Mischa is stunned by the treasure being gifted to them It shall find its way into the ogre's hide she vows picking it up reverently. Someday you should tell us how you came by such treasures
"Thank you so much Mr Ogre Fighter! I will bring you an item of the Ogre as a memento for you. Newt says in gratitude.
Thanks Tarik, Bec says a few decibels softer than his normal bellow. So, find a way to hit it from a ways off first, huh? I like it! He grins, showing teeth. Maybe I could find a sling or something, soften it up a bit before we get in close...
As the image runs across his thoughts of the big clumsy farmboy wielding a sling or any other projectile, he shakes it off. "Best stick with the spear my boy. Best stick with the spear." Casimir readies to leave Tarik's "So now we're off to the outfitters? he says inquisitively once again.
Bec nods, slightly crestfallen but acceding as always to his lord's will, Spear it is, m'lord, but... his face brightens a moment, I bet I could throw a spear! They showed me how in training, not that I'd wan'ta throw my only spear away, but... if they had more a'th'Outfitters... the big watchman trails off, daydreaming of a perfect throw to end the town's troubles once and for all.
Anya had been uncharacteristically quiet on the scavenger hunt for information.
I've been thinking. What if the people aren't for food. What if he needs them for some other reason... He asked for building supplies. What if they are labor.
And what could he be building?
She looks up and around to see if her idea gains any traction.
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Current Location: Dundraville: The Merry Riot Inn, Time: 9:05 am
Speaking only when they have relative privacy...
Has anyone discerned the brute's path down to the village? If it is a creature of habit perhaps we can lay an trap and ambush.
How does everyone feel about the mayoral conspiracy theory? Brains and brawn are a successful combination with the proper balance and level of trust.
And Tarik gifted us with that special arrow... And his gift will be three-fold when we find the other two, most likely in the beast's lair or close by.
So much to discuss... Communication is key.
If he wanted labour, he would not have abducted a barmaid, child, and if we are to have any hope of saving them then we cannot wait for it to come back to town. No, we go to the outfitters and then to the monster's lair. The routes are either the front, the back, or the eye. And we can expect to run into the fleeing wolf packs on the way.
Dayl 'as al'ays a good worker, Bec interjects with a frown. If ye wanted somfin' done, she'd so it right quick. Still, I s'pose ye wouldn'know tha', seein' as ye've ne'er been much fer comin' inta town... Bec grins at Anya in a friendly way. Mischa's na verra nice, an' she likes ta talk in that flow'ry elf gobbledegook so's ya can'understan' a word she's sayin', but she's right. We gotta move quick. Outfitters, then up t' th' Skull.
So the group made their way back toward town and then toward the outfitter's. It took close to an half hour to reach their destination and the town was now abuzz with morning business. The outfitter's were more busy than they had hoped and there was multiple patrons in the establishment when they arrived. Most looking for items to help protect them from the ogre if the beast should return.
The group recognizes the owner easy enough, Kerwin is a short, aging human with salt-and-pepper hair and a bad comb-over. He wears simple clothes, and always greets customers with a forced smile. On this occasion is no different as the group enters.
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Current Location: Dundraville: Kerwin's Outfitters, Time: 9:35 am
Bowen spent much of the trek from Tarik's to the Outfitter's in a funk, slightly jealous that the "lucky" arrow had not gone to him. But Bec's disparaging words rouse him.
"Maybe Mischa isn't 'verra nice' because the people in town don't set a good example," he says. "This task will need all of our skills and craft to see it done. Bad blood between any of us will make difficult if not impossible."
At Kerwin's store, Bowen peruses the available wares but doesn't see anything he feels a need for.
Bec shrugs at Bowen's words. Goes both ways, dinnit? She's na nice, folks na nice t'her. Who started it? Who cares! 'til some'ne decides t'act diff'rn't, we'll jus'have the same round'n'round, won'we? Bec shows his big-toothed grin to Bowen and continues toward the store. I will say tho', makes it hard ta work a task when ye don'know what th'other person's sayin'.
Once inside Bec looks over Kerwin's weapons and frowns a bit at the javelins and short spears. Na sure I know t'use these. They seem a bit short fer my likin'...
Mischa ignores the debate over who should make the first move in breaking the chilly relations between herself and the villagers as she doesn't particularly care to make friends. She lets her gaze sweep haughtily over the customers of the store before settling a particularly cold gaze at the proprietor, Kerwin.
Casimir puts a hand on Mischa's shoulder. he whispers.
Kerwin, Sir... Seems you have an influx of customers and a shortage of inventory. Perhaps, you could front us the gear we need. We pay you back with twice the items or twice their worth eventually... I can work some off as an appraiser, even.
I will personally guarantee it. Anya finishes with a smile.
Most of the customers in the shop clear out under Mischa's gaze. As her intimidating stare comes to rest on Kerwin..
Kerwin speaks.. "I am guessing by you scaring off all my customers, and tell me if I am being to presumptuous here. You must be the 'Witch of the Woods' everyone has been talking so much about this morning. Being that you are actually in town and all."
He then sighs....
"I knew I would see this little ogre group of ogre slaying hopefuls at some point this morning, why the entire town is talking up a storm about you." he pauses for a second, looks down and then back up. "I just hoped it would have been more... shall we say hospitable.
He walks from behind the counter and then he listens to Anya'drea's promises and then Kerwin continues, "Very well, I guess that we all must do our part. I guess you can't be more crazy than that Tarik is, he tried confronting the ogre years ago too, and lost his arm to the giant.
Hasn't slowed down old one-arm, though!"
Kerwin then pulls out a log book and a quill and some ink and speaks in a business tone "I will allow your group to have a 50gp loan for any supplies you may need. This is a loan and should be paid back in full as soon as you get the chance. There will be no interest on the loan, I do not want it said that I tried to make a profit off the ogre. So what do you need?" he says as he is ready to take your order.
Mischa suppresses the urge to smirk and nods I shall borrow your silver dagger and either return it or reimburse you. You have my word
The word of the Witch of the Wood... Hah! I like it!
The tall girl walks unabashedly behind the counter, hugging the proprietor as she would a favorite uncle. Blushing, she moves back to the customer side.
Sorry. Thank you!
Tha's real gen'rous of ye Kerw'n, Bec bobs his head in gratitude. It might take me a good long while, the watch doesn'pay much, but I'll see ye repaid, y'ave my word. As fer what I'll need, a couple of them spears would be nice, an' a grapplin' hook, a crowbar, some a them spikey, run stoppers, what're they called.... caltrops! he exclaims, a hammer, a shovel, a whetstone, a few torches, one a them nice, long poles, a lant'rn an some oil, aye, tha'should do th'trick!
"That's quite a load, there," Bowen remarks after hearing Bec's exhaustive request. "Are you sure you'll be able to carry all that gear and keep up with the rest of us?"
I'll be fine Bec grunts. 'M more worried 'bout you keepin' up wi'me. Bec grins at Bowen and flexes a massive bicep.
Kerwin returns the hug from Anya and she actually thought she saw him blush a little. Kerwin begins to write down the items that the group has taken and then looks up, "Will that be all?"
Umm... a dagger? I hope I never need it, though. I'm gonna be a sorceress one day, Kerwin. But, you probably know that. She makes slashing motions in the air.
Newt looks over the selections available most carefully. No sense in passing up something that is useful against an Ogre. In the end he finds nothing that someone of his size would be able to wield properly.
"I don't see anything I would like today. Thanks Mr Kerwin!"
Newt stands off by the door while the others finish up. He plays with a thunderstone absentmindedly while drifting off into thought about what the Ogre's lair will be like.
Kerwin produces a dagger from behind the counter. "Here you go Anya'drea, this is my lucky one. Just watch yourself up there ok? I mean this isn't a game you know."
We must begin our journey to the monster's lair, we have lost enough time as is Despite her aloofness and general disdain she really doesn't want the two hapless villagers to be killed if they could be rescued.
The young lass accepts the sheathed blade, near reverently. Luck is all we need, Kerwin... and some good weather. Weather, whether, Merriweather...
Kerwin, I meant to as whether you've seen the good Mayor Merriweather, today. As she awaits a response, she fixes the lucky dagger to her thigh.
Kerwin looks at Anya puzzled "You know the ol coot mayor is worthless. He was supposed to address the militia sometime this morning about protecting the village against that brute. Looks like with 25 people in the militia we could have taken that ogre down when he came to town. But you know the mayor, he wants a peaceful solution." he says as he laughs loudly...
"If he gets word that you all are going up there he is gone be lost his mind. He'll call it stirring the pot. Probably have all of you arrested or something for your own good he would probably say. Why else do you think we have spent so many years under the shadow of that ogre?" he says while slapping his knee.
"Yep you guessed it, Lord Duncan Merriweather. Would rather us live in fear than to fight. Give him what he wants and he'll go away he says. Well he is still here."
Kerwin then says "There is something else that is peculiar. Strange things are happening in town lately. A dwarven carpenter named Durbin just up and left a few weeks back, right after patching my roof. I still owe him for the job, but no one has seen him in weeks! Now if it was me I think I would have come for my pay by now, don't you think?"
Anya mulls it over for a hot second. Durbin? Huh... Were his things gone, too? Like he packed and left.... or like he was snatched? Any family?
Is the Mayor sweet on anyone? Does he have a wife and kids? I've been holed up in that tower so long.
"Anya'drea, your concern is touching," Bowen says, perhaps a tad more gruff than he meant too. "But there's only so much sunlight in the day. You can catch up on gossip after we deal with the ogre."
A carpenter goes missing and the ogre wants building supplies Mischa says almost to herself You may have been correct, girl, the ogre may be forcing something to be built. This is not usual behaviour at all. Let us make haste.
Bec looks down sadly at Newt, Ye' coul'ave somma m'oil, if y'wan'it, Newt he offers.
However, when Anyadrea, Bowen, and Mischa start talking about mayoral conspiracies, and the possibility of arrest as agitators, Bec begins ushering the others out of the Outfitters. C'mon now, plenty a time t'talk 'bout all that on th'road. Daylight's burnin'!
Kerwin speaking to Anya says "I don't know if his things are gone, don't go busting into peoples houses just because they are not around, I did report it to the village militia but they thought maybe he was just off visiting and would return in a few days. Don't know of any family, didn't know him that well. Just hired the guy to fix my roof you know."
Kerwin then flusters a little with the bombardment of questions.
"Why so up in the mayors business all of a sudden Anya? certainly you ain't done gone sweet on the old coot have you? He's old enough to be your grandpa for gods sake!"
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Current Location: Dundraville: Kerwin's Outfitters, Time: 9:36 am
"Well, if we're done here, we should probably get going. The ogre is only going to get hungrier if we wait here."
No gossip, Bowen... just fact finding. If we hadn't talked, we'd not known about the carpenter and the possible connection between the carpenter and the building supplies. If he went willingly, he's in on it. If he was taken, perhaps not.
I just find the actions people take during times of stress interesting. It's the best time to judge an individual's true character. After your actions today, Kerwin... your decision to help and front us some venture capital, the only one I risk going sweet on is you. Smiling, she follows the others out.
Someone seems to building themselves a self-styled life. A home, woman and child.
And, consider this... If the dwarf was taken, this is a rescue. If we went willingly, he may have to be dealt with. She seems to be rambling on per usual.
After a two hour hike, the leering visage of Skulltop Hillock comes into view. It is a large weathered hill, the top of which is shaped like a humanoid skull including hollow depressions for eye sockets and a rough gaping maw. A small trail makes its way toward the ominous hillock, under the watchful void of the stone skull's eye sockets. The ground in front of the ogre's cave is trodden with many hoof prints, and barren of all vegetation.
A large stone boulder, obviously used to block the cave entrance, has been pushed to the left. Beyond is a dark cave, perhaps 10 feet wide and 12 feet high. In the distance, the constant bleating of sheep can be discerned.
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Current Location: Ogre's Cave: Cave Entrance Time: 11:36 am
In hushed tones. I suggest we circle the cave at a safe distance. Get the lay of the land.
"Oooh! That looks creepy!" reaching into his pack, Newt grabs a tanglefoot bag.
"Want me to sneak over and see what is happening?"