Hifu hangs his head low.  "Perhaps, I just have to learn to live with it.  Maybe I'm a little wiser now.  I sure am feeling a little creakier.  But I can't let this distract us from our mission.  Are you pleased with the state of the mine, sir?  I think the mining can begin again, I know that it is important to this town.  I, like Gilgin, wish to know what you plan to do with the kobolds."

Kravek listens silently as they discuss their fate. 

Perhaps Bryn Shander is our best bet. We will go to find a way to reverse this. 

He pauzes a moment. 

Not to press but as Hifu mentioned, if the matter of the mine is settled we could use the remaining coin in our journey ahead. It is unlikely we shall return to Termalain very soon. But i promise we shall if we find a cure. 

“She was Termalaines Speaker for 30 years and an adventurer before she settled down here in Dale. The mine, i got words back last night, that everything seams fine. The first group of miners will return today to inspect the gear and structures for damage, but everything looks good so far.

As for your reward, I would suggest to use the money to compansate the two guards who got injured by a ghost that you brought here, but since i promised  you the reward. It is your call.

The kobolds, we allowed them to stay in an abandoned house at the east side of the village. It is in need of repair, but it is the best i could do for the moment and they seamed happy enough. We will see how the villagers will react to them.”

Nyx says, "I'll have a work shift to get to. I'll go with your decision. Come look me up around lunch time and let me know what's going to happen next."

Hifu says “We had no idea that a ghost inhabited that kobold when we came into town.  I don’t know if town guards are given hazard pay, I would certainly contribute a gold piece each for their compensation, I don’t know about my companions.  Perhaps everyone in town can chip in since their duty was to guard Termalaine.  But we do need the coin to continue our journey and press on.  We may seek a cure and if we have success we will let you know, we also may wish to pursue where that thing came from.”

”Does Termalaine have any other needs right now?  Are you aware of any other problems nearby?”

Gilgins eyes widen at the Speakers comment, “Aye, we’ll compensate them by finding them a cure. The gods don’t work for free ye know. I’m glad ye got yer mine open, I’d suggest you use your share of profits to compensate the guards who got injured by a ghost that you tried to stop us from vanquishing.” Gilgin smiles, using his best faux-polite voice. ”It is your call.”

Speaker Oarus Masthew takes a small sack of coins from the desk and puts it in front of you. “Like i said, the mine is clear and the reward is yours. If you are looking for more jobs, my mom is always saying the the gossip of drunken people in a tavern lead her to some of her biggest adventures. From my point of view, everything seams ok here at the moment. Unless of course you can stop a manifestation of a god and stop her Curse.”

James answers Speaker Masthew with a laugh,

"Ha, that would be a trick. But we are having trouble dealing with the effects of one messily ghost, I think a god might be out of our league."

James turns his head like he is listening to someone, but there is no one there.

"Oh come on!"

James rolls his eyes, letting out a sigh, before turning back to Speaker Masthew,

"You don't actually have any idea how we could contribute to that problem, do you? That was just a wild desperate half-joke of a request, right?"

As we scoop up the coin, we say to Speaker Mashtew "Good day then, perhaps we will head back to the Blue Clam and regroup, decide our next moves.  If we figure out anything with this aging, we will let you know.  Do you know what happened to that book that was in the satchel?  Just wanted to make sure all was settled with that matter.  We would love to figure out how to stop the Curse, we just don't know how and where to start."

“ At the moment the book is buried outside the village. I will send it to Bryn Shander in a few days. There seams to be a god bit of research of the local flora described in it. Maybe the library in Bry Shander can use it. I’ll send a warning about the previous owner with it. The priest down there should be able to examine it,

“Aye lads, sounds like a plan. Speaker, if we were heading to Bryn Shander anyways, what would ye pay to bring the book?

Speaker Masthew just shakes his head, “Ahm, no need. I can get it there myself.”

Hifu heads back to the Blue Clam, asks for a meal “high in fiber, my bowels aren’t moving like they should”, and listens, tries to overhear conversations, news, rumors.

Perception :  20

18

You hear the following two conversations:

• In Lonelywood, beware the dreaded white moose! It attacks loggers and trappers on sight, and the town’s best hunters can’t seem to catch or kill the beast. They could probably use some help.
• We have two goliaths in the village at the moment, but there are two feuding clans in the Spine of the World. I bet if someone from Ten-Towns were to help them put aside their differences, all the goliaths would benefit. 

Gilgin raises his eyebrows at Masthews denial, ”Well, if we find your messenger on the way we’ll be sure to exorcise them for you.”

as they head out and head to the clam, Gilgin makes a suggestion, “You know I love a drink Hifu, but I think I might check in with the Cap’n first, see how her men are doing and give her our thanks. Maybe someone should check in with the Kobolds too, make sure they’re being treated ok?”

(Hifu will catch up with you at the Clam, relay the information he has overheard.)  "How is Trek and his crew faring?  How about Captain Vanja, did she recover from her close encounter with that ghost?  Where do you propose we go from here?  Where is Kravek by the way, does he know anything about this Goliath situation?"  

Kravek will reply to Gilgin I will go check on the kobolds. We will meet back at the Clam

He looks at Gilgin a moment before he departs for where the kobolds were being housed. Surprised Gilgin putting drinks on hold and grins as he walks out thinking about it. 

(Btw is Venea also aged, i think she got scared too)

Kravek will walk to the abandoned house east of the village that he thinks is the kobolds house. He will knock on the door when he arrives if it is not open. 

• (13 insight for Gilgin) After leaving Speaker Masthew and reflecting on your conversation, you get the impression, that he sees you (mostly Gilgin, but the rest by association) as snobby blades for hire who are full of themself and don’t care about anything else as long as they get paid.
• Gilgin, when you visit the Militia Barracks, the Captain isn’t there. Her deputy tells you, she is out for the day and he doesn’t expect her back soon.
• (survival Kravek:11) you have problems to find the correct house, you check several abondond looking houses to no avail and when you finally stop to ask people for directions one person is reserved to talk with a stranger and the other doesn’t know what you are talking about. It takes you till noon to find them.  The house is not in the best condition, but better then the other 4 empty buildings you checked. There are only 2 Kobolds there.(9) Zurk and Smol, they are carefull until they realise it is you. 

James goes along with Gilgin, also offering a little of his money for the care of the guards who suffered the ghosts aging attack.

When James and Gilgin meet back up with Hifu, James asks,

"What Goliath situation, trouble?"

As the day moves on and Kravek fails to return, James begins to worry,

"Should we go looking for Kravek? Its taking a long time for him to check in and return, I hope he's ok."

“Ne’er mind then, did she tell you about the ghost last night then? I tell ye, the Cap’n is as brave as they come, and smart too. A couple of your guards were given an awful fright, how are they doing? since the speaker has made it clear that they don’t intend to help I wanted to see if there’s anything we could do? We are making plans to travel to Bryn Shander to see if the acolytes of Amaunator have any idea how to fix their affliction. I hope to bring back that knowledge, but I may be gone for a while. 

Gilgin speaks with an earnestness James has not seen before. On the way out he pats James on the shoulder.

”I respect your charity there, but our gold will go much further getting them a cure. Besides, you’ve fallen for the biggest joke of them all. You’ve seen the riches that mine makes, how much of a cut do you think goes to the speaker? As their employer, he could easily pay them some kind of sick pay, or at least send some provisions to their house, but instead he’ll hoard away his riches like a dragon. Those that have always try to put the responsibility onto those that don’t.” He laughs maniacally.