Gwythe looks at the hobbit blanked for a few seconds. "Eh?" Then raising his hand in disgust he turns back to where he was lying. "Nevermind."

He lowers himself back down to the ground. "I want some food!" he yells out to the absent guard. "I'm hungry!" He absently picks up a loose rock and throws it out of the cell.

Time passed without either food or further discussion. Eventually the halfling's boredom overcame his silence "So whit ye in for?"

Gwythe looks up from where he's trying to pry a second stone out of the wall. "Getting caught." he mutters, grinding his finger nails along the mortar. After a few more seconds he get frustrated and stands up, kicking at the stone, trying to lodge it loose. "Crud." He sits back down in frustration.

More time passed before someone turned up.  It was the druid Jaroo, whom Gwythe has seen out and about.  He is a well respected memebr of the village council, known for his generosity and impartiality.  The Gaoler opened the cell door and then as the druid steps in closed and locked the door behind him. "Vestan, I'm sorry to say I have been unable to persuade the church to release you.  Despite the fact that your friends are about to go back to the moathouse and your talents as scout would be invaluable. I'll continue to work on Felicia but I doubt it will make any difference."

"Bitch." was all that Vestan said as he lay back down on his bunk.

Turning to Gwythe, Jaroo adds "I've seen you around but I don't know you or why you are in here.  If you wish to tell me some of your tale of woe I might be able to help."

Gwythe scrambles to his feet and nods his head nervously at the druid. "Ah... m'lord." He wipes his hands on his kilt. "Well I was hungry my lord, and... well no money, no work, new hereabouts. I took some food." His talk speeds up as he tries to explain. "I knows I shouldn't have m'lord, but the hunger makes me think funny. It's cruel m'lord, cruel."

He looks down at the ground, scratching with his foot. "I'm still hungry m'lord. Haven't eaten since two days ago. You couldn't ask if I could have some bread could you?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:14, Wed 24 Oct 2007.

"Another thief eh... Well I would say you in good company but that would probably upset him. Got caught too, not so promising it would seem. I'll talk to you again later." said the druid, his facial expressions and voice do not seem to be too condemning. He turned to the grille and shouted "Sid! come! and some food for your guests!"

When the gaoler returned and let him out, Vestan turned to Gwythe and said "Propa 'lil crawla aint ya." Before he has time to respond the gaoler brought in some bread and water, glaring at Gwythe.

Gwythe quickly grabs the bread and water off the guard, not saying anything, but taking all the food, and retreating to a corner, glaring at the hobbit.

(if the hobbit demands, or tries to take some food, Gwythe will push him away. If the guard intervenes and makes him share the food, he'll give a smaller portion to the hobbit, him being smaller after all.)

The hobbit relaxes bacm onto his bed and leaves Gwythe to his food undisturbed.

Gwythe will finish the bread and water and then lie back down, waiting for something to happen.

Time continued to pass until Gwythe could hear the sound of conversation outside the cell. The Gaoler unlocks the door and looking in says "Come along you.". Not giving the hobbit a chance Gwythe shoots through the door to see the gaoler and Jaroo outside. "Naw go wi tha man and no tricks right!" said the gaoler who locked the door behind him leaving the hobbit in the cell.

Jaroo lead the thief up some stairs into the church proper where he was joined by a priestess of some authority. "I still don't like it Jaroo. He must answer for his crimes.".

"Give him a chance to prove himself" replied the druid. "The dwarf will make sure he does the right thing."

"Never worked on Vestan..." grumbled the priestess "Now, the church is willing to give you a second chance here but you must swear to put your... ahem talents to help right a terrible wrong. If you see this through, we will count this as serving your sentence and you may leave a free man.  But you must swear to help the group lead by the dwarf Arek Blackiron until he deems your service complete. He is a compassionate man, perhaps too much so, and he will know what is fair return for your crimes."

Gwythe looks nervously from side to side. "What is this group doing? What do I have to do?" He looks anxiously at the druid and around his surroundings.

"Well, they are currently trying to clear out the moathouse near here of any taint of the evil temple that seems to be making a comeback.  At some point they will need to confront this greater evil. As to your duties, probably the same as you usually do, skulk around and spy on people." said the priestess. "Of course you could return to the cells and wait with Vestan for the ritual cleansing of the soul."

Gwythe's eyes go wide at the mention of the moat house, but he doesn't say anything, only nodding. After the priestess finishes, he looks across at Jaroo, and then down at his feet. "OK. I'll go with the group I guess."

"Good now come with me." said the druid.

As they made to leave the priestess added, "Should you prove false to your word, understand that the retribution of St. Cuthbert will be merciless."

Leaving the church they see a half-elf tying up a horse. By her garb she is likely a priest, but certainly not of the church of St. Cuthbert.

Jaroo lead Gwythe towards the small keep on the North side of the village.  Entering he said "Wait here! Rufus, keep an eye on him will you?" and proceeded down some stairs where he knocked and entered. There was a large warrior in the room who grunted in acknowledgment's of Jaroo's instructions  as well as a pair of guards.

Gwythe looks around at the guards, sizing them up and then the exit. He thinks better of it and moves to stand to one side of the room, looking around with interest.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:14, Wed 24 Oct 2007.

Gwythe glances up at the half-elf as she enters, watching her as she enters. He watches the guards to assess their reaction to her, and then bows slightly. "M'lady." As he stands up he straightens his jerkin slightly, fluffing out his cloak behind him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:16, Wed 24 Oct 2007.

The half-elf smiled, and directing herself a little more towards the large warrior.  said "Good morning.  I was told I might find a Ronalt de Gault somewhere around here?" she asks, hopefully.

Rufus nodded his head and answered "Indeed he is here but who might you be and what is you business with him?"

The guards looked bored.

OOC: missed adding this, the background sounds fine, lets run with that.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:43, Tue 16 Oct 2007.

Gwythe watches the interaction with interest, a slight smile on his face. He looks the half elf over more closely, seeking clues as to who she might be.

The half-elf looks thoughtful.  "Well, I might be almost anybody, I suppose," she muses, teasingly.  "But my name is Iviana.  I have a letter for him, and a priestess back at the Temple suggested I might be able to offer him some further help than that.  But at the least, I've a letter, and I was asked that it go from my hand to his."

Rufus listened to Iviana the said "En that case you'ld betta go an see him. I woud knock 'efore enterin'.' He gestures to a flight of stairs leading below.

Gwythe, got the impression she might be of a clerical nature but her natural strength made it look like she might be handly in a fight.

Gwythe watches the cleric disappear down the stairs and then slumps down against the wall, waiting.

After a few seconds he looks over at Rufus. "Who's Ronalt de Gault? Someone important round here?"

"Naw 'es a local ranger bin doin' a bit ow work at tha' old moathouse." answered Rufus.

Gwythe's eyes widen at the mention of the moathouse. "The moathouse? But aren't..." he catches himself. "What... what sort of work?"

The big warrior looks at Gwythe with a bit of a lopsided grin "What's oop! Do ye no want tha' chance of fame en jools? See et's a kind 'o treasoor hunt. Kill tha' bad guys en get tha' wimin, eh! Wull tha's how et was en ma day!"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Wed 24 Oct 2007.

Gwythe blinks at Rufus for a couple of seconds but seems unable to find anything to say. "Right..."

OOC: Yup, sure.

Jaroo returns and beckoning for Gwythe he leads him down the stairs and through the door.