On to Malforten - ICC

[Golem]

Armath

Armath still waiting for the mysterious voice to reply back takes note that his new "friends" have not noticed him lagging behind and have left him....alone....apparently. "Show yer self if ya will please. I'd like ta know what yer name is." he says again to the disembodied voice.

OOC: I should have been more clear. The voice isn't disembodied. Whoever is talking is speaking just loud enough for you to hear alone but not loud enough for anyone else.

Once you stepped closer, yet keeping a cautious distance, a face emerges from the darkness within. A hard face, lean and angular with a strong jaw, pale green skin crowded with dark purple bruises. A tangle of twisted black hair, matted with twigs and dirt. The nose cut and swollen and crusted with blood, the lips split and bloated. One eye, puffy and closed, the other one bloodshot yet flickering with defiance. She looks human and then again, not so much. A young girl or woman, you can't judge her age. Underneath a ratty threadbare blanket draped over her shoulders, you note the ripped leather vest and trousers.

You now realize she is a half-orc. She tries to smile yet winces at the effort, still speaking in flawless dwarven.

"My name? To you, my name is 'Issakaz.' To the humans, I am known as 'Fetch.'" You know that Issakaz is dwarven for a 'blessed orphan.' "I now find myself turning to the charity of strangers, though you are not unknown to me. Seven, eight months ago, in the town of Reisen I heard you perform, singing for your meal and a bed. Please I ask you, would you bring me a whole chicken from the inn? The smell of roast chicken, its been driving me mad with hunger and they feed me watery gruel and weevil infested bread.. I am to be hanged on the morrow and I would die with a full belly."

Then she looks through the bars to either side of you, making sure no one else can hear. "Do this for me and there's a reward for you. They took everything off me, searched me, but farmers are not too clever. Missed a small gemstone I kept between my toes. Bring me a fat roasted chicken and I'll give you the gem."

[GreyWolfVT]

Amarth raises an eyebrow at the mention of the gem, then he goes back a bit to the statement of hearing him perform "Huh ya heard that performance eh? What'd yah think too pitchy? Or did I nail the performance?" then shaking his head to stop thinking about his performance a minute "Fetch what'd yah do ta get put ta tha rope?" focusing on the request he adds "I'll see what I can do fer yah on the chicken. Yah can call me Armath."

ooc: I was more or less meaning that I couldn't see the body that went with the voice.

[Leitz]

Georg smiled, mostly to himself. Backpacks disbursed from the horse and pony, he and Fallon mounted.

As he turned, finally, he saw Armath's conversation. With a slight nudge of one knee, his horse carefully moved closer. "An old friend, Armath?" He winked. "A jilted lover or perhaps someone who disliked one of your songs? Or some lesser crime?"

His eyes narrowed when he saw the abuse the girl had taken.

[GreyWolfVT]

Amarth shakes his head at Georg then turns briefly to face him and says in a slightly lower tone. "Nah appears a fan o' mine. Just askin fer a real decent last meal is all."

[Leitz]

"And the bruises? Jail and abuse because she likes a good tune?" Georg asked.

[Golem]

Cormac

CormacCormac follows the directions to the tavern.

The Empty Flagon is a single story wood structure with a thatch roof. The front of the building is a large common room with a dirt floor, stone fireplace and a single bar. A large man with bright yellow-blonde hair kept long and unbraided to his shoulders stands behind the bar taking with a farmer at the bar. He sees you and perks up, smiling as you step inside.

"Well met! I'm Kerrywyn, owner of the Empty Flagon. Please, have a seat," he says, gesturing to a nearby trestle table. "Ingund! Blast that child of mind...INGUND! Sorry, sire. Can I get you something to drink? An ale perhaps? Beer? Maybe something to eat? Ingund!"

From the rooms at the back a young woman appears, with a long mane of curly red tresses and a comely face. "Stop yelling' Da, I'm 'ere. And who's this fine gent," Ingund remarks, flashing a welcoming smile in your direction. She approaches you, still smiling, her eyes alight. "What can I do you for?"

-------------------------------------
Amarth

"Huh ya heard that performance eh? What'd yah think too pitchy? Or did I nail the performance?"[/dialog]

The girl gives Amarth a wan smile. "It was just fine. I rather liked it."

"Fetch what'd yah do ta get put ta tha rope?" focusing on the request he adds "I'll see what I can do fer yah on the chicken. Yah can call me Armath."

"Bedded down in the wrong hay loft. The farmer found me, wanted payment I wasn't willing to give. Tried to force himself on me so I sliced him open, navel to nipple. They ran me down with their dogs and the men beat me. This farmer I gutted, appears he had a lot of friends in this village. They say I'm a spy for this Gritznak, on account of my green skin and all."

She turns and stares warily at Georg with her one good eye before turning back to the dwarf. "Get me a chicken, Amarth," she whispers in dwarvish, "and ye get the gemstone." With that, Fetch eases back into the darkness of the gaol.

[Rex]

Cormac

"Hello lass, How much for an ale and your meal of the day? I suppose I should let you know that some councilors are coming along to meet me here, may be getting busy soon."

Cormac says with a wink at Ingund.

[Golem]

Cormac

"Hello lass, How much for an ale and your meal of the day? I suppose I should let you know that some councilors are coming along to meet me here, may be getting busy soon."

Cormac says with a wink at Ingund.

"We've got some roasted chicken and a pot of mutton stew, either one with bread and cheese will cost you ten copper, eleven altogether with the ale. Which will it be?" She catches the wink and her lips curl into an almost licentious grin.

"Hear that, Da? We're about to get some company. Might want to bring out a jug of ale and some cups!"

[Rex]

Cormac

"I will take the ale and one of each, I am feeling a bit famished."

With that he tosses her 3sp.

Coin updated.

[GreyWolfVT]

Amarth "Well huh aint that a terrible thin' girl defendin herself gets the noose a shame. I'll get yah yer chicken Fetch." the dwarven bard says then turns back to Georg and says "Gotta go get somethin' from the tavern. Might need ta borrow some coin though."

[Scott308]

Tarron Dasys

Unwilling to cause more enmity between their party and the people they are here to help, Tarron does not react to the hatred shown by the villagers. The tavern it is, then. Hopefully, we will get a slightly warmer reception. Seeing Armath conversing with the prisoner, he cautions, Don't interfere with matters that will get us in trouble. We don't need to anger the populace more than we have just by being here. If you feel you need to aid this prisoner, just be mindful of any potential consequences. With that, he follows the group proceeding to the tavern.

[Golem]

When everyone else in inside the Empty Flagon, more cups of ale and platters of food are brought to you by the lovely and alluring Ingrund who by now has been joined by an older sister Sichilde who is several months pregnant. A few moments pass when suddenly a couple of villagers enter the inn and approach you, a man and a woman.

The man is tall and thin with a thick beard and shoulder length hair. You notice he walks with a slight limp and when he speaks, he does so slowly and surely. “I’m Eryl the Hoskin and I’m in charge of the militia. The lady with me is Amanda Rhyan, the village Paish.” The woman beside him is wearing a pristine white robe and the vestments of Pelor. Unlike Eryl the Hoskin who appears resentful of your presence yet restrained with politeness, Amanda nods with a warm smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“There’s no real council here at Malforten…,” Eryl continues before being interrupted by Amanda. “…yet Eryl here commands a lot of respect by most of the village so the people here tend to defer to him.

Eryl simply nods. “And she’s here because I trust her advice.” He turns and glances at the innkeeper and his daughters. “Could you give us a moment of privacy?”

Kerrywyn flips a towel over one shoulder and turns to his daughters. “You’ve heard the Hoskin. Let’s get on, lasses. Let’s check on young Gerold out in back, make sure he’s keeping the fires hot enough. On wi’ ye!”

When they leave, Eryl takes a drink before addressing the party. “We need to be alone. I fear someone or or more in the village is passing on information to Gritznak. It would’ve helped if you had been discreet upon your arrival, now everyone knows you’re here to collect the bounty on Gritznak. Now he’ll want to know about you and he and his brigands will be out watching for you. From now on, don’t be talking to any of the villagers about why you are here and what you’re up to.”

“Now, how does this work? This bounty hunting business?” he asks.

ACTIONS?

[Scott308]

Tarron Dasys

Well, it's pretty simple. We kill Gritznak. Then we bring proof- his head should suffice- to those who hired us. Then we...get paid. That's about it.

And, yes, we could have been more discreet, but that is water under the bridge, as they say. This may actually make our job easier. We may be able to use one of his men to help us find him. Maybe we track someone back to his hideout, or perhaps we capture one and are able to convince him to talk. Or, perhaps we even draw him out and get him to come after us. Whichever way it goes down, there are two outcomes likely to occur. Obviously, we hope for option one: we get paid and you no longer have a gnoll bandit to worry about.

[Rex]

Cormac

"Yes it is what it is. Thank you for sharing your suspicions, it may make things easier or not, but best to know all the same. Do you have any leads on who it may be?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Amarth merely walks over and asks about the roast chicken from the barkeep or waitstaff.

[Golem]

Armath merely walks over and asks about the roast chicken from the barkeep or waitstaff.

The dwarf does this prior to the innkeeper and his daughters leave. That will cost you a silver piece.

[GreyWolfVT]

Armath merely walks over and asks about the roast chicken from the barkeep or waitstaff.

The dwarf does this prior to the innkeeper and his daughters leave. That will cost you a silver piece.

Amarth pays the silver....if he has it....then takes the chicken to Fetch as promised.

[Golem]

Cormac

"Yes it is what it is. Thank you for sharing your suspicions, it may make things easier or not, but best to know all the same. Do you have any leads on who it may be?"

Eryl simply shakes his head. "No, I don't. I don't tend to listen to gossip and rumor."

Yet Amanda gives a soft smile and touches his arm gently. "But if anyone might have any leads to go on, it would be Neffyd Goff. He lives very close to the inn. He was the first to suspect that someone or more was passing information to Gritznak and told Eryl this. Perhaps he would know something that would help you."

Actions?

[Golem]

Armath merely walks over and asks about the roast chicken from the barkeep or waitstaff.

The dwarf does this prior to the innkeeper and his daughters leave. That will cost you a silver piece.

Armath pays the silver....if he has it....then takes the chicken to Fetch as promised.

With a whole roasted chicken in hand, Armath leaves his colleagues and leaves the Empty Flagon. Approaching the gaol, the dwarf sees the shadow of Fetch beyond the barred door. Those thin pale green fingers hook themselves over the metal bars. "You return. Quick, give me the chicken! I can't stand the hunger!"

The dwarf sees a slot near the bottom of the barred door big enough to pass food and drink through.

Actions

[Rex]

Cormac

"Perhaps we will talk to him in a bit. Do you have any information on the bandit's whereabouts?"