Group 1:
Rasma struggles against the tendrils hopelessly, while Prevus nearly falls over from surprise. The Boggers stare at Ehto in confusion. Pock quietly asks, "W-what are you?"
Krikith stares for a second before he re-focuses. "Many of our number have been... corrupted somehow. The Bog is meant to consume and provide redemption. But..." Krikith shudders at the memory. "It's begun to consume and... leave nothing."
"W-what the Hesh do you mean, Bogger?" Rasma asks, still trying to break free.
"Exactly what I said. The Bog consumes, yet it also creates. But now... Glofriam, the high priest... he's... lost his way. Those not loyal to him started disappearing, the creatures of the Bog stopped heeding our commands... When we set out to tell you of the dangers..." The wide brim of his hat dips down, covering Krikith's eyes. "There were twelve of us."
Krikith takes a few tentative steps forward before he produces a crude map that he hands to Ehto, with markings around a certain location deep within the Deep Bog. "You possess strength we do not. Please. Travel there and rid us of this evil."
Prevus looks over at the map and shakes his head. "O-oh, no. No no no - t-that's..."
"The heart of the Bog. But his concerns are correct - this is not a journey that can be made immediately. Do everything that you can to prepare... But please... burn out this evil..."
Rasma, meanwhile continues to regard the Boggers with open hatred. "So what happens now?"
[] Decide what to do with the Boggers
[] Leave and go somewhere else
Group 2 and 3: Hibiki, Sal, Utzi, Friedhold and Nessa, Tsubasa
Imiko flinches when Nessa speaks. "H-hold on, what? You're not seriously going to bring her along? S-she's just a young girl - we can't go putting her at risk of getting sliced up or spat on! She can stay here, where the Barons will protect her.
Anyway, I don't have any preference as to how you deal with the murderer - just make sure that they're gone, okay? If you think you two can get the drop on them if you go it alone, do so. Just... be careful, all right? We've lost too many good people already."
Sal smiles. "Don't worry. I know how to get to places unseen."
Imiko turns to Utzi. "And I suppose that means you can take both guards with you to bring down that erchin. Just... try to keep them safe, all right?"
[] Head out to hunt down the murderer
[] Head out to take down the Erchinlord
[] Keep talking with Imiko
[] Leave and head somewhere else
[] The Last Stand
[] Wander the area
Group 5: Rory
Rug raises his hands in protest. "Hey, are you comparing seriously comparing my dishes to mold and rats? Even my most adventurous dishes had minor side effects at best! Side effects I've worked on minimizing or removing entirely!"
Gnak puts a hand on his face, seemingly too tired to argue. "I hope so. I was picking splinters out my mouth for the rest of the day after that stew..."
"That's the nature of experimentation. But trust me. This second round will go better."
And that seems to help calm down the two workers - and by extension, the rest of the crowd. In just a few moments, Rug's fired up the kitchen proper, and a smell of something good, like roasted turkey, fills the air.
Orug grins. "Wow, you really have improved."
[] Return to Grout Bog Headquarters and report to Imiko