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Horace beams excitedly at Lena as she asks he questions.
"Well my dearie, I'm attemting the marvel of subaqueous research exploration! I'd tell you more, but still early on - don't want to give up the ghost before I know exactly what it will all be like, you know."
He listens a bit.
"Why yes, I did see someone matching your description heading down the coat road to Ilmarsh yesterday. Or was it the day before? Seemed in a hurry. I was out tinkering with my equipment and so didn't think much of it I'm afraid. Now where did I leave my horse and cart..."
Horace totters off, muttering to himself.
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You make your way into Ilmarsh looking for an inn in order to get a place to rest, and somewhere to start asking questions. The road leads down past an open fish market and the wharves, and you soon find yourself in a town square.
As you move, you notice a certain strangeness to the people. They are as closed as unfriendly as most peasantry in Ustalav, but while those in Thrushmoor were puritanical gossips, these people have a difficult to place oddness to them. It may be their musty smell, a queerness in their eyes, or something strange in their gait. There is an unwholesome quality to the people in this town. You are given a very wide berth and nobody attempts to speak to you.
Lying at the center of town just east of the wharves, this square is fronted by the town hall, the Bountiful Catch Inn, and the Order of the Indomitable Sea hall. A bronze statue stands upon a plinth at the center of the square depicting a sea captain wearing a rain slicker, standing at a ship’s wheel and staring steely-eyed at a coming storm. Its plaque reads, “Cassius Undiomede, First Lord of Illmarsh.”
The commercial section of the town seems to be entirely adjacent to the square. From here you can see the following:
- The "Hall of the Recondite Order of the Indomitable Sea", a church to Gozreh.
- Aonce-fine two-story structure that has been badly beaten by the elements with little repair done. The sign above the door depicts a fisherman hauling in a net full of fish, and a curvaceous mermaid with a knowing smile. It looks like an inn.
- A general store
- A tavern with a wooden sign depicting a squidlike beast with wide, silvery eyes, its tenteacles reaching from the waves to grasp a gibbous moon.
- The town hall, a massive three-storey building.
As the party walks into town Eldon expects people to recognize him and start pointing fingers at his epicness. This, strangely, doesn't happen.
Eldon does his best to hide his disappointment and points at the building with the curvy mermaid. "Let's go there? Looks like an inn."
Unless anyone objects Eldon starts moving toward the Curvy Mermaid, or whatever the likely-an-inn is called.
Wren clucks and struts her way through the town trying to trade gossip for gossip...which is an activity that Wren just loves and she does have some juicy gossip to share. She's been just dying to tell others of Arval's affection for her, which of Kawrock's feathers are misaligned and dirty, and that she suspects Vladlena has 6 toes on each hairy foot.
She is quite put out when no one wants to listen, let alone share, such good gossip.
"Yes, Eldon, good idea," Wren chitters in hopes that there are more friendly ears within the Inn. "We should reserve rooms for the night and some nice seeds to sup upon."
She follows Eldon to the Inn.
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Lena says as she goes to the innwhat sort of seeds would you get here? More likely to get fish.
She pats eldon on the shoulder. cheer up eldon, there had to be somewhere that never heard of you. she thinks about it for a moment. no wait, wrong way around. I meant somewhere that has heard of you. Maybe they're in the inn.
Arval starts feeling uneasy the moment they enter the town, the people making him very uncomfortable. He holds his hand on his sword as he follows the group, trying to look in every direction at once.
Kawrock has trouble noticing anything different in this human town then any other human town he has been to. He does pick up on Arval's uneasiness. "What is it? Is there something amiss here?" He askes his nervous friend.
"I don't know yet... Don't trust these people..."
Arval says to Kawrock as he keeps looking around.
"Can't put my finger on it..."
Whiskeyjack stomped along with the others, wondering what it was about the citizens of Illmarsh that he found so disconcerting. More than likely it was just the smell. What in the world could make people want to live in a place that smelled like this all the time? Whiskeyjack had smelled sulphurous mines, rotten corspes, and a really bad batch of beer, but nothing like this pervasive stink!
"The inn would be fine, but le's no' be leavin' anythin' there afore we be goin' t' th' tavern. I be having' th' thought tha' we migh' be needin' t' leave this place in a bi' o' hurry."
Inside the inn, Whiskeyjack hailed the proprietor. "Innkeep! We be needin' some rooms, if'n ye be havin' any vacancy. "
You step into the inn, the interior of which matches the exterior. A small common area is set out with a couple of tables, which is empty. Managing the common area is a taciturn-looking older man, who blinks as you step in. He doesn't quite seem sure of what to make of you.
"Praise to the sea, what a weird-looking lot you are," he mutters. As Whiskeyjack stomps up and asks for rooms.
"Hmph, yeah. I've got three rooms, so you're gonna have to double up. Reckon I don't have a roost for your birdman there but if he sleeps in bed like peoples do then good enough. Three gold a night."
He stares at you with a flatly unfriendly expression.
Wren glares at the innkeeper and will say something if others don't speak up.
He might be more accommodating as a toad.
"Eldon, ge' yerself o'er here an' explain t' this fine fellow how 'e outta be givin' us a better price, given all th' heroin' ye intend t' be doin' here. Oh, an' I ken be throwin' in th' blessing o' Angradd on this house, too."
Arval glares at the man.
"You call that a reasonable price?! Three gold for the lot of us would be more enough..."
The innkeeper takes a bit of a step back as Arval uses a bit of threatening body language.
"You think I could make a living here if rooms cost less? That ain't some trumped up rate for outsiders. Flat rate, and people pay it. I've got three rooms filled. You're welcome to stay here, but the rate is the rate. And from the looks of that fancy gear you've got on, you can well afford it."
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"Sure you can lower that price for me, the one and only Eldon Appleton."
Eldon steps forward with a smug expression. "Let me tell you about my epic deeds, and why I'm so incredibly awesome..."
"...so the ghost lady, charmed by all that is me, agreed to help us out and used a charm to make me even more charming and irresistible than I already was..."
"...and I told them the big guy was harmless and that I would take them to court, which I did. There I completely destroyed them with my impeccable knowledge of the law and outstanding evidence..."
"...then the werewolves decided they'd like to appoint me as their leader, but I told them I had no time to play king of the forest. I'm much too involved in all the other important matters all over Golarion..."
"...all in all, I really think you should lower your prices for me. Perhaps I can persuade you by offering some free of charge storytelling in the evening, for you and your other guests?"
His eyes constantly darting to Arval, the man finally juts in in order to shut Eldon up.
"If you stop prattling at me, I'll lower the rate. Three gold a room normal-like would be nine gold per night. I'll drop that to seven for the lot of you. On the condition you lot tell me why in the sea's name you're here."
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Wren nods her head, satisfied. Making herself comfortable, she begins to explain.
"Well, let me tell you, I was just minding my own business....blahblahblah....giant flesh golem with a huge endowment...blahblahblah...hit on by an ugly human...blahblahblah...chased through the woods by werewolves...blahblahblah...hunting cabin with the most sexually repressed guests...blahblahblah...giant goddess butterfly temple, much like me...blahblahblah...cult of demons breeding with...blahblahblah...too many tomatoes and too little salt...blahblahblah...down to the only town emptier and deader than here...blahblahblah...fought it out with two churls, one pup...blahblahblah...came down here for a stay, you see?"
Wren offers the man a yellow smile and looks to see if he has any questions.
Arval rolls with his eyes as Wren also starts talking.
"You had to ask, didn't you..."
The innkeeper stares blankly at Wren for a while as she prattles on and on. Finally, finally he turns to the rest of the group.
"Just pay me. You have the three rooms facing north."
Assuming he is paid, you're lead up to the top floor and given three keys. There are six rooms in the inn in total, three of which are apparently booked although none of their occupants appear to be around. The innkeeper takes off, again shooting a glance over his shoulder to Arval. Downstairs, he calls for his son.
Kawrock steps out while the others pester the poor inn keeper. He starts looking for any fresh tracks that might indicate where their rider may have gone off too.
Arval dumps his pack in the room after paying his fee for the inn. He steps out again, glaring at the innkeeper. He follows after Kawrock and tries to help him.
"Maybe go to the stables next? Maybe they have switched horses."
He shares any findings with the group, if he finds nothing he will head over to the stables to check there.
"Hello?"
Satisfied that she has yet another new best friend in the innkeeper and solid lodgings for the night, Wren follows Arval to the stables.
"That man was quite nice, wasn't he, Arval?" Wren smiles her hideous yellow-toothed smile and fluffs her feathered 'armor' as she follows the man.
After paying the innkeeper Eldon tries to gather some useful information on the person the party's looking for from other guests, if there are any other guests in the inn.
Kawrock heads out to check for tracks in the town. Unfortunately, he finds it a fairly difficult task. Looking for horse's hooves in a town is like finding hay in a haystack.
While Kawrock searches, most of the group save Eldon and Lena head to the inn's stables as there is no town stables proper. Although there are a couple of horses in, none of them have the winged braid brand which the group was looking for.
Of all of you, Eldon has the most luck as he starts pestering anyone he can find with questions. After a couple hours of work, he manages to get the following information out of some locals hanging near the inn who were happy enough to talk to the strange, polite little halfling.
- "Well there was that Gaster Lucas fellow who showed up recent-like riding into town. Trader of some sort. He mainly kept to hisself, ain't been no trouble."
- "Fishin's been poor of late. And the Neighbours h'ain't been seen fer a while. Mayhaps they got fed up with all the foreigners hereabouts lately and just up and left. Things is so bad folks have even see the Watcher in the Bay near to town. That can't mean no good."
"Do you know where this Gaster Lucas went?" Eldon asks the first of them.
The other one he asks, "The Neighbors? Could you tell more about them? And who is the Watcher in the Bay?"
Wren's head cocks like a pigeon spotting a crumb on the ground.
"Watcher in the Bay?" Wren squawks in repeat.
Know (+18 arcana, +16 planes, +17 local/religion)
"What is that? Some sort of watcher?"
Arval returns with empty hands and tries to find the others, eventually finding them at the inn's stables. He patiently waits outside as to not scare the man who just started talking to them.
Whiskeyjack went to the stables with Arval, weapons at the ready. After their last encounter, he wasn't thrilled at being caught in the close confines of the stables unawares. He knew better than to try and out talk Wren and Eldon, so he stood aside and drank from his flask, occasionally offering Arval a swig. finally, he recognized that Lena wasn't with them and excused himself to go sit by the halfling's side for some food and drink of his own. It wouldn't do for the little one to be separated from the pack, so to speak.
The group settle in for drinks as Eldon and Wren talk to the farmer.
"Eh? Well I assumed he was still 'round town. Mayhap ask the innkeeper, e's got a room here. As for the Watcher in the Bay, well that there's a huge creature out there. If ya go to the wharves ye ken see the Watcher if ye look just right. Big serpent-like creature."
He takes a long pull from his ale, which is weird and smelly like the rest of the town. As Eldon asks about the neighbours, he gets a little evasive.
"Well now the Neighbours down t'bay. That's just a little settlement a ways down here. We hain't seen them for a while is all."
Kawrock eyes the drinks suspiciously and wonders if the strange odder from his mug makes it more combustible. Not brave enough to take a drink he waits for news from the others.
Arval waits a little longer outside the inn and also heads back, meeting up with Whiskey and Lena. He sits down at the table with the two of them and looks really tired. He orders some food and drink to get him through the evening.
"Terrible place... Everything smells or is unfriendly..."
He says as he toys with his food, not really having an appetite yet.
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Lena looks at Arval sympatheticly.
Your probably tired. It's been a long day. A good nights sleep will do you good.
She idlely conjures a small flame that dances around her fingers as she taps the table with them.
We know a rider came this way, but no one has seen him. So either he never got that far, no one noticed him, or the folk here are lying.
"Maybe we should go visit the Neighbors tomorrow."
Wren will float out to the wharves and see if he can see the Watcher. She doesn't have too much interest in drink and is happy to explore the town a bit.
Although there are a variety of spectacular natural beasts that may live in the water, there's nothing that really matches the description.
However, there is a magical beast called, well, unsurprisingly a sea serpent. They are the stuff of marine legends and are exceedingly rare, existing in mythology moreso than in reality.
But Lake Encarthan is freshwater. A sea serpent has no business there. As you speak, an armed man wearing a red badge on his shoulder stalks into the room and sets eyes on you. The man you were speaking to quietly excuses himself.
"Now hold on there ya weirdos. I'm t'Sherriff in this here town and we don't want no troublemakers hassling our locals. You've got a minute t'splain why yer in Illmarsh bothering these good people!"
Wren gives others a moment to speak before she does. She seems to be gathering her thoughts like a robin building a nest out of crazy.
"Since when is paying too much fer a room an' buyin' drinks botherin' people?"
Eldon's just rejoined the others when the man appears.
"We're just visiting this town and looking for someone who passed through here. That's all."
He scrapes his throat and adds. "Though I certainly don't mind telling you about all I've experienced on my way here. Let me tell you, in great and lengthy detail, about my many adventurers on that road!"
The talkative halfling then goes into an hour long monologue about his own perfection.
Arval nods when Eldon explains what they are doing in town.
"Just that, but please don't ask after his adventures..."
He sighs when the halfling being his monologue about his own perfection, looking half pleading at the man in front of them to help him out.
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Lena puts her elbows in the table, chin on her hands as she watched Eldon do his thing. one day he'll find someone who just hits him. I wonder if this is the day? Lena wasn't fussed on Eldon's self promoting rants, but if this bigin tried to hurt him, he'd regret it.
She smiled at the sherrif as the little flame continued to dance on a dish in front of her.
As Eldon is telling some very enjoyable stories, Wren just listens and nods. She keeps her birdy mouth shut.
With nothing else to do during Eldon's long winded speech, Kawrock just watches the flame dance in Lena's dish.
"...so I told them I'd show them, and whipped it out. They'd never seen one as epic as mine. Of course it really helps that mine's made of adamantine, which is of course very useful for penetration..."
The sheriff stares at Eldon, apparently lulled into a momentary stupor by the halfling's babbling.
"Bah! Enough wit that. C'mere. The mayor wants a word."
Not waiting for you to finish your drinks, the mayor stalks out, expecting you to follow.
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The sheriff escorts you across the town square to the town hall, which lies opposite to the tavern. It is a three-storey structure and the largest in town. He leads you up to the second floor past a couple of guards and a bored-looking receptionist to the mayor's office. A few sharp knocks, and you are welcomed in.
The mayor is a scrawny man with oiled skin and red-splotched cheeks. He is dressed in a shabby coat and top hat and speaks with a gasp, as if slightly out of breath.
"The outsiders are here for interrogation, Mayor!" snaps the sheriff. The mayor responds with a somewhat nervous laugh and he quickly waves his hand to dismiss the sheriff. "Don't scare then Rill, they mean no harm. Please, return to your duties. Thank you."
He stands up to clasp hands with you, smiling and showing some properly nasty teeth. "A pleasure sirs and madams, please be welcome to Illmarsh. I am Mayor Early Greedle. I apologize for Rill's brusque behaviour. He's an old soldier and they're always looking for wars to fight. So please... consider this a formal and friendly welcome. What brings you here? I am happy to answer any questions."
The Mayor appears deeply worried about something, but otherwise does not seem hostile or suspicious.
Wren smiles, beginning to really like this town more and more.
"Well, Mayor, I have to say that this town is quite friendly and genuinely interested in hearing about our stories," Wren seems positively cheery that yet another youngster wants to hear the wisdom from their elders.
Wren finds a chair to answer the question of 'What brings you here?'
"Well, Mayor, it all began when I was looking for my good friend, a flesh man named 'Feathers'...blahblahblah...he, like this funny talking dwarf I used to know, had a hard time fitting in..blahblahblah...and I had to help prove the innocence of it and two she gnomes, one of which had a hair lip..blahblahblah...was into making a fist and using it to..blahblahblah...and that's where Eldon was wrong..blahblahblah...and then the werewolves..blahblahblah...could find a suitable mate..blahblahblah...tried to use 'Fey-dr' a mating call..blahblahblah...and so we came to Illmarsh."
Wren waits to see if the Mayor has any questions.