• NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.

The Lamentation of Lolth - Chapter I

One guard stands up and stifling a yawn replies, "Why yes, you and your party have been expected Mr. Wyvernspur, but I'm afraid I must ask you all to leave your weapons with us at the door. None are allowed inside."
 

log in or register to remove this ad

"OK, it seems reasonnable to leave our weapons outside the building, but I won't leave Felmir here." talking about his mule. "I'll wait outside with Felmir and your weapons."
 

Looking at the simple staff in his hands, Ayden wonders how much threat he could possibly be, but knows that the swords and bows behind him would seem much more dangerous.

Choosing his words carefully, Ayden looks back to his companions and then refaces the guards.

"Sir, while I do not wish to go against your wishes, I think some in our party would feel much more at ease if they were allowed to carry their blades in with them. Could we not reach a comprimise?"

Setting his staff against the wall, as well as his crossbow, Ayden looks back to the guards.

"If those with blades agree to secure them with a peace-knot and leave their bows behind, would that not suffice?"

(OOC: Diplomacy check, taking ten with the long speech if possible. While the others may not mind giving up their blades and bows, Ayden doesn't know that and doesn't want to ruffle feathers unduly.)
 
Last edited:

*Meekis quickly puts down his crossbow and arrows, but since his knife is in a sheath at the small of his back and hidden by his cloak, he doesn't mention it. Besides, most people tend to bear eating knives, surely this won't be a problem.*

*Thusly disarmed, Meekis tips his hat at the guard and cautiously walks inside, eyes alert and darting about. He quickly sees who is inside, where they sit, if anyone has any weapons, and where the exits are.*
 

The guard hesitates for a moment, thinking on this request, when Trond appears at the doorway in front of Meekis. "It is alright Jeffrey, I'll allow them to peace-bond their weapons in order to enter." Turning to address the entire party he continues with a large smile, "I am glad you have made it safely here friends. I hope you did not run into much trouble on the road." He then ushers everyone into the council hall and if told about the lizard attack on the farmers earlier, he will promise to send some guards out to clean things up.

The Council Chamber is beautifully finished in polished oak wall paneling. At the head of a large wooden table is an abnormally large chair. The chair is occupied by a small fat halfling, whose chubby face is mirrored in an enormous oil portrait above him, which hangs alongside smaller portraits of previous mayors. The halfling has elaborate curly hair and wears rich purple robes. He has a jeweled short sword at his belt. Also present, seated on his right and scribbling furiously with a large quill, is a thin, bald, hatchet-faced man. Although his head is down, you can feel his eyes darting around. Trond is here as well of course, having taken a place standing against the wall. Also there is a well-fed halfling man, a male dwarf with a long, black beard, and a male human who has the yeasty scent you associate with brewing beer.

The halfling introduces himself as Mayor Osborne Applebottom, and introduces the scribbling man as the town clerk, Cedric Thornton. He then clumsily jumps the 6 inches from his chair to the floor and walks over to the party. "Greetings, travelers. Trond has told me much about you. Welcome to our humble town. The Right Honorable Town Council of Orchard Meadows waits with baited breath to hear whether such mighty adventurers will deign to aid us in our hour of need. We need you to go into the Feverglades and destroy the rogue lizardfolk that have brought naught but chaos and spilled blood to our peaceful hamlet. These scaly demons have been attacking the homesteads that border the swamp and we are but poor farmers. For this service, you will be richly rewarded 100 pieces of platinum, the entire profit from this year's crop. What say you?"
 
Last edited:

Calenthang is amused at the prospect of tying his sword and other armaments, but does so without complaint. Taking in the scene of the Council and hearing the words of the Mayor, Calenthang outright laughs, especially at the word "destroy." "Whoa there, Mayor Applebottom," he says with great mirth, "I must say, this all seems very devious. We hardly know anything of the threat of lizardfolk to Orchard Meadows, even so, you wish us plainly annihilate them. For great reward, even." Motives of desparation? Good or Evil, though? I do not like this clerk, Thornton...
 

The mayor's mouth drops open, and he stares at Calenthang with wide eyes. He then composes himself quickly and turns to Trond. "Trond is this a joke?!" he asks angrily. "Why have you brought me someone such as this?" Trond looks shocked and speechless throughout this. Osborne then turns back to Calenthang. "If you will laugh at our plight you can leave, and we will seek others who will help us. These demons from the swamp would wish us nothing more but our utter destruction! They have shown this continuously with their viscious attacks on our village and people. To deal with them in any other way is hopeless, they're monsters! They are beyond reason, and I MUST do what is best for the people of Orchard Meadows, and that is the outright removal of this threat from my lands!" he fumes, pacing back and forth. Trond appears to be trying to figure out the best way to react to this outburst, but can only look back and forth between the mayor and the party, wrestling with his decision to bring them here.
 
Last edited:

*Meekis is rather astounded by Calenthang's actions. Politeness must be observed above all! That was a lesson learned early and well. Despite the mayor's grandiose bluffing, he must be scared.*

"Don't laugh elf, he had been through hard times. Mayor, where have the lizardfolk been seen? I can deal with them better if I observe them for a short while, then I can figure out a way to get rid of them for good," he says quickly, trying to find a way out of this situation. Meekis is not about the throw away the promise of a hundred platinum for the sake of one elf's pride.
 

Osborne turns sharply to regard Meekis. He throws a distrustful glance towards the Svirfneblin and then looks at Trond. "Have you not told them anything Trond? Did you just round up the first bunch of adventurers that happened to be collected in a nearby tavern?" he scorns. The huge man remains quiet and just looks down at his feet at the tiny halflings abuse. Turning from him in disgust Osborne regards the party once more. "The threat has originated from The Feverglades of course. This is where the lizardfolk have took up residence. But I will speak nothing more of this to those who would not help us. Our time is better well spent finding those who will."
 

Seeing the infighting beginning between his companions, Ayden speaks up from beside Mosslime.

"Mayor, while I do apologize for Calenthang's seemingly harsh reaction, you must understand what you have asked us to do, without giving us the benefit of knowing what all has transpired between this town and the Broken Axe Clan. All we know so far is that people who you all considered peaceful are now attacking you.

Glancing over towards Meekis, Ayden was honestly shocked that he was seriously thinking of ways to kill a group of people he had never met.

~Perhaps there is much to learn about those I travel with...~

Turning back to face the Mayor and his council, Ayden looked over towards the other halfling which had to be Ernest.

"Father Ernest, what has Yondalla said to you about the wishes of the council? Does she endorse the Mayor's plan?"
 
Last edited:

Into the Woods

Remove ads

Top