[AU] Lost Dreams: The Stone Troll

[GladiusNP]

"Well - a little rest wouldn't go amiss, and I've always been an early riser. I'll take Brave. My thanks for taking first watch Gren - when I come on I'll bring you up some breakfast in town. Maybe even some sausages for Reynaldo."

Aadin grins at the wolf, still slightly unnerved by the powerfully built canine. He then shoulders his pack, and streches his game leg, ready to head into town.

By the Great Rune, it'll be nice to sleep in a bed again. I should get a more comfortable bedroll..

 

[Erekose13]

---
Kelsis, you find yourself quite a bit more north than you have in the past. Having stopped for the night at a caravan way point, you are approached by a large well-dressed man. He introduces himself as Master Mollen.
---
With the watches covered, everyone except Gren and Rinaldo proceed into the tavern. Inside you see Master Mollen speaking to a pale gray haired sibeccai woman.

"It sounds as if things might be more dangerous than we had first thought. The talk of this place is that the trolls and other creatures have become more aggressive. We could use a little extra muscle on our journey. My caravan will be heading into Brightholme tomorrow and then following that we will be travelling up to the site of the gold rush, then back to Ao Manasa. I pay my guards, ah there they are over there, I pay them 1 gold coin per day, double on successful completion of the mission and a bonus for hazards encountered as well as shares of any treasure taken from aggressors. Are you available for a little work."

Leaving Master Mollen to his business, the other 5 of you pull up chairs at the bar and put in an order for food and drink. Within a few moments a hot stew and ale are brought for you (or which-ever drink those who will be on duty prefer). Korwin chats a bit with the two brothers who know this place well. From the sounds of things the trails north-west have been plagued by a number of creatures.

 

[Corinthi]

Gren - Human Wolf Warrior

Gren sits at the back of one of the wagons, his feet dangling over the edge and Rinaldo curled at the ground beside him. The wolf is grumbling slightly in his sleep, ears twitching as he stalks dream elk and phantasmal rabbits. Gren smiles at his companion as he works a wetstone slowly up one of his swordstaff's edges. Despite being in a city and guarding another man's goods, the Wolf Warrior is oddly at ease. The distance between him and his companions is a welcome one. Being... 'civilized' is such hard work. Little things seem to cause such strange reactions like belching or passing wind. Even biting the heads off the ticks he picks from himself and Rinaldo seems to engender a bit of revulsion in his comrades.

Gren sighs a bit, shaking such thoughts from his head as he resumes his vigil. All manner of vermin infests cities, and Gren aims to keep them all away from Master Mollen's caravan tonight. Gren sits quietly, the hissing rasp of his wetstone against steel serving as a warning those with larceny on the mind.

 

[DrSpunj]

Kalythar, Litorian MageBlade

Sitting down with the others, Kalythar first scans the tavern, trying to gauge whether any of the patrons are too drunk to keep themselves in line, or paying Master Mollen too much attention. He's probably known as a caravan merchant in this place, which is potentially both good and bad. There's always a chance he was marked as a target his last time through here, though I'd expect they'd wait until our return trip.

After the stew & ale are brought, Kalythar makes a point not to touch his ale until most of his stew is eaten, and even then he only sips at it occasionally to wet his mouth. Don't want that going to my head my first night on the job. I wonder who Master Mollen is speaking with?

Kalythar checks out the individual Master Mollen is conversing with, trying to assess her business and, if a warrior, her potential abilities. While doing so he idly listens to the talk at the table and those nearby, waiting for something to catch his interest.

 

[GladiusNP]

Aadin Lofgred, 3rd Level Human Runethane

Aadin takes a seat, carefully lowering himself into his chair. He takes a healthy serving of stew, and proceeds to tuck in, eating quickly but neatly. As he is served ale, he waves it away with a request for wine, which he sips slowly once it has arrived. He keeps half an eye on Master Mollen, taking his lead from Kalythar. Though happy to chat with others, he doesn't make any great effort to keep up conversation until dinner is over, when he fills his pipe and stretches out his legs.

"So Lemm.... how much longer until we reach the mines?

 

[Erekose13]

Lemm replies to Aadin's query, "Well we are only one day out of town, so it's another day to Brightholme, then I think it takes about two and a half to three days depending on the how good the roads are right now. Last spring when we came this way, the roads were really bogged down with mud from the melting snow. Shouldnt be too much problem with the roads this late in the season. So you and your friends, how long have you been in the north?"

Kalythar watches as Master Mollen speaks with the sibeccai woman, the conversation looks to be about business. The other patrons around the tavern look like they are keeping in their seperate caravan groups. The talk from those who have come down from the slopes is that even Ice Trolls have been seen near the river side.

[ooc: just waiting on Isida to join in then we are off to the faen town.]

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

---
Kelsis, you find yourself quite a bit more north than you have in the past. Having stopped for the night at a caravan way point, you are approached by a large well-dressed man. He introduces himself as Master Mollen.
---
With the watches covered, everyone except Gren and Rinaldo proceed into the tavern. Inside you see Master Mollen speaking to a pale gray haired sibeccai woman.

"It sounds as if things might be more dangerous than we had first thought. The talk of this place is that the trolls and other creatures have become more aggressive. We could use a little extra muscle on our journey. My caravan will be heading into Brightholme tomorrow and then following that we will be travelling up to the site of the gold rush, then back to Ao Manasa. I pay my guards, ah there they are over there, I pay them 1 gold coin per day, double on successful completion of the mission and a bonus for hazards encountered as well as shares of any treasure taken from aggressors. Are you available for a little work."

Nodding curtly at Master Mollen's request, Kelsis speaks in a clipped and precise voice. "That sounds quite acceptable Master Mollen. I have a fair amount of experience in combat and should be able to aid your own fighters against the trolls and others."

Shaking his hand to seal the deal (or signing a contract, or whichever way he wants to seal the deal), Kelsis will then go over to the bar. Examining her erstwhile companions she comes up mildly enlightened.

A wolf warrior? Unkempt, but usually a good fighter. A fairly strong litorian, good, good. And a man with a fire tattoo, a rune-weaver, excellent. Too bad about the leg on him, but I'm not going to carry the man.

"I greet you. My name is Kelsis the Bright-Eyed. Master Mollen has hired me to assist you in guarding your caravan," she says forthrightly, quickly ordering some ale and stew. "Have you run into any troubles as of yet?"

 

[Erekose13]

Seeing the others hesitate when the Sibeccai woman approaches, Korwin speaks up, "Evenin', my name is Korwin Krenn, pleased to meet you. Glad to have you on board, the talk of the tavern is that things might get a little dicey out there. We haven't come across anything yet, but we are only a day out of Ao Manasa so I don't think anything would be foolish enough to attack us in an area so well patrolled."

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Kelsis the Bright-Eyed, female sibeccai akashic

"Very well then. This should be simple work for the first bit at least. Have you heard any rumors about what we might run into further along? I am a decent fighter with polearm or longbow, dagger, handaxe, or sling. And if I'm bereft of all of these, then my teeth are sharp and willing. I also have some knowledge of many different areas, geography, magic, history, nature, and various other things. I'm certain I will be of use. What about the rest of you? What do you do? What's your purpose on this journey?" Kelsis says briskly.

I'm eager to learn who I'm to be working with. The time to decide tactics is not on the road...

 

[GladiusNP]

Aadin Lofgred, 3rd Level Human Runethane

"Greetings Kelsis. I am Aadin Lofgred, a student of the runic magics. We've come north with the caravan - as Korwin said, we're guarding cargo. You said you've knowledge of the arcane - what areas of magic have you studied?"

Aadin shifts in his seat slightly pushing away his half-eaten plate of stew, and takes a long sip of his wine.