CH 1: This Place Sucks

[JadedDM]

The pilgrims push onward, although it's clear many of them are exhausted after such a long day's journey. To make matters worse, it then begins to rain lightly.

After another hour, they reach the village. It appears to be a small lumbering village, perhaps with no more than a few hundred people. At this hour, most of the citizens have turned in for the night, especially in the rain.

The pilgrims stop nearby and the Pharise looks to Gimog. "You and Hollidan go see what accommodations they can provide, if any. Oh, and take the scribe with you. Hopefully she can provide some use to you. Report back within the hour."

"Yes, Pharise," Gimog and Hollidan say in unison.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo moves to join Gimog and Hollidan. "This town doesn't look like it is going to have much to accommodate all of these people," she says.

[JadedDM]

"No, probably not," Gimog agrees. "But maybe they have an inn, so at least the oldest and youngest have some beds to sleep in."

Hollidan takes the lead, kicking his horse into a trot toward the village. Gimog follows on his pony.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo follows after the rest of them. Though, she pulls he hood up on her head from her cloak to block some of the rain.

[JadedDM]

Once in the village, the three slow down their horses and begin looking around. Gimog spots an inn and points it out to the others; a small two-story building labeled the Almond Inn.

"Looks like they have a stable, too," Hollidan notes. He dismounts and ties off his horse on a post in front of the inn for now. Gimog does likewise with his pony. The two then step inside, not waiting to see if Echo accompanies them or not.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo does the same as well and follows the two inside.

[JadedDM]

The interior of the inn can best be described as 'rustic.' Even the dump in Rotwein was better than this place. Plus, it was so small, Echo doubted all of the pilgrims could even fit into the common area, much less in the rooms upstairs. Still, at least it was warm and dry, thanks in large part to the roaring fireplace.

There were only four people inside. One was a young man with black skin tending the bar in a dirty apron. Second was an old man with grey hair and a wispy beard, sitting alone at the bar, nursing a drink. The third was a young woman--an elf, from the looks of her, sitting by the fireplace, looking bored. The fourth was a very, very old gnome sitting at a small table in the corner, puffing on a pipe lazily. All four of them looked up in surprise when the paladin, mage and cleric stepped inside.

"Uh, welcome, travelers," the man at the bar says. "Need a drink or a warm place to stay?"

Hollidan nods. "I'll go talk to him. You two look around, check the place out," he suggests before walking up to the bar.

[HorizonsDream]

"Not much to check out," Echo mutters to herself, but she shrugs. She removes her cloak for a moment and shakes out a bit of the rain before she puts it back on. "Well, we are looking for places for these people to stay. We can always find out if there is a temple or shrine or something for these people to stay in," she suggests.

[JadedDM]

"Good idea," Gimog says. "Perhaps one of the people here can tell us, as I don't favor the idea of walking around in the rain."

[HorizonsDream]

Echo walks over to the old gnome smoking the pipe. "Excuse me," she says, trying to sound as polite as possible at least by her standards. "Do you have temple or shrine in this village?" she asks.

[JadedDM]

The old gnome looks up at her with dull, green eyes and blinks a few times. He then takes a long puff of his pipe before blowing out a steady stream of smoke. "Nope," he says slowly. "Got no temple or priests here. Not in a long time, at least."

[HorizonsDream]

"Not in a long time? Did there use to be?" Echo asks.

[JadedDM]

"'Bout a hundred and fifty years ago," the old gnome says. "I remember it well. But the dragon squashed it. Landed right on top of it, destroying it. Never rebuilt. All the priests left."

[HorizonsDream]

"Dragon?" Echo asks in surprise. "Why didn't they rebuild? Were they afraid the dragon would come back or something? Why did a dragon have an interest in this village anyway?"

[JadedDM]

The gnome sucks in another long draw of his pipe, then breathes out the smoke, which unfortunately mostly goes in Echo's direction. "Some say the dragon was looking to avenge his brother, that Baerin slew. Wanted to destroy every temple of Gonto out there. Others say it was just a dragon being a dragon. No one knows for sure."