Lord Gelwyn Karros's page

Plan: 1) investigate market, 2) inspect wagon, 3) confront Devon.

So we're off to the fish market to look around after hours. I don't want to be cut out in the early atages, but Thain's concerns are of course valid, so I'll probably serve as a lookout while he and uncle do the actual burglarizing...

That means I'll leave the tactical details to the two of them, and follow directions for now.

"Hmm, yes...a fair point about needing to inspect everyone. You've obviously handled things like this before." <thoughtful expression>

"But if we're stopping everybody, won't word get back up the road? I don't think a roadblock is quite the thing, and I'm not sure we lose anything by being obvious. Worst case is Devon is tipped off that there was some trouble, but as long as the wagon gets through..."

"Now, on the other matter...no, I'm under no delusions that sneaking into a market building is much like sneaking out of the house when the butler isn't looking. But I intend to be part of the operation, so either things will be nice and clear and you can help me slip in, or you'll be needing someone on the outside distracting attention and covering your escape. One way or the other, though, I'm in on this one."

"Ok, so the wagon will be here in three days, and Devon will be there the next day. That means if we ambush the wagon this time around, there might not be anything for Devon to come for, so we might miss him. Might also alert him that something is up.

I'm thinking we limit our involvement with this wagonload to a routine customs inspection, see what we turn up, but don't push them too hard...if there's nothing obviously out of line, we let them go on to their destination, and try to catch Devon dealing with the delivery the next day.

What think you of that, Uncle?

Also, it might behoove us to do a bit of snooping round the market in advance...bypass the guards and sneak inside, try to get a floor plan and map out likely movements? we have a couple nights to kill."

"Well done, Thain. Quick work. Let us hear what you have in mind."

We've kind of written off player #4 by now...knowing that an actual player has been a no-show, I haven't had Gelwyn's curiosity poke in that direction at all. Been playing him as if Thain was the only one.

Are we expecting #4 still to become involved at some point, in which case we should work him into the script in some way? Or is it now a 3-man game and we best to leave it as is?

(If you call at the servant's entrance, you'll be let into the garden, and word passed of your arrival. By far the best way for a discrete meeting.)

<I'm presuming this sort of logistic detail would've been worked out while we were preparing, before you left. Thus, we're now all in the garden together receiving/ready for your report.>

Devon is likely to recognize Rokarrin for sure. Don't know if he'd recognize me or not, but best not to take chances. I'm thinking Thain should approach Devon at his Inn on his own (although we can set ourselves up nearby in case of trouble), and perhaps pose as a buyer of relics. See if he can arrange a deal and get a look at some merchandise. That way we have something to confront him with that would justify an incident, should things get messy.

While he's doing that, we can stake out the fish shop, and arrange to stop the wagon before it gets there. I'll see about bringing a few of my father's men along and officially conducting a check for contraband. The uniforms might keep any private guards from making trouble if we're lucky, and if we aren't some extra muscle would help.

If we find something (excuse the pun) fishy on the wagon, we can roll over the fish shop without any political trouble.

Since I won't know about Thain's findings or message until Rokarrin's next post:

After a pleasant night being courted, but regrettably finding nothing of relevance to the quest, Gelwyn returns home. Knowing Nurien to be a scholar himself, Gelwyn manages to mention the artifact in passing, confident Nurien's curiosity will get him moving in the right direction, assuming he has contacts within that circle.

He then goes to check on Rokarrin before turning in, in case he's managed to come up with better.

<Excellent...does the city guard know what happened to the metal, perhaps have it in a vault somewhere? If so I'm going to play on my brother's scholarly reputation to try to get a look at it, and at least copy the writing. He might know someone who could translate it, or identify the script.>

Gelwyn is meanwhile relieved that he held Rokarrin back. If Devon's a dirty jobs man and a swordsman, we may all need to be together when we run him down.

Gelwyn is also starting to suspect that Rokarrin holds a similar place here...which means either that father is giving him some pretty useful assets for this job, or that father is counting on Rokarrin to handle things quietly and keep Gelwyn "looking good" on the job while actually managing things himself. Gelwyn concludes that, knowing father, it will be up to him to make sure its the former rather than the latter.

"Going to have to manage Uncle Rokarrin more carefully than I'd thought."

"Thain should get us some leads on Devon. It's good that you have him reporting back, but don't speak with him just yet. We need to be careful confronting him at all, so it doesn't come back to bite father somewhere else...

Why don't you take in the fox hunt for now. Find out which lord was responsible for the poor unfortunates. If it's one of father's allies see if you can't get enough details so we can check out the scene directly. Otherwise, pass word to Thain and have him root about for an address, and we'll follow up more discretely after dark.

I'm going to talk to father about Devon, make sure we aren't going to step on any of his other enterprises if we start pushing there. Then I'm going to have a few words with Lord Captain Ranos of the city guard, see what was officially reported about the casualties, and any dirt he may have picked up on Devon off the record.

You can leave Lady Sorrensen to me...I think her daughter fancies me rather more than you, Uncle, for all your charms."

Gelwyn pauses, seemingly finished, but overtakes Rokarrin shortly after.

"Oh, and uncle...I notice you had papers all ready to go for Thain. Is there a reason you carry such things about with you?"

Ok, so it seems we should check out Devon. He won't be happy to see Rokarrin or I, so perhaps Thain and his colleague should take point on that one.

I'm still interested in tracking down details on what happened to the family that was killed, and in the same vein, what became of whatever relic caused their deaths. I'm inclined to check that out through official records - city watch reports, things of that sort, and let my rank cut through red tape as needed.

<All I have so far is what was posted in the intro...to find out of my character knows more:>

General knowledge of local events, such as the family who was killed, where they live, how they died:

Knowledge (local) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

What sort of things have come out of the ruins previously, whether outbreaks are periodic, or random events:

Knowledge (history) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Who rules the particular region of the city where these events occurred, and whether I might have contacts or acquaintances there who could be spoken with:

Knowledge (nobility) 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Also, anything my father's records might have or he might have told me regarding black market transactions linked to the ruins, and other such dealings. No real roll for this, as it would constitute character backstory support.

<Just like Uncle to try to one-up me like that, Gelwyn thinks, though he tries to keep the thought out of his expression. Gelwyn also wonders that Rokarrin hadn't mentioned papers before...>

To Thain: "Excellent, Thain. I'm sure you'll turn up something useful."

Then to Rokarrin: "I'm sure the papers will come in handy, but I'm not inclined to go charging blindly into the ruins without as much information on what we're likely to find (and where to look) as we can get. I think taking a little time to follow up on the rumors is in order. With luck we can get a good notion where in the ruins to head, and where to go in, to maximize our effect."

Gelwyn pauses, then adds:

"Unless, of course, you know more about that too, Uncle?"

"Right. I'm more of a swordsman myself. Light fighter. So I hear rumors of...interesting things being found in the ruins. I'd like to find out what sort of things these are, and particularly, who's getting them from where. I don't suppose you've heard anything in that vein about the city? Your contacts are probably very different from mine.

I figure I can find out who's actually been hurt, if anyone, and look from that end in an official capacity. Perhaps you could try posing as a potential buyer and look into things from that end?"

Good to know. I was under the impression from the opening narration that Lord Keldarrin was present, and as the ranking individual would necessarily be the one giving initial direction.

If he's not there, that changes things...and I'll develop my conversation with Thain further.

I'm beginning to think he must be the red-shirt NPC who will be gunned down by a sudden stroke of magic to get the plot moving and set the dramatic tension. It would seem consistent with his lack of relevance to date. :)

"Likewise, Thain. It seems we will be working together, might I inquire of your profession? Member of one of the region's particular guilds, or perhaps a freelancer?"

I'm not sure why father is keeping us waiting...usually he's direct, comes straight to the point and doesn't waste words, so there must be a reason he's holding his tongue.

Perhaps he's waiting to see if I handle the new help myself. I'd been hoping he'd do the introductions but worth a try...and besides, it's boring standing in the garden unless you're studying the flowers.

Gelwyn walks over to Thain (whose name is as yet unknown to him) and his companion:

"Good morning! I am Gelwyn, Lord Karros. This is my uncle, Lord Rokarrin <indicated by gesture>. Welcome to the estate, and do let one of the servants know if you need anything."

Yeah, I was figuring that once the 4th character in our little drama made his opening monologue, our distinguished narrator would get the ball rolling...seeing as our characters are all waiting to get the details of the work ahead from their illustrious lord...

Although if #4 takes too long, I may have to add a Gelwyn-post about him fidgeting impatiently and wondering why his usually prompt father isn't getting down to business. :)

Hello all. This is where I tell you all the deep dark secrets my character has that aren't supposed to be revealed in the game thread, right? <shifty look>

Looking forward to this. Havent done play-by-mail before, should be interesting.

This is exciting. After years of study, I'm finally going to get a real adventure. Well, something like it anyway...a task, a responsibility..point is, it counts. Father trusts me to look after his interests for real now, and if I play my cards right, I could find myself in his place one day.

Of course, I'm sure Uncle Rokarrin will be reporting everything I do back to father. Only reasonable under the circumstances. And I'll have to keep an eye on him too, to make sure he doesn't get ambitions of his own.

I wonder who these strangers are? Some of father's retainers no doubt. I do hope they take me seriously, and don't try anything because I'm young and untested.

I can hardly wait to get started!