For a town normally receptive to sponsoring adventuring parties, Winterhaven is oddly chilly to your arrival. While it would be too much to say that any of you expected offers to flood in, you could reasonably have thought that you'd be at least welcome. This isn't so.
The normally tolerant townsfolk look at you dubiously. Unusually, the Lion Rampant charges you in advance for your lodgings and you're definitely getting a lot of odd looks. Even Kel, home for the first time in a few months isn't given the kind of reception he'd expect. Something has happened to sour the good name of adventurers everywhere. Your livelihood is at stake and so, it seems, is the reputation of your profession.
The burly half-orc, his spiked chain draped across the thick ridge of scar tissue on the back of his neck, gives as good he gets -- a glare for every odd look. When sitting in the tavern with his paid-for mug, he mutters aloud, "Right. Think they've never seen people who fight for a living?
"Not that anything happens where this town would need help from our sort," Urlag adds sarcastically.
Smiling Kel waves back to the glarers , "Hi how ya doing, local hero coming through."
"Try to hold back your enthusiasm and don't push, we don't want any to get trampled.
"Urlag did we burn down something importaint last time we were here? "Cause I don't remember it if we did."
"Maybe people are having a bad day? It happens, and we can always go somewhere else if they stay so unfriendly."
Adeliza the barmaid leans over the counter and nods a small welcome to Kel and Tenja.
"It's not you, exactly," she whispers. "It's because the last group of adventurers turned bad. We don't want the Stormcrows back."
Tiping back a mug and smiling through the foam.
"Nah, they are just upset they have not had the pleasure to look upon me in awhile. Hello darlin' what did the Stormcrows do, I do not remember hearing about them before. Of course it could be all the boozin I have been doing."
"That's it they're just missing Tenja's fluffy personality."
"Well you see, fluffy is just a big misconception. It is the patina this dang beard gives off. I would cut it off really, if I wouldn't look so sorry afterwards."
Takes another long pull on his mead.
"Hold on a sec."
Adeliza puts down her cloth. "I'm having a break Edred. Take over. Got to say hello to Kel and Tenja. You know they're good for business."
Edred shrugs and takes her place. "I don't suppose you'll come to much harm with those two," he mutters. "You've been kicking them out of here since they started under-age drinking"
"Exactly." Adeliza vanishes into the kitchen and emerges with freshly baked loaf and a large lump of cheese which she brings to your table.
"Eat up. It's probably the only homecoming gift you'll be getting. The Stormcrows were fantastic. At first. Illugi Swordbreaker and Agera of the Shadowface formed the group and they set up underneath the old Storm Tor. Probably where they got the name from. Agera was a bit theatrical - you know the type.
Anyway, Lord Padraig asked them to mop up the goblin tribes in the hills. Then they found out there was a lich behind all that and took him out as well. So - all fine there. But, they did some much more dodgy stuff as well. There were a couple of assassinations in Fallcrest that were Stormcrow work and a kidnap or two to their credit. Then they started behaving like the great panjandrum around here. They burned down a village for fun, just to see people run. They all went missing a few months back and we were grateful. The longer they stay away, the happier we are. I reckon they got uppity with something too strong for them and good riddance I say."
She pauses to refill the mugs.
"I don't know though. Nobody's seen or heard anything of them, like I say, but that old Storm Tor's still inhabited as far as I know. His Lordship might be grateful to home-town boys taking a look and finding out."
"Well I do not know about looking into for any lord, but for you and this fine inn. I would do just about anything."
Sips happily at his drink and thinks about getting thrown out in the past.
Adeliza grins at him.
"Tenja, this is Lord Padraig. He let you off when you puked in the fountain and only he and Kel know how many times he bailed that mad elf out of the watchhouse."
More generally, she adds,
"Look, it's not the reception you expected, but "adventurer" doesn't have a very good ring to it right now. You could change that. The town will warm up to you, but you could help yourselves a lot by offering to prove the Stormcrows really are gone."
"My vote is to help, what say the rest of you."
"Mmmm...A fight with a Lich and changed personalities, the two might be connected."
"We'll probably look into it anyway but if Padraig is offering some financial incentive it might get us out there quicker."
"We'll have to stop and see him after lunch."
"It sounds like something that could be interesting. I agree that we should check it as soon as we can."
"Not a 'hometown boy,' but agreed -- we'll look into this. All the better, though, as Kel says, with a bit of reward to look forward to."
Adeliza looks appraisingly at Urlag and Kitherra and apparently likes what she sees.
"Could be. Lord P's a good man. You talk to him. He's got a soft spot for these two anyway," she nods to Kel and Tenja.
"Where did that durn priest and finger waggler make off too? Do you think they would want to help? Probably found a game of luck, she sure does smile on the priest. Bless him," sniffs and looks a little teary eyed.
"Where did that durn priest and finger waggler make off too? Do you think they would want to help? Probably found a game of luck, she sure does smile on the priest. Bless him," sniffs and looks a little teary eyed.
"Relax, Tenja. I'm right here. So, who's this lovely lady?" Zareth enters the bar, his orb floating by his side.
"Adeliza. Barmaid and chucker-out. I'm stronger than I look."
She looks Zareth up and down and smiles slowly.
"Nice orb. Good suit. You know these folks?"
"Adeliza. Barmaid and chucker-out. I'm stronger than I look."
She looks Zareth up and down and smiles slowly.
"Nice orb. Good suit. You know these folks?"
"Zareth Edemont, illusionist extraordinary." The tiefling bows. "Also, the resident arcanist of this lovable band. They just started dragging my around with them a few months back, and who am I to say no to these faces?"
"We're going to get along just fine, Zareth Edemont."
Adeliza's open welcome of old friends and new thaws the atmosphere in the Lion Rampant considerably.
Andrus finally enters the tavern and looks around. (He had trouble scraping some horse dung off his boots before coming inside)
"The Rampart is colder than I remember. So's the town. What happened since we were here last?" He asks his friends.
Urlag fills Andrus in. "Eh. Another group of so-called 'adventurers' has been causing trouble. May or may not have been their idea, but Winterhaven's been in the middle. They've not been around for a few months, but we're in the middle of agreeing to check out their old base."
"Andrus! How is life treating you these days."
Adeliza takes in the cleric with one practiced look. "You need to eat more. You're too thin. I have to get back to work, but please, go and see Lord Padraig. You could do a lot of good. For the town as well as yourselves."
"Is this an 'official' quest from Lord Padraig? Or just Adeliza sweet-talking you guys into doing something for her?" Andrus asks with a smile as he sits down at the table.
Andrus sighs and gets right back up after Adeliza leaves the table.
"Figures. We get back in town and suddenly, there's another task to do. I can go and talk to Padraig, if you guys want to wait here and rest up and eat. I'll see if I can get some up-front money, but I doubt it if these other adventurers screwed up so much. Or you guys can come with. Either way, we will be moving out soon. Get ready."
"Still working on that part."
Andrus sighs and gets right up after Adeliza leaves the table.
"Figures. We get back in town and suddenly, there's already another task for us to do. I can go and talk with Padraig. If you guys want to wait here, you can. I'll see if I can get some upfront money, but if the town is not very trusting because of these other adventurers, well, then they probably won't pay any incentive money. You can come, if you want, or stay here and rest. I'll be back in about an hour."
It's not offical yet, Adeliza is just filling us in. I'm sure Paddy will send one of his men to fetch us as soon as hears that we're in town. Probably to warn us not sneak in and rearange the furnature in his office, again.
Andrus looks at Kel. "Didn't you do that ten years ago? Or did I miss something else more recent?"
"Eggs under his blankets last time we were here".
"This time I was thinking about an exploding chamber pot".
Shakes his head and hides his smile in his mug.
"I DEFINITELY think you should wait here then." Andrus says with a little smile. "No sense aggravating him unnecessarily. I'll get the details and the amount of the reward and meet you back here."
And with that, Andrus leaves and heads to Lord Padraig's. He carefully avoids the horse dung he previously stepped in and walks down the road.
"Better make sure he doesn't make too big a fool of himself in front of the lord. If any of you feel like doing something with your time, feel free to follow along." Zareth stands up and follows behind Andrus.
"Nah, you two go. I don't think lords have any more use for me than I do for them. Less, since they're the ones with the money."
Urlag returns to his beer.
When he hears Zareth leaving the Rampart, Andrus turns and calls out to him, "Watch out for that horse dung, Z!" And then waits for his old friend to join him on the way.
Adeliza points the way to Zareth and Andrus and the pair find Lord Padraig easily enough.
The Lord of Winterhaven is outside in a cow shed looking at a newborn calf and talking to his herdsman. Wiping his hands clean, he takes in Andrus's eager demeanour and Zareth's slightly exotic appearance and invites them both inside.
"She's a good calf I think. I know you both by sight, but we've never met. I heard you were adventuring in Avandra's name. Is that right?"
As you might expect from someone who's had to deal with Kel from childhood upwards, he looks and sounds tolerant. His eyes are shrewd though and he's clearly watching you both carefully.
Urlag sets down his empty mug. "I'm going to see about this. Andrus is a little too . . . whatever."
He heads out of the Lion to where Adeliza directed Zareth and Andrus. Knocking and not waiting for a reply, Urlag barges in. "Changed my mind," he says unhelpfully to Andrus.
"Padraig? We hear you've got an adventurer problem."
Startled by the abrupt appearance of an unknown half-orc, Padraig just nods, then laughs.
"The direct approach ..." he murmurs.
"I do. Want to help solve it? Andrus and Zareth I know slightly, and you seem to be with them. You know Kel or Tenja?"
Andrus looks a little chagrined. "Well, sir, I am, but my friends all have their own reasons. We're not a religious group, if you take my meaning. I like to think the Lady blesses us with sucess, since we've done so well, but she hasn't manifested to us or anything." He adjusts the collar of his undertunic.
"We don't even have a group name yet. Most of the Winterhavenians just call us Tonja and Kel's friends. I've been thinking about a name, but nothing seems to fit us. The Nethir Knights, the Winter Guard, I don't know...." Andrus drifts off for a moment then looks back at Lord Padraig. "But that need not concern you, m'lord." He quickly adds quietly.
After Urlag bursts in. "Yes, my lord, this is one of ours. Urlag, Lord Padraig, Lord Padraig, this is Urlag. What exactly do you want us to do?" And he gives Urlag a hard look. "I know some of the particulars but not the whole story. Please tell me."
"Nice of you to join us, Urlag. Yes, we do know Kel and Tenja. They'll probably come over here in a few minutes once they get bored."
"Anyway, as my friend here said, you want to make sure the last band of adventurers aren't still living in their old base. We want to earn some shiny gold coins. As you can guess, our interests intersect."
Lord Padraig listens intently to Andrus's explanation and nods as he comes to the end.
"I'm not a highly religious man, but it's only a fool who completely ignores the gods. It looks as if Avandra doesn't disapprove of your activites, at least. Fancy names don't make a party. Your deeds will speak for you and when they do, you'll know the right name. Just don't let Kel make the decision for you."
"You're right about the adventurers," he continues once the companions have introduced themselves fully.
"I made the mistake of employing the Stormcrows in the first place, and I'd like to set my mind at rest that they have left the area. Go to the old Storm Tor and find out. When you get back, I'll pay you. 75 gold each. Before you tell me that's not a generous offer, I will remind you that the citizens of Winterhaven are not willing to disburse large sums of money for the privilege of being pillaged, kidnapped and assassinated. Since that was what our last band of adventurers preferred to do, this is a case of once bitten, twice shy."
He smiles and holds out a piece of paper with a rudimentary map showing the Storm Tor's location.
"I'm willing to trust you to make "adventurer" a good thing to be again. I need to be able to employ you. Get out there and prove me right."
"So this is more like a job on speculation, then." Andrus says as he rubs his chin thoughtfully. "We do this right and you'll call on us next time you need help, correct?" He looks at the other two. Then he looks into Lord Padraig's eyes. "Let me be blunt. If we find these Stormcrows, what do you want done to them? Are we arresting them......" He pauses. "or just killing them? Given what you've told me, they probably deserve that." He looks questioningly.
Stormcrow Tor looks to be about three days travel from Winterhaven.
Padraig considers his answer. "I can hardly ask you to kill them if they're not there, now can I? If they are, based on their past behaviour, I would think you'd have problems getting them to surrender. I'd regard any actions you have to take as reasonable self-defense."
"By the way," he adds, "The Stormcrows were good at what they did. I imagine there must be a fair sprinkling of loot in their stronghold. Feel free to appropriate it for your own use."
Insight DC10