Rofley quickly and skillfully lets loose an arrow at the owl and pierces it right in his chest...the owl falls down to the ground...a loud screaming is heard behind the party as the dwarf is seen in tears and distraught..."That was my friend you killed you dog! I will make you all pay!" and the dwarf begins casting a spell...
the Sheriff starts to make his way through the others towards the dwarf and the Black Bannermen begin to move away from the party...
"Swooped right at me, he did! Here now, there's no need fer..."
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Woah there friend, I wish the bird no harm, I am not planning on hurting the bird. What's it's name?
Taking a step towards the shot bird.
Hopefully we can save her
Looking at Rolfe
Damn it man, why did you have to shoot it? Would you shoot my wolf? I sure hope not, because if you shoot my wolf, you will not live.
Garl, can you heal the owl with your druidic magic? she asks, hearing the commotion and in an annoyed tone., muttering to herself in elven.
Spellcraft to identify the spell cast by the dwarf.
The Sheriff begins to move as the dwarf moves forward and finishes his spell and a vivid cone of clashing colors shoots from his fingers engulfing those closest to him...the sheriff goes blind and stumbles around while Grelm falls down apparently unconscious...
he cast color spray...15 ft cone hitting the sheriff, Tanariel, Swift, Garl and the Black Banner leader Grelm...
Grelm:
Sheriff:
ORDER
Rolf, Thrand, Garl,
Sheriff, Black Banners
Owl
Tanariel, Victrix
will save
And Tanariel laughs at his magik tricks...
"Haha! Great shot, Rolfe!" says Thrand. Turning to the dwarf, he says, "We must assume that your 'friend' stole the dagger by your command."
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Rolfe, bewildered by the sudden explosion of activity, looks to his companions for direction as things look to get violent again. "Woah there, sheriff. You okay?"
ORDER
Rolf, Thrand, Garl,
Sheriff, Black Banners
Dwarf
Tanariel, Victrix
The dwarf is still hostile and looks to avenge the loss of his familiar.
ORDER
Victrix, Rolf, Thrand, Garl,
Sheriff, Black Banners
Dwarf
Tanariel,
"...oh, great." Victrix sighs in resignation and turns to the dwarven spellcaster.
I'd normally just smack him, but after that brittle-boned half-orc, I'm not interested in giving the Sheriff more reasons to hound us.
She runs at the dwarf and tries to grab him...
"No you don't!"
Victrix fails to grapple the dwarf as he ducks under her powerful arms but when he ducked, he ducked right into the waiting arms of Rolfe who manages to grapple the dwarf.
"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" the dwarf screams out.
combat over.
"Easy there, sheriff. I've got you." says Thrand as he puts a mighty guiding hand on the lawman's shoulder. "Rolfe has apprehended the dwarf. Has anyone found the dagger? Does the dwarf have it? Is it in the owl's nest?"
The elf will cast detect magic to see if she can find the dagger. Someone look to that owl. she says.
Garl and Tanariel manage to find the dagger up in the rafters of the building while it is confirmed the owl is dead and Rolfe still has a struggling dwarf in his hands. Thrand helps the sheriff up to his feet while the half elf and bald human tend to Grelm.
"Thank you good knight. I have one thing to do now." the sheriff says as he regains vision. He strides over to the dwarf in Rolfes arms and cold cocks him in the jaw knocking the dwarf out. "Now where is that dagger?" he asks after hitting the dwarf.
The elf will get the dagger and give it to the sheriff.
"Thank you Lady Elf. Someone help me drag this poor sod over to the jail. I shall keep hold of the dagger until I am convinced who the rightful owner is. Dont no one leave as of yet. I will get to the bottom of this." the sheriff says as he leaves.
The group spends breakfast at the inn and not many people are talking with each other this time around. After the meal the party is called into the Sheriff's presence.
Professor Krane sits at a small, round table. A large parchment roll lies tied on the table before him. Sheriff Blunnde still has the
magical dagger tucked into his belt. He begins by saying, “I appreciate your assistance and cooperation up to this point. I know that you have a legitimate claim to this dagger. However, I also know that due to your conduct in the taproom last night you are at least partially responsible for the destruction of some of Doctor Krane’s extremely valuable property.” He holds up a hand to forestall any arguments and motions for the professor to continue.
Doctor Krane clears his throat and says, “The subject of my exhibits here at the Travelers Stop is a form of artistry called shrouding. By using certain reagents and magical properties, this art allows the image of a corpse or mummy to be captured orthographically—that is to say, with height, width, and depth—on the linen shroud in question. It was once a common technique among the burial practices of certain ancient cultures to the far west but has largely been lost today. The shroud in question that was destroyed carried the image of the Suel Imperium King Haliad III. It was over four thousand years old and the centerpiece of my exhibition.
The good sheriff here has agreed to not jail you if you can pay off the lost shroud’s value—something you will most certainly be unable to do. I do, however, have another proposition for you. Five years ago, a druid named Willowroot located and recovered five artifacts that once belonged to a forgotten mountain king named Narven. I want you to travel to his home in the forest and secure the five items on loan and bring them to me here at the inn. With them I can create a shroud of their former master. Advise Willowroot that for the use of the panoply the items will, of course, be returned and that I will create a second shroud for him to keep, finally giving the burial honor to King Narven that has been denied him for 200 years. I leave it to you to find a way to convince the druid of my proposal.
The five items are the breastplate of sacred fire, the wand of earth’s ire, the codex of the firmament, the vial of pure water, and the spirit-staff of Narven. I have here a map to the druid’s grove and sketches of each of the five items. Bring them back to me and you are free to go, our deal completed, which will please your employers and my sometime friends and you can avoid debtor’s prison for the next 40 years. The choice is yours.”
“Just to sweeten the pot,” Sheriff Blunnde adds, “and so I don’t have to post wanted notices all across the shire, upon your return with the items I’ll give you the magical dagger—no questions asked if you complete the task for the good Doctor.”
Rolfe looks dumbfouded. His temper seems piqued at the mention of debtors prison. "A four thousand year old artifact and you decide to air it out on the tavern floor? Meanin' no offense, mister, but my fellows and me mightn't be the ones at fault here." Rolfe says, letting that hang on the air before continuing.
"But you seem like good folk. In fact it's the professor we traveled here to see. We've a letter, you see. 'an we'll get yer artifacts, as a sign of good faith." he says, with an easy smile that doesn't linger long on his face. He glances at the others. "Won't we?"
Thrand says, "I did not destroy the shroud. I was never anywhere near it. I was on the other side of the room. The debt is not mine."
"Only a great fool would bring such a priceless and extremely delicate artifact into a tavern where wine, grease, blood and fire are likely to destroy it. You bear most of the blame, Professor Krane, not Victrix. If you had simply asked us for a favor, we would gladly have given it. Instead you threaten us! I am disinclined to acquiesce to your demands. If you beg my forgiveness, I may reconsider."
"And do you honestly expect us to trust the dagger to your keeping, Sheriff Blunder? You? Who were unable to keep it from a bird overnight despite my warning."
"Wrongly imprison us if that is your will, villains. After everything that we have done for you, you still treat us this way? I spit on your mockery of justice!"
The elf, with a quite indignation responds Professor, you left a priceless artifact out to be destroyed. The lack of prudence on your part does not change that. The dagger was claimed by our party, you sheriff, lost it, which in turn leads to a question of your own adequacy and comptence to deal with magical items which we know nothing about. It is best kept by people who are trained to use magic so as to know what exactly the properties of said item are.
Rolfe strokes his whiskers. "Whelp. I suppose not."
"Hold on. Lemme get this straight 'ere." Victrix waves off Thrand & Tanariel.
"First, we're tasked with speakin' with yeh by our boss, which we managed ta do (if not especially well). Then, we get provoked into a bar foight that results in the law showing up and putting everyone under arrest. THEN the dagger we were hired ta retrieve gets stolen--from under YEHR watch, no less, Sheriff--an' WE had ta track it down 'n' get it back. THEN we learn that our dear Professor 'ere has decided that he has the sheer balls ta hold US responsible fer destroyin' a priceless artifact that he decided would look good airin' out on a tavern floor."
"Not only that, but yeh'll let us off the hook if we fetch a few magical gubbins fer yeh? Despite the fact that the other party who started the whole thing admitted ta murderin' a man fer his dagger?"
Wow. Holding others responsible for mistakes that not only could have been easily avoided, but that you yourself made. How are you not in government already?
"Lemme put it this way--we've been treated with nothin' but hostility since we arrived 'ere. All we wanted ta do in the first place was ta meet with Professor Krane 'n' retrieve the dagger we were sent ta collect. Then a random gang of thugs accosts us, admits ta committin' murder fer a bloody stupid dagger, an' decides ta start a foight over it. My associates and I are less than inclined ta accept the offer simply because o' that. I'm with Rolfe 'n' Thrand--I'd be willin' ta consider it if, first of all, yeh apologized first fer all the nonsense ya put us through. I'd rather this not escalate ta violence again because of more mistakes on anyone's part."
The sheriff listens to the party voice their gripes and after they are all done he says "Seems to me yall forget who is the law around these parts. That be me. I have the power of the clergy from the capital and since yall didnt appoint me I dont give a gnomes fart what yall think of the situation. Seems to me by your comments you work for someone who deals with the 'ole Prof here, and since your masters be needing something from the Prof here your concerns are incunsential"
"Inconsequential is the word you mean sheriff." the Professor kindly interrupts.
"Yeah inconse... what he said. Now no denying the Prof here is a strange bird, no offense Prof but ya are, he done good for the folks round here and helped out the 'conomy so folks like him. Seems yall gotsta do what he says or find a new job. And I keep the dagger. makes no difference to me. Now while you folks are gone doing your masters bidding i will be looking into the two murders you all seem to know so much about...not saying my word carries with the law in the surrounding areas and not sayin i can make it hard for yall to make it back to where you came from but stuff can get mixed up on warrants and such."
"I dont give a gnomes fart what yall think of the situation."
"Seems yall gotsta do what he says or find a new job."
Thrand says, "Please don't go through too much trouble investigating the murders on our account, sheriff. I do not have any faith in your ability to follow clues and dispense justice. I would rather the crimes go unsolved than for you to punish the wrong people as you are almost certain to do."
"We will run the professor's errand. When this new task is complete, I expect you to keep your word and give us the dagger. Then I am going to contact to the clergy and see about having you dismissed from your position."
The elf will nod at the cavalier's comments and will add A grey elf is owned by no one so your terminology of Master is not appropriate when referring to one of the faerie.
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looking at the Sheriff
Well excuse me, I am sorry sheriff, I did not know that I broke wind. but what I will do for you is break your back, if I hear one more joke from your sorry ass. So far we have heard enough crap out of your mouth to fertilize a field a mile long. Seems like you and your concerns are more then anything. I think sheriff that you should be glad that my friends are here, and that my wolf is outside. She's got your scent and she'll make it so that you can't reproduce any more. Make sure you lock your door tonight.
Tanariel, please will you escort me out of this room before I do something that I shouldn't?
Thrand goes to the stable to prepare his horse for travel.
Rolfe grimaces at the professor and the sherrif, giving them an apologetic smile before shouldering his bow and following Thrand to the stables. "Mighty glad to be hitting the road again."
The elf will lead the gnome out and make a comment in Sylvan about the arrogance of humans.
Since the group eventually agreed the professor provides them with a map from his roll of parchments showing the location of the druid’s grove, six miles northeast of the inn in the forest. He also shows them sketches of the five pieces of the panoply. The party preps their mounts and depart along the trail for the grove.
After a bit of travel you notice recent marks made by 3-4 other hooved animals and the tracks appear to originate from behind you and currently go in the same direction.
Thrand lets the party trackers lead the way. He focuses his attention on looking important and respectable, and as such fails to observe the tracks over which they are riding.
Antagonizing the lawmen is what got you into this mess, Rolfe. Ain't you learned your lesson yet? he ponders, nearly breezing past the tracks. "Look here. Hooffalls. Keep your eyes peeled. I think our new friends might be trying to cut us off."
"Well spotted, Rolfe. We'd best keep our lances at the ready. Does your wolf smell anything interesting, Garl?"
Perception
Pointing out the trscks the elf will inquire, I wonder if these tracks might be from the other group that we met in the Inn?