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Recovering quickly, Kin – the party’s volunteered and elected speaker - draws his tall elven frame up to its full height, glances once at the expectant throng and once at this comrades then begins his tale:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, If I can have your attention for a short time I'll give you a brief account of the small adventure my companions and I have had recently. If you'll indulge me I'll give a quick introduction to the main players in this epic: Darius, a noble fighter, renowned for his common sense and no nonsense approach to life and as usual escorted by his noble canine companion Jax."

Darius blushes lightly and shifts awkwardly in his seat as all eyes drop momentarily upon him. Jax strains under his master's firm grip to get at a starter...

"Balin, a sturdy dwarf, the bane of a thousand orcs,"

A welcoming rumble from the mostly dwarven audience floods the room.

"Jiriki, a fearsome barbarian, who is a worthy follower of his god Kord"

The barbarian smiles, looking around to see who's hardest.

"Suva, a healer and priest of St Cuthbert, the conscience of the party."

Suva remains quiet, looking to relax but still troubled.

"Jarek, a bowman and scout of some renown and one half of the greatest debating team ever known, Morin, an expert at ambush and tactics and the other half of the debating team."

There's a knowing gurgle of laughter - everybody's met people like that. Jarek and Morin, stay stony faced. Just.

"Dalrylshana, the loveliest member of our party and knowledgeable in the arcane"

She rises lightly and takes a quick bow to a few non-dwarven admiring eyes.

"Lastly myself, Kin, a humble storyteller who knows a few tricks.

"Now that you now know the cast, I'll begin.

"The adventure began when we were asked to help rescue some poor souls held captive by a cut-throat band of marauding filthy orcs and their equally fiendish ogre scum."

There's an immediate round of applause at the choice of language.

"The party set off into the marsh and proceeded without too much incident until Morin shouted a warning cry as simultaneously the earth exploded and a 40 feet long serpent sprang forth. The party, whilst surprised, was too well honed a fighting unit to be at a disadvantage for very long. Magic swirled in the air as a blinding flash confused the would-be assailant and arrows peppered it from Jarek's deadly blow. The main fighting unit of Darius, Balin and Jiriki proceeded to then make short work of the snake with Morin adding his deft touches from behind whilst performing a merry dance, avoiding the serpent's sweeping tail.

"That humorous incident passed, the party continued on to its main destination, namely the orc stronghold. The party, by good fortune, found an unguarded way into the orc warren. The group proceeded cautiously with Morin and Jarek scouting ahead.

"It was not long before we found a prisoner but alas things weren't going to be that easy, this was an orc. There had obviously been a falling out amongst the rogues. It was at this point that we knew it was going to be a lot harder than we expected, the orc was defiant and even when threatened it didn't succumb but threatened us with our own future demise. We gleaned no information other than a certain Ghull was a foe to be taken seriously."

There's a slight murmur at this and a couple of the dwarves in the room stand quietly and leave. Kin continues.

"We left the prisoner and decided to split into two groups to quicken the search. Balin, Jarek , Darius and I formed one party, the rest the other party. Our little group found an orc dog handler and despatched a few orc guards to the after life but otherwise we found little. The other group headed off, and discovered a suspicious door which was rigged to trap the unwary. Ahead of that there was a large set of heavy double doors, with large handles, kind of a solid diamond in a solid hollow square. They sneaked in, avoided an illusory pit, and a large guardian beast. The beast couldn't withstand the might of Dal's magic and the weapons of Kord and St. Cuthbert, not to mention Morin's deft touches, although it inflicted serious wounds, particularly on Jiriki."

The barbarian grins proudly in his seat.

"This was obviously a vile dark temple to some evil deity. Unfortunately an alarm sounded before cleansing could begin and Morin's group decided to re-join the other party.

"That said a few delaying tactics and diversions were still put in place despite the hasty exit. I wonder if that orc has figured how to get out of the room yet seeing as the lock was removed.......?

"The party then carried on and quickly found some cells, which were guarded, we rapidly rectified that. The prisoners were quickly released and then escorted from that vile pit to safety. Calrhuvianne hastened ahead whilst we escorted Morth Greyhammer at a more sedate pace.

"It is a tale told in brief and I thank you all for listening."

There's a moments pause and then the rapt audience bursts into applause. It seems the tale has gone down well and the feast begins amidst a loud hubbub of discussion. A number of times throughout the meal, members of the party are approached and their hands clasped and heartily shaken. Kin, as the story teller, is particularly focussed upon and one serious-faced dwarf introduces himself as a member of the Greyhammer family. "If ever my family can aid you, you need only ask."

It is a splendid evening and the first time you've all had to genuinely relax; it's very welcome.

A number of other tales are told at the end of the meal but it's clear that most of these are embellished rather than shortened and garner small arguments and laughter rather than rich applause. The end of the feast is abruptly signalled when the mayor stands and brings quiet by stamping his hooves.

"Good friends of Galent, we have tasted a goodly feast this eve and been blessed by the presence and tale of our newest friends," he points an open hand at the party and the (by now quite drunk) throng cheers loudly. The minotaur brings quiet again.

"If the wisest of you will steady the foolhardy on your way out, I will bid you all good night!"

He turns to the party.

"A moment in my chambers if you will.......?"

He gestures behind the head table where the two guards have moved to open two double doors that lead out. Calrhuvianne waves you forward subtly and heads to the doors himself.

The party and Calrhuvianne move quietly into the mayor's chambers, a plush and comfortable almost circular room with plenty of seats and a recently lit, roaring hearth. He bids you sit down and offers a dark port and tobacco for those who wish it and then speaks in his impossibly deep voice.

"You tell a good tale, Kin, although curtailed somewhat of detail, I am quite sure. You're a cautious lot but you're friends of Beryn Lock's and that's good enough for me. He's a good man with his heart in the right place," and then he adds absently as he searches for a pipe, "if not always the brightest of sorts."

There's something distinctly odd about a minotaur smoking a pipe but he's such an imposing figure, giggles are well stifled.

"Beryn has told me something of your adventures and quest and it almost makes me long for my own younger days. He's very excited because he thinks," he pauses a moment, opens the main doors and dismisses the guards for the evening. "He thinks he's found the hilt and you are to join him as soon as possible. To this end I have arranged passage in a boat for tomorrow afternoon."

"My cousin tells me there is another problem that ails you," he looks at Suva, "and I know something of the Ceredophilus. If you wish to free the souls it traps, you need two things to strike the holding vessel: a weapon made from some part of the beast and daylight. Daylight must strike the vessel at the same time as the weapon. For this reason, it is probably deep underground. If you can get something of the beast, the Greyhammers will gladly forge a hammer about it. It will take some time, though - a week at least."

"My concern is what the souls are being trapped for - this is old, dangerous magic; the last time I know it was used, sand giants were able to walk the land and wraithkings moved in the shadows."

"But here - there are lighter things to do!"

He hands Kin a small wooden box which has an eyeglass in it - the Oculus of Ostmant, you are told. It will aid in the identification of any items you might find and can be recharged by casting an identify spell on it (it has 8 charges at the moment and can store 10 max.).

"A modest payment for your splendid tale, the rest of which you have already taken, I believe."

He smiles and is clearly not especially worried about the loss of the items you obtained from the rescue.