Sniktch
First Post
Around town and a new friend.
Welby woke before dawn, as usual. He was disoriented for a moment until he realized where he was, back in his room at the Foaming Mug. They had arrived back in town late the previous evening, ate a hasty meal, and retired immediately after. His body ached all over from the beating he’d received the day before, and he would have simply gone back to sleep if he’d thought it possible. The rumbling in his belly informed him not to even attempt it.
He rose and stretched, then dressed slowly. It would be at least a couple of hours before Ned Nebbly started cooking breakfast and it was obvious to Welby what he needed to do. He would pay another visit to that strange house of the chickens he had discovered the day before. He finished dressing and forced his window open enough for him to squeeze through, then pulled himself onto the sill and dropped into a snow bank below. Dusting himself off, he trotted off in the direction of an easy meal.
_____________________________
The Royston Crow opened his eyes suddenly, then squinted against the light streaming through his window. He thought he’d heard a thump from somewhere nearby. The noise came again; it seemed to originate from outside, but right up against the wall. He staggered over to the window, hearing another thump as he went, and looked outside.
Welby stood in the snow below his window, forming snowballs and then launching them toward his room. A pair of chicken carcasses lay in the snow at his feet. The Crow wrapped his cloak tightly around himself and then opened the window.
“Hey, what are you doing down there, Welby?”
“C-c-cold. W-w-wall slick, n-no c-c-climb up. D-d-door locked. Throw r-rope, C-crow! Welb-b-by need inside.”
The Crow smiled at his strange companion’s antics and retrieved his pack. Pulling a stout hemp rope from the bag, he lowered it to the halfling and then pulled him up to the room. Welby climbed in and stood shivering as the Crow closed the window again.
“So, is that your breakfast, Welby?” he asked when the window was shut again.
“N-no, these f-for later. Already eat t-two. “
The Crow smiled and shook his head. In all likelihood, Welby would now come downstairs with him and consume another full meal from Ned’s kitchen. The pair made a stop in Welby’s room, where the halfling pulled his window shut and dropped off the chickens, then they proceeded downstairs.
_______________________________________
Ike woke late to the smell of grease and spices wafting through the floorboards from the kitchen below. Good, he was famished. He would eat some food, but then he had matters to discuss with Lord Travens. The more he thought about it, the more the way the noble had handled the situation with the supply wagon bothered him. He kept picturing the icy field and the villagers’ corpses strewn about the wagon, and the two that Alexei had sent to find it were just boys. Just boys! Surely if he’d been truly worried about the fate of the supplies he could have sent some of the village guards, like those two men-at-arms that followed him everywhere. Yes, Lord Travens had much to answer for in Ike’s mind, and he planned to find out what the answers were.
When he went downstairs he found Welby deep into his second stack of pancakes. He asked where the Royston Crow was but received only a muffled reply of “Shopping” between mouthfuls. The rest of the inn was empty save the proprietor Ned and a bespectacled old gentleman reading a book by the fireplace. It seemed to Ike that the stranger kept glancing curiously in their direction, but he ignored the man, ate a hearty portion of ham, pancakes, and eggs, bundled himself in his winter coat, and left the inn. He passed the Crow on the way out, who was just returning with several large bundles.
The Crow lugged the packs, which contained trail rations, up to his room and then rejoined Welby, who was starting on his third stack of pancakes. The stranger closed his book and ordered a cup of hot water from Ned, then wandered over to their table.
“Mind if I join you? It is lonely in here today,” the man asked in a mellifluous voice. He was of average height and build, with thinning hair rapidly turning from black to gray. A petite pair of spectacles perched upon his slightly hawkish nose.
Welby simply growled at him around a mouthful of food, but the Crow kicked him under the table and replied, “Be my guest. Good company is as welcome as it is hard to find. My name is, well, forgotten, but my friends call me the Royston Crow. This little glutton goes by Welby when he isn’t buried in a pile of Ned’s flapjacks.”
The man sank down into a chair and fished a teabag out of his pouch, which he dropped into the steaming cup of water. He sighed as the spices released their aroma into the air. “Pleased to meet you both. I am Artimas Sendant, a traveling scholar from Bolg Mor.”
“And what brings a scholar out on the roads this winter?”
“Ah, the same thing that brought you, by my guess. I am fascinated with the archaeology of the old places, and I traveled here with the intention of exploring the old ruins. Ned informed me that a group of adventurers including a halfling, half-elf, and a half-orc had already gathered in town with the same purpose.” The man had such a pleasant quality to his manner and voice that Royston found himself instantly liking him. Even Welby must have been impressed, for he had quit growling and guarding his plate like a mother bird.
The Crow admitted that yes, they had found an entrance to the old ruins and cleared out the bandits who had taken up residence. Two of his companions had remained in the old mines to clean them up from the battles they’d fought and make sure no other unwelcome guests poked around while the rest of them had returned to town to pick up provisions. Artimas requested permission to join them in their exploration, confiding that in addition to the knowledge he had accumulated about such places in his college studies, he was also a dabbler in the magical arts and could probably help should they face any future conflicts. Welby nodded his head at Royston, and he agreed to bring Artimas with them when they returned, the three new friends clasping hands over the table. As soon as Ike concluded his business in town and returned to the inn, they would depart.
__________________________________
Ike rapped firmly on the door of Lord Travens’ dwelling and stood waiting for an answer, shivering in the chill air. After a minute, a manservant opened the door, demanding his business.
“I was with the group who recovered the food supplies yesterday, and I had some unfinished business to discuss with his Lordship,” was Ike’s reply.
The servant disappeared for half a minute, then returned and admitted Ike. He led him to a small parlor and motioned that he should be seated, indicating that Lord Travens would join him soon.
About half an hour later the nobleman entered, looking resplendent in a velvet housecoat lined with ermine trim. When he saw the seated half-orc he broke into a broad smile and greeted him cordially.
“Yes, of course, one of the heroes of yesterday! My village is in your debt. To what do I owe the unexpected delight of this visit?”
Ike had many good qualities, but tact was not among them. He began bluntly, “Why did you send boys out to die yesterday? Obviously you were expecting trouble or you would have sent no one at all. Wouldn’t it have been better to send trained fighters who might have stood a chance if they ran into danger?”
Alexei’s smile vanished instantly. His reply was firm and cold, “Pardon me, but I was not aware that I needed to clear my decisions with you first. I acted as I saw appropriate. Think carefully before you proceed, friend, for it is not someone of your station’s place to question one of mine.”
Ike saw danger in the lord’s cold, glittering eyes, and he did consider his next actions for a long time before breaking the tension. “I am sorry, Lord Travens. I only felt grief for the boys’ deaths, and I let it effect my words.” He reached into one of his pockets and slowly withdrew the pouch containing Marsem Trember’s gold. He placed it in the noble’s hands, continuing, “Here, this is the gold the villain carried. Give it to the boys’ families to help them through their loss.”
Alexei Travens deposited the pouch within his robes absently and turned to go. It was obvious that the interview was over, and the doorman showed Ike the way back to the street.
Ike was in a cold fury by the time he got back to the Foaming Mug. He spoke hardly a word, pausing briefly to acknowledge the newcomer, Artimas, and headed upstairs to pack his bags. Before sunset, the four adventurers were on their way to reunite with Jack and Eli.
Next: The mines of Duernfast
Welby woke before dawn, as usual. He was disoriented for a moment until he realized where he was, back in his room at the Foaming Mug. They had arrived back in town late the previous evening, ate a hasty meal, and retired immediately after. His body ached all over from the beating he’d received the day before, and he would have simply gone back to sleep if he’d thought it possible. The rumbling in his belly informed him not to even attempt it.
He rose and stretched, then dressed slowly. It would be at least a couple of hours before Ned Nebbly started cooking breakfast and it was obvious to Welby what he needed to do. He would pay another visit to that strange house of the chickens he had discovered the day before. He finished dressing and forced his window open enough for him to squeeze through, then pulled himself onto the sill and dropped into a snow bank below. Dusting himself off, he trotted off in the direction of an easy meal.
_____________________________
The Royston Crow opened his eyes suddenly, then squinted against the light streaming through his window. He thought he’d heard a thump from somewhere nearby. The noise came again; it seemed to originate from outside, but right up against the wall. He staggered over to the window, hearing another thump as he went, and looked outside.
Welby stood in the snow below his window, forming snowballs and then launching them toward his room. A pair of chicken carcasses lay in the snow at his feet. The Crow wrapped his cloak tightly around himself and then opened the window.
“Hey, what are you doing down there, Welby?”
“C-c-cold. W-w-wall slick, n-no c-c-climb up. D-d-door locked. Throw r-rope, C-crow! Welb-b-by need inside.”
The Crow smiled at his strange companion’s antics and retrieved his pack. Pulling a stout hemp rope from the bag, he lowered it to the halfling and then pulled him up to the room. Welby climbed in and stood shivering as the Crow closed the window again.
“So, is that your breakfast, Welby?” he asked when the window was shut again.
“N-no, these f-for later. Already eat t-two. “
The Crow smiled and shook his head. In all likelihood, Welby would now come downstairs with him and consume another full meal from Ned’s kitchen. The pair made a stop in Welby’s room, where the halfling pulled his window shut and dropped off the chickens, then they proceeded downstairs.
_______________________________________
Ike woke late to the smell of grease and spices wafting through the floorboards from the kitchen below. Good, he was famished. He would eat some food, but then he had matters to discuss with Lord Travens. The more he thought about it, the more the way the noble had handled the situation with the supply wagon bothered him. He kept picturing the icy field and the villagers’ corpses strewn about the wagon, and the two that Alexei had sent to find it were just boys. Just boys! Surely if he’d been truly worried about the fate of the supplies he could have sent some of the village guards, like those two men-at-arms that followed him everywhere. Yes, Lord Travens had much to answer for in Ike’s mind, and he planned to find out what the answers were.
When he went downstairs he found Welby deep into his second stack of pancakes. He asked where the Royston Crow was but received only a muffled reply of “Shopping” between mouthfuls. The rest of the inn was empty save the proprietor Ned and a bespectacled old gentleman reading a book by the fireplace. It seemed to Ike that the stranger kept glancing curiously in their direction, but he ignored the man, ate a hearty portion of ham, pancakes, and eggs, bundled himself in his winter coat, and left the inn. He passed the Crow on the way out, who was just returning with several large bundles.
The Crow lugged the packs, which contained trail rations, up to his room and then rejoined Welby, who was starting on his third stack of pancakes. The stranger closed his book and ordered a cup of hot water from Ned, then wandered over to their table.
“Mind if I join you? It is lonely in here today,” the man asked in a mellifluous voice. He was of average height and build, with thinning hair rapidly turning from black to gray. A petite pair of spectacles perched upon his slightly hawkish nose.
Welby simply growled at him around a mouthful of food, but the Crow kicked him under the table and replied, “Be my guest. Good company is as welcome as it is hard to find. My name is, well, forgotten, but my friends call me the Royston Crow. This little glutton goes by Welby when he isn’t buried in a pile of Ned’s flapjacks.”
The man sank down into a chair and fished a teabag out of his pouch, which he dropped into the steaming cup of water. He sighed as the spices released their aroma into the air. “Pleased to meet you both. I am Artimas Sendant, a traveling scholar from Bolg Mor.”
“And what brings a scholar out on the roads this winter?”
“Ah, the same thing that brought you, by my guess. I am fascinated with the archaeology of the old places, and I traveled here with the intention of exploring the old ruins. Ned informed me that a group of adventurers including a halfling, half-elf, and a half-orc had already gathered in town with the same purpose.” The man had such a pleasant quality to his manner and voice that Royston found himself instantly liking him. Even Welby must have been impressed, for he had quit growling and guarding his plate like a mother bird.
The Crow admitted that yes, they had found an entrance to the old ruins and cleared out the bandits who had taken up residence. Two of his companions had remained in the old mines to clean them up from the battles they’d fought and make sure no other unwelcome guests poked around while the rest of them had returned to town to pick up provisions. Artimas requested permission to join them in their exploration, confiding that in addition to the knowledge he had accumulated about such places in his college studies, he was also a dabbler in the magical arts and could probably help should they face any future conflicts. Welby nodded his head at Royston, and he agreed to bring Artimas with them when they returned, the three new friends clasping hands over the table. As soon as Ike concluded his business in town and returned to the inn, they would depart.
__________________________________
Ike rapped firmly on the door of Lord Travens’ dwelling and stood waiting for an answer, shivering in the chill air. After a minute, a manservant opened the door, demanding his business.
“I was with the group who recovered the food supplies yesterday, and I had some unfinished business to discuss with his Lordship,” was Ike’s reply.
The servant disappeared for half a minute, then returned and admitted Ike. He led him to a small parlor and motioned that he should be seated, indicating that Lord Travens would join him soon.
About half an hour later the nobleman entered, looking resplendent in a velvet housecoat lined with ermine trim. When he saw the seated half-orc he broke into a broad smile and greeted him cordially.
“Yes, of course, one of the heroes of yesterday! My village is in your debt. To what do I owe the unexpected delight of this visit?”
Ike had many good qualities, but tact was not among them. He began bluntly, “Why did you send boys out to die yesterday? Obviously you were expecting trouble or you would have sent no one at all. Wouldn’t it have been better to send trained fighters who might have stood a chance if they ran into danger?”
Alexei’s smile vanished instantly. His reply was firm and cold, “Pardon me, but I was not aware that I needed to clear my decisions with you first. I acted as I saw appropriate. Think carefully before you proceed, friend, for it is not someone of your station’s place to question one of mine.”
Ike saw danger in the lord’s cold, glittering eyes, and he did consider his next actions for a long time before breaking the tension. “I am sorry, Lord Travens. I only felt grief for the boys’ deaths, and I let it effect my words.” He reached into one of his pockets and slowly withdrew the pouch containing Marsem Trember’s gold. He placed it in the noble’s hands, continuing, “Here, this is the gold the villain carried. Give it to the boys’ families to help them through their loss.”
Alexei Travens deposited the pouch within his robes absently and turned to go. It was obvious that the interview was over, and the doorman showed Ike the way back to the street.
Ike was in a cold fury by the time he got back to the Foaming Mug. He spoke hardly a word, pausing briefly to acknowledge the newcomer, Artimas, and headed upstairs to pack his bags. Before sunset, the four adventurers were on their way to reunite with Jack and Eli.
Next: The mines of Duernfast
