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It’s a sunny day as the party reaches Birakruut with a gentle breeze in the air. The town is set within the forest with livestock and fields intermixed with the woods. The homes are mostly simple, but as you get to the main square they begin to be pieces of art fixed in and amongst the untamed nature of the Silverwood Forest. The sound of bells rings from a shrine.

Most of the locals, by far predominantly lizardfolk, seem to actively avoid you. Closed shutters. Door creaked open to glance only to shut if noticed. Despite the town’s location at a crossroads, it seems clear most do not warm easily to strangers.

There is a bustle with farmers selling livestock and crops with the bleats of goats and clucking of chickens filling the air. Others offer simple trinkets alongside a small store. Some younger lizardfolk test their skills with the javelin off to the side. Under the shade of a tree stand a lizardman and goliath in robes try to speak with any that pass by, though most shrug them off.

In a prominent place of the square, near an official-looking building, stands a board with various notices on it. Requests for odd-man jobs, help wanted for farmhands, and the like. Among them are some notable ones.

Notable Locations in town

Market Grounds (bartering with local goods of the area)
The Scaly Saloon (a tavern/inn)
G&G’s Goods (general store, has most trade goods)
Madame Lestri’s Emporium (herbalist/potionmaker)
Shrine of Semuanya
Woodcutters Guild
Mayor’s Office
Proudhorn Furs (trapping company)
Yvgrilla’s Cuts (butcher shop)
Patty’s Pastries (bakery)
Stalwart Stallions (stable, place for mounts)
Ironheart Forgers (blacksmith)

Donyl cast his gaze around the town as he strode across the square. He noted vibrancy of the place, the art, the flowers, the thrum of life, even the very buildings were alive for the most part. But he also saw the fear and mistrust among the people. Groups of younglings disappeared around corners, conversations stopped, stutters were drawn, and doors snapped shut at their approach.

He was glad that he hadn't worn his helm into town, choosing instead to tuck it under his arm. The dread visage it produced would not have gone over well with these folk. Donyl smiled his friendliest smile and attempted to make eye contact with anyone he saw. He nodded and gave small waves, but none were returned. He glanced down at himself to make sure that he wasn't spattered with blood or something horrible. But his dark robes were clean, and his armor shone brightly when the sun glinted off it. There was no insignia on the shield at his back. Without the helm there was no outward sign that he was a Death Cleric, a dark priest of Kiaransalee. 

These folks seem terrified of something. Donyl said to nobody in particular Perhaps the notice board will have some clues.

Ying Suyin walks in full chainmail armor and helm with her great sword sheathed in a half scabbard for ease of use. She also carries a shield, back up longsword, and a pack full of supplies. She is ready for an expedition and pays no mind to how people are reacting to her. She looks to Donyl and says "We have our orders to investigate this region per Tallisma's request. I think we should speak with the mayor first before checking out the notice board"  

Fizzt looks at the chainmail clad female and counters with, "Not necessarily. Always good to get the lay of the land before engaging the locals and where better than the town Help Wanted Board?"  He points at the paper mentioning the old house, "We now know we have a potential place to stay, available.

The feline being pokes his head around the board to see if anything is on the back side, then turns back to Suyin, "But you also have a good point.  We should find the mayor or whoever is in charge, even if it is to just let them know we are here."

Gattara walks behind the others, with her broom under armpit. She usually do not fit well in social environment so she decides better not to speak to any lizard folk for the moment.

ah, we'd better find this mayor first and then find some place to rest: these verrucas are killing me

Ying Suyin walks to the mayor's office and knocks on the door. If it's open, she enters and inquires on whether the mayor is available to talk.

As you approach the mayor’s office you’re able to hear the muffled sounds of an argument in Draconic until one voice gets notably louder.* A moment later a lizardwoman in a green cloak opens the door. She looks at you for a moment, as if sizing up the party, before heading down the street towards the Scaly Saloon.

[[ *Gattara, knowing Draconic, would understand the last part as, “If you’re so nervous then just stay out of the damn cave!” ]]

Entering the mayor’s office, an eclectic display fills your eyes. Fancy desks and drawers with papers are intermixed along the walls with crude trade goods. From one crate a pair of chickens cluck, giving an avian background noise to the room.

At a desk in the center is Guidori, a lizardman wearing a goat pelt vest. He seems engrossed in the papers and worried in thought. As he notices the party he puts a hand to his forehead. “Karshoj arnahk.” he mutters exasperatedly in Draconic and then looks up at Ying, “Aripotvych, munthrek.” Without giving much time for a response he tersely adds, “Wux tuor renthisj?”

[[ Using this as a source, translation
-[expletive expression of frustration] 
-Beg your pardon, human.
-You want to speak?
won’t do this often, using the direct words, but it’s fun now and then, particularly with intros ]]

After a moment he seems to realize that not everyone present may speak Draconic. Switching over to Common he asks, tone a little less gruff, “What is it?”

Ying steps forward and says "We have come per an urgent request to investigate this region from Tallisma. Do you know of anyone searching of old sites in the Silverwood Forest or beyond? It could be a single person or group. As this is the nearest town they may come here for supplies from time to time."

[[ Quick note: Tallisma, being part of Junut's espionage system, would not be a well-known nor authoritative name in Gildaran lands. ]]

Guidori listens to Ying and then seems to sigh, "Yet another urgent request, huh?" He picks up a tattered piece of paper with some crude writing on it, "Hopefully more urgent than Sazlie's multiple letters claiming Krithi is intentionally ordering her goat to be a, and I quote, 'petunia murderer.'" He throws it back to down to the desk carelessly. "Krayzvik says Semuanya is protecting us but frankly I'm not feeling that very much right now. between everything" He then leans back in his chair and thinks for a moment, "That name you mentioned, Toi-Tild-Tallichma? Old sites, hopefully they're not looking for someone that went to the Desolation. If so I'd just cut your losses and tell them whoever they're looking for is dead. If not even a small army regiment could come back I doubt you'd have much luck either." From his tone as he speaks about the regiment, he seems to be recalling something semi-recent.

Ying then asks "Did a small army regiment come through here recently? Please tell me what you know? Any bit of information could be useful" 

"Few months ago, aye." he replies, "Creeped the nine hells out of me too with the undead they had. I've heard the tales of the empire using ghosties, ghoulies, and things that go bump in the night on the frontlines. Just never expected to see them in Birakruut."

"Obviously they couldn't tell me where they going, but if they came from the South and left North where else could they have gone?"

He then adds, "But as creepy as they were I'd kill to have them around again. Could use a little more manpower."

[[ map for reference ]]

[[ Gonna take a minor break to make sure the others can also get in comments/questions they want to make before I make another post. ]]

‘This Desolation place doesn’t sound very inviting’ Donyl thinks to himself.

“Wait a second, what around here is so concerning that you would be glad to have creatures like the undead around?”

Gattara had remained mute so far but finally interveens:

surely the threat is not a poor goat addressed as a killer...now, there was a person going out that mentioned a cave?!?