"So let's put tha thing in tha box an close tha lid.....Yah think tha uglies are comin intah town cause o tha rock?"
" Jaegr is right in that this may be too big for us, "
This box is about the right size, from what you understand. Remember, though, that the padding inside the box isn't the right shape to hold that rock -- the Teuffelkopf was shoved in there as an afterthought. So either this is THE box, and its true contents have been removed, or else it was constructed as a ringer, and the head placed in there until the correct contents could be acquired. Or some other possibility that's eluding us at present...
"Ahh fer f+$!s sake put tha rock inna box, close it up an lets get out o here!"
"I remember an instrument from years ago I wants tah find an learn tah play, not sure if tha person playin was playin it right err not, but I liked it."
"The proverbial cat is out of the bag, Caspian. While my stomach is speaking louder than my head right now, I don't want to just leave this behind if it is important to some one..even it it isn't us. Do you detect any arcane energy on the rock? Perhaps Jaegr has another good swing of his pick left in him before we go get something to eat? If it is what Vanya says it is, the world might be just a bit better off if this thing were in multiple pieces."
Caspian uses detect magic on each in turn giving a thumbs up or down on if the items are magical or not....
Damn my need for skill points!
"It would be wise to close the lid anyway and conduct our discussions somewhere else."
"The lid is already closed. Do we want to destroy this thing or leave it with the merchants while we head out to kill the goblins. I say either way we need to head out right away and get the jump on them"
Caspian gives a thumbs-down to the box itself: it's lead-lined, but not magical.
After furtively opening the lid and touching the rock, he reels back, stunned by the sheer awful malignancy of the thing. (Jaegr, I assume, quickly reached over and closed the lid before speaking his last line above.)
"Lead probably limits the power of that thing. I wonder if that is the case..."
"Lead probably limits the power of that thing. I wonder if that is the case..."
You've heard of that sort of thing before, and see no reason why anyone would be idiotic enough to line a case with lead for no reason -- but then again, you've known people to believe all kinds of old wives' tales, even ones with no truth to them. Your arcane knowledge, while far greater than a layman's, isn't quite up to the occult science of field and wave mechanics.
What you're going to do with the box; Wyvurn suggests we hide it. No way we can re-brick the wall so we might as well take it with us.
What you're going to do with all your prisoners; Might as well take them, too, unless there is some sort of authority figure in this mudhole that can be trusted--Can Caspian root out that sort of info?
What you're going to tell Geoff and Wilbur; Wyvurn suggests that we find them and ask them to hole up with the box and prisoners somewhere. We can stock them up with provisions and give them some coin for the trouble and delay. I don't know where, but hopefully we can find someplace out of the way to set up a camp or rent a room/barn that is remote enough to not see much traffic by the townsfolk.
What your plan of attack is; and Meanwhile we scout out this goblin force to see how big it is and what sort of threat they are. Perhaps we can hit them a few times during the night (or day--whenever they are weakest) and soften them up enough to cause them to turn back. If we can't, then we will need to pull back and defend/evacuate the town as best we can.
How you're going to get there (this might include hiring a local guide). Wyvurn looks to Kelsin to guide us and find out what he can with his skills. If we have to hire someone, then so be it.
"I am all fer hirin a guide I got tha marshal's cast an sure a bit o tha money might goes a long way in savin our bacon."
"I am all fer hirin a guide I got tha marshal's cast an sure a bit o tha money might goes a long way in savin our bacon."
"I agree with Caspian. Makes no sense wondering around, be best to find someone to take us straight there."
Hiring a guide at the usual location -- the inn -- might be rather more difficult than usual given the results of your brief appearance there. Then again, there are other places in town.
"Let's go to tha bar an hire a guide!"
As you depart the sheriff's office, the woman in the cell yells, "Wait! You can't just leave us here!"
"Why not?"
"Why not indeed?"
Leaving the dumbfounded Chancellor's Guards in the cell, you stride out boldly into the street, boar in tow. No one tries to stop you on your way to the tavern, and indeed a number of people cross the street or duck down alleys to avoid you. In the tavern, things are quiet. The bartender and small number of patrons eye you suspiciously -- except Wilbur and Geoff (who seem to have returned and set up there), who quickly push back from their table and loudly order drinks for you.
With them is a heavyset, middle-aged man, whose eyes crinkle a bit at the corners as he observes this greeting. "You must be the 'great heroes' this pair was talking about!" he exclaims.
Wilbur adds, "Guys, this is Oliver Brenderhort, the town grain merchant. He likes our idea of driving those horses, and wants a part stake in the enterprise. Meanwhile, he knows just about everyone in town."
"Well met Mr. Brenderhort. It seems Geoff and Wilbur have told you about us, perhaps you can tell us about yourself and this town while we get ourselves a bite to eat."
Cautious Caspian....
checks the coins in the money belt for magic, and to see if any are rare or unusual coins, also transfers the funds out of the moneybelt and into a pouch....
leaves the moneybelt back at the Marshall's prison (empty of course)
"We are looking fer a reputable guide rather than a scoundrel."
"Sure! Grab some chairs, fellas. Barkeep! More glasses!"
When your drinks are poured, he says, "I moved here when I was a wee tyke, from up in Northwind. Parents wanted some free land, ended up farmers here. As a teenager I worked in the old dry goods store, fell in love with the mill owner's daughter, and went on from there. About the most excitement I've seen are occasional duels in the street, an owlbear or two killed -- you know, typical frontier stuff. With the farms spreading, even that's more or less died down. Sounds like you guys see more than that on the average weekend!
"As far as a guide, if you want a town guy, there's "Baron" Jake, who knows the river and all the towns up and down it. He comes across as a scoundrel, but he's always dealt fairly with me -- I've worked with him for years. I think he's in Kaisersburg until next week some time."
"For a wilderness guy, you could do a lot worse than Black Snake Charlie. He doesn't talk much, but they say he can track a deer over bare rock."
" Sounds like you guys see more than that on the average weekend!"
"Sometimes that is the case. Would that we all could settle down to..." Jaegr tries to remember the surface word, "farm. In fact we are looking for a little more excitement. We need to get to the briar, know anyone that knows the lay of the land well enough to get us there?"
"Black Snake. The name does not exactly inspire confidence."
"Black Snake. The name does not exactly inspire confidence."
Mr. Brenderhort looks at your costume with some amusement, and replies, "Sorry, I should have known you for a city man from your, uh, regalia. Out on farms, a black snake is a non-poisonous helper that finds and eats mice. Charlie's half wood elf. He's 'tame' enough to live in town without being a drunk, but he can still find his way around the woods, and he's especially good at finding goblins."
"Or goblins is good at findin him!"
he can still find his way around the woods, and he's especially good at finding goblins."
"I say lets have a talk with Black Snake Charlie. Poisonous or not, makes no difference to me as long as we find some goblins."
"Charlie lives in a little cabin out a league or so away from town. Take the road east, then cut north when you see a big stand of crabapple trees beside the road. You'll pass a big oak by itself; follow the slope there down to the creek, and you'll find his cabin among a stand of pines. Make sure you yell out as you approach; he may not be expecting anyone."
"Charlie lives in a little cabin out a league or so away from town. Take the road east, then cut north when you see a big stand of crabapple trees beside the road. You'll pass a big oak by itself; follow the slope there down to the creek, and you'll find his cabin among a stand of pines. Make sure you yell out as you approach; he may not be expecting anyone."
Jaegr finishes his drink "Sounds good to me. Lets find this guy and see how soon we can take off. The sooner the better."
"Fine I will get lost in tha woods an yell snake, snake as loud as I ken."
"Thank you Mr. Brenderhort. The information on Mr. Snake is much appreciated. May we also ask you about what passes for law here in this town? As I am sure Geoff and Wilbur have told you, we had a bit of a scuffle here at the inn. We managed to subdue our assailants but found that the Marshal is....well....not available at this time."
"Well, in theory, anyway, Marshal Flagg is an on-site representative of the Queen's Constables in Kaisersburg (if he were strictly local and semi-independent he'd be a sheriff). So in his absence, any member of the Queen's Constables would do. In practice, he pretty much took care of everything without any outside help that I know of.
"I'd worry about the lack of law, but I'm sure the Marshal will be back soon -- he never stays gone for more than a week or so. If you think it'll be longer than that, maybe we should send a messenger upriver to Kaisersburg -- but we'd need to have some idea of what the delay was."
"Charlie lives in a little cabin out a league or so away from town. Take the road east, then cut north when you see a big stand of crabapple trees beside the road. You'll pass a big oak by itself; follow the slope there down to the creek, and you'll find his cabin among a stand of pines. Make sure you yell out as you approach; he may not be expecting anyone."
"Frost! Where are... Oh, there you are! Flap your wings and go find that cabin... What do you mean, you are a wolf? Yes, I know. But you were a raven just a few hours ago... Oh, for Morana's sake..." The oprichnik throws his hands in the air and keeps on walking, ignoring his familiar.
"Charlie lives in a little cabin out a league or so away from town. Take the road east, then cut north when you see a big stand of crabapple trees beside the road. You'll pass a big oak by itself; follow the slope there down to the creek, and you'll find his cabin among a stand of pines. Make sure you yell out as you approach; he may not be expecting anyone.""Frost! Where are... Oh, there you are! Flap your wings and go find that cabin... What do you mean, you are a wolf? Yes, I know. But you were a raven just a few hours ago... Oh, for Morana's sake..." The oprichnik throws his hands in the air and keeps on walking, ignoring his familiar.
"You have the quite the fickle companion Vanya. I bet there is quite the story behind it...."
"I am not fickle....."
heads for the hills....
"I am not fickle....."
heads for the hills....
"Just make sure you keep making noise once we get to the Black Snake. Out of all of us, it seems you are the most qualified."
You are not quite sure if that was supposed to be a joke or not. Dverge are pretty stoic and usually humorless.
"Seems yer holdin me tah tha payin fer tha guide!"
"I guess if I am payin tha makes me tha most qualified."
As you leave town, a number of locals stop and stare at you, some with open expressions of relief. But the day is pleasant and the directions are good, and after an hour and a half walk (because of Caspian's stubby legs) you're in front of the cabin.
As you leave town, a number of locals stop and stare at you, some with open expressions of relief. But the day is pleasant and the directions are good, and after an hour and a half walk (because of Caspian's stubby legs) you're in front of the cabin.
"Hey Black Snake are you around?"
Perception
Stealth:
Caspian, Jaegr:
Vanya, Wyvurn:
"Hey you there in trees over there, are you Black Snake?" Jagr points in his direction for the rest of everyone to see in case the man tries anything agressive" "We need a guide and you came recommended by Brenderhort"
"Yer pretty sneak come on over an I ken give yah a few pointers."