Helix: The Brazen Strumpet

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven smiles and nods at the older mans conformation of responsibility, thinking back to his own dealings with Osen when he had to tell him the bad new about Brother Fabian's demise.

"Thank you, sir. I know you understand the responsibility behind such things. We lost another man on our last trip as well. His name was Drew. We made a toast to him while you slipped out, but I am writing down a few lines now so that folks around here might remember him better."

Sven periodically scribbles messy notes involving lines of a song or poem. Eventually he pulls Orgoth aside for a talk.

"Hey pal. What do you think of my head? I mean this green goblin head, not my actual head. So, you know the language of the goblins too, eh? That might come in handy with this thing."

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo arranges for the 12sp - twin room of two single divan beds if available. He pays for 4 extra honey meads and tips to bring it up to 10 gp total and share the room with any of the crew who need a room too.

Alright folks I've got an extra bed in a nice room so first come first serve", Durgo tells his adventure group."

Durgo drinks his mead and looks about and tries to mingle in with the crowd and at Moriartus' mention of the harpy encounter he waits for a pause and adds, We ended up fighting a couple realllllyyy big spiders that darn near killed the ranger and myself. The crew had some nice skills with some ranged weapons to save the day. I don't look to beat up but i was stiffer than a piece of wood from the venom it buried in my body.

[Rex]

Orgoth

"I do, tricky little bastards. I can teach you if you want. Until then maybe I can translate for you."

[Karaunios]

Dougal

When Sven says the name "Mori", Dougal tries to hide his surprise, covering his face with his mug of beer and drinking. In a short aside, he whispers to the young mage: "I daen't think he lakes tae be called that."

Once Moriartus mentions his duty to his employees he looks at Sven and Orgoth. "That's hae one unsuirs the loyalty and even frendship of his men, ye ken?

Anyweh, it's gonna be bad for the harpies if we mehk such a big group and, if we mehk the wehs better for the traveling folk, sae much the better."

He gestures to Durgo to come join them at the table. "I already have a room, but thank ye."

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven nods at the rangers wisdom, glad for the advice. He and Orgoth make a swap of items at the table while they discuss the goblin tongue and its utter lack of couth.

"I look forward to our travels to Ironguard together everyone. We should have plenty of time to discuss the individual trials and tribulations we've had out on the moors so far. I am trying to come up with a site map of the main mound meadows area to record all the ones that have been discovered so far. If anyone wants to relay any information towards it, that would be swell."

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

"Certainly. We have been exploring the southwest section of the meadows, where most explorers enter from the western route." He opens his journal on the table to display a map of the mounds his expeditions have discovered.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven suddenly becomes very interested in the conversation, producing his own journal and hand scribbled maps.

"We too have been entering the grounds from a less common direction. The northeast, if I am not mistaken. I can show you exactly were we saw the Nergal mound, if that interests you."

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth looks the maps over, "I love maps."

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

He couldn't resist a chuckle from escaping his lips at Orgoth's comment. Still grinning, he peruses Sven's maps with keen interest. "I am quite interested, yes. The cult of Orcus is apparently conducting excavations, although I do not know where, or for what reason. Perhaps they have the same objective as those whom Garrett worked with."

[Karaunios]

Dougal looks at the maps and journal notes with amazement. He's about to say something, but he thinks it better to let the scholars discuss freely. He only looks to the other participants with a look that says something like "I don't know about you, but this is out of my league."

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo nods to Dougal and moves to join them, as he takes a swig from his mead, "Ah now that's refreshing. Something to warm the insides. What's the latest folks?"

[tarlyn]

Dougal looks at the maps and journal notes with amazement. He's about to say something, but he thinks it better to let the scholars discuss freely. He only looks to the other participants with a look that says something like "I don't know about you, but this is out of my league."

Venwynn

She has a look at the map to try to make sense of it if she can.

[Spearmint]

The Brazen Strumpet Tavern

A couple of days after giving the half-elf couple an Augury concerning their future, Gerdal is pleased to see them returning to town, a little bruised and weary perhaps but while and uninjured.

Ricardo and Pasquel: Spider Silk success vs 66%. [1d100]=11

In the tavern they at least can purchase a plate of food each and sit at a table by the hearth.

if you wanted to recruit Ricardo & Pasquel to join an expedition then those organising it may approach them now and I will roleplay a suitable response.

[sastaz]

Gerdal approaches the two half elves with three kegs of honey mead, one for each of them.

9 sp deducted

"Oh, you are back already? And hearts still pounding I see." she smiles.

"Tell me, what happened in your travels? Did you get to meet the lady of the forest?"

After listening to their tale, Gerdal will introduce Raust.

"As a matter of fact, I will be accompanying another forest dweller myself on a mission just in a few days. If you are still looking for work, I think you should hear her out."

[Rusty Tincanne]

May 23rd
A sandy-haired, clean shaven human enters the Strumpet and finds a table near the fireplace. He looks dubiously in his coinpurse when asked for an order. "Tea. And yesterday's stew, if you please." As an afterthought, he adds, Miss, I'll take a room in the bunkhouse for the night as well." He lights a pipe and listens to the various conversations, trying to gauge the various opportunities (and dangers) of the town. His ears perk up when he hears the half-elves chatting.

5sp deducted
And an additional 5sp for wooden pipe and tobacco, which is a guestimate.

Dale is happy to head wherever. The sooner the better, since he has barely enough coin to cover his meal and the bunkhouse for a few days.

[Marullus]

Raust

Raust enters from the inn's yard and crosses the room, the large grey/black wolf Namma standing in the doorway letting out a plaintive whine before the barmaid closes the door. The druid comes to Gerdal and the half-elf couple where they sit next to Dale Birgensen, the antlers asserted primly upon their head.

Raust watches them calmly for almost a minute with gold-hued eyes, scratching a pointed ear from a partially-fae heritage. "The snakemen came, slaughtering the faithful of Herne, infecting them in a way to make them slip their skins and become snakemen as well. This is a grave threat to this town and a grave affront to the Horned God. Herne blesses this hunt - we go to find those responsible." The druid's eyes pass over the couple and Dale. "We welcome you, to come on this hunt. The lives of the snakemen are forfeit. Their belongings divided amongst us."

Recruiting half-elf #1 (Cha 17) [4d6]=16
Recruiting half-elf #2 (Cha 17) [4d6]=19

[Rusty Tincanne]

Dale Birgensen
Dale meets Fausts' gaze and then scans the rest of the table, measuring the worth of each person. Sounds like that lycanthorpy, but I've never heard of it with snakes, just wolves. And the stories are that only silver kills them. Are these snakefolk the same? If so, what's the plan? He sips his teas and then adds, How do folks get the sickness? Bites? And is there a cure?

I haven't read through all the threads to know the specifics of the snakepeople, so that question is as much for me as it is Dale.

Dale can afford a couple of silver arrows or a bit more oil, but that would be about it. No med kit, either.

[Marullus]

Raust shakes their head. "No. Lycanthropy is a curse by the Horned God on those who consume recklessly," the druid replies. "This is a curse of the death cults. Kali. Nergal. Set. The victims molt and slough their human flesh, and we do not believe they return. I think they die normally, though. Friar Marcel is reading books and he will know."

[Rusty Tincanne]

Dale Birgenson draws on his pipe thoughtfully, then, hoping Faust is correct, nods. I'm in then. When do we set out, and in which direction? If there is time, he makes plans to head to the mercenary encampment in the morning to rent some time on training equipment.

That adventure is timestamped 5/28, and Spearmint told me to timestamp my arrival here as 5/23. So that is 5 days total.

[Spearmint]

The Brazen Strumpet Tavern

Ricardo & Pasquel consider the request to aid the expedition. They are a little cautious.

"Your sorceress friend spoke in regard to our fortunes. Here we sit having ventured into the forest to collect spider silk.

We are no rangers. Just humble hunters. We met a ranger, of a type. A tall Gnoll with a bow of bronze. He walked into our camp without a sound and left leaving no trace. He said "the Elves may doom us all", but referred not to our blood. He took a deer we had slain on his shoulders and walked away telling us that ogres were close. We left just with the threads we had harvested."

They confer for a moment, discussing the invitation.

"We will come in equal terms with you."

I will create a profile for them in the NPC thread.