Fifty turns of the minute glass past six bells.

Dominique, Asher, and Hau'dn move away from the little, dusty square towards the municipal manor.  Hau'dn finds himself in the company of these two men--both of whom seem to be sincerely and urgently concerned about whatever is transpiring this night.  The little Mithran priest speaks to Hau'dn as they walk towards the manor.  "My friend, I believe the big man who travels with us was attempting to do the correct thing.  Only..." Dominique pauses, "he often shows unfortunate lapses of judgement.  Nonetheless, I believe he acted not from caprice or malice, but because he thought that poor guardsman was a real threat."  Despite his words, however, Dominique almost seems as if he is trying to convince himself of this.

The three pass the town fountain, with its nearby statue of King Tanoch Dwarffriend and its surrounding cluster of dusty acacia trees.  The municipal manor is close, and the main entrance is flanked by two guardsmen.

OOC:  I'll update the Borderton map to reflect peoples' positions later.  In the meanwhile, feel free to post conversation or moves.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:30, Thu 09 Sept 2004.

As Asher moves away from the scene, he feels the adrenaline drain from his system, leaving him feeling more focused and better balanced. Afterall, if Tot had not beat him to the guard, it could have been Asher who delivered the fatal blow. He chastises himself inwardly for the lack of control he continues to display in the face of combat.

Slightly ashamed, Asher reaches out to the priest with whom he feels a sort of affinity. And partly for the benefit of clearing away the "cold-blooded" view the woodsman must have of this group, he says,

"Priest, I should apologize for my coarse manner back there. I have been cloistered long with persons of my same ideas and forgot that you and I do not share a similar philosophy reguarding the reverence for human life. And, while I hope to have many good natured debates with you on the matter, I hope that we can both agree that, if Ulmo has lived his life right, he is in a better place now; No matter how unfortunate the circumstance of his death may be."

This said, Asher returns his thoughts to the task at hand and scans the perimeter of the manor for anything out of the ordinary.

OOC: Thank god the half-brothers are not here to mock this bit of drivel.

Hau'dn snorts, blowing air out of his mouth clearly exasperated, it causes his hair to dance slightly above his eyes.

"Do you honestly believe that will be any comfort to his family." Hau'dn states with a sarcastic edge.  "We're so sorry, your father's death was an unfortunate accident because we made no attempt to subdue him but really if he lived a good life, he's in a better place now.  That will sound so comforting to a child who no longer has their father."

Dominique acknowledges Asher's comments with a nod and a slight smile.  His Palonish accent softening the consonants of his Paldorian, the little priest replies, "No apologies are necessary, my friend.  We will no doubt have interesting conversations in the future...of that, I am certain."

The little priest listens to Hau'dn.  "My friend, you speak truly.  We are responsible for this man's death...and as one of the Mithran clergy, it is incumbent upon me to reunite his spirit with his flesh.  Mithran AND imperial law will demand no less."

Dominique looks at both the monk and the woodsman.  "Neither of you are responsible for this tragedy...I have traveled with these others, and our actions have precipitated this event.  The priest shakes his head, and adds, "The both of you may wish to leave...trouble seems to follow our group, and tonight it has caught up with us with a vengance, my friends."  Dominique looks tired as he says this, although a faint smile plays upon his face.  The three are a bit closer to the municipal manor at this point.

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

Asher looks at the woodsman, completly perplexed. Family? Father? Of course he knew what they meant. But it is without remorse that he realizes, He will never understand these concepts in the way the woodsman obviously does.

He addresses the woodsman, "I am sorry, I have offended you..."

He cannot seem to find anything more to say without risking insulting the man further... It's moments like these that make him miss his brethren and his home.

Asher opts to respond to the priest's warning, "I intend to finish the task at hand. Now, should we speak with the guards?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:09, Fri 10 Sept 2004.

"If there is evil afoot, let us deal with that.  After all, my night is already disrupted and I would see some peace come of it." Hau'dn states to his two companions, somewhat curious as to why he walked away leaving the guard vulnerable in what seemed clearly a volatile situation.

Hearing the consensus, Asher suggests a plan of action, "If one of you is willing to speak with the guards, I may be able to decifer if either of them are under a form of enchantment. It's a long shot, but it may be worth the try. You would merely need to engage them in normal conversation for as long as possible. Given Garryns tale of the hostility he encountered, I might suggest that we avoid the topic of the fires or our involvement in the matter."

Asher takes note of the fountain, and realizes that it too could be considered the "impossible place" from Zante's riddle. He looks around for anyone who may seem suspicious, at takes a look down the well for anything out of the ordinary.

Asher rolled a 20 (13+7) on the spot check.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:57, Mon 13 Sept 2004.

The Mithran priest sighs.  Already, things had gone terribly wrong.  The two half-brothers were loose ballistas--particularly the big one.  The Palonish man shakes his head.  He missed the monastery...quiet reflection, a simple glass of wine with an honest meal, prayers during the vesper services...these madmen he traveled with knew of no such pleasures--with the exception of Asher, perhaps...Caylin, possibly.  Hard to say with Garryn...Dominique shook his head to dislodge these confusing thoughts.

Still, these WERE interesting times, as the old Grangian curse enjoined its listeners to live within.

Dominique walks over to the guards.  "Well-met, my friends.  I am a simple man of the cloth and newly arrived in town--could you direct me to the nearest Mithran temple?"

Dom waves a hand towards Asher, hoping the monk will be within earshot to assess the guards' responses.

OOC:  Nothing unusual associated with the fountain.

Asher follows a few feet behind the priest. He closes his eyes briefly to open his mind to the power of the Great Ki. When he opens them again, he studies the guards, trying to look beyond the great Illusion of the physical world, past the face and the flesh, and into the Will that governs a man's existence.

"Seeing is deceiving, " He hears his Master's voice.

He studies the guards for a sign, an inconsistency, a rapid change in will that may suggest the presence of an enchantment.

OOC: Well, that was a lot of build-up for a roll of 16 (9+7). I'll hope that Zante is using "dominate person".

Kev, how long would Dom have to keep them talking for Asher to take the twenty?
Or do I reroll for every round that Dom keeps them going?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:19, Mon 13 Sept 2004.

"Oh.  Right then, Pater.  Y' see th' building yonder?  That be th' rectory--our local man o th' cloth should be up.  Now's not a good time, though--we 're havin' some difficulties, what with th' fires an' all."

The second guard looks grumpy, but doesn't seem to be of the size that Garryn had described.  "An' what wif unexected changes in th' shifts!"  The guardsman turns to his colleague.  "Why did y' stand down Kel, again, an' call me up, eh?  Gonna be m' day off, an' I woulda been helpin' wif th' fires, if'n y' hadn't inSISted on me bein' here, Lars."

Soto voce:  "Y' know why, Maekl.  What wi' Kel's wife an' th' commander...he ain't been rational-like--almos' got inta it wi' some stranger jest a bit ago."

The first guard clears his throat and addresses Dominique.  "Now, then, Pater.  Yon's th' rectory, an' best o' luck t' ye...an' y' might say a prayer f'r all o' us, too."

OOC:  Asher doesn't get the sense that either of the guardsmen are under the influence of enchantments.

Hau'dn walks up with Dominique, staying quiet for the most part.  "What is the story with the fires?  I am new in the town as well and have been somewhat concerned with the pall in the air."

Commander?  Kel's wife?  An affair or something more?  Stranger, could this be the one ... this Barnabas? The thoughts rush through Hau'dn's head but he knows better then to blurt them out in a rush, gathering information took tact.

"Th' fires?  Well, that might be what y' call *classified* information, y' know.  Sorry, sirrah."

"That's not 'tall classified, Lars!  Crazy man tries to set fires a few years back, gets tossed inna gaol, gets out...is crazier'n ever, an' tries t' set MORE fires?!  Not *classified* 'tall, me mate...jes' plain fucked."

The two guards stare at one another, and the first one sighs and shakes his head.  "Aye.  Maekl's right, then.  Only th' sole guy t' warn us was one o' th' aldermen...an' th' burgomaster weren't listenin'.  An' we ain't gettin' any help from no one...Ahriman's Hell, some two come by jes' a bit ago...human an' a hobbit offerin' t' help, an' we drove 'em off.  Borderton is under some bad signs now, I'm thinkin'"  The guard continues to shake his head.

"That were Kel's doin', from what y' told me, Lars.  Him an' his wife gotta work this out, otherwise he ain't really fit fer duty."

"Y' hush now, Maekl.  No need t' trot anythin' more out in front o' others."  The guardsman looks at Hau'dn, Asher, and Dominique levelly.  "Pater, y' can see th' rectory from here.  Anythin' else we can help y' with?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:28, Tue 14 Sept 2004.

Seven bells.

Asher addresses the guards, "Thank you for your help", and then turns to Dom. "We should probably wait for our friends before heading to the rectory; they may yet need our assistance with the search for this villian."

"Thank you sirs.  Just one more question if I may so impose.  This stranger that you refer to is he one of the others that came around the man and the hobbit?" Hau'dn asks.

I'm sure there is something here but what.  This stranger could well be the very man we search for.

OOC:  I'll try my best to avoid butchering Asher's style of play over the next few days.  Please try to bear with me..

Something tugging at his 6th Sense - Asher can't quite make it out, but he has the notion that something has gone awry with his party to the South.  "Dominique, Hau'dn and I will continue to recon the Manor.  I believe it would be prudent for you to join our colleagues - Garryn and Caylin - at the Water Tower.  All is quiet here for the moment.  And if our interpretation of the Pentagram is correct, that will be the next target hit.  Given recent events, I believe it may be prudent for you to be in a position to lend your healing skills there should they be needed.  Please, make haste and see to them at the Water Tower at once..."

Jas (as Asher)