Bad Aching Beverages

Shortly into our journey west our party came across a grievously wounded elven corpse. The man had on him a note showing several letters and mention of a society within Bad Aching. We followed the trail left by the deceased to a smattering of sizeable holes in the glen. Abominable creatures called Kruthiks ambushed us upon investigating the area. The creatures were dispatched of, but it was decided that the tunnels of the creatures made home were too perilous for us and we continued our journey to Bad Aching. After a few days travel my compatriots and I arrived once again in the town of Bad Aching. Though our first stop through amounted to little in the way of cavorting we took a bit more interest on our return trip, making note of the notice board. On it was posted both flyers for a drinking competition as well as a bounty for the extermination of the Kruthik Hive. We spoke with the quest givers, the society which stewards the dinosaur preserve we were previously in. The society stated there would be no reward for heads brought, only for the hive being vanquished as well as elucidating the deceased's intention to fumigate the hive with a powerful toxin. The party voiced dissent in pursuing the matter any further. I although remain somewhat driven by a lack of funds (as well as a curiosity for the intended concoction) and decided to investigate the lodgings of the deceased elf. In his room I found a cipher for his personal journal, it also revealed that the scrap of letters we'd found on his person was a note detailing the paths of the tunnels so as not to get lost. I've informed the others of my findings, but it seems some remain unmoved. I fear pressing the matter may alienate myself from my companions and so have decided to drop it. Moving to brighter topics, I was able to come out victorious in a drinking competition sponsored by local brewery company Malort. The concoction was repugnant. Though my lineage leaves me sturdier in the face of imbibing toxic substances, I have encountered few distillations worse on the tongue than this even as an apothecary. I amount my winning to having the good fortune of only ever once drawing the short straw from the drink cart. The prize of a Clockwork Amulet is quite fetching. I don't feel I will be as capable utilizing it so I will mention that my companions may keep it for themselves. And who knows! Perhaps this bounty will embolden them to the thought of braving the hive.