Morgabir Swift-Feather |
Along the walk towards the village, Morgabir is uncharacteristically quiet. He scans the tree line and constantly checks his weapons, the weight of 'command' and the responsibility of the mission heavy on his mind.
"I can head into town, maybe with another or two, ask around? Anyone good with talking and the nobility stuff, maybe you check with this kid and we meet up at an inn."
To the kid: "Hey kid, this place got a good inn, somewhere I can get some hot food and cold ale?"
Darkwing_DM |
To Oalins request-
Along the way the kid introduces himself, "My Names Snaggs, Stumpet or everyone else calls Stump. Well he told me to be watching the road for some of th barons men. I've been out there for about a week now I figure. He told me that if a found anyone to bring him to ehs place. Canna we go, I was promised a sweet cake if I found anyone."
to Mors request-
"No sir, there arnt a inn around here. Most people just stay with their Family if they visit."
Daren Del'Him |
Sounds like he's been bribed to watch for inquistors, Daren thinks.
"I'm sure there will be someone willing to house travelers. Let's be on our way and leave the 'baron's' men here to talk," Daren says, extracting himself from the situation. Too suspicious for someone to be watching. As if he knows he's up to no good. At least we have a good lead now.
Finn Fitzroy |
"Well Snaggs, exactly who is that is waiting for the Baron men, and where"
Finn look around to see who is staying. At the same time he tries to see if someone is observing the group.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Virid Dillest |
Virid continues into town with Freya, attempting to appear separate from the rest of the larger group.
Darkwing_DM |
@Finn- "I Dunno, ol' Stump as far as I know." you cant see any else watching from the road.
As far as I can tell Freja, Virid, Daren are heading to town. not with the boy.
You walk into town over the next rise, you see several houses. (see Google slides) some of which appear to be abandoned or in disrepair. you enter in town and see very few people in the street during the day. a couple of people stare at you as you pass. the red X's are abandoned homes. the red arrow is where you start.
The boy is addressing the group on the road, Finn, Gweenth, Mor, Oalin.
Oalin Donkas |
"I am sorry, Snaggs, the way you ran the words together, it sounded like you were saying your last name was Stumppet, I make mistakes like that sometimes... sorry again. So 'ole Stump' sent you out here?"
Oalin tries bonding a bit with the youth, "I have only one more question, what does ole Stump do, exactly? I mean, beside giving out well-deserved treats - Come to think of it... I could go for a sweet cake myself!" Oalin smiles in good humor and raises his eyebrows expectantly.
Daren Del'Him |
"This place looks poorer and more desolate than Knob's Mine," Daren comments, definitely unimpressed. "Don't see why a tax issue would even be an issue here. How much can even get out of these people?"
Darkwing_DM |
"Well, Stumpy he runs the local supply store." after Finn tells him to lead the way he looks happy. "Come on." the halfling starts skipping to the town. After leading you into town you see that there are several houses that are abandoned, and plenty of the homes are also in disrepair. Snaggs leads you to a rather large building with three people in the front. All older men, they seem to be talking on the porch. when they see your group one of them gets up. you see that he appears to be a one armed man. Group 2 (green square)
Daren, Freja, Virid- Group 1 (red circle)
As you are walking around the homes, you see a Older halfling sweeping out front of his house, and down a alley you see two boys playing some sort of gambling game. you also hear a door shut across from you but you were not able to see who did it.
Daren Del'Him |
Looks like I'll have to start a conversation with this rabble. Ah, gods. I'm going to have to be polite with them as well, aren't I?
"Good day, er, sir," Daren says with a bit strain, addressing the older halfling nearby. "Would you know of any place we might be able to lodge for the night here? There doesn't seem to be an inn of any sort in this poor...hamlet."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 11 - 5 = 17
And in comes the condescension.
Darkwing_DM |
The Old halfing looks at Daren, "I'm afraid there arnt any inns in this town young one, people typically stay with their folks. You see, not very many people come to Lowick, I suppose you could bunk in one of th abandoned houses, or possible pay one of the others in town to bunk you and your friends. I'm afraid good sir that my home wouldn't be big enough for your folk." Once you look around you see that his home is smaller than some of the others. roughly half of the homes are like small cottages.
_Valerian_ |
Thing scuttles around to your shoulder,
"That's brilliant master, I knew you should have been picked to lead the party. I cant believe that They would rather have some disgusting brute than you." nodding towards Mor.
And of course it goes without saying that you did good turning down that pompous Dandy, I mean really a Squire?"
Oalin Donkas |
"Thanks, Thing." Oalin nods and smiles to himself at the support, and allows himself to drift back in the walk so the others cannot hear.
"I never liked Daren back at Knob's Mine, he was mean. And he really has not changed much, so probably never will -- he does seem a fierce opponent, someone you want out of your way or on your side."
Oalin shakes off the disturbing thoughts entering his mind before speaking more with his familiar, "Mor seems OK enough. Maybe there will come an opportunity to lead eventually, we'll have to see, eh?"
Daren Del'Him |
Daren seeks out a nearby, larger house for lodging, disdaining even the thought of sleeping in some rundown house...even though he's spent quite a while in just as bad conditions at camp.
Finn Fitzroy |
Finn look the group of people trying to appraise them.
Maybe that one harmed man is a ex militia member?
sense motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4
As he want them to be the ones explaining what they want, he start in a neutral way.
"Good day, sirs"
Oalin Donkas |
Oalin is content letting Finn take the lead, staying with the Bard and glancing around the small village and taking in the old folks as he listens. About the size of Knob's Mine, but at least they have access to fishing...
Virid Dillest |
Virid follows nonchalantly, a ways behind Daren, presumably to the east and not toward the fishy smells of the wharf. Along the way he appraises any abandoned houses for cleanliness and structural integrity, trying to find one that would be a good place to stay for a few days.
Know Engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
In a low voice, so as not to carry past his companions,
A town this size, and on the run-down side to boot...going to be hard to gain their trust or get the truth out of them.
Darkwing_DM |
group#1- Daren, Freja, Virid
Daren randomly knocks on a door, after a couple of moments a whipcord thin man with balding hair answers the door with a, "Yeah? Unless your the woman of my dreams keep moving." next to the medium house is a adjacent wooden house with a large opening with the words "Leather" written on it with whitewash that has seen better days.
@virid- this whole town has seen better days, without looking more inside you cant tell the shape of the buildings.
Group#2-
Stumpy, Looks towards your group right before the Halfling kid says "You owe me a sweet pie stump, they came just like ya said", Stumpy gets up and looks around the town for a moment before saying "Your right snaggs, why don't you go inside an pick you out something." he looks at the rest of the group and says "Follow me inside, now." and walks right inside. Stumps friend looks around also, before getting up. "excuse me." before leaving.
Daren Del'Him |
Daren continues his search, slowly losing his calm demeanor. A noble walks right into town, and there is not even a greeting. These people should be begging me to stay within their walls. Daren heads to the building titled 'leather' to see if there is any better luck.
Oalin Donkas |
Oalin waits for the departing man to get around 30ft past him, and whispers instruction to Thing, "Follow the other man on the sly, see where he goes and if he meets with any others to report us being here. If you have the chance to listen in, do it and come back. If we ever lose track of one another in the town, we'll meet outside of this store in the rear. Stay hidden and safe, Thing."
Oalin goes with Finn.
Darkwing_DM |
@finn- You walk into stumpy's General store you see supplies of all types. Rope, Buckets, foodstuffs, candles, etc anything you would need to keep up your home. you see no people hiding and snaggs eating some candy. Stump walks across the floor and gets behind the countertop. "Well now, I see my letter musta got to the Baron. Bout time they sent someone."
@daren- Going up to the store you see that a bar is across the door to the Leather store. A faint smell of tanning oil fills the air.
Finn Fitzroy |
"Go on in full detail. Hearing it from you is way better than second hand information from someone that has read a letter."
If it make any difference, currently Finn is wearing the hide shirt, not the chain mail. The weight of the chain would slow him down.
Darkwing_DM |
@group#1- Daren, Freja, Virid,
When you call out no one answers the store. Freja you don't see anyone about on the street, nor see any issues with the Store.
@Group#2- everyone else, Stump leans back and says "Well it all started a couple of years ago, ya see our old taxman Geran died, now he wasnt a very liked person. Then Randor came in, and he raised the taxes and got him a couple of mercs from th city. Well they started collecting a "defense" tax. We all knew what it really was. So we started righting the Baron. And no one came so we started having meetings. About taking care of it ourselves. Then one of our number Rocerd; he worked the windmill, went missing. Randor I'm sure of it way trying to send us a message." Stump sits down after speaking tired from the exertion.
yes thing is following the man
Oalin Donkas |
Oalin thinks to himself... Hmmm, so this Randor is taxing extra money under the guise of it's for defense of the town, but he did not have leave from his superiors to impose a charge.
after he answers Finn
Sir, what is the amount of this extra charge and how long has it been... levied?
More pondering... If we can ascertain the exact amount, it could be used as leverage that the, "jig is up," and someone has known all along, maybe even forcing a confession and easing punishment if he makes restitution to representatives of the crown.
Darkwing_DM |
@Daren- Once you open the door, the pungent scent of tanning oil and furs curing line the walls. you see a fire in the center of the room with a large caldron on top boiling some sort of pungent recipe. you see another door leading to the back as well as several side doors that could be storage rooms. a rack with several leather armors are currently being made.
@group#2-
Stumpy replies- "about 10 gp a month, its a fair good bit of money. several people in town could not afford it and had to leave. I guess Rocerd could have also left, but I'm sure that something happened to ehm." scratching his head, "I guess Rocerd has been gone for about a month. The charge has been levied ever since Randor took charge, I would say about a year now."
Oalin Donkas |
"That is quite a bit."
Oalin nods his head in agreement, and leans in to Finn, whispering, "We should go check out the windmill to see if it really has been moved out of, or if there is evidence of a struggle... and find out if the town had been under threat by creatures or bandits, if there was a legit reason for this extra defense charge."
Oalin absently wanders over next to Mor, looking out the doorway of the store, curious if the party's arrival has caused any stir.
Daren Del'Him |
Daren motions for the others to wait and continues in. Though Daren disliked the strong scent, he knew it well from Knob's Mine. Who leaves a store so open so thievery? Daren wonders.
A bit more curious and less rushed to find someone, Daren makes his way to the back door. Opening it a little ways, Daren peers in to see what's on the other side.
Morgabir Swift-Feather |
I'm still around, just had a few very busy baby-centered days.
"So, this new tax guy sets up shop and immediately begins extorting the townsfolk, eh? 10 gold seems like a lot for this town, unless it was more prosperous than it is, before he showed up. "
Darkwing_DM |
@Group#1-
A man walks out of one of the doors in the shop whistling, looks around the leather shop and drops some furs, yelling out, "Poggo, go get the Sheriff, We have the Guy in our store." with that he runs forward and shuts the door with Virid, and Frja outside.
seconds later Freja sees a large woman open the front door of the house next to the shop. yelling "we have him. Dunny has him cornered in the Shop!!! Kennen, Hal, get over here!!! Get anyone you can!!!" Freja sees Virid immediately run away.
I'm disregarding Freja comment she is not with group #2, Ferja, and daren roll initative.
Int: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
@Group#2 Mor, Finn, Oalin,
Stumpy leans back while talking to you, "yes sir, Rocerd was the miller. Rocerd lived a little outside town in the windmill. bah, bah, (he gives you directions)" After Mor's comment, "At first we thought that it was all going to defense of the town, I mean we heard about the goblins in the area. Well, it wouldn't be so bad except there is someone burning down abandoned homes not to mention starting a couple other fires around town. Well when we asked one of the Merc's that Randor hired to "protect" the town, he told us to take care of it ourselves. That's when we definitely knew it must be a scam, but most of us arnt warriors. well except for Shepton, but he is not in shape to do anything bout it."
Daren Del'Him |
Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Daren places his hand on his sword hilt as he stares hard at the man. "I will not be addressed as 'the guy'," Daren retorts, rather annoyed. "I am Sir Daren Del'Him, a noble among nobles, and I demand respect. This may be the flea-bitten-bottom-of-the-barrel town in the middle of nowhere, but I still expect some regard for my standing!"
Daren is having a bit of a misunderstanding, but he probably won't draw without a bit of direct provocation.
Oalin Donkas |
Oalin picks up on Mor's question, "Umm, yea. Is Shepton easy to find?"
"I think the last questions really, is where does Randor stay, and do the mercenaries stay with him or do they patrol?"
I think after this we've got enough to start out on, should we head out to the windmill?
Darkwing_DM |
"Shepton is a great bard from the witchking war, word has it that he slew on of the great dragons that lived in Damara, and paved a way to peace. Now he is pushing almost a hundred. word has t that he has used his magic to keep himself as young as he could but now they are fading. Randor lives outside of town in the Tax assessors manor, (he gives directions.)"
@daren and freja- " I'll call you whatever I want, mainly a thief and my prisoner. Now make it easy on yourself, my wife is getting more people, and put down your weapons and give up."
with that you see Dunny draw a club. And you hear shouting coming from outside the shed. And he places himself in front of the door.
Daren Del'Him |
Daren shuts his eyes for a moment and takes a deep breath. Snapping his eyes back open, he lets the brunt of his anger show as he draws his rapier and points it at the man. "I have had it. Rather than respect or even decency, I've been shown the door at each corner and now threatened as a thief. If you wish to live a moment longer, lower your crude weapon and allow me leave this place at once or you will have to pay the price."