Shieldmeet- Year of the Wild Magic- Homlett
Bandark was tired as he finally pulled into Homlett. He had been walking for some time and the night was advancing. Coming to the Welcome Wench,of which he had heard from a long distance for the quality of their meals and rooms, he paused. Barra, his companion he had helped raised from a pup, looked at him puzzled for the pause. Her wolfish heritage was evident in her grey coat and markings. he smiled down at her and rubbed her head and walked on in.
He procured the room though his own looks drew much looks from Maridosen the barkeep. Vesta the innkeeper seemed willing to rent him a room for himself and Barra, though she demanded a deposit ahead of time and the room was the one furthest from others, almost over the stables. Bandark was used to this. Though he fully considered himself an Uthgardt and one of the Tribes, his racial heritage as a Hobgoblin was something he had to deal with. His own hatred and disgust with goblin for what they had done to his Mother and Father was there, and though he would never be able to pass as a human, was one in heart and Soul. So much that he had undertaken the quest to become a Shaman of the Grey Wolf, tracker of the moors.
The night past without any special troubles and he dressed himself as he went downstairs to get his breakfast. It was raining outside, a steady and warm one that helped to keep the forest and the grasslands watered, but which also hampered travel off the road. He left Barra to watch the room and have some peace. Settling into a corner where he could observe all, he removed his helm and ordered his meal. He drew stares of curiosity, disgust, and unfriendly gestures, but Bandark ignored it all. As he glanced around, he saw a battered and dirty Dwarf calling out for ale. he wondered where this one had come from.
Around the room was a Halfling sitting a short distance away from Sa, a wild elf that was an old traveling companion. The Halfling was dressed in leathers with a sword at his side, a pony tail, eating a sensible meal. Bandark observed a young girl coming into the inn, looking about. She seemed to look between Sa and the Halfling, before deciding on the small one.
As she walked past others in the inn, crowded for Shieldmeet, she passed Gron, an acquaintance from the wilds and a fellow follower in ways of the wild. His companion was not about, but that was to be understood. Wolves were not suited for towns and the Half Orc was not one to push his friend into one either.
There was others in the room that seemed to stand out. There was a hooded youth who kept to himself. Another Wild who was entering even as the young girl was going to the Halfling. The strangest seemed to be a human with some weird critter sitting near him and eating off the table. He wore some outland headband on his head, with flowing shirts and pants enveloping his body.
The child, who said her name was Renne, was looking for someone to look for her Father, who was missing. Spugnoir was the town's potion maker and had been gone for several days, and his daughter was worried as he had not come back when he said he would. The Halfling said his name was Merin, and he would be happy to assist young Renne. Bandark was moved and offered his aid. Others in the inn, at one time or another approached Bandark or Merin to join in, though the hooded youth in the corner stayed quiet. Bandark asked for some token from Renne to prove who they were if they could find Spugnoir,. She consented, but first was eating a meal courtesy of some money that Merin had given her.
Bandark saw that Maridosen was giving him some dirty looks and then seemed to go into the back. Shortly afterwards a new person came in. He looked and acted like a fop, and called himself Chantrilon. Bandark had no liking or trust for this man, and even Merin seemed to seem uneasy about him. The three of them went outside to talk and when Bandark said he did not want Chantrilon to go with him, the man insulted him and implied he was not a true Uthgardt. Bandark would not take that from anyone, so gripped the little ass and told him off,finally throwing him to the dirt. He challenged Chantrillon, but the coward slunk away without any more words.
The group assembled and made their way to Renne's and Spugnoir's house, where Renne gave them a token for Bandark, as well as an old sock which Barra could use to try to track Spugnoir. Bandark offered to go talk with Elmo, the town militia captain, with Da, the dwarf, and Sa. The others would move on ahead. Due to Merin's slow stride, Bandark and his new companions would be able to meet up with them before making the way to the old Moat House, where Spugnoir was thought to be. So Marin, Najib ( the desert rider ), Gron, and Kaliff ( the other wild elf ) started off on their way.
After going to the temple of Lathander and talking with Elmo, Bandark, Barra, Sa and Da were on their way. About half way there was a pause when Barra seemed to catch a scent of something. Moving forward with his ax and shield readied, Bandark and Barra tried to track it down. It was then that Bandark took a vicious blow that seemed to paralyze him. Chantrilon appeared suddenly, his rapier piercing Bandark deep. Barra bit at him, but the dexterous ambusher darted away, Sa sent some magical darts into the man, and Da tried to charge forward. Just as the Dwarf got to attack range, Chantrilon pulled a wand and disappeared again, fleeing like a coward again. Bandark regained the ability to move in time, and healed himself and Barra, who had a small graze. Meeting the hooded youth and in time seemingly to accept he had no ties with Chantrillon, the now foursome stride off to find Merin. It would be Merin who would make the final acceptance on Cynfael, a mage with a thief's background.
