Chapter 7: The Lurking Terror

[Inferno]

Day Six.
Village of Briarsgate, The Inn of the Slumbering Serpent (25).
Between midnight and 1am, Friday, October 21st, 576 CY.
Full moon, partly cloudy, damp, cold, misty.





In the dark, decrepit Inn of the Slumbering Serpent, Hoom prattles in a whisper through the crack in Baltus' door.

"Yes, yes, good night!" interrupts the old man with annoyance. He begins to shut the door when Hoom says, "...Just take the establishment across the river currently alight with fire. Even though the innkeeper there spoke rudely to me..."

"What?!" says Baltus in disbelief. "...Fire?" The door falls open.

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Baltus stands there in his nightclothes and slippers, wrapped in a blanket, a lit candle in the brass chamberstick in his left hand.

Hoom continues blathering but Baltus moves past them and down the hall to its eastern window. He cranes his neck to peer south through it, no longer hearing Hoom's babbling. The orange light in the southern sky is reflected in Baltus' wide, horrified eyes. "The Golden Grain Inn is on fire!'' he gasps with fear and dread.

"We must help them!" Baltus cries as he runs down the stairs.


Actions?

Inn of the Slumbering Serpent 7.jpg (433.53 KiB) Viewed 4790 times

Status:

• Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 3, HP 7/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos:

"The Golden Grain Inn is on fire!'' he gasps with fear and dread.

"We must help them!" Baltus cries as he runs down the stairs.

Hoom turns to Mouser. "I thought that was apparent. What now?"

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, thief

Mouser nods at Hoom, understanding passing between their eyes.

As Baltus turns down the hall, the thief deftly draws Scalpel and tries to whack him in the back of the head with the hilt.

Scalpel (THACO 20) To Hit [1d20] = 6, S/M/L Dam. [1d8] = 8 +4 not included in roll, nor 2x damage if hit.

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos;

Hoom follows suit and draws his short sword as well. He holds it aloft with the pummel ready to strike if Mouser's blow misses his mark.

Short Sword (THAC0 20) to hit [1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19 / Damage: S/M [1d6] = 6 - L [1d8] = 3

[Inferno]

Day Six.
Village of Briarsgate, The Inn of the Slumbering Serpent (25).
Between midnight and 1am, Friday, October 21st, 576 CY.
Full moon, partly cloudy, damp, cold, misty.





Within the Inn of the Slumbering Serpent, the guest called Baltus gasps with fear and dread, "The Golden Grain Inn is on fire!
"We must help them!" he cries as he runs for the stairs.

Hoom and Mouser exchange knowing glances, draw swords and quickly stalk down the dark hall toward Baltus' back.

Baltus hears the ring of steel unsheathing and turns, horrified at what he beholds. Before he can cry out, Mouser swings Scalpel and misses! Hoom strikes to subdue as well and beats the old, gentleman farmer to the floor with a loud thud.

Baltus' dropped candle goes out, and so does he. The old inn's hall is reconquered by silence and darkness.

Actions?

Inn of the Slumbering Serpent 8.jpg (224.19 KiB) Viewed 4776 times

• Map: Red marks the dead and unconscious. Each square = 5 feet.

DM Notes:

Baltus Surprised? (1-2): [1d6] = 6 No. Not possible to backstab now.
Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 5, Monster: [1d6] = 2 Hoom and Mouser strike first.
Both Hoom and Mouser are able to attack in the tight, 5' wide hall because of the tangent at the stairwell.

Status:

• Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 3, HP 7/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos:

Hoom puts away his short sword and bends down. He takes hold of one of the old man's arm and uses it to lift the unconscious man.
"We need to work on a lot of things with you Grey. How did you miss? He was just inches from you? Help me drag him back to his room before anything else happens." he says softly.

[Grognardsw]

"It's this swollen eye I got from the beating," answers Mouser.

Mouser helps Hoom move Baltus quickly and quietly into the man's room. There he ties him up securely, gags him, locks the door, shoves a chair under the knob, covers the keyhole, and splashes water on his face to revive.

[Inferno]

Day Six.
Village of Briarsgate, The Inn of the Slumbering Serpent (25).
Between midnight and 1am, Friday, October 21st, 576 CY.
Full moon, partly cloudy, damp, cold, misty.





Hoom Feethos beats Baltus into unconsciousness and the two thieves drag him back into his room, shut the door behind them and lock it.

The room is larger and better appointed than their rooms.

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Mouser risks some candlelight and hauls the unconscious old man into a chair, ties him tight and gags him. The wiry little thief shoves a chair under the doorknob which also blocks the keyhole. Then he takes water from the pitcher on the dresser and splashes it in Baltus' face.

The old man eventually rouses. At the dread realization that he is tied, gagged and held captive, his eyes fill with tears and horror as he tries to scream.

Not the raging roar of the villagers from the stone dungeon beneath the Golden Grain Inn...

• • 

    perfect mask of hatred as he roars.jpg (77.8 KiB) Viewed 4764 times

    

    he glares at you all with burning, hateful eyes.jpg (59.3 KiB) Viewed 4764 times

...Baltus' muffled shriek is of one of pure, bloodcurdling terror.


Actions?





Status:

• Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 3, HP 7/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos:

Hoom moves over to Baltus bed and tries it out. He lays upon it and sinks into it's warmth. From the bed Hoom speaks "You know it's rude to run off while someone is talking to you. I was trying to be nice but now, now you've hurt my feelings." Hoom sits up in bed and tests the construction on the sturdy bed. Grabbing onto the side, he testing to see how much movement is in the frame. "All I wanted was to get a good night sleep. Do you know how long it's been since I rested in a bed? Do you? Mr. Baltus my friend and I are here because there are rumors of evil plaguing this town." Getting to his feet but still keeping his attention to the bed. Leering at it as if it was a young maiden for whom he longed for. "We already know the rumors to be true. The innkeeper of The Golden Grain Inn, Bertram Beswill was part of this evil. As well as several of the villagers here. We found the dungeon underneath the Golden Grain Inn were my dear comrade was held captive." His attention shifts to Mouser and away from the bed "Its that right Grey? They poisoned your drink, beat you while you were weak and lock you in a cage below. Not very honorable would you say? But they are not men of honor." His attention shifts again and this time for the first time he address Baltus directly. Invading the man's personal space and allowing the foul odor of rotting jerked deer caught between his teeth permeate his senses. "But Mr. Baltus he wasn't alone. Other like my friend here were taken captive in the same manner and stored in the bowels of the cursed inn that now is being purified by fire. Do you know a young couple who live within the village, Killian & Felicity Gade? Shorty after visiting with them they disappeared. Much like the others in this village. Now my colleague here is going to ask you some questions and I encourage you to answer him truthfully and not to cry out for help. We want to help but we can't do it alone." Hoom moves away from Baltus and turns his attention back to the bed. He speaks to Mouser in thieves cant "Squeeze the rat so the mighty goddess will take me into her bosom" Translation "Ask your questions so I can get some rest" he says as he lies back down, hoping soon he can close his eyes.

Grog, Good cop, bad cop?

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, thief

"Don't pointies toss zees?"* snaps Mouser to Hoom.

"Now calm down Baltus and tell us the truth. Let's start with you nodding your head yes and no to answer. Do you know what it happening in this town?"

*

"Don't elves not need sleep?" in Cant.

We can do good cop/back cop.

[Inferno]

Day Six.
Village of Briarsgate, The Inn of the Slumbering Serpent (25).
Between 1am and 2am, Friday, October 21st, 576 CY.
Full moon, partly cloudy, damp, cold, misty.





Baltus goes silent and listens in abject fear to his captors. The old man can't speak but his eyes scream terror, bewilderment, panic.




Mouser asks, "Do you know what is happening in this town?"

Terrified, Baltus shakes his head vigorously. No.


Actions?





Status:

• Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 3, HP 7/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos:

Grey Mouser, thief
"Don't pointies toss zees?"* snaps Mouser to Hoom.

"Sails on the wind, sails on the wind."*

*

"A fabrication/a false tail"

Mouser asks, "Do you know what is happening in this town?"
Terrified, Baltus shakes his head vigorously. No.

"Mr. Baltus, tell the truth it will so much easier. Don't give my friend and excuse to collect more fingers. He already has several hands worth from past liars. Grey try an easier question, like about his wife or children. Would he like to see them again?"

[Grognardsw]

Mouser draws Cat's Claw and runs it along Baltus' hand.

"I'm sure he would like to see his family, unless they've been abducted or killed like other families in the village. See these bruises? I was attacked in that burning inn. It's put me in a bad mood. I'd like to find out what's going on here. I can't believe you don't know why its citizens are leaving, missing, or dead. Why its officials attack strangers?"

[Inferno]

Day Six.
Village of Briarsgate, The Inn of the Slumbering Serpent (25).
Between 1am and 2am, Friday, October 21st, 576 CY.
Full moon, partly cloudy, damp, cold, misty.







Bound tight, Baltus desperately tries to talk through his gag to save his life. But to his horror he cannot!

Actions?





Status:

• Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 3, HP 7/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

[Grognardsw]

"I'll untie the gag and you will whisper your words," says Mouser with Cat's Claw against the man's throat. "Raise your voice or scream, I'll slice your throat before your second syllable is out."

[DadsAngry]

Hoom:

Hoom sit up from the bed to get a better view of the action. He holds his finger to his lips to Baltus and allows a low hiss to come forth.

[Inferno]

Day Six.
Village of Briarsgate, The Inn of the Slumbering Serpent (25).
Between 1am and 2am, Friday, October 21st, 576 CY.
Full moon, partly cloudy, damp, cold, misty.

Gagged.jpg (102.14 KiB) Viewed 4723 times

Mouser unties Baltus' gag, and threatens his life. Hoom sits up to get a better view.

The bound old man bursts into tears. "...Please...." he blubbers softly, his chin against his chest and his frightful eyes cast downward. "...Please... Don't kill me. I beg you! ...I don't know anything! ...No one does..."


Actions? and please see Experience Points Award here.





Status:

• Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 3, HP 7/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos:

Removing himself from the bed he takes over the interrogation. He moves close to Grey and Baltus.
"Put Cat's Claw back to sleep, Grey. We will call upon it again if need be. Mr. Baltus is willing to speak to us now."
Turning his attention to Baltus "No one knows you say. But you do know of something is wrong in this village. What was your business with the Mayor? Has it to do with the evils that plague this village? When did you notice something was wrong? When did all this start?"

[Inferno]

Day Six.
Village of Briarsgate, The Inn of the Slumbering Serpent (25).
Between 1am and 2am, Friday, October 21st, 576 CY.
Full moon, partly cloudy, damp, cold, misty.





Trembling with fear, Baltus meets the elf's cold, alien eyes. He answers the questions as a man pleading for his life. "Y-yes. Something is wrong. Terribly wrong. Every soul in the village knows it," he sobs.

"The mayor has summoned me. As two of the oldest, founding families, he has asked my counsel before. But never on this matter. I believe he will now.

"M-Mine is one of the outer farms. I only became aware of the... changes three months ago. Others saw it sooner and were ridiculed. I-I dared not believe it. The wild rumours, the dread suspicions that pit neighbor against neighbor, the lurking terror without name or shape; all conspiring to obscure the truth. So that rational men might choose to ignore it in blissful ignorance. The alternative, you see, is far too much to bear." He silently weeps. No longer for his life. But for what had befallen his home, his family. A carefully erected dam that had been held in place for months finally gave way.

When the emotion subsides, he says, "...I saw you two downstairs - strangers - and thought you might be involved in this dark business. So, I...watched you. I know now you're not a part of this. I-I'm sorry... so sorry. I meant you no harm. Please believe me".

He gathers his strength and beseeches his two captors, "Now please. Let me go. I've a wife and children. I am begging you. Please."

Actions?





Status:

• Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 5, HP 10/10, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 3, HP 7/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl

Resources:

• Map of Briarsgate
  NPC List for Briarsgate
  The Story So Far (in words)
  The Story So Far (in pictures)

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos:

Hoom examines Baltus, looking him up and down before speaking again.
"Yes, yes Mr. Baltus I believe you. I believe you."
Hoom move in close to untie the man. As he do he continues to speak.
"I hope you understand our need to restrain you and subject you to this inquisition. So far it is the only none arcane way we have been able to determine if one is telling the truth. This town is filled with deception. People who warmly greet you are just as likely to thrust a dagger in your belly. You can rest assured that the proprietors of this establishment, Ollwin and Belba, are also allies. Grey vetted them earlier and it is why we choose this place to rest. The Golden Grain Inn in which you tried to saved was one of three areas we have identified as being a source of evil. So in sense we saved your life tonight. The others that ran to aid that corrupt auberge are no doubtedly in league with the fowl wretches. Avoid Holy Church of beloved Merikka and the Foaming Mug Inn and all that patron of those establishments. Tomorrow Grey and I will escort you to see the Mayor. Hopefully he is not one of them. Mr. Baltus, tell me do you know a man, dark man of darker mien, adorned with an eyepatch?"