Standing somewhat towards the rear of the group, Thorion remains motionless with his dark hood pulled forward, concealing his face. The priests shows no sign of reaction to Slade’s jeering nor does he overtly move in any way. He simply stands motionless, holding a large curved scythe steadily in front of himself.
Darion tries not to draw any particular attention to himself from Slade. Not turning away but not looking intently at the man either. He attempts to secretly cast the spell detect magic with Slade and his companions as the targets of the spell
"I'm Sheriff Droven," Corindus declares, stepping forward to interpose himself between Slade and those under his protection, "But if you're worth half the rumors, then you probably already knew that."
Corin keeps his hands on his hips, although he keeps his fingers away from his sword and hatchet lest he inadvertently provoke the slave catcher. He puffs out his chest to present the image of a stern, defiant lawman - even if, on the inside, doubt gnaws at him like a worm within an apple.
"There won't be a fight, and there won't be any surrender. I'm going to ask you to pack up and leave my town. You're already overstepping, plying your slave trade in Andoran," the sheriff says loud enough for any passersby to hear. Even after several years, Corin feels like he's still settling into the shoes of a lawman and still needs to earn the respect once given to Baleson.
"More importantly, you're attacking the very law here in Darkmoon Vale. These folks you see here are my deputies," he says, gesturing behind him. "They have the legal papers and everything. They serve the community, protecting their neighbors and kin. Even their children, freeborn Andoren citizens, serve by looking out for their fellow youths.
"There's nothing for you here, mister. Go home."
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Slade makes I contact with Darion as he casts detect magic and it seems like he knows what your doing and smiling under his face mask.
Darion also does not see anything magical.
Slade replies to Sheriff Droven
"Seems you at least got more then half a brain compared to the rest of my past quarry."
"Oh they may be in Andoran, but they are still no necessarily citizens of Andoran, thus still property of their owners.
Thus am still in my rights to reclaim the property."
he looks hard at Corindus then after a few seconds adds
"But since they are now citizens, I guess I can't take them back so easily.
Your the first to think things this through, and are one of the few former slaves to earn my respect."
He walks over to Corindus and in a whisper adds
"My respect earns you and your family freedom from me, but tell anyone this and my little legal loop hole you seems to of found and the town will be dyed in blood.
So make sure folks keep their yaps shut about the loop hole and take it to their grave.
Cause I'll know."
He then backs off saying
"Looks like there won't be any profit to be had here, so I'll take my leave."
Corin bites his tongue, holding back all the caustic words and insults bubbling to mind. He dare not provoke Slade and risk throwing away this victory out of pettiness. It is quite the challenge, but with friends, neighbors, and of course family watching, he must become a better man.
The sheriff merely offers a silent nod of acknowledgement and allows the slave catcher to walk away, hopefully to never again return to Falcon's Hollow.
Slade turn to Minna
"Let's get going Minna, we still have other places to check."
Minna replies back
"Yes, Master Slade, I've already gotten supplies for going to our next destination."
Slade replies back
"Excellent, Then lets get to our next destination."
Slade and Minna leave town as they said.
Duke:
Duke goes to Corindus and puts his right hand on Corindus's shoulder
"That was unexpected, and you beat him without drawing blood.
Your even ballsier then I thought, "
and quietly adds
"and Welcome to the elite club of the few people he respects."
Corin heaves a deep sigh, only dimly registering the praise from Duke. He still waits for his pulse to stop racing, and the pounding in his head to cease. That tense moment that has now thankfully passed...he can only liken it to the worst moments aboard the Chelish galley so long ago. However, much like that dark time, it has passed.
Once Slade and his cohort are out of sight, Corin turns on his heel and strides over to Mary and their children. He alternates between holding his wife's hands and placing his own hands upon his children's shoulders and heads.
"Are you all right?" he asks his family, striving mightily to keep all hint of a quaver from his voice.
Mary:
Mary with a smile and tears in her eyes replies
"I'm alright and even more so relieved that your plan worked."
Horace Droven:
"Was he that scary of a person pa?"
Miara "Mia" Droven:
"What do ya mean, Horace?
Dad can beat anyone he even beat that guy with out fighting and he ran from pop.
Though I did get a strange feeling from the woman that was with him....
Can't put my finger on it though."
Tiara "Tia" Droven
"I think this is one of the few times I'll agree with you sister, that woman did give off a strange feeling..."
Showing no sign of optimism, Thorion continues to stand vigilant after Slade leaves. After a fair amount of time, he finally allows his shoulders to relax into a more comfortable posture. ”I doubt that will be the last we see of that man.” He states in a relaxed, even tone.
Darion goes to check on his family and pregnant wife after the threat appears to be over. This has been a stressful ordeal and now that it seems to be over his husband and fatherly instincts kick in
"No, he wasn't scary," Corin reassures his children, hoping that what he says is the truth. "He was just a bad man. They both were. Bad people looking to do bad things. I won't have that here. No sir, not in our town."
Horace Droven:
"Ok I understand now pa."
Eve seeing her husband home early, smiles and says
"Your home early...."
Darion replies to Eve
Yes my wife I am. Tell me are you safe? And the children also? he hardly waits for a response before asking Did anyone come by here today? Anyone at all?
Eve puts on a serious face as she replies
"No, no one's come to the door and your scaring me here,
what happened ?"
It is nothing I suppose. There was just a rough character that was here in town and he has now left
Eve believes it completely with a smile for a moment then senses something with a more concerned face
"I'm guessing that rough character was more then nothing?
If I don't hear it from you I'll hear it from Mary and the other girls."
Well what I meant was that I suppose it wasn’t important since everyone appears to be well. But a shady character from Corindus and Kinshara’s past was in town and there was some worry that a confrontation might occur. All the same are all our children accounted for?
After giving a fair bit of time to pass, Thorion quietly moves to the door. “With the threat now out of the way, I believe I will head back to the Busty Minotaur. If you have need of me, I have a room there that the proprietor should be able to guide you to. I shouldn’t be hard to find.” After voicing his intentions Thorion heads back to the inn where he partakes in some of the establishments food and drink.
Eve adds
"And I sense a bit more to the story, since you've ask about the children a few times now..
And speaking of the children they are fine;
as Danika came back with Mary about half an hour ago,
Damien has been in the study for quite some time now and
Boden's been helping helping out at the farms."
Thorion goes into the Busty Minotaur and takes a seat on the first floor, and sees Mina working the place along with her two eldest children Jim and Jane (whom are about 7 years old, yet big enough to be thought of as teens), whom really seem to take after their mother.
Thorion makes note of the two larger than average size children. Although there girth is surly not common among human children, undoubtedly they have become somewhat of a mainstay for the Busty Monitor. Besides who would be foolish enough to cause friction with the parents of such children.
As customary, Thorion takes a seat at one of the empty tables and places an order for something to eat and drink at the first opportunity. Aside from making himself comfortable, he takes a moment to glance around the place in order to determine if anything looks off.
The place seems in order.
Mina gets to taking Thorion's order, with her towering over with her 7 foot 6 height.
Unaffected by Mina's large stature, Thorion places payment for the meal on the table and waits patiently for the food to arrive.
After enjoying the evening meal, Thorion begins making his way around the establishment and then latter around the town. During his meandering he begins to strike up conversations with some of the locals and then begins to discreetly probe them for information relating to the hidden entrance next to the well. Latter he continues his meandering and probing but changes the subject to reflect the book that he originally came looking for.
Let me know if additional Diplomacy / Gather information checks are needed.
Thorin finds No info on the Door, or the hidden room, that Darrion and Luk were studying, almost as if info about that door and room were being supressed.
But one of those asked, Old, John, started in enquiring you about it, and got nothing.
Also No info on the book.
Before retiring home with his family, the sheriff makes one last visit to the magistrate's office for the day.
"There is an army company to the south, right? Can we send them a letter to inform them that slave catchers are crossing the border into Andoran?" Corin asks Baleson. "We've bested Slade today, but he yet maintains his vocation, and I fear that there are others like him."
He briefly hangs his head, shaking it slightly.
"I am not strong enough to protect the town against such...such men. If this happens again, I don't know what we could do."
Deldrin Baleson:
Baleson replies
"I don't think even an army could stop that man,
and I would not want to chance the breaking of the reasonable peace result we got from Slade."
He also sighs
"I know what you mean, at least Mr Kreed is reasonable to attempt to manage then Slade.
F***, Honestly I'd of likely been at the end of my rope at some point an give into despair and letting Slade do as he pleased, after downing a bottle.
I guess the world really does have some monsterously strong people in it.
I'm just glad he past us by, heck I don't think I could of slept tonight knowing he's here."
After spending a fair amount of time questioning the residents of Falcon’s Hollow’s, Thorion decides to make an attempt to contact his superiors back in the city of Magnimar. Being one of the larger churches of Pharasma he feels the officials there should be well informed and could potentially shed some light into the Consortium's original document. Having had little luck with the locals of Falcon’s Hollow he has come to realize that either the community has forgotten any events surrounding the book or the original Consortium document was nothing more than a farce. Without any further hesitation he prepares two documents with the intentions to relay what has transpired thus fare to a smaller church devoted to Pharasma, located in the small city of Olfden. The first of the two documents he address to the small churche in Olfden. The second of the two documents he seals in wax and address it to the high church of Magnimar. Once the two documents are prepared head heads out to find someone in Falcon’s Hollow who has carrier pigeon established to reach the town of Olfden. He then provides both (message one) and (message two) to the proprietor. After sending his messages he makes his way back to his room at the Busty Minotaur where he waits patiently for a response.
a few weeks go by with nothing note worthy.
And a Letter arrives by a pigeon carrying a small holy symbol around it's neck.
"We have received you letter which was almost intercepted by one of the undead right near the blooming door, thankfully we recovered the pigeon and the letter before it disappeared with both the pigeon and the letter."
"Now since the LC has alot of influence in the Vale, you likely made a good call on not getting them to look at this investigation.
And the sound of an underground market is more troubling, as the book could be sold there and leave the town leaving a cold trail to it's where abouts.
As for the source of the document, unfortunately it was one who refused to give their name in fear of reprisal should if be found out.
The Document does name a guild called "Redrock" and someone named "Bloodeye" possibly knowing of it's location.
So far we can't really tell if the document is genuine or a really well made fake."
After receiving the churches’ response, Thorion heads out to find the local Archivist. After locating Luc's place of business, he approaches the establishment. (I hope the Archivist has a lead on what happened to the book.) He considers the churches response for a moment and then knocks on the door. (I wonder if he knows anything about the guild “Redrock” or the person named “Bloodeye.”)
Luk has no place of business, he works in the kirk's (church's) library and archive.
Thorion goes to the Kirk and does find Luk in the basement looking over some old files.
Thorion quietly moves into the basement as not to overly disturb the man and then waits for an opportunity to introduce himself.
Once Luk shifts his attention away from the books, Thorion speaks up. ”Well met, I am Thorion Trepador. I hail from the church of Pharasma and seek your assistance in locating an old text that was rumored to have been discovered here.”