The female demon and the rock man sat across from you in the Golden Goose tavern in the trading town of Soubar, some 250 miles East of Baldur's Gate. Rumor has gone around that the "woman" is only half demon, but with her wingspan of several feet, and her grayish skin, you begin to wonder why the town guard lets her into town. Probably because every child under the age of 10 flocks to her like bees with honey, laughing and having fun the whole time she's around. The large rock man is a complete mystery. He claims he's from the North, in his broken common tongue, and comes from a band of people called Goliaths. Looking at his size, you wouldn't argue with him.

They tell you they need adventurers willing to go into the Forest of Wyrms with them to flush out some enemies. The treasure will be great. You all know the Forest of Wyrms is filled with Green Dragons and seeing two of them just inside the forest is not uncommon. Many of you sitting at this table have seen this while traveling up and down the trade routes. Many of you sitting around this table have had friends and family killed by Green Dragons from this forest.

The pair continue on telling you their "Homebase" is the Wizard tower in the village of Daak, some 45 miles East of Soubar. Several of you have traveled to this village in the past delivering supplies on several occasions. The Giant Black tower is what you all really remember of the place and that people go there to begin their Wizard training...those that were invited anyways. The stories go on about fighting orcs in Lyran's Hold, traveling through magical portals through the forest, fighting undead in the old Dwarven mines... The stories go on and some of you laugh, until a shadow moves from behind the Tiefling and the Goliath. A dark skinned elf comes into the light, smiles for a second and tells you the stories are true.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:36, Sun 20 Mar 2011.

Sister Aliana sat at the table, enraptured by the conversation.   The arrival of the dark elf was very surprising, certainly, and her large almond shaped eyes lit up with delight.
This trip sounds fascinating.   What kind of enemies did you have in mind?   And what did they do?

The blonde elf was looking forward to seeing the deep interior of the forbidding forest.  It had been days since her last adventure and last interesting experience, and she was getting bored.
Perhaps some excitement in the Forest of Wyrms would perk things up.

Silver pulled up his a chair, and sat down next to the Goliath. Looking at each of the accumulated "adventurers", he spoke. "Orcs. Mostly orcs. And some others... The attacked and sacked Daak. And were responsible for several of our comrades' deaths. They will not be allowed to continue, but due to the loss of manpower, we need you."

Silver sat back to hear what the others had to say.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:20, Sun 20 Mar 2011.

Sister Aliana perked up and clapped her hands excitedly.
Oooh!   Orcs!   I really enjoy fighting with orcs.   Very entertaining.    I'm at your service.

She gave a little bow.

Silver smirks at the elven maid's....enthusiasm. "At our service eh... And what services do you provide, hmm? Who are you?"

She was pretty, that was for sure. And elven. So much better. There were so many humans, and others around Soubar, it was heartening to find another Elf. And one who might be joining them at that. Someone else who understood the elven view on life. Someone else to be a companion, who wouldnt just wither and die in a few decades.

The pretty blonde elf blinked in confusion for a second, then her eyes widened in realization.

OH!  I'm so very sorry!  I forgot.     I am Sister Aliana Farwalker, Priestess of Oghma, Father of Knowledge.     I've been studying at the temple at Scornubel for the last 100 years, and I'm ready to explore the world.
I have miracles at my disposal, for healing and for many other things as well, and I'm very skilled with my weapons.

"Orcs.  And walking dead," Swiftstrider adds. "Those be burned."

Pausing a moment in thought the goliath adds grimly, "Four green dragons.  Three live still.  As do we."

The diminutive fellow scruffs the ears of his canine pet who lounges beside him, then stretches his neck up to the table looking for anything resembling a pot of ale. Finally, he stands and smiles at the group. "I am Emerald, Emerald Kegroll, and firmly believe that three green dragons is far too many for one forest. I will gladly accompany you to cull several of them," he adds, searching anxiously for some ale to wet his palate.

Swiftstrider's merry laugh booms off the rafters and causes a stray spider to scurry off her web and into the safety of a dark corner.  He holds four fingers up to Myarra as tears of laughter roll down his cheeks and belly laughs continue, drowning out most conversation in the place!

Finally, gasping for breath and wiping his eyes, Swiftstrider grins at Emerald and finally manages to speak, holding the fingers of both hands spread wide, "Ten tens of dragons!  Even more!  Ranger friend not know. Not four only!"

Then the goliath motions to whoever is closest for another round and points to Emerald as well, to include him in, and says, "So we be busy with... cul-ling?"

Emerald smiles at the big fellow's laughter, and scratches his chin thoughtfully. "Hundreds of dragons? I should probably get some more jerky, then. Slaying that many dragons wlil probably take a while," he says matter of factly, then begins counting on his fingers.

Aliana smiles.
Not to mention that it would make a terrible mess.    And do serious damage to the property values.

"Forest has big trees," Swiftstrider observes.  "Dragons hurt not."

A strong looking common man dressed in workers clothes comes in and walks to the table where Myarra, Swiftstrider and Silver are sitting. He waits for a break in the conversation, bows to the three and tells them their wagon has been loaded.

"Your wagon has been loaded with the supplies headed back for Daak, Mistress." the laborer said to Myarra "The horses have been combed down, watered and hitched. They're ready to go any time you wish."

Swiftstrider finishes his ale in one mighty swig.  Then looking at Sister Aliana and Emerald he says, "We leave in one hour. Get gear.  Meet us at wagon. If join us you wish."

Myarra, the "female demon", does her best to temper the gross exaggerations, if not down-right .... fibs, of her goliath companion, but his overblown enthusiasm is rather contagious.  Several times she has a stories to top his right on her lips, but squelches the impulse, but not without severe difficulty.  These new people are going to be putting themselves in danger.  It wouldn't be right not to make it as clear as possible as to what they might be getting into.

"The most dangerous thing we'll be going after is a medusa." she tells the others, adding to the already long list of orcs and ogres and esoteric beasties.  "A nasty monster with snakes for hair that can turn you to stone if you catch her eyes.  We lost our comrade Trizdan and his wolf companion to her.  One second they're fighting an orc horde, the next they're a thousand pebbles on the floor."

She gives Silver a nod and a smile as he joins them.  He'd been a bit distant the last couple of weeks.  But then she hadn't been easy to live with either, so she supposed she didn't have much right to complain.

She then turned to Emerald, a very strange little man, and again, companioned with a dog.  She wondered what was the problem with these people.  "I don't mean to be rude," she began.  "But what is it with the dogs and the wolves?  In my homeland hunting cats were the norm.  Dogs where just for guarding the camp."  And fattening the stewpot, but she left that bit out since people usually took offense to references to cooking their pets.

Unfortunately, that was when the ostler arrived to tell them the horses were ready.

"Thank you, Harold" she replies, handing him a small bag clinking of silver.  "Your help has been very much appreciated."

Turing back to the newcomers she holds her hand out, pointing towards the door.  "So, Medusas, dragons, orcs, ogres, harpers, and ... ah ... those things that dig through stone.  Other than that, it should be pretty safe.  So, who's interested in joining us?"

"Har-pees," Swiftstider says with a grin.  "Har-pers make music. We fight no music-makers.  Music good and fun!"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:24, Tue 22 Mar 2011.

Myarra frowns.  "I'm sure Nolan said they were harpers.  Big half-bird-half-human; filthy; screech a lot; try to tear you apart.  You know, little Maggie's people."

Silver grins to himself for a moment. "Yeah, Myarra, he's right. Harpys. Harpers are different breed alltogether, though not so different in some ways. And the things that dig through stone, that could be any number of creatures. The ones we fought were umber hulks."

Turning to the two people, and more directly looking at Aliana Silver stands from his chair. "If you're going to join us, which I welcome if you do, both of you... You need to know. It's not all the grand adventure the Mountain Man tells. I'm not trying to scare you off, but we lost three companions to death, more to "desertion". Now, I have soemthing to attend before I leave, I hope to see you both at the cart in an hour."

Silver bows to the newbies, and makes for the door.

"Well проклинать! Myarra curses with a chuckle.  "Now I feel like a right идиот.  And you guys just let me go around spouting nonsense for a month?  Господа.  Real Господа."  So saying, she tips back her mug and polishes off her own drink, while giving a friendly wave to Silver as the elf heads out.  Even those who don't know her can tell her tone is joking, not insulting.

Sister Aliana smiles delightedly.
I understand the confusion, certainly.    In Common, especially, Harper and Harpy both sound similar, mostly because they both make music.   I love Harpers, though.    Harpies......well,  not so much..
She looks a little chagrined, as she smiles sheepishly, as if not liking something, even murderous monsters, was an embarrassingly bad habit.

I've always wanted an animal companion, like  a bird or something, but I'm MUCH too absent-minded to care for one.   I had a tropical bird as a pet once.  One of those brightly colored ones from across the sea, and I keep forgetting to feed it because I kept getting lost in books.    The headmaster finally took it away from me because he was tired of hearing it complain.

She shook her head at the memory, rolling her eyes at her own mistakes, but still smiling as if amused by herself.
I can understand why many people choose dogs over cats, though.  They're easier to train and care for.   Cats are notoriously independent, and require more effort.    If you want to concentrate more on your hunting or other duties, that's not always a good thing.

Looking at the man who came to see her new friends, she nodded to them after he left.
I'll be ready and meet you there.  I wish I had the money for a "Stone to Flesh" potion, but I guess it can't be helped.   Still, it sounds like a thrilling adventure.   
This message was last edited by the player at 21:13, Wed 23 Mar 2011.

"Thank you Aliana, I appreciate the attempt." Myarra replies with a smile.  "I'm not really that well traveled.  So the wizard and I managed to duck the green dragon that was chasing us by landing in this strange clearing.  And in the middle of it is an old tower.  The wizard got really excited by it and wanted to check it out.  Unfortunately there was some kind of magical warning thing and this huge multi-headed hydro came after us.  So we flew up onto the tower, which is where the harper ... ies, were nesting, and then they attacked us.  Well with one thing and another, the wizard was pitching one new word after another at me.  I suppose I should be glad I got as close as I did."

She pauses for moment, trying to remember something.  "If you'd like another one of those birds.  And" she pauses and grins a little, "you think you could take proper care of it, one of the portals out of the tower leads to a jungle that has birds like that.  I think Nolan called it Chant.  Or something like that.

But I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on the superiority of dogs over cats.  To me, that's like saying salt is sweet."

"Little Maggie nice," Swiftstrider says with fondness in his voice.  "Daak has many strange people... Maggie, Ashara, Nolan's iron men, ... us."

He waves to the departing Silver, and nods to their new friends. Then he pauses and nods to himself and pulls a small, polished steel mirror from his pouch and says, "These good for snake-haired woman.  You see her here.  You no turn to stone."

Tucking his mirror back in it's pouch, the goliath heads for the door...

"Maggie's a sweetheart." Myarra agreed.  "As is Ashara.  Nolan and his iron men ... not so much.  But yes, we're all a bit strange."

"We'll be along in a just a bit." she calls to Swiftstrider as the big man headed out the door.

"Well, I think that's all." she directs to the newcomers.  "Unless you have any more questions about us or what we're facing?  If not, we should get going.  We can still talk on the way.  It's going to a while to get to Daak with all these supplies."

She waits on the newcomers, but if they have nothing else, she's ready to head for the door herself.

Aliana shrugs, smiling pleasantly.
Dogs vs Cats is a somewhat academic issue, I suppose.    And "superiority" is something that will never get settled, I'm afraid.   Both have their strengths and weaknesses.   I love cats, personally, but I like dogs, too.
I didn't mean to say that you were wrong about cats, m'lady.   Just repeating what I'd learned about some dog owners.

But, I'm ready to go.   I should, perhaps, buy a mirror or two as well, and perhaps something to deal with harpies, like wax earplugs and the like.
But I'm set other than that.

Emerald chuckles at Myarra's observation and pats his companion. "She is much more than a guard dog. She is my friend, and her name is Soxy, or Sox, for short. I am ready to leave as well. I will just go pack up my things and meet you at the wagon," Emerald adds before getting up to go.

Aliana will go buy a few more supplies, then waits for the others at the rendezvous.