Meet Gully Patter
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
Mission's mouth waters at the smell of the stew, but he pauses outside the door to shake off his cloak and wide-brimmed hat. A little courtesy might go a long way toward hospitality in this wilderness.
There are more white wolves lazing about the common room of the lodge. One yawns, showing a massive mouth filled with dangerous looking teeth. Mission has to grin at the incongruity of the beast because, surely teeth like that were not meant to be placed in the mouth of such a lollagag creature.
Mission wonders how often the wolf has had occasion to use those teeth. And what the circumstances were behind their use. Thoughts better suited for another time.
And were it not for the events of last night and this morning, he would feel at ease here. As it is, his grin is only a little hardened, only slightly more stiff than it would otherwise be.
"A miserable day, and that's the truth!" Mission agrees. He wishes Garyth and Cadfael COULD hide their armor somehow-- but to the best of his knowledge, armor does not just fold up nicely to be put in a pack. Pity-- armor means wealth, and wealth means purpose, and purpose means good and ill depending on who you talked to.
But he is otherwise silent, waiting on Garyth's lead. Automatically, though, he starts looking around the lodge for any work that might need to be done--cleaning, repair work, anything at all that might need a bit of spit and polish.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
At the sound of the word "bed", Farron practically drops on the spot. The only thing that keeps him from heading straight to a room for a nap is the thought that the stew might all be gone by the time he wakes up. And even Jack has perked up at the delicious smell emanating from the stewpot on the fire. "I'm Farron," he says to their host, extending a hand and stepping toward their prospective host.
(OOC - Farron's objectives here are #1 food, #2 securing a bed for the night, #3 subtly plying their host for any information he might be able to give them. (i.e. Any recent guests? Any other current guests? Anything "interesting" happening in his neck of the woods?) /OOC)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
Sa'id's stance is relaxed and easy, and he smiles at the host, but says nothing other than introducing himself when it's appropriate.
(OOC: If we ultimately stay here Sa'id is going to want to dry himself off before anything; when he has the opportunity, he'll use Prestidigitation to evaproate one pound of water from his clothes and person -- assuming that's a valid use. :)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
(OOC: Ty, did we think to bring any money along with us?)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
You would each have an appropriate amount of traveling money. Say, the equivalent of ten gold pieces in change of various denominations. For a wilderness trip, all your other wealth would have been left back home.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
Garyth does what he can to wipe the mud off of his boots before entering.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
The proprietor grins appreciatively at Mission's kind words. Then you all stand around looking at each other, waiting for someone to speak.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
(OOC: Heh, let's try that with the whole message this time.)
Garyth does what he can to wipe the mud from his boots before entering, though between the rest of the party pressing to get in and his own hunger being sharpened by the smell of the cooking he most likely misses some.
At the warm greeting from the post's proprietor, Garyth smiles. "A nasty day, indeed! I was beginning to think I'd never find a place to get dry. I think we could certainly be persuaded to take you up on your offer, if the price is right."
He glances around the room then looks back to the man. "I didn't see anyone about, apart from these magnificent animals," he nods toward the wolves. "Have you had much business lately?"
Garyth realizes that there have been no introductions and, grinning, smacks his forehead with his palm. "But where are my manners? I am Garyth, hailing from Overlook." He extends his hand to the man.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
Farron, then, (being totally insulted that his obviously friendly greeting was ignored by the proprietor), decides to stand around and look silly like everyone else.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
(no introductions???! Is no one getting my emails?)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
No, we're (okay I) am freaking swamped at work.
So you don't get no freakin' introductions until later, man.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
(OOC: Sorry, Karl, I got your post but forgot to take it into account. You know, between all the Hmph-ing before and now this, Farron seems to be spending quite a bit of time being insulted. ;) )
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
No no no. My point is that I sent a response *HOURS* ago where Farron introduced himself with outstretched hand and apparently the proprietor has chosen to ignore him and everyone is standing around waiting for introductions (according to our DM).
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
Well, you look like a ferret, you get no respect.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
The owner steps forward quickly, wiping his hand on a rag. He shakes Garyth's outstretched hand with a powerful grip, then moves on to shake everyone else's hand, grinning all the while.
"My name is Gully. Gully Patter. I own this place."
He gestures for everyone to sit, and begins getting out bowls and plates from a shelf next to the fireplace. "Yeah, business is booming lately. Lots of people going east these days. And not all of 'em have the gentle look of you folk. Quite a few that I was loathe to turn my back to, if you take my meaning. But I haven't had any problems yet. Most of 'em take one look at Cutter and the other boys, and they get real polite fast."
Once the bowls are out, he begins ladling stew into each of the, and handing out large chunks of bread. "Had a slew of folk yesterday. A noble born woman with a few retainers going east, and a big band o' halflings bringing another woman west. The noble born and her men left her horses here, and paid in gold for the service. Always happy to help those with gold. She was a beauty too, and had a ready smile, but the lads didn't like her one bit. I was glad when she left."
After the food has been handed out, he begins filling mugs with ale from a casket nearby. "We've one guest left here from yesterday, though she hasn't come out since. She came in with the halflings, took a room, and hasn't left it once. She paid in silver for quiet, so I'm not about to roust her out. Least till her money runs out, eh?" He says with a big grin.
At this point, one of the wolves comes in from the back room (this makes fives wolves in this room now), and whines once at Gully. Gully turns to you and says, "You boys didn't leave one of your own outside, did you?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
Casket = Cask
Duhhhhhhhhhhh
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
Garyth looks mildly embarassed. "Yes, one of our companions wanted to spend some more time outside. He's a bit... skittish. But I imagine he'll be upset if he finds out we ate without him." He stands and moves to the door to call Rennik inside.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
As Rennik prowls around looking in windows, he can hear Garyth calling
out to him.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
Rennik emerges warily from behind the corner of the house and walks through the door as though walking on eggshells, throwing furtive glances around the room and mentally marking all the exits.
Nodding his head in the manner of the halflings of his tribe, he introduces himself.
"You keep impressive pets, inkeep. Fearsome guardians. I would like to return to see them when they are fully grown. What happened to their mother?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
Gully smiles when Rennik comes in. He looks the halfling up and down, noting the cut of his armor, his accent, and the cast of his features. "Welcome! The brave hunters of the Chorrdath tribe are always welcome in Gully's. I've not had any of your people here in quite some time. Too bad. Good people the Chorrdath. I hope I didn't offend them somehow."
He turns to look at the wolf at his side. His face looks sad for a moment. "Aye, they've only about half their weight on them. Pups, really. I fear I won't be able to keep them too much longer, though Cutter has promised he'll stay even if the others leave."
"As to how I came to have them, *that* is a tale best told after dinner, and over a cup of mulled wine! Pull up a chair, and have some of this stew."
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Second Day: The hunt; Strange meetings 3
Rennik's face brightens a bit at the recognition of his tribe, but then darkens again with memory.
"I look forward to hearing it, friend. There are stories of the Chorrdath you must hear as well... Dark stories best told with full bellies in front of a warm fire."
He glances at the wolves lazing about on the floor with a look of consideration on his face.
"You can't keep them? I guess the costs of feeding so many animals is a strain. I'd offer to foster one for you if that would ease the burden."
Rennik looks apprehensively at the hallway leading toward the rooms. "Are your other... guests... going to join us?"