The Ancardian Horde

[mudveins]

Ekai for once had found himself in a town where his hideous physical appearance wasn't as much of a detriment to him as usual. Recently the small town of Lawnilothhlle had been struck by a mysterious plague which left many of it's inhabitants with an array of scars similar to his own. Still conscious about his appearance Ekai chose to be more subtle than his barbarian kinfolk would in entering the small village and didn't kill anyone on the way in.
Ekai, like any adventurer would, made his way first to the inn to find out about local events and any possible link to his ultimate quest to find his home. Upon entering he was suprised to find only 3 people, all sat at different corners of the room and none of them paying him any attention. He made his way to the bar and asked for a drink.

"Ye'll be wanting to cover those wounds if ye be wishing to travel to any of the villages in the area, plague bearers aren't welcome in these parts" hissed the barman

Ekai decided it was best not to kill this barman and instead chose to give him a friendly warning, taking him by the collar and bringing him close

"I'm no plague bearer, I'm just a man looking for his homeland, if you wish to compare me with your rat eating village folk then you may find yourself scattered across their homes"

"Say what ye will but if you don't kill me the plague will so I can't win either way" The barman wheezed, coughing blood as he did so

"You sicken me, tell me who has knowledge of these areas before I put you out of your misery"

"The hooded man by the fireplace knows all"

Ekai sat by the fireplace and talked with the hooded man for hours, he learned much about the geography of the area including the location of a barbarian village to the northeast, famed localy for it's unusually powerful bezerker army. Ekai wondered if this would be his chance to return home and claim his place as leader, he decided it was his best chance for the time being and so left the pub to seek this village.

[Akkarin]

The relic Hunter Berrick had heard of a mysterious village struck down by plague, such strikes of an epidemic could be the fault of some cruel and deadly wizards, and wizards often carried potent magical items of value, something always intresting to Berrick, guided by his Sword Drya'shiad who was sending telepathic instructions to him he found his way to the local tavern.
The tavern was nothing but a seedy run down bar of aged drunks and women looking to please the sombre men in desperate times, it was easy coin at the time.
One such wench even approached Berrick, he knew her seductive glance, he had seen many before in many different taverns, he gently pushed out his arm and nudged her backwards by her shoulder rejecting her advances.
It wasnt long before the locals began to stare at the teifling, not many men would trust a demonicly touched race as they, and the rams horns growing from his head did little to boost his favour in the seedy tavern, infact a few murderous glances were thrown more than once at Berrick, but he was not afraid, the men here would be under skilled, they werent warriors but simple farmers and peasents.

He noted a large hulking man leaving the tavern a few minutes ago. he for the moment seemed to be the talk of the tavern, not many people had come here and been so aggressive over the years and his display of power by grabbing the bar tender gave the locals something to talk about.
Berrick approached the bar whilst the bar tender was still somewhat fear stricken.
" Do you have any sup...."

He was cut short by the barman waving his hands and shaking his head
"We dont serve to strangers specially not odd lookin' one's like ye self, yer can be takin' yerself elsewhere"
"Then tell me of the barbarians"
"We dunno 'im, go after him if ye want, he spoke to the cloaked man in the corner fer hours and then he left, good riddance to 'im im sayin'"
He said vitriolicly spitting on the floor as he did so
"The locals are whispering of him lookin' for somat but were not knowing what, could be treasure..who knows."
At the sound of the treasure word, Berrick turned on his heels and walked out the door after the Barbarian.