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Chapter 1. Wyfalls; (Noria Alpha Campaign)
Topic Started: May 14 2013, 10:49 AM (2,740 Views)
meh
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1st Lieutenant
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"Well it appears that the gnome doesn't want his gold. More for us I suppose." Fenris counted out sixteen gold pieces and tossed them to Pad. "I've been cheated out of my own wages, and I've seen what that does to a person. The last man that did that to me is rotting in some field with a spear in his belly. I strangely enjoy my life, and I have no reason to make an enemy of you."

With that, Fenris made his way past the stone arch and into the warm sun. He turned back momentarily to address the elf. "We might as well head back to the tavern and get some rest and heal our wounds. I have every intention of meeting more with that dwarf."
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New Harumf
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Glrch stopped dead in his tracks, turned around, and saw Fenris handing out gold to Pad! He came running back, brandishing his sword, and shouted, "I knew you two couldn't be trusted! Stealing MY gold, are you? Well, I am going to cut you down to size, barbarian, and your little elf thief friend too!" With that, he charged toward Fenris, sword at the ready!
Edited by New Harumf, Aug 13 2013, 09:05 AM.
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meh
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Fenris was fast for a human, and far faster than a gnome. He easily sidestepped Glrch, pushing the gnome down as he twisted his way out of the sword's reach.

"Now if you had stayed and listened, I was explaining to the elf the morals of denying a man his payment. The gold is yours. Next time, don't go running off so soon. The whores and the wine will still be at the tavern."
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New Harumf
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"I don't trust you, you filthy barbarian!" said Glrch, feelings hurt for Fenris' dodge of his attack. "You plotted to rob me, that elf as your co-conspirator. I'll have none of either of you. I am returning to the tavern, getting drunk, feasting on their fine food, and if you two will be at Stonebelly's feast, I will avoid it like the plague. Be careful. If our paths ever cross again, I will slit your thieving throat - and yours too, elf."

Glrch then stood up, scooped up his gold, and walked hurriedly away, to put as much distance between himself and the two as possible.
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meh
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"Funny how a thief is always te first one to accuse another of theft. Half of a man, and half of a brain as well. Off to the tavern I suppose."
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East Anarx
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The part of town where they stood was at a relatively high elevation compared to the lake it overlooked, and so even if they had not recalled the map from memory, they could see two obvious ways to get to the Hollow Hill Inn & Tavern.

They could go back east the way they had come, of course, and follow the path behind the waterfall. It was familiar and relatively direct, if somewhat treacherous.

The alternative was to head south, passing by the Blacksmith on the west side of town and eventually crossing over the great stone bridge. This route was unfamiliar, but it offered opportunities for exploration and mischief, and perhaps the Hollow Hill was not the only bar in town.
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New Harumf
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Glrch was far ahead of the others now, and he decided to take the path south and cross the bridge. He remembered his earlier experience with the waterfall and decided to avoid it completely - and who knows what opportunities could open on this path. One thing for sure, he wanted ale, and lots of it!
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meh
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Fenris made his way down across the bridge and to the South, in hopes of finding a new bar. He likely made some enemies at Hollow Hill, and it was never a bad idea to indulge in all the liquors of a town.
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East Anarx
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Glrch traveled quickly south until he came to a fork in the road. He could either go southwest or southeast.

To the southwest the road passed between stone buildings and a few dwarves wandered here and there.

The road to the southeast was similar, but the stone buildings were taller on average and there were more people about, mostly dwarves but also several humans and elves.

Fenris was approaching from the north, and Glrch was determined to keep his distance from the barbarian, so he had little time to consider his decision.
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Al Araam
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Padrielor trotted off after the barbarian. He had no intention of spending any more time around the violently irrational little gnome than was absolutely necessary.
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New Harumf
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"I must keep my distance from that barbarian lest he stab me in the back," grumbled Glrch. "I'm going East. At least I know there is a tavern on the East side of town." With that, Glrch hurried down the path to the east.
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meh
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Fenris made his way to the Blacksmith, hoping to see what his ax was worth.
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East Anarx
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Glrch was in a hurry, and he kept looking over his shoulder as he went, causing him to be less observant than usual. Without stopping anywhere near the Blacksmith, he made his way east and began crossing the great stone bridge over the river.

He had managed to escape the barbarian, it seemed, and so Glrch stopped in the middle of the bridge to catch his breath and take in the spectacular views. To the south, the river snaked away into the distance, and on the far horizon stood a lonely stone tower. To the north, Lake Wyfalls shimmered in the midday sun, and the stone buildings along its shores looked like so many rectangular beasts at a watering hole. Remembering his thirst, Glrch hurried over the bridge to the east side of town and headed straight towards the Hollow Hill Inn & Tavern.

The gnome barely noticed the mule standing outside the tavern as he entered the Hollow Hill and took a seat at the bar. The scowling barkeep approached Glrch and gave him a dirty look that could only have meant, "How can I serve you, valued customer?"

~~~

Fenris and Pad were nearing the front door of the Blacksmith when they noticed a sign on the building next door. "The Quenching." The quixotically named establishment piqued the adventurers' curiosity. "Could be a bar," the elf noted. "Or a whorehouse," the barbarian suggested.

They took a moment to consider whether to check out The Quenching or to go ahead and try to see the Blacksmith first.
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New Harumf
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"Barkeep, I smell like mine and deep wurms, do you have a place I can wash off this smell?" Glrch then thought, and said, "Wait on that. Give me an ale - a large ale. When it is empty, give me another." Glrch looked around, and saw the pub was empty except for a strange-looking little person at one of the tables, so he said, in a loud voice, "And buy a round for the house as well!" He figured if he bought one, then the other guest would be obligated to buy another, and after he was drunk he could keep telling him it was his turn! Looking back at the barkeep, he said, "Bring me your best food as well. I am famished." He then started working on his ale which the barkeep had placed in front of him, with a growl and a snarl.
Edited by New Harumf, Aug 19 2013, 10:17 AM.
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East Anarx
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Sunflower Deeproot was just finishing up elevensies, (his third meal of the day, and the second meal he had ordered from the Hollow Hill, (an establishment he found quite satisfactory both in cuisine and architecture,)) when the barkeep brought him a pint of ale and told him it was from the gnome sitting at the bar. It was a tad early for Sunny to start drinking, but he didn't want to be considered rude, and so he accepted the ale with a gulp and a smile while waving cheerfully to the gnome. The gnome apparently took his wave as an invitation to come sit down at the table with him, so Sunny scrambled to clear away the plates, dishes, and napkin sketches spread out before him.

Suddenly, the smell hit him, and Sunny couldn't help but gag. He quickly reached into his bag and pulled out a handful of aromatic herbs. They didn't completely hide the stench, but Sunny found that if he held them near his nose they seemed to partially filter the air before he breathed it. Holding the herbs in front of his face with one hand, and the ale in the other, the hobbit greeted the gnome, "How do you do?"
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meh
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"As much as I'd like to do some whoring, I doubt any good stock would want to spend time with men who smell as bad as we do. Best to visit that blacksmith and see what this loot is worth. And then a good bath."
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New Harumf
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"Well," said the gnome, "I could smell better, that's for sure!" He laughed, "my lads and me were just in the depths of a mine killing deep wurms! Ya don't want to run into those bastards, let me tell ya, but I killed the majority and saved my lads." Sunny could tell the gnome was getting intoxicated from the several ales he has already put down. Then the gnome introduced himself. "My name is Glrch - wurm killer extraordinaire! Who might I have the pleasure of speaking to?"
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East Anarx
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The elf and the barbarian entered the Blacksmith shop and looked around. The large, well-ventilated front room was filled with waiting customers, mostly dwarves, but a few humans were standing in line as well. The smith himself, a fierce-looking, battle-scarred Tundra Dwarf with intense blue-white eyes, was listening intently to the customer at the front of the queue. The smith nodded, and then accepted a few coins in payment before gesturing the next customer forward.

Fenris and Padrielor were the sixteenth and seventeenth patrons in line, respectively, but their offensive stench helped to accelerate the clearing of the room and about half of those in front of them decided to step outside for some fresh air. By the time Fenris was at the front of the line, the room was nearly empty. The smith seemed not to notice the reek; he simply watched as the barbarian drew his two-handed battle-axe and laid it in front of him.

The smith took the axe in his calloused hands and held it up to the light. He turned it slowly, this way and that, looking down its length, running a finger along its sharp edges, and finally using a magnifying glass to examine the tiny maker's mark on its hilt. "Yes, this is one of mine," he said at last, "The blade is Ebon Metal. If I recall correctly, I sold it to one of Stonebelly's miners a little over a year ago. I assume you're wondering what it's worth... The dwarf I sold it to paid me 195 Gold, but I'll take it off your hands for 145. What do you say?"

~~~

Sunny nodded solemnly at the gnome's admission that he could smell better, and he listened patiently to the gnome's drunken bragging while being careful to breathe through the herbs. "It's nice to meet you, Glrch. My name is Sunflower Deeproot, but my friends call me Sunny."

At that moment, the barkeep returned and set a plate in front of Glrch. It was piled high with toast, eggs, and bacon, and came with a peeled orange, sliced into quarters. How they had managed to acquire such fruit at their northern latitude was a mystery lost on the gnome, who simply shoveled the food into his mouth almost without chewing. But to Sunny, the existence of fresh citrus in this climate was a puzzle that intrigued and fascinated him.

Glrch burped loudly, signalling that he was done eating, and then went back to guzzling ale. "Ahem," Sunny began, "When you are quite done with your morning libations, I suggest that we head down to the lake. I have some soap that you are welcome to borrow, and I'm sure Moony would like to meet you after you've had a bath."
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New Harumf
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"Well, my fine friend," said Glrch, "I'll take you up on that offer, and will be happy to meet your friend! I could really use a bath, and when we are done, I'll buy you a proper lunch! While you eat I can tell you about my friends - my fellow wurm killers. As a matter of fact, they are having a feast in my, er, our honor tonight at Stonebelly's manor, gonna big a big deal. Maybe you and your friend, what was his name? Moonbeam? well, maybe you'd like to join us."

What Sunny didn't know was how Glrch and his "friends" had parted, but he was drunk, and completely forgot about the argument they had had, and it was very likely he would stay drunk until the feast.
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East Anarx
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The two little folk left the Hollow Hill out the back entrance and walked down to the shore of Lake Wyfalls. Sunny was glad to be out in the fresh air, and he breathed deeply, enjoying the cool breeze coming off the surface of the lake. The hobbit then rummaged through his pack and took out a bar of soap, which he tossed to Glrch before heading back up the hill to check on his mule and to give the gnome some privacy.

"Come on, Moony," Sunny said to the mule patiently waiting outside the tavern, "there's someone I'd like you to meet." The mule reluctantly allowed Sunny to lead her down to the lake, and she was rewarded with more ale in her bucket. While the mule drank, the hobbit sat in the shade of a tree, waiting for Glrch to finish bathing.
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New Harumf
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Glrch clumsily stripped off his clothes, tripping one or twice on his trousers in his drunken state, and waded into the water. He quickly soaped himself, scrubbed, and rinsed off. He then grabbed his clothes (after emptying his pockets, he didn't want to loose any of his treasure), and scrubbed them vigorously with the soap as well. The cold water sobered him up a bit, and after wringing out his clothes, he re-dressed and filled his pockets. He was wet, feeling clean, and enjoying the sunlight. We wandered back up the shore, and saw the little person sitting under a tree, with a mule beside him. "So," asked Glrch, handing him back the soap, "where's this friend of yours? Bring him along and I'll buy you both a good lunch!"
Edited by New Harumf, Aug 20 2013, 04:51 PM.
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Al Araam
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Pad was momentarily taken aback by the amount of gold the blacksmith offered Fenris for the axe made of the strange dark metal. His shock didn't last long, however, and so moments later, he produced the matching helmet from his backpack.

Although it was quite obvious the helmet fit the barbarian nicely, there was the matter of profit to consider. After all, the only way Fenris could come up with enough gold to buy the helmet would be to sell the axe, and if the metal proved to be at all effective, Pad didn't imagine the barbarian would part with the weapon.

He considered the jeweled brooch and decided to leave it in his backpack. It was, after all, nice to have something to fall back on if things went bad.
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East Anarx
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The blacksmith waited patiently while Fenris considered the offer, and he watched curiously as the elf drew the matching helmet from his bag. Pad handed the helmet over and the smith gave it a thorough inspection. "Another of mine. I'll buy it for 110 gold pieces."

~~~

When Sunny explained to Glrch that Moony the Mule was the friend he wanted him to meet, the gnome was incredulous. But after considering the fact that the mule would probably not object to eating cheap animal feed for lunch, thus saving Glrch a few coppers, he held out his hand and the mule gave it a friendly lick.

Sunny was in no hurry, and said as much, "Glrch, I would greatly enjoy taking you up on your offer of lunch, but if you don't mind, I think I'd like to just sit under this tree for a while. It's a beautiful day, and I'm enjoying simply looking at the lake."
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New Harumf
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"Very well," said Glrch. "I'll be back at the tavern in a bit, but first I need to get a ring appraised. I wonder if there is a jeweler in this town?"

Glrch left Sunny enjoying the view after giving Moony a pat on the neck. He walked around to the front of the bar and saw a dwarf walking down the road. Glrch chased after him, and asked, "Do you know where I could get a ring appraised? Is their a jeweler in town?"
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East Anarx
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The dwarf that Glrch approached was elderly and sported a bushy white beard. He had kind eyes, and seemed genuinely pleased to have the opportunity to give directions to the gnome. He stopped, pulled at his whiskers, and replied, "A jeweler, eh? I think old Grudok's still in business. You know where the guard station is?"
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