he subtly indicates the table next to them with the arguing men "We have some days free now that our caravan run is completed, what they say may not be true and just the talk of drunk men but I am definitely up for exploring some more exiting days than just standing guard." he shrugs "wouldn't hurt to ask around about this tale". He turns to Sarkalor "You are of course welcome to join us as it sounds like your caravan duties have eased up as well."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:05, Fri 10 Feb 2023.

Not taking any attempts to hide the fact that she is also listening in on the conversation about rings and Giants. Sabrina moves her quarter staff to a more accessible position.

The man who's name seems to be Grink stands up, staggering slightly "Well Jepper I've got to go. I'm on watch early tomorrow. Watch out for giants. Ha ha ha."

Jepper replies "See you later mate." before he turns his attention back to his beer.

Grink staggers off and out of the door.

Sarkalor looks at Grink leaving the place. Answering Orestes he says: "Why not? I am in no particular hurry to leave this area. Maybe we can ask some more questions to this Jepper though?"

"Seems he likes a drink" he replies back to Sarkalor with a conspirational smile on his face. "Petronax, are you in my friend? Bit of fun after our uneventful journey here."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Sat 11 Feb 2023.

"To be honest, I tire of watching pots and pans. We didn't get any loot or plunder on that trip in, so yes, I'd be willing to look this over." Like most mercenaries of his time he's brutally frank when it comes to the topic of loot.

moving promptly over to the inebriated gentleman
Sabrina sits across from him.

"Jepper is it not?
My name is Sabrina and I could not help but overhear your words about
Giants.  I have always wanted to see one. So I was wondering if you would tell me more abut what you know?"   

In reply to Sabrina (msg # 47):

Jepper turns to Sabrina, he gives her an appraising look before his face turns into a drunken grin, women as a rule don't talk to him often, beautiful women never talk to him. "There's no giants here anymore. The only ones you see are the big stone ones that surround Balazar." he shakes his head sadly "If you're after Elkoi's grave I can tell you what I know, which ain't much, but I know it's not in the citadel. You could see if the Irpi Enter priests know or maybe go to Trilus. There's a Lanky Mike priest there he might be able to tell you."

Seeing that his new found friends oar not the only ones to be interested by the giants story, Sarkalor is quick enough to move and sit next to Jepper, and enter the conversation: "And where exactly is Trilus? I am not from around here and don't know very well how to find my way. Do you have the name of the priest?"

In reply to Jepper (msg # 48):

"ah yes the sage Priests would know more that is very much a fact, but it is also said they charge rather large fees for any scrap of information. Vicious circle that! people need the knowledge to gather the coin but need the coin to gather the knowledge.

Now if you have the information that this man" gesturing to Sarkalor "it could help out greatly.  I would also take it as a great favour if you could tell us one of your favourite Guardsmen encounters, you know something full of action like quelling a tavern brawl or chasing a rogue across the roof tops?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Sat 11 Feb 2023.

Votlung has already decided to quit Elkoi. If he is going to travel, he may as well try and earn some coin.

"Do you need a guide?" he asks the group of outlanders, having gone over to their table. "Someone local, I mean."

"Ahhh! I remember last year just after the great hunt, some young fella brought in a smilodon. We were all mighty impressed. Turns out we was too impressed too soon. He'd winged it or knocked it out or something. Anyway while he was displaying it at the gate it woke up, turned round a chomped off an arm. Next thing it's all panicky trying to escape while we try and corral it out of the citadel. In the end it took 6 of us and a bunch of disruption spells to chase it off. And the worse bit is the young fella didn't win the hunt because the things you bring in have to be dead." Jepper chuckles slightly as he tells the tale.

with a smile Sabrina replies

"Now that would be fun to hunt down.  Anyone interested in hunting down and subjugating a sabertoothed kitty? I love the idea of having one and naming it Meoath"
(pronounced Meowth).
Any takers for a cat hunt? We could also look for Shadowcat kittens, that way we could have cats in a variety of sizes


We could always bring back a kitten for Jepper here to help him with his patrols"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:05, Mon 13 Feb 2023.

In reply to Sabrina (msg # 53):

"People don't like cats round here much. Brother dog is more to their taste, but if you can catch a smilodon you could win the great hunt." He takes another swig of his beer.
"I just remembered an old poem that is supposed to say where Elkoi is buried. It's not really accurate, at least no-one has ever been able to find him using it."
he pauses for a moment to gather his thoughts before he continues.
"Stand atop Flint Hill
When Yelm above the Rockwoods his face does show
Follow his smile til you find where Aldrya does grow
Then look up for Greatway you will view
It will lead your path to something new
A ring of oak trees describe it best
Here Elkoi takes his eternal rest.

That's as best I can remember it, hope you can work it out because I barely understand it." he shrugs.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:09, Mon 13 Feb 2023.

Orestes leans back on his seat having been listening in. Turning his head towards the other table "Sounds like we need to head to Trillus and find this Flint Hill. I have a rough map of how to get there as I am on my way to Dykene deep in Balazar for a delivery to my Temple." He looks over at the Yelornan "Maybe we can find a suitable cat for you to how did you say it... subjugate hmm?" he raises his eyebrow slightly as he says this. "But for now we should drink and enjoy ourselves it has been a long few weeks and a well deserved drink and feed is deserved by all."

Sabrina and Sarkalor both take drinks of their freshly poured beers. Petronax and Orestes allow themselves a small smile.

Petronax shakes himself out of his reverie and¹ leans forward conspiratorially to Sakalor and Orestes. "If we're interested in this ring we should enlist those two as well, I'd rather have them at my back than have them as foemen. What do you think, should we make a show of interest? A company of five is more likely to survive the Wilds than three."



¹Sorry about going AWOL, I was feeling unwell.

"I must confess, I am curious about this Yelornan, she seems quite a force of nature. I had the pleasure of watching one fight once, she was visiting our temple and partook in a sparing session with some of the men. They foolishly decided to take it easy on her. The healers had their work cut out for them that night." he says with a laugh. "I definitely believe she will be an asset if we can temper her exuberance. The other man I am not so sure about, but like you say better with us than against us."

After ingesting several beers, Sarkalor is in a merry mood. "Of course, why not? The more the better!" he answers to Petronax. "When are we leaving?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:04, Thu 16 Feb 2023.

The beer has a very strange taste which makes the stomach gurgle. For Sarkalor this passes quite quickly and while it takes a little while to get used to the taste it becomes acceptable.

Sabrina is not so lucky. Her stomach gurgles for a few minutes before it empties all over the floor. She slumps back in a chair, feeling weak and a little helpless.

The local inhabitants all cheer and laugh loudly while a serving girl runs up with a bucket of water to wash the vomit away.

In reply to Bandos (msg # 60):

refusing to accept the public humiliation! Sabrina gathers her property leaving her payment due the tavern she leaves. Even though she still feels weak. She has lost face over a drink!

The shame the Amazon personally feels drives her from the city. She thought she was made of sterner stuff.

Petronax looks down at his beer and says "you know, I'm starting to think this stuff is made by trolls. I almost threw up when drinking it as well." He shakes his head and pushes it away. "I'll try the well water but I bet that will be full of pig shit."

He gets up and ambles after Sabrina, going out into the night and leaving Orestes to watch his gear. Catching up with her the older man says sombrely as to the night itself "there's something wrong with the beer in there, everyone who's had a drink there has almost thrown it straight back up, myself included."

He turns to her and gives her a half smile. "I'm Petronax, I was sitting with two other warriors when that tale of a 'giant's ring' got spun and even though I should know better at my age I'm as interested as my two companions are. I saw your interest as well and it occurred to me that rather than a bunch of us working at cross-purposes we could combine our efforts."

"And as for being sick in a tavern?" Says the old legionary optio, "it's not how you handle your drink that drives admiration but how you handle yourself in battle, you know this. The warrior that bears their wounds but stays in the line deserves admiration, let's go back into the pest-hole of a tavern and make plans for this venture. If we're lucky on the trip we might go past somewhere where we can get a decent drink."

"Not the best ale I aver drank", comments Sarkalor when seeing the amazon leave, "but not a reason to throw it all up either..."

Turning to Orestes, and the 'local guide' he says: "Are you all still interested in this chase for the ring? Or do you think the drink they serve here is bad omen?"

"I think going after this ring is a good way to find a better inn." He says with a grin. "Trillus will hopefully have better ale"

"Alright. I guess we will be able to decide with more clarity the way forward tomorrow morning! I'm going to sleep: have a good night, sun domer, and see you tomorrow."


That said Sarkarlor goes up, takes his fur and proceeds to pay for the meal and night with some of it, before going to rest.