Karok continued to ply his food, but when the elf stood before him and gave introduction; he fixed him with an unwavering gaze.

The elf had actually learned dwarven. A point in his favor. As he gave his name and repeated Karok's, the dwarf grunted in acknowledgement. Swallowing the last of his current mouthful. he asked, "You do magic?"

As he sits down again, Dûrwë responds, "I am only a dabbler at best. I know a few cantrips."

Karok made a noise of acknowledgement again. "I hope cantrips are good in a fight," he muttered, and reattacked his mutton.

Tynia listens in silence. Every so often she would stab at the bit of vegetables before her. The thought the quest seemed interesting. And besides, there might be some magic items she could get her hands on. On the mention of magic, a pretty smile swept across her face. She knew magic. About as well as she could cook.  This brings a smile to her face.

"Depends on the magic you have a need for." she speaks in her quiet calm voice.

Karok pauses in mid-chew. The higher register voice penetrates the racket he had set up, vigorous as it was. He half turned on the seat to regard the cloaked and hooded woman, ascertaining that it was, indeed, she who spoke.

"The sort I had in mind," he said, slowly. "Was the kind of thing that could blast our enemies, give us protection, you know..." he made a vague magicky motion with his cutlery. "Do you have spells like that?"

"Well," Tynia began, pondering her spells. "I would think I have such as that depending on its effectiveness. One never knows. It is magic and can be unpredictable," she finished. The plate of vegetables were forgotten as she looks over at Karok. "At the moment I do mostly evocation and divination spells for now."

Karok blinked, trying to make some sense out of the arcane and unfamiliar terms.

"Aye," he said, slowly. "Might be good, then. And I know unpredictable. When you come down to it, you never know what's going to happen when weapons start swinging. Of course, with a blade... you train, and practice to make things closer to predictable. And when I err, it just means that the wrong target might get hit. I'm hoping when you and Master Cantripper, here, make a mistake, or things get unpredictable, we're not all getting blasted by blue lightning, or turned into lemmings or yellow bellied snipes, or anything like that!"

Dûrwë stiffens at Karok's casual and disparaging remark about him being a 'Master Cantripper.'

In a cool tone of voice, he says to Karok, "in all seriousness, Karok, I do not appreciate your belittling remark that I am a 'Master Cantripper.' Quite frankly, I think it was a rude remark and gesture on your part."

"Indeed?", the dwarf responded, brow furrowed quizzically. "I confess, then, I am at a loss. A little while ago you said that cantrips were what you did. Are they unpleasant, then? I admit I did not know whereof I spoke when I made you the title. I know little of things magical."

He finished with an almost helpless shrug that wore strangely on his broad shoulders.

Dûrwë looks at Karok for a moment as if gaging something, and then says in an even tone, "I guess I'll have to take your ignorance of the Arcane Art as a substitute for an apology since you failed to offer one. I said that I am a dabbler at best, and that I know a few cantrips. I never claimed that I was a Master in any craft or art. I found your casual and flippant remark crass."

The elven man's natural smile returns to his face as he continues, "However, since we've just met and don't know each other as of yet, I will drop the issue in the interest of fostering a good working relationship. I will not speak of it further."

"No! Wait," Karok said, and took a deep breath. "Before we speak of it no more... I want you to know that, when I called you a Cantripper, I had not meant to insult you-- well, not seriously, anyway--- and..." he winced as if an invisible assassin had just stabbed him in the gut. "I'm sorry."

He nearly splashed himself rushing the ale mug to his face for a long, deep draught.

Jhaelin and Dal'thor move off discussing the necessary preparations for the venture to Falcon's Hollow on the morrow at new sun. Durwe, Karok, and Tynia continue with their meals.

The tavern keeper was providing one wagon and one mule to pull it from out back. Everyone will need a riding horse (rented or bought) or end up riding atop the provisions in the wagon.

A few other patrons enter the tavern and take seats. Their needs are attended to by Carla while Jhaelin and Dal'thor talk. Two are human, one a rugged looking lumberjack type; the other a clean shaved city merchant type. The third is a Hin, short but clean looking. The two humans are big men with big appetites if their orders are any indications.

Another pair come in; a woman and a man. Both are obviously commoners and visit the tavern often as indicated by the familiarity between them and the nodding Dal'thor. They take seats and make discussion among themselves while waiting to be served.

The smile on Dûrwë's face widens genuinely as he says with true sincerity, "thank you, Karok."

As he waves his hand dismissively, he says lightly, "it's water under the bridge now."

Karok grins, thinking of the fast moving underground rivers of his homeland. Good image, that. Something could be washed away in an instant into those dark depths, never to be seen again.

He must remember to never call Durwe Ondosume' a Master Cantripper again... unless he wanted to make him really mad.

"How much do you suppose it is to rent a steed around here?" he asks no one in particular.

Tynia listens in silence. She knew of cantrips but tends to not want to use such. They were useful at times, of course.

"Rent. A. Steed. What for?" Tynia questioned then stopped, eyes wide. Oh yeah, they would need such.

She usually had no use for them as her preferred method of getting around was by walking.

"Um never you mind that question." She added. "So, where does one rent a steed?"

Dûrwë turns his attention to the young elf woman once she speaks, and asks her genuinely, "excuse me, maiden, but I believe that we have not formally met yet. What is your name?"

Tynia's eyes widened at that realization. "OH, I am sorry. I am Tynia, Tynia Earthbound. Sorry again for that mistake." she said looking away in embarrassment.  That is something she doesn't do too often, get embarrassed that is.

"You are the shyest elf I've ever met," commented Karok. "Not that I'm acquainted with many."

He slurps at his mug of ale.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Tynia Earthbound," Dûrwë says with an easy smile and genuine friendliness.

Tynia took another sip of her water and stared first at Karok then Dûrwë

"Not shy, just wary," she responded to Karok's statement.

She smiled at Dûrwë before taking yet another sip of water.

"So, we find a place to rent horses, where can we do that? Do anyone here know," she asked.

"The Innkeep would know that," Karok says. "The man who hired us would. We can ask one of the locals, here, or we can just go out and wander around. It's not that big a town."

Dal'thor gives you direction to the stables just outside the city's north gates. They will rent you a steed to travel north to Falcon's Hollow for five silver pieces per day. A stern warning follows regarding stiffing the stable master his dues. The manager there is in league with a team of ruthless bounty hunters known for their unsavory methods.

You can turn in the horses at the stables in Falcon's Hollow.

You may also purchase a low quality riding horse at 10% below normal costs (67gp 50sp), gear not included.

Higher quality mounts can be bought at the breeder's market on the east side of the city just north of the docks if that is your wish.

Jhaelin looks over the other patrons of the tavern, then seems to come to some sort of decision. He claps his hands together, regarding his new friends with a warm, kind look.

"We are set then. Tomorrow, we leave from here for Falcon's Hollow. Now, if you will excuse me... I must go reserve a mount for the trip there."

If you seek me later, I will be here."

Karok makes his way to the stables to procure a mount for the trip.

"Here's a Sovereign to reserve the mount," Karok points at his chosen steed. "I'll give you the other five silver coins when I come to pick her up in the morning. I assume enough grain for the travel will be packed in her bags? And be sure to cinch up the stirrups. I'm no stork!"

DM Note... A sovereign is a dwarven gold coin stylized with the dwarf High King's visage.  It is worth 100 silver.

The stable master regards the cold goin incredulously before nodding his acquiescence. The necessary contract is made and penned by Karok.  He is the only one needing to sign as his one sovereign covered all rental contracts. All mounts will be ready, with extra bags of oat in the morn with exception to Durwe, who preferred to walk.  Yet, when confronted with falling behind, he conceded to drive the wagon laden with produce instead.

Thus ends this scene at the Boar's Head Tavern and Inn.  Please continue in "The Road to the Hollow"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:20, Sun 23 July 2023.