FyreByrd's Red Hand of DOOM!

[FyreByrd]

Day 1: Late Afternoon/Early Evening

The warm air lifts the eagle higher as it soars over the Elsir Vale. The sun, whilst sinking beyond the horizon still provides more than enough light and heat to make hunting worthwhile. It's eyes flick over the landscape, seeing movement along the ancient Dawn Way, merchants and traders still an hour or so out from the large settlement of Drellin's Ferry.

The eagle's eyes focus for a second on the town, the tiny people walking back and forth, the ancient ferry slowly shuttling across the sluggish river. Everything seems peaceful...on the surface. Nothing is different from yesterday, and to the eagle at least tomorrow will be the same. To those people, those townsfolk living out their up until now peaceful little lives, nothing will be the same again.

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

Feel free to wander about the town, chat with each other or the townsfolk. If you haven't yet entered the town feel free to make your grand entrance. When you're down with everything you want to do, settle down for the night, whether in your normal place of residence, or in one of the Inns. I'm sure it will be a peaceful night, with no problems whatsoever.

Also:

Spoiler

Show

(4d10+5)[35]

[Deadguy]

Paige Edwards
Crystal Warrior

The wagons of the caravan creaked and rattled to a stop at the west side of the ferry landing. The trip from Brindol had been a complete bore. Paige stretched her arms before dismounting. She took the reins and walked up to the lead wagon.

"My part is done. The next guard will pick you up on the other side of the river. Don't leave the town until you've got an escort or your protection will be voided. Safe travels."

It was a routine warning. A rehearsed line that she had said countless times. Her pay would be waiting for her back in Brindol with the merchant company, unless she managed to pick up another job while here.

Not likely. This place is so dull...

The older female voice chimed in, interrupting her own thoughts. Absently, Paige reached up and touched the sapphire mounted on the chain hanging from her neck. Paige sighed and headed toward the Green Apple Inn. She needed to stable her horse and get a room. While most would also search for a meal, she had no need. A useful ability to ensure she never became ill from eating poorly prepared tavern food.

But a bath... I do need one of those.

I could use a polish too, you know. I always get so cloudy on these rides. When are we going on a real adventure?

Well, let's get a room and then we'll see if the locals have anything exciting happening.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Paige Edwards
Female CG Human Warblade / Psion, Level 6, Init 10, HP 54/54, Speed 30 ft
AC 17 (+6 Armor, +2 Dex, -1 Misc), Touch 11, Flat-footed 15, Fort 8, Ref 8, Will 8, Base Attack Bonus 6, Power Points 32/44
+1 Deep Crystal Warpike +11 / +6 (2d8+7, x3)
+1 Spiked Gauntlet +11 / +6 (1d4+5, x2)
Abilities Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 8
Condition
*** Active Powers ***
Inertial Armor - extended (12 hr)
Share Pain - extended (12 hr)
Sustenance - extended (48 hr)

---

Actions

Reserve a room and stable horse at the Green Apple Inn.
Listen vs tavern talk - (1d20+4)[20]

[Cygnia]

Siovhan Rhal appreciated the calm.

She had arrived in Drellin's Ferry two days ago and was trying to acclimate herself to the streets of the village. Compared to her home in Ivar's Oak, Drellin's Ferry might as well be a vast metropolis. The young woman tugged at the hem of her sleeve. Her nervousness was apparent and she took a breath to steady herself.

You need to be here...remember what the elders told you.

A sojourn -- away from her known borders. That's what Siovhan had been told she needed to experience. It had been suggested that she travel around the Vale for the summer. Drellin's Ferry would be her first stop, then to Terrelton and Brindol and perhaps either Elsircross or Dennovar towards the end. The shrine in this town was dedicated to Pelor, not Ehlonna, but the priest assured her that her help in aiding the sick and injured would still be welcomed...

[Vrock Bait]

An elven traveler walked into Drellin’s Ferry, subtly watching the locals.

She had been traveling for several days, and was looking forward to some civilization for once. Passing a Shrine of Pelor, a local had directed her to the Green Apple Inn, a favorite of the townspeople.

As she entered the inn, she briefly wondered if it was really worth it to stop at something as obvious as an inn for anymore than a few hours. After all, she had a bedroll and a magical food source, she didn’t need to stop.

But this was a long way from home, and she was tired of sleeping in the underbrush and eating dry rations from her field provisions box. It would be nice to have a hot meal and warm bed after so long.

Spoiler: OoC

Show

Spot: (1d20+4)[13]
Listen: (1d20+4)[13]
Also reserved a room and bought some food. Not sure what the quality is here, so don’t know the price OoC.

[Toliudar]

Alma Wurfel

The Dawn Road was still muddy in the spring, and the horse, a robust chestnut mare half-clad in chain barding, was caked with to the withers as it rode into Drellin's Ferry from the east. Although the woman looked nothing like a knight, a lance was strapped behind her on the saddle, poking up into the air. The rider was a small woman of milddle years, dressed in worn and sensible travelers clothes of a subdued grey. Only her dark skin and extravagant plaited hair, pulled back into an enormous tail in back, suggested any exoticism to her at all. It was as if a baker had borrowed a lord's horse.

Horse and rider moved into the town without fanfare or, to be honest, much interest. She stopped at a farmer's roadside stand to haggle for a large loaf of bread and some dried sausages. They passed by the now-closed market stalls, and the woman made a mental note to return to shop the next morning. Instinct and travel through dozens of such towns lead her inevitably to the Green Apple Inn, placed close but not too close to the water, and doubtless a spot where all who cross the river pause for refreshment before or after. As she now did.

Tossing the stable boy a copper, the woman saw to the stabling of her horse herself, moving with efficiency and affection, working in total silence. After leaning her face against the horse's neck for a moment, she made her way inside. Seeking out a small table to herself, she took off her travel cloak, revealing more muted clothing, the only unusual piece being a black leather collar around her neck, with a silver pendant dangling. Shesurv wearily ordered a beer and some of the ubiquitous stew, and then surveyed the room. She was looking for a local who might know something about Vraath Keep. Someone who would know more than tall tales and outright lies...

Spoiler: Statblock

Show

Alma Werfel
Female Neutral Human Ranger 6 || Wizard 5 / Mindbender 1, Level 6, Init 1, HP 36/36, Speed 40'
AC 15, Touch 11, Flat-footed 14, Fort 7, Ref 7, Will 8, Base Attack Bonus 6
Riding Dog Form Bite +8 (1d6+2, x2)
Darkwood MW Lance +5 (1d8-2, x3)
Mage Armour (+4 Armor, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 7, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 22, Wis 14, Cha 14
Condition None

[Deadguy]

Paige Edwards
Crystal Warrior

Paige had been quietly making small talk with the farmers about the weather. She was hoping it would dry, traveling in the mud was rarely a pleasant experience. The sound of new arrivals made her turn slightly in her chair. First an elf, and then a dark-skinned woman.

Definitely not locals...

That was interesting enough in itself. It seemed rare to have so many out-of-town folks here at one time that weren't traveling in the caravan.

Her hair's pretty. You should figure out how to wear yours like that.

Paige snorted slightly. The dark-skinned woman had sat by herself and immediately ordered food. Not a sign she was interested in striking up a conversation, so Paige let the hair idea lay dormant for the moment. Instead, she turned back to the farmer.

"What have they been saying about this spring, is it going to stay muddy forever? I know farmers like the rain for crops, but even fields can get too sopping, right?"

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Paige Edwards
Female CG Human Warblade / Psion, Level 6, Init 10, HP 54/54, Speed 30 ft
AC 17 (+6 Armor, +2 Dex, -1 Misc), Touch 11, Flat-footed 15, Fort 8, Ref 8, Will 8, Base Attack Bonus 6, Power Points 32/44
+1 Deep Crystal Warpike +11 / +6 (2d8+7, x3)
+1 Spiked Gauntlet +11 / +6 (1d4+5, x2)
Abilities Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 8
Condition
*** Active Powers ***
Inertial Armor - extended (12 hr)
Share Pain - extended (12 hr)
Sustenance - extended (48 hr)

---

Actions

[tonberryking]

Rush was not one to enter inns regularly. Even the Green Apple.

But the game hunting had been especially bad early this morning and after her chores were done, the priest pressed coin into her hand and all but implored her to go have a nice meal for a change. She's only been back before the sun reached its zenith, trudging out of the woods and went right to chopping wood, washing the cobblestone path up to the shrine, washing the shrine... He had to assure her that there would be plenty of work for her tomorrow, hence why she needed to 'treat' herself for a change.

Wearing a short hemmed black robe over leggings, it's not hard to tell she's burly for a woodelf, but she certainly seems the sight. The kind of outlier parents warn their children not to go too near, the not-all-there- sort best left alone. And yet all the townsfolk and regulars of the area pay her little mind other than bemusement that she's here at all.

"I'll have the apple pork shoulder." she says to the tavern master before retreating to some corner of the Green Apple's common area and slowly but methodically tears her meal apart.

[TheFallenOne]

The slowly setting sun reflects off the stark black paint covering the upper half of Seeker's face with skin in the shape of a rune of the Iokharic alphabet left bare. A reminder; he had learned ten languages, but even with perfect memorization skills still need to be trained and kept fresh. Every morning he spends an hour perusing his personal constantly updated tome of wisdom, mentally translating the text into another language. His body and mind are his blades, and like a sword they have to be kept sharp.

Drellin's Ferry. Vraath Keep. It seems he is going in circles. He had visited the ruined hold years ago but found no treasure matching his interest. There was no library of secret knowledge and the books left behind were wormeaten and of common subjects. He was driven away by the harpies nesting there and he left with a small measure of regret upon abandoning even a collection of cheap tomes to the questionable mercies of time and nature.

And how the rumors lead him back here when following the trail of a lost tome, once belonging to another illumian cabal destroyed long ago and then passing through many hands who admired its luxurious penmanship and decorated initials but never discovered its true value. And then doubts beset him. Perhaps I missed something. It may have been there and destroyed, or taken someplace else with the trail he had been following running cold, or it could still be there. A single tome is easy to miss especially when trying to stay hidden from a nest of harpies. It might have been misplaced, it might have been rebound, it might even have been split up into its constituent layers.

His steps are silent as a ghost as he follows the beaten path into the settlement with the unassuming staff at his side only close inspection would reveal to have a thin bowstring connecting its ends. The curves of the sturdy wood are far more subtle than on a common bow and require tremendous strength to pull taut. Looking for an inn he sees other people congegrating at a place identified by its sign as Green Apple and decides to do the same.

Spoiler

Show

Didn't have much luck finding a fitting picture but this minus the facial hair will do when he goes for simple face paint instead of magical tattoos. He'll only go for that when expecting combat, otherwise 100 GP per day becomes quickly unsustainable.

Checking what I know about Vraath Keep
Lore - (1d20+8)[26]
Local - (1d20+6)[11]
History - (1d20+15)[18] using Cunning Knowledge
edit: actually with the Lore result scratch that, I'm unlikely to learn anything more there

[Toliudar]

Alma takes a bite of her stew and deems it acceptable, with the provenance of all of the major chunks readily identifiable, setting it head and shoulders above most of the roadside public houses Alma has frequented.

When the burly wood elf comes in and orders something so specific, it's immediately clear that she is local. And, from the look of her, more than capable of taking care of herself. Exactly the person who might have real information - and might even be willing to hire on as a guide.

Gathering her cloak, beer and bowl, Alma makes her way to the back of the inn and bows slightly to Rush.

"Excuse me. I am freshly arrived, and am seeking guidance on the region. May I join you?"

[tonberryking]

Rush's chair almost instantly backs up, a large piece of her meal dangling from her mouth before she chomps it out of existence. ..Did... did someone just sit down next to her? She wonders if anybody else noticed. Color doesn't rise to her cheeks, but nonetheless she seems quite bashful and dodgy.

" 'm just a groundskeeper of the Pelor shrine. You don't want me; all I do is walk in the woods all day when I'm not there."

[FyreByrd]

The farmers talking to Paige seem almost relieved to be having a normal conversations, "Aye, now we're inta summa proper like, the ground will quickly dry aught." you have a slight suspicion that by the way some of his friends are smirking that his rural accent is heavily put on, as no-one else you've heard in the town has anything like it.

Those that are in the tavern jump slightly as the door bangs back, and a hulking human, covered in dirt, obviously from a long days labour walks in, heading straight for the bar. The Tavern keep, a surly dwarf wordless fills a large tankard of ale, and passes it to the farm hand, then immediately turns to fill four more as another four larger than average humans walk in.

Spoiler: Paige Edwards

Show

Your farmer friend sighs heavily, just loud enough for you to hear, and mutters to one of his colleagues, all trace of accent gone, "Here we go."

The large man turns and surveys the bar, his dirty face creasing in a deep scowl. Lank blonde hair frames a pugnacious face, he is not so much muscular, nor is he fat, more that he is just build a size larger than most would be. His friends, as that is obviously who they are, while are not built the same way as him, are all stronger beefy looking men, trying to make up what they lack in genetics with heavy lifting, outdoor work, and a bad attitude.

[Cygnia]

Elsewhere in town...

Siovhan didn't feel offended by the lack of details given by the villagers she interacted with. After all, she was a stranger in town. If anything, she felt a bit relieved. It meant that she wouldn't be pressured to give any small talk about herself in return.

There appeared to be some sort of grove across the river. Perhaps tomorrow she would check it out after her duties. For now, Siovhan felt her stomach growl. The young woman had been staying at the Old Bridge Inn, but there was the Green Apple Inn as well, food-wise. At the very least, she could look at the menu first and see if anything would catch her eye.

[TheFallenOne]

Upon entering the establishment Seeker walks up to the bar and adresses the dwarven proprietor in his native tongue. <"Cider if you have it, half wine half water otherwise."> His dwarven is near flawless, the illumians' obsession with language not allowing for deviations like dialect or accent. Shortly after him the four burly men enter. It is just an instinct, but they feel like trouble. He casually leans with his back against the wall instead of taking a seat, eyes alert and occasionally taking a sip from his drink as he keeps assessing the situation.

[Toliudar]

Alma leans in, nodding at Rush's self-deprecation without believing it for a second. She takes a bite of her stew and savours it in her mouth as she switches gently to a soft voice in Rush's head.

<Forgive me. The stew is very good, and it's easier and more private to speak this way. Don't worry. I can't read any of your thoughts, at least except for the ones that you think at me.

<Now. You seem likely to have an observant eye, and it's exactly those walks in the woods that I'm interested in. Specifically, I'm wondering if your explorations have ever taken you near Vraath Keep. Or if you've heard stories about any recent visitors there. There's gold for a guide who knows these woods.>

[tonberryking]

That was a mistake.

If she backed up before, Rush is trying to meld into the wall,now, her eyes panic and dart for a moment before narrowing. In the process of her clumsy retreat, the sleeves of her short robe bunch up to her elbows. It reveals (to Alma, anyway) that Rush wears some rather interesting bronze armbands with wide trim and black filigree creating a simple, angular pattern over their surfaces. Odd for a caretaker to be wearing, but that outfit cannot possibly hiding armor; it's not making the right motions to be hiding a chain or mithral shirt. It also has quite clearly spooked her, the meal forgotten.

<Out. Get Out of my head.> The command is a bestial snarl, dark memories of unimaginable pain etched across Rush's scarred face. her fingers are clenched about the table's rim. It must be taking a considerable effort for her to not flip it...or worse... try to use it to bludgeon Alma.

It remains unsure which one she plans to do...

[Toliudar]

The mature woman notices the unfortunate effect that she has had on the elf. It wasn't the first time that she'd had such a reaction. She sighed, swallowed her stew and remained calm. Her voice is low and steady. If the elf woman wanted to flip a table on her, it was clear that Alma had no intention of getting out of its way.

"My apologies. I assure that I was not 'in your head', any more than I am by speaking with you now.

"Now, as I was saying. I am freshly arrived, and really need some help. Might you be interested?"

[tonberryking]

Rush slowly, cautiously reaches for her food, biting into it and tearing another chunk of it while warily watching her dinner partner.

"Don't do that again. Bad experiences." she says between bites. It would seem she's choosing to trust the other woman... for now.

"Job to the shrine comes first, but 'spose I can lead you around. Though I'm not a local; been spending ten years around the woods and can probably get you to where you're going. If you try anything screwy though, I'm leaving you in the woods."

[Toliudar]

Alma smiles.

"Again, I'm sorry if my action caused you any distress. My name is Alma Wurfel. And you are?

"I grew up in a small town. I can understand how being here for ten years might not seem like enough to make you feel like a local, but it's actually perfect. You know the woods very well, but still come to the place with the objectivity of an outsider.

"I'm hoping to spend a day or two gathering stories about the Keep, and what we might find there. As we need to accommodate your work at the shrine. How soon might you be able to take a day or two for" this?

She takes an appreciative pull on her beer and settles back in her seat a bit, now that it seems less likely that the situation would escalate further.

[Cygnia]

As she opened the door to the Green Apple Inn, what caught Siovhan off-guard was how the entrance was being currently blocked by a pack of burly men -- who due to ignorance or social status either didn't notice or didn't care she was trying to get by. A sharp intake of air blew through her clenched teeth, surprising her. Her hands curled into fists by her side.

HOW DARE THEY?! MAKE THEM MOVE MAKE THEM--noooonononocalmdown...

"Pard-pardon me, please..." The young woman found herself saying, forcing herself to relax her hands. It would just be her luck if the food ended up terrible anyway. ...they haven't seen you, that's all...

Spoiler: Statblock

Show

Siovhan Rhal
F CG Human Warlock6 //Healer6, Level 6, Init 3, HP 53/53, DR 1/cold iron, Speed 30
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, Fort 9, Ref 7, Will 10, Base Attack Bonus 4
Eldtritch Blast +8 (3d6+1, x2)
of Agility Leather Armor +2 (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 17
Condition
Beguiling Influence (Gain +6 to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate for 24hr)
Entropic Warding (Ranged attacks have 20% miss chance, leaves no trail, cannot be tracked by scent for 24hr)
See the Unseen (See invisibility & darkvision to 60ft for 24hrs)
Damage Reduction 1/cold iron

[FyreByrd]

The large man draws himself up, scowling at the rest of the taproom, "Lotta new faces tonight?" it's phrased as a question but it sounds more like an accusation. He turns back to the Dwarvern barkeep, "Have ya questioned them yet?" again the word questioned translated itself to the word 'interrogated' in listening ears. When the barkeep just stares impassively back at them he snarls and spins again this time meeting the gaze and the words of Siovhan. "Like you," one finger as thick as a butcher's sausage points at the young woman. "What are you doing here? What are you going to find out?" he leans closer, "And who will you tell?"

The dwarf speaks for the first time, "One and only warning Rhett."

[Cygnia]

...it would be SO easy to give this FAT PIG pain make him scream make him bend at the knee yesyesyes...no that's not us, we are BETTER than this oh Ehlonna help me!

It would be so easy to lash out. The man wasn't drunk, just looking for someone to hurt and Siovhan was a convenient flame to touch upon the kindling. If it was just her, perhaps she would have given in, have them kick her out so she'd have reason to run back to the confines of Ivar's Oak and never leave again.

But he had said that there were other strangers in the room...

"Who hurt you?"

Siovhan blinked. She hadn't meant to say anything. But the words escaping from her lips were calm and not mocking. She remembered being a child, screaming at the elders and now here she was, letting him rage and simply echoing what her teachers asked her.

"Yes, I am a stranger. That is fair to see. I just arrived two days ago. I know nothing about here. But something has you upset. You want a target, but you don't know where to to strike. Why?"

Her voice remained steady as her heart thundered in her chest.

Spoiler: Action

Show

Diplomacy, don't fail me now!
(1d20+22)[30]

Spoiler: Statblock

Show

Siovhan Rhal
F CG Human Warlock6 //Healer6, Level 6, Init 3, HP 53/53, DR 1/cold iron, Speed 30
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, Fort 9, Ref 7, Will 10, Base Attack Bonus 4
Eldtritch Blast +8 (3d6+1, x2)
of Agility Leather Armor +2 (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 17
Condition
Beguiling Influence (Gain +6 to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate for 24hr)
Entropic Warding (Ranged attacks have 20% miss chance, leaves no trail, cannot be tracked by scent for 24hr)
See the Unseen (See invisibility & darkvision to 60ft for 24hrs)
Damage Reduction 1/cold iron

[Deadguy]

Paige Edwards
Crystal Warrior

There's always one. Every tavern.

Paige couldn't help but smirk. Her crystal had been through much more than her, experiencing her own mother's journey, and who know what before that.

"Every time."

The words were aloud under her breath. It could have almost been considered a response to the farmer she had been speaking to, who was completely unaware of her internal conversation.

When the woman who had been singled out actually spoke up instead of shrinking away, Paige tilted her head to the side slightly.

"This could be interesting."

She's got spunk.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Paige Edwards
Female CG Human Warblade / Psion, Level 6, Init 10, HP 54/54, Speed 30 ft
AC 17 (+6 Armor, +2 Dex, -1 Misc), Touch 11, Flat-footed 15, Fort 8, Ref 8, Will 8, Base Attack Bonus 6, Power Points 32/44
+1 Deep Crystal Warpike +11 / +6 (2d8+7, x3)
+1 Spiked Gauntlet +11 / +6 (1d4+5, x2)
Abilities Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 8
Condition
*** Active Powers ***
Inertial Armor - extended (12 hr)
Share Pain - extended (12 hr)
Sustenance - extended (48 hr)

---

Actions

[FyreByrd]

Day 1: Late Afternoon/Early evening

Rhett, the large man blinked slowly as if unacustomed to calm and patience. Then he shakes his head and growls. He motions to his cronies, and all of them retreat towards the back of the taproom, his only other comment a thrown over the shoulder one at the Dwarvern tavernkeep, "Make sure they sleep in beds tonight, we don't need anymore prowlers out at night."

The whole tavern seems to exhale as one, and as the men sit nursing their drinks, slowly conversation resumes.

[tonberryking]

Rush is perhaps the only one in the tavern who didn't even read the room concerning the loutish thugs.

Her focus is mostly on both her food and the offer this mysterious Alma. After a moment of thought she reasons Alma would be in far more trouble if she did something evil alone in the woods with her, rather than the other way round. And the pork's getting cold.

She chomps down on another bite. "Leave me out of your stories. But I can be ready after dawn tomorrow, I suppose. Just what specifically are you looking for?"

[Cygnia]

As Sausage Fingers and his gang skulked to the back, Siovhan let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding. No fights, no violence, she had handled it well. She could--

--of course, YOU had to handle it. No one ELSE here would stand up for a sow like YOU they all just SAT around like lumps of mud. They probably WANTED to see you hurt -- or WORSE. Splayed out--shutupshutupshutup!

Whatever smile Siovhan wanted to give to encourage herself faded like smoke on the wind. But she forced herself to enter the Inn and step up the bar. She nodded weakly to the dwarf. "...sorry if -- if I did something to offend him. Cider, if you have it, please. What are your specials?" Siovhan let her fingertips slide across the wood of the bar. "Prowlers? Have there been troubles with thieves then?"

Spoiler: Statblock

Show

Siovhan Rhal
F CG Human Warlock6 //Healer6, Level 6, Init 3, HP 53/53, DR 1/cold iron, Speed 30
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, Fort 9, Ref 7, Will 10, Base Attack Bonus 4
Eldtritch Blast +8 (3d6+1, x2)
of Agility Leather Armor +2 (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 18, Cha 17
Condition
Beguiling Influence (Gain +6 to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate for 24hr)
Entropic Warding (Ranged attacks have 20% miss chance, leaves no trail, cannot be tracked by scent for 24hr)
See the Unseen (See invisibility & darkvision to 60ft for 24hrs)
Damage Reduction 1/cold iron

[Toliudar]

Having paused to check out what would hopefully not become a brawl five minutes into her time here, Alma smiled, impressed by the sang-froid of the young woman. Never underestimate a woman travelling alone and unarmed.

She turned back to her surely delicious stew, and her deliciously surly companion. Scooping up more of the former, she tilted her head to consider the latter.

"As you wish - I will keep our stories separate. What do I need? Information, mostly. Information that I'm hoping can be found in Vraath Keep.

"But, less esoterically, I suppose I need to know your name. I need the price you'd charge to take me to the Keep, and then the price you'd charge to walk through it with me. I've taken care of myself for never-you-mind-how-many years, but having a strong arm and a watchful eye at your back is, well. It's how you get to never-you-mind-how-many years, isn't it?"

[FyreByrd]

Day 1: Early Evening

The dwarf looks Siovhan up and down slowly, then shrugs just as lazily, conceding "Been an uptick in raids on isolated farmsteads last week or two," he cocked a hand at the still scowling gang, "Rhett and his boys used to work at one that got burned a week ago, so now they've hired on at one a bit closer to the town," he raises his incredibly thick eyebrows expressively, "Which means we get their company more regularly."

He pulls the pint of Cider, and slides it to Siovhan, "As for specials, we cook meat, and stick it on plates. Sometimes theirs sauce, sometimes it's stew, sometimes just meat. If you're looking for specials I'd have tried the Old Bridge."

[Deadguy]

Paige Edwards
Crystal Warrior

"Hmm... anyone get a look at these raiders?"

When the dwarf mentioned the selection of food, Paige smirked. Her ability to ignore food had paid off again. Of course, the no-frills response also probably meant her hopes were to be crushed. Still, it never hurt to ask.

"I don't suppose a proper bath for washing up before turning in is something available? Days on the roads has got me smelling like the horse I rode in on."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Paige Edwards
Female CG Human Warblade / Psion, Level 6, Init 10, HP 54/54, Speed 30 ft
AC 17 (+6 Armor, +2 Dex, -1 Misc), Touch 11, Flat-footed 15, Fort 8, Ref 8, Will 8, Base Attack Bonus 6, Power Points 32/44
+1 Deep Crystal Warpike +11 / +6 (2d8+7, x3)
+1 Spiked Gauntlet +11 / +6 (1d4+5, x2)
Abilities Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 8
Condition
*** Active Powers ***
Inertial Armor - extended (12 hr)
Share Pain - extended (12 hr)
Sustenance - extended (48 hr)

---

Actions

[tonberryking]

Rush looks down at her now empty plate, thoughts once more placid now ripple and churn into crashing waves. Sure, this Alma's a stranger, and will be out of her hair in a few days, but the way she talks, there may be fighting and ... she doesn't want anybody to know about the weapon she can draw.

...Wait. If she's willing to pay for her troubles...

"Normally, you couldn't afford my price to get me to fight," she mutters in enigmas with an aggravated sigh. "But I suppose the roof of the shrine needs repairs or a bloody skylight, I guess... I don't own a weapon though; you'll have to get me something. An axe; a sword, spear, whatever... I'm not going to risk the priest losing his good wood hatchet over this. After that you can pay me whatever you think is owed depending on what we find."

[Cygnia]

Her dark thoughts blessedly silent for now, Siovhan nodded and fished out coins to pay. Best to have her drink and take her supper back at the Old Bridge Inn then. "Raiders. That would be enough to put anyone on edge then -- especially if your livelihood is threatened."

She took a drink from her pint, waiting to see if anyone would answer the woman's question about who these raiders could be. If there were brigands on the road, Siovhan would need to rethink this summer's journey somehow. Continuing to travel the roads on her own would be a foolish idea.