Adam's brow furrows.  Riots?  How could things have gotten this bad?  He must be exaggerating.  He folds his arms.

"Any guess what's causing the 'other problems' around here?" Adam asks, "Or if this new development is connected?"

Angel figured the mayor meant questions more like "Can we have some food rations to take with us?" or "What is the reward?" since the mayor likely has this bunch of heroes here partly due to not having answers himself. But Angel came prepared in case the others were not, so she leaves those questions to anyone who wishes... so long as she doesn't have to ask 'em.

Still, Angel can't help but wonder why Adam would ask such a question, given human nature. Does this guy not know how easily people are thrown into depravity?

Maverick's thoughts are more along the lines of "What guarantee do I or these heroes have that the villagers won't just hate us and attack us for solving their problems? After all... people have done that before." of course, there is a part of Maverick that almost hopes they do... so he can tear them a new one. But mostly, Maverick would rather Sunshine Villa be full of good people.

The mayor sighs at Jack and Adam's questions. "The acid rain puts out any fire we try outside and most are too scared to go near the tree, much less in it. But yes... this incident is connected with the way the people have been acting. Fewer crops means hungrier people. Hunger means more desperate and eventually, vicious. Again... if anyone would like to stay behind and help out with the people, I'd appreciate that. But the tree is the main concern at the moment."

He looks around the room in case any other questions come up.

  Jack knows that an angry pitchfork mob has that whole numerical advantage thing when senselessly running their ex-neighbors out of town.  He also knows that if this case of 'something is happening, so lets blame the first out of place person/scenery and destroy it' planning turns out to be a stupid idea, nobody will appreciate the fact it was the Mayor's idea being pointed out.

  Unfortunately, despite his apparent grasp of pessimistic mob mentality, Jack's at times apparently suicidal conscience has a grasp of his own mentality at the moment.  "When would people be leaving to deal with this?"  He'd go and get his more violence and violence survival oriented belongings once he knew that.  Probably.  He doubted any further useful information that would help would turn up.  It was lucky they wouldn't have to locate a big freaking tree by themselves.

NOT ENOUGH CROPS TO FEED THE PEOPLE?!?! Adam thinks to himself, his brow furrowing in anger, Then it's true the regional lord has been lying about the situation out here!  But why the cover-up?  And why hasn't this mayor sent a message to the King directly?  Perhaps this mayor himself is in collusion with the lying lord.  No wonder the people are ready to rebel!  Is EVERY link in the chain of command of this region corrupt?!  That cannot be!  But there's no use in speculating without evidence.

"No further questions, your honor," Adam answers once the Mayor answers Jack's question, "Rest assured, I'll do everything I can to get to the root of this problem."

The mayor looks to Jack and says, "Soon as you all are ready. Right now, if possible."

Maverick hrms and decides it best to stick around the mayor's office after the others leave, just in case he overhears some nefarious scheme when nobody else is around. After all... worst case scenario for these adventurers is being after only money.

Angel says, "I'm ready to go whenever everyone else is. But I don't plan to go it alone. Something this dangerous, it would be unwise to go try out alone."

  Jack's self narrative has a lack of consideration for political conspiracy or the folly of mortals in the face of 'ohgodwe'regonnadie'.  He's busy focusing on the immediate 'ohgodwe'regonnadie' cause as he heads off to grab the kind of equipment one would expect someone who has grown up in the current less than prosperous town from his home.

 ...Scale Mail and a WarAxe?  Isn't that usually above existence in a town like this?

  'Days like today, I'm glad I have some practical life skills'  Lets hear it for nonviolent skills that aid in violence anyways.

"Then let's go," Adam replies with a serious expression, "Time is of the essence.  By the way, I'm Adam.  My friend waiting outside will be joining us too."

He opens the door for Angel and politely follows her out.  Ladies first and all that.  Once outside he introduces his tiger companion, Lucky.

Lucky takes one look at the "army" Adam will be facing an unknown unnatural threat with and face-paws.

"You have GOT to be kidding me!" he thinks to himself with a groan, "No squad of soldiers?  No mage?  Not even ONE healer?!  It's official.  Adam. is. insane."

Lucky hides under the porch and shivers.

"Well I'm not going!"

The people of the town are gathering to see who has decided to brave the ominous tree that has everyone worried. They only see ten people exit the mayor's office, even fewer remain when about 5 of them take off. "Forget it...", "these adventurers are good for it.", "I don't have any experience with this sort of thing." and on the excuses go. Obviously, three of the five are Adam, Angel and Jake. But the other two are Gaston and Bruno. Bruno is another farmer from town while Gaston is kind of the richest, most handsome and most egotistical man in town who half the women in town have a crush on. His occupation? He's a hunter. Which actually makes him the town ranger. Bruno is still just a farmer, but he's a farmer with a skinny frame. He isn't much to look at and seems too stubborn to leave the others for the time being.

Angel bows a little to Adam. "Thank you, sir..." she says with a smile. "I'm Angel. And this is Jack." she presents Jack. Angel takes note of the fact she doesn't see anyone other than the tiger that suddenly split for the underside of the porch. "So what's your friend's name, Adam? And where is he?"

She has a feeling it's the tiger she saw, but decides not to say anything about it. After all... better to be sure instead of embarrassing yourself with assumptions. For all she knows, the tiger just ate Adam's friend.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:02, Wed 14 Jan 2009.

Maverick watches everyone leave, sees the Mayor sigh and continue paperwork and decides the Mayor has no nefarious plans. He happens to notice a loose floorboard and smiles. An easy get-out-of-mayor's-office free pass. He peeks down only to see a shivering tiger face-to-face and widens his eyes. He quickly retracts his head before the tiger can take a bite and quietly thinks a few "what in the world was that?!" thoughts to himself as he decides to take a different route out of there. Maverick sneaks out the back window and hurries around the Mayor's building to watch for the others. He can see Adam, Angel and if Jake has exited by now, Jake.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:02, Wed 14 Jan 2009.

  Jack had exited before the round of excuses by others were given, and was introduced to Adam by Angel, so by default he was most likely in view of Maverick.

  Lets hear it for off panel travel time.

  "What do you have to work with Bruno?"  Farm implements can cause plenty of ouch.  But sometimes it was best to check if someone had opted for a scythe or sickle instead of a hoe or shovel.

"The shy tiger who just took cover under the porch has been my best friend since we were both cubs," Adam answers Angel with a chuckle, "His name is Lucky, and let me tell you...  I sure feel lucky for having such a faithful friend who would never let me face danger alone."

"Not going to work," Lucky thinks, "You're not going to guilt me into going on a suicidal quest."

"But I suppose his strategy today is to stay here and watch over the hungry villagers.  Very noble, Lucky.  I just hope they don't get hungry enough to develop an appetite for tiger."

"..."  Lucky grumbles and slinks back into view; head, ears, and tail lowered.  Adam places his fists on his hips and throws his head back in laughter.

"I guess he changed his mind and will be joining us after all.  Well met, friends."  (This last part said to the group preparing to embark on the quest.)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:53, Fri 16 Jan 2009.

Maverick watches the "shy" tiger slink out after being introduced and is downright amazed. A cowardly tiger? Did this Adam guy abuse the thing as a cub until it was too scared of it's own shadow to even think about revenge? Or maybe the tiger's animal sense is sinking in and it knows just HOW dangerous the mission is. Maverick decides it best if he helps these people from the shadows. If he can prove his worth, then maybe these people will think of him as more than just some village boy who shouldn't be on the mission.

Angel gets that helpless look a girl gets when she sees something cute. "Aww?" she starts, "Aren't you just so precious..." she moves over closer to Lucky and slowly squats, ducking her head before reaching out to pet him, should he let her. "Lucky. Well I can see why he's named that."

Bruno looks over at Jack. "My fists." he answers. "A stick if I find one." Gaston has his fists on his hips and grins. "Sounds like my kind of guy! Who needs weapons?" he puts his arm around Bruno. "But honestly, Bruno... this will go a whole lot *faster* if you had a weapon of some kind."

  Jack appreciated the finer points of punching, but it hurt your hands less if you used a weapon.  "Right, Bruno.  If I hadn't made this axe, I'd bring the one I use to chop wood, or the hammer from the forge, or a kitchen knife.  Just grab anything you own that's either sharp, or sufficiently solid and heavy."

  Jack would feel less worried if he could read the text of their conversation.  Bold speech text during casual conversation was at times a good sign regarding someone's physical strength.

  Or it could mean they had speech lessons of the dramatic variety.

(( OOC:

quote:

Or it could mean they had speech lessons of the dramatic variety.

Heh... You hit the nail on the head. ;)  ))

---

Lucky allows Angel to pet him without any noticeable objection.  Adam smirks at her reaction to his "precious" friend.

~You seem a sensible lady,~ Lucky thinks, looking up at her, ~Maybe you can talk some sense into Adam.  But then, by the looks of things, you're joining them?!  Are there any sane people left in this world?~

"I like your style, Bruno!" Adam says with a big smile, "Looking forward to knocking villain's heads together with you!"

Adam follows the lead of the locals since he doesn't know where the Dread Tree of Doom is.  Lucky follows by Adam's side.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:00, Sat 31 Jan 2009.

Bruno smiles at Adam. Then nods in agreement to Gaston. "I'll catch up, guys. Don't let me slow you down. I'm gonna go grab something and be right with you." While it sounds suspiciously like the same excuse some of the others gave, it's obvious from the tone in his voice he's anxious to help.

Maverick follows the bunch, sticking to the shadows. He's especially careful of evading the detection of the tiger since animals seem to have a sharper awareness than people most times. That and any skittish being has sharper awareness than should be naturally available to the individual.

When Bruno says he'll catch up, Maverick decides it more likely for a lone individual to do something sneaky than someone hanging out with others, so he decides to follow Bruno first. He might sneak poison into his vest or something.

Angel stands up again and says, "Sure thing, Bruno." before following the others to the tree. On the way, of course, she decides to make casual conversation. "Adam... did you come here for a visit or because you heard about the problems happening here in Sunshine Villa?"

  Jack hadn't noticed if they had put up signs advertising the chance to be the Hero of Speilburg Sunshine Villa yet.  But somehow he didn't doubt that option would be taken over direct action by most in town...  Yes, way to be smarter than their little group at not getting killed cowardly masses.

OOC Style:  Just noticed when I contemplated then realized I was to lazy to check passive 17 perc vs Maverick stealth.  Maverick's got initiative listed as +0.  Is that insane dex for show?  I got Jack that +4 to initiative feat so he wouldn't slow them down too much, not zip past em.