Inn of the Welcome Wench(In context location)

[Mixster]

With a look of dissapointment, Mialgru does a quick scan over the books and reports to find any clues there might be as to the nature of this investigation. While looking around, he also takes note of any notes he can find on local wildlife.

Search Check: 1d20+12=20

[LordBlades]

Thank you for showing us in. Beorn nods to Kulgan then heads toward the indicaed shelf.

What I'm looking for are:
-a general map of the land that we can use to make our way to the keep
-a map of the area surrounding the keep
-a plan of the keep
-anything else useful

Let me know what I need to roll (search, the relevant knowledge or something else)

[Hallack]

OOC: Not sure  who else is left but I'm thinking it is just Jax and maybe Arthur

Very well.  After about 10 minutes slowly enjoying his drink Jax finally stands grabbing his pack from the floor near his feet. 

Alright Luke, you may escort me out of your masters home now.  My companions are like to be spending a deal of time in the library.  Do inform them that I will be awaiting them at the Welcome Wench. 

With Luke's acknowledgement Jax follows him from the grounds and makes his way back to the Welcome Wench where he buys another drink to sip upon while awaiting his companions. 

OOC:  I do not mean to assume actions on the part of Luke or that nothing happens.  If such is the case let me know and I will Edit out this last bit as appropriate.

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Brone started looking through the tomes without looking for anything in particular. He wanted a map, but he was also holeful that he might find any martial volumes, treatsies on swordplay, or something of the like. He liked books; not that he thought he was going to get enough time to sit and read them, though if is employers were to remain here, he might find time afterward. "Is there anything specific you two are looking for?"

If they respond with anything, this is Brones assist roll; if they ignore him, this would be his own personal search check.
Search: 10

[vilenatas]

@Mialgru

You search through the stacks recognizing a few maps that are extremely rudimentary.  One suggests that a keep may be placed up the river, and another suggests a town that should be avoided by the name of Nulb, but both of these are not clearly located, and the greatest detail follows the road toward Jonril and Carse and then the free cities of Natal.  Even the paths toward the dwarven cities under the mountains are limited, and it seems likely that the traders that know those paths don't put them down in maps as they are a valuable bit of knowledge.

@Beorn

Please make a perception check.
If you have any ranks in knowledge(history) add a +2 to your check

@Brone

OOC(I'll wait and see if anyone says anything and then add your check to theirs.)

@Hallack

You settle down.  The bar wenches appear to be a little wary of you, but still come by to drop off your ordered drink.  After a bit the innkeeper walks over and whispers a quick apology.  He seems a little flustered and uncomfortable giving the apology.

DC 10 Perception

You notice a powerfully built humanoid with a large sword strapped to his back.  He has a tankard in hand, and you overhear him bragging about how he singlehandedly protected a merchant caravan from a group of bandits.

[LordBlades]

Can I take 10 on it? If so total is 16. If I need to roll:
1d20+6=13

[ShadowViper]

Bobbynock wasn't really interested in maps or even history of the land. No, what he was after was Arcane Lore. Besides, he'd just let his new companions find information and maps pertaining to the Keep and it's surrounding areas. Midnight blue eyes searching the shelves for any tomes that looked of interest to a scholar persuing the arcane.

[Hallack]

Listening to the sellswords antics Jax nods accepting the innkeepers apology and whispers in return, "Has he been a problem?"

Knowledge Local for humanoid type of the Sellsword (1d20+5=21)

Also anticipating but not looking for trouble Jax takes note of the people and the lighting (and therefore the shadows) about the room.

[vilenatas]

@Beorn

You don't find anything different as far as maps, but you do stumble a strange report that talks about hideously disfigured animals coming out of the area near the old fortress.

@Shadowviper

You spot nothing that appears to be arcane in nature at all.  In fact you also spot nothing that seems to have anything to do with magic.

@Jax

"Him.  No he pays his part and tells a tall tale on a regular basis, but he hasn't try to start anything.  Some of the folk find him interesting and others think him a blowhard.

You see that he is clearly human, but quite a bit more heavily muscled.

@Brone

You discover that most of the tomes are littered with reports from all manner of keep staff, as well as a few from the rangers that were actually written down instead of just given directly to the Duke's of Crydee over the years.  Very few have poorly drawn maps that you see as you flip through them, and all the maps concern themselves with the more popular trading routes, none which pass nearby the moathouse keep or the temple as far as you can tell.

[ShadowViper]

Well it seems Kulgan wasn't lying about the state of the library. A bit dsiappointed with the lack of arcane lore, the gnome looks around the room to the others.

"Anyone find anything of interest? I'm not having much luck"

[LordBlades]

Not really. Beorn places the tome he was shuffling through back on the shelf with a disappointed look. Apparently these people aren't much into record keeping. All I could find were some reports about disfigured animals in the area around the old keep. Not sure what to make of it though.

How far from the city is the keep?

[Hallack]

With the confirmation that it was Jax himself and not the storyteller making the the inns wenches wary Jax relaxes back and tries to be amused by the tales and perhaps seeing if the tales contain any information that might be useful to his new job.  

To the innkeeper he says "blowhards can be interesting.  And no need to apologize for your women, I'm just wanting to enjoy your good drink not have one of them on my lap."  

[Mixster]

Well, I've found these rudimentary maps, but they seem varied and not of much use to us. There is a city somewhere up there that we should avoid, called Nulb. And a keep somewhere along the river. But apart from that most of these maps pertain themselves to roads south-eastwards Mialgru answers.

He then ponders for a moment. Before he asks Beorn: Can I see those reports? I know a fair deal about flora and fauna, so I might be able to identify some of those creatures.

Assuming he lets me see it, Knowledge (nature): 1d20+12=27

[Flay Crimsonwind]

"Only thing I've been finding is crappy hand-maps, more about trade than the wilderness. Nothing to do with our destination, I'm afraid..."

[LordBlades]

Of course. Just give me a sec to find them. Beorn reaches for one of the tomes he was reading earlier and starts shuffling it. After a while he hands it to Mialgru. Here it is.

Also, my own knowledge: nature roll for this:

1d20+10=19

[vilenatas]

@Beorn

You were able to piece together enough to realize that these aren't normal animals.  Their bite causes wounds that don't heal except with the greatest of care, and their teeth and claws are far larger and more deadly than most.  They also seem to have a much thicker skin and a much more violent disposition from the reports.

The keep is a half day's march from the city only about 10 miles, but from the little maps you have seen, and the reports you expect thick overgrowth will make the journey much more difficult the first time through.

@Mialgru

You remember reading somewhere about animals and other beings that were exposed to extraordinary evil for prolonged periods developing disfigurements such as these.  You remember them being called corrupted, and that the wounds of these animals often require finding hallowed ground to heal.  Other than what Beorn also recalled you don't recall anything else.

@Jax

Settling in for a bit you listen the blowhard spout a couple of more tales before his audience dwindles.  A couple of other mercenary sorts come down and settle into a booth also listening.  You notice one of them take notice of you, point you out to his much larger friend and then stop a tavern wench to order a drink.  Not much later he walks over with his large friend reaching out a tankard of the same ale you've been enjoying asks if he can sit.

[Mixster]

Those animals sound like they have been corrupted by evil. We should take great care not getting wounded by them, as getting our wounds healed would require us to find some kind of temple.

He looks around the room. Then continues:

I think we should head back to the Inn and set up our plan. We could head out later tonight, but I've traveled far and would like a good nights sleep.

[Hallack]

Jax calmly watches as the mercenary approaches.  He keeps an outward calm but is trying to read the fellow to see if he means trouble. 

"Suit yourself" he says pointing to a chair and pushing it out a bit with his foot. 

Sense Motive on the mercenary (1d20+3=17)

[LordBlades]

After Mialgru finishes what he has to say about the reports Beorn slaps his forehead in an outburst that's not very usual for him Damn it, Mialgru, you're right. Was not very smart of me to dismiss these things as exaggerations. he then turns toward the other people in the library Whenever you gentlemen are done here, I'd suggest we head back to the Welcome Wench as we have some planning to do.

1d20+10=20 Knowledge religion (if not let me know which other) to know the exact circumstances in which those kind of wounds can be healed

[Flay Crimsonwind]

"Sounds fine to me! The sooner we're off and working, the happier I am." With that, Brone quickly turned and left, not even looking behind to see if any were following.

I'll be heading back to the bar as well.