Seeing the half-orc warrior return with a full flagon, Garrik asks, "So what was Captain Wisslo so upset about?"
He wouldn't say. Said he'd talk about it after the party. Tamora decided to follow him, anyway. I didn't want to be too pushy, so I came back for more grog. Either way, I'm sure we'll know more soon.
Hoga unapologetically finishes his drink and goes to get more.
"Never been too much for parties, inside ones anyway." Garrik says standing up and heading off toward the Captain's office.
Garrik quickly pats the side of his leg, all the more invitation Thorn needs to follow closely behind.
Taladrius stands to follow Garrik, then stops for a moment and glances around. "Has anyone seen where Red Raven slipped off to? I think it'd be wise for all of us to hear what the Captain has to say."
Tamora just nods, eyes alight with an ambivalence of understanding, curiosity and attentiveness.
"What is this tradition anyway? Does it has something to do with number of volunteers who can partake this quest and the incident that occurred a week ago?"
Taladrius stands to follow Garrik, then stops for a moment and glances around. "Has anyone seen where Red Raven slipped off to? I think it'd be wise for all of us to hear what the Captain has to say."
Hoga tops off his drink and takes a big swig. You're right. I'll come with you.
The half orc follows.
Before Kakrish has a chance to notice, everyone has left his table and he finds himself alone. Seeing the mayor walking through the room Kakrish decides now would be the perfect time to personally express his gratitude at being selected for the mission. He pushes away from his table and weaves through the thinning crowd to approach the mayor who is happily talking with another citizen. Kakrish barges in and attempts to wrap the mayor in a huge hug. "Mayor Uptal, I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am that you selected me for this mission" he says loudly, his beard still full of food crumbs and grease smeared across his face. "You can count on me. I won't let you down!" He says this last making a gesture that he intended to be a salute of respect. Instead his arm bumps into someone standing close by and knocks their drink into the mayor. Whatever was in their cup is now all over Mayor Uptal's chest and face.
Red Raven returns to the party to find everyone gone, but no one has exactly noticed his disappearance, so he just sits down and resumes eating and drinking as if nothing happened since he didn't know about anyone else's plans. He does notice Kakrish bumbling around the mayor, and winces when he tries to hug the poor man.
This one won't be able to tell them if they've run off. Ah well. Oooh! Who left all these drinks unfinished!
Red Raven proceeds to do his best to 'clear' the table of alcohol.
As he stops talking, you hear the door someone at the door.
Then he look at the rest of the people there. "Well, you will have to excuse me, but it would seem that I'm in need of a bath." He chuckles a bit and some of the people laugh. With that he turn to leave.
For those in the Great Hall, you notice that more and more people are leaving. At one point, even the music stop and they start packing their instruments. This party seem to have come to a end.
Garrik knocks on the door before entering.
"Is everything alright?" the hunter asks, more directed at Tamora than Captain Wisslo.
Kakrish beams when the mayor speaks to him. "Good idea mister mayor. I'll see you in the morning." Kakrish walks backwards while replying to the mayor and steps heavily on the foot of one of the mayor's aides. "Oh sorry!" he says as he turns around. Then he makes an awkward bow and another gesturing meant to resemble a salute.
Back at the table with Red Kakrish looks over the empty dishes and mugs. "I'm heading back to my house to get some sleep before the morning. So I guess I'll see you then. You know, the early bird gets the worm!"
Red Raven will yawn, rising and swaying as he heads out the door. Realizing the farm is too far from town to get there easily in his condition, he will instead teeter back inside. He'll rest at the inn this night.
Tamora nods.
"That is understandable. Pent up emotions could be quite taxing to the mind and greatly limit the ability to express yourself at some point. I decided to take things slowly and considered your need for catharsis."
She clears her throat and when her mouth is about to move, there is a knock on the door that alarms her of her new companion that just arrived.
"Excuse me for a moment"
Tamora turns to Garrik.
"Ahh, Garrik. Nice of you to drop by. The captain is calming down. I take it that Hoga has passed on my message. Are the others coming?"
Garrik shrugs in response to Tamora's question. "Hoga did mention where you were, as to the others, I can't say."
"Ah, friends!" he says loudly as he rushes back to the table. "Captain Wisslo wishes to speak to...er" He stops as he sees the condition of Red Raven and Kakrish. "...um, if you both feel up to it, the Captain has something to tell us, but perhaps sleep would be the best option for you both."
Whether they follow or retire for the night Taladrius makes his way after Garrik along with Hoga.
"Oh yeah. I'm in." Kakrish can't pass up a chance to meet with the Captain. "I can go to bed afterwards. I'm not really tired anyway." Kakrish follows along. Still oblivious to the food in his beard and smeared across his face.
"Thish one already knows what -hic- thish captain would say." Red Raven managed to slur. "But... jusht in casse... let me know in the-hic- mornin. Shleepy birdie..."
"Hoga also told me that he will arrive later. Judging by his absence, I do not doubt that his love for alcoholic beverages surpasses his curiosity at this moment. Since you are here, I might as well give you a summary of what has transpired here so that you are not behind."
Tamora looks at Garrik.
"Basically, Captain Wisslo was distressed due to the Mayor postponing investigation for one of his men who did not return a week ago due to the tradition which is the ceremony before the celebration. Upon listening further, I came to discover and realize that the Mayor was trying to deceive and had been withholding information from the public and us. From what the Captain told me, the tradition is the process of always getting four volunteers every four years at the exact date to brave the crypt and bring back the flame. But this time the Mayor elevate the number of volunteers from four to six. Not only is he breaking tradition but he also resorted underhanded method of hiring a second group to clear the crypt a week prior each journey past to ensure a higher chance success for the group that is retrieving the flames. Remember the missing guard that I mentioned earlier? His name was Roldare and he was part of the second group which always consists of adventurers and one of the town guard. So far, the clearing group succeeded until a week ago when no word was heard from them which was responsible for the Captain's current mood since Roldare is one of his men."
She pauses and frowns.
"I certainly do not approve the hypocrisy and secrecy that he is trying to maintain even though it is for the safety for the town. He deserves a stern talking tomorrow however I would like hear his side first. I seemed to be going off topic here. Well, that is what happened so far. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the Captain."
The inquisitor turns to the Captain.
"My apologies for my ignorance. I am trying to inform my companion of the things that he missed. Now, that the event elapsed, are still going to carry out the investigation? If so, how many men are you going to send including yourself?"
"No questions for me." Garrik calmly states.
"I simply don't understand the need for the deception. Obviously the dangers have increased and those volunteering should have been told as such. That being said, I don't believe it would have changed my stance on volunteering." the hunter says, shrugging and waiting for the Captain's answer to Tamora's question.
"You want to resume the situation for them too before we get back at it?" He gets up to open the door for them and invite them in. "Please find a spot to sit."
"Are we expecting someone else?" He look ouside then close the door. " Yeah… I don’t think the bird one is coming. "
Going back to his seat he look back at Tamora. "To answer your question. No, I am not going to carry my investigation. By the order of the Mayor, I am to remain here and keep the village safe from possible problems while you go get the Everflame. I understand the idea that I can’t go with all my men and leave the village defenceless, but at the same time, I’m upset at the whole idea of the situation. If I would have been the one to go instead of Roldare, and if he still wanted to have people from the village, maybe you could have come too. We would have been eleven people strong, veterans and rookies together and I am sure we wouldn’t be in this situation. So if you are still going and if you manage to comeback. Please find out what happended to Roldare. He was… is a good man." He look at each and everyone of you with pleading eyes.
Will do. If he can be found, we'll find him.
As everyone gathered, Tamora recounts what she has told Garrik. ()
"If any of you have any more questions, feel free to fire away at the Captain."
Tamora smiles.
"I am not sure about the others. If you are asking me, I cannot guarantee any promises that we will get full details of what happen but I will see what I can do. And if we do found him whether alive or dead, we will bring him back to you. Can you account what you know about the crypt? Like the crypt's distance from town, traps and creatures that previous groups encountered. I can't help but to be more prepared after hearing the incident. I do know for a fact that we will be encountering undead as the location can be used as or is an ideal spawning ground for undead."
"I feel a little betrayed that this journey of ours was to be made easier by sending others ahead of us....but that doesn't matter now." He sits up straight and looks Captain Wisslo in the eyes. "Right now we're the only ones who can go without leaving the town defenseless. Thank you for letting us know, sir. Now that we're aware of how dangerous it is out there, we'll be more prepared to face it." He lifts himself out of his seat and stands. "Alright, if there was nothing else at the moment captain, I think I am heading home for the night. Gods know I'll need all the rest I can get before tomorrow comes. I will see you all in the morning."
If the nobody has anything further he heads out the door and home to sleep.
Kakrish listens to the whole story then steps up from his seat and walks to stand directly in front of Captain Wisslo. With a somber and sincere look on his face he kneels down on one knee and looks up into the captian's eyes. "Captain, I pledge my life, and the life of everyone in this group, that we will find your missing man." He makes another gesture that he supposes is a military salute, but different than the one he made to the mayor earlier. The he bends down and puts his face on the floor in front of the captain, waiting for acknowledgment.
"I'll ask him during our talk then. Thank you for the information."
Tamora studies his face with slanted brows before the scrunched up muscles around her eyes loosen up.
"Captain, if you are given the opportunity to send one men to the crypt, who would you send?"
Looking down at Kakrish, the Captain look really unsure about the situation. "Well this is awkward... Please get up." Once Kakrish is standing again. "Thank you for your pledge, make sure you come back safe."
Then he looks at Tamora. "The best choice would be me, but I was ordered to stay. Roldare is my second in command and therefore the best choice after me, but he is already over there, hopefully still alive." He pause to think about it. " Randall and Karla are still a bit green. That would leave Hobert but he's scouting the outskirt of the region right now and won't be back for a few days. Farrah and Quinton are down river to escort the resupply caravan that's coming over soon. So after all those arguments with the Mayor, I realize that I don't have anyone to send. Damn it!"
Tamora puts a hand on her chin.
"Are there any other individuals that you can know who can fight as well as your men? I am always off town when I am on duty so my list is meager."
"Well most people here are farmers, inn keepers or blacksmiths. Father Prasst would probably be the strongest here. He used to be soldier in the army, but something happended to him. Good luck getting him to pick up a weapon now."
"There migth be some others, but they don't really have much more field experience then you. Why all the questions? Are planning to raise an army?"
"Doesn't sound all that reasonable." Garrik admits. "It seems to me we have little alternative but to carry out the mission for which we volunteered. We just know that we have to be even more careful and have more than just the Everflame to search for."
Tamora smiles and waves in a dismissive manner.
"That is not the case except for the question related to whatever we are going to encounter, Garrik. Don't not worry about it too much. Leave the rest to us. Good to see that you are feeling much better now, Captain. Well, if there is nothing else, I will be taking my leave."
"Yeah, we don't need an army." Kakrish pounds his chest. "We are an army. As I already pledged, we will find your man." Kakrish pounds his chest again to further make the point. He is about to make yet another pseudo military gesture, supposing it to be a salute, but something makes him think that maybe he has done enough saluting for the night.
"Ok," he says. "I think we should get some rest so we can meet in the morning ready to go." He looks around the room at the others. "Who's ready to go to bed with me?"
In the early hours of the morning, you get woken up by a Knock on your door of your house, inn room or other sleeping arrangement. As you open your door, you see a figure dress completely in black wearing a mask with symbols carved on it and holding a lantern.
The person makes a gesture for you to follow. It wait as you grab your gear and together you head out. Once outside you noticed the other members of your group being lead by a similar figure. They guide you to the Great Hall, once at the door, they gesture you to enter while they stay ouside.
Inside you find one large table with six empty chairs on one side. On the opposite side of the table sit the Mayor inviting you to sit. On the table it self, there is a finely decorated lantern. There is no light coming from it. There is also food and drinks on the table.
To the side, there is another table. This one has what look like a few items.
After you sit down, the Mayor start talking. "Good morning to you all. Today you embark on the quest to bring back the Everflame. This is, in a way, a reenactment of the quest that was done by the founder of our community, Ekat Kassen, to protect those that live here. The crypt lies three days east from here at the buttom of the Serpent Gorge. On your way there you will pass the Broken glade and the Gray lake. Once in the crypt itself, you need to light this lantern and bring it back to the temple where the light will shine for the next four years." He points at the table and continu on. "Over there you will find some gifts provided by the village to help you succeed in your quest." Looking back at you. "Do you have any final questions before you go?"
Red Raven looks at the rest of the group, not having had time to see if he should divulge what he learned, and shakes his head. "This one does not." he says, tapping the side of his beak as he yawns. "This one will complete the tradition as you ask."
Hoga fills his belly with a snack or two, listening. When he sees the stuff is for the party, he rises. I can carry all that, no problem.
He'll pick up everything, unless someone wants some particular thing.
No questions here. We have our objective.
"Nope, no more questions. I think that about sums things up." Kakrish is still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "But I do have one more question. Who were those people who brought us here. They were creepy. And what was with the Pharasma symbology on their masks?"
Kakrish's questions are are not accusative but he is simply curious and trying to understand.
"No questions from me." Garrik says.
Turning his attention back to his fellow volunteers, he asks, "Do any of the rest of you have mounts, or should I make stable arrangements for Briar?"
Shrugging the Mayor look at Kakrish. "Those were the representation of Fate choosing you to accomplish the quest. I know, I know you volunteered for this, but imagery and symbolism is something important."
Then turning to Garrik. "You can leave your horse at the inn. We will cover the cost while you are on the quest, if it's ok with you."
"That will work for me." Garrik says. "Shall we be on our way?"
"This one is ready."
-Posted with Wayfinder
To the crypt...
Tamora eyes the lantern wielders, fascinated by their lanterns as she is led to the room that the mayor is in and nodding. Then, she is suddenly alert and stern.
"I do. I think it is time for you to come clean, Mayor. I heard what the Captain was upset about and I am even more upset when I discovered the amount of information that you withhold from us. All of us with the captain yesterday had heard most of it but there is one piece missing. Before I rebuke you, I would like to hear your side first. Why kept such a second group a secret and why the deceit for the ceremony? Was it because of failure or almost failure of the quest in the past? On top of that, we would like hear an account of the creatures that the previous groups had encountered. Captain Wisslo was kind enough to refer you for in-depth knowledge since his knowledge of the crypt is limited."
Taladrius seems keen to remain quiet this morning. He has greeted anyone with a nod and a smile. When asked if there were any questions, he shook his head and was turning to leave as Tamora spoke up. He raises his eyebrows as Tamora finishes and looks back and forth from her to the Mayor. It seems he might have something to say now, but is waiting for the Mayor to respond.
There is a look of surprise, then anger on the Mayor's face as he hear your questions.
"Before you rebuke me? You? What give you the right to judge me? Everything that was done, was done for the good of the community. Almost everyone is this village can trace back one or more member of their family who went on this quest. This tradition date back to the beginning of this settlement when is was only slightly bigger then a simple fort. You think I can change any of that to please a few that want to break away from it?"
He shift in his chair and tries to calm down a bit.
"Remember the festivities yesterday? Do you think I set that up? No, the village set that by themselves. They look foward to this event months in advance. Heck, they were upset yesterday because they had to make two more of those customes over night since there two more of you then normal. This tradition as a life of its own and I can't be the one that destroy that."
"This quest is there to test our young man and woman coming of age. To see if they could make it out there. That was they idea when this community was mostly soldiers and trained combatants. Over time the ratio of civilians to combatants changed, to a point were we are today. We have more civilians then fighters now. Since I got to the seat of mayor, you are the first group of completely trained individuals to take on the quest. Before that it was mostly over confident farmers with a pitchfork for a weapon."
"What else could I do? Complete break the tradition and only send the guards over or find a more discreet way. Cause, I'm telling you, I will not have a complete failure like we had over thirty years ago."
Now more calm he look at you with determined face. "Now does this answer your question about the why I did what I did."
Tamora's gaze remains serious and she looks into the Mayor's eyes with much determination as he has.
"No. There is another part to it that makes me wary about what you did. What about the existence of the other group that clear the crypts a week before us? Does the communities know about it or was it a decision of yours to enact and keep it from them for the good of the community?"
"Tamora." Red Raven says simply. "Enough. It is obvious to everyone that he has only had the village's best interests at heart. Save your persecution for someone who deserves it."
"Of course they don't know about it. That was the discreet way that I found to make sure no one died from this. They want the tradition to go unchanged so that they can celebrate the courage and resourcefulness of the chosen heroes. It would far more simpler for me to send trained men and women out there to do this. Perhaps even the same group every four years. But that is not what the community want."
"So I cheat a little. Get the crypt mostly cleared ahead of time. The village get their "Heroes" and the temple get the Everflame. Everone win, except this time. The hired group didn’t comeback and I get accused of being the bad guy. Would I do it again? You can bet on that. We need the Everflame to protect this community and we also need our young men and women to stay alive."