#1 - Bookmarked and Bloodied

The Bookmark Inn's proprietor was a middle-aged gnome named Wenrick. His scullery maid was a grandmotherly old goblin named Dursha. The common room was ringed with bookshelves and reading tables, and there was a curious display case, like you'd see in a museum, with an old bronze necklace of sorts under the glass. While patrons, locals and visitors alike, read or talked at their tables, a lyre-playing gnome provided music from one corner.

Meanwhile, seven disparate souls from abroad had convened here this night, seemingly by chance:

• From the Eldeen Reaches, the long-limbed, vulpine-featured shifter Cyzicus bore the trappings of a ranger. Unlike many of his people, he seemed to have a friendly, personable demeanor. He was given to asking questions about Paluur Draal, the ruins just north of the city at the foot of the Seawall Mountains.
• From just across the border to Breland, the warforged Cypher bore the unmistakable trappings of an artificer and tinkerer. Still bearing the emblem of Brelish ownership, he was surprisingly bookish yet verbose (for a warforged), with interest in errant copies of the Korranberg Chronicle lying around.
• Unassuming but polite in his manner, the human Halbazar was dressed in the common garb of the Aundairian peasantry. Short, nimble, he yet looked like he might have a few tricks up his sleeve.
• Bearing the Mark of Finding, the half-orc named Rendar d'Tharashk was one of the quieter ones, sitting at a table by himself and observing more than speaking. Sharp-eyed for a fighter, he was yet armed and armored like a warrior—or a bounty hunter.
• From further abroad than most, the human Magnus was without a doubt a barbarian of sorts—the muscles, the flame-shaped red tattoos, the massive metal-spiked, fang-riddled morningstar he carried were all giveaways. While waiting for his travel companion, he didn't sit still, but spoke openly and amiably with everyone, speaking directly in a land that seldom does.
• Rivaling Magnus in his outlandish appearance and foreignness was Xoma, the hairless, slender but well-muscled drow with the serpent-shaped staff, runic white tattoos, and piercing questions. Not unfriendly but not particularly approachable, he nevertheless seemed on a quest of his own.

Everything was going peaceably, and the bronze Dhakaani artifact in the glass case was generating some discussion and speculation from these six travelers, possibly even leading to talk of an expedition by the shifter Cyzicus. Not even the troubled-looking half-elf who came down from the upper floor of the inn was quite enough to shatter the jovial mood. But the arrival of a group of human, possibly former Cyran mercenaries and a sullen-looking, hooded old man was. Then two things happened, which, by chance or fate, may draw these strangers together:

The old man spoke briefly with Wenrick, the innkeeper, then proceeded out—but not before casting a web spell upon the shelves near the door where everyone had to relinquish most of their weapons.

The leader of the mercenaries grabbed up one of the patrons—an elderly male gnome—and lifted a dagger to his throat, warning everyone in the common room to stay calm and no one needed to get hurt.

When Dursha the goblin tried to intervene, the captain struck her. But the mercenary's plans were interrupted with some spellwork and subtle intervention on the part of the PCs. Though, the captain's threat was real—he slit the gnome's throat and a fight ensued. A Color Spray spell and two broken bar stools later, the captain and some of his mercenaries went down—with one possible hostage.

Yes, someone killed a gnome in Zilargo. Not a good idea, generally speaking.