The Gorlock Encounter

 The village lights of the Blessed Springs radiated with a warm glow, though they did not reflect off the springs they were famous for. Since word spread about the healing qualities of the water, the springs had been fenced off. Structures were built around them to offer guests a limited variety of spa treatments, including daily meditation, massages, and a sweat lodge. It was the hour of twilight by the time the traveling duo arrived, and far too late in the evening to visit the springs. The village appeared to be thriving under the influence of the springs; however, they lacked an honest marketplace. They would later learn there was an alchemist they could visit once her shop opened in the morning.

In the meantime, they paid for a night’s stay at the Blessed Ale Tavern, and bought a round of drinks for the other patrons and guests who lingered in the late hours. While Ysolt asked the innkeeper about the springs, Trystan sat in on a conversation that a couple of older villagers were having. “I’m telling you, it’s a gorlock,” a farmer said with a hard slam of his fist upon the table. “How do you know?” The other countered with a roll of his eyes and a look of disbelief before asking, “What does a gorlock even look like?” Trystan looked a little confused about the conversation he walked into and felt the need to ask, “What’s a gorlock?”

Both older men looked at the younger adventurer, bewildered that he had decided to interject into their argument. “A beast! A foul creature that has taken up residence in one of the nearby caves,” the first man insisted before the second man waved his hand as if to dismiss his friend. “So he believes. He’s never gotten a good look at it, and only assumes it’s a gorlock,” the second man grumbled aloud before downing what remained of his tankard of ale. “Are you worried that it will cause you some kind of harm?” Trystan continued with his inquiries, mostly to understand why these two men were so worked up over the issue.

“It’s been attacking some of the pilgrims,” they both agreed to share the news, as the wayfarer looked as though he might be able to help them with the problem. “And the local militia refuses to do anything about it. They claim it’s not affecting the spring’s or village’s profits,” one man said with a shake of his head. “And if it ultimately did, they would just raise their prices so the handful of people who do make it will just pay more,” the other scoffed, remembering when the spring was freely available to the farmers. “Given enough time, us locals won’t be able to afford to drink the water to cure our winter ailments,” the first man moaned before the second snapped his fingers as an idea popped into his head. “I bet we could afford it if we slew that creature ourselves. There’s no telling what treasures those pilgrims were carrying before it attacked them.”

“That sounds awfully dangerous,” Trystan said before proposing to investigate the gorlock himself. “I’ll see if my friend and I can dispose of the creature for you all. That way, the cost for the springs won’t need to go up.” He had a feeling that if they didn’t, they might not have the money to afford to visit the springs after all. The farmers agreed that he was better equipped to deal with the creature, and gave him directions to the cave where it was known to dwell.

When morning came around, Trystan convinced Ysolt that they could wait another day before visiting the Blessed Springs. “Don’t see how we earn shards to enter,” the priestess protested dismissively, already knowing that even if they combined their resources, there was no way they’d be able to afford for one person to visit the springs. “Well, isn’t it taught by the gods that good deeds will be rewarded?” Trystan asked, his green eyes watching as her teal-hued eyes narrowed suspiciously as she nodded. “What good deed?” Ysolt asked, her earth voice low with skepticism. The freckled wayfarer explained while he led the way out of the town, alongside one of the neighboring farms, and toward a series of hills where the cave in question was believed to be.

He instructed Ysolt to be on her guard with the enchanted spear the faerie folk had given her. Trystan took the lead with his sword in hand as they quietly found their way to a cave entrance that was littered with bones. He crouched down and examined the footprints left behind. In his experience, the three-toed prints didn’t indicate that of a quadrupedal beast. He pointed out the deeper indentations in the mud. “This thing is bipedal,” he explained, while the priestess commented, “They look they walk away.” She turned her head to gaze at the trees and bushes that were a short distance away from the cave’s opening.

SCOUTING DIFFICULTY – 11

Trystan’s Scouting Score: 6 + 3 + 6 = 15 – PASSED!

Trystan reached up and grabbed Ysolt’s arm just as she shifted in her stance to follow the trail. “No! You’re wrong,” he said when she turned to meet his gaze. He pointed out how strange the prints looked. Their depth from toe to heel felt off, as if they were walking backward instead of forward. “For the tracks to look like this, the pressure is being pressed into the singular toe. Which means that’s the front-facing toe, and these two make up the heel,” he insisted, though her furrowed brow revealed that the priestess was having a difficult time processing what he meant. “It’s in the cave. And I’m going to draw it out,” the young man insisted, instructing Ysolt to take cover by a tree. To attack only once the beast was clear of the cave entrance.

Trystan made the sound of a predator that would likely get the gorlock’s attention. He held his sword defensively as he continued to make a variety of noises until a terrifying shriek echoed out from the cave. What followed the cry was as described: the gorlock appeared to be a bird-like beast, with the body of a reptile, a beak, a pair of short forelimbs, and a lizard-like head. Much like the wayfarer had attempted to explain, its hind legs were propped on a pair of feet that looked as though they were facing the wrong direction. As the creature raced out of the cave, Trystan leaped into action with his sword deftly swinging to pierce its scaly skin.

Gorlock: COMBAT 4, DEFENSE 6, STAMINA 7

Trystan’s Combat Score: 5 + 5 + 5 = 15 Total

15 – 6 Defense = 9 > 7 Stamina = Gorlock Slain!

The gorlock did not have a fighting chance against the wayfarer’s skill and determination. He knocked the creature off its feet with a quick blow to its legs, and hacked his blade through the creature’s neck. He did not completely decapitate the gorlock, but the attack was enough to paralyze the beast, allowing him the killing blow. While Trystan took the time to skin the creature and determine if the meat was edible, Ysolt inspected the gorlock’s foul-smelling lair. Among the remains of so many dead people, she collected several shard pouches, a silver nugget, and a mace. Once it was all counted, she split 500 shards between herself and her companion. “Now we can afford both the Blessed Springs and the climbing gear we need to climb Devil’s Peak,” Trystan confirmed with a look of relief and a broad grin.