06. Sleeping Dragon Inn

[saalaria]

Kaltar whispers a prayer of thanks then tucks into bread and cheese. He is content to listen for now to the conversation.

[Stonjuz]

Just as the halfling can get a word in, he is stopped once again. This time by words he heard. He chews a bit more nervously, but only noticable by those who have seen him eat at the Goat's table. Again he takes more than a mouthful and ponders thoughts alone. 'VAMPIRES?' Altered? throats?' He gulps, or chokes, hard to say which, just as the wine arrives (or water if no wine yet). He tilts one back and looks around at his friends, trying to see if anyone else has picked up on the matter.

[dmw71]

Epsilon looks at Searry, "You said this inn is the only place you go anymore, that would indicate it was not always that way. When did the strange behavior start." he asks. Searry looks to his tablemates before responding. "Not sure, really?" he says. "'bout a year, maybe."

[saalaria]

"Hmm interesting." Kaltar turns to Searry after hearing his response "That's not the same time you started getting trouble from humanoids too is it? In fact what trouble do you get from them?"

[onlyme]

Ewell takes in the conversation and replies, "Well met Miss Theora. I will be delighted to make any part of this town safe for you. A lovely lady like yourself, and y'all too... as he quickly glances at the brothers and friends before returning his eyes back toward the girl. "Shouldnt have to mope around in fear. Can you tell us what caused this change? And I will gladly rid you of it.

He then remembers to add...Oh, and would one of you gents happen to know where one might come across a perfectly turned lance shaft in O'Hare? Preferably 10 feet long.

[wolfpack]

Yes a year ago, think back. Something had to have happened around that time.

Someone new arrive in town and settle in? Any strange portent from the skies? Did someone who was away for a long time return?

Anything you can think of that preceeded the change.

[dmw71]

Sorry, guys, next update not coming until later tonight.

[dmw71]

"Can't say there was any one thing," says Noonon to the parties latest line of questions. "But there were those scaly things that kept sneakin' up from the stream, remember?" prompts Norian. "But we drove 'em away," argues Otis. They all seem to agree to this fact. "Any maybe those other creatures?" reminds Theora, "and maybe we didn't get them all? Or they've come back?" wonders Searry.

"In the end, " starts Noonan, "there have been attacks on O'Hare." He strains, apparently trying to recall some detail before continuing. "Can't think of when the last attack was, but it did rattle many of the locals." This last statement draws nods from the other locals. "Lot'sa people simply packed up their possessions and just left -- some folks didn't even bother to take their stuff and just left it behind." Noonan takes a sip before proceeding. "Those that stayed behind.... well... many of 'em ain't actin' right. Can't even describe it, really. The people from the Goat. That's what I'm talkin' about. Used to be good folks. Now, they act like they're possessed or somethin'." He looks to Otis. "And no, they ain't vampires."

Noonan continues to act as the elected speaker for the farmers. He looks to Ewell. "Sorry, friend, can't say you'll have much findin' what yer lookin' for here. Might wanna check at Reap & Seed, though. Old Harold seems alright. A bit paranoid, especially his wife 'n sons, but alright."

[Stonjuz]

Shannigans reaches for the other side of the table's provisions. "Is there work here? Or we expected to move along soon? I need to know 'cause I could get used to this place. "


Hey, we passed 2000 posts !!!! yesterday, or the day before, I bet.

[dmw71]

"Is there work here? Or we expected to move along soon?" asks Shannigan.

"I'm sure you can find stuff to do 'round here. Not sure you'll find many folks willin' to pay, I'm 'fraid." Theora speaks up.

[Nuke66]

Garth stays out of the conversation, letting the humans talk. He does turn to Shanny again, "Wanna split a room again?"

[wolfpack]

scaly things? other creatures?

This could all mean something, any more detail on whatthey looke dlike and whatthey were after, where they came from?

[ravenn4544]

Alordan asks the locals around the table, "don't you fear for the strangeness from that other group of folks at the Inn? Something should be done about those folks if they are in fact a threat to kind folk such as yourselves..."

[dmw71]

While everyone catches the key words uttered by Theora, Epsilon is the first to respond. "Scaly things? Other creatures?" he questions.

Ferrell quickly scolds Theora. "Now don't you go and scare off our new friends here." she says. She turns to the group, "We did," she starts, with obvious emphasis on past tense of the word, "have a few problems with some creatures crawlin' out from the stream."

"Now who's doin' the scarin'?" quips Norian, standing up for his baby sister, which quickly earns him a playful slap on the back of the head from Ferrell.

Trying to maintain order, Noonan enters the discussion: "There were some swamp beasts that caused us problems. They stood as tall as us, if not taller, and some of 'em even used weapons. Nasty smellin' beasts." he adds. "Back when this was a problem, there were more of us and we drove them off." He pauses. "Now..." he considers something, "I ain't sure if'n there's enough of us left in town to mount a defense."

"Thankfully they ain't been 'round in a while. Been... what?" Otis mumbles, "at least a few weeks, right?" which draws nods from the locals.

"Then there were the orcs, or whatever." Theora adds. Noonon dismisses the comment with a wave of his hand. "You'se gonna find them just about anyplace. Hardly a problem." he states confidently.

[dmw71]

"Is just sad," Ferrell says about the Goat in response to Alordan's questioning. "They know better than to mess wit' us here!" she says.

"They do kinda make me nervous, though." says Searry sheepishly.

[dmw71]

"What bothers me," starts Ferrell, "are the folks just leavin' town. Is like they simply disappeared, without warning."

"Good payin' customers, many of them." she finishes, then excuses herself back to the kitchen.

[saalaria]

"We find another mystery. The harder you seek the more you find as my old master used to say. Well friends it seems we have a choice." Kaltar counts the list off on his fingers
The stream to seek the scaly beasts that appear to be carrying townsfolk off, the strange behaviour at the other tavern - which may be related to the scaly creatures or of course not forgetting the Goblin cave back where we came from, following the orcs trail and or the dead body that Shanny and Garth came across. All seem to be worthy of our attention eh Strom?"
He takes a bite of bread. Added to which I for one would still like to check out the Temple following this truly excellent break of fast."

[Alethan]

Noonan continues to act as the elected speaker for the farmers. He looks to Ewell. "Sorry, friend, can't say you'll have much findin' what yer lookin' for here. Might wanna check at Reap & Seed, though. Old Harold seems alright. A bit paranoid, especially his wife 'n sons, but alright."

At this, Gwillt shakes his head and interjects, "Sorry, bub. I already asked there for ya. He didn't have any sticks or twigs that might fit your bill. You might have to wait for the next town to get yer lance back."

"Thankfully they ain't been 'round in a while. Been... what?" Otis mumbles, "at least a few weeks, right?" which draws nods from the locals.

Gwillt raises an eyebrow at this comment and mutters,"A few weeks, eh?" Then he shakes his head again, "That ain't 'a while', dear friend; that is the recent past! And just enough time for whatever the scaly things are to be gathering forces for another attack!"

He sits back in his chair and thinks for a bit.

"Yeah, we seem to have our choice of problems to tackle here, don't we, Kaltar? I think we can probably hold off on the snarks and orcs for the time being. We've hopefully added some confusion to their ranks and given them a sting they'll want to avoid receiving again for a while. That leaves... the unusual folk over at the other inn and the creatures coming from the stream."

He looks over at Otis and asks, "Have you anything left behind by the creatures? A dead body? A stylized weapon or some armour? Or... maybe one of you could show us a house that belonged to someone who just up and left? Maybe we can find some kind of clue there..."

[dmw71]

Gwillt raises an eyebrow at Otis' "a while" comment and mutters, "A few weeks, eh?" Then he shakes his head again, "That ain't 'a while', dear friend; that is the recent past! And just enough time for whatever the scaly things are to be gathering forces for another attack!" He looks over at Otis and asks, "Have you anything left behind by the creatures? A dead body? A stylized weapon or some armour? Or... maybe one of you could show us a house that belonged to someone who just up and left? Maybe we can find some kind of clue there..." Otis looks to the twins, "Anything left?" which draws some shrugs. "Might be a few weapons left, but the bodies were taken to the temple, though, were they were likely cremated." says Noonan.

"We really must be goin'," he continues. "Our crops and stock ain't gonna tend to themselves, you know." He begins to rise, which leads the rest of the locals to follow suit. "If y'all wanna meet back here later, after sundown, we could probably lead you to a house or two that've been left behind." With that, the locals extend some cordial partings and exit the Inn to begin their daily activities.

"Well friends it seems we have a choice." Kaltar counts the list off on his fingers. "The stream to seek the scaly beasts that appear to be carrying townsfolk off, the strange behaviour at the other tavern - which may be related to the scaly creatures or of course not forgetting the Goblin cave back where we came from, following the orcs trail and or the dead body that Shanny and Garth came across. All seem to be worthy of our attention eh Strom?"[/dialog] He takes a bite of bread. "Added to which I for one would still like to check out the Temple following this truly excellent break of fast."

"Yeah, we seem to have our choice of problems to tackle here, don't we, Kaltar? I think we can probably hold off on the snarks and orcs for the time being. We've hopefully added some confusion to their ranks and given them a sting they'll want to avoid receiving again for a while. That leaves... the unusual folk over at the other inn and the creatures coming from the stream."

---

Panicked calls are heard from outside the Inn. Orders to quickly seek cover ring out over the screams of women and children. Not much is comprehended amidst the chaos taking place, but you all clearly hear someone yell "They're back!"

[Alethan]

"Sounds like I was soothsayin' again..."

Gwillt un-shoulders his bow, sets an arrow, and runs outside to see what the trouble is.