"Shh. Don't bother me. We all just got really chewed by Her Honor, and we don't want it to happen again."
"I'm Chip."
You see a guard. He looks anxious.
0
stnd
25
"Go ahead! You'll have fun! Like me! HaHaHaHaHa!" He drinks more. He probably shouldn't.
"Yes, the friendly ones. Just don't ask! You don't want to know! Go investigate them, Leith said. Well forget it. You want to visit them? They're all to the northwest, past Fort Draco. Just go north to the dragon's cave, and west."
0
friendly
19
His face is twitching.
He rounds on you, a manic glow in his eyes. "Yes! It was the spiders that made me like this! Not those spell-casting ones. Sure, they almost killed me, but they weren't the worst! NoNoNoNoNo! It was the friendly ones!"
0
spiders
19
"I was researching with Leith. We were asking Motrax about a magic sphere. He may have found something out. Beats me. I was too busy being driven insane!" He takes a deep swig from his bowl, realizes it's empty, and gets it refilled with gray fluid.
0
sage
19
"I'm sort of a sage. But now I need a vacation. A long vacation." He drinks more of his purple syrup.
"Huh?" He notices you. "Oh, call me Crisper."
A man sits at the table, hunched over a bowl of some sort of purple beverage. He mutters to himself quietly.
0
stnd
19
"Please forgive me for not knowing more."
"Greetings, master. I have little of use to say. The mayor had her necklace stolen. The town treasury is rich. There are magic fountains to the southeast, and magic spiders to the west. Oh, and someone said Motrax knows about a stone key."
0
divu
18
"Talking to those that I am supposed to talk to."
She looks down at you and whispers "I am Myrtle." Then she resumes her pose.
This is a statue of a tall, armored woman. Looking closely, you see she is making a slight swaying motion.
0
stnd
18
102
necklace
17
"I look out for the residents of this city. And occasionally they look out for me. Now, if you will excuse me, I have much work to do." She makes a big show of turning away from you.
"Greetings, visitor. I am Mayor Evelyn. I am also very busy."
A fidgety woman in a lovely blue dress sits in a chair, rapidly flipping through the papers on the table next to her. She wears a sash of office.
0
stnd
17
9
train
13
He chuckles, in a peculiarly sinister way. I train all those who come to me. (dramatic intake of breath) For a price!"
He intones mysteriously, "I am (dramatic pause) the teacher." You snicker quietly.
A man in long silk robes putters around looking mysterious. A large hood hides his face. It's a bit much.
0
stnd
13
4
4
Miles the librarian
16
recipe
12
"Anyway, I'll let you have the recipe for a very reasonable price."
His face brightens. "Yes, I dabble in a bit of that on the side. In fact, I have a new recipe for strength potions. Easy to make, and the only rare ingredient is glowing nettle. I hear some of that grows near Fort Exile."
0
alchem
12
"Spells or recipes?"
0
purch
12
3
0
Miles the Mage
14
spell
12
"Well, I run this library. Third best in the pit. Only ones better are in the castle and the mage tower, a long ways away. Mages come here to do research, and compare notes. Oh, and occasionally purchase a spell."
He stands to shake your hand. "I'm Miles. What can I do ya' fer'?"
The mage sitting behind the counter is surprisingly fit. He is young, just shy of middle age, and very tall. He has a nicely trimmed black beard.
0
stnd
12
He starts sweeping.
"Yes. Mainly sweeping. I'm apprenticed to Miles. He does most of the work. Most of the people who come here are mages, you see. If you have any real business, talk to him. Now if you'll excuse me, I have forbidden secrets to plumb."
0
sweeping
11
"Oh, learning things man was not meant to know. Plumbing the forbidden secrets of the unknown. Sweeping."
"I'm Zed. The assistant librarian."
A young mage putters around, straightening the books on the shelves. He carries a broom.
0
stnd
11
37
16
"You can't afford it. How about a cheap room?"
3
nice
10
37
20
"You can't afford it."
4
cheap
10
4
He puts a bowl of thick purple brew in front of you. It's delicious, but you are scared to ask what is it.
As you drink, Vermeers whispers to you "And watch that guy over there. He keeps muttering about spiders."
"Business hasn't been so slow that I'm giving the stuff away!"
10
drink
10
"Selling drink or a room for the night. Drink is 4, cheap room is 5, nice room is 15. And I hope you buy. Business has been wicked slow lately."
"Call me Vermeers. This is my bar."
A wiry man in black clothes wipes the counter. It's hard to see his face through his long black hair.
0
stnd
10
"In fact, if you ask her about it, you could get a job. If you want one."
"She has been furious, almost debilitatingly so, ever since Nephilim spies stole her necklace. It was one of the few powerful magic items down here - it aided one in leadership. Since she lost it, she thinks of nothing but getting it back."
0
mayor
8
4
0
Mother Claudette
15
purch
8
She thinks. "Actually, if you want, you could buy some spells. For a modest donation."
Her face lights up! "Oh! You're friends of Caius!" She asks you of his welfare, and you tell her how he's doing. She sighs. "I have been so busy since he left, running the church and helping the mayor. There is little I can do for you."
0
caius
8
20
healing
8
"Alas, I am very busy. I can provide healing, if you are in need, for a small donation. But other than that, running a church such as this is much work."
"Greeting, children. I am mother Claudette."
You see an old woman in white robes. She wears a small gold ankh around her neck, and radiates peace and calm.
0
stnd
8
It is very interesting. It also makes practically no sense whatsoever.
He pulls out a sheet of paper, and start talking and writing. He describes and draws his life above, how he was thrown into Exile, and what he has learned since he arrived, throwing in on the side many opinions on life in general.
0
chart
7
13
sell
7
19
12
Bernie's Brews
12
purch
7
"I have all manner of potions and the like, which you may purchase. You can also sell me your excess magic. And, if you would like, you can hear The Chart. It's about the meaning of life."
"I'm Bernie. Welcome to my shop. Would you like to hear The Chart?"
There is a portly man with short gray hair sitting behind the counter. When you enter, he is writing haphazard notes on a sheet of vellum.
0
stnd
7
"Couldn't spend all my time hating people, so I took over the store. And here I am."
"Ah, poor soul. We came down into Exile together. We were just too noisy for those twits up there. We helped build this town up here. Then he died in a Nephilim raid." She pauses to wipe away a tear, and takes a long look at the painting.
0
menrick
6
8
sell
6
18
12
Jasmine's weapons
7
weapon
6
11
5
Jasmine's armor
5
armor
6
"Armor or weapons? Or do you have something to sell?"
0
purch
6
"I sell fine armor, and finer weapons. Also, I need some blades, if you ever want to sell any."
"I am Jasmine, the proprietor of this store. Have been, ever since Menrick, rest his soul, went to the beyond."
A graying woman lounges behind the counter. There is a painting of a man in armor on the wall behind her.
0
stnd
6
"Dragons? Not that good eating. Problem is, try to butcher them, and they blow you up. Plus, there's only five of them. Or, at least, five we've heard of."
He stops talking, in order to try to keep a lizard from killing him.
0
dragons
1
He looks down, and notices a giant lizard is chewing on his leg. He kicks it off.
"Well, there's not too much in the way of livestock down here. The abovegrounders sent down some cattle once, which are good for milk, but the mushrooms turn the meat rancid. So we raise giant lizards. At least they aren't dragons."
0
lizards
1
"Well, I take care of the lizards. Feed them, look after them, try not to get eaten by them." He chuckles evilly. "Butcher them."
"I'm Ken." He seems slightly distracted by the lizards, which never stop eyeing him hungrily.
You see a rugged man with a short beard and long blonde hair. He wears heavy leather clothes, and has a surprising variety of scars.
0
stnd
1
1
2
11
purch
0
She sends forth a smile of almost blinding sweetness. You contemplate homicide.
"Yes. Many do complain, but with the attacks, it's often difficult to keep supply up. Enough for the locals, you see, but not much more. Of course, if you can't afford our rations, Fort Duvno, a scant forty miles to the south, may be able to help you."
0
expensive
0
She smiles even more sweetly. It's starting to get frightening.
"Of course. You look like travellers. Well, rations are 2 gold a meal. Let me know if you want to purchase any" She sighs. "Of course, some visitors, not many, mind you, think the price is too expensive."
0
rations
0
"Well, my (ahem) friend Ken and I bring food from the outlying farmers and sell it here. Mainly cows for milk, and lizards for meat. Let me know if you ever want any rations." She smiles even more sweetly.
"My name is Jen. How can I help you?"
You see a small woman with long dark hair. She smiles sweetly at you.
0
stnd
0
"Moo!"
0
gnrc
5
"Moo." It pauses reflectively. "Moo."
0
gnrc
4
"Hiss." It looks at you hungrily. "Hiss!"
0
gnrc
3
"Hiss."
0
gnrc
2
"Afraid I can't help you there."
48
3
A large brass sign:
City hall
No supplications please
There is a large sign here:
Library of Formello
The temple of the good spirit.
All pilgrims are welcome.
Services every third day.
There is a pair of crossed swords painted on the wall.
