E4: Day 32

Plot points/Scenes

After a miserably wet, cold day that promises to become an even wetter, freezing night, the caravan arrives at a large inn. Upon entering the warm, comfortable common room to make arrangements for the night, the embarrassed innkeeper tells the characters that the entire inn is sold out; all the private rooms are taken and the common room is reserved for a private party.
The caravan will need to spend the night outside. Looking around the room, the characters see just one group: an aristocratic judge and his entourage of three human dilettantes. They smirk at the characters while making comments such as “sleep tight” and “have a pleasant evening” followed by insults muttered under their breath about the characters’ mud-spattered clothing and low breeding. If characters ask about sleeping in the stable, one of the nobles speaks up, saying, “Our horses are rather picky about who they share space with. We had to reserve all of it, too, for their sake. You understand, I’m sure.” His snooty friends have a good chuckle over that.
Spending this night in the wagons will be hard on the characters but will be misery for the unprotected horses and mules, and the only reason for it is the cruelty and arrogance of these snickering twits in the inn.

Show spoiler

The NPCs in the inn won’t be influenced by any sort of reason or debate or by offers of money. They find the situation enormously amusing and seem pleased by the prospect of the merchants and their animals suffering in the freezing rain all night. They needle and goad the characters and their fellow travelers at every opportunity, including from the doorway and windows of the inn when no one else is inside.

Plot type

Encounter

Parent Plot

E4: Life on the Road