Turn 15A -- Conversations with Ol' Grizzler

"Well met! We appreciate your inviting us to your table. We would be honoured if you would join us in a few rounds? Barmaid!!" says Ortho as he greets the elder dwarf. The white-haired dwarf is of uncertain age. He's obviously old though and walks with a gnarled stick.

One of the young, attractive waitresses comes shyly over to take your drink orders. "We'll have a double round for the four of us, please," says Ortho when she approaches, "and start a tab. That young halfling over there is our accountant and will take care of the tab later," he finishes pointing to Ras.

The waitress smiles before speaking, "Barthelew says that as heroes of the Thornwood the first round is on the house, complements of the people of Milborne." With that she sets your drinks down and walks back to the bar.

After downing the first round of ale, Ortho begins to relate the events of the past few days to Ol Grizzler in order to bring him up to speed on things. Returning from drying himself out at the fire, Druckner joins the discussion in progress with Ortho, Gnore and Ol Grizzler. "Greetings! I'm Druckner Brombreath son of Alizor. Have you ever met him by chance?" says Druckner before taking a very long pull on his ale before calling for another round for the table.

"Nice to meet ye, friend Druckner. Naw, can't says Ol' Grizzler's ever met your sire there, son." says the old dwarf after meeting Druckner. "But then Ol Grizz's met lot of folk in his day."

Not wanting to waste any time, Ortho launches into several questions for the venerable old dwarf. "Know ye who or what might have an interest in abducting these magelings? We have had two fights on their terms, it's time we started setting our own terms. Besides, I've grown rather fond of our own magelings," he says with a nod to Talimar and Dain and a clap to the back of Ortho.

"Can ye tell us any interesting facts about the area? How long have ye been in Milborne? How came ye to settle here?"

"Have ye ever heard of a human sage by name of Pericles Vendray? Are there any scholar types about of whom I might inquire? Are there any libraries about or collections of scholarly works? Anything you could offer would be appreciated."

"Whoa, whoa! Slow down with yer questions. My goodness, young folk and their impatience. Ol Grizzler can't be doin' all this yappin' on a dry throat now can 'e?!" Ol Grizzler says as he is offered another ale from Gnore.

Gnore listens to the conversation with Grizzler for a while longer and after a pause in the talk he clears his throat and stands, "Excuse me, dwarven brothers, I have business with the barkeep," he says as he walks off. He then walks over to take a seat on one of the stools at the bar and hails the barkeep.

With an inclination of his head and raised eyebrows, Ol' Grizzler asks what Gnore is all about. "Looks like unfinished business with the barkeep," laughs Ortho in between swigs of ale. "Seems last we was 'ere the barkeep made a joke at friend Gnore's expense. That one there's quiet all the time, keeps to hisself, right up to the point of battle. Then he starts a cursing everythin' and everyone in sight! I like him though, pretty good with that sword. That barkeep better be careful with what he says."

"Now about ye questions for Ol Grizzler. 'Course I 'eard o' Pericles Vendray, what self-respectin dwarf who cares about the future of his race hasn't! I gots nothin' to say as far as ever 'earin anythin' other than wild rumours and speculation. The man's a myth as far as Ol Grizz is concerned. You one of those lookin' for him son?" asks Grizzler of Ortho. After Ortho nods to the old dwarf, "Well I wish ye the best in findin' him, sorry I can't help ye. The only sage in these parts who might can help ye is Elminster back in Shadowdale, but good luck gettin' an audience with that ol' man!"

"As far as the other, I got no idea why anyone would be wantin' to kidnap any mages. Hadn't 'eard of anythin' like that in all my years. 'Cept o'course them wizards over at Thay who has slaves as a matter of course, but I can't see them wantin' to kidnap other mages. Especially not 'ere in the Dales. Doesn't sound like the work of the Zhent either. Now that's scum for you. String 'em all up! That's what Ol Grizzler says!" laughs Ol Grizzler as the barmaid brings another round.

"I guess Ol Grizz has been here as long as there's been a Milborne, or Haranshire for that matter! I worked in the Garlstone mines north of town since they first opened. Never 'eard of anything like this kidnapping ever."

Druckner then interjects, "Tell us about the Scourge. Kuiper told us it was a hundred years old, you were here then right? Why are there orcs in that forest?"

"That Thornwoods bad news. I can still remember the Scourge, as we calls it round here, when Count Parlfray brought in all them mercenaries to clear out the orcs. Killed more of 'em than my dog's killed rats, they did. No sign of the varmints now. But there be darkness and evil in those woods, they do say."

"Who's Count Parlfray you say?" says Grizz after the inquiring from Ortho, "Why between he and the Carman family they own all the land here in Haranshire, Milborne and Thurmaster. Parlfray owns a lot of the farmsteads around Thurmaster as well as property within the village. He's got some kinda keep up in the easternmost hills. Tis the normal way of it, they sets the taxes and maintain the protection of the folk in these parts as well as dispensing justice when there's troubles."

"I've just remembered something that Carlanis said during the ambush. He singled out Dain and Talimar as well. They were after them too! Just like the Orcs!" Druckner says enthusiastically, "That means that Carlanis' gang and the orcs are part of the same organisation. And this group probably kidnapped Jelenneth as well."

"Mr. Grizzler, would you know where a big group like that can have their base of operations in the area?" asks Druckner as he shows Grizzler a crude sketch (very crude considering the amount of ale consumed by this point) of the design on the orcs' shields.

"Well son, Ol Grizzler can't rightly says as to where them orcs or the others could have a base. There be plenty o room in the Thornwood for sure as well as the mines up north for that matter. And then there's the New Mire as well. Could be anywheres," says the old dwarf as he accepts another mug of ale from Ortho, "Never seen that design either, certainly not like the one from the orcs of the Scourge. 'Course that's no surprise seeing as how they was all wiped out anyway."

Druckner turns to Ortho and Gnore, "We should compare notes with the rest of the (Burrrp!) group, maybe Garyld or Kuiper would know more about the Thornwood and the New Mire. But I agree with Ortho, we should eventually check out these areas. But first I think we need to get our money in Thurmaster and then maybe cash in the jewel to get some better equipment either here or in Shadowdale."

Druckner asks, "The Garlstone Mines you say? Are they still being exploited? Are any of them abandoned? Where can we find them?"

"Still exploited? Nah, them mines been closed for going on 60 years now, when it quite bein profitable. Tis actually a natural set of caverns that are linked to ol man Carman's mines which are still bein' mined. Ol Grizzler imagines that the lower caverns have to be unsafe nowdays due to waterlogging, rotting timbers and the such. Least ways, no ones been in there for years for fear of these hazards," says Grizzler when asked about the mines. "I used to have a map heres somewhere, back at home I'm sure."

"What is the New Mire? Where is it?" asks Druckner.

"New Mire? That's some new swamp-like area in the southwest region of Haranshire, lots of folk moving out due to the rising swamp eating into good farmland. But that's not the one you needs be worryin' bout, no sir, the Shrieken Mire is the one to worry about. There used to be them lizard men there. Not as we sees anything of them. Mine you, there's the ghost of that swine Artran Shrieken wandering in there, the evil wretch. And they do say as how there's Something Else. Calls herself the 'Queen of the Mire', I hear, but what she.... or it.... be, I never could hear tell. No one I know'd be stupid enough to risk their lives and souls in the Mire, Gawds help us!" With that said, Grizzler finishes with a shake and a drain on his tankard of ale.

The remainder of the evening passes much the same as this with Ol Grizzler telling tales of adventures in his past as well as his time spent working in the Garlstone mines. More ale is consumed all evening until finally shortly after midnight, Grizzler excuses himself and says that he's returning home.

Rising unsteadily, Druckner and Ortho bid him goodnight before heading on to their respective rooms as well. Both dwarves marvel at how steady Grizzler is considering how much ale he drank. "The old feller drank twice as much as we, is half our age and is steadier than we, amazin'!" says Druckner around hiccoughs. Just before drifting off to sleep, Druckner realises that the old dwarf drank the entire evening and never paid for a single drink!

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