Andolphas:
Andolphas thanks the Lady Amariss for her generosity and support. He adds that he believes that even though the grave robbers may not have yet targeted the bone yard of the Green Lady yet, their apprehension should be viewed as a preventative measure that will ensure that they do not disturb the rest of the departed faithful. Also, it may be crucial to Andolphas's fulfilment of the prophetic visions that Lady Amariss had, since laying the Land lad's spirit to rest (free from disturbance from grave robbers) seems essential to uncovering the deepest secrets of the Whispering Cairn.
Afterwards, he will pray in the cult's chapel, then have a nap, eat, and take the boat back into town around sunset.
As the sun sets upon the Vein, Andolphas is busy reminding passersby to attend the Green Lady's services, blessing the faithful, and halting some of those he may be unfamiliar with to question them about their beliefs and warning them that once one passes away, it is too late to convert to the Dark-Eyed Lady... and since death may strike at any moment, then wouldn't it be wise to convert now and maximize the likelihood that one will have a safe journey into the afterlife? He also takes the opportunity to gather tidbits of potentially useful gossip, but hears nothing of interest...
The somber cleric also keeps an eye on the Dog, anticipating the arrival of his companions...
Boland awakes with a start, feeling very groggy and disoriented. He blinks in confusion for a few moments before he glances at the small window in his room and realises it has fallen dark outside.
"Oh Sh**!" he curses, realising with a start he had overslept. He jumps out of bed and hurries about throwing on some clothes and gathering items of use. After a few frantic minutes of grabbing random components and items, he rushes out of the door and makes his was hurridly over to the tavern.
Nearing the place, he hears the unmistakable voice of Andolphas preaching to those out and about. He hurries up to the priest, out of breath and looking rather disheveled.
"Sorry I'm late" he says to the priest. He glances around and then adds "Any sign of the others?"
Nearing the place, he hears the unmistakable voice of Andolphas preaching to those out and about. He hurries up to the priest, out of breath and looking rather disheveled.
"Sorry I'm late" he says to the priest. He glances around and then adds "Any sign of the others?"
Looking from a prospective convert to Boland in annoyance, Andolphas responds with a curt "no, no sign of the others. Reliability and punctuality are decidedly NOT this group's forte." As he returns his attention to the passerby, he finds that the person had already vanished back into the crowd, which only doubles his annoyance.
"I expect that Brashen will show, and I wouldn't be surprised if Mythalas also turned up from out of nowhere, too, even if he wasn't informed of this meeting... it would be just like an elf to do that, wouldn't it? I have a feeling we'll never see Da'gret again, though. A shame, really, as I was actually starting to develop some respect for the big brute... How much longer do you want to wait outside? And what kept you, anyway?" Looking at Boland's disheveled appearance, he adds: "consorting with whores WILL get you an audience with the Dark-Eyed Lady sooner than you might think, dear Boland... better make sure you make your nightly prayers to Her, else you might find yourself afflicted by some most uncomfortable and likely fatal ailment, a less than glorious way for a fine young mage such as yourself to pass into the next world... if you know what I mean.."
"I expect that Brashen will show, and I wouldn't be surprised if Mythalas also turned up from out of nowhere, too, even if he wasn't informed of this meeting... it would be just like an elf to do that, wouldn't it? I have a feeling we'll never see Da'gret again, though. A shame, really, as I was actually starting to develop some respect for the big brute... How much longer do you want to wait outside? And what kept you, anyway?" Looking at Boland's disheveled appearance, he adds: "consorting with whores WILL get you an audience with the Dark-Eyed Lady sooner than you might think, dear Boland... better make sure you make your nightly prayers to Her, else you might find yourself afflicted by some most uncomfortable and likely fatal ailment, a less than glorious way for a fine young mage such as yourself to pass into the next world... if you know what I mean.."
"Uhh..I couldn't really say...yes that w-would be a shame...well you see I...what?!? Whore's??...N-no!" Boland tries vainly to respond to Andolphas' tirade, the priest's obvious annoyance causing him to revert immediately into his old stuttering self. At mention of whores, his face takes on the hue of a well-ripened tomato. After a few awkward moments of silence, he decides it might be safer to change the subject.
"I-I guess we should wait a l-little longer before h-heading in."
"Andolphas, it would be discourteous of me to reveal all the secrets of my people," Mythalas says, as he approaches Boland and the servant of the Green Lady, "I would not want to spoil their mysterious reputation!"
Mythalas smiles at Boland and nods his head in greeting. He looks at the two humans in turn and says, "I have not missed anything, have I?"
Brash approaches his two companions, catching the eend of the priests rant. The large man laughs loudly, slapping Bowland on the back. 'Haha, no fear of that Andolphas, Bowls wouldn't know what to do with a whore. I can see our time apart hasn't improved your disposition, you look as grumpy as ever.'
From the smell of the mans breath, it appears that Brash may have had a few pre meeting drinks at one of the other taverns.
No one has noticed Kullen or his gang on their way to the Dog.
Inside, the common room of the tavern is as noisy and rowdy as ever, filling up fast with off duty miners and other locals, eager to drink, argue and watch the dog fights. The crowd and noise around the fighting pit indicates that if the fight has not yet started, it will do so soon.
A quick scan of the room reveals no sign of Kullen or his gang.
Brash approaches his two companions, catching the eend of the priests rant. The large man laughs loudly, slapping Bowland on the back. 'Haha, no fear of that Andolphas, Bowls wouldn't know what to do with a whore. I can see our time apart hasn't improved your disposition, you look as grumpy as ever.'
From the smell of the mans breath, it appears that Brash may have had a few pre meeting drinks at one of the other taverns.
"Hey! I would know what to do with a whore!" Boland retorted anrily at Brashen, though his face quickly deepens to an even darker shade of red when he realises how loud his reply had been. He decides to keep his mouth shut and pray that they conversation moves on to other topics.
Entering the bar with the others, Boland feels slightly more comfortable than on his previous two visits. He scans the room for any sign of Kullen's group but see's little through the crowds.
Moving over to one of the empty tables, Boland says quietly to the others "So what's the plan? Do we wait for them to arrive and then head over to their place for a look?"
Andolphas's thoughts stray as he enters the Dog, and he practically trips over his own feet. He notices the empty tables away from the pit, and makes a beeline towards one of them without paying much attention to the tavern patrons.
He mutters over his shoulder to Boland: "just enjoy one of the fine brews this establishment serves, and let come whatever may... if something is meant to happen, it will, if not, it won't... if necessary, we can rethink our options later. Let's just hope Brashen doesn't get carried away."
He mutters over his shoulder to Boland: "just enjoy one of the fine brews this establishment serves, and let come whatever may... if something is meant to happen, it will, if not, it won't... if necessary, we can rethink our options later. Let's just hope Brashen doesn't get carried away."
"Enjoy one of these?" Boland asks doubtfully as the first round of watery ale arrives at the table. He sips at the drink with a sour look on his face and settles in to watch for any sign of their targets.
Andolphas stifles a "hrmph" as Mythalas approaches and makes his light-hearted remark. "So where' ve you been hiding Mythalas? Has anyone witnessed signs of Kullen and his band on their way over?" The priest lowers his voice as he follows his companions into the Dog.
"Hiding?" Mythalas says, surprised. "I have seen no sign of Kullen or his companions."
"Enjoy one of these?" Boland asks doubtfully as the first round of watery ale arrives at the table. He sips at the drink with a sour look on his face and settles in to watch for any sign of their targets.
Andolphas makes an equally sour-looking expression as he takes a sip from his mug. "To your good health, dear companions," he says with a cough.
Mythalas:
A scan of the room with detect evil reveals that about a third of the patrons bear faint evil auras. You detect no aura from the elven woman (or any of your companions), and no one or nothing in the room radiates more than a faint aura.
The group has been at the Feral Dog for only about ten minutes, when the door is thrust open and in walks the burly albino half-orc, Kullen, followed by several of his cronies (the wiry goon, the sour looking mage and the short-haired soldier type – no sign of the bird man or the gnome). They take a seat at their favourite table close to the dog pits, signal a bar wench to bring them drinks, and settle in to watch the fight.
As Mythalas turns back to face his companions, he suddenly looks troubled and appears to be resisting an urge to look back over his shoulder. To mask his anxiety, he takes a sip of his beer and grimaces in disgust.
"Near the stairs, to the lower floor, sits an elf. She appears intent upon us. I sense no malice in her," he says in little more than a whisper, "I am not particularly comfortable amongst my people at the moment, though I doubt she is from my homeland."
With his stoic mask now intact, Mythalas takes another sip from his beer and stares into his mug.
With the appearance of the half-orc and his cronies, Mythalas sits up and watches them enter the tavern. He scans them in turn and only turns back to the table once they are seated.
"It appears our old friend is missing some company tonight. I wonder what mischief they are getting themselves involved in?"
"And why would that be, Mythalas?" whispers Andolphas back, raising his right eyebrow as he gazes at the elf intently.
"Is it Tirra?" Boland asks quietly, squinting over in the direction Mythalas indicated. "She seemed...nice" he adds, and then with the blush quickly returning to his face he continues "I mean, not so arrogant like her companions were."
Noting the half-orc arrive he says quietly "How do we want to do this? A couple of his companions are missing..."
"Is it Tirra?" Boland asks quietly, squinting over in the direction Mythalas indicated. "She seemed...nice" he adds, and then with the blush quickly returning to his face he continues "I mean, not so arrogant like her companions were."
Noting the half-orc arrive he says quietly "How do we want to do this? A couple of his companions are missing..."
"I know... maybe you could challenge him to a wrestling match in the pit, Boland... loser tells the winner all!" Andolphas smirks as he makes his remark, clearly finding himself very funny.
"But in all seriousness... maybe we just need to be patient and observe? Perhaps the more stealthy among us can eventually wait in the shadows outside the tavern, and follow the band once they leave? As for Tirra... yes, Boland, she does seem... nice..."
'She may be nice but she sure knew we wern't being straight with them about the Cairn, she may follow us to see what where up too. Could be interesting, us following Kullen, elf following us...' Brash glances at Andolphas. 'Who amongst us is the 'more stealthy?'
"Why, Mythalas, of course... he vanished without a trace, then somehow reappeared out of nowhere to meet us at just the right time and place, even though he left before we set a time and place for our next meeting... And everyone knows that elves are graceful and hence stealthy... or at least more stealthy than most humans... It must be their innate magic..."
'She may be nice but she sure knew we weren't being straight with them about the Cairn, she may follow us to see what where up too. Could be interesting, us following Kullen, elf following us...' Brash glances at Andolphas. 'Who amongst us is the 'more stealthy?'
Mythalas listens to Brash and is about to reply...
"Why, Mythalas, of course... he vanished without a trace, then somehow reappeared out of nowhere to meet us at just the right time and place, even though he left before we set a time and place for our next meeting... And everyone knows that elves are graceful and hence stealthy... or at least more stealthy than most humans... It must be their innate magic..."
"I am glad you find yourself amusing, Andolphas, I was not mistaken in my belief that the servants of the Green Lady make awful comedians. I am no scout, unfortunately."
A quarter of an hour passes. Kullen’s party order another round of drinks. The elven woman, Tirra, gets up from her seat and disappears down stairs to the tavern’s basement level. The dog fight ends in a cheer from some of the watchers, and curses from many, though the fact that many stay gathered about the pit suggests there will be another soon.
As Tirra leaves her table and disappears downstairs, Mythalas visibly relaxes and shifts in his seat so he can observe Kullen's party without looking too suspicious. "Is it not strange that she went downstairs to the basement?"
He pushes his mug away and looks at his companions. "In my experience, humans like living above ground," he says quietly, "I was under the impression that most human accommodation was above ground in this type of establishment?"
"If what you say is truth about this Tirra, can we risk not following her downstairs?"
As Tirra leaves her table and disappears downstairs, Mythalas visibly relaxes and shifts in his seat so he can observe Kullen's party without looking too suspicious. "Is it not strange that she went downstairs to the basement?"
He pushes his mug away and looks at his companions. "In my experience, humans like living above ground," he says quietly, "I was under the impression that most human accommodation was above ground in this type of establishment?"
"If what you say is truth about this Tirra, can we risk not following her downstairs?"
"Tirra is an expert with the knife right? Perhaps they are holding a comp downstairs at the moment? However, she's not our main concern at the moment..."
He leans in to the others, a little uncertain. "Um, as much as I like the atmosphere of this place, I'm not sure if waiting is the best option? Kullen and most of his posse are here - which means they are not at their crib, where we saw them today." Though he tries, Bolands use of slang comes off sounding very awkward.
He looks around the group. "I still think it might be a good option to head over there and take a look around while they are out? There might be useful information to be found, and as long as we keep a watch out then there shouldn't be much chance of them stumbling across us in the process? If we turn up nothing then we can always follow them afterwards?"
He leans in to the others, a little uncertain. "Um, as much as I like the atmosphere of this place, I'm not sure if waiting is the best option? Kullen and most of his posse are here - which means they are not at their crib, where we saw them today." Though he tries, Bolands use of slang comes off sounding very awkward.
He looks around the group. "I still think it might be a good option to head over there and take a look around while they are out? There might be useful information to be found, and as long as we keep a watch out then there shouldn't be much chance of them stumbling across us in the process? If we turn up nothing then we can always follow them afterwards?"
"Hmmm... could be dangerous... Someone else may have been inside while Kullen and his band waited outside... and not one of us appears to qualify as the "stealthy type." Have you learned any spells that could help us move silently, or blend with the shadows, Boland?"
"Andolphas, this might be an opportunity of sorts. Two of Kullen's men are not present, which means they could be at... the crib?" Mythalas pauses and looks at Boland, puzzled. "They may be staying in tonight and this might allow us to go have a peek at their hideout and may be even question two of them?"
Mythalas looks at Andolphas and Brashen, "If we can diminish their numbers by two, that will definitely work in our favour. It is inevitable that we will clash with these men, and I am sure this town would benefit from a few less of their type around." As he speaks of potential violence, Mythalas becomes more animated and excited.
"What do you think?"
Brash nods at the elfs words. 'I agree with Mythalas, if we can take out two of Kullens boys now then I think that would be real handy later on. Of course where assuming alot, all we saw was them sitting in front of a building... as for stealth, we might not need it. Whos crazy enough to attack Kullens gang? I dont think they would be suspecting anythin like this. All we do is knock, let one of his henchmen open the door and take it from there. That is of course if it is their house, and anyones home.' Brash drains the rest of his mug. 'But I dont think we have any better ideas, so lets do it.'
"Hmmm... could be dangerous... Someone else may have been inside while Kullen and his band waited outside... and not one of us appears to qualify as the "stealthy type." Have you learned any spells that could help us move silently, or blend with the shadows, Boland?"
"Um...ahh, not as such" Boland starts to reply, before Mythalas and Brashen speak up and save him from giving a more detailed response.
"Bear in mind we don't necessarily want to 'take them out'." Boland adds to Brashen's comment. "If we do encounter some of his goons, we should seek to subdue and question them." He picks up his drink to drain it in the same fashion as Brashen, then realises what he's doing and decides to leave the sour swill unfinished. Rising, he makes ready to leave.