Once Ari leaves and it's just the three of them he drops his voice lower so that just they can hear and says, "it is worse than I feared.  The Black Circle is active again.  The demon worshiping cultist are using some form of Blood Magic.  They are behind the hunters' disappearances according to Father John.  We must be prepared for anything when we seek the Halls."

"Well this will be fun, then," says Brogar.

Donovan says in a resolute tone and demeanor, "I must find the unholy temple and altar and destroy them and break the Black Circle's power here for good."

Ari:

The shop is a small timber building, with a low thatched roof. The walls are hung with all manner of swords and axes, there are racks of spears, and tables covered in various pieces of metal armors ranging from chain to plate. There are also many bows ranging from long to short.

Erik is muscular plug of a man, with beady eyes and a jutting jaw. He nods in greeting "I got all sorts of sharp and pointy things, and all kinds of things to keep other folks sharp and pointies outta yer hide. Let me know what strikes your fancy".

Nodding, Ari paces about the room looking at various items.

Eventually he lays a Longsword with scabbard, a Long bow, and a quiver with 40 arrows out on the counter.

"Erik, these will do for me."

After paying for all his purchases (including some rations, spikes, rope, backpack, waterskin, oil at the local shops), he heads back to the inn to meet up with the others.

Quobbles:

"Pffft.  'Anything' is my middle name.  I'm not scared of any Blood Magic, and I'd be honoured to fight by your side Donovan.  I was just discussing with Brogar that we would do well to leave as soon as possible-how does first thing tomorrow morn sound to you?"

Donovan nods affirmatively toward Quobbles as he says, "yes, we should leave just before dawn.  Is Aiden ready to go as well?"

Aiden steps into the Hangover just in time to hear his name "Aye I am ready, I reckon I will just stay in the common room here tonight that way it will be easier for us to be out by dawn". He hoists a pack off of his shoulders and gives it a hearty pat "Had to get my gear ready, it's a rough march there as the road goes nowhere near the mountain and its like as not any easier once we are there".

Aiden is now wearing a coat of leather armor over his simple green tunic, an iron cap on his head and a small shield strapped to his pack for the moment. In one hand he carries a spear. He eyes the spear up and down "Only ever used it for sticking boar, but I figure the principle is the same for anything else, the armor belonged to my pa gods rest him, never thought I'd have need of it".

He nods at Quobbles "Thank ya for the advance master Quobbles, otherwise I wouldn't a had a torch, rope, or this handy new sling to take along" he grins and shows the sling he has wrapped up his forearm. "The old one was getting a but frayed, I was worried it'd break when I need it most".

"The spear!  Rightly famed across the known lands for it's versatility and sturdiness, and my own weapon of choice.  You'll go far, Aiden, I can tell.  Your main duty, at least at first, will be carrying this sack and my quarrels.  I might also have you on crossbow reloading duty in stickier situations."

OOC:  The sack contains the wineskin, rope, mirror, rations, and all of Quobbles' remaining gold, but there's no need for Aiden to look inside it unless he's told.

Unless there's any other business the others can think of I suppose the rest of the day will be spent checking the gear, peering up at the weather, and getting an early night.  I'll also run through with Aiden how to wind the crossbow reliably and quickly.

Ari arrives back at the Hangover, now armed with Sword and Bow, and sporting a new backpack.

"Whenever we are ready to go, I am now ready."

Ari glances about at the rest of the party. “Good people, concerning our order of march, I would suggest that master Quobbles take point. He strikes me as a good scout and his shorter stature will set the speed of march for the rest of us.

Next, Brogar and I can walk side-by-side and screen Donovan traveling behind us, with Aiden bringing up the rear. Does this seem okay?"

Donovan nods in approval at Ari's suggestion and says pleasantly, "well and good, Ari."

His demeanor becomes more serious as he continues, "Ari, I feel that you should know what we maybe facing on this excursion.  Father John suspects that your uncle and the other hunters were taken by Black Circle cultists, and that the hobgoblins and goblins maybe allied with the cultists.  We must find their unholy  altar and temple and destroy them once and for all."

Lowering his voice to a whisper, "Donavon, neither my uncle, nor any of the other hunters, would go near the Halls willingly! They knew the place was damned!

But uncle Hrothgar used to tell me tales of the place when I was a child. He spun me a story on how the demon priests used to get sacrifices. He said they used a magic set of pipes; he called them "The Pipes of Madness", and said that hearing these pipes could drive a man mad, obedient to the priest's will, like a puppet on a string.

I fear that the hunters may have very well been lured by these ancient cursed pipes that perhaps some new priests have found! Uncle Hrothgar told me that the pipes, when not in use, rested on a pedestal next to a great black altar in the heart of the evil one's temple. If those pipes are being indeed being used, then they must be destroyed else more and more of the community be lured to their doom!

I can only pray that my uncle had a merciful death, and have dedicated myself solely to his vengence."

Donovan nods his sadly and says, "that is dire news indeed, but most helpful to us and our cause.  You're right in that we destroy the 'Pipes of Madness' as well."

Speaking to all his companions at the table, Donovan says as he rises up out of seat, "with this new information, I must make an important purchase before we leave at dawn's first light on the morrow.  If you'll excuse me, Gentlemen."

Donovan walks over to the bar and asks Gareth in a casual and friendly tone, "excuse me, Gareth, but do you know where, or from whom, I could purchase a whistle in town?"

Gareth looks befuddled a moment "A whistle? Err I have an old one ya can have if you want. I can't think of a use for it. Truth told I'm not even sure how I came by it".

He disappears into his office behind the bar a moment and then returns "Hope you find some use for it". He extends a small metallic whistle to Donovan.

Donovan smiles wide genuinely as he accepts the whistle from Gareth and says sincerely, "thank you, Master Cutpurse.  I hope it will come of no use on this endeavor, but if I have need of it then it just may give us the edge we will need in facing our enemies."

Father Nevalaps walks back over the table with his companions and sits down with a big grin on his face.  He takes out a small piece of twine from his pouch and makes a necklace for the whistle and loops it around his neck when finished.

Looking to his companions, he says in a pleased tone, "I hope that I will not have to use this whistle, but if we encounter the Pipes of Madness I will blow on this hard in an attempt to counter the pipes' sound."