In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 923):

DuckTown

Ciryl takes the easy road to the right toward DuckTown.

Soon the gentle slope levels out and he finds himself passing small huts surrounded by tiny gardens.

Ciryl notes that each house has at least one, if not many, carved vegetables sitting beside the door.  Pumpkins, gourds, squash, all with faces etched our gouged out of their fronts.


As he makes his way along the lake, the road branches off with the larger portion heading around the wooden walls of DuckTown and a smaller, but still well-worn, path leading up to the entrance.

Torches are already being lit, and Ciryl faces a pair of stout men with spears and menacing looks.

"What's yer business?" one demands.

The Western Outskirts

The rest of the party takes the smaller beaten path to the left, around the lake toward the small huts that line it.

Most of these are relatively small, though some large enough for a full family.  They are old and many in terrible disrepair.  Only a few show signs of smoke through their roofs despite the coming night chill.

The trail winds along the lake, often branching off to small piers or boat launches.  A few boats and canoes are tied up here and there, and a few people tossing lines into the water in hopes of one last catch of the day.

Your guide leads you nervously, and avoids the looks of everyone you pass.  These people, for their part, largely pretend to ignore you as well, though their interest in these newcomers is clear to see.

Finally, you arrive at a large hut made of logs and straw.

"Thissun," your guide notes nervously.  "This is Keller's and where I been staying".

The hut is maybe 12 feet across at its largest and has only a series of animal skins as a door.

In reply to GM (msg # 924):

Should have asked Deev to simulate Keller Brennan frowns. Too late now.

He looks over the ramshackle homes and the various boats that seem to make up the bulk of this area's "industry", and evaluates Keller's home with a watchful eye as well.

"We're going to look around," he informs their guide. "You're coming, too. I might have more questions. Then we'll be on our way, and you'll be out of the woods. Anybody else at home in there? Any angry dogs or pit traps I should worry about?"

Once armed with the answers, he asks Deev and Titus to keep watch and takes Bryce with him inside.

"We're looking for Fel signs," he explains if Titus objects. "And you need to take the pulse of these people anyway."

"Medicine," Ciryl replies with a smile, "I can find the cause and the cure for what ails you.  I've also go tonics and tinctures, tried and true to treat tiredness, soreness, stiffness and all manner of other everyday inconveniences," he waves an arm expansively toward his cart, "All for sale at reasonable prices."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 14:02, Thu 19 Oct 2017.

In reply to Ciryl Fontaine (msg # 926):

Gates of DuckTown

One of the guards steps forward and roughly, but not maliciously, rummages through Ciryl's cart.  If Ciryl objects, he is ignored.  If he tries to intervene, the other guard will step in.

After a quick once-over, the man shrugs.

"Can't be too careful, can you.  Especially these days with Southron spies sneaking about... not to mention all the young girls gone missin'."

He eyes Ciryl carefully.

"Where you from?"


A Hovel Beside the Lake

Your guide shakes his head vigorously.  "No, no traps, I swear it!"

He stumbles forward and beats his hand against the animal hide flap.

"ANYONE IN THERE?  IT'S ME!  I'M COMING IN WITH COMPANY!"

He moves very slowly now, pushing gently on the flap, taking all the time he can.

From the back of the hut, you hear some scrabbling and cursing.

In reply to GM (msg # 927):

"What in the Dream of Hell did you do that for? We're trying to find answers. It is literally all we've been talking about for hours! Do you think I'm stupid, like I wouldn't know a tip-off when I heard one?!"

Brennan looks at the kid incredulously, clearly weighing the pros and cons of cutting him down where he stands. Instead, he grabs him roughly by the shoulder and drags him into the house with him.

"Hold it! Stop running, dammit, we're not that kind of company," he hollers into the house as he barges in. "We've got word straight from Keller that you've gotta hear!"

He narrows his eyes at the boy and mimics his lexicon as best he can.

"Ain't that right? Tell 'em."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:34, Thu 19 Oct 2017.

Ciryl does attempt to intervine as his cart is rummaged, but when the second guard stops him, he satisfies himself with simply warning the searching soldier if something is especially fragile, or expensive.  When questioned on his origins he simply shrugs, "Oh, I've come from and gone to nearly everywhere, but I was born in a small village south of Goose Neck, if you want my life story. I promise you, I'm neither spy nor soldier for any man named Arkenhurst.  As for young girls, the last time one went missing on me, she left me with a hang over and a much less attractive replacement," he says with a chuckle, jabbing the guard with his elbow knowingly.

In reply to Ciryl Fontaine (msg # 929):

As soon as Titus hears the boy's call he has two knives out and is blazing out and around the side of the house

I WILL deal with you later.

He tosses over his shoulder.

Titus runs out the house to find out how to cut off the exits.  Can't be that big.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 930):

Gates of DuckTown

The guard chuckles and moves out of the way, allowing Ciryl to enter DuckTown.

Beyond the palisade, he finds a relatively dense sprawl of low huts.

The road meanders and splits, wandering between the huts lazily.  The smaller ones are round with straw roofs, the larger ones are made of logs and a few are more than a story tall.

People meander about, most heading from the piers toward the larger huts.  What shops and artisans there are are already in the process of closing for the day or are already closed.

All around, Ciryl sees more of the carved gourds and he notes a distinctly suspicious air to all the locals he sees.

A Hovel Beside the Lake

Brennan manhandles the guide through the flap into the hut.

It is quite dark inside, there being only one thin window and no lights of any kind.

Titus runs around the back of the house in time to see two young men fleeing through a back exit.

COMBAT ROUNDS

In reply to GM (msg # 931):

"Tear down the hides on the door," Brennan says to Deev and Bryce, maintaining his grip on the boy with one hand and drawing the seldom-used cudgel at his side with the other. "I want to be able to see."

To the boy, he lowers his voice.

"I was going to let you go. What the fuck is wrong with you? What about the last several hours led you to believe we were people to fuck with? Did you see what happened to Keller and the others? What's so important about this place that a coward like you would risk your life?!"

He shakes his cudgel wearily.

"If anybody lays a finger on me or my men because you led us into a trap, you're going to lose your gods-damned EYES. Call. Them. Off."

OOC: Lacking targets or obvious threats, I guess I have no combat action beyond drawing a weapon.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:50, Fri 20 Oct 2017.

Ciryl Steers his cart toward the shops native to the town and finds an area to park it without obstructing anything important.  He makes a tour of the merchants and artizans, seeing what services the town has.  He gives a pleasant wave to anyone who stares too long but otherwise ignores the suspicious glances directed his way until he feels he has some sense of the town.  Once he's satisfied with his brief tour he goes back to his cart and clears his throat and declares as loudly as he can, "Ladies and Gentlemen!  My name is Ciryl Fontaine and I have come to your fine town today offering all the miracles of modern medicine!  Are you sick, tired worn or weary?  Are you sick and tired of being worn and weary?  I have in this cart a cure for your cold, a stop to the sniffles. I can put an end to your pains and do away with your aches.  Whatever may delay your daily routine, Ciryl Fontaine offers applied alchemy, made to order and at your disposal!" at that, he swings his cane up to strike the side of his cart with a solid crack, which causes a concealed panel to fall open revealing a painted sign reading "Ciryl Fontain's Miracles of Modern Medicine" with illustrations of potion bottles, scales and various alchemical accoutrements. "Now I'm sure some of you are thinking I'm some damn stranger come to rob you blind with pretty words, but I assure you I am not here to take your money, I am here to earn your business.  Step right up, first person to tell me what ails them gets the remedy for free!  Let your neighbor convince you I'm an honest salesman!"

In reply to Ciryl Fontaine (msg # 933):

DuckTown

It wouldn't properly be called a crowd, but a small knot of people soon form around Ciryl's cart.

The first (and a few other) customer requests a simple remedy for what he calls "duckshits".  A few older townsfolk request simple ointments for aching joints.

One boy asks whether Ciryl has anything "splozive, to shake up the fish like?"

At the request to remedy the "duckshits" Ciryl kindly and quite sincerely requests a more detailed description of the symptoms, but is quickly able to deduce the malady and offers a potion he swears will settle the matter.  For all of the similar requests he offers the same potion, at a price.  He gives each potential customer what is apparently his undivided attention, making idle conversation as he mixes his remedies (or digs through his cart for ointments) and investigates their ailments.   He does everything he can to be friendly and sociable as long as the customer base holds out.

Finally, when the boy inquires about "splosives" he grins and chuckles, "Lad, I sell medicine.  I don't think explosions would be very medicinal to the fish, do you?  Hardly sporting either, truth be told.  Rods and nets not treating you well enough?"

((2x8 medicining to translate "duckshits" btw))

In reply to Ciryl Fontaine (msg # 935):

Titus makes a flashy entrance as he slides around to the back of the cabin.

[Coord+Perform: 3x4] to dodge any ambush.

Wait.  If you stop and talk to us then you will make it out of this alive.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 936):

The Hut

Titus does a Kirk-esque tactical roll around the back of the hut, regaining his footing to see a pair of young men fleeing from the back entrance of the hut.  One is indeed limping.

Inside the dark hut, Brennan finds your guide less than compliant.  He suddenly twists and attempts to flee, but Brennan manages to hold him by the elbow.

COMBAT ROUND

Brennan is inside the hut holding the boy by the arm.

Titus is around back, still in knife range of the pair who are fleeing.

DuckTown

"Oh... I guess so..." the boy replies with a dejected look.

Ciryl maintains a thin but steady stream of people, enough to keep him busy and chatting until the sun is going down.

In reply to GM (msg # 937):

Titus runs after the fleeing men, not as fast as he would like.

[Body + Athletics: 2x1]

Stop this foolishness now!  You can't out run all of us and I really don't want to take your other leg!
This message was last edited by the player at 15:10, Thu 26 Oct 2017.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 938):

Brennan sighs and thwacks the boy with his cudgel.

]

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 939):

The Hut

Titus catches up to the limping boy while the other gains distance.

"RUN!" shouts the one in the lead, as if it weren't apparent that's what they're doing.

Inside the hut, Brennan raises his cudgel, but the boy is quicker and gives him a solid shove in the chest.  Brennan swings wildly in the darkness while the boy moves toward the back door.

Combat Round

Titus has caught up with one boy, the other is ahead.

Brennan is inside the hut with the guide, unengaged.

In reply to GM (msg # 940):

If you make me draw my bow, boy, you'll come to regret it..."

Brennan closes and attempts another swat with the club.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 941):

Titus keeps easy pace with the boy with the limp and puts on a turn of speed trying to catch the other.

[Body + Athletics: 2x6]

He is breathing too heavy and too angry to come up with any lines at this point.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:33, Thu 26 Oct 2017.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 942):

The Hut

Brennan swings again, and connects with something in the dark but it isn't the boy.

The flap swings open, giving Brennan enough light to see his quarry's backside slip out.

Titus leaves the limper behind and catches up with the other boy, who takes a quick turn and leaps over a pile of broken fishing baskets.  Titus bounds after him (you have caught up with the lead boy).

Combat Round

Brennan is alone in the dark hut.

Titus is alongside a fleeing boy.

Somewhere between you two are a boy with a limp, and another.

In reply to GM (msg # 943):

Titus laughs as the boy tries to lose him with the old fish baskets routine.  The boy cuts around the corner and Titus takes two steps up a pile of firewood grabbing the corner to swing himself around his knee connects with the boy's skull driving him into the wall.

Titus lands neatly beside him.  Panting.

[Body + Brawl: Location: 910 2x9, 2x5.  5 shock]

Now stop this bullshit!

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 944):

Brennan sighs, hooks his cudgel to his belt, unslings his bow, and heads out the back door intent on shooting someone next round.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 945):

The Hut and Beyond

Titus knocks the boy to the ground, clutching his head.

The boy's only response is to holler in pain and writhe around a bit on the grass.

Behind Titus, the injured boy and your guide scatter in different directions.

Brennan emerges from the hut, stately, armed, ready for action.

COMBAT ROUND

Titus is near a prone opponent fifty feet from the original hut.

Brennan can see a boy limping away in one direction, and the guide running as fast as he can in the other direction.  They will be able to find cover after this round if unimpeded.

In reply to GM (msg # 946):

Brennan calmly fires an arrow at the former guide.

[Archery: 2, 2x6, 2x1]

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 947):

BRENNAN!  ONE DOWN HERE!!!!

He adds to the boy

You lay here you live.  You stand up... you die.

Titus quick as lighting leaves the boys side jumping nimbly up onto the peak of a nearby roof.  His dagger throw sails just wide of the boy's head.

[Perform+coord: 3x10]

/ooc: Hopefully this roof is still in knifing range of the boy.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:11, Fri 27 Oct 2017.