The Journey of the Legend part 9

Once I got the Moorbounder under control, and we started back on the road, I started thinking about the previous night. What had that structure been, and How had it been created from the blanket Max gave me? Why had it taken the from of my parents house, and Why in the Hell did it have that horrible room in it? Thinking about it for a few minutes I couldn't come up with any answers to my own questions. I would have to ask Max, and see if he knows anything. but I won't see him for 2 weeks. As if able to hear my thoughts, Melfina rides up with Marda, as they are on the same horse still, and she asks me about the room she saw in the cabin. At first I tried to deflect the question, pretending that she had asked about the common room of that mysterious pillow cabin. After she asked again, pressing harder, I finally admit that due to events in my past, I had come across scenes like the one observed of mutilated bodies. after seeing that type of thing enough times, I had vowed not to make weapons for general use, and only make them for special orders for people I trusted. I for one would not be responsible for the death of defenseless people. But what about all those I have killed in the last few days... No. they were Taking innocent people, and if they had the chance, they would have taken, or killed us. As sad as it was, they were not defenseless innocents.
 
As turnabout is fair play, I ask Melfina about her scars. She had seen mine, and knew of my career, but we know nothing of hers. She says she has earned some of them in the last 8 years, but she can't remember anything past that point. She doesn't seems to want to elaborate more, so I turn the conversation to our other task, the Hydra. never needing to fight one, I'm not really sure about how to kill it, and I wonder if either of the two women know how. Unfortunately, after comparing notes, they don't know any more than I do. We know that it can quickly heal itself, but we don't know what would stop that from happening. Also that it has lots of heads, and is kinda lizard like. I guess we will have to figure it out as we go. I observe to Marda that she clearly has military bearing and experience, and I ask her about it. Apparently she was an instructor for the standard military of Dawn's reach. I briefly wonder if she was there when I was, but she continues on saying that she only served for 5 years. Knowing that Dawn's reach was a rather elitist city, very militaristic, and with terrible slums, she probably left as soon as she could. Since we are talking about each other's history, I ask Rorin what he did when he left the city, all those years ago. He simply responds that he walked about the land, finding his own way in the world. Turning back to Melfina and Marda, I see that they have ridden ahead, so I turn back to Rorin, and start talking to him about improvements to his cane.
 
We continue on this way, chatting about our favorite eateries in the city, or where to find the best foraging foods in the wilds, until a town comes into sight. As we get closer, figures start to appear, both small humanoid and larger beasts. It seems the smaller figures are Halflings, and the larger beasts seem to be dinosaurs. I have not seen many of the creatures, but Having heard that Halflings use the creatures as Beasts of burden, as both of them seem to be rather stubborn, we must be coming up to some sort of Halfling village. Soon enough, riders appear on the road ahead of us, riding fierce looking bipedal dinos. these must be Raptors of some sort. I had heard more stories of these creatures than seen them. They are probably here to keep the peace as people move through their village, and not wanting to make a bad first impression, I address them. Not seeing any military insignia, or any that I recognize, I speak generally, and ask them if we may enter their town. Asking what our business is, we state that we are heading out to the Incantori mountain range. The Halfling speaker addressing us is a young female, and with a quick examination, every one of the guards are young and younger. They can obviously see our weapons, and I can tell that her eyes linger on the Blackened Blade of my axe. After a few moments, they acquiesce to us entering the town, and guide us in. All the guards use the same equipment, spears with no armor, and seem to be a light cavalry. With 5 guards in front of us, and 8 behind, we ride into the village, where they take us to a Barn where we can leave our mounts, and equipment. The leader of the guards asks us to meet her at the inn in town once we have situated our gear. Melfina and Marda seem to be working on a small space for Spike, and a smaller creature that Marda was concealing. A small, dragons head pokes up out of the straw pile they had made for the creatures, and the form of a pseudo-dragon pops out, fluffs it's wings a bit, and settles down, to look at everyone in the group in turn. I can feel a sort of greeting in my mind, more of an idea of a known presence, and in draconic I greet it back. It is clearly able to understand the language, as another idea of Welcoming comes back to me. Huh. Neat.
 
The horses are left in the barn, and we leave the Moorbounder outside tied up on a long lead, so it can't bother the horses, or get away, and we head over to the Inn to meet up with the captain of the guard, and we can all tell that the inn was not made for taller people. as it is the only inn in town, prolonged time standing in this place is going to hurt my neck. We enter, and ignoring the stares we get, I immediately head for what appears to be a stage, and sit on the edge of it, so I have Some room at least to stretch my legs out. a Couple of my compatriots have similar problems with the tables and chairs, and by the time we all get situated, the Halfling we met earlier has appeared. Wearing well fitted breeches, billowed blouse, and everything about her has a look of someone who has worked for a while. She introduces herself as Elana, captain of the town guard. She explains a few things about the town, like the fact that they still worship the old god of the harvest, and how everyone in town is required to serve on the town guard for at leat a couple years after they complete schooling. The problem she wanted to talk to us about was the fact that people and livestock have started going missing. The problems started about two months ago, and while only 3 people have gone missing, several chickens and goats, and a duck-billed dinosaur have also gone missing, and a little town like this needs all the help they can get. The captain says our food and drink will be paid for, along with a free stay in the barn, if we can help out, and we agree. Rorin pays for the food anyway, as he feels that the town needs all the help it can get right now, and we all get our various meals. Over a lovely bowl of pumpkin chili, we discuss details of the areas the disappearances have happened. All of them taken at night, no blood, nearly all of them were taken on the outskirts of town. We inquire about the White Dragonborn, whom we are pursuing, and he passed by this way 3 or 4 days ago. She says He had a very distinct cloak, but he stayed a very little amount of time, and has not been seen since. We leave the inn, and Melfina hangs back to see if she can overhear anything, and we head back to the barn. the sun is coming down, and we will have to look around tonight to see if we can find anything. As Melfina is getting back to the barn I head out to check on the moorbounder, and we both hear something on the far wall of the barn. She heads around the barn the long way, and I head over to the moorbounder who is looking at something in the woods. Knowing the look of a predator who has detected prey, I move slowly, and talk quietly to it. As I step out into the moonlight, I feel raGE! People Using MY Weapons Against Others?!! Creatures Killing For the Fun of IT? I will destroy Everything!! MY Fire Will Consume All of Those Who Ever Dared To Kil Innocent Life! Wait. I have done that. I.. I don't need to kill anymore. I... Don't know what came over me.
 
Shaking off that terrible feeling, I head over to mittens, and together we peer into the inky black treeline. maybe being able to make out a figure, I wait there, giving Melfina time to get around the barn. As she comes around the barn, She seens me staring into the trees, and I spot her out of the corner of my eye. I motion to her that I am going to walk out, wide of the barn yard, and try to get the breatures between me and the barn. I pull on mittens' lead, but he doesn't want to go anywhere, so I leave him, and walk alone away from the barn. I can hear what soujnds like a wild boar, but thinking that even this little town has enough large Dinos to keep most boars away, I am thinking this creature is something else. I call out to the void, to try to see if the creatures can be reasoned with, but no responce is given. Damn. I call out again, saying that while I may not attack, I will Defend my self if I am required. An honest to gods Boar walks outof the woods, it's attention on me. it reminds me of the last time I saw a boar like that, and I think back on sergeant Stubbs, and his companion, Bristles McTuskface. I can see that my freinds have come out of the barn, and while they all look briefly disgruntled, they are all within range to help if needed. Waery of possibly more people in the woods, and thinking about stubbs, I am caught off guard as the boar bolts, but Melfina is paying attention, and with a voice of command, one that she is expecting to be listened to, she points at the boar and speaks, Stop! While there is a little hesitation, the boar does not infact stop. Trying once again, and a little preturbed, she once again commands it to stop, and this time it comes to a grinding halt. Aurane Comes up with a rope, and while he blocks most of my veiw, it looks as if he is giving the wild piig a massage, but as he steps away, it seems that he has successfully tied the boars legs, and has it neatly gathered up. As we gather around the boar, a voice comes from the darkness, telling us we need to let the boar go. While we try to negotiate with this strange voice, Rorin has slunk off. After agreeing to untie the boar if the creature will show himself , and after untying the boar, a werebear steps out into the moonlight, and the boar it'self turns into a wereboar. Ah. Ok, some things are making sense.
 
Apparently, Harold, the boar, and Jarret, the bear, and one other are the missing town's folk, and have been, "Bestowed a Gift" by Jalivair, the old god of the harvest. This gift is to have a stronger ability to defend the town in times of need. When this Gift was bestowed on them, they felt a strong surge of anger, them became lycanthropes. That must have been that rage that took me earlier, and looking around, I can see the others making the same connection. Two other people from this village were turned the same way, 200 years ago, and we can go talk to them, and see what can be done. AFter a short hike into the woods, we arrive at the Lycan camp, and it turns out to be a natural area of trees that have formed a small hut. as we meet Hank and Gertrude, I come to realize, as Gertrude is gesturing to branches that are doing her will, that this must be a druids grove. Having worked with druids in the past, and having them tell me all about groves they wished they could make, (cause that's kinda the only thing they really Want to do) I can tell that this place was sacred. That and the fact we has to remove our shoes before coming in. We ask about the White Dragonborn, and he was observed getting some water in town, but then leaving. His cloak was something from the caster wars, given to people who learned magical arts, and possibly may be magical itself.
 
We inquire about the needs of the Lycanthropes, and what we could possibly do for them. I am somewhat surprised that the others are taking this so well, as Lycanthropy is looked down, Wrongly, in the world, and if they aren't rich or successful, some people see them worse than dirt. I am happy that my friends don't see that way, as it could solve some conflicts later on. When this happened 200 years ago, more than just the 2 remaining here were turned, and when the others went back, no explanation was given, and those that went back died shortly afterwards. Gertrude tells us that they do need some supplies, she requests parsnips in particular, and where to leave the supplies os that they may be retrieved . Melfina asks if the old couple knows anything about the Undertow, and Gertrude's old mentor was part of the undertow, a Rinn Moonweaver. Harold gives us a letter to give to his sister, Elana, and to tell her that the missing people will be back, and that they are happy and fine, and we head back down the hill to the town. Waking up late, as we were up into the early morning talking, we wake up to Elana waiting for us outside the barn. She has a lovely tattoo of a duck on her back.