Chapter 1: Wherein the Protagonists Meet at an Inn

[SmootRK]

The Kobold's words make Galen comment (in Elvish), "He's an obnoxious little thing, and might be some sort of shaman or witch doctor. He says one of the trinkets is his."

Then, Galen adds in common, "My friends, I am not so very capable in a tussle, but I am quite good with a sling or bow. I would best able to help if the next such item gets passed to me. Now, how do you all feel about us letting this wretch help us out of this predicament?" Turning his attention to the seemingly inbred cook, "are there more weapons about here?"

Galen will remove any daggers, cleavers, or other blades from the cook if others have not done so yet, keeping the best such weapon for himself (looking for something balanced for throwing).

[jcm]

Now, how do you all feel about us letting this wretch help us out of this predicament?

"He might be useful to us. I say we free him."

He held it out for inspection, revealing the wispy smoke rising from the henna-colored tattoo of an eight-pointed star which was just then appearing.

Selene inspects Hamish's arm, comparing the tattoo to the symbol on one of the keys she found. (I assume they're identical.)
"We should be leaving." she says to the others, and to the Chef: "Cook! Where's our gear?"

[Hywaywolf]

"I am good with leaving. Lets go find our gear and get out of here."

While he waits, muddle will start looking around the walls for secret doors, hidden compartments, etc.

[Joe the Rat]

The Kobold's words make Galen comment (in Elvish), "He's an obnoxious little thing, and might be some sort of shaman or witch doctor. He says one of the trinkets is his."

Then, Galen adds in common, "My friends, I am not so very capable in a tussle, but I am quite good with a sling or bow. I would best able to help if the next such item gets passed to me. Now, how do you all feel about us letting this wretch help us out of this predicament?" Turning his attention to the seemingly inbred cook, "are there more weapons about here?"

Galen will remove any daggers, cleavers, or other blades from the cook if others have not done so yet, keeping the best such weapon for himself (looking for something balanced for throwing).

The chef shrugs in regards to weapons. He came down with a heavy cleaver, which has surprisingly good balance. He also has a more traditional dagger on his belt.

He held it out for inspection, revealing the wispy smoke rising from the henna-colored tattoo of an eight-pointed star which was just then appearing.

Selene inspects Hamish's arm, comparing the tattoo to the symbol on one of the keys she found. (I assume they're identical.)

The central mark on the tattoo does match the star-shape on the iron key. Surrounding it are several other markings - symbols or letters of some kind. They appear as if bleeding through the skin, then after a few moments evaporate, leaving no traces behind. It's almost like a secret message that's being erased. How long do you plan on watching?

"We should be leaving." she says to the others, and to the Chef: "Cook! Where's our gear?"

The chef gives you a funny look, as if you asked him what color the sun was. "By the door to the stable yard, where you left it. Nobody's touched it, like yer creepy friend said. You folks sure you're alright? Maybe you want to sit down a bit. I could get you some roast..."

"I am good with leaving. Lets go find our gear and get out of here."

While he waits, muddle will start looking around the walls for secret doors, hidden compartments, etc.

Where do you start searching?

[Hywaywolf]

I start searching under the stairs.

[jcm]

How long do you plan on watching?

Can I read the symbols? If so, I watch until they stop appearing (2 minutes max). If not, I watch for about half a minute.

[SmootRK]

The Kobold's words make Galen comment (in Elvish), "He's an obnoxious little thing, and might be some sort of shaman or witch doctor. He says one of the trinkets is his."

Then, Galen adds in common, "My friends, I am not so very capable in a tussle, but I am quite good with a sling or bow. I would best able to help if the next such item gets passed to me. Now, how do you all feel about us letting this wretch help us out of this predicament?" Turning his attention to the seemingly inbred cook, "are there more weapons about here?"

Galen will remove any daggers, cleavers, or other blades from the cook if others have not done so yet, keeping the best such weapon for himself (looking for something balanced for throwing).

The chef shrugs in regards to weapons. He came down with a heavy cleaver, which has surprisingly good balance. He also has a more traditional dagger on his belt.

Galen will relieve him of both (and any other sharp objects, regardless of being an official weapon or not). He will then pass the club/staff to whomever seems to be needing something to whack things with (belting the cleaver for use in melee, and keeping a dagger in hand ready to throw).

Galen then turns his attention to the keys and symbols. He attempts to recall any noteworthy information about the symbols, the disappearing tattoo thing, or even Kobold religion. (Bard Lore perhaps?)

[Blazeguard]

"I agree", Saeloria says, "but we really need to find our equipment first."

Turning to the cook she queries, "What do you mean by 'creepy fellow'? And who is 'Red'? Can you describe them? You said we walked down here?"

The cook starts getting nervous "Ah... Red... Red's the boss. Tall fella, very ginger. Smart too, 'cept for taking up with that star cult." At this point he looks at you nervously, expecting some sort of violent response, then gives you a suspicious look. "Er... well, that's where the creepy guy came from. You should know him. You were following him in, all happy-like. Not a word, you followed him in, down the stairs, went inside, and went to sleep when he told you to."

The kobold looks agitated and mumbles something in goblini.

"Star cult?" Saeloria inquires. "Do you really think we would have followed him down here and spent the night if we were in our right minds? You're lucky you don't end up like the guards. You should be ashamed of yourself for looking the other way. Now, we will need to get out of here quickly, with our equipment. If you do not assist us in every way possible you can be assured that you will not live to see the morrow." With that Saeloria looks around at the rest. "Have you found anything yet?" she asks the halfling poking around under the stairs. "We really should be leaving here before our 'friend' returns. And someone let that goblin out. I don't imagine he wants to be here any more than we do."

[Hywaywolf]

Muddle nods to show he heard the girl speak, but he would prefer leaving here by secret ways rather than right into the lions mouth. He'll keep searching until the other are ready to head up and then if he hasn't found anything he'll follow behind them.

[Joe the Rat]

How long do you plan on watching?

Can I read the symbols? If so, I watch until they stop appearing (2 minutes max). If not, I watch for about half a minute.

The symbols don't mean anything to you. But they do seem to be closing in on the star.
(Hamish finds the itching to be lessened as the tattoo progresses and disappears.)

Galen will relieve him of both (and any other sharp objects, regardless of being an official weapon or not). He will then pass the club/staff to whomever seems to be needing something to whack things with (belting the cleaver for use in melee, and keeping a dagger in hand ready to throw).

Galen then turns his attention to the keys and symbols. He attempts to recall any noteworthy information about the symbols, the disappearing tattoo thing, or even Kobold religion. (Bard Lore perhaps?)

The chef was otherwise unarmed. The symbols and the religious views of kobolds in the western wilds are outside of your experience, but you have heard tales of binding tattoos - magic sigils used to tie ones will to another. The ones in the stories were blue, though.

I start searching under the stairs.

You find a lot of dirt, a fair bit of sawdust, and a mousehole. Where next?

"Star cult?" Saeloria inquires. "Do you really think we would have followed him down here and spent the night if we were in our right minds? You're lucky you don't end up like the guards. You should be ashamed of yourself for looking the other way. Now, we will need to get out of here quickly, with our equipment. If you do not assist us in every way possible you can be assured that you will not live to see the morrow." With that Saeloria looks around at the rest. "Have you found anything yet?" she asks the halfling poking around under the stairs. "We really should be leaving here before our 'friend' returns. And someone let that goblin out. I don't imagine he wants to be here any more than we do."

The chef goes a bit pale, and glances around at the others nervously. He finds Galen's handling of the cleaver rather off-putting. "Beggin yer pardon, but since you was the only ones who weren't tied up coming in, I figured you was part of the group. They don't tell me much. Mmm, er... I suppose you could go out the loading door for the kitchen - Lots of these dwarf-built inns have a loading door for dropping in big barrels. That'll take you into the yard, n' you can run, or slip back through the stables to nick your stuff back."