When Fenrick (and presumable Gryphon) walked into the inn/tavern, he noticed that the young Sora had returned, but Anders was missing, as were the others.

As he walked to the table, he saw her smile fade and her looking to fall asleep and then wake up suddenly.  He chuckled lightly to himself, remembering all the times he had done that in his early military days when he on night watch duty.

Reaching the table, he lightly laughed and commented "Bored with us already huh?

Smiling, he continued, "Any idea where Anders and the others are?  Any luck with the identification of the items?"

He sat down at the table and also got water, being too early for anything else.

Waiting for the water, he got a bit more serious and earnestly asked her "You dong ok?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:29, Sat 25 July 2020.

Sora smiled as Fenrick sat at the table and smiled. "Sorry....still not recovered from my bad night sleep." she stifled a yawn, then smiled at him. "I will be fine....just  decent night sleep is needed."

She retrieves the sack and continues. "Anders is currently copying the identify spell. The shop owner was very helpful...identified all the items under condition of our patronage."

She handed the sack holding the items to Fenrick. "The ring has a magical enhancement to avoid getting hit in many situations. One of he Potions would turn the drinker invisible where the other is a healing potion. The jug is an alchemy jug...i have heard of these....it can summon certain types of liquid. The slippers allow you to ustilise the spell spider climb. The greataxe is magical, but some of the enchantment eluded him. The rod is very rare..it makes the wielder more alert of their surroundings while also giving a few lesser powerful arcane spells. And can bestow an area of protection. Finally the hilt of the sword is ancient, and if someone found a master smith, could make a powerful weapon with it."

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "An impressive mix of items. The shop owner showed interest in items if no one wanted them for a fair price."

"Yah, I understand about the sleep.  It's been a long time since I had such a restless night.

And you're right, that does sound like quite the assortment of goodies, but I believe we should wait until the others arrive before we dig in so to speak. Not being from the original group, I'm not sure how I fit in regarding who gets what.

I'm surprised though that the shop owner couldn't identify the enchantment on the axe.  Does that mean anything to you?", Fenrick asked curiously.  He wasn't familiar with the process, but it struck him as odd that the owner was able to identify everything else but the axe.

"Yep talking to the folks here is probably a great place to start. So let's ask Him." Alekos pointed toward the man they had first seen talking to Chelonia as they entered the church. Then he looked from the cleric to the angel-kin and then back at the man he assumed was a priest of some kind and walked over that way. "Excuse me sir. I know you were just talking to miss, er, the cleric Chelonia, there. But we had some questions for you too if you don't mind." This was said with a gesture toward Morwinyon.

"You see, he and I are newly arrived to the Keep as of yesterday and spent the first night here wracked with terrible nightmares. We weren't the only ones. Maybe the lady Tortle told you something about it already but apparently several other folks who have been fairly new to this area as well and the adventuring sort have been having the same nightly affliction. I was wondering, we. We were wondering if this is something known to be happening in this place. If others have reported such terrible dreams and strange entities walking amongst those dreams. It seemed to me like none of the locals had lost any sleep like we had. But maybe it has become so common place they have become accustomed to it or maybe this is something out of the norm and only impacting a select few. Do you know anything of this, good sir?"

Sora took a drink of water as she bit her lip, thinking about Fenrick 's words. "You may want to ask Anders about this, but as far as i know about the ritual spells like being able to identify magical items, they can only sense a certain amount about magic. Powerful dwemours can sometimes be powerful or subtle."

She tapped her lip as she thought. "Some spells are even designed to shield from divination spells. Perhaps the axe shields such things"

Fenrick nodded to the young mage in understanding.

He then got up from the table.  "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to see if anyone is in the mood for a game of cards, unless you two would care to play while we wait...?

In reply to Alekos Eclipse (msg # 68):

The cleric turns to regard Alekos as he describes the events. "Well, that is odd. I can say that a month or two ago there was reports of nightmares in the keep, even two our own vanished. We sent out a group to look for them and never found them. Two women. For a few weeks, we hunted looking for what could have done this but found nothing. I do hear that guests staying at the Inn wake up unrested, but they never go into detail like you all have, their business is there own. I know the Steward of the Keep sent out a contract to the Monster Slayers, the Witchers, but I know not the details." He pauses and smiles like he gave a good answer, "Good luck getting an audience with the Steward, he is very busy."

In reply to Fenrick (Fen) Uther (msg # 70):

The others, being silent, seem uninterested in the game, so Fenrick continues to look around for anyone in the tavern who may be interested in a low stakes game just for fun.

(OOC no more than a couple gold pieces won or lost)

(OOC if you want to move this to the discussion string, that's fine to, or private, or if they get back soon we can simply ignore it and move on, your call.)

"Huh." Honestly that was more response than Alekos had expected. "So it Has been an ongoing issue then. I'm sorry to hear about the missing women. Their families must have been very grieved. Are they still in the keep? The families that is." He frowned as he asked and turned slightly from the cleric toward Chelonia and Morwinyon.

"Whoever or whatever is doing this has been around for longer than a few nights. Perhaps we should meet back up with your companions and figure out what to do?" It was said more as a question as he really wasn't sure why he was trying to take charge in this situation. It really wasn't his place.."Maybe one of them would have an idea about seeing the steward or one of those monster hunter's."

"We would not need a meeting with the Steward to undertake this search. Alekos, I am agreed with you in all respects. Perhaps Chelonia's companions will have greater insight into how to continue."

"If we could speak with the families, perhaps it would give them some comfort to know that fresh eyes are ready to take up the cause and begin a fresh search."

In reply to Alekos Eclipse (msg # 73):

"oh, eh, yes, yes they still live here." Just realizing you were still talking to him, his mind going somewhere else, "The women where young wives of the two the Keep Guardsmen. Officer Castillo and Augustus."

Shouldn't surprise any of you he knows them, the keep houses about 200 people. Most of which are guardsmen and their families.

Those that are sitting and chatting at the Taven waiting for those at the church watch four well-armed, travel-worn, and heavily packed walk-in. Two are humans, an Orc, and a taller than normal dwarf.  They walk up to the bar and take a seat, ordering drinks. Other than those four and yourselves there are no other patrons in the tavern.

"That was a mighty big scare back their eh Hugh?" The bold human says to the dwarf. The human carries a few spears and javelins with him and a large round dinted shield. Dress in dirty chainmail.

"Ah, no different than every other scrap, nothing she called handle." The Dwarf pats his battleaxe, contrary to what dwarves normally look like, this one has no beard, just a large bright red mustache. He carries no shield, just an assortment of axes ranging in size also where dirty chainmail.

The Orc laughs, her voice like a flowing river, other than the two tusks coming from her mouth, her face resembles a human. Her complexion only a slight gray-green. He carries no weapons, that can be seen, but she looks experienced. Her hair is Dark black braided pulled into a ponytail coming from the top of her head. "That troll nearly ate you, Hugh, it was lucky I was there to pull you out of its jaws."

The Dwarf lets and a grunt dismissing his need for help, but his eyes however acknowledging her assistance.

The man with a longbow over his shoulder, swords on his hips, and a dark green cloak. "We are all lucky to have Izzie, it was her knowledge that of the beast that helped up fell it."

They contiune chatting about a fight they must have just had with a troll, while drinking.

"That must have been one heck of a troll", Fenrick had thought to himself, overhearing the conversation. He had heard stories of those creatures, and knew they were tough, but to have caused such concern to this band of adventurers seemed to imply that this was no ordinary troll.

As the group of adventurers bantered about their exploits, he started to think back to his days in the military; it was common for them to relive the battle afterwards with drink and food.  It was almost a way to understand how the others thought, so you could anticipate them better in the next battle.  It also reinforced how each one's life depended on the rest of the unit.

But he'd also seen many groups like this in many taverns like this do a similar thing, but for very different reasons.  These groups were doing it so others could hear how great and brave they were in hopes of being bought drinks, and the fame that the stories gave them.  The worst part was it always worked.  The locals would swoon over the adventurers until they left, and then life would eventually go back to normal with locals usually a little worse off for wear.

Maybe Fenrick was jealous, wishing he could have that life too, maybe he felt like they were perverting something he had once held sacred, but it always bothered him.

He knew though that now was not the time or place to start anything, so he simply sat there quiet, wondering what was next for him and the group.  Would they end up down the same path as this group of troll slayers, successful and joyous, or was their future more dim?

"Thank you good sir." Alekos nodded and turned wholly from the man now. "Well, I think its about time we meet back up with the others and try to figure this all out. Shall we?" And he began heading for the exit. His body language wasn't so much that he was trying to leave a place that he was uncomfortable in as it was hurrying toward an environment he knew better. The tavern. That is, unless someone stopped him physically or verbally.

Sora was still a little drowsy when the new party came in. She listened intently To them talking about the troll. She had limited knowledge of trolls.

She first read about trolls when she was with her mentor, Roahan. The young woman aproached the half elf about trolls. The two talked for hours about trolls, their properties and what they looked like. It was late at night when the two retired to bed that night.

....that seemed so long ago.

When they went to their table, she looned at Fenrick. "Trolls..   that sounds..." she pauses and makes a slight face. "...omninious"

The woman took a drink of water
This message was last edited by the player at 23:50, Fri 31 July 2020.

Fenrick snapped out of his thoughts at the mention of his name.

"Well, I've only heard about them, never seen or fought one myself. But since they seem happy and not mourning the loss of anybody, it's safe to assume that the troll, or trolls, is dead."

He then leaned in and said quietly, "If that's the case, I think it's best we simply steer clear of them.  They must be pretty good in a fight to take down a troll."

+Looks at both Fen and Sora; "Trolls are quite nasty but not to hard as long as you have an arcane caster able to do some fire damage consistently.  That makes their regeneration impossible so that the  rest  of the group can deal the majority of the damage.. It also helps to have  such as Fen to stand tall in front while I whittle away from a little farther away."

Looks at Fen, "I will play some cards with you even though I am not that good, it will  pass the time and you will probably win enough for a couple of drinks from me which I probably owe you anyway for taking the damage by standing tall. Without you and your courage my job of inflicting damage becomes much harder."

Sora, looking a little embarressed. "Well, if we come upon a troll, we'll have no problems." she muttered more to herself than anyone.

She looked at her hand, and at the flickering candle on the table. Her gaze lingered on the hypnotic flame, then blinked.

She snapped her fingers and a small flame erupted from her palm. She again gazed at the flame, and then closed her hand, the flame snuffing out

"That's the spirit Sora,  I can promise you if you at least hit a troll  steadily with fire Fen and I will have no problem in finishing it off.. Not to mention  we have other talented people in our company as well."

The young woman smiled at Gryphon with a nod. "I will do all in my power to help you." she said, but softly added. "...i just hope I can control it."

He agreed with his new companion about getting into motion. Not that he was at all uncomfortable here or fidgety. Stillness was his thing. But he was  not content to let these people remain missing or others at hazard from dream invasions.

"Thank you for your helps" He gave the helpful churchers a thank you and a nod. And then left with Alekos for the bar and more hands. Not all tasks required more hands but this clearly would

The group is reunited in the Tavern, the other group that recently entered is still there they now sit at a table talking in quiet times. From time to time you can hear them talking about an up and coming job they have. But, you do not here the particulars.

Just as Fenrick was about to start dealing the cards, he saw the rest of the group return.

"Ah, they're back!" he said as he put the cards away.

"So, what all did you learn about our items?  And I see you found Chelonia, so you must've found the temple?"  Any luck there?"

As he walked into the tavern and spotted the folks they'd met the night before and briefly again in the morning, Alekos put on his smile again. He called out across the room. "Aye we found your friend, the temple, and some information about those horrid dreams."

He paused though and took in the new group sitting at another table. "Ah, hail travelers. You look well worn from a day's work, pardon my interruption. Fair drinking to you lot." A wink was sent their general direction but after that he continued on toward Fenrick, Gryphon and Sora. Motioning toward Morwinyon and Chelonia as he addresses Fenrick again, now closer and not as loud but by no means hushed tones. "Chelonia here may be able to explain things better but it seems there may something, a creature of sorts, that is causing all the trouble. Just a possiblity, and if there is then we might be able to spot it when someone is sleeping. Also it seems that we aren't the only ones impacted. A few months ago this happened to some of the locals and subsequently two women were lost and never found again. Two of the guards' wives I believe." He looks to Morwinyon for confirmation and then back to the others before pulling up a seat.

"Were you about to play cards? I love playing cards."

Fenrick chuckled, "I'm sure you do, Alekos.  But I'd be a fool to play with you.  I'd be broke in no time.". 

Turning to the more serious matter at hand, "If a creature is causing these dreams, than it can be stopped.  How far away can it be and still affect the keep?  The locals may know of a place that such a creature could reside that's close enough."