3. Bittercreek to Troll Bridge (action)

[tibbius]

The troll tilts back its head and looks down its nose at you. "I can't believe you stood in line for an hour just to complain about the transit fees," it answers you. "They go to upkeep of the bridge, and personnel expenses. Scaffolding isn't free, y'know, and neither is gathering stones and making lime for mortar. D'you want to go out there under the bridge and replace the fallen stones? ... Didn't think so." He bounces his outstretched hand up and down once. "Fork over."

[GreyWolfVT]

Grax grumbling digs around his pockets for a gold coin taking the time to observe these so called repairs and upkeep eyeing the bridge finally getting the coin he holds it for a moment still thinking over the work he can see and the bridges construction wondering if the math really ads up and if the work looks remotely decent.

[tibbius]

The bridge is solid enough, not dwarf work but competently built and maintained.

The troll waits patiently as Grax fumbles. "I'm not goin' anywhere," it says casually. "Take yer time." The line of several people waiting behind you seem patient as well.

"Hey," it adds a moment later, "are you n yer buddies adventurous types?"

[Rex]

Sealgair

"That depends on what you mean by adventurous types."

[tibbius]

The troll smiles a filthy smile.

"Like, d'yerz go about righting wrongs or solvin' mysteries or looting the dead? Cause I got a problem that needs someone like that."

[Rex]

Sealgair

"In that case then yes we are the adventurous type."

[GreyWolfVT]

Grax nods seeing the bridge work is decent enough and hands over the coin. "Yah, we're venturin types. Why yah got somethin' fer us?"

[tibbius]

"Simplest version is, my cousin Isyat is a lousy gambler. He bet his inheritance on a horse race, an' he lost. But o' course he diznt carry his inheritance around wif himself, right? So ... he's now bein held for ransom. Either need someone to rescue him, but can't pay much, or need someone to retrieve his inheritance, which you could have a share, no problem."

[ybn1197]

Elzarune scratches his chin in a thoughtful way. "And where would either be found?"

[tibbius]

"Isyat's inheritance is in safekeeping at the Spire. You'd need the password to obtain it easily. Isyat himself is in Sudrun. We got a message from him last week. He's in one piece. For now."

Sudrun is a populous town or small city toward the southern feet of the mountains, near the edge of the marshes. It would take two to three weeks to get there.

The Spire is believed to be the tallest peak of the central mountains. It's where creatures like trolls and dragons have the center of their culture. It would probably take a couple of weeks to get there. From there it would take about two weeks to get to Sudrun.

[GreyWolfVT]

Grax scratches his head "Soundin like a long journey ahead...huh well uh we gonna do it er sumthin else?" the dwarf asks turning to the others whom appear to be unusually quiet.

[Rex]

Sealgair

"May as well, the sheeple here seem fine with the trolls."

[ybn1197]

Elzarune nods his head in disbelief. "And why exactly would you need someone to get it for you? You have all the information you need. Why do you need us? And don't tell me you ALL need to stay here for the bridge. I may have been born in the morning, but not this morning."

[tibbius]

"Uh. Well, y'see, the thing is, right, that, uh, Isyat's inheritance is in the Old Troll Vaults in the Spire. And the vaults have been, uh, over-taken by a dragon. So someone is needed to kinda extract the inheritance from the vault. Which is where adventurous types like yourselves would come in to the picture, right?"

[ybn1197]

"You're lying to us," Elzarune says with a scowl. "Before we started our parlay, I cast a spell upon myself to alert me when someone was lying to me. Now I suppose we shall be polite enough to give you another chance and tell us the truth."

[tibbius]

The troll looks alarmed. Then affronted. "No, really. The only catch is that there's the dragon in charge of the vaults. Someone needs - I mean, we need someone - to get the inheritance out from under the dragon. We even have a copy of the testament from our grandpa, listing what belongs to Isyat."

[Rex]

Sealgair

"We are supposed to believe a bunch of trolls about a dragon, this is not going to end well."

[GreyWolfVT]

Grax pipes in "Kinda gettin tha feelin they're tryin ta use us as dragon fodder."

[Rex]

Sealgair

"Seems that way, I would want some serious treasure, up front before I take on a dragon."

[tibbius]

"Fair enough," says the bridge troll with a shrug, "Isyat always was kind of an idiot and I know it's not really your business to bail him out. Can understand you don't want to tangle with a dragon. Neither do we. But Isyat's captors don't really know how much 'is inheritance is worth. So could we send you with a bag of gold to bargain for his release? When you get back with him you could have another bag of your own."