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Your party is now approaching the Village of Hommlet, having ridden up from lands of the Wild Coast. You are poorly mounted, badly equipped, and have no large sums of cash. In fact, all you have is what you wear and what you ride, plus the few coins that are hidden in purses and pockets. What you do possess in quantity, though, is daring and desire to become wealthy and famous. Thus your group comes to Hommlet to learn.
Is this indeed a place for adventurers to seek their fortunes? You all hope, of course, to gain riches and make names for yourselves. The outcome of this is uncertain, but your skill and daring, along with a good measure of luck, will be the main ingredients of what follows, be it for weal or woe.
The small community at the crossroads is a completely unknown quantity. What is there? Who will be encountered? Where should you go? These are your first explorations and encounters, so chance may dictate as much as intelligence. Will outsiders be shunned? Are the reports true—is the whole community engaged in evil practices? Are the folk here bumpkins, easily duped? Does a curse lay upon those who dare to venture into the lands which were once the Temple's? All of these questions will soon be answered.
The dusty, rutted road is lined with closely-grown hedges of brambles and shrubs. Here and there it cuts through a copse or crosses a rivulet. To either hand, forest and meadow have given way to field and orchard. A small herd of kine graze nearby, and a distant hill is dotted with the wand stone chimneys with thin plumes of blue smoke rising from them. A road angles west into the hill country, and to either side of the road ahead are barns and buildings—Hommlet at last! The adventure begins…
I sure hope it doesn't rain...
Wuss...
"We should find shelter as soon as possible."
The tall, well-tanned human walked with a wiry grace alongside a large lion. He seemed the only one of the party more content to be in the company of a hungry lioness than the other humanoid companions he shared the road with.
Dressed in animal hides and carrying a wooden shield for protection, the middle-aged man handled his pack and equipment with ease. Along the road, the man known as Trane spoke the common tongue with proficiency, but his speech was touched with the occasional snarl or gnashing of teeth. When speaking, the human seemed to be quick to augment his lack of words with many forms of nonverbal communication which so far included looking the subject of his conversation directly in the face with a challenging stare and an obvious flexing of his muscles.
"We need fresh meat!"
The forage had poor of late, and the lioness always had a fond gaze for the tall human in the animal hides. The gaze for the other travelers, however was somewhat enigmatic. With the occasional growl from the lioness' stomach, the scrutinizing gaze Chaandra gave to the other humanoids she shared with the road with at times seemed to be assessing how many choice cuts of meat each of the two-legged creatures would yield. The elven barbarian seemed to get the majority of her glances.
Remind me again why we travel with a hungry lion?
Because she ate the last bandit that attacked us.
So did I!
Before or after he died?
...
Good point...
"I think the lion's right we should find some more food, and that earlier idea about getting in out of the rain I like that one too."
With the grey hood of his traveler's cloak over his face, Balthasar's face was shrouded in part by darkness. He drew himself up on his walking-cane, trying not to show his weariness after the long trek, or his mild discomfort at being eyed up by a lioness every once in a while, as if he was a morsel.
"Must we discuss this here, now? My boots are worn and the weather grows foul. Surely there is a lodging-house or an inn of some sort in this town."
The human in hides says with authority: "Smell of wet lion fur is not good!"
Pulling the lapels of his colorful jacket closer, Garm tries to remember what the friendly dwarf from the last town told him about Hommlet. You know, other than, Stay away, ye'll git yer'slf killed.
I do believe there was an inn this way. Inn of the Welcome Wench or sumsuch. I don't care if all they've got are cots. I'll be happy to rest my weary feet.
Garm resettles his alchemy station and begins trudging towards town.
How about a song to keep us warm?
Over hill over dale,
We have hit the dusty trail.
As we lift our voices in song.
Up and down, in and out,
Round the hills we walked about,
For the star-lit skys we long.
By Cayden's holy mug, what did they pass as brandy in that hole forsaken by gods. My head is pounding...
"Please Garm, if you could tone that down a bit..." - he turns towards his latest acquaintance and drinking buddy. After such a long trip, Bryce was tired, very tired, and the fact that last night he had quite a lot to drink, combined with an "interesting night out for the boys" did not help him get much needed rest.
Barely suppressing the need to yawn once again, Bryce spends next half an hour simply walking in silence. Finally, he turns to the gnome and asks: "So what did you say was the name of that village in front?"
Hommlet, if the good master dwarf from last night was accurate. He appeared to be quite into his cups as well. Passed out right around the 3rd verse to my re-telling of the Dragonslayer's Word as I recall. A pity, I was just about to get to the interesting part.
I sense good story potential here. Barring that, a very amusing limerick.
Garm begins muttering various phrases under his breath. Something about cooked eggs...
I find it overrated myself. The Storm of Crows on the other hand, that's a great tale!
"Walk next to me Garm. I find that song lifts the goods spirit and keeps evil ones at bay. You and I will find this Inn."
Velcore slows his pace so the gnome can keep up.
Edgar fly high and see how far we are.
Looking the road ahead
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Rafael watches as his raven takes flight, circling overhead higher and higher. Soon the bird returns, and reports the village is just ahead, past the woods.
As soon as you leave the copse of woods, open fields greet your eye, and you can see that the road divides on this south side of the village. The main road proceeds north into the village and a road west begins here, angling into hill country.
At the junction of the road divide sits a well-kept wood and plaster farm house, with a large barn situated behind it. Two large farm dogs bark at your approach, and a rosy-cheeked goodwife appears at the doorway, smoothing her apron over her skirt. The lintel over the front door is carved with acorns and oak leaves.
The lioness seems to look at the barking dogs with contempt. They would make a mere snack.
The druid's eyes seemed to grow and his breathing became less regular as they left the wilds and headed towards the village. He looked around with apprehension at the settlements and farms.
"Shelter and food. I would prefer to stay out rather than in as you are discussing." the tanned man says with emotion.
Balthasar scoffed. "Passing up good food and drink for brambles on the side of the road? Suit yourself, but I have needs that must be met."
Upon seeing the goodwife, Baltahsar sifts through his hair with one hand and steps forth intending to leave a good, memorable first impression. He approaches the farmhouse, removing his hood along the way. "Hail, good lady! We are simple travelers, seeking shelter and food for the night. We heard that there is a tavern and an inn in this town. Might you be so kind to tell us where such an oasis for weary feet and thirsty souls is?"
Finally, perhaps we can get out of this gods-damned road. Any longer and I could be lion's bait.
The hood drops, revealing the pale complexion of a bespectacled scholar, long raven hair tied into a ponytail to prevent it from interfering with more important matters.
@Velcor:
My gratitude, Sir. Valiantheart was it? A mighty name indeed. However, let us see poor Bryce here to a warm bed before we start up any more noisy merriment.
@Trane:
Now my dear fellow, I daresay you seem a touch paler than I remember. Surely that cannot be? For you walk boldly with a lioness, therefore you must have the heart of one too! Much like High Knight Dragonfoe when he slew Xycalibrus, the great black wyrm.
I adjust the cumbersome pack on my shoulders once again.
Do not let mere buildings of wood and stone deter you from a fresh fire and even fresher morsels. For my nose itches and as my granpappy was found of saying, When the nose be itchin', ye best be hitchin'!. He was always fond of those sayings.
Err...my point? Of course I do ramble a bit don't I? My point dear sir is that there is a foul air out tonight and you would do well to be inside where it is easier to defend oneself, among those that would share the danger alongside you.
I nod to each of my strange companions in turn.
***
I approach the goodwife, sweep my hat from my head, and bow in one smooth motion.
A good eve to you, milady! Might we humbly intrude upon your hospitality briefly to inquire of the nearest inn or tavern? We are dusty and tired from the long road and greatly desire some food and lodging.
As the gnome steals his thunder, Balthasar shoots him a look of mild irritation as he moves to give way.
"Yes... I concur with my particularly palaverous colleague here," he grumbles. "And I would very much prefer to move on to greener meadows, preferably found at the bottom of an empty flagon. Several of them."
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The woman steps down from the house porch and approaches the group. The two dogs, seeing the large cat, begin barking and snarling in earnest. Thankfully, they are chained to the house.
Goodwife: Aye, sir, there is such a place here. You'll be welcome, I'm sure, but that cat may be a different story.
While she is talking, four children come out on the porch to watch.
Goodwife: Kids! Get the dogs into the house, so we don't have trouble on our hands. She flaps her apron at the dogs. Shoo!...Shoo!
The place yer lookin' fer is the Welcome Wench. Just keep followin' yer nose up the road, and look fer a sign what has got a woman holdin' a flagon. It'll be on yer left, can't miss it.
Goodwife (to Trane): Are ye a member of the Old Faith?
Velcore stands behind Balthasar and Garm giving a bright smile to the Goodwife and listening to the exchange of words.
About the "Old Faith"
(After Trane answers)
My dear lady what can you tell us about the bandits that have plagued this area for a year?
(After she answers)
Has there been issued a bounty of sorts?
(After the answer)
Is there any other way that a band of adventurers can help Homlett?
Looking for anything remarkable or out of the ordinary around the farm.
The druid, as soon as they approach the house, has the lioness sitting docilely by his side as the others do the talking. He scratches her fur absently as the woman speaks.
Trane touches his holy symbol and replies when directly queried by the goodwife: "Gozreh rules land, sea and sky. Peace be on your home."
With a look on his face depicting something between boredom and disinterest, Bryce yawns once more, not really paying too much attention to the answers goodwife was providing. After she has finished responding to Rafael and others, Bryce uses the opportunity to interject: "Very well then, I think I'll be off to that Welcome Wench place, I believe my talents could be put to a much better use there. Anyone wants to come with me?"
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Goodwife (to Rafael): It seems that we have good times and bad times around here. It was quiet for a while, just as we like it. But lately some hooligans have come to the area, tryin’ to rob and steal. We’re all keepin’ our eyes peeled and warnin’ each other if something appears out of the ordinary.
Goodwife (to Trane): Ah, I thought so, and blessings be on ye and yer friends. We worship the same druidic faiths, we do, as do many who live here. Ye will want to be seein’ Jaroo Ashstaff in that grove over there. She points to a large grove of trees off to the northeast. That’s our place of worship, it is, and you’ll be findin’ it comforting. Jaroo has a bear livin’ with him, so ye might want to have a chat with yer cat about that!
Edgar mingles with the local murder of crows, listenning to gossip of the area. Then he tries to get to hearing distance of the kids and the man
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Goodwife (to Rafael): Bounties? Nay...not that I know of. Go ask around, maybe someone has offered such a thing. If you want to help, find out where the bandits hide and give them a thrashin'! You'll have to talk to the village elder about such things...you'll find him in the stone manor house. Can't miss it, has a stone wall around it.
Velcore steps up to the good wife and greets her with a small bow of his head.
I am Velcore Valiantheart, thank you for the kind words and the information about your village. Sorry to keep you much longer but I overheard you speaking to my traveling companion of places of worship and was wondering if there are any other temples in the village beside the Druid’s Grove? I would like to commune with my Goddess.
After her answer Velcore will make my way to the Inn with Bryce and Garm.
”Blessings be with you. Iuseltael woant zuo.”(Iomedae guard you.) in Celestial
Thank you lady and I bid you farewell. Have a good day.
Bryce lead the way. I am tired and really hungry.
Edgar take an overview of the village. See what's to see. Be careful though
Got it. But I expect an extra bowl of food when I return.
Balthasar's face lights up with expectations of a warm meal and a warm hearth as he pulls his robes together and walks briskly after Cananthir.
"Onwards, I say. What business I have with this town can wait for the morn."
"A grove and a druid with a bear! How lucky!"
The lionfriend whistles for his lion and the two continue.
He looks at the cleric in astonishment:
"They have a sacred grove--need no fancy temple!"
His look is somewhat challenging, and it appears by the man's expression a degree of offense was taken.
I bid thee well my fine woman.
Turning to my companions. Yes, A hot meal would hit the spot. Lead on my friends.
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Goodwife (to Velcore): Aye, there is a very new church on the north side, a church of Iomedae...just follow this road that way. The chief cleric is Terjon...I don't think he's very friendly, but that may be because I am not one of his flock...
(To all): A pleasure to meet you all, I'm sure! Blessings be with you, too!
You make your way northward up the road, and see more farm buildings on each side. You only travel about 300 feet and see a very large building on the left side of the road, with a square wooden sign showing a buxom and smiling girl holding a flagon of beer. This must be the Inn of the Welcome Wench, a place reputed to have good food and excellent drink!
Across the road from the Inn is a path into the druid grove, composed of a carefully placed line of bluish stones bordering it on each side.