Hollow's Last Hope [IC]

[Voadam]

Jebbo drains the rest of the ale, sets down the glass, and continues to observe the room around him. Strange figures all around, but that's nothing new for this town, especially The Sitting Duck. Suddenly, he hears talk of Trolls from a nearby table, and he simply can't resist. He drops a coin or two on the counter, and crosses over to the table with the Elf. Without a moment's pause, he pulls up a chair and hauls himself up on top of it, his feet dangling above the floor. "What's this that ah hear 'bout Trolls, now? None 'round here, ah hope! Yah know, ah once met a Troll. Narsty, brutish creachahs, dontcha know. Wouldn't've got away, if'n it weren't fah that lucky break wi' the tree limb, 'n all." Jebbo stops for a second, takes a breath, and looks at the Elf, observing his clothes. "'Course, by the looks of yah, ah'm guessin' that you'd've had a scuffle 'r two wi' a Troll. Prob'ly won, too." Jebbo gives a wide smile. "Jebbo Barrelbuster's m'name, pleased to meet yah."

The black haired elf clasps the man's extended hand in greeting, though not in the human fashion, and says "I am called Loricallior. I am on my journeyman's quest to see the world. I have dealt with one of the troll tribes before and speak their tongue. They spoke of the shamans of a different tribe summoning plague wraiths to send against villages before attacks. To stop such a plague, you need to kill the shaman sending the wraiths. Trolls can be fearsome warriors and tough to kill but they do respect the power of elven magic." Loricallior demonstrates by holding up his left hand and giving a gentle puff. A small gout of flame erupts from the air he expels, engulfing his extended hand in a quick burst of fire that disappears in an instant. With a flick of his fingers, a turn of his hand, and a quick grin the elf shows that no harm is done.

In the background, an armored man dressed in fiery, bright colors stands up and announces his holy intentions. Jebbo raises his eyebrow and turns his head, finding the display to be very odd indeed. "Confident fellah, ain't he? Looks like he can manage it, though."

"Yes. A human of confidence. I think I will join him in this. If there is a shaman behind the plague I wish to help defeat him. It is a fell thing to make war with ill spirits. How about you Jebbo Barrelburster? We could talk more of trolls and see if the ones of this land differ from the ones of mine. I would be most interested in hearing of your encounter more fully." he says with a smile.

 

[YeOldeAlbatross]

The black haired elf clasps the man's extended hand in greeting, though not in the human fashion, and says "I am called Loricallior. I am on my journeyman's quest to see the world. I have dealt with one of the troll tribes before and speak their tongue. They spoke of the shamans of a different tribe summoning plague wraiths to send against villages before attacks. To stop such a plague, you need to kill the shaman sending the wraiths. Trolls can be fearsome warriors and tough to kill but they do respect the power of elven magic." Loricallior demonstrates by holding up his left hand and giving a gentle puff. A small gout of flame erupts from the air he expels, engulfing his extended hand in a quick burst of fire that disappears in an instant. With a flick of his fingers, a turn of his hand, and a quick grin the elf shows that no harm is done.

Jebbo's eyebrows raise in sudden astonishment at Loricallior's display of fiery breath. "Well I'll be hornswoggled! That's some trick you got up your sleeve, Mister! Ah'm sure it's hard for any troll to get the best of you, what with you breathin' fire at 'em and all!" The halfling grins, obivously finding the display exciting.

"Yes. A human of confidence. I think I will join him in this. If there is a shaman behind the plague I wish to help defeat him. It is a fell thing to make war with ill spirits. How about you Jebbo Barrelburster? We could talk more of trolls and see if the ones of this land differ from the ones of mine. I would be most interested in hearing of your encounter more fully." he says with a smile.

"Heh, be careful what you ask for there, Mister Lori. You may just find ah can give that cleric quite a run for his money in the speech-makin' department. Sure, what the hey, it can't hurt to tag along with y'all." Jebbo rises from his seat and readily follows Loricallior's lead if the wild elf approaches the other three adventurers.

 

[Azgulor]

Cyryn's blue eyes return Jared's stare. After Jared finishes speaking, he claps his hands together and says, "Right. Apothecary first, immediately followed by gainful employment by the local big shots. But if all she tells us is that the plague was first seen a week ago, starts with aches and cough, and the cough turns bloody before you hack yourself to death, you owe me a silver.

Pointing over to the bar and Hakkara, Cyryn says "Perhaps we can join my lovely friend over there and stop standing in the center of the room? It just seems like grandstanding to me. Or do you think we should make another speech? Iit would seem the crowd's lost interest, though."

Cyryn extends his arm at the bar in an 'after you' gesture.

 

[Voadam]

"Heh, be careful what you ask for there, Mister Lori. You may just find ah can give that cleric quite a run for his money in the speech-makin' department. Sure, what the hey, it can't hurt to tag along with y'all." Jebbo rises from his seat and readily follows Loricallior's lead if the wild elf approaches the other three adventurers.

Loricallior grins in response. "Good." The elf heads over to the others and addresses the priest "Here are two more willing to search out and effect a cure for this plague."

 

[Nazhkandrias]

Jebbo grins at the priest and the man with him. "Hey there, ya'll! Jebbo's m'name, at ya service! If'n there's tales t'be told, or ale t'be drunk, ah'm the one to do it." He winks, and slightly moves his cloak to the side, revealing the faint gleam of his collection of daggers. "These'll do in a fix, too." Covering his daggers, Jebbo looks at the strange group, and smiles even wider. "Ah'm gettin' the feelin' that ah'll be tellin' a few tales of this endeavah. Ah only hope that ah'll get t'meet a Troll b'fore long..." Jebbo turns to the priest. "And, personally, ah liked y'speech. Y'got an educated tongue, m'friend."

 

[hero4hire]

Cyryn's blue eyes return Jared's stare. After Jared finishes speaking, he claps his hands together and says, "Right. Apothecary first, immediately followed by gainful employment by the local big shots. But if all she tells us is that the plague was first seen a week ago, starts with aches and cough, and the cough turns bloody before you hack yourself to death, you owe me a silver.

Pointing over to the bar and Hakkara, Cyryn says "Perhaps we can join my lovely friend over there and stop standing in the center of the room? It just seems like grandstanding to me. Or do you think we should make another speech? It would seem the crowd's lost interest, though."

Cyryn extends his arm at the bar in an 'after you' gesture.

Jared sensed the man's sarcasm. Many just weren't ready for such faith. The Dawnflower's Fire could warm a soul or just as easily burn one that was not ready to accept the Word.
Instead of being offended by such things, or browbeating others by quoting scripture, Jared preferred to show the Way by example and by deed. Return spite with kindness, hate with love, and evil with redemption. That was the way of the goddess.
He kept his disfigured features a masque of stoicism before saying; "A silver it is then." and walking towards the direction indicated.

Loricallior grins in response. "Good." The elf heads over to the others and addresses the priest "Here are two more willing to search out and effect a cure for this plague."

Jared passively regards the odd couple for a moment. "I welcome your help and you have my thanks. Your actions will mark you as goodly folk to those who know it."

Jebbo grins at the priest and the man with him. "Hey there, ya'll! Jebbo's m'name, at ya service! If'n there's tales t'be told, or ale t'be drunk, ah'm the one to do it." He winks, and slightly moves his cloak to the side, revealing the faint gleam of his collection of daggers. "These'll do in a fix, too." Covering his daggers, Jebbo looks at the strange group, and smiles even wider. "Ah'm gettin' the feelin' that ah'll be tellin' a few tales of this endeavah. Ah only hope that ah'll get t'meet a Troll b'fore long..." Jebbo turns to the priest. "And, personally, ah liked y'speech. Y'got an educated tongue, m'friend."

Jared nods and smiles in recognition of Jebbo's compliment. The little man had an infectious grin and an affable way about him.
"I am sure your tales could shorten any road of its length and quicken the pace of a long day. I look forward to hearing them."

 

[Azgulor]

Upon hearing the halfling's words, Cyryn turns to the priest and is about to speak but then thinks better of it. With a crooked smile, he says, "I'm feeling generous, priest, so I'm going to let that one go. Too easy."

Turning to the two newcomers, Cyryn shakes their hands and makes introductions. His greeting to the elf is more aloof, and he seems to take a more measured assessment of this stranger than the others. The moment passes and he motions Hakkara over and introduces her as well.

"Well, then. Our silver-tongued devil Jared wishes to visit the local apothecary before we present ourselves to whomever runs this place for some gainful employment. Barkeep, a round for me and my friends."

Flipping a gold coin to the bartender, he adds, "And while you're pouring, tell me who's in charge around here and where I can find them and this apothecary."

 

[YeOldeAlbatross]

"Well, then. Our silver-tongued devil Jared wishes to visit the local apothecary before we present ourselves to whomever runs this place for some gainful employment. Barkeep, a round for me and my friends."

Flipping a gold coin to the bartender, he adds, "And while you're pouring, tell me who's in charge around here and where I can find them and this apothecary."

The skinny barkeep chuckles as he responds to Cyryn's question. "Well, Laurel...the herbalist...she's easy enough to find. Her shop, Roots and Remedies is right down the street, on the right-hand side.

Now, who's in charge around here? You really ARE fresh off the wagon, aren't you? The answer is the Lumber Consortium. And that's the only answer. Oh, sure, there's Magistrate Harg, but..." he lowers his voice a bit. "...everybody knows he's bought and paid for by the Lumber Barons. The Gavel of the lot is Thuldrin Kreed, and Kreed cares about exactly one thing...darkwood. Or more to the point, the profits he can squeeze out of those trees in Darkmoon Vale. He bleeds greed and he doesn't have a single moral bone in his body. Trust me, you don't want to find him if you can help it.

"Look, if anybody in charge around here cared one whit about a few dying kids and codgers, they'd already have tried to do something about this plague. The only one I know of who actually cares, and maybe has a chance to help is Laurel...if you're serious about trying to help too, I'd go talk to her."

 

[Azgulor]

His smile having fled at the barkeep's words, Cyryn nods in grim thanks to the man. Turning to Jared, he salutes the priest with his mug, "Seems you've got the right idea. Let's go see this Laurel."

Draining his mug and setting it on the bar, he says to the group, "I've a feeling making all of your acquaintances here will turn out to be the high point of our day."

Cyryn heads for the door.

 

[Voadam]

The man's aloofnes does not go unnoticed by the elf but as a gesture of friendship Loricallior takes the offered "round" and smiles "Ah, human brew, an experience of its own. My thanks." Though he overhears the barkeep's low voiced confidences with his elven hearing, Loricallior merely contemplates the presence of the darkwood trees as the purpose for this whole village of woodcutters until he is finished with his drink then follows Cyryn.