After inspecting the remains of the cow you retire to the cup with the village elders, who seem to be Rami Ben Affah (The Qadi), Karim Bin Melmon (The halfling from the Cup) and an elderly western farmer caled Will Redman. Flower and his officers join you as well. Most of the others go out to the fields and continue their daily routine.

Karim calls for light refreshments as they answer your questions.

They are not aware of a dragon in these parts but that is the second cow that has disappeared in mysterious circumstances since they have been here. The previous one just disappeared completely, and all they were left with was the frayed end of the tether rope that held her.

Flower has not heard of any dragons operating along this coast either.

Farming

By Ian
who plays Peter

Peter comes back to the Cup and listens to the discussions. When they are finished he get up, nods to Rolf and goes to leave, calling "I will be out on the terraces with the farmers, if you need me."

Deja Vu

By malc
who plays Callum

Callum frowns. "Such a thing has happened in my village, a while ago - there was a cow disappeared like mist - just the one, so it was no cattle raid and no sign of a carcasse or tracks of wolves. When was the last cow taken? I'm thinking that if we have an idea when this beast will be coming back, we can set a wee trap for it."

Wyrm sign?

By Brad
who plays Rolf

Reaching the inn, Rolf lets Madelyn sit down first, then takes a seat nearby. He pours her a mug of ale before serving himself. Settling down, he waits to hear the answer to Callum's question before voicing any thoughts. Later, at Peter's comment, he nods absently.

A Trap in the Making

By Joe
who plays Herloch

Herloch approaches to stand beside Elsbeth.

At Callum's mention of setting a trap for the mystery guest, Herloch grins. "Now there's a worthy idea! Hmmm. How to trap such a large beast. Didn't Elsberry say that it could be intelligent? I could try speaking with it. One of Thor's many bountiful gifts to me is the ability to speak with animals in their native language."

Turning to Elsbeth he says in a more quiet tone, just to her, "I know. You're looking at me and thinking my idea would have been to just smash it over the head. It may be hard to believe, but under this rugged manly shell is a deeper wisdom."

Charmed

By lechrist
who plays Elsbeth

"One of Thor's many bountiful gifts to me is the ability to speak with animals in their native language," states Herloch.

Elsbeth frowns. "I'd be hoping that you'd be more charming to a wyrm than us," she mutters.

"I know. You're looking at me and thinking my idea would have been to just smash it over the head. It may be hard to believe, but under this rugged manly shell is a deeper wisdom."

The druid bites her lip, then looks up at the huge man. "And you'd be believing that I'm a lass who hates men, I'm sure," she retorts. "That's not all true. I'm just not liking men who think that as a lass I'm amazed by muscle, impressed by brawn and not worth the time of day except to bed!"

Elsbeth's green eyes look up with intensity as she awaits a response...

A trap?

By JohnB

Hearing Callum's question Old Will shakes his head, "Arrr, That'ud be about 3 moons ago?" he looks around for confirmation and the others nod agreement.

What a flirt!

By Joe
who plays Herloch

Although rather difficult, Herloch keeps a straight face to Elsbeth's playfulness. Heh, a playfulness hidden under the guise of contempt. It must be flirting, he thinks to himself. Afterall, she did bring up the topic of "to bed" first, didn't she? They always do.

He holds up a hand as if to stop her from continuing. "Look, I'd know you’d like to flirt with me, but we've got a dragon to catch and a town to save. Why don't we just focus on that, hmm?"

He turns his body away from the druid to talk to the man called Old Will. "If you're saying three months have gone by since the last attack, it may be that it has a large hunting area. Callum, how far is it to your hometown from here? It may give us an idea on how big the roaming area really is. What would be the nearest town? The beast may move on to there for its next meal."

Old Will

By Jim
who plays Smilo Hairfoot

Smilo looks at the carcass, removes his hat and scratches his bald spot. Then to Old Will, "Would there be a cave er mountain round ere? Don't recon I'd wanta run into what ever did at."

As if!

By lechrist
who plays Elsbeth

The look on Elsbeth's face can only be described as anger, increduality, shock and amazement- all rolled into one. For a moment her mouth opens and nothing comes out as the big man essentially dismisses her and turns to deal with the problem.

For one more moment she balls her hands into fists, as if to pummel the warrior to death with them.

Flirt indeed!

Elsbeth takes a deep breath, realizing her face has reddened with her anger. After all, there was more to deal with than the antics of a maddening warrior!

"If its a flying beastie, might we not follow it?" she finally asks. "After all, though it left little behind, it would drop parts or leave some sort of trail, would it not? And there's only so many places such a big beastie could roost, I'd be thinking."

Sparring Time

By Brad
who plays Rolf

Rolf listens to the flow of words between the others. He masks a sigh, it seems that Elsbeth and Herloch are going to be a problem. And Madelyn.... He looks at the warrior woman briefly before turning his attention back to work.

"Three moons," he mutters in response. In a louder voice, he says, "I think it best we not sit about for the next three months, so we need to think of some other approach."

Hearing the words of Smile and Elsbeth, Rolf nods. Good ideas all about. Towards the end of the discussion, Rolf speaks to Rami Ben Affah, "With your leave, upon the morrow we will journey forth and see what we might find of the beast. Depending on what we find, we might be out several days."

As the gathering begins to break up, Rolf pulls Madelyn aside. Perhaps some exercise would be in order. "Madelyn, have you noticed the way Callum fights? It's different, but I think I've thought some of it through. Mind sneaking off for a bit of sparring?" He smiles at the last.

Careful Now!

By malc
who plays Callum

"Callum, how far is it to your hometown from here? It may give us an idea on how big the roaming area really is."

Callum responds. "If it's the same beastie then it must fly indeed, it'll be about two months travel or more, forbye, to my village!"

After watching the exchange between Herloch and Elsbeth, he goes up to the new arrival and places a friendly arm around the cleric's shoulder. Despite his size, Herloch is still small compared with the Celtic warrior. "Ye should be showin' the lass a bit more respect, I'm thinkin'. She may no' be much o' a Druid when it comes to knowin' the proper rites and ceremonies but she's still a Druid for a' that, so ye'll no be turnin' yer back on her like she was some scullion. Asides, upsettin' them can cost ye yer skin... or fur, or feathers or whatever ye end up with. So go canny now."

The wisdom of Thor

By Joe
who plays Herloch

These people have no sense of humor, Herloch thinks to himself. And if the brute thinks I fear his size, he underestimates the power that Thor grants his followers.

"Alright," and he rolls his eyes, just very slightly. "I can see that I have misjudged you," he says, somewhat both to Elsbeth and Callum at the same time. "Look, why don't we just keep this professional from this point on, eh? And while we're all being professional, why don't you remove your arm from me," and he finishes this off with a surprisingly, politely emphasized, "Please."

Enough!

By lechrist
who plays Elsbeth

Elsbeth begins to fume at Callum's 'not much of a druid' comment. Then the big brute decides to be 'professional.' That is the last straw.

Not caring what Rolf thinks, what anyone else thinks, Elsbeth stands, poking Callum in the chest. "Ye not be thinking I'm knowin' th' druid's ways," she snarls, lapsing into her full native drawl. "I know me people, I know me gods, I know me needs an' I be knowin' me responsibilities. If ye backwoods clan be not knowin' what I know, then ye can be so superior if ye choose! But I know what I know! An' ye can't be tellin' me otherwise!"

She ignores her tears as she continues, turning to Herloch. "An' ye! I've been nothin' but professional, as ye might be sayin'! If ye be havin' a problem with a girl havin' a brain, then ye can go find the nearest cliff and throw ye'self off it!"

Without a further word, Elsbeth turns and exits from the inn, not caring what words follow her.

Emotional Druid

By Joe
who plays Herloch

After Elsbeth storms out, Herloch looks at Callum and opens his mouth as if about to say something. For the sake of professionalism, he decides not to comment. He simply folds his arms across his chest and is content to remain silent.

Who do you think you are?

By Sharon
who plays Madelyn

Madelyn takes a seat at the largest table in the Inn, and thanks Rolf quietly as he pours her a mug of ale. She listens quite attentively to the conversation, anything to take her mind off her own problems, and a pang of anger hits her at the way Herloch is speaking to her new friend. A frown crosses her brow as she watches Elsbeth’s discomfort.

As Rolf pulls Madelyn to one side, she is a little reluctant, but listens to what he has to say, and blushing slightly nods at his suggestion of sneaking off. As they approach the door of the Inn, Elsbeth’s voice can be heard behind them. Madelyn pauses and takes a step towards them as Elsbeth finishes what she has to say and hurries past her with tears rolling down her face.

Hoping that Rolf will follow her Madelyn takes another step towards Herloch, anger flushing her face red now, "Who do you think you are to come strolling in here and brushing aside any beliefs that aren’t yours …. ". She trails off, anger taking the words from her, and not waiting for a response from him, she turns to the door and exits to find Elsbeth.

What was that all about?

By malc
who plays Callum

Callum looks on amazed as Elsbeth delivers her lecture, looking first down at the finger prodding his chest and then into the furious face of the lass. He looks on stunned as she then turns and vents her spleen on Herloch and watches as she storms out of the door. He turns to the cleric to see him open his mouth, close it again and cross his arms. The big man shrugs expansively and turns once more to the door.

A quiet place

By lechrist
who plays Elsbeth

Elsbeth quickly exits the Cup, ignoring the startled glances from the few villagers about and Laddy as he pads over from where he was laying by the door. She crosses the small square to one of the streams at the edge of town. Finding a nearby rock, she sits, her head in her hands and weeps, her emotion finally overtaking her.

Religion and Dragon Hunts

By David
who plays Kerim

Kerim breathes a sigh of relief to himself when he hears the lack of rumours about dragons & wonders how Herloch could convince such a dangerous creature to give up its attacks on wildstock.

How much trace can a flying creature leave? - but agrees to follow Rolf to see what can be found.

He is surprised at Elsbeth's outburst about her religion and shocked at the comment that provoked the outburst; such a comment would not even have been uttered back on his island home.