Jurgan ponders the choices and then comes to an epiphany.
'Hmm maybe that minstrel was right. She could do with a little more beard but she at least has lots of hair maybe there is a connection here after all.'
Jurgan stands up from his seat and turns to Alluriel. "You must forgive me. I had boarded the coach with no knowledge that I was not to be the sole occupant. Upon waking to hear so many voices – high pitched ones at that – after that less than comfortable ride I was taken back. I had thought you all to be porters or drivers getting off on the hard earned coin that I spent to get a coach that I thought was private.
And then I was accosted by someone's shield that is still smarting my foot. One cannot say I threw the first hammer I was only defending myself against so many new faces who had turned against me. Your very own cat sat on me did she not? Shields turned if you had been in my boots you might have similarly reacted. Which I also must include that I did not retaliate against the large feline after she sat upon me.
That being said let us end this over agonizing quarrel with each other. The backwater townspeople should look favourable upon their saviours not with suspicion regarded for someone who lives in the shadows. Let me buy a drink for you so that we can toast these quarrels away. You have a fire that burns intensely. I like that." With that Jurgan smiles at Alluriel and gives her a wink.
To the others' amusement, and Jurgan's not knowing at that time, his face becomes decorated.
"Well, -sir- dwarf, we can't call you saviours, unless you actually rid of us a terrible danger."
Belegar will enjoy his food and his ale, have more of both and offer to sing with the musicians.
He will also tell one of his favourite funny stories to the party.
However, Beregal knows his limits (having learnt from past mistakes) and will halt his drinking before hangovers are threatened, then offer last watch.
Alluriel sighs heavily, ”Next time, I suppose you will learn to be more careful about your affairs. And even if you feel irritated, taking it out on others doesn’t make matters any better. It often it makes it worse.” She answers Jurgan matter-of-factly, without any hint of accusation.
”Like it was your less then polite manner that made Angar drop his shield on your foot.” She adds in.
” I warned you not to speak to me in a condescending manner. You ignored my warning.” She shrugs her shoulders, ”Shadow sitting on you was just showing I do not make empty threats.”
"And Shadow is a he and not a she,"Alluriel corrects Jurgan. "At least you didn't say it, so that's a start."
”Frankly, I think you got off lightly. Vaunu was at one point thinking of pushing you off the carriage. “She says just to drive the point home.
Deciding that she has given Jurgan enough of a lecture, Alluriel relents. ”Nevertheless, I accept your apology. More people make solving problems easier work. And we’ve got lots of problems to solve.” She allows Jurgan to sit beside her, and includes him in the discussions.
She then turns to Belegar, her eyebrows furrowed. ”I have heard that travelling minstrels have a way of pulling off magical feats out of thin air. May I ask if you are capable of such a thing?”
”If so, I have a plan for watch tonight – if you could cast that spell that I’ve seen some of the Guardsmen of Abadar use, we could possibly get two people on night watch tonight, while we sleep in separate rooms, with something piled against the windows, possibly a desk or a cupboard.”
”And since I suggested it – I’d say that I get to get a full night’s sleep – who would like to volunteer for night watch?” Alluriel grins impishly at the party.
”If you are unable to do so – no matter – we can take shifts – or alternatively someone can pull an all-nighter, and I can remove his fatigue in the morning.”
Agnar continues to ignore Jurgan completely, turning his back to the other dwarf and speaking mostly with the wayang. I shall watch. he offers when the subject comes up.
Alluriel turns to Agnar, "He apologized. Life's too short to be spent bickering among ourselves when 16 people have already gone missing. He may know something we don't - like he identified the creature from the plane of Air. Would you be willing to forgive him?"
He apologized to you lass, not me or the others. Didja hear what he said about my worship o’ Torag?
"True that." Alluriel admits. She points at Agnar, "He has a point. You owe the others an apology as well."She tells Jurgan evenly, then looks at him expectantly. "And you should not go around saying uncomplimentary things about people's gods as well."
'The lady puts me in such a bind. This had better be worth it.'
Smiling at Alluriel, Jurgan begrudgingly says,"To any of you that my words so fittingly found a way to injure I ask you to look upon my actions as being too blunt. In the future and for the sake of clarity I shall do my best to hold my tongue regardless if my truth does not match your own feelings. I believe that should be an end of this."
"You should look at people when you're apologizing to them, and address them by their names as well. And less begrudgingly."Alluriel corrects him. "Since it is them you are apologizing to, not me."
"Anyway, I'm bushed."Alluriel gives a yawn. "Let's see to the rooms then we can go to bed. Anyone has twine and some bells?" She will help push a desk/cupboard to cover the window completely, and if no one can get twine and bells, she will ask Catharine if she has any to spare, then rig the corridor with it.
"If Belegar can do that spell that those guardsman of Abadar do, there's no need for me to fix you in the morning, nor wake anyone up since Agnar will be keeping watch with you.
Alluriel makes sure the doors are open between both rooms, before cuddling up with Shadow as a bolster.
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Yes, stealing from another is considered PVP.
Jurgan turns and tries to smile at the others but it ends up looking more like a scrunched up frown. It quickly turns back to his normal pompous, air of authority demeanour. He listens to Vaunu irritating voice and decides it is likely best to keep his distance. Something about that wayang bothered him and it wasn't just his smell.
"Agreed. Then let us rest. Minstrel you have a decent voice let us room together and you given admirable insights today!" with that he picks up his equipment and moves to his room for the night.
Catharine is surprised by another odd request, 3rd in fact, this evening.
"Make sure that whatever you do with it, it doesn't hinder the other guests, okay?"
While the tall folk all go to bed, it is left to Vaunu to take watch, and he walks between both rooms, looking inside and keeping watch in the corridor.
A few half drunken patrons come up the stairs, greet him with a short hand wave, before stumbling to their respective rooms.
With the windows blocked by cupboards and luggage atop it, its curtains closed, Vaunu doesn't spot what was happening outside.
The night passes uneventfully, but there is talk accompanying the morning.
Patron: "Hey, did you hear already?
There's another one missing, one of the houses across the inn."
Patron #2: "Well the council's certainly got its hands full on this."
Agnar is up early, devotions observed and cleaned up before others come down for breakfast. When he hears the news his mood darkens. Should have set up a watch outside I suppose. But if this council was on top o' things they'd have met with us last night in the first place. Damn fools to make us wait til morning ta tell us what they know.
Jurgan awakes feeling nicely rested. He looks around to make sure that the wayang has not disturbed any of his goods. 'Hmm seems good.'
He opens up his book and starts to memorize the necessary syllables storing the unformed energy in his mind. Finally closing it he heads downstairs to see priest is awake.
What little people are in the common room they only seem to be talking about one thing. More people are missing! He looks around hoping the others will be down soon.
Calling to the other dwarf Agnar says Come and sit and break your fast with me. He gestures to the chair opposite him.
Jurgan looks around wondering if he heard correctly. He tries to gather himself and then walks confidently over to the other dwarf. 'Hmm maybe I should have prepared a spell to protect against any further assaults?'
"Right then." he says as he plants his large bottom on the chair. He doubted that this dwarf about small talk. Then again he was a priest so he likely had many useless quips of false wisdom to speak. Adjusting his glasses "You woke early. Are the others about? I had thought the wayang – what is that creature's name again? – would also be awake. It would seem that there is talk that someone else has gone missing. Yet still no word from our employers? This is absurd we should go right now to meet with them. The townspeople are likely to blame us very soon. I do not like the idea of being chased out of town by an angry mob. Right now what do you think?" he finally gives the priest a moment to talk.
Alluriel awakes and takes a bath, grooms Shadow, then goes down to the taproom with him following by her side."Good morning everyone. How was your night?"
Listening to Jurgan's voice when she was coming down the stairs, she shrugs, "I wouldn't think that the townspeople would be blaming us - Catharine would vouch that none of us have left our rooms - and we were told that the town council would meet us in the morning."
Listening to the talk about a man going missing across the houses, Alluriel asks Agnar and Vaunu, "Did any of you hear anything while you were at watch last night?"
Alluriel, realizing that the impromptu blockade had caused them not to here anything, thinks with an odd pang of guilt , 'Maybe we should have left the windows clear so we could stop it'
Not wanting to trouble the innkeeper this early, she passes Shadow some Carnivore feed out of her bag.
Jurgan looks around wondering if he heard correctly. He tries to gather himself and then walks confidently over to the other dwarf. 'Hmm maybe I should have prepared a spell to protect against any further assaults?'
"Right then." he says as he plants his large bottom on the chair. He doubted that this dwarf about small talk. Then again he was a priest so he likely had many useless quips of false wisdom to speak. Adjusting his glasses "You woke early. Are the others about? I had thought the wayang – what is that creature's name again? – would also be awake. It would seem that there is talk that someone else has gone missing. Yet still no word from our employers? This is absurd we should go right now to meet with them. The townspeople are likely to blame us very soon. I do not like the idea of being chased out of town by an angry mob. Right now what do you think?" he finally gives the priest a moment to talk.
Before Alluriel joins then Agnar speaks candidly with Jurgan. I am willing to concede that you and I got off on the wrong foot yesterday. It would be better for the people of this town if we could set aside our differences and act as a team for the duration of this event. We are in a position that we need to trust that each of us on this team are competent at a subset of useful skills. It would be best to know that we can count of each other to employ those skills to the mutual benefit of the group in the service of the good people of this town. I do not think that you would appreciate being left out of my divine healing and I'd prefer not to have to worry about being included in your area affect spells. If you can agree to keep insults and quips to yourself and to work to help the people of this town then I shall agree to defer to you in matters arcane, heal you when you are injured, and put my armored butt between you and any enemy. I'll even look after your dwarves soul when you are not looking, no extra charge. Agnar looks to the other dwarf, half expecting to be rejected.
'I knew they needed me and who am I to deny them my immense amount of knowledge. They will benefit working for err with me. I must note to be a little less blunt they are after all a tad sensitive' he shakes out of his reverie.
"Your alliance is accepted. We must be professional in this matter. Or bedlam will breakout if it has not already."
Vaunu sees the most adorable kitten pass by, as he enjoys the departing shadows.
When you've finished your breakfast, which consisted of fried eggs, bacon, cheese and bread, the door opens.
A young lad steps in and looks around.
"Morning, you must be the new arrivals, yes? The council has convened and awaits your presence."
"Yes, we will be right there immediately."Alluriel quickly gulps down the last of her breakfast, then shepherds the party to meet the council.
About time. Agnar mutters under his breath as he stands to leave. Do they want to wait for the whole town ta be missing?
Vaunu can leave his rucksack in Catharine's care, yes.
The lad leads you to an average but distinguishable house across the square.
When he opens it, the interior not at all matches 'a council of officials', as it could have been your every day house, just a bit more spacious.
11 seats stand in a semi circle in the living room.
In 4 of them, sit 3 men and a woman.
The 1st man is of late middle age, he sports white hairs and a beard, wearing simple clothing.
The second man seems to be in his mid twenties, with blonde hair combed backwards, and sporting a set of shades.
The woman is young, early to mid twenties, with a kind but confident aura about her.
The third man is of muscular build. Bald and sporting a 'stache upon a square jawlined face. His attire leaves little doubt as to which of the 5 he is.
The woman stands, making a welcoming gesture to the empty seats.
"Hello, newcomers. Please, have a seat."
Agnar files in and stands as the others enter. He sits after the others and watches the 4 appraisingly.
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Jurgan makes sure to get in first moving past the others and then sits himself down in the middle of the empty seats. 'This is taking too long.'
"Council. Can we move past the formalities. Word is spreading across the town that another citizen has been kidnapped. You hired us so tell us what you know and where we can start so that we can save your town before another disappears. Other than the disappearances what oddities have you seen in this town? Are these disappearing with no trace? Is there magic involved or are they being dragged away in the night into the surrounding woods? Since you hired we should also speak about our payment and expenses before proceeding."
'There that should help. No bother in being a tongue tied gnome or a stuffy elf.'
"Good morning, Sir Geoffry" Alluriel addresses the third muscular man, the looks at the young woman beside him, "Priestess Eileen," She then looks at the young man in his mid twenties, "Alchemist Albert and" , then lastly turns to look at the late middle edged man,thinking for a moment, 'Should I address him as old man? Maybe not, some people don't like being thought as old.' "Stobbs." Alluriel She then gives them all a respectful curtsey.
"I am Alluriel, and my compatriots are Vaunu," She gestures at the wayang, "Agnar" She gestures at the heavily armored dwarf, "Belegar," She gestures at the half-elf, "Jurgan" She gestures at the other dwarf in robes, "and Shadow."She gestures at her black panther.
"We are gathered here answering your call for aid. Pray, tell us what we can do to help."
Despite Jurgan's rather hasty tone, the four seem little bothered, perhaps they're immune to it.
Alchemist Whescer takes word when Jurgan speaks of payment. His tone formal and composed.
"Ah yes. We can refund your coach expenses, and the inn's fees can be arranged. All other expenses during your stay are yours."
Stobbs seems mildly amused, probably by being accustomed to hear the alchemist speak.
Priestess Eileen takes word.
"Welcome. Indeed, as you've heard by now, our residents are disappearing without a trace. While we've looked into the matter, we think a group of extra eyes might help."
Sir Geoffry takes over from her.
"I believe there is the chance that whoever is doing this, is aware of our watchmen's routes. Perhaps they've been sysyematically followed, or there is a rat in the populace. A group of newcomers would, aside from being talk of the town, be unpredictable.
Only some of us know that is the reason we've sent out a call for aid. Most of the residents think you have come for other reasons, which we kindly dropped as rumors."
"Sir Geoffry," Alluriel inclines her head politely, "What has the watch discovered regarding the missing people - has there been any kind of pattern, and could you arrange for us to get access to...where one of these incidents have taken place?"
"Last night I heard that in the house next to the inn, there was a disappearance. We did not expect...whatever it was to strike so unexpectedly." Alluriel answers regretfully.
"Coach expenses? Room and board? What of the reward for finding these folk and whatever is behind it? You have a number in your heads or you wouldn't have put out the call? Also while we a priest of our own we'd be needing some free services from the church if necessary. Sorting this out now frees us of any misunderstanding later on. I can draft the contract right now if need be." Jurgan begins to pull out his quills and ink ready to begin
"Jurgan, I believe you heard them wrongly. They just paid the coach, and only our inn - I don't believe that they promised any repayment for finding the folks. " Allluriel corrects him.
"Besides doing good deeds is good for your karma, and seeing people happy is reward enough already." Alluriel chides Jurgan."I'd take them on good faith that they would pay for the coach and inn. We don't need a contract."
Anxious to begin the investigation Agnar asks no question but comments We may need some letter or marker from the council to show that we act upon your behalf if we have to question people. Can that be arranged? And can we assume some level of legal enforcement powers? At least enoug to arrest and detain culprits?
Old man Stobbs calmly raises his palm at Jurgan's eagerness for contracts.
"At ease, sir dwarf. We aren't in a capitalistic city like Magnimar, no need for such 1st meeting formalities."
He stands up and heads over to a desk, where he takes out a quill and 2 pieces of paper, and he writes something down.
He hands them to Alluriel.
They are small letters, signed by Stobbs, that states that you five stay at the Nightingale on the council's expenses.
The 2nd is meant for the coach company, with likewise stating the council pays the coach's fee.
To Agnar's comment, Sire Geoffry nods.
"Of course. If you would follow me to the town watch barracks, i can compile something like it, and afterwards i'll take you to a few of the houses."
Eileen:
"About two weeks ago, a farmhand went missing. And over the course of the last two weeks, people have gone missing at random.
There was not something particular they had in common, aside from being townsfolk."
Sir Geoffry:
"Yet, we conclude they all happened during night time. With some, the windows were open. Two others were taking an evening walk, and vanished.
There were no signs of struggle either."
Excellent. I am eager to get started. Agnar says, standing and preparing to follow Sire Geoffrey.
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'I knew it. These councilmen are nothing but hoarders! This Alluriel is too kind hearted. Karma? Bah does she think I am a priest? I will need to renegotiate after we find out more behind these disappearances. Hopefully that wayang and the minstrel will realize that good coin is hard to come by. The altruism of this lady is almost enough to make me laugh right here and right now.'
"As you say but we might need to talk about a bonus once we find the nature of these disappearances." he stands and follows the others.
'Until then I will make good use of the free tab at the inn.'
All other expenses during your stay are yours.
Eileen stands, like the others. As if Erastil himself bestowed a divine moment upon her, she remarks.
"I sense honesty from -most- of you.", and she tosses a gaze a Jurgan. "Honesty and selflessness are traits most praised, and smiled upon by the great huntsman."
Whescer slightly pushes his shades back in proper place.
==========================
Alluriel turns to priestess Eileen,
"Were you the priestess who spoke to the kobolds in their caves? I have heard they have been fortifying their caves. If so, could you tell me what you know about them? We may be speaking to them on the need for unity in trying times like these, and not to bear old grudges."
"Bring us to the scenes of the dissappearance, Sir Geoffry. Have there been any eye witnesses of the creature? Melena said her grandmother was taken, and we will probably look for her as well."Alluriel answers.
Eileen: "Yes, with Erastil's blessing, i spoke to the kobolds.
They call themselves the Sharpfang tribe. I don't know their actual numbers. They had tunneled their way, in expansion to seek new resources, and stumbled upon a cave, which they deem of such worth, that attacking any 'trespassing smooth-skins', and fortifying the place, is the standard to them."
Sir Geoffry: "The Varisian girl, yes. Her gran disappeared last week.
And those two live in a mobile home, so her disappearance was even more mysterious.
Follow me."
Geoffry makes a gesture of -see you later- to the other three, and takes you out to the latest, where watchmen are already looking around for any signs of whatever might remotely have left signs.
-----------------------------
"Have the kobolds attacked any of the townsfolk before - and does anyone use the cave? Do they speak Draconic, and have they shown interest in leaving peacefully with humans?" Alluriel asks priestess Eileen.
Eileen :"Not since the 1st encounter. Ic you mean living alongside, as long as 1 side doesn't bother the other, thus far perhaps. And yes, they speak only draconic."