a bar for sailors now. Kes is in the kitchen cooking for folks as her husband Cholan tends bar. Next to arrive is Fremea, Saya, Anorlic, Etain and two teen kids who have been working with Damon. The kids might even soon join him on his ships once they get a bit more training Soon Etain quickly enters just behind the others. Etain is not hiding his looks nor is the Fae. While folks in this province think some Fae are still demons many are more tolerant. That is mostly thanks to Kaylle who refuses to disguise himself. Etain is in a nice simple leather vest and pants of more quality than most pants. He looks like he has lost a few pounds and could it be true that his hair looks a bit less gray? Maybe the stress has gone from him in the last 40 days or so. The kids around 14 both look nervous but as boys they adapt fast. Kell arrives next with Squirt in hand. He is beaming more than usual but dressed in very nice merchant tunics and fine pants of good tailoring. He stops and speaks to Cholan who nods and the trader nods to the others. Then heads upstairs. Squirt almost looks dead as the cold affects him more than the half-Elf. Soon Kell returns downstairs without Squirt. "He likes to play with Tiki and the two animals have fun." Z'leyra forgot about Cholan's pet ferret. The normal beast could be badly treated by Squirt but they get along. Though they have to be left alone in a locked room or else things get a bit destroyed. The patrons quiet a bit as a girl in her early 20s, a bit over 5 feet and around 120 pounds takes the stage. She is dressed in a long gown and a bunch of scarves. She begins a dance without music which is not easy to do. She sways back and forth taking a scarf in each hand like singling flags for a invading navy. Kell grins, "at least the entertainment has improved in this place." He winks at Etain who seems oblivious to the comment. Arawn soon arrives and is happy to see the other Sidh. To the others he looks weary like he has traveled a bit lately. Next Kiet arrives and is also grinning a bit more than usual even after his interrogation fun in Donara. The others are a bit surprised to see a nice girl on his arm. She is black haired with vivid green eyes standing around 5 feet 5 and maybe 100 pounds. She is dressed rather nicely in tailored clothing of nice silk tunics and pants. Secretly she is glad she did not choose the dress as the party doesn't look that formal. She giggles as Kiet enters and waves at Cholan. Kiet also notices the dancer again in this place. The same dancer he spotted recently. He gets to the table and nods at the others. Outside Unali has made her third pass around the tavern. She is not super paranoid. But this place has memory. The party was attacked here by Climan spies. Since then she does not take chances. She almost single handed got rid of the spy network here in Marentia with the thanks of Duke Aren's forces. But she does not care to repeat history. Unali enters and realizes she may be late. She was staying at Z'leyra's place learning armoring. She would need more than just a few days at it for sure. She stops at the bar and Cholan is grinning too much for her tastes. She chats a few moments but is in reality checking the windows, stairs, tables, upstairs balcony and with subtle flair behind the bar using her height. Satisfied that no threats are here she stares at the dancer. That almost looks like one of those belly dancer girls she saw once in the Palace? From some south desert region or something. Cholan escorts Unali to the table with a tray of drinks. He insists that she sit in the middle facing the fireplace. But with her back to the door? "No no. It'll be fine my dear. We have a nice surprise for Damon and you REALLY need to sit here." He gives a sly roguish half sided grin. Unali cringes at the thought of her back to the door. But he did say the place would be closed for the party. Yet there are maybe 20 other patrons here. There is the man in his early 20s that has a sling on his hip. She notices this as she uses the same weapon. He almost looks like a hunter based on many hunters she has seen in the Vassa forest. There is that one guy talking to one other guy. This one stands out so badly as his tunic is bright red a bit of odd color for something city folk wear. But Kes soon gets on her left side and startles Unali. "Really it'll be fine." Unali listens to the team and gets a bit paranoid. But they are friends so she with a bit of hesitation sits down. A half hour later Damon finally arrives. But he looks grim faced and tired. Cholan reminds the patrons that there will be a party for the next 2 hours or so. Once they finish their meals please leave as it will be closing time. "Hey people." Damon says to the group noticing others he has never seen before like the Fae and such. He drinks his mug of hot tea and small chit-chat begins. About 20 minutes later Damon is tired of hearing the many congratulations and ends it. "Sorry. I did not get the second ship. Things fell through. Seems this shipping company owner who was going to partner with me on new contracts decided to not do those contracts. He owns Cho-Cho Shipping and thinks there might be better sources of people to use." Unali perks up at this and stares. That is the company owned by the guy she kicked out of her place in Maren. The one who insulted Ben'dar. This jerk has crossed the line indeed. She will have to teach him some manners. But before she can speak, Cholan gestures behind Unali's back. Using fingers to mouth to not say anything. Suddenly people come out of the kitchen and quickly move forward. Some those who see this grin but Cholan waves them away from that. Kes then brings out a cake with small red around it. Then they begin to sing a odd song that sounds like a sailor's ballad of birth or something. Unali turns around in her seat just as Kes shows her the cake in her face. "Happy Birthday!" Cholan shouts and the others behind him clap. Unali then notices Ben'dar, Caladan, Marta and Duke Aren himself standing there. Unali for the first time in years is speechless. How did they find out? Who should she kill for this secret! She glances behind her to others in her party her so called friends. They are grinning a bit. Maybe it was Fremea? No. Probably Z'leyra. Someone talked! Then she recalls they were all at her home in Katai. Her family must've shared this secret. She groans and wonders if she can flee fast. Kes places the cake in front of Unali. "Sorry to surprise you but I guess we are still a day late on your birthday?" Z'leyra wonders how she didn't mention this in her place yesterday while working in her shop. Unali stares at the cake a simple vanilla with red cherry on the trim. Where did they get red cherries this time of year? Who will die for this giving one of her favorite cakes. Some of the patrons are still around eating including the Red tunic guy. Kell actually likes that tunic. Kaylle enters the tavern with a bag. "Sorry! I was late. I was distracted by some library business. Is that Red Cherry cake?! I heard about that in Malnon but ...ohhh.." The dancer ends her set as it seems no one is noticing anymore. She sits at the bar and watches. Now 4 of those winged ones? What is this place that she has gotten into. The cake is split and lunch finished. Ben'dar and others talk about old times. [Time: 1:18pm] Hours later the food settles in full bellies and Cholan has opened the doors to the public a bit ago. Several come back that were here earlier. Why don't these folks have homes? But as with most taverns the usual patrons come back. As the talk settles Kaylle looks to Z'leyra. "Hey. You once told me about your past in Ticasi. I was fascinated as a Scholar to hear of the place. I meant to come by yesterday but been super busy. I got word that your dad's place will be demolished and a new complex of a school will be put in its place. They plan to do this at the start of the new year. So what? Month and a half? I heard about this from a friend there who studies historical military battles. He recently found this fascinating book on Cerulean....oh..sorry never mind. Any way I figure you may want to know. It was your place more or less. They tend to purify and cast other building spells on it so might mess up your whole home vibe. One of these days I'll get to Ticasi but with the library stuff I am tired down for now. Maybe one day when I get time I should get some folks to fill in for me. But King Maros gave me the job and I will do it until he tires of me." Z'leyra considers this news. It has been years since she was there. The home itself has little meaning but it was where her father was killed. Cholan gets to the table with a new tray of hot biscuits and and drinks. "Did I hear Ticasi? Sounds like boring place to me." Kaylle glares at the gruff ex-sailor. "It is funny but some folks have been asking about caravans going west. I think that guy in the red and his friend wand to go to Aratad. Damon think you can find him a good ship?" Damon mumbles to himself sad that his second ship plans failed. "That guy over there..." Cholan points to the man with the sling. "He does not speak a word of Marentian. " He leans so not to be heard. "But oddly he can read and write a bit of Marentian? Isn't that weird? He also has a smudge of sign language. He wrote down asking about a caravan out west. I tried to write down go to the west gate but does not seem to understand. Or just likes the ale here. He wrote that his native tongue is ...what was it...I seem to have forgotten now....maybe Kes knows?" He heads to the bar to find Kes. Then Kell remembers. "Oh!" He waves over Fremea, Unali, Z'leyra and Kiet. "I sold that ruby necklace that Arawn worked on." Arawn soon joins them. "I believe we estimated it 8 gold base value? Well I sold it for 42." He pulls the bag out and jiggles it. Actions? Comments? Next Update....Monday? GM: A small update but we begin. A fun surprise and a hook. So now what folks? For old players I will post the Behind Scenes update soon. I figure we'll begin. I was hoping to hear from the new players but they've been real quiet. :<