Part 1: The Village of Hommlet

[Rax]

Roshek chuckles and gives Daos a comradely pat on the back. "Easy lad, mind you don't get your tongue tied in knots. Won't be much use as a wizard if you can't speak."

"The lad speaks the truth, though. Rumour on the road is that bandits are plaguing the area around Hommlet again - your own mighty victories notwithstanding, good sirs. We're here to offer our help if it's needed."

[OnceUponAnAxe]

“Or maybe another quest we can complete for the two of you? We are at your service.” He gestures to the group, as if he spoke for all of them.

[Kvard51]

Kevril stands as the local heroes enter.  He offers a half-bow, from the waist, as he introduces himself.  "Kevril Truesilver.  I am here as a representative of Mayaheine to put an end to banditry in the area, so the two of you can keep your focus on the growth and defense of Hommlet."

[Daos]

Daos sighs in relief as the others step in to take some of the pressure off of him.  He just wasn't any good at this sort of thing.  He could only hope that he didn't make too bad of a first impression.

[GreyWolfVT]

Burne chuckles at Daos "Still a young upstart don't worry with age and experience the words will come and you'll do that a bit less Daos. A lot has happened in the last three years. Now as for the bandits yes if you would take care of that problem the badgers can focus on protecting the town, and other issues. IF it is our blessing you seek you have it." Burne is on the young side for a magic-user, average in appearance and dress. 

Rufus "As Burne has said you have our blessing to go after these bandits. The viscount has other needs of us. Though we would ask that we get 20% of any treasure found on your adventure." adds to the conversation. "Now according to reports these bandits may be located in the moat house ruins, this place was once the outpost of the Temple of Elemental Evil. The outpost was ignored during the destruction of the Temple, and there is no telling what bandits or other creatures dwell within that place. Only after the end of the battle which destroyed the main armies of the Temple of Elemental Evil was attention turned to this place. A detachment of horse and foot with a small siege train then came to the marshlands, to lay the castle low. The common folk from miles around came to help, and the moat house was surrounded, cut off, and battered into extinction. The  place is now shunned by the people of Hommlet, so you wont find any of the locals out there."

[Rax]

"We'll be glad to help, sirs," Roshek replies. "Is there any information on how many bandits we might come across? If they're a strong force and holed up in a defensible site, we may need to gather some volunteers from the village to help storm the place. Speaking of which, can you recommend someone to guide us to the moathouse? I missed that part of the campaign when I was last here - got laid up with a leg wound after Emridy Meadows," he says, tapping his right leg with a wry smile. "A thorough description or plans of the place would also be useful."

[Daos]

Daos isn't sure what to make of being called a 'young upstart' seeing as he is pushing 40 at this point.  Then again, his elven blood does make him appear younger than he actually is.  Still, he can't argue he's more experienced than Burne appears to be.

He reacts visibly to the mention of the moathouse.  "I...I know where it is," he offers.  "I, and some of the other kids, used to play near there.  I mean, back when it wasn't abandoned.  It used to be safer out there."

[Margrave]

The elf listens to the conversations.  She knows that she works best by observing and speaking only when warranted.  "Thank you again for your assistance and blessing.  Since the 20 percent fee is requested, we should expect to use the tower as place to stay temporarily.  Where would you like for our group to set up?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Burne gets all tripped up at the request "Bah what? What? Use our tower? The place is already to capacity what with the badgers in the place, plus Rufus and I only have one room what with the construction of the wall all there really is no place in the tower. Unless you want to be in the cellar."

Rufus chuckles to himself "I think what Burne is trying to say is that there really is not room here best we could do is give the innkeep our blessing to give allow you to use our tab."

[Daos]

Daos wasn't sure what to make of the idea of Burne and Rufus charging the party to take care of those bandits.  Didn't it usually work the other way around?  At least they were willing to comp their inn rooms, but 20% of all treasure they find is quite a hefty take considering the party will be the ones doing all the work and taking all of the risk.  He wonders if they should have gone to the temple instead.  But what is done is done, so he figures there's no point in stressing over it further.

[Rax]

Roshek harrumphs at Burne's demand for twenty percent of any loot but decides to say nothing as long as no one else does. "Aye, well, the inn seems a good place to stay while we're in town. Much obliged," he says.

"My question still stands, though. Is there someone in the village who might remember the layout of the moathouse from back when it was captured?"

[Kvard51]

Kevril grins big when the two men offer to let them stay at the local inn on their tab.  20% of the treasure seems like a good trade for room and board.  "Thank you for your generosity.  I hope to come back and speak to the two of you about the architecture of the tower and what you are building once we have dealt with this bandit problem.  It is my hope to build a temple to Mayaheine in the area, and a better understanding of defenses seems like a needed lesson for me."

[GreyWolfVT]

Burne "Ah well see the badgers under their new managing captain has decided to turn this tower into more of a keep a better base of their operations as it were. At least that'd be the shorter answer on that." 

Rufus nods his head "That would about sum things up. But it also adds to the town's defenses having a fortified keep, if the evil returns we will be defended better than the last time."

[Daos]

Silently, Daos wonders how the priests of St. Cuthbert and the druids of the Old Faith would react to Kevril building a new temple to a third deity in this village.  Probably not well, he imagines.  The two faiths have been in conflict for some time, each vying for new followers among the populace.  What effect might a third faith have on that?

He listens to Burne and Rufus and on one hand is glad that the village is better prepared to protect itself in the future.  But on the other hand, he wonders who these two strangers are to name themselves Hommlet's protectors, when they aren't even from here.  Do they truly have the town's best interests at heart?  Or could their intent be more sinister than it appears?  He makes a mental note to keep an eye out for anything strange, just to be on the safe side.

[GreyWolfVT]

Burne offers "Don't worry about sharing treasure with us just report back to us with what you find out there. If the old cultists still survived out there it would be best we all knew."

Rufus nods his head "Yeah we helped rid the place of those foul folk but I wouldn't doubt the resourcefulness of the enemy. Last thing we need is them returning. Or something worse. Guess I was a bit rash in asking for a share."