The End of the World Inn, Bardic Temple, Raiders of the Last Outpost?
Subject: Re: Caro 1; Silver Hair
Telwyn's words take Buchek completely by surprise, wiping his blood clean of the rage that had boiled into it at the guard's yank on the rope around Buchek's waist. He'd felt relieved to see his old friend Holn again, but at Telwyn's words, for the first time since waking up in his grave site in the Tall Grass, he didn't feel alone.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Caro 1; Silver Hair
(remember to delete out the extra email addies, so you only send to cowgame, please)
So, Buchek's going with the guards to the guardhouse. Holn and Telwyn are headed to the inn/tavern. Kayla and Erk? What are you guys doing at present?
Once everyone checks in with an action, I'll send out the next round. I won't be home until 4:30 or so, but I'm going to really try to get a turn in before Jake has to leave work. (that's 5, right?)
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Caro 1; Silver Hair
Yeah, sorry about that. I realized that I had forgotten to delete out your addresses at pretty much the same instant that I clicked the "send" button.
I'm actually going to be leaving at 4:00 today, unfortunately. Ususally I get off at 5, but today I'm taking off early to go and look at duplexes/triplexes/quadplexes (we're going to be buying something, but we haven't decided which yet.)
So, no need to rush on my account.
From: Clara
Subject: next...
Kayla watches Holn and Telwyn begin to head toward the Inn.
She turns to Erk, "I've heard there's a Bardic Temple, here. I've got to pay my respects. See you later?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Caro 1; Silver Hair
Erk nods absently as Kayla walks away. He will keep an eye on the others going to the inn, but remains outside with the gear.
From: Matt
Subject: Caro 2; Splitting up
Telwyn and Holn walk purposefully toward the tavern, noticing just how few people there are walking the streets. At the door, they hear men's voices, joking and talking. Telwyn judges their number to be above ten, but not so many as twenty. Holn pushes open the door and Liwanu noses past both of them into the room, stopping just inside the doorway.
Some of the conversation stops as the gray wolf makes his entrance, but resumes just as quickly once Telwyn follows his wolf's lead. Holn follows with Fancek Fa, and some of the men note the strangeness of the pair and their animal companions.
It seems as though the tavern is filled with off-duty guards, all sharing ales in small groups at different tables. There is a bar along the left wall with a portly, balding human bartender wiping mugs and laughing with the men at a nearby table. Overall, the inn is dimly lit and smoky, between the recently lit candles and the smell of pipe tobacco. Simple, yet sturdy, it does not boast the comfortable feel of the Singing Anvil.
In the back corner, alone at a table, sits the silver haired elf, who takes note of their entrance. As Telwyn takes a step toward his table, the bartender calls out, "Good evening, young sits! Welcome to the End of the World Inn! What can I get you?"
...
Kayla wanders off from the group looking for the temple to Fharlanghan, also noticing the lack of people on the streets. As she enters the town, she realizes this is far more outpost than village, and the structures seem very spartan and sparse. It looked as though only guards, scouts and cratsmen lived there. She passed an open courtyard that looked as though it could be used as an open market, but assumed the farmers were all still in Segreda at the festival.
She sees the temple in the distance, a small wooden building with the god's symbol carved into the door, a disc with a horizontal line topped with a sideways crescent, points down. The wayfarer's shrine was empty, as though it were deserted, though near the door were provisions for any traveler who needed a place in from the elements. She wandered if Minnalin Lasarek spent his time here, or if he stayed at the inn... Walking further into the temple, Kayla notices a young man polishing a set of bell chimes off to the side of the temple, but he doesn't yet notice her.
...
Erk stays with the mules and notices Bermid call the stable-hand's attention. The dwarf and the man walk with the boy, taking the mules to be unsaddled and brushed. Bermid speaks with the boy as though he were a friend, and Erk can see that they've known each other for some time.
Bermid asks Erk's aid in unpacking the provisions and storing them in one of the locked sheds alongside the stable, and the two men begin to unburden the beasts.
...
Buchek mills around waiting for the guards, who seem to be taking a long time to get settled. It seemed as though they had not expected to have to house a prisoner, and were in the process of taking crates and jugs out of a cell they had been using for storage. The men seemed very accommodating to Telwyn's request, as Buchek hears them talk about finding a cot to place alongside the cell.
As he waits, watching the rest of the party drift off, a brief flash of light catches his eye. Not sure where it came from, he looks around, and then sees another brief glint, coming from the section of grassland he can see through the split in the wall. It was only the slightest glimmer, but it was something to draw his attention while the guards sorted themselves.
The third time was different, a few glimmers together, then a pause, and another glimmer. The low whoop of a sedge crane echoed, sending a chill up Buchek's spine. The sedge crane was a morning bird... it was quiet in the evenings. Watching more carefully, he would swear the flashes were mirror communications, catching the setting sun. He had seen the tactic used only once before... by clan raiders.
Surrounded by guardsmen whose captain swore he was a lead scout for a raiding party, Buchek tries to decide what action to take.