Discussion Inn: The Platinum Penguin

Lian Batenkaitos

Senior Member
After being gone on a business trip for nearly a month, I make my return to the Platinum Penguin Inn.

"Bonjour, tout le monde. Comment ça va?

I say, greeting everyone as I take a seat. I then ask Crystal to book me a room for the weekend while asking her how things are going on her end.
 

TD

ES COO Shitposting Dept. of GWF
The door to the Platinum Penguin swings open. You look. You see... nothing? Oh wait, better shift those eyes down. There she is. The tiniest Tortle you ever did see. A new face around here. Such a unique shell as well, clearly there was some special magic at play. But who is she?

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The tiny female Tortle looks around the room. She sees nobody she recognizes, a cautious frown spreads on her face.

...Oh dear.

The tiny Tortle fixes her eyes on the penguin at the bar, maybe this penguin knows something. She wiggles her way over, weaving between the other patrons. She climbs up one of the stools, plops her hands down, and smiles at the penguin.

Hi there! Any chance one of my kind has been here? He was probably asking about lettuce.
 

Crystal

Formerly Apollo
Crystal smiles at the precious tortle with a warm and knowing look.

Ah, yes. He certainly loves his lettuce, I gave him some rather large bowls to work through while he was here! I believe he's presently on an adventure, but I suspect he'll be back shortly. Would you like to stay here with us until he returns, hon?
 
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The unnamed Tortle lets out a soft and playful giggle.

He's a crucial part of my destiny after all. He has a constable for getting himself into precarious packages.

The Tortle pauses. Is she using these words correctly? She's not sure, but surely she sounds smart.

Staying here seems like a magnificent solution! It's absolutely thrilling to hear you know him and that he may dilly dally into this fine place at any moment.

But... tell me, will I be safe here?


Her eyes look around the room, her small size tends to make her an easy target sometimes.
 

Crystal

Formerly Apollo
Crystal gives her a reassuring look and offers a small bowl of lettuce to the tiny Tortle.

Everyone is a friend here, and if you would like to stay here while you await your friend's return, you're welcome to a room at the inn, where you may rest and relax. You're in the safest hands you could ask for here, hon.
 
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The tiny Tortle looks down at the small bowl of lettuce. She lets out a soft smile at the penguin's gesture. She gently slides the bowl back to the penguin.

I appreciate the hospitality. Truly, that is very kind of you! Thank you for the bowl of lettuce...  but, that's more of my brother's speed than my own.

A room would be wonderful! I don't have much in the way of coin, but I often get bored waiting around...

Perhaps I can help around around here?


The tiny Tortle giggles once more. She's a playful little thing.

You can call me Dream by the way. Of the Tortle family. What's your name?
 

Crystal

Formerly Apollo
Crystal smiles at the playful Tortle's excited demeanor.

It's wonderful to meet you, Dream, my name is Crystal, the proprietor of this Inn. You don't need to worry about coin, I'm happy to offer you a room while you wait. The Tortles have been customers for as long as this establishment has existed and I'm pleased to offer my Inn to such a wonderful family. If you would like to help out while you're here, you are more than welcome to, though by no means obligated to do so!
 
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Dream claps her hands with a gleeful expression.

Crystal! What a lovely name! I have a feeling we're going to get along spectacularly. I'm happy to hear my rather large family has been making their way through here.

Just stay away from Danger. He's a bad bad Tortle.

I am always happy to help!


Dreams slaps her Tortle claw to her mouth and blows Crystal a kiss, then winks.

This'll be fun!
 
OP
D&D Character

Dungeon Master

Tea Wrecks
Quoted Image
A Mysterious Voice
As you stand poised to continue your adventure drink, an indescribable sensation overcomes you. You feel a sudden discord in time, as if months have passed in an instant while you stood stock-still mid-breath. You feel the drag of air against your limbs as you try to ambulate yourself through the chrono-molasses, each attempt to contract a muscle and urge yourself into action becoming an insurmountable task.

The intangible lag abates as quickly as it beset you, with every struggled attempt to move your body hitting all at once as if queued actions, culminating in some sick dance moves as you flail around. After your impromptu break-dancing, as you regain control of your own destiny, your hands instinctively move towards your weapon in an effort to defend yourself against whatever evil wizard had foisted this time-fuckery upon you.

But no cackling robed antagonist presents themselves. Instead, you find a small point of light flicker into existence about chest level, a short distance away from you. The point swirls in a circular motion, with each revolution adding more scintilating sparks as from hot iron worked in a blacksmith's forge. The rotating point begins to expand, taking on the appearance of a firework twirled on a string about a central axis, cascading glittering embers against the floor and walls. Momentarily you worry about the fire hazard, but the embers never settle, instead floating slightly above the surfaces before twinkling out of existence.

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As the central iris of the ring expands, your surroundings beyond the brilliant swirling frame begin to warp and blur. What should have been the wall of the room you occupy dissipates until you can clearly see through the portal into another land. Great stone pillars rise from the weathered slabs of the floor, each linked together with a beautifully decorated arch, though they support no roof. The open sky above shines silvery moonlight down upon the area, illuminating in stark relief a large statue in the center of the area. This statue depicts a wise figure with a kind smile, surrounded by seven songbirds. The statue exudes a comforting presence, even being but a viewer looking through time and space.

At the base of the statue, you can make out the comparatively small figure of a tiefling, curved horns glinting in the moonlight, crouched by a rain puddle. They carefully fill a vial from the reflective pool, and seem oblivious to the magical swirling vortex materializing a few dozen feet away from them.

As you step closer to the portal and reach your hand forward, you feel a thrum of energy against your fingertips. The moment you make contact, a voice echoes through your mind without touching your ears.

"Time is fleeting. A great threat looms over Toril from beyond the stars, and the planet needs every able-bodied savior it can muster. Time on this side of the portal will halt, should you chose to step through.

Do not fret, only your essence will travel from this place to inhabit a copy of your body. Should you perish, or once this threat has been quelled, you will return back here free from harm.

Adventurers, assemble!"


((While this idea was primarily to get the current campaigns players some action, it's also an opportunity for anyone who's been on the sidelines to participate for a one-shot battle. So I'm posting it here, too.

My campaign is at their final encounter, which I've already steered off-course from the official source adventure to add more homebrew story. While the battle as written is scaled for a level 3 party, I have plans to both rebalance it a bit for my (now) level 4 players, as well as add some lower-level minion adds that'll be more suited for characters who're still level 2 (or 1).

If you've any interest in jumping in, with the agreement that it won't affect your current campaign progress, or risk getting your character killed, please feel free to join us in The Wary Wolf Tavern thread so that I can try to plan the final encounter in earnest.))
 
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Crystal

Formerly Apollo
Crystal looks up from cleaning the bar counter and smiles broadly.

Ah, hello again weary traveler! It's wonderful to see you here once again. Can I get you something?
 

Lian Batenkaitos

Senior Member
Crystal looks up from cleaning the bar counter and smiles broadly.

Ah, hello again weary traveler! It's wonderful to see you here once again. Can I get you something?
Yeah, the usual. Iced tea and a stuffed crust pizza sounds nice, actually. I'll need it after the wild goose chase I was sent on. So anyways, a fellow by the name of Glacier was supposed to show up. We received a message telling us that our world was about to change, blood was gonna run cold, and this guy was gonna appear from a frosty portal. We were supposed to welcome him into the fold.

So yeah, about that.....we waited for months on end and nothing. The frosty fucker didn't even have the decency to show up.

 

Crystal

Formerly Apollo
Oh my, that sounds horrible! What a terrible thing for that person to do, I hope you get a chance to rest up now that you're out of those Sub-Zero temperatures!

Crystal retreats into the back and returns moments later with a piping hot stuffed crust pizza and frosty refreshment.

Here you go, hon, enjoy!
 

Lian Batenkaitos

Senior Member
They spent all that time hyping that bloke up to the moon. Turns out the man of ice has cold feet.

Takes a bite of the cheesy goodness.

Oh, this is amazing. I could eat your cooking forever.
 

Lian Batenkaitos

Senior Member
With the year coming to a close, my friend & I decide to chill at the Platinum Penguin. A new campaign will be starting soon, but for the time being, we kick back and celebrate New Year's eve together.

I go up to the counter, greeting Crystal as I take a seat and order some food.


Brought along a friend of mine for the New Year's Eve celebration. I'd like to introduce you to his Lordship: the Grump of Metsvard, Arkort Taykor.
 

Crystal

Formerly Apollo
Crystal smiles at such a grandiose title, but sensed the goodness in this person.

Welcome, my new friend. It's good to have you with us here. Please, sit, what can I get for you both today? Lian? Your Lordship?
 

Lian Batenkaitos

Senior Member
Exhausted from a long day of running errands, I decide to retire for the evening. I enter the Inn, greeted with a smile by the ever so sweet Crystal.

I'd like to book a room for the night if that's alright with you. In the meantime, I'd like to spend the rest of the evening hanging out here with you.
 

Crystal

Formerly Apollo
Crystal smiles a welcoming smile and hands Lian the keys to Room 2, an unfamiliar look of tiredness and wear in her face.

Certainly, my friend. Here is your key and I would love the company, while I'm here.
 

Crystal

Formerly Apollo
They head to a table and sit, Crystal carrying drinks and refreshing sandwiches for both of them.

So how are things, my friend....

...they spend the night catching up and talking, enjoy good food and good company. Into the wee hours of the morning.
 

Crystal

Formerly Apollo
Going well, but I've been thinking a lot about winding things down here. Hitting the proverbial dusty trail. I feel like it might be time for the Inn to change hands.
 

Lian Batenkaitos

Senior Member
Going well, but I've been thinking a lot about winding things down here. Hitting the proverbial dusty trail. I feel like it might be time for the Inn to change hands.
The news came as a shock. I was taken aback by it, but then spoke up with an expression of confidence.

Then how about we run it together? You say you're thinking of winding down? Well, I want to help lighten the load off your shoulders. However, I'd like you to stay. After all, this is the Platinum Penguin, and you're the glue that holds us all together. The warm, friendly atmosphere. The way you greet everyone with kindness & put a smile on everyone's faces.....that's what makes this place so special, because you make it special. You make it a place where everyone can feel welcome, relax, and have a good time. Things just wouldn't be the same without you.

I pull Crystal in for another warm hug, letting her know how loved she is.
 
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