Mysterious Mud Man

May 1st 2007

Players: Theodone, Eochaid, Tanikas, Heather

The lamps are turned down low here in the common room. Several tables are available for the clientele of the White Hart. Behind the counter, Aron White tends bar, and his wife Emelda cooks the food in the back. A door off to the right can be seen through the dim light, which apparently opens out into a sitting room. A dragon's head can be seen through the doorway. To the left of the bar, stairs go up into the gloom.

Theodone hmms and then nods. His mind wondering as her words come out and all the while he keeps on thinking of the many enemies about. Then he hears the name, that name that not so long ago attacked the library. " The Baron Buffalo..he is still causing trouble..I figured someone would have taken care of him....hmm he may be the one ...now I am interested in finding this, once again."

Eochaid walks in the door his cloak pulled tight around his body to ward off the chill, he takes the briefest moment to glance around the room then walks over and sits at the bar. Hefting his coin purse with a look of disdane he leans over to order an ale and a meal placing some coins on the bar to pay for them.

Tanikas takes a brief look over at the new arrival, looking him over carefully a moment before she turns her attention back to Theo. "You know of this name?" She asks, smiling happily. "You see? I knew you had some information for me." She waggles her fingers at him, "Tell me more. Everything you know." She demands excitedly. "Perhaps this is our perpetrator! If he has attacked the city before, what is to stop him from attempting to take our King?" She thinks, out-loud.

Theodone hmms and looks towards the new arrival. looking towards him for a bit longer and then back towards Tanikas. " Well, I know he had taken or he sent someone to take something from the library. I so happen to be there and got turned to stone that day....I wish pay back but ..hmm. He could be the one but I could not be so positive of it."

Heather comes in to hear Theodone's statement "If you are talking about the baron I doubt you could handle him." she takes a seat at a empty table and motions for her same old order. "I fought one of his retainers, that is a red dragon."

Right after the new arrival comes in and sits down the door to the White Hart opens up and man walks in. Rather short in stature, wearing extremely well made clothes but they look like they haven't been washed in a couple of days, his hair - scraggly. His eyes are shifty and he seems like if someone said boo to him his bones might just jump straight out of his skin.He scurries to the bar and quickly sits as far away from the door as possible, ordering a mug of ale from Aron.

Eochaid sits quietly at the bar enjoying his ale and meal. He seems to be ignoring all others in the room and make no reaction to anything that has been said, only briefly looking over at the new entries to the room with a glance so quick one would wonder if one had imagined it.

Tanikas looks to Heather as she arrives, "Thank you for your wise words, Heather." Looking to Theo, "We had best listen to her, if she is right I would not like to face a dragon of any sort. Not today, at least." When the sketchy fellow enters, she looks over at him. His nervousness seems to set her off slightly, and she narrows her eyes slightly as she considers something. Look to Theo, she then guides his eyes to the new fellow. She arches a brow in curiosity to her table mate, perhaps indicating she is interested in the new arrival.

Theodone looks towards Heather and nods towards her. " You are right and I am cautious. We are simply discussing him at the moment and the possibilities." looking towards Tanikas now he does notice the new arrival and raises a brow. Hmmms and then stands up. " You want a refill of your drink, I will buy." as he looks towards Tanikas at the moment.

Heather seems to put the others out of her mind as she gets up and walks to the skittish man sitting at the bar but keeps her distance "Sir, I got a few questions to ask you. Answer them well and you will get a week paid here at the inn, is that a deal?" she asks sternly but there is a hint of compassion.

Tanikas nods a little at Theo, agreeing with his statements regarding the Baron. Handing her mug off to Theo, "I would appreciate it, thank you, Theo." She gives him a polite bow of the head. Finally, looking over to their shifty companion on the other side of the room, she watches Heather. The big woman has left her weapons and armor at home this evening, but someone of her size doesn't usually have a problem subduing a foe his size.

The man at the bar seems a bit startled by Heathers approaching him. Then quirks an eyebrow at her "I don't need your money" he spits at her a bit disgusted by the offer. "I have a very healthy business that I own and tho it may not look like it right now I'm a very welthy man, and who do you think you are miss speaking to me in that tone?" asks getting offended.

Theodone heads to the bar after grabbing the mug and puts them on the bar, on the other side of Heather. Keeping and eye out on the man. " Two refills please." as he waits and handing some coins over, waiting on the reply of the man. Then he shakes his head upon hearing the reply. " I am sorry good Sir but you seem to have been roughed up or something. I am a little concerned with this."

Heather looks calm as always "What mister Theodone said, and with the king missing people are being questioned left and right."

"Yes they are, and I've dealt with my share of questions as well as anyone else has" He stops and looks the half elf woman up and down "You don't look like the royal guard so who are you to ask me any questions?" he turns to Theodone and sighs "Yes it's been a rough week, especially now that the king has been kidnapped, people have been trying to loot my store, the royal guard have been questioning everyone" he turns and narrows his eyes at Heather before looking back towards Theo, I just came in to get a nice ale before chancing it back outside on the street, those" he seems at a loss for words "Things" he finally blurts out "are all over the city just popping up whenever they feel like it" he seems frustrated by it.

Tanikas continues to sit, recrossing her arms over her chest. Her size certainly won't add anything positive to the man's current demeanor. She just watches the two.

Eochaid quirks an eyebrow almost as if he was amused by the discussion around him, he then waves down the barkeep and orders another mug of Ale, he finishes his meal and sits there at the bar slowly sipping his second mug of ale enjoying it while it lasts.

Theodone raising a brow at the mans answer he blinks a little. " They have been trying to loot your store..that is not right...perhaps if you need the help..I could do some service in your direction, deter them from doing so..." then he looks surprised and seems to frown a little. " Things, what things are you talking about. If I may ask, what do you mean them things and if you require protection to get to your home, I can do that as well."

Heather smiles and hopes her fame will kick in soon with this guy as her player needs to secure her dogs that are freaking out about the storm.

The Merchant stops and looks Theo over "You would offer me help with my store without trying to steal from me?" he says giving him a sideways look

like he disbelieves him "and those things that keep popping up, it looks like a man made of mud or the other ones that look like a man but made out of sticks and leaves and rotting vegetation" he says as if Theo has to be silly not to have come up against one.

Heather looks surprised "bloody hell what do you sell that some one would send shambling mounds at you."

The Merchant looks to Heather "Do you not live here??" he asks "They are all over the city they've just been popping up randomly and attacking people, merchants, and even some of the guards have had to face them"

Tanikas stands up now, the legs of her chair scraping against the floor loudly. "I don't mean to intrude," She says, her large voice carrying over the others as she walks closer, "But /this/ is something I can help with, surely." She offers, "Normally, I charge for my services. However, in the spirit of good will and my Duty to my home, I shall offer my services to you at no fee. I have yet to encounter one of these abominations myself, but I have heard talk of them. If they are causing you troubles, then I shall slay them forthwith. I need only retrieve my Tiger's Claw and my breastplate, and we shall rectify this." She announces, coming up behind the group.

Eochaid's eyes briefly flicker down the bar to the drama unfolding there, without looking up from his mug of ale he speaks in a low voice "One would wonder who a merchant may have offended to have his belongings stolen. One would think that there are better ways to gain protection from One's betters then drowning the issue in a mug of ale." he then takes another sip from his mug before placing it down on the bar again and continues to seemingly ignore those around him.

Theodone hmms and shakes his head at that. "Shambling Mounds they are called and we fought one in the Fair grounds. nasty buggers but I have not met these mud men...did you see them together or apart?" Looking to Tanikas a grin appears on his lips and nods. The n smiles even more as another comes to see if he can help the man. " It seems you have people to help you."

Heather hmmms for a moment "I need to commune with my goddess, Theodone, Tahikas when you are done dealing with him please come to my shop. I would like a guard or two while I do that..... oh crap every one something big is coming get ready."

Eochaid drinks some more out of his mug then places it back down on the bar, he surreptitiously reaches down to confirm that his rapier is loose in it's scabbard and his mace is moving freely in it's thong. He then picks up his mug again to take another long drink. "One would say the little Lady may be on to something" he mutters as he turns to face the door and reclines back against the bar.

Suddenly the door comes flying open and a small human woman comes in screaming and out of breath "Another one of" she pants a little "those... those..."she looks towards the door and then back at the crowd "I have to get upstairs" as she suddenly looks at the floor boards and bolts up the stairs.

The Merchant practically throws his mug back down on the bar "Shite he yells and makes a beeline for the stairs" he turns when he sees no one following "They Can Come Up Throw The Floor!" he yells as he goes up the stairs. There's a sound of people yelling and hollering outside as they run past the white hart.

Tanikas looks over at Heather, nodding. "Absolutely, Heather." She says, and looks around. "Do not worry, I must return shortly with my equipment."

With that, she thumps up the stairs in search of her equipment. Shortly, she returns wearing a simple breastplate, yellow cape, and carrying her Tiger's Claw. A sharp-looking, highly-polished halberd of the finest quality. At her waist is a short sword in a sheath. A tiny round metal shield is strapped to her forearm. "With this weapon do I defend those without defense, and destroy that which is evil." She mutters, clutching her halberd. With that, she looks to the others, "Shall we?"

Theodone looks about as Heather states and feels the vibration and curses. He goes to the table he was sitting at and grabs his bow. " Oh crap, we must get rid of these things...is there another way out of this place, we need to get them away from this place."

Eochaid stumbles out the door seemingly just barely on his feet quietly singing something about going chicken hunting as he stumbles away from the inn towards the street.

The scene as you come out the door is one of panic, people are running to clear the vacinity as there is what looks like a man made of the mud, standing approximately 6 feet tall. He's not moving he's just scared the bejeezus out of everyone as he's literally just formed from the ground about 30 feet from the White Hart.

Eochaid stumbles away into the shadows along the road quickly disappearing from site as he calmly walks around the mud man.

Theodone comes out of Heart and already pulling back with his bow and ready to shoot at the thing. He shakes hsi head and damns as it is once again another monster in town. " Carefull, they are nasty beasts."

Heather comes out with her weapons ready "come my friends 20 gold to the one that does the killing blow."

Tanikas rushes out of the Inn, her Tiger's Claw in hand. Her face is one of serenity and calmness, even amidst the scene they currently face. Shouting back at her comrades, "Raise arms and defeat those which threaten our flock! May you all be blessed, and may the gods guide our blades!" She lifts her halberd, looking toward the mound outside of the Inn. She sure did mean what she said about combat; she doesn't hesitate at all.

Heather touches tans arm calmly and says a prayer in celestial that makes her arms bulge out <+3 to her strength for 15 rounds>

Tanikas rushes forward, yelling at the top of her lungs. Nothing intelligible. She rushes up on the mound, swinging her Tiger's Claw with the boosted strength provided by Heather's enchantment. She connects powerfully, her halberd hitting deep.

As Tanikas goes towards the creature and attacks it. Theodone takes a step to the side and lets loose two rapid shots towards the creature. Both hit and it looks like he may have done some damage but it's still up at the moment. The mud man seems to be taking the blows from the small band of people, not liking the idea of being attacked it tries to slam into the rushing Tanikas, but misses the large woman, somehow.

Eochaid steps out of the darkness in a flanking position directly across from Tanikas on the opposite side of the mud man, he takes a stab at the mud man with his rapier then swings across towards the man's head with his mace, both whistle harmlessly past the man.

Heather touches a shoulder to Theodones shoulder and says another prayer in Celestial that seems to make him more graceful.

Theodone once again lets loose, the extra boost that Heather gave him makes him so much more limber that his second shot goes wide but he still hits with his second. Doing damage again but how much he is not to sure at the moment.

Tanikas stands her ground, easily moving away from the mound's attack. However, when she goes to deliver her own counter-attack, the creature backhands her lumbering attack away harmlessly.

Muddy sidesteps away from the two that are attacking it, and tries to take a swing at Eochaid but misses.

Eochaid steps to the side with the mud man in a complex dance to remain in flanking position almost simultaneously he stabs up with his rapier and swings down with the mace to hit the man both time dealing a good deal of damage and embedding his mace in the creatures head before pulling both weapons out with each making a slurping sound.

Heather aura glows a bright blue that envelopes every one, and this seems to slow down the shambling mound.

The man of mud seems to try to look around to see where the hits are coming from, he dodges out of the way of Tanikas Tiger Claw just in time. Coming back up he tries to take another swing at Eochaid and misses the colourfully dressed man again.

Tanikas is once again unable to hit the mud man. It seems some of the mud from the creature fouled up her grip, and she nearly drops her halberd briefly, however she manages to regain control of it.

Eochaid swings around again in another step in his deadly dance his rapier stabbing forth going through where the mud mans eye should have been and the mace crushing down to flatten the brain pan, bits of mud and rock go flying ans the creature topples and falls. Eochaid then steps back nods his head to his foe and cleans his weapons on a scrap of cloth before putting them away.

Heather looks to the dead monster and then gets a money pouch out and approaches Eochaid "well I did say 20 gold to the one that takes him down."

Eochaid flourishes a bow to the small woman as he takes the pouch "Thank you Lady, One was just noticing earlier that One's funds were getting a bit low, This will allow for One to pay for lodging until something else comes up to advance Ones business" when he straightens up from the bow the pouch has neatly disappeared.

Heather nods "money will be tight, maybe you and Theo can help me with a spell."

Theodone looks to Heather. " What spells is that?"

Heather says "its a commune spell I will be talking to people on the outer planes for questions."

Eochaid bows again "If One can be of help One can only hope to provide said help. For spell craft though One does not know what help One can provide."

Heather says "just guard me from any possible distractions."

Theodone nods and looks about, guarding Heather with his life if need be

Eochaid nods "Guarding, that is a duty One can do, and One would like to say well. When the time comes Lady please feel free to send a runner with a message to the Inn, going by the name of serpentine or Silvertine, One is not sure the exact name of it as One is really quit new in town and was told to look for it by a friend back home." With that he brushes himself off to be sure none of the mud from the slain man is on him then turns to go. "One must leave you here on this night as One has many things to do before finding his Inn for the night."

Heather nods "rest well then sir."

Theodone looks towards the human and raises a brow at the way he speaks but he shakes his head a little with a chuckle. " See you around friend, you did well today." he looks to heather then and grins. " Thank you fro the help miss Heather, I appreciate it."

Eochaid bows again "Then Fare thee well Lady until we next meet, You as well Sir" he nods to Theodone then turns on his heel to quickly disappear into the darkness