"I'm for going to see what this place is like.  If we take it slow, we can retreat if need be.  But if we arm ourselves with the weapons of pelor, and seek the help of other churches, we may have a chance."

Glumr looks to Mord.  "What say you my strong friend?  Do you think we have a chance?"

Glumr wonders if other churches would aid them, simply to restore this place into a more natural balance.  Maybe he just wishes that this quest would be backed by the goddess he follows as well as Pelor.

Mord shrugs, "Let's go see if the churches will aid us."

Snow quirks an eyebrow, and tries Draconic on it for a language, "If you dont want me to end your existence here, you'll behave..."

It was an old language, inclined to ancient things.  It didnt seem to understand common and Snow didnt think that they were quite through with the potential for diplomacy to figure stuff out.

(She twiddles her finger plucking a snowball out of the air, (but not throwing it) to make her threat understandable incase it didnt understand Draconic, she wanted it to understand she was capable of hurting him.)

---

09:39, Today: Snow rolled 7 using 1d20+4. Intimidate.

It's unfortunate that Snow look soft and squishy.  The +4 is natural skill, i believe there was a bonus for being larger than your target, If its notably smaller than her she might manage a DC11 and be effective to at least make him think twice.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:40, Mon 10 Jan 2011.

"Sounds good Mord.   Farden, We should check into the enchanter from pliffa as well.  We have a couple friends from pliffa and maybe we can trade in some favors.  It might not pull on our purse strings as much as you would think."

In the middle of Snow's threat in Draconic the little troublemaker turns tail and runs off cackling.    It hasn't disappeared into the distance yet or anything, but that is going to change soon.  It's currently 40 feet away.

Snow lets it go.  She's just happy it didnt attack where while the most threatening thing she had on her to fight with is a sewing need and her armor consisted of a back of fabric to block with.  She turns and walks off in a different direction keeping an eye on the pest.  She'll head back to the inn to drop off her shopping stuff.

She'll change clothes and departs the inn to be better prepared this time.

Leather Armor and dagger are worn/carried the next time she goes out.

Shes not looking for the imps, but is curious about these 'cracks' and asks around to see what else she can learn about them.

14:19, Today: Fritzholm, on behalf of Snow, rolled 11 using 1d20+5. Gather Information.

Cracks to hell in the ground is news to most everyone.  The problem isn't as widespread as that woman led you to believe.  However Dermot, the permanent resident of Idora's boarding house, has heard that they have problems with those gremlins in the mines.  He says that they mess with the machines and can't be killed.  There are probably a lot of people who would like to be rid of them, but don't know how to go about it.

Does Dermot know who might be in charge of this problem, and if anything is being done?  Is the Procter aware of the problem, maybe offering a reward to a permanent solution to the problem?

Dermot pleads ignorance to all these subjects, but he suggests talking to a veteran dwarven miner by the name of Oslo.   Not only would he be closer to the problem, but he has been around for ages, as have many dwarves, and has probably seen and heard just about everything.  If there's anyone who would know about cracks in the earth it's him.

But Dermot can't guarantee he'll be easy to reach.  If he's working in one of the new mines he'll come up every day or two, but if he's down in a deep mine, he could be down there for months.  It's Dermot's opinion that Oslo probably prefers it that way.  None-the-less, he gives you directions to the miner's barracks.  That would be the best place to start looking for him.

You haven't seen the boys or the eye, but Holly's around the boarding house..  Perhaps she'd like to join you, so long as you aren't planning to trudge down into the mines yourself.

Farden shrugs. "Very well then, let us go talk to these friends of yours. Maybe they can give us an edge. However, before we go, we need to see if the visit would be worth the effort." He turns back to the priests of Pelor. "Look, assuming we undertake this job, what kind of support are you willing to provide us? How much in the way of material help like holy water and potions, and how much as a reward for finding definite evidence as to Brother Howe's fate?"

The priest contemplates the situation for a while before answering.

"We can provide you with a case of 9 flasks of holy water, but I'd like you to receive a short training in its proper use first.  Even some of our priests have misused holy water, causing it to be ineffective.  Let's avoid that.  We can also loan you two silverized weapons.  Our armory's selection of these is very limited, but we should be able to find two adequate weapons.  I'll see if I can find a volunteer to join you if you'd like.  If not, we can also provide you each with a healing potion."

"As for the reward for uncovering what Brother Howe was after, I'm afraid I cannot put a price on that without knowing what it is.  You will have to trust us to be fair and we will have to trust you to turn it over in good faith and not be too mercenary about its full value."

"I also want it to be known that you are doing this of your own free will.  It's a very dangerous undertaking.  Neither the temple of Pelor nor the Ferisedan clan will be responsible for any compensation to the Triplefang if you should be lost."

"Slight miscommunication there. I was asking you if there was a reward for rescuing Howe himself. As for what he was after - well, that's a whole separate issue. Naturally, you can't offer a reward on that without knowing what it is."

"Hmmmm.  It does sound callous that there is gold for objects and secrets but not for lives.  Sadly, I don't think we can offer a reward for bringing him back if he's still alive.  Maybe he will reward you himself.  On the other hand, finding him alive would be a great benefit towards finding the secrets he had uncovered.  Either way, I fear you're more likely to end up opposing him than rescuing him."

"My question is, should we go on this quest, how do we find this place?"  Glumr asks.

Snow was going to write the guys a letter, but sees Holly about.  She tells her what she ran into, and that she's going to go look into the problem.  Snow does mind company but if Holly is going to linger behind it'll save her the hassle of the note writing.

---

Not sure if Holly is totally back to RPOL, if they respond to this in 2~3 days i guess were off together, else presume snow goes it alone.

Writing a note might not work anyhow.  Most people in this world cannot read and this includes Glumr and Mord.  You only just met Farden and you have no idea if he can read.


Snow (and possibly Holly) arrives at the miners' barracks.  You're in luck.  Not only isn't Oslo in the deep mines, but he's right there in the barracks.

"What makes you think I want to talk to some weak, willowy, human women?"  Oslo loudly objects when someone goes to tell him that he has a visitor.  "Oh great!  She's a pasty albino too.  The ghost of a useless pest come to haunt the hard-working.  (Insert obnoxious comment about Holly's hair here if she came.)  Why do all the freaks come to see Oslo?"

The irritated dwarf stomps across the long room, scowling and shaking his head.  "What in the world could you possibly want?" he askes Snow.  "Underground weather report?  Cool and dark with a 95% chance of peace and quiet!"

"It's north of Loch Grmikel.  There's a road from Kammarra to Trellor that will take you through a pass in the mountains to the coast to the east."

He describes a place along the road where there's a shrine to Pelor watched over by a single priest.

"There are some seasonal fishing villages along the shores.  They're nomads, neither Ferisedan or Triplefang.  You might be able to find a boatman there, but it's more likely they wont be too happy about taking you to a haunted island.  Maybe you can buy a boat."

I'll have a map update posted soon with a nice little tower icon marking the approximate location.  The priest's description of its location is plenty good enough for seasoned outdoorsmen like yourselves.

In reply to Fritzholm (msg #630):

Snow smiles not taking any offense, "With a chance of being pestered by oddly haired visitors.  My apologies for the intruson on time you no doubt value for rest away from the mines.  I have been investigating the appearance of these... imps, that seem to be appearing from cracks.  At first i thought they were mischievious arcane familiar, but now it seems that they're appearing from... 'cracks'.  I was directed to voice my curiosity to you?"

Snow talks to Oslo in understandable Dwarven though she has a 'quaint' accent to it since she's not a native speaker.

Glumr says to Mord and Farden on a side bar "While this sounds lucrative, I dont think we're ready for this.  I think we need to be more experienced and sharpen our skills more."

"I feel the same way," Mord says to Glumr

Farden snorts at his companion's caution. "Hello? Ten thousand gold pieces? If we want to gather that in any reasonable time frame we'll have to take risks. But then, what do you think of my idea of signing on as caravan guards for caravans passing nearest to hobgoblin lands? Sooner or later, we gonna get attacked, and we'll have our chance to collect hobgoblin heads. That is, if hobgoblins scare you less than ghosts."

Mord thinks on Farden's words, then replies, "That's a good point."

"No Farden...   Not hobgoblins.  Those things are just big tough goblins.  Bugbears are crazy mean and dangerous, and not to mention deep in goblin and hobgoblin territories."  Glumr corrects him.  "But what you speak is a good point.  Fights a fight.  We should discuss this with our group and decide what we want to do.  We should also check back with Samuel as well.  We asked him to check into things, so we should see what he may have turned up.  I tell you what though, I'd rather check out this island than go find bugbears."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:14, Thu 13 Jan 2011.

"Arcane what?  Bursting from walls?  Sent by whom?  By the gods woman, talk sense!  It just warms my heart that you humans can be trained to speak our language, but your butchering it!  Talk Clantongue, will you?  I've been speaking it long before your grandfather.  We'll both be clear as spring water," insists Oslo.

"Now, describe these 'imps'," he says.

Snow gives Oslo a general description of the creature's height and weight, it's nose, wings, claws, and generally mischievous disposition.

"Ah ha!  Now we're getting someplace.  You've found yourself a Gremlin.  Horrible little things.  There's not much to do about them, but call in fine dwarven holy men to sprinkle some of Skadi's melted tears on the bastards.  You could chop at one all day with axe and never leave a scratch.  We occasionally come across a hero who can call upon the righteous powers to smite the pests, or maybe a crafty fellow can put thick fingers upon an epic hammer that can splatter one with a single mighty blow."

"Know what these imbeciles do to keep the Gremlins away?  They burn incense!  Damned halfwits!  That don't work no better than spitting in a bonfire."

"I'm a frost sorceress.  I ran into one this morning.  I thought they were someone's familiar, though after some investigation, i now believe they're 'wild'.  I was told that you might know more on the topic, and if anything is being done about it?"