[IC] (D&D based) "TALES OF THE LONELY INN"

[RumikoOhara]

Cassandra looks at Traben then Assallya and says "If you'll follow me then I'll show you the way to the Lady's Inn"
She pauses a moment and considers the Vardo an sighs knowing the dam thing will have to come.
She's encountered too many pampered elves in her travels to believe they can be asked to give up their comforts. It is then that she notes that Assallya was gazing in the direction of Sir Kane. Briefly jealousy rears it's ugly head till she remembers that he abhors women for act in such a manner.
She had been lucky enough to travel with Sir Kane last year he fought the bandits of the Kaslavan Mountains. She had seen his glorious form clad in only loin cloth when he'd taken sacred ritual with the Merdek tribe and won peace from them by competing in their deadly games.
These thoughts made her smile
"We should be off quickly so as to arrive at the Inn before night fall"
It would remove the elf quicker as competition for Sir Kane if she were recuperating at the Inn

[FateWeaver]

Another sorceress, of course. Traben shrugged internally, now understanding why the wolves weren't busy sniffing around the wagon or trying to join him in it. A mistrust for Assallya formed from this simple fact, but he didn't let it reach his expression or emotion. Arcane magic could come in handy if things got nasty again. Putting his remaining supplies back in his bag, he leaned back enough to fill the space he had left to work with his hands.

"Let's be off then. The sooner we're there the sooner you get healed up and we all get a decent bed," he said, though he'd rather sleep out under a tree with his wolves than any bed. Any bed with him alone, that is. Just because he was supposed to be a high-and-mighty elf didn't mean he couldn't take his pleasure where he found it, and many other elves had told him that he lived like someone with far fewer years left to him than he had.

[RumikoOhara]

BOSK

"So what type of thing would she ask from us in return for information that she might have?" Asked Aethelred of Bosk
Well that's a question only the Lady can answer an until the singing is done she'll not answer says Bosk with a shrug

[Assallya]

So it did come to pass that the victorious and heroic adventurers didst lend aid to the few survivors of the caravan and made repair to the damaged wagons that could be salvaged. In short order they were on their way towards the Lonely Inn. Over hill and into dale, they followed the twisting path through the wilderness. Assallya's vardo wagon was put to the test, as was the single horse that pulled it, the foot long metal shocks on each wheel pushed to their limits but with Traben's scouting the terrain and experience they found a winding path through the treacherous woods.

Finally, they reached a clearing, the Lonely Inn looking precisely that- lonely.

[Yog Sothoth]

Aethelred nodded, understanding the dwarf's answer. it looked like they would have to wait and find out what the owner of this Inn wanted in return for information. he kept taking big gulps of his drink and then asked for another pint. The drinks at the Inn were excellent and some of the best he had tasted. He was glad to have been journeying through the forest and ran into the dwarf, otherwise he may not have found this place and he wouldn't have found his next adventure and comrade.

"Since this is the start of a partnership, I say we celebrate so you can order whatever you want and I'll pay for the two of us, i have more than enough gold from my last quests" he told Bosk with a smile.

[RumikoOhara]

BOSK

Chuckling the dwarf lifts his mug an drains it calling out for refill
"Was an old woman lived down by the sea; with a face so ugly she was as ugly as ugly could be.
She took a great shining towards a lad such as thee and better she should than a man as me
For when full by my cups she becomes quite the lass; a face like a goddess an her shape hourglass
So pour another beer for I hear her coming near and I'll much wiser in the morning. Bosk begins singing in a deep an off key voice
The nymphs giggle as they go about their work and even the Lady in her lounge smiles broadly
______________________________
THE VARDO

No sooner does the wagon stop than two of the Inn's nymph appear
"Please give us the wounded lass for she needs care" they plead eagerly to Traben an Cass as they look towards Assallya
Cassandra looks at the other two an says
"These are the Lady's servants an she will be safe in their care.
Please allow them to take her"
The nymph smile nodding vigorously as a small Treant moves out of the nearby wood it's hands lacing together forming a basket hammock into which another nymph throws several padded quilts

[FateWeaver]

Traben takes a moment to study the Treant with sharp eyes before glancing to the nymphs, Cassandra, and finally his wolves. He hadn't been quite this far North in a long time, but nothing ever seemed to change. Slipping one arm under Assallya's knees and the other beneath her shoulders, he lifts her gently and deposits her into the Teant's care. Once assured she was secure there, he swung himself down over the side of the vardo wagon, landing nimbly and bending his knees to absorb the impact.

"I'll take care of the horse before I come in. I wouldn't mind finding a hot meal waiting for me," he mentions to the nymphs with a smile and a wink as he starts releasing the beast of burden from its bindings. His wolves had rushed to stay at his ankles when he hit the ground, but the horse did not seem spooked by them with the ranger near.

[Assallya]

Assallya didn't know what to make of the small inn and she was deciding what to do when she caught sight of the trio headed in their direction. It took her a long moment to recognize the figures approaching. At first she thought they were elves, the skin, the kilted eyes, the tapered ears and the mystical nature of them. It was with horror she came to realize what they were. Nymphs. To even behold one was to become blind and a single kiss from one was to experience a bliss so profound that the heart could not survive being without it. They were creatures of the Fae, cousins to the elvishkind. Why some of them chose to make their home in the world of men instead of the lands of the Fae was beyond the ken of man... and then there was the blindness!

-and yet, she was still able to see...

Overcoming a sense of initial shock, the blue eyed sorceress broke her lingering gaze with the deadly nymphs. Then, sheepishly, brought her gaze up to meet them. A nymph could suppress her power but Assallya didn't want to deal with the results of one of them slipping and losing their grip on the ability.

She wasn't very comfortable with the giant tree either. That stepped out afterwards, in the wake of the three girls. The tall lanky thing lumbered out of the forests and, according to the nymphs, offered to carry her within. Who was she to argue with that? As much as she despised trees and forests it certainly beat attempting to climb down from the top of the tall wagon.

"Thank you Traben," she said as he lifted her into the treant's arms.

[RumikoOhara]

The Treant lifts her high into the air and delivers Assallya to a second story balcony where a young woman who appears to be clad in nothing more than a black fur bikini waits with a small bed. Assallya is lightly deposited on the soft mattress by the tree.
"Hello Assallya, I'm Darkmoon and I'll be taking care of you till my Mistress sees to her other guests. Please don't make a fuss about loosing the pretty Ranger as I'm quite sure he'll visit you soon" says the raven haired beauty while the bed moves inside the room and takes position along a wall among others.
Darkmoon walks across the room and fetched a goblet which she brings back an presents to Assallya with it.
"Here's a nice wine to enjoy as we wait for your ring to regenerate your wounds" says Darkmoon

[Yog Sothoth]

Aethelred sang songs that he knew as well, and he ordered for more mead. it was great having a partner in an upcoming quests who he could celebrate with drinking and singing. he wondered if they could get others to help with their quest, if there was one thing that he had learned in his years of partaking in epic quests, it was that the more allies you had on your side during a quest, the more chances there were of it being success and coming back alive.

"So should we wait and see if any magical beings show up in this Inn before beginning our quest?" he asked Bosk.

[Assallya]

Her ring! Assallya found herself momentarily surprised but she was well schooled in maintaining a calm demeanor. One couldn't pull off a confidence game if one was easily rattled and she was incredibly adept at the art of the bluff. Still, she was shocked the woman knew of her magical ring. She had secreted it away, turned it invisible and placed it upon one of her toes so as to maximize any chance it would be overlooked. She had, on occasion, run afoul of assassins and thieves and doing such had ensured they didn't loot the ring from her before it finished its work.

"The ranger, pretty as he is, is a ranger," Assallya replied to the girl, "I prefer soft silk sheets to rutting like an animal in the dirt. No, when I sleep upon a wolf it will be as a rug, not some ranger's companion. Now that sorceress... or the cavalier. They do appear more- cultured."

Not that she didn't think the ranger was handsome, nor that she wouldn't lie with him should they travelled together. Noble heroes were more apt to protect and possibly lay their life down for a woman they'd developed an affection for after all.

Taking a sip of the proffered wine, Assallya let the liquid wash her tongue, appraising it's quality before swallowing. Apparently, since the woman knew her name and of her device there was only one possibility. She had aroused someone's interest. Someone had been watching her previously or performed incredibly intricate magic. Even a Legend Lore spell was incapable of discerning something like the location of her hidden ring.

"You have my name dear lady," she added, "but I not yours."

[RumikoOhara]

ASSALLYA & DARKMOON

Darkmoon looks at her with a smile
"My name is Darkmoon daughter of the Cat Lord an familiar to Mistress Esmeralda Sirensong Princess of the Witches of Ishtar an sacred Hori to the temple of Ur. I know that my Mistresses ability to see into the truth of things is a bit annoying but it is because of her ability to read into the past and sense the aura of the arcane. Both are gifts granted by demon Lords that she's lain with.

Darkmoon says all this to Assallya with an air of exasperation.
"Sometimes I wish she'd challenge her mother an become Queen but she says she's having too much fun
Darkmoon snaps her fingers an the wine bottle drifts to her suspended by an unseen servant
_________________________________

BOSK

Bosk hears his young friend asking about the magic users and chuckles.
Of course we need wait at least two or the jammer will be naught but wood, ceramics an perhaps some booty, with two mages it becomes a mine of wealth if properly used

[FateWeaver]

Traben took his time with the horse, leading it over to a tree near the wagon. Securing it there, he was sure it would find plenty of fresh grass for grazing and shelter from the tree should any rogue storms form. Knowing his wolves would not follow him into the building, he could also be fairly sure neither the horse or the wagon would be disturbed.

"Shall we go on in then?" he asks, turning to Cassandra. "I wasn't kidding about that meal, I was hunting when I came across the caravan, so I haven't eaten yet." Without really waiting for her answer he heads for the entrance, flashing a bright smile at the nymphs. He had stayed at this inn before, but did not know it well enough to have found it on his own from the kingsroad. The women here all knew him by name, though he hadn't been by in at least three years.

[Assallya]

Assallya contemplated. This Darkmoon had unwittingly unveiled a lot of information. Some of it seemed a bit far fetched but was within the realm of possibility. More importantly, if such were true there was an incredible wealth of treasure on hand that she might be able to avail herself of. There were so many possibilities. Maybe she could enslave the woman and have this Esmeralda teach her all she knew. Alternatively, she could make a grab for control of the inn. She'd run a brothel with some success in the past. What was an inn compared with that?

"Becoming a queen comes with many burdens," Assallya commented, "Much of the power gained does not make up for that lost. Your freedom, for example, is the first sacrifice."

[RumikoOhara]

Cassandra

"Certainly good Sir I too am a bit hungry" she says sweetly
As they enter they are greeted by the sound of a singing dwarf an his young human companion singing bawdy songs.
Cassandra takes a seat at the common bench and orders fowl and a light red wine for her meal
The Nymph then turns to Traben asking And you sweet sir will be having?
_________________________________

Darkmoon & Assallya

True being Queen is confining but eventually my Mistress shall have to ascend, it is the natural order of things.
I believe though that her reluctance is that she feels ill at ease with the fertility aspect of her duties
I myself am and have been wanting to explore that state of being but till Mistress accepts I must wait says Darkmoon with a smile
Well I must and away for to hunt the fox at sea I must go that said Darkmoon shifts form becoming a large black cat who then vanishes

[Assallya]

The elven courtesan watched Darkmoon go and began counting. Her sensitive ears listening to the cat's near silent footfalls. When she reached one hundred she carefully slid from the bed. Wincing, for she was only half healed, she padded silently over to the door. Ear pressed to it, she listened carefully before reaching for the latch and pushed down the metal leaf until it slid the bolt free.

The more she knew about this inn's patron and her staff, the better and now was a good time. Darkmoon had said that her mistress had descended to greet her new guests and those guests would need to be served. That meant the nymphs would be there as well. They wouldn't need to clean the rooms, not until they'd been slept in so this upper area should be clear.

Slipping down the hall, Assallya watched her gait. She had to be careful how she moved or the anklets she wore would begin to tinkle against one another but she had decades of practice when she was a slave in Calimshan. The harem had its own dangers for while no man was allowed within the chambers the women there did not spend all their days giggling and playing instruments like men outside thought. No, the harem was a dangerous place where the women within vied for power and the attention of the pasha.

Coming up to the first door, Assallya put her eye to the keyhole and peered inside, searching for a flicker of movement before daring to open the door.

[FateWeaver]

Traben ignores the other patrons for the moment as he enters the inn. The wolves, as predicted, remain outside, laying in a small heap of fur against the wall next to the door. Taking a seat about a foot away from Cassandra on the same bench, he stretches his legs under the table and his arms above his head.

"Whatever is fresh will do, and a flagon of your finest," he says to the nymph taking orders, his smile never leaving his face. Traben takes his time to unobtrusively study the others in attendance from the corners of his eyes. A dwarf and a human, both likely formidable in a fight. He didn't pay their conversation any mind, preferring to keep to himself.

[RumikoOhara]

Assallya

As Assallya peered through the keyhole a strange little dragon inside stared back.

"Hi ya miss sneaky sneak" it giggles just before disappearing only to reappear outside the door landing to sit on Assallya's shoulder
"Whatcha looking for?
If you be a thief I'll give ya some free advice, don't"
The Inn is inhabited by spirits, demons and strange creatures any one of which that owes the Mistress a powerful boon the little dragon says giggling
"If it's wealth you seek the Lady to grant you a quest which meets your talents. If it's power you seek offer to serve her for an approved length of time to gain it, she's kinda like a goddess that way
The dragon inhales deeply and holds it's breath in the classic manner of all dragons readying their breath weapon

Traben & Cassandra

"It's good you came along when you did good ranger for it was a fierce battle an even I had doubts the Elven woman's survival says Cassandra looking into his eyes in a manner few women have the bold nature to do.
"I was so hoping to join my love Sir Kane when I heard he was on campaign.
This year seems already marked by a dark shadow an dire rumor

[Yog Sothoth]

"So when may we ask the owner of this Inn about the magic jammers?" Aethelred asked Bosk, curious to know. although he was really enjoying the food and mead in this establishment, he was very interested in finding out what they would have to do to get information out of the owner of the Inn. he hoped that if she asked for a favor in return for the information, it would be one that required physical work, that was what he was good at.

[Assallya]

Assallya didn't particularly relish the idea of the pseudo-dragon or faerie dragon or whatever it was perched upon her shoulder but she had to admit the little drake was being very careful not to extend his claws. That was a good sign. At the same time, she didn't really like the idea of serving anyone, not after being a slave to her Pasha for several decades. Then again, she wasn't likely to succeed at casting anything at the little creature. He'd feel the enchantment building in her, feel the arcane syllables resonating in her lungs through his claws before they were given voice. Further, she doubted when he huffed and puffed it would be fairie dust.

Moving slowly, letting the small dragon see her every movement, the blonde elf moved to scratch at the little blue dragon's white beard with one ebony painted fingernail. Hopefully he wouldn't grow too fond of her tresses. Dragons and their kin simply couldn't resist the allure of burnished gold and her hair had that luminescent quality.

"Sounds like a lot of work," Assallya answered him, "stealing is much easier."

It was an honest truth. After all, why lie to the little thing? She'd been caught peering through the keyhole after all. She would also normally add that murdering also was a fair bit easier but rather assumed the pseudo-dragon would not approve of her saying such a thing.

"What sort of power are we talking about?"