<div align="center"><span class="bbc_u"><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The Scourge of Blacktower</span></span></strong></span></div><br/><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/Cg3gPf3.jpg)</div><br/><hr/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">Useful Links</span></strong><br/>Main Game (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=295374.0)<br/>Game and World Information (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=295283.0)<br/>Pitch and Recruitment (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=295055.0)<br/><br/><hr/><br/>The journey from the big cities and the realm beyond was long and difficult.  Two dozen left the city walls to march to Ovesgar. The waxing summer weather seemed to skip autumn, driving cold rains and bone biting winds across the lowland rolling hills.  Dirt roads turned to mud. Dried rock beds became steady flowing rivers. Monsters and bandits sought to secure their winter supplies from any wandering travelers.<br/><br/>In other words: You.<br/><br/>Even the mountain pass offered little reprieve for the adventurers.  Gargoyles hiding among the rocks made prey on your company, finishing off what the road hadn't.  The battle with the winged horrors took a turn for the worst when the healer fell.  Pressed the hold back the monsters, they looked to close in to finish of the last four when a bloom of fire decorated the sky.<br/><br/><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/boLCy8A.jpg)</div>When becoming unblinded, sand rained down upon the part of the powdered gargoyles. When looking for what happened, you saw on the cliff hills a silver haired man in dark navy blue robes.  He stared down impassively before vanishing beyond the ledge.<br/><br/>Those of weaker wills, lacking of skill, or bereft of luck had died or left the party. Only four remained.<br/><br/>Ovesgar was a sight for soar eyes. A peaceful town stead made of wood, slate, and stone sitting next to tranquil creek. Seen through the streets and alleys are people going about their daily lives.  Farmlands surrounding the town are nearing the end of their regular harvest, leaving them completely or mostly bare.  Men and women in the fields pause to stand and stare at the four walking.<br/><br/>A mother in a dirty cotton dress, leans to whisper to a wiry girl. She bobs her head and sprints off towards the town center.<br/><br/><div align="center">(https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/013/585/075/large/abdelrahman-kubisi-main-final.jpg?1540281069)</div>Drax Telweather greets you just at the entrance of town. He's an older man with a bald head and salt and pepper beard.  Deep wrinkle have started to set into his skin, he's one of the few lucky ones in this land to grow old.  There is a sevear fatigue ringing his eyes with a hint of... disappointment?<br/><br/>"Welcome to Ovesgar, adventurers.  I am Drax Telweather, the regent High Elder. We've been... expecting you for some time. You've long been on the road, and from what I understand, it hasn't been kind to you.  Rest at the inn for a night and we can discuss what we need of you in the morning." He said, his voice gravely and rough. His eyes wander behind the four for a moment, gazing down the empty road<br/><br/>The four are given a paid for room and meal at the local inn, The Bar Guest.  The symbol on the sign was of a large black dog with savage teeth.  No one  remembered or understood what the name of the tavern meant, but no one has bothered to change it.  The swill is good, the songs sang were hearty, the food warm, the men handsome and rowdy, the women pretty and playful, and beds like cumulus clouds.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>The next day, you are summoned to the town hall.  It is a long hall much akin to the seafaring North-men favor for their drinking and feasting.  A raging heart sat at in the middle of the width of the hall, the walls decorated with carvings, pantings, and trophies the town had accumulated on the wall. The most notable was a severed and stuffed wolf head. Or, at the very least it looked like a wolf.<br/><br/>Drax sat present on oneside. Adjacent to him was a familiar silver haired man with a staff leaning against the table.  Drax introduces the man as Gerald the Young, the valley's resident wizard that has volunteered to help understand the mystery of the happenings of the valley.<br/><br/>"Thank you for coming this far to help us in our time of need.  Do not think that your work here is charity, you will be well compensated should you banish the evil that plagues us. Allow me to provide you context to our plight." Said Drax.<br/><br/>"For the last several months, strange happenings have been plaguing our town and valley.  Monsters have started to crawl from their holes and harass our towns.  Specters have started to stalk our lands. People in rural areas have been spirited away.  We have not heard from many of the other eight towns for some time.  Pigton and Cornwood are the only two villages we've heard from in recent past, mostly because of our frequent trade with them.  Dark rumors have spread from the west that this darkness is spreading. Myself and the leaders of Ovesgar, Pigton, and Cornwood feel it is only a matter of time before whatever dark sorcery spreads to our town.  You four and Gerald are tasked with rooting out this evil and helping the residents of this valley to the best of your ability."<br/><br/>With your briefing completed, you are let loose to do as you please.<br/><br/>Gerald exits the building with Yuila, Seras, Isma, and Vafi.  The wizard is a hard read to tell what he was thinking of the mission or the four women. Except for Yuila.  He glared with suspicion and disdain at the witch, eyes criticizing everything about her being.<br/><br/>"Well, I can't say I expected a group of women as my... associates in this venture. From where I stand, it doesn't matter who you are so long as you all are competent in your trade." A pointed glance was cast towards the witch. "I'm afraid I don't have much expertise in the adventurer's or sellsword's life, I'm much more an academic than anything else. I will yield to your experience."<br/><br/>Gerald is able to give some potential ideas on how and where to start. Pigton and Cornwood might have better intel on the happenings further into the valley, travelling there may be a good idea and an eventuality, since they are logical stops to move further in.<br/><br/>He further explains the jobs board in town was quite full when he walked by it.  If they hoped to earn some quick coin to prepair for the journey ahead, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take on a few jobs.<br/><br/>While in the Pig's Knee, a tavern favored by local merchants, he heard some beast was haunting the local graveyard.  Some think it is some rabid dog.  Others think it is a ghost hound, brought back to life by the evil washing over the land. Some think it is Fenrir, a legendary giant wolf that can make the hearts of men collapse by it's mere gaze.  Gerald rolls his eyes at the theories, but suggests putting the beast down might put people at ease.<br/><br/>Beyond those few ideas, he differs to the judgement of the group. He looks mostly to Seras and Vafi, looking the logical leaders of the group. Isma was too odd for him to make heads or tails of.  He seemed to ignore or look down his nose at Yuila when he's forced to acknowledge her existence.<br/><br/><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/myEAcHb.jpg)</div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Ambient Music and Sound Effects For Town</div><div class="spoiler_body">Music + ambient: Go to https://tabletopaudio.com/ and search for River Town</div></div><br/><hr/><br/><strong>You have been tasked with saving the valley, whatever that means. The evil seems to be from further up the valley, but Gerald, the local wizard, offers some suggestions on what might be useful actions to take to help Ovesgar and the local area.<br/><br/>What do you do?</strong>