In the dark of night, the band rests as their boat silently floats down the Merigold River toward The Hollows. Captain Sertold promised the quartet a quick and uneventful trip on the Moon Apple, and the early evening was met with stories around a fire before Sertold shoved off and made for the tiny enclave.
“Don’t worry about traveling at night,” the trader told the travelers. “I know these waters well, I’ll keep first watch.”
Forgetting their troubles for a time, the group drifted off to sleep. All but one are unaware of the stowaway aboard the vessel. Eventually, they are jolted awake by the sounds of yelling.
“What in tarnation?” screams Sertold. “Who let this mangy goblin aboard my boat?! He’s trying to steal from me!
The heroes hear Meroggha pleading for his life in return.
“I’m not trying to cause trouble,” the goblin whines. “I just needed to get away from my clan. I’ll work for my voyage!”
Sertold turns and glares at the adventurers. “Did you lot bring this pest aboard the Moon Apple when I wasn’t looking?”
Jabbles quickly responds, saying, “I’ve never seen this goblin in my life.”
The wolf rider hoped to cut off any notion that he was in league with Meroggha, and that his twisting of the truth would not be caught.
He continued, saying, “Captain! You didn’t tell me you had goblin friends on boat. A lot of big folks don’t like us goblins much. I appreciate you being a big, kind man.”
Sertold looks at him in astonishment and then spots Meroggha trying to sneak toward the aft of the ship. The trader pulls a knife out and roars, “Stop right there!”
Kristov, now thoroughly roused from sleep, speaks up for the goblin.
“I assure you, I only travel with the three friends I have here, my trusty donkey, and our goblin rider’s wolf. This creature is new to us as well. But he looks scrawny enough and no danger to us. Check your hold to see if anything is missing.”
The jolly trader then reaches into his sack and pulls out some food for Meroggha, who greedily snaps up the scraps.
Meanwhile, Faus and Jabari watch the sport with amusement, both waiting for events to settle or go sideways before they get involved.
Sertold checks his hold, and comes out calmer, but still holding out his large knife.
“Everything looks in order to me, but I don’t like the idea of allowing this stowaway to come with us,” the captain says.
At this point, Jabari rises to his feet, displaying his massive stature and menacing the tiny goblin. “If he causes any trouble, I can throw him overboard,” Jabari says. “I don’t mind keeping watch at night.”
Jabbles snarls in response, “What you do unto the least of goblins you do unto all of us!”
This puts the captain more on edge. Sensing his error, Jabbles stutters out, “You see wolfman? He killed a thousand-year-old demon. Two hits! I don’t think Meroggha will make trouble.” Sertold nods solemnly and then puts his knife away.
“Well, if you don’t mind keeping watch, I’ll consider it payment made for allowing you to travel on the Moon Apple.”
Meroggha scarfs down the last of the scraps and says, “I will work for my place too!” The goblin whips out a greasy rag and begins polishing the vessel. This causes Sertold to scoff, but he relaxes and returns to the hold. Eventually, he comes back with a pillow and a large blanket. Sertold locks the hold and sits down in front of the door.
With Jabari in charge of watching and steering the Moon Apple, everyone goes back to sleep except for Meroggha, who continues to spit-shine the craft.
“I’ll keep everyone well behaved,” Jabari says to the captain.
The night continues uneventfully and Jabari proves his worth as a guide. He listens to the river as the eddies push the barge downriver. By morning time, the travelers can just see the walls of The Hollows on the horizon.
With first light, Sertold wakes everyone from slumber and ambles about, asking for help to prepare the Moon Apple for unloading. He and Faus trade what they know of the town for all, remarking about the town’s history as a battle site, and its current status, including its quirk about the restless dead. Meanwhile, Kristov masterfully sharpens his weapons and loot for sale while Jabbles unsuccessfully tries to improve his riding skills.
Before undocking, Sertold gives them a rundown of places of interest but warns them not to make trouble because it’ll reflect poorly on him. He also promises to either take them to other villages around the lake — known as The Tin — or to take them back upriver.
Kristov notices Sertold’s hesitation when talking about the Three Skulls Brewery, and that the captain cast a wary eye toward Jabari.
Pulling the captain aside, Kristov asks in hushed tones was the issue is.
The trader quietly explains that Brewmaster Yawim detests bearded people, but especially hates wolfkin and dwarves.
“Even though he is one, the crazy bastard thinks he isn’t a dwarf,” Sertold says. “You’d be wise not to bring it up.”
Meanwhile, Jabbles whispers to Meroggha, “I don’t trust this captain. Watch your back. When wolfman out of sight, he might try to kick you off. At midnight each night, I will wait for you at the back entrance of the Gameskeeper. If you leave the captain, look for me there.”
The Moon Apple is quickly pulled ashore by the dockworkers who are clearly excited to see Sertold. Looking around, the group also spies a smaller barge that is laden with kegs of some kind. Several workers are loading more barrels on the barge and preparing for a journey. Disembarking, the group heads to the Dead Man’s Hand Inn first, seeking to get lodging. Jabbles prefers to stay outside and is entrusted with Kristov’s donkey and his wares.
Striding through the door, Jabari causes astonishment as his massive wolfkin frame casts a shadow in the establishment, but the customers quickly return to their drinks when he gets close to the bar. A middle-aged man on the other side gathers his composure and welcomes Jabari. He immediately looks behind the wolfkin and warms, considering when he sees Kristov come in. Faus escapes notice with his hood drawn low as he slinks inside.
Turning back to Jabari, the innkeeper says, “I’m Olm. Welcome to the Dead Man’s Hand. Would you all care for some drink.”
Jabari grunts in return, and Olm gives them all a horn of mead. The drink is watery and tasteless, but Jabari gulps it down anyway.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what brings you, people, to The Hollows,” Olm asks.
Jabari growls in response, “What do you mean, ‘you people?’ Have you never seen a wolfkin before?”
Olm turns white before saying, “No, we don’t often see many of your kin here. But of course, your coin is as good as anyones. Would you all care for rooms?”
Kristov, seeing Olm’s apprehension, smoothes over the transgression and arranges for lodging and meals. With Jabari putting his snout into a mead tankard, Olm noticeably relaxes. Kristov is
able to get the innkeeper to get them up to date on the town’s happenings, noting trouble over taxes.
Faus also catches the innkeeper’s attention. The sorcerer perks up at the mention of the town’s historic cemetery. The twisted wizard trying to glean as much as he can about the state of the restless dead. Olm tells him to speak to Rust Brother Sturkas or Midwife Nirvea about such matters. However, he promises that if the dead are respected, the travelers shouldn’t have any issue.
With a wink, Faus responds, “Indeed! Reuse and recycle, that’s what I always say.”
Olm nervously nods in affirmation but is confused by the words coming from the hooded stranger.
From there, the party decides to split up and venture around the town. Jabari and Jabbles opt to meet the local gamemaster to stock up on meat. They are displeased to see the pelts of wolves mixed in with other animals as they approach the gamemaster’s hut.
Jabari and Gamemaster Vike haggle over the price of meat while Jabbles nervously listens. The pair trade many barbs before Jabari throws down a silver. Vike offers them a job bringing in more meat to sell, but Jabari feels he can do better independently. Vike smirks and warns of “steep taxes” for people selling on their own. Growing frustrated with the conversation, Jabari asks Vike if he’s found anything of note in the nearby area during his hunts.
The grizzled hunter says he hasn’t, but he has heard of a local legend.
“A long time ago, before the Blood Mist, there was a skilled Rust Brother. He sought a treasure because of a promise made to him by the town elders, and traveled to a ruin in the plains to the southeast. As the legend goes, it is said that he was betrayed by bandits, but left a treasure to be found.“
Vike says he never did find any treasure, but that there are plenty of ruins about in the nearby lands.
Meanwhile, Faus and Kristov head to the Three Skulls Brewery to test this wonderous beer they’ve been told about. Heading inside, they immediately see Brewmaster Yawim holding court to a circle of regulars.
Throwing down more silver to the astonishment of the bar wench, the pair listens to Yawim as he riles up the crowd. The brewer goes on and on about “the bailiff” and how she’s ruining the town. Yawim is not a fan of taxes, it seems.
After the speech, Kristov pulls Yawim aside to chat further. The brewer perks up and says he’s heard of newcomers tossing silver about like it’s nothing, and that they are more than welcome at the Three Skulls.
“I might have a job for you,” Yawim says. “It’s time for the old hag to go. Maybe you can convince her things are different out there, and it’s time for new leadership in town. She won’t listen to us anymore. I swear, if she pushes us too far, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Kristov responds bluntly, “What’s your end game here Yawim; do you just want money, or do you want to run this village?”
The dwarf looks up at Kristov directly, “The Blood Mist is gone. I’ve been to the outside world. By Zygofer’s eyes, of course, I think I can do better.”
Taking a skin of beer each with them, Faus and Kristov decide to start walking to the village elder’s house to meet Mrs. Pollmer.
Meanwhile, Jabbles has challenged Vike to a contest. The goblin is peeved at the wolf skins and wants to teach the hunter a lesson. Vike is amused at the challenge, and ups the game to involve Jabari.
Heading to the back of the yard, the trio take out their bows. Jabbles, in a rush to embarrass Vike, attempts to shoot the target while riding Jango. Unfortunately, he falls off the wolf and onto his face. Summoning all his skills, he still managers to get off three shots and hits the target, albeit nowhere close to the center.
Jabari notches his longbow and lets loose a volley, but the strain of his hunger causes him to lose focus. The arrows find their home, but also not close to the middle. Before allowing Vike to take his turn, Jabari flexes, showing the entirety of his muscled body. Vike, unnerved by the massive wolfkin, misses the target entirely.
The hunter gives the pair the rest of his stock, and offers them a handsome reward for any fowl or beasts they can bring in. Now stocked to the brim with tasty meats, the wolfkin and wolf rider stride toward the village elder’s house to learn more about these “taxes.”
Just as the quartet comes together, they look up the steps and are met with the icy stare of Mrs. Pollmer. The plump but weather woman glares down at them, a set of keys jangling from her waist. Without a word, she turns and walks silently back inside her home…
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