[IC] The Protectors of Greensfen (Part II)

[pathfinderq1]

"Lookss like we're jusst in time!" The voice was deep and rumbling, the vocal equivalent of an avalanche. Just up the street from where the two men were arguing, a massive black-scaled dragonborn stood in the muddy roadway, apparently having just come around the corner of one of the houses. Armored in plating of dull black iron, he was leaning on a heavy spear that had been pressed into use as a walking stick, and a very large sword was slung across his back- but for all the ironmongery, he seemed relaxed, perhaps even smiling (with dragonborn, it could be tough to tell).

"If one of you is the mayor, Kord has sent us to help you. Right, Blay?" He turned his head just fractionally to nod at the human beside him.

 

[Bramble]

"Kord? Was that the name of that wretched looking, scared fellow who mumbled something about horror and death stalking Greensfen when I bumped into him leaving the Muddy Drinking Hole on my journey here? I tried to warn him that if he planned on using the privy at that place, he'd know horror and death soon enough. I daresay the poor fool didn't listen to me, and so I infer you must have spoken to him before I did..." Replied Blay, tossing a cheerful wink at the paladin before turning his attention to the two men whose argument they had interrupted.

"So sorry for interrupting your conversation! Nothing ends an argument faster than an armed, six-and-a-half foot dragon-man in heavy armor walking into the middle of it, I'd wager!" Blay smiled and stuck out his hand to Dardus. "Blay Hendricks, at your service! A merry minstrel guaranteed to leave you as mirthful or maudlin as you please. You'll have to excuse me if my grip is a bit weak, still recovering from shaking my hand to the scaly vise of this one here, eh Kraegyn?" He asked, tilting his head toward his dragonborn companion.

 

[covaithe]

"Great, the circus is in town," growls Karis. "At least the clown and the pack mule. What are you going to do against Baradur's abominations, clown? Besides fill your trousers, that is?"

[sblock=ooc]All in character, I assure you. OOC, I'm delighted to have you guys, and I promise Karis won't be too much of a jerk for long. [/sblock]

 

[Bramble]

"Ah, I see I have uncultured elf in my audience. I knew I would witness strange and bizarre things in my travels, and this sight must be an omen for things to come. Truly I have come to the right place!" Laughed Blay, to no one in particular. He now turned his attention directly to Karis.

"While many noble apes and primates of the wild defend themselves quite ably with what you call 'trouser-fillings', I cannot claim such a lofty association. Rather I must cut down my enemies with my mere sharp wit and titillating limericks. Observe:


I met a surly elf in the Greensfen
And her quest she was in danger of failin'
So I offered my help
And was rebuked with a yelp
Til the town was all burnt down and ashen."

 

[nerdytenor]

Dardus watches with mild amusement as Bray addresses Karis, and then gives the newly arrived dragonborn a good looking over.

"Well, it seems we are in luck, Mardrick. We have two new recruits! I assume you are here in answer to my summons. Welcome, welcome! I see you've already met Karis, this is Joshua and Rellek, and..."

"Are you mad?!?!" Mardrick interrupts, apopolectic. "These two are to be our reinforcements? They look fresh from the carnival!"

"Are they any weirder, really, than those that rescued you, Mardrick? Take another look - they don't appear strangers to danger. Or to battle."

Mardrick glowers, but remains silent.

"If you will all come with me to my smithy, I can draw you a rough map of where you will be heading. Glaelyn has given us a rough idea of Elloen's location using her arcane talents."

Dardus motions for you to follow, and walks off. Mardrick sulks back inside his modest home.

 

[covaithe]

Karis half-smirks, despite herself. "Heh. A few good fires would do this town a world of good. And this is no quest, it's a job. Jobs pay. Isn't that right, Mardrick?"

 

[pathfinderq1]

Kraegyn simply stood there as the conversation swirled about him- he gave his attention to Karis and Blay in turn, but he knew better than to dive into the middle of the discussion. Once things had quieted down, he nodded respectfully to Dardus. "You'd be the mayor then, I guess, as well as a smith. Kord would approve. I'm Kraegyn, one of Kord's chosen warriors- I may not talk nearly as pretty as my compatriot here, but I can usually get my point across. And like I said, I'm here to help, if you'll have us."

He looked at each of the others in turn before continuing. "Looks like we're not the first to respond to your plight- and it sounds like you all have made some real progress. I guess Blay was right about coming in to town here- I don't bet I'd have learned much from cutting up orcs, especially not cheap build-it-yourself orcs."

 

[Arbanax]

Rellek was two parts taken aback and one part chiding of himself for not having been more aware of the approaching strangers. But he put that thought quickly to the back of his mind as he saw the human and Dragonborn. He relised that unlike himself the kin he saw before him must have been from a different tribe, his huge scaly black body stood in bold contrast to his own more lithe deep blue scales.

As he watched whilst Karis and the human spared together, he was both amused and bemused. But as he saw Dardus relax and welcome them he to eased his defensive stance.

As they turned to leave, he simple nodded his approval to the two warriors. Whilst Karis liked to provoke and spar, he preferred to stand back and observe. Things had suddenly got interesting and Rellek was in no doubt that the enemy they faced was going to be more of a challenge then they'd first envisaged...perhaps is was providental that these two had come at this timely moment.

[Sblock=welcome]

Hi guys like Covaithe glad to see you onboard, good choice of characters and looks to balance the team out nicely.

[/sblock]

 

[The Digger]

"Hrumph! I still don't know why Todarr and Moreen couldn't have gone with us and left this pair to defend the village." Joshua grunted in his usual (un)friendly manner. "Better the devil you know and all that."

He walked up to Kraegyn and Blay and stood before them. "Now listen, you two. We don't want any of this 'rushing in' sort of crap. When we get into the again, as I'm sure we will, stand back for a moment or two; use javelins or whatever. Just don't get in the way of my powers or you'll get your backsides scorched."

He cocked his thumb at Rellek and Karis "These two know what I mean. They learned the hard way. So just see you learn even quicker. Right!"

With that, he stomped off muttering the ritual details under his breath.

 

[Bramble]

Blay snaps off a sarcastic salute to the dour wizard.

"No need to worry about me! I solemnly swear to stand well away from any blades, arrows, or magical foolery that we may stumble upon. Rather I will occupy space at a safe distance whilst absently strumming my bandore with a far-away look in my eyes as the rest of you do whatever it is you do. I have some extremely avant-garde musical techniques I'd like to experiment on with a varied audience. Having you all around to keep my rabid fans at bay as I, say, rhyme backwards, or play my instrument with a pinecone rather than a pick for an hour, would be most helpful."

Blay takes the cue offered by Dardus and starts following the man. He pauses for a moment, and with a pensive look on his face turns back towards the others.

"A thought: while I am perfectly willing to call you all by your full names out of politeness and respect, some situations might call for brevity in the name of efficiency. 'Rude Elfin Woman, look out for that loose step!' or 'Well I'm not rightly sure I can answer your riddle off the top of my head, sir Sphinx. Let me ask my companion, the Silent Blue Lizard, for his insight on the matter.' Perhaps you have some shorter, shall we say, sobriquet, I can use instead?"

[sblock=hi everbody!] Woo, tough crowd so far! That's all right, with all these gloomy and grumpy personalities around, a cheerful bard has got his work cut out for him! Thanks for letting me join the game, I think its going to be a lot of fun! And in case anyone was wondering what a bandore was...[/sblock][sblock=bandore]

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