Back in Moonhaven

[harknail]

The night passed uneventfully, and the group got the first good nights rest since they had set out on their adventure. Back in sync with the sun again, they headed out the next morning and made good time along the road to Moonhaven, arriving around noon.

They delivered the books to Curuvar the Brazen for the agreed on fee. Bharash staying with him to study the volumes.

Orsik left again on his solo wanderings, promising to stop by and say hello from time to time.

Thursagan, Sanem, and Zynthis settled in with Howahkan, another wounded adventurer no longer able to adventure. Sart the goblin stayed with Sanem, her mentor in archery. As the remaining 4 continued to the Moonhaven Inn (where they had been granted free lodging thanks to their return of the lighthouses magic mirror), they hear Zynthis and Howahkan already making plans for a joint church for both of their faiths.

[harknail]

But just before they left, Howahkan looked up and said, "If you want another fighter to replace Thursagan while he's healing, you should look up Mellir. He's staying at the Moonhaven Inn. Oh, I should warn you, he's an Orc, but he's not like other Orcs. He's OK."

SPOILER: Click to show

OK, now you have someone known to the group vouching for the Orc :-)

[candi]

Raylynn's face twisted and contorted as if repulsed, "A what?! ICK!" she turned to the remainder of the group, "I've met Orcs before, they are absolutely revolting! They think blood and mud are primary colours! Pale grays and icky browns, and dirt and muck and grime." She paused, "I suppose I'd rather an Orc getting his face mauled then me though... perhaps we should look him up."

She huffed and turned to head off in search, "Also, I think you shoulda let me skin the dragon. The prisoner's could have waited to go home you know, and then I'd be happily working away at my dress instead of bothering you."

[Rojito]

Mellir sits at the tavern in silence. Downing another pint of the weak human-brewed ale. The tavern owner is depressed and scared, almost none of his regulars come when the Orc is in the place, but who is going to tell him he is unwelcome? His first night he walked right up and ordered a drink and paid for it fair and square. Everyone in the place had hands on weapons or eyes looking for exits, but he never made a hostile move.

Three nights of this has caused most but the most determined to find another pub. Mellir has come every night and shut the place down, then wandered into the wilderness to find a place to sleep. Having missed Howahkan he didn't know where next to go. No where else in the entire world is their another non-orc village that was even this tolerant of Orcs.

"Bah, maybe the dragon got him!" Mellir grumbles as he slams his empty mug down. The entire place quiets and then eyes the big orc. He waves for another pint and then goes back to being quiet.

[harknail]

Harknail commented, "Better he be fighting for us than against us. I heard tell that it took an entire squad of solders to bring down but one Orc."

SPOILER: Click to show

1st level solders vs. higher level Orc...
Just to be clear Howahkan was injured in the first adventure, where the magic mirror was recovered. He's been in town ever since and Mellir could easily track him down just by asking. Also no one in Moonhaven has heard that the group is fighting a dragon. Last they heard the group went to retrieve some books and should have been back days ago. The group learned about the dragon only after they had left Moonhaven.

[Ogremind]

Zachary, looking up from his book, picks up with a lecture he remembers hearing: "It's generally excepted by most experts that orcs and hobgoblins are primarily dangerous because of their tribal social structure. Theoretically, individual orcs and hobgoblins represent no more threat than an individual human, elf, or dwarf so long as they are attempting to interact peacefully within the social community. Wait, what were we talking about?"

[candi]

Raylynn chimed in, "Recruiting an Orc to stand in the way of projectiles and blades aimed at my pretty face" She smiled, "Let's go find this fella and see if he's worth his salt..."

[deeem]

Scott observed the newcomers of the tavern while quietly drinking his ale at the bar.

[Michael]

Now that the dragon has been slain, and villagers rescued, Lairaunwen Elereth will find out which of her friends and relatives were killed by the kobolds.

[harknail]

Nov 5, 2010 17:47:16 GMT -5 Michael said:

Now that the dragon has been slain, and villagers rescued, Lairaunwen Elereth will find out which of her friends and relatives were killed by the kobolds.

It was bad. Her father had been killed trying to defend the village, though her mother had survived. Her half-sister (a full blooded elf) had been one of the hostages. Several of her friends had died as well, those best able to fight. Those that survived were either not trained for combat, or had been out of the village when the attack came (like Elzyru).

I couldn't find any background, so I just made something up. If this doesn't agree with your ideas, I can edit this post.

[harknail]

The Inn's common room still had plenty of occupants. Some of the regulars had gone to one of the other two taverns, but those staying at the Inn had remained. And others had started showing up, either out of curiosity, or to keep an eye on the Orc to ensure that he didn't cause any trouble.

Still, there was no missing it when the adventuring party returned. Leading the group was a... a thing? a construct? Whatever it was, it was made mostly of stone and covered in slightly rusted steel plates. A holy symbol of Kord hung from it's neck. Other than the shield strapped to it's back and the sword at it's side, it gave the impression of being something ancient. It held the door open for the others with a hand that had only two thick fingers and a thumb.

Go ahead and describe how your characters would look to others.

[candi]

In step behind the large metal humanoid came a ravishing Eladrin woman - she had long blonde hair and wore a pair of green goggles on her forehead. Hanging on her hip was an incredibly complicated looking crossbow, gears, tubes and all assortment of moving components covered the weapon and connected to her. She was wearing simple leather vest and breeches, covered in wands, doohigies, watcha-ma-hoozits and thingy-mabobs. Sitting atop her head, amidst her finely combed and well cared for hair, was a strange little contraption. Springs, fuzzy antennae, a trio of little metal hands and a couple of eyes on the ends of springs that bounced up and down as the woman walked.

[Rojito]

Mellir looks up from the corner where he sits drinking. His back to the wall, his eyes roaming the crowd, and now the new group. He quickly examines the group and attempts to discern their capabilities. Unnatural Warrior of Kord. Probably a paladin by the amulet. Eladrin spellcaster, probably artificer, they are known to use crossbows to aid their spells.
He then waits for the others to file in or to be approached.

He himself is a very large orc, scarred from head to toe. Typical orc in that he is covered in hides to protect himself from both enemies and the elements. But its his sheath and shield that draw the eye. A smaller sheath that obviously holds a slimmer blade that you wouldn't expect an orc to use considering their normal brute strength fighting styles. And a heavy shield, large enough to cover most of even the large orc, while its not too uncommon to see an orc with a shield, an orc in hide with a slim blade and a heavy shield? this orc is obviously unlike any other you may have ever run into.

Once you get closer though you see something else that makes him even more unusual for an orc. His eyes... a look of sorrow and anguish, as though one haunted by his past. Odd to see any orc showing emotion other than rage or anger but dispair? Saddness? Regret?

[candi]

Seeing the Orc Raylynn glides across the room towards him without hesitation, she slips into the seat across from him while waving down the barkeep, "Another round on me." she calls as she sits.

She smiles warmly at him, the little critter in her hair winks - or at least Mellir swore he saw it wink - it just sits there waggling back and forth. "Raylynn." She moves to extend a hand and thinks better of it, "So what brings you to Moonhaven?"

[Ogremind]

A thin human dressed in faded leather armor ducks past the big construct, fumbling around with a staff, notebook, and quill and mumbling about some arcane symbols. Everything he is wearing, from his staff to his boots, looks old and worn yet conspicuously clean.
"No, no, that can't be right. Vradac cancels out the effect of godith...unless...wait, what if there is a orn hidden in the bordering? That would reverse the polarity and-" Zack's musings are cut off as he bumps into Raylynn, his quill getting ink on her cloak. "Oops. Sorry, didn't see you there," he says quickly as, with a wave of his hand and an arcane phrase, the ink lifts off the garment and back into his quill.

[Rojito]

Mellir looks at the winking brooch, and then Raylynn in the eyes. His eyes have a directness to them that seems to look straight to your soul, but without judgement. "Thank you, truelly the hospitality of the Elves are not mere rumors. In truth i am here looking for a friend of mine, Howahkan. He was last rumored to have come this way. We parted ways awhile back each with plans. Mine... fell through." You see some of the pain surface to his eyes, while they do not water they express misery of the soul. "No one here has been willing to say much. But how many would offer an explanation to an Orc? The fact that they havn't sent me off on a wild goose chase makes it seem as though they know him and are unsure of if i am telling the truth, but their unwillingness to tell me his location shows they dont trust me and dont want to send me after him if i may want him harm. I suppose I should be thankful that they are attempting to help and aid a friend, but it... annoys me that they are keeping me from reuniting with him." He coughs a bit and looks around, a bit startled by how much he has disclosed. "Sorry, havn't had many to talk to in awhile... a long while."

[candi]

"Elf?!" Raylynn's eyes narrow for a moment, she is clearly insulted by the misnomer, "Eladrin." she corrects the Orc. "Well, I was told you were here by Howahkan himself, why don't you drink away a few more sorrows with me and then the group of us can go visit him with you." Her tone is once again soothing and polite, as if she had forgotten how hurt she was by his failure to identify her racial heritage.

[Ogremind]

Zack, still looking at his book, settles into the chair next to Raylynn. After a moment, he pauses to look up. "Then, we we supposed to meet this person here?" he asks, looking back and forth between the orc and the eladrin.

[candi]

Raylynn pats him on the shoulder, "Just mind your book Zack." she then glances over at his book, "It's Khaast" she winked, spouting off a name that wasn't even a standard rune, and turned back to the Orc, "Well, what say you?"

[Michael]

A tall thin half-elf wearing leather armor and a green cloak with a halberd pushes the door open with her right hand and rests the halberd with her left up against the wall. As the bewitching half-elf scans the room, you can see that she has golden hair flowing down her back and deep blue eyes.

She then strides towards Mellir's (and Raylynns's and Zack's?) table, sits down facing Mellir, stares right into his eyes, and asks, "Did you want to join our adventuring party?"

Diplomacy 16 (or intimidate 17 or bluff 17 if those are more appropriate).

SPOILER: Click to show

[dice=20]+14=16

With the halberd removed, Laira is carrying a whip as her only weapon (if the DM allows her to have bought one in town).

Will adjust if Raylynn or less likely Zack notice her and react immediately.
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