2. Welcome to Borovia

[Computer +1]

Tumbler sits atop his mount. Someone crying doesn't make it our business. Breaking into their house is against the law, even if it is so you can all rescue some stupid damsel in distress. He spits on the ground before yelling at the house, IF YOU NEED HELP YOU BETTER SPEAK UP OR WE ARE OUTTA HERE!

[Eulalios]

Tibbius says something half-Elvish, half-yowling to Randolph. The cat gives him a look, then begins to scale the wall of the building toward the upper window whence comes the howling.

Hoping the cat gets a good peek at what's the matter, then returns.

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath / at the front door

The Paladin shakes his head.

"For the True God does not abandon anyone forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion according to the greatness of his unfailing love. - Lamentations 3:22-26," intones Vorkath. He sheaths his great sword.

"Let us go to the tavern. She does not want our help."

[Stirling]

Agrippo, seeing his party go and come back and still hearing the sobbing shakes his head, "fine bunch of heroes you lot are!".

He will take a little time to investigate the claw marks around some of the buildings. How recent are they and any indication of the number of the pack involved? As an afterthought he'll make note of where claw marks are heaviest and if any buildings actually escaped damage.

Choosing the tavern over the shop, he will loudly kick open the door and enter.

[Bouv]

Robert, saying to Agrippo, It's not that we don't want to help, it's that we need to be careful. We're in a strange village, they don't know us, and when asked if help was needed, we got no reponse. I would rather find out what's happening from the locals first before I go kicking down doors or a possibly haunted place or the local who just weeps to get attention from strangers."

[Computer +1]

Heroes?! Tumbler says with a shout. I'm not a hero, I'm a craftsman. Highly specialized! Highly trained! Highly skilled! World needs a few less "heroes" and a few more dwarves with common sense.

[Eulalios]

As they ride back to the tavern, Tibbius tickles under Randolph Cat's chin, and reports second-hand the tightly sealed condition of the second story at the Little House of Sobbing.

...

Does this tavern have a stable or just a hitching rail? If there's a stable, Tibbius dismounts and leads over his horse, calling "Boy! I say, boy. Peasant! Handle my steed."

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 2, 1221
Time: 1:30 PM
Weather: 57˚, overcast
Moon: Waxing gibbous
Location: The Gates of Borovia
**************************************

A lone woman crying behind a barred door in a very-well sealed house does not call for a rescue, you decide. You ride back north to the Blood on the Vine tavern. Seeing no stable next to the tavern, you tie up your horses.

Inside, you see a tavern that was once finely appointed but has become shoddy over the years. A blazing fire in the hearth gives scant warmth to the few huddles souls within. The silence is broken only by the occasional sip of wine. A gaunt and dead-eyed bartender is behind the bar, cleaning glasses. Three gypsies are at a table to your left. Another figure sits in the shadows to the right.

Status: Robert: 37/37, Iluq: 39/39, Vokarth: 40/40, Tibbius: 22/22, Randolph: 4/4, Tumbler: 39/39, Agrippo: 52/52

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath / tavern

The Faith Hunter walks into the tavern with his comrades, surveying the scene and reaching out with his True God-given sense of evil. With a flick of his head, he indicates the others approach the gypsies and man in shadows. Vorkath engages the bar keep.

"Good day sir, and well met! I will have your finest ale. Your establishment is welcome relief in these parts," says Vorkath in his best conversational suaveness, laying down coin at the same time. "Perhaps you can help me. I am Vorkath Tsaridian, paladin of the True God, here to meet with burgomeister Kolyan Indrirovich. Do you know his whereabouts?"

[Eulalios]

Tibbius approaches the figure in shadows.

"Good evening, brother."

Randolph Cat goes looking for mice in the kitchen.

[Bouv]

Robert will go up to the bar and order a drink, "I was hoping if you could answer a question for me. Are those wolf marks on the building around here recent? Do you need assistance in defending yourself from them? I like to think myself something of an expert on nature and animals and I haven't heard of wolves, on their own, attacking settlements like this."

[Stirling]

Agrippo will rail up Snowflake... (though he calls him Blizzard in front of Vorkath cus thats' more manly!), and casting one eye up and down the street for any stranger danger and traffic....he'll bring his stuff and take a bench inside. Trying to be gruff he'll comment,"seems you have a wolf problem hereabouts...well any of you start howling then you'll feel the sharp end of my spear!"....probably his jest about lycanthropes will be met with silence.

Taking a seat by the fireplace, he'll try not to be too obvious in sizing up the gypsies for any hidden weapons, furtive motions to pickpockets, crystal balls under their cloaks! he's not xenophobic but the penal legions were full of such vagabond migrants.

[NJWilliam]

Iluq, Dark Elf Cleric

Iluq quietly steps into the Inn and takes a seat in a corner, his eyes scanning the entire room from beneath his hood.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 2, 1221
Time: 1:40 PM
Weather: Overcast
Moon: Waxing gibbous
Location: The Blood on the Vine Tavern
**************************************

You enter the tavern. Iluq takes a seat in the corner. Agrippo heads for the fireplace and tries to size up the gypsies without appearing to size them up. The gypsies either don't notice his efforts or don't care.

Vorkath and Robert approach the bartender, ordering drinks and asking questions. Vorkath inquires of the Burgomaster's whereabouts. Robert asks of the claw marks. The dead-eyed bartender barely even looks at you. He fills two pint glasses with ale and puts them on the bar. In a dull voice, he says, "Two ales. Four silver, please." Ignoring your questions, he resumes cleaning glasses.

Tibbius approaches the figure in shadows. "Good evening, brother," he says.

"'Tis little good about it," replies the figure, "or anything else in this accursed place. Well met, none the less. Name's Ismark. What brings you here?"

Status: Robert: 37/37, Iluq: 39/39, Vokarth: 40/40, Tibbius: 22/22, Randolph: 4/4, Tumbler: 39/39, Agrippo: 52/52

[Bouv]

Robert places a gold piece upon the bar, "Gladly let you keep the whole thing for some information

[Eulalios]

"Ismark, please call me Vert. Pleased to meet you. I would sit with you a while." Tibbius eases into a chair. Other PCs know that Tibbius always introduces himself this way to strangers; it's a wizard's superstition.

Tibbius notes the man's demeanor, clothing, equipment, race, voice, all other features of interest.

"We came here as refugees, in flight from ennui. Is aught of interest to be found here? The town seems rather bleak.... Have you been here long?"

[Computer +1]

Tumbler sees everyone move in different direction, some to gather info, some to sit alone. Tumbler goes directly to the bar, Beer and a whiskey he growls as he drops a coin for payment. He sits himself at the stool and takes out one of his locks and a few tools and begins to work, seemingly ignoring everyone.

[Zhym]

Date: Nouluna 2, 1221
Time: 1:50 PM
Weather: Overcast
Moon: Waxing gibbous
Location: The Blood on the Vine Tavern
**************************************

Robert pays the bartender a gold piece and offers to let the man keep the rest if he'll give you some information. The bartender puts your change on the table. In the same hollow voice he used to take your order, he bids you, "Enjoy your drinks, sirs." You have been to many taverns in many towns. Some bartenders were friendly, some were indifferent, some were hostile. But you have never heard anyone sound less interested in whether you actually enjoyed your drinks. The bartender resumes cleaning glasses.

Tumbler heads to the bar, gruffly orders a beer and a whiskey, and starts fiddling with his locks and tools. The bartender fills the drink order with the same empty politeness with which he filled the other orders.

The beer and ale are flat. The whiskey is weak.

"Vert" née Tibbius introduces himself to the man in the shadows. Ismark is an average-sized human with blonde hair. You guess that he is probably 18 or 19 years old. He wears an intricately tooled studded leather curiass over a fine but worn shirt. He appears weary, as if he has not slept in days.

"Have you been here long?" asks "Vert."

"I have been here all my life," he replies in accented but fair common speech. "And in all that time, I have never heard of anyone fleeing to Borovia. Surely you have other interests here?"

Status: Robert: 37/37, Iluq: 39/39, Vokarth: 40/40, Tibbius: 22/22, Randolph: 4/4, Tumbler: 39/39, Agrippo: 52/52

[Grognardsw]

Vorkath / tavern

The paladin joins Agrippo in drink, discussing recent adventures and exchanging ribald jokes.

"A depressing place," says Vorkath. "They have no faith."

Did Vorkath detect any evil from his attempt upon walking in?

[Eulalios]

Tibbius / tavern 22 hp

"No, we seem to have no other interest here, aside a dwindling hope for profit and excitement. Along that line, what do you know about the wolfs' claws, or the Little House of Sobbing down the street?"