[Game Thread] Could a draygon drive a waygon?

[milkshake]

Geb followed with haste, his footsteps naturally quiet but not intentionally so.

[serek000]

OOC Everyone gains 500 exp.

[serek000]

As the party came within sight of Ice Mountain Sanctuary, approaching from the west, they could see that something quite unfortunate had happened to the town. A large wooden pen, evidently used for keeping sheep and goats, had been opened. Within lay the bodies of some two dozen sheep and almost as many goats, clearly having been partially devoured by famished beasts.

A ramshackle wood building, evidently some sort of guard house, was surrounded by a throng of people. Three corpses, two old dwarven men and a human child, were laid out on benches in front of the guardhouse. Wounds covered their bodies - it was pretty clear that these unfortunate villagers had been gnawed and thoroughly mangled by wolves.

The source of the wailing became clear as soon as the party neared the guardhouse - a frail, wrinkled woman was weeping loudly over the corpses of the deceased.

A grizzled old dwarf stepped out of the guardhouse and towards the party.

"It looks like we owe you a lot for drawing away the wolves, mates. They're not usually this bad, but the weather has been harsher than in recent memory and the game animals have all gone west towards the warmer climes, leaving the wolves mad with hunger. This attack has left us in a bind - not only have three brave villagers died, but most of our herd has been slaughtered by those wretched mangy beasts.

Please, stay here for the night. I will come to you in the morning with more to talk about. Tonight, though, I must make funereal arrangements and provide proper compensation to the shepherds who lost their livestock. The Chapel of Moradin, up the road a bit, on the east side of town, has a pair of rooms for rent in the basement, if you don't mind being so close to the catacombs. They're not in use anymore, so don't worry about that, some people just don't like being down near them.

I will talk to you all in the morning. I would recommend you go to the Chapel soon, before night becomes entirely upon us and the temperature drops even farther. Good evening, gentlemen."

[TheLetter3]

Æthelræd quickly affirmed what the man had suggested and urged the group to depart, assuring the dwarves that the group would return at daybreak.

[TheLetter3]

[Cearnacht]

"Well, if you feel you can't handle the cold, silly elf, why'd you come up north? Guess it wouldn't do to have you get frostbite, though. Let's get you indoors."

[serek000]

As the party trudged up the road towards the Chapel of Moradin an old and haggard looking dwarf hobbled along behind. At the Chapel door he cried out in a weak voice to the party.

"Oy, not in the chapel itself. The catacombs, an enclosed graveyard, is next door. There is a room attached, facing the road, with a small stove and three cots. There are four of five blankets, though, and it's a small enough room that it stays cozy. There is a small door in the back of the room, that leads down into the catacombs. We can't bury people in the ground itself here, it's too frozen to dig in, so we put them down there so they can still rest in dignity. That room used to be the caretakers, you know, back when we could afford to keep one on payroll.

Oh, I've not introduced myself. I am Kordain, priest of Moradin. I act as the abbot here at this chapel, which has admittedly seen better days. Money is a bit tight around here, and the village elder won't let us tithe anymore, so it's been tough trying to find a way to pay for the upkeep. We provide basic services here in town - some basic healing, providing holy water for blessings and such, praying for an early thaw in the spring, you know, the sort of things all small chapels in frozen tundras do. I'm rambling on, though, I do that in my old age, do forgive me.

Now, it's not free to spend the night here, no, but a fee of ten gold per person sleeping inside there should more than rent it out for the next few days. It's a bit steep, I know, but the chapel is short of money and surely Moradin will look kindly upon you for your generosity, should you choose to pay.

That being said, there's something you should know. There is a part of the catacombs that you musn't enter. I don't care what you hear, or what you think you see, you must not go there. There is a symbol painted on an iron door - cross not that threshold.





There, that's what the symbol looks like. You might hear things, might be tempted by things, but be strong.

Now, is there anything you need of me?"

[TheLetter3]

"I am more than willing to pay the fee, good sir, but I have a few questions. First, what sort of healing services do you provide? My companions and I are a bit bruised and battered from our run in with those wolves... Also, what are the sort of things we might hear or be tempted by? In short, can you give us any more information on what lay beyond the door?"

[serek000]

Originally Posted by TheLetter3

"I am more than willing to pay the fee, good sir, but I have a few questions. First, what sort of healing services do you provide? My companions and I are a bit bruised and battered from our run in with those wolves... Also, what are the sort of things we might hear or be tempted by? In short, can you give us any more information on what lay beyond the door?"

"To be honest, I don't know what is behind the door. My father told me never to open it, and his father undoubtedly told the same to him. The dwarf in your party might know more the crest than do you, but it is enough to convince us here at the chapel not to test our luck.

As for healing, well, we're not exactly healing specialists, no, but we have some talents."

OOC In OOC terms, I'll roll a d10 for each pc/animal companion needing healing

[TheLetter3]

OOC Sweet.

"Wonderful. But, are you sure you don't want us to go in there? If there is a source of danger--a source of evil--which could affect the village and its inhabitants, we could do our best to take care of it for you; otherwise, we will gladly heed your wishes."

[Cearnacht]

"The All-Father could not want his followers in this sort of perpetual danger. Since I---a follower of Clangeddin Silverbeard---am here, it would naturally fall to me to ensure the safety of the community. My axe cries out for the safety of the Dwarevn race, and their human allies as well!

[milkshake]

Geb thought to himself that his companions didn't need to be telling the man that they were going to look behind the door- but he had learned enough about Adunakhor to know that some sense of honor compelled him to tell the man about his intentions. Being a rather silent half-orc, Geb just looked at his companions with slightly raised eyebrows as the conversation proceeded.

Geb was making plans to explore the catacombs after resting and preparing himself. He shuffled his feet uneasily.

[serek000]

"Would you so willingly act against the wishes of an old dwarf, travelers? The prohibition on entering that room is generations old, you know. I cannot stop you if you truly wish to go there, though, but be warned that the Chapel will not be liable for any grievous injury or other forms of harm that may befall you.

Go, prepare yourself for sleep or whatever mischief you'll be getting into. But do not tell me of it! I would rather not hear of your plans to break centuries of rules in the Catacombs. You'll find wood and such in your room, but mind you open the flue on the fireplace, I don't want the place being smoked up.

I'll need the gold, too, gents. I hate to nag, but we've got to make ends meet somehow."

[milkshake]

Geb doesn't carry much gold on his person, but he has a little more than ten pieces in a pouch. He counts out ten with his fingers and hands them over to the dwarf with a nod.

Geb thinks that this sure is an expensive place to stay- but he will most likely be going against the wishes of the dwarf soon enough. In some way, the gold is like compensation.

Geb drifts to the back of the room and continues to shuffle uneasily.

[TheLetter3]

Æthelræd too reached for his coin pouch, pulling out twenty gold and handing it to the old dwarf. "Please accommodate my wolf, as well, my friend? He could use your healing prowess as much as the rest of us."