Angie downs the clear liquid. "Smooooth." She says in a slightly croaking voice before shaking her head a bit and blinking a few times to regain her focus.

She then digs into her meal. She eats it all, especially relishing the small cubes of cheese-like substance. "These are delicious," she says. "They taste kind of fishy, but with a tangy, somewhat spiced infusion."

Getting an idea, Angie looks up from her food for a moment to ask the food merchant, "My good man, as you can probably tell, we are new to these parts. As a food provider you must be an important person around these parts. You probably know everyone in town. Is there any advice you could give us about this place? Do you know anything that might help us with the person called 'the Jarl'? He seems to be very important too. We think he might be able to help us and we may be able to provide him with some help as well. Do you think there is there some way that we could arrange a meeting with him." 

"Haha! Never heard someone describe fermented shark as del-icious before..." the merchant laughs, "Ya must be from afar, downin' reyka like that... haha. But, buisness.. ya mean ta meet shield Jarl Ybentord Silvertooth... eh? Food is important indeed, I bring the Jarl food twice a week.. well.." he scratches his beard, " technically I bring his kitchens food.. I don't deal with the Jarl direct ya see. Might be willin' ta let you accompany me on ma delivery in a couple hours though, or ya could just try yer luck with the guards posted at the mead hall. Grim Village is big fer this part of the world, makes the Jarl seem more important ya see.. but, he might be interested in ya seeing how he's having some issues with trade these days and you lot look strong indeed!"

To no one in particular,

"I am not a tree."

Angie chuckles under her breath at Healer's muttering as she turns to her new friends. "Sounds like maybe we have an opportunity to make a powerful friend by helping this Jarl with his trade issues. What do you guys say? Should we accompany this good man to the Jarl's kitchens or should we just go see the Jarl's guards directly? If we go to the kitchens we may be able to learn more about the Jarl's problems. Then again if we go directly to the guards we may save ourselves some time, and who knows, the Jarl may appreciate our directness. What say you guys?"

Sighs in resignation. "I suppose you're right. We do kinda stick out here. Even if we go to the kitchens we will be noticed and most likely reported. I have an idea I suppose. Maybe we could use the kitchens as a back-up. We could go to the guards directly and if they turn us away, maybe we could go in to the kitchens with this fellow? If we have time for both, that is."

Angie beams at Thokein, "You're right we have a couple hours before this good Merchant will have to make his deliveries. Let's try the guards first." Angie looks at the others, "If I don't hear any complaints I say we execute Thoke's plan." Angie looks back to Thokein, "You don't mind if I call you Thoke. Do you?" Before Thokein can respond Angie turns back to the Merchant. "Which reminds me, what is your name my good sir? I am sorry for not asking previously, but you would not believe the morning we are having." Angie bats her extremely long eyelashes at the Merchant.

“Names Everton love,” the merchant replies with a twinkle in his eye, “Me delivery’s at half two, meet me back here at quarter past if yer coming with!“ With that you pay the man two gold for the breakfast and set out to the mead hall.

You follow the packed dirt street in a relatively straight direction away from the row of market stalls into the village square. You stop on the edge and notice a strange tall wooden pole centered in the middle of the square. As you walk up to it you can see it has strange runes and a face carved into it. Yellowed bones and dirty tattered cloth also hang  down from the pole. The sight is unsettling, but as you cast your eyes to the ground you can see it is stained a deep, dark crimson color. As you take in the sight an old hunched and emaciated man walks up to you and grabs Angie by the arm, “Valkyrie come to pray before her god!” He lets go and drops to his knees and begins to kiss the foot of the statue and whimpers, “You have sent us to aid us Stormi, allfather, god of wisdom, might, and wind!”

 DM Note: This is a priest of Gerbanis, the main religion of the Stormlanders. You can likely get some information about the culture from him if you converse with him.

Angie looks even more excited than usual and asks the prostrate man, "Good sir, could you please tell me more about these gods who you believe sent us? My name is Angie and these are my friends." Angie motions at the guys behind her. "We are new to this land and are not completely sure how we got here. It does seem that we came here magically which, according to my theory of deificgeneration, would suggest that some deity was involved. If you can tell us more about your gods and culture we would be very grateful.  And then perhaps we could also aid you with your problems, whatever they may be."

The priest stops his yammering and with seemingly great effort rises back to his feet. Suddenly, he bursts out again with "Surely Valkyrie, you know the allfather, god of wisdom, might, and wind! His chainmail blackened by the fire of a thousand dragons and his strength is supreme! Surely you know on his arm, he wields a mighty ring of iron named Gutra that empowers him with the strength of a thousand dragons and a thousand giants so that when he thrusts his mighty spear into his foes, the very fabric of reality trembles! None can defy his physical might, and with it he defends the weak and the ones that pay tribute to him! You must know he dwells in the midst of the great chaos storm and gathers his warriors to join him in the final clash when the powers of chaos must be subdued! You must know.. surely.. you must know Stormi, Valkyrie.. the father of us all." The priest slowly calms down and then says to you in a harsh whisper while pointing to the pole, "We've given so many offerings... I thought Stormi finally sent someone to quell the darkness in the wood.. they seem to tire... their hunger never satiated .. travelers never make it out of Wildheart... our town suffers for it..." his eyes glaze over as his voice trails off.

 DM Note: Angie, your passive perception is high enough that you gather from the priest's rant that Stormi is the main god in the Gerbanis pantheon and the god that is most tightly connected with this barbaric and ancient religion. You also surmise that this priest is dedicated to Stormi. Make an investigation check if you want to know what the pole is all about.

Investigation = 17

Angie examines the pole and says, "My good priest. Please don't despair. In my travels I have learned that gods have many names and often the most powerful of them work in the most mysterious of ways. I believe that it is entirely possible that Stormi sent us to you and that we are meant to help you with the problem you are having in Wildheart. It seems that if such a thing as fate exists it is sending us inexorably to that forest. Why don't you tell us your name and a little bit more about the darkness and the offerings you have made to it?"

"Not sure I like the looks of these 'offerings'. Pretty sure I've been in enough fights to know blood on the ground when I see it."

 The priest looks sheepishly at Angie and replies, "Ma name is... Gothi. I'm tha high priest in Grim Village and I've preformed all tha normal rituals required by Stormi! Small animals first, chickens, rabbits, and other small game.. then a goat... a sheep... finally a beloved horse.. I thought it would require more... but, here ya are... maybe it is you that Stormi sent this poor old priest!" He looks at the ground. "The forest has become corrupt... it hungers... our beloved Wildheart! ...This is all I can say for no one has entered and left the wood for.. for.. quite some time" the priest trails off again.

Angie nods. "Well, we'll do our best, but without knowing what the specific problem is I fear that our progress may be limited."

Gesturing again to the companions behind her Angie changes the subject, "We are trying to arrange an audience with the Jarl about the problems in Wildheart. Can you provide any aide?"

“Silvertooth?.. Bah!” Gothi says as he spits on the ground. “Jarl’s about as useful as a blind pack mule with a bowed back! I’ve no cause ta see him!”

Angie smiles at the priest. "Well thank you for your help, Gothi. Unless there is some other help you can provide us, we should be going. Afterall, Wildheart won't fix itself." Assuming that Gothi has nothing else to say, Angie bows to him respectfully then leads her companions onward towards the Jarl's long house and guards.

You complete the short trek to the mead hall where the Jarl is said to reside and find two bald headed and heavily tattooed guards posted at either side of the main entrance. They are equipped with spears and have short handed throwing axes at their hips. You are hailed as you approach, “State your names and business here”.

DM Note: Make a perception check. 

13

7

Angie's Perception = 20

Angie and Gobbler notice a table near the entrance to the side of the guards. On it is a closed leather bound book that looks very similar to the homeskin you saw when you first arrived.