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Hornietelle is rather picky, when finding a place to stay, looking for the cleanest and softest hay. She eventually goes to sleep and dreams of her parents home, with the four poster bed, that was as soft as floating on air. Instead her dream is interrupted by the occasional little prick of a hay stalk digging into her skin.
Eating her breakfast as Mimi gives her report to Smine, she let's her get on with it, half listening, before she is jerked back to reality by the knock on the door. She looks up from her bread and honey.
"Nothing to report?" Smine asks, rising to meet his guests - gnomes dressed in artisan's outfit carrying funny shaped metal tools.
"I'll be on way then"
Leaving you all alone in his empty room.
On his way out, Smine takes the note and stuffs it into a pocket "I'll read this later" and surrounded by industrious looking gnomes, takes his leave.
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Mimi is a little surprised by Smine's lack of interest in their findings. Had he not explicitly urged them to report back to him if they discovered anything? How odd. Perhaps their little mission was no longer of much importance in the grand scheme of things.
When Hornietelle mentions their options, Mimi thinks, "Pavo Crispins? Why does that name sound familiar?" Mimi takes a second to think back . "Ah, yes. You mean de old Pathfinder dat found a wafe among de villagers? You teenk 'ees descendants might know sometheeng of 'eem and vat 'appened to Kerinha Napsunar?"
Mimi thinks about it. "Bof! Maybe you are right. Eet cannot 'urt to ask around. Also, eet seems dat notheeng veree revolutionaree veell be 'appeneeng before sundown, so perhaps ve 'ave time to varn de keeng if ve feel like eet, dough I'm not entirelee sûr vhy ve need eenvolve ourselves een dees matter any further."
Brimley @ ??
Clem @ ??
Duncan @ ??
Hornietelle @ Gather Information about Pavo Crispins (Diplomacy)
Mimi @ Gather Information about Pavo Crispins (Diplomacy)
Valdris @ ??
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"I'll try the temple, if they are an old family from hereabouts, they maybe known there." Hornietelle says as she smooths her clothes ready for the day ahead. She sweeps a brush through her long hair golden and red speckled hair, putting it tidily in place, for maximum effect. "I guess Mimi, you're best suited to the taverns, we meet back here in an hour?"
Brimley @ Gather Information about Pavo Crispins (Diplomacy)
Clem @ ??
Duncan @ Gather Information about Pavo Crispins (Diplomacy)
Hornietelle @ Gather Information about Pavo Crispins (Diplomacy)
Mimi @ Gather Information about Pavo Crispins (Diplomacy)
Valdris @ ??
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Mimi perks up a little at the idea of some carousing. Having worked so late into the night, with barely a sip of wine to sustain her before things got tense with the rebels, she could use a drink. "As exciteeng as a trip to de temple sounds, madame, I teenk you are correct. A brief visit to some of de local tavernes may prove more rewardeeng." "...for me if no one else."
Before hitting the taverns and asking about the Crispins, she ducks into one of the local smithies and asks the blacksmith what it would take to move the potency rune from the shortsword they found in the old lodge to her rapier. If the blacksmith can deal with it while she's trawling the taverns for information, then she leaves both weapons with them and returns to pick them up before heading back to the River Steed Inn to report.
Valdris decides to tag along with Hornietelle in case there are any documents or other items of historical interest that he can help deal with.
Where did Clem get off to!?...
Whatever, after two hours of canvasing, Hornietelle and Valdris return from the temple, Mimi, Brimley, and Duncan - our three musketeers? - return from the pub, both corroborating the other on the whereabouts of the desendents of the Crispin lineage, who it turns out, live in a small farm house just over the way...
You manage to locate the Waterworks... what is your plan?
...The sun begins to cross over it's highest point in the sky as our heroes decide what to do with this information...
...
...
Brimley @ Gather Information about Pavo Crispins (Diplomacy)
Clem @ Wander off in search of the Waterworks
Duncan @ Gather Information about Pavo Crispins (Diplomacy)
Hornietelle @ Gather Information about Pavo Crispins (Diplomacy)
Mimi @ Gather Information about Pavo Crispins (Diplomacy)
Valdris @ Gather Information about Pavo Crispins (Diplomacy)
Brimley @ ??
Clem @ ??
Duncan @ ??
Hornietelle @ ??
Mimi @ Locate Blacksmith ??
Valdris @ ??
...
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After reporting in, Mimi heads to the barn and collects the pile of loot she'd dropped there the night before. "I'll be damned if I carried all this junk back here for no reason."
On the way to the Crispin farm, Mimi makes a detour to the nearest weaponsmith to sell off the weapons and to see about getting the potency rune moved to her rapier. She waves off the others with a "Go ahead to meet vith de Crispins. I veell catch up ven I am don 'ere."
Brimley @ to the Crispins!
Clem @ ??
Duncan @ ??
Hornietelle @ to the Crispins!
Mimi @ to the Blacksmith!
Valdris @ ??
Brimley @ to the Crispins!
Clem @ ??
Duncan @ to the Crispins!
Hornietelle @ to the Crispins!
Mimi @ to the Blacksmith!
Valdris @ ??
As Valdris's interest in weaponry and vagabondage is quite minimal, he decides to tag along with the main group for a visit to the Crispin farm.
The house is a quite narrow three-story house in the better part of Artume, though it looks a bit timeworn. Brimley or Duncan or Hornietelle or Valdris knock on the door; a few moments pass. "Hold on" someone yells from inside. A few more moments pass. Then the door slowly opens, and a human woman of middle age speaks "Names and business" she speaks matter-of-factly and looks a little surprised at the size of your group here...
From your recon at the pub you know the descendent is a half-elven woman named Aula Crispin who stopped going to the pub years ago.
From your recon at the pub you know the descendent is a woman named Aula Crispin who started growing her own berries for wine.
From your recon at the temple you know the descendent is an elderly woman named Aula Crispin who hasn't been to church in a long time.
...
Slowed by the bulk of her intended barter, Mimi makes her way across the other side of town and comes upon the Smithy. The sound of clanging metal audible on her approach, smoke billows out from a thin chimey, and upon first glance, nobody appears to be at the "shop-side" front of the building...
How much would it cost to transfer a Rune?
What is the combined value of the items you have brought?
...
Clem pan handles outside for a couple hours. Workers buzz in and out - a majority mix of humans and gnomes, but a few other races too - all wearing aprons and carrying strange tools...
...
The sun crosses the sky as the day folds into mid-afternoon and...
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Mimi walks into the smithy with her arms full and once she gets the weaponsmith's attention, drops all the weaponry she's carrying onto a table for them to see. "'Ello my good person, my neme ees Mimi de Valence. I 'ave 'erd dat you are de best veaponsmith een de city and so I 'ave come to offer you a business transaction."
She points to the pile she just dropped on his table. "I 'ave brought vith me a variété of armements dat I no longer 'ave a need for. As you can see, dey are een excellente condition. I vas vondereeng vat vould you be villeeng to pay me for such matériel?"
She let's the smith peruse her wares for a few seconds. "As you can see, dees particular shortsword 'ere 'as a potency rune dat I veesh transferred to my rapière." She taps the hilt at her waist to indicate the weapon in question. "I am een a bit of an 'urry and cannot do vithout my rapière. So de rune transfer must take plece immediatelee, vile I vait. You may take de cost of de rune transfer from vat you veell remunerate me for de rest."
Mimi beams the smithy a big smile.
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Ms. Aula Crispin? I, am Duncan Veritan. These are my companions Hornietelle, Brimley, and Valdris. How is your wine crop coming? We were hoping you could enlighten us on some historical matters. We're looking into Kerinha Napsunar. The records we've found indicated your family had been companions of hers when she lived in the region.
"Let me fetch the missus" the majordomo replies, blushing a bit at the swashbuckler's charm "Do come in and make yourselves at home"
Stepping into their modest but well-maintained home, the PCs spy in the welcoming area several large paintings depicting men riding on horses carrying wayfinders; one with rapier in hand and wide-brimmed hat decorated with feathers; another holding a crossbow and with an eagle on his shoulder; another cloaked in robes with a stone swirling about his head holding onto a scrollcase; a fourth bedecked in the robes and armor of the church and wielding a morningstar...
...suddenly, coming careening down the hall, a child of perhaps years of age nearly crashes into the room wielding a wooden stick, and, pointing it at Brimley yells out ...
"Haint herda yeh" comes a yell from behind a wooden door inside the workshop in the back, accompanied by some more clanging sounds. Whoever it is doesn't seem ready to cease their working, seemingly content to yell "Busy day, aye" comes the voice as the clanging continues.
Blocked by the wall, Mimi's charming smile seems unable to work it's typical magic unless she can make her case...
What is the cost to transfer a rune?
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By the time she gets to the smithy, Mimi is thoroughly sick and tired of carrying all that weaponry. After dropping it onto the counter, she swears to herself that no matter what happens, she isn't picking them up ever again.
When the blacksmith yells at her through the door and refuses to come out, Mimi seriously considers turning and walking away, happily abandoning the cursed weapons where they lie. But she cannot in good conscience abandon the group's loot without at least giving it the old college try. She walks over to the door and tries to open it.
"Good to finallee meet you een person my dear blacksmith, my neme ees Mimi de Valence. I 'ave 'erd dat you are de best veaponsmith een de city and so I 'ave come to offer you a business transaction." She points to the pile she just dropped on his table. "I 'ave brought vith me a variété of armements dat I no longer 'ave a need for. As you can see, dey are een excellente condition. I vas vondereeng vat vould you be villeeng to pay me for such matériel?"
She let's the smith peruse her wares for a few seconds. "As you can see, dees particular shortsword 'ere 'as a potency rune dat I veesh transferred to my rapière." She taps the hilt at her waist to indicate the weapon in question. "I am een a bit of an 'urry and cannot do vithout my rapière. So de rune transfer must take plece immediatelee, vile I vait. You may take de cost of de rune transfer from vat you veell remunerate me for de rest."
Mimi beams the smithy a big smile.
When the blacksmith informs Mimi that transferring the rune cannot be done in less that a day, she looks a little disappointed. Realizing that there is no way to speed things up, she shrugs. "'Ow unfortunate. Veree vell den; pleeze eenclude de rune een your quote."
Once they step into the welcoming area, Valdris is immediately drawn to the paintings of the wayfinder carrying horsemen. "How intriguing!" In fact, he is so engrossed in studying the details of the paintings that he doesn't even notice the appearance of the loud child and his wooden stick.
The child fights off Brimley's soap, knocking it out of his hand as the rogue lets him "You're dead now!" he joyfully declares, and whirling, starts at Duncan's trick, exploding with startled laughter at the reveal, screaming, and running back down the hallway - dashing between Hornietelle's legs - fleeing the scene...
...and nearly crashing into an elderly woman who makes her way the party's direction. The woman stops, and scolds the child, who with some dejection, retreats back into the manner with a lower energy, but now before saying , skipping instead of running.
"Yes, Grandmother"
The woman comes up to those gathered "Aula Berthaneld Gloriana Crispin" she starts "But you can call me Aula" she winks at Brimley "And what could a group of fine young pathfinders want with an old woman like me?"
...
"I am terriblee sorree for disturbeeng you my dear blacksmith, but I 'ave a busin-..."
Before Mimi can fully complete her sentence - even as she invites herself into the nether region of his shop! - amid the sound of clanging, he yells back "Sorry Indeed! Be plain and state your busin-"
But before his sentence is finished, Mimi can observe him plainly, laboring over an anvil and a hot fire, and he spins on her, pointing a hot metal poker menacingly "How dare you enter my workspace!" and begins chasing her out with it!
Mimi get's the sense that she either has to explain who she is and why she is here - beyond the mere transaction - to get his attention sufficiently enough to make her case...
I am returning your hero point to you.
...
Clem camps outside the Waterworks for hours, watching the comings and goings, and is asked to "please relocate himself" at least times in the interim.
...
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Mimi is sorely tempted to take out her rapier and show the disrepectful blacksmith exactly what she thinks of the way he treats his customers, but she suspects that running three feet of steel through the man's chest was unlikely to improve the odds of a successful deal.
Instead, Mimi sucks in her pride and raises her hands in alarm as she quickly back-pedals out the door she came through and back into the front room. In a pleading voice, she says, "I am terriblee sorree monsieur blacksmith. I meant no deesrespect. Eet ees juste dat as you deed not come out to see me, I tought you meant for me to come to you. Pleeze forgeeve my inexcusebel breach of your eenner sanctum."
Regaining her composure, Mimi continues. "As I vas sayeeng. I am Mimi de Valence recently of Gralton and I am een Artume vith a group of my fellow Pathfinders to investigate a matter of importance to de Society. On de vay back to town last night ve vere attacked by a gang of bandeets and after a pitched battel, ve defeated dem."
Then using her hand to indicate the weaponry she brought with her, she adds "Deez items belonged to de bandits and seence eet seemed a vaste to leeve dem behind, I brought dem 'ere eenstead. My teenkeeng vas dat you vould be ebel to find someone else dat could make use of dem. As you can see dey are een excellente condition."
Her voice changes tone as if she's discussing a totally different subject. "Eet 'as become apparent to us dat dere ees some dissatisfaction een certain quarters vith de vay de current sovereign ees ruleeng Artume, and dat some 'ave decided to take teengs eento deir own 'ands and change de situation by force of arms. So you can see my concern den at leaveeng deez perfectlee usebel veapons lyeeng about for juste anyone to pick up and use... I am sûr you know vat I mean." She finishes by raising her eyebrow at the blacksmith in a knowing manner.
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Duncan chuckles,
Your grandson looks to have a promising future as a swordsman. Perhaps he can join the Swords when he's a bit older.
We're here to research the lodge the once stood nearby and its founder, Kerinha Napsunar. What records we have been able to piece together mention your family as part of the lodge. We were hoping you could shed some more light on matters.
"Ah yes, taking after his grandfather I suspect" she enjoys the compliment to the youth vicariously.
"Napsunar..." the name seems to ring a bell "That does sound familiar" you can tell she is still working her memory when she asks "Tell me please. What sort of research are you engaged in?"
"And what did you say your name was?"