Felicia casts a sideways glance at Arek for not bothering to introduce her along with himself before doing the honours.  She folds her hands before her on the table afterwards, having finished her victuals.

Grinning at Areks comment, Peter says, "I am Peter Sygor, a holy knight. I was sent down here to check up on some things for the church."

[Private to GM: Who are the lawful good gods?]

Vestan groans audiably as the knight confirms his worse suspicions as to what he was. He glances towards the mental dwarf, "I'm starting to think you might be right," he mutters then turns his attention to back to the last speaker. "And what would those things be?" he asks, a defient note in his voice. As he looks at the fellow, his upper lip curls up in distaste. "And a "holy knight" of which church? Although they all are as bad as each other, from what I've seen."

The evening drags on as you converse and eat.  The local patrons slowly begin filing out just after the sun slips completely below the horizon - there will be chores to do in the morning and it is never fun to do them feeling the after-effects of a night of drinking.  After a time, only ten or so individuals, other than those seated at your table, remain in the common room.  The man with the longsword is still there, his audience naught but for a trio of wide-eyed merchants.  All four are still drinking heavily.

The barmaid returns to pick up your empty dishes and refill your mugs with Ostler is right on her heels.  "Have ya thought about what I said?" he asks with a hopeful smile.  "Will ye be seein' to our problem and forcin' me to buy this big meal?"

[Private to Peter Sygor: Standard Greyhawk pantheon.  The LG gods common in the Flannaes are Saint Cuthbert, Rao, Ulaa, Allitur, Mayaheine.  St. Cuthbert is the mostly likely choice but I will leave that up to you.]

"We are very thankful for the delcious meal you provided us Ostler.  The vension was particularly excellent, it is no surprise that your inn is so popular,"Felicia smiled, beginning her address the inn keeper.  "We have more questions about these bandits.  Where have the attacks been occuring more specifically?  Have they been targeting and merchants in particular?  How long have the attacks been going on?  Any rumours as to who could be behind them or where they might be based?  Has the local watch had any success in searching them out?  Do you know of anyone in Hommlet that would know about the comings and goings of merchants that mind be providing them with knowledge of schedules or the wares the merchants are carrying? I know it's a good deal of questions, but the more we know the easier-"  she smiles, giving him a positive answer to his question, "To stop them and catch them."

"Aye, not bad grub,"agrees the halfling who continues to eat and drink his fill and beyond. "And the lass makes some good points.  Especially about the where-abouts of these fellows? A chat with any of their known agents or possible agents wouldn't be amiss either."He pauses to fish some fat out of his mouth, sticking it on the platter infront of him. "'Cos we've to find them before we can stop them." He looks pointedly at the young woman. "If stopping them is what's needed, that is."

Looking at the hobbit, Peter pulls out a necklace that has worked it way inder his cloak and holds it up, a starburst. "Sorry I didn't know it was hidden. Of course you recognize the symbol of Saint Cuthbert."He closes his eyes for just a moment as he lets it hang freely down his chest. "It it true, some find us 'bad', but only those who have something to fear from the law (he pauses and looks at Vestan), those that don't, need not fear us. As to why I'm here, let's just say I needed a vacation, so I'm here to check on some strange goings on. Things that wouldn't concern most people, I'm told."
He turns toward Arek, "Wouldn't you agree, Arek, that those who do no evil, have nothing to fear? I am glad to meet a cleric of the renowned Clanggedin Silverbeard."

He awaits Ostler's answers with the others.


[Private to GM: That's the one, thanks.]

Vestam gves a hollow laugh."It's funny how the defination of evil depends on ones standpoint. At the end of the day it's all down to power. And it's those in power who get to say who or what is evil. "Those who kill the defenceless" cries the paladin as he strikes down a foe with his holy sword. As for the law again it's those in power who make the law. Who burn the homes of those whose meagre scractings in the earth have failed to bring in the taxes they must pay. It is those who weild the law who force these poor buggers out of their homes on the whim of a church who say they are unable to pay their tithes. Then they complain when these people try to make a living any way they can. When they try and take something back, "thievery" is shouted from the fat clerics who themselves stole the land their blessed church is now built on." Vestan pauses for a moment, his eyes burn with a fanatical red light. "You are wrong to say it is those who fear the law who have to worry. More correct is to say that it is those who hide behind the law who need to fear. Those who think they are above the law, because they make it. Those who hide behind gods and do vile acts to their fellow men and then cry "It is for their own good". Those are the ones who need to fear. One day, the people they keep shackled will rise up and rid this place of all their kind."He pauses again and takes a sip from his beer. "It'll be interesting to see why these "evil" bandits took to breaking the "law". I'll bet you a gold piece to a copper, that some-one from a church or a law maker is behind it!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:02, Sun 22 Aug 2004.

And this be Felicia Florette, a pretty face for a human mage I admit. I picked her up a few weeks ago and she's shown at least some competantcy with magic since, said the old Dwarf grudgingly after spoting her glance towards him.

Evil? Bah, that's just an excuse to push people around. It's laws and discipline that need enforcing and good and evil sorts itself out.
Hearing Vestan's fanatical diatribe forced Arek to reassess his first (semi) positive opinon of the halfling. Aye, laws can be unjust but that sort doesn't tend to last long. The people tend to make sure of that. A wise government makes good laws, or at least tries to.

Ostler flushes red to the top of his head in response to the compliments of his food but outwardly dismisses them with a wave of his chubby hands.  He listens to everyone's comments and concerns before voicing his response.

"I understand ye have questions n' I'll do my best to answer them," Ostler says.  The innkeeper acquires another foaming mug of ale for himself from a passing barmaid and resumes the seat he held earlier.  "If you good folks are not aware of the history of our area, let me fill you in - some five or six years ago, that Temple of Elemental Evil was situated not six leagues from here.  After its demise, we had no more problems with them thieves and robbers.  But before, that is another story.  That is how the evil started before, with the thieves and robbers.  Their foul kind was followed by goblins and orcs, all attracted to the evil of that damned Temple.  About a year ago, the robbers began to plague the roads once more n' since that was how it started before, we people of Hommlet are gettin' a bit concerned.  The people of this village depend on the merchant caravans for their livlihood and when those caravans stopped those years ago, we were all almost done for.  The Town Council agreed that it would be best to nip it in the bud and root out the problems before they could settle in once again and sent word to the Viscount for help."

Ostler kills the rest of his ale before continuing.  "We have a militia - I'm a sergeant - but we are ill-equipped to deal with problems such as this.  We are trained to provide for the defense of the village, not to hunt down thieves plaguing the roads.  No one can know for sure, but we're thinkin' that any illicit activities would be based out of the old moathouse east of town.  'Twas once an outpost of the evil Temple and no one in town will go near it no more."

Ostler sits back in his chair and attempts to take a drink from his mug, only to find it already emptied.  He sighs loudly and continues, "Them two fellows that run the trading post - they're both kind of 'weasely' if ya catch my meaning.  They never done no one any ill that I know of, but they've never sat right with me.  They know all about the merchant caravans that run through the area.  Them two would know better about that stuff then me."

"Ostler, do you know what type of creatures these bandits are? What size of caravan have they overcome?" said Ronalt trying to concentrate on the job in hand, though the arguments about laws and good and bad interested him.

Ostler starts talking before Peter has a chance to reply to Vestan, but the look on his face shows he is quite troubled by what was said.

"Goblins and orcs? Do you mean inviduals or large groups?"

Well, the weasels sound a good place to start," says Vestan. "Where'd you say we'd fine them?"

  "Well they might be worth watching, seeing who they talk with, where they go.  If they are related to this at all," she said looking at the halfling.  "I wonder if we could talk with the merchants whom were robbed.  They could tell us where it happened and describe them."

Ostler rises from his seat and makes ready to go about the nightly duties required of an innkeeper.  Before leaving, however, he does his best to answer each of your question.  "The victims tell that their robbers are mostly human - but an occasional goblin is spoken of, as well."

To Peter, the plump man says, "Both alone and in groups, they came.  The evil practiced at the Temple drew'em like flies to honey.  When their like joined in the raiding, the caravans stopped altogether."

Ostler's turns his gaze upon Felicia's soft features and he momentarily flushes as his eyes meet hers.  He looks to Vestan and regains his composure before speaking again - "The trading post is run by Rannos and Gremag - Rannos is the fat one, just so ye'll know which is which.  Just follow the road north through town - the trading post is just past the river, on the right side of the road.  Ye'll have trouble missin' it!  They'll be able to tell ye more about the caravans n' such if anyone can."

Ostler's attention is caught by who his wife, who is behind the bar waving at him.  "I've got duties to attend so I'll be havin' to leave ya now.  The trading post won't open its door til the morning so I'll have my daughter prepare rooms for ya upstairs."

The plump innkeep bids you good-night and hurries into the kitchen.

OOC:  Ostler provides three room for the party's use.  They are located on the 2nd Floor of the inn.

"Thank you for your help,"Felicia said as the inn keeper rose from his chair to hustle off.  "Hmmm..."Felicia mused aloud.  "Asking those two might be like asking the fox what happened to the chickens that went missing.  We might have to get creative, perhaps infiltrate them or at least follow them or any suspicious folk that contact them.  At least we know where they are.  It will make it easier to watch them."  She looked at the group in the dim as the light from the fireplace danced on the walls.

"Alternatively we could go and scout out this moathouse and see if there is any sign of these bandits?" said Ronalt.

No point asking the traders, Arek agreed with Felicia. I say straight off to the moat house first thing in the morning. I want to get this over with quickly so old Silverbeard will let me go fishing.

The evening and night pass in relative quite.  The rooms Ostler has provided are simple but comfortable and you are able to rest soundly and safely.

The groups descends to the common room early the next morning to find that Ostler has provided you with ample breakfast fare for your journey this morning.  Spread out on the same table you used last night are plates of breads, cheeses, and fruit, along with pitchers of icey cold milk and water.  One of the barmaids approaches you at the bottom of the stairs and says, "Ostler wishes you to eat well this morning before leaving."  She the hurries off to the kitchen, leaving you alone in the common room.

Well, dig in people, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Arek leads the way in devouring the waiting food. Once his stomach is satisfactorily filled, he sneaks some of the food into his pack.
A little something for later, he comments quietly to Felicia. Never know when I might get hungry again. She'd come to know Arek tended to snack while travelling.

Felicia giggled at the priest's preparedness.  "That's right, you never know," she rolled her eyes, having already finished her breakfast.  "So what shall we do today?" the mage whispered more quietly to the assembled company.  "Watch the suspects? Nose around town see if anything else is known?  Or leave on Arek's suggestion to see if the bandits are hiding out in this moathouse?"

Grinning and agreeing with Areks logic, Peter says a silent prayer of thanks then digs into the breakfast. As he eatting he joins the conversation. "You still think we should head straight on over to the moathouse?", he asks Arek. "I like that sort of thinking. Direct and to the point. Snooping around asking questions is likely to tip them off that someone is on to them."

Aye, and takes up valuable fishing time too! Arek agreed.

"Heading straight there is fine by me." said Ronalt as he downed a reasonable portion of the food.

Vestan helps himself to as big a plate of food as he can. Listening to the others he chuckles. "I like the sound of the infiltrating meself," he says, munching away as he speaks."And I'm for talking to these weasels our friendly bar keep told us about. Woudn't hurt to get a little more information. Or perhaps we should split for a bit?"