Have Fun!!
Bhoors sighs.
Auxavier had been out of town looking into reports of goblins out of town, as he returned he was heading to the local temple to check in with his "aunt" the local cleric Cirthana.
The town of Falcon's Hollow held little for him since his father's murder and him not really wanting to try and get by as a woodcutter or lumberjack. He had fond memories of the lumberjack life and the mill work, and even the logs that went into the water.
He looked at his Boarding axe, which was a common tool for loggers who worked the rafts and had to manipulate the floating timber.
Something seemed different about the town today, maybe it was just a change in the weather, or maybe it was something else.
He waved and greeted the guard at the gate and walked into his hometown...it sounded strange to call it home now.
He munched on an apple and went down the road hoping that the cart with the street meat was out today.......
Farid wipes his head of sweat, the trek through the winding trails have made him warm despite the cooler temperatures of the north. His focus keeps one foot moving in front of the other until he arrives within sight of the place he has walked so long to find.
As he reaches the edge of the town the smell of pulp and sawdust fills his nostrils, Perhaps for the first time he looks about and marvels at the forest around him. So different from home. He shrugs and continues forward nodding at the men who man the gates. They appear to pay him little heed so he continues into the town stopping between the first two buildings he sees. He takes in the sights and smells and catches his breath for a few minutes before considering his next move.
He could smell his hometown before he could see it.
Whenever he had met visitors, they always commented on teh reek of the paper mill. He had no idea of what they were talking about. Having grown up within sight of it, he had smelled it literally every moment of his life until he left.
Apparently, three years was long enough for his nose to forget the small, because, good gods and evil, the place reeked!
One more d@#$ed thing to look forward to, thought Ruthviren to himself. It was a little later than he had planned, and most fo the cutting crews would, if they were smart and not being forced to work late, already in from the Wood. He came in through the West gate after a few stragglers, limping home with axes on their shoulders and stoops in their backs. The Consortium thug that passed for a gate-guard eyed his weapons and armor a bit askance, but apparently decided that he was not being paid enough to harass a scale-armored mercenary. Ruthviren hoped the contempt he was feeling was not showing on his face.
Tired after several day's march, he decided to forgo the streets and, hoping the homeowners didn't raise much of a fuss, cut along the town wall , running south along it just inside the gate.
One word from my father, and I swear.... Muscled bunched in Ruthviren's wide jaw as his teeth clenched.
One house....two houses...third house. Imps and devils, it isn't looking good....run down.... Reaching the wood-shingled, single-story house of his sister, he circled around to the south, grounded his glaive outside the door, took a deep breath, and knocked.
"Asilane? Its Roo!"
Camlo walks about the town, looking for his next conquest.
You make your way thru town avoiding the Lumber Consortium thugs and find the meat cart in the Low Market right where it has been for years. Looking over the sampling of near rotten meat you think twice about eating anything from the cart. The market is nearly empty of people and those you do see are covering or wearing cloth their mouths when they talk to each other. You get the feeling thing are not right. Many of the people you pass give you strange looks.
A rough, horse voice answers your call at the door. "Comin'...cough .... hold on! A worn down man near his 50th winter yanks open the door almost falling over. "What? As the man looks you up and down the smell of alcohol slaps you right in the face. Your own Father does not recognize you.
The desperation of the people of this town clings to the air like a fog. As you around town the streets are nearly barren of people and hacking coughs of the sick are heard throughout town. You get the feeling you have come at the wrong time.
Farid pauses at the space between the two houses and grimaces, Wonderful, I get here and there is some sort of sickness. Well I shall have to get to my business quickly then.
Farid looks for a few citizens to speak with and discover the local tavern. "Greetings northerner, I have walked long and I thirst. Tell me is there some place I can go to purchase some cheap drink?"
"I am going to have to pass on the meat today. Thank you."
Somewhat concerned Aux heads to the temple to see what his aunt can tell him about the lack of people and the ones with their faces covered.
As Aux makes the turn on the road to the temple he crosses paths with someone he has never seen before....
@Camlo
"Greetings welcome to Falcon's Hollow."
The young Varisian smiles at the paladin.
"Thank you! I am glad to see some life in this town. I was getting worried it was the most... depressed town in the lands. I am Camlo Slavik, at your service. What's your name, friend? Are you from here?"
"Auxavier Atredies, I am from a small community outside of town. Something is wrong here, I was on my way to the temple to see my aunt to find out what is the matter."
"Would you like to accompany me?...."
"I just got back to town myself I had heard rumors of goblins in the woods and went to investigate whether or not it was a rare goblin sighting or something more substantial."
"What's your trade Camlo?"
"Showman, trader, traveler, explorer and adventurer! Lover of women and seeker of thrills! I am Varisian! And it would be my pleasure to accompany you, friend."
"That is an impressive list of trades, let us find out what is going on."
Goes to the temple......With Camlo
Camlo keeps talking.
"Yes and no... as my trades are not those who normal folk appreciate, pay for, or even recognize. But that is the road of the Varisian. And what is your trade, Auxavier?"
Ruthviren stares at the wreck of a man that spawned him, and doesn't recognize him for a long moment, his expression flat.
"Why, hello, Father," he finally says, with an exagerated calm that he does not feel. "Is Asilane at home?"
He glances around his father, trying to see what can be seen of the house behind him. Then, he stares his father in the face, trying to gauge if its just drink that keeps him from being recognized, or if he, Ruthviren, had really changed that much.
Farid nods at the men, as he walks away he scowls at their laughter, Best not to cause trouble right yet, I am here for one purpose. Let them laugh, the fools will be stuck here while I can leave when my task is done.
Once Farid arrives at the Tavern he heads in to see what the crowd is like looking for someone he can talk to about the target of his obsession.
Perception
Camlo keeps talking.
"Yes and no... as my trades are not those who normal folk appreciate, pay for, or even recognize. But that is the road of the Varisian. And what is your trade, Auxavier?"
"I am a knight, a rare thing here I know, but I was raised by a woodcutter and my aunt the mistress of the temple...I think they tolerate me because I am a local boy, if I had come here I would have been chased away by now."
Camlo lets out a hearty laugh, echoing in the sad town.
"A paladin! Never say a Varisian and a Paladin have ever been friends!"
Bhoors lets out a shrill whistle and calls a greeting to Auxavier when he notes him walking through town. "Aux." He moves a little swifter as he crosses the narrow road to get near Auxavier and Camlo. "Ho there cousin. Have you been in the Hollow long." He looks around concerned. "Just came from the tanner. I've been hunting. Thing seem more depressed than usual . . . I had not thought it possible."
Bhoors notes Camlo. "Hey friend. I did not mean to intrude. I am Bhoors, I see you met my cousin. What brings you to these parts?" Bhoors seems both welcoming but wary, willing to speak to strangers but his suspicion is arguably healthy.
Camlo shakes the man hand.
"Women, mostly. But I think I came to the wrong town. And now I have met your cousin, and we are going to check on your aunt. Please consider me your friend!"
Bhoors returns the shake. His eyes narrow a moment surprised at Camlo's remark about women. He softens and smiles, "Good to meet you. She is usually in the now lets head that way."
"Bhoors you scoundrel. I just got back into town I went out to check on rumors of goblins near the lumber camp...might have been, but I didn't see a one."
Looks like we are here.....
Bhoors smiles and pushes Auxavier's should like an old chum. "Some hunts it is better not to find your prey, goblins, meh. There was news of worg . . . which makes every one nervous 'roundabouts but I did not find any sign."
"Come Camlo and meet my aunt Lady Cirthana, priestess of Iomedae, in the temple."
"She will be glad to see a new face for most townsfolk
dis-trust Cirthana, and the influence of the Inheritor; though mostly it is the Lumber Consortium who has taken the lead publicly that the people do not need a meddlesome religion in their lives nor in the town's affairs; it is the threat of harm that keeps most away."
Farid heads to the barkeep, "Heya. I have just arrived here can I get a drink? I thirst, it is a long walk from where I came".
"Iomedae! Fitting for a paladin! Let's meet her."
"Indeed!"
Aux pushes on the large darkwood double doors, for a second he thinks how nice the wood would look as a shield.
He remembers how his father talked about when they cut down the trees to help build this temple, but as far as he remembered the temple had always been here. Maybe Bhoors remembered part of the construction.
"Right this way."
” Welcome to The Sitting Duck and to the Hollow.” The barkeep says as she slides a dark frothy drink your way. ”Our signature brew. Hope you like it! That will be 5 copper pieces.”
As you sit to enjoy your drink take the whole place in. The inside of the tavern is a low squat building made of a mix of various woods with the bar on the eastside, a fireplace on the north wall and a small stage on the south wall. The entrance is on the west wall and the only other exit is behind the bar to the kitchen. The smell of ale, wood smoke and sweat hangs in the air.
As the group enters a young attractive dark hair women stands from kneeling at the altar and turns toward them. The women stands just over 4 feet tall and is rail thin. She looks weary and has dark circles under her eyes.
Grabing Auxavier on the arm she says. ”Where have you been? You know it’s not safe out there. It has gotten worse.”
Auxavier, Camlo, Bhoors
"I have been out to the vale, I heard from some lumberjacks that some goblins had been seen near the lumber camp. The camp can fend for itself, but the community of the vale can not, I went looking."
Looks at Bhoors...
"Bhoors was investigating a Worg sighting."
Suddenly seems concerned
"You don't think we were both drawn away intentionally do you?"
Camlo stays quiet...
Farid takes a hearty pull on the mug and produces 1 silver piece. "I'll take another. Tell me Miss Dwarf, you see a lot of traffic from outsiders around here?"
Farid nods, "Yes food would be good. Tell me, I have a friend I have not seen in some time. His name is Amin, his complexion like mine. He may be more richly dressed though. His cousin told me he was traveling here for a business opportunity. Have you seen or heard of him? I would like to reconnect with him as it has been a while and he owes me a favor".
Auxavier, Bhoors, Camlo:
"Only those who help themselves are helped, let us instead offer what aid that might be acceptable, perhaps Bhoors and I can offer aid in accordance with what the townsfolk allow."
"Some anti-plague might aid them it is not magic and surely enough of it can be made! Let us not give up hope, and should the worst come I will carry the dying through the door and let you save them even though the consortium would rather they die!"
"A plague? Here?"
He hears Auxavier.
"Let it be known I am willing to accept all the help I can get!"
His face scowls and look around apprehensively at the word 'plague.' "Plague. That is a strong and unpleasant word. . . Is there a cause? or a cure?."
He listens as Auxavier speaks and adds, "The Consortium wants a cure to sell it back to those who make them their gold. We need to get the cure first if one exists. What can be done for this illness?"
"You should be proud, and happy, to have help people survive this plague. I am sure they thank you, and you should focus in helping as much people as you can, and not worrying about things you can't control. We will go see the herbalist, and do our best to help you both to find a cure! Count on us."
"Sick?" Ruthviren echoes sharply, walking - not quite pushing - past his father into the house. He glances around, quickly.
"Where is little Tila?"he asks, looking for Asilane's two-year-old daughter, or at least some sign of her, a doll or tiny tunic left lying around. Concern for his sister and niece crowding out antipathy for his father, his tone lacks the sarcasm or anger his last few conversations with the old man had held.
He took a couple more steps, then froze, turnin deliberately to look at his father closely.
"Sick?" he asks again, levelly. When he heard the coughing and smelled the rotgut, he had assumed that his father was just rough-voiced after a heavy vomit, like he had been so many times before. Maybe not...at least that might not be the ONLY reason... Ruthviren thought, examining his father's face with a little more care.
Farid nods, "Have you rooms for rent here? If not is there a place you can send me to? I shall return in the morning"
"Tila is here." he points to a pile of blankets near the small stove. With a quick glace you see the young child breathing deep sound asleep. "I have tried to keep ...cough... her away from her mother as much as I could."