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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ReeboKesh" data-source="post: 4391213" data-attributes="member: 40101">Session 1 – Chapter 2   “My kingdom for a kobold skull!” _______________________     Nestled in the foothills of the Cairngorm Peaks, and surrounded by farmlands with dark woods to the south and mountain peaks to the north, lay the walled town of Winterhaven. The town’s walls were weathered stone topped by defensive palisades. Here, above the main gate, two guards discuss life, love and adventurers.     Guardsman Derek tried to stifle a yawn but failed miserable “Yaaawwwn.”     “Late night?” asked Guardsman Cole, turning to his co-worker.     “Aye. The baby kept us all night she did. Haven’t had a good night sleep since she was born.” complained Derek.     Cole chuckled. “I slept like an owlbear in winter last night.”     “Bah! Least I got a missus that keeps me warm at night.” rebuked Derek.     “Who be needin a wife when ya seeing the Moongem sisters.” replied Cole with a grin from ear to ear.     “What?! Dephina and Sephina?! At the same time?!” Derek said, stunned and a little jealous of Cole. Actually, he was a lot jealous. The Moongem sisters were Winterhaven’s only elven residents, twins whose radiant beauty had most of the men of Winterhaven paying whatever price they asked for when they sold their goods on Market Day. (Those goods being flowers or fruit, so get your mind out of the gutter.)     “Shhh!” said Cole waving Derek to lower his voice.  “Of course I ain’t seeing em at the same time. Neither knows I’m dating the other.” explained Cole.     “How do you tell them apart?”     “Oh I can tell.” said Cole, tapping his nose. “Dephina smells of wildflowers. Sephina smells of apples. Now if only I could convince the two of em into my be….”      “Hey look!” Derek interrupted Cole’s fantasy. “I think we’ve got visitors.”     Cole looked out over the palisade to a group of four coming down the road. “Hmm, looks like a band of adventurers by the amount of weapons they’re carrying. Got that swagger about em too.”     “Adventurers? Pffft. I can’t stand their kind.” Derek spat in disgust over the side.     “Huh? Wha’do you ave against adventurers?”     “I can’t stand how they strut around with their big shiny weapons, in their big shiny armour, waving their big shiny sacks of gold around like they own the place.” complained Derek.     “Derek, if it weren’t for the likes of em, we’d be fighting off monsters every day.”     “Aye? What’d ya mean?” asked Derek.     “I mean them adventurers they go into them dungeons right? If they win, they kill them monsters, which is good news for us right? If they lose, the monsters eat em and don’t go hungry, which is also good news for us. Understand?” explained Cole.     “So, you’re saying adventures are like monster snacks then?”     “Shhh.” Cole gestured for Derek to be quiet. “They’re below us. Go on.”      “What?” replied Derek who didn’t know what Cole wanted him to “Go on” with.     “Ya script, ya idiot.” said Cole in a hushed tone.     “Oh, yeah.” Derek reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a crumpled up note. Uncrumpling it he looked at it, then lent over to Cole. “What does this word say?”     Cole looked at the word he was pointing to, looked at Derek and said “Hail.”     “Oh, ok.” Derek cleared his voice then called down to the adventurers. “Hail and well met travellers! What brings you to Winter Haven?”     “Winterhaven is one word.” whispered Cole. “And tuck in your chain shirt.”     “This road!” Anghus called back. “Ha ha ha.”     “Oh. Very well then, what business do you have in Winter Haven?!” asked Derek.      “Isn’t that the same question, worded differently?” whisper Cole.     “Our business is our own laddie. Just point us to the nearest tavern.” called back the dwarf.     “Um, ok. Wrafton’s Inn lies directly opposite the gates. You can….”     “Thanks boy!” replied Anghus and the four adventures past under the gate into Winterhaven.     Balasar turned to look up at the guards “I should probably ask them if Winterhaven has a temple?”    “Don’t bother boy. Those guards would be too star struck to answer yee. We all know how much the common folk love us adventuring types.”     Balasar acknowledged Anghus’ logic. “I guess your right. Tym and I will go look for a temple.”     “We will? But I want to go to the tavern.” said Tym in a disappointed tone.     “Yee can drink yourself stupid with our new friends later. First we have our quest to worry about and the temple may give us some leads to any possible cult activity in the area.” Balasar turned to the others.  “We’ll catch up with….” Asrana and Anghus had already reached the tavern and were going inside. Balasar wasn’t surprised. “C’mon Tym, lets go.”  _______________________   Wrafton’s Inn was quiet at this time of day. Besides the innkeeper, a brown haired, buxomly woman with a ready smile, there was two other customers; an elderly farmer with dark complexion and a curly white beard wearing a floppy straw hat and a slender female elf with shoulder length white hair shaved on one side. On her back was strapped a slender bow and quiver, and a longsword hung from her belt. She obviously was an adventurer as well.     Asrana and Anghus strolled up to the bar. “What you gots to drink?” asked the dwarf, cutting out any formalities.     Asrana slid onto one of the bar stools, crossing her legs and revealing the split in her leather skirt. “Hello there.”      “Hello and well met.” replied the innkeeper, ignoring Anghus. “My name is Salvana Wrafton, I own this fine establishment. Can I get you a drink Miss?”     “Asrana. I just arrived in Winterhaven and yes thanks, I would love a glass of wine. I’m also single.” Asrana kept eye contact with the innkeeper. She knew her body language, and obvious alluring appearance, often allowed her to take advantage of men. Lately she had started to try it on women.     “Very well, one glass of fine elven wine, coming up. On the house of course, as you’re new in town.” Salvana smiled and turned her body to go fetch the wine. Only when she had to turn her head did her eyes unlock from Asrana’s.     Asrana could hear a foot tapping. She turned and looked down at Anghus. “Yes?”     “Yer doing that thing again ya blasted trollop!” Anghus pointed at her. “Listen I dunno care who yee charm with yer trollop ways ya trollop but ya better never try that trick on me or yee’ll see some Warlock magic that’ll make your hair curl.”     Asrana looked down at the dwarf. “Anghus. I’m a Warlock too, remember?”     “Oh. Yeah. Just gets me a beer will ya… ya trollop.” with a huff, Anghus walked off to find a table.     Asrana turned back to the bar and found Salvana staring at her and a glass of elven wine waiting for her on the bar. Asrana took a sip of the wine, closed her eyes and licked her lips slowly, savouring the taste of the fine elven beverage. “Delectable.” she said. “Can you poor a glass of your cheapest beer for my dwarven friend and can I ask you a question?”      “Sure.” replied Salvana pouring a watery, light coloured beer into a stein. One of the bar wenches had arrived for work and Salvana pointed to the beer and over to Anghus. The barmaid collected the tray and walked over to the seated dwarf. “Ask away.”     “I’m looking for an old friend. A man named Douven Staul. He was headed up this way to look for a dragon’s tomb. Have you heard of him?” asked Asrana, sipping her wine.     Salvana pondered the question for a moment. “You know I do remember a fellow by that name. He had a room here for a time. He had some business with Eilian.” She nodded to the old farmer sitting alone. “Funny thing is he disappeared one day and never returned. I never did find out what happened to him. His room is still upstairs. He paid me several months in advance.”     “I’d like to see his room if I may?” asked Asrana politely.     “Certainly.” Salvana reached below the bar and handed Asrana a key attached to a small block of wood. The number six was etched into it. “Can I get you another drink?”     “Yes thanks Salvana, and keep the beer flowing for my dwarven companion. I’m just going to speak with Eilian over there.” Asrana hopped of the bar stool with a little bounce. She caught Salvana admiring her from the corner of her eye and smiled to herself. Asrana sauntered over to the old farmer’s table and slid into a chair beside him. Old Eilian jumped and looked at Asrana’s low cut bodice. Moments passed. Then he looked up at her face.     “Hello there, Eilian.” purred Asrana.     “Um…err… ah… Have we met before miss?” asked Eilian, a little frazzled by Asrana’s appearance.     “No, we haven’t so let me introduce myself. My name is Asrana. I’m single” She held out her hand and Eilian reached to shake it. She squeezed his hand gently before letting it go. “Salvana Wrafton told me your name and said you might be able to help me with a small problem I have.”     “Er.. sure what problem… is that miss?” Eilien’s mouth was suddenly dry.     “I’m looking for an old friend. A man named Douven Staul. Do you know him?” asked Asrana  “You knew Douven?” replied Eilien. Asrana nodded. “I wondered what happened to him? He had questions about the old burial site southwest of the village. He thought a dragon might be buried there. Pfftt. I told him it was probably an old trash heap, but he wouldn’t hear of it! Well of course I gave him directions to the place. I am something of an historian of the area you know!” Eilien was so proud of that last fact.     “And? What happened to him?”     “Oh. Well he took my directions and I haven’t seen him since. That was about a month ago. I do hope the poor man is all right!”     “I see. Eilien can you draw me a map to the burial site?” Asrana gestured to Salvana and pointed at Eilien’s empty beer mug. The innkeeper nodded and sent over another round.     “Sure. Gotta a quill and ink?” said Eilien with a smile, taking up the new full mug of ale that had been served to him.     Asrana produced a quill, ink and some parchment from her backpack. The bottle of ink was a deep purple colour with a hint of crimson. Eilien took up the implements and begin drawing the map. “This is ink right?”     “Of course it is silly, what do you think it is, blood?” replied Asrana with a smile, assuring the old farmer.   _______________________      Balasar and Tym reached the village temple. It was a large stone structure dedicated to Avandra, the Goddess of luck and change. Stepping inside Balasar was pleased to see several of the other deities represented in small altars. An altar to the Raven Queen was present and he offered a silent pray. At the front of the church they spotted a robed woman with a long brown braid of hair that ran down the length of her back almost reaching the back of her knees. She turned to great them.     “Avandra’s blessing on you. I am Sister Linora. How may I be of assistance?”     “Some call me…” Balasar cut Tym off before he could finish.     “My name is Balasar.” Balasar bowed low in respect. “This is my companion Tym. We have just arrived in Winterhaven and were hoping thou could assist us with our mission for the Raven Queen.”      “Certainly, what would you like to know?” Sister Linora bade they be seated and sat down herself.     “Sister, have thou heard of any unusual cult activity in the area?” asked Balasar.     “A cult?! I can assure you won’t find any evil cult here. The villagers of Winterhaven are good people. I’m sure that if a cult were really operating in this area, I would have heard about it. And I would have taken action in the name of Avandra – I can assure you of that.”      Sister Linora seemed a little annoyed at the suggestion of cult activity so Balasar backed off and changed the subject. “My companions and I were attacked by kobolds on the road here, have thou had any problems with their kind lately?”     “Yes, we have. The kobolds are not only striking at travellers on the road. They’ve begun to make forays into the distant farms, raiding livestock and attacking homes in the dark of the night.”     “Has nothing been done?!” asked Tym.     “I have appealed to Lord Padraig, but he has neither the resources nor the means to raise a force to fight back. I fear if something is not done soon, these creatures will grow bolder and may even attack Winterhaven.” Sister Linora seemed genuine in her concern.  Balasar and Tym looked at each other and came to the same conclusion – it was going to be up to them to do something about these kobolds. An adventurer’s work is never done.     “Sister we will deal with these kobolds, this I swear to thee. Where can we find this Lord Padraig?” asked Balasar standing up. Tym also rose to his feet.     Sister Linora stood up and spoke. “Thank you noble dragonborn Balasar and, you too Tym.” She cupped their hands in thanks. “Lord Padraig can be found at his mansion during the day, beyond the town’s Inner Gate.” Sister Linora bid them farewell. “Fortune favours the bold.”     Balasar and Tym bowed low, turned and left the temple. “What now?” asked Tym when they were outside.     “First, we go find our new companions. Hopefully they have not passed out from drinking. Then, we pay this Lord Padraig a visit.” The two companions headed back to the inn.    _______________________   Balasar and Tym entered Wrafton’s Inn, passing an old farmer blissfully smiling to himself. “Must be drunk.” thought Balasar shaking his head. “Humans.” They spotted their new companions and took a seat at the table.     Asrana casually turned around. Balasar could tell that she had been drinking. The dwarf looked, and smelled, no different. “Well? What did the church tell you?” asked the half-elf warlock.     “Sister Linora, of the Temple of Avandra, believes there is no cult activity in this area. I am not convinced, so I will keep searching. She did however acknowledge the kobold problem Winterhaven is having and that we should seek out Lord Padraig, the custodian of this fair village.”     “Shhounds like a plan!” exclaimed Anghus. “I’m comings with ya Dragonborn. Maybe we can convince thisshh Lord Pondrag to offer us sssome moneys to rid him of these koboldsss.”     Balasar raised one scaly brow but thought best not to argue. He turned to Asrana whose attention had been drawn to an elven female sitting at a table alone. “Asrana? Will thou be accompanying us to speak with Lord Padraig?”     “Huh? What? Um, no. Run along. I’ll catch up with you when you return.” Asrana topped up her glass of wine and poured a second one. Taking both she stood up, felt a little light headed, and walked over to the lone elf.     Balasar shrugged. “Come Tym, Anghus let us go see this Lord.” The trio stood up and left the Inn.    _______________________   The inn had gotten many more customers by this time. At a corner table Asrana stood before the seated elven female. “May I join you?” she asked politely.     The elf pushed out a chair with her booted foot. Asrana noted her well toned thighs. “Sure, tis a free realm.”     Asrana seated herself and slid one of the glasses of wine to the elf. “My name is Asrana. I just arrived here in Winterhaven with my companions. Oh and I’m single.” she took a sip of her own wine.     The elf took a sip of the wine. “That’s good to know. My name is Ninara. What brings you to the backwater town?”     “My companions and I are looking for an old friend as well as investigating rumours of a cult in the area.” replied Asrana. She was really feeling light headed now but this elven beauty was so exotic and mysterious. Or maybe that was the elven wine talking.     Ninara leaned in, stopping only a couple of inches from Asrana’s face. Asrana could smell a woody smell coming from Ninara, she must enjoy the outdoors, she thought to herself. “A cult? You’ve heard of it too? Thank the stars. I was afraid this whole village was in league with the kobolds. I’ve been watching them come and go from a cave behind a waterfall up in a cliff to the east and south of the village.”    “That’s great news!” exclaimed Asrana a little too loudly. She realised people were staring and lowered her voice. “That’s great news. When my companions arrive we tell them what you know and the five of us can go out and hunt kobolds. What say you?”     Ninara smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”    _______________________     The trio reached the inner gate and were stopped by a pair of guards. “Halt travellers. Only those who have an appointment with Lord Padraig may pass.”     “Get out of our way, ya blasted idiots! We’re ere to see yer Lord Pondrag.” Anghus marched forward but was stopped by Balasar firm grip.     “Please excuse my dwarven friend. We are here to audience with Lord Padraig concerning the kobold problem that plagues Winterhaven.” said Balasar, in a stern tone. He was starting to get used to taking charge very quickly. He only hoped that his leadership skills would keep this group alive.     The guards looked to each other then turned to the dragonborn. “Sir. Why did you not say so from the beginning! Please follow me I will announce your presence to my Lord.” One of the guards opened the inner gate while the other led the trio to the grand manor house. It was a fine example of stone architecture in a village otherwise composed of thatch and wood. Once inside they were escorted into a waiting room and left alone.  Lord Padraig entered the room through a set of double doors. He was an imposing middle aged man with straight shoulder length salt and pepper hair and beard trimmed neatly. An ornate longsword was belted to his side and he wore a tabard with what must have been his family crest – a hipporgriff. “Greetings and welcome. I am Elric Padraig, Lord of Winterhaven.”     Balasar bowed low. “Greetings your Lordship, my name is Balasar and these are my companions Anghus and...”     “Some call me… Tym.” once again Tym’s spread out his arms and let fly to either side with jets of magical flame.    “By Avandra’s Lucky Coin! Are you crazy?! Are you trying to burn down my manor?!” Padraig was shocked and a little angry. His hand gripped the handle of the longsword at his side. This would surely test Balasar’s leadership skills.     “Your Lordship, please allow me to apologize for my companion’s brash display. He only wished to show off his formidable magical skills. See nothing caught fire. Please worry no longer, it is safe.” Balasar gave Tym a withering look which translated as “we need to talk about this later.”     Anghus belched.     Lord Padraig raised an eyebrow at the dwarf then turned to Balasar. “Very well then, the guard tells me that you have come here to handle our kobold problem, is that true?”     “Yes my Lord. Our group was attacked by a group of kobolds not far from you village. We were able to defeat them without too much difficulty.”     “Do you have their skulls?!” asked Lord Padraig a little too eagerly, surprising Balasar and Tym with the question.      Anghus scratched himself.     “Um.. no my Lord. Why do you ask? now Balasar was curious, this Lord Padraig was an odd one.     Padraig cleared his throat and composed himself. “I will pay you the sum of 100 pieces of gold if you eliminate the kobold problem facing Winterhaven. And, as a bonus, I will offer 1 piece of gold for each kobold skull you return to me. Is that a deal?”     “Um… er… I…” Balasar hadn’t expected the town’s leader to so readily part with gold to rid him of this threat. Balasar was a paladin after all and though he worshipped the Raven Queen it was in his nature to come to the aid of others, usually without payment.     “Well take it!” exclaimed Anghus who seemed suddenly sober at the mere mention of gold. Also he was worried the crazy paladin would wave payment.     “Very well then.” nodded Padraig. “Bring me any skulls you recover and proof that this kobold menace has been dealt with. Agreed?” he held out his hand and one by one the newly formed mercenaries shook it. Padraig bid them farewell, adding “Fortune favours the bold” a saying of the faithful of Avandra, as they left the manor.     Once they had passed the inner gate Tym turned to the others and asked. “What on earth could Lord Padraig want with kobold skulls?”     “That puzzles me too Tym, perhaps he is a collector of creature skulls?” even Balasar didn’t believe his own theory.     “Bah! Who cares! At least we’re getting paid! He’s probably gonna build a throne of kobold skulls!” voiced Anghus before bursting out into laughter. The others chuckled along as they headed back to the inn.    _______________________   It was late evening and the four adventures had spent most of the day talking, eating and drinking. Okay mainly drinking. Except for Balasar who didn’t drink, but he did eat, quite a lot actually. Several roasted suckling pig, to be precise.     “Very well my companions. I shall retire for the evening. Good night.” Balasar rose from his chair and turned to leave.     “Wait! Where are ye going?!” shouted Anghus.     Balasar gestured for him to lower his voice. “As a said friend Anghus, I am going to bed.”     “No yer not! Yer coming with us. <hic> We’re going to hunts koboldsss.”     “Yeah! That’s a good idea. <hic> I want to burn shhome kobolds wiv my flamey magics.” slurred Tym who had slumped in his chair.     Asrana rested her groggy head on her folder arms on the table but kept her eyes locked on Ninara. “So Ninara. <hic> What do you wanna to do?”     Ninara was feeling light headed herself. She didn’t want to drink but amongst this group she couldn’t help herself. “It will be dangerous. The kobolds can see in the dark. We can’t. <burp> We should wait till morning.”     “What?! Bah! I can shhheeee in the dark. <hic> We’ll be fine.” Anghus slammed his mug down and stood up, swaying. “Where’s my ssshhcythe?”     Balasar wasn’t going to let his friends drink and adventure. “Come now. We will hunt these kobolds in the morning.” He picked up the dwarf, who surprisingly offered no resistance when he dropped him over his shoulder, then he turned to help Tym up. “Ninara, can thou help Asrana up to her room?”     “Certainly.” Ninara lifted Asrana up into her arms. Though the warlock was half asleep she clumsily tried to plant a kiss on the elf’s lips. Ninara pulled away and looked up to see Balasar giving them an odd look. It was so hard to read a dragonborn’s expression so Ninara let it go and adjusted the warlock in her arms. “Come on Asrana, you need to sleep this off.”      “Zzzzzzz” was Asrana’s response.  _______________________ Next time   Session 2 – Chapter 3   “Ow! I’ve got a sore Irontooth!” </blockquote>

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