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Message: <blockquote data-quote="arwink" data-source="post: 1006745" data-attributes="member: 2292">New Spoiler Warning:  The Following Adventure is adapted from the 2e Module "Haggash's Secret" from the book "A Heroes Tale" by Monte Cook.Thursday, September 21st After a night where sleep is consistently interrupted by strange noises and half-alert dreams, the Copperheads pack up their belongings and continue the trek towards Hommlet.  The days travel passes quietly, with few encounters, but by late evening a winter storm has broken.  A quick discussion of the route suggests that Haggash will be nearby, and despite the relative gloom and unfriendliness of the locals, the Inn of the Welcome Arms on the edge of town will by drier to sleep in than a ditch by the side of the road.  Marginally drier, anyway.  The decision is made to press on through the darkness for another hour, when the light from the inn's windows comes into view.The Inn of the Welcome Arms is a small, cramped place that somehow feels more claustrophobic and seedy than previous visits to the establishment.  In two places along one of the tap-room walls, dribbles of rainwater leak in through cracks in the wooden walls.  Still it' isn't the side of the road and as a flash of lightening splits a tree outside, everyone is pleased to be inside.The Welcome Arm's innkeeper is a thin, almost wasted, man named Tal.  HE offers the Copperheads the same grunt he's given them on their last few visits, but after a few minutes he slides along the bar to talk to the party."Afraid the kitchen's closed," he says.  "Can offer you some bread and cold stew if you're interested though.""Agreed," Geoffrey says, and everyone echoes the sentiment.  As Tal heads to the kitchen, everyone glances at one another.  This is as close to friendly as anyone in Haggash has been."Something is going wrong in town," Geoffrey predicts."How Geoffrey know?" Blarth says."There a small town, no-one likes talking to outsiders, and there's no sign of anything valuable.  Those places are always in trouble for some reason.  It's like they have a sign on the front door that invites evil to seek them out."Sure enough, when Tal returns he tries to subtly sound the group out to gain a measure of their skills and expertise.  That Geoffrey is a Cleric of St Cuthbert and a Justicar in training seems to make all the impression the inn-keep needs, and within seconds he is explaining Haggash's tale."The townsfolk are nervous," Tal says secretively, keeping his voice low so the toothless old man at the end of the bar doesn't overhear the conversation.  "We have a single church in town, the Morningstar Abbey, and it traditionally welcomes all comers..."Halgo suppresses a snort at this."But there's been travellers recently," Tal continues, oblivious to the irony of his statement.  "Silent monk from some foreign order, and they've been making folk nervous.  Went into the morning star a few days back, haven't left it since.  Old Desol who takes care of the abbey say their meditating as is their right, but he seems tired and evasive when he says it.  Townsfolk are right terrified there's something going wrong inside the abbey..."There's a long and expectant pause as he says this.  Everyone looks at each other for a few minutes before Geoffrey finally sighs."Alright, we'll look in on it tomorrow," he says.  "If there's anything wrong, we'll destroy the evil.""Are you sure?" Tal asks.  "I wouldn't want to put you to any trouble.""Copperheads kill dragon-stone," Blarth boasts proudly.  "Puny Monks not prove problem.""Copperheads...Copperheads," Tal mutters under his breath, then his eyes go wide.  "You're not the lads who saved Bellhold a few months back, are you?  I've been hearing tales of you from the travellers.  Gentlemen, it's a pleasure to have you in my inn.""And the pleasure is all yours, I assure," Halgo mutters quietly.  As Tal bustles away to talk excitedly to the Inn's only other patron, the Copperheads sip quietly at the watered ale and discuss their plans."We'll go tomorrow morning," Geoffrey says.  "Early.""Geoffrey think anything there?" Yip asks, pulling a face as he sips another ale.  "Who knows," Geoffrey says.  "But there's no harm in checking it out.  Get a good nights sleep, if you can.  We'll want an early start."</blockquote>

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