Monday, April 26, 2:00 p.m.

Stallington is a small farming hamlet.  There is a small inn/tavern, and there are cottages, and there are is a lot of farmlands around the hamelet, but nothing extraordinary stands out when the party arrives, except


1.  There are seem to be very few people in the hamlet.

2.  Some of the farms and cottages look like they might be abandoned.

3.  There is an obvious shrine to some sort of local deity, likely one related to the harvest.  However, it is boarded up.

Although it is a sad scene, Tenzing is pleased that the group managed to reach its destination safely and quickly. "I suppose we should ask someone where to find the elders?"

"An sit down, an' get a decent ale."

Mac eyes the tavern, which is just as well because it seems to be the only place to try to find anyone.

Tenzing smiles at the dwarf. Finding the suggestion agreeable, he heads toward the tavern.

Darius comes jogging back into town and rejoins the group. His quick recon around the area, just a hundred yard circle around the town center, confirms the initial assessment that the Hamlet is not especially active, and it is obvious some townsfolk have abandoned the hamlet and have either moved away or moved in with others further from the town center. This is the textbook definition of a dying town.

“Tavern? Looks like there is some activity there.  Maybe we can find out what’s going on.”

ADDENDUM:
In a much more quiet voice, Darius tells the party a few more details of his recon. “There are a few people standing around. They act like they are busy doing something, but they aren’t really doing anything. They looked at me. But there was no emotion. Nothing. Very eerie.”

“There was a general store one street over. It was not boarded up, but it was currently closed.”

“Stay alert. I’m not sure what we may be walking into in the tavern.”

“I’m not sure if this is a dying town, or a ghost town.”

With a nod, Bronn checked his new sword and prized knife to make sure that they were limber and ready in their sheathes. He looked across the way and, seeing no one around, he led them towards the tavern, moving with purpose but not very fast. His head turned back and forth, looking for any sign that there were people or creatures intent on harming them.

The party enters the tavern.  It is small.  There is a flight of stairs in the back, and six tables in addition to the bar.

There are no customers.

The only occupant appears to be the proprietor.  He'd been sitting at the bar with his head lying on one outstretched arm.  He was not looking in the direction of the door so, while the extra light from the door tells him it opened, he does not actually see the party.

"Go away, Gummy.  Yer missus'll be mad if I let ya start drinking this early," the proprietor says without lifting his head.