--After MUCH deliberation and argument on the best course of action, and a cursory exploration of the surprisingly empty cave, the companions gathered the head and beard of Red Hatchet, the unpleasant head of the flind, and their newfound trinkets and coin, and returned to Ganse. The travel lasting a mere half-day was uneventful, and soon the group found themselves back in the languishing, dull walled town.
--Drinking from a mug of ale in Koron’s Tavern, a small, humble establishment, Aethelstan thanked St. Senren for his good fortune. And why not, he thought, the fighting was brutal, but here they all were, alive, and mostly well. Only a few folks sat around drinking this early in the day, but Aethelstan was now well rested and even began to chat up a few locals, with an eye toward making them see the light of St. Senren, and the wonder that was Andur. Moruz sat grimly next to Aethelstan, silently debating with himself , on the best way to go about constructing his next weapon, with this new bit of hardy laurel wood, and fixing his Ouzala, as he absent-mindedly flexed his three-fingered hand.
Overheard at Koron’s
--Why, ye be heroes now eh? Heheh..we don’t get us too many heroes in Ganse.
--Ya killed Red Hatchet? We’ve heard of that deathdealer. Worked for Jervoe, or so I’ve heard.
--Priest! Can ya heal my sickly cow?
--Dem bandits are getting outta hand! No law can stop them this far from the Empire. No one cares!
--I heard they got a mage working for dem too! And gnolls!
--Vee made his way from one decrepid shop to the next, his winning smile and personality fighting back the ennui and apathy of the shopkeepers. He managed to sell Red Hatchet’s pearl earring for 20 gold, and that was after a one-hour debate with the miserly gem-merchant, who specialized in mostly semi-precious stones. He unloaded two of the dwarven axes (keeping the other two), by embellishing their potential “mystical properties” and emphasizing Red Hatchet’s prowess with said weapons. He managed to get five gold coins apiece for them, but knew, ruefully, that in a larger town he may have gotten ten or more. The Dwarf’s golden codpiece was still unsold, a golden buckle in the form a leering bearded demon head. Those that wanted it, couldn’t afford it, those that could afford it, assumed the codpiece cursed. He could not find any takers for the flindbar either, but managed to sell off the flind’s necklace of teeth, to an enthusiast for 2 gp.
Taking a momentary break from his town travels, Vee stopped in on Aethelstan and Moruz. He was a bit excited with his latest news. Apparently he had discovered something called Dollor Powder, which was on sale in limited amounts, here and there about town.
<<Vee, let me know what else your selling/buying. I haven’t covered everything>>>
--It fell upon Aerex to take the heads to the obnoxious city guard. But the pleasantly unexpected occurred. The guards recognized the dwarf’s head, and were impressed with the slaying. In fact, after a few hours, a few brews, and a few exchanges of tales, namedropping, and titles, Aerex was the star attraction in the guard barracks nightly “party”, which took place inside the barracks and was not open to all. He managed to unload the two heads for 30 gold coin in all, and get a written writ to lay claim to the slaying. Aerex thought about returning to the group, but was having too much fun partying with the city guard for the time being.
Nuggets of info from guards..
--Yeah, Jervoe supposedly has a base in the great Laurel Wood, but then again, his thugs have been known to pop up in the strangest places, in a quick and mysterious manner. Mayhaps that cave you found offers clues.
--As long as Jervoe doesn’t attack Ganse in force, we care little for his activities.
--Nah, we wont go after them, Aerex. It is not feasible. Have you heard by the way that they have some “illusionist”, whatever that means, working for them?
--Hey, care to join the guard Matare? Hehe
--Talia went about her own business, and before long she had found a fellow survivor from her caravan’s massacre! Loiha Pemnes, the snake-charmer, had also managed to escape that night! Talia nearly bowled the woman over in the streets, as Loiha sat there coaxing a harmless hillsnake from a bamboo cask. No one much cared for the performance and no coins clanged in her direction. The two women got to talking…
--Dujek sat in the corner of Koron’s and studied the scroll and opal. He could not figure out what was special about that blue rock, but the more he contemplated Find Familiar, the more he thought of the necessary ritual involved. Should he attempt it? He once heard a story of another mage who had accidentally summoned a grasshopper as a companion. That did not go well. Dujek didn’t want a grasshopper….
--Tristan, morose as ever, visited the tiny, local parish in an attempt to get his face sewn back on upon his return, and afterwards, his success unkown by hsi new companions, retired to an inn room to pray to Trigu. He had not emerged in hours.
<<<do what ye will..go about town..buy, sell, whatever. Or, pack up again and get going..up to you.>>>
