dismemberment... odd, i'd like to see these body pieces. could give clues about this. typically you can tell the difference between animal attacks, murderers or other odd creatures by how the pieces look
"You've got a point. I wish Thorn was here to help," said the Sheriff, "He knows the local wildlife better than anyone, just about, I guess."
The half-elf sheriff looks over the half-elf Scipio and says, "Perhaps between the two of us we could figure something out."
The halfling Harg says to the sheriff, "Tell me what you find. First."
He nods to Gimble with a look that says, "I'm watching you." and heads back to what looks like the courthouse.
"See, Sheriff, I told you our group was multi-talented and eager. I hesitate to bring up such a sensitive topic while we've been discussing just what we can do for you, but I've found it best to clear the air so there's no mistakes later. You, and by you I mean the town of course, are ready and willing to pay for our expert problem solving and investigatory skills, right? And grant us the authority to ask questions and look around. Obviously, we're not going to be going around arresting folks and kicking in doors, but just a little say-so that we're working on your behalf would go a long way. And the coin, of course, that would help quite nicely as well. "
Gimble maintains a very servile and eager manner while speaking, not grinning like the Cheshire Cat or staring the sheriff down.
"See, Sheriff, I told you our group was multi-talented and eager. I hesitate to bring up such a sensitive topic while we've been discussing just what we can do for you, but I've found it best to clear the air so there's no mistakes later. You, and by you I mean the town of course, are ready and willing to pay for our expert problem solving and investigatory skills, right? And grant us the authority to ask questions and look around. Obviously, we're not going to be going around arresting folks and kicking in doors, but just a little say-so that we're working on your behalf would go a long way. And the coin, of course, that would help quite nicely as well. "
Gimble maintains a very servile and eager manner while speaking, not grinning like the Cheshire Cat or staring the sheriff down.
"Well, hold on now. I said there was a body on the road. I haven't said there was a murder. I'm not quite ready to deputize a posse yet, but you'll get honest pay for an honest day's work, if that's what you're asking."
Someone walks by and has a coughing spasm in front of the sheriff. He wipes spittle off of his vest and adds, "Now, if you're saying you can solve our little problem with blackscour, yes, I think I could find some coin for that."
Perhaps, but first the current situations sheriff. Also, this Thorn, who is he? if he's useful we might speak with him
"He's a local hunter." says the Sheriff to Scipio, "He knows the Woods better than most and would certainly be able to tell what was at this body, man or beast or a bit of both."
-----
On the other side of Falcon's Hollow, the man extends his hand to Trom, "Name's Thorn anyways. I've got something to see to today, but ... if you're going to pursue this THING any further, I'd like to know what you find. I've got some investigating of my own to do, and I think we might be after the same thing."
The chubby blond boy Trom saw near the Sitting Duck passes down the street nearby, obviously watching Thorn nervously, and Thorn makes a low growl at him. The kid jumps a foot to the left and Thorn turns back to Trom smiling.
"Boss Kreed's kid," says Thorn. He rolls up his sleeves revealing the hairiest arms Trom's seen on a human (although not on a dwarf), "He's scared of me for some reason."
With that, Thorn turns and continues on towards the gate out of town.
Meanwhile, at Roots and Remedies, a customer leaves Laurel's tiny shop with three things that Laurel said "might work" but which Hendrina knows won't work. She suspects Laurel knows this too, but might have been impressed by how much Laurel was able to charge for those herbs.
Laurel senses Hendrina's research has gotten somewhere. "Did you find something?" Another customer enters, the fifteenth in an hour. She looks at Hendrina, pleadingly, "Something? Anything? Eventually they're going to find out that none of what I'm selling them works and will want something that does."
"Swing by Jak'a'napes for a drink after your walk and ask for Trom," Trom says before Thorn walks away. "I'd like to hear about what you see out in the woods. T'would be something worth discussing over a pint or two."
Turning, Trom walks past Boss Kreed's kid on his way to Laurel's. "Takes a brave man to talk these woods alone, wouldn't ye say? A man has to have that sort o' courage when something could jump out at him like that," Trom emphasizes the word that and snaps his fingers as a little spark of electricity pops, "and catch him by surprise." With a cheery smile and a whistle, Trom continues on his way to Laurel's shop, hoping to meet up with his companions there.
Hennie perseverates over the two entries that seem to have dates, rather old dates, attached to them for a few minutes. But not knowing what they mean seems less important than what she's found.
She takes the books to Laurel and shows her. "I have something! Blackscour comes from a fungus, it's called 'Devil's Footprints', two different names for one thing. There is a recipe for making the symptoms less dangerous in here. Do you have elderwood moss, pickled rat's tail, and ironbloom mushrooms? Those are the ingredients."
"Right you are, sheriff. If we find evidence of foul play or such, we'll be sure to bring it right to you, first thing. Thanks for the opportunity, you won't regret it!"
Gimble turns to Scipio and takes him by the sleeve, as if to escort him away from prying ears.
"Okay great, now we're on the watch from the town's law, we just gotta start finding some baddies to turn in and get on their good side. Easy peasy, right? Oh yeah, and I'm sure the ladies and Trom are gonna turn up some kinda fix for this illness thing. For sure. Speaking of which, why don't we find everyone, tell them about the dead fella we're supposed to check out, and go from there?"
Gimble casts about for Odd'n, since he's the one most likely to stand out in a crowd, before heading towards the apothecary.
Hennie perseverates over the two entries that seem to have dates, rather old dates, attached to them for a few minutes. But not knowing what they mean seems less important than what she's found.
She takes the books to Laurel and shows her. "I have something! Blackscour comes from a fungus, it's called 'Devil's Footprints', two different names for one thing. There is a recipe for making the symptoms less dangerous in here. Do you have elderwood moss, pickled rat's tail, and ironbloom mushrooms? Those are the ingredients."
Laurel begins to examine what Hendrina has found and has a look that says she's prepared to be disappointed but begins to look excited, "You DO have something! Rat's tail is a herb ... pickled. Hmm. There's only one person I know who would have that. Elderwood moss I know where that grows ... on the older trees ... the really old darkwood trees ... there should be a few of them left. Ironbloom mushrooms .... I wonder where we could get those? Oh, this is fantastic!"
"Right you are, sheriff. If we find evidence of foul play or such, we'll be sure to bring it right to you, first thing. Thanks for the opportunity, you won't regret it!"
Gimble turns to Scipio and takes him by the sleeve, as if to escort him away from prying ears.
"Okay great, now we're on the watch from the town's law, we just gotta start finding some baddies to turn in and get on their good side. Easy peasy, right? Oh yeah, and I'm sure the ladies and Trom are gonna turn up some kinda fix for this illness thing. For sure. Speaking of which, why don't we find everyone, tell them about the dead fella we're supposed to check out, and go from there?"
Gimble casts about for Odd'n, since he's the one most likely to stand out in a crowd, before heading towards the apothecary.
Gimble sees Odd'n and Liv near Roots and Remedies. Trom is approaching from the other direction.
he follows as he's pulled Speaking of the illness, i've been thinking and i have a theory about this whole mess Gimble. i've given this thought and i think i'm onto something interesting. He pauses to compose his words briefly, once the group gathers This whole mess, might be caused by fey. With the logging, that would anger things that live in the forest. Nothing being taken rules out bandits, So it's something that doesn't care for valuables. Disease could likely be controlled by them in some way as well, being natural and all... Of course, that's just my theory considering the information we have at hand
After coming inside and ensuring that there aren't any prying ears, Trom shares some of the details of his conversation with Thorn with his companions.
When Liv, Odd'n, Scipio, Gimble, and Trom enter the shop, there are some objections from the coughing customers outside who are still waiting for their turn at a consultation, but they soon realize that Laurel is welcoming you in.
Hendrina is already inside. Laurel encourages everyone to gather around the notes Hendrina found.
After coming inside and ensuring that there aren't any prying ears, Trom shares some of the details of his conversation with Thorn with his companions.
Odd'n remains beside Liv on his rear, the information being shared going in one ear and, unfortunately, out the other. Reaching into his pack, Odd'n pulls out the stone from the dead man they came across a day earlier and offers it to the gathered group.
Livlena greets the other travelers as they congregate at the herbalist's shop. "Good to see some folks who aren't coughing their lungs out," she jokes quietly. "I counted fifteen blackscour victims coming here looking for a cure before you folks arrived. Hennie's been hard at work while I've been keeping an eye out for trouble. None spotted, save for all the sick people."
After the things she knows have been talked through with Laurel, Hennie brings up the part she doesn't understand. "Something else is included, but I don't know what it might refer to."
Hennie shows Laurel the entry: "devil's footprints in Darkmoon V. Tawateras 4644; Nasojerica 4655"
"The numbers are probably dates. 'Tawateras' and 'Nasolerica' seem like they might be names. Do you recognize anything special about the dates, or know what the names might refer to? How far back does you family go in this area? Could they be relatives? Also is there some kind of public records archive in Falcon's Hollow? I might be able to find something there if these reference an important event."
After the things she knows have been talked through with Laurel, Hennie brings up the part she doesn't understand. "Something else is included, but I don't know what it might refer to."
Hennie shows Laurel the entry: "devil's footprints in Darkmoon V. Tawateras 4644; Nasojerica 4655"
[b]"The numbers are probably dates. 'Tawateras' and 'Nasolerica' seem like they might be names. Do you recognize anything special about the dates, or know what the names might refer to? How far back does you family go in this area? Could they be relatives? Also is there some kind of public records archive in Falcon's Hollow? I might be able to find something there if these reference an important event."[/b]
"My grandmother worked as a herbalist in the Vale but my mother lived in Almas with her husband. I moved back here after ... well, after something I wanted to work out didn't work out. And then my grandmother died but I only learnt half of what she taught me which is a third of what she knew ...."
Trom listens carefully, reviewing his past studies in his mind to see if anything that Hendrina said jumps out at him.
Hennie also adds for Laurel's and anyone else's consideration I've read ironbloom mushrooms are often grown by dwarves, and especially at places for metalworking, although I don't know why. Are there any places like that nearby?"
... grown by dwarves, and especially at places for metalworking, ... Are there any places like that nearby?"[/b]
That's some historical knowledge that Trom has.
Trom knows that there was a dwarven monastery north of Falcon's Hollow that came to be called Droskar’s Crucible. It has a dark history as these dwarves were found to be unworthy of Torag and banished from kinship with those of his forge when some began to worship Droskar, the dwarvish god of endless toil and self-subjugation. This is the same Droskar that 'Droskar's Crag' is named after. The whole Darkmoon Woods is in the shadow of the mountain called Droskar's Crag.
Hennie also adds for Laurel's and anyone else's consideration I've read ironbloom mushrooms are often grown by dwarves, and especially at places for metalworking, although I don't know why.
"Oh, that's easy. It's because they're short and stunty like dwarves. I did learn that much from my grandmother. 'Like-attracts-like' is the first law of the science of herbology," Laurel explains proudly.
Trom strokes his beard thoughtfully. "There's an old monastery-or at least, there used to be-that my people set up. I say my people, but them times, the dwarves that set up Droskar's Crucible were banished from kinship with those of Torag's worshipers when they began taking after Droskar, the same that the crag is named after. Chances are we'd find a good crop o' those mushrooms up around the forge there, and such a place would have an attraction for those of less than virtuous endeavors."
Knocking his rock back and forth between his legs, Odd'n perks up at hearing the word 'mushroom'.
Realizing he finally knows something the others may not he snatches up the stone, jams it in his pack, and practically jumps from where he is sitting and lands damn near on top of the frailer side of the mirror.
"YOU CAN EAT MUSHROOMS!" Odd'n bellows, interrupting more intelligent thoughts and conversation.
Laurel seems to realized she referred to dwarves as being "short and stunty" while Trom was right there and quietly adds "...not that there's anything wrong with being stunty, mind you."
"YOU CAN EAT MUSHROOMS!" Odd'n bellows, interrupting more intelligent thoughts and conversation.
"Oh, dear," says Laurel, concerned and startled, "You can eat SOME mushrooms, dear. Can you promise me you will show any mushrooms you find to a competent adult before you taste them?"
To dim to catch on to the suggestion he is a man-child, Odd'n sternly nods to Laurel.
Addressing the rest of the group; "Well, shall we be off? Trom's peoples moan-ah-stry sounds as good place as any to find these mushrooms.."
"No worries, lass, there's nothing wrong with being tall and spindly either," Trom chuckles.
After listening to Odd'n, Trom offers up a suggestion. "It would do us as good to investigate the monastery as much as it would anywhere else, but we'd best make sure we have supplies for the journey and know how far we're to go."
"Yes! We should go find the mushrooms with all haste! Where is this place? Can we get there and back in a day?"
"Wow! Would you really be able to do that? These woods are dangerous?" asks Laurel.
"It's a good day's journey to those old ruins, but that's only if you head straight across the woods. You'd probably have to camp north of the woods and return the next day ..."
"The other herbs -- the 'rat's tail' and 'eldermoss' -- I'd need help getting those too. I think the old with Ulizmila would have the 'rat's tail.' It's a common ingredient in the kind of things she would brew up, but it would take me a week to pickle some. She hasn't been seen in town in years, but she has a hut up near the monastery, and there's an ancient darkwood tree near there too, which might have some eldermoss."
Laurel is talking all excitedly and then she realizes how much she is asking of you.
"Look, if I drew you a map and you get these things, you'll save lives and ... well, you'll save my livelihood. People are counting on me and I will be able to sell the medicine. I'll give you 30 gold sails each if you can get those medicines."
Livlena seems amenable to the quest but waits for Hennie to actually say so.
"A dangerous trek into the wilderness to find strange plants and probably people who want us dead? And you'll pay us? I'm in. For sure, lets go!"
Gimble is nearly shaking with intense excitement about getting out and adventuring again.
Trom chuckles to himself and rubs his hands together. "Then a drink is needed before we leave, to celebrate good company and hope for safe returns."
Trom chuckles to himself and rubs his hands together. "Then a drink is needed before we leave, to celebrate good company and hope for safe returns."
As much as i like the idea, perhaps it's best to get an early move on, we can use my carriage. People are getting sick after all Scipio readies his things, cart included
Odd'n cracks a wide grin, making it obvious to all that a ride in a carriage is a treat to the man, and moves to help Scipio load their gear.
Trom looks thoughtful for a moment. "Lass," he says, to Laurel, "As it looks like we're heading out rather soon, could ye get a message to the man Thorn for me if he appears in town? Just so he doesn't think I dodged out on our plan for drinks."
"Of course we'll go, right away!'
"The forest is dangerous? Why?" Hennie narrows her eyes and strokes her chin for a second. "I guess I should go fetch that spear then."
Hennie hadn't bothered to bring it with her from the inn. It's such a cumbersome bother to carry around. She hustles back to the inn and returns with her spear as quickly as her legs will carry her.
When her sister returns bearing her spear, Livlena smiles and comments, "Our different weapons are a good way to tell us apart. Hennie wields that oversized pig-sticker while I use this lovely bacon-slicer!" She twirls her bardiche around skillfully.
"Ready to head out if everyone else is."
Laurel is so delighted at the possibility of being able to help the people with blackscour, although she happily admits she will also be able to make a "very slight" profit doing so. She leaves and returns with a basket in which a roast duck is cooling.
"The Sitting Duck only serves one dish but you won't ever want another," she says handing you the basket.
She turns to Trom and says, "I left your message with Billibinious and, just to be safe, I left is with Charish, the bartender, as well."
As you step out into the sunshine--the shadow of the mountain has not yet fallen on the town--you see a few people looking at you with some expectations now. Laurel must have said something when she left to get the duck, because people suddenly seem like you might matter a bit.
The kids are back, goofing around, as they have been most of the times you've been on the streets. A gaggle of about 10 kids, mostly scruffy. Boss Kreed's kid is there and when he sees Trom he cowers behind a tough looking girl in pants with suspenders. She breaks off and strides up to Trom and says, "Can I see?" snapping her fingers the way he had earlier in front of Jurin Kreed.
"Scipio, lad, I like the way you think. Comfort is important, and loot carrying capacity even better. I dont think a wagon will work to ggt through these woods, though. Maybe a donkey or pony with a sled, or something we rig up out of fallen trees, but a real wagon won't make it in, I bet."
Gimble appears perfectly hally and ready to travel, backpack strapped up and gear all sorted.
"Can ye see?" Trom asks, looking a little confused. Spotting Jurin, the dwarf realizes what's happening. "Oh, aye, ye can see, but only if ye can speak the magic words." Muttering the incantation, Trom waves his hand, then snaps his fingers, once again allowing the energy to flow to his hand. Electricity dances between his fingertips before Trom closes his fist. "With the right studying, you can do that someday too."
With a pleasant smile, Trom turns to catch up with his companions and get ready for the trip.
Perhaps your right, i've had Frost for a few years. i'd hate to lose her. Leaving the cart then, but i'm bringing my horse. if we can rig up something along the way that should work. We can use the cart for other things, Frost is war trained so she'll be quite a bit of use i imagine
"Livlena makes me carry it" Hennie grumbles, looking up at the big spear. "She says it's best I don't get too close to people if there's a fight since that's her job. It's very heavy though..."
Before heading out, Liv buys 4 days' worth of trail rations. "Should be plenty, right?" she asks her sister. Making sure that Scipio is within earshot, she adds, "We can always eat the horse if we get desperate enough."
Hennie nods in agreement. "Horse is quite good!"
Oh yes, threaten to eat my best friend. You're oh so kind. Scipio responds with a hint of sarcasm besides, i'm not certain you could best her in combat in order to even attempt to eat her He's very clearly offended by the notion. He glares angrily before making his way down the trail, not caring if they get left behind or not, mumbling People in danger, sick and dying and you two morons make jokes about eating other peoples pets...Absolutely disgusting behavior