“On second thought, perhaps a mead or wine would be better. If your water supply has become contaminated, maybe you should hang on to the fresh water you still have.” Chonk says before excusing himself to wash up.

DAY : 0   Biome : Hills (Village/Needlehole Tavern)

CHICKEN WATER

The barkeep considers your requests before answering.

"We have water and we have chicken." 

The chicken gives and angry PWOK?! at this revelation. 

"No lamb?" asks your guide.

"Lamb is off the menu. No deliveries from the farm again today."

"Oh, too bad." now it is your guides turn to look crestfallen, "The lamb is really good." they explain.

The barkeep points to a wide staircase on the right hand side of the common room, "Rooms are at the top of the stairs you can clean yourselves up there." they say to you Chonk.

“Perhaps PWOK should come upstairs with me and be left in the room while we eat.” Chonk suggests.

He’ll go upstairs to clean up and then return to eat.

”What’s the story about the lamb deliveries?” Chonk will ask while eating.

He will eat his fill but look to store excess food in his pack, unless it is frowned upon by the proprietor.

Chonk you take the chicken upstairs and clean up. There are fresh towels and bowls of water in the rooms. Powk happily nestles down on a chair next to one of the beds.

Returning downstairs you join the others in their enjoyment of the very limited menu of chicken and water. The chicken in fact is pretty tasty and the water fresh, though the lack of alcohol is something of a downer. You all eat your fill, but you do get the feeling that the free meal is given grudgingly by the barkeep and loading up your packs might be a step to far. You can however roll slight of hand if you want to sneak some away.

You ask about the lamb and your guide exchanges a glance with the barkeep before answering, "The lamb comes from Westwood farm. You would have passed it on the way here. Strange things have been happening there and the farmer has not been seen for weeks."

"Very odd." muses the barkeep. 

"Very odd." agrees the guide, "Someone should go check on them." they give you all a meaningful glance which is about as subtle as a brick.

"So, where did you all come from?" asks the guide in turn "...and who are you?"

"And will you be paying for breakfast?" asks the barkeep earning them a snappy response from your guide.

"No. No they will not!"

Lefaris frowns at learning there is nothing but chicken and water. "Guess I'll take the house specialty then." She says with a smile, ordering the water and chicken. She eats heartily, but does not try to steal any. Listening to the story about the farm they had passed she wonders if it had anything to do with what killed that wolf they had seen dead on the road. She does not bring this up, but gives her companions a meaningful look as the villagers clearly are pushing for the group to go and check out this farm. Turning back to the villagers she doesn't answer any of their questions, but asks some of her own... "Do you have any idea where we can get other weapons than these wooden swords?" She asks, patting the sword strapped to her side. "Or do you have any idea where we can get other gear and supplies?"

Chonk will not attempt to steal from this establishment. The ordering balance of scales does not warrant such an act.

”Thank you for your generosity.” Chonk sincerely exclaims to the barkeep. “Perhaps our troupe will look into the shortage of lamb for you all.”

Addressing the team, “What say? Should we backtrack and aid these fine folk on the morrow?”

Chonk finishes his meal and pushes slightly away from the table, stretching his back and extending his feet forward.

”I don’t suppose anyone has some pipeweed and a hand pipe?” He says loudly to the room. “‘Twould be a fine finish to a fine meal.”

Sindri enjoys the food that is brought out to her and listens to the story on the lamb and Westwood farm.  As they talk about it, she misses Lefaris's meaningful look and interjects, "I wonder if that has anything to do with the wolf we found on our walk here?  It had been attacked, but the wounds were not your typical tears from sharp teeth - almost seemed blunt somehow?  And we saw bloodied wool that would be from sheep as well."  She looks at her companions to see if they have anything more to add.  She doesn't offer going to help, but if that's where it takes them, so be it.  Would be good to solve the mystery.

When she is asked about herself, she brightens, "The name is Sindri, Sindri Behrens and I'm pleased to meet you!  Well, as for where I came from?  From my home!  I live out in the woods." she frowns a bit, "I hope my animals are able to find food since I'm not there to feed them..." and she trails off thinking about them.

“I go by “Chonk”, but really, you may call me anything you wish. Just don’t call me late for breakfast. Ha Ha!” Chonk stares around the room at all of the dead-pan faces and realizes he should leave the jokes to others. “Ahem, well, we are not from around here, but we were summoned by someone very powerful to search for someone else who is very powerful.” Chonk stops talking, maybe he’s said too much already.

Guroz sits relatively stiffly. He doesn't decline the simple food and drink. Those who are skilled at insight may notice he withdraws from the gathering of people and cheers...

"Guroz." He gives a small gesture. "We're... not from here.It's how Chonk says, summoned here to help find someone... Steve, was it?"

He also gives a nod to the dwarf's suggests, "Sounds only fair to help this people for their hospitality. Especially with these monsters crawling around..." He grunts at that, looking at the zombie splatterings on his clothes. 

Lefaris as you ask about gear the guide grows thoughtful and scratches their chin.

"Hmm the leather worker might be able to help and we have a small smithy, though they are not very good."

The barkeep pipes in, "The cleric might help, they keep a stash of items from... previous visitors."

"True." agrees the guide, "Or you could try a bigger village; Downhaven is two days north of here."

Chonk. The barkeep and guide look very happy about your offer to help. Especially the barkeep whose trade is obviously suffering from the disruption.

"What is pipeweed?" asks the guide and the barkeep looks equally confused. By now other villager have entered the tavern and the barkeep is pulled away to serve chicken and water to their paying customers. You joke is indeed greeted with stony silence, all except for one villager on the far side of the room who suddenly roars with laughter. They point at you with wide eyes and shout;

"Funny!" everyone ignores them.

Sindri, at the mention of the dead wolf the guide looks horrified, but has no information to add other than noting.

"That is terrible."

Guroz as you say the name Steve, the whole room grows quite and still. Every villager is looking at you and the guide speaks very slowly in a voice filled with awe...

"You... know... Steve?"

Sindri puts her food down as the entire room is staring at Guroz at the mention of Steve.  Definitely an odd feeling being under the center of attention like this.  She pipes up for Guroz, "Well, we have not met him, but a gentleman by the name of Notch informed us of him when we all arrived" she blushes at the thought of them all being naked, "unceremoniously." 

Lefaris sighs as it is clear they are going to aid these villagers with whatever is going on with the farm. "Will this cleric, your smith, or the leather worker give us gear in return for looking into this farm issue?" She asks. "Or, what do you use as payment here? We are low on funds, so what sort of reward can you offer for this farm, if we need to barter with those individuals for gear and better weapons?"

Sindri leans over and whispers to Lefaris, "Low on funds?  What are you talking about?  We have no funds!"

Chonk leans even further back in his chair, interlaces his fingers behind his head, and sighs.

”Ah, pipeweed. It is a gift from the gods. It is a special broad-leafed plant that when harvested correctly, cured and either rolled or crushed and put into a pipe can relax and grant a minor state of euphoria for the smoker.”

Chonk’s eyes sparkle as he reminisces on the experience. He trails off as the discussion turns to more serious business.

Lefaris glances to Sindri with a small shake of her head. The look Sindri gets with the shake clearly says, 'They don't need to know that...'

The guide takes a gulp of water hanging on your words Sindri and then at them mention of Notch they spit the liquid out over the table. There are gasps all around the room and in the corner one of the villagers slumps heavily down into their chair, eyes wide. 

"You met Notch?" whispers the guide. "You actually met him?"

The guide turns as your more pragmatic questions bring them back to themselves Lefaris, "The barkeep will pay you to visit the farm." 

"I will?" comes the reply.

"You will." confirms the guide. "The barkeep will pay you..." the guide stops as if counting in their head, "100 emeralds."

There is a loud smash as the barkeep drops a plate of chicken. The guide goes on,

"With this you can buy some equipment and yes perhaps the cleric will have some work for you as well in the morning."

Guroz nods along with the more immediate topic at hand, "Sounds like a plan. We will check out this farm for these... emeralds. We'll leave in the morning?" He turns to his  situational comrades and gives them a look of uncertainty and apology without the villagers seeing...

"Works for me." Lefaris says with a nod. "I think it time I went to bed, I'll meet you all back here in the morning." She heads off to bed at that.

"Notch?  Oh yeah, he was the first person we met, after Little Pwok.  Seemed like a nice enough fella." Sindri continues to eat the chicken, oblivious to the commotion the villagers are making about Notch.  She does however look up when the barkeep drops his plate at the amount of payment they are to receive.  She leans over to Lefaris and whispers, "Do you think 100 emeralds is a lot?  Hard to tell with this place."  

She finishes up and sees her new friends getting ready to leave.  She nods to their guide good evening and heads up with them.

Guroz and Chonk is there anything you would like to do before you head off to bed?