If Rangers are considered skill monkeys, I think bringing your Elven Ranger back in would fit the storyline.
matters not to me, just tossing stuff at the wall
Laucian is updated as well. I am still working out the bugs, (spell prep and the like) but it should be enough to continue.
While the three of you are in Roots and Remedies with Laurel and Sheriff Baleson, he mentions, "While you were away, I investigated a bit and think I found something. I think Laurel told you that we had found the source of the blackscour taint - there was blackscour in one of the wells in town. How it got there concerns me -- there was quite a bit of it and I don't think such a quantity of the stuff grew so quickly that we would not have had some illness previously.
"I'm no tracker, just a lumberjack pressed into service, but there are folks in town that I respect that had a look around for me. They found what might be clues. I haven't had time to do anything with them, but I covered them until I could get back to the task. I can't promise any money for your efforts, but if you find who did this and we can prove it, their possessions are forfeit. As far as I'm concerned, you can have them.
"Would you be willing to look into this? With people feeling better, I suspect I will be busier than usual with the normal drunken brawls and what have you."
Nox: Sheriff, I am honor bound, as the elder member of the clan La'Athvanna, to protect these woods and those who live among them. I will gladly assist in any way that I can.
Will you join me in this pursuit?
Gilgar, still standing outside, scowls as normal.
Gilgar, you are welcome to hit them first and last when we find them. But we may need one of them to be in a state to talk before the latter event.
"I don't know how much help I am, but if you guys don't mind, I will join you on this adventure. I had some ideas for new spells. I have yet to use them. I could also use any of the loot to gained to spend on some more research. This, " Laucian holds the coins gained, "is more than I am use to making in such a short time. If this continues, I should have have the resources to allow me to research more things for my performances."
Turning to Sheriff Baleson Laucian continues, "When setting out, and man skilled in the art of tracking and hunting was with the group. I believe he was to return here to town. Have you heard from him or know his whereabouts? He was a great guide for our group. He reminds me of this guy I meet a few towns back..."
He continues to tell a story about some random person that no one if he really know exists or not. He only stops telling the story when someone else speaks up. He then pauses and drops the story as if the ending isn't that interesting and lost his attention to it.
The sheriff nods, "The elf? Name of Graymoon? Yeah, he came back to town to see if the rest of you had arrived yet. If you hadn't returned by tomorrow, he was going to set out to find you. Said some minstrel was in the group and panicked and ran the first time you found combat, so he tried to catch him and make sure he was safe. As it happens, the idiot stumbled into a logging crew and got pressed into service, so Graymoon left him to it." The sheriff gives a small smile, an expression that appears unusual on his face, and adds, "Said he chased him for a full day without stopping, knowing some wolf pack would get a hold of him, and then finds him safe and sound. Grumbled about the gods watching over fools and children..."
"Anyway, he's in town and has been checking in with Laurel each day." At this, Laurel looks up from her task, saying, "He just looks in to see if I've heard from any of you. I expect him any time, actually. Figured he would have heard about the cure and come running by now."
That is good news, Graymoon would be very beneficial for this task. I remember a fine shadetree just outside that he was fond of. I beleive I will wait for him there. All are welcome to join me, we should be able to see him return and a bit more of the town from there.
After Laucian's audience disperses and the others enter 'Roots and Remedies', you are left with relative peace and quiet.
As you pretend to ignore everyone and everything, you notice a tall, thin figure run into view from your right where the main road curves into view. Catching sight of the shop (or maybe you, you're not sure), he slows his pace to a casual walk as he straightens his clothes, pulls his sleeves down, etc. By the time you can see the elven ears, he looks totally cool and calm.
Strolling up to the large tree across the street, he settles into the bench. Even though Gilgar is studiously not looking at him, the elf tips his hat slightly before leaning back against the tree trunk and closing his eyes. Or appearing to, anyway.
About ten minutes later, the street is basically empty other than one surly dwarf and one sleeping elf when Nox steps out the door of the shop.
It appears that Graymoon had much the same idea. When you open the door, you see the ranger apparently napping under the grand old tree across the way.
Smiling at the sight of his old friend resting in the very spot he had in mind, Nox will start across the street
Gilgar, would you care to meet my old friend Graymoon?
Seein Nox emerge, Perrin will rise and follow from where he was resting in the shade of the herbalist's store.
The corner of the 'sleeping' elf's mouth twitches with an almost-suppressed smile as Nox heads across the street.
Gilgar grunts, then groans as he realizes that this "Graymoon" is another elf... Grudgingly, his boots begin to walk (most folks would probably call it stomping) across the street.
"Ye need tuh befriend more Dwarven folk..." Inhaling like he has more to say, Gilgar quickly snaps his jaw shut. It looks for a moment like the pressure of suppressing the words might make his ears bleed, but then it passes. Once across the street, he stands rigidly, almost formal (though not at attention), hands resting on the head of his trusty axe.
Hearing Gilgar's' grumbled remark, Nox half looks over his shoulder as Gilgar crosses.
All are welcome who will respect these woods my friend. If you are feeling a bit homesick, feel free to send for your kin. If they fight like you, I will pay for the messenger.
looking back towards Graymoon
As for this terrible actor who so nonchalantly waits for us without a care in the world....This is Graymoon. He has been my friend for many years, and has a quite interesting story for how he came of his name. One a warrior like yourself may appreciate my Dwarven friend
pulling his jug from his bag. A toast to old friends and new. May we always see the danger our friends do not and may we be granted the opportunity and posess the ability to intervene. Taking a healthy pull, He offers the jug to Gilgar who has just approached and to Graymoon when it is returned to him.
Delayed inside, Laucian exits as Nox is toasting to friends. In a positive mood after the earlier performance, and the cure being sent out to the citizens, Laucian's face seems happy. This is surprising as this he is also not talking.
Seeing Graymoon, a smile comes across his face and he quickens his step to reach the tree. "Well hello. We were just talking about meeting up with you. We were hoping you would join us in solving the mystery this disease." Pausing a second for a quick breath, "It appears this may not have been caused by natural causes."
He also asks about finding the odd bard, getting the information from the group that has been told while he was away.
Graymoon accepts the jug and returns the toast with a smile.
"Laucian, right? Let's not talk about cowardly minstrel, please. He did everything absolutely wrong that he could possibly do once his initial panic was past. Got lost trying to come back to the Elder, stumbled into a bear's den - occupied, by the way, fell into the river just above a section of rapids." Shakes his head, "I had to go several hundred yards upstream to find a reasonable place to cross after I searched and didn't find his drowned body, then come down and discovered where he'd been caught in an overhanging tree - scrap of his jacket still caught in the branches - and climbed out, pretty as you please. 'course, I would have been closer behind him, short legs and all, if that angry bear hadn't still been riled up when I found the den." Holding up his hand toward Nox, "She and her cub are fine, thanks for asking, and they seem none the worse for wear from their unexpected exercise. By Erastil's beard, she's fast, though."
"By the time I found him cutting lumber to pay off the food he tried to steal from the lumber camp, I was almost back to town and hoped you had beaten me here." Suddenly very serious, he adds, "If you weren't here today by noon, I was heading back out to find you, unlikely as the success of that endeavor might have been."
Turning to Gilgar, he (surprisingly) extends a proper dwarven greeting for a newcomer whose rank is not known, respectful, but not overly so. "I have not had the pleasure. Graymoon is what the humans have called me for several years - it's easier on their tongues than what my mother gave me. Are you from the Five Kings region? I'm a wanderer by habit and have been fortunate enough to see some of the fantastic work of the stoutfolk north of here. Beautiful stuff."
Baleson follows Laucian out the door and waits for the introductions and greetings to finish, accepting a swig if it's offered, but not expecting it. When the conversation slows, he offers, "Come, I'll show you what little clues I have."
Gilgar remains silent and surly until Nox makes his long-winded complement. He then goes from slightly confused to really confused, then to proud but trying not to show it.
He quickly accepts the jug, cautiously sniffing at it first, expecting the scent of flowers or sugar to invade his senses. When he's met with the scent of alcohol, he quickly takes a few deep swigs before handing off the jug.
Clearly surprised at Graymoon's greeting and knowledge of his ways, Gilgar actually smiles for half a second as he accepts the greeting, then offers his tree trunk arm to Graymoon as greeting, even managing a grumbled "Well met."
Graymoon smiles, "Well met, indeed."
He has a longbow in hand and a long, scimitar-like blade over his shoulder, a dagger at his belt. "I have my gear. I was getting ready to go after you lost souls, so I'm ready to go when you are."
"I am ready. As us performers say, lets get this show on the road." Laucian smiles a smile showing everyone that he knows how bad the joke was.
Aye Baleson, let us see what you have to show. Time is often not friendly to evidence.
The sheriff looks at each of the four of you, and nods.
Propping his ever-present woodsman's axe on his shoulder, he leads you up the road toward the wall surrounding the town.
"With people getting sick all at once, Laurel thought it was bad food - she said it was too many people with the same symptoms - so I asked where they ate. You know, maybe someone sold ol' Jak some bad fish or something. But they didn't all of them eat together or buy their food from the same place, neither."
"I was talking to Jak and he's the one that thought of the well. Brookman's Well, here on the road to the north cutyards, just outside the wall. Old man Brookman's father Hiram fixed this natural spring when he was just starting out as a mason, made it really convenient and easy to get good water. Now, unless you live right on the river or right next to some other water source, 'bout everyone comes here."
As Baleson finishes, you hear a man's raised voice, "No! You come with me, young man, and you tell the sheriff yourself!" Hearing the same thing, Baleson turns toward the road in time to see a burly wearing a meatcutter's apron hauling a young boy by the upper arm. The boy is struggling to get away, but it's clear that he's not going to succeed without intervention of some kind.
"Here, Colbrin, what's the shouting about? Why are you hauling young Marl down the street?"
The man looks up, a range of emotions conflicting on his face. "I can't find my Mikra, Sher... Deldrin. My boy's missing! Marl said a bunch of kids went to the haunted house and Mikra went with them!" The youth, still held tight by the butcher's meaty paw, nods vigorously. "Kimi said there weren't no ghosts no-how and she would prove it. She'd spend the night there and prove it." Eyes wide, he whispers, "But they didn't come back. Not a one of 'em!"
A small break in the wall grants access to a narrow set of steps that allow someone to descend to the pool of water 10' below.
East of the well, away from the road, you see a bushel basket turned upside down with a pretty sizable rock holding it down.
Sheriff, has the well been cleared of the Blackscour?
Daleson looks over from where he's speaking to the butcher. He gestures at the group, "Colbrin, these are Laurel's friends that found the cure for the cough." Looking back at the group, he adds, "Colbrin here is the town butcher, as you might have guessed."
"The well has been off-limits since we found the blackscour. Everyone's been more worried about the ill than cleaning the well, to be honest. No one's very interested in being the first to drink from it, anyway."
He points at the bushel basket. "The clues are under the basket over there. I was hoping that would be enough to keep the rain off."
"Well, let's have a look, then." He pauses, "You have checked for tracks, right?" When the Sheriff nods and points at the basket, the elf says, "Ah" and walks over, carefully lifting the rock from the basket and then tipping the basket over.
Underneath, you see a small sack, probably white once, but now very grimy. Next to it is a small clear print, definitely not human.
Graymoon frowns, looking up, he says, "I don't want to influence everyone's thinking. Tell me what you see first."
"Sheriff! My boy has been missing since yesterday! What are you going to do? I can't leave my shop and I have no business in those woods, anyway, but Mikra can't survive if he's out there alone. What if he or one of the other kids is injured? They should be back by now."
Daleson says nothing, but he looks from Colbrin to Nox before speaking. "Colbrin, you know I don't have any real deputies. I have little authority in Falcon's Hollow and none at all outside the town. What do you expect me to do?"
Gilgar stalks over to the tracks, examining them...
Survival (tracking):
Not the person to stay focused on the task at hand and having heard the word haunted, Laucian doesn't hear Graymoon or even notice them move over to look at the tracks. He is listioning to the story of the missing kid.
"Hauntings are just a trick of the eye, and can not hurt you. I am sure you kid is ok and has just lost track of time. I am sure the group wouldn't mind stopping by and telling him to head home once we have finished with the investigation of this scene."
Laucian is not sure he beleives himself about the safty of the kids, but he is trying to calm the butcher, and put to ease his worries. He does feel this should be looked into asap, but is trying to not show his conserns and feelings of haste.
Skill Checks
Bluff:
Deplomacy:
Perform (Act):
A quick look at the well, and then we will discuss which event to address first. Regardless, I don't think we are likely the best group to clean the well of Blackscour.
Nox will walk over to the well and examine the tracks as well
Survival
The butcher still looks troubled, but Laucian's words have created a spark of hope. He stands, lips pursed, waiting for a decision. He lets Marl's arm go, but the boy doesn't take the opportunity to flee. "Are you heroes? Are you going to go into the woods? They say people don't come back when they go in. Are you really an elf? Is he really a dwarf? Why does his axe look weird? Is it hard to use on a tree?"
Nox is reasonably sure he could follow these tracks if they are this clear and he'd definitely recognize them again if he sees them somewhere else, but he can't quite put his finger on what made them. It's familiar, but...
Perrin, following the druid's lead, checks out track and sniffs around the area in a widening circle. Near the wall, about 20' from the well, he lingers for a while before sitting back on his haunches and looking at Nox, tongue hanging out.
"So... what species of vermin do you think we are looking for, old friend? Friend dwarf - I think I see in your eye that you know what made that track."
Sheriff Daleson points at the bag that was also under the basket. "I found that bag in the well. It caught on a rock near the water's surface. There was a black substance in it that Laurel said was blackscour fungus."
Excuse me,I think my friend has something to show me
Nox will move over to where Perrin has rested and will examine the area, following any lead that the Perrin can offer
survival