NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="arwink" data-source="post: 559655" data-attributes="member: 2292">Wednesday, August 23rd, 508 AF, Continued Othic's farm is a simple affair.  A large paddock of horses on one side, a smaller paddock filled with vegetable crops on the other.  Geoffery's query about the possibility of sleeping in the old man's barn on the short ride to the homestead is immediately answered by the size of the cramped hut, and the rickety condition of the barn."Hmm," he says, surveying the barns interior while Othic lets the horses loose.  "Maybe we'll be better suited to an inn."Othic nods quietly.Dinner proves to be a simple fare, but after living on trail rations and the cooking of Haggash's inn, it goes down well.  The adventureres feast on a simple stew, consisting mostly of mutton, carrots and  potatoes, with slices of crusty bread that remains just the right side of stale.  For Yip, both bread and stew prove something of a revelation.  His order dines primarily on nuts and berries, with strictly rationed meat supplies, while training.  The notion of cooked food is still new to him, and every meal at a new settlement seems a new sensation.  When Othic offers around a bottle of cheap but tasty wine, the kobold is nearly in heaven.Over dinner, Othic proves to be a wealth of information about the towns history as well as an eager gossip.  He tells his dinner companions that Bellhold was held in the grip of the dragon Copperdeath until nearly fifty years ago, and that he and many other townsfolk were were forced to work in the copper mines as the dragon's servants.  Tears nearly spring to the old man's eyes as he talks of the dragons death at the hand of a company of adventurers.  He also urges the party to return towards midsummer, when the festival celebrating fifty years since the dragon's death is to be held.  After a brief diversion into his family (widowed, two children), and his drift into farming after the dragon was defeated, Othic also starts hinting about darker news from the town.  While much of the gossip he relates while sipping at the wine seems meaningless, there is the occasional suggestion of missing children being searched for by local heroes, and tales of headaches and bad dreams infecting the population that are bad enough to drive away Karthain, the towns wizard, and the high priests of the three major temples.  Geoffery and Halgo drive towards more information on all of these, but Othic's news is sketchy and he laughs at it all as gossip.  "Haven't felt a thing like a nightmare out here," he says, waving an arm at the door leading out to the paddocks.  "I got nothin' more to worry about than escaping horses.  And Children go missing here from time to time, wandering in the woods to the north mostly.  Usually the town gets into an uproar until the heroes of the Bell find 'em wandering lost and bring 'em home.  Ah, just gossip and news.  People don't know the meaning of the word trouble since ol' Copperdeath was laid low."He looks at the dark sky through the window, smoking a small pipe to help his digestion.  "I think ye best be going," he says, nodding.  "Getting late, and ye still got a good mile to go afore ye hit town.  Geoffery nods the the others, and they reluctantly pick themselves up from Othic's table.  The farmer leads them out to their wagon.  Blaze and Broadsword are standing in the midst of the field, grazing quietly.  "Thanks again for ye help," Othic says.  "Couldn't have got them back without ye.""Pleased to help," Geoffery replies.  "Thanks again for dinner."There is a small yip of agreement from Yip in the back of the wagon."One last thing," Geoffery asks, "Can you recommend an inn in town?""Well, the Bell and Clapper's probably the best," Othic says, considering the question carefully.  "Run by a half-elf, Tokket.  Son of one o' the heroes who slew Copperdeath.  Keeps some interesting trinkets laying about for folk to stare at.  Well worth a look, and he keeps some mighty fine ale on tap."Othic scratches his chin for a second, deep in thought.  "Actually, I'm due in town tomorrow for business," he muses.  "Tokket cooks a fine breakfast, and it may well be worth calling in for a bite after I'm done.  If ye're interested in hearing a few more of an old man's stories, why don't I meet you?"The four companions look at one another.  Othic's proved a genial and forthcoming dinner companion, if a little over-eager for tales of their own adventures when gaps arrived in conversation.  There is a quick nod of agreement."Sure," Geoffery agrees.  "We'll meet you there." Halgo shakes the reigns on the wagon, setting the horses moving.  "Thanks again," Othic waves.  The wagon slowly trundles back onto the road, covering the last hours travel into Bellhold.</blockquote>

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