Seldlron takes Festia by the arm and leads her outside toward the Inn.
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Seldlron leaves the lumberjack's table and approaches Ziera. "I hear you are boarding the Jurin Kreed for Almas at daybreak. That barge is filled to the brim with lumber and men. No privacy anywhere. That is no place for a lady like you. It would be my honor to accompany you and Festia on horseback should you choose." He looks at her and smiles "Teeth again? So be it."
Seeing that Ziera is not feeling well at all he decides to cheer her up and give her some room. He stands and says "I have this preference for older women anyways. Barren and no teeth. You are half way there..." He heads to the loggers table ale in hand.
"It will be my honor to kill you before that happens. A necessary deed. Let us hope it comes not to that."
Seldlron looks uncomfortably at Ziera and then Rhen. Maybe it is for the best that she rejects me now. He clears his throat and squirms a bit in his chair. He concentrates on the ale in front of him. Without looking up he says "Well we can't be having them running around town, whatever they are. I'll be glad to help you put 'em down if you don't rid them of it."
" What's a bodak?" He motions to Jalene for another ale.
Seldlron looks concerned at Ziera's words. "We shall find you the healing you need. Do not worry about that. Oh, and I must admit that Falcon's Hollow has no mayor. We have a magistrate named Vamros Harg. Forgive me, if you will. There is little I would not say or do to spend but a moment in your company. I did not think you would give me the time of day if you knew I was just a hired blade working for the consortium." He turns up his ale and lets out an "Ah" He wipes his beard with his sleeve.
Seldlron heads to the bar and then to your table, two darkwood ales in hand. He sets one of the ales in front of Ziera. "My Lady." He puts an obvious emphasis on the word "My". He looks at each of you. He can't help but chuckle. He says "You look like hell. Like you've been through it and came back. Word travels fast in these parts. I heard most of what you guys went through. Impressive. next round over here is on me." He takes a seat as he gets an eye full of Ziera.
Seldlron notices the Holy Knight moving in his direction.
"It would be my honor, ma'am." He escorts Lady Wyvernrose through the cool evening air to Jack'a'Napes.
Seldlron returns to the logger's table.
"You seem to be at odds with your words, my lady. Understandable as I do tend have that effect on the womenfolk from time to time. It is rare to see one available in these parts, and of beauty nonetheless even more a blessing. I am not aware of any adventures at this moment. Just stay here a while. We seem to have more than our fair share of those. We have kept that dwarf and his companions busy since they first arrived. If it is adventure you seek, you have come to the right place. Tell me more about his fleeting love."
Jalene sets two mugs of darkwood ale on the table in front of Seldlron. "Not the first time I ordered two for myself." He stands and walks behind the lady and serves her one from her left hand side. While doing so, he notices Ranok glaring at him. Seldlron sits at the head of the table. "I merely seek conversation. Should more arise from that, so be it. While unique, this ale is quite strong. Do be careful with it." He turns his mug up and downs about a fourth of the contents.
Seldron turns to the logger's table. "Jalene, two darkwoods over here." He returns his attention to the attractive female across the table from him. "Interesting you should describe it that way. When in battle, I am on a dance floor. Executing practiced maneuvers perfectly, looking for the next partner as I alleviate the current one. Oh, I am certain I am not the first to seek your company with an ale. Perhaps I may be the last to do so without consequence. One never knows." He leans in and whispers.
Spoiler: And I am of noble blood as well. It is a secret, just you and me.
Seldlron gets an eye and ear full as the lady states herself and her mission. "A Holy Knight... well we have something in common. I am a fighter by trade. Recently helped Rhen's crew take out a bunch of zombies and undead wolves. They carried a pretty bad infection with them. Most of us got it pretty bad. During the fight they let me do most of the work while they stayed back at a safe distance." He taps his greataxe. "You don't look much like the fighting type, I must say. I was about to offer you protection during your stay here. Oh, and you must try the local darkwood ale. You will find it no other place. This tavern is known for it. May I buy you one?"
Seldlron notices the attractive and apparently wealthy female across the tavern. "Well I'll be a ..." He leaves the loggers and approaches her table. "It is delightful to make your acquaintance and welcome to Falcon's Hollow. I am Seldlron, Mayor of this town. Please forgive my attire, I do like to get my hands dirty with the common folk from time to time. May I buy you a drink? Pray tell me, what brings such a magnificent creature to these parts? He takes a seat at the table.
"Damned gingers have no soul."
Seldlron sets up a tent just outside of town and takes his rest. It is only a few yards from the tavern, yet out of town.
"She ain't my priestess. I went to her out of desperation cause I heard rumors that she could heal. The wand felt great. I am better now. Yeah, this ale does help."
"You got a wand of make you feel better, Doc?"
Seldlron looks to Bulgard. He raises his tankard. "Cheers to you huntsman. I like the new look. Hahahahahaha.
"While I do love a good fight, I fear I would have only been in the way yesterday. Between Laurel and Lady Cirthana, I think I'm gonna beat this thing. Feel much better, I do. Still can't shake it entirely. Maybe tomorrow. For 140 gold pieces, Cirthana will zap you with a wand of make you feel better. You oughta get her to do that for you. Cheers, Rhen. You survived another fight." The fighter raises his tankard towards the dwarf.
Seldlron is sitting outside the tavern on a wooden box. "Hey guys. They won't let you inside with the pustules. I reckon that anemic girl didn't give you much trouble." He covers his grin as he sips from his tankard while looking at Bulgard and Rhen. He looks to the open door and yells "Jim! Another couple pitchers out here please."
Meanwhile, back at Roots and Remedies, Laurel has noticed that Seldlron is not getting any better. She gives him a dose of the anti-plague concoction she just finished producing and uses her healing skills to help him along.
Seldlron goes out to inspect the ashes of the burnt cart. "Damn!" He sees pieces of broken vials and what looks like a burnt wand.
"I dread this." Seldlron heads to the Darkmoon Lumber HQ to report what has occurred.
Seldlron throws the dead body on the burning cart. "May ye fight well."
"This one lives. Are ye not going to question him. I feel certain he knows more than you do about what is going on. I will be glad to torture him, but I do not know how to revive him."
"I ain't no lawman either, Mox. What is yer hurry? Looks like you left a job half done." Seldlron walks over to the cultist and kicks him. "Get up or the axe comes down." The cultist does not respond to the kick or the threat, "Looks dead enough to me." Seldlron moves to the cart. "Wonder if they got anything other than flowers in here."
Seldlron emerges from the shop. Due to his condition, he is more irritable than normal. " What? What do you want of me? Speak up"
"Laurel, If you do not mind, I will stay here until I feel better. No need of spreading this around town, and I intend to die in battle, not in a bed. Gentlemen, it was an honor fighting with you today. May the gods be with you in your endeavors."
Seldlron hands her the notes he has been keeping. "I have had this for three days now, ma'am."
"Thank ye fer yer cooperation, ye worthless scumbag cultist."
Seldlron stands and draws his greataxe. He places it on the cultist's throat. "Any more questions for this one?"
Seldron leans into the cultist's face almost touching noses. He presses a dagger against his jugular. "How are flowers way out here going to affect those in town?"
"Which bone you want broken, Mox?"
Seldlron slaps the unconscious cultist again. "Wake up, you!
Seldlron slaps the cultist in the face. "Wake up!
Seldlron inspects the dying cultist.
Seldlron moves forward and throws a spear at the cultist in yellow.
Seldlron moves forward
"Bulgard, why don't ye just start pickin em off with yer bow? These look like weaklings to me. Let's see what they do." Seldlron readies a spear.
"I don't think there is any good in them. They ran us off the other day just for being here. Used slings and waved their sickles. They said this farm belongs to the fiendblood covenant. I don't know what that is, but it don't sound good."
"Okay, take one alive. Not a problem. Just a bunch of damned druids gone cultist on us. Only weapons I see are sickles. We just gonna rush 'em or what?"
"Then we have an arrangement. Thank you. Those loggers will not be back." Seldlron drags the three dead bodies into the tent with Fulch's corpse. He then fills the tent with logs, limbs, and kindling. He applies a tender twig to the kindling. "This way." He leads you into the woods.
"Thank ye kind sir. Your mount is a bit small for my frame. I will gladly show you where this farm is if you agree to get me to Laurel."
"How does one divide 300 gold by five people? I will be glad to show you where the farm is, but I need your assistance getting to town. I fear I may not be able to make it back alone. If anyone can cure this it would be Laurel, the herbalist at Roots and Remedies in Falcon's Hollow."
"Can't say I will miss him. Should be a week or two worth of wages in his office." Seldlron searches the northwestern tent.
"Thank you, Mox." . He applies the salve everywhere. He notices that Bulgard is beginning to search the first tent to the east. "Zender Fulch, the camp overseer, is in the northeastern tent. He does not like to be disturbed. Apparently he does not like to fight dire zombie plague wolves either."
"Thank you, sir. Are you some kind of healer? What is your name and those who are with you."
"We lost six lumberjacks to an unprovoked satyr attack on our camp. Mr. Fulch, the overseer, sent me and three others to hunt down and kill the satyrs. While I was tracking them we came upon a farm of flamebloom flowers being tended by Fiendblood Covenant followers. I know they are because they told me so. Are you familiar with them? They hide their identities as much as possible. These particular cultists are somehow emboldened, unlike those in town." "Here, I made notes on it so that whoever treats me or finds my body will know how it progresses." He takes a parchment from under his chain shirt and reads it to you.
With the threat gone, the lumberjack drops to a knee and leans on his greataxe. Looking up at you he addresses the group. "Your timing is...I know you...Yes, I attempted to make your acquaintance at the Sitting Duck. Kitani was with you. I am Seldlron. I work for the consortium. They send me out to keep safe whoever needs protection. What in the world brings you to this cursed site? Did the consortium hire you too?" Seldlron is sweating profusely. He has small white pustules on all of his exposed skin. "Those flowers stuffed in the zombie wolves grow at a farm run by cultists." He takes note of Mox's appearance and shudders. "Thought I had seen it all. I reckon ye don't do so well with the womenfolk." Knowledge local for information on the cult.
Having a sleeping dwarf for an audience and getting nowhere with Bulgard, Seldlron yells "Jalene, an ale for Kitani. My tab." and returns to the loggers' table. |