Garryn and Caylin make their way to the north and the east, carefully examining the area as they do so.  The two skirt the high wall of the municipal city hall—the wall being one of the rare stone constructions in town, and topped with small but malefic granite gargoyles.  The washerwomen who had previously occupied the town square were gone, replaced by a number of people intent upon providing water for the two bucket brigades that were continuing to douse the warehouse and inn fires.  From near the northeast corner of the city hall’s outer wall, Caylin and Garryn regard the large building to the north.

The municipal manor is one of the biggest structures in town—likewise made of stone—and is flanked by two garrison buildings.  Guards stand at the central door to the municipal manor.  Caylin draws on his little clay pipe one last time, and than knocks the ashes from its bowl by tapping it on his boot sole.  ”What now, then, Garryn?  Ye’ve an idea, I’m thinkin’?”  The halfling puts his pipe away, draws out a little jar from his pouch, and calmly applies resin to the string of his bow.

"As a matter of fact...I don't. But fear not my diminutive friend, something will come to me. Too late to do any good perhaps, but then my parents always said than no good would come from me," Garryn answers while looking around for any good targets or vantage points. "I'm going to begin by talking to one of the guards," Garryn states as he begins walking towards the manor.

"Good day, I've been working with alderman Savin Perysinosis, my name is Garryn and this is my friend Caylin. I'm sure your aware of the fires. I've just come from a the second site where my friend here and I managed to catch and interrogate the the person who actually set the fire. Regretably we believe this will not prevent more fires. The man resposible for the fires is using some magical means to control otherwise innocent people and force them to start the fires for him. We suspect that this area is a likely target, so it is important that you realize what you are dealing with. Since he could have taken control of anyone here, the best method of protecting yourselves is to pair up and thus prevent anyone from acting alone, this may be sufficient to protect your area, though that is perhaps overly optomistic. My partner and I will do our best to keep an eye on the area and attempt to find the real villian before another attack occurs but it is important that everyone here know what you are dealing with. If you have any questions or would like me to speak with someone else I would be happy to do so," Garryn says doing his best to appear official.

OOC:  Please roll a Diplomacy or a Bluff check on this one, whichever you wish (the context warrants the check in this instance).  I'll update and describe when I see the results.

Cheers,
Kev

Well, I'm off to an inauspicious start once again.

Garryn the Grey rolled 12 using 1d20+6. Bluff Check.

One of the two guardsmen flanking the double doors to the municipal manor nods slowly at Garryn's speech, but his eyes narrow as he frankly appraises both the human and halfling in front of him.  The other guard rests his hand on his sword hilt and snort slightly, spitting off to the side.  The first guard replies, "Mayhap so, freeman.  I've nary a gypsy's whisper o' what's happenin', this eve, but I do know one thing solid--we'll be keepin' eyes an' ears out fer th' manor...an' woe be to anyone what doesn't think that's th' case.  I 'ppreciate th' warnin', but must ask ye t' move on an' not distract us, eh?"  The other guard rolls his eyes and mutters, "Always so dainty-dainty wi' th' townsfolk, Fin.  Jes tell th' pisspot an' his little monkey t' shove off, eh?"

The guard who spoke initially keeps his eyes level with Garryn, and does not acknowledge the other guard's comment.

Garryn starts to turn away then turns back. "Oh, one more thing. Could you tell me your names please? I'm sure Alderman Perysinosis will want to know who was so helpful," Garryn said, his voice level and his eyes meeting those of the more civilized guard.

"Th' name is.."

The dark-haired, thin guard that Garryn had been speaking to attempts an answer...and the other, larger guard literally backhands him.

From an initial sullen and angry attitude, the big guardsman waxes furious.

"Fuck YOU, stranger!  Don't ye be tellin' me or anyone else how things be run in Borderton, asshole!"

The big guardman whips out his long sword, and appears ready to cut down anyone in front of him.

Caylin murmurs softly, "Danu's t..."

OOC:  Please roll initiatives.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:53, Sat 14 Aug 2004.

"What is this?" Garryn cries indignantly while jumping back and drawing his rapier.

you are a charmer G-mony..

On 24:
Moving exceedingly quickly, Caylin hop-steps back and draws his bow, nocking an arrow and aiming it steadily up at the threatening swordsman in front of him and Garryn--just far enough away to be out of the reach of the man's swing.

On 21:
The smaller, darker guard recoils at the bigger man's blow, then stares increduously at his partner while stepping away from the man.  He places his hand on the hilt his own long sword.  "What in Ahriman's shithole are y' DOIN', Kel?!  Leave it be!"  The smaller guard takes another step back, but rises up on the balls of his feet as he continues to view the bigger man.

On 17:
Garryn leaps back and whips out his rapier, calling out "What is this?" in his best outraged-yet-wounded-by-disappointment voice.

On 6:
The big guard hesitates, but keeps his sword out and readied.
"Fuck off, th' both of ye."  The guard addresses this to Garryn and Caylin.  "Just get yer sorry asses outta here...now.  I don't need any shit from strangers an' freaks,  what with th' town burnin' down.  Go...now!"  The bigger guard seemingly ignores the smaller one.

OOC:  Everyone held their actions, to a degree (gotta look up some rules at home to see exactly where we stand).  Actions for next round?

"Kel, huh? I'm sure the alderman will be interested in your behavior. We'll be going now. If you have any sense you'll remember our warning and pass it along, but I seriously doubt that you do, in fact I expect to see you standing around the remains of another burnt building," Garryn says without bothering to conceal his contempt for the unhinged guardsman as he slowly backs up,

The big guard snorts by way of reply.  Slowly, Garryn backs away, not dropping the point of his rapier for an instant.  Caylin shoots a quick, sidewise glance at Garryn as the rogue begins his departure, and then follows suit--the halfling backing up to keep pace with Garryn, and continuing to train his nocked arrow on the big guard.

The two manage to depart the immediate vicinity of the municipal manor, and look at each other.  Caylin mutters, "What an asshole, eh?"

OOC:  Please roll Listen checks for me.  Thanks.

Garryn keeps his ears open as he and Caylin withdraw.

Garryn hears, very clearly through some trick of the night wind, the incessant, unceasing, relentless voices of the two firewagon kids--and the voice of Dominique rising in protest in an attempt to silence them.  The priest sounds tense.

Garryn notes *exactly* from where the voices are emanating, southeast of the fountain where the rogue had encountered the washerwomen.

OOC:  Natural 20's for ability or skill checks (see Garryn's roll above) often provide additional information or benefits.  In this case, no direction check for where the sounds are coming from was necessary.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:26, Wed 25 Aug 2004.

"Caylin, Dom needs us back where the women were washing clothes!" Garryn says in alarm and begins running back to the area as fast as Caylin can manage.

Caylin and Garryn break into a run and a fast jog, respectively.  The two dodge through the scattered knots of people who have gathered around the fountain--either to aid in filling containers with water to control the warehouse fire, or to gawk.  They pass the statue of King Tanoch Dwarffriend that stands near the fountain, and are soon by the northwest corner of the Mithran rectory.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:00, Thu 09 Sept 2004.