Against the Cult: Party at the Mill (1.1)

Jerek blinks at this, translating the syntax. He's used to people with varying speech patterns, however, and he quickly elaborates: "Crocodiles are giant lizards with heads like dragons, full of teeth. They wait to jump at prey from the water, then pull them in and tear them to shreds." Jerek seems to have the typical rocking-chair warrior's fascination with deadly things that people who never risk their lives seem to develop.

But, if there are no further questions about man-eating beasts or gruesome death, he will change the subject to talk about all the flavors, aromas and additives one can detect in different ales and lagers, and whether ester or butterscotch is preferable for different holidays. If not interrupted, Jerek shows no sign of stopping his talk about beer, likely lapsing into a dull tale about yeast cultures and/or ideas he has for distillation.

Quest recalls that Soraya pointed out the following people:
- "Blackguard" Wilson (whose cousin was in Orlane), drinking by himself
- Lienne Vereel (news monger), in a crowd of laughing people
- Kons Gradeskej (spoke with a trader), who is unloading a wagon in the courtyard

She also mentioned Jobram Dantavy, who is probably at the local tavern.

Which did you want to talk to first?

Victor "Blackguard" Wilson is a blond man in his mid-30s with receding hair and large chin whiskers, drinking from a horn of ale. He nods Quest and Ogbar to a seat with a dour expression.
"My cousin Svall lived in Orlane until a few months ago. He moved to Hookhill with his family then, and I helped him pack up his stuff. He wouldn't say why they were moving, at first."
Blackguard takes another long draught and licks his lips.
"I kept asking him, and he told me..." Victor leans forward and lowers his voice "...that a huge creature with many heads was appearing at night and stealing children! Svall didn't want his children taken, so he's moved away. Svall was the last family I had in the area. It's lonely here, living on your own."

There's a chuckle, and you see that Lienne Vereel has joined your table.

"It's especially lonely when the widow Mathilda doesn't accept your advances, Victor!" She turns to you both. "I hear that you're asking about Orlane. What I heard was that there's something wrong with the water. Some people say it just went bad, but others think it was deliberate...some kind of poison. The people there have been acting funny lately, that's for sure. It's too bad, because the poisoned water is throwing off trade; Orlane has provided all the best fruit for Hochoch for years, and now other peaches and pears don't satisfy. Nobody dares to try food grown with poisoned water. Someone should definitely figure out what's happened to the water and clean up the mess. Is that why you're here? As adventurers?"

Blackguard, scowling at Lienne, nods and turns back to Ogbar and Quest. "The east road to Hookhill passes right through Orlane; it's four days' hike from here, two days further to the Gran March border, and 'nother three days to Hookhill." Lienne nods, as she memorizes interesting details about your appearance. Blackguard continues: "You've got the Dim Wood to the north - plenty of monsters in the deep places there - and the Rushmoors to the south. The east road - Cecily's road, some call it - goes through the edge of the Dim and into a valley on the other side - that's where Orlane is. That's about the all of it." He takes another long pull on his horn and then waves to Tap to refill it. "That'll get you there. My cousin's farm was on the east end of town, just north of the road. Little farmhouse with green shutters, if someone else hasn't moved in and repainted them." He squints at you both, and then smiles. "Best of luck to you. I do miss those Orlane grapes. Be glad to get those again. If you are the sort who want an actual map, well, you'd best talk to Leeson Gatloc at the Book."

Thacogygax wanders about, and sees a fair amount of activity. The town is a small one, with a short wall built around an older section (he finds himself calculating the best angle to breach the wall and stops himself - old habits die hard) and newer homes, businesses and a temple outside the walls. A bridge spans the river to the east, which then starts the East Road. Roads lead north and west on this side of the river.

After a bit of walking, Thacogygax notices a female and her young staring at him. He at first thinks that they are reviling him, but then one of the hatchli...children comes over and says "You're so shiny! Are your scales wet?" The mother comes forward, embarrassed. "Please excuse Nyomba - she's never seen a blue dragonborn before!"