The group begins to run to avoid the trolls and soon enough they stop following. Past all the feilds the terrain opens into lush grasslands in the distance you can see a lake to the North and quite a few streams cross your path with simple wooden bridges let you cross with no problems.
You notice the sun dropping and come upon a river, a rather wide one at that you can barely see the other side. Five ramshackle buildings sit on the road and a ferry sits on the edge of the bank. A large rope is attached to a pillar and runs through the ferry to the other side.
The group begins to run to avoid the trolls and soon enough they stop following. Past all the fields, the terrain opens into lush grasslands in the distance. You can see a lake to the North and quite a few streams cross your path with simple wooden bridges let you cross with no problems.
"Wow", Joe breathes as he looks around. "Sure is beautiful out here."
You notice the sun setting and come upon a river, a rather wide one at that you can barely see the other side. Five ramshackle buildings sit on the road and a ferry sits on the edge of the bank. A large rope is attached to a pillar and runs through the ferry to the other side.
"Oh wow, I've heard of these types of ferrys!" The paladin says, admiring the engineering used to make it. Joe looks around the pillar, looking for any type of toll to pay.
Artemis whistles as they reach the ferry, "Yeah, I've sen one in use and that was in that Burma special for Top Gear." He thinks for a moment and looks at the five ramshackle buildings for any sign of life, "I'm pretty sure we are going to have to wait until morning to cross however..."
The building with the sign that says: General, has a very dim light coming from the back of the building inside. Behind that building you can see fog building up and a light in the fog.
In the darkened hovels of houses you can see children and others looking out of the darkened windows looking at you and those in your party.
The large owl on the roof of the Owl Inn, is barely moving, you think it is alive but is as large as you. The yellow eyes seem to have an intelligence to them.
At the pillar is a wooden sign which has several offers on it:
Owl's Watch Inn:
A night stay, with a warm breakfast, and passage over the river - 13 sp
A warm meal and passage over the river - 7 sp
Passage over the river - 2 sp
Looking around you can see the closest building next to the sign has several owls hanging around it. The door is just a sway door and you can hear chatter coming form within. Light also comes from under and over the sway door.
The other building across the way looks vacant but has a big sign saying: General.
The other three buildings are almost just hovels and likely just houses. Three men armed with polearms, helmets and leather armor stand next to the ferry. No one is milling about outside.
Fog is starting to build up on the river and is heading from the other side of the river. The the men at the ferry begin to head towards you.
"Huh? Two silver per person to get across." Joe comments. "That doesn't sound too bad. Shame it's super foggy right now."
The paladin then notices the ferry men walk closer. Slightly started, Joe casts detect evil at the arriving workmen.
Owl's Watch Inn
Entering into the inn, it looks like almost every bar or inn out of D&D. The bar is off to the left, with an archway on that wall leading to the kitchen indicated by the serving wenches going in and out; let alone the sounds of cutlery and other clanking tools.
Straight ahead you see a small desk in front of the stairs leading down and up. A door leads into a common room beside the stairs holding at least several bunk beds in view, likely more.
On the right side of the inn is a large blazing hearth that has several pots over it. In the center of the largest building in town are seven rectangular tables with plenty of stools around or just a wooden plank over two wooden wedges.
On the walls are several deer heads are mounted to the walls and most of the other decorations are deer antlers with the head of a large bug like creature.
The room is full of patrons and the festivities stop as your group enters. You can easily get the vibe that you are not wanted as you are outsiders.
There are three serving wenches. A red head that wears a green frilly dress that is torn in places but out of place, she goes by the name Drell. A plump burnett in a brown skirt and blouse that barely keeps her ample bosom in it, she goes by the name Ashley. The last serving lass is much more focused on her job than pleasing the crowd with her leather britches and tight blue stained shirt, the blonde is called Ash.
The short woman behind the desk before the stairs is actually a halfling and seems only a child, Brunny takes the money for the use of any room. She is a rather plain and dolls it up with overused makeup.
Besides the patrons which all look like they have rags for clothing and smell of fish, the only other person that stands out is the bartender. Shartash, female half orc, with a purple mohawk, purple eyes and tattoos of owls well placed over her arms and the bald spots of her head.
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She reads the sign at the same as Joe and just heads into the inn...
She flashes a smile at the crowd, easily disarming them, and walks slowly up to the bar.
At the bar she takes a stool and asks politely, "So when does the ferry run? Do I talk with you about the house deal? Any problems you have been having lately?"
With the new information she thanks the bartender and asks, "Surprise me." Looking out over the crowd and then back says, "I am sure someone will get it for me." She gives a knowing smile to Shartash before she walks over to the overpainted halfling. Continuing with her charm she introduces herself so most of the room can hear her name and smiles, "Greetings the name is Jellena Darkling, Ms. Darkling is fine." After hearing the offer she replies graciously, "Do I get to pick my visitors, assuming they can pay? If so then we have a deal."
Shartash grins showing her lower pure white canines, "Well my dear, the ferry runs in the morning and through the day as needed but never when there is fog out. Go over and talk with Brunny at the desk for a deal. Is there a drink you would like me to start for you? The fog has been a problem, not sure where it comes from but several folk have not been seen for days since it has been showing up in the last week. Also some strange lights and sounds have been heard in the fog. One of my owls is missing and if you could find it and safely release it, I would pay good coin for the act."
The halfling grins at Jellena and agrees, "Yes, just let them know to check with me first. I will take my cut and let them pay you the rest." She hands Jellena a very basic key and says, "You will be in the blue door."
The paladin then notices the ferry men walk closer. Slightly started, Joe casts detect evil at the arriving workmen.
The one with a beard is evil, the other two are not.
After politely nodding to the ferry as they past, Joe whispers to his magic sword. "Excalibur, the one in the beard is evil, keep an eye on him. Quietly."
Out of nowhere the sword talks, "No undead here or along the path... I could use a nice polishing."
Joe is nearly startled by Excalibur's loud pronouncement in the fog. "Eh! Thanks, Excalibur. Good to know", the paladin breathed.
Joe looks around the inn, soaking in the classic D&D tavern ambience, noticing the trophies on the wall.
"Aw sweet!" Joe says in surprise. "An Ankheg!"
At that moment, Joe realizes all conversations stop as the group has entered.
The paladin decides to follow the death priest, whispering to Excalibur once more. "Excalibur, redhead. evil." After Jellena places her order with the half-orc, Joe steps up to greet his first half-orc, trying not to stare. "Um, one water please? I'm really thirsty. And no, I'm not paying for her drink", thumbs Joe toward the retreating jedi?..Sith? Gray jedi, maybe?
"Well my dear, the ferry runs in the morning and through the day as needed but never when there is fog out. Go over and talk with Brunny at the desk for a deal. Is there a drink you would like me to start for you? The fog has been a problem, not sure where it comes from but several folk have not been seen for days since it has been showing up in the last week. Also some strange lights and sounds have been heard in the fog. One of my owls is missing and if you could find it and safely release it, I would pay good coin for the act."
"That sounds terrible! Despite the fog, we'll try to keep an eye out for it? What does it look like?"
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"Well looks like we need to pass some time."
Frank enters with the others. He takes a seat and has some water as well listening to what the others are up to. He smiles at Jellena and nods.
"Be careful." Well she is putting her assets to use.
He then hears of the missing owl.
"Joe we could use the coin. There could be things using the fog as cover and stealing people or owls as it is. Maybe we should go out and investigate. Ferry won't run while there is fog anyways."
The half-orc admires Joe saying, "Good eye you got there, yeah we had a lot of ankhegs before I got here." Then she smirks even more as she produces a glass with water as she naughtily says, "Oh come on, you know you want to... My owl is dark brown and light brown feathers over its middle section, a golden cross on a leather tab should be on its right claw."
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She starts going around the room likely getting lots of looks and whistles especially after taking her robe off showing off her working clothes. She drops off her robe with Joe, leaning into him and then whispering to Joe.
Silver: 27
Gold: 4
She continues to flaunt her assets along the line, to Frank, Delman, and Artemis then she continues to strut around the room. Dodging most slaps or other caresses, the few lucky few quickly find her pushing them back into their seat. After distracting the crowd for a good 5 minutes she takes to the stairs and blows a kiss to the crowd, then smiling with pouting lips puts out her price, "Only 10 gold for an hour with little ole me or 30 for the night." She continues to ascend the stairs looking out at the patrons and flaunting more of her assets as she goes.
Artemis eyes the ferrymen wearily as he follows behind the group, before turning his attention to Shartash. He would take a seat beside Frank and would also partake in some water as he listens to what the half-orc has to say. Artemis leans in a bit curious now, "I agree with Frank, we should go out and look for it now before it gets too late."
She starts going around the room likely getting lots of looks and whistles especially after taking her robe off showing off her working clothes. She drops off her robe with Joe.
She continues to flaunt her assets along the line, to Frank, Delman, and Artemis then she continues to strut around the room. Dodging most slaps or other caresses, the few lucky few quickly find her pushing them back into their seat. After distracting the crowd for a good 5 minutes she takes to the stairs and blows a kiss to the crowd, then smiling with pouting lips puts out her price, "Only 10 gold for an hour with little ole me or 30 for the night." She continues to ascend the stairs looking out at the patrons and flaunting more of her assets as she goes.
"What the hell?!" Joe exclaims as Jellena both drops off her rope, whispers her message and just offers herself as a prostitute to this ferry town, watching her saunter up the stairs.
Confused, the paladin waves his companions over to relay the death priest's message.|
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"I mean sounds fun and all but I don't have that kind of money."
Frank assumes she meant to secure a place for all of us on the cheap by selling herself but then only having us as clients, but if the establishment takes a cut it seems more pricey then just getting a room.
"So I'm going to go poke around in the fog. Look for this owl. Anyone want to come?"
Frank finishes his water stands and stretches and waits a moment to see if anyone joins him heading out.
Artemis would stand up to go with him, adjusting his rifle as he stifles a small yawn, "I'll go with you."
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As the group gets outside Joe realizes that the robe is shrinking and soon it shrinks into his hand disappearing all together.
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He shrugs as he continues to pet his cat without thinking about it, then whispering the first bit he says, "I don't think that is what she has in mind. I can get that warm bed later, I guess I will continue to eat some of the jerky until we get back." He pulls out a scrap from his opposite pocket and takes a bite off of the piece, then the cat nips him and he nods to it, "Yes, yes, here you go." Tearing a piece for the cat as well, following the group.
Shartash *
Brunny
Patrons -2 *
red wench
blonde wench *
brunette wench *
Perception to see the SoH: DC 18
Shartash
Brunny *
Patrons -2 *
red wench
blonde wench *
brunette wench
As the group starts to head out the heavy set brunette bumps into the last of your group, Joe, whispering, "You should send one of your party up before the mayor gets here."
Joe becomes increasing flustered with Jellena's supposed plan. The paladin's stomach begins to grumble louder. Man! I gotta eat something before bed!
Unwilling to go forward with the subterfuge, Joe quickly downs the water, which helps quell the paladin's hunger pains for a while, tosses a copper at Shartash, and follows the warlord out the door.
The guards stand about outside of the inn, looking at Frank they shake their heads lightly indicating no, but the one with the beard speaks up, "The fog is bad. Something uses it to cover its trail. We have lost our captain, four guards, two kids, an elderly man, and the local witch. Not sure about an owl, that must be Shartash's owl. The fog has been here for more than a week. I have holy symbols to sell to ward the fog off." Another one pipes up adding what he knows, "The fog always starts from the other side of the river and comes this way. Beware of any lights in there, my pal Ven saw it and followed it and he vanished." The other two shake their heads like they don't believe the story.
The fog is encroaching on the buildings but stays away 10 feet from all the torches lit.
The guards stand about outside of the inn, looking at Frank they shake their heads lightly indicating no, but the one with the beard speaks up, "The fog is bad. Something uses it to cover its trail. We have lost our captain, four guards, two kids, an elderly man, and the local witch. Not sure about an owl, that must be Shartash's owl. The fog has been here for more than a week. I have holy symbols to sell to ward the fog off."
Joe walks up to the halted warlord and listens in. "I'm sure you do", Joe said through barely-held derision, remembering the evil ping he got from the bearded man.
Another one pipes up adding what he knows, "The fog always starts from the other side of the river and comes this way. Beware of any lights in there, my pal Ven saw it and followed it and he vanished." The other two shake their heads like they don't believe the story.
"Thanks for the heads-up, officer", the paladin replied to the sincere guard.
"All vanished huh. I hope this isn't the fog that takes us off to Ravenloft. Not looking to go toe to toe with Straud." Frank smiles and chuckles a bit.
Joe gives Frank a playful nudge on his shoulder. "Oh God, don't even joke about that! Paladins in Ravenloft don't last very long! And when they do, they'll wish they were dead!"
"Well their bodies have not been seen and no one has seen them for at least three days some have been gone for almost ten days. We are making sure no one uses the ferry. You would have to talk to the mayor to get his approval to take the ferry tonight, especially with the fog out." The three guards each say agreeing with each other on these statements at least.
The two guards without beards look to the other one who hesitantly tries to explain, "Well... you see the mayor does not like to be disturbed, at least after nightfall. I am sure he will... um.. oh look here he comes now."
A portly fellow shorter than the two guards on either side of him is walking up the path towards the inn. He wears a nice suit but it has several stains on it. The guards each hold up a torch.
The guard with the beard steps forward and states, 'Mayor Bradlaw, I know you must be in a hurry but these men wish to aid you in solving the problem with the missing people and the fog."
The mayor shakes and looks rather upset at being waylaid. He stops and looks like he is thinking before saying anything in a snorting pig voice, "Well yes. Yes we could use some help with those problems. A reward worth your salt if you can bring them back alive, a second if you can kill the thing making the fog, these three will guide you as needed and Thrac and Dolin will watch the ferry when you get back. Thank you for your willingness to serve." With the last sentence uttered you feel icky how smooth it comes out of his mouth. Then the mayor does his best to go directly into the inn.
Once in the room she whispers, "The mayor is coming. He will be coming for you, don't let him touch you, he uses magics to make us do things, things we would not normally do. Quickly out the window, when you are stronger or have friends that you can trust come back and save me."
Obviously frightened her eyes are big and she begins to quietly cry, "No I can't the mayor has my little brother. He must be in the mayor's house I have searched the rest of the town. Until he is safe I have to be here for HIM."
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"I have friends, come with us, we can save you now." She whispers back as she begins collecting her few possessions.
Continuing to whisper, "Come with us now, we will go find your brother and my friends will make sure he never hurts you again."
+1
The three guards lead the group towards the ferry, they don't notice anything.
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He whispers to Artemis, Frank, and then Joe each quietly one by one to not draw attention, "Jellena must be in trouble, be ready, " He then slips away back towards the inn.
Back at the inn he keeps to the shadows, motioning to Jellena to go to the side as he moves that way. Ready to help her and the other one down if needed.
In the fog-laden atmosphere, something seems wrong about the mayor to Joe, and taking one step back hoping the fog will obscure the mayor's vision as well, uses detect evil on the mayor for three rounds.
Whispering to Joe, perception DC 10 for the rest of you to hear, "Joe, isn't that Jellena on the roof?"
Delman whispers to Artemis, Frank, and then Joe each quietly one by one to not draw attention, "Jellena must be in trouble, be ready, " He then slips away back towards the inn.
Taking a quick look behind him, the broad former innkeeper positions himself between the line-of-sight of the mayor and the inn roof.
Distraction, Joe thinks, as he poses a routine question."Mayor Bradlaw, is there any other connection between the missing people you can think of? It might be important to our investigation."
The mayor shakes his head, "No I don't think so.
Delman helps down the girls from the roof if nothing more than to pad their landing and negating any fall damage. They exchange a few words and he quickly joins the group again.
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Frank watches and listens as everything happens around him.
He gets the mayor is hiding something witch all his video game playing and RPG stuff says if not the one responsible he certainly is in the mix. He trust the others and follows their lead. When he follows Delman and meets back up with Jellena his suspicion is confirmed.
"Yes now would be the best time. Lets go search his house."
Artemis watches passively as Joe talks to the mayor, raising an eyebrow as Delman comes up to him and whispers, remaining passive until the mayor goes inside. He would soon follows Frank and Delman towards the inn, and upon hearing what Jellena had to say, his original trust of the Mayor would be broken as he heeds her words, "Perhaps someone should be a lookout? I would rather have some warning in order to get away if needed, instead of needing to scram at the last second." He stifles a yawn and looks at the rest of the party, "But other than that, I'm down to search the Mayor's house."
"Yes now would be the best time. Lets go search his house."
"Perhaps someone should be a lookout? I would rather have some warning in order to get away if needed, instead of needing to scram at the last second." He stifles a yawn and looks at the rest of the party, "But other than that, I'm down to search the Mayor's house."
Joe looks to the warlord, then the gunslinger, and then to the frightened barmaid and sighs. "Since it is the will of the group, we shall investigate the mayor's house before searching for the missing in the fog."
"Perhaps Excalibur and I should act as lookout", the paladin offers. "Two looksout are clearly better than one." Addressing the magic sword quickly, Joe follows with, "Nice catch. Seeing Jellena on a roof, in the fog!""I just hoping we wouldn't go full 'murder hobo' so early in our association."
Joe nods knowingly at Frank.
With the plan mostly set into the place Ash, the blonde waitress/wench, leads the group to the farthest building across from the inn covered in torches. A big lock is on the door, , The windows on the front have bars on them and looking around the building quickly shows not many other windows. The few other windows are up 10 feet and pretty small for most of you to fit through.
Joe will be remaining outside as the lookout
Joe draws Excalibur at the sight of the nearby lights in the fog. "Here comes trouble, my friend," the paladin nodded to his magic sword.
"Still whisper", Joe explains to the magic sword. "I was just thinking out loud. Being able to actually see evil in people is a lot to get used to. Especially in people of authority. It's the slippery slope all paladins walk, I guess."
Artemis looks up at the house, noticing the barred windows as he makes his way slowly around the back, pondering to himself.
As Artemis is able to sneak his way around to the back of the house, he notices the dogs and and the locked doors. As he turns around to head back to the group, he notices the colored lights away from the house. A little worried about the lights, he takes this information and relays it back to the group. "Well, I would suggest not making too much noise while we are here, the mayor does have some dogs tied up in the back." Artemis shifts a little, "Not to mention there are three floating lights behind the mayor's house that we might have to contend with..."
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"I don't have any tools, well except maybe... perhaps..." She begins to say then pulling out a clutch purse obviously from Earth. Looking through it she pulls out a few bobby pins. Merrily she whipers, "Yes, I do need to get an actual set of tools though, these will work..."
Working on the lock she deftly move the two bobby pins into the lock making a few scraping sounds and then the lock unlatches. She stands up and bows, rather pleased with herself she says, "We will see if an encore is needed... I do have my saber if that doesn't work."
With the lock dealt with Jellena opens the door and leads the group inside. Taking the pad lock and stowing it into her midnight robe.