The priest snored softly, followed by a sharper, punctuated snort.  Hau'dn Shera started slightly.  The bard-turned-ranger looked up from the old map that he had been studying, and realized that he had lost himself in the examination of the maps that lay strewn upon the wooden table in front of him.  The pair of tallow candles in front of him had burnt so low that they were not far from guttering.  The small-paned windows to the right and left of the table looked out from the second story to show a deepening dusk to the evening sky.  And the priest who had granted Hau'dn access to the little library had fallen asleep in a nearby chair, Mithras knew how long ago.

Hau'dn reflected.  He had arrived in Borderton some scant days ago.  Leaving the eaves of the Leaflock Forest had been trying, if for little else than the fact that there was some safety there, in the form of the handful of elven rangers that had helped him survive after...after...

Hau'dn's eyes grew grim.  The beatings he had received would rankle always.  The skill of the elven rangers had set most of his bones well, but Hau'dn remembered the rangers being forced to re-break two of his fingers that had knitted poorly.  The thugs that had beaten him had left him to die, alone and barely conscious--and far from the lights of a town or hamlet.  They had specifically chosen the spot, had deliberately taken him there to exact there perceived vengance, and had coldly and knowingly allowed him to remain alive to suffer a slow death.  Hau'dn drew an angry breath, and exhaled fiercely.  Someday...

A sound from below startled him--a shifting or scraping noise.  The library was normally locked, and only Hau'dn's gold and insistence had persuaded the priest to allow the ranger-minstrel access.  Yet there was this...sound...emanating from the ground floor.  Hau'dn glanced at the small water-clock beneath its bell-jar.

Twenty-five turns of the minute glass past six bells.

Slipping from the chamber, he closed the door as well as he could and stepping gingerly, Mik'hl carefully made his way downstairs to investigate the odds sounds from below.

Keeping to the shadows, he let his senses take over attempting to locate the cause of the disturbance.

IGA:
15:51, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 12 using 1d20+5. Spot.
15:51, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 19 using 1d20+5. Listen.
15:51, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 17 using 1d20+5. Hide.
15:50, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 12 using 1d20+5. Move Silently.

This message was last edited by the player at 10:08, Sat 24 July 2004.

Nice intro.

Looking forward to Hau'dn joining the group!

Hau'dn makes his way, carefully, down the cramped spiral staircase that leads from the ground floor of the little library to its second story.  The ground floor is only dimly lit by a solitary lantern suspended from a central rafter.  The human crouches on a lower riser of the stair and allows his eyes to adjust to the ambient dimness that invests the place.  His sharp ears pick out the sound of harsh breathing, and the scraping sounds he had heard while still on the second floor.  As Hau'dn's eyes adjust, he sees a figure--prone--near the library doors.  The noises seem to be emanating from there...

Carefully creeping forward, Hau'dn tries to find a better position to see what is up with the prone figure or at least what the figure is up to.  He carefully chose his step and tried to stay within the deeper shadows of the chamber to do so but he also knew that he was out of his element.  The shadows of the woods were one thing, that of something man-built was another.

OOG:
16:43, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 19 using 1d20+5. Spot.
16:43, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 10 using 1d20+5. Listen.
16:43, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 7 using 1d20+5. Hide.
16:42, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 23 using 1d20+5. Move Silently.

The shadows from the flickering lantern cast a somewhat unsteady illumination about the little ground floor room of the library, but Hau'dn can see that the figure on the floor is bound and gagged.  Hau'dn has been able to glide noiselessly into the room from the little stairway, but the fearful eyes of the bound man on the floor gleam as he looked into Hau'dn's own eyes.  The prone man is securely bound with leather strips, it appears, and a tightly-tied, rough strip of canvas forces a wad of cloth into the man's mouth.  The man is dressed in an undergarment of cotton, and is apparently otherwise bereft of belongings.

Hau'dn quietly lifts one of his light maces and slips into the deeper shadow, trying to locate whether whoever had done this was still about within the building.

The hackles on the back of his neck rose.  This is not good.

IGA:
00:58, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 6 using 1d20+5. Spot.
00:58, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 13 using 1d20+5. Listen.
00:58, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 8 using 1d20+5. Hide.
00:58, Today: Hau'dn Shera rolled 11 using 1d20+5. Move Silently.

OOG: The roller does not care for me today.

The library is a tiny building--big enough to house the handful of books, scrolls, maps, and other miscellaneous written items in the keeping of the Mithran chapel in Borderton.  Hau'dn stands at the foot of the little spiral staircase that descends from the equally small second story, and glances about the room in the dim and wavering light provided by the single lit lantern.  The library is cast in shadow, and several of the bookshelves might provide some hiding opportunity for a potential enemy.  A single table and chair occupy the southeast corner of the room, and several wooden stools are tucked away in the room's corners.  Curtained and mullioned windows line the southern walls, and several small, shuttered windows are scattered about, as well--letting in only the darkness from outside.  The bound man lies just inside the library door to the west.

OOC:  New map up on the website under "Library map".

Carefully, Hau’dn begins a cautious exploration of the ground floor of the little Mithran library, gripping his mace in one hand.  Dusty tomes and rolled scrolls of vellum lie upon the shelves—and small, bronze plaques on the shelves give some indication of their contents:  Geography, Genealogies, Of Demons and Spirits, Local Goods and Production, etc.  The room is small, and Hau’dn’s careful circumnavigation of the cramped confines turns up no additional occupants other than the bound man.  A low, muffled moan escapes from the man’s throat, and Hau’dn can see several cuts and new bruises on the man’s face, as well as a puffy and swelling area around his left eye.

Twenty-eight turns of the minute glass past six bells.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:06, Wed 28 July 2004.

Returning to the bound man, Hau'dn crouches with his back against the wall behind the door and carefully removes the man's gag.  "Who did this to you?  Is he still here?" Hau'dn whispers, his eyes roving back and forth trying to penetrate the darkness, the partially open door on his right, the bookshelf on his left.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:08, Thu 29 July 2004.

Hau’dn knelt by the side of the bound and gagged man.  Working to loosen the tight strip of canvas that served as gag, Hau’dn watched the man’s face wince in pain and his good eye water.  Nonetheless, the ranger-minstrel managed to free the knot that bound the canvas, and the man was able to spit out the blood-and saliva-coated wad of cloth that had been forced into his mouth.  The man retched slightly, and then heaved a deep, unsteady breath.

"Who did this to you?  Is he still here?" Hau'dn whispers.

The man shakes his head, indicating that he doesn't know the answer to Hau'dn's query.  “My thanks sirrah, who e’er ye may be.  Like as not I’d be here ’til the morn, had ye not found me,” the man began by way of reply.  He coughed and spat out a blood-flecked wad of phlegm. ”Me and Ulmo was patrollin’ the streets around the fountain, when we heard somethin’ in the alley behind the theater—a sorta moaning.  I could make out someone callin’ for help, it seemed, so we figgered we’d take a look.”  The man paused, and again grimaced with pain.  ”Someone just come outta nowhere…with somethin’ heavy.  Thumped me a coupla times before I could get my sword up.  Did a number on m’ face, by the feel of it.  Next thing I know, I’m half-dressed an’ trussed up like a hog ready fer butcherin’…in here.”  The man struggles a bit, still bound with leathern straps.  Don’t rightly know ’about Ulmo.  Mayhap he got away…leastaways, he ain’t here.”

As the man finishes his brief explanation, Hau’dn hears the relatively faint sound of galloping hooves and a wagon rolling into the little common square nearby.

"I see.  You are a patrolman then?" Hau'dn asks.  Carefully by feel still keeping a watch, he begins to loosen the bonds with one hand while trying to recall what the uniforms of a watchman look like.

He sighs unconsciosly.  My life is never quiet or simple is it?

Loosening the bonds is no easy task; whomever tied these bindings essayed to make sure that they stayed tied.  Nonetheless, Hau'dn manages to make some little progress one-handed.  However, at that rate, the process would take all night.

The bound man answers, "Town watch an' constable, if ye please, sirrah.  We was out on patrol, me an' Ulmo, an' didn't really expect t' do much more'n break up a coupla fights before we got off duty."

Outside, Hau'dn hears a strange, liquid roaring sound--muffled by the walls and door of the little library.  From upstairs, he hears a stirring and a voice calls down, "What in Mithras' name is all this, then?  Sir minstrel, where have you hied yourself off to, eh?"  The older Mithran priest, it appears, has awoken from his nap.

(OOC:  typical watch attire is studded leather, long sword, and short bow.  Sometimes clubs or saps are issued, too.)

"Downstairs.  There has been mischief played out.  I am aiding the man it has been played out upon." Hau'dn calls out before putting the mace down by his foot.  "I am afraid my research will have to be delayed for whoever is about may well still be up to their mischief from the sound of things outside."

Turning his attention to the knots in the ropes, he carefully unties the bindings if he is able to.

OOG: Take 20 if I must to do so.

Thirty turns of the minute glass past six bells

Hau'dn carefully sets aside his mace, and begins to work on the knotted strips of rawhide leather that bind the man.  His patience is rewarded as the tightly tied leather strips loosen under his fingers.  As he does so, the Mithran priest from the room above begins to descend the little spiral stairs, peering at Hau'dn and, upon seeing the bound guardsman, exclaims, "Sun-scribe preserve us!  What happened here?"  The priest moves to help Hau'dn, then, seeing that the ranger-minstrel has virtually freed the guard, hurries to the slightly open door and looks out.  Shaking his head, he then shuts the door and throws a small latch to lock it.

The guardsman, now released from his bonds, sits up and carefully rubs his sore wrists and ankles to restore some semblance of circulation.  "My thanks, sirrah."  The man looks ruefully down at his attire.  "Now if I only knew where my armor and sword got themselves off to...AND my good bow, Mithras damn it.  Errr, sorry, Pater,"--this last comment was addressed to the priest, who waved the apology away absently.  The priest is peering out of the southeast window of the library (OOC: bottom left one on the map).  He mutters, "Is that the fire wagon?  I fear some ill is afoot, as you say, sir minstrel."

Hau'dn glances around, "I fear that whoever did this to you now has it.  Perhaps we should get you away and report this foul deed so that we may curtail the foul play that may be afoot."

Suppressing a sigh, Hau'dn turns toward the priest, "Sir.  My business has not been concluded yet but I fear I must set aside and return another night if you will allow such.  I believe it is best if I escort the guardsman here so he can make his report."

The priest nods and says with a rush, "Of course, sir minstrel.  You cannot obviously stay here, now."  The man continues to look out the window, and Hau'dn gets a very clear sense that the priest would like nothing better than to see the departure of Hau'dn and the roughed-up guard.

Helping the guardsman to his feet, Hau'dn and the other man open the door to the little library and slip out--the guardsman limping somewhat and stifling a groan of pain.  The door snaps shut behind them, and both men can hear the sound of the latch slipping home, followed by the thud of the door's wooden bar falling into place.

As the two round the western corner of the library, they note some sort of disturbance taking place to the south...

As the bar thuds into place, Hau'dn smiles adjusting slightly to aid the guard given his condition but as a disturbance catches Hau'dn's attention as they round the corner, he looks up abruptly as he stops.

He carefully assesses that which he sees occurring down the street.

OOG: So what do I see and would you prefer I actually make a spot check for the level of detail?

OOC:

Yep.  Please roll both a Listen and a Spot check--I'll have the guard do the same.  Sliding scale--the higher the rolls, the more info.

--Kev

Taking a good hard look toward the disturbance, squinting slightly, Hau'dn was determined to accurately figure out what was going on.

OOG: Listen: 17.  Spot 24.

Peering southward, Hau'dn can make out some sort of commotion occurring...

"Oi!  Foreign-guy!  Wot's girl-driver DOIN' t' that...other....guy, eh?"

"Oi!  Priest-guy, wot did y' just say t' make that guy stand still?  'Ow'd y' do that?  I wanna be able t' do that...then I could 'ave me choice o' vittles!  See, th' cook were we be stayin', she don't take too kind t'..."

"My young friends, would you please, just....shut up!"

Apparently, a man clad in the utilitarian garments of one of the travelling sects of Mithras is perched in the back of an odd-looking wagon, with two boys of indeterminate age.  The two boys are talking a league-a-minute, while the priest is staring, gimlet-eyed, towards something apparently occluded by the firestables.  Nearby, a man, dressed simply, is moving intently towards the spot where the priest is staring.  The simply-dressed man looks a bit startled, as Hau'dn can make out a *huge* figure rush pass the man, unslinging a great axe from its back.

The guardsman groans.  "Those firewagon kids...they *never* quit with their yappin'"  The guardsman hears the commotion, but does not look up from his rather hunched position, apparently favoring the ribs on his left side.

OOC:  See the firestables map on the website for character starting positions for this round, as well as lines of sight (note that the perimeter of the firestable structure consists of corrals--simple fenced areas that don't really impede vision).  Hau'dn, please go ahead and roll initiative.

"There is a priest over there.  Let us walk over there and see if Pater I think his name is can be of aid.  We can also learn what all this is about."

Hau'dn moves to readjust the weight of the guard on his shoulders to help take some of the weight off the man's ribs.

The guard winces as Hau'dn moves to aid the man, and then nods his thanks and laughs a little, causing him to wince again with a curse.

"No doubt, sirrah...most o' them priest go by th' name of Pater...or Frater, if they be in one of th' monasteries.  Sorta universal titles, if y' take my meanin'."  The man glances at Hau'dn.  "Thought that was pretty much th' way it was all over th' empire.  Or maybe your not Mithran?"  No malice or disapproval accompanies this question.  "Lotsa folks still go in for some o' th' Elder Ones, but mostly they hail from up north."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:27, Thu 26 Aug 2004.

OOC:  Please go to the On the Wagon thread, but feel free to post a closing reply in this one, if you like.

Hau'dn chuckles softly, "It has been a long night and a disrupted one.  I tend to be forgetful when I need sleep.  Let us get you over there nonetheless."