Rushu42

The smile slips from Kodwola's face, but she quickly pastes it back on. "Ah. Right. I have been informed many times that I am excessively loqua- that I talk too much. I shall endeavor to modify this behavior." She walks around the building and pushes open the door. "You are coming as well, yes?"

I lucked out - there was a gap in the clouds in time for me to haul out my telescope. It was great! I wish you all clear skies for your own observations.

Kodwola drums her fingers on her arm. "Even for one attempting to be subtle, this bartender is taking a remarkably long time. And you can hear a commotion inside, yes? It appears your note has led us astray in our choice of location, Mr. Usavi. Should we both wish to continue our pursuit of gold and information, respectively, perhaps the most productive way to do this would be to reenter the building?" @AmazingGoob

"Yes. We can trust Folorian. He's my guildmember and friend." Aln forced herself to ignore the man's odd stumbling, forced herself to overlook the mysterious customer, forced herself to store all the intriguing information about this place in the back of her mind. They were surrounded by little mysteries, any of which she would normally have sat down with and picked apart, notebook in hand. But she was facing a larger problem, a more daunting one, and the pieces were slowly beginning to come together. Forgery, said a section of her mind, finally connecting a few dots. That's where you'd get dual memories. A soulstamp. "Once we're in your private place, I'll explain it all," Aln promised. "But I've already been attacked once tonight; I'm not confident we're safe." @mathiau @Ookla Fell From The Sky

I take a moment to replace my sunglasses and drop a few coins on the bar before following him out the door. I circle the inn and situate myself beside the back door, completely failing to look casual. "My very first clandestine meeting," I say with satisfaction. "This beats counting rocks any day."

"Ah, well, my travelling always takes the form of a well-crafted sonnet, personally. I suppose we can't all be so blessed." I glance at the barkeep, and then around at the rest of the room. "Say, Usavi, why don't we take this obviously riveting conversation out behind the tavern?"

"You may indeed ask, Usavi, now that I'm merely strange, rather than a stranger. I come to these parts seeking adventure, for I've been told that that's the best way to answer a divine call." I touch the symbol hanging around my neck. "And indeed, my first day in town I run into a mysterious man bearing both weapons and a secret. An indication that I'm on the right path, yes? And what about you? Why are you lurking in rural taverns with such dramatic accoutrements?"

Permission given, I grab the note from his hands and scan it. "Fascinating. And this came from the bartender? Truly, a brave and selfless soul, to risk himself in order to bring employment to a travelling stranger. Speaking of, I'm Wola. By what name do you go?"

I stand up, craning to see what's written on the scrap of paper. "All that that note cost you was the price of a drink. Well, I bought a drink, too, so shouldn't I get to read it? I can hardly be an adventurer without uncovering some sort of mystery, can I? And yours is the most promising."

"Because I want to know. And also because we both have weapons. And lest I forget, because I'm a cleric of the Unnamed God. That should be enough reasons, yes?"

I move my chair until I'm sitting beside the recently arrived man. "What's that note?" I ask without preamble. @AmazingGoob

I look over as the bartender moves to address another customer, speaking in low tones. I prick up my ears, hoping to catch a snatch of something interesting. I got a 23 on a perception roll.

My Shard Christmas wish is to be better at interacting online. You're all great people on here, but I'm not very good at making friends, so I just hover around reading threads and being impressed.

Almost! I'll count it. It's an in-world Stormlight reference to a woman who drowned herself in the sea because she thought her lover had died, despite the fact that he actually lived. It means "acting without information" or, more generally, "stupid".

I'm here to deliver a compliment to @00kla, who's allowed me to join their D&D game, and has so far put up with my excessive number of questions. You're fantastic! Thank you!

I've only tried that once, but it was delicious. Great, now I'm hungry for chocolate... The person below me understood my Ookla name without looking it up.

Aln followed Poller toward the building, talking urgently to Folorian. "Unfortunately, now isn't a great time to stop and chat. The Guild was attacked, possibly even destroyed - I had to flee. And there's something else, too, something strange. This man, Poller, is taking us somewhere secure where we can discuss privately. Running across you was a real stroke of luck - if this is what I fear it might be, we'll need all the help -" she cut off as Poller stopped, pointing at the door, where a customer had just entered. He seemed unusually surprised at what seemed like an everyday occurence. "Is that going to be a problem?" she asked him. @Ookla Fell From The Sky @mathiau

"Is that how it's usually done? You pick a town, and wait for something bad to happen? Or do you have to go seeking it out?"