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You find yourselves in the village of Lankshorn.
A large settlement of well-kept, stonebuilt houses, clustered around a tall steepled
church and a cobbled market square. At the rear of the village,a slope rises towards Dolmenwood,
which looms ominously, a reminder of Lankshorn’s position on the verge
of the wild. A low hill is prominently visible, just before the eaves of the
wood, upon which a ring of tall stones stands.
Situated on the market square, opposite the church, the village inn is a high gabled,
wooden building of overhanging eaves and many-hued, lacquered
panels. Above the wide, rounded front door hangs the sign—depicting a white
stoat with prominent red horns reclining on a luxurious purple couch—and
the skull of a goat.
It reads the Horned Stoat's Rest Inn.
Some of the humans on the street have one goat hoof or small horns.
A short man "man" with ferns for hair and burlap around his waist and over his chest pulls a donkey to the market square.
Brother Theodor steps out from the ornate doorway of the Church of St. Pastery. Having given his tithe to the priests caring for the church, he stands looking over the Market Square. His dull grey serge frock with its black hooded scapular and grey rope cincture denotes him as a Clavists, or a member of the Mendicant Order of Saint Keye the Chronicler, also known as Grey Friars. A small pack and walking staff round out the man's goods. He is a tall, gaunt man in his middle years with a slight stoop. The tonsure on his head is almost invisible due to his hair loss and its very pale straw-yellow colour. His skin is a ruddy colour of a person who spends most of their time out of doors and his face is clean-shaved.
Yennifer’s armored boots clanked in rhythm as she marched across the cobblestone square. The young squire paused in the center of the market and her gaze turned north, her grey eyes piercing pass the eves and rooftops of the village, toward the forest. Her thin lips pressed together in what passed for a smile as she thought, Home is that way.
While she stood in the square the statuesque woman straightened her red and black checkered tabard, which marked her affiliation with House Harrowmoor, and quickly adjusted her mace in its scabbard. She exhaled and looked away from the horizon continuing toward the Horned Stoats Rest with her long legged stride. As she hustled toward the Inn she surveyed the square, her eyes falling upon the Friar.
Yennifer lifted her calloused hand in greeting, ”Good Morn, Brother Theodor.” She gestured with her head towards the chapel, her short golden blond locks hardly moving, and asked, ”have you completed your morning devotions?”
Tousled and looking a bit seedy, Raff emerges from the 'Horned Stoat'.
Greetings to you both, he says scratching at an emerging beard. I fear I might be wearing out my welcome here. I was 30 gold in debt last night before rallying to 50 coins to my favour. Given I only seem to have 10 gold left, and some vague memories of *ahem*... "company", I imagine I celebrated.
He pauses and rubs at his face.
Is it possible I just imagined 'bleating'?
"Ah, greetings Squire...Raff. Are you heading to the church to let one of the priests hear your confessions, Raff?? Such sins need to be cleaned as soon as possible, lest their moral cancer eats into your immortal soul! Would you not agree Squire Yennifer?"
The friar looks disapprovingly at the shifty man.
"Raff" makes the religious gesture of the Faith over his heart.
I would Brother Theodore, I would... if I remembered my sins properly, he says with a wiry grin. If It all comes back to me, I'll be sure to run them by you first to find out which ones are best and should go first during my confession.
The squire nodded in greeting at Raff’s approach and turned to the friar replying earnestly to his enquiry, ”No good sir. I held vigil in the chapel yester eve,” when Rafe’ made the religious sign over his hart she ardently joined him and hastily made the sign too. To Raff she offered stone faced, ”If you need help with the list I have a few ideas but it is probably best not to procrastinate your repentance and confess the transgressions you remember.”
He just grins... and sways slightly.
”Very well then. I was on my way to yonder inn to break my fast. Perchance you two would like to join me?”
I probably should eat something...
The friar turns towards the inn, but a slight smile can be seen creasing his lips.
"Ah Rafferty Evenhand...one day your antics will catch up with you and I will not be there to help unburden your soul!"
He heads into the Inn with the others and sighs as he sits down.
Yennifer’s stomach growled like some wild animal’s mating call as she sat at the table with her two companions. To get her mind off her hunger she asked those at the table, ”have you tried the pook’s pudding?”
Medraut has been so quiet (as usual), the others didn't even notice him there standing and scowling (as usual), until he pulled a chair to sit next to them - "What on earth is a pook's pudding?" - he asked Yennifer with his usual bad mood, not to be expected from someone as young as the mage apprentice. Yet this one always seemed mad at the world.
He pulled back the cowl of his traveling cloak, letting the unusually greying hair loose, and setting the backpack next to him in easy reach. In spite of his life being dedicated to scholarly pursuits, Medraut was decently well built and not in bad shape, probably from all the traveling - "And why would they have it here?" - he looked around the inn.
As sour as week old wine I see. You are definitely not a morning person Medraut... and just as bad for a hang over to boot.
He groans.
I think some toasted bread will suffice.
A look of puzzlement crossed Yennifer’s face at the mage’s question, ”You’ve never had Pooks Pudding? You all be missing out. It’s a Dolmenwood specialty A suety pudding of mallow and locally foraged mushrooms.” She nodded her head enthusiastically, ”If they have any you should definitely try it.”
Yennifer’s stomach rumbled again reminding her of her hunger. She waves for some service, ”Hoy!”
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Yennifer’s stomach rumbled again reminding her of her hunger. She waves for some service, ”Hoy!”
An older woman walks over. She rubs her hands in a worn cloth hanging from her apron.
"Ah yes madame can I help you??
Yennifer sees a burly lad about 18 walks over towards her with a club and wearing leather armor, the older woman turns to him and puts her hands on her hips.
"What do you want Shadwell? Fancy yourself an adventurer again do you?!"
"Aye mistress Margerie It's cause the east woods are teeming with giant, red worms that crave flesh. I'm strong and can help this lady."
"Aye Shadwell," says Margerie, "That you might be but you best help your mom rather than being an adventurer!"
Before the knight can reply to the server’s inquiry and assuage her hunger the lad Shadwell walks over. Yennifer listens to the conversation and her interest is peaked by the lads remarks. She clears her throat and asks, ”Hrmpph… lad… Shadwell have a seat and tell us about these worms but let me order some food first to break my fast.”
Turning back to the older woman, ”Do you be having any Pook’s Pudding? If not I’ll take whatever is in the pot. And an Ale to sate my thirst.” She smiles warmly adding, ”And a drink for young Shadwell as well.”
Medraut rolled his eyes as Yennifer invited this Shadwell youngster to sit down, then turned to the woman - "A light meal, and some tea" - he requested.
Urrrrgh... dry toast... and hells, ya might as well fry up some eggs and bacon to go with that... and a beer
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Theo looks over to Raff and nods his head.
"That sounds wonderful! I will have the same, and as your penance for last night, you can pay for breakfast for us all as a tithe to the church for the praying I am going to have to do to remove this recent stain upon your immortal soul!
Brother Theodor takes his wooden holy symbol out and begins to pray for Raff and earnestly asks forgiveness for his sinful ways.
Urrrgh.., he says again, sort of half heaving. I'm too hung over to argue. So be it.
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The older woman turns to Yennifer as Shadwell goes to pull out a chair. Her hand moves quickly to his hair and pulls out a piece of hay.
"Worms in the forest!" She shackes her head. "This boy knows about cows and hay. I'll make sure to water down his ale!"
"I'm old a wee lad!"
The older woman ignores him. "Yes mam" she says to Yennifer. "We have Pooks pudding, porridge and some sausage. I'll bring them and some hot tea over"
Shadwell turns to Yennifer.
"Ay miss, I just want a bit more than cows. The worms come out at night." He spreads his arms. "They're this long or even longer. But folks go out sometimes."
”And what problems have these worms been causing? Perchance, there is some reward for dealing with these creatures?”
Medraut scrunches up his nose at the meal options, but then just shrugs - ”Tea and porridge will do”
The friar settles down to eat his breakfast and listens to the newcomer's story about the large red worms.
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”And what problems have these worms been causing? Perchance, there is some reward for dealing with these creatures?”
"They don't cause problems just no one sleeps in the forest at night cause of the worms. But I can help for 1 gold piece!"
He smiles
Medraut scrunches up his nose at the meal options, but then just shrugs - ”Tea and porridge will do”
Just then a green dwarf comes in and shouts.
"Is there a Rafferty here!""
"They don't cause problems just no one sleeps in the forest at night cause of the worms. But I can help for 1 gold piece!"
”Hmm… doesn’t sound like that big of a problem…… the knight began to reply when the moss dwarf shouts for Raff. She looks to the rogue wondering what trouble he has gotten into now.
S#%~... hope it doesn't have anything to do with last night.
Raff holds his hand up.
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S$!+... hope it doesn't have anything to do with last night.
Raff holds his hand up.
The moss drawf hands you some documents.
"Here you are! You're a hard human to track down. My roots have grown long in search for you."
He sits down on a nearby chair and wiggles his toes and takes an audible sigh.
[dice=Int]d20+2
Medraut knows the things are called night worms and live in the forest and come in groups and attack people in the forest and that the worms are Neutral.
Well I'll be damned... Old Uncle Thad has finally dropped off the perch. I thought the old bugger would never die.
He scans the rest of the note then starts to swear sulphurously just barely under his breath.
”Hmm… doesn’t sound like that big of a problem…… the knight began to reply when the moss dwarf shouts for Raff. She looks to the rogue wondering what trouble he has gotten into now.
”As far as I know, those are probably night worms” - the wizard looks around in frustration, waiting for his food and tea - ”They are as mindless as any other worms, but their large size and the fact they usually are encountered in groups, makes them of course more dangerous”
Yennifer looked to the rogue, ”What does the letter be saying?”
Its a bit of a mixed bag... it seems my ancestors owe me an inheritance - namely a famous sword and some sort of Fey jewellery. Unfortunately that inheritance is buried in a tomb that I'm willing to bet is trapped and likely crawling with undead... because that's just my luck, he finishes dryly.
He groans.
Where am I gonna find adventurers to help me?
Clearing his throat, Brother Theodor speaks.
"Well I suppose I can not let you go off alone. I would never forgive myself if your impulsiveness got you killed. What say, you squire? Interested in an adventure?"
”Aye, we couldn’t let the young scamp go on his own,” Yennifer agreed with a conspiratorial wink.
Did he just walk out?
Sheeeesh... I'll get him on the way back
He looks around his travelling companions and newish friends.
Lets set out tomorrow then... or maybe the day after. Isn't there a local issue with worms or such we can hone our skills on first?
”Shadwell, here, seems to think these worms are a problem,” the knight responded skeptically. Might be a chance to she if Shadwell here is worth hiring. A free audition of sorts.”
Sounds like a plan.
"Equal shares?" - Medraut added, matter of fact to Rafferty - "That and maybe you can explain to me what I am doing wrong here, and why the tea and porridge have not arrived at the table yet" - he scowled.
Equal share MINUS the sword and the ring... I care not for my ancestors leavings apart from those.
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" And, of course, your tithe to the church. One must not forget to honour Pater Ecclesia. Prayers will be said for the recently deceased in your name, thus speeding your ancestor to his ultimate glory and showing your own humble compliance to church doctrine."
The brother sits back with a slight smile on his face...just waiting to see what his 'friend' has to say about this!
Fine!, he says throwing up his hands in exasperation.
"Seems we have a deal" - the wizard nodded.
Yennifer almost felt sorry for Raff having to negotiate with Brother Theodor and the mage but the rascal probably deserved it.