CB's The Sunless Citadel v3.5

For Grotz, Karl, Kiaphas, Elyan, and Rogue, the night passes uneventfully. In the weak grey of the pre-dawn hours, a light rap at the jail's front door resounds in the cells of the Oakhurst jail. Opening the door, the companions are met by the half-orc they'd allied with the night before at the Ol' Boar Inn and Tavern. A sibilant slither of speech escapes the half-orc's mouth. "'Tissssssssss me, Korgrave."
 

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Grotzkoshter

Well met friend
Say Grotz and taps on the druid's shoulder while he goes out.
Ohhaaaaeeeee
He sighs and stretches his arms up to the sky.
nice day
He thinks and goes to pack his few things.
It's quite early friends, the town folk probably prepares to work, so we have time to go to the mistress.
 

The day looks as if it will, in fact, dawn both clear and warm. To the north, a bank of fog crests the rollicking valleys and hillshire along the belly of the mountain range but other than the low-lying morning fog, nary a cloud mars the sky. Birds already busy themselves calling for mates and foraging for seed. A light wind, cool in its caress, billows down from the northern range to wend its way through Oakhurst. Grotz notes that a light is on in the sheriff's front room.

Inside the jail, Korgrave looks as if he has not seen a full night's rest. Still, other than a gaunt appearance to his cheeks and flat eyes, the half-orc seems to be ready for he carries what must be all or nearly all of his belongings with him. What initially seemed to be a thick rope of belt about his waist shifts unbidden and slithers to the floor to coil itself about Korgrave's ankle. Korgrave, who had been quiet while waiting for the others to ready themselves, lowers a hand to rasp in a long stroke against the viper's scales. "Not to your liking, Nimhe? Come now, we've seen worse." Korgrave looks up at the others still in the jail and grins a wide, toothy half-orc grin.
 

Karl rises from his bed, his bones creaking dangerously as he straightens upwards for once, stretching out to his full height. With a soft groan he sinks back into his habitutal slouch and seems to loose half a foot of height. He glances around the jail and nods his greetings to Korgrave. Seeing little reason to hang around he glances towards the exit.

"Onwards?"
 

Grotzkoshter

As for the only one who knows the little town enough and can see the way he walks without a dog, Grotzkoshter ties his Great axe to his back and signal the others to follow.
Come after me he say to Elyan and whistle to the dog to follow.
On the way he passed through Felosial's house to thank her again and proceeds as fast as he can around the main road, through gardens and between trees.
This is the mistress's house
he points to the wooden building behind the oak tree and the red fence.
I suggest you both stay here.
he say to Karl and Korgrave
she know me and Elyan, as for Kiphas ... a priest is always a welcome sight.
 

Kiaphas

Kiaphas greets the morning with a smile, as Korgrave rejoins them Kiaphas comments on Nimhe "A loyal companion the snake. Stealth, strength and deceptive speed I greet thee, welcome along with they master.'

As the party reaches the house of Madam Hucrele, Kiaphas nods ascent at Grotz's suggestions and motions for him to lead.
 

Elyan is one of those happy individuals who seem able to sleep anywhere. At the knock on the door he sits up, turns over, stretches and stands in one lithe movement. Scrubbing at his face, and rubbing his fingertips briskly over his scalp, he calls Rogue and moves to the table in the centre of the gaol. Helping himself to a handful of bread and cheese, and taking a swig of wine, he kneels down, gives his faithful familiar a hug and a hunk of bread, and stands ready to leave.

When Grotz swings by the sheriff's cottage, he follows, thanks her, kisses her hand (Nice voice, he thinks) and then makes his way with the others to Mistress Hucrele's.

Reasoning that Grotz' presence will be enough of a show of martial ability, Elyan elects to leave his adventuring gear, except for the rapier, with the others. He will concentrate on charming the Mistress, reassuring her that subtlety as well as strength will help recover her family members.
 

No worriessssss, I prefer the outdoorssssss anyway, says Korgrave. Perhaps, though, we ssssssshould wait 'round the si...ssssssside.
 

The Hucrele family manor is a red-shuttered two-storey abode with multiple chimneys and wooden beams poking from the building's outer facade, all done in a rustic germanic style native to this area of the northern region of the Archclericy of Veluna. The manor house sits behind the Hucrele Provisioner's and Warehouse, on the east side of the New Road, just a few buildings south of the Oakhurst jail. A matching wooden fence, painted sienna red, is picketed around the front and two sides of the manor house, a small gate inset along the front. A very large oak tree, half of it ash white and dead, the other half vibrantly green and thriving, graces the manor's left side. The sunny southern side of the home is dotted on the right by a garden done in neat rows of corn, alfalfa, lettuces, snap beans, flowering peas, potatoes, and a poor attempt at tomato plants that obviously struggle this far north.

Skirting between houses and avoiding the main New Road that cuts through town, Grotz leads everyone to the Hucrele family home by a northern approach. The companions thus see the north side of the home, which faces westward, and its huge half-decrepit oak tree, as well as the rear of the house and the garden that stretches out from the southern side. A pair of women labor in the rear of the garden among the rows of snap beans. Both of them spot the approaching companions a few moments before the party arrives at the red-painted picket fence bordering the home's side. Pointing, one of the women nods and picks up her skirts to run for the home's back door. Just as the party reaches the red fence along the home's north side, the other woman from the garden approaches, her large basket laden heavily with vegetables. Peering with suspicion at the companions, the woman casts a look back over her shoulder toward a small stable then addresses the group in uncertain tones. "What're you lot want---Oi!" The woman gasps and colors at sight of Elyan. "Upon my word, it's you Master Bard. Oh, we was hoping for a glimpse of you, we were!" Remembering herself at the last, the woman courtesies and bobs her head, frowning a bit on sight of the half-orcs. "What's your business with the Hucrele Family this day, good sirs? If it's the shop you're wanting, you'll be needing to head just there," the woman points west back toward the New Road, "though at this early hour, I shouldn't say it were open just yet."

Of the party members, Grotz spies a young boy peeking out from the small stable as he watches the party.
 

Grotzkoshter

Grotzkoshter gives an intimidated look towards the boy, if the boy vanish into the stable he turns his face to the woman and smiles to himself.
Leaving the talking to the bard and the cleric, he stands behind them and acts like a bodyguard or a warrior for hire.
 

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