Orick and Daetha
Petunia is busy serving several farmers with applescratch when Orick pipes up. She looks around and spots the boy among the crowd.
"Go see Tubtaffer at the kitchen. No, go round the back, you'll never get through the common room."
When Orick reaches the kitchen, he sees the back of another boy, one of the Tain's there already. The sounds coming from within are no quieter than inside the Stag itself.
At the Market
Vladimir picks up a branch from the bonfire set in the middle - set to be lit for the grown ups evening festivities.
Korgoth reaches for his belt and realises that Feisam never gives up his personal dagger, Drak'o'fury.
Looking around Taya and Nagy meanwhile can see several curious glances from the villagers. Glances and the odd shake of a head.
Daetha tries to duck out of the soup (pun intended), but is too slow to react, copping the greasy liquid straight in the chest. He looks down in dismay.
“Erm … it’s alright, it’s not too hot,” says the boy, although he looks a bit dismayed. “Do you have a cloth or rag or such that I might clean this off? Oh, my mother’s herbs,” he says, holding the bundle and looking up.
Daetha Tain and Orick
The chef is horrified. He helps wipe and passes the herbs beyond. Quickly he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a silver, "Damnerous! here take this and get a clean."
He also looks round and hands over a honey and raisin muffin in apology. "Here eat this. Its very good."
Another halfling from behind pipes up with thanks for the herbs.
Seeing Orick at last, Tubtaffer frowns, "I'm very busy and this is not the place for games. What do you want, sonny?"
At the Market
Vladimir picks up a branch from the bonfire set in the middle - set to be lit for the grown ups evening festivities.
Korgoth reaches for his belt and realises that Feisam never gives up his personal dagger, Drak'o'fury.
Looking around Taya and Nagy meanwhile can see several curious glances from the villagers. Glances and the odd shake of a head.
"Alright Nagy, but you've got to promise me to run if I say so or I will take you home now." Taya sounds resigned. She knows there is no chance at all of Nagy doing either, but feels she needs to make the effort.
At least I can say I tried ...
She looks at the villagers and shakes her head slightly at Vlad and Korgoth holding the branches. "Not here," she whispers, "people will only try and stop us."
Aloud, she says for the benefit of anyone listening "Those are good for making hurdles, see, it's a bit bendy. Why don't we try near the old barn for more wood? I'll just bring this in case we can't find anything." So saying, she picks up a branch herself and leads the way towards the barn. It's a feeble enough excuse but it's the best she can come up with on the spur of the moment.
Korgoth looks around, and gets what Taya is attempting to do
"Yeah I bet I can jump the highest! I got a copper says I can!"
Trying to look nonchalant Korgoth ambles off with the piece of branch with the others.
Daetha Tain and Orick
The chef is horrified. He helps wipe and passes the herbs beyond. Quickly he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a silver, "Damnerous! here take this and get a clean."
He also looks round and hands over a honey and raisin muffin in apology. "Here eat this. Its very good."
Another halfling from behind pipes up with thanks for the herbs.
Seeing Orick at last, Tubtaffer frowns, "I'm very busy and this is not the place for games. What do you want, sonny?"
"Petunia said that I could get the lunches for Hortin and Tillispey from here. I don't want to be a bother but I'm not going to argue with her! Also I'd like to get my water skin filled while I wait if that's not a problem."
Orick glances over at Daetha.
"Hello Daetha," Orick says, "running errands for your mom?"
Tubtaffer turns to one of the younger cooks as Orick speaks, "get me dat big food parcel for Hortin and the gnome tinker."
He also disappears off back to work. However Orick is stood next to the door and he can see a large water butt outside filled with rainwater.
Soon a large lumpy brown parcel is handed over to Orick, weighing about 5lbs in all. Smells of meat and cheese vie with the warmth of newly baked bread. The halfling then hands over a large earthen ware jug weighing about 10lbs. This sloshes and gurgles with the heady smell of rough cider, applescratch.
The young halfling also returns to the mayhem of the kitchen leaving the two young lads alone.
“Oh! Thankyou, but that’s two much!” protests Daetha, having the silver coin thrust into one hand and the muffin into the other, but Tubtaffer is already turning away to speak to another boy who has entered the kitchen behind Daetha.
The lad turns to see Orick, whom he knows passingly well from the shrine. “Hello Orick,” he replies when the other kid is finished speaking to Tubtuffer and addresses him. “Yes, that’s right.” He solemnly pockets the silver coin, then looks at the muffin and at the other boy. He breaks the muffin in half, releasing a sweet aroma, and offers one half to Orick. “What are you doing? We better get out of here, if you don’t want to end up covered in soup too… Do you need help carrying anything?”
The lad turns to see Orick, whom he knows passingly well from the shrine. “Hello Orick,” he replies when the other kid is finished speaking to Tubtuffer and addresses him. “Yes, that’s right.” He solemnly pockets the silver coin, then looks at the muffin and at the other boy. He breaks the muffin in half, releasing a sweet aroma, and offers one half to Orick. “What are you doing? We better get out of here, if you don’t want to end up covered in soup too… Do you need help carrying anything?”
"Thanks Daetha!" Orick says taking half the muffin and handing the other lad the jug of cider, "I'm helping out Mr Hortin in the market. He says he might pay me a silver. That's a working mans wages. I'm only eleven and I got a paying job! So what are you doing today?"
Vladimir follows Taya and Nagy to help Korgoth against the dastardly Jerrid.
Near the Red barn
As the foursome approach the red barn, they see another pair of boys, loaded down and backing out of the rear of the White Stag. One of them has a large brown stain across his tunic.
The barn is about 100 yards away across from the Inn and another large warehouse. Beyond the red barn is the forest.
Although the doors are shut, there is a halfling sized entrance in one door but that is closed too. In front of the barn is a low water trough.
No one is around.
As they pass the White Stag, Taya waves at Orick and Daetha, doing her best to look casual and normal and hoping as well that they'll notice the direction they're taking, just in case things go horribly wrong and they all need help.
Korgoth keeps his eyes peeled, searching for any lookouts Jeridd might have posted.
The Red Barn was built by the halflings and sized for them. It has a hay loft round the back with a window onto the top ledge.
There is another loft five feet below that and then the stables and various equipment. There may even be a wagon or cart just inside the double doors.
There are no visible windows or lookout from the centre of the White Stag complex.
However as Taya greets Orick and Daetha, a large hound comes out of the other barn opposite the red one. He is roped to the wall and stops when he notices the group.
However as Taya greets Orick and Daetha, a large hound comes out of the other barn opposite the red one. He is roped to the wall and stops when he notices the group.
Not wanting the dog to alert the gang, Nagy slowly and calmly approaches it, speaking nonsense to it softly to keep it calm.
Vladimir looks a bit nervous as the dog comes into view"Maybe we can get this dog to help, I have some coin from before what if we buy it some food and make it friendly we can untie it and send it in to chase Jerrid and his gang out? It might be safer than running in against him with his dagger?" Vladimir whispers to the group "Has anybody played with this dog before?"
As they pass the White Stag, Taya waves at Orick and Daetha, doing her best to look casual and normal and hoping as well that they'll notice the direction they're taking, just in case things go horribly wrong and they all need help.
"I wonder what they're up too?" Orick says to his new companion, a mischievous smile creeping across his face, "want to go spy?"
His smile quickly fades though:
"Oh wait," Orick says with a thoughtful look in his eye, "I can't, not today anyways, I gotta help Mr Hortin."
Orick
The dog settles down and allows itself to be petted. Then it spends some time licking its back legs clean.
Taya looks cautiously around.
"I'd like to know what Jerrid's up to before we just burst in. Do you think we can reach the window between us?"
Korgoth looks at Taya
"We can try."
Listen check DC10
"Oh my!, guys I think I heard someone being roughed up!" Vlad's face goes a crimson hue with anger at the thought of bullies hurting someone. "I do not care, what they do to me I am not standing by to let this happen" Vlad walks up to the dog and pets him and begins to undo his leash; relying that the dog will intimidate the intruders. Keeping a firm grip on the dogs collar at all times.
Daetha waves back at Taya. “I don’t know,” he replies to Orick, “but they do look like they’re up to something. Why are they all carrying sticks and such?” Daetha’s young brow furrows. It occurs to him that the gang of children looks a little too covert, and then there are all the sticks … he wonders if they’re trying to break in somewhere or something. No, that doesn’t sound like Taya and Nagy – but then it’s also not like Taya not to come and say hello properly…
He glances around. “Do you think it’s safe to leave this stuff here for a moment, and go and see what they’re doing? Something doesn’t seem right, I don’t want anyone to do anything they’d get into trouble for. Do you think Mister Hortin can wait a few more minutes?”
“Look, isn’t that Vlad who works at the Risper’s ranch? What’s he doing with that dog?”
Listening outside the barn: (1d20-1=13)
Taya also hears the noises and her eyes go wide with mixed fear and anger.
"How dare they. Disgusting bullies."
Her hand clenches around the branch she's carrying.
"Maybe we can surprise them a bit. Where's that window? I'll need help." She whirls round and heads to the back of the barn.
Seeing that the group of kids seem to be trying to find a way into the barn, Daetha decides he needs to do something. Putting the jug of cider carefully down by the kitchen door, he glances at Orick then marches determinedly over to Taya.
“What are you doing?” he hisses urgently, keeping his voice low. “You’re going to get in trouble if someone sees you back here – that kitchen is full of halflings you know!” he gestures back towards the door that he and Orick emerged from.
"Daetha, do you know a way into the barn? It's Jerrid. He's got Asfer, we're sure he's hurting her. That little worm Seddani says Jerrid's got a knife as well as all his gang."
"Maybe we can surprise them a bit. Where's that window? I'll need help." She whirls round and heads to the back of the barn.
Nagy's face darkens. "Come on, Taya, I'll boost you up."
Korgoth flushes with anger.
"Those bast@rds!" He hisses
Korgoth begins to head for the front doors of the barn, stick at the ready.
"Yes. I'll try."
Caution thrown to the winds, Taya forgets about protecting her little brother for the time being and concentrates on helping Asfer.
Vladimir keeps a hold of the dogs collar and unties the leash, hoping he can keep a hold of the dog. He pets the beast behind its ears and coos "Come on boy we need your help, please do not let us down" Walking with the dog with the rest of the group towards the barn, Vladimir heads off towards the main entrance.
Daetha hesitates. His first instinct is that if someone is in trouble, and there’s a knife (or more than one) involved, they should go to an adult for help … but then, he and his family are pretty independent, more used to helping themselves than relying on the charity of others. Besides, by the time they actually get an adult to listen to them, something bad might have happened here.
“Alright,” he says, “I’ll help. No, I don’t know a way into the barn, except those doors. You try the window and tell us how many there are, we’ll get ready to go in.” He moves to stand with Korgoth and Vlad, nodding at the other two boys, whom he doesn’t know so well.
“I don’t think we should try to fight,” he whispers, eyeing the sticks and the dog. “If they’ve got a knife, someone could get seriously hurt. Maybe we can scare them.”
The Red Barn
The hound obediently comes with Vladimir on its long rope. When he stops with Daetha and Nagy, the dog starts scratching at its back leg.
When Taya and Nagy go around the far side of the barn, they see a small girl disappearing into the window. Seconds later a rope trails down until it reaches the ground and Finwe's face pops out to check its length.
Then she is gone from view.
Taya nudges Nagy "Who's that?" she whispers, as Finwe's head disappears from view.
Moving towards the window, she very gently pulls on the convenient rope, hoping it's tied at the top.
The rope tightens secure.
"Keep it steady. I'll just see if I can spot what they're up to."
Taya tries to climb up to the window using the rope to pull herself up the wall. She concentrates on keeping as quiet as possible and hopes she'll be able to see through the window without revealing her own presence.
Since she's aware of Finwe, she'll keep an eye open for her as well, but her main purpose is to see what Jerrid and his gang are up to.
"Hang on Nagy, nearly there..."
Taya manages to climb the rope with surprising deftness and peers in at the window, keeping herself as much out of sight as possible.
Korgoth follows Taya and Nagy, assisting them if possible
Taya enters the upper hay loft which has a row of bales against each side wall. In the middle is an open trapdoor leading down. Beyond that is a three high stack of bales which is on the far edge of the upper floor towards the centre of the barn. The whole area is only about 7 foot high.
Vladimir suggests that maybe he can come in with the dog from the front door to cause a distraction he can run away and hope the boys chase him while Taya and Naga and the rest of the group can save the girl when they see from the hay loft when Jerrid and the gang chace Vlad away.
Climb Chk for +2 assist:1d20-1=7
Korgoth attempts to aid Nagy, but can't quite seem to get his hands under his feet correctly.
Taya leans out of the window and whispers down to the boys below.
"There's a trap door and some hay bales. We could push them down I think. Can you get up with the rope if I help?"
Taya, do you want a distraction?
"C'mon, Korgoth, I'll give you a boost," Nagy offers quietly.
Taya, do you want a distraction?
"That would be good. Wait until we give you a signal."
Taya helps the boys climb up to the hayloft.
Vladimir asks "What will the signal be?". After getting the confrimation on the signal, he waits with the dog to make a distraction.
Orick is torn. On the one hand something exciting is going on, on the other hand he's agreed to help Mr Horten, and already that's gotten him a silver coin and a few coppers. Then again Mr Hortin is only in town once a week but the others he sometimes plays with are here all the time. Orick hasn't really been good at making friends (far easier to spy) but these kids had at least (at one point or another) been nice to him.
Orick's young mind reals . . . suddenly he forms a plan. He looks to his new, yet empty, water skin and quickly pulls it off. He hides it near the water butt grabs the jug and the food and runs back to Hortin's wagon.
When Orick drops the food off he pats his shoulder like he's just noticing that he's missing something.
"Oh no!" he exclaims load enough for Hortin to hear, "I've left my water skin behind the Stag! I'll have to go get it!"
Orick darts off before Hortin can say anything.
Vladimir asks "What will the signal be?". After getting the confrimation on the signal, he waits with the dog to make a distraction.
Taya considers.
"One of us will wave this." She pulls off her hair ribbon and shows it to Vlad.
Korgoth just manages to scramble up