[Game Thread] Act I: The Ills of Hengistbury

[LittleBlueNA]

Keloryn watches Altor in fascination. Well aware of his own capacity for social awkwardness, he ponders whether or not she is appreciative of her own. Maybe she just doesn’t care, he thought as he sat back down at the table.

Turning to a new page in his journal, Keloryn jots down a few quick notes. As he finishes, he places the quill next to the journal, clasps his hands underneath his chin, and turns his attention to Altor. Studying her casual demeanor and eyeing the aged weapon, Keloryn asks, ”Wouldn’t most people prefer it if there weren’t a dragon?”

[GreatCthulhu]

Kerrick nods at Lady Sybil. "This is my hometown. If there is a need, I will assist as I can. What would you have me do, my lady?"

[Vodka Slushy]

The mention of the ruins was entirely all Tabatha needed to hear. She shot up from her kneeling position and volunteered her services without even an after thought of being paid for it. "Amazing! What sort of artifacts are up there? Can you mark it on my map?" She looked over at man with the long bow in whom she didn't introduce herself yet, but courtesies were low on her priorities list. "Oh, and are they coming with me?" she pointed both arms backwards at the ranger and cleric emphatically without breaking eye contact with the lady promising her a mystery.

[quintangible]

- "I do not believe it chance that I have arrived her, I of course will pleased to offer my aid in this task." One eyebrow raised, Sybill gives the cleric a half-smile. "Those were my thoughts, exactly. As a follower of Erastil, I speak frequently of the planning and foresight required to see crops from seed to harvest. Where I see a plan in motion, you... I expected a different perspective. Your choice of words is strange for someone who speaks so fondly of luck. You've said little since your arrival, tired from your travels I assume. Still I have heard much of your belief in chance and the role it plays in our world. I was sure you would see this as another sign of fortune at play. Good fortune? I'm not sure. I suppose we can both agree it is more than mere coincidence." "This is my hometown. If there is a need, I will assist as I can. What would you have me do, my lady?" Turning her attention to the man who had once left town as a boy, Sybill smiles once more. Children born in this small village generally fall into one of two categories. They mostly stay here, whether for love or family, and continue in the work of their fathers. The others leave for something more, with dreams too large to be contained in little old Hengistbury. This one seems to be different. She can see that he has ambition; abilities and skills more sharply honed than most that leave the area. Yet he is still here? "Good ranger, I feel that there is much good you can do here. I'm sure Brand has already spoken to you. You'd fit right in with his men. But you look like someone that expects more for your life than taking care of wildlife that wanders too close to town or dealing with troublesome youth." She turns back to the others and realizes that she is rambling. As both the Lady of the town and head of the temple the locals expect her to speak and they hang on every word, but these people were probably getting impatient. "Forgive me, I'm looking too far ahead. I appreciate your assistance, as I'm sure Ban will." "Amazing! What sort of artifacts are up there? Can you mark it on my map?" She looked over at man with the long bow in whom she didn't introduce herself yet, but courtesies were low on her priorities list. "Oh, and are they coming with me?" "Still ready to go after all that I just said about undead? Very well. I would surely suggest you not go alone. I may be too cautious, but I do not lightly send people, even relative strangers, into danger. Come visit Lord Pemberton and myself in the morning, you can see the keep from here. We'll have a map for you, and he can relay the stories that were passed down to us much better than I." Still sure that the others were growing impatient listening to her go on, or maybe projecting her own fatigue onto them, Lady Pemberton says "I'll leave you for now. There are others I must speak to before the night ends. Meredith will take care of you when you're ready to turn in for the night. If you do think of something, I'm sure I won't be difficult to find." With that she stands, gives a slight bow, and heads deeper into the tavern. The sounds of the tavern die down over the course of the evening. When most taverns are getting rowdy, you can see the people of this town are genuinely tired from their day of labor. Many leave, surely thinking of an early morning in the fields or with the herds. The bard puts away his instrument and sits at the bar with a cloudy, crimson wine.

- A handful of people remain, but Meredith finally finds time to seek out Altor to satiate her curiosity. She makes her way to the corner table, and chuckles at the mismatched duo. Her childhood friend is a bit plain, muscular, well-sunned, and brought her father's, er, sword? The elf is tall, lithe, fair, and wields a quill. At first glance one might think their genders were reversed. "Altie! What's going on? I rarely see you here, especially this late. Everything's good, I hope?" She asks, looking at Altor's weapon. "You know I hear everything, right? I know you aren't really talking about dragons. Little Aus would have as much chance as you two against something like that, right?" Again, she glances at the sword, and then the foreigner who hasn't so much as picked up his quill from his notebook. "If you want adventure, though, maybe start smaller? I hear there's to be an expedition to the haunted castle tomorrow. I've never seen Sybill so pleased. Those three are discussing it now. If I were looking for excitement, that's where I'd start. Too bad I have dozens of tables to wipe down, eh? Who am I kidding, I run from spiders!"

[Vodka Slushy]

Excitement was beyond containment. After Lady Pembleton dismissed herself, all Tabatha could do was enthusiastically swing around. She placed a hand on the shoulder of each the halfling and the ranger. She leaned in with a glimmer in her eye that fell somewhere between mischief and wonder. Her look shifted left and right, and she peered over her right shoulder to see if anyone would be listening. Satisfied no one was, she hunkered down closer to the two adventurers and simply said, "My new friends... let's go tonight."

[Rainbow007]

Altor smiled wide as Meridith came over. "Well why not? We used to have a big dragon's head over the mantle before Momma took it down, and now it looks bare.". She did have a point though, going after a dragon as her first adventure might be a bit above her head. Pulling two sliver from her wallet, the farm girl looked around quick before looking back to Meridith. "Okay Merry, who's looking for what about a haunted castle now?" As she asked, she set the two coins down and placed her empty much on top of them.

[Svalin]

With a smile at the enthusiasm of his new comrade, Ban made a calming motion with his hands, Before suggesting, "Perhaps we should wait, so we can gain the benefit of the Information the Lady Sybill's husband will be able to provide, Also, if their are fiends of an undead nature, perhaps engaging them during the night would not be a great idea?" Ban paused before continuing "I think I shall retire for the night, So I can be fresh for the challenge in the morning, I Shall meet you both here at sunrise." With this Ban gestured goodbye to his companions and went to find Meredith to inquire about a room.

[LittleBlueNA]

As Keloryn spots Lady Pemberton getting up from her table, he swiftly closes his journal and rises as well. He takes a few steps before turning, offering a brief word of apology to Altor, and walking up to Sybill. Placing a hand over his chest and giving a slight, awkward bow, Keloryn says, "My lady, if I may have but a moment of your time?"

Rising back up, he looks her in the eye and introduces himself. "My name is Keloryn, a student of the arcane. I arrived in Hengistbury following the rumors of a dragon, but it seems there is much more going on in your county. I have heard rumors, some of which seem to have more merit than others. I've heard a little about the haunting of Brockendale Castle, and wish to offer my services." A brief pause fills the air as Keloryn looks toward the three adventurers who had been speaking with the Lady. "Unless I am mistaken, I am not the only one to do so tonight. An eventful night for such a small village, wouldn't you say?"

[GreatCthulhu]

Kerrick smiles at the young woman. "I don't think we were introduced. I am Kerrick, and I agree with the priest. I intend to rest tonight,
and set off in the morning. I am a woodsman, by the way. What is it you do?"

[quintangible]

- Sybill stands behind the bar, flipping through a ledger. There aren't many rooms in the tavern, but there aren't many occupants either. She marks off three rooms, although she isn't sure if Kerrick might stay with his family. Before she retrieves the keys, she notices a tall elf standing before her. My name is Keloryn, a student of the arcane. I arrived in Hengistbury following the rumors of a dragon, but it seems there is much more going on in your county. I have heard rumors, some of which seem to have more merit than others. I've heard a little about the haunting of Brockendale Castle, and wish to offer my services." A brief pause fills the air as Keloryn looks toward the three adventurers who had been speaking with the Lady. "Unless I am mistaken, I am not the only one to do so tonight. An eventful night for such a small village, wouldn't you say?" "Aye, I would say. The past few weeks seem to have become increasingly more eventful. I apologize for not introducing myself earlier, I do usually meet visitors personally. We're not used to having so many at once, though." She eyes him up and down, noting his journal and asks, "Student, you say? What services are you offering? I've never been one to judge a book by it's cover, but... are you writing a book? Would you document the adventure, perhaps?"

- Altor had barely finished her question when the strange elf jumped from his seat and left. "My, he seems excitable," Meredith says. "Friend of yours?" Ban saunters over to their corner and asks her for a room. Courtesy of the Lady, he says. With a grin, Meredith turns to her friend and says, "See there, Altie? Another reason to join up with them. You won't have to tote that slab of steel all the way back to the farm." At its mention, Ban takes a look at the sword. He hasn't seen many like it, doubtfully few in the lands were. He looks back at its owner with disbelief. The weapon could undoubtedly help if they ran into trouble, but only with someone capable of wielding it. Before saying anything, he thinks of all the times he has been discounted due to his size and remains silent. "Come on, friend. Let's get you a room." With that she turns to leave, indicating that the halfling should follow.

[LittleBlueNA]

Keloryn Roloval “Well, we are all students in one form or another.” Looking around at the inhabitants of the room, Keloryn continues, “Students of the sword, students of the wilderness, students of music…”, and turning back to Lady Sybill, “...or students of the gods. It is my belief that all of these are connected, and my desire to discover how.” Holding up his journal, he states, “That is the purpose of this journal. Maybe not documentation in the way you were hoping for, but I believe helpful still. As for my services…” Keloryn turns and points at the nearby wall. A pulse of ice and freezing air shoots from his finger, hitting the wall and leaving behind a patch of ice. Turning back to Lady Sybill, he resumes, “As I said, I’m a student of the arcane. There are many ways I can assist in such an expedition.”

[Vodka Slushy]

Tabatha was disappointed, but not deflated. Her frustration fueled her impatience and she became disinterested in the current conversation and more focused on her goal. If she was going to see a ghost, it certainly wouldn't happen in the light of day after a comfortable and lazy breakfast! It needed to be at the darkest moments of the evening, which were fast approaching.

"I'm a woodsman, by the way. What is it you do?" Her eyes were fixated on the exit to the building. She pulled her hands off the shoulders of her companions. Ban began towards his room.

"I uh, I collect antiques." In the surprising first round of succinct speech tonight, she left it at that and began walking towards the entrance. Walking with vigor, she had almost reached the exit when she heard the crack of ice thawing fast against the wall in which she was nearby. She turned to face a Wizard talking to Sybil across the room. Her inclination was to ask him to come along, she was deeply curious. However, Lady Pembleton has espoused waiting until the morning, and the other seemed to want to follow along. Tabatha couldn't risk trying to convince someone who was making such a fast friend with her to go tonight.

She pulled up her hood and walked out the door.

[Rainbow007]

Sticking out her tongue quickly at the barmaid, Altor stood and picked up her pack, slinging it onto her back with ease. Years of handling draft horses and hauling bushels​ had given her the muscle to carry the old sword. The skill to use it though, only time would tell on that...

Turning towards Lady Pemberton, Altor's eyes went wide as she witnessed the ray of arcane energy strike the wall. "First you assult children, now you try to take down the whole bar with magic?" She quipped, only half joking as she nodded to the Lady. "Not to be nosey into you business ma'am, but I heard something about a ghost hunt?" She was polite like her parents raised her to be, but she could've hide that mix of nerves and excitement taking her over.

[GreatCthulhu]

Kerrick watches the "antiques collector" head for the door. Seems a strange one... if she "collects" antiques the way I think she does, though, she could be a valuable ally. From the corner of his eye, he saw the stranger talking to Lady Sybil point to the wall and cast some sort of spell, a bolt of... ice? ...cracking against the wood.

He steps forward, one hand on the haft of his axe, and tries to catch Lady Sybil's eye to see if she needs assistance. I hope he isn't fool enough to threaten the Lady...

[quintangible]

Lady Pemberton examines the ice crystals clinging to the wall behind her. She turns back and realizes that the remaining few people in the tavern are all looking at the elf. Some on the edge of their seats, a few stand, and some instinctually reach for weapons. She raises her hand, attempting to calm them. "Go back to your drinks, there is no threat here." The expression in her gaze as it falls up on Keloryn is not one of amusement. "Point taken. You may earn a reputation if you sling spells around so carelessly, however."

"Not to be nosey into you business ma'am, but I heard something about a ghost hunt?"

"The two of you are welcome to join the group at the keep in the morning. I know you are aware of the old castle, Altor. It has been rumored to be haunted for decades. I'm hoping that someone can find out exactly what's going on there. The offer is the same if you wish to go, payment afterwards and room and board for tonight."