<div class="floatright">(http://brewminate.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/020818-47-Bronze-Age-Near-East-History.jpg)</div><strong>Where:</strong>Entrance to Malag Adaar village<br/><strong>Tag:</strong>Enlil, Evelyn, Sabri<br/><br/>Maltum leans heavily on his wooden hoe. The worry he feels adds another line to his heavily creased face. He's in his late thirties, making him almost as venerable and experienced as he's likely to get.<br/><br/>"Yes, the raids started in the spring. A few animals here and there. Then a girl disappeared. Her brothers went to look for her, and disappeared. Cattle began dwindling away, taken during the night. We found goblin tracks. The men organized a raiding party, twenty strong. They never came back." He shrugs, the motion of someone who can only accept what fate throws at him. "That was a month ago. What you see is all we have left of our treasure - only a few calves and goats. Even the horse we had is gone, and all the dogs have been poisoned. Fortunately there's more than enough fruits and grain to feed us through the winter. Goblins don't like vegetables." he makes a clucking noise. "Unless the goblins decide to take the rest of us. We've sent out old ones and the children off to relatives, and only those ready to fight are still here. Even if that's mostly just women." He glances at the two women flanking Enlil (OOC: passed a Sense Motive roll), sensing that he might have made a blunder. Evelyn and Sabri don't act nearly submissive enough to be younger sisters or slaves. Yet they don't seem wives either, by the deference the big armored man shows them. Something is fishy here. So Maltum decides to play it safe. "No offense intended. They are not fighters by any means, but each of them can club or ax a goblin." And die trying, he almost adds. But such is a peasant's lot in this life.<br/><br/>"But don't remain standing out here. There are refreshments in the common house. We can led out one of the empty huts for you and your... err... family to live in while you stay here. We have a well as well as a brook nearby for water. A fire is maintained in the common house.  We have milk, wine, cheese, dried fruits, bread... no eggs, unfortunately. " He beckons them towards the village.<br/><br/>The rest of the (mostly female) villagers surrounds the three, keeping at a safe distance until the newcomers are deemed safe. Enlil is a natural focus for the attentions of the girls and women; there's giggles and whispered words. The few males try to not be quite as obvious, but are curious as to the two women in adventurers' garb. Sabri's scorpion whip in particular causes more than a bit of attention. Such a cruel tool...<br/><br/>(OOC: It's time to mingle with the locals. You can choose two or three things you try to accomplish during the afternoon. You'll be probably staying in the hut Maltum offered you. There will be a communal dinner in the evening where we'll wrap up your activities during the afternoon. Of interest: the village has no forge. Nobody is obviously pregnant. singing and performance in the evening will be appreciated. )