1st adventure: the Fey one

Good catch Rory. Thanks for the generous donation of 1 gold. I'll spend it well.

3 Mugs of Ale: 1 sp, 2 cp
Common Meal: 5 sp
Good Room: 2 gp
Total: 2 gp, 6 sp, 2 cp

"You sleep for free in the common room!? That will not do! Tonight for Eralda and Konrad, we shall have the privacy and the best amenities this humble inn has to offer," he says, "and a taste of the rewards for a practiced bard's fame and skill..." He then starts to sing that popular song in Lofellian softly to the two of them(I imagine "Paris" is replaced with "Feuilledor"), receiving correction from her in melody and missed words here and there.

Who is the bard, and who is the apprentice?

The innkeeper is actually going to strike a conversation with you after serving your drink; he asks questions about the Citadel and how life is for the mages who reside there. He's clearly beating around the bush, until he finally gets to the point and asks if you ever met another mage named Zelk Freeron; you actually recognize the name, since she's one of your juniors at the Citadel. You never talked to her, but you heard plenty from your teachers who said only good things about her future. One of them even gave her a glowing recommendation, which will be useful since she plans to join the Free Feathers' military. You can decide whether to share this information or not.

The innkeeper doesn't remember much about them, except that the woman seemed to to be leading the other three men. They were wearing light armors and they never talked loud enough for anyone else to hear anything. He categorically refuses to let you into their rooms though. The innkeeper's son, however, is willing to take you to the bedroom of the apparent leader of the pack, in exchange of one piece of gold.

You've actually never heard of the bard. You learn that his name is Jacques Brel [Edited because the name is too good to pass up], and that he is quite popular in Lofell. He's gone back on the road only a few months ago. You think you've heard other people sing his compositions.

There is one candle in the room, but you can find a few spares which you can also use. Igniting them with a fire spell is but a simple task, even though it would be considered a waste of mana (it costs 1). You are going to get a full rest, so your mana will be restored come morning.

Eralda is amused by Konrad's attempt to sing, and finds pleasure in correcting him, explaining where exactly to increase your tempo and when to keep it steady. Even though she is but an apprentice, you get the feeling she would be a talented one if her composing skills are up to par. She is slightly impressed by Konrad's manipulation of the fire, and comments with a smile: "It's a little cheesy, but it is the first time someone did this for me," before she shuts him up with a kiss.

Eralda's giggling tells you all you need to know. It is quite late by this time, and you're the only member of the party left awake. Well, except Konrad, technically.

You go to check the bar to learn that Steve has already left some time ago. However, you also notice the innkeeper speaking with a hooded figure which you haven't seen in this inn before. You can tell by the bow on their back and the way they carry themselves that this person know how to defend themselves. The common area is a lot calmer now that many of the patrons have left to hit the hay, and you can't help but feel a little exposed when the innkeeper turns to point at you. The svelte silhouette turns to follow his gaze, and you see the face of a young redheaded woman underneath the hood. She approaches you with a firm attitude, and you clearly see the freckles on her cheeks and the way she keeps her hair short and clean now that she moved directly in front of you.

"Hey, you and your companions are mercenaries?"

Even though her slim figure and her light voice makes it clear that she's a woman, it wouldn't be surprising if people mistook her for a man at first, considering how her clothes are just a little too big for her and the way her sharp green eyes are gauging you.

She responds with a resolute tone.

"I'm the hunter assigned to the Waterglass region. I've been looking for mercenaries for a while now; I have a contract for you three, if you're interested."

Her eyes sweep the room.

"I would prefer to discuss the details in private. Just outside is okay."

One of the remaining patrons recognizes the woman and raises a hand to wave at her.

"Hey Fedler! Wanna join us? We're gonna have a contest to find out who among us is the best drinker!" he says with a smile. His two friends raise their mug, hoping to motivate her into accepting the challenge. The hunter smiles a little, then says with a mocking tone:

"You can't drink for shit Barsilus. Did you ever clean your friends' boots?"

The three men laugh plenty, while the woman walks towards the door, opens it and beckons you to come outside.

The fact that she seems to be known around here is a point in her favor, but Mihai isn't crazy about a cloaked figure coming out of nowhere and moving to isolate him, especially considering it's night out and the streets are bound to be deserted, so he'll keep his guard up as he follows her out.

He'll keep an innocent demeanor, but soon as he's outside he'll immediately scan the surroundings, starting with his flanks just outside the door, then the street, then the rooftops. He'll avoid a position where he'll have a light in his face (so his eyes can adjust to the dark), and will keep his back facing the wall as much as possible.

Let's see what the lady has to say.

The innkeeper answers with a grunt, and follows with: "Look, I didn't want her to become a mage, but her uncle agreed to pay for her scholarship. I figured I would just ask a mage from the Citadel how she's doing, since she's in no hurry to tell me."

He starts cleaning a mug a little harder than he needs to.

Once he steps outside, Mihai notices that there is no light except what's coming from the inn, the brazier in front of the entrance and the moon far up in the sky. This inn is the only building for miles around. The hunter is leaning against the wall beside the door, and she makes sure to close it behind you. She whispers in a grim tone:

"Nobody but me and your companions can know about this, at least not until the problem is resolved."

She takes a moment to observe your surroundings, and then finally adds:

"There's a cursed wolf near Waterglass. I want you three to help us kill it."

OOC:

She sort of implied there are more people with her, which makes me curious. What does Mihai know about Hunters?

Anyway, he'll ask: ""Us". You have a party?"

Whatever her answer (unless she suddenly proposes), Mihai will say - "My associates have turned in for the night. I'll have to talk to them before i can give you an answer.".

OOC:

"Me and the chief of Waterglass' militia. We would do it alone if we could, but a cursed wolf is just too dangerous for the two of us."

She ponders a bit, but is then snapped out of her thoughts by Mihai's voice. Strength seems to leave her face, but she suddenly hardens herself and concludes with:

"Fair enough. I'll see you at first hour in the morning."

She then walks away towards the forest and lets the shadows swallow her whole.

"Good man," he says, placing the gold coin into the boy's hand when said hands are out of sight. "It'll only be a minute."

He heads up the stairs, with or without the lad as needed(perhaps a key is needed to open the door?), and casts Scan to inspect the room once he is inside.

Very good. In this moment, I am the world to you.

Konrad breaks from the kiss momentarily to say, "I could tell, I understood that the moment I saw you, and I thought, 'tonight should be a special night'."

A minute later, he moves them both toward the bed, laying her down. "Now, let me show you how we keep the tempo in Myr."

Fade to black would be most recommended at this point.

The innkeeper's son does open the door for Konrad and watch over him until the "inspection" is finished. The scan reveals only one thing: that in the last few days, someone summoned an Aspect here. There are only residual traces of elemental energy, so it is impossible to identify which element the Aspect was made of.

As for Eralda, it's now fade to black.

I'll be absent from tomorrow morning to sunday evening (GMT00). It's not fully confirmed yet, but it's practically certain at this point, and i'd rather say it now than just warn you guys at the last minute.

Steve's got that conversation to finish up before we actually have our meet and greet with this hunter about the job she's got for us.

It's the going rate for me to have things cancelled as soon as i announce them, but turns out i won't be going away afterall. Not that i was looking forward to my second date with that 300kg+ stone slab, but there it is.

Well K, we'll be your date then. Figuratively speaking, of course.

I'll wait until Kolson is caught up to us before introducing the hunter.

As for Rory's OOC comment, I will stay silent about this matter.

Diplomacy + 6
Raise disposition

Lomner seems a little troubled by Steve's reaction, and he tries to explain himself, almost sounding apologetic.

"Look, I know my daughter very well. When she lived here, the rudest of my customers, hardened mercenaries, couldn't make her flinch; and she always found a way to talk them down. But it's my job to make sure she's safe, and becoming a mage to join the army is the opposite of that. I won't apologize for it."

In a low voice Steve will say, "While I can't go into it too much here, you really need to give her a break. This kind of thing could get her killed. Hell it could get us all killed. She's way too important to the Free Feathers, no the world, to be distracted with this right now." (Deception check please, to make him believe me enough to want to hear the rest of this masterful example of Player Shenanigans. )

Steve shout-whispers, "By the 30 Tenets of Deremonda man, come here and listen! I'm trying to tell you something important." (Diplomacy check. If successful, see complies spoiler)