"Did you actually see her go in the pond?"

Elias says calmly to Bren and Yomi in an undertone, "Don't you think you're being a little harsh? The man has lost his wife."

Growr.

"Hush, man, pull yourself together!"

"Obviously this man is not a murderer !", Catriana whispers to no one in particular.

To Froderick : "Where did you get the idea that your wife is in the pond ? Was there a specific villager who seemed jealous of your wife ? Aside from jealousness, why would anyone want to kill or kidnap her ?"

Relevant skill checks might be appropriate at this point.

I use inspire competence - +2 for all insight rolls now
1d20+13=21, 1d20+12=26, 1d20+8=14
Diplomacy, Insight and Perception Checks

Elias sighs and resigns himself to the intransigence of his companions... He raises a hand to Yomi in a placatory manner.

"If I may?" he asks quietly of the old priest.

Turning to Froderick he says kindly "Froderick, your wife was of my people. Your loss is a loss to all of my race as well. I feel for you. We wish to help you, and I apologise for my friends' harshness in questioning you."

He pauses very briefly before continuing, "There are... ways.. into the faerie realm, from whence she and I and all our kind had their beginning. Some of these ways may be hidden in plain view, such as a cave under a hill or a dense part of the forest, or... a pool of water. Did your wife ever speak of such things?"

To Froderick : "Where did you get the idea that your wife is in the pond ? Was there a specific villager who seemed jealous of your wife ? Aside from jealousness, why would anyone want to kill or kidnap her ?"

Froderick seems about to say more, but then casts a meaningful glance at the guard, who doesn't seem to be paying attention.

Catriana:

He pauses very briefly before continuing, "There are... ways.. into the faerie realm, from whence she and I and all our kind had their beginning. Some of these ways may be hidden in plain view, such as a cave under a hill or a dense part of the forest, or... a pool of water. Did your wife ever speak of such things?"

Eglantine nods. "She was beautiful and she loved you. That's a rare thing. People get jealous of what they don't understand or can't have for themselves."

She looks from Froderick to the guard and back again and says very softly, "Help us to help you. Please."

Insight 17 (including +2 bonus)

Catriana walks to the guard and starts talking with him. She tries to convince the guard to leave the cell, with Froderick locked of course, by order of The Reeve that the prisoner should be interrogated with no other witnesses.

Diplomacy vs. Guard (1d20+13=20)

Catriana walks to the guard and starts talking with him. She tries to convince the guard to leave the cell, with Froderick locked of course, by order of The Reeve that the prisoner should be interrogated with no other witnesses.

Diplomacy vs. Guard (1d20+13=20)

If the guard leaves, "Please Froderick, we need specifics and quick. We have four days to find the truth. Who was jealous? Someone in town? Or elves in the nearby wood?" Cyrus then turns to the party and whispers without Froderick overhearing, "Should we break him out of here or is that too rash? The Reeve would be after us but it would certainly increase the 4 day deadline if we kept Froderick alive and with us." A puzzled look comes over Cyrus as if he's not even sure of this idea.

Bluff vs. Guard (1d20+9=19)

That's a new roll

Elias nods sadly at Froderick's tale, "It was ever thus, I am sad to say, of the love of Elves and Men." he says softly, glancing at the bard of the group.

To Cyrus, he adds quietly, "Loath as I am to leave him here, we cannot break the law in such a way. It would do us or him no good, and cause much ill."

The guard thinks about it a moment, then acquiesces. "I'll be right outside. Holler if you need me."

Froderick then begins to whisper urgently, focusing on Catriana and Elias. "Ellesandra and I -- we had a fight the night she disappeared. I last saw her walking on the edge of the millpond. The pond -- the pond is where the fey come through. It's the way to the Feywild. They just swim up from it, and swim back down when they leave. I'm -- I'm afraid she went back, or they took her back."

Guard Sense Motive (1d20=10)

Elias nods sadly at Froderick's tale, "It was ever thus, I am sad to say, of the love of Elves and Men." he says softly, glancing at the bard of the group.

"Why would they want to take her back ? Why would she want to leave ? It should have been a big fight for her to give up on you and leave. And how come you know all of this about the feywild portal inside the hamlet ?"

"Why would they want to take her back ? Why would she want to leave ? It should have been a big fight for her to give up on you and leave. And how come you know all of this about the feywild portal inside the hamlet ?"

Diplomacy again

"That was only one of my questions. Still, I don't suppose the fey would like to be seen. Why haven't you told this to The Reeve ?"

Diplomacy 2 (1d20+13=27)

"No offense to present company, but Froderick, are you talking elvenkind or some other creature from the feywild? We need to know who we're after"

Diplomacy 1d20+8=20, home roll, actually at work roll

"Froderick, was the fight you and Ellesandra had anything to do with the fey? The Reeve thinks more fey are coming to the village, did Ellesandra know anything?"

Eglantine's tone turns slightly bitter. "I know how she might have felt if it was anything to do with that. "We're respectable folks and we don't want the raggle-taggle gyppos here except on our terms.".

Diplomacy 22

"Froderick, your only hope of seeing your wife again lies in our hands and we are only as good as the information you provide us. Maybe it's because I'm human but your fear and lack of forthright is as foreign to me as the feywild. Please, for your wife's sake."

Froderick breaks into tears again. "No, it's not any of that. It's my fault! I didn't run the mill the day after she disappeared -- I was too upset. Now she doesn't love me anymore and the fey are going to keep her!"

A little more prodding gets word out of him that he had a magical elven millstone that would let the millwheel run even in winter. In exchange for keeping the pond safe for the fey to travel through, he got the millstone, a magical sifter, and the hand of Ellesandra. As long as Froderick kept Ellessandra whole and healthy, the Riverbend millstone would do the work of three. As long as the millstone ran each day, Ellessandra would love him. So the River King decreed.

"A broken contract then." Eglantine sighs. "Well, at least that's familiar territory. Elias, have you any idea what would allow the fey to give Froderick another chance? You do want your wife back don't you?"

She looks hard at the miller.

"A broken contract then." Eglantine sighs. "Well, at least that's familiar territory. Elias, have you any idea what would allow the fey to give Froderick another chance? You do want your wife back don't you?"

She looks hard at the miller.

Nature DC18 (DC16 for elven blood):

Nature check - 1d20+1=2 ...

Eglantine looks to Elias and Catriana for guidance.

Elias got 15 on Nature. Rats.

Elias looks regretful as the others badger the poor man with more questions.

He thinks over the situation, both pleased and saddened that his guess about the portal was correct.

He exhales and looks around the group.

"Let us cease to torment this poor man further. He has lost the love of his life, and we must petition the River King for her return. Cyrus, perhaps you can divine how we might enter the pond to the otherworld. If we leave Froderick in peace and go there, perhaps? And you, Yomi - your mistress is Queen of the Shadowrealm, you must know something of magic to traverse the worlds. Let us go and investigate the pond."

He stands firm, looking from person to person in the band, his very being suffused with a primal energy and drive.

"Wait, one more thing. Froderick, have you ever been to the Feywild? Tell us where we need to go, to get back Ellesandra."

"Ellesandra will come home to you."

She looks deeply into the miller's distraught face, willing him to believe her and leaves the cottage.

Nature Check (1d20+6=23)

"Such a contract could hardly be called love. Ellesandra was bound to you by decree of the River King and you took part in that magic. Her true feelings don't matter in this - as long as you use the millstone, she is bound to love you."

To the group : "It depends of Ellesandra's importance to the fey. If she was taken back because the deal was broken, they could be convinced to let her come back, but on harsher terms. In any case, if she was kidnapped, we should go rescue her. If she left by her own will, we'll need evidence of her alive. No matter what, we can't let Froderick to be accused of a crime he did not commit."

Back to Froderick : "I believe we are the only ones who can save your life now, so I suggest you cooperate with us. Do you have any way of communication with these fey ?"

"Indeed. She was whored out by her king to this man in return for a service. That's not love."

At this point, there is a tremendous ruckus from outside the building.

Does it sound like townsfolk or something else ? (fey perhaps)

Does it sound like townsfolk or something else ? (fey perhaps)

His great axe in hand, Bren goes outside to see what is causing the unrest.

Yomi joins Bren outside.

Catriana readies her wand and moves to a place where she can watch both whatever is going outside and Froderick in his cell.

Eglantine stays alert and waits to see what happens next. She carefully keeps her hands away from her sling. Matters won't be helped by haphazard firing of weapons.

Elias leaves with his companion cat and stays alert for danger.

What if her love was stronger than the magic, and she came to love him despite the geas placed on them both?

The shouting starts to die down, and those outside see a dozen men and women of Riverbend stand in the street speaking worriedly among themselves. A clay beer mug flies out a window from the Golden Knight, and a noise that might be described as singing comes from inside the building. "Fey" is the word on every lip.

"Stay close, my brother." Elias mutters to his cat.

To the others he says, "Best we move to look at the pond; we don't want to be caught up in any trouble here."

Catriana looks at Froderick and wonders if he knows something relevant he did not want to say.
Insight (1d20+12=23)

If not, Catriana leaves the building, nodding to the guard outside so he could get back to his post. She then walks quickly towards the tavern, trying to listen to the words of the song before entering (If possible).

Catriana looks at Froderick and wonders if he knows something relevant he did not want to say.
[url=http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1873853/]Insight

Elias sighs as Catriana heads for the tavern.

"Ah well, she seems to thrive in that sort of environment. Each to their own, eh?" he says to his companion.

"Let's look at that pond."

Yowr!

DM

Elias really heads for that pond!

:D

DM** spoiler omitted **