Current nods gratefully to Anearis, "If you are willing to pay for lodging, then I have no serious preference either way. However, it might be nice to have a bed to sleep in. After all, we don't know what the journey is going to be like going forward."

"Eh," grumbles Atal, perfectly happy to make a place for himself on the grass.  "I guess if you guys are asking for a slot under the roof, I guess I can too."  He doesn't sound thrilled about the prospect, though.

Before asking about rooms, Atal does take some time to approach the pyre and try to inspect the bodies, to see if they're even human, or demihuman, or something completely different.

(don't know whether that's perception or medicine or what... here's a straight d20: 12)

Uthal walks cautiously forward, wary of people who would be so casual around the dead. He looks like he's holding a hammer but his hand is empty.

"You sleep where ya want, we'll sleep where we fall. Time ta get knackered." Nik jumped down from the wagon and quickly began to make his way past the fire and towards the openings of the Lodge. "Post the horse, Nack, I'll get our first round," he shouted as he disappeared among the crowd.

((OOC: I'd consider it investigation)) Upon closer inspection of the bonfire, Atal was able to draw more details of the bodies. The bodies that still appeared whole, even though charred showed that they were all of the same race or species, what ever they were. The limbs were generally thin and wirey compared to their broad torsos and every finger and toe seemed to end in a talon or claw. The faces were nearly all burnt to the point of having no detail, although one did still have intact ears that where abnormally large and pointed, and a nose that looked more like a snout. The most unnatural feature though that provided evidence that the bodies may have been more beastial than humid, as they had appeared initially, was that while most seemed to have burned away, some of the arms still had flaps of skin hanging from them that could indicate the presence of wings.

Moving towards the Lodge, in the same direction, though with less enthusiasm, as Nik, the party's view of the Lodge's 'interior' expanded. The structure had a solid wooden frame, built on a wooden platform only about a foot off the ground, with a massive wooden column in the center, which the circus tent-like roof rose towards. The rear half of the circular base had a wall going up about 15 feet, and was decorated with various parts of animals and beasts mounted upon them: skulls of all shapes and sizes, sprawled and displayed sets of wings, antlers, horn, pelts, limbs.

Apart from the decorations, the wall also housed two things of more practical nature. The first was a large stone fire place, in front of which was prominently placed a throne like wooden chair and covered with pelts and hides and had a large pair of antlers on top. The chair stood empty, though several lodge-goers meandered around it. The other was the bar, where Nik was already excitedly sitting at. Behind the bar were rows of shelves, most of which held various bottles. However the higher shelves held series of jars which seemed to compliment the rest of the decor. Floating or sitting in these jars were claws, teeth, ears, eyes, various organs, and one that appeared to hold a large phallus.

The crowd within the lodge held individuals of a mostly cheerful demeanor, though any that weren't just generally seemed tired. They varied in race and dress, though many wear armor or attire meant for travel. Half-orcs, elfs, humans, figures that looks like different anthropomorphic animals themselves, and many carrying bows or blades. A few even had animals with them, likely pets: dogs, birds of prey. All drinking together,, laughing, talking, just generally socializing.

Notably to Austin, was that a figure behind the bar talking to Nik, was wearing a dark-green hooded cloak, identical to that of her quarry.

Though likely most notable to those not looking for Viggo, was the 7 and a half foot figure next to him with grayish skin and blood red fur. A gnoll, with various bone ornaments and tools hanging from a half-intact scale armor, and a metal collar of some sort around his neck. The gnoll was simply standing there, looking out at the crowd and kicking his lips.

Austin gave her companions a nod, then strode in. She moved up to the bar and nodded to the figure in the familiar cloak. "So, I have seen that sort of cloak before." She says to the person. "What does the cloak signify?"

As Austin approached, Nik was already ordering drinks from the same man with whom Austin intended to speak. "Eight woodcutters," Nik said holding up eight fingers to reinforce his words. Next to the dwarf, Austin could see him put some coins (1 gp and 2sp) on the counter, aside four small bones (approximately an inch or so long each), which he then pushed towards the man.

Leaving the coin for a moment, the man brought one of the bones close to his face, "These are from a dog." His voice unimpressed with the offering. He then flicked the bone onto the floor, and Nik brushed the others onto the floor as well, replacing them with 4 silver coin. "It was one monster ova dog," Nik said hopefully, though ultimately his face turned toward one of accepting defeat.

The cloaked man took the coin "Just show the coin upfront. You want to pay with trophies, actually go kill something yourself." He then began filling mugs from a large cask sitting against the wall, a few feet away.

Closer, Austin could see the man more properly. He was about six feet or so, with a brown beard that had more than the occasional gray throughout it. The hair on his head matched. His clothing and boots, visible through the open cloak were common clothing though seemed thicker, more so for sturdiness rather than warmth, or perhaps both. For most people though, the thing that stood out would be the axe that he had slung at his back. Shaped like that of an age meant to split logs, it looked as though it could split skulls just as well. The slight curvature of the wooden handle (an ergonomic design) gave to the use for manual labor, but it was nearly four feet long, with an axe head that looked to potentially be as heavy as a warhammer or maul. Had it not been strapped to the man, anyone who saw it would have likely assumed it belonged to a larger individual.

As he poured, he responded to Austin's inquiry. "There are still a few around. Might even see some in here. Those who wear it were members of the rangers guild." Placing the last of the mugs infront of Nik. "...or they bought it off one. No guild any longer, so it's as good as the warmth it provides. Why, you looking to hire a ranger?"

"Hunting a man with that same cloak." Austin responded with a half-smile for the man. "A Viggo by name..." She watches for what reaction the man gives... Insight: 4

Anearis tries to avoid the brasier of burning bodies and the people around it. He attempts to find the person in charge of lodging. The bar seems like a good start.

He tries to hail the bar keep to get its attention.

"Pardon me. Where can I rent a room? And what is the price for said today?"

Uthal will get a closer look at the bodies for himself.

Atal takes a large step back from the bonfire, bad memories from the infection he received at the Castle of Aaargh surfacing.  Holding his shoulder, he shudders, and turns around -- nearly running face-first into Uthal.  "Hey," he says, stepping back.  "Take a look at those things in the fire.  Do they look familiar to you, too?  I wonder if those bat creatures have spread?  Or are something those royals summoned with their rituals...  I don't like it.  Let's go ask whoever's running this place about them when you're done."

Current follows Anearis, but as soon as she notices, the gnoll, a small curiosity starts to grow inside her. What were these strange creatures that lived on land? It was so big and hairy. As they approach the bar, the warlock's curiosity gets the better of her and she splits from Anearis and approaches the gnoll. "Hello, good sir. Are you from around here?"

Uthal says nothing but follows Atal. As they step inside his hammer appears suddenly in his hand and he casually stows it.

The cloaked man showed no surprise at all to Austin's looking for Viggo, even at the choice of the word 'hunting' the man. Almost as though he half expected someone to come looking in that sense. "Might know someone by the name. What's he to you then?"

Anearis didn't need to look hard to find a bar keep. Aside from a stoic gnoll standing with his arms crossed, there was only one other individual behind the bar, and Austin and Nik were already talking to him. When Anearis called out to him, regarding rooms, he looked up and called back, "Five silver. Only got the one left," but didn't leave his current place, and turned back to the potential customer he was already addressing, Austin.

The gnoll stared down at Current, but said nothing. Following her question, he slowly shook his head, possibly indicating a negative response. He then continued looking down at her.

Uthal investigation: 10

Uthal was able to get nothing further than what Atal had already identified regarding the bodies.

After Nik had initially hopped from the cart and made his way into the Lodge ahead of the rest, Nack led the horse away from the bonfire and closer to the 'campground' area, tying the reigns to a wooden post. He then made his way in behind Atal and Uthal. Tapping Uthal's arm, he pointed at the large empty chair, by the fire place. "Ya shud sit in tha chair. A throne for Uthal tha Destroyer." Nack then winked up at the goliath, and then giggling, made his way toward the bar, where his brother was.

"I am a bounty hunter." Austin informed the man with a shrug of her shoulders. "He is wanted for various reasons, and I took on the job of finding him and returning him for justice." she nodded her head to her companions. "They want him for more personal reasons, but, in the end, I will have him to take back, dead or alive, for the crimes he has done."

Uthal raises the skin above his eye at the retreating dwarf before addressing Atal. "Why do I get the feeling that if I actually did sit in that chair I'd have to fight either the strongest person in the bar or just everyone? Either way, does he think I'm as dumb as him?"

Current continued looking up at the gnoll in curiosity. But when the creature didn't respond to her verbally she asked a slightly different question. "Do you speak?"

The cloaked man let out a single breath of a laugh. "You seem sure enough about yourself. I wish you the best of luck then." Dismissing the topic, he excuses himself to go address other customer needs at the bar. As he walked away, Nik turned to Austin, having already downed two of the mugs in front of him and starting on a third. "If yer looking for information, ya gotta offer incentive. He's not just gonna give up anything on a fellow ranger. Doesn't matter if it's a bastard like Viggo." Nack joined beside him, pulling four of the mugs infront of himself.

"You want it?" The cloaked man stopped infront of Anearis to pick back up the conversation regarding a room for the night.

The gnoll just shook his head again, retaining his current posture, saliva forming at the corner of his mouth. Even though he hadn't moved seemingly closer to Current.

"He's a gnoll. He'll understand ya, but they're not smart enough to speak." A man at the bar next to Current turned towards her, his back had previously been to her, but had since apparently heard her one-sided conversation. He had a dark brown skin that almost had a glossy look to it, like a polished stone, however his face had a patch on his chin and one cheek that looked more like red dirt or rust. He wore hide armor that even in its own darkness tones made the man's skin seem darker. His eyes had a certain glint of light. A large knife sat in his belt, and several pouched hung at his side. "I do though, and if you're looking for some company for the night, I could certainly oblige." The man stepped closer towards Current, and put his hand on her wrist.

"Well, why don't we find out?"  Atal grins evilly, then waves his fingers at the chair, whispering under his breath.

A silent image of Nack slowly emerges from the shadows, idly making his way over to the chair.  He looks around significantly, before hopping up and plopping himself firmly down onto the seat, a smug smile on his face, arms crossed.

"It will have to do.", says Anearis to the man in the cloak. As he takes out the necessary coins, he notices Austin having a conversation about Viggo. He decides to take up Nick’s advice.

"I could not help but overhear that your conversation. I understand you will not sell out one of your own. But maybe someone else here would. You could tell us who without having to sully your hands.", he says as he slips him 10 gold coins.

As the image of Nack appears in the large chair decorated in the decor of the Lodge, a few people around the chair begin to notice. The initial ones to notice seemed surprised, possibly that the dwarf seemed to just appear, possibly because someone decided to sit in the chair. Either way, as if waiting for the opportunity, Lodge goers began to cheer and things were thrown at the chair and image. The objects being thrown were a hodgepodge of everyday items: salt and pepper shakers, unlit candles, a taxidermied squirrel, a tomato, even a wooden cup filled with some sort of drink. It seemed to be whatever they could get their hands on that wouldn't necessarily do any harm. 

The barrage would likely continued, but one of the individuals only a few feet from the chair noticed the items passing through the image and yelled out, "Booo! It's a fake." Which was then followed by a series of boos and hisses across the floor, eventually fading as people went back to what they were doing and ignored the image.