In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 219):

Do you keep a log of who requests the mold and when?

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 220):

You can visit the inspector.  The Guildmistress says there are no specific records she is aware of regarding who uses the mold.

The Inspector is easily found doing rounds among the shops of local craftsmen.

He is a short portly fellow with a thin red beard and a tattoo of a compass under one eye.

In reply to GM (msg # 221):

Brennan thanks her for her time and tries to find the Inspector.

"After him, we'll see the Master of Coin," he notes.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 222):

The Inspector is gruff, but seeing Pika there, and after getting assurances that the Guildmistress sent you, he is compliant enough.

He claims to keep no records specifically for the mold, but he oversees it's use, and always uses the same smith.  He recalls the last use was a few days past, and that it's been a personal frustration for him because the Master of Coin is always misplacing his pendant, and has required near half a dozen replacements in the past year.

The Inspector hasn't spoken with the Master of Coin directly, but with his secretary.

In reply to GM (msg # 223):

Brennan thanks the man for his time and asks Pika to take them to the Master of the Coin. Along the way, he inquires about the Master of Coin's secretary (age, how long has he/she worked for him, what they did prior to that, complaints/gossip).

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 224):

Pika visibly reins in her frustration at the "inadequate" (as you can hear her muttering later) record keeping of her coworkers.

She leads you through DuckTown to the bank, another squat building on the edge of town.  Unlike the Governer's manor, this building is guarded by a pair of large men wearing hauberks and carrying swords on their hips.

They nod to Pika and allow you to pass unhindered.

This building is large and open, with high ceilings.  Most of the building is a single room filled with tables at which various people are counting out coins, adding or subtracting from ledgers, or exchanging currency.

There are guards at every exit who eye the proceedings carefully.

Pika leads you past the clerks and counters to a back office.  Inside, the air immediately turns stuffy and heavy, the smell of leather and paper almost stifling.


The walls are entirely covered in books and racks of rolled parchment scrolls.

In the middle of the office is a desk almost entirely drowned in further books, ledgers, and paper.  Barely visible in the middle of the mess is a man with thin white hair, spectacles, and a broad smile.

Pika introduces you to DuckTown's Master of Coin.

"Of course, come in, come in," he urges with a wave of his hand.  "Pika, my dear from a foreign land, how nice of you to visit me, and bring me guests it seems?  It's been far too long!  May I again entreat you to join my staff?  I could tell you again what an asset you would be, how much more exact our records would become, and how it would please an old man to see so able an accountant flourish."

"And I would tell eu again, sur," Pika replies quickly but pleasantly, "That I must refuse.  Eu ken the why."

"Yes, yes, of course, but I have to make the attempt.  You're the best clerk in the North!"

He cranes his neck to see Brennan et al over the pile of assorted junk on his desk.

"Now then, who are you and how may I be of service?"

In reply to GM (msg # 225):

Titus raises his eyebrow at the refusal.

I'll have to get to the bottom of that...

Do we RP this one or just more firing?

Who is the lazy forgetful idiot who keeps losing his damn medallion?

I think is a good start.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 226):

Brennan allows Pika to introduce him, at least, to the Master of Coin, before asking any questions.

"My good sir, as Pika mentioned, I am a scholar from the south who has found my way into your fair town by happenstance on the way to the ruins of Losthelm..."

He proceeds to tell an abbreviated version of the past events, including meeting with the other 3 masters and the governor himself. He leaves out the particulars aside from the top-level bits.

"If I may, it seems that your office goes through more badges of office than most. Do you or does anyone on your staff know a man named Keller, or indeed spend any time whatsoever in the shanty town? Have you ever recovered the badges that have gone missing, or are there still more unaccounted for?"

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 227):

As Brennan tells a sanitized version of your recent tales, the Master of Coin goes from rapt attention to polite nods to finally returning to his work.

There is a long awkward pause after Brennan finishes speaking where the only sound is the scratching of the Master of Coin's quill.

Pika clears her throat loudly, bribing back the man's attention.

"Hmmm?  Ah, yes, very interesting story."  He waits patiently, clearly not having heard Brennan's questions at the conclusion.

Brennan repeats himself, and the Master of Coin shakes his head.

"I do not know any Keller, or perhaps that's the lad who changes the chamber pots?"

"No, ee's Willis, son of the Crier, sir," Pika adds helpfully.

"Oh yes.  Nice lad.  Then I'm afraid I don't know a Keller.  As for badges, well, that's a bit embarrassing."  He sighs.  "You see, once I leave this office, well, my mind never really leaves this office.  I'm a bit forgetful, no sense denying it.  Sometimes I've misplaced it, I'm afraid.  Have my Clerk get me a new one when I remember it."

In reply to GM (msg # 228):


Titus inspects the office while Brennan talks.  When he acts like he never heard of him Titus slaps the page with his drawing infront of him.

Looks like this.

He says.  He wanders around a bit during the answer and walks past Brennan afterwords whispering to him

Guildmistress is right... he's an idiot.  Probably have better luck at the clerk.

He smiles broadly and takes a stance at his ease next to Brennan.  He asks out loud

Lets say that one of these medallions finds it out of your possession and into the hands of someone who shouldn't have it.  What could they do with it?

This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Mon 22 Jan 2018.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 229):

The Master of Coin looks carefully at the drawing, but only shrugs.

"With a badge?  Well I... one could imagine they'd get up to no good with it, impersonate a clerk or an officer, perhapse?"

He shakes his head.

"But it wouldn't do much good, DuckTown takes care of its own, we're a good town.  There's enough people know all the Master's agents by face, you wouldn't keep up the facade long.  Maybe among the rabble in the outskirts... or foreign travelers like yourselves..."

He trails off as his eyes stray from you to his paperwork once more.

In reply to GM (msg # 230):

Titus nods

Keep going... there's more to the story there. 

He encourages him as he looks back at the page.  He will gently cajole the master until he gets something or hits a wall.

OK.  So lets continue with the idea of the outskirts.  Exactly what would having one of those badges do for you in the outskirts?

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 231):

"Hmmm?" the Master of Coin is pulled from his work once again.  "Oh... well I don't know that I've been there in many long years."

In reply to GM (msg # 232):

Titus grits his teeth and begins to silently count.  He walks over to the Master of coin's desk and perches himself on the edge of it to command his attention with proximity.

Yes but you know the rules, statutes and priveleges of your power.  What could you do with it in the outskirts were you given to mischief? 

I'm assuming the coinmaster's desk is a complete disaster.  Can I see what he is working on?

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 233):

"Oh my," the Master of Coin looks flustered.  He looks to Pika for support but she only shrugs.

"I daresay I don't listen to bards all too often, stories are not my strong suit."  He watches Titus' every move carefully while the singer attempts to make sense of the documents.

"I suppose one could get up to mischief ordering people about... but why is beyond me."

The papers look to be covered in numbers, grid lines, and small notes.  Titus ascertains that the Master of Coin is working on numbers.

In reply to GM (msg # 234):

Titus smiles disarmingly.

There are bards, and there are Bards... and I am the latter.  You forgot to cary the one.

He points at the page adding proudly adding some words that he had heard somewhere.  He sits comfortably on the corner of the desk commanding the master of coin's attention.  He spares a quick glance to Brennan and Cyril indicating 'your witness' if they don't have anything he will continue...
This message was last edited by the player at 14:12, Tue 23 Jan 2018.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 235):

Both the Master of Coin and Pika (who rushes over immediately) inspect the paper Titus indicated.

The Master of Coin stares at it for some time with a confused look on his face.

Pika fixes Titus with a glare that seems to say, "I'm not sure if you're an idiot or an arse."

In reply to GM (msg # 236):

"I appreciate your time, sir," Brennan says, jerking his head toward the door in an attempt to get Titus moving. "We'll leave you to your work, but before we go, I would dearly like to speak with the person you charge with replacing the badge when you misplace it. Could you direct us to them, please?"

Assuming this is granted and they are soon ushered out of the room, Brennan spares a moment to speak with Titus -- though he does not bother to keep this quiet from Cyril or Pika.

"Unless your vast experience in theatrics has exposed that man as a rather splendid actor, I'm inclined to believe he is the overwhelmed and overworked bookkeeper he claims to be. There was no reason to antagonize him."

"If I were to choose one of the four Masters to ingratiate myself to in order to gain access to things I shouldn't have access to, I would have already been leaning toward the treasury for monetary purposes. The fact that their Master is perhaps the least attentive to their surroundings would be an added bonus. I am eager indeed to meet this assistant who supposedly handles the missing badges. With any luck, they will either be or know the one we seek."

He frowns slightly.

"Pike, are the Governor and the Master of Arms aware that this office -- the Treasury -- is a badge sieve?"

Brennan silently goes over the numbers he saw on the ledgers in his perfect memory as they walk...

Brains + Accounting: 2x8
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Tue 23 Jan 2018.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 237):

But he's soooo annnooooyyinnngggg.

Titus plaintiffly repsonds.

Though your right.  As always.  He's definitely not acting.  The guildmistress was right.

Pika, what mischief could you get up to with one of those badges in the outskirts of town?

"I suppose you would know," Ciryl jabs playfully at Titus, having kept to the back of the group again, especially after Titus's last display.  "Pika, the investigator said he only spoke with the Master of Coin's secretary.  Do you have any idea how often anyone else actually sees the master in person?"

In reply to Ciryl Fontaine (msg # 239):

Titus sticks his tongue out at Ciryl in response to the jab.

God this town is even infecting you guys too.

He mutters.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 240):

The Master of Coin waves jovially as you leave.

"Enjoy your... ah, stay in DuckTown! I do hope you find what you're looking for!"


The door is quickly shut by a guard as you exit.

"Oh, neh, not at all!" Pika exclaims in a worried voice.  "Such poor rekord keepin..."

You are able to find the Chief Clerk easily enough, as he is attending to business in the same building.  You are forced to wait as he concludes whatever it is he is doing.

The Chief Clerk is a young man with sandy hair and a stern gaze.

In reply to GM (msg # 241):

Brennan looks him over for any visible tattoos, then gives the usual introduction with Pika's input as needed.

"It seems the Master of Coin has a habit of misplacing his badges of office," Brennan concludes. "Can you tell us more about that?"

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 242):

The man sighs heavily and lowers his voice so that you have to lean in to hear him.

"Aye, the man would lose his head if it weren't attached at the neck.  Misplaced it several times this year I'd say.  I save him the embarrassment and talk to the Inspector myself.  He's got the sharpest mind for numbers in the north, but..."

He shakes his head again and shrugs.

In reply to GM (msg # 243):

Do you ever find the lost badges?  Or when he loses them are they gone forever? 
This message was last edited by the player at 19:34, Wed 24 Jan 2018.