Snake's Demise.

Thallan has arrived in Alhereth and is disturbed to hear that people are missing. Something must be done. He decides to find the Elders and see if anything can be done. He decides he will offer his skills as a woodsman and a warrior too.

Filled with purpose, he sets out for the local Tavern to gather information and perhaps rouse a few volunteers as well.

A blacksmith of the nearby Arasgard mountains, Daglin is in town in Alhereth to sell his production as he usually does a few times a year. Only this time around, he hears a lot about people disappearing while he stays in the market. Intrigued, he decides to ask a few more questions to customers and passers by to learn about who exactly disappeared, and in what circumstances.

As Thallan enters the tavern, one of the more noticeable patrons is a large man, belly unbound by an inadequate shirt, with a mess of flame-red hair and beard. He sloppily hoists a stein of what seems to be ale, laughing along with a nearly-equally portly halfling. "...and that's when the dwarf says, 'I'm not talking about the mule, I'm talking about my mother!'" The halfling roars in laughter with the man, but the other patrons seem to roll their eyes. Who knows how long he had been there?

Baelrick had come to town recently, another trip to another village to another so-called wizard. It had been far too long since he had discovered anything new of sorcery, and the missing Janos made for another round of disappointment. Thankfully, the tavern made up for the circumstances. But without a reason to stay, he would likely be back on the road sniffing out another practitioner of the arts. And then the elf walked in...

Thallan walks into the Tavern. He sees the exceptionally large man. He laughs and smiles, "Are you entertaining or just in your cups? Name's Thallan," he holds his hand out to shake the man's hand in greeting.
"An Ale for me and the Bard here!" he says as he sits at the table.
"I'd love to hear another quip if you've any more left in you. Just came from a stint in the woodlands and a few ales and some good cheer is due I reckon."

The man rises from the table revealing his true height, remembering only too late that he has to duck in this play. Halfling construction, true to the little-folk themselves, tried to be accommodating; it was different, however, to be prepared for a man like this.

He extends a meaty hand to the elf, engulfing the fingers of the fairer folk without squeezing too hard. "Baelrick. Some folks call me Tawdry, but only because I let them. Well met, elf! It seems your folk are as generous as they say! Well, not me..." He winks at Thallan before returning to his seat.

"I'm sure I could scare up some words in jest. Let's see here... Ah ha!

Tis true: an elf's years are as long as his ears
But his heart is as small as his nose.
For a dwarf with a flagon, when confronting a dragon
Is worth more than an elf with his bow."

Once again, the man erupts in laughter at his dirty, along with the halfling... and once again the rest of the tavern lets out a sigh. By the look on his face, he doesn't seem to harbor any actual ill-will towards Thallan or his kin.

"Ha! Good one. Haven't heard that one before. But before we get too far into the night, I have heard some disturbing news. It has been said that some of the good folk here have gone missing. And not just for a few days, it seems weeks now since they've been gone, and it's still happening. These halflings have their pride, so I imagine they've not mentioned it till now that it seems serious.

"I'm going to look into what can be done about it. Nobody deserves to have their loved ones carted off by goblins or worse. Have you heard anything about it?" says the elf as he takes a long pull of his ale. "Ahhh...that's some good sh...shstuff! yep, Halfling ale. Can't beat it with a stick!"

Baelrick leans forward across the table, suddenly appearing serious and almost sober. "I, too, have heard of missing folks, though I only came to speak with the local magicker. Janos has gone missing, and I would find him for purposes of my own. But what can the two of us alone do against goblins, which appear only en masse?"

Before Thallan can reply to his new acquaintance, the door of the tavern is unceremoniously kicked open and a halfling woman with ruffled strawberry blonde hair - which seems to be partially painted in brick red, unless it's a trick of the light, - appears on the threshold. She is dressed in a striped linen shirt and brown breeches, has a heavy-looking backpack on her back and a scimitar strapped to her belt, and looks overly excited. There is a small grey dog weaving around her legs and watching the gathered folk suspiciously.

"Who here wants to go and explore some cursed ruins with me?!" Her voice is way too full of enthusiasm for someone interrupting a perfectly serene day in a local tavern, and whichever locals are present in the room all sigh, heavier than they did at Baelrick's jokes.

As always in her travels, Peli has been drawn to Alhereth by the rumors of danger and potential adventure, gleefully disregarding the first and eager to get to the latter. Even in two days since her arrival, the common populace has already become acquainted with her loud voice and exuberant manner, and many a citizen has been pestered by her questions about Snake's Demise - usually to no avail, as Peli Wheatstalk simply was too intimidating for her own kin.

When there is no immediate answer, the halfling's eyes wander around the tavern and stop on Thallan and Baelrick. She practically glows upon seeing them, beelining for their table immediately. "Hi! Hello! Haven't seen you around before!" She is a bit too short even for a halfling and has to look at them from below, but doesn't seem to have any problem with that. "I'm Peli! Are you two adventurers? Are you here for the ruins?!" She stretches the last word into a dramatic, but somehow still loud whisper.

"It seems you have us at a loss. I was just about to share a limerick with my enourmous friend here. Have a seat and take a listen, then I will share my limerick.

Catriona, a pretty young lass
Had a truly magnificent ass.
Not rounded and pink
As you possibly think
It was grey, had long ears, and ate grass.

The ale must be going to Baelrick's head, this halfling acted unlike any of the other little folk he had met! The energy in this one was electric, and even Baelrick suddenly felt dull compared to her.

"It would seem we are of the same mind, little one! The elf and I were just having words of seeking out the ruins for the missing townsfolk. But that would best wait until the morning, as I am not nearly sober enough to fight even a single goblin! No, instead I will share this last jest before retiring to a tiny bed.

A halfling once came through the door,
Who in the tavern caused quite an uproar,
The mayor's wife he did grope,
And the whole counsel said nope,
Someone please get this Proudfoot a whore!"

Peli listens to their poetry with interest, but soon starts tapping her foot impatiently, clearly more concerned about the ruins than playful jabs and dirty songs. She does perk up when the red-bearded man mentions their plans though, and leans against the table to stare at him in excitement. "So you *are* going to the ruins! Fantastic!" She claps her hands. "May I come with you?! It's really inconvenient to climb some walls in these places, I tell you! But you can throw me if needed! You look strong." She turns to eye the elf. "And you're tall."

She whistles, and her terrier comes running. The halfling bends to pull something from beneath his collar and hand over to Baelrick. It's a crudely drawn map, a path leading to a cross somewhere near the town. "I camp here! Come and find me once you're moving out, will you? I can even make you breakfast - can't travel on empty stomachs. Hey, elf-friend, do you eat meat? Or do you prefer vegetables? Ah, I'll do both!" She seems to have already decided that both of them are coming with her despite Thallan's words - and despite not even knowing their names. "Come at dawn, I'll wait for you two!"

With that said, note passed and new companions acquired, Peli straight up turns and marches out of the tavern and onto the streets. She needs more people for better halfling-throwing. And probably something to keep her eyes open wide at Snake's Demise... Oooh, something spicy! Or some mint? Maybe neetle - no one can sleep with that rash all over oneselves...

Daglin hears about a disappeared dwarf merchant, doing business with elves. Both pieces of information trigger his curiosity. He goes after the person he heard talk about it and tries to know more: "Hey there, you say elves are coming this way? Do you know where they are? And have you heard the name of the dwarf kin who disappeared?" he asks, curious.

The morning comes far too soon, and the light peeking through the window brings with it pain. Baelrick winces at the sunshine that robs him of energy and instills a pounding headache within him. He grumbles as he rises, searching for some water to splash on his face as well as drink. Stumbling out into the hall, seemingly does everything in his power to worsen the headache by managing to hit his head several times along the way. Eventually, he makes his way out into the day with a hunk of bread and some hard cheese. Remembering (somewhat) the map that the halfling had shown the night before, Baelrick begins working his way in that direction. First, though, he stops at the stables to collect his stubborn mule and cart. Why walk when he can ride?

"Ho Baelric, decided to sleep in today?" says Thallan as he walks over. "Room for one more? I would think there are better chances with two than a lone traveler, what with folks missing and such..."

Hrp! "Of course, my frail friend. Let us walk together. I could use someone to guide the mule. Perhaps I will have retrieved the dagger from my skull by the time we reach that particularly chipper one..."