Chp. 7 - Intrigue in the Court of Chaos

[Grognardsw]

The small tavern is surprisingly crowded for this time of day. There is spirited discussion going on. "But we must do something!" someone yells.

As the adventurers enter, the place quiets and all eyes turn to the strangers. Then conversation breaks out again, focused on the party.

"The gods have sent help!"

"It is a sign!"

"They will save the children!"

"Mercenaries kind-hearted!"

"Come in sirs - what would you like?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal stares at the patrons with a blank expression.

Oh boy.....

He defers a response to one of the more articulate party members.

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry rolls his eyes and sighs. Resigning himself to this newest twist of fate, he says, "Food and wine. Pile it high and pour it generously. You can air your grief as we digest."

[Hotgoblin]

Groyn says to the barkeep Get me your biggest stein of Ale you got and a ham hock for me dog.....Mmmmmm....Ale. Satisfied with the drink, he questions the barkeep What's the town folks fussing about?

[thesniperknight1]

Gagel continues laughing, "We are cursed! Not a moment of piece and quiet to seek the company of a beautiful woman.......I guess it's for another time", he starts eating and drinking heavily the moment anything appears before him.

[AleBelly]

"I would like a woman with an ample bosom and questionable morals" replies Wulfhart. "It has been too long since my sword has found it's sheath."

[Grognardsw]

The adventurers are fawned over and served food and ale. It is probably mediocre fare, but after two years without food it is absolutely glorious. Two village women massage Wulfhart's shoulders, praising how hard his muscles are. The barbarian smiles; he's not even wearing his infamous Cod Piece of Virility. Even gray-skinned, large-headed, saucer-eyed elf Asherrion is welcomed warmly.

Toward the end of the meal, when the pudding desserts are being brought out, the village elders broach the subject of their great concern. "Someone is taking the children! At first it was animals, but now the kids!" They explain more:

"Something Must Be Done!"

"Help us!"

"Woe is us!"

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal pushes away from his half eaten pudding.

Burpppp! Excuse me!

Can you show us exactly where this rock fell from the sky? We should also know which direction this dangerous woods is.

[greyarea]

Asherrion smirks and says quietly, Heck with the children, we must save Hugh, the great dog!

More loudly to the others he says, Let us find these lost children. It seems preferable to killing snails that flail or failing at quests for chaotic overlords. What reward might there be, other than a fine sense of well being at a job accomplished well. Well?

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry: "Have you an accounting of the children in this town? How many are there? How far scattered? Could they be brought in to a central location—this tavern perhaps—in order to keep an eye on them until the source of the disappearances has been uncovered?"

[AleBelly]

Anxious for some action after being docile for so long, Wulfhart stands. "Where did the missing children wander? I will help retrieve them for you."

He drains his tankard and wipes the foam from his lips. "Ladies, I have a much harder muscle that could use massaging - perhaps upon my return."

[Grognardsw]

"The meteor fell thatta way!"

"And the dangerous woods are over there!"

"Aye - we must save the animals too!"

"The hoofed man speaks true! Let us gather the children."

"Fetch him some goat milk and hay!"

"Tell them about the Satanists!"

Another village elder steps forward to answer Asherrion's question about reward. (He sounds like Grampa Simpson.)

He pauses in his rant when he sees the elf Eryndir, then starts up on him:

Then a lizard man walks into the tavern.

He smiles.

"Hello fellow adventurers, my name is Swilbosh."

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry, after briefly acknowledging the lizard-man's salutation: "When did I become an adventurer? I'm a simple escaped prisoner who wants to extract bloody revenge on my former captors. But since running into this lot... things... just keep... happening."

He looks accusingly at the rest of the party. "Are these adventures we've been having? Am I an adventurer now? Zeus' gilded codpiece, what have you done to me?"

Returning to the matter at hand, he says to the old codger: "You present yourself as a veteran of such affairs. And you have had time and stake to consider the present circumstances. What conclusions do you draw?"

[doughx99]

Niles after draining his huge mug of ale he slams it down we must help these people, gather the children to be under constant watch.then we should explore those woods

[greyarea]

Asherrion smiles at the grandpa and says, Had I memory, you might remind me of someone I once liked, you old codger. But seeing as I don't, you seem more the curmudgeon with a cane than a former man of action. Adventure is its own reward, to be sure, but riches and fame do sweeten the dealings of derring do.

We will gladly retrieve these lost children once we've supped, a plan literally years in the making.

Asherrion turns to Porphyry with a grin, By Zeus' codpiece, we've done to you less than what's been done to alter my form, let me tell you. And I doubt you'll find anything of worth from the elder: had he the chops he would have organized this horde of villagers into a band worthy of the task. Instead they hire, nay, not hire but cajole us into action.

Luckily for them, we have been all transformed into adventurers, regardless of what cell we may have slipped.

And then to the newcomer, Hail Swilbosh. I am known as Asherrion and this is my crew of adventurers, whether thy know it or not. He bows with a flourish. Have you come to add to our discussion with news? Add to our adventuring numbers with your weapons and guile? Or add to our troubles with threats to our persons?

[OGRE MAGE]

Satanists you say now? Fingal says loudly.

Its just one thing after another for us eh?

He turns to the lizardman.

Well met Swilbosh! Are you the next freak to join our little traveling circus?

[saalaria]

Swilbosh shakes his head, his forked tongue rapidly flicking in and out of his mouth

"Sssss, I guessss ssso. The lassst thing I remember was being in a tower of ssssorcery, ssssseeing your group through a magic glasssss... then a flassssh of light.....then here. Where ever here issss."

He looks around, notices the humans all staring at him and looks back at them before adjusting the bandana over his eye.

Evening all! I am in!

[thesniperknight1]

Gagel continues his endless laughing, "Oh old man! Your grumpiness soothes my soul! You talk of honorable adventurers? All I see are hypocritical greedy folks, the maiden in need of saving would be 'grateful' if you know what I mean.....oh how I miss gratefulness, and the cat's owners will almost always reward the rescuers. Sorry if we are a little more....honest! than what you are used to".

He turns to the group, "Are we really adventurers? I don't remember making an oath or something like that....although those two years could have driven me mad enough!"

He talks to the newcomer, "Hello there Lizardman, were you spying at us? Who sent you? Was it Spark? Was it the king? Are you from a different plain and came here in search of our souls?.....Well, whatever it is, welcome aboard!"

[Grognardsw]

The self-doubting adventurers banter with the bickering village elder.

"At least you're honest about it," he answers Gagel the thief.

"What the hell are you?" he snarls at Asherrion. "Are you contagious?"

A village wench whispers words of reward to Wulfhart should the virile swordsman succeed. He is now highly motivated.

Another saucy tart bares her desires to Niles, but the young knight's plate mail armor also shields his morals.

Groyn the dwarf drinks ale, feeds Bene, drinks, then drinks more.

Swilbosh the serpentsword is welcomed among the motley crew. He is given wide berth by the villagers. One whispers, "Aren't serpents servants of...?"

"Aye, satanists, that's my 'conclusions.' " says village elder Simpson to Fingal and Porphyry. He expounds further:

While the crotchety old man talks, another man chalks out a rough map on the table:

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal responds.

Ya seem to know a bit about these cultists rituals and practices Mr. Simpson. Have you seen this satanic activity first hand? If so, perhaps you could tell us what you know about the layout of the entrance and such?