Vaunu Tarkkailija |
Vaunu, looks from Tork to Baaliantar, rolling his eyes, he lays his axe down, "If these men turn to enemies do not judge me harshly if I run back here and grab my axe." Sliding out of the back of the wagon, hands raised he approaches from the back of the wagon to the side, calling out. Greetings! May we speak to you for a moment? We mean no harm to honest hard working men but are looking for criminals with a bounty on their head."
Tarkus Shieldsplitter |
~Well, it isn't like we can make this situation more tense~
Climbing out of the wagon and seeing the grim faces of the humans, Tarkus wondered if their lives would have been easier just killing the rats in the sewers. Sure their clothes would reek of filth, but at least you always knew which side of the moral high ground you stood on when confronted with a rat the size of a dog.
Coming to stand beside Vaunu, Tarkus once more tried to examine the men to get a read of their body language. If these men were simple lumberers, then the group could parlay and relax their fears and maybe gain some information. If not, well then Tarkus was glad he left his chain mail on under his shirt.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 Reading the body language of the men to get a good hunch on them.
Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 [ooc]If needed
brvheart |
Tarkus, they seem more wary than anything else seeing the party as possible bandits. You do have three half-orcs! "Who be ya?" yells out one of the woodsmen.
Tarkus Shieldsplitter |
Reading their faces and their stances, Tarkus was not surprised at their terse greeting.
"My companions an I are seeking information on the bandits that have been striking in this area of late. We only seek information on them if you have any. As my friend said, they have a bounty on their heads and we aim to collect it to make this area safer."
Vaunu Tarkkailija |
Rolling his eyes as Fibek refers to the rest of the party as 'rough around the edges.' Approaching a little nearer, hands raised in a peaceful gesture. Don't they know honest teamsters when they see them? Vaunu, a little disappointed that they are greeted with suspicion calls out "I am a priest of Sefagreth, It is our responsibility that trade be able to continue from city to city, do you have any information about these bandits? You seem to be honest tradesmen, do you have any needs we can help you with?"
brvheart |
They lower their axes. "We thought that you might have been bandits. There are some operating in the forest, where we do not know."
Tarkus Shieldsplitter |
~At this rate, it is likely the bandits will just simply come into our camp saying they are looking for those looking for them. Such is life though.~
Seeing the situation is diffusing, Tarkus casually scans the area of the camp again while his companions talk to the lumberers.
brvheart |
"Dunno much about dem bandits. We are woodsmen and have little for them to steal."
brvheart |
Might find a jug discretely placed where it cannot easily be seen in the back of one of the wagons.
Tarkus Shieldsplitter |
As the group starts to load themselves back up on the wagon, Tarkus pauses for a moment and looks back at the men.
"I do have one question more to ask, and I promise this would be fully in your line as timber men. If we wanted to harvest wood from a darkwood tree, where do such trees normally grow? I have seen merchants demanding high prices for wares such as that and would be keen to know any way that I might save myself the trouble of dealing with the middleman. I know professional tradesmen such as yourself all discuss the bounties of the woods, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask before we parted ways."
Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Vaunu Tarkkailija |
'Maybe our dwarf friend has a hankering to be a merchant, it is an honest trade' Hearing Tarkus' question Vaunu stops on his way to the wagon, turning and asks. "Yes that is a lovely idea! Gentleman might you be able to help us with that information?'
aid another: diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 hey that's +2 so 15 for Tarkus, right?
brvheart |
"I have heard of such trees, but as far as I know none grow around here."
Tork the wanderer |
"agreed "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Tork the wanderer |
When we enter the inn Tork will be the last one in definitely not up front with the other 2 half orcs
don't want to learn the punchline to: "three half orcs walk into a bar......"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Fibek Entine |
Fibek asks:
"Can we play the tight merchants--Too cheap to stop at the inn. Have one person go to the inn, complain that the merchants are making big bucks, and insist on sending their poor servant in to buy hot food while they park in a clearing counting all their money."
He points out:
"Showing our strength is poor tactics. The casual observer should size up as a decent threat. But, hidden in the wagon we can possibly get a nibble on our line."
"And, if the servant remarks he is dissatisfied with his employers, he may be able to 'sell out' his companions."
Vaunu Tarkkailija |
turning to listen 'that is a good Idea' then nodding in agreement, "I think that is a wonderful Idea!" Vaunu returns to the wagon, "I will wait here, I think two of us should go in, Those who stay out should listen carful if there is danger, or possibly a third go in appearing to be separate from the other two." 'Hopefully the human elf and dwarf will get the hint they will appear less dangerous than we three orcs.
brvheart |
This is the Penprie Forest Inn. It serve as a resting place for merchants and travelers heading to or from of the city. Both are large and pleasant and have many rooms (1 gp per person per night) and plenty of stable space (5 sp per mount, 8 sp per wagon), and serve 3 meals a day (4 sp per person, per meal).
Vaunu Tarkkailija |
'I have money to spare to help my friends' Vaunu smiles pulling out his purse, "Do not worry friend Rhîan-nôn, I have a little money to spare, why don't you and Fibek enter the inn and see if there are any likely bandits looking for an easy mark. Then we can figure out what we need to purchase. Mayhap we spend the night here mayhap we pursue criminals."
Tork the wanderer |
Tarkus Shieldsplitter |
Nodding his head at the elf's idea, Tarkus stops before going inside with the group.
"Your plan is solid. I will stay out here and wait for you all to return. If your return happens to coincide with a bit of ale, then so much the better."
brvheart |
You go into the inn, ale is 1 SP. The common room is half full of merchants and travelers. The serving wench asks if you wish to dine also.
Fibek Entine |
Fibek shows up to pick a take out box. Except for a cold iron dagger and a spell component pouch, both hidden, he is unarmed and quite confident and abrasive as he plays the part of a rich merchant. He explains: "I need the food to last a few days. I didn't make all that coin to spend my money in the inn when I can sleep in a perfectly good wagon."
He treats Rhian-non as if she is his servant. The elf appearing very courtly and possibly even more conceited and arrogant than normal, if that is possible.
"The lady hear can pick up enough food to last a few days and bring it back when it is complete. Why it is amazing what people will pay for elvish delicacies around here."
Fibek leaves ample room for someone to talk to Rhain-non alone, as he seems to pay her little head. Fibek pays for the food with a platinum coin and carefully counts out the change to make sure he gets the right amount.
He speaks to the lady: "Do not tarry with the food when it is prepared. I don't want to eat it cold."
Fibek returns to the wagon.
Vaunu Tarkkailija |
Vauna, sitting in the back of the wagon waiting for Fibek or Rhain-non to bring information, smiles his tusky smile at Baalîantar "Those two will bring out some food in a bit, if not we can get into the rations. I still think keeping the big rats for protein would have been a good idea."
Scratching his head for a moment, asking the other two orcs and the dwarf. "If they find no information shall we move down the road a little and camp out for the night? Maybe it will draw bandits after dark. Also since there were other fires last night, should we be prepared to go searching for trouble tonight?"
Tarkus Shieldsplitter |
"I fear we may be chasing ore in a mine that has been played out. The bandits have the luxury of striking when they want and how they want, while we can but ride the road to and fro hoping to draw them to us. They could also be operating under a strike slower now that they have gotten the notice of the town, perhaps even laying low for weeks to give the illusion they have fled."
Sighing and gesturing to the plains outside their wagon, Tarkus continued.
"All that being said, I do think traveling a bit more down the road to see if Fibek's idea pans out anything is a solid idea. I think if we are to truly sell it, we will need to set a camp and produce the noise to bring them to us, instead of taking it to them. There is more risk that way, but it also allows us to control the shape of things."