"Now lads. I've been watching ye for the past while. What ye be doing here and what might a fellow like meself be able to do help ye? I'm busy as ye might expect so let's not tarry, please. Garth, bring me one of ye famous pints like Cornelius seems to be enjoying so much. Hey did I ever tell ye of the time I almost married a drow Priestess?" The elder man sat back and puffed on his pipe as Garth scrambled to the kitchen, returning quickly to the table with a foaming mug of ale for the old man.
Jacob had barely sat down as the young boy Ort suddenly transformed into an eldelry man? Sweet Lathander! It can't be! Even as he's thinking it the old man speaks. "Now Jacob, ye only met me once. Yes 'tis I. Stop that 'n' speak to me lad. Who are these people with ye and what are ye doing here in Shadowdale?"
"Um well it's a long tale, I fear, Sir. I've been transported to a strange land a few weeks back. There I met these fine people. Tarlyn here is from our lands but the others are all from those lands I was transported to, sir. I have been travelling with them all this while. We were in dire straits indeed until we were brought back to the realms. After that the men and dwarf ended up outside of the city here. Tarlyn and I were in the underdark. I got Tarlyn and I here with the others. Then we came to the Inn and have been ever since as you know, sir."
The old man took it all in and then looked at everyone in the party. His question left no option but to answer. "So lads. What do ye wish to do? Stay here a little while and help a man from certain death or return back home? You can of course help the man then I can return ye home. The choice is yours. Decide amongst yourselves 'n let me know. Though 'tis not like I'll not know whatye decide anyways" he says with a wink. He stands, and nodding to Garth, leaves the Inn, the floating bubbles and pipe following him.
