The Fortune's Bosom Inn

Bren stood behind the counter, over looking his marvelous inn. Sadly empty at the time. Business had not been great at the moment but he hoped that business would pick up soon...

The front door swung open with a creak, and in strolled a confident-looking human with shoulder-length black hair and a clean-shaven face. He was wearing coal black clothing, with a cloak of deep indigo, some fine leather boots, and an expensive-looking belt with a shiny gold buckle. At his belt was a slender silver blade, which seemed to glitter like moonlight, even though there was no moon out tonight. The man looked very out of place, even in the esteemed tavern that was the Fortune's Bosom. He ambled up to the counter, took his place on a stool in front of Bren, and slapped a couple of golds onto the wooden benchtop.

"A glass of your finest, please" he smiled at the innkeep. "Something exotic, I'm thinking!".

Bren paused for a brief moment, contemplating. "How about some hot Cocoa? We've had a shipment all the way from Maztica; it arrived just yesterday, through Luskan!"

"Sounds perfect!" replied the cloaked man. His eyes searched the common room curiously as Bren readied the beverage - a rich brown powder mixed in with a teaspoon of sugar, steaming water, and the freshest milk from Bren's farmer friends in the fields around Fareach.

"Quiet tonight. Not normal for a place as big as this, I can't imagine?"

"Nay" agreed Bren, handing the man the hot drink. "Even in the evening, we are usually rowdier than this, I can assure you!"

The man seemed to ponder this for a second, before taking a tentative sip from the hot mug. His face lit up;

"Not bad! Best Cocoa I've had, I should think. How much are you charging?"

"Five gold here, cheaper than anywhere else in The North!" Bren proudly exclaimed, puffing his chest out a bit.

"Here's seven" the man responded, pushing his gold coins across the counter. Bren took them and added them to the till. Like the tavern, the money tray was also quite empty today; Bren was not going to say no to some extra gold on a night like this.

"What brings you to my fine establishment this evening?" Bren inquired, idly cleaning a glass mug.

The man gulped another mouthful of the hot Cocoa.

"A fair question - I heard about it. I'm in Fareach on some... other business, and I needed a drink and a place to stay the night. A friend suggested the Fortune's Bosom to me."

The man swirled his cup around a bit, still looking about the room, as if searching for someone.

"Your friend advised you well, We tend to serve the more..." Bren eyed the man before him, "well traveled folk. Shall your friend be joining us this evening?"

The man turned his attention back towards Bren.

"No. He left for Lurkwood this morning. Selling wares to the Elves. Another Cocoa, if you don't mind?" he said, pushing his cup back across the bench, and reaching into a leather pouch to pull out some more gold coins. On his left hand was a peculiar ring, twisted and copper-coloured, with a stone of deep green set in the centre.

"I was expecting another though" he continued, handing over the coins. "... thought there would at least be some other patrons to talk to. Hear the latest news and such. How much for a room for the night? What type of suites are available?"

"Business has been quite lately, there simply has not been much travel through Fareach of late, though I'm sure someone is bound to come in soon," the man grinned, ever optimistic as he prepared a fresh cocoa. "As for rooms, we only have one kind, there somewhat plain but comfortable, 2 silvers a night and supper is included."

At this time the doors opened once more. A strangely garbed figure stepping through. Lavishly dressed in what almost appeared to be black priestly robes that covered the figures tall frame. It's hands were gloved and the robe covered it's feet. Over its face, under a deep hood, the figure wore a mask. The mask is forged of fine silver with copper features of a smiling man. Across the brow a band of gold inlaid with gemstones. In the place of eyes a pair of gold coins. The figure briefly examined his surroundings before taking a seat at a table near to the bar. Procuring from it's pocket a small book, which it proceeded to read, seemingly unhindered by the lack of eye holes in it's mask.

The man gave a casual glance backwards at the newcomer, and then turned back to Bren, eyebrows raised slightly.

"Right you were! I'll take one of those rooms then." He retrieved two more silvers and handed them over.

"What was your name, by the way?" he asked of Bren, taking another curious glance back towards the masked stranger.

" The names Bren Callahan, and what should I call you stranger?" He replied handing over the room key.

He took the room key and paused, seemingly pondering the question.

"I have many names, but you can call me Nax. That's what most would call me."

"Well Nax I hope you find your stay enjoyable." The innkeeper replied returning to the task of removing dirt no one else could see from a glass, "Don't hesitate to let me know if you need anything."

Riona came out from the kitchen and noticed a guest at the tables. Wandering over she asked the figure "anything to eat?", Riona preceded to nodded, despite the lack of audible response. "I'll fetch one right away." Then disappearing once more to behind the counter.

"I won't!" replied Nax, taking another long draught from his cup and watching Riona attend the stranger.

"A regular?" he queried.

"We rarely have regulars, the inn tends to those whom travel. As for that..." Been paused, trying to come up with a suitable term. "...patron, I don't think he has ever been to this establishment."

Riona returned from out back, carrying a broadsheet, which she delivered to the sitting figure, and without prompting replied "your welcome."

Interesting, thought Nax. He had met many strange beings in his travels across the continent, and this one was as strange as any.

"I just figured, your wife seems to know exactly what he's after."

"Indeed she did, though I no not whether it was her skill as a tavern server, or something about the patron." The man replied giving a slight shrug.

The tavern door swung open with a clatter, followed by the clanging of a well-armoured figure. Their full plate was strong, sturdy steel, though covered in many light scratches and marks. Around their shoulders a travel-stained cloak hung, stained with blood and blue-grey feathers. Though they were tall and broad, their posture was hunched, a sure sign they were weary and tired of the day's struggles. With a grunt they removed their helmet, revealing sunbrowned, scarred skin and matted, dark hair tied back from their face.

She sat herself down and reached into her belt pouch, retrieving ten gold pieces, and tossed them on the bartop. "Ale. Your strongest. Don't care what it tastes like," she said, voice rough. "Just keep it coming quick and fast." She didn't spare a glance for the inn's other patrons, nor did she seem to care that she smelt of blood and muck.

Well, this is a night for interesting patrons. Could one of them be...

Nax peered curiously at the the latest guest at the Fortune's Bosom. Definitely a traveler, he figured. But the contact? Maybe... He looked back towards the masked man as Bren poured some ale for the newcomer.

Bren poorer ale for the new comer, and tried to prompt some light conversation. "You have the look of one who is weary of travel, where have you come from?"

The woman snatched up the ale as soon as Bren placed it before her, gulping it down with nary a thought of dignity or decency. She spilt a good portion of the drink down her front before slamming the beverage back down on the bench. With the back of her hand she wiped her mouth and gave the innkeep a black look.

"Amn," she said, "and it's been a long trip. Would've been less long if it weren't for the bloody infestation of owlbears." She tossed back her drink and finished the rest. "Good news, for you folks at least, is that I've culled a good lot of them. Bad news is I ain't killing anymore of those pests without pay."

"Owlbears?" interrupted Nax. "Travelling alone were you? I imagine that was quite a trip. I saw a few on my way here as well, but thankfully didn't have to face them. Nasty creatures... But you look like you can handle yourself" he chuckled.

Nax looked over to the hooded stranger, and called "Friend, why don't you join us! Drinks on me!".

"Well if I couldn't handle myself," the woman said, "it'd be me feeding the carrion crows, rather than those owlbears." She sniffed distastefully at the thought, before tapping her ale mug on the bench. Bren reacted quickly and filled it up. She'd paid enough, after all, and she seemed quite impatient. No sense irritating an already irritable patron, especially not when they gave honest gold. He passed it back to the woman, who proceeded to down it in several large gulps.

She then glanced over at Nax, before turning in her seat to look at the hooded figure. "Well you aren't getting free drinks from me. It'd be wise to take the man up on his offer." She snorted. "Not that I'm drinking for wisdom. Sodding waste of time that'd be."

The hooded figure shook is head. Then nax heard a voice projected into his mind "Friend I don't drink, though I will join you for the conversation." the voice was calming but had an odd timber, it was not a sound that could be produced by a human tongue. Invoking the sense of ringing bells and metal flutes. Rising from his seat, the strange figure took a seat next to Nax.

"I'm pleased that you can join us - where have you come from this night?" Nax asked the stranger, eager to remain pleasant despite the gruffness of the Owlbear woman. He examined both of the patrons. They could not be more different. The woman was vocal and covered in mud and bloodstains, wearing typical traveler's garb and gulping down cup after cup of ale, while the hooded man was almost silent, his face concealed. His clothing and voice were something different, almost alien.

Once more the voice was projected directly to Nax's mind "Perhaps a better question is where haven't I come from, long have I traveled Faerun, taking in its sights and it's experiences. Though I suppose that does not answer your question. Most recently I have arrived from Miribar." The statement was accompanied by a subtle hand gesture, which indicated the breadth of travel.

Mirabar... Nax's heart sunk in disappointment. Perhaps today was not the day... Maybe it was the woman?

He peered around, unsure whether or not Bren and the Owlbear woman could also hear this strange voice, which seemed as though it echoed through Nax's own mind, ringing like some sort of metallic instrument.