Day 4 (continued)
Dark grey clouds scud above the party gathered on a plateau. The turbulent sky leaks scattered light onto the road that wends down to the east as well as the decayed desolate windmill ahead of the party. Standing within the doorway, an old lady repeats, "Are you here for some dream pastries? Just a gold per pie and they'll be fresh from the oven."
Nazgog speaks up, "I'd like to come in for a minute. Do you mind?"
The old lady blocks the doorway, "We don't have a lot of room in here. I could bring out a dream pie if you'd like one."
"I don't want your dream pie," retorts Nazgog. "I want to sit down for a minute to relax."
"There's not room in here," the lady repeats, "And if you aren't here for a dream pastry, then you need to move onward. Vallaki is just down the road from here."
"I'd like a pie," chirps up Morgana as she passes over a gold piece. "What's your name?"
Taking the gold, she replies, "I'm Morgantha. Stay here a moment as I go fetch your pastry." She turns to move inside and Nazgog moves into the doorway with her. Morgantha, the old lady, turns back around and holds up her hand to lightly push against Nazgog, "There isn't room inside. Please wait outside for me to return with a pastry."
Nazgog rebuffs the old lady, "I've been walking forever. I'm tired so I'm coming in to sit down for a minute as you get a pastry for my friend."
Morgantha starts moving her hands in ritualistic arcane symbols as she yells, "Sisters! We've got intruders!" Suddenly a bolt of lightning arcs out of her pointed finger through Nazgog and Morgana and then lances out through Sticky. Sticky yelps in agony as he falls unconscious to the ground. Morgantha moves out of the doorway and toward the western side of the plateau.
Fidelia cries out, "Sticky is down! We need to get away from here!"
The party hears footsteps running down from upstairs as Nazgog yells out, "I hear your pleas! We'll burn this down later!" She then retreats from the doorway as two more older ladies race into the open room. Morgana, Filedila, and Jagger head eastward down the sloping road as Nazgog lifts Sticky with a single hand and follows them.
As Nazgog slings Sticky over her back, Morgantha taunts, "I'll just keep this gold piece for the trouble you gave us."
Nazgog looks directly at Morgantha says, "You can keep this piece too!" and spits at her.
The party rushes down the road watching for pursuit, but the sisters appear to remain back at the windmill. Finally, Fidelia gasps, "Can we take a break? We need to help Sticky and I'd like a bit of a breather." Moving to the edge of the path, the party breaks out snacks and water. During the break, Morgana chides Nazgog for being so aggressive. Nazgog protests that she only wanted to relax and that it was Morgantha that started things by refusing simple hospitality. This continues as the party gathers together again and proceeds down the Old Svalich Road.
As the road bends toward the west again and enters a valley, the woods get thicker with the trees arching over and into the road. The closer quarters squeeze the party as the faint howl of wolves echo within the valley.
Breaking out of the woods, the party sees a large wooden palisade surrounding a sullen mountain burg. Thick fog presses up against the palisade as if seeking a way inside without alerting the town. The Old Svalich road leads up to a pair of sturdy iron gates with shadowy figures behind them. As the party nears the fifteen foot tall palisade, a guard calls out, "Who approaches Vallaki and what is your business?" while the other guard pointedly holds a pike in readiness.
Fidelia replies, "Travelers seeking rest and sustenance."
"You'll be seeking the
Blue Water Inn," the first guard offers, "follow the main road up the hill and it'll be on your right."
Fidelia thanks the guards and the party starts to move into town when Nazgog inquires, "Who are those hags at the creepy old windmill?"
The guard replies automatically, "That's Morgantha and her two daughters. They sell dream pastries throughout the land."
Shocked by this Fidelia replies, "She called out for her sisters."
The guard shrugs, "We know them as Mother and daughters."
Leaving the guards behind, the group wanders up the road. Houses lining the meandering street seem to be in good repair, but the party notices that most have weather worn garlands hanging from the eaves. There are several of these old garlands per house with the older garlands placed behind the newer ones. A few townsfolk walk briskly on unknown business with worn faces set on their individual tasks. Cresting the hilltop, the party sees a two story building with a sagging roof and gray smoke issuing from it. A dozen or so ravens line the berm watching as the party approaches. A wooden sign above the door depicts a blue waterfall.
"This must be the place," declares Jagger.
Irritated with the ravens, Nazgog bellows while pointing at them, "You! Get down here!" while Fidelia grabs her bow and draws an arrow on the ravens.
Sticky quickly interjects, "We're in town! Do you want to irritate the townsfolk? Otherwise why are we messing around with ravens?"
Fidelia responds, "I'm tired of being watched!" and fires an arrow as the ravens squawk while launching from their roost. The arrow pierces the wing of a raven and it twirls downward. Morgana quickly races to it's aid and cradles it as a heavy-set bearded man with graying hair storms out of the inn.
His eyes rapidly flick across Fidelia's bow, Nazgog's aggressive stance, and Morgana cradling the injured raven before stating, "Why did you attack my ravens? Did they even threaten you?"
Nazgog huffs, "I
just invited conversation. Is this because I'm an Orc? Are you prejudiced against orcs?!"
The older gentleman responds, "Look, I'm sure we've got a misunderstanding here. Why don't all of you come into my inn and we can clear this up."
Morgana looks up from the crippled raven at Nazgog. Nazgog gruffs, "You want me to pull the arrow out, don't you?" Morgana nods and Nazgog's large hands reach down, snap the arrow in twain and then pulls it out of the wing. "There. Arrow no longer in there." Morgana then does a silent prayer to
Celestian and the raven flies away.
The owner states, "Thank you. That was kind of you. My name's Urwin. My wife, Danika, and I run the Blue Water Inn. Come. Come inside, let me get you some beet soup, bread, and some wine."
Ushering the party into a large rectangular room, the party sees several tables with a smattering of patrons.
Urwin brings them to a larger table, bids them to sit and he'll go grab soups for everyone. As he heads into the kitchen he pauses next to a taller woman working the bar and whispers something in her ear.
Noticing Nazgog's glare, Jagger tries to distract her, "Hey Nazgog. It was so amazing how you killed the wolves the other day. Can you tell me the tale of it?"
Nazgog grunts, "I killed them because I told them I'd kill them and make a necklace out of their guts. And I did."
A few moments later, the bartender brings over a tray of cups and a pitcher of wine. "Welcome travelers. I'm Danika and this is Purple Grapemash from the Wizards of Wine vineyard. Please enjoy compliments of Urwin and I."
"Why are there crows on your roof?" asks Jagger?
Danika looks confused for a moment before replying, "There's a difference between ravens and crows."
"Oh?" replies Jagger, "What are some of those differences."
"For one, ravens are smarter. They are also larger and tend to soar and ravens are our friends," answers Danika.
"Interesting," continues Jagger, "Do they speak often?"
"They can," replies Danika, "but it depends on if they have something to say."
Jagger smiles, "Can you quote them?"
Danika enjoys the inside joke and replies, "Never more," before heading back to the bar.
The party sips the wine and slowly start to unwind. Within a few more minutes, Urwin backs out of the kitchen with a large tray of bowls on it. As he approaches the table, appealing wafts of beet soup tantalize the party's noses. He quickly sets them around the table along with several bowls of bread. "Normally, these are paired with renting a bed for an electrum piece per night and the wine would be a copper per cup, but we got off on the wrong feather so all of this will be on the house regardless if you stay or not. In addition, we have a finer wine for a silver and wolf steaks cost an electrum as well." He looks around the table and then continues, "will you be needing beds for the night? I have a room where most of you all should fit, even though it'll still be by the bed charge." Seeing the party agree, he collects the electrum pieces and heads back into the kitchen.
The party dives into the beet soup as conversation pauses. As the last of the bread mops up the remaining juices, Nazgog thumps her fist on the table, "This has been a fine meal! Now we can drink and enjoy." and then chugs her cup. Seeing the gusto that Nazgog starts pounding Grapemash, Ireena and Ismark take their leave and head off to their room.
And after several more cups, Nazgog asks, "I head to bed now. Morgana?"
Morgana agrees to assist the tipsy Nazgog off to bed as Sticky joins them. The trio head out the front and around the corner to climb the stairs outside that lead to their room. Morgana and Sticky each take a side of the inebriated Nazgog as they ascend the stairs. Halfway up, Nazgog lies down stating, "Tired. Must sleep." where she passes out. Sticky and Morgana each take an arm and slowly lug her unconscious body up the remaining stairs and into a bed trapping Morgana behind her.
Meanwhile, Fidelia and Jagger look around the tavern reviewing the people that settled down while the party was enjoying dinner. Seated along the wall, two burly guys wearing outfits made from fur take draws from their mugs and eye the pair. Jagger stands up and approaches. "Hey there! You look like you know your way around. Got any pointers for us?"
"Ach. We do know our way around," replies the bald headed guy. "We supply the meat for the steaks here. We've been in and around Vallaki for our entire lives. Ah'm Szoldar and that's Yevgini you pay us 5 gold a day and we show you 'round."
The other joins in, "Ja, 5 gold a day."
"Only during the day," affirms Szoldar. "Not stupid enough to be caught out of town at night."
Jagger asks, "Oh? Is it truly that dangerous?"
"Lad," replies Szoldar, "there are horrors that will kill a man just by looking. Much better to stay in town and drink!"
"Monstrous monsters," parrots Yevgini.
Fidelia closes the conversation, "Well thank you for the advice. I guess we should head to bed. Good luck in your hunts."
Fidelia and Jagger call it an early evening and join the other three party members in their room.
Day 5
In the morning the party wakes up and heads down to the tavern where they find it deserted. The party sits at the large table and discusses the plan for the day.
"We got her to Vallaki," Fidelia offers, "Isn't that the end of our job?"
"Not necessarily," responds Morgana, "Remember the priest, umm Donavich, said to bring her to the Abbey of St Markovia. I'm not sure where that is."
"Ask her," Nazgog adds.
As the discussion continues the party hears a door upstairs and the trod of feet down the stairs next to them. "Ahh good morrow," Urwin cheerfully exclaims. "Normally we don't break fast here, but would you like something?"
A loud grumble from Nazgog's stomach as she looks up, "Food would be appreciated."
Another door opens and shuts from above and a colorfully dressed elf descends lightly. "Ah! I heard we had new guests at the Inn. Allow me to introduce yourselves to the great Rictavio! A teller of tales known throughout these lands!"
Jagger ears perk at this information, "Truly? I'd enjoy hearing such things as I am a bard myself."
Rictavio replies, "Oh! Tis too glorious to imagine! We must have a bout between us," He looks around the deserted room, "but alas we do not have enough participants. Also, I have tasks that must be accomplished this morn. Would you like to meet this evening and we can settle our tellings then?"
"I'd be honored!" answers Jagger as Ireena and Ismark enter the tavern. "Let us say after sun down?"
"Agreed! I look forward to your performance," concludes Rictavio.
As Ireena and Ismark join, the group decides to spend the day exploring. The party exits the tavern under another dark and cloudy day.
