Seeing the fray to the south, and the thief dashing west along the fence, Scribbles turns to his right.
The scoundrel is no doubt making for the road again. I should be able to intercept him if I head west, too.
With just enough room to get a good running jump, he leaps over the fence once more.
Cutting over to the road, Scribbles dashes his full speed to cover ground between him and the thief.
Sand winks at the thief then runs after him "look just hand over what you stole and we will stop chasing you."
Jumping over the fence and moving next to the thief attempting to slow him down.
After thowing his punch, Ulrich ran after the thief focusing on keeping up with him, Ulrich grumbled as he climbed the fence after seeing everyone jump over it.
He grumbled even more as he kept slipping on the fence.
"Darn it!!"
Finally breaking free of the tar, Rexah savors her victory over the substance. Her frustration however is evidenced by her yelling at the tar, "Ha! No match for me, strange annoying gunk."
Hearing a new set of voices yelling something about the mayor, Rexah decides that someone else probably has the situation under control.
Realizing she is still in the alley and that her position could be considered suspicious and that the chase has probably advanced without her, she makes her way cautiously back out to the roadway to the southwest.
"Wouldn't want to step in anything else," she mumbles to herself.
From the road she can see the thief, Scribbles, and Sand still running, while Ulrich struggles with the fence.
"Humph."
Ulrich lashes out as the thief runs away yet again, landing a blow on the thief's shoulder. The thief continues fleeing unimpeded and climbs over the fence. Ulrich tries to pursue but can't quite find a hand hold in the fence to climb over. Sand vaults over the obstacle, and momentum more than anything else carries him to behind his target. Scribbles follows suit, taking up position behind Sand.
Rexah, finally free, runs back to the path to see what she missed in the chase.
The thief is blocked by three guards who stand around him, leaning on spears. They don't look to be threatening the man all that much, but he nevertheless has both hands up, bent at the elbow.
"Oh, if ittisnt the mayor's men. Ya lot got me," he says without concern, and you can almost hear the smug smile on his face. "But what, say, is me crime. Or perhaps you're here to serve and protect? This lot," he points behind him, "have been chasing me about. That one," he turns at the waist and points at Sand, "tried to take me whacking stick. Which is for self-defense only, of course."
"Of course..." replies the guard on the left . "What are ye doin', Rourke?"
"Thievin'," the man says. There's a pause as the guards stop leaning against their spears and give the man hard stares. He laughs, "I'm only just joking. Come on, Branson, you know me. This lot just been throwing accusations, saying I need to give things back or some such. Aah, foreigners. Cute, but you can't trust them, eh."
The guards look uncertainly at each other. The one directly in front of the man states, "Turn out your pockets, Rourke."
He grumbles but complies. On the path, he drops a disguise kit, his sap, thieves' tools, and four darts. "Satisfied?" he asks the guard.
The central guard gestures and the guard on the right collects the gear. "Not yet. You have nothing better to do than come with me to the guardhouse anyway, so why don't we go for a walk and you can tell me about your day." Rourke winces.
The central guard turns to all of you and says, "Thank you for keeping up the chase long enough for us to get here. This isn't the first theft, but hopefully it will be the last."
While it doesn't make sense to you that the guard would be lying, he's lying about something. Or maybe he isn't lying, but he seems very suspicious, eyes not quite meeting yours, nervously gripping his spear and releasing to grip nervously again. Shifty. Subtle cues that by themselves would not be concerning but together paint an obvious picture.
Ulrich jogged up to the thief after finally making it over the fence.
He observed the situation as he moved toward the group.
"What's going on here, then?"
Ulrich moved to put his hand on Rourke's shoulder.
Rourke jerks his shoulder away. "Alright, git off. You gave me a good whack there."
The central guard asks, "What do you mean, what's going on here? We're taking this man into custody to question him. He doesn't appear to have any stolen items on him-"
"Tha's cuz I didn't do no stealin', mate," Rourke quips.
"Shut it," the guard Branson snaps.
The central guard gives a hard look at Rourke before continuing. "He doesn't appear to have any stolen items on him, but he could have hidden it before you four dutiful citizens gave chase."
Rourke raises his pointer finger and says, "Oorrr! Or, I could have not taken anything, been mindin' me own business."
The central guard sighs. "Or that, yes."
Rourke lights up and pumps a fist as if he's won a small point.
Peeking around from behind of Sand, Scribbles takes in the newcomers. With the three guards standing around the rogue, it seems safe enough that Scribbles steps around to Sand's side, hands on his hips.
He squints his eyes at the guards.
Well, something doesn't add up... This town has been a little queer ever since I arrived. Could the guards be in on it? Are we sure they are really guards?
What do I know of what these guards will need to carry around in this town? And what am I looking for, anyway?
Well, one way or another, I made a promise to those patrons at the Laughing Lich. And to Hayley.
Scribbles stands tall, folds his arms over his chest, and clears his throat. "Ahem. There were many others at the Laughing Lich who were robbed this night. As I left I told them that I would help retrieve their belongings. I aim to follow through with my word.
Since this ruffian is my best lead, I would like to accompany you to the guardhouse and assist in the interrogation. I serve the people wherever I go, especially if I've given them a promise."
With his rigid stance making him seem much taller than he his, Scribbles finishes off with a winning smile and a firm stare.
”Now now, this man hasn’t stolen anything. We were merely triaining, out for a jog and all that with a game of cat and mouse. We can keep our eyes out for a thief, should that please you.”
Ulrich put both hands out and shrugged.
”Sorry about the confusion. But Rourke and I are done training and we have some work to find.”
The guard in the center opens his mouth to reply to Scribbles' request, his expression begrudging. At Ulrich's insistence that Rourke was not a thief, he closes his mouth and the three guards look briefly suspicious towards Ulrich's claim. They look at each other and shrug.
"Yeah, mates, see? These is me mates, too! Ha! We was only pullin' ya about!" Rourke gives Ulrich a wink. "No interruu-gation necessary." He holds out his hand to the guard on the right. "Me personal ee-ffects, Camden."
The guard Camden first looks to the man in the center who nods. Camden then hands off Rourke's gear.
"Thank ee, thank ee," Rourke says and gives a deep mock bow. "Well." He looks around at everyone. "I'm off." He starts walking south past the guards who are slowly stirring to go north on the path past you all.
Ulrich reached out to grab Rourke’s arm.
”Not so fast, champ. We need those stolen items so we can return them. Why are you stealing anyway?”
Rourke moves to jerk his arm back again but doesn't move quick enough .
At Ulrich's quietly murmured inquiry, he scrunchs his face in annoyance. "I thought we went over this, mate. I didn't steal anything," he whispers back. He looks up at the guards who are now watching Ulrich and Rourke, more out of boredom than curiosity. Rourke forces a wide grin, waves with his free arm, and says loudly, "He just can't get enough of me, issnt that cute." He turns back to Ulrich and in a hushed voice snaps, "Let go of me!" He gives a little tug to emphasize his point, but you can tell he isn't really trying to break out of your grip just yet.
The guard who has yet to speak, Camden, seems to perk up slightly, leaning in, and more interested in what's happening between Ulrich and Rourke. More than bored, he's also now curious.
Ulrich kept hold of Rourke's arm as he walked with him, going in the direction that Rourke decided to walk.
Ulrich keeps speaking to Rourke as they walk away from the guards.
"Now, Rourke, there's no need to get so excited, it's good to talk after a good training session."
Rourke allows Ulrich to walk with him in a grappled state for a few steps, turning to look at the guards every now and then as if weighing his options...
... or as if measuring the growing distance between you and them. He suddenly decides to break free from Ulrich's grasp and dashes into the wooded area to the southwest.
"Good talk, mate!" you hear him call from somewhere in the trees. "Got to run!"
You can see he's crouching behind a tree about 15 feet away.
Stopping short of actually joining the situation, Rexah chooses instead to watch the interaction play out.
She notices that the guard in the back seems to be nervous about something. Whether it has to do with the situation at hand, or if his spine has simply left him she is unsure. Looking closely at the man Rexah tries to discern the true cause of the individual's distress.
As the man named Rourke moves from the guard's clutches to Ulrich's Rexah realizes that Ulrich is up to something. Stepping closer to the group in an attempt to catch what the two are saying to each other...
...she can just make out that the two are still arguing about whether anything was actually stolen.
As the two start to walk away from the guards Ulrich continues his nonsense about a training session when Rourke suddenly breaks for and disappears at the tree line.
"Dammit Ulrich! Was that your whole plan? Get the guy away from the guards and then let him go?"
Ulrich ran toward and into the woods, but he was unable to see the thief.
"I'm gettin' tired of this game, Rourke"
No I'm not
Scribbles lets out a sigh.
Saw that one coming... Now where did he go? Can't be too far off if we can still hear him taunting us.
He squints his eyes, passing right over the rogue's hiding spot. With a small grunt of frustration, he looks up at Ulrich and Sand.
"What possessions did you lose tonight, anyways? You two bolted out the door more quickly than a simple vigilante would. Anything magical in nature?"
And if he doesn't have their possessions, where did they go?
Scribbles twists his beard in thought, glancing back towards the inn, mentally tracing the path of their chase.
So which shell holds the pea? The rogue, the guards, perhaps even that wheelbarrow he tripped over?
Ulrich kept looking for Rourke, ignoring the little bard. He was not concerned with anything but catching the thief and getting answers from him.
"Olly olly oxen wench!"
You can see he has crept up another 30 feet, so assuming you've been carefully looking while he's been tip-toeing out, Rourke is still about 15 feet away from Ulrich.
She notices that the guard in the back seems to be nervous about something. Whether it has to do with the situation at hand, or if his spine has simply left him she is unsure. Looking closely at the man Rexah tries to discern the true cause of the individual's distress.
[dice=Perception vs rear guard]1d20+1
** spoiler omitted **
Ulrich layed his eyes on where Rourke was hiding.
"Ah Ha!There you are!"
Ulrich pointed at Rourke and quickly moved toward him.
"I just want to talk to ya!"
As soon as he sees Ulrich lay eyes on him, Rourke scampers up the tree he was hiding behind.
"Ay! I don't like how you talk, see," he says from atop the tree. "It's very... grabby. You haven't even taken me to dinner. Very rude. So how's about you stay down there if you wants to talk."
Their entertainment having disappeared into the woods, the guards stir themselves once more to leave. They take a few steps north as if to pass the rest of you when the one who seemed to be the leader turns to Scribbles and says, "Your friend is very peculiar. While it is both refreshing and alarming to see Rourke keeping new company, I'd stay clear of him, if I were you. If you find any information about this theft, please come see me immediately." He pauses and then extends a hand, not much lower than he would for a human and so Scribbles would have to really reach up to shake it. "I am Hurst."
Finally seeing some positive interaction, though limited it was, Scribbles replies to the greeting with more spunk than the situation called for. He reaches up to grab Hurst's hand in both of his and energetically shakes it.
"I will take your warning to heart - he has been a strange one from the start! Should I find more information, where should I find you? The guardhouse East of the inn? Oh! What could you tell me of the old guild hall? The Black Spears don't seem to be around anymore - what are the chances that the stolen goods are squirreled away there?"
The guard irritably yanks his hand back after a few shakes. "Yes, we are usually around the guardhouse or the mayor's across the Old Ways Road. I didn't catch your name. Not that it matters much, as we don't get many of your kind around here. What do you know of the Black Spears? Not many people know they had a hall here. I think it's a bit far-fetched to think your stolen goods would be in that sad, decrepit place. That's a bit of a leap in logic, don't you think?" He looks to Branson and then Camden who both give a shrug. Hurst smirks as he takes a knee to be just above Scribbles' level. "My advice? Leave the leg work," he pauses to look at Scribbles up and down pointedly, "to those who have the legs." He stands back up, dusts off his knee, and they turn to go. Hurst stops and turns around to add, "If you really must satisfy your curiosity about the guild hall, see the mayor. He has the key. Good day."
Wincing dejectedly as the handshake abruptly ends, Scribble takes in the rest of the guard's words. After the guard is done and turned around, Scribbles says to the back of the guard "I'm known as Scribbles."
Glancing around confused at the rest of those around him, he adds, muttering "It's always the old decrepit buildings that a gang of thieves would hide out in..."
At least they believe it's not where our treasures lie. But that creates more questions than it answers.
Rexah, still miffed about Ulrich causing such a scene with Rourke turns to the guards with her arms crossed and brusquely asks, "So if Rourke doesn't have the stolen goods, who do you think does?"
Letting mention of some defunct guild pass Rexah continues, "I agree they're probably not in some abandoned hall, but surely you have other potential suspects besides, well, him," she says waving her hand flippintaly in the direction of Ulrich and Rourke's cat and mouse game.
Hurst slightly narrows his eyes at Rexah and his customer service smile dips before he freezes it in place. "Hello... sir? Ma'am? No matter. We don't know who has been stealing. It's very embarrassing, these thefts in the middle of this small town on our watches. If we knew who has been doing it, we would have them in chains already. Many travelers come through here, of varying... morality," he pauses and his flat stare at Rexah might suggest his doubt of hers, "and so it could very well be that the thefts are not even linked."
He's either lying again or not telling the whole truth.
Camden seems to grow restless, as if he doesn't agree with Hurst but is hesitant to speak out against a superior. He finally comes to a decision and spouts, "You might try talking to the staff of the Laughing Lich. Most, if not all, of the thefts occur behind those doors."
It's easy to catch the hard look, not quite a glare, that Hurst gives Camden. Camden very slightly shies away but otherwise looks unabashed.
"And you would do well to not be around another crime scene."
Similarly narrowing her eyes, Rexah returns Hurst's glare while seething at the numerous slights his response contained.
"Humph."
Still mad, Rexah controls herself enough to let the guards get some distance away before turning to Scribbles and saying, "That was what I was talking about earlier. Sooner or later the townsfolk always turn on the outsiders, as the guards already have. If we stay much longer, we will be the ones in chains."
Ulrich scoffed at Rourke's statements.
"Words can't grab, you foo'!"
He planted himself at the tree, making sure to alway be under Rourke and let the guards walk off a good distance.
"I only helped you cause those guards seemed iffy. But I need to know: did you take the possessions of the people in that tavern?"
Ulrich looked at Rourke intently, gauging a reaction before continuing.
"You were running away awful fast when everyone realised they lost something."
Rourke moves around, branch to branch, trying to keep the most distance away from Ulrich while Ulrich matches him on the ground.
"Why d'ya ask again?" Rourke asks in frustration. "I already told you, I didn't steal anythin'. Well, I guess I did steal me brother's belt a few years back, but ee's dead now, so that hardly counts."
"I am certain to run fast when there's a group of angry folk storming out of the Lich. And I runs even faster when they continue to follow."
Ulrich looked at him for a moment.
"Alright, I believe that."
Ulrich looked back at the others and waved for them to come closer. He turned back to Rourke and continued the questions.
"What was up with those guards? They seemed fishy to me, almost untrustworthy. What do you know about them?"
Scribbles approaches the tree where Ulrich is barking up to Rourke.
"I don't know... He may be vehemently insistent in his innocence, but I still find it difficult to believe. As I understand, thieves are often proficient deceivers." Raising his voice up to Rourke in the branches, Scribbles adds "Do you have any proof that you were not involved? I was standing among you and the guards as they relieved you of your thieving paraphernalia - kind of suspicious, one way or another!"
I don't like the height advantage he has on us... It would be handy if I had a birds eye view... Or a bird to share their perspective, at least.
The tiny gnome glances between high limbs and in nearby tree hollows in search of a small animal that he could befriend for a time.
Rourke looks nervously around. "Oh, they's trout, alright. Then again, haven't met a guard yet who didn't want to lord 'is power over you. The one who lords the most power is Hurst. Branson is his mate, and Camden is the real quiet one. Ee only really ever follows orders. They all answer to the mayor. That should be fairly obvious."
When Scribbles approaches, he looks down sharply. "Aye, I'm ve'mently persistent. I'm innocent and bein' attacked 'ere. If I accused you, would you lie down an' take it? You may be small, but surely yar not stupid."
He is lying about something.
"Do you 'ave any proof you're not involved, little one? Or what about him?" he asks, pointing at Ulrich. "Maybe all of you together? You lot came running out of there with your collective heels on fire. Do you have any proof I was even in the Lich? As for me goods, they turn out to be useful for many sitch-ee-ations."
There are certainly critters in this little wood, but Scribbles can't seem to catch a glimpse of one.
Those two did seem to leave the Lich nearly the same time as that cloaked figure... Scribble squints at Sand and Ulrich in suspicion.
No, they couldn't be in on it - that would take an excessive amount of coordination between the guards, the thief, and these two in order to keep up a ruse.
Tugging at his beard in frustration, Scribbles grinds his feet into the ground, mumbling to himself. Yelling up a tree isn't quite the best mode of communication. A sudden hint of mischievous glee twinkles in his eye as he quirks a smile up at their trapped adversary. "Hey, Rourke! Do you know how to identify a dogwood tree?!" With a bellow, Scribbles casts hideous laughter - "By its BARK!"
Rourke bursts out laughing, his expression somewhat confused, and unceremoniously plops onto the branch, laying on it precariously with his forced mirth rocking his frame back and forth. It's a wonder he doesn't plummet from his perch.
As Rourke tossed the blame Ulrich reacted.
"You moron, why would I be chasing a thief if I was one?"
Suddenly Ulrich realized he didn't check himelf to see if anything was stolen from him.
Bugger
He quickly patted himself down to see if anything was missing.
"Haha! Hahaha! What ahahaha! a great cover ahahahaha! that would hahaha make ahahahahaha! Mate! Ahahahahaha!" Rourke struggles to say through his magic-induced laughter.
Ah! My Potion that granny Tina made for me!"
Fueled by mocking laughter and the missing gift, Ulrich turned up to look at Rourke.
"Alright, ya swine! Yer done!"
Ulrich moved toward the tree and started to climb.
As Ulrich failed miserably, he grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground.
"Having some trouble?" Rourke laughs as he watches Ulrich attempt to climb the tree, one hand holding his side, the other clinging to a branch as he cautiously peeks down. "What are you going to do with that, mate?" he asks, his laughter starting to die down.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Yes, I am having some trouble. I am looking for a dirty rotten thief, and if I can't find him to kick him into next week, then I am going to have to find a substitute!"
Ulrich pointed to Rourke and glared at him.
"Now tell me, do you have any idea where I can find this thief?"
Rourke stops laughing and those observing him can see a flash of fear cross his face. "Ay, now, no need for that. We's mates, yeah?" Rourke stands back up on the branch and clings to the trunk with one arm. "I told yeh, I didn't thief nothin'! Look now, see..." he hesitates. "If you're looking for a where, you could try that big house across the way, the one that looks like it's seen better days next to the Lich. That's really all I can say, and I've said too much already."
Rourke jumps to the next tree and calls down, "Be a good lad and stop chasing me, would you?!" He jumps to another tree and almost falls, barely catching himself on a branch and pulling himself up, clearly rattled. After a moment, he disappears into the foliage.
Rourke is still up in a tree a few trees down, appearing to wait for Ulrich and Scribbles to leave or make their move.
Ulrich lost sight of the man and sighed. He turned toward the gnome, crossing his arms.
"So, shorty, know anything about the 'big house across the way' next to the Lich?"
Trying to follow Rourke's figure through the tree branches, Scribbles responds "Well, there were a couple of buildings worth noting..."
Probably not for the last time this night, Scribbles yanks at his beard in frustration and lets out a long sigh. "A squirrely man in so many ways..."
He then kneels down and drops his pack, retrieving his journal from its depths. "I documented some of the architecture as I entered town. Let's see... Did you see the building? Was it the... guild hall? No, I already asked about that. Certainly not the temple. Most of the other buildings were fairly insignificant. I should really draw a map if this town is going to become a colossal scavenger hunt." Grumbling to himself, he adds "Which seems to be the case."
Suddenly snapping the journal shut with a loud CRACK Scribbles stands up straighter and exclaims "So be it! If our little squirrel has evanesced, let's be off. I would like to fulfill my promise and find the stolen goods before dawn."