After the Transit: The Official Version
Okay, this is the official version of what happened, barring protests to the contrary:
The goblin looked around, reflexively pulling the cowl over his head. "Horsom? Horsom? Where are you?" The creature gulped and waited, hiding away. He waited for his companion to follow through and join him. In the meantime his eyes darted left and right, eyeing the new environment suspiciously. He looked at the flying lizards, and realised he had never quite smelt the sea before, and he mistook the odor of Selby’s greasy quays for something he had always imagined to be rather clean and salty. It made him want to retch.
Glom heaved a sigh of relief as Horsom and Fellan stepped through the ancient archway and into the cool dawn air of Selby-by-the-Water's harbourfront.
"After your success, I judged 'The Lay of the Goblin's Spear' to be a more palatable choice for the Guardian," Horsom said to Glom, mistaking the goblin's queasiness for a quizzical glance. "I guess he liked it."
Horsom scratched his chin and looked around. "I never thought to be back here so soon," he murmured to himself. He readjusted the waraxe at his belt. "There is a tavern in town where the caravan guards like to quench their thirst. Fellan and I have business there, Glom. You are welcome to join us if you like."
Some of the flying reptiles -- leatherwings, the locals called them -- flew over the trio and their horses, presumably looking to see if they had any snatchable food. Walking their horses over the cobblestones, the trio set off toward the Dreaming Lion, near the South Gate. From the warehouses near there, merchants sometimes took their stores overland to Rookhaven and beyond. It was still too early for the tavern to unlock its doors, but perhaps also early enough that whatever restless spirits might walk Selby's water-washed streets would also be abed.
...
Several hours later, their horses were stabled and they had broken their fast. Glom got many hard glances, but folk were used to the unusual in the port town. As his behavior remained civil enough, he was served with a cold eye and a grunt.
Later yet, walking along the street, they chanced to see a huge brute of a half-orc speaking to a dwarf and a slight, though handsome-looking man.
…
Kregor stopped in his tracks. He shook his head and thought to himself before acknowledging whomever had called to him. Halfbreed? I guess it is good to be leaving this town. These people and their preconceived notions.... Turning to face the one who called out to him, he saw only a dwarf and smallish human. Ah yes, a dwarf. That would explain much. He turned his around his muscular frame to face them.
His features could only be described as unpleasant. His skin was a faded sickly olive. He had numerous scars, plenty of which travelled across his face; that could be one of the reasons that his scraggly hair only grew in patches. Bulging muscles protruded from underneath his half-plate armor.
"Dwarf, I would prefer it if you addressed me by my given name. I would show the same courtesy to you had you properly hailed. My name is Kregor, healer and devout follower of Gragnor, my ancestor. Why do you stop me?"
Maldordo quickly addressed the agitated half-orc with his friendliest and widest smile, "Greetings Kregor! This is just a small misunderstanding. By coincidence, Ho, halfbreed means Hello my new good friend in dwarvish! You may want to cut Dain some slack on your name though. When he starts to pronounce names, that's when the real fun begins... He says it's not his strong suit."
Knowing the hatred that many dwarves harbored toward his orcish kin, Kregor braced for any reaction that might come from the short bearded one.
Dain regarded the half-orc and was perplexed by his anger. He had only called him half-breed to get his attention, and after all he was one. His hand reached for the head of Tor-Angol which rested in a baldric on his hip.
When Maldordo started in with his silver-tongued ramblings, he knew for sure that the man was a cat. For no other creature could twist and mold words like that. Again, he wondered what sort he had fallen in with.
Dain gathered himself up and addressed Kregor, "Sir, if my hail insulted you than I am sorry. But, I overheard your conversation with the boy. Which, I must say, proves that you have risen above the feral nature of your kin." Dain hoped this little aside would smooth over any rough edges. "It would seem," Dain continued, "that we are of common purpose at the moment. Though one of us might find this beast on our own, the rewards are far greater in join us and finding the beast together. I have been sanctioned by the Archdeacon of the temple to gather a group of stout hearted men to tackle this menace. And the temple has some information that might prove valuable in defeating this menace. We have a witness."
With those words Dain stopped short. He had given away more information than he thought he should. But he didn't want the others to catch on that he felt this way, so he gathered himself up again and looked Kregor in the eye and asked, "Are ye in or are ye out?"
Kregor looked the short pair up and down. Facing Maldordo he shook his head.
"I understand your desire to avoid a confrontation. But please don't underestimate my intelligence. I am not stupid like the more barbaric of my kin. Although, I must admit that I am a bit short tempered."
"My name is Maldordo the cat,” Maldordo said. “You don't have to feel bad about having some unintelligent kin. Some of my relatives can't figure out how to open a simple door and think that a strand of yarn is the greatest invention ever." Maldordo makes a repeating up/down motion with his index finger for emphasis. Maldordo continues, "As far as I know, we're the first people Dain's found. Right now I'm most curious about this witness that Dain's mentioned..."
Turning to Dain, Kregor continued.
"Hence my reason for being upset at the term 'half-breed'. I don't expect you to understand what it's like to be looked upon with unfavorable eyes your entire life. So, I will spare you the details. Dain was your name? And your companion, his name is? As a matter of fact, I was on my way to find the captain of the guard to find out what is going to be done with this menace that terrorizes the outlying farms. One might say that I'm a protector of sorts. So yes, if you will have a half-breed, then I will join your band in investigating this problem. Tell me, where are the rest of your group?"
"It is true, you are the first two I have recruited,” Dain said. “As for the witness, I should leave that to the Archdeacon, for it was he that spoke with her." Dain looked about as though to make sure no one was listening, then said in a low voice. "This beastie that we seek is no mere panther, our best guess is that it is a manticore. If this news gives you pause to continue I will speak no ill of it. But, if you wish to take your leave, I would ask you not to repeat what I have told you. We do not need to overly panic the general populace, if you catch my meaning."
Kregor thought to himself briefly. Manticore? What matter of beast is this? I have never heard of such a thing. Looking at Dain and the little one, he cleared his throat. "Very well,” he said. “I do not fear any beast, Dain. Gragnor will protect me in my attempts to protect others. I will join your group and try to end the tyranny that this beast has set upon these good people. What say you Maldordo?" He turned toward the cat. "Perhaps we should discuss our areas of expertise. I can tell that Dain is a priest as I am sure that by my speaking, I have shown that I am one as well. Which leaves you Maldordo. What skills do you possess? I gather you don't much care for playing with yarn."
Kregor cracked a bit of a smile at his last comment, confident that he had smoothed any bad feelings over with the two companions.
….
"Perhaps," said Fellan, "these folk are what we seek." The two humans and the goblin had marked Kregor, Maldordo, and Dain as they stood in the street, although they could not hear the exchange between them.
"Maybe.." Horsom appraised the trio. "I don't know these folks from the caravan routes, but that dwarf and orc look capable enough. Let's see what they have to say for themselves." Horsom left his horse with Fellan and approached the three.
"Hail. The town of Long Archer is looking for folk of stout heart and swift blade to track and kill a large predator who's been preying on its people. Are you what we're looking for?"
Maldordo turned and smiled. "Welcome to Selby-by-the-Water my new friend. We too will set out after this feline predator after learning what we can from a witness currently under the care of the Archdeacon of the Church of the Seven Good Gods. Everywhere I turn, I encounter fellows searching for this beast, so I don't consider meeting you a mere coincidence…Oh, please excuse my lack of introductions. I am Maldordo the Cat, of silent foot and swift tongue. These fine warriors are Kregor, of swift temper," as he motioned toward the half-orc, "and Dain, of stout... stoutness," as he waved toward the dwarf.
Horsom's eyebrows rose in surprise: this was some sort of luck, running into another band of panther hunters, and at this distance from Long Archer. The predations of this beast were apparently very far ranging... assuming it was the same animal of course.
Horsom recovered after a brief pause. "I'm Horsom of Long Archer. And this is Fellan and Glom.” He indicated his companions, who were approaching the group.
"I'm curious," Fellan said. "You're also on the trail of this killer panther?"
Horsom interjected: "And you're commissioned by the Church of the Seven? This beast must have left quite a trail of destruction to have attracted the attention of the Archdeacon himself." Horsom and Fellan exchanged worried glances. They both realised that they were tracking something more than a winter-starved forest cat.
These warrior-priests might be handy fellows to have around if this panther turns out to be some fey creature, Horsom thought to himself. My offering to Celene and Herne at the Alder Stream bridge has paid off, praise be.
He cleared his throat. "Maldordo, Dain, and Kregor... if we joined with you, our chances of success would be that much greater. Will you have us?"
Kregor turned to the newcomers. "Well met Horsom, Fellan and Glom. Contrary to what Maldordo says, I am not quick to anger. I do have a tendency to be a little touchy when somebody is less than couth when referring to my heritage. We are on the trail of something that has been described as a panther, yes. Although, I have not personally been commissioned by the Church of the Seven. That would be Dain. I am merely trying to follow my ancestors creed and protect those who are innocent."
Kregor finally noticed the small cloaked one and looked at him quizzically. "Tell me, why do you cover up?"
"Blessed Forge, it seems to be raining sword-arms this day." Dain exclaimed as he took in the strangers. "It would seem that our company is fast growing."
Dain gave a slight bow to the newcomers and said, "I am Dain Winterforge, son of Davin, Formerly of the Hunt of Deepinghelm. The Forge has called to me and I now serve Aedor, and was his guidance that brought me to Selby. You have already heard my errand from friend Maldordo, and I would have you accompany me back to the temple. For there we will find provisions and more information that may aid in our hunt."
In response to Kregor's asking about Glom's hood, Dain added. "Are we not friends here? If you are to accompany us on our errand we should know your face. I would look into the eye of anyone 'fore I brought him before the Archdeacon."
