As they look at the door and the guardsman gives his assessment, Rondalds brow furrows.

"Thank you sir for looking. Perhaps you might see some evidence in our room I missed."

He had other work to do, and things like this did not help at all. A new crossbow would have to be sought. He glanced around to see it Terri had lost her bow as well, as well as tents, bedding, canteens and personal basics. It would cost easily all they had earn't. He was glad he sold many smaller items, and that he no longer had the plates from the dungeon that Finn had buried. He would hate to admit that the man was right to bury them, but right now...it looked that way.

Rondald sizes up the window, estimating in his minds eye if the crossbow would fit out of it, and looks out into the alley, seeing if anything familiar can be spied. As he does, he answers the innkeeper

"Not if. Clearly there is no crossbow here, and there was one this morning, among other items.

So where would such a thief most likely fence these items, in your opinion? Obviously you know the area much better than I do."

As he listens to the answer, a thought occurred to him.

"I have heard there is magic that can track a particular item. Is there any who might know that here?" Rondald asks the guard.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:25, Mon 15 June 2020.

Rondald walks over to the window, opening the shutter latch and pushing the shutters open, searching the wide alley for any sign of his things.  However, Rondald sees nothing familiar, only a few piles of refuse and mud which cling in the corners.

Rondald Responds to the innkeeper's attempts to obfuscate the situation, pointing out again quite clearly that he had brought a whole slew of items into the room, and that they were clearly no longer there.

He continues on, however, asking to the room where a thief might fence the items.  His head still poking out the window, Rondald is not expecting the response of both the men at the same time.

"How should I know where thieves!.."  The innkeeper starts, the blood rising again in his voice.  Though Captain Talinson speaks at the same time, cutting off the innkeeper mid-sentence.

"Craine is a big city.  There are plenty of sellers on the black market and plenty of men that will take goods elsewhere to sell them where they cannot be traced.  Unfortunately, the only one of those men that I know is currently held in the stocks, so I doubt he would be of much use to you."

As for Rondald's question on magic - the captain shakes his head.  "The mage's guild sometimes sells their skills to those who wish to pay for it, but that is not something I have experience taking advantage of.  I will tell you that their services are not inexpensive, though perhaps it would be worth it to find your belongings."

OOC:  Ok, seems like you have a few different ideas.  It is about 1430 right now, so your time is limited.  Let me know which order you want to take to follow your ideas.  A crossbow may be a little difficult to find, though with your status you'll likely be able to pull it off.  The mage's guild will likely be easy to find, though it may take you some time to find someone who knows the spell you are looking for, if you find someone at all.  Terri's bow was also amongst the missing items, she did not take it to the castle.  Let me know what you want to buy or where you want to go from here.

Noting the innkeepers over reaction, once again, he responds more directly this time.

"Innkeep, it was a simple question about the city in general. Are you new here? I assumed not, therefore the question was legitimate. Perhaps the goods have never actually left the inn...what do you think, good captain? Where would the innkeeper put it if he helped himself? Or perhaps he just knows something he is not telling us..."

He turns slowly and looks directly at the innkeeper, holding eye contact.

[OOC: He is interested in checking the innkeeper, to be sure, then replacing, in order, Personal basics, Canteens, tent for 2, Terris Bow, His Crossbow]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:40, Mon 15 June 2020.

"A simple question?"  The innkeepers sputters, and as Rondald goes on, the innkeeper only gets more irate.

"You incontrovertible ass!  I have none of your things!  I have done nothing but help yet you only hurl insults and provocations!  Where do you find such gall to inflame anyone you please!"

"Enough!"  Captain Talinson snaps, raising his voice over that of the innkeep.  "He is not wrong that you constantly overreact!  What are you hiding man!  I have half a mind to clap you in irons just to soften your tongue!"

"You wouldn't dare sir!  No decent man could..."

"I have reason enough to haul you in now!"  Talinson raises his voice higher, his eyes flashing fire as he stares down at the innkeeper.  Mr. Dennick seems to breaks somewhat, stepping backwards, some of his surly confidence departing his face, though it appears the damage is done.

"What say you?"  Captain Talinson looks at Rondald, his eyes still etched with a cold fury.  "Should we take him for a night just to see if he can find a new way to be helpful?"

OOC:  What does 'checking the innkeeper' mean?  Do you want to search his person?  If you have ideas with what you want to do please be specific so I know where to move the story.  One way or the other, your words have moved the story on far enough, which presents you with a new option.  Captain Talinson is offering to haul the innkeeper to a holding cell under charge of theft and is asking your opinion.  Please state if you want to take him up on it.

Ronald looks at the innkeeper with surprise.

"Cooperative? You held us up from checking other room s until I got the guard, wasting hours unneseccarily. You claim to have seen no one, but clearly someone came and left with our stuff. You have been so busy covering for yourself you have been also covering for the criminal! Maybe they are one and the same. What evidence can you give us to the contrary? If you need time to think about it, the good Captain will be most accommodating, I am sure..."

Turning to the Captain he answers "I am no judge. Let him decide by his actions, shall we? He has been here all day, and surely knows the area well. He has to know or suspect something...."

[The idea is to get his stuff back. By checking the innkeeper, I had in mind checking his body language. He seems that he may be hiding something, so really this is intimidation to ensure cooperation, and possibly to check his involvement. He has been at the front desk all day, so Ronald thinks he must know more than he has said, which raises questions as to why he is staying quiet.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:37, Mon 22 June 2020.

"Covering for myself!"  The innkeeper immediately rises back up in flames, stepping forward to Rondald as if ready to strike.  "You are a liar and a hustler!  You come to my inn seeking restitution for something never lost!  I will not be browbeaten by a villain like yourself!"

"Enough!"  Talinson steps forward, his chest setting up a blockade between Rondald and the innkeeper.  "I have had enough of your animus!  You have not helped in any substance but have attacked and obfuscated instead!  By your own action you have indeed chosen!"  Talinson looks back at Rondald, making eye contact for only a moment before turning back to the innkeeper.  "You will accompany me to the station, where you can think on how a decent man acts!"

The innkeeper's eyes widen, though his defensive front does not break.

"If indeed the good sir does intend to take this to court you can ensure I will make a full account of your actions."  Talinson continues.  "I would encourage you to come quietly for your own sake."

The innkeeper stares daggers at Rondald, pulling the key ring from his belt before he begins walking back towards the front desk and the entrance.  "Certainly."  The innkeeper says coldly.

With a glance and a nod backwards, Captain Talinson follows Mr. Dennick.  Terri, still somewhat in shock at the exchange follows with Rondald a close step behind

"Ivan, do me a favor and keep things moving here.  I'll pay you triple your normal.  I'll be back as soon as I can."  Rondald watches the innkeeper turn over his keys to the stable, who sputters a bit into his beer, grabbing the keys as he looks back with wide eyes.

"Yes sir!"  He responds, glancing at the Captain, to Rondald, and then back to the innkeeper before the man starts to walk peacefully out the door.

OOC:  Consider your intimidation attempt failed.  For the moment, it appears that the captain is bringing the innkeeper back to the station, either for just general improper behavior or possibly on suspicion of theft.  If you wish to intervene please describe how.  Otherwise, we'll keep moving forward with the story - last I heard you wanted to look and repurchase a few items.

"You made your own bed, innkeeper, you can lie in it."

Ronald was a big man, and face far more daunting goes than this. He was not in the least purtubed by the innkeepers actions, and when the Captain glanced his way, he nodded approvingly.

"Until evidence is found, we can't press charges, but to accuse me of lying about the theft only implicates him further. I leave him in your hands, Captain. We have to purchase some new equipment..."

He waits until the man is gone before discussing with Terri what is needed and taking stock of what they have.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:03, Sat 27 June 2020.

Rondald merely nods his head at the innkeeper's fate.  It was fair really.  The man was being intentionally unhelpful, bristling at objective comments and being argumentative for no reason what so ever.  Rondald would have to think again on whether he would take the man to the courts... or whether he even wanted to stay in this forsaken city for that long.  It seemed overkill send the man to prison or slavery to make up for his losses.  Though surely he could be repaid with whatever cost selling the inn would fetch...

Rather than dwell on it, Rondald sits down with Terri discussing the list of things that will need to be purchased.  After twenty or thirty minutes of list making, assemble a set of items that should serve their purposes.  However, throughout the process, Terri seems to be distracted.

"Don't you think..."  Terri blurts out after Rondald marks down medical supplies on the list, "That maybe we're going down with this a little heavy handed?"  She looks up at Rondald appraisingly.

"What about this?"  She starts, pointing a finger at the list.  "Why don't you run out and go get the supplies and I'll stick around here and ask a few more of the staff members...  Mr. Dennick had said the staff members had been in and out.  I bet some of them know more than we have learned yet either.  Maybe we aren't asking the right questions.  Anyway, that way we could get some of our things replaced and maybe be a little closer to finding our things."

OOC:  Here's a list of things you've come up that may need to be replaced:
Crossbow and bolts
Bow and arrows
Carpentry kit
Fletching kit
Survival Basics
Bedding/Tent
Food
Medical supplies

Please be specific with what you want to do from here.

Ronald smiled at his wife. He was ever the strong one, but perhaps she was right.

"You could well be right. In more ways than one. If there is more to be gained from discussing things with the staff, it is probably best that you do it. But don't be unarmed...in case they are responsible. You are worth more than all of our possessions combined, and by a long way.

I will take the mule and what we have left and see what I can get."

He will gather everything and put it in the saddlebags...
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:03, Sun 28 June 2020.

Agreeing to let Terri scout on by herself, Rondald gathers together what remains of their things and puts them in the saddlebags, taking everything they own on his shopping trip into the city.  Though there is much to purchase, Rondald feels most secure going for the weapons first, so he stops by the armorer, who has a wide sample of ranged weaponry to pick from.

Rondald samples the wares, testing the weight on the string of the largest crossbow in the inventory, and finds it satisfactory for his purposes (though it is no substitute for his own, sighted weapon).  He then walks through the the larger bows, knowing that while his wife's form is lithe, the composite bow she had used up until recently had actually had quite a strong pull.  Rondald ends up deciding on one of the longbows that is relatively easy for him, though he knows is stronger than many could handle.

Rondald rounds off the purchase with a set of quivers, a shoulder and hip quiver for each of them, and as many bolts and arrows as he can safely carry.  He is just packing all of this equipment away on the mule (with the bow strung over his shoulder), when a glance down the roadway makes his heart drop down to the pit of his stomach.

"Ron!"

Terri is sprinting towards him, blood splattered across her right thigh like an angry red slash of inkblots.  Her hair is wild, and her eyes are bolted open.  Rondald opens his mouth to begin his questions, though before he manages, she crashes into him at full speed, her arms wrapping around him like like a squid as he stumbles backwards into their mule who grunts in annoyance.

"Ron!  It was the stableboy!  I talked to the maid and there was a key, but it was gone!  And she said she was the only one that used it to clean rooms after check out, but I was sure it wasn't her.  And he got suspicious, and tried to grab me, and I just managed to get away!  I don't know if he's still there, but it's definitely him!"

Terri's words are punctured by heaving breaths, only when she is finished does she loosen her grip, turning her head over her shoulder to look behind her, although there does not seem to be anyone following.

OOC:  It is now 1600.  You've managed to purchase these items:

Hip Quiver x2*         $30   2 lbs
Shoulder Quiver x2     $20   1 lb (one carried by each of us)

Bolts x40             $80   2.4 lbs (28 on mule, 1.68 lbs)
Arrows x50           $100   5 lbs (38 on mule, 3.8 lbs)

Bow, Long (ST 13) 1d6+2 imp $200, 3 lbs
Crossbow (ST 14) 2d6 imp  $150, 6 lbs

Rondald is shocked to see the blood, and then angry. He holds her tightly for a few seconds.

"We need to get back to find him then. I wonder how much the innkeeper knew of this."

He moves quickly once she has calmed a little, and heads back immediately, glad that he had taken everything left. The stableboy indeed, but he would probably do a runner. He hoped not, but time would tell. If he did, then a visit to the guard and the innkeeper may garner useful information. But for now, it was back to the inn...
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:15, Tue 14 July 2020.

Terri notes as Rondald stares at the wide swath of blood on her leg, shaking her head even before Rondald can mention anything of it.  "It's not mine.  I think I got him pretty good after he grabbed me.  Good enough anyway to get away."  She shakes her head again.  "I lost my knife though.  I'm just glad I made it out."  She hugs close to Rondald again and the knight returns the sentiment, though his mind is already on the next steps he needs to take.

Turning straight towards the inn Rondald leads their mule and all their things back towards the scene of the crime.  If they knew it was the stable hand, perhaps he could inform them of where the goods were, or at least allow some recourse for their stolen things.  They needed haste though.  All would be lost if the man was gone before they could get their hands on him.

Rondald arrives just outside the inn, his hand still holding the lead rope for the mule, his other hand holding the empty crossbow and Terri's new purchased longbow strung over his shoulder.  Rondald glances within the windows, noting the nearly empty room.  A man sits at the desk near the back, though it is not the long, sandy hair of the stable man.  Instead, the man has a close crop of curly black hair, though it is hard to make out details through the imperfect windows.

OOC:  Let me know any steps you want to take prior to heading into the inn.  Terri is actually uninjured, all the blood on her leg being the stable man's rather than her's.

"Darling, why don't you stay in the street with your bow, and try to get the attention of any guard who passes. If the stablehand comes, use your bow. Or my knife..." he takes off his silver coated knife and ties it to her, handing her the bow and arrows.

"...but only use the knife as a last resort. I will see if he is still here."

He cocks his crossbow, putting it on his back and readies his axe, before entering cautiously.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:27, Wed 15 July 2020.

Rondald hands over his long knife, its silver blade gleaming in the late afternoon sunlight.  Terri nods at the instructions, stepping back from the inn as Rondald heads inward.

"Be careful."  She says quietly, heading towards the other side of the road.

His axe held in one hand, and the long grip of the crossbow held in the other, Rondald pushes his way through the inn door into the room beyond.

The room is somewhat darker in the late afternoon sunlight, the small street facing windows casting their soft glow that barely seems to brighten the recesses of the room and the lanterns near the desk have yet to be lit.  The hearth too, is unlit.  Rondald however, is a man of excellent night vision, and the matter proves little more than an inconvenience as his eyes adjust to the meager light.

He scans the room slowly from the door.  The common tables for dining lay empty, all the chairs pushed in and organized without any evidence of recent use.  The servants door at the back of the room is closed, and the staircase going up to the rooms is quiet.

Rondald moves his attention to the man behind the desk, a lithe man with a mop of short, curly, black hair and a close cropped beard that seems to grow thick all over his face but for a thin line across his left cheek where it is barren.  The man leans over the desk, his palms resting on the wide, flat surface.

"What can I do for you?"  The man asks with a hint of a smile on his lips.

OOC:  Make a couple of rolls for me, one vs. Perception-5 and another vs. IQ+3.  The man behind the bar doesn't look particularly strong or intimidating.  Rather than the crossbow over your back, you have the stock of it in your left hand, so that you can quickly ready it if you drop (or put away) your axe.  Unfortunately, this crossbow doesn't have a strap like your old one.  The general room layout is below, if it helps.  You are standing in the doorway on the bottom of the map, where the man at the desk/bar is on the left side of the room near the middle of the desk, about 20 or so feet away from you.

Rondald looks around for a moment before replying, taking in the entire room, from floor to ceiling and behind the door, before moving towards the man behind the counter (assuming no-one else was seen).


"You were not here before. Where is the stablehand who was left in charge?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:41, Thu 16 July 2020.

Rondald looks around the room, wanting to be sure he is alone before making any moves that would put him in potential danger.  And indeed, he is glad that he has such precaution in mind, for as he glances at the door leading towards the back, Rondald notices a face behind it, peering out from the just open crack for a moment, before it pulls backwards into the darkness.

"He wasn't in much shape to stick around."  The curly haired man answers, pointing to the floor near Rondald's feet where a spattered blood stain sticks on the floor.  "Had a bit of a disagreement.  I told him I'd look at things for him."

The man smiles in a half measure, an odd smirk that reminds Rondald of his sailing days.

And then it hits Ronald like a weight.  Where he has seen that face.  In his pirate hunting days on Keyhole Bay.  He'd killed a pirate that looked just like that.

OOC nice work on the critical success.  You earn a hero point for the great roll.  You have only taken another step into the room, and the curly haired man has not moved from behind the desk.

Rondald moves so as to see who is behind the door, axe ready and taking great care not to turn his back on the guy behind the counter.

"I see. So what brings you here, that you would look at things for a thief?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:13, Tue 21 July 2020.

Rondald creeps forward into the room, craning his neck to see into the back door while he keeps his body turned towards the curly haired man at the desk.

"What brings me here?"  The man laughs slightly on the last word, his smile spreading across his face like a malaise.

"A rumor,"  He starts again, his eyes glancing up at Rondald.  "A whisper that the man who butchered my brother was off galavanting in Craine, called by the Duke of all people.  And when I get here, what do I learn?  That he's some sort of local hero, that he's been knighted..."  The man's face turns to a scowl.

"Rubbish."

"So I took what you owed me for the murder of my brother.  'Course, now that your wife's stabbed my man in the leg I think you owe me a bit more...  So here's the deal.  I want her necklace.  The one with the fat ruby on it.  Give it to me and you can walk out of here.  Refuse and we'll see how much we can take out of your flesh."

OOC:  You haven't seen any further activity from behind the door and you have positioned yourself so that both the door and the man at the desk are in front of you.  You have your axe ready in your right hand and your crossbow unreadied (but cocked) in your left hand.

"Terri, call the guard!"

Rondald closed the door (but not completely) to make it impossible for any to hide behind it, attacking anyone there (move and attack?)

"Your man? You have already robbed us, in that case! You are just thieves, like your brother. Lets see if you fight any better..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:55, Wed 22 July 2020.

Rather than be baited into losing what little they had left, Rondald immediately braces for combat, gripping his axe in his right hand as he charges towards the back door, knowing that there is someone there that was likely the surprise factor of this fight.

"Terri, call the guard!"  He shouts at the top of his lungs as he sprints forward, but his foes do not hesitate to respond.

"Get him!"  The man behind the bar shouts, grabbing something from behind the desk.

Rondald is already rushing past, and the door opens, revealing the stable man, a pained grimace on his face as he leans heavily against the wall with Rondald's crossbow in hand.  Rondald grits his teeth, flailing his axe around even as he is running at full speed!

Twang!

The bolt sails directly at Rondald, who flings his body just barely out of the path of the missile.  The effort foils any aim his attack, but at least the bolt has missed him, and the man's crossbow is now empty as he stands heavily just a few feet away.

OOC:  Combat map is posted below.  Your superior dodge skill and combat reflexes kept you from getting skewered by a crossbow bolt on round one of the combat.  Roll vs. Per-2.  You are at range 2 to the stable man, who is partially leaning against the wall.  You are facing NW.  Note that you have an axe in your right and and your crossbow in the left, so if you want to close the door to the kitchen, you are either going to drop something.  Post only one second worth of action and please note your preferred defense as well as your facing at the end of your post.  Good luck on the fight.

Rondald considered the greatest threat...the pirate with the crossbow was the immediate trouble, especially with the door closed to the . Rondald swings the axe at the pirates throat...
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:19, Fri 24 July 2020.

Wanting the crossbowman out of the fight as quickly as possible, Rondald steps forward, hurling his axe with all his might!  Though the swing is true, the stable man pushes himself roughly away from the blade, fear etched across his face.  He stumbles down to the ground with a wince and a thud, though the blade of Rondald's axe misses him by a hair!  The crossbow lands half off his lap, the strap still secured about his shoulder.

But just as Rondald is about to make the killing swing, he feels a painful tear about his left bicep!  An arc of blood spews from his arm as Rondald glances back to see the curly haired man, bloodied knife in hand and ready to make another attack!

OOC:  Map posted below.  Roll vs. Per-2.  While you succeeded your attack with the use of the hero point, your opponent succeeded with his defense, which kept you from hitting him.  You are 2 hexes from the stable man's torso, though his feet and legs are in the hex closer to you.  He is lying prone, with the crossbow unready and uncocked.  The curly haired man is in the hex behind you, holding a large knife.  You have sustained a moderate laceration to the left bicep.  You have maintained your hold on your crossbow, though you have a significant shock penalty on the next turn.  Give me one more round of action.

Rondald warily gauges the pirates next move, watching carefully, waiting for his attack before he pushes back past him, dodging his attack easily as they trade places. "Just you and me now it would seem, asshole. Taking me on one on one with me injured might be a bit much for you. It was too much for your stupid brother...which one was he, by the way? Was he the idiot that wore armour, then fell over the side? Died screaming silently in the depths...what an idiot! Spent the family fortune on armour and then it killed him!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:03, Sat 25 July 2020.

Recognizing his error instantly, Rondald whirls around barely beating the next knife thrust as it cuts towards his lower back!  With Herculean grace, Rondald heaves his body out of the path of the blade and skitters forward doing his best to ignore the pain, and taking advantage of his opponent's moment of imbalance to get around him and through the door beyond.  Rondald's hip snags against the man's leg as he passes, though he manages to get around and offers a jibe at the pirate's family.

Even as his hopeful words are out of his mouth however, he curses himself for his shortsightedness.  For as soon as he makes his way back in the main room, he nearly runs headlong into two more henchmen, who are sprinting towards him!  The men slow with the sight of Rondald, one heaving a heavy mace, (Probably mine, thought Rondald) and the other a thick club.  Rondald sidesteps towards the bar, trying to keep all three in his sights...

"Ha!" The curly haired man laughs as he turns, just a mere step away.  "We'll see how funny you feel when you have six inches of steel in your chest!"

OOC:  Amazing round of rolling for you.  The crit success on your dodge gives you a desperately needed hero point.  You also managed to succeed the contest of your evade, despite the penalty of -9(!) for your combined shock and the attempt to evade a standing opponent.  You ended up missing the roll by just 1, while your opponent missed by 2.  The extra two thugs seem ready for combat, and are labeled per their weapons (M for mace and C for club).  You are facing NE, Curly is facing you at a range of 1, and the other two are at range 2.  One round again this time.

Rondald curses at the new arrivals, swinging again at the pirate after evaluating his moves last round. But with multiple opponents, he is careful to stay behind the bar, making use of it to ensure they cannot get around behind him.

"Should have guessed. Your brother could not handle a fair fight either. Clearly I need to make sure I finish this job. You have any other brothers I need to deal with? Perhaps a wife you need me to to arrange a pimp for when you are gone?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:12, Sat 25 July 2020.