Once back at the town Frederick summons a representative of his church, and we head off to give poor Spartan a proper burial. Burials not quite the term I'd use for it, though, since they stick the body on top of tower and burn it. Releasing the soul to the Storm Lord or some such, I guess. Anyway, I told them that if I die, they have to stick me in the ground! No way my soul is going to go flitt'n about the clouds like some sort of bird!
After the ceremony we headed back into the town, proper. I decided that the inn was what we needed. A place to rest up, and reflect on what happened. And the inn looked like a nice place, sturdy construction and well kept.
As we walked by the stables, though, we heard a whisper from inside. Akigagak wandered over, and the stableboy grabbed his sleeve and dragged him inside.
"Hey, you guys don't want to go in there!" the stableboy looked awfully nervous.
"Uh, why not?"
"The innkeeper, she's a demoness!"
*gulp* "A...a demoness??" the poor hobbit was rather shaken at that news.
"Yeah, she drains the life of those who stay at the inn! I've seen it! A man walks in young, and leaves a few years older."
"Th-thanks. I-I-I gotta go warn my friends!"
The rest of us, we're standing outside the inn at this point, when the hobbit comes back up and tells us about this 'demonic' innkeeper. I'm not to keen on this thought, but Frederick says that he doubts the lad is telling the truth. After all, stableboys aren't known for being the sharpest minds around.
At that point the Innkeeper comes out. She's tall, slender, and got a body to make a human's eyes bulge out of their heads. No, really, I saw it! Zchris's eyes were actually sticking a bit farther out of his face! Anyway, she slides up to us and oozes charm.
"Well, you boys look like you could use a good night's rest. I promise you, the Adventurer's Inn is just what you're looking for! We have plenty of rooms, we all sorts of accommodations here. You're tired, and hurt. Let me take the pain away." She smiled as she said that, a smile that looked more hungry then helpful, if you ask me.
Zchris started to move towards her, "Oh, innkeeper, yes, we could-"
I grabbed his arm and hauled him back. "Ah. no thanks mistress. We'll be fine bedding in down in the stables, thank you. We're too hard up on coin for an establishment as fine as this!"
"Oh...I see." She looked very disappointed, but I pushed the group back towards the stables.
Once inside, Goron spoke up. "Wise decision, friend Dwarf. I sensed a great malevolence in her. She could be as the stableboy said. And while I'm sure her charms are great, I have already pledged my soul to a...greater power."
"Ah, well, I'm going to keep my soul for meself. Now, let's get some sleep. Tomorrow we need to find another blade to replace poor Spartan and head back down. I'm not going to let a bunch o' ugly orcs drive me off that easily!"
We slept a bit, and felt well rested. Frederick and Goron mentioned that their gods seemed pleased with them, which I took as a good sign.
We headed off to the tavern for a bite to eat and some ale to give the day a proper start. Inside I ran into that daft gnome, Moltar.
"Ah, good Dwarf! Have you reconsidered my offer to accompany you? I assure you, my magical talents would be most beneficial!"
"Right, 'cause things have changed sooo much since yesterday-" I started to tell the daft Gnome to bug off, but Frederick butted in.
"Indeed they have! I think your skills would be most useful, Magician. Tell me, have you mastered the spell of sleep?"
"Oh, yes, first one I learned! I can also throw balls of fire at my enemies!" the Gnome's eyes lit up at that thought.
"Excellent!" Frederick turned to me. "His spells are exactly what we need. Why, if we'd had him along I daresay that we'd have been able to handle those orcs much easier yesterday!"
"Oh, well...uh, I don't know. Wizards can't be trusted!" I still didn't like this idea, but I couldn't deny that yesterday's fight'n was a bit rough.
"Oh! You can trust me! I promise you, I want to go down there and kill Werdna off as much as anyone! What better way to prove that I'm the better wizard!"
"Humph. All right, you can come. But if you don't pull yer weight I'm finding someone else!"