Yttermayn's "Saga of the Dragon Cult" (IC)

[Yttermayn]

John
The innkeeper practically jumps up and sweeps his hands towards the back of the establishment where a short hall to the the rooms are. He smiles as he shows John the accomodations, a small but comfortable room. The bed mattress felt softer that the straw filled ones John was used to whenever he traveled. There was a locking wardrobe for personal effects, but the room door could only be secured from the inside via a sliding bar. "I hope the accomodations suit you?" the innkeeper asked.
Tuk, Thrindar, Scrag, Roderic
Tuk and Thrindar see the three they saw outside engaging in a meal together, just in time to hear one of them ask "If I may, what can you tell me of the troubles besetting this town?" The priest is about to answer when he notices the new arrivals. "Friends of yours?" He asks the men at the table and glances behind them to the chained man and the dwarf.
Jakobee
Jakobee walks into an awkward situation, almost tripping over the stubby dwarf rudely standing just inside the doorway. With all the people staring at each other like strange cats, Jakobee's diobolical instincts sense a moment that could be used for great opportunity or great folly.

[Scott DeWar]

John smiles broadly and says,"Most definitely. Thank you."

When the Inn Keep leaves, he closes the door, places the cross bar in its place accross the door and disrobes. Casting prestidigitation to clean his robes John proceeds to clean the road grime off himself with water from the pitcher into the washbasin. After about half of an hour he is ready to face the civilized world.


[edit]
He leaves several items in the wardrobe, things like his spell book remain in the backpack. Travel items are left in the lockable waardrobe.

note: items left in the wardrobe are annoted on the character sheet with (*)
[/edit]

He tests the mattress with a longing look, but knows the time for rest is later. He returns to the commen room cleaned and refreshed, Waves to the Inn Keep and proceeds to head toward the temple of Pelor.

[edit 2] John wastes no time looking about. the temple was indicated by the inn keep and he heads for the graveyard behind the temple. Looking for any fresh graves he will head toward any to check the names on the headstones to find the name of the furrier.
[/edit2]

[crazy_monkey1956]

Scrag looks at the newcomers with wary eyes, not bothering to wipe away the bloody chunks of meat dangling from his mouth.

[Voda Vosa]

Tuk cross his arms in front his chest, making metallic sounds with his chains, waiting for the dwarf to speak. He looks alternatively between the cat and the troll, whose mouth is stained with blood and pieces of meat. He doesn't seem so frighten now...

[Tailspinner]

Originally Posted by Yttermayn

Tuk and Thrindar see the three they saw outside engaging in a meal together, just in time to hear one of them ask "If I may, what can you tell me of the troubles besetting this town?" The priest is about to answer when he notices the new arrivals. "Friends of yours?" He asks the men at the table and glances behind them to the chained man and the dwarf. Jakobee walks into an awkward situation, almost tripping over the stubby dwarf rudely standing just inside the doorway.

Thrindar steps into the church, glances around and then clears his throat as Toby peeks into the doorway. "Apparantly, if we wish to rid the town of its troubles we are to vanquish the ogre and his kobold allies in their cave hideout in the hills nearby. I have been given directions. Apparently the trouble started two months ago. Prior to two months ago the ogre was just an inconvenience and a local curiosity. He and the kobolds generally didn't bother the town too much. As long as everyone kept thier distance, the ogre and the kobolds left the town alone. A woodsman and some other victims were apparently mutilated." He looks at the assembled group. "It would appear that we have enough individuals to mount an expedition." He glances around the room once more. "Quite a diverse group from the looks of things. When will you be ready to leave? The farrier seemed to think the matter quite urgent." At this point Toby trotted into the church and started walking around the room sniffing each individual while Thrindar just stood as if waiting for the others to make their decision to go.

[Helfdan]

Somewhat sursprised at the dwarf's precise and confident speech, Roderic turns back to the priest. "Errr... I have yet to meet them, but it sounds as if we have a shared purpose."

[maddmic]

Grok happily nods approval when the offer of food is given to him. He is about to answer the priest's questions when Roderic does instead. He just smiles as he waits for the food to be placed before them.

His eyes open wide and he almost licks his chops as he sees the ham hock, yet his disappointment is somewhat noticeable when it is sat out for the troll. He had been domesticated in many ways, yet there was still a part of him that acted like half of the savage he was. There was something about the rawness of meat. It made him salivate and certainly quenched his hunger after a long day.

It was not to be though as he watched the big blue-green creature begin gnashing it up. He almost forgot that he had some stew in front of him until he heard Roderic slurping. Not wanting to offend the priest who had so graciously offered the meal, Grok lifted the bowl and bread and began to eat with little regard for his manners.

Shortly thereafter, more people entered into the church. Grok didn't pay them much mind as he was satisfying his hunger, until the dwarf spoke. Not many humanoids have as distinct a voice as dwarves. This could mean trouble if the dwarf had a hatred for orcs. He had run into more than a fair share who disdained his kind almost as much as the full-blooded race. Hearing Roderic answer the long dissertation, Grok put the bowl down and slowly turned around to look upon the newcomers.

The half-orc wiped his mouth with his sleeve and watched the cat approach each person. It had been a while since he ate a cat. They were so tender and juicy. Their head kind of popped like a grape might in a human's mouth. It was apparent though that this cat belonged to somebody and probably somebody in the room, so Grok thought better of snapping it's neck and partaking of the delicacy.

He stood and placed his hand on his chest. "Me Grok. This Roderic. We go when priest tell us how best to serve Pelor in this problem." Confident in his greeting, he turns back around and picks up the bowl. He then turns to face the newcomers again and continues eating anything left in the bowl.

[Voda Vosa]

Tuk raises an eyebrow when the wizard made the explanation. "You are even more direct than me." the man tells the dwarf, looking down to his side, then address the others. "The name is Tuk Apeladan; may be my dwarven companion is way too pragmatical, but his concern is authentic, and his words are certainly accurate." Apeldan stood motionless for about five seconds. "Oh and his name is Thirndar. The cat is Toby, I think."
Again, what Tuk said should have been accompanied by facial gesticulation and emotions. But there are none.

[crazy_monkey1956]

Lots of talking. Always lots of talking when people came to see the Boss. Scrag understood of it but, as usual, kept quiet. He wasn't very bright, but he had learned that it was best if people thought he was even less smart than he really was.

As the cat approached, Scrag's eye twitched and his lip curled. He began gnawing on the already stripped hamhock bone to keep himself occupied.

[Tailspinner]

As Toby continues to make his rounds Thrindar glances around the room. "I am Thrindar the Great! Perhaps you have heard of me. My companion is Toby." At this point he gestures in the direction of the feline who is sniffing the troll.

[Voadam]

Jakobee waits patiently for the dwarf to enter but listens as he instead gives a speech. There is a missing link that bothers him in the speech however and he steps in and removes his hood out of respect for the holy grounds. "Pardon me. I am a traveller and came here merely seeking the shrine to pay my respects to the sunlord but I overheard you say there have been mutilations. I also heard you say to rid this town of the troubles you would seek to vanquish the ogre and kobolds in the hills. I did not, however hear you say why you believe the two are related. Did someone see them rampaging together?"

[Tailspinner]

Thrindar looks up at Jakobee and shrugs. "I only report what I have learned from the farrier. Should you have additional queries for him I suggest you see him." At this time Toby has finished sniffing the last of those present. He returns to the dwarf's side and Thrindar nods as if in reply. "Toby and I are ready."

[Voda Vosa]

"The furrier commented Thindar that the ogre was acting hostile, unlike before. There was also some bodies, found with piercing wounds, tipical Kobold blades." Tuk says to the newcommer. "And anyhow, even for tolerant folks such as this town people, an ogre and his gang of Kobolds living so near of thier community is a potential risk." At this point Apeldan turns to face Jakobee "I'm not stupid anyways, I plan to speak before gripping his neck with my chains."

[Voadam]

"As I said, I am new to the town and unfamiliar with the situation. Do the ogre and kobolds normally work together, with the ogre as their leader? Did the furrier know of any reason the ogre turned hostile? I had merely sought a blessing here but I offer my help in investigating and bringing murderers to justice. It is a worthy enough cause."

[Helfdan]

Roderic turns to the priest. "Do we know for a fact, Father, if the ogre and kobolds ARE working together?"

[Yttermayn]

The priest seems taken aback, probably by so many interested individuals so suddenly appearing. He recovers quickly though, looking at each of them as he speaks. "The woodsmen have seen them roam together, the ogre usually bullying the kobolds. They also seem to share the same cave."

[maddmic]

Grok looks up at the priest and asks simply, "So this what need taking care of?"

[Yttermayn]

"I believe so, but it dosn't explain everything- like the 'why' of the attacks, and the... altered... forest creatures. If it had only been one woodsman's story, I'd have assumed he'd been into his own hooch too much, but he really was bitten by something, and the bite is badly infected. The limb may have to come off if it dosn't get better soon. People have found other strange things. Baby birds fallen from the nest because they grew fingers instead of wings, someone saw a stoat that was moving along on at least a dozen legs, like a furry little centipede. I tell you, there is something un-natural going on in those hills." the preist shudders, and Grok and Roderic are reminded of the eery feeling that had been growing the last few days of thier journey.

[crazy_monkey1956]

Scrag finally speaks, "Kill wood man. Disease. Bad. Not...uh..." He appears to struggle with the next word and carefully enunciates each syllable, "Natch-u-ral."

[Helfdan]

Roderic stands, his friendly face turning serious as he looks in turn at each of the group, his eyes seeming to flash with conviction. "Then it is the will of Pelor and Heironeous that all of us have come to this place at this time. We must get to the root of this evil."