renau1g's Red Hand of Doom

[s@squ@tch]

"Your kindness and hospitality has been absolutely wonderful." Virashil says as she gets up from the couch.

"Hopefully we will have some trinkets to bring back to you after we finish our task in the Witchwood."

With that, she nods at her companions and walks towards the door -- and then towards the Inn -- to see how her fellow elf fared with the blacksmith.

 

[Graf]

Ola uncle! Thanks for the munches! Brodi looks slightly land-sick from having been off his mount for so long; but that doesn't stop him from snagging a pastry on the way out.

 

[EvolutionKB]

Hurrow slams down a sack of gold, quickly stacking into neat piles to the correct amount. "Thank you," he says simply As they turn to leave, the shifter stretches revealing his tatooed forearms. "How about a meal to end the night?"

 

[Rhun]

Zazz gathers up the sack of coins, bows to the dwarven armorer, and makes his way to the tavern in seach of a goblet of wine and his companions.

 

[renau1g]

The group meets in the tavern and gathers together for a drink and to plan their next actions, as well as distributing their wealth from the hobgoblins. As the adventurers are nearing completion of this task, the doors to the tavern open and a tall, balding man of about fifty enters with a capable-looking swordswoman at his side.

[sblock=OOC]
For images please see below:
http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=35264&d=1214399649 - Man
http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=35265&d=1214399649 - Woman
[/sblock]

"Sorry to trouble you, travelers, but I'd like a few minutes of your time" the man says. "My name is Norro Winston, and I'm the Town Speaker for Drellin's Ferry. This is our guard captain, Soranna. I'll get right to the poin: We're in a lot of trouble as you've seen, and I was hoping that you could be persuaded to help us out" the man finishes with a sigh, rubbing his hands together in obvious nervousness.

 

[s@squ@tch]

Virashil

Virashil sits back in her chair and wipes her mouth with her napkin, gently folding it and placing it back upon the table.

Her meal of stewed chicken breast and root vegetables had hit the spot and filled her up. She had been at her wits end with the trail rations they had been living on the past several days, so a home-cooked meal was a welcome respite.

The old man's entrance and comments had perked her ears up, but also made her somewhat paranoid -- they had only mentioned the hobgoblins to the outlying guardpost -- obviously, the fact that word had travelled so fast to the leadership of the town indicated the level of severity of trouble these folks were in -- or perhaps were these two some sort of con man and sidekick? If the former were indeed the case, did these two approach any group of newcomers to the town?

She looked at them closely, trying to read their body language as she struggled to determine if they were telling the truth or not.

Looking at her companions, she decided to let the others start the conversation for them.

She was good-natured, and always interested in helping those in need, but she was wary of newcomers with unsolicited pleas of help. In the back of her mind, she hoped their issues were not as severe as they described, but her forefront preoccupation was with a slice of the fresh cheesecake that she had seen on the counter between the seating area and the kitchen...

 

[Graf]

OOC: I can not help but note that there is not a diplomacy skill among us.Vira's got an effective +5, Brodi weighs in at a hefty +4. People must love inviting us to parties.

Brodi slurping down his third bowl of tubers as he looks up at Norro.
Sure in a bitta pickle aren't you? You've got to farm to eat but you can't protect anybody outside of the walls?
Brodi leans back to allow his sage wisdom to sink in.

 

[EvolutionKB]

Hurrow eats meticulously, much unlike most of his kind. He looks to the newcomers. "Speak then. Details." The shifter is straight to the point. He is interested, but would like to know more."

 

[Rhun]

As if Hurrow's complete opposite, and unlike most elves, Zazz eats heartily, and downs stout ale as if water. The gnawed bones of his repast lay scattered about his plate, and he leans back and kicks his boots up on the table to relax and finish his ale.

When the newcomers arrive asking for help, the elf raises his eyebrow. "And just how much 'persuasion' do you carry in that coinpurse of yours?" asks Zazz, a glimmer in his eyes.

 

[renau1g]

Brodi slurping down his third bowl of tubers as he looks up at Norro.
Sure in a bitta pickle aren't you? You've got to farm to eat but you can't protect anybody outside of the walls?
Brodi leans back to allow his sage wisdom to sink in.

Soranna looks at the halfling at this comment quizically and replies "I'm afraid that we don't even have walls my little friend, we count on the river to protect our eastern flank and focus most of our minimal resources on patrols and keeping an eye on the western trade road. I wish I could leave a contingent of guards on the eastern banks, but we don't have the people"

Hurrow eats meticulously, much unlike most of his kind. He looks to the newcomers. "Speak then. Details." The shifter is straight to the point. He is interested, but would like to know more."

The speaker, Norro, smiles at the interest of the shifter. "Excellent right down to business, I like that as our troubles are most urgent and problematic. You've asked about our problem and here it is, our town is under attack. Hobgoblin raiders have been harrying our lands for several days now. They've attacked and killed people in the outlying homesteads and have been waylaying travelers along the Dawn Way."

Captain Sorrana adds "We've had trouble with hobbys before, a raid on a homestead on the west side of the river, but this is different. It looks like a large tribe has moved down from the mountains. I fear they may be enough to sack the town."

The speaker continues " Beyond the immediate threat to our homes and selves, that road is our lifeblood. If the raiders make that road impassable, trade won't come this way and we'll be ruined. We need someone to help repel the invaders and drive them away from here. Can you help us do it?"

At Zazz's request the speaker will reply "I can offer as much as 500 gold pieces each, if you drive off the hobgoblins, plus you can keep whatever you find on their bodies."