Turn 31A -- The Silver Crown

As the dwarven companions leave the Baron of Mutton and make their way to the Silver Crown, Garth stops several times along the way, speaking to the poor, ministering to them and passing along a copper piece to each of them. Therefore, the trip takes about three times as long as normally would required to walk the short distance.

"Come on," says Ortho as Garth hands another copper piece to a hunched-over old man with no teeth, "I'm parched again, already."

"Ok," says Garth quickly, "A priests work is never done, my friend! Ye'd do well to remember that."

"Of course," replies Ortho, "Priest's work is never done."

They then enter the Silver Crown, an establishment that makes the Baron of Mutton look like a palace! It appears that every vagabond or piece of riff-raff in Milbourne has chosen this establishment as their place of refuge. There are several individuals that appears to be nothing but thugs, several daggers or knives thrusting from above boottops or backs of trousers. There are also several strong-arms who remind several of the dwarves of the ever popular giant bullies that they heard about growing up. The Silver Crown appears to be a spit-and-sawdust type of tavern and there are several miners who start to trickle in as well as the other riff-raff mentioned earlier. Druckner spots Ol' Grizzler sitting at a table off to himself and the companions go over to sit with him.

"Greetings, friend Grizzler," says Druckner.

Ol' Grizzler squints up at Druckner from over his tankard of ale a minute before realization dawns on his face, "Greeting's! Have a seat friends, another round bartender!"

The companions takes a seat and drink from the ale brought from the waitress, Garth drinking water as the Crown has nothing weaker than beer to choose from.

"Who be yer new companion 'ere," asks Grizzlers with a nod toward Garth.

"Name's Garth," Garth introduces himself, "I joined up with these fellas yesterday as they were bein' attacked by orcs."

"Well met," replies Grizz, "Any friends of these fellers is friends o'mine! The orc attacks been increasin' daily I hear. Terrible mess."

"That's somethin' we'd like ta take care of," says Druckner, "and why we are here talkin' to ye, we'd like some info on the mines if ye can?"

"'Course Grizzler can boy! No one knows them mines better than me! What ye need?"

"Just basic information," interrupts Ortho, "Entrances and exits, how deep they go, what's mined there, any encounters there, are they completely shut down, etc?"

"Boy's just full o'questions, ain't he?" says Grizzler with a wink at Garth. "Well like I says, Grizzlers gots ye answer!"

"Well, like I says the last time we talked, the only mines that still be operational are the Carman mines. Some forty-odd men still work them mines for silver. Ne'er had a problem out of 'em. Not much problem out of the Garlstone mines either."

"Another tankard to cleanse Ol'Grizzler's throat, my boy?" he asks Druckner before continuing.

"The Garlstone mines ceased bein' profitable some sixty-odd years ago, no one been down in 'em since then. Had some problems with water-loggin' and all, made some of the lower caverns dangerous. Grizz's got a map around here somewhere," he says.

"It's that map that we're interested in, friend," says Ortho, "Could we persuade ye ta part with that map?"

"Sure! Grizz'll part wit' the map fer a tankard of ale and five gold crowns!" Grizzler then produces an old map that he hands over to Ortho. The map does show all the caverns as well as descriptive names to each of them.

"Grizz don' believe there's ever been tale of any trouble out o' the mines with any beasts or such, or man fer that matter. The mines belong to ol' man Carman I suppose, but I don' believe he much claims 'em any more."

"Another tankard? Why thank you there, young man," says Grizzler as he takes another tankard from Ortho.

"As fer equipment to 'splore the mines, Grizz'll figure that just yer normal mining equipment would be fine. Stout dwarves such as yeselves should know what ta take!"

"Anythin' else ye need ta know? The hour's gettin' late and I've got a lot more drinkin' ta do!"

With a shake of their heads from each of the dwarven companions, they each raise their tankards and have a few more rounds with Grizzler before heading back to the Baron of Mutton for the evening.