Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

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Mant72
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Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#1 Post by Mant72 »

A Lantern and a Sign

In dire need of income, you each left your respective homes to serve as caravan guards for a merchant traveling to the hamlet of Silington. The job was touted as being relatively simple, just keep any potential bandits honest, and the pay was enticing enough for involving such little risk.

The trip proved uneventful, and besides being a little weary and worn from the road, you and your companions finally arrive in the small, quiet hamlet of Silington.

The merchant you have been escorting, Bervard, gruffly thanks you for your services, reluctantly parts with the money that each of you are owed, and begins to harangue his small crew into getting the horses unhitched and brought to the local stable.

It is now dusk, and most of the few shops there are in the hamlet are closed or in the process of shutting down for the evening.

From across the street, a portly man exits a building carrying a small step ladder. He approaches a wooden signpost standing out in front of the building, climbs the ladder, and proceeds to light a lantern that hangs from a hook extending from the post. The lantern ignites and casts a dim a pool of light upon a wooden sign bearing the image of a cat holding its belly with both paws; its head is thrown back, and its mouth is agape with what is presumed as laughter. Members of the group whom are literate discern that the place is dubbed, “The Laughing Cat Inn.”
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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#2 Post by Grognardsw »

Aric Inglorak, barbarian of the Iron Tribes,

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strides toward the tavern. Newly earned coin jangles in his pouch.

"Come, let us wet tongue in drink and women."

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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#3 Post by Storm11 »

Hex halfling prestigidator

"I would rather have a blueberry pie and some scrumpy cider!" the little rainbow wizard mutters following the giant muscle man towards the inn.

"The laughing cat! By aunt Cassy's steaming tarts I hope that's not a euphemism!"
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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#4 Post by coil23 »

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user

Osprey peers at the illuminated sign a moment, musing that it could as easily be a cat about to vomit as a laughing cat. Speaking softly to himself, For my sake, I hope it truly is the latter.

With that utterance (could it be called a prayer?) he walks toward the tavern.

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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#5 Post by GreyWolfVT »

Kragg "Only if they have dwarf women otherwise I'll just stick to the drink meself." the dwarf add to the big mans opening statement of wetting tongue. "Though the hairfoot has a good point food would go down well for me too."
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred
"If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling

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Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion
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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#6 Post by ravenn4544 »

Brother Wil quietly takes his compensation for a promise fulfilled.

He walks softly down the street through town taking in the sites, sounds, and smells of the seemingly humble village. He will take notice of the stores and signs he passes. He scans the surrounding landscape in the fading light to take note of what he can observe in the distance just beyond.

Mindful of any immediate danger, and assuming there is none, he will enter the Inn....

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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#7 Post by Storm11 »

how much money ARE we owed? :D
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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#8 Post by Mant72 »

10 gp each.

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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#9 Post by Computer +1 »

Trusty Yon feels his stomach rumble in hunger. An uneventful job may yet lead to an eventful meal! Light be praised! He turns towards the setting sun, removes his helm and bows his head. Lord of Light, we praise you as your heart in the sky leaves us on this day. We ask you to keep the light shining in our hearts until we receive you again in the morning.

His prayer finished, Yon puts back on his helmet and strides into the inn.

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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#10 Post by Mant72 »

The group takes note of their surroundings, and they are not impressed. Silington is obviously a farming community that consists of very few shops and businesses. There appears to be a blacksmith and stables, a general store, the Laughing Cat Inn, what might be a town hall of some sort, and a few more odd shops here and there. The immediate landscape looks to be pastureland dotted with farms and homesteads.

Your first impression upon entering The Laughing Cat is that it is a rather cozy place, with a large hearth taking up most of the west wall. There are quite a few patrons seated among the tables, and a couple of barmaids scramble about trying to keep up with their customers’ orders. Your eclectic group draws curious looks from the regulars, and one of the barmaids turns as you enter, calling out over her shoulder, “There’s a table in the back!”

As you maneuver your way through the crowd to a table near the back of the inn, most of the pieces of conversation you overhear center around events typically associated with small farming villages: predictions on upcoming harvests and the weather, births and deaths of various livestock, etc.

The evening stretches onward as you unwind from your travels, perhaps ordering a hot meal and a cold beverage or two, while more and more patrons begin to take their leave and make their way home for the night.

The once jovial atmosphere seems to wane as the fire in the hearth is slowly reduced to embers, and the discussion among the few remaining patrons turns to something a bit more sinister as tales concerning an ominous place called the Dimwater Monastery are being spun.
Everyone roll a 1d10 please.
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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#11 Post by Storm11 »

Greys Campaign.

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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#12 Post by ravenn4544 »


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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#13 Post by Computer +1 »


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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#14 Post by coil23 »

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user


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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#15 Post by Grognardsw »

Aric, mercenary

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"To me woman!" the barbarian says to the wench. "I would slack my thirst with you."

Aric makes talk with the amusing small folk and fervant priest. "My god is cold and uncaring, except in battle."

Later...

"Tell me of this Dimwater Monastery."

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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#16 Post by GreyWolfVT »

Kragg sits in the back as suggested by the barmaid taking the seat that is in the darkest corner of the table. Surveying the scene around the group and listening as carefully as he can to what is going on all around them.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred
"If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling

Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser
Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze
Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion
Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures
Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
DM - GreyWolf's Mystara Adventures - AD&D 2e

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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#17 Post by Mant72 »

The barmaid rolls her eyes and cracks half a smile at the barbarian's blunt proposal then continues on with her duties.

A gnarled, old farmer sitting at a table picks at a chipped spot on its surface, slowly sips from his mug, and responds to the barbarian's inquiry, “Well, that old monastery sits up on the banks of the Dimwater River about 20 miles to the northeast of here. They say that it's been there for about 100 years or so, and it once was a place of good. The monks there used to help the sick and poor, offering healing and alms when needed but then something awful happened up there, and now the place is cursed. I hear tell that a cult that worships the serpent god, Sai’reth,” he pauses to spit on the floor after uttering the name, “has taken over the old monastery, and they're kidnapping children to use in their sacrificial rites.”

A barmaid collecting mugs from a nearby table interjects, “Jerin, you ol’ fool, aint no babes gone missin’ from round here! We’d notice ‘em gone in this anthill of a town! Just stick to what you do best, emptying mugs and sheep stalls.” Her playful jibe draws a small chuckle from the bar, yet it is not enough to return the room to its previous state of levity.

Perched on a stool at the bar, a small, bird-like man with few hairs on his head and even fewer teeth in his mouth cackles at the barmaid’s response adding, “There do be haints up at that ol’ place though, and during the night o’ the full moon, the ghosts o’ the monks that used to live up there roam the grounds...still tendin’ to their duties. Ol’ man Ramey was out huntin' one night and seen ‘em hisself.” He grows pensively quite and returns to studying the depths of his mug.

The bartender stands behind the bar polishing a glass, seemingly oblivious to the chatter. Then a somber look steals across his face as he wipes his hands nervously upon his apron. He clears his throat and adds to the conversation, “Well, I don’t know about any cults, haints, or ghosts, but I do know this much…A few weeks ago a merchant caravan came through, and one of the merchants claimed that despite his warnings, a couple of his guards left to go fishing up around the monastery along the banks of the Dimwater. Well, when the group was ready to pack up and leave the next morning, the guardsmen still hadn’t returned. The members of the caravan searched and searched for the missing men, but they were never accounted for. That, my friends, is a fact. Aint no rumor. The merchant sat right where you are," he gestures to the table where you and your companions sit, "and told me himself. But enough of this grim talk. Drain your cups fellas; the hour grows late.”

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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#18 Post by GreyWolfVT »

Kragg grumbling a bit quieter so not as many can hear him "Be lucky if we can find anyone with reputable information around here." crossing his arms and leaning back against the closest wall in his seat looking smug.
“All men did have darkness. Some wore it in the form of horns. Some bore it invisibly as rot in their souls.”
― Paul S. Kemp, Shadowbred
"If good people won’t do the hard things, evil people will always win, because evil people will do anything."
― Paul S. Kemp, Twilight Falling

Algrim Tirion Dwarf - HarnMaser
Dalin Silverhand Dwarf Thief - Barrowmaze
Elwood 'Dug' The Bounty Hunter Dwarf Swashbuckler - Hedge's Adventures in the World of Golarion
Roan Gravelbeard Dwarf Fighter - Hedge's Greyhawk Adventures
Torvik Shadowhood Dwarf Fighter/Thief - Nocturne
DM - GreyWolf's Mystara Adventures - AD&D 2e

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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#19 Post by Grognardsw »

Aric, savage sellsword

"But is there rumor of treasure?" asks the barbrian. "Such would move me to set foot on haunted ground."

Aric drains his cup. "Girl! More drink, and sit on my lap!"

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Re: Chapter 1: The Hamlet of Silington

#20 Post by Storm11 »

Hex Halfling Prestigidator

The rainbow bedecked hobbit lifts his bare furry feet up under his robe and begins chewing on his sandy blonde topknot nervously.

"Uuuuuundead you ssssssay. Gggggghosts? I don't think this is a good plan at all no no no. Seeking out undeath is like finding left overs in the shire my old grandpapa used to say. A fools errand and no mistake."

The illusionist looks around warily and watches those in the laughing cat most stringently.
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