Shaking himself from his stupor, Corian finally emits a series of coherent thoughts. "Ale? Did I hear ale? Yes! I think we can all use a pint or two of the stuff! I know I can." With that, Corian sets off for the town square, albeit with a slightly odd gait to his step.
Returning the arrow to his quiver, Glornug falls into step near Corian, humming a quiet tune.
All of you (less the guard) head up the country road towards the center of town. As you get closer, you can make out the farmhouses giving way to signs of modern civilization. The houses here are made of stone, chisled down to form large blocks. The roofs are made of wood timbers (and occaisionally thatch), and most of the houses have some type of window at the front of the house on one side or the other of the door.
The bulk of the houses in this village congregate around a central market. Given that is it nearing the end of the lunch hour, many of the stalls are temporarily empty, although you see a few workers starting to walk back. You see a cat chasing a dog around one of the stalls, which seems odd to you, except that a moment later, the dog begins chasing the cat around. You get the impression that this is for play and not for malice.
Looking around, you see the sign that the guard mentioned, and start walking towards it. The first thing that hits you is the smell. Real food is cooking from the hearth in the common room. It smells like a rich, hearty stew is brewing, it might even be fresh. Over the hearth, you can see someone setting sides of ribs, pork probably, the person ladling some kind of sauce over them. No more trail rations tonight!
Looking around the common room, you see a woman, tall and thin, standing behind the bar, talking to the first guard that spoke to Shi'Vatha. You also see someone at the far end of the bar, looking forlorn, even from here, his head down over a stein. The guard sees you, motions to the woman and then points. "There they are, those are the people that I told you about!"
Walking through the town towards the inn, Felicity smiles at the antics of the cat and dog. These look to be good people. We should accept their hospitality while it is available.
Query Corian: do you intend to confront this demon-god Orcus? Such undertaking are never simple.
Taking in the sights as he walks alongside his companions, Glornug smiles. "I hope there is a place where I can get more arrows. It would be a shame to run out."
Shi'Vatha gives the guard a friendly nod, then tilts his head curiously at the person the guard is talking to. "Well met again..." He says softly. The smell of the tavern/inn is nice, but he's not really hungry. His type don't eat except occasionally for pleasure, and he's not really in the mood for that right now.
Walking through the town towards the inn, Felicity smiles at the antics of the cat and dog. These look to be good people. We should accept their hospitality while it is available.
Query Corian: do you intend to confront this demon-god Orcus? Such undertaking are never simple.
Corian seems a little distracted. Nijena is sticking to him like a leaf on the wind, and he seems a little...off. As you come near the inn, he realizes that you were speaking to him "Huh, well, um. I don't know, to be honest. One doesn't exactly plan to take on the gods, after all. Especially one so foul as that creature." He shakes his head as if in wonder.
Selene shrugs. "Your destiny is your own. Move against the demon or not it's up to you. Although if the gods do wish your involvement, events may arise to guide you towards this 'destiny'. Nonetheless, a demon god is not an orc or feeble wizard. We will require much in the way of planning and training if we are to have any hope in attaining this goal, whether the gods want it or not."
Shi'Vatha's tongue lols out. "The gods want things done now, with the minimum of fuss, usually." He says with some amusement. "However, when it comes to mortals... well, they have learned that while both carrots and sticks are useful, the combination of the two works even better. I believe we've seen the carrot, now we just need to wait for the stick to slam into us."
"All of you are assuming that we are just going to storm castle, so to speak. I somehow doubt that we are going to be 'smiting' gods anytime soon. Right now, I'm focused on finding that keep and seeing what it's about."
Nijena's smile falters a bit before recovering. "Yes, but Corian? To ignore one's destiny is to ignore one's whole life. Surely, you are not contemplating that, are you?"
"Well, I, erm. That is, um..." Seeing the lady behind the bar, he practically runs over and asks for a stout. Looking over, you can see that Nijena's robes are puffed out, looking very airy. You can actually see just a little bit below her neck.
Shi'Vatha wags his finger at the cleric. "Be careful, Carrot. If the gods are playing chess, you may be playing checkers. Corian was on his way here to deal with something, it's not your place to say that is not part of what he needs to do. If it isn't, and the gods are playing chess, it will become apparent it isn't something he's meant to do. Beware you don't lead him astray from his path by the simple method of pushing him down the wrong path with the greatest of intentions." The furry eidelon chuffs in amusement. "The road to the demon's plane is paved with good intentions."
Glornug also walks over to the bar, and requests an ale, which he quietly sips as he observes the conversation.
"So am I to believe it is being said that Corian is getting a new program to follow, but it's his choice wether he does or not?"
Shi'Vatha wags his finger at the cleric. "Be careful, Carrot. If the gods are playing chess, you may be playing checkers. Corian was on his way here to deal with something, it's not your place to say that is not part of what he needs to do. If it isn't, and the gods are playing chess, it will become apparent it isn't something he's meant to do. Beware you don't lead him astray from his path by the simple method of pushing him down the wrong path with the greatest of intentions." The furry eidelon chuffs in amusement. "The road to the demon's plane is paved with good intentions."
Nijena looks thoughtful for a moment, thinking before she replies to the 'taur before her. "I can see your point, um, I'm sorry your name again? I see your point, Shi'Vatha. When you put it that way, I would not want to be pushed either. I wish to help all of you; my intentions, however, are not to manipulate you into doing certain actions. I would like, however, to help you in any way that I can."
Shi'Vatha nods. "It's understandable, mortals tend to get excitable when gods get involved." The eidelon again gives a goofy tongue out laugh. "Hang out with them long enough, and you realize that things happen in their appointed time and appointed ways, or at least that the gods try really hard to make that happen. Of course, the evil gods do the same, which is what makes life interesting. It really does come down to who picked the best chess pieces. Well that, and to make sure you're playing chess and not hopscotch. Bad things happen to you when you thought you were playing chess and you're actually playing hopscotch."
"That makes little sense to me right now. However, if I have a chance to think about it, then perhaps the anecdote will work itself out. But I believe that I see your point."
Staring up into the even sky, Felicity's eye momentarily lose focus and she considers a fragment of memory. It is all a part of the great game. Gods, Demons, Wizards, all have their hands on the fates of lesser beings. Some are altruistic, others, not so much. All maneuver lesser beings as a chess player would maneuver pawns on a chessboard.
Shi'Vatha looks at Felicity, and nods. "Which is why bad things happen if you're playing hopscotch and not chess, because then when the god playing hopscotch throws his bean bag, he knocks the chess pieces all over the place. On the bright side, if you are playing chess, it means the pawns have a chance to advance into something greater, assuming they survive."
"But only the pawns. No knight advances to rook, or bishop to queen. So, if the gods are playing chess we must determine what pieces we are, yes?"
Shi'Vatha nods. "Exactly. Knights and rooks are too well known to the enemy, it is hard to promote them. Pawns are usually overlooked, at least those that aren't killed outright."
After a few minutes, the guard begs his leave to get back to his post. The barkeep starts to ask you if you'd like something, when the guy at the end of the bar, who until now been watching you intently, says to your party, "'scuse me. 'Scuse me. You guys adven'uring types?"
Felicity carefully looks the mans up and down, Why would you make that assumption? Does this unit look like the adventuring type? This units, my, primary function is guardian.
Shi'Vatha tilts his head and looks at the man. "I used to be."
"If the 'adventure' is sufficiently interesting or the reward is dazzling, I could be of that type," Selene says, looking at the man.
The man looks at you, one eye shut. He mumbles incoherently for a moment, before he starts crying. He then yells out, The barkeep rolls her eyes and softly speaks. "Here we go again."
"Manticores? I know of those. Are there some nearby?"
Shi'Vatha looks on in curiosity. "Mandy core? Who is Mandy core?"
We have enough problems already Glornug, Let us focus on the task at hand.
Glornug nods at Felicity. "I wasn't suggesting we get involved... though we could, it would certainly be an interesting hunt... anyway, no. I was simply curious as to what this man is on about."
"Manticores? I know of those. Are there some nearby?"
[dice=Nature, to see how much I know...]1d20 + 5
Shi'Vatha looks on in curiosity. "Mandy core? Who is Mandy core?"
"Whatever it is, leg us hope it is not in the direction we're going."
"Manticores? I know of those. Are there some nearby?"
[dice=Nature, to see how much I know...]1d20 + 5
The barkeep leans over to you, while keeping an eye on your soused conversationalist. "There is, supposedly, a group of manticores, a male and a female, that make a home near the mountain peaks in the area to our north and east. Around here, you can hear the occasional tale from one of our hunters about how one of the 'cores swoop in to snatch some prey, but that's pretty rare." Nodding in the man's general direction, she continues, "To hear him tell it, both of these 'cores came in and attacked his farm, took his wife and child, and that was that. Happened near six months ago now, judging from how he's come in and staggered out almost every day since then."
Glornug nods at the barman, and says, voice lowered, "It makes sense that they would live in the mountains nearby, as that is their usual habitat. But this man claims that they attacked his farm and made off with his family? And that has been the only attack?"
Shi'Vatha's confused look goes away. "A child was taken?" The eidelon's new claws peel wood from the bar before he can remember they exist. "Sorry." He tells the bartender curtly. He turns to Corian. "While you are in town dealing with your dead mentor's paperwork, may I have permission to detach from your service and eliminate the creatures who are preying on children?" Shi'Vatha seems to have a soft spot when it comes to cubs and death. Or perhaps that's a murderous spot.
Does no one think it odd that an would target a human family when livestock would be far simpler to prey upon?
Selene nods. "It does seem a little strange. Did the man see the manticores perform this deed, or was it merely the results of the attack he saw?"
Glornug nods at the barman, and says, voice lowered, "It makes sense that they would live in the mountains nearby, as that is their usual habitat. But this man claims that they attacked his farm and made off with his family? And that has been the only attack?"
"No, it's not the only one," the barkeep says, "but they are rather rare. The manticores in this area seem to prefer moving targets for some reason. That being said, they rarely take more than a person, and not often more than once or twice a year."
Shi'Vatha's confused look goes away. "A child was taken?" The eidelon's new claws peel wood from the bar before he can remember they exist. "Sorry." He tells the bartender curtly. He turns to Corian. "While you are in town dealing with your dead mentor's paperwork, may I have permission to detach from your service and eliminate the creatures who are preying on children?" Shi'Vatha seems to have a soft spot when it comes to cubs and death. Or perhaps that's a murderous spot.
Looking up from his ale, you can tell that Corian, despite his distraction, was listening. He says, "I am willing to wait a couple of days to go into the keep. It will take me that long to get everything in order here in Fairhill. You may all go, if you wish. If there is anything that you find that could be a component for one of my spells, I would appreciate you bringing it back for me."
Selene nods. "It does seem a little strange. Did the man see the manticores perform this deed, or was it merely the results of the attack he saw?"
The barkeep looks at you and says, "He claims that he saw the manticore himself. Even tried to fight it off with his old rusty sword, but I would imagine that even if he could hit the broadside of a barn with that old thing, it would likely fall to pieces."
Glornug looks at Corian. "I concur with Shi'Vatha. If there is time, or if it would not inconvenience you, I would like to hunt these manticores. If it is not possible, or would cause you trouble, then I will stay with you, as that was the agreement."
Shi'Vatha nods, and looks at the drunk. Then he walks over, and despite his small size, lifts the man up off his stool.
He carries the man out of the tavern, and a few seconds later the man's protesting voice is cut off by a tremendous splashing sound. Sputtering sounds follow mixed with more loud splashes. A few minutes later the man is dragged back into the tavern, soaking wet from head to toe. Shi'Vatha then pushes the man up against the bar. "Coffee, black, hot please. Thank you." He tells the barkeeper. "Mix in whatever you usually use to sober up drunks, I think he's awake and aware enough now to listen to reason and give reasonable details, but sober would help." The eidelon is soaking wet as well, but he reaches into a belt pouch and puts a couple of silver pieces on the counter. "My apologies for the dampness."
The sputtering man tries to protest vigorously, but the much stronger 'taur is able to easily manipulate him into what he wants. Looking pathetically over the steaming mug of kaffe in front of him, he looks at the 'taur for the first time and is taken aback. "Are you here to take me as well?" he croaks, water, spit, and mucus coming from his nostrils and mouth.
Shi'Vatha shakes his head. "I'm here to kill evil, and chew tarro root. And I'm all out of tarro root. But if you want me to go kill those mandy cores, you are going to have to be sober enough to answer my questions. Either that, or I have to drag you along with me until you sober up."
The man stares at you as he mulls over your words. "You...you, want to kill the manticores! My god, man, why didn't you say so, I'll tell you everything I know!"
Shi'Vatha shakes his head. "I did, you were too drunk to listen. Now drink the coffee and chemicals, and sober up." He releases the man, and even helps him back to his feet, now that he's finally broken through the drunken stupor. Then he pauses, and tilts his head to look at the bartender. "Is there a place that sells Tarro root in town? I really am out of Tarro root."