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IndyPendant's Sunless Citadel

Jerek nods and swallows hard to clear his mouth. "Yep, that's what Red said last night, anyway." He turns to Garon and says, "Sorry if I'm being thick, but who's the Widow Hucrele and what does she have to do with all this?"
 

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Heirmund (illusionist)

Heirmund continues eating for awhile then say's "Personally I would be most interested in finding out more about this magic fruit."
 

In between bites Ydyr will stop and start to speak, but then think better of it. He drops his head shyly and then resumes eating. He does this three or four times during the meal. He is glad, however, when the others speak up and ask the questions that intrigue him.
 

Picking at the deer sausage and eggs on his plate, Dengar listened while the others spoke of the magical properties of the fruit, goblins, and an outcast druid. While it all seemed like the fluff of a children's tale, Dengar knew better than to treat the matter too lightly, especially once Heirmund began to speak in earnest on the topic.

'My grandfather would have turned him away if he was given into idle flights of fantasy. If he feels the matter is serious, then I will treat it as such as well.'

Washing down the last mouthful with a swallow of water, Dengar asked his first question.

"When the goblins come into town, are they armed? If they are armed, what is the quality of their blades and armor?"
 

Your meal completed--it was actually quite good, in a country sort of way, although perhaps a bit too spicy--you spend some time talking. Some of you still nurse wounds from last night's fight, but nothing anywhere near lifethreatening. Inevitably the conversation turns back to the Sunless Citadel and the Midsummer Apple.

"I don' know what they were wearin when they came by with the fruit. They did have weapons an armour though. Maybe Rurik would be able to answer that better. Them goblins do live in the citadel though. I'm thinkin maybe there's something about the dirt there that makes it so the trees can't live very well. None of those saplings would have been given a half chance of growin inta trees, if it weren't fer the fact that they came from the magic fruit."

"And that's where my children went."
An older woman slowly walks into the inn, the eyes in her hawk-like face stabbing into each one of you like daggers, penetrating to your core. She still retains much of the beauty she must have had in her youth. Beside her stands Mr Hanover, looking rather pleased with himself. She continues, "One month ago, my children joined with two of their friends from out of town, and decided to see if they could find out how the goblins can do all this. They left by the Old Road...and were never heard from again." She pauses, taking a deep breath, and continues with iron control, "Constable Felosian told me what you did for Redithidoor last night. And Charles here has informed me that you are trustworthy people--unlike that filth that has been causing trouble here for the last couple of days. So. Here is my offer to you. If you can bring me my son and daughter's signet rings back to me, I will pay you one thousand gold pieces per ring. I will double that...if you can bring them back alive."
 

Jerek sits for a moment in stunned silence. Quickly glancing at his companions he makes a quick calculation and his eyes light up at the result. He approaches her and executes a clumsy approximation of a courtly bow. "Ma'am, I'm very sorry for your troubles. I'm sure we can find out what happened to your children. Please come have a seat and tell us more about them." He escorts her to his place at the table.
 


Jair nods in approval of Jerek's volunteering the group and backs him up changing the "I he was planning to say into "we" "If we can find your children we will do our best to bring them back to you. Please tell us more about them so that we might better know what to look for. And if you have anything at this time that still bears their scents, Terrek here is good at tracking."
 

Lehko wolfs down almost an entire platter of the fare provided by Redithoor after the previous night's actions. His meal is interrupted by the woman's speech. He puts down the bowl he was eagerly licking remaining juices off of with a slight clatter, and crosses his feet on the table leaning back in his chair. "Widow Hucrele I presume? Well, I suppose I wouldn't mind wearing the mantle of the hero for time longer." He slides hs hands through his hair, making it a little wlider looking before adopting an almost manic grin.
 

She sits down beside Jerek, and Garon almost stumbles in his haste to serve her. She nods to him, and digs in with surprising appetite for such a small woman. Mr Hanover sits on her other side and also begins to eat, still looking unashamedly proud of himself.

"There's not much to tell about my children." she begins--and then proceeds to fill the next hour with details about them, answering any questions you have as best she can. By the time she winds down, you figure you could recognize them in a city market if you had to. Talgen, the elder brother, is a fighter, and his sister Sharwyn is a wizard. Together with Sir Braford the paladin, and their friend Karakis the ranger, they decided to solve the mystery themselves. That was over a month ago, and nothing has been heard of them since. She also describes their signet rings carefully, and offers to give Jair one shirt each to take with him, for Terrek to scent. She has all but lost hope that they are still alive, but reiterates that she will provide one thousand gold pieces per signet ring you retrieve, and will happily double that if you can bring them home alive and of sound mind and body.

Apparently not much is known about the Sunless Citadel itself. It was a fortress for some sort of cult over a hundred years ago, before an earthquake caused a rift to open and it fell beneath the ground, killing everyone inside. The rift never closed though, and eventually the ruins were taken over by a tribe of goblins.

She concludes, "I was beginning to despair that I would have to avail myself of that band of vagrants that almost killed Redithidoor. --Not that I would have done anything but spit on their corpses after last night. I do look forward to watching them all hang tomorrow morning. I can tell from meeting you that Trev--Mr Hanover is an excellent judge of character--and has given me a rare gift."

"Please. Bring my children back to me."
 

Into the Woods

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