Krogar realizes that the voice of Dessarin is heard in his mind. His mouth never actually moved until he returned to his human form.
Viral nods to krogar, "My thanks.
That was a pitched battle. We will need to practice better tactics in our next encounter or we may not all make it out alive.
I say we stay here one morecnight, then move on".
If you all decide to spend one night in town before moving on, when you return to the inn, the innkeeper informs you that rooms are going for a gold piece for the night. It includes a hot meal for dinner and a breakfast a bread and fruits.
"Argghhh...nooo...am I hearing things from the bear?" Krogar rubs his temple.
"I'm worried that Zomith's friends may come and bother us in the night if we stay in the town." He replies to Vikral.
Vikral shakes his head at Krogar, "With us outnumbered and ambushed they surrendered to us. Their element of surprise is lost, they'll not try anything again this night. Perhaps though it would be wise for some of us to take shifts in the hall on watch in case I am wrong".
"That was one group. Do you think there aren't any more?"
"That Zomith is aligned with? If there were she would have greater influence here than that of a mere thug and occasional caravan guard. At least that would be my guess".
"Fair enough, but we should post night watches."
Vikral smiles at Krogar, "As I said, I certainly agree with that sentiment. If I am wrong here, I certainly do not wish it to be proven at the point of a sword or a pillow over my face as I sleep!"
"From what the one guy said to me. I think they've lost interest in fighting us for that liar." Abu thinks about the INN, "Since be being with you has caused trouble. I can flip the bill for the Inn if we stay."
"I think a night in the inn is a fine idea. I do not think Zomith and her cronies will be an issue for us any longer." Dessarin is thoroughly annoyed having to fight townsman, there is no honor and it accomplishes nothing. Zomith will forever be marked in his mental calendar as a waste and a symbol of spite for this town.
You all make your way back from where you came. Near the bar "Helm at Highsun" you find the town's only inn "The Swinging Sword."
As you enter, you can see this establishment is one of luxury in a small town like this. There's a nice hearth in the corner and you recognize a lot of folk you've travelled with on the journey here. You are greeted by Kaylessa, a female human, as you enter.
"Welcome! Welcome!" she greets you enthusiastically. "Will you all be staying with us tonight?"
Kaylessa informs you that its 1 gold a person for private rooms on the first floor, but there is a cheaper alternative. For only three gold, you can rent out a larger 2nd story room that can house up to 12 people. There's no furniture, and no meals that come with the deal, but its an excellent choice for quick and cheap. There are three of these rooms total, but two have already been filled out, and the third only has a few people in it already. Plenty of room for you all.
"So what will it be dears?"
"We'll have the big room on the 2nd floor, please," as he hands over 3 gp to Kaylessa.
Viral nods in agreement with Krogar's response.
"Indeed Abu, that would be a good way to smooth over any tension that battle created".
Glancing over his shoulder at the small gnome, Dessarin feels a pinch of pity. He has spent his life amongst the wilds and he knows the nature of things should not be scorned. Abu was who he was, it was what he knew.
Quickly dismissing his thoughts he knows there is true darkness that must be attended to.
Internally Dessarin concentrates ~Hey, you evil demon monkey, are you there? Can you give me any enlightenment as to finding out more from this darkness? Both of our homes are in danger.~ He tries to elicit a response from the trickster god that destroyed his life.
You wait for a moment, straining the internal ear, and then...
A gentle snoring. You can't tell if he's faking it or not. But why would a god need to sleep? Then again, a god could do whatever it likes...
Krogar hands over his gold and Kaylessa smiles widely, happy to know she was able to fully book the larger rooms for the night.
You all make your way upstairs past the first two rooms and come to the last large room. Opening the door, you make your way inside.
And truth be told there was a thought in the back of your mind what you see might have been a possiblity.
Groaning on a bedroll in the corner is Zomith, who is currently being attended to by a healer of sorts, evident from the bright energy emenating from her hands. The six bystanders look up from their friend and lock eyes with you. You do indeed recognize these are the people you just had a brawl with.
No one makes a move, no one says a word, but its clear they're very surprised to see you.
Slowly, one man gets up from his sitting position. He lowers his weapons to the ground off his belt holder and holds up his hands in a peaceful "look I'm not holding a weapon manner" and motions you to join him outside to talk.
"Fair enough, but either we talk alone, or everyone from both sides come to the meeting." Krogar replies warily. "Which would you want it be?"
Darwin just shrugs, and starts looking for a spot to prop himself up against the wall when the man approaches our group. He then stretches and follows the others outside.
Dessarin follows suit with the rest of the party.
Jamenas growls when he sees the other group. He stays quiet though, for Krogar wants them to have peace, and Jamenas owes Krogar a great debt.
As Krogag goes to pay, Abu puts out his hand and stops him. "As I said, I would treat us tonight." He pays the 3 gold and moves to the room with everyone else.
Seeing the other group, Abu moans and mutters to the group. "Not again." seeing that the other group Abu will leave the talking to the rest of the group.
Would there have been any point on the way to this Inn that Abu could have stopped off and disposed of the extra coin purse?
Krogar will tug Abu by the arm, and whisper,"I don't want any trouble coming from you, boy," while keeping a sharp eye on Abu.
Abu looks at Krogar, "Dwarf, I didn't start the trouble last time. If you keep pulling my are around and threatening me, we might have might have a problem. Doesn't your god teach you patience?" Abu yanks his arm out of Krogar's grip.
"He also teaches us respect for the law and not causing trouble." Krogar retorts."You were singled out the last time, not any of us. He glares at Abu.
"I was accused of a crime i didn't commit. Did you see me leave the groups presents at anytime to spend gold? No, then where did the 50 gold go that she claimed I?" Abu glares right back at Krogar, not showing any sign of fear.
Its just a hallway on the second floor. You could try and slip it under one of the other room doors, but that action will probably be noticed by your party members.
The man that ushers you into the hall is a bit thinner and lighter than the other combatants you fought earlier. He smiles, a thin scar on his lip and a bit of grey in his hair, a clear sign of age.
"I thank you all, for not causing a commotion while Zomith is in a more..."placated" state."
He bows his head in thanks.
"As you might have guessed, most of the second floor has been taken up from my allies from earlier. And while I might be willing to talk, some of the more hotheaded ones-I love them like brothers, I really do- don't think for the long term."
"I'm asking nicely, but since our more injured group - who had to hire out a healer mind you - reached these accommodations first, would you mind finding your sleeping quarters elsewhere? We would if we could, but as almost all our earnings were carried by Zomith, and she has misplaced them, lost them in a bet, or something, this is as much as we can afford."
Abu looks at the man. "Would your party mind these guys staying? The mistress only has biff with me. So I don't want to cause too much more trouble. If that's the case, I'll see if the Inn keeper will let me sleepin the stables."
"Look, we have already paid for our rooms. Either you refund us for what we have paid and point us to suitable accomodations of similar price range, or we can both stay here and stay out of each other's way. The Inn's big enough for both groups." Krogar answers. "And we'll be off tomorrow morn anyway."
Well, retroactively, you could say you tossed it somewhere on the way over but the party would have almost certainly seen you. If you want to have done that, then I need to inform the party you either went off somewhere and came back, or you just did it front of them.
You could have also stayed near the back and tried to get rid of it while others are distracted at the inn. But then I need to roll checks to see if they noticed or not.
Either way, you need to be a bit more proactive in asking for these details if you can. I'll let you do something retroactively if it fits.
The man gives a nervous laugh.
"Well, sirs, please you have to understand. I thought I said it earlier but I'll say it again. We. Have. No. Money. Left. At all."
He turns out his pockets showing he only has small copper chain on his neck and nothing else hidden away.
"And really, I'm just the level-headed one of the group. I'm just trying to avoid a potential fight that will result in both our groups being in deep water with the local law and the inn. It's not that I'm threatening you with violence, I'm trying to say that things are going to get violent if any of the boys find out you're here."
"Look. We'll be gone at morning and provided you're not snoozing in the common area, there won't be any trouble from us."
"That's fine. I'll tell my group to avoid the common area, then. We'll stay out of each other's way."
That depends.
The common area is crowded and full and drunks. No guarentee you'll be able to to get decent sleep depending on when they quiet down. You could sleep outside as I assume you all have the gear to do so, but it is outside and all.
Abu walks away, down the steps and approaches the inn keeper. "Excuse me. You said the other rooms were a gold per person. We have to switch our rooms to those. We've paid you 3 gold already, here is 2 more gold." Abu points over his shoulder at Krogar as he walks down the steps. "He can pay for himself."
Kaylessa was serving more bear when Abu appears and explains the switch of rooms.
"My, my, big spenders are we? Wish I money to throw around like you lad."
She pockets the gold and points out the five rooms on first floor you purchased for the night. She also informs you that stew's on for the night's meal. A nice, thick broth made from leftover chicken, herbs from the garden, and a few vegetables. All in all, not a bad meal.
In each of the private rooms, you find a decently comfortable bed, a small bedside table with a drawer, and a candle already placed in a lantern ready to be lit.
Abu smiles at the woman, "I am good at gambling. Will the stew be served out here, or could we have it delivered to our rooms?"
"Hmm. Sure."Krogar hands another gold piece over. Krogar's totally nonplussed. He was going to collect the room fee from the rest of the party, since Abu voluneered to pay a little extra for a room upgrade, that was perfectly fine.
He goes to collect 8 silver pieces from the rest of the party(except Abu)."I've paid for all of you in advance, but Abu decided we shall live in style. Since he's paid for the better part of it, I'm perfectly fine with that."
"You know, life is pretty good. We got into a fight which resulted in a Dwarf and a Halfling fighting over who would pay for my stay in the inn." says Darwin with a grin on his face.
Dessarin begins to step outside heading for woods to sleep. "I have no coin to split the cost, but thank you for your hospitality Abu," He gives a deep nod in the rogue's direction. He is beginning to believe the deep gnomes pledge of innocence.
Largely ignoring the growing turmoil between the cleric and rogue Dessarin assumes the issue will work itself out... somehow.
And so, a second confrontation is avoided. The meals are warm, the beds are soft-ish, and after that fight from today, your bodies are eager to rest.
True to his word, the next morning you see the other rooms doors ajar, no occupants inside. And as you don't see them downstairs, you can safely assume Zomith and her crew have already left.
Breakfast is a few pieces of fruit each, and some spiced water to give you a bit of pep in your morning.
Its the morning after the brawl, and you're not sure if you've gained a reputation in town. You've discussed visiting the chicken seller, but some voiced an opinion to try and locate the sudden graves.
After making sure the other group is gone, Abu approaches the Inn Keeper to get his breakfast. "Thank you." he says as he grabs an empty table and waits for the other to get there.
"Yester day, we were talking about a chicken seller and a grave. Which one do you think best for us to visit during the day?"
"The grave." Krogar mumbles with his mouth full of food.
"I would recommend the chicken seller first, as merchants tend to keep normal hours."
After finding some wild mushrooms and grubs to eat. Dessarin makes his wake back into the inn to join his companions. He still has a two foot long stick full of black looking junebugs that he occasionally takes a bight off of like a kebab.
"You know, most bug tastes like chicken," Dessarin lets out a small wheezy chuckle and pulls another insect into his mouth.
He seems ready to follow the group with their decision.
Chicken Seller. Everybody needs food.
says Jamenas, in between prayers and oaths of vengeance.
You all finish your breakfast, gather your things, and make your way out of the inn. Its decently early and you can see Red Larch come to life as the townsfolk get to work on their daily business. You make your way over to Mhandyvver's Poultry shop, remembering the directions the group of men gave you last night, and find it. It's an old building, single-story, and resembles more of a barn than a home with its exposed beams and posts. You hear the clucking of chickens kept in the pens inside as you slowly open the door.
"Welcome! Welcome!"
Minthra Mhandyvver, the owner of the shop, greets you enthuisistically. Age has made her back bend over, and her weathered skin has seen better days years ago, but she smiles warmly at your group as a kindly grandmother would and beckons you to come closer.
"What can an old bird like me help you all with today? Perhaps a roasted chicken for a celebritory dinner? Or maybe pickeled livers for the road? We've got eggs to, fresh and pickled!"
"Have you noticed anything odd recently? I have felt a darkness encroaching and was wondering if you might be able to give us any information or point us in a direction that was might be able to get some. My friends here are also looking for some people." Dessarin says curtly, he is not much for detective work and socializing.
"I'm looking for one human, Bastian Thermandar. Also any information on the delegation that vanished in the Sumber hills. 5 silver for any information on those topics."
"Oh keep your coin dear."
She pinches your nose between her fingers, wearing a toothy grin a chuckling.
"Bastion you say? Well, I've never known anyone by that name personally. Though, perhaps one of the young-ins named some of the birds. As for the delegation..."
She scratches her chin as she tries to call up the memory, smacking her dry lips together.
"Yes, yes. They stopped by for a bit of food on the road. They really did vanish did they? I thought those were rumors."
She turns her attention to Dessarin.
"Now why would darkness be coming for little Ol' Red Larch? Nothing strange, as far as I can tell."
Krogar is thankful that the old woman doesn't want coin for information.
"That's really kind of you. Most people would expect to be paid for information. Do you know anyone who might know something about the delegation that vanished in Sumber hills?" He adds as an afterthought,"Oh, pass me a couple of those pickled livers too, about 2 days worth."
"How bout a girl named Savra?"
"Chasing after your sweetheart?" she asks Darwin.
Minthra gives you a look that says this will become a topic for gossip among the older townsfolk. A brave, strapping young lad scouring the land for his lost love. Still, you get the feeling she hasn't a clue who you're talking about.
Minthra grabs a few bottles off the shelves. A bit of strong smell and flavor, though not unpleasant. Total it would come to 3 gold pieces (as she only can get 1 liver per chicken).