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Please visit the MAIN THREAD. Then click the "Character Creation" link on the 2nd post to do so. If you have any trouble with this, PM me.

Please do not post anything out of character. That should be reserved for the main thread.
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The roleplaying in this thread occurs in and around Halstead's Inn in Jithan Township.

LINK TO MAP


COMMON KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHIC SURROUNDINGS

To the east of Jithan Township is the Mesmeric Sea. This is a dangerous, tumultuous sea, and it is best to avoid treading too far within its waters. Storms appear suddenly and without notice, and there are rumors of monsters lurking in the deep. In the heart of the Mesmeric Sea stands the Lost Mountain, a geological oddity. When approaching it by ship, many have claimed to see the Lost Mountain disappear into the fog, only to reappear in a different location. True or not, one thing is for certain: hundreds of ships have crashed into the rock formation at the base of the mountain, and many lives have been sacrificed in an attempt to explore it. To date, there exists no documentation of a successful exploration of the Lost Mountain.

A river flows north from here, into the forest and past the Gemstone Mountains to the Unquenched Marshes, where dwell large reptilian beings called the Quenhali. Though it would require many twists and turns, and several months time, it is indeed possible to navigate from the port at Jithan Township to the far north and beyond.

Surrounding the area to the south and slightly to the west is a wealth of farmland. Farmers frequently bring their goods into town so that they can be delivered to the north. Many of these farmers consider themselves residents of Jithan Township, while others do not. In truth, the Township has no strict borders, so there is no way to know for sure – but everyone pays the export tax on goods leaving the port, so the Township is happy.

Far to the east is the land of the Lamic tribes. The Lamic are primarily herders. They are known to be fiercely protective of their own lands, and quite belligerent if you stumble on to them without permission. However, outside of Lamic territory, they assume a more passive role and are much easier to get along with.

To the west: the Itaxis Empire, an ever-expanding behemoth. They are perpetually at war with the Underlands to their south, an equally belligerent power and the Free City of Truz, a breakaway city-state.

COMMON KNOWLEDGE ABOUT JITHAN TOWNSHIP

Jithan Township is located in the southeastern quadrant of the known world. It is a quiet port on the Mesmeric Sea. Actually, to say that it's quiet is an understatement.

What is called Jithan Township is just a collection of no more than twenty ramshackle wooden buildings. There's a butcher, a baker and of course, a candlestick maker. There is the smith, the shipwright, a fishmonger, a fresh produce shop, a general trader and a scribe. Each of these shops doubles as a residence.

There's also the mayor's home. Legal and civil matters are hashed out in a makeshift courthouse there once per month.

Then, there's the guard post. Jithan Township has roughly 10 part time guards, with the mayor serving as the full-time constable.

Finally, there is Halstead's Inn. That's where you are right now.

HALSTEAD’S INN

Upon entering the double-doors of Halstead’s Inn, if you look to your right you will see a large oakwood bar, twenty feet in length. Gas-lit torches line the wall, providing an almost excessive amount of light to the area.

Behind this bar is Halstead, the innkeeper. He will discuss the news of the day with you if you are polite enough, and if you order enough drinks. He looks much like any innkeeper you might imagine – portly and jolly with a fierce brown mustache.

A diminutive but stout, green-gray skinned man with a hunchback can be found wandering around the bar. His name is Lodex and he’s Halstead’s assistant. He keeps the bar freshly stocked, but don’t try to order a drink from him. “I didn’t survive eighteen mine collapses only to become a girly barkeep. Eh, sorry Hal!”

If you look to your left, you see five unadorned round tables. There’s not even a candle on them to keep them well-lit, so they’re cloaked in shadow.

A mysterious woman stands against the wall to the far left. She wears a hooded gray robe. Locks of red hair escape the hood and fall gently on either side of her chest. She stands straight up, but with her head ever facing the floor. Her arms are folded tightly.
None of the inn’s patrons seem willing to approach her.

Past her, there is a stairway leading up to the inn’s guestrooms.

WHY ARE YOU HERE?

Now the question becomes: why are you here?

You might be a farmer from the lands to the south, spending the night here after selling your goods at the port. But, you have not returned home. Why?

Could you be an agent of the Itaxis Empire? There has been an influx of suspected Itaxis sympathizers into Jithan recently. Rumor has it that they have been looking to acquire Jithan Township to control shipping to the north, but they have not made their move as of yet. Remember, the town only has 10 part time guards. So either the rumor is false (for the might of the Itaxis is such that they would laugh at such a small, untrained army) or there is some other reason that they have not made their move as of yet.

Perhaps, instead, you are an Underlands spy, sent to track Itaxis movement? Or do the people of the Underlands have plans of their own for Jithan?

Or maybe you have been sent by the Free City of Truz to determine the intent of Itaxis action in the region? Though, certainly, the Free City of Truz would not wish to invade Jithan.

Speaking of Jithan’s town guards, is it possible that you are one of them?

All this political intrigue aside, maybe you are just a dock worker?

Or a pirate looking to gather information on wealthy vessels departing from Jithan?

Or are you tasked with hunting such pirates? Perhaps you are a warrior that travels with merchant vessels in order to secure their safe arrival?

Then again, maybe you are just a resident of Jithan Township. Perhaps you grew up here, working odd jobs?

Maybe you’re looking to start a nearly impossible expedition to the Lost Mountain?

Or do you dare gather a party to raid the Gemstone Mountains?

There are any number of reasons why you might be in Jithan. If you have decided why you are here, you can keep that a secret – or, I can post it on your character sheet so that it’s public knowledge. If you do have a purpose here, I might be able to give you a little more information.

Of course, if you have Culture & History as a skill, or Geography & Dungeons, or anything like that… you might be able to learn a few more things about the inn, the town and the nearby geographic surroundings by contacting me.

Feel free to interact with any of the residents of the Inn, in this thread or via PM. That includes the NPC’s discussed earlier, and also the PC’s (your fellow players).

Either way, enjoy your stay at Halstead’s Inn.

Now this is a roleplaying thread only and you are basically confined to the Inn.

Quests/sparring events/dungeon explorations/etc. will occur in other threads. More details about that coming.

It was strange to be back. Many years older and much wiser, Derov set foot inside the inn, looking around and seeing that nothing had changed. Well, his parents died years ago and wouldn't wander in here anymore, but that didn't matter. He lost touch with them soon after he departed here. No one would recognize the tall, blonde-haired man with the green eyes, nor would they ever know his name. Even though he was a bard, he didn't want to play here. Dorev assumed they wouldn't be able to pay, if they even appreciated his good music.

These people seemed rather simple for his exquisite music. He had exercised and trained at many great places, whom the names would seem exotic to these farmers. The only reason he came back to the town where he was born was to board a ship and to travel to the north. With the growing power of the Itaxis empire, it could be dangerous for a bard. Many of them were seen as spies, and though he wasn't one, Dorev didn't want to risk anything. The northern regions seemed safer.

He walked up to the bar, wanting a drink and a room for the night.

Halstead pulled gently on the left side of his mustache with one hand, while wiping the counter of the bar with the other. His rotund belly rubbed against the edge of the counter.

He looked up suddenly, fixing his glasses upon the tall blonde-haired man entering the inn.

"New to town? How can I help you?"

At this point, the door opened, and a nondescript man stepped in. He glanced around the room, noticed the five unadorned tables, and turned to sit at the one nearest to the door. As he did so, he signalled to the barman that he would like to get a drink. He then sat, staring piercingly at the other occupants of the inn.

Dorev leaned against the counter, looking at Halstead. That man didn't seem to have changed in all those years. The bard knew that he should be friendly and polite. Otherwise, he could easily angry those stupid farmers. Luckily, his looks and general acting always had some influence on people, so it shouldn't be that hard.

"'I'm not exactly new here, I've been here before. It has been some time, however", he answered the bartender.
"If you have some time," the bard continued, "I"d like some beer, it doesn't matter which one, and a nice room."
After those words, he decided to put his backpack on the ground. He did it with quite some care, as it contained many materials that could easily start a fire if not handled safely. Not to speak of his lute, which he didn't want to lose. It was one of his only ways to gain money. If he really wanted to, he could also make some explosives, but is was harder to find people that liked explosives than people that liked some music.

The man replied, quietly. Halstead looked startled, but quickly brought him a glass of a white liquid. After paying, the man asked, just loudly enough for the other people in the bar to hear, whether there was any news. 'I hear that the Itaxis empire has its sights set on Jithhan.'

OOC: Do we deduct money from our character sheets for payment in the inn, or is it roleplay only (ie we've been earning enough to counter our losses in the downtime between adventures).

"All I can tell you about that, stranger," Halstead replies, "is that we have hard those rumors for a year now, and they never come. Sure, a few Itaxians stay here from time to time. I'm not really sure why."

"An army though? It never comes. So we're not concerned. Don't be worried about staying here. I assure you that it's safe." OOC: I was thinking about that, and it seems like a hassle to deduct a single gold piece here and there for this stuff. So I'm not going to charge you for buying a drink or a room in the roleplaying thread.

(OOC: We've switched to present tense? Ok, I prefer using that for roleplaying anyway. Also, as someone else is paying for a room I'm assuming that it's close to night. Ending the OOC now.)

'Ah, yes. I would like a room, too. On the ground floor, if at all possible.'

After having ordered the room, Chalael observed the woman surreptitiously, trying to judge whereabouts in the world she was from.

OOC: If I slipped into past tense before, it was a mistake. Halstead replies, "No rooms on the ground floor besides those for the staff... only up top. Here's the key to room 12, it's got a great view." There is nothing special about her style of dress nor her mannerisms that would reveal her place of birth or place of residence. She is human, but that's about all you can tell.

A tall, dark-haired man wearing a somewhat shabby looking robe enters the tavern. He greets Halstead with a wide smile. "How long has it been? I missed you almost as much as your beer," he says, and orders two glasses of the golden beverage, inviting the mysterious woman to join him.

Samuel Drabek was neither hero of might or mind. The closest he came to wearing armor was a steel flask he kept secured at his hip, never more than half empty of his favorite ale. His idea of mind power was spinning elaborate tales in his favorite inn to all that would listen.

Samuel entered the inn and inclined his head in greeting to the bartender.

Drennan, a somewhat scrawny young man of average height enters the tavern humming a lively tune. He sports chin-length pale brown hair and a thin beard. Although he has only recently arrived in Jithan, he appears to be getting on well with the residents. One of the fishermen found him washed up on the shore a week or two ago, barely alive.

He nods in the direction of other patrons and greets the innkeeper with a half-smile. 'Hello again, Halstead', he says. 'Please bring me a mug of boiling-hot water, as usual.'

Chalael turns away from observing the conversation between the dark-haired man and the woman, and walks over to the newcomer:

'Excuse me, but you look familiar, and I believe we may have something in common. Perhaps you would like to join me?' So saying, he gestures to his table. His accent, now he is speaking more loudly for the first time, seems...unusual, as if it were not his first language.

Halstead eyes you with delight. "Dezső!" he exclaims.

"A pleasure, as usual," he adds, handing you two mugs of beer.

"My thanks," the mysterious woman says, pulling up a chair to join you, "but I must refuse the drink."

"I have to keep my wits about me," she adds, ordering herself a tea and sitting down to chat with you.

The hood remains over her head as she stared down at her cup of tea.
"Greetings," Halstead says. "Can I fill that flask up for ye?"
"As you please, my friend," Halstead remarks. "Just give me a moment."

Ten minutes pass.

"There you are," he remarks, placing the mug before you.