[Lakelands] Six For Adventure

[wolfheart]

Dain walks out of the church in disgust, ha feels as though his suspicions have been confirmed. The Seven gods do not smile on this house, and he shudders to think what fell idol Amalric is praying to.

A spark of an idea comes to Dain when he finds out that the beastie is seen out of its lair at dusk. As the others return, he speaks to them about what he has found.

"Amalric is not as he presents himself, my friends. I went to see him and he had crept out the window of his room and I could not find him in the area. Since he was gone, I looked about the church and found many things to be amiss. Of one thing I am certain, the grace of the seven goodly gods does not shine on this house. We should be wary of our dealings with him. And, if my hunch is right, Amalric is off right now warning the manticore of our coming. As I see it, we can either go after the beastie now or wait here for it will surely come to us in the night." Dain finished by hefting Tor-Angol and dropping its head into his hand.

 

[maddmic]

'So, a supposed traitor among us. This does not bode well for our task at hand.' Kregor stands upon hearing this. He turns to all who are assembled. '"It would seem that we have been pressed into a decision that we shouldn't hastily make. If this so called priest is in league with the monster, then we have much to think about. For instance, what did we just eat? Was it something that will affect our ability to fight this beast? Has the priest poisoned us? Or is he just some misguided fool trying to get help for his community by scaring us? If there is anybody here who is good with herbs, I would suggest checking the soup for anything out of the ordinary."

He just then notices the newcomer. "And who is this new arrival?

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Selanil watched Etain leave, the events of the last day fresh in his mind. Once she disappeared from sight, he turned to face the others gathered nearby.

"You keep interesting company, Shining Friend", said Fellan to the elf. He turned to Maldordo, Hengist, and Horsom. "The fey have bequeathed to us a Champion to aid us on our errand, it would appear."

"Do not pay too much heed to the words of the child," Selanil said to the one who spoke to him. "Champion she has named me but champions are made by deeds...not words."

Selanil pulled the hood over his head to hide the burn scars, uncomfortable in the presence of the others.

"I see." Brother Hengist frowned slightly, as if bothered by something abstract. He turned to the elf. "Shall we call you Shining Friend? Or have you a more conventional name?"

"You may call me Selanil," the elf replied. "And what names do all of you go by?"

 

[Samuel Leming]

Maldordo briefly considers asking the pair of rats where he can find the fey that help the miller, but losses interest in the idea. It would make sense to introduce himself the local fey and follow their network of friends until he finds some fey that know something of the manticore's habits, but right now Maldordo sees this task as being boring and time consuming. He turns arounds and heads back to church.

When the elf and girl arrive, Maldordo is still in cat form since he's used all his transformations for the day. He gives them a hearty "Meow" in welcome and gives their ankles a good sniffing before the girl departs.

Upon hearing of Almaric's stealthy departure, he can think of no reasonable explanation other than treachery. Maldordo begins imagining creative ways to make sure Almaric regrets his actions. Maldordo's response needs to be quite a bit more harsh than marking his territory on Almaric's pillow, but maybe that would be a good start.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

"Its good to make your acquaintance, Selanil. I'm Horsom.. and this is Fellan, both of Long Archer, and this is Brother Hengist, a priest of the Seven Good Gods. If the fey have faith in you, then Celene herself smiles on our endeavour." If Brother Hengist scowled at his last comment, Horsom chose to ignore it. "Why don't you accompany us back to the church? Maybe you can tell me more about Tattercoats on the way."

OOC: Toric, no need to repeat the events Selanil has experienced to this point. Unless you say otherwise, I'll assume you tell me what you know about Tattercoats.

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At Dain's reporting of his afternoon's adventures, Horsom's brow furrowed in thought. "Assuming that Amalric is somehow in league with the manticore, he could be warning it to leave the area. If it does so, it may be a long time before we catch up to it, and who knows how many more it'll kill by then. On the other hand, the miller was acting suspiciously.. maybe he's in on it as well? What if Amalric went to the miller's house? Maybe agents of the manticore will make a move on us tonight, and not the manticore itself. We should consider the value of sneaking into the mill to investigate." He returns the baleful glare Hengist was casting at him. "Yes, I know that I'm proposing something highly unethical. Lives have been lost, so damn ethics."

Horsom fumbles around in his satchel and pulls out a small stone cube. He holds it up for everyone to see. "This is an interesting device I picked up from a wizard for whom I did a favour last spring. It affixes itself to any object I place it against. Any who touch the object without saying the command word.. 'Kelva'.. cause it to shriek as if Herne's Hunt was on its tail. Could be useful when placed on a strategic door or window."

___________________________________________________

After hearing Kregor's suspicions about the meal Amalric served them, Horsom agrees that someone should check the soup.

 

[Samuel Leming]

Others had motives which were harder to read. The Miller, for instance, with his sturdy stone house, seemed to think that the misfortunes of others around Kell’s Reach were to the village’s general benefit. Of course, he was too clever a man to say something like that outright, but it was the impression he gave.

On the other hand, the miller was acting suspiciously.. maybe he's in on it as well? What if Amalric went to the miller's house? Maybe agents of the manticore will make a move on us tonight, and not the manticore itself. We should consider the value of sneaking into the mill to investigate." He returns the baleful glare Hengist was casting at him. "Yes, I know that I'm proposing something highly unethical. Lives have been lost, so damn ethics."

There were a few graves of small children

"Yes, my pet, yes. But it's warm enough now, so there won't be any well-cooked brats to nibble on any time soon.

OOC: Yikes! I thought the rats were talking about bratwursts, not children. If Maldordo were able to communicate with anyone right now, he'd be urging a return to the mill.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

OOC: Yikes! I thought the rats were talking about bratwursts, not children. If Maldordo were able to communicate with anyone right now, he'd be urging a return to the mill.

OOC: Bratwursts! Hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

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Horsom wanders around the church as the discussion continues (after casting his vote for investigating the mill). He eventually makes his way to Amalric's room and notices something unusual. "I wonder how Amalric got out of this room through the window if the window is latched from the inside? There must be a hidden tunnel of some kind in here." Horsom carries out a careful search, moving the bed and other furniture, etc. in hopes of finding a secret passage.

OOC: Horsom has a +1 total modifier on Search checks.

Edit: Removed reference to Dain in case he had plans for being elsewhere while Horsom was investigating Amalric's room.

 

[Raven Crowking]

OOC: Bratwursts! Hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

_______________________________________

Horsom wanders around the church as the discussion continues (after casting his vote for investigating the mill). He eventually makes his way to Amalric's room and notices something unusual. "I wonder how Amalric got out of this room through the window if the window is latched from the inside? There must be a hidden tunnel of some kind in here." Horsom carries out a careful search, moving the bed and other furniture, etc. in hopes of finding a secret passage.

OOC: Horsom has a +1 total modifier on Search checks.

Edit: Removed reference to Dain in case he had plans for being elsewhere while Horsom was investigating Amalric's room.

The window latches on the inside; it is not currently latched. Fellan can affirm that Amalric left via the window, then headed directly to the southeast.


At one point, Brother Hengist leans toward Horsom and says: "The fey are interested in the earth, and in their own ends. Mortal men should be wary to lean upon them overmuch."

 

[Samuel Leming]

Since Horsom opens the door to Amalric's bed room, Maldordo will dart in and start searching and sniffing around the floor, furnature, and under the bed to see if he can find anything interesting. Given the state of the room, Maldordo shudders as he considers he may pick up a bad case of dust mites.

OOC: Bratwursts! Hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

OOC: Yeah, it's somewhat common slang where I live.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Bratwursts & Game

OOC: Yeah, it's somewhat common slang where I live.

OUT OF GAME: LOL. Actually, I was born in Upper Penninsula Michigan (Norway) and raised in Wisconsin, so I see where you got that from. If you look at the name scheme for characters, you will note that most of the dominant NPCs have names that are Germanic in origin, and the lower economic/social class NPCs are Celtic/Gaelic. This is actually intentional, and might further have lead you to think that brats = bratwurst.

The second assumption, that brats = children, is correct. It's all in the pronounciation. Which, of course, you don't get via the written word.

IN GAME:

Maldordo founds nothing more than Dain, save that the Amalric apparently did not care if mice shared his abode with him. The mice, unfortunately, were normal animals. It was a pity that none of Maldordo's companions spoke the Feline Tongue.

Once everyone had shared his information, Fellan looked concerned. "Horsom," he said, "while I am not sure that I understand fully what has passed here, I understand enough to believe that one of us must return to Long Archer and tell the Lord Baron what we have learned. If he will listen. The Elder Tradesmen if he will not. As I have some knowledge of faerie roads, like that we took to Selby, I believe that task must fall to me. I fear for our families. It is in my mind that I should not even remain here the night."

He looked to the southeast, as though he could see the creature from where he stood. "If this beast is a manticore, as we think, surely there are enough of you to defeat it. You know too well the worth of those we have left behind to defend our own, so you know the source of my worries. But I will make you this offer, ere I go. Amalric has gone to this Dwarfie Run, it seems, but he was on foot whereas we have horses. I will ride to within sight of it, and return to tell you what I see. If I should chance to encounter Amalric on the road, you shall know of it."

Fellan looked at each of the group members. "Please," he begged. "Do not think me a coward. If you truly believe that you will not endure what shall pass this night, then I will stay until dawn, though my heart misgives me."