Inn Time 6

[20:16]	`GM	[Business has been picking up at the new little inn by the crossroads.  They say that the innkeeper is a little strange, but at least it's clean.]
[20:18]	`GM	[Today the fog is so thick a machete couldn't cut through it; you can't even see the old guard tower if you stand outside the inn doors.]
[20:19]	`GM	[Five patrons sit or mill about the common room, having decided to hold off on their travels until the fog clears a little.]
[20:19]	Tarathiel	Tarathiel cleans as usual, since she isn't often let into the kitchen (without resistance). The mop looks like a twig in her hands. At the same time, however, she eyes the customers with polite and guarded curiosity, not having seen many people before.
[20:21]	`GM	[Keesh is busy playing a game of white and black stones with a thin wispy bearded man, exchanging information about the state of nearby locales.]
[20:22]	`GM	[A rough-looking pair of tough guys who might have some orc blood in them are already hitting the ale by the bar]
[20:26]	`GM	[There's also a young blonde-haired girl sitting by the window, plucking at a lute and alternatively scribbling verses on a piece of paper, while a shifty looking fellow of indeterminate race, bundled in a thick scarf and wide-brimmed hat, always seems to be pacing around, walking up the stairs to his room, and coming back down minutes later.]
[20:29]	`GM	Mr. Wispy:  "But yes, no, no, you be on the lookout for that pack; they'll be coming this way for sure.  Might not stick to the road though, if you're lucky, heh heh!"
[20:30]	Gilder	is cooking as usual. He has at times taken to making strange elven-based dishes, like meat and rice wrapped in cabbage leaves, but a lot of the patrons would eat anything with meat inside, so his experiments certainly didn't harm the inn's reputation.
[20:31]	`GM	Keesh:  "How big a pack are we talking?  Four, five?  Sheven?"
[20:32]	`GM	[Glider notices a cockroach scurry around next to his feet.]
[20:33]	Tarathiel	Tarathiel mops towards Keesh's table, curious, also snatching glances at the apparent bard when possible.
[20:40]	Tarathiel	She looks towards the half-orcs, too, sighs and keeps away. Last time she challenged a customer, it didn't go so well...
[20:41]	`GM	Mr. Wispy: "Oh deary-dear!  Trouble you for another cider?"
[20:41]	`GM	[The old man signals to Tara and waggles his empty mug]
[20:42]	Gilder	points at the roach and mouths an inaudible word, and the roach vanishes with a pop and tiny sparkle.
[20:43]	Tarathiel	. o O ( At least this one recognizes I'm a woman. )
[20:44]	Tarathiel	She nods and strides over, taking the mug.
[20:44]	Tarathiel	"Just a moment."
[20:45]	`GM	[Keesh places a white stone on their game board, and takes two black ones off it.]
[20:46]	`GM	Keesh:  "I'm watching that tab of yoursh, old man.  Don't think I didn't forget your promish lasht night, now~"
[20:47]	Tarathiel	The waitress walks back to the kitchen to refill the cider, tail swaying.
[20:48]	`GM	[Another cockroach scuttles under a table, startled by Tara's heavy steps.  For a new inn like this, two cockroaches would be most peculiar...]
[20:50]	Gilder	"Greetings, Tara. Have you noticed anything odd happening, in general?"
[20:53]	Tarathiel	"Not much. Keesh and some guy are playing a weird game with white and black pebbles, and some half-orcs are arm-wrestling, but nothing out of control. Some guy paces between the commons and his room, I guess..."
[20:53]	Tarathiel	She idly sets the mug down next to the cider tap.
[20:53]	Tarathiel	"It's another boring day."
[20:55]	Gilder	tries to banish the second roach, and fails, and frowns.
[20:58]	Tarathiel	The half-dragon narrows her eyes.
[20:58]	Tarathiel	"What are you doing?"
[21:01]	Gilder	"There's roaches here, two in the last five minutes." he sighs. "I'm trying to get rid of them."
[21:01]	Gilder	"Don't tell Keesh yet."
[21:01]	Tarathiel	"He'd throw a fit. Where are they?"
[21:02]	Tarathiel	She ducks to peer under a table on all fours. Her tail raises on its own, keeping her center of mass relatively high.
[21:03]	Gilder	"One I got rid of, but the other is right there."
[21:08]	`GM	[The cockroach is hiding next to the wall in the shadow of a barrel.]
[21:12]	Tarathiel	Tara thrusts out a claw to smash it!
[21:14]	`GM	[There is a splintering of wood as Tara's mighty swing cracks the wooden baseboard of the wall.  The cockroach scurries past the barrel and out of sight.]
[21:15]	Tarathiel	She growls and scurries over to the barrel with little mind for decorum.
[21:16]	Tarathiel	"Where is it," she hisses.
[21:18]	TedGlen	enters through the front door, rather bundled up and with his long coat obscuring his figure. The only facial feature of his clearly visible is his moustache, as a cap is drawn down over his eyes.
[21:21]	`GM	[Keesh's ear...holes?  are well-attuned to the sound of the inn's front door, and the yellow kobold turns around in the chair.]
[21:22]	`GM	Keesh:  "Aha, welcome shir!  You're a brave one to trudge through the fog!"
[21:22]	Gilder	"Not sure." he replies. "I'll worry about that, though. You go on like normal."
[21:23]	Tarathiel	After a moment more of searching, she takes a deep breath and resumes towering over him per her usual personage.
[21:23]	Tarathiel	"... Thanks."
[21:24]	Tarathiel	She re-fills the cider and exits back to the front.
[21:26]	TedGlen	"Am I now?" Ted's moustache visibly moves around with each word. "All it takes is to get the right clothes on."
[21:29]	`GM	Keesh:  "That, and a pair of magic shpectaclesh with misht thish thick.  Keesh'sh the name, at your shervish, shir."
[21:30]	`GM	[The kobold walks over to the mustachioed newcomer and gives a half-bow]
[21:33]	Gilder	sprinkles a small amount of cinnamon near where the roach emerged, hoping the smell repels it, and resumes working.
[21:35]	TedGlen	"Ted Glen." Ted moves his cap off of his eyes, revealing brown eyes and black hair down to his neck, although his moustache still obscures his mouth. "How d'you do?"
[21:37]	`GM	[Keesh gives a chin-scratch, recalling that name from somewhere...]
[21:39]	`GM	Keesh:  "Ted Glen...  Glen...  Oh, Mr. Glen!  Yesh, yesh, we spoke previoushly!  Or, well, not WE; my father'sh representative, the Argonian, Mr. Dealake, surely you remember him, yesh?"
[21:41]	TedGlen	"Aye." Ted undoes and pockets his scarf, his mouth still obscured even as he speaks. "So y'know about the agreement?"
[21:44]	`GM	[Mr. Wispy gives Tarathiel a wave as she re-emerges from the back.]
[21:44]	`GM	Mr. Wispy:  "Ahh, there's a good girl!  Thought ye' got lost for a spell there!"
[21:45]	Tarathiel	"Just had to check the kitchen is all," she replies.
[21:46]	`GM	Mr. Wispy:  "Siddown, siddown, d'ya play?  Seems the boss there is conducting a spot of business."
[21:48]	`GM	Keesh:  "If I recall, you are to be for all accountsh a RENTER of my property, the extent of which ish at my dishcreshion, and I am owed a share of your profitsh beshidesh, correct?"
[21:48]	Tarathiel	Over seven feet tall, the half-elf half-dragon looms over everyone she passes. A tower of muscle, she also bears an unusual fusion of elven and draconic features- fair but occasionally scaled "skin" in places among them. A sizeable tail follows her as she walks.
[21:49]	`GM	Keesh:  "But you are to conduct bushinessh in your own way and I have no shay in that, yesh?"
[21:49]	Tarathiel	She speaks cautiously to the wispy man, unused to cordial greetings after the last game she played.
[21:49]	Tarathiel	"I... Can learn?"
[21:50]	TedGlen	"Aye." Ted shuffles in place. "You've got a good memory, lad." He can't actually tell what gender the kobold is, but just makes the assumption.
[21:50]	Tarathiel	She tucks some of her long cream hair behind a similarly long ear.
[21:51]	`GM	[Keesh pays no attention to a relatively-ambiguous "lad" for now.]
[21:52]	`GM	Keesh:  "It's part of the job, you shee.  Out in the middle of nowheresh, you've got to keep a sharp mind~"
[21:53]	`GM	[The old man takes a swig of cider, smiling a yellow and cracked smile.]
[21:54]	`GM	Mr. Wispy:  "Aye aye, you shore can!  S'long as you don't break the chair now; you're a big girl, aren'tchya?"
[21:55]	`GM	Mr. Wispy:  "No sir, you won't see me envying the strong-arm that tries to show YOU a thing or two in bed, haw haw!"
[21:55]	TedGlen	"Just like anywhere else." Ted adjusts his cap but keeps it on. "Got a place I can sit down?"
[21:58]	`GM	[Keesh steps to the side and holds out an outstretched arm, displaying the spacious common room with chairs and table in abundance.]
[21:58]	`GM	Keesh:  "Oh, one or two."
[22:00]	TedGlen	"Thanks, lad." Ted walks to an empty chair and essentially drops into it, causing considerable strain from his large figure.
[22:02]	Tarathiel	Tarathiel sits down tenderly and lays her hands on the table.
[22:02]	Gilder	comes out of the kitchen with food. He is an elf, and so looks like a girl, and has curly red hair over striking orange eyes, and a very slender figure.
[22:03]	Tarathiel	She blushes slightly. Her dark blue eyes drift towards the ceiling.
[22:03]	Tarathiel	"Uh, so, how do you play?"
[22:03]	Tarathiel	The pebbles look even tinier compared to her.
[22:05]	`GM	[The two tough guys notice Glider coming out of the back room, whisper amongst themselves for a while, then enjoy a hearty laugh as they point at him.  Apparently, he's not their type.]
[22:08]	`GM	Mr. Wispy:  "Simple 'nuff, child!  You jus' need ta match five of your stones in a row.  We take turns.  Simple, right?"
[22:09]	Tarathiel	She looks at the board.
[22:09]	Tarathiel	"Sounds like it."
[22:09]	`GM	[Mr. Wispy waggles a finger cautiously.]
[22:09]	Gilder	He's never been gladder to realize that.
[22:10]	`GM	Mr. Wispy:  "But ahh, here's the kicker, see?  When I surround your stones like this..."
[22:10]	`GM	[The bearded man places a black stone, then three whites, then another black.]
[22:11]	`GM	Mr. Wispy:  "Yours come off the board!  Not so simple NOW, izzit?"
[22:13]	`GM	[Keesh walks over to Ted and sits at the chair opposite him]
[22:13]	`GM	Keesh:  "So, I hear tell you're a... tinker, or shomeshuch?"
[22:14]	Tarathiel	"Not too simple. 0x1dToo0x1d simple..."
[22:15]	TedGlen	"Aye." Ted winks. "Whatever's broken, leave it with me."
[22:15]	`GM	[The shifty-looking scarf-hat man bumps into Glider absentmindedly, like he didn't even see her coming.]
[22:19]	Gilder	"Um, excuse me, sir." Gilder's voice does nothing to dispel impressions of femininity.
[22:22]	`GM	[He doesn't apologize, or say anything at all, though he eyes the plate of elven wraps.  Without asking he grabs one from the plate and walks back upstairs.]
[22:26]	Tarathiel	Tara confidently snatches a black pebble and places it in the center of the board.
[22:26]	Tarathiel	"There! Your move."
[22:31]	`GM	[Mr. Wispy guffaws at the dragon-girl's spunk.]
[22:32]	`GM	Mr. Wispy:  "Oh, deary, sorry, I forgot to tell ya!  White always goes first.  Don't matter the game, it's just how is."
[22:32]	Tarathiel	She freezes.
[22:33]	Tarathiel	"Ah."
[22:33]	Tarathiel	And plucks the piece off the board. She blushes.
[22:33]	Tarathiel	"Uh, sorry."
[22:33]	`GM	[Mr. Wispy pats Tara on the cheek.]
[22:34]	`GM	Mr. Wispy:  "Oh aren't you just the sweetest thing~"
[22:34]	Gilder	"Such is the life of a maid." Gilder says quietly, and returns to the kitchen.
[22:36]	`GM	Keesh:  "You really think enough passhershby will have mechanish for you to fixsh?  Why not set up shop in Lord'sh Walk, or Haevenleid?"
[22:36]	`GM	[Keesh raises a scaly eyebrow at Mr. Glen.]
[22:37]	`GM	Keesh:  "Of courshe, not my placsh to shay; so long ash you can make rent, my shir~"
[22:38]	TedGlen	"Can just as easily fix a ladder or a frying pan. Even you'll need that once in a while." He leans back and opens his coat, wearing overalls underneath.
[22:40]	Tarathiel	Tara brushes his hand away, though the blush doesn't dissipate.
[22:40]	Tarathiel	"Make your move."
[22:40]	`GM	[The old man places a stone near the edge of the board.]
[22:41]	`GM	[As Glider busies herself in the kitchen, she hears the knocking of wood.]
[22:43]	Tarathiel	[Tara places one opposite to it, waiting to see what he does next.]
[22:46]	`GM	[Mr. Wispy puts a second stone with one open space in between his first.]
[22:48]	`GM	Keesh:  "Well don't exshpect me to PAY for it, Mr. Glen.  I'll deduct it from your rent.  But I appreshiate the option, I musht say."
[22:49]	Tarathiel	[Tara takes another corner, playing defensively.]
[22:54]	TedGlen	"Don't worry, lad. I won't charge too much for me skills." He stretches. "Since you're here, got something to drink?"
[22:55]	`GM	Keesh:  "For you, I'll show you shomething shpecial I've thought up.  TARA!"
[23:12]	Tarathiel	"Eh?"
[23:12]	Tarathiel	Her eyes snap from the board to Keesh.
[23:12]	Tarathiel	"What is it now?"
[23:13]	`GM	Keesh:  "Prepare one of my shpecial drinksh for Mr. Ted Glen here."
[23:16]	Tarathiel	"Alright," she sighs. Rising from the table, she addresses the wispy-haired man.
[23:16]	Tarathiel	"Sorry, Mr...?"
[23:18]	`GM	Mr. Wispy:  "Bah, don't you worry about remembering an old man's name!  Run along, do your job!"
[23:18]	`GM	[He takes another swig of cider.]
[23:19]	TedGlen	Ted looks rather curious, twirling his moustache.
[23:20]	Tarathiel	Tara quickly heads down tot he basement.
[23:24]	`GM	Keesh:  "So how much shpashe will you be needing for your work?"
[23:28]	TedGlen	"Just a room. I can build a shed for meself outside." He drums his fingers on his knee.
[23:34]	`GM	Keesh:  "Oh CAN you?  Well now there'sh shome good newsh.  Some of the guesht roomsh are on the firsht floor, I shopposhe you can have one of thoshe.  Let it be KNOWN, however!  That if I ever get enough cushtomersh I resherve the right to give your room to whoever'll pay more for it!  It'sh jusht buishnessh; you undershtand."
[23:37]	Tarathiel	And, in seeking the basement, Tara enters the kitchen again.
[23:37]	TedGlen	Ted doesn't bother to answer that, looking curiously at his host.
[23:39]	Gilder	"Hey Tara." He's organizing the stuff he used while cooking.
[23:39]	Tarathiel	"Hey again."
[23:40]	Tarathiel	The red fades from her cheeks.
[23:40]	Tarathiel	"Uh, do you know where Keesh's 'special drink' is?"
[23:53]	Gilder	He looks up in thought. "No, sorry."
[23:57]	Tarathiel	"Uh, hell. How do you get frost in weather like this...?"
[23:58]	Tarathiel	She scratches her head.
[23:58]	Gilder	"We're going to have to ask him, aren't we?"
[00:00]	Tarathiel	"I definitely can't do magic. Don't even know how it works..."
[00:01]	Gilder	"I have minor magic, but nothing like that."
[00:04]	Tarathiel	"Not even a little? Not even something like Keesh's float-thing?"
[00:05]	Gilder	"Nope. Never been trained."
[00:07]	Gilder	"Let's call him in here and ask, so we don't look like fools in front of the customers."
[00:08]	Tarathiel	"Yeah..."
[00:08]	Tarathiel	Her tail hangs between her legs. A moment and a deep breath later, she's her usual self.
[00:09]	Tarathiel	"I'll get the beer, at least. Maybe he can do something at the table. Ask him?"
[00:09]	Gilder	"Right." He goes out, and goes over to Keesh, waiting for a lull in the conversation.