11. Return to O'Hare

[dmw71]

"The trogs are a more pressing concern, especially since their attacks seem to be escalating," Gwillt replies. Turning to the rest of the party: "I say we start tracking them down, see what we can find out." He looks back at the mayor and asks, "You need anything else? If not, I'd like to get to work..." The Mayor, while clearly excited over the fact that a non-local group is willing to perform necessary work he, quite frankly, probably can no longer afford to do on his own, looks distracted.

Minutes later, he turns to Tillman, his bodyguard. "A word." he says. "Excuse us," he says to the party, "I need a moment." He puts his arm around his faithful defender and the pair turn and exit the front room through the same door his sons used earlier.

---

A few moments later, the Mayor returns, followed by Tillman and Darrin, his youngest son. Darrin, obviously nervous, is doing his best to mask his fears. The Mayor starts: "My son witnessed your last battle -- one in which you lost two of your own -- and did not come to your aide." He continues, trying to mask the blend of disappointment and sadness. "By right, I am obligated to offer --" he stops, "-- to insist that his services be made available to you as you look to conclude your unfinished business."

The Mayor falls silent... and waits.

[Stonjuz]

"-- to insist that his services be made available to you as you look to conclude your unfinished business."
The Mayor falls silent... and waits.

"We already got a cook! AND a ranger! AND a paladin! AND some clerics! AND some fighting men! ....." As the decible level rises with each 'AND', Shannigans continues around the group with this nonsensicle rambling until he lastly points himself out, and adds, "AND me! What can he bring to the table?"
The hobbit gives the boy a hesistant stare while thinking it over. His brow rises suddenly and he confides, "We COULD use some henchmen."

ooc:

[wolfpack]

It is a journey that will be frought with peril your mayorship. Are you sure you want the fruit of your loins in such a place of danger?

[ravenn4544]

"Well lad, that's a noble gesture indeed! Maybe we could take 'im up on guiding us through the town at least - then we see what happens, eh? What do you guys think about checking out the Goat before we head off? Is that a dagger waitin' to stick us in the back when we head out of here after them trogs?"

[onlyme]

Ewell pipes up. Ah, your honor. I see you have very essence of a gentleman flowing through your heart. I am sure if your son has half of that sense of honor and duty... he will be fine. Tis a truly noble gesture to be willing to sacrifice your own to a worthy and glorious cause. He looks at Darrin...Tis nobler still to be willing to sacrifice yourself. Young man, are you ready for such glory? To come back victorious over those evil trogs? or to never come back at all?

[dmw71]

The Mayor is questioned, with Epsilon summarizing the collective thoughts of the group when he offers the following: "It is a journey that will be frought with peril your mayorship. Are you sure you want the fruit of your loins in such a place of danger?" The Mayor listens to all concerns the party may have and, despite any warnings, continues to make his son available to the party.

Ewell addresses the young man directly. "Young man, are you ready for such glory? To come back victorious over those evil trogs? Or to never come back at all?" The lad is almost able to conceal the fear he most certainly possesses. "I... If...." he starts with a stammer, before simply finishing with: "I will do as you wish."

[Alethan]

Gwillt quietly chuckles to himself at the greenbacks trying to give trouble to the youth.

"Master Shanny, t'warnt that long ago you were muttering about killin' something for the first time, if I remember correctly. Let the lad show us what he can do before you question his worth. He adjusts his pack, does a quick weapon check, feeling the hilts of sword and dagger and touching his bow to confirm they are there before continuing, "Unless anyone has anything else they want to do here in town, I think we should start tracking those trogs now..."

Gwillt nods to the mayor, turns, and begins walking west towards the river to try and pick up the trogs' trail.

(According to the townsfolk we've spoken with, they seemed to come from the north, correct? Which way is the river flowing here? North to south? Or south to north?)

[onlyme]

Gwillt quietly chuckles to himself at the greenbacks trying to give trouble to the youth.

"Master Shanny, t'warnt that long ago you were muttering about killin' something for the first time, if I remember correctly. Let the lad show us what he can do before you question his worth. He adjusts his pack, does a quick weapon check, feeling the hilts of sword and dagger and touching his bow to confirm they are there before continuing, "Unless anyone has anything else they want to do here in town, I think we should start tracking those trogs now..."

Gwillt nods to the mayor, turns, and begins walking west towards the river to try and pick up the trogs' trail.

(According to the townsfolk we've spoken with, they seemed to come from the north, correct? Which way is the river flowing here? North to south? Or south to north?)

I assume south to north, since it seems to be the outflow from the waterfall sourcing it.

Ewell eyes the ranger and offers up a suggestion. I know we dont want to split up, as we have seen the advantage in numbers. But, do you want to track and come back, or have all of us follow you. As long as you dont do something impulsive like get ambushed or attacked... what does everyone think wisest?

[Alethan]

Gwillt peers curiously at the young cavalier. "You want me to avoid... getting impulsively ambushed?" he asks, with hesitation. "Right, then I suppose I can try to do that."

"All joking aside, I agree with the lad. Tracking isn't something what can be done with a hoard of people pressing at your backside. Normally, the obvious choice would be to take Alordan with me..." he pauses, out of respect, "That ain't gonna happen now, though, is it? So..." he eyes the rest of the group, "you up for it, master sneak?" He looks pointedly at Shanny, the Helpful Halfling.

[saalaria]

"Didn't we want to check out the Goat first to see if we could glean any clues there?" Kaltar reminds the group.

[Alethan]

Gwillt nods, "Sure, sure... you guys could do that while I do a bit of tracking. Look, I don't think there's much to be gleaned from the Goat. We couldn't get nothin' from them the first time we talked to 'em. What makes you think they'll act any different to us now?" He shrugs, "But if you guys want to check it out, go ahead. I think my time will be better spent tracking down the trogs."

[Stonjuz]

"Master Shanny, t'warnt that long ago you were muttering about killin' something for the first time, if I remember correctly. Let the lad show us what he can do before you question his worth. ..........Gwillt nods to the mayor, turns, and begins walking west towards the river to try and pick up the trogs' trail.

Gwilt starts to head out for the trog-tracking. Shannigans hurriedly catches up to him. "Already you're gonna need my help. You're going the wrong way. They came from over there." He raises his arm to the southeastern direction he saw from the Dragon's rooftop. After the two take a few steps away from the others, he quietly confides to the ranger, "Yea, weren't that long ago. He'll be fine."

[wolfpack]

Because this time we need to get Gustov alone.

[Alethan]

"Master Shanny, t'warnt that long ago you were muttering about killin' something for the first time, if I remember correctly. Let the lad show us what he can do before you question his worth. ..........Gwillt nods to the mayor, turns, and begins walking west towards the river to try and pick up the trogs' trail.

Gwillt starts to head out for the trog-tracking. Shannigans hurriedly catches up to him. "Already you're gonna need my help. You're going the wrong way. They came from over there." He raises his arm to the southeastern direction he saw from the Dragon's rooftop. After the two take a few steps away from the others, he quietly confides to the ranger, "Yea, weren't that long ago. He'll be fine."

Continuing his way west, Gwillt calls out over his shoulder, "The first attack came from the west," he points to the area past the crossroads, between the Dragon and the Goat. "Ferrell said they seemed to come from the south, so I'm gonna start where's I first seen 'em and work my way south from there." He stops and squares off with Shannigans and finishes, "I don't tell you how to go about castin' spells, now, do I?"

[Rukellian]

Shortly after Gwillt and Shannigans splits from the party, Fimmion casually asks the group around him about the "Goat" that he is hearing so much about. "Was the food there that bad?" At least on the surface of things, Fimmion can tell that the Inn in question left a bad after-taste, though he doesn't know why.

[saalaria]

"Gwilt we will go to the Goat, seek us there once you have done your reconnoitre. Is everyone else in favour of heading to the Goat?"

Assuming yes, Kaltar turns and heads off, filling the new companions in on the strange goings-on at the inn as the group travel there.

[ravenn4544]

"I'm in favor of what the group decides, fer sure. Maybe if we rattle some weapons over at the Goat, it may kick loose some fleas that might be botherin' 'er?"

[Stonjuz]

Looking a bit puzzled before going into stealth, the halfling says, "Just let me know when, or if, you want me to change your cloak colors too. But....I dont wanna lose ya."
Again, he mimics the actions of his larger guide, watching and learning the signals for the craft.
When he sees Gwilt enter stealthmode, he smiles at the ranger, rubs his own covering and blends into the familiar pallets.

[onlyme]

Ewell shakes his head.
I do not see the value in it. Those people, especially the one who led them, are boorishly uncouth, oh and cowards as well. I believe I would rather walk about, and see if anyone needs assistance. He then remembers to ask the mayor something before leaving. Oh, Your Honor, one request, please. Is there a furniture maker or perhaps a lumber miller in town? I seem to be in want of a sturdy replacement for my lance.

[tooleychris]

Grim follows Kaltar but looks longingly to the west.