Gross Fell: The dragon's lair

[Page]

"One ale, comin' right up!"

The innkeep turns and pours your a heady mead, placing the tankard squarely on the table in front of you.

"That'll be four coppers, if ye please."

"Aye, those dwarves over there. Ne'er seem 'em before in me life! Strange days indeed, around here. I tell ye friend, things aren't normal these days. There's been cattle and sheep missin', and rumors are aboundin' as to why. Then just today, I see three dwarves enter the inn. Haveen't seen one of the stout folk in years, and now three in one day!

Aye, things are strange and gettin' stranger. Not since the days of Elizar Branded Hand has Gross Fell had anything out of the ordinary."

Lorenz slides a gold piece across the bar to the innkeep before taking a swig of the ale.

"Keep the change. Just fill me up again when I get empty. And when those little fellas over there empty their mugs, tell 'em the next one's on me."

The rogue grins, takes another swig of ale and winks at the innkeep.

"Maybe this place ain't as boring as it looked from the road after all. So tell me some more about those missin cattle, friend. I always like catchin up on the local news."

 

[KnowTheToe]

Thoart turns to Davik's companion, "And yer name Be?"

"Anyway, the innkeeps mind ain't on no brew, but the rumor of the dragon. Seems everyone always wants to blame dragons when usually there is something much less horrific to blame, like wolves or goblins. Looking back to Davik, "So, Moradin hates the undead right, he helps you against those who were once dead and then are not dead but looking to make others dead."

 

[Thordain]

The innkeep's eyes widen at the gold piece.

"Yes sir! Thank you sir!"

"Aye, well, the cattle. I don't know if yer lordship knows, but here in Gross Fell our main business is wool and dairy. Startin' a few months back, some of our flock have been disappearin'. At first it was just the sheperds out in the hills, but now flock have been missin' from many farms. No one in the town has seen anythin', but some of the sheperds vow they saw a dragon circlin about, dive down, snatch a lamb in its claws, and fly off with it!
There's been talk of huntin' it down, but there's really not much of us equipped to fight such a beast.
Jolan Hawkscar, he's a ranger that does a lot of the town's business. I'd wager he'd know where it could be found, if that were yer interest. I can ask fer him ta come down ta meet ye, if ye like."

 

[Thordain]

Davik and Thoart: As you finish your ales, the innkeep walks over and refills your tankards.

"Courtesy o' the gentleman o'er there", he says, nodding his head towards the swarthy human that you had both noticed enter the bar moments earlier.

 

[yangnome]

"um..yeah; something like that. undead are foul wretched cretures that need smitin' by my trusty warhammer" Davik brings his warhammer up to the table and pats it with his stubby fingers.

" 'course, undead aren't the only thing that needs smitin every now an' agin. why just the other day, while travlin down the roads, I found a couple luckless goblins and smashed their heads right in!"

 

[yangnome]

Davik and Thoart: As you finish your ales, the innkeep walks over and refills your tankards.

"Courtesy o' the gentleman o'er there", he says, nodding his head towards the swarthy human that you had both noticed enter the bar moments earlier.

Davik takes the ale, nods at the barkeep, then lightly jabs Thoart in the ribs with his elbow.
"You know, where I'm from, giving a tankard of ale like this to another is concidered more of a threat than an act of kindness"

 

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Jolan Hawkscar, he's a ranger that does a lot of the town's business. I'd wager he'd know where it could be found, if that were yer interest. I can ask fer him ta come down ta meet ye, if ye like."

"A dragon, huh?" Lorenz scratches his beard again as he thinks about what the innkeeper said. Then he takes another swig of his ale and nods to the man behind the bar.

"Well, a dragon in a place like this...I don know if interestin is the word I'd use, but it's definitely somethin! Yeah, let's get that ranger friend a yours down here and see what we can see about this dragon that likes your cows so much. I always was a sucker for tall tales, anyway."

Lorenz grins at the innkeep and looks back at the dwarves as he waits for his empty mug to get refilled. If the dwarves happen to look his way, he will nod to them and raise his mug in greeting.

 

[KnowTheToe]

In a loud voice Thoard replies, "Yeah, the same where I come from, buying a stranger a drink infers he is below you and cannot afford his own beverage." Shouting to the barkeep, "Who'd ya say had the gumph to disgrace my clan by buyin me this ale?"

 

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In a loud voice Thoard replies, "Yeah, the same where I come from, buying a stranger a drink infers he is below you and cannot afford his own beverage." Shouting to the barkeep, "Who'd ya say had the gumph to disgrace my clan by buyin me this ale?"

The rogue laughs and lifts his mug in response to the dwarf, an amused expression on his dusky features.

"That was me, friend. I don't know what it's like under your mountain or wherever it is you came from, but where I come from buyin drinks for each other is just the friendly thing to do. I tell you what, though...if you don't like it, then you can buy me a drink too and we'll call it even. How about that? I'm almost done with this one anyway."

With a grin, Lorenz leans back against the bar and downs his ale.

Glancing back at the dwarves he says,"My name's Lorenz, by the way. Nice to meet you." He speaks with an obvious urban accent, and his voice sounds rather jovial at the moment. It doesn't seem as if he means any insult at all to the dwarves.

 

[Thordain]

About an hour later, the doors of the tavern swing open. A tall half elf, dressed in woodland garb and with a pair of short swords at his sides strides in. He is accompanied by a human woman with dark brown hair. She is dressed in animal skins, and wears a belt with various pouches, from which is hung a bronze sickle. When she sees Thoart, her eyes narrow and she gives him an almost imperceptible nod.

The pair walk over to your table.

"Greetings, I am Jolan Hawkscar, and this is my associate, Gwydion Harthorn. We patrol the woodland areas near Gross Fell, and we coordinate our actions with the Sheriff. It has been brought to our attention that a group of travelers were in the area, asking questions about the recent happenings."