[CHAPTER 1] [CHAPTER 2] [CHAPTER 3] [CHAPTER 6]
[CAVALL KEEP]

"Welcome to the Duck's Head!"
CHAPTER 1 - FIRST CHAPTER 1 - SECOND
Locklear's stomach grumbled.

Waiting until another patron had finished placing his order for hard rolls and a bottle of port, the seigneur beckoned the tavern keeper away from his other duties, hoping both for information and perhaps a bit to eat.

PETER: I'm Peter, sometimes known as Peter the Grey. What can I get for you today?

 Locklear beckoned the tavern keeper.

Hesitating only long enough to wipe down a table on which a tankard of ale had been overturned, Peter the Grey hurried over to them.

PETER: Back for more! Ah, my luck is truly on the roll as late. So, what can old Peter the Grey do for you?

FOOD

LOCKLEAR: So barkeep, what sort of fare do you offer in the Duck's Head?

PETER: Only the best in all the Kingdom! What can Peter interest you in today? A bit of roast chicken with a hunk of cheese? Spitted roast with steamed potato eyes? Or what ho, the house special, a duck baked in a lemons and stuffed with rose peel crumbs! How does that strike you?

LOCKLEAR: I don't suppose any of those come in servings for the road?

PETER: Oh my goodness, no. We can prepare rations for you at the very reasonable cost of fourteen gold per pack. Shall I have them made?

YES (enough) YES (not enough) NO
LOCKLEAR: If you would, please. Will it take very long?

PETER: Only a few moments.

 LOCKLEAR: I wish I could say yes, but on closer examination of my funds, it seems I'm unable at the moment.

PETER: I don't much like the idea you'll leave the Duck's Head starving, but I'm down to the bare minimum on my supplies at the moment. Perhaps you can scare up a few coins from the moneylenders in town.

 LOCKLEAR: As good as that sounds at the moment, I think I'm going to have to pass. I just realized I have a few other expenses to attend to first.

PETER: I'll let you off the hook, but just so long as you remember the Duck's Head after for a drink and something to eat.

LODGING

LOCKLEAR: Do you have a spare room where we could lay down? I could use a nap.

PETER: Need a bit of a rest, do you? I wish there was something to do for you, but the only room open in the Duck's Head is the scullery...

LOCKLEAR: We wouldn't mind sharing with someone...

PETER: Truly, I would like to help you, but the rooms I do have to let are full up and I don't think my skully would want to share. The room is only just large enough for him to squeeze into and it's a tight fit as it is. With three of you in there, we'd have to stack you like ricks of wood. I'm sorry...

COUNT CORVALIS (if Corvalis)

LOCKLEAR: Being right across the street from the Count, you must see him quite a bit.

PETER: Actually, no. The Count is quiet, likes to keep his own company, mostly. He's not one much for drinking with the commoners. His whole family has been much the same way with the exception of his daughter...

LOCKLEAR: Does he have any unusual callers at his house?

PETER: There aren't many that would visit him. Don't get me wrong, he isn't a bad sort but he can be unpleasant at times. About the only people in and out of there are Ugyne's suitors and the men who work for the Count.

CHAPTER 1 - GOODBYE
LOCKLEAR: If you'll excuse my abruptness, we have a few other things we need to be about and not much time to do them in. Perhaps we'll meet again.

PETER: I'll look forward to it! Good day to you!

LOCKLEAR: And to you as well. Luck to your business!

CHAPTER 2 - FIRST CHAPTER 2 - SECOND
James's stomach grumbled.

Waiting until another patron had finished placing his order for a roast hen and a tankard of ale, the seigneur beckoned the tavern keeper away from his other duties, hoping both for information and perhaps a bit to eat.

PETER: I hope you haven't come looking for company tonight. The Duck's Head's a bit quiet this night. You'd think someone left a corpse a'laying in the middle of my floor during the dinner hour.

JAMES: They didn't did they?

PETER: Ha, no! Except for the attempt to poison the Count's family a few months ago, things have been fairly sleepy around here in Cavall Keep. Farmer folk here tend to keep to themselves and worry about their crops, not each other.

JAMES: Who do you think tried to poison them?

PETER: If you heard word from the Keep, you'd think no one did. They're a brave lot, all acting almost as if it didn't happen. Wouldn't matter to me if I hadn't of lost my best kitchen boy when he tasted the port. I've got a new boy that works for me, but I miss my old scully. He was a good lad... So... What can I get for you fellows, now that I've talked your ears off?

 James beckoned the tavern keeper.

Hesitating only long enough to wipe down a table on which a tankard of ale had been overturned, Peter the Grey hurried over to them.

PETER: Back already? Fine enough with me, I like the company. What can Peter do for you?

NIGHTHAWKS

JAMES: Have you ever seen any Nighthawks in the area?

PETER: Ishap forfend! The Guild of Death? I wouldn't let them into my establishment. When one of my patrons comes into the Inn, he comes in breathing and I like them leaving in the same condition - alive. Please tell me you aren't looking to hire one...

JAMES: Hire one? I...might be. There's someone I've been having problems with.

PETER: Not another word of it, not another word of it! Whatever grievance you have with this man, I don't want to know. If you're looking for a contact, you'll not find one here. If you're looking for a criminal, try the pub in Prank Stone.

CHAPTER 2 - GOODBYE
JAMES: If you'll excuse us, we have a few other things we need to be about and not much time to do them in.

PETER: Ah well, I suppose I'll live without the company. Good day to you!

JAMES: And to you as well.

CHAPTER 3 - FIRST CHAPTER 3 - SECOND
Owyn's stomach grumbled.

Waiting until another patron had finished placing his order for a roast hen and a tankard of ale, the seigneur beckoned the tavern keeper away from his other duties, hoping both for information and perhaps a bit to eat.

PETER: Evening gents. Just let me know if you need anything.

JAMES: The three of us are fine, but you sound as if you've had better days. Is something bothering you friend?

PETER: I don't suppose you would be interested in becoming a skully would you lad?

JAMES: I can't honestly say its on my list of ambitions at the moment, no. Having problems with the help?

PETER: I wouldn't call it problems so much as disappointments. I don't know what to say to the lad. He's a good enough boy, kind, honest, hard-working. But all in all, he doesn't have the faintest idea which end of the pan's the handle. I've tried for weeks to teach him how to cook so the wife and I could take some time off, but when it comes to cooking he's as dense as the Thunderhell. I don't know what else to do. But enough about me. What can Peter do for you?

 James beckoned the tavern keeper.

Hesitating only long enough to wipe down a table on which a tankard of ale had been overturned, Peter the Grey hurried over to them.

PETER: Back already? Fine enough with me, I like the company. What can Peter do for you?

NEVILLE (if Ugyne)

OWYN: Did Ugyne ever tell you how it was that Neville died? I was only seven Midsummers when it happened.

PETER: That was a terrible, terrible day. I thought Ugyne would come apart then, but she has quite a bit of her mother in her, lot of iron. They dug for four days, poor men. Never were able to recover the little tot's body from all the rubble. I still can't imagine what the Count must have been thinking...

OWYN: Uncle? What did he do?

PETER: I mean, why did he hire that man Sandau to build the wine cellar for them in the first place? He had a bit of a reputation as a drunk as it was, and three times while he was building it the Count discovered him so capped he couldn't even stand up straight to take his thrashing. The Count should have known the cellar would be unstable... I'm sorry, I'm not being fair. Of course, none of us had a way of knowing. The Count wouldn't have purposely had the cellar built shoddy. Why waste his money?

NAVON (if Ugyne)

JAMES: I hear that the Count isn't too thrilled with one of Ugyne's suitors, fellow by the name of Navon Du Sandau. Know anything about him?

PETER: It's a pity he doesn't like the man. He's perfectly charming, handsome, mannered if you haven't crossed him, but zealous if he thinks you're doing something wrong to someone. He'd be just the cat's whiskers for Ugyne...

JAMES: Any idea where we could find him?

PETER: He's a businessman, so it may be difficult to track him down. I think he lives in Kenting Rush. You might try asking in the taverns there.

CHAPTER 3 - GOODBYE
JAMES: If you'll excuse us, we have a few other things we need to be about and not much time to do them in.

PETER: Ah well, I suppose I'll live withou tthe company. Good day to you!

JAMES: And to you as well.

CHAPTER 6 - FIRST CHAPTER 6 - SECOND
Owyn's stomach grumbled.

Waiting until another patron had finished placing his order for a roast hen and a tankard of ale, the seigneur beckoned the tavern keeper away from his other duties, hoping both for information and perhaps a bit to eat.

PETER: Come on in, come on in. I suppose you heard about our new cook here at the Duck's Head, haven't you? Oh he can do marvels with a roast and his chicken is stupendous.

OWYN: Sounds marvelous. Perhaps we will try some of it later.

PETER: Trust me, you won't regret it, not a bit! The prices are reasonable, of course. So, what will it be for you tonight?

 Owyn beckoned the tavern keeper.

Hesitating only long enough to wipe down a table on which a tankard of ale had been overturned, Peter the Grey hurried over to them.

PETER: Just couldn't resist the smell from the Duck's Head, eh? That's a half score of chicken on the bake even as we speak! So, what would you like this evening?

CHAPTER 6 - GOODBYE
OWYN: If you'll excuse us, we have a few other things we need to be about and not much time to do them in.

PETER: Ah well, I suppose I'll live without the company. Good day to you!

OWYN: And to you as well.

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