KEEP ON THE SHADOWFELL, PART 1: INTRODUCTION AND DELAYS:

Ominous Signs: Alright, this part is for: Shaggy, Cyril and TOG's as of yet unamed Cleric. (Can you name him please?)

As the three you leave the great temple complex in Westpoint after , the major city of this region you are each in turn approached by a pretty young priestess of Pelor. "Hello, my name is Marla, of Pelor, I'm looking for a group of adventers to investigate some rumors for me, would you be intersted in such a task?"

Ruins of Empire:
Bragon: You've been down on your luck lately as compition in Westpoint has gotten more intsense over the last year, and you find yourself running short on gold. As your working off University Avenue you notice a poster which reads

Scout Needed:
for the explation of an ancient keep
Must be of stout body, sound mind and steady hand
Skill with maps a plus
For information please conntact Parle Cranewing at 24 Sussex drive.

Finding that you've attracted the attention of a member of the local constabulary and the aftermentioned road not being very far from here you decded on a whim to stroll over to that area. You suddenly find yourself stadning outside a cramped tenenment with a worm and weathered brass knocker on the front. Without thinking you find yourself utilizing the heavy brass knocker and before you can reconsider the door springs open and the weathered face of an old man greets you "Eh, Who are you? What do you want? Are you one of my students? I won't raise your grade, you should have studied more!"

Edit: Made Genders Clearer

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-Nova

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY of intellectuals to speak the truth and to expose lies. --The Responsibility of Intellectuals, Noam Chomsky. The New York Review of Books, February 23, 1967.

"Is this the way you always greet the help?" I ask him in a sarcastic voice.... instantly regretting my decision to come here in the first place.  "I saw your Scout Needed poster and came here looking for work.  I'm a bit of a wanderer myself so exploration is my forte... but maybe I've come to the wrong place." 

Shaggy

Looking up at the face of the priestess through my thick hair falling over my face I am surprised to hear my voice rumbling out of my bushy beard.  I must be more bored than I thought but not any more polite than usual.

"Rumors are for children and old people.  Why is a priestess worried about rumors....and what's in it for us, I am hungry?"

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) Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before.

Bragon:

"Oh, eh! Sorry, sorry my lad, come in, come in! I am Parle Cranewing, Would you like some tea? I just put it on, its quit good!" The elderly gentalmen leads you to his study and sets out hot scones and tea while telling you his tale. "yes, the keep I need examined. One Hundered years ago the empire of Nerath fell to ruin and left many errr...ruins dotting the land. Now while most of these are little more then run down bridgehouses I have found of one promises to be much much more. An keep, in the middle of no were, guarding nothing. It must have some purpose, must it not? I will pay you handsomely for a map of the keep for a scholar such as I can tell much from a keeps layout: Which direction the thread would be coming from, how many men could it hold and whatnot. I'll pay more handsomely still if you discover the true purpose of the keep yourself in addtion to the map!"

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-Nova

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY of intellectuals to speak the truth and to expose lies. --The Responsibility of Intellectuals, Noam Chomsky. The New York Review of Books, February 23, 1967.

Everyone else:

If you will agree to hear me out, there is a nice restaurant not too far from here, would you allow me to explain myself over lunch?


OOC: note to self, don't post while thinking about food....

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-Nova

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY of intellectuals to speak the truth and to expose lies. --The Responsibility of Intellectuals, Noam Chomsky. The New York Review of Books, February 23, 1967.

"A bit of mead would suit me better if it's not too much trouble."  Alcohol always made dealing with these types of people easier.  "This sounds easy enough to me, although the word handsomely worries me as the last person who told me that shelled out 20 gold coins when the job was done.  He later regretted screwing me over but I'm sure you can appreciate my concern.  Assuming the price is right, where can I find this keep?" 

Shaggy

Rubbing the loose fabric over my shrinking pot belly and hearing the rumble of an angry empty gut I grin

"You buying the food I'll put my ears to anything, even rumors."

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) Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before.

Cyril is taken aback by the bluntness of the request, however a pretty girl in need is always worthy of his attention.

In a gruff yet sophisticated voice "Good Day Priestess Marla, how may a humble servant of Kord assist you this fine afternoon?" (OOC: Think Sean Connery with no accent)

Cyril follows the priestess to the restaurant and listens intently to her story and problems, eagerly awaiting an explanation.

Shaggy

As we walk I eye the priestess taking in her appearance from head to foot trying to determine if she was one of the good ones who went out and got her hands dirty helping good folks in need or one of those temple mice who spent their days reading and praying and doing nobody much good that I can tell.  I like to know who I am dealing with and I prefer some callouses on the hands of my friends.  As we walk I nudge my friend Cyril in the ribs to get a rise out of him, I know my natural bluntness rubs him the wrong way but what's a Dwarf to do. 

"Hey Cyril, don't forget to leave a tip, we don't want the lady to think we are cheap."

I really was bored and am looking forward to her tale but none of that is going to show on my face.

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) Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before.

Aabra: He seems remarkably unpreterbed by your manner.

"I'm sorry, I don't have any mead...I've not drunk it since my adventuring days..however I've got some brandy I put in my tea if you wish. As for price, upon compleation you'd be paid 250 gold crowns, with the possiblility of another 100 crowns, does that intrest you enough to hear me out?"

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-Nova

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY of intellectuals to speak the truth and to expose lies. --The Responsibility of Intellectuals, Noam Chomsky. The New York Review of Books, February 23, 1967.

Shaggy: You notice there are are a number of small calloses and scrapes on her hands in amonst a number of ink stains, you'd say she does some sort of manual work regularly, but not every day. Her robes are clean and she doesn't walk like a trained fighter, however she's more muscular then you'd expect from someone who reads books all day.

Everyone: She leads you to a dwarven restaurant not far away, and strongly recommends the special, a hearty stew of meat and potatoes. When the waiter comes she orders the spcial and a pint of the house brew, a bitter dark beer. Other menu options include steak, roast beef, backed potoats and all of the above mixed together. As your food arives she explains the situation: "As of late I've been studying a number of dark cults, both those of the past and those which, unfortunaly, still exist today. In my resurch i was put in contact with a group of travelers that saw a group of death cultests traveling towards a small town known as Winterhaven about a year ago. Now the problem is I don't have anything definit on this and the churches resources have been streched rather thin in recent years, but I can harldly let a cult to some demon or other fell power extablish itself. If you could travel to winterhaven and acertain the truth of these roumours I'd be extreamly greatful, and if you where put into danger and could bring back proof of the cluts destruction I could offer you a small sum of moneys.

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-Nova

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY of intellectuals to speak the truth and to expose lies. --The Responsibility of Intellectuals, Noam Chomsky. The New York Review of Books, February 23, 1967.

Pleased at the sound of a possible 350 gold coins my attitude changes quite a bit. "Well, that much gold will buy you first rate service. Please tell me everything I need to know about this keep and how to want to do business."

Shaggy

Both ears tuned to the sound of the clerics voice I automatically shovel food and soup into my maw without wasting more than a couple of drops or a crumb or two on my hirsute facial adornment.  Inside my heart is leaping with joy, my two favorite words in the same sentence provoke thoughts of strife, action, a good work out.  The words were evil and Winterhaven.  Everybody knows the story of the Druids and the ancient war between the Elves and Dwarves.  No animosity between me and Elves, I know several I don't hate.  To Winterhaven, I would go for nothing but I won't.  My legs want to start on the journey even as I grab for the pitcher before my companions drink it all.  My companions will settle business and I look with favor on this priestess, this cleric of the sun god.  A weak religion in my book but honest and her hands are familiar with hard work, I can trust her. 

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) Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before.

OOC: Winterhaven is human town...not sure where you got the idea it was an elven town from.

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-Nova

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY of intellectuals to speak the truth and to expose lies. --The Responsibility of Intellectuals, Noam Chomsky. The New York Review of Books, February 23, 1967.

I didn't, I was assuming you were referring to Winterhaven in the Icewind Dale game which is human but the ancient war around it was between Elves and Dwarves.  Shame on me if I was jumping the starting gun.

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) Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before.