"Good luck, brothers."
Alexander takes a casual stroll about town, trying to see if he notices anything interesting or peculiar.
(4)You follow the main road to the town's border, and find that it extends quite far. (5+1) Your sharp eyes are easily able to discern where it leads - what looks like a boarded up mineshaft. This was certainly a mining town at one point, but it seems that the mine has been shut down.
You continue exploring, taking a right turn at the town's end.
(2) You find little more than a few small houses. Nobody's in the streets here. Looks like there's nothing else of note at the northern part of the town.
Nodding to himself, Azet Azirkan waltzes off in the opposite direction of Alexander in search of strange things.
(6)You start wandering off, heading in the direction opposite from that which Alexander is headed. You pass quite a few small houses, many of them silent and empty. This is nearly a ghost town. As you go on, the sun sets completely, and the town is bathed in moonlight. As you go on, you come across a large building, made of stone - in a town mostly consisting of wooden buildings, this has to be an important place. Two guards, each armed with a
lucerne hammer, stand in front of the building's entrance. Rather, they slouch and sit in front of the building's entrance, as one has fallen asleep, and the other is leaning against the building's wall. Nonetheless, as the non-sleeping one guard spots you, he wakes up his comrade and approaches.
"Say... those are some awful dangerous lookin' swords there. What brings you to the town, hmmm?"
The guard starts laughing before you have a chance to reply, and the other one waves you off.
"Now, begone with you. Don't start any trouble, and don't stick your nose where it don't belong. And unless you want to see the mayor, you don't have business at the town hall, outsider."
Jericho enters the tavern and goes to the bar. He speaks to the tavernkeep:
"I'd like a drink. How much would a silverblade rum set me back?"
You walk into the tavern. The few individuals who are in the bar cast strange looks at you - of course, it's likely that most of them have never seen an arborian before, or even heard of one. Unfazed, you walk up to the bar and ask for a dram of silverblade rum.
The tavernkeep, a stout man with a scruffy beard wearing rough homespun clothes, raises an eyebrow at your request.
"Silverblade rum? Haven't had any request that in a while, but I most likely have a case or three in the back. Come, come, follow me."
You look at the various patrons of the bar. All of them are younger men, wearing typical and plain cotton attire. None of them pay you any mind as you follow the barkeep into the back. He ushers you inside before tightly closing the door.
"Hmm. A bold one you are, even saying silverblade out in the open. But yes, yes, I know what you came for, there could only be one thing. I'll tell you everything I've gleaned, but these townsfolk have remained secretive even after I made myself a part of their group.
First of all, I assume you want to know who those involved in the organization are, and to this I can give you but a few names that I know for sure. Most prominent among those that I know belong to the cult is Aeron Ashrings, the mayor of this town. From what I've gleaned, he's second only to the cult's leader, so tailing him should hopefully help you quite a bit. His 6 guards are also members, and they serve as the muscle of the organization. Finally, the town's bookkeeper, who works in the tall building just across from this tavern, is most definitely a member of the cult, and from what I have observed goes somewhere in the middle of the night. I don't know where he goes, as he makes sure to stick to the shadows, but he's undoubtedly up to no good. He used to do this once or twice a week at most, but it seems he's headed somewhere every night now. Something's up, I'm sure of that."
The barkeep looks about.
"I'm sorry I took so long. We should head back out to avoid suspicion."
The barkeep grabs a small unlabeled bottle and returns to the main room before pouring you a glass.
"Consider it on the house. Nobody gets this stuff, and I kept you waitin' long enough."
You thank the barkeep, drink the small glass of rum, and head back outside to reconvene with Zork. It doesn't take long for you to feel
slightly tipsy. "I guess I'm going to wonder around for a bit and look at the stores or something."
Walk off in a random direction and look at any shop I see and be on the lookout for any suspicious activity.
(5)You wander around aimlessly, memorizing the rather simple layout of the town as you do so. It doesn't take you long to stumble upon some sort of general store. When you enter, you're greeted by a young man arranging jars of various fruit preserves on a shelf. His eyes go wide as he looks at you - of course, it's probable that this town doesn't get a lot of ratmen. He manages to force a smile and nods to you.
"Hey there! Is there anything you're looking for?" he asks.
(3)You notice that the store has an awfully large stock of candles.
"Sounds like a plan. I'll stay outside the tavern, ready to intervene if things escalate."
Stay near the tavern, awaiting Jericho's return. Should things go awry, be ready to intervene.
Jericho emerges from the tavern unscathed.
Name: Jericho Oakskin
Race:
ArborianInventory:
2
SunseedsEmberlog AxeLeaf RobeTraits/Abilities:
PhotosyntheticIronwoodBackground: Unlike most Arborians, Jericho desired to leave the forest for most of his life, instead of lazing around and photosynthesizing for centuries. When he encountered a lost traveler in the woods, he decided to guide her out, and never returned. Eventually, he joined the Silverblades. He's not a particularly skilled combatant, but the natural strengths of his race make up for that in the most part.
Slightly tipsy.