Back at the Keep

[Xerses]

Xorag Deathshade

Seeing the stranger approach and acting what he considers a little odd, Xorag puts his hand on his concealed dagger, while making sure that nobody notices.

Who is this fool? Does he think all strangers are his friends? One step too close and he will regret his actions.

Looking at Arom with hardened eyes, Xorag speaks softly, but with enough tone for the stranger to hear him. "I do not know you and have no business with you. Who I know and what I do are of no concern to you." Pausing briefly to look at the group, he continues. "I find it difficult to believe that the cleric would be found in your company." With a more aggressive tone he demands an answer, "Where is the cleric?"

((Edited for the weapon. I forgot about the no weapon rule in the city.))

[Lexx]

Varick

Varick discreetly asks the barkeep about the stranger that Arom is approaching. Do you know who that man is? Do you think he would join our group. Do you know someone we could hire on our next adventure. I would like to find a druid, and possibly check out those caves (if there is a reward in it for us). Do you know where we should start?

[Dom]

The tavernkeep answers to Varick "He arrived just this afternoon. I don't know if he'd join adventurer types like you but he's been asking some questions around here. Seems he's looking for someone."

About finding man-at-arms, he says "Well there's always plenty of swords-for-hire around here. You see, right at those two tables." He points at a first table where a huge warrior in leather armour with a big bushy beard sits and at a second one where another fellow seems to be brooding over his tankard of ale.

"A druid?!? I know I never met one of those. Hear they are a dangerous bunch. They can strangle you from afar with creeping lianas and feed you to carnivorous plants I tell ya." Scratching his chin pensively for a moment he says "Well there's the mad hermit up in the northern woods. He might be one of those druids."

"You be wanting to go to the Caves of Chaos? Well there's no reward that I've heard of per se. But there's plenty of rumours saying that the place is full of loot the different monster tribes have pillaged from the caravans."

[georges]

Arom

I quickly realize that I made a mistake approaching that stranger.

I take 2 steps back and I decide to not telling him the truth: I do not know his whereabouts. He left our group a few weeks ago without mentioning what his plans were.

Without turning my back to him, I slowly return to the table where I sit where I can keep an eye on him.

[Xerses]

Xorag Deathshade

Watching the stranger return to his seat walking backwards, Xorag smiles a slimy, evil smile while thinking
Ahhhh, much better. Some rodents show their true colors more hastily than others. A simple harsh look and stern words sends this one cowering! Let us see if his lie will lead somewhere interesting.

Slowly, Xorag rises from his seat and approaches the group in a relaxed manner with an expression of curiosity on his face. Looking at Arom he offers a question, "It is curious that you should say the cleric left your group a few weeks ago, don't you think?" He looks over the faces of the group very briefly, but does not wait for an answer. He looks back at Arom and continues, "How is it that your little comrade here wants to replace a lost friend two weeks after his departure? Why would you replace him after coming back from an adventure instead of before you left? Your little friend said it with his own words, We will need to find another adventurer to replace our poor Graveshroud." making sure to emphasize the word poor as if to cry, as he looks at Varick with a sly smile. "Hardly the words one would choose when referring to someone who left two weeks ago, don't you think?"

Looking at the empty table behind him, Xorag drags a chair and spins it in front of him; not at the adventurers' table, but beside it, and straddles the chair. He crosses his arms on the chair back and looks at the group, never pausing to let them respond.

His grin creeps a little further to the sides of his ugly face as he continues.
"It is also an odd thing for you to say, considering the fact that the guards at the gate say that your group left numbering 5. But here you sit, numbering 4 and contemplating a replacement for your lost friend. Perhaps you killed the cleric for his gold and equipment?"

Seeing the expressions on each face, Xorag looks at the barkeep and says "Ale! One for each of us. I think our little group has an interesting tale to tell and it will take much drink to make it easier to swallow. He then turns his attention back to the group and waits, holding his slight, sleezy grin.

[Lexx]

Vairck

Returning from the bar, Hey there stranger, my name is Varick. How do you know Graveshroud Rotbone? He was my friend. Why are you interested in what my friend here is saying? Are you looking to join our group for adventure?

[georges]

Arom

My apologies my dear fellow. I have been told numerous times to stop evaluating the degree of intelligence of people I meet by the way they look. This is obviously another example. I shall make a mental note of stopping that practice.

[serdalkien]

Coylian

I wake up suddenly, sit up on my bed panting rapidly... Oh I'm in my room. Gotta stop having nightmares of that serpent Cleric. I turn on my side and go back to sleep

[Xerses]

Xorag Deathshade

Xorag looks at Arom with angry eyes, then steadies himself and turns towards Varick. "As I mentioned to your backwards walking friend, my business is none of your concern. I seek the cleric for business and require his sacred service so just tell me where he is. I am not looking to join a group of anything, but I am curious as to why you would ask."

[Dom]