Stergan Rus:
The rain continues for the rest of the day and the darkness has already claimed the jungle as the last drops fall down. It takes a bit of time until the fauna awakens from the drenching it has taken for the last few hours, but it does not take long for the birds and monkeys to fill the air with their screams and shouting, only for the din to fall completely silent from one moment to another.
DM Ollibolli:
Stergan looks around to make out the source of the silence, when he hears voices, and not those of his thought inside his head. Not understanding a word but making out that the voices belong to someone speaking orcish, he decides that he is better off staying on the tree, if not climbing further up.
Cauldron:
Looking up to the sergeant Seynor answerd him. "I'm mainly here for myself but should I learn learn something from you, that I think they should know, then I will tell it to my superiors."
Caravan
Eager for all information about Cauldron, Dari sucks in the words of the Krew.
'The Drunken Morkat sounds good, but I'm not sure how long I've to stay and then it could be a little bit too expensive. On the other side I think, I could get more information from the temples with its ancient documents and history. Perheps a visit at St. Cuthburt will help for the beginning', Dari is planning.
Stergan Rus:
The sounds of the orcs walking through the jungle move further away, until silence falls again in the the darkness under the canopy of the giant trees. It takes only a short while until the din of the monkeys and birds begins again.
After a short while the monkeys spot you in one of their trees and begin to pelt you with fruit, some ripe, some already rotten.
Seynor Hillclimber:
The sergeant looks down on you and shouts: "Piet!" A small child not older than twelve comes running out of a room adjacent to the main entrance and comes barely to a stop before the elevated counter of the sergeant. "Yes? What's Up? How can I help? Piet to the rescue..." A stern frown on the brows of the elder town guard. "Echem... Yes, Sergeant?" Piet is a gangly lad, his white blond hair, his long face and his clear intelligent blue eyes make it clear to you, that his last name must be Skellerang. "Please, bring this cleric to the leader of our Vanishing Investigations." "Vanishing Investigations? Thass a good one... hihihi." Another stern frown... "Echem... Yes, Sergeant!" Piet looks to you with eager interest in his eyes. "Come on, follow me." And with a high speed he launches up the stairs, until the seargeant clears his throat loudly. Piet stops, looks back shrugs his shoulders and waits for you to follow him up the stairs. He now walks with a slower pace.
Up on the gallery he waits a moment, until the grizzled sergeant is occupied by something else. "What brings you here? Has another one vanished? Have you seen someone taking them in the night?"
DM Ollibolli:
Nice. Thanks. Now I don't have to search food myself. Stergan thinks, while getting the fruits thrown at him.
After he ate some of the fruits that weren't rotten he takes another look out for Cauldron, marks the direction in his mind, climbs down the tree and walks towards the city.
Slower now, having had some rest and some food.
The krew
" I will be heading to the temple, as there is a mission I must fulfill there"
DM
Duzi looks distressed "Jack...You know i cannot promise you that. T'would be no different than promising the honey bees will stop buzzing!" He Exclaimed, a smile coming over his face
But alas, i can promise I will cut-back on cut-pursing.."He paused for a moment to laugh at his own play on words. "I suppose all this about my parents is simple curiosity...Being this my birthday and all they weigh on my mind. But even moreso than that, the dissapearance of _____ weighs on my mind. Tell me Jack, you were once a great adventurer, you had to solve mysteries...Where do I start?"
OOC: Olli, are you waiting for some action or reaction taking place in the caravan?
The krew
Sitting mostly to herself, deep in though, Hanathan decides to get to know the people around her
"I have never been far from the city." She says to no one. "Oh , I have been on a few short trips mostly to the outlining villages, but never this far. Have any of you been to cauldron? "
Not really sure what to say she slips into silence
Carawan
Krew
Looking to Dari, ' I do not know how long I shall be in the city, As long as the Arch-paladin needs me there I suppose. I would not Mind looking at some of the city's temples, I have duty to attend but learning about a goodly faith and there works is worth the time spent doing so."
Caravan:
Lindwicket perks up when he hears the blonde mention she'll be staying in Cauldron. "Ahh well now! Will you be lodging at the temple or looking for a place in the city. As it happens my cousin runs one of the cleanest and most secure inns to be found in Cauldron." With a wink for Daria he adds, "Rooms for all sizes of course."
Lindwicket:
What you know about the headpriest of St. Cuthbert is that Sarcem Delasharn is a fearful dodger, but his stand-in is a young woman called Jenya Urekas and she has a good bearing of what goes on in the world and has an open mind (something found rarely in the ranks of the god of retribution and justice). You also know, that the paladin of the church Alek Tercival is a childhood friend of Jenya and you saw him ride by a few minutes ago accompanying the head priest to Sasserine and perhaps beyond...?
Stergan Rus:
About thirty minutes later the monkeys and birds go silent again.
Manduzi Steelsong:
"Hm... the first thing in solving such a secret is to find the common element. If you find out, what all had in common, you will be a big step closer as to find out who was responisble." says Hookface Jack after a little pondering. And the dwarf also nods: "Aye. That sounds like a good plan."
Caravan:
DM:
Stergan Rus:
DM
The krew
DM
Manduzi Steelsong:
"If you don't know, who has been abducted, try to get this information first. Either contact a local news outlet or the town guard itself." says Tyro Amberhelm to you. Hookface Jack only nods. "Just what I was going to say. Not necessarily with those words, but you got the gist right."
Carawan: Lindwicket
"I'll keep this in mind", she replies to Lindwicket. But she's not sure, if she should follow his advice. The 'Nightcap' sounds good, but she lived in a temple for so many years, that she knows the habits and rituals of the monks and paladins, so that he can not tell her horror stories about that. "I think I'll decide, when we reach Cauldron and I could get some impressions of the town." On the other side, may be she can accompany Hanathan. This would have the advantage of getting in contact with the local members of the temple more easy.
Sense Motive vs Lindwickets story about Cauldron's taverns. (1d20+1=9)
DM
DM:
Lunari Lightchaser, Seynor Hillclimber:
After finding the church of Wee Jas without its apprentice cleric Seynor Lunari meets the dwarf on his way back while going to the orphanage.
Seynor tells Lunari of his "findings" at the orphanage, and of his plan to wait one or two days until taking further action. His trust in the competence of the Town Guard is very high.
Manduzi Steelsong:
You go along the streets of Cauldron to the Southern Quarter on Magma Avenue and near the Bluecrater Academy, freshly opened and given into the care of Lady Knowlern, you enter the little building hosting the press and the Voice of Freedom (TM) of Cauldron, courtesy of Oakencorn Jemedick Beerenbiddle, the author of the weekly (or whenever breaking news abound) Cauldron Herald.
"Ah, the young Master Steelsong, Manduzi, isnt it? What can I do for you? An big advertisement for your next gig, perhaps? With an introductory interview and perhaps some sample lyrics on the front page?"
The caravan:
As you are making camp for the night Maavu comes to Master Lindwicket. "I had a bit of time to think about your offer. I'd like to order about thirty small carved wooden chisels, each one on a silver chain to wear on a chain around the neck. Fifteen in a white wood like birch, ten in a red brown color like teak or mahogany and five of them in ebony. What would you ask for such a task, Master Lindwicket, and how fast would you be able to finish this order?"
The wagons are pulled in a circle around crude fireplace.
DM
DM:
"Fortunately, I bring no news of new vanishings and I have seen nothing suspicious. However, my Fosterbrother disappeared from the Orphanage a few days ago, and I would like to know what the investigations found out about that."
The caravan:
The evening goes by around the fires, until Maavu calls it a night: "I'd advise for everyone else to catch some sleep, too, tomorrow will be grueling, as we hed deeper into the jungle. And no one knows, if we are gonana get jumped by those caravan raiders. But we have some good people on the watch, always having an eye and an ear out in the darkness, eh? So, go ahead and hit the sack. See ya all on the morrow."
Manduzi Steelsong:
Oakencorn Beerenbiddle is showing a sparkle in his eyes. "That, my young friend, has the looks of GREAT story." He takes a deep breath. "I can already see a big headline coming up. But I need to know more about your young friend." He takes a deep breath "Emm.. how to phrase this with piety... he was your friend, you know? Or more? Well, you are shedding tears over the fate of a rival musician. It would make such a great headline. Young Adventurer Seeks Abducted Love!
He shakes his head, "but that would be too far into the future... Sure, I don't know all victims, that have been abducted, but certainly many of them, as I have tried to cover each case in a new issue. But this kind of news is not breaking news anymore after a dozen or so have been dragged from their homes. The orphanage was big news, though. Little children, a break-in and four victims spells BIG headline for me. But catching those guys and a first hand report of the proceedings, that'd break my distribution record from ten years ago."
The Voice of Freedom (TM) twitches his mouth. "It appears, Manduzi Steelsong, we have a deal. I will give you a list of the abducted victims that I know off and any further rumour I managed or will manage to get a hold off, and you will give me a first-hand-account of your findings before you inform the Town Watch?" The little gnome spits in his hand and offers it to you. "Let's shake on it!"
Seynor Hillclimber:
Piet looks up to you and sighs. "Well, a breakthrough in the investigation wouold have been nice. This morning's not been good, my Da's been target again by the press and he could have used any clue to catch those hoodlums. This §$%&%§ gnome from the Cauldron Herald's been making a living hell out of my father's duty, especially with this new paper coming out later."
As you approach the office of Sergeant Darren Crenshaw a large version of young Piet storms out of the room and turns around to shout into the room at the top of his lungs. "I don't want excuses. I need results. The city needs results. This and the caravan raids are undermining the security of the town. And if those §$%&%§ bozos..." he shakes a piece of paper raging over his head...".. are gonna find the culprits before we do. The doors of vigilantism are thrown wide open and we don't want this in my City. Do I make myself clear?"
You hear a very quiet "yessircrystalclear" coming out of the room. Before the answer's been finished, Captain Terseon Skellerang crumbles the sheet of paper throws it to the floor in disgust and storms off into the other direction towards his office. You hear a door slamming loudly and a bit of dust settles down from the rafters.
Piet gulps loudly, shakes his head and says, "No good timing, definitely not good timing..."
Lunari Lightchaser:
Stergan Rus:
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DM: