DM Ollibolli's page

As you bring Gretchyn into her room, Niva comes out of her room to help you. "Good to have you here, Lunari. I will take care of the old lady, if you will cheer up the kids a bit. Everyone's so down and depressed because of the kidnappings."

After a bit of rummaging in his "archives" the Voice of Freedom TM gives you a sheet of paper. "Here, this is the list... I will emmmm..... have a copy for you ready in 90 minutes. The one's at the bottom are the dubious one, more likely to have left the town on their own."

The list:
Tiervan Wispwort(male gnome, age 91) A local alchemist, Tiervan lived with two cats and ran a marginally successful business. He disappeared 86 nights ago.

Jorl Seerkin (male gnome, age 72) A law clerk who worked for a local gnome barrister named Aeryk Gylbar, he disappeared from his home 81 nights ago.

Azmi Dresker (female human, age 19) She worked at a local brothel and disappeared from her residence 79 nights ago. She and a coworker, Shellen Rycah, rented the house from an old woman named Martira Hathaway, who was asleep in the house that night and didn’t hear or see anything.

Shellen Rycah (female human, age 20) She worked at a local brothel and shared a house with coworker Azmi Dresker and their landlord. Shellen vanished 79 nights ago.

Callum Sunnyrush (male halfling, age 37) He groomed horses and ponies for the Thantari noble family. He vanished from his room at a cozy local inn 67 nights ago.

Szordra Callagher (female human, age 35) A self-proclaimed sage, she ran her own small bookstore. She was last seen 58 nights ago by her 18-year-old son Leagan, a
mason’s apprentice.

Tembor Kalavan (male human, age 25) A local minstrel of some repute, he vanished 50 nights ago from his room in The Laughing Horse Inn.

Irruth Mercadi (female human, age 36) A local chandler who disappeared from the apartment above her shop 45 nights ago.

Deven Myrzal (male human, age 18) A lamplighter who vanished 43 nights ago. Guards found the pole Deven used to unhook hanging lanterns in the street a few blocks from his home (which was not robbed).

Jeneer Everdawn (female halfling, age 42) A jeweler’s apprentice who did volunteer work at local schools, she disappeared 38 nights ago.

Lorthan Ironfold (male dwarf, age 125) A skilled cartwright. He and his wife, Sondor, vanished from their home 33 nights ago.

Sondor Ironfold (female dwarf, age 127) Wife of Lorthan Ironfold, she and her husband disappeared 33 nights ago.

Rikaldo Veskar (male human, age 34) His ransacked home contained blood droplets and bloodencrusted knives—not surprising, since Rikaldo worked as a skinner. He disappeared 29 nights ago.

Lestor Coldwater (male human, age 22) A trained scribe and struggling poet. He and his girlfriend, Jelluth, vanished from her home 24 nights ago.

Jelluth Sirlana (female half-elf, age 33) A struggling shoemaker who inherited her father’s failing business, she vanished (along with her boyfriend, Lestor) 24
nights ago.

Elethor Ashstaff (male half-elf, age 58) A wizard and trickster who occasionally performed minor feats of prestidigitation at birthday parties for upper-class children.
A dead rat—possibly Elethor’s familiar—was found in his home. He vanished 20 nights ago.

Maple (female halfling, age 32) Last name unknown, Maple was rumored to be associated with one or more of the local thieves’ guilds. She disappeared 16
nights ago.

Corystan Pike (female human, age 35) A retired adventurer who was living on stolen loot, she walked with a cane. She disappeared from her modest abode 14 days ago.

Jasper Drundlesput (male gnome, age 74) A reclusive and eccentric mathematician, he is believed to have vanished seven days ago. Pieces of parchment covered with numbers and symbols littered the floor of his ransacked house.

Deakon Stormshield (male dwarf, age 12) A bright dwarf, Deakon was taken from the Lantern Street Orphanage one night ago. The orphanage took him in when
he was six years old, after his parents failed to return from an adventure.

Evelyn Radavec (female human, age 9) A quiet, sullen girl, she was taken from the Lantern Street Orphanage one night ago. Her father and mother succumbed
to filth fever, which spread through Cauldron seven years ago.

Lucinda Aldreen (female human, age 8) A gregarious but superstitious child given to the Lantern Street Orphanage at age four by her poverty-stricken mother, Lucinda was abducted from the orphanage one night ago.

Terrem Kharatys (male human, age 9) This orphan, taken from the Lantern Street Orphanage one night ago, is a dour and temperamental lad. His parents died
shortly after his birth (circumstances unknown).

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gryffon Malek (male human, age 33) He worked as a barkeep at The Tipped Tankard tavern. He disappeared 64 days ago, three days before his planned wedding
to a tavern barmaid.

Krylscar Endercott (male human, age 24) Kicked out of the local militia for drunk and disorderly conduct, Krylscar vanished from his parents’ home 72 nights ago.
Neither parent heard or saw anything suspicious, but they believe Krylscar may have robbed them and fled town in disgrace.

You saw a shadow of guilt cross the face of the janitor, before he packed up his things and went to his room.

Gretchyn thanks you enthusiastically, "Well, thank you, Lunari. This is the first well meant offer I have heard since the..., since they were taken." It is obviuos, that all this has taken a big toll the old woman. "You know, in times like these, you will always see, who is genuinely on your side and who is only giving false promises. The watch does nothing, the press uses the story for profit and the council does not care for an orphanage. I don't know, what I can do any more. And then I remember what they must feel like, abandoned, captive or worse..." She breaks into tears.

You hear the sound of metal clashing and alarm shouts from the direction the group of orcs went to some time ago.

The next morning comes and caravan breaks camp before the sun is up. Soon your wagons are rolling along the road, it would have been nice and peaceful except for the din of the jungle beyond the road. Most members of the caravan are showing signs of fatigue by the end of the day, a grueling leg until the next place for the night has been reached. It is a prepared camp site, often used by caravans in both directions, one of many. Tha caravan makes a circle, the tents are built and the night falls down upon the exhausted group. Lindwicket, Dari and Hanathan have not been chosen for guard duty, and are asleep among the rest of the merchants and guards.

Perception checks please.
If you roll higher than 25, you wake because something peculiar has happened around the camp.
Everyone else: a Fortitude check please, to determine how fast you become awake.

Time for ACTION!

You are welcomed at the orphanage by the leader of the house, Gretchyn Tashykk, a wise old halfling woman, that took also care of you, when you were here. "Lunari, what can I do for you. You come at our worst of times. But surely you have already heard the troubling news?" As you look around you also see Neva Fanister looking out of her room and waving her hand in greeting. And Patch is also making sure, that all locks at the doors and windows are in perfect order. As he looks up and notices you, he greets you and disappears into his room.

Sense Motive please

Geduld, bald geht es weiter. Eine Karawanennacht noch...im Schnellvorlauf, wenn sich niemand meldet.

So? How do you want to step in? Do you want to wait for the next issue of the Cauldron herald to come out (also on the day where Seynor goes to the Watch), or do you want to do something in advance?

Piet looks up to you and sighs. "Well, a breakthrough in the investigation wouold have been nice. This morning's not been good, my Da's been target again by the press and he could have used any clue to catch those hoodlums. This §$%&%§ gnome from the Cauldron Herald's been making a living hell out of my father's duty, especially with this new paper coming out later."

As you approach the office of Sergeant Darren Crenshaw a large version of young Piet storms out of the room and turns around to shout into the room at the top of his lungs. "I don't want excuses. I need results. The city needs results. This and the caravan raids are undermining the security of the town. And if those §$%&%§ bozos..." he shakes a piece of paper raging over his head...".. are gonna find the culprits before we do. The doors of vigilantism are thrown wide open and we don't want this in my City. Do I make myself clear?"

You hear a very quiet "yessircrystalclear" coming out of the room. Before the answer's been finished, Captain Terseon Skellerang crumbles the sheet of paper throws it to the floor in disgust and storms off into the other direction towards his office. You hear a door slamming loudly and a bit of dust settles down from the rafters.

Piet gulps loudly, shakes his head and says, "No good timing, definitely not good timing..."

Oakencorn Beerenbiddle is showing a sparkle in his eyes. "That, my young friend, has the looks of GREAT story." He takes a deep breath. "I can already see a big headline coming up. But I need to know more about your young friend." He takes a deep breath "Emm.. how to phrase this with piety... he was your friend, you know? Or more? Well, you are shedding tears over the fate of a rival musician. It would make such a great headline. Young Adventurer Seeks Abducted Love!

He shakes his head, "but that would be too far into the future... Sure, I don't know all victims, that have been abducted, but certainly many of them, as I have tried to cover each case in a new issue. But this kind of news is not breaking news anymore after a dozen or so have been dragged from their homes. The orphanage was big news, though. Little children, a break-in and four victims spells BIG headline for me. But catching those guys and a first hand report of the proceedings, that'd break my distribution record from ten years ago."

The Voice of Freedom (TM) twitches his mouth. "It appears, Manduzi Steelsong, we have a deal. I will give you a list of the abducted victims that I know off and any further rumour I managed or will manage to get a hold off, and you will give me a first-hand-account of your findings before you inform the Town Watch?" The little gnome spits in his hand and offers it to you. "Let's shake on it!"

The evening goes by around the fires, until Maavu calls it a night: "I'd advise for everyone else to catch some sleep, too, tomorrow will be grueling, as we hed deeper into the jungle. And no one knows, if we are gonana get jumped by those caravan raiders. But we have some good people on the watch, always having an eye and an ear out in the darkness, eh? So, go ahead and hit the sack. See ya all on the morrow."

Anyone want to do something this evening?
Still waiting for an answer by Lindwicket, but that is not relevant for the next posts.

As you are making camp for the night Maavu comes to Master Lindwicket. "I had a bit of time to think about your offer. I'd like to order about thirty small carved wooden chisels, each one on a silver chain to wear on a chain around the neck. Fifteen in a white wood like birch, ten in a red brown color like teak or mahogany and five of them in ebony. What would you ask for such a task, Master Lindwicket, and how fast would you be able to finish this order?"

The wagons are pulled in a circle around crude fireplace.

More description later. Need to run.

You go along the streets of Cauldron to the Southern Quarter on Magma Avenue and near the Bluecrater Academy, freshly opened and given into the care of Lady Knowlern, you enter the little building hosting the press and the Voice of Freedom (TM) of Cauldron, courtesy of Oakencorn Jemedick Beerenbiddle, the author of the weekly (or whenever breaking news abound) Cauldron Herald.

"Ah, the young Master Steelsong, Manduzi, isnt it? What can I do for you? An big advertisement for your next gig, perhaps? With an introductory interview and perhaps some sample lyrics on the front page?"

The Cauldron Herald has only one page, but it still sounds good, doesn't it?

After finding the church of Wee Jas without its apprentice cleric Seynor Lunari meets the dwarf on his way back while going to the orphanage.

Seynor tells Lunari of his "findings" at the orphanage, and of his plan to wait one or two days until taking further action. His trust in the competence of the Town Guard is very high.

Seynor actually waited until the third day before he took further actions and went to the Town Guard himself.

You know Tyro Amberhelm, the dwarf, as a regular customer for the last six months. He and his collegues, two half-elves, have been staying here as merchants.

"If you don't know, who has been abducted, try to get this information first. Either contact a local news outlet or the town guard itself." says Tyro Amberhelm to you. Hookface Jack only nods. "Just what I was going to say. Not necessarily with those words, but you got the gist right."

Then it will take you a bit longer to recognize what's going on, though you certainly have some suspicions, right?

"Hm... the first thing in solving such a secret is to find the common element. If you find out, what all had in common, you will be a big step closer as to find out who was responisble." says Hookface Jack after a little pondering. And the dwarf also nods: "Aye. That sounds like a good plan."

About thirty minutes later the monkeys and birds go silent again.
Give me a perception roll please.

What you know about the headpriest of St. Cuthbert is that Sarcem Delasharn is a fearful dodger, but his stand-in is a young woman called Jenya Urekas and she has a good bearing of what goes on in the world and has an open mind (something found rarely in the ranks of the god of retribution and justice). You also know, that the paladin of the church Alek Tercival is a childhood friend of Jenya and you saw him ride by a few minutes ago accompanying the head priest to Sasserine and perhaps beyond...?

The sergeant looks down on you and shouts: "Piet!" A small child not older than twelve comes running out of a room adjacent to the main entrance and comes barely to a stop before the elevated counter of the sergeant. "Yes? What's Up? How can I help? Piet to the rescue..." A stern frown on the brows of the elder town guard. "Echem... Yes, Sergeant?" Piet is a gangly lad, his white blond hair, his long face and his clear intelligent blue eyes make it clear to you, that his last name must be Skellerang. "Please, bring this cleric to the leader of our Vanishing Investigations." "Vanishing Investigations? Thass a good one... hihihi." Another stern frown... "Echem... Yes, Sergeant!" Piet looks to you with eager interest in his eyes. "Come on, follow me." And with a high speed he launches up the stairs, until the seargeant clears his throat loudly. Piet stops, looks back shrugs his shoulders and waits for you to follow him up the stairs. He now walks with a slower pace.

Up on the gallery he waits a moment, until the grizzled sergeant is occupied by something else. "What brings you here? Has another one vanished? Have you seen someone taking them in the night?"

The sounds of the orcs walking through the jungle move further away, until silence falls again in the the darkness under the canopy of the giant trees. It takes only a short while until the din of the monkeys and birds begins again.

After a short while the monkeys spot you in one of their trees and begin to pelt you with fruit, some ripe, some already rotten.

The rain continues for the rest of the day and the darkness has already claimed the jungle as the last drops fall down. It takes a bit of time until the fauna awakens from the drenching it has taken for the last few hours, but it does not take long for the birds and monkeys to fill the air with their screams and shouting, only for the din to fall completely silent from one moment to another.

Perception Check please

The overseeing sergeant in the barracks looks down at you from his elevated position. "So, are you speaking for your church or is this a private matter, lad?"

Hookface Jack looks at you questioningly. "No clue?" Then he sighs.

"Hm. That will be difficult. Promise me, Duzi! No more pickpocketing!And about your parents? I have told you all I know about them. But go to Skie's Place. Skie Aldersson was also in our group once, before she opened up her shop. And she also knows a lot about adventuring."

As your caravan rolls through the fields, Skylar is chatting away about the various inns and taverns in Cauldron.

`First we have "The Rolling Barrel": it is just below of the Town Hall. Lots of guards are having a beer after their shifts there, cause the place belongs to the Captain's brother. It's called the Rolling Barrel, 'cause a new beer barrel is rolled down a spiral from the storage up above and the foam from the new barrell is free. Great spectacle, but that has no place to sleep. Then we have the "Drunken Morkoth Inn", this one's for the better establishment, mostly visiting merchants. T'has one of the best kitchens in town and the foster son of the innkeeper plays a mean lute. very fine beds, but a bit pricey though. Then we have "The Tipped Tankard", that one's a simple inn and tavern. If ye don't have much money, there's always "Minuta's Board", she let's you stay, if you help her (or someone else) the next day with work. Then we have the Slippery Eel Tavern. That one's for the working class in and around Cauldron. But watch your pockets there. Sometimes, you leave more money there, than what you paid fer food and drinks. The places for - ahem - other entertainment are down at the Ash Avenue, but certainly not of interest for such fine ladies. The "Coy Nixie" is well beyond of what money ye are carrying around. And the "Cusp of Sunrise" is invitation only, so don't bother to go there. And you should have a look to the Temple of St. Cuthbert. Perhaps the High Priest Sarcem Delasharn will let you stay there... from what I have heard, it also has an experienced paladin, Alek Tercival. If he'd not chosen his path, he'd certainly be on the Town Council, but he has chosen a ... emm.. it seems he has chosen this way." And Skylar points to a group of riders approching the caravan. All of them show the colors and the sign of St. Cuthbert as they pass the caravan solemnly. "Strange." mutters The Krew to himself. "What is the High Priest and most of the church guard doing here? Well, I'll be damned, Hanathan, but it seems you will have to ask Jenya Urekas for a place in the church of St. Cuthbert. Or Embril Aloustinai from the chruch of Wee Jas. If you ask that brute from the Temple of Kord, he'll vertainly ask for a wrestling match with you to prove your worth in the eyes of Kord. Or that young kid from the Temple of Pelor, but that temple is ruins anyway. Did I just say damned? Pardon my potty mouth! My mother always told me, that my mouth would bring me more trouble than my other vices.´

And so the caravan continues into the forest...

"That is indeed fine work, Master Berenbiddle, and I will certainly have a look at your craftmanship, but not now amidst this chaos. Come again this evening, and I think I will have another offer to make." With that his attention is caught by the other wagons and his command to saddle up and make ready for departure rings across the court. "Fine work indeed..." you hear him mutter beneath the din of the departing wagons.

Your memory is shady, but if you'll see him again, you'll know.

Skylar Krewis looks at Hanathan. "Well, mah name's Skylar Krewis, called 'The Krew' or jus' Krew by most. And Ah'm pleased to make yer'quaintance. Good t'have someone with us, whose armor will be tough as steel." As Dari also settles on the wagon. "So, ye wanna know all 'bout Cauldron Ah reckon?" Skylar looks left to right and the looks of both awaiting further explanations, seem to hit the mark in his assumption. "Well, well, Our journey's going te take long and on our week's travel Ah can tell ye all about Cauldron ye wanna know..." His voice drops down a bit. "An' perhaps a thing or two, that ye don't wanna..." Conspiratory glances left and right, he waits a second and on a sign of Maavu he smacks the horses the reigns on their rumps as the voyage begins.

Jack takes a lock at the coin, shakes his head. "Duzi, Duzi. What mess have you gotten yourself into? Those coins are from the Last Laugh. And that means either you're working for them, which I seriously doubt, or that you crossed their path somehow, which I seriously suspect."

He goes to the bar and takes out a ledger. "Who is not on this list, must have gone elsewhere...?" As you read the list, you see most of those, that you have fleeced for money in this and other taverns over the last years, even the name of Tyro Amberhelm is on this list, with exactly the sum you took from him. As you look up, he proposes a toast to you. "Happy Birthday, Manduzi. Took a bit of an effort to track most of them down, but someone did not go to your uncle to get reimbursement. I'll have a word with my colleagues 'bout that."

Make an Intelligence check please.

Sense Motive is Wisdom-based, therefore it is a 11.

You are quite certain, that the watch will do its utmost to find Deakon.

Patch sighs and you can see his compassion in his eyes.

"No, Seynor. Deakon has vanished. Don't take it too hard. But I am sure, these gentlemen from the guards will do everything they can, to find them. You will do that, right?"

The town guard inspecting the door, looks up a bit surprised to be addressed by the half-orc. "Yeah. Right. We'll look out for these kids."

Sense Motive Roll Please

As Hanathan reaches the wagon, the man steering it, introduces himself. "Hello. My name is Skylar Krewis, though I am normally known as 'The Krew' here. Throw your things in the back and climb up! The caravan will start shortly, then the chaos will subside, as the animals are becoming more and more restless, because we don't start. Just waiting for a handful of stragglers that also want to travel to Cauldron."

Maavu's horse is prancing restlessly as it is getting very impatient, but the caravan leader holds his mount under control. "Ah, go ahead and join these two on their wagon. We will start in short order, just waiting for another passenger. But if he won't show up in the next minutes, he will have to try to catch up with us." On the wagon he pointed to are seated a man with the reigns in his hands and a woman in armor. "Come on! Hop up!" the man besckons to you. "I already see the last ones arriving. Name's Skylar Krewis by the way, and this is Hanathan, a paladin of Heironeous."

Maavu holds his nervous horse in check as he is adressed by the gnome and his hireling. "At last!" he cries out loud, then he focusses his eyes back on the two travellers. "Sure, Master Berenbiddle, I could use someone scouting a bit ahead, but not too far please. One cannot be too cautious in these times in the jungle, wild animals and other things are always a danger to lone travellers. Hadran can travel with that wagon." and he points to a smaller ox cart. "The animals can use a bit encouragement, they'd fall back otherwise."

After checking that everyone has reached his appointed wagon. Maavu gives out a shrill whistle and shouts "Hoo! Let's bring this show on the road." and the first wagons leave the big court. The animals are eager to run and the teamsters have to hold them back, otherwise they'd have started at an alarmingly fast pace. It does not take long and all wagons and riders are leaving Sasserine. The road through the fields around the city has a steady nearly unnoticable rise, but as you look back after the first miles, Sasserine and the Azure Sea make a wonderful panorama before the caravan disappears into the jungle beyond the fields.

As Hanathan approaches Maavu Arlintal (picture) and asks about aplace in the caravan, the merchant nods and tells you: "Yeah, I've read it. Go over there on to 'The Krew' on the wagon. We don't want to have such a good looking woman run over, don't we?" He also throws a sincere smile with this well-meant quip.

So Hanathan walks over to the wagon the caravan leader has pointed out to you. The man steering the horses pulling the wagon beckons to you to hurry up (picture).

As you approach the back door of the orphanage, you also see two guards taking a look at the door and the lock. Moments later a figure from the front joins them. It is Patch, who anticipated your next move.

He steps by the two guards and comes to you. "Thought, you'd come around. Your friend's not here, you understand?"

Stergan Rus stumbles in the direction he determined by climbing up into the tree. The sunlight helps to keep travelling to Cauldron and not lose the way.

As the afternoon goes by, dark clouds fill up the sky and not soon after the heavens open up the sluices. Water is pooring down, it can't be called rain any more. It drenches everything and the next trees are barely visible. But audible is the roar of a predator nearby.

You see two green cloaks disappearing into a small alley, as you look up and down the Lantern Street.

As you get to the door of the Lantern Street Orphanage you find a group of the Town Guards searching the door as if tiny diamonds would be embedded in it. A half-orc is standing next to them, but you know that this is Patch, the janitor, easily recognizable because of his eyepatch over his left eye. Patch had been an orphan himself, and he did not find a job outside of the Orphanage, that why he is the janitor now. He always patches up the kids after fights and things that got broken in them.

The Sergeant from the Town Guards looks up to you and says: "There's nothing to see for you here, go on, move along. You are hindering an investigation."

Patch is taking up the words of the sergeant: "There's no one to see for you here, I'm sorry. Now, move along."

A Spot check please

The departure of a caravan is a controlled chaos in a din of noise of shouting, baying and whinnying. If the control slips the start will be delayed for hours.

The leader of this caravan, a man named Maavu Arlintal, sits on top of his horse and gives orders to the steering teams of the wagons.

The bar room is quite empty this morning except for a dwarf sitting for his breakfast with two half-elves talking very quitely in a language you don't know. You know these three, the half-elves have been here several weeks, but the dwarf is something like inventory of the inn for several years. His name is Tyro Amberhelm, the name's of the half-elves you were also able to catch, Fario Ellegoth and Fellian Shard...

"Come here, son, and sit down for a moment." Jack says to you. He pulls out two mugs of ale and places one in front of you.

"I am normally a bit quite about Mandragor and Judith, but you know they were dear to my heart. I have often told about our adventures... in the Bandit Knigdoms and who knows where else. But being an adventurer, there is more to it than the tales I have told."

Jack takes a big swallow from his mug, before he continues. "What you hear from the life of an adventurer are only the interesting parts. It is like being a soldier who always waits in the garrison for being called into action. An adventurer needs to find his own opportunities for adventure, opportunities, not the high risk of certain death. That is why you need to find out against whom you are going to stand, what you are going to explore. Because if you don't you are inviting death or worse to knock on your door. In case of your parent's disappearance, it was a simple mission, go to some Kopru ruins and bring back a dragon egg. They did not return, so somehow they encountered something or someone, they did not account for, or they were ambushed on their way back. Might've even been Hookface himself."

"What I want to say is, never get into more trouble than you can handle. If you don't know what or who you're up against, leave it. Okay? Promise me that, Duzi."

After a while during this sermon the two half-elves stand up and leave the inn.