Our story begins, like most do, in a tavern. Specifically, The Mellow Canary tavern nestled in the center of a modest town known as South Warren. It’s a quiet night in The Mellow Canary. Full, to be sure, but uneventful. Dozens of patrons are strewn around the spacious, two story interior and are mostly keeping to their respective parties. You see some are trying their luck at a game of cards, others are warming up by the fire after a long night of walking through the rain. Some are sat in the shadows on the second floor balcony, while others are moments away from passing out, ale in hand. The gnome barkeep walks up from the wine cellar behind the bar, spit shining a glass as he does so.

You watch as the double doors swing open and bring the sound of howling wind with them, but that's not all they bring. A mysterious man enters the tavern, lantern in one hand, crow perched on the other. He’s well dressed in an all black three piece suit, complete with a dark cape that gets caught in the double doors as they close behind him. You may have seen his cheeks turn red from embarrassment had it not been for two things; his plague mask that hides his face, and his already auburn skin. The man frees his cape and takes a few deliberate steps into the center of the tavern.

He clears his throat.

"Come one, come all! By order of King Lockhart, I present to you...an adventure!"

Your ears perk up. You and your fellow party members acknowledge each other and listen in as the figure reads from a scroll.

"A one of a kind item has been stolen from the King! Culprit last spotted in the town of Langdale! Travel to Langdale, find the culprit, and retrieve the King’s possession to be handsomely rewarded. For the party that succeeds: ten thousand gold pieces. Each!”

Your eyes go wide. Ten thousand gp’s, more than you’ll earn in this life or the next, most likely. The potential fame, glory, and adventure are just the cherries on top.

"The man whose voice you hear now is my trusted confidant Akmomg Sus. He is a dear friend and will aid you on your quest if needed.”

You watch as Akmong ceases to read and bows slightly to the tavern patrons. He continues.

“Reward for one party only etcetera etcetera. Party may not consist of more than three people etcetera etcetera. King Lockhart is not responsible for any injury or death you may incur during your travels etcetera.”

Akmong rolls up the scroll and begins speaking to you in his own words.

“The more parties willing to take on this quest the merrier. The King has sent some of his personal guards out to retrieve his possession but none have returned. It will be dangerous. I will be there to help but I am just one man of limited capabilities.”

You watch as Akmong reaches into his breast pocket, removes a cracker, and feeds it to the crow.

“Now, I am aware that the reward is high enough to drive even the sanest adventurer mad, but please, cooler heads will prevail.”

As he continues, you watch as Akmong opens his robe to reveal dozens of weapons lining the insides. He carefully removes a dagger, a glave, and a rapier and places them on the wooden table before him.

“Be kind to your fellow man! Elf! Dwarf! Giggle Dog!”

Akmong removes a crossbow, a sickle, and a mace and sets them down. His robes appear to be bottomless.

“Do not resort to violence against your fellow adventurers! By order of the King!”

Akmong finishes emptying his robes and places nearly two dozen lethal weapons in the center of the tavern.

“Now, I must step outside for just a moment. If someone might watch over my belongings here, I would greatly appreciate it.” he bellows out before exiting through the double doors into the cold night.

It doesn’t take keen perception to read the room. The Mellow Canary is the quietest it has ever been. Every patron in the place shift their weight readily and eye one another. The poor gnome barkeep slowly walks backwards and begins to descend down into the wine cellar.

The door creeks as he slowly begins to close it.

It creeks.

And creeks.

And creeks.

And slams shut.

“BAAAAAAR FIIIIIIIIIGHT”




Main Quest #1: Arm Up
You lunge for the table full of weaponry. Choose one of the 21 weapons below. One per person!

Dagger
Long sword
Short sword
Longbow
Crossbow
Mace
Glave
Falchion
Scimitar
Rapier
Sickle
Mace
War hammer
Shield
Quarterstaff
Spear
Whip
Sling
Wooden stool
Fists
None (hide)



Main Quest #2: Tavern Brawl
A fight has broken out between your seven parties in The Mellow Canary. What do you do?

A. Group up with your party and cover each other’s backs
B. Split up! Divide and conquer!
C. Attempt to talk your way out of it and come to a truce

(Your party must arrive at one decision, discuss in this thread. Make your final answer clear!)



Side Quest #1: Party Name
Every good adventuring party needs a name! Discuss a name for your trio with your companions in this thread. Agree to an official name and earn 25 gold pieces for your party’s pot



Side Quest #2: Tragic Backstory
Flesh out your character! You can’t be on your way to becoming one of the land’s greatest heroes without a tragic backstory. In a few sentences (more if you’d like), introduce us to your character and share some details about their past (does not have to be tragic). Everyone who does this earns themselves 20 gold pieces per person.