Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"

Aldric turns his eyes on Arkun and then on Rumble before turning back to Atta. "Group," he repeats dryly. "I'm not sure what you mean. Yesterday, I accompanied these two. Another joined us for the way back. But I believe our goals may be too different. They are all too tired to do more than walk for half a day, and so I was planning to continue on my own tonight."

Before the others can add to that, the half-orc continues: "I thought a group of bandits south of town might be a good source for information —" He turns to look at Rumble, almost smiling. "— but I was just given new information that will almost assuredly lead me to Rivergard Keep."

Seeing the Arkun, Aldric and Rumble congregating further down the street, Melek approaches and catches snippets of Aldric's statements.

Rivergard Keep? Where is that?

@Atta: The tall, white-haired figure has an elf-like appearance about him, but different from Arkun. Intense, yes, like someone who never learned to smile... Proper speech and meticulous dress, to be sure. A high elf perhaps... but with only slighted pointed ears, probably one with human parentage... Yet still with that slight otherworldly aura typical of most elves...

Noticing the shorter, turtle-like creature in the gathering for the first time, Melek looks briefly startled, but instant composes himself. With an almost pompous gravity, he says:

My apologies. I did not mean to intrude on any conversation. I am called Melek.

And with that the now-not-so-newcomer gives a short, bow to the even-more-newcomer.

(and no, he's not really an edge-lord, I promise)

Turning to see the new person, he once more looks up, as everyone here is significantly taller than him! "It is nice to meet you Melek. Atta." he says simply, to not interrupt the flow of conversation. "But yes, where is Riverguard Keep, and why do you need to go there? And while I have heard tell of Orcs being strong, I doubt even an orc could face down bandits alone unelss they were small in number.. I am willing to go with you so you would not be alone. My feet are a bit sore but I am otherwise chipper. If nothing else I can provide you with some small amount of aid, and then in turn you could aid me with my search once we've handled them? Or.. were you planning to go to this keep first?"

Rumble tried, but couldn't fully surpress a chuckle at Atta's personal introduction. But aside from this, he absentmindedly fell silent to focus more on listening to the exchanges over letting any idle thought or feeling get the better of him. Though this led to him incidentally forgetting to introduce himself in the process! But then, such concern, or any concerns for that matter appears to cross his mind even as Aldric brought up Rivergard Keep, despite knowing the Orc's intentions.

"Oh, he was never gonna be alone in all this regardless, Mr. Atta, you can rest assured of that." The genesi assured, before briefly side-eyeing Aldric with a grin. "Even so, if'n yer offering to help bring those bastards at the Keep to justice, that'a certainly be appreciated; 'specially given that we sorta lost a comrades fer this whole thing.... N-not in battle or anything like that, mind ya!" He chuckled weakly. "Just, uhh, they had their own paths to get back to." Rumble admitted with a shrug. "... Oh yeah~ Names Rumble, by the way. Rumble Siltskin, in case Arkun sorta forgot to tella ya already."

"Rivergard Keep and someone called Grimjaw are the reason why I left Westbridge but a few days ago," Aldric says, sharing his gaze between Melek and Atta. "My deputy and I have been seeing more banditry, kidnappings, murders, and raids in the Valley over the past six months. Perhaps you noticed a similar trend. We were able to apprehend some bandits recently, but were only able to get from them the name Grimjaw and the place Rivergard Keep. I came to Red Larch in search of allies to help me find the place and dispatch the person."

The old knight looks at Arkun and Rumble. "The bandit camp we heard of south of here seemed like a good place to perhaps learn something. But," he says, motioning toward the shop he just left, "the proprietor I just spoke with says he heard someone saying they saw a skull pinned to a tree with a black arrow in the hills to the east a half day's walk along the Larch Path." He pauses. "I'm sure that must be Rivergard Keep."

Finally, looking back at Atta, he says, "But we should check with the sheriff first. While we are in Red Larch. It is honorable of you to want to help."

Interesting, responds Melek thoughtfully. There was an incident the hills east of town recently, although I think not so far as a half-day. It's probably nothing, but may be worth investigating on the way, if thou intends to search for the Keep.

Looking around, Melek spots the poultry shop across the street, and adds: In fact, if ye would excuse me, I would like to make further inquiries on the matter with the family in that place.

... and if there is nothing further to discuss, Melek heads across the road to see if the Mhandyvvers are home.

Arkun squares his stance and crosses his arms, looking at the orc, this marshall of Westbridge.  "Goals may be different indeed.  My magical energies were spent, and I had none left to pull your proverbial chestnuts out of the fire again, as you are keen to do as you march into zombie-infested quarters.  I cannot just charge ahead, I need to reattune.  Contemplate.  Rest.  Which I have done now.  ((What time of day is it, I was under the impression it was morning?))  We had a loose association that we would help each other with our tasks, as we seem to all have needs."  He turns to Atta, with a friendly hand on the shoulder, saying "I'd be glad to help you, Atta, we will see if the Sherriff has heard of Bero and Nerise.  And it will be nice to have your chiurgical skills, as they would seem to be frequently needed."  He turns and gives a long look at Aldric, putting some stank on it.  

Atta was wise enough and insightful enough to realize there was some 'beef' between some of the members of this colorful bunch, so he simply sat there in silence with his fingers laced as the minor vitriol flew over his head in the verbal jabs. The most posh of the group heading off to either seek out poultry or some other inquiry with the local luxury chicken locale. Through it all, Atta sat in silence, but listening. Finally...

"I apologize for my imposition, but if truly you are fine with making a quick stop with the sherrif as we're already in town, We can make it a quick trip. Afterall.. he either has some information or he does not." Atta said with a nonchalant shrug. "Regardless, as I've had no luck with the townsfolk thus far... I would be more than happy to lend you all my skills in analog healing so long as we atleast inquire whenever possible to new faces. So.. with that, I believe we should tell our elf-friend about our destination and then head to it. Once we have the sherrifs answer or.. lacktherof, we can proceed with either resting so that the druids magical energies can refresh, or.. if our orc-friend is intent on leaving tonight, I will accompany him, if only so that he is not alone." With a slight pause, he raises a small finger. "Ah, and to be clear, I do not doubt his skills in combat, but as a healer I could not let someone, no matter how skilled, walk into a den alone. It would be against my oath. But I would urge, sir Aldric, to allow the casters to recuperate. Most casters are quite useless once their primary spell reserves are gone. While not entirely so, they are limited to cantrips, which are not nearly as effective on groups. So I will fall by your prudence, sir Aldric. I will go with you as a duo, or we can wait until morning."

((To the DM: Perhaps adding a 'current time of day' to the updates would help as there seems to be a LOT of confusion, some think its night, some think its morning, and others think its midday))

OOC: It is late at night, still the same evening as when the party was last confused about the time 😅 - Arkun originally retired to his room while the others went out to explore the town, and we haven't had a long rest since then. Arkun then got tired of waiting at the inn and went back out to the town, which may be where the next confusion started about whether or not it was morning. It's been a couple of hours now since the party first arrived back in town when the sun was setting. I can try to provide more frequent "header" updates if that will help.

((Uh oh.  Major confusion.  As Arkun posted in post 491 and post 496, Arkun was in for the night and not coming out until mid-morning, he needed a long rest and recovery.  I didn't imagine this whole scene rolling out in the middle of the night.  I think we need to retcon.))

OOC: But why was Arkun needing a long rest? We left the rock in the morning and walked back to Red Larch with no encounters. You should be at full health and have full capabilities.

(OOC: Now that things seem to have been cleared up about the timing...!)

Rumble kind of cocked his head a little to the side at Melek's final remark, only to shrug and quietly bid the man goodbye in pleasant wave. He casually returns his attention to the ongoing discussion and seemed to find more mild amusement than anything else at the verbal jabs. Though if at any point Aldric caught even the hint of a grin on his face, the earth genasi suddenly remembered how to stand more at attention and put on a more stony and professional expression.

"Useless, huh? I dunno 'bout that." Rumble finally chimed in with a bit of cheekiness to his voice. "You should've seen Arkun wielding that staff of his on them skelly boys. Finest work I ever did see, I tell ya what." He said, flashing the elven druid a grin, before looking again to Atta. "And maybe cantrips alone ain't nearly as effective for large odds, but ain't like any of us are wont to stand alone. Many hands making the work and yadda yadda yadda~" He snorts, then sighs. "But, you raise a fair enough point, and being so new to each others limits, there's bound to be a few growing pains to work through. In the meantime, let's walk 'n talk to this sheriff's office, shall we? As I'm sure the locals looking out might find it mighty odd for outsiders to just be standing out in the proverbial middle of the road." With that, he looked to Aldric to lead the way.

“Nothing like some undead zombies and skeletons to focus your thoughts.  You know, the idea of being ripped limb from limb.  Tends to focus one’s attention, real quick.”  He grins at Rumble.  “Well, maybe I’m better rested than I thought.  This is not my usual environs, I enjoy my little glade in Kryptgarden, I seem all out of sorts here.  But anyway.. I can come with you.  Someone older than your average tree better come to keep you out of trouble."  

Arkun turns to Atta, saying "Don't mistake me... ole Ironbritches there swings a mean axe.  Won't want to be on the business end of it.  And... he can issue an order or two.  Get our attention."  he turns to Aldric now... "But don't be asking me to salute you.  I don't go in for that stuff.  I'm a free spirit, bound more to the wood than to you soldier types."  

He turns back to Atta, leaning in low, whispering... "I really have no beef with him.  But don't puff up his head.  It's big enough already..." 

Arkun straightens up his pack, checking his things, then says "Lead on, general, marshall, grand poohbah.  Sir."  *grin*