Burning Road

Town on the Red Cliff- Part I

They arrived at Hollow-on-Redfalls-Edge just minutes ahead of the downpour. Thankfully the trio were talking to a gambling friend of Ragdhyl's when the rumble of hundreds of flapping wings rolled over the town. The lucky ones were able to get indoors, but the unlucky were caught in a deluge of steaming bat droppings. The cave system north of The Hollow led up to Old-Cave-Township and her sister town Newer-Cave-Township. It was also home to three colonies of giant bats.

It made for some very foul weather.

Ragdhyl's friend was a shady gargoyle named Chase. The creature's stone face was permanently carved in a mischievous grin that suggested he was up to no good. The fact that he was a liar and a cheat didn't help his reputation much. Chase flagged the trio over and guided them under the ratty canopy of a sweet fungus stall. The merchant took a single look at Chase and covered his stock protectively. The gargoyle greeted Mimi and Vhal, both put their hands on their coin purses. He encouraged the goblins to lean in and spoke in whispered tones.

"Boy did you pick the wrong time to stroll into town," Chase said.

"It's raining shit, Chase," Mimi chuckled, gesturing toward the brown downpour. "It's hard to miss."

"No, there are people looking for you."

"Yeah, darklings from atop the palisades. I've dealt with that."

The gargoyle's stone face managed to look perturbed.

"Not you, Yodiha, him. And not darklings, creepers," he explained.

The trio were silent for a moment.

"Creepers are looking for me? Why?" Ragdhyl asked. He was unaccustomed to being the center of attention.

Chase smiled and rubbed his fingers together in the universal symbol for payment.

"Really, Chase?"

"I didn't track you down out of the goodness of my stone heart," the creeper admitted.

"Information first," interrupted Mimi.

The gargoyle sneered at her intrusion. "Let me see the gold."

Mimi leaned in close to Ragdhyl and the two divvied coin while Vhalova made sure no one showed too much curiosity. Finally Miminda produced two silver pieces. The gargoyle scoffed.

"Gold, Yodiha, I want gold for this info."

"How about we keep the gold and chisel an inch off your nose!" Mimi threatened.

"Fine. I'll keep what I have to myself," he said calmly, clearly confident he had the upper hand. "Good luck, Ckivke."

"Wait. No, Mimi, it might be important," said Ragdhyl. He held onto Miminda's arm and tried willing her to calm down with a look. "Two gold, Chase."

"I am thinking, two gold and five silver is more of a fair trade," said the gargoyle, his sly face growing darker.

"Keep pushing it, granite brains," growled Mimi.

"Fine, two gold."

The goblins nodded, and produced the agreed upon payment. Again he gestured for them to come closer, and resumed his clandestine reporting.

"The word is Tarob is looking for you, and he's pissed."

"Pissed? At me?" Ragdhyl was surprised and scared in equal measure. "Why would he be pissed at me?"

"Apparently a big wig from the city flew from Great-Hollow-in-The-Valley-of-Glass after hearing word of yesterday's raid. Now Tarob and his goons are looking all over for you, and he doesn't seem to care about whose fingers get broken in the process."