There is something about 20 feet away in the grass. Based on the amount of rustling going on, it is larger than a dog but not any bigger than you. It is close enough that it can definitely hear and possibly see you.
The rustling picks up again and this time it's making a beeline directly for Heec.
Tae Investigation Check
Through the dreamy, fuzzy state of drunkeness Tae starts clueing for looks. He is pretty sure that Heec is nearby. ...something about grass? Sitty thing?
Out of the grass in a dead sprint pops a goblin! He's green and mean and ready to slice your spleen! Startled by the fact there are two elves instead of the one he initially saw, Heec jumps into action, attacking with chops and furious fists and roundhouse kicks... only realize he's three feet away from the goblin. Perhaps the drink is getting to him a little bit.
Tae, thinking someone wants to take his precious quaff from him, waves his hands about him, cries "This is MY quaff!", and shoots a lethal Ray of Frost at the goblin, freezing it solid, ending it's onslaught. Tae walks to the frozen statue, takes out his quarterstaff, shatters the iced goblin and whispers "my quaff...".
Just then, another goblin armed with a crossbow appears on the road weapon locked and loaded! Heec jumps into action, utilizing his distraction attack again, missing with his first strike but landing a crushing blow to the goblin's chest. Badly beaten but still alive, the goblin retaliates with a painful bolt that grazes Heec's waist. The goblin smirks until he sees the wizard begin to cast another frost spell. Before he can turn to escape, the blast hits him in the exact location Heec's fist. The goblin lifeless body crumbles before Heec. Without a moments hesitation, Tae screams:
My hands are still cold! My hands are still cold! Let me carry the quaff!
The elves arrive at the west side of the building to enter by the main door. A tiefling woman strides up from the west behind them. Even in the moonlight it is apparent that she is dark red with solid silver eyes. Two spiral horns curve back from her head and her tail is lashing around behind her. She addresses Heec.
Tiefling: What's wrong with you. You look like hell.
Then she looks at Tae.
T: I KNOW what's wrong with you. And you also look like hell.
She opens one of the big double doors for the elves and motions them inside. There is light coming from intermittently lit candelabras along both sides of the church. There is a long aisle down the center with wooden benches on either side. In the front there are steps leading up to a large freestanding icon that is seven feet tall. The icon is situated on a wooden post and depicts a radiant sun rising over a horizon.
There is a space between the benches and the steps leading up to the icon. Some wooden chairs have been put in a circle and a small table is pulled up nearby. Already seated Tae and Heec see Mayor Junea, Figgis, the Cherrycheek halfling, and Marta. The tiefling motions for Heec to put the cask down on the table. There is a tap and small wooden mallet already laying on it as well as some wooden drinking vessels.
The tielfling approaches Junea and says,
T: I brought our noble adventurers. i guess they are already earning their pay.
Junea: Then it's a graver situation than we thought. Marta, sweetheart, fill us in with where you've been and what you've been doing.
Marta: I’ve recently returned from a scouting mission of my own. There have been increasing reports of orc and goblin activity on the road that runs around the tip of the Crags to Mirabar. Between the reports that I’ve heard and the reconnaissance that I’ve conducted, I have every reason to believe that the Crags are completely overrun. We know there are several exhausted mines that run all along the Crags up to Mount Hotenow and that there was once some sort of underground dwarven city. I also fear that these are now housing a growing number of hostile forces. I don’t know how organized these forces are, but the presence of goblin scouts in our village suggests that they may be preparing to expand into the surrounding areas and we could be a prime target. I don’t know how much we can rely on protection of those around us. Neverwinter hasn’t collected taxes in these areas for centuries and are most likely preparing to defend their own side of the Wood. There are the druids and rangers that protect Neverwinter Wood, but their numbers are few enough that they are more likely to hide and wait out any invading force than confront them head on. I still think we need to send messengers bearing reports of all that I’ve seen and heard to the any nearby village, town and friendly group of people we can. Maybe this will render us some aid, or at the very least allow us a place of refuge should we need to flee our homes.
Heec looks at Tae to see if he fully grasps the subject at hand. Though still fairly inebriated, Tae has a look of someone that understands what is being said. Tae looks around to see how the others are taking the news, takes a drink from his mug and whispers:
Danger is my middle name...
Will you please shut up!? This is serious and you don't have a middle name.
M: Here is my recommendation. We send out messengers to Mirabar, Longsaddle, Neverwinter and to the druids in Neverwinter Wood. They can stop at any villages along the way to help spread the word. I also recommend another scouting mission. There is an outpost of sorts north from here. It is right in the crook of the edge of Neverwinter Wood and the Crags. The outpost protects access to one of the mines. This mine could be the easiest access point into the mountain range itself and therefore all up and down from the tip of the Crags to Mount Hotenow itself. It's also a likely place where an army would gather for an assault on this area and so we need to know if it's been compromised. I will go with a couple volunteers to scout this location. Kallista, did you procure those items?
Kallista nods.
K: Yes, I have them at home. A dozen wards that can monitor the location once they are placed.
Marta: Good. This will give us some kind of advanced warning if it isn't already too late.
Junea chimes in.
J: Great job my dears! There is something else we need to discuss. It's the rights to build a lumberyard by Neverwinter Wood.
There is an eruption of dissent from everyone except Figgis.
Junea smiles patently until the clamour dies down. Kallista cuts in before she can speak. K: There better be a good reason for this. Everyone knows that the Loderrs have been after that for some time and this hardly seems the forum to push their agenda. The druids won't allow anyone to cut down their trees. It's been the same damn thing for the past ten decades. J: My dears, you aren't seeing the whole problem. It's not just for the benefit of the Loderrs, it's for the survival of the village! We're going to need defenses, weapons, wagons in the case that we all need to leave. Don't be so short-sighted. They won't even benefit until we know the village is in no danger! Meepit pipes up with a little voice.
M: What do you propose then Junea?
J: Simple, we need someone with some skills to visit the Moon Elves of Neverwinter Wood to convince them that it is for the best to allow us logging rights. Most of the Moon Elves in Cragglefrock have not even reached one hundred yet. Those poor dears are still children! It's going to take someone with experience. Not to mention that it could be dangerous to even get there.
Marta: Oh no, I was going to ask them to come with me. Send someone from the council to do your work.
Kallista: I'm pretty sure we're ****ed either way. What'll be heroes?
H: What do you think, Tae? Diplomacy with a little bit of danger? Or danger with... a little... diplomacy... maybe?
T: I’ll take what’s behind curtain number three.
H: And that is?
T: My bed.
*Heec sighs.*
H: We leave the decision to capable...
T: No, we won’t. We’ll let fate decide. *Tae pulls out a small, green feather and holds it in one hand. With his other hand, he pulls out a copper coin, weathered on one side, polished and shiny on the other.* Clean, diplomacy. Dirty, danger.
H: Tae... let’s just be as helpful as...
*Tae flips the coin, freezing Heec mid-sentence. In the past, the rate of the coin’s revolutions seem to mirror the importance of the decision. This flip was pretty standard. Tae holds out his hand and, as it always has, the coin lands flat on his hand. The coin reflects the light of the flickering flame on Tae’s face. It has, indeed, landed clean side up. *
T: We’re going to see your buddies, Heec.
H: I’m sorry to do this, but every time we’ve gone against the flip, bad things have happened. Our mind is made up. Junea, when do we leave?
J: Whenever you boys want! Though I'd suggest not to dawdle for too many days.
Marta sighs and speaks to Tae and Heec.
M: Honestly, I was pretty much banking on taking you two, but it's not like I can force you. If I can't find any capable companions by the time you return, then maybe you two will consider joining me on the more important of the two tasks.
J: I'll rustle up some coins for you two tomorrow. I'm afraid it can't be much since we will need whatever we can get for our messengers and such. You boys understand, right?
M: Meet with me tomorrow afternoon in the Commons and we can go over a few things about your mission. I don't know much about Moon Elves or the Neverwinter Wood but I'll bring someone who does.
Figgis speaks for the first time this meeting.
F: Then we've entrusted the fate of our village to four very capable hands. Let's drink!
He fills his mug from the cask and drinks it down. You swear you hear Kallista mutter something but aren't sure. It sounded like "definitely ****ed".
Then we shall see you in the afternoon. We would be happy to assist you later if our assistance is still needed. We can work out payment later. We need to worry about what's best for the village right now.
Let's go, Heec. The moon has been hanging for far too long without my head on a pillow. Tae finishes his beer. Big day tomorrow.
Big day indeed. Heec takes Tae's mug, fills it to the brim and swallows the lot in only a few seconds. To the task accepted.
Tae grabs back the mug, fills it to the brim and almost exactly the same manner polishes off the drink quickly. To the task accepted.
Good night everyone. We'll meet you in the Commons tomorrow, Marta.
Heec and Tae begin to exit the church to return to their room at the flop house.
The flop house is dark, with only the light of the moon shining through the windows to provide light. You see Emmett on his usual bunk sleeping fitfully. Otherwise the place is empty.
Heec smirks. Yeah, sleep. Heec wishes the information taken in tonight wouldn't have been so heavy. This was going to be the perfect time to prod Tae for information about Shae. Lighter conversations have to wait for another night. Goodnight, Tae.
Heec.
The two elves rest until morning.
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The rustling stops for a few moments.
Heec Investigation Check
There is something about 20 feet away in the grass. Based on the amount of rustling going on, it is larger than a dog but not any bigger than you. It is close enough that it can definitely hear and possibly see you.
Do you see that, Tae?
Tae still has his eyes closed and continues to nuzzling the cask.
Nope.
Look over there in the grass.
Tae squints with foggy eyes.
Tae makes an investigation check of -7 (8+5-20 (for being so impaired from the drinking. He has no concept of reality).
The rustling picks up again and this time it's making a beeline directly for Heec.
Tae Investigation Check
Through the dreamy, fuzzy state of drunkeness Tae starts clueing for looks. He is pretty sure that Heec is nearby. ...something about grass? Sitty thing?
Roll Initiative
Out of the grass in a dead sprint pops a goblin! He's green and mean and ready to slice your spleen! Startled by the fact there are two elves instead of the one he initially saw, Heec jumps into action, attacking with chops and furious fists and roundhouse kicks... only realize he's three feet away from the goblin. Perhaps the drink is getting to him a little bit.
Tae, thinking someone wants to take his precious quaff from him, waves his hands about him, cries "This is MY quaff!", and shoots a lethal Ray of Frost at the goblin, freezing it solid, ending it's onslaught. Tae walks to the frozen statue, takes out his quarterstaff, shatters the iced goblin and whispers "my quaff...".
Just then, another goblin armed with a crossbow appears on the road weapon locked and loaded! Heec jumps into action, utilizing his distraction attack again, missing with his first strike but landing a crushing blow to the goblin's chest. Badly beaten but still alive, the goblin retaliates with a painful bolt that grazes Heec's waist. The goblin smirks until he sees the wizard begin to cast another frost spell. Before he can turn to escape, the blast hits him in the exact location Heec's fist. The goblin lifeless body crumbles before Heec. Without a moments hesitation, Tae screams:
My hands are still cold! My hands are still cold! Let me carry the quaff!
Ahhh... Tae! Stop it!
Heec hip checks Tae out of the way.
Gahhhh... fine! But let me keep my hands on it!
The two continue on to the church.
The elves arrive at the west side of the building to enter by the main door. A tiefling woman strides up from the west behind them. Even in the moonlight it is apparent that she is dark red with solid silver eyes. Two spiral horns curve back from her head and her tail is lashing around behind her. She addresses Heec.
Tiefling: What's wrong with you. You look like hell.
Then she looks at Tae.
T: I KNOW what's wrong with you. And you also look like hell.
Had a bit of a row with a few goblins. No worries though. They won't cause any more trouble.
Yeah! That's MY quaff! Do you have a tap?
Easy big guy. Where would you like us to take the beer?
She opens one of the big double doors for the elves and motions them inside. There is light coming from intermittently lit candelabras along both sides of the church. There is a long aisle down the center with wooden benches on either side. In the front there are steps leading up to a large freestanding icon that is seven feet tall. The icon is situated on a wooden post and depicts a radiant sun rising over a horizon.
There is a space between the benches and the steps leading up to the icon. Some wooden chairs have been put in a circle and a small table is pulled up nearby. Already seated Tae and Heec see Mayor Junea, Figgis, the Cherrycheek halfling, and Marta. The tiefling motions for Heec to put the cask down on the table. There is a tap and small wooden mallet already laying on it as well as some wooden drinking vessels.
The tielfling approaches Junea and says,
T: I brought our noble adventurers. i guess they are already earning their pay.
Pay?! We're getting paid?! Niiiiiiice!
Heec sighs at Tae and puts the barrel on the table.
Where would you like us to sit?
I don't know how to open it. Someone open it.
Junea speaks.
J: Just anywhere is fine you darling boys. Figgy, would you give a little aid?
Figgis hammers the tap in.
J: I believe you've already met Marta and Figgis. This is Meepit Cherrycheek *she motions to the halfing*
Meepit: You guys look like hell.
J: And this is Kallista Tlockhart *she motions at the tiefling*
Kallista: Tell them why you look like hell.
Tae rushes to the cask and fills himself up a glass.
H: Hello everyone. My name is Heecrid Irlaid. My friend’s name...
T: Is Taetormm Moruimi! Grand Wizard of Cragglefrock!
H: Tae, you know like 11 spells.
T: And I only knew 5 yesterday. *takes a big drink*
H: What?
T: Huh?
H: Anyway... we were attacked by a couple goblins between the inn and the church. One from the grass, one from the road.
There is an audible gasp from a couple people.
Junea: Then it's a graver situation than we thought. Marta, sweetheart, fill us in with where you've been and what you've been doing.
Marta: I’ve recently returned from a scouting mission of my own. There have been increasing reports of orc and goblin activity on the road that runs around the tip of the Crags to Mirabar. Between the reports that I’ve heard and the reconnaissance that I’ve conducted, I have every reason to believe that the Crags are completely overrun. We know there are several exhausted mines that run all along the Crags up to Mount Hotenow and that there was once some sort of underground dwarven city. I also fear that these are now housing a growing number of hostile forces. I don’t know how organized these forces are, but the presence of goblin scouts in our village suggests that they may be preparing to expand into the surrounding areas and we could be a prime target. I don’t know how much we can rely on protection of those around us. Neverwinter hasn’t collected taxes in these areas for centuries and are most likely preparing to defend their own side of the Wood. There are the druids and rangers that protect Neverwinter Wood, but their numbers are few enough that they are more likely to hide and wait out any invading force than confront them head on. I still think we need to send messengers bearing reports of all that I’ve seen and heard to the any nearby village, town and friendly group of people we can. Maybe this will render us some aid, or at the very least allow us a place of refuge should we need to flee our homes.
Marta pauses to let these heavy words sink in.
Heec looks at Tae to see if he fully grasps the subject at hand. Though still fairly inebriated, Tae has a look of someone that understands what is being said. Tae looks around to see how the others are taking the news, takes a drink from his mug and whispers:
Danger is my middle name...
Will you please shut up!? This is serious and you don't have a middle name.
The humans say that all the time.
We're not humans, we're elves!
Dangerous elves...
Marta continues...
M: Here is my recommendation. We send out messengers to Mirabar, Longsaddle, Neverwinter and to the druids in Neverwinter Wood. They can stop at any villages along the way to help spread the word. I also recommend another scouting mission. There is an outpost of sorts north from here. It is right in the crook of the edge of Neverwinter Wood and the Crags. The outpost protects access to one of the mines. This mine could be the easiest access point into the mountain range itself and therefore all up and down from the tip of the Crags to Mount Hotenow itself. It's also a likely place where an army would gather for an assault on this area and so we need to know if it's been compromised. I will go with a couple volunteers to scout this location. Kallista, did you procure those items?
Kallista nods.
K: Yes, I have them at home. A dozen wards that can monitor the location once they are placed.
Marta: Good. This will give us some kind of advanced warning if it isn't already too late.
Junea chimes in.
J: Great job my dears! There is something else we need to discuss. It's the rights to build a lumberyard by Neverwinter Wood.
There is an eruption of dissent from everyone except Figgis.
*whispering*
You know they're talking about us, right?
Tae is sobering up relatively quickly.
Yeah. Which one do you think they want us to go on?
My guess is the scouting mission to the North. We'd have the advantage if we were able to scout at night.
You're not wrong, but this is sounding to be a bit more than we can both handle.
Marta would be there too. And did you hear? There are wards!
That will protect what's behind us but we're heading towards danger.
So much for Taetorrm "Danger" Maruimi!
I thought it was going to be a couple goblins! She used the word "army"! There's a bit of a difference.
We could be the target of a raid. All of our friends here could be in grave danger. Shouldn't we do everything we can to protect them and us?
Tae takes another drink. Again, you're not wrong, but I'm in no hurry to charge the masses and become a martyr.
We'll be fine. Cover of night, you can see twice as far as I can in the dark. Trust me, we can do this.
Heh, you lost my trust in these sort of things after the draconian migration 300 years ago.
That wasn't my fault! I only knew a little draconian at that point and he was way too sensitive!
Junea smiles patently until the clamour dies down. Kallista cuts in before she can speak.
K: There better be a good reason for this. Everyone knows that the Loderrs have been after that for some time and this hardly seems the forum to push their agenda. The druids won't allow anyone to cut down their trees. It's been the same damn thing for the past ten decades.
J: My dears, you aren't seeing the whole problem. It's not just for the benefit of the Loderrs, it's for the survival of the village! We're going to need defenses, weapons, wagons in the case that we all need to leave. Don't be so short-sighted. They won't even benefit until we know the village is in no danger!
Meepit pipes up with a little voice.
M: What do you propose then Junea?
J: Simple, we need someone with some skills to visit the Moon Elves of Neverwinter Wood to convince them that it is for the best to allow us logging rights. Most of the Moon Elves in Cragglefrock have not even reached one hundred yet. Those poor dears are still children! It's going to take someone with experience. Not to mention that it could be dangerous to even get there.
Marta: Oh no, I was going to ask them to come with me. Send someone from the council to do your work.
Kallista: I'm pretty sure we're ****ed either way. What'll be heroes?
Everyone looks at Tae and Heec.
H: What do you think, Tae? Diplomacy with a little bit of danger? Or danger with... a little... diplomacy... maybe?
T: I’ll take what’s behind curtain number three.
H: And that is?
T: My bed.
*Heec sighs.*
H: We leave the decision to capable...
T: No, we won’t. We’ll let fate decide. *Tae pulls out a small, green feather and holds it in one hand. With his other hand, he pulls out a copper coin, weathered on one side, polished and shiny on the other.* Clean, diplomacy. Dirty, danger.
H: Tae... let’s just be as helpful as...
*Tae flips the coin, freezing Heec mid-sentence. In the past, the rate of the coin’s revolutions seem to mirror the importance of the decision. This flip was pretty standard. Tae holds out his hand and, as it always has, the coin lands flat on his hand. The coin reflects the light of the flickering flame on Tae’s face. It has, indeed, landed clean side up. *
T: We’re going to see your buddies, Heec.
H: I’m sorry to do this, but every time we’ve gone against the flip, bad things have happened. Our mind is made up. Junea, when do we leave?
Junea smiles and the others scowl.
J: Whenever you boys want! Though I'd suggest not to dawdle for too many days.
Marta sighs and speaks to Tae and Heec.
M: Honestly, I was pretty much banking on taking you two, but it's not like I can force you. If I can't find any capable companions by the time you return, then maybe you two will consider joining me on the more important of the two tasks.
J: I'll rustle up some coins for you two tomorrow. I'm afraid it can't be much since we will need whatever we can get for our messengers and such. You boys understand, right?
M: Meet with me tomorrow afternoon in the Commons and we can go over a few things about your mission. I don't know much about Moon Elves or the Neverwinter Wood but I'll bring someone who does.
Figgis speaks for the first time this meeting.
F: Then we've entrusted the fate of our village to four very capable hands. Let's drink!
He fills his mug from the cask and drinks it down. You swear you hear Kallista mutter something but aren't sure. It sounded like "definitely ****ed".
Then we shall see you in the afternoon. We would be happy to assist you later if our assistance is still needed. We can work out payment later. We need to worry about what's best for the village right now.
Let's go, Heec. The moon has been hanging for far too long without my head on a pillow. Tae finishes his beer. Big day tomorrow.
Big day indeed. Heec takes Tae's mug, fills it to the brim and swallows the lot in only a few seconds. To the task accepted.
Tae grabs back the mug, fills it to the brim and almost exactly the same manner polishes off the drink quickly. To the task accepted.
Good night everyone. We'll meet you in the Commons tomorrow, Marta.
Heec and Tae begin to exit the church to return to their room at the flop house.
The flop house is dark, with only the light of the moon shining through the windows to provide light. You see Emmett on his usual bunk sleeping fitfully. Otherwise the place is empty.
I think this would be a good time to...
Sleep, I agree.
Heec smirks. Yeah, sleep. Heec wishes the information taken in tonight wouldn't have been so heavy. This was going to be the perfect time to prod Tae for information about Shae. Lighter conversations have to wait for another night. Goodnight, Tae.
Heec.
The two elves rest until morning.