"Sir...I...uh...I noticed you have an interesting tattoo. Think I could ask you about it?" he says with a nod to the man's arm.
The man is obviously working vinny want to pull him aside or speak in the open?
Vinny will offer to help for a few minutes to pull him aside to chat.
Dozens of crates to move
Make and STR AND CON chexk
Vinny begins working, something he is not unaccustomed to.
At first the man starts to protest, but after a few minutes he accepts the help
At the end he puffs Thanks friend. To what do I owe the honor?
He smiles, "Well, I saw a tattoo and I was curious where you got it...I have seen it before, I think. It's there...just on your arm...," Vinny gives a nod.
He blanches visibly and looks around nervously
Ignorant. He didn't tell you anything. I see you all as being split up ATM
"Look...I'm just curious where you got it from. I won't tell anyone from town, just want to know how that symbol is all the way out here. I saw it in Magnimar...or at least...that's where I started..." he trails off, not really sure how to explain all the teleportation involved and sure that he shouldn't.
I dunno what you are talking about...I appreciate the help and all, but this is a weird question...
"Not that weird. You clearly have a star on your arm, I'm curious about it. I have seen some interesting people with them and if you are one of them, I would like to get to know you and be on your good side."
Promise not to start any trouble...just keep it quiet like...
he quietly admits that he got the
tattoo 2 months ago at Paradise, a floating barge converted
into a gambling and drinking hall that recently sank.
The villager sullenly explains that by allowing Paradise's
owner, the lovely and silken-tongued Lady Lucrecia, to
place the tattoo on him for a small fee, he could then show
the tattoo at Paradise's door and avoid paying the cover
fee to board. Further, those who got "Paradise's Mark"
(the Sihedron Rune) were often rewarded with additional
gambling chips and other perks, and were told that only a
select few regular patrons had been chosen for the honor.
The villager admits he was coy about the tattoo because
his wife would be furious if she found out he'd been
gambling, but defensively points out that he's not the
only one in town with the mark. In fact, ofTurtleback
Ferry's population of 430 citizens, 210 secretly bear the
mark-far more than anyone in town suspects, since
Lucrecia told them all to keep their tattoo s a secret.
"I won't let on to anyone...though, I may have to check into this Paradise place. Do you know much about Fort Rannick? I actually came to town to look into it."
Fort Rannik...thats where those rangers stay. Occasionally one comes into town, sometimes with the head of some monster...I think they just do it to impress the girls in town myself. But don't know much. Why you heading there?
Why you heading there?
"Heard there might be trouble...so we are being compensated to check it out..."
Trouble. Well that sounds...well...like trouble I guess. 'spose you knew that. So anyhow, if that is all... He looks meaningfully toward the bar...
Vinny gives the man a smile and a nod, claps him on the back and then goes to find his companions to fill them in on everything he has learned.
sounds like something fishy going on at that boat. We should check it out before going to the fort. What do you all think?
Those of yo that ask around find out that the gambling barge caught fire and sank a few weeks back
Tarinhil chuckles, " Guess that lead's a bit out of date...".
He then pauses, cocks his head, then says tentatively, "Of course, what happened could be related to the troubles and it might be worth looking at the wreckage. I can mix up some extracts to help us breathe water, though I'm thinking that Darin's magic might be more efficient... "
Phooka turns into his face from. You are on your own on that. Cats and Birds are not fans of water.
"Me neither Phooka," Fernus says as he strokes Phooka's back, "Halfling aren't strong swimmers by nature."
"It does sound like the vice of greed has been lived here alright. I wonder why'd it burned down. What I wonder is, did it burn down accidentally or was it set on fire purposefully? It might be from those who hated the gambling, but also could be on purpose due to sacrifical terms. We know they wanted to harvest energies."
Darin will shrug at Tarin.
Good to be needed. Too bad though, that barge sounded like a good opportunity to cause and break up a fight.
Then he'll look at Phooka.
What about penguins, or cranes, or herons, or ducks? Or geese? Or sea cats?
Do I look like a penguin, crane, heron, duck or goose? Or a sea cat? And shouldn't you be fall down drunk as a priest of Cayden?
"Why don't we ask around town a little more. Learn if anyone was killed and what they know of it."
Unalaq learns that the recent rains have been heavier and causing animals to become restless, lots of cougars and bears around the edges of the town of late. Not coming in but restless. He also learns that a patrol was sent to the fort but that it never returned.
H eard a few months ago, before all these rains started, that some of the hunters who brave the Valley of
Broken Trees for boar found a bunch of enormous footprints. Giant-sized footprints! I t's bad enough we've
got ogres, but if a giant's moved into the valley, I sure hope the Black Arrows take care of it soon!
Fernus tries his best to get some rumours and flitting around company, but mostly he is just not noticed at all, perhaps he is too small or his voice too weak for anyone to pay good attention to him and what he's asking.
Vinny talks around town, quietly looking into the gambling that was to be had.
After regrouping, Unalaq suggests, "I think we should spend a few more hours asking around. Then we can decide if we go diving or head for the fort."
"Perhaps... Maybe I've better luck this time. Maybe I should stand on a table so I get noticed."
Been some weird lights across the lake in the Shimmerglens lately. They don't show up all the time, but now
and then you can see them in the early dawn hours, mavin' around like they was a bunch of people over there
carryin' around lanterns and dancin' and stuff. Place is haunted, I tells ya!
The dam up north, between the Storval Deep and Skull River, is haunted by all of those who have drowned
hereabouts. The skulls carved on the dam let the ghosts watch you when you approach!
No one believes me, but that leader of the Black Arrows- Bayden's his name, I think-he's got something
going on over across the lake. I seen him com in' and gain' from Whitewillow, and so's my friends. I 'm pretty
sure he's up to no good. Nothing friendly lives in swamps, after all!
"Let's make one more pass through the village, then regroup and determine our next steps."
Assuming everyone is ok with another round of gathering info...
People been disappearin' lately. And not just them who's been going into the deep woods. I 'm talkin' fishermen, travelers, people just out on the roads. My money's on them Grauls-that family's got ogre blood It in them, and once you get ogre blood in you ... you just ain't right!
Consider it time to stay the night now as well. Gonna cost you 2 silver per person.
Yet again Fernus doesn't seem to stand ut, this time it's not because of his size, his voice has become sore through the shouting he tried earlier that day.
As Fernus plops down unsuccessfully getting any attention Phooka flaps over to him in raven form and then changes to fae form.
How are you doing friend? obviously worried if there are lingering effects from that whole being dead thing...
Should we check out some of these things first or go to see the Rangers? They seem to be the peacekeeping force of this area.
Maybe they already have already addressed some of these rumors? I will follow where the rest of you lead.
Been some weird lights across the lake in the Shimmerglens lately. They don't show up all the time, but now and then you can see them in the early dawn hours, mavin' around like they was a bunch of people over there carryin' around lanterns and dancin' and stuff. Place is haunted, I tells ya!
The dam up north, between the Storval Deep and Skull River, is haunted by all of those who have drowned hereabouts. The skulls carved on the dam let the ghosts watch you when you approach!
No one believes me, but that leader of the Black Arrows- Bayden's his name, I think-he's got something going on over across the lake. I seen him com in' and gain' from Whitewillow, and so's my friends. I 'm pretty sure he's up to no good. Nothing friendly lives in swamps, after all!
People been disappearin' lately. And not just them who's been going into the deep woods. I 'm talkin' fishermen, travelers, people just out on the roads. My money's on them Grauls - that family's got ogre blood in them, and once you get ogre blood in you ... you just ain't right!
Unalaq learns that the recent rains have been heavier and causing animals to become restless, lots of cougars and bears around the edges of the town of late. Not coming in but restless. He also learns that a patrol was sent to the fort but that it never returned.
Heard a few months ago, before all these rains started, that some of the hunters who brave the Valley of Broken Trees for boar found a bunch of enormous footprints. Giant-sized footprints! It's bad enough we've got ogres, but if a giant's moved into the valley, I sure hope the Black Arrows take care of it soon!
So we've got giants and ogres and bears, oh my!
Darin will look at Phooka with a raised eyebrow before it (Darin respects Phooka's privacy so he's not checking for gender) flies off.
Actually very, very few clerics of Cayden Cailean are drunks - we actually have a good number of support groups to help people who have problems controlling their drinking. Here, take this pamphlet.
Darin produces a pamphlet that's titled "Sobriety and You: How to Stay Away from the Demon Alcohol".
"I'm fine... I guess... It still feels strange, like waking up from a nightmare. It also felt like I met familiar people after that initial shock and horror. Val being one of them actually. But before I joined them to reminisce, they said goodbye and I fell into a dream yet again. I'm not sure what those dreams were about but I heard strange voices, strange languages like I could understand them, but haven't heard either before."