[Lakelands] Six For Adventure

[wolfheart]

ooc: Dain prepares the following spells: detect magic, guidance, resistance (0-level) and doom, entropic shield, and magic weapon(dom) (1-level)

As Dain finishes his prayers, he realizes how hungry he is having not eaten since lunch yesterday. He looks about the church and is pleased to see the state of the church improved. He calls for Amalric, hoping to find out what has happened in the village since the went out to the Dwarfie Run and hoping he will provide them with the flatcakes they had yesterday.

 

[Krug]

Glom tries to stop laughing at the turn of events. He too, goes around seeking food and frying flies on the way. He becomes a little less cautious, believing that since everyone is concentrating on the manticore, they won't find a gob too much of a threat. He still keeps his cowl upon him though.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Horsom rubs the back of his neck ruefully. "I'm almost tempted to show up at the mill at noon just to see what the miller has planned. What do you all think?" he adds, addressing all except Dain, who's already entered the church.

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The axeman searches out Amalric to ask him about the events of the previous night, especially those pertaining to the miller and his son as well as the manticore. He's also looking for grub.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Horsom rubs the back of his neck ruefully. "I'm almost tempted to show up at the mill at noon just to see what the miller has planned. What do you all think?" he adds, addressing all except Dain, who's already entered the church.

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The axeman searches out Amalric to ask him about the events of the previous night, especially those pertaining to the miller and his son as well as the manticore. He's also looking for grub.

Amalric, standing near Maldordo frowned at the retreating miller. The villagers were already begining to go off in clusters, speaking quietly or loudly, trying to parse out what had just happened.

"More evil will come of this," the priest said ruefully. He turned toward Maldordo and Hengist. "There was a time when I would have called Salwerk Miller a friend. He was not always thus." Whatever memory drew him passed, and his eyes cleared. "Maldordo, you seem...well, you do not seem tired, but I deem that you should. Have you rested at all last night? Have any of you?"

He addressed Kregor: "There is some water here which is still clean. I pray you, wash yourself before entering the church. I have spent some effort to make it seem more fitting as the House of the Gods."

 

[Samuel Leming]

He turned toward Maldordo and Hengist. "There was a time when I would have called Salwerk Miller a friend. He was not always thus." Whatever memory drew him passed, and his eyes cleared. "Maldordo, you seem...well, you do not seem tired, but I deem that you should. Have you rested at all last night? Have any of you?"

Grinning at the priest, Maldordo says, "I spent the night in cat form, so it was easy to grab a few catnaps. It can't hurt to get a little more rest though. I'm glad to see that you seem more in focus. I can only assume that your faith has returned."

Horsom rubs the back of his neck ruefully. "I'm almost tempted to show up at the mill at noon just to see what the miller has planned. What do you all think?" he adds, addressing all except Dain, who's already entered the church.

Maldordo continues, "Well, I've crept into the mill once before as a cat, I could do it again. This would give us a chance to see what he's really up to without provoking a violent confrontation unless it's actually needed." He gives Dain a sour look before continuing, "Is he just going to spout some more rhetoric, or is he going to actually perform some dark ritual or vile summoning? If the later I can rush out and call you in for some well deserved righteous smiting! If the former, I think we could safely leave the miller to whatever local justice handles these matters. My cat instincts warn me that he's actually received a dark calling, though. I suspect that he's going to try to sacrifice himself to obtain some kind of abominable revenge."

"I think I should sneak in about an hour early. Seeing what preparations he makes could be helpful. How much time do we have before noon?"

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

"Amalric, I'm glad to find you in better form. It seems that your renewed faith in yourself has restored the faith of some of the villagers, judging by the crowd you drew for today's sermon." He clapped the man on the back. His tone then became more serious. "We need to hear of the goings-on in Kell's Reach last night. Has the manticore made a reappearance after killing Salwerk's son?" He stifled a yawn. "After that, maybe a bit of food and a quick nap would be in order."

At Maldordo's suggestion that the miller might be involved in the dark arts, he bristled; despite the eruditeness he'd gained from the teachings of Corvo Snowmantle, Horsom has a deep fear and awe of the Dark - demons, dark fey, imps and their black magic and evil rituals. He whispered, forcing the others to lean in to catch his words. "If Salwerk Miller is indeed conspiring with evil forces, it might be wise to see if there is anything afoot in the mill. Maldordo, your idea is a good one. We can wait nearby for your report."

 

[Raven Crowking]

Moving Right Along

As the last of the congregation departed (spring being a season requiring hard work for those who make a living off the land), Amalric led the adventurers back into the church. A good cleaning had done wonders. Amalric, Hengist, and the other two lay brethren (Tillo and Elidor) had obviously been busy while the adventurers were away. The church, while not immaculate, appears to be far cleaner than it was before.

"Brother Hengist suggested that we take up a collection to restock the pantry," Amalric said. "And, by the next service, donations should begin to arrive. For now, though, I have done what I could. I fear it is more soup and pancakes."

There was nothing to be said about the manticore. After it had fled at the mill, none had seen it. None of the churchmen had heard a scream last night. So, after eating, he found places for the group to gain some sleep.

They had gained only about an hour's sleep (now about 10 am) when Hengist woke Maldordo.

"Something has happened," he said.

A small boy had come into the church. Itwas obvious that he had been weeping, and a huge bruise swelled the left half of his face. Amalric was speaking to him, tyring to give him comfort.

"The boy's name is Eoth," Hengist said quietly. "Last night, the manticore broke into his family's croft, which lies, from what I gather, in the fields to the north of the village. It killed his parents, his brother, and his sisters. It fed on his family while he cowered. Even while it slept he was too frightened to risk escape. And, in the morning, it told him to go to the church, and left. It left Eoth alive to send us a message: either the hunters leave, or more villagers will die."

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Horsom snores like an asthmatic donkey.

Edit: Thought the whole group had been awakened.

 

[Raven Crowking]

There was nothing to be said about the manticore. After it had fled at the mill, none had seen it. None of the churchmen had heard a scream last night. So, after eating, he found places for the group to gain some sleep.

They had gained only about an hour's sleep (now about 10 am) when Hengist woke Maldordo.


RC

 

[Samuel Leming]

They had gained only about an hour's sleep (now about 10 am) when Hengist woke Maldordo.
RC

After listening to Hengist's explanation, Maldordo responds, "Hengist, if our presence in Kell's reach has done any good other then for shocking Amalric back to his senses, I've failed to see it. Asking us to leave willl be an easy choice for these villagers to make, even for the ones that don't subscribe to Miller's views. We need to find a way to resolve this most recent matter with the Miller to everyone's obvious benefit or the very folk we're trying to protect may stop us from doing so."

Maldordo thinks silently with his eyes downcast for a few moments before continuing, "I'll go spy on the mill now. I don't think I can wait here for a hour with this poor child since I know I'm partially responsible for his family's death. Can you do me a favor, Hengist? Can you ask the others, particularly Dain, not to do something silly or impulsive that'll get me killed? I'd say goodbye to the others & Amalric, but it's not worth waking them and the child needs Amalric too much for me to disturb him now."

"I need to have my teeth, claws & nose now." With that, Maldordo transforms into cat form and creeps out of the church without facing Eoth.

Remembering that Salwerk has seen him in this form, Maldordo does his best to move unseen and unheard as he heads for the mill.