Stonebound

As they leave Uldran will lean in close to Freak and tell him. "Well friend, this just means we have one more thing to search for on this journey....your name." Then to the rest of the group, "I am going to talk to the refugees and try to figure out what happened to them." 

Uldran will then go find the people they are to help and moving through them offering kind words of encouragement and any healing he can provide with his herbalism or med kit. Asking questions about the types of monsters or creatures that they encountered. What their home is like? Terrain and animals that are not of the monstrous sort. 

You all listen to Freak recall his experiences with interest. Alanis as a denizen of the Isle you will know that the white star is commonly associated with Corellos a centre for magical learning situated on the shores of a great inland lake. Mercwri you know the star from a different source. For you it is associated with an unknown group of criminals in Baldenvelt who were dabbling in the arcane. They were a major customer of those of a sneaky persuasion with a nose for things magical. You may have even run a job or two for them in the past. 

Randrak you consider the situation in the hall with your knowledge of Dwarven hierarchies and military tensions. The Lord of Duragath is a descendent of kings and is clearly enjoying his newfound power as the last remaining High Lord. He is now the closest his line have been to become a true king in over five hundred years! This is clearly not lost on the assistant Ambassador who at this point must be holding the old status quo together by a thread. You imagine that if not for the Legion she holds to her command you might be attending a coronation in the very near future. You do note that Kriell introduced herself as the assistant ambassador yet there was no sign of her superior at the meting just now. Neither the High Lord or Kreill had mentioned the absence. An oddity ...

Uldran makes his way around the Shield Hall to the southern entrance where he will find the villagers. Do you all follow?

OOC: Only post if you want to go elsewhere and I will follow shortly with the Guest Hall post. Sorry for the slow reply, had a little Covid lockdown madness to deal with!!

The Guest Hall

The guards are expecting you all and wave you through. Inside the guest hall you see close to one hundred villagers. They are huddled in groups and they look scared. Uldran you begin to ask around and you eventually pointed toward Master Fredrock, a young Dwarf of middling stature with earthy brown hair.

Master Fredrock explains that most of the Dwarves here are from the nearby village of Meldrin. "The beasts came down from the mountains several nights ago. First the they took the nearby copper mine, slaughtering any of the workers who could not flee in time. Next they came to the village. Their stench was vile, poisonous in close quarters. We tried to fend them off but we are not soldiers and they were fierce. Moradin only knows what drove them out of the mountains."

OOC: Is there anything specific you want ask or do?

Randrak steps forward, "These 'beasts' tell me everything you know about them. How big are they? Do they have claws? A tail? Are they scaly or hairy? How many were there? Tell me as much as possible."

Whilst they answer Randrak will try to see if they are lying, and see if he can recognise anything by their descriptions.

(Insight: 10
Nature: 9)

Fredrock thinks for a moment before speaking,  "They are savage, and filthy. They resemble a salamander or a toad but up on two legs like a Dwarf. They have tough, leathery scales light purplish-grey to a fair white-pink. Their faces and necks are framed by soft frills of crimson and they have a frill of similar colour starting at their forehead and traveling down their neck. They stand roughly at six feet tall, though a few were taller. Its the stench I remember the most though, it was rancid."

"Best I can tell there were around twenty in all, between the town and the mine. Could be more though, we did not hang around to find out."

OOC: Best you can tell Randrak his is being honest but you cant quite fathom the identity of the monster from his descriptions

"Did you fell any in the way out?" 

Randrak ponders the description given by Fredrock, "Hmm, it sounds father feracious and in comparison rather tall. I'm not sure what they could be. Could they tall? I was imagining something crawling around on all fours, but something that walks like a dwarf..." He then glances at Alanis and Mercwri, "... or a gnome, suggests some level of intelligence and perhaps the capability of using tools.

Do any of you have an idea?" He says turning to the rest of the group?

Alanis certainly never met a creature like that but wonders if she might have come across it in a tale or a book.

Nature: 10

“Aye we slew a few and we lost five good Dwarves in the attempt. Like I said we are no soldiers.” Master Fredrock replies. 

Alanis you are in fact familiar with the description, Troglodytes are a common pest in the wild places of Guldroth and you are almost certain that is what the villagers encountered. You have never faced one yourself and it is very rare for them to leave one territory to invade another. Usually they only pose a danger if you wander into their hunting grounds. You know little of how to fight one other than a general rule to guard against their stench which is poisonous.

„Well, I never encountered them myself, but that sounds a lot like the Troglodytes that haunt the wilds of Guldroth. It is strange though, they usually keep to their hunting grounds. I wonder if they have been chased from their place and now seek to make their home in another? Anyhow, other than that they carry a stench that is actually poisonous I sadly can’t offer anything on how to deal with them...“

"Well, that sounds disgusting, but I'm for clearing out an infestation of you all are."

Uldran listens to the descriptions of the monsters and the harrowing tale of the towns flight down to the city. He then looks to Fredrock and asks, "Master Fredrock do any of your people still require any healing? I need to go find an herbalist's shop before we leave so please let me know if any of your people still need help."

((I would like to find an herbalist to buy an herbalist's kit and herbs to create antitoxin and healing potions, let me know how much for each and I will decide how much to spend))

"Hmm, troglodytes... Well, their stench sounds like it could pose a threat, which is just my luck. I will be in the middle of a fight trying to fell some of the monsters and I will be struggling to avoid passing out by their great stench." At the thought, Randrak pulls a face.

"Well, I am not one to pass down a challenge, and if need be I will cover my face with my own sash. Hopefully that will help keep the stench from filling my own nostrils."

Upon hearing Uldran's desire to find a herbalist, Randrak turns to him.

"I'll come with you, we might be able to find a weapon smith on the way and maybe I'll be able to broaden my combat capabilities for the fight ahead. Maybe I'll even buy a potion or two as well."

He then turns to Freak, "Hey do you want to come with us? It will put more distance between you and those with the white star amulets. It will probably take your mind off things too. What do you say?"

Freak agrees "These creatures sound fouler than the goblins we've fought, but I'm up for it."

Quote from TheBritGeek >>

 

He then turns to Freak, "Hey do you want to come with us? It will put more distance between you and those with the white star amulets. It will probably take your mind off things too. What do you say?"

 Freak nods at Randrak: "Yes, thank you Randark."

OOC: Unless stated otherwise I will presume you all move together on this. I have an idea what you want from previous posts but will give you the opportunity to play it out before posting up the results of your search.

Master Fredrock offers you a warm smile, but shakes his head. "The lady Kriell is providing all that we need thank you. It is enough that you have agreed to rid our homes of these wretched creatures. We will meet you at the West Gate come morning and I will act as your guide."

Taking your leave of the Dwarven villagers you make your way out into the city. Asking around you soon find yourself climbing to the central tier of Duragath where many of the large shops and craft halls can be found. Uldran you see a familiar symbol etched into the side of a large square building to the east of the city. It is a common marking used among druids to indicate elements of the craft may be bought and sold here. Walking up you see a large wooden sign which reads, Runestock's Supplies and Sundries.

You all enter to find a warren of small rooms and booths, jam packed with all sorts of items. You see no weapons or armour here, but almost everything else imaginable is on display. Gnomes in smart grey uniforms scurry back and forth serving customers and stocking shelves, while over the general din of the shoppers you hear a booming voice and glimpse a bright dressed Dwarf who seems to be overseeing the whole affair. "Ho now, careful now!" he is chiding two gnomes who are carrying a rather heavy looking statue. Another gnome runs up and mumbles something you can not hear... "What preposterous, we can not take less than fifteen. You tell her I said so." 

The Dwarf blusters this way and that organising his staff and directing his stock. He is wearing the brightest yellow tunic atop a frilly red shirt and garishly green breeches. His boots are as black as night to match his beard. Suddenly his spots you all there milling about in the entrance and stomps over with a broad grin on his face. "Hey now, welcome to Runestocks Supplies and Sundries. Jerillo Runestock at your service. What are you looking for today?"

"Incapacitating agents, anti-toxin salves," Mercwri responds crisply.  "Gotta dispatch some trog-d-lites that's both'rin' folk.  I am given to understand they emit a foul miasma that is detrimental to the health and well-being of would be rescuers; that'd be us."

Before leaving hall, Randrak replies to Freak, "Excellent off we go though then." He notices that Freak misspoke his name, but for decides not to comment on it. Though decides to correct him on the next opportunity.

In Runestock's Supplies and Sundaries, "Actually, you don't happen to have a list of inventory or something that? I'm not sure what I want, though knowing what you have might be useful."

Alanis will wait patiently until the others are served and then ask if they are selling simple flasks. After all, she needs to keep up her alchemy training.

After Mercwri speaks Uldran adds, "Aye , and I need a new herbalist's kit with mortal, pestle and such. I would like to make my own poison cure and healing potion if you have the proper reagents on hand. This is a fine shop Jerillo. Family affair?"

((not sure what happened to my post from yesterday but apparently I didnt hit 'post reply'. ))

"Some acid, maybe?" Mercwri sounds very hopeful.