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

Yttermayn · 16th February 2009, 07:34 PM

The hamlet of Hadler's Gap is a small frontier hamlet in the northern latitudes of the world. The only things that really set it apart from other hamlets dotting the region is the "tame" troll that lives in the community, and the fact that the tanner's son was recruited as an apprentice to the royal court magician some years ago.
Grok and Roderic's superior in thier particular church of Pelor had received a missive from the temple in Hadler's Gap, explaining that some of the normally peacefull creatures in the nearby hills (including an ogre and a cave with some kobolds) were suddenly getting extremely aggressive. Local wildlife was even being affected. A hunter brought down a deer with his bow, but when he approaced the creature, he saw that instead of antlers, it had tentacles which also were coming out of it's eyes. The creature was presumably dead when it suddenly lunged up and bit the hunter on the leg, leaving a pus oozing wound. The hunter beat the thing back down with a club until it stopped moving and tried to drag the corpse back to town to show to the constable, but it rapidly rotted away and left a black slimey trail until it had totally necrotized. The head preist sent Grok and Roderic on thier way to the village to investigate. A week later, they arrived.
John Tannerson heard the news through the grapevine that the normally peacefull ogre Logbrag killed Parkad the Furrier, a longtime family friend and buisness associate of the the Tannerson family. When John went to his master, the old wizard said "Though I still have some more I can teach you, much of your further developement as a wizard can only be realized though personal experience. I hearby end your apprenticeship and give you leave. My last order to you is to return home and... take care of your family. I will send word if I have further need of you. Understand though, that should that happen it will be as comrads and not as a master to an apprentice." The old mage smiled, barely able to suppress a twitching of the eye that betrayed heightened emotion. "Now go, fly you fool!" he said with a wave of his hand. A week later, he found himself in Hadler's Gap.
Thrindar and Tuk individually caught wind of rumors of strange happenings, murders, and roberies in the area around Hadler's Gap. Both realized that such events often lead to demand for certain sets of skills which they happened to possess, as well as potentialy lucrative rewards. It didn't take them long to find themselves in Hadler's Gap.
OOC: waiting on replies from Voadam and Scott concerning special roles before going much further with them. Amaury is on vacation and I have PM'd him. Hopefully I will be integrating Rosalia at that time.
All of you have heard several bits of information on the lips of the locals. It seems there indeed are many things going on in this hamlet lately. For years there was an ogre and some kobolds living in a cave in the surrounding hills. All this time they had been peacfull, not really bothering anyone. The local lumberjacks, furriers, hunters, mushroom pickers, and other outdoor tradesmen had all seen Logbrag the ogre and small groups of kobolds. Most of the time the humans and the monsters would notice each other and give each other a wide bearth. Lately, however, Logbrag attacked and killed a furrier, witnesses says he seemed insane and ran off after the attack gibbering nonsense all the way. Bodies of merchants and other travelers have been found near the roads, some badly beaten like the furrier, others poked full of holes and robbed. The locals are now very afraid and only the bravest still go out into the wilderness. Even then they don't go far and the hamlet is starting to suffer.
Roderic and Grok both felt more and more uneasy as they got closer to Hadler's Gap on the last two days of thier journey. Now that they are here, looking up into the surrounding hills gives them both feelings of unease.
Scrag has heard of and noticed several new arrivals to town, all of them very different from the local people he has become familiar with.

Tailspinner · 16th February 2009, 10:53 PM

At last he was in the hamlet of Hadler's Gap. Having caught wind of rumors of strange happenings, murders, and roberies in the area around the hamlet, he realized that such events often lead to demand for a certain sets of skills. Skills that he happened to possess and with this demand the potential for lucrative rewards. As he meandered through the hamlet he tried to catch one of the local's eye. "Where would I find someone in charge? A mayor or some such?" Toby sat next to his companion and punctuated his question with a "Meow!" Thrindar continued. "I am Thrindar the Great. No doubt you have heard of me? I am here to rid this place of its troubles!" Toby began cleaning his left paw.

Yttermayn · 17th February 2009, 12:06 AM

Thrindar the wizard has no trouble catching eyes, as an adventuring dwarf wearing anything other than an inch thick layer of metal over his body is a rare sight. A nearby man shoeing a horse halts his work for a moment to appraise the the stranger. "We have no need of mayors here, all of us work for a living. If you really want to 'Rid us of our troubles', you'll kill that blasted ogre and his pet kobolds living in the mountains herebouts." The man glances doubtfully at Toby before staring openly back at Thrindar.

Tailspinner · 17th February 2009, 12:47 AM

Thrindar smirks. "Ah! Good then. Where might I find this ogre? How long has it been causing troubles? Any other details would be helpful." Toby continues to take his bath not interested in the conversation.

crazy_monkey1956 · 17th February 2009, 01:50 AM

Scrag goes about his daily chores until break time, at which point he stands outside the temple of Pelor and stares at anyone new in town, watching them closely. Strangers meant trouble and Scrag felt it was duty to defend the people he knew from those he didn't.

Voda Vosa · 17th February 2009, 03:11 AM

Tuk wandered through the town when he arrived, watching the people's work. His knee eyes caught a dwarf, speaking with a man shooing a horse, a troll siting over a church ... Wait, a troll on a church? This was getting real strange, first a dwarf that wears no axe, and then a religious troll... The wanderer gave a few more walks around the town, and finally, searched a tavern, there is always a tavern or a decent bar, to drink some beer and meet people and possible employers. Tuk will go inside such building, order a beer, sit alone a study the people before interacting with anyone.

Yttermayn · 17th February 2009, 05:06 AM

The man wrinkles his nose as though a bit annoyed at the arrogant manner of the dwarf, but his answer is courteous and to the point. "Things started happening about two months ago. There is a cave up in the hills that he and the kobolds are known to lair in. The man points up into the hills. "Do you see that outcrop of rock there, just a quarter of the way down from the draw? It is near that rock. Once you get in the area, you should start to see signs of foot traffic to the cave." He looks the dwarf over critically "Are you really going to go it alone? Or do you have companions coming? Ahhh... You do have companions then." He nods in the direction of a heavily built man carrying a spiked chain walking through the hamlet nearby.
Scrag catches the jist of the conversation between the strange dwarf and the farrier. His inhuman eyes also take note of a burly human in scale armor and bearing a spiked chain wandering about town until he enters the inn.
The beer is delivered to Tuk's table almost immediately, the proprieter offering a simple meat and potatoes lunch for the paltry sum of 3 silver, plus 4 copper for the beer. Tuk finds it difficult to do much people watching because the few people that are here are watching him back.

Helfdan · 17th February 2009, 05:18 AM

The tall young man clad in worn scale hauberk and greaves turns to his half-orc companion. "By the Light, but there actually IS a troll here... and standing by the temple!" He leads the way towards the temple, his demeanr curious but not hostile.

crazy_monkey1956 · 17th February 2009, 05:27 AM

Scrag eyes the strangers, his inhuman face making it difficult to determine if he is eyeing them warily, curiously, hungrily or some combination there of.

maddmic · 17th February 2009, 10:00 AM

Grok looked at the temple and nodded. "Yes. He not even green like real troll. He almost blue. Wonder what wrong with him." He knew Roderic was much smater than him and could more easily form words into coherent sentences, but his curiosity was piqued.

As they approached the temple, Grok called out. "Troll, we come here to see preist. We serve Pelor. Help save town. You know what Grok say?" He knew that trolls were typically dumb and he might have to repeat himself, but he took the chance anyway.

He turned to Roderic and half smiled and spoke in a hushed voice. "Hope he know what Grok say. He not look too smart. He ugly too, not like Grok." He then smiled as best he could trying to look charming.

Voda Vosa · 17th February 2009, 02:18 PM

After finishing his food and drink, Tuk aproaches the bar, making a soundy "cling clang" as he walks, due to the chain coiled around his chest and right arm, touching his metallic armor. The warrior places his big hands on the bar.
"I need information, and you are going to give it to me" he states dryliy. "I want to know the source of problems in this town, and the person in charge from whom I can get paid to ride you out of the said troubles." Heavy hands looks to one side, then to the other. "I'm a mercenary, if you didn't get the idea."

crazy_monkey1956 · 17th February 2009, 03:18 PM

The troll points a thumb at itself, then utters in a snarling, gurgly voice, "Scrag."

He points at the half-orc, "Grok?"

He then points at the half-orc's companion, "Who?"

Yttermayn · 17th February 2009, 05:55 PM

The inn keeper stops wiping the glass he's holding and leans in towards Tuk. "I can only really tell you about one of my troubles, boy. Mercenary horses-arses who stomp into my inn thinking they own the place. As for any of the other problems in this burg, go see the farrier. He'd maybe have more patience with ya."

Voda Vosa · 17th February 2009, 07:35 PM

"Thanks for nothing old and fat fool, if I were you, I'll watch my toung, you never know what kind of maniac assassin you might be talking to The chained man says, with no expression in his face, as he turns to leave.
After Tuk is outside the tavern, he goes back to where he had seen the dwarf.
If the dwarf is not there, he'll address the man, if he is there, he'll talk to the dwarf, ignoring the man.

Helfdan · 17th February 2009, 10:50 PM

The young swordsman smiles at the troll's innocent-sounding speech. "I am Roderic. Nice to meet you, Scrag. Know you if the priest is within at this time?"

Yttermayn · 17th February 2009, 11:00 PM

The innkeeper smiles as if Tuk had said something cute, but turns back to his work as the fighter leaves. Tuk does indeed find the dwarf still in the vacinity of where he saw him last.
OOC: Scrag knows the priest is inside enjoying his lunch.

crazy_monkey1956 · 17th February 2009, 11:00 PM

"Boss." Scrag's finger now points inside the church.

Tailspinner · 17th February 2009, 11:02 PM

Thrindar nods as the man speaks and then looks to see the outcrop of rock. "I see the outcrop. What was the ogre like prior to two months ago?" Then he pauses for a moment. "Alone? No! I have my companion, Toby." Thrindar motions to the tabby who has finished his bath and appears to be interested in the conversation. Seeing a blank look from the man the dwarf deduces something else. "Oh! You mean TWO legged companions. No, but that is a good point. An ogre and a yet to be determined amount of kobolds is probably more than a lone wizard and his cat companion can handle. Heck, the ogre by itself is probably out of my league. Perhaps I should seek others." Toby has again lost interest in the conversation and is watching the horse with some interest.

Voadam · 18th February 2009, 01:10 AM

Jakobee Cyr strode into the small frontier town. He had journeyed far from his father's lands. Far, but not far enough for his taste. The contradiction's of his father's double role as revered church hero who defeated evil and secret devil's spawn and pawn tore at his soul. "How could everyone be so blind" he asked himself. "How could I have been?" Though rocked by the revelation of his father's secret dark purpose, Cyr swore he would not be a slave to his great grandmother's infernal plans. Despite the devil blood coursing through his veins Jakobee felt he could do right in the world, as he had always planned.

He strode through the streets of the town, his swarthy skin showing him not a native to these northern climes. His hooded travelling cloak covered most, but not all of his light chain shirt and dark cruel looks. He bore no weapon, just a simple pack and traveller's gear proclaimed him a far wanderer.

Brooding upon his inner conflicts he spied the small House of the Sun, the local temple of Pelor. Cyr did not feel it would bring him everlasting peace, but whenever he felt the presence of his infernal great grandmother upon his soul he wanted the presence of one of the houses of the gods of good to banish her from his mind. Even if it was the house of one of these northern barbarian gods.

Scott DeWar · 18th February 2009, 01:47 AM

It had been a week of lone travel, but alas here he was, finally in Hadler's gap. He entertained himself along the way by remembering his grandfather's tales, though he knew they were just that...tales. bedtime stories to get him to go to sleep. He also hasn't been alone, per se, as he would often summon up a creature to converse with, however short that might be. If the creature was from his existance, the converstion was a bit one sided, but when he called the monkey from the celestial plains there was intellegence in his eyes. he called him Ishmeal, though that was probably not the monkey''s real name.

but- here he was. thirsty and alone. two places of necessity: the tavern/inn and then the new furrier to open up business trade between his father and the new furrier , if there was a new one yet. the trapping in the area always provided some nice specimens of furs.

The tavern,first. walking on down the street, he looks about...