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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Steverooo" data-source="post: 1085246" data-attributes="member: 9410">The Return of the Ox (sans Mule):Standing out in the cold, Ox stares at the darkness, wondering where his beloved mule has gone...  As he does, he sees a man coming down the track towards him, head down, cloak clutched against the cold night air.  Ox notices that he walks rather badly!"Hey, mister!  You seen a mule anywhere, tonight?" Ox calls.  The man stops, looking up, sees Ox, screams, and runs off the track, into the woods.  Typical human reaction!  Ox is going to have to remember to be a bit more careful, after nightfall!Seeing no signs of Buford, Ox turns and heads back north, towards Forlorn Corners, again...                    Karl and Co.:Karl addresses the barkeep as he comes back in."Potts.  He runs the store across the way? I have need of some supplies and it might be good if I get them before he burns his store down.  That is what you said he was planning, wasn't it?""Ahhh, who knows what that crazy loon is going to do!...  Yeah, Potts runs the store...  Every once in a while, he goes off his nut, says he's somebody else, runs all about for a couple of days upsetting people, then calms down, again, and acts like nothing happened!  Came in here yellin' at Carilla 'bout how everyone would now call him Kachas, and how we Humans would change our tunes, how he was robbed by a Kobold, then askin' for a razor...  Naturally, I didn't give him one, he'd probably tried to cut somebody's throat with it!"Hatchet-face and his ruffians laugh, heading back to their table.  The barkeep continues, as he walks around the bar, stowing his weapon:"He stood there, quiet by the fireplace for a minute, then when old Bert left, he lit a torch and high-tailed it on outta here.  We saw lights in his shop, and there was no one on the street, so I assume that's where he went..."  He looks at you.  "I really wouldn't suggest you go bothering him, stranger...  Get a room for the night, and getcher supplies in the next town, tomorrow.  Leave the local crazy people to us."Karl passes Tow a few coins and asks him to find the serving girl and pay her for the meal, then catch up to them across the street at the general store."Hey, wait a minute!  We weren't done with that meal!" the Wylf says, following Tow, "Tell her we're coming back, too, and to save it for us!""Ah, tell'er yerself, pointy-ears!""All right, I will!" the Wylf responds, following him back up the hall.  Karl turns back to look out the windows at the store across the street, standing where he can keep one eye on that, and the other on the ruffians and barkeep.  Carilla must be a bit difficult to locate, because it takes the pair of adventurers a minute or two to come back...  During that time, Karl sees no lights in the store.  All the windows look shuttered and dark, to him.  No fires going, though, so at least the place isn't burning down!"She sez two gold aint enough, but she'll save it fer us, 'till we get back!" Hammer-Tow says.  The Wylf just grins at you and arches a brow."Well, gentlemen, shall we see about those supplies?" Karl says, opening the door and heading out into the  street...As the trio makes its way across the dark street, Karl muses, mostly to himself: "Twenty gold to stow a horse.  More than 2 for a decent meal.  If we stay here much longer, I'm going to get used to spending money.  I don't look forward to that."When he gets to the store, he pounds on the door with a mailed fist."Kachas!  Open up.  I would have a word with you."                    Kachas' Search:Seeing nothing too exciting, Kachas decides to first check out the trunk.  Since it seems to be locked (and he  has no key), he does a little prying with the axe and hatchet, and (being as quiet as he can) soon has it open.  Belatedly thinking about traps, he crouches down and opens it with the axe head, but nothing happens...Looking in, he is rather disappointed to see a pile of clothes, but searches through them, anyway.   Apparently this guy likes the hunting style...  Near the bottom, though, Potts-Rye finds some more interesting stuff:  A long thrusting sword and long dagger (complete with belt and sheaths), a strong bow and quiver of one dozen arrows, a short, heavy spear, full leather armor of the finest make, and a metal targe (small shield)!Looking them over, Kachas tosses the axe and hatchet.  He can't tell about the dagger or arrows, but everything else is of a quality far superior to the crude stuff downstairs, and the leather armor is quite possibly the finest he's ever seen!  Taking another quick look around, he piles the clothes back into the trunk, closes it, then sits on it and dons the weapons belt, armor and quiver, slings the bow, and hefts the spear, leaving the targe hanging on his belt, for now.Feeling much encouraged, Kachas is ready to do a little more exploring...  He heads over to the bed to check out that odd skin on the wall...  It is pale, and furless, and of a strange shape...  Sure that it must be hiding something, Kachas pulls his new dagger, and carefully pries out the tacks holding it to the wall...  He spends  several more minutes searching behind it, but if there's anything to find, he misses it!The cupboard proves even less interesting...  Food, cooking and eating utensils, ordinary kitchen gear!  No hidden gold, no "good stuff", no booze, and not even a hint of a clue!  Hmph!  An utter waste of time!Kachas looks around the almost bare room, kicking a few skins around the floor.  Anything else he hasn't searched?  He can always go raid the store downstairs, again, or see what's below ground level... assuming he dares!  He wonders where the closet with all the skeletons is!...As Potts-Rye is considering where else to search, he is startled by a pounding coming from below, followed by a voice that he doesn't recognize:"Kachas!  Open up.  I would have a word with you."Freezing for a moment, Potts-Rye wonders if its the real Potts, come back  to finish him off, then relaxes.  Nah, it aint a Kobold's voice!"Kachas?  Hmmm, I thought everyone knew me as Potts."He hurries downstairs, leaving his new spear behind the curtain, and drawing the Long Dagger, just in case.  The door is still barred, so he walks right over to it.  As he gets close, he says:"We're closed, come back in the morning."He sets the lamp on the counter by the door, and grabs his new targe, standing there ready for battle, watching the flame dance across his dagger's blade.  He chuckles to himself."Yeah, buddy, come on in...  I won't be the only one needing a new body!", he thinks.Standing on the store's stoop, Karl listens carefully, for a moment.  He hears nothing, but thinks - maybe - he saw a flash of light somewhere inside."Someone on the stairs." the Wylf whispers.  Karl waits another moment, then raises his fist to knock, again.    Before he can he hears:"We're closed, come back in the morning."Well, the place isn't on fire, and he doesn't SOUND crazy!"Are you Potts or Kachas?  I'm not interested in talking with a shopkeeper.  Now will you open this door?"Karl turns to the Wylf.  "Good set of ears, those. I'm glad to have you here."To Tow: "Let's see if this is another victim of your plight, my friend.""Are you Potts or Kachas?  I'm not interested in talking with a shopkeeper.  Now will you open this door?" comes the reply from outside.  Kachas listens carefully, and can hear the same speaker saying something to one or more others, outside:"Good set of ears, those.  I'm glad to have you here.""Let's see if this is another victim of your plight, my friend."Kachas unbars the door, grabs the lamp, again, and carefully unlocks it.  "I swear by the lejendary pantheon, if they make one wrong move, I'll cut'em up!" he thinks to himself, as he braces against the door, and open it a crack.Lamplight spills out upon the trio on the doorstep: A tall Human clad in full steel plate armor, with a battleaxe and two-handed sword on his girdle; A shorter, Dwarvish figure, also in full plate, armed only with a hammer; and a Wylf in half-plate, with a bow, and a machete on his back.The trio stares in at the lighted strip of Potts-Rye.  Hunting clothes under finely crafted leather armor, long, dark hair and beard, and a somewhat wild, unkempt appearance... but no gleam of madness in his eyes.  As they stare back, he speaks."Potts or Kachas, that is a harder question than you know, for even I am not sure anymore.  Please come in, and we can . . . talk.""Hmp!" grumps the Dwarf, "I knowed whatcha mean!  I been 'membering stuffs I never knowed all night long - since I woke up, anyways!  Ever'one thinks I'm this `Hammer' character!  One thing's for sure; I aint myself, this night!"[So, does Potts-Rye let these armed and armored strangers in, or what?]Kachas opens the door, setting the lamp back on the counter.  The three armored strangers file in, and he locks and bars the door behind them."Well, I guess the question is, What the heck is going on here!  Please, tell me your story and I will tell you mine."The tall, dark haired Human looks thoughtful for a moment, scratching the stubble on his face.  The Wylf  looks around, then quickly says:"This" (motions towards the Knight) "is Karl Belford, a Knight returning from a quest.  We met at the well.  He rode into town with Squire Tow, who went to the smithy, where, apparently, he was body-snatched by `Hammer', the local blacksmith." (motions towards the Dwarf).He stares at you for a long moment, then turns towards the Knight."He has the same stench of foul magic about him, too, Karl."Meanwhile, back at the ranch...  Nothing is happening!Meanwhile, back in the Wild Hare, Carilla Finnebonne faints.  *ZONK!*Meanwhile, somewhere south of town, Ox comes over the top of a hill, and sees the sleepy little town, again.    Wondering where a poor Oaf can get warm, he spots the Tavern/Inn, and increases his gait, a little, blowing on his hands to keep warm.[The LM rears back a foot, preparing to kick a Player: "Please try to do something with these two poor, ignored people, willya?" he says, grinning like a...]"Stench?  You mean, you can smell it?  I suppose if I were in my own body, I could also.", Potts-Rye says."And what body might that be?  You weren't a Kobold, were you?""That nose of yours is a real asset, Wylf." Karl says with a smile.  The Wylf wrinkles it at Karl."Tell us your story, Kachas.  But I'll wager it has something to do with you coming into this store and falling  prey to the storekeeper who used to look just like you do now."  Potts-Rye nods, looking thoughtful, for a moment."Well, I came into the store, and was looking around, when this Potts character came out and introduced himself.  Then I felt drunk, and passed out...  Next thing I knew, I woke up here, in the dark, on the floor...  Then I got up and looked around a bit, and headed over to the pub, where people started calling me Potts..." he trails off, shrugging."Sounds pretty similar to what happened to Squire Tow, here, with the blacksmith.", Karl says.  "Well, we've already searched the smithy, and found little, so I suggest that my crew, here, search the store for any and all clues.  I suspect that two others in town were also snatched, based on the party utensils we found at the Dwarf's house.  After searching here, we can search the town for smelly ensorceled folks."  Karl grins."Well, actually, I was just about to search downstairs when you knocked.", Kachas says.  "You're welcome to join me.""Not so fast!" the Wylf interjects.  "I have just a few questions!  I found the tracks of a Kobold and a small army of armored men out on the north track, earlier today.  If that was you, I'd like to know why you were so popular!  Also, Squire Tow was Human; if these body-snatchers are equal-opportunity abductors, that might be important to know!"  He looks around at Karl, and adds:  "Who says all the dirty work is done?  There are still two strangers in town!""Yes, I am a Kobold and proud of it!  Anyway,  those tracks you saw are indeed mine, and the others are just some brigands who are after me . .."  With that said, Potts-Rye looks straight at Hammer-Tow, and says:  "This Wylf is kinda pushy isn't he?"The Dwarf laughs, but Karl smoothly slides into the conversation."Well, Kachas. My friend here has some good questions. If we're to aid you, I want to be sure it's not to the consternation of a hoard of angry men out to waste my time."Karl looks at the Wylf, but saves his question until later..."Karl, the angry men will be of no concern when I get my body back!  You see, as it happens, I have many skills.", Kachas replies."I would, however, like to thank you all for your help.  Perhaps, in the future, you may need my aid, in which case I will be happy to help."  So saying, he leans back against a table, sheathing his dagger, and stokes his beard as if deep in thought.The wary Wylf snorts derisively, turns to Karl, and says:"Pushy?  Classical avoidance technique, he means...  `When you can't defend your position, attack'.  You'll notice he still hasn't answered the question about why the brigands were after him, in the first place!"  He shrugs, turning an unfriendly eye back upon Kachas."I say we let Mister Multi-talented fend for himself.  That way I won't have to watch for a dagger up my backside.  No doubt the brigands in the bar have already sent word to their compatriots that someone calling himself Kachas has been running around town...""Oops!" thinks Kachas, "There went the disguise!"Hammer-Tow chuckles, looking back and forth between the two.  Apparently there has been some disagreement between he and the pushy Wylf, and he's enjoying seeing the "new kid" get "pushed" by the him, for a change!  Apparently, Karl, the courteous, courtly Knight, has been cast in the role of natural party  leader by virtue of his ability to keep the peace!Not quite sure how he fits into the new pecking order being developed, Kachas starts to realize that he may need help, himself.  His elemental (and racial!) abilities seem to be gone, for the time being, and he has no idea how to go about getting them back!Hmmm!  What to do, what to do!"Alright, men. If we're to find out what's going on here, we'll have to work together. So put your differences behind you. I want this place searched, high and low. Let's find out all we can about this shopkeeper.  Then I think we'd best be in search for more victims.  There will be clues there, as well," Karl looks about the place, trying to get an idea of how long it will take to search it.  The store room, itself, will take a long time!"And, Sorrow, you might keep an ear out for any unwelcome visitors.  If you're right about the boys next door -- and I fear you are -- we might have some company if we don't hurry. So let's hurry.""I have gone through the upstairs already, although it won't hurt to look again.  I have yet to go through the  downstairs area, there may be something of use down in the dark. . ."  Kachas tells Karl.He then turns to the Wylf and says: "Maybe we can go downstairs while the other two search the store room.  Don't get me wrong, I would rather go with Hammer, but I don't think it would be a grand idea for the two of us to join up, due to our situation.  And I think the two of us would be better off friends, rather than the alternative."  He winks at him with a sly, koboldish grin."And I think it better that we all stay together, perhaps start at the top and work our way down.  Also, that's the third time you have... neglected... to answer my question.  Since you are obviously disinclined to do so, I frankly do not trust you.  Therefore; as for being friends, I think not.  I do not make friends easily, and never with a man I cannot trust."  He crosses back over to Karl."Do you want to start searching here, upstairs, or down?  Also, we have a dinner to finish, you had a quest-ion to discuss, and we need to get some sleep, this night..."  Karl looks thoughtful for a moment, then answers:"Well, all of that sounds like a good idea, but for now, I think staying together and searching here sounds the best.  Let's start down here, then check upstairs, and save the basement for last."    He turns to Potts-Rye."Since you've already searched down here, and might recognize any bandits who come along, we'll let you watch the door while we look around."  That said, the three adventurers start looking about."I could use some supplies, too..." Karl says, looking at the boxes of torches and candles."So what're we lookin' for, now, Karl?  Just anything that looks outta place, again?", asks Hammer-Tow."Right.  Anything an ordinary shopkeeper shouldn't have.""Musical instruments?" queries the Wylf, looking in some boxes.  He holds up a drum and mandolin."No," Karl chuckles, "something more unusual than that.""Mmph!  Dead bodies... or stolen ones!" Hammer-Tow says.The search turns up none, only aprons, baskets, buckets, blankets, clothes, candles, foodstuffs, lamps, oil, torches, ropes, some tools, quite a few musical instruments, as well as a host of other common goods, and the cash box (with a little in it, by the rattle) under the counter.  Kachas keeps an ear on the door, watching the goings on, and occasionally checking a window to see what's up at the Wild Hare."Well, again, there doesn't seem to be much of anything here, friends.  Certainly nothing TOO out of the ordinary." says Karl.  He turns to Kachas.  "You say you looked upstairs?  Why don't you bring the lamp and show us what you found?"Kachas leads the group through the curtain and into the crowded back room.  He stops while they search the empty barrels, boxes and crates, the tools, and the workbench.  He goes over and peeks down into the basement while everyone else is busy...  Looks like more of the same!"Karl!" the Wylf calls, standing by the tool rack (and the crude sword Kachas dropped earlier).  Everyone troops over to see what he's found."That scythe," he points "is... magical, I guess you would call it.  It has a dark energy to it."  Karl reaches up  to take it down off the rack, but Sorrow grabs his hand.  "Wait a minute, don't touch it!"The Wylf zips back out into the store, where he can be heard rummaging around, then races back with a roll of canvas.  He spreads it out on the floor, then lifts an end and picks up the scythe with that, setting it on the floor, on top of the canvas."A magical scythe...  Isn't that what you Humans say Death uses?" Sorrow asks.  Everyone looks at it (Kachas thinking that he almost DID touch it, earlier!), and wonders what it does.  Finally, Karl asks the question on everyone's mind:"So what do you think it does, Sorrow?"  The Wylf laughs."Like I would know?  We'll need a Weird, to answer that!  It's just my job to find things like this...  No doubt it is a weapon, and mayhap worse than that!  In any case, let's keep it under wraps, and deny the former Potts the use of it!  Let me get some rope..."  He disappears, again, comes back with some rope, and carefully wraps the blade in several thick folds of canvas, then the handle, and wraps that it loops of rope."I think I'll hang onto this, for now." he says.  "Shall we try upstairs?"Kachas leads the way, once again, looking around for another lamp to light.  The rest of the crew sees Potts' lair for the very first time:There really isn't that much to see.  The entire upper floor is one big, open loft, with a fireplace (currently unlit) for warmth and cooking.  It has some sparse furnishings - a table and four chairs, a bed, a trunk, a cupboard, and various cooking and eating utensils.  Various pelts and hides cover the floor, and one adorns  the bed..."Four chairs, again." notes the Wylf."That skin on the bed," Potts-Rye points, "was on the wall, but I thought there might be something behind it, so I took it down.  I already searched the cupboard and the trunk.""Well, it won't hurt to do it, again," Karl says.  "You keep an ear open for any company...  Here, let me borrow your light for a moment."A chest - or a trunk - is a wonderful place for keeping secrets, so he and the Wylf check it out, Karl holding the lamp and looking over Sorrow's shoulder.  Hammer-Tow checks out the cupboard, again, while Potts-Rye stands by the stairs, watching and listening below.As the Wylf empties the trunk, Karl notices that most of the clothes are leathers, and such.  The trunk holds nothing of interest, nor do the pockets of the clothing...  Not content, the wary Wylf shifts the trunks about, and searches the floor beneath, as well.Hammer-Tow has found nothing in the cupboard, but the Wylf checks that, next, searching for secret compartments, and the like, then the fireplace, the walls (paying special attention to where Potts-Rye removed the skin), and finally begins kicking the skins off the floor, and searching that as well.As he does so, Karl looks at the skins...  There are seven of them (not including the one on the bed where Hammer-Tow is now searching), but Karl can only identify one, a red fox pelt."Nothing.", Sorrow pronounces, coming to a stop in the middle of the floor, rubbing his forehead, and staring at the bed."Uh, Karl... you wanna come see this." says Hammer-Tow, lifting a lumpy white something onto the bed, then disappearing behind it, again.  Everyone troops over to see what was discovered, again, the Wylf pulling back the covers to see what's under the bed.  The same thing greets Karl's eyes as Sorrow's: the lumpy white thing is the rear of a human skull.  One on the bed, now, another in Hammer-Tow's hands, as he pulls it out, and four more yet under the bed!"I think that's unusual enough." says Sorrow."Dead bodies... or stolen ones." says Hammer-Tow.The crew pulls them out, and begins looking them over, setting them on the skin on the bed."Oh... my God..." the Wylf says in an odd voice."What?" asks Karl, figuring it's something besides delayed reaction to the skulls."This skin," the Wylf says, turning it over and rolling it into an odd shape, putting the opposite edges together, "It's human!""Huh?" says Potts-Rye, coming over for a closer look.  "Hey!  You're right!""Oog.", Hammer-Tow says.  Karl and Potts-Rye look at him.  He looks back, a sick expression on his face, then looks at Potts-Rye."What're they gonna do to our bodies?" he grimaces, looking like he's about to crack.  Kachas' (or is it Potts'?) stomach also sinks a bit."Nothing,", Karl responds, "because we're going to find them, and stop them, first!"The Wylf, meanwhile, has been examining the skulls with an almost detached, clinical interest; first picking up one, then another, examining each."Equal-opportunity abductors, indeed!" he says.  "This one is human," he says, holding up a skull, "and this one Orc.  The other four I can't be sure.  In any case, humans and alfar seem to be prey."  He sets the skulls back on the skin, and rolls it up, setting it on the floor as he begins removing the bedding and searching the mattresses."Still, while it is rather unusual for any human (other than a torturer) to accumulate such trophies, I don't see  how any of this helps us...  Help me move this mattress, will you?"  The crew helps him finish searching the bed, but finds nothing more.  The Wylf starts making the bed, again, after they're done, then picks up the skin full of skulls and the wrapped-and-tied scythe, and carries them over to the table.  After a cursory search of that, everyone feels the need to sit for a moment.There is an odd silence as they do so, when everyone's eyes meet, over the table...  They all realize that there are four chairs, and four people to fill them.  As things have arranged themselves, Sorrow and Karl have sat down next to each other, while "Hammer" and "Potts" stare at them from across the table...  The Possessed and the soon-to-be?  Karl clears his throat, shrugging off such thoughts, while the Wylf rubs his eyes, which are beginning to look a bit red."So, how did you know that skin was human, and identify the skulls?" Karl asks."Two sciences: Anatomy and Physiology..." the Wylf explains, "plus a touch of Medicine and combat training...  I've seen a lot of dead skin."  He grins at Potts-Rye.  "So how about you?""Well... apparently, I somehow, sometimes, seem to know things that Potts did - or does - although I don't recall it unless I try."  He shrugs."Yeah!  Like I keep thinking about blacksmithing and gold, and knew about the Wild Hare, even though I aint never been there!", Hammer-Tow espouses."Interesting!" Karl says, "So can the two of you remember anything about what Hammer and Potts are up to?  Where they might go?  Why?"  The two possessees spend a few minutes fumbling about, mentally, but produce no useful results."So what about the rest of these pelts?" Karl asks, looking around.  "I looked at them, but only recognized one.  They all look animal, but I can't identify most of them.""Well, that one," the Wylf points, "is an elk.  The rest I didn't recognize, either.""Mule-dear." says Potts-Rye, pointing, surprising himself.  "Hey!  Potts is a hunter!  I bet I can use this bow, too!"  He tries to see if he has any skill, but can't really tell.  Thinking about his knowledge of the swords, though, he suspects Potts was better with melee weapons."Hmmm!  Interesting!" Karl says.  "Sounds like you two can make use of the skills that Hammer and Potts had...  What about your own?""Well, I don't seem quite myself..." Hammer-Tow clears his throat."My... talents... racial and otherwise, seem... lacking.  I can't even see in the dark." Potts-Rye says."Yet Squire Tow had no problem seeing under the bed, without a light..." the Wylf adds, resting his jaw on his fist.  "Well, we could sit here and talk all night, but I won't be much use if I don't get some sleep, soon.  We can search downstairs, or save it for the morning, but if there's any more to find (of a magical nature), I frankly think I would miss it, tonight...  So, we need to finish our meal (we can talk there), then find a safe place to sleep...  Although where that might be, I don't know, in this town."  He looks at Potts-Rye."Seeing how Potts was such a skins-lover, I don't suppose that I could interest you in buying some, could I?  That way, I could get some supplies.""Well, Kachas would tell you to help yourself, but since I'm in this body, I feel constrained to ask for whatever Potts put into the goods, so since we're all in this together, I'll give you $500 credit for a skin in good quality, against goods at half-price... any of you." he adds, looking around at Karl and Tow."Okay," says the Wylf, "so we can camp out, if need be, or rent rooms at the Inn...  Or I guess we could even sleep here, or at Hammer's, although I have to recommend against either of those two options...""I aint spendin' no nights in either of THEM places!" Hammer-Tow interjects.  "I'd rather sleep out in the cold!  I'd rent me a room...  if they'd left me my gold...  I aint even got enough for dinner!"  The little Dwarf-man looks almost pouty."Me, neither," adds Kachas.  "I wonder where Potts hides the key to the cash box?  We didn't uncover it in our search.""Probably on him." says the Wylf, getting to his feet.  "Well, this one problem I can solve: Sir Belford, our host, has graciously provided dinner, already, which is sitting over in the Inn, getting cold.  I, for one, say we go finish off that wheel of cheese, and that rich, dark, loaf of bread, with honey and butter...  Not much, between the three of us, but it will fill us, well enough.  I also have some jerked beef, pork, elk, and such, if anyone is starving, but it's rather ripe, and I'm deathly tired of it!  I'll share that with anyone who can stomach it... since we're all in this, together...", he says, staring down at Potts-Rye."Sounds like a plan," Karl adds as he gets to his feet, "I hardly got to taste my steak, before Kachas starting  making a ruckus...  I do worry about those brigands, though...""As do I; and the locals worrying about `crazy Potts'!" says the Wylf, opening his pack and pulling out some skins.  "Wolf, boar, bull, and elk," he says, pushing them across the table at Potts-Rye, "the bearskin I'm keeping to sleep in.  Besides... it's not in as good shape.  He gave me some trouble before I killed him."Ahhh, that explains the parallel scratches on the armor, Karl thinks.  Potts-Rye looks them over, then says:"Well, okay, the boar and bull skins are okay - looks like the elk gave you some trouble, too -" he eyes the Wylf, "but the other two I can't tell about.""I'll throw in the elk's antlers for the whole $2,000" the Wylf says, pulling the rack out."Got the bear claws, too?" asks Kachas."Yes, but I plan on keeping some of them.""Throw in the rest, and you've got a deal - at least half.""Done!"The Wylf again opens his pack, and Karl can't help put notice that, besides the bearskin and another metal breastplate, it's pretty empty...  Apparently Sorrow's been hunting for his supper, lately.  When this mess is all straightened out, he'll have to go hunting with him, sometime...  Maybe the Kobold, too, if he still remembers how..."Well, I'm going to get me a tinderbox, some blankets, a couple of cloaks and some clothes, and see what I can find in the way of good hunting knives and handaxes, so I'll be ready if we camp out!  You all decide whether you want to search, eat, both, and where you want to sleep... which I'll want to do as soon as we finish that food!" the Wylf says, heading downstairs."And don't forget the rope and canvas!" Kachas says, falling back into shopkeeper mode...  He remembers that Potts charges $1/foot for the rope, but can't recall the price for canvas."After I get that cloak, I'm going to check the Inn, calm everyone down about Potts (and see if anyone new has arrived), and then come back.  The rest of you figure out what you want to do, in the meantime." the wary Wylf says, as he heads down the stairs.Meanwhile, outside, Ox has wondered back to the crossroads, hugging his new robe about him.  Really cold, now, he heads for the one building with lights that looks open.  Pulling on the door, he enters a large barroom, with a blazing fire!  Sighing, he wanders in, ignoring the four men, and goes directly to the hearth, where he can warm himself."Evening, Custodian.  You're up late." the barkeep says, but receives no reply.  Ox ignores him, reveling in the warmth.  Seeing the priest is as talkative as usual, Bernie shrugs, and ignores him, as well."Hold up, Sorrow," Karl calls down, suddenly realizing just how tired he is getting. "We're coming."He waves to Hammer-Tow to follow him. "We'll finish up here tomorrow.  Let's get some food and a room or two at the inn.  I'll finance this little venture."He heads down the stairs after the Wylf.  He and Potts-Rye are over in the clothing section, where the Wylf  has acquired a new suit of clothes, and a pair of cloaks.  `Potts' is following him about, recording what he takes on a small pad, with a pen.  The Wylf adds four heavy blankets (two cloaks and four blankets - apparently he doesn't like the cold!), 10 wax candles, two canteens, the 20 square yards of canvas he has already wrapped the scythe in, a 100' ball of cord, a metal file and lockpick in a leather case, a pot of mink oil, a small candle lantern, 100' of horsehair rope, the 20' of common jute rope he has wrapped the scythe with, two tinderboxes (one of which he stuffs in his belt pouch), 10 torches, a gallon of lamp oil, a heavy knife and  sheath, and a handaxe (which go on his broad leather belt).Potts-Rye adds up the total (the Wylf complaining about the high cost of gear), then divides by two.  The total comes to $1,866.25.  The Wylf shuts up, glad that at least he has some supplies, and stuffs everything except the torches into his pack, then ties up the human skin and skulls with the cord.  He shrugs the pack back on, wearing one of the cloaks, and comes back over to Karl, handing him the 10 torches."Here, I won't be needing these.  If you or Squire Tow need anything, you can use the rest of my `funds'...  You will need a Tinderbox, if you don't already have one...  No use in spending your coin, when I have credit, especially if you're going to be paying for rooms at the Inn."  Turning back to Potts, he says:"I didn't see any baldrics, quivers, arrows, etc....  Do you have any of those, or bandages?""No, we generally don't have leather goods, arrows would be at a bowyer-fletches, and we don't have one of  them in Forlorn Corners, and no Apothecary, either, although I could sell you some clean, white cloth..."  The Wylf waves his hand in a "No" gesture."I vote we eat, then search the downstairs later.", Potts-Rye says.  "Also, one of the brigand-looking guys at the inn - where I freaked out - told me to `relax cause tomorrow I DIE.'  He had a face like a Hammer, I think, and there were four of them, to my recollection.  I remember that I had touched Potts before I lost my body.  If you want to keep your skin..." looking at the Wylf and Karl, "I suggest that you keep your hands to  yourself.""Hmmm!" muses the Wylf.  "That Carilla girl tried to touch me, earlier!  I'm sure she wasn't ensorcelled, though...  Well, pretty sure - I could be wrong.  Still, if she were a fiend, or something, I think I would have known.  In any case, I'm going back over there to see what the brigands are doing, and I'll be back shortly, to let you know what's afoot.  While I'm there, I'll tell Miss Carilla that we'll be wanting a room or more...  I can look her over, again.""Hammer-Tow, why don't you come with me.  We can tell them that we have calmed `Potts' down, but are afraid to leave him alone, so we want one big room, where we can keep an eye on him.  That should calm everyone down, and let us all stay together.  While we're there, we can look for `Hammer-face', or any other new arrivals.  In any case, if there's trouble, no one would suspect you, I think.""Sounds like a plan," Hammer-Tow says, "Let's do it!""We'll be back, shortly; lock the door behind us!" the Wylf says, removing the bar, and slipping out.  The Dwarf-man follows him.Quickly looking around with inhuman night-vision, the pair crosses the road and enters the Inn.  One new-comer is instantly obvious; a priestly sort in a robe, doing an odd dance by the fire... perhaps trying to get warm, as he looks a bit damp, and frosty in other places.  The two adventurers look at each other, then proceed through the bar, getting hardly a glance from the other patrons, and back into the hallway to the dining room.Their cooling meal is still waiting, but Miss Carilla is nowhere to be seen.  The pair goes across to the kitchen, where Carilla is talking to another, older woman - apparently the cook."Hi, boys!  Back for the rest of your dinner?" Carilla asks, smiling, as she stands and comes towards them."Well, we will be, shortly, miss," says the Wylf, holding up his hand, "but right now, we are busy calming the shopkeep.  We have him acting... normally, but we fear to leave him alone for the night.  Sir Belford was wondering if we could get a room for four, for the night, so that we could keep an eye on him.""Oh, poor Potts!  I do hate it when he goes off his bean!  He gets crazy, for a while, and then calms back down in a few days...  Well, Buck's already gone to bed, so I guess I could move three beds into one room...  You sure all four of you want to stay together?""I don't know, you'll have to ask Sir Belford about that.  How many rooms do you have?""Enough for all four of you, if need be.""Well then, see that at least one is ready, and we'll let Karl decide on that.  We'll be back shortly, with Mr. Potts, and we'll be finishing our meal, first, so you'll have time to prepare the other rooms, if Karl wants more than one.  Oh!  How much for a room, by the way?""Well, it's $25 a night, per room.""All right then," says the Wylf, looking at the cook, "and who is this lady?""This is Alberta, the cook.  She made the bread and salad, as well as your friend's meat and vegetables.""Ah!  My compliments to the chef!" he says, grinning and bowing.  The older lady smiles and nods."Well then, we'll be back, shortly."  Sorrow and Hammer-Tow turn to go.  As `Hammer' goes around the corner, Carilla reaches up and grabs Sorrow by the shoulder.  Paranoid at the best of times, he spins around to face her, as she stands on tiptoe to whisper in his ear."Better keep an eye on that Hammer, too.  Sometimes, he goes off his bean, as well!" she warns him, then steps back, smiling.  Not sure whether he's just been attacked or not, but trusting his instincts (which tell him no), Sorrow asks:"And who is the robed one out by the fire?  Is that the village priest?  He wasn't here when we left.""Ooh!  You mean that creepy Custodian is here?  Ugh!  I don't like him, either!  If anything, he's worse than Potts!  I think I'll stay in here, for a while!"Sorrow chuckles, then makes his escape, almost running into Hammer-Tow at the archway out into the hall."Thought you got lost, elf.""No, just got caught.  Come on, let's get back to the others."As they pass through the barroom, again, Sorrow eyes the priest, and wonders what happened to the traveller...  Perhaps he has gone to bed, or maybe continued on his way... or gone to warn the brigands!  He looks at the THREE armed men (Potts-Rye said there were FOUR!), and motions to the barkeep."Yessir!  How can I he'p you?"  Leaning over the counter and whispering, Sorrow says:"I just wanted to let you know that we've got old Potts calmed down, and are bringing him back over for dinner, and then will be getting a room for the night, where we can keep an eye on him, and make sure he doesn't go... `off his bean', again."  The barkeep blares his eyes at the pair."Well, I don't rightly know if I like that, you outsiders interfering with the local crazies!  Why don't you just stay out of it!"  The Wylf just shrugs, giving him a disdainful look, and turns to go.  As he passes, he turns to the priestly-looking sort and says:"Evening, priest."  He gets no response, as he passes outside.  Back at the store, he knocks on the door."It's your friendly, neighborhood Wylf and Dwarf!" he calls.  As the door opens, the two move in, quickly checking the street, then closing it, again.  The Wylf launches into his report."The dusty traveller is gone, where I don't know.  There is a robed, priestly-looking sort standing by the fire,  and a cook in the kitchen with Miss Carilla.  Neither is a fiend, of any sort.  The Barkeep may be a problem.  There are three, not four, roguish brigandly types still in the bar, but they acted no differently than the first time."  He looks at Karl."I told Miss Carilla that we would want to finish dinner, first, and then have one or more rooms for the night.    She is preparing one, and can ready more, if need be.  They charge $25/night, per room, but don't seem to care if we all share one, although it will be crowded with four beds in one room.  I think I would prefer one by myself, as I sleep lightly, but it would be wiser to all stay together, but if you all keep me up, I shall be intemperate with you!""Also, while I was there, Miss Carilla touched the shoulder of my breastplate, and told me that `Hammer' also `goes off his bean', too.  I believe that this is the local euphemism for insanity - or possession.  In any case, since I have been touched, I may now need watching, myself."  He puts his chin on his hand, supporting the elbow with his other arm."Although I doubt it...  Miss Carilla isn't a fiend, and I sensed no danger, even though she came up behind me.  She actually seemed to be warning me about Hammer...  Therefore, I tend to trust her, and I feel no differently than I did."  He shrugs.  "That's it.  So, shall we go to supper?  I suggest we use the back door, and bypass the barroom - and the barkeep.""Excellent work, Sorrow.", Karl says.  "While you were gone we poked around a bit more here on the ground floor, but I don't think we found anything of interest.  The basement can wait until the morrow." Karl says.  "Dinner now and a single room for a brief rest. I don't much care for the 'die tomorrow' statement, it makes me feel like  we're against time.  Also, the longer these two are in other bodies the more they seem to remember, which is also unsettling.  Also, I want to get your nose a bit closer to that priest.  I have a funny feeling about the way the chapel was left.  I think we should have a word with him.""Well, I won't be able to tell anything, at this point... not until I get some rest." the Wylf replies."As you say, Wylf, let's find that back door.""I for one am very hungry!"  Potts-Rye says, starting to push his way out the door."Hey!  Ya might wanna lock it!" Hammer-Tow calls.  As the crew crosses the road, circling the Inn and coming in behind the outhouses, Potts-Rye mentions to the crew:"When I first talked to the bartender, I called him friend, and the barkeep replied 'If I'm your friend, what's my  name?'  I would think that Potts would know the name of the barkeep, so if there is someone we need to watch, I think it's him.""Ah, that don' mean nothin'," the little Dwarf-man grumps, "if you're like me, you cain't 'member half o' what yer body does.  I has trouble 'memberin' stuffs I usta know real well!"Going through the back door, the party enters the dining room.  The Wylf points down the hall towards the bar."The priestly one was in there, when I left a few moments ago.""Well, Hammer, lets just hope you don't forget who YOU are!"  Potts-Rye says, eyeing the dwarf with a sorrowful look, then letting his thoughts linger on his own situation.  "However, I'm not going to end up like the rest of those poor souls!  Good old Potts picked the wrong Kobold when he picked ME!"  This prompts a few chuckles from the group, lightening the grim mood set by the "for tomorrow you die" quote.Potts-Rye says to himself "I don't care what they say about the barkeep, something about him just isn't right. . ."The troop moves into the dining room, Hammer-Tow and the Wylf taking their seats.  Karl slices some bread and cheese, and passes them around."I'll get the serving maid to stop by and ask about drinks, and see about our room.  I also want to see this priest for myself.", he says.  Looking down at his cooling steak, though, he decides that a few bites, first, are  in order... too bad he emptied his cup, earlier![There I leave you for the moment; where you go from here is up to you...]Karl gets up to go find Carilla, see about some drinks and the room, and to take a look at the local Priest.  The others offer to go with him, but he declines."You guys finish your meal, I'll be back shortly."The three are left at the table, chewing on bread and cheese.  It gets rather quiet, for a moment, as the three strangers satisfy their hunger and realize that they don't really have a lot to say, just having met...The obvious topic of conversation, bodily abductions, seems to be avoided by tacit agreement.  No one wants to be the one to bring it up.  The three strangers, thrown together by circumstance, steal glances at each other as they help themselves to the food.  Finishing his salad, the Wylf looks around at the other two."Well, since it appears that we will be stuck here, together, for the next couple of days, at least, I guess we should get to know one another a little better..." he begins, "assuming you two can remember!  I guess I'll start.""I was recently discharged from my unit, mustered out, and went to a Human city some weeks from here.  I was returning when I crossed the track that our Kobold had, and found the tracks of the bandits chasing him for some unknown reason...  I noticed his coming out of the woods just north of town, and stopped at the well, to see what occurred.  That's when Karl and Squire Tow rode in."  He shrugs.  "The rest you know, I think.""So, I have some skill with weapons, especially bows, exploring, hunting, survival, camping, etc., and a bit of learning, including astronomy, medicine, and such like.  Like most Wylves, I am generally more stealthy and perceptive, compared to Humans.  So what of you, Squire Tow?  Where are you from, and what do you do?""Wa'all," says the half-Dwarf, "I'm from up north, a ways... Caint rightly say where this Hammer is from...  I was a nobleman, so I was trained in Chivalry and weapons, including the bow, as well as hunting..  Now, though, I seem to be... losin' my grip on Chivalry, but 'membering thangs I never did know, before...  Mechanics, blacksmithing, and a bit of a lot of other things.  I still seem to remember how to fight, though!"  He looks over at Potts-Rye.  "So how about you?  You 'memberin' new stuff, too?" he asks, fairly glowering at him.`Potts' has been sitting and listening to `Hammer' tell us about himself, and casting quick glances about as though searching for hidden enemies.  He thinks to himself that if he can help this dwarven fellow get his body back, that perhaps it will start a chain of  events that will eventually lead to a way out of this place, and maybe even a pardon for his past crimes!"So where're you from?" the Dwarf-Man grumps."Well, friend, I'm sorry for your situation for sure!" Potts-Rye says, looking at the dwarf.  "But, I have some skills that just may help you to get your body back!" he says with a glint in his eyes.  "Ya already know me, the name's Potts, I run the shop down the way.  Oh, before I forget, I will be happy to sell you anything you need at cost!  I'm always willing to help out strangers who are faced with hard times."  He looks hard at the Wylf as he says those lines, then leans back in his chair and kicks his feet out."I am a master of the hunt!  You name it, I can kill it, bow or blade, it matters not.""Well, that's good to know." grumbles the Dwarf, as the Wylf eyes `Potts' warily, wondering at the sudden shift in personality.Not quite sure what to make of all this, the Wylf gets up to go find the serving wench, and get a key to the room.  Returning with her, he wraps up the remainder of the bread and cheese in a couple of napkins, and suggests that all of you head upstairs to bed."Funny, I usually suffer from insomnia, but I feels kinda sleepy, tonight!" Hammer-Tow says, as he gets up to follow Carilla and Sorrow out of the room.As they head down the hall, away from the rear door and kitchen, Potts-Rye can see the three brigands at their table, in the barroom (although the barkeep, Karl, and the Priest aren't visible from where he stands), but they pay the party little heed.  The Wylf is sniffing around as they turn right, and head up the stairs to the second floor.There, there is a door (leading to an outside flight of stairs that comes down by the outhouses), a staircase up at the far end of the hall, and a series of doors, presumably to various rooms."Did you light us a fire?" the Wylf asks Carilla."No, although I can, if you like..." she says."I smell smoke." he says."Mebbe another one o' th'guests has a fire." Hammer-Tow replies."There!" the Wylf says, pointing.  "Carilla, do you have the keys?""Yes." she says, jangling a key ring from her apron as Potts-Rye and Hammer-Tow turn to look.  Neither sees anything.  The Wylf heads back down the hall, past the other two, trying a door, then banging on it.  No answer from inside."Huh!" says Hammer-Tow, finally noticing the curls of smoke coming from the keyhole, "that must be some fire!  Better take a deep breath!"Carilla unlocks the door, and Sorrow moves in, followed by Hammer-Tow.  The room is dim with eye-stinging smoke, an overturned lamp spilling a large puddle of blazing oil on the floor.  A man (apparently unconscious) lays almost within it.Reacting first, the Wylf moves in and pulls the sheet off the bed, yelling for someone to open a window, then moves towards the body, tossing the sheet over the flames, trying to smother them.  Hammer-Tow follows him in, and heads for the window, throwing it open, and sticking his head out for a breath of clean air, then turning back.Meanwhile the Wylf is smothering flames and extinguishing the lamp, and Potts-Rye and Carilla crowd in to see to the body, which is lying face-down on the floor."Stay low and don' breathe the smoke!" Hammer-Tow calls.  He and Potts-Rye manage to turn the man over, making sure he's still alive, then grab him by the shoulders, heading for the hall.  Carilla gasps."Buck!  Is he all right?  Did he hit his head?""Smells more like he had a bit too much to drink!" chuckles the Dwarf-man, dragging him around the smoldering sections of floor, and out into the hall.  Unceremoniously dropping him on the floor, he grins up at the taller Potts-Rye."So, who wants to do the breathin' fer'im?"Flames extinguished, the smoky Wylf comes out into the hall, pulling the door to a bit more, coughing.  He points to the body, handing the oily, sooty sheet to Carilla."Who did you say this was?""Buck, he's the owner of the Wild Hare.  Did he fall and hit his head, or what?"The Wylf coughs for a moment, then kneels down to look at him, feeling his head."Well, I don't feel any bumps, but I do smell the alcohol, although I doubt he's drunk enough to pass out."  He shrugs.About that time, the three brigands from downstairs show up, having smelled the smoke, and start poking around, asking what's going on.  Carilla explains, and the hatchet-faced man tells the other two to take Buck's arms, and he takes his legs, and together they haul him off towards his room.  Carilla hands Sorrow the key to your room, and hurries after them.Coughing, the Wylf turns toward the room Carilla had earlier led you towards, and opens the door.  A bed, three cots, a coatrack, a washstand and chamber pot, a fireplace and wood box, and a small table (upon which a lit lamp sits) with four chairs greet the adventurers."I think I'll pass on making a fire." the Wylf coughs.  Selecting one of the cots, he shrugs out of his pack, moves the cot against the wall, and tosses his pack under it.  He then checks out the room as the rest of the party picks out their sleeping space, then dips a wash cloth in the pan and cleans some of the soot off, as best he can.  Finished, he dries off on a towel, hangs up the cloth, and sits on his cot, removing his armor and boots.Positioning his bow and machete, he puts the key in the lock, and rolls up in one of his new blankets."Someone get the lamp, and let Sir Belford in, when he comes, if I'm asleep." he says.  "Good night."Kachas reach over and snuffs out the lamp.  As the darkness falls, he thinks "Evil thrives in darkness, and here I am sitting in it!"  After that thought crosses his mind, and even more thoughts of the fire and poor Buck, he says "Uh Wylf, do you mind if we sleep with the lights on?""Uh, yah, good idear!" the Dwarf chimes in."Just put it somewhere where it won't fall over or get knocked off...  One fire a night is enough!" says the Wylf.  Potts-Rye fumbles about (in the dark) with the flint and steel, and finally gets the lamp lit, again.  Staring at the Dwarf-man who was once just a man, the former-Kobold reads the same expression on his face: falling asleep in Forlorn Corners will be... challenging!***[Kachas is awarded 100 Evaluation Ability-Specific Merits for a roll of 01.  I will let you all know about General Merits before the next "day" in Forlorn Corners begins.  For now, the game is on "Pause", as the ACs sleep, and we wait on Karl's player to finish interacting with the Priest, downstairs (and moving, IRL).  Sorry for the delay, all!]Karl enters the main bar room paying little attention to the three armed men that watch him."Hello, priest," Karl says as he makes his way across the room. The smaller man pays him no heed, but rather continues to warm himself at the fire."Ho, there, little father," Karl says again as he closes the distance, but again is ignored. At last, at the village priest's shoulder, he says, "Can I have a word with you?"The priest jumps, caught by surprise. He squints up at the larger man as his eyes adjust from the brightness of the flames."Are you the village priest?" Karl asks."Me?" the smaller one asks in surprise. "No, but I saw him, I think."  He stops, momentarily confused as he looks down at his robes and feels the material. He furrows his brow as he realizes his clothing is starting to get hot."You're not the village priest?""Have you seen my mule?"Karl rubs his chin a moment. He hears a commotion upstairs and out of the corner of his eye watches the three ruffians leave their table and head upstairs. "When did you arrive in town?" he asks the priest."Just a while ago, but I had on different clothes and my nose wasn't this long and I had a mule.""Maybe you'd better come with me," Karl suggests and takes him gently by the arm. "What is your name, little one?""Ox," he replies solemnly. Karl smiles."Am I in some sort of trouble," Ox asks and Karl's smile fades."I'm afraid so."Karl leads Ox toward the dining room, but when they arrive at the door he notices that his crew has already retired. He leads him back toward the stairs. On the way up, he is confronted by the three ruffians.The stairwell is narrow, but Karl and Ox step aside on the stairs allowing the others to pass on their way down. As each man brushes past, Karl locks eyes with him. Rough men, but not the type that would challenge a knight, he decides. Carilla is following them."My friends..." Karl begins."Are in the first room on the left," she finishes for him. "Have a good night." She winks and heads on down the stairs.As Karl reaches the top of the stairs, he sees a light shining from beneath the door. Waited up for me, he thinks. Good crew. He tries to open the door, but it's locked. A single knock and "It's Karl," and the door swings open.The former Tow smiles from across the threshhold. "Find a friend?"Karl returns the smile, then frowns. "What smells like smoke?"</blockquote>

Verification