TESTING AREA
Master Sung stands up and extends his hand to Blackbird "We shall, fore it is the way to enlightenment..." Master Sung smiles, "But not before my tea." He returns sitting. Blackbird rounds the monks neck with a gentle arm and tugs him to his feet. "The busty broad will have ye tea readied for the road old friend! Let's go!"\n\nSmiling maliciously Sabastine looks to Blackbird "I could have not said it any better myself. Let us get organized." He looks to Master Sung, "One of us needs to figure out just what goblin issues they are having and where. I would hate to stumble onto a small horde and end up with a goblin spear through my gullet!"\n\n"You seem like the conversationalist, Master Sung, why don't you go ask around and find out what information you can dig up." I will talk need to visit and speak with my connections as well. Oh and I need to equip myself for a venture into the wilds." He looks to the others at the table, "Will you be joining us?"\n\nAs the lot stumbles down the narrow, loose stairs from the balcony into the main room Sabastine shouts to the barmaid impatiently "My dear, my throat couldn't be any drier, ale please I am dying here."\n\nAfter a time of quietly listening to the conversations amongst the other individuals on the balcony, Aiyana decides to join in the adventure. However, before being the last to leave the close quarters of the tavern loft, <<choice 'Aiyana glances'>> at the <<choice 'locked chest'>>. While Aiyana is at the corner of the balcony, she scans the city streets below. After a short time, she sits at an empty table to observe the others on the balcony. Eventually she decides to see if she can get any useful information about the other adventurers from the bar maid.\n\nThe bar maid, Malurie Ardan, begins speaking with Aiyana about reports of goblins snatching sheep at local farms to the west of the city gates. "I dun' know why the King's Guard hasn't squashed them goblins like the sewer rats they always chasin' round here. But I tell'a - anyone would take a stand and them farmer's would be in their debt. That's sure enough!"\n\nOverhearing the ladies conversation, and having no desire to leave his drinking, Ser Boros loudly orders another glass of wine (added to his tab downstairs) without getting up from his seat. His tone to the barmaid is not so much rude as it is simply gruff and exhausted. Should anyone pay him any mind his attention would be mostly focused on the table in front of him, although it would be easy to spot the frequent glances he gives to the woman standing on the balcony. His looks are not lewd or suggestive, but curious.\n\nThe tired bar maid stands, gives Ser Boros a look of contempt, and walks across the room toward the door. As she approaches the threshold a man enters the doorway and swiftly glides out of her way, tilts his head slightly, and silently glides to a nearby table. Blackbird McAllister shifts at the arrival of the man, and stands to approach the monk's table.\n\nFrom his attire and stature you can tell that Master Shi Wu Sung is a seasoned Monk. The Shaolin Temple monks possess no desire or affection for material items. His old age clearly written on his face, the man still appears ready for any confrontation that comes his direction.\n\nOn her way to the only exit from the balcony Malurie glances toward <<choice 'Shi Wu Sung'>> and shouts "Aye, any for you sir?" before heading <<choice 'downstairs'>> to the main pub. As the others head down stairs, Aiyana doesn't follow right away because she wanted to find out what was in the tavern keepers locked chest. She was hoping to find some things that could help her on the adventure.\n\nAfter some simple lock pick work Aiyana forces the [[chest open]] with her dagger. You find yourself among several other adventurers on the balcony of a large tavern in the center of a bustling city. The sun has long since set, and a starry sky covers the horizon.\n\nAiyana, a female Native Tribesman of the region, stands stoically at one corner of the balcony looking out into the night.\n\nBenziken, a non-descript, low class human man, sits alone playing a solitary card game. His tankard half full, and his plate of food emptied.\n\nSer Boros Barristan, an older looking human gentleman (quite clearly he used to be some sort of Knight), clanks his empty wine glass against the side of his well-wron long sword. He looks deep in thought, perhaps trapped by memories...\n\nBlackbird McAllister keeps well to the shadows, sitting alone at a table tot he back of the balcony, against the wall of the tavern. The hood of this human Ranger's thick cloak is pulled over his head. The tip of his long bow is visible over his shoulder. Strong ale sits warm and untouched in a large tankard.\n\nA few battered tables and chairs are set out on the balcony, empty tankards of ale, and empty plates are scattered about. There is a banner announcing the tavern name flapping in the breeze, hanging from the roofline. To one side of the room the tavern keeper, Drad Silor, has stored his locked chest of personal possessions.\n\nThe <<choice 'bar maid'>>, Malurie Ardan, is here cleaning up the empty tankards of ale, and tossing stale breadcrumbs over the edge of the balcony to poor beggars below. She's been known to take an adventurer or two around the back of the tavern for a private drink at a price. She is known to gossip about all the stories of bravery, conquest, treasure, and foes that passing adventurers tell her. She's filled with goodies!\n\nYou consider heading <<choice 'downstairs'>> to the tavern below, and mixing with the locals. Sabastine smirks at the uncomfortable feeling at the table. Looking to both of the individuals at the table he waits for the barmaid to return. "So I couldn't help but over hear your distress, I too am sick of the inaction, isn't that the word you used sir ranger?" Crossing his arms he leans into the occupants at the table and quietly says "So lets find some action, shall we?"\n\nMaster Sung stares intently at Blackbird as if not only deep in his own thoughts but Blackbirds as well. "I too am tired. How do you propose we satisfy our adventurous appetite?"\n\nSmacking his flat hand against the table top, Blackbird McAllister shouts, "[[Let's be gone]] from this tavern and on our way to scrubbing goblin scum from the face of the realms!"\n\nBenziken and Aiyana look at one another hesitantly, as if deciding whether to risk adventure or stay safely behind in the tavern. Ser Boros looks up from his drink at the commotion in the room. To one side of the room the tavern keeper, Drad Silor, has stored his locked chest of personal possessions.\n\nThe chest is well cared for, and obviously locked. One would require significant skills as a theif to attempt picking the lock.\n\nPassing the chest, the rest of the party heads [[downstairs]]. Master Shi Wu Sung looks toward bar maid and with a smile asks for a tea or other warm beverage as he takes a seat at an empty table.\n\nThe bar maid, Malurie Ardan, slips out of the room. She never hears Ser Boros' harsh comments ...\n\n"Perhaps the King's Guard hasn't dealt with 'them goblins' because they're busy doing other things, like, oh I don't know, protecting the King?!" Ser Boros offers with only a slight slur. His cheeks are red from the wine and after speaking it appears as though he may be somewhat abashed by his outburst and he returns his gaze to the table and pretends as though he said nothing at all. He'll toss an extra gold to the barmaid by way of apology, but offers no words of such to her.\n\nBlackbird McAllister waits for the monk to be seated, then pulls out a chair and joins him. How well the two know one another is still a mystery to the other people in the room. "Well I for one have had enough of this inaction! You understand my position monk, now is the [[time to decide]] what we plan to do."\n\nThe corner of the room shifts slightly, and from the shadows emerge a man clothed in black. The male human assassin Sabastine Blackblade strides across the room and is seated at the knights table. He gives the knight a glance as if to say, "Well, you should have expected me at some point..."\n\nBenziken and Aiyana are both shocked as the assassin appears in their midst. But understanding the nature of the Realms, they soon settle back to what they were doing. Aiyana must solve the cipher before unlocking the true contents... \n\n<html><body>\n<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VcE5wjCrQ1c?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0;autoplay=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VcE5wjCrQ1c?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0;autoplay=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>\n</body></html>\n\nInspection of the contents yields two healing potions, a list of city merchants in debt to the tavern owner, and a gold Silor family signet ring with an embedded ruby. After going through the chest, Aiyana quickly caught up to the others [[downstairs]].\n IN THE TAVERN ... |
