Cragger's Rest
Between the occasional stream and Gildrim's magical cleaning, the party are reasonably presentable as they make their way into Cragger's Rest. Erf draws some stares, but for the most part the townsfolk react with a nod and a reserved smile.
Cragger's Rest is a small town, consisting of perhaps a hundred small houses, clustered around a large, well-appointed inn. The inn, and the smithy and general store across from it, are much larger than this small town would need, even if it were to triple in size. Still, the prices listed on a small, glass-framed sign near the door of the inn are quite reasonable. (ooc: Use SRD prices for food, lodgings, etc. If you want something "off the menu", make up a price that you think is fair; I'll speak up if I disagree.)
[sblock=Knowledge(local) DC 10]Cragger's Rest grew up around the inn, which was founded by a retired adventurer.
[sblock=DC 15]Times haven't been good for trade along this route recently, and travelers are few. The inn was founded by Cragger Tanabar[/sblock]
[sblock=DC 20]Cragger made his fortune fighting goblins in the Stonespike mountains.[/sblock][/sblock]
[sblock=Bardic Knowledge DC 12]Ever since you heard the name Cragger's Rest, it's reminded you of a tune you once heard. As you walk into the town, the chorus suddenly springs into your head:
Oh, Cragger, he staggered
down from the mountain,
looking like yesterday's hat.
Maybe he'd better
Rest and recover,
Here where the land is flat.
If only you could remember how it started...
[sblock=DC 17]You remember the rest of the tune, and could perform it if you wanted:
Cragger went up in the Stonespikes, the leader
Of dozens of men, with a month's worth of beer,
A shiny new shield and a large chest for treasure,
And a face with a bloodthirsty leer.
Hey, a face with a bloodthirsty leer.
He combed the crags for goblins and trolls,
Leaving a copious banquet for crows,
But his trail of slaughter was brought to a halt
When it suddenly started to snow.
Hey, it suddenly started to snow.
Chorus:
Oh, Cragger, he staggered
down from the mountain,
looking like yesterday's hat.
Maybe he'd better
Rest and recover,
Here where the land is flat.
O Cragger, he led his men to a cleft,
A cave that gave shelter from snowfall outside.
They stacked up their kegs by the wall and they slept,
'Til the snow began to subside,
Hey, 'til the snowfall began to subside.
They rested three days in the sheltering cave,
Counting the gold that they'd seized from their foes,
And drinking their ale by way of ignoring,
The case of frostbite on their toes.
Hey, the case of frostbite on their toes.
Chorus
The third night of drinking, the snow was still falling,
And Cragger expounding on exploits of old,
When all of a sudden his men up and scattered,
Running out into the cold!
Hey, running out into the cold!
Cragger jumped up and stood, arms akimbo,
And gaped in amazement at his fleeing band.
'twas then that he spotted an extra-large Yeti
with an empty ale keg in each hand!
Yes, an empty keg in each hand!
Chorus
A mountain of muscles, white fur, and bad breath,
Wrapped 'round a core of malice and stink.
Cragger resolved to fight hard to the end,
When the yeti, she gave him a wink.
Hey, the yeti, she gave him a wink.
Cragger stood helpless, rooted with fear,
As the yeti beckoned and started to sway,
smiling with teeth like festering daggers:
Cragger, he fainted away.
Mighty Cragger fainted away.
Chorus
Well, Cragger, he never spoke of what happened,
While alone in the cave, but suffice it to say,
That if she hadn't happened to glimpse a young dire bear,
He might have been there to this day!
Hey, he might have been there to this day.
And when he came down, some three months later,
He swore that never, through thick and through thin
Would he ever set foot near the smallest of mountains:
"I quit, I'm starting an inn.
Hey, I quit, I'm starting an inn."
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