Stagyar Zildoggo's page

"Thank you, Daetha, but I hardly know you, and it wouldn't be right for me to take money that your family worked hard for. But I won't forget the gesture, I promise you.

Now, where are these sinkholes? I suppose it won't make much difference if it's light or dark up here, if it's going to be very dark underground! And does anyone fancy getting something to eat before we go. I know we've got some food, but I think we ought to try and save that for underground, in case we need it."

Privately, Stagyar's not happy about the sinkhole expedition - he's never really been keen on dark, dank places - but there's no way that he's going to back out, especially as there are others who are clearly more nervous than he is. In any event, it's clear that Taya's going, and his job at the moment is to look after her.

"Well, they'd be feeding me as well, so I can't think that they'd object to us taking a little food. Especially because everyone seems so preoccupied with the problems in the village - no-one's paying any attention to us.

Is there anything else we can take that might be useful? How about a knife or two?"

"Right then. Let's go!"

Stagyar finds Taya's sudden acceptance of his role as protector rather pleasing - as an only child, he's never really had siblings to look after, and knowing that he's seen as useful gives him a new sense of confidence in himself.

"Is the sink hole deep? Because if it is, we're likely to need torches or lamps when we get to the bottom. Are there any left in the hut? And does anyone have any rope?"

Stagyar listens intently, trying to make sense of what's going on, while also remaining alert to the possible return of the owlbear.

Feeling slightly like a spare part at the moment, but hey, that's not unusual!

What're those words on the roll? I don't know any other languages, but it looks very interesting ...

"It doesn't matter who you're trying to help. Just think about how your parents will react if you end up hurt, or worse!

Now, where's this Owlbear? I'm not sure that tangling with one of those is a good idea at the moment."

As he speaks, Stagyar surveys the scene of devastation within the hut, wondering whether it was thieves, the elements or the owlbear that did the damage.

Not for the first time, Stagyar silently cursed his size - whilst it could be very useful on the farm, or when it came to practicing with the militia, he was the first to admit that he wasn't the lightest person on his feet!

Trying to suppress his embarrassment (and to ignore the small humiliation he's inflicted on himself with his clumsiness), Stagyar whispers back:

"Of course I'm here to help - I'm supposed to keep you out of trouble!

What ARE you doing here? And what's that hideous smell?"

Stagyar's still not convinced about his father's request, but it's clear that everyone's on edge at the moment - this illness has affected the whole village, either through the loss of a loved one or through the general atmosphere of fear that now pervades the area.

Unfortunately for Stagyar, his father's cousin (they're related, but he's not really sure how) as asked if Stagyar would keep an eye on his daughter, Taya. She's quite headstrong, but has obviously been badly affected by her brother's illness.

Earlier today, Taya's father saw her and some of her friends heading off into the woods, and so Stagyar has been dispatched to follow her (at a distance) to make sure she doesn't get into any trouble. After all, with Nagy so ill, Taya's father and mother couldn't cope with anything happening to her.

Having followed Taya and her group of friends for what seemed like miles (although it was obviously not), Stagyar has seen them enter a very run-down, and extremely pungent, hut. As carefully as he can, Stagyar creeps to the doorway and listens carefully, for anything untoward.

Listen check (1D20-1 = 15)

Stagyar still finds his new surroundings a little strange - he misses his friends, but has grown used to moving regularly. He's only been here for a couple of months, arriving after his father came to work with a local animal farmer, but he’s already becoming settled in the area. He’s a little distracted by the presence of the farmer’s daughter, but generally his work with the animals keeps him occupied, and has helped him to build up quite a decent frame.

So far, in what spare time he gets, he's managed to avoid the girl - Taya's her name - and instead has found the local militia. Much to his gratification, he’s been able to take up his training here, after having to give it up when he left his last home, without too much disruption to his own, self-imposed, training regime. He’s spent the last couple of years learning how to fight properly with both his fists and a morning star, and he thinks he’s getting better at both of them (and the previous militia he trained at seemed to be happy with his progress). He’s also started working on mastering the use of a longsword (courtesy of the militia).

Unfortunately, underneath his large frame (and his ability to pick up a sheep under each arm) he’s quite a gentle soul at heart, and this has caused something of a dichotomy. When he was growing up, his size meant that he was singled-out, by older boys, as someone good to fight – big enough to be a challenge, but young enough not to know how to fight back properly (albeit that many a boy found out, to his cost, that Stagyar only had to land one punch to end a fight). As a result, he’s become strongly opposed to unnecessary violence (whilst, at the same time, being perfectly in favour of necessary violence), and has done his best over the last couple of years to talk his way out of as many fights as he can. (This is, of course, a good thing given his size, and his inherent ability to punch through doors!)

And so, having worked out how to create an alias (CSI: North Yorkshire, take note!), Elor vanishes, like a ghose, and Stagyar is born!

Sorry for the delay in posting - today's the first day I've actually had an evening off over the last fortnight! Things are a little quieter now, so I should be able to take a much more active role.

I'll get myself sorted out tomorrow, and will start much more active posting tomorrow onwards.