The Sunless Citedal- Chapter One of DMD's Adventure Path D&D game.

[DMD]

The small town of Oakhurst is located at the crossroads of the old kingdom and new kingdom trading routes and roads, while this ensures it sees it’s fair share of travelers and traffic along these routes, it’s distance from the bigger cities , and relatively poor and simple economy keep much of that said traffic from stopping or staying there for more than a day or two while they rest for the next league of their journey,  restock on basic supplies, occasionally hire the extra guard or wagon master and make whatever meager profit they can in sales and trades in such as small community.

The common thread that brings you all to this small town early on this cold and overcast day is as simple as answering a request from a familiar name and possibly even a man at one time some of you called friend.

Mathias Bartel is what in modern terms would be called a talent agent or fixer. Always staying neutral in all but the most extreme matters,  he was and as far as you know the man in the know, or the man to go to when you need the right people for the right job. That’s how you all met him, he got you your first job in the adventuring business, be it as a simple guard escort for a caravan to the next town down the New Road,  employed part time with a local shrine or temple, or even possibly doing leg work for somewhat less savory business associates in different towns up and down the roads and coasts. He gave you work, he gave you advice, he made sure you got paid, you could trust him on all those things. Beyond that, such as who you worked for or didn’t work for, the jobs you took or didn’t take, how you did or didn’t go about it where always up to you, he was in it for the business, and those details where none of his . But without him, had you never met, you wouldn’t be where you are now. And now he’s contacted you with a new offer of employment, details in the message where few, but if you know Mathias, he wouldn’t bother you if he didn’t think the profit was there and worth any risk evolved.


You follow the message directions to Oakhurst, and the Ol’ Boar Inn, right on time, just one small problem, an hour passes, then two, and while others come and go, no Matthias. In the common room now, you notice a handful of other individuals who seem to be waiting around just like you.


Below are a list of locations and people of interest in the town of Oakhurst, as you follow the New Road from South to North.


Just off from where the New Road and Old Roads run together and through the center of Oakhurst is a blacksmith’s shop on the west side of the road, with several cottages on the east. If you where to venture inside the blacksmith’s you will find it manned and owned by one Rurik Lutgher, a male dwarf.

Just up the road from the blacksmith and also on the west side is a small hut with the symbols of Pelor above the door, where the town healer a female gnome by the name of Dem”Corkie” Nackle.

Following the road further to the north through the town you take note of the two story inn on the west side near where the Old Road splits back off to the south west , and the New Road continues on to the North West. 

At the center of the intersection is the town water well, on the west side of the street you see the Ole Boar Inn, owned by one human male called Garon, who owns the inn.  Further up the street on the East side you take note of Hurcrele’s Merchants and a General Store.

The New Road winds to the North West and passes two buildings setting on a high hill that over look the small town from less than an eighth of a mile away, one appears to be the residence of the local Mayor, Vurnor Leng , a human male.

 While the other looks like a combination barracks and jail,  if you travel there will learn is under the authority of Felosial, a female half elf constable backed by a handful of deputies that cannot respectably be referred to as a true trained militia, but they do their best.



You could have learnt all this by simply walking into town and spending a little time chatting up the locals or visiting the locations and individuals other than the Mayor, who you need an invitation or appointment for.

We'll start here with the actual roleplaying and any dice rolling that go along with it. I'll leave it up to you all in your backgrounds if you know each other possibly from past jobs you worked for Mathias together or some other way, or not.

[Moondog]

"Oakhurst, huh? Shoot, I ain't been back here since I did that 'guard a wagon' thing a few months back. Turned out well, glad good 'ol Matt got me that job. " Johndave thinks aloud, walking across the cobblestone path to the 'Ol Boar, leaning on his halberd as if it were  a simple walking stick rather than a tool of war.

Thus far, he'd managed to send a few gold pieces back home to his folks. Nothing near the 'diamond the size of momma's head' he promised, that would come much later, if at all, but every little piece helps, considering what just one can buy. It was the promise of more of the stuff that kept him moving, despite the urge to settle down in a warm place and take a nap 'til later, when it wasn't so cold.

On the way, there were a couple things that caught his eye. The blacksmith's trade had always fascinated him, and he could spend days at a time just watching the craftsman heat steel to red, then hammer and quench it. There was somethin' magical about how someone can make a useful, valuable tool out of little more than a hunk of metal. Alas, his purse was empty as a beggar's belly on a slow night, and he couldn't even afford to watch, so no distractions were available.

He'd met the healer once, when uncle Rufus fell off the back  of the wagon and cracked his head but good on a particularly malicious rock. She'd fixed 'em right up, which amazed the (then) young human. Somehow, he didn't expect someone the size of a child to be so good at what they did. He had no business there, at the moment, so she too was left alone.

He'd engaged a local in conversation, nothing too special there. Just a 'Hey, how'd ya'll's crops do this year? I hear you all got a great bunch of pumpkins out, yeah?" And other mundane topics that mean very little to anyone but common-folk. Still, it was enough to give him a decent enough grasp of the town's layout. 'Go past the old water pump, make a left then look for the sign of a rooster'n take a right to get to the smith' and such other directions.

In the 'Ol Boar, in the common room, in the lobby, Johndave takes a seat, one foot tapping as he waits, halberd leaning on his shoulder. He, himself, is a young human male about six feet tall, well built and with a deep farmer's tan, calloused hands from constant hand and his hair kept in a messy pony-tail. Aside from a well worn, weather beaten but still well taken care of suit of scale armor, he's dressed as you'd expect any common man to be. Lots of cloth, mostly in dull, drab tones.

He looks around, seeking something to relieve the wait. "Ya'll here to talk with Matt too? He's usually here lickety-split when he's got a job."

[Furr]

The dwarven cleric had already spend a good ten-day in the small town of Oakhurst. Arriving early on, he had time to prepare his items, and himself. Another long day with the blacksmith, had rewarded him with some coin, most of which were spend on his own lodging at the Ol' Boar.
Now, the stout dwarf enjoyed a relaxing mug of ale, and some good food. As good as a place like Oakhurst could offer, with limited supplies.

Eyes only occassionally scanning the area. Most occupants were people from Oakhurst, but a few strangers where around. A few from a caravan, some traders, and then Johndave, just arriving.
Upon the mention of their common denomitor, the dwarf hails John, suggesting the fighter take a seat.
"Aye, Mathias set me on the path here as well. I arrived a ten-day ago, but still haven't heard a word from him."

As for garbs, this merry blond dwarf wore earthly colors, leathers and thick cloth. Only thing that marked him as something else than just another blacksmith, was the steel necklace around his neck. This showed a glimmering picture of Moradin's crest. A strong positive energy could be felt, when approaching the dwarf as well.

[Moondog]

"Shoot, you been here that long 'n got no word? He must be right busy. Maybe he came down sick?

The human looked the dwarf over. He hadn't seen very many of 'em. Few tended to stick around the area he grew up in. Nothing but wide open fields, very few hills and even fewer mountains for the stocky folk to mine in. Or...whatever it was dwarves did. Still, he did his best not to stare, as that wouldn't be polite.

"Reckon I 'ought to innerduce myself while we wait. Anyone's a friend of Matt's someone worth knowin'. Name's Johndave, pleased to meet ya."

He offered his hand to be shaken. If the gesture's taken, one would find his grip to be just a tad bit too firm for most to be comfortable with, but there's little doubt it's due to over enthusiasm rather than him being mean-spirited.

It was this very same excess of energy that kept his foot tapping on the floor. Not following any pattern, just a bored tap tap tap tap

"I never met a dwarf before. Is it true ya'll lay your eggs under mountains? 'Cuz that's what my buddy Kent told me once, 'n I was like 'No you fool, Dwarves is mammals, they don't lay eggs', and we've got a five silver bet on it so I thought I'd go ahead 'n ask the first one of you guys I found."

Yes. He is serious.

[Furr]

Ytir has thus far answered that question three dozen times... At the least.
His own grip is firm and nearly as strong as Johndave's. But strong enough. "Ytir of the Goldhammer clan. Please, seat yourself." For the moment, the dwarf was seated. On a high chair, at that. Provides a little extra height, when he sits in it, but not so much when he stands.

When he gets the question about the eggs or mammalian nature, he only laughs. A goodspirited one, but still a laugh. "Oh, boy. If I had a copper for every time I've heard that... No, we lay no eggs. When a dwarf man and woman like eachother... ah, I suppose you know how that goes."
He leans back, takes a sip of his ale, and then continues talking.
"Your buddy Kent should learn a little of the world. And he owes you five pieces of silver."

[Nnk]

"No, no, no! It needs more Garlic! More spice, more broth! This stew will never do! Ye've been serving this for how long?"

The sound of crashing pans and a few loud thumps can be heard emanating from the kitchen at the inn.
"No, no! Go ahead, take my garlic! Ye need it more'n I do!" Out of the door crashes a stocky dwarf, dressed fully in scale mail armor, shouldering her pack anew. "Nah, don't mention it!" she calls behind her. With a look of silent elation, she heads back around the bar to the main room, eying those gathered there before setting herself in a seat.

"Ytir Goldhammer, ye old dodger, what brings ye to Oakhurst?!" The dwarf suddenly leaps to her feet as she recognizes one of the patrons. She heads over in greeting, removing her helmet and smiling, red locks of hair cascading down her face. "Ye're not here to see Mathias, are ye? She suddenly frowns. She hadn't seen her contact at all the last two days she's been here, causing her to have to resort to setting about the town to find any regional recipes she could possibly acquire.

Though brusque and sometimes loud, Lithri means well, and the sparkle in her eyes is always friendly. She smiles at the human standing nearby, putting out her own hand, "Lithri Darkstout! Not Darkspout, though we are related! Although, we like to say we aren't, being as some say the Darkspout have a bit of Duergar in them." She winks, as if in some silent joke. Yeah, she's an interesting one.

[Moondog]

The human is only too happy to shake the lady dwarf's hand. She gets the same slightly too firm handshake as the cleric did.  "Johndave Bobsam, right pleased to meet you, ma'am."

Before he lets himself get too distracted by Lithri's antics, he turns to finish up with Ytir.

"Hah! I told 'em! Thank you, I'll be collectin' my silver later, then. Funny thing though, Kent gets out all the time. Like, this one time, he got mauled by a dire weasel. Man, he wasn't antagonizin' it or nothin', he was just pokin' it with a stick to get it to fight with the other one there.  Lemme tell you, claw wounds over ninety percent of his body. The healers called up, like, other healers'n stuff 'cuz they'd never seen claws on top of claws before. "

He laughs good naturedly at the memory. Kent of course, got better, otherwise he wouldn't be laughin'.

From the conversation he's over-heard, it's a simple matter to piece together the others had been waitin' much longer than he had.

"Wonder iffen he's got anymore folk comin' 'fer work? He was always so busy, 'n all.

[Furr]

Ytir noticably lights up, as Lithri makes an appearance. No company like other dwarves.
"By Moradin's bronzed buttocks, when'd you show up, Lithri? I swear, I should've heard you a mile away, or at least when you came near the kitchen." Sliding off his chair, he offers Lithri a more firm greeting.
Then he turns back to Johndave. "Can't say your buddy is too bright in the head. But he got his heart in the right place, the lad." The question of how many more people will show, is given some concideration as well. But he doesn't reply to that right now.

[El_Kay]

The gnome seemed unassuming on her trip through the town. Not much to notice. She was pretty enough, nothing spectacular. Upon reaching the pub she pulled out her lute and played and sang a bit. This of course drew attention and a change seemed to come about her while doing so. If the patrons paid her any coin for her song it was immediately turned to drink or other such refreshment. Not really interested in coins at the moment, she was really just checking out the area, waiting Matt to make his appearance.

 Her keen eye picked out a few other such patrons.... little escapes a bards notice, their business is noticing, listening, gathering information that could some day become a story or song and thereby profit. Over hearing the conversation as she downed the last of her drink she slung her lute onto her back and headed over.

 Upon reaching the group she was mildly amused at the lack of notice right off... she was rather diminutive in comparison "how amusing..." she chuckled quietly to herself "Dwarfed by even a dwarf..."

[Moondog]

Johndave nods politely at the gnome as she comes into view. Whole lotta short folk 'round 'ere. I could hire myself out to reach jars on high shelves at this rate/ he thinks, the thought making him smile.

"Yeah, Kent does things sometimes without thinkin' too hard 'bout 'em. Fun guy though. "

So, she's carrying a lute, is she? Clearly she must be an entertainer of some sort. Now John had never had any musical talent, 'cept for the kazoo, but he had a good enough ear to know quality when he heard it, and anyone who could do something he couldn't was someone who deserved respect for that.

"Hey. " He waves at 'er, being the friendly sort he is. She seems the 'go to' kinda type, the type that's here to do things, as it were, and therefore yet another would-be Matt employee, as it were. Thus, it'd be silly of him not to at least be friendly.

...He's starting to feel a little out of place, surrounded by all these little earth-dwellin' folk.

[Savon]

Sushmita had only gotten to the town a few hours ago.  She had slipped into the Ol' boar unnoticed and had been sitting in the corner sipping her ale and watching the people come and go.  The last time she had been here there was a bit of trouble with a party mate and some missing gold and she didn't want to get caught up in that again, so she had been keeping out of sight as she could while watching who showed up to take Mathias's new job. 

She smiled to herself at the humans energy and talkative nature.  After seeing the two dwarves great each other and the gnome come in and play she felt it was a good idea to join the prospective party.    She stood up and stepped lightly over to the others. "It looks like we are all here for the same reason."  She said lightly, like she had been part of the conversation the whole time.  "Has anyone seen Mathias yet?"   Her tone a bit concerned.  All her past experiences with them man had shown him to be prompt and professional.  "time is money"  she had heard him say a few times.
She sat down at the table with them and sipped her ale, her movements whisper quiet. "oh.. and Im Sushmita, by the way."

[Furr]

Ytir greets the gnome heartily. He likes the little buggers, and he never turns down a song. As for his own skills with that, well... He's as any other drunken dwarf. But at least he can keep a beat.

The second human recieves a greeting as well.
"Haven't seen Mathais since he told me to head here, to Oakhurst. Been here for over a week, now. No sign of him, yet."
He did hope nothing bad had happened to their employer. It would mean bad business.

[DMD]

 A few minutes after you've all gathered more or less together in one spot and began to introduce yourselves and talk, the bartender makes his way from behind the counter and holds out a small tube used for holding important papers and even sometimes magical scrolls to whomever might take it .

" Couldn't help but overhear you mention Mathias more than once, suppose your the ones he left this for. " he explains. If noone takes the tube he simply lets it fall on the table .

"Well, I earned my pay. Do what ye want with it or don't my part in it is played out." and goes back toward the counter to wash glasses and clean the taps.

When or if someone decides to open the scroll, they notice it has Matthias's seal in the wax on the top. A single piece of parchment inside , wich says the following .

" I guess you all made it. Sorry I couldn't wait around myself but as usual I got more than one iron in the fire, so to speak. Don't worry, I'm fine if busy. I hope this finds you all the same, and after you read this I hope you take the job and the chance to make us all a little better off in the coinage department. Enough of the small talk, let's get down to buisness."


" Not to far from Oakhurst is an old ruin they call the Sunless Citadel, and no I haven't been able to find out why, maybe because the light of day never reaches the bottom of the ravine it fell into? Anyway, that isn't the important part. Apparently, accoriding to the rumors, a small band of goblins have taken up in it and entered into an unusal relationship with the good town folk of Oakhurst. It seems, I don't know how but it seems, these little buggers have happened on what could be a very lucrative ......how do I put this, very lucrative, almost miraculous oppurtunity for profit and very interesting item. An apple. That's right, you read that correctly, an apple, or apples. Every midsummer and mid winter eve  they ransom a supposedly magical apple to the highest bidder, this magical fruit can apparently cure whatever ails you. Almost like something out of a fairy tale, doesn't it sound ? I want you to find the source of this food of the gods, seems a shame for a bunch of mangy goblins to have something so potentially miraculous all to themselves. Also, they settle for as little as 50 gp  for such a wonder, I'm sure if the fruit or the means of getting it where available, we could come to much more impressive figures. "

"I'll be up front with you about everything from the get go, there may be more to it than simple goblins, considering your not the first group I sent on this job. About two weeks before I sent this letter out to the lot of you, I hired a couple of locals, a paldin of Pelor, and a nearby ranger to look into it. They didn't come back. "

" As far as the locals go, the brother and sister where the heirs of the local merchant, and she's been hot on me to find them, or what happened to them. If you talk to her, you might make yourselves a little extra on the side.  The paladin worked for free of course, but the church is concerned with his and his blade's whereabout's Churches and temples don't always tend to be the most generous with the gold but it never hurts to make friends with a healing hand, if you know what I mean."

"As far as the apple and or the source of it go, my deal is as usual, I get the job done, we all get paid . As far as how much, that depends on if the apple is all it's cracked up to be, and who the buyer is. As for the goblins, deal with them as you see fit and you can sleep with yourselves at night. I know I won't shed a tear either way over the little gits. As far as the heirs and the paladin go, any side deals you make with the merchant or the church are your own personal buisness. And as usual, anything you find other than the original agreed upon object of the task, in this case the fruit or the source of it is yours to keep, sale, or do as you please with."

" So, ask around, get what you need and follow the old road to the south, keep the Ashen Plains to your right and it's about seven miles, or half a day walk, half that again on horseback, and you can't miss the ravine. The Citadel is at the bottom from what I understand, and at least mostly sunken below the surface. Take plenty of food, light sources and rope, there might be some climbing and devling involved, but that's what we do right?

" Best of speed and luck, don't take the whole adventureres or heros thing too seriously, if you find more than you can handle get out. I don't have anyone to send looking for you bunch. I'll be passing back through soon and I'll keep in touch with Garon at the inn on your progress if we don't meet in person you can leave word with him."
 

At the bottom is Matthias' signature and an impression of his signet ring in the wax .


So there you have it . You know the basic lay of the land around town and person and places of interest, so let me now where you want to go, and what you want to do or who you want to talk to when you get there. Add any neccassary rolls with your posts, and I'll give you results .  It's mid morning now, so you have most of the day to do what you will around town.

Everyone can make one Spot check before / as you leave the inn.

[Furr]

The dwarf cleric spots the bartender moving over, then accepts the documentcanister.
"Blessings be upon you, good man..." And then to the gathered party.. "Let's see what he writes."

The tube, without the document (for that is now in Ytir's hands), is put on the table. Ytir then reads aloud from the script (noted above).

"Well, sounds like we've got a job ahead of us. I suggest a few of us go talk to the merchant - I'll take to the temple. Some should gather the necessary supplies, after we've taken stock of what we have already."
Ytir puts the paper on the table along with the canister, his eyes moving from one member of the party, to the next.

edit: adding in the spot check - Shane's witness.

07:52:12 ( Furr rolls 1d20+3 => , + 3 15 )

[Moondog]

Johndave listens to the dwarf read, nodding as he goes along, confirming some points he'd expected to hear. As it goes on, his eyes widen, and a somewhat. . . goofy, if excited grin finds its way to his face.
'Dungeon' delving? Him? Already? He-e-e-ell yeah.

Magic Apples? Shoot, if I could save me some seeds, 'er even better, take a graft from the tree they come from, they could grow 'em back home and woo boy we'd be in business then.  Or so he thinks. Somewhere'n the back of his head, he's sure the apples are just a whaddayacallit. Not a large or a sm- a medium, that's it. A medium for the magic.

By the time the dwarf finishes reading, Johndave is already sold on the deal. A real, genuine dungeon delve for magic apples, maybe find other goodies. Save a paladin, even! Wouldn't *that* be a tale to tell his buddy Kent?

"Well, alright, I'm in. Guess ya'll are gonna come too, then? Good, good. Nothin' like a bunch of folk bandin' together in a tavern and workin' with one another 'fer riches. 'Least, that's the bards say. Alright, well, Ytir, think I'll stick with you. Never really been in any temples. "

As far as provisions go, the human has literally not a cent to his name, so everything he's carrying is all he'll be able to contribute. Which is ropes and chalk and candles 'n so on. Nothin' fancy, but there's some useful stuff there.

13:44:42 ( Moondog rolls 1d20+2 => , + 2 8 ) 

Spot

[Savon]

Sush nods to herself as she reads the letter.  Was hesitant at first in reading about going after someone else's business opportunity.  She wouldn't want anyone stealing her merchandise, but when she read about the other party not coming back that changed her mind.  Plus, an opportunity to make more money trumped her reticence in getting involved.  If they could find the source of the magic, they might be able to reproduce it. 

She put the letter down when done reading it. Finished her ale and stood up.
  I will head to the merchant and talk to him about his heirs.  Maybe get a deal on finding them and some supplies to boot.  I got some climbing gear, but not much . Who all here can use a rope and grappling hook?
 She looked around to see who did. 
Anyone want to go with me? When we are done we can meet back here, if thats okay with the rest of you?

She shouldered he pack and looked around the room again, nodding at whoever decided to go with her.
 

08:58:29 ( Savon rolls 1d20+2 => , + 2 12 )

[Nnk]

Lithri greeted the gnome as heartily as Ytir did, then the new human, before the bartender came forward with the scroll. As Ytir read, Lithri frowned. When he finished, her frown deepened.

"This is not good. Not good at all." As the others decided on what to do, Lithri thought through the problem. Goblins. Lithri disliked goblins. Horrible table manners.

The Dwarf eyes the rest of the little group, then smiles wide, "Looks like we gots ourselves an adventure!" She pats Ytir on the back, maybe a little hard.

"Oi, Ytir. I'll stick around here and figure out what we need provision-wise, though I have packed m'self quite a banquet of foodstuffs, if you know what I mean!" With a short guffaw, Lithri nods to herself and the others and heads back toward the kitchen, yelling up a storm.

"Oi! Where'd I put me pack?! Ye didn't take everything, did ye? Just said the garlic, you oaf!"

18:45:45 ( Nnk rolls 1d20 => 2 )

Spot

[El_Kay]

She responds to the greetings from one and all and begins playing a bit of mood music as Ytir reads from the message, being sure to emphasize the highlights of the note.

 "Well this does sound promising..." she said after it was finished. She was quite pleased with JohnDave's bardic reference but she stamped one little foot in mock outrage. "Here now, sir, that will never do! You start takin' my part o' things and sayin' my lines then what good do we have in keepin' me about? You want to be a  bard now?" She shoves her lute at him, child sized by comparison "Have a go at that, sir, y'never know, you just might be good at it!"

 
 As Ytir and JohnDave had already paired up, and Dwarves and Gnomes make good company, she decided after her little play with JohnDave, to stick with Lithri.

 "Who better to know what to stock for adventure than a bard?" she asked outloud.  "After all the tales I've told 'bout adventuring, I hope I'm not so dense to not have gleaned what's good sense and not. Lithri, if'n you're not minding, I think we'll do well sticking together on this bit of the 'venture."

 She shoved her pack towards her with a tiny foot. "It was behind you..." she managed not to grin as she spoke.



21:06:08 ( El_Kay rolls 1d20 => 15 ) Spot Check.

[DMD]

01:23:50 ( DMD rolls 1d20+6 => , + 6 14 )
 Those with the Spots of 15(( Furr and El_Kay)) think they notice a female elf in one corner of the inn's dining room who might be a little interested in your conversation, but she stands and leaves , heading out into the street just as you all heard your seperate ways. You might be able to catch her outside, but she was closer to the door, and has a head start...

 Once Sush reaches the merchant's store, where she finds her, not him behind the counter supervising the activities of two or three clerks and stock people while she goes over the books. Kerowyne Hercale is a women in her late middle age, but her face is streaked with recent worry lines and wrinkles. She looks up from her ledgers when  you enter, and nods a hello.


When asked about her children, she shakes her head.
"Damn Matthias for every talking them into that foolishness, and damn me for letting them go. But they had to grow up sooner or later, once they've seen the big city it's hard to keep them down on the farm. " She give Sush a brief description of both the boy and girl. The brother Talgen was a strapping youth, broad of shoulder, dark haired and tall with geen eyes, like hers. He was right good with a blade in his hand, even sparred with the ranger and paladin and did fair before they accepted him on the treck to the Citedal. His sister , Sharwyne's gifts leaned more toward books, spell books that is. She's a whisp of a lass with her father's red hair, gods rest his departed soul, but with her brother going there was no talking her out of it.

She also makes you and anyone helping you look for them an offer.
"If you could find them, or at least what became of them just so thier momma could know for sure I'll make it worth ya wild, 125 gp apiece for whoever brings me proof one way or another. They both wore the family signet ring, that should do it. If you bring em back to me alive and well I'll double it ."


Meanwhile Johndave and Ytir meet a short gnomish priestess , by the name of Dem Knackle. She is busy tending some potted plants and dusting a potion brewing bench when you come in . When asked about the Citedal or the group she remembers the paladin best of all.

" Ah yeah, Sir Bradford, from the temple of Pelor. Of course anything called the Sunless anything brought them nosing around. I really thought the others would be alright with him and the ranger Karakas along. Too bad, Bradford had one nice blade, called it Shatterspike, looked like it was meant for buisness, and he looked like he knew how to use it .... The Pelorians might give a nice reward or discount for finding what happened to him, and it. Especialy the blade, knights and paladins come and go but that blade was somethin else..."


Meanwhile, back at the inn, if they stay there. The bard and the female dwarf can make Listen and or Gather Information checks while they take stock and the place begins to fill up for the lunch hour.  One of those who enters is a half elf  woman in scale mail, who follows the bartenders directions to you two.

"Name's Felosil, hear you and yours might be headed out to that old ruins sout of here?" she asks friendly enough. " Iffin you are, I be the constable these parts, just me and a handful of deputies that know enough to stab with the right end of a short sword, but the mayor would like to talk to you about the goblin trouble, if you be headed that away stop by his manor before you do. " She leaves you with directions to said manor, and a "best of luck" .

[Savon]

Well, Mrs Hercale, I can understand the call of adventure.  Me mum and Da have told me a fair time or too to be careful in my exploits.  I hate to make them worry but a person has to find their place in this world.  Me and my friends will do all that we can to find out what happened to Talken and Sharwyne and bring them back if we can.
She put her hand on Karowyne's arm as she spoke, conveying how sincere she was.  She really did empathize, thinking of the worry her own merchant parents would feel if she went missing.  She noted to herself to send them a message once this job was done. 

After confirming the deal and getting some more climbing gear she went back to the inn to meet the rest of the group.

[Moondog]

Johndave holds his hands palm up in mock surrender at the energetic gnome's antics.

"Well, beggin' 'yer pardon, ma'am. Didn't mean no offense.

Looking at the little gnome-sized lute, a sort of awkward grin crosses his face, and he happily takes it up. "If you insist. I never really learned, but I reckon I 'ken at least do a passable 'Old McDonald'.

Perform Check: 11:25:51 ( Moondog rolls 1d20+1 => 21 )

(Hahaha, I will probably never get another 20)

His surprisingly good rendition of a classic nursery rhyme finished, he hands the lute back to the bard, gives her a grin and hurries to catch up with Ytir, who has probably left him behind by now.

In the temple proper, he's as reverent and polite as a layperson can be. Never been much for religion growing up, if only because he was more concerned with getting everything done on time, which didn't leave a whole lot of worshippin' time. But the Gods, even if they don't much matter for planting crops, are worthy of much respect.  

Johndave nods, listening quietly as the priestess talks. Magic sword, huh? Be a shame if we can't find it, I'm sure the folks what lost it are gonna miss it. or so his thoughts go. Not even a hint of 'I want it', just simple 'better return it'.

[Furr]

Ytir merely smiles in his beard at Johndave and the bard. As Johndave plays the lute, giving an absolutely flawless impression of Old McDonald, Ytir himself just barely catches the glimpse of the elf leaving. But for now, it's pushed back in his mind. More important things at hand.

-
At the temple, Ytir pays his respects, out from a purely professional standpoint. He waited up for Johndave, though, and explained a few of the ways of temples and such stuff. What little he knew of other religious places, other than his dwarven home.

"You have my word, we shall find the lost party, and bring them back if possible. If not, I will personally see to that they recieve a proper burial."
Those things, securing souls and making sure they're at peace, were always important things for clerics. At least conncerning non-gobliniods.

[El_Kay]

She stared in amusement as JohnDave took her lute and poised to play. Chuckling as he began, she soon realized the joke was on her as he played a beautiful melody. She laughed all the harder as she took the lute back into her possession "That, Sir, was QUITE unexpected!" She gave him what should have been a friendly clap to the shoulder. But she, being of much shorter stature, slapped his arm instead as she turned to head off after the other Dwarf. She does note the comings and goings, but really pays it no mind, she is just a bit busy for now...

 
 
21:02:59 ( El_Kay rolls 1d20+8 => , + 8 9 )

 "Oh, hello there, constable!" The gnome seemed genuinely happy to make the new acquaintance. Glancing at her companion she would hop a bit as she spoke "Wanna go check this out? I don't recall ever meeting the mayor of a town THIS big..."

[DMD]

While the bard can't loosen any toungues to gather information, the farmboy's showing her up gets a few to wagging. An asortment of villagers stop by your table after he plays, passing along little tidbits of rumor or advice .

" That Citedal has always been bad news," one old woman informs you. "A dragon cult worshiped there once, called down the dragon who turned the plains into the Ashen plains in a rampage."

The bartender even chimes in . "You know, years ago there was some grim bastard passed through here looking for the Citadel. Can't recall his name but he had a damned big frog that followed him around..."

And lastly, one of the farmhands mentions- " You know, some of the farmers tried to grow fresh saplins from those magic apple's seeds. Every last sappling disapears during the night after about a year or so of growing. I guess the goblins come to get them back to keep a claim on the apples..."

  The lady merchant gives Samush a fifty foot length of silk rope and an even dozen climbing spikes. " Don't keep much in the way of your fancy adventuring gear on stock, my kids where disapointed when I didn't have any magic arms or armor to spare for thier little trip.....maybe if I had have they'd be back safe and sound.."

On the way back from the merchant, Samush can make a spot, and Johndave and Ytir can make spots on the way back from the temple.

If and or when the gnome and anyone else take the constable up on the offer to meet the mayor they find him in the setting room of his mansion, where he converses with those who answered.

"I hear you'll be venturing to the old ruins. I have a proposal to sweeten your potential pot as well, as long as you want to go sticking hornet nests with sticks to see what comes out.."

He stands and walks to the window. " We don't have a militia to speak of, just the constable you met and her few deputies. They can patrol the streets but don't have the manpower to do the same for the outlaying settlements. For a while now, something has been killing livestock. Always at night.  Afew nights ago whatever it is stepped it up to people, one of the farmers was found outside his henhouse, dead. The same as the animals, no tracks, but dozens of tiny needle like marks on the body, just like the animals. "

The Mayor waves his hand out the window at the small hamlet at the bottom of the hill.
"I've invested a good portion of my life and money in this town to get where I am, I don't want to see it dry up and blow away around me because of some stupid goblins or something they stirred up down there in those ruins. I'll give you a gold piece a head for them, 25 gold for the leader and if there's something or someone else at the root of the problem, and you bring me proof you ended it."
And with that you are dismissed to go back to the inn or on to the ruins, or anything else about town you might want to take care of first.

[Moondog]

"Well, I reckon that's about all we 'ken find out here. Pleasure meetin' ya, ma'am." Johndave says, giving the gnomish priestess a polite nod of the head. He then turns and walks right on out, heading straight for the inn.

Spot Check:

19:58:59 ( Moondog rolls 1d20+1 => , + 1 19 )

Despite being anxious to get back to the inn, so's he can get together with everyone and then get on out to the sunless citadel thingamabobber, he's pretty observant. Maybe the tales of paladins being felled and goblins and apples have him on edge.