The Briarstone Tavern

[Scott308]

Dorvar

I'm glad to gear that! Well, not glad to hear that Numen had cast a spell on you, but that we were right that he was up to no good. Good to see you are back to your normal self. This round is on me. The dwarf goes to the bar and places a gold piece on the counter. Ghrym! I heard you were dead. I'm very happy to see that rumors of your death were greatly exaggerated! We'll need your finest ale for my friends and I, good sir! He returns to the table and takes a seat, waiting for their drinks. So...tell me about this expedition.

[Zhym]

"Betram's rescue mission?" asks Lug. "I dunno, he asked me about it, then I had to go talk with Orrin about something, then I came back and wanted to talk to Bertram, but then I had to go to the keep with Varas, and when I got back Bertram was gone and I haven't seen him since!" Lug looks to the door. "I should really go find him. Don't go anywhere, okay?"

Lug steps out the door looking for anywhere Betram might have gone.

[KingOfCowards]

Lug runs into Bertram not too far outside the tavern.
"There you are Lug. Do you have a moment to talk or are you on your way to meet with somebody else?"

[Scott308]

Dorvar

Hmm. Well. He looks at Varas. I don't really know what he was talking about. I'm sure there is more information to be had from him, but I was actually talking to you. I saw your notice on the bulletin board. How many people do you have?

[Zhym]

Lug runs into Bertram not too far outside the tavern.
"There you are Lug. Do you have a moment to talk or are you on your way to meet with somebody else?"

"Sorry," says Lug. "Lots going on. Yeah, let's talk." He leads Bertram toward the temple.

[Starbeard]

Odium Contemptus

Odium wanders into the tavern, but without the usual smug look of someone who revels in causing a deflation in the room's general mood. He seems in better spirits than usual.

'Two things I seek today,' he explains. 'The first of these is adventure. I have unspent scrolls from the battle that have been burning a hole in my pocket, and my knees are getting stiff from inactivity and all this genuflecting before the Regent. Who knew being a knight and sir would be so arduous a business! If I don't find an expedition by tomorrow, I will doomed to sit in another one of those pointless "open court" hearings!'

'The second is that I seek stories from Vaul's explorers for a book. It is for the Tower of Wendall. I would like to compile a list of the region's major sites of magical interest: their properties, histories, and perhaps the nature of magical artefacts discovered there. I believe it would be useful for consultation. At the moment I am particularly interested in the east. It is a direction to which my heart ultimately yearns. In that direction is the old dwarven hold that bound that strange demon for so long, and seems the ideal locale to begin just such a book. But I would collaborate with others to chronicle the collected knowledge of any sites which may be of interest to magic-users.'

Seeing Varas in the main room, he calls out to him. 'Ah, hallo! I have read your notice, are you still attempting to organize that dragon-sighting tour? It seems dangerous, but I am always willing to place my efforts where success seems likely in the glorious pursuit of moneys. What details can you offer, or have you moved on to other pursuits?'

[AleBelly]

Odium Contemptus

Seeing Varas in the main room, he calls out to him. 'Ah, hallo! I have read your notice, are you still attempting to organize that dragon-sighting tour? It seems dangerous, but I am always willing to place my efforts where success seems likely in the glorious pursuit of moneys. What details can you offer, or have you moved on to other pursuits?'

Varas, seated at a table with Dorvar, nods to the old man. "You have it half right. I hope to sight the dragon's treasure. Much to the better if this is done without the dragon itself. I know little of dragons except that they lust for treasure. It will not be long before the creature returns, so we must depart soon. Have you a mount?"

[Starbeard]

Odium Contemptus

Varas, seated at a table with Dorvar, nods to the old man. "You have it half right. I hope to sight the dragon's treasure. Much to the better if this is done without the dragon itself. I know little of dragons except that they lust for treasure. It will not be long before the creature returns, so we must depart soon. Have you a mount?"

'Hmm. A mount I have not, and I am afraid I could only afford a slow mule, if it were old and missing an ear.

'Speed would be absolutely vital, as you say: in that case, I believe my only option would be to take an advance in exchange for a share of my profits. I can pay 25 gold toward a riding horse, and whoever comes up with the remaining 65 gold can claim… 25% of my monetary winnings? I am most interested in the artefacts we might find, anyway.'

[Rusty Tincanne]

Excuse me for assuming I would know this, but Kennitt and Rhodri's bounty hunting mission sounds the most appealing.

Perthrin enters the tavern and heads to the bar. His height is betrayed by his hunched back and gaunt frame. He sneezes into his hands and wipes his nose on the cloak. Were it not for his tarnished armor and pointed ears, the elf would likely be mistaken for a malnourished beggar. A mug of mulled wine, if you would. And information. I am looking for Kennitt and Rhodri.

i need to buy equipment still, but he'd like to go bounty hunting.

[AleBelly]

Odium Contemptus

Varas, seated at a table with Dorvar, nods to the old man. "You have it half right. I hope to sight the dragon's treasure. Much to the better if this is done without the dragon itself. I know little of dragons except that they lust for treasure. It will not be long before the creature returns, so we must depart soon. Have you a mount?"

'Hmm. A mount I have not, and I am afraid I could only afford a slow mule, if it were old and missing an ear.

'Speed would be absolutely vital, as you say: in that case, I believe my only option would be to take an advance in exchange for a share of my profits. I can pay 25 gold toward a riding horse, and whoever comes up with the remaining 65 gold can claim… 25% of my monetary winnings? I am most interested in the artefacts we might find, anyway.'

Varas is quiet for an unacceptably long period of time. Sorry all. "Unfortunately, I have little to offer in the way of advances. My travels have yielded magical items of use to others, but not to me. Dragons equal gold and magic. Hence my interest."

He looks at the wizened man skeptically. "Can you make such a journey on foot?"

[Starbeard]

Odium Contemptus

Varas is quiet for an unacceptably long period of time. Sorry all. "Unfortunately, I have little to offer in the way of advances. My travels have yielded magical items of use to others, but not to me. Dragons equal gold and magic. Hence my interest."

He looks at the wizened man skeptically. "Can you make such a journey on foot?"

'I could, and would, if there were enough by way of assurances that we could reach the lair in time. Otherwise it will be a wasted journey.'

He lowers his voice conspiratorially, drawing in those around him.

'In that case I would be more inclined to view the dwarven ruins and tomb to the east; I have heard that the last expedition to that place became pitifully frightened, and and left before exploring the tomb fully. They did this despite being surrounded by evidence that the armies of undead within the hold had already marched off toward the Finger! From the rumours that have just returned from the mountain, I doubt we will ever see that army again. The dwarven tomb now sits empty, waiting to be plundered.

I admit, this is in part why I am interested in beginning with the dwarf-pit for my catalogue of magical sites.'

'If, however, you think we can still make good enough time on foot to the dragon den, don't worry about me. I may look old, but I am in my prime and fit as a fiddle. This ungainly visage is merely a curse set upon me, for reasons best left unsaid. I fear it will shaken your resolve.'

[Marullus]

Bromric enters the tavern with Ulf and Seadu, the three already engaged in conversation. He buys the three of them around of ales as they take a table. (-3cp)

Bromric takes a long drink, then turns to Seadu. "Do you hasten back to the voice in the cleft?" He turns to Ulf, "Deep within the mountain, a cave-in has trapped some creatures. Not our kin, but calling themselves the race of 'thringrinir' h they live deep below the earth and spoke of having a queen. We can return to aid them, which would help us learn of these neighbors and perhaps forge a friendly relation, but is an effort of kindness, to be sure. There is more to explore within the ancient halls, of course, and many hazards already seen." He returns to Seadu, "I also am keen to pursue the bounty of the Duke in reclaiming the dwarven watchtowers, and see more strategy in taking and holding these places of import."

Description:

Bromric Wardigger
Bromric is tall for a dwarf, standing roughly four and a half feet with a weather-worn visage that shows him to be well into middle-aged. Solidly muscled with wide shoulders, he is nonetheless leaner than the average dwarf, and lighter in step. His onyx hair is streaked with slate-gray, creating a striped effect on his plaited beard.

He wears a heavy black woolen cloak and hood. Upon closer examination, he wears gilded platemail beneath with comfort and grace as one accostomed. He carries a bow and shield on his either shoulder, and a worn, leather-hilted longsword and battle-axe crosswise on his back. He travels with a sturdy mud-brown pony with long mane and fetlocks named Gustav. A saddle sits on the pony's back, a mound of gear secured in a hump behind it.

[Zhym]

"I would much like to see the mountain's halls, though many of them be ruined," says Ulf.

He reaches into a pouch and withdraws an emerald that would be a fine specimen if it were not marred by a chip missing from it. "You may remember that I took this as part of my share of treasure from our expedition to the dwarven tombs," he tells Bromric. "I intend to return to those tombs to put it back where it belongs, if the guardian of the burial chamber will allow me to do so. If you would be willing to join me, I would join you to help rescue the thringrinir. Perhaps we can do both in one expedition?"

"As for the dwarvenheim, the builders are still busy, but we should determine how much the place would cost. Then we can go about raising funds. Agreed?"

[Starbeard]

Seadu Erana, The Tallest Dwarf

When Ulf pull out the emerald, Seadu sucks in a breath and whistles low. He taps his fingers in consternation, but seems relieved after Ulf has said his piece. 'Well I'm glad to hear your intentions, Ulf. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I have it on very high authority that the emerald you hold in your hand must be returned to the tomb; as long as we have it, the ruin will continue to suffer under its curse, so that whoever dies within is brought up again as an unliving beastie. There is also the matter of Fangir's son, whose bones must also be laid to rest in the tomb before the curse can be lifted—but I think we ought to handle one thing at a time. I, for one, have no idea where to find him, or even if he is still alive.'

Buying another round of ales, he resolves to go with Ulf to the ruins. 'As I see it, I have two pressing quests: return the emerald, and find Fangir's son. The first can be performed right away, but the second must regrettably wait until we have collected more leads. The dwarven watchtowers should be a common priority as well. I would also be interested in returning to the keep to help those delvers—but something about it makes me uncomfortable. They seemed rather nonchalant about the prospect of surviving beneath an active volcano for several weeks, and quick to issue forth the promise of lavish rewards. My resolve tells me to return with rescue, but the voice of my poor departed mother tells me not to trust Queens who live beneath vats of lava.'

(-3 cp)

Edit:

"As for the dwarvenheim, the builders are still busy, but we should determine how much the place would cost. Then we can go about raising funds. Agreed?"

'Agreed. I left Vaul with a small building project underway, near Crivit's memorial. It was intended to be a chapel of Veles, but that is obviously not the case now. I should check in to see it, the workers should have finished it by now; if it is in a good spot, we could make funding plans based around that site.'

[Zhym]

Ulf relaxes visibly. "That is not bad news at all," he says. "You have only told me that the thing that I intend to do must be done. The emerald will return to its rightful place!" He raises his glass in salute.

"I am somewhat distressed, however, to hear that the whereabouts of Fangir's son are unknown. I do not believe we have heard the full story of what happened in the burial chamber in Bromric's expedition, but it was my understanding that Fangir went into that chamber to inter the remains of his son. The lad died before Fangir, as I hear it told. Drove the poor dwarf mad. When we were there last, the burial chamber was guarded. If the boy's bones are not in the tomb, where could they be? I do not even know where to start to look for them, if they are missing."

"Anyway, I agree with your priorities. We should set forth immediately after we get construction moving on the Dwarvenheim to return this cursed shiny. Then we can figure out what's going on with the bones of Fangir's son. Only after those tasks are complete should we think venture into the mountain."

He takes a drink while seeming to think. "Who else should we recruit for this quest? I spoke of this with Orrin, but he has been off in secret meetings recently; I do not know if he will be able to come with us. Do you know of anyone else who would help? I suspect that elves would not be well-suited to this expedition, alas."

"What do you say, Bromric?"

[Spartakos]

A mug of mulled wine, if you would. And information. I am looking for Kennitt and Rhodri.
[/ooc]

Assuming Grhym or his daughter give the unsavory-looking elf at least a nod in the right direction, he will find Kennit and Rhodri quaffing ale at a corner table and conversing in low tones.

Rhodri looks Perthrin up and down when he approaches, his face that of someone who has recently heard of the deaths of his entire family. If the fellow asks if they are Kennit and Rhodri, he answers "We might be. Who's asking?"

[Starbeard]

Seadu Erana

He takes a drink while seeming to think. "Who else should we recruit for this quest? I spoke of this with Orrin, but he has been off in secret meetings recently; I do not know if he will be able to come with us. Do you know of anyone else who would help? I suspect that elves would not be well-suited to this expedition, alas."

"What do you say, Bromric?"

'We should ask Martin. Falles mentioned him specifically, saying he had also agreed to perform the tasks. I wonder if he was given other items to return as well, besides the emerald and the bones.'

Seadu excuses himself for a moment to wander town, looking for Martin. If he finds him, he invites him back to the tavern to continue discussing the plans.

[Keehnelf]

NPCing: Martin readily agrees to come and discuss the mission with the party. After a few minutes, it becomes apparent that Falles did not task Martin with anything related to this quest specifically, and he views his explicit charge to be to restore the faith of Falles in these lands. That said, anything that can be done in his name is a good work and to be supported.

[Keehnelf]

May 20, 1 VC - 6:00am

When the sleepy town of Vaul comes awake, the residents and adventurers alike discover that an intrepid band, perhaps impatient after such a prolonged period of restriction to the town limits, has departed from the front gate even before the sun has created the horizon in the east.

[AleBelly]

Odium Contemptus

Varas is quiet for an unacceptably long period of time. Sorry all. "Unfortunately, I have little to offer in the way of advances. My travels have yielded magical items of use to others, but not to me. Dragons equal gold and magic. Hence my interest."

He looks at the wizened man skeptically. "Can you make such a journey on foot?"

'I could, and would, if there were enough by way of assurances that we could reach the lair in time. Otherwise it will be a wasted journey.'

He lowers his voice conspiratorially, drawing in those around him.

'In that case I would be more inclined to view the dwarven ruins and tomb to the east; I have heard that the last expedition to that place became pitifully frightened, and and left before exploring the tomb fully. They did this despite being surrounded by evidence that the armies of undead within the hold had already marched off toward the Finger! From the rumours that have just returned from the mountain, I doubt we will ever see that army again. The dwarven tomb now sits empty, waiting to be plundered.

I admit, this is in part why I am interested in beginning with the dwarf-pit for my catalogue of magical sites.'

'If, however, you think we can still make good enough time on foot to the dragon den, don't worry about me. I may look old, but I am in my prime and fit as a fiddle. This ungainly visage is merely a curse set upon me, for reasons best left unsaid. I fear it will shaken your resolve.'

Sorry, heading out of town on vacation, so I have to accelerate this...Varas does feel that they can make it. He is happy to leave with just Odium and Dorvar. He does not want to go investigate dwarven halls, as his past expeditions have unearthed items of interest but he keeps getting no treasure - which is of course what any good thief wants.