Chapter 1: Meeting the Cuckold Moose

Ebri chews on her bottom lip. I'll go wherever...c-can...I follow y-you tho...?

A horse coming to a loud, trampling stop could be heard outside the tavern's doors. Gellbran was the closest, drawing his attention and causing him to move out from the doorway.

Thump... piaaak!

The rider jumped off his horse and punched the door open. It was a rough looking dwarf who seemed to be battered down just recently. Blood dripped from his lip and his once respectable clothes were torn. He took stride straight for the bar and Rehmein.

"Aye, Reh, get me the kit and patch up this gash. Those fuckin' lunkheads rallied in our business again! Fuck!"

The dwarf was livid by what he was talking about. Reh was quiet and quick as he began to patch up his shorter companion. The dwarf was Delrick Helmyre; the co-owner of The Cuckold Moose and the man who helps runs the bounty board outside. Delrick glanced at the lot of people in the tavern, but then continued his focus on tending his wounds.

Skeinkaldr sniffs. Blood. Something's afoot, or it's someone's foot.

The goliath turns to the commotion, determining whether or not it's time to get involved.

Rehmein wipes the sweat off his forehead with the rag he used to clean the counter earlier. The dwarf's patch job seemed good enough for the moment to calm him down. The barkeep, Reh, was used to people coming in injured. Though, he was no real doctor.

"The shipment got jump!? That's the second time by those thugs."

The dwarf nodded angrily as Reh poured him a glass of the expensive scotch whiskey.

"They can't get far tonight, Del..."

The human paused for a moment while looking at his dwarf friend in the eye. The thought of his guards ran across his mind.

"Fuck, they must have been sly... You had three decent guys this time too and this wasn't even supposed to be a shit show."

Reh poured a glass of scotch for himself and downed it in one long gulp.

After studying the people inside the tavern for quite some time, Gellbran realized the man he was looking for was the battered dwarf who just pushed past him.

Gellbran approached the two Dwarfs and interrupts their conversation. "Excuse me, Delrick. I am Gellbran. I was the man responsible for delivering your wagon here in one piece." Upon inspection of the dwarf, Gellbran decided it was not in his best interest to ask for a reward at this time. "I see you are having trouble with guarding your shipments, a task I have proven I am up for. If you are looking for a man, I am him."

The dwarf looked at him with thought in his eye. The half-orc was blunt, but he had a point. Helmyre nodded at Reh, then hopped off the stool he was on while being bandaged.

"Awright, Gells, I'll take your help."

Delrick look around the room at the few adventurers still around. It was late and several mercenaries sneaked out when they saw the dwarf storm in injured. There was only the half-orc, goliath, tiefling and dragonborn, and some other unfamiliar faces around at the moment. Amiee was in her room upstairs, however the commotion was loud enough she could overhear the gist of things.

"You may need some help, before I give you direction. These thugs aren't to be messed with. They have been well organized as of late... its uncommon for those idiots. Those brutes shouldn't being ambushing my supplies and getting away with it."

Rehmein noticed Delrick waving for a glass, so he passed one over. A full serving of the expensive whiskey was poured for Gellbran, the cup offered towards him in the tavern owner's stubby hand.

"Let me know when you're ready for the task. The sooner the better, friend."

Delrick pour yet another glass to ease the soreness he had to look forward to over night. Rehmein tossed his rag in the bin then rested his hands on the bar to take a moment to rest.

Aimee, after overhearing everything that had happened, quickly popped back out to join in. In mock surprise, the barmaid clasps her hands over her mouth and gasps. Running over she wraps her hands around Gellbran's arm and says excitedly.

"Oh? You are going to do something about..." The barmaid stammers for a second, forgetting what they were just talking about.
"...about a dark god... or something like that? Anyway, that is so great! It is so heroic".

Breaming Aimee hugs Gellbran's arm a little tighter and then jumps up and rushes to the bar. She gives Rehmein a stiff curtsey and claps her hands excitedly. After sitting in a wagon for a couple of days, the young barmaid was ready to move.

Skeinkaldr observes the dwarf and listens to his words. He looks back at Malethor and seems to consider whether to take this immediate job, or join the skinny man in some unknown task of destroying dark toads or whatever he said.

Malethor observes Skeinkaldr's indecision. No doubt the dwarves will give the goliath a job if he offers to join them. Thugs, brigands, ambushed supply caravans...Malethor cares nothing for the mundane concerns of the living. He considers moving on. But the undead barmaid, she appears to be connected to these dwarves. There, she has wrapped herself around the doughty fellow. And did she just utter the words, "dark god?" Malethor must learn more. He steps towards the barmaid and speaks, "A 'dark god' did you say?" Turning to the dwarves, he says "Are these shipments of yours religious in nature? What of these bandits? Are they zealots?"

I lean towards Malethor. "Oh good, a chance to prove your worth. Surely you'll take this opportunity. What's a few brutes? Could be fun." I call towards Rehman and Delrick, pointing to myself and the shrinking violet behind me as I gesture for two glasses of whatever they're having. "We'll be glad to help you with this most noble task."

The dwarf looks at the group in front of him, forgetting the sharp pain in his arm. He slid over two more glasses and got Rehmein to pour them the expensive whiskey.

"Aye, a noble task for a honest bunch. The bandits are starting become a cult of sorts. Too well organized for brutes."

Delrick looked over at Malethor with curious eyes. The undead man was quite unusual.

"They may be unionizing under a god, bringing them strength and tactics. They all wear red scarlet cloaks now. It's worth looking into. My shipment is quite religious in nature... Pickaxes and shovels and other mining equipment! I'm a dwarf, skully, it's basically our religion! Haha!."

The man looked around the tavern and noticed it was quiet besides the few adventures around. Then directed his next comment at the giant.

"Skeinkaldr! Join them and bring me back a bloodied cloak and I'll clear that tab of yours... I would say that's a fair trade, mate."

Delrick was getting excited over the thought of bringing down these nuisance thugs. The group forming for the task seemed quite capable. If the other few fully accept the quest, they deed may be done tonight.

Skeinkaldr nods. "Aye, I'll bring you back your cloth. Enough to make a hammock for yourself and your beard!" The goliath thumps his chest and looks to Gellbran; obviously the man signed up first, he can make the call of when to leave.

Ebri looks around frantically at the patrons talking to the dwarf. Seemingly caught up in the moment, she stands up. I-I'LL G-GO....I'll go...if that's ok... Ebri looks around, and sits back down.

I take one glass and pass the other to Ebri, raising it towards her. "Cheers!" I place the glass back on the table and leave it there. I can't say I care much for expensive liquors.

Ebri takes the glass, and hesitantly drinks from it. After a few gagging, and coughing sounds, she continues to nurse her drink.

Malethor looks at Xhava askance. "Do you mock me, priest? I care not for noble purpose. I crave only vengeance on the gods who would use mortals as pawns to serve their caprice before casting us aside on a whim."

He turns to Delrick "I will join you but require no payment. I will pay this scarlet god’s zealots in kind by spilling their blood."

Gellbran is surprised by Aimee's embrace and takes a second to reply to Delrick. He politely refuses the drink offered to him by the dwarf. "No thank you, I'd rather be completely aware of my surroundings if I am to man this wagon with a group I know nothing about." Gellbran turns towards Skeinkaldr. "They do seem like a capable bunch however, and I am ready to leave now, I already have the wagon packed with all my equipment."

Skeinkaldr mutters to Delrick, thumbing in the direction of Malethor, "If he's not taking it, can I have his share?"

Delrick smiles at the giant before downing the unfinished glasses of the adventurers. The dwarf continues to speak. Rehmein, the barkeep, is cleaning up the glasses while shaking his head at his boss.

"Aye, split the unwanted shares however you please. Quite interestingly, it seems not everyone has gold in their agenda. Reh, pass me the map."

Rehmein pulls out a map from under the counter and places it spread open. The dwarf slides it closer and points at Neverwinter on the map.

"Alright, my caravan of supplies got jumped just outside the east gate of Neverwinter, north of the river. I came riding back here on my horse before the cut me down for good."

The dwarf motions towards his wrapped wounds, then continues to talk.

"I saw them heading south towards the High Road, not sure how far along they've gotten. Hopefully, they are not riding through the night. There were easily six or seven of them, so it could be possible they are traveling in shifts."

Delrick points at Xhava with a thought in mind,

"The Neverwinter guards must have been in on it; corrupt fuckers. They were no where to be seen and never opened the gate to let me supply in. I'd appreciate if you found out who set me up, but... securing the supplies is more important."

He rolled up the map and handed it to Gellbran. Delrick looked at the group examining the differences. Their obvious strengths and features. Xhava Norixius, Skeinkaldr Nithe-Tuttugufjall, Malethor Adranath, Ebri Shaikoth, Gellbran and Aimee Yrore. A Dragonborn Cleric, a Goliath Barbarian, a Human Revenant Anti-Paladin, a Tiefling Warlock, a Half-orc Fighter and a Vampire Bard. Delrick didn't know everything about the group, however he had confidence in their natural abilities. With the wagon already stationed outside the inn, the group could head out on the dwarf's quest whenever they are ready.

"Right," says Skeinkaldr. "Well if they're moving, we'd better get our move on, too." The goliath swallows his glassful of free drink, then picks up his pack and strides out the door.