Conquest of Bloodsworn Vale [IC]

[ethandrew]

After getting his tea, Besik reaches into a small pouch at his waist and pinches an unknown substance into the mug. He lazily stirs it with his forefinger as he watches the rest of his new companions sit in silence while they consume whatever food and drink will wash the travel away from their bodies.

 

[Boddynock]

Shandul nods in greeting to Orrend and orders his habitual Dogbolter. He then settles back in a chair facing the room, pulling on his ale and observing his companions. After a chance comment about the skeleton in the middle of the room, as if the taste of beer had loosened his tongue, he ventures to tell the story of how the inn got its name.

"Things were tough when the fort was first set up. Supply wagons were delayed, and there wasn't a lot of food around. Old Porky, there, was a dire boar that the hunters brought back at the same time that the wagons finally arrived. Orrend cooked up a feast - and after the carcase was stripped, he kept the bones and had them preserved. When he opened this inn, lo and behold, there was the skeleton! And there it's been ever since."

After this very uncharacteristic speech, he lapses again into silence.

 

[YeOldeAlbatross]

ooc: What time of day is it?

OOC: It's mid-afternoon.

Percivilis hails the barkeep,"Good sir, what do you know of the surrounding Vale? Why is it that the good Captain desires the presence of a band of adventurers to reopen this trade route? Surely, this undertaking is more in the hands of the bookkeepers and trade marshalls of the respective empires, no?"

Orrend comes over, happy to talk with Percivilis.

"You'd wish that were true, wouldn't you?" the portly halfling says with a heavy sigh. "The reality is that these are dangerous parts, and simple laborers and bureaucrats just aren't enough. Case in point, one of the work crews went missing just two days ago. What befell them...angry spirits? rampaging monsters?...who can say? No sir, it's going to take more than money to get Sir Tolgrith's trade route open. It's going to take strength of arms."

 

[FreeXenon]

Aelish Karn (Human Male Herald) HP: 33

Aelish smiles at the mention of Sir Tolgrith and he starts to put his map away. Finding more and more the calm and quiet of the bar annoying, especially when there is so much that needs to be done. So close to getting started. This is probably enough time to relax. he thinks to himself.

He finishes off his ale, sets down the mug, and says "It is nice to have a moment of leisure, friends. We should be getting to see the Captain Tolgrith so we can see what this is all about. Shall we?". He gestures his hand towards the door following his words with a reserved look of unsettled impatience.

 

[s@squ@tch]

"You'd wish that were true, wouldn't you?" the portly halfling says with a heavy sigh. "The reality is that these are dangerous parts, and simple laborers and bureaucrats just aren't enough. Case in point, one of the work crews went missing just two days ago. What befell them...angry spirits? rampaging monsters?...who can say? No sir, it's going to take more than money to get Sir Tolgrith's trade route open. It's going to take strength of arms."

"Well," Percivilis says with a gleaming smile with a sweeping arm gesture to the other adventurers in the room,"Strength of arms is something we seem to have plenty of at the moment."

"But, I had not heard of a missing work crew -- any word on where they went missing, or what happened to them? Any survivors? Any traces found? Did they send out a search party? Or are *we* going to be the search party?" His spirits seem to lag briefly as he contemplates the dire end the search party may have come to.

Percivilis relays this information to the others,"There could be survivors."

"We may want to make haste then," Jerivan says as he finishes the second mug of ale,"Let's make our way to see the Captain."

 

[YeOldeAlbatross]

Although the party has certainly enjoyed a few moments of rest and refreshment at the Boar's Bones, the news of the missing work crew only serves as a reminder of the true reason why the adventurers have come to the Bloodsworn Vale. Orrend can only shrug in response to Percivils' further questions, suggesting that such questions would be better asked of Sir Tolgrith. And so, draining their cups, and gathering their arms and gear, the group heads out the door, crossing the inner bailey of the fort to the keep.

Fort Thorn’s keep is an imposing structure and one of the few stone buildings in the small outpost. Fully two stories tall, the building has only a few windows, most of which are little more than arrow slits. A pair of guards standing in front of the portcullis that protects the main entrance notices the party's approach. One of them calls out, “Hail newcomers! You must be the adventurers come to answer the lord’s call. You’re the first. Welcome.”

 

[FreeXenon]

Aelish Karn (Human Male Herald) HP: 33

As we approach, Aelish smiles and takes off his gloves. He walks up to the gate guards and nods to them prior to saying "Greetings, I am Aelish Karn. The Captain is not specifically expecting us, but he will not find me unexpected. Please tell the old man that I am here on vacation."

[OOC: Please let me know if this is assuming to much of a familiarity.]

 

[YeOldeAlbatross]

[OOC: Please let me know if this is assuming to much of a familiarity.]

ooc: Your assumptions are fine, I have no problem with Aelish and Sir Tolgrith being on very friendly terms.

 

[FreeXenon]

Oh, Captain, My Captain

[OOC: I am going for a little more than passing familiarity such as: I was assigned to his command and specifically served with him during a specific engagement, but that is about it. We may have a sense of camaraderie from serving at the same time. This will make getting information from him a little easier as well as push the story a long faster, and if he turns out to be part of he problem it will make for good a good role playing encounter. ]

 

[YeOldeAlbatross]

[OOC: I am going for a little more than passing familiarity such as: I was assigned to his command and specifically served with him during a specific engagement, but that is about it. We may have a sense of camaraderie from serving at the same time. This will make getting information from him a little easier as well as push the story a long faster, and if he turns out to be part of he problem it will make for good a good role playing encounter. ]

ooc: That's fine.