"Kitty! You almost DIED!" Sweet Pea says to Rrruh with tears in her eyes, "Are you SURE you're ok?" She follows him closely, with no apparent concern for the material wealth he finds, or the identity of the blue bird guy.
"Aww thank you small friend. I am a bit hurt still and yes, Death was checking up on me but it was a good thing we did. Those thugs meant to kill us all I believe and blame it on the Tatzylwyrm... and it certainly meant to make a meal of us. You were very helpful... thank you. You may call me Rrruh my friend."
He began speaking to the little plant girl even going so far as to gently pat her hair? softly.
The bird man smirked a bit and turned around, finally giving everyone a good chance to get a good look at him. His smile is genuine though, and he bows politely (if a little overly grandiose) to the group. "Sorry. Guess I should introduce myself. My friends, and I'd certainly say you all qualify as friends, call me Corv... but everyone else knows me as the Blue Corvus."
So THIS is the curious Blue Corvus!
He paused at Krogge's wink, apparently not totally sure how to process it, before smirking and shaking his head. "Speaking of Jacks, I'd like to appropriately thank you guys for watching out for mine back in town. No worries about him today. I've worked with Jack for a looooong time... not that he realizes that." His tone is one a parent might use when discussing a mischievous child. "I'm sure you've realized by now, but he's a bit of a handful. But he means well... the Council was planning on sending someone else. He may not act like he wants to be here - and he very well might not - but he insisted on being the one to come here. He's got a good heart under that stuffed shirt... somewhere..."
He chuckled and shook his head. "Listen, I know the introductions are kinda brief, but I've known about you guys for a while now. As they say... 'the night wind tells me everything.' Sweet Pea, Krogge, Rrruh, Randu, Flint." He paused between each name, pointing to each of them as he spoke. [/b]"So I'll skip to the part where I ask for your help. As you can no doubt tell, Falcon's Hollow is in a baaaaaaad spot right now. As capable as I might be, I can only do so much to help the town AND keep Jack out of trouble. Even if I stormed Kreed's gates tonight and cut him down, that'd leave a power vacuum for some other thug to fill, and a lot of folks out of work and in disarray. I think Jack's plan has a solid chance of working... but I can't help him execute it by myself."[/b]
He bowed his head a moment, holding his arms out in a prostrating manner. "I don't suppose I could ask for your help for an undetermined extended period of time, could I?"
Know Nobility
Sense Motive
Flint still isn't super sure who the Blue Corvus is or why he seems to know Jack.
This is Dwarven Steel. You can tell by the markings. This is the seal of one of the smaller clans of Tar Khadurrm. Maybe one of their younger descendants, but still very good steel. I hope you honor his memory in using it and slaying the wyrm.
Flint turns his attention to the prostrate thug, tying his arms perpendicular behind his back with chord to make sure he doesn't try anything.
Well, that explains you, Corvus, but I'm still waiting on answers from our friend here. Who sent you, Scum?
"Aww thank you small friend. I am a bit hurt still and yes, Death was checking up on me but it was a good thing we did. Those thugs meant to kill us all I believe and blame it on the Tatzylwyrm... and it certainly meant to make a meal of us. You were very helpful... thank you. You may call me Rrruh my friend."
He began speaking to the little plant girl even going so far as to gently pat her hair? softly.
"I'll thank all of you to please keep my gifts, somewhat on the quiet? Spellcasters of any stripe are given a wary eye in these parts I think." To those wounded, "I maybe to heal others further tomorrow, well, one of you."
He bowed his head a moment, holding his arms out in a prostrating manner. "I don't suppose I could ask for your help for an undetermined extended period of time, could I?"
"If it helps the common folk under the boot of the Consortium and Kreed in particular? Aye. I'm in. But let's not go shouting trumpets about any revolution too soon."
The surviving thug remains silent. It remains to be seen whether he is still in shock or simply holding his tongue defiantly.
"How much rope do we have, If our friend here doesnt want to talk I can certainly climb back up that tree then pull him up by rope and let him dangle for a few days. Even with the Tatzylwyrm gone it would take some time for anyone to find him up there. I hear stringing up folk is whats considered frontier justice.... we are certainly frontier enough."
He began purposely looking up into the trees for a strong enough branch. He paused and looked about for his two darts as well.
Rrruh's threat breaks through the thug's resolve, already weakened by his injuries and the death he has witnessed.
"We were hired to follow you," he blurts out, "and make sure you didn't make it back to town, making it look like a beast got you all. I didn't think there was an actual wyrm."
He eyes the trees warily, seemingly expecting another tatzlwyrm to emerge at any moment to finish him off.
Pressed further, he admits that they work for Kabran Bloodeye, and their boss sent them on this job.
Locals such as Randu and Flint are familiar with the name. Bloodeye owns the Rouge Lady, a burlesque and gambling house on the edge of town, but it is commonly accepted that he also runs the local crime ring, a group called the Redrock Guild.
This connection would also explain why Bloodeye, the local kingpin of vice, would suddenly find an interest in rubbing you out.
After Krogge has collected any Darkwood he can find, he piles it up at the base of the Darkwood before brandishing his new axe and saying,"Mister Rrruh, wanna send this Bloodeye this ones head and a few bloody eyes he might recognize?" He says, rage in his voice as he points first to the defeated thug, then to the fallen thugs.
He then looks to the bird man,"I've been watching the town fester and bleed under the loggers for as long as I can remember. its always filled me with a rage but I've never had the focus to funnel it towards something useful!" The woodsman says as he swings the axe into the base of the tree in a rage then draws his bow and raises it up, "I will do what you'll have me do in the name of Falcons Hollow." he says his eyes locking with The Blue Corvus's for a moment.
He paused tilting his head to the side and staring at the trussed up thug as if he were weighing his soul in judgement.
"You dont want to be a warning to the others do you? A silent one at that. If i have your word that you will avoid town for .... a week, we will have that Bloodeye dealt with and you can start a new clean life for yourself eh?"
He glanced back torwards Krogge and gave his best feline grin... with lots and lots of teeth.
" Of course, if you choose to sneak back into town and warn them... well I know the first person that axe will sink into... are we clear?"
He asked the man calmly... oh so calmly.
Sense Motive
Know Local
Flint is willing to believe anything the man says, despite knowing who it is he's working for.
Kreed has to have it out for us, but why? We were just taking care of this snake so they can start logging here. It doesn't make any sense...
Sweet Pea listens to the conversation quietly, struggling to understand the intrigue. "Maybe he really didn't like how we didn't let him take the medicine yesterday?" she guesses in answer to Flint's question.
So... the Redrock Guild was in on this as well, huh? It figured... that meant Kreed was looking to put the kibosh on the group. But Flint brought up a good point... and Sweetpea put it simply.
"Sweetpea's got the right of it, a bit. You all are a threat. On your own, he might not care much, but now Jack's here, and that's throwing him a loop. He's got the resources, you all are willing to protect him. So congrats, you've got Kreed sweatin' a little bit. And it's probably gonna get a bit worse moving forward." He looked back at Krogge, smiling as his eyes started to glaze over a bit, as if toying with ideas in his mind. "Good to hear. I won't sugarcoat it, it's gonna be a bit of a challenge ahead... but you keep that fresh in your mind - who you're doing this for - and it'll take a whole lot more than Kreed can muster to break you."
He looked back down at the thug, before leaning over to pull him to his feet. "Listen up... I'm not gonna kill you. But I want you to do me a favor. I want you to tell all your friends about me... and to take a message to Kabran. Tell him he's next on my list. Tell him the night is no longer safe for the likes of you." He tugged the brute closer, smirking. "And when he asks you who sent this message, you let him know that it was the Blue Corvus. And if you cause any more trouble in this town again, I'll know. Now get... it's a looooong walk back with your hands tied."
"Or you could.. you know just let them know we are coming so he can gather all his blades in one spot."
He finished dryly with a slight shrug. He felt like he had read this somewhere in a book of his uncles or something. Still he supposed it was better than having to murder the man in cold blood.
The thug sent along his way he finished gathering his things instead inspecting the Tatzylwyrm.
So Master Corvis was it? whats your plan now that the bad guys have warning you are about?"
He asked finding a nice spot to sit for a moment crossing his legs awkwardly and closing his eyes taking a moment to free his mind of the chaos and clutter of the battle and its memories and focusing his mind and what might be ahead.
In a way, the halfling is relieved others are handling this. THere's a big difference tween letting a man die while he fights another monster and slitting a throat , and he wasn't entirely comfortable with the first.
"Bloodeye now is it? mmph" Enemies aplenty.
"Wait, don't you think you're putting all of us in danger letting him go? I don't know about you all, but we're the only two black cat people around here, and I don't really want to get killed in the middle of the night. You're to obvious about all of this. There's enough of a message in none of them coming back, but it leaves us out of the clear. Maybe the snake killed them all. I can't get this pinned on me."
Flint nervously works his paws through some exact motions as he speaks.
Krogge watched and listened as his companions discussed what to do with the Thug,"FlintCat is right." he says suddenly,"Rrruh and Flint are too easy to notice, Kreed will know he lies when he sees the cats walking around still." Krogge wrenches the axe from the base of the Darkwood and raises it menaceingly above the thug,"Maybe the best thing to do is kill him!
Krogge brings his axe down into the dirt in front of the man, "Or maybe you never saw us. Maybe you were attacked by the wyrm while tailing us and your the only survivor eh?" he says, hoping to continue the fear the man has for the party.
The last man's breath comes in fast, ragged pulses, mirroring his racing heart. His eyes dart between Krogge, the other party members, and the bodies littering the ground around the darkwood trees.
He mutely nods before finding his voice again.
"Yeah! Yeah! I never saw you. The wyrm attacked us before we could get to you," he agrees in earnestness that borders on panic.
Krogge smiles menacingly at the man, then points an open hand in the direction toward the town while looking over at Flint for approval.
"Even better. Now get. I hear Almas is hiring honest dock workers." Corvus replied, folding his arms.
Once the fellow is on his way out of earshot, he smirked, looking back at Rrruh. "Oh, I want them to know I'm about. They just don't know where. I can vanish into thin air at the moment's notice, if need be. And besides, who has time to worry about a couple of big cats when they have a bigger bird to snare?"
The dark furred feline went to raise a single digit and started to open his mouth as if about to give a counterpoint to the strange mans words but he stopped and closed his mouth with just a shrug.
"Do any of you local folk know anything more about this Rouge Lady? What sort of place is it?"
He asked as he checked one last time that they were all ready to go
As the thug runs away Krogge looks to Rrruh and Corvus to make sure they are really letting him go an not tricking him, then begins dragging the bodies next to each other and checking them for anything useful while saying,”what’re we doing bout them? Could bring em to bloodeye’s front door?!” he thinks aloud with a smile on his face.
Disgusting place. Never been inside. Could catch diseases just looking at the place. It's just a front to explain where he gets his money from.
Flint cuts the man's ropes with his kamas. Snakes couldn't tie people up.
"Go. And if any of yours so much as look at me funny I will hunt you down and make you wish we'd killed you now."
The dead thugs have little on them beyond their leathers, their short swords and clubs, their boots, and a half dozen silvers between them. Any other wealth they might have owned was either left at home or was frittered away at the Rouge Lady's gambling tables and perfumed back rooms.
Krogge Organizes the items into piles,"We should take the steel, its never a bad idea to have a sword. the clubs and the rest are worthless unless you need firewood, everyone gets a silver for their trouble though." he says as he hands each of them one of the silver before placing the last in his belt pouch.
Krogge will then wrap the swords and any worthwhile dark wood limbs he found in one of the dead thugs clothes and ties them together so that they are easier to carry. He then takes a few moments to mentally note where he is and concentrate on any major surroundings so he can easily find his way back if he wants.
"The Rogue Lady is a burlesque and gambling house 'officially', actually seedier than that" Randu sighs
Sweet Pea stares at the silver piece Krogge gave her, still slightly unsettled by the recent violence. "Is that how this works? If you kill someone, you get their money?"
Krogge thinks about Sweet Pea’s question for a moment before answering, “if they tried to kill you, then it’s fine. It’s not ok to kill someone just cause you want their money.”
Jack smirked, shaking his head and Sweet Pea's question, and smiling at Krogge's answer. "Right he is. It's one thing to defend yourself. It's another to attack someone because you want their stuff. That's what Kreed does... though he tries to do it without anyone noticing."
Jack nodded towards Randu. "Aren't they always? If you do investigate the place... try to bring Jack, if you can. Tell him they have a... oh, a 'robust collection of cultural works on display'. He loves that stuff. And he makes for a good distraction... and don't worry, he can't handle himself. That cane he carries?" He smirked a bit, folding his arms. "Would you believe he's got a sword in there? He's not quite as defenseless as he looks."
"But when you guys get back to town, my first suggestion is to check in with Egrin Tock. You know he's the one who helped set this up." He paused, closing his eyes and thinking a bit. "You know... might make for a good base of operations... assuming you could get your hands on some documentation... a good step towards getting Kreed's yolk off the town, if you could push Tock out of it."
"By the by, keep this source of Darkwood to yourself. If Kreed finds out about this place... how'd Ben put it? No honest cutter's gonna see a single copper." He smiled again. "Jack, on the other hand... would have a field day with this."
Flint still seems unnerved by the thugs sent after them. It meant that someone had it out for him, and that wasn't good with how much he stuck out.
"I'm not sure if I can stay at the lumber lodge any more. It's not secure. We the crew have a certain amount of honor, but I'm not sure what anyone would do if he thought there would be enough pay in it to get out of here. My savings amount to one silver, and that's an improvement since this morning."
"Not my sort of place, but perhaps..."
And a nod to Flint, "Temptation is strong. i wouldn't put it past Kreed to hint that he'd like problems 'solved' and leave the details up to the greedy and the desperate."
Krogge notes a few landmarks among the trail as he gathers up the weapons and bits of darkwood - particular trees and bits of rock jutting out of the ground. He reasons that he could ably find his way back to the grove from the old, overgrown dwarf road.
The last of the surviving thugs has run off, and it feels like a forgone conclusion that he will not be seen in Falcon's Hollow again.
The day wanes, and with the slaying of the tatzlwyrm, a dire threat to the local loggers has been eliminated.
However, the fact that a gang of hired goons was sent along after you is a troubling prospect. It seems that you have already made enemies within the small town.
It is clear that there is work to be done in Falcon's Hollow, but the question remains: how?
Flint still seems unnerved by the thugs sent after them. It meant that someone had it out for him, and that wasn't good with how much he stuck out.
"I'm not sure if I can stay at the lumber lodge any more. It's not secure. We the crew have a certain amount of honor, but I'm not sure what anyone would do if he thought there would be enough pay in it to get out of here. My savings amount to one silver, and that's an improvement since this morning."
Krogge shook his head sympathetically to the short cat, Poor cat, nowhere safe to stay,"Flint? You can stay with me if you want, its not much but its a small cave hidden in the Wolfrun's." he offers, while looking up at the roost the wyrm had made. "Ya know," he says to whoever might be listening, "With a little fixing up this tree could make a great place to live, its remote, but close enough to town, and easily defended...Corvus, do you need a roost?" the half-orc looks to the feathered man with a toothy grin.
Flint is a little surprised by the offer. He gives a low bow to the Half-Orc as he calms himself.
"Thank you very much Mister Krogge. I will do my best to do anything I can to help you in return."
He looks to the 'Blue Corvus' with a but more resolve than he had before.
"I have come to be very fond, not of this town, but of her people. There are many good and honest ones here, and I will do anything I can to help them. You are too obvious in your methods, and maybe in over your head, but I trust that you have their best interest at heart. I will do all I can to help you as well, Mister Corvus."
"I have a room at the inn.. .i think Flint. You are welcome to share...If you prefer to be closer to town that is yes yes. I think at some point, perhaps tomorrow or the day after we might pay this Rogue lady a visit. I've never been to such a place, it might be an interesting tale to tell someday."
He paused and managed to not smirk at the blue Corvis.
"Im sure Mr Jack my employer might uh... like to meet and speak with some of you a bit better yes yes, im sure he would help procure rooms at an affordible rate. might be a good idea for us all to stick together a bit until we get this place sorted out you know?"
He added his tail lashing as he tried to place landmarks into his head as they traveled back... on the off chance they ever had to return here of course.
Krogge smiles as he remembers,Jack will pay us for this!, and he says "Jack will be happy to hear that we slew the wyrm and it is on the way to my cave"
The Blue Corvus slips away, seemingly traveling in the opposite direction, away from town, and leaves the rest of you to return on your own.
Having noted landmarks for potential future visits to the darkwood grove, you travel down the trail back to the old dwarf road that will lead back towards the lumber camp.
Under the waning sun, you soon find yourself walking along weary loggers trudging back to camp. They offer cursory nods to Krogge and Flint, even asking Randu if supper will be ready in time, but they eye Rrruh and Sweet Pea a bit warily.
Peeking into the bunkhouse, you find Ben Fulgore sleeping more restfully. His face is still slick with sweat, but he doesn't seem to be suffering as much now. This offers a glimmer of hope, rare around these parts.
Randu gets to work making Supper, there are always quick dish options.
On the way back before they start to encounter people, Flint makes sure everyone has the story straight in case it comes up.
"Ok, two of them ran off which means we had witnesses. All of us except for the bird guy were hiding at that point and the snake scared them off, so they should think he's working alone. When we all got there, all we found was another group sent after the snake that got killed. There were no thugs, just a hunting party that was dead when we got there. We took out the snake, and brought it back for the reward. We aren't looking to harvest that area. Make sure we mention that. It may not be safe, but until we get outed for anything, Randu and I should keep up appearances at the logging camp. If anything happens, I will take you up on your offer, Mr. Krogge. For now, we're just some local loggers and some tourists stopping in town who happened to be equipped to hunt down the snake."
Krogge tips the hood of his poncho to Randu as he departs the group to make dinner. "Stay in touch Mr. Randu," he says, then looks to Flint," are you heading back to the camp as well then?"
The hasty meal that Randu prepares earns him no esteem from the loggers and their growling stomachs.
However, as they catch sight of the wyrm corpse the party has borne along, their minds stray far from the quality of their supper.
Gasps of awe and a few rousing cheers go up from the men with proof not just that the monster was real but that they have been avenged upon it.
The party's next stop, after the lumber camp, is Jak-a-Napes back in town, in order to see Jack, inform him about what he missed, and perhaps ply him for payment.
The well-bred gentleman from Almas is waiting for you there in the common room, though with a bit of sweat on his brow - likely from some manner of calisthenics.
upon entering Jak's and seeing Jack back in his normal attire Krogge will once again, feign ignorance,"Fancy Jack!! I haven't seen you in a while!" he says while winking.
Krogge continues loudly for everyone in there to hear,"We tracked that wyrm what attacked Ben and found the dead bodies of some other men at its lair it musta killed before we got there, but we were able to end the beast!" he says with a roar at the end!
[dice=Randu Profession (Cook)]1d20+6
The hasty meal that Randu prepares earns him no esteem from the loggers and their growling stomachs.
However, as they catch sight of the wyrm corpse the party has borne along, their minds stray far from the quality of their supper.Gasps of awe and a few rousing cheers go up from the men with proof not just that the monster was real but that they have been avenged upon it.
Randu scowls sloppy cooking, no wonder the lads are grumbling. I need to be where I am not where I was or where I might be.
But he's pleased when talk of the wyrm's death becomes the mainstay, and will join the others when the food is finished.
For the rest of the night, Sweet Pea continues to dote over Rrruh, not letting him do anything strenuous and fetching food for him so he can sit.
"You're still a bit hurt, kitty, you need to rest!" She sighs "I wish I had some healy magic, then you'd be all right, right away."
He could only smile at the little green girls administrations. They were entirely uneeded at this point, but if it made her feel better he would oblige her. Magic would certainly heal his aches better... but in its own way he preferred the slight pain. Pain sometimes was the best of teachers, Maybe next time he would be better prepared.
He waved the barkeep, a serving lad or miss, or whomever took orders to bring them all a drink all while trying to keep an eye out for any dark scowls directed at them as a whole. He didnt think the whole town was out to get them, but as he was unfamiliar with most of the faces he didnt want to be caught off guard.
Rrruh observes that Jak's patrons are in a pleasant mood, offering subtle signs of support. The eyes he finds are softened, albeit with the aid of ale, and he notices grins and even knowing nods in his direction.
Loggers from the camp, come to trade their meager coins for fleeting joy and comforts, seem to have followed on your heels and brought word that the party has slain the tatzlwyrm.
Coupled with the party's stand at Roots and Remedies, it appears that the party has already built up a considerable modicum of good will - at least with the locals congregating at the inn as word of your deeds is shared over mugs and cups.
Jack looks a bit more disheveled than the last time the group saw him, and certainly has a bit of perspiration about his brow. But he is also sorting through papers and looking a little annoyed, so perhaps it's just stress.
He looks up as the others enter, eyes lingering on Krogge and his wink before listening to his story. A part of him wondered if Krogge actually had guessed what he was up to and knew his secret... or at least suspected a connection. If he did... color him impressed!
"Well... at least ONE thing was accomplished today!" Jack replied, leaning back in his seat and looking moderately miffed. "After my... excursion today, I can provide the People's Council irrefutable proof that the gods exist. Because the fact this - and I hesitate to use this word - 'organization' continues to operate with any semblance of profit is nothing short of a miracle! I have been this way and that to every officer of any caliber in this town today, and have absolutely NOTHING to show for it! SO... I am glad to hear that at least one of our endeavors did not result in a wild goose chase. Rest assured, the People's Council will be informed of this absolutely shoddy handling of documentation and chain of command in my letter to them."
Jack seemingly returned to his papers as he bid the rest of the group sit. "So then... since you were out and about, did you happen to locate any sites of promising resources? Or perhaps, in your visits to the lumberyard, you've managed to procure any useful mutterings of the workers?"
"We stopped at the yard this morning to check on ben, he looked like he could already see the boneyard, but we got some of Ms. Laurels best stuff to him quick and when we got back he seemed better." he says before lowering his voice and speaking directly to Jack,"I still think he's gonna die though."
At this point if he sees it, Krogge will pour himself a mug of the Bellis mead.
Flint keeps himself scarce during the proceedings, not actually trying to hide, but definitely not being the center of attention. The more it looked like he was just a bystander, the better.
He stays with the rest of the group while Randu returns to camp, and seemingly made the right choice judging by the meal there. He'll put up his silver in exchange for tonight's meal.
When the party is by themselves, Flint will lean in and whisper quietly to Jack.
"Some weird guy showed up while we were out looking for the snake. He talked about you like he knew you. I think you should keep your body guard close, just in case. He'll tell you how things went with the snake later tonight."