You talk with the soldier a bit. Things haven't been going well with the war lately. It's a depressing conversation.
You talk with the soldier a bit. Things haven't been going well with the war lately. It's a depressing conversation.
You meet a soldier of Exile, big, burly, well armed, and very harried looking.
0
stnd
25
"To enslave us evil bad. They must be punished."
"Nepharim like what you humans call mules, bigger than us and sterile. These mules hate us and enslave us. Mrrrr. But kill their chief and may inspire Nephilim to revolt, so you can free prisoners. To be tried, one may hope!"
0
mule@neph
10
It purrs happily. "We thank you for your good efforts in this. My people thank you and wish to help in your war. Goodness to you!"
His eyes flash. "Mrrrrow! At last, ones to help us! My peoples are held by angry mule Nepharim in cave far to north and a little east. If you were freeing them, they could revolt and help you! Mrrr. Nepharim not all bad, but these should die."
9
1
miss
10
He bows he head. "Mrrrr. Much sorrow, but my affairs are private for now."
He turns his round, glittering eyes to you. "I am Awrmm."
There is a Nephil sitting alone at the long table. It sips daintily at a cup of milk.
0
stnd
10
You play with her a little while. It makes her feel a little better, but not much. And when you say you have to leave, she seems a little bit too stoic about it.
0
play
9
She sniffles. "All my friends were in Cotra, but we hadda' run away, and I can't find 'em now. Will you play with me?"
0
frie
9
"Lookin' for friends."
She curtsies. "I'm Angarahad."
You find a thin little girl, playing by herself as best she can.
0
stnd
9
"They're out in the middle of nowhere. From there, head straight west a ways and you'll find the sliths." He drinks more. Much more.
"Yeah, we found this big hidden lair of 'em. Been tryin' to tell our superiors about it, but they don't even want to hear about it now!" He drinks. "Hey! You're adventurers! Look, head roughly north of Cotra a long way and look for these totems!"
0
slit
8
"Damn the Empire. That's all I got ta' say. Damn the Empire."
"That's what they taught us with Cotra. They don't want to take us over. They want revenge. They aren't goin' to stop until there's nobody left down here. And they can do it too." He takes a very long drink.
0
pris@kill
8
He swigs again. "And the Empire troops aren't all that's out there. We stumbled on a big nest of sliths too! Barely got away alive!"
0
empi@raid
8
He takes a long pull of his ale and shakes his head. "I been pulling patrols out west. Empire raiders are out there. They ain't takin' prisoners, they're just killing."
He takes a swig of ale. "Call me Gibrain."
You meet an Exile archer, who looks to be about to embark on a major drinking spree. At the moment, we seems to want someone to talk to. He waves you over.
0
stnd
8
""
23
purc
7
"Well, we're busy making war boats. Obviously, you can't get any of those. However, we have a few small fishing boats. You could purchase one of those, only 400 gold."
0
boat@ship
7
"Cotra got destroyed in an attack by boat. Same thing could happen to Silvar. We're making war boats to keep it from happening again."
0
busy@time
7
"I'm the town shipwright. Busy time.
"Hello. I'm Ruth. Are you interested in boats?"
A sweaty woman with a leather jerkin and a belt covered with tools breezes by you. You manage to catch up with her and flag her down. She has long, reddish hair, a round face, and a harried expression.
0
stnd
7
He smiles. "I heard what you did to those brigands. Word got around. Nice to know some Exiles still care."
"Thieves are all right, sometimes. But there's a group that's pickin' on the refugees, takin' what little they got! Total scum. They got a lair near here somewhere. I'm trying to figger' out what to do about 'em."
8
1
deal@brig
6
"I hear it's just a ruin now, with looters and monsters. And bodies. Bad place to be. Real bad."
"I was there when the whole mess happened. They hit us by sea, crack troops and mages and a bunch of spell-casting monsters. They didn't want to take the city, just fry it. They blasted everything with spells. Everything!"
0
runn@cotr
6
"Runnin' from Cotra. And dealin' with the brigands."
"They call me Asp. I'm from Cotra."
You meet a very dirty man in leather armor. He doesn't look like he trusts you. He doesn't draw his sword, but keeps his hand near it.
0
stnd
6
""
117
nanc@labr
5
"You're adventurers, right? You travel? I'm looking for someone, maybe a refugee, her name's Nance."
0
watc@refu
5
"The ones who were bugging us got slit, but more will be back. Bet on it."
"None of your concern. We'll take care of it." She pats her knives.
8
1
brig
5
She spits. "Keeping an eye out for the brigands. And keeping an eye on the refugees."
She starts to sharpen a knife. "I'm Elspeth, adventurers. What do you want?"
A small lethal looking woman in black leather watches you carefully. She has a wicked looking knife in each hand, and more strapped to her chest and legs. When she sees you aren't about to attack, she relaxes, but not much.
0
stnd
5
"Anyway, there's a Nephil called Awrrm, or something in town. Ask him about the mission - he'll help you."
"Yeah, you heard right. A band of kitties enslaving another. And we're supposed to risk life and limb freeing them. But hey, if it works, the kitties would make good allies!"
0
neph@slav
4
""
118
miss
4
"If you want a mission, let me know. If you succeed, I'll put in a good word for you at the Castle!"
"Plenty of problems. We think some brigands are harrassing the refugees. And what's more, the Castle has a mission it wants me to find someone to do." He thinks. "Wait! You're adventurers!"
0
prob
4
"It's a ruin now, nothing of value left. And we still can't figure out where those troops came from."
As he says what happens, his voice cracks with fear and frustration. "It only happened a few weeks ago, not long before the barriers went down. A force of crack troops arrived by sea, with a bunch eye beasts. They showered the place with spells."
0
dest@cotr
4
"When Cotra was destroyed, they had to leave in an instant. Hardly any time to gather possessions. We've erected a shanty town for them to the southwest. Try not to disturb them - they have enough problems as it is."
0
refu
4
"Well, I've been dealing nonstop with the refugees from the destruction of Cotra. Dealing with it every minute of every day, and so have all my men. We don't have a person to spare for all our other problems."
"I'm Captain Arlen, Commander and Acting Mayor of Silvar. I'm quite busy. What can I help you with?"
The commander of Silvar sits at the desk. He's a muscular man of only early middle age, but the crook in his back and bags under his eyes indicate he's aging quickly. You also notice he's wearing the mayor's sash.
0
stnd
4
63
56
Anastasia's Armor
5
purc@armo
3
""
6
sell
3
"Efram runs the weapon shop. He so loves to talk about his sword Demonslayer. It's not the real one, of course. But he's very proud of it."
0
efra@demo
3
"The whole business with the war and the refugees has been very hard on my husband, Efram." She smiles weakly. "If you see him, ask him about Demonslayer. It'll cheer him up."
0
tiri@husb
3
"You can buy or sell armor here. I still have some items in stock, but things have been hectic here. Very tiring, for me and my husband."
She shakes her head to clear it. "Forgive me. I am Anastasia. Welcome to my shop."
You have to shake this woman awake. She had nodded off onto a breastplate on the counter.
0
stnd
3
""
9
trai@teac
2
"Our peoplesss are both threatened by the Empire. The war between usss brought much hate, but by bringing our skillsss to you, we hope to show we truly want peace."
0
peac@warf
2
"It is Ossassatass-Esshassah." His mouth handles the succession of hisses that make up his name effortlessly. You would have more trouble.
0
full@name
2
"I am a teacher of waysss of warfare. I can train you, if you wish. It is my way of bringing peace." His sibilant voice is hard to understand sometimes, but you manage.
"Call me Oss-Ess. It isss easssier to say than my full name."
You meet a mighty slith warrior. He bows to you in greeting as you approach.
0
stnd
2
""
8
sell
1
86
81
Efram's Weaponry
7
purc
1
He shakes his head. "They're probably afraid to let it out again, for fear the Empire'll steal it. Oh well."
"After some adventurers reforged it and used it to slay this big demon called Grah-Hoth, they gave it to King Micah, and it got put away in the Castle, in the Great Cave. Long ways away, southwest."
0
adve@cast
1
"Fine blade - I even saw it once! Some adventurers passing through had it. Beautiful work." He sighs.
"Oh, that?" He looks back at the sword behind him. "That's Demonslayer!" He chuckles. "Not the real Demonslayer. I just call it that. Fine blade though, Draco steel. Nah, the real Demonslayer's in the Castle, real guarded."
0
demo@swor
1
"Well, you can sell me some weapons or buy some new ones of your own."
He laboriously stands up to shake your hand, then plops back down again. "I'm Efram."
An aging man sits behind the counter. He has a tired look and a huge paunch. There is a two-handed sword hanging on the wall behind him.
0
stnd
1
"Just don't leave your stuff outside that room, or someone will walk off with it, if you know what I mean."
"Yeah, I ain't usin' it, and I'll keep an eye on your stuff for you. It's the room at the end of the hall. There are some cobwebs in there, but there's plenty of space."
0
stuf@stor
0
"So, if you want, you're welcome to keep your spare stuff in my storeroom."
"Yeah. It's just been soldiers back from the front and refugees from Cotra. Everyone's destitute or lookin' to raise Hell!" He bends close to you. "I'm always lookin' to help out the people who help us out."
0
adve
0
Iron Rations
6
3
11
purc@rati
0
17
9
He shakes his head. "Sorry. It's nice to have you here, but the room's still 15 gold."
3
room
0
"Well, I can give you a nice room - the best, only 15 gold. Also, I've been selling a lot of rations. Let me know if you want to buy some. It's good to see some honest-to-God adventurers here."
"Hi! I'm Gary. Welcome to the Silvar Arms."
There is a heavy-set man, with short brown hair and a wild beard, polishing the bar. He wears rough home-spun clothes and a silver hammer around his neck.
