11. Return to O'Hare

[tooleychris]

Grimnail snorts.
"Starvin kiddies 'll eat anyting yous throw at'em. Quality meals be yet ta be proved ta Grim. "
He looks back to the door.
"Mayhap Grim tests yer skill at cookin meat and water when weez done wit more pressin business, eh?"

[dmw71]

Fimmion is well-received by the group whom all, at least secretly, agree that it will be nice to have someone talented in the culinary arts in their midst.

Epsilon queries the innkeeper: "Ferrell, do you know of any other survivors? Ferrell sighs. "Just 'cus I ain't seen 'em don't mean they don't exist," she says. "Thing is," she starts again a moment later, "people been more and more suspicious and less friendly the last year or so. Since you can't know who to trust anymore, I'm pretty sure people will simply take care of themselves. They'll find their way here, or there -" she tilts her head in the general direction of the 'Goat' "- if'n they need anything." After a brief pause, "'n I share yer concern over the 'Goat'." she confides in the cleric.

When Grimnail inquires about the dead troglodyte bodies, Ferrell informs the barbarian that, most likely, they were taken to the temple for cremation. "Somethin' not right 'bout that place, either." she adds. "That, or others came back to recover their own?" she wonders. "Not sure." she confesses. "I like keepin' my distance from those things." she admits.

[Alethan]

Gwillt's eyes dart over to the large holy fighter at Ferrell's thoughts on the temple.

"What do you mean, 'Somethin' not right 'bout that place, either'? Can you elaborate?"

[wolfpack]

Epsilon furrows his brow.

yes what of the temple?

the holy sancuary should be a place where all can feel at ease. To what god is the temple in this town dedicated? I was going to go inspect for myself when the trogs attacked.

[dmw71]

Gwillt's eyes dart over to the large holy fighter at Ferrell's thoughts on the temple. "What do you mean, 'Somethin' not right 'bout that place, either'? Can you elaborate?" Epsilon furrows his brow at this comment as well. "Yes what of the temple? he asks. "The holy sanctuary should be a place where all can feel at ease. To what god is the temple in this town dedicated?" the cleric adds before Ferrell even has a chance to reply.

The innkeeper listens carefully to the inquiries of the group. "A sore spot with you'se, I take it." she starts. "The temple, to the mighty deity Levitt, was once great. A regular place of worship for Jasper and me," she starts. "Then-" she looks to the ceiling, straining her memory to try and recall a detail, then shrugs. "- well, it was 'bout a year ago. Yeah, a year ago, give or take. Anyway, people -- local people, mind you, started changin'. Actin' all strange. Less friendly-like. Soon, people here didn't know who to trust and started keepin' more 'n more to themselves. Needless to say, most places became less friendly, but it seems a bunch'a folks that did the changin' seemed to gravitate towards the temple."

"Jasper 'n me. We ain't been there 'n more moons then I can count."

[Alethan]

Gwillt replies, "That group of folks at the Goat is among those what changed, I take it?"

"Did anything at the temple change around that time, as well? A new priest or acolyte? Any new arrivals in town? Or anyone travel through?"

[dmw71]

Ferrell continues to answer questions about the temple or the town history to the best of her ability. "Those 'Goat' folks are part of those that changed, yes. Was never close wit' any of 'em, mind you, but they did get worse." she says. "An' I don't know 'bout any changes in the temple. No new priests or nothin', none that I'm aware of anyway. Just seemed the place many of 'em seemed to start hangin' out at."

[ravenn4544]

"Well, now, seems those folks at the temple might be gettin' a few new visitors, if I had some sense in the matter - which I probably don't! Hah! Anyways, it's a pleasure talkin' with you folk and we certainly appreciate your hospitality. Why's it so hard to find some common courtesy at times? eh? well, I don't know either, except to say that I do APPRECIATE it when I find it! so thank you! And you, Fimmion, well met sir! Not a Priest or Pirate or Pretty much anyone else does not appreciate a fine meal! Well met indeed!"

[saalaria]

"I agree friend O'Rek - it is past time we pay a visit to the temple to see what is going on there. I know, Strom, you have ben itching to get there for a while now."
Dave do any of the clerics or anyone else for that matter know of this Levitt and what they stand for / history etc?

[Stonjuz]

Dropping out of the column heading for the Dragon, just before the group enters their destination, Shannigans again patrols the outside of the establishment. Seeing no change in the surroundings, the hobbit again tries to climb the post leading to the Dragon's roof.
climb 60 [1d100] = 38
He scans anew with the fresh perspective.

[dmw71]

Dave do any of the clerics or anyone else for that matter know of this Levitt and what they stand for / history etc?

While a "mighty deity" to Ferrell, Levitt is really only revered locally and does not live up to the description. It is possible that you may have heard the name at some point in your previous studies or travels, but would not have gained any useful information.

[dmw71]

Dropping out of the column heading for the Dragon, just before the group enters their destination, Shannigans again patrols the outside of the establishment. Seeing no change in the surroundings, the hobbit again tries to climb the post leading to the Dragon's roof.
climb 60 [1d100] = 38
He scans anew with the fresh perspective.

PM sent.

[dmw71]

"I agree friend O'Rek - it is past time we pay a visit to the temple to see what is going on there. I know, Strom, you have ben itching to get there for a while now."

Is the group heading to the temple? Pursuing the troglodytes? Something else?

[tooleychris]

I think we should secure the town before hunting. Don't wanna leave them totally defensless. Besides, wouldnt hurt to resupply our stores. Maybe temple has a cure potion or twelve laying around.

[Alethan]

"Right, then. Let's go sort out this temple business, then, shall we?"

Gwillt is ready to head to the temple when everyone else is.

(I assume Strom is going to want to lead the way on this, but C +1 is currently erratically AFK per travel, so I don't know if someone else wants to take the lead here and he can jump in when he's able or if he'll be able to do it from abroad or... what. Wanted to throw the thought out there, though, in any case.)

[Rukellian]

"Indeed," Fimmion replies to Gwillt, "I was thinkin that there may very well be more helpless townsfolk taking shelter in the temple. If they be hungry, I can definitely help them with that!"

He gets up from his chair and gestures a farewell to the Innkeeper and her family. Packing up his few possessions, Fimmion then joins the adventuring group and prepares to head out.

[Stonjuz]

.....

PM sent.

I didnt get one, sorry.

[dmw71]

I didnt get one, sorry.

I do this all the time. Sorry.

Whenever I click the 'PM' button to include one of my game posts as part of the private message, the 'To' for the message is the author of the post -- or me -- so I end up sending the message to myself if I don't remember to switch out the recipients.

I just sent it again, and verified that it actually went to you this time.

[Stonjuz]

'Least I know what direction they came from.'
Shannigans climbs back down. He is saddened somewhat, having not gained much more advantageous information beyond what has been discussed by the group already.

[dmw71]

"Right, then. Let's go sort out this temple business, then, shall we?" says Gwilt, who finds support for his plan from the others. Ferrell is going to remain at her inn with her children, but she wishes the party the best as they depart in the midday sun.

---

Aside from the few people already encountered, the town appears vacant. The group realizes that looks may be deceiving, however, as it is entirely possible that locals are bunkered down in their respective residences or shelters. If distrust existed before the attacks, it seems logical that the locals will be extremely cautious at this point.

The travels to the temple are easy and uneventful. Fimmion looks fondly at the longer vertical building he initially sought refuge in as the group passes the building previously detected by the delicious scents emanating from within.

---

The temple itself is the only stone structure in the town. As the group approaches, the front gate which leads into an open courtyard stands wide open, and no guards or sentries of any kind are detected.

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        ___ |___|| |   ?|       x    x                     |   |      | ?|                  |       |            |       |
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                 |   ___________    |                                              \               Party  |   
                 |  | Sleeping  |   |               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~             \                     |
                 |  | Dragon    |   |              ~   ~  ~  ~  ~   ~   ~            \                    |
                 |  |  Inn      |   /\            ~ ~  ~  ~   ~  ~   ~   ~            \                   |
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