Sweet Pea dashes about the market, taking in the sights of exotic things. "Wow! They never let me in here before!" She approaches a random stall. "Hi there! I'm a Sweet Pea, and I'm looking for a Great Big Oak Tree man! Do you know where I can find him?"
The sheriff mulls the thought for a moment before deciding upon a message for Tabrik Splint.
"Tell him he's not allowed to die," Baleson says with a wry grin. "I told him before he set out, but sometimes he needs a reminder. That goes for you, too. This town will need the both of you around to keep this election from going sideways."
.....
"Huh?"
The voice comes from nearby, and Sweet Pea soon finds herself beneath a large shadow, as though cast by a tree's broad canopy. A tall, portly man turns to Sweet Pea, two large sacks still balanced on his shoulders. He looks down upon the green child with a confused expression.
"Ain't no trees here. They'd be cut down," he says in a slow, bass voice. "Wait...a tree man? Are those real? What's his name?"
The farmer who owns the stall sighs with resignation.
"Just put the potatoes down and talk to the child," the farmer says. "I think she's looking for you, Jasin."
Krogge will start heading out of town, toward the Darkmoon Wood. He will stick to the more popular hunting trails trying to find tracks for either Splint, Knifetongue, or a Firefoot Fennec.
"Are you the Great Oak? I'm a Sweet Pea!" She looks up, up, and up at him. "Wow, you ARE big! Anyway, have you heard about the axe tackses? Crazy, right?"
Most of the bootprints you find are attributable to loggers, moving almost in circles and usually accompanying deep furrows in the ground left by hewn trunks. A few bootprints, though, move deeper into the forest, traveling more purposefully in pursuit of prey.
Following fresh animal tracks, your ears soon pick up the sounds of whimpering. The trail leads you to a nearly empty creek that limps down to the lake, a mile or two ahead. Beside the creek, a fox with large ears and bright orange fur lies bleeding, its hindquarters caught fully in the jaws of a crude iron trap.
Orvis sighs when he sees the look you shoot him when he turns the talk against the Iomedeans.
”I guess that’s not very helpful for my case, eh? Like I said, Pulk should never’ve been involved. It shoulda just been me and Jeb. It weren’t no malice, just an accident.”
While it’s hard to say whether Kreed is fostering discord between the Iomedeans and other locals, whether directly or indirectly, the end result does benefit him. Although Orvis seems to recognize the bitter aspects of working for the Consortium, he is clearly distracted by his everyday enmity for the Iomedeans.
”Axes and tacks-es?” Jasin says with incredulous awe, scratching the top of his oily head. ”What’s a small thing like you need with those?”
He resumes hauling sacks of potatoes before a thought strikes him, stopping him in his tracks.
”Oh, wait. I think I know what you mean. Yeah, there’ve been some bad men going ‘round, threatening money out of folks in the market. They say it’s for the election, but I don’t get why. It don’t seem right, but I don’t know what to do about it.”
It felt good to be back in the woods, even if they weren't as familiar as his Wolfwood hills. Krogge followed the creek until he found the poor beast. He tried to hide himself as well as possible and take a look around to see if Knifetongue was around.
there wasn't really any where to hide so Krogge crouches down and draws his bow, ready for danger.
He sits there, watching the trapped fox and waiting to see who or what comes along. However, he appears quite dismayed that you, of all people, have intruded upon his ambush. He holds a bow, but the string is not drawn back.
He sees you, but as near as you can tell, he is not aware that you have spotted him.
There he is...Looks like I might of snuck in here a good bit before he noticed me
Krogge stays crouched while calling out,"Thats a terrible blind Knifetongue, no wonder the only thing you can catch is young fox and city folk!" he then nocks an arrow but does not draw just yet, "Maybe it will make a better grave, eh?!" he snarls, trying to fluster the hobgoblin.
Following advice from Flint, Krogge ascends the path leading up to the Perch, and there he finds Sheriff Baleson at the entrance of the High Market. He and a nearby halfling woman periodically shoot each other dirty looks.
Baleson offers a curt nod of greeting as Krogge approaches, although he seems more pleased by the half-orc than the halfling.
"I'm ensuring that Miss Salk honors the High Market passes that Kreed has issued for the month," Baleson explains, nodding towards the halfling woman.
Even as something of an outsider to the townsfolk, Krogge is familiar with this practice. The High Market is usually off limits to everyone except the town's most well-to-do residents, which unsurprisingly coincides with those in Gavel Kreed's favor. However, once a month, three Consortium employees - which includes most residents, except for a few such as Laurel, Lady Cirthana, and Krogge - are chosen by lottery to receive a pass that provides them access to the High Market for two days. This provides a rare opportunity to purchase fresh food and imports from Olfden.
"Miss Salk is it, a pleasure to meet you.
He began one hand over his balled up fist in front of his chest. He gave her a polite bow and while the sheriff started to speak with Krogge.
"I am led to understand you are a person of great import when it comes to the financial community here. While I do not proscribe to the teachings of the prophet i am curious."
He began finishing his bow and then carefully and polite taking a seat across from the halfling woman and crossing his legs so that she didnt have to look up at him.
"Would it not be more agreeable if you had access to more coin? I understand the desire to keep ...the salt of the earth so to speak from darkening your doorways, but if I could get you and some of the other finacial powers to hear Jack's words and perhaps put your considerable influence behind him. We can easily ensure both the proper respect from the logging community and perhaps even see that their new influx of coin is spent here."
He began trying to get on her good side.
"Not sure what to do?" Sweet Pea asks, brightening up, "You can vote for my friend Jack! He doesn't like silly taxes on your poles and axes." She starts to speak a bit louder. "Jack is the kind of guy who thinks everyone should be treated the same, and not bullied just for disagreeing with someone who wants to take things from you."
"Of all the beasts I could bait, why did it have to be you, half-blood?" Knifetongue spits. His defiance is belied by the quaver in his voice. Your threat has knocked the fight out of him.
He leaps down from his perch and walks towards the trapped fox.
"What do you want, besides spooking away my game?" he asks, drawing a knife, intending to slit the animal's throat.
"More coin is always good, but the salt down there," she says bitterly, cocking her chin towards the Low Market, "Ain't got any. Kreed's folk gots gold. Everyone else only has copper. I ain't about to trade one for the other."
She listens to your pitch briefly before cutting you off with a curt wave of her hand.
"I ain't hearing no word from Fancy Jack. If he gets his way, I'll be out of a job and back to farmin' dirt."
"What can Fancy Jack offer any of us? If nothing else, Kreed promises steady work. I'd bet if your boy wins this election, he'll be trying to bust the Consortium. That means the work goes away. What does that leave us?"
He cocks his head to look beyond you, as though suddenly worried that his buddies will come looking for him and find him talking to you.
"Well, that sounds right nice. It really does. Your friend Jack does sound better than the Gavel. Of course, I don't know much about how elections and voting work."
He pauses to think, a difficult prospect for him. However, after a minute, he face widens into an eager smile again.
"If I went to see your friend, do you think he'd talk to me? I'd like to talk to him about making things better here in town. Do you think that would be all right?"
"You catch enough small game eventually something bigger comes your way." he replies. As knifetongue draws his knife and goes toward the animal Krogge stands tall and draws a shaft, pointing it at the hobgoblin. " Thats enough of that, you kill that animal you suffer the same fate!" he growls. "As a matter of fact why don't you go ahead and drop your weapons before I put this arrow in your chest." it was not a request. No beast should die like that...especially not to poaching scum like him.
"Sure! Jack is nice, you can talk to him whenever! He's staying in Jak-a'-Napes, with the other Jak. He's nice too!" She looks thoughtful for a moment. "Are all Jacks nice? I guess I'd have to meet more Jacks to be sure."
"You're really ruining my day. If my brothers weren't off in Isger, they'd really make you sorry."
"All the more reason to put that arrow into his back!"
The gruff voice, along with the rustle of tall grass, heralds the arrival of Tabrik Splint. The dwarf steps into the narrow clearing flanking the creek. He holds a crossbow, but keeps it aimed down towards Knifetongue's feet.
Later that evening, you learn that Jasin Greatoak, thanks to Sweet Pea's encouragement, visited Jack at the inn. The mayoral candidate evidently made quite an impression on the large man, for he begins singing Jack's praises throughout the Low Market.
You can only hope that this very vocal supporter will drum up more votes for Jack.
More than a bit annoyed at the halfling woman's views he moved about the high market keeping an eye about to see if there were anyone who would be more receptive to his politics
and he leaves around about to avoid folks being seen with him
Knifetongue is clearly not enthused by this talk of his pending death. He is eager to slip away and fight another day.
With a snap flick of his wrist he turns and throws his knife between you and Splint. It is meant more as a distraction than an actual attack, as evidenced by its lack of aim.
The hobgoblin poacher makes a break for the trees, darting as quickly as his wiry legs will carry him.
As the date of the election draws near, the party's efforts seem to be bearing fruit. Jasin Greatoak sings Jack's praises to anyone who'll listen, and even those who won't, in the Low Market.
Although Kilarin Salk remains bitterly opposed to seeing her patron, Gavel Kreed, lose any influence, a couple of the High Market vendors with whom she works may be shifting their views - or at least, you hear rumors to that effect, since they don't dare speak it publicly.
More and more of the loggers begin to embrace the notion of the upstart representative from Almas as a potential mayor, especially as their fear of the Consortium and its retribution is pared away - at least for now.
However, there still remains the matter of the extortionists preying upon would-be voters with fraudulent "poll tax" demands. After a cursory investigation, it becomes clear that these are members of the criminal Redrock Guild. Although they are not directly connected to Kreed, their depredations are souring many locals on the idea of democracy.
Shutting down their scheme would not only boost confidence in the Andoren ideal of free elections just starting to take root in this frontier town, but it would certainly sway more voters as Jack and his "political party" do more to stop these criminals than the Consortium ever does.
"ARG come back here ye dirty poacher!" he roars.
Your arrow strikes Knifetongue in his thigh, eliciting a font of blood like a tapped keg and causing the fleeing poacher to stumble. This buys enough time for Tabrik to raise his heavy crossbow and loose his bolt.
The snap of the thick string sounds like a cracking tree trunk. The bolt lodges deeply in the hobgoblin's back, surely skewering his lung. This terrible wound sends Knifetongue tumbling to the ground.
He lies there on his side, panting for breath against the gurgling in his throat, as you and Splint approach and stand over him.
"I won't dangle on no rope to amuse you Valers," he chokes. "I'd rather die fighting, just like this. Just like my battle brothers during the war."
Sweet Pea boggles as she hears about who is really behind the “poll tax”. “Wait, we’ve been getting mad at the company guys for all the tacks, but only one is from them? There’s these other guys, who are also tacksing, but it’s really not tacks, they’re just stealing? I mean the the company is kinda stealing too, but these guys don’t even have any excuse!” She sways slightly, almost out of breath from wrapping her mind around the situation. “We oughta go tell them to cut it out! I mean if no one else is.”
"You are correct my friend."
He began quietly with a slight scowl. He had been waiting fro Krogge Randu and the others to arrive from their dealings. Unlike some of the thugs from the consortium he had no doubts this Redrock guild would certainly fight back when they were told to stop... and he wanted more muscle about. If not, he would see if perhaps some of the younger more...angry locals whom had been joining his morning exercises would like to form a small posse or militia for speaking with the 'guild'
Splint offers something halfway between a sigh and a snort. He draws a hatchet from his belt.
"I wouldn't leave an animal to suffer. This wretch is no different."
Splint delivers two strong chops to Knifetongue's throat, providing a field execution to the poacher, robber, and occasional murderer. He then hacks at the neck a couple more times to separate the head from the body.
"The townsfolk'll want proof that the cur has been put down," he answers your questioning looks.
You discuss the matter with Jack, who seems quite exhausted - although whether he is worn out from canvassing the town as its potential mayor or as...someone else, remains to be seen.
"I'm not sure vigilante action is wise here," he says, keeping a straight face despite the irony of his advice. "I'm sure Kreed would jump upon the chance to criticize our character as violent and unruly. Then again, considering the posse would be formed of concerned citizens, they might be relieved that someone took action after all."
He sighs. In his exhaustion, for once he betrays a sense that he is unsure what course to take. Of course, you know how he would like to personally handle the matter, but you can also glean that he is restraining himself from getting a clandestine mutual friend involved.
"Over the past few days, I have come to recognize you as decent people, capable of decent judgment, so I will trust your insight. If you think a show of solidarity would cow the criminal element, then I will stand with you."
Jak Crimmy also sidles over to the table, offering his input.
"The Redrock Guilders understand fear and force," he says with a downward wave of his thick palm. "If you beat them or spook them, they will lay low. On the other hand, y'all have proven good at speeches. You could try to encourage the locals to stand up for themselves against these extortionists."
"Better'n he deserved, that's true enough. He was getting ready to slit this poor things throat when I pointed my shaft his way." Krogge says as he goes over to free the fox.
Krogge tries to calm the animal by speaking his native toungue but the guttural growls and grunts might do more harm the good, "Whoa dort kleiner Fuchs ... Ich werde dich nicht verletzen, ich werde nur versuchen, dich aus dieser Falle zu befreien" he grunts as he tries to free the animal.
"I'm assuming you know about the election coming up, How's that going for you and your's?" he asks, rather casually for two woodsman, but he didn't want to spook the fox anymore than it already was.
"I uhm..." Confesses, "Might have a way to mess them up for a day. Not proud of it." He says quietly making surei t's just them. "I knwo where they are, and I know what kind of pie they like. Right kind of herbs in it, nothing lethal like, and it sure might put a scare into them if they think what COULD have been done?" He himself is not sure of this idea but it has been sort of tested.
"Hmm, maybe." Sweet Pea considers Randu's plan. "I'm for giving them a good talking-to. It's worked for me so far."
Despite the injury, you open the trap, allowing the firefoot fox to dart away as quickly as its wounded leg will allow. It has a distinct limp, slowing its escape. However, before it departs the clearing, it stops to look back at you, almost quizzically.
"Aaarrggghhh" he says as he gets bit, but his face shows a smile when it looks back and he makes a cooing noise towards him before looking back to Splint for an answer.
Once Krogge arrives back in town and hears the rest of the mess, he keeps silent while the rest of the group discusses what to do before finally, "I say we go give that guild a taste of their own medicine, We can get some clubs and knock some sense into them the old fashioned way." he says quietly, then glances over at Rrruh for approval.
Splint chuckles briefly as he watches the firefoot chomp upon your hand.
"Despite that nip, the animal's grateful, you can be sure of that," he says, walking over to examine your hand. He sighs heavily before responding to questions about the election.
"I'll be voting for your man, Jack. You can be sure of that. I love Vamros, but he's not cut out to be mayor, and he definitely doesn't deserve to be Kreed's puppet. I tried to convince him to intentionally ruin his chances. I told him that if he loses, he could be freed from Kreed's grasp, but if he wins, he'll be even more that bastard's servant. It didn't go well.
"I worry that Vamros still rues his failed barrister career back in Carpenden. He probably sees becoming mayor as a chance to redeem himself. You know, most of the Valers see him as just some cowardly slip at the Gavel's beck and call, but he actually finds his own ways to subvert Kreed's will. He nudges cases away from Kreed's attention, issues permits that the Consortium would otherwise deny. You'd be surprised. If your man wins, Vamros might actually be a good ally. He'd relish the chance to mete out fair justice for a change."
Randu collects some yellow cattails, carpenter's mold, and amanata caps - ingredients easily found around town that, when mixed together properly, can ensure that whomever is unfortunate enough to ingest them will have the worst night of their lives, probably at the cost of their britches.
The next question, though, is how to administer this concoction in order to take the Redrock Guilders out of commission.
"Actually...."
He began tilting his head as he clearly thought about things.
"Both may work. If you administer this pie to them say the day before the election, they will be too busy dealing with those issues than bothering folk on the election. But I do want to speak with them, in a public setting to. Let the Valer's know that they no longer have to stand for such things. I would like to be able perhaps to talk them down, as Miss Sweet Pea suggests but I have a feeling yes yes, that it will break into a fight when all is said and down."
His tail lashed and his lips curled into a smile that showed far too many teeth.
Krogge listens to splint nodding along with him as he speaks of Vamros' unsuitability toward the election. "Its good to hear I was right about you having some sense. Jack is a good fellow, I'm sure if he was earnest about it, Vamros could speak to him about a real position in town. I know Jacks gonna need as much help as he can get. Vamros would be safe working with Jack too as long as me and Mr. Rrruh are near." he says.
"You headed back to down now that this is done?" he says motioning toward the hobgoblin corpse.
The party passes the intervening two days taking some cues from Jack to finish canvassing the town as the election nears. The candidates themselves meet with Sheriff Baleson and Gavel Kreed during this time to hammer out how the election will actually be handled.
On the day before the election, with help from Rrruh, Randu blends his herbal concoction into a pie - although Sweet Pea needs more than one reminder not to sample the dangerous pastry.
Krogge nods in agreement, "lets share the trail then. Are you ready?". Assuming Splint is ready to go Krogge will walk back to town with him trying to keep the conversation light and mostly about the things the see as the go. While hiking back he will also keep his eyes out for any brightly colored birds or soft furred game, as well as any herbs he might be able to gift to Laurel.
"That may be true Mr. Rrruh but I have other news. Splint will be voting for Jack, and I learned that Vamros doesnt necessarily want to win this election. Splint thinks he might a good ally if Jack wins but he might need some convincing. Apparently the little guy had a bit of a disaster of a career in some other Andoranian town." he blurts out. I'm not sure I was supposed to share that... he thinks before continuing. "Anyways... Splint came back to town since we killed Knifetongue. Maybe the sheriff could be persuaded to go with us. With him and his deputies with us we might not have to come to blows." he says gripping his club tightly, he sneaks a dance to gauge Jacks reaction to the idea.
Sweet Pea spends the intervening days trying to spend time with every single one of her new friends all at once. After two days of flitting rapidly back and forth across town, she seems a bit ragged.
"I've never known so many people at the same time! I don't think I know how to handle this..."
"Do not worry my little friend, Its a bit much for all of us yes yes."
He paused tilting his head at Krogge's question about the sheriff.
"Hmm no. If this ends in violence I dont want the sheriff to have to pick a side. The law regardless should remain neutral. It is good to hear that this Vamros isnt a total crook. Perhaps with a good enough showing even if Jack looses we have an ally we can work with in cleaning up the town."
He smiled broadly with lots of teeth.
The halfling will try to plant the pie discreetly, and hope it works as it worked before..only this time with special ingredients.
Randu plants the pie behind the Rouge Lady, which he judges to be the most likely place to entrap the Redrock Guild troublemakers. Although he is nervous to be so close to the dangerous den of inequity, no one seems to pay any notice to the slip.
Within a matter of hours, the Rouge Lady is haunted by howls of misery and anguish - and that is to say nothing of the growing smell. Thus incapacitated, the criminal gang will be unable to prey upon Valers during the final lead-up to the election.
.....
Nevertheless, as election day arrives in Falcon's Hollow, there is already enough tension running throughout the town.
Gavel Kreed, Jack, Sheriff Baleson, and Magistrate Harg have agreed upon a way to collect anonymous votes from residents. A large box has been set up in front of the tribunal. Each voter will pick up a colored stone - light for Harg, dark for Jack - and drop it into the box. At the end of the day, the light and dark stones will be tallied to decide who becomes mayor.
Of course, there is much doubt that it will go so smoothly. You overhear many people expecting some form of skulduggery to unfold, with some even predicting an all-out brawl by day's end.
Listening to the Valers as the momentous day begins, the outlook is promising. After the work you've done to connect with the community, victory for Jack seems quite likely. Now you just have to ensure that the election proceeds with no problems.
Rrruh keeps an eye on the throngs who come and go through the Low Market, both to vote and conduct their normal business, but he does not notice anything untoward. Sweet Pea, however, is almost overwhelmed by the number of people before her all at once. Even the flocks of birds she has seen did not number this many. Her eyes dart wildly, unsure where to look.
You watch his hand pluck not one stone to favor Harg, but several. He tries to keep them hidden in his clenched fist, but you can see through his trickery. He is approaching the voting box atop the tribunal porch, clearly aiming to cast multiple illicit votes for Kreed's candidate.
Randu was pleased with the time the pie bought, and maybe folks will be a bit humlbler in the future.
His eyes dart around
Much like Sweatpea though, he's just a touch overwhelmed, though in his case it's more with worry.
Krogge awakes early as he is nervous for the day. He grabs a crust of bread and some hard cheese from Jak before heading out to cast his vote for Jack as early as possible. Once that is done he spends most of the day lurking around the voting area to keep his eyes peeled for any trickery.
As the foreman Approaches he sees what he was looking for this whole time, Bastard! he thinks before realizing he never asked Jack what to do if this happens.
He immediately rushes the Forman without thinking, diving in an attempt to tackle him before he deposited the stones,
but his overzealousness causes him to slip and slide on the ground up to the foremans feet, surely causing a scene.
"Ee's.... He's got a handful of stones!" he says as he looks up from the ground.
“What? Really?” Sweet Pea races after Krogge and steps right up to the foreman. “That doesn’t seem fair. Let’s see..” she says, reaching for the foreman’s hand.