"Perhaps we should start with the old women? Frunthpyllin, you would probably be the best one of us to converse with them."
And why would the elf be the best one to converse? You should choose your words more carefully when you know not of the men you travel with. Frunthpyllin, I have noticed you have an elegant tounge as well as Sir Vuk, One of us should speak to the old women, another should hit up the shops and smiths, the other can hit the inn and tavern to talk to the staff. We will then all meet back at the tavern for when the fishermen come back in. Is this suitable to all? If you feel you can contribute please do, I do not know any of you let alone strengths or weaknesses, but I am hoping to find out. I will take the inn and tavern staff if there are no objections.
Assim waits to see the reactions and questions of the group. Smiling the whole time while speaking.
"I will be happy to speak with the old wet nurse, so long as you don't think the presence of a noble would be disruptive for her. Perhaps the presence of a member of a patron family would loosen the tongue the priest. Especially, if I come with the blessing of the new Boyar," Vuk replied. "Perhaps we can travel into the village and decide along the way."
”Yes, I like the idea of splitting up. Thank you Assim for the compliment, and I have no objections if you question the inn and the tavern staff. So Sir Vuk, you would like to interview the priest and perhaps find the wet nurse? A good choice. I can talk to these women drying the cod. Leaving Garian and Kuraj the shops and smiths.” He looks around to see if any one objects.
”We obviously don’t want to mention the curse, the hag, or the word changeling. Shall we simply say we are charged with aiding the Boyar’s heir in finding a girl who lived with a blind woman 25 years ago? It’s the truth after all.”
And why would the elf be the best one to converse? You should choose your words more carefully when you know not of the men you travel with.
"I meant no offence Asim. I only meant that Frunthpyllin would be the least intimidating to these people." Garian replies mildly. "The plan seems sound."
Garian will talk with the smiths...
Assim hits up the tavern and the inn talking to the barkeep and staff at each, looking for gossip about the Boyar and anything that may have been covered up in his past.
@ The Bar Keep,
Good Sir, My name is Abd-Allah Assim Asad. Please call me Assim. I have came to pay my respects to the late Boyar. I knew him many years ago. His son seems like a good man, but he has questions about his fathers past and is looking to connect with siblings he has in this world. Could you offer me any information on the Boyars children, the ones that were not noble. The ones he sent off for various reasons.
Assim slide a gold piece to the man paying for his drink.
Please keep the change kind sir.
”On second thought, Kuraj, why not keep me company? Just slouch a little, try to look a little less intimidating.” The city elf tilts his head studying the orc. ”Though that might not be possible with your huge muscles.”
He leads Kuraj towards the fish women. ”Good afternoon ladies. My name is Frunthpyllin. This is Kuraj,” he says giving a bow with a flourish of his right hand. ”Perhaps some of you remember me from a few years ago when I did some work at the Boyar’s estate. I spent many enjoyable evenings at the Salty Cod dancing and singing. At the time I learned who really understands life Morskaya Village. The women! We seek information for the new Boyar. Who better to ask than the matriarchs of the village? Around 25 years ago the care of a young girl was entrusted to an old blind woman. I understand the woman is dead, but I seek the girl, now a woman herself. Do you remember her name? Or the house she lived in? Any neighbors or friends that I could speak to?”
Vuk wishes his companions well and mounts Loral.
"I will speak with the priest and see what I can find. Once I've spoken with him, I'll see if I can find the wet nurse. Be well."
Vuk rides into town and makes his way through the village toward the temple. A young acolyte greets him outside the stables near the temple and tends to his mount. He thanks the lad with a silver and continues into the temple.
As he enters the sanctuary he approaches one of the shrines and kneels before it, spending several minutes in prayer. He rises and places a gold coin on at the base of the shrine, before he approaches the main altar.
"Excuse me," He says loud enough to be heard but not so loudly as to disrupt other petitioners. "I'm seeking the Priest of Stribog. Could one of you point him out to me?"
He's directed toward an older man praying in the corner. Vuk approaches and waits for the man to finish his prayers.
"Excuse me Priest, I am Vuk Gniewom, bondsman of Boyar Bor-. excuse me, Boyar Alexi Ribalka. I've been asked by m'lord to inquire about a half-sibling of his. I hate to speak of the failings of the dead, but it was known, though not spoke of, that the former Boyar sired a few illegitimate children and that often he ensured for their care via the Church. The girl in question would be slightly older than our new Boyar and had peculiar eyes.
Diplomacy Check
Knowledge Local
Sense Motive
Vuk kisses the old priest on the forehead.
"My family has sworn to bleed our last drop of blood for the Ribalka and I will not bring dishonor upon my father's name. Thank you."
Feeling a little sheepish about bullying the smith, Garian will return to share what little he learned with the others.
*edit*
Assim smiles and enjoys the barkeeps company Gossiping and telling tells from his lands until the rest of the party arrives back at the tavern.
Frunthpyllin sighs shaking his head. ”What a tragic ending for Gertrude. I’ll say a prayer to Mokosh for her soul. “ The city elf makes the blessing of Mokosh with his right hand.
“One last thing. The priests you mentioned, were they local? Devoted to a particular god?”
After they answer, he says, ”I’m meeting friends at the tavern soon. If we’re still there when you ladies finish your work, I’d be pleased to dance with you.” Smiling, he gives a deep bow.
Kuraj follows Frunthpyllin, slouching down as much he can and trying not to scare the ladies.
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“One last thing. The priests you mentioned, were they local? Devoted to a particular god?”
No, they were more like soldiers, but they said they were priests. They had dogs, large black hounds, and they were very unfriendly. I wonder what they wanted with the girl?
A very shy woman, barely out of her teens, snd much younger than the rest asks you Sir Elf, is it true you don't have hair down there?
HA, HA, HA , HA, HA! Go ahead elf, tell the lady.
The city elf laughs after a moment of stunned silence. Wiping a tear from his eye, he replies, ”Oh, that’s the most I’ve heard you speak at one time Kuraj. To answer your question, bold lady, no. It's not true. That's a lie started by envious dwarves or perhaps some human men. The hair is as soft as the down of a week-old chick, finer than silk, and as fragrant as a summer meadow.”
Vuk departs the temple taking care to look around and ensure he's not being watched.
Perception
He hands the stable boy a silver and takes the reins of Loral before setting out to find his companions.
Frunthpyllin orders a beer. When they have a semblance of privacy tells the others, ”We learned that the blind woman, Gertrude was her name, took in a ‘deformed’ baby that was never allowed to see sunlight. The baby was about a year old, which agrees with Petrushka’s recollections. So the girl spent five or six years living with Gertrude until some priests came to take her away. They seemed more like soldiers; unfriendly men with large black hounds. Gertrude died shortly after. Likely drunk, she fell from the dock, became caught in a net, and drowned. The description of the priests or soldiers is perplexing. Does it strike any associations for anyone?" He looks around the group then winks at a woman at the bar.
Ah you gained much knowledge Frunthpyllin, well done. So lets just say Dogs to not arouse suspicion. You think they took the girl, but where. How does one track what is not supposed to exist. I was not able to gather any info here. Friendly hardworking people. What about you Vuk, and Garian? How did your quest go?
"Interesting, the old priest said to beware the Black Dogs as well," Vuk replied. "The old priest shared some interesting information with me, but I hesitate to share with so many unfamiliar ears around...
Vuk takes a quick look around to see if anyone is trying to listen to him.
Perception
"The priest said what we're looking for is located near by to the east."
"I only succeeded in terrifying the smith I was questioning." Garian confesses sheepishly, "the only thing he mentioned was a hedge healer living in a small shanty built in the swamps, outside of town."
A destination to the east then. Well done all. Let us enjoy our meal and drink. We will leave in the morning then if there are no objections.
"Not from me"
”Maybe instead of the Dogs we should call them the Gray Cats...or the Bakers, or the Smiths. Do you want to leave at dawn? I’d rather wake at dawn and eat a filling breakfast.” He looks to the others to see their reactions. ”The new Boyar might know some rumors concerning our new information.”
"I wanted to ask the Boyar some questions before we left anyway. He never told us what his father wanted us to do with the girl if we find her and he never told us what our bequest was."
*edit*
Well after our meal let us ride back and see if the Boyar has a spare moment then. I'm sure we can even stay the night. Maybe another go through the library now that we have info to focus on.
"I agree with the elf, the Boyar should be alerted to our findings and our course of action."
”Yes, let’s finish our meal first,” he signals to the waitress for another beer. ”Would anyone else like to stay after that to dance with the locals? Not long...maybe four or five dances.”
"Dancing, at a time like this?" Vuk grunts and shakes his head. "The priorities of..."
Stopping himself short of finishing his statement. He orders another drink and watches the rest of the party dance.
"I am a hunter. Hunting is not like dancing."
”At a time like this?” he asks raising his eyebrows and grinning. ”You can think of it as you will. I view it as a way to thank the people who helped us with our inquiries. To add a little color, joy, and maybe some gossip to their lives after a day of difficult work. It won’t take much time on my part and hopefully cultivates good-will.” The city elf runs his finger around the rim of his mug. Leaning towards young nobleman, covering his mouth with his right hand, he says in a near whisper, ”If you don’t know these peasant dances, I can teach you later.”
He smiles at his cousin elf. ”Dancing is more like hunting than you realize. But tonight is not a night for 'hunting' merely pleasure.”
"Don't me spoil your evening. I'm just a touch homesick I guess."