Boindal?s words fall heavy upon Lord Padraig, his cheerful demeanour quickly diminishes.
?Troubles, eh?? he says quietly, almost as if to himself. His eyes wonder the room, a frown across his face, ?All I wish to keep these people safe. We have a way of life here. It is calm, we grow produce and make merchandise, and merchants from all around come to sell their goods and trade in our market. These are difficult times, I am sure you all know...?
Furgin speaks up, and Padraig listens.
?The Kobolds are becoming a real problem. I wish you were right, Mr Furgin, but these creatures have attacked our walls no less than five times in the past three weeks. My handful of guardsmen can cope with the occasional bandit or monster incursion, but this is getting ridiculous. Last week we had our first...? Padraig trails off momentarily, swallowing hard, ?...our first casualty on the watch. A young man by the name of Paul Hallows. I told his family myself, and I never want to see that look of fear and desperation upon another young woman?s face.?
Padraig leans back and runs his hand over his hair, sighing loudly, ?I have a proposition for you.?
Leaning forward again, he looks about the room and speaks quietly, obviously apprehensive of anyone over hearing them, ?Thank you, for saving John Ore, the merchant on the roadside. He is one of our regulars; I was worried when he hadn?t returned. His wife Dora is a friend of the family, and I implore you to find her.? One of the guardsmen leans in and whispers in Padraig?s ear. He thinks for a moment, before continuing, ?There has been such an increase in Kobold and Bandit activity within the Snakewood that it can?t possibly be mere coincidence. Something... bad, is going on.?
?We have two leads, which I would ask you to follow up for me. There will be a reward of gold. I only ask you because I simply do not have the man power spare pursue these leads myself.?
He takes a long sip, finishing off his Ale.
?Firstly, a group of archaeologists were excavating what they thought to be a dragon burial site locally, a few miles to the south. One of them returned two nights ago, he managed to escape an attack on the site by another group of surprisingly well organised Kobold?s. These creatures managed to kill the mercenary body guards employed by the scribes with ease, and I fear they will up the road and attack Winterhaven soon. What they would want with the burial site, is unknown to me, that is, if they want anything and this isn?t just another seemingly random attack. The second lead is that one of the farmsteads to the west was attacked today, the men were slain but the women and children were kid-napped. The similarity between this and the disappearance of Dora Ore can?t be ignored. My guards looked over the crime scene and found tracks heading into the woods around that area, but as ordered they returned to the Winterhaven before nightfall. I have an unofficial curfew in effect, because the Snakewood has become a dangerous place, even more so after dark.?
?So, will you do this for me? Find out what is happening in the Snakewood? Feel free to rest up the night and take in our local hospitality, the Market is on tomorrow, so if you are in need of supplies I recommend you take a look at our local craftsman and merchants wares in the morning.? Padraig begins to smile, feigning laughter as if putting on a show for anyone who is watching, ?And one last thing,? he says, pointing at Pietre, ?Stop spreading rumours of a cult operating in Winterhaven, such an idea is ludicrous, my people are honest and moral, and we praise Pelor and Avandra for our bountiful harvests. Keep your ridiculous theories to yourself.? His tone lapses into seriousness and anger for a moment, before he smiles once again, awaiting a response from the party.
?Troubles, eh?? he says quietly, almost as if to himself. His eyes wonder the room, a frown across his face, ?All I wish to keep these people safe. We have a way of life here. It is calm, we grow produce and make merchandise, and merchants from all around come to sell their goods and trade in our market. These are difficult times, I am sure you all know...?
Furgin speaks up, and Padraig listens.
?The Kobolds are becoming a real problem. I wish you were right, Mr Furgin, but these creatures have attacked our walls no less than five times in the past three weeks. My handful of guardsmen can cope with the occasional bandit or monster incursion, but this is getting ridiculous. Last week we had our first...? Padraig trails off momentarily, swallowing hard, ?...our first casualty on the watch. A young man by the name of Paul Hallows. I told his family myself, and I never want to see that look of fear and desperation upon another young woman?s face.?
Padraig leans back and runs his hand over his hair, sighing loudly, ?I have a proposition for you.?
Leaning forward again, he looks about the room and speaks quietly, obviously apprehensive of anyone over hearing them, ?Thank you, for saving John Ore, the merchant on the roadside. He is one of our regulars; I was worried when he hadn?t returned. His wife Dora is a friend of the family, and I implore you to find her.? One of the guardsmen leans in and whispers in Padraig?s ear. He thinks for a moment, before continuing, ?There has been such an increase in Kobold and Bandit activity within the Snakewood that it can?t possibly be mere coincidence. Something... bad, is going on.?
?We have two leads, which I would ask you to follow up for me. There will be a reward of gold. I only ask you because I simply do not have the man power spare pursue these leads myself.?
He takes a long sip, finishing off his Ale.
?Firstly, a group of archaeologists were excavating what they thought to be a dragon burial site locally, a few miles to the south. One of them returned two nights ago, he managed to escape an attack on the site by another group of surprisingly well organised Kobold?s. These creatures managed to kill the mercenary body guards employed by the scribes with ease, and I fear they will up the road and attack Winterhaven soon. What they would want with the burial site, is unknown to me, that is, if they want anything and this isn?t just another seemingly random attack. The second lead is that one of the farmsteads to the west was attacked today, the men were slain but the women and children were kid-napped. The similarity between this and the disappearance of Dora Ore can?t be ignored. My guards looked over the crime scene and found tracks heading into the woods around that area, but as ordered they returned to the Winterhaven before nightfall. I have an unofficial curfew in effect, because the Snakewood has become a dangerous place, even more so after dark.?
?So, will you do this for me? Find out what is happening in the Snakewood? Feel free to rest up the night and take in our local hospitality, the Market is on tomorrow, so if you are in need of supplies I recommend you take a look at our local craftsman and merchants wares in the morning.? Padraig begins to smile, feigning laughter as if putting on a show for anyone who is watching, ?And one last thing,? he says, pointing at Pietre, ?Stop spreading rumours of a cult operating in Winterhaven, such an idea is ludicrous, my people are honest and moral, and we praise Pelor and Avandra for our bountiful harvests. Keep your ridiculous theories to yourself.? His tone lapses into seriousness and anger for a moment, before he smiles once again, awaiting a response from the party.
Feel free to ask questions of Padraig or myself, then roleplay what you do for the rest of the evening, I will move the game on to tomorrow evening once enough of you have posted.
