You see a tall, attractive woman with short dark hair. She studies you carefully.
"My name is Carol. Above ground, I was of the Hamer clan, but that hardly matters now."
"I provide healing to the soldiers of this rather put-upon fort, as best I can. It's a difficult, but necessary job."
0
fort
0
"Yes. Between the bandit raids and the Nephilim, there is no end to the wounds I must tend to. We're always looking for help against them. You could find out more from Captain Johnson."
0
healing
20
1
stnd
0
The man in front of you is huge, leather-clad, and grimy. He holds a very large hammer.
He shakes your hands vigorously, dirtying them. "I'm Grimmet. The blacksmith."
"I'm the blacksmith around here. I repair weapons, and the like. You can buy some here, and sell your spares as well."
1
repair
0
"Actually, I just do small repairs. Now Boutell, up in Fort Draco, he can do some good repairs!"
1
blacksmith
0
"God knows they need one. The soldiers need fresh weapons as fast as I can provide them. The raids have been coming faster, not slower.
1
raids
0
"Mainly from bandits, lately, with the big kitties taking up the slack. There used to be lots of farms to the north. Used to be. Now, we're the only fort in this area."
He pauses to think.
"You know, we could always use some help. Talk to Captain Johnson, across the way."
1
purchase
7
Gunston's smithy
3
9
1
sell
8
2
stnd
0
You see an old man sitting under a tree. He's fishing.
"I'm Scott," he says in a very low voice. "Be quiet. You'll spook the fish."
"Well, not much. I used to be a farmer. Now I just do odd jobs. And fish."
2
fish
0
"You be surprised. The cave fish are pale and strange looking, but they make great eatin'."
2
farmer
0
His speaks loudly for the first time, in anger. "Those cat bastards, they burned my farm. They wanted the land, so they took it. Johnson sent out a group to attack their new fort, but they were never heard from. So I'm stuck here."
He calms down then, and goes back to fishing.
3
stnd
The man behind the counter is short and heavy-set. He wears mages robes, not crisp and clear, but ratty, as if he'd been travelling recently.
"I am Walner. Walner the mage. Acting as a sage, at the moment."
"Well, I try to be a sage. But lately, I've been seeing a lot of action." He looks down at his robes apologetically.
3
sage
0
"Well, my specialty is item lore. I can identify your items, if you like. But I've also come across some interesting alchemy information. I know a recipe for poison, that only uses toadstools."
3
alchemy
16
Walner the sage
0
0
3
identify
19
3
action
0
"Captain Johnson enlisted me to help out against the foe. I was on a raid against the bandit fort up the hill to the west. It was a mess, but we fared much better than the group that attacked the Nephilim to the north. None of them returned."
He looks at you hopefully. "You know, we can always use more help."
3
purch
0
"Alchemy, or identification?"
4
stnd
0
A small, slender woman sits behind the counter, working on fletching an arrow.
"I'm J.R. Please don't ask me what it stands for."
"I sell archery supplies. And a few darts. Let me know if you want to purchase something. My stock is kind of low - most everything has been going to the soldiers."
4
purchase
7
J.R.'s archery
11
13
5
stnd
0
A tall, peculiar looking man dressed in leather sits behind the counter. He has long hair and a broad smile.
"I'm Jason. Pleased ta' meetcha'."
"Well, I used to sell farming supplies. When there were farms. Then, I diversified."
5
divers
0
"Into supplies of a more esoteric nature."
5
esoteric
0
"Ask to purchase something, and you can see your yourself." He thinks. "Also, if you want, you can sell me things you may have ... ummm ... obtained."
5
purchase
12
Johnson's supplies
0
2
5
sell
13
6
gnrc
0
"Hiss."
7
stnd
0
Behind the counter is a blonde woman of medium build. She is busy to the point of frenzy.
She casts you a quick glance, not pausing to interrupt her work. "Alice."
"I sell food, drink, and room for the night. Drink is 2, room is 5. Let me know which you want."
7
food
11
2
6
7
drink
10
"No credit."
"Here you go." It's some sort of wine, weak and unpleasant.
2
7
room
4
"You need five gold."
33
38
8
stnd
0
You see a woman in light mail. A longbow rests against the table, and she has a half-full quiver over her shoulder.
"I'm Kendra."
"Normally I'm an archer. But this is my lunch hour."
8
archer
0
"Yeah. I puncture the occasional brigand. The pay's OK, and the barkeep gives me free lunches."
8
brigand
0
"Sniping, mainly, with the occasional raid. There was a fort up the hill to the west, once. Then the brigands took it and moved in, and now we're trying to get it back. They've taken a lot of losses lately. So there's hope."
She looks you over. "You know, a small, tough group could probably take them."
9
stnd
0
You see a small, worried man in traveller's clothes. A holy symbol hangs prominently from his neck.
"Greeting, my son. I am called Caius."
"I bring the word to the flock. I once did so in Formello, but now I am moving to safer ground."
9
formello
0
"I was assistant priest there, but the raids got too much for me. I worked for Mother Claudette, a good, fine woman. Plus, she had the ear of the mayor. If you're ever there, mention my name to her. She'll help you get settled."
"As for me, I'm off."
10
stnd
0
You see a Nephil. His fur is matted and greasy, and he is clearly starving. A long gash on his leg festers untended.
He hisses weakly at you.
"I wait here to die, human. And I will be avenged."
10
avenge
0
He makes a weak growling noise. "On your captain. And all of you. You will all die, for vengeance for your attacks on us." His voice is fading. "Now go. I have said all I will to you. Leave me to die."
11
stnd
0
You see a large, bearded man in gleaming steel armor. An iron halberd is strapped over his back. Fortunately, he looks glad to see you.
"I'm Captain Johnson. I'm the boss around here."
"Protecting this fort from the bandits and Nephilim. It's my job to not rest until all the vermin are dead. And I can use all the help I can get."
11
help
0
"Our soldiers are the best, but we can always use some mercenaries too. The bandits are off balance now, and we can really use help against the Nephilim." He practically spits out the last word. There is a weird gleam in his eye.
11
nephilim
0
His face twists in a very disturbing way. "Vicious vermin. I'd love to strangle every one. They're building a new fort to the north, and I sent a small group to check it out. They killed them all. We need to nail that fort while it's small."
He grins. "Of course, we're getting them back. We got two of them in the cells. Dying slow."
11
bandits
0
"I'm not too worried about them. They live in the fort to the west. They destroyed several farms, but we're wearing them down. Now, if someone could deal the death blow..." He winks at you.
12
stnd
0
You see an archer. He is wandering around, looking somewhat distracted.
"I'm Jake."
"Half the time, I stay here and guard. The other half, I try to find someone who can play chess."
Chess? You've never heard of it.
12
chess
0
"Oh! You're interested! Well, it's this game..."
He talks about something having to do with kings and queens and mating. It seems interesting at first, but after awhile, you realize it's just a game, and a strange one at that.
Jake notices your glazed look and sighs sadly. "I wish I could find someone who plays."
13
stnd
0
You see a slender, middle-aged woman, outfitted to travel.
"Greetings, m'lord. I am called Helena."
"Travelling now. My lord, Caius, decided to leave Formello, and I was in no mood to argue."
13
caius
0
"He's a priest, and a good one, but he's more interested in preaching than fighting, so we're going to the Great Cave, where things are calmer." She looks worried for a moment. "Or, so we hear."
13
formello
0
"It's a city to the north. They've had troubles, though not as bad as down here. The worst thing that's happened is that some Nephilim spies stole the mayor's necklace." She giggles. "Sounds trivial, I know, but it's supposed to be magic."
"Still, the attacks were starting to increase. I'm glad we're going."
25
stnd
0
You see a battle-worn guard, holding a halberd in a very business-like way.
"I cannot talk now. I am guarding."
"Guarding this fort. Now please go. I must be ever vigilant."
