The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford

"I suppose, if anyone knows anything, it will be the hunters." She glances in the general direction of the kitchen and scoffs. "Anything beats drinking.... whatever this is supposed to be. So let's go."

Wren nods in agreement with the others and heads toward the Hunters Hall, near the market. As she approaches, she greets anyone she sees with a friendly wave and smile.

Rowan follows Wren and Nessa to the Hunters Hall.

Sable involuntarily grunts as Gann messes with his chair, but has a grin for his nephew afterwards.

"I'll be fine with the hunters. And the sooner we get started, the sooner you can pay me back for the silver."

He lets out a barking laugh and puts a hand on the young man's shoulder as the group walks out.

"Yes, yes -- we have a hambone in the back!" Quinn says to Sable when the man asks after something for his dog, er, wolf. The man's helper nods and heads back for the kitchen, but then the innkeeper practically jumps out of his skin when Sable asks about the wine situation.

"Exactly! Someone has been stealing from my stash, over and over, practically every night! It's that awful Bentley, I'm sure of it!"

Then, as the group finishes their food and drink and makes plans to see what more they can find out about the situation in Brandonsford, Quinn sees them all out, saying, "Good luck! Come back! And if you -- if you catch whoever it is that's preying on my stores of wine and spirits and beer, I'll reward you richly! Richly I say!"

---

The sun has set and the evening's shadows are lengthening outside the Golden Egg. It's not far to either the Hunter's Hall or the church, and not difficult to see that things in the village are slowing down for the night. The squatters in the market square are tending cookfires and talking, looking after their animals and families, and more than a few eyes find and linger on the strangers as they walk.

The stout stone church is dedicated to Aon, the All-Father, a deity who is purported to claim dominion over all others. To be an Aonist is akin to being monotheistic, and it's notable that no other chapels or temples are present in the town.

The Hunter's Hall is barely such, a structure of wooden poles and rafters that is largely open to the elements. It is in a clearing near the town's wall where cook and smoking fires can be lit, where butchery and tanning happens, and where a man with wild red hair sits quietly, contemplatively. A squat, empty wine bottle lies near the man's feet.

Sable happily accepts the hambone and gives it to the wolf pup.

"Put it on my tab Quinn. Maybe we can even it out when we find what is happening with your alcohol."

Before they leave, he tries to take a quick look at what labels of wine the innkeeper carries.

---

As Gann moves away to the church, Sable continues with the rest of the group to the "Hunter's Hall." Not the worse he's seen. He is about to address the man they meet when he sees the empty wine bottle. Instead, he lets the others take the lead as he tries to determine if the bottle's shape or label looks the same as one at Quinn's place.

As they approach the hunters hall, Wren greets the man in a friendly tone. "Ahoy, friend! Mind if we join you for a spell? I'll buy you a round next time we meet for your time."

Over at the church, the priest has gone inside but the door is still open. Gann stops for a moment and steadies himself.

"Always make nice with the local gods," he mutters the words under his breath, wisdom from an older 'Guard.

Gann enters the church the same way he would enter the den of a wild animal, with all the care and attention he can muster. He knows the All-Father, and remembers the rites just well enough to muddle through them. He goes about his business, speaking some private prayers and doing his best to let the God of this place know of the good intentions of himself and his companions. When he finishes, he looks around for the holy man he saw when they first came through the gate.

"Preacher. Glad I caught you, thanks for letting me say my peace to our Patron. I just arrived, the Marchguard was called to deal with some dragon you might have. There was supposed to be more of us, but I'm sorry to say that I'm all you've got, plus maybe the travellers I came in on the raft with." True to his word, Gann is not good with people. Despite his clear attempt at respect, his words are too loud and probably too informal.

"Anyway, if you have any needs can be met by a strong back or a couple of blades, you just let me know. We're staying at the Golden Egg while our coin lasts."

As the group leaves the Golden Egg, Sable casts an eye on the dark green wine bottles he can spy here and there about the bar. They look to be delicate vessels used for Quinn's tables, filled from the cask, not the sorts of heavy bottles that might be used for transport from the winery itself.

---

At the Hunter's Hall, the lone man there, gazing into the ashes of a former fire, turns and looks as Wren calls out. His hair is unkept, his beard scraggly, his eyes bleary and his clothes disheveled. He is also injured, Wren and the others see. Several bandages are visible -- and the man is missing an arm from the elbow down. The cloth bandages on that wound are spotted with blood.

With his remaining hand, the man wordlessly gestures to the benches and chairs that are arranged around the cold firepit.

Sable notes that the bottle on the ground is unlike the ones he saw at the Golden Egg. If the same blower made it, it's a different, squatter, longer-neck design.

Rowan quietly takes a seat while observing the mans injuries, then asks. "Sir, it appears you had a rough day. Do you need any assistance? Also, would you like us to stoke the fire?"

"We are here to learn about the dragon! Do you know about the dragon?" Nessa blurts out with no apparent sense of tact whatsoever.

At the church

"A man of the cloth, out there on his own? Where’d you send this Brother, and when? I fear for the man’s safety, but chasing after his fate will depend on me getting some straight answers on this "dragon" you’ve got. Can you tell me more about the troubles plaguing this town, everyone I hear from seems to have a different tale."

Fascinated, Wren stands nearby, listening.

Sable goes to help Rowan with gathering more fuel and stoking the fire, but pipes up: "My condolences, friend. We are actually here to confront that monster. But perhaps we can talk more while you drink and eat around a good fire? Where did you get this?"

He pauses and crouches down, picking up the squat bottle, very unlike anything at the Golden Egg.

"Wait, we are going to kill it?" Nessa asks, genuinely confused. "I just wanted to see it for myself."

---

The Church of Aon

---

"No, father, I haven’t heard the tale." Gann makes an effort to slow himself down.

"But I’d be keen to listen if you care to tell it."