Due to Ailetha's knowledge about the land and roads between Turtleback Ferry and Sandpoint, the journey is a very pleasant one. Soon the weather changes for the better and you travel accompanied by mild autumnal winds and sunshine.
As you finally reach Turtleback Ferry you are a bit disappointed, the whole village consists only of about a hundred buildings. Since you have a good lookout from one of the surrounding hills, you can make out that a trading post, an inn, a tavern and a smithy are the most important of these. The others obviously serve as the homes for trappers, fishers, hunters and farmers.
With your arrival at the town heavy rains set in again and even though you are still about 200m away, you feel that the mood inside the city matches the weather...
Riding aside the dour axeman, Ailetha cheerfully jibes: Well Harry, looks like this village could use some smiles. I am sure that the local gals have never experience the talents of a Riddleport rogue such as yourself.
I believe you may find what you seek at the local tavern, Harry. I will he heading there myself; it is a good place to inquire about fort Rannick and replenish supplies.
The traveller then pulls up his cowl and awaits for the group.
"Of course my dear, of course. Do not worry yourself about what others think, though, you must be who makes you happy and no one else.""So true, my dear! Spoken with true wisdom! So what do you think we can do for Handsome Harry? I feel like he could use a little cheering up along this journey. I fear that just fighting is not going to help his love for life!"
With out batting an eyelash Alana responds "We can find him a woman to take to bed or bring him into ours, and get him very drunk."
KArlan nods at the others. "Right I'm going to head to whatever church is here and check min with them. The local priests tend to know more about what's going on in the area."
"Business first, I'll attend the tavern with Mr Ironblood here, see what the mood is around town. That there's a tavern and it is still standing is a good sign"
"We can find him a woman to take to bed or bring him into ours, and get him very drunk."
"Alana, my Luv, I've enjoyed our special times too much to ruin it by bringing him into our bed. I'm not sure that I could live with myself afterwards. But if we find some girl for him, I would very much encourage it. I just hope she doesn't get pregnant due to all of our matchmaking."
Alana smiles warmly at Celestra's signs of attachment. "Indeed, the last thing he needs is another pregnant lass trying to tie him down."
Turtleback has much of a real frontier town...the road is unpaved and muddy and the few people you meet in the streets look dirty and like they normally don't behave very well. Many of them wear furs and have axes and bows slung over their shoulder - none of them greets you friendly, but more than one shoot the girls a look of sexual interest...
The tavern - Bottoms Up - is a pretty much run down building with broken windows on the front. Beneath one of them a chair lies (you guess for days already). From inside you can hear raucous laughter - surely a rough place to be.
Karlan is unable to find a temple - the village has none; only a small shrine dedicated to Desna at the northern end of the town. But even this small white marble statue has seen better days and is marred by mud.
none of them greets you friendly, but more than one shoot the girls a look of sexual interest...
"Oh please!" Celestra remarks to Alana sarcastically. "The boys in this town look like they've been out in the pig stye."
At the sight of the run down tavern, Celestra comments.
"I am not sure that this pub ever caught the attention of Cayden Cailean. I must remember to mention it to him some time. So it looks like we don't have much in the way of choices. We could try the tavern and see if they have any rooms for us to stay in."
Knowledge, Local
As Harry accompanies Marek to the Inn, he feels that old Riddpleport feeling coming over him. "Look Mr Ironblood, not sure how you've fared in places like this, but you clearly aren't one of this lot, so think about how you might be coming across like. If you get the smell of any trouble, you just make a sign to me of scratching your nose and I'll have us safely out of there in a second"
Harry puts on his business face, and enters the Inn.
"Ahh! Harry's found the inn. Let's go get settled in and give the horses a rest."
Celestra follows Harry and the others to the inn.
Marek nods.
I trust in your expertise, master Harry. Would you care to answer a single question before we barge in?
He inhales calmly and asks in a straightforward businesslike manner:
I could hear part of your exchange with miss Zomesco. I will not pry into your businesses, just want to ascertain a point. Are we to expect any invisible threats during our travels? I have a spells that allows me to perceive magical auras, and could use it during my shifts. That way even if a flying, invisible being apporaches, I could hope to notice it before the attack.
The pub instantly falls silent as you enter...the taproom consists of about a dozen tables and a bar with a nice assortment of allkinds of stains. The same is true for the floor and quite a large portion of the walls.
About twenty grim-looking men sit at the bar and a t two tables and they all look at you with narrowed eyes.
Ailetha carefully scans the room trying to determine whether any truly dangerous people are here, or simply the usually frontier roughnecks.
Sense Motive:
These people just look like the normal ruffians, but judging by the beer stench and the empty gazes, they are already beyond the pale...
"I believe so Mr Ironblood. Whilst that was the first one to come in unseen, I suspect that some of the other foes that have bedevilled us will try do the same, and that an ability to stop that would be pretty handy"
Once inside the tavern, Harry just takes the view on board and pulls himself up a seat. Thumper simply sits dutifully by his side.
"Oi Bartender, is there ale to be had, thats a long road getting here"
With a sigh Karlan takes the time to wipe off the grime and mud from the shrine. It was a small thing done more out of habit than any form of faith. But it was done. Getting up he walked towards the inn not any wiser to what's happening to the north but perhaps a touch more blessed.
The bartender exchanges quick glances with some of the customers at the bar before he calls back
Depends on why you have come to Turtleback Ferry, mister.
"Hunting, here for a bit of hunting mostly"
Harry's eyes drift to his heavy crossbow, and then down to Thumper by his side. "Heard there was a bit of game up these parts, reckon I can crack out a coin or two for some good leads on worthwhile trails, and probably stretch myself to an extra ale for the tallest 'biggest boar that got away' story" he adds in that 'ruffian' way.
'Tough Guy' Diplomacy
When Celestra enters the Inn, she looks around and realizes that she has much to do to bring this place to the attention of Cayden Cailean.
Perception
"No need to look at us as strangers, boys! Whenever we find a pub like this, we start to feel right at home. How about a round of drinks on me? Barkeep, can you make sure we get another ale to everyone in the house?"
Diplomacy
Turning to the barkeep in private, she adds, "As a Starstone Brewer, I'm also willing to restock you with some of Cayden Cailean's finest. Just direct me to your store of kegs and I will see it done!"
If given the chance, she will cast Create Ale and top off the kegs.
Some of the men grin and one even let's out a coughed laugh. After some more nods, the barkeep begins to draw some ale.
Hunting is not a good idea in this parts, mister. You better return to where you come from...several trappers and hunters have gone missing during the last weeks.
"Trappers gone missing you say? Is that so?" Harry pulls his stool closer, "Now you've gone and done it, that do-right Caydenite is with me and now she will have us crawling every thicket and every hill around these parts to try rescue any lost trappers... so I suppose you had best have your fill of her Starstone ale and tell old Harry here about the legends of the lost trappers" he adds with a smile.
Tough Guy Diplomacy some more... - getting 'in' with the roughneck incrowd.
The men don't really get what you are talking about but the barkeep seems inclined to go on
Uh yeah...and livestock goes missing too...even some farmers are missing snatched from their fields during daytime...and the rangers...they do nothing - nothing for us!
There is some approving murmur.
Celestra moves about the tavern, helping deliver pints of ale to everyone in the room. Once everybody is set, she returns to the bar where she joins the discussion on the missing livestock.
"So does anybody know what has caused the livestock to go missing? Has anybody seen what has happened to them?" She asks the barkeep, "And why do you suppose the rangers do nothing to help?"
Easy. They hide in their fort...Fort Rannick. Normally they have visited the town frequently but now they hide in fear.
from the other side of the room someone barks
You don't know that, maybe something has happened up there.
The barkeep ignores the man and adds
I don'T know what happened to men or cattle, both have just vanished.
"Easy. They hide in their fort...Fort Rannick. Normally they have visited the town frequently but now they hide in fear."
"This certainly does not sound like the rangers I know. Well, we'll have to check up on this Fort Rannick tomorrow and see what has shaken the nerve out of the rangers. In the meantime, can you tell me some of the stories of who went missing and where? I wonder if there are any patterns in the incidents."
Ailetha takes a swig from the ale as she listens to her loquacious companions:
You say snatched during daylight. Have there been any tracks or signs of what was taking them? It does not take a skilled ranger to notice the tracks of an animal or enemy capable of snatching a man and his animals from a field during the day.
Walking into the Bottom's Up Karlan waves at his companions and clanks his way over to them obviously still not accustomed to wearing the bulky armor purchased in MAgnimar. With a huff he sits in a stool and waves the bartender for a beer letting them continue to converse before speaking.
Alana finds herself a seat near to Celestra and listens to what the men in the bar have to say. She questions one of the men nearby about what sort of large predators might be found in this area, if any.
We haven't seen any tracks, must have been a wyvern or... the barkeep begins to explain as he is suddenly interrupted by a man stadning in the door
Stop lying...you all know the Grauls are back. even though the man has spoken silently, everyone inside the pub understood him perfectly. Now no one speaks, you could easily hear a needle drop.
Knowledge, Local
Ailetha takes another sip of her ale and then turns to the newcomer: And why would the Grauls have come back? Did they get tired of killing animals and harassing farmers and hunters elsewhere?
Knowledge(local):
The traveller seemed content in letting the others do the talking. That way he can remain in the background, unnoticed. Then his eyes suddenly light up at the mention of the Grauls.
Have there been confirmed sightings? Footprints? Any cut by their blades? Abandoned camps? Did they take hostages?
Good question, the Grauls are the local ogre band - maybe you were imprisoned by them? I would rather not recommend that, because then I would have to spoil(er) some things for you
You know them? The newcomer seems a bit surprised. Where are you from?
The barkeep looks at Marek as if he was crazy Hostages? The Grauls...pff, they are the most inbred band of ogres you could possibly imagine, guess they don't even understand the concept of "hostage".
Ailetha simply shrugs: One does not come into a land infested with ogres and not at least study to learn about their ways.
So, tell me, why do you think that it is the Grauls? Most ogre's I know are about as subtle as a heard of cattle. They can be tracked by a blind cripple just by their smell and if they were taking prisoners, most likely would have left some body parts behind.
Bluff:
The Grauls have Mammy Graul. the barkeep says, and even though he only whispered the name the other customers shake their heads and say silent prayers to Desna.
Ailetha shrugs: Should I be afraid of Mammy Graul? She then points at Harry and Karlan. I have these two, ever seen a man or a ghoul sliced in half with a single blow?
Yes. Yes you should. Or rather than be afraid, be prepared. These monsters are unlike anything you have ever encountered before., the stranger responds, even though the question was not directed to him.
The men seem impressed
That you can do?
But mammy is a witch! She can cast spells that make the other Grauls invisible!
"Yes. Yes you should. Or rather than be afraid, be prepared. These monsters are unlike anything you have ever encountered before."
"Marek, have you heard of the Graul's? Who are these monsters and what makes them so different from the rest of the beast that we've met on our adventures?"
Ailetha does not seem very concerned about the invisible ogres: I am but a simple entertainer, and even I can make people disappear. And actually, I have discovered that invisible monsters bleed and die just as easily as those that can be seen.
But, nobody answered my inquiry. If it is ogres taking these hunters and animals, how are they not leaving any tracks. Even invisible people leave marks in the mud and break branches on trees. It should not be difficult to track an invisible ogre. Other than ogres, what dangers do you have in this area that might snag livestock and lone people?
edit: Got it and responded.
Marek responds to Celestra, but quickly his gaze falls down to the ground as he seems to remember.
I can only imagine the sort of creatures your group may have encountered in the past, but the Grauls... They are not people, and they are not beasts. They have the worst traits of both, the cruelty and pure evil of a thinking person and the absolute lack of remorse or morals of an animal. They are a vicious, cruel clan that does not know any taboo or limit. A ghoul may kill you and eat your flesh, but the Grauls... They will haunt you, and hunt you like an animal. But they won't kill you just yet. You will be begging for demise before you are through, and they will deny it. They will rape your body and break your soul before dining on your flesh and ripping your skin for leather. They will even feed you in order to keep you alive, to prolong your suffering. They-
Suddenly he remembers his place and looks around at the long faces staring down upon him. His usual businesslike tone seems to return after he clears his throat.
Sorry, miss Zomesco. Your question was... I guess that if you judge from a purely fighting perspective, their strenghts are, well, their inhuman strenght, derived from their ogrish heritage. Although they are not burdened with a great intellect, they do possess a certain amount of natural killer instincts, including hunting skills involving tracking, running and trapping. They also have some sort of sorcerous support from their matriarch, "Mammy Graul", reputed as some sort of witch or hellish thaumaturge.
Yes, they would do that but only to feed you fat enough to make a nice meal :)
Feeling that the depth of emotion in Marek's voice must mean the man is speaking from personal experience, Alana's eyes begin to tear up as he speaks. She blinks her eyes rapidly to force them away, and restrains herself from hugging the tiefling, somehow sure that it would not be a welcomed gesture.
"So we have a bit of work to do then." Harry chugs his ale, dark thoughts clearly ticking away in his skull, a slightly rue smile half forms as he unconsciously touches his axe; Thumper sits slightly agitated and alert before gnawing at Harrys boot.
"Suppose we need to check on these Rangers then"