Obscure Tavern

## **First Encounter**

*Could a lively tavern in the middle of nowhere be anything more than a Wyrdness-bloomed mirage? Even if the building is real, who would dare to party in such a place, at such a time?*

* **REST** *Gain HP (100 (Wealth))*
*It wasn't a particularly good night. The weird sounds coming from below woke you up more times than you could count. After leaving your room, you're a bit surprised that everyone's still having the same conversations as the night before. There's a man saying the same farewells he said before. Another one, falling under the table the same way as yesterday, to the same laugh of his friends. Then you see a man sitting in a darkened corner of the tavern. He's playing cards, alone, and his deck doesn't resemble one you've ever seen.*
APPROACH HIM
*You're the first new face I've seen in... quite a while." He speaks with a tired voice. "You're already figuring out what's going on here, aren't you?"*
"IS THIS A SPELL OF SOME KIND?
*"A spell? No. I'm no wizard. Just an old crook." He looks at you with a sad smile. "And somehow this is the last moment these people, myself included, lived through... before our village was consumed. "But it seems like I'm the only one who understands what's happening here. The rest? They're stuck. And they've stuck for... years, it feels like."*
"IT'S CONNECTED TO YOUR CARDS, ISN'T IT?"
*He smiles. "See for yourself." He pauses his solitaire game for a moment, and you notice the reality around you slowly changing. People start moving slower. Their skin loses color. Some even show clear signs of decomposition. He starts playing his game again. Everything immediately gets back to "normal".*
	+ **"AND YOU INTEND TO KEEP THEM ALIVE FOREVER?"**
	*"It seems like a reasonable alternative to killing all of my friends, don't you think?"*
	*He sighs.*
	...
	+ **"WHY WON'T YOU STOP?"**
	*And be resposible for the death of all my friends?*
	*He sighs.*
	...
	+ **"AREN'T YOU TIRED OF THIS?"**
	*"I am. But I can imagine what's going to happen with them when I stop. What I can't imagine, though, is what will happen to me."
	 He sighs.*
	...

	...He sighs...
	*"You're a warrior. I'm sure you've seen your share of horrors out there. Tell me, will my friends end up like all those beasts, twisted by the Wyrdness? Am I going to end up like that?"*
	"I DON'T KNOW. BUT I CAN PROMISE I'LL... HELP. IF THIS HAPPENS."
	*"I understand. And I suppose that's more than I could ask for. At least I'll die knowing that I won't hurt any innocent people after I've turned. Farewell, then." He lays down his cards and closes his eyes. You watch the same scene unfolding again. People losing color, shriveling into corpses, but not stopping in their tracks... until all that remains is dried blood and bones scattered on the ground. The place is empty, silent, and dark. As you start walking towards the doors, you hear a voice behind you. "Look, I need to tell you I didn't expect THAT!" Before you have a chance to say anything, the ghost continues. "Now, this feels GOOD. I haven't been this awake, full of energy, and... life since, like, EVER. That's a good joke, if I ever heard one." He floats towards you. "But you know what's best? I can see... I see MORE now than I ever did. One thing I know, for example, is that you have a village you call your own. Near a nice, warm Menhir, right? And since \_\_\_\_ is the strongest emotion, judging from what you told the Goat, then \_\_\_\_\_ ? No worries. I'll settle in no time. See you there!"* [ Ghost Available]
* **PLAY DICE**
*People inside the tavern welcome you to their table and invite you to play with them. However, the game isn't cheap.*
	+ **PLAY** *--2 outcomes (100 (Wealth))*
		- Outcome #1: *Not this time. Not this time...* *(You Lose the 100 (Wealth) that was paid)*
		- Outcome #2: *Congratulations, luck is on your side* *(You pay 100 (Wealth) and gain 200 (Wealth), netting 100)*
	+ **LEAVE THEM**
* **LEAVE**

## **Encounters**

Encounter #2:*What once was a lively tavern now stands abandoned amongst dense clouds of the Wyrdness. Deserted and eerie, it is as silent as a grave. Suddenly a small man with a red nose approaches, waving bottles of hooch. His smell is one-of-a-kind: a uniquely pungent odor that you can feel coating the inside of your nose. It's a mix of sweat, ale, and piss... with a subtle note of rotten grapes sprinkled on top. He looks like a caricature of a dancing fairy... but this fairy happens to be the drunkest, hairiest, and smelliest person in all Avalon. "Come on, take a sip... don't be shy! Drink with me, and you'll forget every useless skill you ever learned and every worthless person you ever met! Isn't that wonderful? Let your brain melt from my special recipe!"*

* **TAKE A SIP**
*You feel the fluid burning down your throat and into your stomach, leaving a peculiar, iron-like aftertaste. You have no idea what the swill is, but at least one thing was true: you're sure it made you forget something. The man belches loudly. "Now, we fight! What's the use of drinking without a proper fight to commemorate the evening!"*
--COMBAT--
Defeat: causes the run to be lost.
Victory: *The man finally collapses and disappears into the Wyrdness. You find a few things on the ground.* [Received: x2 Runestones & x2 Items]

* **REFUSE**
*"... burp... how unkind. Sober is boring. Sober is dangerous. If you want to be sober, get the hell out of here, stranger!"*
**--ENCOUNTER END--**

#### Mysterious Invitation

* **REFUSE***"... burp... how unkind. Sober is boring. Sober is dangerous. If you want to be sober, get the hell out of here, stranger!"***--ENCOUNTER END--**

#### Profane Intruders

	+ **TELL ME MORE ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING!***He sighs. "I honestly, seriously, have absolutely zero time for this. I'm only here out of courtesy. Please, can you make up your mind so that I can go?"*
	+ **THIS MAN DIES.***"Then it will be done." The Goat extends one hoof and gently touches the man's forehead. The man seems to disappear, as of merging with the Wyrdness. "I hope it was worth it. Now, I'm out. Be seeing you, dear."* [Update Quest: Sola Fide] **--ENCOUNTER END--**
	+ **WE DON'T NEED ANY NEW GODS***"All right. Good, that certainly makes things a little bit easier." He smiles. "For us, that is. For you, things are going to be considerably harder. But now that I think of it... well, if you get rid of the Voice, then the old gods might reward you somehow? Maybe. Who knows. Anyway, I'm out of here. And don't worry about him. He'll come to his senses soon enough and he won't remember a thing."* [Update Quest: Sola Fide] **--ENCOUNTER END--**
* **"THE REALITY IS THAT YOU DIE"***He smiles.**"As if I wasn't ready for this kind of situation..."**He throws something under his feet. For a moment all you can see is billowing smoke. And when it clears? The man is nowhere to be seen.***--ENCOUNTER END--**