The Quest of the Missing Quill

[JadedDM]

Gaheris was never a big fan of Sarenrae personally. He didn't have anything against her, exactly. But a man of his lifestyle tended to favor Abadar or Calistria better. He had no qualms with working with a cleric of the Dawnflower, though.

He considers what he knows so far. "So a plague of some kind...that makes people eat a lot but grow weaker...and might have a connection to the undead and necromancers," he muses. He snaps his fingers. Had he not been thinking about Sarenrae, he might not have even made the connection. "Could this be the work of Urgathoa?" he asks. "She is the goddess of gluttony, disease and the undead, and this situation contains all three of them."

[Vrindlevine]

Ishan stows the herbs he found in his satchel before heading back into town he can tell that his comrades have dispersed the townsfolk are talking about visitors he also notices some of them appear to be sick.

Sensing perhaps the making of another job or at least some useful information he decides to ask around town about any local troubles that might impact the journey. Perhaps a local guard or a traveler coming from the north.

[HorizonsDream]

"If we were to look into this sickness, he seems to be the first person to talk to since he seems to be the one that first showing signs," Jasmine says. "But, aside the sickness here, have you seen an orc? He is apparently pretty huge and wearing heavy chain amour?" She takes bites of her food after asking her questions.

[Just_Ice]

"I may take you up on the offer," Benji contemplates while thinking of his next move, "You say this Knight piece take a loan on moves, then? There are those who might call me a fool, but I think to match your boldness with my own is a fine scheme."

After his gambit, he lazily eyes another piece, the dervish, and changes its location. "I admit, I'm not entirely sure of what I'm doing, I'm pre-occupied with thoughts of something else. I've heard talk of an orc of peculiar character moving through this town-the sort of person you couldn't miss. Have you heard of anything of the sort?"

[Double-Move Knightii to D4, Move Dervish to F5]

[Haahque]

Zurgo (Merchant District, Trevsville)
“For eight? Well, you might want a rack of lamb in that case, we have plenty of different pieces of lamb here, ribs for 20 silver per pound, thigh for 15 silver per pound or ground lamb for 12 silver per pound. If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper we have beef and mutton, same parts available for each, but they both go for 15, 12 and 10 silver per pound, respectively.”

“Or, if you’re looking for something a bit more exotic, you might try a chicken roast. We don’t get chickens here very often, but we do have one whole chicken I’m willing to sell. 6 gold and it’s yours.”

The shop sells more than just meat, it also sells various dairy products and vegetables as well, but when Zurgo expressed his interest in meat the shopkeeper lead him around the most expansive section of the shop, the meat section. The meat looks very much like the meat that Zurgo has seen in other towns he’s been through during his travels.

The prices are pretty much what Zurgo expects with the exception of the chicken, he’s a half orc, they pay more for goods and services, and it’s expected. The chicken is something he has seen rarely, if at all before. Chicken doesn’t survive in the forests near here, too many predators and not enough food for them. He hears tales that chickens are common (and cheap) in the heart of the empire, but that’s not a place he’s ever been before. However, the chicken looks about 2 and a half pounds, which would make it, by weight, the most expensive thing on the market.

Gaheris (Trevsville Church)
“Hmm, that is an interesting idea you bring up. I would be somewhat honored and very afraid if a goddess actually paid attention to such a small border town of the empire, but that does not mean her clerics can’t be behind it. Given that there are undead around, it seems likely that someone worshipping Urgathoa is nearby. I’ve heard tales that Rovagug or Asmodieus also creating undead, but I understand that this is not nearly as common as Urgathoa.”

“But I’m not convinced that the situation necessarily involves any or all of those things. I suspect that the infected do end up eating more than they normally would, but the majority of them are poor farmers who can’t afford enough food to be considered gluttonous. The infection has spread through our town like a disease sure, but I’ve tried casting remove disease on the victims, to no effect. Even against Urgathoa’s diseases that should work. And we have found undead nearby, but your news is the first thing that could give solid evidence that the undead might be linked to the infection. However, you are right that the problems do resemble Urgathoa’s work to some degree, I shall be extra careful while I try to fix the problem, Urgathoa’s terrible might is not to be underestimated.”

Ishan (Main Street, Trevsville)
Having stashed the herbs he gathered, Ishan returns to town and starts inquiring about the perils he might face in his expecting upcoming journey. The man he finds talkative enough to discuss these kinds of things looks like the shadow of his former self. He must have been once strong and battle trained. One could even say that he was an adventurer once, then he took malnutrition to the knee.

“Well it depends on where you’re planning on going. When I was exploring the ruins of some of the towns that got destroyed in the war, I ran into a kobold den in one of them, the burnt village just to the east. Judging by the frequency of kobold attacks, I’d guess they’re still there. If you wanted to go around them, then the plains are pretty well protected, usually, by imperial soldiers, but once you get as far east as the Southern Forest or the mountains, you can expect orc trouble. If you’re lucky they may let you leave alive, but they aren’t going to let you get past the mountains. Or in the forest goblins are probably your biggest problem.”

“If you wanted to go North, just don’t, I don’t recommend it. Drow control the lands on the other side of the river, and the land on this side is poor, there’s nothing of value, and there’s rumors that dark creatures have been wandering about there lately.”

Jasmine and Kannock (Black Barrel Tavern)
“I try to not see orcs as often as possible. Whenever I see an orc in these parts it usually means he’s drunk, and that usually means he’s up to no good. Yeah, that’s right, I’m not actually an orc despite what you might think, my father was an orc, but my mother was human, which means I’m even less liked in orc lands then you would be. However, if you really want to find this orc, I’d suggest talking to Pern over there, he hunts in the south forest and he runs into orcs fairly frequently there.” The innkeeper points out the Nephilim with the bow.

Her food tastes pretty much what she would expect by looking at it. It’s rather hard to believe that a town with food like this could look so underfed.

Benjamin (Black barrel Tavern)
“Very well, let us trade knight for archer. While we’re at it I’ll develop my right side of the board to free up more options for me, and to bring the pressure to your side of the board.”

(Move Sii to C4, sandwiching Benji’s Kii between Sii and D, Move Si to B4, Move Ki to B3)

“It just so happens that I know an orc, nice fellow although he likes to play the Urgoth set. Damn skeletons are annoying to deal with. But the point is he’s told me about a few peculiar characters amongst the orcs. It sounds like the current orc leader hasn’t appointed a successor, so a bunch of orcs are trying to prove their worth to him. Orcs don’t do the whole succession by bloodline thing, they do succession by the leader appointing the biggest strongest and bravest orc he can find.”

[JadedDM]

"Well, if you need backup when you go, my partner and I have very reasonable rates. We aren't followers of Sarenrae, but we have no love of the Pallid Princess, either," Gaheris offers. "And if you run into any of those necromancers or their undead goons, you might need some extra muscle."

[HorizonsDream]

Jasmine turns her head to look at the Nephilim, then smiles to the innkeeper. "Thanks," she says. Though, she takes the time to finish her meal before she stands, and walks over to the Nephilim. "Excuse me," she says sweetly. "Do you mind if I join you for a bit, and perhaps ask you a couple of questions?"

[keymeister16]

"ah, excellent selection!" Zurgo peered around. "i would take you up on that chicken, but the local beef on my way in has been... fascinating, i was wondering if you could bless me with the name of the one who provided you with such selection today?"

[Just_Ice]

The bard nearly put a piece in his mouth while trying to unravel the method to the game, and settled for a right-side strategem, moving his paltry two moves. "No third one, correct? Very well, I believe your Master piece there is feeling the weight of leadership, all of a sudden."

He relaxed a bit, leaning into his chair, "It sounds like your orc friend is quite connected. If it's alright with you, I may need to consult with him on something. Don't worry if he is choleric towards the drow; I have a way of worming into peoples' hearts, you see."

If he decided it was worth it, he was just going to let Zurgo go.

[Archer i to E6, Knight i to D8 and placing brown Theodora in peril.]

[Haahque]

Jasmine and Kannock (Black Barrel Tavern)
Jasmine quickly gets the attention of the three men at the table, the Nephilim wastes no time in answering her question. “No, yes indeed, please join us for as long as you want. It’s always nice to see a new girl in town. How long will you be staying?”
The Slith turns back to his beer for another swig, but it appears that Jasmine still holds the human’s undivided attention.

Zurgo (Merchant District, Trevsville)
“The farmer’s names? Well the cow we butchered today was one of Christopher Fitzwilliam’s cows, but Humfrey Brook also often comes by often and we have some of his meet, it’s salted to preserve it. You don’t have something against eating meat from human farmers do you?”

Gaheris (Trevsville Church)
“I’m hoping that I won’t need extra muscle, I don’t enjoy combat all that much, although with the power from Sarenrae, I can banish a couple undead if I should run into them. However, if you wish to come along with me you would be welcome. I’ll likely be staying at a farmer’s house over supper time and I’ll gladly pay them for any inconvenience we cause them to supply supper for all of us. Furthermore, if the worst should happen and we do end up fighting some abominations, I will do my best to patch you all up afterwards. Sarenrae is, amongst other things, a goddess of healing, and I do my part to embody that aspect of her teachings.”

Benjamin (Black barrel Tavern, Trevsville)
“Ah, interesting move, but you forgot that Theodra, like all commander pieces in hnefatafl, is immune to a knight’s charge, and also immune to archer’s arrows. Indeed, the biggest threat you pose me on this turn is that your archer is now in range of shooting one of my Sliths.”

(Slith iii to F3, Slith iv to G3, Knight ii to G2)

“Now I tend to favor aggressive moves that force my opponent into bad choices and ceding control of the board to me, but it is the mark of a good player to know when to break from their style and lay down a solid defense. By pulling my Sliths into a line I will make it hard for you to get past my defenses, especially because you now cannot move through F4. Also, my move has a hidden threat that you should be aware of.”

“I would not say that my orc friend is well connected, but I would say he keeps his ears open. These days it is not hard to learn about significant orcs if you live in the Orc Castle. Orcs, by their nature like to show off and make a name for themselves to other orcs, and this is only become more prominent while there is no heir chosen yet.”

“If you wish to go see him, he is in the Orc Castle, which is in the south end of the Orc Forest. Just ask for Thrugal and bring a desire to play hnefatafl against the Urgoth set. If you should see him, tell him that Saul sent you. You do not need to worry, he will welcome any friend of mine.”

[JadedDM]

"Sounds great," Gaheris says. "I'll tell my partner when I see her, we're supposed to meet up soon. Before I head out, though, you sell any holy water here? Might come in handy if we do run into more of those walking corpses."

[HorizonsDream]

Jasmines smiles sweetly towards the group as she sits down at their table. "Oh, I could be here a few days or a few hours. It really hasn't been decided yet," she says. "I suppose it all depends on how you answer my question. You see, I'm looking for an orc," she explains. "Apparently, he isn't your normal orc though." Once again, she describes the orc to the best of her ability, and hopes that someone has seen him.

[keymeister16]

"quite the contrary, the beef i have seen since visiting this place has been fascinating, i would meet with Fitzwilliam and Brook myself and commend them on raising such an...
undying taste in their charges," Zurgo smirked back to the farm they where at, was it Fitzwilliams? Brooks? someone else? "a pair of thighs, one of Fitzwilliam and of Brook if you'd please, i would also tip well for the homes of farmers, raised on a farm myself i appreciate the quality of work in my food," Zurgo counts out 24+12 silver.

[Vrindlevine]

After acquiring some moderately interesting Ishan, heads to the town center hoping to find one or more of his patrons. That rogue looks like the one in charge though with a group this diverse they could all have their own agendas. He certainly did but he wasn't about to share that with anyone.

While he waits he decides to buy some food, never a picky one he just buys as much as he can for 10 so.
sp

[Just_Ice]

[Silch iv to G4, Archer ii to F4, Dervish to D4 (Eliminate Brown Dervish)]

"I'll have to visit him, if he's on the way to where we're headed. Hopefully this wasn't an elaborate trap that I've just triggered."